Refreshed

This weekend was good for the soul. On Friday night, I headed down to Cincinnati to meet up with a few of my best friends from college. We're fortunate enough to all live in the same state still, but our time together is never long enough. 

Our weekend consisted of eating (what else is new), exploring, and lots of laughter. I always leave time with the women that know me best feeling refreshed, extremely thankful and with a renewed perspective on what is truly of worth in this world. 

I hope your weekend was just as wonderful! Now, let's tackle Monday. Yikes!

 express jacket / j.crew tee (on sale!) /  zara pants / dv by dolce vita shoes (on sale!) / j.crew factory clutch

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photos courtesy of my beautiful friend, becca. 

3 Seasons // Vest

autumn: zara vest / mango shirtdress / nasty gal hat / bcbg booties 

winter: zara vest / j.crew sweater (on sale!) / current elliot coated jeans / circus by sam edelman booties / topshop beanie / h&m gloves

spring: zara vest / j.crew tee /  baublebar necklace / nike tennis shoes / mango shorts / old navy bucket bag

It's no secret that I have a love affair with vests (exhibit a, b & c). Over the years, my admiration has grown as I am consistently surprised by how many different ways I am able to style vests. It feels like I can thrown one on with almost any outfit for an extra bit of interest.

The best part? With a wardrobe that doesn't grow on trees, vests gives  my closet a little extra mileage. I'll be layering my vests with jackets & sweaters this fall and winter, and then throwing them on top of tees & dresses when the weather warms up.

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Business in the Front

Anytime I travel to a new city, checking out the shopping scene is always on the to-do list. No exceptions were made during our trip San Francisco earlier this month. On the first day we arrived, we headed right over to Union Square, which although rather touristy it is pretty fabulous in the people-watching department and full of great retailers. 

While strolling through Bloomingdales (one of my faves!), I immediately spotted this JOA tee and knew it was coming home with me. I love clothes with a little surprise, and this top doesn't disappoint with a back full of sequin-goodness.

JOA tee / zara coated denim / h&m coat, similar from misguided & forever 21 / sam edelman bootie / timex watch 

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That's So #Basic

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven 

During our trip to San Francisco two weeks ago, I noticed that the city seems to have a bit of a uniform - neutral basics that when paired together, make for one very chic look, in my personal opinion. After spending four days in the city and drooling over the luxe neutrals in the Rag & Bone on Fillmore Street, I left convinced that more basics need to make their way to my closet this fall & winter. I've rounded up some of my favorites above!

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Fall Wardrobe Essentials // All About That Cape

1. topshop / 2. zara / 3. h&m /  4. cape / 5. sheinside / 6. pixie market / 7. sheinside / 8. asos / 9. pixie market

I was having a conversation with a friend a few days back on how I feel like during cooler months, my closet seems to shrink. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but once I switch over to my fall & winter wardrobe, there is a serious void left from the tank tops, shorts, and summer dresses that have been packed away. 

One item that I'm excited to add to my closet this season is a cape. Depending on the type, it can be a great alternative to both sweaters and a coat, infusing some life into (if your like me) the winter sweater & jeans routine. 

I'd love to know, what are ways you mix up your fall & winter wardrobe?

image

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A Reluctant Fall

Happy Columbus Day all! I hope there are a few lucky ducks out there that able to enjoy a work-free day. As for me, I will be heading into work this morning, but after an agenda-free relaxing weekend, the workweek ahead doesn't seem quite as daunting. 

Even though it's been a few weeks since the official start of fall, I'm having trouble making the mental jump into the official pumpkin-spice season. I've narrowed down my hesitance to two factors: 1) we had a unusually cool summer and 2) after last winter, being only a season away from another polar-vortex makes me want to move to Florida immediately. That being said, mother nature was on my side this weekend, allowing temperatures to creep near 70, giving me one last excuse to wear my favorite pair of denim shorts. 

 old navy bucket bag / rachel zoe jacket, similar from forever 21 & asos / old navy top / j.crew factory shorts / j.crew belt / bp booties /

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Bag Lady

Every year growing up, my favorite part of back to school shopping was picking out a new book-bag. I would carefully inspect all of my options to ensure my selection had just the right amount of pockets and accessories that my grade-school self was sure she needed for a successful school year. It will likely come as no-shock that I have retained many of my high-maintenance tendencies when it comes to bags.

The husband and I have made it a  priority to do as much traveling as possible, but for the longest time I struggled to find a carry-on bag that housed all my in-flight essentials without falling off my suitcase every time I had to trek through an airport. After seeing a handful of other bloggers talk about their lo and sons bag, I saved my pennies and bought one at the beginning of the year. Let me just say, it has been a total game-changer. The OG bag was made specifically with travel in mind, with the right amount of compartments, pockets and features to make navigating TSA and layovers a breeze.

