Sperrry Niceee.

Keeping with theme, I have also been living in these boat shoes. They are 50% casual 50% flashy, 100% awesome. The compliments flow aplenty whenever I break these bad boys out, and they have been getting tons of traffic lately.

These kicks are limited edition from J Crew- get em while they're hot.

*Metallic Sperry Topsider

N is for...Nautical.

It seems that all summer long I have been living in nautical stripes. Tank dresses, gauzy tees...all adorned with little blue/red lines. This would work fine if I lived in Nantucket, but I in fact live in the heart of the Midwest so it tends to look awkward that I keep dressing like I just jumped off a boat. Even though I'm already seeing stripes, I may have to add one more aquatically themed shirt to my wardrobe. I am loving the glam/nautical looks shown by Alice + Olivia and J Crew. The sequins really add a fun pop and could jazz up any outfit, whether by land or sea.

*Alice + Olivia Samantha Striped Tee

*J Crew Stripe Sequin Boatneck Tee

All You Need Is Love.

Please meet the LOVE of my life......

I finally bit the bullet and got a pup. This is Louie and we are the 2 best friends anyone could have.

Heart It.

While on a recent trip to visit my friends in Chicago, we got to talking one night about how Emily Giffin's books are the best for a quick summertime read. Well the next morning when we all met for brunch, my incredibly thoughtful friend Tara surprised us all with Giffin's latest tome, 'Heart of the Matter'.....and heres the kicker- they all had a beautiful and personal inscription inside. Trust me, there is no faster way to make a hungover girl cry. Of course as soon as I got home I tore through the book. Like always, Giffin breaks up the chapters to give different perspectives to the same story. 'Heart of the Matter' is a wonderful tale of choices and forgiveness......perfect for perusing out by the pool.

Heart of the Matter- Emily Giffin

*Also by Giffin- Love the One Your With

Muchos Gracias.

Its very rare that I find an album that I can listen to from start to finish, but Drake's 'Thank Me Later' is just that. Whether it's on my commute to work, on the treadmill or when I'm getting ready to go out....Drake's songs seem to be in constant demand. Drizzy, forget later...I'll thank you now.

*Personal Favorites

-Show Me a Good Time

-Unforgettable feat Young Jeezy

-Miss Me feat Lil Wayne

Dream Room.

I have this problem. While I should be tackling the 497207 things I have on my to-do list, I constantly eat up my time by cruising interior design websites. Some of the rooms I find are so creative and luxurious, I dream of the day when I have my own home and can decorate them to fit my taste. Per example: Look at this room I found at Atlantis Home....wouldn't you just DIE to wake up in that divine nook?? The clean bedding, the luxurious details....this room is just perfection!

God Bless America.

Even though we are eliminated, I thought the USA's run during the World Cup was very special. Having played soccer my whole life, I have always been a fan of the game even if the majority of our country disagrees. I was so surprised to see my fellow citizens geeked out over the matches and more than happy to wake up at 9am on random Tuesdays to cheer on our team with them. But on this, the celebration of our nation's independence .....I thoughtit appropriate to share this video of one of the most patriotic moments we have seen in quite some time.

Grab some tissues, enjoy, and Ill see you all again in 4 years.

* I recommend watching in full-screen mode for maxium patriotic value. (Just click the four arrowed square on the bottom right hand corner).

Scent-sational.

While there are many glorious things about my summer beauty regime, the scents aren't usually one of them. My smell of my skin is usually a not-so-great-combo of sunscreen and OFF....mosquitoes just LOVE me for some reason. However, despite the pesky bugs, I still love a strong summer perfume. During a ski trip in Aspen a couple of years ago I bought Acqua di Parma's Fico di Amalfi spray from their Blu Mediterraneo line, and instantly flipped for its strong fruity notes reminiscent of Southern Italy. While it didn't exactly mesh with my snow pants, its the perfect pairing to a light summer dress.

*Acqua di Parma- Fico di Amalfi

*Photo from sephora.com

Shady Lady.

Combine the Holy Grail of music with the Holy Grail of fashion and what do you get? MDG of course. Madonna has been bestowed with the great honor of being the first celebrity to have a product collaboration with iconic fashion house Dolce and Gabanna. And who better right? Madge has created a 6 piece sunglasses collection for "the woman who wants to feel like a diva". With MDG blazing on the side, these stunna shades are meant to be worn by the girl about town.

*These are my favs- but you can check out the entire collection for yourself here.

*Image via blazessunglasses.com

Waiting Sucks.

2 days. True Blood Season 3. The suspense is killing me....I cannot wait too see what these crazy freaks will have to deal with next. And donde esta Vampire Bill? My money is on the wackjobs from The Fellowship of the Sun church, but only time will tell. In the mean time I have been fully immersed in the True Blood marketing frenzy. I have watched all the minisodes and seen all the ironic ads I can handle. It's time for the real deal.

Sidenote- Thank the Lord Marianne is dead, that whole plot line made me anxious....

True Blood airs Sundays at 9pm on HBO.

*Image via USA Today

Crazy for Chambray.

When I first heard that denim button downs were all the rage this spring, 2 dreaded word came to mind....TEXAS SUIT. I have never been a fan of jean on jean, and was not about to shake my beliefs to the core in the name of fashion. However, the Selvedge chambray shirt from J Crew is too fun to pass up. Paired with the correct bottom, it is such a unique way to rock denim.

*PS- I would snag one now.....it's currently on sale!

Travel Thursdays.

DeMarco's Sub- Holmdel, New Jersey

Last week I was fortunate enough to head back East to New Jersey and spend some quality time with my family. So obviously given the chance, I would love to teleport myself back there to soak in some more of the Garden States glories. I know NJ gets a bad rap, but seriously almost everything is bigger and better in Joisey. Here are just a few bullet points to make my case.

