Style File: Christina of New Darlings

{Photo by Mary Claire Cook} 

It’s safe to say that we’re big fans of the husband and wife duo New Darlings. The two New-Yorkers-turned-Arizonians make one seriously adorable couple. Since we’ve been swooning over their Instagram and blog almost daily, we were so pleased that Christina agreed to do a Style File with us!

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.
I’m Christina (also known as half of @newdarlings on Instagram), and I live in Phoenix, AZ with my husband, Rob. We recently moved from New York to Arizona where we are currently living the newlywed life. I love Woody Allen films, and I will gladly eat a cupcake at any time of the day!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED BLOGGING?
Rob and I have always loved taking photos together. We met when we were very young and didn’t have a ton of money, so we would spend our time going to parks, bookstores, anywhere we could explore …just taking silly photos together. When we moved from NY to AZ we found ourselves in a similar situation, so we decided to get out and explore our new city with our camera (and iPhones) in hand! The growth of New Darlings has really been an organic process. It truly is a creative outlet for the two of us. We never started Instagramming or blogging with intentions of gaining a following, but somehow along the way we’ve been blessed with meeting some truly talented and amazing people that we would have never met if it wasn’t for this Instagram and blogging community.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BLOG AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SHARE WITH YOUR FOLLOWERS?
We recently launched our website newdarlings.com! It’s an extension of our Instagram account, where we will be sharing favorite places, clothing items and little peeks into our home. Overall, we would have to describe it as a “lifestyle” blog, but we’re newlyweds in a new city who really just love to spend time together and experience new things. We get quite a few questions on our Instagram page about where we have found a certain dress or piece of furniture in our home; our blog will give us the opportunity to elaborate and share those things in a bit more detail with our followers. In the end, it will be a little door into our lives…what we’re currently loving and doing, and we can’t wait to share that with everyone.

{Top photo by Jaci Marie Smith}

HOW DID YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MEET?
We met in 2004, at a coffee shop in New York. A mutual friend had set it up as a double date, but we weren’t being set up for each other. We always laugh when we think back on it. We sat side by side all night, exchanging glances, laughing and trying to find out more about each other. We had no idea we were really being set up with other people. We sat in the parking lot long after the coffee shop closed and everyone else had left. We spent the night making future plans and talking about how we lived only a few miles apart, but never met until that moment. We can’t believe that was ten years ago.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR TOP THREE TIPS FOR COUPLES?
I’m not too sure if I’m seasoned enough to be giving relationship advice, however I can definitely share a few tips Rob and I have picked up along the way.

• Have fun together! Rob and I are pretty lucky to enjoy many of the same things, so it’s easy to go to a show together or just make a bowl of popcorn and sit in front of the TV together and chat about our favorite film. Whether it be baseball or crafting together, I think it’s important for couples to take some time out to just laugh, share their hobbies and enjoy one another.

• Random acts of kindness. It’s easy to get into a routine and forget to tell your loved one what you’re thinking or how you may be feeling. We like to leave little, surprise notes for each other around the house. One of my favorites is a note Rob left me a few weeks back. I came home from work to find one of our favorite movies sitting on the counter with a sweet little poem attached. It’s a nice way to show the one you’re with, you’re still smitten with them!

• And the most important one of all…talk, talk, talk and talk some more! It sounds cliche, but we really feel communication is key to a successful relationship! Sometimes it can be difficult to make time to just talk, but I can’t stress how important it is. Whenever we can, Rob and I make sure to have dinner together at our dining room table. No phones, the television is off, just him and me and some good ‘ol conversation. It gives us the opportunity to sit down, relax, talk about our day and whatever may be on one another’s mind. Our dinners usually turn into some interesting conversations and I’m happy to say that after ten years together, we’re still learning new things about one another.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP FIVE BEAUTY PRODUCTS? DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL BEAUTY TIPS?
I love trying out new products, but I definitely have my favorites that I always go back to no matter what!

• Suave Dry Shampoo: I don’t wash my hair every day, so dry shampoo helps me go a few days in between washes while still keeping my hair fresh.

• Christian Dior Show Backstage Mascara: Playing up my eyes, is one of my favorite things to do with makeup, so a good mascara is a must! I have tried SO many other brands, but I always go back to this one. The brush is huge and gives great volume and length!

• Blush: I love to add that rosy look to my cheeks with some blush, otherwise I could feel a bit washed out. I always find myself reaching for pink/peachy tones. Some of my favorites are: Pinch O’ Peach and Pink Tea by MAC.

• Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution: As someone with very sensitive and fair skin, even the smallest blemish leaves me with a mark or a scar. Keihl’s Dark Spot Solution has been the best product I’ve found to fade those marks. I use it in the morning and at night. It’s a bit on the pricier side, but lasts such a long time! It’s also comes in a nice glass bottle. Who doesn’t love pretty packaging?

• Vaseline: This is a product I have been using since I was very young and one I could thank my Mom for. I use it at night to soften and moisturize my lips, but I also use it on my eyelashes which might come as a surprise! There are so many products out there, but I find dabbing a bit of vaseline on your lashes before bed, is the best way to grow and strengthen them!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER DISH?
My husband and I are pasta lovers! Pasta could be a heavy meal, especially in the summer time when it is so hot out. So, for a summer twist I like to make a lighter pasta dish with fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic. It’s super fast and easy for those nights when you get home from work late or having company over on short notice.

{Photo by Jaci Marie Smith}

IF SOMEONE WERE TO VISIT YOUR CITY, WHAT RESTAURANT WOULD YOU SEND THEM TO? WHY?
Although July will be our one-year anniversary of living in Phoenix, we are still newbies to this city and the state of Arizona. Every weekend we try to get out and explore what’s in our own backyard and feel pretty lucky to have found a few favorites. If we had to narrow it down to just one, currently our favorite is Carly’s Bistro. It’s a fun little spot in downtown Phoenix thats great for lunch or dinner. They have amazing sandwiches and the vibe is just amazing. On Sundays they have live jazz music and you could literally just sit there for hours, which we have done on more than one occasion.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
We have so many fun things planned for these next few months. We hope everyone will follow along with us at newdarlings.com! Thanks for reading!

Tomorrow Christina will be taking over our Instagram! Follow along as she shares a day in her life and be sure to follow @newdarlings for a special giveaway!

xoxo,
Soca & Christina

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