photography
I had an absolute blast photographing Sarah for her senior photos. Can anyone say model?? With the help of my friend Alison, I was able to capture so many great looks. The weather turned out to be great and the back drop of a Penn State campus and its surroundings were perfect. Congratulations Sarah on your senior year!
This star burst brooch is a replica of one Jackie Kennedy had. I got the idea of using it after seeing some of her own pictures with a brooch in her hair at some of the famous Kennedy White House state dinners. It's a unique idea to try and why not??
Here, Jackie wears a sun burst brooch in her coiffed hair. Image source: https://onlyjewels.wordpress.com/tag/jackie-kennedy/.
As you already know, I am a sucker for anything remotely nautical looking and this outfit fits right into that category. The creamy yellow top with lace detailing at the collar is from Lauren Conrad's line at Kohls as well as the blue and white stripped circle skirt. Both are light weight and the perfect summer pairs. To cap off the look, no pun intended, I wore my white vintage hat and blue and white shoes from Modcloth. The gold earrings and bracelet are from the Jackie Kennedy collection. I could wear this look all summer and never tire of it.
I was so thrilled to be able to photograph this little angel. How gorgeous is she?!? I was able to capture some photos outside before heading indoors. Also, being able to incorporate some state trooper items into the photographs really lent a personal touch for the family. It was a great day and I cannot wait to see this little girl grow up.
This quit essential summer outfit from Modcloth has it all. Seersucker, nautical stripes, and blue and green coloring all bring to mind an easy breezy beautiful summer day. I bought this dress last year for my families annual trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and I could not be more pleased with it. I added on a cream colored belt to cinch in my waist (always important to do!), a summery white hat, and of course wedges for walking around the boardwalk and not falling through the slats. Heels have their place, and I adore them dearly, but they are not appropriate for walking on a boardwalk, unless you want to fall through of course.
This shows the dolphin ring I have on. It was my mother's and possibly even bought down in Rehoboth Beach. She loved dolphins and would always be so excited to see them jumping in the air. It's the perfect compliment to any beach or summery outfit.
“Coco Chanel was always doing things with ballet, so it is a tradition clashing fashion and ballet”
This had to be one of my favorite outfits to photograph. I felt like a ballerina and fairy princess all rolled into one. Believe me, there were many twirling moments that occurred. I kept my hair up in a big loose ballerina bun accented by a pearl headband. The glittery gold shoes are another recent addition to my collection. I fell in love with the Enzo Angiolini brand since they fit so well and look stylish, while also being comfortable to walk in. Jewelry wise I wanted to keep it simple. My usual necklace and bracelet (the necklace a gift from Justin and the tennis bracelet from my mom) with pink earrings and an additional pink rhinestone bracelet. The dress was a gift from Justin for my most recent birthday.
Here is a close up of the shoes from a photo I took on Memorial Day
For anyone who knows me, it is no secret how much I admire Kate Middleton. The effect she has had on fashion is undeniable and I could not agree more that her style will leave a lasting mark for generations to come. After her successful trip down under with husband William and their adorable baby boy George, she is back in England doing what she does best. A recent outing with George had Kate wearing her quint essential casual outfit. The Kate Middleton outfit is classic, simple, and forever chic. To break it down, a stripped top, blue blazer, skinny jeans, and either wedges or boat shoes, though typically she wears wedges with the outfit. These are staple items that every woman should already have in her closet. Not to mention how great they are for summer with the nautical theme!
To keep with the great Kate, I wore my replica engagement ring and matching earring set. The ring was first given to Diana by Prince Charles. After her untimely death, William got the ring, and eventually presented it to Kate while proposing. I also have on a light house pin my mother had, which perfectly blends the nautical theme together.
styleite.com
To say this past weekend was exceptional would be putting it lightly. I not only had the extreme pleasure of visiting one of the most exciting cities on the earth, but I had the great opportunity to see one of my favorite musicals, The Phantom of the Opera, while also visiting with family, enjoying beautiful weather, visiting tranquil forests, and even taking in a movie at the end of the weekend to round out some wonderful memories. Justin's father came to visit us and had his first trip to New York City. We all decided to drive into the city rather than take the train, and that my friends was an adventure all in itself. Driving in New York can be a little intense, but thrilling none the less.
