Quotes



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Box of Stones



Quotes



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A Hint of Summer

It's pretty obvious around here that I love Summer wardrobes.

In warm weather I always wear skirts and dresses.

Since were still kind of in the middle of the Summer-Fall clothing switch here are a few of my favorite Summer and Fall skirts and dresses.

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Maxi skirts are huge right now. A perfect piece of clothing for both warm days and cool nights.

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Who doesn't love a simple skirt that makes such a statement?

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I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these Fall wardrobe essentials from J. Crew.

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Pair this coral skirt with a bright top for Summer or camel boots for Fall.

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Click here for the cutest maxi skirt (and tutorial!) 

and be sure to take a peek here for step by step DIY tie-dye skirt instructions.

Quotes; Karen Lamb



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So Long Summer

After sneaking off to Florida for the weekend, I'm back to finish my summer recap!

Technically my weekend trip was my first trip of Fall but we're going to count it as Summer since the weather was so nice and sunny.

September quickly brought fall weather to my neck of the woods

but I managed to squeeze every last drop out of this amazing Summer.



I headed to New Jersey to celebrate with my nearest and dearest family friends. Christine (with her family in the top middle) and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. We've enjoyed many family parties, camp outs, and holidays by each others sides. [We saw Titanic on her 13th birthday and cried through the entire thing. We even had "friendly" cooking contests every Easter which we cannot wait to start again this year.] Now that we're "grown up" we have transitioned from the kids table ourselves, to having her kids at the kids table. How adorable are the youngest cousins in the middle bottom picture??

Blond locks and unfairly long eye lashes are a sure recipe for trouble.

As was the case most of the summer, September brought on many random activities to pass the time. I spent many nights at CBP watching my favorite baseball team, hanging with cute little girls who give the best hugs, saw Blink 182 for the second time in two months, spent way too much money on Fabric Row in South Philadelphia, and relaxed on the beach with family in Florida.

As sad as I am for Summer to be over, I've got some pretty good things in line for Fall and cant wait to break out my sweaters and boots!

Quotes



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So Long Summer Part Three

Consider this your warning, this is going to be a long one.

For so many reasons, this will easily be one of my favorite posts to write. The middle of the summer was by far my favorite part of this year so far. (which by the way, can you believe it's offically Fall tomorrow??)

August consisted of an overload of good friends, lots of memories,

extremely little sleep and occasionally forgetting to eat because of so much excitement.

(Ok, this may have happened more than once. So what.)

I started the month with one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

My summer side kick Mairead and I made the journey out to Upper Darby to see Bon Iver.

If you're at all familiar with the area, you'll know why this was such a big deal. Aside from a few mishaps with torrential rains and car radios that get stuck on obnoxiously loud volumes and refuse to turn off, the night was a success. Throughout the summer Mairead and I had quite a few memorable dates. We were able to cross many things off our summer bucket lists (inluding but not limited to) Phillies games, beach trips, beergaritas, kicking butt in darts, [many many] peach pommtinis, softball games, & breakfast dates.

Yep, we were busy.



Next was my most favorite whirlwind weekend ever.

 As many of you know my best friend for life Molly, lives in LA and for this years annual trip we met up with her brother in NYC. Not only did I get to reuinte with half of my west coast family, but we were able to make it out to New Jersey to visit with lifelong friends. The seven of us revisted our teenage years together by going to the first stop on Blink 182's summer tour.

It was very well one of the greatest nights of our summer.

After not having all been together in more than 5 years, we quickly fell right back in synch and picked up right where we left off. It was scary reassuring to know that not much has changed aside from (some of us) being a little taller and of legal drinking age. After a minor detour, Molly, Rory and I headed back to the city to continue our New York City adventure. We hit up Times Square, saw a Broadway show, and waited in an hour and a half line for Shake Shack (abosolutely worth it).

We even got surprised by their cousin and my best friend Christine, and spent the night right where we're all most comfortable....in Irish pubs throughout the city. Sunday we enjoyed a lazy morning, delicisous brunch, and a walk on the High Line before heading our separate ways home.

What did your favorite summer weekend consist of?

Quotes; Roald Dahl

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So Long Summer Part Two

After yesterdays post, next up on my list of summer activities was a trip a tiny bit west

to see my friend Jess and her adorable son Brandyn in Chicago. Oh and her boyfriend Andy too.

[which by the way, tomorrow is Brandyns 2nd birthday! Happy early Birthday handsome!]

After Chicago was a random array of greatness.

I got to see the Femme Fatale tour with Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj (amazing!),

made some Fourth of July treats, spent a sunday in the Big Apple with my college roommate Kristy,

 and relaxed at my family's lake house with my close friends and life savers Matt & Kati.

Not to mention the numerous hours I logged at Citizens Bank Park supporting the Phillies.

[Oh hey Red October, So nice to see you for the fifth year in a row!]



What were your favorite activities this summer? Where did you spend the majority of your time?

Quotes: William James

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

-William James



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So Long Summer

With only three official days of summer left, it really feels like Fall has made an early arrival on the East Coast. Fall is pushing itself on us with crisp mornings, chilly nights and lots of rain.

While I wish I were on the beach drinking icey cocktails instead of inside on this gray day,

I thought a little summer reminiscing might do some good.

If you havent realized, I deeply love traveling. Near or far, I'll go pretty much anywhere.

I started the summer off with a trip north to see some good friends (you cant see them, but paired with Diana's white tank and leather jacket are some amazing sequin shorts!) & one really cool pup...tell me he's not adorable. Next up was a week long beach vacation for my frien Kelly's wedding. That handsome kid with me in the black and white photo is (my one day) B.I.L or Bradley, either applies. Throw in some of my favorite little ones and a beach weekend with my college roommate, and I couldnt have asked for a better start to the summer!

How did you kick off your summer?

Quotes

...letting go is not the same as giving up...



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Lonny & Closets...Love

Every woman dreams of the perfect closet.

For many of us, ever since we were little closets were a perfect little hideaway;

slipping between hanging skirts and dresses during hide and seek, "borrowing" our mothers clothes for dress up or just marveling at the rows of varying colors and fabrics.

As usual Lonny has out done themselves again. Check out this amazing post on Killer Closets.

Here are a few of my favorite shots.

weheartit

Since the last offical week of summer is already here,

I'm attempting to make the most of this week and there's no better way to start than with some weheartit favs that just simply feel like summer. If you've been with me for a while here on Always Love, you know how much I love weheartit. There's just something so calming about perusing thousands of pictures.

 

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Be sure to check back throughout the week as I'll be doing a recap of my wonderful summer!

Quotes: Bobbi Brown



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Quotes

             Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly



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Cute to Boot



After yesterday's post

 my dear friend Wendy commented reminding me of another one of my fall go to style favorites. Boots

And on this lovely Thursday morning it's raining yet again here in Philadelphia.

[I think it's safe to say the entire north east has had enough of this rain.]

So I decided to start this post with my favorite rain boots.

Who can resist falling in love with these bright green Hunters?

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Tory Burch does it again.

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Normally I'm a little weird about textures, but something about these quilted boots is drawing me in.

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The PERFECT classic, casual fall boot.

Paired with leggings or skinny jeans, these are my default shoe for the season.

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I told you she gets me every time...

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Quotes



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Transitions

With the inevitable arrival of Fall right around the corner, I'm [very] reluctantly and very slowly
starting to put away the flip flops, beach cover ups, & sundresses.
The only thing I am excited for this season is the switch to comfy hoodies and slouchy sweaters.
I love the style in each of these finds on one of my favorite pass times weheartit.



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I'm just dying to get my hands on a great green blazer.

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LMB. Girl, this one's for you.

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Quotes

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

So, love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.

And believe that everything happens for a reason...

if you get a chance - take it; if it changes your life - let it.

Nobody said that it would be easy...

They just promised it would be worth it.

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Finally

This week has been rough.

It's finally Friday and I'm still not fully caught up from last weekend.

I'm hoping to get a post up about my wonderful Labor Day celebrations once I get settled back into my "normal" routine. Until then there might be a bit of radio silence around here. Working two jobs after a weekend of less than 16 hours sleep and 3 nights of insomnia has finally caught up to me.

Here's a little tid bit to get you through the rest of your Friday.

I have this hanging at my desk at work & this quote couldn't ring truer for me as of late.

Quotes

But the thing is, it's hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely,

because almost everyone has that smallest bit of faith and hope

that one day they would open their eyes and it would all come true.

At the end of the day, faith is a funny thing.

It turns up when you don't really expect it.

It's like one day you realize that the fairy tale is slightly different than your dream.

The castle, well it may not be a castle.

 And it's not so important that it's happily ever after -- just that it's happy right now.

See, once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you.

And once in a while, people may even take your breath away.

-Grey's Anatomy

Today's the Day!

The moment we've all been waiting for is finalllllly here.

Zara has officially opened for online shopping.

Naturally, I've already browsed the entire site with an eye out for my next purchase.

I'm all about classics; a great pair of jeans and a white tee can go a long way.

This season is nothing different...well maybe classics with a little something extra.

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What are your favorite finds on Zara's new site?

What styles are you loving this season?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

This week is finalllly coming to a close. Did it feel torturously slow for anyone else?

As you know I'm headed away for the long weekend and thought I'd leave you with some of my favorite pictures of gorgeous vintage luggage. I've decided I definitely need to keep an eye out for some amazing pieces similar to these for around my one day dream house.



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Green vintage style luggage? Say no more. I need this.

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I wish I had a suitcase like this. She's got all the essentials.

Cable knits, flannel, a clutch, camera and dinosaurs all in a beautiful leather suitcase.

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One day maybe I'll add a piece of LV luggage to my collection.

But don't worry, I dont travel with this many bags and I wont be doing ridiculous poses on my LV trunk.

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This is perfection and thats all there is to it.

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What do you lovelies have planned for the holiday weekend?