I can’t believe the 4th of July is 2 weeks away. Time is flying and summer will be over before we know it. That’s a scary thought to me, because that means our wedding will be here before we know it. Exciting, but, wow I have a lot left to do. Anyway, summer is my favorite season for so many reasons. Who doesn’t love time at the beach, sunshine, and yummy lobster. It’s also my favorite season for getting dressed and applying makeup. I love the colors, the lightweight fabrics, and the look of dewy skin. Here are a few essentials on my summer shopping list:

1.Sunglasses – Ray Bans are a great option because they look casual and dressy. So they work for the beach, long walks, or out for cocktails and dinner. Plus, the frames are flattering on most face shapes. $195 at ray-ban.com.

2.Sun Hats – Covering your face is a must on the beach (who wants wrinkles!). I love a wide-brimmed neutral hat that can be folded up and tossed in your beach bag. My favorites are from a designer called Eugenia Kim www.eugeniakim.com .

3.Sunscreen – I have been a loyal sunscreen user since the 6th grade and my skin thanks me for that. Trust me, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself. LaRoche Posay is a must in my sunscreen wardrobe. Not only does it provide great protection, but also feels really silky and not too heavy on your skin. $33.50 at laroche-posay.com.

4.Makeup – Nothing beats the look of bronzer with a pop of coral on your cheeks. It really is the perfect summer makeup look. This is the ideal compact from Nars because it has both the bronzer and blush and takes the guesswork out of matching a bronzer and blush. Get it for $41 at www.sephora.com.

5.Coverup Pant – My newest thing is the coverup pant. Maybe it’s because my abs are the best part of my body and my legs are, well, not. But it’s also a fresh take on covering up at the beach. Find one from Becca or Ralph Lauren for $72-100 at Bloomingdales.

6. Flip Flops – Never did I think I’d say I would own a pair of Crocs. But they have gotten really cute! Brian, my fiancé, also loves Croc flip flops. He dragged me into the store and I ended up getting a pair for myself. How cute are these retro blue/yellow combo pair? Plus, they’re under $30 and comfy!

7. Beachy Hair – I am not a big believer in the “go with your natural texture and let it air dry” theory when it comes to hair. The only time I embrace this is when I’m at the beach. But, you still need product to get that “natural” look. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray is a must. You can now pick up a mini size at Sephora for just $15 – perfect for travel or your beach bag.

I am not a beauty expert who believes in going makeup free. There, I said it. I think everyone can benefit from a little makeup. Even when just running errands, a little smear of a BB cream and mascara goes a long way. With that, your makeup is only as good as your makeup brushes. Even if you’re not a pro at doing your makeup, the right brushes can really help.

Here are the five types of brushes I always have in my makeup bag:

1. Fan brush – helps with evening out powder, blush, and bronzer.

2. Foundation brush – use it to apply concealer, foundation, or a tinted moisturizer more evenly.

3. Kabuki brush – I am a big believer in powder sunscreen for mid-day touchups and this brush helps smear it on evenly.

4. Angled liner brush – use it for eyeliner or filling in brows.

5. Shadow brush – with a medium shadow brush you can use for your lids and crease.

This weekend I found myself wondering the 2nd floor of Barney’s, post Fekkai haircut. Armed with a $189 store credit I’ve had since December, I knew I finally needed to make a purchase before another season went by. You see, I’m probably the most practical shopper out there. Relax, the Jimmy Choos were a gift. I never buy anything unless it’s on sale or serves an incredibly practical purpose and I know I will get a lot of use out it.

Barney’s is packed with great summer buys right now – from sunglasses to cute swimsuits and flip flops. But this bag from Seabags really grabbed my attention. First of all, I love gold (see a few posts back.) Second of all, I love the beach and spend a lot of time there during summer. Finally, it’s practical. You can use this for more than the beach. Fill it with food for a picnic, gym clothes, a night away, or a day out where you need to lug around a change of shoes, camera, makeup bag, all the essentials.But this bag is special. Seabags are made with entirely recycled sails from around the world. That means they are not only eco-friendly, but also have a bit of history to them.

With my gift card (GC) it only cost me $12. But, be prepared to spend about $200. Promise this timeless bag will take you through summer after summer though. Plus, it’s easy to wash: just wipe down with soap and water.

Check out their entire line of bags, totes, and homeware at http://www.seabags.com.

I have been very into tabletop decor lately. Getting married seems to not only mean commit to the man you love, but also commit to dishes, glasses, and silverware that you plan to live with as long as your husband. Committing to Brian, simple. Committing to dishes not so simple. I was amazed at the cost of china – some of it costing nearly $20,000 for an entire set. For me, I wanted our wedding gifts to be items we would use regularly, not just things stuffed into a box we save for a “special occasion.” I love to entertain and set a pretty table. My style is called transitional, meaning sophisticated with a casual, every day twist.

We have felt so loved through our engagement, not just with support, but also our friends and family sending us very generous gifts. We are so thankful! Anyway, it has inspired me to get adventurous, mixing and matching new gifts with some older items we already had. You know I work in fashion & beauty. To me, setting a table, is so similar to putting together a look. It’s about layering, mixing and matching colors, playing with texture. It’s all the same. So don’t be scared. Here are a few tips.

Pick a color theme – blues, whites, and golds play up the spring ocean-inspired look I was creating. Layer dishes. Start with a placemat, add a charger, dinner plate, salad plate, starter plate, and then add an accent plate to the side for bread. Think outside the box when it comes to glasses. I love using milk glasses and mason jars for beverages to add a whimsy touch. Accessorize! You add jewelry to your outfit, right? So do the same to your tabletop. Add candles in a range of heights for contrast and scatter decorative objects around. In this case, I used seashells I had around the house.

