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From street style to your closet Style SHOP MY #ootd LOOKS Spring Day Look Polka dot Skirt: Target Denim Top: Gap (*similar style) Ribbed tank: Revolve Hat: Revolve NEUTRAL TONES NEUTRAL TONES Colors that will compliment everyone 1/1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Links to clothing below 1. Skims Sleeveless Bodysuit 2. Zara Stretch Bodysuit 3. Revolve Ribbed Tank 4. Zara Halterneck Bodysuit 5. Skims Sleeveless Bodysuit 6. H&M Silk-Blend Bodysuit 7. Revolve Crossback Bodysuit 8. Revolve Bodysuit 9. Revolve One-Shoulder Top 10. Forward Long Sleeve Ribbed Bodysuit 11. Tobi Mocha Crop Top 12. Shopbop Thong Bodysuit 13. Skims Sleeveless Bodysuit 14. Shopbop Asymmetrical Sweater 15. Skims Sleeveless Bodysuit 16. Zara Limitless Bodysuit SUMMER PICKS bathing suit A&F floral suit / top $45 / bottom $29 (available in multiple styles) J Crew floral suit / top $20.99 / bottom $33.99 (available in two colors) A&F one-piece / suit $27.60 (available in two colors) Shopbop checkered suit / top $45 / bottom $49 J Crew one-piece / suit $118 (sale 50% off) J Crew suit / top $59.50 / bottom $49.50 (sale 50% off) Shopbop belted one-piece / suit $195 A&F ribbed suit / top $14 / bottom $29 (available in multiple colors) A&F ruffle suit / top $45 / bottom $39 (available in multiple styles) One Sunny Day A selection of clothing and accessories to wear for sunnier days ahead. Outfit #1 All Items from H&M: Dress, 49.99 / Sandals, 24.99 / Hat, 14.99 Outfit #2 Top and pants from H&M: Top, 14.99 / Pants, 17.99 / Zara earrings, 19.90 / Coach purse, 325 Outfit #3 H&M Dress, 34.99 / Anthropologie earrings, 48 / Shopbop hat, 79 Outfit #4 H&M Dress, 59.99 / Lele Sadoughi headband, 85 / Revolve flats, 98 Outfit #5 Top, bottoms and earrings from Zara: Top, 39.90 / Pants, 49.90 / Earrings, 19.90 / Revolve hat, 84 Outfit #6 All items from Zara: Blazer, 69.90 / Skirt, 25.99 / Cropped top, 7.90 / Sandals, 59.90 Puff, Puff, Hooray! If you've been spending a lot of time online shopping lately (cough cough like me ), then you've probably seen a lot of puffed-sleeve tops on various websites. It's one of those trends where you're probably thinking "ugh, why are these making a comeback?" I was hesitant about the comeback as I kept the look appearing on my heavy rotation of online shopping sites. I will say, over the past month or so, the look is growing on me. So much so that I bought a few puffed-sleeved tops for myself. ​ I've gathered some of my favorite looks below (with shop-able links)! To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Link to tops in order of bubbles 1. Puff Sleeve Smocked Top 2. Blush Cropped Corseted Sleeve Top 3. Daisy Print Puff Sleeve 4. Ruched Sleeve Top 5. Denim Puff Sleeve Puff Crop Top 6. Vintage Blue Wrap Top 7. Long Sleeve Smocked Top 8. White Karlie Tee 9. Balloon Sleeve Tee 10. Azalea Puff Sleeve Top 11. Linen Blend Princess Top 12. Ainsley Smocked Peplum Blouse 13. Puff Shoulder Tee 14. Avignon Babydoll Blouse Spring is here ! Though the weather is still questionable (at least in New York), the sun is shining brighter and the days are longer. With the anticipated warmer temps, I've rounded up some of my favorite dresses for this season. scroll My spring 2020 dress picks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Links in order of dresses 1. The Sabrina Mini Dress 2. Smythe 3. PatBO 4. Arden Mini Dress 5. Adalyn Dress 6. English Factory 7. Staud 8. Capulet 9. Sundress 10. Playa Lucila 11. Azeeza 12. Fanya Sundress 13. Eye Candy Dress 14. Minkpink 15. Steele 16. Agua by Agua Bendita 17. Likely 18. Blue Life 19. OPT 20. Wayf Back to basics Given the current global situation, many of us are working from home - overwhelmed with the current new normal. Looking at the brighter side of things, this is a time that we are given to concentrate on our well-being . If there's chores or tasks that you've been putting off for months, now seems like a better time than ever. I was looking through my closet earlier this week and found myself irritated that I had all these clothes but didn't want to wear anything! After I caught myself doing this, I quickly came to the realization that it would be a great time to go through my closet and drawers (and the bins under my bed (oops)) and really separate the pieces of clothing that I will actually wear longterm and donate the unnecessary TJ Maxx benders (too many to count) and impulse