Keeping it Simple with Free People

{Dress // Free People (similar, similar), Sandals // Nine West (similar, similar) , Purse // Cole Haan (similar)}

High 70's is something that I definitely can't complain about. Nor can I complain about the breezy dresses that are coming with it. We decided to explore a little bit yesterday and with a few hours of walking around, my favorite Free People dress came in for the win. A simple effortless slip dress is something everyone needs and FP has it on lockdown. I bought this dress a few years ago and it's seen everything from concerts to formals to art galleries. I'm loving the FP layered style but I'm not sure if I'm gutsy enough to pull it off yet. For now, I'll just admire their Instagram {dying over these looks} from afar and keep it super simple with a pair of metallic sandals that never let me down. There's something to say about investing in a great brand of sandals. I love my Target knockarounds from my post yesterday {view here} but these ones really step up the quality a notch and last longer than just one season. I'd say the same goes for a go-to cross body. You can never go wrong with a simple metallic that fits all of your essentials. 

Roaming around we came across this not-so hidden gem of the Ringling family art collection. Their gallery was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the incredible art that was inside! Follow along with what I saw over on my Instagram @emilyanddot {link here} where you can see more pictures of this pink palace and my pink sunburn!

Loving it!

Emily

P.S. Had to include the brother on this post because this kid keeps me on my fashion toes. 

Dock Days in Florida

{Dress // Springfield (similar here), Shoes // Target (here), Sunglasses // AJ Morgan (here)}

Well I'm definitely already digging our time spent here in Florida. Salty hair and sandy clothes are a cure for absolutely anything and after a busy week of finals, Christmas and the on-set of winter, escaping to Florida was just what we all needed. The weather is absolutely beautiful, the beach is right outside our door and I have a clear schedule for 7 days. Life. Is. Good. A break from school is always great but there's never anything like the relaxation that you get from the beach. I'm more than happy to be here. 

As you know, I'm a sucker for taking photos of anything and everything and I've actually already taken 697 photos in three days (actually laughing out loud). Make sure to follow along on my Instagram @emilyanddot {link right here!} to see everything I'm up to on the trip! These photos were snapped while we were waiting on the grill to fire up last night for dinner. 

Here I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses I snagged from a store while I was abroad in Belgium. It fits similar to my favorite J.Crew Factory dress and there's even a similar color {here, here}! 

I've been running around on the beach in these sandals but honestly, where haven't I worn these? These are $20 Massimo sandals from Target {here} and they're my absolute favorite. No blisters whatsoever and they have stayed together after the cobblestone streets of Europe, outdoor summer concerts and now walking to and from the beach. I'm not lying when I say that I have four more pairs waiting for me in my closet for when I walk right through these. Love them. 

Last but not least, these sunglasses from AJ Morgan {here}. I grabbed these from my favorite vintage store this past summer and I've been obsessed with the entire brand ever since. AJ Morgan isn't vintage but they make reasonably priced ($12!) glasses in all different shapes and colors. Check them out if you haven't heard of them already!

Hope everyone else is having a great rest of their breaks and stocking up on all kinds of goodies with these post-Christmas sales! What are you all doing for break?!

Emily

Spring Break State of Mind

As I mentioned before I'm currently on Spring Break. And also as I mentioned before I'm home, in Kentucky, where it's snowing. Brrrr. Now don't get me wrong, this was exactly where I wanted to be. I needed a place to come relax and crash on the couch for a few days and it has been absolutely great. However, I am still a little jealous of all my friends lounging on the beach. I'm currently living vicariously through their Facebook and Instagram posts while I'm all bundled up. Some tanning oil, a good book and a margarita sound like a dream.

In the meantime I can handle my warm chai and J.Crew scarves but I could also handle this J.Crew striped bikini and these adorable Jacks. Fortunately for me, summer is coming soon and by April Memphis is already scalding. The pool on campus is going to be seeing me as soon as possible so I guess I can wait until then. 

*sigh,

Emily

Coffee Shop Minus the Coffee?

So I'm totally one of those coffee shop people. I'm definitely not hipster nor do I spend all of my day there but I really love coffee shops.

Also, Starbucks doesn't count. Of course I love my cake pops just as much as the next girl but it doesn't match the homey and neighborhood feel of a local coffee shop. They're one of the places that I could sit for hours and get so much work done but they're also the places that I love to just sit and chat. Not to mention the smell. Gosh. Love it.

Conveniently I'm currently sitting in a coffee shop pondering the fact that I love these places but I don't love coffee. *Pause…

I know I know it sounds kind of silly but I do have my reasons. For one, I don't want to become addicted to it. I don't want to be one of those people that the first thing they do every morning is make / buy a cup of coffee. Ain't nobody got time for that. Second, coffee breath. Need I say more. And last but essentially the most important, I just don't like it. And you know what? I'm fine with that.

So no coffee but I still come to these Coffee Shops? Because I love everything else. The fact that I don't drink coffee nearly cuts out half of their offerings but it doesn't necessarily cut out the best.

Here's a list of my favorite (non-coffee) drinks both hot & cold to get from coffee shops.

1. Chai Tea Latte
     
2. London Fog
    
3. Hot Chocolate
     
4. Matcha Green Tea Freddo

5. Vanilla Steamer
     
6. Chocolate Freddo
     
7. Italian Soda
   
8. Apple Cider

9. Smoothies & Frappes

10. Tazo Tea Bags
     


Hope it might spark your inspiration to try something new!



Coffee-less,
Emily

Spring Break!

Today is my last day of classes before Spring Break. Well scratch that, I'm currently in my last class before Spring Break. Whoops. "Pilgrimages & Crusades were a source of funding for building Romanesque churches." … Obviously I'm having difficulties focusing. 

I just can't wait. 

I don't have any crazy Spring Break plans nor do I really want to. My cat, home cooking and a couch is really calling my name. I'm not someone who really gets home sick but I definitely need some time with my family. I need some time without a day scheduled around work and I need some time with my guy. Fact about Emily: I'm in a long distance relationship while at school. So that's really about most of the time. Needless to say, breaks are a little bit of heaven. Weekends are great but a whole week, I can't explain what that feels like. Keeping this minimally cheesy, let's just say I'm pumped.

So parents, brother, boyfriend, cats, and couch. What more could I ask for?
Well I could ask for the next 20 minutes of art history to go away but I guess I can deal.



Dying in class,
Emily