Shops in St. Augustine

June 25, 2017

St. Augustine is a place that we travel to often. Although it is nearby, it is far enough away to make it seem like a mini-vacation. There are so many places to explore. This weekend we found three new shops and one restaurant that I thought were interesting and wanted to share.

Located on Anastasia Blvd. near the Bridge of Lions, is “St. Augustine’s Iconic Fashion Boutique”

Rochelle’s

Featuring clothing by Free People, Ella Moss, Velvet by Graham & Spencer, and Bailey44, this trendy boutique offers high end items. Although there was a $29 Sale rack at the front of the store, overall this is a name brand boutiquePrice Tag Pic

Toward the back of the shop are some sale items, a fitting room, a sitting area, and some VERY interesting artwork

If you are not familiar with the name brands, you may not appreciate the items that you find at Rochelle’s. There are some bargains to be found and the shop itself is worth the visit. When in the area, you need to check it out for yourself.

Abbey Road

Featuring clothing styles for young and the young at heart, swim suits, jewelry, accessories, and even bike rentals. Abbey Road is located on A1A and is adjacent to an ice cream shop (great idea)

This was My favorite item and I think my youngest daughter (Amanda) would likely fight me for itNotice the Cold Shoulder application. Love it

She would like this too

Vintage Warehouse

There is lovely furniture here that my Mama would love, and could paint to look equally as lovely.I LOVE this lingerie chest and would have LOVED nothing more than to take it home with me today…

along with this…LOVE!

If you happen to be in St. Augustine driving down Anastasia Blvd. and you seeI highly recommend a walk thru. You will likely find something that you want to take home with you!

Gypsy Cab Co

Last but not least is the Gypsy Cab Co. because Sunday Brunch has to happen when you are away from home for the weekend I enjoyed the California Benedict with grits and fruit

LB enjoyed the East L.A. Burrito with cheesy grits and fruitDon’t you love watermelon?

In the end, LB ate half of my order and took half of his home for leftovers this week. It was SO GOOD! I HIGHLY recommend Brunch at Gypsy Cab.

They open at 10:30.

You can do it, and You will be glad You did!

Friday Favorites

June 23, 2017

Friday is my favorite day of the week, therefore it is a perfect day to mention my weekly favorites.

Every Friday, I will go to the office and do the same job that I do on Monday through Thursday, but for some reason, it is easier to manage. This is an enigma.

Nevertheless…

Here are my Five Friday Favorites:

Favorite # ONE

Gingham I mentioned this blouse on my Target post and I think it is adorable. Gingham is a classic and also a trend. Here are some other gingham items that I think are cute:

Favorite # TWO

This HatA box from Amazon made its way to my doorstep last Tuesday. Certain that it was for LB, I alerted him that he had a package at the front door. After he retrieved it and brought it inside, he announced, it is addressed to Kim Starling. Well, I thought, when did I order something from Amazon? I must be losing my mind. It must be something I ordered. It is JUST like something I Would order. I can’t remember ordering anything. Maybe it is a back order item from Shein. How is that possible? It is from Amazon, not Shein.

I was perplexed about this for at least 12 hours. Finally, I decided, I must figure out when I ordered this hat, so I went back to the box. Inside the box I found this:What a Happy Surprise! Thank you for the belated birthday gift from my sweet Daughter-in-law Emily, my wonderful son Richard, and my Perfect Glam-daughter Lydia! I am tickled! (that’s a Southern term)

Favorite # THREE

Hall & Oates tickets… this week LB discovered that one of my favorite 80’s Duos will be performing at the Jacksonville Veteran’s Memorial Arena in September. So he bought tickets! The last time Daryl Hall and John Oates were in Florida, I had bronchitis, and was not able to completely enjoy the Hall and Oates experience. Now I get another chance and I’m SO EXCITED!

Favorite # FOUR

A FaceBook post from my Daddy’s cousin (and mine) Robbie Darden. It is SO HOT and HUMID right now. If we weren’t able to come inside for comfort and cool air, what would become of us????

