{finding happiness in the little things + my new fave green dress}

Green Dress (small) // Sand Dollar Earrings // Steve Madden Sandals (go up 1/2 size) //

Topshop Purse // Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Photography by Lauren Middledorf

Green Dress (small) // Sand Dollar Earrings // Steve Madden Sandals (go up 1/2 size) // Topshop Purse // Ray-Ban Sunglasses

I've talked about finding happiness in the little things a lot. I'm no stranger to getting in funks and not being able to pull myself out of it right away. I can't simply snap my fingers and make myself happy again (can anyone though?) - life just doesn't work like that. I can wind up festering on one thing until I fully think it through and come to a conclusion. The problem with that is sometimes it will take days and it's a huge distraction that causes me to be unable to focus on anything else...

Sound familiar?

Yeah, I know I'm not alone! I very easily let other people's emotions and thoughts influence me. So if I'm unhappy at work, for example, and a coworker is feeling the same way and shares those thoughts with me I begin to go in a downward spiral. This happens quickly to me because I'm a very optimistic person. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? An optimistic person that gets dragged down with pessimism. A negative attitude or thoughts weighs on me heavier than it does for others. Because I attempt to see the best in everything when someone points out a negative it's almost a "glass shattering moment" for me. It's kind of like someone taking off your rose colored glasses ha. I feel emotions very deeply - so when someone announces a pregnancy, engagement, exciting news, etc I feel absolutely elated! If it's sad news like a death or breakup my empathy takes full control of my heart and mind.

I've learned this more and more about myself in the last 3 years. Perhaps it was recognizing how my actions had an effect on others and being forced to take an inward look at myself after a bad breakup, moving into a solo apartment, dating in DC, and then ultimately losing my dad. It was a cumulation of events that makes you look at life differently! For awhile I started writing 3 things that made me smile every morning, then I began to have a one word goal for the week (like endurance, joy, or patience), and I would also have a quote that I wanted to embody by the end of the day/month/week. All of these tasks helped me succeed and keep my happiness up but it was just that... a task. I had to carve out time to do it and really think about what I wanted to focus on and choose. Would I do it again? Yes. I still occasionally write down 3 things that make me smile if it's something unique and random.

But more recently I've begun to find happiness in the little things, in the things that already exist and make up my life. Instead of seeking something out I let it come to me. It makes me appreciate a giving quality in a stranger, or a puppy that I passed on the street, or someones IG story that made me laugh really hard on my commute home. I don't sit down and force myself to say why I'm happy - I glance around for it and it finds me. I think this has caused a domino effect in me because I'm able to recognize the happiness faster and in return I can be pulled out of a funk more quickly.

It sounds silly but this green dress is one of those happy things... I wore it to work on a Friday and got so many compliments that I wore it again on Sunday to drinks with friends. I didn't care that I'd worn it two days earlier. It made me happy and I felt good about myself :) I'm a sucker for green and a dress that I can spin and dance in! That's one of the little things that will always make me happy!

Love Always,

{blue + pink smocked dress}

I found this cute lil dress in stores and was instantly smitten with the style.

F21 Dress (not online, similar linked below) // J.Crew Factory Wedges // Kendra Scott Turquoise Necklace // Kendra Scott Gold Necklace // Quay Sunglasses // J.Crew Purse // Lipstick in "Patina"

Photography by Rachel Gordon

I love a good smocked detail on dresses and tops but was worried that having it around my mid-section would highlight an area that I didn't want to have attention brought to. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when the fit was really slimming! You can move the skirt up or down and really maneuver this style to fit your body type. Plus, it's so lightweight and breezy without making you look baggy. The combo of loose up top and fitted at the waist is very slimming. I've been stalking the website to see if this has popped up online yet but no luck (it's still in stores)! I've linked a bunch of similar dresses in the same style that are just as adorable!

