Valentine's Day with Luxxie Boston

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and while I truly believe it's an over-celebrated and over-commercialized holiday, I do think it's a great excuse to treat yourself to something luxurious. Enter Luxxie Boston, an innovative collection of slips and camis that are functional, comfortable, and sexy! Luxxie gifted me with their bralette silk & lace slip when they launched back in the fall, and out of my entire lingerie collection, it's become the slip I wear most often, especially when relaxing at home. 

Besides all of the obvious reasons for loving the slip - it's pretty, comfortable, silky smooth, and trimmed with chantilly lace - I also love that it's actually supportive, which has been impossible for me to find in a slip before now with my chest which ranges from a 30F to a 32E, and can be worn alone or under a dress with no static cling or seams showing through. It's the perfect combination of sexy {hello amazing cleavage!!}, classy {a la Sophia Loren} and sophisticated...this is not your average slip! Whether you're in a relationship and are looking for something to add to your Valentine's Day wish list, or you're single like me and just want to treat yourself because you totally deserve it, I recommend one of Luxxie's gorgeous slips or camis! They carry 5 colors aside from the pretty hunter green shade I'm wearing: black, silver, burgundy, midnight navy, and nude. Luxxie is offering 15% off your entire purchase through February 15th with discount code VDAY4ME!

PS: I'm really stepping out of my comfort zone by sharing these photos as I'm a very modest dresser who doesn't show much skin...I think there's maybe one bikini photo of me out there in all of the internet! But I love this slip so much and thought Valentine's Day was the perfect time to share a few photos with you all, which I took at home using my tripod for the first time, despite the fact that I am a bit anxious about posting photos of myself in lingerie. There was no obligation from Luxxie for me to do so, so I'm taking this risk all on my own. It's always good to push yourself, right? :)

Gift Guide: The Guys

Every year around the holidays I hear the same thing: guys are the hardest ones to shop for! Today I've put together two men's gift guides for you - one with gifts under $100 and one with gifts over $100. I tried to choose items that would appeal to a variety of guys so you can find something for every man on your shopping list. Let me know what you think of my picks in the comments below, and happy shopping!

Gift Guide: A Bit of Whimsy

For the girl who loves all things whimsical, magical, charming, quirky and unique, I've put together a guide filled with gifts that are sure to make her smile. :) Let me know which gift is your favorite in the comments below!

Gift Guide: Cozy Chic

There's nothing I love more than being cozy at home, snuggled up in warm blankets with my favorite candles lit, drinking tea and reading a good book. Any time I have a free night to myself, I spend it like this:

I like to infuse a bit of luxury into my nights at home: silk and satin slips instead of old sweats; faux fur blankets for warmth; super soft tall cashmere socks. Surrounding myself with pretty, soft things always makes me feel content, comfortable and relaxed. That was the inspiration for today's gift guide, which is filled with cozy chic pieces that won't break the bank. Sometimes a little added luxury to our downtime is just what we deserve but don't always treat ourselves to, which is why these gifts are perfect for all the ladies on your shopping list {or for yourself!}

Gift Guide: The Hostess

I hope that today's gift guide can help you out in two ways: 1) to buy hostess gifts for the people whose holiday parties you are attending but may not know that well, and 2) to buy a gift for your friend whose apartment is *the* place to hang out and who loves having people over, no matter what the occasion. All of these gifts are super affordable and perfect for the "hostess with the mostess" who is always entertaining!

Gift Guide: The Animal Lover

Today's gift guide is for the girl who loves animals! Cats, dogs, elephants, owls...I have them {almost} all covered. There are so many cute animal themed gifts out there that I couldn't narrow it down! Let me know which gift ideas you like best in the comments below.

