If you've never been to the Showcase SuperLux in Chestnut Hill it's huge! And gorgeous. Upon arrival we like to head up the escalators and grab a drink at the SuperLux Lounge where they serve up hand-crafted signature cocktails at their full bar in a chic space. Order apps or if art is your thing, this Showcase Cinema location is the only location to feature custom artwork from local artists, I recently attended the opening of Showcase SuperLux' gallery exhibit featuring one-of-a-kind portraits of iconic Hollywood movie stars called "Surreal Hollywood" from artist Lia Burke. You can get a peek at these absolutely stunning works in and around the lounge area.

When you're ready to take your seats and settle in and watch the movie it's the ultimate experience in comfort and convenience; these theaters feature heated, reclining seats with adjustable headrests, cozy blankets to snuggle up with your sweetie (or hide behind during horror flicks), and rotating tray tables with in-seat dining and drink options. Did I mention it's a foodies delight? With a full scratch kitchen their in-seat dining options include decadent bites like Parmesan Truffle Fries and Buffalo Mac and Cheese. It's truly the ultimate movie going experience and a fresh take on the tried and true date night concept.



So what are you waiting for? Hop online and reserve your seats for your next Lux date night! This week we're headed to see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!

I wanted to get in on the fun celebrating the opening of their new location, so I popped into their Natick store to shop for a new look. The staff there was in the process of unpacking their new collection and I'm absolutely in love with it! When I laid eyes on the block party dress I could see myself wearing to beach days, cookouts, and even running around the city on warm summer days. I'm hoping the weather gets better so I can wear it alone, but until then I'll be layering it with their dusk dress jacket. I'm absolutely loving this lightweight layering piece for meetings and running around town and I have my eye on the matching pants!

By far my favorite new piece I picked up from Nic + Zoe are these Brynn Wedges. They come with these beautiful printed scarf ties for the ankle but they also came with leather ankle straps for a more traditional espadrille. It's like two pairs in one! And did I mention they're amazingly comfortable? A great shoe all around.

The ability to customize their planners and products is what sold me on Purple Trails planners-- my cover is customized with my business name and website and I added pages for passwords and log ins to help manage accounts. It has plenty of space to keep track of both my daily schedule, as well as my daily posting schedule for clients. I keep track of everything in there, even my hours, invoicing, and mileage!

I start every week sitting down with my planner and looking at the week at a glance to see what I need to prioritize and then each day make my list of "must do's." With freelancing in social media there are a lot of moving parts and I'm not sure how I would manage it all without my planner.


In addition to my planner, I rely on a few other tricks to maintain productivity. When working from home I aim to take 15 minute breaks every hour. This keeps me from getting too distracted with tasks at home while still ensuring that the laundry gets done and dinner is prepped. I also try to take care of any email or task that will take three minutes or less. By immediately taking action on smaller tasks, it prevents my inbox from getting filled with small, mindless tasks.

Speaking of email, my biggest tool for keeping organized? Google's Gmail "Snooze" button. It's a game changer for those in PR or communications, giving you the ability to push emails back to the top of your inbox at a specific date and time. This function makes following up on emails and deadlines so much easier-- it's saved me from missing some important deadlines and contacts.

I remember when my doctor told me my test results were abnormal and I was carrying the HPV virus.  I immediately thought the worst before learning how common the virus actually is; Nearly 80% of sexually active women carry HPV at some point in their lives and there are actually over 150 strains of the HPV virus. For some, and for myself, the virus will often clear on its own, however some strains have been linked to a higher risk of cervical cancer. When it comes to HPV and cervical cancer, prevention and awareness are key!

When I learned that for less than the cost many co-pays ($15 with insurance, $69 without insurance), anyone can take control of their sexual health with Nurx's at-home HPV screening test I was 100% behind the concept. The kit tests for the 14 strains pf HPV that have a higher risk of leading to cervical cancer. Check out my video and photos to see what to expect in your kit and then head to Nurx's website for more information and to request your own kit. Unfortunately for me, I'm considered high risk going forward, so I'm not eligible to use Nurx's services, but it's incredibly empowering to know that women everywhere can monitor their own sexual health.

