Twenty One

Dress: Forever 21, Shirt: Stella McCartney for GapKids, Shoes: Aldo

Yesterday was fantastic. I did not get up to watch the royal wedding, instead opting for my normal 8 a.m. wake up and a delicious raspberry tart from Financier Patisserie and some coffee for breakfast. I pulled on this striped dress (which really is a favorite) and my new bright blue wedges from Aldo, which I bought myself on Thursday as a gift to myself. After work I went home to find some cards and a big envelope from my mom, who I called soon after I got home. I went to dinner with four friends at Sarabeth's, which was completely delicious. During dinner I had my first legal drink! I chose a grapefruit spritzer (grapefruit juice, elderflower liquor and champagne) which was very tasty and went well with my meal. I had some really, really good chocolate truffle cake for dessert (Seriously, this cake is the stuff dreams are made of) and left very satisfied. After dinner, we swung by my apartment so I could put away my leftovers, and while three of my four friends peeled off after dinner, the one remaining and I went to a bar and got drinks. Turning 21 is a little different than most birthdays. On most birthdays, nothing changes immediately. Sure, at 18 I was able to vote, but that didn't happen instantaneously - I still had to register and wait for an election. And I suppose I could have bought lottery tickets and cigarettes and porn, but that's not really my thing. Turning 21 it was like instantly I can go all these places I couldn't before, I can order things I couldn't before. It's weird, but nice. And I had a great birthday.

WWMAD?

Birthdays are a time to be a little ridiculous - you can eat whatever you want and do crazy things just cause you feel like it. I decided that this birthday I would take on the mantra WWMAD? What would Marie Antoinette do? And so my breakfast (pardon the phone pics):

 

More birthday to come.

Blast from the Past

My mom sent me these photos in anticipation of my 21st birthday - "You were a fashionista from the very beginning," she said. Well, that's one way of putting it. These are too cute not to share, so I give you little Hanna in extremely questionable outfits.

Sometimes it amazes me I'm not this little girl anymore - I swear I still expect to be 12 years old sometimes. Luckily, starting another chapter doesn't have to mean closing the other ones. That said, I think maybe my hatred of turtlenecks came from wearing them with Halloween costumes - ruining a perfectly good outfit? Outrageous!

Happy Coincidences

Yesterday:

Dress: Anthropologie, Shoes: Target

Yesterday I pulled out this dress that I somehow haven't worn yet while in New York. The color is apparently right on trend for spring, so I'm sure I'll wear it many more times. Yesterday brought a happy coincidence: I ran into Casey in the cafeteria! She's got an awesome new job and I was lucky enough to run into her - I've been reading her blog for years, but yesterday was my first in-person contact with her. She (and her jean jacket) are just as cute in person.

Today:

Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt: Target, Shoes: Steve Madden, Necklace: Forever 21

Musing: My necklace was from Forever 21 and tomorrow I will actually be 21. Insanity. Have I mentioned how excited I am for my birthday? I'm going out for a nice dinner with some friends (thanks to my very generous father) and then...well we'll see what happens :) Today though was about simplicity: shirt, skirt, hair in a bun - very easy and lazy for a girl who just didn't want to put in any effort this morning. Next time you see me, I'll be legal!!

Among the Stars

Dress & Necklace: Forever 21, Shoes: Target

I wanted to get this up before I fall asleep (yes, you read that right, I feel like I've been knocked over the head with a sledgehammer). This is yesterday's outfit for a Tuesday with temperatures reaching high 70s/low 80s. Spring really is here. I love this dress. It worked much better without tights, thankfully. I wasn't pulling and twisting and self-conscious all day. I simply felt like a girl in a cute dress. And some days, that's all I need.

Fantasy Birthday Wishlist: Bubble Bauble

One thing that I always wish I got more of as gifts is jewelry. While I can only dream of the things below (rollover to see what they are) perhaps some cheaper items will be gifted to me (or gifted to me, by me - what, don't you buy yourself birthday gifts?)

Fantasy Birthday Wishlist

My birthday is at the end of this week and there's nothing really calling out to me to ask for. However, if there were no limit on the amount to be spent on my birthday gift, I have a few ideas of what I'd ask for, and I thought I'd share them here all week.

Pretty much everything from the Tommy Hilfiger spring/summer 2011 collection. If I could live in their breezy dresses and cable knit sweater vests all summer (not to mention the shoes of my dreams, the high heeled boat shoes) I would be ridiculously overjoyed. Now if I could only find my fairy godmother by Friday...

Case of the Mondays

Shirt: H&M, Sweater: Urban Outfitters, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: LL Bean

I am exhausted. I think it's just a function of it being Monday, but I am about to fall over and start snoring. But fatigue is a good motivator - I got this up earlier than usual because I want to be in bed by 10. Sounds pretty lame for someone who will be celebrating a 21st birthday at the end of the week, but that's exactly why I need to do it - I want to have enough energy to enjoy my birthday on Friday. I had a low key weekend - the rain kept me from straying too far from my apartment and I really only went out for coffee Saturday and groceries on Sunday. I didn't do anything special for Easter, but I got myself a treat to celebrate:

Red velvet cupcake from Buttercup which is on my way home from the grocery store. Definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Going (pink and) Green

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer (thrifted), Cardigan: H&M, Shoes: Aldo

I actually wore this yesterday to an event which I wrote about for a blog post. In honor of Earth Day (which is actually today), I wore this green and pink Lilly Pulitzer dress that I picked up in a thrift shop in my hometown. I'm a big Lilly fan and finding this dress was extremely lucky. I love the print and the cut. I'll be wearing this all summer - flaunting my bright colors on the subway for black-clad New Yorkers.

Dressed in Black

Dress: Tucker for Target, Cardigan: H&M, Shoes: ModCloth

I decided to finally get into the spirit of this whole New York thing and wear a primarily black outfit. I always feel like people stare at me when I'm wearing colorful clothing. Sometimes I'd like to ask people to stop looking at me as if I ate their baby, but I guess it's fairly alarming to see someone dressed in bright hues with bare legs when everyone else has their North Face on. Still, though. Oh well, at least I could blend in one day.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

I've been posting pictures of my weekend all week, so I figured I should actually get back to this week.

 Sweater: Zara, Pants: Ann Taylor petites, Shoes: Aerosoles, Necklace: Forever 21

On Monday I didn't feel like dressing up much - I was tired from the weekend and I am not a morning person. A simple sweater and some pants was all I could muster, but with colorful shoes and necklace, I made it feel like me instead of an anonymous waiter/choral member.

Whirlwind Weekend: Pt III: The Inlet

I have to admit, the only thing I knew about the Hamptons before I visited was that a whole lot of rich people vacation there. While there is more to know, I wasn't far off in my original assessment. Driving along the inlet (surrounded by water on both sides) I saw some amazing houses and, of course, took pictures.

Whirlwind Weekend Pt. II: The Beach

 Saturday was admittedly a pretty poor weather day. But luckily, it gave way to Sunday which was one of the more gorgeous days this spring. We drove around in a convertible with the top down to go walk around the beach and a gorgeous neighborhood (where unfortunately some guy is pouring over $30 million into one of the more tacky houses I've ever seen). Enjoy the pictures of the beach (and the marsh that is separated from the beach by a line of trees).