Wishlist Wednesday

I think I email my mom links of things on my ever-changing "wishlist" every.single.day - it's almost as if there were more holidays in the year than two (and yes, I am counting my birthday as a holiday)!  It was a standing joke when I was little that I could not give my "wishlist" to my mom until October (for Christmas) or January (for my birthday) because if that rule was not set in stone, I would be handing her a new list 365 days a year!  Even before blogs and pinterest - I always found a way to find cute new "stuff" to adore!!  Well, somehow that rule kind of disappeared, and I have officially sent her enough items to last me through my 50th birthday (potentially more...)!! Since I'm over quota on the email links, I thought I would just start putting some wishlist items on my blog instead... You know, just in case she potentially loses access to her email, or wants to surprise me with unexpected mail ;)  Maybe?  Don't worry... she knows that these are hints and I am sure she is 100% ignoring me right now! But... how fabulous is this necklace :)  LOVE.  Anyone know where I (my mom) can find it??!! ;)  xxoo!

images {via}

Meet Jess LC

I was so excited to get to chat with Jess from {Jess LC}, a Chicago based designer who runs a successful business that she started when she was 15 years old!  I love Jess' {story} because she is passionate, dedicated and a hard worker - 3 traits that make any woman stand out! :)  But... I also love, love, love her products!  She is known for her jewelry collection as well as her chic handbag line - the Lake Shore Collection!  I think every woman I know is going to receive her {Lake Shore Clutch} as a Christmas present this year!  Oh, and this {necklace} is one of my favorites, I wear it often :)  Since you can read all about how she started her business on her website, I thought it would be fun to ask Jess some personal questions.... check them out below and then hop on over to her {blog} or {online flagship store} for more browsing!  Thanks Jess for allowing me to feature you today!

images via Jess LC {Lake Shore Lookbook}

{1} What is your favorite item from your line? 

Hm, I think my favorite item is the Lake Shore Tote. However... I do wear the crossbody just as much, if not more often.

{2} What are you inspired by? 

I am usually most inspired by interior trends and applying them to my designs. Since I love decor more than any other hobby (besides bag collecting), it is easy to get ideas from furniture or home photos. But, once I have my inspiration, I then go about making sure that there is a lot of flexibility with my pieces so they can be worn multiple ways, or with most items in my closet. I'm all about intentional design. 

{3} What was your biggest "wow" moment during your career so far? 

Great question! I remember our first Daily Candy feature a few years back being a huge milestone for me. I had wanted to be on their site for years as I developed my brand and after 9 years or so, it finally happened! Needless to say, it was a great email to get. I now have it framed in my home. 

{4} Is there is anything in the future at Jess LC that we should keep our eyes out for? 

Yep! There are four new collections coming out this fall in brand new areas we haven't touched before. I can't say too much, but I can say the collection names will be Quincey, Webster, Grand, and Randolph - we name our collections after Chicago streets. 

{5} What is in your bag? 

Since it's the summer, my bag doesn't carry much. Right now it has a hot pink reusable grocery bag, a pen, my gold leather coin purse from an upcoming collection, and my smart phone. Oh, and I keep a Neutrogena lip balm in there as well.

You can find me at {Daily Crush}

Hi Friends... Hop on over to {Daily Crush} to see her Fall Fashion Forecast Series. Today I am posting about the number one trend on my fall shopping list - Sweater Dressing! So excited for Fall... it's right around the corner!  Thanks for having me Katie! xo.

all images found via {pinterest}

Instagram: Pretty Drinks

I am so excited to host my first blog LinkUp... and what better way to do that than to have an Instagram LinkUp!  I know I don't have to express my love for instagram anymore, so all I am going to say is that I am soooo excited to see your photos!  Oh, and if you didn't get a chance to link up this week, I have a feeling I am going to continue this "party" every Monday!  So stop back next week - It's easy... just blog your favorite photo(s) from the past week and then hop on over to link your blog and browse other photos! 

