Jumping for Joy

Wednesday was an awesome day. I woke up to news that State Senator Wendy Davis's filibuster against an egregious antiabortion bill in the Texas Senate actually worked. Feeling cheery and optimistic, I decided to wear this crazy Asos neon shirt dress I got from Gwynnie Bee.

I'd slept with my hair in buns Tuesday nights with the hopes I'd acheive beachy waves, and it actually worked! 

Outfit: Dress- Asos Curve via Gwynnie Bee; Sandals- old Payless similar; Belt- thrifted

A women's rights victory, a bright dress, and beachy wavy hair Could this day get any better?

Well, yes. Before I'd even finished my morning coffee the Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, is unconstitutional. DOMA kept legally married same-sex spouses from getting federal benefits allotted to other married couples. The federal government has finally recognized that love is love. and that makes me want to jump for joy. 

While that decision, and the decision regarding California's Prop 8 don't make same sex marriage a constitutional right, they are certainly a step in the right direction. Hopefully we'll see more states join Massachusetts, Maryland, and co. in recognizing that love is love, no matter your gender. 

In My Backyard

I love where I live. Sure, my apartment is small, and my closet smaller, but you can't beat the location. The only way I could have a shorter commute would be to work from home. I can walk to just about anywhere in the Back Bay or South End in 20-30 minutes, and I live within two blocks of a great coffee shop, a Marshall's and a plethora of restaurants. What more could a girl want (besides a bigger closet)?

Well, since you asked, I do miss having outdoor space. A yard, a deck, or a porch would be amazing. Especially when temps over 90 degrees+ no AC = hotter temperatures in my apartment than outside. Thankfully my fantastic location also means I have a variety of parks and gardens at my disposal.

On Sunday Mike and I got some frozen yogurt and went for a walk in the Fenway Victory Gardens. It's really cool to see what people grow in their little plots. Some were filled with flowers, others with the starts of a vegetable garden.

It was a hot day, and super windy. I'll spare y'all the photo where I had to hold my dress down, Marilyn Monroe style.Thankfully, I always wear shorts of some sort under my dresses. Despite the wind, this Dorothy Perkins dress really is perfect for a hot day. It's light and airy, the perfect length, and it's striped!

After our little walk we retreated to the crisp air conditioning of the movie theater for a matinee showing of the new Star Trek movie. There is seriously nothing better than a frigid movie theatre when it's over 90 degrees outside and you don't have air conditioning. 

Outfit: Dress- Dorothy Perkins last summer; Sandals- Payless old; Braceet- vintage (either my mo;m's or thrifted, not sure); Sunnies- Target

What do you like to do/ wear on a hot day? 

The Unofficial Start to Summer

Today is the start of a 4 day long heatwave in Boston, and I for one am stoked! (especially after a less than warm holiday weekend)

I spent the long, cold weekend in New York. Friday we headed to the Neuberger Museum of Art in Prospect. Most of the exhibits were closed, but there was still some cool stuff!

On Saturday Mike and I braved the cold, rainy, NYC weather and headed to Brooklyn for pizza brunch with friends and a trip to the Brooklyn Brewery. 

Yum! Then we headed to Citi Field to catch Mike's birthday Mets Game.

Unfortunately it was cold and rainy, so we spent most of the game in the Caesar's Club. We did manage to sneak out for a bit to some seats that were not as good, but also not as windy as ours. 

Most of the weekend was spent hanging out with Mike's family. 

Including this cute kitty, punky. 

On Sunday the clouds finally cleared!

The sun finally came out on Saturday, so we had a little barbecue. Mike did the grilling. I lounged.  And took outfit pictures in the back yard. 

Dress: Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx; Sandals- ? via shopbop; Cardigan- Old Navy

Feminine, Classic, and Fuss Free

The further I get into my 20s, the more developed my personal style becomes. I like simple, classic prints like polka dots and stripes. I love dresses, skirts, flowy blouses, and strappy sandals. I shy away from fussy or complicated. I don't wear a lot accessories. I wouldn't dare call myself sophisticated.

This outfit feels very me. Feminie, classic, and fuss free.

