White on White

I'm so happy that spring has officially sprung. I was getting tired of all of the heavy fabrics and dark colors of winter. Don't get me wrong, I get excited to pull my sweaters out when winter rolls around. But it's felt like a long winter this year and I am ready to shed some layers. One of my favorite parts of spring is bring back out my white clothing! I love the airy, bright fabrics and am SO excited to expand my spring wardrobe with more of the trends from this year.

I wanted to share an outfit post to celebrate spring's return and I couldn't picture a better way than to share an all white look! I find these to be a little intimidating, because white seems to attract dirt. And, it's also unforgiving of your figure. Even with these challenges, I love this look! It's bright, happy, and feminine!

To my dismay, mother nature decided to rain on the day that I scheduled this shoot. My sister (who graciously offered to shoot with me) was so flexible and helped me get the best shots given our circumstances. We still had a blast and I hope she agrees to try again when the weather perks up- I have some great looks in mind to share with y'all!

jeans // purse // sam edelman wedges (similar) // watch // bracelet // jcrew necklace (similar)

My top is from a local boutique, but I've found some similar styles here, here, and here. One of the things I love about being back in Atlanta is the local shops. There are SO many unique retailers down here. I honestly forgot how great it was! Well, great for my closet, but not for my wallet. Anyways, I hope y'all love this look as much as I do!

Will you wear all white? Do you shop local where you live? What's your favorite spring outfit?

Pantone Spring 2016: How to Wear Buttercup

Hey y'all! Today is my third and final installment for my mini-series on the spring Pantone colors for 2016. (Here's the first and second if you missed out!) This color screams spring to me, with its bright shade and floral origin. Buttercup just radiates light and looks like sunshine!

As I've shared before, I don't embrace brights in my real wardrobe as much as I'd like to. I'm inspired by them, but tend to stick with my neutrals and soft tones. Being a Georgia Tech alumni, I've worn my fair share of gold and bright yellow! So I feel like this could be a great place for me to hop into the color wheel and begin to expand my personal color palette. Click to shop my favorites below!

Isn't the color just gorgeous! I love the off the shoulder dress and pencil skirt above. Additionally, who doesn't love a classic yellow raincoat?! I love the simple look of the one above. There are so many great ways to wear this color and I think it will work well into summer.

Thanks for checking out my mini-series! Let me know if you'd like more content like this in the future. I really enjoyed putting it together!

Do you own anything in the buttercup shade? How will you embrace this color through spring?

Pantone Spring 2016: How to Wear Lilac Gray

Hi again! I'm back with the second installment of my mini-series featuring the Pantone spring colors this year (see the first here). Today is all about another soft, sweet tone- lilac gray. This color is cool and relaxed. It's definitely a fun twist on a neutral for spring! I love the resemblance this has to my favorite blush tones, but challenges me to get outside of my comfort zone with the purple edge.

The traditional lilac gray is much more gray than it is lilac, but I think my interpretation still has a place in your closet. I love that this color is dark, yet bright at the same time! I hope y'all follow what I'm saying when I describe it like that. I feel as though you can truly wear it as a neutral but get a springy spin on things. Click to shop my favorites below!

I'm not sure that there's even one piece of purple in my closet right now, so this is probably a good place for me to focus. There's nothing wrong with purple, it just isn't what I gravitate to in the stores. I think this darker, more subtle take will make it easier to shop. I love the shorts and nail polish- as well as that lace trimmed top!

Stay tuned for my next and last installment of this mini-series!

How will you incorporate lilac gray this spring? What's your favorite piece above?

Pantone Spring 2016: How to Wear Rose Quartz

Over the past few years, I've become a fan of the Pantone seasonal color palettes. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, Pantone curates a color of the year as well as palettes for the different seasons. The colors are representative of the season during which they're picked, and can usually be found in stores throughout the season! For spring, they have a gorgeous set of 10 colors (check them out here). I thought it would be fun to take a few of my favorites and do a blog mini-series for some practical ways to embrace these colors!

