Stuff I Want: Summer Edition

You guyyyyyys. I want to shop for summer SO BADLY but I'm moving in a few weeks (did I mention this?) and I'm really trying to be financially frugal because the moving guys kinda expect money or something? I don't know. So, other than the amazing sale boots from Madewell and a pair of awesome silver Birkenstocks I really haven't bought much of anything new for summer and I TOTALLY REALLY WANT TO. I have a running list, obviously. Here's what I wish I could buy right this second:

White boyfriend jeans. I have, um, mentioned this a few times already. This is getting kind of sad that I keep talking about it and not doing it but I haven't found them yet! I am scouring Poshmark for a Madewell pair but I am also considering these from BR:

And these from Old Navy:

Denim jacket. Okay, this next one is a want not a need but I have gotten so much wear out of my Universal Thread denim jacket that I kind of want another denim jacket. I am in love with this one from Madewell:

It's the copper buttons and the wash. I just can't stop thinking about it. I am also quite interested in this white denim jacket from Old Navy:

The added benefit of this one is that it can be worn with jeans without being all Texas Tuxedo. (Right? Right.)

Summer dress. I also want one cute new summer dress and Loft is usually my go-to for such things. I think it might be this one, which I've posted before:

 But then I saw this one and was like, YES THAT TOO:

I think it's technically a bathing suit coverup? Who the hell knows. Don't care anyway.

Fun top. I want another fun summer top that I can wear with my fictional white jeans or with jorts. This one from Anthro is so cute:

But knowing me, it'll probably be something like this from Loft:

I mean, that tiny star print? Please. I must have that, right? I am filling up online shopping carts right and left but buying nothing. YET. UGH.

Weekend Window Shopping: Rough Week.

This has been a rough week, right? I am just feeling sad and tired today and I figured we could all probably use some cheering up, so I picked a bunch of stuff from Anthro that's ridiculously cute or fun because the world is dark enough as it is:

         

       

Stuff I Like: Wearing, Listening, Eating.

Hi! I have recently liked some stuff so here you go;

This RMS Palette That Didn't Disappoint Me.
So, listen. I ordered this palette even though the reviews weren't glowing and one of y'all was like, "it will disappoint you." I FULLY expected to return it. It arrived and, indeed, it was pretty small and lacks a mirror which is almost unforgivable but I decided to give it a try and you know what? I fucking love it. I have used it every day! The Magic Luminizer is a bit warmer and creamier than the Living Luminizer so it's great for summer. Both the Lip2Cheek colors make great blush and the Buriti Bronzer is pretty nice as an eye color. (I haven't tried it as a cheek color yet.) The plain lip balm is the only thing I don't love. It's fine, just not special. Anyway, I am happy I bought it and it's been a nice way to try out some of the other RMS products.

This Podcast Episode About Kate and Andy Spade.
I listened to this episode of How I Built This last fall when it came out and it made me really like Kate Spade and her husband. It's such an interesting interview! I'm glad they reposted though in retrospect its really sad, too. You just never do know what people are going through.

This Summer Recipe That Is Delicious and Cheap.
I made this Lemony Cucumber Couscous recipe pretty much as written and it was great! Super easy  delicious, and inexpensive. I had it over some salad greens with Trader Joes jalapeño chicken sausage and have been eating the leftovers for lunch. It's pretty simple, so I think I'm going to add chickpeas next time (and maybe some fresh dill or basil.) So versatile! I love pearl couscous and this recipe is going to be my summer go-to.

This Body Oil That Smells Like Summer.
Kate bought me this Nuxe oil when she went to Paris a while back and it's really quite wonderful though the the "fancy suntan lotion" scent is one of those love it or hate it things. (I love it.) It's a bit strong by itself but I recently discovered that if I mix a little bit with my unscented Aveeno lotion it sheers it out just the right amount. And my skin glows! I am basically a French lady now.

Outfit of the Day: Mixed Patterns.

This is going to be a quick one because things are crazy right now - life, work, my brain. I wanted an easy summer outfit that I didn't have to think about too much.

