photography

Elegant Crochet Dress

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Chicwish Crochet Dress c/o || Embellished Mules || Circle Bag || Sunglasses || Rose Gold Love Bangle || Jackie Kennedy Cascade Ring || DW Bondi Watch c/o ||

Good morning, friends! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekends. Mine was pretty productive and equally relaxing so no complaints here! The only thing is we've been in this weather pattern of rain almost everyday with maybe one or two nice days thrown in there. I hope that breaks soon.

One day last week I wore this gorgeously elegant crochet dress from Chicwish that made me feel like a princess. It's one of those dresses that you could wear as a wedding guest, to a bridal shower, on date night, or even to a fancy brunch. It fits true to size and on my height (5'2) is more of a maxi style. One thing I noticed with the halter style is that it can be a little tight around the neck when sitting down if you don't have some extra slack. The crochet detailing is white with a blush pink layer underneath. This dress is STUNNING! It's appearance is soft and feminine and oh so romantic.

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xo, Amanda

Floral Crochet Embellished Collar

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Floral Crochet Dress c/o || Similar Rebecca Minkoff Bag (Velvet Version On Major Sale For Fall!)|| Sunglasses || Similar Shoes || DW Bondi Watch c/o || Rose Gold Love Bangle || Jackie Kennedy Cascade Ring ||

Good morning and happy Friday! Is anyone else really looking forward to the weekend? This past week was an action packed one for me so I'm especially looking forward to some relaxation with maybe some more browsing of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Have you been checking out all of the seriously discounted prices for brand new fall and winter pieces?! I've got my eye on these embellished mules, this blush bag, these boots, this cozy cardigan, and these tassel sneakers. These are just a few of the fab items I'm currently craving and honestly, they're making me want fall to be here already! The great things is most of them can be worn now and into fall and winter for maximum wear.

Earlier this week I wore this pink crochet dress with an embellished collar. The pink hue is perfection, but its the embellished collar that really makes this dress pop! I love how the collar is a beautiful shade of baby blue too. I wanted to match my accessories to the contrasting colors of the dress with a blush bag and powder blue shoes. The dress fits true to size, actually fit like a glove, and is under $60. I'm wearing an XS. Its a great pick for a night out either with the girls or on date with your significant other. I've said it once and I'll say it again, but Chicwish is my go-to spot for dresses and skirts. I always get compliments every time I wear one of their pieces!

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xo, Amanda

Prepping for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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Happy Wednesday, friends! Above are some of my favorite looks from last year's #nsale. Tomorrow is the beginning of the early access for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. This is one of the biggest sales of the entire year. There is so much hype over it and for good reason! Nordstrom releases brand new fall items at a huge discount for a selected period of time. These aren't any old items either, we're talking about brand names like Kate Spade, Rebecca Minkoff, and Tory Burch. My favorite items to get are shoes (especially boots) and bags. These are the items where you get the biggest bang for the buck. After the sale is over in August, prices go back up to their original prices. There is no other sale quite like this one with so many great deals for fall and winter so I would recommend to buy your items now and save them for later. The early access stage starts tomorrow (July 13th) and runs through July 20th. The sale opens up to the public on July 21st and runs through August 7th. You can sign up for a debit or credit card here to get early access to the sale and get the items you want before they sell out! You can still sign up at anytime and use your card number provided to you online without having the physical card since it does take a few days for it to come in the mail. Happy shopping babes!

xo, Amanda

The Pink Midi Dress

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Hello all! I hope everyone is having a good week so far. Is everyone getting ready for the upcoming Nordstrom Fall Preview Sale (early access) this Thursday? Summer may be in full swing, but I always geta bit excited to see the fall clothes and start thinking about pumpkin spice everything, colorful leaves, and pumpkin picking. Don't get me wrong, I love all things about summer, but fall definitely holds a special place in my heart. 

Now, back to the good ol' summertime. You'll almost always find me some kind of dress during the summer. It's my go-to uniform and one that never fails, especially my favorite fit-and flares! This dress, in my favorite hue, has pretty lace detailing and is a fantastic dupe to the Self Portrait dress that costs way way more. I'm wearing my typical size, but found it to be slightly loose. I also have the red version of this dress and found it to fit a bit better. I'm not sure why that would be since technically its the same dress, but it is worth mentioning.

