So before I get into this outfit… let’s just state the obvious. There’s snow on the ground and I’m wearing open-toe sandals and a one-shoulder top.
I think this might be the definition of basic or a blogger (or both!), but I really wanted to style this spring outfit and I happened to be in NY in March and there happened to be a random snow storm (even though it was actually like 40 degrees when we snapped these photos)… so here we are!
Now that that is out of way, this top (like this bag) is a piece that I saw all over my social media feed and computer on so many girls and I couldn’t help but love it. I held off for a while and then was like… screw it, I love it too – I surrender! Not to mention… it’s under $60.
One of the fun things about seeing the same piece of clothing or accessory on lots of different girls is seeing how everyone styles it in their own unique way. You could tuck this top into a skirt, wear it with boyfriend jeans or pair it with shorts and lace-up sandals. It is such a fun top and a piece that is sure to steal the show.
If you guys follow along on Instagram or Snapchat (CBLied), you may have seen that at the end of March I went on a whimsical interior dream to Aurora, New York to see the headquarters of a long-loved brand, MacKenzie-Childs.
As a creative woman herself, my mom has always loved this brand. We grew up with several of their pieces in our family home, and when I moved into my own house I knew I had to have a few pieces of my own! Over the years I’ve purchased pieces here and there, so when I connected with the team behind this artistic company about experiencing a visit to HQ (aka “#CampCourtlyCheck“), I really couldn’t believe it. MacKenzie-Childs is not only artistic and fun, it’s really nostalgic for so many who grew up with moms, aunts and grandmothers loving the different collections.
We toured the gigantic warehouse where the artisans create the pottery and saw the employees individually painting each piece delicately and meticulously. These days, when you own items in your home, you assume it’s a factory machine/assembly line situation creating it. I was so impressed and amazed to see each person putting their personal touch on the pieces… no two items are identical! It made me want to go home and really look at every piece I own to see the different brush strokes and unique touches.
I even had the opportunity to team up with Tish and Eileen, a part of the pottery decorating team, to paint my own mug. I can’t wait to share it once it’s been cooked and glazed!
Patients flock to Turkey everyday for dental surgeries and procedures.Periodonta is the best dental clinic there is in turkey!
You’ll see some of the photos from the warehouse below, but you’ll also see photos from the bed & breakfast we stayed in that is a little slice of heaven, the E.B. Morgan House. It is a part of the Inns of Aurora properties and with a fireplace in my room and gorgeous marble tiled bathroom… checking out was nearly a tearjerker.
I’m also sharing photos of the inside of the MacKenzie-Childs Farmhouse (the first photo above of the white house is the farmhouse!)… which is basically my version of Candy Land. Unbelievable!
I’ve fallen in love with the Parchment Check collection. A little hint of the inspiration behind this pattern… inspired by aged loved letters. So romantic!
Honestly, I could have taken 800 photos of this week, but I tried to both capture it and experience it’s majesty. Such an inspiring and creative trip that I’ll never forget! I’ve shared some of my MacKenzie-Childs pieces here and here, but I’ll be sharing more ways I style the collections into my home, and after years of admiring my mom’s pieces, it is so much fun to begin to collect my own.
Some of the pieces I’m admiring below… (insert heart eyes).
Do you have your own nostalgia with MacKenzie-Childs? Or is this your first time seeing the whimsy of this company? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
It’s been two years since I’ve visited Mexico, and I am beyond happy to be back in this gorgeous place! I always love the people and energy of this country… not to mention Mexican food has always been my favorite thing to eat. All day, every day – anything and everything!
We are visiting the residences of Playa de la Paz (full posts and a review coming soon), and I had no idea this gorgeous little town existed a few hours outside of Cabo. The water is so clear, the beach is in our backyard and extremely private and with units for sale and rent… I think La Paz is calling my name (Christian – are your reading this?). We spent a full day out on the water this week, and I had the opportunity to snorkel with all of these gorgeous sea animals – an experience I’ll never forget. You guys know I love any and all animals.
While we were riding in the boat to the snorkeling destination, we found ourselves in the middle of what looked like over 200 dolphins swimming together and guiding us. I took some video and posted on Instagram’s Insta-Stories and Snapchat, but I have never seen anything like that in my life. Absolutely incredible.
I was the only one who wanted to swim with the whale shark, and I called it the gentle giant of the sea. Apparently they are completely fine with you swimming alongside them, but if you touch them they will quickly swim to the bottom of the sea because they get “embarrassed.” So I was a little timid to get too close because I didn’t want to startle him, but my snorkeling guide grabbed my hand and pulled me right alongside. My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest!
I can’t wait to share some of the photos from the experiences we have had here – candlelit dinners on the beach, dancing with a mariachi band, doing yoga by the sea – but until then I had to share a few photos from our day on the water. A day I’ll never forget.
