I recently returned from the perfect girls’ weekend in Palm Springs, California. We went to celebrate my friend Ali’s bachelorette party and got our fill of sun, girl time and relaxation. Yet somehow I still came home feeling exhausted! (I think it may be due to that whole being 5 months pregnant thing.)
We ventured to the Jersey Shore for the wedding of one of my dear college girlfriends. The Jersey Shore definitely gets a bad wrap (think the infamous “tan, gym, laundry” routine thanks to the reality TV show), but Mantoloking the sleepy little beach town where we visited was absolutely gorgeous and so serene!
I cannot get over the hydrangeas! They were heavenly! My girlfriends and I could not stop commenting on the abundance of hydrangeas, the variation of colors and the pristine landscaping. It was definitely enviable.
The gingham maxi dress I wore was the perfect amount of formality and prep. The thin criss-cross straps tie beautifully in the back and the skirt is the perfect amount of pouf with a layer of crinoline underneath. It was a dream to wear and to dance the night away in under the white tent of the reception, which was located in a boatyard. Sidenote: The bride and groom made their entrance on a boat, which was pretty much the cutest thing ever and perfect for a coastal wedding. It was stunning!
Unfortunately, my dress currently out of stock online, but J.Crew has some other really cute options that are pretty similar. Scope out this tiered maxi dress in blue and white stripes (which I almost bought in place of the one I wore), this cotton-poplin maxi that preppy dreams are made of, and this gingham ball skirt which would be oh so fun to mix and match with varying tops. I also love this gingham midi dress with eyelet accents. And for more gingham goodness check out this splurge worthy silk gingham maxi my DVF and this deal of a gingham maxi with contrasting trim by ASOS. All super cute styles sure to rival any Lilly Pulitzer ensembles you may encounter on the east coast!
While in Mantoloking we enjoyed our fair share of seafood. We arrived at our first stop the second we pulled into Point Pleasant at the Shrimp Box where we sipped rose overlooking the harbor. Then soon there after followed it with a delicious Italian dinner at Theresa’s South in Bay Head. I would highly recommend the pappardelle with lobster. And since we don’t have it in Denver, the novelty of BYOB isn’t lost on me. When we asked for the wine list we were surprised when she said that we could walk across the street to the conveniently located liquor store to bring in our own wine. Again, how do we get BYOB in Colorado?!
Our trip also included lots of time on the water. Sunset drinks on the shore with the bride’s friend Mary who started her own wine label, Ripe Life Wines. I definitely need to stock some of their Clambake chardonnay at home, as seen on my Instagram! One day we rented a pontoon boat and putzed around the bay while the boys crabbed. (See what they caught above!) We even had a recovery beach day beach day after the wedding before we headed to the airport.
I’m so happy that we had a fun-filled weekend reuniting with my KU girls, celebrating and amazing couple with their friends and family and I got my toes in the sand, something that’s on my list of resolutions each year!
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a great weekend!
I couldn’t be happier that summer is fi-na-lly here! I live for warm weather and as you might have noticed gravitate towards wearing dresses, tank tops, skirts and sandals. I love not having to grab a coat and pile on a scarf, hat and gloves. It’s so nice to unbundle for the season.
Burgundy paired with pink may be a fall trend, but since it’s still in the 80’s and 90’s in Denver I’ve modified the trend for hotter temps.
We took the baby on his first flight to Arizona! We decided to visit Scott’s family in Phoenix and thought that the short 1 hour and 10 minute flight was perfect for Carter’s first aerial adventure.
I finally pulled the trigger and bought this beautiful floral maxi dress that I’ve been eyeing for quite some time. Actually I bought it when I was 9 months pregnant, hoping that I would fit into it after my son was delivered and thankfully I do!
Mara Hoffman is one of my favorite designers and I am drawn to her line season after season. I love her bold, beautiful patterns and the vivid colors she frequently incorporates. Her clothes are like nothing else, they’re always unique, fun, stand-out pieces.
The vivid floral pattern on this maxi dress is perfect for summer and makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation! The pattern can also be found on this midi version (now on sale), this swing dress, and this fun one-piece swimsuit. The pattern also comes in a pastel palette, which I think would be perfect for Spring.
The tie front detail accentuates the cut-out which is a fun way to try the trend without being too scandalous. You can try the cut-out trend with this black midi dress, a similar grey button-up dress, or if you’re feeling a little daring and are comfortable showing a little more skin this sassy chambray option or a striped version.
The button-up front can be partially undone creating a slit the length of your choosing so you can show off as little or as much leg as you like… or the perfect pair of shoes! For this outing (lunch on a patio with my boys), I paired the dress with my favorite golden crisscross slides. These sandals were the perfect pair to wear throughout my pregnancy especially near the end when I swore off heels, and they continue to be one of my go-to’s for laid back looks.
All of my girlfriends with kids have suggested that we take Carter out and about as much as possible while he is still napping for a majority of the day, because once he is older and more mobile they say it will be that much harder to peacefully enjoy lunch at a restaurant which makes perfect sense. So we’re doing just that and have been carting him all around town!
Shoulder baring tops are the ultimate summer trend and one that I definitely promote you try. There are many stylish iterations of the cold-shoulder and off-the-shoulder styles. The popular styles add an element of boho-chic design to any ensemble. Plus, bare shoulders help beat the heat without showing too much skin. See my selections for tops you need to throw a fierce cold shoulder this summer!
XO, Libby
1. Lace Flutter Sleeve Cold Shoulder Shirt || 2. Lemon Off the Shoulder Blouse
3.Gingham Sleeve-Tie Top (also in dark black and stripes) || 4. Hot Pink Shirttail Top
5. Eyelet Top with Scalloped Hem || 6. Oversized Gingham Ruffle Top
7. Silk Floral Print Blouse (also in white) || 8. Black Cinched-Long-Sleeve Top
9. Sheer Crochet Tunic || 10. Tangerine Square-Neck Top
We had some maternity photos taken by the talented Jennifer Oman and boy am I happy we did. I’m so delighted with how they turned out as they will be pictures that we will cherish forever. (And we will never forget the swarms of mosquitos that ate us alive while we took these sweet photos!)
Fourth of July is just two weeks away!!! The Fourth is my favorite holiday, not only because it’s my birthday but also because I love everything the day entails. Freedom to do whatever it is you want to do… and what I want to do is lounge at the pool, BBQ with friends and watch the fireworks while laying on a blanket in the grass. Red, white and blue is a classic combination that can be worn all season long and in preparation for my favorite day of the year, I wanted to share my Independence Day Wish List! See my selections for everything you need to show your patriotism this Fourth of July.
XO, Libby
Balenciaga & Bubbles 