Recap: The Best NYC Girls' Weekend

Happy happy Christmas week!! I haven’t written a blog post in a couple of weeks because I have been up to so many things, but before we get into full Christmas / New Year’s mode, I wanted to recap a few of those fun things with all of you!

Two weekends ago two of my best friends/college roommates, Elizabeth and Coco, visited me for a long weekend. We had the *best* girls weekend and I wanted to share all of the fun things we did and places we went.

Last weekend my boyfriend Joe visited me, so that recap will be coming in my next post, ASAP! Joe and I had a very festive, lovely weekend and I can’t wait to share that recap with you as well.

This Week's Top 10: Tis The Season!

image via pinterest; shop the shoes here

 1. Happy Friday!!! Wow, it has been a week! I had two book clubs back to back this week, followed by my work holiday party on Wednesday, and then a manis/drinks date with my best friend Caroline last night. I haven't had a week like this in as long as I can remember! And it's only getting started- tonight my college roomies Elizabeth and Coco are coming into town and we are going to do so many cute, fun things this weekend. I am sooo excited!

2. The city is looking so pretty and festive for the holiday season and I'm excited to take Ej and Coco around this weekend to see all of the festive decor. We don't have too many concrete plans besides dinner and drinks, shopping, and exploring!

3. I recently got these black booties which I plan to wear alll weekend! They are so chic, very comfortable, and super affordable!

December Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Happy Friday, happy December, and happy last mood board day of 2021!!! First of all, thank you all for all of your love and support on the mood boards this year. I am so glad you have been loving them so much this year and definitely plan to keep them coming in 2022. 

The Best Sales This Weekend

Who's ready to do a little damage?! I've rounded up all of my favorite Black Friday sales below. I'll be updating this throughout the day/weekend with any other sales or marked-down products that I come across! Happy shopping!

If you'd prefer to browse all products rather than shop by brand, all products on sale have been updated on the shop page here!

What I'm Grateful For

Hello, hello! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday surrounded by loved ones and delicious food! I am in Boston with my dad's side of the family and we had a really nice, lowkey Thanksgiving day yesterday. My brother, aunt, and I ran the Turkey Trot in the morning, and then we just cooked all day, had our feast, and then went over to my cousins' house for dessert and games! We played lots of Scrabble, which of course I couldn't have been happier about, and overall it was just a really nice day with family.

Gift Guide: Mom

Welcome to the Gift Guide for Mom! I find this particular gift guide to be one of the more challenging to put together, because everyone's mom is unique, and it can be hard to think of something she will use and love that she doesn't already have. After asking my own mom for help on this gift guide, and of course, putting Elizabeth to work, too (kidding, kind of ;) I ended up creating this versatile assortment of gifts I think could be great for any mom! I am very happy with how this turned out; I hope you love it too. 

This Week's Top 10: My Weekend, New Fave Cocktail, NYC Holiday Vibes

1. Happy Sunday!! I missed posting this yesterday because I had a bit of a crazy night on Thursday and simply couldn't do anything on Friday, and then yesterday I wrote this and just forgot to hit publish! Thursday was totally worth it though- I had dinner with two of my aunts and then went to the Bergdorf Holiday Party which was fabulous; The Rockettes put on a show, the Veuve was flowing, I chatted with Linda Fargo, and got a photo with Julianne Moore! #dreamscometrue -- see my TikTok of the night here!

2.  One of my favorite things to do in the city is spend a Saturday alone, so yesterday I made a few plans for myself, which included visiting The Met for the first time! I had such a lovely day. The Lexicon of Fashion exhibit was absolutely fabulous!

3. The new Adele album is, as we all expected, incredible. If you haven't listened yet, you must!

Currently Obsessed

Taking a brief break from the gift guides to share some pretty things I've recently found. All of these products have been added to the shop page already, but (1) I feel like the shop page is often overlooked/forgotten about, and (2) these things are really too good not to draw a little extra attention to. 

In case you missed any of the gift guides, you can find them here: 

Gift Guide Under $50 

Gift Guide for the Girl who has Everything

Gift Guide for the Recent Grad / Young Professional

My & My Friends' Wishlists

Gift Guide: My Friend's and My Wishlists!

Each year one of my most popular gift guides is my personal wishlist. However, every year my wishlist gets smaller and smaller. As I've gotten older, my family doesn't do many Christmas gifts as we used to, which is totally fine, but it just makes for a less interesting wishlist of mine, haha. So, this year I decided to mix things up and make this gift guide way more fun by asking all of my friends what's on their wishlist and sharing those gift ideas as well! 

I love how this turned out because gift-giving really is so personal (after all, that's what makes for a thoughtful, "successful" gift) and I thought giving some ideas from a variety of 23-year-old girls could make things much easier for any of you thinking of something for your own wishlist.

Gift Guide for the Recent Grad / Young Professional

Welcome to the Gift Guide for the Recent Grad / Young Professional! I love these gift ideas for anyone who has recently graduated college, moved into their first apartment, or is just living life in their twenties- the ideas are practical yet fun to receive! And let's be honest, as we get a little older, sometimes the practical gifts are what we really want the most!

Stay tuned because tomorrow I am sharing my personal wishlist, alongside the wishlist of each of my closest friends! I am *so* excited to share what I've put together for that :) 

This Week's Top 10

 1. Happy Red day!!! I have been listening to the album alll day, which of course, includes the 10-minute version of All Too Well! Have you listened yet?! This song from the vault is my favorite so far.

2. OMG- I watched Cruella this week (on Disney plus) and it was seriously amazing. Like, might be one of my favorite movies of all time. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

3. I am actually freaking out over Anthro's sparkly holiday party collection.

This sparkly dress and this bow dress-- both incredible.

Two pairs of perfect pink shoes: these little heels and these beautiful (yet under $100?!) bow ballet falts

Gift Guide for the Girl who has Everything

Year after year, the Gift Guide for the Girl who has Everything is one of my favorites. It is so fun to make; Elizabeth and I started making these together sophomore year of college when we first lived together, and every year we have so much fun shopping together to create a fun, girly, luxurious assortment of gifts at every price point. 

On Thursday night I flew into MKE and stayed with Elizabeth. We were heading up north Wisconsin after work on Friday to celebrate (I surprised) our best friend Celia's birthday at her cabin. Since we both had slow WFH days on Friday, we online shopped together for this gift guide, which really brought me back to our college roomie days. I love the gifts we were able to find, and I hope you're able to find something you love on here for yourself, or for the girl in your life who has everything!

This Week's Top 10

1. Happy Friday! This week was a fun one on the blog- if you haven't seen it already, I published the November Moodboard, as well as a blog post sharing where everything in my apartment is from, and perhaps the most exciting: the first gift guide of the year, gifts under $50!

2. I just finished reading Golden Girl, Elin Hilderbrand's newest novel, this week and I started It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover last night! Golden Girl was good, but I've definitely read other Elin Hilderbrand novels that I preferred more... like The Matchmaker, Silver Girl, and The Blue Bistro (which was her first-ever novel- I read it most recently and loved it)

3. I am *so* glad I did RTR this month! I have not stopped wearing this cute checked pullover and this little black bucket bag. I am also very excited that it's now cold enough to wear this fabulous printed puffer coat I rented too!

Where Everything in my Apartment is From

Helloooo! Wow this is a long overdue post. My friend Sammy recently DM'd me on Instagram asking where some things in my apartment are from, and I realized I never did a consolidated post of everything. I've lived here for seven months and the apartment is probably halfway done, so I kept putting off documenting the progress that I have made. I have ideas of other things I really want to do, but I'm not sure I'll commit to them until I know if I can renew my lease... so for now, here's a roundup of everything in my apartment so far!

Gift Guide Under $50: Work Secret Santa, Stocking Stuffers & More

The first Gift Guide of the 2021 Holiday season is here!!! I like to do the Under $50 gift guide first because I think it's great for anyone who's planning ahead a smaller gift for maybe a work secret Santa, friend group gift exchange, or anything similar where you need to secure a gift earlier in the season. Of course, this gift guide is great for anyone on a budget too, or if you're just shopping for someone who you want to gift-give something under $50!

