old navy dresses.

[image courtesy of Old Navy]

My regular photographer (who doubles as my boyfriend, Nick) recently started a new job and doesn't get home from work until it's already dark. While this is great news, it also means that my "what i wore" photos will be a little more sporatic until I figure out a new photographer...I may have to resort to selfies! :)

However, I wanted to share what I'm wearing today, which is the Split-Neck Sleeveless Dress from Old Navy in black. This is truly one of the most flattering dresses I've ever purchased, sooo comfortable...and it can be dressed up for work (with cap toe flats, a cardigan, and delicate gold jewelry like I'm wearing today), or dressed down for a day in the sun with a pair of sandals as shown above.

Old Navy has a ton of other great dresses this season (here, here, here, here, and here), and they're having an online only 20% off sale until May 6th with coupon code ONSAVE20. Don't miss out!

Has anyone else found any great finds at Old Navy this season?

xoxo,

what i wore: red dress

dress: Target (red sold out but similar here, and also seen here)  |  jacket: Old Navy  |  shoes: Banana Republic  |  Watch: Timex  |  Sunglasses: Forever 21 (old)  |  Necklace: Tiffany & Co.

I bought this dress from Target a few months back when it was still cold, simply because it had little bikes printed all over! I love the cut of the dress, and the fact that it has pockets makes it even better. Paired with my go-to flats and a jean jacket, and you have the perfect casual spring outfit. The only thing missing is a tan! :)

xoxo,


P.S. Please excuse the wrinkles...after posting these I realized I'm desperately in need of an iron!

friday finds.

[Lori and I with the Manhattan skyline behind us]

[The Empire Hotel across from Central Park, aka Chuck Bass' hotel :)]

[The Empire State Building]

[Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich  Village...SO GOOD!]

[Pizza from Keste Pizzeria in Greenwich Village...best pizza ever!]

[The Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn...they have an amazing rooftop bar]

[Lori and I on the Brooklyn Bridge]

[View of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry]

This week's "Friday Finds" are taken from my trip to New York two weeks ago. My friend Lori and I took a girls vacation, and first spent two days in Washington DC, then four days in NYC. This was my first time in New York, so I wanted to see all the main attractions: Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, take the subway, etc. I think the only thing I didn't manage to see was the WTC Memorial.

All in all, we had a fabulous time in NYC, tried some great restaurants, and were able to hang out with some really great people!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

xoxo,

spring finds: handbags

1. Charlotte Russe  |  2. ModCloth  | 3. Forever 21  |  4. Target  |  5. ModCloth  |  6. Forever 21  |  7. Target  |  8. H&M  |  9. H&M  |  10. J. Crew Factory

Now that spring is in full force, it's time to update your handbag(s) for the season! I'm often guilty of using the same clutch for months on end, simply because I'm too lazy to make the switch. However, after finding these colorful (and more importantly  affordable) bags, I'll be investing in a few new pieces this weekend...starting with #2 and #7 above!

Has anyone else found any great spring handbags lately?

xoxo,

s'mores brownies.

I first discovered the "s'mores brownies" on Pinterest, "liked" the pin, then by the time I got around to making them, I couldn't find the recipe! As a result, I improvised and put together my own recipe. However, I'll admit I'm sort of cheating here...the brownies are from a box. But hey, when crunched for time these are the perfect dessert to whip up in less than 45 minutes!

First off, you'll need a box of your favorite brownie mix, along with the required additional items the recipe calls for (vegetable oil, water, and two eggs in this case). For the "s'mores" portion you'll need about half a bag of mini marshmallows, one packet of graham crackers, and a large milk chocolate bar.

Go ahead and prepare the brownie batter according to the back of the box and pour into a 9x13" baking dish. Preheat your oven according to the instructions on the box...but reduce the baking time by about 3-5 minutes.

Once you pull the brownies out of the oven, generously cover the entire surface with your mini marshmallows, milk chocolate pieces, and crumbled graham crackers.

Place the dish back into the oven, and set the broiler for about 3-5 minutes. Each oven is different, so pay careful attention that your brownies aren't getting burnt to a crisp...you just want the chocolate slightly melted and marshmallows lightly browned!

Once complete, remove the dish from the oven and let cool for about 15 minutes...careful, the marshmallows will be HOT! Once cooled, cut into squares and enjoy!

xoxo,

what i wore: orange + gold

dress: J. Crew (old)  |  shirt: H&M  |  belt: H&M (taken off a skirt)  |  watch: Target  |  bracelet: DIY Target necklace made into a bracelet  |  earrings: Forever 21  |  ring: Forever 21  |  shoes: Ann Taylor

 

After eying this dress for months at J. Crew, I finally bought it last fall on clearance for more than 50% off. It definitely pays to wait...I never pay full price for J. Crew!

I love the cut of this dress, though the color makes it a little difficult to wear very frequently. I only wish I had gotten the blue version as well when it was available! Thank god there's eBay :)

Do any of you regret passing up a good deal when you had the chance?

xoxo,

friday finds.

[touring DC on a double decker bus like a true tourist]

[awesome organic breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien before a long day of sightseeing]

[escaping from the heat in LOFT...loved this nautical striped blouse]

[subway tunnel in DC...their metro is the cleanest public transportation I've ever used!]

[beautiful view of the Smithsonian]

[relaxing breakfast on the train ride to NYC]

Today's "friday finds" are highlights of my trip to the east coast last week. My friend Lori and I took a week long girls trip to Washington DC and then NYC. The weather in DC was amazing, sunny and hot! During our two days in DC we managed to see all the usual spots...the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House, Capital, Smithsonian (most of which can be seen on my Instagram)...and we still managed to fit in some shopping and try some amazing food!

NYC photos to follow next week! Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

this vs. that: coral dress + wedges

1. J. Crew Camille dress, Michael Kors chronograph watch, J. Crew Bubble necklace, J. Crew Seville wedges  |  Forever 21 A-line dress, Ily Couture Statement necklace, Target Merona watch, Target Merona wedges

Today is the first day this year that I have not had to wear a coat to work! In honor of this monumental event, I'd like to share a great spring outfit...and a near identical one that you can purchase for a fraction of the price! Or if you're like me, you already have similar items in your closet, and maybe you just need to pick up a pair of wedges, or a new necklace.

What's on your spring shopping list this year?

xoxo,

what i wore: pink + gray

 

blouse: H&M  |  jeans: Forever 21  |  shoes: Payless (also seen here)  |  purse: Coach (old)  |  watch: Timex  |  rings:  Old Navy (old)  |  necklace: H&M (old)

While I usually gravitate to more form-fitting shirts and blouses, I've noticed a lot of great looser fitting blouses lately and had been searching for one that wouldn't overwhelm my frame. I really loved the color of this one at H&M was pleasantly surprised at how well I was able to incorporate it into my wardrobe. Here I paired it with a basic pair of gray skinny jeans, but I also planning on tucking this into a pencil skirt for work and pairing it with a pair of white skinny jeans this summer.

How else would you wear a looser fitting blouse this spring?

xoxo,

friday finds.

This week's "Friday Finds" are from the east coast. It's been a great few days and we have four more to go!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!