5 Holiday Scented Candles You Need for Your Home

 

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Fragrance is one of my favorite and easiest ways to transform the feeling of a space. The power of scent transports us to another world and connects us with memories. Scented candles are great any time of the year, but they are especially great during the Holiday Season, casting a cozy glow and filling your space with scents of the season.

Whether you are looking to fill your home with the scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree or a crackling fire, these candles will add an instant touch of the Holiday season to your home.

1. Diptyque Flocon Candle Limited Edition

Each year Diptyque released a limited-edition candle for the season, and this year it is Flocon. The flacon, or snowflake, candle reveals notes of white musk mixed with honeyed accents of mimosa and winter bloom.

Available at Bluemercury

2. Cire Trudon Christmas Gloria Candle

Enjoy not only a luxe seasonal fragrance, but also a beautiful blown glass vessel from what is rumored to be Marie Antoinette’s favorite candle company. Christmas Gloria from Cire Trudon is a woody-heavy scent with notes of spice throughout.

Available at Saks

3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Pain D'Épices Candle

This candle will evoke all the childhood memories of building a gingerbread house filled with sweet delights. Pain d’epices has notes of orange, honey, cinnamon, and anise.

Available at Saks Fifth Avenue

4. NEST New York Holiday & Birchwood Pine Scented Candle

Perhaps the most fitting and synonymous with Holiday candles is the Birchwood Pine scent from nest. Fill your home with the aromatic scent of a freshly cut tree. This special Holliday set includes both Holiday and Birchwood scents.

Available at Nordstrom

5. Jo Malone Glowing Embers Candle

Evoke the aura of a cozy den or library with a crackling fire, fresh log just tossed on, with this hand-poured candle from Jo Malone. Glowing Embers has very strong notes of smoke (in a good way) and woods.

Available at Bluemercury

Holiday Cranberry Margaritas with Alacran Cristal Tequila

It is the holiday season, and that means one thing- holiday parties and gatherings! Do you find yourself running around from event to event this time of the year? I know I do! Whether you are hosting your own party or looking for a great cocktail to make for a gathering you are heading to, I have a great recipe to share with you.

Margaritas are always a crowd pleaser, but do they work at a holiday party? Yes! Nothing says winter and the holiday season quite like cranberry. Try serving this refreshing cranberry margarita at your next holiday party.

Cranberry Margarita
-2 cups Alacran Cristal Tequila
-1 1/3 cups cranberry juice (I recommend using 100% juice variety with no sugar added. Trader Joes makes a great one)
-3 tbsp Agave Syrup or sweetened to taste (Note: I use agave to make the drink fresher. If you are accustomed to an orange liqueur, use 1 Cup Cointreau of Grand Marnier) 
-2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 


1. If you like a salted rim: place salt on small plate, wet rim, and apply salt to rims of glasses
2. Combine the tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and ice in a large pitcher, and stir.

I like using Alacran Tequila because it is an ultra premium anejo tequila. It is packaged in a beautiful, clear glass bottle that is sleek looking. The tequila uses agaves from 7-10 years old harvested in the highlands of Jalisco. It is matured for 14 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon generating a rich, woody flavor with a hint of vanilla. As a result of their exclusive clarifying filtration process, a crystal product is produced with light gold reflections. 



*This recipe yields approximately 10 servings. 













This post was made possible by Alacran Tequila

Escape to Malibu Giveaway with johnnie-O

LA-based lifestyle brand johnnie-O is offering an exciting fall giveaway to escape to Malibu. For those of you not familiar with the brand, johnnie-O is known for its west coast take on classic east coast preppy styles. The brand has recently ramped up its offering and is expanding across the country, and too celebrate their recent success, the brand is offering an exciting giveaway for the chance to win a trip to Malibu for 2!

Details:  A giveaway in celebration of its newly-formed partnership with Malibu Beach Inn and the much anticipated launch of johnnie-O’s revamped website.

