BORN AND BREAD

Nursery in the Works

2013-06-20T07:07:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

Being an interior designer has its perks, especially when I have a baby on the way and a nursery to decorate! Of course I have been itching to design our spare bedroom since we moved in about a year ago, but I held back until now. Having a completely bare space to work with is so much fun for me, it allows me to conceptualize the space from scratch and really make it our own.

Even though we know we're having a GIRL (yay) this is New York City after all, and space is tight... we might have to fit two kids into this room one day so I want to stay as gender neutral with the larger design elements as possible.

So join me on this design journey, and follow all the steps right here on the blog.

This week we installed the Shumacher wall paper as an accent wall. I think it makes the room feel so happy! The birds and butterflies are in blues, reds, yellows and greens to make this a great paper for years to come.

Shumacher Wallcovering - Birds and Butterflies Multi on White

I also got to see my design of a bookcase and dresser built-in cabinet installed this week too. I designed it to fit around the window and cover our exposed AC unit. Little Wolf Cabinet Shop did a fabulous job of making my vision come to life, now I just can't wait to have it painted so I can start filling it with books!

This is where we are so far, but stay tuned because I have many more design touches up my sleeve!

Bobbi Brown Tutorial

2013-06-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

Last week I got the opportunity to join the team at Bobbi Brown for a little tutorial and makeup application in their Soho office studio called Bobbi U (for University). It was exactly what I needed as I am the worst at makeup, I have probably had the same routine since my own time at university, so this was a big help and I'm excited to share my new tips with all of you.

Bobbi's mantra is Pretty Powerful, in that she believes every woman starts beautiful before makeup, applying it should just enhance that natural beauty, not mask it. That's why I loved this morning so much, I learned that less is more, but there is still so much you can do with makeup.

Always start with concealer under the eye to cut out darkness and thus create the appearance of actually lifting the face! How cool is that. One of my favorite products was the Steel Ink eyeliner made out of gel. I always thought I had to choose between liquid or powder liner, but who knew there was gel?!? It stays on all day and is so easy to apply at home with an angled brush. But remember your liner on your eyelid should always be stronger than on the bottom. And always apply at least two layers of mascara and switch to a new bottle every 3-4 months.

From Bobbi Brown's tinted moisturizer to her Retouching Powder to her new Navy and Nude eye palette, I loved every product in the line and will definitely be using them!

My makeup artist, Cassandra, even gave me this great chart of what she used where so I know how to replicate the look step by step at home.

And in case you missed it on our Instagram...

A BIG BIG thank you to the team at Bobbi Brown for making my morning and my new makeup routine extra special!

People StyleWatch Mag

2013-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

For those of you who follow us on Instagram this might be old news, but I'm thrilled to share my fun feature in this month's issue of People StyleWatch Magazine. As one of those 'who got it right', I was rocking some of my favorite spring fashions with peplums, stripes and bold jeans (as seen here).

I'm still doing double takes every time I open the magazine, but certainly something I might be able to get used to ; ) Be sure to pick up your July issue and check it out... thanks for the fun feature, People Mag!

XOX

Floral Suit

2013-06-17T08:44:00.002-04:00

By Lauren

I am totally obsessed with this silk floral suit and the good news for all of you is that it's not from a maternity line...but available in stores now at Zara! It is one of my favorite summer ensembles because it can be worn together or as separates; the blazer with a pair of distressed denim and the pants with a great basic tee. So many uses out of one suit, this is a must have for sure!

Do you have any great summer suits?

LA Weekend

2013-06-13T07:15:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

I spent the past week in LA visiting family and friends. Since getting dressed while pregnant has proven a bit difficult I did something I never do and packed outfit by outfit, event by event. Yes, total neurotic, but it worked! For the first time in a couple months I got dressed with ease for an entire 8 days in a row.

One of my favorite and most comfortable looks was this shorts outfit. I'm proud to say that I have become an expert maternity shopper in that I can find the best pieces for my new body from my old stores - not maternity stores! These shorts are from BCBG and I bought them in 2 colors I loved them so much.

