carly mccullough

I Finally Turned 21, and I’m Allergic to Wine?

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No, not exactly. Here’s my DAO discovery changed the game.

Becoming an adult happens in stages. It’s gradual, but with each new stage comes a new set of gifts to enjoy as well as obstacles to overcome.

I just spent the past six weeks interning in the capital of young, prime opportunity: New York City. I took a leap of faith to move there by myself and see what I was capable of, even though I could’ve done the job from anywhere.

The chance to immerse myself in a city like the Big Apple as a young adult seemed like the only sensible option, or perhaps the only option that made the most sense for me — a 21-year-old dreamer with wide eyes and a hunger for new success.

With the chance to live in a city like Manhattan at my age, I’m trying to build and make as many professional networks and meaningful connections as I possibly can.

In New York City, one of the easiest — or at least more approachable — ways to do this is a night out.

As I’m in the city for the first time as an adult, this means enjoying a glass of velvety, red wine at dinner or drinks is a luxury I can finally enjoy.

It tastes like thriving in a city full of extraordinary people.

Or it did, until my first two sips of wine in a beautiful, Italian restaurant caused my entire face and neck to become covered in hives.

Surely, I’m not allergic to wine, right?

Not only was it physically uncomfortable, but it was embarrassing. Here I am in my favorite, red dress in a room crowded with chattering people, and it looks like I’m having a life-threatening allergic reaction.

The hives, the flushing and the headache came almost immediately after my first few sips, and I didn’t know why because I was the only one at the table reacting this way.

You’ve probably heard of antihistamines, but histamines naturally occur in many foods, including ones that are good for you, like avocados and tomatoes. The histamine gets broken down in your body by an enzyme called diamine oxidase, or DAO. When your body isn’t producing enough DAO, then it can’t properly break down the histamine, and that’s where the allergy-like symptoms rush in.

Because my body wasn’t prepared with enough DAO when I began to drink that glass of Pinot Noir, the histamine overflowed and caused my skin to react in huge hives and rashes.

While not being able to drink wine isn’t the end of the world, it certainly isn’t the news I was expecting to hear as I entered adulthood.

One of our clients at the PR firm I’m interning at for the summer has a supplement that works to alleviate the symptoms caused by histamine intolerance and DAO deficiency. As it turns out, I’m one of the 5% of the U.S. population that struggles with histamine intolerance. It didn’t occur to me until I was on the phone with my boss the next day that this enzyme supplement may be something I need to try.

So, I did.

I took one Umbrellux DAO supplement about 20 minutes before pouring wine in my glass, and then I cautiously began to sip.
My skin didn’t feel hot and nobody seemed to be staring my way. I took a few more sips and enjoyed the good company I was in. The atmosphere was busy, but in a good way. As the hour passed, I had finished my first glass and my skin, if anything, was radiant.

Simply taking this supplement is all it took to not only curb the inconvenience of dealing with the histamine intolerance but also lead me to the source of my embarrassing issue, which is now flawlessly solved.

I learned about histamine intolerance and DAO deficiency because of my embarrassing wine encounter and thankfully working on this client account during my internship in the city that never sleeps this summer, but you too can learn about the benefits of Umbrellux DAO and the effects of histamine here. I specifically like the self-evaluation kit, which is less than $6, that helps you determine if the flushing after drinking wine or beer is caused by a histamine intolerance that can be alleviated by supplementing with a little DAO.

-C.M.

GRWM: My 19th Birthday

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A step by step for the look I wore out on my 19th birthday.

A close-up shot of the minimalist’s go-to glam makeup look.

Prior to getting in to the steps of the look I created for my birthday evening, I must claim to the world that I am not now nor will I ever claim to be a makeup guru.

I know quite a bit about makeup, a la the hundreds of thousands of YouTube videos I immerse myself in to procrastinate other, more important activities.

I love makeup, and I think it is an incredible art form, but when it comes to my own face, I like to keep things simple.

Just in the past year or two, I’ve drastically cut down on the amount and combinations of makeup I prefer on my face – less is more, really. So here is what I decided to go for on my birthday last Thursday, July 20th.

1. THE BASE

Primer seems to be a pretty personal thing; some people swear by it and some don’t see the difference.

I don’t understand the latter.

This hydrating primerby Smashbox is one of my all-time favourites. I tend to have more dry skin, so this allows everything I’m applying on top of it to glide seamlessly onto my skin.

Another staple I literally never skip is applying a cream highlight under my foundation.

I don’t necessarily think this is the order these products were intended to be applied in, but makeup is about throwing the rules out the window… right?

I like to apply the highlighter to the high points of my face, just as you would regularly atop of your foundation, and blend with my fingers.

This highlighter stick is from Tarte, in the shade pearl, and works really beautifully with a lighter skin tone (calling all my pale people – I feel you).

This gives the most flawless glow under any foundation without ruining the blending on top or creating too harsh of a look. I’m really not even kidding when I say this technique has changed my life forever.

2. THE FACE

I whole-heartedly will always and forever believe that the foundation of any look is the most important part.

I hold a very special place in my heart for beautiful, glowing skin, and I believe it can literally make or break any look. It might even be a fetish, who knows.

Glowing skin is all the rage right now, and I can’t get enough.

Again, sticking with the “less is more” concept, I like to apply a thin layer of the one and only YSL Touche´Eclat foundation, in the shade B20, with a damp beauty sponge.

This foundation provides a medium, buildable coverage with Ruscus Extract to counteract dullness in the skin, providing a radiant, luminous glow.

This pairs perfectly with Urban Decay’s Naked Skin concealer. I like to use a small bit in the shade Fair Neutral to brighten my under eyes, and a touch of the shade Light Neutral over any blemishes I might have.

After letting that set onto my skin for a minute or so – I like to do a little dance in the process – I take my damp beauty sponge and apply the smallest amount of Neutrogena’s Shine Control powder under my eyes, around my eyes and around my mouth.

I then take whatever excess is left on the sponge and dab that over the rest of my face, just for good measure.

Next, onto my most-loved step of any makeup look: contour, highlight, and blush. The difference that these three steps can have on a face of makeup is so subtle, yet so wonderful.

I’ve gotten into a habit of using Too Faced’s Cocoa Contour palette in the shade Light to Medium. The contour shade has the perfect undertones of gray to where it doesn’t look to orange on my pale skin.

I also like to run the bronzer in this palette all over the borders of my face to warm up the overall look.

The only two components I need in my perfect makeup look are bronze and glow, and I will be one happy girl.

The blush I used in this look is the Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush by Tarte in the shade Peachy Nude. I find that these sort of nude-peach tones work best on my skin tone.

Now, if you were to for some reason go out and buy any one product from this entire look, I would 100% recommend it be the NARS Highlighting Blush in Albatross.

This shade it to die for. It almost looks white in the packaging, but provides the most beautiful golden sheen I’ve ever seen in my life.

This product also accents the Tarte cream highlight I’ve applied previously under my foundation, bringing the whole look together.

3. THE EYES

In moving on from the face, I always go straight to the brows – a close second to a flawless complexion.

I’m a huge fan of the more natural, almost crazy brow, and Benefit’s Gimme Brow tinted brow gel is the perfect way to achieve that.

It adds just a little bit of color (I use the shade 03 – Medium) to the sparser areas where you might need some help, while the fibers in this product amp up your natural brow hairs to get the perfectly undone brow.

Once my brows are as close to how I want them, I (big surprise) keep going with the “less is more” trend.

There was a time in my life where I attempted to get a full eyeshadow look every day I was wearing makeup. Sometimes, that’s the look I’m going for, but I’ve also learned to LOVE the one-color trend.

My favourite trick to do is swipe a bit of this YSL Full Metal Shadow in the shade Pink Cascade for the most beautiful sheen over my eyelids.

It still creates a bit of depth to your eyes as it naturally sits heavier in the crease, while still providing a glossy, highlighted look to the eyes with a touch of pink – a very loved trend of mine at the moment.

On a regular day, I’d throw on a bit of Dior Addict It-Lash mascara and call it a day.

For my birthday, though, I wanted to add a little something extra, so I took my Loreal Infallible Super Slim liquid eyeliner and created a little wing on the outer corner of my eyes.

I personally don’t think a larger wing suits my face shape because I do have relatively smaller features, so I like to create a tiny wing extending from the outer corner of my eyes, almost acting as an elongated lash on the end.

When utilising winged eyeliner, I think it’s important to remember that everyone has a different face and eye shape, so what works for someone else may not be what works perfectly for you. It’s all about finding what fits for you.

