Spa day at The Red Door

The Red Door Spa invited me to experience one of their signature services in exchange for this blog post. My views and opinions are my own.

For my first ever spa experience and treatment, the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at the Marriott in Mystic Connecticut did an amazing job at setting a high bar.

From the moment I walked in the staff was friendly and attentive. As it was my first time visiting the spa, I was given a tour of the facility which included a relaxation room with complimentary refreshments, a pool shared with the Marriott, a sauna, a hair salon, a nail salon, a makeup bar, and finally shown to the changing room where there was a locker waiting for me with a plush robe.

Again, being completely new to all spa treatments, I decided to try the Red Door Signature Facial. My esthetician escorted me to a private room with low lighting and a comfortable reclined bed. She then explained every step of the facial, which started with a cleanser followed by a hot towel and steam. While the steam worked to open my pours I got to enjoy an arm and hand massage, followed by warming mitts on my hands. I was nervous about extractions - having my pours cleaned out, as I'd heard from others it could be painful, but I didn't find it to be painful at all.

Then came the most relaxing part of the facial, the face massage. The massage is meant to be bennificial to stiumulate the cells in the skin, but my goodness it felt so amazing.

My esthetician also took the time to discuss my skin care regimen and after her assessment provided me with advisements to my current routine, as well as product recommendations from Elizabeth Arden.

Once I was finished I was met by a beauty technician to freshen up my makeup. She did my eyes and lips, and I exited the Red Door Spa feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready for the day.

The Red Door makes it easy to purchase their services as gifts, and while I know I just had a birthday and won't be on the receiving end of any gifts until December, I'll put it out there all the same! I'd love to return soon to try some of their other services.

Thanks to the Red Door Spa for inviting me to try their spa services, and thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap!

Summer blues

Will this be my summer?

I wonder every year on Memorial Day, will this be the year that I make the most of summer? Will I have those relaxing beach days, those fun day trips, those impromptu after dinner ice cream runs?

Will I have a romantic viewing of fireworks or dine alfresco? Will I make my plans and turn my summer dreams into reality?

Or will September sneak up on me yet again and leave me wondering why everyone else is excited to put on sweaters while it's still 80° out?

I know I'm off to a good start with leaving for my California trip on Wednesday, and hopefully I can keep the momentum up for the rest of the summer.

To those who celebrate, happy Memorial Day! Happy first (unofficial) day of summer!

The Rundown
Blue & White Maxi Dress Target similar
White Denim Jacket c/o Aeropostale similar
Platform Sandals MRKT similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar
Loyce Earrings Elizabeth Cole c/o Shopbop
Kyanite Gemstone Necklace c/o A Jewelry Crush
Cuff "Vista" Gorjana via Rocksbox
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Cement the Deal" OPI

Linking up with Monday Mingle

His & Hers beach weekend

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and while in many places summer weather started months ago, here in Connecticut, it's almost like a switch was flipped on Wednesday and suddenly it's summer, with temperatures in the high 80's. The warm weather looks like it's going to be sticking around too, and while I don't have any official plans for my Memorial Day weekend yet, I'd love it if I could get to the beach.

While I'd love to add some new swimwear to my wardrobe, I certainly don't need a new suit (plus I'm still trying to not shop). Sean on the other hand desperately needs to visit the mens swimwear section at House of Fraser and get a new pair of trunks for the summer so there won't be another repeat of last year when I planned a beach day for us and he wore shorts, a button down shirt, and boat shoes - and I dragged him into the water anyway.

Linea Triangle Print Swim Shorts, $30 at House of Fraser
Lenny Niemeyer Striped V-Neck One-Piece, $225 at Anthropologie

Buckshot Rugged Bluetooth Speaker, $30 at Outdoor Tech

Linea Trilby Fedora, $23 at House of Fraser

Ray-Ban Aviator Classic Gold, $200 at Sunglass Hut

Wedge Sandals, $60 at Loft

Sperry 'Baitfish' Sandal, $50 at Nordstrom

Straw Tote, $35 at Target

Reversible Round Beach Towel, $75 at Calypso St. Barth

House of Fraser provided me with compensation for this post, my views and opinions are my own.

