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What I Wore To My Bridal Shower

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white lace dress (wearing size XS) // similar bag // similar shoes

Good morning everyone! I had my second bridal shower this past weekend (thrown by my sweet cousin!) and you may remember a couple of weeks ago that I asked your opinion on what to wear! Well I decided to go with this white lace dress because I thought it was the more classic option (the other one was off-the-shoulder and I was scared it was too "trendy"). I paired the dress with a bunch of my Kendra Scott jewelry from her new Summer Collection, which I HIGHLY recommend checking out! The Denise tassel earrings I'm wearing are my favorite and they come in a beautiful lilac color - the tassels are even REMOVABLE so you can easily switch up your look (they look cute both ways). I'm also loving the Megan cocktail ring which I got in mother of pearl to go with a bunch of bridal events. I'll link up some more of my favorite pieces in the widget below!

I took a few Instastories at the shower but to be honest I was talking to everyone and having so much fun that I didn't take any actual REAL photos!! My cousin took some so I'm going to try to get them from her. She is really crafty and had some of the coolest ideas - like a mimosa bar with REAL ROSES in the ice cubes! And she tied all of the napkins to look like roses too - it was unreal. Hopefully she will share the photos with me so I can show you too :)

xoxo!

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*Thank you to Kendra Scott for sponsoring this post

The Easiest Way to Shop!

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Gucci 49mm cat eye sunglasses // Wayf Capri Knot Cutout Minidress
Foxiedox Frances Embroidered Lace Halter Dress // Schutz Louna Platform Wedge Sandal
Mulberry Amberley Colorblock Leather Shoulder Bag // J.O.A. Tie Front Minidress

Have you guys heard of Trunk Club? It's literally the COOLEST thing if you're a girl on the go and don't have time to shop but still want to look cute! Once you sign up on Trunk Club's website, you'll be put in touch with your personal stylist who will get all of your sizes and some insight into your personal style. Then, your "trunk" arrives in the mail less than a week later with a whole bunch of cute clothes, accessories and even shoes. I had a phone call with my stylist, Betsy, a few weeks ago and I told her that I was looking for fun, spring-y items to wear on my bachelorette party, but with all the wedding planning I don't have time to shop for any myself! She sent me several darling dresses and two-piece sets, the cutest Schutz wedge sandals and even some Gucci sunglasses! I tried on everything at home and kept my favorites, then boxed everything else back up and sent it back (you only pay for what you keep!). I can't wait to wear the striped top in particular at my bachelorette party!!

As a Nordstrom company, Trunk Club combines top brands with excellent customer service to bring you the most convenient way to shop, EVER. I'm seriously addicted, I don't know if I'll ever go into a store again. ;) To begin, you can sign up here

xoxo

*Thank you to Trunk Club for sponsoring this post

Our First Day in Bermuda!

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Good morning everyone!! My mom and I arrived in Bermuda over the weekend for a mini-Mother's Day getaway with our friends Nichole and Brian and their moms! Yesterday we spent the morning by the pool, then changed for lunch at our hotel. I wore this off the shoulder maxi dress to lunch - it's only $55 and SO comfortable! I love that you can dress it up or down, depending on where you're headed. I had my hair up in a bun because it needed to be washed haha!

The last time I was in Bermuda, I mainly stayed at the hotel - so we are going to explore the island this time!! We heard that there's a beach with PINK sand so we're going to go try to find it today :) If you've been to Bermuda before and have any recommendations, please let me know!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!
xoxo

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Floral Maxi Dress

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Good morning everyone! I wore this B.P. floral maxi dress from Nordstrom the other week and it's only $55! I love the light, flowy material (perfect for the 90 degree weather we're having!) and the high slit makes it sexy but not too sexy. Nordstrom is always my go-to for flowy, affordable summer dresses and this one is no exception! I'm wearing an XS for reference and I'm linking up a bunch more in the widget below! :)

This past weekend was one of the best weekends of my life!! It was my bachelorette party in Charleston and 11 of my closest friends came down to celebrate with me! I didn't take professional photos while I was there, but I'm happy to do a post full of iPhone photos if you guys want to hear about the weekend. My matron of honor Anna did an amazing job planning everything - we had a lingerie shower, beach day and she had planned a bunch of fun games and activities! Let me know if you'd like a whole post on it!

xoxo
Caitlin

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Bachelorette Party Recap!

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Good morning everyone!! Today I'm so happy to be sharing the details of my bachelorette weekend!!! What I really wanted for the entire weekend was to be able to get some sun on the beach, relax and enjoy being surrounded by all my best friends, and that's exactly what happened :) My matron of honor found an amazing rental house in Wild Dunes, SC - our house was pretty much right on the beach, within walking distance to the Boardwalk Inn (where you can get food and drinks) and only a 20 minute drive from downtown Charleston. I would highly recommend Wild Dunes - plus, it's a gated community so it's VERY safe, not to mention clean and beautiful!  

Friday morning, my friends Sara and Brit met me at my house at 9 a.m. (the photo above was taken RIGHT before we hopped in the car!) and we headed to Charlotte to pick up our friend Emily, then to my cousin Jennifer's house. Jennifer has a HUUUUUGE car, which was great because it fit all of our luggage and wine bottles (hehe)! We tried really hard to pack as little as we could, but of course we all had multiple bags hahah! 

My two matrons of honor Anna and Melissa arrived to the house in Charleston right at the same time as us, so we all quickly changed into our bathing suits and headed to the beach. I swear, the beach is my happy place, and I instantly feel at peace whenever I'm next to the ocean. We all laid our beach towels in a circle and played a couple rounds of "Never Have I Ever." Then we headed back up to the house to meet some of the other girls that were just arriving! A few of us went to the grocery store to pick up some snacks and water bottles, while the rest of the girls stayed home to start fixing dinner. When we got back, the girls had all decorated the house! 



 cups, "mermaid squad" tees and flower crowns from Stag & Hen // hats from Bits and Pieces To Go

accessories from Stag & Hen


The rest of the night, girls kept arriving, and we all ate a DELICIOUS lasagna that Anna had made for everyone (I need to get her recipe because it was honestly the best lasagna I've ever had!). For dessert we had cake balls and peanut butter cookie dough dip, then played a fun game that Melissa and Anna had made. Prior to the bachelorette weekend, they had asked Chris a bunch of questions like "What's the best gift Caitlin has ever given you?" and "What's Caitlin's most embarrassing moment?" He answered them all, and then the girls printed out his answers on little notecards. All of the girls took turns asking me the questions, and I had to guess what Chris's answers were. I thought that it would be pretty easy, but Chris is really wordy and he basically wrote NOVELS for his answers hahah! Regardless it was really fun :) Anna had also printed out this "Pin the Tail on the Chrissy" game which I thought was absolutely hilarious!!! (Yes that is Chris's butt hahah)


The next item on the agenda was the Lingerie Shower! If you haven't heard of a Lingerie Shower, I'm pretty sure it's a southern thing! (Although I could be wrong on that). Basically, all of the girls gifted me pretty lingerie to wear on the honeymoon. I took turns opening each gift and then had to guess who it was from. It was so fun but also a bit embarrassing :) The rest of the night we spent all hanging out, laughing and eating the rest of the peanut butter cookie dough dip, haha.



