Essentials

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I noticed this weekend that there are numerous summer essentials missing from my closet and beauty routine. Whether it be the perfect white dress, a flattering string bikini, day and night sandals, or fun accessories - all of these items would be gladly accepted into my warm weather wardrobe. 

Summertime Hunt

This warm weather has me itching for a summer overhaul and some serious shopping. I am longing for a bright wallet, a party dress for warm weather weddings, a new work tote, chunky turquoise and aqua stone baubles, and a daily dose of summer beauty supplies! Here are a few items I am eyeing...

A Bright Wallet: 1 2 3 4 5 6 

A Party Dress: 1 2 3

A Carryall: 1 2

Chunky Stones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Beauty Supplies: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

{highly recommend 3 + 4}

What are you currently coveting? Any summertime recommendations? I'd LOVE to hear! xo

Summer Fashion

To kick start June and the lovely summer season headed our way, I am joining Danielle in her Week of Summer series by sharing my warm weather wish list! I can't wait to bop around the city in airy dresses, sky high wedges, striped tees, shorty shorts and colorful accessories.

I am inspired by navy and white paired with soft pastels and pops of red and I am craving a closet filled with silky tops, stripes, chiffon, cotton dresses, sequins and denim shorts.

My Summer Wish List:

A pretty fedora to pair with my bikini and day dresses.

The perfect stiped tee.

A camel carryall for all of my day & night necessities.

A flirty pair of pastel shorts, easy to dress up or down.

An eyelit top.

Summertime earrings.

A pretty pendant necklace.

A fabulous lace detailed neon clutch.

An airy maxi skirt.

The perfect wedge.

A flirty white dress, a summer necessity.

What's on your summer wish list?

Necessary Neutrals

These creamy neutrals are giving me heart palpitations. Must pay off credit card and purchase.

{Marc Jacobs Tassel Julie Bag + Scalloped Chloe Ballerinas}

Lusting over...

...this bag. It has everything I am currently coveting: buttery, creamy, watermelon leather - gold accents - crossbody chain - bamboo lock. Practical and chic. The perfect summer bag.

things I'm fond of now.

This Marc Jacobs bag.

This room from Trad Home that everyone in the blog world is blogging about because it is perfect.

These adorable Louboutin's, paired with a little white Summer dress.

This amazing necklace, paired with a colorful blazer.

This paired with a hot cup of coffee.

That's all for today. xo

Lovin' on...

These sweet little Miu Miu flats. How cute would they be paired with this little number? Ahoy!

On my mind...

I leave for Florida in one week!! Yay. However, I have been so busy lately that I haven't been unable to prepare and I am in need of the following beach/sun/wedding items:

1. AA Vintage Sailboat Scarf $32 for some color.

2. New Rayban Wayfarer's $195 my favorites.

3. Michael Kors Willow + Raffia Sandals $125 pretty + good price!

4. Asos Canvas Stripe Backpack $50.20 prefect carryall.

5. Butter London Nailpolish Blagger and Teddy Girl $14 for wedding + play.

6. Topshop Rope Encased Blue Studs $10 for day to night.

7. Topshop Dress (No longer Available!) Similiar Styles here.

8. MAC Special Reserve Highlight Powder $28 the play up my tan.

9. Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted SFP Lip Treatment $22.50 to protect my lips.

10. Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF $38 to bask in the sun alllllll day.

11. Topshop Red Rope Print Bikini $55 for a little print.

Also, this is giving me anxiety:

because I have been preparing for Florida by means of burgers and beers. She probably did not.

Also, this is on my mind:

Obsessed.

And also, THIS is Miss Bailey McCarthy's closet. Her home was just featured in Rue. She has gold hangers and a whole room filled with sparkles, color, textures, and just everything amazing.

That is all for today, xo!

{images via Pinterest}

Please give me a dress, thank you!

As you know, my cousin is getting married in two weeks in Miami and I am struggling to find a dress for the ceremony & reception. I can't decide which direction to go in, but I know I want something easy, breezy, beachy, easy to eat in and easy to dance in. I have a problem with falling in love with dresses that are way over budget and need some money saving options! Asos is sold out of all of my favorite pieces and I'm worried that H&M, Zara, and Urban are not exactly what I am looking for. Thoughts? Ideas? Advice? Dresses that you want to give to me? Thank you!

Sparkle + Glam 1 2

Pretty Prints 1 2

Colorful Mini's 1 2

take me to the beach!

In exactly 4 weeks I will be ditching this Chicago weather for sunny, 80 degree days. My cousin is getting married in Fort Lauderdale so of course I needed to make a 5 day trip out of this wedding weekend. I am already browsing my favorite stores for cute, beachy outfits and my problem is that I want it all. I am so ready for bright colors, nautical dresses, and flippy floppies - I just can't get in the mindset here in cloudy, cold, and windy Chicago. There are so many options to choose from and just not enough money in the bank to satisfy my needs. Because let's get real, these are necessities, not wants.