There's lots of reasons for eye irritation and redness around the holidays; prepping onions for family meals, crying at holiday movies (just me?), dehydration and stress from travel, late night holiday parties; but they're all pretty easily solved with a few drops of Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief Eye Drops and a little makeup! Take a peek for a quick video and read on for products and details!


Before applying any makeup, first pop in a drop or two of Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief Eye Drops into each eye. This gentle formula effectively eliminates redness from the eyes giving you the foundation of a whiter, more radiant appearance around the eyes. Makeup can't do it all on it's own! A little help from Clear Eyes is crucial.

Start with an illuminating primer all over the face and blend, focusing a little extra product where the light naturally hits the face (cheekbones, temples, chin, forehead). I like Clarins Instant Light Complexion Boosting Base. Follow with an illuminating concealer like Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat on the area directly under the eye and blend. Finish with your favorite tinted moisturizer or foundation; I used NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. Follow with a dusting of your favorite translucent powder and your favorite blush (mine is NARS Deep Throat).

Apply your favorite highlighter to your cheekbones and temples, I'm using the highlighter fromMAC's Prissy Princess Palette (currently unavailable). To begin the eyes apply a bit of RMS Living Luminzer or any sheer, liquid highlighter to the area just below brow bone and blend. Follow with an eyeshadow primer like Laura Mercier's Eye Basics to the lid. Apply a neutral, matte shadow to the lid, blending into the crease (I used Giorgio Armani's Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow). Finally, apply a shimmering white shadow to the below the lash line, around the corners of the eye, gentle sweeping the color into the crease a bit (mine is from an old Clarins' Palette that is currently unavailable). Finish with your favorite mascara and a pop of color on the lip.


And just like you bring along make for touch ups, I bring along Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief Eye Drops for keeping redness at bay on the go! They're the number one selling redness relieving eye drop on the market. It's been a welcome addition to my makeup bag, and is keeping my eyes and my look more radiant and white as we head into 2019! You can grab them on Amazon for 10% off with code 10CLEAREYES through 1/11!

I'm making my list and checking it twice this year! I love the holidays but picking the perfect gift always presents a challenge, especially when it comes to the men in my life! One of the best gifts for men is by far a classic watch, and the wood watches from JORD are among my favorite timepieces. With a combination of quality, craftsmanship, and a variety of styles there's a wood watch for everyone; and not just the gents!




Wooden Wrist Watch

About last night! I’ve definitely woken up with my hair a crazy mess, a smile on my face, and thought to myself, “Wow, what an amazing night!” And then thought about my birth control... With Preventeza™, being prepared for unexpected birth control failures is easier than ever.

It’s available at pharmacies nationwide and at Vagisil.com, without a prescription. Preventeza™ is a new brand of emergency contraceptive from the Vagisil® Brand (learn more here). When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex it can effectively help prevent unwanted pregnancy with just one pill.

I don't wait for the unexpected; I strongly believe in being prepared for any mishap by incorporating Preventeza™ alongside your regular birth control arsenal. And currently, Preventeza™ is offering a limited time Buy One Get One or Give One promotion allowing you to not only prepare yourself, but any other woman in our network who wants to be prepared.

It’s crazy but 1 in 2 women may need to use emergency contraceptives at some point in their lives. That's 50% and yet, only 10% of women have ever used an emergency contraceptive. This BOGOGO offer allows you to be prepared instead of panicked when the need arises. Keeping Preventeza™ on hand eliminates the need for any emergency plan.