The gift guides are starting earlier this year due to shipping/product delays as a result of Covid. I am working to get up gift guides earlier this year for you so you have ample time to pick out things for your loved ones before it's too late! Also- thank you for all of the very helpful feedback on my IG story last night with gift guide suggestions. I am excited about creating all of these for you!

November Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

For once I actually feel really at peace with the new month... usually, I feel like the previous month just flew by and I am unprepared for the next one. Now that it's November, though, I feel like I'm in a good spot and I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family this month, wearing sweaters, and doing cozy, relaxing things. 

This past weekend was a pretty wild and packed one, which I don't have much of anymore! I loved every minute of it. Joe was in town, we went to the Nets game, we dressed up and went to a Halloween party with my friends on Saturday, and we watched the Halloween parade Sunday night in West Village. We explored a new part of town, ate delicious things, and just had fun! Feeling very grateful and happy with my life as we head into this month celebrating gratitude, thankfulness, and coziness.

Please enjoy this month's mood board and tag me if you make this your desktop or phone wallpaper, it brightens my day more than you know!

This Week's Top 10: Halloween, Shopping & Books!

photo from my shoot with Paige Elizabeth in Central Park last weekend, wearing these tweed shorts and this navy blouse

1. Happy Halloween weekend!! I am so excited about this weekend; Joe is visiting me and we are going to the Nets game tonight, and then a Halloween party tomorrow night! Hopefully, we get a fun photo in our costumes. My costume arrived yesterday and did not look as I hoped it would on me, so I'm quite interested to find out myself what I'll end up wearing tomorrow...

2. This morning I shared my outfit on my IG story- I am wearing this super cute lilac and white check pullover today. I found it on RTR, I couldn't believe it! I got my usual size but I'd recommend sizing down, it's pretty roomy.

3. If you want to try Rent the Runway, you can get 40% off your first shipment if you click here! I have had a membership for years and while I don't use it every month, I always have a great experience when I do. Lately, I've been in a shopping mood, just wanting new things to wear, and so being able to pick out 4 high-end pieces of clothing for just $100 without commitment to them is an amazing deal in my mind. This time I order this coat (so cute), the pullover I mentioned above, this skirt that I might wear for Thanksgiving, and this cute black bag- been needing something like this!

7 Halloween Costume Ideas

Sunday night on Instagram I shared a story asking what you're dressing up as for Halloween! There were some great responses, but also a lot of "I have no idea, please share ideas." I have always been so last minute with Halloween costumes, and this year I can't believe I'm actually somewhat ahead of the game (literally ordered a bunch of stuff last night and today is probably the last day to order if you don't want to pay extra for shipping!). 

This Week's Top 10: all of the fall things

1. The photo above is from Gray Malin's fabulous new Dogs of NYC collection. Read more about the collection here!

2. Last night I had a major "romanticize my life" moment. I went on a walk after work through the West Village to see all of the pretty homes and fall decor, and then I stopped at TJ's on my way home where I picked up a pumpkin, gourd, and a few pumpkin beers! I got home and lit my fall candle and read my book while listening to this fabulous fall jazz playlist. I was really living my fall truth. Everything and more!

3. Need to call out my new fall candle: it's AMAZING. I found it at Target on Sunday and it *sparks joy.* The scent sounds bad (pumpkin & cinnamon) but I promise it took me by very pleasant surprise when I sniffed it at the store! I find sweet-smelling/pumpkin spice/vanilla-type scents just gross in my opinion, and this isn't that- it's just fall and fabulous. And it's super cute! And only $15!

One Year of Consulting

One month ago, I hit the one-year mark of my job. To get the big questions out of the way, I work in consulting for a large technology company, and I majored in Business Information Systems in college. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in May 2020 and started my job (remote!) in September 2020. I’m technically based out of NYC (whenever the offices reopen), so that’s why I moved here.

This Week's Top 10

image via pinterest

 1. After two weeks in Wisconsin, I am officially flying back to the city tomorrow!!! I'm looking forward to it, but I've truly loved being surrounded by nature and plenty of space over the past two weeks.

