walking on sunshine

this weekend was positively perfect. the weather was in the 70s everyday which automatically makes me a happy camper. plus, anthony couldn't have made my birthday any more special if he tried. when i walked into our apartment friday after work, he had all my favorite things sitting out on the table. i'm talking mint chocolate chip ice cream, a bottle of merlot, some gorgeous flowers, AND he vacuumed the apartment. i think i just about died and went to heaven. he is the best. we spent the rest of the night eating some delicious seafood in downtown baltimore and coming back and popping some champagne! ha. there's never a celebration too small for champagne ;)

saturday morning i met up with my lovely friend katie for brunch in dc. i wanted to check out an apartment complex in the area, and it was a good excuse to eat waffles and catch up. it was the cutest little neighborhood right downtown and i fell in love. the apartment was great and we're all crossing our fingers over here everything falls into place. living in the heart of dc would be amazing! a summer in the city sounds like just what i need. being in the middle of downtown pittsburgh for four years in college were some of the best times in my life. nothing beats walking to your favorite restaurants and bars, being close to work, and having easy access to fun things to do all the time.

i couldn't help but bust out my new favorite shoes for some brunching. i got this sandals at buffalo exchange in georgetown last weekend and i think i'm in love. i would first like to point out the fact that they were only $24 (!!!) because OMG what an amazing deal. i'm also wondering who in their right mind would ever give these shoes away. i'm trying not to dwell on that too much because i don't like the thought of wearing the shoes of a crazy person, but that's the point of thrifting. someone's trash is someone else's treasure. ps. just look at them again because they're so pretty.

well now the weekend's gone, but thankfully the sunshine is still here. wishing you all a happy monday!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

tee: target

jeans: american eagle

scarf + shoes: buffalo exchange

purse: studio c

sunnies: doubledutch boutique

cherry blossoms

this past weekend was one of the best weekends i've had in a while! we had some friends in town and on sunday we hit up the cherry blossom festival in DC. this is usually the peak time of the season, but (i'm assuming) since it's been such a cold winter, the blossoms are a bit behind schedule this year. you could tell they were thisclose to looking their best. but oh well, we still had so much fun walking around the tidal basin, snapping some pics, and enjoying the sunshine. 

we had the most picturesque day in the city. the blue sky set the perfect backdrop for the beautiful monuments and it was a great day for lots of walking around. all you needed was a light jacket and you were good to go. i can already tell that them denim number is going to be a closet staple this spring. i got it for steal from avalon exchange in pittsburgh last fall. i'm so glad i was thinking ahead!

besides visiting some big monuments, we also went to the botanical gardens. i don't know if i'm a huge nerd or what, but i love that place. a huge greenhouse full of every kind of plant you could imagine. the theme this month is orchids, so they had what seemed like hundreds different variations of orchids all more beautiful than the next. but the cacti were still my faves. i wanted to steal one of these little guys for my apartment!!

visiting the botanical gardens and seeing the cherry blossoms seemed like the perfect opportunity to wear one of my favorite floral dresses. i got this one from h&m a while ago and it's just so pretty. i swear, i could live in floral dresses alone. they're so feminine, yet can be dressed super casual as well. as spring continues to slowly enter the picture, i see many more floral dresses in my future. and moccasins. lots and lots of moccasins.

thanks for stopping by, y'all! i'll be back later in the week with a fun birthday wishlist. i turn 22 on friday! woot woot.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

dress: h&m

jacket: avalon exchange

purse + shoes + tights: target

sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

city limits

it is officially closer to the end of the week than to the beginning and i could not be happier about it. this week has been just a tad bit on the slow side cause i'm getting antsy for thanksgiving break! i get a whole week off (how awesome is that?!) and i could not be more excited to be hopping on the megabus tomorrow night to go home.

i'm visiting anthony in baltimore for the weekend and then spending the rest of the week with my fam. we're making the trek down to south carolina to visit my stepdad's family right outside myrtle beach. they have a huge party and invite pretty much everyone they know. they roast a giant pig, have sooo much food, we ride four wheelers, sit around the campfire, etc. we went a couple years ago and it was just amazing! there's nothing better than spending a few days with my family.