On Saturday morning, we all had breakfast (a bunch of the girls had volunteered to bring breakfast so we had pancakes, avocado toast and bagels along with coffee), then put on our swimsuits for a beach day. I wore an old white swimsuit from ASOS, but this one is incredibly similar and only $30!


similar swimsuit (mine is here but sold out) // palm print kimono
glasses from Stag & Hen // hats from Bits and Pieces To Go


all of my KD girls from college! Sarah, Anna, Katherine and Gracie

the whole group in our hats from Bits and Pieces To Go
from left to right: Nicole, Sarah, Katherine, Sara, Melissa, Anna, me, Emily, Jennifer, Kelsey, Brit, Gracie

For lunch, we walked on the beach to the Boardwalk Inn and ate at their little beach restaurant. They have a selection of sandwiches, burgers, salads and wraps - and their tater tots are delicious! Around 4 p.m. we all headed back to the house to take showers and get ready for dinner that night. I wore an old white dress I have from Revolve, and all of my girls dressed in pink! 

Anna putting on my veil!


All of the girls before we left for dinner


My dress is a few years old from Revolve (you may remember it from this blog post back in the day), but I did find similar ones here and here. My shoes are here


That night, we all took a party bus to downtown Charleston (which I would highly recommend because Ubers are hard to come by in Wild Dunes!). Our first stop of the night was Stars Restaurant for its rooftop bar.


After Stars, we walked to Eli's Table, my absolute FAVVVVVVORITE restaurant in Charleston! Anna had made us a reservation several months in advance (they fill up really fast!). They have a large patio out back that is really cute, but it was really hot outside so we ended up sitting inside in the air conditioning! We had several appetizers (the smoked gouda fondue is amazing) and for dinner I had the local fish, grouper, while a bunch of the girls ordered the shrimp and grits (a Charleston specialty). It was delish!!


After dinner, we all headed to a nearby bar to DANCE! Anna had printed out a "Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt" which she hung around my neck with ribbon. The entire night, I had to do things to check off the list, which made the whole night really fun! For instance, I had to stand on a table and yell "I'm getting married!!" (which I did after a glass of wine haha). I also had to find another bride on her bachelorette party and take a picture with her, and find a guy with the same name as the groom (Chris) and take a picture with him. 

After a fun (late) night out, we all headed home - a bunch of the girls stayed up talking late into the night, and then we crashed! The next morning we all ate breakfast, packed, cleaned the house and then headed home. It was honestly one of the best weekends of my entire life (it will be second-best after the wedding!) and I am so thankful to be surrounded by such positive, loving and KIND friends. Even though a bunch of the girls didn't know each other beforehand, everyone got along so well and (I hope) had a much fun as I did. My abs were so sore at the end of the weekend from laughing so much. A huge thank you to my matrons of honor for planning everything and doing such an amazing job!!!!

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments :)
xoxo

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Affordable Summer Makeup

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Good morning everyone! One makeup brand that I've loved ever since high school is NYX Professional Makeup. Not only is their makeup incredibly affordable, but it's incredibly high quality. Back when I had an allowance from my parents (a loooooong time ago) I remember spending it on NYX makeup from Walmart hahah! I listed all of the makeup products I'm wearing above (and I'm wearing all of the products in these photos) however I wanted to share my absolutely FAVORITE three with you here - all available from Walmart!

NYX makeup setting spray, matte: A lot of beauty bloggers rave about this makeup setting spray, and now I know why! During the spring and summer I get an oily/shiny T-zone and I absolutely hate it - this setting spray controls the shine but still allows my highlighter to show through. I tested it all throughout my trip to Bermuda and it worked great - however the REAL test was this past weekend at my bachelorette party! It was 90 degrees and HUMID in Charleston and my makeup never budged!!!

NYX volumizing and lengthening mascara: I normally use a pretty expensive mascara, and I've found that this one is an amazing dupe for it, but for less than $8!! It does exactly what it says it does: lengthens and adds volume to your lashes. (I'm wearing it in these photos but I did use a mascara primer like I normally do.)

NYX lip lingerie liquid lipstick in "cheekies": If you learn one thing from this post, let it be that you HAVE to try NYX's lip products!! I have been using their gloss forever, and I like their liquid listed equally as much. The Lingerie collection is amazing in itself: the pigmentation is fantastic the lipstick is long wear and lasts much longer than the soft matte lip creams. On top of it all, it doesn't dry your lips out at all! I fell in love with the color "cheekies" for its soft, pale pink hue.

All of these products can be found at your local Walmart or online here! :)

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*Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post

Ruffle Romper (Only $30!)

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Nasty Gal ruffle romper (marked down to $30) // pink velvet bow heels (also marked down to $30)

I love dressing up for special occasions (weddings, parties, etc.) and what I love even more is finding party outfits for an affordable price! Nasty Gal's has a whole section of their site dedicated to occasion wear and every SINGLE outfit is on sale right now, including the ruffle romper I'm wearing in these photos! My favorite part of the whole outfit, though, would have to be the pink velvet bow heels - they're what dreams are made of! Just be sure to size down a whole size because they do run large :) The romper is true-to-size, I'm wearing a size 2. I'm including some more of my favorite occasion wear in the widget below!

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*Thanks to Nasty Gal for sponsoring this post

Where to Buy Tiffany & Co. on Sale

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Tiffany & Co. Heart Tag Pendant Necklace (40% off)
see all products here

Good morning everyone! I have really exciting news today - all Tiffany & Co. products on eBay are 40% off right now!! I had been wanting a Heart Tag Pendant Necklace from Tiffany & Co. for forever, and I finally decided to bite the bullet when it went on sale! I didn't have to bid on the necklace or anything, I hit "Buy It Now" and it arrived to my house a few days later in a signature teal box (my first Tiffany's box ever). I love how classic and beautiful the necklace is - it's definitely a piece that you pass down to your daughter!

You can check out all of Tiffany & Co.'s products on eBay here - all of the products are brand new and 40% off for a limited time. They make a great gift for a bride or a new graduate!

I'm linking up more of my favorites in the widget below! 

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*Thanks to eBay for sponsoring this post

Bermuda Beach Day

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Ted Baker London swimsuit (fully stocked!), also comes in pink and a bikini version
my mom's swimsuit top // swimsuit bottoms

Happy Monday, loves! I'm excited to share these photos that we took in Bermuda a couple of weeks ago... this Ted Baker London swimsuit is honestly my favorite swimsuit I've ever worn!! We are heading to Charleston next week for my wedding and I'm hoping to get some beach time in, so I'll definitely be packing it :) The big ruffle around the neck really accentuates curves and is so feminine and fresh! I also loved my mom's swimsuit that she wore, it's a beautiful light blue color!

Did everyone have a good weekend? I went to a couples shower for my friend Gracie, spent some time with my parents, grocery shopped for the week, and also had my wedding makeup trial! I'm going to share some of my wedding beauty treatments on the blog this week so stay tuned :)

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Introducing...

