Friday, January 29, 2016

J. McLaughlin Sewickley, Pittsburgh

J. McLaughlin in Sewickley, Pittsburgh, PA

J. McLaughlin in Sewickley, Pittsburgh, PA

Cashmere Wrap (30% off with code CASHMERE)c/o// Checked Shirt
Denim (best ever!)// Booties (similar)

I've written about the wonderful neighborhood of Sewickley in the past highlighting some of my favorite restaurants, but if you are not familiar with Sewickley, it is an area about 20 miles north-west of Pittsburgh.




Sewickley boasts the cutest little 'downtown' area with cute shops, bars, restaurants, salons, etc.  Right on the main street sits the cutest J.McLaughlin. It opened in March, but I had yet to visit it! I'm such an online shopper, but J.McLaughlin is definitely one of those stores you must visit. The decor and their attention to detail wonderful. It was such a haven coming out of the cold and snow and into such a bright and inviting space-- not to mention all of the resort clothes had me counting down until my warm weather trips!

I have been wearing J.McLaughlin since I can remember. I used to often wear their classic grosgrain skirts/accessories while in high school. In college, I also often wore J.McLaughlin and would never miss the chance to pop into their Georgetown location!

Right now J.McLaughlin is hosting a 30% off cashmere sale. This is a brand that I always go-to for cashmere because the quality is always the absolute best. At 30% off the prices are really nice. Not to mention they have some amazing styles and colors. I usually reach for neutrals, which they had a lot of, but when I spotted the gorgeous blush pink wrap above, I knew it was for me! I think it looks great with the casual outfit above (especially love the blue gingham and pink together!) but I also can't wait to wear it in the summer with all white or even with a LBD for a wedding or cocktail party.

Speaking of LBD's, I also picked up this great LBD and can't wait to share it styled for a wear-to-work look. If you ever find yourself in Sewickley, be sure to check out J.McLaughlin and then check out some of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat:

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Lately 1/28/16

Denim (best ever)// Booties (similar)

Wearing: I love this all navy look that I put together at J. McLauhglin this past Sunday! More details coming tomorrow!

Eating: Did you catch Monday's low carb recipe post? I'll be sharing another recipe next week that is delicious and super easy, too!

Drinking: I went to Industry Public House this past weekend (it's a cool bar/restaurant in Lawrenceville) and it reminded me how much I love Arsenal Cider. I always ask for the dryest one they have and am never disappointed! If you are in Pittsburgh, Arsenal Cider is definitely worth checking out. You can go to their location in Lawrenceville, but a lot of Pittsburgh bars and restaurants have it on tap, too!



Reading: I just got a few new books. Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson, Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and Modern Romance By Aziz Ansari (I'm embarrassed to admit the latter). I'm personally really into historical books that are set during WWII. I really loved reading The Book Theif, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and All the Light We Cannot See, so I figured that I must read Once We Were Brothers and The Nightingale. I'm only a part of the way through The Nightingale so I'll keep you updated!


Wanting: Love all of these items. I realize they're almost all neutral colors. I really need spring to come so I can get into color again!!!

Pittsburgh-ing: I just went to Wigle Whiskey in the Strip District for the first time last week and it was awesome. We tasted a few things but then I ordered a hot toddy and it was delicious. It was perfect for the cold snowy day we were having! We didn't get a chance to do a proper tasting, so we are going to go back to do that!

Smelling: Voluspa's Moso Bamboo. I went to my friend Danielle's apartment on Monday night for takeout and to watch the Bachelor. I never watch the Bachelor, but after watching this past Monday's episode, I feel like I'll be tuning in for the rest of this season! She was burning Voluspa's Moso Bamboo and it smelled so good. I just ordered the candle for myself!


Listening: I know it's not February yet, but I have been so into my playlists lately! I feel like January's playlist was awesome, but it was getting too full, so I have already started on February and have a bunch of great songs in the lineup! Some of my favorites are this one, this one, and this one. I also rediscovered this super old song and have been listening to it on repeat-- the lyrics are just too good! In the recent Summer Wind survey, some of you mentioned not having Spotify, so I will start embedding the playlists in Thursday's Lately post so you can still access the music!

I got a UE Boom a few weeks ago and it has been the best thing ever. I love to blast music while I work at night. It's a must for those who love music and are always on the go! Be sure to follow me on Snapchat (SummerWind41490) as I share my favorite songs when I find them!

