Weekend Links

I don't know about the rest of you but last week was a struggle for me. Between planning baby showers, new work projects, picking up my new car and plenty of snowstorms I was exhausted come Friday afternoon and was looking forward to a few days away from the office. I'm hoping to get all my errands done today so that I can relax and pig out tomorrow just in time for the Super Bowl!

Weekend Links:

• I've been hoping to see as many Oscar movies I can before they air and yesterday I went and saw American Sniper. It's the heartbreaking true story of Chris Kyle, a Navy Seal and American hero who did amazing things for our country putting his life in danger during four different tours to the Middle East. I highly recommend seeing the film which is intense, heartbreaking and inspiring. You can also check out the People Magazine interview with Chris' widow discussing her love for her hero husband. 
• Looking to try yoga but find it intimidating? This Undeniable Report beginners guide will have you mastering your downward dog in no time. 
• Only a few days left to enter this Walt Disney World Sweepstakes to win a 4 night, 5 day vacation to Walt Disney World including an overnight stay in Cinderella's castle!
• A new Bachelor podcast is up recapping last weeks antics... does anyone else think that Ashley I. is stealing all the screen time just because she is CRAZY?!
• Did you check out how I styled my new buffalo plaid vest that I wore last week? It's very versatile and keeps me nice and warm.
• Excited for some of your favorite shows to return from hiatus after the long winter break? Check out these scoops about the upcoming seasons including the return of the Walking Dead, How to Get Away with Murder and Orange is the New Black. 
• How cute are these Fruit Striped Loafers from Tuckernuck?! They are at the top of my spring wish list and have me craving a tropical drink on the beach! 
• I have been counting down the days until Game of Thrones returns for season 5 and they finally released the trailer for the upcoming season. Sandsnakes! Khaleesi! Littlefinger! Oh My!

What are you up to this weekend?

xoxo

Friday Four

TGIF!

Boy did this week go slow. I think all this snow and bad weather really put me in a bad mood so I am so pumped to be away from the office for a few days and enjoy some rest and relaxation.

I haven't done a Friday Favorites in awhile so here we go!

Puppy Bowl XI Line-Up

I'm not much of a football fan so the Super Bowl was never anything I really looked forward to but one thing I do love to enjoy on Superbowl Sunday, besides loads of snacks of course, is the Puppy Bowl. If you've been living under a rock and have never heard of the Puppy Bowl, let me explain. Animal Planet takes 50 puppies who are up for adoption and put them in a make-shift football field and broadcasts them playing and running around. Cuteness.Overload. Check out some of the starting line-up in the video above.

Disney Flip Side Sweepstakes

Walt Disney World is hosting a sweepstakes for a chance to win a 5 day, 4 night vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort for 4 people, including a stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite! I obviously have been entering daily since I've been going through Disney World withdrawal ever since I left in November. You can enter the sweepstakes here, just promise you'll let me 'be your guest' if you win!

Kate Spade Saturday New Arrivals

I have a bad habit of always forgetting how amazing Kate Spade's side shop Saturday is. The other day I stumbled upon their website and found so many great items for spring. Currently on my wish list is the pleated flare dress, color ring mini, ball necklace & slip on mules. 

SNL Spoofs The Bachelor

The Bachelor is my guilty pleasure so it's no surprise I love when media and entertainment outlets make snarky comments about the show. This week on SNL, Blake Shelton was guest hosting and did his best impression of current Bachelor Chris Soules. They perfectly use some of the Bachelors best catchphrases including, "can I steal him for a sec." Definitely check out the link above if you're as skeptical of the Bachelor as I am, you'll enjoy a good laugh.

What are you loving this week?

xoxo

#NavyOrNothing: Michael Kors New Arrivals

While at the mall on Saturday (I know me at the mall, shocking) I wandered into our new Michael Kors to browse because I was instantly drawn to their window displays because they were full of navy pieces! For years I've searched endlessly through the seas of brown and black handbags for the perfect navy leather bag and it was impossible to find. I couldn't find navy leather ANYWHERE, so when I saw that Michael Kors released several new handbags in navy I jumped for joy because my prayers had been answered! 

