individually abby

Dress: Vintage from my Grandmother | Shoes: Steve Madden (old) | Jewelry: JewelMint | Belt: JCrew (old)

I love when I come across something unexpected and amazing. This linen dress was given to me by my Grandmother a few months ago. She found it while she was cleaning out her place, and it something she wore while living in Puerto Rico over 60 years ago. I was amazed that it actually fit me, and it is a great summer piece that I will keep with me always. This dress was truly homemade and the lace detail was done exquisitely. You never know what you can find in vintage stores or even shopping your own family's closets. It's the interesting pieces that have a great story.

Top: Halogen | Jeans: KUT from the Kloth | Shoes: Nine West (old) | Bag: Steven by Steve Madden (old) | Jewelry: JCrew, JewelMint, F21

Every year Nordstrom has a great Fall Preview Sale that I mark on my calendar to attend. This year my sister decided to come visit so we could go together and help each other pick out key pieces to wear now into the fall. It was so much fun and we came out of there with some wonderful options. One key piece that we both have been avidly looking for is the boyfriend jean. This fit has been around for awhile, but I could never find one that worked for my shape at the price point I was willing to pay. These have stretch in them and really fit in all the right places. My sister and I both purchased a pair and can't stop talking about how great they are. If you haven't checked out the sale yet, better step to it this week before it ends on the 5th!

Also, check out my sister's blog to see what items she is raving about. She is a mother of three, an artist, and a Rodan+Fields consultant, so her blog has great ideas for recipes that her family enjoys, DIY projects for crafts and the home, all while staying on a budget. And of course Rodan+Fields is amazing face product that everyone should check out. My sister can give you all the details, check out her site and contact her for more information.

Top: Joe Fresh (old) | Skort: Zara | Shoes: Michael Kors (old) | Jewelry: Michael Kors watch, JewelMint, Madewell | Clutch: Nine West (old)

Neons continue to be the big trend for the summer season, but there is still something about pastels that I love for the spring/summer time. The shades are so elegant and clean. My white bottom for this outfit is of course that wonderful skort from Zara. I literally want to wear it every weekend. I know you are probably hesitant about bringing the skort back, but Zara has done a fantastic job of making this style fashionable again. Check it out!

Jumpsuit: Kimchi Blue | Hat: Nordstrom (old) | Jewelry: JewelMint | Shoes: Target (old)

Jumpsuits are my main obsession this summer if you hadn't already noticed from my recent posts. They are just so easy to wear and there are some great silhouette options available right now for all price points. This particular jumpsuit isn't for everyone, but I love the vintage Hawaiian print and the cut-out. I feel like a 1950's cabana girl when wearing it, so of course a fun hat was warranted. :) The great thing about fashion is that it is very cyclical. What is old is new again, and you can always find great inspiration from previous decades to help update and create new looks.

I know not everyone admits to reading the Twilight Saga, but that series was a great guilty pleasure. If you loved that series, you should definitely check out the Losing It series by Cora Carmack. The first book is about a girl who is 22 and still has not lost her virginity. In her quest to do so, she falls into a forbidden romance yet he doesn't know of her hidden secret. Great characters and interesting story line for this coming of age story. In the second book, Faking it, the story leaves off and follows another character and his quest to find love and forget the girl who scorned him. He ends up being asked to be an unlikely girl's pretend boyfriend and romance ensues. Both are great summer reads that will keep your entertained until the last page. If you have an ereader, you might be able to find them for under $3.00/book. A great steal! And if you like the series, the third installment, Keeping Her, comes out August 13th.

During the summer I like to get my beauty regimen pretty simple. Check out some of my recent finds that I can't live without.


2. Benefit Watt's Up - This highlighter works wonders on the face and is easy to apply. Sometimes if I want a great beach look, I just apply this to my eye-lids to give a true natural look. Can also be used on cheeks.




 5. Rodan + Fields Dermatologists - So not many people of heard of this product from Rodan+Fields. They have different regimens for every skin need; anti-age, soothe, unblemish, etc. My sister recently starting selling it, and I tried the unblemish for a week. SOLD! I saw results within two days and my face has never looked better. Looking forward to receiving my own set soon. If you are interested, email my sister and she will be glad to assist you; aprilbryan.myrandf.com

Sometimes I find it really hard to find a good work/life balance. On those rare occasions where I can get together with the girls after work, I don't want to look like I just stepped out of a business meeting. Dressing from day to night can be as simple as tweaking your outfit, changing your jewelry or adding a great lipstick color. The best way to achieve this is to begin your outfit with a basic piece like a fun dress or jumpsuit. Both are easy pieces to transform with accessories. Check out how I created my day to night look. How will you make your transformation?

Day Look

Night Look

Jumpsuit: American Rag (old) | Cardigan: JCrew (old) | Belt: Gap | Shoes: Prabal Gurung for Target | Jewelry: Madewell, Zara

One of my current obsessions right now is the jumpsuit. So easy to wear and there are a ton of great options for day or night. Check out some of my favorites.

ASOS

DVF

Mango

Kimchi Blue

Reverse

Sparkle and Fade

Tee: Zara | Shorts: Old Navy | Sandals: Target (old) | Jewelry: JCrew, Madewell

Don't be afraid to wear all white together...even if the whites don't match up perfectly. For my outfit today, I added in some neutral accessories and a pop of color on my lips to pull the look together.

Tank: F21 (old) | Shorts: Zara | Shoes: Target | Jewelry: Madewell, Kendra Scott necklace

Go neon! It is a fun and cheerful color palette to wear, and it goes back to black and white basics beautifully.

Top: Zara | Jeans: Urban Outfitters | Shoes: Payless | Jewelry: Madewell

Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone is out enjoying the holiday with friends and family. We are celebrating the traditional way with a baseball game and fireworks. Very excited! :)

Dress: Urban Outfitters | Shoes: Target | Purse: Urban Outfitters | Jewelry: Madewell, JewelMint, Nordstrom

Besides the beloved crop top, cut-outs are my other obsession for summer. I've been on the search for a great casual cut-out dress and I was overly excited when I found this little number at Urban Outfitters on sale. Score! However, I was sorely disappointed that the fit was really awkward, and that is the lesson for today. Have a good tailor! You can make anything work for you just by making it fit to your body shape.

It has definitely been awhile since I've posted about my latest reading obsessions, so now it is time for some catch-up. I have a weird interest in anything WWII related; memoirs, non-fiction, and even fiction loosely based on real events. In the summer, I like quick, fun, quirky books that maintain my interest while enjoying the wonderful weather. The following series wonderfully combines both of those. The Maggie Hope mystery series written by Susan Elia Macneal is based on a British woman spy who infiltrates Nazi Germany during WWII. There are currently three books in the series, and it follows Maggie's life as she becomes a spy, balances her personal and work life, and completes her task at hand. In my opinion, it is a grown up Nancy Drew type of series. So if you like a little mystery mixed with history, you should check this series out. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment!