What to Wear to A Hot Air Balloon Festival

This weekend was probably one of the best of the summer yet. On Saturday, my husband and I headed north on a day trip to see the Quik Check Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Jersey. I wanted to go since last year, so I wasted no time buying tickets for us.

While I might be a little old to be in awe of air balloons, I have to tell you - to see 50 hot air balloons ascend at once - it's beautiful. Seeing it in person is a whole other experience. Absolutely gorgeous.

The festival was held in Readington, NJ, near White House Station, at an airport. While the day was hot, there was plenty to keep us busy - from vendors, to festival food, a bike show from Red Bull and of course, the main event: watching the air balloons take flight at night. I expected when I arrived to see balloons in the sky, but, I found out that the balloons aren't flown throughout the day, but rather, at 6:30 a.m. and p.m., as that's when the wind is the best to fly. 

But before the flight, we took some time to take in everything the festival had to offer. That meant for me taking pictures with the balloons. C'mon - they are too awesome not to!

Sleeveless Denim Shirt - Forever 21 / Polka Dot Skirt - Forever 21 / Gladiator Sandals - Target / Fringe Leather Bag - Brandy Melville / Alex and Ani Bracelets / Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters

The weather started out as overcast, so I had trouble figuring out what to wear. It was humid - about 85 degrees. When I left the house, it was breezy, so I took the tags off this sleeveless denim chambray shirt and paired it with my polka dot skirt, fringed bag, and my favorite gladiator sandals. Appropriate for a hot air balloon festival, right? 

Finally, after some delay, the balloons were inflated and one by one, each climbed upward to create a gorgeous air show of more than 30 balloons in the sky. 

The photos really don't do it justice. It is an absolute must if you can attend a fair like this!
Hope you enjoy the photos!

My Carrie Bradshaw Moment

I think it's a fair observation to say that every girl who has ever watched Sex and The City has dreamed of having a "Carrie Bradshaw Moment", meaning, the chance to wear a frilly tutu skirt. We've idolized the skirt Carrie wears in the opening credits of the iconic series... Because honestly, you have to have a set of you-know-what to go out in public, let alone New York, in a tutu.

Thank God for The Girl That Loves, who helped me channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw with this Lilac Tulle Skirt. The skirt absolutely deserves a happy dance when wearing because it's just so over-the-top and beautiful. See, dreams of being the belle of the ball, or the Carrie Bradshaw of New Jersey, really do come true. You just have to have faith!*

(Like how I made a reference to my shirt with that pun?)

 I mean, I'm writer... Carrie was a writer. Carrie liked her money where she could see it. I like my money to be worn and hung in my closet, too. She didn't have bangs, but I'd like to think if I was her friend, I'd be the hipster friend with bangs... and chihuahuas. 

Lilac Tulle Skirt - c/o The Girl That Loves / Faith Crop Top - Forever 21 / Black and White Striped Bag - Kate Spade New York / Metallic Black Square Heels - Call It Spring / Rhinestone Bangle - Charming Charlie

Festival Ready: Milkmaid Braids

This weekend, I finally got my hair into a milkmaid braid! If you're constantly wondering "How'd she get her hair to do that," and immediately, looked no YouTube for milkmaid braid tutorials, then you'll understand what it's like to have serious hair envy.

But, I can't take the credit for doing the braid. Over the weekend, I had a routine bang trim scheduled. After it was done, I had some time to kill, and figured I'd look up a local blowout bar that recently opened, that also does hairdos and braids. I was in luck! While the stylist had never heard of a milkmaid braid, I showed her a photo, and she whipped my hair into this adorable do in 20 mins!

I have to learn how to do this to my hair myself. The one trick the stylist had me do to make the two braids was flip my head over while she braided each side. I've seen YouTube tutorials where the girls pull their hair up over their head to braid - but flipping your head over definitely makes your hair pull up easily on the crown.  She then used bobby pins to secure each braid, tucking the excess on each side. I was so sad when I had to take it out.

A hairstyle like this is so versatile. I decided to dress it up for a royal-inspired theme. Being that I just purchased this black and white striped Francesca's dress on Friday, I had to wear it with my new do!

Black and White Striped Dress - Francesca's / Mary Jane Wedges - Shoedazzle.com / Kate Spade New York Bag / Bird of Paradise Necklace - BTBJewelry.com / Square Bangle - Thrift store find!

Mellow Yellow

Hey kids! Sorry I fell off the Earth since last Wednesday. I was feeling really tired, and have been spending as much time resting and regaining what energy I can in this humid, muggy weather. New Jersey has been hit with a stanky heatwave of humidity and killer thunderstorms, which explains why my hair is up and off my neck.

