christmas in september.

so i know it's only september, but i'm pretty sure i found my holiday dress...christmas, new year's, a december wedding in vegas, whatever. i'd wear this to anything and everything.

one problem. i just spent way more on a new bike than i should have, and the beautifully blackberry floral frock by rachel rachel roy is still full price at macy's...and there is only one left in my size. 

it's got almost all the elements i'm loving right now: a purple hue, sheer fabrics, a peekaboo sweetheart neckline, flowers, a low back and a near-perfect fit (it's missing leather, but let's be honest, that would make this dress more fit to be worn at monarchy on clematis or liv at fountainebleau rather than a dinner at grandma's house...and the vegas event is still not that kind of wedding).

if you just had deja vu, that's because i had a similar situation back in may. i'm going to officially dub it the "rachel syndrome" since i have a feeling it will come up again. 

p.s. i can't find it online anywhere so i don't have a link to share. even if i did, i probably wouldn't anyway because while i love you all, i am greedy when it comes to this dress and don't want you scooping up the last one before i can! but if you like the look of the rachel rachel roy "party" collection, try the black and gold louise dress instead :)

season's must-haves.

reason #2 why i love fall:
there is not much better than a pumpkin spice latte from starbucks (even if it does cost more than my lunch at $4.19).

wondering what reason #1 is? 
boots. duh.

check back later this week for more on two of my favorite pairs of boots i was able to add to my collection for less than $50 each, even as autumn launches. and yes, i'm referring to my boots as a "collection" now, considering i have now accumulated more than 15 pairs, which is just crazy for a south florida girl.

fashion's night in.

my husband always says new year's eve is amateur hour. people who don't go out that much and can't handle their liquor out on the town, often times making a mess of it.

well that's how i feel about fashion's night out. don't get me wrong (or send hate mail), i love a good giveaway, makeup trial, or first peek at a collection. i also love supporting the fashion industry, as my husband or amex card can also attest to. i just don't like tons of other shoppers crowding me and making the checkout line that much longer, all for a free lipstick and martini with purchase.

it's not that i'm hating on the event. it's just that for me, there's something to be said about finding that one cool sequined-lined skirt that's left on the rack from the season that just ended (meaning it's technically still in style for us regular ready-to-wear types). and that sheer joy in realizing it's marked down 50 percent off, and surprisingly in your size. and as you're checking out, you're able to chat up the sales girl behind the counter to ask where she got the cute boots that pair so well with her dress, even in the florida summer season.

this scenario couldn't happen on fno. the skirt would be snatched up by someone else who probably will just return it later because the fitting room was too backed up for her to try it on, and the sales girl would be practically sweating from running around the room, let alone having more than 30 seconds to speak to you about anything other than whether you're paying credit or debit...or if you want an extra 15 percent off by opening a brand card.

i also think fno has lost some of it's original magic. it started in nyc as part of fashion week as a way to boost the fashion retail industry through parties, innovative pr stunts and connecting the regular buying public with designers through fashion presentations, etc., all the while getting shoppers to buy at full price. sales and discounts were not part of the deal, but that has since changed once many other locations around the world started building off the promotion too.

so that's my rant. if i could hang out with lubov & max azria from bcbg in new york tonight i might not be writing this. but until then, this is probably the only post you'll ever read here about fno.

that being said, if you did attend a fno event, i really do hope you had a fantastic time and scored big on the stylish goods. feel free to comment and tell me why i'm wrong too!

update: 

 

i'm not getting free denim manicures at guess, designing my own bracelet at lord & taylor, or meeting nigel barker at nine west, but i am still pretty excited about my own "fashion's night in" with my most recent online purchase that just came in from piperlime, which will make an appearance in one of this week's diy posts. stay tuned.

how to shop like a local in palm beach.

whenever i travel to new york, cali or even tallahassee, i have a clear map set out for sightseeing before i even step off the plane or out of the car. and by sightseeing, of course i really mean shopping. it's american rag cie in los angeles, the little wooden jewelry kiosk in santa monica, brandy melville and top shop in nyc, and divas & devils in the home of the seminoles. but i rarely stop to think about where i'm buying locally - or just window shopping in some cases - that would intrigue an out-of-towner.

