Holiday Weekends + Link Love

I cannot even begin to tell all of you how happy I am that it's Friday! Not only has it been an impossibly long and stressful week, I am so very much looking forward to a three-day weekend. While I have no (current) beach plans like I did last weekend-the above photo was at Jones Beach out on Long Island-I'll be catching up with friends in town, celebrating a couple birthdays and trying to get a little me time in before NYFW starts next week! 

Link Love has been MIA for a few weeks by and large because I've been too swamped to spend much time kicking around the Internet. Thankfully, I've got friends who key me in to all the good stuff and a few sites I drop by once or twice a week.


Hallie shared a great list of how she preps for NYFW (which reminded me I hadn't done hardly anything! Definitely using this as loose guidelines each season from here on out).

An incredibly cool infographic of NYC & how it's changed since Bloomberg took office.

Sephora is clearancing out their nail polish line. Sorry, bank account!

This hilarious guide to Land of the Hipsters, aka Brooklyn courtesy of Refinery29.

Fall must, courtesy of Elizabeth and James.

How to take care of your lingerie.

Perfect art addition for anywhere in your place: Max Wanger prints.

I found a new favorite coffee & bagel house in my neighborhood.

I'm starting to change my mind about perforated boots, thanks to French Connection.

The coolest clutches I've seen.

Currently reading some more Bill Bryson, but thinking this might be next on my list.

A kick-ass card (literally).

Oh, good-reasons why you WANT your mind to wander!

How to ask for a raise.

Need decor inspiration? Look no further.

Finally going to Peels for brunch this weekend!


What caught your eye this week? Have a great (long) weekend!

Tailored Whites

Like I said yesterday, the neutrals combination is appealing to me more and more lately. I pulled these white separates together for a day of meetings and they transitioned perfectly to Jessica's Birchbox x Ann Taylor Ready. Set. Finished. event in the evening (check out her recap, and Kelly's, too, for some great photos) and then to dinner and drinks at night! The blouse, skirt & heels were all recently picked up on my last trip home and have quickly become wardrobe staples, along with my trusty black blazer.I can also picture the blouse in the fall with my green brocade Elizabeth and James blazer, dark denim & metallic heels.

It's also the perfect time to pull together some white-on-white before Labor Day...I've come across fellow bloggers Julia, Jessica, Merritt and Hallie all rocking white combos this week, too!

Blazer, Zara || Blouse, Elizabeth and James (similar) || Skirt, Aryn K (similar) || Shoes, Jessica Simpson

Necklace, Sequin Jewelry || Pedicure, OPI Teal the Cows Come Home

Photos: Jessica Sturdy

Weekly Wants

This week's weekly wants is a little clothing-heavy, probably because I've half a mind to do some serious wardrobe cleaning again as I prepare to put all my summer clothes away. As much as I love color (evidence here, here, here, here oh and here), I've been drawn to simple whites, blacks and military greens more often lately. Fear not-I'll never lose my color-loving side, but some days I think it'd be easier for me to get dressed in the morning if I had more neutral pieces to match some of my crazier ones. I'm also planning to pick up a French course this fall to freshen up my language skills (I did get a degree in it, after all), so a little "je t'aime" around my neck would be the perfect touch for fall. My love of gold accents is clearly showing no sign of slowing down, either. Oh, and can we take a minute to talk about 1820 House candles? I found a small selection of their items at a little shop in Boerum Hill earlier this summer and could not. stop. smelling. the sandalwood and cardamom scent the entire time I was in the store! One came home with me, but I've almost burned through it and am in need of several to go around my apartment. I have never smelled anything so wonderful in my entire life.

Clockwise from top left: 1820 House Sandalwood and Cardamom candle || Bailey 44 Leather Look Tee || Drink More Gin Print || Harvey Faircloth Plaid Jacket || Mettle Gold iPhone Case || Ragdoll Cropped Tee || Joie Bright Fire Ankle Boots (on sale!) || Sole Society Carla Tote || Jennifer Meyer Je t'aime Necklace || Rag & Bone Lariat Zipper Jean || Zara Waistcoat with Zips || Santa Maria Rose Wax Tablets

Weekend Casual + Inside My Bag

The weather in NYC has been beyond perfect over the last week or so, with warm, breezy temps during the day-but you can feel that touch of coolness on the underside of the air, whispering that fall is coming. While I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of fall (not helped by the fact that winter follows), I do love the crisp feeling in the air slowly ushered in by the change of season. Since we're still a bit off from sweater weather, though, I took full advantage of the weekend weather with a brunch date and a day in Central Park basking in the warm afternoon sunshine-and playing around with my film camera, which is making a reappearance in my life.

The people at Hobo International were kind enough to send over this Mariella bag, which is the perfect size to carry all my essentials for a day in the city. I'm also linking up with four other bloggers-Jessica, Laura, Lydia and Fran-to show you what those essentials are! Scroll down for a peek inside my bag.

Tee, Joana Avillez for Refinery29 || Pants, H&M (thanks, Jessica!) || Bag, Hobo Bags c/o

Sunglasses, Ray-Ban || Sandals, Kelsi Dagger (on sale!)

The great thing about the Mariella is it helps me to be a little bit more organized-if I'm carrying a tote, I just toss everything in, which can leave me digging for my keys in the dark (story of my life most nights!). I never leave home without my wallet, keys & phone, and during the day I usually toss in my planner (I know, I'm a nerd for still carrying one!), a notebook (Muji's are cheap and easy to carry) to jot down blog ideas and keep track of finances and other essentials, and a good book to read for the subway ride home. The Mariella fits my style perfectly, with a shoulder strap to keep me hands free when I'm lugging bags through the city and plenty of storage for the rest of my essentials.

I'm all over the place when it comes to beauty products, but I have a handful of essentials I can't leave home without. I've been carrying C. O. Bigelow's Rose Salve daily for almost ten years (!) and have been known to leave tins all over the place, from work to home to my parents' house, in case I need a quick fix-I kept so many at my college boyfriend's that he started buying them for me. I'm pretty minimal in my daily makeup routine, but I'm a huge fan of lip color and a little flush to the cheeks, so I keep a few options on hand for touch-ups. Having long hair requires some type of hair management on hand at all times, and a nail file is a must (these ones are $1 for a pack of three-I keep one tucked in my wallet and at my desk at work, too). All the little things tuck up nicely into a leather pouch so I'm not scrambling for them when I really need them!

Hobo Mariella Bag || Ray-Ban Sunglasses || Marc Jacobs Wallet || Quo Vadis Planner

Muji Notebook, Pen || Bill Bryson Book || C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve || Choward Mints

YSL Lip Color || Urban Decay Blush || NARS Multiple in Orgasm || Ms. Manicure Nail File

Goody Spin Pins || L'Occitane Hand Cream || Blotting Tissues