Elevate Date Night

Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing site, challenged me to get creative with date night ideas! Fun destinations and creative twists are what sparked my imagination, and renting a car for the night would make all of that even more special! 

What is more romantic than a luxurious picnic against a setting sun? It would be fun to rent a convertible or Mini Cooper from Turo for this excursion and pack the car with champagne, gourmet sandwiches, and a fruit & cheese plate then drive to a scenic location for a sunset picnic. Go all out with decor, packing a cozy blanket, vases of fresh cut flowers, champagne flutes, and even candles to light as the sun goes down.

I love a little print mixing for a casual date-destination like a scenic outdoor overlook. This stripes and gingham combo is perfect for a picnic, but the voluminous bell shape and pretty jewels keep it dressed up enough for a special night. Easy wedges are practical for walking through the grass while a cute blanket can serve as your dining space.

Top: Oscar de la Renta/similar 1/2/3. Skirt: similar. Shoes: L.K. Bennet. Earrings: kate spade/here. Ring: options. Blanket: here.

Another fun ideas is to have a night out on the town! Throw on your favorite dress and then, to shake things up and make your outfit even more special, raid your bestie's closet and borrow a designer handbag to switch up your look. Swapping closets with a friend makes your option infinitely wider and helps you feel fresh when your own closet gets boring. It's the perfect way to liven up your wardrobe for date night! 

Once you're all dressed up it's time to hop in the car. Pick a fancy luxury car to rent for a night on the town, and try doing a driving appetizer and dessert tour of your favorite restaurants. At each location order an app or a dessert to share and coordinating drinks--by sharing small plates at each location you can fit several culinary experiences into one night!
You'll feel like a new you with a fancy bag on your arm, like this gorgeous Dolce & Gabana gem. An off the shoulder dress is right on trend, and the ruffle detail on this one requires little accessorizing beyond a great pair of earrings. Sleek heels round out the look, and you won't even have to worry about walking far in them when you have a nice car waiting to take you to the next destination.

Dress: Amanda Uprichard. Earrings: here. Ring: Sydney Evan/similar affordable.

What are some ideas you have used to take date night from ordinary to extra special?

xoxo, CC 

{Summer} Lovin' Lately

Hipanema Bracelets are one of my favorite summertime finds. They have a fun and colorful bohemian feel that is perfect for adding a pop of wow to summery outfits. I get so many compliments on mine and have had people stop me on the street to ask where I got it! I also just discovered they have a create-your-own option too so you can get the perfect combination of colors and beads to fit your style! I tried it out and created a blue, white, and gold combo just for the fun of it! What do you think?

Cuckoo. If you enjoy a quirky British sitcom, then you'll love this show. Season one stars Andy Samberg as Cuckoo, a crazy hippie American who marries the daughter of a suburban British family (surprise!) and comes to live with them, disrupting the family dynamic. Unfortunately Samberg does not return for season 2, but they effectively write his character out and introduce the perfect replacement played by Taylor Lautner. The characters get themselves into so many shenanigans and everything is funnier with a British accent! My only complaint about the show is that the actress playing Rachel (the family's daughter and Cuckoo's wife) switches from season 1 to season 2 and her character is played differently which is kind of annoying. But other than that the show is great with tons of laugh out loud moments and a hilarious cast of characters. I flew through all three seasons so fast, and now I am impatiently waiting on the announcement of a fourth season! It's available on Netflix!

Tanning Lotion. It sucks being a grown up who has to work all summer long (RIP to the all the summers I used to spend lying by the lake), it leaves so little time to actually get outside and enjoy the sunshine! While nothing will ever replace the wonderful feeling of warm sun on my skin I've started using faux tanners to help me look a little more bronzed! I wrote about my experience trying Tanwise Bronzing Mousse recently, but since it is a time consuming process I've started supplementing it with an everyday tanning lotion. I got Jergens Natural Glow which I've been using on my arms and legs daily to keep up the glow. It definitely makes a subtle difference and helps prolong the tanned look, and is a great way to start out trying faux tanners.

I have been using Poshmark for a while as a way to sell old clothing and accessories to earn a little cash, and I've finally gotten some traction with selling recently. The trick it seems, is to follow lots of people, share both your own items and others' items, and share to Posh "parties" whenever possible. It doesn't even have to take up a lot of time-- I usually check my app once a day and share a few items from my closet each time, and then maybe once a week I'll follow some new users and share a few things from other closets. I also made my first Poshmark purchase just the other day, and I love how you can find specific styles that you're looking for especially if it's from a past season and hard to find online. And since everything is re-sale the prices are usually great and often negotiable. Its a great way to make a little spending money off old clothes that you no longer wear especially nicer/pricier pieces you don't want to just give away. Follow my closet, username ccnoordsy!