In addition to several navy tote and cross body bags, there were a ton of new arrivals for spring with a navy theme. My personal favorite is that amazing navy leather motorcycle jacket that has made it to the top of my wish list, again how often do you come across a navy leather jacket?! Although these new arrivals are full priced now, I have no doubt they will be going on sale soon (plus Lord & Taylor and Macy's always have sales on Michael Kors) so I'm hoping to grab a couple of these new pieces before spring arrives.

Sheer Printed Blouse // Houndstooth Short Sleeved Top // Striped Blouse

Houndstooth Pant // Motorcycle Jacket // Navy Stretch Skinny Jeans

Striped Ponte Dress // Dillon Embossed Leather Satchel // Lea Leather Satchel

Which new arrival is your favorite?

xoxo

Bundle Up for Snowmageddon

Remember when I mentioned that last week when I took these photos it was a beautiful sunny day? Well it's amazing how much things can change in a few days. Since then the temperatures have plummeted and we are currently buried under about 8 inches of snow, yuck. It wasn't as bad as the weathermen originally predicted (are they ever right?) but we did get hit pretty hard which made navigating my new car a little difficult yesterday. Thank god I ordered this lambswool fair isle sweater last week for $20 because it will come in handy while I battle these winter temperatures this week. FYI this sweater runs extremely big, so make sure you order a size or two down if you decide to get it. Also guess who was spotted wearing the exact same sweater, Reese Witherspoon! This will probably be the first and last time I ever own the same sweater as a celebrity. 

I'm so happy this work week is halfway over because it's been a super hectic week for me. First of all I picked up my new car (yay!) and dealt with all the necessary paperwork that goes along with it, including switching insurance companies, boo hiss. We also had a baby shower for a friend at work this week. It ended up being a huge success but a lot goes into throwing a work party including contacting a caterer, finding decorations, and collecting money for the gift and the food, which isn't always an easy accomplishment, especially in my office! But on the plus side, another winter month is coming to a close which means we're only two months away from spring.

Sweater (currently on super sale!) // Vest Banana Republic, old found on eBay here // Jeans

Wedges // Bag Kate Spade, old (This one would look cute too!)

How are you staying warm this week?

xoxo

New Recipe: Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

I have been on my 'cooking game' these past few weeks, trying at least two new recipes a week so I'm excited about all the new idea's I will be sharing with you over the next few weeks. I'm not going to lie there are some weeks where I struggle to find a new Tasty Tuesday recipe for all of you and I have to improvise (like that time I thought showing you how to make homemade pizza counted as a real recipe, whoops!). I can promise you that the next few weeks I have some easy and tasty dinners for you to try and this week is no exception.

 Many of you know that the Super Bowl is the weekend and personally I could care less about football but I do love the snacks and cheat days that go along with Superbowl Sunday. So I thought what better comfort food to sit down with to watch the big game than macaroni and cheese. I like to experiment with my mac and cheese recipes, sometimes I bake it in the oven and other times I make it on the stove but when I saw that you could make macaroni and cheese in the crock-pot I was immediately intrigued. I always assumed that cooking macaroni in a crock-pot for several hours would make it mushy but that was not the case, instead it was creamy and delicious. So if you're looking for an easy dish to bring to a party this weekend, this is the recipe for you!

Ingredients:

• 1 box (12 ounces) of elbow macaroni
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups half & half
• 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• red pepper flakes for garnish (I like a little bite to my mac and cheese!)

Directions:

• Spray crock-pot with Pam cooking spray.
• In a large pot cook elbow macaroni for 7-8 minutes and drain. Place the cooked macaroni in the crock-pot with the butter and stir until melted. 
• Add evaporated milk, half & half, shredded cheddar cheese, Velveeta, salt and pepper and stir to blend.
• Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
• Place macaroni into serving bowls and garnish with red pepper flakes
• Enjoy!

How do you make macaroni and cheese?

xoxo

Here Comes The Sun

Please note these photos we're taking last Friday on my day off. I typically take my outfit photos on the weekend so I have time to edit them and schedule them to post before the work week ahead. However, all the outfit photos are outfits that I either wear during the weekend or plan to wearing sometime during the week, so everything is authentic. Anyways, I hadn't planned to take photos last Friday but when I looked outside and it was actually sunny out, a rare occurrence in the 518 lately I decided to seize the opportunity and soak up the vitamin D. 

