solo in soho

This is what I wore (with my madden girl sandals) to window shop in Soho while the b/f and all my friends were at work my first full day in NY.

I mainly went to check out Topshop, where I left this awesome lacy sweater behind and opted for tapered pants instead. Can't wait to show them off!

Later that night I slipped into Louboutins for dinner with the girls.

We went to ELIZABETH in Nolita where I had a delicious lamb burger with feta cheese and garlic fries...yum :)

Post dinner the b/f and I headed to the rooftop at 60 THOMPSON HOTEL. I think I heard Rachel Zoe mention this hotel on her last show. Anyway, it was quite swank and empty. (image from aol travel)

Apparently you have to have a membership to get up there?? However, the doorman reluctantly let us up...probably because the b/f still had on his suit from work. Little did he know he had just let up two broke grad school students. Ha! Is that the Empire State Building way in the background?

Bonus picture of the shorts worn to my last dinner in ATL :(

wearing: mossimo blouse, urban shorts (early bday gift from mom), thrifted clutch, christian louboutin booties

it's my birthday!

Yep, today is my birthday, and to celebrate the occasion, I wore my J Crew bow top.

Had an amazing seafood dinner (succulent jumbo prawns on a bed of garlic butter noodles) at one of my all time favorite restaurants, Crustaceans/Thanh Long.

Then did it elementary style with a pizza/ice cream/cake party...(my dad thought it was his special day and got to the pizza before me, and my camera!)

And topped it off with some yummy sangria made by yours truly.

You can't go wrong with family, friends and food :)

wearing: j crew top, urban pants, matiko wedges, f21 wallet, michael kors watch

worn to: my pizza party (at home) & nordstrom rack to pick up my bday gift to myself

NEW YORK PICTURES & TRIP DETAILS UP NEXT!

confidence is key

I got back from New York last night, and I am making the semi permanent move to California tomorrow. Between traveling and packing I've been pretty busy, but I promise to catch up on everyone's blog ASAP.

I'll also be posting pictures from the NY trip very soon, but I wanted to post these pictures first because my pink eye is practically gone and two good things came from it...1) I got to wear these cute faux reading glasses 2) I realized that I don't need eye makeup to look good ;) That's not to say that I didn't miss my mascara immensely, but it felt nice to leave the house without it and still feel good about myself.

Lately I've been noticing how hard so many women are on themselves. They look back at photos and they are constantly pointing out something wrong with their hair or legs or arms etc. While I am not the poster child for confidence, I feel pretty darn good about myself. I took my pink eye all around Atlanta AND New York with little to no makeup and didn't think twice about it...and I honestly think people didn't notice my eye because of the way I carried myself.BTW isn't this red Elliott Luca bag fabulous? I rediscovered it during all my packing.

Anyway, I guess I just say all this to say that we as women need to relax. None of us are perfect and never will be, but we are all beautiful and we need to own it. You'd be amazed at what a little moxie can do for you ;)

wearing:blouse from local boutique, urban glasses, f21 skirt & necklace, elliott luca bag

worn to: dinner at legal seafood with the fam for my mom's bday

"With confidence, you have won before you have started." Marcus Garvey

new york, new york

I'm in New York in my boyfriend's cozy summer apartment :) Everyone have a great weekend and I will be back to posting when I return!

P.S.-Out of the million times I've been to New York, this was the first time I flew in at night and the view was gorgeous!

wearing: elliott luca bag, f21 blouse, skirt from macy's, maitiko wedges, michael kors watch

worn to: my friend's baby shower a few weekends ago

untitled

Thanks to everyone who offered advice for my pink eye. It's been a week and it still hasn't gone away completely, but it's much better. Hopefully it continues to improve so I don't have to worry about it when I board the plane to New York on Wednesday.

Anyway, I wore this to my family reunion picnic a few weeks ago. Rompers remind me so much of dresses, because there's little to no thought put into the look and you still look put together.

And I'm so happy I finally found a basic sandal to replace my brown "Jesus sandals" that I've been wearing all summer for two years now.

tj maxx romper, elliott luca bag, madden girl sandals (i think)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I hope I can wear leopard and high waisted skirts when I am in my 60's ;)

it happened for a reason

freaking heat/humidity!

and mosquitoes!

taken months ago in boston...

also taken months ago in boston...