Shorts: BCBG; Tee: Gap; Vest: Levi's; Shoes: Chanel

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Survival Kits

2013-06-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

With only 30 more days to go, we're officially in survival mode when it comes to all the last minute details and prep. There's only so many calls we can make to the florist, planner, caterers and band! So for now I'm relying on a few 'tricks' and day-of essentials that will make the big day go as smoothly as possible.

Because every bride needs her beauty sleep, the best blotting papers, a change of shoes and all the protection from stains, smells, tears and blisters that she can get!

There's no such thing as 'too prepared'.

XOX

Summer Lovin'

2013-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

Now that summer is in full-swing and my honeymoon is just a short month away, I'm on an endless search for cute cover-ups. I feel like a girl can never really have enough considering that's pretty much all I'll live in on vacation and on the weekends here in NY. I've scoured the sites and stores and here's what I find to be the season's cutest onesies and cover-ups.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Ugh, too bad it's Monday and we have to wait another week to break out our summer go-tos.

Have a great week!

XOX

Wedding Wednesday: Bridesmaid Gifts

2013-06-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

I've been dying to share with you guys what I got my bridesmaids as a little thank-you for their friendship and their support throughout my engagement and wedding planning. Remember when Lauren and I received these adorable personalized prints from Lilly Pulitzer? Well, I still cherish mine and I wanted to give my girls something as equally special and original so I decided to go with personalized sketches from Kristina of EmmaKisstina. She's an amazing digital print artist that features anything and everything from 'it' bags, perfumes, flower arrangements, beauty products or curated home decor vignettes.

Today, I'm sharing a few of the personalized prints we created together for a few of my bridesmaids. Although not all of the girls have received their gifts yet, this isn't meant to totally spoil the surprise-- but instead, hopefully spark some excitement in anticipation for their own personalized print.

I loved working so closely with Kristina and editing each girl's piece to truly capture their personality and 'favorite things'. If you're interested in ordering your own or inquiring about a print, be sure to reach out to Kristina on her Etsy page! She's amazing and such a pleasure to work with.

The rest of the girls will just have to wait until July for their big reveal-- bride's orders!

What do you guys think?

XOX

LA Packing List

2013-06-04T07:49:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

I'm off to LA this week for a good friend's wedding and to visit some family. What better way to spend some fun in the sun than celebrating an amazing couple with some fab friends and a mocktail. Yes, a cocktail would be better, but still have a couple more months until I can have one again.

The little baby on board makes it hard to wear my regular clothes, but I have found a few things from my usual wardrobe that will be perfect to pack for my week long trip. A pair of shorts with an elastic waist is a savior and a Kain tee shirt is still my staple, though I have to buy a larger size, I still think every girl should own one.

1. Kain Tee $90

2. Michael Kors Large Gia Tote $795

3. Zimmermann Wonderlust Bikini $235

4. Vix Judy Voille Beach Dress $134

5. BCBG Oriel Printed Boxing Short $138

6. Halston Heritage Strapless Maxi Dress $595

7. Loeffler Randall Starla Plank Sandal $175

What do you pack when you travel for a week?

Pregnancy Stripes

2013-06-03T07:28:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

The bump keeps growing and growing with no end in sight so getting dressed is getting harder and harder. For a girls day in the city I paired an old Michael by Michael Kors dress with my favorite Balenciaga flats. Anything stretchy that has tee shirt sleeves is my best friend these days! But a day with my real best friends is just what I needed to feel empowered about this entire pregnancy process...a nice lunch at Bergdorf and a little shoe sale didn't hurt either.

Shoes: Balenciaga; Bag: Phillip Lim; Dress: Michael by Michael Kors; Sunglasses: Rebecca Minkoff

Happy Monday! And hope your weekend was as fun filled and girly as mine was.