4. THE FINISHING TOUCHES

The only thing left to do now is add something fabulous to the lips.

Most of the time, I’d be happy with just adding a bit of chapstick to accent the natural color of my own lips.

For this look, though, I added one of my favourite nude shades by Clinique in a shade I can’t even share with you because I’ve had it for so long that the name has rubbed off the bottom.

A good alternative, though, is one of the Clinique Chubby Sticks – I love the shade Heaping Hazelnut. My favourite nude is one with a brown undertone and a semi-sheer finish.

A glossy lip gives off the illusion of a bigger lip, and since I’m working with what I’ve got, that’s what I love to do.

The actual last step in this, or any, makeup look of mine is to spritz this Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray all over my face.

This is the only step where I might unintentionally throw “less is more” out the window…

I find that this product counteracts any of the excess shine control from the Neutrogena powder that I didn’t intend for, while adding a layer of protection to lock in my makeup all day.

Once this product sets, it finishes any look with an added luminosity to the skin, also great for the décolletage area.

And that’s it.

Thanks for reading.

Here’s to 19.

-C.M.

3 in 1 Lookbook: The 4th of July

carlymccullough

3 festive looks to throw together for the 4th of July with one easy-to-wear bodysuit.

This distressed denim and black belt combo compliment the bodysuit to create the perfect look for a casual day with friends or family.

There’s really no shortage of places to find outfit inspiration for a festivity such as the 4th of July.

From Pinterest and Tumblr to lookbooks on YouTube to even the social media outlets of the clothing brands themselves, the potential in wardrobe is near endless.

As a university student on a budget though, the reality is I can’t always afford to go out and purchase a new look for every event that comes around the corner.

My goal in this lookbook is to showcase the versatility of one basic piece, as this is a concept I utilise in my everyday style.

The bodysuit featured throughout this lookbook is from Express and can be found here. It’s one of my most-worn pieces of the season, without a doubt.

These Steven Madden booties not only add an extra pop of festivity with the blue velvet, but they add a great bit of height for an elongated leg and something a little unexpected – perfect for taking a day look to night.

One of my favourite things to do with fashion revolves all around the shoe; there isn’t a single look in my wardrobe that can’t be amped up with an unexpected accent of a cool shoe.

The full look shown above balances the laid-back look with a touch of sex appeal perfectly. Pairing a heel with a denim short is one of my favourite fashion tricks.

The black belt I’ve paired with this look is still available for purchase on Brandy Melville, along with the Steve Madden velvet booties, which are on sale at the moment.

Unfortunately, I bought my shorts from Pacsun about 4 or so years ago, but I’ve found some similar patchwork denim shorts on their site.

A simple tank with a pair of classic high-waisted denim shorts is such an classic look to throw on, though, that you could just as easily grab a pair from your own wardrobe to complete the look.

This look is a little more laid-back with a touch of my current favourite fashion trend: embroidery.

The next look is probably my favourite of the three.

Something about embroidery draws me in every time, and while the patchwork-virgin might do well with choosing one piece to focus on, I love the slides with the floral jean.

I think a ripped boyfriend jean is the perfect way to make denim jeans work in the summer – especially in Florida.

Paired with the plain tank and the floral pattern, it still has a touch of individuality while also including a low-key display of red, white and blue; it’s festivity without screaming it in your face.

The floral embroidery adds a bit of visual excitement to what would normally be a universally textured look.

My favourite pair of embroidered mom jeans featured in this look are from Topshop, which also happens to be my favourite place to buy denim (shout out to all my tall girls who can’t find a fitting pair of jeans to save their life).

The denim embroidered slides I’ve paired with this outfit are actually from a local shop in Santorini, Greece. I did some scouting around for a similar pair, though, and I found a few reasonable contenders.

These frayed denim slide sandalsfrom Forever 21 provide a good alternative to those who may want to dip their toes in the water instead of diving in head-first.

The brand also sells a pair of black embroidered slide sandals, if that’s the aspect you’re looking for, or a different version of embroidered denim slides, if you’re looking to stay closest to what I’ve shown.

Pro tip: posing with one leg in front of the other, versus standing straight up, will give the illusion of more height, adding length and angles to your body.

The last look strays away from the denim trend and steps into my next favourite look: the mini skirt.

Whether you’re 5’2″ or 6’1″, a mini skirt is the perfect accessory for a longer leg, and the longer, the better. It can flawlessly transition a good daytime to look to an even better night out.