Kate Spade 'Black Cat' iPhone 5 case - $45

Jonathan Adler salt & pepper shakers - $48

Love Stories velvet cat sleep mask - $29

SNURK 'Photorealistic' duvet & pillowcase - $80. {how cool is this duvet with the printed cat sleeping on it?!}

C.Wonder 'Kitty' cheese board - $38

Betsey Johnson cat clutch - $58

Gift Guide: Subscription Boxes

Although they may not immediately come to mind when you're out doing your holiday shopping, subscription services for clothing, jewelry and beauty products are gifts that keep on giving past Hanukkah or Christmas day! Because the lucky recipient gets a new box once a month (and sometimes more frequently depending on the service!) they are surprised each time they open up their newest package. I gifted my mother and sister each a year's subscription to Birchbox last Christmas and they were always excited to see what products would come in the mail for them each month. It's also a great way for them to discover new brands and see what they like. Today I'm sharing 4 of my favorite subscription services that would make great holiday gifts for the ladies in your life - I've personally tried out all of them so I can recommend them with confidence!

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1. Le Tote is essentially Netflix for clothes, carrying tons of products from amazing brands like House of Harlow, French Connection, BCBG, Sanctuary, BB Dakota, Kensie, Karen Zambos, and Splendid. For $49/month, you get a box filled with 3 clothing items and 2 accessories that can be swapped out as often as you like. You also have the opportunity to keep any pieces you fall in love with for a discounted price. I've styled numerous Le Tote pieces in my outfit posts - just type Le Tote in the search bar to the right to see! With the gift card, you can give 2, 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions to the ladies in your life! {PS: if you're interested in signing up for a subscription for yourself, you can use my coupon code CUPCAKESNCOUTURE30 to save 30% off your first month!}

Gift Guide: The Beauty Junkie

Today's gift guide is for the beauty junkie: the girl who can never have enough products, whose skin always looks fantastic, who never leaves the house without trendiest manicure, and who can't choose just one signature scent because there are way too many good ones out there. We all know someone like this, and luckily for us, she's super easy to shop for! All of these gifts are beauty junkie approved, and some of them even make perfect stocking stuffers! What will you be buying for the beauty junkie in your life?

Gift Idea: Victorinox Chrono Classic 1/100 Watch

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. I know it feels early, but with November more than halfway over, it's that time of year to start thinking about your holiday shopping! Guys are always the hardest to shop for, so I'm kicking off my holiday gift ideas with the new Chrono Classic 1/100 watch from Victorinox.

The Chrono Classic 1/100 is modern interpretation of Victorinox's best selling chronograph watch, which was based on the famous Swiss Army knife. The new 1/100 is a "three step" watch: it can read hours, minutes and seconds down to 1/100th of a second. A simple click of the crown transitions the watch from time mode chrono mode, making it simple to use despite its complex inner workings. The video below shows you how it's done!

What I Wore: Ame & Lulu

Today I'm teaming up with local brand Ame & Lulu to spread the word about their awesome warehouse sale taking place at their Newton boutique tomorrow and Saturday! If you're in the Boston area, you should definitely stop by and check the sale out. It's the perfect time to get a head start on your holiday shopping - they have lots of great gift ideas for everyone {even the guys!} in your life.

I'm a huge fan of Ame & Lulu's 'Easy Tote' which is roomy enough for all my weekend errands, including going to the gym, picking up a few groceries and taking my laptop to a local cafe to get some blogging done. It's practical and stylish which is the perfect combination, and the wide shoulder straps keep it from hurting my shoulder when I fill it up with heavy things.

Linking up with The Fashion Canvas

Gift Idea: Victorinox I.N.O.X. Watch

Shopping for guys can be tough. One of the questions I get the most from friends, family members and readers is 'what should I buy my dad/boyfriend/brother/father-in-law/etc. for his birthday or upcoming holiday?' When asked what they want for a gift, most guys say they don't know or honestly haven't given it any thought, so it's really tricky to come up with ideas! When Victorinox reached out to me with info on the I.N.O.X., their newest men's watch launched for their 130th anniversary, I knew I had to share it with you because it will make such a great gift for the guys in your lives!

