Prima Haven

Crop Tops, Ya’ll (all under $50!)

Prima Haven — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:36:07 +0000

It’s crop top season, ya’ll! Now when you say that, make sure you sound like Paula Deen to get the full effect. No idea why, but I’ve been addicted to the Food Network (read: I was too lazy to find the remote and change channels) but Paula Deen is seriously my favorite. That woman loves butter ya’ll and gets so excited every time it’s included in a recipe (which is every recipe). If you are ever feeling down and out, watch Paula Deen. Trust me.

Alright, back to crop tops (…ya’ll).

These things are everywhere. Coachella. Red carpets. Coachella. Runways. And more Coachella. Personally I’m not a fan of the bustier cropped top, that’s too much skin for me, but that also might be because I’m currently whiter than white (sometimes orange if I’m feeling fancy). If you don’t own at least 5 crop tops, you are definitely slacking. So get to work and take a look at my favorite crop top picks…they’re all under $50 YA’LL!

15 White Hot Essentials That Won’t Break the Bank

Prima Haven — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:48:55 +0000

Holy winter, Chicago. Did we skip summer and go right to fall? Though it seems impossible, one day warmer weather will be upon us. At least that’s what good ole’ Tom Skilling keeps telling me. And when that day comes my dears, be sure to welcome the high temps with open arms…and a full white-on-white ensemble. Time to ditch the black-on-black (on-black), this season’s biggest trend is all about the lighter side. Take a look below for my favorite 15 white hot essentials that are both budget-friendly and super chic.

Um, please look at those white sneakers from Aldo? Seriously. So fresh and so clean, clean.

What You Need Now: Bright Bold Bags for Spring 2013

Prima Haven — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:14:34 +0000

March 20 marks the first day of Spring?! Hard to believe, especially here in the Midwest when we just got dumped with 52,429,238 feet of snow! So I’m officially ignoring the snow and focusing on one thing and one thing only….bright, bold colors! After wearing black (on black on black) this entire winter season, I’m ready for a change! Check out these gorgeous and blindly brilliant bags, perfect for warmer weather! Which one is your favorite? I’m in loovveee with this one!

Trend Watch: Best of D’Orsay Flats Spring 2013

Prima Haven — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:08:44 +0000

I’d like you to meet your new best friend, the d’Orsay flat.

Chic and oh-so-Parisian (and even sexy according to Garance), these flats truly are the future. Jenni Kayne has managed to perfect the d’Orsay flat, but with a price tag starting at $425, they aren’t necessarily the best fit for us broke girls. Good thing I’ve discovered d’Orsay flats that are both budget-friendly and super fabulous. (PS – I’ve added a few of my favorite flats from my Wish List too, just in case I randomly get rich tomorrow). Let’s shop!

Featured Image via here.

A Lovely Afternoon With Lancôme

Prima Haven — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:01:16 +0000

A few months ago, I was chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of Lancôme’s Picture Perfect Wedding Contest (YAY!) and could not have been more excited and honored to have won! I never win anything! The grand prize includes Lancôme products for my honeymoon (amazing!) AND a Lancôme Makeup Professional on my wedding day for myself and my entire bridal party (seriously amazing)! I couldn’t believe my luck! Probably the best prize ever. Well, this past Sunday I got to meet my Lancôme Makeup Professional for a trial run for my wedding! I’ve never had my makeup done, so I was beyond excited (and slightly nervous because my skin needs a lot of help). Wow, was I in ~~good~~ fabulous hands. Tera Weeks, my makeup artist, was fantastic. Not only was she super talented and outgoing, but her never-ending knowledge and tips were amazing. So helpful, because like I said, I need help with my face! Tera did an unbelievable job with my makeup and I can’t wait to show everyone in a little more than 3 months! Well, I fell in love with Lancôme, so I decided to share all of my favorite products so you can become addicted too! [NOTE: This is not a sponsored post, promise! I really love these products and had to tell the world!]

Let’s start with Lancôme’s Génifique Eye Light-Pearl, a miracle-worker. I showed up to my appointment with the biggest bags under my eyes the world has ever seen. I was positive there was no hope for me. Wrong. Lancôme’s Génifique Eye Light-Pearl made my dark circles and bags disappear instantly, plus this stuff is like a massage for your entire eye area. It has this unique rotating and massaging applicator that seriously makes your under-eye feel fantastic and illuminated. Hands down, it’s amazing, just trust me!

