Holiday Preview...Sneak a Peek!

Whether we like it or not, the holidays are just around the corner. That means it's almost time for Bristol's 8th Annual Holiday Preview...yipee! With all the creative juices flowing around here, we decided to put a little twist on the fun event. We are holding our very first Clothing Drive!

We know our New Leaf-ers are stylish. We love your cute shoes. We're eyeing your sassy handbags. We wouldn't mind trying on those snuggle-icious sweaters. While we're coveting your fab wardrobe, we know someone needs it more.

Join us for the Holiday Preview on Friday, November 20th from 5-9pm and Saturday, November 21st from 8-4pm...donate your clothing items (fall clcloset cleanout, anyone?) and receive 20% off any retail purchase!

Don't forget to bring in shoes, handbags, belts, accessories, winter jackets (brrr...New England winters are coooold) and any other articles that are clean and in good condition. We are donating to Big Sisters of RI and the Bristol Soup Kitchen. We promise you won't see us wearing any of your stuff. Scouts honor:o)

Just because someone might be a little less fortunate doesn't mean they can't have great style!

Also, because we are feeling a little more like Santa, not so much Scrooge, spend $50 in retail and unwrap a mystery holiday gift!

What would a holiday preview be without sweets and cocktail treats? What's on the menu? Well, wouldn't you know that I am a really good secret keeper. Hint: It might begin with cup- and end in -cakes...but shhhhh....you didn't hear that from me.

Come sneak a peek at all our holiday goodies and have a blast while shopping with the New Leaf girls. Sparkly earrings, haute headbands, luscious lip glosses, mini masques, pretty polish....don't forget your stocking stuffers! See you soon....

what: holiday preview

where: new leaf hair studio

when: november 20th 5-9 & november 21st 8-4

why: because, hey, the holidays are here and we are a ton of fun!

Retro Is All The Rage

Retro and fun are two words to describe Caitlin Chipperfield's 'vibe' for her wedding.

She lucked out with some beautiful fall weather for her Oceancliff affair. Now I have lived in New England my whole life. Why does it still shock me that, in October, I can watch the Patriots playing in the snow one day and then our bride can get married outside in Newport two weeks later?

Courtesy of our friends at Snap! Photography, here is what a ceremony looks like at Oceancliff...well, minus the guests wearing summer attire. I think it was still too cool for that.

I bet Caitlin never dreamed that her ceremony could be outside.

Here is the ballroom at Oceancliff...just as beautiful.

Here is Leah, known for transforming people with her magical hair and make up skills, workin' it with Caitlin.

No one should EVER forget to conceal the under eye area. This make up tip is not just for brides. It's a trick that makes you look polished and put together in seconds, while awakening your eyes without requiring extra hours of sleep. Speaking of sleep, wasn't stealing that extra hour on Saturday night just fantastic? I think so.

Have a professional make up artist select the right under eye concealer, like Cargo's One Base or Smashbox High Definition Concealer. Then dab a few dots under the inner corner and pat, NEVER rub the concealer with your ring finger. Leah and Amy tell me that the natural pressure from your ring finger is just right--not too much (like the middle finger, a.k.a. the bird) and not too little (like the pinky). Smearing under eye concealer is just a waste of product, time and it just enhances any fine lines. Ew, who wants that?

Here is Leah, practicing what she preaches.

Caitlin's mom, Cindy, wanted in on the fun too. Caitlin was a smart bride who enjoyed her Bridal Package and shared the manicure and pedicure with her mom that day. Moms should never be forgotten!

Cindy was wearing a formal dress so after we discussed, we decided on a more formal, clean upsweep.

Here is the trick to the whole "height" thing. To make your 'do look more 2009, not 1959, the volume should be on the crown on your head, not on the top. If the volume is too much on top, you might find yourself looking a bit more Marge Simpson/Amy Winehouse (eeek)!

Cindy's modern french twist...

Cindy found these beautiful pearl adorned hairpins at the RISD (pronounced Riz-D or RI School of Design for those non-Rhode Islandah's) Art Show. They were just perfect.

