Summer Cocktailing

Its no secret that cocktails are among my very favorite things, especially in the summer on a Friday with friends. My drink of the moment is a pear martini, done simply without any fuss.My great friend Dana was kind enough to get me this beautiful bottle of St. Germain which completes the drink like no substitute can.

Ingredients:
2 parts Grey Goose La Poire
1 part St. Germain
Fresh squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon
1 slice of pear (or lemon)
3-4 ice cubes

Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously for about 30 seconds
Place lemon or pear slice in the glass
Strain into the glass over the fruit wedge

Striped Pencil

Skirt: Loft; Top:Gap; Shoes: Sam Edelman via DSW; Watch: My Dad's Rolex Submariner; Clutch: Banana; Necklace: Tiffany

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion, Style Elixir, and Living in Color

Anchors Aweigh

There's nothing I love more than a good anchor print. And when traveling to Massachusetts to visit my bestie for the weekend, a crisp button down in a linen blend with broken in chino shorts is the perfect choice.

Top- Old Navy, Shirts- J.Crew, Wedges- Sam Edelman

Facelifts: Bedroom and Blog

When the mood for change strikes, it can mean a new accent pillow, or a complete redesign. For me its usually somewhere between the two and luckily for my husband, I never ask for help. Thanks to Sweetie Baby Blog Design, Musings is enjoying a completely new face, while thanks to West Elm, our bedroom enjoyed a little cosmetic peeling of sorts. Whether it was my dad's first birthday since his passing or the stress from helping my spouse build his own business, I needed some decor therapy. So while still wearing my clothes from work, I quietly but tirelessly rearranged all the furniture in my bedroom to achieve a totally new feeling in the room. Since Tucker is too young to object his room will probably be next.

When its time to really dig in and go for the full face-lift, West Elm has been my go to for affordable but stylish find these days when helping my interior design clients. Its amazing the high impact you can achieve from something as simple as new bedding. Of course after putting together and inspiration board for a new client project, I come home and instantly want to do the same for my own house. For now, changing up the furniture placement will have to do.

Shop the Sale

As you know, J.Crew is my favorite brand. I know my size, know the quality, and always end up in at least one J.Crew item each day. Since the full price styles are not usually within my budget, I often wait it out and then pounce when my picks go on sale. Since they currently have an additional 50% off sale items, its the perfect time to indulge your sweet tooth and shop.

Statement necklace- you can never have too many

Retro-glam silk pants

Preppy chic puff sleeve blazer

Color block skirt

My go-to pants: the Cafe Capri

Alpaca turtleneck

Work Wear

When dressing for client meeting days, I pick basic pieces that are not as a boring as a suit, but not as vibrant as coral printed pants either. This classic dress with a tulip hem is the perfect balance of style and legal career.

Featured dress from J.Crew

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion , Style Elixir and Cassidy Lou

Work It: Bags

Its been 10 years since I graduated from college and joined the workforce, and in that time, I have amassed quite a collection of bags. Some have been fleeting affairs not worth the high price tag, others are like true love, weathering the years and riding the tides of trend coming out alive. To be a working mother who loves style is to be on a constant quest for the perfect work tote, one that combines function, fit, and fashion seamlessly (and still gets you excited in the morning when its time to head out the door).

Some of my pics that meet the mark:

$ This bag from Ann Taylor is a great everyday bag, sturdy, polished, and just around $100. I have this is navy and have used it countless times this summer.

$-$$ The newly released York Tote from Tory Burch is a great option at a very reasonable price point, in a variety of colors for fall. I purchased mine this summer and am anxiously waiting for September to roll around to use it. It fits a legal brief, gym shoes, and a stack of diapers :)

$$ The Robinson Tote from Tory Burch. Super chic, with a nod to the masculine edge that makes women envy the classic men's briefcase. This also holds its shape when placed on the ground during a meeting, which helps avoid embarrassment while rifling through to find relevant papers as a CFO stares at you.

$$$ The Louis Vuitton Never-full. Still one of my favorites even though more trendy styles have come and gone over the years (and thanks to Bag Borrow or Steal, I have been able to trade some of my less popular styles in for cash!)

$$$$+ Because its always good to have a wishlist, there is this stunner that I will probably never own, but will always love to dream about owning one day.