Picnic Chic with Sunny Gingham

I love gingham and I especially love this sunny twist on the traditional red and blue print! One of the reasons this dress stood out to me was the adorable ruffles, especially on the bell sleeves. Since I have a toddler I can't do an exaggerated bell sleeve, but I do love a bold design! This dress was so comfortable in the Savannah heat. The material was thick enough that it did not wrinkle, which is pretty much amazing. I think this dress is perfect for any summer occasion and versatile enough for work or a casual night out. The best part is that it's under $100!

Monochromatic Blush Pink

This outfit was out of my comfort zone in so many ways! First of all, I've always thought I couldn't wear pastels because of my very fair complexion. It just seemed like they always washed me out. Second, high-waist shorts are a new style for me and I wasn't sure how I felt about the paperbag waist trend that is super in right now. However, I was pleasantly surprised. overall I thought this outfit turned out super cute! On top of that, these shorts from Topshop are incredibly comfortable! They're made from linen, so they are perfect for humid, hot weather. As an added bonus, they're under $50, too!

Ruffled Romance in Savannah

Well, I did not anticipate taking almost a month long break from blogging! With the end of the semester and some career changes, blogging took a back seat to life, but if you've been following along on Instagram, you'll see that I recently spent a girls weekend in Savannah with my friend Ashley. Savannah has always been on my bucket list. Being from the north and having lived there my entire life, there was just something so romantic and exotic about Savannah. I really had no idea what to expect, but I can say that it lived up to my expectations.

The architecture was stunning and much of it was so well preserved. We woke up early and drove there from Ashley's apartment (about a 2 hour drive) and the city was fairly quiet when we arrived - mostly just joggers and people walking their dogs. I was so surprised to discover that all the southern gothic novels I had read were true - the air really was heavy (with humidity!) and smelled strongly of jasmine and gardenia. Neither of these plants grow in the north, so they stood out strongly to me, while Ashley hardly noticed them! Everything about Savannah was lush - like a jungle in the middle of a city. I thought this ruffle and lace dress in kelly green from Vince Camuto was the perfect way to compliment the towering palms and stunning architecture. I loved the little details of this dress - the bow at the waist and the ruffle pockets on both sides. I am just over 5'4" and the 4P fit me perfectly, while the 4 regular was a little too long, hitting below the knee.

I think what may have made this look come together was the adorable boater hat from Kitsch that I picked up on a whim. It was a "suggested item" while I was looking at some other pieces and for $26, I figured, why not! Seriously, best idea ever! This hat is SO cute and I cannot tell you the number of compliments I received. Of course, maybe it's just because I was in the south and everyone is exceptionally nice...or maybe I just looked awesome in it. Either way, it was so cute I'm actually considering getting a second and putting a red or pink bow on it. What do you think?

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Influenster: A Twist on the Subscription Box

Have you ever used Influenster? I first came across this website when I was looking for reviews on beauty and skincare products before I purchased them. This site has reviews for *everything* - I was able to find reviews for products that weren't even sold in the United States, which was really helpful for me, since I order most of my products online.

They also send out tons of products for testing in what they call their "VoxBoxes." This boxes contain an assortment of products. In my case, I was sent the Finesse VoxBox, which had, in my opinion, the most random assortment of products - Essie gel nail polish, Minute Maid rice and quinoa, an Olly protein smoothie and Not Your Mother's Naturals mousse. Pretty random, right? But hey, I LOVE trying new products out! The main difference between the VoxBox and the traditional subscription box is that you have to enter to win a VoxBox (which you do by filling out a profile, answering survey questions, and writing reviews) and all the items are complementary.

Out of all the products I was send, I absolutely love the Essie gel nail polish. I've actually already gone out and bought some more shades (I recently got Pinned Up and am probably going to get Satin Slipper next) because it's so fantastic. It lasts longer than regular polish, but more importantly, it tried SO quick. I can give myself a manicure before bed and don't have to worry about sheet imprints on my nails. Seriously, all you need is about 10 minutes and you can do a full, glossy manicure. My only disappointment with the line is that I wish there were more nude shades.

Shop the Finesse VoxBox!