Etsy.com should really win an award. I don't know what kind of award, but Caitlin seconds this thought. Check out the creative headband Caitlin found on Etsy.

Feathers, wire, and pearls, oh my! Love it.

Do you ever think of what decade you would have loved to experience? I think I would have loved the late 60's-early 70's...not for the whole hippie, drug, make-love-not-war-thing, but for the hair. The height (the bump), the headbands, the loose and natural waves--I love how it's coming back. I will be very sad when this trend fades.

Anyways, I bet Caitlin would say the late 50's-early 60's. I can just picture her with her perfect skin, big brown eyes and Audrey Hepburn hair.

I think Caitlin should be cast on Mad Men, right? Those eyes. Those red lips. A fresh and modern twist on a really fantastic era.

I have said many times on the blog that I have 'dimple-envy'. Well, I also have had 'beauty mark-envy' since my middle-school days of Cindy Crawford and Niki Taylor super-modeling. I have tried to convince myself that some of my many freckles are beauty marks. They are most certainly not. My dermatologist really put me in my place. Oh well, I will just envy Caitlin's:o)

Just perfect.

Our thanks to Caitlin and Cindy for letting us 'beautify' you on a very important day. Congratulations!

Christine's Going to Disney!

Christine Furtado was pretty happy that it was 60 degrees and cloudy on her wedding day. Why, you ask? Because the meteorologists were predicting a total washout, complete with driving rain and high winds.

Wouldn't you love to be a weather person? You can be wrong every day and still have a job.

I bet Christine was happy that weather people are bad at their jobs.

Her ceremony was here in Bristol and her reception was at the Five Bridge Inn, a beautiful place in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Christine is our first bride to get married there so it was fun to hear all about it.

Here are a few pictures of the grounds...

The Inn...

Who knew this was in Rehoboth?

Back to Bristol--here is our New Leaf-er bride...

The process of a textured chignon...luckily Christine trusts me:o)

Christine's bridesmaid, Stephanie, brought in a picture of Scarlett Johansson for Leah to replicate.

Here is Scarlett's 'do...

And Leah's...wow.

This is why we love when the 'maids bring ideas...there is no room for confusion then!

Jamie Evenson hard at work...

Leah and Amy perfecting their styles...

Hey, it's Amy Silva, the lady behind all the magic at New Leaf! It's like a celebrity sighting. She is always busy with her clients so she doesn't always get a chance to join in all the fun in the Bridal Lounge. She was sick of missing out so she made an appearance! Christine's bridesmaid, Sandra, was just in a wedding last weekend...that is dedication right there!

Here is Jamie's 'after' ...

Another view... All of Christine's girls had the most beautiful hair...it must have been a prerequisite to be in her wedding. Oh that, and the fact that they were all so pretty. They were wearing long, mermaid style chocolate dresses. Maybe they will even be able to wear them again...sorry, just a silly 27 Dresses reference. Love that movie.

The back of Christine's bridal style...don't you love the brooch? It's really not a brooch at all...it was her 'borrowed' from her bridesmaid, Carla. It was a long clip that we worked into a 'new' accessory. A little bit of creativity goes a long way...
Another view...and a sneak peek at her veil!

The girls...
We were all in love with Christine's veil. Her aunt made it and it was amazing! I loved the lace edging to go with Christine's 'vintage' look to her wedding. Her aunt even added in hidden hooks to pin the veil so it would stay put (even with all the wind)!

It was really long so Christine wouldn't be keeping it in all day.


How beautiful...and this is before make up. What?!

I love this one of Christine checking out the back with her digital camera.


Christine was this happy all day. Really, it was infectious.

Another reason Christine looks so happy? When asked where she was going on her honeymoon, she gleefully replied, "I'm going to Disney!"

Turns out, she is actually going to Barcelona and Italy after Disney. She left that part out. She had never been to see Mickey and Minnie so she was feeling pretty lucky. Someone better put a veil on her Minnie ears!