 me in nyc after stops in both brandy melville and top shop. 

p.s. i'm wearing my new sugarlips shorts, which we'll have another post on later this week...

which is why i was so excited about a facebook message from the way cute new yorker, katy,  who asked me for recommendations on where she and a friend should shop while visiting palm beach this labor day weekend. they're looking for "little boutiques with not too circulated brands that are very on trend." located within an area that i'd consider to be one of our nation's fashion capitals, this seemed like an easy question.

it made me think about all the places i'd like to shop this weekend and some of those little corners i haven't had time to sneak into lately. and after thinking about it some more, i realized this really is a multifaceted answer...

must-stop shops 
* asquared boutique ~ this is one of the newer shops to the area and not technically on palm beach (just over the bridge in west palm beach), but is a must for all the pb natives. i met the ladies behind asquared at a marketplace event for junior league of the palm beaches, and fell in love with their collection. i found it was barely a fraction of the pieces found at the gorgeous store, which the self-dubbed "southern gals" use to bring a "new casual comfort and edge to palm beach." the apparel is definitely unique and on trend, the accessories are delightfully eclectic and the cool cowboy boots are to-die-for. only problem? they don't re-open for the season until sept. 4! katy, i hope you're staying in the area until tuesday!

photo credit: asquaredboutique.com

* eye of the needle ~ think long summer dresses, maxi skirts, sheer tunics, sparkling beach bags and miles of neon and lace...at least for the summer anyway. with shops in palm beach and nantucket, you know you're in good company shopping here. look out for trunk shows here too, where you'll find merchandise not available to the regular public yet. some of our favorite looks from the store can be found from the girls over at the fancy secrets blog.

photo credit: eyeoftheneedleackpb.com

* cityplace shops ~ i work at cityplace in downtown west palm beach so i'm obviously biased, but it's all for good reason. two minutes from the island of palm beach, it's mostly national brand stores, but you'll get fun finds that scream palm beach at c.orrico, which carries lilly pulitzer, tibi, trina turk and other beachy brands filled with resort wear that includes, but goes beyond only palm tree prints and patterns. and about 10 stores down you'll find francesca's collections. if you've never stopped in this retailer, it is a corporate store but has the best boutique feel with the cutest - and affordable - sundresses, tops, accessories and gifts perfect to bring back as souvenirs. 

photo credit: cityplace.com

palm beach opulence
* worth avenue ~ so you might not find those brands that are off the beaten path, but if you are visiting palm beach you can't miss worth ave. it's the rodeo drive of the east coast and it's a fantastic feeling just to walk down the street. among top names like gucci, ferragamo and hermès, you'll also find luxury brand retailers that are not as common to see in regular malls like hervé léger by max azria, alex and ani and calypso st. barth.

photo credit: worth-avenue.com

vintage finds
* house of lavande ~ for the very few of my readers who've been following since the beginning (just forget my lag for two years), you know that i love house of lavande. this vintage jewelry shop has the coolest pieces, from estate accessories and costume jewelry to new collections that feature vintage stones. watch a red carpet show and i guarantee at least one of the celebs will be wearing an hol piece. and if the jewelry doesn't capture you, the whimsical design of shop itself will.

photo credit: me!

* antique row ~ the vintage shops along antique row (south dixie highway) are some of my favorite because you'll get some amazing resales - both couture and ready to wear - from the many millionaires who live so close by. most have been barely worn or still have some of the historic charm from decades before. glam vintage is one of my favorites, although i've even found theory dresses and elie tahari blazers at the goodwill along this street.

fishing fashions
* clematis district ~ this may not be what katy is looking for, however some girls - and guys - just want a piece of florida and its sun. the best way to do that is head to downtown west palm beach to check out two of the outdoor apparel companies that launched here locally, avid sportswear and native outfitters. think of clothing that's athletically cute and perfect for the boat.

