Hats

I've been racking up quite the collection of baseball hats lately and I love it. To cover up a bad hair day, or add a little sporty flair to an outfit, baseball hats are so cute. A striped tee, jeans, white converse and Boston Red Sox baseball hat looks so adorable and cute, but its a minimal effort outfit. I also have 2 new Southern Tide hats in pink and red that look grew paired with colored chinos and a simple tee. Not only do hats look cute but they are also protecting your face from the sun, which is just another great thing about them! As a lifeguard, in the summer I will sit in the sun for 8 hours at a time, and while this is great, its not too great for my skin. I invested in an authentic booney from a real army navy store to keep the sun off my face and neck. I think its absolutely adorable and in navy it looks great paired with my red lifeguard suits. 

Belts

I have an obsession with belts. As of lately they seem to be the only thing I'm wearing obsessively everyday. They can pull together a simple t shirt and white pants and make the outfit look so much cleaner and put together. 

For my birthday I got a belt from Vineyard Vines with ocean life patchwork on it and I love the way it looks with white pants and a simple navy top. I also received a nautical flag belt that looks adorable with a red twill skit and button up paired with Jack Roger's. 

Belts overall pull outfits together, and really can make something so simple look so much better. I absolutely love how classic and timeless they can be as well. 

Patterned Denim

I love almost anything printed or patterned thanks to the queen of fun prints, Lilly Pulitzer. Lately I have been seeing a lot of printed denim and I'm loving it. Vineyard Vines has also even come out with some adorable printed pieces. I love how casual they are but they can still dress up an outfit, even though your wearing jeans. They are definitely a must in my spring wardrobe this year. 

Ordering Online

Homecoming was exactly a week and a day away, I still had no dress. The only logical thing to do was order something online (except not because what if it didn't fit or I hated the length or it was totally the wrong color). Something I'd never seen in person before, never tried on before, but fallen completely in love with. 

I grabbed a tape measure and measured myself accordingly. I was between sizes. Picking up the phone, I dialed Vineyard Vines number, which is where the dress is from. 

I talked to Craig who I told my measurements and he told me exactly what to do. This all happened Monday. I ordered the dress that night, (along with a few other items that had been sitting in my wish list long enough). 

The dress came Wednesday. I anxiously opened the box and there it was. It was completely perfect. I loved it even more in person.

 But then came the moment of truth. I had to try it on. I unzipped it and stepped in and zipped it up, and it fit PERFECTLY. I don't think I'd ever been so happy about something fitting me, now I just can't wait to wear it! 

Tartan

It comes in blazers, pants, pajamas, scarves, stockings. To me, tartan is the print of holiday season. You can find it virtually being tied into everything making that item a little more festive for the holiday season. 

This year especially I've seen a number of wool tartan pants that I've fallen in love with. Along with sport jackets for men in this festive print. That sport jacket paired with red or green cords would look good enough to put on a Christmas card! 

Vineyard Vines came out with a strapless dress made of tartan that is so classically preppy and timeless.  I plan on wearing this dress to a ballet and banquet as well as Christmas Eve. Paired with navy tights and flats, a red sweater tied around my neck will complete this look perfectly.
Tartan is classically known as a holiday print and I know I will be seeing a ton of it this holiday season.

I Actually Saved Money?

I like the big glass double doors that are opened for me. I like the overpriced clothes. I like the pretentious attitudes of the people who work at the stores I shop at and how we instantly bond when I decide to purchase one of their items, as if we have this special bond because we both will dish out $300.00 for a pair of ballet flats. I like that they offer me Diet Coke when I try things on. Not only do I love what they have to offer but; I love the attitudes of these stores, the atmosphere.

So you can see how when I walked into TjMaxx (easily since the doors were mechanic) I was bewildered at the low prices and polyester pants (I’m still cringing, ew). The fluorescent lighting made me look washed out and when I went to try something on, the woman handed me a number, not a Diet Coke, as if I was some commoner.

Then I started to look, really dig deep (like really deep) in those hangers of label-less clothes. I felt something that was far from polyester. It was WOOL. I pulled out the garment, barley containing my excitement. I looked at the tag, as I always do, to see a little pink whale, my favorite brand, Vineyard Vines. It was almost too good to be true, and it got even better. This red, white and navy wool fair-isle printed sweater that was originally $225.00 was now only $80.00! I couldn’t even remember the last time I spent less than $100 on any piece of clothing I own.

Sure the sweater was from last years Christmas collection, but like any good Vineyard Vines item, the style is timeless. I couldn’t even believe it was still there, people really don’t know a good deal when they see it.

            I triumphantly walked to the register and paid for my sweater in all cash, I didn’t even need a few credit cards to split up the price!

            My first experience at TjMaxx was definitely a success. Even though I didn’t get a Diet Coke (yes I have a Diet Coke problem) and no doors were held open for me, I saved money, which was actually a good feeling. I’m excited to go back and see what I can find next. 

The First Step into Winter

Its November, that means L.L.Bean boots and wool socks, Vineyard Vines pullovers and leggings, and  mittens and scarves. The snow is going to start falling soon here in New England, and my weekends are going to consist of trips up to my cabin in Vermont for skiing and family time.
There is nothing I love more than pumpkin cookies and hot apple cider by the big fireplace there (Yes apple cider. It is WAY too early for peppermint Starbucks, let me enjoy my pumpkin).
With Thanksgiving right around the corner its time to break out the cords and fisherman sweaters. You can put the fleece inserts into your favorite boots, and start layering up. Its going to go from no coat to no CHOICE but a coat.
So don't let your toes turn blue, and keep your hands toasty, its about to be winter in New England.