Reintroducing myself

I’m not surprised my last entry was in November. This is the same month that I got engaged. Between planning a wedding in less than 12-months due to limited venue options (we’ll talk about that later) and climbing the corporate later, my blog took the back burner as I grasped for extra hours in the day. However, after my mini-hiatus I’m excited to be back!

With nearly a year behind me since my last entry I’d love to share a few highlights that I’ll be blogging on for upcoming posts.

• Top picks for wedding vendors and what to look for 
• What it really means to be a good bridesmaid 
• In Honor of Halloween- Scary Stories from the Aisle 
• Why I’ll never leave the U.S. again – sorry not sorry 
• Everyday Bloggers and DIYers who inspire 

I can now reintroduce myself with a new last name- Vanessa Donohue. I’m inching closer to being out of my 20’s and hit the big 3-0 in May ( I’m going to embrace it but have to admit I’m discouraged I’ve never made the 30 under 30 list). There’s a few girls I associate with who keep me young and teach me the new slag, although by the time I start using them correctly, its already on to the next one. I never turn down an offer for coffee and love being basic- especially in the fall. My rescued hairless crested Yoda passed away and I’m currently in search of a new hairless friend.  Yoda will always hold a place in my heart but now that we have the room I want to offer a warm and happy home to another little guy. I hope you enjoy following me the upcoming planned posts and through journey to find a hairless friend. 

Getting our hands dirty with Zen Succulent at Ramble Supply Co.

Bloggers all over Raleigh filed into a cozy backroom at Ramble Supply Co.to learn first-hand from author and founder of the Zen Succlent, Megan George. The class showcased from start to finish, how to build a terrarium and keep it thriving.  True to her passion for plants, Megan shared tips and tricks along with credible knowledge beyond where to best layer soil and sand for a look.

The event was provided by the TriFAbb blogger group which is made up of talented and eclectic members across the board, each sharing the reason for attendance. These goals included everything from, “keeping a plant alive” to “creating unique center pieces for a wedding. My personal objective was to create something fresh and unique for a home or office. Mission accomplished with this beauty!

This post is broken into two sections- first, how to build your own terrarium at home using tips and tricks from Megan herself.The second is below, to show what an event like this looks like if you were to attend or have your own. If you’re feeling a little jelly we got to get messy with Megan—don’t be. You can book your own class and experience with Megan here!  

ScentBird Review- Try it today with promo code LandL15

Is there a science to selecting a scent? Last summer I had the opportunity to review/encounter Scent Bird, a monthly subscription box that lets you smell like a designer bottle of perfume for less than $15- and actually less if you use the promo code LandL15  (lipstick and latte readers get 15% off, pretty awesome, right?)

In the past, I’ve reviewed subscription boxes that hooked me at first but  then continued to go downhill in quality and experience after. It’s like the chemistry was there the first date but the second and the third made me realize it was all an act —but not here! What makes Scentbird a better choice than most of these "surprise" boxes is that you are actually in control of which designer fragrance you want to try, ensuring you're always happy with what you receive. With more than 350 scents to choose from, you can experiment with a new scent every month!

For my review, Scent Bird helped me select the perfect fall perfume that transitions perfectly from summer to autumn—  Miss Dior Le Parum. And I did it all without ever smelling it first-hand until it arrived conveniently at my doorstep. So how is it possible to pick the perfect perfume from afar? That’s the science ScentBird has figured out…. It all starts with a little quiz to personalize what type of scent you prefer.

Here are the suggestions personalized for me below based off of my responses!

Once you have your suggested scents, you can click on them individually and read genuine reviews of the actual product. Even better—and what helped me select the current scent I’m wearing; Scent Bird describes the main notes and season. You can even shop the entire selection of virtually every designer perfume you can image by selecting the season you want to wear it during.

The 8 ml ScentBird perfume easily lasted me a month as promised but one of my suggestions would be to label each bottle so you have options. Since you can select to order every month or just make the purchase as you please from season to season, you can start collecting your designer bottles and alternating scents for occasions. Best of all, they travel super easy so I keep one in my clutch, car, drawer, etc. 

Want to give it a try? Click here, take the quiz, use the code LandL15 and let me know what bottle you get!

Terrarium Tuesday - DIY Terrarium

It's going up on a Tuesday! Yes— if you ask my friends I will find a reason to do almost anything and blame it on a day of the week, season, etc. So in honor of “Terrarium Tuesday”, we are making our own living decor that reflects each of our personalities and homes.

Fall Trends for 2015

This fall we are keeping things down to earth with Pantone’s Color Pallet Forecast for 2015. Get ready to welcome back some favorites from last year and meet a couple newbies.

Faux-Fur is here again!! That means you get to wear that fabulous furry vest another year…by now it’s paying for itself, right?  

Please don’t leave us plaid. I hope this staple never goes out of style. There’s just something sophisticated  and rugged about this pattern that we can’t get enough of, which is why it’s back again.

Pleats please! You can find more of these adorable skirts at chicwish.com 

Head-to-toe black - Do we all work at Victoria Secret now? It’s not hard to class up a classic though, so enjoy.

Floral..in winter?! Wha? This is no spring pattern though. Moody florals are blooming in stores near you.

The rule that you “don’t wear white after Labor day” is over- sorta. Keep the colors ivory or a creamy hue. Over-sized sweaters or formally known as chunky knits are another item we welcome back. Cozy back up to the comfy knit in your closet, and you’ll be sipping your PSL in no time. 

What fall trend are you most excited for?

5 Gifts Your Bridesmaids Will Actually Keep/ Use

What's in My Bag This Summer

 

 Summer is almost here and it’s time to ditch the winter bag that you've carried over to spring, and grab something a little brighter and warmer!  Pantone released its top colors which include warm tones like tangerine and a cool scuba blue to remind you of a refreshing ocean.

In addition to swapping bags— It’s also time to take a new look at what’s inside.  Below are a few summer friendly items that will have you ready to hit the road en route to the nearest body of water, tikki bar or cookout. 

What's in your bag?