I wanted to highlight my favorite for the first feature- rose quartz. I've always been a fan of soft colors and my love affair with blush tones goes back many, many years. I'm thrilled with this color and love seeing it on racks and shelves more than usual! Rose quartz offers a feminine touch to any look but isn't overly pink or girly. Click below to shop my favorites!

I would be happy with a closet full of this color, but will settle for a few new pieces this spring! I absolutely love the lace top and chunky-heeled sandals above. I also think I will need to get atleast one piece of jewelry while the color is popular. I know I will continue to wear it past the springtime! It's just too great to resist. I'm leaning towards the Kendra Scott right now, what do you think?

Stay tuned for the next installment of my mini-series!

What is your favorite spring Pantone color? How will you wear rose quartz this spring?

Spring Wardrobe Wishlist

We got a tease of warm weather over the weekend, and I've officially come down with the sickness. Spring fever, that is. I am NOT a snow bunny by any means. So, visions of spring are a typical occurrence for me when winter starts to wrap up. Even though I'm plagued with allergies I really enjoy springtime. It is such a welcomed change after the drab, cold days of winter! Flowers, greenery, warmth, sunshine... I just love it.

With a change in season, I always think about what additions I want to make to my wardrobe. I've always maintained a fairly classic style, but I've flirted with some trendier pieces over the past year. To be honest- I've really enjoyed mixing in some new styles! I know spring is going to come with its own fashion refresh, but I've already spotted some items that I need to have when springtime rolls around!

I'm craving lots of light weight materials after being buried under layers of sweaters and coats! Silky camisoles and blouses will definitely be go-tos. I also live in classic prints like stripes and gingham. I'm also really excited about reintroducing white into my wardrobe (read about my stance on that here) after the wintertime! Open-toe shoes are also a fun change, and I'm hoping to pick up some new sandals to show off my favorite bright nail polishes.

Shop my picks: tank / skirt / scalloped blouse / off-the-shoulder blouse / striped tee / tee / gingham top / embroidered top /  dress / gingham dress / lace-up wedges / sandals

What's on your spring wishlist? Do you have a favorite part about spring?

The Leather Jacket

It's no secret that I was on a serious hunt for a leather jacket earlier this fall. Thankfully, I found one and am excited to be featuring it in today's post! I honestly am not sure what I wore last fall, because I feel as though I've lived in this my whole life! I wear it all the time. Not only does it go with everything in my closet, it adds a nice edge to my typically feminine look.

While shopping for my jacket, I made the decision to stick with faux (popularly termed vegan) leather. This was easier on my wallet and boasts just the right look I was going for. I found this jacket after WEEKS of searching at the Georgetown Zara store! Few words can describe my excitement over this find better than sheer joy. It really is perfect for what I had in mind!

Jacket // Tee // Necklace (similar) // Sunglasses // Jeans // Booties

In this look, I paired my jacket with a bright tee, my favorite long necklace, and my staple Jack Roger booties. If you run into me on the weekends, there's an 80% chance I'm wearing this outfit with a slight variation. Embarrassing, I know. But I can't help myself! It's just so comfortable for the fall. The jacket is roomy enough to wear with my chunky sweaters and keeps me just the right temperature for fall weather up in northern Virginia. And lately, our weather has been so warm I've gotten a few extra weeks out of this baby!

Do you have a favorite jacket? What's your go-to fall look?

The Perfect Fringe Cardigan

Hey y'all! Happy hump day! The last 1.5 weeks have been a whirlwind for me. There's so much going on in my life right now and I can't wait to share more with y'all whenever things settle down. Today I'm back with my second outfit post and am super excited to be sharing this look. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did putting it all together!