• The people are larger than life and the accents are to die for. What we in the Midwest consider gaudy, those in Jersey consider FAB.


• Even their food has attitude. There are sub shops around every corner (my own personal nirvana), the gravy (pasta sauce) is homemade, and the wine flows like....well, wine (jugs of red to be exact). Ugh Eggplant Parm, Hard rolls with butter, My Aunt Shelley's famous Lobster macaroni....I could seriously go on for days about the food so I'll just stop myself now.


• Everybody migrates to "The Shore" for the summer- where juiced up gorillas reign supreme.


• People pump your gas for you. TRUST me- this is awesome.

Throw in my hilarious family and and it's just the cherry on top of the already phenomenal Guido cake.

If you've been to Jersey, you echo my sentiments...if you haven't, then 'whatsa matta witchu!!'

Chocolatey Peanut Buttery Goodness.

An editor at work did me a huge favor recently, and so I figured there was no better way to show my appreciation than warm, peanut butter/chocolate cookies?! Of course I headed over to old trusty, and found these fun treats within a click or two. Miss Martha's Piped Peanut Butter Cookies are just as fun to make as they are to eat. Martha recommends piping the chocolate with a ziploc bag, but I melted some chocolate chips in a bowl and painted the strips on using a toothpick. It's a little time consuming, but it's less messy and a fun way for you to get your Picasso on!

Thin-spiration.

OK, I am not usually a fan of Jennifer Aniston. But I'm sure one thing we can all agree on is that girlfriends body is rockin. Her new ad for SmartWater makes me want to drink my body weight in the stuff in hopes of replicating her abs.

Word on the street is that Jen is a devotee to the house of Yogalosophy- Her trainer Mandy Ingber's yoga regiment. Lucky for us peasants, Mandy has come out with a DVD version of Yogalosophy and TRUST- you follow that program religiously and you will see results a la Jen.

Yogalosophy

Charitable Chew.

I have always heard people say that gum is an 'impulse buy', but in my book that statement is completely false. Lets be honest, gum is sometimes a necessity, and needs to be on hand at all times to avoid potentially epic post-meal issues. However, I understand the impulse factor because I typically remember I need gum whilst in the checkout line. Recently while waiting to pay at Whole Foods, I reached for my standard pack of Extra sugar free and noticed a new face in the gum crowd- Project 7. These chicles are not only, tasty...they serve a greater purpose. For every purchase of a Project 7 product, the company donates 50% of its profits to 7 areas of critical need in the world. Bonus rounds?? The sticks pack vitamins B, C and green tea....and the packaging is made with 40% post consumer recycled material. So next time you grab for gum- reach for a pack that will eventually give back.

No Brainer.

Not to get all judgy, but I HATE when people text and drive.....and eat and drive for that matter. It's like easy porky, you can wait 15 minutes until you get home to stuff your face with a Triple Bacon Whopper or whatever else it is. A little off track, but I do have a point. I live in a city that does most of its commuting by automobile and I see crashes related to texting and driving more than I would like to. Please, please take the No Phone Zone Pledge over at Oprah.com. Whatever call/text/email you are receiving can wait....it could save your life and/or someone else's.

$$$$

Staying on the How To Make It train...their soundtrack is phenomenal. Aloe Blacc kills it in the opening track- I Need a Dollar...and his other cuts are just as fresh. He is reminiscent of a John Legend/Marvin Gaye/Common hybrid.

Download asap:

Take Me Back

One Inna

Caged Birdsong

Everyday I'm Hustlin.

How to Make It in America is truly a great show. I was hooked after one episode....actually I was hooked after the opening, which is crazy cool. Its a compilation of video and still photographs that truly evoke the essence of New York. The open is a great prelude to an even better show, which follows 2 guys (Ben and Cam) as they hustle their way into the NYC fashion scene. How to Make It is also produced by the Entourage crew, so there is that hilarious and gritty feel to it. Bonus points too for casting Kid Cudi.....he is the ish.

How To Make It In America is on HBO but Season 1 is over, but never fear... you can catch it now On Demand.

*Photo from HBO.com

Mini Pie.

I have been doing an inordinate amount of creeping on MarthaStewart.com lately, which I know is a problem. That website is filled with so much information and so many ideas... that I literally get anxiety as I click from tab to tab. Daffodil borders? DIY Felt baby booties? I feel inadequate just typing out some of the Martha-like things that I know I don't have a knack for. But alas, I came across a recipe that looked so easy and delicious I had to try it. These Mini Spinach-and-Cheese-Pizza's are a quick and easy way for anyone to get their Martha on. They only take about 15 minutes to make and are perfect for plethora of occasions.

*One helpful tip- I've made these more than once, and try using whole wheat English muffins for the crust instead of pitas. If you toast them before broiling, you will have a much more crunchy and substantial final product!

Southpaw.

Sometimes there are little things people love about themselves. Some are obvious, like bright blue eyes, or insanely long legs. But the physical attribute I find myself exuding the most pride about is a little unorthodox. That's right, I'm a lefty. Anytime someone asks me, "oh, your a lefty?" I beam. And for good reason, only ten percent of people are left-handed- and many are very artistic and powerful. Also, lefty's are more likely to have higher IQs because their brains are organized differently. Peep this list of Famous South-paws:

Barack Obama
Oprah Winfrey
Julia Roberts
Babe Ruth
Angelina Jolie
Kurt Cobain
Edward R Murrow

Sometimes it's nice to celebrate the little differences that make you YOU, even if it is the way you hold your pencil. What little nuances do you like about yourself?

*Image from Time.com