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Little Black Dress // Feat. Jenny Yoo Collection

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Dress c/o | Heels (ON SALE) | Clutch | Bracelets | Ring | Lip Color

The hunt for that little black dress is somewhat like that for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... the unicorn of the female wardrobe, and yet the one that every girl needs.

I remember I purchased my first "official" LBD when I was 20. At the time, the hubs and I were in college & dating long-distance. Every semester we took turns making visits to/from Illinois & Virginia, and this time it was my turn to make the flight. Note to self, the following is why long distance dating can be somewhat unrealistic– every date is a major production and this trip there were fancy dinner reservations & a Michael Bubble concert.

Enter, the little black dress...

Irronicaly, the dress I purchased for this trip looked much like the one in this post. I still own that original LBD, and have worn it for multiple dates, dinners, and weddings, which is why when Jenny Yoo contacted me to style a dress of my choice, I went with the Harlow featured above.

This little lace number is a modern take on a timeless classic, and one I'm sure to wear for years to come!

I had so much fun styling this dress for date night, because it allowed me to incorporate a little more edge and spunk. The styling above is much more my personality, but the great news is that I can easily pair this with a top knot, pearls, and black heels for a more classic and polished look. Did I mention how excited I am to style this for holiday parties? Versatility is key, friends!...

For more of Jenny Yoo's Fall Collection, click here or shop the links below! Also, for the month of October, Jenny Yoo is donating aportionof her sales to American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, so now is the perfect time to shop!

xoxo

P.S. // This is technically a bridal party dress– WHAT?! Note for all the brides-to-be out there: Jenny Yoo has an exceptional bridal collection!

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This post has been braught to you by Jenny Yoo NYC, however, all opinions remain my own. The integrity of this site is far more important to me than any compensation or brand partnership. – S

Watermelon Summer

Tank | Shirt | Shorts c/o Vineyard Vines | Sandals | Jewelry c/o

If you ever want to get me a present, just get me a watermelon. True story!

Last year the hubs got serious points when he surprised me with a watermelon birthday cake– it was epic!

When it comes to close friends and family, it's not uncommon to get group texts of watermelon eating gifs with hashtag, #LikeABoss. (I'm telling you, this is a big part of my life...)

In fact, the photos above are rather tame and definitely staged. While there are many useful tips for cutting watermelons, usually I just cut mine in half and take a spoon to it. Easy. Simple. Efficient.

This vibrant love affair is why I had, and I mean HAD, to buy these watermelon shorts by Vineyard Vines. Who makes adult sized watermelon shorts?! And can we please be BFFS for life?!

This purchase was a no-brainer.

So there you have it, fun fact about Steph, and the quickest way to my heart :)

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo

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Sip & Shop // Westfield

Sip & Shop // Wesftfield
Sip & Shop // Wesftfield

Dress | Shoes | Clutch | Earrings | Bangles  - All items c/o Westfield

Happy Friday!!! Can we take a moment out of respect for this dress? This dress needs a party– stat!...

I can't tell you how excited I am to share today's post with you, especially because it includes two of my favorite things: shopping & vino!

Each year, Westfield Old Orchard celebrates summer in style with a unique evening of fashion meets vino. This year, Westfield has teamed up with Wine Channel TV to bring you 30 of the best wines from around the globe! Westfield was extremely generous in asking me to co-host the event with certified sommelier, Jessica Altieri, and I honestly can't wait to meet her! Have any of you watched Somm? Add it to your weekend list– serious respect for sommeliers!

The Sip & Shop event takes place next Thursday June 26th and begins at 5pm with the VIP rooftop party starting at 8pm. In a nutshell, what you'll experience is a modern wine tour through Westfield's outdoor shopping center, the 30 carefully currated wines strategically mapped in partnership with 30 of the center's most loved shops. Heads up, this event pairs well with exclusive discounts ;)

In addition, from 5-8pm guests will take in all that Old Orchard has to offer while listening to musical entertainment from Mo-town crooners, R-Gang. For the VIP session, celebrity guest, MS David Glancy CEO and founder of the San Francisco Wine School will be hosting a special “Genius Sips” segment and an exclusive blind tasting you won’t want to miss!

But that's not all! Remember Bright Pink? Nothing makes me happier than a fun event for a good cause, and I'm happy to say that this year's Sip & Shop evening will benefit our friends at Bright Pink!

So here's the deal, Westfield and I really want to celebrate summer with you, so we're giving away 4 tickets to the event!!!! Two lucky Glitterary readers will win tickets to Sip & Shop with a friend!

Ticket's for the main event are $25 with VIP access for an addition $10, and you'll want to get your tickets stat, because space is limited! Keep in mind, to attend this event, you must be over 21.

To purchase tickets, click here...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post has been brought to you by Westfield, however, all opinions remain my own. The integrity of this site is far more important to me than any compensation or brand partnership. – S

Mermaid Beauty // With Jodi Shays

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Curious, carefree, and full of wanderlust, ever since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to be a mermaid!

Maybe it was Ariel's curiosity that first sparked my interest, and frankly the red hair may have had something to do with the uncanny bond I felt with this particular Disney princess. Regardless, there's something entirely captivating about the idea of these mythical sirens and my mind drifts into the sea!

It's undeniable, mermaids are synonymous with beauty, and for that I am forever jealous! Effortlessly put together, mermaids rule the summer scene, leaving us two-legged gals with mere hopes of matching their beach babe status.

Unfortunately for us, salt, sand, and the sea doesn't always result in that bronzed goddess glow. In fact, salt, sand, and the sea can leave our skin and hair feeling dry, stiff, and tangled.

