5 Easy Ways to Honor a Vet this Wednesday

This upcoming Wednesday is Veteran’s day! While this blog mostly focuses on fashion and beauty, this day means a lot to me as my grandfather is a veteran of WWII. And I truly believe that the more you can give back to your community or another person, the more beautiful you become.

It’s easy to post a patriotic photo to social media in gratitude for those who served our country, but I’m challenging you to go one step further. While sacrifices made by those who serve in our military (and their families) can never be repaid in the way they deserve, but I want to share some small things we can do to thank them!

1. Offer your talents to a vet
Most people know a veteran - from work, from church, or maybe even a family member. Offer to help them repair something in their home, or help their computer run a little faster. My husband gives my grandfather iPhone tutorials - whatever you’re good at, offer to use it to help a vet!

2. Get + give a haircut at Hair Cuttery
I love the Share-A-Haircut program! For every haircut done at Hair Cuttery on Wednesday, November 11, they’ll donate a hair cut certificate to a local veteran in need! To date, they’ve helped more than 230,000 homeless, veterans, and victims of domestic abuse. I've gotten my hair styled at Hair Cuttery before and really loved the results. Find a location closest to you here!

3. Send a care package
Did you know you could send a care package to a veteran? After reading this page on Operation Gratitude, I’m amazed that there are vets who were spat on upon returning from overseas! People who served our country! It only costs $15 to send a little care package of appreciation, and as they mention, it’s never to late to say, ‘thank you!’ 

4. Eat for a cause
Invite your favorite veteran out for dinner! On 11/11, Cracker Barrell (which my veteran grandfather adores) is donating 10% of sales on various products to the USO, and all vets will receive a complimentary Coca-Cola cake dessert! Or grab the girls or your best boy and head to Baskin Robins on Veteran’s Day. For every scoop they sell on 11/11, they’ll donate 10 cents to the USO. 

5. Help a vet tell their story
When I was in high school, I interviewed my grandfather for a class project. Hearing his stories from being in the army were something I’ll never forget. Help another vet tell their story through the Veteran’s History Project and download a field kit to help you get started here! 

Thanks so much to Hair Cuttery for sponsoring this post and for helping veterans in need.

Alice + Olivia Event

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host an event at the Alice + Olivia in Georgetown to raise funds and awareness for the Tigerlily Foundation. I had the most wonderful time chatting with you guys - thanks so much to everyone who braved the pope being in town to come say hi!

You already know how much I love Alice + Olivia, how they KNOW WOMEN and what looks great (thanks, Stacey!) and how their pieces are among my very favorites. So I’ll skip the A+O love note and go straight into giving you a peek into the night! A HUGE thank you to the best photographer ever, Jen, for capturing the night so well - and to Alicia and Sahra who played dress up with me after the event! Click below to see a few of my favorite Alice + Olivia finds!

Wearing Alice + Olivia dress c/o, Hanuel necklace c/o, Jeffrey Levinson clutch, Via Spiga booties, and Sophie Blake cuff. 

Find the Light

There’s something truly magical about finding the right light. Sometimes in the morning, I’ll legit stop on my way to work and admire the way shadows are cast or the way the sun looks peeking out from behind a building. Those moments inspire me.

I think the same can be said about style. Sometimes we find our light, something that brings us happiness, in the most unexpected places. For me, a huge light in my life is supporting small businesses. Are things more expensive? Usually. But are they pieces I find myself reaching for over and over again? Most definitely.

I’m proud to share today’s post because each item is from a small businesses. The skirt is made by a local designer, Erika Schrieber. I bought this dress for my birthday and snagged up this skirt (that I’ve been eyeing FOREVER) of hers when it went on sale on Stylecable. The zipper detail is so insanely cute and adds a bit of edginess to the whole look. 

The top is by Ksenia Schnaider, one of the coolest designers I’ve found. It’s from a new-to-me site, ODIVO, that carries a ton of outrageously gorgeous (and somewhat underground) brands. I’m dying over this dress! 

My necklace is from one of my favorite jewelry designers, Sophie Blake. Not only is she one of the sweetest, most talented women I’ve ever met, but her pieces are all insanely cool. She’s one of the only designers where I love each and every single piece in her collection. My hubby got this necklace for my birthday (my exact instructions were: Go to Sophie Blake, tell her you’re my husband and she’ll tell you everything I love.) That’s how wonderful she is. She's celebrating her one year anniversary in her pop-up at Mosaic District this Saturday so be sure to stop in and check it out (you KNOW I will!)

Last but certainly not least, these super fun Veja trainers from Anthom. I was devastated when Anthom left the DC area for the big apple, but thanks to their inspiring Instagram account, I spotted these beauties and called their store immediately. My size was in stock and they sent them out right away. I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of white trainers and the marble detail on these adds such a cool touch to the closet staple.

Now I want to know - what inspires you? What brings you joy? Share in the comments below! XO!

Silk screen Ksenia Schnaider tee via ODIVO c/o, Erika Schrieber skirt via Stylecable, Sophie Blake necklace, Veja Sneakers via Anthom, Retrosuperfuture 'Lucia Francis Puma' sunglasses, Halogen leather jacket. Hanuel bracelet c/o, Claire Ashley X Makeup Meltdown lipstick in "Siren" c/o

SUNO Silk Dress from Snobswap

One thing I really love about blogging is discovering new designers! I wear so many brands now that I would have never discovered otherwise. Before, I was pretty much exclusively shopping at Ann Taylor Loft/Banana Republic/JCREW. Not that those places are bad - I still love them. But I’ve most definitely expanded my horizons. ;)

A couple weeks ago, I got to preview the FW15 collection from SUNO. When I got the invite, I’m gonna be honest...wasn’t exactly sure who they were. No shame. Well, maybe a little. But after a little research, I was hooked. 

Now for the most important question - what to wear?! I really wanted to wear a SUNO dress to the event, so I went straight to one of my favorite consignment shops, Snobswap, to see if they had any pieces in stock. And they did!! It was the most gorgeous gold silk dress with the loveliest embroidered details.

I’ve found so many great things at Snobswap (like this adorable clutch!) - and if you’re more of an in-person shopper, then it’s your lucky week! This Thursday night, Snobswap is hosting a super fun shopping event at my favorite Georgetown cafe, Malmaison! They'll be selling tons of designer goodies for up to 80% off (we're talking Chanel, Celine, Tory Burch, etc.) and the first 50 people get a sweet swag bag. Better yet! A portion of the proceeds will benefit Operation Turbo’s mission to send care packages to our deployed  sailors, marines and other service members. 

You can get your tickets and all the details here! Use code DCLOVE for $5 off! Hope to see you there!

Wearing SUNO dress via Snobswap c/o, http://bit.ly/1RIhhXz, Anthropologie sequin belt (similar), Free People bralette c/o, J.Crew pumps (nude patent leather version), Sophie Blake necklace, Jill Michael bracelet via Rocksbox (use code JULIENBFF for a free month)

Winery Wear

What does a wine tour look like with a bunch of blogging babes? Take a hear-see below.

9 AM: Made ricotta pancakes for breakfast because SUNDAYS. (PS Ricotta pancakes are literally the best ever and so easy to make!)

9:30 AM: Scarfing down said pancakes because I still haven’t showered…or figured out what to wear. GULP. (That’s the sound of me drinking all the coffee)

10 AM: Hop in the shower, text 7 people to ask what they’re wearing. And send my 10 options I’m considering.

10:15: Natalie says they’re all wearing jeans so I put away my suede skirt and pop on my favorite AYR jeans that make my butt look great. I throw on my skinny scarf for good measure.

10:30: Running out the door to meet the girls! I’m so late. Typical. Slowly getting annoyed as the hubby picks TODAY OF ALL DAYS to go the speed limit.

