Back in action...

Well hello everyone... I realize I've been completely MIA, and I wish I could say the reasons were good, but they are not. I actually had 4 close friends lose relatives in the space of a week, one of whom was lost in the Virginia Tech tragedy. It's been a sobering reminder of how short and important life is, and how few moments we really have on this earth. On a positive note, it's reaffirmed my latest life choice to pursue the career and life I want while I'm young - life is too short to waste doing things you don't love.

But onto happier thoughts - the weather has been warm and beautiful and it looks like summer is right around the corner.. so onto my long list of recent finds to make up for my absence!

Fred Flare Hot Sunglasses Beach Towel ($20) .. considering I have a sunglass fetish, this is RIGHT up my alley:

And now, onto tons of summery dresses!

For the nautical look, AKA New York Solid Laced Front Mini Dress ($318) from ShopBop:

Mara Hoffman Ruffle Mini Dress ($341) from Pink Mascara:

A timeless evening piece (might have to get this).. Lewis Cho One Shoulder Dress ($207) from Shopbop:


The CK Bradley aptly named Charlotte dress - doesn't it remind you of something Charlotte from S&C would wear? ($350):


Next up, my new favorite site, Cotton Island. Hailing from the state where everything is bigger, this Dallas store near SMU is chock full of great stuff! Not to mention FREE ground shipping!

T-Bags Purple, Yellow and Brown Twist Short Strap Dress ($191):

Pink Polka Dot White and Brown Print Holiday Dress ($128):

Alice and Trixie White Bianca Dress with Pink and Orange flowers ($250)

Now you have to have some cute flats and accessories... also from Cotton Island:

Matisse Inspire Silver flats - also in gold ($59)
And I'll round out my post with a connection to my little spiel about life earlier... These bracelets from Dillon Rogers, $40 each, in "Follow Your Dreams" and "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much" ..

Good daily reminders for us all.

Happy Easter!

Anchors Aweigh..

Well, my Victoria's Secret striped dress finally got to me yesterday, very exciting - the XS fits and I am pining for summer so I can actually wear it, dammit! I have to keep thinking of summer, to keep from being depressed - talk about depressing, I just found out that my company hasn't deducted City Tax from my paychecks the entire time I've been working for them. Because they "didn't know where I lived". I've just been working there for ages, but they have no idea where I live, just that I'm a New York State resident. Uh - huh. Basically, no refund for me, I have to pay them. I was just on the phone w/Payroll screaming for about 20 minutes, so I am in need of some retail therapy, before I have to give the rest of my $$$ to the IRS. (Thanks for the good luck wishes with the new job search, it is much appreciated!)

This bathing suit has reignited my nautical obsession. I think its SO HOT - but I don't know how I'd look in it, only because I find bandeau tops to be extremely unflattering:

Victoria's Secret Nautical Cut-out One Piece ($120)

Also found this nautical Navy Stripe Chain Bracelet ($22) at Guess:
Next up, a very Audrey Raffia Hat from Intuition (comes in two colors, $65):
This t-shirt from Island Company ($32) is really speaking to me right now:

AMEN!

I've got a case of the mean reds..

Hello my pretties.. The reason for my recent bouts of non-posting is due to the fact that I am currently attempting to switch jobs, interviewing and blah blah blah, which has taken up 90% of my free time and sapped my mental and emotional energy. The other 10% I manage to spend sleeping. This process really stinks, but I definitely need to make the switch. I've had a streak of bad luck when it comes to jobs, for some reason I guess I must have this internal "psycho boss and coworkers" magnet. And it's very, very strong.

But I think this week should be considerably calmer (now that I said that, it won't be) so hopefully I can return to blogging regularly.

Next up - Lisa, I'm so bummed about the cardigan from Ben Sherman! Story of my life - I always wait and marinate on stuff like that, and then when I get around to deciding to buy it, it's gone! On the upside, I did shop the Bloomie's private sale last week and I got three fab sweaters from Aqua - two are cricket sweater style, and one is a navy double breasted blazer-sweater. So I guess I made up for it. I also decided to buy the Kenneth Jay Lane white flower ring from Pink Mascara that I posted about previously.

Back to the mean reds -

Holly Golightly sleep mask ($12) at Fred Flare

LOVE IT! It's practically exact to the one that she wore in the movie.

Some more, un-Audrey related fun from Fred Flare:

Hangout Hammock ($18)
Incredibly enough, there is a nylon hammock in there that can handle up to 265 lbs! I am a big fan of hammocks in the summertime, and I love the idea of a portable one, to whip out anytime on a beach or in someone's backyard who has trees to spare.

Now something adorable to pack your portable hammock in for those summer weekends - these Jaye Hersch weekenders from Intuition (plain - $100, monogrammed - $120). The shapes and styles remind me of Goyard bags, but at much better prices! As shocking as it may seem to all of you, I do not have any monogrammed bags in my possession - yes, even my LL Bean totes are plain (gasp!). That being said, I think I am very tempted to order the red and blue weekender:


Also, $35 of each bag sold goes to the International Rescue Foundation for helping educate children who have been affected by war. I'm all for a good cause, and it's an even bigger plus when it also helps my wardrobe as well! Check out all the styles, they have totes and shoppers too.

Another purchase of mine that I did manage to find a picture of on the internet is Jeffrey Campbell's Devine flat in Gold ($74). I also bought it in a Pucci inspired print, but I can't find that anywhere - it also comes in black, silver, tan and a leopard print!
I thought it was very cute - I was looking for a metallic flat, but every one out there seems to have some version of the Tory Burch buckle, and I like being different. They are very comfortable, but the sizing was weird - I ended up taking a 9 1/2 and am usually an 8 1/2 in his shoes! I've actually been finding that most shoes I try on aren't fitting me as they usually do, some of my friends have noticed this too.. Are all the shoe manufacturers changing their sizing lately or what?