Vineyard Vines Daisies

Top (similar) / Shorts / Shoes / Sunglasses

Happy Friday everyone! Who's ready for the weekend? This look just radiates summer fun! I got this linen top earlier in the season from Vineyard Vines. When it came in the mail I was so surprised to find that the pink daisies are actually beaded onto the shirt...I had initially thought that they were embroidered on, but the beading adds such nice detail! The bright colors of the daisies really add a nice pop, and they match these chino shorts perfectly! This outfit could easily be adjusted to accomodate cooler summer nights, by wearing some colorful skinny jeans...I wore this top with these, in the spring, before the weather really warmed up!

This weekend I have some fun things planned, including a full moon paddle with my friends from Get Up Stand Up NY. We go out once a month, over the summer, and take our boards out into the bay to watch the full moon come out. We paddle around in the moonlight for a bit, and it's always a great time! Is anyone else planning on checking out the full moon this weekend?  Have a lovely day!

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The Astronaut Wives Club

I absolutely love the new ABC mini series, The Astronaut Wives Club. It starts during the 1960's, with the first American astronaut going into space, and continues to follow the Mercury 7 astronauts, and tell their story, from their wives' point of view. It has been on for a few weeks, and so far has taken us through the Mercury missions, and now we are starting to see the Gemini missions, and even hear talk of the Apollo missions. 

I have always been fascinated by outer space, especially early space travel. Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Apollo 13. For a significant part of my childhood, I was convinced I was going to be an astronaut. While that may not have played out exactly as I had planned, my interest in space has never gone away. Not only do I love how this show is about early space travel, but the 1950's-1960's are my favorite decade.  I so wish that I could have been around to experience that time period! I often say that I was born at the wrong time...I would love to be the age that I am now, in the 1960's. There are so many things that intrigue me about that time, but one of the biggest things has to be the fashion! I mean, Jackie Kennedy was the First Lady of the United States, and her style was iconic. They mention Jackie on The Astronaut Wives Club, and her influence on womens fashion at that time is very evident on the show. The outfits that the women on the show wear are on point, and I just love seeing all of the different styles each week! 

Dress (similar) / Shoes / Bag (similar)

I wanted to post this look today because it was inspired by, you guessed it, The Astronaut Wives Club! This is a Lilly Pultizer dress that I picked up last year. I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it, and I simply had to have it. First of all, the print is beautiful, and so elegant. The style of the dress reminds me so much of my favorite decade, it makes me feel like Jackie Kennedy when I put it on. The little cap sleeves are darling, and the length is appropriate for any occasion. Paired with a classic string of pearls, and my favorite Ferragamo pumps,  I can totally picture Rene Carpenter, Louise Shepard, Annie Glenn, or any of the wives, wearing this look to a NASA launch! 

The Astronauts Wives Club is on ABC tonight, and all of the earlier episodes are available on demand. I'm looking forward to another night of missions into outer space, and amazing fashion with my favorite astronaut wives! 

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White and Black

Top / Shorts / Sandals

I really like this simple white and black combo. I especially love how the black details on the top, tie in so nicely with the black shorts. I have always loved eyelet, and the details on this shirt are no exception.  Whenever I see eyelet, I think about these beautiful matching white eyelet dresses that my grandma made for my sister and I when we were little girls. I remember how much I loved to wear that dress, and to this day, anytime I wear white eyelet, it brings back those memories! 

I picked up these sandals recently at the Tory Burch store in East Hampton. They have a casual look, but the tumbled leather makes them a little nicer than regular rubber flip flops. You could wear these to the pool, just as easily as you could wear them out and about town. They even have potential to be dressed up a little more, maybe with chino pants and a nice top. I've been a fan of Tory Burch for a while now, and these sandals an excellent addition to my collection!