Favorite # FIVE

This Video clip:

https://prettyis.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FullSizeRender-14.jpg

This is a MUST SEE… My sweet Mama spending a rainy day with my sweet Glam-daughter Lydia in search of muddy puddles (thank you Peppa Pig). When asked, “where’s the muddy puddle?” Lydia replies, “where’d it go?”

So Adorable.

Summer 2017 Trends

June 22, 2017

The seasonal trends are always interesting to me! I love to google things like ‘summer trends’, ‘summer 2017 trends’, ‘summer 2017 fashion’, etc. This is a what I did Tuesday. My intention was to post this on the first day of Summer (yesterday), but alas, I have a job. There were several sites that I scoured for information regarding this new season’s trends: Elle, WhoWhatWear, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Fashionizer, and more… My goal was to find items that were actually agreed upon as Summer 2017 trends by each of these sites. Here is what I found…

These trends were listed by at least one of the sites:

Pink – particularly of the fuchsia variety (aka Pink Yarrow), stripes – from school uniform to sailor and more, white dresses, red shorts, hats, Primrose yellow pants, camouflage, wide-leg pants, gingham, basket-bags, retro-kinis, wrap dresses, white sneakers with sundresses, gladiator sandals, laced jeans (as in shoe type laces up the side), crop tops, off the shoulders, sexy side slit, plunging necklines, sweatshirts, western, pants on pants aka layered pants, broad shoulders aka shoulder pads, and cutouts.

I am not discounting any of these as perfectly wonderful summer 2017 trends, I am simply focusing on the trends that were mentioned more than once. Here they are:

the detailed sleeve – ruffles, flutes, cropped, bunched, oversized

sheer (as in see-through) fabric bralettes – for those with a love of underwear as outerwearRufflesthe slogan tee one-piece bathing suits crochet embellished suits deconstructed shirts Basket Bags

In addition to these fashion trends, I want to mention (or reveal if you do not already know) the color trends for Spring/Summer 2017. I would’ve done it months ago, but I didn’t have a blog.

PANTONE’s Fashion Color Report Spring/Summer 2017

These are the colors that I’m always asking Stephanie about every season. Example text: “Steph, I’m getting my toes done, what colors are trending?” (And she always knows)

The top ten colors chosen by the PANTONE Fashion Color Report as seen on the runway are: Primrose Yellow, Pale Dogwood, Hazelnut, Island Paradise, Greenery, Flame, Pink Yarrow, Niagara, Kale, and Lapis Blue.

Happy SUMMER!

Target

June 19, 2017

For my birthday, my girls presented me with gifts that were purchased from a favorite retail establishment…

Target!

I loved my birthday gifts, but alas… they did not fit. This is not a problem. I’m accustomed to receiving apparel that isn’t quite right as I order things that have to be returned all the time. Far from being a problem, this is an opportunity to SHOP!

We set out for Target.

With some help from LB and a Target employee, I found what I came for and tried them on for size.This Floral Print Cold Shoulder Dress with Tie Straps was hand picked by Stephanie. The cold shoulder is a trend I have invested in considerably, but this dress has a new take on the cold shoulder with tassel ties. One of the cutest shift dresses I have seen this spring that incorporates the tassel trend into the cold shoulder itself. Stephanie has great taste.

This Front Button-Down Gingham Blouse is intended to be worn off the shoulder. I love the off the shoulder trend and have several off the shoulder tops that I wear on weekends. It occurred to me that I should probably exchange this top for something I could wear to work, but I wanted to keep this one that Amanda picked out just for me.

So I decided to make it work for workdays as well! and I wore it today.

Instead of an off the shoulder top, it becomes a boat neck top; instead of having long sleeves it becomes a 3/4 sleeve top. I’m loving the versatility!

Perfect Fit! Thank you Stephanie and Amanda!

the photo session was also fun!