Watching: The Imitation Game. This movie was on demand for free. I had never heard of it/had no idea what to expect, and just clicked 'play'. Well, it is a must watch. It's based on a true story of Alan Turing, a British mathematician. It is set during WWII and the entire story is incredible. I don't' want to say too much because I feel like even the slightest things will give the story away, but add it to your 'watch list'. It's a great movie for both guys and girls as it's a historical drama and isn't too heavy with gritty war scenes but also isn't too heavy with romance either. I actually loved the movie so much that I just ordered the biography written about Alan Turing. I'm excited to read it! Also as a side note, Keira Knightley is in this film and she is so stunningly gorgeous (she's also in Atonement, and Pride and Prejudice which are two of my favorites)!

Cashmere Wrap (30% off with code CASHMERE)// Checked Shirt
Denim (best ever!)// Booties (similar)

Sale-ing: There are so many great sales going on right now. I am already so over winter and the last thing I want is another sweater, but if you are in need of some winter staples, now is the time to shop. Most winter items are deeply discounted! Two Bees, one of my favorite brands for cashmere is having a really great cashmere sale! I got this dress and it is gorgeous! Club Monaco is still having their major clearance sale and J.McLaughlin is having a great sale, too! 

Quote-ing: I've been pinning a lot of quotes lately, you can find them all, here.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Wear-to-Work: Classic Staples

wear to work staples





Coat c/o// White Shirt// Corduroy Pants (on sale, under $100)

This is probably one of my most worn outfits. You cannot go wrong with a black and white combo. It works in every season and in almost any situation. Black and white is neutral, classic, and crisp. While this is a slightly casual wear-to-work ensemble, the gorgeous Ellie Kai coat lends a slight elegance to a rather basic outfit. 

The white shirt is hands down an absolute necessity in any woman's wardrobe. I've written about this shirt many times in the past on Summer Wind. It is in a non-iron material, which is usually a turnoff for me, but this makes the shirt so easy to travel with! It comes in several fits, from tailored to fitted to classic. I personally prefer the classic fit which does not have darting. I find the classic fit easier to wear on weekends with jeans and even with leggings. If you are looking for something to go under a sweater or suit jacket, you'll want to choose the tailored or fitted which has darting for a more form-fitting silhouette. I have three of these and they all get worn constantly. At under $100, they are well worth buying a few. As for sizing, they run pretty true to size. I would say if you are between sizes, to size down. I usually buy a size 2 in the classic fit, but I also have a size 4 that provides more of a weekend/relaxed/tunic style fit. 

The Ferragamo Vara is another work-wear staple. Ferragamo makes two similar styles. The pair I am wearing is the Vara which is known for the 1.25" block heel and patent bow. The Varina is a variation and is more of a classic ballet flat with a grosgrain bow. I love the Varina for weekends, but I find the Vara to, surprisingly, be more comfortable. They're definitely not an inexpensive shoe, but the quality far surpasses most other shoes I have come across. They are comfortable, they last and they look polished and professional but still allow you to show off your own personal style in a conservative work setting. I have a pair in lava, the nude bisque shade, and blush pink. The next pair I am going to add to my closet is the Varina in black

The corduroy pants are one of my favorite pairs of pants that I own. I have them in burgundy, too! They are so comfortable and fit so nicely! I know for some this might not fly in a very conservative office since they fit similarly to skinny jeans. However, you could trade out the cords for a pair of work slacks. I don't need to wear something that 'businessy', so cords are great for double duty. I wear them on the weekends with a cute top and booties/pumps to wear out at night!

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Downtown Pittsburgh by @StripDistrict412

3 PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA
3 PPG Place 

Chipotle Market Square Pittsburgh, pA
Market Square

PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PPG Place

The Carlyle building in Pittsburgh, PA
The Carlyle at 4th and Wood Street 

Market Square

Delray Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Delray Street

Market Square

Gateway Center T station Pittsburgh, PA
Gateway Center 'T' station (this is Pittsburgh's subway)

Gateway Center Fountain Pittsburgh, PA
Gateway Center Fountain 

Bugundy Skirt (on sale under $70)// Nude pumps 


The most amazing thing and my favorite part of Summer Wind is connecting with others who I probably would not have met had my site never existed. Not only have I met so many amazing people all over the country (and even the world!), but I've made such great friends. Not just fellow bloggers, but for example, last night I had dinner with two girls who I met through blogging and they have become great friends! Many other times, I have had the privilege of meeting incredible people with amazing talents. 

