The Luckiest Girl

Its my last weekend here in the city, and I can't believe it. The time has flown, but I think I have done a good job of doing almost everything I had wanted to do when I came here. This weekend I'm mostly focusing on shopping. I will be starting my 30 for 30 shopping ban a week from Monday, and I anticipate that it will last until right before school starts up again. So instead of waiting until the last minute, I'm taking advantage of the amazing shopping in this city and starting my back-to-school shopping now. As someone who wore a uniform for grades 1-12, I am making up for lots of lost time. Last year my back-to-school purchases included a pair of brown leather boots, some "going out" tops, a sweater dress, etc. I have a list started for this year, but I will be doing another post about that later. Thanks to the company I'm interning for, my shopping list just got a lot smaller. Yesterday the interns were taken to our company's warehouse and were allowed to pick out TEN free items. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. It was so fun (and a little overwhelming!) getting to run around the warehouse, picking out anything I wanted. I walked away with 1 winter coat, 4 dresses, and 5 tops. They are currently being shipped to Ohio, so I don't have pictures right now. But I do have pictures of what I wore yesterday...

Occasion: work, warehouse, and dinner/dessert with a friend
What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet tank, American Apparel navy skirt, Forever 21 scarf, Vintage earrings via Talk of the Town

After work yesterday, I met up with an old friend from high school who was passing through the city on the way to vacation. We had dinner with her mom and grandma and then wandered around the city. We also went to Crumbs (shocker) and then ate our cupcakes in Washington Square Park and sat and talked. It was really nice to catch up with her and its always nice to see a familiar face here since I don't know very many people in NYC. Between free clothes, free dinner (her mom is the nicest lady), and good company, yesterday was a really good day. I'm a lucky girl.

Pretty in Pink

Today I received my first free item from work! One of the dress designers asked me to try on a sample dress because she wanted to see what it looked like on, and it happened to be my size. When I had tried it on and was returning it to her, she told me to just keep it. It was so generous of her and completely unexpected.

Its more pink than it looks in the picture; my dorm just has really crappy lighting. Coincedentally enough, about a minute before I tried this dress on, my boss told me that pink wasn't really my color because of my pale skin. I was wearing my light pink Gap cardigan to try to keep warm in our freezing office, and I guess she didn't really like the way it looked. It was actually sort of funny because I don't think she meant it offensively at all; she was just stating her opinion. And then I walked away a minute later with a brand new pink dress. Definitely a little ironic. I actually normally do steer clear of really light pastels and pinks because I am very light-skinned, but lately I have been embracing my fair coloring. Sometimes I wish I could get a better tan, but I kind of like having pale skin and blue eyes. Plus nude tones are a really big clothing trend right now, so I can't wait to rock this romantic-looking, pale pink dress. So pretty!

Occasion: Work and intern dinner at Tony's
What I'm wearing: Sunkissed Gap tee, Old Navy coral shorts, Vintage pocketwatch necklace via Talk of the Town, Merona wedges via Target

I hate that you can never see my shoes in my pictures, so I did a little photoshoot over on the desk so you could see my wedges. Both of my roommates moved out this week so I have a ton of space all to myself right now; I decided to take advantage. I think I may have finally gotten over my shorts phobia. I have had these for about two years and rarely wear them, but it was a warm one this morning which made them very appealing. I really like their length; short enough to look contemporary but long enough to be flattering. Now if only I could find some jean shorts that fit just like this...

A Mild Shoe Addiction

I rarely shop online. I swear, I'm not lying. I was burned one too many times by the J.Crew 30% off final sale and learned my lesson. Also, I like trying things on and find it hard to guess sizes online. But today, I indulged in a little Target online shopping. Two summers ago, I found literally the perfect pair of gladiator sandals. They were Isaac Mizrahi for Target and the perfect mix of trendy and timeless. Since purchasing them, they have become my main summer shoe, especially here in New York City because they are incredibly comfortable and never give me blisters. Here is the unfortunate part: they are starting to get HOLES in them! They have taken a few too many city sidewalk beatings, apparently, because they are breaking down fast. After seeing a similar pair on Jessica of whatiwore, I did a little investigating and discovered Target has come out with a new pair by Merona instead of Isaac. So I caved and bought myself a new pair.

