Charles River Apparel // Giveaway

It’s an absolutely beautiful sunny day here in Boston, and even though thoughts of rain are probably the furthest thing from our minds right now, I just have to tell you about my brand new Charles River Apparel New Englander Rain Jacket because I love it so much! And, to brighten this day up even more, I’m going to give you the chance to win one for yourself! See, I can talk about rain and still keep things sunny!

I hate to admit it, but I can’t remember the last time I owned a proper raincoat. When Charles River Apparel sent me this lovely buttercup yellow jacket I quickly realized what I’ve been missing! Lucky for me, it arrived just in time for a week of rainy weather here in Boston and I was able to make the most of it right away. Remember that rainy Marathon Monday? My new rain jacket kept my dry all the way through to the 7th inning of the Red Sox game before it was cancelled due to the weather that day. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it through without it!

What I like best about this jacket (besides it being my favorite color) is the lightweight material. I feel like a lot of raincoats can be heavy and bulky, but the breathability of this jacket makes it perfect for a warm spring or summer rain. Not only is it totally functional, it’s pretty cute too, and is available in 10 different colors to suit any style. And, if you want to take your jacket to the next level, you can get it monogrammed too!

Charles River Apparel has more up their sleeve than just rain jackets (see what I did there?). I’ve really been loving their Waypoint Birdseye Fleece too! I wore it out for a jog around Castle Island the other day and it was the perfect protection against the chilly breeze. I have a feeling it will be a great addition to my rain jacket on those colder rainy days.

And now, for the fun part! Enter to win the New Englander Rain Jacket in your favorite color! One winner will be chosen one week from today on Thursday May 14th. Good luck!

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Aragosta Bar and Bistro // Boston Waterfront

Last week I dined at Aragosta Bar & Bistro for the first time with my good friend Melanie of Young Women in Digital. Having just recently heard of the restaurant myself, I wanted to share our experience so you could be sure to include Aragosta on your list of must-try restaurants in Boston!

Located on Boston’s waterfront at the Battery Wharf Hotel, Aragosta flaunts a beautiful view of the harbor from their gorgeous outdoor terrace. If the weather is right, like it was last week, a stroll through the North End is the perfect way to get there. Of course, my stroll was more of a speed walk, as in typical Amy-fashion I was running a bit late that evening!

The first thing we saw upon arrival at Aragosta was the outdoor terrace, which features urban fire pits and comfy seating. The fire pits add a fun flare to the restaurant as guests can enjoy make-your-own s’mores and cheese fondue from the menu! The terrace continues along to the back of the restaurant where you can enjoy your meal while looking out over the water. The outdoor seating is perfect for dining or drinks in the spring and summer!

Once inside the restaurant, we received exceptional service, and a menu that was to die for! We started with the Tomato & Buratta Flatbread and the Mushroom & Gorgonzola Flatbread which were available in half portions so that we got to enjoy both of them. And enjoy them we did! Upon our waiter’s suggestion, we ordered the lobster risotto to share next. As a lobster lover, I can’t even tell you how grateful I was for the suggestion. Every single bite was mouthwatering, and I wish that I had another bowl of it in front of me right now!

For our main meal, Melanie and I both decided on the Braised Short Ribs which were served with vanilla bean & lobster smashed potatoes, (seriously can’t get enough lobster!) steakhouse spinach, and fried leeks. The short ribs were cooked to perfection, and the vegetables were so full of flavor - I would order this meal again in a heartbeat!

While we barely left any room it, we knew that the only way to complete our experience at Aragosta was to try the dessert. Melanie chose the Chef’s Creme Brûlée with Almond Biscotti, and I had the Sorbetto with Mini North End Cookies. The sorbetto was served in 3 flavors - limoncello, raspberry, and blood orange. Even after enjoying our appetizers and main meal, it was easy to finish every last bite of these delectable desserts.

