insta lately



xo,
e.m.

Peach Pie Bellini

There's nothing that bridges the gap between summer and autumn quite like peach pie. Actually, I was never a fan of pie. I am, however, a fan of the Peach Bellini. Why not add a few pie spices? Peaches are so summer, cinnamon is so fall, perfect compromise. 

What you'll need: Peach Schnapps, Prosecco, Honey, Cinnamon, and Sugar.


Begin by rimming the glass with honey, cinnamon, and sugar. I used sugar in the raw because of the texture but you can use whichever kind you see fit. Sprinkle a dab of cinnamon in the bottom of the glass along with a teeny bit of honey as well. Pour in one part peach schnapps to two parts Prosecco. Sip and enjoy!

This would be a good cocktail for your Labor Day picnics and get togethers this weekend. It's bubbly, classy, and tasty. Enjoy, and drink responsibly!

xo,
e.m.

dog days playlist

The final few days of summer are always bittersweet. Carefree weekends in the sun turn into fingerless gloves clutching warm beverages and swimsuits and shorts change to chunky sweaters and boots. The time between these two extremes is precious. The quest to find the balance between lamenting the loss of warm weather and looking forward to cool breezes and changing leaves is almost artful. The transition is, to me, one of the most beautiful things that nature has to offer us. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe it's time to pack up my sundresses. Okay maybe not yet. 

xo,
e.m.

changes.

Some days are all about looking fabulous. Some days are all about wearing baggy, unflattering layers and being comfy. Today was the latter. These next few days may be some of the busiest of my life because I've got about a billion loose ends to tie up because next week, life changes in a pretty drastic way for me. A lot happened very quickly over the course of last week, and, long story short, I accepted an internship position at a news station in Philadelphia. Huge, right? I didn't even see this one coming. Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what the next few months will hold. More later, for now, I'm exhausted! 

xo,
e.m.

some tunes for you

I can listen to Washed Out at any time of the year and it'll feel like summer. Not sure exactly why or how, but it's something that happens and I'm not complaining. I'm usually not a huge chillwave fan (although as a genre, it's growing on me!) but Washed Out's new album Paracosm is one that I can listen to over and over again. And, bonus, I'm not TERRIBLY late to the game because it only came out about a week and a half ago. Who cares about how old or how new it is though? Good music is good music. Here's the single, "It All Feels Right." This track is reminiscent of some of the greats from the psychedelic era, complete with a plethora of synths and tight harmonies. Give it a listen. I think you'll enjoy.

xo,
e.m.

the last of the summer rains

As I was getting ready to leave (again) today, the heavens opened up and the entire house took on this eerie glow. It's been raining a lot here, but this was the kind of rain that only happens at the end of the summer. The skies let loose as if to purge every last drop before the coolness of fall can settle in. It's a great time of the year. I'm excited for fall hikes, gingersnap liqueur (I'm waiting until the first day of autumn to pop this one open, for now, it makes a nice decorative piece) and fall decor. (As you can see, some of it snuck in already.) I'm also excited for the big and somewhat scary but mostly exciting changes that are happening in my own life. Although I have fall fever, I'm going to enjoy these last few days of summer. Hope you all do the same!

xo,
e.m.

skinny love.

Nothing too fancy at all. Didn't even know all of the chords and the lyrics. It's just that sometimes music says it better than written words ever can and there is beauty in imperfection.

xo,
e.m.

my makeup bag + tips:

The older I get, the more I enjoy playing with makeup. I never used to wear it when I was a redhead. (Whoa, remember those days?) Now that my hair is a more neutral color, I feel like I can experiment a little bit more. Sometimes, I go a little overboard. Sometimes, going a little overboard is okay. I've shared my makeup bag on here before but seeing as I've been getting a lot of questions lately about the products I use, I figured that I'd share again, along with a few tips.

The Skin. Never, EVER underestimate the power of a healthy diet and a good night's sleep. Ever since switching to a vegan diet, I rarely break out and my skin tone is (for the most part) consistent, even without foundation. Most days, I just toss on some bronzer and call it a day. I've learned that it's good to skip the heavy makeup and let your skin breathe, especially in warmer weather. Can't find a highlighter? No problem whatsoever. I use a bone-colored eye shadow. In my mind, the two are interchangeable. One last tip: a concealer stick works fantastically if you don't have any eye makeup primer on hand or just want to save a little bit of money. bareMinerals Matte Foundation, Sonia Kashuk Concealer Stick, Boots No. 7 Matte Foundation, Ulta Eyeshadow in Bone, e.l.f. Bronzer, Mary Kay brushes.

The Eyes. For me, the eyes are the main event. I don't wear eyeshadow every day but I always do rock the cat eye liner and some mascara. When I do wear eyeshadow, I go with a more smokey look. I'll be sharing a tutorial soon but until then, I'll let you in on a huge secret: the little illustrations that come with eyeshadow palettes that show you where to put each color? These are pure gold! Even if you don't go with the suggestions exactly, they're a great jumping-off point. So how about mascara? I like to layer. I use a lengthening mascara, use an eyelash curler, and then a volumizing mascara. Could be all in my head but it seems that this creates the most full and noticeable lashes. For days when I need a little extra, I rock falsies. They're fun but definitely take some getting used to. The last thing and the most important thing that I take care of at this step in my makeup routine is to take care of my eyebrows. In my opinion, the eyebrows make the biggest difference. Smashbox Smokebox II, Too Faced Summer Eyes, Nars Larger Than Life Mascara, Victoria's Secret Volume Plump Mascara, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner, Benefit Pinup Lashes and Lash Glue (they're reusable!), NYX Eyebrow Kit, Sephora brush.

