Friday's Fancies: Beach Day Essentials

Unfortunately I don't have any beach trips lined up this summer, but you never know I might throw in a day trip somewhere. Growing up we spent weeks ever summer at my family's little beach cottage on St. George Island on the Florida panhandle. We have some fantastic memories there with some good friends and family, and beach trips haven't really been the same since my parents sold it.

GANT slim shirt / Pleated maxi skirt, $23 / Miu Miu bow bandeau bathing suit, $155 / River Island gold handbag, $38 / GUESS hat / GUESS by Marciano sunglasses / Sun care / Turquoise Teshvikiye Linen Turkish Towel

What's a beach day with out a little touch of glam right? I typically try to cover up as much as I can when traveling to and from the shore, I always seemed to get the worst sunburns walking home. Seriously I love oxfords to lounge around in and they provide tons of coverage from those intense florida rays. To keep the look from veering too far into prepster-ville I added the sparkly bag and the white maxi skirt. Then add a floppy hat, some cute sunnies, oh and the perfectly classic girly suit. Perfect beach wear.

Life Lately

Sorry for all of the radio silence lately. All of my crazy travels have caught up with me and I've got some kind of nasty chest cold that makes me hurt everywhere every time I breathe. It's horrible. Anyways, here's a little life lately recap according to instagram. Hope y'all have a fabulous Thursday! 

Congressional Baseball Game \\ Cocktails at Zeba 

Loving Leopard \\ Philly Cheesesteak at Reading Market 

Colonial Brews in Philly \\ Gorgeous Weather in DC 

Rainy Weather in DC \\ Emerald Colorblocking

Currently

Happy Tuesday Folks! Unfortunately my trip home from Arkansas last night was less than smooth and I didn't get home until 3:00 am. Fun times let me tell you. So this morning I don't have much for you so I'm going to do a little life currently.

Listening to the 9:00 hour of the today show. I'm just not ready for hard news this morning.

Loving that I have a four day week this week and next week. So much better than five day weeks.

Drinking coffee, diet coke, red bull? I need caffeine, and I don't have any right now. What should I get.

Reading way too many emails. After that, I'm about to start Simple Rules for a Complex World. Fun right? Got to love that pre-law school reading list.

Wearing a soft floral skirt, a cami and a cardi. Not my best but I got 4 hours of sleep, what do you want from me.

Thinking that it really sucks that I still don't know where I'm living in 5 weeks.

Feeling sleepy, stressed, bored.

Wondering if today will go quickly so I can get home and take a nap.

Realizing that I only have 40 days left in DC! Ahh!!!

Friday's Fancies: Summer Wish List-- Target Maxi Dresses

Greetings! As you read this, I'm on the road to New Orleans for a little weekend visit with my Mom. So far my little vacation has been lovely (minus the crazy early mornings two days in a row). Today marks the first official day of summer, and let me tell you it feels like it! DC has still been cool, but Arkansas and Louisiana are quite warm, let me tell you.

For this week's Friday's Fancies theme we are discussing our summer wish list. Mine is long, but since I'm moving I've put myself on a spending freeze! I don't want to have to move anything extra! Whatever doesn't fit in my Jetta isn't going to make it with me to NOLA.  I have been lusting over one piece... and I think I could make an exception to the spending freeze. The Target Jersey Maxi Dress.

Mossimo petite dress / Mossimo pocket dress / Mossimo see through dress / Mossimo petite dress

Are they not killing it lately? That black and white one, first introduced to me by the lovely Alissa, I'm obsessed. 

Wish me luck house hunting this weekend, and please excuse me for potential delayed posts next week as I'm traveling Sunday and Monday! Have a great one gals!

Four Things: Floral

I had so much fun with last week's four things link-up I decided to come back for more. This week's theme is "Floral: Anything Goes." Now normally I'm not much of a floral person when it comes to my wardrobe. I just checked my closet and found 3 things. woops. But, since florals are so trendy right now, I've been trying to broaden my horizons a bit.

