Five on Friday: Tea Time

October 5, 2018 by 2 Comments

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I am 50% British. My dad was the first one of his family to be born in the United States. Because his parents died before I was born, we don’t have a lot of cultural family traditions from that side of the family. One thing I do know is that my grandmother kept her tea time every day and that she NEVER used a tea bag. I’ve never really adopted tea time, but with 5 sets of my own china I feel like I am missing a prime opportunity. So I thought it would be fun for me to start having my own tea time. How relaxing would it be to start an afternoon tea tradition? Unfortunately, I have zero tea making supplies (aside from the china) so I thought I would research some options and get started.

1. Tea Kettle

The most important part of all of this is the tea kettle. I selected this beautiful Sotya Whistling Stainless Steel Tea Kettle ($39.99) for the house and then this cute BELLA 1.2L Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle ($39.99) that I could bring to the office.

 

2. Teabox Elegant Ball Infuser ($8.99)

The Sotya kettle comes with its own ball infuser, but the electric one will need one. I liked the idea of this elegant one from Teabox.

3. Tea

I wanted to find delicious tea from some local spots here in Michigan. I found two places that make their own loose leaf tea. I love shopping local for fun finds! The first one is Arbor Teas based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They are a family-owned business that finds the best teas from around the world and try to deliver them to you in a sustainable way. I ordered their Organic Pomegranate White Tea, Organic Chocolate Pu Erh Tea, and Organic Vanilla Almond Rooibos to start.

The second company is Plum Door Tea Company based out of Milford, Michigan. They started out as a small tea bar, but closed down their shop and sell a range of 70 teas online. I ordered their Strawberry White, Peach Blossom, Southern Peach Oolong, and Chocolate Orange Pu erh.

4. Addison Pink Abstract Tea for One Set ($33.99)

At home I have five different sets of fine china so I am set there, but I don’t really want to bring them to the office. I found this darling tea for one set from Pinky Up. It’s compact and includes a saucer!

5. Macarons

I LOVE macarons and tea time is the perfect excuse to enjoy them. My local favorites are Le Detroit Macaron and Cannelle Patisserie when I have time to stop by and pick some up. On a daily basis, there is a Panera in my building and they have delicious scones so I could probably get one to enjoy with my tea at the office.

Now that I’m getting into tea, I need ALL of your tips so please share them and all your favorite teas in the comments.

You can find more Five on Friday posts here.




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Fall 2018 Favorites

October 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I’m really not ready for fall this year, I was just starting to get into the swing of summer and really enjoy it and BOOM fall. One of my mottos is Fake it Till You Make it which applies here so I will just start talking about fall and getting all my fall items and then the excitement will follow. I already have a few easy favorites to share with you on my annual list.

Fergalicious Rattle Peep Toe Bootie ($44.99)

I had a similar pair on my year last year but never ended up getting them. I bit the bullet and bought these and they are SO cute! I have a really wide width and have a hard time finding shoes to fit when they encase your whole foot, but these work really well. They are a great transition from sandals and wedges into fall.

CND Dreamcatcher ($10.50)

I’m loving this new color from the CND Wild Earth Collection. It’s a fun purpley pink color.

Twist Back Sweater ($54.99)

I love the sexy twist detail on this sweater for fall. It’s like the mullet of sweaters – business in the front and party in the back.

Pumpkin Coconut Candle ($24.50)

This is a Bath & Body Works online exclusive, but talk about a great transition from summer to fall! the fragrance includes Spiced Pumpkin, Toasted Coconut, Creamy Vanilla, and Sea Salted Caramel.

The Jean Jacket in Pinter Wash ($118)

I’m not sure how I don’t already have a jean jacket, but ever since I saw this one on Meghan Markle, I had to have it. It’s a great way to take those summer dress and tanks into fall.

Thea Lace Chandeliers ($49)

These caught my eye the first time I saw them, so elegant. They also have a matching cuff.

Calvin Klein Bell-Sleeve Sheath Dress ($100.50)

I came across this while running through the mall the other day and WOW! I tried it on and it is now on my fall wish list. The color is fantastic. Lately, I’ve been having a love affair with Calvin Klein dresses, they are so stylish.

