hot & cold

although i really have no right to complain about this weather considering i can wear dresses and skirts while my male colleagues have to suffer in long sleeved button downs and slacks, picking out what to wear in this heat and humidity is a challenge. while on the one hand the temperature outside is unbearably uncomfortable and gross, i often get chilly in my overly air-conditioned office. i'm incredibly grateful for it, but it means that i need outfits that can transition between the hot and cold. my go-to outfits this past week have been light, comfortable, breezy dresses like this one that i can slip a simple sweater or blazer on over once i step into the office.

peach muffins

i hate mushy peaches, but have discovered that they are perfect for baking because they are super juicy and sweet— infusing whatever you make with extra natural flavor. i had been trying to find something to make rather than letting the peaches i had sitting in my fridge go to waste, but didn't have the time or energy for anything too elaborate. i found an easy recipe for peach muffins with good reviews here, and had my finished products cooling on top of the stove within 30 minutes.

necklace organizing

Over the years I've accumulated a lot of jewelry, but I didn't have a good way to store it. Most of the time I would just stuff my necklaces in drawers or attempt to fit them into boxes. Not only would they get tangled, but I oftentimes would forget about the ones that got buried at the bottom.  I wanted to find a way to organize my necklaces so that I could see them all at once and arrange them in a way that didn't crush them in boxes or drawers. Using a regular bulletin board from a craft store, I arranged thumbtacks about an inch and a half apart across the top. Then, I simply hung my necklaces. It took about five minutes in all, but it's saved me from wasting time rummaging for that one necklace or untangling them from each other.

happy monday!

pink & orange

i love bright colors, especially in the summertime, and one of my favorite combinations is bright pink and orange. they make any outfit more fun, like this one that i wore to work the other day. i love this skirt because it is super light and flowy, making it ideal for the hot weather we've been having this past week. i chose this cream lace top, my monogram necklace, and these pretty pearl bracelets that i got when i went to spain a few years ago to pair with it.

hope everyone is having a great weekend!

current obsessions

what i am loving at the moment:

Vermilion lipstick by Albeit
I don't wear lipstick every day, but when I do, I like to make a statement. I just bought this new red shade and am in love. It's a great color and looks especially flattering against a good tan in the summer. I also love the pretty gold tube it comes in!

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
The 1920s have always held a strong fascination for me. Like Gil Pender, the protagonist of Midnight in Paris, I often wish that I could have lived in such a glamorous and exciting time. It should come as no surprise that this book immediately caught my attention. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books, and both Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald have always interested me. Although this book wasn't exceptionally well-written, I learned so much about these two characters' lives— their courtship, their triumphs, and their dynamic and self-destructing personalities. I found it very entertaining and couldn't put it down once I started.

Cute heart-shaped studs
I am always on the hunt for pretty stud earrings because I prefer them to hanging ones, so I was really happy when I found these little ones the other day at h&m. Although they have sparkles, their small size prevents them from overpowering your face.

Harney & Sons tea
Although my life would probably be a lot easier if I drank coffee, I can't seem to make myself like it. I prefer—and actually like— the taste of tea. I usually stick to chai or peppermint, but once in a while I like mixing it up. These Harney & Sons teas are full of flavor and are caffeine-free— perfect to drink in bed with a book before you go to sleep.

PB&J on a cracker
For some reason I had the biggest and most random craving for a PB&J yesterday around 9:30. I didn't want to make a sandwich, so instead I put a little peanut butter and strawberry jam on some Ritz crackers. It was so easy and simple, I found myself wondering why I had never done it before.

houndstooth for work

on june 3rd i started by first, full-time, 9 to 5 job in the city. last summer i waitressed at a restaurant near my house, but aside from that my only work experience came from babysitting and tutoring. having to set my alarm for 6:45 was pretty brutal the first week— i haven't woken up that early since high school— but now i've pretty much adjusted to sleeping and rising early. although there is no formal mandated dress code, everyone always looks "business casual," which is perfectly okay with me. i'm just glad that i don't have to wear a suit and that i can exercise some control/freedom over what i wear. here is one of my outfits from work last week. i'm obsessed with houndstooth, and when i saw this dress i knew i had to have it. when i was actually in the office i wore a blazer over it to dress it up a bit, but i've worn it by itself before as well. the pattern is bold enough that the dress really doesn't need many accessories. i chose a black headband and a simple tiffany necklace.

strawberries & yogurt bundt cake

strawberries are one of my all-time favorite fruits, so for a combined birthday/father's day dessert i decided to try out a recipe for a strawberries and yogurt bundt cake that i found on pinterest a few months ago. (you can check out the recipe here) i don't have the best track record with cooking or baking so i was pretty nervous about making a cake, but luckily everything went smoothly and it was a success! i really like this cake, especially for the summer, because it uses a lot of healthy ingredients like strawberry and plain greek yogurt, and the cake is sweet enough on its own that frosting isn't even necessary. i would definitely make this again, maybe next time with another fruit like blueberries or raspberries just to change it up.  

finished product...! (the scariest moment was when i flipped the bundt over on to the platter and was waiting to see if it worked)

do you have any recipe suggestions?

Happy Father's Day!