Here's to Ann Taylor

Jacket: Levi; Blouse: Ann Taylor; Pants: Ann Taylor;

 Pants: Ann Taylor; Shoes: Ann Taylor; Cuff: Ann Taylor (gift);

Sunglasses: Prada

 Apparently, I felt very patriotic yesterday while paying homage Ann Taylor! However, this isn't exactly how I planned this outfit in my head! I originally planned to wear black pants but I just wasn't feeling the dark color. So, red it was! The denim jacket was my husbands suggested and I'm so glad he gave his input. I had pulled my 3/4 sleeve black blazer which gave it a more conservative look. And, to keep the rocker/laid back vibe going, I added the cuff. Tough, huh?

 How I've worn the pants before:

  

 

Antiques and More

 As I was cleaning around the kitchen this weekend, I had to share some of the little gadgets I've collected over the years. Some I use often and others, well, hardly ever! I'm a sucker for antiques. I guess its because of my parents. That's how we used to entertain ourselves on the weekend and actually, still do. As I got older, my dad and I would attend live auctions. Standing in the freezing cold eating hotdogs from the food truck, we never actually bought anything but it was fun to browse.

Today, my mom and I hit a local antique store and dine in their quaint restaurant. It can be hit or miss, but the hunt is worth the trip! Here are a couple of things from my collection. P.S. Not everything is an antique, but looks like one!

I gave these measuring cups and spoons to a girlfriend for her birthday, and loved them so much, that my mom reciprocated and gave them to me for mine! The stacked bowls are actual measuring cups and the little bowls, nestled in the leaf, are spoons. I added pepper to the smallest bowl, salt is in the little green bowl to its right, because I'm constantly using both when cooking. A cute, and accessible way, to have your seasonings handy! (Note the olive oil cruet isn't an antique either.)

 

 Now, here are some adorable treasures! Toothpick holders that look darling on any table setting. I love to use them in color combination with my table and I don't just use them for toothpicks. Serving iced tea? Why not use them for sugar cubes or sweetener packets. They could also hold serving picks as well. 

These are just a few trinkets I have lying around, or should I say, behind closed cabinet doors. The mint green milk glass sugar bowl and creamer would make any tea party that much prettier. And, the complimentary hobnail vase holds the perfect small bouquet of sweetheart roses or carnations. I love using little cake plates for serving desserts. Instead of one large plate, I use multiples chocked full of small bite treats. The green serving piece was given to me by my friend Jennifer when cleaning out her own cabinets. She knew a good home when she saw it!

And, instead of just using your plain ol' salt and pepper shakers, why not shake things up by using these sweet salt bowls at different points of the table. That way, your guests don't have to reach for the shakers or ask someone to pass. They can use a little or a lot from their own tiny bowl. Aren't they the sweetest things?

 You don't have to hunt the antique stores for little pieces like these. Anthropologie has amazing kitchen accessories, and it just so happens, that's where the measuring bowl and spoons are from! I also love to shop Home Goods for inexpensive pieces. And, my girlfriend Jennifer who gifted me the serving piece, has exceptional luck at T.J. Maxx! Check out these places when hosting your next dinner party or cocktail hour! It's all in the little details!

Birds Eye View

Top: H&M; Jeans: Loft; Shoes: Pour la Victoire;

Necklace/Earrings: ??; Watch: Emporio Armani (gift)

It is super muggy around here and I can't fathom wearing my hair down right now! If I did, it would definitely resemble Monica Geller's on FRIENDS when they visited Barbados. I often dub it, "Monica in Barbados hair"! But enough about my hair. Let's talk about this darling top.

I picked this up a couple of weeks agon at H&M. I don't like birds in real life, but I love them in fashion. Odd, I know. I had planned to wear these with my royal blue cropped pants, but it just felt like a jeans day. Still have plans to pair them together. And, I originally removed the self-tie, but honestly no other belt looked as pulled together.

I also just received my Seychelle sandals in cobalt with wood soles. I had planned to pair them with this, but decided on the nude sandals. So many things to pair this birdy gem with in the future! 

Eight Days A Week

We leave on Saturday for our trip to Chicago by way of St. Louis. Staying over night before heading into the Windy City for a week long stay, then back to St. Louis to finish out the week. I am so excited to get away and getting in some much needed family time! We have a loose agenda of visiting the Shed Aquarium, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier and a Cubs game. For St. Louis, we are hoping to hit the zoo, Union Station and can't wait to visit the "new" Busch Stadium. Side note: one item on my bucket list is to visit all the major league ballparks. 

I have been making lists left and right for McKinley and myself. It is hard enough to pack me, but McKinley is a page alone. Okay, not an entire page, but he does have quiet the list! And, because we're driving, I'm trying to keep packing to a minimum. Joel and I are sharing a suitcase, YIKES, but I'm secretly hoping that McKinley has room in his for me to slip in a few more items!

With that being said, my packing needs to be tight! In looking at the temps, and the activities we have planned, I'm trying to utilize multiple pieces several times during the trip. And, I've really tried to limit my pre-vacation  shopping but I did get a few little things to take! Printed and colored denim are so big for spring/summer. My mom purchased a pair of cobalt blue denim for me at Easter and I got these printed jeans earlier in the week. I have plans to wear each pair twice with different tops and jackets. 