Exuberate Slingback Pumps ($69.99)

Another great shoe for transitions, I am loving the detail on this slingback!

Pumpkin 24K Gold Sheet Mask ($8)

Pumpkin and gold in one mask? Where do I sign up?

Charlie Carryall 28 In Signature Rose Print ($295)

This is so me! I love anything with a feminine detail and these flowers just make the bag!

Addy Versatile Poncho ($89)

Who knew Stella and Dot had clothing? I am living for this poncho that you can also turn into a cardigan! When I saw that I couldn’t believe it – two pieces in one has my vote!

Lily Knit Back Midi Coat ($125)

I am loving the idea of a camel coat for fall and I like the oversized look of this one. This is one piece I don’t already have and think it could be really versatile.

Sexual Chocolate

This really is the perfect fall wine.

Boone Cocktail Ring ($75)

I am obsessed with this Kendra Scott ring! I have tried it on twice and can’t wait to get it!

Drink Up Witches Stemless Wine Glass ($1.99)

I’m already getting into the Halloween spirit and thought it would be fun to enjoy my wine in one of these cute glasses.

Expert in Your Zeal A-Line Dress in Plaid ($79)

I love wearing dresses and hate wearing pants, so I love fall dresses that you can add a pair of tights or leggings too. This would look really cute with my new booties too!

What’s on your list for fall?

You can stock up on all my previous fall favorites for 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 if you want to take a look back.




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Wine of the Week: Blanc de Bleu

September 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment

John and I recently took a trip to Chicago and on the way back, we had to stop at a place so he could find a special bourbon he was looking for. While he was doing that, I, of course, was browsing the wine selection. I stumbled across Blanc de Bleu in the bubbly section and knew it had to come home with me!

Blanc de Bleu is a sparkling wine made with blueberry flavoring from Northern California. It’s not an overly sweet wine – great news for me because I can’t stand too much of something so sweet. Winemaker Bob Stashak adds the blueberry juice concentrate and coloring at the end so the wine stays dry and crisp.

The fun part about Blanc de Bleu is using it for all of your special moments. People are using it at weddings for something blue, baby showers and more. I was thinking of drinking it during Michigan games or to celebrate a victory…#GoBlue! A bachelorette party would also be fun. You can also order mini bottles as favors and customize the labels (great future baby shower idea!). This would have been so perfect for my Breakfast at Tiffany’s bridal shower…why didn’t they have this seven years ago?!

For $20 a bottle it is a great price point to bring for a celebration. How would you celebrate with Blanc de Bleu?

For more Wine of the Week posts, click here.




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Shop Natural with Cream Blends

September 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I love finding and supporting local gems whenever possible and I was happy to finally get into Cream Blends‘ store in downtown Royal Oak. The owners Yolanda and Rick Williams started the company out of their kitchen about five years ago and it has been growing ever since.

The products at Cream Blends are made with natural ingredients like shea butter, almond oil, grapeseed oil, Vitamin E, and coconut oil. There are a variety of amazing products available like bath bombs, body butters, lip balm, scrubs, oils, candles and soaps. I tried the Vanilla Body Butter and the Oatmeal Honey Bath Bomb.

I LOVE the body butter – it is so decadent and lasts forever. You need a very small amount to cover your whole body. Cream Blends shared this usage guide which is helpful to know how much product to use.

I especially love using the body butter on my feet and heels, you can absolutely see the difference in results versus using a regular lotion. Shea butter has a number of natural healing properties due to all the Vitamin A and E in its makeup. I’m ready get back in the store and try some of the other products like the body scrub!

Since they opened their store, Cream Blends has hosted a number of fun events like a body scrub workshop, a mini boss camp for girls, a flower arranging workshop and more! I can’t wait to see how they continue growing!

Have you tried Cream Blends yet? What is your favorite scent?

For more beauty posts, click here.




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Monday Motivation: The Miracle Morning

September 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I have a confession to make…I fell off the Miracle Morning bandwagon these past few months. I’m still doing bits and pieces here and there but I haven’t gotten up early in a while. Life happened and things got really stressful for a while so I just needed some extra sleep. But today – today was different. I woke up motivated to get back on track. These things that I am doing will lead me to the right path but only if I’m consistent with them. So it’s time to start over and get fired up. This video from Rachel Hollis is a great motivator.