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Karl Lagerfeld + Model Co products:

If you don't know who Karl Lagerfeld is, he's one of my fashion idols... he's the head creative director for Chanel and Fendi, as well as an artist, photographer, and owner of his own fashion label. (Google him!!) And now he has partnered with Model Co to come out with the coolest, edgiest makeup line I've ever seen - sold here at Nordstrom. One thing that really stands out in his entire line is the packaging, especially the Kiss Me Karl Lip Lights Top Coat lip gloss, which features a mini Karl replica on the tube of the lip gloss. And when you open it up, there's an LED light AND a mirror on the tube so that you can perfectly apply your gloss! It is honestly one of the coolest lip glosses I've ever seen!!!! Another product I want to mention is this Liquid Luminizer Strobing Pen in "Nude Pink", which gives a GORGEOUS nude/pink glow to the tops of the cheekbones and the inside corner of the eyes. The formula is smooth and creamy, and a little goes a long way!

Check out the Karl Lagerfeld + Model Co collection here at Nordstrom and shop my favorites in the widget below!

P.S. The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale started today so be sure to check that out too!

xoxo

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*Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post

What to Wear to a Spring Wedding (& it's on Sale!)

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J.Crew Tie Front Strapless Dress (40% off) // Steve Madden suede wedge sandals (40% off!)
straw circle tote, similar HERE // MAC lipstick in "creme cup"

If you have any spring or summer weddings coming up, this Tie Front Strapless Dress is a great option and is currently 40% off right now! I looooove this dress, from the little bow detailing on the front to the ruffled hem. It does run a little big, so I would size down a full size! It comes in pink too ;) Even my suede wedge sandals are on sale too, as part of the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. If you haven't checked it out, there are some really great spring and summer items that are 40% off right now!

Check out more sale items below :)

cutout polka dot minidress (40% off!!!)

sale itemB.P. asymmetrical peplum tank (40% off!!)
white jeans // crossbody bag


sale itemblack cutout minidress (40% off!) // Steve Madden suede wedge sandals(40% off!)

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Wedding Beauty Treatments

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Hey guys, I'm so sorry I meant to get this post up last week! It has been an absolutely crazy busy month... and the wedding is only SIX DAYS AWAY, can you believe it?!?! I have another fun wedding-themed post coming later this week, but today I wanted to share with you all of the beauty prep I did for the wedding! I think every girl can agree that they want to look their absolute best on their wedding day... with beautiful skin, hair and nails! I particularly wanted my skin to look clear and glowing because I think that's my "problem area," if you will. I'm sharing this in a timeline format, because I think that makes the most sense. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to answer them! :) 

By the way, this post is NOT SPONSORED at all! 

SIX MONTHS:

Six months ago (on January 1st) I started a new workout program and really focused on eating clean. I think what you put in your body has a huge impact on your hair and skin, so I really made it a priority to eliminate processed foods and eat mostly whole foods - especially veggies - I've been eating LOTS and lots of veggies! I try to eat the colors of the rainbow every day - as many red, green, orange, yellow and blue fruits and vegetables as I can. I made this green smoothie (and variations of it) a TON over the past six months. It's packed with skin-boosting nutrients and tastes delicious too. In addition to eating clean, I also upped my daily intake of water, even if I had to trick myself into drinking it by buying sparkling beverages (this one is my fave).

I'm going to do a whole blog post on my workout routine leading up to the wedding, but I do think that it made a difference in my skin, too. Working out helps your body produce collagen, which is a protein that helps to keep your skin firm and elastic. I also noticed that on days I work out, I get a lot better sleep at night - which is also great for your skin because it repairs itself while you sleep!

As far as topical skin products go, six months out I made sure that I was using my retinal every single night (I use this one and blogged about it in this post) and a good moisturizer (my favorites are this one and this one). I also began foregoing makeup whenever I could to give my skin a chance to breathe - on days when I wasn't taking blog photos, you could find me in workout clothes and makeup-free.

THREE MONTHS:

Three months out from the wedding, I started a series of Clear + Brilliant skin laser treatments recommended by my dermatologist in Charlotte. Clear + Brilliant treatments are a step above a chemical peel, and a step below heavier resurfacing lasers like Fraxel. My dermatologist said this laser was a good choice for someone getting married because it's pretty gentle, but leaves your skin looking smoother, younger and with a "radiant glow" after a couple of sessions. It was ultimately the promise of the "radiant glow" that nudged me to begin the treatments. Starting in March, I had one treatment every month, with my third and final treatment just last week.

This was my first experience ever having a skin laser, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect! When I arrived for my first laser treatment, they had me wash my makeup off and then they applied a numbing cream all over my face. I waited for 30 minutes for the numbing cream to take effect before they started the actual treatment. The laser didn't hurt at all - in fact it was kind of relaxing! - but afterward, my skin was SO red and felt like it had been badly sunburned (don't worry, they reassured me that this is normal!). The below photo is how my skin looked right after my first laser treatment. Although it was red, my dermatologist told me I was allowed to put on makeup right away if I wanted to (that's another nice thing about this laser treatment - there's no downtime!).


The weirdest part, though, was what happened a few days after the treatment - my skin had a strange rough texture, like SANDPAPER. Yes, my skin felt exactly like sandpaper! It really freaked me out at first, but after a quick Google search I realized that this was normal, too. My dermatologist had advised me to use gentle products on my skin for the first couple of days after the treatment, and to skip my retinal for a full three days. After five days of feeling rough and sandpapery, my skin went back to it's normal texture and to my surprise, was a a lot softer than before the treatment. 

After having the three treatments, I don't know if I would say that I'm "radiantly glowing" (lol I wish), however I do notice quite a big difference in my skin tone, the size of my pores (they're smaller!) and the texture of my skin. I'm even considering keeping up the laser treatments after the wedding for maintenance - it also is a great preventative measure if you're worried about your skin aging. If you're interested, I would recommend asking your doctor if it's a good fit for you!

ONE MONTH: 

One month out from the wedding - cue a couple of panic attacks - and the realization that I need to start whitening my teeth! Chris and I both started using these Crest Whitestrips (shown below) at night for 30 minutes. Both of us saw a noticeable difference in our teeth after a couple weeks of using them, and we'll continue to use them up until the big day.


Another thing I did a month out was schedule my wedding makeup trial! I discovered my makeup artist Lindsey Burchfield on Instagram and was seriously in awe of her talent - I knew I had to have her on my wedding day!! Thank goodness she was available on June 2nd, and I booked her right away. (Seriously, just scroll through her Instagram feed, she is CRAZY talented!)

I met Lindsey at her salon in McAdenville a couple of weeks ago for my makeup trial. I was so excited to meet her - she's an absolute doll and made me feel comfortable right away. Not to mention that I absolutely LOVE how she did my makeup!! She found the perfect balance between keeping my makeup natural (so that I still looked like myself) but also making feel like a bride. I am dying to learn all of her tips and tricks!!

unedited photo

Here's a list of the products she used on me!

I can't wait to see Lindsey again in six days for the REAL thing!!!! Definitely check her out on Instagram (@lindseyjburchfield) for some amazing before-and-after photos too!

