game day style

I come from a family of Patriots fans - yes, the type of people who say "we" instead of "the team". Huge tailgates, Sundays at the stadium, and wearing snowsuits outdoors for hours among thousands of others are typical for us. But on gorgeous Fall days like the ones we've been having lately, I'm drawn to slightly more fashionable items in team colors.

shop the look:

Other style notes...

How gorgeous is that LK Bennett blue coat? Here's a similar wrap coat in a camel color for those of you who cheer for a team without blue.

These lace-up style booties are a good alternative to the stacked heel style above.

I like to keep a pair of comfy gloves with me in case it gets chilly when the sun goes down.

wedding Wednesday: this week's wedding frenzy

If you know me personally, you know that this weekend my big sister is getting married! And that means my free time this week has been filled in with various (co)maid of honor duties. This weekend I tied more bows than I have ever tied in such a short period of time - because, you know, a welcome bag isn't a welcome bag unless there's a bow tied to it.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. I got a preview of my sister in her wedding attire at her last fitting last week, and I'm so, so excited for her fiance to see her, for the food, for the dancing, and for all of the love that will be surrounding everyone there.

I'll be posting on Instagram throughout the weekend, so follow me there!

Her Style: Amanda

Today I'm introducing you to Amanda, my younger sister by three and a half years. A fashion buyer in NYC, she has a unique style that is a blend of current trends and what she likes, trendy or not. On this day, I didn't warn her that I was going to take photos until we got together for lunch. She wore an effortless dress for her upcoming flight back to NYC but threw in some sparkly accessories and her favorite purse.

My sisters and I spent some time in Boston before Amanda headed back to NYC from a busy weekend at home. They accompanied me on my first wedding venue visits and remembered to ask the questions I forgot (that's what sisters are for!).

I'm the shortest of our pack of three, especially when we're all in flats.

On Amanda:

Topshop jacket (old, similar) // Milau dress // nameplate necklace (similar) // coyote tooth necklace (similar) // Chanel bow ring // Mimi So bow ring // Ray-Ban sunglasses (limited edition, similar) // Modern Vice shoes // Chanel bag

feeling accomplished: my first 5K

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know (well, a lot about me, but also) that I ran my first 5K on Sunday! You also probably know by now that my older sister was injured at the Boston Marathon bombings. It's been quite the journey over the past few months.

Our hometown friends wanted to put together something to honor Brittany and have a celebration, so they decided on a 5K race and a 1 mile walk - and I'm so glad they did! It was a fabulous day of support, sun, and accomplishments.

A lot of work went into the day - shout out to the event sponsors!

Lady of the hour

My goal for the race was to beat my dad who said he had been training and was going to come in before me (he talked a big game). Here is photo evidence of me achieving my goal:

The best part of finishing the race was seeing Britt on the sideline cheering us on. It was an interesting shift from exactly 3 months ago today when all of us were with her in the hospital cheering her on, and for me a little emotional. I'm not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, so at that point I felt like my legs were going to give out - but her cheers gave me an extra boost of energy.

This is my little sister Amanda, who makes me look like the little sister.

And a necessary photo of my handsome fiance

All photos were taken by my mom's friend, Mary

a new meaning to Independence Day

On Patriots Day, a Massachusetts holiday, I was celebrating a gorgeous Spring day with T and Sprout out in Concord (of - history time! - the Battles of Lexington and Concord). I had no idea that just a few short hours later I would get a text message that would have us rushing to a Boston hospital.

T and Sprout in Concord

The text that came through was from my older sister, who was downtown Boston celebrating her birthday. She and a friend had been at the marathon finish line to watch a friend running and were both severely injured in the first bomb that went off that day.

It felt like years went by before we were able to see her in the ICU. And as each day went by, I was more impressed with her strength and positivity than ever before. Soon she was using a walker, then crutches, and then was ready to go home to continue her recovery. To me, each step she took was a small victory.

photos taken at the Boston Marathon Memorial

While my sister made huge strides in her recovery, what we experienced as a family was incredible. Support from across the United States rolled in, with cards from schoolchildren across the country, flowers from old friends, and phone calls, emails, texts just to tell us that people were thinking of us and our city.

