Derby Days

The Kentucky Derby signifies the first taste of Spring.  We break out soft colors, pastel pants and seersucker suits while sipping on frosty Mint Juleps.  Even in Chicago where the weather is bordering a cool 60 degrees with possible rain in the forecast, everyone is ready to emerge from the Winter hibernation.  Scary as it may be to break out of the black uniform, opt for color or even white since you won't have to worry about the "wedding rule".

Milly Emalina Strapless Dress

Jockey Silks Scarf

Denness Tartan Sport Coat

Raffia Floppy Hat with Large Brim and Ribbon

Trina Turk 'St. Tropez' Dress

Hudson Plain-Front Seersucker Pants

Eric Javits "Celeb" Hat with Bow

Behati Capsleeve Dress

Off to the Races Canvas Club Belt

Prints Charming

Recently I have been taking inventory of my closet and have found there to be a lot of black, boring, grey, beige, boring, solid and boring.  I am a true believer that when you are wearing something you feel great in then your confidence is reflected through that.  To freshen up your wardrobe, what could be more exciting than a Print to sweep you off your feet?  It takes the guessing out of over-accessorizing and pairs perfectly with just about any pair of jeans, blazer and neutral!  Your prints await you below:

Prints Charming

Two-Piece Swimwear by Vitamin A
Scarves & Wraps by Susan Daniels

Designer Spotlight: Rebecca Minkoff

Does anyone else struggle to find the perfect purse?  The options are endless these days.  You have the hobo, satchel, handbag, clutch, cross-body, bucket, etc. etc. etc.  And all that doesn't include different designers, fabrics and colors!  Overwhelming, right?  Amidst all of these decisions I decided to bite the bullet with a Rebecca Minkoff bag and settled on a Black Mini Nikki Hobo.  It's the perfect size and fits beautifully on my shoulder.  The quality and detail is impeccable and even the interior of the bag has an adorable pattern so when you spill a drop of makeup on the inside it vanishes.  Now that I have my basic black bag I am saving up for something a little more adventurous!

My New Boyfriend (Jean)

The Boyfriend Jean has been on my wish list for quite some time now and I finally decided to ditch my sleek, skinny, dark pair for the laid-back, distressed and slightly slouchy boyfriend look.  Time and time again I have returned to try on pairs because they seem to work for the celebs and are perfect for a casual Saturday of errand running and that "I'm just hanging" kind of vibe  I haven't debuted them yet but I think they will be perfect for my flight to Florida this Thursday with a fitted tee, braided belt and a scarf.  I hope my mental outfit actually looks cute in person because it could go the other way and make me look like a disheveled vagrant.  Some of my inspiration below:

Stella & Dot

Last night was the kick-off to my Stella & Dot venture/career.  It is an amazing jewelry line that I happened to stumble across and I love everything about it!  From everyday delicate necklaces and earrings to bold statement pieces, the line is affordable and unique.  I decided to invest my free time into hosting trunk shows for them as a "Stylist" and I couldn't be happier that this opportunity came about.  Part of the reasoning for starting this blog was my attempt at self-discovery and sharing little breakthroughs along the way.  I got tinges of excitement and butterflies when I read about the company and it was the first time, in a long time, that I felt really sure about something business-wise.  It's my creative outlet after sitting in front of a computer all day and an amazing way to spend time with friends while trying on gorgeous jewelry and making money.  What more could a girl ask for?

Weekend in Key West

Hey Everyone!  What an amazing weekend in Key West celebrating the marriage of Mike and Jackie!  The sun was shining, family gathered from near and far and dancing into the wee hours ensued.  We were able to participate a bit in the Island life where time doesn't exist and cocktail hour is any hour of the day.  It was bliss!  The best way to describe the weekend is through some of my photos below...you can almost feel the warmth of the sun through them!

 

  

Key West!!!

I am off to Key West tomorrow for a wedding and cannot wait to see the sun shine, eat some Key Lime pie and smell the ocean breeze. Finally...a chance to wear some of my new summer dresses/sandals/jewelry and get rid of this winter bulk!  Here's a taste of what you can expect: