SATURDAY MORNINGS IN THE Korkidis HOUSE

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Keeping two energetic boys entertained isn’t always easy. What has worked the best for us this summer is playtime outside in the morning followed by quiet time after lunch. Obviously things don’t always work out like this but what I’ve found is if I first tire them out, they’re more likely to play nicely with one another or on their own once we get inside. Which also gives me a chance to get some work done! The weekends are different though. Saturday mornings are for the boys. They each get 30 minutes to pick out the game or toy we all play with together. Harrison especially loves it because his older brother isn’t in charge for a change!

The Korkidis boys are currently obsessed with Legos, specifically Batman, Spiderman, and Star Wars (haha #boymom) which is why lately I’ve been really loving the selection at Walmart. They have a great assortment of our favorite toys and they offer a great mix of both educational and fun options. Ordering for ourselves or for friends is made easy with their free two-day delivery service. I always try to have one back up gift in the house just in case I forget a birthday party or we need a prize to reward good behavior (recently it was potty training!). Walmart also makes it easy to search for an item based on age or Lifestage.

I’m sharing all of Luke and Harry’s picks right now as well as some of my favorite affordable pieces for back to school below!

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t r o t t a t o y s

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back to school essentials

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— I would like to thank Walmart for sponsoring this post —

All thoughts and opinions are my own

VINTAGE TENNIS STYLE

get the look

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Meet me on the courts! Haha this look reminds me of an off the court Wimbledon look. When I worked for Ralph Lauren as an employee I got the chance to attend the US Open every year in their section. Its my favorite sporting event! We’re thinking about bringing the boys for the day on Sunday just to walk around and watch the junior courts. One day I would love to goto Wimbeldon!

I love this cardigan - it has a dolman sleeve and oversized buttons giving it an elevated take on the classic style. Styling it here back to shorts but this style works over anything. Scroll down to shop my favorites right now!

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shop cardigans

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THE SUNDAY SECTION

t h e s u n d a y s e c t i o n

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who

Harper’s Bazaar - Etiquette according to the royals. Loved Kate and the late Princess Diana’s tricks for getting out of a car gracefully.

Departures - I forgot how much I loved the articles in departures and just recently started reading them again. Last week I shared this one on my stories. Its a great read about the future of our fabrics and how the fashion world is tackling our plastic problem. Have you heard of Dudley Stephens? They have transformed an 80’s classic and made fleece famous again with their ultra flattering styles created with recycled bottles (over 1 million to be exact). Click here for my favorite style and color:)

the everygirl - Should there be one day a week when we stay off social media? I have thought about it. I recently polled my IG audience and the majority of followers said they stay off the app on the weekends but catch up on Sundays. If I were to have a consistent “break” I would lean more towards a period of time everyday than one full day all together.

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wore

Another Harper’s Bazaar article this week that I had to share! White, cream, ivory….ALL YEAR LONG:) Putting my obsession with neutrals aside, it is true that this once summer-only shade is acceptable in even the coldest months now. Hello!! Snow bunny?? There is nothing more elegant than a head-to-toe winter white look. So don’t trade in all your white blouses come September 3rd, instead mix them back to darker denim and printed skirts. One item I do put away? My super white jeans. To be honest I’m usually sick of them by this time of year anyway.

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what

Al fresco dining - Summer isn’t the only time for outdoor dining. I’m looking forward to some cool (mosquito-free) nights over the next couple of months. I love the idea of alfresco dining with a cozy sweater and blanket draped over your legs. Last night we went to a beautiful farm to table dinner with long tables set under string lights. My friend sent me these black ones and I think I’m going to order! We still haven’t found outdoor dining chairs but I’ve been eyeing a few styles from One Kings Lane and I love these from terrain.

loafers - I love loafers, mules (like the ones I’m wearing above), and slides. I think they look great with skirts and dresses and are also cute with every style of denim. Basically its the cool ballet flat right now. You can turn them up a notch this season with a stud or embroidery like this pair. Here is a steal version for under $100! Also on the topic of studded…check out these Hermes dupes! Here are the originals…

Foundation - If you ask me this is the best foundation for covering up under eye circles. Its light and natural and easy to use (and did I mention its organic?). I’ve already refilled my compact three times. The best part? It doesn't sit and collect in the creases like most concealers. Maybe thats because its made of ingredients like jojoba, coconut, and sweet almond. My shade - like porcelain.

