guest post: fruit and caviar trends with a NYC Buyer

Today's guest post is from my sister, Amanda, who is a buyer at WiNK in New York City. She is one of the most fabulous people I know, so I asked her to bring some of the NYC flavor to my little Boston-based blog.

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The new Spring trend is fruits and they are all around. 

This past weekend I took a trip to a friend's children's clothing store, My Little Sunshine, that houses some of these fancy Italian fleece duds (you can visit them in the ever-popular Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan). Don't you wish they made these in adult sizes? 

items above by Bobo Chose available at My Little Sunshine NYC

I recently bought a strawberry short suit from LF Stores in NYC (but don't worry, they're in Boston too!) and cannot wait to wear it as soon as the weather turns nice.

The next item on trends is the caviar manicure, originally started in the UK and slowly making its way to us in the States. I had my first experience while in Miami and now I'm addicted. 

You can get your very own Ciate Caviar manicure in Sephora, Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom. My suggestion- order the mini bar online and experience all sorts of caviars at home. 

via

Be light and don't take yourself too seriously this Spring!

guest post: Alana from Cheap Chic Traveler

Hello! I am Alana and I write the blog Cheap Chic Traveler about all the things I love about my life in Boston.  Given the cold winter we have had in Boston, I am very ready for all of the snow to melt and for Spring to get here!  Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, as I enjoy that we get rid of the dreary days of winter and the sun makes a return. Spring is a time when I begin to enjoy being outside again and so my fiancé and I make it point find new and fun things to do on the weekends.  This an outfit that I am itching to wear once the weather warms up a little more and Spring has officially sprung! 

Blazer| Boyfriend jeans| Top| Shoes| Clutch| Nail polish

guest post: wedding tips from Mary Costa of Mary Costa Photography

Hi there! I'm Mary Costa, one of Alyssa's BFFs from high school, and I'm super excited to be guest blogging for her! I'm a wedding/portrait photographer based in Los Angeles. Wedding season is kicking into full swing for me, plus it seems like every day my Facebook feed is flooded with new engagement announcements from friends (yay!!). 

Weddings are awesome, but they can definitely be overwhelming to plan. Here are six tips for brides from the standpoint of a wedding photographer!

1. Choose a nice getting-ready location: Try to choose a spot with good light and decor for those first photos. If it's somewhere you've been staying for awhile, have your room clean when your photographer arrives. (Photo credit: Andria Lindquist)

2. Have nice hangers: It's always wonderful to get a shot of that gorgeous dress hanging...but not quite so nice on a bad hanger! A pretty hanger makes a world of difference in the photos. This bride made individualized name tags for all of her bridesmaids, making the photos that much more special! (Photo credit: Style Me Pretty/Bloom Photography).

3. Make contact: Wedding photographers LOVE when couples opt to do a first look - it's not only a gorgeous moment, but it usually makes your day-of schedule way less stressful. That said, some couples prefer to keep things traditional and wait until the wedding to see each other. But just because you can't see each other doesn't mean you can't touch! This couple opted to pray together before the wedding and hold hands without looking at one another. If you want to keep things traditional, try something like this to capture a special memory with your partner before your wedding.

4. Involve your guests: Giving confetti, sunglasses, bubbles, umbrellas, or other fun props/details to your guests can add a lot of personality to your day! (Photo credit: Our Labor Of Love)

5. Plan for portraits around sunset: It's soooo important to take light into account when you're planning your wedding schedule. Be sure to check the sunset time for your day and try to plan for portraits around this time. Photographing in the middle of the day often leaves you with bright light, harsh shadows, and squinting portraits. I love shooting during the last hour of the day. If that much time isn't feasible in your schedule, at the very least try to grab 20 minutes of private couple portraits before the sun sets, even if you have to duck out of dinner briefly! (Photo credit: This Modern Romance)

6. Be adventurous: It's true that you paid a lot for that dress, and you're probably going to be tired come portrait time... but don't let that stop you from having some fun! Don't be afraid to trample through the woods, run in a field, or sit down in the sand. Take advantage of the time you have in your dress and make some awesome images (and memories) in the process. (Photo credit: Tyler Branch)