 Cardigan // Tee // Jeans // Necklace (similar) // Clutch (similar) // Sunglasses

I've honestly been living in comfy clothes when I'm not working. I'd be happy bopping around in yoga pants and a tee, but it's even more amazing to look nice while being comfortable. This fringe cardigan is perfect for running around on the weekend, tailgating, or running to class. Not only is it cozy, but it goes with practically anything! Here I've paired it with a bright t-shirt, my favorite jeans, and staple black riding boots. I also wore it with a white top and yellow jeans to tailgate at the GT vs UGA game the weekend after Thanksgiving! The colors were perfect to support my alma mater and keep me warm.

The best thing about this cardigan has got to be the price! It's on sale right now, if you want it- you better get one before it's too late. If you couldn't tell, I had an absolute blast shooting this outfit! I'm hoping to incorporate more frequent outfit posts on the blog. What do y'all think? Is that something you'd like to see?

What is your favorite piece right now? Do you have a weekend wardrobe?

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

Hi and happy Monday! I know Monday's aren't usually the happiest day of the week, but I'm stoked to be writing this post from Georgia! I decided to take the entire week of Thanksgiving as vacation and really couldn't be happier with my decision. I've been working too hard lately. So, I'm taking this week as a much needed break. Additionally, traveling so far in advance makes it easier for me- especially since I drove home this year!

I just love Thanksgiving (as you could probably guess from this post). I love to help cook, eat all of the different dishes, spend time with my family, and just be home. My family lives north of Atlanta, but I'm hoping to pop into the city to spend time with friends and visit some of my favorite spots! I love walking around Piedmont Park- I think it has one of the best views of the Atlanta skyline. There are also some new things that I need to check out! And of course, I can't forget about grabbing a bite to eat at some of my most missed restaurants. It's going to be awesome!

Packing for Thanksgiving is pretty easy for me, as we do a pretty laid back dinner in my family. We've always done a casual meal and I prefer it this way. I've attended more formal dinners with old boyfriend's families, and it really threw me off! I wanted to share 2 outfit inspirations if you're still on the fence about what to wear for your dinner. One is similar to what I'll be wearing and the other is similar to what I've worn to dressier dinners in the past!

top // jeans // scarf // earrings // boots

This is the perfect casual Thanksgiving outfit for me! I love to keep things simple, especially when I help with food preparation before dinner!! A simple shirt paired with jeans, matched with my favorite black boots, a colorful scarf, and simple sparkles. It doesn't get much better in my book.

dress // tights // necklace // heels

As I've mentioned, this is not my norm- but I would totally wear this if the occasion called for it! You want to be warm yet meeting the dress code, so tights are a must! I love pearls and think they really glam up a simple outfit. This spotted dress would be perfect if you're going to a significant other's house- conservative yet pretty!

I hope these inspirations are helpful and that each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Do you have your outfit picked out already? 

November Must-Haves

Happy Friday! I am so thankful for the weekend this week. I haven't been able to kick a cold that's been looming over me, and am looking forward to a restful weekend. I have an INSANELY important week next week, so I have no choice but to get better. While I'm an avid believer in waiting to break out Christmas after Thanksgiving has passed, my parents are already asking for a Christmas list! It's gotten me thinking lately, and I have found a few things that I don't think I can wait until Christmas for! Here are my November must-haves:

coat // vest // pajama set // top coat // rollers // blanket scarf

Coat. Last year I bought a great puffer jacket from Gap, but it's shorter. I definitely think that I want a longer warm jacket that isn't a trench coat for work! I love the belted look here- helping you avoid that oh so flattering Michelin Man silhouette.

Vest. I love the soft grey color of this vest! The quilted look is here to stay, and it looks super cozy! I've been on the fence about which color to invest in (grey or navy) since I currently don't own either. Any thoughts??

Pajamas. I'm a sucker for a cute set of pjs! I think that Target has some awesome and affordable options. Both of my flannel long sleeved/pants pj sets are from Target! This grey set looks like it would be heavenly to snuggle up in.