no matter how hard i try i cannot stop wearing this sweater! it's just so darn comfy. plus it's warm enough that on a nice day it can basically serve as my jacket. this navy infinity scarf is also becoming a daily staple. the solid color means i can pretty much wear it with anything. i got it from this cute little boutique in the south side called figleaf. they had so many cute dresses and shoes and i want to go back and buy this lovely scarf in every single color. because that's just what you do when you like something a lot. 

i got this cute little purse a while ago from h&m. it's just so small and tiny and is perfect to throw my phone and wallet in for a little adventure. and it has all the colors so it matches everything. also, if you don't have a chambray shirt i don't know what you're doing with your life. i could literally style this shirt differently every single day and would never run out of new ideas.

i think the theme of this outfit is versatility because all of these pieces are closet staples that i wear on a regular basis, and this outfit just happens to showcase me wearing them all at once. solid colored accessories and denim shirts are things that will never go out of style. i guarantee that in 5 years i will still have this outfit and would happily piece all of these items together again. it's just simple and classic.

what are some staple pieces in your wardrobe that you know will never go out of style?

xxoo,

n

outfit details

chambray shirt/pants: tj maxx

cardigan/purse: h&m

shoes: zooshoo

infinity scarf: figleaf

sunnies: doubledutch boutique

a fountain for fall

howdy, folks. it's that time of year in pittsburgh where the sunny days are  few and far between, and the normal color you see in the sky everyday is grey. plus, it's raining today. womp womp. oh well, gotta make the best of it! i woke up and made some hot tea this morning and caught up on blogging. a pretty good way to start the day if i do say so myself.

in case you missed it, i'm hosting a giveaway with chloe + isabel and we will be raffling off a gorgeous pair of earrings next monday, along with a coupon for $25 off your next order of $75! how awesome is that?! their jewelry is just amazing, so be sure to check out their site. 

this outfit combination is pretty much my fall uniform. jeans, comfy tee, funky scarf, and oversized jacket. it's perfect for when i want to get ready quickly and rush to class and still look cute. i'm not one for wearing sweats or hoodies out in public. i like to look semi put together, even if in reality the outfit only took me .921 seconds to put on. and moccs are just the cherry on top to any casual fall outfit, am i right?

i recently ordered this jacket online from jolt, through amazon, and i looove it. i'd been searching for a reasonably priced military style jacket for fall and wasn't having much luck.  then i was shopping in the clothing section of amazon one day (totally normal) and came across this bad boy. how cute are the little jewels on the pockets?! and the length and fit is just perfect. 

 

speaking of amazon, that's also where i ordered this cute little mini tote bag. funny story: i didn't actually think it was going to be mini. i wanted a big ass bag to carry around all my books for school in and this one looked perfect in the photo. when it arrived in my mailbox, i pulled it out of the box and was like yaaaa--ohhh. :( but now it's growing on me. i love the color, and it can still fit one notebook or two for class. lol. #onlineshoppingprobs

well i'm off to grab lunch with the friends and then it's class time. i'll be braving the 40 degree temps and the autumn showers today so wish me luck. happy wednesday!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

tee: tj maxx

scarf: urban outfitters

bag: amazon

jeans: american eagle

jacket: jolt

mocassins: payless

sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

downtown living

it's been a slow week over here, and i'm currently sipping coffee and relaxing because wednesdays are the most low key day in my schedule. some days i work and have class 12 hours straight, and some days (like today) i have one class and then nothing else to do! while i enjoy the little moments of free time, i wish it was a little more balanced. oh well, i only have two more months (omg!) of the crazy college student life so i guess i better enjoy it while it lasts.

i'm trying to soak in all of my favorite pittsburgh hot spots while i can. whether it's hanging out at my favorite bar or getting sushi at the best restaurant in town, i feel compelled to cram all of the things i love about this city into to the next couple months while i've still got my lovely downtown apartment and easy access to all the fun stuff. and by fun stuff i mean anything that will distract me from applying to scary, full-time, big-girl jobs. eeeek!

