plaid

 Madewell shirt (loving this one) | Chanel sunglasses | Hudson jeans | Max & Chloe monogram necklace | Kate Spade long necklace | Aritzia carigan (similar) | Boots from Italy (similar) | Longchamp bag | Forever 21 belt (similar)

xo-ally

floral + a statement necklace

Forever 21 shirt | Swank necklace | Hudson jeans | Corso Como boots | Michael Kors watch

Please mind the selfies and the dirty mirror (looks like we need to clean our apartment!) We've had a busy week but still all good fun. What still isn't fun, however, is that my camera refuses to work :( 

It is juuuust starting to get chilly in Florence, and while I probably could've worn shorts today, I've been rocking the skinny jeans and leggings all weekend. Of course, once it hit September, the oh-so-fashionable Italians were bundled up in scarves, fall sweaters, and boots. Me being me (summer-and-warm-weather-obsessed), I wore my summer favorites well into October. :)

I'm loving this floral F21 top I found this summer and saved it for fall due to the navy base and high-low hem. The neutral colored statement necklace added a little "something extra" so the outfit. I finished it off with classic riding boots and my signature MK watch.

Here's to finally welcoming fall fashion!

xo-ally

LBD in monaco

H&M dress | Chanel sunglasses | custom sandals | Forever 21 bracelets | Kate Spade ring (similar) | Swank necklace (similar)

Last weekend we went to the French Riviera and explored Nice, Monaco, Cannes, and Eze. It was my favorite trip so far! I wore this outfit in Monaco and kept referencing Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl while we were there. If you watched GG seasons 5-6 with the Prince you know what I'm talking about ;) 

I thought a classic LBD would be great for walking around Monaco and going to the Monte Carlo Casino. I didn't have heels with me so I wore my Capri sandals instead - though I think a pair of heels would have stepped the outfit up a notch.

Short post today, gotta run! I'll post photos from the absolutely gorgeous French Riviera soon.

xo-ally

summer white on white

J. Crew skirt (no longer available, but this one looks breezy and perfect, and is on sale!) | Subdued sheer top (from Italy, similar here) | Stella & Dot necklace | Forever 21 green bangle (similar) | Report flats | Ray-Ban sunglasses | Longchamp bag

Today's post features a lovely, summer outfit I wore on my last day of work, which was also my last day wearing "relaxed professional." This look is more laid back than a typical pencil skirt and a blazer, but with the 100+ degree temperature in New York the thought of wearing a black-on-black pencil skirt and blazer seemed a little daunting. The white-on-white kept me cool while also allowing the bright pops of color to really stand out.

Whether it's for work or for play, an all white outfit creates a clean, pretty palette for other colors to stand out and is a refreshing switch-up from basic black. If you're thinking of adding a LWD (little white dress) to your work wardrobe, I'd recommend this one or this one (of course this depends on office dress codes). I also think this collared top would look lovely tucked into this white J. Crew skirt, with this gorgeous, colorful statement necklace underneath the buttoned up collar. 

xo-ally

pink & green

Vineyard Vines top (can't find online, however, this is a matching skirt) | J. Crew shorts | Aldo sandals | Ray-Ban sunglasses | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets, silver | Forever 21 bracelet, green (old) | Longchamp bag

This is my last short visit to New York, and I only thought it fitting to photograph an outfit as colorful as the bright city lights. Since summer is my favorite season, I took to my favorite bright color pairing - pink and green - with my blue mirrored Ray-Bans, casual sandals, and a bright green bangle. You can never go wrong with pink and green, or with stripes - I'm also loving this Lilly dress that incorporates pink and green color blocking. (Surprise, surprise, more stripes! Haha. But really. My last three shopping trips have all included at least two striped pieces. This may begin to be an issue...)

I can't believe later this week I will leave New York and return to Seattle. This summer job has flown by! Leaving my "homes away from home" in DC and NY will be a little sad, but my next venture will begin in a few weeks. I'm excited to announce to you all what's next for me! (Hint: it's really exciting, and will be so fun to blog about).

xo-ally

times square

Forever 21 dress (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | Report ballet flats (similar) | Michael Kors watch | J. Crew bracelet (similar) | Longchamp bag

We had a fun afternoon in Times Square, getting to walk around a little bit and eat at a delicious Cuban restaurant. I've never been to a Cuban restaurant, but I love trying new things. The sandwich and the plantain chips were delicious. It was fun to pose for these photos while walking across the street!

Remember to enter the project birthday giveaway if you have not already done so! You have until July 7th to enter and we will choose a winner on July 8th.

xo-ally

project birthday giveaway! [CLOSED]

Hello, everyone! I am so excited to announce my very first giveaway, and it's HUGE! In honor of Miss Ashliegh's birthday, we are teaming up with a bunch of bloggers to give away an enormous box of goodies, including:

---Gift cards of varying amounts to Sephora, Starbucks, Target, Amazon, Forever 21, Etsy, and From Me With Love (together totaling $150+)

---A month Birchbox subscription

---2 jewelry pieces

---Lots of ad space

Entries are available starting today, July 1, 2013, until July 7, 2013. The winner will be selected and notified July 8, 2013. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post.

