Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Shady Lady

      Summer is a time for pool parties, barbecues, and driving with the windows down which means a fun pair of sunglasses are essential. With the amount of time I spend lying by the pool, I've developed quite the collection of glasses. Getting a pair of prescription sunglasses have been on my list of things to get for awhile now since I am constantly switching from my regular glasses to sunglasses when I go from indoors to outdoors but I am having trouble committing because the second I choose a pair of prescription sunglasses, I'm stuck with them and I prefer to change my sunglasses with my mood or outfit. 
       For Christmas this year I received my first pair of Ray-Bans and I love them. I originally saw them on an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and put them on my wish list. Even though they were a Christmas gift I was with my mom when she bought them because we were browsing the Sunglass Hut inside the Colonie Center Macy's and they were having a big sale. If you get Macy's coupons mailed to you, you probably also get Macy's Sunglass Hut coupons mailed as well. They have two coupons they sent to me routinely, one for $25 off any purchase, and a $50 off of a $200 purchase coupon. We ended up buying a couple pairs of designer glasses because on top of the coupons a lot of the designer shades were super discounted because in the winter nobody is buying sunglasses so the stores put them on sale. So the moral of my story is that you may feel like you cant afford a pair of designer shades but if you know where to look you can find designer brands for cheap. I also recommend looking for designer brands at the outlets because you can score a pair for an outlet price!
       I think my next big purchase this winter will be a pair of Black Ray-Ban Aviators with a gold rim. They remind me of old-school cop glasses and I feel like they never go out of style.

        I do like to own a couple pairs of cheap sunglasses because there are some places (like the beach or a concert for example) that you don't want to bring a nice pair of shades. Target is one of my favorite places to get cheap glasses. They have a section devoted to different color wayfarers and last summer I bought them in 3 different colors. They were perfect for when I went to Disney World because I could match them to my outfit each day but wasn't worried if I lost them on a ride because they were only $12. 
      Overall my advice to you is to own a variety of sunglasses, no matter what the price they are a way to show off your personality! Treat them like a purse or a pair of shoes and coordinate them as an accessory to your outfit for the day. Be bold, make a statement, and have fun!


Here are some other shades I love!

Tory Burch Sunglasses

**Side Note: I am currently in the process of researching a website called Here-Saler that sells last seasons Ray-Bans at a discount price. I'm not 100% sure they are authentic yet, but if I find out I'll let you know. Here's the link if you want to check it out for yourself... Discount Ray-Bans

xoxo

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Life is Short...Buy the Shoes

                               
      As much as I wish I was that girl who can wear sky high stiletto's out on the town for hours, I am not. I can barely make it through a dinner sitting down with a pair of heels on, plus I'm super uncoordinated and I trip myself up with a pair of sneakers on so its best that I keep my feet placed firmly on the ground. When I was doing my internship I stocked up on different pairs of flats to match with my outfits. I have a pair of plain basic black flats but I found that it really pulled my ensemble together if I had on a jazzy flat. 
     The problem with flats though is sometimes they can be as uncomfortable as heels are so it's important that they compliment your foot and don't give you blisters. One year for Christmas I got these amazing leopard print Coach ballet flats. They were so cool looking with the calf hair making up the leopard pattern. I had been on a hunt for the perfect leopard flat and they were exactly what I envisioned in my mind. Unfortunately they were super uncomfortable and gave me really bad blisters. I tried wearing them with socks around the house to break them in but to no avail it just wasn't going to work. So I learned my lesson and even if I love a pair of shoes, if they aren't comfortable, I just wont buy them. 