Maybe this will inspire you to invite dad over for dinner? I hope so! As for us, we will be heading up to CT for lunch out. I’ll be staying in CT for a segment on summer beauty on WFSB. Have a gorge weekend!

Gold is one of my all time favorite colors. It’s classic, simple and looks fabulous in the summer (nothing beats a white t-shirt, white jeans, and gold jewelry.) I love all shades of gold – rose gold, yellow gold. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about gold – registering for gold table decor, thoughts of going for the gold (as we all should), and just feeling golden because life is good. So to embrace my love for gold, here are a few golden goodies I’ve been loving.

Going for the gold from left to right:

1. Clutch – KOTUR $695 at koturltd.com

2. Headband – Remington $4 at drugstores

3. Razor – Gillette Venus $6 at drugstores

4. Oil – L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Glow Renewal (available in July)

5. Hair Powder – Oribe Hair Refresher $22 at Barneys

6. Fabric Swatch – a hint of one of the fabrics that we be used at our wedding this September.

This week, I have been inspired to cook. We were showered with beautiful bridal shower gifts last weekend – from dishes to serveware and pans. But you know I’m not the best chef. My specialty? Making it taste and look good with minimal effort. Last night I made baked scallops, which tasted delicious. Brian approved and that’s a major accomplishment in my book. They are so simple to make. Try them out and let me know what you think.

-Spray baking dish with olive oil spray (my friend Alyssa bought us this Le Creuset baking dish and I love!)

-Place scallops in pan (5-6 scallops per person)

-Squeeze on lemon juice

-Add in chopped garlic and parsley

-Sprinkle sprouted whole grain bread crumbs on tops of scallops

-Add salt & pepper

-Bake 25 minutes

I have a confession. On Memorial Day we went to my soon-to-be sister-in-laws for a BBQ. This was after we raced back from 5 days in The Bahamas, went straight to a wedding, and crammed in a midnight movie with friends. Since we had to be at her house by 1, I had to fit in FlyBarre, of course, make guacamole, and, well, that left zero time for a mani. Plus, it was a holiday and every manicure place in the city was closed – yikes! When we got there I realized how bad my nails looked 10 days post manicure. This was probably the first time in, well, forever, that I went that long without a mani. My sister-in-law even said she’s never seen my hands without polish.

Well, there’s a reason for that. Everyone looks better (boys, you too!) with a manicure. There are even studies on how manicures can make your hands look 10 years younger. So now that it’s summer, no excuses. Get your weekly manicure and pedicure. At the salon or a DIY version at home, a little polish just makes you feel and look better.

These are my summer go-to shades:

Left to right

1. Deborah Lippman Rockin’ Robin

2. Deborah Lippman Moon Rendezvous

3. Essie Saturday Disco Fever

4. Essie Blanc

5. Essie Bottle Service

6. Morgan Taylor Nautically Inclined

This morning, I woke up feeling so thankful. In fact, I can’t say thank you enough to my bridesmaids for the beautiful shower they hosted on Sunday. I’ve never felt so loved surrounded by the best friends and family who all support Brian and I. It was a day full of love, warmth, and fun surprises. Aside from marrying a man who is my rock in every way, the biggest gift was yesterday, feeling so much support for our marriage. My bridesmaids, who are my best friends and soon-to-be sisters, went above and beyond to give me such a special day. For that I am so grateful.

Friends and family gathered at Fig & Olive in the meatpacking district in NYC for Sunday brunch. The food was yum!

There’s nothing better than having all of your friends (and my mom!) together to celebrate with you.

What meant so much is my friend Alyssa trekked into the city just 4 weeks after having a baby! 2 other friends are just weeks away from giving birth.

Of course, being a fashion crowd my prego friends look GORGE almost at 9 months!

My sister-in-laws went above and beyond to make this shower special. Check out the adorable favors they made. A “B&R” tag makes it so personal. They worked for hours making these tags themselves.

My bridesmaid Leah put together photos of B & I through the years as decor.

They surprised me with fun games that made everyone laugh – nothing like a good belly laugh. I’m touched by the presents we received to fill our home with love from beautiful dishes to an art project my mother-in-law worked on for the past 2 months.

Only Leah, my friend for the past 10 years, and bridesmaid, would find this hanger for my wedding dress with my soon-to-be new last name. Check out etsy.com for one with your name.

They even organized B to make a surprise appearance!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who attended! There is nothing like the love of friends and family. A huge thanks to my bridesmaids Leah, Pam, Anna, Michele, and Tara. I’m grateful for a day I will never forget. Hope this inspired you for a shower you might be planning.

I’ve said it over and over again: I’m not a great cook. I’m not even ashamed to admit it. I’ve just spent more time mastering all things fashion, beauty, and decorating. But, I am good at wiping up easy recipes that look and taste great. My guacamole is one recipe I’ve perfected. We headed over to my soon-to-be sister-in-law’s house on Memorial and this is what I made post-gym, errands, and unpacking from our vacation all in one jam-packed morning. Anyway, here’s how you do it:

What You Need:

-Avocados (make sure they’re soft and slightly darker so you know they are ready to go!)

-Tomatoes

-Jalapeno

-Red Onion

-Garlic

-Lime

-Salt & Pepper

How To Make It:

-Mash your avocados (5-6 should be enough), add in 1-2 diced tomatoes, 1 jalapeno, and 1/2 cup red onion. Mix in lime juice from 1 whole lime, 1/2 tsp of garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Mix and you’re done.

Since I’m always trying to make things as healthy as possible, look for quinoa or flax chips. Or if you prefer, add your guac to endives. Yum!

Well, TGIF. It’s my bridal shower so I’m getting excited! Whatever you’re doing, have a gorge weekend!