The I.N.O.X. timepiece was built to last and modeled after the famous Swiss Army Knife: it's robust, authentic, reliable in all conditions and can withstand any and all levels of stress. The watch has been put through some pretty serious tests, including a 32 foot drop onto a concrete surface, being driven over by a 64 ton tanker truck (ouch), going through the washing machine for 2 hours (particularly good for the guy who puts things in his pockets and forgets to take them out before doing laundry) as well as weathering a sandstorm. While your guy probably won't experience many sandstorms here in the US, I.N.O.X. can also resist many corrosive products including gasoline, solvents, oils, cleaning liquids and insecticides, so no matter what type of conditions your guy works in, this watch can weather the conditions!

I.N.O.X. is also reinforced with a removable nylon and silicone bumper protector to prevent scratching and damage to the watch face. You can see why Victorinox brands the I.N.O.X. as the perfect companion for life!

Guest Post: Wedding Party

Hi all! Today we have Stephanie from Wedding Party guest posting on thoughtful ways to congratulate a friend who just got engaged. We're doing a blog swap and I'm over on the Wedding Party blog today sharing my gift guide for bridesmaids, so make sure you head on over to check it out!

If you’re my age, it seems like every other day someone is announcing an engagement and posting yet a ring selfie (#nofilter #engaged). While technology has been great for keeping us connected to loved ones near and far, who else thinks it’s made us kind of lazy when it comes to celebrating big life moments? An engagement is a big deal, but when you announce your big news, it deserves more than a few Instagram likes from your friends! Of course, clicking “Like” is a lot easier than going out of your way to send a thoughtful note or congratulations; I’m definitely guilty as charged, as I’m sure we all are.

(Photo credit: Breakfast at Cindi’s)

But I want to change that and bring a little more thoughtfulness back into our digital world. Being a good friend means taking that extra bit of time and effort for those important relationships in your life. If a recent friend has become recently engaged, there’s a lot more you can do to show your excitement than shooting off a quick comment on Instagram!

Don’t know where to start? These no-brainer ideas will take you 10 minutes and cost you less than $20. Oh, and on top of that, your friend will be so thrilled to share her excitement with you!

1. Snail mail

(Photo credit: Julie Ann Art)

Everybody loves getting snail mail, especially when you’ve wrapped up your nice thoughts with a super-cute card. Julie Ann Art makes amazingly hilarious greeting cards for every occasion. Getting one of these bad boys in the mail is sure to bring a smile to your friend’s face!

Shopping List: Fruity Bags

I've noticed lots of fruity mini bags, clutches & crossbodies in stores and online this summer in all shapes, sizes & price-points and find them absolutely adorable! They make cute & whimsical additions to any outfit during these hot summer months. I also think they make perfect gifts for girls with a fun, quirky style. What do you think of these fruity bags - would you wear one? Which is your favorite?

Gift Guide: Father's Day with East Dane

Father's Day is less than two weeks away - have you picked out a gift for the guys on your list yet? Today I've partnered with East Dane, the brother site to the amazing Shopbop, to bring you my picks for the stylish men in your life (or the men you wish were stylish but can't quite figure it out themselves.) What do you think of my picks - which would you add to your shopping list?

{CLOSED} Mother's Day Giveaway with Long Elegant Legs

I'm excited to be partnering with Long Elegant Legs today for a great Mother's Day Giveaway! LEL is the authority on clothing for tall women, and even though I'm just 5'4" and don't quite qualify as tall, my younger sister Jill is 6' and I know how hard she struggles to find proper fitting clothing! It makes me happy to spread the word about LEL for all the tall girls out there who face the same shopping challenges. :)

You don't need to be tall to enter the giveaway, and neither does your mum! Winners will receive a box canvas image, expertly printed from a digital photo of your choosing and a gift they can use to treat themselves – tall ladies will no doubt be interested in a $100 LEL gift card, or any TWO items from the website. Alternatively, they're offering a $100 American Express gift card which can be used for any purpose!