purchases. ​ Also working from home, I don't think many of us will be putting on our most stylish outfits and accessories (no judgement if you are!), so you'll be able to quickly realize how versatile your staple items are. Below are some clothing staples that I put together that can hopefully help your closet...and wallet in the future - especially in strange times like these. Classic White Tee White Knit Sweater White Bodysuit White Skinny Jeans Black Knit Sweater Black Blazer Black Skinny Jeans Black Cardigan Nude Sweater Beige Slacks Nude Fitted Tank Neutral Blazer Relaxed Boyfriend Jeans Denim Blouse Jean Jacket Dark Blue Jeans FALL COAT PICKS Fall is here and it's time to break out the layers! This fall season, I've racked up my favorite picks to keep you warm & stylish. WOOL Sweater BELTED Coat CAPED Poncho HIGH Collar FAUX FUR Jacket SCALLOPED Coat PLAID Cape TRENCH Coat SWEATER WEATHER *Sips hot apple cider* Fall is finally here and I couldn't be more excited. I did some research (so you don't have to) and compiled some of my favorite sweater weather looks. Whether you prefer your tops with extra room or something more form-fitting, this list has something for everyone. CLASSIC WHITE KNIT Shop Vici MULTI-COLORED KNIT Shop Anthropologie EXTENDED KNIT Shop Lulus COZY KNIT Shop Chic Wish GIRLY KNIT Shop Mura Boutique TOMBOY KNIT Shop Free People WEEKEND KNIT Shop Urban Outfitters LBS KNIT Shop Kate Spade ON WEDNESDAYS WE WEAR PINK My favorite picks on the trendiest pinks. What to Wear: Headliner ZARA BLAZER LOUIS VUITTON CLUTCH HELLO MOLLY DRESS FOREVER 21 SUNGLASSES ALDO SHOES H&M PJ PANTS BAUBLEBAR TASSEL EARRINGS FREE PEOPLE RUFFLE BODYSUIT #OOTD: Caribbean Edition TOBI STRIPED BIKINI The perfect two piece for a vacay...and it's super affordable. POM POM COVER UP This adorable cover up comes in multiple colors and is super feminine. TROPICAL ONE PIECE Nothing says you're on a tropical vacation than a bathing suit with palm tree leaves. Not to mention, it's super flattering and sexy. SILK EVENING DRESS I wore this dress through Rent the Runway, but it's also available in other colors. If you want to know what it's like to dress like the woman salsa emoji, this is the dress. LADY IN RED I wore this dress for a wedding, but it's also a great dress to include in your suitcase. It's lightweight and elegant. CRAZY FOR FLORALS This is another lightweight dress that's great for vacay. Florals, ruffles and lace, oh my! PINK AND PINEAPPLES This adorable Kate Spade dress is perfect for lounging around. Maybe even for eating some pineapple? THE FREE KNIT TEE Vacation is all about feeling relaxed and free. So why not wear your feelings on your clothes? BLACK AND SLEEK I recently purchased this dress from Lululemon and it's my new fav. It's perfect for traveling so you can be comfortable and look chic. HONEYMOON PICKS An inside look on some of my favorite honeymoon outfits. As many of you probably already know, I recently returned from my amazing honeymoon in Punta Mita, Mexico . If you know me, you also know that I'm a planner (and that's an understatement). I've been buying clothes and accessories here and there for the past six months for the anticipated getaway and I wanted everything to look perfect. When it came time to actually pack, I realized then how much I had accumulated over the months (oops). Looking back, I would have done it all over again and I was very happy with my wardrobe! I wanted to share some of my favorite picks with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Xo FLORAL SPAGHETTI-NECK MAXI DRESS This light and flowy dress only costs $29.99. Get it at Oshoplive . LIGHT BLUE OFF-SHOULDER ROMPER Get this comfy romper for $34 at Tobi . MUSTARD FLANNEL PANTS & LACE BODYSUIT The high-waisted pants are available at Mura Boutique and the bodysuit at Tobi . Both are under $60. ARTISAN FLAIR EMBROIDERED DUSTER CARDIGAN This ivory cardigan is from Vici for $42. LITTLE BLACK RIBBED DRESS This sexy and simple look is available at Tobi for $29. PLUNGING RUFFLE MONOKINI One pieces are having a moment. Have your moment with Tobi . It's only $25. IVORY TWO PIECE Monday Swimwear has got you covered (literally). Get the top for $92 and the bottom for $72. You can mix and match as well. KNOT BIKINI Get the top for $16 and the bottoms for $14 from Tobi. PATTERNED SHORTS Get these spanish-styled shorts at Mura Boutique $29. A few of my other favorites are the white-lace and high-waisted shorts.

