Getting Older

My birthday is fast approaching, and as much as I wish it wouldn't, there's nothing I can do but embrace the fact that I'm getting older and go with it. It's not really getting older that bugs me, it's aging. Wrinkles, sagging skin, weight gain, aching joints...yeah, I guess not quite yet (turning 29) but I do have this weird fear of feeling and looking old. I don't tan, I don't smoke, I don't drink really, and I'm weird about skincare and haircare. I have a few wrinkles that thoroughly piss me off, and I'm doing all I can to avoid any more, and minimize the ones I have. We've all spent lots of money on products that don't deliver, and although I'm not skincare expert, I have friends who are, and I've been around long enough (but not too long) to know what works for my combination oily-acne-prone-now wrinkle prone skin. Sucks to be trying to prevent crows feet only to find a pimple a few millimeters away! Here are my favorites, tried and true, a few that are new, some expensive, some middle of the road, and some a decent buy!
Kate Somerville Products-Madeleine of La Papillon introduced me to the world of Kate Somerville and I'm glad she did. This stuff works. I love the Exfolikate. I have a hard time exfoliating my skin-stuff is either way too harsh, like rubbing rock salt against my skin, or not abrasive enough-like swiping liquid marshmallow all over. This is the perfect solution. And your skin looks, feels and IS so clean afterwards. I am also always on the hunt for a great under eye cream, and I feel like when it comes to under the eye, you really can't skimp. So the Kate Somerville Line Release is a splurge well worth it!

Cetaphil-I love this everyday cleanser. Been using it for 15 years and it's one of the only things that works to really clean my skin. I've tried the really expensive stuff, prescription cleansers and cheap knock offs. This is hands down my favorite. I love to buy it from Costco in the big pump. It lasts months. Even Allure Magazine agrees. You really can't go wrong with Cetaphil.
Oil of Olay Regenerist-This anti-aging cream is my go-to day moisturizer. I'm fussy about quality skincare, but I hate spending more than 5 minutes moisturizing and caring for it. It's expensive for drugstore beauty, but it's a really great moisturizer. I never feel greasy, my skin feels hydrated and resiliant-so I highly recommend indulging the next time you find yourself at your local drugstore to try this. It's awesome!
Strivectin. I admit, I rarely am swayed by online testemonials. Who hasn't tried ProActiv? But I don't usually fall for stuff. I did, however, buy some Strivectin at Costco and I must say, I'm glad I did. With religious use, this stuff actually works. It took about 2 months to start seeing results, but used on stretch marks and wrinkles, I can actually say it did diminish them. It didn't erase them, but I was happy with the results. So happy that I took it for granted and stopped using it everday and night. Now I'm back on the regine and using it to focus on my main wrinkles-forehead and above my nose and between my brows, my "Scowl Wrinkle". My only complaint is the weird peppermint smell. It's really strong, almost Old Lady Peppermint Candy. I guess the smell could be worse, but it's enough to smell like a Hospital on Halloween.
Johnson's Baby Lotions and Cleansers. I love the smell of just about all the Johnson's Baby Products. The original Lotion, the Baby Oil-and it feels smooth, clean and hydrates. Hell, if it's good enough for a baby, it's good enough for me! I use the Johnson's Baby Wash in the shower as my soap. I feel clean and I smell baby fresh. I sometimes use the Baby Oil Wash for extra moisture, and to top it off, I really like the Calming Bedtime Lotion. It smells fresh, it's practical and economic, and it keeps my skin moist without being oily. I get my supply from Target or the Grocery Store, and I've loved it for years!

That's basically my beauty arsenal, but I'm always open for suggestions, tips and tricks! I get to see Madeleine next week, so I can't wait to see what she has in store for me to try, so maybe I'll have a few new Summer Must Have's that help stave off my aging fears and allow me to embrace the age of 29, and prepare myself for turning 30!

Super Ultra Mega Awesome, FlashDance

What do you get when you combine 3 ridiculously talented SoCal Photographers and the coolest, most awesome DJ ever to create his musical wizardry on the wedding scene? You get The FlashDance and it's one of the coolest collaborations and wedding ensembles I've had the pleasure to be introduced to, quite possibly ever.


The Wedding Spinner Pt.1 (theflashdance.com) from Michael Antonia on Vimeo.

Just visiting the site made me smile. It's fun, it's energetic, it's youthful, it's hip, it's all things that are fresh and wonderful in modern weddings! Just watching Michael Antonia is awesome and listening to the way he spins is energizing and move inducing (try NOT to dance or bob your head to his mix with House of Pain) and so I can only imagine having him at your wedding would up the ridiculous factor by 10. He's talented, he's versatile, he's seamless, and you can have him at your wedding. And as if that weren't enough, Michael is good friends and wedding collaborator with the always awe-inspiring Max Wanger and Our Labor of Love's dynamic duo Jess and Whit. What more could you want?

If you are getting married on the West Coast, or want to fly this musical savant to your next gig, get on the horn and give him a ring. Do it. And do it now. You won't regret it.

Kick Ass Bags

More Etsy delightfuls...the screenprinting awesomeness of Dead Worry.

Spare Change

So digging these pretty and modern clutches from UK based Red Ruby Rose on Etsy. Anyone who wants to buy me one for my birthday on April 4th, please, go right ahead!

Daydreaming

So, while I couldn't allow myself to afford most things on net-a-porter, I'm not an Olsen Twin, Gwyneth or someone who enjoys copious amounts of debt, but I can't help but sit and sigh when browsing the beautiful and colorful garments they showcase....I'm thinking these dresses would be great bridesmaid, cocktail, evening, wedding guest or the hottest date ever dress. I tend to work a lot, and most of the time, I'm sitting solo in my large home office in front of several Mac's with a cat on my lap, so I can't really figure out a away to justify even one of these (the prices range from $350 to the thousands ) but a girl can dream, can't she?

More Spring Dresses

I've still got Spring shopping on the brain, and I love these pretty dresses from all over the internet!

Minted Winner

I can't believe it-I got an email announcing the winners from the most recent Minted Challenge had been announced and my Modern Lotus design WON FIRST PLACE! See the design that inspired the Pearl suite and support Minted and all the amazing designers! Thanks to everyone who voted and had such kind words!

Blue Monday

Nothing sad about these beautiful blue dresses! Enjoy!





Nothing sad about these beautiful blue dresses! Enjoy!

David Meister, Catherine Malandrino, Singer22, Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, Amsale

Courtney Khail Stationery

ot an email from the sweet and very talented Courtney Khail introducing her beautiful hand-painted stationery. Her illustrations are dreamy and colorful and I love how she uses textured paper with a soft, deckle edge. Courtney's gorgeous cards would be a great bridesmaid gift, don't you think? A set of ten pretty cards and matching recycled envelopes will only set you back $55, which for couture, hand-painted cards is a steal!





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In the Trenches, part 2

Continuing with thoughts of adorable rainwear...umbrellas and my all time favorite rain boot-wellies! The pretty blue, modern circles and the vintage floral umbrella are both from totes!



Enjoying the Orange in these Hunter Wellies and the classic Burberry Umbrella. What do you think of these and the flirty black trench by Mackage?

In the Trenches

With Spring in the air and the rainy-thunderstorm season coming towards us (I love all things spring, thunderstorms are my favorite, although not when I have a wedding to shoot!). I'm on the hunt for a great new trench. I tend to stick with classics, since I consider it an investment, but I'm really jonesing for some bold colorful raingear to brighten up those wet days..I've got my pink and black pinstripe Thomas Pink Wellies, and I have a vintage Lauren Raincoat, all very lovely, but I want something more! Here are some of the things I'm thinking would make me quite the dapper gal splashing through puddles and maybe, if you're lucky, singing in the rain!

Bright and colorful perhaps?

Or tried and true...although the black one has a great swinging skirt which is pretty sweet..

Marc Jacobs, Pringle 1815, Juicy Couture, Chloe, Ralph Lauren, Paul & Joe, Mackage

Happy St. Patrick's Day

More Boudoir

More Haute Boudoir! You've seen Amy's boudoir session, and now here are a few from her sister Alison's session. Alison is one of my best friends and always a willing model, and it doesn't hurt that the sister's are gorgeous. Just a few that will make their way to the website!