     On the other hand, I am a big fan of the phrase "If the shoe fits, buy it in every color!" The J Crew Factory store has these amazing Cece suede ballet flats in every color you can ever imagine and when they first came out over a year ago, I vowed to own a pair. Unfortunately they were super over priced ($98) and I refused to pay that for a pair of flats. I really wanted the cobalt blue pair and kept my eye on them for months waiting for them to go on sale and one weekend they had a huge clearance close out and I got them for $30! I was super excited and when I brought them home I wore them everywhere. They were so comfortable and were made of good leather. This is where my addiction set in and since then, every time I go to the outlets I buy another pair in a different color. The best part?! I have not paid more than $35 for them! They even started putting out similar versions of the Cece Flat in patent leather and regular leather so I've been snatching them up as well. I would honestly recommend the J Crew Factory ballet flat to anyone and everyone, do yourself a favor and please go buy a pair.
My collection of J Crew Cece's and Anya's

      Macy's is also another great place to find some cute and comfortable flats. As I mentioned in previous posts, the best part about Macy's is their coupons. I'm pretty sure I have never paid full price for anything at Macy's which is amazing. Another cool thing about Macy's is if they don't have your shoe size in stock they will order it for you online for free shipping (NEVER buy something online at Macy's on your own because you will pay shipping, instead go to the store and ask the sales woman to order it). Macy's has a huge selection of Sperry's that are comfortable and great for the office or a day out. I think I'm going to be brave this year and buy a pair of Oxford Flats that lace up. I've seen them in a lot of magazines and although they're sorta masculine, I think they would look good with a pair of rolled skinny jeans and a button up. 
Sperry and Lucky Brand Flats at Macy's

      Finally, I'm a big fan of ALDO shoes, and their another place that I would recommend having them order your shoe/size if they dont have it in stores because you'll get free shipping. I especially love their
clearance rack because you can get flats out of season flats for dirt cheap and put them in the back of your closet for next year. 
The red flats from ALDO have a Jaguar decal

J Crew Cece Suede Ballet Flats (FYI You'll pay less if you go to the outlets)
xoxo

Monday, July 29, 2013

Priorities

     My weekend was super busy. I started my Friday with lunch with my other half followed by a spontaneous trip to the Saratoga race track with his family. I have to admit I am not a spontaneous person, I like plans and lists and set times (preferably weeks in advanced), but I was glad Chris suggested we go because I had a lot of fun with him and even won a couple bucks. I ended my Friday with drinks with Chris and some of my best friends at JJ's. Again it was a spontaneous trip but I was glad I made it. 
     On Saturday, I got up early and made my way to my uncles house because my cousin was home from Chicago. My cousin only comes home twice a year so basically when he's in town the world comes to a stop and everyone heads in his direction to hang out. The best part about my cousin, Josh, coming into town is that I not only get to have a mini reunion with him but all of his friends who come to hang out as well. His friends have become second-family to me because we grew up together. Having all of my cousin, our friends, and their significant others who I consider family all in one place is such a wonderful feeling. Since I am an only child my cousins are my siblings and I love them just as much. I speak to my most of my cousins on a daily basis so when were all in a room together reunited it feels like the universe is aligned. 
Harry Potter World 2012 with my cousins (ignore the sweaty-ness)

      So I spent my Saturday afternoon by the pool with my family, playing pool volleyball and eating mountains of Italian food. It was such a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. Now typically, as I mentioned earlier, when my cousin is home I don't typically leave his side. But yesterday was also my good friend Nicole's birthday party. So I packed up my pool gear and left my cousins behind as I went home to change to go out and get drinks with friends. I was super overwhelmed and this was the first time in awhile that I wish I had a body double so I could be in two places at once. I love my friends so much and never want to turn down and opportunity to be with them and celebrate, but since time is so limited with my cousin, I felt so guilty leaving. Luckily I was able to spend a couple hours at the bar with my friends having fun and making memories and then scoot back out to my uncles to end the night playing board games with my cousins. 
My BFF's: Tina, Meg, Nicole & Dana

     I am not really a sappy person but I realized today that I got to spend my weekend with everyone that I love. I felt grateful that I have so many wonderful family and friends that I get to spend time with and sad that not every weekend can feel like this one. These are the important things in life more so than anything else and I need to continue to focus my life to make sure I spend as much time as possible with those who make me happy. So sorry for digressing from my usual fashion post but I thought I would share because there really are more important things than getting a fabulous designer dress for a discount. 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

My Dream Wish List


        It’s really sick how much of my time is spent looking online at clothes and accessories. I do a lot of day dreaming, looking at pieces I could never afford but sometimes its fun to create your dream closet. At least I know if I ever win the lottery, I already have a list of things that I will be ordering.
            I’m a huge fan of costume jewelry. I get this love from my mother and grandmother who never owned any expensive jewelry, instead opting for bright colored baubles and cheap stones. My favorite place to shop costume jewelry is the Macys clearance rack, you know the one that’s in the back of the store with all the tangled and broken jewelry for 75% off? I’ve found some of the most fabulous finds in the back of the store if you just take the time to weed out all the tacky broken items. I once got this gold Ralph Lauren chained necklace, originally $100 for $15! Of course now costume jewelry has become super popular and many stores have taken on the trend and its not always cheap!

            Here are two necklaces from the new J Crew fall line that I have put on my dream wish list. I love the pink, yellow and baby blue stones on the Technicolor necklace and the orange and blue cord chain on second necklace. There are so many outfits you could mix and match these two pieces with.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Seersucker Punch

       A couple of weeks ago I went to the Manchester Vermont Outlets to shop with my mom. They had a lot of cute stores that are not always in a typical outlet store (think Yankee Candle Outlet). I went into my first Vineyard Vines outlet there and they had a lot of fun preppy things. I especially loved their bright colored shorts and seersucker dresses. Vineyard Vines is having an online sale where they are getting rid of some of their summer collection for 40% off. Some of their stuff really isn't my style (I'm a little uneasy about having anything with a whale detail on my body....isn't that just asking for trouble?), but I saw a couple of skirts that would be fun for an office or lunch with friends. I'm seriously considering buying the navy striped skirt and the pink seersucker scalloped skirt. The pink one is unique and fun and could be paired with a variety of tops. Again, I would have liked the patchwork skirt so much more if it didn't have tiny whales on it, but its still unique.
     Which ones are your favorite?!


Friday, July 26, 2013

Tech Finds


        Nowadays we cant live without our electronics, I know that I don’t go anywhere without my phone and when I am home, my laptop isn’t far behind. I am always texting friends, stalking social media, reading up on the latest television spoiler or online shopping so my having my electronics close by is important to me. There are so many ways you can dress up your electronics in the same way you would dress up and outfit you are wearing and most of them are pretty inexpensive.
      I always need some type of case on my electronics because I am clumsy. Don’t you love the sleek way your iPhone (or other smartphone) looks when it’s out of its case? It’s always so nice and shiny. But, if I did that I would end up with a cracked screen by the end of the day so I like to change up my iPhone case as much as possible to keep it fresh and new. Plus it’s a piece of my personality that I get to show off with me wherever I go. I currently have a Lilly Pulitzer phone case that I found on Amazon on my iPhone. I got it on sale and it was cheaper on Amazon than it was on the Lilly website. Kate Spade has a lot of cute iPhone cases as well but I suggest you wait until they have a big sale on their website, or go to the outlets before you make a purchase because its pretty ridiculous to spend $50 on a phone case. 
      My next big phone purchase, really isn’t a big purchase at all, I really want a 10 foot iPhone charge cord. The one that Apple provides you is way to short, and Amazon has all different colors for under $5.00 depending on the buyer and color you choose. I also want to get a backup charger that they have on the J Crew website. It’s a tiny charger that fits right in your purse and can extend your battery life for 5 extra hours. This is perfect for me because I hate carrying around my charger cord with me, it always gets tangled in my bag.

        When searching for electronic accessories I always check Amazon first because they're often a lot cheaper than on other websites. It sometimes takes a little longer to arrive, especially if you bought it from another seller off of Amazon but if you're not in a rush, why not wait a couple extra shipping days to save a couple bucks. Currently, I really need a new Macbook Pro case. I’ve had mine for a couple of years, originally bought it off Amazon, but its starting to crack along the corners and is all scraped up from bringing it everywhere with me (I’ve also caught Misa standing on it on several different occasions as well with her razor nails…ugh).
      I really love the Osaka brand because they offer a variety of colors for your laptop and they're cheap.  The Tiffany Blue case I want to buy is only $14.99, which is right in my budget, especially if it lasts a couple years like my last one. Plus the frosted rubberized cases are easy to snap on and off of your laptop.
Here are some of the other electronic accessories I love!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

FYI: Sale

      I love J Crew's tee-shirts, they're super light weight and come in a variety of colors. But if you asked me my favorite part of the J Crew tee-shirts is that they are nice and long. I hate short tee-shirts that ride up your back when you sit down or bend over. Right now J Crew Factory store is having a "Tee Spree" where all shirts are 50% off ($13.00) for the next 2 days. You can purchase them online at the Factory Stores website or you can head to the outlets in person and stack up on basic tee's. If you make a trip to the outlets make sure you bring your student ID (or old student ID) because they will give you an additional 15% off your entire purchase.

xoxo

Fabulous Find: Dogeared Jewelry


        Last Christmas I received a necklace from the company Dogeared and I fell in love with the brand. It was a simple gold chain with a tiny gold dipped dog bone on it. It was created to represent the connection between humans and their dogs and it serves as a reminder of the bond between Misa and myself. The necklace is so simple and it’s a fun accessory to throw on with any outfit.  I originally found the necklace advertised in the Neiman Marcus catalog and dropped plenty of hints to my mom that I would like to see it in my stocking on Christmas morning. I have gotten compliments from so many different people on it and everyone always asks where I got it so today I’m sharing my fabulous find!
            The best part about Dogeared is that is has so many different charms and each of them has a special meaning. They are the perfect birthday gift or holiday gift because you can tailor them to the person you are buying for. In addition to the hundreds of pre-made necklaces to choose from you can also design your own necklace on their website by choosing the chain (with different lengths and designs) and the charm you want. They even have different charms for mothers and sisters so when you’re scrambling for a meaningful gift to give mom for mothers day, this is the website you’re going to want to check out.

            One of my favorite products they have is the “Make a Wish” collection. These have little charms on a silk thread. You're supposed to make a wish on the charm and when the silk thread wears through and breaks off your wish is ready to come true! What a creative idea.

            Here are a couple of my other favorite Dogeared Necklaces!
 Being a sun worshipper myself, I love this necklace that celebrates my favorite season!
Matching friend necklaces anyone?!

xoxo

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Sleeping Beauty


In addition to my obsession with buying clothes, I also have an obsession with bedding. I always change my comforters and sheets based on the seasons and I have a variety of different pattern and colors. I haven’t bought a new comforter set in years because I don’t really want to waste my money on a new set if eventually I plan on moving out of my house and getting an apartment (and most likely a larger bed- I currently have a full).         
None of this stops me from day dreaming about my future set. I love bright colors and creative patterns. I know one day I will be one of those crazy people with all those stupid decorative pillows all over their bed even though they always end up on the floor when you get into bed anyways. Another problem that deters my bedding purchases is my monster Misa. She always jumps on my bed with muddy paws or with some type of treat or bone in her mouth. It’s almost like she has this uncontrollable need to lie in my bed after hanging out outside in the pouring rain. Of course, we all want what we cant have so I always gravitate towards white or light colored comforters that don’t hide the dirt well.


One place that I always find bedding I love is Pottery Barn Teen. I know it sounds weird that a 23-year-old girl gravitates towards a line created for juniors but they have so many clean patterns that come in sizes as big as a queen. Be forewarned, the bedding can be a little pricey, but they typically don’t sell out so it’s easy to wait until they go on sale. Also if you spend more than $100 they will give you 10% off your first purchase! Plus they have their fair share of decorative pillows, quilts, rugs, and matching curtains to transform your entire room.


Two of my favorite colors together are Navy and White which is why I love love love this Duvet comforter. I would probably switch the sheets in the picture with the Navy Quincy Scalloped Sheets in the picture below and I would add a couple of the decorative pillows as well (I love the monogrammed popsicle pillow!). A girl can dream, right?



