(Belated) Wishlist Wednesday

Hey everyone! I can't believe I forgot to do this yesterday, but I got so caught up in my packing excitement. So without any more delays, here's my wishlist for the week!

1) Shep shirt

I have wanted this exact shep shirt for years. They are cute and so so comfy and warm!

2) Navy Jack Rogers

Who doesn't want to expand their collection of Jacks? (Shoutout to my sister who just got her first pair!)

3) Spirit Football Jersey
Coral, monograms, and Marley Lilly...what's not to love?

4) Monogrammed Otterbox
When I get my new iPhone (a long way off, I know), this is definitely going to be the case I get. I always wished that Otterboxes were better looking because otherwise they're such good cases, and I finally found the perfect one!

5) iPad mini case
This truly is a wish, because these cases are very expensive, but I think that they're a beautiful and glamorous way to protect my new iPad mini.

I just realized there's a lot of monogramming on this wishlist (I'm only minorly obsessed, I swear). I'm going to try to post as much as I can in France, but I'm not sure how often I'll be able to get WiFi. In the meantime, stay preppy!

International Carry-On Essentials

I am so so so excited to be going to France very soon! I'll be traveling all around the country for a while, so last night I spent a good amount of time preparing what I'm bringing. I'm very fortunate to be able to say that I have been out of the country many times (as well as a lot of traveling within the US), so I have a lot of experience with packing for long trips. Below are my lists of essentials for your carry-on!

1) Passport (and cute case!)

My sister got me a passport case before a trip to Ecuador years ago. I love how it protects my passport, prep-ifies it, and helps me stay organized during hectic traveling.

Kate Spade

2) Versatile tote

I've used the same Longchamp Le Pliage Large every time I've traveled since the beginning of high school. It's great because it's roomy and light, but still looks good if I want to take it out to dinner with me.

Longchamp

3) Good headphones

No matter where you're flying, there always seems to be an unhappy baby on your plane. These headphones have such good sound quality (and intense bass) that they help cancel out noise while listening to your favorite songs. Even though they may not be the prettiest, they're definitely the best.

Beats by Dr. Dre

4) Eye mask

I started becoming obsessed with these at school when my roommates and I had really different sleeping habits. They made it so easy for me to fall asleep, even with all the other lights on. On long flights in less than ideal sleeping conditions, these are a must. They also come in handy if you're sharing a hotel room with any family members who stay up late.

Pinterest

5) Glasses (if applicable)

Obviously not everyone wears glasses, but if you do don't leave them in your checked bag! I used to fly with my contacts in because I thought I looked bad in glasses, and it was torture. The dry air on the plane and the sleeping I did on the flight made the contacts dry out, causing my eyes to get all red...not attractive. Now I always wear glasses on the plane because they're definitely the more comfortable option over contacts (and I finally got some cute ones!)

Tory Burch

6) iPad/Kindle

I've always been a Kindle girl, but I just got an iPad mini and I'm so excited to travel with it! These are awesome on planes for games, and watching movies, as well as making reading easier since you don't have to lug around all your books (pre-Kindle era, my carry-on used to weigh about 15 pounds because of books).

Apple

What are your travel essentials? Where should I visit in France!?

Things I'm Loving: Pastel Nails

Butter London Kerfuffle, Essie Lilacism, L'Oreal I Do, Butter London Fiver, Essie Fiji

A few days ago, I began doing some planning for my trip to France (more on that to come!). I figured I'd start small by deciding what color nail polish to wear. I was able to narrow it down to five choices, but beyond that I was torn. In an effort to make a decision, I painted each of my nails a different color to see which looked best on my hands. 

The embarrassing thing is, I still can't choose! Since having this funny color combination on my nails, I've really started thinking about how much I love pastel nail polish. That may sound dramatic, but here's why pastel is the best:

1) The colors remind me of Easter and summer, so looking down at my nails always makes me happy

2) They add a pretty pop of color to a look without being overwhelming or drawing too much attention 

3) They look pretty and classy on every skin tone

4) Pastel colors are the perfect way to add a touch of summer to any outfit!

What are your thoughts on pastels? Which is your favorite color? (Please help me choose!!)

Random Obsession: Francesca's Collection

When I went to school this past year, I was overwhelmed by the amount of Midwesterners there. The official statistic is that 40% of last year's freshman class was from the Midwest, but I think its probably closer to 80%. Because I was surrounded by people who thought Chicago was "the City" instead of New York (lol), I found myself constantly defending the Northeast.

I think the only time that I haven't been able to prove that my hometown is better was when I was at the mall with a few of my friends and walked into Francesca's. All of my friends were stunned that I had never been to one and were thrilled that the Midwest finally had something that New York didn't. However, I wasn't even put down by their teasing because I was so in awe.

For those of you who don't know, Francesca's is a chain of boutiques (oxymoron, I know). They're all over the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic. The prices are very good for what you get, and they're always having some kind of promotion. My favorite section is the jewelry- they have awesome statement necklaces.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from this cute boutique!

Bad picture, but who doesn't love a little chevron dress?

This dress reminds me of some in the Lilly summer collection, especially the beading on the neckline.

