Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Chic Cape Coats




Cape// Crepe Shirt (on sale)
Lip Pencil (pillow talk)// Lip Balm (berry)
Shop the Look:
I have always been a cape gal. While not always the most practical choice, I think they look SO chic. Not only that but I think that they add a bit of elegance to even the most casual of outfits. Case-in-point, I was wearing a typical casual outfit: a blouse, distressed jeans, and loafers. When I added the cape, I instantly felt more put together and felt like my outfit looked a little more fashion-forward. 

This cape coat is almost sold out, so I wanted to share some more gorgeous cape coats with you all. I've rounded them up at the bottom of this post. 

My biggest tip when you are wearing a cape is to keep everything else minimal. The shape and style of a cape packs a big punch- even if it is neutral. I also suggest keeping your proportions slim since a cape flares out!

Do you wear capes? I think they would be the perfect 'coat' for those of you who live in the south and get much milder temperatures. Unfortunately, living in Pittsburgh means I have a very small window of time where I can wear capes and not freeze! 
More Capes I Love:

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Pittsburgh Strong


I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Besides college, I have lived in Pittsburgh for all 28 years of my life. Pittsburgh has my whole heart and if you have been reading Summer Wind for any length of time, you know that I am the biggest advocate and supporter of my city. I wholeheartedly believe in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is special. I know that I’m biased and I know that people who have never experienced Pittsburgh could be rolling their eyes at this statement. But it really is special. Pittsburgh is warm and friendly. Pittsburgh is known as accepting- a melting pot of race, religion, and heritage

The people in Pittsburgh are strong. Pittsburghers are hardworking. Pittsburgh is unpretentious.

Pittsburgh is also a small world. A big city of many, but it feels like a small town. A funny example is that when my mom and dad went out on their first date. They were from two very different parts of Pittsburgh, but when my mom told her parents that she was going out with my dad (she told them his full name), my grandma freaked out and asked ‘well how old is he?!’ My dad and grandpa have the same name. It turned out, my grandma (my mom’s mom) and my grandpa (my dad’s dad) went to college together and my grandma thought that my mom was talking about my grandpa! Small world, indeed.

It’s Saturday morning at 10:30am. I’m sitting in my hotel room in Lexington, Kentucky getting ready. My parents had gone out to get donuts and coffee before we headed to Keeneland for our yearly visit. My boyfriend called me because he was in the car with Henry on the way to Chik Fil A. He lives in Shadyside and was en route to the Waterfront. The route he took that morning and any time he goes to The Waterfront is to pass right past the Tree of Life synagogue.

We were chatting about what errands he was running that morning and all of the sudden he goes ‘oh my gosh, Sydney, google what is going on in Squirrel Hill. I’m on Shady and there are an insane amount of police cars and sirens.’ He was passing right by the Tree of Life synagogue.

I promptly google Squirrel Hill. An area I frequent often. An area where my mom grew up. Nothing was coming up in my searches. I turned to Twitter, a few tweets were saying there was an active shooter. This was so early on that no news outlets had even picked it up yet.

I promptly turned on the news and started scouring the internet for more information. My stomach was sick and my eyes were welled up with tears.

I was watching my city, my home, my people go through a tragedy that was unfathomable. I was just watching in absolute disbelief. To see such hatred anywhere is sickening but to see it in your own city where you know there are so many wonderful, good people, is almost unbelievable.

I am proud of Pittsburgh. I am proud of the people in this city and I will pray for all of the people and families affected from this horrible act of hatred and violence.

It has been incredible to watch my city react with such an outpouring of love, prayers, and support. It was incredible to see the amazing law enforcement and first responders doing absolutely everything they could. The way Pittsburgh has come together is a true testament to the community we have in this city. I will forever be proud to be a Pittsburgher and forever be proud to call this great melting pot of a city my home.

I wanted to touch on something that I think we may all be able to learn from. At about 1pm, I received a direct message on Instagram from a follower.

She said ‘love your blog, but quite frankly, I am shocked that, especially as someone from Pittsburgh, that you haven’t commented in today’s tragic shootings.’

I was a bit confused as to why I had even received that message. I had retweeted the safety directions from the Pittsburgh Department of Safety as the shooter was active. I had also tweeted a message of support and condolences. But that’s not the point and I don’t need to defend myself in that.

