Lily Sage of Sage Beauty is back for another Blogging Through the City post! In today's guest post, Lily is taking you along for the ride of one of her latest NYC shopping adventures. Keep reading to find out some of her fav finds!

I’m so excited to take all of you fabulous readers along with me to one of my favorite stores for all things gorgeous. Anthropologie is a store that combines beauty, fashion, home decor, and so much more all in one spot. Lucky for you, you don't have to live in NYC to take advantage of this gem either.

The Beauty

I always discover new luxury brands at Anthropologie, in addition to some of my favorites that are always part of my routine.  For skincare I always pick up a few items from Mario Badescu when I’m there.  The Drying Lotion is one of the most iconic products in the line and is adored by bloggers and beauty editors alike.  Using Salicylic Acid and Calamine it will erase breakouts overnight.  The Glycolic Foaming Cleanser exfoliates and is great to incorporate into your routine twice a week for a brightening boost and to unclog pores.  The Facial Spray is great as a toner and to refresh the skin anytime throughout the day. I always carry this with me when I’m traveling.

The Royal Apothic Hand Cream in Holland Park has a light fresh scent that reminds me of the scent left behind from an impromptu London sunshower.  This is great to keep in your purse or next to your bed to soothe dry hands.

During my most recent visit to Anthropologie I discovered Isabey Eau de Parfum in Fleur Nocturne.  This sensual floral fragrance is a blend of white peach,  jasmine, and vanilla which reminds me of a warm summer night.

The Home

Anthropologie has a magical selection of home decor options that will give a colorful and sophisticated touch to every room in your apartment.  Whether it’s retro-inspired aprons, unique cookbooks, wine glasses, dishes, candles, or personalized mugs there is something for everyone,  and you will have a myriad of choices to inspire you.

As engagement/graduation/wedding season approaches Anthropologie is also a great place to find the perfect gift.

I love giving books as gifts,  and as engagement and wedding season is quickly approaching and a fun cookbook or some creative kitchen essentials are memorable presents.

Tea pots are classic but the floral motif gives a fun retro vibe.

These gorgeous coasters immediately caught my eye and will add an unique and chic element to your table.

These gorgeous tumblers also come in green and blue, but pink is my favorite color.  They are perfect for summer cocktails but I like to get a bit more creative and use them as candle holders or for my bathroom to hold makeup brushes or even cotton rounds!

 As a writer I love collecting planners and blank notebooks, and these were just too irresistible.

The Fashion

As soon as I walked into the store I saw three dresses that I need to add to my wardrobe.  I love the clothes at Anthropologie because they range from casual and cozy sweaters to everyday office staples to statement dresses that work season after season.  I see the brand as feminine and fashion forward.  This is where your boho-glam, inner fashionista can come out in full bloom. 

This dress is an incredibly versatile piece because the neutral colors can work all year round, the length is appropriate for any occasion, and it can be dressed up with a statement platform heels and a belt,  or dress down with leather jacket. 

Neutral blush tones are a big trend for this spring, and the metallic bronze color can easily transition from spring to summer as the evening bag that goes with everything. 

I hope you enjoyed this shopping excursion!

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Lily Sage is the founder and editor at Sage Beauty. On her blog she shares all things that inspire her including style, beauty, travel and anything that makes life a little more fabulous. You can keep in touch with her on Instagram @sagebeautyblog! 

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V-day is around the corner and whether you’re single or attached, we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate your love for the ones who are always there for you – your ladies! Planning get-togethers can sometimes feel intimidating and time-consuming but they don’t have to! Today I’m sharing some tips to make hosting your own Galentine’s Day party as easy as 1,2,3!

The Décor

First things, first, let’s talk décor! One of my personal favorites about Valentine’s Day (besides the sweets!) is the décor and it’s the perfect place to start when you’re planning your party. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Create a focal point
Living in a studio in NYC, my space is pretty limited so I have to pick one corner of my apartment to decorate, but the same concept applies for no matter where you live. Pick one table, a bar or a bar cart to highlight your party décor.  You don’t have to decorate your whole place to be festive. Pick one spot and do it right!

Tablecloths are a party’s best friend
Tablecloths are one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to transform a space from every day to party-ready. Plus they make cleanup a breeze.

Shop for props
The dollar bins at Target and Michaels can go a long way for your Galentine’s Day party! In fact, almost everything I purchased for my party was from both stores. I love the dollar bins because they always have the cutest holiday décor and you know it won’t break the bank. Here are some of my favorite options to pick up:

• Banners – One of my favorite ways to decorate for a party is by adding a banner. Often you can find these in the dollar bins either that are already festive or plain, allowing you to decorate them just the way you want.
• Napkins & paper plates – Skip the dishes and grab some cute options in the dollar bins for your party.
• Stationary – Cute stationary is always one of my go-tos for goody bags. Another way I like to use them is by laying them out on your table for decoration or using them as place setting cards.
• Paper straws – This classic item adds an extra dose of cuteness to whatever you are drinking.
• Confetti – Add a little confetti to a table and it already looks like a party!

The Sips
Because a party isn’t quite a Galentine’s Day party without something to drink!

