Outfit:

Banana Republic jacket (Richmond Thrift Shop, VT), $7.00, J Brand jeans (Richmond Thirft Shop, VT), free, Ann Taylor Loft sweater (Richmond Thrift Shop, VT), free, Dolce Vita boots (gifted)

I get some of my favorite things for free from the Richmond Thrift Shop!  I have found Free People sweaters, American Apparel basics, and virtually new Banana Republic work attire.  This sweater and pair of designer jeans made me especially excited!  The sweater is SO comfy and the ripped jeans are totally trendy, fun, and fit just right!  The sweet older lady working at Richmond saw the holes in the jeans and said, “you can’t pay for jeans with big holes in the them!”.  She insisted that I take them for free!  Little does she know that they are worth about $200 retail (holes and all).

I added these western Dolce Vita shoes that I love to make the outfit complete for a day in the citay!

Occasion: NYC and The Greek Kitchen

The weekend was a slice of heaven.  I flew home to New York’s 65 degree weather in the middle of February!  Last week was a blizzard and this week is a sneak peak of Spring!  I don’t hate it, although I worry about the environment  My family walked around NYC, had brunch, and took in the sun in the cute NOHO area.

Later that weekend, we walked along the Hudson River and went to a restaurant called The Famous Greek Kitchen in Greenwich, Connecticut.  I had a seafood dish with feta cheese and it was OUTRAGEOUS.  It had juicy scallops, mussels, lobster meat, crab meat, and shrimp in a tomato-based broth.  One of the best dishes of my life!

Outfit:

Free People tunic (gifted), Franco Sarto boots

This is the first piece of clothing I’ve owned that has bell sleeves!  I love the flowy girliness of it!  Better yet, it has a floral pattern!  It was a Hanukkah present this year from my mom (who has the best style btw).  Thanks, mom!  The only concern is that when you are eating you have to be extra careful not to have your sleeves swimming in your plate!  If I could have an all-Free People wardrobe, I would be one happy, hippie-chic gal!

Occasion: Monarch and the Milkweed

The pastry chef from Hen of the Wood, the most upscale, delicious restaurant in Burlington, opened a small restaurant right near City Hall park that is quite fantastic!  It is adorably decorated from the beautiful chandeliers to the twinkling case of endless goodies.  It only seats about 10 people, so you might have to wait to be seated, but the small size is charming and cozy.  I’ve been twice and both times I was in heaven!  I’ve gotten the breakfast sandwich with pancakes, aka”milkgriddles”, in place of bread, a small cinnamon roll with just the moist inside part (OMG), and, pictured above, a powdered almond pastry.  Sweet treats are the perfect way to start a morning off right.  There are no bad choices here, and you can find everything from tarts to pies!

The restaurant also has a dinner menu and stays open late for drinks!  Excited to try this cute little shop out at night!

Outfit:

Jcrew cherry top (Second Time Around, Burlington), $12.00, Joes Jeans (gifted), Top Shop heeled sneakers (gifted)

Feelin’ merry, wearin’ cherries!

Occasion:  Womens March Vermont

Pussy Power!!!  …and so much of it…at the Women’s March in Montpelier this Saturday!  The unity and fervor from thousands of Vermonters was inspiring.  A sea of pink pussy hats and signs.

We marched to the capitol building, and I got serious chills from the songs, speeches, and spoken word.  ‘Muslim Girls Making Change’, four young Vermonters in high school who compete nationally with their spoken word,  blew we away with their performance.  Their emotionally charged messages touched upon feeling ostracized and misunderstood.  It was powerful!

Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance that had a deep impact.  His passion for justice  of all kinds, and his ability to invigorate others is unmatchable!

I am so glad I was part of this experience.  Love trumps hate!

Outfit:

Free People shirt (Plato’s Closet, Williston VT), $5.00, infinity scarf (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), free, BDG jeans (Urban Outfitters, Burlington), $15.00, Dolce Vita boots (gifted)

When I unwrapped my Hannukah present from my sister this year and saw these killer shoes, my heart skipped a beat!  The buckles, the suede, the western detail on the tip…they are perfect!  Thank you, Juice!!  They are the perfect compliment to any outfit and I am excited to have them be my go-to, while being able to dress them up with a classy outfit!

The infinity scarf was yet another FREE find at Richmond Thrift!  Can’t beat that!  It goes with everything and since I have a lot of patterned clothing, it’s a great basic to not overdo it!

Occasion: City Market

City Market is the local food co-op and it is one of my favorite places in Burlington!  I especially love the section of local baked goods (everything from My Little Cupcake to Comfort cookies), the diverse salad bar (my usual), the comforting hot meals (love me some baked mac and cheese), their selections of dried fruit and granola, and their amazing sandwiches!!  Pictured is the Blue Plate sandwich with house-made meatloaf, Shelburne Farms cheddar, red onions and roasted garlic mayo on Red Hen Cyrus Pringle bread.  It is a special treat and this half-sandwich was only $4.99!  Insider tip: you can get a sandwich on a big bagel for $4.99 as well!

I love to get a bite to eat and sit in the little cafe area, reading my kindle and people watching!  Everyone comes through City Market, so I am bound to see someone I know!  While prices often earn this store the name City “Mark-up”, you can find a ton of local and delicious products all in one place!  While I am more of a Trader Joe’s girl, there is something special about this little local gem.

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

BCBG sweater (Plato’s Closet, Williston VT), $5.00, Faux fur reversible jacket (Shalom Shuk, Burlington VT), $3.00, Dolce Vita shoes (gifted)

A beautiful day is when you stumble into a trendy consignment store, like Plato’s Closet, and you come to find that the entire sale rack is $5!  Hence this five dollar BCBG sweater that keeps me nice and toasty on a cold day!  In addition, I feel like a lady with this over-sized faux fur jacket over top.  It is especially cozy when I flip it around and the fur is on the inside!  Good mid-weather jacket to add a little sass to my step.