Needless to say, I finished her book Girl, Wash Your Face ASAP. So here are a few of the Miracle Morning SAVERS that are speaking to me right now.

Silence

I’m still loving the Headspace app, but we did have the Meditation Works van come to work a few weeks ago and it was awesome to get out of the office and really leave those thoughts behind. I like the idea of going to a special place to meditate, even if it is outside on my patio while the weather is still nice.

Affirmations & Visualization

I’m putting these two together because I think I need to have both of them more visible and present in my life. In Rachel Hollis’ book she suggests posting things up in her closet because she can see it every day. While I love my affirmations and visualization apps it might be good to have them a little more in my face on the regular. I LOVE this Maison Rouge Lamartine Shabby Chic Distressed Antique Ivory Wood Wall Memo Board ($70.99).

Exercise

I need to get some exercise motivation, so I was thinking about trying a new class once a week and see how I liked it. I REALLY want to start with cardio drumming and I found the POUND workout series, but can’t find many around where I live. If anyone knows of a good class let me know! I found one on Friday nights so I will definitely share on my social posts if I make it out there, but if anyone knows of a good morning class in Oakland County sign me up!

Reading

As I mentioned above, I recently finished Girl, Wash Your Face and LOVED everything about it. Rachel (I’m going to pretend that we’re on a first name basis) is so inspiring and motivating. I haven’t been this fired up in a while. I’ve also read The Body Book by Cameron Diaz, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, Successful Philanthropy by Jean Shafiroff, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, and The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. I’m currently working on The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley.

Scribing

I’m taking a page out of Katie Dalebout’s book (Let it Out if you haven’t seen my last post on the Miracle Morning) and trying to work on her HappyThankYouMorePlease prompt. This is where you create a note in your phone called “HappyThankYouMorePlease” and anytime a good feeling washes over you, you take out your phone and complete this sentence: “Thank you for_____________________________; more please.” Then you have this wonderful long note of gratitude to pull back out and look at when you are feeling down. It is based on a movie by Josh Radnor (a.k.a. Ted Mosby for all my HIMYM fans) that I have been meaning to watch:

How are you staying motivated for the Miracle Morning? For more Miracle Morning posts, click here.




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Repair Your Hair with Olaplex

September 11, 2018 by 1 Comment

I’ve mentioned my tragically thin hair many times here on the blog and over the past few years have gone on quite the journey to repair it. As you may have noticed, I used to wear extensions every day for a few years (which I loved and gave me the hair I always dreamed of) and I also used WEN for a long time, which if you want to look it up was involved in a class action lawsuit for people’s hair actually falling out. I remember about mid way into my extension journey some coworkers wanted to see what I looked like without my extensions and I took a picture for them. I was horrified. I couldn’t believe how little hair I actually had left. I took this picture in 2015 and am sharing it so you can see the difference. Even looking at it now makes me want to cry at how damaged my hair was…I am practically bald!

After that picture, I decided to start slowly taking out my extensions. Every six weeks I would take out a weft so it looked more gradual. I also was doing a number of other things to help grow my hair:

  1. Taking Biotin
  2. Taking Prenatal vitamins
  3. Stopped using the round brush
  4. Stopped using heat to blow dry my hair (I use the coldest setting possible)
  5. Switched my part every six weeks

A few months ago I was visiting my sister (who has a cosmetology license) after getting my hair done and she asked me if my hair dresser was using heat on my hair when I got it highlighted (she was) and she suggested that I was going too blonde which is why my hair wasn’t growing. I started thinking about it and doing some research. Other women go blonde all the time and don’t have problems, but if you compare pictures of me from college (when I could only afford to get my hair done every six months on my bday and Christmas) it had a lot more length and thickness. So I stumbled across this article from Marie Claire and this one and a few other ones (which I can’t find again unfortunately) and heard the word Olaplex. I had never heard of Olaplex before and was intrigued! Apparently all the celebrities had been using it for years to go blonde and not kill their hair.

You can also follow Justin Anderson on Instagram as he shares all the celebrities he uses Olaplex on including, Jennifer Aniston, Margot Robbie, Kristina Schulman, Lauren Bushnell, Kristin Cavallari and so many others.

