Wish List Wednesday: Bikinis

One of my favorite parts about summer is living in my bikini and cover-up. When I'm not working or am at the beach, I'll go days on end without putting on real clothes- just throw on a tunic over my suit. It's not always easy to find cute bikinis in the right size or fit, so when I go I tend to pick up extras to keep on hand. I haven't bought a new one yet for this year (didn't really need one in London!) but here's a few that I have my eye on:

The first one is this cute seersucker demi underwire top from J.Crew (with mix and match bottoms styles!) I love the classically summery seersucker, but also that it's sold as separates, so I can order different sizes for each piece.

This floral number is the zimmermann verano ra ra bikini from Madewell. I love the floral pattern and the playful ruffles. I'm also always a sucker for strapless suits after an unfortunate tan line incident at junior prom!

This classic triangle top and string bottom are Trina Turk's Seychelles Banded Triangle suit, available through Piperlime. I love the fun print and bright colors- they'd definitely pop against tan skin.

These bottoms are the more affordable, but equally cute printed bikini from Old Navy's mix-and-match swim collection. They offer various 'collections' of prints (this is from the Moroccan collection) and have fun accents like the tassels on the bottoms shown here.

This printed suit is Shoshanna's Reef Twist Bandeau and Loop Brief. It's a pretty basic silhouette, but in a pretty floral pattern. Plus the straps are removable!

This Scallop Triangle Bikini is from Marysia Swim and is available at Revolve Clothing. I'm a sucker for scallops, and they provide the right amount of interest to what's otherwise a plain classic black bikini.

This last suit is one of my favorites. It's Eberjay's ruffle bandeau bikini. I love the navy color, the fun ruffled top, and of course, that it's strapless. It may just be the top one on my list for this summer!

Do any of these catch your eye like they did mine? Or have you already found the perfect bikini to rock this summer?

Memorial Day Weekend

This holiday weekend, I traveled to visit my boyfriend and his family. We're living in different cities this summer, which is difficult at times, but we both enjoy getting to travel to see the other and do new things. One thing that's always been a problem for me though is knowing what to pack! He's bad about letting me know what we'll be doing, so I always pack plenty of options.

Here's what I took with me for the sunny long weekend (clockwise from bottom left): Kate Spade Lucille Dress (old similar here), Kate Spade Floral sandals (similar here), J.Crew white toothpick jeans, J.Crew eyelet top (also old, similar Factory version here), Banana Republic silk print tank (similar here), J.Crew four-inch chino shorts, Lilly Pulitzer Buttercup shorts (old pattern, this year's version here), J.Crew ruffled silk tank (similar here and on sale!), Jack Rogers raffia sandals, J.Crew trellis floral mini, Jack Rogers Navajo sandals, J.Crew Factory Clare cardigan in red.

Here's a close-up of my Kate Spade sandals. I bought them last year, but it was late enough in the summer I never got to wear them! I'm excited to break them out now- they're a fun but still neutral touch.

Friday night my boyfriend, his parents, and I went to a baseball game. I wore my Kate Spade dress, my red cardigan and threw a denim jacket in my purse at the last minute. I was glad I'd decided to layer! It was so nice and hot while the sun was out, so I took off my sweater. But after the sun went down, I had my sweater and my denim jacket on (it also didn't make a bad pillow for the long ride home!) Unfortunately, our team lost so my boyfriend didn't want to take pictures and document the experience.

Saturday afternoon I spent shopping around town with my boyfriend's mother, and then we went out to dinner on the river. The sunset was so pretty, and it was so nice to watch the boats go past- especially with all the pretty lights on them!

As we were finishing up dinner, we got surprised by a fireworks show! It was actually put on for an event downtown, not far from where we ate, but I think everyone eating at the restaurant appreciated it as well. The picture absolutely doesn't show how pretty the fireworks were, but I tried!

On Sunday there wasn't much to do- so this picture is basically how I spent the day. My boyfriend's mother keeps the bookshelf in "my" room stocked with tons of novels, and I always read a few while I'm visiting them. The weather was so nice all I wanted to do was lay on their deck and read.

What fun things did you do this Memorial Day? Or were you like me and used the extra day to rest and be lazy?

Banana Republic and Marimekko Collection

Marimekko's graphic prints will soon be coming to a Banana Republic store near you! The company well known for it's signature bold prints has partnered with Banana Republic to partner classic clothes with modern patterns. The collection will be priced from $39.50 to $140 (not much different than Banana's regular prices) and will be available in select stores and online on May 22. I'm a longtime fan of Marimekko's prints and have been hoping they would make clothes for a while. Here are the items I'm loving from the lookbook available online:

This v-neck dress is one of my favorites from the collection. Navy blues always scream summer to me, I love throw-on-and-go sundresses, and it had pockets! Truly a triple threat option.
V-neck shift dress in Jurmo Print, $130.00, Ankle-strap Sandal in Teak, $89.00 

These blue polka dot shorts are definitely on my list when the collection hits stores. I love the pattern on the peplum top, but I think it would bother me that the stripes don't appear to line up. I'll have to wait and try it on.
Peplum top in Jurmo Print, $69.50, Hampton Short in Rasymatto Print, $55.00, Wayfarer in Black, $98.50, Ankle-strap Sandal in Teak, $89.00 

This blue print maxi dress is another I like online, but will have to try on. I'm really short, so large amounts of print are often overwhelming on my five foot two self. But for those a bit taller, I love this with wedges for drinks and dinner on a downtown patio!
Patio dress in Siirtolapuutarha Print, $130.00

My favorites of the collection are these two graphic black and white items. They're fun together for print-mixing, but I would probably wear them separately. I love the  sweater colored skinnies for cool nights but would also wear it into fall with black skinnies and my new royal blue blazer. I'm not sure just how voluminous the skirt will be in person, but love it so much I'm sure I'll end up brining it home regardless. Like the sweater, I would pair it with bright colors- bright pink or red and a pair of classic black heels for dinner out with my boyfriend.
Crew-neck Sweater in Kivet Print, $69.50, Mid-length Patio Skirt in Kivet Print, $98.00, Ankle-strap Sandal in Teak, $89.00 

How excited are you about the Marimekko and Banana Republic collaboration? Anything from the lookbook on your must-have list?

Kate Spade Surprise Sale!

Kate Spade's Surprise Sale starts today and ends Thursday at midnight! This sale comes around a few times a year and is perfect for bargain hunters and those of us on student budgets who love nice things at a nicer price! Here's a few of the things included in the sale that I'm loving:

Cross body bags are perfect for summer. They're large enough to hold my sunnies, my Clinique chubby stick in hot pink, my phone and a few other necessities. But they're also small enough that they don't get in my way if I'm jumping up to cheer at a baseball game or riding my bike around town. Plus, the royal blue matches nearly my entire summer wardrobe!

Pineapples just scream summer and these cute studs are the perfect pair of earrings to pair with my sundresses for a fun finishing touch.

This bright pink lace top is calling my name. Anyone who knows me knows those are my two favorite fashion choices and the two together is even better. I'd wear this top with dark or white skinnies and my favorite nude Kate Spade strappy wedges to go out for dinner and drinks downtown.

I certainly don't need any more shoes, but I still might have to add this adorable pair to my collection. Combining black and brown, they're the perfect neutral pair to go with everything in my closet. Plus, who can no to a bow?

This colorful travel themed scarf would be great to keep in my purse to throw on when the sun goes down and the temperatures cool off at night. I love anything travel related and all the bright colors would go with everything. I'd keep this in my bag for when I'm downtown on a restaurant's patio and don't want the cooler night temperatures to drive me inside!

 What items from the sale are on your must-order list? I've certainly got my eye on a few things!

Summer Sandals

One of my favorite things about summer is getting to wear sandals. Apart from flip-flops, espadrilles are my favorite go-to style. From flat ones to throw on for Saturday trips to the Farmers Market, to pretty lace ones, to tall ones that help out my measly five foot two inch self, I love them all! Below is a roundup of variety of my favorites available for this summer:

J.Crew’s Factory store offers this canvas, closed-toe pair. They’re nearly four inches, but the wedge is much easier for me to walk in than a four inch heel would be. I love these in the neutral khaki color to throw on with the sundresses I live in during the summer.

Ralph Lauren makes this silk shantung pair. I bought them on sale last year in black and will have to re-invest in another pair this year- I wore them so much, they’re a mess! They’re low enough to run around town in, but high enough to feel a little more special than flip-flops. Plus the peep-toe lets your bright-colored pedicure show!

Tory Burch’s striped, flat espadrille is on my must-order list. The flat sole makes them the perfect casual shoe, but the stripes add an extra cute summery touch.

Coach: like the Tory Burch sandals, this Coach pair is a flat sole. They’re the open, strappier cousins to the closed-toe Tory Burch espadrilles. They would be my ideal flat sandals to throw on with a cute shirtdress to go browse produce at the market downtown on a Saturday morning.

This striped pair from Bass combines two of my favorite styles for summer: blue and stripes. The leather trim makes them look high-quality, but they’re super affordable!

 Which pair is your favorite?