I'm so obsessed with my new kate spade iPhone case! I've had my eye on this one since it came out in the spring, and I finally purchased it for myself to update my phone to a more summery look! I love the bright yellow color, and the daisy and bee motif is so 'me'! I always love their adorable and fun phone cases which just fit my style so well, I seem to buy my phone cases exclusively from kate spade! I also love their summer collection of cases too of course!

(Lemonade // Best 4th)

Strapless is one of my favorite styles for summer. Now than strapless season is in full swing I've been wearing a lot of the style recently. I love that it's a great way to stay cool and get a little sun on your shoulders, plus it's a trend that never seems to go out of style. I've always been a fan of strapless dresses and more recently have build up a collection of tops too. Just this summer I invested in my first strapless jumpsuit too! I'm excited to feature it on the blog soon, so look out for that. It is such a girly and summery look that I find it irresistible and look forward to every summer! What's your favorite summer style trend?

See some of my past Loving round ups from this winter and last summer!

xoxo, CC

Casual, Flirty, Everyday (& A Giveaway!)

This outfit is the perfect everyday look with a combination of casual pieces that create a cool and flirty vibe. The ruffle sleeves are flirty and fun while a statement necklace and pink frames add a feminine touch. My favorite mesh bralette is the perfect piece to wear underneath it all, while ripped jeans and stripes keep the whole look cool and casual.

Adore Me is giving away two sets of lingerie, and I wanted to share this giveaway opportunity with you! All you have to do to enter is put together a flat lay outfit featuring your favorite piece of lingerie and post it to your blog with a link to @adoreme on Instagram, and to your Instagram tagging @adoreme with the hashtag #everydaylingerie. Check out their Instagram page for inspiration! 

*Giveaway closed!*

xoxo CC

Caught My Eye...

Wow, who can believe it is the last day of March already? The good news is warm spring weather is even closer around the corner, so if you ask me it is definitely time to start preparing our closets for sunny days.

The best part about spring shopping is that #taxreturn money helping me out. On my radar right now are lace-up sandals, espadrille wedges, super ripped jeans, and fresh prints. Keeping a pastel & neutral palette makes it easy to mix and match these pieces for a versatile spring wardrobe. I already ordered the J Crew romper which I am really excited about since it seems like such an easy piece to dress up or down and wear all summer long. Next up: find the perfect lace up sandals. I like the option pictured above, but they are super pricy! I linked to a more affordable version below which might be the pair I end up getting...

Which of these items is your favorite for spring?

Shop these looks: J Crew Romper, Espadrille wedges, Distressed jeans, Heeled lace up sandal (affordable option from Chinese Laundry), Anthro Dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag, Old Navy patched denim jacket, Kate Spade ice cream phone case, J Crew lace sweater, 

Kate Spade Home Pop-Up Store in NYC

Last week I mentioned that I made a trip downtown to see the kate spade home pop-up store! It was incredible, so I wanted to share some photos for anyone who is curious. The store is set up to look like you are stepping into an apartment, with two living room spaces, a dining area, kitchen, and bedroom each set up as though they were someone's home. I fell absolutely in love with everything in the store, every corner was thoughtfully decorated with clever touches creating the most inviting space.

The displays were so detailed with with cute little surprises in every room and fun touches to make it look like the space is actually lived in, such as a pair of shoes that look like they've just been kicked off, or a pen laid just so across a notebook as if someone had been there writing. There were even trays of real candy and macarons, and glasses filled with faux ice cubes and a straw to create the illusion that they are in use. These details really make you feel right at home and envision how the pieces would fit into your home. I wanted every piece of it... major home decor inspiration! Some of my favorite pieces are the floral rug and blue couch combo above, the polka dot dining chairs, and the owl printed throw pillow and matching curtains. What catches your eye?


If you live in New York City and love kate spade, you have to go see it. The store is only open until May 31st, so hurry!

411 West Broadway
New York, NY

xoxo, CC

Classics

Happy March!

I wore this look on an adventure downtown to see the kate spade home pop up store in Soho. I don't make it downtown very often, but I love the architecture and some of the neighborhoods you can find in lower Manhattan. I was in the mood to wear stripes and a cuddly fur vest, but I wanted to add a little color too, so my kate spade gumdrop earrings were the perfect addition. Polka dots and stripes are classic prints that pair nicely together, and I added ripped jeans to update the look. A slight orangey lip gloss nods to the coral earrings and adds a touch of color.

The kate spade home store is gorgeous, and I want absolutely everything in it (but I was pretty good, I only made one small purchase!). And don't worry, I took tons of pics-- I have a post coming your way very soon!

Even though it was beautiful and sunny, it was SO windy yesterday that my hair was flying all over the place and my ears turned bright red from the cold! A high pony was the best I could do to keep my hair under control and looking somewhat chic.