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Home Your home should tell you the story of who you are & be a collection of what you love. Upgrade your at home office game WFH: Office Decor Most of us have been working from home for a few weeks now and getting settled into a routine. If you don't normally work from home and get distracted easily (like me), it might help to dedicate a space in your apartment or house to be your office. I believe in the mentality 'look good to feel good,' and I also believe that applies to your environment. If sprucing up your office space will help motivate you in having a good work day and being productive, then do it! I've rounded up a list of items that will want you working from home all the time. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Items listed in order of bubbles: 1. Wooden chair 2. Solid basketweave throw 3. Pearl LED desk lamp 4. Metal frame shelves 5. Assouline Fashion, Home and Design coffee table book 6. Assouline Italian Fashion coffee table book 7. Katie Leamon grey notebook 8. Ruffled marble bowls 9. Matte bud vase 10. Gilded vase 11. Preserved palm bunch 12. Pastel hourglass 13. Cabana tray 14. Brass tic tac toe set 15. Linen scented candle 16. Geo pillar candle Mirror, Mirror on the wall... Turn your Pinterest dreams into a reality! Below are some of the trendiest mirrors at affordable prices. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Links to mirrors 1. Black hub wall mirror 2. Woven banana bark mirror 3. Oval mirror 4. Modern streamline wall mirror 5.Felicity wall mirror 6. Metal framed arched wall mirror 7. Wooded manor mirrors 8. Sculpted rattan mirror 9. Gleaming primrose mirror 10. Pond mirror 11. Adelaide mirror 12. Leaning full length mirror Planting Indoors Add some greens in your home. Whether you're a plant lover or like the idea of them but don't have the patience for maintenance, there are plants and pots for everyone. Ports for Starters It's never too late to start. If you're new to the idea of plants and pots but don't know where to start, picking a simple pot and low maintenance plant (i.e. a cactus) is probably the best way to start! Succulents Simple for starters. Succulents are great to have in your home because they require very little attention and they are effortlessly beautiful. You can order small ones online or in the front of Trader Joes. Modern Twist Glass never looked so good. Glass accents are having a modern moment. Why not mix them with some flowers? Grouping different sized-glass bulbs and vases with florals will really make a room pop. FRIDAY FAVORITES Home Edition BALTIC AMBER CANDLE I am a candle-holic. I know it's not a thing, but I think it should be. I normally take a trip to HomeGoods and stock up on a few, but I decided to *splurge* at Anthropologie on this Voluspa candle. I'm glad I did because I can't get enough of it! The candle design is beautiful and the scent is amazing - not to mention, the wick lasts a long time. Choose your scent for $28. My Favorite Summer Reads for 2019 I am a self-proclaimed book worm and find myself engulfed in a new book week after week. I figured I'd share some of my favorite books in hopes to inspire you to sit down and read a good story! The books below include various genres, so there is a little something for everyone. A quirky mystery novel. The plot revolves around an agoraphobic architect and mother named Bernadette Fox, who goes missing prior to a family trip to Antarctica. Her quirkiness mind and wit will have you wondering what happened to her and where she went. A historical fiction novel. The story of two sisters in France during World War II, and their struggle to survive and resist the German occupation of France. Jumping back and forth in past and present time, the reader begins to grasp the terror and gut-wrenching events these sisters, along with millions of other women and children endured during the Holocaust. Their journey will leave you with with a full and heavy heart. A historical fiction novel. In an enthralling new feat of historical suspense, Ariel Lawhon unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's 50-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess, a beloved daughter and revered icon, or is she an imposter, the thief of another woman's legacy? 'Girl on a Train' meets 'Clue' novel. Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. On the first night when she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, she is adamant about finding out who this woman was and what happened. The problem is that all guests are accounted for and everyone is acting as if nothing happened. So, did it really happen? A 1960s suspense novel. Set in the 1960s with the rise of communism, this novel follows one family - revealing dark secrets throughout generations. This is a story of love, secrets, and ultimate betrayal. The third installment of 'The Devil Wears Prada.' The Devil Wears Prada’s Emily Charlton gets the spin-off she deserves. This is a classic cocktail-by-the-pool page turner novel that will have you laughing all the way throughout. 'Girl on the Train' meets 'Gone Girl' novel. A shut-in spends her days spying on her neighbors. One day she witnesses something terrifying ... Or does she? Another novel of 'Girl on the Train' meets 'Gone Girl.' Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love. Wallpaper Wanderlust Mirror, mirror on the wall, what's the greatest wallpaper of them all? I've been really inspired by fun and crazy wallpapers lately and want to share the love. f0f071f2ea1b3b8874d1fe9735afac14.jpg e7a0411cbfb7f02c54e32d87d1981d06.jpg c0acebe83723833af9f2422937d814e6.jpg b29c206309884bae1fde183416b88511.jpg a5cc2828be123e144c51f7f3a05c7285.jpg 8a4c15e5d3ab1567ed97021fe500f9fa.jpg 87e97a9ab31a6b285acfd2a85a3e7e96.jpg 947eff0fa2e4cb93ec15883ac1780639.jpg 52e402903d80d7d1f52c10a0718ea968.jpg 431082b5b2f5d11282f8f524da7983b2.jpg 4f663219e4f5684057efa70501251d44.jpg 3da4ff5d9e68819ffdd10cb62b4d46f2.jpg 5e08d91fcfe211fc8408846335fa7fac.jpg 3a7bd455e8fcd9216c59e4338f838824.jpg 00bc0920cb8a1509e12089fc828b78af.jpg 2f9e8ed00c4bfa48a32639519bc3926c.jpg 1b927073844538c2f668f05dd2173ff4.jpg 2ec4fdfead4a560e96bf2dff29354de6.jpg The Perfect Stocking stuffers guide All for under $30 Tarot Cards This deck of cards would be a big party pleaser. Get it here . Wine Cup (to go) Have a friend who loves wine? Buy her this and she'll thank you later! Monogram Ornament This is a great last-minute stocking stuffer that's great for anyone. Buy it here . Holiday Soap Bars Everyone wants to smell nice for the Holidays, right? You can buy adorably decorated bars of soap at Anthropologie . Jade Roller Between Holiday cocktails and treats, your friend or family member will be thanking you for helping out their skin! Available in a variety of colors here . Sew & Repair Kit We all know someone who is always on the go or traveling. Come to their rescue with this handy portable kit . The Classic Notebook You can never go wrong with gifting someone a notebook. Kate Spade has just the kind to make sure you're writing in style. Monogram Compact Mirror This small gift is great because it's super practical and you can personalize it. Stylize it here . Holiday Candles One of the most popular gifts to give are candles. Sneak a mini one in someone's stocking this year! Buy it here . Faux Fur Eye Mask Have a bestie or roomie who loves her beauty sleep? This mask will make their Zzz's even cozier. Lip Gloss Duo Set A girl always loves a simple lip gloss to throw in her clutch or bag on the way out. Sephora has the perfect duo size here . Beauty Blenders It seems like every girl has a beauty blender these days. Click here to stock your BFF's supplies. Face Mask Variety Pack In a pinch to find one last thing to fill your stockings? This variety pack of face masks is great and will appeal to everyone! Bumble and Bumble Travel Kit Good hair = happy camper. Travel sized goodies are the best for when you don't want to break the bank. Check it out now ! Bridal Survival Kit Have a friend or know someone getting hitched this year? Save the day with this handy bridal kit from Paper Source . Sugarfina Merry Berries Make someone's stocking a little sweeter with Sugarfina's holiday assortments. Check out their variety here . Luggage Tag A lot of people travel for the Holidays, so while you may not be able to upgrade their ticket, why not upgrade their travel accessories? Buy it here . Glitter Thermal Mug Coffee is a must for most people in the AM. Glam up their mornings with this adorable thermal from Kate Spade .

