This morning, I awoke to the sun pouring into my window & to the sounds of the city. Ah, yes. I am swiftly reminded it's Monday in Boston. This means: Garbage day. Street sweeping day. "Move your car to a side street or it will be towed"  day. 

By 8 a.m., most residents in the Back Bay know Monday as "the worst morning ever"—as they schlepp their trash to the alley while sprinting to their vehicles so they don't have to spend their afternoon fishing their car from some tow yard in Somerville. It's so frantic & so despised that its loathed routine almost seems choreographed; &, beckons the question: "Why the heck do I live in the city?" 

In the heat of the Monday moment, I decided to take a vigorous stroll down Beacon Street. And, as I snapped photos, & took in the fresh air, I smiled & thought, "How lucky am I?"

The photos taken from today's walk chronicle why I live here (& will continue to serve as a  reminder for each Monday morning that I question my city-roots).

xo Kristin K.

This past Monday, I—& thousands of other women reliving their adolescence—stock-piled into the TD Garden Arena to bare witness to a trifecta of musical proportion. Boys II Men, 98 Degrees & New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) all took center stage for a night filled with heartthrob love songs & a walk down "MTV's TRL" memory lane. 

I am lucky enough to say that my friend Sal, of Beyond Sports & Entertainment, hooked me (& my three girlfriends) up with last minute tickets for only $20. As we went to find our seats, expecting to be escorted to the nose bleed section by the ticket-man holding the unforgiving flashlight, we were shocked & amazed as we were directed to 5th row. "All the way down there?" I squealed. "He must be mistaken." But, nope. We were so close that we could smell Nick Lachey's cologne. And, more importantly, had enough money left over—from our inexpensive admission—to splurge on an overpriced hot dog & ice cold draft beer as we watched (& sang along) in awe!

I couldn't help but grin ear to ear as I immediately knew the words to most every song. And, for where I lacked, there were many other off-key women to help me pick up the slack. Laughter, confetti & beams of bright color—that put Disney World's laser light show to shame—filled the air.  While pyrotechnics & a shirtless (& much older) Donnie Wahlberg sent heat waves spiraling through the crowds; leaving middle aged women relentlessly screeching at the stage & wanting for more.

As the concert came to a close, I came to an epiphany of two certainties: 1.) I still am in love with Joey from NKOTB. And, 2.) I definitely will be using Beyond Sports & Entertainment— a full-service ticket concierge company that specializes in Boston-based sporting & concert events—for my future ticket purchases. I can't thank them enough for the great seats & for the chance to see such a memorable show (for less than a cab fare)! 

Contact them toll free today at 877-692-1273 (Requests@BeyondSe.com). Or, feel free to touch base with my buddy Sal at 646-255-7945 (Sal@BeyondSe.com) & tell him Beauty & the Bean sent ya'! 

Below are some more concert photos!

xo Kristin K.

Beauty & the Bean recently enjoyed a visit to Key West. And, we can't wait to share our photos (& adventures) with all of you. 

I'm now currently sitting in a gorgeous Miami Hotel, preparing for the latter part of my trip which will consist of traveling through Alligator Alley, seeing my grandparents in Sarasota & soaking up the last remnants of Florida sun before my return back to Boston on Saturday.

Wishing you all a beautiful rest of the week ahead,

xo Kristin K.

I have always been a little bit nervous to rock a really bold lip color. First of all, it is such a far departure from my Carmax chapstick & coat of lip gloss. And, second: It always seems like there are way too many things that could go wrong; wrong choice of color, too cakey, teeth smudges & the dreaded "clown effect."  Even with those fears, I love the look on other people. One of my favorite bold lip inspirations is Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere who constantly adds a pop of color on her lips (check it out by clicking here).

Kristin & I are vacationing in Key West this week & I decided it would be a perfect time & place to experiment with a bold colored lipstick. There are bright colors everywhere & the fun island vibe inspired me to be more daring with my makeup.  

I tried out Clarins Juicy Clementine & Kristin wore Clarins Passion Red. Needless to say, I loved the look. I realized you can control the brightness by dabbing the color on your lips instead of swiping the stick. I played around with how bold I wanted to go by slowly adding more color. Also, you can add a lip gloss on top of the lipstick to soften the brightness if you want to ease into the look.  