Once we arrived and parked the car, the decision was to have some lunch to hold us over while watching the play. We ate at Smith's near the Majestic Theater. Timing is everything and boy did we have the timing down pat. Finishing our lunch and with twenty minutes to go, we headed over to the Majestic, which was only about three minutes away, got some trinkets, and headed to our seats. What an incredible view we all had! Sitting in the front row of the third level balcony, we could see the stage perfectly and my oh my the chandelier, what a perfect view to watch it rise in the beginning and come crashing down at the end of the first act. When the lights went down and the orchestra's music filled the theater with the chandelier rising high above, I must admit I got a bit teary eyed, a feeling of awe coming over me that I was really there experiencing The Phantom live right before my eyes.
The cast did such a fantastic job and the stage sets and designs were simply out of this world. A truly breathtaking experience. I could not contain my excitement during or after the show had ended. Once the show had ended, we decided to take Justin's dad to Times Square so he could see what New York City was all about. Afterwards, we walked around a bit more, taking in the sites and gorgeous weather. Feeling a bit hungry, and with Don Giavani's restaurant in site, we ate al fresco and dined on some lovely Italian cuisine. Around 6:30 seemed to be a good time to leave, seeing as how we would have to fight traffic and unwind on the two hour drive home once actually leaving the Lincoln Tunnel. All in all, a marvelous day spent in New York City with so many memories to cherish.
Friday was more of a relaxing day. Justin and I took his dad to Ricketts Glen State park, up to where Justin's new job is, a quick stop at Bowman's creek to scout out some fishing spots, a quite dinner on our front porch followed by some summery drinks, and lastly some catching up conversation. Saturday we all headed over to Harvey's Lake to have breakfast with my dad. Afterwards, we all took a family photo by the lake and bid Garry a safe trip home, while my dad went to a picnic with the boy scouts, Justin went fishing, and I relaxed and caught up on some chores around the house. Sunday was breakfast with my dad and watching the new 22 Jump Street up at Cinemark, my most favorite movie theater.
Some Interesting facts about The Phantom of the Opera:
The only thing I do regret about the NYC part of our excursion is not having my camera with me. Blast! Justin did not think it would be safe to bring it to the theater seeing as how we did not know their policy with such big cameras. I did have my iphone, though it has horrid quality with indoor pictures, they are still memories none the less. So please excuse some of the quality with the iphone pictures, but do enjoy the beautiful theater settings and sky scarpers of the big apple.
Ah, vintage clothing. Vintage anything really. This outfit of basic black and pearls could be taken right out of the 1950s. I love wearing my vintage hats out in public. I always get compliments and people saying how refreshing it is to see something so different from the norm. One woman told me that everyone looks so similar these days and that, though vintage, my look seems new and invigorating. I could not help but think of the famous phrase, everything old is new again. I could not agree more.
The hair style was really quite east to make. First gather your hair into a low pony tail. Then, take the tail and make a hole right above the elastic band for the tail to go through. Keep repeating the process until you have the desired length and twist into the sides of your hair. Finally, roll up the remainder of the tail and pin into the hair.
“I like old movies, screwball comedies, vintage clothes, and basically I’m an old-fashioned girl. ”
A staple at every carnival and amusement park, the Ferris Wheel provides its riders with great spectacular views, sweet little romantic moments, or just a quick escape from the ground below. I have always been quite mystified by the giant wheel and its colorful cars carrying people into the sky and back. A few months ago I read the book "The Devil in the White City" written by Erik Larson. An absolutely fantastic read detailing the creation of the 1893 Chicago's World Fair along with a behind the scenes story of a serial killer running a muck. The tagline reads, "Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America." If that does not catch your interest then I do not know what will! Quite an interesting history, I assure you. While reading the book I learned the story behind the creation of the great Ferris Wheel for the expedition. I found this to be fascinating since no one really ever stops to think about how this staple came to be. I was so thrilled to photograph it while Alison and I were on our Knoebels journey. See the previous post for more pictures from the park
A short summary from howstuffworks.com perfectly tells the story behind this mystical wheel. "For the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, engineer George Ferris presented fair organizers with his idea of a giant rotating wheel that would carry passengers in cars attached around the outer edge. He convinced organizers to allow him to build the structure, which would rival France's Eiffel Tower. Indeed, Ferris's wheel, which cost $380,000 and stood 264 feet tall with a wheel diameter of 250 feet, was a huge success. Each car held 60 people, and, at 50 cents a ride, the wheel was one of the most popular attractions at the World's Fair. The Ferris wheel is a must-have for any carnival, and thousands of replications continue to delight passengers of all ages."
