NYFW

Jeff and I are active street style photographers and even shot for Cosmo UK last NYFW but for this one, since our wedding is right around the corner, we took a little break. However, that didn't stop us from dressing up to check out the scene for an afternoon.

Our conclusion is that we were extremely grateful we didn't have to shoot for publication this go around. 

The street style scene has become completely over saturated. 

You can't tell the difference between the photographer and the subject any more.

"Street style photographers are officially more interestingly dressed than most of their subjects. #nyfw"

-@Arielfoxman , Editor at InStyle

It was obvious the photographers (ie, everyone it felt like) were having a tough time trying to scope out subjects. Everyone was grouped in the shade and would migrate from time to time as this huge mob. But what was worse was the photographers weren't there for work, they were there purely to be "recognized." 

SHM

I felt completely overwhelmed, and nothing was worth taking a picture of. From the NYFW last Feb to now it just exploded. Maybe it's because it was warmer now so everyone is out, but I was completely put off. It wasn't street style, it was people in costumes. I ended up grabbing a few stock photos (Fashionable people holding gadgets) for TWF, to have as a backlog.

Jeff and I focused our attention on taking pictures of the puppies and the children who were forcefully dragged along with their mothers. They were the only pure subjects.

I'm going back to only shooting political event street style. I'm so over this circus of attention.

However, Jeff did grab a few of me, and he was so on-point today with his shots! I'm really disappointed it couldn't have been put to something a little bit more spectacular.

But like I said earlier, it was the children and the puppies who stole the show this NYFW. Here are a few raw/untouched photos and I'm sure Jeff will be writing about it on his blog soon! 

Invitations

We've sent out most of our invitations! 

(We still have quite a few to send out still!)

Hope everyone can attend! It's almost a month away!

My Little Reminder

I have literally been kicking my butt trying to look good for my wedding.

For the first time in my life I can run a mile in under 10 minutes. This here slowest running kid from middle school just doesn't even understand how this is even possible.

This wedding has been amazing motivation though for some life style changes. This past year of working has taught me that you sit on your butt. A LOT. You go to work and sit on your butt and don't get up from your computer for 8-9 hours except to eat your salad lunch sitting down. Your ride the train on your butt for an hour. You sit at home at night because you are mentally exhausted. You go to bed.

If you were afraid of the freshman 15 then be very aware that when you start a new job after college it's going to happen all over again.

It feels kind of hard getting in to a new rhythm of work life. My first 6th months were completely miserable. I hated my first job in social media marketing. Then luckily I was invited back to work as an employee for a company I had interned with and that was the best choice I had ever made. But it has taken 3 months of adjusting and getting a work out schedule set.

I started back in May. I made a huge effort to come home after a long day and commute to put on work out clothes and go to the gym and get at least 2.5 miles done. That turned in to 5ks, which has now turned in to 5k-5miles 6 days a week, and now we're added biking and weights starting tomorrow.

While I feel completely burned out and like I'm not getting any where, I have to remind myself that I have lost 7lbs since starting this. It's been slower than I would like but I eat a healthy breakfast and dinner which is something I never did. The quick fix girl inside me would have starved away those pounds with a juice cleanse or by restricting what I was eating to a very small lunch, if that.

I'm in a lot better place right now. I'm a lot happier with my living situation and working situation, and feeling like things are falling in to place thanks to being a little out of control with the gym. I'm eager to continue this process for the rest of the year, beyond my wedding and see where I am next May!

Cheers to this non resolution like challenge! And thank goodness Jeff and I will finally be doing bike adventures.

xo,
Paige

ps:
I'm really in to doing double exposures on the iphone now. Stay tuned for more of those on our bike trips!

Jeff at Coney Island:

Daycation: Coney Island

It's hard not having a car in NYC.

Jeff and I have been dying to drive out and do something, but any train trip requires at least an hour and hotels cost $100+ a night. So, we've decided if we are going to go out, we are going to make it count. 

Daycation.

It was our first time to Coney Island. We did everything you are suppose to on a first trip; eat a hot dog and ride the Wonder Wheel... and get third degree burns on our feet. 

I'm sad we only have the option right now to only go out for a day, but summer has only begun and we have plenty more daycations ahead! I'll just be counting down to our real vacation/honeymoon in Japan. (Which, by the way.. Less than 3 months we get married. I have so much to do. Panic.)

Do you have any daycations planned this summer?

I Did a Body Wrap

It was slippery.

Before I go on about this body wrap experience I would like to fully disclose that I do not believe in any magical overnight weightloss experiments. Only sweating/detoxing/tightening.

No before and afters in this session.