For laughs

I'm a big animal lover, truth be told, I could spend all day cuddling kittens, especially my own superstar Gracie! But I also love to laugh, and often enjoy humor that is sarcastic or dark, in nature. That's me, I'm dark on the inside. I'm also white, so, these two sites are perfect for an animal loving, sarcastic, white girl like me. So for those of you who enjoy laughter, if you haven't spied these great sites for random outbursts of cacaophonous delights, please spend your entire morning smirking, chuckling and let the laughs wash over you.

f-u, penguin
The commentary is really funny, and the pictures are either so cute you might need to bite someone, or something, or they are really funny, so either way, you win!

stuff white people like
it's really true-pretty much all of it. I happened to be on an episode of the Wire, and when my white friends found out, they thought it was the coolest thing ever, because, white people do love The Wire. Even cooler than everything else that ranks way cooler on my very own cool things I've done list.

Brook There on Etsy

I love finding new things, and it's even better when something is hand-made with some thought. That's why I was smitten with brook there on etsy-all her clothing looks really comfortable and simple, and it's made from organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics. Just another great reason to shop on etsy!

Coveting

Trying to muster a reason for these pretty frocks from sarah seven...

Hen Parties

I love that across the pond they call bachelorette parties Hen Parties. It's so cheeky and yet there is something austere and old fashioned, like I picture a bunch of stoic blue hairs in their nubby tweed jackets, horn rim glasses, dark stockings and shiny mary janes sipping tea and telling dirty jokes in their unflappably formal British accents. But, I tend to overthink things. Brides get 2 options for pre-wedding parties, the bridal shower, in all it's boring glory, and the bachelorette party, the attempt on the part of the girls to live up singledom the way the bachelor does.

I avoided the pre-wedding parties b/c I had been to a few, and I must say I wasn't impressed. The Shower's were milk toast dull. A bunch of women sitting around while the bride opens gifts and feels forced to gush over a silver serving platter her mother's friend forced upon her.Then there are the bachelorette parties that involve me doing body shots of a glisteny male stripper named Steve at 4am. Ladies from the Philly area know that I speak of the Cave, and while I must admit I do laugh hysterically when I see a man gyrate 3 inches from the floor in some erotic-push up dance to Kid Rock's Cowboy, I think next time, I'll just say no when that invitation comes my way. That might be fine for a bunch of guys to go to a stripclub, but I think I speak for many a lady out there, I don't really need it.

I love the idea of a Hen party-just because the name isn't something I associate with needles in my eyes boredom, or morning after disgust and a feeling of being way too parched and an overall feeling of being "sticky."

Here are some great ideas for girls (with or without guys) that can make a pre-wedding party a lot more fun, and more useful to the participants!

1. Spa Day. This is pretty popular, ladies go get mani-pedi's, facials, massages and the all sorts of prettification. It's a nice way to bond and relax, but it can be a bit damaging to the wallet, especially when you pay for yourself AND the B2B

2. Amusement Parks/Carnivals. This is great for Spring, Summer or Fall, or those who live where the season's never get too cold to shut down the merriment of childhood. This is also great for coed parties. A bunch of friends and family enjoying outdoor fun and running around like children. Most theme parks are a pretty good value too, and most everyone can afford general admission. Of course, there is always someone who is afraid to ride the rides, who inevitably is the human coat rack (love you Mom) but again, you can't please everyone.

3. Weekend Getaway. Why not schedule an all girls getaway a week or more before your wedding? You're stressed, you have a lot to do, and it might do you good to get away, bond with your best friends and just enjoy the moment. This is great if you are skipping a honeymoon or postponing it a while. Plus, it's cheaper for a room full of girls to share a room or two than couples or individuals, so it doesn't have to be all that expensive. Visit NYC for the weekend, Travel to Vegas, go rockclimbing, spend a weekend at a beach, hitch a fligh from Virgin Airlines for a weekend overseas, figure out what you all want to do and what you can afford and plan it! If you are like me and my ball and chain, we have differing opinions on travel I'd love to go someplace warm and sunny, but being ginger, he tends to pink in the sun, so a weekend in the Bahamas is perfect for me and me tan-able gal pals to swing. We also have an impossible time coordinating our schedules, so it's easier for me to call my girl Laura up and see if she's up for heading to London for a 3 day weekend than Nic. And if you are staying at a place with Spa services, you could add #1 if you feel like it!

