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?

Beach Weekend Essentials

Hey y'all! I hope this week is going well for you. Can you believe it's already August?! I'm freaking out a little bit. This year has been a wild one and I am just in shock that it's already the 8th month of 2015. This past weekend, I took some of my own advice and headed out for a spontaneous trip to the beach with a few girlfriends. I had the most rejuvenating time! We packed up the car and drove to Delaware for what was supposed to be a day trip, but we ended up finding a hotel vacancy and turned it into a little weekend getaway. More to come about my trip on Friday- be sure to check back! We had packed contingency bags just in case we were able to find a room but to say we were ill-prepared is an understatement! While you definitely need fewer items for a one night stay, there are a few things you shouldn't forget. To help you avoid my same issue, I wanted to put together a list of essentials for a quick beach getaway!

Well-packed beach bag. A beach bag is the first essential for a beach trip- for obvious reasons! You need a bag that you're ok putting on the sand and won't be upset if sand gets in. A few things I don't want to be caught on the beach without are sunscreen, chapstick (with SPF), a snack, headphones, a sunhat, and a coverup! Here are a few cute ones out there:

Towel. I'm a fan of the over-sized towels or beach blankets out there! It's nice to spread out. Also, if you're going with a group it helps you to claim more space on the beach. This is super helpful on some of the more crowded beaches.

Reusable water bottle. These are great for the beach- especially if it's insulated! That way, you are able to get some refreshing sips of water while you're out in the heat. There are usually water fountains to refill at, or if your beach has nearby restaurants you can full up at their drink stations! There are so many cute bottles out there, I couldn't help but share a few!

Beach read. I've been making reading more of a priority, and the beach is absolutely one of my favorite places to read! I'm not sure that there is better place. The sounds of the beach in the background, the warm sunshine... total relaxation! I'm usually able to get through my books quickly because I'm undisturbed when sitting out on the sand! Check out some of my reads as of late here.

Flip flops. It's so useful to have a pair of rubber flip flops when visiting the beach! I usually don't like to bring expensive shoes just in case they get wet or messed up another way! Sand can be cruel.

Thankfully, I had most of these packed. I did forget my water bottle and was seriously regretting it every time I had to pay $5 for water! But you've gotta stay hydrated on the beach. Hopefully you'll be perfectly prepared for your next getaway, and I hope it's soon!

What are your beach essentials? Did I miss anything?

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.

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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.

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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!

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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 Hunt for the Perfect White Jean

Happy Monday, readers! I hope y'all had fabulous weekends and Easter celebrations. Every year I look forward to the sermon on Easter Sunday. There's just something about it- I love the Easter service at church! It always leaves me feeling refreshed and humbled. On Saturday, I was on the hunt. And no, it wasn't for Easter eggs! I was determined to find a pair of white jeans. I have been looking for the perfect pair for several years now and have come away from every shopping trip empty handed. I don't know why, but I just wasn't able to find the right fit.

There are a ton of options out there- straight legged, cropped, flared, wide legged- it can be overwhelming! As I've said before, I have a difficult time with length thanks to my height. Many of the stores I shop at seem to think that everyone has super long legs! Not the case for me, so I was really thankful when JCrew came out with their ankle pants. They actually fit me perfectly lengthwise!

Alas, length is not the only issue I was running into with my white jean hunt. Material and stretch were working against me- white is definitely NOT as slimming as the dark washes I am used to shopping for. I was struggling to find the right amount of material give without crossing over into the "jegging" category (nothing against them, just not what I was looking for). I actually had a successful trip on Saturday and FINALLY found my perfect white jean!!

I just love them and can't wait to start wearing them! For those of you still on the hunt, I've gathered up some of the great options out there- I hope they help you find your perfect fit!

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Have you found your perfect white jean? Did you have to hunt to find them?

What to Wear to a Springtime Wedding

Happy Thursday! We are officially in Spring! In addition to allergy season, Spring kicks off wedding season. Weddings are one of those events when I can ALWAYS excuse buying a new dress. You know there will be a ton of photos, and I try to find dresses that can be worn to work as well. My college roommate is actually getting married this month, and I have yet to find a dress to wear! It's been a busy few weeks for me and I haven't been able to find time to go shopping. I did however find some time to peruse a few websites to see what's out there and narrow down where I'll shop in person.

I always have issues ordering dresses online, because of my height. I'm 5'3- which means that dresses who look normal length on the models come down to my shins! And I don't know about y'all, but I rarely get dresses hemmed. I don't really have a great reason, but I mainly just like to walk out of the store with something I can wear that night!

I associate Spring fashion with bright colors and floral accents, and weddings are no exception! I love dresses with sleeves this time of year- as the weather can still be unpredictable. As a wedding guest, I typically try to stay away from matching any themes or wearing a predominantly white dress. I've been raised to see that as rude or having ill-wishes towards the marriage (which in my opinion if you have those, you shouldn't be attending the wedding!). Have you heard of those rules? Do you have your own rules on dress code as a wedding guest?

Here are a few of my favorite picks!

Weekend Reading

Happy Saturday, readers! This weekend is coming as a much needed break for me. I feel like 2015 is just FLYING by so far, and I have been busy the whole time. I am planning on heading into DC today for a little sight seeing since we have been holed up with rain the past few days. I have been missing the sun so much lately! Enjoying a lazy morning or evening in? Have no fear- I have some great articles for you to click through.

