Current State of Affairs

Ever have days {or in my case, weeks} where you have too much on your mind or going on around you and you can't seem for the life of you to complete all of the projects you want/need to get done? This is how I feel about blogging. For the past week, I have had so so SO many sources of inspiration constantly flooding my brain that it's hard to wrap my head around all of it! Though, as I was saying to my friend over at B~Inspired, I would rather be abundantly and overly inspired than under-inspired any day of the week!

It's just that, sometimes, I end up feeling like this:

{source}

and this:

{source}

I have so many yummy things to share with you this next week, but right now it's all about the bracket!

Classic Combo: Black & Camel

As many people know, my true blue east coaster comes through when it pertains to my wardrobe. While I love color, prints, and big chunky fabulous jewelry, I always tend to purchase neutrals and classic pieces since I know that they will always serve me well! {disclaimer: this excludes leopard print. I will always make an exception for leopard print.} It's almost like it's second nature to me. My sister and I were given a 45 minute notice that we needed to be on a train headed to the city to meet up with my dad for the Marquette game followed by an evening event in the city. Why, after having three daughters and a wife- all of whom he constantly laments take way too much time getting ready- my dad thought 45 minutes would be sufficient warning I am unsure... yet we rallied and were on the train 45 minutes later, hors d'oeuvres for the evening event in tow, en route to the city. Molly, lamenting how she brought "like no clothing" home for break borrowed a bright purple J. Crew shirt {which I wore here} and giant chunky statement necklace {see?! I own these pieces, I just don't wear them...} while I ended up in my go-to combo: black skinny jeans, a tan shirt {embellished with purple satin flowers- go color!}, a black cardigan, and camel cashmere and wool trench, all topped off with black-and-camel colorblocked {or should we call it neutral-blocked? I'm unsure if it counts as colorblocking...} pumps and my favorite new black satchel. Seriously?!

{coat}{pump}{bag}{pant}

What are your staple pieces and wardrobe must-haves?!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

ox

Friday's Fancies: Luck of the Irish!

A Happy {early} Saint Patrick's Day to all! This week, Friday's Fancies is {obviously} drawing inspiration from the impending holiday! As a 99% irish girl, I love this day of the year, and though I'm still debating my plans, my outfit will remain the same: full of green and some Irish Pride!

{sperry's}{shirt}{necklace}{scarf}{tattoo}{belt}

A Happy Saint Patty's to you all as well! 

AND 

Make sure you head {here} to check out the rest of the Friday's Fancies!

ox

The Ever-Approaching Swimsuit Season

Despite growing up on the shore and my love for all things revolving around water, the beach, the sun, and summertime, ever since high school I have absolutely despised shopping for bathing suits. Every season it is for different reasons, and every season I dread entering the store to look for a new suit. Freshman and sophomore year of high school I ordered my suits online from J. Crew and just wore them despite the fact that I hated the way my body looked. Then came the summer going into Junior year, and while I had lost beau coup pounds and was slightly more appreciative of my figure, I still hated the swimsuit shopping ordeal. This pattern continued senior year, freshman year of college, and sophomore year of college. Last year I was finally comfortable with myself- not pleased with how I looked, but comfortable with my appearance. 

I'm 5'4"with short legs, curves, and yet I also have the waist of a thirteen year old boy. 

{And extremely picky about fit}

I literally have been everywhere and tried everything when it comes to bathing suits:

1. In middle school, all of my friends swore by Old Navy swimsuits- they were such a steal and you could have a bevy of suits to constantly change up your look throughout the summer. I hated the fit. I have always hated the fit. Sometimes I would get cocky, like junior year when I needed cheap suits for a service trip I was attending and picked one up from Old Navy only to muck up a nice J. Crew one instead while on the trip since I hated the fit of the Old Navy one. The spring I returned home from my freshman year in college I immediately dropped ten pounds (after already having lost not gained the freshman 15.... my mother swears it was the severe lacking of beer in my summer diet) and decided to go swimsuit shopping. Of course I opted for the quick fix and ran up to Old Navy. I bought two suits. String Bikinis. They were never my thing. I bought a size too big in the bottoms and haven't worn either suit in two years. 

2. I love J. Crew suits, but their basic bikini brief fit has never flattered me. Regardless, I would buy suits from there every summer (usually in the basic bikini brief fit that I deplored since I was against string bottoms). 

3. I then decided that the problem lay in where I was buying the suits from, and that more expensive swimsuits would be more flattering. My mother was all for it if it meant I would cease the insanity that was my temperament whilst trying on swimsuits. That was an epic fail. Lesson learned: the more expensive the suit, the tinier it is... aka this chesty girl does not fit any top. 

4. Enter Victoria's Secret. VS completely calmed my qualms about swimsuit buying. Usually I cannot purchase a thing without trying it on since I'm so insanely picky about the fit, but since their returns are so easy, and being a bra/underwear company they are true to size, it is a cinch to purchase suits. Bonus: they're all so cute, and go on an insane sale right around May/June. You can restock halfway through summer! 