These wedges have also become a staple for me this summer. They're perfect for work and fun! I wore them to a welcome party for a wedding in MA last weekend. I can commute to work in them AND dance all night in them - total win in my book!

F21 Dress (not online, similar linked below) // J.Crew Factory Wedges // Kendra Scott Turquoise Necklace // Kendra Scott Gold Necklace // Quay Sunglasses // J.Crew Purse // Lipstick in "Patina"

Love Always,

{little white amazon dress}

There's nothing I love more than bright & vibrant color... but white is easily my go-to color that never fails. I just love a crisp white!

White Amazon Dress // Kendra Scott Earrings c/o // Leopard Shoes (similar) //

Blue Mirrored Aviators // Matte Lipstick in shade Patina

Photography by Kaise White

I found this cute little dress on Amazon and instantly knew it was a must have in my closet. I love the flutter sleeves and the tiered ruffle skirt. It's also lined!! So you don't have to worry about it ever being see through. This just proves that reading the reviews on Amazon are worth it - I never would've known if I hadn't scrolled through them. In all honesty I probably would've written this off. White dresses are normally a miss for me (except I have a ton, maybe because I always assume they won't work haha). I've got lots of other summer dresses on my Amazon Shop Page!!

White Amazon Dress // Kendra Scott Earrings c/o // Leopard Shoes (similar) //

Blue Mirrored Aviators // Matte Lipstick in shade Patina

I'm wearing a small and am 5'-6" for reference!

Love Always,

{lilly pulitzer + georgetown cupcake + hope for henry}

I'm so unbelievably excited to share today's post with y'all I can hardly stand it!!! Sandy (my talented photographer) and I dreamed up this whole shoot and had the most fun shooting it in collaboration with brands I love! Scroll down to the bottom to see what this whole shoot was for...

hint: it involves shopping and sweets!

Lilly Pulitzer Dress // J.Crew Factory Flatforms // Pearl Hoop Earrings //

Cork Studded Purse // Tassel Bracelets // Stila Liquid Lipstick in shade Patina

Photography by Sandy Ma

I am so thrilled to share that I will be hosting an event at Lilly Pulitzer

in Georgetown on Sunday, June 2 from 12-3pm!

The event is in partnership with Georgetown Cupcake and they've created a "Lilly's Resort Dozen" that will only be sold for the month of June! 15% of every Lilly dozen sold at Georgetown Cupcake gets donated back to Hope for Henry, an organization that is reinventing how hospitals care for seriously ill children and their families through innovative programs that entertain, reduce stress, and empower children to be active participants in their own care. To help raise even more, Lilly is hosting an in-store Shop and Share where all sales give 10% back to Hope for Henry too! 

Come shop with me, taste all of the amazing cupcakes (like key lime pie and salted caramel), and hang out!! I'd love to meet you guys and celebrate the start of summer the best way possible - with cupcakes, Lilly, and raising money for a great cause! The store is gorgeous and the cupcakes are delicious so just stop by to say hi if you're in the area :)

Okay so outfit details...

I can't get enough of this blue dress. The pattern is what first drew me to it with the lemons and whimsical blues and whites. I love how it's appropriate for work but still would be fun for the weekends with the flirty ruffles! It zips up the back and even though it looks like a wrap dress it's actually faux - which means it won't flap open with the wind! I paired it with my favorite Lilly pearl hoop earrings that are really lightweight and lend a sweet little touch of pink pearl plus my tassel bracelets I scored on sale last summer. Then I topped it all off with a Lilly cork studded clutch (I can't say no to any cork details) and J.Crew Factory platform espadrilles to dress down the whole look.

Lilly Pulitzer Dress // J.Crew Factory Flatforms // Pearl Hoop Earrings //

Cork Studded Purse // Tassel Bracelets // Stila Liquid Lipstick in shade Patina

If you have any questions let me know! I hope to see y'all at the event - drop a note below if you're going to try to stop by and see me :)

Love Always,