Reviving That Beloved Outfit

I felt like this outfit needed its very own post because it is one of my favorites. I originally put this outfit together when I was maybe 14 or 15. I absolutely loved it and it felt like I've worn it about once a week since then: until a year or two ago. And then at that point the original peasant blouse that I wore with this vest was yellowed and the seams had torn (since it was originally a size too small, but it was the only thing that worked). It was a sad day that blouse died. And I spent the next couple years desperately searching for another similar blouse so that I could wear my favorite outfit. The search ended a couple weeks ago in a mall in Raleigh. I was walking to the American Girl store (yes, I still love American Girl Dolls) and I saw the blouse in the window at White House Black Market. I practically screamed in the middle of the mall and promptly went in and bought it. I didn't even try it on. I've never actually done that with a garment before. But it worked perfectly and now I have my favorite outfit back! And I most certainly wore it to work the very next week! So if you have an outfit that you love and a piece wears out, don't despair: the replacement is out there somewhere! 

Blouse: White House Black Market

Vest: Bebe

Pants: Loft (shop similar pants)

Booties: Michael Kors (shop similar booties)

September Outfit Roundup

Shirt: Gap 

Skirt: Elie Tahari 

Belt: Copper Penny Boutique (shop similar belt)

Shoes: Michael Kors 

Dress: Nine West 

Belt: shop similar belt 

Shoes: Michael Kors

Hurrication

So I’m going to be honest, this trying to blog several times a week is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be.  I am just full of ideas, but between working all day and a small munchkin, finding the time to write everything out and take pictures of all my outfits is incredibly challenging. My hats are off to all you blogger mamas who manage to get everything done in the 24 hours we are allotted in each day!

Back in September Hurricane Irma was barreling toward the East Coast. My mother always panics when hurricanes come, even though she’s lived in Charleston for almost forty years. So, this news qued the hurried removal of pictures from the walls and draping the furniture and tarps. My mother and I were already planning on going to Atlanta for a haircut (I’ll explain that in a different post) so we decided to leave early and take the baby and two of our three dogs. One of my dogs doesn’t get along with my mom’s dog, so my dad was going to take the other dog and go a different direction. I was definitely not looking forward to driving in the car for six hours with two dogs and a baby and then wrestling that zoo in a hotel room and not looking like the Beverly Hillbillies.

Well then Irma decided to change her mind and go West, so Charleston was no longer a direct hit. My dad decided to stay in the house, so we left him with the two big dogs and my mom and I set off with my little dog and the baby. It was still a small zoo.

Our first night in Atlanta we spent in one hotel, and the next three nights we spent in another hotel. Sunday we got our hair cut and ate a yummy lunch and then headed back to the hotel. Monday we were completely hotel bound due to the high winds from the storm. Tuesday we headed over to Phipps Plaza for some shopping and lunch. It was a nice relaxing day, and then we headed home.

So what started out as an evacuation turned into a mini-vacation. We were incredibly thankful that all that happened was our backyard flooded, but no water in the house and no damage to the house. It could’ve been so much worse, and it was so much worse for so many people. Here are some of the highlights of the trip. 

My little furbaby travel companion

Munchkin greatly enjoyed the hotel experience

Absolutely in love with my new cut and color! Finally feeling more like the old Audra Claire.

Top: Chelsea28

Pumpkin spice is always in style!

 Some pictures from our hotel pool. It looked like New Orleans.

The Ted Baker dressing room warrants a selfie!

Jacket: Stein Mart

T-Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Loft

Purse: Michael Kors

Shopping break for lunch at Cheesecake Factory!

