Weekend Update - 7/18/2011

{Poolside hammock and the new Hamptons magazine}

 Another picture perfect weekend was spent in the Hamptons soaking up the sun any and every way possible whether lounging by the pool, long walks on the beach, late afternoon bike rides, outdoor breakfast/lunch/dinner(s) and even managed to squeeze in a tennis match. Now that my face is a nice shade of rouge, I guess I'm ready to tackle another week in The Cube [ugh, do I have to??}. Hope you all had a good one!

xx,

Shanelé

{Baby blue beach cruiser}

{Stellar sandcastle made by a couple patient beachgoers}

{The cutest little roadside stand we stumbled upon on a Sunday afternoon bike ride}

{Someday in the distant future when I have a house with a yard, I will have these fuchsia/violet/indigo hydrangeas}

{Champagne toast for the Birthday Girl -- Happy Birthday, Jen!}

{Ending the weekend with a final alfresco bbq}

Congratuation

Dress - Calypso for Target
Necklace worn as bracelet - Street vendor in Thailand
Ring - Forever 21
Bag- Zara
Sandals - Marc Fischer

I wore this recently purchased Calypso St. Barth for Target dress to my brother's graduation party last weekend. Luckily traffic stopped long enough in front of my parents house so we could snap a couple shots (note: there has never been more than two cars on this road at one time). The dress didn't look like much online so I took a gamble and threw it in my online shopping cart for no other reason than to reach the free shipping minimum. With it's extremely comfortable, crisp white cotton, I'm reserving a spot for this breezy little number in the regular circulation of my summer work attire. As an added plus, the wrap feature is pretty flattering -- as you can tell, I'm on full feed in these pics, having not missed a single meal [or drink] in the preceding 7 days. I <3 the Midwest.

xx,

Shanelé

If you build it...

Sheer maxi skirt- H&M
Maxi dress, necklace worn as bracelet, rings - Forever 21
Belt - Urban Outfitters
Sandals - Necessary Clothing
Bag - Zara

I mentioned a while back that I purchased this spaghetti strap black maxi with the intention of wearing it under a sheer maxi skirt. It took about four months but H&M pulled through. We snapped a couple pics in Union Station before catching our train down to visit my sister last week and then for a night out on the [small] town in Kansas, IL.

xx,

Shanelé

Weekend Update x 2 - 7/11/2011

{Oak St. Beach on the Fourth}

I'm back after an amazing couple weekends and week spent home in Illinois. Fourth of July weekend was consumed with multiple birthday celebrations, rooftop Cubs / White Sox game, beach and bbq after bbq. After the weekend in Chicago we headed down to stay with my sister and her husband in their picture-perfect little house in central Illinois. The last leg of the trip was spent in my hometown [Carlinville, IL] for a bus trip down to the wineries in Grafton, IL and my youngest brother's high-school graduation party. Lot's of partying and catching up with friends/family/my parent's pups left little time for rest but well worth it. Needless to say, today is going to be rough. Hope you all had a nice weekend!

{all my besties for my rooftop bday party}

{DQ cookie dough ice cream birthday cake | the gals on a low-key Fourth of July bbq}

{old glory in Chicago - Union Station}

{my sister's award-winning strawberry/rhubarb and bumbleberry pies hot out of the oven}

{door to one of my dad's old grain trucks}

{the best dog in the world}

{the cutest pup in the world}

{big sis & I | some of the party bus crowd before heading to Grafton}

{graduation party table decor - burlap table runners/mason jars with corn & soybeans tied with burlap | ma familia at my brother's, second from left, grad party}

Summer Fridays

Skirt, vest, wedges - Zara
Purse, earrings, cuff - Forever 21
Sunnies, Belt - H&M
Nails - Essie's 'Borrowed & Blue' 

Although I don't get summer Friday's like [what seems to be] half of the workforce, I am quite happy my bosses "work from home" most Fridays, allowing everyone to step outside the strict business casual dress code...which I find myself doing more and more everyday as I continue to make bright-colored Zara purchases (exhibit A). I'm pleasantly surprised how well this vest, featured in my first ever outfit post and one of my favorite articles of clothing, has transitioned into spring with a tee under it and now summer all by its lonesome.

xx,

Shanelé

Tied Up

Shorts, glasses - H&M
Bag, belt - Zara
Headband - Forever 21
T- Shirt - Target

I wore this the other weekend for a late evening walk along the South Hampton beach. As I mentioned last week, I'm back home in the Midwest for a week of vacay so notwithstanding a couple scheduled posts, I'll be back in full swing next week. Hope you all had a great Fourth of July weekend!!

xx,

Shanelé

Happy Birthday to America & Me

pics via A Lovely Escape

I'm off to Chicago to spend the Fourth of July, which also so happens to be my Birthday. The weekend is full with fun activities including a rooftop birthday party to watch the fireworks on the 2nd, Cubs / White Sox rooftop game on the 3rd and friend's bbq on the Fourth before heading down to my hometown for the little bro's High School graduation party the following weekend. I'll have a couple scheduled posts but until then, take 'er easy!

xx,

Shanelé

Staples

White top - Zara
Jeans - Seven for All Mankind
Heels - Michael Kors
Earrings - Forever 21
Ring- H&M
Watch - Vintage

Although jeans are far from my favorite article of clothing, they're worth wearing to have another excuse to throw on this Zara top and Michael Kors heels, both of which I'm addicted too. This ring, featured in last week's 'Look's for Less', keeps sneaking its way into a lot of my outfits of late as well. I like the pop it adds to a basic look like this one.

Happy Thursday...which makes tomorrow Friday -- the day I leave for Chicago. I'll refrain from trying to articulate my excitement but let's just say I'm GEEKED!

xx,

Shanelé

Watercolors

Dress - Zara similar here
Nude heels - Aldo
Turquoise bracelet - Forever 21
Ring and orange bracelet - H&M
Belt - unknown

I was a little hesitant to purchase this dress given it bumps up against my max. spending limit per item of $100. So, of course, bought it with the intention of returning...and after wearing to an engagement party shortly thereafter and paired with a blazer to work, it doesn't look like that's in the cards. I'm going to have to get creative like Little Miss BEE here and here to get my money's worth.

xx,

Shanelé

Weekend Update - 6/28/2011

{So it's not the fanciest, but one of my favorite Bridgehampton houses...'Murica} 

Weekend in the Hampton's part deux consisted largely of the same as last weekend: bbqs, bike rides to the beach and more baking in the sun. Hope you all had a good one!

xx,

Shanelé

{stack of tomatoes from a local farmer}

{looks like summer, tastes like summer, must be summer}

{Essie's 'French Affair' painted toes in the sand}

{pretty pebbles washed up ashore}