We couldn't let her leave without a picture of her hoodie--so cute!
We hope everyone stayed dry that night...the weather turned out to be pretty crazy. I bet everyone was celebrating too much to even notice.

Thanks Christine and all your girls--you were so fun to spend the morning with and we can't wait to see you next time you are at New Leaf...Congrats!

ROCK THE WAVES ALL YEAR ROUND...Leah says...it's a FASHION DO!

Think you have to say good bye to your sexy, beachy waves because it is getting colder? Think again. With the right products from Bumble and bumble and a little help from your hairdryer, you can rock the wavy look all year round! If your hair is naturally curly or wavy and you want to keep it that way or if your hair is on the straighter side and you want a little extra "ooh-la-la" for a change.....read on and work it girl!

Step 1: Spritz your damp hair with Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Spray all over the head to get a rough texture. If you have thicker hair, spray a bit less.

Step 2: Scrunch hair as it air dries with a diffuser...or a hairdryer with the setting on warm and low. Twist random areas of your hair with your fingers and be sure to let your hair do what it wants to! You can fine-tune waves and curls after you allow your hair to dry.

Step 3: Create even more sexy curls and waves with an iron. You can skip this step, but if you want to add more movement and volume, make some haphazard waves with a curling iron. The secret is to make them look not-so-perfect. Wrap random 2-inch thick sections of hair around a fat barrel curling iron. Note: You don't have to do the entire head with the curling iron, think RANDOM. Grab a few pieces here and there....This will ensure that your waves stay soft and loose.

Step 4: Using Bumble and Bumble Defrizz or Grooming cream, finger-comb your hair. Run your fingers through hair very gently to break up the curls and any waves that need a little more TLC. This will eliminate any areas that are a little too rough. You want the end result to look extremely natural and super soft. Separation is the key and to get that, you have to use the right products!! It may take a few tries to get this beachy look..but trust me...you can rock it.

Whether your look is casual and pulled together, classic and chic, New York Dolls punk-rocker Blondie-chic, or simple and sassy....your hair is your accessory! You know you put a tremendous effort into every scarf, necklace, ballet flat and coat that you wear....why not spend a little extra time on your hair? All of the products featured in this beauty how-to are available at the salon. Also...check back for some of my Holiday how-to's....COMING SOON!

Double Dresses!

I met Jill Sartorelli at her wedding hair trial in the spring, and we both agreed it felt like eons ago! When did that start happening? Years, months, seasons, they all blend. My mom warned me about that...

When I first met Jill, I instantly liked her. She was so sweet, soft-spoken and easy-going. It's no wonder she works with children for a living. Her fiance and her have been together for 8 years so they had been waiting for this day forever!

Anyways, Jill's wedding was planned for a Sunday and she never dreamed the weather in October would be so gorgeous! The air was crisp, the sun was shining, it smelled like fall. Perfection.

Jill's mom told me when they visited Glen Manor for the first time, it was a day just like this one. They booked the venue.

But Jill also did something smart. She expected rain. She planned on things being inside.

Usually, I like to think positively but for a day like your wedding, it's best not to have your heart set on sunshine. Why not, you ask?

Because if you focus on what the day really is about, the weather becomes secondary. And that's nice.

Sure, every bride wants the perfect day, but if you focus on other things, what is a better surprise than waking up and seeing sun? It's kind of like an 'added bonus' to marrying your best friend.

A different view of the Glen, courtesy of Snap! again.

Sheesh, those girls save this blog, huh?

Here is Ashley, styling Jill's future sister-in-law. She is giggling because I am making her. Ashley is very serious when styling but she is actually not this way at all when you meet her. As we say, beauty is serious business. I told her this blog is giving people a false impression of her...

The 'look' was our style maven, Sarah Jessica Parker, Season 8, SJP herself.

The bridal room at the Glen is gorgeous, spacious, very vintage and airy. Oh, and it overlooks the bay. Not a bad place to be on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Just trying to get artsy.

I love when we travel--we get to see all the little moments of the bride's day. We usually miss those after we send the bride on her way from the salon.