I bet you'll be seeing a lot of this dress this summer. The navy and white stripes are so versatile.

Outfit: Dress- EvanPicone via Marshalls; Cardigan- Old Navy; Shoes - Payless; Sunnies - F21

Spring is definitely here to say. Look at this little bunny that decided to crash my photo shoot!

And the flowers are gorgeous right now!

How would you describe your personal style?

Insta-Birthday Weekend-gram

This was a big birthday weekend for me! Yesterday was my birthday, and Friday was Mike's birthday. Unfortunately Mike is in the middle of law school finals so we had to keep the celebrations pretty low key. Regardless we had a great weekend including dinner and a movie Friday, some much needed lady time for me on Sunday (brunch and shopping!), sushi, desserts, and presents.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. (Did I mention I am on instagram now?)

I gave myself a pretty awesome funfetti cake inspired manicure. 

The city is totally in bloom right now. Clearly just for my birthday. 

Outfit: Dress- Cynthia Rowley via Marshalls; Flats- ? via Marshalls; Jacket- Jcrew thrifted; Scarf - H&M; Shades- F21 

Myles kitty decided to be super adorable just for me. 

Fancy birthday cake and ice-cream after a delicious sushi dinner. 

The birthday celebrations are going to continue after Mike's finals are over. I got him NY Mets tickets for our trip to NY Memorial Day weekend, and he got me a weekend getaway to a bed and breakfast in Cape Cod. 

Violators will be Towed

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I've been experimenting with new locations for photos. 

When the Red Sox have a home game, it can be a challenge to find a place that isn't crawling with people. But when the Sox are away, there are empty parking lots everywhere! 

Who doesn't love prancing around a sketchy parking, dancing in front of a tripod lot like a weirdo? That's what blogging is all about right? Well it's all fun and games until you realize that said parking lot is on your boss's walk home...

Outfit: Dress- H&M; Cardigan- Gap Outlet; Shoes- Payless; Shades- F21; 

So my boss looked at me like I had three heads, and I shrugged it off. If you can't be a little goofy, what's the point?

Urban CowGirl

There's something about chambray, fringe, and a wide brown leather belt that screams western wear. Yet somehow when I chose to wear all of those items at one time I didn't realize that would be the result.

Do I care that the outfit I wore for brunch/ errands looked like a costume from a bad western? Not really because these Minnetonka trampers are the most comfortable non-sandal shoes I've ever owned  I got them with the shopbop credit I won in a giveaway, so a big thanks to Lyddie at Chic on the Cheap for providing my toesies with warmth and comfort.

Outfit: Chambray Dress- Buffalo Exchange; Belt - ?; Leggings- Marshalls; Booties- Minnetonka via shopbop 

Have you ever looked back at pictures of an outfit and realized you looked totally ridiculous?

Weekly Wishlist: A Little Sparkle

In college I had a lot of sparkly clothes in my wardrobe. When I graduated and stopped going to dance parties I got rid of a lot of my "going out" clothes. Gone are my sequined party dresses and glittery belts. As a result, I struggle when it comes to putting together outfits for events that require "cocktail" attire. I want to invest in some sparkly basics that can be remixed for formal events, or just for days when I feel like wearing a little something sparkly.

image via DSW.com

Plenty by Tracy Reese Naia Wedge Bootie- $129.95 at DSW

It's boot weather in Boston about 60% of the year, so these sparkly little booties would definitely come in handy. I can see them with a cocktail dress and some funky patterned tights for an event, or with opaque tights, a black pencil skirt and a sweater for the office. 

image via forever21.com

Cropped Sequined Jacket- $29.80 at Forever21

This color is listed as bronze on the website, but I think it looks more like a rose gold color. I'm a little obsessed with rose gold jewelry right now, so I love this little cropped jacket. I'd use it to dress up jeans and a tee.

image via Nordstrom.com

Adrianna Papell Sleeveless Lace Sheath Dress- $140 at Norstrom

This dress isn't technically sparkly, but it's lacy and it's one of my favorite colors. It's sleeveless so it could be layered in cold weather or worn alone in warmer weather. There's also a 3/4 sleeve version if you don't like showing your arms.  I would style this dress with a sparkly blazer and pumps for an event, or with a cardigan and flats for the office. 

image via oldnavy.com

Braided Sparkle Belt- $8 at Old Navy

I love a braided belt, and this one is covered in pewter sequins! At $8 I'm strongly resisting the urge to order it for myself right now.

image via forever21.com

Sequined Scallop Skirt- $24.80 at Forever 21

Quality at Forever 21 is always a gamble, but how beautiful and delicate is this skirt? The sequined arches give it an art deco vibe, which I love. I think it would look great with a simple black sweater.