For these, I plan to pair an oatmeal sweater and tank or tee for one day and a cream sleeveless t-neck and denim jacket for another. 

Loft Printed Denim

For the two days of travel to St. Louis and then on to Chicago, I plan to literally wear the same thing two days in a row! I'm not going to sweat sitting in the car, right? And, why waste a cute outfit for a car ride? I plan to be super cute yet super casual! I'm planning to wear boyfriend jeans, a long sleeve tee, my military jacket in case its cool later in the evening and this darling scarf I got at Target a couple of week ago.  Plus, a scarf can add warmth when the temps are a little cooler as the 10 day forecast is currently indicating.

Multi-Stripe Scarf

With the cobalt jeans, I plan to pair this sweet navy cardigan. I love the look of a royal and navy together. And, with possibly my striped espadrilles, darling!

Textured Drop Shoulder Cardigan

My last item was the Levi's denim jacket I wore earlier in the week. A perfect layering piece that I plan to wear most of the trip! Everyone should have a denim jacket in their wardrobe.

When packing for vacation, what is your method? Do you make lists or pack on the fly? I'm the kind of gal that if I don't make a list I will for sure over pack. I over pack anyway, but at least this way, I have a better handle on my suitcase!

I'm Blue

 

Dress: Anthropologie (gift); Jacket: Levi via Macy's;

Shoes: Pour la Victoire; Belt: Anthropologie (gift);

Bangles: Silpada; Sunglasses: Prada (gift)

So I went from mini to maxi! This dress is so easy, breezy and super comfortable. And, perfect for the muggy Tuesday we had this week. One minute it was overcast and cool. The next minute the sun was out and my hair was enormous! I've worn this dress before but changed a few things. A different belt and shoes though somewhat in the same hue. And, I added the denim jacket at the last minute, because as I mentioned earlier, it was chilly when I left the house. 

And, notice how my sleeve lengths are totally different? That's a total mistake. However, now that I look at them, I can't decide which I like better? Two turns or a simple flip of the cuff. Thoughts?

How I wore it before:

 

Orange Crush

 Top: J.Crew Factory; Skirt: Ann Taylor; Shoes: Carlos Santana;

Belt: Anthropologie; Necklaces: Set from JewelMint

My new favorite color this season is orange. And not just any orange, but  tangerine orange. I purchased the skirt several months ago and have been a little leery in wearing it. I wasn't sure if it was too short and too snug. Well, its not snug, but I'm cautious on the length.  Since I'm a huge fan of the maxi, a mini sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable. 

I was inspired by this look from Ann Taylor. Not an exact match, but pretty darn close. I'm also looking for that perfect coral lipstick. I received several suggestions from some bloggers I follow and hope to test them out soon. I'm branching out a little in the lipstick arena. I'm not one for lip color and coral is just what I need to set me free! Pucker up!!

A Non-Birthday Party

 This past weekend, I hosted a small BBQ honoring my husband's 40th birthday. I blogged about this occasion last week and provided a few inside details on what might take place at the party. Well, needless to say, it was great time with family and friends, however the weather turned cool and overcast. Not great photography weather, so I'm providing a few highlights. Hopefully, we will be able to entertain outdoors a little more this summer so you can get the full on backyard experience!

These glass pieces are always my tables center piece, but I wanted them to my focal point. So, to add a little something extra to just clear canisters and food, I went with color coordinating candies. And, because his birthday cake was a baseball earlier in the week, I added cute little foil covered chocolates as well. Around the table, my serving pieces were shades crystal, white and blue to keep with the color scheme of the party.

 

An assortment of colored candies add decor without expense!

      

The Larger Than Life Baseball Cake

I love to serve off of acrylic plates. I find them sturdier than paper and there are so many colorful ones to chose from these days. I actually have several sets in fun colors and designs. I also have a full set of white when I want to keep everything else colorful. However, this time I wanted full on color and stacked every other plate with stripes then solids! I found this darling divided silverware holder at Target last summer. Made of aluminum, it holds gobs of stuff and napkins are placed in the larger slot in the back. I also used royal blue Solo cups for beer and clear cups for wine. 

Adding fun plates is just another small detail your guest will love!

 For dessert, I wanted to provide our guests with several options so I created a mini dessert bar. Vanilla cupcakes with homemade buttercream icing in royal and powder blue, lemon cakepops decorated with sanding sugar, sprinkles and swirls of white and blue and the ever popular S'mores! They were hit with everyone!

 

The mini dessert bar

  

Cakepops with fun sprinkles and sanding sugars

Cupcakes with assorted icing colors and frosting

The red cooler from Kmart was a tremendous asset to the patio. Again, photos weren't captured, but everyone loved the retro inspired piece. My major complaint was that the lid had a huge dent in the top upon opening the box! We turned it toward the back and just plan to pass it off as a wild party incident!  I just can't wait for more parties this summer so that I can get these things on "film"! 

At the end of the evening, after all the food was consumed, several games of Corn Hole were played and the fire started to smolder, friends headed home with hopefully full tummies and a fun memories. My husband thanked me for his party to which I said I could never have it let it go unnoticed. I guess a non-birthday party is better than any real party I could have thrown!

 

The Birthday Boy!