Monday, December 30, 2013

My Wishes For You...


May 2014 be filled with love, light, hope, mistakes, dreams, passion, kisses, conquered fears, laughter and just the right amount of tears, preferably of joy. 

XO.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Sneak Peek: Belle de Mar


This week I got an exclusive sneak peek at what is most likely to become my newest obsession: Belle de Mar. From the moment you enter this little piece of beachy paradise right in the heart of the city, you instantly wish to be standing barefoot on a white sand beach somewhere, wearing anything this charming store carries. The luxurious fabrics and gorgeous prints are a feast to the eyes and your skin. From their flowy 100% silk palazzo pants, to their beaded Mara Hoffman gowns, to their mix and match bikinis with ruched bottoms and fluttery tops, their embroidered cover ups and turkish cotton towels. 

Every designer, style, fit, fabric and decor detail has been carefully chosen by Sofía, Belle de Mar's creator, who once also brought you Ofi Bella (Click here to read related articles). Belle de Mar currently carries exclusive brands such as Samudra, Tori Praver Swimwear, Mara Hoffman, Aila Blue and Turkish-T (A personal favorite of mine!)

Belle de Mar opens today!


Read the full post this weekend!











XO!

Monday, December 16, 2013

It's a Wrap!

Little things in life bring me more joy than to watch my lil' one's sleepy face light up and gasp at each gift she unwraps every christmas morning...except for beautifully wrapped christmas gifts,  then I am very likely to be the one gasping! I think a gift wrap can tell as much as the gift itself how much love, effort and detail has been put into choosing and giving it. I love when people take the time to carefully wrap their gifts and use distinctive materials such as heavy craft paper, washi tape, twine and get all crafty and pinteresty for the holidays. I've come across the most wonderful gift wrapping ideas on the web and wanted to share some of them with you. As much as I'd like to be done by now, I am still a couple of gift-wrapping marathons away from finishing my wrapping and giving. 

My wonderfully talented artist friend Virginia Franco recently shared her latest Paper Lab Art Studio creations for the holidays, and I instantly fell in love with these gift tags! Each a unique design, they are handcrafted with love, filled with the cutest characters of this busy creative Mommy. You can order your personalized designs with your family's names, color scheme and the theme you choose. These also make great gifts for giving year-round!

Paper Lab Studio Original Gift Tag Designs by the talented artist Virgina Franco
 Order yours now at paperlabartstudio@gmail.com


Birdies, bunnies and boxy reindeers adorn each beautifully hand crafted tag by Paper Lab Studio

Virginia Franco's lovable characters will make each of your gifts fun and unique!



Create your own original festive patterns on thick craft paper with a liquid paper correction pen and a sharpie! who knew?! 
Check out www.alisaburke.blogspot.com for amazing craft ideas!



Check out Better Homes & Gardens for other great holidays cooking, decorating and entertaining ideas


Find holiday inspiration and other great home decor ideas at Pure Inspiration and myblessedlife.net such as the personalized name stamped wrapping shown below!




Find this beautiful Silhoutte Craft Kit on http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovepaperlove


I'm obsessed with this blog! Check out Myra Madeleine for Fashion, DIY, Interiors and Color inspiration!


I love the simplicity of these ZANA Christmas tags! The leaf adds an unexpected organic feel!





These are by far my fave gift wrapping ideas for the lil'ones! Check out Lines Across for great holidays tutorials and traditions!


My obsession with Polka Dots is now at a whole different level and into gift wrapping thanks to repiny.com Check out this great site for other fun ideas such as Scrabble Ornaments!

Inspiring Weddings in Italy has gathered great gift wrapping ideas from the web, check it out to visit original sources and find holidays and weddings inspiration!


I love how intimate the vintage picture makes each gift!

XO!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Bō Beauty Kit: Bliss in a Box!!!


Bo Beauty Kit's Bubbly Jingle Edition Available Now!


I love featuring strong, determined, smart and creative women, the kind that have dreams and actually go live them. Those who'll recognize a great idea and actually pursue it. I met with Joha and Lu a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with their new project, but mostly fell in love with the passion they talked about it, and the energy, love, and long hours of work they've put into it. By the time our meet ended, I had nothing but respect and admiration for this beautiful young pair, and I hadn't even seen the finished product yet; if you can dare call it a mere product...

A few months back I blogged about one of my latest obsessions: Beauty Boxes or VIP Boxes, of the likes of Birchbox or Glossybox. Little did I know I would soon be raving about a new favorite right here at home! In all, in took me less than a second to fall in love with the sleek festive packaging without even knowing the yummy treats that awaited inside. I couldn't help my excitement when I was first gifted my very own Bo beauty Kit, with my name engraved and all (ahem...) as my friends started oohing and aahing as we all inspected this beauty junkie treasure chest. Let's just say that as soon as the lid came off I became a Boista. 

This is Bo Beauty Kit. A Box full of pure feminine pampering bliss. I love the thought it's creators have put into every detail of this first edition. Not limiting the kit to a simple beauty routine but taking it up to the next level: a beauty experience. For in this box you will not only be treated to full sized beauty and makeup products for these holidays, but beauty tips, additional premium samples of professional skin care products such as Dermalogica and coupons to beauty services, including a full hair salon experience and amazing discounts at re-known beauty establishments. Think of Bo as your one stop beauty shop in a box!


I've confessed to my addiction to samples previously on LADV. I often find myself wanting to try a new product without the full commitment in size and price. Yet unless I start suspiciously lurking around the beauty counters striking the occasional free sample I usually stick to my faves for the comfort of not having to try and purchase unknown prods. I thought Bo was another Beauty Box full of samples, but I must admit I was ecstatic to find all the products were full size presentations of cult faves such as EOS lip balm!

When this initiative first came up between these two beautiful friends, one a new mommy and her partner a radiant bride-to-be (Yes, even with their plates full, they found the time to come up with this and put it all together just in time for the Holidays!) they laughed out how little or no time they had for pampering and spoiling themselves, even occasionally, not to mention on a daily basis, and how exhausted they ended at the end of a chaotic day with the baby or after work; the kind of days you don't even feel like removing your makeup...yeap, I know we've all been there... How great would it be if all you needed for your own beauty routine and relaxing moment (the whole ten minutes of it, if lucky!) came in one same box...wait a minute...there's an idea... and Bo Beauty Kit was born.

I think it is part of a woman's selfless nature to put everyone else's needs before our own, sometimes even sacrificing our downtime and forgetting to occasionally spoil and pamper ourselves for a change. How often do we forget that the best way to look and feel beautiful is inside out. A beauty routine consists not only of a face wash but of a moment of inner peace and relaxation, dedicated to the small rituals we women enjoy so much. Both Joha and Lu also agree that at the end of the day every woman deserves to be pampered. They thought about their own beauty routine, relaxing with a book, running a bath after a long day of hard work or lighting a scented candle, and so created a kit that contained the necessary tools and incentives to create this self-spoiling experience as they like to call it.

And this is exactly what you get... in a beautiful festive box that has already found alternate use in my makeup drawer!

They have carefully chosen products they have tried and used themselves and swear by them.  Eventhough they both have significant input when choosing every single product that makes it into the kit, they rely greatly on their Bo Experts and the knowledge and technique of these re-known professionals in beauty, makeup and personal care trends.

So what can you expect in the Bubbly Jingle edition of Bo Beauty Kit besides a box full of happiness? Five full-sized beauty products including an aromatherapy candle to enhance the Bo experience, experts tips, discount coupons, free hair services and skin analysis. Best part of it? You get it delivered right to your door, free of charge!






Joha and Lu at Bo Beauty Kit's cozy launch
Meet Joha and Lu. One look at these beautiful friends and business partners and you know they know what they're selling and are right on fashion and beauty trends. As much as I pushed, they wouldn't admit to being makeup junkies like yours truly but loved that they understand looking good does not have to require a long time, mostly because, for us women in general,  time is the most precious asset in question, and they managed to put most of what you need to get jump-started, all in a box!

What's next for Bo Beauty Kit? Subscription Plans! Boistas beware... For now, Bo Beauty Kit's Bubbly Jingle Edition is definitely high up on my gifting list! I Can't wait for the upcoming edition this Valentine's! Stay tuned...

Click here to check out Bo Beauty Kit on Facebook and order your kit now at bobeautykit@gmail.com and ask about their special offers and promotions!