I highly recommend visiting Aragosta Bar & Bistro, especially now that the nice weather is here. I will most certainly be going back to enjoy my meal out on the terrace and to give those s’mores a try!

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BCAE Local Love 2015

Back in February, I attended the 2nd annual Local Love Market at the Boston Center for Adult Education. As you know, I'm a huge fan of the BCAE and all of the classes they offer, but there is something extra special about this event that they host. Vendors from in and around Boston come together to sell their local goods in one place, and shoppers get to spend an afternoon indulging in the beautiful items they have to offer. Many of the booths feature handmade goods, which as a DIYer is something I really appreciate. For the second year in a row I was happy to support the BCAE by photographing the event for them, and now I want to share some of those photos with you!

Last year at Local Love, I met the ever-talented calligrapher Julie of Posh & Prep, and have been enjoying her work via Instagram ever since. I was so happy to see her back at the market this year with a whole new array of fabulous prints and products. Julie not only sells these items in her Etsy shop, but also recently started selling at Neatly Nested Design & Decor, one of my favorite shops in South Boston. If you're looking for some serious home decor inspiration you should follow them on Instagram too - trust me, you're going to love every single photo they post!

Another favorite vendor of mine was Niche Urban Garden Supply. They had a beautiful display of plants, miniature gardens, and terrariums set up, and I really had to resist bringing all of them home! PS did you know that Niche offers gardening workshops? I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate spring…sign me up!

One of the booths that I spent the most time perusing was that of BCAE instructor, Loni Butera. I just could not get over how clever her sea glass art prints were! I spent far too long debating on which print to buy, but finally chose one that featured the most adorable pair of sea turtles I had ever seen. I’ll be keeping an eye out for Loni’s artwork in the future because just writing this post makes me want another print!

Of course I could not write a blog post about a BCAE event without mentioning my dear friend and expert flea market hunter, Becky of Pop & Circumstance. Becky’s business is all about making life beautiful with unique design and decor pieces that she handpicks or handmakes and sells in her blog shop. She truly has an eye for beauty, and you can see that in each charming piece that she had displayed at the Local Love market. Find her on Instagram for your daily dose of prettiness.

And, finally, a Local Love Market just wouldn’t be complete without macarons! Cameo Macaron returned again this year with their delicious sweets. If you’re in the city, keep an eye out for their food truck!

I love that through this event, the BCAE has introduced me to so many makers within the Boston community, and I'm already looking forward to Local Love 2016! 

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Lavender & Lace Blog Design Part 2

If this post seems a a little déjà vu, don't worry, you're not losing it! About a year and a half ago, I did some design work for Laura of Lavender & Lace when she was just entering the blogging scene. She has since built her blog up to be a source of inspiration for creative living, with a focus on the North Shore, Newburyport, and Boston areas.

When I was first designing for Laura, she was blogging on the Typepad platform, and I created a logo, header, navigation bar, and 'about me' section for her. As she developed her blog, Laura switched over to the Blogger platform and eventually decided to revamp her look with some new features. The new features included an updated intro / 'about me' section, new social media buttons, category buttons, a scrolling Instagram feed, social share buttons in the post footer, and an updated navigation bar.

It was so wonderful being able to work with Laura again and to help her evolve the vision she has for her blog as it continues to grow. If you're looking to revamp your blog design, I'm currently accepting new clients! Check out my list of design services here.

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Spoons and Stilettos Blog Design

Last month I shared a moodboard for a client project that I was working on, and I'm so excited that today I can share the final product with you! The project was a blog redesign for Agnes, the blogger behind the food and fashion blog, Spoons and Stilettos. I met Agnes a couple of months ago at a blogger dinner at Boston Chops, where we were seated at the same table. In typical blogger style, we spent the evening chatting about food, fashion, and blogging. While on the subject of blogging, Agnes told me that she had been wanting a little blog makeover, and I was happy to be able to offer her my design services.