Regarding the outfit, I was eager to finally style this buffalo check vest from J Crew. You see, I had asked for it for Christmas but it was no where to be found in stores and online it was backordered until February 3rd. I still wanted it though, because the freezing January temperatures meant that I probably wouldn't be wearing the vest anyways until we got a few warmer days. Luckily for me, I called J Crew last week to check on my order and they decided to overnight my vest for me, hooray! This vest is perfect for days I'm running errands or going shopping because there is nothing I hate more than wearing my heavy winter coat inside while I'm shopping because the mall is always a million degrees. 

Today is an exciting day for me because I get to pick up my new car at the dealership! These past few weeks have been such an inconvenience for me and my family while shuffled cars, dealt with the (insufferable) insurance company and dealt with all the other nonsense that happens after you total your car in Massachusetts. I'm happy to get back to normal and put this crash behind me. I feel like such an adult today because this was the biggest purchase I have ever made (besides paying for my Masters degree, of course). I'm hoping my pretty Honda Civic will carry me through many more adventures. 

PS: Happy Birthday Aunt Marge, I know you're reading. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Vest // Chambray Shirt // Striped Top J Crew Factory, old similar

Leggings // Necklace Macys, old similar

Crossbody Fossil, old similar // Sunglasses Wantable Bag similar

Combat Boots Nine West, old similar

xoxo

Sunday Thoughts + A Weekend Recap

Happy Sunday!

This has been a whirlwind of a weekend and so much happened over the course of 3 days (I'm counting Friday since it was my day off). I hope you all enjoyed your last full weekend in January, can you believe a month ago we were celebrating Christmas, time flies!

This weekend...

• Thursday night I got dinner with two of my aunts and three of my cousins at our families restaurant Testo's. It was a last minute dinner but I was so excited because they have the best Italian food I've ever eaten and I don't get to the restaurant enough to enjoy it. I gorged myself on lasagne, meatballs and good company, such a fun night!
• Despite having Friday off it was not relaxing. I helped my mother clean out her boiler room in the basement and we threw out so much stuff! Apparently my mom's spring cleaning phase has hit her a couple months early and she's slowing purging all off the junk we have accumulated over the years. 
• Saturday I was up super early to go car shopping and guess what, I BOUGHT A NEW CAR!!! The insurance company finally let me know that my car was totaled last week and after three weeks of being without a car it felt so good to finally get these issues resolved. I settled on a used 2012 Honda Civic and I'm very happy with my decision. My previous car was a 2004 Honda Accord so this was an 8 year upgrade. Honda's are great cars and *fingers crossed* it lasts me for many more years. Plus it has a sun roof, I feel like I'm living a life of luxury, haha! I pick up my car tomorrow from the dealership, hooray!

• Post car buying I did what most people would do, I went to the mall (I know stupid, but I had to pay a bill) and I bought this bathing suit cover up from Francesca's for my trip in March.
• Today I'm getting dinner with my family for my Aunt Marge's birthday at the Ships Pub and then I'm finishing up some blog posts for the rest of the week. 

What did you do this weekend?

xoxo

Weekend Links

Happy Saturday!

Sorry for the belated post, I had the busiest day running errands and shopping for a new car (more on that later!)! On top of a busy day, we also got a couple inches of snow which I'm not too pleased about. So I'm finally settling in to give you guys a few weekend links to check out.

• How are your New Year's Resolutions coming? If one of them was to learn how to cook then you should definitely check out this Undeniable Report article written by Michaela. She provides some great tips and tricks that will have you channeling your inner Martha Stewart in no time!
• I ordered my Warby Parker At-Home-Try-On-Kit which includes some of their new spring arrivals. I'll be posting photos next week to get your opinion on which frames look best.
• Has anyone read I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by former Bachelor contestant Courtney Robertson? Since the Bachelor kicked off a few weeks ago, I've been in full Bachelor mode (spoilers and all) and I want to check out Courtney's book where she reveals all the inside scoop and dirty little secrets of the hit television show. 
• Speaking of reality television, Survivor announced it's new cast this week. Sigh. Another season I didn't get cast on... maybe it's a blessing in disguise.
• Have you checked out francesca's new spring arrivals? Today I picked up this gorgeous swim cover-up for my trip in March. I think it would be perfect for our catamaran trip on the crystal blue seas. 
• This has been a rough couple weeks for fashion lovers. First C Wonder decides to shut its doors for good and yesterday Gap announced that it's shutting down Piperlime. On the bright side, I'm hoping they'll have some awesome going out of business sales. 