The Lips. I used to underestimate my lips all the time but lately, I haven't been able to leave the house without wearing some sort of light pink or nude lip color. I also find myself constantly exfoliating and moisturizing them. Ever since I started doing so habitually, I've found that my already full lips have become even more plump. Always a good thing, right? Whenever I tend to my lips, I do so in this order: exfoliate, moisturize, and then add color. I do this once every couple of hours. It may seem a little tedious but it makes a huge difference. Plus, who wants to walk around with dry lips? Certainly not I. LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub, EOS Lip Balm, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Balm, MAC "Snob" Lipstick, Lime Crime "Coquette" Lipstick, Yves St. Laurent "Pink Lingerie" Lipstick. (The YSL one is my absolute favorite.)

The Scent. Some may overlook the scent, which is a shame because it's so important and also so much fun! A good scent is certainly difficult to find but at least it's a chore that involves smelling nice things. I like to have different scents for different occasions, even though I always end up wearing Chanel because it makes me feel fabulous. If you don't know where to start, Chance, Lucky You, and Daisy are all great options.

Hope that this little peek into my makeup bag as well as a few of my tips was helpful to those of you with questions and informative for the rest of you! Since I'm very much into trying new things, I'd love it if you would share some of your favorite beauty products with me in the comments. 

xo,
e.m.

China.

I was planning on posting about something completely different today but all day long, I could not get these kids out of my head. The time has come to start planning for my next trip back. I'm thinking two weeks at the end of November? And since I'm currently putting together a little group, the natural next step is to ask if any of you would be interested in going.... Think about it.

xo,
e.m.

p.s. If you haven't read about my travels to Shepherd's Field Children's Village, you can read more on my travel blog or check out my China tag.

his & hers

Just two best friends grabbing soy cappuccinos, enjoying a little stroll and snapping some candid photographs. Okay, maybe not the last one but definitely the first two. The weather has been more than perfect lately-- the perfect temperature for walking around outside with hot coffee and not overheating but also not drinking it for the sole purpose of keeping warm. Balance. Fall is close!

xo,
e.m. (& CJ!)


HersDress/ vintage, Shirt & Hat/ Urban Outfitters, Shoes/ Very Volatile (via ModCloth), Socks & Sunglasses/ Target, Bangle/ H&M, Bag/ Michael Kors

His - Shirt/ David Bitton Buffalo, Shorts/ H&M, Shoes/ Sperry

(Vegan-friendly) Summer Soiree Ideas

The summer is quickly slipping away but there's still some time left to host a perfect little get-together while the days are still relatively long and the weather is still warm. This is actually my favorite part of summer to gather my friends for a night of fellowship because the nights have the perfect amount of chill in the air. While I was searching for recipes and ideas for a dog-days-get-together, a Google link led me here. Yes, to my own blog. Who would have thought? After doing a little bit of digging way back into the archives, I was able to pick out a few of my favorite menu ideas for a party. Let's break it down:

1. Raspberry Vodka Lemonade: This drink is a good one to start out with. It's so refreshing and fun and will get loosen up any of your more "awkward" guests. (If you're ever been to a get-together, you know that awkward people are a real threat. I would know. I'm usually that person. Or, I would be if I ever got invited to parties.) This drink is so versatile that it could be paired with any kind of appetizer. May I suggest Brussels Sprouts-artichoke-zucchini kabobs? Light, fresh, and so easy to make. Brush with some garlic and olive oil and toss 'em on the grill. 

2. Szechuan "Pad Thai": This will forever be one of my favorite meals and a crowd-pleaser for sure. (If you're not a vegetarian/vegan and you're freaked out by meat substitutes, chicken would make a good alternative.)

3. Grilled Fruit Kabobs: Who doesn't like fruit? Who doesn't like things off of the grill? I like using watermelon, pineapple and mango but peaches, pears, and strawberries work really well too. Guests can even have fun creating their own combinations... if they're into that kinda thing.

4. Fleur de Lillet Martini: As a lot of you may already know, this is my favorite cocktail creation. Fresh and perfect for a nice little after-dinner treat.

5. Banana Ice Cream: Just... banana ice cream. Need I say more? Make it interesting and include extra toppings so guests can make their own "sundaes." To keep vegan, carob chips, granola, and bing cherries are excellent options. If you're not, you have a little more freedom and can probably think of your own toppings.

I love the simplicity of all of these menu items because they're easy to create and, as the host, they won't take precious time away from catching up with friends. Bonus: They're all so delicious that I doubt anybody would miss the meat and animal by-products. Everyone wins! What do you guys think?

xo,
e.m.