Over the next few weeks Agnes and I discussed the direction of the design and her personal aesthetic, and I provided her with design options. She was looking for something clean, fresh, and classic. She wanted to stay away from anything that was too busy, and had a preference for a soft spring floral color palette.

Agnes and I were both so happy with how the final design came out. Be sure to head on over to Spoons and Stilettos to see the design in all of it's glory, and give Agnes some blog love!

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{hub}LINKS: Shop Locally

Have you heard about Blog Better Boston's {Hub}LINKS? Every couple of weeks, the girls of BBBos round up their favorite blog posts about a specific topic from bloggers around Boston and share them on their site. This week, one of my posts is being featured alongside some of my favorite bloggers, and we're talking about shopping locally!

This week, we collaborated with local startup Boutikey (a community for discovering the latest fashion trends at local boutiques) on a roundup of posts covering local boutiques and shops. Boutikey's founder, Tiana Haraguchi, carefully selected her top 10 posts and will be rewarding the featured bloggers with a special prize. If you haven't had a chance to check out Boutikey yet, we highly recommend it!

Show these blogs some love:

Everyone needs a little bit of Lilly in their wardrobe. Shell Chic'd colorfully tells us how the clothes, the story, and the brand of Lilly Pulitzer... is everything!

Want unforgettable lips? Boston Mints is your answer. With 12 iconic shades with Boston character, you will surely find one that you can't live without!

Wear it two ways! "A little pretty, a little reckless." Style this amazing ruffled black maxi skirt with a little bit of edge or make it girly and fab!

Walk through a virtual Pinterest board known as the Local Love Market at BCAE. No girl can resist such beautiful displays of flowers, jewelry, gifts, and art!

The Tannery is a Boston fashionista's dream and has many locations all around the city. Mon Petit Chou Chou pays a visit and models her favorite pieces.

Searching for delicious sweets and treats you don't have to feel guilty about? Learn about this North End chocolatier's healthier approach in confection making.

Who can turn down chocolate, especially when it looks pretty? Here are some fun and creative holiday entertaining ideas and display tips.

Mass Musings gives you a quick look into 3 wonderful local Boston fashion boutiques. Shop smart, shop small!

Eager to delve into an adventurous recipe but don't know where to get all the unique ingredients? You can find them at Joppa Fine Foods - a "food enthusiast's Disneyland."

"One of my favorite things about this area is the high value Bostonians place on caffeine!" A local bakery and coffee shop to wake you up!

Want to be featured in the next edition? Sign up for the {hub}LINKS newsletter and submit your posts!

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Local Love Market at BCAE

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Local Love market at the BCAE, and I have to say that I was really impressed by the event! Local vendors had booths set up throughout the building displaying beautiful products that were available for sale to everyone who strolled through. Walking from table to table, I felt as though I was wandering through a virtual Pinterest board (aka a bloggers dream)! The vendors themselves were all so personable and happy to talk about their work, that I felt such a sense of community among the creative group. 

One of my favorite vendors was Pollen Floral Design, because what girl can resist such a beautiful display as this? Not only were the flower arrangements gorgeous, but Krissy (the gal behind Pollen) had also created an amazing photo booth for shoppers to set up Instagram shots. Of course, I had to take advantage of that, and took home a beautiful bouquet for myself as well!

Some of the other fabulous vendors that I really enjoyed seeing were Adjewelry (see amazing jewelry below), Vessel Candle Co (who had some of the best smelling soy candles I've ever come across), Olives & Grace (and their amazing custom gift boxes), Sarah Wormann Art (see gorgeous prints below), ELM Events (and their LOVE-ly photo booth), and Posh and Prep (see her adorable Valentine prints below).

And, of course, one of my all-time favorite vendors at the Local Love market was my girl, Becky of Pop & Circumstance! Her collection of handmade and vintage items always look so gorgeous and blend together seamlessly. I think I could have spent all afternoon in her corner of the market. Her contribution to the market was so impressive, and she's definitely someone to keep an eye on for future pop-up shops! 