One thing that never gets old in the summer is amusement parks. In my area the family run and owned Knoebels opened its doors on July 4, 1926 and has never looked back. It is currently the largest admission free amusement park in America. The charm of Knoebels lies within its location in a forested area and allowing all age groups to enjoy the festivities without having to pay a fee. For me, the charm of the park comes from its ability to relive my childhood happiness. My mom and dad would always bring my brother Michael and I to the park around dinner time. By then most of the visitors were leaving, the warm summer air was starting to cool off, and the spectacular lights on all of the rides were starting to come on. It was magical. We would arrive and have our dinner over at the baked potato stand and then start our night of pure happiness. Perhaps that is where the key to Knoebels lies, being able to, if only for a few hours out of the day, have those magical memories be brought to life again.
For this journey to Knoebels, my friend Alison and I (our families would often go to Knoebels together) traveled down to the park specifically to capture the beautiful scenery and rides. I never wanted to bring my camera into the park while riding the rides so this proved to be a great opportunity to photograph the experience. We both got great shots and ended up having enough time left over to enjoy some of the rides. We stayed until closing trying to cram in as much fun as we could. All in all it was a great day beautifully captured.
One thing I simply cannot get enough of in summer is nautical fashion. Whether it's stripes, anchors, sailboats or whales, I can never get my fill of the wonderfully classic style. The colors of red, white and blue (how patriotic!) always feel fresh and have such a timeless feel to them. Some nautical fashions also incorporate black and gray into the picture. As soon as the warmer weather hits, I immediately pull all of my nautical clothes out of their storage and start piecing together my outfits. From dresses to t-shirts, this style can fit any age and style you wish. This dress comprises of the ever popular blue and white stripe with a rope textured belt. The red and gold chained bag is elegant and stays true to the nautical feel. The hat, vintage of course!, fits right in with its navy blue color. The shoes, I cannot say enough how in love I am with this pair, are a bright retro red with red jewels on them. After my recent visit to Cape Cod, I feel even more attuned with all things nautical. Truly a summer staple that always delights. Ships Ahoy!
Dress Modcloth, Bag Bag Banana Republic, Hat vintage, Shoes DSW, Ring Jacquline Kennedy reproduction
I purchased this ring up in Hyannis on Cape Cod. It is a reproduction of a sapphire ring Jacqueline Kennedy owned. She purchased the ring on a summer trip to Europe in the 1970s. Round simulated sapphires sparkle at the center of this 24K gold-plated ring. Two rows of clear and dark blue Swarovski crystals form a stunning circular pattern.
““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.””
“ We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came.”
There are few places I love more to be in than Cape Cod. Specifically the charming town of Hyannis. Now if the name sounds familiar to you, most likely you know it because the Kennedy family lived in Hyannis Port, which is about two miles down the road from where our hotel was. Each town has their own appeal with little main streets, fantastic places to eat, and incredible sites to see including light houses, beaches, vineyards, museums, and so much more! I feel the most at peace and relaxed while I'm there. Last year my dad and I traveled to Hyannis so we could experience all things JFK. Being a big fan and admirer, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hoped to get back to indulge in all of the wonderful sites we had yet to see. Luckily, we decided to once again travel to Cape Cod this year and finish off some items from the bucket list created in preparation for last years trip. My brother Michael joined us on the 2014 voyage to Hyannis and I was so happy he could experience this with us. Everyone should go to Cape Cod at least once in their life time. Some highlights from the trip include:
“I always go to Hyannisport to be revived, to know again the power of the sea and the Master who rules over it and all of us.””
One of the biggest complaints I hear when dealing with photography is there is nothing to shoot. Not so! Simply go outside into the backyard or nearby area to capture the scenery around you. The simpleness of a single flower can make a huge impact in a photo. People just walk by them everyday and do not realize the beauty they possess or how intriguing they can be. All of these photos were recently captured around my property. The photo of the lake at sunset was taken about 15 minutes from my house. An easier step to remember when shooting flowers is to try and get the background blurred out for that quality impact shot. Basically, you want to keep the aperture wide open and depending on your lens, that could be at a 1.8 to a 5.6. Then zoom in on the flower, pick a focus point, and voila, you're on your way to capturing all the beauty around you. On a side note, the rhododendron blooms were taken just after it had rained outside. The tiny water droplets really add depth to the image. Some people like to take a water spritzer with them to add water into the photograph and while I've never done this myself, it without question will give the photo that something extra special. All in all, open your eyes to see the world around you. Anything from a dandelion, flower, bird feeder, leaf, insect, bumblebee, bird, rocks, or a new perspective or angle can widen your horizons when photographing.
