Rompin' Around

Plant shopping continues in this household! I guess it never really stops... This past weekend we put a pep in our step and began to work on decorating our balcony. It is not complete yet, I still have some furniture to find, rugs to put down, and lights to put up, but we made a dent. We headed down to Homestead, FL, the land of all plants, flowers, and cacti. A dream! First, we made my must stop visit to Isaac Farms, where I picked up some giant terra-cotta cube pots and then we ventured onto other nurseries in search of anything to green up our outdoor space.

In what felt like 95 degree heat this weekend, I survived by wearing a romper/dress from Zara. Sometimes rompers can be a hit or miss for me. Some just don't like my hips and tend to sit awkwardly, but this bright magenta floral number, disguised as a wrap dress, was perfect for romping' around plant shopping. The flowy sleeves and hidden shorts allowed me to stretch as far across the plant aisle as I wanted and no-one ever discovered what type of underwear I was wearing! ;) Shop the look below.  xo RCN 

 

Rainbow Printing

It's no secret I love color and pattern. After all, that's essentially what I majored in at college. I no longer make a career out of it, yet simply chose to obsess with color and pattern as a hobby. I'm sure i'll revisit a path to make money again doing something of the sorts, but for now I am just having some fun. How amazing is this floral printed dress from H&M? (shop the look below) There was a time when something that had this much color would cost a fortune. But, thanks to inkjet printing, it's brought rainbows of color to the masses. There is no limit to the use of color, such as when screen printing, which takes much more time. I am a fan of as few as 2 colors combined in a print or a boat load of different hues, like this dress. So, both the new and old methods of printing sit well with me. It even got me to thinking I would love to learn how to screen print. Ironically, my girlfriend just sent me a link to some pretty cool after hour art classes The Bass offers. Next month, printmaking!! For anyone in the Miami area, check out the upcoming classes. AND, you can bring wine! xo RCN

 

Almost Spring!

There is less than a week's time until it's officially Spring y'all! I'm feeling flowers and flowy and stripes and all that "spring has sprung" goodness. I obsess over flowers year round, and winter in Miami is absolutely no exception. Have you ever seen the luscious blooms of Bourganvailia bushes? Well, these are it ladies and they are one of my most favorite flowers (I actually think they are considered leaves), but they pass off well as a floral. If you have ever been somewhere warm like South Florida or the Bahamas or Caribbean or South America, you've probably seen these in abundance in purple, pink, coral, gold - all gorgeous! This time of year they are full and fresh and absolutely stunning. I stop and take pictures of them almost every day. Not kidding! Hope you are feeling the positive Spring vibes coming your way, like me. It's a great time of year to do some cleaning, refresh, fill your home with flowers and feel new as ever. I can't wait! xo RCN

 

Seeing Stars Maxi

Stars are all over the place and I can't help, but admit I want to be a part of the craze. After all, who doesn't love a starry sky, a shooting star, the sun, ? I do! So, when I spotted this maxi dress out of the corner of my eye at Target (was supposed to be shopping for kid's art supplies), I crossed my fingers that whatever was on the rack, was a size that fit. It does run big, so if you happen to order online I would suggest going down a whole size. I was so excited to wear it, that I put it on to wear for a 3rd birthday party that was taking place at a park and farm. Z pointed out that it was not a gala we were attending and there would be donkeys, pics, etc. So, I opted for denim and I'm holding for another day. However, I still like dressing this maxi down as a more casual beach look. It could easily be paired with stilettos for formal attire, but slip on Soludos and a pulled back messy bun works, too! Shop the look below. xo RCN

 

The Jacket

There is just something about this jacket. It has been all over the internet for two years now, but I still can't get enough. I have it in three colors, red, navy, and gray. I wear one or two, every time I travel somewhere weather permitting. It's also my go to jacket whenever the Miami temp dips to the 60s. The burnt sage is front runner for my next, if there is a next, but in the meantime I decided to browse the web to discover some new found beauties in addition to this favorite jacket of mine. I am on the hunt for the next near perfect weather transitional jacket. One that is perfect for Fall to Winter and Winter to Spring. Maybe, that is why I love this jacket so much, after all. It works for majority of the year! Let me see if I can find something even greater... xo RCN