PS - this post isn't sponsored, I just wanted to share my lo and sons bag love!

lo & sons 'OG' bag / j.crew tee / express jacket / movado watch (borrowed from the husband) / zara coated denim / scarf hand knit by a sweet friend, similar from piperlime & asos / sam edleman booties, similar

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Wanderlust Wednesday // San Francisco Travel Guide

view of sausalito from the ferry back to san francisco

Last week, the husband I flew to San Francisco for a quick vacation. We stayed in The Mission District via Airbnb (highly recommend), which basically fulfilled our long-lost hipster dreams. Our days were spent exploring the city, and who am I kidding - eating. As you will soon realize by scrolling below, food was the main attraction of our trip. But then again, when is it not?

If I have one travel trip, it would be to not rent a car. This may sound crazy, but in cities where their is decent public transportation, traveling car-less allows you to stumble upon hidden gems that may have been missed when trying to find a place to park. We opted not to rent a car for both  San Francisco and New York, and I'm so glad we didn't. Below is a round-up of all that we ate and explored while in the city, enjoy!

To DINE: 

• Bar Tartine - this was a recommendation from reading Julia's blog and it did not disappoint. We ate here on our first night and only ended up getting salads as a result of being thrown off by the time change, but were impressed nonetheless. The menu is unique and innovative, definitely a must-try.
• Boogaloos - if you're a big fan of brunch (like me!), make sure to check out this spanish inspired menu. It's set in the heart of the mission, so make sure you sit outside to enjoy the weather and the morning hustle.
• Lolinda - on our second night in San Francisco, we ended up enjoying two dinners, and this was stop #1. An Argentinan steakhouse with an adventurous menu (we had bone marrow!), this restaurant has a speakeasy vibe that can't be missed.
• Range - stop #2 in our dinner food-crawl was Range, a happy accident since we wandered in after noticing the "this-is-a-cool-place" vibes coming from the interior. We weren't dissapointed.
• Dynamo Donut - who doesn't love a walk-up donut stand? Not only is the concept adorable but the fresh flavor combinations were a definite win.
• Namu Gaji - the husband and I both agreed this was the best meal we had while in San Francisco - their website describes the food as "new korean american/ contemporary californian", but bottom line, it's just amazing. Enjoy dinner here and then head next door to Bi-Rite Creamery for your ice cream fix. 
• Blue Fig - a perfect place to get your breakfast sandwich fix, along with a hot cup of coffee. 

the golden gate bridge, of course!

To EXPERIENCE:

• Bike the Golden Gate Bridge - my favorite activity of the trip was biking across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. We rented bikes and picked up a trail that took up along the water over the bridge to Sausalito, the most picturesque town. In my opinion, it's the best way to experience the amazing views of the city. 
• Tour Alcatraz - touristy, yes, but well worth it. This was a recommend from just about everyone who I told we were going to San Francisco, and it was a great way to spend the afternoon. 
• Filmore Street - it's well worth your time to spend an afternoon wandering down this street. It is jam-packed with drool-worthy shops, boutiques and restaurants.

 spotted on the streets of the mission district

 street art filled the wales of the mission district. 

stumbled upon this beautiful building on our walk to north beach.

Fall Wardrobe Essentials // Statement Coats

sources: 1. mango / 2. h&m / 3. zara / 4. river island / 6. h&m / 7. goodnight macaroon / 8. river island / 9. zara / 10. pixie market

Last year, during the exceptionally chilly fall and winter season, I felt like I practically lived in my coat. Many days I remember thinking that it didn't really matter what outfit I had on underneath, because it was never going to see the light of day. The solution? A statement coat of course. Whether it's a traditional silohuette in a bold color or a fresh fabric combination, a statement coat not only keeps you warm, but ensures you're dressed to impress even if you never shed your coat. 

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The Canadian Tuxedo

Happy Monday friends! Holy moly does it feel good to be back! Apologies for the severe radio silence lately, you can chalk that up to a combination of work-craziness, vacation (more to come this week!) and a lack of inspiration. But don't worry, I have a full week planned. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that all gets posted. 

I thought I'd ease back in with one of my favorite outfits, the Canadian Tuxedo. This is an outfit that I rely heavily on when I'm having one of those "nothing looks good/ I have nothing to wear" days. So thank you, friends up north for your day-saving outfits. Oh, but don't worry, with a little red lip and white blazer, I'm still reppin' the good ole USA. Who knew I was such a patriot?

 forever 21 blazer / j.crew factory shirt, similar / j.crew denim / jeffery campbell similar from forever 21 & topshop / j.crew factory clutch / fossil watch / maybelline lipstick in red revolution

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