Thursday, June 5, 2025

Lately

Pumpkin treat for a good boy at the vet! 

Birthday cakes for my aunt, uncle, and husband! The chocolate is the Oakmonter from Oakmont Bakery. It's part chocolate cake and part cheesecake, and it's sooooo decadent. On the right (which was my fave) is an orange cake homemade by my cousin, Paige! 

Cutest gift bags- this was for my aunt!


Dusted these earrings off this weekend. I can't remember the last time I wore them, and I don't know why I've been neglecting them- they're so pretty! A little glam for TopGolf, ha!!

I finally caved and ordered this cashmere wrap. I already have it in the gorgeous Island Green shade, but the Nantucket red has been calling my name for a year! Talk about good timing because I am definitely packing this with me for my Nantucket trip next week! To me, it is truly worth the price!

Went to Dari Delite in Swissvale last week. I prefer the Bridgeville location- I am unsure if they are owned by the same people, but maybe not, because they have different menus. Anyway, this was still delicious! 

Outfit I wore out to dinner last week!

The prettiest turquoise necklaces my friend Abby sent me from her collection with Lisi Lerch! 

I came off what ended up being a busy weekend and fell right into a very busy week. It's all been good things, so I have no complaints! I had the most peaceful Friday, though, and I hadn't had one in so long. I got in a workout, had an 'everything' shower, the house was clean, it was raining, we got takeout pizza, watched a show, and had no plans. It was truly glorious, and I need more days like that! I've definitely been overcommitting myself recently, both socially and professionally. Whenever I get overwhelmed, I try to reframe it into something like 'how lucky I am to have friends and family to spend time with and so many work opportunities.' It helps... and it is true! I also need more downtime because that's where I have the time to be the most creative! 

We had fun celebrating my husband's birthday last night! He is truly the easiest person in the world to celebrate. I know I don't share him often on social media, but he's wonderful! This weekend, we have a block party, and my mother-in-law is coming to town, so we can celebrate my husband and her because her birthday is next week! 

Next week, I am off to Nantucket (more below), and then I am excited about the U.S. Open and celebrating Father's Day! Yay! 

Anyway, work-wise, I've also been busy, and you can probably tell because I've been quieter on social media. You're probably like, 'Wait what?! Social media is your job, so why would you be quiet if you are busy?' But there is so much back-end work that has been taking up so much of my time! Sometimes, it can be tough to balance. These are champagne problems! 

Is anyone else so happy to see the sun this week and the warmth?! It's been wonderful. I know we are headed back to rain, but I will take what I can get! It's been so nice to be able to get out with Henry a lot. Getting outside for a walk does wonders for me overall! 

Wearing: A new-to-me brand gifted me this dress; when I opened it, I was speechless. It's a pretty basic white linen dress, but the belt gives it a nice shape. What really sets it apart is the beadwork and the fringe hem. The beads are sewn on in the shape of flowers, and the same beads are lined on the shoulder straps. It makes the dress SO fun and eye-catching. If you browse their site, most of their pieces are very unique like this. I got a size medium, and it's a bit big in the hips, so I'd say this fits like a size 6. I often size up i short dresses because of length, but on this one, you don't need to- get your true size (I prob would have been better in a small). 

Necklace// Skirt (use code YOURULE)
I wore this for a birthday celebration and a get-together with friends for dinner at their home! It was chilly this weekend, so a sweater was necessary... honestly, the sandals were a bold choice for 55 degrees! 

Are you following me on the LikeToKnowIt app?! You can shop all of my outfits, favorite finds, and more in the app. I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also access all of my posts, here, if you don't use LTK! You can also find me on ShopMy, another shopping platform! 

Eating: These are the BEST jarred olives I've ever had. My girlfriend had them at her house this weekend, and as I finished my martini, I went to snack on my olives. I love olives, and at the first bite, I was like Oh my gosh, what are these?! They were so firm and flavorful, and even the pimento was so fresh. She said she got them in the Strip. I'm hoping to stop by this weekend, and I will be buying several jars! 

Drinking: I am unsure as to how last week was my first venture to Frick Park Tavern in Regent Square. It is adorable inside- so cozy! My husband and I just popped in for a drink before a group dinner and we both loved it and can't wait to go back to try the food. The menu sounds amazing. 