For me, this Independence Day means more than fireworks and pool parties and cute headbands with sequins and stars. I'm celebrating not only all of the service people who have sacrificed to give us our freedom, but also all of those affected by the Boston Marathon bombs, the resilience and positivity they have shown, and everyone who has supported them and will continue to support them. The spirit of this country truly comes out in times of despair and makes me so proud to be an American.

Happy Independence Day, America!

"The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves."  via

scary moments + thankful for blessings

Can I be honest for a minute? For the first time ever, I felt like I could have lost one of my sisters. And that was the weirdest, most terrible feeling ever. The past 10 days have been a whirlwind of hospital rooms, cafeteria food, early mornings and late nights, hugs, new friends, and a lot of blessings.

via

I am so thankful to live in Boston, which is a spirited city that fights for its people. I am so thankful to the doctors and nurses, the civilians and EMTs who came across my sister and helped her. And I am so, so thankful that I still have both of my sisters. I cannot imagine life without them.

photo by Mary Costa

If you are interested in updates on my sister while she recovers, please visit this Facebook page. We still have a long road ahead of us, but we are thankful nonetheless.

#BostonStrong forever and ever

#BostonStrong

via

You have probably heard of the horrific bombings that happened Monday at the Boston Marathon. Unfortunately, my sister was there, and has been hospitalized with some pretty bad injuries. She is expected to make a full recovery, but please excuse my blogging absence while I hang out with my awesome big sister and help her along the way.

You are welcome to view the Facebook page we are keeping updated (and feel free to leave words of encouragement - my sister loves to hear them):
https://www.facebook.com/RecoveryForBrittanyLoring

Thanks so much, and stay #BostonStrong

Her Style: Brittany

Have you ever looked around and wondered why people dress how they do?
Today is my first post in a new series, Her Style, where I will feature stylish ladies in my life:  Who they are, what they wear, and why.

First up is my big sister, Brittany. An avid commenter of my blog (thanks, B!), she has always encouraged me to do what makes me happiest. A little about her in her own words: "I'm a full-time graduate student in law and business in the Boston area about to graduate and re-enter the workforce."

I asked Brittany to wear an outfit that showed off her style but was comfortable. Here's what she chose:

"I chose this outfit because it incorporates pieces that make me look put together, but that are fairly effortless.  Classic blazers really suit my lifestyle because they make any outfit look polished. I also really love this new shirt because it's so colorful and spring-like.  After the long winter, I'm ready for the warm weather!"

On Brittany

Banana Republic jeans // Floral shirt from Halogen at Nordstrom (also love this one and this one) // Olivia Moon blazer // Steve Madden flats (old, similar here) // Feather necklace: gift from Etsy // Movado watch (similar)

I jumped in for a photo with Brittany. Where she chose to celebrate springtime by wearing sparkly flats, I stuck to my black tights and suede boots.

And then we let Mom get behind the camera, and she shared with us that she "always wanted to be a photographer", inching closer to us in a crouched position, which is why we're both making a face. Trying to smile for a photo while you're laughing is no easy task.

Cynthia Rowley floral dress, #fabfound at Marshall's (similar) // Steve Madden belt (similar) // Loft sweater (old, similar here) // BaubleBar tassel necklace // Barneys suede boots

Christmas recap

image via

It was a fun-filled and busy Christmas for us this year, but worth every minute to watch 1 year old Des smile at all of the ladies in church and to spend time with my sisters together, something we don't get to do enough now that the youngest lives in NYC. There was also the annual Christmas dinner last weekend with my high school girlfriends, 5 of us who have been the best of friends even though we are now spread between the East and West coasts. I'm hoping Mary blogs some of our classy photos from the annual photo shoot we do - necessary to have yearly photos, since she is a professional photographer and all.

I didn't take nearly enough photos on Christmas, but here are 2 that make me happy.

1. The day started at our house with a very happy puppy and his new chew toys...

2. And one of my favorite gifts that I gave this year, a custom tote from Vistaprint for grocery shopping in NYC, full of other goodies, for the Chanel-loving Amanda.

The next few weeks will be full of fun things while I have some time off from school. And then it's back to the rat race!

weekend recap

It seems that my weekends haven't had the chance to calm down since the beginning of the summer - but that's okay- YOLO, right? 

Aside from having 8 hours of class on Saturday, the weekend included a half-marathon that T ran for Dana Farber (Sprout and I were spectators and hung out at Mile 11, cheering on the runners taking on their last hill), a really rainy Pats game with some after-game time on the field (that's me in the front row with the bright blue jacket), and my best friend is engaged! 

Of my closest friends from high school (pictured above a few years ago at a girls' weekend on the Cape), Miss Molly is the first with a ring on her finger. I'm so, so excited - her fiance is a great guy (and a friend from college), and I'm sure their wedding will be a ton of fun.

There's so much excitement this Fall. This coming weekend will include a belated birthday celebration for me and wedding dress shopping for Britt, my big sister by 18 months, who is going to say "I Do" next September to a guy I love and already call my brother.

24 hours in NYC: Team Neon fights diabetes

Team Neon

I spent a quick 24 hours in NYC this weekend with my mom and older sister to visit my younger sister and take part in the Step Out: Walk for Diabetes.

My younger sister has Type 1, which means she is dependent on insulin and her insulin pump to regulate her blood sugar. (As opposed to Type 2, which is usually diagnosed in adults and can be regulated oftentimes with diet, exercise, and prescription medications.)

Some quick stats:

• About 1 in every 400 children and adolescents has diabetes
• 8.3% of the US population has diabetes
• Diabetes can cause complications like blindness, heart disease, stroke, hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Read more here

remembering 2 blonde beauties

image via

This afternoon I got a text message from my aunt telling me that my grandmother's best friend passed away early this morning. It had me feeling a bit more emotional than I expected, which I'm guessing is because I still miss my grandmother more than most people know.

I was very lucky to have my grandparents as my primary babysitters growing up. My sisters and I, their only grandchildren, became pretty close to them. Nana and Daiee (as in "daddy" without the Ds in the middle), as we called them, were the ultimate grandparents. I'll always remember childhood Sunday dinners, when Nana would put ridiculous amounts of food on the table and Daiee would eat equally ridiculous amounts.

Nana and Wuzzy, as we knew her (a shortening of her really long, Polish last name), were hairstylists together in the years after the war (WWII, that is) in the beauty shop my Nana owned. Both stayed blonde well into their 80s and stayed close, living just down the street from each other and checking in on each other often once their husbands had passed.

It's a funny thing, getting older:  How people who were so central to your life suddenly disappear. So here's your friendly reminder to reach out to those around you and make sure they know how you feel about them. There's no harm in putting a smile on someone's face.

a wish list Tête-à-Tête from One Kings Lane

When I was gallivanting through Paris and London, I saw an amazing Tête-à-Tête in Napoleon's rooms at the Louvre and said that if I ever found one just like it, I would totally be all over that (because I have 2 sisters and then we could all sit and chat on the same awesome chair, obviously). 

One Kings Lane, you're killing me. Look at what showed up today:

images via One Kings Lane

No, I'm not buying it now. But if I ever have the room for it, and the disposable income that allows for $2,000 fun pieces, it will be mine.

weekend recap & antiques

I spent part of Sunday at my grandmother's house, helping my family go through items to keep/sell/etc. I never realized how much my Nana liked antiques, but they really were all over the place. We found some pretty awesome things, like this bottle I just had to share - she and my grandfather found it in the basement of their antique home when they purchased it in the 1950s:

The bottle sold in 15 minutes on eBay - how crazy is that! It's an 1880s-1900s bottle in pretty great shape.