As the kick-off to a series of new and exciting promotions, “Escape to Malibu” will offer johnnie-O fans the chance to win round-trip airfare to Los Angeles for two, a 2-night stay at the luxury oceanfront hotel, a round of golf with John O’Donnell, and $500 shopping spree at the johnnie-O ‘Love Shack’.

This comes on the heels of johnnie-O debuting it’s newly designed website, offering shoppers improved functionality and speed, an enhanced look and feel, shop-able look books, integration with a now shop-able Instagram, and the newly featured “Blue Room” blog (think behind-the scenes “Green Room” in show biz - where the real action happens off-camera) - giving readers insight into all of founder, John O’Donnell’s hot topics, from the best brews and signature cocktails to interviews with key leaders such as Rio Olympic golf course designer, Gil Hanse.

How To Enter: simply input your email address from now until November 13^th on the johnnie-O website here - Escape to Malibu Giveaway - for a chance to win this incredible trip and giveaway. (Rules and restrictions apply)

The Malibu Beach Inn is the perfect destination as johnnie-o has recently formed a partnership to further establish itself as a west coast lifestyle brand. The brand's partnership with the inn includes Malibu Beach Inn employees outfitted in signature johnnie-O apparel including polo’s, outerwear, and belts; selling select product in their hotel boutique; offering the “johnnie-O Light and Sunny” cocktail at the Carbon Beach Club bar; as well as promoting the “Summer of johnnie-O” special in which guests will enjoy premium beachfront accommodations and receive a johnnie-O polo and ball cap upon check-in.

Fall Fragrance: Reawaken the Senses with BOSS THE SCENT

Just as we change out our wardrobes with the season, exchanging shorts for pants and polos for sweaters, it is important to change out our fragrance as well. Summer is great for lighter fragrance; I personally loved Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue this summer, but just like the the summer days have come to an end, so, too, has my daily use of the fragrance.

A good cologne is an important part of any gentleman's wardrobe. Finding the right one can be difficult, but once you you find "the signature" you know it is right. A great cologne for the fall season is BOSS THE SCENT, by Hugo Boss. It has become my personal favorite, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best fragrances I have used.

The new fragrance from Hugo Boss is all about seduction and wearing a scent that is memorable, since scent is one of the strongest things tied to memory. BOSS THE SCENT is the perfect compliment to the fall season, rooted in notes of an intense, burnished leather. The scent is rich and powerful, yet not overbearing, and is reminiscent of some popular fragrances that cost upwards of $250 a bottle.  THE SCENT contains an exclusive ingredient from Africa: the aphrodisiac Maninka fruit, evocative of passion fruit and rum. The cologne has notes of spicy ginger and Maninka with lavender based in rich leather.

I find this fragrance to last all-day, making at a great choice for day to night or office to happy hour. Grab your favorite sweater and pair with Hugo Boss THE SCENT for the ultimate masculine fall scent.

Available at Macy's











This post was made possible by Macy's. All opinions are my own.

Johnnie-O Brings the Best of Both Coasts

The West Coast fashion label, johnnie-O, has been developing their product offering and expanding on the east coast since launching a few years ago, offering up an aesthetic that is the perfect mix between east and west coast styles.

I previously wrote about johnnie-O and the great brand they were establishing, but if they are not on your radar yet, I highly recommend checking them out. The band attracts me for two reasons, namely the product and the quality. For those that feel that sometimes the true "east coast" prep look can be a bit much while the traditional "west coast" vibe is too relaxed, the johnnie-O product is perfect for you as it harmoniously combines these to offer up what is dubs, "west coast prep."

Headed up by John O'Donnell, the brand's aesthetic is inspired by his days in LA where he traded his penny loafers for sandals. O'Donnell is a strong believer in having what you love, and this is exactly what inspired the west coast prep pieces. He loved the preppy essentials of his Chicago childhood, but also loved the casualness of his time spent in LA and mixed these two looks to create the Johnnie-O line.

I have experienced the the product first hand, and can notably say that you can feel the quality of the fabric and the attention to detail. The fabrics feel soft yet substantial as opposed to some of the common prep brands with ponies or crocs. Additionally, the pieces still contain the details that smaller brands offer, one of the reasons I personally love finding new brands. My personal favorite feature on johnnie-O shirts is the "tweener" button, O'Donnell's answer to the ever present conundrum of do I button the second button or not? The tweener is a hidden button on the placket that offers the perfect "in between first and second button."