Pittsburgh is in the middle of this major upgrade. I've always loved the city, but it's finally gaining the recognition it deserves! Incredibly talented people are coming to Pittsburgh and making it a major destination. Just a few examples are the Google offices in Bakery Square and Facebook is also opening up offices in Oakland for Oculus research (that's their virtual reality platform). 

Not only is Pittsburgh a major hot spot for the tech industry, but it also has a lot of artistically talented people. Really, it's always been home to artistically talented people--Ever heard of Andy Warhol? Yep, he's a Pittsburgher! One of those artistically talented people is Jay North who is the photographer behind the Instagram @StripDistrict412

I had followed his amazing instagram account for a while until we finally decided to get together! If you are Pittsburgher, he's a must-follow. His photos feature incredible shots of Pittsburgh. He finds angles of the city, I would have never even thought to capture! He's also the guy behind the hashtag #SteelCityGrammers. This is a super popular hashtag for Pittsburgh photographers. I could spend hours scrolling through and seeing all of the gorgeous shots! 

We met up one weekend to take some photos around downtown Pittsburgh. He's so nice and it was so much fun to see him in action! He has such a good eye and I feel like these photos capture the real industrial feel of Pittsburgh. PPG Place is a set of glass buildings built in the early '80s that look like sleek mirrored castles. They're iconic to Pittsburgh's skyline and it's so cool to see the juxtaposition of something so shiny and gorgeous against something like the gritty alleyway we stumbled upon right behind the buildings (Delray Street).

I wore this wear-to-work look because many of you requested that I share some more wear-to-work inspiration. This burgundy skirt is so gorgeous (currently on sale under $70). I actually didn't buy it for work, but it just happens that it is a very appropriate length and I love the architectural interest on the front. It makes it interesting, but still conservative enough for the office. But the best part is that it's still short enough for it to be fun for the weekends! As for sizing, it runs pretty true to size. I'm wearing a size 2. 

The top is so gorgeous, and unfortunately, this outfit doesn't show off the gorgeous peplum. I actually didn't have a cute top to pair with the burgundy color of the skirt. I loved the interesting neckline on the peplum top, so I just tucked in the peplum. This is also an example of how versatile you can make certain pieces in your closet! The top looks great all by itself with skinny jeans and pumps but looks equally as nice when dressed for work. It runs true to size. I am wearing a size small.

My camel coat is one of my wardrobe staples in the winter. I wrote an entire post on the coat, here, and you will also be able to find other camel coats at all different price points in this past post

A big thank you to Jay for spending the afternoon with me! I can't wait to partner with him again to share more of Pittsburgh with you all! 

Monday, January 25, 2016

Low-Carb Recipe: Zucchini Boats

pizza zucchini boat recipe

In last Thursday's lately post, I shared that I have been restricting carbs in my diet for the month of January. Many of you requested for me to share recipes that I have been using. I have to be honest in that I just eat a lot of grilled chicken/turkey/sausage/etc. While it's not exciting or creative, it gets the job done. However, I have made a few things that are actually delicious and I'm happy to share them with you!

This is a recipe that is all over Pinterest and you can pretty much make it your own with whatever ingredients you have on hand. These are pizza zucchini boats. I haven't eaten pizza and was craving that flavor one night, so I whipped up something that had a similar taste! 

What you'll need:
  • Cored zucchini
  • Lowfat/skim shredded mozzarella 
  • Chopped Red Onion
  • Fresh Basil 
  • Turkey Pepperoni
  • Pizza Sauce (Don Pepino is my favorite) 
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt, pepper

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  • Core zucchini leaving enough space for ingredients
  • Sprinkle olive oil, salt and pepper onto zucchini and arrange on baking sheet
  • Bake for about 10 minutes 
  • Fill open space in zucchini with sauce, basil, onion and turkey pepperoni
  • Cover with shredded mozzarella 
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes 
Super simple and delicious! I think next time I will also add garlic in at some point and try sausage instead of turkey pepperoni for more flavor! I also think it would be great to do it with roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves for a caprese flavor. Yum! Do you have any low carb recipes to share? 

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Saturday Shopping



Happy Saturday everyone! If you are snowed in, I hope you are all safe and warm! We are actually on the 'cusp' of the storm, so we got a few inches, but nothing that is keeping me from going about my usual weekend! 

Last night, however, the roads got really bad, so I was basically snowed in. I decided to stay in, pour a nice glass of wine, watch some movies and then scour the internet for some great pieces! Scroll through the widget above to see some of the things I am loving. 