We had two wonderful meals at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Atlanta’s Dining Room

Top: Halogen

Jeans: Loft

Sandals: Michael Kors

Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

August Outfit Roundup

Top: Gibson Fleece Bell Sleeve

Pants: White House Black Market (shop similar pants)

Shoes: Sam Edelman 

Sweater: TopShop

Jeans: Brunette Boutique (shop similar jeans)

Heels: Guess (shop similar shoes)

Dress: WAYF

Belt: Francesca's 

Shoes: Michael Kors  

Top: Gibson Fleece Bell Sleeve

Skirt: Loft (shop similar skirt)

Shoes: Sam Edelman 

Blouse: Loft (shop similar blouse)

Skirt: the hospital gift shop (shop similar skirt)

Shoes: Sam Edelman 

Dress: Donna Morgan (shop similar dress)

Heels: BCBG Max Azria 

Purse: Nanette Lepore (shop similar bag)

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Dress: Karl Lagerfeld

Shoes: Mischka Badgley

Watch: Michael Kors (shop similar watch)

Dress: Calvin Klein

Belt: White House Black Market

Shoes: Michael Kors

Sunglasses: Betsy Johnson 

 Dress: Love . . . ady 

Sandals: Sam Edelman

Belt: Vintage Cippiani

Checking out Columbia

So a couple Saturdays ago my fur baby and I went to Columbia for the day to spend a few hours with my best friend who I haven't seen in two years! She's living in Orlando now and I live in Charleston and we are both so busy with work: it's not quite like the wonderful days when we both lived in Greenville and our biggest worry was our test tomorrow. So this day was a rare treat! However, neither of us know very much about Columbia so it was also sort of an adventure. I posted on Facebook looking for recommendations from friends on places to go and places to eat. One of my friends who lives in Columbia recommended the Vista. That is a super cute little shopping district that definitely wasn't there last time I had spent any time in Columbia! So we parked and started looking around for a restaurant that was open for lunch at 2:30 and had a deck for my fluffy. We ended up eating at the Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom. I had the best calzone that I've ever eaten! However, our servers kept forgetting about us so they gave us our meal free and gave us a free brownie bite dessert. They were out of this world!!! Even though the meal took entirely too long, the food was amazing and totally worth it. After that we walked around the Vista and the State House grounds and took tons of pictures. Overall it was a beautiful and fun day!

Top: Feratelli (no longer available)

Jeans: Loft 

Shoes: Michael Kors 

Excerpts from Paris Bath and Beauty Book

Ever since I spent a couple weeks in France, I've been obsessed with the French women and their fashion. They're always been at the height of the fashion industry, but they do it so effortlessly! Not that I'm planning to ditch my highly artistic makeup when I feel like doing that, but it's nice to know that it's also super chic to go out with just glowing skin and a bold lip. 

I'm always on the lookout for books about Parisian fashion and beauty routines, and whenever I see one I grab it! I found this little beauty on a quick run into Whole Foods. I was passing by and the giant "Paris" grabbed my attention. I spent about 3 seconds flipping through it and decided it was something I needed in my life. Here are some excerpts from the book for your enjoyment. 

Need some help forming a capsule wardrobe for fall? No worries. The Parisian stylists are here to help! 

Girl's Day Out

So last Friday I got to spend the whole day with some of my great girl friends. It was our last hoorah of the summer, and the last time for us all to hang out together before one of my friends runs off to Paris with her hubby for the year (yes, I'm way beyond jealous!). We had a great day that started out with a yummy lunch, followed by tons of shopping, and finishing up with a night out on the town. I definitely needed this break as well as the getting to spend time with these awesome ladies!

 Dress: Love . . . ady 

Sandals: Sam Edelman

Belt: Vintage Cippiani

So the day was supposed to start with brunch, but let's get real; with five women and a baby there was no way we were going to get there on time. So we ended up getting to the 1Kept Charleston in time for lunch. And it was just as yummy! And we got to spend the rainy part of the day inside! 

Burger with super yummy fries 

Special milkshake and cookie dessert 

The beautiful dining room 

The gang 

So I was entirely remiss of taking pictures of our evening adventures! We started out at Eleve for appetizers (their cheese board is fabulous), went to Le Farfalle for dinner (the Ceci In Umido is out of this world), and Carmella's for dessert (all of their cakes are amazing)! If you're looking for a good place to eat, any of those options will set your mouth awhirl!