What are you reading this weekend?

xoxo

ban.do New Arrivals

ban.do has quickly become one of my favorite new online shops. I bought this phone case a few months ago when I upgraded to the iPhone 5s and just a few weeks ago I ordered this back up phone charger to keep in my purse in case of emergencies. They have a variety of different knick-knacks including tote bags and fun desk accessories and this week they released their new arrivals for spring. Now there are so many more item I'm coveting from their website. 

I personally can't get enough of travel duffle bags and totes so this fun heart duffle is probably my favorite item from the new additions and it arrives just in time for Valentines Day. Even better it appears they are expanding on their handbag selection with a variety of new tote bags and clutches to choose from. I'm also a hoarder of tumblers because I bring both a tumbler for my smoothie and a tumbler for water to work with me everyday so I love the new travel cup options they released. 

What's your favorite item from the ban.do new arrivals?

Heart Getaway Duffle  // Peekaboo Clutch // Drink Sleeve

Sunglasses Tote // Gold Dot iPhone Case // Jewelry Sleeve

Heart Tumbler // Holographic Mobile Charger

xoxo

Print Play + A Car Update

I am not a happy camper right now. After 3 weeks of waiting for the insurance company to get back to me regarding my car, they finally contacted me to let me know it was totaled. ugh.ugh.ugh.ugh. Not sure why it took them 3 weeks to let me know about it, but I digress.... I have to start looking for a new car which wasn't exactly in the budgeting cards for me at the moment. I know that I'm lucky to not have been seriously injured in the crash, but this was my first accident since I got my license (9 years accident/ticket free!) and I'm quite frustrated that this happened. I guess I did not realize how fragile cars can be and even though there was not a huge amount of damage to my car, the fact that it had a lot of mileage on it was enough for the insurance company to total it.

Now I'm looking at two current options, 1. contacting the family friend who owns an auto body shop to see if he has any used cars he is looking to unleash to me at a decent price and 2. heading out to Honda to see what kind of deal they can offer me on a new car. Basically Honda's last forever so that would be my brand of choice so I could have my car for years to come. So now this upcoming weekend will be filled with numbers, and loans and price options that I was not originally expecting, I honestly thought my car would have been able to be fixed. Meh. 

On a lighter note I can't get enough of this tartan blazer I bought a few years ago at the Loft Outlet. A few days ago I rediscovered it hanging in my closet (sometimes things get lost in there for awhile) and was so excited, it was like buying a new top at the mall except it didn't cost me any money! Since finding it, I've already worn it a few times, mainly because I'm sick of sweaters and needed a new fun way to keep warm.

Blazer Loft, (similar) // Shirt Gap, (similar) // Jeans

Boots // Necklace J Crew Factory (similar)

Ring // Bag Dooney and Bourke (newer version here)

xoxo

Cable Knit, Two Ways

Cable knit sweaters have been my go-to these past few weeks because they're warm and versatile. They can quickly be transformed from casual wear with a pair of jeans to dressy with a skirt and a pair of heels, which make them a great investment piece. Today I designed two different outfits around a classic navy cable knit. 

Option 1:

This is the outfit I can easily see myself in because my winter attire has consisted mainly of a sweater/vest combo so far. I call this outfit "weekend wear" because it would be perfect for running errands and grabbing lunch with girlfriends. Personally during the winter I hate running errands or shopping in coats because I get so hot lugging a coat around inside so this keeps your arms free and still keeps you warm. 

Cable Knit Sweater // Jeans // Crossbody // Buffalo Plaid Vest

Leopard Flats // Chandelier Earrings // Necklace // Sunglasses

Option 2:

This second outfit would be perfect for the office or a date night, plus the wool skirt will keep you warm. I'm especially obsessed with this tortoise shell clutch and matching watch. 