The combination of the short skirt and a bit of a heel makes for the accessibility of showing some skin while still keeping it casual enough for a summer holiday.

The scalloped mini skirt adds a bit of flare to the look while balancing out the concept of red, white and blue in a visually cohesive way.

Colour coordination can be your best friend when working with plain pieces; it adds a bit of colour blocking to make the look more interesting to the eye.

The white scalloped mini skirt in this look is one of my favourite pieces. From Topshop, the possibilities of ways to wear it are virtually infinite.

This look would also do well with a white denim skirt, though. One of my highest priorities in my own fashion is to find new ways to wear the things I already own.

It’s like going “shopping” in your own closet; all you need is a bit of inspiration and a root around your wardrobe.

The leather mules I paired with this look are from Zara. On sale, they also sell a few other colours, if blue isn’t for you.

Keeping it simple: placing the focus on one sole aspect of the face makes for a more balanced look.

While a red lip certainly isn’t the most far-out choice on a holiday like the 4th of July, there can be something said for keeping it classic.

I’m usually more of a nude lip kind of person – a good lip balm is sometimes all you need.

I love pairing a bold lip with the illusion of a “naked” eye. For this look, I simply threw on a gold shimmer and my favourite Dior Addict It-Lash mascara.

The red lip in the photo is the Maybelline Colour Sensational Creamy Matte lipstick in the shade 685 Craving Coral. My favourite silver hoop earrings are from Express. It’s the easiest way to take a look to the next level.

If anybody knows the first thing about me, it’s that I love a good bit of luxury. I’d rather have a few really nice things than a ton of lesser items, but sometimes a good drugstore product is all you need.

Overall, I think the fun in fashion is putting your own twist on things. Finding multiple ways to wear one piece is the best way to utilise what you already have.

For more suggestions on what kind of cookbook to do next or information on any of the pieces featured, feel free to shoot me a message in the “Contact Me” section of my about page.

-C.M.

Elphick an Elphick in England's Bath

carlymccullough

The husband and wife duo bring their exhibition to Bath for the weekend.

44AD Artspace features Elphick and Elphick’s exhibition for the weekend.

The iconic spot that everyone wants to see in Bath, England is more often than not the Roman Baths.

With great history and artistic interest behind the ancient structure, it’s no secret as to why it’s on everyone’s list of English things to see. The historical site is definitely worth a visit, but what you not necessarily be on the lookout for is a locally run art gallery.

Elphick and Elphick is an exhibition of painting, sculpture and drawing featured momentarily in a small studio right across from the Roman Baths.

The exhibition is currently being presented only for a weekend in the 44D Artspace, a gallery and studio space available for rent by different artists and their work.

Located on Abbey Street, the nook space across from the Roman Baths is almost hidden away, if you aren’t looking for it. It’d hard to tell upon initial arrival if you’re even in the right location, but take a peek inside.

The drift over will be well worth it.

A broad scope look inside the Elphick’s exhibition showcases both the pair’s work.

Sculptor Martin Elphick runs the exhibition with his wife Deirdre Elphick, an painter and filmmaker.

The two travel hand in hand with their exhibition all over England, usually stopping in different studio spaces for a weekend or two to show off their work.

Martin Elphick, who usually runs the exhibition while his wife works on her artistry, will be more than happy to discuss the work featured with visitors.

He has a knack for claiming his wife is the real talent of the two, but each of their collections of work speak vibrantly for themselves.

Some of the detail in these hand-painted works is shown above, utilizing a technique of mixed brushstrokes to create intricate texture.

Martin Elphick had an intimate range of his sculptures present, ranging from everything from abstracts and animals to people and templates of the brain.

The inspiration behind a lot of what comes to his wraps itself around the idea that interpretation is up to the eye of whomever will give his work the time.

He’d rather someone take it and appreciate it for their own, versus push one single definition of whatever he’s sculpting as the only way to see it.

One of Martin Elphick’s sculptures is featured above, with the background showcasing a series of work done by his wife.

His wife, Deirdre Elphick, focuses most of her artistic nature into painting, a passion that Martin Elphick explained she’s practiced since she was just a young girl.

Her newest series of work showcases a style of painting that incorporates not lifting the brush. This way, the strokes all combine with one another fluidly while still creating a visibly identifiable image.

Deirdre Elphick watched a group of dancers perform every day for a week in order to complete her latest paintings.

The technique of one continuous brush stroke with the movement of dance was used to create a unique set of images, showcasing the complex feelings the dancers convey on a still piece of canvas.

Deirdre Elphick’s latest series of paintings features the movement of contemporary dance, using a technique of one fluid brush stroke.

The duo’s next exhibition will take place on Woolley Street in Bradford on Avon from Sunday, June 25th until Sunday, July 2nd.

Tickets can be purchased for £3 at the gate or online, with the option of a £6 ticket opening night for live music and a glass of wine included.

Martin Elphick can also be reached by email at martin.elphick@btinternet.com. To contact 44AD Artspace for inquiry or upcoming exhibitions, you can reach the gallery by email at studio44ad@gmail.com or on their website.

-C.M.

Santorini's Atlantis: One for the Books

carlymccullough

The island’s only bookstore sits pretty with plenty to showcase.

The welcome vision of Atlantis Books invites visitors in to its cave-like home.

“Book shop” may not be the first thing you think of when you think Greek islands.

Day dreams of crystal clear water, mountains and sunny weather is probably what comes to mind first, and that’s how the island of Santorini was for a number of years.

It wasn’t until two guys, Will Brady and Craig Walzer, came to the island and decided to do something about it.

Upon entering Atlantis, the walls and ceilings feature a hand-painted timeline of the shop’s history.

It was May of 2002 when the duo set to make their mark on the island of Santorini.

As the story goes, they went on holiday to Greece straight out of university and found something entirely different than what they expected. Brady and Walzer signed the lease to an empty building facing the sunset, opened a bank account, applied for a business license, and started to fill the place with books.

One of the many segments of novels Atlantis has to offer features the Philosophy section above.

Shelves upon shelves of books are featured inside Atlantis, once you make your way down the staircase to an underground heaven of novels.

The inside is ethereal, set up in a way that makes any visitor want to have a look around for hours, or even days.

Jelle, one of the shop’s more renowned employees, even mentioned a bed up on the second story, as if spending the night really was a viable option.

The atmosphere is very cozy, creating the feeling of almost wanting to be wrapped up in a blanket of all the pages inside.

The first-edition novels that Atlantis has collected over time start to become pretty pricey.

If you’re looking for the bookworm experience of a lifetime, Atlantis is surely a place that can do no wrong, but the shop also features a few friendly house guests.

The owners have both a cat and a dog who live at the shop; the eagerness to please is certainly present from both furry friends.

Now, whether this is a nice addition to the warm atmosphere of the shop or simply a ploy to encourage more customers in, the animals make a nice, homely addition to Atlantis Books.

A large selection of their books come with handwritten notes pertinent to each novel.

Any of the shops employees, including Will Brady and Craig Walzer, will be more than happy to chat upon arrival, whether it be informational about the shop or just continuous conversation about books.

You can find Atlantis books in Oîa, a town at the end of Santorini, near the famously-known sunset spot. It shouldn’t be hard to miss, considering it is the only bookstore on the island.

You may also find the shop online at atlantisbooks.org or on their Instagram page.

The opportunity to find something magnificent is bursting from Atlantis Books, and it is surely an experience to be had.

-C.M.

Hand-Crafted Wonders of Santorini

carlymccullough

A father and daughter duo take on the art world of the competitive Greek island.

A first view of Kalipso Art Gallery in Fira, Santorini.

It’s no shock to anyone who’s been to Santorini, or the town of any Greek island, for that matter, that the rows of souvenir shops and art galleries could stretch for miles.

Visitors are at no shortage for a place to find “Santorini” painted on an island-themed gift. With the bountiful nature of the lookalike goodies, it might seem hard to find anything truly authentic to the Greek culture and art of Santorini.

That is where Kalipso Art Gallery comes into play as possibly the number one game changer.

The outside welcome as a preview for what’s to come in the gallery.

The gallery is names after Calypso, a nymph in Greek mythology and daughter of Titan Atlas. She allegedly lived on the island of Ogygia, where she detained Ithica’s Greek kind, Odysseus.

The gallery was founded nearly 40 years ago by the current owner’s father, who makes all of the red clay and schamotte ceramics himself. The pottery is glazed with enamel and hand brown glass, a signature style of Kalispo Art Gallery.