A couple of months ago I got to meet L.A. beauty expert, and founder of Queen Bee Salon & Spa, Jodi Shay's. Jodi has over two decades of expertise in the fields of skincare and hair removal. Heavily sought after by Hollywood A-Listers and residents, she’s their go-to when it comes to grooming “south of the equator.” Eager for summer and the beach, I had to pick her brain on the season's best beauty tips (she even throws in a couple DIYs!)...

I'm a sucker for adopting a boho-beach summer style & have been known to douce my locks in a sea salt mist for extra texture. What is your secret ingredient to keeping those locks both beachy & moisturized? 

I agree with you!! I love a good spritz of sea salt mist and I have also been known to add some coarse sea salt granules to my shampoo. Here’s how you do it:  Shop for a small bottle of coarse sea salt, it’s not expensive.  Add half a teaspoon to your regular shampoo and happy exfoliating wash!  Salt helps clear away old product residue and your scalp as well as your hair will love it.  Don’t do this every day, keep it to once a month. I have another method too, which has worked for my crazy curly locks that get fine and frizzy in the warmer months.  Wash your hair with shampoo and then towel dry it using a microfiber towel.  Let it air dry and then shower your hair one more time with a cool water rinse but no shampoo or conditioner.  Once your hair feels damp, add a tiny little hair wax or anti-humectant into your hair and hopefully you’ll look and feel as though you’ve spent the day on Bondi Beach.

As we come out of hibernation, we Chicagoans are lusting after that summer glow, but our skin is in need of some tender love & care. How do you recommend prepping for showing a little extra skin in those shorts & bikinis?

Such a quick, cheap and easy way to do this.  Go out and get yourself a dry brush (or two if you want to double fist!).   Using your dry brush every day for 10 minutes will stimulate your skin, help enormously with lymphatic drainage and slough off dead skin cells that have been sitting on your skin all winter. Start at your bum (or your feet, if you want full body action) and brush briskly toward the heart. Results vary, but if you make this a part of your daily routine, I know you’ll see an improvement.  After dry brushing, feel free to massage your favorite oil into your skin such as jojoba oil or coconut oil (jojoba being the closest to our naturally occurring oil). We are big fans of rose oil for the face such as “The Local Rose” which is organically manufactured and gives you a lovely glow on your cheeks! Another great way to get some extra glow after the winter is to make your own body and facial scrub using brown sugar and honey.  In the past I have used brown sugar, coconut oil and rose oil for a gentle facial scrub.

Needless to say, the sunshine means more hours outside. As someone who enjoys running along the lake, are there any particular products you recommend for being active in the heat & humidity?

I would not recommend any heavy makeup during exercise.  Always use an SPF, tinted if you prefer of at least 35 SPF and go for a sunblock that has zinc oxide in it.  I find those to be less clogging and better for protection.  I always carry a handy pocket-sized pack of Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths with me because after a workout, I can wipe my other areas to feel clean and fresh.  Perfect for if you have to hit the office right after a walk or an appointment with your waxologist!

Thanks to Lily Collins, I'm craving some bolder brows, but getting there seems tricky! How can one work toward that aim while not looking unkept in the process?

Achieving thicker brows are one of my most favorite topics because I do believe it can be done (having survived the 80s and that thin-is-in look).  The first thing we look at at Queen Bee is tinting the area before we tweeze or wax.  Tinting helps pick up lighter colored hairs and any blondies that are living in the neighborhood.  Once we have done that we can see all of the hairs we are working with and start to give you a new and thicker shape. Some people swear by a lot of the brow strengtheners that are on the market.  We have seen them work, but you have to be diligent and use them every day. If none of the above works, your brow technician should be able to teach you how to “dress” your brows with a powder that matches the color of your hair, this is a very inexpensive way of achieving thicker brows.  Using an angle brush, you can play with different shapes and create an evening diva look or a less drama day time look.

Finally, what is one of the most common beauty mistakes you see?

The most common beauty mistake we see are related to nails.  When first timers come to see us for a manicure we notice that most of them have had their cuticles cut away.  All of us actually need our cuticles, they serve as protection to our nail beds.  But most cheapy “chop shops” take them off to make our nail beds appear more tidy.  What this cutting does it make our cuticles grow back thicker and look raggedy, so guess what, you have to return to your local chop shop every week -this is how they make their money.  In the hands of a real manicurist (Connie Flagg of Queen Bee is the most requested by our A-list celebs) they will lube your cuticles with oil and massage them gently with an orange stick.  We don’t cut skin, but we remove hangnails.  Manicures should not be painful, and they are not required every week.  

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JodiCulverRecep
To learn more about Jodi  Shays or Queen Bee Salon & Spa, click here.
This post is brought to you by Cottonelle

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Father's Day on a Budget // FOX32

Last week I got to chat Father's Day gifts on Good Day Chicago, and had an absolute blast with the team! For the segment I teamed up with Block Thirty Seven to create a carefully currated collection of Father's Day gifts under $50. Inspired by four different types of dads, we came up with a list of products that I'm proud to say will leave both Dad and your wallet impressed!

Best of all, with Block Thirty Seven at the heart of the Loop, you can pick up Dad's gift right after work & just in time for Sunday!

Stylish Dad:Bucketfeet // Skinny Tie // Dress Socks 

Sports Dad:Blackhawks Polo // Stanley Cup Playoffs Hat

Business Dad:Chicago Mug // Card Holder

Well-Groomed Dad:Sephora Gift Set // Sabon Shave Set, Lotions, Scrubs

FOX 32 News Chicago