ONE WEEK:

One week away from the wedding - that's THIS WEEK! This week I'm concentrating on eating really clean, and drinking lots of tea and hot lemon water to help with any bloating. I'm also continuing to whiten my teeth, use my retinal at night and a good moisturizer.

I am getting a calming, relaxing facial on Thursday (nothing irritating or harsh!) to hopefully get a glow right before the big day. I will also get a spray tan on Thursday night so that I'll be tan for the wedding on Saturday. I always feel drastically better with a tan! 

And that's pretty much it you guys! If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments and I'll get back to you! This is definitely going to be a crazy week, but like I said, I have another fun wedding post planned so stay tuned! I'M SO EXCITED TO MARRY MY BEST FRIEND!!!!!! 

XOXO

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Embroidered White Dress

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Nasty Gal Studio embroidered dress (on sale!) // pink velvet bow heels (marked down to $30)

This embroidered dress from Nasty Gal is what my summer dreams are made of! If you have any parties to go to this summer (or are a bride!), this dress would be absolutely perfect. Nasty Gal has a whole section of their site dedicated to occasion wear and every SINGLE outfit is on sale right now! I wore this ruffle romper last week on the blog! I also want to point out my pink velvet bow heels, which are marked down to $30 and SO SO CUTE. I'm including some more of my favorite occasion wear from Nasty Gal in the widget below!

Today needs to be SUUUUUUPER productive because I leave for Charleston tomorrow! We still have a zillion things left to do for the wedding (including gluing programs together hahah) and I'm praying that we can get it all done on time AND pack everything up for the road. Wish us luck!!

xoxo

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*Thanks to Nasty Gal for sponsoring this post

My Three Must-Have Summer Makeup Products

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My friends and I used to ask each other, "If you were stranded on an island, which one makeup product would you bring?" and I always had such a hard time answering that question. The problem is, I love makeup too much!! And there are too many products that I view as "must-haves" - even alone on a  stranded island haha! I think I could narrow it down to three (at least, at this moment in time), and all three can be found at your nearest Sephora. My three current favorite beauty products are *drumroll please*... 

I have talked about this setting powder before on my blog (in fact I named it as one of my best buys of 2017) and it still stands true today. Prior to this powder, I had tried out probably five different setting powders - most of them seemed to work well at first, but sure enough, a couple of hours later my T-zone area always got shiny! Laura Mercier's translucent powder is a true godsend, because not only does it set your makeup, but it eliminates shine for 12 HOURS, even in the summer heat!! I will not leave the house without applying this first. :) 

I switch back and forth between Anastasia Beverly Hill's brow pomade and the brow wiz. Right now I'm loving the brow wiz because I think it's a better fit for the spring and summer months: it's a little bit easier to apply than the pomade, and it also goes on lighter and looks really natural... plus, once it's on it doesn't BUDGE, even if you're outside and sweating in the summer heat! 

Alright this is a new one for me, but hear me out :) Ever since I had my wedding makeup trial with Lindsey, she convinced me that I actually can wear eyeshadow and make it work for me (in the past I had always refused to wear eyeshadow because I thought it made my eyes look smaller!). Lindsey taught me that the trick is not to take the dark eyeshadow up too high on my lid, because I have a small eye socket. Anyway, I invested in the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette a couple of weeks ago and am OBSESSEDDDD and have been wearing it ever since! I mainly stick to neutral colors - "desert sand" and "musk" are my favorites - and I apply one of the shimmery shades right beneath my brow. Trust me when I say this eyeshadow palette is GORG! 

All of these products can be found at Sephora - I'll link them in the widget below! Now it's your turn - which makeup item would you bring if you were stranded on a deserted island?!

xoxo

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*Thanks to Sephora for sponsoring this post 

We're Getting Married!!! His + Her Q&A

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Good morning everyone! The big day is *almost* here - Chris and I are getting married tomorrow!! I have been in Charleston for a few days now with my family, and Chris is driving up tomorrow to stay with his family. Our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner is tomorrow night! I'm so so so so excited (and nervous). One more exciting thing: our wedding is featured on The Knot as one of the Most Influential Weddings of 2018! You can read our story and more about our wedding here on their website. In honor of all this, we both thought it would be really fun to answer some Q&A questions before the wedding. 

Chris and I didn't look at each other's answers, we both answered on our own, separately. Some of these are pretty hilarious. Some of them are really sweet. I have to sign off before I start crying haha! 

Here you go!

Q: How did you first meet?

Chris: Caitlin and I first met in Greenville, SC. I was working as a mortgage banker, and she just graduated from UNC and was working for a PR firm. We actually met through mutual friends. My fraternity brother was dating one of Caitlin’s first friends at Clemson, and they introduced us at dinner one night. Love at first sight is cliché, but I was a goner from day one.

Caitlin: Chris and I met in Greenville, SC, when I moved there after college to start my first "big girl" job. I met a girl who went to Clemson University, and she introduced me to Chris just 18 days after I moved there. It wasn't love at first sight though - hahah! - Chris had to convince me to go on a lunch date with him, but after that first date I knew I was in trouble! I was pretty much head over heels for him after that.

Q: When/How did you first fall in love with your fiancé?

Chris: One night Caitlin and I went to dinner with some friends and at this particular restaurant they had live music. The band went to take a break, and almost as soon as they left, Caitlin went up and started playing the drums…later on that night, we went to another place with a DJ. He was offering “spin lessons” for some of the patrons, and Caitlin and I jumped at the chance to learn how to DJ. I fell in love with Caitlin’s spontaneity, her self-confidence to do what she wanted and not care what anyone else thought, and her fun-loving nature. Obviously, our love has blossomed more since that moment, but I vividly remember seeing her DJ and do the “Wobble” and thinking in my head that she was the one.

Caitlin: It only took a couple of month for me to fall in love with Chris! It was kind of weird/crazy - he felt like the guy version of me right from the start. We both had the same exact sense of humor, morals, family values and drive... I had never met anyone else that I immediately connected with on such a deep level. It's hard to explain but it just felt "right" - he was exactly who I had been praying for my entire life.  

This picture was taken a few months after we first started dating!

Q: What's the most memorable date you've had?

Caitlin: I would say our most memorable date is our first date - the lunch date! I worked in Greenville, SC and there are beautiful waterfalls right downtown. I worked on one side of the bridge, and Chris and I were meeting at a restaurant on the other side of the bridge for lunch. I called my mom when I walked over and I remember telling her how nervous I was! Chris was waiting on the other side of the bridge, with a huge smile on his face. 

ChrisWe’ve had a lot of amazing dates through the years. We always do “date night” on Friday, so there are a lot to choose from. The most “memorable” would have to be our first Valentine’s Day dinner together. We had been dating for about a month, so this was our first “big date.” We were both in our first jobs, so we decided to cook dinner together, my favorite Fettuccini Alfredo. We were so nervous given the fact that it was our first valentine’s day, that we “boiled” the noodles in cold water (Caitlin forgot to actually put on the stove). We also decided to make our own cheese sticks with string cheese rolled up in Pillsbury breadsticks (bad idea). The saving grace was that we made our own Alfredo sauce and had the entire romantic mood ambiance with flowers and candles. Needless to say, the dinner left a lot to be desired, but the fact that we failed together and still had an amazing time and a great story to tell makes it one of my favorite dates we have ever had together.


Q: What quality do you most admire about the other?

Chris: Aside from her stubbornness (kidding), I most admire her passion. She gives her all in everything that she does and accepts the best from herself and others. Whether it’s her blog/career, her family, our pets, our relationship, or her hobbies, she does it 100%. It’s contagious and I love that she challenges me to be a better person in everything that I do. She’s inspiring to me. 

Caitlin: I would say his loyalty. Chris is fiercely loyal to his family and friends and it's something I recognized right away about him. If you become friends with Chris, you will be friends with him for life - not only that, but he will have your back in any situation. He has taught me how to be a better friend. I also love that underneath his macho/manly exterior, he is a softy at heart (he may kill me for saying that!). Deep down he is a hopeless romantic, but I'm the only one that really knows that side of him! 


Q: What was the best engagement present you received? 

Chris: We are still receiving gifts (thanks to everyone who has sent them, and I promise that we are working on the thank you letters), but I have to say that my personal favorite has to be the world map with push pins that we received. The idea is to put the push pins in every location that Caitlin and I have traveled to together. We love to travel (she obviously gets to do it more often than I do, but still), and I think it’s a great way for us to reminisce about each trip and get us to travel even more.

Caitlin: The best engagement present was a Kitchen-Aid mixer from my parents! I have wanted one for so many years and we put one on our registry (even though we didn't think we would receive it). Thank you, mom and dad!!! I can't wait to cook for everyone!! 

Q: How did you celebrate your bachelor/bachelorette party?

Caitlin: For my bachelorette party, we went to Wild Dunes (near Charleston) for the weekend! We had a beach day, played tons of games and went out in downtown Charleston. I blogged about the entire weekend - you can read about it here.

Chris: My bachelor party was amazing. My best men, Zack Owen and John Raymond, set up the best and most fun weekend I have ever had (up until the wedding). They reached out to around 20 of my childhood and college friends to come for a beach weekend in Wilmington, NC. Although it rained most of the weekend, we did get some beach time. The highlights were going on a brewery tour, topped off with a military style Laser Tag competition amongst the guys. Very manly, brews, artificial guns, and competition. They had gotten us all NBA AllStar jerseys for East vs. West for the teams, so we certainly looked like the goofiest people in the place. All in all, my most favorite part was reconnecting with all my friends and bringing everybody together for my “last hoorah.”


Q: How would you describe the style of your wedding?

Chris: Classic Southern. We are both from the South and so we wanted to have that feel to our wedding. Naturally, Charleston was the perfect location for us. I grew up going to Charleston for beach trips and Caitlin loves going down there. We have all the Southern staples: Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grits. The décor is perfect with a lot of lanterns and lights, it’s going to be perfect.

Caitlin: I would say it will look like a southern, romantic garden party... if that makes sense! The color scheme is blush pink, gold and light grey. I wanted the wedding to have an ethereal, fairytale feel to it.... with TONS of flowers hahah!

Q: What has been the most fun detail of your wedding to plan?

Chris: My favorite part has to be picking the wedding registry. It’s like playing laser tag with stuff that you want. They give you a scanner and you get to go through the whole store, pick out what you want and shoot (scan) it. I’m no hunter, but that was pretty awesome. Almost like an adult version of the Toys R Us run from Nickelodeon. If only I could do that for my birthday presents…

Caitlin: I think the most fun detail was picking out the rentals (like the tables, chairs and lounge furniture) and the flowers. That's when I could really start to picture it all in my head. Although going to Charleston for the food tasting with Chris was pretty amazing - I am still drooling over the mac'n'cheese we tasted and can't wait to have it again on Saturday!! 

Q: What has been the most difficult detail of your wedding to plan?

Chris: The hardest detail is planning with all of the moving pieces. We are trying to get dinner and set tables up with a moving guest list, and inevitably there is something random that comes up that throws a kink in the “original” plan. In the moment, it gets frustrating, but at the end of the day, I know we will look back at the whole experience and laugh at it.

Caitlin: Picking out a hairstyle. Hahahah. 


Q: Do you have any unique wedding details?

Caitlin: Yes but you will have to stay tuned to find out!! 

Chris: Caitlin will have a completely different answer, but for me, the most unique thing will be my family coming into town. Most of my relatives have never been to the south because they live in Wisconsin. I’m excited and a little terrified for them to come down because they are going from almost as cold as it gets, to muggy Charleston heat. I tried to warn everyone, but I don’t know if they know what they’re in for. One of the most unique things about our wedding is that it’s the first time that Caitlin’s brother, also named Chris, will be back in the US in around 3 years. He has been living in Japan since college and is coming to the states for the first time since moving out there. I’m so excited to see him, his family and Caitlin to see him, and for him to be there to support us. It was a little unconventional, but I asked for his blessing to marry Caitlin first thing in the morning US time, because there was a 12 hour time difference.

Q: What moment of your wedding day are you most anticipating?

Caitlin: Seeing Chris's face when I walk down the aisle. And then that moment when I'm finally his wife!!

Chis: I’m most anticipating the first dance. Partially, because I’m so excited that we did it and we are officially married; partially, because I am nervous about forgetting my steps and I don’t want to mess it up.



Q: What are you most excited for on your wedding day?

Chris: Most relieving will be when she says “I Do,” but I’m most excited about seeing her walk down the aisle. I get flustered thinking about it because I know she is going to be the most beautiful bride and look so amazing. I’m packing some tissues because I know the water works will start as soon as I get to look in her eyes as she walks closer to me.

Caitlin: I'm most excited to be with Chris, and to be surrounded by all of our closest family and friends. There will never be another time in our lives when we're surrounded by EVERYONE we love. I can't wait to dance the night away with all of them!! 

Q: What are you most nervous about on your wedding day?

ChrisThe weather. I’m praying that it doesn’t rain, but the forecast doesn’t look in our favor. It’s lucky if it rains on your wedding day, right?

Caitlin: To be honest I'm worried about two things: 1. that it's going to rain, and 2. that my hair won't turn out the way I want it to.

right after we got engaged!

Q: What advice would you give to other engaged couples who are planning a wedding?

Chris: It sounds cliché, but “don’t sweat the small stuff.” You both make a lot of decisions and each decisions seems to be “life or death,” but at the end of the day, you are marrying the love of your life, and everything will go the way God intended. 

Caitlin: I would say to slow down and take it all in, and ENJOY the little moments along the way. I feel like I was WAY too stressed out for so much of the planning months and looking back, I wish that I hadn't stressed so much and that I had enjoyed just being engaged! All of the little, seemingly stressful details don't really matter that much in the long run, and you will only be engaged once in your life. 

Q: What are you looking forward to as newlyweds?

Chris: I can’t wait to be able to call Caitlin my wife. Simple. Sappy, real.

Caitlin: To be Mrs. Dorsch!!! And go on the honeymoon :D 


Q: Thoughts on how you will feel when it's over?

Chris: Relieved. I’ll be so excited that we are officially married, and relieved that the planning is over. It will be a little depressing because you work so hard for so long on something, and then it’s gone in what feels like an instant; however, I see it more as the prologue to our journey together.

Caitlin: In some ways, I think I'll feel a little relieved. To be honest, it has been really stressful planning a wedding, having a full-time job with a busy travel schedule, and trying to care for pets and keep a house clean at the same time. Actually, my house hasn't been clean for like a full year because of it hahah. I am excited for life to go back to normal and for us to be husband and wife... but I do think I'll feel sad because I've gotten to talk to and see my friends and family so much during the planning months!

Q: One thing you're looking forward to in marriage?

Caitlin: I can't wait for our day-to-day life as a married couple... and eventually having a family! I want like ten kids hahah!

Chris: I’m looking forward to writing our own story, together. I’m so excited to see what the future brings us. In the near future, I’m looking forward to being closer than ever together. Going to sleep, and waking up to the woman I love. Long term, I’m looking forward to building a family together. Learning to be parents together, and growing our relationship.

Q: What is one thing you would like your fiancé to know a few days out from being married?

Chris: I want her to know how proud of her that I am. I don’t express it as often as I need to, but I remember when we first met and blogging was her “hobby.” I have seen, firsthand, how hard she has worked to make it into her career and I am so proud of her for taking a leap of faith into something that she is passionate about, and not stopping until she reaches her goal. I love her with everything I have, and I promise to always strive to be better man. I will never be able to be the man that she deserves, but I will try every day to reach that goal for myself. I love you, Cait.

Caitlin: I want him to know that God TRULY answered my prayers when he brought him into my life. He balances me out in every way, he is strong in all of the ways I am weak, and I can't wait to be 90 years old with him, rocking in our rocking chairs on our front porch. He is everything I've ever wanted in a man, and I couldn't be luckier. I can't wait to be your wife!!!

xoxo, Cait

What I Wore to Our Rehearsal Dinner

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Good morning, everyone!! I can't believe I'm writing to you now as a MARRIED WOMAN! How crazy! I'll be sharing lots of wedding details with you over the next couple of months (it was the best day of my life!!!), but I wanted to answer a few questions today about our rehearsal dinner. The dress I'm wearing is this Revolve dress with these Louboutin Degrastrass pumps. I linked up TONS of similar dresses at the bottom of this post, though! I wanted a dramatic statement-making dress for the rehearsal dinner, so I went with a long dress with a high slit. There are a lot of similar dresses that are available right now! 

To answer some other questions about our rehearsal dinner, we held ours at the restaurant 492 on King Street in Charleston. It's a BEAUTIFUL restaurant, and they let us have the entire top floor for our rehearsal dinner (including a rooftop patio!). For dinner we had a beet salad, a choice of beef shortrib or local caught fish, and for dessert, a molten chocolate chip cookie cake with vanilla ice cream on top. Chris's sister made a slideshow of mine and Chris's photos (us as babies, growing up and then photos of us together), so we watched that, and our groomsmen and bridesmaids also gave speeches. 

Later on in the evening, we hosted a Welcome Party, and all of our wedding guests were invited to 492 for drinks. Almost all of our guests were from out of town (and some very far away - from Wisconsin!) so it was really nice to see everyone and talk to them, since we knew that the actual wedding day would be crazy.


This might be a southern tradition (y'all let me know if it isn't!) but I got Chris a cake from Ashley Bakery for the rehearsal dinner, called a Groom's Cake. Chris is the biggest Clemson fan in the world,  so I wanted the cake to be Clemson-themed! They really brought my idea to life - a huge Clemson cooler, with real-looking ice cubes (made out of sugar!) and cans of Busch Light on top. Chris looooves Busch Light so I had them put those cans as a little joke :) The inside of the cake was red velvet - Chris's favorite.


I think that's it for the rehearsal dinner! It was the absolute perfect way to kick off the wedding weekend. Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below :)

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Cutout Minidress

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cutout minidress // Chloe wedges, almost identical HERE

Alright, how adorable is this dress with side cut-outs?! I love that all you have to do is throw on the dress and you automatically look put-together. It has really pretty embroidery details on the hem and bust - it's also a gorgeous periwinkle color! I paired it with these Chloe look-alike wedges and my favorite Kendra Scott cocktail ring for a lunch date last week! :)

As you're reading this, I'm currently in GREECE on my honeymoon! It is absolutely beautiful here!! I'll share all the details with you guys when I get back home :) 

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Travel Guide: Mykonos, Greece

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Good morning, everyone!!! Long time no talk ;) I've never taken a break from blogging for this long, and I'm so happy to be back! If you follow along on my Instagram, you may know that my husband (eeeek!) and I just spent the past two weeks on our honeymoon in Greece and Italy. A lot of you guys were interested in our itinerary and how we traveled from place to place, so I'll be doing a series of blog posts on each location. To start with, we did not work with a travel agent for this trip. Chris and I did tons of research and planned everything ourselves - to me, doing research is one of the most fun parts of planning a trip! So yes, you can totally plan and book our exact trip by yourself without the aid of a travel agent. 

Today's travel guide is all about MYKONOS, Greece! 

To start with, I'm rounding up all of our Instagrams from Mykonos with a short description, but scroll down to the bottom of this post for an in depth travel guide, as well as my opinion on the difference between Mykonos and Santorini. 

The main pool at our hotel, Cavo Tagoo Mykonos:


Our first night in Mykonos we spent exploring Mykonos Town.

 blue dress, similar HERE // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

We loved hanging out at our hotel's main pool... they had a great lunch menu and the most amazing cheese plate I've ever had.

La Reveche swimsuit, comes in another color HERE, less expensive dupe HERE
// Brixton hat // BRIDE pom pom bag

There are flowers blooming EVERYWHERE in Mykonos! This shot was taken in Mykonos Town.

on Chris: chambray shirt // white shorts // pink shoes (only $16)
on me: striped two piece set (sold out), very similar outfit HERE // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

Another picture from Mykonos Town, taken right before dinner one night. You'll find white-washed walls and blue doors all over Mykonos Town.

 Show Me Your Mumu jumpsuit // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

The famous windmills of Mykonos, built in the 16th century.

 blue dress // handbag, similar here // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

Before heading to the beach club Nammos for the day.

tan crop top // white shorts // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter" // Chanel tote bag

The beach club Nammos. We had lunch at the restaurant first, then booked two chairs by the water. They waited on us hand and foot, delivering wine and ice cream whenever we wanted it! 

David Yurman gold necklace // cross earrings

More exploring in Mykonos Town! This picture was taken next to Philippi Hotel, a great affordable option if you'd rather stay right in Mykonos Town. If not, venture there for a photo opp! 

 
 blue dress // handbag, similar here // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

Enjoying the pistachio gelato at Hibiscus in Mykonos Town.

 blue dress // handbag, similar here // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

on Chris: chambray shirt // white shorts // pink shoes (only $16)
on me: striped two piece set (sold out), very similar outfit HERE // TKEES sandals in "cocobutter"

First up, I received a lot of questions about the difference between Mykonos and Santorini. Before our trip, a lot of people told us, "Mykonos is where you go to party, and Santorini is where you go to relax!" and we found that to be VERY true! Mykonos is a party town. There are tons of nightclubs and beach bars and it is not uncommon to stay out until 5 or 6 a.m. partying while you're there! Mykonos is also known for its amazing beaches, whereas Santorini doesn't really have good beaches, but it does have very romantic hotels with amazing pools and fantastic cliffside views. Between Mykonos and Santorini, I really don't think I could pick a favorite! They're both very different and unique in their own ways. My recommendation is to see them both, since they're only a ferry-ride away from each other. 