Christo by Brighton

June 15, 2017

Christo by Brighton

is a new collection of cuffs that is a must-have for every woman. I’ve always wanted to say that. Anyway… it is a must-have for me. I’ve had mine for several months now and have been able to accessorize several outfits with it. The cuff features interchangeable and reversible leathers straps which allows you to transform your look. You can display them with or without the leather strap. Today I’m styling mine without the leather.

I have the Christo Madrid Narrow Cuff Bracelet

The narrow straps that were purchased with my cuff are reversible in the colors henna/cobblestone and pewter/lipstick.

Yes, he follows me everywhere.

Instead of wearing a strap insert in my cuff today, I decided to stack it with another bracelet which is also a Brighton favorite.

Obviously my cuff is silver, but it also comes in gold. There are three sizes: slim, narrow, and wide. LB picked mine out and gave it to me as a gift, but I would have picked the same one! I wear it all the time and I love it! The Christo cuff goes with everything! I sound like a commercial!

There are no affiliate links on this page… I just enjoy adding links!

Posing in Italy!

June 9, 2017

My life is exciting, but I haven’t been able to make time to visit Italy (source)

I have just recently started my blog… only three months ago TODAY! It has been a lot of fun and more work than I imagined… more like a second job than a hobby or pastime. Last week I enjoyed a summer vacation trip to Captiva Island which I covered in this blog, and wrapped up with a visit to the ER. It was at some point during the ride to the hospital that I realized how SHORT life really is. My thought during that ride was that I was on my way out, like my Daddy who was just slightly older than me when he left this world on November 23rd 2001. I am much like him, so it is no wonder that I assumed I would meet the same type of end. I may still do that, just not on June 3rd 2017. I am proud that I am so much like him. But I am pleased to say that I’m not finished here yet.

As I was flipping through Instagram during my lunch break today, I noticed ANOTHER person that I follow posting photos of herself in Italy. It seems to be a trend to pose for a picture of yourself in Cinque Terre.

Happily, I am taking shots of myself in my bedroom! Alive and well

… and wearing my beautiful White House Black Market blouse that LB purchased for me in March of this yearalong with my FAVORITE black sandals

and all the Brighton jewelry any red blooded American girl could ask for

my bracelets are retired. The above pictured are similar

Thank you Jesus

Sanibel Outlet

June 8, 2017

On the final day of our Captiva Island Vacation, LB brought me to the Sanibel Outlet Mall. The place caught my eye as we were heading out of town, on our way home. It was the bright blue roof shouting for my attention, and yes, I am frequently motivated by the superficial.
We parked at the end of the complex and walked to the first retail establishment. LB was much more excited about G.H. Bass & Co. Factory Outlet than I, but I did enjoy his enthusiasm, and, of course, his company. A shout out to the store manager who was engaging and charismatic and the employees were all very friendly and helpful.
LB enjoyed trying on jackets, vests…

and SEVERAL pairs of shoes I enjoyed taking his picture

I found one pair of cognac wedge sandals that I especially like and ended up purchasing And LB took the opportunity to snap several shots of me trying them on for size. I kinda like the red ones too.

We checked out and continued our excursion

Van Heusen is another store that I was not familiar with until this visit. As we were making our way to the store, a small group was leaving, each with stuffed shopping bags under each arm. That piqued our interest. Just inside the doors were racks with sale signs that read $15 each and $9 each. The $15 rack was loaded with white pants and capris. The Superstretch capri and crop pant. For $15, I couldn’t resist. You can look at them in black and gray here, but you can’t touch (shop) until you “find a store”.

There was a quick run through Banana Republic, GAP, Famous Footwear, Rack Room and Samsonite, but no purchases.
A visit to these websites will reveal savings on purchases. Currently Banana Republic has 35% off and free shipping on orders over $50. GAP offers 40% off and Free shipping on all orders with the code: WARMER. Famous Footwear offers up to 40% off sandals and free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Rackroom offers BOGO 50% off 2nd pair.
The last stop was LOFT.

No purchases during this visit, but plenty to dream about. If you visit this site today, you will be able to enjoy the 50% off FLASH sale OR $25 off your entire order.