Enjoy your beauty sleep!
            xoxo

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

FYI Summer Sale


       For a limited time only all Victoria Secrets bathing suits are 25% off! This is the perfect time to stock up on suits for next year (or this year since there is still 1.5 months of summer left). There's also a bunch of light and airy cover ups on sale as well. I really love this navy blue jeweled top, too bad I wont look like that model in the picture if I buy it. Also, whats with the weird belly jewelry? Does anyone besides Rihanna or Beyonce actually wear that? I would get tangled up in it or it would probably brand my skin like a cow if it was left out in the sun for too long.

xoxo

Heir At Last


As you may have heard, the Royal baby was born yesterday! Kate Middleton gave birth to Britain’s future king and all is well with mother and baby. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for a girl because who wouldn’t love another queen?
Twitter was blowing up yesterday with some of the funniest tweets about the impending baby and speculation on what they will name the baby.  I love a good Game of Thrones reference so my favorite tweet of the day came from former producer of the Walking Dead, Glen Mazzara, who tweeted: “It’s a long shot but I’m thinking the name will be Joffrey" (Lets hope not!).
I was asked to dedicate today’s post to the new addition to the royal family so I looked for some of my favorite fashion items with a Royal Family/British theme. My personal favorites are from Disney Couture, they have really creative jewelry with a Disney Twist. No matter what your favorite movie they have a product associated with it and they have a section dedicated to Disney princesses, which is basically the life Kate Middleton lives on a daily basis anyways right?!
 Check it out!

xoxo

Monday, July 22, 2013

Dirrrty Pop


        Every Sunday a group of my friends get together and watch a television series that we picked as a group. The idea was started when a couple of my friends because obsessed with Game of Thrones. Now I had been watching the series and reading the books since season one and was raving about it begging my friends to check it out. One by one they started catching up on the series and they immediately became just as obsessed as I was. When season 3 was premiering last April we planned to watch the season premier together at someone’s house and it just sorta stuck. From then on every Sunday we went to someone’s house to watch the latest episode.
         The best part is, even though the show was only an hour long, we would hang out before the show started. This allowed us to recap our life events, laugh over the ridiculousness of the weekend and generally just catch up. Typically when my friends and I get together its at a bar somewhere grabbing drinks, but this was a more intimate fun situation that allowed us to just chill out in sweatpants and relax. Once Game of Thrones ended we decided that our Sunday night routine should continue and we picked a new show to watch, the murder mystery reality show Whodunnit. This show is super cheesy and silly but it was just what we needed.
         I host the get-together every 3 weeks (it rotates between three houses) and I am always trying to think of different foods and drinks to put out for my guests. I typically always stick with my go-to’s brownies, cookies, or spinach and artichoke dip but I if this Sunday routine is going to continue I want to get a little more creative. One weekend I made a chocolate chip cookie cake (which didn’t turn out that well because it was rock hard…whoops) but I want something quick and fun to pull together before my guests arrive.
        Since we are together to watch a show we need quick and easy finger food. I found this idea of having a Popcorn Bar and I loved it. Basically you make a big tub of popcorn (cheap and easy) and then buy a bunch of different toppings that your guests can add to their snack, such as assorted popcorn herbs and spices (think the little spices you can buy at the movie theatre), nuts, pretzels, M&M’s, grated cheese, and chocolate and peanut butter chips. I even saw some recipes where people put cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg and icing on popcorn for your own version of a cinnamon bun, it sounds gross but I tried it and its delicious. I thought the Popcorn Bar would be perfect for the summer months because its so hot nobody wants something heavy.

You can even buy colored paper and make paper cones for your guests so they can have their own unique bowl. Bonus: you wont have to do any dishes, you can just throw the cones away at the end of the night! The Popcorn Bar is definitely on my list of things to try during my next night of entertaining. 

xoxo

Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Summer of Lilly




        Track season has started which means plenty of visits to Saratoga during these final months of summer. Every year my parents and I go up to Saratoga Racetrack in the early morning to have breakfast and watch the horses warm up. Then afterwards we head down to downtown Saratoga and do a little shopping before the races start. They have plenty of stores like Talbots (a favorite of my mother), The Loft, and Banana Republic but one of my favorite stores to browse (and daydream in) is the Pink Paddock. The Pink Paddock is a small boutique that carries all things Lilly Pulitzer!
         Now of course Lilly is super expensive and outrageous but they always have the best summer patterns and colors. All of the Lilly dresses seem perfect for a day at the races, or vacationing on a yacht in the Mediterranean. When I walk in there I feel like I could buy one of everything, if only my wallet would agree with me. However, they do have a large sale section in the back that does fall into my budget. This season Lilly has had some really amazing pieces and I think this year, I may save my money and buy the Tria Maxi dress that I've had my eye on for months.