To receive that message was a little frustrating. I know the sender did not mean to be hateful or hurtful. I’ve been blogging for almost 10 years now and my skin is very thick. I can recognize a truly hateful comment or a comment made to specifically try and hurt me. I can also recognize a truly bogus, unwarranted comment. I’m also able to respect people’s opinions and openly accept and appreciate constructive criticism.

But this message stuck with me. Because you know what bothered me about it? It was not supportive. It was not thoughtful. I found it to have an accusatorial tone to it. The message was sent so hastily. (2 hours after the news started to break). This person was so quick to judge and point a finger at me.

The message made me cry. I'm not really a cryer and I can tell you that I never cry over stranger’s message on social media.

It made me cry because if I were that person, I would have messaged the Pittsburgher and said, ‘I am so sorry to hear I of the tragic news in Pittsburgh, I wanted to check in on you and let you know I am thinking of you and praying for Pittsburgh. I hope you and your family is safe.’

And you know what? I received so many messages just like that from so many of you. I didn’t need those messages but they reminded me of the wonderful Summer Wind community that has been built for the last 10 years. It was a simple reminder that there are good, kind, caring people in this world.

My point in sharing this with you all is that we are all guilty of pointing fingers and being quick to judge in any situation big or small. We all need to be much more accepting and compassionate with one another.

Behind that message, I was dealing with heartbreak and just because I did not immediately jump to share my emotional state on social media, does not mean I don’t care and I don’t have feelings. Everyone handles grief differently. We are all human and we are all just trying to be and do the best we can.

I hope we can all work on being better about being quick to judge and we can all be more compassionate and empathetic toward one another- especially in times of such tragedy.

My heart breaks for my city and everyone affected, but I will work hard for all of my life to be a light in a sometimes dark world. This has been my mission here on Summer Wind from the very beginning. I hope you can all join me in this and together we can make the world a better place. I will be a Pittsburgher forever and always support my neighbors near and far. Please pray for Pittsburgh and please pray for those who lost their lives and their families and friends they left behind:

Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland;
Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross;
Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill;
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood;
brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill, and David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill;
married couple Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg; Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg;
Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill;
Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill;
Irving Younger, 69, of Mount Washington
*List of names source

Please consider donating to the Tree of Life Synagogue. This is a verified GoFundMe. The American Red Cross has scheduled a blood drive on Friday, November 2nd from 11am to 4:30pm at the William Pitt Union on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. You can make an appointment, here.

'Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.' - Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday, October 29, 2018

The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe


The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

My sister was home a few weekends ago and baked pumpkin chocolate chip 'cookies'. I put cookies in quotes because the texture was more like a muffin top than an actual cookie. I've eaten a lot of pumpkin baked goods in my life. I love pumpkin flavor and just overall love fall spices. 

One of my favorite (and insanely easy) pumpkin baked good recipes is 2-ingredient pumpkin muffins. My recipe is three ingredients because I always add chocolate chips! However those are very 'heavy' (because of the pumpkin). And while I love the creamy, dense texture, it's not fluffy like an actual muffin. 

When my sister gave me some of these 'cookie's to try, I immediately asked for the recipe because they are SO good. I wanted to share this recipe because it would be a great thing to bring to a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving or even a work potluck! They're easy to make and are a crowd pleaser. 

The edits my sister made: no walnuts, add more cinnamon than the recipe calls for (just eyeball it), and sub water for milk (to cut down on the dairy).

I cannot express to you how delicious these cookies were. They are moist, light, and such a treat. I'm going to make them for a trip I have coming up this weekend. They're best eaten within a few days- they get stale pretty quickly so I'd recommend eating/serving within 48-72 hours... they're truly amazing warm or room temp. I'm not a baker at all and if I can make these, you can, too!

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Saturday Shopping


Happy Saturday! This is the last Saturday before my weekly Saturday holiday gift guides launch! I know it's early but when you all took my holiday survey, it was unanimous that you wanted the gift guides to start asap and I love that! 

If you're all anything like me, then you prepare and shop early! The holiday decor, gifts, outfits, etc. are all starting to launch and I have been loving it all. Scroll through to see some of my favorites from the week! 

Friday, October 26, 2018

Black and Camel






Happy Friday! I hope you all have fun plans this weekend. Can you believe this is the last weekend in October? I say this all too often, but time passes far too quickly! 

