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Friday Favorites – June 24th, 2016

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Guys, it has been A WEEK. You guys know that I do my best to blog at least three to four times per week yet this week I haven’t had a chance to come up for air once. I burnt the candle at both ends, waking up most days at 5:30 for morning workouts (FlyWheel, Mile High and Bar Method) then finally curling up in bed around midnight. It was a great work week, including my 10 year anniversary celebration with Procter & Gamble, enjoyed during drinks and dinner at Morimoto.  But, as we drove out of the city last night at 7:30 I was definitely ready for some fresh air and sleep. We are escaping the city for a weekend in Vermont – just what I need after a long week.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • I’ve had my eye on these colorful Sweaty Betty leggings all season and now they are finally on sale 50% off!
  • Now that the UK has made the historic decision to exit the EU (not the UN like Fox News said…) this easy to understand BBC guide to the UK’s EU Referendum helps you understand exactly what this means for those in the UK and beyond.
  • This bright gingham shirt is perfect for Vermont’s cool mornings and the cool evenings we’ve experienced in New York City the past few weeks. My favorite way to wear it is with distressed jean shorts and sandals.
  • I have a lot of eating to do as I’ve only  been to five of the twenty-one hottest healthy restaurants in NYC. Who wants to start a lunch bunch and try a different one each week?
  • Summer means fresh food, grilled everything and long, lingering weekend dinners on the back porch. I pinned these 10 unique lettuce-free salads, in hopes of trying a different one each week. Tonight I’m starting with the asparagus and feta salad!
  • On October 21st you’ll be able to see Hamilton on PBS – or at least 15 minutes of the famed Broadway hit. Until Bo and I can see it in person, this will at least help me begin to understand and appreciate everyone’s love of this show.
  • Before this week it had been YEARS since I stepped food in an Old Navy store. However, when I found myself without a sports bra for an evening workout I remembered that Evann and others have raved about their Old Navy Active experience and decided that this was a perfect chance to try their gear out for myself. The Go-Dry Cool Fitted Shelf Bra tank was perfect for Wednesday’s FlyWheel class and the Go-Dry Performance Racerback Elastic Tank kept me cool during this week’s runs!
  • After years of hard-work my girl Theodora finally received a much deserved promotion at Daily Burn! I’m so proud of her!

Have a great weekend! I’ll check in tomorrow with my latest Stitch+Fix order as well as pictures from our Vermont adventures. 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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ashleyd /

Denim & Stripes and Everything Nice

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This week, I’ve found myself working from our NYC office more days than working from home. This means the return of showering at the gym, lugging clothes into the city and trying not to forget key wardrobe components. Did I tell you guys about the time when I forgot to bring a bra to the gym the day I was wearing a white top. Let me tell you, there are very few places in Midtown NYC that sell bras before 10am. If my memory serves me right, I hid in a huddle room until I could dash out to quickly buy a bra. STRIPE_2

So how does this introduction relate to today’s post. Well my friends, in my mind, the best thing about Summer is the return of the sundress – even Barney Stinson agrees! It’s easy to style, easy to pack and pairs perfectly with a fun jean jacket, cardigan or other jacket for breezy days or the chill of a cold office.  Even though my closet already has plenty of sundresses, I couldn’t resist this adorable and comfortable striped sundress from JCrew Factory when I saw it on the mannequin over Memorial Day weekend.

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Dress – Jacket (old but this is similar)- Clutch –  Nail Polish – Sandals – Lipstick

The thick ponte material barely wrinkles, making it perfect for those days that I need to stuff clothes into a locker at the gym. It is longer than most of their dresses making it work appropriate, even for a taller gal like myself.  If those selling points aren’t enough, how can you resist pockets and stripes?  Recently I’ve paired this with a classic jean jacket and my Birkenstocks for weekends and then heels and a clutch for work or evenings.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

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Memorial Day Weekend Fashion

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Happy Memorial Day friends!

We spent the past three nights in Manchester, Vermont with family enjoying the gorgeous weather and a relaxing weekend. The holiday weekend was the perfect time to wear a new blouse I ordered especially for the weekend of backyard barbecues and patriotism.

This off-the-shoulder top is so wonderfully soft and machine washable that I know I’ll wear it all Summer long paired with shorts, skirts and jeans.  One of the partnership items with JCrew this season, the Ratti print top is navy with colorful dots making it a vibrant match for the white jeans I wore this weekend.  I found the top easy to wear as the elastic neckline stayed in place most of the night and only needed adjusting once or twice. The length of the top was perfect for my short torso but I would recommend the tall version for anyone who has a longer torso.

The other highlight of this outfit were my new Birkenstock sandals which provided me with amazing support all weekend long.  For years my mom has advocated supportive shoes but until this Summer I’ve ignored her recommendations and spent the Summer in sandals that left my arches screaming and feet hurting by the end of the day. The fun rose gold color allows me to pair these with almost any outfit while still enjoying the support all day long. Before investing in a pair of Birkenstocks I suggest going to a local store and trying them on so you get the right size and fit for your foot. They are European sizes and have multiple widths depending on needs.

Wearing: Sunglasses – Top – Watch – Jeans – Sandals 

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