Keds x Kate Spade New York

Labor Day has come and gone, but with the warm weather lasting well into October here in New York City, September is definitely still feeling like summertime! Which got me thinking about these adorable Keds x Kate Spade New York that I'd been eyeing these past few months. I am just mad for the patterns, and I'm actually loving the slightly more pointed-toe variety too. But I have to say, my favorite is the cork pair that is totally in line with the Jenna Sais Quois color palette, but it's unfortunately no longer available. Of course! Taylor Swift also has a great fall collection for Keds which I may blog about next week while I'm on a Keds kick! Say what you want about Taylor's music (I happen to love it but it's not for everyone), she has sensational style.

I hope you've all had a lovely summer and are ready for my favorite season. It's right around the corner...hopefully!

1  Keds x Kate Spade New York Cork Shoes (No longer available)
2  Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion
3  Keds x Kate Spade New York Pointer in Floral Pink On Sale!
4  Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Seaport Dot On Sale!
5  Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Laceless in Geo Navy Red
6  Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Jersey in Green Stripe Jersey
7  Keds x Kate Spade New York Pointer Cheetah in Blue
8  Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Mariner Stripe On Sale!

Glamping!

When I stumbled across this photo series on Buzzfeed, I just had to share! I have always been a fan of summer camp, having gone to good ole' Camp Frederick quite a few times back in Ohio. But many of the East Coasters I know got to go away to 4 or even 8 week camps almost every year as kids and early teenagers, just like in Bug Juice. Stilling sighing with jealousy! I looooved camp.

How glam are these camp counselors from the 1950s in the photo below? They are up an at-em with their cute little penoir sets and their red lips! I imagine there were some pretty lucky male counselors at the all-boys camp across the lake, just waiting for their chance to spot these bathing beauties in their binoculars. "Just because you're in the woods, it's no excuse not to look your best!" quoth Phyllis Nefler in the classic film, Troop Beverly Hills. Let that be a lesson to us all!

Photo via Buzzfeed

Friday Beach Fever

Happy Friday everyone! After plenty of rain in New York City, it looks like we're finally shaping up to have a beautiful, sunny weekend. My plan is to celebrate by taking myself out for a lovely little beach day. Mostly in anticipation of the fact that I am heading off to Sanibel Island next month for a real-live relaxing week-long beach vacation, which means that I should probably get used to the unfamiliar feeling of the sun on my extremely pale, freckled skin. Below are a few must-have beach items that are perfect for the Fourth of July, or just a red-hot day in the sun!

1  Cordelia Shades from Kate Spade 
2  Leghila Beach Tote from Farfetch
3  Jonathan Adler Beach Towel from Layla Grace
4  Bathing Beauty one-piece in red from Modcloth
5  Semi Matte lipstick in Heat Wave from Nars
6  Archer Sandals in Coral from Anthropologie

We're the Kids in America

I hope you all had a fantastic Fourth of July! I spent my day at Fort Tilden Park, located in the far Rockaway area, just laying in the sun, swimming in the ocean and getting sunburnt to a crisp. It was unbelievably perfect, (except for the sunburn part. Don't forget your SPF!) And it wasn't toooo crowded considering the rest of New York City had the day off. It's easy to forget that I live in a coastal town, since I typically stay close to the gridiron. But as long as you don't mind taking the subway for an hour and a half, then hopping a shuttle, and then hopping a bus, you're never too far from the beach! I need to go explore the different beaches every weekend until Autumn. But next time I'll remember to take more time applying my sunscreen, so I won't spend the entire next day slathering on the aloe and walking like Frankenstein. Here are some instagram photos taken throughout the day. Also, I couldn't hit you with that title and not give you a chance to hear this 90s classic...Enjoy!

My favorite, taken toward the end of the day. Photo by Jaclyn Denmark.

Fourth of July beach style. Photo by Galina Arnaut.

The long walk from the bus stop to the water! Photo by Jenna Brucoli.

The beach at Fort Tilden Park at 12:00 noon. Photo by Jenna Brucoli.

Umbrellas and chairs for the more prepared beach-goers. Photo by Jenna Brucoli.

Derby Day

I'm off to the races today for a Cinco de DERBY party. There's nothing better than margaritas and mint juleps...but a belly full of bourbon and tequila could present a problem. We'll see how it goes! Happy Derby Day!

Did You Vote Yet?