Reading: I'm looking forward to reading Elyce Aron's book about starting Kate Spade with Kate Spade herself. Elyce Arons founded Frances Valentine, but prior to that, she co-founded Kate Spade. 

Sale: J.McLaughlin's sale is an extra 30% off right now.  This usually happens now and around February, when I snag things for my husband at amazing prices! Also, this leather bucket bag is finally on sale. I've wanted one for a while, as my sister has one in royal blue. It's a great size and of beautiful quality. But the color I wanted was not neutral, so I did not want to spend the full price! I'm still debating whether I should order it now or wait until I go to Europe later in the summer?! 

Watching:
 We finished Sirens! The ending was just OK- I'll leave it at that, but it's worth the watch! Is anyone watching anything good? I've also been enjoying the season finale of Summer House! 

Loving: Ok I'm not officially loving this because I haven't actually tried it yet, but I love the concept. These airless pump bottles are in two sizes- one for carry-on and one full size. They tout themselves as a great way to transport your skincare and haircare products. While I don't always need to decant my products into smaller packaging for travel, I do love this idea for at-home use of products that don't come with pumps! I have always thought jars/tubs were not the most hygienic option, yet so many products come in jars/ tubs. I love products that come with a pump dispenser. One product that I love that comes in a tub is the Cetaphil rich body moisturizer. It's wonderful and so inexpensive. I have been using it for years. I am thinking I can get one of these dispensers and then be able to pump out the moisturizer. TBD, but a cool concept! 

Wanting: These lobster shorts
are TOO cute! The prettiest placemats for summer entertaining, but you could use them year-round! This wicker shell bag- darling! A great pullover perfect for a Father's Day gift! Another darling wicker bag, and I'm partial to the red! This is a timeless, classic sweater. This skirt is under $30 and lovely. You could get the red version and tie up a navy linen button down- so cute for the 4th of July! I like the color of these green sunglasses. I recently discovered this brand and am drooling over these shorts! I don't know that I would pay $300 for such a novelty bag, but it makes me smile! This athletic dress is classic, but what really caught my eye is that the length looks longer, which can be hard to find! The prettiest coverup begging to be packed for a chic vacay! This skirt is stunning!

This photo has nothing to do with the below blurb, but we had Badamo's (Dormont) this weekend, and while it's not my favorite, it is a realllllly good pizza! 

Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Mag names 26 best restaurants. I think an objective list of the best restaurants is nearly impossible. Everyone has their favorites, and everyone has a different palate. But the list is decent. Eleven and Casbah need a refresh. The food is always good there, don't get me wrong, but they would not make my list of the best restaurants in 2025. Pusadee's, Balvanera, and Fet Fisk are objectively the best. Hands down. I am also thrilled to see Driftwood make the list. Outside of the Mineos, I think Driftwood is the best pizza in Pittsburgh, but their Italian sandwich is one of the best things you can eat in the entirety of the city. It's a life-changingly good sandwich. If you are rating a restaurant, it's important to consider the food, service, cost, and atmosphere. I think Pusadees and Balvanera deserve the highest recognition because not only is the food the best in the city, but the atmosphere is gorgeous, it's always buzzy, and the service is top-notch. I also think the cost at both is reasonable for all that is offered. Fet Fisk is incredible food-wise; the price is reasonable, and the service is great, but the atmosphere is lacking, and it is probably a huge part of the reason why Fet Fisk wouldn't take my #1 spot. I also always have to mention Little Tokyo. It's MY personal favorite. It would always make my list. Always.

Amazon Rec: This one will really age me, but these flip-flops are currently in my cart. I've never heard of this brand until recently, but they make shoes with arch support. I thought they'd be a good water/pool/lake sandal! Has anyone tried them?

You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!

Traveling: I am going to Nantucket next week... for work! It's very much one of those pinch-me moments that I am going to one of my favorite places in the world for my job. I honestly can't even believe it. I get nervous going on trips like these, where I don't know anyone, but I never regret doing something like this! You'll have to follow along with me late next week- I am not actually sure what the itinerary is yet, so it will be as much of a surprise to me as it will be for you guys to see! 

Quoting: 'Don't call me lucky, I failed more times than you tried.' // See more of my favorites, here.

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