4. Learn to do Something. You don't need an actual party with a date and time. Maybe you get your friends and/or family together and say "let's learn to do something." Take a cooking class, an art class, a strip-tease class (you'll get fit AND have a little something something to show off when the honeymoon comes) learn to play cards, do something different that you can share with your friends.

5. Extreme Activities. Always wanted to go skydiving? Why not do that with your friends as an alternative to the traditional shower or bachelorette party. I'm sure there are other extreme things you can do and this is another one that is perfect for boys and girls.

6. Group Boudoir. The reason I'm posting this is because I photographed a Boudoir Party for some friends and it was a BLAST, which is one of the reason's I now offer it on my boudoir menu. The girls had so much fun playing dress up, getting pretty, helping each other with hair and makeup, and rallying behind one another for fun sexy pictures. I had a mindset originally that boudoir was very intimate and private, but the girls proved me wrong! They had fun sharing the sexy, flirty and fun part of themselves with their closest friends. It was the same dynamic for a small group of 30 year old women as I remember from my teenage years shopping for a homecoming dress. The honesty, the support, the encouragement and the fun, frivolous silliness of it all came rushing back and I thought this was a great idea. It's something different, and each girl was able to get some really awesome pictures of herself as a keepsake of a fun night of friendship, and the guys they went home to got a little something extra too!

Re think the pre wedding parties. They don't have to be boring or traditional.
Your wedding is a time to celebrate the couple you are about to become and the new life you are beginning, so why not take some time before that to reaquaint yourself with your friends and family and do something memorable. Think of your ideal Hen party and plan it.

Got a Case of the Mondays?

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Nic, my husband, holding a Star Wars Toy Camera

It's Monday, and many are back to the grind of work. For those of you who get bored at work, or have a Peter from Office Space day and need to sit and play games to make it through, have I got a site for you! Morphthing. Have you ever seen a person and said "He/She looks like if So & So and So & So had a baby", or perhaps you wondered what the lovechild of your favorite celebrities might look like. Well, pontificate no more thanks to morpthing.com They have a lot of famous people, and my only complaint is that they are sort of American-specific with a few random foreign famous faces thrown in, like Hitler and Zhang Zyi. I wanted to test my theory that Nic looks like Simon Pegg and the guy from the Young Indiana Jones TV Show, but sadly, they weren't on there. It's still some fun and a great way to pass the time! Happy Monday!

Pearl featured on Style Me Pretty

The lovely, sweet and gracious Abby over at Style Me Pretty was kind enough to feature Pearl in her Friday roundup of wedding invitations and I was beyond thrilled! It's nice to be getting so much support and feedback from some of the best in the business, and Abby's blog is on the top of every wedding and fashion lovers blogroll, so this is a really great honor!

Thanks Abby for your kind words and awesome support! You really made my weekend!

Shironeko Gracie

Ok, so Gracie isn't a white cat, but I did photograph her using the Shironeko Holga, and did a review of the awesome toy cam from SuperHeadz on the hubbs blog, fourcornersdark.com.

Either way, it's Friday, many of us are sick of Winter and ready for Spring, so why not relax and enjoy some photos of my dearest darling, my one year old, fearless, fun and 'ffectionate kitten, Gracie!

Pretty Vintage

pretty little delicate things from jeweledblossoms's shop I would take one of each, and in a price range under $30, I just might!

pretty little shimmery beachy earrings from staroftheeast's shop

ghigiarelli's shop this gorgeous leather purse is big enough for everything I could think to carry!




frockhandbags's shop has the cutest little vintage bags-reminds me of the sassy older ladies from Church who enjoyed cocktail hour and afternoon tea!

with only two listings, this white leather clutch is more than enough from 13bees.etsy.com

IngridDijkers's shop features all sorts of cool little finds, like this robins egg necklace

Crave worthy accessories from Etsy!