Blank NYC 

$198, Burnt Sage Suede Jacket

Nordstrom Mural

$89, Longline Double Breasted Blazer

Urban Outfitters

$89, UO Cropped Teddy Jacket

Free People

$298, Jamie Jean Jacket

Asos 

$87, Summer Parka with Jersey Lining

Nordstrom Kensie

Teddy Bear Notch Collar Faux Fur Coat

J.Crew

$98, Denim Jacket in White

 

Festive Feet

Often times when I am planning an outfit for a holiday or occasion, my brain goes to shoes first. Maybe, it's because I am obsessed with shoes? Likely, but, more so because shoes are what really completes the look. When I feel confident in the shoes, it makes it easier to feel confident in everything else that follows. The dress, blouse, it should all look great if the shoes look great with it! Here is a list of some of my favorite Christmas and New Years worthy shoes on the high and the low. xo RCN

 

Travel Made Perfect

I have lots of visits back home for the holidays and lots of fun family events headed my way. I am looking forward to some extra smooth travel to help me relax this holiday. The key to enjoyable travel is all about the airport outfit and the packing of the suitcase. This past weekend was our first stop of the season, home to NJ, and I gave it my best shot. 

 I decided to start and finish my travels this weekend in the most comfortable light knit top from Shop The Mint. Miami to NJ requires layers from start to finish. This top was perfect for the plane! It was both comfortable and stylish and easily paired with other comfy clothes like skinny stretch jeans and flat shoes/boots.

Shop my look below and get $10 off your first purchase at Shop The Mint, when you sign up for emails! Enter to win an additional $25 gift card on my Insta HERE and check out all my travel tips listed below. xo RCN

Tips 4 Travel

1. Wear your favorite stretchy items on the plane, like this oversized V-neck top. The stretch in leggings or a sweater may be helpful when reaching for your bag in the overhead compartment or if your chapstick goes flying underneath the seat in front of you.

2. Wear the same look 2 different ways. Swap sweaters and tops, but re-wear jeans to save on some suitcase space. Where your airport look to and from, but switch out for new shoes and a purse to give yourself a re-fresh on the way home.

3. Do wear easy slip on and off shoes to the airport. These Zara boots or Steve Madden slip on sneaks won't deter you from a speedy walk to the gate if your running a little late, and will be quite helpful for a quick trip through security.

4. When packing your suitcase, ROLL! Roll any clothing items that you can. It will alleviate any unwanted wrinkles on knits, cottons, even denim.

5. Bag it! I never go anywhere without my duster bags for shoes and handbags. They keep the soles of your shoes as far from your clean clothes as possible and your nice leather bags from getting any unwanted scratches.

6. Need an extra purse? Okay, just pack one inside the other like nesting dolls. Will help on saving space, whether you place inside a checked bag or even a carry on tote!

7. Fragile items are best tucked within layers of your most soft and fluffy clothing items inside your suitcase. It helps to add padding for the bumpy road ahead.

8. Bringing along some extra special jewelry, but you're not exactly keen on wearing it through the airport or checking it? Keep them close by your side in a seperate mini travel bag that you can tuck inside your purse. That way you don't have the worry of losing it, if it's safe and stored away on your shoulder.

9. Bag what you need for "on the plane" separately within your carry on purse or tote. Lip gloss, headphones, gum, tissues, ibuprofen, credit card, book, whatever it might be. It will be much easier to settle once on the plane if you only need to remove one item from your carry on, rather than 10 separate pieces. Your seat mate will be thankful.

10. Pack your toiletry bag within another zip bag or something that will double prevent any spillage on your other items. I've made the mistake of shampoo and nail polish remover leaks - eek!

11. And of course, if you intend on doing some shopping while you're away...leave some extra space in any of your bags ;)

 

Starstruck

Zach may have thought this look was part of a Halloween costume, but no, I was not dressing as a Wizard for Halloween. This was by no means intended for a costume, I just loved the magical starry piece when I spotted it on the sale rack at Anthro. I had to have it! Stars are possibly my favorite print at the moment, and this gold foil star and polka dot combo caught my eye instantly. My lightly bleached frayed hem cropped jeans were the perfect pants to style with my statement duster and staple tank and heels. Shop the look below. xo RCN

 

Calling All Boots

I am having major boot FOMO over here in Miami. I am counting down the days until I board my next flight to somewhere worthy of boot dressing. Hmm, only 7.5 days left and I need your help! Which boots to buy? I am in desperate need of a new pair and I just can't decide. I would love your input in the comments below, thank you!! xo RCN

 

Blowy Breeze, Flowy Sleeves

I haven't been feeling myself lately. I think it's all the medications I've been taking. I guess that's a no brainer. Whether or not you have ever injected yourself with a ton of hormones before, I'm sure you can relate in other ways, like when you just feel a little extra "fat" or uncomfortable. I'll eventually get back to running more routinely and pushing myself in workouts, but lately I have been uneasy about it - I'll get back to it again, but for now I will just keep loving myself and dress for how I feel right each day. And, this past weekend I wanted to be comfortable. One thing is for sure, I am loving flowy and loose tops more than ever - gives me a little extra room to relax and not feel so squeezed in. These Blank NYC denim shorts are cutting me some slack, too, with all the elasticity in them. Best part about the sneaks? Good news, no blisters! The top is from Nordstrom Rack, denim is Blank NYC, jacket is Rachel Zoe, and lace ups from Forever 21, earrings are Chanel, bag is Gucci. Shop my look below. xo RCN

 

Miami Fall

Yesterday was gorgeous. The weather was incredible, 73 degrees, breezy, with a beautiful tangerine sunset. It was the first time I have worn two layers since March, wowza! The ironic thing about living in Miami, is that my favorite fashion pieces are (nine times out of ten) outerwear. I love me some jackets and coats. Most of my pieces are in closets at my parent's and in law's, but I have a few lightweight favorites here with me at home. A current favorite, is this bleached, ripped denim jacket from F21. The best part about jean jackets? The interior pockets, perfect for my phone ;) Shop my Miami Fall look below. Still bringing the color, but adding in the jacket and booties. xo RCN

 

Pink In October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a cause that I love to support. Not only has my Mom Mom survived it a couple times, but we have many loved ones in our family that have suffered and come out on top of this cancer. There are many men and women who have not been so lucky to beat the disease. For all of those brave women and men that have fought the tough battle, survived and not, I wear pink for you all, in remembrance and awareness. Beyond wearing pink, there is continual fundraising and support needed. Check out the American Cancer's Society webpage, that can help you locate a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event/walk in your area. Please join me in thinking pink this October. xo RCN

 

Ruffles & Relaxation

Saturday night was day night for Z and me. Nothing too fancy, though I decided to throw on some heels and some ruffles. I have been wanting a ruffle skirt like this for quite some time now. When I discovered this steal at Mango, I knew it was the one. The cotton ruffle top from Club Monaco was a perfect style match. The open ruffled cap sleeves kept my arms mostly uncovered, perfect to stay cool in the heat. It was still very humid from all the rain earlier that day. My hair decided to frizz beyond belief and looked best in a messy bun. Easy for me! Since the rain finally subsided we decided to enjoy time outside in one of our favorite spots, Lido at the Standard Hotel. We sat bayside for a cold drink and then off to our favorite pizza place just a few minutes away, Lucali. Then, home for cards and a movie - our favorite past time. We play Rummy 500 a lot. We are currently tied in matches. I'll have to change that this upcoming weekend! Shop my R&R look below. xo RCN

 

Always A Sale

Other than a handful of prized accessories in my closet (shoes & bags mostly), majority of my closet is shopped on sale or at off price stores like Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus Last Call, etc. I love a great deal. After all, there is always a sale happening, somewhere. Even at my favorite full price stores like Anthro, Madewell, or Zara, I wait for an item I love to go on sale or simply hit up the sale rack first. Chances are, there will be something to satisfy my fashion needs, for less than the original price tag notes. Of course there are some exceptions. I love Topshop denim, and can't always score a sale pair when in need of a replacement or addition for the season. And, I still shop at Forever 21 and fast fashion stores that offer trendy items for $30 and under. My latest discount purchase was online at LOFT, where I picked up this feminine open shoulder babydoll top. Shop the top below + some of my other favorites from the LOFT sale - still going on now! xo RCN

 