So, if you are crazy period/red meat/pasta/emotionally bloated and in need of some sweet relief, let's continue.

--

I had always wanted to try a body wrap. The idea of dehydrating your body a little bit to achieve a loss of few inches is a little exciting to an insane person. I had researched a few DIY body wraps to avoid spending $100+ for something that may or may not work. I came across this one:

Fat Girl Sixpack + Plastic Wrap + Ace Bandage + One Long Night = ???

So the day of the wrap I had my period kick in full blast. I was tired, I started bloating, I was eating every carb, meat, and spicey cheesy mashed potatoes in sight after a long weekend of moving. I felt nearly doubled in size from that night so, the wrap couldn't have come at a better time.

I slathered on the Fat Girl Sixpack according to the directions I found online, which was literally, slather on and don't rub in. I covered my entire midsection, sides, and back. The tricky part is the plastic wrap, start lower than you think you should and slowly work your way up to right under your boobs. Go back and forth like this until you have snuggly wrapped yourself at least 8 times.

You have to sweat.

At this point you'll feel the Fat Girl Sixpack start to tingle. A lot. It's slippery and weird so you have to put on the chest ace bandage to secure your plastic wrap. Make sure that your ace bandage is snug as well, but not to the point where you can't breathe.. Obviously.

More like the point where you only have a standing or laying down option because if you sit down everything will shift.

Then go to bed. You'll sweat a lot that night, and it will be tingly for a little while. I guess that means it's working.

My results:

I WAS NORMAL! It took away ALL the horrible bloat that I would have normally had to deal with for DAYS. I've never felt my body be so regular on day 2 of a period. Ladies, you know.

So, if you are in need of a quick fix to the bloats, I would say give this a shot.

If you are maybe looking for a long term solution, then try putting on the Fat Girl Sixpack with plastic wrap during work outs, which will make that area sweat. Just.. keep doing that frequently, and there goes more water weight.

Good luck, Godspeed!

Let me know about your experience with a DIY body wrap!

xo,
Paige

Major Update

Well this month has been quite the whirl wind and I've got some major revamps coming.

Between commuting to work with Jeff out to DUMBO, meeting one of my lovely bridesmaids in NYC for the day, doing extra client work, finding a place to live, and wedding planning it has been quite the first month of summer.

On a great note, Jeff and I had a small fire escape photoshoot to snap a simple picture to get our Wedding Invites done. I'm hoping to get those sent out this week or next. (Finally!)

We've also solidified that we are moving. Without going in to detail, things have been weird, and this is just for the better. I'm in love with my new place that is being completely renovated as we speak.

I also had the amazing opportunity to shop for wedding dresses in NYC with my Mom, Grandma, and sisters/maids of honor. We also met Leanne Marshall, winner of Project Runway and had a bridal fitting there as well. I did say yes to the dress at one of my locations ;) as well as ordered wedding bands.

So, in honor of this last week of June and moving, Jeff and I will be trying a new diet. The Sacred Heart Soup Cleanse. It was just the easiest thing to make in bulk and get us through the week while our stuff is packed up. 

Now, I plan on doing a much better update as soon as the move is over with. I definitely want to spill my experience trying on dresses. I felt the trip was super successful. As well as Jeff and I are going to try our hand at interior decorating. 

Cheers! I can't wait to share!

xo,

Paige

Heat Wave

IT'S BEEN HOT. Actually, it's been hotter in my apartment than it has been outside.

Looking on the bright side, living on the top floor during a heat wave has its perks. It's been pretty much a free sauna with the tar on the roof collecting all the heat, so I've been sweating out water weight and my skin has looked so great with all the toxins being flushed out.

We've done our best to keep the apartment cool by getting the hot air to at least circulate through out the whole unit, but I finally broke down and ordered a portable air conditioning unit that has a hose that hooks up to the window. My only reasons being is that the poor cat that lives with us was acting like she was dying and, you know, it just felt inhumane as we kept giving her ice water. Jeff also started getting heat rashes after I ordred it, so I guess it was the right decision.

We've had the apartment to ourselves for the past few days, which has been nice and making me very eager to get married. I have actually been able to use the kitchen! One day I made some great Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizza. So, it's been nice to be able to do things with out feeling like I'm bothering others. Aside from that I've started my new commute with Jeff out to DUMBO. He's been working part time out there for a little bit now and my office just moved out there for at least the summer. I don't mind too much the hour long train ride since we get to ride together, but because we both work in DUMBO, we are now on the fence between moving some where cheaper in SpaHa or out to Brooklyn to be closer to work. 