The daughter has taken over running the gallery, offering a variety of beautiful Santorini gifts for sale and a warm welcome, free of charge.

A signature piece from the artist behind Kalipso.

Not only is the art itself a sight to see, but the way its displayed throughout the gallery is what might initially draw in prospective visitors.

From the outside, you can get just a hint of what’s to come upon entry, featuring paintings and pottery alike. The gallery favors a style of hanging the handmade ceramics from the ceiling, which makes for a bit of a twist as opposed to enjoying regular pottery.

Each piece compliments the other beautifully, which is what makes the content of the art gallery cohesive and visually appealing.

A common trend of shades of blue may also be noted, as the owner will tell you that’s how her father got his start.

Shades of blue cover the handmade ceramics throughout the Art Gallery.

With his signature artistry now expanded to an array of glass souvenirs and clay pottery, Kalipso Art Gallery is definitely worth checking off on any tourist’s top spots to visit while in Santorini.

A wider look at the seemingly endless range of Earth-toned ceramics lining the entirety of the gallery.

The gallery can be reached on their Facebook page or by phone number, 2286 023993.

-C.M.

Hidden Treasures in the Mazes of Mykonos

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Some of the most intricate and beautiful art finds in the central town of the island.

A selection of hand-painted art hanging in the streets of Mykonos.

It was no surprise at all to find endless rows of souvenir shops and little Greek restaurants along the mazes of roads in Mykonos.

The delicious cuisine and sparkling blue waters is what everyone expects from the island, but what I was delightfully enlightened to find was not just one or two, but an entire of individual art shops.

One of the many art galleries amongst the shopping in Mykonos, which most reminded me of my favorite art shop local to the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

There was definitely a lot more than I was expecting, especially coming from Tarpon Springs, Florida, a small Greek town in the Tampa Bay area.

At home there, I have one favorite art shop with the most beautiful nautical-themed paintings, but it’s one of the only ones. It seemed that in Mykonos, almost every corner featured a new art gallery, no bigger than the size of my bedroom, each with their own authentic twist.

While there are very many to be seen, I think I’ve managed to factor out a couple favorites.

It was a bit overwhelming at first to feel like I wouldn’t even be able to distinguish one from the other, or be able to find my way back, but I noticed that I ended up continuously stopping at the same handful without even realizing I was showing clear favoritism.

Pelagos, an art shop in the heart of Mykonos featuring both souvenir-like gifts and hand painted artwork.

One of my favorite galleries was a place called “Pelagos.”

All of the artwork featured here seemed to follow a similar trend, which kept drawing me in. As some of the friends I was with would pull over to stop and look at jewelry or t-shirts, I kept finding my way back to this place.

While I didn’t actually buy anything from Pelagos (mostly because I don’t have that much room in my suitcase), I would’ve liked to have purchased the whole shop.

The colorful and intricate replication of Greek-influenced architecture made me want to redecorate my apartment with this theme solely.

A local art gallery, Eliza’s Gallery, where Eliza herself explained to me some of her most loved pieces.

Another favorite that managed to stumble its way into my artwork-obsessed heart was called “Eliza’s Gallery.”

Not only was the artwork exquisite, but the owner, Eliza, was kind enough to actually take the time to explain some of the art to me, which makes me want it all twice as much.

Her style included a similar range of Grecian architecture, like door frames or balconies with bright colors an florals, but she also featured a collection of wire-like sculptures which I found rather interesting. If you happen to be visiting the island of Mykonos, I highly recommend stopping in her gallery.

She said that her favorite part of owning the shop was getting to meet new people and share her passion.

A closer look inside Eliza’s Gallery, featuring some of the most exquisite hand paintings and also sculptures in the background.

Even if you’re not sure if art is your thing, these places just might be the thing that changes your mind.

-C.M.

The Art of Mykonos Architecture

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How the architectural design of the island stands out as an intricate form of art.

A perfect view of the sunset over the Aegean Sea from the front door of my villa, Room 342.

The island of Mykonos inherently sounds like a beautiful place; I can’t imagine anyone thinks of a Greek island as that of anything below stellar.

The beauty of it all, though, is hard to actually picture, let alone believe, even when you are seeing it in front of your very own eyes.

The postcard view from the just outside the back door to the resort reception.

The San Marco hotel stands as one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited, both in Greece and anywhere in the world.