Top: H&M (similar). Vest: Chicwish. Jacket: Tulle. Bag: kate spade (striped, floral). Earrings: kate spade. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. 

xoxo CC

Loving Lately: "It's Still Winter" Essentials

I haven't had a lot of time for reading lately, but I love to flip through the Kate Spade All in Good Taste book when I have a few moments to read a few pages and get some inspiration. It makes me want to host a killer dinner party SO bad, but unfortunately that's not in the budget anytime soon. However, the book is full of good advice and makes a great source of inspiration. I'm taking tips from it that I can adapt for the next low-budget party my roommates and I host.

The Naked Basics eyeshadow palette by Urban Decay. I had been on a long search for a good neutral eyeshadow for those days that I don't want to look like I'm wearing a lot of makeup but I still want to smooth out my eyelids and cover up any redness. This palette is just what I was looking for. With a range of shades I can create a great ombre effect if I feel like getting fancy, or just swipe one of the lighter colors across my lids when I'm in a rush. Walk of Shame and Naked 2 are my favorites for a nude look.

Sleep mask - the 40 Blinks sleep mask by Bucky. Need some beauty sleep? Me too. I'm not a city girl by nature so getting used to sleeping with street light coming in through the widows is tough. I love this sleep mask because it is comfortable to wear and provides room for your eyelashes to blink without hitting against the mask. It comes in a few cute prints and is reasonably priced, but the only downside is that you have to order a minimum of two. I use one for everyday and the other for travel, but you could also gift one to a bestie!

Coloring Books. Recently the popularity of  'grown up' coloring books has skyrocketed and it seems like everyone has one! I had to jump on that trend too, because who doesn't love to color? It is a great way to relax at the end of the day (a perfect way to unwind before bed without staring at a screen) or de-stress and let your creativity out. This is the one I have, called "Enchanted Forest"! I love how whimsical the images are, full of castles, critters, fairy homes, and toadstool-dotted landscapes.

Kusmi "Euphoria" Orange Chocolate tea. This tea is DELICIOUS! My mom and I discovered it on a trip to Montreal a few years back and have been looking for it ever since, but it is hard to find! If you're into herbal teas and interesting flavor combinations Kusmi (from Paris) has some really good options. The aroma of this orange chocolate is mouth-watering, and the taste really stands up too. Whenever it's cold in my apartment I like to warm up with a mug of tea, and this one has become one of my go-to's.

Mini wallet. While I love the aesthetic of a big zip wallet, sometimes it can feel like a lot to carry around. Recently I have been all about the convenience of a small folding wallet. It holds everything I need, fits easily in a small cross-body, and provides easy access to my metro card on my daily commute. I have this polkadot one from Kate Spade which seems to be sold out, but these are two similar options to the one I have 1/2.

What are your must-haves this winter? 

Spring Favorites from Kate Spade

Licorice Heel and Dellie Wedge

Spring is right around the corner, and here in New York we can feel it already. Warmer days are already creeping in and even the groundhog says spring is on the way. It's hard to believe, but all the stores are getting in their spring collections already. At work, the racks are filling up with brighter colors and shorter sleeves. 

My favorite spring collection to look forward to (unsurprisingly if you follow me) is my beloved Kate Spade. Not only is their spring line always full of fun bright colors and prints, but their advertisements are adorable too! Ugh, they get me every time. Below is a round up of my favorite products from the line, which I would love to add to my wardrobe! While I am trying (trying) to save money I think one of those phone cases might need to be mine soon--my phone definitely needs a spring update, am I right?

Secret Admirer Heart Balloons Hallie

Cape Stripe Sequin Dress

Emerson Place Jessa

Jeweled Daisy iPhone 6 case and Jeweled Balloon Girl iPhone 6 case

Rose Intarsia Sweater

Initial Notebook and Initial Tumbler

Stripe Everyday Dress

xoxo, CC

{Faux} Leather and Fur

It's incredible how warm the weather has been in NYC this week... It's February and every day has been in the 50's! To celebrate not needing a big winter coat I decided to bring my black faux leather jacket out for a spin. To keep it wintery in vibe and add a touch of warmth I layered a faux fur vest over it. This layered look is one I've admired on other people but never tried before myself, and I really love the combo! Simples stripes and cuffed jeans keep the look casual yet chic. 

Even though the outfit is primarily black and white, the contrast of stripes and polka dots adds an element of interest and a statement necklace keeps the look girly with a touch of soft pink. I love the contrast of textures between the smooth jacket and the fluffy vest and the way that together they create the effect of a more wintery jacket than either could alone. 

Jacket: Zara. Fur vest: Chicwish. Top: Ruche (similar). Jeans: Gap. Booties: Nine West at DSW. Bag: Kate Spade. Necklace: Saks Off 5th. Lip: BareMinerals Cherries On Top.

xoxo, CC