Pink Statement Pieces

Dressing up denim has been a trend this week as I tried to keep things comfortably chic. The simplicity around dressing up a pair of jeans is my favorite (and Chris’ too!!) because that means getting ready never takes to0 long (sorry for always being semi-late boo!). Being “fashionably late” isn’t always an excuse for not arriving on time, I suppose, so now he’ll tell me we have to leave 30 minutes earlier than we do just to have that extra buffer time, which I somehow always need! The struggle is just so real, but when comes to what to wear with a pair of distressed jeans you really can’t go wrong, which is why I LOVE mixing and matching statement pieces to dress things up and get ready just a little bit quicker than usual!

These pink statement pieces have been favorites all summer and will continue to be as we make the transition into the fall. The combination of pink and green in these InStyleCo earrings are a show stopper and makes them both a great summer and fall jewelry piece. My pink Sam Edelman heels add another pop of color and texture.

Anyone else dressing up their denim during these heat to start transitioning into fall? I would love to hear about your favorite accessories!

Earrings: InstyleCo (PRO30 for Discount) Heels: Sam Edelman (SALE) Jeans: Express Tee: J Crew

Denim Days

Hot summer days are coming to an end and I have been making sure to take full advantage of every one! The weather cooled down drastically over the past week, but a heat wave has moved in, making it impossible to wear those cute transitional pieces I took out of storage last week, but no complaints here!! I love the changing of seasons, especially summer to fall, but I know it’s only a matter of time before winter arrives leaving us with short bitter cold days. 

Embracing the heat I have been reaching for a cute top and denim shorts all week! Dressing up a simple pair of denim shorts can be done by simply adding a cute top and a pair of sandals. The humidity and heat have me longing to be comfortable for whatever activity we have set up, but I also want to make sure Im not always in a pair of luxletic shorts and a tank, which is what I love so much about this combo, comfortable and cute (win win!). 

Denim shorts are always a hit or miss for me. Shorts in general are usually a struggle to find, but I have to say these denim shorts have been a favorite all summer, so much so that I bought another pair! They are easy to style with a tank or tee tucked in or even a cute peplum top. Knowing that it might get a little sticky out I wanted to have a breathable and light weight top to make sure I wasn’t uncomfortable in the heat. This embroidered top was cute and realistic, keeping me cool all day (can we also talk about the ties on the side!!! love me some bows!!!).

These pieces are great for any upcoming warm vacations you may have planed for the winter. I know these shorts and top will follow me to the Bahamas in February! The embroidered tie top is also great transitional piece for fall with duster and a pair of denim. As always, all the details to shop are below!

Hope you all are enjoying this weather and soaking it up! 

xoxo

Victoria

Striped Ruffle Top

Ruffles + Stripes = Obsessed

There is no better feeling after a long day at work then going home and changing into a cute outfit. This adorable striped ruffle top from J.Crew Factory is now on sale! J.Crew Factory is offer 50% off with an additional 20% with the code FORREAL. Links below to shop!

Outfit: Striped Ruffle Top, White Denim, Sandals

Beach Floral Romper

Beach days have been on repeat, which means super cute cover up rompers and straw hats have been my go to all week! 

This cutie is from Loft and to say I’m obsessed would be an understatement. Not only is the floral pattern sophisticated and fun but the tie front and pocket details are amazing. Can we also just talk about comfortable the fabric is?! Loft, please make a pajama set with this same fabric!!! 

The sizing I chose was a size S and while I’m usually a small at Loft I felt like I could have fit into the XS and it would have been a little more fitted because I did have some additional room by the sides of my arms. 

There is no doubt I’ll be living in this! To shop click the link below! Oh, and it’s on sale!!

Outfit Detail: Romper (ON SALE!), Hat (Similar), Shoes

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Summer has officially arrived and Chris and I couldn’t be more excited. The next two months our agenda is filled with BBQs, beach days and hanging poolside! 

