white coat

{ What I Wore to teach: dress ℅ Boutique Onze // ShoeMint pumps (sign up for ShoeMint with my referral code) // Urban Outfitters blazer // RayBan sunglasses }

all photos | Kate Davis Photography 

I am finding that teaching is all about balance. Balancing work time with play time. Days I wear heels with days I wear flats. Layers for warm gyms and cold classrooms. Being authoritative and nurturing. Nerding out over Science, and taking the time to ask questions.

This was one of my "heel days" at work. I learned early on that teaching in heels all day everyday wasn't going to cut it. But I am a crazy person who actually enjoys wearing heels (my high arches appreciate it too!), so I try to alternate heel days with flat days.

I also really appreciate the power of a blazer. This is a fun wrap dress that I wore all Summer (I love the grosgrain ribbon belt!), but with the white blazer & sassy blue pumps, it becomes professional!

What are the tricks that keep you sane while still sticking to a professional dress code?

P.S. Loving the new Fall arrivals at Onze Boutique. Check out all the amazing dresses I am crushing on here.

Say Yes to the Dress

{ What I Wore: J.Crew panama hat & t-back tank // Urban Outfitters blazer // Paige cutoffs // Nisolo tote // Target mini wedges // Little Glamour necklace } 

Oh wedding dress shopping. 

As much as I am into fashion, I went into this whole wedding planning business with zero preconceived notions of what I wanted in the outfit I would wear to marry the man of my dreams. Our wedding is modern boho-chic & I was looking for a dress that allowed me to be me, capable of being danced in, & pockets are always a plus.

Things I learned while dress shopping:

1. other women ARE going to see your boobs & probably more (but this isn't their first rodeo)

2. most of the white dresses look very similar & you will find yourself discussing minute merits of different laces

3. twirling IS more fun in a wedding gown

4. Just go ahead & throw that dang budget right out the window

5. Putting on the veil changes everything #HolyWOW

The first time I tried on a wedding dress was with my maid of honor at Olia Zavozina here in Nashville (definitely recommend this shop to any Nashville area brides). This little shop has the most amazing dresses & I had so much fun playing dress up for an afternoon. 

But I didn't find The One.

You guys know I love me some J.Crew, so it was always a wish of mine to try on the dreamy J.Crew Wedding gowns, but the only store is in NYC. After I won a coupon from The Ruffled Blog for a Brooklyn Wedding boutique, The White Gown, I mentioned to my sister how it would be a dream come true to find my wedding dress in New York City, & the #SeesterTripNYC was born.

I still am in awe that we were able to both get away for the same weekend & am beyond thankful that she was there with me!

The J.Crew wedding store was a little underwhelming (maybe because I had hyped it up in my head for so long).

Macy's Demetrios Wedding Salon was gorgeous & I found a top contender there.

But I found The One at The White Gown in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Emily at The White Gown totally got my boho-chic vibe (the flower crown I was wearing might have clued her in) & I immediately fell in LOVE with two equally gorgeous, but completely different dresses. I could have seen myself in either gown, but in the end I had to bleed to find The One.

As I was slipping on the dress I barely scraped my foot against the exposed brick wall of the dressing room. It was the lightest scratch, hardly hurt at all, & I didn't think anything of it at first.

But I soon realized that my pinky toe was GUSHING blood (my swollen feet were under a lot of pressure I guess!) - all over the sample dress, on the floor, on me, on the chair, on everything.

I looked like a zombie bride!

I said YES to the dress! 

The shop girls sprang for the first aid kit & my crafty sister quickly had all the red spots out (apparently hydrogen peroxide is a super blood remover!) - PHEW!

After the whole ordeal was over, we put the veil on with the dress & I knew it was The One.

Fingers crossed that is the worst thing that happens while I am wearing the dress!

The ADORABLE neighborhood of DUMBO 

I am going the superstitious route & not going to let Ty see the dress until our wedding day, but the winning dress is currently on The White Gown's website...

I will just have to leave you hanging, but feel free to make guesses & start your own side bets :)

a NYC minute

{ What I Wore: Urban Outfitters blazer (similar) // H&M dress (love this paisley number!) // Target mini wedges // Nisolo tote }

Oh my goodness.

I just got back from spending Friday - Monday in New York City with my sister!

I am both still recuperating & soaking in all that we did over our whirlwind trip.

The mission of our trip was to find me a wedding dress (more on that in a post to come), 

but we also did & saw SO many amazing things.

If you followed along on Insta/Twitter you saw the social media explosion that occurs when two blogging sisters take their first trip together, to the amazingness that is NYC.

#SeesterTripNYC

This was my FIRST trip to NYC that wasn't a layover in an airport. 

So as you can imagine I had many first time experiences/realizations while in the city, including but not limited to:

- Even if you bring your cutest pair of comfortable shoes, this is not enough. Your feet will swell to 4X their size & you will break down & purchase flip-flops in a Times Square JC Penney. (To all those New Yorkers walking around in 5 inch stilettos: RESPECT!)

- Brooklyn has very limited public transportation, but riding around with Eddie in his town car makes up for this.

