i was over the moon to be able to feature my mom and her makeup bag on refinery 29 this week. she definitely curates her collection with the flare of someone who birthed a beauty blogger, resulting in a steal-worthy bevy of product. she’s an avid birchbox subscriber and i loved learning about her little tricks, the way that she combines and layers to suit her skin, and her daily use of teal eyeliner about which i will be forever bragging (it makes her baby blues really pop). take notes, ladies. because if i’m looking anything like her in thirty years, i’m going to be one very happy girl.

here’s wishing my beautiful mom (and all of the mamas out there) a very happy mother’s day!

yesterday went from high to low, so very quickly. those who engage with me on social media know that i was personally rocked by the events in boston. while i live in the dc area now (northern virginia, to be exact) and i have since i left for college in 2000, i spent the first 18 years of my life in massachusetts. i was raised in jamaica plain, a boston neighborhood full of character and history, so my ties to boston proper are fierce. currently, my sister lives in southie and my parents are on the north shore in newburyport. yesterday was particularly stressful because last year my sister volunteered for the boston marathon and was stationed at the finish line. not to overdramatize, but she was set to volunteer again yesterday and my parents and i could only assume that she was in the same location. thankfully, she changed her plans last minute and she was safe at home during both blasts.

but this is not about me.

this post’s sole purpose is really to proclaim my love, passion, and pride for the city of boston. to let my fellow bostonians know that i am with them in spirit and saying endless prayers for those who were injured, and sadly, those who died. boston is a tough city, but it’s also a safe city – i can’t help but think that the spirit of the city has been permanently altered. the marathon and patriot’s day as a whole are state-wide holidays. it’s the day of the year when i am the most homesick and to imagine my friends and family going through all of the turmoil of yesterday’s events has been beyond heart wrenching.

so, i hope you will excuse our regularly scheduled beauty programming in lieu of a little love for the hometown.

my heart is with you, boston.

in february, it was back to nyc to cover backstage beauty for mark at the rebecca minkoff show. it was by far my favorite runway show that i’ve seen!

april brought about the amazing news that i had been selected as a finalist in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition. (i will be forever grateful for your five weeks of internet votes!) i made it all the way to the end, finishing the competition in the top nine which was more than i could have hoped for.

the glossarie turned 3 in may which provided the perfect excuse to celebrate! i can’t believe i never posted a recap on this fabulous party. all you really need to know is that there were cupcakes and beauty booty for all!

in june, the great gals at birchbox invited me to guest blog for them for the second time. i always have so much fun sharing beautiful ideas with them.

july was highlighted by a styling collaboration with baublebar – the perfect excuse to partner up with the amazing kate headley.

in august, i was featured in one of my favorite internet wonderlands, glitter guide. it was a pinch me moment to see my own face staring back at me from my inbox!

i met maggie in september, making her the glossarie’s very first contributor. she has been a joy to work with and judging by your reactions to her posts, she is a more than welcome addition to the blog.

then i capped off the year with a major bang, making my very first live tv appearance on dc’s local cbs affiliate wusa9.

it’s been a very good year and i can’t thank all of you enough for being a part of it! i am looking forward to so much more fun and excitement in 2013 – i wish you beauties the happiest of new years.

merry christmas, my friends! (from me and ivy, the christmas kitten :))

your continuous support of the glossarie has been a true gift to me this year, and every year. you make this blog fun and i wish i could give each of you a christmas squeeze to show you how very much i appreciate you. i hope you’re soaking up some family time fireside or underneath the tree. i wish you bottomless cups of cocoa and presents as far as the eye can see!