What to Pack for Spring Break

It's crazy to think that at this time last year I was busy planning for our trip to Charleston for my birthday! This winter has been rough the past couple of weeks (maybe an understatement with the -50 degree windchills we're supposed to have tomorrow!), and I think the worst part is knowing that there's no escape until Chicago decides it's time for spring. I currently can't travel (and we definitely won't be traveling once baby girl is here!) so I'm just living vicariously through everyone else's Insta-Stories and, of course, looking at all of the new resort arrivals. If I was taking a spring break trip, here's what would be in my suitcase:

Beach: Swimsuit / Bag / Shorts / Sandals

Nighttime: Dress / Earrings / Bag / Sandals 

Daytime: Bag / Top / Shoes / Shorts 

Travel: Suitcase

And here are a few more things that caught my eye:

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White and Blue in Charleston

Blouse (similar) - Impeccable Pig / Shorts - J. Crew Factory / Bag - Clare V / Earrings - BaubleBar / Sandals (similar here and here) - Sole Society

Here's hoping you aren't sick of Charleston pictures yet, because I have this last set of photos for you!! As I've said a couple of times, I fell in love with the boutique chain Impeccable Pig while I was down in Charleston, and I actually snagged this blouse from there the day before! The sales girl actually went and pulled it from the back (it was so new it hadn't been steamed yet!) because she thought it would work on me, and man was she right! It's the perfect easy-breezy vacation top because it's a nice, light fabric that works in the heat or when it's cooler, and works with shorts here, but would also be great over a swimsuit or dressed up for dinner.

I was waiting to post this look because I still haven't been able to find this top online - not sure if it's still too new, or if it just won't be on their website. But, I did find a few similar tops that I've linked below:

I really can't wait to go back to Charleston, I don't know if I've expressed that from all of the blog posts and Instagram posts hahaha. It just is such a cute little town, and I love that there are pretty vignettes down every alleyway and hidden path. It just seems like there's so much to explore that you would never see everything!

This particular path reminded me a lot of Positano, Italy. Obviously we aren't on a crazy hill here or climbing up and down fourteen flights of stairs. For me, the resemblance is because we wandered down this little path that we could have walked right past without a second glance, but there are actually business and home entrances on every side. It's also fun to imagine what life was like in this particular spot three hundred or even four hundred years ago! We just don't have that sort of history here in Chicago. Or, like, sun in February. Why do I live in Chicago again?!

Blouse (similar, or similar as a romper) - Impeccable Pig / Shorts - J. Crew Factory / Bag - Clare V / Earrings - BaubleBar / Sandals (similar here and here) - Sole Society

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Blue and White in Charleston

Top - Tobi (freaking can't believe this top from last spring is back in stock!) / Shorts - J.Crew Factory (these have been my favorites for years so I'm super excited they're back in stock!!) / Bag - Clare V / Sandals (similar here and here) - Sole Society / Earrings - BaubleBar

I think the thing I liked most about Charleston was that there was just so much to explore! Not only was every street beautiful, but every alleyway and every little space between buildings too. I couldn't believe that these spaces were usually full of plants and flowers and trees too. I mean, here in Chicago, our alleys are mostly just full of trash cans. 

This top was a favorite last spring and summer, so I was really excited to pull it out again in Charleston for a morning of wandering. This outfit didn't last long though, because after enjoying brunch at Husk we wandered into The Impeccable Pig (basically my spirit animal in a store) and I ended up wearing a new dress out. I'm not sure I've ever actually worn something out of the store before, but when you find the cutest little off the shoulder dress you basically have to. Just a note on sizing in this store - I could wear a large in anything made out stretchy fabric / anything without a zipper. Dresses/skirts are definitely on the shorter size, so just don't plan on buying anything for work or church ;) 

I'll be coming back at you later this week with more of what we loved in Charleston, so stay tuned! 

Top - Tobi (freaking can't believe this top from last spring is back in stock!) / Shorts - J.Crew Factory (these have been my favorites for years so I'm super excited they're back in stock!!) / Bag - Clare V / Sandals (similar here and here) - Sole Society / Earrings - BaubleBar

Linking up with Trend Spin Linkup.

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Pastels in Charleston

Shirt (available here, here, and here) - Sanctuary / Jacket (similar) and Shorts (similar) - J. Crew Factory / Bag (black version, yellow version, larger size) - Clare V / Watch - Wristology / Shoes - BP / Earrings - BaubleBar

After our long weekend in Charleston, I am so ready for some spring weather - anyone else? I'm dying for Chicago to hop above 50 degrees now. Come on Chicago, I believe in you!

We took these pictures while walking around one morning during our trip, and let me tell you, just about every corner in Charleston is photogenic. I don't think Jeff quite realized when he signed up for a trip to Charleston that it would include taking pictures of me on every corner, but seriously, every time we turned onto a new street it was somehow prettier than the last! Sorry Jeffrey :)

These photos were taken on King Street, the main shopping drag. If you go further north on King Street it started to feel more generic and then more college-y/tourist-y, but heading south on King past Market Street had tons of cute boutiques. I don't usually like to shop on vacations, especially when they're the same stores I would see at home, but this place just drew me on in. So double sorry to Jeff. Some of my favorites were Candlefish, which does have a lot of candles but also jewelry and home goods/gifties, and The Impeccable Pig, which I told Jeff is basically my spirit animal in clothing store form. Apparently both are (smallish) chains, but not chains we have up in Chicago so I'm not counting them :)

So yeah... when is it going to be shorts weather again?

Shirt (available here, here, and here) - Sanctuary / Jacket (similar) and Shorts (similar) - J. Crew Factory / Bag (black version, yellow version, larger size) - Clare V / Watch - Wristology / Shoes - BP / Earrings - BaubleBar

Linking up with How I Spring, Trend Spin Linkup.

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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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Let's Go Somewhere

It always takes about three days into January before I start researching spring break trips - anyone else?? I actually love snow, but the negative temperatures in Chicago make it slightly less enjoyable. Jeff's busiest time of year is actually January through mid-February, which always reduces my spring break plans to just dreams, but hey, even thinking about a beach helps!

To help get me through the gloom, I started shopping for fun, warm-weather pieces. What can I say, they're just more fun than sweaters right now! So far I've only brought home this bag and these earrings, but I see some cute dresses on the horizon ;) A word to the wise: if you've got your eye on a fun bag, snap it up early! My favorite tote from last spring / summer sold out in just days, and I've missed out on bags in the past because I didn't move fast enough. In case you don't believe me, the bag I bought is already sold out in the color I bought! Don't worry, I found the navy here.

In case you have a warm weather vacation coming up, here are a few of my favorites available now:

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen

I found so many things I wanted to share and couldn't fit them all into a collage - here are a few more things on my wishlist:

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