Gel Top Coat. Who doesn't love a nice gel manicure?! Most of my manicures are done at home, and I've yet to try the at-home gel polishes. I love Essie polishes, so I think I'll give their version a try first. Have you used one like this? Any feedback?

Rollers. In the Winter, my hair is prone to static. I like to use hairspray to keep it under control and have always wanted to see what my hair looks like with rollers. Blow drying my hair provides a ton of volume but I flat iron it afterwards- sometimes leaving my roots flat. These might be just what I need!

Blanket Scarf. I am a bad blogger because I STILL don't own one of these. As an avid Georgia Tech fan, I barely own any red. Including red-heavy plaid! I like the look of this tartan pattern and think that I can make an exception now for a cute scarf. Especially one that's perfect for Christmas!

What's on your must-have list for fall? Do you hold back on shopping for yourself before Christmas?

Gear to Survive a Rainy Work Day

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a wonderful week so far- we are so close to the weekend! Mine has been great, however we've had wet weather all week. YUCK. For most people, rain stinks- but they go inside for their job all day and only deal with the weather when arriving and leaving. For me, rain is TERRIBLE (almost as bad as snow!) because I of the nature of my job. I'm in and out of the car all day. So, rain is basically my enemy. I've always struggled over what to wear to work on a wet days and have come up with my essential rainy day gear through trial and error over the past few years. I wanted to share these fabulous items with y'all so you too can survive a rainy work day!

Water Proof Trench. I absolutely love my London Fog trench coat. It's the perfect color khaki and has a flattering silhouette. It's great to wear with pants or dresses, and keeps my outfits dry on rainy days. I purchased the coat with a detachable liner that really comes in handy on cold, wet days!

Stylish Rain Boots. A pair of cute rain boots are a must! I love the bow detailing on the back of these, especially in comparison to my plain black pair! I love that these look like riding boots and could be worn in a professional setting.

Umbrella. This is a must- no one likes to wear wet hair to work!

Travel Mug. Rainy days call for an extra cup of coffee or tea to keep you warm. Obviously, this is another opportunity for stylish accessories. I typically use Tervis cups but this Kate Spade mug is adorable!

Scarf. If your rainy day comes with wind or cold temperatures, adding in a scarf will help keep you dry! I think few things are more miserable than we clothing.

Boot Socks. I don't have Hunter boots, but I love how these look! They have an assortment of colors that look absolutely adorable in a rain boot. They definitely keep your feet warm and dry on dreary days!

What are your rainy day essentials?

Fall 2015 Shoe Favorites

Happy Thursday!! Although the first day of fall isn't until next Wednesday, I'm in full force fall. All this week, we've had chilly mornings. Warm afternoons- but crisp, cool, lovely mornings. After doing some closet reorganization over the weekend, I have decided that I need some more fall shoes. Mainly, I'd like some more work-appropriate shoes. I try to wear heels most days, because they help me feel confident and dressed up, but a new pair of printed flats would also fill a gap with my current choices.

Octavia Sandal // Cutout Suede Heels // Billie Boot // Colette D'Orsay Pump // Lydia Flat // Mixed Media T-Strap // Metropolitan Ankle Boot // Varcityy Pump // Stacked Hooded Sandal

It's no secret that I love to shop, but I don't indulge as often as I'd like. Budgetary restrictions suck. My shoe collection could use some love and honestly I'd jump for joy to have any of the above join my shoe rack! Most of the selections above are perfect for fall and winter (aka closed toe so I can wear tights), which makes it more justifiable from a cost perspective for me. I mostly have black and nude work shoes. I think that's why I'm so attracted to the colored pairs above! Once I get a few more work appropriate pairs, I'll venture into the more casual arena... Helloooooo riding boots.

Until then, I'll just drool over these beauties!

Which is your favorite pair? Did I miss any fall must-have shoes?

