Mint-tastic!

Mint green was a popular color last Spring, and it's back just as strong this year! Here are some of my favorite things available in mint green this season:

J.Crew Factory Clare Cardigan (Spearmint)

Order it!

Kate Spade "Sweeten The Deal" Idiom Bangle

Order it!

J.Crew Factory 3" Embroidered Seersucker Shorts

Order it!

J.Crew Factory Bubble Necklace

Order it!

Banana Republic Sloan Pencil Skirt

Order it!

Banana Republic Ponte Knit Square-Neck Sheath

Order it!

Old Navy Printed Shorts

Order it!

What favorite mint clothes and accessories have y'all seen this Spring?

-L

xoxo

Lilly Pulitzer Summer 2013

Lilly Pulitzer now has their first shipment of the Summer 2013 Collection online and in-stores! Here are my favorites:

Zo Dress in Turquoise Roper Stripe

I love the diagonal stripes and unusual back of this dress!

Bethany Dress

The mint green gingham and bow in the back of this dress are absolutely presh!

Starboard Skinny Bangles

This bangle stack with color dots and seashell charms is fun.

Chandie Dress in Glenda Green Beach Bash

This is probably my favorite print from the summer collection thus far, because I like the classic "critter" Lilly prints. This one has crabs and reminds me a little bit of the Not So Crabby print from Resort 2009. 

Rana Dress

The printed lace detail on this dress is so intricate and gorgeous!

Capricia Dress in New Green

I love this pink and green shift dress with oversized eyelet detail!

Overall, there is some cute stuff in this collection, but it's definitely not one of my favorite Lilly lines ever. There's not a print that really jumps out at me. While I do really like some of these dresses, there isn't really anything that is superior to stuff I have in my closet already. I was definitely much more impressed with the Spring 2013 line. I will have to wait to see what's in later shipments for Summer 2013 though before I pass final judgement. What are y'alls favorite pieces and overall impression of Lilly's Summer 2013 line?

-L

xoxo

Sunday Encouragement

Happy Sunday y'all-just wanted to share one of my favorite verses. This has been on my heart and mind lately and I hope it can offer y'all some encouragement!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19

Hope y'all have a wonderful day filled with God's blessings!

-L

xoxo

Friday Five

1. J.Crew Factory Hot Pink Boatneck Blouse

Last weekend J.Crew Factory had a Clear the Clearance sale online, where all clearance items were an additional 30% off. I ordered this gorgeous neon pink boatneck blouse and thanks to super-fast shipping received it on Wednesday! I had tried it on in-store before but didn't buy it for some reason. At that great price I couldn't resist. It's polyester so can still be machine washed, but it has a silky look. The stock photo doesn't do the color justice, so the photo below gives you a better idea of how bright it is. You can still order it online here, but hurry before they're all gone!

2. Breyer's Blast Samoa Flavor

Samoas are probably my favorite Girl Scout cookie, so I had to try this Breyer's coconut caramel flavored frozen dairy dessert with Samoas pieces. It is amazing! I used to really like the Edy's Slow Churned Samoas ice cream, but since I haven't seen it anywhere this year I was happy to find the Breyer's variety.

3. "Good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

One of my favorite bloggers, Rachel at A Preppy State of Mind, recently posted this quote and I was reminded how much I love it! I think we can all relate this to some circumstance in our lives at some point. 

4. Lilly Pulitzer Kaleb Dress in Shorely Blue Step by Step Stripe

One of my Lilly Pulitzer birthday presents didn't work out, so I exchanged it for the striped Kaleb Dress from the Resort 2012 collection. I then had to exchange it for a different size, but I finally have it in the correct size and am so excited to wear it soon! Even though this is a knit dress and has some stretch, it runs VERY small! It's supposed to have a tailored fit, but I ordered my usual size and it was just a little too clingy for my taste. I sized up and it fits great! The colors are even prettier in person and I love the embroidered palm tree logo at the hem!

5. Great Is Thy Faithfulness

This is probably my absolute favorite hymn and I have especially been thinking this week about how much I love it! The lyrics are beautiful and are a great reminder of God's faithfulness in providing for all our needs, and how His mercies are new every morning.

"All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

-L

xoxo

Featured Outfit: Black & White With a Pop of Color

The classic combo of black & white is on trend this Spring, and I incorporated this trend into a recent outfit, but added a pop of bright color with a statement necklace. I wore this outfit out to a country western place when I visited my friend a couple weeks ago.

Top: LOFT; Shorts: Old Navy; Boots: Ariat Heritage Western R-toe; Bubble Necklace: J.Crew Factory; Bangle: Banana Republic Outlet; Earrings: Kate Spade

How do y'all like to wear the black & white trend? Do you stick to just black & white or do you like to add a pop of color too?

