Rain is a Good Thing

If we're talking weather, I have one word to describe the past couple weeks: crazy! Almost every day starts out warm and sunny, and by afternoon it turns into some of the loudest, most intense thunderstorms I've ever heard. They go late into the night and, while growing up near a fire station left me with the ability to sleep through even the loudest noises, the super bright lightning is not exactly soothing.

While I actually do love thunderstorms, the recent downpours only emphasized a BIG problem for me: I have no rain boots! While I LOVE my Duck shoes, they are definitely more of a 'It's wet/ icy outside but not necessarily raining/ snowing' shoe rather than a 'It's raining cats and dogs/ snowing wildly' shoe.

Part of the reason I bought Duck shoes to begin with was because of the issue that I've had with rain boots for a super long time now:

They don't fit over my calves!

Now, I promise you all I do not have cankles! However, 12 years of dance has left me with some hefty leg muscles, and nothing seemed to want to cover them.

I searched high and low. I checked Target, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, 2 different DSWs, and several other stores quite regularly, hoping I would find something that fit my legs normally without having to buy the boots super big. But, alas, I found nothing.

I really adore Hunter wellies as they are an absolute classic, and the brand has been approved by HM, Queen Elizabeth II and HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh as the official supplier of waterproof shoes for the royal family. If that's not a sign of great quality, I don't know what is. If they're good enough for the Queen, they'd be good enough for me! 

However, I'd always assumed that I'd have the same issue and that they just wouldn't fit.

Fast forward to this week. I was perusing the Hunter website, and upon seeing the original short boot, this thought came to mind:

Maybe my problem wasn't the fit of the boot, but the height.

So, this weekend, I set out to purchase my new-found perfect boot, and I was quite successful! I went to City Sports, and was pleased to see that they fit my calves perfectly! 

The original short wellies are normally $115, but I happened to receive a coupon in the mail this week from City Sports for 20% off any item, which brought the price down to just over $90! Mom and I decided to split the price 50/50, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase! I am in love with my new wellies, and with the weather lately, I'm sure I'll get a chance to wear them very soon!

Wear Your Whites!

It's official: Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start is Summer, is less than TWO weeks away!

For us ladies (and men too!) it also means something else. Unless you live under a rock, you know the old rule that you should not wear white before Memorial Day, or after Labor Day. Basically, white is a summer-only color.

In honor of this classic rule of fashion, I found some gorgeous whites appropriate for any and every fabulous occasion you may have this summer!

Lilly Pulitzer Eryn Embroidered Dress in Classic White

This dress would be wonderful to wear to brunch or luncheon. The a-line skirt will flatter any body type, and the delicate embroidery adds a touch of luxury to this classic dress.

J. Crew Summer Hours Linen Dress in White

This lightweight shift dress is perfect for the office on a hot summer day. The short sleeves and high neckline keep it office appropriate, while the linen fabric keeps you nice and cool. A grosgrain belt around the waist adds definition and a little bit of contrast.

Ann Taylor Loft Seersucker Stripe Boyfriend Shorts in White Stripe

These long, relaxed fitting shorts would be great for everything from running errands to relaxing by the pool, and the subtle stripes add just a pinch of prep!

Lilly Pulitzer Connell Sweater Wrap in Classic White

This light loose sweater will be perfect for keeping the chills at bay on lazy, long, summer nights.

Jack Rogers Palm Beach Navajo Sandal in White

These versatile sandals are a preppy staple that would complete almost any outfit!

What are your white summer staples?

My Summer Essentials

I'm still in school for another couple months, and my spring break has just begun, so summer is still a long way off for me. But, I know a lot of people finish in May, so I thought it'd be fun to talk about just a few of my must-haves for summer. Also, with the back and forth, warm and cold weather, I think we all need a little something to remind us that summer WILL eventually come!

Flip Flops

From the first day of spring until the last possible day in autumn, I wear flip flops practically everyday. I love Old Navy's because they're super comfy and come in literally dozens of colors and styles. Plus, they're so inexpensive (think 2/$5.00, or $1 per pair during their annual sale) you can get them to match any outfit. I also keep a few pairs of J. Crew flip flops on hand and of course some dressier sandals as well, but I love these for just running around during the day.

Long Wearing Foundation

The toughest thing about wearing makeup in the summer is heat. Get too hot or sweaty, and foundation will melt right off of your face. I recently bought Rimmel's Lasting Finish foundation to carry me into the warmer monthes, and I really like it so far. I haven't tested its claims to last for 25 hours, but it stays pretty well from morning until night. Also, I've gotten a dab on my arm a few times and its been hard to get off- I don't know if that's a good thing, but at least it lives up to its advertising, right?! Oh, and at about $7, the price can't be beat! (Can you tell I love a deal? :) )

Low Maitnence Hair

For the past few years, I've specifically made sure that I didn't have bangs during the summer. Between heat, swimming, and just more running around in general, a low maitnence cut definitely comes in handy. Something like the one above would be cute to style to go out with, but could just as easily be worn up or natural when it's too hot and humid to use heat on your hair.

Nail Polish

Put your plums and navys away, because summer is all about light, bright nail polish. Neons and sparkles are fun and carfree, and pastels like OPI's "Italian Love Affair" look fabulous against a tan!

Good Books

Nothing says summer more than laying on the beach or beside the pool with a great book. During the summer, I love reading chick lit, juicy memoirs, books about fashion and style, etc. One of my favorites that I read last summer was Tori Spelling's sTORI Telling. My initial desire to read it may have come from my fondness for a little show called Beverly Hills, 90210 (seriously, that obsession hobby could get its own entire post... and probably will.), but I ended up loving the book! Since then, I've read her two follow-ups, MommyWood and Uncharted TerriTORI, each one filled with just as many mishaps, hilarities, and hearfelt moments as the first.

Great Music

Every summer has its iconic song, and last year it was definitely "California Gurls", by Katy Perry. Summer is such a great time to just relax and have fun with friends, and great music just adds to the mood- definitely a must-have for summer!