- Good thing I walked from tip to top of that island, because we officially ate our way from the Upper East, to Midtown, to Chinatown, to Brooklyn.

- People who have access to rooftops are the ones to know.

- Air BnB is the shiz. Thanks Lil & Alex!! I'll even look past the 6th floor walk-up sitch ;)

- Manhattan can be a little city too. The adorable old couple that you photograph in front of the MoMA might just sit down next to you for dinner in Little Italy.

- The hype about bagels & schmear... so true!

- People in the subway are weird. Smelly. In a hurry. They can sometimes be dressed as mermaids. And know how to play "Killing me Softly" on the according & the nose-kazoo.

- 86 stories is tall. Thank you Empire State Building for confirming my fear of heights!

- As much as you think you will see it all, 3 days is so NOT enough! Already planning our next seester trip!

What life lessons have you learned in NYC?

Stay tuned for more over-sharing about all the amazing food we had & my dress shopping experience later this week!

P.S. Don't forget to enter to win a gorgeous one-of-a-kind necklace {here}

trends that make you go hmm... attitude glasses

Need to work on being a little more subtle with my camera remote... but look at the focus on my face!

{ What I Wore: Urban Outfitters blazer & glasses // Ann Taylor shell & wedges // J.Crew shorts // ModCloth necklace }

Get the Look:

white blazer {save // splurge} + white shorts (now on sale) + leopard shell + gold heels + attitude glasses

blazer prep

Good morning! Continuing my week of embracing closet staples.

 I hope you are all on the same page as me, in that closet staples are staples because they help stretch the life of your fun, inexpensive, trendy pieces, but stand by you year after year.

Take this new J.Crew maxi skirt... I mixed up it by pulling the skirt up to my armpits to make it a jersey dress, and threw a closet staple on top... the blazer

done and done

Blazers are perfect year 'round, and during the summer months I find myself craving a simple white blazer, as well as light bright colors to throw over flimsy sundresses and shorts

I will take any of these colors to add to my basic blazer collection of white, navy & black

"old school pin" via Cosmopolitan April 2012 Issue

{ What I wore: J.Crew maxi skirt (similar here & here) // Urban Outfitters blazer (similar) // Kate Spade belt (I think I need this matching purse!) // Target wedges // House of Harlow bracelet }

Are blazers work horses in your closet like they are in mine?
What color blazer are you craving this season?
Happy hump day!
xx

Jessica

boyfriend

Why are these jeans even called "boyfriend" jeans? I did not steal them from my boyfriend, nor does my boyfriend even understand their premise... boys!?

Still not sure where "outfit pictures" will take place in my new townhouse... no backyard!?

Paired with this faux peplum top and an oversized blazer, this is an outfit that I put on to impress my boyfriend on date night, but one that leaves him perplexed.

 Oh well, good thing he think I'm cute no matter what I put on!

{ Urban Outfitters White Blazer (similar, affordable option) // Think Tank peplum blouse (similar) // Citizens of Humanity Boyfriend jeans // Nine West Wedges (similar, for a steal!) }

What are your favorite clothing items that leave the men in your life confused?

xx

Jessica

Don't forget to enter my Blogiversary Giveaway

The winner of a $25 gift card to Diament Designs' Etsy Shop will be announced next Friday (May 4th) at 9am (entries will be counted through May 3rd at midnight)

P.S. is anyone else surprised that this new song, "Boyfriend", came from the Beiber!? I am only a tiny bit ashamed to admit that I am obsessed!

wu me

Good Morning Lovies! How was your weekend? Did you get a piece of the Jason Wu for Target collection? After seeing previews of the Wu+Target collaboration, I was super pumped to purchase some of the items, and set a reminder on my phone for Saturday at midnight. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to shop online or wait outside the Target Sunday morning, but somehow between drinking wine with my girlfriends Saturday afternoon at the downtown Nashville Art Crawl (so. much. fun.) and loving sleeping in on the weekends, I totally forgot about the collection launch until Sunday around noon. As soon as I woke up, I rushed to my nearest Target and was very surprised to see the entire collection fully stocked on the racks. Add that to the numerous reasons why I love Nashville!

Lucky for me, Nashvillians apparently do not appreciate the talent of Jason Wu or understand the magic that is knife pleats. So, I scooped up the floral mesh tank, floral pleated skirt, lace shirt, and black pleated skirt - and they all are going to be wonderful additions in my Spring closet and a part of my overall "grown-up" wardrobe!

Jason Wu for Target tank and skirt
Target neon belt {similar}
Urban Outfitters Blazer {similar}
Vince Camuto Heels {similar}

Upon arriving home with my new purchases I had fun playing dress up to see how the items would mix into my existing wardrobe (the fur babies wanted to play along too!)

This formal tank + skirt is going to be getting a lot of play this Spring - paired with neutral layers (blazer + heels) and a pop of neon it is officially perfection for all of the wedding related parties coming up this Spring/Summer (are all of your friends getting married too!?)

twirling is my favorite!

Hope that silly Groundhog was wrong and Spring is just around the corner

{fingers crossed}

xx

Jessica