2. When I get back to my apartment I think I want to do a little decorating for fall! I love these velvet plush pumpkins, and I'm definitely going to pick up some fall candles- this one seems to be a seasonal favorite, but this one and this one look like great options at a lower price point!

3. Speaking of fall shopping, yesterday on the blog I shared 70+ pieces I'm loving this season, and most are under $100. Check out the blog post here!

70+ Fall Pieces I'm Loving

I haven't been blogging much the last few months, and I've noticed how much less inspired I've felt as a result, especially when it comes to getting dressed. I always have an itch this time each year to step up my outfits, so I thought I'd do a little "research" for all of you and share some of the pieces I've found! 

In addition to the college, I've included 70+ pieces below for you, and most are under $100!

October Moodboard (Desktop + iPhone Wallpaper)

Everyone's favorite month of the year is here!!! How could you not love October? I have been devouring the 66 degree weather, running outside, and enjoying the leaves changing here in Wisconsin before I head back to the city on Saturday night. There's just something about the energy in the fall that makes me feel so at peace. The leaves are changing, I get to wear a sweater again and I'm not constantly overheating.. fall, just a better way of life.

Please enjoy this month's moodboard and tag me if you make this your desktop or phone wallpaper, it brightens my day more than you know!

This Week's Top 10: It's October?!

1. Happy Friday and happy first day of October! I've been in Wisconsin all week staying with my boyfriend and it's been truly so lovely to enjoy nature and go for walks that feel so quiet and more peaceful than the city. It's also been such a treat to spend so much time together with Joe! I am supposed to leave on Tuesday but won't be surprised if I move my flight to stay a little bit longer :)

2. I know I say this every month but September just FLEW by. It's especially hard to believe because it's been in the 80s all week! 

3. These have been my dream fall boots for years, and this almost identical pair is about half the price! 

13 NYC Restaurants, Bars & Cafes I Love

It's been a few months since I last shared a round-up of NYC spots I love and would recommend. It's also been a few weeks since my last blog post, so hi! I've missed you, and I'm excited to share some places I've been trying in the past few weeks that I've been ignoring you (sorry, love you! lol). In this post, I've broken down the spots into three categories: restaurants/bars, just for drinks, and cafes/breakfast spots. Would love to hear if you've been to any of these spots and what you thought, or if there's a spot I absolutely need to try!

This Week's Top 10: Labor Day Weekend

image via pinterest

1. Happy Friday and Happy Labor Day weekend!! I am so excited to be heading out to the Hamptons this weekend with my family! In the spring our family sold the original house we had in the Hamptons, so the new one has been under renovation all summer. I am so so excited to see it and see what my aunt has done with the new home, and especially looking forward to time with my brother (he got into the city last night and stayed with me) and the rest of my family!

2. There was quite the storm here on Wednesday night... Thinking of not only everyone in NYC who was affected, but also anyone in the south/New Orleans area who was in the path of hurricane Oda! I have a coworker who is from New Orleans and was telling me about the evacuation, and the damage that has already been done. Prayers to everyone affected and hoping you are all somewhere safe!!

3. I published the September mood board yesterday (both the desktop and iPhone size)!! If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here!

September Mood Board (Desktop + iPhone Wallpaper)

I feel like I've said this every single month this year, but how is it truly already a new month? September?! The end of summer? Fall, already?? I just can't keep up! I feel like winter was yesterday, even though I've been sweating in my shoebox apartment for three months. I love, love, love, August. It's my birthday month and it just feels like a really lovely, peaceful time of year each year... no holidays, not too many commitments, just riding out the last of the summer. I am glad I spent all of August in NYC, getting a bit more settled in, because I am planning to pop in and out of the city this September.... heading to the Hampton's this weekend (our new house has been under renovation all summer so I am very excited to finally go this weekend for Labor Day!), and Wisconsin at the end of the month. 

Anyway, September always feels like a fresh start, so I channelled smoky light blues, creams, and "academia" energy for this month's cozy and clean mood boaord!

This Week's Top 10: It's my birthday!