It's election day! Have you set aside some time to vote today? I went this morning, and I was relieved but also a bit surprised to find no lines! Today is a hugely important election for the state of Ohio, and I am certainly eager to see how it all turns out. I want to encourage all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to get out there today and cast your ballot. With issues as big as the ones on the ticket today, it's important for as many Ohioans to weigh in on these matters as possible. Voting is one of the fundamental freedoms our country was founded upon, as well as a civic responsibility, and I hope as many of you get a chance to participate in democracy today as possible! Good luck!

Can't Wait for PanAm

With the very sorely felt lack of Mad Men this Summer and a report that it won't be back until 2012, I am very eager to fill that void...Enter the new ABC Network show Pan Am! Also set in the 1960s, focusing on the captains and stewardesses of the Jet Age rather than the Madison Avenue executives and secretaries, I think the show will be equally exciting, dramatic and sexy as Mad Men, but with a thrilling up-in-the-air quality. While obviously nothing could truly replace my weekly dose of Don, Pete, Roger and Joan, I have high hopes that this show will be great. The premier is September 25th! Anyone out there tuning in with me?'

Promotional Photos via ABC Network

The Girl's Game

I spent an evening last night enjoying America's Favorite Pastime. It just so happens that there's a baseball stadium within walking distance of my apartment. This is just one of the many reasons I love my neighborhood...Anyway, I enjoyed watching the Columbus Clippers, the AAA farm team to the Cleveland Indians, last night. The best part about baseball games is that you can drink beer, eat peanuts, and pay only 6 dollars for standing-room tickets! Then, when the game starts picking up after the 7th Inning Stretch, you can sneak down into the more expensive seats because half the people have left anyway. It's delightful. And to honor my newfound love of the game, Eva from Monkey in Los Angeles put together a girl's guide to baseball for us to enjoy. Batter up!

1  Betsey Johnson Crystal Wayfarer Sunglasses from Urban Outfitters
2  White Chocolate Bar with Lemon & Pepper by Kshocolat
3  Canvas Bow Tote from Soraam on Etsy
4  Chowards Lemon Mints
5  Fresh Ginger Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost
6  Bensimon Laceup Sneakers by Madewell
7  Salted Caramel Pecan Bourbon Caramel Corn
8  Vintage Style Lemon Peel Baseball from LemonBall on Etsy


To see Eva's other Gift Guide posts, click here! And while you're clicking away, please be a doll and follow me on Bloglovin'!

Eva Sais Quois: Kitschy Classics

It's Friday, which means another fantastic gift guide from Monkey in Los Angeles. Eva has created another weekly round-up for us. This week, it's all the fixins for a delicious 4th of July picnic! So fire up the grill, and ice the sodas. Have your condiments ready, and your blanket set in the perfect spot for whatever fabulous fireworks display you are viewing. Tonight, I'm avoiding the downtown crowds for Red, White, and Boom in Columbus, and instead parking at the top of the parking garage and enjoying the view from the best and quietest seat in the house! Happy 4th, folks!

1  Tri-Colored Table Cloth from Terrain
2  Lantstalle Lantern from IKEA
3  Sriracha Habanero pickles from Rick's Picks
4  American Links from Dean & Deluca
5  Mars Party Tub from CB2
6  Blue Striped Paper Straws from Kikkerland
7  Bamboo Flatware from Crate&Barrel
8  Condiment Set from Sur La Table

To see Eva's other Gift Guide posts, click here! And while you're clicking away, please be a doll and follow me on Bloglovin'!

Eva Sais Quois: Derby Delights

Every week, I tell Eva Goicochea of the blog Monkey in Los Angeles that it was my favorite Gift Guide yet, and this week is no exception! She's done it again by creating the perfect assemblage of equestrian accessories and decorative pieces any race spectator would covet! I may be in Ohio at a computer and not Kentucky sipping a Mint Julep, but I may soon be in a race of my own...to track down some of these fabulous items!

1  Ceramic Horse Bust from Z Gallerie
2  Ex Libris en Camouflage silk twill scarf by Hermes
3  Symphony Opera & Theatre Glasses from Sherwoods
4  Miette Pedestal Dish from Z Gallerie
5  Bullseye Silk Pillow Cover from West Elm
6  Desk Tray/Notebook by Iomoi
7  Thayer Decanter by Ralph Lauren

To check out Eva's other Gift Guide posts, click here! And don't forget to check out Monkey in LA, and my Swell Sips series! This week I put together a Mango Margarita recipe in honor of Cinco de Mayo!