Lipsy flower print shirt, $44 / Accessorize satin ballet flat / FOSSIL floral tote / Diptyque Roses Scented Candle

I'd love to add this cute top to my collection. Or a fun tote, or even hide my florals inside my shoes. But if I don't accomplish any of that, rest assured I'll always have gorgeous floral candles around. Don't forget to come join the fun with Ashlyn and Kristin.

Fun note, I'm heading to the deep south tomorrow for a little relaxation and to get ready for a big move in 6 weeks! Yay! Both Little Rock and New Orleans are on the agenda! I'm even hoping to maybe get in a little pool time while I'm at my parents! So here's to it being my friday! Woohoo!

Quoted: A Colorful Life

I just wanted to leave y'all with my lovely blog motto today. I hope you'll join me in making an effort to incorporate a little color into your life today.  Check out my instagram feed for colorful updates through out the day. If you feel so inclined join me with a little hashtag party #colorfulworld so we can all enjoy some pretty colors together. 

Philly Fun

This weekend my roommates and I randomly decided to take a little day trip up to Philadelphia and play tourists. We've been wanting to go explore for a while, and since it's only two and a half hours away why not! I've never been, but I can tell you already I'm dying to go back! We had such a great time!

Since Friday was flag day there was tons of Americana fun to be had.  We started off at Love park then made our way down market street towards Independence Hall. We checked out Reading Market for Philly Cheesesteaks and some Amish treats. Since we were only there for the day we decided to be cool and hop on one of those tourists buses. Living in DC I'm often annoyed by the swarms of tourists flowing in and out of my city, so it was a little strange being on the other side. I'm so glad we did it though. We were able to save our feet and walk around the cool neighborhoods in town. 

We couldn't have asked for better weather! It was 80 degrees, no humidity and absolutely gorgeous. 

We wrapped up our day with a few colonial beers (which were awesome btw) and some gelato, then hopped back in the car and headed south to DC. If you need a weekend getaway I'd can't recommend Philly enough! 

Friday's Fancies: Weekend Weddings

We made it again! Happy Friday y'all!  For this week's Friday's Fancies we are talking wedding wear. Shockingly I don't have any weddings to attend this year (though with quite a few engagements I'm sure next summer will be very busy). But if I did have a wedding to attend I would certainly love to show up in this little pretty.

Dress,/ ankle wrap sandals / Leather clutch /  cuff bracelet / Wire jewelry

I'm still loving all things metallic, and bronze seems perfect for summertime. Pair it with a golden makeup look? I'm thinking it's summer time perfection right? Now since it's Friday I won't keep you here too long, but y'all seriously need to check out some of these posts below. Can I just say it was a pretty epic week around the blog-o-sphere.

Link Love

• I want my new apartment to include all of these pretties Erin curated.
• Julie wrote beautiful and thoughtful post about being real or fake in blogging. I couldn't agree with her sentiments more.
• Ashley shared her top five photo editing apps. Shocker. Instagram DIDN'T make the list.  
• In the mood for a yummy cocktail? Laura's got you covered with this Orange Ginger Mojito. 
• Betsy introduced us to beer pasta this week. Need I say more?
• Finally we talked brows with Meg, definitely something I need to work on. 

Cocktail Hour: Bump Up Your Beer

Assuming the rain doesn't cancel it, today is the annual Congressional Baseball game here in Washington, D.C. If you've never heard of this event, Members of Congress get together and put any partisan sqwable aside to fight over what really counts, a win on the baseball diamond. For those of you in DC or if your even remotely political you need to get your butt down to Nationals Park tonight. Tickets are $10 and it's general seating, get them here!

Anyways, since this is a night where the Washington elite kick their feet up and relax, I figured a little cocktail hour is in order? Tell me what goes better with baseball than a cold beer? Besides a hot dog or a little shake shack? Well this cocktail is perfection for summer and the ingredients are pretty darn inexpensive, so you've got to love that!

I actually discovered this drink at PS 7 when it was still open, but alas, the drink lives on with us! 

