Outfit:

Mink Pink sweater dress (Plato’s Closet, Williston VT), $25.00, Frye Boots (Battery Street Jeans, Burlington VT), $18.00, tights (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $3.00

This comfy dress is an embodiment of the beautiful snowfall we’ve been encountering in Vermont!  Pom poms add a nice texture and some juvenile fun to any outfit!  This sweater dress is super easy to throw on when it’s cold outside, and it serves as public-appropriate pajamas.  I love that it hangs loosely to hide those extra winter pounds!

The boots were a total steal from a consignment store called Battery Street Jeans that tends to carry Frye boots for a tiny percentage of the original price.  Frye’s can be up to $600 and typically sell at around $400.  These boots needed new heels, but they were in close to perfect condition otherwise and selling for $18.  When the salesman rung up the boots, he was baffled/horrified that he had priced them so low…but once the tag is on, there’s no going back.  Sorry not sorry :p!  Frye’s are the best quality shoes around and I know these ones will last me an eternity!  As they say, “these boots were made for walking”, and plan on stomping all over Burlington and beyond with these guys.

Occasion: Family Visit/Michael’s on the Hill

This holiday season, my parents came up to Vermont and we had a lovely weekend in Stowe.  I also spent a few days in NY!

The heavy snow storm on Friday was a pain for my family to drive through, but it meant amazing conditions at the mountain the next day!  We took advantage of the gondola to avoid icy rain chairlifts.  The perfection of the trails made up for the slight discomfort of the prickly rain on our faces skiing down.  The next day we went snow-shoeing at The Trapp Family Lodge, and it was a sunny and refreshing day.  We climbed uphill for about an hour and a half and were pretty exhausted.  We finally reached a quaint little cabin where we listened to a fiddler play Christmas tunes and filled up with some warm food.  It was quite the experience!

During the trip, we had some delicious meals!  This picture of Arctic Char was from Michael’s on the Hill, and it was definitely my favorite.  It was light, the skin was crisp, and it was so unbelievably flavorful with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and even some blood oranges.  The restaurant is a beautifully decorated, restored barn that felt so special.  It was a meal of a lifetime, and spent with the most fun company (including my cousin, Sam).

Ending 2017 with a bang!  Excited to make more food, family, friends, and fun memories in 2018!

Sweater (Forever21, White Plains NY), $15.00, Embroidered jeans (Forever21, online), $30.00, Dolce Vita boots (gifted)

Outfit:

Embroidery is my favorite current trend.  I love the flowers embroidered on these jeans!  Forever 21 has cheap quality clothing and ordering online is often a bad idea, but when I spotted these jeans on the website, I had to take the chance.  Luckily they fit just right and are hella comfortable!

I decided to compliment the fun detail on the bottom with this hole-y sweater…another big trend right now!  I felt fit for a day roaming around the hip borough of Brooklyn on a trip home to visit friends and fam!

Occasion:  Bronx Botanical Garden

The artist, Chihuly, had an installation at the Bronx Botanical Garden and it was breathtaking.  The blown glass was integrated in with the plants to look like part of them.  The intricacies of each structure were sensational and I wondered how they were transported to this exhibit.  The place was packed and hundreds of people walked through the gardens in awe.  I am so glad that I got to experience this awesome display!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Ecote shirt (Goodwill, Burlington), $3.00, Saltwater shoes (Stella Mae, Burlington), around $30.00

Goodwill is definitely not my favorite thrift store – it’s gigantic, it is very picked over, and it leaves me feeling burnt out from sifting through so much crapola!  BUT, every once in a while I find something worth all that effort.  This is an Urban Outfitters brand shirt that I got for $3.00.   Urban Outfitters is selling pieces for exorbitant prices now a days.  This top would be at least $30.00 retail!

I like this top because it’s super comfortable and has a pretty, floral print (anything floral is basically swell by me!).  It’s easy and breezy and I feel like I’m wearing pajamas, especially with the lace legging shorts underneath!

