so long sweet summer

I unzipped my boots to get the bugs out & forgot to zip them back up... country girl for life!

The day that bloggers have been talking about since pretty much the end of July is finally here... Fall officially starts this weekend!

But before I pack away the sundresses & pull out the layers, I just want to take a minute to look back on the Summer of 2013.

This was a Summer for celebrating engagements, boat parties, weddings, reunions with friends, cookouts that lasted long into the night, doggie play dates, new friends, saying "good-bye for now" to old friends, wedding planning, flea market scouring, canoeing, Oregon vacations, & commemorating a full 4 years in Nashville. 

If you are looking to celebrate sunny days & warm nights on into a late Indian Summer, you can join me in wearing flower crowns & frolicking (my favorites!)

This gorgeous crown (& the one here) is the fabulous work of my friend who runs the Flower Crown Society. Now you can all scoop up flower crowns at 15% off with code "Jessica15"!

Happy (almost) Fall y'all!

P.S. It is the last day to enter the Bella Fusion giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dear Mother Nature,

{ What I Wore: J.Crew striped peplum // Paige Denim shorts* // Converse sneakers** }
* gifted by the Southern Blog Society
* seems to be a popular week for chucks around these parts!

Dear Mother Nature, 

I get it, it's still Summer. If the 90 degree days didn't fill me in, the 100% humidity sure did. Sorry for all those posts about Fall booties, sweatshirts & layers... Apparently I have pissed you off.

Please cool down soon... is there a furry rodent that can help me estimate when this might occur? I'm pretty sure the pugs predicted Fall would come early... that counts for something, riiiight!?

Until then I will wear my skimpiest clothes in efforts to not sweat to death, but proudly sport my new wool hat inside my air conditioned home. Sorry, I'm NOT sorry!

P.S. It's the last full day to enter to win a stunning Stella&Dot statement necklace {here} (you might recognize this top from that post too!)

Transitional Style: Summer

{ What I Wore: dress c/o Wallis // J.Crew clutch (similar) // ShoeDazzle pumps (similar) // Yuni Kelley link bracelet }

It's that time of year again - Summer days are slipping through our fingers & Fall is right around the corner. While those pumpkin spice lattes are already on your mind, the Summer sales are still tempting you every time you open your email. 

The answer: transitional style. Scoop up some Summer dresses with plans of integrating them easily into your Fall wardrobe... smart shopping my friends!

With transitional style in mind, Wallis has teamed up with a group of bloggers to show off how their fabulous Summer frocks are also perfect for Fall...  ready for showing off skin now, & sliding easily under layers in the coming months. 

And please pinch me, because Wallis picked me to participate!

This polka dot number has the most flattering halter top & flippy skirt that is made for Summer nights out with the girls... you know the ones where you just want to throw your purses in a circle & dance!

But it has a secret Fall side too... so stayed tuned over the coming weeks to see it take a walk on the transitional side!

How do you transition your Summer pieces for those falling temps that are right around the corner?

This transitional style campaign is also a fun little competition for us bloggers. 

Wallis is going to send 1 lucky blogger to New York Fashion Week & I would be thrilled to be the chosen one!

Please help me win the grand prize by tweeting (click the link to tweet!)

Love learning Summer to Fall transitional style with @Wallisfashion & @jesshereandnow http://ow.ly/nF3Rl #WallisFashion

And by voting here: http://bit.ly/14Fyjj5

(you can vote once each hour until August 26th & if I win, I have a fab giveaway cooked up!)

color pop

{ outfit 1: J.Crew polka dot Blythe blouse (similar) // Celebrity Pink white denim* // American Eagle neon belt* // Julianne Hough collection flats c/o Sole Society /// outfit 2: J.Crew Factory blazer // Sole Society heels (love these) }
*gifted in the SBS Brunch swag bag

I love starting with a neutral base & adding pops of color.

My two favorite ways to colorfy my outfits: 

a little bit with a belt

or a lotta bit with a blazer

What is your favorite way to add color?

If you are looking to add colorful flavor to your drinks this Summer, Dasani has just the thing!

I am in the participating in Lucky Style's Dasani Drops outfit challenge!

Please vote for me here :) 

(I'm a little late with my submission, so every vote helps me catch up!)

trends that make you go hmm... crop tops

The Summer trend that is buzzing all around the internets... the crop top!

As a child growing up in the 90s, this is the second time I have seen this style take its 15 minutes in the spotlight... (#ifeelold)

Do you embrace the crop?

I think I might take the mini crop plunge a la Blair, Nicole & Kendi!
Paired with high-waisted pants & midi skirts I think this trend can be down right chic!

But I am totally applauding the bare midriff boldness of the ladies on the bottom row as well!

top: 1 // 2 // 3
bottom: 4 // 5 // 6

If you are ready to bare the belly, shop my favorite selection of slightly shrunken tops:

top: 1 // 2 // 3
middle: 4 // 5 // 6 
bottom: 7 // 8 // 9

Does this trend make you scratch your head in wonder or hop on the bandwagon?

What is your favorite way to rock the crop top?

time to run

I have a love for lists. I make lists of my lists.
So you know I have another Summer bucket list ready for you!
I am still working on my 30 before 30 list & have a few things from last Summer's list to cross off (hello crawfish broil!), but I am excited to put these new adventures on my to-do list ASAP!

{ via } 

- watch the sunrise

- go camping

- take a mini motorcycle day-trip, using only the backroads

- buy more fresh flowers

- scour the Flea Market for wedding treasures

- brew my own beer (with the help of le fiancé)

- find a new swimming hole

- prepare a new recipe from only Farmer's Market goodies

{ via }

Not to freak you out, but only 10 weekends left in Summer!

So what's on your Summer Bucket list!?

Oh & here's your a theme song to inspire new adventures!

Summer Kick-off Party

Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone is having a fabulous long weekend!

I'm actually participating in the real world practice of observing government holidays & took today off from lab! The frogs will just have to wait! And I felt GREAT about my executive decision to sleep in this morning! (on a Monday - the scandal!)

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I have my bestie in town & while we have already been shopping & boating & eating our happy little hearts out, the party isn't over!

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We will have lots of hanging out to do today & I'm thrilled that I'm not having to waste time stressing about stocking all the festive supplies.

Not only did I load up on affordable grilling goodies, but I took care of all my personal care needs at Kroger.

Sunscreen - check (just ask my shoulders how many times I have actually remembered to re-apply it though... whoops!)

Tide stain pen - check (a necessity around me + burgers, or nature! I should buy these in bulk)

Advil - check (to keep going on day 2 & 3) 

Kroger paper towels - check (currently 10 for $10 - loaded up for beer pong spills!)

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I can save time & money by shopping for all of my food & personal care items at Kroger.

My favorite part!? Loading up lots of digital coupons to my Kroger card by visiting their promotions page before each time I shop.

It really adds up & I LOVE seeing the huge dollar amount that I am saving each trip at the bottom of my receipt! 

Don't for get to hit up the Kroger 2X Fuel Point Promotion either! Download the digital coupon for 2X Fuel Points {here} & make your Summer road-trips to farther!

One list. One trip. More rewards.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Officially Un-Official Summer

Memorial Day might only be the un-official start of Summer, but it is official enough for me!
To un-officially kick Summer off I am looking forward to having my bestie come to Nashville for a visit & enjoying fun in the sun on pontoon boat with 20 of my closet friends.
While the old Jessica would let all of this planning stress her out, I am letting the new laid-back, Summer mode Jessica take over on this one.

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Laid-back Jessica knows that she can hit up Kroger for all the goodies that make Summer entertaining stress-free all while earning 2X Summer Fuel Points to make my road-trip travels easy & affordable. 

{via}

While shopping for Summer personal care necessities like sunscreen, stain pens (for all that white) & deorderant & entertaining staples like trash bags & toilet paper is less than sexy, I can feel good about saving money & earning gas discounts by shopping at Kroger!

{via}

My first stop? The digital Kroger coupon circular! I can build my shopping list from home using the Kroger app & earn 2X fuel points with their ongoing Summer deal!

Done & done.

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What are your Summer entertaining essentials? 
How do you save money & still pull off chic get-togethers?!

 I am looking forward to sharing more about how Kroger can make your summer soirées affordable & easy... stay tuned!
What are your Summer entertaining & cooking questions? I would love to talk more about it in future posts!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own