I hope that each and every one of you had the best festive and fun Fourth of July yesterday! Connecticut is currently in the midst of a heat wave so Chris and I spent our day at the pool with family and played some lawn games! Corn Hole is a staple to our families fourth of July celebration and can get pretty intense (Chris always wins so if you ever need a partner, he’s in!). Once the heat had died down a bit (when I say died down, I mean no longer 100 degrees) we went out for the perfect festive dinner at Breakwater in the Stonington Borough (dock dinners are the best dinners!), grabbed some ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream and lit off some pretty exciting fireworks back at the house. The day was simply perfect and the best day to kick off summer!

This stunning red dress is a piece from the Rachel Parcell Collection and I could not be happier adding this lovely statement to my wardrobe. The fabric is light weight and perfect for a warm summer night (especially last night, it was 87 out when we went to dinner!). Aside from the flattering fit and flare silhouette, I absolutely adored the statement sleeves with the additional detailing. The extra touch and attention to make this dress a wardrobe summer staple made it perfect for a festive July 4th dinner.  

The Liberty Fit and Flare was paired with a classic eyelet wedge and classic silver jewelry. My wedges are another summertime staple and unfortunately sold out. I will definitely be on the look out for when they are back in stock so I can share them with you all because they are so comfortable (they are the best fashionable and COMFY wedge ever!), but until then I have linked some similar wedges here, here and here (its a super cute flat!).  

As I am sure you are just as bummed as I am that the 4th has passed us by so quickly, I wanted to share with you some ways to keep the party going throughout the weekend (because who doesn’t love a long weekend filled with fireworks and delicious food!). Below are great beach spots, upcoming firework displays and links to a few of my favorite festive dessert recipes. 

Beach Days

Beach days are simply the best and there is no better way to spend that day off than with your toes in the sand and waves by your feet. If you find yourself in Watch Hill, RI this weekend be sure to make your way down to East Beach, the entrance is right next to Taylor Swifts seaside home or if you are out on Block Island find a place at Clayhead Preserve. 

Fireworks, Fireworks, and more Fireworks! 

Check out the list before for all the upcoming firework displays in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts! Chris and I love going to see fireworks but if you are interested in headed home after a long beach day, then you should definitely pick up some backyard fireworks on your way, they will be 50% off now!!!! 

Guildford, CT will hold their fireworks on July 7th at the Guilford Fairgrounds at dusk. 

Greenwich, CT will hold their fireworks on July 7th at Greenwich Park and Binney Park at 9PM. 

Misquamicut State Beach in Rhode Island will hold their annual firework display on July 5th at 9PM. 

Woonsocket, RI will hold their fireworks on July 5th at Barry Memorial Field starting at 9PM. 

Seekonk, MA will hold their fireworks on July 7th at Seeking Speedway beginning at 9PM. 

Delicious Festive Desserts

Bringing a festive dessert or side dish to a picnic can be very welcomed and who doesn’t love the person that shows up with a few extra goodies! Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I have fallen in love with (as well as our guests) this summer! 

Cherry & Blueberry Star Hand Pies by the lovely Lauren of Going for Grace. 

Strawberry Mascarpone Ice Cream with Lime Sugar by Linda of Call Me Cupcake.

xoxo

Victoria

Polka Dot High-Wasted Bikini

Polka dots? Yes, please!!! 

I am loving the high wasted bikini trend right now and this is one of my favorite festive sets for the fourth of July.There is very little in my book that beats polka dots and I constantly find myself gravitating towards the color blue so this was a win win for me!!

I have linked some similar sets below as this one is sadly sold out, but these are all items that I would love to add to my bikini collection! Click the picture for the link to shop!

                   

           
               

Tea Time Florals

GMG’s, Julia Hengel, has simply out done herself with the new Gal Meets Glam Collection, especially with this stunning floral dress (now available at a special price!)! 

This is my second GMG purchase and I truly couldn’t be happier! All of the dresses in each collection are stand alone pieces with exquisite details that don’t need additional accessories to bring out their beauty. Each piece is easy to slip into and instantly a favorite! Being so easy to style, just a simple change from flats to wedges can bring most all of these dresses from day to night. 

