Very special birthdays!

Today is an extra special day – both my grandpa & my fiance’s grandma share a birthday! Luckily, we were able to spend time with both of them this week (and, of course, this weekend) and I wanted to be sure to give them both some extra love in the blogging world! Happy birthday, to my Papaw, who is a young 64 years old, and to Grandma Rita, who is a lively 90 years old! We love you both.

My gorgeous hubby-t0-be & myself, before a birthday dinner. Isn’t he handsome?

Caged black flats by Relativity

Wet N’ Wild Megalast polish in “Through the Grapevine”

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Xo, Rachel

Wedding week!

Hi, bloggers! Oh. My. Gosh. I’m 3 days away from the big day, and I couldn’t be more excited!!! Here are some pictures of what I’ve been up to lately, including a bridal shower with my best friends, making our table seating plan, creating our table numbers, and more fun things… Enjoy!

My original bridal shower was so special, but I wanted to celebrate with my best friends where I live, now. We had so much fun! We ended up wining & dining at a place called Lolita’s, restaurant of world-renown chef Michael Symon. It was AMAZING! I had such a fun night, and it was wonderful to get a night out with my girlfriends. What more could I ask for.

I received some of the cutest gifts at the shower (including these mrs necklace & matching earrings!!!), but this was one of the most sentimental gifts. I’ve seen these frames on Pinterest, but I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have someone make one for me! I cannot wait to hang it up in our apartment.

YAY! After many months of arranging and re-arranging, the seating plan is DONE! The design was inspired by a blog I had found over a year ago, but I have no idea how to find the link again. I know I had a post about it in the beginning of wedding planning (so, summer 2012) if you are interested in seeing the “inspiration” picture. Basically, the frame is made of several “layers,” stained book pages, doilies, lace ribbon, scrapbook paper, and card stock for the actual seating arrangements. I used my favorite marriage books, “I do, now what?” by Giuliana & Bill Rancic, as my fiance & I are both avid fans of theirs. It turned out so darn cute!

Here’s a pic for those of you with a sweet tooth! Our wedding theme is vintage romance, incorporating neutral colors, doilies, and my favorite, love birds! Our wedding favors are from Etsy, and are filled with something for everyone, from lemon heads, to mint hearts, to rock candy. I hope everyone enjoys them – it took forever to fill every single bag!!!!

Our table number signs turned out so great! We bought the signs from Etsy, and I originally planned on using regular chalk, but I found a very bold white marker, and I absolutely love how it turned out. These will be stuck in each of the centerpieces.

One of the more fun aspects of planning the wedding was the wine tasting for our wedding! I’m a huge fan of 750ML wine bar (gotta love girls’ nights during school!), so we knew we had to order our wedding wine from there. It was so much fun to do this with my fiance – it made for a pretty fun date night.

Last but not least, I’ve had this bridal tumbler for months now, but was FINALLY able to bust it out to use this week! Again, it’s from the cutest little Etsy shop, and I’m going to be sipping on it all weekend. I’m a very proud Bride-to-be….

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This really has been the busiest week ever, but tomorrow I’m starting the wedding weekend off right with a trip to the spa with my MOH, including massages, mani’s, & pedi’s! Ah….. the life.

Xo, Rachel

Last fling before the RING!

Although I’ve had so much fun the last year planning this wedding, I have to admit that the last month or so has been the time of my life! Bridal showers, wine tastings, catering appointments…. and of course my Bachelorette party!!! It’s everything they say it would be… and I couldn’t move for 24 hours afterwards (yuck!), but I had one of the best times of my life with my girlfriends, and I’m so thankful to have such amazing girls in my life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without them! Here are some photos that were captured throughout the night…

 

Xo, Rachel

‘Tea time’ bridal shower!

Hey bloggers! It has been one of the most hectic months EVER! Between finishing up my first year of graduate school (1 more week…. I can do this), and last minute to-dos for the wedding, I’ve been swamped! I wanted to be sure and give you a glimpse into my perfect bridal shower I had two weeks ago. It was tea party themed, complete with tea pots, tulips, assortment of teas, macarons, and (my favorite) petit fours from NYC. I wore an adorable cream and gold dress from Francesca’s that was brocade on top with a chiffon skirt. I’M IN LOVE WITH IT! I had it specifically for my shower for months now, and was so excited to finally wear it. I also had my hair done with a very vintage style. Enjoy the pictures!

My beautiful corsage I got to show off all afternoon.

I was in love with these centerpieces. We each got to choose one to keep, & I have one with dainty little pink roses scattered around the tea pot. Can’t wait to use it in my apartment!

Since the theme was ‘tea time,’ there was a tea bar set up with hot water & a variety of teas and spices for people to try. How cute it this set-up???

 

I was so lucky that my grandma had Petit Fours from NYC at the shower! They are one of my favorite pastries, and they were super delicious. We had lemon, raspberry, and chocolate flavors. Also, I grabbed some yummy macarons from Pistachia Vera in German Village. Both were a hit!

I love this picture of my best friend, Brooke, & I. We’ve been friends for 24 years, and I’m so thankful she is still by my side for my big day!

