Happy Summer!

Today is the Summer Solstice, and I am totally ready for the official start of summer.  The weather in Boston this week has been gorgeous; warm but not too hot, zero humidity, breezy in the evening...  Did I somehow transplant to California?  Seriously though.  Here are some happy summer things to start the season right:

Okay, so I haven't been to the beach yet, but that doesn't stop me from faking it with another layer (or two!) of bronzer.  Summer beauty products are tricky though.  When the temperatures rise, no girl wants her face to melt.  This luminizer from Benefit is a beauty product that I've heard a lot about; it is essentially a shimmery highlighter for your face.  You apply it to your cheeks and brow bones and then blend with the handy blending tip.  I'm dying to try it this summer, when I'm stuck in the office (sigh) but craving the beachy glow of a woman of leisure.
  

Watts Up! Luminizer in luminous champagne, $30
by Benefit Cosmetics

Not only is today the first day of summer, but it's also National Wear Your Lilly day!  Pulitzer, that is.  My newest Lilly love is the Jolene Skirt, a soft jersey maxi skirt with diagonal seams and stripes to match in a soft, tidal blue.  When I said I was all about maxis this season, I wasn't kidding.  Plus, in honor of Lilly day, you score a free Lilly key chain with any purchase or a printed wristlet with orders of $250 or more.  I love it when there is a cherry on top.

Jolene Skirt in tide blue lazy days stripe, $148
by Lilly Pulitzer

This Monday night, I was able to watch The Bachelorette with some lovely ladies AND have my nails painted by my amazingly talented friend, Aimee.  In honor of summer, I now have OPI's Hot and Spicy on my nails, a punchy lobster orange that pairs perfectly with nautical colors like navy and white--but that's not all.  I am also a total stud; well, my digits are at least, thanks to Aimee's guidance and the tiny gold pyramid studs on each of my nails.  It's okay to be jealous.

Orange Studded Nails--
love love love.

Remember making friendship bracelets?  I was obsessed.  Growing up, whenever we would take long family car trips, I would tote my trusty box of embroidery floss and fashion all sorts of fantastic bracelets that adorned my left arm like whoa.  Yes, I have always been this cool.  So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that friendship bracelets are making a comeback--for adults.  In the July/August issue of Martha Stewart Living, friendship bracelets are the main attraction--and they're all grown up, thanks to sophisticated color palettes, metallic thread, and other adornments.  Maybe it's because my nails are already studded, but I feel like a speckle of studs or perhaps even rhinestones would really take this summer camp classic to a fabulous place.  I honestly think I need a Bedazzler; do they even make those anymore?

Friendship Bracelets, All Grown Up
from Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2013

During the summer, I hate to turn on the oven when it's already so hot outside already--particularly when our house is regrettably not cooled by central air but by two window AC units and half a dozen old school fans.  Needless to say, summer salads and other cool treats are an absolute must.  I'm currently obsessed with this watermelon, feta, and arugula salad with balsamic glaze.  I had a version of it at Bertucci's about a month or so ago, and I have been in love ever since.  Plus, it's super easy to make:

Ingredients:
1 5-ounce package baby arugula
8 cups 3/4-inch cubes seedless watermelon
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar glaze*

*Balsamic vinegar glaze can be found in the vinegar section at most supermarkets, but in a pinch you can make it yourself by boiling 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until reduced to 3 tablespoons, (about 6 to 7 minutes).

Preparation:
Arrange arugula over large platter. Scatter watermelon, then feta over. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with pepper.

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad

with Balsamic Glaze

from Bon Appétit

I feel like I should also put a summer to-do list in writing so that I can be held accountable for my grand plans.  Otherwise, it seems summer always slips through my grasp, and it's Labor Day weekend before I know it.  So--in no particular order--here are 10 things I hope to accomplish before the clock chimes Labor Day, and the fashion laws force me to stop wearing white:

-Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book)

-Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

-Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

-Redo my bedroom decor

-Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

-Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

-Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

-Do more yoga

-Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

-Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

And on that note, it only feels right to greet summer with F. Scott Fitzgerald:

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees--just as things grow in fast movies--I had the familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

Happy summer!

The Dotted i

This past Saturday, not only did the forecast turn from rain to sun, but I had the chance for a little "me" time to accomplish some of the fun items on my to-do list!  Love it.  I found myself in Concord Center, one of my favorite places and the most quintessential New England town you could imagine (seriously, I had to refrain just now from putting an e on town).  I have passed The Dotted i on many occasions, but as I typically have my baby girlfriend in tow, I've refrained from checking it out; after all, pre-toddlers and packed little stationery shops aren't exactly a match made in heaven.  But since I was flying solo, I couldn't resist. 

