city faves: boston

after a long (and eventful/exhausting/heartbreaking/transforming/amazing) 7 years of calling boston my home, the time has come to close this chapter of my life. this city is amazing, and anyone who tells you otherwise has no idea what they're talking about (or they're from new york... so same thing). besides the fact that the entire city is walk-able (and as a car hater, one of my favorite aspects!), has some of the oldest places in the country, and has FALL- there are plenty of reasons to love good ole' beantown. whether you're a first time visitor, live in the city, or are from a surrounding town/city in massachusetts- I'm rounding up some of my favorite places/spaces/things to do in this glorious city.

catch a game at fenway: baseball has been my favorite sport since I was a kid (having an older brother who played on about 4 teams, my weekends and evenings were spent at fields & training camps, and my summers were filled with trips to cooperstown & ballparks). my love of the game has evolved over time, and it's one of my favorite ways to spend a summer night. if you love baseball/the sox, a trip to fenway is non-negoationable. but even if you're not super jazzed to watch a game, fenway itself is incredible. I get goosebumps every time I enter the stadium, and catch my first glimpse of the field or the green monster. there's no such thing as a bad seat at fenway, and even going the bleacher route is always a good time. (honorable mentions- a bruins game or a celtics game. as a city of champions, we have some mighty fine teams to pick from. patriots don't count, unless you want to schelp all the way to foxboro.)

spend some time in the garden: sucha tourist trap on a beautiful day/the weekend (but who am I kidding, where isn't?!), but so worth it. not only are the grounds beautiful (gorgeous well maintained flowers and plenty of benches to sit on), but the trees and lagoon are amazing, and the people watching is incredible. one saturday mid-summer there were 11 weddings/bridal party shoots/photo shoots- eleven! make sure and check out the make way for ducklings statues, and the bench from good will hunting.

visit the museums: there are many museums to check out within the city, whatever may tickle your fancy. my favorites are the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Art- but there's also the Museum of Science, the Bostons Children's Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and many, many more. I took a few classes at the ICA for my Art History minor in college, so it holds  special place in my heart, but as a huge fan of contemporary art, their collection is amazing. make sure to check out the harbor walk while you're over there, a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon outside. the MFA has a fantastic collection, and their exhibits are always changing and featuring something new. the close proximity to the Gardner museum is great, two museums in one afternoon (although the MFA is the type of museum that I like to do in chunks), and enjoy the Back Bay Fens while you're over there.

celebrate saint patrick's day (the right way): as a half blooded irish gal, saint patrick's day has always been my favorite day. as a kid it meant a giant party with my entire irish side of the family, enough corned beef and cabbage to feed a small army (bleck!), and generally good times and memories. as I got older, it meant a day to wear my second favorite color, celebrate my ancestors, and have a great day partying with friends. if you're looking to do st. patty's day right, there's no better place to celebrate than southie. get to the parade route early, grab a good spot, and make sure to hit the packie the night before (the lines are insane). you're in for a grand ole' day.

enjoy the water: since boston is a place with awful weather 8 or 9 months out of the year, once it starts to turn, you have to take every chance you can to be outside. the north end ends at the harbor, and beacon hill/back bay butt the charles- both beautiful areas to hang out around on a gorgeous spring/summer/early fall day. whether it's renting sailboats/paddle boats on the charles, hanging out on the docks, walking along the harbor walk, or enjoying a water taxi- boston is lucky enough not to be land locked. make the most of it!

via ilostmydog.com

visit the different neighborhoods: i've blogged about my love of many of the different areas of boston (n.end/s.end/beacon hill), and they are one of my favorite aspects of the city. I know that all cities have different areas (complete with names, characters, and specialties compared to others), but the fact that you can walk from one to the other, and do an entire tour of the city so easily here is amazing. start your day with breakfast and shopping on beacon hill, head to the south end for coffee while strolling the neighborhood before dinner and cocktails (even going through back bay/newbury street for more shopping), and finish your night with desert and a night cap in the north end.

amazing restaurants, universities, parks, shopping, cafes, streets, bars, nightclubs, concert venues- to me, boston has it all. but, as much as I love this city, the time has come for a new adventure.

what are some of your favorite things to do in boston?

xx, marissa

all about the boots: timberland styles

just the other day I was poking around instagram, looking for some style inspiration and saw a great pair of booties that I fell in love with. I was completely floored when I looked to see who they were designed by, and saw that it was timberland. I had plenty of flashbacks of their awful work boot style shoes for women, in pastel colors, with chunky soles (bleck). these new styles are very much on trend, short desert booties in neutral suede, or a classic bootie with metal buckles. for new england winters, having boots with a good sole is absolutely necessary. there have been way too many times that I've almost wiped out on slippery cobblestones or slick bricks. these boots, with the classic timberland sole, seem like a great option to add to your shoe wardrobe. and no one would ever guess that they're timberland.