This week my favorite instagram'd photo is the one above!  I bought my new favorite necklace last week and have already worn it 3 times (which is a lot for such a statement piece), so I thought I would take a photo to share with you (I love it that much!)!!!  But... I noticed this week when I was going through all my instgram'd photos that I love taking photos of drinks... here is what I have been drinking lately!  Yum!

I have to share another photo that I absolutely love... but it was not taken by me.  My friend Natalie took this gorgeous photo at her friend's wedding!  How adorable is it?  Perfection!

{LinkUp Below} 

Happy Weekend!

Happy Weekend!  So far... it has already been fantastic, but now I am going to make myself do some work and catch up on the new job a little bit!  I am really excited for this week on my blog though... come back on Monday to link up your favorite instragram photos from this past week, then check back for some fall fashion, a couple guest posts and more daily inspiration!  xxoo.

Fabulous K started a new series called Girl Faulous and I loved learning more about one of my favorite Bloggers, Bradley from Luella and June {here}!

These {mini milkshake shooters} are to so adorable and just perfect!  I want to have a party tomorrow just so I can serve them!

I found a local Philadelphia fashion blogger and I am loving here style and braid {here}!

Rachel never fails to find the perfect home office for her Wednesday Worskspace Series.  This crisp white with blue accents is ahhh-mazing!  Check it out {here}!

and last but not least.... I found my new Bar Cart!  How perfect is she (below)! I would also like to get the red chair to go beside it... I would decorate it the exact same way, Louie and all ;) I can't wait for {Society Social} to launch next week!

Society Social

Instagram Link-up on Monday

Hey Blogger Friends!!  After spending another unproductive hour browsing people's instagram photos, I thought it would be fun if we linked up our favorite photos together!! If you follow my blog you know I love taking photos and I absolutely love the instagram app! But even more so... I could browse your photos all.day.long!!! :) So I thought this coming Monday (8/15) I would host a link-up to your favorite instagramed photos from the previous week{end}.  Hope you guys will join in! And... hey, if it turns out to be successful, maybe we can do it weekly! I would love to have a chance to see even more photos than I already browse! :) I'll have the post ready to go at midnight, but feel free to link up whenever! If you don't use instagram, download it now - it's the BEST.ever.!!! And... If you don't have an iPhone (my blackberry/android friends), feel free to participate, just post your favorite photo from the previous week!! All are welcome to join!! I can't wait to see your instagrams!

PS. I know most of you bloggers know how to link-up... but if you're new - it's so easy! All you have to do is post your favorite instragram (or photo) on your blog (doesn't have to be an elaborate post since photos speak for themselves) then hop on over to my blog and link your post up and browse the other links! I will have a link tool all set up, so it will be a piece of cake (ohhh, cake, that sounds yummy)!  See you on Monday!  xxoo!

Friday's Fancies: {Seeing Red}

This week's Friday's fancies is inspired by outfits and decor that have red on the bottom and white on the top!  Such a fresh, fun twist on a classic color combination!  I think the inspiration board speaks for itself... love all the looks!  Hope you like my outfits this week! :)  I created one for drinks at a cute byob restaurant and one for walking around exploring my new neighborhood in Philly (both of which I hope to accomplish this weekend)! Hop on over to {long distance loving} for more Friday fashion!  Have a great weekend!!  If you are on the computer tomorrow, check back for some Saturday link love!

all images via {pinterest}

Moving On... Moving Wide!

The President of Free People couldn't have said it better when she said, "it takes awhile for people to change their pant shape... it took 3 years to get everyone to buy skinnies..."  That statement is so true!  I remember years ago when skinny jeans first came out (I was still wearing my flare and boot cut seven jeans)... and said, "I don't think I will ever wear those!"  Well, every pant I own in my closet right now is some form of extreme skinny... until NOW!  I am ready to move on... I'm ready to go bigger... I'm ready for Wide Leg Pants! Are you on board yet?  Or will you be wearing your skinnies for another year or two?  I love these looks below... the perfect transformation into fall! :)

all images found {via}

London in 3 Weeks!

