• BEAUTY MUST-HAVES

    RENT THE RUNWAY UNLIMITED SUBSCRIPTION IS CHANGING THE WAY I WARDROBE

    I recently indulged in a monthly Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription, and it has really changed my relationship with my wardrobe. It is a fantastic solution for women who do not like shopping in public, who want to wear designer clothes without spending the money, who love variety but don’t want to grow the size of their closet, and who have a monthly clothing budget of $150. Read on for all the details – and for $30 off your first purchase from RTR!

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    STAGE FRIGHT + SIMPLE SUMMER STYLE

    It’s been over a month since I’ve posted on my blog, and I’m having stage fright coming back to it. This is partly because I don’t know what to write about; partly because it’s been one of the hardest professional months of my life and I simply didn’t make time for writing; partly because I spend way too much time writing each post, pouring my heart and soul into the best way to wear eyeliner; partly because I haven’t really achieved what others have who started out when I did – though I claimed I was doing it just for me, it’s been hard not to get caught up in the comparison game; and partly because I haven’t been practicing what I preach lately – not taking care of myself or putting my best foot forward. Ugh – the identity crisis continues!

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    CLARINS FEED10 GIFT WITH ‘PURPOSE’ – GIVE 10 MEALS AND GET YOUR SKINCARE FIX

    Happy weekend, dear readers! If you are in the mood for a little retail therapy (and let’s face it, it’s been a rough week so let’s get over it with some shopping), then I’ve got some great news for you. Two brands I really respect and love – Clarins and The Feed Project – have come together with a shared goal to give 1 million meals to children in need over two weeks. Read on to see how you can help – and get some deluxe samples of my favorite Clarins products while you’re at it! 

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    THE WOMAN I WANTED TO BE BY DIANE VON FURSTENBERG – AN IDENTITY-CRISIS-INSPIRING BOOK REVIEW

    At the recommendation of my sister, I recently read Diane von Furstenberg’s latest book, The Woman I Wanted to Be. Mixed feelings is the best way to describe how I felt from start to finish. Often times while reading, I felt uncomfortable about her honesty, pride, failure, success, privilege and passion. At the same time, I can’t deny that I also felt inspired and motivated to be a better, more ambitious version of myself going forward. This book gave me pause to think about the woman I want to be – decidedly NOT Diane, but certainly more Elise.  

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    MY PERSONAL BEAUTY SYSTEM

    Confession: I keep a beauty diary. Well, really it’s a combination of a set of lists,  a calendar, and a group of photos – all intended to capture my beauty activities and goals. This system keeps me on track for maintenance of all things hair, makeup, nails, products, grooming, and beauty blogging. Why on earth am I telling you this? Because if you’re a beauty nerd like me or simply a woman looking to stay a bit organized and on top of her game, then this system could help you, too.

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    TALES FROM MEXICO: ADVENTURE TO LAS POZAS IN XILITLA

    Evan and I recently embarked on a week-long journey of a lifetime across central Mexico from San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla, a small sub-tropical town on the eastern side of the country. It is the home of Las Pozas – the surrealist sculpture garden dreamed up by the poet, philanthropist, aesthete and sculptor, Edward James. What a wild ride it was – from a treacherous journey up and down the Sierra Gorda mountains to a hippie commune in the middle of the jungle, we experienced it all. Warning – lots of photos in this post! 

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