Recently I've been getting into vintage hats. I adore the delicate pink flowers on this one. It feels so feminine and fresh for Spring and Summer. To compliment the look I chose a blush lace dress with a vintage beaded clutch from my grandmother. The beading has little pink flowers on it. The broach is also vintage with pink rhinestones and a gold finish. I wanted the shoes to be more modern with the height and decided on a pair of nude color ones so they would blend in with the outfit. Notice the tips of the heels have little rhinestones on them. I wore this outfit to my friends baby shower since she is having a little girl, I can't wait to meet you little Madison!, and also, this would be perfect for a lunch date with friends or for some afternoon tea.
Blue and blush, need I say more? I've always had a certain love affair with this combination of colors. My mom even decorated our house in shades of blue and rose. The navy background of the dress lets the subtle blue and blush tones of the roses stand out, yet blend in perfectly together. The shoes I have on even color coordinate to the dress with their navy background and pink polka dots. The icy blue of the purse makes a nice neutral shade to stand against the dress and the jewelry all blends together beautifully with shades of gold and pink in them. What I really love about the outfit is the vintage look and modern feel it has. It's a balancing act between how much skin is showing really. The dress allows for a flippy skirt because the arm length is three quarters long.
Dress LC Lauren Conrad, Heels Payless, Bag TJMaxx, Scarf Vintage.
A classic way to add polish to your handbag is to simply tie a scarf around the handles or chains. Voila! Instant sophistication.
I've always had a soft spot for this pair of shoes. The peep toe, ruffled bow, and pink polka dots against a navy background are reminiscent of the 1950s, yet have the heel height to bring them into the now. Simply adore them.
This simple Spring outfit contains three of my favorite things. One being peacock feathers, the other two being the colors mint and blush. It's a color combo that never fails for me. The shirt is from LC Lauren Conrad and the skirt from Forever 21. I piled on blue and green jewelry, especially the peacock necklace, which also happens to come from Forever 21. My favorite accessory here, the Steve Madden purse from TJ Maxx, blends in so perfectly with the outfit. Its blush tone and flower applique make it the epitome spring time carry all. The outfit feels fresh and feminine, plus has the luxury of being lightweight making it a great transition piece into the warmer summer months ahead. On a quick side note, the peacock naturally replaces its feathers annually, making it a symbol of renewal, which also co-indices with the symbolism of Spring being a renewal of the earth.
Ah, Paris, the one place that just by saying its name brings upon images of romance and style. Humphrey Bogart telling Ingrid Bergman "we'll always have Paris," the memory of a happier time for the doomed couple. By the way, my favorite movie has always been Casablanca. There seems to be a certain chicness to French styling that no one else has. It exudes elegance without even trying. The classic black and white stripes bring an effortless cool to this outfit, while the red shoes, bag, and lip add a nice pop of color. The black midi skirt ties the look together and practically makes you want to twirl around in it all day. A black hat finishes the look by adding mystery, something every French woman seems to have. Jouir!
This puurfect outfit embraces a simple black monochromatic look with the pencil skirt and shirt. The top's stripped layering effect is built into it from Modcloth. Next, add on some lovely leopard accessories and voila! a new outfit is born. This look will never go out of style. The ever chic black and white combo combined with any animal print defies the changing trends and lends a hand to the meaning of timeless.
The heels are from LC Lauren Conrad and the clutch comes from Target. In my opinion, these heels really pack a one two punch and are effortless to walk in!
It's hard not to get noticed in this fancy blue frock with a bright blue cardigan. Pop on those nude colored heels and get ready to succeed your way through the day!
One color I love, without any doubt, is blue. Many outfits I wear either contain the color, or are completely dominated by it. On upcoming posts you'll see the color incorporated into outfits and paired with another favorite color of mine, blush. Today I chose to wear my LC Lauren Conrad trench from Kohls since the cool wind was whipping around outside.
Beneath the beautiful teal trench I paired the blue and white frock with a blue cardigan from Banana Republic. I literally wear this cardigan everywhere. The smashing color goes with everything in my closet and the white beading classes up the appearance. The nude heels blend into my legs and do not compete for too attention from the main focus of the blue outfit.
The white purse from Steve Madden has been recycled for about three seasons now and I can imagine having this for the long haul, it really never goes out of style!
The replica Kate Middleton engagement ring perfectly compliments the blue colors in the outfit as does the replica emerald Jackie Kennedy engagement ring. The gold ring on my middle finger is from my mother and I always wear it as it goes with just about everything, simple and classic. The tennis bracelet was also my mother's and like the ring, is timeless. The gold watch comes from New York and Company.
