A Halloween Cocktail

 I enjoy themed cocktails and this one stole my autumn loving heart.  

I can't wait to make this! See below for the recipe.

{recipe and photo found on Minted}

Etiquette: Wedding Invitations

 

When I first started addressing my wedding invites I had no idea how complicated it can be.  

Formal, informal, blended families, unmarried vs. married vs. living together.  

So many things to think about.   Below are some links to etiquette experts 

and what they have to say.  I tend to lean towards the more formal method 

but you know your friends, family, and wedding best.  

I just hope I can shed a little light.

Emily Post will always be the queen of etiquette.  

Her website was a daily visit for me 

during my wedding planning process.  

I highly recommend it!

Not only does Crane and Co. design beautiful invites 

but they also know how to help you address them. 

Martha Stewart knows it all! 

Here are some of her invitation words of wisdom.

{photo and calligraphy from la Happy}

Home Sweet Home

We are home again.

It feels nice to snuggle into my own bed, 

use my dishes, and get back into a routine.

I will forever remember my honeymoon as 

one of the best times but being home is always nice.

Forgive me while I get over being jet-lagged.  

I'll be back in full force come Monday.

I hope you are all well xo

{photos of my home by Krista Welch}

Fall Color: Cranberry Red

One of my favorite colors of fall is deep red.

I'm dreaming over the items above. 

What is your favorite fall color or piece?

{Products can be found here: 1. Dress, 2. Bag, 3. Shoes, 4. Lip, 5. Polish}

My Love

This has been the best year of my life.

Today marks the one year anniversary of being married.

My husband is my rock and my cheerleader.

I'm supported, loved, and completely doted on.  

Thank you Justin for loving me
through the simple and the struggle.  

I love you to the moon. 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together - Colossians 1:17 

Jamie G. Week: On Beauty

 Let’s face it, our faces are crazy places. 

They truly take a beating every single day from the sun, pollution, dirty hands, 

our hydration level, our hormones—so many factors influence our faces! 

And while I am no dermatologist, I have spent years fighting acne, 

weird skin sensitivities, and countless over the counter products 

that promise blemish free skin, only to be disappointed. 

My skin has constantly been a work in progress and,
although by no means flawless,  I have settled into a routine
with products and nutrition that give even my hormonal
acne/blemish prone face a healthy glow. 

Here are my top beauty tips for a lush, hydrated, and blemish free face.

1. Eau Thermale Avene 

Let’s just say the French know how to do a lot things well and these are one of them. 

My cousin introduced their line to me about a year ago 

and I love their stuff! Truly I’ve never had products where you 

can visibly see the quality like these. I use the Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser, 

the Cleanance Toner, and their Trixera Selectiose Emollient Cream for 

Dry to Very Dry Sensitive Skin. You don’t have to live in Europe 

to buy them either. Amazon has them and if you are local in Seattle, 

Pharmaca has started selling them as well! I only use the moisturizer 

in the morning and use a different moisturizer at night.

2. DIM-plus

I’m going to begin with the least glamorous of my beauty tips—balancing your hormones. 

To all my ladies who suffer from cystic acne around your period—this one’s for you! 

Our hormone levels fluctuate A LOT during our cycles and often give us acne in the process.  

This is more than what topical treatments can help with! When it finally dawned on me that no

 amount of salicylic acid will prevent me from getting acne, it was sort of a monumental 

day for me. I did some research on natural ways to balance hormones and came across 

several articles (from respected places, I promise) on Dim.  It is a natural estrogen 

balancer. I have noticed a significant different  in the size of my acne as well as how 

 long those evil things stick around.  I highly recommend this product 

(found easily on Amazon!)!

3. Pond’s Cold Cream

Yes, you’ve probably seen it laying around 

your grandmother’s house. Three generation of women have 

been using it in my family and considering none of them look 

their age, I say it’s a winner. Plus it’s cheap and smells really great. 

I like it for night time on my face and neck.

4. Water. I know you’ve heard it before, but seriously, drink it! 

Drink a lot of it! Just do it!

5. Eat your greens (and other colors too)! 

The best way to maintain skin health is through eating 

foods that are good for you! Eat the rainbow and cut out the sugar 

(yes, even from fruit, it must be limited). Kale, spinach, berries, carrots, 

ginger, purple cabbage…all can be found in our fridge as part of our 

smoothie ingredients. No, it doesn’t taste like a Jamba Juice sugar 

bomb but it’s tasty and actually good for you!

Thank you Jamie for yours posts while I'm away!

xo

{photos: first, 1, 2, 3 }