have you seen any of these new, updated timberland styles? what are your thoughts on their updated look?

xx, marissa

26 before 26

 

today officially makes the day that I am a quarter century old, holy holy! while some people my age are off having their quarter life crisis (been there, done that), getting married (eep!), or having babies (double eep!), I'm prepping for my cross country move and spending time with my friends&family before I head west. 25 is usually a big number for most people (5's and 0's have always meant big birthdays in my eyes), but as someone who has been waiting to turn 26 since just about forever, this upcoming year will hopefully be an exciting one :) since the whole moving across the country things doesn't seem to be enough, I've decided to challenge myself just a bit more, and figure out 26 things I want to do before I reach that golden birthday.

1. learn to drive stick shift
2. get another tattoo
3. volunteer 26 times
4. get a puppy
5. create something
6. take a class in something (cooking, painting, dance...)
7. ride a bicycle along venice beach (with a basket, preferably in a pastel color. non-negotiable)
8. drink wine in nappa valley
9. go to disney land
10. go camping... or glamping ;)
11. hike a mountain (a small mountain)
12. try surfing (key word being try)
13. brush up on my spanish
14. try 26 different foods
15. learn to run a mile
16. travel somewhere outside the country (preferably someplace I've never been)
17. visit san francisco
18. go to 26 concerts/performances/shows
19. have my tarot cards done
20. start doing yoga
21. cut a guilty pleasure out of my diet
22. sing in public
23. continue blogging (consistently!)
24. skype/facetime with my family at least 4x a month
25. adopt meatless mondays
26. wear sunscreen everyday

what are some things that are on your bucket list/that you want to accomplish for yourself?

xx, marissa

this weekend: trunk show with designer Page Sargisson

one of my favorite parts of my job is putting together events to bring the designers that we carry & love, into the store. this weekend new york designer page sargisson will be stopping by with her collection, for an afternoon filled with jewels and cocktails. her pieces are the perfect present for any new mamas (hello push present), newlyweds (day of gift), or anyone special in your life (birthday, christmas, just because). her constellation charms are my favorite- tiny diamonds set in gold to display your (or your little ones) astrological sign. I dream of one on a long gold chain to wear layered with other shorter pieces. her calendar charms are the perfect way to remember any special date in your life (birthdate, anniversary, or wedding date). as an added bonus, all page pieces purchased that day will receive 20% off. I know it's a bit early to be talking christmas/the holidays, but scoring a perfect present and 20% off- how could you go wrong? join us october 25th at M. Flynn in Boston's South End (46 Waltham Street).

will you be in the city this weekend? stop by and check out page and her jewels!

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: toni&guy sea salt texturising spray

 

i've talked a bit about this product in the beginning of the summer as one of my summer must-haves to toss in your beach bag. while it definitely isn't summer anymore here in new england, we've had a few days of the worst, most disgusting rainy/humid weather. as a gal with thick curly hair, if there's any moisture in the air, I can't be bothered to blow dry or do much with my hair. I know even an hour later the kinky curls will be around my face, and I'll have a halo of frizzies to battle. not fun. this product has been a lifesaver for creating easy, piecey beachy waves these past few days. i'm not sure how well of a product this would be if you hair doesn't have any natural wave/curl to it (sorry straight haired girls), but with my hair type I'm left with waves throughout, lots of volume and ringlets at my ends. and to top it off the smell is amazing. it's beachy, clean, and fresh without screaming ocean/summer. i've found some sea salt sprays leave my hair too crunchy and obvious that there's product in it, but this product hasn't done that at all. i've even brushed it out at night, and re-applied the spray the next morning and the curls/look are as good as new. it can be a bit pricey, so make sure and look around to find the best deal (the link above is to target's website where I've found it the cheapest). I have the deluxe sample size, which I received as part of a birchbox about a year ago, and it's still going strong.  (considering trying out birchbox? check out my thoughts here). I love shopping my stash, rediscovering forgotten products, and finding new uses for old favorites.

bottom line: if you're looking for a super easy product for creating pretty and undone curls (if you have some natural curl/texture to your hair), then this product is definitely a winner. love, love, love it. and the small is to die for.

have you ever tried the toni&guy sea salt texturing spray? what are your thoughts?

