♥ PHOTOGRAPHY IS A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LIFE.

 as a visual stylist at bloomingdale's,  i am responsible for

 the overall look and feel of the store. this means that i spend my days 

going up and down ladders, stapling visual props to the wall or

 suspending them from the ceiling, etc.

oftentimes, when i am in the middle of a project, i get asked by customer 

and associates alike what my house must look like,

 since i make such colorful installations at the store- and the 

answer actually surprises people: 

some of the walls in my condo are completely white!

unlike at work, where i have the props at hand to transform a space,

and the tools necessary to restore the mess i made-- at home, 

i am afraid to make the commitment and ruin the blank canvas!

above, you can see one of the smaller- ie. more approachable walls in my condo- 

that has slowly become a gallery wall of family photos and colorful kids artwork.

i have been looking to re-vamp it, (rather than tackle one of the larger, scarier walls 

in my living room!)  and was so excited when canvas factory  reached out with an

 opportunity to add another beautiful canvas print to the collection!

(see my review from last year!)

canvas factory is committed to offering canvas prints that are not

only affordable for all, fast! and high quality. 

i decided to continue with the tradition of printing one of my favorite photos

of henry and sadie- and chose one from our christmas card because--

who doesn't want a cuteness overload every time they walk into their kitchen?

i tried choosing from a number of pictures on my phone (where i take nearly all of 

my pictures these days) and the website was able to let me know beforehand that these

photos were not eligible to be blown up onto canvas format due to blurry pixellation-

so make sure when you are choosing a photo for your canvas print that

you are choosing one that is taken by digital camera vs. your phone!

i am very happy with the speed and quality of this print- not only does it

act as an anchor to the other photos on this small gallery wall- creating a color

story of red and yellow tones, that play well with the smaller prints and drawings,

 but it also is just about the happiest picture i could ever imagine spending 

my days looking at :)

thank you, canvas factory, for another picture-perfect print!

(i was provided this canvas for review, but all opinions are my own!)

♥ introducing: CANVAS FACTORY!

while in real life and on social media you will know full well that
i am the mother of two delightful children- i recently realized that if a stranger
were to walk into my condo and look around at all of the artwork
and photographs on the walls, they may not realize that
Sadie were a even member of the family!

(whoops!) 

i don't know what it is about the second child- but i noticed it growing up
when my sister, Lissy, who is less than a year younger than me,
could never find photos of her time in the hospital right after she was born!
thankfully, everything is saved digitally up in some cloud in the sky for
when i finally get my act together- (which is more than i can say for my poor sis!)

as if reading my thoughts-- and to save me from my negligent printing practices,
i was recently contacted by canvasfactory, and given the opportunity to
print my very own canvas photo! with the simple mission to make
online photo printing easy and affordable for everyone,
canvas factory helped me to right my photographic wrongs
in just a few clicks!



the photo i chose is one of my favorites of Henry and Sadie-
so colorful and happy- perfect really for every room in the house!

sometimes when you blow up a picture you have to worry about
them looking too pixelated, but this photo looks even better blown up
than it does, say, on the front of a candle-- which i also have!

the canvas print wraps stretches perfectly around the back of the frame,
so it rests flush to the wall, and the size is 16" x 20"- big enough to make a
 real impact without getting lost!

canvas factory for the win!

♥ QII GIVEAWAY EXTENDED!

thank you to all who have entered the qii giveaway on a glimpse of glamour!

we have decided to extend one more week-

a winner shall be announced on february 5th.

see the original post for details on how to win!

good luck!

♥ INTRODUCING: QII (PLUS A GIVEAWAY!!)

happy 2018, dolls!

i know, it has been, like, a million years since i last posted-

so what better way to get into the swing of things than with an 

exciting introduction to the very first drink on the market 

specifically designed to take care of your smile?

brewed from organic tea leaves, and made with xyvita- a patented ingredient 

made from birch trees, qii natural tea (pronounced "chee") is an

 FDA approved/ non-GMO/vegan powerhouse- 

created to reduce the acidity in your mouth 

...while also freshening your breath. 

