Spring Break Travel Essentials (Feat. Amazon)

Between the first half of this semester seeming to fly by, preparing for midterms, and day dreaming about having a vacation, I'm sure most of us simply cannot wait for our spring break. Though some of ours may be longer than others, I'm sure we are all more than ready for that sweet week long break. (In John's case three day long break--you're really cutting into our vacation, Keiser University.) So in preparation for John and I's mini vacation to Fort Lauderdale, I thought it would be nifty to write a little post covering some of my must have, beach destination travel essentials!

The Basics

Okay, so I know most of us know to travel with the things above when we head to the beach for vacation, however, I myself forgot to pack sunglasses one time when I went down to Delray, and that is actually how I ended up with the Ray-Bans above. (Yes, John still teases me about that.) So since I'm sure I'm not the only one who can be super forgetful, I figured I should highlight the importance of having the following: 

• Bikini: Though I will be diving into spring break styling next week, I added this bikini because for one it will be featured in my style guide and two, because who goes to the beach without a swimsuit? 
• Sunglasses: Though this was semi-covered above, sunglasses are so important, especially in sunny climates, to protect you eyes from the harsh light. The reason this is particularly important for me is because I tend to get awful headaches when exposed to very bright light. Let me tell you, they don't call Florida the sunshine state for nothing.
• Cell Phone: I feel as though this one is pretty obvious, but when travelling to a new place, it's always a good idea to have your cell phone handy for safety reasons. 
• Cell + Card Carrier (preferably water proof): Considering no one wants to lose their phone or identity, having a compact waterproof case for your cards and phone is definitely the way to go.
• Gum: Personally I am an almost constant gum chewer. Partially because I like to have fresh breath, and then just out of habit. However, for my single gals on vacation, you never know who you might meet, so best not to smell like your last meal (or beverage) am I right?

Reusable Water Bottle

Though I'll be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water (I'm trying to get better with that though!) I can't stress how important it is to stay hydrated--especially when out at the beach laying under the hot sun (cue the importance of sunscreen too). So a good way to keep hydrated it to have a reusable water bottle. This way, you can just fill it up at a drinking fountain and be on your way.

Portable Charger + Extra Cords

Going along with having your phone for safety reasons, that phone won't do you much good if it's at 10% battery and you are still a half hour away from your hotel. With that being said it would be wise to snag a portable changer so you and your friends can keep you phone charged on the go. Also, a few extra charging cords are a plus too, because if you're anything like me you're probably constantly losing--I mean misplacing yours.

Wine/Bottle Opener

Funny story: The first time John and I ever went on vacation, we had a romantic evening in Orlando. However, when we returned to our hotel room from our actual date and wanted a night cap, much to our dismay we didn't grab a twist off bottle of wine, and had no corkscrew to open it. Honestly, we had, had enough and this mishap probably saved us from being incredibly hungover the next day, but at the time we both felt kind of stupid for not planning ahead. With that being said, if you're planning on popping bottles in your hotel room, make sure to pack a bottle opener (or get twist off bottles--that just didn't have the same ring to it for a heading).

Advil

Lastly, Advil, or any over counter pain reliever, is a good thing to pack just in case of any kind of body aches and pains you may encounter. Nobody wants to be sick on vacation, much less so with a hangover headache.

What are some of your beach vacation essentials? I'd love to chat about it in the comments below, or you can tweet me about them at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Let's Get Knit Started (Feat. StyleWe)

As I am sure many of you have assumed due to all of my posts that revolve around me going to Sunday brunch, I just love breakfast food. And along with my love of breakfast food, I also have a love of all things caffeinated and generally start everyday with either a cup of tea or an iced Americano, and some days, one of each. (After all, it is a requirement of mine to be caffeinated.)  With that being said, today started off no different than any other, aside from the fact instead of having breakfast at home or at my office like I typically do, I decided to go in a little late today and stop by one of my old favorite restaurants on Mount Washington, The Micro Diner, for some coffee and a kick ass breakfast.

For those of you who didn't know me throughout my first four years of college at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I actually used to live on the mountain in order to have an easier commute to school. And let me tell you, Mount Washington is still honestly one of my favorite places to hangout (even surpassing my love of South Side) and every time I am there I feel a need to visit my at least one of my old favorite spots. So today I decided to drop into The Mico Diner, simply because they have the best breakfast on the mountain, and because I have a soft spot for the place due to the fact  my old apartment is actually right behind it! (So needless to say, I used to eat breakfast there almost every day.)

Camel Colored + Morning Coffee

Since I wasn't about to head to The Micro Diner in my pajamas (which I have admittedly done on more than one occasion while I was at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh)  and change for work, I decided my best bet was to dress as warm as possible for my breakfast outing, while of course still looking good to go to work. So due to the chilly weather we are back to having in the 'Burgh (I really wish it would decide if it wants to be cold or warm!) and my office being a bit chilly itself, I opted to wear this lovely, camel colored, sweater dress from my sponsor StyleWe. The reason I chose this dress is due to the fact that though it is chic and polished for the work place, it is also quite warm and stylish for running errands in the city--or in my case playing a little hooky and grabbing breakfast.

