Style Lush

Fort Worth's Sundance Square: Stars Under the Stars

By Jennie

If you live anywhere near Fort Worth -- or if you live anywhere at all and just want to be inspired by this idea -- check out the Stars Under the Stars event that has kicked off this month, for the summertime.

Around 9 pm each Saturday night near Sundance Square, downtown, an absolutely free, family-friendly movie is shown outdoors, under the stars. This month there's Julie & Julia, Seabiscuit, and a couple others.

Local restaurants serve to-go food for the duration of the movie, too.

I don't know how many downtown areas of rather large cities can boast such a cool event, and it's just one reason I love my area that much more. (You can often find me talking badly about Texas, but rarely Fort Worth. The city has completely charmed me.)

So, if you're local, consider this for your next Saturday date night. (Or girl's night, unless you have a much more agreeable husband than I have, who would never go anywhere to see Julie and Julia, free or otherwise.)

But, tell me, what cool local event is going on in your city?

What to Wear to Your Reunion

By Sara

A reader wrote to us a couple of weeks ago wondering what she should wear to her fast approaching 10 year high school reunion. Her criteria: not too dressy since it's being held in a casual bar (like mine!), on a Target/Old Navy/Kohls-type budget (like me!) and she needs help matching shoes to the outfit (I love shoes!). I was a woman on a mission and came up with a couple of lovely options. The bonus is that any of these would be adorable date night outfits as well.

Outfit, the first: The Skinny Jeans, Sexy (but not Trampy) Top, Awesome Heels Option

Forever 21 Surplice Tunic w/ Belt: $19.80

But with this belt to up the glam a bit:

Macy's Woven Metallic Belt: $19.95

Old Navy "The Diva" Skinny Jeans: $29.50

 Not Too Coy Riha Heel at Zappos.com: on sale for $92.20

(Ok so not INEXPENSIVE but these are SEXY HEELS...my husband just confirmed.)

Or a slightly lower heel with a little more wearability:

Sofft "Pavia" in Mouse Gray Suede: $99.95 (at Zappos)

(Also not cheap, but good shoes rarely are...I say splurge a little here and save everywhere else.)

Forever 21 Beads and Fringe Necklace: $9.80

Forever 21 Colors and Flowers Bracelets: $7.80

 

Outfit, the Second: Flirty Dress with Sexy Heels and Colorful Accessories

ModCloth Lass from Sterling Dress: $54.99

Sofft "Gaea" in Black: $104.95 (at Zappos)

Or 

Classiques Entier Amber Pump: on sale for $86.90 (at Nordstrom)

Forever 21 Iridescent Earrings: $6.80

Or

ModCloth Look Over Your Shoulder Dress in Navy: $49.99

Grab the belt again with this one:

Macy's Woven Metallic Belt: $19.95

And classic neutral pumps:

Mossimo Versie Pump in Natural Patent: $29.99

Or

Boutique 9 "Cacee" Bootie at Nordstrom: on sale for $86.90

 

 

Forever 21 Feather Earrings: $3.80

Annnndddd DONE! Readers, what did you wear to your reunion? Was it a dressy affair or something more casual? 

To Do in Chicago: Ravinia!

By Sara

Happy dance! Chicago's Ravinia Festival has finally put out their 2011 calendar and there are some mighty fine acts coming into town. Wait? You don't know about Ravinia? Well, let me explain something ladies and gents: going to a concert at Ravinia is THE MOST FUN EVER. Ravinia is an outdoor "festival" and throughout the summer months it's the best place in Chicagoland to listen to live music.

Entrace to Ravinia. Sigh, so lovely,

For some, the Pavilion is the place to sit.

The Pavilion is open air with fabulous acoustics and comfortable seats. You can get an up close look at the musicians and really appreciate their craft. But...

The Lawn is REALLY where the fun is at:

Oh yes, friends, the Lawn is exactly what it sounds like...a huge expanse of green that you plop yourself down on, spread a blanket, uncork a bottle of wine (or several) and rock out to the music. True, the acoustics in the Lawn leave a little to be desired but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. It's one giant party in the Lawn and everyone has a blast. It's a fabulous place for a group of friends to get together or a romantic date night with your beloved. 

For a wedding gift, a friend gave us an insulated picnic basket set complete with indestructible plates, wineglasses, and utensils because she knew we would love to use it for Ravinia nights. We added a roll up picnic table from Crate and Barrel, a few camping chairs, and a waterproof picnic blanket and voila! A perfect set-up for Ravinia. We have put it to good use these past five summers and can't wait to break it out this year. 

Here's a selection of the musical acts coming to Ravinia this summer:

June:  The Judds, The Moody Blues, Robert Plant, Deep Purple, Hall & Oates, Maroon 5

July:  Peter Frampton, Justin Roberts (holla for kiddie rock!), Jennifer Hudson, Five for Fighting, BoDeans 

August: Steely Dan, Rufus Wainwright, Lifehouse, Lyle Lovett, Chicago

Sept.:  Lynyrd Skynyrd, Doobie Bros., Guster, Carrie Underwood (that'll sell out in a heartbeat).

Tickets go on sale April 27th (oooh, timely!) and you bet I'll try to get my hands on a few shows. I hope you get to experience Ravinia too!

Valentine's Gifts for ME

I can't help but admit here and now that if I had an unlimited budget I'd be buying myself a few goodies for Valentine's Day this year! But who knows, maybe my husband will read this and I'll get lucky this year, wink wink. :)

- I find myself saying a lot lately that I wish I could bottle up sweet little moments of my life and keep them in a locket around my neck. I'd love this necklace with tags stamped with our wedding anniversary date, and the birth dates of our two children.

Lisa Leonard Designs "my treasure" necklace.

- I'm a sucker for a cute, handmade clutch bag (as you all know if you've been reading Style Lush since the beginning!). I'd love a fun, funky clutch like this one from The Pleated Poppy. So cute!

{image via http://www.shop.pleatedpoppy.com}

- No lacy ANYTHINGS for me, please. Boyfriend pants from Victoria's Secret styled for my alma mater or in my favorite football team's colors will do (THEY HAVE POCKETS! SEXAAY!).

- Godiva chocolates. Enough said.

 

{image via Godiva.com}

- My favorite perfume. 

{Image via elizabetharden.com}

Truth be told, what I'm really hoping for is Thai takeout and a movie on the couch with my Valentine this year (anything else would be gravy!).

What are you jonesing for this Valentine's Day?

A Romantic Little Dress for Valentine's Day

by Katie

My husband and I have never been that into Valentine's Day. We recognize it with cards and a nice homemade dinner and sometimes we'll use it as an excuse to buy something that the other person wants, but we never go crazy with it.

It's not going to be any different this year, especially because our daughter will be getting her four month check-up that day which means we will have one cranky baby girl on our hands. (You can bet we'll probably be enjoying a bottle of wine to get through that!)

I know someone out there will be going out on the town with your sweetheart and have I got the prettiest little dress for you.

The Shirred Bodice Tank Dress from The Limited is the perfect dress for that special Valentine's Day dinner. It's not overtly sultry or revealing, yet it's sexy in that Emma Pillsbury buttoned up and delicate sort of way.

It would look equally as great at work underneath a cardigan giving it extra wear time, which to me makes it worth the $89.90 price tag. You can purchase it in Pink or Soft Taupe, though I'm really digging the Pink version because it's such a soft and pretty shade of pink.

 

 

Readers, what are your thoughts on Valentine's Day? Do you go all out or play it low key like me?

Redbox!

By Beth

Back before we had kids (which is a dim memory these days), my husband and I went to see a movie pretty much every weekend. As in, we actually left the house and went to the theater and watched a movie. I can barely believe it myself, since I think I have seen fewer than ten movies in the theater in the past five-and-a-half years.  On top of that, we watched at least one rental movie every weekend, which until recently I had done three or four times a year since the arrival of the kids. Now that going to the theater involves finding a babysitter and even watching a rental means waiting for the kids to go to bed and trying to finish it among all the cries for Mommy and water and one last closet-monster check, movies and I have parted ways.

But then, I finally tried redbox, and now I am hooked. Surely you have seen these things, since they claim to have nearly 25,000 locations nationwide, and there seems to be one in every single grocery store around me, but have you tried it? They get movies at what seems to be roughly the same time as other rental places and stock some older titles too plus a good selection of kids movies. You just find a machine, pick a movie, pay a dollar, and take your movie home. The movie is due back by 9:00 the following evening, and you can return it to any redbox location anywhere. Don't make it in time? Don't get to watch the movie because the kids won't just go to sleep already for the love of Pete? Oh well, another day, another dollar, literally. You can even reserve movies online from the comfort of your own couch and choose where you want to pick it up. 

I'm hooked, and I suspect that if you try it, you will be too.