I'm very much looking forward to attending more pop-up shops in the Boston area, especially if they're as well done as this one was. If you attended the Local Love market, I'd love to know what goods you went home with!

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Wicked Cheap in Boston Blog Design

A couple of months ago, Molly of Wicked Cheap in Boston, reached out to me about going into the New Year with a new look on her blog. She had a vision for the future of her blog, and I was happy to provide her with the design to get her there. And now, I can share it with you!

Molly wanted an easy to navigate, clean look, using grays and jewel tones. The final look was then to be carried over to her facebook page for a cohesive brand identity. It was such a fun design to work on, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Molly's blog develops in the new year!

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#YWDBoston Young Women in Digital

Remember back in February when I shared the Young Women in Digital logo that I designed? Well, the YWD ladies just held their 4th event last week, and it was so successful that I felt compelled to tell you more about the group. I leave every event feeling like I've gained valuable insight and made great connections, so if you're a young woman in the Boston area who is working or is interested in the digital, social, experiential, and online marketing field, then you should definitely consider attending the next event. The events are held bi-monthly, so your next opportunity to attend will probably be sometime in November. I highly recommend following YWD on Facebook and Twitter so you're in the know!

As someone who often attends networking events, one thing that I really love about the YWD events is that there is always something different going on. Each event has a specific focus for the evening so we're always learning something new. The first event was geared toward getting to know each other and learning what the group was all about. At the second event we had a chance to mingle before some savvy marketing gals discussed their jobs and the unique marketing campaigns that they had worked on. It was certainly empowering to hear our peers discussing the success they've experienced in their careers!

The focus of the third event was careers and personal brand (and cupcakes!), and there were speakers on hand to offer some awesome job-scoring tips. The featured speaker from TripAdvisor gave great advice on how to succeed in a job interview while we all sipped on wine and munched on cupcakes. Best part of this event? One of the girls who attended made a connection with the featured speaker and landed her dream job because of it! How amazing is that? Read more about it on the YWD founder Melanie's blog here.

As the YWD Graphic Designer, I design all the event flyers, but for this event I was able to use my crafty talents to also make cupcake toppers for the evening's treat (see photo above). The toppers featured the groups official hashtag, #YWDBoston so that the girls would be reminded to tweet and Instagram throughout the night. A pretty clever marketing strategy if you ask me!

At the 4th event, held last week, we were introduced to a panel of 4 intelligent women who had worked their way to manager/senior level positions in their careers. They offered us amazing advice on how we could advance ourselves in our own young professional careers and then took time to answer our questions afterwards. The women came from some of Boston's top companies; Hill Holliday, Mullen, Springpad, and InterContinental Boston. One of the best takeaways I had from the evening was the power of LinkedIn. Believe it or not, until the other day I didn't have a LinkedIn account. After hearing the women talk about the importance of making connections through the site and discussing how you never know where these connections could take you I decided to sign up.

I'm really looking forward to the next YWD event and from the looks of the September Newsletter it's going to be a good one! I'm hoping to see some new faces there so make sure to get your name on the guest list when the time comes!

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Queen Bey in Boston

Last week, on behalf of Pepsi, I had the absolute pleasure of attending my first Beyoncé concert while she was in Boston for her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Have you ever been to one of her shows? She is seriously amazing! Her entire performance was so high energy, and my friend Joanne and I danced the whole time. 

The TD Garden was packed with more women than I have ever seen in one place, and all of them were dressed to the nines. Though heels aren't usually the best option when attending a concert, there wasn't an un-heeled foot in the place. I was glad that Joanne and I had taken some time beforehand to consider what one should wear to a Beyoncé show. I think we fit right in.

One of my favorite songs that Beyoncé performed was "Love on Top", but it was also pretty amazing when she belted out an old school Destiny's Child song! I found that the videos playing on the screens on stage and the lighting, were just as fascinating as Bey herself. Combined, these things made for one heck of a show. If you didn't make it to the show this time, you're in luck, she'll be back here in Boston on December 20th. Woop woop!