And they were a steal at $14! After reading reviews, I'm a little nervous they won't quite fill the void of my beloved Isaac Mizrahi's, but I'm hoping they will do. Also I wasn't sure what size to order, so I ordered them in two sizes with intention of returning one. This is when the dangerous spiral began. I was only $20 away from free shipping! Oh Target, you got me. I remembered a pair of (faux) suede booties I had just been looking at earlier in anticipation for fall. So they may have made it into my shopping cart too?

I have prepared the following excuses for this moment of weakness: 1. They made shipping free! 2. Just yesterday I was talking about needing to wear heels more. With a 3-inch, thick heel, they seem manageable 3. They're frickin cute! 4. I can already envision them in the fall with my black skinny pants or a tights/dress combo 5. They are only available online so I might as well buy them now with free shipping 6. okkkk I'm out of excuses. I just really love shoes? I fully intend to return them if they don't fit perfectly, I promise. I'm having them shipped to Ohio, so I will have goodies waiting for me when I get home! It will make my homecoming that much sweeter :) And give me incentive to go through my old shoes and make some room for new ones!

additional note: Thanks for all the sweet comments yesterday! And note that my mom (Beth) managed to post a comment, and she is in the hospital right now recovering from surgery. That, my friends, is true dedication and motherly love. Love you Mom! I can't wait to get home and spend some much needed time with my awesome family!

Confidence and Compliments

Yesterday, I challenged myself to dress a little more like a New York City fashionista. Here is what I came up with:

Occasion: Work and lunch with a friend
What I'm wearing: Love 21 top, H&M skinny pants, Forever 21 necklace, J.Crew metallic flats (not pictured)

I really like what I came up with today. After a few days of blah outfits, it put a spring in my step to be wearing something that I felt really good in. I got more compliments from my co-workers today than I have all summer, and I think its partly because the outfit is cute but partly because of the attitude I was wearing it with. Whenever I feel good about myself in what I'm wearing, I carry myself with a completely different confidence than when I feel just so-so about my outfit. Kinda silly, but I'm sure you other stylish ladies out there can relate. Like for instance, when I put on a pair of heels, I instantly feel more confident, powerful, and pulled together. Unfortunately, I have a very minimal heel tolerance; I really don't think my feet are meant to last longer than 20 minutes in heels. If I was actually doing this outfit justice, I would have worn it with these babies:

MICHAEL Michael Kors Berkley T-Straps

I bought these killer heels for myself as a birthday gift (haha yes you can judge me for buying myself presents and using my birthday as a justification to spend too much money), and sadly, I have not worn them nearly enough for how much I paid for them. I'm half-considering putting them in my 30 items for the 30 for 30 challenge to literally force myself to wear them. What do you think? Do you wear torturous heels? Is the pain worth the beauty, in the name of fashion?

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Today marked the beginning of my second-to-last week of interning. I can't believe how fast it has gone. As my last day approaches, I'm starting to look forward to going home to Ohio. I haven't been home for longer than a few days since December, so it will be nice to catch up with my old friends from high school and spend some much-needed time with family. Until then, I'm just trying to enjoy my last days here in the city.

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: J.Crew Outlet ruffle tee, Jodi Arnold for the Limited skirt, Macy's pearl-drop earrings, Vintage ring via Talk of the Town (gifted), Essie Fiji nail polish

Yesterday was Sunday, so I painted my nails and tried out my new Essie polish. Overall, I think I like the color. Its lighter than what I usually wear, but its growing on me. Its already chipping a little, so OPI will probably remain my favorite because of how long it tends to hold up. I feel so-so about this outfit; its kind of plain. I feel like these last two weeks I need to bust out some trendier outfits since this is New York City, after all. We will see what I can come up with...