When it comes to sexual health and unwanted pregnancy, I want to be empowered with knowledge of the resources around me. Preventeza™ is not a replacement for your regular birth control-- it's simply another tool in your kit. So no matter the situation, an unexpected night on the town, forgetting your birth control, or other events we don’t anticipate, Preventeza™ allows you to be prepared and powerful.

You wouldn't head into an exam without preparing for it, you wouldn't begin competing in a sport without training, and you wouldn't go out in the pouring rain unprepared without an umbrella and rain boots... So why should you enter a sexual situation unprepared? #PreparedIsPowerful! And with Preventeza™, being prepared for unexpected birth control failures is easier than ever.


Available at pharmacies nationwide and at Vagisil.com, Preventeza™ is a new brand of emergency contraceptive from the Vagisil® Brand (learn more here). When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex it can effectively help prevent unwanted pregnancy with just one pill. But don't wait for the unexpected; I strongly believe in being prepared for any mishap by incorporating Preventeza™ alongside your regular birth control arsenal.


Right now, Preventeza™ is offering a limited time Buy One Get One or Give One promotion allowing you to not only prepare yourself, but any other woman in our network who wants to be prepared. Statistically, 1 in 2 women may need to use emergency contraceptives. That's 50%, she could be your sister, a friend, a coworker, or classmate and yet, only 10% of women have ever used an emergency contraceptive. This BOGOGO offer allows you to be prepared instead of panicked when the need arises. Forget rushing to the drug store in a frenzy when there's a misstep in your contraceptive plan, keeping Preventeza™ on hand eliminates the need for any emergency plan.


It's more important than ever for women to be prepared, informed, and aware of their options, especially when it comes to sexual health and unwanted pregnancy. Preventeza™ is not a replacement for your regular birth control-- it's simply another tool in your kit. Just like I keep my rain boots and an umbrella on hand for an unexpected rainy day, I keep Preventeza™ on hand for when the unexpected may arise.

One of the first products I pulled out of the box was Aveo Vision's daily contact lenses. I really loved the packaging and their monthly shipments are a great alternative to hoarding a year's supply after a visit to the eye doctor. They were a bit thinner than my current lens and were a bit more difficult to apply but once they were in I didn't notice them at all! They have UVA/UVB blocking technology and a tapered edge for maximum comfort.

Mornings are hectic. And I am SO not a morning person. I'm constantly looking for new ways to stay organized and minimize the chaos each morning so I can spend more time sleeping in and less time stressing out. One of my biggest pet peeves is searching for my keys and headphones among the junk in our messy kitchen and this weekend I finally found a solution.


What was plagued with mail, magazines, chargers, cords, and keys was transformed with just $40 and a bunch of VELCRO® Brand HANGables Wall Fasteners hooks and squares. This area is a whole lot more functional and so much more organized!

Before

After installing the corner shelves to hold our airpods and wallets, I applied a single VELCRO® Brand HANGables® Wall Fasteners adhesive wall hook to the underside of the lower shelf to hold my Sudio Sweden over-the-ear headphones. Application was easy; I lightly marked the area I wanted to apply my hook, applied the VELCRO® Brand strip to the shelf, and pressed and held my hook onto the tab for 30 seconds. I used a smaller set of HANGables® adhesive wall hooks just above the shelf to hang all of our keys-- so much better than the jumbled heap they all were before!

Organic Bath Co.: My first introduction to this whole thing was through this little black jar. My sensitive dry skin and eczema patches were pretty much impossible to calm until I discovered Organic Bath Co.'s Drenched Body Butter from Organic Bath Co. and WELL Summit creator Gianne Doherty and as they say, the rest is history. It's by far been the most effective moisturizer I've ever used. We've also switched over to the Naked Organic Body Wash in the shower as well. No harmful skin irritants and completely fragrance free-- we even wash the dog with it!