HOW TO GET TO MYKONOS
There are two ways to get to Mykonos: by land or by water. The most common route is to fly into Athens, Greece, and then take a 6-hour ferry from Athens to Mykonos. This option is a little more affordable, especially if you buy the plane and ferry tickets far in advance. The other option (and the one that Chris and I preferred) is to fly directly into Mykonos. The Mykonos airport is pretty small and there are limited flights, which is probably why it costs more. We took a direct flight from Charlotte to London (it was a red-eye flight so we slept most of the time), then we took another three-hour flight from London to Mykonos. We chose to do this because of the convenience factor... we wanted to arrive in Mykonos as quickly as possible and didn't want to board a ferry once we had landed in Greece! We arranged transportation with our hotel beforehand, so they were waiting for us at the airport once we arrived. From there, it was only a 10 minute drive to our hotel.

WHERE TO STAY IN MYKONOS
If you do decide to visit Mykonos, take my advice and pick a hotel near Mykonos Town - it is the heart of Mykonos and it's absolutely beautiful - that's where you'll find amazing restaurants as well as the famous white-washed walls, blue doors, blooming flowers and LOTS of photo opps. If you're looking for an affordable option, there are lots of cute vacation rentals in Mykonos Town. My friends recently stayed at Philippi Hotel and they loved it - it's a charming little hotel right in the center of Mykonos Town surrounded by shops and restaurants, plus it's very affordable. 

Chris and I chose to stay at Cavo Tagoo Mykonos and we absolutely loved everything about it, from the elaborate (and free) breakfast buffet to the floating pool beds at the main pool. My advice would be to book FAR in advance and save money by booking one of the "Classic Rooms." Chris and I booked the Honeymoon Suite, but when we arrived they told us that they had "upgraded" us to the Golden Suite, which was a nice room but didn't look nearly as nice as the one I had originally booked. In the end, we were hardly in our room AT ALL - there is so much to do in Mykonos, from walking around town, eating out, visiting the beaches and beach clubs, and laying out by the main pool, that we felt bad for spending so much money on the room and then not spending time in it at all. (Side note: we DID stay in our room in Santorini for most of the trip, so save your money in Mykonos and splurge on a nice room in Santorini!) The main thing that we really loved about Cavo Tagoo is that it's only a 5-minute drive from Mykonos Town. There's a free shuttle that runs 24 hours a day between the hotel and Mykonos Town - we took advantage of the shuttle multiple times a day, heading into town for lunch beside the water, and then back to eat dinner and catch the sunset. If you choose to stay at Cavo Tagoo, definitely make use of the free breakfast buffet! Chris and I didn't realize that it was complimentary at first - and then pigged out when we found out it was, haha! The breakfast spread is out of this world - every fresh fruit you can imagine, delicious Greek yogurt, dozens and dozens of muffins and pastries, eggs and breakfast meats, there's even a juice bar where they have freshly squeezed juice from exotic fruits. And the restaurant looks right out over the water with a truly breathtaking view. Chris and I spent a lot of time there, and next door at the main pool. It was incredibly relaxing to lay out on the floating pool beds, and they will bring water, drinks and lunch right to your bed. 

WHERE TO EAT IN MYKONOS
We were not surprised to find that we LOVED the food in Mykonos. We stuffed ourselves on tzatziki, fresh fish, feta cheese, and lots and lots of olives. Every single meal we had was delicious!

Lunch/Appetizers
  • Pepper Mykonos: Situated right in Mykonos Town, this little cafe is the perfect spot for lunch, just grab a table on the street (it's also the perfect place for people watching). I ordered zucchini balls, which are pretty hard to describe but literally melt-in-your mouth amazing (just trust me and order them). Chris had a chicken souvlaki gyro, which he loved and demolished :) 
  • Nice N Easy: We had the best tzatziki dip in all of Greece at this restaurant. Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water!
  • Cavo Tagoo: Even if you aren't staying at this hotel, it's worth it to visit for appetizers and order a few cocktails and their cheese plate. We thought their cheese was amazing - even better than the cheese in Italy! 
  • Nammos: Nammos is both a restaurant and a beach club. We visited one day for lunch and, although it was expensive, it was delicious. We ordered calamari, grilled vegetables and zucchini fries. We regretted not ordering fish - we watched the waiter bring out a cooked fish and debone it right in front of the table - how fresh can you get!?
Dinner
  • Nice N Easy: The best meal that we ate in Mykonos, and maybe even our entire trip! Nice N Easy serves only organic, locally sourced food - I had the Cilantro Kale Pesto Tagliatelle and Chris ordered some sort of gyro - we both oohed and ahhed over our meals, finishing every last bite. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time - book at 7 p.m. and ask for a table beside the water (it's the perfect place to watch the sunset).
  • M-Eating: This was another one of our favorite restaurants in Mykonos! Make a reservation for one of the outside tables (great for people-watching). Chris and I both ordered fish and it was to-die-for, along with honey pie for dessert.
  • Mamalouka: This restaurant is nestled in Mykonos Town under a ceiling of blooming flowers, even if the food wasn't amazing, I would still go here for the amazing atmosphere! But don't worry, the food is delicious too (and be sure to order the fried feta for an appetizer).
  • Pasta Fresca: If you want a break from Greek food, this restaurant serves authentic Italian pasta dishes that rival Italy's.
  • Scorpios: Scorpios is actually a beach club but has a nice restaurant too - be warned because this place turns into a crazy party at night, especially on Sundays and Tuesdays. We went here for dinner one night with some friends, and the food and drinks were delicious!
    Drinks/Bars/Nightclubs
    • Caprice: If you're looking for a chill place to watch the sunset, Caprice is for you. The cocktails are amazing and it has a good view of the Mykonos windmills.
    • Scorpios: If you're looking for a crazy beach party with an amazing DJ, definitely venture to Scorpios. We went for dinner one night, and watched as the whole place turned into a dance party. The decor is amazing, I wish we had been able to visit during the day and take advantage of their lounge chairs on the beach! We heard that their biggest parties are on Tuesday and Sunday nights.
    • Skandinavian Bar: During the day, this little bar in Mykonos Town looks very quaint and picturesque - but starting around 11 p.m. it turns into a WILD party! It gets pretty crowded and drinks are expensive, but the music is great and we had SUCH a fun night of dancing here. The party doesn't end until after 3 a.m. so make sure you're wearing your most comfortable dancing shoes!
    • Tropicana: We went here with some friends we met and it was SO much fun, we didn't get home until 4 a.m.! We may or may not have even danced on the bar! ;) 
    WHAT TO DO IN MYKONOS
    • Explore Mykonos Town (and bring your camera!). Chris and I had so much fun exploring Mykonos Town, we would pick little streets and venture down them, getting lost in a sea of white walls and blue doors. We packed this tripod to get some couple photos in Mykonos Town - it only weighs a few pounds and is easy to carry. 
    • Go to the beach. Mykonos is known for it's amazing beaches, and there are plenty of beach clubs to visit. We really liked Nammos - it was very expensive (we paid 120 for two sunbeds) but we hung out on the beach all day, ordering wine and ice cream to our beach chairs whenever we felt like it. We also heard Scorpios was a great beach club.
    • Watch the sunset from Little Venice. (Little Venice is a part of Mykonos Town) Mykonos had some of the most amazing sunsets I'd ever seen, definitely take advantage of them while you're there!
    • Visit the windmills. The Mykonos windmills are famous - they were constructed in the 16th century and are still around today - they also offer the perfect location to watch the sunset.
    • Shop! There are a ton of local boutiques, gift shops and art stores in Mykonos Town that are really fun to peruse. 