-L

xoxo

Featured Outfit: An Unexpected Combo

So I have a handful of Featured Outfits that I have worn recently and need to post! This particular one is from my trip two weekends ago to visit one of my best friends. One of the great things about Lilly Pulitzer skorts is that they are so versatile! You can wear them with a polo or tank top and Jacks or flip-flops for a casual but cute daytime look. However, they can also be dressed up a bit with a jacket and wedges to go out to dinner or for a night out, as I have discovered. This versatility of the Lilly skort was especially convenient during my recent trip. During the drive down on Friday afternoon I wore a Lilly skort, white top, and Jacks. I got caught in traffic and didn't have time to go by my friend's place and change before dinner. Luckily I was resourceful and threw on a dark gray jacket over my top (it was getting a bit chillier anyways) and swapped my Jacks for some wedges. The place where we had dinner that night wasn't super fancy, but I probably would've felt a little underdressed if I had kept both the plain white top and Jacks on with my skort. I felt that my ensemble with the jacket and wedges was appropriate, and it gave me a chance to be creative and pull together an outfit I might not otherwise have worn out to dinner if I was standing in my closet at home.

Jacket: LOFT; Top: Banana Republic Outlet; Skort: Lilly Pulitzer Alberta Gator Print (Spring 2010); Shoes: Banana Republic Outlet; Earrings: Lilly Pulitzer (Resort 2012); Pearls: Honora; Bracelet: Kate Spade Rise Above Idiom Bangle; Sunglasses: Kate Spade

And here's a closer-up view

Have y'all put together any unexpected outfit combinations lately?

-L

xoxo

Friday Five

I'm back this week with another Friday Five! This has been quite a heavy week in the news and prayers continue to go up to all those in Boston during this scary ordeal, as well as to those dealing with the aftermath of the explosion in West, Texas. I pray that all involved in these tragic events will experience the comfort and healing of Jesus, and rest in the security that the refuge of His wings is the one place where we will always be safe regardless of our circumstances. And I hope that everyone can remember that while there is a lot of evil in this world there is also still a lot of good, and that Christ's redeeming power is constantly at work in this fallen world.

Now for this week's Friday Five:

1. Philippians 4

One of the verses in my Jesus Calling devotional this week was from Philippians 4, and as I went to read it I was reminded of just how great the whole entire chapter is. In fact, it's probably one of my favorites in the whole entire Bible. It's full of great encouragement and wisdom from the Apostle Paul: rejoice always, don't be anxious, present your prayers and petitions with thanksgiving, the peace of Christ, think praiseworthy thoughts, contentment in all circumstances, and strength through Christ! One verse in particular that struck my attention and is really a theme verse for me right now is Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." 

2. Lilly Pulitzer Murfette Scarf in Shorely Blue Chin Chin 

I have multiple Lilly Murfee scarves, but for my birthday I got my first ever Lilly Murfette scarf. This shorter and lighter version is the perfect springtime accessory, and it's a different color scheme of the Chin Chin print I'm currently obsessed with! The online picture doesn't do it justice, so below is a close-up of the print and colors in real-life. You can also check out my recent featured outfit post to see how I incorporated it into an ensemble.

3. Bronze Jack Rogers

Nothing says Spring like a new pair of Jacks, and I recently treated myself! I love the classic metallic Navajos because they go with everything, but I wanted some with a different look from my gold and my silver pairs. The bronze Hamptons Navajo, which are actually a new color for this year, fit the bill perfectly. They are gorgeous and I know I will get a lot of wear out of them.

4. J.Crew Factory Purple Elephant Critter Necklace

I love my purple elephant critter necklace from the J.Crew outlet that I recently added to my collection of elephant stuff. The charm is similar to the J.Crew outlet gray elephant critter necklace that I also have and love. This purple elephant necklace is actually from the girls' section, so the chain is a little bit shorter than the regular one. I got this for a great deal when the J.Crew outlet recently had a 50% off sale. It's a fun way to add a pop of color to a neutral top!

5. Sheila G's Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle

One of my new favorite sweet treats is this brownie brittle I tried for the first time about a month or so ago. The crispy edges of a pan of brownies was the inspiration for this treat. The serving size is pretty generous, so it's a great way to still enjoy a satisfying dessert without being too unhealthy. (image via)

Have a great weekend y'all!

-L

xoxo

Obsession: Arm Candy

For the longest time I seldom wore bracelets. Occasionally I would wear my UNC Spirit Pearl bracelet on game day, but other than that my wrists would remain bare except for maybe a watch and a hair tie. Well recently I have really been getting into bangles and now rarely leave home without one. You don't even have to create a stack-I have realized that one skinny bangle adds an instant touch of class to an outfit!