May Flowers {Outfit Post}

2013-05-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

If I didn't repeat outfits on B&B, I wouldn't be doing the blog justice. The first time I wore this dress was last year on the night I got engaged and this time, I re-worked it for a friend's wedding in Chicago and grounded it with my new favorite black sandals (I danced all night and did not need to take them off once!) and finally got around to trying a top-knot of sorts. My own mother referred to it more as a hydrangea on top of my head, but I had a lot of fun rocking one of spring's favorite hairstyles.

What do you guys think?? You can be honest.

XOX

The New LBD!

2013-05-30T07:44:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

Things have been busy here at B&B recently with Julie's impending nuptials and my growing baby bump, so why not just add another big life change to the mix?! I've started my own interior design company, Lauren Behfarin Design, and while I plan to work harder and more passionately than I ever have before, I'm excited because I will have so many fun projects to share with all of you on the blog.

For now here is a sneak peak of my own living room. The full apartment shots will go up next week.

So stay tuned to B&B to follow us through all these fun life changes!

Artwork by my favorite Lindsay Cowles, Sconces from School House Electric, Sofa from CB2

Pillows and chairs are custom made because mixing and matching fabrics is literally one of my favorite things!

Wedding Wednesday: Couple's Shower {Party Pics}

2013-05-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

This past holiday weekend was an extra special one for me and my groom.

A group of family friends offered to throw my fiance and me a 'Jack and Jill' or Couple's Shower in Chicago. By definition, a couple shower is closer to a cocktail or dinner party than it is to a bridal shower. Female and male relatives, as well as close friends, were invited and like most showers, the party still revolved around gifts. Guests generously toasted us with with a mix of home goods and guy-friendly gadgets-- so much so that I'm feeling the pressure to pick up my cooking game!

Dress: Vera Wang c/o Rent the Runway, Clutch: Vintage, Shoes: B by Brian Atwood

Here are a few party pics from the evening.

From the looks on our faces, seems like we had a pretty good time! So grateful to our amazing friends and family for such a beautiful evening I'll cherish forever.

45 more days to go!

Wedding Wednesday: My Bridal Shower

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

Today I'm thrilled to share the highlights from my beautiful bridal shower at Haven's Kitchen NYC. I was incredibly touched by all of the thoughtful details put together by my sister(s), cousin and friends. The tables were decorated with my favorite pale pink peonies, wedding photos of my grandparents and aunts and uncles, cute confetti photos of me and my groom and delicious macarons at each place setting.

Literally, all my favorite things in one place.

Ingredients for the signature cocktail 'The Julie' with prosecco, St. Germain, and elderberry.

Originally I wanted cake-in-a-jar served for dessert at the wedding, but it didn't quite fit our 'theme'. So, my hostesses made sure I got my cake and ate it too-- just at my bridal shower instead! The flavor was a rhubarb and lemon sponge cake with lavender sprinkled on top. So fragrant and delicious!

Prints are in!

My gorgeous baby nieces and all my incredible hostesses. Love you all.

The day had so many clever honeymoon-inspired Greek-themed under tones like my favorite NARS makeup in shades of Santorini eyeshadow and Greek Holiday lip-gloss as prizes for the adorable games we played.

I was also given an incredible photo collage of a newly-married Jackie Onassis on the Greek island of Skorpios. She looks young, fresh and absolutely care-free. My guests inscribed the back of the frame with well wishes for our honeymoon and beyond, which is such a beautiful lasting memento of this special time in my life. It's like a little time capsule, I absolutely love it! I think it's one of the most beautiful and meaningful gifts I've ever received; I can't wait to make it the center of our gallery wall in our new apartment.

Life is good! And I'm so grateful to my amazing sister for all her hard work in making my special day so absolutely unforgettable.

XOX

Inside Heaven

2013-05-21T08:27:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

As you all now know, this past weekend we celebrated Julie's bridal shower. It was held in the private room of a little restaurant in Chelsea called Haven's Kitchen. You will see all the bridal shower details tomorrow, but today it's about the interior inspiration that this place was full of!