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Delightful Dishes

If you've read a few of my posts, you probably have an idea that I love to shop, and I love to be on my paddle board. What you might not know, is that I also love to cook. I'm a vegetarian, I have been for a good five years or so now, and I've never felt limited in terms of what I could eat. More recently, I've disovered that I have an intolerance for gluten. Now, THAT limits what I can eat...Or so I thought. There are actually tons of amazing vegetarian/vegan and gluten free dishes out there, and I've been having a blast experimenting with them lately! FYI I'm finding that you can modify so many dishes to make them gluten free! Pinterest is an amazing thing, and I have been finding such great recipes that I've been playing around with lately. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you today! Click on the links below to see full recipes!

Avocado Toast

So, I've had this avocado toast for breakfast basically every morning since I stumbled upon it on Pinterest. It's super simple, and fast to whip up...Just a piece of (gluten free) toast with butter, some spinach or arugala, a few slices of avocado, and an egg on top! The recipe suggests a poached egg...Sometimes I poach my egg, sometimes I fry it. Top it off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper...So good, and so good for you! It's a great power meal to kick off the day.

Mediterranian Quinoa with Cashew Tzatziki

This meal was a hit in my house! It's basically quinoa mixed with a bit of tomato paste, and roasted veggies, topped with a cashew based sauce. This doesn't necesarily sound super exciting, but wow, does this dish pack some serious flavor!

Trail Mix Bites

These little trail mix bites, I actually came across in a buzzfeed article about great foods to travel with. There were several good suggestions for "travel food," but these have got to be favorite. They take about 10 minutes to whip up. Just melt some chocolate, and put little dallops on wax paper, topped with your favorite trail mix, put them in the fridge for a few minutes and you are good to go! I use omega trail mix, and find that it makes for a great mid day pick me up. I'll take these over airplane snacks any day!

Pineapple Banana Bread

I modified this recipe to make it gluten free, simply by using gluten free flour. I did find that the gluten free flour made it a little more crumbly than it might have otherwise been, but it was still very tasty.  Any recipe that uses pineapple is good in my book! The pineapple flavor in this banana bread is subtle, but combined with the coconut, it adds a nice tropical twist on your usual banana bread! 

Butter Chickpeas and Tofu

I made this dish last night for dinner during the Bachelorette finale (more on that in a moment), and it was wonderful! Inspired by Indian cuisine, this dish is savory with a spicy kick...The perfect meal to enjoy during a dramatic night of television! 

Now, a few of my thoughts on this season of the Bachelorette...I think Kaitlyn had a tough choice to make. Both Nick and Shawn seemed to be good guys, and she clearly had a connection with both of them. I honestly don't think she could have made a wrong choice, but ultimately, Kaitlyn and Shawn seem very happy together, and I hope it works out for them! My heart broke watching Nick get sent home during the week of the finale, once again. I liked him on Andy's season, and I liked him this season. He seems like a genuine, nice guy, and I hope that he finds his happily ever after, too. I'm hearing some talk about who the next Bachelor is going to be. It sounds like it's a toss up between Ben H. and Ben Z...I don't know, maybe they could at least consider Nick? I mean, come on, he poor guy has been sent home duing the finale twice! Maybe give him a chance to hand out a few roses? Ben H. is a great guy also, but Nick or no Nick, I am pulling for Ben Z., all the way! He has been a favorite of mine from the beginning. Does he remind anyone else of Chris Evans? Just a little? He's so handsome, and just as sweet as can be. Some of my other favorite men from this season are Chris "cupcake," and Jared. I think Chris would be so much fun to hang out with. I mean come on, the guy pulled up the driveway in a giant cupcake car! And he's got great style...not to mention those perfect dentist teeth!  Jared was the ultimate gentleman.  The funniest part of the season...Clint and JJ...Villians gotta Vill. It was one exciting season, that's for sure! Who else is ready for Bachelor in Paradise?