Speaking about moving we've been talking about our future and considering other options down the road besides NYC. I am definitely excited about the idea of adventures with Jeff, but I can only give the hint of the logo made below of what may come in a year or so (hopefully sooner!)

Happy Monday! Hope everyone enjoyed the rain, I know I did! (Though my heart goes out to those states that keep getting slammed by Tornados. I can't with that. Stay safe!)

xo,
Paige

ps: as a wedding update I ordered the bridesmaid dresses! They are from For Her and For Him. Very excited, since I go dress shopping here in NYC at the end of June!

Wedding Weekend: Murray's Mill

Jeff and I made our second trip home to NC this May. It was definitely needed because we were at the end of our rope with the clutter and lack of sleep from the heat.

Not to mention I was really ready to celebrate my birthday properly, and by properly I mean with cake. 

While we were home Jeff also got a much needed hair cut, which has given him a major confidence boost with his new cool doo.

Then came our mini road trip to Catawba for our good friend/dear SAI sister's wedding.

I may or may not have taken an energy supplement that morning to get through a work out and the rest of the day. So, major organization and work was in order before I left.

2.5 hours later we arrived at Murray's Mill a little bit early. It was BEAUTIFUL and perfect for the bride! Few snaps below

Whitney had the SAI sisters who attended come early and she gave us each a rose. I thought the gesture was so sweet, and I definitely am pocketing the idea for my wedding! (Thanks Whitney!)

Then came the beautiful bride

And the rest is history

Vita Brevis, Ars Longus

The wedding was really lovely. The reception was fun. 

Spot on Whitney! We had a great time and loved the fire works that night!

---

We ventured back to Charlotte that night to stay at Jeff's grandma's house. I absolutely love visiting Charlotte and that house. We didn't stay very long that next day, just enough time to eat some breakfast and journey over to the jewelers to get Jeff's grandma's wedding bands sized. 

I will be very honored to wear those. 

The trip home was a different story. I'm not sure what was wrong with my stomach but all the sudden it was like bottoms up. One pitstop and forced back seat sleep later, I made it back to Jeff's house but before I knew it I was upstairs in his bed in so much pain and tried to sleep more for a few hours to get what ever it was moving in my stomach to a settling point. I finally managed that night to join his family and eat a little before I headed home.

But once again that night I woke up in the worst pain, and NOTHING helped. After breaking in to a few cold sweats I was able to go in and out of sleep. That morning was better and I tried my best to relax that whole day before the flight back to NYC.

So, here we are today, I've had to take a nap already but I'm a lot better than what I was the other day. I was finally able to eat a meal with out things locking up. So, hoping things passed and this week will be fine! Back to a stricter diet to see if that helps... Though I was really wishing for some BBQ this memorial weekend, we will just have to make up for it.

Hope everyone had a great long weekend and a good short week ahead!

xo,

Paige

23

Well, it was bound to happen.

Jeff and I both turned 23 this week and are rapidly approaching quarter life crisis.

Last Tuesday was Jeff's birthday and we started the day early with a brunch at Max Brenner, followed by a trip to Bluth's Banana Stand, and back down to REI to get him a hammock (since his Bespoke Post box STILL hasn't arrived.) I then had to pause his birthday to finish up a few things for work, and then I ended the day by making him some mason jar pineapple upside down cakes. 

My birthday however...
My weekend started out promising with getting free tickets to GoogaMooga in Brooklyn on Saturday and leaving 30 minutes early from work. That however, was followed by my bus only going to Grand Central 4 stops shy or where I normally need to get off. No problem, stopped at Magnolia's to get some cupcakes, then I went down to get on the subway and my card swiped 3 errors before giving me the dreaded "been used." UGH.

It was 6:00 in Grand Central on Friday where everyone is going some where. The line for customer service to buzz me in was 30+ people long, so I decided to just put 5 bucks on my metro and get through. Well, the machine didn't like my debit card and the credit card was out of commission until Saturday and I felt bad for backing up the line for so long.

I was stuck with 10% phone battery life in Grand Central. I got a short phone call in to Jeff, who came to meet me and eat our cupcakes. We decided to go and try and see Star Trek 2, which I should have guessed would have been totally sold out on a Friday Night. We ended up just walking around, grabbing some drug store popcorn, and going home to watch a movie. By that point my allergies, which I haven't pointed out where flaring up all day, got the better of me and I had to knock myself out.