Cable Knit Sweater // Wool Mini // Ankle Booties // Tortoise Shell Clutch //

 Navy Tights // Watch // Bow Earrings // Ring // Braided Bangles // Sunnies

How do you wear your cable knit sweaters?

xoxo

New Recipe: Tomato & Tortellini Soup

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

I made a vow to myself that I would try making more soups this winter and so far I've been making progress on my goal with the chicken pot pie soup I made a few months ago and now this tomato with tortellini soup. I think tomato soup is probably my favorite soup of all time, which is strange because I don't like actual tomatoes. This recipe was super easy to make and a great Sunday night dinner because it will leave you with plenty of leftovers for the rest of the work week. Also, I'm back on my "finding a new recipe each week game" and I've been experimenting with a lot of great idea's so expect some good meals coming in the next few weeks!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 3 stalks of celery, diced **Note: personally I don't always have fresh carrots and celery in the house but most grocery stores allows you to buy prepackaged celery and carrot stalks pre-chopped that you can use for chicken wings--- or for this recipe!**
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
• 60 ounces canned tomatoes
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning --> found in the spice section, who knew!
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp honey
• 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 1 1/2 lbs cheese tortellini
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp basil
• grated parmesan cheese for garnish

Directions:

• In a large soup pot, heat olive oil and onion over medium/high heat for 3-4 minutes.
• Add diced carrots, celery, garlic and red pepper flakes to pot and cook until veggies soften, about 3 minutes.
• Add canned tomatoes (juice and all), italian seasoning, salt, pepper and honey and mix together. Bring to a simmer and cook on low for about 15ish minutes.
• Take heated soup mixture and place into a blender (I'm obsessed with my new Ninja) or food processor and puree until mixture becomes a smooth liquid. **Depending on the size of your blender, you might have to do this in two batches so it doesn't splatter**
• Return the pureed liquid soup to the pot and add the chicken stock and stir on low.
• Add tortellini (if tortellini is frozen you should cook it first seperately according to package directions, if the tortellini is fresh you can just add it to the soup directly from the package) and cook for 3 minutes on medium heat.
• Remove from heat and stir in milk and basil.
• Serve soup and garnish with parmesan cheese.
• Enjoy!

xoxo

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Oh this is a happy Monday indeed because the office is closed!

Instead of spending my day in the (always glorious) Taxation and Finance office, I will be grabbing lunch with my parents at my new favorite local deli, Saati. 

Outfit Details: I bought these Kate Spade leopard pants last year when I was visiting the Manchester Outlets in Vermont. I originally saw them on the Kate Spade website with a hefty $250 price tag and spent my days daydreaming about them knowing I would never spend that much for a pair of pants, let alone leopard ones. However, when I visited the Kate Spade outlets months later they were hanging on the clearance shelf for $40. I was shocked because they were still full price on their website but I didn't think twice to grab them. The funny part was there was only one pair of the leopard pants left on the shelf and they just happened to be in my size-- so I took that as fate and bought them. I loved pairing them with my favorite leather jacket and a basic black blouse.

Pants Kate Spade (newer version here) // Top // Sunnies

Leather Jacket Neiman Marcus (similar version here) // Necklace C Wonder, old

Booties ALDO (similar) // Clutch Kate Spade (similar)

xoxo

Sunday Thoughts + Weekend Recap So Far

Want to know the best part of this Sunday? The fact that I have tomorrow off for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. I always enjoy my lazy Sundays but always start to dread going to work the next day, so today is the best of both worlds. Plus the Hunger Games is on ABC Family so I'm in my happy place.

This weekend so far...

• Friday night I got dinner with my friends Meg and Dana at Brown's Brewing Co. We had all intentions of staying out in Troy after dinner, meeting up with other friends and grabbing drinks but after dinner we all decided to forgo a late night out and instead go back to Dana's to hang out. We ended up changing into sweatpants, drinking (spiked) coffees by the fireplace and watching Pocahontas (throwback!) on Netflix. It ended up being such a great Friday girls night.
• Saturday afternoon I took some blog pictures outside since it was finally sunny out, I seriously can't wait for it to be warmer so I don't have to freeze while taking these photos. Post-photos I did some serious cleaning. My closet was bursting with clothes and I needed to take some time and re-organize it so I could actually see what was inside it.

