somewhere in america.

FP HANNAH'S ROMPER

FREEPS 100 DEGREE DRESS

Made in America became a ritual of sorts with one of my best friends and I.

It was sacred, we bought tickets before we even knew who was playing and then she had to go off to Guatemala on a unforgettable life adventure before we could make some memories with Beyonce & co.

This year, I went with another great friend of mine.

We stayed with the same kind, fun and generous person who let me crash last year and his friends and shenanigans ensued.

Like these photos that have become a tradition.

Festivals are made up of music, and the sets change from year to year, but what makes this one special is the people you're with and the city it's in that I get to know a little better each time.

Sorry if that's the corniest thing i've ever said.

Not sorry.

the cube test.

CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

I've spent the past month recovering from vacation and moving, so apologies for the hiatus. It seems that summer has gotten away from me and today marked the first day of crisp fall weather. This past summer has been seemingly never ending and I see nothing wrong with that. I feel like i've aged an entire year in the span of six months, which seems fitting because the entire winter I felt like I was standing still. It makes me smile to look back on these pictures, the time I got to spend with my family and the positive energy that is coming into view for all of us. 

On a short road trip with a new friend, I was introduced to the cube test.

If you know nothing about it, look it up, but answer all the questions before you see what it's about.

It'll make you realize things you didn't even know about yourself, if you trust in that sort of thing.

Other things you'll just already be aware of, if you're the self-aware sort.

sunnies side up.

BRIAR FELT TOP FELT HAT

PLETHORA OF SUNNIES FROM FP, OLIVER PEOPLES, GIORGIO ARMANI

If you're like me, you own a ton of sunnies, collected throughout the year for every occasion. 

I can't bring them all with me, so instead I decided to make a display for them, cause that's what I do. 

Here's how:

Take a wooden hanger with divets on either side where the garment usually hangs.

Use wool yarn (the thicker the better) and tie from one end to the other about twice the length of the hanger. Leave some of the yarn pieces as is, and braid others for look. Leave different lengths of string hanging past the knotted ends. Display your extra sunglasses from the yarn pieces in the middle.

Fin.

poolside.

SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE SET

Good rays

good friends

good times.

Loving this or any set I get my hands on

it's a top

it's bottoms

it's an outfit

or not.

it's choose your own adventure.

Sort of like yesterday.

You know when you mix the right people together and then 

boom.

magical. 

I got a little bit of that this weekend.

Photo credit due to the one and only Rotch.

Love you girll.

Bent but never broken.

It's funny how your current situation can affect how you view things.

I was walking down the street today with a coworker to grab lunch and I broke my favorite necklace, and shattered my phone screen all at the same time. 

Thankfully I had some protection on that guy.

And I did something that I haven't been able to do in a while, I took it for what it was and moved on. 

I even giggled about it a bit afterwards.

Why dwell? Why keep thinking about something in your life you can't change for so long afterwards?

This is something that is easier said than done, something I am constantly trying to get into.

And hey, I screwed up material things, I wasn't confronted with hard-hitting problems, so how much could it really affect me anyways?

All i'm saying is my outlook on life feels a little lighter right now than it used to.

So i'm putting this post here so I can remember that for the heavy times, and you can too.

And when, say, my best friend moves 5,171 miles away i'll be ready to deal with it with this rediscovered peace. 

In my new favorite skinny boyfriend jeans.

ONE TEASPOON AWESOME DESTROYED HUSTLER BAGGIES

Home is where the love is.

My initial plan for this post was to speak about how I just signed the lease to a new home and how bittersweet it feels to be moving on after a year in the real world, how the little details of my current apartment seem to speak to the peace in life that I am beginning to find, but events transpired and now that all seems so small in the grand scheme of life.

Family is everything to me, and today for a split second I thought that I had lost a part of myself. A false alarm, my heart skipping a beat and then falling back into rhythm. I realize all the time how lucky I am to have such an excellent support system, to have three people in my life that will have my back no matter what, and how fragile it seems, not only today, but all the time. How fragile life can be.

