Week in Review Vol. 8

Hello hello and happy FRIDAY, friends!

Let’s dive straight in - this week was amazing for a thousand reasons. Here’s why:

This past weekend we stayed at Quirk Hotel. It was ACTUALLY the place of my dreams. When I imagine the perfect hotel, everything Quirk has comes to mind. The beautiful and unique art, a rooftop terrace, the cutest spot ever for brunch, an adorable gift shop with local designers, a million instagramable spots - it was actually everything. Can’t wait to share more with you!

Wearing Cuyana bag, Intermix top (sold out), Just Female skirt from Lynn Louisa and James Hock sandals

Monday was so beautiful - I grabbed lunch at Sweetgreen with Erin (yes, I did this last week too!) We also enjoyed some killer Baked & Wired cupcakes while picnicking along the canal in Georgetown. It sure beat eating at my desk (which is what I do most days, TBH.)

Tuesday I forgot to have coffee. If you’ve ever been to the brink of death, you’ll know how I felt. 

I’m a little annoyed at something - do any of you use VSCO to edit your iPhone pics? Well I used to use the app to lay out how my Instagram looked so I could tell which photos looked best next to each other (a very real thing, folks.) WELL the app was updated and now it’s impossible to lay them out in the same way. HELP - do any of you know a free (or affordable) app that does the same thing?

Wednesday I got to see Nadine Matar at the PR at Partners on K Street. This woman is like a unicorn in DC. People know of her but only a few got lucky enough to sneak into her schedule before she COMPLETELY booked up. Last time, we “melted” and this time we went a bit lighter and brighter! And a bit ashier too. Just when I think I couldn’t love my hair any more, she goes and makes it happen.

Speaking of hair, I shared all about how I go for days without washing it, courtesy of my favorite R+Co products (which I get at my local PR at Partners!)

THURSDAY! My favorite day of the week. The day started with a work function (I work full time in commercial real estate for those who don’t know) then finished off with hosting the Cuyana Summer Party at their pop-up in Georgetown. It was the most wonderful evening, filled with friends, shopping, too much champagne (whoops) and meeting you guys! The rain held off after my desperate prayers (God, you da real MVP) and it turned out to be the most lovely evening ever. (Check out my snapchat to see more! Username: JULIENGARMAN)

Wearing Cuyana dress and bag, Schutz heeled sandals 

While at the event, I fell IN LOVE with this belt and this oversized beach hat. Which one should I buy next?!

This weekend we’ll be celebrating Father’s Day with the hubby’s parents (my dad is out of town) and NEXT WEEKEND we are off to California for our big trip to Napa, San Fran and Yosemite! So much to do. So little time. 

Have a great weekend, friends!

Bec & Bridge Electra Dress

There’s just something about stripes…I don’t know if it’s the stylish ease they present or the french girl vibes they produce, but there’s definitely something there. 

I’m going to be honest with you though - stripes and I recently went on a break. I know, how could I?! But here’s the thing. In transitioning from my preppier/nautical style to a more subdued, classic, semi-minimalist, part-hippie vibe (still working on figuring out exactly what it is I am…), I thought stripes didn’t fit my new aesthetic. 

But then this Bec & Bridge dress came in the mail. I’d been dying to try this Australian brand but hadn’t found anywhere locally. Thankfully, Lyon+Post offered it as an option to try with their free subscription box. Yes I said free - and you can get a $30 credit to the site (in case you can’t part with something in your box!) if you use my little referral link! You know you want to.

So I tried on the dress and it fit like a glove. Literally though. Like a glove. Definitely tighter than I’m used to. But I loved it! And the thing I loved most? The subtle grey stripes. It’s like they were saying, “come back to me” - how could I say no? They were just TOO GOOD on this dress.

Anyway, stripes, I’m sorry. I was lost without you. But I’m so happy you found your way back into my life. 

On Julien: Bec & Bridge Electra Dress via Lyon+Post (try for free and get a $30 credit here!) Schutz pumps via Lyst c/o. Bracelets, Hanuel (here and here.) Earrings, Hanuel. 

Upstate

The Head and the Heart blasted through our stereo as we navigated through traffic on one rainy Saturday. Most of my friends had taken the smart road (aka the one where the train was the one navigating) but we’d opted for the affordable route, a long drive to upstate New York.

I tried to get comfortable in my seat, but the loud rain made me restless. “I just wish it’d stop, just for this evening,” I said on repeat, hour on the hour. One of my best friends was getting married, after all. Humidity and hair do not get along. I would know.