Beauty I did not wake up like this. On a bad day, there's always lipstick. Audrey Hepburn A girl should be two things; classy and fabulous. Coco Chanel Just wing it. Life, eyeliner, everything. Anonymous Beauty Survival Guide Stay at Home 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Items listed below: 1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel Cream 2. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer 3. Patchology Rejuvenating Eye Gel 4. CLEAN Reserve Perfume 5. Mario Badescu Witch Hazel Toner 6. Mario Badescu Facial Spray 7. Bliss Waxing Hair Removal Kit 8. Nails INC. Clear Polish 9. Emergen-C Vitamin C Gummies 10. Oil of Oregano Immune & Intestinal Support 11. Clinique Matte Oil-Free Foundation 12. GRANDE Cosmetics Grande Lash Enhancing Serum 13. Facial Hair Remover 14. Sephora Lip Mask Six Beauty Staple Must Haves for 2020 The year for self care. Water Drench Cream Peter Thomas Roth I have been using this product since the summer and it has become a must have for me. It's a little pricier than what I normally spend on face lotion but it is 100% worth it and a few dabs around your face goes a long way. I put this on every morning and every night before bed and love how light it feels on my skin. I would recommend putting this on as soon as you're out of the shower so it seeps into your skin by the time you're ready to put makeup on. Available at Sephora . Perfect Beach Waves Ouai Wave Spray I've had really curly hair my entire life, so I've gone through my fair share of testing out hair products. While I've experienced the good, the bad and the ugly, I've found that it's good to switch up your products every few months and see how your hair responds to it. The past few months I've tried Jen Atkin's new Ouai line and I've been loving it so far. Though my hair is too curly to get those relaxed beach waves, I found that it works well for curly hair if you comb it out when it's wet and then spritz a few times and let it air dry. Your curls are more controlled and it's a very light and natural mixture. Get it for under $30 . Hydro Eye Cream Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Cream This product has become another must have in my skincare routine. Along with the water drench cream, I apply two small dots of this cream under my eyes and rub it in until my skin has that glowy look. For those of you who don't have dry skin, you'd be surprised of the difference after just a few days of using this. Buy it here for less than $15. Perfect Airy Scent CLEAN Reserve I've been wanting this perfume for a while now and *finally* got it for Christmas. Whether you're not a big scent person or are in need of a changeup, I highly recommend this scent! It's super light yet has a very airy and clean smell. Available at Sephora for under $100 (3.4 fl oz). Hydrated & Soft Lips FRESH Sugar Lip Serum This is one of those products you didn't know you needed until you actually try it. I was getting a makeover back in the fall and the artist applied this lip serum on me. I loved it so much I ended up buying it and now use it a few times a week. For those of you with dry lips, this is a great little serum to have. You just apply a half pump onto your finger and apply to your top and bottom lips. You can leave it as is or apply a gloss or lipstick afterward and will be surprised how long your lips stay hydrated. A little pump goes a long way! Get it at Sephora for under $40. Lip Tint Bobbi Brown Lip Tint This is another product I recently got hooked on and I know it will become a staple for me. This is a great product to have if you're into the natural look or just need a little beauty pick-me-up. The Bare Pink color brings out the natural tones in your lips, so it still looks very natural but your lips look full and pink. Get your shine on at Sephora for $34. FRIDAY FAVORITES These are a few of my favorite things. Beauty: Headliner NARS Creamy Concealer This has become a beauty staple in my daily makeup routine. The texture is light, creamy and long-lasting! Available in many shades. Oribe Dry Shampoo This is the perfect plan B for when you want to go an extra day (or two) without washing your hair. It also smells amazing! Marc Jacobs Gel Eye Liner If you want to upgrade your eyeliner game, Marc Jacobs has a beautiful color collection. Not to mention, the liner texture is super silk and smooth. Mikasa Blending Brushes This is a great four-piece set to use for blending and contouring. HUM Vitamins Gut Instinct HUM has a great variety of vitamins and this vitamin for your gut and digestion is one of my favorites. Sugarbear Hair Vitamins This is a great monthly subscription to get your hair looking and feeling great. Buxom Lipgloss A great plumping lip gloss. Witch Hazel Cleanses, soothes and treats oily, irritated and damaged skin. Coconut Curls Styling Milk For smooth and silky curls. Indian Healing Clay Mask A great nourishing face mask or skin treatment. Perfect Pout Lip Mask + Lip Balm Duo To hydrate, plump and protect your lips. Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder Use with your toothbrush for three minutes after brushing your teeth. Show More

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One of my favorite things to do in my free time is read. Below are some books that I've really enjoyed - whether I've pulled an all nighter to finish, laugh out loud on the subway or cry (also on the subway). The Woman in Me Bad Summer People Tiny Beautiful Things The Last Mrs. Parrish Romantic Comedy Then She Was Gone Maybe Someday Self-Made: Creating Our Identities from Da Vinci to the Kardashians The Perfect Marriage The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom Happy Place The Girls in the Garden The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck The Paris Apartment Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life Your Place or Mine? A Court of Wings and Ruin A Court of Mist and Fury A Court of Thorns and Roses It Starts with Us: A Novel Daisy Darker The American Roommate Experiment: A Novel Wrong Place, Wrong Time My Year of Rest and Relaxation Heal. Grow. Love.

