summer starts

Happy Memorial Day- a Monday off sure is a great way to start off the summer! A big thanks to all those who have so bravely served our country.

 {subtle americana: UO's barstool & OPI's mod-ern girl + aerie shades}

 {new thank you notes from here}

{summer reading list all available here + anthropologie mug}

birthday wishes

May is my birthday month, and I basically use it as an excuse to have more of a shopping problem than usual. It's my favorite way to celebrate and ensures that I always get exactly what I wish for. Here are a few of my latest purchases, all birthday gifts to me, from me. :)

{watermelon pulp bikini from anthropologie}

{chelsea & violet skull tee- no longer available}

{tory burch caroline flats}

Happy birthday to all the May babies out there! Hope you enjoy your birthday month as much as I do!

it girls: sienna miller

Sienna Miller is number three in my It Girls series (see the first two here and here). I look to Sienna for outfit inspiration because she looks incredibly chic and effortless. Always. She tends toward bohemian styles, but often uses structured jackets to temper these flowy pieces. She can also usually be found wearing a big drapey scarf, making even her most casual of looks appear pulled-together. Sienna has created a look that is captivating and always a little edgy, which is not to say she doesn't know how to fancy it up as well. When Sienna dresses up, she kills it too, staying true to her style by wearing vintage-inspired silhouettes but with lots of glamour added on. Love her!

nineties, now

GAK IS BACK!

Wait, really? This past weekend, I saw a commercial that proclaimed just that: the slimy silly toy is once again for sale, for a whole new generation of kids to enjoy. With the abundance of crop tops, flatform shoes, and pastel tribal prints floating around recently, and now the relaunch of toys from my childhood, I think it’s safe to say we are in the midst of a 90s revival. In honor of this sensation, here are a few of my favorite 90s redeux trends (not counting boy bands, of course).

CUTOUTS
Cutouts are as fun and fancy now as they were 20 years ago. Extra points if they're on a shirt that falls at a very Spice-Girls-esque crop top length.

{topshop swan cutout bralette}

(LIGHT) GRUNGE
While I cannot proclaim to be a huge fan of the all-out dirty grunge look of so many 90s bands, I've always liked a piece with a little edgy detailing.

{alexander mcqueen skull flat}

ANKLETS
The anklet was my very favorite accessory as a child; I wouldn't have dreamt of hitting the pool without one. This is why I, for one, am thrilled to see a sophisticated, streamlined version making a comeback.

{jennifer zeuner heart anklet}

up north

Here's a little snippet of the fun I had while visiting the Twin Cities last week:

{canoes lining lake harriet where we went for walks, as promised}

{vanilla malts and "juicy lucy" cheeseburgers at casper's and runyon's nook} 

 {funny little mismatched-leg stool spotted here while shopping}

fiesta, por favor

{quite possibly the cutest cookies of all time, by sandra denneler} 

{aerie's embroidered drapey tank, to wear}

{colorful straw tote, to carry all your party supplies}

Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday and although my plans don't involve a party of any kind (I'll be spreading my time among a graduation, White Coat ceremony, and dance recital), that doesn't make me covet any of these festive picks or a big fat fiesta any less. I especially love south-of-the-border-inspired wardrobe pieces like the tank I featured here; the bright colors, bohemian patterns, and easy shapes are right up my alley.