Sneak Peek at the Brides Beauty Awards!

I'm so happy with the way the opener (that's what we call the first page of a section) turned out! 

A few of the makeup winners!

So I couldn't wait to give you guys a quick glimpse at something my team and I have been working on for the last few months: the Brides beauty awards! Yep, the Brides staff tested hundreds and hundreds of products to determine the very best of the best. We've got the top makeup, skincare, haircare, body products, nail polishes, and fragrance--all selected with brides in mind (but every single one is pretty darn awesome for anyone).

I've included a little peek, but if you want to check out the rest of the winners, be sure to pick up a copy of the just-hitting-the-stands April/May issue. And then tell me your beauty favorites below! I'd love to know.

The End of An Era

I ran a version of this post on my Instagram today, but wanted to document it here as well. Big day, after all!

I've spent the better part of the last 12 years on various floors of 4 Times Square, so today feels like the end of an era. I can't tell you how many times I changed from flats to heels on the 42nd street sidewalk, waited for an M.I.A. town car on 43rd, snuck out to Olive Garden with my Allure peeps, cursed the tourists clogging up the streets, dodged various bootleg Elmos, and gossiped, bitched, laughed, and cried in these halls, cubes, and offices. How many shopping bags full of beauty products have I left this building with over the years? 500? 5000? 

I entered this place almost 13 years ago as a single, wannabe assistant going in for an informational interview. (I did not get the job, but believe me, if you had seen my heinous outfit, you would not have hired me either!) 

Now I head to our new building as a full-fledged beauty director, a mom, an Instagram addict. With much, much better shoes. Times have changed. And now, so has the setting. Let the new adventures begin! 

(For those confused, no, I am not leaving Brides! My company is moving to a new building, though. You may have heard of it--1 WTC?)

Take A Peek Inside the New Issue of Brides!

The new issue of Brides magazine is out now! And as I did last month, I wanted to give you guys a quick sneak peek. I'm really proud of how it turned out, and so excited that so many of my favorite hair and makeup pros (Mark Townsend! Nick Barose! Daniel Martin! Andrew Sotomayor! Etc!) were able to contribute some of their amazing tips.

If you're a bride-to-be (or just really, really into looking at pretty white dresses), definitely pick up a copy!

Sneak Peek at the New Brides Magazine!

The new issue of Brides magazine--my very first as beauty director!--just hit stands. I started there partway through the issue prior, so I did work on that one, too, but this is the first that's start to finish me. And I'm so happy with the way it turned out! 

If you're a bride-to-be (or just really want to support me--haha!), please pick up a copy and let me know what you think.

In the meantime, here's a quick peek at some of my favorite stories in the issue. Enjoy!

Here Comes The... Big News

Flashback: Me (and part of my blog-shy husband's hand!) on my wedding day in New York City

#BridalBeautyThrowback: Hairstylist Sean James Decuers carefully forms "Gisele-like waves" before my wedding.

Did you guys have a good weekend? If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that I spent the last few days in Mexico! So. Much. Fun. (And more on that later...) Well, I'm back now, and just popping in quickly to share some news. Kind of big news, actually. And that news is that... {drumroll} ... I got a new job! 

Yep, tomorrow, I'll be starting as the Beauty Director at... Brides magazine! I'm so excited! Because weddings are so exciting, no? And beauty is such a key part of them. It was for me. Those months of wedding prep and planning from a few years back are a bit of a blur of fittings and cake samples for me, but I can clearly remember how important the beauty thing was. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted (glow-y skin, me-but-better makeup, Gisele-like waves), and thanks to two awesome experts (hairstylists Sean James Decuers and makeup artist Erica Whelan), I was able to achieve it. Now, in a small way, I'll get to help other brides with their own beauty visions. Kind of cool, right?

(Oh, and BTW, this site won't change, if you're wondering. I'll still be blogging about all of the same things. I'm already married, of course, so this won't become a wedding blog! For that, read this.)

So, that's my news! Thoughts? If you're a Brides reader, be sure to let me know. And if you're getting married soon (or recently got hitched), please, please, please tell me below if there are any wedding-beauty stories that you're just dying to read. Don't be shy! You have a connection now, after all. ;)