The weather has been crazy-tempermental here in Mass but I guess that is March for you. It was 80 degrees a few weeks back then it dropped back down to the 30 to 50 ranges. I’m still excited to pull out my summer wardrobe of wedges and cute flirty dresses.

If you live below the Mason-Dixon line, Dillard’s has a lot of really adorable ones with equally nice price tags. The first coral dress in the picture below is from BCBG and looks great belted. The last one is from Cremieux and though you can’t tell from the picture is actually yellow and white seersucker. Anthropologie is a bit pricier but their dresses are always lovely. The red and white striped maxi dress in the middle is from there and at $148 is more moderate than some of their stuff.

I also like hitting up J.Crew, Gap, LOFT, and occasionally Urban Outfitters. Lilly Pulitzer and Madewell are a bit out of my price range but every season they come out with the most darling dresses as well.

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Which of these are your favorites? Where do you shop for dresses? Do you have a summer wardrobe? 

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As we hit warmer weather and head into Spring, I find myself craving simpler routines. The humidity is already amping up in Boston and I don’t want to spend an hour (or heck, even a half-hour) doing hair and make-up. I found a few products that make my morning routine just a bit easier and thought I’d share with you all. Care to check them out?

Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream, $32.

At $32, Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream is a little pricey, but I’ve had my bottle for quite some time so it does really last. It makes your hair so soft and shiny. I like that it hydrates without weighing your hair down or making your bangs look greasy.

Supergoop! Save Face A.M. Moisturize SPF 35

I am fanatical about sunscreen, especially in the summer. This is super lightweight, and dries really quickly. The bottle is pretty big too, so it will last awhile. I also like that it is natural, doesn’t have a smell, and is made without dyes. You can find it at Sephora.

Supergoop! Sunscreen Swipes with Zinc, SPF 30 $5

Supergoop! is an annoying name but clearly my go-to brand for sun care. I’ll admit I am not as fastidious about using sunscreen on my body every day when I’m just going to be walking to and from work, but these babies are pretty wonderful. They are completely dry so you don’t feel greasy at all and while I would use two if I was at the beach in a swimsuit, I feel like one is sufficient for general day use. Plus $5 is cheaper than almost all drugstore sunscreens.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes, $18

There is nothing worse than makeup that runs on a hot summer’s day but who wants to use makeup that is as hard to put on as it is to remove? Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes glides on smoothly but doesn’t budge, even as the rest of your face is pouring sweat.

Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lipstain in Lust

I’ve written about Tarte’s Lipsurgence Lipstain in Lust before, but I think it is worth repeating. The product is absolute genius. The color is spot on – a hint of red but you can apply it without a mirror. It is all natural, which is always nice for something that is going on your mouth. The best part is the consistency, which is just like a balm. Perfect for summer days when you want that no-makeup look.

What are your Spring beauty must-haves? I’d love to know!

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As the weather gets warmer and we bust out Spring clothes, it is time to put away all those cute Fall boots and slip into something a bit lighter. I’ve spoken before about Commuting Shoes and you all know that while I love a good pair of pumps, it doesn’t work as well with my lifestyle here in Boston. My average commute is a little over a mile each way so I need shoes that are functional. But in the summer I live in cute sundresses, so I don’t want to be one of those girls in skirts and tennis shoes. I’ve made it my mission to find cute, comfy flats and wedges. Want to see what I came up with?

The Naturalizer has quite a bit of cushion and the toe-box is pretty wide. The wedge looks higher in the photo than it is in real life, and the neutral tones mean they match everything. Bonus! They are only $70.

I ordered the Clark’s Demure Flare based on the rave reviews and the “Advanced Comfort  Technology” and let me tell you, they really are incredibly comfortable. They look super chic with jeans and great with skirts. These are a little pricier at $95 but still reasonable for something as basic as black flats.

I ordered the Indigo Sky Pocomo’s last summer and practically lived in them. Once again, the wedge makes the heel height bearable and the strappiness just screams summer. They run $110 on Piperlime.

You can’t go wrong with a flat sandal and I like that these are a little dressier than most. The full back means you won’t be gripping with your toes to keep them from staying on and the open front shows off your cute pedicure. $70 at Dillard’s.

What are your go-to summer shoes? Do you commute in different shoes than you work in or wear the same ones all day? I’d love to know your staples! 