Do you have a snorkeling or scuba diving experience that left you speechless? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
When I saw this dress online, it gave me all the spring feelings. Navy, floral, peplum hem, just enough slit… I think this would be such a great dress to wear to a spring wedding.
This is a question I get from you guys a lot – what to wear to weddings. I think most of us know the ultimate rules are…
1) No white, cream or anything remotely resembling white. This applies to wedding parties as well (engagement parties, showers, bachelorette parties, etc.). This is the bride’s time to wear white! However… I think silver or gold is always a good idea.
2) Nothing too showy. Save that for date night, girls night or the bachelorette party. Dads and grandfathers are probably going to be there… you don’t want to be self-conscious that you’re showing off more than Uncle Carl needs to see.
Not to worry – that still leaves us so many options! If the ceremony and/or reception is outdoors, a maxi dress is a fun option. I’m always a fan of a formal jumpsuit or pantsuit, and of course a cocktail dress is fool-proof.
I’m sharing some of my favorite spring wedding picks, along with this dress, at the bottom of the post. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Some other outfits I’ve shared recently that I think would be fabulous for a spring wedding are this yellow lace dress and this pink sleeved dress. Thank you so much for reading! XO –
When in doubt, a black-on-black ensemble cannot fail you. It’s clean, chic and always put together. So when I saw this ruffled top at Neiman Marcus Last Call, I thought it would be a great spring and summer piece.
I styled it with black denim for a date night look but you could make it more casual with denim cutoffs and black strappy sandals (with a summer tan, #yesplease). It also comes in a beige and a soft pink that is nearly irresistible… I think I’m going to need to order the pink! This line always gets me – so many pretty pieces at totally affordable prices.
So when everything for her at Last Call is 30% off through 4/11, it’s a great time to pick up some of these fun spring pieces. Is there anything better than getting something super cute at a discount? The best feeling!
top – also love it in blush (runs true to size)! also love this one and this one – all 30% off | similar denim – 30% off | similar heels – 30% off | similar jacket – 30% off | similar clutch – 30% off
And don’t forget that through 4/11 you can get 30% off everything for her, both in stores and online! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I had a lot of questions about the boutique hotel we stayed in when we recently visited New York for a long weekend, so I’m excited to share the details! Truth be told, Christian has never been a big fan of the big apple. He’s been three times (two of those three were interviews for residency and fellowship so they were slightly stressful), and he’s just more of an outdoorsy, land-lover kind of guy. His family owns a farm and he’s happiest at the beach or camping in a National Park.
SO, for this trip I was determined to “wow’ him with NY’s beauty! I’ve always loved this city and have been visiting with my family for years, even living here for a summer in college. We’ve had Thanksgiving dinner in Central Park, ice skated in Rockefeller Center in the snow and stood with the crowds for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – so I have countless wonderful memories in this magical city!
I wanted to stay downtown in a charming and unique hotel, so after some research I discovered The Marlton Hotel. It looked very European and nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village, which was exactly what I was going for. For the record, this is not sponsored whatsoever – I wasn’t even really planning on talking about the hotel but I got so many questions I wanted to share the details!
The hotel reminded me so much of the darling spot we stayed in when my sister and I visited Paris, and breakfast and coffee was complimentary each day which was really nice and convenient. It’s certainly not spacious (I don’t think any hotel downtown is), but it was everything we needed and I will absolutely be staying there again. The bar in the hotel is also really cute, they have fireplaces and a restaurant as well. A great spot for a chilly New York visit!
I also loved the marquee lights of the awning because it was so easy to locate once we turned on the street, bonus!
And of course to mention the dress, I was gifted this dress and have been trying to find it everywhere online! No such luck, but I found a lot of great similar styles!
Thanks so much for reading, and if you have your own NY love story (or favorite hotel), I’d love to hear! XO –
PS – the winners of the Votivo giveaway have been announced in the original post!
I tend to lean on neutral accessories (especially in winter), but sometimes a pop of color is just what I need for a cheerful change and a welcome of a new season. It might sound crazy but wearing a little color, whether it be a bright yellow handbag or a hot pink lipstick, can make me a little more friendly and upbeat than an all-black ensemble.
This year Henri Bendel’s spring handbags and accessories are packing some serious color, and when something has pink or tassels… you know I’m fully onboard. I’ve shopped at Henri Bendel for as long as I can remember because my mom has always been a big fan, and over the years my collection has grown from laundry and toiletry travel bags to luggage, accessories and more. Their unique and fun pieces always make me happy!
I had to pair this hot pink backpack with my new favorite tee, because fun fact: I’ve been a huge Michael Jackson fan ever since I was in elementary school. I have the vinyls, every single album, tshirts, etc. So this shirt feels perfect!