So, naturally, where would I find two super fab suits for this upcoming summer? 

Old Navy

I'm not kidding. I have always hated their fit, and yet I found not one, but two .... wait for it.... bandeau (girlfriend, you have zero idea how hard it is for me to find a bandeau that fits) and string bikinis. This is probably due to the new devotion to working out that I have developed. At $20 a piece, they were such a steal! 

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

What are your fave swimsuits pieces? 

Happy Thursday! 

ox

spring break stylings

I applaud those who are ballsy enough to take outfit of the day photos. However, there is a reason that I love photography~ I'm more of a "behind the lens" girl. That being said, I do love the sharing of outfit ideas, so I've shared my spring break as of yet through what else? outfits!

Lucky me, this week has been so warm that I've hardly needed a coat. When I wore my trench on Tuesday into the city, I ended up having to take it off it was so warm!

SATURDAY

{top}{jeans}{flats}{sunnies}{scarf}

My grandmother and my aunt are both artists (we're a creative & chaotic family...) and they had their art on display in a show a few towns over. My dad and I went out to see the show and then hit up downtown New Haven to begin "Operation: Apple Immersion" 

{Dad has all-Apple products, minus his work laptop, yet he has difficulty working and syncing the iPad, iPhone, iMac, etc... we're working on it, though!}

SUNDAY

{trench}{jeans}{top}{flats}{necklace}{bag}{sunnies}

Sunday the day started off with a bang when I rolled my ankle running out of the house to pick up birthday gifts for one of my cousins. My older cousins laughed at me later on when they found out I did that while wearing sneakers. I'm definitely the klutz of the family! Every March my high school puts on a super-fab fashion show featuring local vendors. While we didn't attend this year, my mom and I did go early to set up since she was involved in the planning. Instead of the fashion show, we saw my dad's side of the family at a 50th birthday party for my aunt and uncle, where I got to hold my adorable baby cousin and gab with my newly-engaged cousin Jenn {as well as the rest of the girl cousins} about wedding plans and wanting to all go to Kleinfeld's to try on dresses!

MONDAY

{necklace}{top}{jeans}{boots}{bag}{sunnies}

Monday was a relatively low-key day. A favorite thing to do on break is to get lunch with my mom. Since she usually works until just about lunchtime, she'll swing back by the house and pick us up to go downtown to the deli to get a bite to eat. It was such a gorgeous day that we ate outside. I'm loving this warm weather!

TUESDAY

{trench}{jeans}{top}{necklace}{bag}{sweater}{sunnies}

My dad's company has a box at MSG, so whenever there is the opportunity, I love to pop into the city to attend an event- concert, Knicks game, Rangers game, etc. Born-and-raised major Boston fans in a New York market is difficult, and though the indoctrination of Celtics/Bruins/Patriots/REDSOX fandom begins at a young age in our family, the NBA and NHL have been major points of contention over the years. {As was the the era we refer to as the "lost period" where I was Yankees fan due to my love of Derek Jeter... anyways...}Example A: My dad was fully a member of the "Lin-sanity" and due in part to that as well as the fact that Steve Novak is a Marquette Alum (MU Rah Rah), had apparently been rooting for the Knicks for a while (when not playing the Celtics). Brian Leetch's sister was one of my teachers in elementary school, so I have always loved the Rangers. (My dad, however, begs to differ.. partially due in part to the fact that Leetch grew up playing for the rival high school hockey team of my father's)  Last night was a Rangers game, and we had a blast! Plus, the food is always delicious... and I'll take any excuse to get into the city! 

Hope you all are enjoying your week as well! 

Currently Loving: BaubleBar

I was scanning Pinterest (honestly, what I would do without Pinterest I have no idea...) when I came across a pair of tortoise shell studs that caught my eye. I clicked through to find out who their maker was because they were gorgeous and I stumbled across BaubleBar. 

{teardrop necklace}{initial pendant}{cuff}{link necklace}{monogram necklace}{initial earrings}

It was so hard to pick which items to show! I legit love them all. Check out the site and all their fabulous baubles {here}.

Big Girl Wardrobe!

Remember when I was bummed I wasn't going on Spring Break? Well I still am- I mean, if you were missing out on a week of debauchery and beach time with your friends, you probably would too- but this was waiting for me on my bed when I came home:

{source}

It was so beautiful and professional-looking that, at first, I thought that my mom had purchased it and hid it in my room from my dad! When I asked her about it, she nonchalantly said, "oh, no, that's for you!" The satchel, from Banana Republic, reminded her of the "classic Prada silhouette" and was for beginning my "working wardrobe"! I love it, and I think the lines are just so classically perfect. MB reminded me that this wasn't a "bar bag" .... not like she needed to, I already knew that!