Paris, Je T'aime

Paris has long been one of my favorite cities. When I was in middle school and we were given the choice of studying either French or Spanish, my Daddy promised me that he would take me to Paris if I learned to speak fluent French. He later joked that he meant Paris, Kentucky (not funny!) but nonetheless helped me buy a plane ticket to France to visit my boyfriend who was studying abroad there. He and I took the train up from Marseille to Paris- the best way to travel. I loved Paris. I felt so lucky to have gotten to see a city I thought I would only dream about; I never expected to go back. But exactly three years later, my boyfriend and I got the opportunity to finish our semester abroad in London by visiting my favorite city. Here are some pictures re-capping our trip:

This was the view from our hotel room. We stayed in Montparnasse, which is the 14th arrondisement. Our room had great big windows (big enough for me to sit in!) which I threw open as soon as we dropped our bags.

The Eiffel Tower. I love Paris' landmark so much, my boyfriend bought me the Tiffany's charm of it for Christmas the year we first went. I haven't taken it off since. It is truly a sight to see. My favorite thing to do in Paris is stop by a farmers market and eat a picnic lunch starring up at La Tour Eiffel.

Notre Dame. As beautiful as the outside of the building is, with its sweeping flying buttresses and rose garden, the inside is enough to move you to tears. The rose window is unbelievably gorgeous. The line was too long for us to go inside while we were there this time, but I'll always remember how overwhelming it was to see it the first time. If you walk behind Notre Dame and then across from Ile de la Cite to Ile Saint-Louis there's also a great ice cream shop- Bertillon- get the dark chocolate in a giant cone!

If anything can beat the Eiffel Tower during the day, it's the Eiffel Tower at night. Every hour on the hour, there's a light show that makes it look as if it's glittering. Gorgeous.

What city have you always dreamed of visiting?

There's No Place Like Home

    

     After four plus long months of being away from my home and family, I finally returned to the States late Friday night. When I landed in Atlanta, I turned on my phone to find that my little brother had been texting me updates about how far I was from home- he'd been tracking my flight online. That sweet gesture, combined with the thought of being back on American soil, one step closer to my family made me so happy. Finally landing in my hometown airport a few hours later made me so happy I teared up as we taxied to the jetway - I was just so overwhelmed at the thought of being home.
      It's cliche to say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it's absolutely true. My younger brother and sister and I have not always gotten along. My brother is a typical seventeen-year-old swaggering his way through the remainder of high school, too cool for his big sister to cheer at his games. My sister and I are so close in age- a mere 18 months - we've not always seen eye to eye about things and have had more than one fight over 'borrowing' clothes from my closet. But regardless of those differences, they both made the effort to make sure that I knew what was going on with them, calling and iMessaging me regularly throughout the semester. I got to scream and shout with my sister when she got her assignment to cover the NCAA Tournament and I got to tear up looking at pictures of my brother in his tux going to junior prom. There were times while I was gone that I was devastated to be missing events at home, but I appreciated how thoughtful my siblings were to keep me informed about their lives.
     With my last year of law school approaching a few short months from now, I'm sure that it will be a while before I have any more exciting European adventures. I'm certainly unlikely to make it out of the country between case briefs, papers, and exams. But what being away has reminded me of is all the fun that I can have right here at home, and all of the things that I missed so much while I was gone. These days, I'm grateful just for the little pleasure of getting a good barbecue sandwich and moseying over to my alma mater to watch my brother play baseball.

    What did you/would you miss most about your hometown?

Travel Is The Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer

This has long been one of my favorite quotes and has resounded more forcefully with me throughout this semester. One of the best things about living abroad this semester was the ease with which I could travel to any number of countries, even if just for a long weekend. That was made even easier by the fact that school gave us a two-week Spring Break- I was able to spend a week in Italy seeing Florence and relaxing in Cinque Terre, spend the weekend back in London and then do a whirlwind tour of Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, and Luxembourg. I even got to take my boyfriend to Dublin as surprise for his birthday and spend a weekend in Deauville, France.

After finals ended on Thursday, my boyfriend and I were able to catch a Eurostar train to Paris for the long weekend. Apart from getting to go to one of my favorite cities, it was so exciting to have the new experience of taking a train through the Chunnel. Even though it was so stressful to plan a trip while I was still taking exams, it was the best possible final trip for the semester. Paris is always beautiful; Paris in the Spring is even better. More so than just that, it’s wonderful to immerse yourself in the language and the culture for a few days. From the farmers markets to the très delicious croissants, and the gorgeous sites, France makes for a great trip. The experience of being able to go to countries with a cultural history stretching back so much earlier than America’s founding is truly an education in itself, and one that everyone should experience!

While this semester has undoubtedly been an expensive experience, I'm so grateful for the worldly education it has provided me. I could easily have stayed home and spent the money on new clothes or shoes or something. The memories I've acquired while I've been here will last much longer than any of those material things. Learning from other people, learning new languages, (poorly, mind you!) trying new foods and seeing new things is a growing experience. Spending time in so many countries has definitely widened my worldview, exposed me to different cultures, and yes, made me richer in the most important ways.