Happiest Monday to you, friends! I am celebrating the change in seasons by (hopefully) retiring my heavy...
Read moreFirst Day of Winter
Welp - it's the first day of winter friends. And to welcome it, a fresh case of the flu with a side order of stomach bug has arrived with it. But instead of droning on about how miserable I am during one of the most joyous times of the year, let's take it back to a couple weeks ago when we picked out our Christmas tree...
This is one of my favorite holiday activities - there's something magical about going out to a tree farm, choosing your tree, and bringing it home atop your roof...I mean, the Instagram potential ALONE...
And as we enter into my least favorite season, I encourage you to drink lots of hot cocoa, leave up your Christmas tree a few extra weeks and bundle up, babes!!
Wearing Joie cardigan and Clare V tote via Rent the Runway, Everlane t-shirt and scarf, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Kapten & Son watch
Anine Bing Dress
There's nothing better than spending a lunch hour conversing with a dear friend, escaping the world for an hour to just connect and enjoy some great food. And that's exactly what I did for my birthday this year!
I met up with one of my best gal pals, Erin, for a lunch at my favorite little cafe, Malmaison. This sweet little spot in Georgetown is one of my favorite hidden gems - it sits back away from the hustle and bustle of M Street., at the end of Water Street. The food is so tasty and the atmosphere reminds me of something straight of of Elle Decor. (See a few photos of Malmaison in a recent post here!) There's also a little coffee shop that I love stopping by if I'm not grabbing a full lunch.
For my birthday lunch, I wore my favorite Anine Bing dress. It's a bit summery, so I paired it with my favorite linen coat that I picked up during a trip to New York. The choker is actually a string from a shoe duster bag that happened to come unravelled. Blessings in disguise, my friends.
Anine Bing has quickly become one of my favorite brands. Her pieces are so effortless and they exude the laid back LA vibe I'm always trying to achieve. One of my favorite DC shops, Lynn Louisa, carries her line so I try to pop in once a month so I can snag my favorite pieces before they're sold out! Next time you're in Georgetown, be sure to check out Malmaison and Lynn Louisa!
Wearing Anine Bing dress (sold out, love this similar one!), MO:VINT duster (last seen here), Cuyana tote, Everlane loafers, Urban Outfitters sunnies, DIY choker (similar and this one is under $5), Sophie Blake bracelet
The Story of My Bus Driver
Every morning, he greets me with the biggest smile. “Hello, Julien!” he always says. He’s from El Salvador and is honestly the kindest person I may have ever met. Meet my bus driver.
Our friendship started when I was physically running to the bus one day. Late, per usual, I climbed the bus stairs huffing and puffing. He smiled at me and said words I’ll never forget. “Julien, you don’t have to run. I will always wait for you.” It sounds so simple, but meant so much to me.
Another time, when I forgot my wallet, and was about to walk off the bus in severe embarrassment, he paid my fare.
And yesterday morning, as I walked to the bus (on time for once), he met me halfway to the bus. He told me that a lot of drivers were being assigned new routes, and he wasn’t sure if he’d continue being my driver, but that he was so grateful for our friendship. I just about cried.
Then today he wasn’t there. There was no one to wave to me as I hurriedly rushed to the bus. No one to enthusiastically greet me with, Good morning, Julien.” No one to wave me off to work after a long ride into DC with, “Have a great day, Julien. See you tomorrow!”
I’ll be honest - he was the best part of my mornings. And as I sit on the bus, I’m doing my best to keep it together. It’s not going well. I have to keep moving my hair in front of my face to hide the actual tears. Not like WRITTEN TEARS but actual alligator tears. Cue the aviators.
Connecting with people in DC isn’t always easy, so it’s such a beautiful thing when you find people that are just KIND, genuine and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Carl Maynard, my friend who shot these photos, is one of those people too. He’s the nicest guy with such an incredible talent for not only taking breathtaking photos but bringing people together. He organizes something called Walk with Locals (@walkwithlocals on Insta) where people get together, shoot, hang out and get to know each other. I love that.
Be sure to check out Carl’s new website and give him a follow on insta for all the killer photos and details on his meet-ups! Plus, his FEED GAME is on point.
Look 1: Erika Schreiber dress, ADIDAS sneakers, Tuckernuck necklace (only $38!) c/o, Goodnight Macaroon jacket, Raybans
Look 2: Look 1: Erika Schreiber dress, Everlane flats, Tuckernuck necklace c/o, Everlane men's slim fit oxford, Raybans
Everlane Faves
The older I get, the more unwilling I am to sacrifice comfort for ‘the sake of fashion.’ Some girls can rock the 5 inch Christian Loubotin heels like there’s no tomorrow, but I’m just not one of those girls. You’d think the opposite would be true of a fashion blogger, but to be honest, I want it all. Little Mermaid style.
Enter Everlane - the ultra chic elevated basics clothing company - without the elevated prices. I've love every thing I've ordered from them (I own this rain jacket, this white tee and the hubby can't stop wearing these!) and have created a bit of a running wish list that I wanted to share with you as the holidays approach! Have you tried Everlane yet? (If not, now might just be the perfect time!)
