Looking for Refuge

Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in South Kona is an opportunity to get a glimpse of Hawaiian culture and learn about its spectacular history. Hawaiians that broke the sacred laws would be sentenced to death unless they could out run and swim the warriors chasing them to reach a place of refuge like this Park. The intricate wooden sculptures (called ki’i in Hawaiian) that acted as guardians to the bay and nearby temple are fascinating to view up close. This sacred site is well worth visiting and the beach next door is a must afterwards to cool off and do a bit of snorkeling.

Skirt: Farm Rio Top: Express Sandals: Aldo

Aloha Paradise

After spending a week on the island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island), I can say it’s truly a paradise with splendid surprises. Both beautiful and dangerous, the Big Island has active volcanoes. an abundance of lava rocks, beautiful beaches, incredible stargazing and mesmerizing manta rays. I stayed in Kailua-Kona, which is always sunny and convenient to all the places worth visiting. These pictures were taken at Makalawena Beach- it’s gorgeous and the trek through the lava fields into the beach means you can have almost all to yourself.

On to the wardrobe, this colorful two piece set is THE outfit for a beach vacation. The two pieces can be worn separately but together they make a bright and happy statement.

Two Piece Set: Red Dress Boutique

True Blue

This dress is perfect for warm, long days in NYC. It’s comfortable, light and colorful which makes it just right for summer. The fact that it is affordable and available in two colors also makes it a great option. I added this belt for a bit of contrast. I’ll be wearing this outfit on repeat this summer!

Dress: PrettyLittleThing Belt: Amazon Shoes: Velez Bag: Cult Gaia

Relaxed Vibes

Sometimes it’s nice to turn in the heels for a pair of cute sneakers. Then just add a scoop back t-shirt with a denim skirt for the perfect relaxed spring outfit. The pop of color of keeps it fun and the top is incredibly soft. I wore this outfit for a relaxed visit to Tarrytown. The RiverWalk Park has beautiful views of the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge. My favorite place to stay is The Castle Hotel, but the Tarrytown House Estate is also a good alternative. With so many good restaurants in the area and convenient access by train from NYC, it’s a nice, quick getaway from the City.

Top: GAP Skirt: GAP Shoes: Adidas Bag: Faithfull The Brand

Viva La Vida

I was so excited to finally be able to post this outfit. I love the tropical vibe of this two piece set that instantly transports me to warm nights in Mexico just by putting it on. Although it may sound silly to say this about an outfit, it just makes me happy and want to live life to the fullest. The crop top provides just the right amount of coverage with the high waisted skirt. It’s an outfit that makes a statement- get ready to receive lots of compliments when you wear this!

Two Piece Set: Red Dress Boutique Shoes: Schutz Bag: Faithfull The Brand

Kingston NY

Trading in the NYC sirens and concrete for the beautiful views of the Hudson River and an abundance of farm-to-table restaurants is one of my favorite activities for long weekends. We took this Memorial Day to explore the town of Kingston, which is located in the Hudson Valley and was the original capital of New York State. The Uptown neighborhood has an incredibly rich history and also contains some really great cocktail bars. Stockade Tavern and Crown served amazing cocktails in unique spaces. Boiston’s has a great patio for dining al fresco on warm summer nights. For bit of French charm in the Hudson Valley, Le Canard Enchaine is a fantastic option. The Roundout district by the waterfront was breathtaking on a gorgeous sunny day.

Now on to the fashion…this boho-chic kimono/dress/swimsuit cover up is such a versatile piece that I know I will be wearing it all summer. It looks good unbuttoned with jeans or shorts and also can be worn as a colorful swimsuit cover up. Of course, there is always the option of wearing it simply as a dress.

KImono: Express Bodysuit: Express Jeans: Gap Shoes: Schutz Bag: Staud

Going Bananas

I recently discovered the brand Farm Rio and am obsessed. The prints are colorful, fun and have a happy vibe. As much as I love the fashion industry, I am aware that it can have a significant impact on our environment. This is why it makes me even more happy when I purchase something that contributes to helping the planet. With every item bought from Farm Rio, they donate one tree to be planted in Amazon. I love this banana print pencil skirt and plan on adding more Farm Rio items to my closet. They recently opened a store in SoHo in NYC that I plan on checking out soon! 

Skirt: Farm Rio Top: Zara Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Bag: Staud

Coney Island

Coney Island is home of the famous 4th of July hot dog eating contest, mermaids and magic. Going to Coney Island not only makes you feel like a kid again, but it brings you back in time to old New York. A classic seaside amusement park, it’s incredible how so many things seems unchanged from decades ago. It’s a true gem and worth a day trip on a beautiful spring day. The day is not complete without trying a Nathan’s original hot dog, which must be eaten at the iconic venue at the corner of Surf and Stillwell. This is the only one that serves the original hot dog which tastes much better than the ones served inside in the park.

For my Coney Island adventure, I wore a breezy and bright mini dress. The pattern and color are unique and I absolutely adore the puff sleeves. The pocket pouch that you can tie around the waist is not only practical but fun. I love all the Rhode Resort dresses for summer, but I think this one is my favorite.

Dress: Rhode Resort Shoes: Schutz Bag: Staud

Louisville

Louisville is a great city with excellent bourbon, good food and a relaxed vibe. Less than a 2 hour flight from New York, it is easy to get to and there is plenty to do for a long weekend. The 21c Museum Hotel is an absolute must see! The modern art, bar and restaurant are all worthy of a stop . Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery opened in February and had to be one of our favorite bourbon tastings in Louisville. For casual food and drinks, the Garage Bar is awesome on a warm sunny day. They have a great area for just hanging out and the outside art installation of two cars crashing slowly into each other is awesome to see. I’m already looking forward to our next trip back!

