manicure monday: nail polish brands

as a self professed nail polish addict, I have my favorite brands/colors that are tried and true. there are certain brands (cough, cough chanel) that the ridiculous price tag is not justified. but there are polishes with a hefty price tag that I can totally justify shelling out top dollar for. each brand that I use serves a purpose within my collection, and while some brands are great in one area, they aren't necessarily a brand that I love as a whole.

for dark colors & interesting dimensions: OPI is the big winner. I'm definitely someone who prefers a cream finish to the majority of my nail polish colors, but come fall and winter, the deep and dark colors that OPI has just can't be touched. they do "so dark it's almost black" better than anyone else on the market. my top picks? lincoln park after dark, russian navy, you don't know jacques, jade is the new black, and black cherry chutney.

for sheer washes of color & nuetral tones: essie wins, no contest. since the brand was created as a way to layer their sheer colors to create the perfect match for you, it makes sense that they still create some of the best sheer colors; including ballet slippers and mademoiselle. my classic go-to manicure when I want to look clean and professional has always been fiji, or for a bit less baby pink, marshmallow is another great option. other colors that are worth mentioning from essie are mint candy apple (possibly my favorite color of all time!), chinchilly, lilacism, and haute as hello.

for glitter & fun topcoats: it's a tie between deborah lippman & formula X for sephora. all of the glitters from deborah lippman are amazing and for $20, they better be. but they take a basic manicure to the next level. the different sizes/colors/shapes are unlike most things out on the market, and I am obsessed. my favorites would have to be across the universe, mermaid tears, and happy birthday. formula X for sephora is amazing for their xplosives line; which give the effect of splatter paint and graffiti (without all the mess that comes with nail art). these topcoats are the type of polish that will make people stop you and ask what's on your nails. my hands down favorite is wham!, but the whole line is pretty cool.

what are some of your favorite nail polish brands? do you have certain brands that you favor for certain things, like me?

xx, marissa

neighborhood faves: beacon hill

while the north end has been my home for quite some time, and the south end is one of my newer obsessions in boston, beacon hill (and charles street specifically) has always been my favorite. it's the first neighborhood in the city I called home, housed my college right on the tippity top (holla suffolk!) and is the epicenter for preppy bostonians . I'm obsessed with the old world charm, the cobblestones, the old buildings, and the incredible boutique shopping and amazing restaurants. I've rounded up a few of my favorite boutiques for scoring the best pieces, and my favorite restaurants for incredible meals and the prettiest cocktails.

shop:

crush boutique has been one of my favorites forever. my broke college self was famous for window shopping/lusting after their pieces whether it was this location, or their other on newbury street. they carry a bunch of my favorite boutique brands like bb dakota, splendid, olive & oak, and plenty by tracy reese.

wish boutique is another one of my favorites. where crush is a bit more edgy and trend driven, wish stocks more of a classic look with timeless basics, which I love. the spot for the perfect fitting pair of jeans, a great dress for an 'oh so special' occasion, a tops that blend seamlessly with the rest of your wardrobe. classic brands like j. brand, ella moss, theory, tibi, and vince are always my go-to's.

the beauty mark is the cosmetic and skin care destination on beacon hill. packed with harder to find brands like kai, duwop, julie hewett, and lipstick queen- it's a far cry from the glowing aisles of a sephora or ulta. the store also doubles as a beautification destination- have your lashes done, your makeup applied and a mini (or full) mani while you wait. definitely my kind of place!

dine/drink:

the king and I is hands down my favorite thai restaurant in boston. their pad thai is my favorite, and I've tried my fair share of pad thai (and nothing else compares). small location, but super clean, the staff is always friendly, and the food is always fresh and amazing.

the paramount is one of my favorite breakfast places in the city. I am a sucker for their french toast (caramel and banana) and pancakes (chocolate chip) and the giant line I'm always met with, tells me that the rest of the city is too! any restaurant that's managed to stick around since the 30's has to be doing something right.

the liberty hotel is an amazing mix of restaurants and bars that each have their own vibe/clientele. the hotel (a former prison- so cool!) is split into clink, alibi, liberty bar, the yard, and catwalk. clink and alibi utilize the old bars for the true prison feel, and feature framed celebrity mug shots. it's a tight space, it is a old jail remember, but a great place for grabbing drinks with your girlfriends or date night. liberty bar and the yard are located in the lobby (and the tiers above the lobby), and are the best for people watching. the yard is the outdoor space and fun if you have a table with a big group, or for a nice summer night.

what are some of your favorite spots on beacon hill?

xx, marissa

scent story

 

I remember the first bottle of expensive perfume that I ever owned; it was a bottle of Dior Pure Poison that I received as a Christmas present from my father, and I remember instantly feeling so grown-up. while girls my age (I think I was 13 at the time) were wearing sickly sweet, fruity scents, I loved the deep sultry woodsy scents. I still favor sexy over sweet, and have rounded up my favorite perfumes if you'd rather not smell like a floral garden/baby prostitute.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black: 

my recent obsession. I got a sample with a Sephora online order and was hooked! the type of perfume that makes you stop and smell your wrist it's so amazing.

Burberry Brit:

 the sweetest of the bunch, but still sexy. a lighter option than my other fragrances.

Tom Ford Black Orchid: 

a deeper and sultrier version of my classic scent.

Dior Pure Poison: 

the perfume that started my obsession with deep scents. so much nostalgia whenever I smell it.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb: 

my all-time favorite perfume. even when I find a new scent that I like, I always end up coming back to it. a perfume that people are constantly stopping me to ask me what I'm wearing.

while some people think that certain scents are meant for certain time of day/season/occasion, I don't follow those rules. I love a sultry scent early in the morning, in the middle of summer, or even if I'm having a lazy day. find something that you love, and rock it whenever. "rules" are meant to be broken.

what are some of your favorite scents? do you like a sexy, sultry scent; or are you a flowery gal?

xx, marissa

this weekend: south end open studios

one of my favorite things about Boston is the amount of things to do on any given weekend. with so many different areas of the city, there is such a variety of activities whether you're heading out by yourself, looking for something to do with your hunny, out of town guests, or the kiddos. this weekend is South End Open Studios, a great excuse to poke around the artists lofts/studios, talk to the creator, get inspired, and maybe even pick up a piece (or two) for yourself. everything from photographers, painters, sculptures, installation artists, jewelers, and so much more. the event happens every year, and the studios are open to the public Saturday and Sunday. if you happen to head over on Sunday, the SOWA Market is also open (great food trucks, vendors, and artists on display there as well), and may be a better option if you have little ones in tow (more space to walk stretch out/not having to be worried about them breaking something in a studio space). in addition to the normal Open Studios activities and fun, Union Bar and Grille will be catering lunch in the Courtyard of 46 Waltham. feel free to stop by, grab lunch, and chat with the artists of the building all while enjoying lunch in the (hopefully!) beautiful weather.

have you ever been to South End Open Studios? scooped up anything pretty for yourself?

xx, marissa

summer stock up sale: j.crew

while every store has started with it's fall collections, and every blogger (including this girl) has started with their fall looks/favorites, the end of summer is the perfect time to scope out sale sections of your favorite stores and stock up on summer staples for super cheap. right now j.crew has 30% off sale (awesome) and an additional 50% off select items (holy amazing!). here are some of my favorite picks for clothes that are perfect for transitioning between the hot muggy summer and cool fall, and to pull out next spring/summer for almost new pieces.

do you stock up for the next year at the end of the season?

xx, marissa

fashion week favorites: kate spade

even though new york is a city that I know I could never live in (too loud, too cramped, too dirty), every september when fashion week rolls around, I'm always so jealous of the style-makers and fashionistas that call nyc home. going to fashion week has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, but for now, I stalk designer's instagrams, websites and bloggers who are lucky enough to attend. kate spade is on the top of my list for brands that I would love to work with, and their presentation every year is always my favorite. I love all the bright colors, interesting patterns, classic silhouettes and fabulously fun pieces that they churn out year after year. this year they did not disappoint! here are my favorite picks from this years presentation.

this first outfit was one of the first pictures I saw of the entire line and I was instantly obsessed. I love the crop top/high waisted skirt combo- my celebrity bff mindy khaling has rocked this look before and I love it everytime. I also am obsessed with that print- the green is the perfect shade of emerald (not too dark, not too light) and the flowers are the perfect pop against it. I'm counting the days until these pieces are released because I need to snatch those up!

the second outfit is the perfect "cool girl" look. I love the super simple print, especially against the bright and clean white. I love the shape of the shorts, super flattering, and the boxyness of the top. I'm not sure I'm cool enough to wear these too pieces together, but I love the way they look on the model. super simple (but not boring!) and understated.

the third look is a perfect. the dress is just the right amount of audrey hepburn/breakfast at tiffany's, but the sheer panel on top and the school boy collar keep it fresh and new. I love the tulle layer peaking out from the bottom (doesn't it just make you want to twirl), and I love that it was accessorized with the sexy lace up pumps, and a bright red bag. I'm 99% positive that the dress has pockets, which makes any dress a million times better.

and the final look is a close runner up for my second favorite look. I love the shape of this shift dress, so easy for running around town, but also dressy enough when worn with a heeled sandal or pumps. this print is amazing, stripes and floral, I'm in love. I also love the exaggerated sleeve that keeps the rest of you looking smaller, since boxy shapes can sometimes make you look bigger than you actually are.

what are some of your favorite looks from the kate spade presentation? are you as gaga over the brand as I am?

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: birchbox

it seems like there are about a million and one different subscription services these days; everything from cosmetics (BirchBox, GlossyBox, and Ipsy), to clothing (StitchFix), to pet products (BarkBox), and crafting supplies (For The Maker). I love getting mail (that isn't bills) as much as the next girl, but with so many different options available, styles and tastes, it's hard to know just what is worth the price of the subscription (and what isn't). I received a 6 month subscription to BirchBox for my birthday from my bosses, who know I love anything makeup/cosmetic related, and was super psyched to try out the service I had heard so much about. for someone who is a newbie to cosmetics, this may be a great gift for them, but I found myself disappointed with each passing month. with every box there was at least one food related item (tea, mints, a single chocolate) that seemed totally out of place with the cosmetics. the sizes of the samples were hardly ever deluxe sizes, and more often than not featured things that weren't interesting to me. when looking at images of the boxes online, they always feature multiple deluxe sizes and great products from companies that I know and love. unfortunately, my boxes never contained any of these items. even the picture above features a huge sample of Caudalie Cleansing Water, a full size Benefit lipgloss, and four other good sized cosmetic samples! all brands that never made an appearance in any of my six boxes. my bosses were so disappointed that they went ahead and emailed the company to let them know/hopefully hear some feedback from them (long story short- BirchBox couldn't have cared less that a customer was disappointed- which is a major bummer since we work in an industry that is so customer oriented). most of the samples that I received are sitting in my makeup collection, barely touched. and again, as someone who loves cosmetics this was such a disappointment. the idea is brilliant, and the e-commerce tie-in makes it seems like a no brainer (you receive a discount every month to purchase the full size version of the products in your box when purchased through their sight/earn points for every purchase made), but they miss the mark on the execution. would I ever subscribe to BirchBox again? no way. but I have heard good things about GlossyBox, so maybe that one is worth a shot.

have you ever tried any monthly subscription services? which ones have you had good luck with?

xx, marissa