You Hat Me At Hello

I am a total hat girl. I wear baseball hats more than any kind. I'm most often wearing one when I take Ethel out in the morning, sporting events, the beach and the grocery store. However, in the Summer I wear other hats, too. Straw sun hats on the beach are a must. Sometimes on the weekends, I even accessorize one with a sundress if I am out and about brunching and cocktailing it, in the blazing hot sun. There is still one long Summer weekend left, Labor Day. Assuming that most of us will be spending that time on the beach or BBQ-ing with friends and fam, it's a perfect time to celebrate Summer with one last sun hat. There are a lot of cute ones out there ready for a great sale steal, as the straw hat season is coming to an end. Here are a mix of bargain picks and a few of my designer faves. Which one do you NEED to have? xo RCN

 

Florida Camouflage

A romper, maxi, mini dress, pillow, or wallpaper covered in a banana leaf or palm pattern gets me giddy, always. When I found this uber affordable mini dress from rosegal.com (also on shein.com) I had to have it. It may make me blend into the background of this tropical playground, that is Miami, but I don't mind. I'll be holding onto this dress for as long as I can. Thankfully, I still have quite a few months to wear it out. And, since I am not afraid to over-do a color or dramatize an outfit, I decided I like to wear my green Celine bag along with the dress. Let's just say, I like the bag adding to my Florida camouflage look. xo RCN

 

Blue Living

There's no debate about it. Blue is the official color of this Summer. Every time I find a cute dress online or see another girl walk by in an adorable top, nine times out of ten - it's blue! And, often times its a pinstripe or seersucker or mini stripe, or something of the sort. This dress is one of my favorite warm weather pieces. I picked it up at Forever 21, along with the sandals. Both are easy to slip on, no fuss about it. No lacing up the sandals, and no bra needed for the dress! To complete the look when I'm in the sun, I pair my Aerie straw hat. The trio of ombre blue raffia pom poms is what sold me on this sun protector. Oh, and it's currently on sale for less than $10. Kid you not. Nothing beats a cute look for under $60 (bag not included!). You know how I like to splurge on my bags ;) xo RCN 

 

Coveted Cover-Ups

Half my wardrobe consists of swimsuit cover-ups. I spend almost every weekend at the Beach or pool. Let's be real, half the people shopping in the South Beach Publix grocery store are wearing beach cover-ups or bikinis. Maybe, you live somewhere less likely to frequent the beach, but pools, lakes, and the ocean are a big part of everyone's Summer. With that being said, you probably devote a good amount of your Summer time in what can be spent in a cover-up. Cover-ups are my favorite South Florida and Summer wardrobe staple (other than my accessories). Here is a compilation of some of my favorites, direct from the closet and some coveted pieces available online now. Happy "it's still" Summer, everyone! xo RCN

 

Statement Earrings

Statement earrings are all the rage. I meannn, #oscardelarenta or #baublebar, anyone? Beaded and fringe tassel earrings have taken over the costume jewelry market, and I am loving it! I am a huge fan, but unfortunately, I can only wear ones that have stud backs and/or clip on. Due to damage from my teenage years, when I wore hoops the size dolphins could jump through. I wish I had a picture for you, boy, were they BIG! Over time, the holes in my ears have stretched to the point where the holes are close to ripping completely through my earlobe. To prevent further damage, I must stick to earrings that don't pull much. I need earrings that are anchored at my earlobe. It can be very limiting, and in result is partly the reason behind my huge collection of vintage costume earrings (they are all clip ons!). But, because drop statement earrings, mostly layered tassels and stacked beaded balls, are รผber popular right now, there are more than enough options out there for me to sort through - including stud backs. I am glad this trend is allowing for people like me, with damaged earlobes ;) to still enjoy! Shop some of my faves below. Oh, and if you don't already have slightly defective earlobes, like me, then these beauties below are pretty good options to help prevent you from being in a similar perdiciment in the future. xo RCN

 

Lady In White

My favorite color for Summer, by far, is white. Nothing looks more chic than a nice golden glow on your skin, with the accent of crisp white. A tan, ocean wavy hair, freckles, and a white ensemble represent the relaxed elegance of the season. I can't get enough of it. Currently, one of my favorite white pieces in the wardrobe, is this crepe, crochet, tassel maxi from Forever 21. The skirt of the dress, with slits on both sides, flows nicely in the breeze. And the tassels, are my favorite trim of the Summer, so of course I love that part of this dress. Next up on my shopping list, more white! xo RCN