Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Forever21 top (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $4.00, Joe Jeans shorts (hand-me-down), Reiker sandals (Salvation Army, Burlington VT), $2.00

I found a new favorite!  Scored this top on a recent excursion to Richmond Thrift!  With just a few weeks of summertime left, it presented itself in the nick of time! Who woulda thunk Forever21 would produce such a gem ;).

Occasion: sister and cousin weekend!

My sister, Jessica, and my cousin, Amanda came up to visit me in Burlington during my birthday week!  Laughter filled our time together, along with a jam packed itinerary!  We kayaked at the Waterbury Reservoir (because that is my new favorite summer activity) and jumped off rocks!  We went to Bolton Potholes and took in the beauty of the waterfalls.  We picked blueberries at Owl’s Head in Richmond and made a yummy beverage with them!  We shopped and brunched and sampled at the Farmers Market!  We went to the beach.  We did about everything we could with mainly rainy days.  And we celebrated my birthday!  So far 27 is off to a great start…

Thanks Amanda and Jess for an epic weekend of fun!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Bebe top (Sangha Studio Clothing Swap), free, Madewell jeans (Shalom Shuk, Burlington), $2.00, suede boots, (Salvation Army, Burlington), $3.00, necklace (I made it!)

This whole outfit was $5…but that’s our little secret 😉 !  I feel like Chiquita Banana with this fun, yellow top.  One of a few scores from a clothing swap at a yoga studio!  There were piles of awesome clothing just waiting to be claimed by a rightful new owner…my dream come true!

If you’ve never been to a clothing swap, I suggest you plan one right away.  It feels so good to get rid of clothes that accumulate dust in your closet and find new faves that your friends are bored with.  By recycling clothes, you’re helping the environment and your bank account!  With every new owner, an item of clothing gets a new life!   Have fun and try a different look without costing you a penny!

Occasion: Parents weekend!

My parents were in town and we had the most epic weekend ever!  Activities include: dinner at Juniper, Festival of Fools performances on Church Street, brunch at Lucky Next Door, yoga at Battery Park, kayaking on the Waterbury Reservoir (soo beautiful), brunch at The Spot, pizza at Folino’s, walking the paths at Shelburne Farms, and dinner at Prohibition Pig.

Pro Pig is as classy as BBQ food gets!  It is located in Waterbury, an ideal location on route to skiing, Ben and Jerry’s Factory, the Cabot cheese Annex, and Cold Hollow Cider Hill  (so many good samples).

I had the mac n cheese with truffle oil and crispy breading on top.  It was one of the best pasta dishes ever!  So cheesy and tasty!  Comfort food at its finest.  My parents got the brisket and the pork, each with two sides.  We thoroughly enjoyed each bite.  Extra BBQ sauce, yes please!

So happy that I created so many new, delicious memories!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Blondie and Me dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $5.00, Clutch (Richmond Thrift Store, VT), $9.00

This dress feels like something I would wear to a bat mitzvah when I was 13, but I love the simplicity of it and the velvet top.  It is totally 90’s-esque!

Occasion:  Pingala

Various food trucks are featured at Arts Riot on Pine Street Friday nights during the summer.  Food truck Fridays are a great way to start off the weekend and there is everything from Lobster Rolls to Tacos!  I opted for the broccoli from Pingala, a vegan restaurant in Winooski.  Who knew broccoli could be so good!  I got it in a few different forms and my favorite is the tempura broccoli which has a delicious creaminess!  Pingala even has a broccoli truck on Church Street now!  This broccoli is worth getting excited about!

 

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Xhiliration dress (Platos Closet, Williston VT), $10.00, Merona espadrilles (Target, White Plains NY), $24.99

TIP: Buy something from a consignment store, wear it for a period of time and get your money’s worth, then sell it back and make about 40% of your initial purchase.

That’s what I did with a pair of jeans at Plato’s Closet.  With the $9.00 I received back from re-selling them, I was able to get this cute dress for a net cost of $1.00!

Just keep recycling!

Occasion:  New Local Bars

My friend, Erin and I tried a new bar that popped up on Main Street, right near Church Street.  It’s called Side Bar, and their drinks were incredible.  I had the Aphrodite with tequila, pomegranate liquor, tropical juices, lime, and a salt + pepper rim.  Drinks were categorized by “sweet”, “spicy”, “refreshing”, “bubbles”, “boozy”, and “mojitos”.  Great selection and delicious sounding concoctions!

We had the whole bar to ourselves until a punk rock band started playing and it got a little too loud and heavy.  I don’t know what the typical scene is like there, but I definitely want to go back for the drinks and good service!

New bars are popping up everywhere including:

Archives (a sweet barcade).  Great drinks and everything from Pacman to Mario Bros!

Mad River Distillers.  You can get a sampler!

Foam (by the waterfront).  Hot new spot!

Cheers!

Outfit and Occasion

Banana Republic top (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $4.00, Tangents skirt (Salvation Army, Burlington), $2.00, belt (Downtown Threads, Burlington), $7.00, Saltwater sandals (Stella Mae, Burlington), $42.00 SPLURGE ALERT

I felt very comfortable roaming NYC with my mom, wearing this black and white outfit with a splash of red.  This two dollar skirt actually has built-in shorts on the inside!  These sandals lasted me all day in the city without any blisters!  Totally worth the splurge.  Great for walking, working, and water activities (they’re waterproof!).

Occasion: Fun Home (Broadway musical) and Vbar Seaport

My mom and I ventured to the Southend Seaport area in NYC to get half price TKTS to see a Broadway show that night with my dad.  This is a cool area that is closed off to cars and has food stands from Smorgasberg (a huge gathering of food trucks in Brooklyn).  We decided to try out VBar Seaport because it got great ratings, and we split a sensational Eggplant Caponata panini and a Pulled Pork panini.  So delicious!  We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and the weather was perfection.

We got tickets to see Fun Home.  It’s about a dysfunctional family and the impact of their dynamic on the daughter, who is represented at 3 different ages.  It was uncomfortable at times, but very well-done.  It was interesting to see such a serious show when I am used to feel-good Broadway musicals.  Not my favorite show, but profound nonetheless.

Full day in the city, ain’t a pity!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Banana Republic dress (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $8.00, Reiker shoes (Salvation Army, Burlington), $2.00

This linen sundress with an eyelit accent is so perfect for summer!  It is modest and girly and the length is work-appropriate.  A Banana Republic dress would normally be closer to $100 rather than $10.  Excited to have found this perfect-condition dress at Richmond Thrift Shop in my size!!

It can be dressed up with jewelry and nice shoes, or dressed down with sandals.  I had just the right occasion: An annual family picnic called “The Oaks” with my extended family 🙂

Occasion:  The Oaks and Asian Temptation!

Family pic at The Oaks

Every year my dad’s extended family get together for a big picnic!  For many years it was held at an old mansion called The Oaks, but now it is at my aunt and uncle’s beautiful house in Pleasantville, NY overlooking a lake.  Endless amounts of cheeses, BBQ, and, delicious desserts!  Not to mention the best company ever…so many wonderful conversations to get wrapped up in!

While I was home, we also went to our favorite Japanese restaurant called Asian Temptation!  My sushi pic speaks for itself!

So nice to be home and celebrating the start of summer with the whole gang!

 

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

No Boundaries bandana print top (Shalom Shuk, Burlington), $1.00, shorts (Forever 21, White Plains NY), $6.00, jewelry (gifted), Merona espadrilles (Target, White Plains NY), $24.99

I got this top back in the day when shirts at The Shalom Shuk were one dollar.  Can’t beat that!  It is one of my favorite, go-to lightweight tops on a summer’s day.  Perfect creemee date/strolling on Church St/boppin around get-up!

You may find something similar nowadays at Urban Outfitters, but this is a true vintage original.

Occasion: Gaku Ramen

A friend and I tried out a new restaurant in town called Gaku Ramen in it’s first week! While we didn’t get ramen, the salmon rice bowl hit the spot.  Generous portion, perfectly cooked salmon, and very flavorful!  It’s presentation was impressive too!

The restaurant has a stylish, cosmopolitan ambiance.  It was packed and there was a pretty long wait for a table.  It may have already gotten more visitors than the location’s previous occupant, Mr. Crepe (hard to compete with Skinny Pancake).

I have to go back to try the ramen!  I have a feeling it will be an upgrade from Maruchan instant ramen lunch, although that stuff will always be dear to my heart!