AND on top of ALL that, it tastes absolutely fantastic!!

light, refreshing, and smooth- this tea has no icky aftertaste and 

leaves teeth feeling squeaky clean, rather than sugary/sticky,

like most drinks do! i rarely have time to brush my teeth after a meal

-- this seems like a lovely (and tasty!!) alternative.

the packaging is bright and adorable, the cans are sleek and easy to hold,

and they are made right here, in the old US of A. 

can you even beat it? no, you really can't.

and now, it's time for the fun part! 

the giveaway!

this week, i will be offering one of my US resident readers a chance to win 

**a year supply of qii/ with free shipping/ no purchase necessary**

to enter, please:

1) follow @aglimpseofglamour_on instagram

2) follow @drinkqii on instagram 

3) leave a comment with your name and email address on the blog!

a winner will be announced on january 29th!
 good luck!

♥ skincare review with NATURA BISSE!

ever since i saw john mayer's funny skincare routine snaps last summer,
i have been wondering what the natura bisse brand is all about.

according to john, its "mainly used by people in their 60's and 70's,"
but i would argue that this skincare line is actually for anyone looking
to brighten and revitalize the skin their in!

i was recently sent some of the latest products from
natura bisse's essential shock intense line, and i must say that they
 have been a welcome addition to my ever-evolving skincare routine.

the essential shock intense mask smells delicious and has me looking like
a geisha for 10-15 minutes, before washing it off for a smooth & polished glow!

the essential shock intense complex is a fabulous serum that layers on lightly
underneath my everyday moisturizer, and has been helping to maintain my skin's
hydration and clarity- even in the dead of winter! it is great that i can apply
my makeup right over it, without feeling like i have too much gunk
on my face.

 

ps. did you know that for the first time, natura bisse will be coming to MA
to introduce their "mindful touch" spa experience (usually reserved for celebrities during
the past 12 academy award ceremonies!) to the public?

NEIMAN MARCUS BOSTON
Dates: May 17-20
Address: 5 Copley Place Boston, MA 02116


with the purchase of 4 products, you may receive a free facial inside the Pure Air Bubble-
making appointments right on their website!

♥ a visit to the new TONI & GUY HAIR SALON at Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes!

sandwiched right between kate spade and mini luxe, the first massachusetts-based

TONI & GUY  hair salon has opened at hingham's derby street shoppes!

known for their cutting-edge hair designs, which come out in annual collections 

and seem to set the tone for the hairdressing industry across the globe--

one may never guess that the TONI & GUY brand has been around 

for over 50 years!! (talk about forever young!)

this amazing british brand, which began in 1963 with the four Mascolo brothers,

 has expanded to include sons, daughters, nephews and wives, as well as expanding

across the globe to over 500 locations, is fully committed to:

"upgrading the hairdressing industry 

one stylist, one salon, one academy

 at a time."

with their inimitable business model, TONI & GUY is not just a salon- but an academy.

providing their stylists with continuous education & training  in cut & color means that 

they are constantly evolving and responding to client needs, 

creating trends as they go.

the salon itself reflects the always-contemporary TONI & GUY aesthetic, with lots of stark

black and white against a vibrant wall of TIGI professional products (which i had no idea

they had a hand in creating!)  and an awesome wallpaper collage made up of the brand's

creative photographs and images! LOVE!!!

before sitting down for my haircut, my hairdresser, leonor pilsmaker, 

(remember my interview with her here?), and i brought up pictures of what we think

would look good this time around and were surprised and delighted to see that

we were on the same page!

the haircut i selected is on TONI & GUY'S latest billboard (heading into boston!)

 and is called the "OLIVIA." it's a razored shag with the brand's signature

square layers. LOVE!!

and here's how it came out! i am so excited to play around with it

 and style it with different products, like TIGI's texturizing molding wax,

 manipulator matte! :) i feel like a new girl!

TONI & GUY is located at 92-98 Derby Street
Hingham, MA 02043

**i was provided with a complimentary haircut from TONI & GUY,

but all opinions expressed are my own. **

♥ GIVEAWAY: serums from TREE OF LIFE!

wintertime is hard on the skin.

 the combination of dry heat and alternately biting cold air makes it nearly

impossible to maintain a balanced complexion- without a bit of help!

thankfully, for the past three weeks, i have had the luxury of coating my face
with multiple layers of spa-quality, organic products from tree of life.
specifically: the anti-aging serum combo pack, which includes
the trifecta of "flawless" skin: vitamin c, hyaluronic acid & retinol serum,
as well as the ultimate age-defying night serum.

just adding a few drops of each life-giving elixir before my morning/evening
moisturizing routine has given my skin new energy and vitality-
and a certain glow that usually fades in the dark winter days.

for a chance to win,  follow the prompts below:

Win a selection of the Tree of life beauty products #14 , 
 a winner will be chosen by february 26th,
and the products will be shipped directly to you! good luck!