Overall the line of apparel and accessories for men and boys is based on the premise of an active lifestyle while retaining elements of tradition. One of their great new pieces is the Johnson "prep-formance" button down, crafted from performance fabric. The moisture wicking fabric makes it the perfect travel companion as it is wrinkle resistant and washable. Not to mention, the classic styling takings it from golf course to dinner....who doesn't love that?

I styled the button down shirt with classic, cotton twill Catalina shorts. The look is quintessentially prep, yet the fit denotes an air of relaxation, especially with the d-ring belt. This look is a go-to for weekends or rounds of golf with the shirt being versatile enough to wear to the office as well. Pair with your favorite preppy accessory, in my case Ray-Ban aviators, for the ideal look.

Shirt & Shorts: C/O johnnie-O // Belt: Ralph Lauren // Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Dolce & Gabbana Releases Limited Edition Fragrance for Summer

As with clothing, bedding, and decor, I think it is important to switch out fragrance with the seasons as well. This can be done throughout the home with candles, etc, but do not forget your favorite fragrance that you spray before heading out the door!

This summer, Dolce & Gabbana has released a limited edition version of its super popular fragrance, light blue. The summer version is dubbed "beauty of Capri", rendering it the perfect scent for the summer season as it crafted to capture the aura of the flowers that grow throughout the Italian Isle. 

I have experienced the fragrance first-hand, it love it. It is very refreshing, and a great option to trade out those heavier, winter scents usually characterized by wood notes, with the uplifting light blue. The notes on Dolce & Gabbana light blue beauty of Capri include Cedrat (fruit found across the island), Bitter Orange, Sicilian Bergamot, Neroli, Marine accord, Sichuan Pepper, Cedar wood, Vetiver, Myrrh and Musky notes.

Add this limited edition fragrance to your list of summer essentials! Whether you will be traveling to Capri this summer, or simply grabbing a bottle of Wolffer Estates Rosé to enjoy in the sun, it will be the perfect compliment to your summer journeys.

Available at Macys

This post was made possible by Macys. All opinions are my own.

Make a Splash this Summer with Le Club Original

If there is an item that is a must-have for any summer wardrobe, it is printed swim trunks. The trend is certainly gaining ground with many brand showcasing bold prints in bright colors. I have always loved loud swim trunks in the summertime, but some of the best printed trunks cost upwards of $230. 

One of the best parts about staying on top of fashion trends is finding smaller, luxury brands that make great products and are waiting to launch into the next "it" brand. My new summer staple is coming from Miami-based luxury swimwear brand Le Club Original. The brand, established in 2012, is a mens and boys luxury swimwear line that draws inspiration from the colors of the vibrant Miami beaches and streets of Ocean Drive. 

The brand has been gaining traction, with department stores such as Bloomingdales housing the children's collection in all of its store. Additionally, the brand has expanded out of South Florida and into hotels in global destinations such as Aruba, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. 

For 2016, Le Club Original has introduced what it has dubbed the "Splash" collection. The concept behind the collection in quite interesting, centered around some pieces of the collection that are crafted in a new fabric that, when wet, changes from vibrant solids to rich textured patterns.

At first touch, I was quite impressed with the quality and durable feel of the fabric. I opted for the Mosaic Short, as the coral and blue color palette is perfect for the summer and pairing with a pastel colored top. Sizes run true to size with a small fitting a 30in waist. The prints of the trunks are fun and vibrant, and look great when paired with a polo to spend the day running around a beach town such as the Hamptons or Nantucket. The full 2016 Lookbook can be view online.

This would make a great Father's Day gift as a lot of the options come in a matching version for the little guy. That way, both Dad and son can look good while having fun in the sun together! So grab your Le Club trunks, some rosé, and get ready to make a SPLASH this summer!

This post was made possible by Le Club Original. All opinions are my own.