Happy Independence Day!

Somehow July 4 isn't as momentous when it falls in the middle of the week. Still, I can't complain about a day off work/ excuse to eat delicious food and drink outside all day.  Not that I need an excuse for a cocktail. (Seriously, my instagram feed is 90% food, cocktails and my cat)

I'll be going to not one, but two parties today! First a birthday backyard barbecue for my friend Kelly in Somerville, then fireworks and drinks on the beach in East Boston. I've go a killer outfit planned, a new swimsuit,  and two bottles of moscato chilling in the fridge, so I'm ready!

This is not the outfit I have planned, but it's the most patriotic outfit on my computer that you haven't seen, so here ya go!

How will you be celebrating today? 

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. 

Boston Vagina Monologues 2013 Recap

Hi strangers!

I'm sorry I've been absent from blogging for almost a month. I'm finding more and more that taking pictures of and talking about my clothes just doesn't feel like a priority. I love blogging, and my online community, but this month I've been focusing on my real life community.

The weekend of March 22- 24 was the Boston community production of Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues. This was my 4th year involved with this talented group of women, and my third year as an organizer. I absolutely loved directing a team of about 40 talented, diverse, and passionate women in a benefit performance.

With Lori and Leah, two of my co-organizers for the show.

Yes, that is a giant fabric Vagina. There were also chocolate vaginas...

... and vagina cupcakes! 

We had an amazing time and raised over $6000 to benefit VDay, Boston GLOW, Victory Programs, and the Young Black Women's Society.

All photos courtesy of Kaylyn Leighton Photography.

Ignite the Nite 2013

Thursday night I attended Boston GLOW's third annual Ignite the Nite Fundraising Gala. This was my first year attending as a guest instead of as a volunteer. For the first two years I checked coats. Thankfully GLOW had a wealth of volunteers this year, so I felt free to buy a ticket and go for fun.

Who doesn't want an excuse to curl her hair and wear lipstick on a Thursday night?

The evening did not disappoint. There was good company, lots of food, some drinks and of course some ridiculous dancing. It seemed like there was a great turnout and some high bids for the silent auction prizes, so I'm hoping we raised a lot of money for the Ignite Change scholarship contest.

Outfit: Blazer and tights- Marshalls; Skirt - Prabal Gurung for Target; 

Blouse and necklace- H&M, Boots- Madden Girl

I was really excited to find this Parabal Gurung skirt at my Target (and in my size!). I enjoy the designer collaborations, but I'm not one to line up in the cold waiting for Target to open. I love the bright colors, and I'm really looking forward to styling it in a bunch of different way as the weather warms up.

Life Lately: February

I miss you guys! Life has been great, but busy. I love my new job, and the free time I've been able to spend baking, organizing, and working on my nail art skills.

I'm missing a piece to my primary tripod, so I haven't taken any outfit photos since starting my new job. I'm hoping I'll find the piece soon, but until then here are some cell phone pics I've taken this month!

Some Snow

Some More Snow

Valentine's Day Nail Art

Kitty watching the snow come down

I'm Rising!

One Billion Rising Demonstration

These Hips are Rising

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Being involved with the VDay movement for the past seven years has transformed February 14th from a silly holiday about candy hearts, girlish romance and flowers to a day of power, community, and self- love.

This year's theme is One Billion Rising. There are approximately 3 billion women and girls on this planet. One third of them will experience violence or rape in her lifetime. I don't know about you, but that is not a statistic I can accept!

I can't accept that having hips and breasts means you can objectify me,  or that wearing a short skirt or having a drink too many means I want to have sex with you. 

I can't accept the cat calls, the whistles, the man coping a feel, the boy undressing with his eyes. 

I can't accept femicide, genital mutilation, forced trans-vaginal ultrasounds, slut shaming, street harassment, anti-choice legislation, or misogyny as facts of life.


Today women and men all over the world are rising in dance, in song, in protest and in memory. We're rising for our sisters our mothers, daughters, friends, our lovers, and ourselves. Visit www.onebillionrising.org for information about events in your area.  Bring your date with you. Everyone is welcome. 

If you're in Boston, and you'd like to rise with me. I'll be in Copley square at 5:30pm! 

Family Pictures 2012

I'm back from vacation! Okay, okay I've technically been back since Sunday night around 1 a.m., but after 10 days without my guy and my cat I didn't feel like spending the last two days of my time off blogging.

I had a great time in Ohio visiting my family. I hate squeezing a year's worth of quality family time into 10 days, but despite snow storms, illness, and demanding work schedules we made the best of it. The best part of the trip? Getting our family pictures taken for the first time in over a decade.

My mom has had a really rough few years, so I wanted to do something special for her this Christmas. The last professional photos we had done together were so long ago that my sister was in elementary school, my mom was still married, and I still thought wearing white eye-shadow and black eyeliner was cool.