xx, marissa

this weekend: head of the charles regatta

image via boston.com

if you're a lover of all things preppy (like this girl), the sport of rowing, or are looking for an excuse to get outside and experience the beautiful fall weather that's finally returned, this weekend is the perfect event for you. every year the head of the charles regatta brings together the best rowers from all over the world to compete in the world's largest two day rowing event. head over to cambridge, watch along the banks of the charles, or (if you get there early enough) head to one of the bridges to be up close and personal with the race. even if rowing isn't your thing, many preppy vendor/designers/stores set up shop along the river offering samples, info and great deals on all sorts of things. the races start at 8 am, and go until 5pm, today and tomorrow. the biggest races are the championship and lightweight contests, which are the last races of the day. if you have kids in tow, today is a great day for the little ones, and the earlier the better (the crowds can get pretty crazy). i'm pretty bummed that I'll be missing this year (and my last year living here for it!), but alas working & family come first. for more info, specifics, and such- check here.

have you ever

currently craving: dark lips

while I definitely don't always stick to the "rules" of make-up, one of my favorite fall/winter trends is a deep, dark lip. I've rounded up a few of my favorite deep plum/raisin lip colors (high end & drugstore) to create the perfect dark lip.

the Wet N Wild Megalast Lipcolors are one of my favorite drugstore products. not only are they incredibly long wearing and super cheap (hello $1.99!), they also have an incredible shade range- many of which are dupes for some of your favorite high end colors. I purchased this color (Sugar Plum Fairy) on a whim one day, and instantly fell in love with the color. it looks super intimidating in the tube (so dark it's almost black), but when applied sparingly (blot, don't swipe), it's the perfect shade.

the MAC lipstick in Rebel is a cult favorite and for good reason. this creamy plum is the lux version of Sugar Plum Fairy- with a satin finish. matte lips definitely  have their time and place, but for normal day to day wear (and for comfort), I love a lipstick with a satin finish.

the Smashbox Be Legendary Lipgloss in Vivid Violet was part of a gift set that I received for Christmas last year, and honestly I was initially turned off by this color. It's a beautiful sheer wash of berry color when worn alone, but when layered with a lipstick (I usually wear it over the Sugar Plum Fairy to help with the matte finish) it is gorgeous.

the Butter London Lippy Liquid Lipstick in La Moss is the most recent addition to my dark lip addiction. while the Smashbox version is sheer on it's own and needs to be layered with a lipstick for that true dark color, the Butter version can be worn alone (for a toned down deep look).

the Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Berry Allure is a good drugstore dupe for these deep glosses. this is the perfect color if you like the look of a raisin/berry lip, but are aiming for something a bit more daytime or toned down.

what are some of your favorite deep, dark lip combos?

xx, marissa

home sweet home: small spaces

boston is famous for teeny, tiny apartments with huge price tags; and the neighborhoods that I chose to live in during my 7+ years have been some of the smallest & priciest. I've managed to make every space homey and true to my style, while sticking with a budget, and maximizing the given space. leaving this apartment behind is going to be tough, my room here is exactly what I imagined and my ascetic is in each and every common room, but a new apartment means new chances to decorate and find treasures to make this space a home.

paint is one of the biggest game changers when moving into a space. most (if not all) landlords are adamant about keeping the walls in pristine condition- but if you're a lucky soul who has the green light to unleash your inner designer, have at it! paint can completely transform a room, can create the illusion of more space/height/different areas within one room, and is my favorite decorating tricks. my current bedroom has cream and white horizontal stripes that I had been dreaming about for years. they made my little room seem bigger and airy, but were a bitch to paint. using deeper/darker colors can make larger rooms seem cozier, and different colors/tones can help to differentiate between the sleeping area of your studio, and the living area.

statement pieces are great for setting the mood/motif of your space. in my bedroom, my large tufted mint green headboard is totally the statement piece of the room. it provides the majority of the color in an otherwise neutral space, and is the first thing you see upon entering my room. a bench in a cool fabric, a rug with a graphic print, a gallery wall full of different pictures, or a bright colored piece of furniture are great for being the statement in a room, and guiding the rest of your purchases. since we're talking teeny, tiny city apartments- statement doesn't' necessarily have to mean statement size. a cluster of pillows in great colors/patterns/textures takes up no extra space- but really adds a lot to the room.

double duty pieces are mandatory when you're short on space. an apartment with all the space in the world can be full of knick-knacks and strictly decorative elements, but when you're working with limited square footage, every inch is precious. on my bureau I have a large mirrored jewelry box that is both beautiful and functional. it's perfect for storing pieces that I don't always grab for, and more sentimental jewels that are put away for safe keeping. baskets and bins can look great when displayed, and are perfect for storing shoes, extra blankets, and out of season clothes. since my roommate and I converted the living room into another bedroom, we have one large space that doubles as the kitchen and living room (this is the second apartment that I've done this arrangement- and it works out perfectly every time). our coffee table has to be usable as a coffee table, and kitchen table. our wine rack/butcher block has to double as extra counter space since ours is very limited.