Quite similar

I think I may need to think a little more creatively about how I style this printed blazer the next time I wear it, as I essentially duplicated the first look I wore. Aside from the difference in seasons, footwear, and a more tailored pant, I didn't stray much from the original format.

A part of me does think, if it's not broken - nothing is more classic than black and white, plus it's an easy look that is comfortable for work. I do know one thing - I need to be wearing this blazer more.

The Rundown
Silk Blazer Joie thrifted similar
White Tee Loft similar
Black Pants Gap similar
Black Loafer Pumps Ferragamo via Roundabout similar
Scalloped Clutch "Tilly" Matine
Gold Bar Earrings Argento Vivo via TJMaxx
Necklace "Greer V" Gorjana
Pave Triangle Necklace Meredith Leigh via TJMaxx similar
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry

Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Cement the Deal" OPI

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I wore to work

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this blazer)
and
Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda

Starting the countdown

Vacation. Just the word on my lips brings forth a smile. I have just one week left to prepare for my trip to California - itineraries and outfits to plan, lists of what I'll need to bring, lists of restaurants I want to try, and the gravity of having just one week left to do it is setting off a bit of a panic.

Not to mention getting blog posts scheduled here so things wont stay quite, but I wont have to worry about blogging while I'm away.

If anyone has any 'must do' suggestions for San Francisco, Big Sur, Los Angeles, or San Diego, do let me know, and if you happen to live in any of those places and might be able to meet up with me, then definitely send me a message!

The Rundown
Blouse Joie thrifted similar
Black Jeans Old Navy
Platform Sandals MRKT similar
Fringe Bucket Bag Margot via TJMaxx similar
Wool Fedora H&M similar
Hoop Earrings Taken for Granite
Fatima Bracelet c/o Gorjana similar
Hammered Gold Ring Thrifted similar
Ojai Cage Ring Gorjana similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday

and

Cute and Little's on Trend Tuesday

Still May

No, these photos are not old, snapped weeks and weeks ago and forgotten about, they are quite current, as we've still been having some deceptively chilly days, and truthfully I wish I'd been wearing something more like this to my sister's graduation!

It was right by the water in a tented pavilion, which translated to, everyone was freezing in this March-May weather we've been having. At least it didn't rain! And the ceremony was enjoyable and not overly long. Graduations are always so exciting, and it's wonderful to hear the speakers and get a dose of the optimism of those just starting out, because it's also a reminder that it's never too late to start a new chapter, or a new adventure.

The Rundown
Striped Sweater Joe Fresh via TJMaxx
Yoga Jeans Second Denim via Coco & Vera's Giveaway
Trench Coat London Fog thrifted similar
Lace up Flats "Ottila" AK Anne Klein via DSW
Huntley Tote c/o Joie similar
Ear Jackets TJMaxx
Gold Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring

and

Fizz & Frosting's Mix it Monday

and

Monday Mingle

Fit for a celebration

I think it's clear that I've fallen back in love with the maxi dress, and I've fallen hard. (Was I ever really out of love? Well, we had quite the affair back in 2012, were on again-off again for a bit and now we are back on.) Not that loving Cabi's garden party dress is difficult to do, with it's flattering silhouette, playful ruffles, and delicate print.

I could easily see wearing this dress to a wedding, but this weekend I'm going to be wearing it to my sister's college graduation! I'm keeping my fingers crossed the weather holds out, as the forecast seems to keep wavering between sun, clouds, and rain. Of course I want her to have a beautiful day for her graduation; I'm also not 100% sure that the venue it's being held at is, you know, indoors.

I hope you've loved the pieces I've shared from Cabi's Arrivederci collection as much as I have!

The Rundown
Garden Party Dress c/o Cabi
Shoes Me Too via TJMaxx similar
Micro Perry Satchel Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop
Turquoise Necklace Gift similar
Cuff "Vista" Gorjana via Rocksbox
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (One year ago today)

Cabi provided me with this piece for the purpose of this post. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap!