current favorites

1. Cle de Peau Beaute Eye Color Quad in "Baby Universe": This is by far the most beautiful set of eye shadows I own. The colors are incredibly unique (I don't have anything else like it.) and would flatter any skin tone. What I love most about this set is the lighter colors are perfect for day, but it's easy to turn any eye look into a more dramatic one with the two darker colors included in the palette. The pigments are rich and the texture of these shadows is unreal! Saying they are "silky" just doesn't do it justice. I also love the quad in "Silver Eclipse" if you like cooler tones. Side note: The beautiful compact case is sold separately.

2. This myrtle wreath is perfect. I don't know the source, but I may take a stab at a DIY version.

3. Horchow Geometric Pendant Light: I don't own this, but I've been eyeing it like crazy. Love the mix of metal and fabric and I bet it creates the most beautiful glow on walls.

4. Want to know about the best curling rod ever? Seriously ever. The Sultra The Bombshell 1" Curling Rod.

5. Brandon and I switched to silk pillowcases because of the many benefits they offer. We each have a restoreSILK pillow case in "Whisper White." Now he wants silk sheets, I kid you not. We'll stick with cotton sheets, but this pillow case is amazing. It's made of 100% mulberry silk and I absolutely cannot wait to lay my head on it every night.

6. This leather moto jacket is gorgeous. Enough said. The reviews are stellar and the price isn't half bad considering it's real leather.

Holy City Chic is coming.... soon! Sorry for the delay. I'm apparently not as tech-savvy as I thought. The website will be holycitychic.com.

I'm changing the name of this blog. (+ giveaway winner!)

How's that for a blog title? I needed to get your attention! ;) 

Since this blog has had a "changes" theme this week, why not one more? This is something I've thought about for a long, long time. I was a senior in college, I believe, when I came up with the name, "Style Me Swanky." The bottom line is that my tastes and preferences have changed a huge amount since then. I'm really a lot different than I was then, which is a normal product of growth, right? With each new day, we have new experiences that shape us into different people than we were the day before. That's life. And just as my pick in clothing has gone from brights to neutrals, my pick in blog name has gone from Style Me Swanky to...

Holy City Chic.

Definitely inspired by our move back to Charleston (the "Holy City"), this name came to me randomly one night while laying in bed. I just feel that it works. I've thought about it for a while and I still prefer it to any others I've come up with. This is a lifestyle blog—not just fashion, not just beauty, not just home interiors (those posts will start coming more often!). I needed a name that encompasses all of those things. Something that is consistent with what I strive to be, which—if we're being honest—is chic, after all. And not just in clothing choices, but in all facets of life.

I realize changing a website name can add confusion, especially since I've had my blog name for quite a handful of years now, but I am going to try and make this transition as smooth as possible. My current URL will just forward to the new one. My older posts will still remain in the same place. The content will stay the same, except I do have some fun ideas for making it better! 

The new URL will be holycitychic.com, so go ahead and take mental note! The actual change will take place one day next week.... errr... I don't know which day. Let's just go with it. What do ya say? 

I also wanted to announce that the La Roche Posay giveaway is....
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Susan has already been contacted! Thank you to everyone who entered. More giveaways coming soon! xo

current favorites (home / beauty / wine / candles)

Kenroy Home Lamps //

Kenroy Home was so kind to ask me to pick out a couple lamps from their beautiful collection. I chose the Tifton Floor Lamp and Tifton Table Lamp. They have a vintage brass finish and a slightly industrial look, which is balanced out by the soft linen drum shades. Plus, the detailed knob you see isn't just for looks - it allows the height to be adjustable. Pretty much obsessed with these. 

FIRST AID BEAUTY Eye Duty Triple Remedy //

So this stuff is a bit of a jack of all trades. It's called "triple remedy" because it brightens, depuffs, and smooths. It's packed with age defying ingredients like Retinyl palmitate and GABA, which support the skin’s natural collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Licorice root brightens dark circles. Caffeine and coralline extract (a red algae) work together to soothe and enhance blood flow to the eye area to minimize puffiness. 

What the heck does all that mean? Aside from all that goodness above, it makes you look incredibly more awake the moment you put it on because it has a concealing effect. For that reason, I only use it in the mornings. Also, the metal tip is insanely cooling and soothing on tired eyes. It's a definitely fave.

Foodies Riesling //

I gotta admit, I bought this stuff because I liked the simplistic label. It was only like $15 from World Market and I thought that even if it wasn't good, at least it would look pretty on the bar. Turns out, it's delicious. We had it with dinner last night. It's light and crisp, with a perfect hint of sweetness. All you riesling fans should definitely check it out.

