Irina Dress Boutique: April 2012

Red Dress Boutique

As I said last week I am on the hunt for all sorts of fun spring time appropriate dresses. This weekend I have continued searching (online of course) for cute dresses that will fit all sorts of different occasions. We are talking church, graduation, baccalaureate, banquets, graduation parties, the list could go on and on especially considering how versatile dresses can be. Today I am excited to introduce (or re-introduce) to you a store (online and in person) that has clothing that is adorable for any occasion. The winner is The Red Dress Boutique. Ah, I feel sorry for my wallet when ever I go to their site because there is no way I can just look! Here are some dresses and other articles of clothing that would happily find a loving home in my closet!

I will be purchasing this Elle Fanning Skirt in Mint within the next couple of days because otherwise I know I would regret not buying it. They offer this skirt in so many different colors (all very cute) and its a surprise I even made up my mind on which one I wanted.

And because a skirt requires a top I love this Storybook Scalloped Tank in Ivory.

This Sea Island Dress in Light Coral is so simple but I think if I added a cute belt it would be perfect for a springtime gathering.

Love in the Afternoon Dress in Mint is so fun and girly with its open sleeves and lace detailing.

I like the one shoulder of the Pour Some Sugar on Me Dress in Lilac.

How could I not love the No Place Like Home Dress which has blue and white stripes!

I love the bright colors used in the Candy Land Dress which has fun button details on the front.

Similar to the Elle Fanning skirt the Pop of Pretty Dress in turquoise has a cute cutout keyhole on the top.

Can you tell I love the accordion style pleats on some of the clothing they sell? Well this Brighter Smile Dress is no different! If only they had my size!

Charge it please! Kidding! Which of these options do you like best? And if you haven't been to this website yet then that should be the next thing you do!

Happy Monday!

dWa

Italy On The Brain

My Mom left for Italy today. My little brother is over there studying in Rome right now, and she is going over to visit him. He has only 2 weeks left in his stay, so they're going to spend the rest of his time sightseeing and traveling in Italy together.

My husband and I will be headed over to Italy as well (less than 2 months 'til we leave!), and I've been up to my neck in the planning details. So naturally, I've got Italy on the brain right now :)

I don't know what I'm more excited about: going back to Italy and visiting all of the beautiful sights.....or the FOOD!!!! I'm practically salivating already. I'm like my Dad---- I could eat pasta 3 times a day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. So of course i'm excited to be going back to Italy... I get to stuff my face with as much gnocchi as I want. Obviously, there are other culinary treats besides pasta in Italy to look forward to.

My TOP 5:

1. Fresh Pasta

Papardelle Bencotto

Delicious Magazine

rooftopgourmet.com

The Golden Table

theculinarychronicles.com

2. Stuffed Zucchini Squash Blossoms

dailyunadventuresincooking.com

lifeambrosia.com

3. Gelato

almaregelato.com

Spaghetti John's

Capogirogelato.com

4. Panino (aka "Panini")

simplebites.net

nestmeg.com

from blog at twogalleries.wordpress.com

5. Limoncello

ilfarosas.com

marialiberati.com

(By the way, my little brother figured out how to make homemade limoncello while he was in Rome. He used lemons that he bought while he was in Sorrento....how COOL is that? I have the most awesome little brother..... hopefully that awesome little brother will make us some when he comes home, hint hint!)

dianemorgancooks.com

theyummydinner.com

amalficoastcookingvacations.com

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know--- Pizza is NOT on my top 5 list. Here's my defense: First of all, I love a good pizza. (NOT the "american-ized Papa John's" kind!) My definition of real pizza is the paper thin, crispy coal-fired crust, top-shelf ingredients kind. And that's what you find everywhere in Italy. Since you can find it pretty much all over the place, it's not really a novelty for me. Don't get me wrong, that won't stop me from eating it every other day while i'm over there! lol

Even if I wasn't Italian, I still think that I'd love Italian food........and I still think that Italy would be my favorite country in the world. I suppose that maybe it is in my blood. Regardless, no matter who you are, once you get a taste of Italy, you'll never be able to get it out of your mind!

BUON APPETITO!

Lilly Pulitzer on Rue La La

Today the Lilly Pulitzer Boutique on Rue La La opened and it definitely was not as good as the last time Lilly was on it. With that being said I did purchase things this time and did not last time so it obviously was not bad (I don't think Lily could be). It could possibly be returns from the sale earlier this month. I'm feeling guilty about the money spent but I keep reminding myself that the total of the three dresses I bought is still cheaper than one dress that I tried on at the Lilly store earlier this month. Here is what I snagged:

I got the Betsey Dress.

