Sew Cute

This outfit is the definition of the dream team mashup! All of my favorite classic and preppy brands are incorporated into this look: Kiel James Patrick, Lilly Pulitzer, vineyard vines, and Jack Rogers. As most of you know, I live in button downs. This is the perfect spring staple look for walking around for a day of shopping or for finishing up your school year (cheers for summer!). 

I've worn this navy Lilly Pulitzer skirt, but I was trying to find a new way to wear it. Pairing it with a plain white top has gotten boring. But, I've finally found a super cute new combo for it: colored button downs. This light pink button down is the perfect mashup for this classic simple mini skirt. Not to mention navy and pink is a current favorite color combination. 

I wore this look for walking around Mass Street in Lawrence, KS before my boyfriends formal. We walked near their campanile and down by the football stadium. The weather was gorgeous so it was the perfect day to walk around. Although my allergies were killing me (literally) we still enjoyed the warm weather. 

If you keep up with my posts, you will notice I wear this pink bag practically everyday. I LOVE IT. I picked it up in Italy and it is surprisingly versatile. 

Don't be afraid to pick up a bold handbag. Color is fun! I pair this bag with almost every look I wear. Find a color that you see in your wardrobe a lot and base your "fun" bag purchase off of that! Pink is a staple for me so this color works great with my closet.

 Another staple of mine are Jack Rogers sandals. My gold sandals are a must for summer and spring. I recently picked up a neutral brown pair that I can't wait to start wearing. Also, I scored a jelly pair from Nordstrom Rack for $24! Holy cow! Be sure to check out their website and on sites like Nordstrom for sales. They are a little expensive, for a flip flop sandal, but there are lots of deals out there. 

Where it's from: 

Shirt: vineyard vines 

Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer 

Shoes: Jack Rogers 

Pearl bracelet: KJP 

Bracelets: KJP & Alex and Ani 

Watch: Kate Spade 

Sunglasses: Ray Bans 

Purse: Coccinelle 

What are your favorite preppy brands? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Finals are every college student's worse nightmare. From late nights studying to summer being so close yet so far finals week is the worst week of the semester. Luckily, this semester I only have two actual exams. Besides that I have one more major project to turn in, articles for my journalism class, a group presentation, and a small paper standing in-between me and summer. So, what are my go-to study tips? Here are a few things I do to prepare myself for finals..... 

A weekend with no responsibilities is a dream come true! This weekend was the first Saturday that I've felt like I didn't have to run errands or do anything in particular. So, my boyfriend and I headed up to Des Moines for a day of shopping. Being in Ames, there isn't much opportunities for shopping (besides online) so it was super nice to shop around in some boutiques and at the large mall in West Des Moines. 

Before heading to the mall we walked around Des Moines's East Village and the downtown area. I haven't made a trip down to Des Moines in a while so it was nice to explore the city. If you follow me on Instagram you already know that I recently got an internship at Meredith Corporation for next school year! I will be an editorial apprentice (aka intern) at Better Homes and Gardens! This has been a dream of mine for so long and I am so excited to have the opportunity. With that, I will be working downtown Des Moines next school year, which I am super excited about. I love a city atmosphere so getting a break from Ames during the week will be amazing. 

This green space is right outside of the Meredith Corporation's offices. There are a ton of cool sculptures and lots of space to walk around. The weather was perfect outside so we walked around and decided to take a few photos! 

As for my outfit, this is my go-to uniform when it comes to a casual day look. I love these skirts from J Crew Factory (I've talked about them a ton before). They literally can work with any top, but I usually pair them with a cute tee or button down. Button downs are also a go-to piece for me. I love how classic they are. I'm trying to build my wardrobe to be an assortment of classic things that I can wear for years to come. I love trendy pieces, but I'm staying away from fast fashion and trying to find things I can wear for my soon transition from college to the "real world". 

This look could easily be turned into a work appropriate look by rolling down the sleeves, buttoning up the top more, and adding a pair of flats or boots with tights. Normally I dress very classic but recently it's been an everyday occurrence. As a soon to be senior in college you could say that I'm ready to move on and get a "big girl" job! 