This dress I'm wearing is basically dust, y'all. It's vintage Old Navy and was originally Marianne's and she gave it to me and I'm pretty sure it was scheduled to self-destruct at least two years ago but it keeps on living and I keep on insisting on wearing it:

I mean, it's cute, right? Old Navy generally does some cute patterned summer dresses. This little swing dress is right up my alley and I also love the work-appropriateness of this chambray shirt dress.  And oooh, how cute is this v-neck dress in the palm leaf print? It comes in a cute stripe too.  I'm wearing my Birkenstock Gizeh in copper, which are hard to find. The Arizona comes in copper, though!

Lucy stopped by to see what I was up to. Though I listed some cute Old Navy dresses up above, all my true favorites are from Loft and I am eyeing several because they're 50% off today! This little striped dress looks super easy and I love the back detail on this one. But! My favorite is this patterned shift dress that is exactly my brand of crazy. I love it. I think this little split neck dress is cute too. Okay, sorry, I stop now. Details:

I'm wearing an old Madewell necklace that's pretty similar to this one and this one is also a very much in the same family. My bracelets are Giles and Brother skinny railroad cuffs that I'd stopped wearing for a while because I was tired of them. Now I'm trying to shop in my closet and reacquaint myself with old favorites. 

And, the bag. This is my recent Kate Spade Sam bag and I'm not gonna link it today. The news yesterday was just so tragic, so sad. Kate Spade the brand isn't always my style but I love and appreciate the joy it's brought to the world and I'm grateful to the brand's founder for having such vision. I know she sold Kate Spade more than 10 years ago but I think her legacy will stand for a long time. 

Reader Suggestion: Summer Bags!

I recently got a message from blog reader Ellen related to the cutest summer straw bag she'd bought at Madewell. (I know this because she posted it on her IG account, which you should probably follow.)

She suggested that a round-up of summer bags would be very cool and I always welcome ideas for posts because I AM RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS, YOU GUYS. Anyway, there are TONS of cute woven bags going on right now, so I stuck with that as my theme. Seriously, though, Madewell has two (wait, three), Target has a ton, Ann Taylor has several, it just goes on from there. You are not short on options is what I'm saying. Here are my picks:

         

        

Madewell Report: Things Happened.

Last weekend I took a trip to Madewell to try on denim shorts and white jeans, just in case they eventually put things on sale. Hey, it could happen and I want to be an informed and prepared shopper. I tried on most of the denim cut off styles and wasn't super crazy about most of them - honestly, I've had pretty good luck with Old Navy cutoffs so why am I going fancy on this? Hard to say. I did, however, really like this high-rise button front style:

The lighter wash felt current, I love the button fly and they fit comfortably. Unfortunately they're $75 which seems like.. a lot (or, as one IG friend commented, "oh hell no, that is hipster nonsense.") I AGREE. But I still liked them. I also really liked this tank, which I'm wearing in that photo:

Much more reasonably priced and it comes in some really good colors. If they ever throw me a code, I might get one or two of those. I also really loved these earrings:

They don't look like much on the website but they're great in person - simple but really striking.

I tried on two pairs of white jeans, both of them skinny styles which is all they had in-store. I am so into the boyjean style and tight white jeans are really tough to pull off. Like this pair:

I love the button fly and frayed hem but they just aren't amazing on me. I will probably hunt down a pair of white Boyjeans on Poshmark. Or, maybe I just don't get white jeans this summer, you know?

We also sniffed some beauty products, including one of the oils in this set:

Kate declared that the Good Vibes oil smelled just like yoga class and she was right! We also both liked this perfume:

It was right up my alley - warm and spicy and pleasantly unisex.

Okay, I'm totally burying the lede with this post. While I was struggling in and out of shorts and jeans, Kate went back to check out the sale section and found these:

In my size. Marked down to $49. Forty Nine American Dollars. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

Really, who needs shorts in the summer anyway? Apparently not me.

Weekend Window Shopping: Need Supply Co.

A little background: Need Supply Co. is a local store for me. I've been going there for years, though it's gone through multiple changes. Originally it was a tiny store selling used Levi's and in it's current incarnation it's become a rather intimidating store full of beautiful things displayed art gallery-style. I don't go very often because inevitably I'll fall in love with something I REALLY can't afford, but when I searched I was able to find plenty of cool stuff in prices that weren't terrifying. Check it: