Asos

I have written and posted a lot of looks from Asos and people are always loving them, but are wary of ordering from the site. It can be hard ordering from a new store online, so let me assure you that it is awesome. The quality of the pieces that were as little as forty dollars was actually pretty amazing. There is free expedited shipping with your order and returns are as easy as putting the box back in the mail with a card filled out. I have been so impressed with what they have and the price point that I have gone a bit mad. 

Yesterday the baby slept way in, so I used the time to burn through some molla and get a ton of great stuff for a surprising little amount. I needed some more casual dresses and a couple of pieces for upcoming weddings. I hate spending money on maternity clothes, and while a couple of these are, most are not and I can wear afterwards as well. 

1. Striped Maternity Dress $47

2. Cami Maxi Dress (also in magenta) $58

3. Striped Swing Dress $25

4. Maternity Swim Suit in navy $42 (had to do it, the bikini is just kind of offensive at this point in public)

5. Animal Print Maternity Dress $59

6. Waterfall Cardigan $47

I had ordered this dress before and I am obsessed with it. Great print, colors and easily dressed up for a night out or down for running errands. 

China Print Swing Dress $58

Here is to a great weekend and maybe you will fall in love with Asos as well. 

xo

Erin 

For the Father Who Bikes

If the Dad in your life likes to bike and has a little one, this is such a great Father's Day gift. Check out how much my guys are enjoying the iBert front mounted bike seat. 

I am not much of a biker, but from the feedback Matt has told me this is much easier to handle than the back mounted seats. Plus, the little one gets a great view. Tommy was screaming for joy down all the hills. Such a boy. 

Installation was pretty easy, as was taking it off for solo trips. I think these guys are going to have fun cruising the neighborhood this summer. 

xo

Erin 

Birchbox

It seems that the product subscription business is everywhere. From flowers, to baby gear, to celebrity favorites, for a price you can receive a box of goodies every month in any form you would like. Since my product obsession borders on crazy, Birchbox seemed to be my next try in the "of-the-month" club. Plus, in October they partnered with Goop and we all know how I feel about Gwyneth. 

Birchbox is $10 a month, you can choose to try it out for just a month or commit to longer. It gives the opportunity to try a product and then visit their site to purchase, usually at a discounted price. If you travel, the sizes that everything comes in is perfect. 

The October Goop box included a mini bottle of Malin + Goetz peppermint shampoo, that smells so yummy. A little Jouer lip enhancer that is super moisturizing and has a glossy finish. Two samples of Supergoop SPF 30 serum which I have been wanting to try. A Luna fiber bar was an interesting addition. And lastly a full size bottle of Essie in Master Plan.  

It is a great Fall color. 

So now you know what to expect if you sign up for Birchbox. I am still up in the air on how long I want this delivered to my door. It could help my obsession or just make it worse! 

xo

Erin 

Nicole Ritchie + Macy's

Always a fan of Nicole Ritchie's personal style and her Winter Kate and House of Harlow lines, I was interested to see her lower priced line at Macy's. She has been sporting some of the looks for recent appearances....

And I have to say I am into it. Great prints, forgiving and flattering silhouettes, and new takes on some old classic pieces. 

Macy's is not exactly a place that is on the top of my shopping list. But this is not the first time it has surprised me. I ended up finding my wedding dress there by chance and not in one of the fab boutiques I thought I would. 

One of these pieces would be on the top of my Fall list and the price point makes shopping for it even more fun. 

1. Satin Lapel Blazer $89

2. Feather Print Maxi Dress $89

3. Zig Zag Chiffon Blouse $59

4. Studded Legging $69

5. Cropped Color Block Sweater $49

6. Long Sleeve Feather Print Dress $69

7. Faux-Leather Studded Mini $79

Now just need to decide which to order....

xo

Erin 

Beauty Balm

As I have posted many time before, I am always on the hunt for the perfect product that will cover red marks, acne, wrinkles, basically anything on my face. I want my face to look as perfect as a Kardashian on HD television (seriously, what do they use?!), but without the inch of heavy make up. Really, that is never going to happen. And truth be told, I love products and the more I try the more I like to buy. It is an endless, crazy (expensive) cycle. 


So next up after tinted moisturizers, foundation, and  mineral powders promising the perfect skin, it is time for BB Cream. 


Beauty Balm is a product that first became popular in Asia as a way to correct skin issues, while covering them. They also have antioxidants and SPF. I have tried two brands with great results. What I like best about BB cream is it gives heavy coverage, while staying light on the skin. Bonus is that it is helping to correct the problems that you are trying to cover up. 

Garnier makes a version with SPF 15. The color blends well ( I used Light/Medium) and the light price tag makes it easy to try out with no regret. 

The Boscia version comes in just one shade, which is a tad dark, but works great for the summer. It has SPF of 27 and packed with more to help with correcting skin. 

They both cover well, but I am such a sucker for higher SPF. I plan on trying the Jemma Kid or Stila versions. 

Have you tried any? Which one is your favorite? 


xo
Erin 

Crossing Over: Foundation

One of my most vivid beauty memories is when I was with my mom at a Lancome counter while she was stocking up on her favorite essentials. I, being the always-cool-and-everything-else-is-not eleven year old, was bored and could not understand why anyone would ever wear so much stuff all over their face. As I complained to my mom and the salesgirl, they both looked at me and said, "You just wait. One day you are going to be sitting here buying the same products and you will understand." I rolled my eyes and wondered off to the shoe section to look at Doc Martens. 