1. Wow... what a week. This work week was definitely in my top 3 of the most stressful/busy/overwhelming weeks yet. I've never been so eager for the end of the week, and because it's my birthday today, that feeling was especially strong!! I don't have any crazy plans this year, just dinner tonight with a few friends, and then going to the Yankees game tomorrow, which I am really looking forward to. LOL, I got a manicure last night and I can barely type.

2. I treated myself to this adorable workout set as a birthday present to myself!! Can't wait for it to come. I don't have any matching sets and it pains me every time I go for a walk, so this was definitely justified, haha.

3. What is happening in Afghanistan is devastating. I can't imagine how Afghan women are feeling right now. This article is really insightful and shares how you can help. I have also heard about the organizationn Women for Afghan Women (WAW). 

Easy Zucchini Fries + Homemade Aioli

Yesterday was... a lazy day for me. I went to brunch with a friend, church with another friend, and just chilled in between. Last night when dinner rolled around I realized I hadn't gone to the grocery store and the only thing to eat in my apartment was oddly enough, a zucchini about to go bad. What do you do when you have a zucchini about to go bad? You made zucchini fries!!! It's literally the only non-staple ingredient you need for this entire recipe, and it works for people like me who still don't have an air fryer (but if you're living in the 21st century and do have an air fryer like (seemingly) everyone else, this is even easier for you!)

This Week's Top 10: Books, Weddings, and Lots of Sneakers...

image via town & country

1. I finished The Alchemist this week and absolutely loved it. It's a pretty quick read so I would highly recommend it. If you don't know what The Alchemist is, it's a classic fable written by Paul Coehlo, and it's sort of a mystical, metaphorical story of a boy who goes out on a search to discover his personal treasure and learns many life lessons along the way. It's essentially just a metaphor for life and following your dreams. I found it peaceful, heartwarming, and honestly, really encouraging. I gave it five stars!

2. Up next I am reading The Most Fun We Ever Had, and The Idea of You. I started The Most Fun on the plane last weekend and I am loving it so far. It's the story of four sisters, all going through their own individual crises right now, while their parents are living blissfully in retirement, more or less completely unaware of what the daughters are going through. It is really light so far but I just know something juicy is going to happen! 

3. After I finish that one, I picked up The Idea of You to read next!! I am SO excited to read this one because Grace Atwood (one of my favorite bloggers) has given it the highest praise and it's been on my list for sooo long. I don't even know what the premise is, I just know it's going to be great.

13 Table Lamps I'm Loving

image via

I'm finally starting to get back into the mindset of making apartment decor progress. When I moved in April, I was so overwhelmed with making a bunch of big-ticket purchases and just getting the basics into my apartment, and then I was out of town so much in July I just didn't really realize that my goals for my apartment had been put on the back burner and there are so many ideas that I have to make this space great and feel more complete! I am mostly just looking for art and decor, which is the fun part. 

August Moodboard (Desktop Wallpaper!)

How is it August?! July flew by, spending over two weeks in Wisconsin, and then heading to Dallas this past weekend. August is generally my favorite month of the year, as it's my birthday month and means enjoying the last moments of summer, and in the past, it was time to head back to college, but this year I just don't feel the energy... 2021 feels like it's gone to fast and been too rushed, probably as a result of trying to make up for lost time last year. I am still not over my European adventure that was canceled in 2020, so the past few weeks have had me seriously daydreaming about a month in Europe, swimming in the sea, drinking spritz's, and exploring new places. You'll notice those are the vibes I channeled in this month's moodboard. I suppose a girl can dream, maybe next year! 

Fran's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

Happy Friday everyone! This week I am postponing this week's top 10 (just a little) as the Nordstrom sale opened to the public and I really wanted to share some of my picks with all of you. I typically find the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale overwhelming, over-hyped, and honestly, a little annoying, but this year as the offices start to reopen, I've begun thinking about (or panicking about tbh) my current non-existent work wardrobe and I figured a new work wardrobe was a good reason to peruse the sale. I ended up finding quite a few pieces, both work-related and not, that I thought were a good deal and worth sharing. I surprisingly found a lot of really cute jackets and beauty items in particular!

The sale is officially open to the public so below I've rounded up pieces that are still in stock (as of this morning). Find all of my picks at the bottom of this post, but a few notes directly below:

My Latest Skincare Routine

Since becoming a "real adult," aka living alone in my own apartment, taking care of myself, being financially independent, and all of that ~fun~ stuff (lol, not), I've learned to prioritize self-care and the importance of putting intentional effort toward doing things that make me feel like I have my sh*t together. One of those things specifically has been developing a skincare routine that really works for me. I'm excited to share my latest and greatest skincare routine, in partnership with Maelove!

This Week's Top 10

image via Pinterest

Happy Friday! Getting back to NYC and returning to my apartment this week has been... well, it's definitely had its ups and downs. I am still adjusting to my "life" and routine here, but overall I am feeling a bit more motivated and just overall more at peace than I did living out of a suitcase and running away from the city. I am actively trying to adapt to city life a bit more, and that starts with not leaving for weeks at a time every month. Of course, my time in Wisconsin and with Joe was fabulous, but it's unsustainable to, like, pretend I still live there, without putting in much effort to make NYC feel like my home now. Just working on finding that balance! I'll be here all of August so I definitely think that will help me shift gears!

Anyway! Happy Friday, let's get into the top 10 of the week:

Why I'm Obsessed with Revive Superfood Smoothies

If you watch my Instagram stories, you've seen that this week I have been starting most mornings with a Revive Superfoods smoothie. In full transparency, Revive sent me a box of their products to try, but writing a blog post wasn't part of the deal. However, I'm here anyway because I am *obsessed* and I really think you all need to at least allow me a minute to explain to you why I think this is an amazing concept that can benefit your life, too. 

This Week's Top 10

photo via @matildadjerf

1. Did this week fly by for anyone else? I was supposed to head back to NYC on Tuesday but wasn't quite ready to leave Wisconsin, so I bought a new flight home... I can't believe I finally head back to my apartment tomorrow after being gone for two weeks!

2. Taylor Hill's log cabin home tour was revealed on Arch Digest this week, and her Nashville home is easily the dreamiest space I've seen in a while.

3. Did any of you watch the Gossip Girl reboot premiere?! I don't know why for some reason I can't find myself interested at all, even though I *loved* the original GG.

This Week's Top 10

garden goals via mark d. sikes

 1. Happy Friday! This weekend is Joe's birthday and I am very excited to be in Madison to celebrate with him! It has been such a lovely and relaxing week here so far, just cooking together, and going for runs along my favorite paths from college. 

2. I shared the July mood board this week here! Check it out and download your new desktop and iPhone wallpaper if you haven't yet!

3. I recently got an Instagram Ad for this dress and I don't think a dress has ever been more me. I literally need it, except I don't, because I have nowhere to wear it :')

July Moodboard (Desktop + iPhone Wallpaper)

Happy July! I hope you all had a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend! I spent the Fourth in St. Louis with my grandparents and then Joe, which was super lowkey but lovely. We went to an arcade bar, ate amazing barbecue, and watched the fireworks right under the Arch. The weekend, as always, went by too quickly but I'm happy to be in Madison this week at Joe's apartment to spend time with him and then celebrate his birthday this weekend! This month's vibe is all things red, white, and blue, of course, as well as general summer energy like beach days, tennis, and hopefully some parties here and there. I channeled those vibes to create the July mood board, and I hope you love it!

This Week's Top 10: Fourth Of July (Sales!)

1. Happy Fourth of July weekend!! OMG, how are we already here?! 2021 is just flying by now that we are able to enjoy so many activities again. June was such a fun month for me and I definitely plan to recap it soon. In the meantime, you can check out my new YouTube video I shared this week for a little bit of a recent recap, particularly featuring my weekend with Elizabeth last weekend! 

2. Tomorrow I fly to St Louis to see my grandparents, and then Sunday/Fourth of July I will be spending time with both my grandparents and Joe, who is also heading to St. Louis (he's from there)! Monday, Joe and I will head back to Madison together and I'll spend the week (his birthday week!) at his apartment there- so many adventures, yay! 