Late Summer Scallops

Hey y'all! I'm a little nervous but excited to share my first outfit post today!! Since I work 5 out of 7 days in a week (I know that's normal, but it's so sad seeing it written out!), my work wardrobe occupies the majority of my closet. I love finding pieces that are work appropriate and help me feel confident when meeting with customers. Today, I'm sharing a lovely scalloped dress from the custom online retailer, eShakti!

Dress: ℅ eShakti // Clutch: Mark & Graham // Cuff: JCrew Factory // FitBit Flex // Shoes: Charles David

For this outfit, I'm wearing this adorable scallop dress selected from eShakti's website. I love the detailing across the bottom, and the pockets! I mean, who doesn't love a dress with pockets?! While mine is now sold out, this dress and this dress are great scalloped alternatives! I'm carrying my new clutch mentioned here and just adore it! The monogram is so subtle but really gives it the perfect amount of personalization. I chose to go minimal with jewelry, a simple gold cuff and my ever-present FitBit. The wedges are Charles David from last season, but I've linked this season's pair above and they are on serious sale.

The beauty of eShakti is that every single item on the website can be customized to your taste! For someone who comes in at a towering 5'3 like myself (jokes), skirt length can be an issue when shopping for work dresses. Yes- it needs to be work appropriate- but it doesn't need to come down to my ankles. I love that you can raise or lower the neckline, add or subtract from skirt length, and add-in sleeves! These are all important tweaks for me! I ordered this dress as it was featured on the website and had no issues. I did play around with the website and have no fear- the customizations are very simple to add.

It gets better, y'all. You can take the customization one step further and have a piece custom-made to your unique measurements! I think this is an innovative move to help women of any size feel their absolute best when they step out in a new piece. We all deserve that feeling! I've gotten so many compliments on this dress and am excited to continue wearing it until the weather stops me!

**ALSO** eShakti was kind enough to offer a discount code for an extra 10% off to my readers! Simply enter the code 'apeachysonder' into the promotional code box to redeem your savings. This code is valid on any purchase now through September 28th, 2015. Check out more from eShakti on their Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest pages!

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary dress from eShakti in exchange for my honest opinion. As always, all thoughts and words are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!

Recent Purchases

Hey, y'all! Happy Monday! Are you having a nice start to your week? To be honest I'm a little homesick. I'm soo ready to see my family over Labor Day weekend! I'm counting down the days.. literally. I've been bitten by the shopping bug more than usual lately, does that ever happen to you? I'm pretty disciplined when it comes to my budget and rarely go crazy with my spending. Maybe something's in the water but these sales/items have been too good to pass up lately! I wanted to share a couple of my favorite recent purchases with y'all.

Recipe Box. If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't, you should!), you've probably already seen my post about this cutie! I have been looking for a recipe box for some time now but couldn't decide exactly what I wanted. I'm headed to my Grandma's house for Labor Day weekend and we will be spending plenty of time cooking during my trip. This box comes with adorable recipe cards included! I can't wait to fill them up with delicious family recipes! I purchased mine here.

Shift Dress. Unless you're not a Lilly lover, you knew that the After Party Sale happened on Monday and Tuesday of last week. I was lucky enough to snag this cute Janice Knit Shift in these adorable stripes! It shipped extremely quickly and was at my house on Wednesday after the sale! Now THAT'S service. I've already worn it to work once, as well as the photo on my new "About Me" page, and know that I will get so much use out of it.

Clutch. After this post, I was on the serious hunt for a clutch! I was pretty decided before I stumbled upon Mark and Graham's website. I immediately fell in love with this clutch and knew it was the one for me. I got the gold monogram added on- it's adorable in person! The material feels amazing and holds a surprising amount.

