TWENTY

/ 1. Topshop Dress / 2. Anthropologie Belt / 3. Birthday Cupcake / 4. Illamasqua Lipstick in 'matte warm pink' / 5. Asos Heels /

When it comes to birthday celebrations, I either love to go all out, or super simple. Since going to college, my birthday always falls on the first official weekend back at school, so my celebrations are more low-key and focused on being with friends and remembering to celebrate before the workload gets heavy. This year, I turned 20. Two decades old deserves some celebration in my book, and the pieces above certainly seem as if they would make turning twenty feel as fabulous as everyone says it is supposed to be. With a perfectly feminine, yet simple, light pink party dress, sparkly belt, understated heels that pack the interest in the gold ankle bands, a lipstick that adds just the right amount of pop to your pout, and a cupcake to celebrate, this is my ideal twentieth birthday look to ring in my twenties and bid adieu to my teens. 

How did you celebrate your twentieth birthday? Any advice for my twenties?

Dress Up

When I saw this dress in Joe Fresh (in the fuchsia and orange version), I couldn't help myself. Almost immediately it reminded me of this dress (look 19) from the Prada S/S '11 show that I loved, and allowed me to take a bit of that collection home with me--but obviously at a much more reasonable price. When I think of summers, outdoor fiestas with fun dancing, fabulous music, and great friends come to mind. This dress would be the perfect statement to wear to one of these events with a killer pair of strappy heels, bright matte lipstick, and glossy nude nails.

What do you think of this festive dress?

Have a great weekend!

Dress Up--New Years Edition

Wearing sparkles to a New Years event is almost as inevitable as wearing stars and stripes on the fourth of July. Typically, I reserve sequins and sparkles for the most festive of occassions, as there is something about the way that they shine that looks and feels like wearable confetti. Although bringing sparkles into day wear has become more common lately, wearing them to bring in the new year feels special and unique. So, whether you drift towards a blazer, skirt, or full-on dress, there sure is a reason that sparkles are so popular for this time of the year.

What are you planning on wearing?

Dress Up

When the feather trend was beginning and designers began to incorporate them into their designs more and more, aside from this collection, I wasn't so sure. However, when I saw this week's dress of the week, I was more intrigued. I love the way that the black feathers create such an interesting texture to the sleek dress, and their movement adds a whole other component. And, with the holidays coming up in the next few weeks, this is the little black dress that is perfect for a party or special occasion outing. Aside from the feathers, the velvet sweetheart bodice with a slight plunge and illusion neckline add a bit of interest, as well. 

How do you feel about feathers? 

A to Z: Entertaining

Happy October, everyone! Though it may seem early to think about it, October technically kicks off the holiday season starting with Halloween at the end of the month. So, what better "E" topic for our A to Z series than the topic of entertaining? 

Here are some of the key essentials that I feel are a must for entertaining family or friends:

1. Fun Decorations- To me, any event can be amazing with the help of a little decoration. From streamers and garlands, fun place settings, or themed adornment, a setting can instantly be transformed into anything.

2. Food + Drink- When I have friends over, I like to find simple ways that can make even the most ordinary of things something to enjoy. Little bottles of water with candy striped red and white paper straws are so simple, but feel fun just by taking them out of their usual containers. And, everything miniature is always popular at get-togethers. By filling glasses with a little milk and topping them off with some chocolate chip cookies, dessert is not only something that tastes great, but is displayed in a unique and different way, too

3. Music- Whether you're a playlist master or Pandora person, great music can help to establish the event or can even work in with a theme (if there is one). I like when there is some background music going on, but definitely make sure that your guests can still hear each other when they're talking. Their voices shouldn't be competing with the music. 

4. Dress- While obviously not every party has a dress code, I always like to make sure to dress in a party style when attending. For me, any excuse to get a little dressed up is worth it. So, whether you wear a party dress and heels or a more casual approach, make sure that you show appreciation to your host(ess) by putting in a little effort, as they did to host you.

