02 August 2019

Currently....


 Thinking about my two summer Friday loves. My first summer Friday love will always be getting to leave the office early. Throughout July my office gave us summer Fridays, but I find myself longing for a few more extra half days to get me through August. My second love is the Summer Friday mask. There is nothing more luxurious than a moisturizing mask and this one is my current favorite. 


Visiting Sotheby's to see the Treasures from Chatsworth exhibit. If you live in New York and have the time you absolutely must go. With a backdrop produced by David Korins, the set designer for Hamilton, combined with a gorgeous and spectacularly curated collection it's a total showstopper. I was almost more impressed with the set than I was by the pieces - almost - but the Veiled Vestal Virgin was breathtaking.


Shopping for fall clothes already - eek! I can't believe I'm already shopping for fall. It could be that I'm inspired by my brother going away to college, but it's more likely that I'm hoping to step up my work outfit game from last years sad showing. I normally love all black, but it's hard to do it 90% of the time - even on weekends!

Counting down the minutes for the launch of Target's 20th anniversary of their designer partnerships. They will be re-releasing favorite pieces from almost all of their collaborations since the beginning. Luckily we don't have to wait too long, as the collection launches on September 14th. In addition to that, Rizzoli will be releasing a book about Target's design collaborations on September 4th!

TGIF!

ARSxx
S U B S C R I B E




31 July 2019

Party Planning: Cheese Plates

When I was planning what I wanted to serve for book club, a cheese plate was a non-negotiable. They are delicious, easy to snack on, and goes with any meal. However, it feels inevitable, to me at least, that whenever I'm searching for inspiration I stumble on a fabulous cheese plate with no clue how to execute. Seems familiar to you, too? Luckily for me (and the book club girls) I discovered the Cheese by Numbers instagram account. Also helpful is their blog, That Cheese Plate. It's the perfect guide to help you execute the cheese board of your and your guest's dreams!






Should I share my own plate?

ARS xx


29 July 2019

Pretty Pins for Beating the Monday Blues

I don't know what it is about Mondays, but I find myself dragging myself to work. I love my job and the people I work with, but I'm just not a Monday person. Below is a roundup of the kind of Monday Blues I hope help change my outlook.







Blue is becoming my favorite color,

ARS xx


26 July 2019

Currently...




Building a more adult wardrobe. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m trying to update my look and while still keeping it playful, maybe bringing in a few looks that are more age appropriate.



Rereading Classic Style by Kate Schelter. Kate's style is one I've long admired. Her style has resonated with me, mainly because they are very similar and we have a lot of the same influences and ethos. 




Challenging myself and doing yoga every day. Have we talked about my love for Yoga with Adriene yet? I can’t recommend it enough and tell everyone I know about it. I started 2019 off with her 30 Day ‘Dedicate’ challenge and have been on a roll since. 

Reorganizing my apartment. Earlier this week I successfully hosted my first book club meeting. It went off without a hitch, but to be honest within minutes of inviting everyone over, I had a panic attack about the state of my apartment. There is nothing like a party to make you want to re-nest and get everything around the house in order, right?



Enjoying what is left of my summer. It was a beyond busy spring and an even busier start to the summer, but now I'm finally getting the time to enjoy my favorite season.

Cheers to summer,

ARS xx




24 July 2019

Designer Love: Ann Mashburn

I never trust my sister when it comes to clothing recommendations. I'll always listen, but 9 times out of 10 we're on different sides of the fashion spectrum. Ann Mashburn is the designer that brought us  together. From her chic in-house line to her always spot on "You need this....I promise" blog (a blog you need to read...I promise!), the company has resonated with me from almost the first time I walked into the NY pop up. You'll never meet a more friendly, welcoming, and chic company. Below are a few things that I think are closet staples.






Enjoying my Alice Blouse as we speak,

ARS xx



22 July 2019

Tiny Homes

Whenever I clean my apartment I like to have a tv show playing in the background - preferably Bravo. I find it makes my chores go a lot faster and livens up my routine a bit. A few frigid months ago I tuned into a different kind of Bravo show about tiny homes called Tiny House Nation. I don't know if it's because I live in what the show considers a "tiny home" already, but to me, this is my worst nightmare. However, to other people it's the dream and I wanted to know more. Two episodes later I had to turn it off, but I recently stumbled upon this chic tiny home by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design and remembered the show all over again. This is a tiny home I would love to live in and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 







Still living in a tiny apartment, 

ARS xx 
S U B S C R I B E 


19 July 2019

Friday Night Party Planning: Book Club

As an avid reader, I was surprised that I've never officially been part of a book club. A book exchange? Yes. A book club? No. I've even written about book club centric parties in the past! Leave it to my good friend Elizabeth - the planner of the group - to organize a fun, small group of people who just mesh well (and luckily have similar tastes in books). The rules are simple: the host picks the book + the meeting location and we meet every month and a half to two months. Our first book was Conversations with Friends and for our second meeting I chose The Alice Network (which I loved). There's nothing that makes you get your apartment together faster than hosting a party, so I'll be hosting at my apartment next week! Below is a round up of my game plan and ideas.

 I looove topiaries, so I'm grouping a few together and will arrange some flowers I picked up at the Flower District earlier that morning.


Working all day and then hosting at my apartment is a lot when I have a 45 minute commute so I'm opting for a Greek theme (with a yummy cheese plate), which I can mainly prepare in advance and it's perfect for summer.


I took a page out of The Barefoot Contessa's handbook and will have plenty of white wine, rose, and Pelligrino on hand, but am thinking of creating a cocktail based off of Buccan Tea, my favorite cocktail in Palm Beach or this fresh sounding sangria.


I'll likely put on the Molly Martini spotify playlist and called it a day. It’s such a fun playlist and perfect for entertaining. But first I need to find speakers, and I'm thinking this is going to be my purchase - fun, chic, and practical!


It's always hard to choose my outfit in advance, but I just got this fun summer dress from La Ligne (an old favorite of mine) and am dying to wear it for a casual occasion.


Cheers to the next book,

ARS xx

17 July 2019

Designer Love: Molly Moorkamp



The moment I saw my first Molly Moorcamp piece, I knew it was going to be love at first sight. Bright, happy patterns? Check. Made in New York? Check. Supporting a small, female run business? Check, check. Almost immediately, I ordered the Dodie dress (something I never do) and I don't regret it. Shift dresses are a closet staple and who can say no to a floral? Not I! Needless to say, I'm onto my second dress and have no regrets. Below are a few of my favorite looks.





Always dreaming of the next best outfit,

ARS xx

PS: Don't miss her fabulous blog!

15 July 2019

Currently...


Missing Underwest Donuts. I was late to the Underwest craze, but I can totally see why there was so much hype about them years ago - they are such a great treat! My old go to order is the carwash donut with a black coffee. Yum! Fingers crossed they will be back soon.


Shopping up a storm! Is anyone else obsessed with the Spring/Summer collections? My favorite was MDS Stripes' Spring Collection, but that sold out so fast that I had to give up my paisley dreams. I miss having them on Moda Operandi! However I'm...


Loving the Molly Moorkamp Spring and Summer collections! As you may already know, I've been making a concerted effort to buy clothing Made in the United States, which is getting easier the more research I do. Molly Moorcamp especially resonates because it's made in my backyard - New York City!


Hosting Book Club! I finally am in a book club and it's my turn to pick the book (I chose The Alice Network) and host everyone. We're keeping the group small and meet every 1.5-2 months, which is perfect because there isn't a mad rush to finish the book and sacrifice your own book list. I posted a very long time ago about hosting a book club night, but stay tuned for what I actually do this time around.


Planning the rest of my year. Maybe it's turning 31, maybe it's the stars but I'm feeling a burning need to get my life back on track. It's been a trying couple of months, but I survived and am out of survival mode and into recovery and catch up mode. On a recent trip to Target I felt especially inspired and picked up the Day Designer by Whitney English. I'll keep you all updated on how that's going.



12 July 2019

Pretty Pins for Getting Back on Track

Since starting my current job (you can see daily snippets here), I've had a hard time managing my personal life and getting this blog back on track. I'm starting to get that creative itch and am finally feeling the urge to write again, see people again, and get back out there. Below are a few images that are bringing back my mojo and reflecting where I am right now.









Cheers to inspired Mondays, 

ARS xx