Bath Soak. I've been having some serious trouble sleeping lately. I've used some sleep aids before, but that isn't something I aim to make a habit of. So I've been working to create a relaxing evening routine, and nothing works better than a luxurious bath. I've been a huge fan of The Body Shop's facial products, but have been amazed by this soak. It has a soothing scent and I feel so relaxed after a dip with this!

Elsa Top. I've shared my love of Lilly's Elsa tops before, but I'll reiterate- these babies are GOLD!!!! They are perfect for work and play. I love the bright colors and the cut is great for work. It's flowy without looking overly casual. I've been eyeing this print for a while and was thrilled to grab it from last week's sale! I can't wait to wear it!

What purchases are you loving lately?

Loco for Leather

Y'all. I don't know what's come over me lately, but I'm all about leather jackets right now! I never thought in a million years that I would want one, but I do. Really, really badly. I always associated leather jackets with bikers, Uncle Jessie from 'Full House', and strangely my father (he didn't have a motorcycle but he did have a brown leather jacket that's older than me.. and that he still has...).

I tend to identify my style as classic, feminine, and conservative. Even more confusing why I'm coveting a rugged, edgy, masculine piece like a leather jacket. What can I say? The heart wants what it wants. Leather is an investment to me, whether it be in the form of shoes, purses, or jackets. So naturally it will take me forever to pick one out. Thankfully, it's still hanging around 90 degrees up here so I won't be needing one just yet! This is perfect for fall and I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up with one once it gets colder, but for now I will get my fix by drooling over them in stores and online. Here are a few of my current favorites!

I think that they're extremely versatile! You can add a little edge to a feminine floral dress, or jazz up a white t-shirt and jeans. I love the idea of getting a blush pink jacket like the one I've linked above. Not only does that add a feminine touch, but I think it will fit nicely into my current wardrobe- which is a HUGE plus for me! I have a harder time, especially with more expensive pieces, buying something that doesn't fit well with my current closet. Anyone else like me out there? I can't be the only one. Anyways, cheers to colder weather!

What fall fashion are you drooling over right now? Do you have anything totally outside your taste that you are coveting? Which jacket is your favorite?

Clutch This

Happy Thursday, y'all! We are so close to the weekend- I can already taste it! I look forward to unwinding over the weekend, regardless of what plans I have in place. I find though that my weekends typically fall into 2 categories: totally chill or jam packed! I've been having lots of busy weekends lately, and have noticed a deficit in my wardrobe. I don't have any clutches! I used to have a couple in college, but they've either gotten lost in my moves or have fallen apart.

I suppose I'm ok with it for 2 reasons. First, I love a legitimate reason to shop for something new. And second, there are practically unlimited numbers of cute clutches out there right now! So today I wanted to share a few of my favorites with y'all.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

Honestly I'd be thrilled to get any of these into my closet. I'm just not sure what price point I'm comfortable with for such a small bag! Purses are always a hard purchase for me because I have a difficult time stomaching the cost of the smaller ones. I'll be sure to let y'all know when I decide on one!

Do you have a favorite clutch bag? Where do you shop for purses? What's your most difficult accessory to purchase?

My Recent Purchases

Happy Tuesday, y'all! This week as been rough so far- jet lag is not my friend! I've had the most difficult time readjusting from my 3 hour time change last week in Arizona. Hopefully I'll be back to normal tonight or tomorrow night. Mornings are already rough for me, I don't need to make things any more dramatic! Before my business trip last week, I did a little last minute shopping to put my best foot forward at my meetings. I wanted to share a few of my favorites out of my recent purchases!

1 J.Crew Factory Polka dot blouse. One of my challenges with work attire has got to be finding cute blouses. I have a difficult time finding age- and work-appropriate tops. During the summer, I prefer short sleeved blouses so that I can forgo the cardigan yet stay modest. This was the perfect fix for me and I love how light the material is!

2 J.Crew Factory Mini-Skirt. I bought this same cinched skirt in a beautiful emerald green before the holidays and absolutely adore it! The fit is perfect and it's just the right length to still be fun for happy hour after work! I desperately needed a navy skirt, so I thought I'd go with a tried and true silhouette.