Happy first day of October, everyone and I hope that whatever events are in your near future you have a blast!

photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Dress Up

{via}

Okay, so this week's Dress Up post is a little more of a party dress than something that you would wear on the regular, but can we take a minute and admire this alice + olivia piece? As you know, I am a sucker for anything with a bit of leopard, and it is almost always the perfect accent look to an outfit. When I saw this dress, I fell in love. Everything about it works down to the small details, like the slight curve of the neck-line and the fact that it is long sleeved. This is the perfect dress for a special occasion, in that every part of it has a special feel that there is a lot put into it--the leopard pattern is made from black sequins to form the spots, and there is a sheer open scoop panel in the back that while not a new concept, feels fresh and unique for this design. With cooler weather beginning to appear, a dress like this is spot-on for any special soiree that would find its' way onto your calendar. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Home Improvement

{via}

Outdoor soirees have always been some of my favorite settings for being with friends. I love the way that being outside can make even the most formal of events a bit relaxed, and on a beautiful day, nothing is prettier than a blue sky as the backdrop. For these kind of events, rustic style furniture with dressier accents always makes for a great combination that is bound to bring plenty of compliments to the hostess. In the photograph above, the hanging lantern garland is a fun and practical way to light up the setting as the sky gets darker through the course of the meal, and is an easy way to create more of a setting, instead of just the act of being outside. Though the weather keeps transitioning here from warm to cold on basically a day-to-day basis, I will have to fit in as many outdoor gatherings as possible. However, I know that once I return to Texas, heat is a constant, and these gatherings will be, as well. 

Birthday in Black

{Dress: RACHEL Rachel Roy, Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Random stores in NYC and TX, Shoes: Steve Madden, and Revlon's "Orange Flip" lipstick}

I leave to head back to Syracuse for my Sophomore year today. Though my birthday is a week from today, I celebrated last night with my family while I was still at home. This dress is great for an event or celebration. With it's sparkly skirt and ultra interesting top that sort of reminds me of a combination of a vest and suspenders, and with a skinny strap along the spine, this is a piece that really feels perfect for a special occasion. By adding a bright orange-red lip and a couple random bracelets, this otherwise all black ensemble still has a colorful aspect, as well. 

Where to Wear What

{Forever 21 leotard, Zara skirt, Topshop necklace, Michael Kors watch, and Sam Edelman heels}

The concept of dress codes is quite an interesting one. There are the ones that we feel we must obey by such as "Black Tie" and ones that are more obscure and open-ended like "Dressy Casual" or "Festive." Of course, there are also always those who show up in whatever they please because they feel like it. For my dad's birthday this weekend, we had a late afternoon lunch. While dinner plans seem to be of the dressier nature, I took this late afternoon party to mean "Dressy Casual", or at least my version of it. By dressing up a simple black leotard with a turquoise lace skirt, neon enameled necklace, and throwing on a pair of heels, this was a great combination to feel put together, without feeling out of place.

{The heel on these is so perfectly unexpected. Lovely, right?}

Happy Birthday, dad

A Thanksgiving with Family and Friends

Though Thanksgiving was almost two weeks ago (whoa!), I hadn't yet shared with all of you how my family's festivities, and the event that I shared about here actually went. The actual break, though still quite busy, was exciting. I was with two of my closest friends, Leanna and Michelle, almost all time I was home, and I couldn't get enough. However, everyone breaks off their connections with their friends for that one third Thursday of every November for Thanksgiving.

{Nellie anxiously hoping some of my mom's brisket will fall onto the floor for her}

{Cousins Denise and Sheldon enjoying some post-feast football}

{My amazing grandfather, Milt}

{Mashed sweet potatoes and marshmallow topping: An obvious choice}

After a late Thursday/ early Friday pre-black Friday excursion that my sister, Lauren begged me to let her experience, the Weisfeld/Shkolnick girls headed to the mall for our annual Black Friday shopping (which usually meant about two hours longer spent in Tory Burch than everywhere else). Rushing home after a long day of crowds of busy shoppers, I began to hurry to set up for my own first hosting of a Thanksgiving party. A few months after planning with Julie and it was here. I hadn't seen most of my friends since we all left for school late August, so, this first Thanksgiving Dinner: Friends Edition proved to have high hopes to be a special one.

{Our festive table and glittered gourds}

{Unfinished Turkey Oreos}

{Successfully made turkey cake pops this year!}

{Even added little heart sprinkles for their beaks}

{Left to Right: Me, Michelle, and Leanna with our turkeys}*

I wore a Lyn Devon Blouse, Michael Kors Watch, Madewell Oxfords, and H&M Skirt

{Leanna and my co-hostess, Julie}

When you've been away from home for almost four months, there are bound to be at least a little jitters when it comes to seeing your friends again (finally). You wonder who has changed, who looks different, what they've all been up to, and so on. However, after a few minutes of realizing that everyone doesn't know the same people that you do now, you're not all in the same classes, and even your weather conditions are different, you resort back to your good old fashioned fun and remember why you were all friends to begin with.

Group Shot (Minus Cori and Ronit)

{Top from Left: Sammy (Tulane), Tori (UT), Dani, and Laura (Emory)}

{Bottom from Left: Leanna (UGA), Julie (Tulane), Michelle (Texas Tech), and Me}

* The head on my turkey is missing