Here is a sweet gift from the groom...

A blurry photo of the flowers. I love those brown curly Q things. Jill and I didn't know what they were called so she told me she calls them "monkey tails". I think that works.

In unison, florists are groaning.

They are called fiddleheads.

(but, Jill, I still like monkey tails--it fits:-)

Bridal do' in progress...

Much better!

Love all the blonde texture...too bad that darn sun is darkening my shot. Hmph.

Now there is our Ashley, smiling and spraying away. We are working on her hairspray addiction. I bet there is a group for that on Facebook (which New Leaf Hair Studio is on, and you too can become a fan...I am shameless, I know). Seriously, someone should monitor all those groups on Facebook though...it has just gotten out of control.

Just sprucing up Jill's future mother-in-law...

Jill's mom, who didn't want anything fussy. Simple and beautiful, just like her.

I know I tease Ashley about the hairspray, but it pays off. Jill's sister-in-law had a finest, poker-straight hair that she claimed would not hold a curl. Until Ashley.

Ashley says that if your hair loses any type of curl, you must do 2 things: 1.)Spray each section before curling with the iron. 2.)Take very small sections.

The proof is in the picture.

She was loving Ashley!

Can't you just tell how sweet Jill is?

Her mom was teasing Jill a bit about this minor detail of the day. Jill had 2 dresses--one for the ceremony and one for the reception...a girl's gotta be able to dance, you know! Jill ardently defended her purchase by claiming, "The second one was on sale!"

Seriously, Jill, I understand. I have trouble putting down a silly pair of shoes when they are on sale, so I can only imagine what happens when you find a wedding dress you love as much as the one you chose...and it's on sale! I would take it as a sign. But I have an uncanny ability to justify any purchase. It's a skill. My husband would agree.

Dress #1...

Oo la la! Dress #2...This must be the dancing one...

While we didn't get to see her in the dress, we can imagine how absolutely radiant she looked.

I bet her husband is glad the eight year wait is over.

Thanks, Jill, for choosing New Leaf! You made a beautiful Sunday afternoon even better. Hopefully, now that your wedding is over, you won't stop checking out our blog!

While we are working next week, we'll be thinking of you on the beach in Tahiti...Congratulations.

Break out the Bubbly!

It was Caitlin McHale's turn to get married...boy, it's October already? When did that happen?

Caitlin was an absolute joy--she was the kind of bride who just loved everything. Well then, we love her!

You know how I have been 'awarding' brides with things lately...well, Caitlin wins our newest category...Biggest Bridal Party. I guess I should specify--Biggest Bridal Party New Leaf's Bridal Lounge. Caitlin's entourage outnumbered our New-Leafer bride Joanna in July who had 1 bride, 7 bridesmaids, 1 flower girl and 2 moms for a total of 11. Caitlin had....drumroll, please...1 bride, 8 bridesmaids, 4 junior bridesmaids, and mother of the groom (or MOG, in the wedding acronym world)=14 people. Holy smokes!

And this was a P-A-R-T-Y! What is Caitlin's equation for the festivities?

Food + champagne + lots of laughter+pampering=good time at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Turns out, these girls were just continuing their good time from the night before;-)

Caitlin's wedding was at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, RI. Here are some beautiful images, captured by the fabulously talented ladies at Snap! Photography again...

The mansion and grounds...

Walking from the gardens...

And a koi pond with the bay in the background...

Oh yes, and a sunset before dinner.

The wedding celebration continues under a tent...Thanks Snap!

We never get to actually see the party. Tear droplet.

Okay, back to our party. Leah works on Caitlin, who is another smiling bride. Love it!

Coffee and a magazine on your wedding day. Great start to the day, I'd say.

The hairspray haze begins at 8:00 a.m. sharp!

And that is never too early for a mimosa...you know the saying--it's "the hair of the dog". Thinking of this made me wonder where in the world this saying came from or what it really means.

