city style linkup

Today I'm linking up with four other Boston bloggers. You can link up with us below!

ruffle and curl // Style-Wire

Style Tab // Notes on Lifestyle by Georgina

Rules for the Modern Girl

trend spotting: pretty in pink

One trend I can't get enough of right now is a lady-like pink coat (especially when paired with gray, black, or leopard). 

images via 1, 2, 3

If you can't get your hands on pink outerwear, Boston-area ladies can head to MiniLuxe for a mani with their newest color, a pale pink to benefit the Ellie Fund Do Good Campaign’s effort to battle breast cancer. All net proceeds from the nail polish bottles go toward the campaign, so you can do something for yourself and for others at the same time! (They recently opened a new location in Lynnfield and have a gorgeous new garnet-colored polish to celebrate the opening.)

wedding Wednesday: my sister got married!

This past weekend was my older sister's wedding, and it was an incredible, perfect event. I don't have a lot of pictures, since I was kind of busy being in the wedding, but the incredible Mary was the photographer. I'm sure she will have some really great photos of the whole weekend!

Here I am with my co-maid of honor before the ceremony... I'm really not short, I swear.

The setting was gorgeous. This property in on the North Shore of Boston.

The garden where the ceremony was held was incredible.

The wedding had the perfect amount of handmade elements, like these chalkboard signs my younger sister (pictured above) crafted.

It was such a great weekend, and I was so sad on Monday that it was over! But I'm taking that as a good thing - fabulous people, gorgeous day, and one really great party.

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

Gilt City Boston #RaidtheWarehouse recap

I attended the Gilt City Boston #RaidtheWarehouse event on Friday night. I've been to a few other sample sales in the past and bought things because I loved the price and not necessarily the item, so this time I was very deliberate about what I bought.

I fell in love with a Gryphon New York coat, but of course it was a smidgen too small (so then I obviously went item by item in the larger-sized rack to try to find the same coat, but sadly I couldn't find one). I was pleasantly surprised to find a big rack of baby clothes, which is perfect for all of the baby showers coming up. So while I didn't find anything for myself in the end, I did purchase a few gifts for others!

Please excuse the iPhone shots

This dress was gorgeous in person. Brocade, Fall colors... unfortunately it was a few sizes too big.

If I hadn't just bought a few pairs of shoes this past week for a couple of upcoming weddings I'm in, I would have been much more interested in the shoe section. I did find some goodies on the tables, like a pair of Sorel boots for only $39 and quite a few Pour La Victoire pumps, but I left them for others (you're welcome). And there were some good deals in the men's shoe section too (something to remember for the next Warehouse Sale, usually in the fall = closer to Christmas!).

I walked away with two nice, neat little bags of goodies for other people in my life. The item I'm most excited about is a gorgeous Sferra sham that matches my mom's color scheme for her bedroom pillows and was only $5 (!). That's about a 95% savings. Insane.

What's the best item you've found at a sample sale?

I attended the Gilt City Boston Warehouse Sale as a guest of Gilt City Boston. All opinions are, as always, my own.

Gilt City Boston Warehouse Sale August 10

Have you been to a Gilt City sale? Boston ladies (and gents), it's on its way to Space 57 at the Revere Hotel for just one day, August 10. I can't wait to hunt through the goods, which include Vera Wang, Badgley Mischka, Zac Posen... If you're going, and you also wear a size 9.5-10 shoe, watch out. I'll be on a mission!

The Warehouse Sale has those designer brands up to 90% off.

And specifically for the men, they will have John Varvatos, Paul Smith, and GANT, among others.

General tickets to the warehouse sale are sold out, but you can be added to the wait list.

I will be attending the Boston Warehouse Sale as a guest of Gilt City. 

As always, all opinions are my own.

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

life lately via instagram

Thursday night we attended the Boston Strong concert, which was an overwhelming night of feeling support and love from and for this city that is indescribable. I heard that there was a lot of annoyance from people watching the concert via live streaming at home, but you can't overlook the number of performers who came out and performed (for free), and said such kind words. One of my personal favorite moments was hearing the entire Garden sing "More Than Words" along with Extreme.

This weekend was my college reunion - cannot believe it's been 5 years! The ladies and I stayed in our old suite, and it was divine to be back. There was a very weird normalcy about being back at our college, hanging out in the dorm, walking around campus, and dancing in the campus bar. Cannot wait to do it again in another 5 years.

T surprised me with hydrangea and peony plants in our front yard, and yesterday we cut our first blooms off of them! I'm looking forward to a summer full of my favorite flowers.

#BBBos Blogging Summit Recap

On Saturday I took a short break from family things and headed over to the Blog Better Boston summit, held at the Boston.com offices. 

I'm no model, but I was forced into the step & repeat to show off my dressed up denim. I only look slightly uncomfortable here.

Things I love: MK tortoiseshell watch and MK bag, Seychelles booties

white blazer from The Loft, Lucky Brand jeans from Lord and Taylor, coral lace top from Marshall's, ModCloth necklace, name plate necklace from Etsy

MiniLuxe manis? Yes, please.

This is my learning pose. (Sidenote: My hair is really long, isn't it?)

Photos from David Brooks Photography

I had a great time learning with other bloggers and meeting new people!

So great to meet you ladies: Noelle of Rue Le Chat, Amanda of Prim and Propah, Smita of Hogger and Co, Susan of Susan Style Blog, Alana of Good Girl Gone Blog, Holly of Holly Dolly, Emily of Emily's Going Nuts, Brooke from Insparisian, Kenzie from Cave Girl in the City

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

weekend recap

My weekends have been jam-packed lately, but definitely not in a bad way.

Saturday I spent some time volunteering at the Belle of the Ball event in Boston, which gives donated prom dresses, shoes, and accessories to girls who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to go to prom.

I wanted to volunteer last year but was unable to due to travel, so I was really excited to take part this year. I played personal shopper, which was great. Remember how exciting it was to pick out the perfect dress?

I also finally made it to one of the new paint bars in Boston, which was a belated birthday activity my sister and I had set up for our mom. This was my "in progress" shot of the Boston skyline painting we did.

If you're in Boston, happy Patriots Day and Marathon Monday (and a special happy birthday to my big sister)! If you're elsewhere in the world, happy regular Monday!

weekend wedding recap

This weekend we went to a fabulous wedding in downtown Boston for one of T's close friends. It went by so fast that it made me think about the months and months that go into planning (in this case, almost a year) for a jam-packed 48 hours of family, friends, and fun to celebrate a couple. 

This Ali Ro dress is unlike anything else in my closet for semi-formal events, and due to a snowstorm on Friday, I decided to pair it with black tights. I fully appreciated that one of T's friend's dads noticed that my purple shoes matched his tie and pocket square. Color blocking success.

A few details this weekend that I loved (aside from the view from cocktail hour of Boston Harbor, which I tweeted on Saturday)...

Some tables had tall centerpieces, but the flowers were atop clear vases so you could see who was across from you. The accompanying short arrangements were gorgeous as well and made an appearance the next day at brunch- and one is now sitting on my bar cart at home.

Every other table had a short centerpiece, which I fully appreciated. We were sitting at a table of good friends (when we weren't on the dance floor), so it was nice to be able to talk and take photos across the table. And a short centerpiece was not by any means less elegant than the tall arrangements. The gorgeous roses and hydrangeas looked incredible.

Shout out to the Sultans of Swing, who had everyone on the dance floor from the bride and groom's first dance to after "one last song". Erika (a Top 10 American Idol contestant from Season 11) rocked everything from Celine Dion to Carly Rae Jepsen.

Gilt City Boston Warehouse Sale

This weekend there is a major fashion event happening in Boston- Gilt City's Warehouse Sale! When I read the words "up to 90% off", I got so excited... I'm a sucker for a good fashion bargain.

Aside from top designer brands for women, men, kids and home, shoppers will be treated to specialty cocktails and a DJ all day. (I'm excited to shop with some La Marca Prosecco in hand.) 

Here are some details about what you can expect at the event:

• Friday, March 8th, 9:30-11:30 PM and Saturday, March 9th from 9AM - 5PM (Tickets as of press time are only available for the Saturday afternoon and late afternoon entrances, so hurry!)
• Gilt.com's Women's & Men's fashion and accessories, Kid's clothing and accessories, as well as Home Goods - up to 90% off
• Extras:
• Complimentary Refreshments provided by AQUAhydrate and Coco Cafe
• Onsite bar sponsored by La Marca Prosecco 
• Pretzel Crisps dipping station
• $20 Uber gift card for new users
• Photo kiosk provided by SMART Pics
• Onsite merchandise from featured Gilt Home vendor, Cunill America
• Music by live DJ

 Attendees are also invited to tweet and instagram a photo of what they purchased from the Warehouse Sale by using the hashtag #RaidtheWarehouse to enter to win $100 of Gilt credit.

I will be attending the Boston Warehouse Sale as a guest of Gilt City. 

As always, all opinions are my own.