Thanks so much for reading – and tell me, are you a color lover or do you tend to keep it neutral? XO –
It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a slip dress. I love the simple lines, the lightweight fabric and the understated sexy sleekness of the silhouette. Olive green has been one of my favorite new neutral colors to wear (in addition to navy), and I love that it matches with taupe, brown, black – honestly nearly anything.
Lucky for me (!!), Splendid has tons of spring staples in this shade available at Nordstrom, and this dress is one that I know I’ll be wearing on repeat for the next several months. I’m sharing some of my favorite pieces from Splendid at the bottom of this post, and sharing three of the dresses that I can’t wait to wear this spring!
PS – can we talk about how I feel like I took a quick visit to the South of France in this post? We discovered this little sidewalk and I was like… I just need a bottle of wine a picnic basket. Dreamy!
I’m heading back to New York today, but rather than go to the city again I’ll be visiting upstate NY for the first time with the MacKenzie-Childs team – I’m so excited! BUT it feels appropriate that I’m sharing some of the photos that were snapped last weekend, and even more appropriate that Paige, the talented photographer, is originally from Orange County! Two California girls running around downtown Manhattan in the snow trying to snap glam shots – I love it.
I’ve been wanting to try the fishnets under denim trend, and this felt like a great time to try it. I think the two things you need to have to pull off this look are: 1) some knee rips to show off the stockings and 2) a looser fit denim (think boyfriend jeans or “mom jeans”). The result is the perfect touch of understated cool.
To be honest, I’ve had these fishnets for who knows how many years – I’m a closet hoarder because trends always seem to come back around. I’ll be sharing another look soon with these fishnets, so stay tuned!
Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty has started, and this is such an amazing time to try some of those products you’ve been hearing about! Some of my favorite makeup items are included in the sale, so I’m excited to tell give you my input and why it’s worth taking the plunge.
This and this are two of my favorite mascaras. I use this one during the week for a soft, natural lash and this onewhen I want to really amp it up for date night or in photos. I read once that Jessica Alba uses this eyelash curler, and since she is #beautygoals, I bought it myself. It’s amazing and I’ll never go back to a drugstore curler!
This is one of my favorite blushes (I have it in Rapture and Score), and we all know this one is an OG (I have it in Blissful). Dermalogica has been one of my favorite skincare brands since an esthetician recommended it when I was in jr. high – I’ve been using it ever since!
I discovered this tanner (I know I’m late to the game), and it’s everything everyone says it is. Don’t forget to use a mitt!
Have you guys been shopping the sale? I love that Ulta does this every year – such an amazing time to try some of their best-selling products! Thanks so much for reading – XO
– some new brow products that are seriously amazing, this pomade is my new addiction –
– a new batch of pink tulips after the last bouquet did so well –
– when the rumba runs and the animals follow me from room to room trying to escape it –
– Valentino rockstud dupes that I’m going to live in this summer –
Happy Friday! We are spending this weekend in California and enjoying the sunshine before I head back to New York next week. This time I’ll be sans Christian and traveling for CBL, so I can’t wait to share more details soon!
I’ve been trying to eat clean this week after living my best life for a long weekend – eating pasta, drinking wine and waiting in line to get Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. #NoRegrets. When it’s cold outside I seem to think all of my clothes are yoga pants and bring. it. on. When I’m feeling puffy, one of my favorite (and fastest) healthy way to de-bloat quick is to make a big batch of green smoothies each morning. I’ll sip on it all day and snack on veggies, unsalted almonds or if I’m craving something more savory I’ll make guacamole with sweet bell peppers or have a few boiled eggs with truffle salt. As long as I don’t have events or travel, I can easily be healthy – but I’m all about that YOLO life when I’m traveling!
I also am heading to Mexico in less than two weeks so there’s some motivation. Swimsuit season is upon us… can you believe it!?
I will be working this weekend and Christian is on call, so nothing too exciting happening over here but I hope you have some fancier plans! Thanks so much for reading and entering the Votivo giveaway! I plan to announce a winner next week so stay tuned. XO –
It’s officially spring you guys, so it’s time to show a little leg! With that comes some self tanner and a comfortable pair of neutral heels to elongate your legs and bring them out of their winter hiding place.
You might remember me sharing my love of block heels in this post, but I love them because they give me some height but feel comfortable enough for all day wear. This strappy pair is so versatile, and while they aren’t available online just yet (but will be in April!), you can shop all kinds of block heel styles from Aerosoles here.
Some of my classic spring staples I definitely want in my closet are a neutral block heel, cotton maxi dress (if it’s got a low back or scoop back all the better) and denim jacket. You can wear these pieces so many different ways (like this jacket styled here or this dress styled here), and they are breathable, comfortable and flattering.