Which is your favorite?


PS: I did some blog design changes yesterday with my limited tech abilities. What do you think?

 

Smart Polka Dots

It's no secret I love polka dots. I have three polka dot dresses in my closet (1, 2, 3) and I've been trying REALLY hard not to buy any more, so I was delighted to see this dress on Gwynnie Bee! Borrow a work appropriate polka dot dress whenever I want? Yes please! And the color is divine. It reads as navy in photos, but it's more of a really deep plum color in person. I kind of want to wear it again before I send it back, but there are so many other pieces I want to try! 

Outfit: Dress- Eliza J via Gwynnie Bee; Boots- Madden Girl (similar); Tights- H&M

I wore this dress to work and also to a panel discussion on Boston Fashion hosted by Boston Globe. The discussion "Boston Fashion is Smart" was co-moderated by Jay Calderin of Boston Fashion Week and Chris Muther, a fashion reporter for the Boston Globe and featured some really cool panelists. The discussion focused on how fashion in Boston is evolving and coming into its own. 

While a lot of the discussion was a little too high fashion oriented for my taste- one point of discussion really resonated with me. The features that Boston is often criticized for are actually its strengths. Being a "college town" actually gives Boston its character- it is the ever changing population of students and faculty that make Boston a global city! 

A Trip to the ICA

My friend Kelly was kind enough to invite me along on her visit to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The last time I visited the ICA I left feeling a little underwhelmed, but this trip did not disappoint! I loved the new exhibit This Will Have Been: Art, Love and Politics in the 1980s.  

The ICA is just a few blocks from the site of the Boston Tea party and has amazing views of the harbor. I couldn't help but take some pictures in some of the glass lobby areas overlooking the harbor. 

Outfit: Dress- Gap; Cardigan- Old Navy; Tights- H&M; Boots- Me Too via DSW; Belt- Urban Outfitters. 

The lighting in these photos was a little tricky. I had to clean them up a lot in photoshop, and I still couldn't get them right. This dress is actually a charcoal gray flannel, but it looks a little blue in the photos. My photos of the harbor turned out much better. Seriously, how beautiful is this view?

I want to thank y'all for sticking with me despite my sporadic posting. I probably won't post again until after Thanksgiving, but I'm going to try my darnedest to take lots of pictures (and dress really fabulously) over the long weekend! I hope everyone enjoys a day full of friends, family, and delicious food! 

Power Dressing

Do you ever have one of those days where you need to project an air of confidence, but you're just not feeling it? I've found that on days like that it really helps to put on an outfit that makes me feel confident and authoritative. For me that "power outfit" is a dress or pencil skirt, a low heel or wedge and a blazer or cardigan.

Outfit: Blazer- Target; Dress- NY&Co (old); Heels- Crown Vintage via DSW; Tights- Hue via Marshall's; Earrings?

I love this blazer. I'm strongly resisting the urge to order another color from the Target website. I imagine it will be appearing on the blog a lot as it is a very versatile piece. It looks great as a suiting piece for work, but also with more casual pieces.

By the way- the thing I needed to feel confident for went really well. I'll be less vague when I know the final result. I don't want to jinx anything! What do you wear on days that you need to feel and project an air of confidence? Do you have a "power outfit"?

A Farewell to Summer Clothes...

Hello friends! Long time, no blog! I've been super busy, very tired, and a little sick, but for the most part I've been getting dressed every day... (if you count wearing the leggings I slept in and throwing on a hoodie as getting dressed.) I even left the house a few times over the long weekend! Here's what I wore for a brunch date, grocery shopping, and a walk around the park with Mike on Saturday. 