There are a few things I love about this dress, but the first thing  I have to mention is how warm this garment is. This dress is actually made of thick wool which helps keep you toasty warm on these cold winter days but without sacrificing looking stylish. Though it was a bit chilly out this morning, I actually did not need to pair this dress with a coat because it kept me warm all on its own! You should also note that this dress comes with the belt that I styled it with, meaning you wouldn't have to find one to match the dress on you own, which I thought was pretty nifty. I also love how perfectly this dress fits me, and like all of StyleWe's clothing, it is exceptionally made. And lastly, before I dive into how I styled this dress, I also like that this garment is actually two pieces, meaning you can make a handful of different outfits with it. (Yes, those posts will be coming soon!)

To style this gorgeous sweater dress, I decided to keep it simple and paired it with my plain Nine West nude flats. The reason I chose these nude flats to pair with this dress, is because I liked how they complemented the color of the dress, and because I actually rarely wear heels to my office, simply because of the nature of my job and being on my feet all day shooting. However, these flats are just the right amount of dressy and keep this outfit looking chic. 

And lastly, to complete this work style look, I chose to wear my grandmother's plain yellow gold hoops, my yellow gold Cartier bracelet, and my brand new Chloe Drew bag (if you follow me on Instagram you know I've been obsessing over it), which is yet another one of my 2017 style resolutions I have made good on! The reason I chose these simple accessories is that I feel that this dress works well on its own and didn't need to be overly styled with blingy accessories. These accessories also stay true to this dress' earthy tone and both the gold jewelry and motty grey bag mesh perfectly with the camel color of this dress.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite ways to style for the work place? I'd love to chat, so tell me about it in the comment section below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic. Have a work place outfit you just have to show off? Feel free to snap a picture and either tag me in a post of in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic! Later, babes.

Xx, Bree

P.S. In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

#OOTD: Wild About White (Feat. Make Me Chic + Rocksbox)

One fashion "rule" I have always refused to follow is the old "you should never wear white after Labor Day". I'm sure most of us nowadays find this suggestion to be rubbish, especially considering department stores are already gearing their clothing lines toward spring and it's only February. Not to mention with the once again unseasonably warm weather we had in the 'Burgh past weekend, I decided to break this fashion rule, and stepped out in my new white dress that I received compliments of my sponsor and affiliate Make Me Chic. 

Winter Whites

Let's be honest here: Even though it is nowhere near spring time, I am pretty sure most of us aren't complaining about the randomly warm weather we had this past weekend and were all more than ready to breakout some of our spring and summer gear. On Sunday, I have to admit that with the sun starting to shine and the snow beginning to melt away, I was ready to style a fresh, light look. This is why I chose to style this pretty, white dress for my lunch date with my best friend, Nic, for his birthday.

To style this traditionally spring/summer outfit for winter, I chose to pair this dress with my black, wide brimmed, wool hat, my black Coach clutch, and some black patent leather heels. The reason I chose these three basic pieces is that I felt they added a more wintery feel to this dress with out completely taking away from it. I also felt that these three pieces added balance and depth to the dress, due to these accessories transforming this look as a whole, into a perfectly color blocked outfit.

The reason I chose this dress to model for my sponsor Make Me Chic, is because much like the other looks I have been rocking on here lately, it combines two huge trends from the runway this season, which are split sleeves and shirt dresses! The reason I love this dress so much in particular, is because of it's pretty bohemian vibe. I just love the cut of this dress' neckline, and feel that it is not only a great choice to wear up here in Pittsburgh on warm days , but would also be the perfect outfit for a day at the beach when I head to Delray to visit John. (Well actually it's fun to style for cold weather too, but more on that outfit next week!) I also have to say that this dress' split sleeves add a very chic and fun vibe to this piece, making it a lovely choice to wear as a casual outfit or as a party dress. 

Lastly to add the finishing touches to this outfit, I decided to pair this dress with some chandelier, leaf patterned earrings from Fascino (You can get similar ones here.), my gorgeous Kendra Scott pendant which I received compliments of Rocksbox, my Hermes Pop H necklace, and my black and gold cuff bracelet from White House Black Market. The reason I chose these jewelry pieces to further style this look, is because I wanted to stay true to its boho feel, and felt that these pieces were delicate enough to not take away from the outfit, but still prominent enough to add just the right amount of shine.

One Last Look

What are some fashion rules that you feel were made to be broken? Let's chat about them in the comments below, or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have an outfit that you just need to show off? Feel free to tag me in your post or on your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, dolls!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! If you love my Kendra Scott necklace as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can read all about it, here!

Also, in case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!