Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Hushed Tones

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I'm going through one of those times where everything is changing all at once, and I'm doing the best I can to hold on and hope for the best. Life is exciting right now, but also maybe a little terrifying. Some of these changes are small -- I'm feeling the need to figure out something with my hair, I've been purging my closet and being very honest with myself when it comes to my clothes and style -- and some of these changes are much, much bigger. A little shake-up is good every now and then though.

On a lighter note, I attended a clothing swap with the Steel City Swappers a few weeks ago, and snagged this sweet little skirt. I miss my days of giant clothing swaps, swapping is such a great way to refresh your closet and get inspiration, I'm so happy I was able to connect with this group of rad women when we moved here. If you're in Pittsburgh and interested in attending the next one, let me know! Also, let it be added to the record that these heels are uncommonly comfortable. Usually I'm hating life by the time I get home from work after a day wearing heels, but miraculously I was still going strong in these at 7pm. 

Get the look: Jacket: Vintage (similar) // Top: Lulu's (c/o, similar) // Skirt: Swapped (similar) // Heels: Call It Spring (c/o) // Bracelet: Studebaker Metals // Necklaces: Vintage/various // Bra: AA // Sunglasses: Missguided (c/o)

Thursday, June 19, 2014

All That You Touch You Change

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This past Sunday, Chris and I ditched our original plans of visiting New Vrindaban in favor of Pittsburgh's Annual Pride Parade, held downtown. Despite being here for a few years now, we still hadn't been to any of the Pride festivities, so this was obviously a good choice for a sunny summer Sunday. It was so much fun, and being surrounded by so much positivity felt amazing. People were happy, out to support each other, and living the theme -- Be Brave -- to the fullest. Plus, there were kittens. We'll pay another visit to New Vrindaban another time, but this past weekend, Pittsburgh was all we needed.

For a rather sweltering summer afternoon, I chose easy cut-offs -- always a go-to -- and this breezy mesh top from Gypsan. I've quickly become a super fan of this shop, which is brimming with gorgeous, bohemian pieces that are perfect for the season. Not to mention that I am obsessed with Gypsan founder, Kathrin's, geodesic dome house.

+ Gypsan is offering Orchid Grey readers 25% off orders with the code "orchidgrey25off"

Get the look: Top: Gypsan (c/o) // Shorts: Thrifted & chopped Levi's // Sandals: Sixtyseven (Lulu's c/o) // Bag: Vintage (similar) // Sunglasses: Missguided (c/o) // Necklace: Vintage

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The Banana Stand

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This was one of those magical, early summer Pittsburgh evenings where everything was beautiful. The air was the perfect temperature, the bags beneath my eyes took a sudden -- and all together unannounced -- vacation, and Chris and I were on a date to see Maleficent and have some dinner. I've always wanted to take photos in front of this (presumably) defunct banana warehouse (?). I know absolutely nothing about it besides the fact that it smelled terrible, was super dirty and filled with pigeons, and there's a very friendly stray cat that lives there (for anyone living in Pittsburgh that might want a friendly cat that needs a bath, there you go. And yes, it was heartbreaking to leave him behind).

This is the most amazing time of year here. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, I was shuffling around my ice cold apartment wearing multiple blankets, scarves, and hats in an effort to combat the negative 10 temperatures.

Also realizing very late in the game that high top Converse are where it's at. I remember my very first pair, which looked exactly like these, bought from the outlet when I was seven.

Get the look: Dress: Second hand (similar) // Jacket: Forever 21 (similar) // Sneakers: Converse // Earrings: Yard sale trade (similar) // Bag: Ruche (Similar)

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Summer in the City With Lulu's: How to Host a Budget-Friendly Sunday Brunch

I'm excited to be partnering with Lulu's this week in celebration of summer and all it has to offer. For the final installment in my series, we're going to brunch!
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Get the look: Dress, Sandals, & Bag: Lulu's (c/o) // Necklace: Forever 21 // Bracelets: Vintage // Silver ring: roadside store in W.V. // Red stone ring: Shop Dixi (c/o) // Midi ring: UO

What is it about brunch that makes it the perfect meal? The fact that it's breakfast at lunch time? That it's breakfast on steroids? Or maybe that, while technically still being breakfast, it's somehow deemed appropriate to consume alcohol at brunch? All three? Yeah, all three. At any rate, brunch is the perfect way to cap off a great weekend, but frankly, we can't always justify the hefty price tag that goes along with any breakfast that isn't enjoyed at a roadside diner. Plus, when the weather is nice, isn't it more fun to get a bunch of friends together and eat outside?

And because it's brunch, and brunch and needs to somehow be differentiated from breakfast, why not get a little fancy? I've already professed my love for white dresses, and this little eyelet number from Lulu's has stolen my heart. I dressed it down a little with strappy flat sandals, a woven clutch, and casual jewelry. Way better than the ratty tee shirt and lounge pants I usually wear to breakfast, right?

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On this particular day, we gathered with two other couples on our porch for a Sunday brunch potluck. Each pair made a couple of dishes, and there was so. much. food. While it could sound daunting, a potluck brunch is an easy thing to plan (a couple of emails or texts, really), and can be easily converted to a picnic if you don't have porch access. Here's what was served:

Beverages: 
coffee & almond milk
mimosas

Food:
banana bread
fruit & berry salad
egg casserole
bacon
sausage
cornmeal waffles & honey butter
homefries

To decorate, I used a linen tablecloth found at the thrift store (for a whopping $1.00) layered under a lace tablecloth (also thrifted cheaply), and our friend put out her matching dishes and wine glasses. That's it. Done. Oh, and whiskey bottles make fine coffee carafes.

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+ Looking for more great summer weekend ideas? Check out my other two posts right here.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Summer in the City With Lulu's: How to Find Great Hiking Spots Near You

I'm excited to be partnering with Lulu's this week in celebration of summer and all it has to offer. For three days, I'll be bringing you ideas for maximizing your summer weekends, along with what to wear. For day two, we're going hiking!
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Get the look: Sweatshirt, Tee Shirt, & Sunglasses: Lulu's (c/o) // Shorts: American Eagle // Sandals: Birkenstock // Bracelets: Various

As much as I love Pittsburgh this time of year, when the weekend rolls around, all I want to do is get the heck out of dodge. On a sunny day that's above 35 degrees, there's no place I'd rather be than the woods. It gets to be a problem actually, blame it on eighteen years of my mom insisting my siblings and I stay outside if the weather was at all decent, but eventually I look around and realize that I have completely abandoned my apartment, laundry, and any and all projects in favor of staying outdoors as long as possible on the weekends.

This past weekend, Chris and I were excited for our plans to drive down to Ohiopyle for a much needed day hike, unfortunately nature wanted nothing to do with us and we woke up to intermittent downpours. So, we settled on the next best thing, which is Frick Park right here in town. And we actually got some sun, which was a nice surprise.

On days like this, I always carry a sweatshirt with me, especially if we're starting the day early. I can't get enough of the throwback style of this Obey sweatshirt from Lulu's, it reminds me of something you'd see in an 80s ski film. We're clearly on a groomed path here, but if we were to have actually gone on the hike we planned, I'd have a backpack with me, and would definitely not be wearing Birks. But, that's the beauty of a city "hike", where white shorts and sandals are perfectly capable of getting the job done.

A few people have asked me how we find our hiking spots, so today I'm sharing my tips for getting to know the outdoor opportunities that lie just outside your door:

Find a local hiking group: When we first moved to PGH, our then-neighbors introduced us to Venture Outdoors, a local outdoor discovery organization offering lots of guided group hikes and activities. We used to have a membership, but now we use their activities calendar to get ideas for where to go and what to do.

Explore Instagram and social media: If you're like me, you follow a lot of like-minded people on social media, so check out the places their tagging. This is how I found out about the wildflower trail at Raccoon Creek State Park.

Pick up brochures: Whenever we go to a new state park, I always grab whatever maps and brochures they might have available. These pamphlets contain valuable information for the area you're in, and often list similar attractions that are close by.