The Dotted i is the sweetest little paper boutique and now also my new favorite place.  It is packed with endless opportunities to add your monogram to just about anything: bags, tumblers, necklaces--oh my!  Plus, an array of perfect, preppy stationery and the ability to place custom orders.  Talk about crossing your Ts and dotting your Is.

While I stopped in to purchase a graduation card, these two must-haves from The Dotted i are now on my to-buy list: 

This Kate Spade post-it note set.  The three neon colored pads aptly read: Things to Do, Places to Go, and People to See.  Because whose desk organization wouldn't benefit from clever catchphrases in equally catchy neon?

People, Places, Things Sticky Pad Set, $25
by Kate Spade New York
Available at The Dotted i

Also, I'm obsessing over The Dotted i's amazing custom monogram necklaces.  In case you are thinking that all monogrammed jewelry is created equal, this is much, much more.  The monogram is done in acrylic, and you can choose your color from one of a rainbow assortment.  Then it sits on a delicate little gold chain.  The price-tag pushes it towards "splurge," but if I've ever seen a splurge-worthy monogram necklace, this is totally it.  

Acrylic Block Monogram Necklace, $78
by Moon and Lola
Available at The Dotted i

After my successful shopping mission, I picked up milkshakes at one of our favorite ice cream shops and another Concord gem, Bedford Farms, to take home for Dallin and Harper.  Chalk it up to the obsessive compulsive within, but few things give me more satisfaction than checking items off my to-do list.  Especially when there is shopping involved, and the day ends in ice cream.  Done and done.  

Episode 18: I Am Thankful For All Things Nautical

I woke up before my alarm this morning and, not being able to get back to sleep, I found myself with a bit of extra time on my hands and decided to check my email.  I was happy to discover a TGIF message from my adorable sister, containing a valuable fashion tip from our dear friend Rian: The Daily Prep, a fabulously preppy blog.  The most recent post featured these amazing rope bracelets by Lemon & Line that appealed to my love of all things nautical--and now I'm a bit obsessed.  So today, not only am I thankful for the lovely Rian, but I am also thankful for the inside scoop on this fun new nautical fashion.

Nautical Rope Bracelets from the Nantucket Collection, $25 each
by Lemon & Line

Made in Newport, these nautical rope bracelets from Lemon & Line's Nantucket Collection are available in red, yellow, navy, and green.  The nautical knot is balanced with a metal clasp that adds an interesting contemporary element--and I am totally sold.  Upon further investigation, Lemon & Line have some other great collections available too (the Newport and Vineyard), but the cheerful color palette of their Nantucket Collection definitely speaks to me.  For a nautical-loving girl like me, there couldn't be a more perfect accessory, and the price isn't prohibitive either.  Many thanks to the lovely Rian for her style savvy and for bringing a bit of knotty-ness to an ordinary Friday.

Welly Socks

My rainboots are one of my favorite things.  I was gifted a pair of red Hunter wellies last year, and their cheerful color and durable rubber design makes any rainy day that much brighter.  But as an east coast girl, when the temperature starts to drop, I need a little bit more than rubber boots to keep my feet warm--and I've often traded in my Hunters for whatever Ugg design (or two...) I might be sporting that season.  Call me slow to the party, but I didn't realize that stylishly arming my Hunters against the elements was also an option.  Hello, amazing welly socks!

While shopping at Nordstrom on a recent rainy night, their Hunter display caught my eye (oh, those clever visual merchandisers!).  A cable sock in a classic cream color was peering over the top of pair of red Hunter boots just like mine.  Upon closer inspection, I recognized a new style for Hunter's own welly socks.  I was familiar with their basic fleece boot liner, but I never invested in a pair, feeling that they lacked a certain je ne sais quois (that's what I meant before about stylishly arming my Hunters against plummeting temperatures).  But these cable liners were different--or, more accurately, the "Basketweave" sock, which features a classic knit cuff atop their standard fleece welly sock. 



"Basketweave" Sock in cream by Hunter, $40
Available from Nordstrom


In addition to the cream color that I went for, the Basketweave is available in pink, cream, khaki green, charcoal, and black so you're guaranteed to find the right sock to accent whatever color welly boot you fancy.  Personally, I also really love the charcoal so I'm going to have to keep those in mind as a potential future purchase.  But color aside, in my view, it's all about the knit cuff, which folds over the top of your boot and adds a bit of timeless prep to your step.  Plus, they keep your tootsies warm--and you all know how much I love form and function.  I have to admit, I was actually a little disappointed to wake up to clear skies this morning...