Piper Wai: I was all about natural deodorants but had a hard time trying one I found effective and liked the scent of until I got a sample of Piper Wai in one of my WELL Insider swag bags. I think it smells great and I find it to be effective with my body chemistry. It can get streaky after a particularly sweaty workout, but I haven't found anything more effective and it doesn't bother me enough to discontinue using it. In fact, I keep a sample size in my car and gym bag at all times!

David's Toothpaste: Another product it was difficult to find a natural alternative to, mostly because my boyfriend has sensitive teeth but we found David's worked as effectively as our old products. The recyclable metal tube is a plus, and it's just fun to use the metal tube key it comes with!

RMS Beauty: RMS is just one of the many natural beauty brands I've discovered through the vendors WELL Summit has hosted. My desert island product is absolutely RMS Beauty's Living Luminizer, while it's $38 for a small pot, a pot lasts me well over 6 months. It adds the perfect amount of highlight when applied to the brow bone and cheekbones. I've also discovered amazing products from VAPOUR, Captain Blankenship, and Jane Iredale.

OY-L: My newest clean beauty discovery! I'm so excited to meet them at WELL Summit in October. I recently took a little spill while hiking and scraped my face and during the healing process (among ointments and antiseptics) I applied their Exfoliating Manuka Mask since it's packed with healing ingredients such as honey, hemp seed oil, lavender oil, rosehip oil, and colloidal oatmeal and am happy with the way it healed. Their Hydrating Facial Mist has also quickly become one of my favorite products to spritz on for a midday pick me up, as well.

Tiny Zen: Another gift in the most recent WELL Insiders swag box, my Tiny Zen Stress Relief Lava Diffuser Bracelet has become something I wear daily. Every so often I lightly scent the lava beads with a few drops of essential oil. A lovely little ritual, plus the grey and white marbled howlite totally matches my aesthetic.

Asha Ramakrishna: I can't even begin to explain the impact this woman has had on me! I call her my spiritual advisor, but Asha has guided me through meditations, is guiding me through understanding my innate human design, and I'm thrilled to be attending her two day retreat this winter. As I grow older and learn to manage life, my business, and my relationships and Asha has been an integral part of encouraging me to get to know myself better and become a better person and communicator.

Branch Basics (not pictured): I've always had sensitive skin and used unscented products but discovering Branch Basics at the most recent Boston WELL Summit event allowed me to eliminate multiple toxic products from our household. We've since almost entirely replaced our glass cleaner, all purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners, hand soaps, and laundry detergent with Branch Basics and I'm thrilled because this multipurpose product actually works! I've since purchased other products from them and am looking forward to watching this company grow!

I'm so excited for the next WELL Summit event in Brooklyn (just after my birthday!) October 4-6th, you can save on your ticket with code WSELISSA. The vendors and brands are just a perk compared to all of the information and insights offered form the keynote speakers and presenters throughout the weekend. If you have questions about the WELL Summit, get in touch! It has something to offer everyone!

And when it hits I'll be ready and heading to PhysicanOne Urgent Care in Medford. We visited PhysicianOne not too long ago when Zack got hit with a nasty case of Strep Throat and I was pretty impressed. I had never been to an urgent care clinic before, I've always frequented the Emergency Room for events outside of my doctors office hours or when I felt really sick and convinced myself into fearing the worst. We were in and out in about an hour, paid a nominal copay, and left with a prescription in hand and in no time and back to helping me take my blog photos!
Most recently we ventured to Night Shift Brewery for date night and of course, blog photos. I had a couple of shots in mind... on the picnic table, lounging against the oversized barrels on the patio, eating Munch Mobile Kitchen fries. Needless to say, he got the shots and we had a great date! We started to talk about all of the great photo opps coming our way with the upcoming season: apple picking, cider donuts, and hiking among the foliage. As we head into Fall, I'm sure there's another visit in our future. Cold and flu season will soon follow and thankfully PhysicianOne offers flu shots with no appointment necessary alongside their X-ray, lab and IV services.