After my Key West experiment, I realized that adding a bold lip to the right outfit can really accentuate the clothes & bring the look to a whole different level. I’m hooked!

xo Kristen T.

Beauty & the Bean's, Kristen T., officially graduated Suffolk Law School today! 

To all the graduates out there—on behalf of Beauty & the Bean—we wish you love, happiness & great success!

xo Kristin K.

What's better than a beautiful Saturday? And, a beautiful weekend to celebrate the most wonderful people in your life? 

Nick & I are packing up the car to head back to Connecticut in the spirit of celebration: A graduation party, a Mother's Day Brunch & a ceremony for my uncle & his partner—where they will officially become legal spouses.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend worth celebrating the beautiful things around you.

xo Kristin K.

Beauty & the Bean is excited to unveil its new categories come June! And, we are also excited to announce that with all this internal-revamping, our blog will be expanding its reach from Boston to Connecticut by this Summer. 

With all this planning & change, sometimes it's good to stop & just take a look around to get grounded. Here are a few things that are inspiring me at this moment...

xo Kristin K.

A week ago I said yes to my best friend as he got down on one knee & asked me to marry him. Just having got off from work, he beelined it into our palatial 800 square foot Boston apartment, sat me down on our living room couch & proceeded to say this is the last thing he wanted to do in his 20's (with his 30th birthday imminently looming that Sunday). In workout gear, sans makeup...without  Josh Groban angelically singing...without the envisioned turtle doves perfectly perched at our apartment window...I was being proposed to. It was the most authentic & perhaps one of the most memorable experiences of my entire life because it was us--crazy, messy & irrefutably quirky us. It is never to be replicated...never to happen again. And, my heart wants to explode as I replay how nervous, & heartfelt, his proposal was to me in my head.

A week later, my brother—a Marine & incredible friend—is saying "yes" to his fiancé as they embark on their matrimonial life journey before moving to Hawaii come Fall. And, I couldn't be more excited & emotional about it. Perhaps it's because even just a cheesy "Every Kiss Begins with K" commercial makes me want to cry right now...or, perhaps it's because it's my baby brother (who enthusiastically wore tap shoes & came with me to Rhythm N' Sync for "Bring a Best Friend to Dance Class" day); my baby brother who sang "Fooling around in Middletown" with me & "Down by the Bay" into flash-lights on the back of our parent's boat that one cool, Summer night in Newport; my baby brother who hit the latest growth spurt in history, going to college & coming back at a whopping 6'4"; my baby brother who made sure he came home safe after a tour in Afghanistan; my baby brother who will always be my "best friend" even if we don't talk half as often as we should. Buddy, YOU are my Friday Favorite. And, I'm so proud of you.

Best of luck, & lots of love, to you & Brittany today...& everyday!

xo Kristin K.

Beauty & the Bean is excited to be back after a momentary hiatus.

In the time we've last submitted an entry, we've come up with new 'blog categories'—which will be unveiled by next week; we've enjoyed the Spring like weather here in Boston—with inspirational photos to follow suit; & one of our team-members got engaged!

There is so much love & excitement in the air. We look forward to celebrating in Spring 2013 with all of you—our loyal Beauty & the Bean readers!

Stay tuned! 

xo Kristen T. & Kristin K.



*photo courtesy of: abeachcottage.com 

Dear Boston,

You are my home.

 I fell in love with you about three years ago. So, we're definitely out of the honeymoon stages. But, you still fascinate me. Now, more than ever before. 

Your strength...your courage...your people. I can't thank you enough for letting me in with open arms. And, while things have certainly changed here...it's sometimes a travesty that makes you see how special something is to you.

Still shaken up & weary, I look out of my living room window only to see the Prudential Center standing strong in the sky...a subtle reminder to me (& all of us) to do the same. I'm proud to say I crossed that finish line on Sunday among those heroic runners. I'm proud to say we—strangers & neighbors—have become unified all in your honor. I'm proud to say I'm a part of Boston. 

It's because of you that I...that we...have been changed for the better.

Thank you,

Kristin K.