Short Sleeve Chambray

Shirt: J.Crew (on sale) / Shorts: similar / Shoes: similar (on sale madewell) / Bag: VJ Style / Necklace: F21 / Glasses: Ray Ban / Lipstick: Revlon love that pink #435 I wore this easy ensemble on Sunday afternoon to take a walk down South Beach and fill up on Pinkberry :) Can we just take a moment and just..take a moment for Pinkberry. I don't like frozen yogurt, but that stuff is beyond. This summer, shorts are my new dresses. And when this short sleeve chambray went on sale, I was all over it. I try to be very careful with what I invest money on. When I shop at Target, Forever 21,  H&M.. retailers of the sort, I pick up the trendier stuff. Like florals and pattern shorts. Things that are cute now, but in a year from now, they will be in the back of my closet. I get my main pieces, that will give me my cost per wear at J.Crew, Zara, and places like that. Chambrays are so easy to wear with EVERYTHING, that to me, it's worth paying the extra money to get one you absolutely love at J.Crew or Madewell.  I find that in my younger days, I would buy a ton of $10, $15 things, and I would only wear them so much, for so long, and I was actually spending more than if I got a few classic pieces that I can wear a lot. This is not to state that most of my wardrobe doesn't consist of $15 pieces, but still. It's worth giving it a thought ;) 

A Summer Sweater + Giveaway

Sweater: J.Crew / Shorts: Forever 21 / Shoes: Target (similar, but these are the exact replica of J.Crew's espadrilles for a fraction of the cost) / Bracelet: c/o T and J Designs / Necklace: J.Crew

This merino wool sweater is so soft and comfortable! A J.Crew classic. I have been living in shorts lately, wish I could wear them to work (I work at J.Crew). Dress code...otherwise known as stupid. These pictures are right outside of my building, and I can't help but appreciate the bright blue skies and palm trees all around. I love walks around here.  If you are in the Miami area, I will be co-hosting a style sessions event at J.Crew on Lincoln Road this Thursday from 6-8. It will be filled with the new collection (oh my goodness), cupcakes, and pictures! 
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Today's Featured Sponsor is Tara from Penniless Socialite 

I'm Tara and I blog over at Penniless Socialite.  You're not going to find recipes or crafting tips over at my blog.  Much to my dismay, I am terrible at cooking and crafting.  But, I am really good at shopping!  I blog about affordable fashion and beauty in my little corner of the Internet.  Stop by to see my outfit posts and musings on beauty products.  Warning: there will also be pictures of my cats and a whole lot of sarcasm.    
Tara is giving away a $25 Options Giftcard to Gap, Piper Lime, Old Navy, Banana Republic or Athleta, redeemable at any of those retailers! 

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My Heart's In Oklahoma

I had another post planned for today but in light of the tragic events that took place in Oklahoma yesterday, I wanted to feel a little bit of their pain and write my thoughts.

(source)

I often struggle with the thought of having children. Not because I wouldn't want to be a mother, because being a mother and caring for a dependent child seems like an unbelievable experience. But simply because I fear I will fall short. I don't think I can take care of somebody completely, or well. I don't think I would have it in me to wake up in the middle of night, or to make three meals a day to nourish a child well. I think I would lose my patience, and in some way or another disappoint my child and myself. I don't believe this is an irrational thought. In fact, I think a lot of women have these thoughts pre-motherhood. Children aren't in my near future, I am content being a wife, daughter and aunt for now. But when things like this happen, and 20+ children lose their lives suddenly to a natural disaster, the nurturing, caring and mother-like virtues come out in me.

I saw the news and fell to my knees, crying. Heartbroken. Thinking of the moms who left their children at school this morning, planning on picking them up and making them dinner tonight.
Thinking and almost being able to hear the whaling and anguish as their children were being searched for under the debris.
Imagining the gasp and ache in their chest as other children were being rescued alive, not their child.
I cry as I think of what was going through these mother's minds. The thought of their precious children calling out to them for help. Crying, screaming. And then no more.
The traumatizing frustration of knowing their children were hanging on for their lives and there was nothing they could do, nothing. But wait in anguish. Until they were given the devastating news.
I can picture them literally crumbling to the ground. Broken like never before. Never being the same. Feeling a pain they didn't imagine possible.

All while the rest of us are fortunate enough to carry on tonight. To love on our loved ones. To take a good look at them. We can't change anything for those mothers. They are shattered. We are praying for you. We, not knowing you, love you and are with you.

The only thing we can do is learn from their painful experience. We can love deeper because of their pain. We can take today and celebrate that we have those we love near us. To adventure with, to laugh with, to support. The chance to make our presence known in their lives. Not necessarily by doing great things, but by doing small things with great love. Today I will make my husband's favorite home-cooked meal, because I have the chance to.

As a kid I would always ask my mom how she made her meals taste so good and she would always respond with "because they're made with mom's love," it was funny to me then. Not knowing how very true it was. How those meals she made me showed me how much she loved me. How she took the opportunity to cherish me by putting my hair in pig tails, packing my lunch and making me my favorite dinners.
I am so thankful I still have the chance to adore my family. I must make it count.

"Teach us to number our days so we can have a wise heart" Psalms 90:12