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! 

How YOU Can Give Back by Drinking Coffee

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone. #OneTreeOneBag #CollectiveBias

I've always been a huge fan of Starbucks because they believe that they can - and should - have a positive impact on the communities they serve.  One person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.  Coffee is a total must for me, and I honestly couldn't do without it.  It brings me joy throughout the day.  

It even helps me get out of bed in the AM - my coffee maker has a timer so I get to wake up to the irresistible smell of it.  I'm not a morning person, but I force myself to rise early regardless.  I'm a firm believer in the motto, "there's no reward without sacrifice."  Intense, but what can I say? That's how I do!  I start my day off with coffee mixed with 2% milk and sip it slowly while catching up on the news.  Everyone should stay in the know - it's important to be aware of everything going on in the world, especially since things are crazy right now. Knowledge is power so arm yourself.

Then, I refill my mug and start blogging! I answer comments, respond to sponsors and readers, draft new posts, and so on and so forth.  I spend a good 4-5 hours working before moving to the piano to practice.  I have a bunch of concerts coming up in the summer so I've been putting in a good 6 hours or so each day.

Unfortunately, there's a huge threat looming over our precious cups o' joe: coffee rust.  It's affecting the lives of thousands of farmers across the world, and families who once had successful crops are experiencing difficulty providing for their children.  However, thanks to the current One Tree One Bag collaboration, over 15 million coffee trees have been donated to those impacted.

For every bag of Starbucks® 10-12z & 20z Ground or Whole Bean coffee purchased at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28, Starbucks® provides one disease-resistant coffee tree to a farmer in Mexico, Guatemala or El Salvador.  Starbucks will donate 70¢ to Conservation International for every bag of coffee sold at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28 to foster thriving coffee communities.  To learn more, visit conservation.org/onetree.

For every bag of Starbucks® 10-12z & 20z Ground or Whole Bean coffee purchased at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28, Starbucks® provides one disease-resistant coffee tree to a farmer in Mexico, Guatemala or El Salvador.  Starbucks® will donate 70¢ to Conservation International for every bag of coffee sold at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28 to foster thriving coffee communities.  To learn more, visit conservation.org/onetree.

I go through my Starbucks® Pike Place® Roast pretty quickly so I make Safeway runs often.  If you haven't tried this flavor yet, you need to STAT!  Go to your local Safeway and pick up a bag - you can find it in the middle of their coffee aisle!  It'll be easy to find because their setup is super organized - some stores even have special displays to celebrate the Starbucks campaign with Conservation International.  

Check out the special Starbucks "One Tree One Bag" commitment display in the coffee aisle!

Pike Place is a registered trademark of The Pike Place Market PDA, used under license. © 2017 Starbucks Coffee Company. All rights reserved.