Dress: Bendita Seas Boots: Sam Edelman Bag: The Daily Edited

Kentucky Bourbon Country

After a trip to Kentucky Bourbon Country, I think I should change my blog name to Better with Bourbon. 95% of the world’s bourbon comes from Kentucky so it is literally everywhere- from the chocolate (my favorite were the bourbon balls!), food and to the cocktails. There are so many distilleries it is overwhelming and there isn’t enough time to visit them all in a weekend. We chose the East Kentucky Bourbon Trail for this trip. My favorites were Woodford Reserve and Jeptha Creed. Even though Castle & Key is not making bourbon yet, it is a beautiful property and definitely worth a visit. I can’t wait to try their bourbon in a few years!

Sweater: Red Dress Jeans: Topshop Boots: Sole Society Bag: The Daily Edited

Party Pants

With summer barbecues and picnics just right around the corner, these fun lobster pants are a must! They have a comfortable stretch that helps give the perfect fit. They definitely make a statement and can be paired with a simple white top. I love that I can wear them to work as well for a playful look.

Pants: Old Navy Top: Express Shoes: Adidas Bag: Cult Gaia

One Dress, Two Ways

Alexia Maria’s convertible collection has to be one of the most beautiful yet functional collections that I have ever seen. I originally bought the convertible skirt to go with this romper from this post and then I fell in love with the voluminous sleeves and bows of this dress. This is the perfect dress for spring weddings! We decided to color block the dress with my two favorite colors, which also allows me to get more use of the convertible skirt.

Dress: Alexia Maria Shoes: Ann Taylor

Connect the Dots

Is there a cuter combination than polka dots, ruffle sleeves and a jumpsuit? I had to grab this jumpsuit for my trip to Colombia! I love the fact its versatile enough to wear both to work and play- it’s also easy to add a pop of color for fun. With the great sales at Loft, its hard not to add this jumpsuit to your spring wardrobe.

Jumpsuit: Loft Shoes: Kate Spade Bag: Staud

Medellín is Light

Medellín is my favorite city in the world- the weather, food and people make it easy to fall in with love it and, for me, it is also home. These pictures were taken in Parque de las Luces or Park of Lights which contains 300 light poles that look incredible lit up in the evening. I wore this top by one of the best Colombian designers named Silvia Tcherassi. Her unique designs have special details that can’t be found anywhere else. The voluminous top half of the blouse is decorated with butterflies while the bottom half has colorful dots. I adore the buttons down the back of the blouse. Check out all Silvia Tcherassi’s designs here.

Blouse: Silvia Tcherassi Jeans: Gap Shoes: Ann Taylor Bag: Cult Gaia

Guatapé

Guatapé is a colorful and beautiful town located a little over an hour outside of Medellin. The village itself has these bright zócalos (bas-reliefs) that line the bottoms of the buildings and depict the life of those that lived or worked there. Guatapé also has the amazing El Peñol nearby which breathtaking views makes you forget the 740 stairs it took to get to the top. To take this all in, I wore this tie front jumpsuit that was cool and comfortable to get to know the village. If you are in Medellin, you won’t regret taking a day to visit Guatapé!

Jumpsuit: Abercrombie and Fitch Shoes: Velez Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

It's a Colorful Life

In the villages of Colombia, it is a colorful life! The homes, the streets and the people all carry a joyful and colorful spirit. In trying to match with the surroundings, I wore this bright midi dress that I’m pretty sure is going to be my favorite dress of the summer. I am already a huge fan of Staud bags so was excited to be able to try on items from their clothing line at the SoHo showroom. I love all the pieces from the spring collection.

Dress: Staud Shoes: Kate Spade Bag: Cult Gaia

A Day in NYC

Finally temperatures are warming up in NYC so it was the perfect day to take in an art show, walk the streets and wear one of my new spring dresses. I just discovered this brand and am obsessed with everything on the site. It looks like my dress sold out but it has been released in other colors before so it’s worth checking out if it comes back.

Dress: Sister Jane Boots: Sam Edelman Bag: The Daily Edited

Winter White

Although I’m not a huge fan of winter, I do enjoy a good ski trip with friends. Only 3 hours from New York City, Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires is a great mid-sized ski resort that makes for a fun weekend getaway. These boots have to be the best for keeping feet warm while stomping through the snow. Paired with this parka, I was more than ready to conquer the snow!

Coat: Canada Goose Sweater: Talbots Jeans: Topshop Boots: Sorel

Ace of Spades

This has to be the cutest skirt ever! The large spade pockets that double as hearts are functional and fabulous. The front buttons also have tiny gold spades that catch the light just right. The skirt is made of a heavy cotton material that holds its shape really well. I paired this skirt with this tie neck blouse that can be worn with anything.

Skirt: Kate Spade Top: Loft Shoes: Banana Republic

Red Hot

Even though Valentine’s Day may be over, I’m not giving up on hearts or red! I love this sweater because it’s a fun but subtle heart pattern plus it’s so warm. I’m getting tired of wearing black tights all winter so decided to mix it up with a pair of red ones for this outfit. Just one way of making a statement with a pop of color. These red heels are very comfortable and come in a ton of colors- highly recommend picking up a pair in your favorite color.

Sweater: Loft Skirt: Kate Spade Shoes: Marc Fisher Bag: Staud