Taking a Walk in Carrie Bradshaw's Manolos

(Minus the actual Manolos, unfortunately). In anticipation for my summer stay in the city, I made a long list of places I wanted to see/stores I wanted to shop at/restaurants where I wanted to eat. As my time here continues to dwindle, its beginning to hit me that I haven't accomplished my whole list. So yesterday I was determined to cross off another item: Magnolia Bakery. I had read reviews online that said expect at least a 15 minute wait and a line down the block, but it must have been my lucky day because there were only two other customers there! I ordered the red velvet cupcake, and it was quite delicious (although Crumbs still remains my favorite).

The bakery itself was really cute; I think the atmosphere and the fact that it was on the show Sex and the City is what makes it such a big hit. The main reason I wanted to visit was because I'm a huge Sex and the City fan. I have all the seasons on DVD, saw the last two movies at midnight showings the day they came out, had SATC posters plastered all over my dorm room...I think you get the picture. After visiting Magnolia, I started thinking about other New York City locations that played a role in the show. I found this amazing map online detailing different spots from the show and decided I needed to check some of them out for myself.

The restaurant where Carrie gets stood up for her birthday. Its literally across the street from where I'm living right now...so cool!

The street where the exterior of Carrie's brownstone was usually shot

Jefferson Market Garden where Miranda and Steve got married

I also visited the Starbucks where Carrie interviews Louise to be her assistant. Sadly, it didn't look any different from other Starbucks so I didn't take any pictures. Next on my list of SATC/NYC places to see is the New York Public Library, where Carrie and Big were supposed to get married. I have been wanting to visit there anyways, so this just gives me another reason to do so. Maybe next weekend? Hopefully it has cooled down a little by then!

Stains and Full Stomachs

So I have a confession to make. Sometimes I wear clothes and then put them back in my closet at the end of the day if I feel like they are still clean. And sometimes I forget to check and make sure they are stain-free before I do so. For example, the dress I'm wearing today. After wearing it for a little while, I realized there was a small chocolate smudge on it. Which I found a little odd since I hadn't eaten anything chocolate today. And then I remembered the last time I wore it was my Valentines Day date with the boyfriend where we went to Cheesecake Factory. So I believe the culprit causing this chocolate stain would be Adams Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake. I should probably learn from this and just stop being lazy and start doing laundry instead of wearing 5 month old food stains around all day. Probably a good idea.

Occasion: work
What I'm wearing: Love 21 dress, H&M blazer, Earrings from The Pink Box (Cincinnati), Tiffanys Bracelet (gifted), Gap ballet flats (not pictured)

I like this dress much better with the blazer on top, but I ended up not even getting to wear it because the air conditioning was malfunctioning at work. Thankfully, I got out of work super early before the heat could really get to me. Today was a really good day on paper- the manager at work treated us all to free Chipotle (chips+guac=yummmm), I got out of work three hours early, I took a nap, and I enjoyed some delicious frozen yogurt from the NYU dining hall, complete with chocolate chips and fruity pebbles (a delicious fro-yo combination...I would recommend it). But lately I have been in a little bit of a funk. As much as I'm enjoying my time here, I think I'm ready to go home. I look forward to the weekends but hate having so much free time and no one to spend it with. I only have two weeks left though, so I think tomorrow I'm going to force myself to go on an adventure by myself. When I leave, I want to know I made the most of my time here. I'm thinking a trip to Magnolia Bakery (I've never been) and maybe a little browsing around Bleecker Street. Sunday I'm thinking I might go check out the Brooklyn Bridge and stop at Grimaldis Pizza to see what all the fuss is about. As you can probably tell, a strict workout regimen will be required when I get back to Ohio, seeing as how I feel the need to try out all these unique New York eateries and haven't worked out once since I have been here. I tell myself that all the walking counts as exercise. Just let me believe thats true, okay?

You Can Never Have Enough Nail Polish

After professing my undying love for Anthropologie in yesterday's post, today I decided it would be fitting to wear my one dress from there. This dress and a pair of jeans are surprisingly the only things I have ever bought from Anthro. Whenever I go in there, I usually browse around a little but walk out empty-handed because of the prices. Some people have extraordinary luck with their sales rack, like Kendi, but I have never experienced such luck. I'm much better at navigating the J.Crew sales- now that is something I am definitely good at.

