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Currently

Currently #42

June, where have you gone?! I can’t believe we are at the end of another month. There were certain times that this month felt slow and sweet and then I blinked, and I was planning things for July. These past 30 days have been filled with lots of walks, books, grilling, sunshine, and summer adventures. I have been making my way through my summer bucket list and doing more things that weren’t on the list. As we prepare to flip the calendar. Here’s a look at what’s Currently going on in my life.

What I’ve Been Up To: Through the entire month of June, I have been marking things off my summer bucket list. From day trips, to picnics, walks and time outdoors, I have done a lot. 

This month, I made a trip to Columbus, where I went to the zoo and state park for grilling and a beach day. 

Columbus Zoo!
More animals- I loved the polar bears!
And gorillas!
And finished the day at the beach!

I also enjoyed playing mini golf and trying a new to me pizza shop and park for a walk.

Pizza in the park!

Picking strawberries was on my summer bucket list and I accomplished that and made seven jars of jam in addition to lots of fresh berries to eat.

Strawberry picking day!
Our haul!
Some of the end results!
And strawberry shortcake too!

Another big highlight of the month was my birthday present from my boyfriend, more on that in the coming weeks!

Here’s a tease for where I went…

I rounded out the month with a trip to the beach to visit family and it was so good to see relatives and get some time by the water.

The shores of New Jersey!
The boardwalk!

What I’m Wearing: Besides your typical shorts and graphic t-shirts on days off, I did a big summer clothing haul at the start of summer and have been wearing new pieces to work. Lots of bright colors and patterns, plus quality clothing coming your way too.

One of my new dresses. I have been wearing lots of pink!

I also have been wearing lots of short sets too! Like this one!

 

What I’m Reading: I got a lot of books for my birthday and have been slowly making my way through them.

I started this month with Best Served Hot. I saw this book on display at the library and was immediately drawn in by the plot and checked all the boxes for a good read! Rom-com, takes place in a big city, and talks about food! The story follows a food critique and a food influencer as they try out different restaurants in NYC, first as competitors and then on a collaborators. The best and dare I say, worst part of the book was the details of all the foods they were tasting. The description was so vivid, which just made me hungry while I was reading.

I also read Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. I really enjoyed her book, Little Fires Everywhere and I was excited to read this book. I will admit, it was a heavier novel, but I learned so much about the Asian American culture and customs. It’s all about the lengths a mother will go to protect her family while doing what she thinks is right. Themes of unconditional love, sacrifice and coming of age are found throughout the book.

I also read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. This book takes a scientific approach to productivity and time management. I am all about maximizing my time and being as efficient as possible. This book was more research based and didn’t have as many tips or advice about management, but I still found it interesting. I appreciated how the book focused on time management through history and ways we can be make the most of our time on Earth.

What I’m Watching: I haven’t been watching too much tv as I have been doing my best to be outdoors as much as possible. I have watched some good family movies, like Air and A Man Called Otto.

Family movie night!

I also finished the series, Ted Lasso which was really good. I think the series wrapped up very nicely and I like how everyone’s storylines had closure. It was such a fun show to binge and watch week to too.

I also watched The Night Agent on Netflix. This was only ten episodes, with which episode lasting about 45 minutes. It was a mix mystery, intrigue, action, drama, and thriller, those are all good things I’m looking for in a series. I would recommend it if you were looking for a new show to binge watch.

The new season of Outlander is back! I have been making my way through season seven every week when their episodes air. 

Outlander is back!

And Just Like That Season 2. The girls are back with And Just Like That! I really enjoyed season one and have been enjoying what season has brought. It’s also been a fun show to watch weekly. 

What Inspires Me: I’ve been so inspired by summer fun! From outdoor meals, walks, trying new recipes and celebrating milestones.

Walks by the water

I also have been getting my runs in weekly and have enjoyed feeling stronger with each run I go on.

My longest run!
Delicious summer meals!
Picnics by the shore

What I Accomplished: This past month has been all about welcoming summer and really trying to be present in the moment.

Summer grilling and salad

I’m always trying to find time to sneak in time outdoors, whether it’s visiting a bit longer outside after a meal, reading outdoors instead of inside or finding time to go for a quick walk. 

Slow mornings reading outdoors.

Goals from Last Month: I kicked off my summer bucket and have been proud of the progress I’ve made so far which has been a win.

Enjoying all the fresh foods!

Goals for Next Month: Keep enjoying summer! I know it may not seem like much, but I really am trying hard to be present in the moment and soak up the sun, go swimming, grill, go on picnics, and make memories!

More grilling nights with lots of salads and fruits!
And more fresh salads (do you sense a trend here?)

The older I get the more I know how sacred family time is, so I’m doing my best to spend as much time with family as I can!

The beach all quiet in the morning.

I also have a concert planned and plans to visit friends! I’m looking forward to seeing those plans through. Plus, a lot of our local fairs and festivals gets underway in July so I’m looking forward to checking those out too!

Ending June with ice cream.

That’s a look into what’s Currently going on. A whole lot of summer lovin!  How have you been spending your summer? Let me know in the comments below!

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Fashion

Look of the Day #92

LOTD

Hey guys!

Happy Thursday!

I leave tomorrow for Rome! I’m super excited but a bit nervous too! I know it is going to go by fast, so I’m going to soak up as much as I can while I am there! I will still have posts that will go up next week, but I will have a more extensive post about traveling abroad after I come back! I’ll be posting on my Instagram all about my trip so be sure to be following along here!

Today’s look of the day entails another pop of pink for the last day of February! This outfit is warm and cozy for these last few winter weeks, fingers crossed spring weather is upon us sooner than later. Let’s start getting into the details of this outfit. 

Full outfit. Contrasting colors of black and soft pink

I decided to wear these black faux leather leggings with my outfit as a neutral look to go with my top and scarf. I got these leggings from Target a few years ago, but I am on the lookout for a new pair, where do you get your favorite leggings from?! Let me know in the comments below! 

This long pink turtleneck is my new favorite article of clothing for the winter months. I found it at GAP on sale after the holidays and it was the best find. I loved the turtleneck so much I got it both in light pink and gray.  I love the silky, soft material and the color. It is light weight, so it is not a bulky piece of clothing, a great top for transitional weather. I knew it was the perfect piece to add to my collection, this was the first time I wore it and I was so pleased with how my outfit turned out. 

Up close of the outfit without my scarf
Up close of the outfit with the scarf

This scarf is another item I got at Christmas that I added to my collection.  I wore it in a post a few weeks ago with a blue jacket and jeans and I loved pairing this scarf with lighter colors today. This scarf has colors of blue, pink, white, cream, and light tan. The light pink in the scarf matched the light pink scarf perfectly. These colors are perfect to pair with other outfits to mix and match them with. 

Up close of the soft pink sweater, scarf, and leather leggings

Lastly, I wore my high black leather boots to top my outfit off. I got mine from DSW. I loved matching soft pink and black together, they are the perfect combination of contrasting colors. I hope this outfit gave you some inspiration for your next outfit out and about. 

Up close of the scarf and the turtleneck

I’m off to finish packing for my trip before I jet off. I will see you when I get back. Remember to follow along on all my adventures. Have a great spring break!!!

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Fashion

Look of the Day #65

LOTD

Hi guys!! Happy Thursday!  Today I am heading back to school. Summer went by so fast, don’t get me wrong, I accomplished so much and had a wonderful summer, but I am still sad that it’s over. I will be posting a full summer recap later. For now, let’s just focus on this cute summer dress.

I got it in the spring and I have worn it so much this summer. It made a perfect sundress to throw on for a dinner party, relaxing after swimming, running errands, heading to Church or even as a cover up after a long day of swimming to throw over your bathing suit. ! There are so many cute things about this dress I don’t know where to begin!

A perfect summer dress for any occasion

Let’s start with the where I got It from. I got this dress from Land’s End. I used to get a lot of my clothes there when I was younger, but as I have gotten older, I haven’t shopped there as much. I do always love the good quality of their clothes and love all their styles. I always look through their catalogues, who knows maybe there will be some more Land’s End in the future.

Next up are the colors, I love the mix of whites, pinks, and oranges. They are the true colors of summer to me, not only were they bright but also colorful and cheery. I also love the cut and style of the dress. I like how it is more open and flowly. Plus, my favorite part? It has pockets!!! What girl doesn’t like a dress or skirt with pockets?!

Up close of the top

This dress can either be dressed up or down. I have dressed it down with my favorite pair of tan sandals from Kelly and Katie that I got from DSW. I have also dressed it up with a pair of nude wedges that I also got from DSW.

A more dressed up look

I love how versatile this dress can be, that is one thing I always look for when it comes to clothes, can it be worn in more than one way and what’s the practicality of it.

Looking back on how fast summer went by

Also, another shout of to my cousin Grace for capturing these great shots. Have a great weekend everyone!

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Fashion

Look of the Day #57

LOTD

Happy Thursday!!!

I love June, the sun shines brighter, the flowers smell better, and the children are out for summer. I love summer days, the perfect pair for warm summer weather is a cute outfit. Today, I have the perfect summer sun dress.

One of my favorite summer trends are cotton dresses. I love how lightweight and effortless they look When wearing cotton dresses, you can dress it up or down depending on the occasion. For example, with today’s look, I have worn it to work, to Church, and to a graduation party. The perfect summer dress for any occasion.

Wearing pink and going bold…it truly is the start of summer

Although, pink is not my favorite color, I wear it a lot in summer months. It matches my skin and hair well. I also like how there are several shades of pink and how they can be paired with other neutral colors like black, white, or nude to make more outfits.

Loving the boldness of summer

Focusing on today’s dress, I got it from Old Navy a few years back and I always like to wear it to change up what I wear when I go to work. It’s lightweight and made from soft material- both things that I love about Old Navy’s clothing. I love the bold stripes this pink and white dress provides, it really causes this dress to stand out.

I decided to wear my summer nude wedges with the outfit to dress it up. I wear these wedges a lot in the summer especially when dressing up. Nude shoes, whether they be heels, wedges, or ballet flats are a must when it comes to your wardrobe. I got my wedges from DSW, my go to for all styles of shoes.

I also made the decision to add some fun jewelry to the mix. I got these cute earrings at Charming Charlie’s and I got this necklace from Francesca’s. I love the metal daisies and how they add another dimension to the outfit.

Loving the jewerly and the pop that it adds to the outfit.

That’s a wrap up for today’s outfit. I hope this encourages you to go for a brighter color every once in a while. Have a sun shining weekend!

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Uncategorized

Look of the Day #55

LOTD

Hello! Hello! Hello all! Happy Thursday.  What a busy week it has been. Over the past week, my family and I have been very busy with graduation festivities. Both my brothers graduated this past week, one from high school and the other from eighth grade. Needless, to say graduation has been on our brains. I’m looking forward to this next week for things to start slowing down and to start enjoying summer between work (or at least try to) haha!

Between all the activities this past week, I wanted to share one of the outfits I wore to one of my graduations I attended. I got this dress several years ago, but I LOVE the fit and I always try to wear it to more formal events that I have.

Pop of pink for the start of summer!

This bright pink dress is from Francesca’s Boutique- one of my favorite stores. Not only do I love the color but I always love the material, pattern and cut!! The cut allows several different body types to wear this dress and have it complement them.

Since, I wore it to my brother’s graduation, I opted for a pair of nude heels for a more formal look, however, I have worn wedges with this dress in the past as well as black and navy blue heels with it because it is a bold color.

Due to the event, I decided to dress up the outfit with a pearl ring, necklace and earrings. I wanted my look to be more formal. However, for a more casual look, a bold, chunky necklace would work as would a pair of earrings.

Up close for the jewelry

This dress is perfect for any formal event such as a wedding, dinner, or awards ceremony. Since, it is just one bold color, your can dress it up or down as much as you want with jewelry. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when it comes to your wardrobe.  Have a wonderful weekend!

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Fun Ways to Organize

How to Organize: Your Purse

It’s the accessory that makes or breaks your outfit. Yes, ladies, I am talking about your purse. Whether you are a wristlet lady, backpack lover, or large tote type of gal. We all use purses. They may look cute and fashionable on the outside, but the inside is a different story. Today is all about organizing your purses or handbags.

This post will be geared more towards handbags, totes, and purses. Sorry wristlet lovers, but I don’t have a lot of advice for you. I personally like totes or bigger handbags. I like to fit more things in one big bag rather than have several smaller bags. I like to change my bags a lot. Reasons? Various occasions, changing seasons, different purposes. My solution to keep me organized is by using lots of little bags to put in one bag, that way you can change bags with little hassle, stay clean, and organized all at the same time. Let’s get started!

Dump It.
I like to start out by dumping everything out. Empty out your entire purse and clean it out. Throw away any old receipts, gum wrappers, and clutter that takes up your purse. This way you are left with a clean slate to get started

. Before. A peek into my purse!

Sort it.
I like to see what I have and then put it into piles that work best for me. Sort everything in your purse into groups. For example; all loose change in your wallet along with money and credit cards. I put all my travel cosmetics in one area (lip balm, brush, mirror, hair ties, lotion, sanitizer etc.

Separating and organizing into piles. All my cosmetics/beauty stuff on the go.

All organized in one medium cosmetic bag from Victoria’s Secret PINK collection.

A mix of gum, tic tacs, headphones and keys.

All organized in a small bag from Thirty One.

Bag it.
I like to put all my piles into bags so they are easy to find and accessible. I mix and match small and large cosmetic bags but it all depends on how you like you things organized. I have found great travel cosmetic bags at Target for under $5.00 and they are so easy to clean

Sunglasses are always a must in any season. I keep mine safe in their own case.

All my cosmetic bags along with my wallet, some snacks, and my current favorite read.

The finished product.

After. The inside all organized.

Lastly, keep it clean and organized. Use whatever method works best for you and try to keep up with it. An organized purse= an organized mind. Leave your favorite tips for organizing in the comments.

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Fashion

Look of the Day #10

LOTD

Gotta love a pop of pink in the middle of the summer. Thanks to my talented cousin for all the pictures.

Lots to talk about on this lovely Thursday! Today, I decided to change it up and show TWO different looks for two different women.

First, I want the give a HUGE shout out to my cousin for taking these amazing pictures. You will see more in future posts but here’s a sneak peek. She is so talented and I was so lucky to have her help me with these new shots.

A HUGE thank you to my cousin for all these amazing pictures (more to come in future posts)

Plus, how cute is her outfit?! I’m kinda obsessed. Her bold pants are so comfortable and are from TJ MAXX (one of my favorite stores) In a previous post I talked about how it’s good to have a few solid t-shirts in your wardrobe and its paying off. The white t-shirt complemented her pants perfectly. She got her shirt from TJMAXX as well and her shoes are from Marshalls. I love the straps on them!  Thank you so much Anna!!

I’m in love with this outfit. The pants are a must have for me!

Now, for today’s looks I’m showing two different styles of dresses. Another big thank you to my mom, who stepped in front of the camera this time to show off her outfit.  Both dresses are from Old Navy. They are both light weight which are great for summer and come in a variety of colors. I personally like to go with bright, bold colors so, I went with pink. My mom decided to go with blue, which is a more relaxed color.

Gotta show my mom some love on the blog. And i had to show her dress off!

Starting off with my look, I went the bright pink dress. I loved the cutouts in the front and back and I love how it was loose fitting. Since it is a solid color I can add different statement pieces. I decided to down play my look with just a simple pair of wedges. But, I could also add a sweater, jacket, or bold necklace to change up the look. I am always wearing these shoes. They are super comfortable, they are nude (gotta love a neutral color), and they are versatile. I can wear them with a dress, capris, or even jeans. Wedges are on my summer must have. I got mine from DSW.

Gotta love a pop of pink in the middle of the summer.

My mom decided to add more accessories to her outfit. She went with a similar dress in blue (her favorite color). She also decided to get a style with longer sleeves. They are ¾ quarter length and the dress works great for a night on the town with a bit of a breeze. My mom decided to add some jewelry. Her necklace and bracelets are from Old Navy as well. I love to use jewelry to make a statement but I love dhow my mom had her jewelry match her dress. I also like how she wore a pair of sandals to dress down her outfit. I, on the other hand dressed it up with wedges.

My mom is showing off her blue dress, on sale from Old Navy.

I love how she matched her jewelry perfectly to her dress.

I love how you can see two very different styles and outfit puts together from dresses that are so similar. I hope this gives you a few ideas for outfits to wear in the middle of the summer. As well, as show you how you can wear similar dresses in different ways.