Short Story

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I think we’re at that point of the season where New York “spring” catapults to sweaty summer overnight.  I realized this while walking to work this morning in my spring coat, when 5 short steps in, I became extremely uncomfortable.  NEWS FLASH NEW YORK: Spring ended yesterday, say goodbye to layers until Fall.  And say hello to SHORTS!  Personally, I have always been a fan of shorts.  Oddly enough I think they flatter me more than skirts.  Last weekend, while perusing Chelsea Market with my mamma, I spotted these gems at one of those confusing Sample Sales, with a smorgasbord of items you have to sift through for days.  But everryyyy once in a while, you find a rose among thorns (i.e. the Walter Baker Aztec diamond beauties below).  As we continued on with our day I soon realized the plethora of adorable patterned options out there this season!  Thank you Anna Wintour (or whoever ignited this trend)!

The fun thing about shorts is that you can style them different ways to create many different summer looks!  Dress them down with sandals and a simple tee or dress them up at night with wedges and some fun gems (sidenote: tread lightly with the heels & shorts look…it can be challenging and often times disastrous).  Here are a few options for styling your patterned shorts this season!

Patterned Shorts - 1

sources here

Patterned Shorts - 2

sources here

Patterned Shorts - 3

sources here

Enjoy this beautius day!  And take those pants off – it’s short season ladies!

XOXO

Royally Fabulous

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K-Midds (for short) is somehow relatable but also bloody utterly fascinating.  Maybe its the modern Cinderella story, or maybe it’s because she has that girl next door charm, but I have a minor obsession.  Every time I see a picture of her donning a new amazing dress-that-I-would-never-look-twice-at-but-somehow-looks-like-the-coolest-dress-I’ve-ever-seen (deep breath), I end up Google imaging the shiz out of her and finding a million new photos and inspiring looks.  So much so that I have a hard time closing the tab to remind myself I need to focus on work and stop fantasizing about the wardrobe that I will never have.  She somehow manages to appear effortlessly gorgeous, calm, elegant and graceful all at the same time.  No idea how she pulls that off, considering I get anxiety just thinking about my wedding day (whenever that may come) purely for the fact that all of the attention will be on me.  Hopefully I will get over that fear by the time it rolls around…

Anyway, check out some of my favorite looks from my (now public) online stalking issue

Kate-Middleton-Green-Dress

This might be the most gorgeous shade of green.  Her skin.  That hair.  The makeup.  All of it.

kate middleton - gold

Hands down my favorite dress of all time.  I would get married in this dress (panic attack or not).  And Prince Wills is a hunk.  I don’t care what people say.

Royal Wedding - Evening Celebrations At Buckingham Palace

…speaking of… her look for the wedding reception?  TO.DIE.FOR.  She has never looked so glam and that waistline makes me want to crawl in a hole and never come out.

kate middleton - green

I mean this dress?  I don’t know HOW but she looks AMAZING in this.  I would look like Mrs. Doubtfire.

Kate-Middleton-white

Now here’s a dress I may actually be able to get some use out of… if I could actually afford it.  Love a good white embroidered dress, or shirt for that matter, and this is no exception.

Kate-Middleton-Claridges-0512-2

Here we are again with the simple cover-all of a dress and still looking amazing.  Would also emulate Mrs. Doubtfire in this one if I tried.  Which I wouldn’t.  So don’t worry.

kate-7-290

A little too thin for my liking here, but purple is definitely Kate’s color!  Work it girl!

kate-middleton-4351

Another beautiful emerald green dress… and it’s DVF!!!!!!!!  And how does she get her hair to do that?  Oh princesses.  Also, makes me want this green DVF dress even more… uhoh.

OK, I am cutting myself off…….

If I had a black tie event every night it would be hard not to want to copy every look the Midds has come out with.  Luckily that’s not a problem I have.  So I will continue to admire her (or her stylist’s… doesn’t matter to me) amazing style on the couch in my sweatpants.

Happy Hump Day Peops!

