Host a Casino Night!!!

If you are looking for a fun idea for a birthday, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner or company event, you should consider throwing a casino party! It is a super-fun way to celebrate just about any occasion, but is especially fun for a guy's birthday.  I threw a 40th surprise birthday party for my husband, and it was really fun! Below are some pictures and ideas if you'd like to try something similar!

Decorations were pretty easy! Black tablecloths,  and red dupioni silk drapes (I had these from another event that I had done but you could use a faux silk drape). I bought red, black and white plates and napkins from Party City and scattered playing cards over the tables too.

This is easy to make-- a square white ceramic vase and then make the dots out of black glitter paper or felt.

Easiest decoration ever! Simply use a hot glue gun to glue cards to a red ribbon. Buy the cards at the dollar store-- two packs for a dollar!

Here is another really easy decoration idea. Buy a bag of dice (you can find them wholesale online or buy at the dollar store.) Use red carnations or roses. Super pretty!

I hired an event company called B and B Casino Party Pros and they were AWESOME! They had really professional tables and dealers and great personalities! We played blackjack and roulette with play money and I had some prizes for the top winners.  Check them out at www.BandBCasinoPartyPros.com Phone number is 888.935.5535

I created a "candy bar" with red, white and black candies and decorations. It was yummy and pretty!

The casino event company created this "funny money" that was handed out to each guest. It was a ten thousand dollar bill with my husband's face in the center and guests cashed it in for chips when they were ready to play. It was really funny!

Hope you liked the pictures. I had a lot of fun putting the party together!

Summer Beauty

I know we are well into summer, but it's not too late to try some of these great tricks and trends!  Whether you're headed to the beach, a pool party or going out for a cruise, these ideas will keep you looking current and cute!

1. Sunless Tan- Save your skin by wearing a good sunblock, and fake it with a natural looking sunless tanning product. Make sure you apply the product from your collarbone to hairline when using a facial sunless tanner. Start by exfoliating and then applying an oil-free lotion (oil blocks absorption of tanner). On the flip side, apply moisturizer with oil on elbows, ankles and knees where color tends to be too dark. Products to try: Neutrogena Micro-Mist Tanning Spray; Jergens Natual Glow and L'Oreal Sublime Bronze.

2. Metallic Eyes- Add a Golden Metallic Shadow to your Classic Smokey Eye Kit! One to try: Maybelline Eyestudio (see below.) 

  

Maybelline Eyestudio, Target

3. Retro Makeup- The makeup is light and fresh, usign liner and mascara only on upper lids and a pretty, bright red lipstick.

 

2. Loose Braids- Try a beautiful braided style like this! Create two or three small braids with the front sections of your hair and secure them on the side with bobby pins. To keep them from looking too "done," go through and loosen, loop by loop. You will want it to look a little pulled apart. Use a large barrel curling iron to curl pieces around your face.  

3. Fun Manicures. This geometric design was shown with the Nicole Miller runway show. It looks pretty along with the understated makeup. Cuuute!

Reverse French with glittery pink tips!

 I love the combination of the yellow nails and the oversized ring.

4. Pretty Beach Things.

 

Nanette Lapore Coverup from South Moon Under. So cute!

Tankini by La Blanca. Nordstrom

Women's Bird Print Tankini from Target

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Selima Sun for J. Crew Belle sunglasses

5. Dress things up!

Wiley Tube Top and Pink Shorts, Lilly Pulitzer

Stitched Cornflower Mesh Dress, Anthropologie

 

Juliet Dress in Silk Chiffon, J. Crew

6. A Few Fun Accessories!

Sterling Silver Coral Necklace, Target


Necklace, Francesca's

Sardegna Necklace, Anthropologie

 

Michael Kors "Kami" Mule, Nordstrom

Tote, Lilly Pulitzer

Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer!

A Little Valentine's Day Sweetness!

Create Your Dream Closet-- It's Like Having Your Own Personal Boutique!

Have you ever wished that you could have a beautiful, huge dream closet like you see in magazines, you know complete with a chandelier, built-in shelving and even furniture? Over-the-top closets aren't just for celebrities anymore, and you don't need a space the size of a football field in order to have a fun, functional and personalized dressing area. If your master bedroom doesn't have a large walk-in or an adjoining sitting room, you could consider using a corner of your bedroom or a guest room.

Regardless of the space that you select, your "dream closet" shouldn't be hard to create-- it should be easy because it should be all the things you love (but might not use elsewhere in the house). But this is YOUR space, so decorate it with YOUR style! Another way to  think about it is as if it were your own personal boutique where everything is your size! Think about how your favorite boutiques look and feel, and then try to re-create that. 

 Here are some ideas for creating your own dream closet! 

• Select the space you would like to use whether it's your walk-in, an adjoining sitting room, a guest room or just a corner of your bedroom.
• Hang a huge mirror with an ornate frame in silver or gold.
• Purchase a fun piece of furniture that you can lounge on (while contemplating your outfits for the day.) This could be a small sofa, ottoman, chaise lounge or anything else. Don't forget a fun rug too!

• Hang lots of glass shelves along one wall for displaying your prettiest shoes. Add track lighting to show them off.  (Hide the ugly ones, or better yet get rid of them!)
• Install built-in shelving in varying heights (Create spaces with a bar for hanging clothes and others for folded items like sweaters.) If you can't do built-ins, consider purchasing stand-alone shelving.
• Add a table in the center of the space which can be used for arranging accessories such as scarves, jewelry, etc...

• If you need extra space for hanging clothes, purchase a clothing rack (a steel one that is sturdy) and place it in the corner with your favorite items only. Plan out your outfits and then hang them grouped together here.
• Hang a chandelier in the center of the room.
• Purchase a dress form, a great way to try out different outfits and it looks so cool too!
• Since this is your space, try personalizing it with a splash of your favorite color. Try painting one wall with this color and then add coordinating furniture and accessories.
• Consider wallpaper. Bold graphic patterns or vertical stripes add personality and provide an interesting backdrop for your clothing.
• Add glamourous fixtures.   An antique-looking doorknob adds a beatiful touch and you can go one step further and add similar dresser drawer pulls to really pull the look together!
• Add an inspiration board or pretty corkboard to display magazine clippings of your favorite outfits.
• Display a few framed photographs with fancy frames (think bold silver or rhinestone frames).
• Add some style books to the shelf.

  

  

 

Avani Dead Sea Skin Renewal Facial Peel Review-- I like it!

Skin Renewal Facial Peel Enriched with beneficial vitamins E & C, this Skin Renewal Facial Peel thoroughly cleanses the skin, ridding it of dead skin cells, excess oil and other impurities. Infused with nourishing Dead Sea Minerals, this non-abrasive Facial Peel will leave your skin feeling radiant and revitalized.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Polysorbate-20, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract, Cellulose Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Farnesol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Maris Sal (Dead Sea Salt), Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate. Directions: Gently apply a small amount to dry face in a circular motion. Once all impurities and dead skin cells are visible, rinse well with water and gently dry.

Rescue your dry winter skin with the Avani Skin Renewal Facial Peel

*Please note, I am not a skincare expert. Please check with your doctor before trying this or any other new skincare product.

I was in Sam's Club the other day and one of the vendors was selling something called Avani Dead Sea products. I have never used any Dead Sea skincare products before, but I've always been curious so I stopped to check it out.  I am a big skeptic about skin product claims and have pretty much used the same cleansers, moisturizers and peels for years.  I've fallen too many times for a product that promises to transform my skin, make me look younger, etc... only to be dissapointed. There are a few exceptions (products that actually do all of those wonderful things), which in my experience include Retin-A, Alpha Lipoic Acid with DMAE, Peptide anti-wrinkle creams, and Glycolic Acid (look for posts on those later.)  

The Avani representative had something for sale called "Avani Skin Renewal Facial Peel" and she said that it would nearly instantly remove dead skin and impurities.  She smoothed a little on the back of my hand,  and in a few seconds something that looked like dead skin appeared.  I was still skeptical,  so she showed me that if she reapplied in the same spot, less and less "dead skin" would appear, which is what happened. It really seemed to work,  so I went ahead and bought it for $39.99.

I have been using it on my face regularly and can tell that my skin is looking brighter and healthier since I started. I really do think it's removing clogged pores and impurities along with the dead skin because my skin is looking fresher and healthier.  According to the website, it contains a unique combination of Natural Plant Extracts, Dead Sea Mineral Salts and Vitamin E & C. It  removes dead cells, excess oils and other impurities through deep cleansing which leaves the skin nourished and feeling fresh and radiant. I spoke to a company representative in L.A. and found out that the product is made in Israel and that they actually ran out of product over the holidays because it's so popular.  I also read reviews on Amazon and women gave similar reviews to mine- nearly 5 stars! I am not a skincare expert, so please check with your doctor before beginning any new skincare routine.