Guest Post: Summer Destinations ~ Destined to Design...

Jacket / Shirt / Skirt / Clutch / Oxfords / Bracelet

I'm so excited to have Jessica as a guest today. I'm sure you're not new to her blog, it's on my favorites lists - Destined to Design is always filled with great music, style and inspiration. Today Jessica is sharing with us her favorite destination of the summer and what she's wearing. (By the way we definitely share the same love of outdoor concerts and this outfit is currently on my wish list, head to toe!)

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Every summer a group of friends and I gather for at least one concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We pack a picnic, arrive early and enjoy good food and good company until the sun goes down. This year we're planning for The National/Neko Case/Sharon Van Etten  show in September that is sure to be a memorable one. If we're lucky, it'll be one of those amazing summer nights where you don't even need to pack a sweater...

Seasons Change...

I'm heading to RI tomorrow morning, excited to see my family for the first time since Christmas. To say it's been a long winter would be an understatement, but I can't complain, I like the seasons, and while I'm ready for the summer days so I can see what my new city is all about, it's been great so far. After experiencing big moves a handful of times, I have come to find that 6 months is when I start to feel like it's really my home. Through that 6 months was mainly cold nights and many friends hibernating, so let's get this tweener phase over with... 

~ I'm reaching for classics in my closet lately but haven't transitioned my warm layers to the storage unit yet, navy blue blazers, black shift dresses, white button downs and gold bangles are great for this 'not quite balmy' phase of late spring.

~Just made a new playlist, great songs for road trips! Enjoy. 

~Wanting to buy a vintage bike and spray paint it GOLD, old school and classic. What do you think?

{images via tumblr, bonnie tsang}

Summer Guide: Music in Chicago...

Just a few favorites that are playing locally this summer. Can't wait to picnic in the park on June 6th with a few friends and hopefully see Florence and Eddie Vedder, lastly I'll cap off the summer with Lollapalooza;)


Adele ~ May, 24th @ Riviera Theatre
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals ~ June 3 @ House of Blues
Iron & Wine, The Head & the Heart ~ June 6 @ Millennium Park*
Ray LaMontagne ~ June 7 @J ay Pritzker Pavilion
My Morning Jacket ~ June 17 @ Auditorium Theatre
Florence & the Machines ~ June 18 @ Aragon Ballroom
Low & Glen Hansard ~ June 27 @ Millennium Park*
Eddie Vedder ~ June 28th/29th @ Chicago Theatre
Bon Iver ~ July 24 @ Chicago Theatre
Lollapalooza ~ Aug 5-7th @ Grant Park

*Millennium park concerts are free on Monday evenings. 

10 Things I Loved this Week...

 

Here's a few things this week that were a delight:


Everything breakfast on 365 Days of Breakfast
Beautiful home in Spain on Made by Girl
Orange inspiration on Ten Scenic Drive
Tons of bookshelf love at Elements of Style
Musica roundup on Cornflake Dreams
Erin from Apt#34 wedding on Style me Pretty
Favorites for poolside lounging on Lox Papers
A tour of Greenhouse restaurant in Sydney on Pia Jane Bijkerk
Color poppin' fashion on Pink and Blue blog 
Revisiting Jack + Anjelica's romance on Mo Pie, Please 

And last but not least, a new favorite blog discovery: Luster. 

Song of the Day...

 

Lost In My Mind by The Head and the Heart {thank you to Rachel at Black Eiffel for introducing me to them}

Wish List...

Every week, this will vary so much! Here are a few random things that popped into my head, that I would love to add to the list:


1. I am dying to get my hands on Florence and the Machine concert tix for June in Chicago 2. I can't find my studded belt anywhere:( so I need a new one like this 3. Comfy T's with a little embellishment are so casual and cozy 4. I want this colorful tray to gather jewelry on my dresser 5. DKNY is taunting me with these black strappy wedges 6. Just ran out of my fave perfume 7. Colorful lacy bra from JCrew 8. Fondue set for dinner parties 9. Wrist candy - I love each of these bracelet sets, one's a steal

Guitar Ensemble...

I'm kicking off the winter guitar ensemble I joined over at the Old Town School of Music. Excited to strum and learn a few new tunes;) {image via johnny the clown}

Cecilia Cover...

I love this quirky cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Cecilia - it makes me smile. Spotted on the love list.

Sounds of the Day...

I just got the Generationals Con Law Album on itunes, saw them play last night in a small Chicago venue. Love!

Song of the Day...

Can You Tell by Ra Ra Riot

Time Out...

Taking a mini-break from blogging. Been playing a little music while it snows back east, with my niece, just for fun. Have a listen to our latest recorded cover songs:


-Falling Slowly by Swell Season (Kaela Carlin: Vocals, Sarah Reilly: Guitar & Vocals)
-Everywhere I Go by Lissie (Kaela Carlin: Vocals & Base, Sarah Reilly: Guitar & Vocals)

Song of the Day...

We Are Nowhere and It's Now by Bright Eyes

Chicago + The Band...

Well, I'm enjoying lovely weather in Chicago, it is a frequent stop lately for work. Along with a dozen meetings, I was able to see David Gray and Ray LaMontagne live last night. (Amazing)! More great music tonight, as one of the agencies I work with has a band, and is performing. We rehearsed a few songs together, so it seems I'll be singing and accompanying them on stage. Oh my! {image via the electric}

ps. The "10 Things I Loved This Week" will return next Thursday when I'm back in NYC. xo

10 Things I Loved this Week...

Back-to-School bags on the cheap on The Beauty File
White Walls on La Maison Boheme
Artist: Dana Frankfort on Mimi + Meg
Fall shopping on Down + Out Chic
Final Summer Getaway playlist by Rachel at Black Eiffel on Kid Collective
Hanging decorative jars on Beach Bungalow 8
Chocolate Editions on Simple Song
John Derian for Target on Gilt at Peacock Feathers
Beautiful Brook Farm from Seesaw
Marguerite Shop visit on {Frolic!}

Mid-Summer Music + Playlist...

I have been lucky this summer - to see some great live music! Most recently Henry Wolfe (where I  was standing next to Meryl Streep, the artist's mother), Edward Sharpe + the Magnetic Zeros (picture above from concert) and Arcade Fire (amazing). I decided to mix up a mid-summer playlist for the last few weeks left in August. x

NYC Favorites...

Come visit me at Fern + Feather today, where I'm guest blogging. Alexis asked me to put together a list of favorites about my city, NYC, from fashion, to art and glorious pizza spots. 

Guest Post: Mary from Olivet...

Mary from Olivet's refreshing look is complete with cute bikini, music and beach house getaway...I could kick back here any day!

Toast Double Handle Basket 

Re-Useable Glass Water Bottle

APC Madras Swimsuit

Aubin Wills Chambray Shirt

High SPF Sunblock 

Rilo Kiley

Sea Green Deck Towel

beach house

Song of the Day...

Mykonos by Fleet Foxes

Song of the Day...

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Philosophy of Music 101...

Signer Ricardo Toledo has created this cool series of posters by typographically interpreting the lyrics of famous songs.