Thinking Spring

Surrounded by the white stuff here in Delaware, but it's March and I'm thinking Spring! Here are some cheery picks from Anthropologie, Victorias Secret and J.Crew, and a few of this little numbers are even on SALE!

I have this shirtdress from Victorias Secret, and it's so comfy, so easy, and it has POCKETS! I get tons of compliments, and can wear it Spring thru Fall!
Digging the Chambrey Shirt from J.Crew..it just looks soft and snuggly!




these pretty pink earrings are on SALE at Anthropologie!


I am obsessed with elbow sleeve cardigans..the perfect sleeve length, if you ask me! I have it in Navy from Anthropologie!

More Advice from Darling Madeleine

I hate shaving and want to get laser hair removal. I have fair skin and baby blonde hair, is laser hair removal good for me?

While this brunette would love to have that blonde hair, when you have baby blonde hair you are not a good candidate for any type of laser hair removal. Lasers target the pigment in the hair and blondes lack that pigment. I would strongly advise against shaving with a razor blade since it toughens the follicle. Remember how soft our leg hair was when we were dying to be a 'big girl' and shave? Now it has been replaced with not so soft stubble. You can always try a depilatory cream remover or get it waxed just once to see how you like it. That's the benefit- there's no committment or harm done! For maintainence our clients love the Finishing Touch Personal Groomer or something to that effect. It's a small electric razor that is perfect for little touch ups.

I have dark circles under my eyes, no matter how much sleep I get. I want to look fresh and natural, so what should I do?

Dark circles rank right up there with cellulite in terms of difficult issues to treat and hence very frustrating for technicians. The eye area is incredibly thin skinned(think of the cheapest 1 ply toilet paper), so it is common to have some 'color' under the eyes just due to the transparency of that skin and seeing the blood underneath it. Three things to ensure you are doing are proper sleep, proper hydration & utilizing an eye cream that incorporates vitamin k. Heredity definitely plays a factor, so a more aggressive approach involves having some volumizer like Juvaderm injected into the eye area that will help plump that area, so there's a less sunken look. An easier option is to look for an amazing concealer like True Cosmetics Protective illuminating Concealer that includes the antioxidant, idebenone, an ingredient that helps fight fine lines, wrinkles, and hyper- pigmentation. Here's to brighter days!

Introducing Haute Boudoir

I am lucky to get to do what I do, and I'm not the type of person to only do one thing, which some might say is a good or bad thing. I've got Milkmaid Press, Jubilee Photography, I just launched Pearl by Milkmaid Press, my luxury for less line on wedding invitations, and I'm happy to announce another little side project, Haute Boudoir Photography. I'm really excited about Haute Boudoir Photography because I think it is something every woman can appreciate, and men of course will absolutely LOVE!

With Haute Boudoir, I want to change the way people think of Boudoir Photography. It should be sexy, fun with a fine-art fashion edge. Looking through my favorite fashion magazines, I noticed that almost ALL female celebrity portraits were sexy-boudoir-esque. The outfits, the hair, the makeup, the poses. And that got me thinking. I love fashion photography, it's why I picked up a camera in the first place. Fashion photography is sexy and engaging fine art portraiture, when you think about it. And what woman wouldn't want to look and feel like a supermodel or famous star? For me, Haute Boudoir isn't about putting on a sexy negligee and prancing about a gaussian blur set; it's about empowering woman to love themselves and capture that sexy, sassy tude through my fine art portraiture. Every woman deserves to celebrate herself, and I doubt any husband or boyfriend would object.
One of my first shoots with the ever gorgeous Amy was SUCH a blast-we photographed for about an hour or two in her own bedroom, using mostly natural light, but I brought my studio's just in case. We had fun with wardrobe, and I am so lucky that my dear friend (and Amy's sister) Alison was there to assist me with hair and makeup, as well as making the shoot that much more fun! I never post or show images without getting the consent of my muse, but Amy was so delighted with her shots she said I could show anything I wanted to! Here are some of my favorites!