I love using an old French poster as art on the walls, accented by a black and white striped fabric is perfection!

A classic mantle with a little statue being uses as a book end.

Using yellow as the accent color to black and white works every time in my book. Especially a muted mustard color like this one. It's also repeated throughout the room in the art to make it feel cohesive.

It's a dream of mine to have a gallery wall leading up a staircase and at Heaven's Kitchen it is done so well. Putting the art against stark black paint makes it pop and look a bit more retro. I also love using all different frames.

Just perfect! Now I'm seeing black, white and yellow everywhere I go!

What do you think of the color combo?

My Bridal Shower {What I Wore}

2013-05-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

This past Saturday I was toasted by my beautiful family and close friends at an intimate bridal shower in my honor. I couldn't have asked for anything more; the day was filled with lots of laughter, girl talk and silly games. I loved it! I'll share more details from the event on this Wedding Wednesday, but in the meantime here's what I wore.

After you guys 'voted' here for a fun, printed dress for the shower I couldn't resist this playful backless one from Thakoon. A big thanks to our friends at Rent the Runway for so generously making it all happen.

Hair: DryBar Tribeca

Make-up: Fumi at Pas de Deux Salon

Dress: Thakoon c/o Rent the Runway

Necklace: Anton Heunis c/o Rent the Runway

Shoes: Zara

Bag: c/o By Joy Gryson

Be sure to tune in Wednesday for more deets.

XOX

Green Gardens

2013-05-16T07:20:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

Though the calendar says May the temperatures have felt more like March! Transitional pieces in a wardrobe are hard enough to find when I wasn't pregnant, so now it's really slim pickin' in my closet. This outfit has been a go-to for me recently and none of it is maternity wear so it's a great outfit even if you aren't in my shoes!

The light weight knit dress I scored at a Thakoon sample sale and the army jacket is available now at Alice + Olivia. Love neutral colors for both fall and spring, even though some days it feels more like winter!

Shoes: Celine; Bag: YSL

Vogue Spring Soiree {Peninsula NYC}

2013-05-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

By Julie and Lauren

Last night we were invited to Vogue's Spring Soiree and it couldn't have been a more beautiful NYC night. With cocktails on the terrace at the Peninsula Hotel in midtown and styling stations with AG Jeans and Birkenstock, it was the perfect way to celebrate the start of the season.

It was great catching up with some of our fav bloggers including Amy from College Fashionista and grabbing some new summer garb.

Happy Wednesday.

XOX

Baby on Board!

2013-05-14T06:32:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

So we have a bit of a big reveal on B&B today, one we have been dying to share with all of you for months...and now we finally can! Lauren is pregnant!!

It's been a bit difficult in the blogosphere for me recently... trying to hide a baby bump and do outfit posts just wasn't working, but we are back in the game with this big announcement! So you will be seeing more baby bumpin' in the months leading up to my due date at the end of September.

I'm 5 months pregnant now and feeling great. It's definitely harder to get dressed in the morning, but I'm experimenting with new brands and different styles and steering clear of tacky maternity wear. Though I do adore my AG Maternity jeans, but that's another post for another time.

Dress: Juicy Couture; Bracelet: BCBG; Vest; Levi's, Shoes: YSL

I've been working on many outfit posts, so stay tuned and join me in this wild ride of becoming a first time mom!

Punk Up the Volume

2013-05-10T07:58:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

So it's no secret that punk is going to be a big trend this fall. Anna Wintour basically decreed it to be so with her Met Gala theme this week, where celebs brought out the tartan, spikes, and leather. Channelling the glory days of the Material Girl herself, this is one trend that takes us back to our youth and makes us excited for all that our fall wardrobes have in store.

My personal punk favorites from the Met Gala this week were:

And some of my favorite punk inspired runway looks from fashion week were:

Still not sure if this look is for you? Check out some of these street style pics and we will meet you at Empire Records this fall! See you there!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Wedding Wednesday: Members Only {Vênsette}

2013-05-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

Calling all brides-to be and eager fashionistas, have you heard of Lauren Remington Platt? Well, get familiar.