Right now, as you are reading this, I am off to Lexington, KY! We go every year with my family and family friends and have a blast. Keeneland is one of our favorite events of the year! Unfortunately, the forecast is calling for cold temperatures and rain, but I know with our group, we will still have a blast. It made planning outfits a bit challenging, though! 

Now onto today's outfit! If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be wearing 'brown' and black together, I would have said you were crazy. It's funny how our style evolves as we age because now, I absolutely love pairing black with camel. It's such a classic, neutral look that anyone at any age can wear. 

I'm all about wearing all black during the winter months. It's simple, easy, slimming, and looks chic overall! However, that can be a bit boring. I find adding in camel or gray to an all-black outfit is an easy way to still keep things simple and neutral but to break up all of the black!  

In this outfit, I'm wearing everything I already owned and then just added this gorgeous camel sweater overtop. I loved that this sweater is double breasted because when you button all of the buttons, you can change-up the look. I am wearing a size small. I think it runs a little big and if you are between sizes, definitely size down. 

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Lately



This week was crazily quick! Today is my last 'work' day of this week since I am en route to Kentucky for Keeneland this weekend with my family! This past weekend, we flew my sister in from Charlotte to surprsise my mom for her birthday! We have been celebrating her all month and this past Sunday was her acutal birthday! It was so fun to see my mom so shocked on Friday night and it was so nice to have Callie here all weekend. We miss her so much and can't wait for her to be back all week during Thanksgiving! 

This week I have been planning out our trip to New York City. Each year, I plan a family trip around Christmastime and it's always in DC. This year, we decided to mix it up and do it in NYC! None of us have ever been to New York when it is decorated so we are excited to see all of the decor and hustle and bustle. I've made a full itinerary and secured most of the reservations! 



Wearing: I've shared this sweater many times before. It is one of the favorites that I own. Unfortunately, it's pricey. Well, my amazing friend Aly found an EXACT copy of the sweater for so much less. She has the pricier one and ordered the less pricey one and they are truly exact copies! I am going to order one!

Drinking: Did you see this week's blog post where I shared 5 cocktails I am interested in trying during the holiday season? 

Reading: I love this growing list of stores closed on Thanksgiving Day! Sales can wait! 
Sale-ing: Neiman Marcus is having another good sale! $50 off $200, or $100 off your $400 regular-priced purchase with code SAVENOW. Valid now through 10/26. Did you know they offer Club Monaco? I recently discovered this and their pieces are almost always included in their sales! I have been eye this cashmere sweater and this cashmere tie cardigan and both are included in the sale! Which to choose?! Scroll through the widget above to see some of my favorite pieces included in the sale. Most Ferragamo is included, which is one of my favorite designer brands. Their shoes and bags are just incredibly well-made. The prices still aren't 'cheap' by any means, but a $100 savings is really nice since Ferragamo doesn't often go on sale. Both the varina and vara shoes that I always wear are included! Also, a signet ring almost identical to mine is included in the sale. It's 14k gold just like mine and you get $100 off making it $398 which is crazy because I paid a lot more for mine. The (insanely priced) Manolo Blahnik shoes I am just dying to have are also included... maybe now is the time!

Sale-ing II: Kohl's is offering 20% off your entire purchase with code SAVE20. Now through 10/28. The best coffee machine ever (seriously you will not regret this purchase- I'm amazed by it every morning) is already on sale and then you get an extra 20% off, so you save a total of $81.

Watching: I just started the Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. I'm only one episode in- I am watching it because everyone has been commenting on how scary it is. I am not one for scary shows or movies, but so far in the first episode, I don't find it all that terrifying. We'll see! Good show for the week of Halloween! 

Loving: I came across this Etsy site where they have such gorgeous earrings. They look very similar to Rebecca de Ravenel but for much less!

Wanting: Holiday items are starting to emerge and I cannot resist. AH! Someone hide my wallet. Has anyone else started their holiday shopping? I'm normally way ahead of the game when it comes to this but this year I have absolutely nothing for anyone yet! My number one favorite is picking out our Christmas Eve pajamas. My sister, mom, and I all wear the same ones. 
Pittsburgh-ing: I finally made it to Federal Galley on the North Side. It was much bigger than Smallman Galley (in the strip) but still has 4 restaurant concepts to choose from. I'm a huge fan of Iron Born at Smallman Galley so I tried Michigan and Trumbull which serves similar-style pizza. My friend Dani and I split the Packard Pepperoni and holy cow was it good. We also split the Woodward Ave White, but we didn't love it- it tasted too much of lemon. I actually found the pepperoni pizza to be better at Federal Galley than Smalman Galley! The real show stopper, though, was the Teader Fries. They were waffle fries with seasoning and I have no way of describing them except they were incredible. I would go even if just for those fries. Everyone agreed they were incredible. 

Traveling: I'm headed to Lexington, KY for Keeneland with my family and family friends. We go every year and I can't wait! I'll be sharing more on Instastories as I travel! 

Quoting: Do what you feel in your heart to be right. You’ll be criticized anyway.” Eleanor Roosevelt // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Washington, D.C. Bachelorette Weekend

Washington, D.C. Bachelorette Weekend

Washington, D.C. Bachelorette Weekend

Washington, D.C. Bachelorette Weekend
Velvet Tank// Sequined Midi Skirt (silver version that would look great with a navy top)
Metallic pumps// Lip Pencil (pillow talk)// Lip Balm (berry)

Two weekends ago I went to Washington, D.C. for my best friend from high school's bachelorette weekend! Eugenia's wedding is in February (I'm a bridesmaid!) and I'm so excited! You can see photos from our weekend, here.

The bachelorette weekend was so much fun. I'm always a little nervous when it comes to bachelorette parties because I never know every single person. It's also hard to travel with a big group but this group was so wonderful. Everyone got along so well, was so nice, and we all had a blast together. 

D.C. is a special place for Eugenia since she went to George Washington University. It's also special for me since I went to James Madison University. I have been there what feels like a million times and love it so much. I had a lot of fun because a lot of what we did was different than what I typically do while in D.C.! 

Many of you requested that I share our itinerary for the weekend because you are planning a bachelorette there, too! I have to say, though, I did not plan one bit of it. Eugenia's amazing sister-in-law, Christina, planned all of it and she did it flawlessly. I could not recommend our schedule more! 

Where We Stayed
W Hotel. I had been to the W several times because they have a really cool rooftop bar overlooking the white house and monuments. However, I had never stayed there! The rooms were very modern and funky but also spacious. The beds were super comfortable and we easily fit 3 girls to a room! The location is perfect. Walking distance to most of the monuments, great restaurants, coffee, etc. A quick uber to Georgetown! 
Friday
8pm DINNER: Lupo Verde. Fantastic Italian food with fun cocktails. 

Post Dinner - DRINKS at several bars on 14th Street, there are lots of fun bars throughout this neighborhood. It's actually one I haven't explored before so it was fun to check out several bars! 

Saturday
9:30am SOULCYCLE Mount Vernon Soul Survivor Class with Jared was SO Fun. This was my first class ever and I had a blast. Jared was an amazing instructor. 

*Shower/change at hotel/taxi to Georgetown*

12:30PM – BRUNCH Fishers Farmers Bakers. I had always wanted to eat here but it books up quickly so make a reservation way in advance. It's a buffet-style brunch and it was so delicious. The cinnamon rolls were the best I have ever tasted. 

2:00PM – DRYBAR Georgetown. This was was my first Drybar experience. I have had many a blowout but not at the actual Drybar brand! I loved the way my hair turned out!

*Walk around Georgetown, then change at hotel*

5:00PM – CHAMPAGNE & PICTURES ON THE MALL. We had a champagne toast in the bride's room and then we walked to the Mall to snap some group photos! 

7:30PM – DINNER The Smith. Loved everything about The Smith- the atmosphere was classic with a touch of old school and the food was phenomenal. Upscale American fare with fun twists. They made a great martini, too, and handled our big group well. 

9:30PM – NIGHT OUT POV at the W. We are a pretty tame crew so this was our 'wild' night. Which really wasn't wild at all but we had a table at POV, which is the rooftop bar at the W and danced all night. It was so much fun!
Sunday
11:00AM – BRUNCH Woodward Table. This was another I hadn't had the chance to check out before and it was so delicious. Brunch was just steps away from the W and a nice little send-off brunch before everyone took off! We got the Parker House Rolls and they were one of the best things ever. 

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Thanksgiving Cocktail Ideas



Pineapple Cocktail Shaker  (similar less pricey version)

Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage? My top favorites are champagne and an extra dirty Hendrick's martini. Gin has always been my favorite because I don't particularly care for vodka. However, lately, I've been trying to avoid gin- it's apparently the worst liquor for you (not that there is any liquor that's 'good' for you). 