Jack's Style

I love that the mens' style website Mr. Porter has been featuring The Kennedys this week as well! I always tend to focus on womens' fashion, but Jack Kennedy, and all the boys really, had such a great relationship with of-the-moment clothing. Mr. Porter's Kennedy homage was pointed out to me by a fellow blogger, Eva, from Monkey in Los Angeles. (Spoiler Alert: You'll be seeing much more from her, as we are going to be starting a Friday blog-swap tomorrow. Get excited!)

Good Old-Fashioned Romance

I never considered myself a hopeless romantic, but I watch way too many old movies to be anything else. It never occurred to me that this was completely skewing my mind to what modern romance was like. I realized yesterday, on Valentine's Day, that no matter how and when I find the man of my dreams, he won't be able to dance like Gene Kelly or sing like Frank Sinatra. He won't chase after me on a train, or kiss me in the Times Square wearing a sailor's uniform, or strike up the band to play our song. And our song will most definitely not be Time After Time, or You Belong To Me, or any of those wonderful songs my grandparents danced to.

Nobody ever threw rocks at my window, because they could just call my cellphone. Nobody ever wrote me a love letter, because they could just send me an e-mail. But, as God is my witness, when I really do fall in love, it may not look quite like this to everyone else, but these photos are how it will look to me. And we will still get to dance like crazy to this, so modern life does have it's perks...

Boy and Girl // photo

Falling in Love // photo

Men with Moves // photo

Now That's a Major Kiss // photo

Cut the Cake // photo

One Big Happy Family // Photo

Happily Ever After // photo

Snowy Engagement Photos

I am such a fan of snowy, winter engagement photos. I've even blogged about them before here. I just think there are no cuter clothes than scarves, hats, and boots and no cuter activity than playing in the snow with someone that you are just so crazy about that you've decided to spend the rest of your life together. And nobody seems to shoot these better than Rebekah Westover. Aren't these ones just perfect?

Images copyright Rebekah Westover blog

Swab the Decks

How adorable are these preppy cleaning supplies by Alice Supply Co.? They actually make me want to do housework! They would make great gifts, and I am tempted to start buying bits and pieces of this little collection whenever I've set an extra twenty or thirty dollars aside...but then who knows? They could discontinue them before I've collected them all. These are like the Graphic Designer/Donna-Reed-Wannabe's version of Pokemon cards...And I'm still bitter about the Martha Stewart KitchenAid discontinuation, aka "shot heard 'round Jenna's world." The scourge of being obsessed with having a complete set. Please, Alice Supply Co., I beg you to keep these products until I have managed to purchase them all, but especially the garden hose!

{Photos via Alice Supply Co. & Assembled by Jenna Sais Quois}

Glamping?

Did you guys know there is something called Glamping? Essentially, it's glamorous camping (which to me is an oxymoron) at a gorgeous Montana resort called Paws Up. As a fan of the not-so-glamorous traditional camping, I'm not quite ready to abandon the concept of roughing it. However, glamping certainly seems like something I wouldn't mind trying. These photos from the website are unbelievable! Which would you prefer, readers? Glamping, or plain old camping?

{Images via Paws Up website}

Nerd Alert: These glamorous tents remind me of the scene in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire where they go camping with the Weasley family. On the outside, their tent looked like any other, but on the inside, it was an enormous dream-like tent with a dining room and plush materials everywhere.

Marc by Marc Jacobs 2011

I am completely dying over Marc by Marc Jacobs' Spring 2011 ready-to-wear collection. It is absolute perfection, and can I please say for the thousandth time that I am so happy that the retro-prep look is in right now? I just wish it would stay forever...because we already know it will stay on me forever.

{Photos from NY Mag}

Frankly, it would just make shopping so much easier...

American Woman

How exquisite are these antique clothes? They are from The Costume Institute's latest exhibit, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, which closed today. I am obsessed with the clothes from the Art Deco era, especially. I can't imagine ever owning something so incredibly beautiful. The dresses are so detailed, and dutifully constructed. Take a look at some additional photos from their flikr site!

Photography Spotlight: Clayton Austin

I don't know how I've missed him until this morning on Ruffled, but Clayton Austin has apparently been one of the top photographers featured around the blogosphere for some time now. I completely understand why! He has the uncanny ability to transform the person opposite his lens into a glamorous mid-century movie star who is glowing so brightly with love that you can see her (or him) from outer space. I've spent most the morning browsing his blog, and wanted to post some of my favorite shots so you can see what I mean.

{All photos from Clayton Austin. Love. Stories}

I could honestly hire this photographer to shoot me sitting on the floor, cleaning out the refrigerator and he would still make me look beautiful and glamorous, and like a 1950's housewife. Hope he's still working in 10 years when I actually decide to tie the knot...