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where

Korkidis House - I’ve been thinking about sharing a house tour on the blog in the next month or two. Do you guys like before and afters as much as I do? We moved in with a wishlist and a to-do list exactly three years ago and have been slowly chipping away at them, project by project. Here is a list of what’s coming up:

replace windows - first on the second floor in the boys rooms, then on the main floor in the dining room/living room area

window treatments - Luke’s room and the first floor dining/living

replace old tile around fireplace - right now its red clay tiles and I’d love for it to be one slab of matte stone

replace wood on our front deck - I’m DYING to do this. It’s a really small space but I look at it everyday and it really bothers me. Frank and my Dad are going to do it themselves and hoping they start as soon as the weather cools off (like it was this weekend hint, hint)

paint front steps - I’ve been dragging my feet on this one only because I’m unsure of the color. Right now they’re gray but I’m debating white or even black. Would love some Inspo!

update downstairs bathroom - this is a pretty big project because there is a shower in it which we currently use for cleaning supplies and storage.

THE LUST LIST - PRE FALL FAVORITES

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t h e n e w n e u t r a l s

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THE PERFECT MINI SKIRT

g e t t h e l o o k

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mini skirt

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moto jacket

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accessories

heart necklace c/o // Jane Winchester

sunglasses // Celine

pumps (old) similar here // Ralph Lauren

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THE SUNDAY SECTION

t h e s u n d a y s e c t i o n

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who

Harper’s Bazaar - Ann Dowd talk’s about playing one of the most hated women in television right now….Aunt Lydia from A Handmaid’s Tale. Read how she speaks about her character being radicalized in Gilead and on using her own life to create this character.

Travel & Leisure - Ummmm I guess Ive been doing it all wrong! Click to see all the coolest amenities you can receive from various airlines while flying economy! On this note, I would love to hear from you if you use a credit card thats associated with an airline. I’m looking into business ones and can’t decide. Thanks!

Vogue - A peek inside fashion icon and Moda Operandi co-founder, Lauren Santo Domingo’s stunning Hampton home. Although we would expect nothing less from LSD, the layers in this old world yet newly built pattern paradise really blew me away. Lauren hired Greenwich, CT based designer Virginia Tupker to help with the design and it is perfection.

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wore

Maybe its just me but it doesn’t feel like Fall is being thrown in my face this year. Usually by August you start to see it everywhere. I’ve worked in retail forever so seeing wool sweaters in a stockroom after 4th of July doesn’t phase me, but there has been a refreshing change this season. Its given me a sense of excitement for this transitional period and I’m crossing my fingers for leather jacket, skirt, and sneaker weather over the next couple of months. Sharing some pieces I’m loving so far:

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what

recipe - OK this is not a specific recipe per say, but we had dinner with our neighbors last night and she made the most DELICIOUS quinoa salad! Make a big batch of red quinoa. Grill up some veggies and chicken thats been marinated. Once everything is done combine with fresh lemon juice, EVOO, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs (I think she used cilantro and flat leaf parsley). Now how’s that for an off the cuff recipe?! I really like this one because its the kind of thing you can make a big batch of on a Monday night.

beauty - My absolute favorite lip oil. I use this all year round. It smells like mint and feels great…honestly I have yet to find anything better. Oh and its organic!

non-dairy - Have you visited Kourtney Kardashian’s website/blog yet? I remember seeing something about it coming soon a few months ago but then never followed up online or on Instagram. This week I was looking up almond milk recipes and this one popped up. If you watch KUWTK you know Kourtney is a clean (eating) freak so it comes at no surprise that this was recently featured on her new site. If you’re an almond milk drinker do yourself a favor, turn the bottle around and read the ingredients. I was not-so-pleasantly surprised by ours and have recently switched to this one.

entryway - I love this inspiration from studio mcgee’s blog. I’ve been on the hunt for a console for our dining room/living room. Its one space right now and I feel like breaking it up a bit and adding another focal point will complete the space.