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xo, Amanda

Palm Print Swimsuit

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Hello all and happy Thursday! I hope everyone had a fabulous fourth of July holiday with their family and friends. Ava and I had a cookout, went swimming, and were able to catch some fireworks before calling it a night. Now that summer is in full swing, you'll catch me outside as much as possible which means fun in the sun activities in a swimsuit. Definitely remember your sunscreen! My eyes were immediately drawn to this pink and palm print suit when looking online. It's only $16 too! It does run a bit small so I would order one size up for a more comfortable fit. The print and color combo are so striking in person. I've been loving pink and green lately. 

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xo, Amanda

Bows and Scallops

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Happy 4th of July! My love for scallops continues today with these blue and white bow scalloped shorts. Blue and white have always been one of my favorite summer color combos and luckily the combo is on trend this year. These cute shorts are only $19 and fit true to size. I'm wearing an XS. They're so chic and versatile with other colors including blush, yellow, red, and orange.

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday today with some patriotic pride!

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xo, Amanda

The White Scalloped Dress

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Good morning and happy Monday, friends! Hopefully everyone enjoyed their weekend and if you're lucky enough to have today off, that you're still enjoying the long weekend! Does anyone have any plans for the 4th of July tomorrow? We're having a small cookout and possibly seeing some fireworks later on at night. Pretty traditional, but that's what makes it fun!

I must say, when it comes to scallop trim, I am completely obsessed with it! This cute dress not only has a scallop hemline, but the sleeves also have a scallop detail to them too. The dress fits true to size and is opaque so nothing will show through. I got so many compliments while out wearing this dress. It's really all about the scallops! Everyone commented that they never saw a dress quite like it before. While the details of the dress definitely caught my eye, what I also love about it is its versatility. I can style this dress to be fancy with some added high heels and a clutch or I can give it a spotier spin with the espadrille sneakers and tote bag like I have on above. Miss Ava and I were taking a walk after her nap to enjoy the summer weather and flowers that were out in bloom so I knew I needed a comfy shoe for walking. I've been wearing these sneaks all summer long! I've never really been a sneaker girl, but these espadrille ones are a nice spin on the classic white sneak.

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xo, Amanda

4th Of July Inspiration 2017

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It's hard to believe that July 4th is less than one week away already. They say that summer is half over by then! That's way too sad to think about right now, haha. I feel like summer just got started really. Regardless, today I'm rockin' the red, white, and blue combo, along with Ava!, for the upcoming American holiday. It's one of my favorite ones to celebrate with friends and family in the warm weather with fireworks, bbq's, and all of the American pride. The dress I'm wearing is an amazing dupe for the famous Self Portrait one. It's a good quality, fits true to size, and is only $50 compared to Self Portraits $500 price tag. You can't beat that! Ava is also wearing her red, white, and blue with her gold foil star dress. I saw this high-low dress back in May and saved it for the 4th. It's absolutely stunning in person, especially when the sunlight hits the gold stars.

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xo, Amanda

Pink Dramatic Sleeves

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Good morning and happy Friday! Just a quick post today of an outfit I wore out to dinner while on vacation. The tiered ruffled sleeves add some dramatic flair to an otherwise casual look. The top is super comfortable too! You know I cannot resist a beautiful shade of pink either. This would be a great summer date night look for those evenings that are on the cooler side. Speaking of, cheers to the first official weekend of summer!

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xo, Amanda

Pink And Green // Go To Dress

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Good morning, friends! I hope everyone had a fabulous first day of summer yesterday. We had some amazingly beautiful weather and spent almost the whole day outside, especially with it being the longest day of the year. The sunset was breathtaking! I'm hoping that's a good sign for the summer months ahead, haha.

One of my favorite looks in the summer, and one of the easiest, is to throw on a dress with some flats and head out the door. I've been a bit enamored with pink and green color combos lately too. I used this dress as a swimsuit coverup while we were in Cape Cod and have thrown it on multiple times since then for running around doing errands. For me, this dress fit true to size. I did see where some people thought it was short, but on my 5'2 frame, it fit just fine. I was very comfortable with the length. This dress also comes in a navy and cobalt print too!