Ingredients

• 5 oz light lager beer (i.e. Bud Light, Miller Light, PBR, etc.)
• 1 oz Ginger Liqueur
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger thinly sliced (for garnish)
• Ice

Directions
Simply combine the ginger liqueur, beer and lemon juice in a tall glass. Add the ice and garnish with ginger. Enjoy.


It seriously couldn't be much simpler than that folks? Let me know if you try it! Happy Thursday!

Four Things

Happy Wednesday! Seriously, I feel so much better on Wednesdays because I know the weekend will be here before we know it, and this weekend promises to be wonderful. So today I wanted to join some of my favorite gals in a four things link up, and share four things I'm loving today.

gelato / havaianas / fathers day / lulu and georgia 

Is there really anything better to cool you off during the summertime than some ice cream? I popped in to pitago gelato over the weekend, and I haven't been able to get the stuff out of my head. DC area folks. White Grapefruit Sorbet. If you want to get crazy add it to the Chocolate Noir sorbet. It's beyond amazing. 

I picked up a new pair of havaiana's at south moon under a few weeks ago, and oh my gosh I forgot how comfortable they are. If you've never tried them, go get you some ASAP. 

Father's Day is this weekend! What are you getting your dads? I love getting to celebrate a day of Dad's, but let me tell you... mine is SO hard to shop for! If you have any awesome dad gift ideas please send them my way!

I'm sure by now y'all have heard of lulu and georgia but as I'm apartment hunting I can't help but dream of a new place decorated entirely with their gorgeous pieces.

What four things are you loving today? Don't forget to link up!

A Little Gap Love

Since it's been raining pretty much nonstop for days I'm dreaming of some warm sunny summer fun. So what's a girl to do, obviously a little online shopping right? Somehow I wound up at the Gap and was actually super impressed with the selection this season.

Gap tall maxi dress / Gap dress / Gap flip flops / Gap platform wedge shoes / Gap leather tote bag / Gap straw fedora / Gap Tortoise Bamboo Sunglasses

I haven't really perused their website in years, but I'm loving all of the maxi dress options, fun sunnies and even some cute shoes.  What do y'all think? Have you visited the gap lately?

ps. don't forget today's your last chance to enter to win a $50 Shabby Apple Giftcard here!

Wonderful Walls

As we get closer and closer to moving day I'm continuing to dream about what my little apartment will look like in New Orleans. You already know about my bar cart, but there's a whole lot square footage beyond that. I know that I want a very clean ascetic. No clutter and tranquil colors, while still soft and feminine. While I love a good gallery wall (this one is fabulous), I feel like they can be overwhelming at times. If they aren't done correctly it makes a room look shorter and utterly cluttered.  No thank you. So instead of buying or creating some big artwork to fill up a wall, I'm thinking of going another direction.

Have you heard about this new product? Wallpaper for renters.  Amazing right? The mild adhesive keeps the walls safe, and then it saves you from having to re-paint before you move out. Love that.

So I'm thinking an accent wall in the bedroom, maybe in the kitchen as a backsplash? Or in a dinning area to make it feel like a separate room.  I can't decide.

What I am certain of is my love of gold wall paper. I found the most perfect chevron cream and gold adhesive paper this weekend (at Union Market, haven't found it online yet).

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I just love how decadent and sophisticated it makes a room feel. I love this one and these.  There's just so many options out there!!! What's a girl to do.

So what do y'all think? Metallic wallpapers, yay or nay? 

Quoted: Dolly Parton

Friday's Fancies

Is it just me, or did that week just fly by? Time seems to just keep moving faster and faster. While it's overcast and rainy thanks to that pesky storm Andrea. While I don't mind the cooler weather and rain, I would like to break out my sunglasses this weekend.

summer sunnies by bluedogbelle featuring stella mccartney

I need them all, obviously.  Don't forget to come link up with Alison so you can see some other fabulous shades to last you through the summer and beyond.


