Borrowed from the boyfriend

THIS BLAZER, you guys. I've worn it about a million other times IRL since I bought it. If you've seen me out in the wild more than once, changes are, I was wearing this blazer. When I first tried it on in Anthom, a friend asked, ‘but why are the shoulders so low? It looks huge!’ But that didn’t matter because I knew. I knew it would soon become one of my favorite jackets precisely because of it’s perfect, oversized shape.

It’s very borrowed-from-my-boyfriend without actually looking like it. The way it falls, the way it FEELS…it’s magic.

This certainly wasn’t the first time I’d borrowed from the boys, so to say. I got this Calvin Klein coat for Christmas last year (much to the chagrin of my mom who insisted it was too big, no mom, that’s the style) and most of the shoes I wear every day (ESPECIALLY these gems from Everlane!) are very menswear-inspired. Then there was the time I wore my husband’s button-up as a skirt. That happened.

Thanks for the note, boys. I can take it from here.

Wearing Achro coat, vintage silk scarf (love this one!), Rag & Bone dress (similar and on sale!), Tahiti flats (similar) and Kendra Scott necklace c/o. Photos by Tammy.

---

Shopbop Sale

Friends! Today is the last day to take advantage of the Shopbop sale! Through tonight, you can get 25% off full-price and sale items with code:

INTHEFAM

Shop some of my favorite pieces below and let me know what you find! Happy shopping!

Late

I feel as though I’m always late. Late to trends, late to the bus (you may have even seen me running down Wilson Blvd to catch it on occasion), late to LIFE IN GENERAL.

Also late to the game? SPRING. Like it came for the briefest of moments, then skipped town. Now I’m left out in the cold (quite literally), trying desperately to stay warm. (I was wearing THIS 4 days ago for pete’s sake.)

Luckily for me, I kept out a few winter staples JUST IN CASE a scenario like this would happen, thank goodness! Along with my tried and true fleece-lined leggings, this cashmere sweater from Lou & Grey has been in rotation at least once a week.

These photos were taken in New York a few months back, but I’m wearing a very similar variation of them today. Instead of these awesome faux leather fleece-lined pants, I’m wearing fleece-lined leggings under some trousers. But everything else is the same. Cozy boots, my most favorite cashmere sweater from Lou & Grey and the oversized blazer that’s taken over my life in the best way possible.

And of course, my favorite Sophie Blake jewels.

Are you guys ready to get rid of this winter weather as much as me? Shall we all dress for Spring and hope to goodness we can WILL IT to come back?! Who’s with me?!

Wearing Lou & Grey cashmere sweater c/o, Sophie Blake necklace, faux leather pants via Take 5 Boutique c/o, Achro jacket, Via Spiga boots, Ray-Ban sunnies, Erwin Gomez gloss in SAB c/o.

Photos by Cheralee

Spring Inspirations

A lot of people ask me what inspires my style. To be honest, there isn’t really one thing - I can be inspired by almost anything.

Sometimes it’s nature, walking by the cherry blossoms in DC, having a picnic by the water, feeling my toes in the sand… other times, it’s art. I love wandering through exhibits around town, seeing my cousin’s work on Facebook, or looking through my favorite art publication, Tallulah Magazine.

A lot of times, food inspires me. Whether it’s drinking a killer cup of pour over coffee, chowing down on a new dish I made,  or discovering a new taco spot in town (if you haven’t tried Chaia, get over to Georgetown and enjoy some of the best tacos I’ve ever had!), enjoying good food is something that really gets my creative juices flowing.

But probably the biggest source of inspiration are people. Top bloggers speak volumes just through the images on their sites, strangers on the street give a new perspective on how to dress for Spring, and magazines show how mixing textures and prints can create a piece of art.

So when Banana Republic sent me a chambray top and the prettiest shade of lavender pants, I hit up all the usual suspects. I ate all the food, flipped through all the magazines and took a few walks in nature. Nada.

It wasn’t until I slumped down in front of the TV one evening that I spotted my inspiration. She was opening the door on my hubby’s new TV obsession, Billions. Malin Akerman was opening a door and then I saw it. She was sporting a chambray top (just like mine) with a cute white top underneath. It seemed so elementary but also revolutionary at the same time.

So I did just that. I grabbed my favorite white tee, paired it with my no. 1 lacy bra and finished the look with a silk scarf and my fave silver oxfords. Done and done.