Featuring luxurious private villas with classic Greek architecture and a view of the Aegean Sea around every corner, this spot is a sight to be seen.

While I made a conscious effort to explore the grounds of the hotel a bit, I found a few spots in particular that struck me as being something I could open my eyes to for the rest of my life.

The architecture at this resort, and Greece in general, is almost completely composed of bright white buildings with deep blue accents. The use of structured color and active symmetry makes for a very clean appearance of all the buildings together, making it very appealing to the eye of its visitors.

The architectural layout of the pool area features a perfect view of the Greek villas and mountains above, with the Aegean Sea (not pictured) behind me.

Now, I’m usually not much of a pool person – I’m the girl who spent her whole life growing up on boats and beaches with the ocean as my backyard, but the pool accommodations featured at the San Marco resort was one of the most unbelievable views I’d ever seen.

I wouldn’t know what else to call it besides art.

The pool is placed in such a way that it offers the least limiting views from a 360-degree angle. You can choose to either sit on the side nearest to the hotel bar and restaurant, with nothing but wide open sea and billowing mountains in front of you, or you may choose the opposing side, with the view featured above.

One of the many maze-like streets in Mykonos, featuring the classic contrast of blue and white.

Upon entering the actual heart of the town of Mykonos, that’s when things start to look like a scene out of a movie – perhaps Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or Mamma Mia?

The streets are all lined in cobblestone, slimly turning every which way in between closely built white and blue buildings, ranging from everything to shops and restaurants to residential homes and apartments.

It feels quite like a maze once you’re in the middle of it all, but I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place to get lost.

I’ve found the architecture is laid out in such a way that as long as you know where you are in reference to the water, you’ll be alright.

As well as the crisp blue and white, the central part of the town actually featured much more beautiful floral accents than I thought it would, most definitely adding to the artistic appeal of the city.

Floral accents can be found scattered all throughout the twists and turns of Mykonos.

Overall, the architecture of Mykonos seems to be very well aesthetically meshed.

Everyone looks coherent next to each other, which is very rare to find and has to take a lot of time, effort and preparation. The concept as a whole is something to be seen in person because it is absolutely breathtaking.

–  C.M.

The Dress that Turned a Million Heads

carlymccullough
Not really, but this dress is possibly one of the greatest things to ever happen to me.

It all started with an invite to prom.

As a freshman in college, the idea might’ve seemed a little odd at first.

I myself, however, never actually attended either of my own high school’s proms, so suddenly I was presented the opportunity to dress to the nines just as I’d never gotten to.

The stereotypical frantic high school girl worrying about her perfect prom night, complete with the perfect hair to match the perfect dress and the shoes and the rest of the whole nonsense.

Quite clearly, this is why I never went to my prom in the first place.

From what I’ve learned through my own personal experience, the nights with the highest expectations are the ones with the most room to disappoint, and I don’t think I saw the necessity of stressing so ridiculously over one single night.

Also, $500 or $800 for one dress? That is a little more than this college girl on a budget can afford.

So with that being said, I browsed the Internet for a beautiful alternative.

While I don’t understand all the excess hype around the idea of prom, I most certainly am a girl who’d do just about anything for an excuse to step out in something suitable for a red carpet.

I found a few solid contenders on my short-lived but intense search for a dress that would spark something magical, but none seemed to be the perfect fit (both literally and figuratively).

It wasn’t until I stumbled upon this dress that suddenly I could hear my heart singing.

I was initially drawn in because it reminded me of a recent Dior gown I’d seen on the runway, with the bodysuit-esque shape showing under the mesh, and I always love to show a good bit of leg.

The gown is a mixture of black pleating and mesh combined with a beautiful floral and a bit of nude-toned mesh to hug every curve.

To call this dress show-stopping might be an understatement.

This dress was not only everything I never knew I was missing, but it was my better half.

Slip me into this Dior-inspired gown, and I am ready to conquer the entire world; these are the little things I appreciate in life.

Paired with a black, strappy heel and a nude lip, I was even approached by two strangers asking what the shoot was for – as in, I’m the model and they wanted to know what brand I was shooting for.

Enlightened, I thanked them, but had to bring the bad news that this actually just the prom I never got to have.

“Wear what makes you feel good” is something I continuously try to live by, and this look had me living on cloud nine, even if just for a moment.

To shop this style among other similar gowns, check out the designer where I purchased from, Bebe, on their website.

–  C.M.