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xo, Amanda

Nautical Suit

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Nautical Swimsuit c/o || Sunglasses || Similar Straw Hat || Jack Rogers Sandals || Pink Straw Bag || Christian Paul Watch c/o || Rose Gold Love Bangle || Jackie Kennedy Cascade Ring || JFK 100 Pearl Bracelet || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Drop Earrings ||

With summer officially starting today (yay!!), there's no better time to start thinking about bathing suits. Whether its for a sunny vacation, laying in the backyard, or swimming in the pool, a new suit is a must! This nautical styled swim suit is only $18! Speaking of, I ADORE the nautical colors and stripes, not to mention the lace up front. I'm shaking my head right now, but I didn't get a shot of the back! It's a criss cross pattern that adds a unique flare to the suit. I love how this suit has a modern flare with a classic twist. It fits true to size and is well made. Sometimes when I see a cheaper swim suit I hesitate to get it, but this one is definitely quality.

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xo, Amanda

The Sunflower Dress

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Each year when I go to Cape Cod I like to take one special dress that stands out from all of the rest. Last year it was my rose print dress from Chicwish. It was such a dream to wear and still stands out in my mind as one of my favorite dresses. This year is no different with my sunflower waterfall dress, also from Chicwish. I always turn to them when I need a knockout piece! This was probably my favorite day on the cape. We started our at the Truro Winery where we relaxed on their front lawn and had some lunch. The weather was AMAZING. I could sit there all day long. Next, we headed to Eastham to see the famous Nauset lighthouse that is featured on the Cape Cod chips bag. It is my favorite lighthouse and one that we always get a family photo in front of. Later in the day I took Ava down to Veteran's Beach where the JFK Memorial is. It's my favorite spot in Hyannis. The sunset there is the prettiest. The Yacht Club is there also, which is why Ava and I are pointing in the one photo. She loves to see the sail boats!

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xo, Amanda

Pink Cashmere

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Good morning everyone! When we first arrived to Cape Cod there was a storm that was just about to clear out leaving it a bit cool outside. The fog was starting to roll in off of the bay as we were walking to dinner. I changed into this pink cashmere sweater from Two Bees Cashmere. It it sooooo incredibly soft and comfy. It felt like I was wearing a snuggly blanket, which felt amazing right after the storm. It was the perfect thing to wear. We usually don't think about sweaters in the summer, but sometimes the nights can still be refreshingly cool calling for a light knit sweater to keep you comfortable. I adore the soft pink color too! Matching perfectly are these fun pom pom earrings from KEP Designs. The ombre pink is so fun and eye catching. Expect to see me wearing these all summer long. I also really like how big they are yet very light weight.

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xo, Amanda

Bow Skirt In Brookline

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Good morning and happy Friday everyone! On our last day in Boston my dad surprised me with a side trip to Brookline, which is a suburb of Boston. Before we headed out to the Cape, he asked me if I wanted to go see the home where JFK grew up (for 3 years) and also where he was actually born. Absolutely yes! It is something I had always wanted to see and we figured since we were so close, why not? We made the trip there and went through the house, which was awesome to see. We took some photos, thanks dad for taking the blog photos for this post!, and then made our way out to the Cape for the remainder of our trip.

Since we were heading out to the Cape I was already in a very nautical state of mind. I chose this blue striped skirt with a bow tie in the front (swoon) and pockets. I'm a huge fan of skirts or dresses with pockets. I mean, how can you resist?! This darling white crochet top from Chicwish felt like a dream to wear. Its so soft and has bell sleeves that are not overwhelming. Sometimes I'm all about a dramatic statement sleeve, but this one brings the statement in a smaller way which makes it great for dressing up or down. You could wear this top to a formal event or go more casually for something like grocery shopping.

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xo, Amanda

Daisy Dukes

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This was our third and final day at the Kennedy Museum. We took our time really exploring all of the exhibits throughout the museum since it was a much calmer day then the previous two. There was a new exhibit for the celebration that included 100 personal items JFK had owned. I was soooo excited to see this. I won't bore you with all of the details, but I did include one photo above that were some of his items like his ties, wallet, sunglasses, etc. Everyone really enjoyed it. Afterwards we did the harbor walk where you can see the city of Boston across the way. It would be a great spot to get some night time shots of the city if anyone is ever in the area.