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where

I always get questions about where I shop for the boy’s clothes. I’ve never done “back to school” shopping before for Luke because he wears his clothes for what feels like forever. But he just had a little growth spurt and doesn’t really have much that fits going into this Fall (especially shoes), so I’ll be putting some new outfits together very soon. I‘ll do a little roundup in the next few weeks but for now wanted to share where I shop for the Luke and Harry:

zara kids

maisonette

h&m - love their sustainable line

ralph lauren

jacadi - they have the best skinny pants:)

VIDEO: NEUTRAL LOOKS FOR THE END OF SUMMER

t r a n s i t i o n a l n e u t r a l s

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look one

headband // sweater // t-shirt // shorts // shoes (similar)

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look two

dress (sold out - similar here and here) also love this style // hat // flats

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look three

t-shirt // skirt // bag // shoes // sunglasses

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look four

sweater // skirt // shoes // bow // sunglasses // shoes

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jewelry

heart necklace // c/o Jane Winchester

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LUKE'S SURGERY

The decision to put your child under general anesthesia is never an easy one. I was scared and nervous and kept replaying the same thoughts in my head, “Is this going to be worth the pain of recovery, what happens if something goes wrong, is this really necessary?”. All of these were valid questions and concerns. At the end of the day to have Luke’s tonsils removed was an “elected surgery”. Sure the doctors can point you in a certain direction and make recommendations, but ultimately you as parents have to choose.

It took me over a year to come to the decision that this was right for us. We discussed it with his pediatrician a number of times as well as his pediatric ENT specialist. It was very important to me to take my time with this decision, to watch Luke over the course of the year, through all the seasons, and understand if there were any other factors that could be causing his discomfort. Luke has never had strep throat and he has never had an ear infection, our reasons were considering this were different and I listed them below. The first time we went to the ENT and he looked in Luke’s mouth and said that his tonsils were a 4 out of 5 in terms of size. That coupled with his smaller sized throat brought him to recommend removal. That being said there was only so much he could see this way and what he realized after surgery was that it was much worse.

Fast forward 9 months. I was talking to a friend at a birthday party and she told me about a partial tonsilectimy which promised a much easier recovery and less risks. I brought Luke back to the ENT to discuss our options. He warned me that there was a risk the tonsils could grow back with a partial but the chances were very small. Additionally we would be removing his adenoids which could also provide significant relief.

The morning of the surgery I was terrified. The recovery scared me. I didn’t want to see him in pain and I was worried that it wouldn’t be worth it. The moment the doctor came to us in the waiting room that all changed. I’ll never forget it: He told us that the surgery went very well and that he had the biggest tonsils he had ever seen in a 4year old. As big as they could possibly be he said. THEN he told us about his adenoids (the forgotten part of the surgery that I always just considered an “extra”). This is graphic but he told us they were blocking his nasal passage so much so that he had to scrape them out of one of his nostrils! “This is going to be life-changing for him”, he said. I let out the biggest sigh of relief.

I decided to share our story because I know how scary making medical decisions for your child can be. I am so grateful for the way our journey turned out. Luke is doing amazing. He stopped snoring completely the night we came home. He can breathe through his nose with ease…I’m still in shock to be honest. The recovery wasn’t fun but it also wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. I’m interested to see how his seasonal allergies effect him this Fall and will post another update in 6 months!

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Luke’s Symptoms

Congested almost 365 days a year: we tried everything, Zyrtec, nasonex, Flonase, clariton, we were convinced he just had very very bad allergies

He could never take a full normal breath in or out of his nose - after the surgery we discovered this was because of his adenoids

Always tired - he was still taking a 2-hr nap almost every day at 4 years old

Snoring is not even the word - the sounds that would come out of his nose and mouth as he struggled to breathe at night could be heard around the whole house. It was very scary at times

REM sleep - he tossed and turned all night long and we assumed was never able to sleep deeply

Growth - this is something to be debated and we’ll have to see if there is a change over the next few months but Luke is in the teens for growth

Eating - by the end of the day he couldn’t eat anymore. Every night was a struggle to get him to take bites as we watching him gag on food, chewing it, and not being able to breathe at the same time

Wheezing - overall you could almost always hear him breathing, always in and out through his mouth, and it was noticeably labored

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I am not a doctor or a medical professional. What I’m sharing today are only my personal thoughts and experiences. If you need medical advice or help please consult with you physician

SUMMER DON'T GO

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hair bow // Zara

dress // H&M (similar style linked below)

shoes // old (similar linked)

sunglasses // Celine

bag // & other stories - old (similar linked)

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make the most of summer

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day trip to a place a couple of hours away

cocktails at home with friends

Al fresco dining

outdoor concert (if you live in the NY area we love going to tanglewood in MA)

gardening (beware of ticks and poison ivy!)

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b r o d e r i e a n g l a i s e

white

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black

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color

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THE SUNDAY SECTION

t h e s u n d a y s e c t i o n

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WHO

Vanity Fair - Courtney Adamo and the bloggers (and photographers) of Byron Bay. This article is so interesting and gives a peek into the seemingly perfect life of this mother of four.

Brene Brown - What Toni Morrison taught me about parenting. On what to do when your children walk into a room, ““Let your face speak what’s in your heart. When they walk in the room my face says I’m glad to see them. It’s just as small as that, you see?”.

NPR - To be honest, I don’t know a lot about guns. Last week I decided the first step for me to help make a difference for myself, family, and community, is going to be educating myself. Here is an article outlining the gun the shooter used in Dayton. I was shocked, and probably naive, to find out there are guides online to building your own similar pistol and how to make it different from a rifle thus making it easier to conceal.

Harvard Medical School - The case for drinking more tea. What are flavonoids and why are they good for your heart and stress prevention?

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WORE

Sometimes I need to take a taste of my own medicine. When my friends are feeling like they’re in a rut, lost their mojo, or having writer’s block I always advise them to get out there, go somewhere different, and find inspiration. Last Monday I did just that, went into the city, and spent the day soaking everything in. It didn’t take long for ideas to start flowing. I had a few client styling appointments in the middle of the day and normally I should have hopped right on a train and head back home but I was so happy I didn’t. I can’t wait to share August’s content with you and here is a little sneak peak at what I picked up that day:

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WHAT

headbands - this 80’s trend shows no sign of fading. Celebrities and influencers have been sporting headbands for almost a year now and Fall will be no different. As my friend said to me while we were shopping in Zara on Friday, “Once it hits Zara you know its official”. But is it almost over? I for one hope not. I loved wearing headbands as a little girl and fondly remember my Belgian grandmother’s sister wearing a fat black headband with a perfectly pressed white blouse. Want to give it a shot? You don’t need to break the bank with this style! Love this braided one too. Another trend borrowed from the 90’s…my blush scrunchie:)

fohr - if you are an influencer or a brand hiring influencers you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t know about fohr. Click here to view co-founder James Nord’s youtube series, A Drink With James. In it he discusses everything from common questions about Instagram to advice on how to approach working with brands. If you’re not familiar with fohr (in my own words) it was created in an attempt to make the influencer world more fair and equitable for both brands and the bloggers they hire.On the platform, influencers can create a profile and fohr will assess their following on Instagram and rate the authenticity (followers vs bots, etc.). They are constantly adapting to the changing landscape that is social media and recently added “follower testimonials” to profiles. They are anonymous and allow followers to share why they love following a particular influencer. Click here if you would like to comment about me :) {shameless plug}!

ice cream - I’m always on the hunt for dairy free ice cream. Not sorbet, ice-cream. It used to be almost impossible to find but more and more restaurants and ice-cream shops are offering the milk alternative. If you’re in the Hamptons, my favorite destination for vegan soft serve is Buddha Berry in Sag Harbor. If you get lucky you can do a swirl - chocolate coconut and matcha! Here is a recipe for an easy (6-ingredient) dairy free chocolate coffee “nice” cream by half-baked harvest.

fast fashion - the online retailer that is heating up Instagram. I’ve had my eye on this puff sleeve jumpsuit. How cute is this romper and this one?

candle - love potion no 9, my favorite candle, EVER.

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WHERE

Non-stop service to Naples? Let’s go! A new route by United Airlines now makes it easier to get to this ultra desirable destination. I’ve been to Italy once as an adult. When we were 21, Frank and I spent 10 days in the country beginning with Rome. We took a train to Florence where we stayed for three days and ended our vacation in Venice. I would love to go back. We always talk about visiting the Amalfi coast. My best friend just returned from her honeymoon in Positano and the pictures are incredible! Check out the amazing hotel they stayed in, Villa Tre Ville.

VIDEO - LUCKY BRAND JEANS

L O O K O N E

DENIM // T-SHIRT // CARDIGAN // SLIDES

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L O O K T W O

DENIM // BLOUSE // JACKET (love this style too) // SANDALS

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L O O K T H R E E

DENIM // CAMISOLE // CARDIGAN // SLINGBACKS (SIMILAR)

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Korkidis HOUSE - the boy's bathroom

I’m so excited to share this peek inside the boy’s bathroom! We recently received this towel starter pack from weezie towels and its amazing the impact it made! All of our bathrooms are from the 1980’s and I couldn’t believe the first time I walked through the house and saw a gray toilet and bathtub! Of all the old-fashioned colors they could have been! It sealed the deal for me:)

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t h e d e t a i l s

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towels // weezie

rug // Annie Selke

basket // home goods (similar here)

hooks // anthroplogie (sold out - similar rattan style here) also love this style

our favorite bath products for the boys // beauty counter

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Were they worth it??

to splurge or not to splurge

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OK so no one ever needs a pair for $400 sunglasses, $600 sandals, or a handbag over $1000. But once we get past that fact and you decide that you would like to invest in a few special pieces here is the criteria I start with. Will the item:

A. make you happy for years to come, you LOVE it

B. Be worn in many ways, is a staple

C. is something that hopefully will retain its value

If you’re item meets at least one to two of the three criteria, then its time to talk. C is an interesting one…just because something is expensive, it doesn’t mean you’ll get even close to the amount you paid if you decide to sell it. Not all designers are created equally when it comes to the resale market - Only Chanel, Hermes, and some Cartier pieces can be sold close at their original cost and in some cases more. When I purchased this Chanel wallet on chain purse over 10 years ago it was $1,100. I always store it in the box and its in pristine condition. If I ever wanted to sell it I would be able to for close to $2,000 now.

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Celine Catherine sunglasses

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Chanel woc

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hermes oran sandal

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THE SUNDAY SECTION

t h e s u n d a y s e c t i o n

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who

Harper’s Bazaar - the founder and fashionista behind weworewhat is re-launching her overall line and I think I’m going to need a pair.

Men’s Health - Frank’s friend from college wrote an article on healing his soul and how it changed the course of his life. Its a must read.

Rolling Stones - July was the hottest month in human history. If this doesn’t make you want to click and read I don’t know what will.

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wore

Summer’s not over. Here are a handful of dresses from the uber hot right now brand Reformation that will keep you cool in August and can be layered in September.