This online style junkie is not only one of Ferragamo's 21 girls chosen to help celebrate the iconic Vara shoe, but the fresh-faced beauty and brains behind Vênsette. The super-exclusive website (by invite only!) is for women on the go, offering professional hair and makeup in under 90 minutes. They come to you, in a uniform with the best possible products available.

The savvy Columbia business school graduate saw a need in the market to help women put their best face forward for whatever event, job interview, fashion show, party or wedding that they need to attend. Vênsette, named from a combination of the Place Vendome in Paris and the iconic beauty Marie Antoinette, the website coordinates on-call hair and make-up talent to arrive at your doorstep, office, hotel or just about anywhere and claims to have you ready and out the door in less than 90 minutes.

Positioned as a luxury, Platt actually conceived the idea to help the every-day woman and serves as more of a time saver and a way to ease one's mind during the typical New Yorker's busy and ever-demanding daily schedule whether she's a stay at home mom or a tireless professional.

Sounds like the full-service glam squad would certainly give brides some peace of mind come wedding day, right?! To request membership, simply enter your information here.

XOX

Room Inspiration

2013-05-07T07:21:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

For months I have had a postcard of this image of a room designed by the creative genius, Amanda Nisbet, leaning on my desk. The unlikely color combination and mixture of textures are pure inspiration.

So I decided to explore the designer's website to see what new, thought -provoking images I can find. I was blown away by the explosion of pink in this bedroom, and though I thought I would hate a room in this color-scheme, it's perfectl attention to detail and placement made me totally and completely fall in love with it!

I love the touches of black in an otherwise muted bedroom. Not to mention the repeat of pink wallpaper even behind the bed, in the perfectly framed woodworking.

Lighter Shade of Pale

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Julie

Spring fashion is synonymous with pastels and brighter shades, but some reason this season I simply can't get enough of blushy pink. Obsessed. In fact, I even wanted my engagement ring to be rose gold (ahem, Blake Lively!), but chickened out thinking my fascination with the pink metal may not stand the test of time. But bags, dresses, tanks and accessories have all got me saying, I do!

Pretty hard to resist, right??

XOX

Insider Info!

2013-05-03T07:15:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

As a blogger, we love to support fellow bloggers do what they, and we, love to do...write for all of you! So when an existing friend became a new blogger, it only solidified the bond. My old co-worker at Michel Kors, Annie, has launched a blog called She's In The Glow, where she now divulges all her beauty secrets that I used to hear sharing a desk with her a couple years back!

So I was thrilled that even though we have both moved on in our careers, I can still get that same old fabulous advice from her blog... and now you can too!

This week I tried a recommendation of hers and think I have finally found a face mask that actually does something! Leave it to Annie to recommend my new favorite product.

The Eco Mask and Peel Combo by Ecologica is a gem. I mixed and applied this mask 2 days ago and my skin is still glowing. Though it stings like crazy and causes your facial muscles to spasm, the end result is well worth the crazy 30 minute wait. And if you're anything like me, then I know that the worse it feels when it's applied the more I think it's actually working! haha No pain no gain right.

Let us know what you think of her new blog and the face mask.

Happy Friday

Your Domaine

2013-05-02T07:20:00.000-04:00

By Lauren

The site, Who What Wear, has been part of our work week lunch break routine for a couple of years now, reeling us in with its great celebrity style coverage but keeping us enthralled with its trend and beauty recommendations. And who doesn't look forward to "Look of the Day?"

But being an interiors girl myself, something was missing...until now! Who What Wear has launched their sister site, Domaine Home, which lets you see inside celebrity homes and actually purchase things you like!

Some of my favorite images so far:

Sarah Ruffin's New Orleans Living Room

Lea Michele's Los Angeles Entrance

and Kaitie Nerha's Eclectic Home

Take a peak at Domain Home and I promise you will be at smitten as I am!