My favorite details on the Margaret dress are the delicate buttons from the collar to the hem and, of course, the pockets!! If there is no better reason to purchase one of these beauties just remember they have POCKETS! 

The Margaret Dress not only is the perfect wardrobe staple for wedding season, but a stunning option for Tea At the Boston Public Library. A dress that will forever be in style has become a wonderful addition to my dress collection! 

Outfit Details: Dress, Wedges 

Summer Time Wrist Accessory!

Accessorizing has never been my strong suit. My struggle to find the right pieces to compliment an outfit and make a statement may be because I have grown comfortable with the traditional and transitional pieces that I already own. There are few times where I will stray from reaching for my normal accessories and put on a pair of statement earrings or a watch. The pieces that are inside my jewelry box already take me from work, to the weekend, to a night out so when I am putting an outfit together my ear and arm candy usually is a forgotten thought, but because my blog was created to expand my wardrobe that also means accessories and I wanted to share with you my new favorite watch! 

A statement piece for sure, my new Capitola Watch has been on my wrist on repeat! The sunshine yellow leather band adds the perfect pop of color and can easily be paired with gold or silver jewelry! The color is simply perfect for the summer months! As you know, quality is really important to me. I always prefer to spend a little extra to ensure that what might be my next favorite item lasts longer than a few wears and there is no doubt that this watch will be a staple accessory for a long time. As summer fades and we welcome fall you can even switch out your band! Already eyeing this one! Make sure to check out their website (here) for a variety of different styles (there is something for everyone!) and if you find yourself with a watch or band in your cart make sure to use the code VICTORIA for a discount! 

Can’t wait to see what you think? What color bands do you like the best?

US Open Golf at Shinnecock Hills

As one of our many adventures and a bucket list items we went to see our very first major yesterday! As with most brand new things there is a learning curve so here are some tips and tricks that will help you be fashionably ready, see all your favorite players and have the best time ever!

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress to be comfortable! The US Open Golf is a day full of walking and the last thing you want to be is uncomfortable. Of course, dressing comfortably doesn’t always have to mean depending on luxathletics and sneakers to get you through (Oh, how I love changing into sweats the moment I get home from work though), but can also be a super cute tank and skirt combo or a dress that gives you that “dressed up” feeling without causing you to wish you could run home and change while you’re out and about. My go to outfit for a long day out in the sun has always been a dress!

The heat and hills at Shinnecock Hills are deceiving! If you’ve been there before, you know that the wind can mask the heat for an hour or two and eventually die down to allow the blistering heat to surface, you also know that the  elevation changes along the course are substantial and having the right outfit for the day is so important. Knowing we would have beautiful weather and be walking around all day I chose to wear a Vineyard Vines Shirt Dress in a pineapple print and my Tory Burch Miller Sandals in Light Makeup. This dress is 100% linen and was perfect to combat the heat and my sandals are a go to for walking (they have never been a disappointment)! Also, don't forget your sunnies, when you are constantly looking to the sky they are a life saver! I love how I felt comfortable all day, but had that feeling that I had gone the extra mile and was dressed up!

TRANSPORTATION

Traffic is such a drag! If you are planning on attending for a day (like us) I would highly recommend taking the ferry. The Cross Sound Ferry has a wide range of departure times from New London, CT that will get you the US Open Golf for the beginning of the day. The drive from Orient Point to the US Open Golf is about an hour so you can either Uber or you can bring your car and drive. We chose to ride the ferry and bring our car to avoid the stress of getting from place to place and it was the best decision we could have made.

SHOPPING

The Merchandise Tent is anything but a tent. Essentially, it a beautiful store full of  stunning golf ware. Everything from Polo and Vineyard Vines to Under Amour, there is something for everyone. Even if you aren’t a golfer yourself and just prefer to be a spectator there are a wide variety of hats, shirts, and pull overs. I could have spent hours in there trying on different outfit combinations for days out on the golf course. Check out my insta stories later today to see what I purchased!