♥ keeping a stiff upper lip.

as a self-proclaimed lipstick addict, it is funny for me to admit that i have never 

worn a lip stain before!! while i usually lean towards creamier matte formulas in bright colors,

there is something about a berry-stained lip that looks so effortless and appealing to me.

thus, when given the opportunity to try a lip product from younique, where my friend, jill, 

offers a unique array of absolutely gorgeous makeup and skincare products, 

i had to go with the stiff upper lip stain in the color sultry.

(check out jill's facebook page for the latest offerings!)

giving the effect of having eaten a juicy red popsicle, (in the middle of winter no less!),

this lip stain is a bright rinse of color that clings to the lips and lasts a long time,

without needing to be re-applied! i made sure to exfoliate my lips beforehand,

so that the color would not seep into cracks and crevices, and i am happy

to report that the lip stain does not stray outside of the lip line, 

as you may expect from a more liquidy product. 

with all the extra time on my hands spent not thinking about my lipstick-

i am wondering what other must-have products i need to pick up from younique?!

stay tuned! xo

♥ new year, new dress.

happy 2017, darlings!!

i have been in total hibernation mode since last month, and have not found any suitable

 daylight in which to take pictures, or anything of note to write about, and so i have

not bothered to post at all. 

luckily, blogs are marvelous things that float around on the internet somewhere 

and wait for your blessed return, to pick right up where you left off, 

whenever you want.

last year, one of the resolutions i actually stuck with, was to be more

committed to my blog. after giving birth to henry, my free time has minimized,

but my blog wife, lei ann, and i did a pretty good job attending events and photographing

 of our always oddly-matching-yet-never-planned-outfits!

this year, i am aiming to continue with our efforts, 

but mostly, i would like to be more kind. the dalai lama once said,

"i'd rather be kind than right. you can always be kind." 

my bratty personality would always rather be right- so i am hoping this year

to curtail that fiery need to have the last word and remember to choose kindness first.

 

today, lei ann and i mustered up a little resolve, scouted out a tiny patch of sunlight,

and i dialed into a little bit of denial (winter's over--right??), to get a photo of me

in my latest, favorite party look. (technically, i was at work, but you get me.)

audrey hepburn style a-line dress with pockets c/o eshakti

 + 

hot pink gucci-inspired shoes by asos!

+

pink metallic wallet by kate spade!

+

 cat ears by aldo

 =

 love!

i ♥ tobi.

don't let the hot weather fool you, folks!

 summer is practically over, and fall is in full swing-

if you live in the retail world like i do, you would know that

 winter is well on it's way! (yikes!) 

what a better way to beat the heat, then to completely skip to the next season-

which is what i am doing in these photos, with the help of a few *new* pieces

from the online boutique, tobi. 

did you know that new customers can get 50% off their first order??!!

 this tobi love bandit draped jacket is the perfect outerwear piece for this transitional period

between summer and fall. i needed a new olive jacket in my life and love this departure

from the typical cargo jacket. i can imagine pairing this over everything from a black dress, 

to a plaid shirt, to a t-shirt and jeans, like i am wearing today!

the free spirit fringe maxi skirt is a great way to keep the bohemian summer vibes alive--

even in the fall. i trimmed it down myself because it was way too long on me, but i love 

that the stretchy knit was forgiving enough for me to tailor it to my own height!

the tightness of this skirt requires a flowier top, but i also love the unexpected look 

of a tie-front chambray shirt paired with it. this skirt is meant for twirling!

the lock it down moto vest is another amazing layering piece for that
transitional phase between seasons when it's too warm to wear a full coat

and too chilly to wear nothing. it's very oversized, which makes it fun to pair
with thin lace dresses, like the one i am wearing, but i can also imagine it would be
 awesome with a faux leather skirt or jeans! stay tuned; i have a feeling this
vest will be on heavy rotation in the coming months :)

** this is a sponsored post provided by Tobi; all opinions are my own**