3 Kendra Scott Alex Earrings. You may not believe me, but I found these cuties on CLEARANCE at Nordstrom Rack! Not only are they a beautiful color, but I couldn't pass up the price. I was a little worried about the weight, as I normally wear studs, but they were manageable for me. I paired these with the polka dot blouse and white jeans for my travel outfit to my meeting. I will definitely be repeating the combo- I got a ton of compliments! Who doesn't like that?!

4 LOFT Eyelet Skirt. This scalloped skirt is so on trend for several reasons- beautifully scalloped bottom, flowy silhouette, and laser cut-outs around the edge! It's perfectly flirty yet tasteful for work. I have already worn this twice and am sure it will get a heck of a lot more use as the summer weather is here to stay!

5 Cole Haan Leather Tote. I have been carrying a tote bag from Target for the past 1.5 years and it has officially seen it's last day. It was so overdue, I probably could've retired it around Christmas and that may have seemed like I was stretching it. Needless to say, I am so excited for this new bag! I removed the exterior dogtag and love the sleek look. It has a coy zipper that lines the pocket for extra storage. I love having organization in my bags, and this has plenty of room for everything I need. I am not sure how long I will make it without multiple interior pockets, but this will be a great bag to have in rotation if I decide to pick up a second bag.

6 J.Crew Factory White Shorts. Obviously I've blown up the J.Crew outlet near my house, but I couldn't resist these! I didn't have a pair of white shorts before, and love these! Yet again, I have a pair in another color and was surprised at how thick the white pair turned out to be. I am very aware of the delicacy of white shorts these days and don't like when you can see everything including white/nude undergarments underneath! That's ridiculous. Thankfully, these fit my thickness requirement and were perfect with wedges for casual dinners in Arizona!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week, and thanks for stopping by to read! I truly appreciate every person who takes the time to read my ramblings and am thankful for those who come back post after post. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thanks, y'all!

Which item is your favorite? What have you purchased recently?

My Current Favorite Cover-Ups

Happy Memorial Day, y'all! Today is a day of thankfulness for me. I hope you're having a relaxing long weekend and wearing plenty of sunscreen! I'm thrilled for the official start of summer. My pool opened on Saturday and I have been at leisure all weekend. It's fabulous! This is the first time of the year that I usually start thinking about my pool gear and making sure that I have what I need (replacing anything old or getting anything I missed in years past!). I always buy a new bottle of sunscreen each year to ensure my ingredients are still active. I don't like to burn, and since I am so fair that takes extra effort to avoid it! One of my recent loves this time of year has got to be cute bathing suit cover-ups. I never gave much thought to them before- I would throw on a sun dress or t-shirt and shorts. Now, I appreciate the value of a good cover-up: not getting sunscreen/sweat on your clothes, lightweight materials, and of course, modesty. You never know where you might be headed after a morning at the pool/beach, so it's nice to have something that covers you up if you're going somewhere besides home! Here are a few of my current favorites right now.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

I will typically wear my dress cover-ups alone, and will throw on a simple tank with my shorts cover-ups. And voila! All you have left to do is grab your bag and head out for some relaxation. I am still excited to break out my Lilly For Target shorts that I got last month- they are just perfect as a cover-up! Super comfy and bright. Have an awesome rest of your long weekend! :)

What do you wear as a cover-up? Do you prefer shorts or a dress? Which is your favorite?

My Lilly New Arrivals Wish List

Hello hello! This warm weather we've had lately has created visions of flip flops and bikinis dancing in my head. I absolutely love getting new items for my summer wardrobe! I went through the new arrivals section of the Lilly Pulitzer and am even more excited to do some summer shopping. Here are my favorites from the Lilly new arrivals section!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1 Elsa Top. I am a huge fan of Lilly's Elsa tops. I currently only have 2, but look forward to expanding my collection. These silk blouses are amazing- they can be dressed up or down depending on the rest of your outfit and are PERFECT for work. I would love to add this bright one to my collection.

