The Little Mermaid

Dress - J.Crew Factory / Sandals (fyi I love these - the perfect basic sandal, plus they're cushioned!!) - TKEES / Earrings (I also love this pair - how fun for the beach?!) - BaubleBar / Hat - J.Crew

Something you may not know about me? I freaking love the water. I grew up less than a mile from Lake Michigan and in the summer we were there all. the. time. 

For those of you who haven't been to the Great Lakes, this isn't some wimpy little beach I'm talking about. Being at the beach in my hometown is seriously like being at the ocean - you know, minus the salt and the sharks. And usually minus a few degrees - that water is cold! But really, that never stopped me. I always ran right in. 

Despite all of that beach time, I was never one to lay out for a long time. I don't know if you can tell just by looking at me, but I do not do sun very well ;) My sister actually doesn't have the patience to lay at all, I can do it a little these days (preferably under an umbrella, covered head to toe with SPF 70). But really? I'd rather be in the water! 

This little trait of mine has now independently earned me the nickname "The Mermaid" with two different groups of people. I guess the red hair doesn't hurt ;) 

Dress - J.Crew Factory / Sandals (fyi I love these - the perfect basic sandal, plus they're cushioned!!) - TKEES / Earrings (I also love this pair - how fun for the beach?!) - BaubleBar / Hat - J.Crew

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Yellow Gingham

Dress - / Bag (black version, yellow version, larger size) - Clare V / Sandals (similar here and here) - Dolce Vita / Earrings - BaubleBar

Y'all!!!!!

(I was in the south for four days so I can say "y'all" now.)

We're back from Charleston, and the trip was everything I hoped it could be. The weather was gorgeous (we're talking around 80 degrees over the weekend!), the food was amazing, the town was beautiful. We got a chance to hang out with my cousin and her husband, I did a little shopping which Jeff had to totally support because it was my birthday, and I even got a fun Southern Charmed run-in.

I was going to leave it there and play it cool but I'm so not cool. We sat next to Austen at breakfast. I don't even care about Austen because, I mean, he's no Shep or Craig. I did not even say words to him because I was being super respectful (read: shy) but I'm happy to report he had to borrow the insta-famous wubby fleece pullover from the girl he was with because he was cold. Lolllllllll. Bringing my loves of reality television and style blogging together.

Okay, so this little yellow dress. I didn't know I needed a little yellow dress. I, like the rest of you, assumed I would never look good in yellow. Turns out I was wrong.

This is maybe the most fun I've ever had wearing a dress. It's pretty, it moves, it gets you a million compliments on the street, and it lets you eat all of the tacos and no one ever needs to know. Ever.

Expect to see a lot more of this little dress. You know, once the weather gets a bit more tolerable here in Chicago.

Dress - / Bag (black version, yellow version, larger size) - Clare V / Sandals (similar here and here) - Dolce Vita / Earrings - BaubleBar

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Another Rainy Day

Shirt - J. Crew Factory / Jeans and Bag (similar) - Gap / Jacket (similar) - Michael Kors / Boots - Hunter / Necklace - Stella & Dot

How to improve a gloomy, rainy spring day? With white jeans and some bright red rain boots, of course!

It's been raining all.the.time lately (come on Chicago, you were supposed to be done with that in April!) and I'm trying everything to keep from collapsing in on myself like a dying star. And when I say that, I mean refusing to go outside and turning into a couch potato. So, white jeans and red rain boots it is. 

I'm still out of town volunteering, so I'll keep this one short and sweet. Find me on Instagram (@kristinadoes) to see what I'm up to! 

Shirt - J. Crew Factory / Jeans and Bag (similar) - Gap / Jacket (similar) - Michael Kors / Boots - Hunter / Necklace - Stella & Dot

Linking up with Style Sessions.

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A Little Gingham, A Lotta Stripes

Tee (more gingham here and here) - J. Crew / Jacket (super similar version) - Michael Kors / Jeans - Gap / Flats - Banana Republic / Bag - Sole Society

Uggg you guys, can I complain about the weather for a second? Living in Chicago I know every year that the cold weather is going to drag on and on, but it really got me this year. We had a few beautiful weekends, and now... I mean, I'm going to need my winter coat today!! Major sad face. Really though, I got married in mid-June (almost TWO years ago now - what?!) and it was about 50 degrees at my outdoor rehearsal dinner, so really, I should never be surprised. I just want to wear some skirts without freezing to death. 

Okay, weather rant over.

I just got back from New York and you guys, it was so cool! I was in the city for less than 48 hours thanks to a cancelled flight and some major delays, but I'm already dreaming about going back. Maybe with Jeff this time instead of my co-workers ;) I was there to go to a conference and thought I wouldn't have any time for fun. I ended up opting out of the parties on Tuesday night though because I was running on less than four hours of sleep thanks to my flight delays, so I pushed myself to do a little bit of exploring before I crashed. My hotel was in Times Square (I know, I know) and I was on foot so I didn't make it super far, but I did visit Central Park, 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park. Next time I want to stay in a different neighborhood and really get a feel for the city! And maybe spend more than 90 minutes wandering. 

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Spring Layers

Shirt - J. Crew Factory / Sweater (super similar but with pockets!) - LOFT / Jeans - J. Crew / Boots (similar) - Coach / Watch - Wristology / Bag - Sole Society / Necklace - Stella & Dot

The calendar may say it's finally spring, but that doesn't mean Chicago has to agree! I'm definitely ready to kick my winter wardrobe to the curb though, so I've been falling back on my old trick of pairing spring-y patterns with warm light-colored cardigans to get the feel of spring without freezing to death. Gingham is definitely a year-round pattern (especially in navy - not so much in pastels!), but pair it with a little white and it definitely feels all spring all the way. It also stops me from matching all of the guys in the office in their navy checked shirts ;) 

Shirt - J. Crew Factory / Sweater (super similar but with pockets!) - LOFT / Jeans - J. Crew / Boots (similar) - Coach / Watch - Wristology / Bag - Sole Society / Necklace - Stella & Dot

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