Image credit: redbox.com

Get Glowing Holiday Skin: Use a Highlighter

By Rebecca

I don't know about you, but now that I am spending a little more time indoors, my skin is getting a teeny bit pale and dull. Lately I've been experimenting with highlighters, hoping to find something that will lift my pallor out of the doldrums. Folks, my standards are high. I wanted something that would be fun for a holiday cocktail party, but that I could also use during the day without looking like a streetwalker. Oh, and also? I am rather anti-sparkle. The strategic bit of shimmer is fine, but now that I am Of A Certain Age (OK, I'm 37!), I just don't want a face full of glitter.

So rest assured that the three highlighters I'm about to recommend pass the test, even for us picky glitterphobes.

Benefit High Beam, $24

At first I wasn't sure how to use this one, truth be told. After some trial and error, I found that this is great if you dab a little on your finger and rub it into the dark corners of your eyes. Also, try mixing a couple of drops in with your foundation for a little allover glow. As with all highlighters, a little goes a long way.

Smashbox Soft Lights, $28

I tried this over a bit of bronzer and really liked it. The key with powder highlighters is to use a smallish to medium brush (not a big bronzer brush). You just want to sweep it over the tops of your cheekbones over blush or bronzer, because alone it won't have enough color. This might go without saying, but if you're using a highlighter, keep the rest of your cheek color closer to matte.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks - $38

This one is definitely the shimmeriest one of the three. However, if you go easy and just use a dab over the tops of your cheekbones, you can stay within my very stringent Shimmer Limits. I have the Bronze color, which also can double as blush. I like this one because you could also use the individual colors as eyeshadows. However, I beg of you ladies, don't use it both on your eyes and the rest of your face at the same time. TOO MUCH. (I know this because I tried it. Public service announcement!)

Have you tried any other highlighters that would meet my exacting standards? If so, do tell!

{Photo credits: sephora.com}

Lipcolor for the lipstick challenged: Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain

By Manda

I don't know about you, but I have trouble finding anything other than Chapstick to wear on my lips. I have large lips that take up a lot of real estate on my face and I've come to terms with the fact that lipstick is just not for me. Not to mention my casual lifestyle ... I rarely dress up or put on a full face of makeup as a stay-at-home mom and part-time high school coach. I do have occasions when I'd like to look a little fancier sometimes, and lip gloss in a subtle tint usually does the job ... for about 10 minutes and then it wears off. Frustrating!

Enter Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain!

[photo courtesy of CoverGirl.com]

I'd been eyeballing this product at Target for a while in the Flirty Nude shade (I try to choose a "nude" or "coffee" named shade, they tend to work better with my medium-olive skin tone) and I finally took the plunge a few weeks ago. I'm so glad I did! The color goes on easily - without needing a precise hand - and blends well. It soaks right into my lips and gives them a hint of color without sitting on the surface and getting all over my face. I add a quick topcoat of my favorite lip gloss when I'm feeling extra sassy. I love that this color lasts a while (it doesn't last the full 8 hours for me, but it's better than my usual 10 minutes). And of course, it's under $10 and is available at Target ... perfect in my book!

What's your favorite long-wearing lip color?

Date Night Ideas: Cooking Classes and Wine Dinners

by Maura

Date nights can be more of the same over and over. Dinner? Movie? Why not turn up the heat with a cooking class (with wine!). Last summer I went to a cooking class at De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy*s. The chef was 2005 Food and Wine Magazine Best New Chef winner Daniel Humm, chef from four star restaurant Eleven Madison Park. They have also had Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, Giada DeLaurentiis, Michael Chiarello, Ina Garten ... and tons of other amazing chefs.

At the class, the chef prepares the food at a long table in the front while you are served champagne and wine. You get to eat what he is cooking ... prepared by his executive chefs from his restaurant. You also get copies of the recipes to take home!

[Image credit De Gustibus]

The price can be a little steep, but the talent is undeniable. For you Top Chef fans, Spike Mendelsohn will be at De Gustibus on June 2nd and Carla Hall (Season 5) will be there on June 14th! Wylie Dufrene, the molecular gastronomic wiz himself, will be there June 14. Tickets are $95 per person.

For those of you who don't live in New York, like me anymore, check out this website, Cooking Schools of America, or surf the web for some local cooking classes. Stores like Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table also have cooking classes.

If you're more of a "just feed me, booze me and let me go home" kind of couple, try finding a wine dinner that focuses more on wine pairings and less on food preparation. This website, Local Wine Events, is a great place to start for wine events in your area. (Also great for singles events!) Next week I'm going to a wine tasting dinner featuring the wines of Spain at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. 

Cheers!