I found a Living Social coupon for Studio Polaris in Columbus and made an appointment with them. We had a fantastic experience and got a great deal on the photos. Our photographer, Kasha, was super friendly and helpful. She even rushed the order so the photos could be printed before I left the state. If you're in the Columbus, OH area, I'd definitely recommend Studio Polaris. This is my favorite photo from the bunch:

Me, Mom, Sierra

Don't I have a beautiful mother and sister? Yes, that's my mom in the middle. I know a bunch of you thought she was my sister in the pajama picture from my last post. (She appreciates that, by the way!) These three photos turned out great as well:

I can't wait to use my Marshall's/ TJMaxx giftcard to buy picture frames!


* I was not compensated in anyway for this post. I just really enjoyed the experience! All photos by Studio Polaris. 

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! 

VOTE!

It's not just about the president. For information about what's on the ballot in your district, visit Project Vote Smart. 

Friday's Five Facts: What makes me a Feminist

 Y'all know that I love fashion. This is a fashion blog isn't it? But today I want to talk about the other major F word in my life- feminism.

I am a feminist. Unlike girl genius extraordinaire Tavi Gevinson, it took me about 20 years of my life to be able to comfortably state that. This was partly due to the social stigma around the word, but mostly due to the lack of a label for feelings of frustration I can trace back to when I was labeled a slut by other girls just for having lots of guy friends and a boyfriend in 9th grade.

What makes me a feminist?

1.Equality. I hold a deep seeded belief that all people are equal regardless of gender identity, sex, race, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, weight, health, ability etc.

2. Opportunity. Going in line with the belief that all people are equal, I believe that all people deserve equal opportunities. I support equal pay, Title IX, and goddammit I want to see more women, LGBT people, and people of color in positions of power!

3. I hate double standards. I spent three semesters studying the sexual double standard as part of my undergraduate thesis. Double standards go beyond sexual activity. Women are held to different standards than men, and it's not fair.

4. Choice. I believe that all people have the right to make the decisions that affect their health, happiness, and well being. For me choice goes beyond reproductive rights. Choice is about options and freedom. It is the choice to marry, or not marry, whomever you want and to have children, or to not have children. It's the choice to stay home with those children or the choice to be a working parent. It's the choice to live where you want, wear what you want, eat what you want, and practice whatever religion you want.

5. Empowerment. Everyone deserves to find their own voice. Being a part of the VDay movement, working with Boston GLOW, and even starting this blog have helped me find mine.

Want to hear more? Next Wednesday, October 3rd, I'm partnering with Boston GLOW for "These Clothes Were Made for Talking". It will be a discussion and networking event for women, exploring fashion and feminism- what our clothes say about us and whether they should shut the hell up!

If you're in New England please come by! If you don't identify as a feminist, please don't be intimidated. We're just looking to have a good discussion, maybe a few drinks, and a lot of fun!  If you use the discount code "Spitfire" you'll get admission for $2! Purchase tickets HERE.

Weekend Recap: Beer, Dinosaurs,and a Walk in the Park

Saturday I went to Brew at the Zoo at the Franklin Park Zoo. About a dozen breweries were there giving out samples, as well as some food vendors. I had a lot of delicious beers, but my favorites were the Espresso Amber Ale by Peak Organic and the Pumpkin Ale from Brooklyn Brewery. It was a ton fun walking around the zoo, beer in hand looking at the animals and the animatronic dinosaurs in the Zoorasic Park.

Our Souvenir Dinosaur Photo

Sunday Mike and I went to our favorite brunch place and then went for a walk in the Arnold Arboretum. It was the perfect afternoon to lay on a blanket surrounded by trees, sip some iced coffee and read a book, so that is exactly what we did.

Outfit:
Tee: Old Navy
Blue Denim Skinnies: Old Navy
Sandals: b.o.c.

How was your weekend?

A Skirt and a MFAwesome Evening.

TGIF y'all! This has been a really busy week at work and after work for me, so I'm really happy it's over.

OUTFIT- Skirt: Old Navy; Blouse: H&M; Cardi: Target (very old) Sandals: Payless

Wednesday after work I headed to the Museum of Fine Arts for a community building event with GLOW members, Ignite Change finalists, and their friends/ family. It was so fun to picnic and visit the museum with an inspiring group of young women.

The group of teens and women that came out for some museum fun.

The MFA is one of my favorite places in Boston. They always have exciting exhibits, and their collection is fantastic. Renoir, Degas, a statue that looks like a giant cheese grater... what more could you ask for? The best part? It's free every Wednesday after 4pm, and always free for children under 17. We had a lot of fun and even snapped some silly pictures with the art.