The only way to get my hair completely out of the way is with a hair donut bun. Since my hair is very long, I use an extra large hair donut and two elastic bands - one for the pony, and one to flatten my hair over the hair donut. 

To get the remaining hair that sticks out from under the bun, I create 3 braids and secure with bobby pins that I wrap around the base of the donut. And, I even added braids on the crown to give it some extra texture. Not too bad for a girl who isn't totally updo savvy, right?

As for the dress, this is the 3rd time I'm wearing it on my blog. It was the first maxi dress I ever bought, and even though it's a couple years old, it's holding up through all the wears and washings I've put it through. Plus, it's incredibly comfortable and breezy. 

Some dresses you just can't let go of... and for me, this is one of em.

 Striped Maxi Dress - Urban Outfitters (old) / Dual Tone Sandals - Target / Camille Laser Cut Bag - c/o Sole Society / House Of Jeffers nameplate necklace - c/o ONecklace.com

Petal Power

If only I had more pairs of scalloped shorts....

I get a little cray-cray over things that are so ridiculously stinking cute, that I start wanting more of them. Take midi rings, for example. Love those tiny knuckle wonders. Have a slue of em. Ob. Sessed.

I can see myself forming a similar infatuation with scalloped shorts. I mean, c'mon. You may remember seeing them on my House Of Jeffers Instagram during my dressing room escapade at TJ Maxx...

 The way they make your legs look like... even cuter legs. A scalloped hem kinda of has that nostalgic, retro feel to it. It says, "Hey, I'm Valley Girl cute..." without the annoying voice.

Besides, it's literally 94 degrees outside, and I'm really not in the mood to try too hard to look effortlessly chic. So, I'm letting this boxy green crop top from Francesca's do all the work.

And no joke - New Jersey is an humid inferno, and contrary to what you might have heard, sweat is not the new black... or orange. 

I definitely see more donut buns hairstyles, pink lipstick and perhaps, oh, who am I kidding, crop tops in my summer's future. 

Green Crop Top - Francesca's / Scalloped Shorts - found at TJ Maxx / The Cambridge Satchel Company Fluoro Satchel - won at IFB Con / Leather Platform Wedges - Nine West / White Flower Statement Necklace - Shop Prima

Afternoon Delight

After a jam-packed, fun-filled weekend in Atlantic City, spending the Fourth of July gambling (and mostly losing my money at the slot machines), indulging in too much food and some must needed R&R, I'm actually not hating the fact that it's the beginning of a new work week. My staycation was just what I needed. And a lazy Sunday was absolutely in order to recuperate from the casinos and Pina Coladas on the beach.

On Sundays, I like to keep my wardrobe comfortable but really girly. One of my favorite #SundayFunday outfit combos is a snug-fit tee paired with a skirt. Since I am a fan of funny statement tees, I was hoping that this Afternoon Delight Tshirt from Urban Outfitters was still in-store when I spotted it online. One trip to Westfield and $9.99 later - I was one happy fashion blogger. 

And, I'm about to get a little narcissistic, but I'm really, really happy with the way my ombre came out. I typically don't cut my hair often - usually every 5 months, but I noticed that the weather has been drying out my hair, and I knew I needed a trim... But was afraid to lose my ombre. So, my stylist threw in more blonde on the same day I had my cut done, and now I'm all refreshed. It's all about that subtle contrast, ya'll.

What a difference a haircut makes. 

Bandit Brand "Afternoon Delight" Tee - Urban Outfitters  / Floral Print Skirt - Forever 21 / Laser-Cut Bag - c/o Sole Society (sold out, but here's another choice from Sole Society!) / Coral Wedges - Etienne Aigner / Assorted Alex and Ani Bracelets 

A Taste of The Tropics

Island-inspired style is big and bold. The prints are all about loud colors and exaggerated florals that have a pop art feel to them. Just think of wearing a tropical printed outfit as taking a trip to the beach... without getting sand in your ass.

Tracking down tropical print dresses online is easy, as I've found a variety of retailers pumping out botanicals everywhere. And it's not just limited to clothing. 

If you're hesitant to wear a Hawaii-inspired print, opt for a printed shoe. You'll be able to pull from the colors in the shoe to match with solid color pants, tops, skirts - everything. But, if accessories are more your thing, a crystal cluster necklace will do just the trick to channel your inner hula girl.

For me, I think these prints are perfect for a night out this summer. I'm anxiously awaiting 3 new tropical print pieces that will hopefully make their way to me before I go to Atlantic City this weekend!