      WHAT TO WEAR IN MYKONOS
      This wouldn't be a fashion blog without a recommendation for what to wear, right!? We found that Mykonos in June was pretty much the perfect weather - it fluctuated between 75 and 80 degrees every day. It was hot in the sunshine, which warranted a refreshing dip in the pool or sea. Definitely pack a lot of swimsuits (I felt like I lived in bikinis!) as well as cute cover-ups to wear to the beach clubs. The stone walkways can be a little uneven, so I opted to wear flat sandals every single day that I was there. These TKEES sandals (in the color "cocobutter") ended up being my life savers because they were really comfortable to walk around in all day and matched every single outfit that I had packed. As for clothing, I recommend light, flowy dresses and rompers. It gets really hot walking around Mykonos Town during the day, so you'll want breathable fabric that blows in the wind. If you want to match your surroundings, pack a lot of blue and white clothing! I wish I had packed a solid pink dress to match the blooming flowers (for a photo opp of course). Also be sure to bring a sun hat!

      If you've been to Mykonos before and have any recommendations, let us all know in the comments!
      And stay tuned because I'll be blogging every day this week :)

      xoxo

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      Book Review (Round Nine)

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      Good morning, everyone! I'm so happy to be back this morning with a BOOK REVIEW! During the last few months of wedding planning, I didn't have time to read at all... and the few times that I did try, I kept getting distracted by my thoughts. Since the wedding, though, I've been reading up a STORM! Two of these I would consider the best books I've read in 2018. Yup I said it, they're that good! Let's get started. 

      1. THE FRENCH GIRL by Lexie Elliott
      By far the best book I've read all year! "The French Girl" pulled me in immediately and kept me turning page after page to find out what was going to happen next. It's a suspense/thriller novel, but the author Lexie Elliott does an amazing job of building dynamic characters... I felt every single emotion along with the protagonist, Kate. Here's the gist: the story takes place in current day London, where Kate receives a phone call from college friend Tom about the French police re-opening up a case about a missing person; an acquaintance that they met during a vacation in France - a French girl named Severine. The problem is, Kate, her boyfriend Seb, and her friends Lara, Tom, Theo and Caro were all the last people to see Severine. As the investigation begins, loyalties are tested and secrets from the past are revealed, and somehow Kate finds herself at the center of it all, and the main suspect for Severine's murder. This novel is truly brilliant: I LOVED Kate and was able to relate to her in a lot of different ways, the ending was spectacular, AND there's even a little romance in this book (my favorite part, actually!).

      2. BRING ME BACK by B.A. Paris
      This novel is tied with "The French Girl" for best book of the year - B.A. Paris has come to be one of my favorite authors and this novel did not disappoint. I read this one on our honeymoon in two days (mostly poolside, haha). British couple Finn and his girlfriend Layla are on their way home from a vacation in France when he pulls into a dimly lit area late at night to use the restroom. When he returns to the car, Layla is nowhere to be found. Fast forward 12 years later, and Finn has moved on with his life - in fact, he's now in a relationship with Layla's sister Ellen and they're living happily together in a picturesque Cotswold village. Knowing how B.A. Paris's previous books played out, I knew early on that this idyllic situation wasn't going to last! Especially when someone contacts Finn by email, claiming to be Layla. This book is SPOOKY and also had me questioning everything - the tension began on page one and didn't let up until the last page of the novel. Five stars from me!

      I was sooo excited to read the latest novel by Ruth Ware, as I have absolutely loved her novels in the past; however, this one left me sorely disappointed. Ware writes in the style of a gothic mystery - I got the feeling that she was trying to write a modern-day "Rebecca" (one of my favorite books), but she missed the mark. The main character, Hal, is a tarot card reader who is in serious financial distress, with threatening men often showing up at her job and on her doorstep demanding for money. So it's no surprise that when she receives a mysterious letter inviting her to Trespassen House to receive a substantial inheritance, she accepts, even though she is certain that the letter was not intended for her.  She arrives at Trespassen House to find a dark and creepy mansion with an old, even creepier caretaker, the perfect setting for a gothic mystery. However, the plot really fell short for me - I kept waiting for something major to happen, but I waited until the end of the book and it never really came. I also had a problem keeping all of the characters straight, they all seemed to roll up into one and it was really hard to differentiate between who was who, which I found rather distracting. And I found whole sections of the book to be entirely unnecessary, with several passages dedicated to the tarot cards and their meanings (which I was 100% totally uninterested in reading about). I recommend passing on this one, folks... if you are really wanted to read a gothic mystery, I suggest reading one of the classics - "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier or "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by Ann Radcliffe. 

      4. THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic 
      In this one, we follow the story of Syd and Jack, a young couple buying their first house together - although the house seems perfect for them at first, the owner leaves behind all of his belongings and the descriptions we get of the house are certainly very creepy right from the get-go. In addition, we learn from the opening scene of the book that someone has died right outside of their new house. Syd and Jack take turns narrating each chapter, telling us their background before they met and their lives together now - and eventually the events leading up to and surrounding the murder. This book had a huge potential - I absolutely loved the first half of it, but it went in a different direction than I was expecting, which threw me for a loop. I also found the ending to be largely unbelievable. It was entertaining, but certainly not the best novel I've read lately. I encourage readers to try this one for themselves!

      That's it for me! Please please please comment below if you've read a good book lately so that we can all see! :) 

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      The Most Flattering Midi Dress (Ever!)

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      Mimi Chica midi dress // straw bag (back in stock!!) 
      Stuart Weitzman shoes, similar HERE& HERE // MAC lipstick in "flamingo"

      This midi dress is so flattering for every body type - I've worn it several times since I first got it a few weeks ago! Not only is the color really pretty, but the tie is flattering to your bust and the midi length is elongating for your legs. I have to wear it with heels since I'm pretty short (5'3) but if you're taller then you could definitely pull it off with flats. It's the perfect dress for weekends or date night ;) Also - my straw bag is BACK IN STOCK!! It's been my go-to bag this summer so I had to let y'all know.

      There will be a really fun WEDDING post up tomorrow so check back in the A.M.!

      xoxo

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