We had an unseasonably warm Saturday, so I declared the day a farewell to summer clothes. I ate my brunch al fresco, walked in the sunshine and relished in what will probably be my last opportunity to wear both sandals and a sundress for quite a few months.

Outfit: Dress, belt and cardigan- Target (old); Sandals- Payless (old)

Last week I finally got a new computer. I've been trying to teach myself photo shop, so my pictures might be all over the place over the next few weeks. That being said. I really like the way these turned out with the edits. It was definitely easier to edit the bottom photo. That's probably a good thing, since most of my pictures are going to be in front of concrete walls this fall/ winter. Y'all don't actually expect me to walk away from my apartment building for photos, right? 

Old Friends

Saturday was the first day of autumn, and it is definitely starting to feel like it in Boston. We've been having chilly mornings, warm afternoons and breezy evenings. One of my favorite things about the change of seasons is pulling old favorites out from the back of my closet and wearing them again. It's like getting reacquainted with old friends! This sweater dress is one of the old friends I have been longing to get back in touch with. I wore it in my very first blog post, so it felt fitting to wear it on the first day of a new season.

I originally intended to wear my new black riding boots with this outfit, but I didn't like the way they looked with bare legs. I think they need to be broken in a bit. Instead I chose my cognac colored high heeled boots, and I really love the way this outfit turned out.

Outfit: Dress- Forever21+ (last year); Belt- H&M; Jacket- JCrew (thrifited); Boots- Madden Girl last year (similar here)

Mike snapped these pictures for me on our way to dinner. We went out for some delicious sushi  and then went to a party hosted by one of Mike's friends from law school. It was really nice to spend the evening with good company and drink some fall beers on the porch.

We did a lot of walking and standing. Although these boots are very comfortable for heels,my feet were killing me by the end of the night. Thankfully I'd thought ahead and thrown some flats in my purse, but I really wish I were better at wearing heels. Any tips?

Reality: Football

I don't really get into sports. Mike loves sports, especially football and baseball. This year he is participating in not one, but four fantasy leagues. As a result, he monopolizes the television all day on Sunday. I'm not exaggerating! He had football or football related programming on TV from abut 8:30 in the morning, when we got up until 11 at night when the last game was over. As someone who finds football to be about as entertaining as watching paint dry, I knew I needed to get out of the house for most of the day. Thankfully, my friend Kelly recently relocated to Boston and was available for brunch!

A maxi dress and cardigan combo are perfect for a cool late summer outdoor brunch. Afterwards we went to a few stores, and I managed to stay out of the house for a full 5 hours of football!

Outfit: Dress- Calvin Klein via Marshalls; cardigan- Old Navy; sandals- Payless; Sunnies- thrifted; necklace- gifted.

Now I just need to figure out what to do to get out of the house next Sunday!

Weekend Recap: Happy Blur

Happy Monday, y'all! I'm home from work today due to a doctor's appointment this morning, so it's a three day weekend for me. Thus far it has been a really great one. I finally got the rest I was craving and also managed to be really productive.

Friday night we had some date night barbecue at Sweet Cheeks Q  (so yummy!) and watched a movie at home. Mike snapped these outfit pictures for me on the way to dinner, but somehow they all turned out just a little blurry.

Outfit: Dress- Old Navy; Cardigan- Target; Belt- thrifted; Shoes- Payless; Necklace- Gift

Saturday I slept in, made french toast with bananas, and then made a trip to Ikea. That trip lead to assembling a bookcase, putting doors on it, and unpacking almost everything! I'm so proud/ amazed that we've only been in the apartment a week, but the only box we have left is stuff that we have to hang on the walls. Hopefully by the end of this week that box will be gone and all of our shelving and art will be on the walls. As soon as we're finished I'll post some pictures.

Sunday I had a brunch date with a friend and did some shopping. I redeemed my Old Navy extra bucks and got some shirts and a scarf. In sticking with my one in, one out policy, here's a recap of my purchases/ items to be donated for the week.

IN: Items purchased

OUT: Items to be donated (plus a scarf, not pictured)

How was your weekend?