2 Sundress. Yellow has always reminded me of summer, and this dress is no exception. I love the sunny print and the fit looks amazing. The A-line shape would flatter so many different figures and truly is a home run!

3 Cover Up. Every girl needs a cute bathing suit cover up for those beach or pool days sure to happen over the summer! I love the detailing at the bottom and the flowy, laid-back vibe just screams vacation!

4 Cut-out Shift. I am typically not a fan of cut-outs on my dresses. This is a very tasteful take on the cut-out trend, and I love the whole dress!

5 Sandals. Gold is still so on trend this season! These are a gorgeous dressy flip flop, and I would wear them all the time if they were in my closet!

6 T-shirt Dress. Y'all, I am and forever will be a sucker for all things navy! This casual dress is a perfect option for vacation, work, or running around! I know that I would find any excuse to throw this pretty on if it was mine!

What are your favorite new arrivals? Do you have any must-have pieces for summer?

My Lilly for Target Experience

Hi readers! I hope you've been having a great week so far. Mine has been wild so far, but nothing compares to the wildness that I saw this weekend at the Lilly for Target launch.

That's right, y'all- I was one of the crazies who got up to do the launch in person! I went to a wedding on Saturday night and was leaving on Sunday to head back to VA, so I wanted to get some sleep and couldn't stalk the online launch. When I woke up to head to Target, I was hoping to pick up a few of my online only picks. I quickly discovered that they were all sold out. At 7 AM. 7!!!! I still can't believe that. That just solidified my mindset when heading into the store that I had to be strategic if I wanted to get any of my top picks!

My mom, sister, and I met at our local Target at 7:30 and were the second group in line. It was a rainy, chatty wait as everyone discussed their surprise at the online sell out and their wishlist for inside the store. They opened the doors promptly at 8, however we received a lecture beforehand about wet floors and where the different items would be located to help minimize frantic behavior.

When the doors opened, carts were grabbed and people began RUNNING towards the racks. We planned to go straight to the clothing and I just went for the prints that I loved online. I was able to get several dresses in my size and prayed that they fit. I kid you not, the racks were completely cleared within 5 minutes. I wasn't even able to make it to any other section before all of the goodies were snatched up. We gathered in the outdoor section to sort through our finds- we didn't want to hoard anything we weren't seriously considering purchasing in hopes that others would be able to enjoy them. We put back a few things that were grabbed in the wrong size and headed to the fitting rooms. Women were crowded around the fitting rooms waiting for people to discard their items. They were snatched up so quickly. The crazy thing was that people stopped discarding their items. Unwanted items were held onto and traded for others that were desired. How nuts is that! I seriously couldn't believe the tense energy within the Target.

I walked out with a nail polish, a bathing suit, three dresses, and a pair of shorts. Only two of which I intended to purchase, but I fell in love in the fitting room with items off of my list! I am hoping to pick up a few of my wants in returns (although I highly doubt any returns will happen), but I refuse to go pay a higher price on Ebay. I don't mean to get on a soapbox, but I think those mark-ups are ABSURD. If you wanted to pay $100 for a Lilly dress, go to their retail store and buy one made to be $100. I think that the prints for the Lilly for Target collection are beautiful but the way that they are able cut costs to sell them so cheaply is to make them with cheaper materials. You would not pay a 3x price gauge for a dress that didn't have Lilly on the tag, so just don't. Treat yourself to a dress worth your money. End rant.

Here are a few photos of my picks from shopping on Sunday!

Look familiar from Instagram? This was one of my must haves!

This was my other must have that I got- so happy to have snagged it!

Did you brave the lines on Sunday? Did you get any items from the collection? What are your thoughts on the Ebay situation?