Category Archives: Beauty

Recap: BeautyBarre Event

Last week, I hosted an event for readers with two of my favorite blog partners – Barre Tech and Beautycounter. If you missed my last posts on these two brands, check out my Barre Tech one here and my Beautycounter routine here.

Ashlyn, Faith and I worked with Barre Tech’s owner, Amy, to fill their studios for beginner barre classes in the evening followed by a Beautycounter trunkshow hosted by the lovely Reagan who joined us from NC. It was so nice to meet everyone and sip on much-needed bubbles after class. We also enjoyed “burn” and “shake” gluten free cupcakes a la Happy Tart Bakery and cheese and crackers a la Cheestique.

IMG_2050Everyone went home with gift bags a la Lululemon full of treats from Skinnygirl, complimentary barre passes and passes to try out Barre Tech’s new sister cycling studio, Swet Ride. It just opened up last weekend and I tried my first class last already. Along with barre 5-6x a week (and sometimes 7, ah! #addicted) – I am adding in more spin too so the opening could not have come at a better time.

If you are a veteran #barrebabe or new to barre in the DC area, be sure to check out Barre Tech’s two studios in the area and Swet Ride. (There’s a special promo code for classes for H&T readers on my side banner too.)

Be sure to also shop the BeautyBarre social on Beautycounter for more of my picks! How gorgeous are these products?

Special thank you again to all our sponsors!

Up next –  more of my sister’s wedding planning, gift guides and more! Stay tuned and warm for those of you experiencing this winter cold front this week like us in the nation’s capital.

You’re Invited: Barre + Beauty + Bubbly

You’re Invited!

Hope you’ll join Ashlyn, Faith & I for an event with Barre Tech & Beautycounter next week on Tuesday, November 11th!

We will have a beginner barre class and then bubbly and a Beautycounter trunk show after!

I’m so excited to be working with two of my favorites on this fun reader event and hope to see you there!

Please RSVP here as space is limited.

Giveaway: Beautycounter!

TGIF!

Today’s post will be quick and to the point – a few weeks ago I posted about my new skincare routine with Beautycounter (if you missed it – check out my post and story behind the brand here).

Well, I am excited to announce that H&T is hosting a GIVEAWAY with the lovely Reagan and Beautycounter over the next week.

Someone will win a travel sized lustro face oil #2, this adorable “wouldn’t you like to know” beauty pouch and a free skincare consultation with Reagan!

Enter below and good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all my favorites too – click on the Hosting & Toasting Social to see more! I’ve gotten friends hooked on this line and I hope you will try it too!

What To Pack: Labor Day Weekend

Can you believe it’s already the last week of summer? I am so sad that my fave season is already coming to an end. BUT I am so excited because later this week I am headed on a girls roadtrip (courtesy of General Motors) for Labor Day with fellow blogger BFF, Cori Sue, of Bitches Who Brunch!

We have some exciting posts coming your way to recap our trip – and today marks the first one in this fun series. Hopefully you will find this post quite useful when packing for your end of summer travel plans and beyond!

First & foremost, I am absolutely in love with my new weekender bag from Sweet Tea Monograms. With adjustable straps, compartments inside and leather handles – this is my ideal weekender. It is functional and pleasing to the preppy eye for an end of summer road trip too, of course. I had the pleasure of breaking it in this past weekend on my Austin trip and it was the perfect carry-on bag for the plane too.

So what’s inside? Deets below! (Please excuse my mess, when I pack – I lay everything out and this post was no different….)

Essentials: Sweet Tea Monograms Weekender Bag c/o // Kendra Scott Jet Set Jewelry Case c/o (4 removable jewel cases and you can buy more to zip in) //Dixieland Monograms Cosmetic Case c/o (perfect for beauty products)

Beauty Products: Drybar Triple Sec c/o + Drybar VIP Pack c/o //  M-61 Power Glow Peel c/o  // M-61 Power Cleanse Travel Size Bottle c/o // Jo Malone Wild BlueBell Perfume // YouSmell Wipes c/o //  Trust Fund Nail Polish in Pre-Nup c/o // Jamberry Top Coat c/o // Mini Tooth Brush + Paste // Enzo Milano Hair Wand // ghd Paddle Brush c/o

Can’t Forget My: Ipad + Lilly Pulitzer Case // Karen Walker Sunnies // Urbanears Headphones c/o // SkinnyGirl Bars c/o // Hair Ties (made by my sister!) // Lululemon Headband // Vanessa Ray Travel Iphone Case c/o // Gigi New York Mini Wallet + Phone Case c/o // A Good Book!

What are your packing essentials for a long weekend trip?

Be sure to follow CSM and I along on instagram this weekend to see more of our trip’s details. Oh, to find out where we’re going – stay tuned for full recap posts – there will no doubt be some outfit posts and brunching involved!

Beautycounter: My New Routine

I’ve been searching for awhile for a new skincare routine. Before now, I had a hodgepodge of products that I used all together and was relatively happy with the results.

Well, now that’s completely changed! Some of you might know/remember Reagan Hardy Howell from Southern Proper (yes, she was one of the founders!) and I was a campus belle for them in college.  She has since left SoPro and is now a full time mommy + Beautycounter consultant. So as you’d imagine when such a successful businesswoman reached out to me about another brand, Beautycounter, I couldn’t resist trying it out!

Before we even get into my new routine – it goes without saying that when their branding reminds me of Chanel and packaging is lined with red (hello Louboutins!) – I have found my kind of skincare just by looking at it (kidding, sort of!), but it is beautifully done.

It’s no wonder that Vogue, InStyle & J.Crew have all been raving about it. Beautycounter has been receiving a lot of attention lately and for good reason.  All the ingredients are 100% toxin and paraben free and NEWS FLASH – just because some products may say “organic” and “natural” doesn’t mean they are free of chemicals. BC also has a mission to get safe products into the hands of everyone, whether that be CVS or Neiman Marcus.

And I don’t know about you but considering the skin is our largest organ, I intend to take pretty good care of it. (You can read more about their story & mission here.)

My Routine – Essentials Face Collection

DAY:

#1. Routine Clean Cream Cleanser – I use a dime-size amount and massage into face or use with my Clairsonic and rinse.

#2. Rosewater Uplifting Spray – I spray 3x on my face. Need a mid-day pick-me-up? This is perfect and quite refreshing!

#3. Everyday AM Hydrating Cream +Lustro Face Oil 1 – I blend 1-2 drops of the oil & 1 pump of the cream in my hand and apply to face.

#4. Anytime Every Cream – I apply a small amount to the eye area and I’m ready for the day!

NIGHT:

#1. Gentle Exfoliator Polishing Cream – Some evenings, instead of the cleanser, I use this 3 times a week.

#2. Repeat Steps #2-3 from Day (Rosewater/Oil) but replace the AM cream with the Every Night PM Hydrating Cream

#3. Finish again with Anytime Eye Cream.

Now, some of you might not be too keen on investing in non-drugstore skin care but it’s important to note that BC’s products are used sparingly and last 4+ months so …you do the math (well, worth it!).

You can shop my routine and more on Beautycounter’s website – be sure to Click on “Hosting & Toasting” Social for my favorites! 

{Disclosure: Beautycounter is a sponsor of H&T and I do receive all products c/o. All opinions are my own.}