FOLLOWING THE PLAYERS

There are so many different options for how spectators can follow or view their favorite players. Ultimately, it boils down to two different possibilities. You can grab a seat in the stands at a particular hole or you can walk along with the players. Chris and I both wanted to see a variety of shots so we decided to walk the course and find our favorite players hit from the tee, bunker and putt. The best holes to watch (or at least my personal favorites) are Hole #8 and in between Hole #1 and #2. If you walk ahead from the players you are hoping to see (about two holes ahead) to the 8th you can grab a great spot right up next to the rope directly behind the tee. A tee shot from that perspective is just so neat! Also, watching in between Holes #1 and #2 at the exit point you are able to have the opportunity to see some putting or a drive. You are also in a great spot to view the players up close!

If you are headed there this weekend, definitely let me know! I would love to hear how your experience went! Anyone been to a major before?

The Best Flower Nursery in Rhode Island

Flowers are my favorite, if it wasn’t already obvious! There is so much to love about them (the fragrances, the colors!) that it’s hard to not fill our home with fresh bouquets and our yard with beautiful bushes. My love for flowers has always stemmed from my grandmother and mom, who both placed so much effort and passion into covering the yard and our home with fresh stunning blooms. At a very young age, watching my mom and grandmother out in the garden (and, of course, after watching The Secret Garden) I knew that I would one day want a floral oasis of my own. Many hours have been spent daydreaming of ways to incorporate flowers into every aspect of our yard and until we purchased our first home last year these daydreams remained just that, dreams.

Just my favorite flowers ever! Aren't they just stunning?

Built in 1840, our charming historic home’s landscape had been neglected for some time. When we purchased our dream home, just a little less than a year ago, the amount of yard work that had to be done before we could even begin to think about flowers was immense. Chris has spent countless hours clearing bushes, cutting down over grown vines, trimming trees, removing old flower boxes or stumps that were forgotten by the previous owner and replanting grass (THANK YOU BABE!). The process has been long, but after a full summer of prepping we were ready to begin to incorporate all of our favorite flowers into our yard.

The Farmer’s Daughter was a no-brainer when we were deciding where we should go to find the best quality flowers, bushes and herbs. When Chris and I first moved in together in Providence we went to The Farmer’s Daughter looking for herbs and were blown away. We knew instantly that when we were to purchase our dream home and create the most lovely landscape we would have to come back. Almost four years to the day, we found ourselves this past weekend awing at their selection and adding countless items to our “wish list”.  Lemon trees (I desperately want one!), varieties of fresh herbs and vegetables, rose bushes, hydrangeas, if I were to go on I’m afraid this post could turn into a novel. The variety is incredible and the staff invaluably knowledgeable.

 This adorable little house! 

 More of these beauties! 

 Look at these planters! I want them all! 

For years (and many many trips to Nantucket) Chris and I have been swooning over hydrangeas, but so unsure about how they would weather in our own yard. The staff at The Farmer’s Daughter put our minds at ease and went through every step necessary to care and maintain these gorgeous flowers (my favorite flowers ever!) and so in just one trip, we left with four hydrangea bushes, three tomato plants, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, basil, rosemary and lemon thyme. Finally, I had come home with hydrangeas and not only are they a constant reminder of our getaways to Nantucket with my husband and best friend, but of my grandmother who also found these blue budding flowers to be her favorite.

 Backyard goals?

 These shoes are old! :( But if you scroll to the bottom I have some details on them!

Thank you Farmer’s Daughter for helping us adding a piece of us to our home! We can't wait to visit you again this summer!

Outfit Details: White Denim, Off-White T-Shirt - Similar (Here and Here), Cashmere Sweater available at A Summer Place in Watch Hill, RI....I work on Saturdays so make sure to stop in and we can order you a sweater in a variety of colors!, Shoes (Old) these shoes are Kelsi Dagger and you can't go wrong with any pair! Bag - Similar (Here and Here)