Plat du Jour Pomme de Pine Soy Candle //

I've been loving this candle so much. It's different than all other candle scents I normally go for (which are gardenia, sandalwood, jasmine, and other white florals). This one is pine, balsam, fresh thyme, and amazingness. It's not Christmas-y at all, like other pine-scented candles tend to be. It's fresh and rich smelling. It just smells like a beautiful, old southern home that has the doors open with the smell of giant pine trees coming in with the breeze. Is this an odd way to describe it? Because I don't know how else to. When I purchased this, the sales associate said this candle has a cult following and she ships it all over the country. After using it, I can understand why. 

how to pack a carry on (and a giveaway!)

I decided to pack solely in a carry-on for my trip to Chicago. I used the Delsey Hyperlite 20.5-in. Spinner (love!) and my beloved Lo & Sons OG bag. I was only there for three days, so really, there was no reason I couldn't fit it all in these two easy-to-manage bags. But to be completely honest, I have not always been a light packer. In fact, I've been known to pack way more than necessary for just about every trip I've ever taken. So let's just say that scaling down to just the essentials hasn't come naturally.

In packing my carry on, I didn't really have to sacrifice the amount of clothes I wanted to take. I didn't have to mix and match outfits. Instead, I just learned how to pack more efficiently. And those are the tips I'm sharing with you today.

ROLL (OR FOLD) CLOTHING IN TISSUE PAPER TO DECREASE WRINKLES //

Tissue paper will help decrease wrinkles in your clothes because it gives the fabric a slippery surface. Lay down a piece of tissue paper, then set your clothing item on top. Just roll (or fold) the tissue paper and the clothing together. This drastically reduces wrinkles, but I always pack a travel size of Downy Wrinkle Releaser just in case. (That stuff + a hair dryer will work wonders on wrinkly clothing!)

PACK EACH OUTFIT INTO ITS OWN PLASTIC BAG //

This is something I just did for the first time and let me tell you, I will never not do this. It made packing more organized and made my trip itself easier. No more shuffling trying to find the right top to go with the right skirt. Each coordinating top and the bottom was packaged neatly in a one gallon size Ziploc bag.

WRAP ANY CORDS USING GEAR TIES //

Where have gear ties been all my life? They are inexpensive, reusable, and completely take away that overwhelming sea of cords that I know you've all experienced. 

USE A JEWELRY ROLL WITH INDIVIDUAL POCKETS TO TUCK AWAY JEWELRY //

I used the Travelon Jewelry Roll to organize my jewelry. Enough said about that. It rolls up neatly and the see-through pockets are really handy when in a rush.

USE A PILL ORGANIZER TO PACK STUD EARRINGS! //

This is a great way to keep small jewelry pieces organized. You can just tuck the pill organizer into one of the pockets and off you go! 

STRAWS. THEY AREN'T JUST FOR DRINKING //

That's right. They also keep your necklaces from getting tangled. (These fit perfectly in the jewelry roll!)

TRAVEL SIZE EVERYTHING. //

Scour the travel section at Target. There is a whole lot of good going on in there. This travel sized razor is one of my favorite purchases of the year. No really, it is. As is this teeny tiny wet brush. When I travel, I always use baby powder as my dry shampoo because a little of this goes further than dry shampoo and it's a smaller package. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SAMPLES! //

Some of the things up above aren't free samples, but you get the picture. I always hang on to free samples I receive, whether it's from a makeup counter (like the foundation!) or little packets that I've received free with a purchase. I also hang on to nicer hotel toiletries and reuse them for my next trip (or I just reuse the bottle, like I did with the Aveda lotion). 

*Side note- I ended up not taking the lotion and the two reusable shampoo/conditioner bottles because I remembered that W hotels have Bliss toiletries and I didn't want to miss out on using those!

USE SHOWER CAPS TO PROTECT SHOES (AND TO PROTECT LUGGAGE CONTENTS FROM GERMS!) //

I always save shower caps when they are included with hotel toiletries. Why? They are the perfect shoe covers! 

CLEAR POUCHES RULE THE WORLD. //

It's always nice to use a clear pouch for packing travel essentials. Keep it within easy reach and rest assured knowing that all contents are visible for easy grab-and-go. My favorite is this TSA-approved small Clarity Clutch from TRUFFLE.

USE PACKING CUBES TO CATEGORIZE CLOTHING //

Seems simple (or maybe unnecessary?), but packing cubes really make a difference in suitcase organization. Inside, I stack the Ziploc bags that contain each outfit. But here's the game changer... In one packing cube, I put all daytime outfits. In one cube, I put all nighttime outfits (this one isn't pictured above). In one cube I put pajamas and lounge clothes. I use the smallest cube for undergarments. 