Last week, you may have noticed that I was tweeting using the hashtag #iconicsummer throughout the concert. Pepsi's Iconic Summer Moments site is a site working to donate to charities in need. You can get involved and be entered to win a Pepsi Prize pack by uploading a photo from your favorite summer moment to the Iconic Summer site using #iconicsummer! And, while attending a concert is always an iconic summer moment for me, it doesn't have to be yours. So, get creative!

spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Pepsi. This could include the Pepsi providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.
While I was provided with complimentary tickets to the Mrs. Carter Show, all thoughts and opinions about the FABULOUS Beyoncé are my own. 

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Animal Rescue League of Boston Sculpture Reveal

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending an event at the Animal Rescue League of Boston where a brand new sculpture was unveiled on the front lawn. The sculpture, "Dancing with Spheres", was created by David Phillips, and presented as a gift to the ARL by local artist Tony Lopez. If you haven't heard of the Animal Rescue League before, it is an amazing non-profit organization devoted to rescuing and protecting animals from abuse and neglect. I was first introduced to the Animal Rescue League by Elizabeth Dobrska, the marketing professional at ARL Boston, who I've met with at various events in Boston. When she told me about the sculpture unveiling, I was thrilled to be able to attend and get a first peek at the latest public art piece in Boston. And now, I'm so happy to be able to share the art with you. 

The sculpture, located in the dog play yard, is being referred to as "a place where art and animals come to play". And doesn't it look like just that? The animals featured in the sculpture are adorable, and if you're in the area you should definitely make a point to stop by and see it in person. And, if you're looking for a new pet, you should absolutely consider adopting a rescued animal.  My sister and her fiance just adopted a rescued puppy 2 months ago, so I can tell you first hand how rewarding it is to see a rescued animal find their forever home!

For more information and updates on the Animal Rescue League, make sure to check out their website or follow them on twitter!

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Marshalls #FabFound Spring Fashion Event

Marshalls has always been one of my favorite stores. Anytime I'm on the hunt for a fab new outfit, purse, shoes, or a unique item for my home, Marshalls is my first stop. It's pretty much basic instinct: Oh, I need to find something amazing for a great price? Obviously I'm going to Marshalls! So, a few weeks ago I was happy to attend a Marshalls event at the newer location in Fenway with my friend Melanie of I Love Love. Hosted by some of Boston's best fashion bloggers, Mon Petit Chou Chou, Extra Petite, I am Khatu, and Neat Bit, the event was full of shopping, giveaways, lemonade, and cupcakes. 

Each blogger set up a display of their favorite items from the store to share while event-goers shopped around. They also prepared baskets full of wonderfully priced items, and in Price is Right style, asked us to guess the total Marshalls price for the products. Whoever had the closest guess got to take the basket home! Everyone who attended the event had the chance to go home with something amazing. 

This was a great opportunity to check out the Fenway store. It was my first time visiting this location, and I was definitely impressed. I'll absolutely be stopping by again so I can shop til I drop!

PS how cute did Noelani look with her favorite Marshalls items and her teeny tiny baby bump?!

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A Moment of Silence for Boston

I'm so happy to report that things are finally getting back to normal here in Boston. The reopening of Boylston Street has played a big role in making that happen, and the warm weather has the people of Boston walking down that very street with smiles on their faces. Our return to normalcy, however, does not mean that we have forgotten what happened here, and I don't think we ever will. On Monday, we remembered the victims of the Boston Marathon attack with a state-wide moment of silence. I joined hundreds of others at the corner of Boylston and Berkley, alongside the crime scene barrier and a memorial for the victims, as we stood in silence until bells rang throughout the city. After the moment of silence I was able to take a few photographs, and I want to share them with you. I think they speak for themselves...

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