The Most Kickass Top I Own

Yet another fabulous find from ASOS - albeit pricier than my normal buys, this top was SO worth the $$$.  I don't know about you guys, but I'm a HUGE fan of the whole statement sleeve trend.  I'm not one to jump on "what's hot," but I can't seem to resist this bamf silhouette.

Everything about this top is a do in my book.  Some kickass features include extreme flared cuffs, a square neckline, a cold-shoulder design and a zip-back closure.  Made of a polyester, viscose, and elastane blend, this piece will seriously break necks left and right!  I paired it with comfy track pants for a more laid-back vibe, but you can totally dress this baby up.  What do you guys think of this top - is it a yah or a nah?  If you're a fan, how would you style this?

 Top:  ASOS ($57) || Pants:  Kohl's (similar) || Shoes:  Guilty Soles || Bag:  YSL

Photographed by the amazing Sung Shin.

Find of the Day: The Best $19 You'll Spend on an LBD

I am SO beyond pumped to tell you guys about my latest find!  I purchased this dress online at ASOS a few weeks back, and it was such a good buy.  I've worn it out several times already, and I've gotten complimented every time.  It's one of the more fashion-y pieces I own, but it's nothing too cray - don't worry, you won't be lady gaga-ing it up.  It's not figure-flattering (because it's boxy), but the mini dress underneath is form-fitting so you won't look completely amorphous, ha.  

With that said, it's definitely one of the coolest dresses I own, and for $19, it's a serious must-have. Like, don't even think about it - just order one for yourself here.  Made of a viscose and elastane blend, this piece has the cutest ruffle trim ever, and it masks bodily "imperfections" so if you're feeling extra bloated or self-conscious about muffin top, wear this out.  I promise you'll impress!  

Before I leave you guys, I need to share an obligatory shoefie featuring my current fave kicks from Nine West.  I got these babies for $19.99, and they're a freakin' dream come true.  They give me hella height, are comfortable as hell, and look wayyyy more expensive than they actually are.  Actually, my entire outfit costs less than $40...excluding my Chanel boy bag, which you could easily replace with a more affordable option.  You can get a similar pair HERE!

 Shot by the wonderful RMCapture.

Family Traditions with Gran Reserva

When I was a little kid, I spent most of my time practicing piano with my mom - she was my first teacher and cracked the whip pretty intensely when it came to my musical studies.  I was putting in a good 4-6 hours a day in addition to school, so suffice it to say, my life revolved around tickling the ivories.

I didn't have much free time, but I still took tae-kwon-do with my father, a bajillionth-time world champion.  He's a 9th degree black belt in TKD and has several schools around the US.  He was the first ITF middleweight champion and was proclaimed the "fastest kicker alive."

....sooo yeah, I definitely listened to him when I was being disciplined as a child, ha.  Anywho, I earned a 2nd degree black belt, but father-daughter time didn't stop there!  He was and still is an avid golfer so he'd take me out to his country club to teach me everything he knew about the game.  To be completely honest, I wasn't a huge fan of it growing up - I thought golf was boring and it was always so dang hot outside - but I grew to love our hangs, and now that I'm older, I cherish every moment we spend together even more.

I'm all about hustling and working hard to achieve my dreams, but family will always come first in my book.  End of story.  I feel like it's easy to take your family for granted because they love you unconditionally, but like all relationships, you must treat them with the utmost care, and that means making sacrifices on the daily.

Now, do I think golf's the best thing since sliced bread? No, but I love our age-old tradition, and I honestly look forward to it every time I come home.  I'm not the best golfer in the world, but I can definitely hold my own.  We also enjoy watching championship games together while sipping Gran Reserva!  Mom doesn't usually go out with us, but she'll often join us for a glass of red when we're hanging out in the basement watching tournaments on the big screen.

Before I leave you today, I have a surprise for you guys.  Enjoy a $25 credit on a round of golf at major golf courses nationwide courtesy of Concha y Toro Bran Reserva.  Find a specially marked bottle necker where you buy wine. And you can also enter a great sweepstakes to win one year of free golf - click here to enter!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The Perfect Spring Romper + Giveaway: Wearing My Latest FOTD on SS

Beyond pumped to finally style this romper for you guys on SS - ICYMI, I blogged about it here as a "find of the day" a while back.  It's currently available on the amiclubwear website for $18 (originally $39.99), which is a pretty good deal for what you're getting IMO.  I own it in small (which still works), but XS would've been perfect; unfortunately, that size is unavailable [insert sad face].  

If you're well-endowed up top (think c cup +), this number will flatter your bod especially well. Also, I love that it comes with a waist + neck tie.  I personally don't use the neckpiece, but you have the option of doing so which is cool!  For those of you interested, it's also available in medium and large.

As I'm sure you all know, I'm all about chic, feminine everyday looks.  So, for today's featured outfit of the day, I kept things clean and simple because I wanted my florals to take centerstage - I paired the romper with neutral accessories and called it a day!  I absolutely love wearing nude sandals because they (very conveniently) elongate my stems.  I had the option of carrying a more colorful bag, but I wanted to stick with something classic for my latest.

Other fabulous rompers under $50:

Romper:  amiclubwear ($18) || Shoes:  Steve Madden (similar) || Bag:  Chloe (similar)

Photos shot by the amazing Sung Shin.  One last thing before I go, Amiclubwear's generously offered to give one lucky SS reader a $50 gift card (open internationally).  All you have to do to enter is follow them on instagram! As always, there are several bonus entries to help up your chances of winning so make sure you take advantage - giveaway ends on June 14th!  Good luck, everyone.

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Win a $100 Gift Card to Ankit: Open Internationally

I haven't hosted a giveaway in forever, and I wanted to treat you guys, so here goes!  I've partnered up with Ankit today on SS to raffle away a $100 gift card.  They carry all things adorable like cute mugs, work out gear, killer home decor, and more so there's LOTS to choose from.  Entering's super simple, all you have to do is follow them on instagram, and there are a ton of bonus entries to choose from so make sure you take advantage.  This giveaway ends on June 19th!

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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.

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.

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!

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.

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!