Wednesday, May 22, 2013

boutique crush - Lindsay letters

I love coming across an online boutique that makes me stop in my tracks and has me giddy as I browse through their site oohing and ahhing over all the prettiness they offer. This is exactly what happened when I stumbled upon the charming Lindsay Letters shop. This site is chock full of beautiful items from prints for your home, wedding, or baby along with unique invitations, stationary and stamps. I selected a few of my favorites to share with you but do visit the shop as there is lots more to covet. 

adore this monogrammed print, would work in anything from a nursery to a gallery wall or office


this nautical canvas print would be perfection for a seaside wedding


adorn your stationary with some pretty stamps in your favorite ink colors


dying over this wedding suite, the gold & pink color combo is swoon-worthy


a darling gift for an expecting mama or mama to be


Happy Shopping!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

a neon fiesta

Cindo de Mayo may have come and gone but that doesn't mean you still can't throw a colorful celebration for that special someone or for that upcoming special occasion  I personally am still smitten with the neon trend and especially love it in party decorations. The bright hues are instantly cheerful and uber festive, it just screams lets have some fun! Inspired by my for the love of etsy post I created a style board that is almost entirely available by fabulous etsy sellers. Check out all the neon goodness below and where you can purchase for your next fiesta!



Oh and just for fun, a little neon outfit inspiration too!


dress // sandals {own & love} // bracelet // clutch // earrings 

Want more neon party inspiration, check out some pretty over on pinterest!


Monday, May 20, 2013

Bombshell

I was literally stopped in my tracks when I saw Kate Upton on the cover of Vogue this month. This American beauty first stood out to me when she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and the fact that so many critics said she was a "heavier" then some other SI models of the past left me flabergasted. This clearly infuriated me as this was the furthest thing from the truth. What I saw was an all american bombshell who resembled another style icon of the past. Then Vogue got their pretty little hands on her and created a stunning photo-shoot with incredible fashion and the correct heading. While she wears some of my favorite designers in this issue like Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Givenchy and so on. I thought I would create some looks inspired by the shoot to help recreate this fabulous style without going bankrupt. 
















Saturday, May 18, 2013

weekend wear - comfy & casual



When the weekend arrives I always want an outfit that is easy but stylish. Come warmer weather, I always turn to comfy day dresses that can work with a sensible flat or a heeled sandal for the evening. Since we are only breaking into the high 60's here in Boston, I am not quite able to pull off the sleeveless summer dress just yet. Which is why I became instantly smitten with this cuffed sleeve dress, perfect for this in between weather. You can layer it with a casual jacket for a chillier day or wear alone with some great accessories like in the example below. 

What is your comfy & casual weekend look???



Friday, May 17, 2013

Happy Weekend!!!


Happy Friday friends! Hope all had a great week and if your on the east coast enjoying this awesome weather...finally! Tonight I will be taking it easy with my man & ordering in some delicious take out and tomorrow we are heading back to Newport, RI to visit my best friend who is in town for a wedding at the very same place where we tied the knot almost two years ago. While it may not be beach weather the below Maison Gray image has me dreaming of summer and adding pops of pink in my wardrobe. Always in small doses and never all at once but this cheery color can always make you stand out in the crowd. Have a great weekend everyone!!!



Thursday, May 16, 2013

Striped

I adore stripes in almost every form {minus these Beetlejuice pants}. While my absolute favorite striped item is the classic top paired with skinny denim and comfy flats, I thought I would try to pick an outfit featuring the horizontal pattern in a different color palette. I usually would stay clear of black and white stripes due to a fear of looking like the hamburglar. However when I saw this jacket in person I quickly fell in love. The thicker rugby stripe along with the zipper details gave this jacket an edge that inspired an entire black and white outfit that follows one of this Springs hottest trends. 

How do you wear stripes???




Check out more striped goodness on Long Distance Loving

thirsty thursday - fruit & spinach smoothie


Morning folks, today I am switching up the usual thirsty thursday from a delicious cocktail to something a bit more healthy. Basically I drank too much the other night and the thought of alcohol literally made my stomach turn so I decided to make a smoothie to help detox my core so I can bounce back to my normal self in time for the weekends festivities.  I know the above doesn't look all that appetizing but I have to admit it was pretty tasty for the amount of spinach that was in it. Also an added bonus was that it was super filling allowing me to skip snacking during the day.  I used what I had in the house but you can mix in any of your favorite fruits. Here's what I put in mine!

1 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup fresh blackberries
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup fat free greek yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice

Mix in blender & enjoy!

What's your favorite smoothie recipe???

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Bubbly Bar

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting another evening with the fabulous ladies from my book club. I always get a bit nervous about entertaining in our apartment due to the size but I have to remind myself that its possible to entertain in small spaces by keeping the menu and the drinks simple. Since our book didn't provide me with a fun theme to play off of, I decided to cook a few easy but delicious pasta dishes along with a prosecco bar as the cocktail of the evening. After-all who doesn't love some bubbly with fresh mixers and garnish. It had me thinking what an ideal bubbly bar would look like for a more sophisticated occasion which made me put together the little set up below.


my inspiration from the other night


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

for the love of etsy

Its been a while since I have posted some of my favorite etsy finds. The online marketplace is chock full of goodies but if you dont know what you are looking for it can also be completely overwhelming. I usually find myself shopping on here for entertaining items or party decorations when I dont have time to do them myself. Below are a few recent purchases along with other stylish items that have caught my eye that I thought were worth sharing with you all.

Calligraphy treat bags are the perfect little favor for my friends to take home with them after a fun night in. While I am smitten with the ones below, I went with the classic black and white.


Since my J.Crew metal bow key chain was driving my husband insane with its constant clinking against the keys over every single bump on Boston's lovely roads, I decided to replace it with a softer leather tassel in pale gray to coordinate with my purse


I adore these petite navy & gold pots. They have a chic nautical feel and would be perfect on a nightstand to hold your jewelry that you dont want too far from your reach. 


This etsy shop has photographer has captured some of my favorite Boston pooches but her talents dont stop with just images of beautiful pups or people. I love her combination of flowers with sketches like this foxy print below. 


We are Boston Strong. Enough said.


Succulents are everything right now. I adore them in every form. Especially how this etsy shop created such a whimsical way to display them. Perfect for a garden wedding or shower. 


I am so not over the neon trend yet, especially in packaging. These little neon tags are a great bright addition to a kraft gift wrap.


I dont have a need for this but couldn't help share this adorable backdrop for a photo-booth  I love the chalkboard look and family details for the less formal photos at your special event. 


Tassels are everywhere in party decor lately. I love them in bright punch colors or soft neutrals. They are pretty on cakes, balloons or as a backdrop to your dessert table


I dont know a lot about art but I do know I love anything that has to do with the beach. This Coney Island print is colorful and fun for your bare walls.


Have you found a great etsy vendor that you love???



Monday, May 13, 2013

Tibi Friends & Family


It's that time again, friends & family is going on over at Tibi! I have been a big fan of this brand for it's simple silhouettes and always on trend styles. Below are just a few of my favorites from the site. What are yours???