Right about the time I was discovering this, Olaplex came out with some at home treatments that I could try on my hair. They have an intensive treatment that you can use after coloring and about once a week and a shampoo and conditioner that you can use every day at home. Now I haven’t been using these long enough to give you a comprehensive “after” picture, but I have noticed a HUGE difference in my hair and I finally feel like I’m going in the right direction. I wanted to try the at home treatments first before I invested in the salon treatments to bring to my stylist. Once I start doing that I feel like we will see an even bigger difference. At my last hair appointment I also stopped going under the dryer when I get my highlights.

Even better news is that Olaplex is now carried at Sephora so you can get the Hair Perfector ($28), Bond Maintenance Shampoo ($28) and Bond Maintenance Conditioner ($28) right at your local store or online. AND you can earn points at the same time…win-win. Olaplex actually REBUILDS the damage in your hair and makes it better. I have never found anything that gave me better results. If you can use the Hair Perfector overnight that yields the best results, especially with hair like mine. I try to do this when I can on a Sunday night and wash it out Monday morning. As you can see in this picture my hair looks a lot better than it did in 2015. This has a lot to do with the list above and I hope to have an even better picture after amping up my Olaplex use. In this picture I had just started using the Olaplex Hair Perfector.

Have you had experience rebuilding your hair? I would love to hear your success stories! Next on my list will be investing in the Olaplex 1 and 2 treatments for my stylist.

For more Beauty posts, click here.




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September Pinspired: Back to School

September 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I LOVE going back to school…except I no longer get to do it…boo hoo. The excitement of a new backpack, schedule, trapper keeper, planner, folders, all the things used to get me so jazzed! I couldn’t wait to start all over again. I am trying to channel that back to school energy into my professional life and thought what better way to do it then to invest in a “back to school/work” outfit.

I have a tendency to wear a lot of dresses at work because they are easy, comfortable and versatile. Throw in some tights and all of your summer dresses work for fall and winter too! Then I came to the realization that I don’t have a lot of work pant outfits and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to change it up with a new look. I found a winner here. This outfit is the perfect mix of comfort and style. with our new dress for your day policy I struggle to find something that isn’t so much more dressed up than everyone else, but also isn’t too casual for me. I’ve seen all my coworkers sporting these dusters (hello early 2000’s) and figured that I can throw some yoga pants on when I get home and be set.

I’m starting with the hardest thing first, the pants. I settled on the Gap Skinny Ankle Pants ($32.97) that look casual but still dressy for work.

Ann Taylor had a great Drapey Cami ($59.50) that is perfect for layering:

Madewell’s Kent Cardigan Sweater ($98) looks almost too cozy for work!

The best part of this outfit may be the shoes and these Steve Madden Daisie Pumps ($99.98) are very sexy:

It’s a little different than the photo, but I’ve been coveting the Stella & Dot Rebel Pendant ($79) for years and it would look great with this ensemble.

In true Elizabeth fashion, I spent the most time looking for the perfect bag. It’s a little different than the picture but I just LOVED the detail on the Nine West Aury Tote ($99):

I cannot wait to get this look in my closet for fall! What are your favorite fall combinations?

For more Pinspired looks click here.




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Splurge vs. Steal: Chanel Classic Handbag

August 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment

From the first time I saw Charlotte (Kristin Davis) clutch her Chanel bag on Sex and the City I was hooked! Every girl needs one of her own, but with the $5,900 price tag, it’s not something I am going to get for a while. Instead, I wanted to find a great dupe while I work on my Chanel fund. It’s not hard to find a wide range of celebrities with Chanel bags – they are timeless, especially the classic bag.

So you might notice that the Chanel bag currently sports the interlocking CC logo as the lock, but the original bags had what they call the “mademoiselle lock.” Karl Lagerfeld added the logo lock in the 80s, so my dupe today could actually look more vintage. The Chanel Classic Large Handbag costs a cool $5,900. I also never realized that the bags have a burgundy leather lining and it was chosen specifically by Coco Chanel because she wore a uniform of the same color in the orphanage where she grew up. I found a great steal from Jollque with their Women’s Chain Quilted PU Leather Shoulder Bag ($35.80).