Link Love

• In need of a fabulous cocktail? Natalie's got you covered with these cute printables. 
• I loved this board of four favorites. Definitely thinking about this color scheme for my new apartment. 
• This is SUCH a good idea for decorating an apartment! Who doesn't love Washi tape?
• I've been on a quinoa kick lately. Definitely going to attempt to make this little cake. 
• Shay had a great list of books to read in your twenties. I had better get a move on if I want to get it all done!

Since it's supposed to be rainy tonight I may just stay in and do a little reading in bed. I went to the library yesterday and picked up a few books to read to prep be a bit for law school. I doubt I'll make it through all of them, but I'm just feeling so antsy about all the upcoming change, I felt I needed to do something tangible.

Anyways, have a fabulous weekend dolls! Oh... and don't forget about the Shabby Apple Giveaway!

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Currently

*So, I'm a bad blogger and completely took the night of yesterday because I forgot to fill a hole in my editorial calendar, so truly... this is what I'm doing currently*

Listening to CNN. What else is new? Trying to catch up on the morning news before I run over to the Senate for a hearing.

Loving that it's Thursday, and tomorrow should be a very relaxed day heading in to the weekend. Plus, I'm really excited about all the rain we're about to get. I love warm rainy days.

Drinking diet coke. I just bypassed coffee this morning. Though I may grab a quick latte on the hill.

Reading emails. CQ. Politico. National Journal. I spend entirely too much time reading the same stories over and over again in different publications. At least I'm in the know right?

Wearing slacks. What? That never happens. Added a blue cami and a black cardigan. Super stylish over here, let me tell you.

Thinking about how ready I am to get to law school.

Feeling anxious about leaving DC.

Eating egg and cheese on wheat toast. Regretting it already.

Wondering if anyone actually likes these blog posts?

Realizing that I have 58 days left in DC. 40 days of work. Yay/Ahh!!!

What are you doing, currently?

A New Subscription Box: Beauty Army

I shared my May Birchbox yesterday, so today I wanted to share my my experience with Beauty Army. I should note, this post is completely un-sponsored. I simply want to share my honest opinions with y'all about these two services. So let me introduce you to 

Unlike most subscription boxes out there, Beauty Army allows you to actually choose what products you want to sample in your box. You take a fairly extensive profile quiz about your beauty preferences, then a slate of 9 products is presented to you. You can choose up to 6, or try re-taking the quiz to see what the other options are. 

One of the best parts is you you actually get to see what size the sample is. Because lets be honest, I'm going to be a whole lot more excited about a 1.5 oz sample of shampoo as opposed to a little .2 oz packet. 

I will say, when I got the box I didn't get quite the same thrill of "oooh what'd I get?" as I do with birchbox, but you know what? I'm 100% happy with my box, so no disappointment! 

The cost is $12 a month, but you can easily opt out of a box month to month which is great if you're overwhelmed with samples, or just want to test the waters to see what else is out there. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, it comes in the cutest little pink box that is pretty enough to use over and over again (mine just happens to coordinate perfectly with my bedroom and is proudly displayed on my vanity). 

Now, here's what I got this month.

Nelson J Argan Oil Non-Foaming Shampoo- This shampoo promises to cleanse your hair with out harsh detergents that dry out hair, meaning it should in theory be great for my dry color treated hair. Well, it actually did make my hair look great, but I was an oil slick within 8 hours. Thank goodness I had some dry shampoo with me. Maybe I used it wrong? Or not enough? But I thought it was kind of hard to tell if my hair was clean or not after using this, and I'm not going to lie, I missed the lather. 

GG Gatsby Raise Volume Conditioner- This conditioner smelled great and definitely didn't weigh my hair down when I tried it. I don't know that it left my hair quite as bouncy and voluminous as promised, but I don't really have anything negative to say. 

Say Yes to Daily Pore Scrub- I tried the grapefruit version a few weeks ago, so I was happy to test out this "tomato" version. I definitely love this line, and this version left my skin feeling fully scrubbed and a little tight (in a good way). I do think I prefer the scent of the grapefruit scrub, but this one is great too if your looking for something a little less scented. 