Gift Guide: Mother's Day

Mother's Day is coming up next Sunday, May 11th - do you know what you're buying your mum yet? I've put together a great list with gift ideas for mums with all tastes, and almost all the gifts are under $100. Let me know what you think of my ideas in the comments below!

DIY Glitter Champagne Glasses

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you may have seen my DIY glitter wine glass post before. It actually has the most page views of any post I've ever written, thanks in large part to Pinterest! I used to same process to create these pretty glitter champagne glasses over the weekend to give out as gifts. I hope the recipients will be happy with them! :) You can use any color glitter you want, but I chose silver and gold since I was making a whole bunch of glasses and didn't want to guess what colors people might like. I think they will be perfect for New Year's Eve among other celebrations!

If you don't want to make your own glasses, buy them here in my Etsy shop!

DIY New Year Gift Baskets

This evening's post comes to us from Jen of Apartment Wife! Jen has guest blogged for me before - check out her previous post on how to make a DIY mason jar vase.

Gimme some ooey gooey goodness and I'm guaranteed to break into a smile. The ooey-gooeyness I'm referring to is always sugary and usually involves chocolate chips or frosting. I'm talking about cookies, cupcakes, brownies and cakes. Yes, I like it all.

My well-publicized love for sugary treats goes a little haywire during the holidays when friends seem to come out of the woodwork to bring me plates of sticky sweetness. This year, the trend is continuing long past the close of the New Year, and my sweet tooth has been smiling since the beginning of 2014.

I love gifts and treats, but I thought I'd switch it up a bit by making my friends something a little different - New Year Gift Baskets that help them keep their resolutions. I asked my friends about their resolutions for 2014, and then I used their suggestions to make gift baskets that inspired them to keep to their goals.

Gift Guide: Get Well Soon!

Happy Monday everyone! This Wednesday I am having septoplasty and sinus surgery, so I am taking a some time off from blogging to prepare, recover and relax. I've been getting sinus infections 5-6 times a year for the last few years and have difficulty breathing, especially at night due to an extremely deviated septum, so this surgery should help me to start feeling better down the road and breathing like a normal person!

I know I won't be feeling up to doing much baking or outfit posting, so I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to guest post for me over the next two weeks. It's been really fun queuing up all of these posts with their different topics, voices and styles. When I reached out, I expected that maybe half of the girls would have the free time or be interested in writing for me, but I received so many posts from them that I actually have to double up on posts each day!! There will be more going on here at Cupcakes & Couture than when I'm healthy! ;) It really goes to show how many talented bloggers are out there and what a great, supportive community we have. I am flattered that so many of them took the time out of their busy lives to write for me, so please make sure to visit their blogs and show them some love in my absence! :)


Hi Cupcakes & Couture Readers! My name is Kelly and I blog over at Sparkles & Shoes, my fashion and lifestyle blog by a New York City girl featuring trends, travel, and tasty eats. In May 2012 I had massive reconstructive knee-surgery that left me with plates, screws, and a month long stay on the couch. I would say this qualifies me as an expert in what to get for a sick friend!

Here are eight things I am sure would be great to make any sick friend smile in my Get Well Gift Guide!

Gift Guide: Cocoanuts Boston

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a holiday blogger event at Cocoanuts in Boston's North End! Cocoanuts is a gourmet sweet treat boutique that features tons of local artisans as well as high quality, unique products from other states in the US. {I attended their Valentine's event last year if you want to check that post out!}

Tara, one of the co-owners, started off the night by showing us how to put together some fun plates and displays for our holiday parties - I never would have thought of creating a plate with french macarons, broken up pieces of toffee and chocolate covered almonds all together, but it was so delicious and visually stunning! She also highlighted a few great gift baskets to bring to the hostesses of the parties we're attending - they are sure to make a good impression!