You're Invited! Sophie Blake X It's Julien

Ah, finally the weekend!! A chance to do a little R&R, listen to ALL the holiday music and do a little Christmas shopping! 

SPEAKING OF WHICH, I wanted to invite you to TWO holiday events I'll be hosting this weekend with my favorite jewelry designer of all time, Sophie Blake! Come hang with Sophie and me this Saturday night at her Tysons Galleria pop-up and Sunday afternoon at her Mosaic District location! Bring a friend and prepare to find something special for everyone on your list! See the invite below for all the details. Hope to see you there!!

RSVP HERE

The Gathering Project - Throwing a Summer Dinner Party

I love to entertain. Even when it’s just my family visiting, I pull out all the stops to create a beautiful dining experience for my guests. Fresh flowers, the hubby brews fresh ground coffee through our slow-drip Chemex, and we find the best recipes Pioneer Woman has to offer. And I’m always trying to up my entertaining game.

On June 14, The Gathering Project is hosting an event that I couldn’t bear to miss: a creative retreat session on Throwing a Summer Dinner Party. I couldn’t hit the RSVP button fast enough. 

The hands-on workshop will be held at the loft at 600 F Street in Washington DC. It'lll feature creative professionals teaching us all about the art of entertaining, from making a signature fruit crumble to the art of decorative dinnerware. The class is designed for “people who find a deep fulfillment in creating something lovely to share with others” - be still my heart! Guests will enjoy hearty dinner, unlimited snacks and drinks throughout the day, and a variety of beautiful gifts.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: It’s Julien readers get 10% off the ticket price using code “itsjulien” at checkout. Registration ends on June 7 at 11:59 PM so don’t wait to get your tickets! You can get your ticket here!

Here’s all the deets:
Date: Saturday, June 14
Location: The Loft at 600 F
600 F Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, District of Columbia 20004
Time: 1 PM - 7 PM
Cost: $100
Registration ends June 7 at 11:59 PM.
Check out their Facebook page for updates and swag you’ll be receiving! 

Still need convincing? Check out the January retreat they hosted in the video below. I hope to see you there!!

Thanks so much to The Gathering Project for providing a ticket for me, even though I totally would have shared this with you anyway because friends don't let friends miss awesome events. As always, all opinions are my own. 

5 Reasons to Love Crystal Couture

On the first day of Crystal Couture, my sister and I braved the bad weather to hit up one of the D.C. area's most talked-about fashion shows and high-end bargain pop-up shops.

This was my first year attending the show, and the event did not disappoint. I like to keep things short and sweet, so I'm going to let you in on my five reasons you should totally go this year.

Photo by Vithaya Phongsavan. WHAT I WORE: D'MILIKAH dress and these boots from DSW.

1. It's free. I mean, do you really need another reason?

2. It's a chance to find a new BFF / meet local designers. I had SUCH a blast meeting people who designed the clothes I coveted and hearing about what inspired them for their collections. 

Seen here, my new BFF and scarf soul mate, Jennifer Elizabeth Miller of JEM Collection.

Here, Jen shows me how to style this fabulous scarf.

Jen and myself, after I bought this lovely infinity scarf that I may never, ever stop wearing.

3. To shop. This one is totally obvious, but don't let the term 'designer' shy you away. There are so many discounts you get just by attending and many pieces are within an average girl's budget.

Here, Stephanie models a Camille Gabriele purse. 

Seriously, how chic are these Sophie Blake jewels?

I am OBSESSED with this D'Milikah skirt. Obsessed might even be an understatement.

4. To discover upcoming trends. Chic and structured pieces are hitting the runway hard, as are pastels, bright colors and bold prints. Check these out first hand by watching the models strut down the square runway (so no matter where you are, you have a great view). Plus, with a new show every 15 minutes, you'll get to see a super wide variety of what's coming up for 2014.

Photo by Vithaya Phongsavan. Also one of my favorite looks of the night by Erika Schrieber.

5. To take advantage of their awesome photo booth. I don't really need to explain this one, except to say that the OnomonoMEDIA photobooth can print your high-res image and you can also email it to yourself or post directly to your social media page. See mine below (and please note how mature I am.)

Find out more about Crystal Couture on their website. The last show for 2014 is tomorrow, February 8 and you can find the schedule here. The show goes from 6 PM - 10 PM and is located at 251 18th Street, Arlington, VA 22202.