Instead, I've been drinking tequila and soda with lime and I really like it. It's one of the lowest calorie cocktails you can have! 

This weekend, my sister, mom, and I popped into Pennsylvania Libations in the strip district. They did a tasting at our country club and my mom was there for it so she recommended that we stop in. The shop was really neat because all of the liquors that they were selling were made in Pennsylvania. They let us try whatever we wanted and it made me realize I can step out of my cocktail comfort zone easier than I thought!

With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I would share a few fall cocktails that I am eager to try this fall and holiday season! 

Berry Little Cocktail// This is a champagne-based cocktail and I'm hoping it tastes as good as it is pretty! Traditionally, we drink champagne each Thanksgiving and this sounds like a fun twist. 

Christmosas// This is another champagne-based cocktail but this one is nice because you can make it in a big batch to serve it to many people! And how beautiful do all of the colors look? It's a conversation starter, that's for sure! 

Apple Cider Mule// Even though I'm not much of a vodka person, I do enjoy a Moscow mule from time to time and this one sounds delicious! 

Spiced Cider Margaritas// I'm all about a tequila-based drink and this one sounds so fun. 

Cranberry-Spice// This sounds really interesting and different than most cocktails because it combines ingredients I wouldn't normally use. Plus, the red color gives off a beautiful, autumnal vibe. 

Monday, October 22, 2018

Thanksgiving at Your Significant Other's









Cap Toe Shoes (also here)// Sunglasses
Shop the Look:

We are exactly one month from Thanksgiving. I can't believe it! Last year, I shared an outfit idea to wear if you are having Thanksgiving or another holiday event with your significant other's family and today I wanted to build on that!

The outfit I am sharing today is like the pants-version of last year's post. Whether you are meeting your significant other's parents for the first time, or it is the first time you are spending a holiday with the family, this outfit is perfect for that! And on top of that, you could also wear it to work, too.

I fell in love with these pants when I first saw them in person. The fabric is really heavy-weight and nice quality and the cut is a little different than a traditional wool pant. In my opinion, it has a less wear-to-work-only vibe and is a little more flattering and fun because of the cut of the pants. Of course, you can definitely still wear them to work, too!

The pants run a bit small. I usually would wear a 2 in this brand but sized up to a 4. I think with this type of pant it is better to have them a little loose than too snug.

The sweater I am wearing is one of my all-time favorite closet-staples. I got it a few years ago and each year it continues to be one of the most-worn things in my closet. It runs big, but I like the oversized fit, but if you want a little less fabric, size down. This sweater is a splurge so if you are looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, this sweater is super similar!

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Saturday Shopping

Happy weekend friends! I haven't done a Saturday Shopping in a while since I've been so busy, but this week is the week! In other news, I can finally share the 'secret'!! My mom's birthday is on Sunday and we surprised her by flying my sister home for the weekend (she lives in Charlotte, NC). She was so surprised and it's so wonderful to have Callie here with us this weekend!

Last night we went to our country club for dinner and this morning we are headed to brunch at one of our favorite places in the Strip District! Tonight, we have reservations at a new-to-me Italian place! 

I hope you all have some fun plans and are enjoying the cooler fall weather we have been having!

I also wanted to share a great sale. Neiman Marcus is one of my favorite online destinations because they carry so many good brands. However, everything is always so pricey but their sale section is one of the best from retailers. They just recently added new items to their sale and the prices and selection are too good. They've also launched their Christmas book which I look forward to each year!


Friday, October 19, 2018

Everything I Wore in Niagara-On-The-Lake

tory sport outfit in canada

Today I am sharing SEVEN of the outfits that I wore while in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario! It was pretty chilly and rainy/very humid so fall outfits were the perfect thing! Most are casual but you'll see one dress in the mix that I am obsessed with! There are a lot of photos, so keep scrolling! 

niagara-on-the-lake outfit ideas

talbots cashmere sweater and ferragamo headband

how to style a blazer

how to style a blazer for fall

fall talbots blazer

how to style a pink coat

how to style a pink coat

how to style a pink coat
Pink Coat (other colors)// Jeans// Booties (similar)// Bag

chic affordable leather jacket

chic affordable leather jacket

chic affordable leather jacket

sail to sable dress

sail to sable dress

sail to sable dress

sail to sable dress

j.crew monogrammed pajamas
 

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