happy skin.

March 5, 2014

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Last Saturday, I took myself on a small business tour through the South End of Boston. The South End is one of those hidden gems of a neighborhood, and one that you’re only likely to frequent if you live in Boston or around it. I think that’s one of the reasons I love it so much. Beacon Hill has got charm and history, and the South End has all of that, minus the crowds! And oh, oh! THE FOOD. If I had to choose a place to dine, 9 out of 10 times I would choose the South End. #1 favorite– TORO! The most delicious of all the delicious.

For weeks now I’ve been meaning to visit a handful of shops in the SE, and Saturday I made it to all of them, each one unique and lovely in it’s own way.

Here are the places I visited:

Olives and Grace {for gifts and giftwrapping}
Niche {for succulents}
Sault {vintage finds + men’s clothing}
Follain {natural and organic skin care, hair care + makeup}

Follain was the main reason I ventured over to this part of town because of all the hype it’s been getting on my instagram feed. I had this feeling of “everybody’s been there but me!” running through my veins, and with a place as eye pleasing as this one, I knew it was time to bring myself there, STAT. Also, it’s been so nice putting natural foods into my body, I figured I might as well start putting them on my skin too, right?

I loved meeting the owner Tara, and she was so helpful informing me about all of the products available. I’m not heavy into makeup and washes, but I do get really dry hands, and use moisturizer on my face, so I got two bottles of lotion for just that. I also decided to get a soap, too {I got rosemary citrus!}, because the refill station sold me.

I can’t wait to bring my sister back here– she’s a sucker for products like no one I’ve ever met, and I know this is a place she will ADORE.

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I mean, SERIOUS PASSION EYES, amiright?

Dreaming of that sink for my kitchen.

//

To visit:
Follain, 53 Dartmouth Street, South End, Boston

16 Comments · Filed Under: beauty, boston ·

when your friends come to town…

February 13, 2014

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Oh, my friends! They came and they stayed and they played. And just as I suspected it would be {the best}, it was.

Two weeks ago tonight my high school friends flew, and drove, and bussed it up to Boston. We did all the best things, of course, filling our days with good food and good conversation. We walked along the Charles River for views of the Boston skyline and drank wine in my living room well into the night. On the third day we walked through the city, filling our hearts with hometown Basketball and our bodies with pretzels and Harpoon Beer. I loved this weekend with all my might, and if I had my way, I’d choose this all the months of the year. It sucks sometimes being so far from your friends, but it always makes the visits that much better. You savor, you know? We most certainly did.

Here’s a few of the details from our weekend in the Bean:

EAT // Border Cafe + Flour Bakery + Duozo Sushi + The South End Buttery

STAY // We stayed at the Westin one night because FANCY! {It was wonderful.}

PLAY // Boston Public Library + Harpoon Beer Hall + MY LIVING ROOM <—– the best spot of all.

We ate at all my go-to places, and since the BPL was so close to the hotel, I brought the girls in for the views {they are the most glorious in the city}. The Harpoon Beer Hall was one of my favorite spots of the weekend— I’d been wanting to go for just about forever and what a perfect chance to visit with friends. The space is AMAZING, the beer, of course, fantastic, and! Pretzels of every kind! I chose the cinnamon and sugar and MMMMMM MMMMM GOOD.

When I really think about it, the best of all we did was the time we spent in my house. We were cozy and comfortable, exactly the way it should be. Most of all, I want to remember the music we played, the dinner we made, the time we spent talking together. And that warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing you belong.

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I loved this weekend and I love these friends. Forever and ever AMEN.

14 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, friends ·

this is marvelous // oh holy night.

January 3, 2014

I know Christmas is over, and it’s 10:45 on Friday night, but have you seen this yet? I wanted to share it, and put it here for me to come back to for all the Christmases to come.

My favorite holiday song ever and this rendition is I N C R E D I B L E. GOLD, honestly.

And goosebumps! All the goosebumps in the world.

{A double fist-bump for Boston. And the people who made this magic.}

9 Comments · Filed Under: boston, holiday, music ·

an autumn in boston.

November 23, 2013

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Well, these might be my favorite photos ever.

Alternative title for this post: BOSTON IN THE FALL // THE LOVELIEST.

I mean, can you even? Is this place real?

{It is! It is!}

This month has been so good. I’ve not been here much, but I certainly have been out there. I’ve been busy at school {always}, playing with friends {best}, enjoying weekend days around the city, and November nights with hot yoga and reading and New Girl and my space heater {DREAM}. All seems right in the world right now and it’s a pretty cozy feeling. Next Wednesday I’ll head home to Syracuse with Zan and my sister for what’s sure to be a Happy Thanksgiving with my family. My Grandma and cousins are coming from Connecticut, and my mom’s sister and her family are traveling to New York from Indiana. I can’t wait to have everyone in the same place eating turkey and stuffing around the table, just being a family and being together. A happy holiday, indeed.

//

What will you do for Thanksgiving?
Safe travels to you if you’re going away–
and lucky you if you’re staying at {or close to} home.
A traffic-less holiday is a happy one in my book! :)

33 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, holiday, life ·
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