Fall Fashion Preview: A Penny For Your...Feet

Although, fall is still months away, the fashion magazines are already offering previews of the upcoming trends.  Since the warm, sunny weather only recently showed its face here in New England, I hesitate to think of its departure just yet.  Still, fall is my favorite season, and I love a fashion preview as much as the next girl--and so I found myself devouring the pages of the June edition of Harper's Bazaar over the weekend...


From Harper's Bazaar, June 2011

I never thought I would get so excited about plain old penny loafers, but this fall, designers like Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Opening Ceremony have reinterpreted what has traditionally seemed uber preppy--perhaps even stuffy--footwear.  The key ingredient: a sky-high heel, which elevates the loafer's look from old school to contemporary in a matter of inches.



Penny Loafer Pump by Schutz, $210
Available at Cusp by Neiman Marcus

 Personally, I see great possibility in this fall's fresh take on the traditional loafer.  If you'll pardon the cliché, they are absolutely geek-meets-chic, which just so happens to be the same category in which (if asked) I would classify my daily wardrobe.  As a girl with a 9 to 5 gig in a mostly conservative office, I try to keep my look professional, though I also feel it's also important to represent my personal style aesthetic.  The result might be best described as "intellectual with an edge," which has me gravitating towards Schutz's Penny Loafer Pump.  What Cusp by Neiman Marcus calls a "neck-breaking wooden heel" ensures that this isn't the penny loafer of bygone days, yet a loafer it remains.

So, I hope you're enjoying the summer, but when it comes to an end (as all things do), rest assured that you have some absolutely fabulous fall footwear to look forward to--and perhaps a new look for your corporate gig as well.

Earn Those Xs and Os: 5 Gifts to Get Into Her Heart

News flash: Valentine's Day is just one week away! Okay okay, so maybe it is just a Hallmark holiday, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't seize the opportunity to earn those Xs and Os. Fortunately for you, today's gift guide is your essential road map into her heart--and at five reasonable price points to boot!

For under $25, you may not be able to give her the sun, but at least you can keep the rain away with this Clear Bubble Umbrella from Urban Outfitters. I fell in love with this umbrella style when I was in London last year but couldn't for the life of me find a vendor actually selling them! Fortunately for me (and you), they've made it to the good ol' US of A--this time sporting a cheerfully festive red handle and trim that will remind her of your love even on the rainiest of days. And if you really want to stand under her umbrella? Well then, I dare you to channel Rihanna and serenade her... Price tag: $18

For under $50, give her two hearts instead of one with a pair of festively adorable Glitter Heart MP3 Speakers by Juicy Couture. What girl doesn't love an instant dance party?--and especially one in such cute packaging. These glitter adorned, heart-shaped speakers with Juicy's logo banners fit conveniently into the headphone jack of any MP3 player or computer. And not for nothing, if you're not especially partial to her musical taste (my adorable husband thinks that listening to my iPod is akin to slow torture), this concession is sure to steal her heart. Price tag: $48

For under $75, you can win her over by supporting a good cause, thanks to these customizable Converse Red All Star I "Heart" sneaker. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is so last year. This Valentine's day, let her wear your heart on her shoe, and take pride in the fact that 15% of the net retail sales of these Converse (PRODUCT) RED™ shoes will be paid to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Starting with a blank canvas in the form of Chuck Taylor All Stars, choose her favorite colors for the shoe's outside body, rubber sidewall, racing stripe, laces, tongue, and stitching. For the finishing touch, melt her heart by filling in the blank: I "heart" ___________. Price tag: $65

For an even $100, you can cook your way into her heart with a set of four Mini-Cocottes by Le Creuset. Show her what you're made of in the kitchen by serving her favorite meal. And since presentation is everything, you're sure to win points with this scaled-down version of Le Creuset's famous cast iron casseroles in a festive red enamel. As an added bonus, this set comes with a special Le Creuset cookbook, featuring 25 unique recipes specifically developed for this cookware. Price tag: $100

For under $150, you can personalize her preppie with this Personalized Foldable Tote from Longchamp. If your love is an Eternal Prepster, she's guaranteed to fall head-over-heels for her very own customized Longchamp. You can opt for a festive deep red tote--or choose from one of Longchamp's other signature colors: black, chocolate, graphite, or navy. Then select one of three monogram styles, along with your desired monogram color (black, green, red, brown, gold, navy, purple, or orange). After all, if your girl is one of a kind, shouldn't her bag be the same? Price tag: $145

So no matter your budget, let your lady love know how you feel with one of these five fabulously festive Valentine's treats! And if you play your cards right, you might earn an X and an O at the end of the night. Happy shopping, lovers!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Clear Bubble Umbrella in red $18, from Urban Outfitters (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/); (2) Glitter Heart MP3 Speakers by Juicy Couture $48, available from Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com/); (3) (Converse) RED All Star I "Heart" $65, available online from Converse (http://www.converse.com/); (4) Mini-Cocottes by Le Creuset, set of 4 in red $100, available at Bloomingdales (www.bloomingdales.com); (5) Personalized Foldable Tote in deep red by Longchamp $145, available at Saks Fifth Avenue (http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/).

(If you like it, then you should have) Put A Ring On It

As Beyonce so eloquently phrases it, if you like it, then you should have put a ring on it! And, really now, who am I to argue with Beyonce? Rather, I'd like to add a bit of flair to her message--and to encourage all you fashionistas out there to put a statement ring on it. They are going to be (literally and figuratively) HUGE this season!

Fact: no matter what your fashion aesthetic is, every style savvy gal should have a statement ring (or three) in her jewelry box. In fact, they're one of the easiest accessories to work with, as you won't need to add much else to your look; instead, let your ring do all the talking. So, without further ado, here are my three favorites for three different--but equally fabulous--schools of style:

If you're a rock star... What better way to pay homage to the late and great Alexander McQueen than with one of his edgy statement rings? I'm basically obsessed with his Crystal Skull Four-Finger Ring, and I'm willing to venture that my obsession hardly needs explaining! You can pack a faaabulous punch with this macabre-chic ring, whose brass design wraps the fingers with a beautifully dark blend of glaring skulls, delicate flowers, and Swarovski crystals. Price tag: $550

If you're prim and proper... Well, even prim and proper girls know how to tie one on!--literally, I mean, with this pretty Bow Ring by Kate Spade. You'll love the preppy pop! of this fluted bow, which sits atop a smooth silvertone band. As if your mere presence wasn't gift enough! Price tag: $75

If you're a flower child... Well, then, it's all about the flowers, now isn't it? Especially when it comes to the YSL's Arty Glass Stone Ring! Talk about a bouquet that will last forever, this statement ring is a true piece of art. A jagged metal setting holds three colored glass stones, in what I can't help but view as a stunningly abstract floral arrangement. Price tag: $295

...And there are SO many more to choose from! You could have a ring for every day of the week. In fact, I amend: you SHOULD have a ring for every day of the week! And this isn't just for you single ladies--this is for all fashionistas out there: put your hands up!



Images, in order of appearance: Crystal Skull Four-Finger Ring by Alexander McQueen $550, available at Saks Fifth Avenue (www.saksfifthavenue.com); (2) Bow Ring by Kate Spade $75, also available at Saks Fifth Avenue; (3) Arty Glass Stone Ring by Yves Saint Laurent $295, also available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The British Are Coming!

Sound the alarm, the British are coming! If you're not already familiar with Jack Wills, allow me to make a proper introduction... I was recently tipped off to this fabulously British company, whose design inspiration follows British military history, British sporting traditions, and British country pursuits. The overall effect is irresistably preppy with a twist of the eccentric that is as fashionable as it is proper.

While Jack Wills has its roots in the UK (obvi!), they've since expanded to Ireland and the US. However, if your summer travels haven't taken you the Vineyard or Nantucket, you've likely not seen an actual Jack Wills store. Never fear, there are rumors of further expansion in the works! But in the meantime, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, immediate gratification is available at Jack Wills online, where preppy purchases for ladies and gents, as well as home and lifestyle, are but a mouse click away!

Perhaps because I'm just soooo pregnant these days, I was immediately drawn to the Wills' lounge wear collection. No question about it, I simply must own the Torrisholme Hoodie! The striking JACK is printed in blue on black, a color combo that works for just about any lounging situation--and clearly I'm not above a little name dropping. After all, as you may already know, comfy chic goes quite a long way in my book.

Of course, a fashionista must always consider accessories--and there are indeed a few choice pieces that I'm just slightly obsessed with. For one, the Shawbury Spectacles in navy/pink are adorably girly, yet alluringly academic (and can you really argue with a duality like that?). Plus, I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't also call attention to the Brimslade Canvas Barrel Bag; it's basically perfect for a weekend getaway--or the gym, if we want to be practical about things (sigh).

As you can see, there's no shortage of great buys where Jack Wills is concerned. Fortunately, the price is right--and not for nothing, how often can you honestly say that when it comes to fashion? I encourage you test this fabulously British company for yourself, and I'm fairly confident that, like me, you will also want to shout it from the rooftops: the British are coming!

Special thanks to the always fashionable Chi-Chi for sharing the good word about Jack Wills!

All images from Jack Wills (www.jackwills.com), in order of appearance: (1) Jack Wills logo; (2) Torrisholme Hoodie in black $89; (3) Shawbury Spectacles in navy/pink $174; (4) Brimslade Canvas Barrel Bag in emerald $89.