3. Soo many great sales are happening this weekend! I just bought this bikini top + bottoms last weekend and it's now on major sale (I am so annoyed now that I paid full price, UGH!) -- highly recommend scooping it up while it's on sale, it's probably my favorite suit I've ever owned, just so cute and makes me feel so good! For reference, I sized down (bought both in a small!).

10 (Downtown) NYC Restaurants I've Recently Tried

This past weekend in NYC was the BEST. My best friend Elizabeth was in town and we had so much fun trying new restaurants, shopping, wearing cute outfits, making tik toks, and doing everything of the sort. I thought it would be fun to share the restaurants we tried, in addition to a few that I've tried with others recently before I forget the spots! Enjoy xo

Recent Favorites (also, hi!)

Hi!! Wow, it has been a busy few weeks. I don't like taking this much time off from blogging, but with the amount of time I was staring at my work laptop screen over the past few weeks, there was no way I had the energy to focus on this at well. So, apologies for the unexpected hiatus and quietness! This week has been much calmer with work and I am hoping to share a bit more content before things pick back up again. I thought I'd resume here simply by sharing what I've been loving recently.

June Mood Board (Desktop + iPhone Wallpapers!)

Happy June! I hope you all had a lovely and relaxing Memorial Day weekend! As I'm sure you're well aware if you follow me on social, I've kicked off summer on Martha's Vineyard. While the weather hasn't been ideal, it's been SO nice to take some time off work and start the season in a fabulous place. June, to me, means rosé season, choosing linen and wicker over anything else, and spending as much time outside as possible. I channeled those vibes to create the June mood board, and I hope you love it!

This Week's Top 10: MDW

image via pinterest

1. Happy Friday! Apologies the blog has been on the back burner for a couple of weeks; things have been really busy with work. Like, 10 hour days most days, and unfortunately, it's hard to look at a screen again after I shut my laptop around 7PM. That said, very much looking forward to heading to Martha's Vineyard tomorrow for MDW and staying for all of next week. So excited for the break from work for a bit to recharge!

2. Currently reading this book and planning to pack this one for the trip as well.

3. Looking forward to wearing this navy slip dress I've had forever to dinner one night on the island! I think it'll be perfect. Mine is older (and I've never worn it!) but I love this one and this one - both very similar.

This Week's Top 10

is it weird that this beautiful bathroom was one of my biggest sources of inspiration this week? source: AD greenwich village apt tour

1. Happy Friday! The past couple of weeks have been so crazy with work, I am so happy it's Friday. I am also looking forward to heading back to New York this weekend and reuniting with my little apartment. I've been gathering quite a bit of inspiration since I've been gone and I am excited for my furniture to arrive next week!

2. Speaking of my apartment, decorating is, like, all I can think about, all the time. I am pinning nonstop to my Pinterest boards!

3. I love this post from Eye Swoon on how to find the perfect vintage vessels and vases (Athena Calderone is one of my biggest sources of home/lifestyle inspiration)

Perfect Pieces for the Start of Summer

It feels like just yesterday the sun was already set by 4pm, and I barely went outside for fear of hypothermia. But... somehow it's actually mid-May, and I couldn't happier! The sun is up at 8 PM these days and that is a sign that summer is upon us! I head back to New York this weekend, and then I am on Martha's Vineyard at the end of the month for Memorial Day. I am so excited about the warmer weather and some beach days ahead that I rounded up a ton of pieces perfect for this start of summer.

This Week's Top 10: Apartment Updates

 1. This week absolutely flew by for me. Anyone else? Work was insane, and on top of that, I've been in Wisconsin at Joe's apartment! I leave here tomorrow afternoon for Charleston to spend Mother's Day with my mom!

2. Speaking of Mother's Day: I shared a mother's day gift guide here. Graduations are also right around the corner / already here for some, so I shared a graduation dress roundup here and a graduation gift guide here!

3. I packed this dress to wear in Charleston and I'm so excited to frolic around in it. It's so cute and fun!

Graduation Gift Ideas

Graduation season is here! How did this happen? I started my post-grad job in September just a few weeks after some of my friends in college headed back to school, and it's wild to realize an entire school year has just gone by. Today I want to share some of the best college (or high school) graduation gift ideas for anyone in your life graduating in the coming weeks.