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Lilly Pulitzer Yellow Sundress and Ferragamo Pumps

   

Dress (similar) / Shoes /Bag (similar)

Happy Monday all! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! On Saturday I spent the morning at the Oakdale Yacht Club, and participated in their Paddle for the Battle fundraiser. I'll do a recap on the event later this week! I spent the rest of the day on Saturday at Westhampton Beach with my bff. We chatted and soaked up some rays, before heading over to Westhampton village for dinner at my absolute favorite restaurant on Long Island, Margarita Grille. I usually find myself there at least once a week, as the atmosphere is great, and food is wonderful. They have especially good chips and homemade salsa, and it's honestly the best salsa I've ever had. They make it fresh every day, and they'll bring as many baskets to the table as you want...So good!

I wore this dress a few weeks back to a retirement party for my dad, who retired from the Suffolk County PD earlier this year. It was a lovely night at Flower Fields in St. James, which was actually where I had my senior prom way back when! They have a beautiful greenhouse that you walk through, where the photo above was taken. There are also amazing gardens outside of the grand ballroom. Unfortunately it was raining that night, so we didn't get to explore the gardens, but the greenhouse was amazing! 

This outfit was perfect for the occasion. I love this dress from Lilly Pulitzer. The print is beautiful, with the big yellow roses, and the lace detailing is gorgeous.  Lilly never disappoints! The dress also looks really cute paired with Jacks, but since this was a bit of a dressier event I decided to wear my nude Salvatore Ferragamo Vara pumps. I love the little stacked heel on them, they add such a classy touch to any outfit! These shoes are definitely on the pricey side, but in my opinion, they are so worth the investment. They are so classic, and you can pretty much get away with wearing them year round...A great wardrobe staple!

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Madewell Blue and White Dress

 Dress / Shoes / Bag (old)

Earlier this week the ladies in my family had a girls night out. We started the night at my grandmas house for some pre dinner drinks and hor d'oeuvres, before heading to The Waters Edge, in East Moriches, for dinner.  The restaurant is located right on the water, and we sat outside under big palapas! It was the perfect spot for a beautiful summer night. The food was delicious, especially the flourless chocolate cake that we had for dessert! 

I picked this dress up earlier in the season at Madewell. It caught my eye, and when I tried it on I was sold. It's comfortable, flattering, not to mention blue and white, my favorite color combination for summer! This dress was perfect for this waterfront restaurant. It was pretty hot outside, so I wanted to keep myself cool, while still looking cute for our girls night out! It's nice and airy, and effortless to throw on, perfect for summer.

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Paddle Board Top

Top / Shorts / Sneakers

Let's talk about this top, shall we? I'm doing my regular stroll through the J Crew Factory store, and I spot paddle boards on a sweater...Paddle boards! I mean, that's my thing! Now, one might say that these are in fact surf boards, but in my eyes they are, and will always be paddle boards! Obviously this purchase was a no brainer.

These shorts I had ordered from J Crew earlier in the summer. I have quite the collection of J Crew chino shorts, tried and true, they are staple in my summer wardrobe, and I really loved this lilac color. After purchasing these shorts, I found myself picking up more and more things in this color, including the sneaks. They were a bit of a spontaneous purchase for me, but I like them, and they fit right in with this outfit! 

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Shades Of Blue

Top / Shorts / Sandals / 

Swan Float

Blue is my favorite color. I love all shades of blue, but periwinkle is without a doubt my favorite. I really love this outfit, because it nicely pulls together multiple shades of blue, highlighting the periwinkle shorts, and accents on the top. And tassels are so in right now!  These shorts are so unique, because the fabric is on the thicker side, a bit dressier than chino shorts, and good quality. Here's the twist...They have an elastic waist, which makes them super comfortable! This outfit is great for a summer bbq, or a day when you might be eatting a little more than usual, because it is effortless, but put together, and very forgiving!

Now, the swan.  The swan was a very early birthday gift from my mom, and has been such a fun addition to my summer. I love it. It's disguised as a swan, but really, it's a bed that floats on water! It totally puts an end to the age old dilemma of wanting to sleep in, but not wanting to miss the sunny weather on a beautiful summer day. I hate sleeping in during the summer. It's my favorite season, and I just love the weather, so when I sleep late, it feels like I'm just wasting the day. Well, not anymore! I wake up bright and early, go out for a paddle, maybe maybe go to brunch or run some errands, come home, and take a nap...in the pool, on the swan! It's perfect! So many great things are happening in this scenario...I'm taking a nap, and naps are great. I'm outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and I'm working on my tan. And no joke, it's the most comfortable pool float I've ever had. It's really big, and you can move around, and that little tail makes for a perfect pillow! 

The moral of this story, go to your local pool store, and pick yourself up a swan. Happy floating!

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Paddle Battle LI

   
       

Top / Sea Me Run Shorts / Board Shorts (old) /

 Hat (similar) / Paddle Board

This year, here on Long Island, we had our third annual Paddle Battle LI.  This is an event that I participated in for my first time last year, and basically, its a really fun day where people come out with their paddle boards and kayaks, and race. This year, we had not one, but two Paddle Battles, one at Port Jefferson Harbor, and another in Riverhead on the Peconic Bay. What is really great about this event, is that it's as competitive as you want it to be. There are people who show up that are in it to win it, and they battle it out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Others, like myself, go out just to enjoy the atmosphere, and have a good old time paddling beside other people who love being out on the water. It is really a great time for everyone. In the future, I definitely plan on investing in a higher quality racing board, and getting into the more competetive aspect of racing.

I attended the Port Jefferson Paddle Battle with two of my friends from Get Up Stand Up NY, and after the race we had some entertainment from the guys at Flyboard Long Island. If you look closely behind the three of us girls, your eyes are not fooling you, there is in fact a person flying through the air. What they do is stand on what looks like a wake board with a jet pack attatched to the bottom. The board is attatched to a jet ski, which sends water shooting out the bottom of the jet pack, and the person on top flying through the air.  It was really fun to watch, and something I totally want to try out one of these days!

A lot of times when you see people paddle boarding, they're wearing swimsuits. I do for more leisurely paddles, but when I participate in a racing event, where I'm moving more quickly, I prefer something a little more secure, usually active wear. I absolutely love the Sea Me Run line from Lululemon. Unfortunately it looks like they are making less of the Sea Me Run line, however they still have the shorts that I wore to the Port Jefferson Paddle Battle (which I love) and a few other pieces. It looks like they have some new "sweat to swim" gear, that I'll have to try out. I pretty much love all things Lululemon, so I'm sure I won't be disappointed! I love the material, because you can get them wet, and they dry quickly, so you don't have to be uncomfortable in wet clothes! I also find the pieces to be very flattering and stylish, which is important, because of course half the fun in racing is looking fabulous!

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Nauti Nautical

Top / Shorts / Shoes / Sunglasses

I pretty much love all things nautical, and this shirt is no exception. I mean, really, what is more nautical than blue and white stripes? This shirt takes it to the next level, by replacing white stripes with a sailors knot print, and I love it!  I purchased this shirt at the vineyard vines outlet last year, and it was a great find. Sadly, Vineyard Vines no longer carries this top. However, the good news is I've included a link to another top that is different, but equally as cute. This top has the same blue and white color scheme (love it!), but instead of sailor knots, it has a super cute fish print! And it's short sleeves, so that's a major plus for hot summer days! Even better? It's super on sale right now! 

I wore this outfit to a birthday dinner for my mom, at my grandmas house. Speaking of my moms birthday, I have to give myself a pat on the back, because I really hit the nail on the head with my moms gift this year. Somewhere over the last decade or so, everyone switched over to digital cameras, from the old style cameras, that had a roll of film, and you couldn't see your pictures, until you got them printed at the store...Remember those ancient things? Well my family is no exception. The problem with digital cameras is that its really easy to download your pictures to a computer, and forget they are there.  So we had a good 10 years or so, of family photos, vacations, holidays, birthdays, etc., sitting on a computer. To be honest, we all kind of forgot they were there.