Misa hates when I do puzzles because my attention isn't on her..

• Saturday night I stayed in and it was glorious. I started a new puzzle (my latest winter obsession), watched Chelsea Handlers Netflix Special (highly recommend it), and made homemade pizza for dinner. 
• Tonight I'm trying a new recipe for dinner--- either crock-pot mac & cheese or a mushroom goulash, which one should I try?!

Additional Weekend Links:

• Since Christmas my shopping has been at a minimum and when I have bought stuff, it's all been pretty cheap. I am however starting to look at spring items for my trip in March. I've decided to buy a new Triangl bathing suit (because I HATE the new VS collection) and I'm debating between this one or this one, thoughts?
• I know I said I wouldn't be buying any more winter items but this lambswool Fair Isle Sweater is on sale for $24 and I feel like I can't resist...
• I finally got around to printing my Costa Rica and Disney World pictures! Currently Winkflash has a deal for 12 cent prints with free shipping, it only cost me $4!

What did you do this weekend?

xoxo

Weekend Links

Happy Saturday!

It's Saturday morning when I'm writing this and I'm sitting here debating whether I can will myself to go outside and take blog pictures today. It's currently 10 degrees outside, but when you look out the window it sunny and beautiful which would be perfect for photos... if only it was a little warmer. So while I attempt to convince myself to go outside in this, I will share with you some weekend links.

• Just printed out my History in High Heels free 2015 desk calendar and I'm excited to hang it up in my cube at work. 
• My minestra recipe is up on the Undeniable Report. If you're currently residing in these freezing temperatures like I am, this is the perfect dinner recipe to warm your insides up.
• I'm pretty sure Mindy Kaling is my spirit animal and if you haven't read her book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" or watched her show The Mindy Project, you're really missing out. She recently gave an interview with Good Housekeeping where she discusses her late mother and her views on dating and marriage that is definitely worth a read.
• I want this bag in case anyone wants to buy me a gift...
• The only thing getting me through this awful winter is award season! Entertainment Weekly recently had two of their writers: one male and one female grade the Golden Globe Fashion, which dresses were your favorite? Also speaking of awards, the Oscar nominations are out! Is there actor/actress or film that you thought got snubbed?
• The Tuckernuck 2015 resort collection was released this week and it has me dreaming of beaches and margaritas. I'm currently coveting these tortoise moonshine sunnies, this blue stripe capri top and this pretty printed blue dress.
• I'll be spending St. Patricks Day this year in St. Maarten and we've all decided to celebrate at Harmony Night which is apparently the Mardi Gras of St. Maarten... even more debauchery to ensue. Has anyone else ever been?

What are you up to this weekend?

xoxo

Winter White

I am jumping for joy today because we have a 3 day weekend upon us! The state is closed to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I am looking forward to a Monday that doesn't suck. Tonight I'm getting dinner and drinks with my friend Meg at one of our favorite breweries Browns. So I'm counting down the hours until 3:30 when I can book it out of the office skipping to my car.

Also I need your help: I'm looking for luggage suggestions. I never check a bag when I fly because I have an overwhelming fear that they will lose my luggage. However, I've gotten really good at packing for long vacations in warmer climates. I currently use my Northface backpack and a large Vera Bradley Duffel that I love because it holds so much stuff but I really want a piece of carry-on luggage that has wheels for those longer travel days. Carrying that duffel bag everywhere can get heavy! The wheeled luggage needs to be as big as possible while still fitting into the TSA size restrictions, so if you have any recommendations leave them in the comments!