using your stuff as decor sometimes has to happen. as a girl who loves her clothes, I've never had an issue with having my clothing and accessories on display. I've had rolling racks in multiple apartments, and find that it makes getting dressed a bit more fun. instead of shoving all of your shoes in the bottom of your closet, or under your bed, line up your favorite (or the prettiest) pairs, and display them against a wall or at the foot of your bed. a great jewelry collection can be displayed in shadow boxes, hung on your wall, or displayed on a mini mannequin. hang a coat rack in an area of wasted space and use it to display your favorite bags and scarves.

a huge piece of living in a small space, is staying on top of messes and clutter. small apartments/rooms look extra messy (even if there are only a few things out of place), so purging your wardrobe/cabinets/surfaces on the regular keeps everything looking neat and tidy. I think it's also important to allow for your space to evolve over time. it's fun to tweak things as you go, swap out items as the seasons change/as you get more comfortable in your space.

what are some of your favorite tips&tricks for creating your ideal space? do you constantly battle for space in your space?

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: blo south end

a couple weeks back I was the bridesmaid in one of my good friend's weddings. she was the most laid back bride (which hallelujah! bridezillas are the worst) and really wanted us to be comfortable and happy with all of the day of details (dress, shoes, hair, etc). while the other girls opted to have up-dos done the day of the wedding, I have way too much hair to ever be happy with an up-do. more often than not I end up with a giant mass of hair on the top of my head, which isn't a good look for anyone. I decided to get a blowout the day before and save myself a headache. I've made my rounds to the different blow dry bars (the dry bar, hairo, and be styled to name few), and love the premise. no matter how hard I try, how many tutorials I watch, products I buy, brushes I try, I cannot master the va-va-voom look of a professional blow out. my bosses are always raving about blo blow dry bar in the south end, so I figured this was a perfect opportunity to try this place out. my stylist was amazing- super down to earth, funny as hell (I was laugh/crying the entire time that I was there), and knew what she was doing. they have a menu of different styles to choose from; the red carpet (classic blow out), the executive sweet (super straight), the holly would (full bouncy curls), and the pillow talk (tousled bed head), but I ended up describing the style that I was going for (lots of volume, sleek, with curled ends that would last a lá the kardashians). she took into consideration the fact that I have thick, super heavy hair (and a lot of it!) so she blew it out and set the curls to make sure that they would last. while I lost quite a bit of the curl between that night and the next afternoon, the end result was exactly what I wanted. the location was super cute, hot pink everywhere, with white accents and blown up pictures of screen sirens with serious hair, and all of the girls working had amazing hair (sidenote- if you're at a new salon and trying to decide who you want to do your hair, I always choose the girl with the best/closest to my own hair). I was a bit bummed that they didn't provide drinks (I could have totally gone for a class of champagne... or prosecco... or rosé) like they do at dry bar- but it wasn't make or break. I wish I had pictures to include of what my hair ended up looking like (I do not do selfies so a pre-sleeping on shot doesn't exist), but I was all about my bridesmaid duties and didn't snap a single picture. hopefully I'll see some of the professional shots soon and update this post with one, or two.

bottom line- if you're looking for a place for a great blowout (birthday, anniversary, presentation, bachelorette, girl's night, just because), they do an amazing job. also! if you go on monday or tuesday in the morning/early afternoon they offer a discounted rate.

have you ever tried blo? are you a fan of the blow dry salon concept?

xx, marissa

tonight: boston food truck festival

double post today but I love finding out about cool things going on in the city on any given day & night, and sometimes it happens last minute. tonight, as part of Boston's Art Week, a Late Night Food Truck Festival will be happening on the Greenway. a bunch of my favorite food (including Roxy's Grilled Cheese & Cookie Monstah) and fashion (The Fashion Truck) trucks will be there from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am. pop over before heading out for the night, or when you're stumbling home post bar hopping for some delish snacks and fab fashion.

will you be hitting up the Late Night Food Truck Festival?

xx, marissa

let the countdown begin

well it's officially, official- one month from today I'll be hopping on a plane to begin my next adventure. a few months back when I visited california, I fell in love with LA, and knew I had to get my behind out there (sooner rather than later). the universe has aligned (fingers crossed that it stays aligned) and I'll be moving out there to live with my best friend from college, working for her company, and getting my foot in the door of the LA fashion scene. and while I'm sad to be leaving boston/new england/my family + friends, I'm ready for something new. seven, almost eight years, is a long time to spend in one place. I'll have all new areas/stores/restaurants/people to meet and see; and bellabellaboston will be coming right along with me ♥

this east coast girl is movin' west.

xx, marissa