allglamnofilter

 

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It’s that time again , time to start thinking about NYE! If you haven’t picked out the perfect look, I’m sharing my must-haves for bringing in the New Year in style!

1. My first NYE must have….sequins and lots of em! I found this J.Crew skirt at Give & Take in Portland, OR on a vintage outing, but I’ve linked some of my favorite sequined pieces and most on sale!  Loving this skirt  and also this one. If you’re more of a dress kinda gal, this one from Lulu’s and this one  from H&M are gorgeous options! // 2. Faux fur: loving this stole and this one . Pair with a turtleneck sweater or a sequin dress for a extra touch of glam. // 3. A pair of comfy high-heels: mine are from DSW and they’re under $40. Truth be told, I’ve been wearing these heels with all of my holiday looks this year. // 4. A bold lip is a must: obsessed with this lipstick and it’s under $6! // 5. Glitter eyeshadow: currently loving Stila’s Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow line. It’s seriously the best, guys! I chose Gold Goddess for my NYE look. // 6. A Cute handbag : My ring handle bag from Charming Charlie is currently sold out but I’ve linked a similar one here and here.//

Lastly, if you end up all dressed up (with nowhere to go) and you’re in the Portland area, here are a few NYE celebrations to choose from:

New Year’s Eve dusk-to-dawn
December 31, 2017
McMenamins’ New Year’s Eve Packages include dinner, party, champagne, hotel room, and breakfast at various locations.

New Year’s Eve – Governor’s Ball
December 31, 2017
A ticket to The Governor’s Ball includes reserved seating, a three-course dinner, wine,  live music, and a champagne toast at The Sentinel Hotel.

New Year’s Eve library party
December 31, 2017
The Library promises “a night of dancing, games, mini golf, ping pong, food, alcohol, and a midnight balloon drop” at Beaverton City Library. This event is family friendly!

Still looking for the right event? See more local listings here.

Thank you to Neu Perspectives Photography for the amazing photos! Your mission to bring out “neu perspectives” in a personal, organic way was definitely achieved with this collaboration.

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Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we spend countless hours meal planning and baking. If you yourself aren’t hosting a holiday gathering, chances are you know someone who is. One thing I’m sure we can all agree on this holiday season is how much time goes in to planning the perfect holiday get together.

What if you could take all the guess work out of meal planning, eliminate hours in the kitchen and satisfy everyone at your dining table? Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! If you live in Portland, Oregon ( or near one the other five Henry’s Tavern locations) of a stress free dining experience is within reach!

I recently had the opportunity to visit Henry’s Tavern and fell in love with the menu and the tavern’s charm. Since I’m passionate about buildings with unique pasts, I have to tell you a little bit about about the space:

The restaurant pays tribute to the Blitz-Weinhard Brewery, which brewed beer on site for more than 140 years. Henry’s Tavern, occupies what was once the heart of the brewery. The original brewhouse is now the dining room and bar area. The iconic Weinhard Brewery smokestack, is visible from the spacious courtyard, and the lounge and kitchen occupy what was once the malt storage building.

As far as food is concerned, the menu is amazing! Even the pickiest of eaters is sure to find something they’ll love. For starters I recommend any of the seasonal ciders paired with the Gorgonzola Waffle Fries. This appetizer may be the perfect size for sharing, but trust me, you won’t want to share these fries! With so many delicious entrees to choose from, picking one was quite tough.  Ultimately I ordered the Protein Power Bowl with grilled chicken and was not disappointed! My friend, Lizzie, ordered the Citrus Grilled Ahi was equally as pleased with her menu selection. Since the portions were so large and we were coveting each other’s orders, we decided to share.

      If you’re still in the mood for dessert after finishing the main course, you have to try the Mud Pie Brownie Sundae! Nothing beats a homemade brownie topped with ice cream, caramel sauce, candied walnuts and whipped cream!!

Henry’s is open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day so plan your holiday event or dinner today!

Thank you to Henry’s Tavern for an amazing dining experience and for sponsoring this post!

Thank you to Lizzie Harrell Photography  for being my +1 and taking these wonderful photos!

Well, it’s official…the holiday season is here! I absolutely love the glitz and glamour that comes with this time of year….all the sequins, the bows, tulle, the holiday plaids….the list goes on. This time of year, it’s perfectly acceptable to combine all of those things!

I’ll be honest, I have a few pieces in my closet that are so incredibly festive, I can only wear them during the holiday season. If you only have a short amount of time to wear your holiday favorites, you have to make it count!

Want to wear your favorite holiday skirt (or dress)  to back-to-back holiday parties? No, problem! Style each look a little differently, and no one will ever know your holiday look is on repeat. With that said, I’ve styled the perfect holiday skirt two different ways.

I am in LOVE with these holiday looks, they’re  festive, chic and girly! I’ve styled this gorgeous skirt by Tulle On Lace  with a striped turtle neck ( similar here) and a basic long-sleeve crew neck.  Add a statement necklace when wearing an all black or solid colored top and you’re sure to look fabulous at your next holiday gathering! Lastly, don’t be afraid to mix prints or add another pop of plaid.

