Find of the Day: For Lovers of Gingham

Um, styling the cutest summer dress ever today on SS!  I discovered this adorable number online at ASOS and just had to have it - I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty much love at first sight.  I'm a fan of all things girly so this find was a total must-have. It also didn't hurt that it was on sale for $34 (originally $53).  Made of 100% polyester, this piece features a cold-shoulder neckline, a keyhole front, and to-die-for-cute bow detailing on the sleeves.  As a plus, the silhouette's super relaxed so you won't overheat during the summer.  Click here to purchase!

For my latest OOTD, I wore my new mini with embellished Badgley Mischka sandals and an ivory crossbody bag to match - there's a lot going on with my dress so I didn't want to risk over-accessorizing so I skipped jewelry altogether today. For those of you wondering, I got these shoes WAY back in the day so unfortunately, I can't link you to these, but I'll make sure to post other lustworthy styles below.

As promised, all under $75:

A closer look at my Drew!  If you want to see my designer bag collection in its entirety, click here.  I blogged about it all a while back, BUT I actually need to update the post since I bought a few pieces since then, haha.  Who here's a bag fiend as well? If you are, comment below with your fave designer. Mine's probably Chanel and YSL!

Dress:  ASOS ($34) || Bag:  Chloe || Shoes:  Badgley Mischka 

Photos shot by blogger bestie, La Belle Mel.

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How I got a $100 Maxi for $14, ha!

You guys have no idea how much I miss Phoenix - read my travel recap here if you missed it.  I had an incredible time exploring with my girlfriends so I definitely want to go back - maybe next time I'll take my family?  I really want to visit the Grand Canyon again - it was a life-changing experience for me, like I actually teared up when I saw it.  The view was so unbelievably breathtaking, and it helped me realize how "small" everything was - it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind, but in the grand scheme of things, it's all trivial.  

In fact, I actually reached an important epiphany there:  the quality of your life depends on your attitude.  I know that's kind of cheesy, but I truly believe in the aforementioned statement.  I always try to take obstacles and view them as challenges instead of obstructions.  And if I ever feel depressed - and let's be real, all of us do at some point - I let myself wallow for a bit before getting right back up.  How do you guys deal with failure? Are there inspiring quotes that help motivate YOU in your daily life?  If yes, def. let me know by commenting below!

Anywho, let's get back to today's OOTD! Diana, Mel and I visited the Desert Botanical Gardens on our last day in PHX, and we were determined to find the biggest cactus there.  There ended up being a ton of giant cacti so we just picked one and shot our looks there, ha.  I'm wearing a fab dress from Saks Off 5th!  It was $100+, but I actually got it for $14.  It was on sale + the dress was damaged - the overlay had a tear - so they gave me an additional discount.  I accessorized with a fabulous cuff + earrings from Jwholesale and threw on comfortable walking shoes (from Cat Footwear) to finish off my look.  I brought a cardi with me just in case - AZ mornings can get chilly so keep light outerwear on hand!

 Other summery maxi dresses (all under $50):

 Dress:  Saks Off 5th ($14) || Shoes:  Cat Footwear || Cardigan:  Kohl's || Jewelry:  J Wholesale

Photos shot by the amazing La Belle Mel.

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Captain of Harbor Style Competition

Alright guys, I'm super excited to partner up with National Harbor for my latest on SS.  I've curated two looks - one daytime + one date night ensemble - featuring pieces from participating stores in the hopes of winning their Captain of Harbor Style competition.  The contest will go live on their facebook page next week so make sure y'all go and vote for me!  

Look #1

I'm basically a professional dress collector so when I spotted this adorable LWD at Pinktini, I knew I had to have it. You can't see the back detailing here, but it's ridonkulously cute!  It's open with ruffles, which is all sorts of awesome - I took a shot of it below so make sure you scroll down.  I paired the piece with an embellished denim jacket from South Moon Under to elevate my look and threw on neutral wedges to elongate my legs!  To finish things off, I accessorized with a dainty drop necklace and grabbed tortoise sunnies before running out the door.

Most everything I'm wearing in look #1's from Pinktini, a fabulous boutique in the National Harbor. If you haven't been there yet, you seriously need to go STAT!  They have an amazing collection, and Danna, the gorgeous owner, couldn't be sweeter.  On a random note, we got to talking and found out that we went to the SAME high school in Pittsburgh (!!!!) Isn't that crazy? SUCH a small world. Anywho, I can't wait to go back and browse more - I'm going to be a regular for sure!

I TOLD you the back was cute!