Sales of note:

Friday, January 22, 2016

Road Tripping in Athleisure







Sweatshirt (under $50)// White Tank


Do you have any fun trips coming up? I have a few up my sleeve, the soonest one being less than 2 weeks away! I am headed to LA to visit one of my BFFs from high school! I have never been to LA before, so I am so excited to check it out!

I also have a few road trips coming up. I know I have shared a lot of my travel outfits in the past, but this is somewhat of a different travel outfit than what I usually post. Since my travel outfits have been for plane travel, I thought I'd share what I wear on a typical road trip! 

I don't mind anything 4 hours and under, but after that I get soooo antsy! I mostly road trip to DC which is a quick and easy drive and this is typically what I wear while driving. 

I would most definitely call this look athleisure inspired... did you know they officially added athleisure to the dictionary?! It's super comfortable and relaxed, but dressed enough so that should I need to stop, I'd be appropriate! Typically, as soon as I get to my destination, I change into something else. It's always the best to change when you get somewhere...it's refreshing and it assures your outfit will not get wrinkled!

ModCloth, a Pittsburgh-based company (the founders went to Carnegie Mellon! #represent), let me choose a few things to style. I shop at ModCloth somewhat frequently, because I especially love their unique selection of cocktail dresses! I had no idea they carried athleisure pieces and was very impressed with their selection! Their prices are low... seriously only $20 for the black leggings that are thick and opaque! That's a major win in my book! And my favorite part has to be this adorable sweatshirt (under $50!). It's really more of a sweater material and the cutout back makes it interesting and fun. The white tank that I am wearing underneath has a nice high neckline and may be the softest tank I've ever owned. 

What do you wear when you are road tripping? Where is the coolest location you've visited via driving?! 

Thank you to ModCloth for sponsoring this post-- all opinions are my own. 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Lately 1/21

canada goose trillium parka
Isn't Mac sooooooo cute?!

Wearing: It has been SO cold and snowy lately. You can find me with my giant puffer coat, cashmere sweaters, leggings and (embarrassingly) my Uggs. Is it spring yet?

la croix pina fraise
Drinking: La Croix Pina Fraise. It's very lightly flavored and not too sweet, which I love! If you like La Croix, I definitely recommend this flavor!


Whitfield at the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh-ing: An Ace Hotel just opened in Pittsburgh's East Liberty Neighborhood (this article in the Wall Street Journal is a great read and written by a woman from my high school!). It's a really exciting thing for Pittsburgh since there are only 8 others in the world! The building used to be an old YMCA and the hotel couldn't be cooler! It has a very trendy/eclectic vibe-- kind of hipster but in a charming way! I met some girlfriends for dinner at the Whitfield, which is the restaurant in the lobby and it was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is by Brent Young who is a Pittsburgher and known for Brooklyn's, The Meat Hook. We started off with a bottle of prosecco and the beef tartare. The beef tartare was the best I've ever had (and that's saying something because I order it wherever they have it!). Then I had the smoked chicken which was cooked to perfection. I'll definitely be back because they have a wedge salad and french onion soup on the menu which are two of my favorite things-- and we didn't have desert. I also want to go back just for drinks because the lounge/bar area is so fun and cozy!

Listening: I don't mean to pat myself on the back or anything, but my January playlist is one of my best yet! It has such a great variety! The 1975 is a band that I absolutely love and they have a new album coming out in February but have released two songs. Their song The Sound is so much fun! I play it all the time and it totally makes you want to dance!!

Eating: I've been holding off on letting the internet world know to be sure I could keep up with it, but I've ben on a no-carb (or really extremely low carb) diet for the past 21 days! I had been feeling sluggish after the holidays, so I really wanted to do something to kick-start my year. It's been surprisingly very easy for me to stay pretty much carb-free. It's not something I plan on doing long-term, but I already feel 10 times better! I am pretty strict with the no-carb thing, but I do let myself drink alcohol on the weekends and I'm also eating fresh fruit. I pretty much just stay away from all bread/pasta/grains/etc. I eat a lot of turkey, chicken, and fish. The best part of this 'diet' is that it is really forcing me to learn how to cook, which is one of my 2016 resolutions. I'd really like to get more comfortable in the kitchen and this has helped so much! The hardest thing for me has been skipping out on sushi and pad thai, which I usually eat weekly (Dear Little Tokyo and Pho Kim, I miss you!!!!!!). I've also been pleasantly surprised that it's really easy to eat low carb when eating out, and most restaurants are very accommodating! It's definitely not for everyone, and I'm probably not doing it in the healthiest way possible, but I really feel great!


diptyque figuier

Smelling: I finally burned through my holiday candle (RIP :( ), so it was about time I get a new one. I rotate Figuier in and out of my candle rotation and I hadn't burned one in a while, so I figured why not. This is hands down my favorite candle ever. In college, before diptyque was a 'thing', I burned L'occitaine's feuille de figuier, but it has since been discontinued. Figuier is as close as I can get to my old scent! If your not so keen on the price tag (which I'm not either) I actually found an almost identical scent via Target! The only difference is that the fragrance is not as pungent and it burns down pretty quickly... but it's about 1/5 of the price! I also got a whiff of the Rosaviola limited edition candle the other day and I have to say I really like it! It would make a really nice Valentine's gift for your girlfriends (guys, giving a girl you like/love a candle for Valentine's day is kind of lame...just saying...).

Loving: The women of Delta Gamma at Ohio University. They created a Facebook album   (make sure you are logged-in to FB to view) which features some of the women in their chapter and illustrates how society stereotypes 'sorority girls' and how sorority women are actually valuable members of society! I was a Zeta Tau Alpha at James Madison University (big shout out to Gamma Kappa!!!) and although the Greek system in the US has a bad rep because of various news stories, Greek men and women do some pretty amazing things. I am so proud to have been in a sorority and have made lifelong friends because of Zeta! Way to go DG's at OU!

Watching: Age of Adaline. This was recommended to me by a friend, and seriously, YOU MUST WATCH IT. It has to be atop my 'favorite movies ever' list. It stars Blake Lively and Harrison Ford and it has somewhat of a Tuck Everlasting/Bicentennial Man storyline. What makes it even better is the way it is filmed. The cinematography is incredibly beautiful as well as the costuming and set designs. It's definitely a love story, but I think everyone can relate to the storyline of aging. I also love all of the scores in the film. If you are into film scores, they're definitely worth a listen!



Wanting: This is such a random assortment but these are the things I have had my eye on lately! How amazing are those lamps? A nice price, too!

Quoting: 'I remember riding in a taxi one afternoon between very tall buildings under a mauve and rosy sky; I began to bawl because I had everything I wanted and knew I would never be so happy again.' - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Luisavia Roma: The Perfect Nude Pumps


JIMMY CHOO 85MM ESME SUEDE PUMPS


Outfit #1:







Outfit #2:


Today I'm sharing how to wear a classic (nude pumps) for work and for the weekend. In regards to the Summer Wind survey results, so may of you asked about what to splurge on vs. what to save on as well as how to wear the same piece different ways. I will cover both topics throughout a few posts in the upcoming months. Today we are talking about classic, splurgeworthy shoes and how to wear them for work and weekend! 

I'm a big believer in splurging on luxe basics and nude pumps are no exception. They are an absolute workhorse in any wardrobe. You can wear them to work, on the weekends and even to formal events.  Regardless of your personal style, nude pumps will always be a staple! Since you get so much wear out of them, investing in a classic shape and a pair that are comfortable on your foot is very important. 

The pair I am wearing are Jimmy Choo from Luisaviaroma. I usually prefer a pronounced pointed toe, but I know that a pointy toe can go in and out of style, so I opted for this uber classic almond-shaped toe in a gorgeous nude suede. The thing I love most about these heels is not only are they incredibly comfortable (I could seriously run in them!), but they have a shiny heel. I love this because if you are ever walking in grass or anywhere your heels might sink in, the shiny heel has the ability to be wiped off, whereas a suede heel would become stained! 

If you are unfamiliar with Luisaviaroma, they are definitely worth a visit. They carry this season's best luxury items from gorgeous shoes to dresses and everything in between! Scroll through the above widget to see some of my favorite picks! They are even having a major sale (up to 70% off!). 

In the above photos, you can see a wear-to-work look where I paired a conservative sweater and black pencil skirt with nude pumps. This is a classic look and would be perfect for anyone that works in a very conservative office. 

For the second outfit, I am still rocking the nude pumps but in a very casual, weekend outfit! This is honestly what you will find me in almost any weekend in the winter. A cashmere sweater, pixie pants and a heel and bag to pull it all together (and dress it up a bit)! I also want to note that this cashmere sweater is incredible. The quality is top notch, and the price is low!! It's actually on sale with an extra 50% off. The thickness and softness cannot be beat! It runs a little large. I'm wearing a small per usual, but if you want a more fitted look, size down!

Have you found the perfect pair of nude pumps? What are your splurge-worthy must-haves?


 

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