                                       Here are some of my other Lilly favorites this year!


         
xoxo

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Watch Out



      Although I don’t own a watch, I do love the way they look on other people. One of these days I’m going to splurge and get myself a nice watch that is timeless (no pun intended) and will be something I can use for the rest of my life. My friend Dana suggested I write a post on watches so I started to do some research on some cute affordable watches and some more extravagant ones! So many of the watches I saw came in a variety of colors so you could match them to different outfits!

     Macy's had so many fun watches; I had a hard time choosing my favorites. The best thing about Macy’s is that you can use a coupon and get your for even cheaper than they are advertised for. Even if you don’t get Macy’s coupons mailed to you (as a frequent shopper I always get 20% off coupons in the mail) they are always in the newspaper and flyers that come on Sundays too! Also twice a year they do a special "friends and family sale" that allows you to take 25% of all purchases, even the designer brands that are typically off limits for coupons. This could help you score a more expensive watch for less!

Michael Kors Navy Watch, $250.00: http://bit.ly/156Yka9
Kate Spade Hot Pink Watch, $150.00: http://bit.ly/13V5BNz
Target Tortoise Shell Watch, $14.99: http://tgt.biz/132DVQt
Nine West Leopard Watch, $49.00: http://bit.ly/15UsLPC
Style & Co. Turquoise Watch, $29.98: http://bit.ly/156ZLFE

Happy Shopping
xoxo

Latest Obsession


       
          Last week while I was in Cape May I was able to do a little shopping in some of the boutiques and stores at the Cape May Washington Street Mall. Typically I don’t buy a lot while I’m there because the stores are mainly touristy-type shops with the tie dye Cape May t-shirts and hoodies, fudge, and souvenirs shops and since we have been going to Cape May every year for the past 15 years, I’ve basically seen it all. But I wandered upon this little clothing store called Victorious and they had some really cute clothing!
  While in the store I found this amazing black skull blouse. I know it’s a little out there and crazy but I originally saw this top as a cardigan on Pinterest over a year ago and fell in love with it, but it was unavailable when I looked for it online. So when that shirt magically appeared in this tiny shop I felt like fate brought us together! Its super sheer but I think it would be cute to pair with a black tank top or bandeau top and white shorts during the summer, or in the winter I could wear it with black leggings. I guess it goes to show you, sometimes the best purchases happen when you least expect it!
This is the version I saw on Pinterest

         If you liked my skull top too I found a similar version of it on the ModCloth website. Attached is the link! 
Skull Blouse 

xoxo

Fabulous Finds!



         I've been on the hunt for a product that displays my jewelry. Prior to my purchase all of my necklaces were scattered all over my dressers. I used to keep them in those individual cardboard boxes you get at stores like Macy’s when you ask for gift wrap for jewelry. But it still didn’t prevent them from getting all tangled.
         My friend Christina and I used to always send each other jewelry displays that we found on Pinterest but they were either too expensive or the DIY craft ideas seemed too time consuming. Finally the other day when browsing on Amazon I found the perfect necklace holder. It is a metal rod that can be adjusted in height for your extra long necklaces and it holds 30+ pieces of jewelry! The best part of my purchase…. it was only $20! 


Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect bracelet holder. I found this branched hanger on the Container Store website (I originally saw it displayed in InStyle Magazine). It’s unique and would be a fun way to display all my bracelets! This one is only $20 too (they have longer ones for $50) and they have plenty of other cool jewelry displays for cheap so I suggest you check it out!