you can officially call us NASCAR girlies. Thanks to the new Richmond Raceway president, Lori Waran, we jumped on the NASCAR bandwagon this year! Lori has made sure there is a place for NASCAR women in Richmond and we couldn’t be more thrilled.

We were so excited to attend our first NASCAR race in her president’s box this spring. It was a night race which was SO cool to see. We saw the sunset over the track right before it started, and because it was a little rainy that day we also caught a rainbow just before the cars started their engines off as well.

We don’t get to “get out” as much as we used to, so when we do, we get excited to plan our outfits! I had to go shopping in my own closet (Bali spending freeze), and knew it was a graphic tee and denim kind of occasion. I’ve linked our exact outfit details along with some other pieces that the track inspired!

As you can imagine, we weren’t the only ones excited to be invited to the race. John & Kevin were thrilled that we chose to bring them along for the ride with us for once We all had such a great time. We got to go into the Drivers Meeting before the race, hear the pre-race prayer and see all the drivers! It was such a unique experience.

I recently went to Madewell to find some new jean shorts and was shocked at the quality for the price point! They have so many great options and I was thrilled to walk away with two new pairs. (RELAXED MID RISE && PULL ON PAPER BAG). Highly recommend if you need to add a couple pairs to your closet this summer.

SHOP MADEWELL DENIM SHORTS

Catherine has been rocking this long denim skirt this spring and I just loooove the way it looks on her. She has styled it so many fun ways.

SHOP LONG DENIM SKIRTS

The post WHAT TO WEAR TO NASCAR appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille originated in Houston and let’s just say, you can feel the Texas vibes. In the best way. You know how they say everything’s bigger in Texas? That’s definitely the case at Perry’s. From the size of the Pork Chop to the delicious cocktail flavors and the beautiful patio, bigger is better here.

We had the pleasure of attending their preview night where we got to taste a little bit of lots of menu items! We started with a Martini Tasting, which will be offered at the bar to taste new cocktails. I’m not usually a cocktail girl, but the flavors were all delicious. If you are a ‘tini drinker, you won’t want to miss this.

Lobster, lump crab and Sea Bass showcased delightful seafood offerings and we got to taste the famous Pork Chop, too. We were excited to learn about “Pork Chop Fridays” which is celebrated in a big way at the Texas locations. Perry’s will only be open for lunch on Fridays and the special is their famous Pork Chop for $19. One of the employees told us that down in Texas it’s a way to kick off the weekend with a big long lunch. If you know us, you know that is something we are reaaaally good at. They run the special from 10:30-5pm.

They also have Happy Hour during the week from 4-7. This includes discounts on the bar food menu (get the pork chop bites or the fried asparagus with crab meat!) as well as specials on wine by the glass and select cocktail selections.

If you’re a dessert person and/or a dessert DRINK person, you must try one of their signature flaming desserts. We had the Nutty D’Angelo which was flambeed with a brandy sauce and it was unlike anything I have ever tried! The Salted Caramel Espresso Martini was also to die for.

They have excellent spaces for events and group dining as well! Work with the Perry’s team to set up the perfect business dinner, engagement party, birthday party or in my case we may do our going away dinner here! The spaces are beautiful and you are sure to *wow* your guests.

It’s time to plan a happy hour, event or book a dinner reservation! What are you waiting for?

The post Perry’s Steakhouse Comes To Richmond, VA appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

Here are some of our favorite Richmond small businesses! Check out their websites to see what they have available online or how you can shop in store for the full experience.

RVA CHEESE GIRL

Emmie, RVA Cheese Girl, makes the most delicious cheeseboards in town. Show up to your holiday parties with a cheeseboard, gift one to a friend or family member or give a gift card! They are perfect for any occasion or no occasion at all and we can vouch for their deliciousness.

SUN & SELENE

Britt of Sun & Selene handmakes and designs each piece at her studio here in Richmond. From Zodiac necklaces to earrings and custom engagement rings, Britt does it all and does it gorgeously. Any of her pieces would be a thoughtful gift for the ladies on your list.

LETS TALK TOWELS

Gotta plug the family biz! If you didn’t know, my mom, Becca has a Turkish Towel business and if you need an intro on our towels you can check out this post or visit our instagram. They are perfect gifts for literally everyone! Beach towels, bath towels, wraps, shawls, throws and more. Use code REBECCA for 10% off any of our towels or blankets and feel free to send me a DM with any questions or if you need help picking something out!

DEAR NEIGHBOR

Kristy & Evan have curated the most perfect and unique little gift shop in Church Hill and online. From chic undergarments to accessories, there really isn’t another shop like it.

SCENTS OF SERENITY

Scents of Serenity has been our go-to spa for a while now! From deep tissue massages with CBD to Signature facials and their Eminence products, there is so much to love about this oasis. A SOS gift card is perfect for everyone!

NA NIN

A beautifully simple yet chic, aesthetically blissful shop that offers everything from candles to comfy sets and vintage finds.

NUDE FX

Give the gift of Spray tans this year! This would be perfect with a spa or “me day” gift card set.

BOKETTO WELLNESS

Boketto has a wide variety of skincare and lifestyle products for the wellness gurus in your life. They also offer services like massages, acupuncture, facials and more.

Little Nomad Shop

The most perfect little children’s shop you’ve ever seen. Anthony broke the mold when he created this hip kids store on Broad Street downtown.

MOD AND SOUL

This hip, trendy and chic boutique on Broad Street and online is a great place for RVA Fashionistas! Jasmina is always getting in new inventory and curating a great selection.

NAKED GOAT SOAP CO

Heather has grown her business exponentially over the past few years and her selection of soaps, skincare, and candles rival anything you can find at big box retailers.

BLOSSOM

Your go-to place for all things plant-based and wellness related. CBD, adaptogens, supplements and more! Located on Cary Street and online.

L & M

We love a family business around here and we LOVE the leggings created by sisters Lucy and Michele. They have quickly become an everyday staple for both of us, and we know you’d love them too. These would make a great gift for all the ladies in your life.

REBELLE NATURELLE

Mary or “M Dot” to her followers makes her high-quality skincare products with a boutique experience and you can feel the personal touches and GLAM vibes that she adds to each product.

IF WE HAVE LEFT OUT ANY OF YOUR FAVORITE RICHMOND SMALL BUSINESSES, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND WE WILL ADD TO THE LIST!

~ PIN FOR INSPIRATION OR SHARE ~

The post Shop Local: Richmond Small Business Gift Guide appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

lately, i have been struggling a little bit with outfits and outfit posts. we still don’t have the chance to properly get dressed everyday and spending money on new clothes sometimes feels insane. i’ve been searching for inspo to bring to the blog and when i saw the green rooftop empty pool at common house my creative juices started flowing, and here’s the result.

The Inspo ~

After I saw the pool, I immediately texted my photog bff Halle to see if she had any ideas! We thought it could have been cool to either do all cream monochrome pieces or to follow suit with the mint green. I did a little poll on IG stories and it was close, but people loved the mint green idea! Blair Eadie is always serving up inspo, and I latched onto this look of hers and started looking for the right pieces for me.

TBH, I wasn’t sure if I would end up keeping the mint pieces for the shoot, so I ordered a bunch of cheap Nasty Gal sets to choose from. Like, so cheap. And then, found some fun coats for layering and definitely kept both the puffer and the trench. I had you guys weigh in on an IG reels to help me put the looks together and I gotta say, I LOVE how it turned out. Linking some not grossly cheap mint pieces here, if you love the color like I do!

Let’s talk PROPS!!! Halle is the prop queen (head to her IG to see all the goods) and when she suggested we use the disco balls I was ALL IN! She also brought some fabric with pearls, that you can see in some of the shots, as well as some palm fronds that she used for texture from the camera end. I often struggle to come up with new poses, and feel like I have a few go-tos, so props are a game changer when it comes to make the photos more interesting, giving you angles and dimension to the pictures.

See the Behind The Scenes Reels HERE

~ gorjana faves ~

~ PIN FOR INSPO LATER ~

The post Golden Hour Editorial At Common House Richmond appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

We cannot tell you how many times we have gotten asked the question “Do we have any spas in Richmond?”