I didn’t think that the first few days of Fall I’d be hanging at the Huntington Gorge with friends, but it’s been unseasonably warm and I’m determined to take advantage of every last slice of summery heaven!

Occasion:  B. Good

I have a new favorite fast food restaurant called B. Good that recently opened in Burlington!  There are B. Good’s throughout the country, and there’s even ones in Canada, Germany and Switzerland!  They use super fresh ingredients and they make salads, burgers, sandwiches, and smoothies.  It’s a quick and easy way to get your healthy dose for the day!  They do not use artificial preservatives, their eggs are free range, and there are no growth hormones in their proteins.  They also source from local farmers and all their packaging is compostable.  They shake it up by having seasonal additions to their menu!

This is the Harvest Kale with marinated kale, brussels sprouts, manchego cheese, sunflower seeds, beets, acorn squash, garbanzos, and sherry vinaigrette.  Delish!

If you’re not in Burlington, see if there’s one by you!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Lou and Grey dress (Shalom Shuk, Burlington VT), $3.00, Marimekko bag (gifted)

Lou and Grey’s tagline is “Clothing for a Comfortably Confident Life”.  This dress is the definition of comfort, while still being versatile enough to wear to work or play!  I matched it with a fun, printed, signature Marimekko bag that my mom got for me in Finland to add some color and pizzaz.

Have you heard of athleisure?  It’s the fashion trend that makes it acceptable and stylish to wear leggings and fresh sneaks anywhere and everywhere.  Sporty spice knew what was up!  Who needs uncomfortable heels, dresses that ride up, or stiff jeans when you can show up to an event in complete stretchy heaven?  Well, I still like to dress up (and spend less), but it’s cool that athleticism is “in” outside of the gym!  Way to go fashionistas of the world!

Occasion:  peach picking!Who knew peach picking existed in Vermont?  I certainly didn’t!  I went to Shelburne Orchards to experience the wonders of it all for my first time!  My friend said to me, “you haven’t truly experienced summer if you haven’t been peach picking”.  He was right!  There is nothing better than plucking a picture perfect peach right off the tree!  It was not necessarily cheap, but those peaches were so delicious, it was worth every penny!  Not to mention the cider donuts fresh out of the oven!  There is still time to get your peach picking on before they are completely replaced by apples!  Check it out!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

French Connection dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $6.00

This is my ultimate favorite summer dress!  It is light and airy, super comfortable, and the elephant sleeves are perfect for a hot day.  Seeing as there are few opportunities left to wear a sundress without leggings and a jacket, I am getting in as many wears as possible before it’s too late!

French Connection, aka FCUK (their controversial branding logo), is a UK based designer brand that was established in 1969.  They produce high fashion that is reliably chic.  In Burlington, I often see this brand at the adorable shop, Sweet Lady Jane, which sells other brands like Free People, Cupcakes and Cashmere, and BB Dakota.  Similar white dresses by French Connection are in the $100-$200 range.  I would actually pay retail for this brand (50% off or more, of course!).  Luckily I found it for less than the cost of the sandwich at the next door cafe, Sweet Simones!

Occasion: Sister Weekend and Revolution Kitchen

My sister, Jess, visited this past weekend for our annual summer reunion!  With a jam-packed, printed itinerary, we truly took advantage of the sunny days and incredible food in Vermont.  Some highlights are: hiking Snake Mountain, wine tasting at the quaint Lincoln Peak Winery, peach picking at Shelburne Orchard, relaxing at Bristol Falls, North Beach, and Charlotte Beach, creemee’s at Cookie Love, walking through Middlebury and Bristol, and just enjoying each other’s company.