Dress: Pinktini || Jacket:  South Moon Under || Shoes:  Pinktini || Necklace:  Pinktini || Sunnies:  Pinktini

Look #2

Andddd my date night look's pretty much all from Pinktini as well, ha.  I'm completely and utterly obsessed with bow everything so when I spotted this tunic, it was a done deal.  FYI, the piece is actually a top, but I'm wearing it as a mini-dress because it works!  However, if this is too much skin for you, just throw on black tights or leggings and you'll be good to go.  Also, remember to keep a stylish light jacket handy for chilly nights.  Pinktini has a ton of fabulous outerwear so you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Both my shoes & earrings are from Charming Charlie!  It was my first time shopping there in person, but I have a feeling I'll be back soon.  I was super impressed with their store layout - everything was organized down to a tee, and I loved that it was all color-coded.  Definitely hit them up if you're looking for cute but affordable accessories - they have a huge collection so I can pretty much guarantee you'll find something you adore!

 Shoes:  Charming Charlie || Dress:  Pinktini || Jacket:  Pinktini || Earrings:  Charming Charlie

A huge thanks to Sung Shin for shooting these photos and National Harbor for sponsoring this post!

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Find of the Day: The Must-Have Mesh Top ($40.50)

Alright guys, if today's find looks familiar, it's because I wore it to Kusama a while back - click here if you missed the post and want to see pics of a kickass art exhibition.  I know it's pricier than my normal find, but it's seriously worth every penny.  For $40 (originally $58), you're getting a bamf top that you'll get crazy wear out of.  It's made of partially-lined mesh so I recommend wearing it with a bralette like I did below.

Another cool feature includes split-sides!  In addition to wearing this with pants, you can pair it with a dress and cuff the sleeves for a cool summery look.  If it's cold where you're at, simply throw on a sweater on top for a badass layering effect.  Made of 100% polyester, this piece fits true to size!  I got a US size 4, and it fits me perfectly.  Available for purchase here online at Asos!

Now onto my bag!  I don't know if you guys remember, but I shared my NY recap with y'all here a few weeks ago - click here for part 1 and here for part 2.  I mentioned that I stopped by Violet Ray's showroom and picked up a few goodies to feature soooo here's bag no. 2!  I styled bag no. 1 here not too long ago.

I'm obsessed with mini-everything right now - the last VR piece I showcased was an adorable backpack as well.  I really can't recommend them enough - their pieces ooze quality, and just LOOK at how adorable the detailing is.  I mean, there's a freakin' hashtag keychain - how cute is that? Available in stores at Ross for those of you interested.

Top:  Asos ($40.50) || Bralette:  Gentle Fawn || Pants:  Kohl's || Bag:  Violet Ray || Shoes:  Guilty Shoes

Photos shot by the amazing Sung Shin.

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The Perfect Top for Summer + Wit & Wisdom's Patio Party Recap

I'm all about pretty tops so this was a done deal right from the getgo.  Marled's been a fave brand of mine for quite some time now so I'm beyond stoked to feature them on SS.  I'm not sure if you guys remember, but I actually styled one of their pieces a while back - clicky here if you missed it!  The brand was founded in 2015 by Reunited Clothing, and I've been obsessed ever since.  Their garb oozes femininity and class so if you're a fan of all things chic and elegant, you'll fall head over heels in love with their designs.

I kept things simple for today's OOTD by pairing my new top with jeans and animal print pumps.  I wanted my sleeves to take centerstage so I skipped jewelry altogether.  I did, however, carry my new YSL crossbody!  I purchased it online at Neiman when they were offering peeps a $600 gift card for spending "x" amount of money. I also had credit + cash saved up so I decided to treat myself since it IS my birthday month, ha. 

If you're a fan of statement sleeves, you'll love...

Top:  Marled || Shoes:  Saks Off 5th (splurge vs. save) || Jeans:  Aeropostale || Bag:  YSL

A HUGE thanks to the amazing Sung Shin for shooting these pics for me!  I seriously don't know what I'd do without him - thank god for creative friends who are all sorts of awesome.  Now onto the food portion of today's latest.  I know this is totally belated, but I just HAD to recap Wit & Wisdom's patio party for y'all.

It was seriously the perfect end to a crazy work day.  I mean, cocktails and crab? What more could a girl want?  I got there with my girl Natalie, and we immediately headed to the bar to grab two glasses of frosé.  We sipped on our drinks while browsing the array of noms available!  Their food was (unsurprisingly) on point as per usual - they had fried softshell crab in a magical sauce, refreshing crab lettuce cups, caesar salad, strawberry tacos (sounds weird but t'was amazeballs), fried chicken in adorbs sugar cones, sliders, killer BBQ pork belly bites, panna cotta, and more!

Don't ask me for my fave dish because I can't choose.  Anywho, I can't wait to come back when it's warm out - I'm going to drink and eat to my heart's content.  In fact, the waitstaff at Wit & Wisdom's gonna have to roll me out the door, ha.  Alright guys, that's a wrap for today!  I hope you enjoyed today's post.  OH, and I almost forget - a HUGE thanks to Chrissie Perry for the invite! 

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Obsessed with Floral Everything + The "Best" Thai Food in the DMV

It's no secret that I have an unnatural obsession with pretty dresses and skirts SO naturally, I'm beyond pumped to tell you guys all about the latest addition to my wardrobe: a deconstructed lace skirt from ASOS - available for $39 here).  This adorable number is perfect for summer with its silky satin-style fabric.  The high-rise waistband is both comfortable AND flattering, and the asymmetric floral panel is ridonkulously cute.  I styled it with a simple white tank and sneakers for a casual everyday ensemble, but you can easily dress it up for date night, a fun night out with frands or even the office if you'd like.  

For today's look, I accessorized with one of my fave chokers from J Wholesale and carried my new Violet Ray mini-backpack around for funsies.  I seriously can't get enough of it!  The floral detailing is to-die-for cute, AND I can fit half my life in there for real!  Yep, that's what I call winning.

Other adorbs mini-backpacks for your browsing pleasure:

A closer look at my choker!  If you're looking to stock up on new summer baubles, definitely check out J Wholesale.  They have the cutest pieces ever, and everything's super affordable so you'll be able to get 10 cute things for the normal price of one.  Take my word for it, y'all! #ImMakingZeroCommisionOffThis and I'm #DoingYouGuysAFavorJustBecause.  Andddd yes, I just used hashtags in my writing.  Don't judge me, ha!

Skirt:  ASOS ($39 - originally $53) || Tank:  Polo Factory (similar) || Shoes:  GREATS || Bag:  Violet Ray ($54) || Necklace:  J Wholesale

A HUGE thanks to Sung Shin for shooting these fabulous pics!  Now, moving onto my latest nom recap.  I visited my cousin recently in Vienna, VA to catch up - we kind of lost touch over the last few months so we decided to meet up and reconnect.  I drove to her house after work because she got a new pup named Linguine and I just HAD to meet her.  Isn't she cute?  She warmed up to me super quickly, and I had SO much fun playing with her.  I can't wait to introduce her to Daisy! I have a feeling they'll become fast friends.

After catching up over Rosé, Kristy and I decided to grab dinner at Thai Basil.  I LOVE thai cuisine, and there aren't many good places in Baltimore so we went there to get our nom on.  We ordered 3 different dishes and shared everything:  Goong Hom Pha (shrimp stuffed with veggies, wrapped in spring roll paper, served with a sweet-spicy dipping sauce), Pad Thai Chicken (rice noodles seasoned with palm sugar, egg, and tamarind sauce), and Pad Kra Praw Chicken (stir-fried with onions, string beans, and mushrooms with thai basil + chilis).  

Thai Basil's famous for their pad thai because the owner of the restaurant, Nongkran Daks, was featured on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay a while back.  She competed against him AND WON (!!!!) With that said, I obviously had hella high expectations.  The noodles were very good, but they didn't blow my mind like I thought they would.  I guess it was doomed from the start though because I love pretty much everything B. Flay does.  My obsession started at Mesa Grill a few years ago when I was vacationing in the Bahamas.  His food BLEW my mind, and it was easily one of the most amazing meals I've ever had.

Anywho, the entrees here ranged from ok to quite good.  My fave dish was actually the pad ka praw chicken - it had just the right amount of spice, and I enjoyed the flavors very much.  The worst of the bunch was definitely the shrimp app.  I'm not sure how fresh the seafood was? It smelled...extra shrimpy? And not in a good way.  I don't know!  Maybe I got them on an off day? I'd be willing to give them another shot, but they get a 2.5/5 rating from me this time around.

My cousin bought me dinner so I insisted on getting her dessert.  We drove to Reston Town Center and hit up Jackson's Mighty Fine for sweets, and oh man, it was SUCH a good call.  We got the warm flourless chocolate waffle with vanilla ice cream ($8) and the warm white chocolate bread pudding with bourbon custard sauce, vanilla ice cream & caramel ($8).  Holy freaking crap, both of these were straight up obscene, and I mean that in the best way possible.  

The waffle was amazing, but the bread pudding was money.  Firstly, any warm dessert with cold ice cream slays. Secondly, bread pudding can pretty much fix anything and everything wrong with the world.  Combine the two, top it with caramel and you get one extremely happy Kim!  If you live ANYWHERE near Jackson's, go.  If you're having a bad day, go.  If you're having a good day, go. Just go and eat...you can thank me later!

Comment below with your dessert of choice!  Sending hugs and kisses from the DMV.

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Burgundy Silk + Shabu Shabu for the First Time

Sharing shoot 2 from my collab with Rey aka RMCapture with you guys today on SS; also blogging about my first time eating Shabu Shabu in Frisco, BUT first, let's talk fashion.  I'm beyond pumped to tell you all about my new silk dress from Chaser!  This adorable hi-lo mini features a cross over front with a drawstring waist tie to ensure optimal fit.  

Made of 100% silk, this piece is perfect for summer because it oozes steeze.  It was chilly in SF when I shot this, so I styled it with my current fave jacket from BCBG.  If I was wearing this alone, I would've definitely accessorized with a statement necklace, but I kept things simple today because I was sporting embellished outerwear.  To finish things off, I threw on velvet sandals and carried my Chanel boy.

 Other fab silk dresses for your browsing pleasure (splurges included):

Jacket:  BCBG (similar splurge) || Dress:  c/o Chaser || Shoes:  Nine West (splurge vs save) || Bag:  Chanel (look for less)

After shooting with Rey, my bf and I hit up Shabu House in SF for dinner.  I'd never had it before so I insisted on going even though we weren't that hungry.  Robby lives in the Richmond so it was only 5 minutes away.  The interior wasn't particularly impressive, but it was busy nonetheless so I had high hopes for the food.  We ended up ordering all-you-can-eat shabu shabu, and it included a giant platter of veggies, udon, rice, and ice cream.  For those of you interested, there's an all you can eat + drink option as well for an additional $12 per person, and it includes soft drinks, beer, sake, and more.

There were 3 soup bases total (traditional water, spicy miso, and ginger chicken), and the pot was split into two sections so we got to try two.  Traditional water sounded bland to me so we went with the spicy miso and ginger chicken.  Both were really yummy, but I definitely liked the ginger chicken better!  Robby enjoyed the miso more though so it worked out well for us, ha.

Our waitress then brought us a nice assortment of veggies (carrots, napa cabbage, spinach, enoki mushrooms, and udon noodles) and we placed orders for meat, while waiting for our broths to boil. There were three meats available (American Style Kobe Beef, Lamb, and Kurobuta Pork), and since we got AYCE, we decided to try a plate of each.  They were all super delish, but I definitely enjoyed the lamb the most.  

The meat was sliced hella thin so it cooked quickly and was ridiculously tender.  Note: the AYCE special comes with unlimited rice, but I recommend passing on that and saving room for more Shabu. Oh, and out of the aforementioned veggies, the enoki mushrooms and napa cabbage were the best!  I definitely could've done without the spinach and carrots, but that's just me. 

Ice cream was the perfect end to our nomtastic meal!  We got a scoop of green tea and red bean and shared between the two of us.  Both were solid choices - if you want something sweet, go for red bean.  If you prefer something creamier, go for green tea! BTW, gratuity is included so you don't have to worry about tipping unless you want to leave extra $$ for service.  Definitely check this place out if you live in or are visiting the Bay area! You get a lot of bang for your buck, and the quality's really quite good.  Are you guys a fan of hotpot?  Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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Remixing my Current Fave Crop Top

Alright guys, you got a sneak peek at this look on instagram a while back, but I'm sharing the FULL shoot today on SS.  I was in SF a few weeks ago, and while I was there, I linked up with my favorite, Rey aka rmcapture on IG.  I worked with him the last time I was in town for an influencer event (read about it here if you missed it) and loved his work SO much that I hit him up again.

The last time I featured this top, I wore it with track pants - I'm a big fan of the athleisure movement so I had to share my take on it - for a casual, almost tomboyish look. I thought I'd mix it up and do something different for so for my latest, I paired the crop with a flowy floral skirt for a feminine vibe. I wanted to add a bit of edge to it all though so I threw on bamf sandals to take everything up a notch.

 Other fab crop tops (all under $50):

Here's a close-up shot of my shoes!  I scooped these babies up at Last Call Neiman while they were on sale last year, and I'm so beyond stoked to finally wear them out.  I'm completely and utterly obsessed with the ankle detailing.  Isn't the hardware to die for cute?

Other skirts that slay (all under $50):

Skirt:  BCBG Factory Outlet (similar-ish) || Top:  Amiclubwear || Shoes:  Neiman Last Call

Photos by the amazing RMCapture.

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