Sunflower

All images by Emma Rizzo Photo

Last month, Emma and I drove out to Clifton Springs for our now-annual trip to see these incredible sunflower fields. We made the pilgrimage for the first time last year and we knew we had to come back again once August rolled around. The weather proved to be a bit tricky, but Emma came through (as always) with some stunning shots.

While we were traipsing through the fields, I couldn't help but think back to the last time we were there. It was a truly magical experience and we had a great day exploring the area. But that little escape (and others like it) was definitely necessary at the time. In retrospect, I can admit how sad and stressed I was then. It's hard to keep that in mind sometimes, particularly when my heart is hurting and I just want to view the past in a rosy light. But it's moments like these when things really come into focus and I can see that – in spite of all the darkness – the sun still shines... and maybe it's much brighter than it once was. I really do feel like a little sunflower looking towards the light.

Speaking of sunflowers... I know a lot of other people would love nothing more than to capture some special memories in a field like this. If you live in Rochester or the surrounding area, you're in luck: Emma will be having sunflower field mini-sessions a little later this month! If you're interested you can book your slot here – and don't dawdle, as sign-ups are limited and spots will go quickly!

Outfit Details

Arina Dress: Gal Meets Glam (similar here and here)

Boater hat: similar  ||  Flats: Jessica Simpson

Hope your day is a sunny one!

Just Peachy

I can't lie: although I love pretty much all kinds of fruit, peaches are my absolute favorite. They're the cutest, the fuzziest, and the juiciest. You can't possibly deny the allure of their emoji, either. And being able to use "peachy keen" (or a variant) in a sentence is always fun. Plus, peaches are the perfect accompaniment to ice cream. So really, what's not to love? I'll use any excuse to go peach picking when the season rolls around... and lucky for me, that season is happening right now!

I always say that I bruise like a peach, but I guess I love dressing like one, too. Although I wanted this Gal Meets Glam dress ever since it came out, I didn't pull the trigger right away. I ended up forgetting about it until I saw it was available at a deep discount. Sadly, it's no longer available there (though there are a bunch of listings for this dress on Poshmark). There are a bunch of other GMG dresses on sale at Nordstrom Rack, where I found this one! So if you've been waiting for a bargain, this could be a good time to try this line – which is one of my favorites, by the way.

This weekend, I'm planning on spending some time outdoors, enjoying some good food and rest, and gearing up for the Rochester Fringe Festival (which starts next week!). I can scarcely believe it's already September. I'm slowly starting to embrace the idea of autumn, though I'm still soaking up all of the sunshine I can while it lasts. I know everyone's excited for fall, so I'll start decorating – and doing autumnal things – very soon. But for now, I'll be wearing my summer dresses and eating as many peaches as possible.

Outfit Details

Dress: Gal Meets Glam (similar here and here)

Boater hat: similar  ||  Necklace: Macy's

Flats: Jessica Simpson  ||  Basket: Amazon

Have a sweet weekend!

Sweetie

If you've followed me for a while, you'll know what a sucker I am for anything novelty. Even as I get a little older, I can't quite give up the kitschiest, campiest parts of my wardrobe. It's a good thing that there are a lot of other people who feel the same way I do – and that Vendula London keeps on making the most adorable bags for me to lust after.

I've reviewed other handbags from Vendula in the past (see those posts here) and have been a fan of their brand for the past few years, so I was thrilled when they sent me this fun box bag to review from their "Sweetie Caravan" line. The design features a retro camper filled with candies and sweets (wouldn't you like to have one of those in real life?). There's even a little corgi inside waiting to greet you! It's surprisingly roomy inside and the lining has a macaron print. The attention to detail is, as always, so impressive. While I chose to hold this purse by its handle, there's also a long, detachable shoulder strap that makes the bag a bit more practical.

These vegan(!) handbags are designed in London, but I'm so glad I've been able to get a few of them across the pond to me. Even better was the fact that this bag matched one of my Gal Meets Glam dresses perfectly. Although this style is no longer available, GMG just launched its May collection yesterday and I'm eyeing at least one dress from it. If you've been waiting to try these dresses, I seriously can't recommend them enough. Some of my GMG dresses from last year are actually a bit big on me now, but they're such nice quality that I will probably try to get them altered just so I can hold onto them – that's how much I love them!

Outfit Details

Colleen Dress: Gal Meets Glam (similar)

Sweetie Caravan Box Bag: c/o Vendula London

Hair flower: similar  ||  Sandals: similar

Have a great start to your week!

Mele Kalikimaka

Christmas is less than a week away – can you believe it? The past month or so has been really hard, but I'm glad that the last few weeks have gone by quickly. I still have a few holiday outfits to share here on the blog, including this pink velvet number from the Gal Meets Glam collection. I shared this dress on my Black Friday wish list post and it's one of the only things I actually bought for myself. It's my third dress from GMG and, like the others I own, it's beautifully made. But unlike the other GMG dresses I have, this one has a fair amount of stretch – so much so that I could have comfortably sized down. At least it'll be super comfortable for holiday eating and general merriment.

This dress is classically beautiful, so I opted to pair it with something kitschy. This glazed Christmas ham brooch is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Erstwilder gave them out as freebies with larger orders during their Christmas release, but unfortunately I wasn't able to snag one then. I ended up finding one in a swap group and it arrived just in time for the holiday. The ironic thing is that I'm a Jew who celebrates Christmas and who has never eaten a spiral ham in her life. But I couldn't pass this up! (The meat itself is a different story.)

Outfit Details

Joy Dress in Pink Velvet: Gal Meets Glam Collection

Glazed Gift brooch: by Erstwilder

Gold heels: ModCloth

Decor Details

Sisal bottle brush tree: At Home

Christmas tree pillow: Pier 1 (similar)

Retro pink bird ornament: Target

Hot air balloon ornament: Kohl's

Mint green velvet drop ornament: Michael's

Pusheen ornament: Hey Chickadee (2018 version)

As you can see, my tree is up and a few gifts are wrapped... but this weekend will be devoted to getting all the rest of the holiday details ready. Presents, cookies, classic movies, and plenty of time with my family. I'm trying to keep my chin up, in spite of everything. The funny thing is that I'm not quite as worried about how I'll feel on Christmas as how I'll feel after it's over. For now... I'll be listening to non-stop holiday music and trying to focus on other things.