Among our favorite eats was Revolution Kitchen.  It is vegan, gluten-free friendly!  It really is a special place :).  We went with our amazing cousin, Sam, and got spring rolls, a beet salad, a tasty stir-fry, and a hearty and delicious veggie burger.  What really rocked my world though was the maple vanilla cake.  It is SO moist and SO flavorful, I can’t possibly think of a better dessert!  My parents and I discovered this mind-blowing treat a couple of years ago, and now it is a must-have during visits.  You really just have to try it.  It was once described like pancakes, but really, it’s in a whole separate league!

I am so thankful to have such an amazing family!  Jess, this one goes down in the books!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Love Fire dress (TJ Maxx, Burlington VT), $15.00, earrings (gifted from Zinnia), Saltwater sandals (Stella Mae, Burlington), $42.00

The off-the-shoulder, peasant look is definitely the hottest trend that has hit the fashion world, and I am joining in!  I hardly ever shop at TJ Maxx – a price tier above any thrifting or consigning – however it is as cheap as retail gets.  I happened to find myself in this designer discount dealer, and I was blown away by all the fun prints and cute silhouettes.  Among them was this sweet, little frock that can hide any bloating from a big meal.  I like that it is not too short, has a simple, yet cute, pattern, and stays off the shoulder even when you raise your hands.  It was also in the clearance end, so the original $30 price dropped down to $15.  If you’re gonna do any type of retail, bargain shopping, ya gotta delve deeply into the clearance rack!  You might just score and save for more!

Occasion: Alabama Shakes

One of my favorite bands, Alabama Shakes, was playing at my favorite venue, Shelburne Museum, and I was amped to go see them!  The lead singer and guitarist, Brittany Howard, sings from her soul…and quite robustly.  She has a deep, distinctive voice, and her songs are emotionally charged and good-spirited.  She definitely is a powerhouse.  My favorite song is “Hang Loose”.  Here’s a pic from the event:

Gotta hit up those outdoor concerts while the summer is still here!!

Outfit:

Joie 100% silk dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, VT), $15.00, Deb heels (Richmond Thrift Shop, VT), $8.00, clutch (Richmond Thrift Shop, VT), $8.00

No lie, I found this dress online for $294.00!! shopbop.com

At Richmond Thrift, for something to cost a whopping $15.00, it has to be exceptional quality.  This dress is 100% silk and it’s in perfect condition!  It is a very dainty, simple dress, but I think it is elegant, and the color is a beautiful, femme blush.  I went to Richmond Thrift on a hunt for a dress for a wedding that I had to be at in an hour and a half.  I knew I would find something at my trusty spot!  Little did I know that I would find the perfect dress (from one of my favorite brands) for the occasion!

On the same trip, I found these tan heels that happen to be relatively comfy to boot (no pun intended).  This is a very trendy style that I’ve been eyeing all over town…luckily, a faultless pair existed in my exact size, barely worn, at Richmond Thrift!

To add a little pop, I paired the outfit with a colorful clutch that I got a while back at, drumroll…Richmond Thrift 😜. I was aiming for the hints of pink in the bag to compliment the dress.

Within 10 minutes at the store, I was ready, with my blue pedi, to be a plus one at a wedding in Essex!  😀

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Dolce Vita romper (hand-me-down)

So, this outfit was not thrifted, but FREE nonetheless (yay for sisters!).  It’s a bit like a tablecloth…just a really beautiful one…so I’m gonna wear it and rock it all over this town!  My mom says that rompers are unflattering and look like baby clothes.  I get the reference, but I have to jump onboard the romper bandwagon because they’re comfy and pretty cute!  I love the overlay of the top half on this particular number, so it can kind of pass as a matching shirt/short set…kinda.  Easy and breezy for a hot summer’s night!

Occasion:

Mal Maiz and Las Cafeteras 

What better to pair the heat outside than a couple of saucy bands at the local hot spot, ArtsRiot, in the South End of Burlington.  ArtsRiot opened a few years ago, and it is a one-stop shop; food truck Fridays, delicious staple menu items, and a venue for performances of all kinds!  I went over the weekend and was blown away by Mal Maiz from Burlington, and the headliner, Las Cafeteras, from Montreal.  Both bands sing in Spanish and put on one hell of a show!

Mal Maiz is one of my favorite local bands.  Their Facebook ‘about us’ says it perfectly: “Costa Rican gypsy devil Maiz Vargas Sandoval and his Afro-Cumbia Orchestra are a hot East Coast Latin dance band with both a traditional and modern flair”.

When I thought it couldn’t get any better, Las Cafeteras took the stage.  They combined intense fervor, fierce tapping, belting, joyfulness, and political activism to produce something special.  Every single person in the room could not contain the impulse to dance wildly and clap loudly.  It was an experience I will never forget!

Summertime is for getting out and seeing good music!  Do it.

Outfit and Occasion

Shari Bodell pants (Second Time Around, Burlington), >$10, Marc Jacobs heels (Second Time Around, Burlington), >$10, Brandi Melville top (hand-me-down)

Second Time Around is was a chain consignment store that accepted only designer brands and resold them at a steep price, yet moderately lower than the original retail price.  I use the past tense because all STAs recently shut down and were unable to offer payouts for any items.  Reportedly, they couldn’t afford to continue paying their rent.  Wah wah…it is not surprising considering people could barely afford their slightly marked down/rejected-by-their-owner wardrobe.

HOWEVER….because they swiftly shut down, there were a few days that they were basically giving away their inventory for insanely cheap prices!  I frantically picked through piles of the most high-end goods, dramatically throwing clothing left and right! I filled a bag for $10, and within my loot were these beautiful pants by Sheri Bodell.  They were marked at $99 second-hand, and sell for over $300 retail!  Also in my $10 bag were these Marc Jacobs shoes that are worth about $400 retail.  My friend told me she literally shed tears of joy walking out of the store! Ha ha

Occasion:  The Great Northern

I had to find a nice occasion to sport my awesome finds!  The Great Northern, a new farm-to-table restaurant in the South End of Burlington, was swanky enough for Burlington standards!  I went with my parents while they were visiting and had an incredible meal!  The grilled octopus and 24 hour brisket were my favorites!  Seasoned to perfection and cooked just right!  We also shared the surf and turf which was delectable!

The Great Northern is a great bang for your buck!  It compares to other high-end restaurants like Hen of the Wood, but it’s pretty affordable for a nice night out!  Just please, order the octopus…it’s sensational!

Outfit:

Floral kimono (Shalom Shuk, Burlington), $5.00, Dolce Vita shoes (gifted)

It was an unseasonably warm day in April and I took full-advantage of the opportunity to try out this breezy, breathable, chiffon kimono.  It is the perfect topper to a plain white tank.  I am also in love with the tassel trim that I am constantly running my fingers through.

Kimono’s seem to be popping up all over retail world, but you can’t beat a virtually new $5 thrift!  Excited to wear this girly frock with a basic dress or with longer shorts as the weather gets more and more pleasant…yeehaw!

Occasion: Citizen Cider Tuesday Supper

Citizen Cider has the best hard cider that I have ever had.  Three Vermonters founded the cidery in 2010 and their business has exploded over the last seven years.  They are now distributed throughout the country and have expanded to a beautiful location on Pine Street in the Southend of Burlington.  Some of their flavors taste more like champagne compared to Woodchuck’s apple juice-y signatures.  My favorite is The Dirty Mayor, which is complimented by a ginger zing.

The cidery now offers delicious food to accompany your drink!  There is Hot Dog and a Can Night, Mac and Cheese Night, and Supper Club.  I went for Supper Club, which is a $10 meal and $4 drink special.  It was amazing!  There was a meat and vegetarian option.  I had the pork chop with quinoa and chutney.  I felt like I was at a fine dining restaurant, amidst a more fun environment, and for 1/3 the price!  The drink special was a flight of five different ciders.  For $4?!  My kind of culinary experience!  If you go five times, the sixth meal is free!  HOLLA.