It’s all about the hot chocolate bar
Take a break from mimosas and bellinis for this party and host your very own hot chocolate bar. Perfect for the winter season, a hot chocolate bar is a fun way to celebrate and very easy to put together. I suggest mixing up some hot chocolate in a crockpot so that you can make a large amount and keep it warm throughout your party. The great thing about creating a toppings bar too is everyone can customize their own drink just how they’d like.

Here are some ideas to create your toppings bar:

• Marshmallows
• Flavored syrups
• Candy hearts
• Chocolate chips
• Sprinkles
• Whipped cream

Want to add a little booze to your hot chocolate bar too? Add in some of your favorite liquor and even try out arecipe or two.

The Bites
Valentine’s Day is all about the treats so this Galentine’s Day party will have no shortage of sweets! Here are some easy ideas to put together.

Create a donut decorating bar
You don’t have to overcomplicate things either! If you don’t have time to bake your own donuts, buy a box of plain ones at the store and focus on the best part – the frosting! For this party I whipped up some classic whipped cream frosting with a touch of food coloring. Pick your favorite frosting recipe or even just pick up a can at the store. The fun is in the decorating with a variety of sprinkles!

Sugar cookie or cupcake decorating bar
If donuts aren’t your thing, you can try the same concept with sugar cookies or cupcakes. Whatever fits your fancy, it will all be tasty!

Add some sprinkles to your popcorn
Another fun snack idea is Valentine’s Popcorn. Add some white chocolate, a little salt, and sprinkles and you’ll have a delicious treat in only a few minutes! Add it into some cute paper bags, and your quick snack will look all sorts of festive.

Now that you have some inspiration, it’s time to plan your very own Galentine’s Day party! Have fun ladies and happy Valentine’s Day! 

Guest Blog originally published on CarryLove Designs

Guys, I got a new mattress! Not just any mattress either... A mattress from Brooklyn Bedding and spoiler alert, I LOVE it. So much so, I really just can't stop talking about it -- there have definitely been several Snapchats and texts sent out (you may have gotten one).

I've been thinking about getting a new mattress for quite some time, but let's be honest getting a new mattress in the city is kind of a drag. Plus, I didn't just want any mattress. I've never actually picked out my own mattress so I wanted to do that adult thing and make sure I did my research and found one that would be game changer -- I'm terrible at sleeping through the night. And hey, we spend a lot of our lives sleeping, it should be comfy! I did a lot of research but hadn't taken the plunge yet, so you can imagine how excited I was when Brooklyn Bedding reached out to me to see if I'd like to check out their mattresses. Cheyeahhh!

Not only did Brooklyn Bedding have amazing reviews of their mattresses (they're rated #1 on Amazon) but I also found out that the beds are delivered in a box! Yes, a box how cool is that? Totallyyyy perfect for someone living in the city like me. Normally ordering a mattress involves picking one out, scheduling delivery service (which always seems to take longer than you'd like), and planning your day around the delivery. Not with Brooklyn Bedding though. You pick out your mattress and it ships free usually within 3-4 days! Cool right? So here's a look at how the process works because I know you're curious!

The box arrived in my apartment building lobby and it took a little bit to get it up the stairs (dang you 5th floor walk-up) but was totally doable with 2 people. The mattress is made up of 3 different types of foams Talalay Latexm Dunlop Latex, and poly foam so there aren't any springs which allows it to be rolled up and into a box. Once you open the box the mattress looks like this!

Once you pull the mattress out of the box it's super simple, all you have to do is put it on your box spring (or flat surface foundation) and unroll it out of its plastic wrapping.

Once it is laid flat you just cut the edges of the plastic casing and POOF the mattress starts to expand like a marshmallow. It was kind of the coolest thing ever.. not going to lie.

I have to say, I was a little surprised that the bed poofed out and into position so fast. I was thinking it might have a little bit of a curve or what not until it got settled but it was pretty instantaneous.

Cue the part where I just laid on my new mattress for a good 30-45 mins in a lazy coma once I realized how comfy it was repeating "I love you new bed..." It was in that moment that I realized just what a good job they did picking out their hashtag #BestMattressEver. Because after that moment I had decided just that.

Eventually I did decide I needed to do the responsible grown up thing and put my sheets and comforter onto the bed.

So we've covered that the bed is super comfy anddd how cool the delivery process is, but there's also some other neat features worth mentioning!

• Personalized Comfort Levels: Brooklyn Bedding isn't about that one-size-fits-all thing, which is why they have 3 different options -- Soft, medium, and firm (I went with the medium option)

• Factory Direct and 100% Made in the U.S.: The business has been around sine 1995 so they aren't newbies to the market plus everything is made in the U.S.

• 120 Night Trial: Not sure about getting a new mattress? Well, they offer a 120 night trial (which is longer than competitors in the market) so you can make sure your new mattress is just what you're looking for. Looking for something different? That's cool too, they'll pick it up free of charge so you don't really have anything to loose.

• Financing Options: Mattresses are an investment and while you might want a new one your pesky budget might be getting in the way. Living in NYC I totally get it! Luckily they offer a financing option too so you can spread out some of the payments if you need to.

And there you have it! If you couldn't tell already I'm definitely a huge fan of Brooklyn Bedding. They made the hassle of getting a new bed in the city totally smooth and holy comfiness. Boy, what a difference having an amazing mattress can make. My advice? Check them out, you won't regret it!

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**Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Brooklyn Bedding provided me with a complimentary mattress in exchange for a blog post. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the product and has not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.