Ruffles & Stripes & Blue Oh My....

If you've been following along for a while then you know that blue is my favorite color. Whether we're talking navy blue, light blue or any shade in between, blue is a common thread that runs through most of my wardrobe. Combine that love with my love of stripes, ruffles and checks, and you have a love affair that will no doubt last a lifetime. Needless to say, I couldn't be happier that these things seem to be joining forces everywhere this season, so today I've rounded up some of my favorites that are available now - with a few inspired by my newest Zara shirt seen here. 

1. MANGO / 2. FRAME / 3. MANGO (on sale for $30) / 4. MANGO (on sale for $23!) / 5. ASOS (on sale!) / 6. Brooks Brothers / 7. MANGO / 8. ZARA 

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday! This past weekend Jason and I were in Boston and the greater Massachusetts area for a beautiful wedding. We flew into Boston late Friday night and settled into our hotel to rest up before an event filled weekend. On Saturday we had some time before the wedding so we grabbed a delicious lunch at Turner's Seafood with Jason's family before heading back to the hotel to change.  

After changing into our festive attire (I wore an old silk, floral Ralph Lauren skirt (similar here, I also love this one, this one, this one, this one, this one and this one), this off the shoulder shirt that looks much more luxe than it's $9 price tag would lead on, and these heels which are some of the most comfortable I've ever worn) we headed on over to the wedding where we were so lucky to witness a beautiful ceremony full of love and laughter. The reception soon followed with some of the most delicious food and even better company.

We laughed the night away and took in the New England air as the first wafts of fall danced on the breeze. I've said it before but I'lll say it again - there's something truly magical about New England and it is hands down one of my favorite places on earth. 

The next day, we all gathered again for a post wedding brunch where the amazing food and lovely company continued for a few more hours before we all parted ways. Once we all said our goodbyes, Jason and I headed back into Boston to explore some more. I wore a great new striped wrap top that I picked up from Zara (I couldn't find it online but these are similar - 1, 2, 3, 4), my go-to black shorts from LOFT, Chanel ballet flats for optimal comfort and my Louis Vuitton crossbody for hands-free exploring. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the gorgeous parks and back alleys of the city and taking in all the sights, stopping only for a quick cappuccino and Thai dinner. After dinner we headed back to our hotel to grab a few winks before our very early flight this morning. I've spent the rest of the day catching up on emails and planning out my week but have to say that Boston blew me away and I'm already planning a return visit. 

Updated Hair Routine + Amika Polished Perfection Straightening Brush Rave Review

Today I'm excited to share my updated hair styling routine and rave review for the Amika Polished Perfection Straightening Brush. Since cutting my hair as part of my summer capsule makeover my usual go-to styling routine hasn't been cutting it so I've had to re-learn how to do my hair. I've experimented here and there with different methods but hadn't found anything that worked perfectly for me - until I discovered the Amika Polished Perfection Straightening Brush. 

I first discovered this magic tool while reading Emily's review on IntoTheGloss and was instantly intrigued. In her review Emily shared that this brush gave her smooth, effortless looking locks in only 10 minutes! As a lover of quick, effective routines I immediately began reading and watching review after review of this brush until I was convinced I had to try it for myself. 

Since receiving it I have been absolutely blown away by this brush and can't say enough good things about it! Like Emily promised, I'm able to smooth my frizzy, thick air dried hair in 5-10 minutes without breaking a sweat.

To use it, I set mine to 390 degrees and section my hair into a few medium sized sections. Then, I brush each section out with my Mason Pearson Brush so that it's detangled - even though this looks and acts much like an actual brush you shouldn't use it on tangled hair. Next, I smooth over each piece slowly from root to tip making sure to curl the ends slightly. The end result is a the look of a blow out with the sweat that comes from using a blow dryer. 

To show you just how amazing this brush is, I shot a quick demo and review that you can watch below or over on my YouTube channel. Thanks so much for watching!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks Actually Worth Buying

Sales can be a slippery slope when it comes to maintaining a streamlined closet and home. That said though, they can also be a wonderful time to pick up classic staples that you'll have for years - if you shop strategically and carefully. So, in honor of the much discussed Nordstrom Anniversary Sale I've rounded up a few pieces that I think are actually worth buying or at the very least worth putting on your radar for future consideration. 

I've linked my top picks below for you along with some honorable mentions at the bottom. Let me know in the comments down below what you're interested in from this sale and if you're planning on picking anything up. As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend!

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