XOXO

(photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Costume Gala Gals

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On Sunday night, extremely exhausted from the eventful weekend (Did I mention I love guacamole and margaritas?), I dragged my ars off Bry’s couch to go for a little stroll on the Upper East Side (a.k.a. Antarctica) while Bry was busy playing b-ball with the boyz (had to).  As I decided first avenue wasn’t doing it for me, I continued to venture on westward where I feel more “at home”.  As I approached the park I realized, Hey, why not take a walk towards the Met for old-time sake?  As I got closer I saw trucks and what looked like a huge construction site; somewhat disappointed I trudged on until I started seeing trucks that read, “Red Carpet Company” and things of that nature.  Putting two and two together I realized they were setting up the COSTUME GALA (!!!!) and let me tell you… it was a serious New York moment.  The streets were so quiet and peaceful as I watched the grand entrance being constructed with people placing roses one by one into the walls and people running around like madmen trying to make this thing all come together.  One of my favorite fashion events every year, there are always A LOT of surprises to look forward to and A-listers to last a lifetime.  Now it would’ve been a little bit cooler to have been there last night, but it still feels a little more exciting this year, having seen the set up right in front of my (bleary) eyes!  Here are my takeaways:

The Good…

Met Gala - Lauren Bush and David Lauren

Not so punk but Lauren Bush always looks au naturale and amazingMet Gala - Allison Williams

Don’t even love the dress but Allison Williams looks amazing.Met Gala - Blake

Oh Blake, do you ever look bad?Met Gala - Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne pulls off punk well.  SO gorgeous!  I wish I could rock those eyebrows.Met Gala - Emma Watson

I have such a girl crush on Emma Watson.  She can do no wrong.Met Gala - Giselle

I mean, come on.  Is she up to 3 kids now?  Annoying.Met Gala - Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba looking beautiful per ush.Met Gala - Jessica

Jessica Alba looking gorgeous in her mesh dress.  No one, I mean no one else would look good in this.Met Gala - Kate Bos

Love Kate Bos’s little number.  Would totally wear this – punk or not (and if I dropped about 50 lbs).Met Gala - Miranda

Speaking of dropping 50 lbs.. yikes.  I think Miranda should try eating while chasing around her little chubby son (who I am so in love with – look at those cheeks!).  But of course, she still looks beautiful.  Met Gala - Nina Dobrev

Love how Nina plays up the punk theme with her pant/dress and poufed hair.  Killin’ it!Met Gala - Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara wears white!  How ironic.Met Gala - Rosie Huntington

LOVED Rosie Huntington’s look with the olive green and winged bodice.  Her clean hair and makeup makes for an interesting contrast with the edgy dress.Met Gala - Sienna MillerSienna Miller makes anything look cool.  Can I raid your closet please?!

The Bad…

Met Gala - January Jones

Guess who?  The unrecognizable January Jones.  January, you confuse me beyond belief.Met Gala - Katie

A swing and a miss by Katie Holmes… Met Gala - Kim

No, no, no, no, no.  (Please notice the gloves to match the dress… what?)Met Gala - MK Olsen

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!  (my initial reaction to seeing MK)  WTF is going on here?  Just terrible.Met Gala - SJPI used to think SJP could pull anything off… until now.  It brings me back to that horrid bird on her veil in Sex and the City (the movie).  Let’s not go overboard now SJ.  (Note: Would’ve loved just the dress.)

The Ugly…

Met Gala - Anne

How do I begin? Met Gala - Ashley

Ashley Greene who is a usual stunner must have been sick of the spotlight because she is hiding in the dress.  Way too much fabric = extremely unflattering.  I hope it’s just the camera angle. Met Gala - Elle Fanning

Just wrong in so many ways.  The first things that come to mind are: hippie, Pocahontas, Hook. Met Gala - Ginnifer

“A” for effort but I could seriously do without the black-eyeshadow-to-the-brow look.  Yuck.Met Gala - MileyBeyond words.  Has she gone off the deep end with the rest of them?

Alrighty that’s enough criticisms for one day.

Have a wonderful Tuesday (sigh) and let’s get through this one together!

XOXO

(Pics from People & Huffington Post)

Romping Around

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Rompers, rompers everywhere!  I’m curious, would you try the look?  I have to admit I bought a romper a couple of years ago at French Connection and was surprised at just how much use I got out of it.  While it’s just a simple short, long-sleeved, navy number, it’s still a one piece suit, which can be terrifyingly daring to pull off!  But what I have found is that they are shockingly flattering on many different body types!  And there are several different styles of romp to fit to your liking.  Hell, I am going out on a limb here – I am a fan of the romper, trendy or not (there, I said it).

Anthropologie

Forever21

Shopbop

What do you think?  Would you hop on the romper train?  Next time you see one in a storefront go in and try it on!  Your mom pulled it off in the 70s so who’s to say you can’t pull it off in ’13!  Shake what your momma gave ya!

Is it Friday yet?

XOXO

Maxi Maven

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AP DVF

I have been dreaming about a DVF maxi dress ever since this post on one of my favorite fashion blogs, Atlantic-Pacific.  Isn’t that dress AMAZING????????  She apparently got it from a sample sale…and that scarf is OLD NAVY?  I mean, come on.  Ugh, Blair you get me every time!

SO with all of these weddings coming up (I think Bry and I are up to 7 in the next 14 months…HELLO!), I think I can justify buying one, right?  Well, it’s going to happen people!  As much as I love pretty much everything Di puts out, I am still hooked on prior years looks… so much so that I am on the prowl trying to find this coral number in my size… or there’s always these options below…

DVF - green

DVF - red

DVF - vintage

And this is not wedding event material but HOW INSANE is the dress below?!?!?  I am so tempted to buy it and make it work even though it’s not my size.  Picture it with a thick black belt and these DVF wedges.  Ahh!  It might have to happen…

DVF - caftan

Help me decide!  Which one would you pick?  I’m thinking of either a patterned maxi with simple gold/white accessories OR one of the solids with contrasting bold colored gems… thoughts?!

Hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weekend!  My girlfriends and I rode bikes up to the Cloisters and picnicked with a baguette, delicious cheese from Murray’s and of course, a bottle of wine.  It was one of the best NYC days I have had to date!

XOXO
Meg

pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

LearnVest

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learnvestcoview

I’ve always tried to create a budget for myself but have never been able to stick to it or prepare for all of the unexpected expenses that are constantly popping up.  I’ve tried Excel, Mint.com, you name it, but I never felt regimented about it.  Enter: LearnVest.  LearnVest is the latest version of online money management which is targeted towards those of us (read: most of us) who would like to manage their finances without the expense of a financial planner.  LearnVest provides a free online account for basic management, along with different account upgrade options, including a “Premium” membership, which includes pairing you with your very own financial planner for a fraction of the cost of hiring someone from say, Fidelity.  Here’s how it works…

First step: Sync all accounts to the LearnVest Dashboard (this shows you every account from savings to student loans); most banks now have steps for synching accounts to LearnVest

Second step: Fill out survey with goals (buying a house, saving for retirement, etc.), lifestyle choices and things like that, which takes about 30 minutes.

Third step: Introductory call with your financial planner to talk about your goals and what exactly you want to get out of using LearnVest.  The financial planners have typically come from bigger banks and want to hone in on this untapped market and also be part of an exciting/up and coming new business like LearnVest.

Fourth step: Your 5-year plan.  Based on your survey, account analysis and conversation, your planner will create a 5 year plan to help reach (or at least get closer) to your goals.  The plan includes a budget and helps you find ways to save, which is something I could definitely use help with.

Fifth step: Follow up and reassess.  In the months after your plan and budget is created, your financial planner will follow-up with you via phone or email to make sure you’re on the right track and see if any adjustments or changes need to be made.  Once you pay the initial fee to upgrade, each month  you continue to work with the planner is only $19.  Once signing up, you are not locked into a contract and so can cancel at any time.

Living in New York it feels nearly impossible to save money, but with the help of LearnVest, I actually feel like I am starting to get in control of where my money goes.  I know some people say they need to go to a class or hire a trainer to get them to workout, and this is how I feel about saving money.  In the past, if I walked into J.Crew and saw a shirt on sale that I loved, regardless of whether I needed it, I would buy it.  Now I feel like I have a rulebook to play by and I am forced (in a good way) to pick and choose where I tap into my discretionary spending budget and where I hold back.  It may be a small step but it’s a step in the right direction!

Here’s a couple of articles if you want to learn more! 1 & 2

XOXO

Meg

Words can’t express.

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Boston

Pray for Boston and all of the families affected by this horrible tragedy.

I can’t imagine how terrifying this experience must have been and I can’t stop putting myself in the scenario and picturing what it must have been like.  Being a runner and having walked those streets many, many times, it feels way too close to home.  My heart goes out to everyone who had to go through such a traumatizing event in our history and let’s hope that we can put an end to all of this violence.  This is the time for us to come together and make light of a very dark situation.  It’s moments like this when I feel way too far away from home.

So proud to be from Boston and so thankful that all of my friends and family are safe.