Top Banana Republic, old (similar) // Blazer Macy's, old (similar)

Jeans // Loafers // Bag Michael Kors (available on eBay)

Necklace Ralph Lauren (similar)

What are you up to this weekend?

xoxo

Spring Break Ideas

Well I'm officially sick of talking about winter. I have no desire to write about winter fashion, winter events or winter foods anymore so instead let's think spring for a minute. Within the next few weeks all the stores will be releasing their spring lines in preparation for people to ditch these cold days in favor of a beach. Honestly, if I didn't go somewhere warm to escape the bitter cold for a few days I would probably go crazy. I also find myself day dreaming about all the trips I want to take one day, I think I was meant to be a travel agent in a different life because I'm always looking at random hotels and locations online. Side note: did anyone else use to watch Great Hotels on the Travel Network? It hasn't been on in a few years but the concept revolved around the host traveling to different hotels around the world... sounds boring but I was obsessed. 

Anyways, for those of you looking to get out of dodge for a few days, I've come up with a list of fun travel destinations for your viewing pleasure. Not included: anywhere you will need a coat, sorry.

1. Key West: This is on my short list of places I want to visit in the next few years. The southern most city in the US offers a variety of excursions, beaches and restaurants to choose from. Personally I would love to snorkel through some of Key West's caves to view tropical fish followed by a sunset dinner cruise. Also, I know I'm a huge nerd but they also offer a Southernmost Scavenger Hunt where you and your friends go on a hunt to all the local bars (basically a bar crawl but with competition involved!). 
2. San Diego: I've never been out west and if I had to choose one place to visit in California it would we San Diego, mainly because it's one of my dreams to visit the San Diego Zoo. They have pandas. and koala bears. and tigers. and omg so many other awesome animals. It's basically one of the best zoos in the country that houses over 4,000 animals. If you're not much of an animal person, they also have a ton of beaches to choose from and great shopping. You could also visit a brewery or two and experience some of the best beers the city has to offer.
3. New Orleans: Looking to do something really crazy for spring break? Why not try going to Mardi Gras which will be held this year during the week of February 17th. They have a huge festival and it's basically a party in the street, definitely something you won't forget anytime soon. Also it's one of the best places to get traditional cajun food and hear some really great music.
4. Puerto Rico: This was on our short list of places to visit before we decided on St. Maarten. We actually researched a few houses in Puerto Rico and we definitely could find ourselves visiting there next trip. Even though Puerto Rico is a tiny island, it packs a big punch with beautiful beaches with white sand and blue water that offers snorkeling and surfing (something on my bucket list). Looking to go on a real adventure... try zip-lining through the rainforest! There is so much to do, it will definitely be a vacation to remember. 
5. Puerto Vallarta: This is the place that mixes relaxation with fun. During the day you can spend your days paddle boarding or kayaking in their waters along with a bunch of other water activities. During the nighttime you have your choice of huge strips on the water with  different restaurants and bars that offer plenty of entertainment. The best part is there are plenty of affordable options for people on a budget as well!

Where are you going on Spring Break this year?

xoxo

Tiger Lilly

Oh the weather outside is frightful! No really, it's frightful. These past few weeks we have been hit with a major freeze that is enough to leave me shivering in my boots. So I'm left with finding ways to dress for this weather while still being style conscious, despite the fact that all I want to do is wear a full piece snow suit, gloves and hat. Luckily, I have a few statement coats that I have been able to pull out for the sake of blog photos. 

Confession: I am a 90 year old woman trapped in a 25 year olds body, or at least thats what my mother tells me. I find myself gravitating towards things like big faux fur jackets that I often see many old ladies pull out of their closet with a big feathered hat and all their costume jewelry. I don't have an explanation for why I love these ridiculous items and it's quite possible I just like to pretend I'm a rich old lady instead of a poor one. So when last Christmas my Aunt Gail bought me this Banana Republic tiger faux fur jacket I squealed with joy. It's the perfect "event coat" so if I'm going to a nice dinner or event where I have to be dressy it keeps me warm. Plus it's a great go-to for an all black outfit that needs a conversation piece. 

Coat Banana Republic, old (Love this version here and here)

Top Calvin Klein (similar here) // Scuba Leggings

Wedged Bootie ALDO, old (similar) // Bangles Kate Spade (all sold out)

Kate Spade Beau Bag (other colors available here)

Sunnies Coach (similar)

How I really wish I could still dress for this weather. I miss the glory days where I could just throw on a bright purple full body snow suit and it wouldn't draw weird looks...

Do you own a statement coat? 

xoxo