My big exam is over and I’m so relieved!  I’ve got one week left of the semester, and I think we should celebrate with a giveaway!

Today I’m giving away:

Miracle Styling Serum by It’s a 10, which adds shine and tames frustrating flyaways! (A $25.00 value and—bonus—it smells awesome!!)

Here’s how you can enter:

1) Leave a comment on this post for ONE entry.

2) Leave a comment on another post (and tell me about it here) for ONE entry.

3) Become a fan of {blending beautiful} on Facebook (and tell me about it here) for TWO entries.

4) Follow {blending beautiful} on Twitter (and tell me about it here) for TWO entries.

5) Post a link to {blending beautiful} on your blog/website/facebook page/twitter (and tell me about it here) for FOUR entries.

Update: Erin Cook is our winner!  Thanks for entering!

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Today’s a big day, ladies!  I have a huge exam at school today (if I don’t pass, I’m kicked out of the program—yikes!), so I’m just a little nervous…

Let’s take our mind off the stress with these fun posts from around the web…

One of my favorite prints ever on 20×200…

This couple had their first look in the same section of the NYC public library that Travis and I did our engagement photos!!

I’d love to take this bag and these sandals with me on my honeymon…

If you love chocolate as much as I do, you have to try this guilt-free treat!

A super cute Springtime look.

Someone please buy this hilariously awesome giraffe planter! (via somewheresplendid)

One of the cutest marriage proposals I’ve seen in a long time…

Hope you all have an absolutely perfect weekend!

What are your plans for the next few days?  Going out on the town, or staying low key?  Have you come across any great posts on the web?  Share the link in the comments!

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Cannes turned out some pretty gorgeous hairstyles this year, but there’s one that I’m particularly torn about… the high pony.

Bar Refaeli and Karolina Kurkova both rocked this look on the red carpet.  Check it out:

(from the front)

(and the back)

Both of these women are super gorgeous, so I’m inclined to vote “hot” on this look.  But do you think a non-model could pull it off?  I don’t know if I’d feel full dressed up if I was going to a party or event in a nice dress, makeup done and my hair pulled back… what do you think?

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Are you a fan of the high pony?  Can it be dressed up in real life, or is a look for the models?  Tell me what you think in the comments!

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Ok, lovely readers… I need your help!  Yesterday marked the 4 month countdown to the big day (how did that happen?!) and I’m really starting to focus in on the details.

I’m trying to pick my hairstyle for the wedding, and I’m having trouble deciding!  I’ve narrowed it down to three inspiration hairstyles, now I want you to help me choose.

Here they are:

Option 1 was my original inspiration, which I fell in love with before Travis and I even got engaged!

I stumbled onto option 2 a couple weeks ago, and loved the romantic, relaxed feel.

Option 3 is a recent look from the Cannes Film Festival… unique, right?!

Obviously I’m a fan of braids, and I’ve known from the beginning that I’d like to incorporate them into my wedding look, but now I don’t know which look I love best… help!

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Which of these looks is your favorite?  Or do you have another hairstyle idea that I should check out?  How did you/would you wear your hair on your wedding day!  Give me your opinion in the comments!

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I stumbled onto this crazy story yesterday, recounting the way a couple from different sides of the world met each other and ended up falling in love.  Stories like this are always so fun to hear, but even regular ‘ol how-we-met stories are cool too.

Travis and I shortly after we started dating…

That’s one thing that I wish Travis and I had… but the truth is, I have no memory of when we first met.  All I know is that I was about fourteen and we were in a high school theatre class together.  But there are no concrete memories of our first chat or what I was wearing or anything.

I do remember the day we were re-connected a few years later… a mutual friend (who’s now one of my bridesmaids!) invited us both to a play she was directing, and even though we were both dating other people at the time, we spent the Summer hanging out as friends and chatting about our Summer flings.  By the end of August, both of the flings had fizzled and before I knew it, our friendship turned into more. (Just a few months after that, I called another one of my now-bridesmaids to announce that I planned on marrying Travis on September 17th, 2011… my plan turned out pretty darn well!)

There’s our story… now share yours!

How’d you meet your significant other?  How long after you met did you start dating?  Tell me (and the other readers) about it in the comments!!

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