Love the bow accent!

This beautiful statement necklace is only $32!

This necklace is perfect for when you want to make more of a statement than your normal pearls.

Remember when I said they always have sales? Right now their summer collection is 50% off!

What are your favorite picks from Francescas? Am I the only one that had never heard of it before?





Collective OOTD's

Yesterday was a crazy day for me so I couldn't get to my computer, but here's a compilation of some of my favorite outfits from this week!

Details here

I just got a new pair of gold Jacks, and I have been wearing them EVERYWHERE. I think its safe to say that I'm obsessed.

Top: Express

Shorts: J.Crew

Watch: Michael Kors 

Shoes: Jack Rogers 

This is a perfect example of how Lilly can go from corporate to casual. I wore this dress with the blazer to work, then took it off for a night with friends. 

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

Blazer: Gap (similar)

Anything nautical is a huge trend for summer, so I chose these Lilly shorts and a woven belt on a hot day. 

Top: Madewell

Shorts: Lilly Pulitzer

Belt: J.Crew

This outfit is a combination of two of the items on my wishlist that I was lucky enough to find. I seriously love this dress. I wore it to two birthdays in the same day. One was a barbecue and the other was a dinner in NYC, and it was perfect for both!

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

Shoes: J.Crew

Hope you all enjoyed this beautiful weekend! 

Sale Alert!

Everyone drop what you're doing and get to your nearest J.Crew! Right now everything in the entire store (including sale items) are 25% off and 30% off if you have a J.Crew card. In addition, everything at J.Crew Factory online is 40% off! This is an great opportunity to pick up some of the things that you've had your eye on! Here are some awesome pieces from the sales:

J.Crew: (coupon code NEWSTYLE)

Tiki short

Chambray popover

Beaded rose necklace

J.Crew Factory (prices as marked)

Printed mini

Ruffle popover

 Braided flip flop

UPDATE: Can't believe I forgot to add this, but today is the first day of summer aka National Wear Your Lilly Day! To celebrate, Lilly Pulitzer is giving everyone GWP! If you shop in a store or online today, you get a keychain with any purchase and an exclusive wristlet with a purchase of $250 or more. Enjoy!

Monogram Madness

Last night while I was scrolling through some old posts on my favorite blogs, I came across this post from Caitlin at Southern Curls and Pearls. It's a super easy tutorial about how to monogram chargers, and I thought it would be fun to try.

All I have to say is OMG these things are awesome!! They're so much better looking than I thought they would be, and they're so easy (and addictive). I won't tell you how long I spent playing with them (an hour) or what kind of insane things I monogrammed (the snap on my sunglasses case). Here's a pic of the results. I'm so happy with these and I've been thinking all day about other things I can put them on.

Everyone should definitely check these out! What kind of unusual things have you monogrammed?

Wish List Wednesday

Like most people, I have a wishlist a mile long. Browsing online and visiting stores to add to it is a hobby of mine. Some of the items on it are more realistic than others, but I would definitely be happy to have any of these! These are the five things that I am lusting after most:

1) Metro Watch

Among purses, I believe that watches are the best kind of fashion purchases. Their value does not depreciate, they last forever, and they get so much use. I am always looking to expand my watch collection, and these Kate Spade watches are adorable. 

2) Athens Dress

I've tried this dress on two different times, and both times I put it back on the rack because there were other pieces that I wanted more. But I'm still thinking about how cute it is! I'm definitely hoping to add this to my collection soon. 

3) Monogrammed chevron binder

Maybe its nerdy, but I love love love buying school supplies. It gets me so excited for new classes, and I like to tell myself that cuter supplies motivate me to work harder. I just preordered my Lilly Pulitzer agenda, and this binder is perfect for my next school purchase. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and all can be monogrammed. 

4) Pineapple Bikini

I have a confession to make: I collect bikinis. Somehow I can always manage to justify buying another one. While I've curbed my bathing suit habit a bit, this pineapple bikini might be enough to make me fall off the wagon.

5) Espadrille Wedges

I've been in the market for wedges that I can use both at work and with casual outfits, and I think these J.Crew espadrilles fit that description. They're versatile and also a great height for a tall girl like me. 

Hopefully I can pick some of these up soon! What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Rain, Rain Go Away

I love New York. I love the history, the architecture, the culture, and the people. I love the sitting on a park bench and looking out at the water while the sun is shining. Which is usually is on a summer NY day. Therefore,  I naively thought that I was leaving rain and clouds behind in South Bend and so I put my rain boots in storage. Big. Mistake.I feel like every day since I started work I've either been walking to or from the office in some kind of downpour.

So, I've been in the market for some cute, rain-proof shoes to wear during my commute. Luckily, jelly flats are becoming more and more popular among my favorite designers. Check out my picks! 

I'm loving these J.Crew Factory rubber flats so much that I bought them for myself. They're fun and stylish, yet still totally practical. The color will definitely cheer me up on a rainy day, and the bow is a cute preppy touch.

Tory Burch

Loeffler Randall

Ted Baker

Kate Spade

Which is your favorite? What shoes do you love for rainy days?