Over the past couple of years, every so often, my mom would mention wanting to print up the pictures and put them into albums. With everyone's busy schedules, it one of those things that was constantly put on the back burner. Well, not anymore! That's right people, I went through every one of those thousands of pictures, printed up abour 800 of them, and sorted them into albums! It was a huge job, but oh my gosh, best gift ever! My mom was SO surprised, and she absolutely LOVED it! I thought I'd share this with everyone, in case you ever find yourself in a bind for a great gift! 

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Anthropologie Shorts

Shorts / Sweater (old, similar and on sale!) / Bag (old) / Shoes / Sunglasses

These. Shorts.  I love them. Here's why.... They're like pajamas that you can wear out in public.  I love pajamas, and when I'm lounging around at home, I'm basically always in pajamas. These shorts that I ordered a few months back from Anthropoligie, are so soft. They are so comfortable, but the lace on the bottom adds such a nice touch, that dresses them up a bit, making them appropriate to wear out and about. 

I've gotten so much wear out of these shorts already, throwing them on over a swimsuit with an airy tank, or pairing them with a simple tee to run errands.  Here I wore them to the marina with a light sweater, on a breezy evening this summer. Throw in the jacks, and there you've got it folks! A comfortable, but put together look, perfect for a summer night!

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Tropical Tank

Top / Shorts / Sandals

I love to shop at the J Crew Factory store for "play" clothes. I love J Crew, and if you were to reach into my closet at any given moment, there is a really good chance that you might pull out something from J Crew. I shop at both the regular J Crew store, and the Factory store. In general, the quality of pieces from the Factory, is not as high as what you might find in the regular store. This is actually a really good thing, because there are occasions, especially in the summer, when I just don't want to worry about ruining an expensive piece of clothing. When I shop at the Factory store, I definitely feel like I am purchasing more "low-risk" clothing, and I still get that fabulous, classic J Crew look that I love so much. Not to mention, the prices at the Factory store are phenominal! I feel like everything is literally always on sale!

I really love this tropical tank top. It's such a fun print, and it pairs perfectly with chino shorts. I also really like how it is a little more fitted at the top, and sightly looser towards the bottom. It's very flattering. This racerback tank also comes in solids, which can be worked into cooler weather by wearing it with a blazer. I have it in a couple of colors, and I think that it's a great staple! 

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Vineyard Vines Dress and Kendra Scott

Dress (sold out, similar) / Shoes / Bracelet, Bracelet

I absolutely love this tile print dress from Vineyard Vines. It's nicer, and higher quality than your run of the mill  t-shirt dress, but equally as comfortable. I wore it to a casual engagement dinner that my family hosted for my cousin. It was perfect because it looks really nice and put together, but I was able to move around easily, and that's important, because hosting a party is a lot of work! My Tide to-go came to the rescue that day, right as our guests were arriving and I went to move a plate of chocolate cupcakes, and got a big glob of icing right on the front of this very not-chocolate-colored dress! Whoops! Thankfully, my Tide to-go stick worked like a charm...blows my mind every time!

I have basically worn these Kendra Scott bracelets everyday since they've arrived in the mail. They're my favorite colors, blue and white, so they basically match everything I own.  I really love how they look so effortless, but yet really add a nice touch to almost any outfit.  They are my first pieces from Kendra Scott, but I'm already a fan, and there will absolutely be more where that came from!

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Navy Striped Shirtdress

Dress (old, similar) / Sandals

This dress is so comfortable, I could literally sleep in it. The material is super soft, and the navy stripes make for an instantly nautical look. It's perfect for a shopping day, as it can easily be slipped on and off in a dressing room.  The lenth of this dress is nice, because it's a little longer, so it's even appropriate to wear to work, on days when you might want a more casual feel. There's really so much that you can do with it!

Is there anything that these classic Jack Rogers sandals don't go with? I love mine, and I wear them all the time. I was just marveling at how long I've had this particular pair, and how they are still in such great shape! On top of that, they've only gotten more comfortable with time! I really love my classic, platinum, hamptons style Jacks, because they match anything and everything, but I've been seeing so many great colors and styles lately, and they all look so fabulous! What are your favorite Jacks?

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