10:50: Pulling in JUST as Reston Limo is arriving. YASSSSSS

10:55: Jump into the bus and literally feel like a BA celebrity. Can I have a super cool guy drive me around all the time THANK YOUUU

11:00: We’re off! I think for a moment how FREAKING EARLY IT IS to be drinking wine but push those thoughts aside as I jump in the limo and pour myself some red wine. Hey, when in Rome.

11:15 First stop - Stone Tower Winery. I’ve been here many times before but I love it more each time I visit. The wine is PHENOM (totes making PHENOM a thing, guys) and the scenery is unparalleled. 

11:30 We get greeted with sparkling wine (today is already my favorite day everrr) and start the tour.

11:31 HOLY MOLY there is a band playing “free falling” outside and I want this moment to be the soundtrack of my life.

11:35: We tour the new tasting facility and wine barrel room (which were just being built when I last visited!) Someone is getting married here later today and there’s a “oh I’m totally getting married here someday too…when I meet a guy…” echoing the room.

11:45: Tasting time! We all whip out our phones to see who can take the best Instagram shot. The guy pouring the wine was totally judging us but I would judge me too soo…

12:00: I smell the wines like I know what I’m doing and get a hint of tomato soup on one of them. I’m thrilled that I’ve found a unique scent, so I make sure to tell every girl beside me. And casually mention it multiple times to the guy doing the tasting. He doesn’t get the tomato soup BUT IT IS SO THERE, I swear.

12:30 PM: We’re all good. In fact, we’re SO GOOD. We don’t want to leave. We sit around and talk about just laying out on blankets here, but eventually decide we want to ride in the limo a little more. So we make our way out, but not before taking ALL THE BLOG PHOTOS.

1:00 PM: We’re finally on the road and on our way to Greenhill Winery in Middleburg! I try SO HARD to take in-focus photos in the limo but it’s a major major fail. I could have SWORN they were in focus at the time!

1:30 We arrive at Greenhill. We all semi-stumble out of the bus and are ready for our next tour. I snatch the last piece of french bread for sale at the counter and we’re on our way!

1:45 We hop into a golf cart (which I try desperately hard not to fall out of) and our tour guide takes us around the property.

1:50: We get out of the golf cart and learn about the soil that wine best grows in and I try to ask really smart questions to hide how much wine we’ve already consumed. 

2:00: We tour (what I think might be) another tasting area with the sickest furniture. We all ooo and awwww and wish we lived in that house. I contemplate sneaking upstairs to stay there forever but decide against it when they announce we’re riding back to the main tasting room for wine.

2:05 On the way back, the tour guide casually mentions that Bo Derek was just here earlier this week. Oh and so was Meg Ryan. He’s so casual about it and we’re all squealing in the back and secretly googling who Bo Derek is.

2:10 We get back to the main tasting area where we meet up with the rest of the group. The tasting is going well. I’ve stopped pretending to smell the wine and straight up judge it based on how good it tastes with the brie somebody brought.

2:30 Alicia asks me to snap some blog photos and I don’t know how to tell her that THEY WILL DEFINITELY NOT TURN OUT RIGHT NOW but I say yes anyway. I’m snapping away, praying they’re in focus. (Actually, not too shabby if I do say so myself - see her post here!) 

3:00 We are all ready for a nap. We hop into the Reston Limo bus and tear outta there.

3:30 Back at my drop off point in Leesburg where I blow kisses to all the girls going back to the city. 

3:45 Meet up with the hubs who is going to drive me home. Little did I know he brought the Ducati. But not my bike jacket. BTW IN CASE YOU DIDN’T NOTICE I am wearing a thin sweater with holes in it basically. 

4:00: We make it home alive!!

Well that’s it folks - the rest after that is basically snuggling on the couch and watching Netflix. Ah, Sundays! 

Wearing H&M sweater (similar), Express skinny scarf (only $15!), H&M booties (on sale!), AYR jeans (worth the investment!), Jimmy Choo handbag (similar.)