But as we pulled into the prettiest farm I’d ever seen, the rain trickled to a stop. I threw my umbrella in my clutch (just in case) but it wasn’t needed. My pleads had been heard. I’d soon get to see the most beautiful bride walk down the isle, and watch as we all toasted to a lifetime of happiness. Sans rain. 

On Julien: Dress, Alice + Olivia (same dress, different color) Pumps, Schutz via Lyst c/o. Clutch, K.Slademade. Tassel, Tassels by Sarah c/o. Necklace, Love Juliet c/o. Ring, Samantha Wills. Bracelet, Phyllis + Rosie.

Dressed Up Friend Date

As we grow older, we start uncover beautiful truths of life. Like, time spent with family is most enjoyed when the phones aren’t around. Or that happiness is not found, it’s chosen. One of my favorite life truths of all time is being sure to make time for friends.

This sounds easy, no? Hang out with friends, feel fulfilled. But when work hours get crazy, fur babies (or real babies) need you at home, and we’re just worn out from the week…it can be hard to make time for “superfluous” things. But please do. Please slap sleepiness in the face and get together with the people who inspire you, who give you energy and support your dreams. 

I recently did this with one of my best gals, Jen. Jen is one of those people who’s creative energy will rejuvenate your soul. She’s an artist at heart and I love that she just GETS me, you know? It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you know they’re friends for keeps. We stopped by my favorite little coffee shop in Rosslyn, Caffe Aficionado, which serves the best lattes since Italy. I hesitate even telling you this - you know, when you find this KILLER place and you want to tell everyone, but also no one, at the same time? Like you want it to be yours only, but you also want them to succeed? I’m very selective in who I tell about my secret latte heaven, so consider yourselves very, very lucky. ;)

Since Shawn and I don’t go out much (we love cooking together at home), I love dressing up for girl dates. I wore this gorgeous statement skirt from one of my favorite shops in Mosaic District, Take 5 Boutique. (If you haven’t been there before, I highly recommend it!) I just love how feminine the skirt is and how the colors remind you of an intricate painting. When I tried it on, it was loooovvvve at first sight. I paired it with a silk blouse from Equipment (maybe not the best choice for a rainy day, whoops!), my fave Schutz pumps and some fun, edgy jewelry from Hanuel to really round out the look.

So - where’s your favorite spot for a friend date?

On Julien: Skirt, Roman via Take 5 Boutique c/o. Blouse, Equipment via Intermix. Pumps, Schutz via Lyst c/o. Earrings, Hanuel c/o. Bracelets, Hanuel c/o (here, here and here.)

Little Victories

Over the past month, I’ve embarked on a clean eating journey. I haven’t talked about it much because I wasn’t sure if I’d see results or if it was felt like just another diet. So now that I’ve been doing it a month, I’m ready to share!

I just finished the 28 Day Challenge with the Fit Girls Guide. I started it because I know I needed to change the way I was eating. My coworker was trying Fit Girls, and I didn’t want to fork out the money for DVDs, shakes and food containers for other programs. I wanted something that made my life better and more convenient even. It was only $20 for the Fit Girls Guide PDF, which included meal plans (with adjustments), a workout plan and over 2 million girls encouraging each other on instagram. So I gave it a try.

YOU GUYS. This is going to sound immensely cheesy, but I feel like I’m finally becoming the best version of myself again. I’ve been following the workouts (most days oops!) and clean eating every day. And the food is so stinking good. Literally doesn’t even feel like I’m eating healthy. There’s pita pizzas, roasted veggies with brown rice bowls, pumpkin lasagna, I MEAN, SO MUCH YUMMY FOOD. 

Ok, this was totally not supposed to turn into a promo for this clean eating thing, but I had to let you in on the reason I’m wearing this dress. BECAUSE IT FINALLY FITS AGAIN! It’s been two years since I’ve fit comfortably into it. Shawn got it for my birthday yearsssss ago, and it’s been sitting in my closet after a few rough winters of eating crockpot mac and cheese on repeat.

So today, let’s celebrate little victories. Like dresses fitting once more and sunshine finally making its way back into our lives. Cheers!

On Julien: Dress, Anthropologie (old, but literally need every dress on their website!) Blazer, H&M (similar.) Shoes, Schutz via Lyst c/o. Bag, Cuero + Mor (sold out, but more gorgeous bags here!) c/o. Bracelet’s, Trina Turk, Hanuel c/o and Love Juliet c/o. Necklace, Rachelle Celine c/o. Knot ring, Hanuel c/o.