Friday Beauty - Travel Toiletries

When packing for a trip, I am not one to take a ton of toiletries. I like to try and pack as light as possible. And I don't pack a large cosmetics bag. It's the bare essentials. So when packing up my toiletries, I hit the travel aisle at my drugstore! It's a great place to get smaller versions of your everyday products and an awesome way to test new products. And sometimes you find surprise products like dry shampoo! I was so excited to find a travel can! And aren't those tiny loofahs the best! Here are some of the ones I'm taking along.

I also hang on to all of my samples from Clinique Bonus time! That's the best time to hoard all of your favorites in mini versions! And, you get cute little cosmetic bags to boot! That brings me to another packing point. Don't take all of your cosmetics. Bring along your daily essentials, and a few select tools, but stick to one eyeshadow pallete, one liner, and your mascara. No need to bring it all!

I pack all of my stuff in clear plastic bags. Mine came as part of a Mary Kay travel kit and I love them. If something spills, you simply wipe it out and move on. Definitely something to think about investing in, if you don't have something similar already. 

Happy Friday, Travel Beauties!!

Kendra's Fashion Challenge

 A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from Kendra Thornton inviting me to participate in her "Kendra's Fashion Challenge" and it didn't take me but a second to say yes! Kendra Thornton founded Thornton Public Relations LLC in April 2005 in an effort to bring strategic and low cost public relations to start-up and established travel, consumer and technology companies. Prior to that, Kendra was the Director of Corporate Communications at Orbitz.com, one of the nation’s largest travel agencies. She was responsible for the company’s external communications strategy and program execution. Oh, and did I mention she comes from a long line of travel agents and has been traveling since she was three months old? Pretty impressive, no?

For "Kendra's Fashion Challenge", Kendra is heading to NYC which just happens to be my favorite city! She wants to put together the perfect wardrobe and one of the looks is for an evening out on the town. Kendra is staying at the Dream New York Hotel, and by the looks of it, Dream is the perfect name for this placel! Kendra will be dining at Serafina Broadway, which is attached to the Dream hotel. Post dinner, she will be attending a Broadway show. (Wish I knew which one! I'm living vicariously through this challenge!)

Based on the evenings events; the restaurant, the hotel, and the city, I've come up with four looks for Kendra. Honestly, I loved each piece so much that I couldn't decide on just one! This is the stuff dreams, and stylists, are made of. I will walk you through each look, provide a brief description around the look, and the designer of each piece.

 Kendra's First Look:

As a frequent Style My Way reader, you know how much I love a jumpsuit! They are slick, chic, and so elegant. I took an edgier approach to this look because the hotel and restaurant appear trendier than traditional. The BCBG Max Azria jumpsuit is amazing! I love the mesh panel along the neckline, the nipped waist, and wide legs. I paired it with on-trend Rebecca Minkoff white pumps with black accents. I just love the idea of white peeking out of the pant leg. Keeping with trends, I added the Hermes ear cuff from BaubleBar. I recently purchased this cuff and can't wait to wear it. I would suggest Kendra wearing her hair up to show off, not only the strong neckline of the jumpsuit, but the ear cuff as well. Because the ear cuff is a big statement, I added a simple bracelet at the wrist. This one from J.Crew is darling! This sweet flower is like a modern day wrist corsage. Lastly, I added a little pop of color to the overall look with this Clare V clutch. I am in love with this look!

Kendra's Second Look:

There are so many things I love about this look and it all starts with this darling LBD (little black dress). This Trina Turk dress is made of simple cotton and nylon, but looks like a luxe version of leather. Again, I went with the incredibly chic Rebecca Minkoff pumps, but this time I went with a Milly silver, metallic clutch. I want the dress to really be the focal point so very little color is needed. I went with a statement earring from BaubleBar in black, crystal and mint. They are incredibly neutral, but add quite a bit of bling to the look. And if it's chilly in the restaurant, or the theater, I added a little white jacket from Rachel Zoe. I think the contrast will be so stunning.

 

Kendra's Third Look:
I love a maxi dress and this Hive & Honey dress combines all elements of a dress that I love. I'm obsessed with a Chevron print, but I really like that it's broken up by a solid, drapey top. And the contrasting waistband will create the tiniest of waists! Again, because the dress is the focal point, I kept everything else fairly minimal. The statement earrings from BaubleBar create a little drama, while the Kate Spade bracelet adds a little shimmer. Talk about shimmer, these B Brian Atwood pumps are a great neutral. (Side note, I wear my silver pumps with just about everything.) I went with the Clare V royal blue clutch for that little hint of color. Okay, a bold hint of color, but it totally completes this look, no?

Kendra's Fourth Look:
I went in a totally different direction with this look. The LWD (little white dress) is a big trend right now so I decided I needed to incorporate it. The bell sleeves, lace, and scalloped hemline of this Cynthia Vincent dress make it a true contender for the challenge. I really went with a no-fuss styling as the dress speaks volumes alone. I chose a simple Manolo Blahnik sandal in contrasting black and white. I just loved the tiny ankle strap and thin white strap across the toe. So elegant! With a slight V at the neck, I thought this Kate Spade necklace was a perfect fit. And because the necklace makes such a statement, small studs, also Kate Spade, are all you need. Lastly, I went with a small black clutch from Vince Camuto. No need for color. Just a simple bag for all your evening essentials.

 
So these are my picks for Kendra and her "Kendra's Fashion Challenge". I personally can't pick a favorite. Okay, I totally have a favorite, but I will let you and Kendra decide! I have thoroughly enjoyed putting this NYC style board together. If this is what it means to be a full-time stylist, sign me up! 

I hope Kendra has a fabulous time in the city that never sleeps. It's been three years since I've been and I'm dying for a trip soon. And if I were to go, these are all looks I would definitely add to my suitcase. 

Safe and stylish travels, Kendra!

Forty Before the Big 4-0

I turned 39 last weekend and I honestly can't believe it. I mean, when I was younger 40 sounded so old! My parents were old! And poor McKinley will definitely know that his parents are really old! However, I have decided 40 is not that old! If anything, I think 40 is the new 30. Who's with me? 

My 39th Birthday

As I look back on my last 38 years, and I don't want to sound terribly conceited, but I've done a lot of things. I've traveled the country, seen the Red Woods, been to Mexico and Jamaica so I can officially say I've been out of the country, I've moved A LOT, had several ear piercings that have since closed up, graduated from college, learned how to drive a stick shift and drove one for years. I learned to swim and was a lifeguard for five years. I've seen the ocean on both coasts.
 

With my Great Grandfather in 1974

Christmas in 1974 and 1976

 

Estes Park,  CO in 1984

 

Me and My Dad

My 18th Birthday. Elizabeth turned one!

   I've attended a few, okay numerous concerts in my day. I've seen Michael Jackson, U2 twice, The Eagles, The Police, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Elton John and most recently Madonna. I have performed with some extremely talented friends around the metro in several Community Theater productions and I've been honored to play some amazing roles. I got married and will celebrate 10 years with my hubby tomorrow! Oh, and I gave birth! 

November 9, 2002

Me and McKinley April 6, 2011

 The list goes on, but there are plenty of things I haven't done. Hence the 40 before 40. This was a hard list to compile. Some may sound superficial and some are just things I've always wanted to do. They may not sound life changing, or significant in anyway, but that's okay. Again, they are just things that I would like to experience in my life so why not get a jump on them!

I will blog about my forty items over the course of the year and I will try to incorporate the fashion side of my blog as well. I hope you follow along.

My list of "Forty Before the Big 4-0"!

1) Travel to Italy with my family. This may not be accomplished by the time I turn 40, but should be planned and booked for travel in 2014!

2) Attend a Blogger Conference. Preferably, the Lucky FABB conference.

3) Attend New York Fashion Week in the Fall

4) Go to the San Diego Zoo

5) Attend a Cardinal game at the new Busch Stadium 

(Overall bucket list is to attend all major league baseball stadiums.)

6) Can homemade Apple Butter

7) Make homemade bread

8) Make a pie crust from scratch

9) Learn to crochet and actually make something

10) Learn to use my sewing machine

11) Learn to make a pattern

12) Design my own piece of clothing and sew it

13) Get back in the gym

14) Lose remaining baby weight

15) Go to the St. Louis Zoo

16) Attend a roller derby

17) Finish my fifth beer tour at Old Chicago

18) Make pasta from scratch

19) Perform with my parents in a public setting

20) Attend Synagog with Joel

21) Attend a hockey game

22) Style one person for an event and blog about it

23) Refrain from using the F word so much

24) Eat at Town Topic - during the day

25) Get a facial

26) Get a spray tan - a real one 

(Not the kind Julie and I got during West Side Story)

27) Make a will

28) Correspond more by written mail

29) Ride a bike - again

30) Go to Powell Gardens

31) Take a ballet class to see if I've still got it

32) Read Anna Karenina

33) Read the newspaper more

34) Get a passport - See #1

35) Try caviar

36) Drink a martini at a fancy bar

37) Drink a glass of Dom Perignon

38) Plant a garden

39) Spend more time with girlfriends

40) Perform in a show 

That's it. Not sure if I can accomplish everything on the list but I am certainly going to try! I hope you stick around to take this journey with me. Should be fun...