I love stripes and navy and red. I also love big straw bags, aviator sunglasses, and loads of color. I am torn between these two happy looks but any and all of these additions to my beach wardrobe would be sincerely satisfying to my needs. 

Nautical: 

Eugenia Kim Raffia Fedora. Why so $$, you're so cute?!

Markus Lupfer Red Silk Dress

The City of Kings We Are Owls Scarf

Ray Ban Classic Aviators

DVF Striped Bikini

Milly Bandeau Bikini

Rainbows. The best flip flop ever.

Fun Accessories:

Milly Cocomo Cotton Dress

Hampton Sun SFP 35 Continuous Mist

Capri Cosmetic Bag

Date Night Ring

Stella McCartney Raffia Sandals

Elephant Safari Earrings

J.Crew Farmers Market Tote

La Piscene "The Pool" Beach Towel

I can't wait until Chicago's temps warm up, we can enjoy weekends at the beach, new patio furniture, and tans. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but for now, I will be dreaming about my 4 weeks until Florida.

My Routine

While cleaning my bathroom last night, I realized that I use a lot of products. Lotion, hair stuff, chapstick, eye cream, foundation - the basics. I thought it would be fun to share my day-to-day necessities with you!

1. Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion with natural Mica for a hint of shimmer

2. Caudalie Radiance Facial Lotion. This smells like lemon, is light, and makes my face feel extremely refreshed from these dry winter days.

3. Bumble & Bumble Styling Creme. A little bit of moisture for my daily blowouts.

4. Laura Mercier Moisturizing Eye Cream. Gentle on my eyelids, I put on both morning and night.

5. Burt's Bees Radiance Serum. This stuff is amazing. A light oil that I put on before bed {after a quick face wash} and my skin looks so bright when I wake up. 

6. Mentholatum Ointment. Doubles as chapstick, dry skin healer, and full of soothing menthol.

7. Lollia Bubble Bath in Wish. For days where a bath is really necessary.

8. Eucerin Daily Replenishing Body Lotion. The best.

9. Rusk Deep Shine Hair Lusterizer. Makes my hair so shiny!

10. Tocca Giulietta. Makes me feel feminine & fresh all day.

11. Benefits De-Puffing Eye Gel. Gives my eyes a zap of caffeine when they need it, a necessity at work. 

12. Smashbox Sheer Focus Foundation. So light, it doesn't feel like makeup at all.

13. Essie Status Symbol, Cute As A Button and Lacquered Up.

What is your favorite beauty product that you can't live without?

The Perfect Bag

I'm loving these buttery caramel and creamy white bags for Spring. I can see all of these becoming wardrobe staples with their rich leathers, braided details and tassels - easily transitioned from winter to spring {or summer to fall!}. You can definitely find all of these on my wish list this Spring.

{Michael Kors, Chloe, Vanessa Bruno}

Have a Lovely Weekend!

Happy Friday my sweet readers! I am so looking forward to this weekend and the plans that I do and don't have. My nights are low key for the most part, and aside from a 12 mile run tomorrow {yuck}, I am excited to see what the weekend has in store. Dave & I are celebrating Valentine's Day on Sunday since he is jetting to the East Coast next week for work. I'm excited to get dressed up and look pretty for our date, I feel like these days are so few and far between when we are able to find the time to sit down for two hours together, out of our apartments & all cleaned up. We are going to Tarantino's, an adorable Italian restaurant with a great wine list and cute tables for two. I have a sweet little Valentine's gift for Dave that I am going to preview for you tomorrow {luckily Dave doesn't read my blog too often!}  Since Chicago is currently colder than the North Pole, dressing up and staying warm is unfortunately not an option - so I am going to freeze for the evening.

Since it is no where near Spring in these parts, I am going to stick with the basics. I absolutely adore the first dress, but any of these would do.

1. Flutter Sleeve Dress

2. Ruffle One Shoulder Dress

3. Abigail Lace Dress

*I currently do not own any of these {nor have the $$} so I plan on hunting this weekend.

I would keep it sweet & simple with the accessories. Throw in a little color & some pretty earrings, good to go.

1. Valentino Bow Pump 

*shocking side note, Paris Hilton makes a cute alternative without the $$$.

2. Pave Posy Clip Earrings

All of this will be hiding under an enormous puffy North Face coat, scarf, boots, gloves, and hat. Dave will be shocked, since he has probably forgotten that I am capable of looking cute in these dark winter days. On top of dinner, Sunday is supposed to be 40 degrees in Chicago! So I hope to make the day enjoyable for both of us, by cooking breakfast, taking Webster to the dog park, and moving slowly with no plans whatsoever. But enough about me, what are your plans?! Anything fun with your valentine?

See you Monday!

J.Crew Spring

Spring has sprung at J.Crew as they just released their February 2011 catalog. I am dying for everything, especially a trip to Los Angeles where this beautiful spread was shot. The fabrics, patterns, and buttery pastels have me yearning for warm weather and a reason to buy a new bathing suit - good thing Chicago only has 4 more months of Winter!

I'll take two of each of Jenna's picks, thank you!