The more I grow the more I see how life is composed of a series of obstacles. It is how you adapt to change, the way that you compose yourself through the tough times, the way that you embrace the great times and the way that you are humbled by those breathtaking moments that pass that define who you are.

On the smaller scale, yes, moving away from my first real home in new york city after a unpredictable first year of my life in the real world is something that seems important in life right now. But on the larger scale, its one stepping stone in the pathway to life, and I like to think that my stride has grown this year.

Life is precious, hug a loved one.

attire.

ZARA everything. crop & skirt.

Jeffery Campbell Peaks Point Wedge

Jenny Bird Skye Lariat Necklace

I had the very special pleasure of witnessing love this weekend. One of my fabulous coworkers walked down the aisle as 'the bride' and entered this week with a new last name and is now deemed 'the newlywed' Never have I seem such a happy and more beautiful bride, and I was honored to be a part of all of that!

Finding a great out to go along with a classy event was a trip, I searched every brand on Bloomingdales, prepared myself to spend many dollar signs on brands that are reserved only for special occasions, and made many a browse online. I only had one thing in mind - I wanted a separates outfit. I ended up finding this top and bottom at Zara while just browsing one day. Each are different materials, but both fancy, and even better, both on sale! You know, sometimes outfits just seem to find you.

Workwear to dinnerwear.

 MARA HOFFMAN BRAIDED BLACK SLOUCH PANTS

FOREVER 21 TEE

BILLY GIBBONS FLATS

ROUND METAL MIRROR RAY BANS

MADEWELL THE TRANSPORT TOTE

Really i'm just in love with these pants. I'm really proud of them because I made it out of a sample sale alive with them, in my size. They're Mara Hoffman who is one of my top ten favorite designers, and they feel so cool to walk in. It's not a mystery that all black is my go-to and I thought that this getup was the perfect outfit to go from work to play in.

muddy waters.

SABON MUD FACE MASK

Thanks to my friends, I'm always breaking out of my shell and discovering new ways to take care of my hair, skin and body. I was recently introduced to this mud mask, which is the perfect remedy for the skin problems I've been having these days. I've never had a problem with oily skin, but lately that has changed, and it's likely that it was due to the summer season. 

Besides the fact that mud masks are just straight fun to put on, this one is great for its power to narrow pores while removing dead skin cells. You just leave on for fifteen minutes before removing with water. It feels great on the skin, smells delicious, and has a lasting clean feeling days afterwards! Make sure to use a moisturizer after to offset the dryness brought on when the clay from the treatment removes moisture from your pores. Sabon has one that it pairs with this, but I stuck with the Aveeno I already had. It can also be used for spot treatments in the case of blemishes, an up-scale version of the toothpaste trick.

Style Diary AC

MADE IN PHILADELPHIA ESSEX DRESS 

 I went a little full on Freeps this weekend, but what else is new. Let's talk about new labels though, Made In Philadelphia is a new line that I noticed Free People put out, it's super sleek style and this might be my favorite dress ever invented. It was perfect for a club atmosphere, which is what Atlantic City is all about and it was flattering for my body type, which I always seem to think is impossible unless I do a top/skirt combo and am in full control, so this a goodie

Below, I'm sporting the Voile slip, which I own in three colors, as do most of my coworkers, it's simply the best slip to have for a beach. Also the length is long enough where it works as a dress, but you have to wear a solid slip or tank/shorts combo underneath because there are lace accents that peek through.

The blouse that have on is great for the beach since its 100% sheer. It's made over-sized, and it's one of those pieces that is just too short to work as a dress, so you need to wear shorts with it. It's great when you wear it with a swimsuit because it suddenly becomes appropriate without a shirt underneath! 

Also my new favorite Sunnies are these round metal mirrored Ray Bans in silver, they fit my face perfectly for once and i'm obsessed.

Special thanks to my friends Taylor, Jackie, and Rotch being good sports by taking these photos! You're the bomb.com!

FP VOILE SLIP

FP TIE THAT BINDS BLOUSE