While we have semblances of spas around the Richmond area, we always thought that Richmond just isn’t blessed with a hotel with a killer spa by any means.

Enter: Scents of Serenity Organic Spa.

This beautiful spa with three locations around Richmond (including the brand new Short Pump location) might as well be attached to a luxury hotel. They have EVERYTHING a girl could need for a long, relaxing spa day. We know because we experienced it first hand and feel like new women because of a day of Scents of Serenity’s massage, facials, aromatherapy, and reflexology. Our massage therapists and Estheticians were knowledgeable, informative and extraordinarily talented!

We can’t wait to get back there very soon because we are dying to try the infrared sauna. If you decide to book a service at one of their locations, be sure to tack on a session in the infrared sauna!

Whether you are in the market for a spa day yourself or are looking for a much appreciated gift, Scents of Serenity Organic Spa is perfect for both occasions. With dozens of treatment options, it is safe to say they are the best spot in town. Scents of Serenity is a green spa and uses Eminence Organic products which work miracles on your skin without being too harsh!

If you are looking for the full experience, we highly recommend the Serenity Signature package, which is a three hour experience including a facial and a massage with extra reflexology and luxurious back treatment. After three hours at the spa, you will leave a different person. Like we said earlier, we did! If you are looking for something else specific, I would recommend giving the spa a call and they can walk you through what treatment might be best.

COVID edit : We felt so safe the entire time we were at the spa. All of the staff wore masks the entire time, routinely washed their hands and during our facials, the estheticians additionally wore face shields. We wore our masks for the entirety of our treatments, aside from the facial. The lounging areas are currently closed due to COVID and we can’t wait to go back and take advantage of these lovely spaces once this is all over! If you feel safe going into public during covid, you will certainly feel beyond safe here.

Feel free to comment here or shoot us a DM if you have any questions about the treatments we got!

The post Plan A Spa Day at Scents of Serenity in Richmond appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

highlighting some local Richmond businesses, encouraging you to shop small this year when you can. You don’t have to live in Richmond to support these businesses and anyone can enter the giveaway!

This year, in addition to our regular gift guides, we wanted to especially highlight some local small business for you to support this holiday season! And as a token of all of our appreciation for shopping small this year, a few of our favorites have donated to this giveaway. We hope you will not only enter and follow along with these great brands, but shop small with them even if you don’t win the giveaway.

Rebelle Naturelle – I have known Mary, the badass black woman behind this all-natural, ethically sourced skincare line, for ten years! I was so thrilled when she reached out to me to share her handmade skincare line, knowing it would be amazing. Let me tell you, the whipped body frosting is absolutely DIVINE!Mary or “M DOT” as she is known on the ‘gram, makes her high quality skincare products with a boutique experience and you can feel the personal touches and GLAM vibes that she adds to each product.

Gifting: One whipped body frosting and One Lavender+Aloe face tonic and setting spray

L & M Company- We love a family business around here and we LOVE the leggings created by sisters Lucy and Michele. They have quickly become an everyday staple for both of us, and we know you’d love them too. These would make a great gift for all the ladies in your life.

Gifting: A $50 gift card to L and M!

ROSE LETTERING CO – We are so in love with Kaytee Lauren’s newest adventure as the owner and creator behind Rose Lettering Co. Her modern, hand-painted ornaments would be a beautiful, thoughtful addition to any tree! Talk about the perfect Christmas gift. You can use code CRYSTALPRESS10 for 10% off this holiday season.

Gifting: a small glass ornament with customized personalization. Includes your choice of ribbon from the collection and a cotton ornament bag

Yia-Mas – My friend Kristina created her lifestyle brand and workshop series Yia Mas to bring the ancient wisdom of Greece to our modern lives. She hosts wellness events and retreats and her shop includes conscious objects inspired by the land, folk traditions and Greek culture! She hosts virtual workshops, Greek dance classes and guided meditations over on her IG, so you’ll be happy you followed along!