Yet another great option to add to the list of Burlington eats :).

 

 

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Adrianna Papell beaded jacket (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond), $6.00, Madewell white jeans (Shalom Shuk, Burlington), $2.00, grey suede booties (Salvation Army, Burlington), $3.00, jewelry (gifted)

I was so excited to find this glam, beaded jacket at my favorite thrift store!  It’s pretty fancy, but paired with jeans and a tank, it’s perfect for a special night out. These Madewell jeans are one of my favorite finds!  They sell online for $115, but were $2 at The Shalom Shuk and are in perfect condition!  With my new $3 boots, this outfit is just over $10!

Sometimes you strike out thrifting, but with persistence, you may just hit jackpot!

Occasion:  Sacred Ladies Night at The Shelburne Inn in Shelburne, VT

For over a year, “Sacred Ladies Night” has been designated a time to get together with a lovely group of friends, and it involves everything from wine and crafts to girl talk and baked goods.  Since we will be more scattered this summer, we decided to go all out and have a decadent meal at the Shelburne Inn which is right past Shelburne Farms.  These grounds are some of the most picturesque landscapes I have ever come across.  The Inn is incredibly beautiful and quaint.  Everything they serve is as farm to table as it gets!  I had a lamb trio and we split this butcher block that was absolutely incredible.  To top it off we had brown butter pecan cake!  It was the perfect night all around, and we were graced with the most ideal weather!

 

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Forever21 sweater (Richmond Thrift Shop, Richmond VT), $4.00, Forever21 high-waisted jeans (forever21.com), $10.00, Route 66 boots (Salvation Army, Burlington), $3.00, necklace and earrings (gifted)

I repainted the tips of these boots gold using Martha Stewart’s gilding paint!  I saw the easy DIY project online a year ago, and they make the freshest addition to this type of boot!  Especially cool when you can find a pair for cheap to spruce up! You can get the paint for $7.99 online here or in store at Michaels.

These high-waisted jeans are a bit too high for me, but with a slightly cropped sweater, you can’t see how high they actually go…which is well above the belly button!  This light crocheted sweater is perfect for this week’s mildly chilly weather.  The blue tank underneath matches my new turquoise fitbit!

Occasion: Folino’s Wood Fired Pizza

Folino’s may be my new FAVORITE pizza spot AND it’s in the same building as the Fiddlehead Brewery which makes especially hoppy beer (a little too hoppy for my taste, perfect for some!)

The pizza is super thin and so so delicious.  We got the pepperoni, basil, and caramelized onions one and each ingredient was insanely fresh and full of flavor!  It doesn’t get much better than sitting outdoors with the sun shining down on you and eating this delightful delicacy with great company!

Outfit and Occasion

Outfit:

Lace sweater (Forever21, NY), $8.00, Banana Republic skirt (Salvation Army, Burlington), $3.00, Merona espadrilles (Target, White Plains NY), $24.99, Necklace (I made it!), Earrings (gifted)

Practically everything I own is patterned, so it was nice to find this plain circle skirt that is perfect for work, or for a day out in the sun.  Plus it is slightly stretchy, even with a zipper, and that is great for some tummy expansion after a big meal 🙂

I got these shoes from Target when I was back home for Passover and are my new staple.  I love the little espadrille heel and they are super comfortable and will go with everything!

Occasion:  Bread and Butter Farm

The Bread and Butter farm is in Shelburne, VT, and is all about the experience.  The store sells veggies, bread, meats, maple syrup, eggs and other local products.  Everything is produced on their farm in the most natural ways and, therefore, is very healthy 🙂 !  While you can visit with the animals, walk around the gardens, and check out the farm, my friend Katie and I went to their store to try a cup of “butter coffee” from a Burlington cafe popup that they had there called Blank Page.

The butter coffee was literally a large chunk of delicious butter mixed in with the finest coffee.  Our friendly barista told us the benefits of this combination and that it was actually good for you and contributed to even more energy than a normal cup of coffee.  He was passionate about the product and was very informative!

It was pretty delicious and has a long, lingering aftertaste.  At the same time, I was a little bit weirded out by drinking butter!  Worth trying though!  Also, the drive out is scenic and I just love wide open Vermont land!

Hopefully we will be graced with more beautiful, warm weather…it’s about time!