So, courtesy of Google, my trusty research assistant "the 'hair of the dog' is part of a longer expression - 'the hair of the dog that bit you'. This goes back to the old belief that the hair of a dog that bites someone could be used as an antidote against the bad effects of the bite. By extension, another drink or two after a drinking binge would be the cure for a hangover."

Well, okay then. Break out the bubbly!

Caitlin's lovely aunt put together a fantastic breakfast for the girls...

It's more than the champagne and OJ, I swear.

Is this a salon or a party? That's the beauty of our Bridal Lounge...

The lady behind it all:o)

Back to hair. Jenn setting the curls...

Pam curling away...

Leah perfecting the half-up style, which is very popular for bridesmaids these days...

Jamie Evenson was lucky enough to style this gorgeous mane of hair...

Adorable.

Another one of Jenn's creations...

Here is Megan, Caitlin's sister, with Ashley. She needed her Dunkin' D's before starting on that "hair of the dog" business. Caffeine, after all, is the breakfast of champions.

This is Megan when she saw her dad walk down to the stairs to check up on all the girls. Caitlin and Megan LOVE their dad, it was so cute. Apparently, he's a pretty cool guy who is in a band and would be playing that night at J.R. Bean's across the street after the festivities. Cool would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, my pictures of their dad did not come out. He was being photographed like the paparazzi, and I felt a little funny hip checking family members to get my shot. Darn.

Leah glamorizing Megan, and showing how multi-talented she really is. Hair and make up artist, and did I mention, she is an incredible vocalist/pianist? You can even find her on iTunes! Some girls get all the luck...

Amy buffing away Caitlin's skin...

The hair before make up...

Beautiful.

And voila! An hour or two in the chair with Leah and Amy and this is what happens.

Where is that chair?!?

The veiling...

This is always the moment when everything feels "real".

I love this shot. Caitlin is checking out the back while her girls surround her.

Can't you tell these ladies are going to have this much fun all day?

I don't know who I can thank for this photo, but thank you. This is definitely my favorite of the day. I bet this will be her expression when she sees her husband-to-be at the end of the aisle!

Thank you Caitlin and ALL her ladies for making our morning so much fun. All the stylists kept saying it felt like a party down in the Bridal Lounge!

Congratulations and we wish you all the best! Stop in next time you are in Bristol!

We wish they all could be California giiiiirls...

Brides must really love Rhode Island. Kate Hunter came all the way from California to get married. I think Kate just really loves her fiance, whose family lives here. Her mom, Nadine, did a lot of the organizing for Kate. Come to think of it, I never did get to meet the mom behind the magic....hmph.

Her wedding was on a Sunday, so the ladies had the salon to themselves. Even though New Leaf is closed on Sundays, we will open for weddings and events.

Kate's wedding was at "the Glen" (to the locals), or more formally known as the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI.

Here is the gorgeous staircase at the Glen, courtesy of the lovely ladies at Snap! Photography.

The ceremony spot...

Inside the House...

Oh yes, did I mention it's also overlooking the water?

Here is Kate getting 'glamorized' by Amy. Doesn't she have the cutest dimple? I harbor secret envy of anyone with dimples. I am pretty envious of Kate.

Serious stuff.

Amy finished up while I began to style her hair.

Amy promised she wasn't getting frisky with Kate. Sometimes Amy works in some precarious positions, this being one of them!

Celebrity treatment here at New Leaf.

Amy's so smart because she photographs the brides so she can see how they look.

Her skin looks so fresh...Amy tells me that Smashbox is magic make up.

Brides think Amy is magic.

Kate came in to try out some styles for her bridesmaids a few weeks before the wedding. She chose one style that they could wear any way in the front. Pulled straight back, parted on the side...there are so many options.

My version...

Pam's version...

The crew.

I was trying out some Snap! moves on Pam with the camera...

And voila! Kate wanted her hair natural with tons of texture.

Good choice.

Love blonde hair...

I can just picture Kate walking down those stairs at the Glen.

We are so happy it was such a gorgeous day for Kate's wedding. The girls were so much fun that it made working on a Sunday feel like not really working at all.

Thanks for choosing New Leaf and congrats!