Portsmouth and Portland Photo Diary

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Latest Outfit: Summer Travel Style

Saint James x J. Crew tee (similar) | Banana Republic jeans | Madewell jacket | Keds sneakers | J. Crew Factory necklace (similar)| Karen Walker shades | Longchamp 'Le Pliage' small shoulder tote | Lips: Dior Lip Glow

Since I've been sharing Boston vacation photos, I couldn't resist posting this set of outfit photos snapped at Green Animals Topiary Garden in Newport, RI. The outfit is a variation of the Boston travel outfit I pretty much wore for the entire trip. However, the glitzier statement necklace and Breton stripes felt like an apropos nod to Newport's glamorous Gilded Age mansions and seaside vibe, respectively.

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Boston Photo Diary Part 1

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My "No Makeup" Makeup Look

Amazing, insane, beautiful: These are all adjectives that friends and acquaintances have used to describe my skin lately. Most of it is probably due to good habits (more about that in a later post) and good genes, but truthfully the right makeup products help too. Here's what I've been using and loving lately in a 5-minute morning routine that only requires 2 brushes.

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Latest Outfit: Fresh Crop

JACHS Girlfriend blouse (c/o; similar) | Anthropologie skirt (similar) | Ray-Ban cat-eye shades (similar) | J. Crew Factory sandals | Roots 'Cutie' bag (c/o) | Lips: Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain 'Miami Fever' | Nails: Dior Vernis Gel 'Night Shock' & 'Reflects'

As far as style refreshes go, few changes are as effective as a dramatic hair change. I finally decided to visit the salon last weekend to do something about my long, shapeless locks, armed with a photo of Marion Cotillard's relaxed bob and sideswept bangs. 90 minutes and more than 6" of hair chopped off later, I emerged a new woman. The change has definitely given my closet staples a new lease on life. This outfit, which can veer towards twee with a braided 'do, now feels sleeker, more modern, and decidedly more grown-up. A sleek bob for autumn while savouring the last couple weeks of sunflowers, skirts, and sandals season: sounds like the perfect pre-fall compromise to me.

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MAC A Novel Romance Fall 2014 Collection

Who can resist a fun and cheesy theme? Certainly not MAC Cosmetics, whose fall 2014 collection is inspired by the flush-cheeked, starry-eyed ladies of Harlequin romances. A Novel Romance features rich plums, burgundies, and jewel tones, with a few lavenders and neutrals thrown in for good measure. Time to let your inner heroine shine this season! More images of the collection after the jump.

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Chapters Indigo Holiday 2014 Preview

Right before the Chapters Indigo holiday preview at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia Tuesday evening, I tweeted, ".@chaptersindigo #indigofaves holiday preview should be subtitled 'Please take all my money from now 'til Dec.' Seriously excited for today." It was a joke—well, sort of. Since Chapters Indigo has reinvented itself as a go-to destination for gifts, decor, stationery, and everything in between, I've spent many a dollar at their Robson location. Rifle Paper Co. iPhone cases? Yup. Kate Spade stationery? On it. Voluspa? Call me #candlehoarder.

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Eyes For You

In just a couple weeks, it'll be back to school and back to work for many of us, which also means long days and late nights spent working or studying. Now, I don't know about you, but for me, even the comfiest contacts feel like sandpaper after 8+ hours of computer or reading time. The solution? A pair of distinctive frames that give my eyes a break but don't feel like a style compromise.

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Latest Outfit: Summer Daze

J. Crew tee | Banana Republic shorts | Marni x H&M sandals | Ray-Ban cat-eye shades (similar) | Swarovski 'Amorous' pendant (c/o) | Longchamp 'Le Pliage' tote | Lips: Fresh Sugar Ruby Lip Treatment | Nails: Dior Vernis Gel Shine 'Incognito' | Pedi: Essie 'Strut Your Stuff'

Just trying to stay cool on what turned out to be a scorcher of a Sunday in these photos. Between work, the blog, and the initial stages of wedding planning, these not-so-lazy, hazy days of summer are slipping by much too quickly. This weekend proved wonderfully relaxing though: a dinner at my maid of honour's house Friday night; a leisurely afternoon spent reading wedding magazines and gathering inspiration; and sampling tasty morsels at the Golden Dumpling Cook Off made by some of the best restaurants in the city.

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4 Alternative Uses for Your Bookcases Thanks to BitLit.com

Photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Most bibliophiles can sympathize: At some point, your avid reader status translates into overloaded bookshelves sagging under the weight of brick-like tomes and paperbacks. They take up space. They're heavy to move from apartment to apartment. And in Vancouver—where condos and townhomes are increasingly small—they literally occupy valuable real estate. That's why I was intrigued and excited to learn of local start-up bitlit.com.

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Dior Beauty Fall 2014

I know we're still in the dog days of summer, but there are already fall launches on my desk that I'm dying to tell you about, stat! First up: Dior's fall 2014 beauty collection. This season's offerings are inspired by the famed couturier's favourite colours—red, grey, pink, black, and blue—and are the basis of the newly relaunched 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palettes, as well as the complementary lip and nail shades. Get ready for a photo-heavy look after the jump!

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Latest Outfit: Pink Lady

Joe Fresh blouse | eShakti skirt (c/o) | J. Crew 'Everly' pumps | Ray-Ban cat-eye shades | Maison Birks pearl earrings (c/o) | Chanel WOC | Lips: Dior Addict Fluid Stick 'Aventure' | Nails: Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy 'Lady Luck'

I'm a girl who invests in beautiful coats, cashmere, and leather boots for fall, often at the expense of my summer wardrobe. That probably explains my sartorial rut of late. The same dresses/skirts/shorts/tees worn time and again, rotate and repeat. I picked up this pink sleeveless silk blouse on a whim last week, and it was just the thing to breathe new life into the full A-line skirts that have been working overtime. I'm already looking forward to pairing it with other neutral separates; just imagine how that pink will pop against navy blue!

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