Lion Faces!

Special thanks to A.C. Gaughen for snapping these great pics with her phone and tweeting them for me to share. A.C. is an up and coming young adult author and one of the founders of Boston GLOW, so y'all should check her out.

Have a great weekend!

A Casual Country Wedding

On Saturday I went as Mike's date to a wedding near Hamilton, New York. The invitation indicated that the ceremony and reception would take place at a farm and that there would be a pig roast and bonfire, so I figured I could take a pretty casual approach.

I wore a sundress, cardigan, and my peep toe wedges. The cardigan was essential to keep me warm in the chily mountain evening. I absolutely love this dress. I got it on sale at Old Navy a few weeks ago and I knew it was perfect for casual wedding. It looks red in this picture, but the gingham is actually more of an orange. I think this outfit could have benefited from a necklace, but I'm really bad at remembering to pack jewelry.

Outfit:
Dress: Old Navy
Cardigan: Target
Shoes: Payless

I have to say I was not prepared for exactly how casually some of the guests at this wedding would be dressed. We're talking Hawaiian shirts, jeans, and flip flops casual. The bride wore a gorgeous tea length champagne colored dress with a blue ribbon sash. The location, and the bride couldn't have been more beautiful!

The view from my chair in the reception tent. 

All of the food was local and delicious. The couple owns their own brewery, Good Nature Brewing, so the reception included their own brews. The chamomile honey witte was my favorite. They even baked some of their chicory mocha porter into the delicious cake. 

Talk about a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony!

I really had a wonderful time, and I definitely think stuffy, formal weddings are overrated:) Congratulations to Carrie and Matt. It was so nice to meet you both and to celebrate with you!

Wild

Tuesday night I headed to a Spitfire event hosted by BostonGLOW. The event was focused on navigating the professional world, and I found it really helpful! I know that there are a lot of things I need to work on professionally to build up my confidence and make sure I'm not selling myself short. 

I absolutely love the Spitfire events. They're a great way to connect with other women, and to talk about issues that are important to me. Being involved with GLOW gives me the same sense of a strong community of women that I had through the various clubs and activities I was involved in in college. I'm taking on a little more of a leadership role in the organization this year. One of the potential Spitfires we're planning is going to be focused on balancing fashion, beauty, and being feminine with feminist/ egalitarian ideals. It would be great to get some Boston area bloggers involved, so I'll keep you posted!

I've worn this necklace about a dozen times since I bought it at the beginning of the month. The colors match a lot of my summer clothes and it is the perfect piece to spice up neutral outfits. I picked up this leopard print tank at goodwill a few weeks ago. It's super 80s, and about an inch away from being a crop top, but I love it! 

Outfit:

Tank: thrifted

Cardigan: Old Navy

Necklace: H&M

Pants: Target

Weekend Recap: What a Drag!

I had a really fun and busy weekend. Saturday I met up with my friend Michael to go shopping for outfits for his birthday party. I broke two fashion "rules" for curvy girls by wearing horizontal stripes AND short shorts. Rules are meant to be broken, and I absolutely love this outfit.

Outfit:
Top: H&M
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shorts: Forever 21+
Sandals: Payless


We went to one of my favorite stores, the Garment District. It is a thrift, vintage, and costume store all in one, so it was a great choice for us to do our shopping.  Why did the party warrant a special shopping trip? His birthday party was drag themed!

In addition to serving as Michael's personal stylist and make up artist for the day, I got in on the fun myself. I had fun and kind of went all out even adding a little five 'clock shadow with my makeup.  Here's my lovely ensemble for the evening!

Outfit:
Vest, bowtie and shoes: thrifted via Garment District
Shirt: Borrowed
Pants: Old Navy (women's)
Belt: thrifted
Hat: Macy's (women's) last year

I think I make a very dapper gentleman, and I had a wonderful time. Have you ever dressed in drag?

Swap 'til You Drop

Wednesday was a really busy day for me, so I wanted an effortless outfit. When I want effortless I always reach for a dress. This is the version of my outfit I wore to the Fiesta Swap event hosted by the Swapaholics. For work I opted for flats and a cardi (like I did here). 

I had a lot of fun at the swap. I am still a little timid/ shy around big groups of bloggers, but I'm getting a little better at introducing myself and starting conversations. Maybe after a few more events I'll be an old pro?

I came away from the swap with 4 new pieces. Unfortunately, I won't be able to wear one of the items (it's a romper that I mistook for a blouse), but I will definitely be wearing the lacy beige dress and hot pink beaded  angora cardigan I scored from Sara very soon!

Outfit:
Dress: Old Navy
Jacket: JCrew via Goodwill
Shoes: Payless last year
Belt: H&M
Necklace: gift

Have you had any luck at clothes swaps?