Picture of me with my aunt, grandma, mom, and aunt (MOH!)

Love this picture with my future mother, sister, & grandma in-law!

I got so many adorable cards that I’m saving for my wedding scrapbook, but this one from my mama was my favorite.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the ‘aftermath’ of the party… the tea, wine, & pink lemonade was very popular with the guests, and everyone had a great time! It was an absolute perfect day, and I can’t believe how close the wedding is.

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This was my family bridal shower, although a couple of my best friends were able to attend. I’ll be having a friends’ ladies night/bridal shower in a couple of weeks & I’m really looking forward to it!

Xo, Rachel

Change keeps getting bigger & better!

Hi, bloggers! Looks like I have another round of good news to share.

In the last year, I’ve been accepted into graduate school, moved to a new city, got engaged, survived my first year as a grad student, planned a wedding, and am about 6 weeks away from being a wife. What a whirlwind of a year!!! Well, one more AMAZING thing has happened in our lives: my soon-to-be hubby has been accepted into medical school! It’s been his lifelong dream to become a doctor, and his dreams are coming true, just like mine. I’m so proud of him, happy for him, and know he will be an amazing physician one day. He was accepted into a program pretty far away from here, so once he leaves in August, we will be separated until I graduate in May of 2015. That rounds out to about a year & a half of being apart, while he’s studying medicine and I’m studying therapy. It sounds worse than it is, especially since we’ve been preparing ourselves for this for the last four years. It’s FINALLY here, and no amount of sadness or loneliness can get in the way of our happiness, both individually and as a couple, for our future!

Of course, he is rushing around doing the million things on his checklist before he actually starts in September, and we have quite a BUSY summer ahead of us… Wedding in May… Honeymoon in June… Both working throughout the summer… then our flights leave for his “new” home on 8/22! You bet your bottom I’ll be squeezing in as many date nights, cuddle sessions, kisses, and laughs as I can. I’m ecstatic for him, and we’re both looking forward to a challenging, but worthwhile, year a a half.

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Is anyone else out there in a long-distance marriage/relationship? What are the tricks of keeping the spark alive? How do you keep yourself from feeling down and missing your other half? Let me know in the comments!

Xo, Rachel

All about hair care!

Hey guys! I’ve been thinking about doing a “re-do” of my makeup post this time last year, but go with my hair care products instead! I’m meticulous and over-attached when it comes to my locks, especially right now since I’m getting ready for my wedding in May! Here, I share with you the products that I currently use. I’m all about trying new products, but I definitely DON’T waste time or money with things that I don’t LOVE. Enjoy, and let me know if you have any tips or different products you swear by…

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Let me start out by saying I long, fine hair. It takes a good product to give it some volume or curl, and it can get bogged down with oil-infused products VERY easily. So when it comes to hair care, I really am kind of picky about what I buy, because I definitely don’t like wasting money on things that make my hair look bad! Who would? I like to wash my hair every other day if I can, unless I’m having a really bad hair day, or I have something important to do. When I do, here’s what I use every time I wash my hair:

1) Shampoo: For shampoos, I like to be picky. I’ve highlighted my hair since I was a teenager, and although it’s not always with bleach additives, it can still do some major damage to your hair. I’ve heard it’s healthier and easier on hair to dye it or get high/lowlights with dark color than to go lighter, but I’m not completely sure! It’s always good to find a shampoo that emphasizes care for color-treated hair and also for moisturizing. For me, my two favorite brands are It’s a 10! or L’Oreal Sulfate-free. I’m in love with all It’s a 10! products, but the L’Oreal is most budget-friendly and is really healthy for your hair. Right now, I’m using the It’s a 10! Miracle Volumizing Shampoo, that you can get online or at a hair care store. Actually, they even have it at drugstores now, so it’s really easy to find.

2) Conditioner: When it comes to conditioners, I’m less picky. It’s more about how it feels than whether it’s good for color, length, volume, etc… Everyone is different, but I actually like a thicker conditioner (to rinse out) because I just feel like it does a better job on my hair, especially because of how fine & tangly it gets. I buy various brands at a typical drug store, and my favorite is Garnier, although I switch between that, Pantene, and L’Oreal Sulfate-free. When it comes to all of the different types, I find myself always getting one focused on length, strength, growth, anti-breakage, etc. I’m currently using the Garnier length & strength.

3) Leave-in conditioner: I’m all for leave-in conditioning treatments you find at Sephora, Sally Beauty, Ulta, etc… But I had never came across one that I wanted to use permanently (more than just a sample size) on my hair. Since the wedding is coming up so soon, I wanted to make sure my hair was at optimal health for both growth, strength, and shine. When you shop online at Sephora, you can to choose from various samples of their products, and Ouidad leave-in conditioner was one that I chose to try. It’s awesome!!!! It’s the best conditioning treatment I’ve ever tried. It smells great, it’s super light weight, and does not leave my hair looking greasy (which most leave-in conditioners will do to me). Unlike the moisturizing spray I use (discussed next), this is a deeper conditioning for your hair, and you can still use it daily if you want. It’s actually made for those with curly hair to reduce frizz, but even with my STICK STRAIGHT hair, it leaves it shiny but fresh, both straight and after curling it. You can buy it online through Ouidad or, like me, pick it up at a local Sephora.