Gifting : Yia Mas Tie Dye sweatshirt, Journal made in Greece

RVA Cheesegirl – OH MY GOSH. Are you salivating yet? We have been admiring RVA Cheesegirl on instagram for a while now and the holidays seem like the perfect time to try out one of her amazing boards. Visit her on instagram, shoot her a DM and add one of her delicious cheeseboards to your holiday festivities.

Gifting: One of her amazing cheese boards in the upcoming Treat Yourself giveaway. Stay Tuned on instagram!

Blossom – Your go-to place for all things plant-based and wellness related. CBD, adaptogens, supplements and more! Located on Cary Street and online.

Gifting: A $100 gift card in the upcoming Treat Yourself giveaway! Stay tuned on instagram

Scents of Serenity – a full blog post is coming up soon about this amazing all organic day spa in Richmond. Trust us when we say that anyone on your list would be THRILLED to be gifted a Scents of Serenity gift card or experience.

Gifting : A Scents of Serenity Experience in the upcoming Treat Yourself giveaway! Stay tuned on instagram.

Megan Pratt Art – Follow Megan on instagram for her gorgeous watercolors! We will be gifting a Figure Study set along with the below very soon!

Al & Em – Not local to RVA but we love their modern jewelry and are thrilled to include them in an upcoming giveaway! We will be gifting one of their giant bobby pins to a lucky winner.

Other local Richmond small businesses to support this year:

Let’s Talk Towels — In case you are new around here, Reb & her mom have a Turkish Towel business! We have reimagined Turkish Towels as wraps, shawls, and throws in addition to their versatile use as your beach & bath towels! Use code REBECCA for 10% off through the holidays.

Sun and Selene – Gorgeous jewelry, handmade in Richmond by the oh so talented Britt!

Little Nomad – The cutest, hippest children’s clothing store! A must for anyone with little ones on their list.

Dear Neighbor – This little shop in Church Hill has the best curated selection of holiday gifts and they just launched their care packages in their online store!

TO ENTER FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW! YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN RICHMOND TO ENTER. GOOD LUCK

TO RECAP FOR THIS POST’S GIVEAWAY:

Rebelle Naturelle : One whipped body frosting and One Lavender+Aloe face tonic and setting spray
L & M Company : $50 gift card
Rose Lettering Co: a small glass ornament with customized personalization. Includes your choice of ribbon from the collection and a cotton ornament bag
Yia Mas: Tie Dye sweatshirt, Journal made in Greece

The post Richmond Small Business Shopping Guide & Giveaway appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

win a shoot with local Richmond photographer Halle Kennon

We are SO excited to kick off our holiday giveaway series! What better way to kick it off than with the girl behind the lens of so many of our photos: Halle Kennon!

We first met Halle a year ago, when we wanted to shoot some holiday content at the Quirk Hotel and the rest is history! She has captured so many of our favorite snaps, through Catherine’s pregnancy, some great brand collabs, quarantine, our Olsen Halloween and more. She gives great guidance, is stellar at editing and always delivers so many great photos. (Just search Halle Kennon from the side bar and you will find all the hits)

If you win this giveaway, you get either a portrait, lifestyle or couple’s session with Halle in 2021! Think: birthdays, anniversary photos, family portraits. And if you don’t win.. we encourage you should still book a session with Halle because she is the best and we love to support our local creators!

Follow the steps below to enter! The more you do, the more entries you’ll get! Giveaway will run through Sunday 11/22 at Midnight EST.

The post The Crystal Press Holiday Gift #1: Photo Session with Halle Kennon appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

Traveling to Richmond or looking for the best photo spots for your next photoshoot? Here are our most FAVORITE and (in our opinion) most photogenic locations used on The Crystal Press.

1 ~ Scott’s Addition – This is our #1 shoot location and has been since day one. Day one being when we bought our first DSLR camera with no idea how to use it. Peep this blogpost from 2015 with photos taken in Scott’s Addition….as embarrassing as it is, we had to start somewhere! We love to just wander around and start shooting when a location strikes our fancy.

2. Under Westwood Overpass – Our newest discovery near Catherine’s house is this spot underneath the Westwood Overpass. We love the moody vibes it brings out in photos!

Shop our favorite Anine Bing T-Shirts + One Teaspoon Denim:

See our full post on why we heart One Teaspoon denim so much here.