Wedding The journey of a lifetime. And so the adventure begins... Anynomous Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story no one on earth has ever read, which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before. C.S. Lewis I can't keep calm, I'm a Bride-to-be! Every Bride HONEYMOON VIBES The ultimate getaway. This sounds so silly, but choosing our honeymoon destination was easily one of the toughest parts of wedding planning. How long do you go for? How long do you wait to go after the wedding? Do you want a relaxing vacation or an adventurous vacation? You can go anywhere in the world . I think you get the point, but the questions are endless. Before you lock down a place, make sure you do your research on the location, the activities and resorts in that area, if the time of year you're looking at is the best time to go (hurricane season or winter season). Whether your honeymoon consists of adventures, relaxing, wining & dining, or all of the above, here are some necessities that every girl should have with her. TAKE A PICTURE Make it picture perfect. Yes, honeymoons are meant to unwind and unplug, but it's also meant to make new memories! If you're plunging into the sea, zip-lining or on your way to see a castle, how fun would it be to document it? GoPros are the great way to do this! If you're on a more wallet-friendly budget, Kodak still has the old school waterproof cameras. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 30 days left to go. It's hard to believe that 17 months of wedding planning, preparation, scouting, organizing and fantasizing is coming to an end. Usually in my posts, I have a good idea of what I am going to write and what the post is going to be about. This one is very different. As I write this, there are so many emotions, feelings, thoughts and memories jumbled in my mind. This post isn't really about any one thing; in fact, I would say it's the complete opposite - it's about everything. Whether you care to read on or not, I wanted to share my experience of planning a wedding and the things that I have learned along the way. Hopefully you can relate or maybe it might just help you with yours someday :) ​ It's not a marathon: Whether you set your wedding date a month, a year or two years after you get engaged, take your time. You're getting married, right? So what's the point in rushing to the alter at full speed? People say that once you're engaged and are in the midst of planning a wedding, the big day comes in a blink of an eye. And they're right. However in our experience, I would say that I think it went at a good pace. We knocked all the big stuff out of the way and actually took a few months off of planning. Now, the past two months have really flown by and I have been holding on by the edge of my seat, but when I look back at this experience, I am happy when I say that I didn't feel rushed or pushed by anything. Enjoy the ride: Yes, wedding planning can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. I would be lying if I said I wasn't stressed at all during this process. One, it's a lot of work and two, it's going to be one of the biggest and most memorable days of your life, and you want everything to be perfect. As our big day creeps closer, I definitely have had more on my mind and have been a little anxious as far as last-minute details and any unexpected bumps in the road, but I'm not going to let it rule my life. It's all going to be ok and come together the day of (or at least that's what I tell myself!). Rely on others: (I hope my fiancé isn't reading this because he would say I should take my own advice!!!). In my defense, I have always been Type-A personality and a little OCD, so there are things that I prefer to do on my own and do it my way. At first, I tried to do everything on my own. Now with little time left, I am trying to pass off some responsibilities onto others and concentrate on the bigger things. I would say that having a wedding coordinator month-of, week-of or day-of (whatever your budget allows) comes in very handy in this department! Take a moment for yourself (and your fiancé): One of my favorite parts about planning a wedding is knowing that your friends and family -- all the people you love -- will be in one room together. Friends from different points in your life, family members who have never met before -- all in one room. That's a pretty remarkable thing when you think about it. No matter what, I think it's safe (and realistic) to say that not all family members or friends are going to agree with you every step of the way. Not even you and your fiancé will agree all the time. There are going to be issues and dilemmas that pop up during the planning process that are going to make you and your fiancé work together and find the best way to compromise. That's the best way to test a relationship before marriage, right?! I've always had an amazing family and friend group, and going through this process with them has been a surreal experience and something that I will never forget. You really appreciate the people in your lives during this time. At the end of the day, this is a magical moment for you and your partner. A beginning of a new chapter. A journey of starting your lives together. It's an overwhelming but also amazing feeling when you're with the right person, and I'm lucky to know I'm with mine. Here's to the next 30 days until we become Mr. & Mrs. Cheers! xoxo Bridal Shower Bliss My Breakast at Tiffany's My mom, Maid of Honor and bridesmaids threw me the picture-perfect Bridal Shower in the beginning of May. Since traditionally the Bride isn't supposed to plan the shower, I tried to resist my urges and allow them to put it all together - and they did an amazing job! My love for Audrey Hepburn and Tiffany's came to life and I had the best brunch surrounded by lots of love, friends and family and mimosas. THE FLOWERS My mom knows my obsession and deep love for peonies and made it a point to add them at every table! They were inside Tiffany-colored boxes with pearls coming out of the sides (how cute?!). THE DESSERTS Yes, desserts , as in you can't just have one type! There were these adorable little Tiffany box cakes for all the guests as well as 'X' and 'O' macaroons because they are my favorite! I had always been inspired by bridal shower desserts and my Pinterest board was brought to