That’s one of the many things I love about Banana Republic - their styles are so versatile. This look could have definitely taken a preppier turn, but with a bit of staying, quickly became a look I know I’ll be wearing all spring long.

Shop this look and a few of my other favorite pieces from Banana Republic below. AND be sure to take advantage of a big sale going on right now - get 40% off our purchase with code:

BRSPRING

Wearing chambray top and lavender pants via Banana Republic c/o, Halogen tee (similar), Anine Bing bra, Loeffler Randall clutch, The Scarf shop scarf c/o, Raoul oxfords via Take 5 Boutique (on sale!)

Photos by Jen Eun

Thanks so much to Banana Republic for sending me a few of their spring styles so I could share my honest opinion of their line. All opinions are my own.

---

Awareness

I remember the day my mom told me. She called my phone, frantic. She felt a lump.

“MOM, it’s nothing!” I insisted. I was sure of it.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Upon having the lump checked, the doctor’s discovered that it was, in fact, breast cancer. Mom would have to undergo chemo and radiation in hopes of destroying those cancerous cells.

I tried to stay strong during the process - forcing my mom to watch funny cat videos on youtube during doctor’s appointments, bringing picnic foods to chemo sessions and giving her all my favorite hats and scarves to keep her head warm during winter…but I wasn’t the strong one. She was.

I called to check on her one evening on my way home from an event when she suggested I check myself. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to look for. But I thought, might as well start now!

So I checked. Everything felt pretty normal until I got to the right side…and it was then I started to feel a wave of anxiety rush over me. There was definitely something there - something hard, but still small, about half the size of a marble, I’d imagine. I called my OBGYN right away.

I won’t go on with the details, but LONG story short, the doctor wanted to do a biopsy just to make sure it was benign (as she was near certain it was), which didn’t phase me too much. I’ve had knee surgery, orthoscopic procedures - could this be any worse?

Turns out, it was a pretty awful experience…everyone had downplayed the procedure, but it totally did a number on me physically and emotionally. Maybe part of it was being under local anesthesia or maybe it was seeing the procedure that got to me…or maybe I’m just a big baby. But it was rough to say the least. I sort of had a meltdown post-procedure and was so happy I had my husband take me to the appointment.

One of the harder parts about having the biopsy was that I didn’t really know who I could talk with about it…it’s not the kind of thing you just mention in passing. Knee surgery? That’s not really something you can hide. But this was so hidden and it seemed like I was oversharing when I’d mention it to friends, but I needed to connect with someone who’d been through it! And in telling others, I had hoped someone would say, “Oh I’ve been through that!”

Luckily, I mentioned it during a prayer request time at my church and someone came up to me afterwards who had also gone through it! It felt SO good to talk with someone my own age about the emotional and physical struggles that came with finding a lump on your breast, cancerous or not.

We heard back from my doctors the following week and great news - it was not cancerous! However, not everyone is that lucky.

That’s why I’m SUPER passionate about being proactive, doing routine checks on yourself and getting yourself checked by a professional when worries arise. And starting this Thursday, Kiehls (the skincare love of my life) is putting on several events to raise awareness and funds for the GW Mammovan!

A little about the GW Mammovan: their goal is to make life-saving, early detection of breast cancer possible for all women throughout metropolitan Washington, regardless of their ability to pay. This mobile unit travels to corporate and community sites, offering one-stop screening performed in a comfortable, convenient environment.

I’ll be attending the grand finale event with my mom tomorrow night at the Kiehls in Georgetown (3110 M St., Washington DC, 6:30 to 8:00 PM) - here are some of the highlights:

• Learn more about the GW Mammovan and breast health from Dr. Rachel Brem
• Tour the Mammovan
• Meet the DC Newsbabes, a breast cancer charity founded in 2008 by amazing anchorwomen in Washington, D.C.
• Enjoy complimentary 20-minute seated facials or hand massages
• Customers attending this event will receive a 15% discount on all purchases, except charitable products and value sets.
• Receive a gift from Kiehl’s when you donate to the Mammovan
• Refreshments and treats

Learn more about the series of events here! And if you're going through something similar or have any questions, please feel free to send me an email! I'm not a doctor by any means, but I'm happy to share my experience and I'd like to think I'm good with words, at times. ;)