Almost twenty years later, and I for sure understand the purpose and allure of make up. But only until last month did I finally try my hand at what I think is the ultimate in the "what mom wears" make up category, foundation. 

For every day use, I still am a huge fan of Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer. But I have been needing a bit more coverage with the effects of pregnancy all over my face and the loss of some of my favorite retinol products (cannot use while pregnant) that usually keep my skin an even tone after a break out. 

And I have to say my first endeavor into foundation has been a great one. I found one that is water based, light as can be and does not go on like a mask, which is by far the worst look on the planet. 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, has just a bit more coverage than a tinted moisturizer and evens out skin tone like nothing else I have used. The built in SPF 15 is a great bonus. Because it goes on so smoothly (apply with clean fingers), your skin looks like itself only better. It does not look like your grandmother's cakey mask. 

It is a small bottle, but you only need to use a little bit to see the difference. Then once applied all over, reapply a bit more where you might need more coverage. I would visit a counter and ask for help to make sure that you match your skin color perfectly. 

So I guess I finally get it. After all these years, sometimes you need a little help to cover up what life has tossed you. As long as it looks fresh and natural, I think my eleven-year-old self would think it looks "okaaaaaay". But I would still get an eye roll. 

xo

Erin 

Style Snapshot: Julie

In our next profile, the lovely Julie shares with us her favorite products, labels, and fitness spots. She lives in Chicago (LP) and is the Director of Marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue. With a fun job like that, Julie is super busy and has to stay chic. Here are her secrets on how she keeps it all together.

'I am fortunate enough to work in one the most amazing luxury fashion houses, so shopping (fortunately and unfortunately!) comes easily.  When I travel, I love to shop--Paris, New York, how could you not?!  I recently was in the Hamptons and fell in love with all of the local boutiques.  It's fun to stumble upon things I couldn't find at home.  But in Chicago, of course, my go-to is Saks.  We house some of the best brands in the city, so it makes it hard to look elsewhere.  I have to say, I jump around from designer to department.  But my favorites right now are Yigal Azrouel and Pauw.  I also love Rag & Bone and Rebecca Taylor.  I love color and dresses and that's what it's all about this season! 

I'm not a big jeans girl.  If I do wear them, I'm usually wearing the skinnys by J Brand.  And thankfully the wide-leg 1970s-inspired trousers are back this season.  I love utility-style pants.  I picked up a pair of army green Isabel Marant cargo-esque pants this season and wear them all the time - heels, flats, flip flops - it doesn't matter!  My boyfriend calls them my uniform.

I have to say, when I'm not at work or going to an event, I love J. Crew and I seem to be always running around in workout clothes.  On weekends, I'm usually in shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops.  I love casual and Chicago is the perfect city for it.  The best part about J. Crew is that they know how to do casual chic.  Not to mention, their costume jewelry is my absolute favorite!

I'm pretty laid back about my beauty regime.  My mom never let me wear much make-up as a kid and I think I still adopt that mentality.  It's really just mascara, concealer and bronzer for me.  I love Guerlain's Le 2 - essentially two mascaras in one.  I have a natural reddish complexion, so I'll use just about any bronzer.  I'm obsessed with Bobby Brown's Concealer Kit.  It's a one-stop shop fix-all!  I'm a true sucker for lip gloss.  If you open any of my handbags, you'll find many!  My favorites are YSL, Guerlain and Chanel.  But I have to say, my all-time favorite for the lips is Burt's Bees lip balm.  I think I apply it 10 times a day! 

To wash the make-up off, I keep it pretty simple too.  My mom also taught me to take good care of my skin (wise woman, right?!).  I splurge on my products and switch off between Sisley and Guerlain.  A good cleanser and moisturizer for all seasons is a must.  And I love eye cream...my splurge this year was L'Or de Vie by Dior.  I think the secret though (don't laugh!) is my eye mask.  I started sleeping with an eye mask when I lived in Paris and didn't have blinds.  The sun woke me up every morning.  I swear it keeps my eyes rested and I sleep longer.  I take it with me everywhere I go.

I have to admit, I do love being bronzed, but my sensitive Croatian skin allows minimal amounts of natural sun.  Because we have so few months of warmth in Chicago, I go to Ortanic at Fitness Formula Clubs for a natural glow.  When I do get outside, I cover up with Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer.  It's the best!  And it doesn't rub off when I exercise. 

Hair is something I refuse to make challenging.  I use just about any shampoo and conditioner - I love all the Dove products.  I wear my hair curly in the summer and in the the winter, I'm usually running around with it pulled back.  Blowing out my hair is something I always seek to perfect.  My ultimate pamper is my hair stylist Alyn Topper.  I'm naturally blond, so my upkeep isn't too strenuous.  But Alyn uses a technique called balayage, which keeps the hair looking very natural and it lasts longer.  I LOVE Alyn!!

My job keeps me very active and social.  And to keep up, I love to workout.  I like to mix it up; I find that the same workout routine is boring.  I try to do something different every day.  Some of my favorites are Core Power Yoga, Core Fusion at Exhale, Shred 415, All About Dance, tennis at Midtown, and Tabata with Julie Valenti at Equinox.  I retired my running shoes after two marathons, but it's hard to resist a run on the lake in the summer.  To live in Chicago, I think it's what we all long for! '