Mark. Scanda-Lash Black Mascara- I was actually really surprised with how much I liked this mascara. Lengthening like woah, and even a little volume to boot. I would compare this to the iconic Maybelline Great Lash in that iconic pink and green tube. Definitely a great option at only $6.50 a tube. 

New York Streets Dry Shampoo- This dry shampoo is probably one of the finest mists I've ever tried. Lightly scented, but still enough to make your hair smell great. For you darker haired ladies, this is one of the "clearest" powders I've tried. Plus its sulfate and paraben free, who doesn't love that! 

 

Addiction NV Gel Liner Pot in Gold Digger- Oh my gosh y'all. This is hands down the best gel liner I have ever tried (moment of honestly I've only tried like 3-4 others). The consistency is super duper creamy, tons of pigment and dries quickly. I've been wearing it every single day since I received it. I've also tried it as a cream base shadow, and it works perfectly. 

So that's my experience with Beauty Army. Any other subscriptions out there I need to try? 

May Subscription Boxes

Alright y'all, this month I added a new box to my repertoire and let me tell you it was a good one. So, I wanted to link up with my favorite texas gals for....



Now, I have a lot to say about these two boxes, so I'm actually going to make this a two day link up (keeping you on pins and needles I'm sure). First up, my standby, Birchbox! I actually just celebrated my 25th Box! I can hardly believe how much $$$ I've given them it.

COOLA Sunscreen- This it seriously the best feeling/smelling sunscreen I've ever used. It smells like cool cucumbers and isn't thick and gloppy like so many other sunscreens. It goes on lightly, but still provides 30 SPF? I'm completely obsessed. All my pale girls out there (well really all you girls out there) you need this.

amika Nourishing Mask- This is a deep conditioning hair mask that seriously smells amazing. But I'm not going to lie, I don't think it was as nourishing or deep conditioning as I would want from a product being sold as a mask. I left this on my hair for almost thirty minutes and I still had some tangling issues. I have long damaged

Pilot Acroball PureWhite- This is a seriously great pen, and it's even pink. But guys...  this is such a strange thing to include in a box.  I'm just not feeling it. But thanks for the pen.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner- This eyeliner impressed me right off the bat. Quite possibly more than any other eyeliner I've ever tried. It just glides on with seriously no effort and is instantly set. You have mere seconds to blend it (my favorite eyeliner technique at the moment), so thankfully I have a steady hand! Seriously though, the staying power is amazing. The color power is awesome. Birchbox seems to be low on color options at the moment, but for a while they had a 4 mini pack for $21. Seriously y'all... I think this is my favorite eyeliner, ever.

Fabulous by Isaac Mizrahi- This perfume is definitely fabulous. It just screams "I'm a girl" It's sweet and floral, but light at the same time. I really don't have anything bad to say about this scent, but I'm not sure. I guess it's just not "me."

Marvis Toothpaste- This toothpaste is awesome. It is just a middle of the road perfect toothpaste. Not too flavored or scented or foamy. But I'm more of a whitening toothpaste gal so I'm sticking with my sensodine white.

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow! Don't forget to link up with the fabulous ladies above!

Life Lately and a Giveaway!

This is what life has looked like lately according to instagram.

Summer weather has officially made it's way to Washington (though I'm thankful it took it's sweet time). I've been celebrating with lots of time wandering around the hill, watching baseball games, and partaking in a few yummy cocktails.

Even more baseball, late nights with good friends, a few pretty flowers and some new beauty goodies to sample c/o Birchbox and Simple Skincare.

Finally shopping for some baubles at South Moon Under, pretty flowers in my front yard, Cheese Shop deliciousness in Williamsburg, and taking in the breathtaking views of the tidal basin while I still can!

Now, the lovely people over at Shabby Apple would like to give one of you fabulous ladies a $50 giftcard! Great way to start the week, right? If you don't already know, Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique that specializes in vintage and retro dresses.  Click Here: vintage dresses to see the selection! Winners will be announced on June 12th.

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Quoted