My updated self care routine begins with opening a can of my favorite Lila Wine; since it's the peak of summer the Bubbly Rosé is the obvious choice, but sparkling is a close second! Then I move onto running the water for a bath, lighting my candles, and burning a little sage. Just before settling into the bath, I apply one of my favorite face masks. (A reusable straw is a must-have when sipping wine with a face mask to avoid a messy can!)

Then I just relax! Sometimes I put on music, usually something soothing or instrumental like Nina Simone or Explosions in the Sky, or one of Asha's incredible meditation recordings. Sometimes it's hard to tune things out (like the neighbors or the sounds of traffic on Route 1), or Bubzy will interrupt by barking endlessly at the neighbors or just by being the nosy little bugger he is, but that's life, right?


The whole point is to carve out time for yourself and attempt to reconnect with yourself and enjoy the little moments. And each of those moments is made better with a little bubbly! Lila Wines come in 4 packs and are perfect for keeping on hand for unexpected guests and summer adventures. We keep a few packs on hand in our bar cart; they're the perfect size for stashing in a beach bag, weekender, or in the cooler for pool parties and barbecues.

I packed my weekender and headed off to the Seaport! When we arrived Bubzy immediately claimed the plush King sized bed as his, rolling all over it and making himself very comfy on the pillows. After setting him straight, and settling him down, I got comfortable in our room. Designed with extended stays in mind, the Element Hotel rooms have small kitchens (complete with a small stovetop, refrigerator, and microwave) and our room, a Studio King Suite, featured a pull out couch as well. Perfect for conference attendees, longer trips with family, and staycations, of course.



We hung out in our suite for a bit, before heading into Downtown Boston for the afternoon. We walked up to South Station (about a 15/20 minute walk) and hopped on the train, running a few errands and grabbing a bite to eat along the way. Bubzy tagged along for day one of our adventure since Element is a pet-friendly hotel, but we opted to take him back home to hang with a friend so we could get out and explore the Seaport pet-free for the rest of the weekend.

Before returning to the hotel for the evening, I grabbed a snack and sat on the lawn at The Lawn on D before heading up the block to M.J. O'Connor's for dinner and a drink with Zack. It was a lively Friday night in the Seaport! Live music was all around us, spilling from the Lawn on D and the neighboring Aloft Hotel, and people were out and about, since it was such a beautiful summer night. We put up the "Do Not Disturb" magnet on our door promptly upon returning to the hotel and slept in the next day!

I made sure to get up in time to grab a bit of breakfast; by far one of the best amenities at the Element Boston was the breakfast spread! A full cart of Chobani yogurt, Nutella and strawberry topped French Toast, egg bites, fruit, coffee & juice, and more. Nearly anything your heart desires, plus cereals and breads. I opted for the Nutella and Strawberry French Toast, and it definitely hit the spot on a Saturday morning. We headed back to bed for a bit, before getting up to spend the afternoon out and about in the Seaport. The Sox were playing so we ventured to Tony C's to watch the game before returning to the hotel for some fun in the afternoon sun.
Guests can choose from hanging out in the indoor pool and outdoor lounge area, or borrowing one of the four bicycles on site available for guests to take for a spin. We opted for a dip in the indoor pool; zipping back and forth across the pool and splashing around. It was so nice to go for a swim after walking around on a hot summer day in Boston. After we returned to our room to get dressed before heading out for dinner. There are a ton of restaurants in the Seaport District, but we opted for dinner at Ocean Prime before walking back towards the hotel and ending the night at the Lawn on D.



I was reluctant to check out the next day. Who wouldn't be? Unlimited Chobani for breakfast, an indoor pool, and a prime location, right across the street from the Lawn on D?! It doesn't get much better than that. We had such a great stay and I am definitely going to be checking out additional Element locations for future trips, especially those that last longer than the weekend! Ultimately, we did have to check out, ending our blissful stay at the Element Boston Seaport Hotel but I'm looking forward to our next Element adventure!