I wanted to wear something that was fun and casual for the day and could not resist these daisy shorts! My dad thought they were fancy lol, but to me they're fun and something I would sport around town or to an amusement park in. The daisy floral detail really makes them stand out from your regular pair of jean shorts and adds a little feminine flair. They're only $16, a complete steal!  I'm also a sucker for anything white eyelet in the spring and summer. You can literally pair this top with anything and look effortlessly chic. The top is only $23 and for being so versatile, that's a pretty amazing price.

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xo, Amanda

My Birthday Outfit At The JFK 100 Celebration

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Striped Seersucker Dress || Yellow Cardigan || Pearl Mules || Wicker Bag || Rose Gold Love Bangle || JFK 100 Pearl Bracelet || Jackie Kennedy Cascade Ring || Christian Paul Watch c/o ||

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday! Today I'm bringing you the outfit and some events that happened on my birthday last week. I have to say, it was one of my best birthday's ever. I have so many wonderful memories and I am so thankful to my dad for making it all happen. Eleven years ago my dad took me to Boston for my graduation gift to visit the JFK Library and Museum. Its hard to believe that eleven years have passed since then, but it felt amazing to be back! 5,386 people attended the JFK 100 birthday celebration, which was record breaking. The cake made my Montilios was 400 pounds, beautifully done, and absolutely delicious! We got there just in time to hear the Navy band play, which Ava LOVED. She was dancing along to them and in the photo collage above, she's clapping at the end of one of their songs. She also really enjoyed the cake lol. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time and even got a bit choked up during the bands performance of our National Anthem. It truly was an amazing experience.

For the birthday celebration, I knew I wanted to wear something special and summery. The weather didn't quite think it should be summer yet. It was actually in the 50s and rained, but since I knew we would be inside most of the day, I still decided to go with summery. This seersucker dress has adorable light pink stripes running vertically and the prettiest pink bow in the back. Since it was a bit cooler out I opted for a cardigan, this yellow one being my absolute favorite with the embellished pink sequins and sunny disposition. The real knockout of the outfit are these pink pearl mules. I literally cannot get over them! They're the perfect height to walk around in and the pearls and rhinestones add an elegance to them. I received so many compliments on them. They fit true to size.

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xo, Amanda

Happy Memorial Day and Happy Birthday to Us!

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^^^ One of my most favorite photos. This is in front of the JFK museum in Hyannis. This was taken early in the morning on May 29, 2014 (our birthday!) My dad took this and captured the scene perfectly. The sun peeked out through the clouds just at that very moment. It's one of my most treasured memories.

My parents are the best! They got this cake made up for me with an image of JFK on it saying "Happy Birthday To Us." Needless to say, that was the best birthday cake ever. It's hard to believe this was 11 years ago.

^^^ This was from my first trip to Cape Cod back in 2013 and one of the most memorable. I fell in love with Hyannis and Cape Cod the moment I laid eyes on it.

^^^ This was from the same trip as the first photo back on May 29, 2014.

^^^ That is the Kennedy Compound in the back where the family grew up and would spend their summer and early fall on Hyannis Port. Thanks to my brother for actually taking this photo for me!

^^^ This was my second trip to Hyannis wearing my favorite JFK hat. It's really the only one I wear!

^^^ This was from our third trip to The Cape in 2015 when I was pregnant with Ava. We always make our first stop the JFK Museum!

^^^ This was from our trip last year, 2016. We actually went a little later in the year around June and had the most amazing weather.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone! I hope everyone enjoys their cookouts with friends and family and maybe even sneaking in some Memorial Day sales as well!

Today also happens to be my 29th birthday and also John F. Kennedy's 100th birthday. There are so many centennial celebrations going on right now for his 100th birthday (check out the hashtag #jfk100) and I am ecstatic that I'll be able to partake in them at the Boston and the Hyannis Museums! When you're getting to know me, one of the first things I'll tell you is that JFK and I share the same birthday, thank you mom! It is one of the coolest things ever for me. A fun fact, there are other members of my family that share presidential birthday's as well. We're a very presidential family, haha! 

- I share JFK's birthday

- My brother Michael shares George H. W. Bush's birthday

- My daughter Ava shares Barack Obama's Birthday

- My cousin shares Lyndon Johnson's birthday.  

When I was younger, images of JFK were actually all around me, though I didn't know who he was at the time. My mom was a big JFK Jr. fan and she had some clippings of him taped onto her mirror along with magazines of him (sexiest man alive lol.) As I got older, I realized that I shared my birthday with JFK when I looked at the calendar my school teacher had on his wall and saw that May 29th had JFK written on it. I knew he was a famous president, but did not know much other than that. I started doing research on him, reading and watching anything I could get my hands on. I instantly fell in love. My first big JFK moment was when my dad took me to the JFK Library and Museum in Boston for my 18th birthday. I could not believe my eyes! Whether you like history or JFK, this museum is a must. The views are spectacular too. Next came my first trip with my dad to Hyannis and Cape Cod in 2013 for my 25th birthday. Our first stop was to the JFK museum on Main Street. We went around town seeing all of the JFK highlights (they have a walking tour) and ended our first night at the Kennedy Memorial with the sun setting behind us shinning out onto the bay. That trip holds a very special place in my heart. 

There is no one that has captured my heart (of course we're talking celebrity wise here) more than John. F. Kennedy. He truly is an inspiration for me. He provides hope of achieving the impossible, hope for a brighter tomorrow, hope to never give up on your dreams. His quick wit always make me smile and laugh and his charm is so swoon worthy. His style and grace even inspires my own today. He was a champion of peace, equality, and justice. He challenged us to be the best we could be. He wanted us to go to the moon, not because it was easy, but because it was hard. He knew that we could accept this challenge, turn it into an opportunity, and succeed. 

It is with a happy heart that I say Happy 100th birthday JFK! I cannot wait to celebrate with my family. Cheers to a fabulous Memorial Day for everyone too.

xo, Amanda

Favorite Swimsuits

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Navy Ruffled Swim Suit c/o || Black Swimsuit c/o|| Mikarose Mint Swim Suit, old c/o||

Happy Friday, friends! Is anyone else super excited for the long weekend?! I know I definitely am. Make sure to catch my post on Monday to see why =) With the holiday weekend upon us, I thought it would be a good time to round up some of my favorite swimsuits below. Best of all, most of these are under $20! I'm loving all of the prints and pretty details. I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!

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xo, Amanda

Memorial Day Style

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Similar Pleated Top || Pleated Skirt (on sale) || Vineyard Vines Hat, old || Sunglasses || Striped Flats || Wicker Bag || Daniel Wellington Watch c/o || Jackie Kennedy Unity Band || Jackie Kennedy Emerald Unity Band || Rose Gold Love Bangle || Lip Color: Ava ||

Happy Wednesday, friends! Memorial Day is right around the corner and it actually falls on my birthday this year! With the holiday nearing, I automatically started pulling out all of my finest red, white, and blue pieces. I always tend to dress very patriotic with a preppy side for Memorial Day. It's also a time when I want to be near the water. There's something very soothing and peaceful about being around a lake, the ocean, or even a stream. I've always been drawn to them. I think JFK said it best when he said:

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. 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." -John F. Kennedy

A lake was the perfect backdrop for this pleated ensemble, which is on sale! Both the top and skirt are from Banana Republic Factory, though I could not find the top online. I picked up both pieces in the store and both fit true to size. I couldn't help but swish and twirl the skirt a few times too. It's irresistable!

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xo, Amanda

Bow Back Gingham Top

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Hello, all! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I was able to go see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and totally loved it. Definitely a great sequel to the first one, which was so funny. Has anyone seen it or plan on going to see it?

This bow back gingham top is seriously the cutest! Not only is it one of my favorite summer prints, but the bow back detail is absolutely darling. The peplum hem is only adds to the overall charm of the top, which also comes in a red and blue print. It should be noted that the back of the top is completely open and ties with the bows. I'm wearing an XS for reference. I actually also wore this top with blue skinny jeans and my pink slides for a more casual look. The white skinny jeans and leopard heels add a touch of glamour to the top for a fun night out. Leopard and gingham work so well together!

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xo, Amanda