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4) Moisturizing Spray: I started using a leave-in spray about two years ago, and I can’t go without it! It gives my hair that extra moisture for when I just hop out of the shower & need to combo through my hair. Actually, I use a brush (which is harder on your hair than a comb), so it really helps me to get the tangles out easily without losing all of my hair! I’ve tried three different brands, and now I switch back & forth between only two. Aveeno & L’Oreal Sulfate-free are my favorites, and I like switching back & forth simply for the different smells. I also tried Pantene and I didn’t care for it. I don’t feel like it provided as much moisture as the other two do, so I don’t waste my money on it anymore. I’m currently using L’Oreal Sulfate-free, and it smells AMAZING!

5) Anti-breakage Serum: This product is a really great way to manage/prevent split ends, and since I have longer hair, this is great to use for in-between months, or when I’m in need of a trim. This is one of the two products on the list I don’t use daily, because it can really make my hair heavy if I use too much. I only use it on the bottom few inches of my hair, after the above products. I use the Coconut Milk kind, and it smells SoooOooOoo yummy! Sometimes, if I know I’m not going anywhere all day, or right before bedtime, I’ll wet my hair and then put this all over my hair and let it air dry. The only thing bad about that is if your hair rubs on your face at night you are risking breaking out because of the excess oils. I typically let mine air dry at least halfway before bedtime, and then put my hair in a loose pony so it’s away from my face.  If you have split ends, this is a great way to help tame them until you can get a trim.

6) Volumizer: Although this isn’t a true hair spray, that’s what I use it for. I absolutely CANNOT stand hair sprays that make your hair so stiff you go into the wind and it doesn’t move. It really grosses me out to see people’s hair like that. I go for more flexible hair sprays, and when I came across this product, it did the job I was looking for. It’s actually to help give you volume and heat-protection for when you are curling your hair, so when I’m curling my hair I spray it before and after. Even if I’m wearing my hair straight, it works great to just spray my roots, run my fingers through my hair to create a little volume, and I’m out the door. Super simple, smells good, and NO STIFFNESS! Just another It’s a 10! product I’m in love with.

7) Finishing Spray: Last, but not least, is the true It’s a 10! hair spray. I hardly ever use this because I always use the volumizer, but when I need my hair to stay in place all day, if I’m going out and it’s really windy, or if I just want my hair to stay perfect (yea right! never happens!), I use this instead. Obviously, it’s an actual finishing spray so it’s meant to hold more than the volumizer, but it’s still flexible enough to not make your hair look like you have a ton of spray in.

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XO, Rachel

My favs for March!

March is almost over, so I wanted to share with you my favorite things I’ve bought, received, or tried this month!

1) Urban Decay Naked Palette

I know people say this all the time, but I am dead serious when I say this is the BEST PALETTE EVER! I’ve always had a bunch of different eyeshadows, both drug store & dept. store brands. Well, I threw it all away once I bought this palette because it has everything you’ll ever want & need in an eyeshadow. I’m very into neutral eyes, but this palette allows you to mix & match, layer different colors, and come up with a billion different looks. If there’s anything I’d ever recommend when it comes to makeup, it’s this palette. I’d recommend going to Sephora (or a similar makeup store) and have them try it on you, so you see which palette you prefer. I chose the Naked, because it has more matte shadows, but the Naked2 also has beautiful colors!

2) Pinterest-inspired hair styles

I’ve recently been trying to actually TRY all of the hair styles I’ve pinned on Pinterest, and the bow bun is one of my favorites! It reminds my fiance of a little girl, and I think it looks super classy. It makes day#2 hair that much cuter!

3) Tiffany & Co. “I love you” band

 

On our recent trip to Chicago, my fiance surprised me with a gift from Michigan Ave! A Tiffany&Co. sterling silver band with an “I love you” script. What girl doesn’t want to be surprised with a gift in a little blue box? It’s a gift to remember our trip together, as well as an early wedding gift to me. He’s entirely too sweet.

4) Tiffany blue chevron iphone case

I’m OBSESSED with both mint & chevron, so when I came across this iphone case on Etsy, I had to have it! You can get it, and similar cases, here.

5) Mint point-toe flats

Once again, mint is one of my favorites for this spring & summer, and I hope to get a lot of use out of these cute flats from Urban Outfitters! Dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down…. so adorable! I will say, though, they aren’t the most comfortable pair I’ve ever had…. but pain = beauty, right??

6) Black pleather clutch

One of my absolute favorite places to shop is Francesca’s. They have super vintage-inspired clothing, and some of the cutest accessories, ever. This black clutch is one of my recent purchases for Spring, and I’m UH-bsessed. It’s bigger than a normal clutch, so it fits everything in it that I typically have in my purse. It actually has a strap so you can turn it into a purse, but I prefer not to use it. I think it’s cuter and more stylish carrying it around. LOVE!

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What are some of your favorite things this Spring?!

Xo, Rachel