Here are my favorites from my collection:

Kate Spade Rise Above Idiom Bangle 

J.Crew Factory Colorblock Enamel Bangle

Lilly Pulitzer Cute As A Button Bangle (Spring 2013)

Kate Spade Sweeten The Deal Idiom Bangle

Banana Republic Outlet gold wire weave bangle

And here are some more lovely bangles currently available:

Kate Spade Skinny Mini Bow Bangle

Kate Spade Lacquered Spade Bangle

Kate Spade Tickle The Ivories Idiom Bangle

J.Crew Classic Medium Bangle

How do y'all like to accessorize with arm candy? What are your favorite bangles?

-L

xoxo

Featured Outfit: Two Yellow Skirts

Last week I debuted some new favorite pieces in my closet: my Lilly Pulitzer Murfette Scarf in Shorely Blue Chin Chin, as well as a fun yellow pencil skirt and metallic espradille wedges from the Banana Republic Outlet. This is a great wear-to-work look for Spring! I got multiple compliments on how "springy" I looked!

Cardigan: JCrew Factory; Camisole, Skirt, and Shoes: Banana Republic Factory; Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings and Cocktail Ring: Kate Spade; Bracelet: Kate Spade "Rise Above" Idiom Bangle

Then Sunday before last I wore the same top and accessories with a different yellow skirt and my gold Jacks. Here is this slightly different look:

Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer (Summer 2011); Shoes: Jack Rogers; Everything else: same as above

I love the way my new Shorely Blue Chin Chin Murfette scarf looks with yellow! And if you're looking for a cute pair of open-toe espradille wedges, head to the Banana Republic Outlet! 

-L

xoxo

Prayers for Boston

My apologies for being MIA over most of the past week. Last week was busy and then this past weekend I was out of town visiting a friend. Later this week I will post some new featured outfits and more, so stay tuned! Right now though, I just want to take a moment to say that my heart and prayers go out to everyone affected by the senseless tragedy at the Boston Marathon today. Events like this are a reminder that we live in a fallen world desperately in need of Jesus. And when we put our hope in Him, we can have peace even in the midst of such horiffic acts like what happened today, because we know that this world is not our home, and our time here is just a speck of dust compared to an eternity in heaven where there is no pain or suffering.

"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!"
-John 16:33

From the Lilly Facebook Page

-L

xoxo

One Shining Moment

So it's hard to believe another college basketball season has come and gone and the new national champions have just been crowned. Congrats to the Louisville Cardinals! One of my favorite parts of the NCAA tournament is the One Shining Moment tribute video shown at the conclusion of the title game. Although it is a tribute to the new champion it is also a montage of memorable moments throughout the entire three weeks of the tournament. I am not ashamed to admit that it always make me tear up, and the 2009 version commemorating UNC's most recent championship  never fails to give me chills. Four years later, I still enjoy watching it from time to time and reliving one of the most exciting nights of my life. Until UNC wins another title, the 2009 edition of One Shining Moment will always hold a special place in my heart.

-L

xoxo

RIP Lilly Pulitzer (Nov.10, 1931- Apr.7, 2013)

Sunday was a sad day for Southern Belles and preppy fashionistas all around, as Lilly Pulitzer died at age 81. Although she was no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the brand, she still served as a consultant. In addition, the original prints and designs on which she founded her company remained its inspiration, and this will continue to be the case even after her death. Her legacy will also live on through my wardrobe and that of many others. You can read more about Lilly's life and legacy in this article from Today. For even more detail, check out her biography by Kathryn Livingston. I haven't read it yet, but got it for Christmas and am definitely going to read it soon!

In memory of Lilly Pulitzer, here are some of her great quotes and sayings:

"Every hour is happy hour."

"Life's a party, dress it like it."

"Style isn't just about what you wear, it's about how you live."

"Being happy never goes out of style."

"Live a colorful life."

I didn't learn about Lilly's death until after lunch on Sunday afternoon, but quite appropriately I had chosen to wear a Lilly skirt and Murfette scarf to church.

And here are some pictures of me in some of my Lilly shift dresses and skirts from The Originals collection, which were designed with the original 1959ish Lilly look especially in mind:

Roslyn Skirt in Hotty Pink Bloomers (Resort 2010 line)

Worth Shift Pandamonium (Spring 2010 line, and my first-ever Lilly dress!)

Ricci Shift in Turquoise Kissue (Spring 2011 line)

And here is a sweet kitty posing with my Originals Pandamonium tote:

I plan to wear Lilly every day this week in her memory (but not like that will be too difficult). How do y'all plan to remember Lilly?

-L

xoxo