Per usual, my go-to accessories of the moment are KJP bracelets paired with Alex and Ani bangles and a watch. Also, I am wearing my favorite pair of Sperry boat shoes. I picked these up forever ago but they were a part of a J Crew Sperry collab. Personally, I think the world needs another collab like that!

Where it's from: 

Skirt: J Crew Factory 

Shirt: Ralph Lauren Polo 

Shoes: Sperry Topsider J Crew 

Belt: Target 

Pearl bracelet: KJP 

Bracelets: KJP & Alex and Ani 

Watch: Kate Spade 

Earrings: Kate Spade 

Purse: Henri Bendel 

Sunglasses: Ray Ban 

What is your favorite classic go-to look? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Bold prints are a must for spring. Florals may not be ground breaking according to Miranda Priestly, but they sure do fit the season. I love florals because they are the perfect feminine touch to any look. This pair of floral chinos are my go-to statement piece for spring. I picked them up from J Crew a while back but they are still a great pair of pants to turn to for a fun and bright look. 

When working with a bold print I either pair it with a solid, denim, or a smaller scale print. In this case I wore a short sleeve denim button down which practically goes with everything! Don't be afraid of printed pants. They can be a great way to mix up from your typical jean routine. 

This look is perfect for walking around and cafe hopping! On our journey to take blog photos my big and photographer jumped into Cafe Diem and Ali Cakes on Main Street in Ames, IA. Cafe Diem has simple sandwiches and snacks along with a bunch of coffee drink options! I opted for my go-to beverage of choice a simple latte with sugar. As we were walking we found the adorable display in the window of Ali Cakes. Cupcakes and cute displays... we were in! We ended up splitting a cookies and creme cupcake and it was probably the best cupcake I've gotten in a cupcake shop. They were so fresh and very homemade! I highly recommend both of these places to mix up your typical Starbucks coffee. 

My tiny pink Coccinelle bag is my go-to bag recently. It's the perfect size for what I need. I used to be the girl carrying a tote bag the size of my body. But now I carry only the essentials and nothing else! This bag is just what I need and helps me stay organized. While in Italy I picked it up and it was such a good decision! 

I like to accessorize my bag with different key fobs and keychains. My smiley face emoji keychain is also from the Florence, Italy Coccinelle store. As for my bold necklace, I used tones that were in my pants to bring out the bright bold colors in the look. 

Where it's from: 

Pants: J Crew 

Shirt: J Crew 

Ballet flats: Tory Burch 

Necklace: Baublebar 

Pearl bracelet: KJP 

Bracelets: Alex and Ani, Bourbon and Bow Ties, & Kate Spade 

Watch: Kate Spade 

Bag: Coccinelle 

Emoji keychain: Coccinelle 

Photography c/o Megan Goblish 

Locations: Ali Cakes and Cafe Diem

What is your favorite pair of printed pants in your closet? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

The Fashion Show was this past weekend and boy was it a busy week! As PR & Marketing director I was responsible for a lot of things, but one was running their social media channels. Here are a few fun snapshots from Fashion Week and The Fashion Show 2016! 

I set up a Rowdy Gentleman booth for the Kickstart Monday event. I handed out free stickers, koozies, and cups for RG! I love hosting events and showing off Rowdy Gentleman on campus. #RowdyRep 

During the whole week we all sport our The Fashion Show t-shirts to celebrate! My favorite design from this year was this charcoal tee with gold glitter writing. 

Fashion Week always features a ton of snacks and free food!

The day of the show I wore my new obsession a two-piece Lilly Pulitzer set from their recent collection! Pineapples, pink, and bright green make the perfect combination. 

Be sure to follow The Fashion Show on social media! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

London calling! Just kidding this is just a mural we found behind a shop in Ames, IA. But, I am loving how bold and bright the British flag is up against this neutral look. 