If you’re still looking for the perfect holiday outfit, hopefully these looks will give you some inspiration.

Thank you Tulle On Lace for sponsoring this post! This skirt will be on repeat every December from here on out! I’m a huge fan of your designs!

Thank you to Meleah Shavon Photography for partnering on this post! It was beyond a pleasure working with you!

Today’s post wraps up the iconic women collaboration with Lizzie Harrell Photography. Our final post features the extraordinary British-American actress, businesswoman, and and humanitarian, Elizabeth Taylor. We had so much fun re-creating these images of iconic women who have inspired us with their talent, fashion influence, and contributions to society. Hope you enjoyed the series as much as we did!

“I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I’m not afraid to look behind them.” – Elizabeth Taylor

One of the most popular stars of the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor, is considered by some as the last major star in classic Hollywood cinema.

In 1932, Elizabeth was born in London where her American parents were residing. At the age of 3 she began dancing, and performed a recital for Princess Elizabeth and Margaret as a young child. When WWII broke out, her family relocated to Los Angeles, CA. Her breakout role in cinema came at the tender age of 12 in the film National Velvet (1944).

Elizabeth would continue to captive audiences for decades, both on and off screen. She was admired for her striking looks and unique violet eyes. And with eight marriages in her lifetime, her love life was constantly in the public eye. But her work made her a true star. With the capacity to deliver compelling performances in emotionally demanding roles, she’s best known for her titular role in Cleopatra (1963), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and her Oscar-winning performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1965). In her later years, Elizabeth continued to work on stage and in television, even making a guest appearance on General Hospital.

She was one of the first celebrities to endorse a fragrance, a profitable business venture that would continue to support her lifestyle into her later years. William J. Mann, author of How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood, said of Taylor: “People think about her as a glamorous movie star. She was actually a very smart business woman.”

After the death of her close friend, Rock Hudson, to HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth worked towards finding a cure. She courageously ignored the stigma associated with the disease and established the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation in 1991, to offer support for the sick and fund treatment research.

In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor passed away from congestive heart failure, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, business savvy, artistic talent, and courage.

The iconic photograph we recreated of Elizabeth Taylor was photographed by Mark Shaw in 1956 for the October cover of LIFE Magazine. At the time, she was starring in the academy award winning film, Giant, along Rock Hudson and James Dean. We are obsessed with the romantic ruffles Elizabeth is wearing and her powerful femininity captured in this image.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving to Oregon three years ago, it’s this: fall and winter in the Pacific Northwest is wet.

With each passing year, my umbrella and rain boot collection seems to grow larger. I’ve developed the opinion : umbrellas are accessories and rain boots should be functional as well as fashionable.

Rain boots have really become a staple in my wardrobe and they’re the one boot that’s seasonless. When you have a fashionable pair of water proof boots, even rain and mud can’t ruin an outfit.

I love my new Chooka boots! They’re absolutely everything I look for in a rain boot. They’re comfortable, functional, fashionable and can be easily styled in multiple ways. Considering my love for fun prints, it’s no wonder I gravitated towards the Chooka Monaco Boot.

I typically wear my my rain boots with skinny jeans or leggings, but you can also wear with skirts, shorts or dresses.

I’m particularly looking forward to wearing my rain boots again with white skinny jeans.

If you’re in the market for a pair of cute/affordable rain boots, mine are on sale for under $50! Chooka offers a wide variety of stylish boots that are perfect for any budget. While linking these I added at least five pairs to my wishlist, including these red ones.

I’ve linked more of my favorites from their current  sale that would make great gifts this holiday season! 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 //

Thank you to Chooka for sponsoring this post.

Thank you to Lizzie Harrell Photography for these wonderful images.

Happy Friday, everyone! I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! This year has flown by.

Every year I vow to begin my holiday shopping early and every year I fall incredibly short of that goal…

Just because you wait until the last minute to start your holiday shopping, doesn’t mean the quality of your gift giving has to suffer! Sure, it’s the thought that counts…but let’s be honest, we all want gifts we’re not tempted to re-gift. Right?

Every year Nordstrom makes holiday gift giving so easy! They break everything down: gifts for her under $100, gifts for her under $50, gifts for the tech lover in your life, gifts for him under $100, you get the idea,  the categories are endless !

All of the items linked below are $65 or under.  Most of the items are under $50!

The fashionista on your Christmas List is sure to love any of these items. Chances are they’re already on her Nordstrom wishlist!

This post was not sponsored by Nordstrom.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12

My mother and bff are well aware of my love for all things Parisian, so of course when they told me about a new French cafe and boulangerie in Wilmington, NC I had to go while I was in town . Seriously, this place is a little piece of Paris in the Port City! If you’ve never been to Paris (or even if you have), this gem captures the charm of a quaint cafe in Montmartre. You can almost hear the accordions and envision street artists painting the French country side at their easels.

Far From France has a wide variety of pastries, breads and lattes. There are also imported chocolates, jams and other condiments available for purchase inside the gourmet boutique as well. Lastly,  if you’re looking for a gift for that special someone in your life who’s always dreaming of France, you’re sure to find something here.

We chose to order lattes, a cream puff and an assortment of macarons to enjoy on the outside patio. I could have sat outside at this cafe with my mom and bestie all day! My latte was amazing and in my opinion, the macarons were better than Laduree!!!

Have a great week, friends!!

Striped dress // sunnies// handbag (vintage 1960) // red flats (almost identical)

Happy Friday everyone!! I thought I would do something a little fun and different on the blog today, so I’m sharing “10 things you didn’t know about me.” Hopefully this gives you a chance to get to know me better ! 🙂

1. I’m left handed but learned to play acoustic guitar right handed. I still have my guitar but can’t remember the last time I played it.

2. My two favorite foods are Mexican and Italian. I could seriously eat a chicken taco salad or vegetable lasagna every night.

3. I never went to prom when I was in high school.

4. I don’t want kids. I’m perfectly happy being a dog Mom.

5. I never get tired of watching Sex and the City re-runs.

6.  Before moving to Oregon, I lived in Illinois and Texas but I’m originally from North Carolina.

7. Whenever I need style inspiration I turn to Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn,  Jackie O and Kate Middleton .

8. In the past three years I’ve been to London, Paris (twice), Rome and Amsterdam.

9. When I was in middle school, my hair was so long I would ask my mom to style it like Princess Lea’s. We’re talking cinnamon buns, crown braids, the whole nine yards!

1o. If I could travel back in time, I would love to spend some time in the 1940s. Preferably after the war. I would also like to spend 1 day and night on the Titanic prior to the iceberg collision. I’ve been fascinated by it forever!

Well I hope you all enjoyed learning a little bit about me. Maybe I’ll share ” 10 more things you didn’t know about me” in the future. It may come as a surprise, but I’m really a very private person so this post was a huge step for me. Blogging has definitely forced me to step out of my comfort zone in many ways and for that I’m grateful.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Old Navy scarf // Old Navy tee dress // similar black booties

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Some of my earliest memories of Halloween include carving pumpkins with my dad, trick-or-treating and watching Disney’s Hocus Pocus with my brother. This year I was extremely grateful to spend the week leading up to one of my favorite holidays with my family and best friend.

Almost every year my parents and I have a long distance pumpkin carving contest, this year I was fortunate enough to be able to carve with them in North Carolina!

Prior to carving, my mom and I made a trip to the pumpkin patch at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.  I honestly can’t remember the last time I went to a pumpkin patch, especially one adorable! The pumpkin patch started 25 years ago to fund youth ministry and mission projects. Today proceeds from the fundraiser continue to support mission trips and children in need throughout the community.

   

I hope you all have a spook-tacular Halloween! I plan to stay in, light a few fall scented candles, eat candy and watch a scary (yet no so scary) movie. What do y’all have planned?

Shop this post:  bag Tory Burch simiar here , plaid shirt, similar jeans, similar booties 

“I’m basically a feminist. I think that women can do anything they decide to do.” – Grace Kelly

Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1929. Her father was a three-time Olympic gold Medalist and owned a successful brickwork contracting company. Grace’s mother was the daughter of German Immigrants and a Philadelphia native. Prior to having children, her mother taught physical education at the University of Philadelphia.

Kelly had two older siblings, Margaret and John Jr., and a younger sister, Elizabeth. Grace began modeling and acting at a young age and had already starred in many local play productions prior to graduating high school.

After Grace was denied entry to Bennington College, as a result of her poor mathematics scores, she decided to pursue her dream of acting. To begin her career, she applied to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Once admitted, she worked as a model to support her studies. Throughout this time, she starred on Broadway and approximately sixty live television programs, which eventually led to a roles in a major motion pictures.

In April 1955 Grace attended the Cannes Film Festival . While there, she was invited to participate in a photo shoot at the Palace of Monaco with Prince Rainier lll. Grace eventually became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier lll, in April 1956.

As Princess, she was unable to continue her acting career. Instead of acting, she performed her daily tasks and became involved in philanthropic work. Grace founded AMADE, a non-profit organization that promotes and protects the “moral and physical integrity” and “spiritual well-being of children throughout the world, without distinction of race, nationality or religion and in a spirit of complete political independence. As a mother of three, this cause was very dear to her.

Grace Kelly passed away on September 14, 1982 as a result of her injuries sustained in a car accident. Today Kelly is not only remembered for her philanthropic and charitable contributions, she is remembered as a style icon as well. Her effortlessly chic style and natural beauty has been an inspiration for many modern fashion designers.

The iconic photograph we recreated of Grace Kelly was photographed by Howell Conant in 1955 while Grace was working on The Swan, and the color version was featured on cover of Vanity Fair in May 2010 paying tribute to Grace’s timeless style.

Thank you to Lizzie Harrell for partnering on this project.