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So much of my closet (and my home for that matter) is black and grey. On the one hand it is nice because it’s chic, it is pulled together, everything matches, accessorizing is a breeze. But with Spring just around the corner I’m definitely in the mood for some pops of color. Be it the bright yellow daffodils I picked up for $1.49 ($1.49!) at Trader Joe’s to the pink polka dot post-it notes on my desk to (of course) the Spring pieces I’m seeing in the “new arrivals” sections of all my favorite store websites. The other trend I can’t wait to wear this summer? Bright white. Yes it stains and is somewhat impractical but there is something so ethereal about white clothing in the summertime. A few of my favorite pieces from around the web.

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Do you find yourself pulled towards any particular trends or patterns as the months move towards summer? Any pieces you are dying to add to your wardrobe? I’d love to know!

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Truthfully I need to focus more on simplifying the existing pieces in my home rather than bringing in new things, but something about the coming Springtime makes me want to redecorate my apartment. Maybe it is all the lovely pieces I’ve been seeing around the web, so as we pretend traveled on Monday, let’s go pretend shopping, shall we?

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Where do you like to shop for home accents? I love Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, but I’ve been known to pick up lots of cute things at Home Goods and Target as well! Anything on your Spring Must-Have list? 

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Maybe it is because I talked about it, but the weather here has turned chilly once again and it is making me wish for balmier locales. So let’s pretend travel somewhere warm, yes?

Click for photo credits.

Granada is rich in Spanish history, beautiful, and there is a ton to do.

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Where else can you get snow and beach and beautiful winding neighborhoods?

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I’d love to rent this lovely villa.

Wouldn’t it be a blast to lie by the pool or ocean, take in the sites, eat tapas, and enjoy this beautiful city? I wish I were there now! Where would you visit if you could go anywhere in the world right now? 

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I know I’m not supposed to talk about it but whatever I’m going to anyways – the weather in Mass right now is insane. In a good way. It is nearing 50 degrees in February and the forecast says it is going to stay that way (Wednesday’s high is 56!) for the foreseeable future. I know I can’t quite pull out my Spring clothes just yet, but it definitely has me longing to put away my sweaters and pull on a pretty dress. My compromise? Sleeved dresses with tights and boots. With a coat it is plenty warm and the sleeves ensure I don’t look seasonally inappropriate (God forbid ). I picked up a lace dress from Francesca’s a few weeks back and thought I’d share how I made it February-appropriate. Unfortunately the website doesn’t have the dress listed anymore, but I found some other cute picks.

Just take any of these dresses, add some accessories:

And a sturdy pair of boots!

Done and Done. What do you to do winterize your Spring and Summer pieces? Are you sticking to sweaters or dying to get into floaty cotton like I am? I’d love to hear!

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Like many of you I can waste so much time on Pinterest. There is always something interesting to look at, even without using the Search feature. Lately I’ve noticed such an influx of inspiring quotes on pretty backgrounds and I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

Amen to that, Zelda!

Okay so maybe not all of them have pretty backgrounds. Pretty words though, right?

I’ve also found some pretty funny stuff as well and since it’s Monday we could probably all use a laugh, yes?

Gotta love a good Somee card.

That’s all I have for now…which was your favorite? Also, is there anyone I should follow on Pinterest? I’d love to know!

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I moved to Boston nearly two years ago now and, as I mention in my About Me, felt a little like a foreigner. I loved the city but found myself constantly comparing it to (the superiority of) Louisiana. When I re-read that sentence it sounds absurd, laughable even. I am so different and so much happier than I was two years ago but that may or may not have any correlation to my geographic location. But the way I live, the activities I participate in, the things I consider “normal”? Vastly different and often comical. This realization fully hit me when I saw this:

I found this via I Love Charts, who called it something like Mac vs. PC users, a guide. The full chart can be found here. Not that only people in Boston buy Macs, by any means, but the list just sparked for me a large trend of Northern vs. Southern idiosyncrasies, which you know I love.  So here we go…

Timeline of the Cross to the Dark Side (or um, LA to MA)

Month One: FREAK OUT every time you have to drive as the streets are narrow, they change names, and the drivers are total Massholes. You nearly get hit, nay, obliterated, every time you get in a car.

It is like playing Crazy Taxi but with real life. Driving a big-ass Explorer probably doesn't help.

Month Two:  You still abhor the Masshole drivers and you find everything absurdly expensive. You cannot get over the lack of Sonic, or any drive-thrus for that matter. What if you look like a hot mess and cannot go into the store!? WHY DOES EVERYONE DRESS LIKE HOT MESSES ALL THE TIME HERE!?

People of Wal-Mart, Massachusetts edition.

Month Three:  Okay pumps every day aren’t working out. In fact they are getting torn up. OH MY GOD am I turning into one of those hot mess dressers!? Did I just walk my dog in Norts and a tank top with flip flops??? Fuck…Plus you start wearing sunscreen every day … pale is the new … pale?

Oh yeah and you can't even find a tanning bed around here. You realize you're turning Northern when that statement is followed by a "Thank god because those are cancer machines!"

Month Four: The quest to find fabulous clothing that you can walk miles in begins. Where is the damn Nordstrom in this town??? You drive twenty miles out of the way to find one, only to be disappointed by how small it is. You also fall in love (even more) with J.Crew and Lord and Taylor.

True Prep. Whyyyy didn't I go to boarding school!?

Month Five: You have turned into one of those Masshole drivers and find yourself hating cyclists with a passion. You will occasionally go to Market Basket (similar to a Brookshire’s) but find yourself frequently Trader Joe’s. The quality is so much higher, you think. You also no longer find it strange to go to a farmer’s market and pay $5 for a pint of strawberries or $8 for a dozen eggs. Pretentious, much?

Months Six – Nine: Winter hits and fashion goes out the window. You break down and buy a North Face. Oh and those hideous Sorel boots your mom gave to you? Yeah you wear them to class most days. At least you don’t wear one of those hats with the animals on it…

Just say no and walk away.

Months Nine – Twelve: You realize Whole Foods Market is just so much better than Trader Joe’s. You’ve officially become a food snob. You also throw out your microwave and start using all-natural cleaning products (the environment, hello?) Who is this girl? And OMG it is supposed to be 90 degrees on Monday!? How ever will you survive the walk to work?

Being a tree-hugger. Chic.

Then there are the more subtle clues. You suddenly find yourself saying “you guys” like it is nobody’s business. And soda becomes integrated into your vocabulary (instead of the regular “Do you want a coke?” which stands in for any soft drink). You rhyme aunt with gaunt and caramel suddenly has three syllables instead of two. When did you become a Northerner?!

Then again, the more I watch True Blood the thicker my accent gets and I thought those Occupy Harvarders were the most obnoxious people around (hello, inconvenience having to show my ID to walk through the Yard every day!). And I’m placing Duke pretty high on my list of PhD programs to apply to (Ah, North Carolina). So maybe I’m still a Southerner at heart. Or maybe just a weird hybrid.

What’s the most Southern thing you do, if you are from the South? Most Northern if you are from the North, obvs. Anyone else notice ridiculous changes in yourself when you moved somewhere completely different? 

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I knew I was in trouble when I spent $30 on baking supplies. Now granted, I was at Star Market, which has ridiculously high mark-ups (it was six dollars for a disposable pan – ONE disposable pan!), but still. The first recipe comes from Martha Stewart cupcakes and were such a hit that I agreed to make them again for the banker to take to work. The second recipe I found via Pinterest and made for a dinner with the neighbors. I think if given the opportunity I could have eaten the entire thing myself.

First up, Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes:

Beat 16 ounces (two packages) of cream cheese until whipped. This seems like an excessive amount of cream cheese but just go with it.

Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed, then add 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat until combined.

Lightly beat two eggs then drizzle them into cream cheese mixture.

Mix in 1/2 c of either Greek yogurt or sour cream. I use Greek yogurt because I always have it on hand.

Crumble up 7-8 Oreos and fold them into the cream cheese mixture by hand.

Line a muffin tin with paper cups (I find the cutest ones at Sur La Table) and place an Oreo in the bottom of each one. Fill nearly full with batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 22 minutes, turning pan at the halfway mark.

The recipe makes 15, but it can easily be doubled.

Peanut Butter Pie

Beat together 1 cup peanut butter, 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/2 c sugar, and 1 t vanilla. Fold in 3 cups of Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream. It should form a mousse.

Pour peanut butter mousse into a prepared Oreo crust. Heat hot fudge (feel free to use the microwave I just don't have one).

Spread hot fudge over peanut butter mousse.

Spread remaining whipped cream or Cool Whip over the pie and garnish with chopped Reese's peanut butter cups.

Both of these desserts were a hit and as you can see, fairly simple to make. What is your go-to dessert? I’d love to hear!

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