Remix: It's in the Bag

I (Kaitlyn) am to anchor print as kid is to candy store. When I spot it, my eyes light up and  the part of my brain that controls resistance starts working overtime. Maybe it's because of our family lake house or the huge crush I developed on Rachel McAdams' outfit she wore on the boat in Wedding Crashers….whatever the reason, Lisa has gone so far as to say "you have no more room for nautical prints in your closet, it's getting out of hand" ;) 

I found this great weekend bag on an impulse stop at the mall while hunting for something I actually WENT for (story of my life). It's perfect for all the summer essentials and works with many different looks.

Which one is your favorite?

Holding Onto Summer

As summer winds down, I am always torn between shopping summer sales and stocking up on fall favorites. Sometimes I think I would be happy wearing dresses, shorts, and flip flops all year long but then I stumble upon a great pair of printed slip on sneakers that serve as the perfect transition into sweaters and jeans and I think, hey...this might not be so bad. 

By the way, Old Navy has turned into another version of Target because I can NOT go in there and leave with one item. I recently stopped in "real quick" (an hour) to look for a white swimsuit bottom and left with a bag that was more than overflowing. I had a very tough decision choosing between the animal print sneakers and coral flats so clearly they both had to leave with me ;)

Dress, Shoes, Necklace (similar), Sunglasses: Old Navy // Jacket: J. Crew // Bag: Just Fab (similar)  

How you feel about the transition of seasonal clothes?

From BISTM to Beach Look

I feel like I can turn almost anything into a “street/beach” look because it’s one of my favorite styles (I swear, I am meant to live in a swim suit on a beach with friendship bracelets adorning each arm and a surf board as my sole mode of transportation). But, I digress…All I know is when I found this in my swap bag and wore it for a day in the sun, Lisa was amazed how well it worked as a beach cover up. She said, “I was going to wear it to a shower and you just went a whole nother route – how genius!” 

How great that it can be styled on two ends of the fashion spectrum and work seamlessly on both…in my mind, that makes it a GREAT find. Not to mention it's the comfiest dress I have tried on...Thank you Mary for uploading this to your closet, your loss is our gain ;)

Dress: BISTM // Sandals: LOFT // Hat & Bag: Fashion Q // Necklace: E Street Denim // Sunnies: Old Navy

Do you have a dress you can take from sun to soiree?

Twenty-Six Miles Across the Sea...

My husband and I spent a perfect last day of our Catalina Island visit at the beach, Descanso to be exact. We rented two lounges right next to the ocean and spent the day drifting in and out of naps, enjoying the BBQ that was served for lunch and conjuring up semi-realistic situations that would allow us to move there. I, the island photographer and husband, manager of the Catalina Conservancy… (We can dream, right?)

It was this day that we realized how polar opposite we are of each other - while it's something we already knew (and maintain that it's what always makes things exciting), it's truly laughable sometimes. The day started out in the high 60's with a sky full of clouds -- Husband was in heaven, as he despises laying directly in the sun. He maintained that it was the "best weather ever," perfect for nodding off and drinking more than a few rum based drinks. I, however, was curled up in a ball wearing multiple layers (including husband's towel) shivering and just praying for the sun to come out. 

Sure enough, a few hours later. the afternoon turned bright and beautiful and how quickly the roles reversed. The minute the sun came out, the towel went back to my husband who draped it over his head to avoid any unnecessary sweating, whereas I was "a pig in shit" (his words, not mine)...the water was bluer, the DJ got louder and the layers came off. My mood is hugely affected by the sun but I guess we can say the same for him...just in a Freaky Friday kind of way ;)

Dress: Golden Tote (swap w/ Lisa)  // Sweater: Old Navy (similar) // Hat: Fashion Q // Sunglasses: Old Navy // Sandals: LOFT (similar)

See how much more beautiful everything is in the sun? Sigh, men are from Mars alright… ;)

Broadway comes to Ravinia

Our family plans a Ravinia outing every summer and it's a tradition I look so forward to. I would eat outside every day if I could, so this is my ultimate setting and I couldn’t ask for anything more when it comes to the ambiance. I’ve never had a desire to sit in the pavilion because there’s something much more idyllic about packing a picnic, taking your shoes off in the grass and sharing the moment with thousands of other families and groups of friends. 

In previous years, we have seen Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Tony Bennett (my favorite!) and this year, an evening of Broadway music performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was a choice selected for my Dad, as we were celebrating his birthday and I think the best part was after we got all of our chairs and food set up, at the same time my Mom and Dad looked around us and said, “I’m really happy right now”…That’s all we could ask for.

Shorts: LOFT (similar) // T: LOFT (my FAVORITE T!)  // Sandals and Sunnies: Old Navy // Belt: Vintage 

 Hat and Bag: Fashion Q // Necklace: E Street Denim // Bracelet: LOFT

Have you ever been to Ravinia? What is your favorite summer concert location?

Midi Skirt Inspiration

In a recent swap on BISTM, I traded Johanna a polka dot top for her blue midi skirt and I am very happy with the outcome. I have been relying on midi skirts quite a bit this summer because the length is appropriate for the office but still keeps me cool when I venture out into the heat for a lunch break. I couldn't pass up this skirt because it's my absolute favorite color blue (see bridesmaid dresses) and I loved the button details down the front.

I am always looking for style inspiration so I collected a few of my favorite ways that fellow bloggers wore their blue midi's in order to create a look that was all my own.

merch maven // cotton and curls // what i wore

(i spy a 4-legged photo bomber....)

Top: Target // Skirt: Forever 21 (similar) // Bag: Fashion Q // Bracelets: Target // Necklace: Target // Sunnies: Old Navy

What do you think of the midi style? 

Red White and Cobalt Blue

Another 4th of July at the lake house has come and gone and just like all the years before, now is when I start to panic about summer flying by...

Last week, my friends and I were counting down the seconds until we would all be together up north to attend the annual parade, overindulge on pasta salad, start on pain killers at noon and end the night with s'mores and stories…I just can't believe how fast it goes. I took an extended weekend so I could make the most of our time up there but no matter how many extra days you have, one more is never enough. Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

As for this look, my patriotic attire was perfectly topped off by this hat from Coolibar, sun protective clothing and accessories that provides welcome relief and protection from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. Their sun hats and protective clothing use superbly protective, high-tech fabrics to deliver no less than 50 UPF, 98% blockage, yet keep you cool, comfortable (and no less important, stylish). It was the perfect red addition to my white and blue :)

Top: Target // Skirt: Forever 21 // Hat: Coolibar // Bag: Fashion Q // Sandals: Old Navy // Bracelets: Target 

Necklace: E Street Denim // Tattoos: Flash Tattoos 

What is your favorite part about the 4th of July?