Occasion: work
What I'm wearing: Anthropologie Staysail Dress (2008), Vintage earrings via Talk of the Town Vintage, Isaac Mizrahi for Target sandals (not pictured)

In other news, I bought my first bottle of Essie nail polish today. I am a devoted OPI fan, so this is quite the departure for me. I never can keep up with what makeup trends are in or out, but I always follow what the "it" colors of the season are for nail polish. I can always come up with excuses to buy more bottles of OPI; you can never have enough nail polish, right? Its funny because up until this summer, I hardly ever painted my own nails. I don't have a very steady hand but I love having painted nails, so I would always buy new bottles of polish and then have them sit around until someone else was willing to paint my nails for me. When I got to NYC, I decided this method was no longer going to fly. I bought a Sally Hansen manicure clean-up pen (basically a nail polish remover pen that is a godsend) and have gotten much better at doing my nails on my own. Every Sunday night before the new workweek starts, I paint my nails. I have made it a part of my routine, and I kind of like it. This Sunday I will be trying out my new Essie color, Fiji.

Fiji by Essie

I am also currently on the lookout for a baby blue or periwinkle color. If anyone has any suggestions or have seen something similar, let me know. What is your favorite nail polish brand/color?

Feels Like Brand New

Just a real quick post of my outfit today since I already posted earlier about my jacket dilemma. I have been sticking to lots of dresses and skirts for work since its so hot, and I never know when I'm going to be running errands around the city. Today I walked about a mile and a half total on my little shopping spree- thats a decent amount of time outside in this warm, warm weather. Thankfully, I was prepared in a breezy skirt and tank, paired with flat sandals.

Occasion: work
What I'm wearing: Old Navy tank, American Apparel skirt, Fossil necklace, J.Crew Outlet belt, Isaac Mizrahi for Target sandals

Lately, I have been trying to utilize things from my closet I don't normally wear. For instance, the yellow top I wore last week hadn't seen daylight in over a year. Today I decided to bust out this necklace which also hasn't been worn in quite some time. Frankly, I kind of had forgotten I owned it. Paired with a belt that also doesn't get much use, it felt like I had on a brand new outfit. I'm definitely going to need to go through all of my accessories before the 30 for 30 challenge starts to make sure I'm using all of them to their full potential. I'm starting to get really excited for the challenge; its one more reason I'm looking forward to going home!

Splurge or Save?

Today one of my work assignments was to go to Anthropologie and do a little inspiration shopping (yes, my job is kind of amazing). It was nice being able to stand in line there with a pile of clothes in my arms and not have a panic attack about how much I was about to spend…oh, the perks of shopping with someone else’s credit card. While I was there, I may have done a little extra research for myself. I have been wanting to buy a utility jacket for fall, but I was looking for one with a little bit more of a feminine take on the trend. And I think I've found it.

Anthropologie Lift Off Jacket

The flower adds a lovely girly touch, but its also removable if you want to toughen it up a bit. I also like how it has the cinched tie waist to add a little bit more shape to the jacket. Its more than I would normally ever spend on one clothing item, but I have been giving a lot of thought lately to quality vs. quantity. This blog has made me realize how many items I have from Forever 21 and H&M that are really just disposable fashion. It has also helped me realize that a lot of the items in my closet are solids or other "basics", and it might just be time to spice things up a bit. The more I think about it, I should be investing in things I absolutely love that will make me happy every time I put them on, not just buying things because they are inexpensive or a "necessity". I think my 30 day shopping ban that starts August 9th (the day I start the 30 for 30 challenge after I get back from New York) will be a good opportunity to mull this idea over and really figure out what kinds of things I should be buying. In the meantime, what should I do about this jacket? Technically its within the budget I have set out for myself for my time here in NYC, but it would mean I probably can't buy anything else until September. Should I risk it and wait and see if it goes on sale? Oh Anthropologie, how you tempt me...