Recently, I've been wearing my denim jacket a lot. I haven't pulled it out in ages but I am finding more and more ways to wear it and make it new. My favorite way is to wear it as a shirt and pair it with high waisted skirts. I also layer statement necklaces under the collar to add a pop of sparkle. By pairing the simple denim jacket with this bold printed skirt I created a fun spring time look perfect for running errands, heading to class on a beautiful day, or a girls day shopping! 

I mixed this larger oval print with a small polka dot print on my Ked's sneakers. During the spring and summer I love pairing skirts and dresses with adorable little sneakers. Not only are they more comfortable to walk in, but they create a more relaxed look. Ked's are a personal favorite of mine. However, I picked up an awesome pair from Cath Kidston in London that I can't wait to wear more! 

This British bag is one of my favorite pieces I picked up while abroad. It's from the Cambridge Satchel company that creates awesome satchel bags. I picked this one up at their Covent Garden store location but you can also order them online and ship them to the U.S.! The best part about these bags that you can add your monogram. Monograms make everything better! My mom picked one up as well and she loves it. Mothers Day gift idea? Yes! 

I accessorized my bag with some fun keychains. The pink and red one is from the Longchamp store in Paris, another item I picked up on my travels. Then the silver circle is an Mickey Mouse eye emoji face from Stoney Clover Lane's Disney collection. You can only shop the collection at the Four Seasons in Orland (near Disney World), but it is so worth the special trip! 

Where it's from: 

Jacket: American Eagle 

Skirt: J Crew 

Necklaces: J Crew 

Sneakers: Ked's 

Pearl bracelet: KJP 

Bracelet: Alex and Ani & Bourbon and Bow Ties

Watch: Kate Spade 

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Company 

Keychains: Longchamp and Stoney Clover Lane (Disney Collection at Four Seasons) 

Photography c/o Megan Goblish 

What is your favorite way to wear a denim jacket? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

This week is about to be the busiest week of the semester! With The Fashion Show in full swing, class, meetings, interviews, and more I am in for a long week. But, this isn't the first time that my schedule has been insanely crazy. So, here are a few tips that I have to balance all of your time commitments when you're having a busy week...  

Restaruants: 

Sea Salt | Sea Salt is a mainly seafood restaurant downtown Naples. This is a pretty fancy restaurant and caters to an older crowd. I went with my boyfriend and the other couple we were on vacation with. Unfortunately we had terrible service.  I don't want to complain too much because the food was delicious! But, it is annoying to get denied good service just because we are college age students. We weren't being loud, obnoxious, we were actually the first people in for dinner and the restaurant was very quiet. So, for this reason I wouldn't go their again, at least without parents or adults, which is unfortunate. We got the dinner special (served between 5-6PM) which was three courses. I got the salad, beef ragu pasta, then sorbet for dessert. My food was good and everyone else enjoyed their sea food (but that's not my thing). However, due to the poor service I would only suggest this to people who think they will spend a lot of money at their meal or who are over I'd say 24. 

Continental | Best meal of spring break BY FAR! We had incredible service, a delicious steak, and a great experience. Continental is also downtown Naples and is a very fancy steak restaurant. They have different categories of mean you can order under which lets you decide how expensive or fancy your steak is. I got a filet and it was probably the most tender piece of meat I've ever had. I'm personally a steak person so I loved my meal. Our server was great and we never went a minute without new water or a drink re-fill (major plus). This meal was a great way to end the trip compared to Sea Salt. If you like steak this is a must if you are in the Naples area. Not to mention the restaurant is gorgeous. The decorations are amazing and chic and just fun to look at. Overall, it was a great experience! 

Yabba | Yabba has a little bit of everything from steaks, seafood, to burgers. I liked the menu because you could basically have anything you may be in the mood for. I went with a steak because that's how I role (as I've said before). The service was average but the waiters were friendly. They give you awesome cheesy biscuits before your meal which were so good! Biscuits are served with butter, cinnamon butter, and sour cream. 