I was supposed to be headed to NY today, but because of my boyfriend's demanding work schedule, he suggested that I push the trip back a week. Sunday night I was thinking to myself "I know everything happens for a reason...wonder why it wasn't meant for me to go on the trip this week?" And I kid you not, I woke up Monday morning with PINK EYE!!!! Can you believe that? Anyone have any tips for getting rid of this crap, or care to share their pink eye experience? I need some moral support! On a happier note SHOUT OUT TO PRISSY MUM FOR FEATURING ME AS A STYLE ICON ON HER BLOG!!!!!! CHECK IT OUT HERE! f21 floral top and mini skirt (1st 2 pictures) f21 floral top and urban outfitters skirt (last 2 pictures)

NOLA

While I was in Louisiana, I took a trip down to New Orleans for a day with my parents and niece. As you can see I kept it very casual...jean shorts and a top ;) You can't do much more in that icky humidity!

Check out my niece at the ultimate souvenir store in the Riverwalk.

And check out me with the ultimate mask in the ultimate souvenir store. Notice the sign in the background that says "no pictures w/mask" Oops ;)

Me and the Super Bowl Saints Bear ;)

Eventually we braved the heat/humidity and walked around the French Quarter for a bit. I love the architecture down there! It's so charming. I wish I would have gotten some more shots :-/

But it was getting late and time to head over the bridge, back to Grandma's house.

A Bientot Big Easy!

it's a family affair

Just got back from my family reunion in Louisiana! There's nothing like family, even if I didn't know 1/2 of the 200+ people there :)

Anyway, I wore this dress to the banquet the first night. I almost went out and bought a new dress for the occasion, but I had to say to myslelf "Self, you have a closet full of clothes. Why is it that you like to resort to buying something new, when what you need is already here?"

And that is when I rediscovered this Urban Outfitters dress and I am so glad I did.

The lace detail is exquisite...these pictures really don't do it justice.

Here's a bonus picture of last time I wore this dress last year in June to work. I think it dresses down as well as it dresses up. Click HERE to see more pictures of the dressed down look.

sneak-a-peek

I'm off to Louisiana tomorrow for a week...and then I will be home for a week....and then I am off to New York for a week...and then I am back home for another week before I move across the country! Because I am insanely efficient (a gift and a curse) I laid my clothes out for both trips over a week ago. Here's a sneak peak of what I am taking and what you will see in future posts....lots of prints and lots of color. I'm probably going to be outrageously overdressed for every occasion, but what fashion blogger isn't? See you when I return :) Toodles!

countdown to cali

While everybody is out celebrating the 4th of July, I'm freaking out a bit because today marks the one month point until I move back to California, and I have no time to think about it because I have two other trips to prepare for and an Economics class to finish! Lord help me!

Needless to say celebrating, the fourth was at the bottom of my list of priorities today and therefore I didn't do anything except read about the cost and output determination of a business. Riveting, I know. But in honor of this holiday I will post what I wore last year. HAPPY FOURTH!

Wore this to dinner and to watch the fireworks.

f21 dress, thrifted belt, kenneth cole "jesus" sandals

Wore this to party that night and to celebrate my b/f's bday!

target tank, thrifted belt and bag, missoni skirt, christian louboutin heels

let your hair down!

I'm almost as excited about finally wearing this Rachel Roy dress as I am about getting my hair done! I love my curly bun, but my goodness did I need a good wash, conditioner and blow out.

God bless the Dominican hairstylists who were able to tame the mane and God bless Rachel Roy for designing this dress. How hot is the back? I purchased it in May when I got the chance to meet her.Click HERE to read about that fabulous experience!

Because you can't waste 2 hours worth of salon time by coming home and watching DVR with a plate of fish and spaghetti (yum), I had to whip out my dancing shoes and go to the club!

In the words of my b/f who knows I'd rather go to a lounge or dinner/drinks than a club any day, it was an "epic ordeal".

rachel roy dress, thrifted belt, steve madden heels