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what

diet - “Scientific evidence for the glory of breakfast is scarce. Instead, we should skip it and eat lunch like kings.” A new study out of a German university claims that fasting is not just a claim and can have more long term benefits then we give credit.

recipe - I made this frittata last week for lunch and it was delicious. I bought a package of zoodles from the grocery store which made a simple recipe even easier. If you don’t already have a cast iron skillet I can’t recommend this one enough. The care is a little bit annoying but once you get into a habit its worth it! Don’t wash with soap, add a touch of baking soda and rinse. Then coat with olive oil and store.

living room rug - One of my most requested items from our home is this wool and sisal rug. I originally found it on Amazon three years ago when we moved in. I wanted something that had a natural/sisal look but was also soft. It has held up really well and the wool fibers makes it easier to remove stains. This is my go-to carpet stain remover!

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where

Newport

The Vanderbilt - The history of Newport is scandalous! With the gigantic mansions comes even bigger drama and this hotel is no different. Originally built to house a young Vanderbilt’s mistress, it was quickly turned into a YMCA to avoid bad press and embarrassment for the influential family. The hotel was lovely, the staff was attentive, and the location prime - just a five minute walk to the wharf. I highly recommend a cup of morning tea in the courtyard followed by a tour of Rosecliff.

Clarke Cookhouse - We celebrated Tyler Boe’s Fall Collection over dinner at the brand’s favorite spot in Newport. The history of the restaurant is just as rich as its decor and the food was delicious. Heading to Newport for a special occasion? This is a must stop. If you’re doing on a Friday or Saturday night ask to be seated on the summer porch.

Castle Hill Inn - I can only recommend CH for the view. It is stunning. The service, not so much. I guess everyone deserves a second chance but we arrived, immediately ordered hummus and pita and after waiting 50 minutes (you read that right) cancelled our order and left. Not the service I would expect from a Relais & Chateau.

LIFE, LATELY

All mercury jokes aside, July knocked me off my feet. I don’t think I’ve felt more out of sorts and disconnected in a while. I shared a little bit about what was going on in the beginning of the month on stories. Out of respect for my family I unfortunately can’t share specific details, but there was some tough and unexpected news that we received after the holiday (not health related). In my heart I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and we will come out stronger then we were before, but in my head I’ve been freaking out. Stressed, worried, scared - none of these are conducive to creating inspired content.

We did have some really great moments last month - my best friend’s wedding in Nashville was awesome. It was so nice to escape (alone) with Frank and reconnect. But for some reason when we returned I found it impossible to get back into our/my routine. I think it was part summer, part returning back to the scary reality we were facing, and mostly feeling like everything was piling up. I’m a planner and I need for things to be organized - it’s weird because I’m also a creative and like spontaneity…is it possible to be both? I pride myself on consistency. As an entrepreneur and a one woman show I feel like its a non-negotiable. So when I missed a blog post last week and The Sunday Section the week before, it really upset me. I felt like I had lost my mojo.

So how do I get it back? Last night I made a (very long) list of everything I need to get done this month and then broke it down into weeks and priorities. I can’t tell you how much better that made me feel. Honestly, writing this post is making me feel better too. I’m a talker, pick up the phone kind of girl, I need to work things out this way. I think what I realized about myself is that when things get tough I can get paralyzed and what I need to do is just move forward. Easier said than done but I’m taking it one day at a time. Biggest THANK YOU to all of you for being here and supporting me. You are all the best part of my job and I couldn’t do it without your support:)

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o u t f i t d e t a i l s

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blouse // zara

tank // zara

denim // topshop (Nordstrom sale)

boots // Valentino (on sale in black) similar under $100

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CAPSULE WARDROBE: THE MIDI SKIRT

I’ve been working on a capsule wardrobe for Fall and wanted to share one of my favorite closet staples, the midi skirt. It truly is a four season piece that can be worn as shown above with a white tee (I also love to wear with a statement style like this one) or with a sweater and booties for Fall. I would love to hear from you! what types of pieces would you like to see in the capsule?

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A C A P S U L E W A R D R O B E

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