i guarantee if you see me anytime in the next four months, there is a 86% chance i will be wearing a scarf. i just love these things! they can take a simple outfit (ie. jeans and a tee) and make it pop. for this purpose, i usually choose bright colored and patterned scarves so they can add that extra oomph to a casual look. i have an entire drawer in my room dedicated to scarves, so that just gives you an idea of what we're working with here!

these boots are becoming a fall staple in my wardrobe. i will wear them with dresses, skirts, jeans, tights, tall socks, and leggings (when i'm feeling lazy, don't deny it, you love them too!) so i think you get the message that i wear them a lot. i just can't help it! it's not my fault they match everything and are super comfy. some days you just want to be cool and casual, and this was definitely one of those days.

i hope everyone is having a lovely week. thanks for checking in!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

jeans: tj maxx

top: american eagle 

scarf: zara

boots: dwds shoes

bag: urban outfitters

sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

pretty in pink

so it feels like summer is officially over. i went to happy hour yesterday evening and had to wear long sleeves and jeans because pittsburgh was so chilly! just a few short days ago it was in the 90s and i was still wearing tank tops and sandals. it sucks but it seems as though autumn isn't much of a season in pittsburgh. it goes from hot to cold and there isn't really an in between.

while i'll be sad to put the tanks and bandeaus in the back of my closet, i couldn't help but style a summer outfit one last time. bright colors, fun sunnies-- this outfit was perfect for the hot september temps. and the great thing about these pants is how transitional they are. if i throw them on with a slouchy sweater and some boots, i'll be set for a lovely autumn day. they will be the perfect pop of color in my fall wardrobe.

                

can you believe how fast september is flying by?! it's already halfway over! i have a very relaxing weekend in store full of lots of mad men on netflix, a bit of homework, and plenty of sleep! i'm excited because my first flag football game is tomorrow and i'm interested to see how it goes. besides running on the treadmill, i haven't played any sports since the beginning of high school! eeek. i'm afraid i'm going to be in for a rude awakening playing football with the boys, ha ha!

i'm usually not a fan of pink and black together, but for some reason this floral bandeau made me want to try it out. this striped tank is one of my faves. the buttons down the front and the little pocket are just too cute. i love pairing together different patterns, and stripes and floral make for a great combination (if i do say so myself).

i'm probably going to retire these sunnies til next summer, because the mint/pink combo doesn't really strike me as very "autumn-y" and i'll stick with my handy dandy maroon ones to beat the fall sunshine! i'm one of those people that literally never leaves the house without sunglasses. rain or shine, i just always prefer to wear them outdoors. is anyone else like that?

this summer was so amazing, and i'm so glad to have had this lovely little space on the internet to document it. blogging is such a good way to record all the fun adventures i've had and all of the interesting outfits i've worn along the way. i would encourage everyone to start a blog! not to make money, or get 1,000 instagram follows, but just for yourself. it's a great hobby and an inspiring community. i've enjoyed the few short months i've been doing it so far, and look forward to continue blogging in the future. thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with my journey along the way! i means a lot to me <3

happy end of summer everyone!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

pants: tj maxx

tank: urban outfitters

sandals: payless

bandeau: forever 21

jewelry: forever 21  

sunnies: double dutch boutique 

maryland seafood festival

howdy! this past weekend was amazing, but it feels good to be back in the daily grind. i visited anthony in baltimore and it was so good to see him. it'd only been a few weeks but i missed him like crazy. we planned a busy and eventful weekend, but made sure to leave time to relax and just hang out. on saturday we woke up and grabbed chick fil a breakfast (my absolute fave!!) and ran a few errands. then, that afternoon, we headed to sandy point state park for the 46th annual maryland seafood festival. i lived in maryland for 18 years of my life and this was my first time attending. it was amazing!

the weather was absolutely perfect on saturday in annapolis. the festival took place right on the water. there was a beautiful view of the chesapeake bay bridge, plus so many sail boats and cool ships out on the bay. the scenery really put you in the mood for some seafood! i am a huge seafood fanatic and crab has always been my favorite food. i guess that's what happens when you are born and raised in maryland, right?! well, this festival definitely appealed to the marylander in me.

the first thing we did when we got there was check out the craft beer/oyster tasting. anthony had already done his research online before we got there, and was super excited for this part of the festival! anthony is the planner in our relationship. he is the one that books our trips, finds fun activities to do around town, plans our vacations, etc. he is always super prepared with printed tickets and an itinerary and i just kind of get to show up. ha! it's pretty sweet for me. i'm too spontaneous/a procrastinator/crazy to be in charge of things. lol. so i guess we balance each other out :)



the beer was amazing and the oysters were even more amazing. you had to buy little tickets for a dollar each at the front of the tent and each ticket got you a little cup of craft beer and two oysters. talk about a good deal. we spent less than twenty bucks and basically drank and ate as much as we could. it was cool to get to try a bunch of different beers rather than just get one cup of miller lite. i even tried my first pumpkin beer! yum. it made me so excited for fall.



after we were done eating and drinking til we were about to explode, my mom, stepdad, and sister samantha (who you met in this post) came to join us! it was so nice of them to drive up to see me. i've missed being in the same state as them the past few weeks that i've been back at school. we walked around and visited the different shops and tents with fun little nik naks and cool art. it was a really awesome and well put together festival. there was tons to do, and the fact that i could step right over to the sand didn't hurt, either!

alright, how cute is samantha's outfit?! i was totally drooling over her fun tiger print muscle tee. she has such a cool, funky style. i love watching her grow up. she's the sweetest person i've ever met. and she's a free spirit, that's for sure! i'm a proud big sister. :) i wore these super comfy seersucker shorts i thrifted over the summer. it seemed more than appropriate to put these on for a day at the bay. paired with my favorite keds and a simple white blouse, i was prepared for a gorgeous day at the beach. 

spending time with my family and anthony made for the perfect day. but the cherry on top was definitely the delicious crabcake sandwich i had. hahah. have i mentioned i love food? it was so so so good. i couldn't have had a better saturday in maryland. it made me appreciate the beautiful state that i'm from! (plus, it doesn't hurt we have the best cuisine, if i do say so myself). the festival was a perfect farewell to summer.

enjoy the rest of your week! thanks for checking in.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

shirt: thrifted

shorts: thrifted

watch: antique 

shoes: keds

glasses: doubledutch boutique

lawrence county fair

last weekend while i was in anthony's hometown with his family, the county fair was in town! anthony, his mom, sister, and me decided to head out and explore it for the night. fairs are so much fun because you pretty much just walk around and eat junkfood the whole time. ha ha! it was a gorgeous night and we had a lot of fun. we looked at the different booths, saw some cute animals, and had lots of yummy food.

i wore this great fringe top from urban outfitters that i got on clearance last season. i love the design on the front and fringe is the best. i decided to keep it simple and pair it with my fave gray skinnies. everyone at the fair was wearing like  plaid, overall, and cowboy boots, so it's safe to say i stuck out like a sore thumb, lol. i don't have one ounce of country attire in my closet. oooops.

                      

caramel apples are my favorite fair treat and when i saw they also had one with tons of sprinkles, i almost bought like 5 of them and asked for a to go box. i wish there were more foods in this world that you could put sprinkles on but unfortunately there's only a few. but eating an apple and sprinkles was most definitely a new and positive experience. i have such a sweet tooth! if i haven't mentioned it before, i could pretty much live off of gummy bears.            

yes, as you see in the photo below: i fed a goat, people! it was so hilarious. we were just looking at them (and i was keeping my distance and trying not to step on poop) and this lady just handed me and bottle of milk and was like go for it! it was really crazy and all the goats were trying to get some food, but it was fun!! i was laughing so much because these little baby goats were crazy and jumping all over each other to get to the bottle. ha! it was definitely an experience. 

i'm still in total denial that summer is over and school starts on monday. aka i will spend this last weekend sleeping and watching all the episodes of the latest season of glee (yes, i am behind and also a little lame, i realize). because in 48 short hours life is gonna get busy! and i know that the fall is going to fly by before i graduate in december. its bittersweet in many ways. i'm excited to move on to the next chapter of my life, but living in pittsburgh and attending point park has been so amazing these past few years, i will be sad to say goodbye.

thanks for reading, folks. happy saturday and hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

jeans: tj maxx

shirt: urban outfitters

sandals: payless

purse: h&m

sunglasses: doubledutch botique