I think this is a fantastic alternative for $35.80 if you are saving up to invest in a real Chanel bag. With this price point, there’s really no reason not to scoop it up. In any case, this bag is the ultimate in classic looks and can dress up any outfit.

Do you have a splurge that you want me to find a steal for? Let me know in the comments. Or let me know if you find another steal for the Chanel Classic Handbag.

For more Splurge vs. Steal posts, click here.




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Go Crazy with Me at the Crazy Rich Asians Screening

August 5, 2018 by 5 Comments

Disclosure: I received complimentary passes to the screening in exchange for this post. Scroll down for your chance to win tickets to the screening.

Ever since Sex and the City introduced me to luxury brands in the 90’s, I have been ogling that luxury lifestyle. Crazy Rich Asians offers all that and more. Just think opulence, grandeur, big sets, big families, big money. I had actually heard of the book before I was invited to attend the screening, I just hadn’t had the chance to read it. Now that I have, I can share that it is the perfect chick lit read for summer. Can you imagine being invited to meet your boyfriend’s family only to discover that they are obscenely rich?

The plot follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life.  It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors.

The movie officially opens in theaters August 15, but the date is actually lucky. The movie will launch in the 8th month, in a year ending with 8. Apparently 8 is a lucky number in the Chinese culture so this premiere has even more significance. Crazy Rich Asians would make the perfect book club read and the author Kevin Kwan has additional sequels China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Maybe this will be a fun trilogy!

In addition, Warner Bros. has partnered with Live Love Polish to create a special nail polish line just for the movie with colors like Class and Sass, That’s Rich, Wedding of the Century, Family DrAhMa, Kitty Pong Purple, and Something Blue, you can find the whole set here for $89.99.

If you would like to join me for an advance screening to Crazy Rich Asians, enter below for your chance to win a pair of passes for Thursday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at MJR Troy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you read the book? I would love to hear your favorite part in the comments.

For more movie posts and recaps, click here.




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I Feel Pretty Giveaway

July 30, 2018 by 13 Comments

Disclosure: I received a complimentary box of goodies to give away in exchange for this post. Scroll down for your chance to win them for yourselves.

I can’t tell you how much I LOVED I Feel Pretty. So much so that I felt compelled to do another post about it and give away some fun goodies so you can experience it for yourself. Now that I Feel Pretty is out on DVD/available for download you have no excuse not to host the ultimate girls night in with your friends and tell them that they are all beautiful.

I Feel Pretty has an amazing message. Women have always been told to focus on their flaws. If you eavesdrop on a conversation between friends, at some point you will hear them complain about something that they don’t like about themselves. This is terrible for us, instead of always tearing ourselves down we should be focusing on the things that ARE amazing about each other.

In the movie, Amy Schumer’s character has low self-esteem and thinks she can’t compete with other women to achieve her dreams. Then she hits her head in a Soul Cycle class and all of a sudden sees herself as beautiful . The things that she is able to accomplish with that level of confidence are amazing! She just needed to believe in herself all along. There were so many moments in the movie that I could relate to and I’m sure other women could too.

So to launch my girl’s night in giveaway, I thought I would share a few reasons why I think I am beautiful in the hopes that you will do the same in the comment section.

10 Things That Make Me Beautiful

  1. My smile
  2. My compassion
  3. My eyes
  4. My sense of humor (I will laugh at all of your dumb jokes because I think they’re funny)
  5. The cupid’s bow on my lips
  6. My ability to see things through rose colored glasses
  7. My long fingers
  8. The drive to never give up
  9. My blonde hair
  10. My loyalty to family and friends

I also had fun messing around with the I Feel Pretty photo overlay for your FB profile pic, here. Which is a great girl’s night activity.

I would love to gift you and your friends the ultimate I Feel Pretty girl’s night in package and hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did. The package includes 2 lip balms, 2 compacts, 2 sets of makeup wipes, pop sockets, pins, sign, and 2 wine glasses. The bubbly is not included, but I definitely recommend it. Don’t forget to tell me one thing that makes you beautiful in the comments below and enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see more movie posts, click here.




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