* juno beach ~ surfing more your thing? you'll have to head up north about 20 minutes (we'll worth the view!) to jupiter and juno beach, where you'll get stoked about the wide-leg linen pants and that monokini you've wanted to try, which you can get at locals or ground swell, both off of u.s.1 with just a minute worth of driving between each other.

with some of these unique to palm beach county and others a little more mainstream, i hope you find this guide to south florida shopping helpful, no matter what you're looking for. and katy, please give us an update on your finds after your trip!

fashion olympics: ryan lochte

it's official. i have a new crush: ryan lochte.

not only is he competing against michael phelps at the london olympics this summer, but he's also up against futbol prince cristiano ronaldo and track runner nick symmonds for the number one hottest sports star in my book. just don't tell my husband. no, not because he'll be jealous, but because he'll be mad i'm not giving all my attention to his soccer man crush, cristiano.

he's not just a badass swimmer, which is my most recent sport of choice, but he is also a florida boy who is candy to the eyes and has a closet that - according to matt lauer on the "today show" this morning - "could rival oprah's closet." (although the closet of carrie bradshaw or anna wintour would have been more convincing...where the heck did lauer pull oprah from?)

ladies, guess what...you can get this desktop wallpaper and more from speedo.com here.

lochte's choice of purple star adorned pink speedos practically puts the lululemon ladies to shame, and by god, i've never seen anyone look that good in a swim cap. he's rocked a diamond grill that while undoubtedly strange, surprisingly attracts me to his style even more. he graced the cover of vogue's "team usa" june issue with fellow olympians, hope solo and serena williams. he also sports some crazy self-designed sneakers and sandals for speedo too; sells usa-themed, wayferer "lochte glasses" on his site; and hopes for a future in the fashion industry. and while the long curly locks gave him better hair than most women, i'm really appreciating his more recent and more manly cropped cut.

here's a cute clip i found on youtube called "behind the goggles" from the reezydaily channel, in which lochte attempts to discuss fashion terms. seems to be a man after my own heart. notice how he even makes all white and a scarf work on a man...



i'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of lochte in the water - and out of it - now that the olympics officially kick off this week. who do you want to see?

fashion week: MIA for MI

i admit it, i'm a sucker for free stuff. but aren't we all? 

that being said, i've never been attracted to the kitschy logoed key chains, press-on acrylic nails, cheap faux eyelashes and over-the-counter brand shampoo samples that typically come in swag bags and just take up space in my garage until the latest green bag of outdated clothes can be taken to goodwill. if it's crap, i don't want it...free or not. which is why the mia tiki stand and "shoe check" at mercedes-benz fashion week on friday was all the more genius.

 
since i'm offering full disclosure already, i'll also admit that of the nearly 100 pairs that i own (yes, i said "nearly" - trying to scale back recently), i didn't own a pair of mia shoes yet. but after this weekend, i think it's safe to say that has changed and will continue to.

while hanging out by the pool in between fashion shows, our lovely guides from img told me about a way cool pr promotion via mia shoes. because it was difficult for those of us in heels - which was probably about 90 percent of guests - to walk in the sand-lined "oasis" show tent, the mia girls set up shop in a tiki hut outside to assist. complete with cute branded beach bags to hold the heels, they offered a complimentary pair of espadrilles in a range of colors and patterns to anyone who checked in with them and "liked" their facebook page, which of course my friends and i took advantage of.

i loved the promo not only for its marketing value (i'm blogging about it, so it worked for publicity, and the facebook "like" brought me see some stylishly hot wedges of theirs that i normally would have missed), but also because i have a new pair of summery khaki flats perfect for days by the beach...which i proudly wore to a seaside lunch after an ocean swim on saturday...

mia shoes espadrilles with an old abercrombie & fitch floral dress, 

a few bracelets and sunglasses from locals surf shop at juno beach.

fashion week: first look at miami swim.

after a month's hiatus that included a few jetblue flights, a wedding, the absolute cutest babies, a lot of swim-bike-run training sessions and a bunch of drives to miami, i'm back on the blog. and it was the latest trip to miami on friday night that motivated this return...thanks to mercedes-benz fashion week swim at the raleigh hotel. because if that didn't do it, i don't know what would have.

here's a few highlights from the trip i took with friends from my day job as we got a behind-the-scenes look at the real fashion week, a la img fashion...