3. Monument Avenue 195 Overpass – This was one of the first places we took photos with Kaytee, almost 3 years ago! (See first photo below) These are still some of our favorite photos to date. Maybe because they’re nostalgic, but also because it is a favorite spot! We’ve also seen plenty of friends drive by while we are shooting here and give a good honk & jump. One of those moments captured below as well!

Richmond is ever changing and we have thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering the city as we have built The Crystal Press over the past *almost* 6 years. We are always looking for new photo locations around Richmond, so feel free to send us your tips and tricks fellow Richmonders.

With love as always,

Rebecca and Catherine

PIN FOR LATER ~

The post Our 3 Go-To Photo Spots in Richmond, VA appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

Acacia Mid-town is one of our favorite dinner spots in Richmond, VA. From the up-scale ambiance to the ever changing/seasonal menu, we always leave with a fabulous dining experience. Located on Cary St and Robinson (near PBR and Vitality Float Spa), if you haven’t had the Acacia Midtown experience yet – we highly recommend you treat yourself to it ASAP. You’re guaranteed a delicious meal!

On Tuesdays, Acacia has half of bottles of wine. Um, yes, you read that right. Tuesdays are a very good day to treat yourself to a meal here and we do so whenever we can. If you are the early bird, you can experience their bar menu specials until 6:30 PM – even on Saturdays, which is rare around these parts!

Another great detail about Acacia is that it is a great place to rent out for events. Catherine had her rehearsal dinner here before her wedding and it was impeccable. You can’t beat the decor or the food or the service. If you are looking for a fabulous place to host your next event, look no further than Acacia Midtown.

Who is going with us for half off bottles of wine tonight? See ya there.

XO, The Crystal Press

The post Dining in Richmond: Acacia Midtown appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.

John and I had the pleasure of getting out of town for the weekend and staying at the Virginia Getaway House, a tiny house outpost near the Shenandoah National Park.  Just an hour and a half away from Richmond, it was an easy trip, the last part of which was was beautiful back country roads.  The check-in process was almost too easy, as they texted us the name of our cabin & the lock code on the day of and we could just pull right up and get in the tiny house with ease! We unpacked our cooler, brought our things inside and immediately got to some hard core relaxing.

The point of “getting away” is to disconnect, rest, recharge and connect with your partner.  They have a box available for you to put your cell phones so that you can truly immerse yourselves in the experience.  I chose to keep my phone in order to take some photo and video of our stay, but kept off of social media as much as I was physically able to do! It is such a habit, and in my case part of my job, but it does feel SO good to put your phone in airplane mode and disconnect.

We spent Friday night snuggled up in our bed, reading for hours, which is such a rare occurrence.  We both noted that it would be nice to try to make this happen at least once a month, at home. On Saturday morning we made breakfast (fridge, kettle, utensils, a pot and pan are all provided), and took in the fresh air outside.  John went for a 12 mile run (crazy!) and I walked around the property for a good hour while he was gone and it was beautiful! The perfect way to start the day.  We chose to visit Early Mountain Vineyards, just ten minutes away, but there are plenty of options for hiking & exploring in the Shenandoah National Park as well.

Saturday night, we made a fire, drank some wine that we picked up from Early Mountain Vineyards & played cards until late.  It is safe to say that we weren’t quite ready to leave the next morning at 11 am and are already hoping to revisit in the fall! Those beds are just so dang comfortable.

If you’re from the DC, New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, Boston or Pittsburgh/Cleveland areas and are looking for a refreshing reprieve, I highly recommend checking out Getaway House.  Disconnecting is oh so good for the soul and if you don’t exactly know how to unwind, they’ve got a nice little guide about how to take full advantage of your time there. From their explanation of “Forest Bathing” to the perfect amount of amenities, Getaway House is the ultimate weekend escape.

Use code REBECCA25 when booking for $25 off!

Dresses c/o Rent the Runway Unlimited.
Don’t forget you can use code “REBECCAPERK40” for $40 off your first two months. 

Thanks to Getaway House for hosting our magical weekend!

The post A Weekend at Getaway House appeared first on the crystal press fashion blog.