Beachy Chic

Beachy Chic by leeannm

It's summer so the beach is on my mind! I have yet to get to one, but in July I am going to make it happen. While SoCal is great and our beaches are gorgeous, I've always wanted to live in a small East Coast seaside town. You know, with lighthouses, clambakes, and 4th of July parades. Who wants to move with me?!

Until that day when I'm nestled in a Maine or Massachusetts village by the shore I'll dream. And since I'm dreaming, here's an outfit I'd wear while strolling down the quaint streets in my ideal town.

Since it's Friday I'm linking up with Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Tonight I'm off to see Sugar Rey, Evervlear, Gin Blossoms, and a few other 90s bands with Tiffany of Polka Dotted Cats. It's going to be epic! Then tomorrow Tiffany, another friend and I are going to spend the day doing something fun. Unfortunately I can't disclose exactly what since it's a birthday surprise for our other friend who happens to read this blog. (Sorry, Kathrin :P)

Remember to join the Weekend Update linkup Monday if you're blogging about your weekend!

Target Summer Lovin'

The seasonal Target beauty bags are pretty awesome. I got my first bag in August and was all about the goodies so I made sure to sign up for summer as well.

If you are unfamiliar with these beauty bags, they are basically free versions of Birchboxes with products that you will definitely use. I love Birchbox but sometimes the items are so random. You can never go wrong with free, right?

Here's what I got in my summer bag:

1. Aveeno Active Naturals Living Color Medium to Thick Hair Color Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner

2. Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampoo and Conditioner

3. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

4. Target Coupon Book

5. Tresemme Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner

6. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55

7. Makeup Bag

What I love about these items is they are all practical and I will use them. And if I like them I can afford to buy them at Target. What I don't like is getting three types of shampoos and conditioners. It'd be nice to have a bit more variety.

The coupons are pretty great, too. Today I snagged a bottle of Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel for $1 and a Rimmel Bronzer for $2!

To snag the fall bag, like Target's Facebook page and be on the lookout for the notification of signups!

Who else got a summer beauty bags? If so, did yours differ from mine at all?

Broadway Bar

I'm currently look for a place to celebrate my birthday (in August). As I get older I have mixed birthday emotions. It's not a milestone celebration so there's no need to make huge plans. But on the other hand, I don't go out nearly as often as I should so it's the perfect excuse to make big plans.

One of the places I'm thinking about going to is Broadway Bar, located in the heart of LA's Historic Theater District. I'm a sucker for history so the setting is perfect. Plus since I'm in Hollywood I don't make it downtown all that often.

According to Broadway Bar's site: The Broadway Bar’s Gothic Revival building adjoins the renowned Orpheum Theatre, once host to legendary entertainers, burlesque queens and jazz greats.

Sounds and look pretty awesome, right?



Photos courtesy of: 213 Nightlife

Misikko Dream Gift Package Giveaway

Awhile back I was contacted by Misikko, an online store that sells high quality hair and beauty products, and asked to do a review for the HANAair Premiere Hair Dryer. I loved it! So when the company contacted me again about the Misikko Dream Gift Package Giveaway I was all about it.

Get this - to enter all you have to do is blog about the items your dream package would consist of, totaling $350 or less. You best believe I got as close to $350 as I could ;)

Farouk CHI Wet to Dry Flat Iron 1 1/4" - $139.99 +
OPI Nail Polish "Classic Reds" Gift Set - $19.99 +
CHI Turbo Digital Ceramic Spring Curling Iron 1" - $109.95 +
Moroccan Oil "Glimmer Girl" Limited Edition Gift Set - $74.99 =

$344.92. Oh yeeeeeah!

Notice earlier when I said "all you have to do is enter"? That's because you can enter as well! Simply blog about the items that your Misikko Dream Gift Package Giveaway would contain, then share the link to your post on the Misikko Facebook wall. That easy. Contest ends July 4 so get to it. Good luck!

Weekend Update: Vegas Baby!

After a few weeks of planning, this Saturday we pulled off a great surprise party for my friend/sorority big sis! She lives in Vegas so me and a few of her friends loaded into a car, drove to her place and waited there while her sister got her out of the house for a few hours.

When she walked in and saw her friends and family there she was completely surprised! It was pretty awesome. We spent the rest of the day and night celebrating.

What did you do this weekend? Link up with Dana of five30three, Sami of Sami's Shenanigans, and me and tell us! Joining the Weekend Update blog hop is a great way to discover new blogs and make friends and it's easy to get involved. Please follow these rules:

1. Blog about your weekend.

2. Grab our button and add it to your post.

3. Add your link to the blog hop below.

That easy! Please, please follow the rules so we don't have to delete your post. We promise we're not mean, people have just been abusing the link up and not using it to talk about their weekends and/or visit others' blogs. If you ever have any questions about linking up, feel free to ask!

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Color Blocking

Today I've created a simple color blocking outfit - for those a little iffy about the trend. This is the perfect way to look stylish without feeling too over the top. The more that I look at this outfit, the more I want it! I've had my eye on that Bauble Bar necklace for some time. I should just buy it already!

Are you a fan of color blocking?

Just Peachy by leeannm

For more color blocking goodness, head over to Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies.

Business Cards Giveaway

Who wants a set of 250 business cards? You? Awesome, because I am giving them away thanks to PrintRunner.com!




PrintRunner strives to provide the best value and high quality full color printing at affordable prices. On their site you can find business cards , stickers, and flyers - but since one lucky winner will be getting business cards, let's focus on those. Here are the details of what you can win:

250 Business Cards
-Business Card Size and Style: 2x3.5 (Standard)
-Colors: 4/4 Color Both Sides
-Paper: 14 pt. UV Coating on Front/14 pt. UV Coating on both sides
-Proof: no
-Rounded Corners: no

Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.

That may all sound like mumbo jumbo but once you visit the site and go through the process it all makes sense!

*Please note, design services are not included with these business cards. So you'll have to upload a logo and/or your contact info on your own. I can help with this step if need be :)

As a blogger, having business cards handy has really been important. From blogger meetups to events, it's always a good idea to look professional. I've been in situations where I've been asked for my card and I haven't had any to give out. And if you've ever experienced that, this giveaway is perfect for you. So enter below!

Contest ends Tuesday, June 27. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: In exchange for this giveaway I am also getting a set of business cards as well.

14th Annual YHAwards

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the Young Hollywood Awards in Hollywood. It was SO much fun! First off, the handful of bloggers in attendance got to work the red carpet. Dream come true!

In attendance were the who's who of Hollywood's youth including Ginnifer Goodwin and her Once Upon a Time co-star turned real-life beau Josh Dallas (um Snow White dating Prince Charming? Adorable!), Sophia Bush of One Tree Hill, Ashley Greene of Twilight, Alex Pettyfer of Magic Mike, Janel Parish of Pretty Little Liars, January Jones of Mad Men, Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez of Modern Family, Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Rec, Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly, Whitney Cummings of Whitney, James Van Der Beek of Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23, and more!

How crazy is this - my place in the press line was right next to CosmoGirl and Glamour. See my name on the top left? I may have had a mini freak out from excitement. I was feet away from the celebrities as they walked the red carpet.

Ginnifer Goodwin - gorgeous. Her skin is like porcelain perfection. And her makeup was flawless. I took some real creepy up close pictures so I could show you all her beauty.

My highlight of the night was Rico Rodriguez on the red carpet. He's the cutest little thing with the biggest personality. He's very much like his character Manny on Modern Family. Adorable!

After the stars has strutted their stuff on the carpet, we hurried to our tables to watch the awards. Sitting right next to us were Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, and Whitney Cummings. Ginnifer and Whitney are best friends and Whitney presented the style icon award to Ginnifer. It was too cute.

Once the awards ended we headed to the after party, complete with cocktails, a candy bar, and mingling. I went to the event with my blogging partner in crime, Kate of Nautical By Nature and we always have a blast together! We also had a great time with Jillian of Glitz Glam Mayhem that we met that night.

Of course I had to get a shot of myself on the red carpet to end the magical night!

Weekend Update: Burgers and Beers

So I've come to realize I have a problem...I can't get enough burgers and beers. On both Friday and Saturday I spent my time at gastropubs. I mean, I guess I could have worse addiction, right?

Friday night I met up with three friends at a newer eatery in Hollywood called The Fat Dog. Located on Fairfax, near Melrose in the Fairfax District, it's a great location to grab a casual meal over a few beers. Happy hour prices were great for the area and they had one of my new favs Allagash, which I'm hooked on thanks to my IRL blogging bud Tiffany of Polka Dotted Cats. For dinner I ordered the flight which consisted of three mini burgers. Unfortunately the meat was over looked and didn't taste the greatest. Despite that, I'd def go back and try the food again. Maybe it was an off day for the chef.

Saturday was spent at lunch with my dad for an early Father's Day celebration at Eureka! in Downtown Claremont. I had been once but my dad had never been and since he brews his own beer I thought it would be a great choice. We both randomly selected beers that we knew nothing about and they were OK, we wouldn't order them again though. We both decided to order "interesting" burgers. He got one wrapped in a tortilla with guacamole and mine was featured an egg, bacon, and jalapenos. We both liked our burgers but what we didn't like was the fact that we were overcharged for beer that was on the happy hour list, and we were told we had the choice of several sides with our burgers but in actuality if you got anything but fries you are charged extra.

The Young Hollywood Awards were also part of my weekend, but that recap is coming tomorrow. Stay tuned to learn about my night filled with fabulous people like the flawless Ginnifer Goodwin! Come back Tuesday to read all about it!!

What did YOU do this weekend? Join the fun and ink up with me, Dana of five30three, and Sami of Sami's Shenanigans! We just ask that you follow a few rules: blog about the weekend, add our button (below) to your post, and submit your link to the blog hop. We aren't trying to be crazy, we just want to make sure that you link up properly so we can all visit each others' blogs and make new friends :) If you have any questions, let one of us know and we'll be happy to help!

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Outfit Crush: Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba always rocks the cutest clothes. Whether she's at a glamorous event or on the go (pictured below) she nails it. Today I'm recreating one of her recent looks. It's casual but there's still a hint of sophistication to it.

via

And my version looks like this! What do you think? Pretty close, right?

Casual Neutrals by leeannm

From Blog Life to Real Life

Today I'm linking up with Lovely Little Things and The Magnolia Pair for "From Blog Life to Real Life"! When I read about this blog hop I thought it sounded like so much fun! After all, I've met so many amazing bloggers over the past 4 1/2 years that any time I can give 'em a shotout I am all about it!

I'm so scared I left people off, and if so, I apologize!


1. Do you have any real life blog friends? I hang out with Nautical by Nature and Brunch at Saks the most. I've also met and hung out a few times with Bicoastally, Crazy Little World of Mine, Henning Love, and several others!

2. Which blogger are you just dying to meet? Chic & Pink, Christina's Pop Life, and La Dolce Vida

3. Which blogger's closet do you want to raid? Because Shana Said So, XOXO, me, and The Average Girl's Guide.

4. You are stuck on an island. Which blogger would you want with you to help you survive? The Blarkness Chronicles

5. The first blogger you remember "meeting" and connecting with? Nautical By Nature

6. Any blogger that you admire and look up to? Long Distance Loving

7. Who is the craziest/funniest blogger? Life is Bananas

8. There's a reality television show for bloggers, who would you want to be casted with you? The Good Life, Life Through Preppy Glasses, OK Lauren, The Girl With the Blue Bow, Sami's Shenanigans, and The Brown Eyed Perspective.

9. Some bloggers have really cool jobs, anybody you'd like to swap careers with? Audrey Allure (hello, she's interning for Anne Taylor).

10. Favorite blog design? Inspired Design - she's a blog designer!

Young Hollywood Awards

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Tomorrow I'll be attending the 14th Annual Young Hollywood Awards presented by BING! I'm fortunate enough be among a select few bloggers in attendance, along with the most talented young actors in the industry. This awards show is considered the "Oscars of Young Hollywood" and is sure to be a who's who of A-list talent.

Last year, these beauties attended the Young Hollywood Awards. Look at that fashion!

via

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The winners of this year's awards have already been announced. Here are a few of the honorees according to Hollywood Life:

Superstar of Tomorrow-Male: Alex Pettyfer
Superstar of Tomorrow-Female: Ashley Greene
Style Icon: Ginnifer Goodwin

Hello, major talent! Not going to lie, I'm a little nervous to be in the presence of greatness!

On Thursday many of the actors will be having their "bing moment" - and so will I. Since the event is presented by Bing, everyone in attendance is encouraged to tweet using the hashtag #mybingmoment. I'll be tweeting all night so follow along with me for updates. And if you tweet along with me telling me what your bing moment is/will be for Summer 2012 - from scoring a new job, to going on vacay - I'll retweet you from the event! Be sure to tweet @jointhegossip and #mybingmoment.

Polka Dotted Cats

Exciting news! My (in real life) friend Tiffany has started her own blog - Polka Dotted Cats! I have been insisting she do so for awhile now because her writing style is humorous and captivating. She says and does the most random things, like naming strangers we encounter on vacation (which she blogged about here) or yelling at people who are mean to me at blackjack tables. We've known each other since 7th grade, and despite losing touch over the course of our college years and her love for Bon Iver, we have still remained great friends. I'm so happy for her!

In honor of Polka Dotted Cats, here is an homage of all things leopard...which could technically qualify as a polka dotted cat, right?And you can never go wrong with leopard. I may or may not have a few items very similar to those in this compilation of the print.

Loving Leopard by leeannm

Wondering where she came up with her blog name? Head on over to Polka Dotted Cats to find out!

The FIRST Weekend Update Linkup!

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It's here! The first ever Weekend Update hosted by Dana of five30three, Sami of Sami's Shenanigans, and moi! Since this is a blog hop, we want you to get in on the action. If you're posting about your weekend, add your link to the list below. Our goal is to publish on Sunday nights and leave the linkup open until Fridays, so there's plenty of time each week to submit a post.

Simply link up then visit other bloggers on the list. It's a great way to make new friends!

Before I get to my weekend, I want to let everyone know that I'm guest posting over at the wonderful blog Henning Love while my friend Meg is on vacay. Be sure to stop by and check out my summer outfit idea!

OK, OK now onto my weekend. Of course since this is the first link up, it was a super low key Friday - Sunday. I visited with family, played with my pups, and ate.

Your turn! If you're blogging about the weekend, grab our thumbnail above, add it to your post, and link up!