Occasion:  The Farmhouse

The Farmhouse in Burlington is one of the best farm-to-table spots out there!  They are best known for their juicy, grass-fed burgers…yum!  Rich brown on the outside, soft pink on the inside.  Intensely savory with crispy bacon on top!  All in all, meaty deliciousness!

The occasion for this delicacy was to send off my friend, Jenny, before she flew off to South America for months of biking!  We miss you Jenny!  Hope you are having one heck of an adventure!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Forever 21 dress (Forever21, Chicago), $17.00, Forever21 necklace (forever21.com), $8.00, Dolce Vita shoes (gifted)

This is my favorite dress for the fall/winter.  It reminds me of something from the expensive, hippie-chic brand called Free People!  However, I found this for fairly cheap at Forever 21!  Forever21 can be an overload of patterns and colors.  This particular dress spoke to me!  The flowers even look like turkeys for a special turkey day 🙂

Occasion: Thanksgiving!

Check out this epic pic of all 48 of us at my house for Thanksgiving this year!  And check out the feast we shared!  11 different desserts?!  Just gotta sample a little bit of everything until your stuffed like the turkey stuffing!

Such a special day with a special family.  Love you all to the moon!

Taking an extra Hip Hop Punch and Tone class this week…

Outfit:

Mad Love jacket (Plato’s Closet, Williston VT), $7.00 on sale, The Beagles“I want to hold your paw” graphic (forever21.com), $13.00, Radcliff jeans (?…splurge alert)

This studded jacket makes me feel like a BAMF.  I remember the days when I bedazzled everything!  Lovin the throwback.  I’m pretty sure these studs are a bit more sturdy than the ones attached with the cheap machine I used as a kid.  All I need is a Harley motorcycle and I’m set!

Mad Love was an Australian brand from two girls who drew inspiration from their travels, and it is now discontinued.  Lucky score at Plato’s Closet!   Plato’s is certainly overwhelming, but I stuck to the clearance rack and found a few great additions to my wardrobe!

Occasion: Sweet Simone’s

Right next door to my favorite thrift store in Richmond is a little cafe called Sweet Simone’s.  They have amazing latte’s, a huge assortment of picturesque baked goods, and some delicious food!  It is the perfect stop after a dirt cheap shopping spree.

This breakfast sandwich doesn’t look that special, but the bread is crispy, the sausage is savory, and the frittata-like egg is fluffy and super yummy.  Add some spicy sauce and you have a premier morning delicacy.

Richmond is the most quaint Vermont town and my roommate and I drove the scenic route to Williston on a sunny day.  This place is very dear to my heart!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Seven of Mankind jeans (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $4.00, C & C California tank top (Loehmans, NY), $?, studded choker (Zinnia, Burlington VT), $2.00

This look contrasts my typical light, flowery, girly style, but I love me a little animal print to spice things up!

A similar item on the Seven of Mankind website sells for $199!  That’s a little cray, but this brand is so expensive because their jeans are well-made and have a great fit!

Occasion: Montreal

My roommate and I were looking for a change in scenery, so we drove up to Montreal for the day.  It’s hard to believe that Burlington is just a 2 hour drive from another country! We went to a delicious French bistro where Callie got a crepe and I got the classic Croque Monsieur (baked ham and cheese sandwich).  Not mind blowing, but still very tasty and very French.  When in Montreal!

We also went to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which was a little bare, but interesting nonetheless.  The rest of the day was walking around, thrift seeking, and enjoying the most beautiful day weather-wise!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Forever21 dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $5.00, XOXO booties (Sangha Clothing Swap), free

Flowers are my favorite pattern.  This print not only has flowers, but butterflies too!  I was instantly in love.  The shift shape/chiffon combo made it so unbelievably comfortable, the dress could probably work for pajamas.  It’s also long enough that I could dance with my hands up and not worry about it rising too high!  Found this right before the perfect occasion…

Occasion: Stacey and Jon’s Wedding

My dad’s side of the family came together for a perfect union.  Stacey and Jon, third cousins of mine who are just as close as first cousins, are truly soulmates.  Their wedding was beautiful: tear-jerker vows, a beautiful setting at Camp Abnaki in North Hero, and a stunning bride!   It was so much fun!

Farmers & Foragers delivered with savory apps like ricotta filled squash blossoms, summer rolls, and corn fritters.  The main course consisted of cheesesteak, soft-shell crab sliders, and fried avocado tacos.  An explosion of flavors!

Can’t beat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for the icing on the cake!

There was dancing to funky tunes and, of course, a fun photo booth for silliness.  We did the hora and Stacey and Jon were lifted in chairs…fun Jewish traditions 🙂

Mazel tov, Stacey and Jon!  To a lifetime of love and happiness!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Freshman dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $4.00, Free People bralette (Free People, NY), $10.00 on sale, XOXO black boots (Sangha Studio Clothing Swap), free

I am usually more into color and prints than all black, but the bralette provides just enough pizazz for me :).  I love this slinky little black getup and the price cannot be beat!

Occasion: Ben & Jerry’s Vermonster

Ben & Jerry’s is the quintessential VT company and is a part of VT’s essence!  A Vermonster is 20 scoops of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with four bananas, cookies, brownies, hot fudge and caramel, nuts, and all the toppings you could ask for from sprinkles to cotton candy pieces.

I split this with about 8 people and it took less than 10 minutes for us to finish!  So delicious and quite the accomplishment!  The question is…can you truly be a Vermonter and NOT have had a Vermonster??  I guess if you are dairy-free…although they now have dairy free flavors!  No excuses.