Boyfriend Jeans

I can't believe how fast this past month has gone. Two weeks from Friday, my parents will be coming to NYC to help me pack up and head back to Ohio. That means I have two weekends left here to shop my butt off before my 30-day shopping ban starts. Hehe just kidding (well sort of...). The rumor around the office is that we are getting a little end-of-the-internship-thank-you gift next week. Fingers crossed that it actually happens; I'll keep you posted!

Occasion: work
What I'm wearing: J.Crew tieback top (2008), J.Crew cowboy jeans (2007), Vintage pocketwatch necklace, Isaac Mizrahi for Target sandals (not pictured)

Although they may not be the most flattering thing in the world, I love my baggy boyfriend jeans. They are so comfortable and a little less restricting/hot in this sweltering heat. Plus they hide a multitude of sins, such as all the junk food I ate while the boyfriend was in town this weekend. Speaking of jeans, I desperately need a pair of jean shorts. Any suggestions for a brand you recommend? I don't like anything too short because I have a butt and thighs, so its been difficult finding a pair that fits just right. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Starting the Day Off Right

I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning. After such a great weekend, the last thing I really wanted was to go back to work. So to perk myself up, I decided to bust out a pretty dress and my new J.Crew flats. Plus, I made a quick stop at Cafe Metro for an iced coffee. Cute outfit + coffee= starting the day off right.

Excuse this ridiculously awful photography...I had to get a shot of the whole outfit including the shoes

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: Love 21 dress, J.Crew flats, Forever 21 necklace, Forever 21 pearl earrings

I've worn this dress before, but I think the accessories make it look completely different this time around. I have been waiting for an opportunity to wear this collar necklace I got at Forever 21 a few weeks ago, and I think it goes great with these shoes. I will use any excuse to wear these flats...I love them! Nothing like a new pair of pretty shoes to brighten your day!

Times Square Can't Shine as Bright as You

What an amazing weekend! The boyfriend came for a visit, and we crammed so much into three days. By today, I was exhausted, but it was totally worth it. Here is a little glimpse of our adventures around the city...

We had an insane amount of fun at FAO Schwarz. We took about a million pictures, and the people there probably thought we were really bizarre posing with children's toys. Here I am with the character from one of my favorite childhood books, The Hungry Caterpillar.

We unintentionally saw a little of Enrique Iglesias's performance for The Early Show. I honestly had kinda forgot he existed?

We walked by the Conde Nast building, and I just had to get a picture. My possible future employer? Yes Anna Wintour, I'm talking to you. I can dream, right?

Saturday, we spent the afternoon at Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Central Park was gorgeous. I would love to go again, preferably when its a little less scorching outside.

This exhibit was the main reason I wanted to go to The Met. I love looking at old costumes and things of that nature. I think I may go back before I leave because for the boyfriend's sake, I didn't spend nearly as much time looking at the exhibit as I could have.

Today I took us to Crumbs Bake Shop. And it was delicious, as expected.

It was great to have someone else to explore the city with this weekend. We had a lot of fun shopping, sightseeing, and just being silly. Last night we had a date night, which was really nice. We went to this really small, adorable Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village called Focacceria. I would definitely recommend it; it was delicious pasta at a reasonable price. Afterwards, we took a walk in Washington Square Park and then went and saw Inception. I know a lot of people have loved this movie, but I wasn't really that crazy about it. Maybe it was just because I was so tired by that point in the day, but I didn't think it lived up to the hype I have heard about it. Either way, we had an absolutely awesome weekend.

Bright and Cheery

Boyfriend is finally here! I'm making a quick post while he takes a quick catnap (he went straight from an exam to traveling, so I guess he has an excuse to be tired), and then we are going to for a little evening stroll in Washington Square Park. I have the day off tomorrow so we will be going to see the stock exchange open in the morning (he's an economics major, what can I say?) and then probably spend the day at the Met and Central Park, followed by the Yankees game. Posts will be probably be sporadic this weekend, but I plan on taking lots of pictures and will probably do a big post on Sunday. Here is what I wore for my last day of the workweek:

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: Forever 21 top, Jodi Arnold for the Limited skirt, Topshop necklace, Forever 21 pearl earrings, Banana Republic sandals (not pictured)

Can you tell I was in a good mood by the color of this shirt? Its a little less bright in person, but I definitely dressed to fit my mood this morning. A little bit of a damper was put on my cheery outlook when I got lost on a work errand in Soho, but all was well by the time I got off work and met up with the boyfriend. He even complimented my outfit (a rarity), so it must be a good day. I can't wait to spend three days with him seeing New York. I hope you have a good weekend as well!

Duplicates

I'm exhausted. I had to work later than usual today and am trying to get a few things done before the boyfriend's arrival tomorrow (oh, how I love laundry day). Its been a big adjustment for me getting used to an 8-hour work day...I feel like such a grown-up. Today was a rainy one in New York City. Note to self: definitely need to invest in a new, fuctioning umbrella before school starts up again.

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: Target tank dress, Gap cardigan, H&M scarf, Forever 21 metallic belt, self-made earrings, J.Crew metallic grey flats (not pictured)

Unlike my dorm, the room I sit in at work is FREEZING. Hence, the third picture. Pretty much everyday I have to pack a cardigan or blazer, and since it matched well today I thought I would include it in pictures. This dress is so comfortable; I also have it in black. I am so guilty of buying things in duplicates if I like the fit. Frankly, I wish I would have bought this cardigan in more colors as well. You can never have enough of a good thing, right?

Keeping it Simple

I'm feeling a little better after a relaxing evening in bed watching Save the Last Dance and drinking lots of fluids. I think I have been a little dehydrated from not drinking enough water to accommodate all the sweating I've been doing in this hot, non-airconditioned dorm room.

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: J.Crew tee (gifted), Gap Always Skinny jeans, Forever 21 pearl earrings

I purposely kept my outfit simple because I knew there was a chance I could be working on floor sets at a department store today. It ended up not happening, but I wanted to be prepared just in case. Also, I discovered today this tee is dryclean only. Boo J.Crew. Most high maintenance t-shirt I've ever owned. I have been feeling so-so about the past few outfits of mine. Hopefully I will be able to spice things up a little tomorrow if I'm feeling better. I need to be feeling 100% by Thursday when the boyfriend comes to town, so fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

The Count, Part 2

I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so an outfit post may have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a post I had already put together yesterday:

I decided since I'm about half way through my internship and stay here in New York City, I should do another "count" (Click here to see Part 1) So here it is, The Count-Part 2:

-Amount of money I've spent on shopping: if I told you, you would judge me
-Number of times I've gotten lost on the subway: still only once!
-Number of books read: 2 (I like to read when I get lonely here; its a nice distraction. Plus, it gives me an excuse to keep visiting the Strand)
-Number of phone calls home: too many to count
-Number of creepy-New York-men-encounters: 2
-Number of days worked: 15
-Number of mini-adventures I've taken: 4 (Times Square, SoHo, Brooklyn, Union Square area)
-Number of pictures taken: lots and lots! (I might put together a small scrapbook when I get home)
-Number of visitors: 1 (about to be 2 when the boyfriend visits this weekend! Can't wait!)

So far, I am having an amazing time here. I can't believe this is already week 4! I have been feeling a little homesick lately, so this is the perfect time for a visit from the boyfriend. Can't wait for a fun-filled weekend with him and then 3 more weeks of New York City adventures! Any suggestions for things to do my last few weeks here?

More J.Crew Love

So I had every intention of posting yesterday but was having some malfunctioning internet issues. I apologize in advance if this post gets a little lengthy. Lets start with today's outfit...

Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: Forever 21 top, Ann Taylor Loft shorts, Forever 21 gold feather and pearl necklace, Urban Outfitters earrings

This is one of those outfits that I think looks better in person than in pictures. Every time I do outfit photos in these shorts, I really don't like the way they look. I don't know if I'm just being over-critical, or if I need to ditch the shorts. I think next time I'm going to try them without tucking in my shirt and see if I like them better that way. On the other hand, I love this top. Gotta love those great Forever 21 finds. Speaking of great finds, the J.Crew gods have blessed me once again. Yesterday I got lunch at City Bakery (Teenfashionista wasn't lying...the pretzel croissant is amazing), and afterwards, I decided to pop into J.Crew for a second. I made a beeline toward the sale section so I wouldn't be seduced by all the beautiful full-price clothes at the front of the store. I browsed for a few minutes but didn't really see anything I liked. Then I saw THEM. The shoes I have been eyeing for a month in my size and the only box left. Meet my new babies:

The best part? I paid less than $35 for them, with tax! Original price=$138. If that isn't a great deal, I don't know what is. I left the store grinning like an idiot, quite pleased with myself for being such a bargain shopper. Thank goodness I'm not participating in the 30 for 30 challenge yet, or I would have just cheated.

Bookworm

So after all the excitement and hype, today's thrifting excursion was a bust. The day started out okay; I got up, showered, packed up a bag with my trusty directions printed out from hopstop.com (a lifesaver for trying to plan little trips like this), put on a comfy shopping outfit, and headed to the subway.

What I'm wearing: Gap sunkissed tee, J.Crew cowboy jeans (2007), Target scarf, Mondani bag via Steinmart, Shebead earrings

Once I got to Brooklyn, I started to feel a little overwhelmed. I really don't like venturing so far away from my dorm by myself. Call me overly-cautious, but something about it just makes me a little nervous. The area I was in seemed oddly vacant, and it was creeping me out. I ended up going to Beacon's Closet and Buffalo Exchange but walked away empty-handed. I was overwhelmed by how much there was to go through. Plus, the prices were a little steeper than the stores I'm used to at home. Next time, I will definitely be enlisting a shopping buddy to tag along with me and help me conquer the never-ending clothes racks. I ended up back in Greenwich Village by noon and stopped into my favorite place.

Yes, the Strand, again. I'm averaging about one trip a week there. What can I say, I'm definitely a bookworm. They literally have everything imaginable and at really good prices. I walked away with a hardback for 1/2 price, what a steal.

The book I scooped up was Hungry by Crystal Renn, the most successful plus-size model in today's fashion industry. So far its really good; I haven't been able to put it down since I opened it. Its fascinating to see what the modeling industry is really like, but its also extremely sad to see what she put herself through just to fit the mold. The rest of my night will probably involve curling up in bed with this book or getting cozy with my netflix instant queue. Sounds pretty lame, but thats the life of an under-21 girl in New York City. Exciting stuff, I know.

J. Crew Love

The weekend is finally here! I'm looking forward to a relaxing night of sushi, the latest Lucky magazine (it finally arrived!), and season 2 of Gossip Girl. Hopefully all of this relaxation will rev me up for my thrifting/vintage shopping excursion tomorrow. I'm a pretty amateur thrifter, but I have heard that its much easier if you go into it with a list in mind of what you are looking for. Here is my list, in no particular order:
-belts
-jewelry (preferably statement necklaces or other bold pieces)
-chain strap purse
-jean shorts
-printed skirt
-anything striped
-brooches/flower pins
-silk scarves

Okay, so obviously I'm not going to find everything on my list, but I figured that it at least gives me a starting point. Wish me luck! I will be probably be heading to the Brooklyn area if anyone has suggestions for stores around there! Before I get to my outfit photos, I wanted to show you what was in the surprise package my aunt sent me...

A J.Crew tee and matching J.Crew flipflops! It was so thoughtful of my aunt to send me this; she knows how much I love my J.Crew! They make the best t-shirts; I wear them to class all the time because they are casual but so much more interesting than a plain tee. They also can be dressed up with a skirt and the right accessories. Thanks, Shelle! And while I'm at it, I would like to do a little shoutout to Shelle-

Happy Birthday! I hope you had an amazing day!




Occasion: Work
What I'm wearing: Dress from Ali's Boutique in Cincinnati (Northside), Vintage necklace, Vintage bracelet, Banana Republic sandals (not pictured)

I have only worn this dress a few times, but I always get complimented when I wear it, probably because its very unique looking with the mixed prints. The only issue I had with it today was that it was not made to withstand the strong winds that were blowing through the city; I had quite a few Marilyn Monroe moments while out running errands for work. Well I think its about time for me to unwind...I hope everyone else has a relaxing weekend as well!