I am so excited because in 3 weeks I am heading to London with two of my girlfriends for a quick trip of eating, shopping and sightseeing!  I have never been before so I can't wait to get a little taste of the British life! We've kind of put together a little rough itinerary, but I need your help finalizing it!  I am taking all recommendation on the best restaurants, pubs and little shops that we don't want to miss out on!  Ahhh.... sooo excited!  Just hope those riots over there don't ruin all the fun!!  xxoo :) 

image {via}

Day 1

Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guards

Prime Meridian

Oxford Street Shopping

Savile Road

Dinner / Wine Bar

Day 2

Shopping at Harrods

High Tea at Lanesbourough

'We Will Rock You' Play

Drinks after the play

Day 3

Amazing Brunch Place

Portobello Road Flea Market

Maida Ville

Abbey Road

Early evening Beer Garden or Pub

Late night out!

Day 4

Stonehenge

The London Bridge

Big Ben

The London Eye at Sunset

 

I ♥ My Camera...

...and so do these ladies!  I absolutely love taking photos... personally and professionally!  I always have my camera on me... (well sometimes I just rely on my iphone) but I never want to miss that perfect shot! Not only do I love taking photos, I love browsing through photos!  That is why I spend countless hours browsing {pinterest} and instagram!  These photos below make me smile because they remind me of me and how much I love my camera!

all images found via {pinterest}

Aren't these photos just fabulous! :)  But... I also need your help!  I found this camera strap at {union} a few months ago and it is no where to be found now!  Does anyone know where I can get something similar to this?  I love, love, love!!! :)   Let me know!  xxoo

Happy 6 Months!

Hi Friends! :)  First, I am so sorry that I was the worst blogger ever last week!  It was just a crazy week that got away from me way.too.fast!  However, I realized this weekend that it was my 6 month blog anniversary!  I can't believe it!  It has been so fun blogging each week and I have met so many great blog friends!  And... I am at over 300 followers now - thank you, thank you for reading daily!!!  So...  you might have noticed a change when you hopped over to my blog!  Yes, that is right, I decided to change things up a little bit!  Say goodbye to my old header (for now):

...because Kelly, from {Fabulous K Creative} created this fun new header for me!  She even painted the banner with water colors herself!  I've been so inspired by water colors and love everything black and white, so why not combine the two to get....

images above via {pinterest}

I hope you like the new look!  And... I promise I will try to stay a little bit more on top of the blogging! Hope you have a great week!  I will because Bachelor Pad starts tomorrow! Ha! .... xxoo!

30 Day Shred

If you know me.... you are probably not even reading this blog post after seeing the title since I have seriously started a "diet" every single Monday since I can remember! Even though I have no credibility what so ever... this.is.for.real!  I am not going to say I'm fat, because I'm not... but I definitely need, ok really want to lose these awful 10 pounds I can not seem to ever get rid of! The funny thing is... it actually would be so easy for me to lose them if I learned to cook and didn't eat out every single meal!  Yup, that is right, every single meal [for the past 6 years]!  Oh, and for some reason I also think it is 100% appropriate to eat dessert after every single meal!  That's like 5 desserts a day! So below is my motivation...  I should some how make this a static post at the top of my blog to remind me daily to just spend a few minutes a day thinking about what I am eating!  They say... "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"!  We'll see about that!  I'll let you know my results in 30 days!  Oh, PS. Jillian Micheals is going to be my new bff for every day of August! 

But... really its the eating I need to change, not the working out!  Even though new abs and skinnier arms would definitely be a plus!  If anyone has any words of inspiration, I would love to hear :)  I really need to know quick, healthy snacks... because 3 cupcakes a day is going to catch up real fast! ;) xxoo!

All images found via {pinterest}