Here is a close up of the neckline.

I purchased the Stephanie True Navy Knot This Way Shift Dress.

And lastly (laugh all you want) I purchased the Little Betsey Hotty Pink Cherry Begonias Dress.

I purchased this in one of the largest sizes offered in the Minnie collection and have heard people talk about how they easily fit a 0-2. I hope this is the case because look at this back.

I'm really hoping these fit because then I will be well on my way to having a collection of spring dresses for all the events that will be coming within the next year or so. What do y'all think of what I purchased? What did y'all snag during the sale? And for anyone who wants an invite to Rue La La (the Lilly sale still has lots of good stuff left) feel free to click this link and invite yourself from my account!

I would love to hear what y'all have to say.

dWa

Lilly Summer 2012

So as I am sure most of you know that the 2012 Summer Collection are now on the Lilly website! The summer collection is always brighter and more colorful (if that is possible) than the other seasons and this year is no different! If I could I would order all of the following:

I love the flirty, fun style of the Georgie Dress and the Resort White Big Garden print is so girly!

And the Sarafina Dress please! Can you tell this is my favorite print from the collection?

I love Jarvey Skorts. They are so comfortable and I love this one in the Chum Bucket print.

I also love the Franco Dress in Multi You Gotta Regatta. The back has a cute little opening and a bow!

And no warm season collection is complete without a pair of Callahans!

Not that Lilly is looking for my approval but with this collection she definitely got it!

Which pieces are your favorites?

Happy Shopping!

dWa

New Arrivals- Old Town

Max & Cleo cobalt cut out dress
Size M $45.95

Milly black/gold metallic tunic w/ shoulder bow
Size 4 $78.95

Dooney & Bourke taupe patent leather/brown suede/ tan leather trim tote
$68.95

Miss Sixty print dress w/ gold metallic detail
Size 8 $74.95

Paige black jacket w/ leather trim
Size M $56.95

I've been a busy bee

This week has probably been the most hectic week in the history of my career as a student.

Here's an overview of my crazy life:

Monday:

AP Bio Quiz

Tuesday:

Girls Service Club Election Speech (I won and am now Vice President)

French Quiz

AP Bio Quiz

Wednesday:

AP Bio Test

5:30 - 8:00 Peer Counseling Event

Thursday:

French Test

Math Test

History Research Paper Due

SGA Crawfish Boil 5:30-7:00 (was so much fun)

The Big Event (school wide event honoring our headmaster who is retiring) 7:30-8:40

Today:

no tests or quizzes or sleep (hehe)

Overnight Babysitting from 2:30 - Saturday

Tomorrow:

end babysitting around 1:00

babysit for another family from 4:30- 11:30

read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (first 144 pages due Monday, given book last Wednesday)

To say the juniors at my school are busy this week is an understatement.

Crazy, right? Well, I now truly know what the expressing Thank Gosh It's Friday means!

I am super excited about babysitting tonight and tomorrow and am so happy to have a smudge of time to relax. I hope this is the last week of the school year that was truly insane work wise or else I am going to have coffee running through my veins instead of blood.

Happy (well-deserved) Friday to you all!

dWa

(have a great weekend)

Reunion

Aaron and I are hitting the road this weekend for Sarah and Ethan's wedding! I can't describe how excited I am to see all my friends (some I haven't seen in a year)!

Spring Dresses- Deja Vu

Spring is here and I am loving the warmer weather, although this week the weather has been a little chillier. At my school, the seniors only have 8 days left and 25 days until graduation. That means graduation parties are in full swing and for girls that means it is time to bring out all of your spring dresses. I personally love wearing dresses but I don't have very many because my mom is all about buying it for an occasion so I have some but not too many. But a family friend whose daughter graduated last year gave me and my mother some great advice! She told me to go ahead and start getting lots of spring dresses so come time for graduation parties and spring events next year I will have a decent amount! I of course had no objection to this advice seeing as I love getting new clothes. So after receiving this advice I decided to do what I do best, online shop! Because my brothers graduation is this year I for sure need a dress for his baccalaureate and graduation. I have one of those covered because I recently went to Banana Republic and got an adorable lace dress but that leaves me needing one more! So, I introduce to you one of my all time favorite clothing boutiques, DejaVu. If any of you remember my Judith March post then you may know that the lady who started this shop created the clothing line, Judith March. So as you may have guessed all of the clothes are adorable! Not only does this shop have incredibly cute dresses but their jewelry, tops, shorts, and outerwear are so stinking cute too! Here are some of the dresses I am considering for my brothers graduation weekend and also for all of the festivities next spring.