life! The day was filled with so much love and laughter. It was overwhelming (in the best way) to see all the special people in your life in one place and celebrate you. Looking back, it was a surreal day and I'm so glad to look back on such a positive and loving memory that I can and will cherish forever. THE GAMES I love being interactive with people and playing games, so my one request for my shower was that there would be fun games and not just sitting around and opening gifts. For the shower, we had a polaroid camera and fun Tiffany props, quizzes and questionnaires to win prizes and a surprise recorded video from my husband! After the shower, I had a lot of people reach out to me saying how much they enjoyed themselves and commented that they loved all the games! THE MEMORIES Wedding: Headliner Bach Bash Going out with a bang before the big day. I recently had my Bachelorette party in Disney World and it was the best time! It was a weekend full of laughs, photos, drinking and dancing with my best girlfriends and I wouldn't have had it any other way. As a bride, there's not much for you to plan for since your Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids plan everything, however, I can give you some advice on how to prepare and what to bring! Location, first Where are you going? Depending on your bridal party (and your preference), your location may or may not be a surprise. In any case, you should get some hints or prepare accordingly so you're not missing anything in your suitcase! Make a Checklist Every outfit counts! Now, once you know where you are going (or have an idea), it's going to be almost impossible not to overpack. I did a lot of planning and online shopping (oops) to make sure that I had the perfect Bachelorette-style outfits. If you're going to be out and about during the day, it's nice to have an idea what you're doing so you're appropriately dressed. If you want to have the bridal vibes all weekend, some sites with great white collections are LuLus, Hello Molly and Born to be Chic . You won't be disapointed! Getting Ready Time to make those appointments. Before you go, you should definitely make time to get your nails done, hair cut, facial, spray tan, etc. You want to look and feel your best for your girls weekend! Bridesmaids Bridesmaids You’ve picked your dress, now it’s time to find the perfect dress for your bridesmaids. The more girls you have in your wedding, the harder it can be to accommodate everyone’s comfort and needs, but it can be done! There are different routes you can go down when it comes to picking your bridesmaids dresses and I’m here to help you (or at least try)! MIX AND MATCH Your bridesmaids dresses should go well with your dress. Not in the sense that they should match, but if you have a tighter dress or a mermaid-style dress, your bridesmaids dresses should not be poofy. You should still be the center of the attention. Think of it as their dresses should be a nice compliment to yours. MAKE A MOOD BOARD Get inspired through Pinterest, Etsy and magazines. Sometimes it’s good to cut things out in order to see everything that you like that’s not on a computer screen. VOICE YOUR VISION Share your thoughts with your bridesmaids. Once you’ve put some thought into what you like (and don’t like), show your bridal party what’s on your mind. Maybe they will have some input that can be helpful. How I Said Yes to the Dress and how you can too. OK, so probably one of the most important decision you make while you’re engaged is finding the dress…and I’m not talking about just a dress, but the dress. You know, the white one you wear on your wedding day where you take photos in looking like a princess? Yeah, that one. When you try on the dress, you should immediately feel it. When I tried on my dress, it was the fifth place I went to that weekend and my hopes weren’t high. I was tired and started feeling doubtful but as soon as I tried my dress on, I looked at my mom and my two bridesmaids and said “this is it.” I will share the rest of the story after my wedding with specifics, but the point about this post is that there are some things to really think about when you’re trying on dresses. Don’t go into an appointment seeking out your dress. You will find it when you find it-whether it takes you a month after you get engaged or six months. Take photos, twirl in it, laugh in it. These are moments that you will always treasure! PLANNING AHEAD Time is ticking In my wedding research that I’ve done so far, I’ve read that you should get your dress a year or ten months in advance of your wedding day. When I say you should “get” your wedding dress, I mean that it should be ordered, since it can take up to eight months for the dress to even be made and shipped to you or the store. After the dress has been shipped, you go to your first fitting and then you get the alterations, which can take another couple of months. You see how time is starting to add up? THE BUDGET $-$$$ What is your budget? (This is the most important question). With this question especially, and if you’re on a tight budget, include everything in your overall dress budget: shoes, vail, jewelry and alterations. If you say your budget is $5,000, you have to ask yourself if that means just for the dress or all in because if you’re thinking only about the dress, it will easily be an extra $1,500-$2,000 for all the other things. *This is an important one!!* THE STYLE Not just a LBD What is your style? A-line, mermaid, princess…the list goes on and on. If you’re reading this and have no idea what any of these styles even look like, that’s totally OK! Do some research. Go on websites and start looking at dress styles and pick ones that would appeal to you and your body type because *shocker* everyone has different body types! THE FEEL How does it make you feel? Now, some other pointers that I’ve learned along the way is that you should consider how comfortable your dress is. I mean, you’re going to be wearing this thing all day. I tried on a few dresses that were not on my radar (and for a reason). It’s pretty and looks good in photos, but I can’t move! How will I walk around all day? For example, the dress pictured below was gorgeous, but I was waddling in it like I was on my way to the bathroom. To me, that does not seem very bridal! Planning for Your Happily Ever After After I got engaged, I would get advice to just “enjoy being engaged” and then start planning. Now, I have a very Type-A personality, which means that planning is part of my nature. Any given opportunity where I can plan, I will do it. So as you can imagine, it was a little hard to take this advice. With that being said though, I did take a couple of weeks (and I really do mean a couple) to enjoy my engagement, but then it was crunch time. Even though we are getting married in spring of 2018 (recently decided), it’s important to start getting all your ducks in a row because i’ve quickly found that there are girls who literally have their entire wedding planned out by the time they get married. Though I am Type-A, I am also very indecisive but I’m getting better! ​ Whether you are getting married in six months, a year or even two years from now, it’s always good to take a step back before you start any planning just to get a sense of where to start. Now, there are many ways you can tackle this. If you’re a list person (eh-hem like me), this is probably the best route for you. If you’re flustered and aren’t sure of where to start first, there are different resources you can (and should) utilize to keep yourself organized and sane. ​ Kate Spade has a “Love Is In the Air” binder that has pages filled with checklists, sections for notes, more lists, budget information and even pages to create your own mood boards. (I have one of these binders and it’s been great so far)! ​ The Knot is also a great source because once you create your own profile with basic information, it creates a dashboard for you and has a digital checklist for you (if you prefer typing over to writing). It also has a checklist for all the vendors and breaks it down into a timeline and when you should be completing those duties based on your wedding date. Obviously, you don’t have to stick to the timeline verbatim, but if you like that precise timeline then this is a great outlet for you! You can also put your overall budget for the wedding and each time you mark off vendors and deposits, it will automatically subtract from the total budget. ​ Google Spreadsheets is a place maybe you wouldn’t think of using, but works just as great! If you like spreadsheets and having multiple tabs, this would be a great outlet for you. Also, there is no specific layout and you can tailor it to however you and your fiancé will best understand it and keep track of things. To my surprise, my fiancé made one of these very shortly after we got engaged and it’s been a great source for us. We have a main page with our budget and two columns broken down to the main elements of a wedding (venue, catering, florists, photographer, music, etc.) and we have a “low ball budget quote” and a “high ball budget quote” so that we can see roughly what we can work with and how these different categories will fluctuate as we move forward. ​ Once we lock down that category, we mark it in green and keep track of the deposits we’ve made, how much more we will owe later on and then the numbers will automatically change based on what you put. The tabs come in handy because you have a tab for everything: vendors, music, florists, catering/bar, photographer/videographer, guest list, other wedding services, etc. For each tab, you can keep track of your research and store all of the information because everything will start to seem similar and you will forget what quote that person gave you or what information you told them. Once you start talking to more and more vendors of all categories, start making notes of why you liked them or maybe why you didn’t like them (bad reviews, too expensive…) and it will help immensely down the road! You're Engaged...Now what? So…I just got engaged. Now what? ​ I’ve been engaged since the end of November (Thanksgiving) and within a week, we had people texting and calling us if we’ve not only picked a location…but a date too! Now, I get that some women have their weddings planned to the tee so when the planning actually happens, they are all set. But, this is not my case. ​ My fiancé (I’m still getting used to calling him that!) and I have of course talked about marriage and things that we would like and wouldn’t like at our wedding, but now it’s show time and all those hypotheticals have become our reality. After getting good advice from friends and people who have gone through this, I have reassured myself (several times already) that everything will be ok in the end and we will make the best of it no matter what! ​ Now, for those of you who are also newly engaged or are on your way to that point, here are some obstacles that I’ve had to overcome and let me tell you, it’s not easy. I'm not a wedding planner or an expert by any means, but the below points have seemed to be a good starting point! ​ The Wedding Budget: Now, this can be an easy or difficult topic depending on if you know you will be paying for the wedding, or will go a more traditional route and have the bride’s parents pay for it. Personally, enjoy being engaged for at least a week before this topic comes in play. It won’t be an easy convo, but it’s something that needs to be established early on so you can start browsing and set some boundaries. (The Knot has a budgeting tool that I found useful to look at just as an average per topic). ​ The Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: Another tough topic to figure out. If you have a sibling or a family member who you are very close with, well then that’s an easy solution as to who you can pick to be in your wedding party. It gets tricky when you and your fiancé don’t have the exact number of close friends who you would want by your side, so I suggest each writing down a list your closest friends/family who you want by your side and go from there. ​ The Guest List: (Groans). This has easily been my least favorite thing to tackle so far. Not in the sense that you don’t want to invite people, but because you really have to consider size (especially if you have a venue in mind already). After naming off family and close friends, the list is already at about 100 people. “What about your second cousin and their family, and the neighbor from down the street?, etc.” I say, leave it. If you’re really unsure and don’t want to hurt feelings, make an A list and a B list. The A list will consist of family members and close friends (i.e. wedding party), and family friends. The B list will consist of maybe some high school friends, those friends who you keep in touch with once in a while and maybe any parent’s friends. If you send out the RSVP and find out that more people can’t make it than you thought, then it may be a good idea to invite some people from your backup list. To me, it was pretty black and white (with a few exceptions) as to who I wanted to invite because for me, I don’t want to be shaking people’s hands all night or have a business meeting feeling. This is our wedding and we want to be surrounding by people who we really love and cherish. If you’re unsure about them from the start, I say it’s probably not worth it sending an invite (but that’s just me). ​ The Venue: This area can be a tricky one, depending on how big both of your families are and where they are located. No matter where you get married, people are always going to have to travel. I had always imagined a destination wedding in Mexico since it’s very near and dear to my heart and also so full of culture. We recently went down for Christmas and very quickly realized that it would be a logistical nightmare to ask about 150 people to travel to Puebla, Mexico. We live right outside Manhattan so for us, we are thinking that Manhattan is a great place to get married (aside from it being expensive!)– it’s a great hub for everyone to fly into and there are many ways to access the venue (we are leaning towards the Upper East Side). It never hurts to look around though, because you would be surprised as to what you’ll find and it’s also a good way to get ideas as to what you both like and don’t like in a venue. I treated venue shopping like apartment shopping- photos will always be different from the real thing (this could be both a good and a bad thing) and you don’t want to look at too many, because then you could start to get too picky as to what you want. It’s always good to ask as many questions as possible and get a sense of what’s included with the space, otherwise things can add up veryyy quickly. ​ The Dress: Yes, the dress. That long, white, beautiful dress that you’ve been dreaming about all your life. This is a big decision (especially if you can’t even make up your mind what you want for breakfast…or maybe that’s just me). Now, we are looking to get married in late spring of 2018 so yes we have time, but at the same time, I’m new to all of this and you think you know what you want in a wedding dress until you start trying them on! For this one, I say it doesn’t hurt to start looking early because it may take a few months to find the one and you don’t want to feel rushed in the process! ​ This is about all I’ve had to deal with so far, and I take all advice with a grain of salt. You will get the pushy people who ask if you’ve got it all figured out, the ones who ask if you’re stressed yet, and the ones who will tell you to just relax and enjoy every moment. As mentioned above, take everything with a grain of salt. Write down the things you want, the things you don’t want, cut stuff from magazines for inspiration, make Pinterest boards, do it all! ​ I’m learning all of this along the way and I’m sure it will get to me and I’ll be doubtful, overwhelmed, and I’m sure much more but this is an exciting journey that I’m on and I’m ok to mess up along the way. If you’re in the same boat as me, I hope you will follow along as well and that I can provide some sort of intel that can help along the way. A Thanksgiving to Remember November 24, 2016. Our story. My fiancé, Ehrett, and I have been dating for over five years. We met in college and were assigned a group project together the first day of class. He was from Seattle and I was born in raised in New York, so of course I fell for someone who was from across the country! ​ Fast forward five years later and we live happily together right outside of New York City. With the holidays coming up and with little hints he was dropping about an engagement, I had a feeling it was coming soon, but of course I didn’t want to get my hopes up! ​ We drove up to my parent’s house for Thanksgiving and I didn’t expect much to happen that weekend (except for consuming a lot of food and wine!). Thanksgiving day, I was preoccupied helping my mom in the kitchen and getting the table set up. Although I didn’t know it at the time, everyone was in on the secret to come later in the evening, but I didn’t suspect a thing. After a successful dinner, my family and I transitioned into the living room to talk and play some games. I noticed that Ehrett was MIA for a while with my mom, but I still didn’t suspect anything of it. After maybe a half hour, he comes into the living room and asks if I could come outside with him to “take a photo.” It was dark, cold and snowing outside so of course, I said no. After a few pushes, I finally sighed and followed him to the door. ​ I grabbed my coat before going outside and I didn’t notice until then that he was squeezing my hand and walking quickly to the gazebo in our backyard. As we stood in front of the gazebo, I noticed how beautifully decorated it was (I later found out my dad decorated it for the special occasion) and there was a towel covering one of the flower beds. My heart started pounding as I was intrigued and also anxious as to what was going on. He removed the towel and there were two bouquets of roses and my favorite…macaroons! ​ I kind of looked at him in confusion as he pulled me into the gazebo to “talk.” Hearing the shakiness in his voice, my heart was beating out of my chest as my mind was yelling “is this going to be it?!” (but of course my first concern was that I hadn’t looked in the mirror since before dinner). ​ There wasn’t much talking however, since he then followed with “I need to ask you something” and knelt down on one knee (on the very muddy ground). He opened a little black box and said “You’ve always been my best friend, and I want you to be my best friend for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?” I stood there in amazement, not really sure if this was really happening and at some point, I proceeded to say “yes!" ​ Everything about it was so magical, and pleasantly surprising. Regardless of the weather, the christmas lights wrapped around the gazebo and the roses couldn’t have made it more perfect!

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