I woke up some point around 11 still drowsy and moving at a snails pace to get ready for the day. By around 2 I was all set to go to GoogaMooga and was out the door when Jeff said "Want me to grab an umbrella?" I stepped back inside and looked out the window and of course it had started to rain. We re-evaluated if a trip out to Brooklyn in the rain would be worth it while I still wasn't feeling too great and decided against it. We fandango'ed some tickets for Star Trek 2 so we would be able to see it, and went there instead. That was great, I totally enjoyed the movie! Even stumbled on to the set of Anchor Man 2.. Before we knew that is what it was for. After that we came home and got the middle room cleaned up and rearranged which was needed and had to kill a bunch of ants* in the kitchen.

*Don't know what it is about NYC ants, but there is no tracing line or reason for them being there. We literally cleared off the counters and they still scattered every where regardless so we broke down and had to coat the counters in Hot Shot to finally kill them.

On my actual birthday it rained more. Jeff was nice enough to order me breakfast, my favorite meal, and gave me the watch I had been eyeing for a month now. We pretty much just chilled all day, which was the opposite of going to Coney Island like we originally planned.

But I will say it was nice not to be alone. I'm glad that regardless of all the mishaps I had Jeff there, so things could have been much, much worse. So, no pity parties here, I just need another chill pill from all that's going on. I'm just going to rain check my birthday and celebrate when I go home this week for a dear friend's wedding (that I am so excited about!)

This is 23, and I'm going to embrace it.

The Rain Stopped

Is it the end of May yet? I've been dreading this month to start, and now that it has it's been filled with work, frumpy clothing, traveling, and rainy days. This gross weather has been making my hair a complete wreck, as pointed out by my sister last week, I've got to get it figured out. My mousey brown roots have grown in almost a half an inch, and the ombre has gotten a little funky. Playing with the idea of going a little blonde again, but this won't happen until the end of the month.

But between it all I was able to find the most amazing pants from.. Target. I feel so Brady Bunch, but I love it! I purchased this polka dot pair along with a floral pair (and a bike, that I've been hoping to ride since it stopped raining!) Above are a few snaps from where I redid my report feature image, so I wasn't sporting a Brooklyn jersey in East Harlem.

I'll be working on a mid week update after Jeff's birthday, which is this Tuesday!

Happy Sunday, back to work for me.

xo,
Paige

WEDDING UPDATE: WE SET THE DATE!

We've been patiently waiting and quietly planning while making sure our finances were in order to be able to stay in NYC after we got married. Jeff and I are pleased to finally announce our wedding destination as well as our official wedding date!

The Fearrington Farms in Chapel Hill. 

It's only 20 minutes down the road from my parents house so it will be easy for everyone to attend. 

Even though the outside venue was beautiful, we decided it would be more suitable for pictures. We want an indoor area to avoid a rain plan and ruined hair. That NC humidity is a pain.

This is a view from the indoor venue, which will be exciting to decorate. All the other walls are just giant windows so it's a great outdoor feel with an indoor setting. Here is a photo from their Pinterest of another wedding in this location.

Here is our reception area at the barn.

We were greeted by swallows.. Although they were promised to be gone by October for our bird haters.

The very spacious interior of the reception venue, which again I'm very excited to decorate.

Testing out the chairs in the bridal party waiting area. I will confidently say that these chairs and floral patterns really sold it.

So, we are happy to announce that on Sunday, October 6th we will be getting married. 

We will be collecting addresses very soon to send out announcements and RSVPs.

We couldn't be more thrilled with the place we have chosen! Especially when we saw a wedding being set up today and the mother of the bride stopped us and asked if we were thinking about getting married here. She gave the place 5 stars in terms of them taking care of everything perfectly and how wonderful it's been to work with them. 

The place is stunning, everywhere you walk is picture perfect, and the only time you really smell cow poop is when you make a point to go find and be near the cows, so I hope everyone is able to attend.

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In terms of the next steps we have to start booking odd end things like an officiant, and of course a photographer. Which brings me to the sneak peek of our next update.

We are looking to meet some new friends in NYC through Instagram. Believe it or not, I am horribly shy infront of the camera, especially for couple-y photos. It's awkward and just not us. 

So, we are wanting to meet some of our favorite and inspirational NYC based instagrammers (or those who will be visiting this summer) to meet up with us, get a free breakfast/lunch/or dinner, and just get to know each other and hopefully capture us completely naturally when ever the moment strikes. 

Really, let's just have a fun day of being new friends and remembering the moment.

More details soon! 

But if you are an Instagrammer and already know this is something you are interested in, email me at paige.e.hogan@gmail.com. 

I'd love to meet you!

Hope everyone has a lovely rest of the weekend, and if there any questions or comments about what's going on right now, don't hesitate!

xo,

Paige

PS: Happy Birthday to little cousin Sophie! 2 year old troubles now! :)