Even before blowouts, I have been all about extending a good hair day. Check out these tips on adding more time in between washes!

I love these ideas for staying in the moment- I have experimented with unplugged holidays before and hope to continue to incorporate more of this disconnected time into my everyday life!

As many people have already freaked over this, I still have to share- Target released their Lilly Pulitzer for Target lookbook! It is gorgeous.

I am swooning over the Spring 2015 collection from Essie! At-home-manis are a favorite of mine. I love the new Flowerista and Petal Pushers!

Speaking of spring, I am loving these gorgeous blooms. I can't wait to have a garden of my own!

SPF is my best friend, therefore this guide to self-tanning might come in handy to get a little glow!

Per usual, here is a little online shopping with a spring-y twist!

Have a beautiful weekend! xo.

Put a little Spring in your step

It has been a long, rough winter for this peach. Although it's my second winter up in VA, I'm still barely used to the cold temps and snow. We have gotten a few teases of Spring weather recently but I have had visions of flowers and sandals dancing in my head since long before those! One part of my wardrobe that I'm particularly excited to expand is my sandal selection. I have plenty of flip flops, but far fewer sandals. I've perused the web a little already and many brands have released their spring lines! Here are a few of my favorites that I've seen so far {click to shop!}:

It's nice to think that sandal-appropriate weather is right around the corner {hopefully}. I'm ready to swap out my wool socks and Bean boots for some of these lightweight pretties!

Have you started your Spring shopping list? What are you currently coveting? Do you have a favorite pair of sandals that you can't live without?

Happily linking this post up with the Spring Fling Link-Up!

A little weekend recap + online shopping

Happy Sunday! I hope y'all have had a wonderful weekend. Staying in stride to last Sunday's lazy day post, I wanted to share some of my life happenings lately! This weekend was just what I needed- laying around and relaxing.

On Friday I caught up with a sweet friend from home, as well as had a much needed FaceTime date with my sister. Since moving 10 hours away, it has been increasingly difficult to keep up with my friends still back home. I don't think it's a result of drifting apart, more so that we all have separate lives going on in separate places now. We each have stressful work days, long to do lists, and attempt to keep up a social life with those still around us. Trying to mesh together 2 sets of those, with varying schedules and sometimes timezones, can get messy. With that being said, I absolutely cherish the times I do get with my friends because I realize how difficult it is to make it happen. My sister and I have the guilty pleasure of watching Hart of Dixie on the CW together. It's been a fun activity for us to do even though we aren't physically together when we watch. Having someone to discuss episodes and plot twists with is the BEST! I finally caught up to the live airings on TV, so we can now FaceTime during the show or afterwards to discuss. I'm sure she appreciates that we are now on the same episodes so she doesn't have to keep plot secrets from me anymore!

Saturday was awesome. I made myself breakfast and enjoyed it from my bed, as seen above {please pop over to my Instagram to follow along with me!}. My morning consisted of sipping coffee and discovering new blogs to read. I absolutely love reading other people's blogs- whether it be fashion, cooking, travel, or lifestyle/personal! I find all kinds of inspiration from others. After doing some blog hunting, I got sucked into a little online shopping! I didn't have plans until the evening, so it's not hard to distract me with some online shopping. I am currently trying to expand my accessories collections, and I've included some of my favorites I saw yesterday below!

Sunday consisted of the usual Sunday activities- church and grocery shopping. Unfortunately we are in the middle of another icy mix so the roads and sidewalks are pretty slick. It's enough to keep me stuck inside to be honest. I was able to get out- I met up with a girlfriend for lunch and we went to go see 'The Duff' for some silly laughs. It was definitely entertaining, but I think I am officially too old for teen movies! Me and my friend were the only people laughing at certain jokes, which upon later discussion were determined to be the jokes built in for parents. Wow. What a rude awakening! Are Urkel jokes really THAT outdated?! I didn't think so. Oh well. I surprisingly have made it this far into the weekend without starting House of Cards.. This snow/wintery mix must be messing with me. I'm sure I'll just be addicted once I start, so I'm putting it off to try to make it last as long as possible!

How do you keep up with long distance friendships? Have any blog suggestions for me to check out?

Snuggle Up!

With all of the cold weather happening up here, I can't think of anything more essential than a cozy set of pajamas to snuggle up in after work! I've gathered up some great {and warm!} picks for y'all to stay in and get comfy.

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Skinny PJ Pants. These skinny-leg cuties are a dreamy twist on traditional pajama pants. They look perfect for lounging and would slide perfectly into socks or Ugg boots.

Plain Jane PJ Set. Matching sets may be cliche, but they're a classic for a reason- they rock! I'm working on expanding my personal collection currently.

Shirtdress. Smooth fabric and long sleeves make for a luxurious combo. To make this nightgown warmer, throw on a pair of leggings underneath.

Lounge Set. This stretchy set gives freedom of motion that would make any curled up position comfortable.

Flannel. Need I say more?

Cocktail Set. I can't think of a better set for a girly sleepover or girls night in! Sipping cocktails in your cocktail pjs is absolutely insta-worthy.

Sleep Shirt. Not only do I wholeheartedly agree with the text, but I'm a sucker for over-sized sleep tops. Sign me up!

Tonight, I plan on staying in for a quiet night. It's been a busy, busy week and I can't think of anything I'd rather do than curl up on the couch in front of the fire and enjoy a movie! I hope y'all have an excellent weekend!

xox. T