a peek from above:

mojitos & moet poolside:

in the tents at the agua bendita runway show:

in the "oasis" to view the poko pano 2013 collection:

 

and a look at my favorite white, lacy fringe rachel rachel roy dress in action inside the oasis:

and this is just a taste. there's more to come this week as we touch on the two shows we got to see up close and personal, and maybe a few of those we didn't get to see but realize we really missed out on. we'll also recap great pr promotion we took advantage of and how valuable it was for both sides!

a different kind of meditation.

following an ayurveda consultation with my aunt this weekend - only hours after running myself into the ground training for the upcoming loggerhead triathlon - i tried to take a few things away from it to get myself more in "balance" with more grounding, calming activities. this of course included yoga with my favorite instructor, priyanka, at the mandel public library in downtown west palm beach tonight.

it worked in that i felt happy and less stressed when i left...but it could actually be that during my sun salutations and "meditation" i couldn't take my mind off bcbg max azria's foster laser-cut pumps. i know that defeats the point of yoga, but can it really be so bad when lace-inspired wooden heels are on your mind?

i've been eyeing them for months at the cityplace store and learned yesterday that they're now 60 percent off plus another 20 percent off (along with so many other distractions they have in store). i think this is a valid excuse for the mind-wandering...and possibly an excuse to spend some of this week's paycheck.

namaste.

channeling cyndi lauper.

i've gone a little awol on the blog lately, thanks to training for my triathlon, working, doing the family thing, and making excuses, apparently. the real reason is i just haven't really felt inspired for some reason and decided to take a short break. what finally spurred me to get motivated today? the 80s, of course!

a friend is throwing a birthday party for her sister-in-law tonight, which includes everyone getting decked out in their finest neon, tulle, leather, lace and leggings (wait...is this the 80s, or 2012? sounds the same) for pre-drinks and dinner before heading to muvico to catch tom cruise belt it out in rock of ages. and if it's 80s, i'm all about it, as you can see from my past experiences...or just a peek into my closet for that matter...

this first photo is from my 21st birthday when i lived in tallahassee. it's fsu tradition for girls to throw a "waltz," which really just means picking a theme for everyone to dress in before hitting every bar along tennessee street. most girls picked a theme they'd look hot in - barbie and g.i. joe, kentucky derby, playboy bunny, etc. - but not me. i went with 80s prom and rocked a hideous hot pink, off-the-shoulder puffy bridesmaid dress from goodwill; lace fingerless gloves; a cassette tape charm necklace; big strands of pearls; crimped hair and bright blue and pink makeup, hence the ridiculous face i'm making above. only some of my friends were amused by my choice of theme, including my high school girls here, casey and ali, who played along in their cyndi lauper-inspired tutus and side ponies.

i went with something a little classier (or as classy as you can get in tight neon clothing) about two years ago at a friend's house party. shockingly, i already owned all of these items like the leather vest, purple converse and purple houndstooth wayfarers, which you've probably seen in past posts. what i really love about this pic is mark's 80s volleyball player look...complete with socks and sandals.

and let's not forget aly's legwarmers...

want to know what we'll be wearing around cityplace tonight? follow on instagram or check back over the weekend for a new post. 

preview: my husband has some sweet vintage gnr shirts i've been begging to wear for a year now and i finally got approval on one, and my friend julie found a pretty little neon green accessory studded in rhinestones to tie it up with :)

madagascar: a fashion blogger's most wanted.

every once in a while i find a product that makes me stop in my tracks... the sparkly ariel t-shirt at the disney store when i was five. the glittered, maroon patent leather airwalks when i was 12 (god, i wore weird stuff even then). the baby louis vuitton speedy i begged for - and received - on my 21st birthday. the watercolor-printed, sari-inspired dress by rachel rachel roy i wore for my bridal shower.

but these intricately gorgeous scarves made me stop for a different, more powerful reason, however beautiful they are. it was the inspiring stories of craftsmanship shared with me at the junior league of the palm beaches' sip n' shop event earlier this year that made me pull out my wallet. 

* note: the photo here doesn't do it justice, making it look more 

like a fishing net than the pretty purple accessory it is. 

federation sahalandy is located in madagascar (no, not the dreamworks movie) and made up of seven silk and cotton-weaving co-ops and associations, all to empower women and communities in this other country through a global market - with a skill they've had for generations. all products are hand-woven and naturally dyed, which i learned about from the mother of the american woman who started the grassroots effort to help these women and men make their own living. 

i'm a sucker for anything with a meaningful story like this, especially when it's sustainable too. i picked out a purple scarf among the sea of natural colors for my sister in law knowing that she'd like the eco-conscious, worldly nature of it (not to mention its soft texture and perfect design). i purchased it a couple months ago but am only writing about it now because i gave it to her for her birthday tonight. it was a hit...with her and apparently with my husband too:

the organization's website tells the whole story better than i can, so if you'd like more information or want to purchase your own visit it and be sure to read about the farmers and weavers too! 

p.s. this really has nothing to do with the story, but i thought this text conversation with my husband about heading to the birthday dinner at dada in delray beach was worth sharing. listening to too much rihanna, maybe? and this was before the drinks...

 

a's back and so are the cool clothes.

i think my fan status should be demoted since it took me a whole day to catch up on the season 3 premiere of "pretty little liars," but i don't think it was a big error on my part since i have to say the first episode from my dvr tonight was mildly disappointing. a's back...shocker. that being said., the cast wardrobe was not one to disappoint and i, of course, will continue to tune in each week.

as usual, the costumes were on trend but eclectic. aria and hanna continued to pull off the best looks (minus the hair...both sported new 'dos and i'm not a fan, even though i typically love shorter hair), and i pulled out two pieces from the show that i've actually been eyeing to purchase myself.

not sure why she was sleeping in them and her lace-up combat boots other than that they made it easy to run to the cemetery, but aria's ikat denim skinny jeans by joes were the first to catch my eye...both on tv and at anthropologie at cityplace. printed denim is obviously hot, and ikat seems to be the new chevron, so this was a calculated move by pll's stylists.

next was hanna's brightly colored blazer, the natalia cropped jacket by bcbg max azria, which is marked down to $160 online right now. it's nothing new from the brand - i've been eagerly looking it over next to the other color-blocked patterns and pleats throughout the cityplace store for a couple months now, but the style team spiced it up by throwing it over a lace dress. i may have to pick one up and pair it with my new lace dress by rachel rachel roy.

what were your favorite looks?

purple pants preview.

if you know me well, then you know my all-time favorite color is purple, even if that's not shown from my mostly black, gray, taupe and white wardrobe.

i recently hit the lavender jackpot with the ultimate purple pants from anthropologie at cityplace. as a preview to my post later this on a few outfit variations where these trousers are the focus, here are a few of my favorite purple finds that served as my inspiration:

 

clockwise from upper left:

- my purple specialized bike, which got me through the loggerhead triathlon

- bcbg max azria draped cape-style dress and "bewitch me" lipstick by sephora

- cheap but effective lavender nail polish by confetti

- purple converse, bought nearly 10 years ago at hot topic at the mall at wellington green

- mauve floral tool skirt from j.crew at the gardens mall

- wildflowers from my wedding

yes to the dress?

i took a peek in macy's on my lunch break to look for the white blazer that's been filling my wardrobe dreams lately. i couldn't find one and got a little off track, however, because the cityplace location has an unbelievable impulse section that always catches my attention.

today, it was the rachel rachel roy vita dress that sucked me in with all its white lace and fringe gorgeousness (you may remember my undying love for the rachel line at macy's from a past post). against my better judgement i tried it on, knowing i shouldn't spend the money.

one problem: i think i am in love. what's a girl to do? yes to the dress at $129? it's actually a pretty decent price for designer standards, but my husband's heart might skip a beat...at which time i'll remind him of the new adidas soccer cleats he just bought that i'll share with you later this weekend ;)

thoughts??

p.s. the mint free people skinny jeans in the background were unfortunately too tight, but only $50 if you're in the market. the blue bcbg max azria wide-leg dress pants were oppositely too big, but equally cute at $100. plus, both are on sale and an extra 20 percent off if you have macy's wow pass this week.

update: i bought it!! i have a feeling you will be seeing this hot little white number again very soon...

always in 'style.'

the old testament, vogue, the associated press stylebook...they are each "the bible" to some either because of faith, fashion or journalism, and today one of them uncovered its recent makeover. 

the ap stylebook is the guiding light for journalists and pr pros (and for many of you bloggers); containing commonly misused and misspelled words and punctuation, along with other rules. i learned it like the back of my hand in my early days at the university of north florida and florida state university, or else i would've faced the same failed doom as many others in my reporting class. instead i learned to love it. and it's even more "in style" now with its new look...even though i still refuse to write in caps.

not only does it look like it has a purple cover with neon accents - so "in" right now - but the associated press also added 185 fashion guidelines, which is by all means awesome. 

i'm still waiting on my book to come in since a coworker and fellow blogger, jenifer of così buono! (great news for all things italian, including style), tipped me off on its 2012 launch today. as a sample, here are a few of the entries that were scooped, and yes i will designate the proper nouns where necessary, against my will.

• haute couture: to all people in fashion, for the love of god, please learn this one. especially in brand names. "couture" apparel is one of a kind and a designation by the french ministry. stop using it so frequently just because it sounds posh. i hate this one almost as much as misusing "your" and "you're." any ideas on what most people really mean when they misuse it? hint: scroll to the top.
• Savile Row: the shopping street in london known for its bespoke tailoring.
• A-Line
• hoodie: can now stand on its own without elaboration.
• Giorgio Armani
• one-word terms like pantsuit, bodysuit, sweatshirt, trenchcoat: i don't really agree that these should be one word, but whatever.
• zoot suit: i don't know why this is included. who still writes about these except when referencing the cherry poppin' daddies?

i just wish i had been tested on these in college instead of how to abbreviate "idaho." what do you hope is included in the stylebook's fashion guidelines?

d.i.myself: multi-color denim shorts.

if you've been keeping up with the blog - or society for that matter - you know that ombré, watercolors and neon are all pretty hot and popping up everywhere for spring and summer. i've personally had my eye on levi's vintage sherbet shorts for more than a month, which combine all three. they've been stalking me at some of my favorite places like brandy meville and urban outfitters, but as much as they always catch my eye, i just couldn't bring myself to spend $52 on a pair of multi-colored jean shorts i can only wear on weekends, plus i'm not a big fan of high-waisted denim.

it was on a lunch break shopping trip to michael's craft store that i realized i could make them myself for a lot cheaper. michael's had a section in the back meant for kids with all sorts of tie dye materials for t-shirts, including a spray-on kit of neon fabric colors by s.e.i. tumble dye that would look perfectly when merged with an old pair of abercrombie & fitch cutoffs i've hung on to since college. i instantly added the kit to my shopping basket.

shorts shown here with a white forever 21 zipper tank and feather earring, 

pink crochet vest from the h&m conscious collection, bauble bar tweetplate necklace, 

bcbg max azria lace-cut cuff, and sandals from target.

dying the shorts only took me 10 minutes and about a half-day's worth of waiting time, and the final product was well worth the time and approximately $9 it cost me. want to do it yourself too? here's my simple step by step tutorial:

- a clean pair of light blue or white denim cutoffs 

(or pick up a cheap pair of jeans from goodwill and cut them to the ideal length yourself)

- s.e.i. tie dye kit from michael's: i used neon, but any colors you want will work

- rubber gloves to keep that manicure clean

- newspaper to keep your workspace clean

lay out your shorts face down on the newsprint. to get the same bold, saturated look i have - which works best for darker denim - make sure they're dry. for a lighter, watercolor look that will bleed a little, perform step 1-3 on wet shorts. 

first, with the gloves on, grab the color you want most of (i chose pink) and start spraying either the left or right leg of the shorts from the bottom up. cover the whole leg from top to bottom, spraying more pumps on the bottom, where the ombre look will be the darkest. then flip them over and do the same to the front side. it's ok for the side that is already dyed to touch the paper.