...and now you all have a chance to win the exact set of these Eagle Creek Packing Cubes shown above! Enter below for your chance to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chicago Recap

Where to begin... where to begin? Chicago was beautiful. If you're new around here, you may not know that I am a beauty editor for The Everygirl, a website set to inspire career-driven women in all facets of life - travel, living, fashion, food, career & finance, wellness, and of course, beauty. I started this position in January (or was it February?) and since that time, haven't had the opportunity to meet any of my teammates ...until this past week. 

Being able to fly to Chicago for the first time and to meet ten amazing and talented women was incredible. Not only was I experiencing a new city (that I absolutely fell in love with, by the way), but I was able to do it with women who inspire me. It was a quick trip and grrr... such a tease! I can't wait to go back for a longer period of time and enjoy more restaurants and do the things all of you recommended.

Let's start with the hotel. We stayed at the W Lakeshore which was perfect because it gave this first-timer a perfect view of Lake Michigan and the cityscapes. The hotel was recently renovated and trust me, the end result is stunning. I took snaps of my room as soon as I got there because well, somehow tiny bags of luggage have the ability to expand five times their size and that's not pretty in photos. These are iPhone photos, by the way. My DSLR just didn't make the Chicago cut since I only traveled with a carry on (tips on how I pack light on the blog tomorrow!).

Nice toiletries make me happy.

 This was the view from my room -the window was the whole length of the back wall!

...and this is the view from the other side of the hotel. Ok, I had no idea the water was going to be so BLUE! It was gorgeous.

I wasted literally no time at all before running out of the hotel and straight to Michigan Avenue. I was only a few blocks away, so it was perfect for me. I've heard that Chicago is such a great city because of how clean it is. That rumor was definitely true. Everything looked so well maintained. I do realize I was only in one part of the city, but I was impressed. I especially loved all of the landscaping within the sidewalks -tons of little parks, beautiful trees, and lots of flower beds.

The architecture was gorgeous! 

And then there was shopping. I found something I really, really love.

After a lot (I repeat, a LOT) of walking, I was starving. Suddenly, it was as if the Heavens opened up and I smelled the most amazing smell in the world... Garrett Popcorn Shop. 

I got a (huge) bag of Chicago mix, went back to my room and naturally, put on their cozy white robe, sat by the window, and chowed down.

I got ready for dinner, where I met about half of The Everygirl team (those who came in on Wednesday vs. Thursday) at Current, the restaurant at the hotel. Their executive chef, Gregory Elliott, prepared a tasting of wines and amazing food for us. We definitely had over ten items from the menu on the table for us all to sample and by the end, I almost needed to be wheeled out! It was all so, so good.

At the end of our meal, we were able to see the fireworks at the Navy Pier. That was exciting for me since I didn't have time to see the Pier up close and personal. Made me feel like I experienced at least part of it.

I don't have photos of the actual restaurant, but it's right inside the lobby of the hotel, pictured below.

The next one was taken on Friday afternoon. This bar area had a "trendy, upscale diner" vibe.

That was all just one day's worth! Now, moving on to Thursday, which was spent solely with TEG team. Lots and lots of planning went on at this table.

...and with all good meetings, there's good food. For lunch, we had deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's and woahh- obsessed doesn't even cut it. Naturally, there was local beer and it, too, was delish.

Later that night, we headed out to Beatrix, a restaurant where the philosophy is "a healthier take on comfort food." That philosophy basically defines my life and general goal when preparing foods at home, by the way. The open-air atmosphere was great and the food, seriously out of this world.

Here's a few of us before dinner.

On Friday, I got to spend the morning walking around this amazing city, trying to take in every last bit I could before my flight. 

...and I'm off!

Later today I'll be inside this picture! Well, kind of. 

I'm off to Chicago!

Keep up with my trip by following me on Instagram. Thanks for all of your recommendations, by the way!

(via)

view from my lens

neighborhood dock at habersham

stationery fun from celadon 

a facial in a bottle

my vice: coffee table books (the newest picks)

seriously delicious (and a half green nail. oopsies.)

looks like a postcard, but it's just beautiful beaufort

truly obsessed with my kitty boy

this is where my brushes live

rifle paper co... oh you.

Follow me on instagram to keep up with photos like this on the daily.

chicago is always a good idea...

I'm hopping up to Chicago for a very quick trip next week. I'm getting to meet all of my team members behind The Everygirl and I'm so excited! This will be my first time in Chicago and my first time flying alone (eeep!). I'll have just a few free hours to spare on Wednesday and a few hours to spare on Friday to pack in all of my sightseeing. 

So I ask you... if you only had a few hours in Chicago, what would YOU do? Tell me, tell me!

image via