Next up is foundation. So I know I have really angry skin. It’s always red. And my pores, yikes, don’t get me started on those bad boys. My skin has always been a mess. And finding makeup that doesn’t make my skin even angrier is a nightmare. Breakouts. Mass production of oil. Ew. Enter Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra 24H liquid perfection. No joke, this foundation made my skin feel like velvet. And it was so light, nothing like what I normally wear to get the coverage I need. My pores, gone. Redness, gone. My skin didn’t feel tight either, I think it might have been happy for once. Another miracle! Eyebrows. Did I mention I have none? Back in my youthful days, I may or may not have over-plucked and well, they are looking pretty sparse these days. I usually pencil them in with some $0.99 pencil from CVS and look like an elderly woman from the 80′s. But I was ok with that because I wasn’t aware of other options. Haha I told you I needed help with my makeup! Lancôme’s Le Crayon Poudre powder brow pencil is the answer to all of life’s problems. PS – I have no idea how to pronounce any of these names. Anyway, the best thing about this brow pencil is it’s actually not a pencil. It’s made of pressed powder in the shape of a pencil so you have total control of the amount of powder and coloring on your brows. Made them too dark? It’s cool, just lightly brush your brows and voilà, perfection! I love how easy this pencil is to use. And the colors are totally natural and blendable. This is a must-have! (PS – You can use the brow brush to separate lashes too!) Eyelashes. I am super picky about the way my eyelashes look. I need drama, length, definition, volume and a curl. Basically one of everything haha. If you’re like me, then you need this mascara: Lancôme’s Hypnôse Drama Waterproof Instant Full Body Volume Mascara. Yes, that’s quite a title. But this is quite the mascara. It covered every must-have on my list. This is the mascara you wear for nights out on the town or for when you want your eyes to make a statement, which is probably all the time. Plus it’s waterproof, so it’s perfect for all you brides out there. Now on to lips. I usually don’t wear lipstick, but I’ve always wanted to. Now that I know which colors look best with my skin tones, I’m addicted. Lipstick completely transforms your entire look and takes you to that next level of “I’m sophisticated and I know it.” Which I love. Tera suggested Lancôme’s Rouge In Love, it’s long-wearing and featherlight and the colors are fabulous. We chose Rose Boudoir for my wedding day, which is a gorgeous pink shade. I ordered one for everyday wear too, it’s that good! Midnight Rose is another really gorgeous pink + berry color that I loved. Be sure to check out their other shades too! And finally, no look is complete without perfume! I have been on the hunt for the perfect perfume to wear on my wedding day and have come up empty-handed, until now! Presenting, Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray. It’s sophisticated, feminine and elegant with light touches of citrus and floral. It’s amazing. I cannot wait to wear it.

“La vie est belle”, a French expression meaning “Life is beautiful”; the manifesto of a new era. Universal yet personal, Lancôme’s femininity is a choice embraced by women, not an imposed standard. The choice to live one’s life and fill it with beauty. Your own way.”

Well said, Lancôme, well said.

So as you can probably tell, I had a fabulous time with Tera and Lancôme! Now I’m even more excited for my wedding, if that’s even possible. THANK YOU AGAIN Lancôme for selecting me as the Grand Prize Winner and to Tera for making me beautiful!

THE END.

(A few of the images above are via here, I only had my phone to snap pictures and they didn’t turn out very pretty)

Trend Watch Spring 2013: 6 Stylish Metallic Items You Need Now

Prima Haven — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:23:57 +0000

My favorite trend off the NYFW 2013 runways?
Metallics. Hands down.
Metallics are edgy and bold, but be sure to stick with classic pieces, so you don’t end up looking like Goldmember.
Shine on with some our favorite metallic picks below. We’re especially loving this lovely item.

1. DVF Carolina Lips Metallic Canvas Clutch
2. J. Crew Collection Etta Cap Toe Snakeskin Pumps
3. ASOS HONG KONG Heeled Sandals with Metal Trim
4. J.Crew Café capri in gilded brocade
5. Fallon Jewelry Classique Crystal Necklace
6. Urban Outfitters Hexagon Side Table

Top image via The Sartorialist

New February Arrivals: Check Out Recent Additions to Prima Haven’s Shopping Guide

Prima Haven — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:49:05 +0000

As you may have noticed, we’ve been undergoing slight construction here at Prima Haven. But fear not, we have not neglected updating our infamous Shopping Guide! Take a look below for our favorite picks of recent additions. Featuring a mix of bright, bold colors mixed with chic must-have items, these additions are sure to not disappoint!

1. ASOS Fit And Flare Trench With Belt $96.75
2. Nasty Gal Ibiza Silk Wrap Dress
3. Urban Outfitters Reverse Cutout High/Low Dress
4. Urban Outfitters Hexagon Side Table
5. Shopbop Nicholas Jasmina Snake Sandals
6. Urban Outfitters BB Dakota Shirlyn Tuxedo Stripe Pant
7. Modcloth “We’re Young at Heart” Sweater

Get This Look for Less: Isabel Marant Wedge Sneaker Inspiration

Prima Haven — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:36:01 +0000

I should probably keep a list of all the trends I see fresh off the runway where my first reaction is “hell no” because then a few months later, when these same trends start popping up absolutely everywhere and I get a second look, I find myself with a completely different attitude. Take the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers we all saw way back when. I remember thinking I would never be caught dead in those. What were they? Sneakers? Wedges? Snedges? While I still have no idea how to describe these bad boys, I’m seriously obsessed. I need a pair, badly. Sadly, my wallet is not a fan of the Isabel Marant price tag. Luckily, other retailers, like Target for example, have taken notice and provided their own versions of these wedge sneakers. Yes, I would say these versions are pretty darn close to the real thing, which always sucks for the designers, but hey, good for us broke girls!

So let’s do some shopping! Here are a few of my favorite picks…

PS – 10 bucks says my next post will be about drop crotch pants, because those are (currently) awful.

Images via here.

Trend Watch: 11 Budget-Friendly Floppy and Wide-Brim Hats To Wear Now

Prima Haven — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:44:17 +0000

Feel like you have outworn your slouchy hipster hat? You probably have. Try switching to one of these beauties below. Floppy and wide-brimed hats are all the rage now and are the perfect accessory for dressing up your look.

Check out my favorite one here!

Images via Who, What, Wear and The Beauty File.

Original Abstract Paintings: State of the Art

Prima Haven — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:19:39 +0000

You guys all know I paint right? Ok good, just checking. Alright, even though I am just a self-taught artist, thought I would share a few of my most recent paintings with you! I would love to hear what you think! Be honest, brutally honest even :)

See a painting you love? Great! Check out my Etsy shop for purchase information and to view the rest of my collection!

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