Layering Bracelets: If you're not doing it, you're not cool.

Like so many young women out there, I fall into a new fashion-related habit almost every season.  I've been through SO many phases and wardrobes since I was a wee lad, and looking back at some of them now, I don't know how I didn't drive my mother to insanity.  Some of these have been super weird - like during my tomboy days back in the 90s, I refused to wear dresses, wore Nike every day and dreamed to be a WNBA basketball player.  I really don't know how I kept friends.  Obbbbviously, times have been a-changin', and since those times I've been "emo" with studded belts and black hoodies and slightly "hood" with name-plated belts and Phat Farm sneakers.  If my friends from home decide to dig up pictures for proof, I will disown them.

Somehow, I managed to turn out pretty normal.

Most recently, my latest habit has been mild in comparison with my childhood with a simple change in jewelry accessorizing.  While interning at Subversive Jewelry a few summers ago, I was HUGE on statement necklaces, and my jewelry collection grew exponentially.  This summer, I've put most of my necklaces on hold (besides my very very favorite Anthropologie bubble necklace) for an accessory switch-up.  This summer, I'm all about layering bracelets.  It's super easy and fast to throw on some colorful bangles with a solid colored tee, tank top or maxi dress when you need to quickly run out the door.  Plus, the sound bangles make when they hit each other is like playful chic, right?

And, for your viewing and buying pleasure, I've gathered some of my favorite cheap-ish bangles from my favorite websites.  The more you stack, the cooler you look.  It's a proven fact.

Enamel Bangle by Tinley Road (Piperlime, originally $26, now $14.97)

Zipper Cuff (Nasty Gal, $15)

Silver and Turquoise Bamboo Bracelet Set (Target, $16.99)

Zigzag Patterned Bangle Set (Forever21, $8.80)

ASOS Claw Cuff Bracelet (ASOS, $13.26 - VERY Pamela Love, don'tcha think???)

Breaking Free Aqua Bracelet by St. Eve (Threadsence, $20 - not a bangle but who cares? It's gorg.)

Pieces Marie Bangle Set (ASOS, originally $19.86, now $11.60)

Gold Wavy Enamel Bracelet (Target, $16.99)

My advice?  Buy them all.  Wear them all.  Love them all.

Thoughts on layering bangles?  Hate the clinking sound but love the trend?  Love the clinking sound but hate the trend?  Comment away!

Situation: #humidityproblems

Beach 6: A slice of heaven.

As much as I love Boston and call it my home and everything, my least favorite part about living in Boston these past two summers is The Humidity Factor.  It.  Is.  Awfuuuuul.  Maybe it's the fact that I'm a Jersey girl and my father conveniently has a beach house in Point Pleasant Beach right off the boardwalk, I can not stand the east coast's summer heat unless I'm laying (a.k.a. passed out and baking in tanning oil) on the Jersey shore.  Specifically, Beach 6.  That refreshing, cool breeze right off the Atlantic Ocean, 88 degrees with few clouds in the sky.  Sigghhhh.  Every single Jersey girl knows what I'm talking about.

My hair has been a major problem since I've decided to grow out my short bob haircut, and the in-between stage is just terrible.  As often as I see Refinery29 and Fashionista.com put out articles about how sophisticated and stylish "The Long Bob" can be, I manage to look sufficiently awkward with my hair down.  Unless it's a REALLY good day.  And, let me tell you, humid days are NOT good days.  And, most days of the east coast summer are humid days.

My solution: the ballerina bun.

It's versatile.  It's classic.  It takes no more than five minutes.  It saves you any type of straightening frustration.  And it's PERFECT for a humid summer day in Boston, the Jersey shore, or wherever you want to be this season.  As a former ballerina, I know it takes about 300 bobby pins to secure the perfect bun, but since I don't whip my head back and forth on the daily (as I assume not many people do), all you need is a hair elastic and a few bobby pins to fix it into place.  Because I have some shorter hairs in the back, I put my bun in and then secure my shorter hair to the back of my head with bobby pins in the X shape, and hairspray the shit out of it (like any girl from New Jersey would).

Another good point about the ballerina bun is that your hair doesn't have to be stick straight to do it.  SO, if you shower at night, you can let your hair air dry overnight and then put it up in the morning.  Dealing with a blowdryer in the summer is torture, and the ballerina bun saves you the hassle (and the sweat) of dealing with hot air.  If you have curly hair, try leaving your hair a bit loose and secure a tight bun on the top of your head.  SUPER cute.

Total cost of a ballerina bun up-do:

• One hair elastic = less than $1.00
• Approx. ten bobby pins = less than $1.00
• One can of hair spray (my fave: AquaNet Super Hold Unscented) = $2.99
• TOTAL: $4.99

Not too shabby, eh?

What do you think of the ballerina bun?  What are some other ideas for awkward hair on a humid, summer afternoon?  Comment away!

Situation: #patrioticproblems

He went to my high school, I'm allowed to make fun of him.

Every year when July 3rd comes around, I find myself totally stumped for a July 4th get-up.  Every year I think I have something in my wardrobe that is perfect for the occasion, and the night before the holiday, I look through my clothes and realize I have nothing.  Nuh-thing.  The American flag bathing suit is soOoOo 2000, the stars and stripes tee shirts are unoriginal, and don't even get me started with the flag-dress.  It's a flag, it's not supposed to be wrapped around your body as a fashion statement with a skinny belt.  Spilling your red solo cup of beer on that and you're basically disrespecting America.  And I'm not about to head to Walmart for a $5 bald eagle tee like my friend Dom Mazzetti (no offense, I just couldn't pull it off like you do...).  Hilarious, but not for me.

This year, I've turned to Pinterest.  You know, that up-and-coming social media website that sorority girls are obsessed with but what boys think is for lame housewives.  I'm not on the website all that much, but when I do, I'm on for probably an average of five hours.  It's like crack.  I don't even think I'm using the website to its fullest, but I've found amazing arts and crafts and fashion inspiration within the past few days that I would love to share with you.  Especially because they're all 4th of July related.

I haven't tried any of them yet, but I'm thinking about it with my afternoon basically free besides some blueberry beer and watermelon margaritas closer to 3pm.  Here are my favorite Pinterest 4th of July crafts:


Braided Back T-Shirt, courtesy of Brooke Long

Stars and Stripes Shorts, courtesy of Atavia Rochille

American Flag Tank, courtesy of Jolene Del Toro

Lace Shorts, courtesy of Sofia Do Carmo

What do you think - super cute or super tacky?  How else do you rep your country's colors?  Comment away!

NEW EDIT: As I mentioned, I tried one of the crafts yesterday, and it went REALLY well.  It only took me about a half hour (because I couldn't figure out how much of the shirt to cut).  Here are a few pictures!  Hope you try it out yourself!