next, grab the second color, in this case blue, and start spraying again from the bottom, but this time, stop when you're halfway up; about an inch or two below the pocket. it's ok if the blue and pink to overlap a little, and in fact, it's encouraged because it adds a tinge of a whole new color in the middle...purple. flip them over and repeat on the back.

you're onto the last color now - green for mine - so start spraying it on the space that is left over. it doesn't have to be perfect. it's good if some spaces look a little washed out, or even if a little drips onto the wrong space. it all gives the design more character.

voila! the "hard" part is over. now just wait until the dye completely dries. i let mine dry over night because the florida summer heat and afternoon rain made it so humid outside on my patio.

once the shorts are dry, throw them into an empty dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes so the dye can officially set and become permanent (*note: i haven't actually washed mine yet to confirm this, and plan on doing so with beach towels or on their own...just in case some of the dye bleeds).


and that's it! so easy. here's the final product:

< if you try it out on your own, please share with us! post a photo of your creation to our facebook page, or use the tag, #ppb_diy to instagram, pin or tweet the pic.

loVely nails.

memorial day weekend has been good to me so far, starting out with an early morning ocean swim with friends and a trip to the pool with my husband and jane austen today. it was followed by a manicure and pedicure with my friend jennifer at tipsy salon & spa in jupiter, which was much needed and a sweet thank-you she gifted me at her baby shower a few weeks ago.

it had been a while since i had my nails done, so i wanted to do something fun. i went with neon and neutral after seeing a cool chevron-ish design on pinterest recently from the french site, pshiiit.com. 

i had mine professionally done in gelish polish by tipsy's cute nail tech, lisa, but it'd be pretty easy to do it yourself too. just swipe on some nude-colored paint, followed by a thin "v" on each nail in neon pink to really make the color pop - and match my outfit, as you can see in the pic! you can use a very thin paintbrush if you have one, otherwise a toothpick might work if your base coat is dry already.

so as you can see, all in all it was a good, relaxing day. i rounded out the day with the new god bless america movie (not for the faint of heart, but pretty hilarious and scary at the same time), and some diy action, which you'll find out more about tomorrow...

sunset at sailfish.

as a palm beach county native, sailfish marina has always been one of my favorite places. i practically grew up on the boat there, later learning to fish, dock a boat and drink a beer with my dad all within the slips right there on singer island. the memories from the sunset celebration - a.k.a. sunset at sailfish - along the docks every thursday evening started even earlier, with my mom selling her handmade jewelry and fish and bubble-embellished children's clothing among the other artists and crafters back in the 80s.

it was those memories that swarmed back in tonight as the family and our friends headed back for a summer sunset after work. we started with grouper dogs and the art festival's classic "orange crush" cocktail before checking out the vendors. that's when two cute little kids walked up with this perfect sale pitch off the back of their dad's boat.

 

while i didn't want to look like a tourist wearing a haiwain lay hawaiian-style lei in florida, there was no way i could say no to these adorably determined faces, selling leis made from frangipanis, fishing line and hooks for only $1.50.

my sister and friend maria got the first two readymade floral necklaces, and the boys made sure to give me these bonus gifts while i waited as they made mine:

i proudly wore the final product all over that marina.

to go back earlier in the night, it wasn't all about the flowers. while waiting for my family and friends to arrive before hitting the art show, i took a stop in the the ship store i knew so well growing up.

although i'm not usually into the tropical clothes that are typical of beachy florida, i have to say, the sailfish shop has come a long way from all those tommy bahama clothes from 10 years ago...

"just for fun" by jams world, $80.

expensive for a sundress, but this is just one of the few prints and patterns that stuck out to me from this brand.

sealife medallion straw clutch, bag lady by mudpie, $35.

very palm beach-chic, lined in none other than hot pink and a gold sea shell.

i snapped a picture of these friendship bracelets too, because the buyers for the shop probably have no idea just how "on trend" they are right now by selling these, which are most likely meant for kids.

have you been to sunset at sailfish before? what are your favorite parts? i didn't get into the vendors tonight since many didn't show up due to rain earlier in the day, but we'd love to hear your thoughts about them in the comments below.