Snook Inn | The Snook Inn is the ultimate fun Florida restaurant. With outdoor seating on the water it is an awesome place to get a meal when it is warm. Dishes range from seafood, steak, burgers, basically anything anyone could ever want. The atmosphere is probably the biggest selling point. Snook Inn is always booming! There is constantly a wait, so go early, but it makes for a fun vacation environment. For those who are 21+ they have a fun bar with live music and happy hour from 4-6PM and 10PM to close. Also, you can snap some super cute photos on the water before or after your meal! Overall, this place had good food, a fun atmosphere, and is right on the water. If you're around I would say it is a must see! 

McCormick and Schmick's | Yet another steak place. I believe this is a chain restaurant but I've never been to one until Naples! This place is perfect if you want steak or seafood. I had a filet and it was very tasty. My boyfriend got crab legs which were tasty too (but you have to hand crack them (you've been warned)). Overall, good service and tasty food! 

Nacho Mama's | I love Mexican food. So naturally I found the Mexican restaurant on Marco Island. I've gotten steak tacos and steak quesadilla. The food is good but there is always a long wait! So word of warning, but I think it is worth it if you are in the mood for Mexican food. 

Ice cream: 

Adelheidi's Gelato Caffe | Hello delicious gelato! This place is located on 5th Avenue downtown Naples and had very good gelato! It was all organic which is a plus if you are looking for a sweet treat but you are vegan or something like that. We got lemon, mango, and pina colada flavors in a medium size cup (choose 3 flavors). Besides Frost in Naperville, IL (personal favorite) this is some of the best gelato I've had outside of Italy! 

Custard | This custard was so good!!!! They make hand made waffle cones and original custard which makes it a super yummy treat. I got strawberry custard and Jeremy got orange sherbet and both were super tasty. If you are downtown Naples I think it is the best ice cream spot. 

Beebe's Ice Cream | This ice cream is tasty! Although it is a pretty average ice cream shop it is in walking distance with most major Marco Island hotels and it is around a lot of restaruants. So, it makes for the perfect dessert stop! 

Shopping: 

Downtown Naples 3rd Street | 3rd Street in Naples features more of the higher end apparel and boutiques. My personal favorite is the small Lilly store C. Orrico (not a flagship store). The store is pretty large and has a wide selection of Lilly Pulitzer pieces. I picked up an adorable cotton quarter sleeve top on sale from them! The great thing about these smaller Lilly stores is that they have a sale section. This area features cool shops ranging from very high end luxury goods to more trendy beach brands. My boyfriends personal favorite is John Criag Clothiers that features very high end men's apparel. It's fun just to browse around in these shops, because most of them are crazy pricey! 

Downtown Naples 5th Avenue | Although 3rd Street is pricey, I think 5th Avenue has some more affordable shops. Some of my favorites include the huge Trevis store (hello new Tumblrs!), Best of Everything, and Castaway Clothing/ TRACY NEGOSHIAN. Best of Everything has endless costume jewelry that make fun gifts. They also have Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer home items like cups, planners, and tote bags. The best part is that they have Bourbon and Bow Tie bracelets which are hard to find up north. TRACY NEGOSHIAN has some cute preppy apparel perfect for vacationing. Castaway Clothing is in the same shop and has preppy men's apparel as well as Smathers and Branson needle point gifts. In addition, there are a ton of little gift shops and boutiques that feature beach decor, sea shells, and lots of other goodies you can bring back for friends and family. 

Waterside Shops | Waterside Shops are the holy grail of malls. Not only is this mall absolutely gorgeous it has some of my favorite shops including Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Anthropologie, vineyard vines, Nordstrom, J Crew, Brooks Brothers, Tory Burch, and Tiffany & Co. 

Coastland Center | This mall is located in Naples and has all of your basic stores like H&M, Victoria Secret, etc. Although I think Waterside is better this mall has more affordable stores and shops that are great to pick up some warm clothes if you want a new resort look!

Activities: 

Mini golf | Who doesn't love a game of mini golf? My boyfriend and I went to Coral Cay Adventure Golf in Naples for mini golfing on the last day we were in town for spring break. It was super fun and a good activity to do on a nice day.