I'm giving away the $15 Sephora gift card, which comes with a complimentary pocket mirror:

Without further ado, here are the other gifts and the bloggers participating in the giveaway! Make sure to check out them out, they're fabulous!

Taylor at Anchored is giving away one month ad space on her blog and these beautiful green earrings from Poppy Style!

Dani from Love Me Dani Marie is giving away a $15 gift card to Target!

Brenda at From Me, With Love Designs is giving away $40 to her Etsy shop. 

A Southern Brunette is giving away the Pearl Akoya Bib Necklace from BaubleBar! 

Shontal from The Preppy Scientist is giving away a $25 e-gift card to Etsy! 

Ashley at Purple and Pearls is giving away $25 Amazon E-Gfit Card!

Rachael at Pretty in Pink is giving away a 1 month subscription to Birchbox! 

Semirah at Sound of Charm is giving away Ad space!

Val at Summer and Wine is giving away a Starbucks gift card!

Ally at Sunny Sweetheart is giving away $15 Sephora Gift Card!

Elle at The Princess Diaries is giving away ad space!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo-ally

playing catch-up

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind. Seriously, such a whirlwind. I love my job, however, it is very exhausting. At the end of the day it is definitely rewarding, but being "on" all day for 10 days straight can get a little tiring. I've loved all the new people I've met, the places I've gotten to go, and the experiences that have occurred these past couple of weeks! After the first session of 10 days, we had a few days off before the next one starts (which is tomorrow morning). Since I've had very little access to wifi, and the wifi is slow when it's there, I've been playing catch-up this evening on my last day off. It's nice to finally get a chance to upload photos to the blog :) without further ado, here's what I've been up to in DC:

The first day of summer was glorious. It was the best, sunny day, we went to the jazz festival in DC, and had our feet in the water while sipping sangria.

I wish I had time to do "real" outfit posts! Most days all I get is a quick chance to do mirror selfies ;) haha. Lots of pencil skirts, button-downs, blazers. Basically lots of J. Crew and accessorizing with piled-on bracelets and a necklace or two! Hoping I get to do an outfit post outside in normal clothes sometime soon :)

I've also been doing a little exploring:

Love the street packed with food trucks! There were so many options for lunch one day.

The students (we call them "scholars") are great. I really liked my first group, and hoping the second and third batches are just as good! My group of scholars was hilarious, one of them wrote the series of events on the board when we they were coming up with ideas for a skit:

 (By the way, I wasn't actually angry, I was just getting attention in a mock-angry way...) Maybe you had to be there, but I just found it so funny.

 The first day off was devoted to shopping! I got four things: all pink and/or striped. Maybe the next shopping trip needs to include more diverse items...haha.

Went to a Vineyard Vines store for the first time :) (there aren't any of the west coast) and got that bow tank above and a pink tshirt. I also couldn't resist the J. Crew sale (the pink and lime striped cardi), and exchanged something at Forever 21 and for the adorable pink striped dress (which I believe may be inspired by this Kate Spade dress?)

 I spotted the Capitol Building at sunset. It was so gorgeous.

That's all for now! Tomorrow I'll be recapping my time in New York with some more photos. Love you all, thanks for being patient with my posting, and please follow on Instagram and Twitter for updates in the meantime!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - project polka dot

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is Project Polka Dot. I love the black and white polka dot sweater so I built an outfit around it! The peplum top and scallop shorts make the outfit a little less casual but not too dressy. The trendy sunglasses, bold bangles, statement necklace, and bright nail polish complete the look!

top, shorts, sandals, necklace, bracelets, sweater, nail polish, sunglasses

xo-ally

my first .gif outfit post!

Here is my very first .gif outfit post!!!!

I've been planning on doing this for months and I finally just did it. I'm so excited! I've never seen any other bloggers do this with outfit posts, so I feel so innovative :) you saw it here first! 

And if you didn't, because someone else did it before me, then this just got really awkward....

Without further ado, here's my outfit:

Photo credits go out to my wonderful friend Lauren P! Lauren takes many of my outfit photos, including the ones from today!

Bag Kate Spade (similar) Bracelets J. Crew Shirt Forever 21 (similar) Skirt Nordstrom (similar striped look) Heels DSW Nails Cynthia Rowley Necklace Max & Chloe

Since I'm loving the black and white color blocking being a huge trend this season, I paired this sheer button up with my striped cupcake skirt and then nude platform heels. With touches of gold from my new monogram necklace, shoes, and bag, I had fun by using color on my bracelets and nail polish.

xo-ally

an almost marilyn moment...

Jacket Vivid Collection Tank Nordstrom (similar) Skirt F21 (similar) Flats Report (similar pairs here, here, and here) Ring Swank Boutique Sunglasses Nordstrom (new version)

Today was very windy. 

Today was also a day where I decided to wear a skirt. 

Today was a day I did not realize it was windy until I stepped outside wearing said skirt. 

Today was a day where I had to hold my skirt, due to almost Marilyn moments. (Almost!) 

And then to make things even more awkward, the part of the skirt that I had sewn up had re-ripped. I blame Forever 21's cheap material not my lack of sewing skills. Haha. :)

Hope you are having a wonderful start to the week!

xo-ally