Hit up the library: Check out the travel section of your library for local literature and guidebooks.

Ask around: Ask friends and coworkers for their suggestions on places to check out.

If all else fails, just drive: Get a little lost, it's the best way to discover new places and things you may not otherwise stumble across. This is a habit left over from my solo-traveling days as an admissions counselor, when I had free time and was in a rural area (which was basically every day), I would just drive around. So when we were first in Pennsylvania, and even still today, sometimes I'll just explore by car.

Find your state parks: Find the state parks that are located near you and go!

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+ Stay tuned tomorrow for the final installment in my summer weekend series with Lulu's

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Summer in the City With Lulu's: How to Make the Most of Friday Night

I'm excited to be partnering with Lulu's this week in celebration of summer and all it has to offer. For three days, I'll be bringing you fun ideas for maximizing your summer weekends, along with ideas on what to wear. We're gonna have the best summer ever.
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Get the look: Dress & boots: Lulus (c/o) // Long necklaces: Black Crystals (c/o) // Short necklace: Thrifted // Bag: Ruche // Arm band: Vintage

Summer is, by far, my favorite season. I love that when the weather turns warmer, people come out of the woodwork and the city comes alive. Suddenly, there are kids playing outside, people walking their dogs, and we're able to relax on our porch with a glass of wine after work and watch neighbors stroll by. And while I love my job, it can be tough to reconcile the fact that I have to be indoors at least eight hours a day working, when where I want to be is outside under the 80 degree sun. But instead of sulking, I just make sure to maximize the time that I do have, after work, sure, but especially the weekends. Once work is through on Fridays I hit the ground running.

One of my favorite Friday evening activities is turning on the string lights in our backyard, grabbing a few friends, and sitting around our fire pit with drinks and the makings of s'mores. It's the best. S'mores are the best. We're lucky to live in an apartment with a porch and a backyard right now, with a friend who lives on the first floor, but even prior to this good summer situation, we have always made the most of what our places have had to offer. In our old Pittsburgh neighborhood, it was the tiny porch attached to our duplex, and back in Beverly it was the fire escape and flat roof of our building.

For early summer evenings spent outside, you can't go wrong with a maxi dress. Long enough to keep you covered if you're sitting on the ground (and to me, way more comfortable than jeans) I love that this particular floral number from Lulu's features a bit of a sexier top to balance out the volume of the skirt. To keep my feet dry and out of potential mud (and because I'm always absentmindedly kicking stones and charred bits of wood near the fire pit), I paired the dress with ankle boots instead of sandals, and -- as usual -- piled on the jewelry.

If you're looking for more ways to get outside on a Friday evening, check out a few more ideas below:

Find an outdoor show or make your own: For Pittsburghers looking for something different than their own backyards or a new place to gather with friends, there's Bayardstown Social Club (pictured above), a members-only social club that regularly features live performances. Check your city for similar outdoor event spaces, or, if you have a back yard, why not string up some lights, invite a few friends over, and convince a musically-inclined friend that your yard is the next big venue?

See a movie in the park: Most cities offer some kind of "Movie in the Park" come summertime. While in both Beverly and Pittsburgh, they were geared more towards children, it was still a great way to unwind and an excuse to sit under the stars (and who doesn't want to re-watch Indiana Jones or The Little Mermaid?). You could even ask around to see if anyone you know has access to a digital projector. When I worked in admissions, we'd use my portable projector for movie nights at home, just pin up a white sheet on a wall or the side of your house, and invite some friends over to watch a favorite summer movie (I recommend kicking things off with Wet Hot American Summer, for obvious reasons).

Go to the drive-in: While drive-ins are a rarity these days, there are still plenty left (especially in Pittsburgh, which is awesome). Grab some pillows, clear out the back of your car, and enjoy the summer's biggest blockbuster (or two) with a huge tub of concession stand popcorn.

Make your own happy hour: Skip the crowded bar on Friday evening. If you have a porch, make some drinks and sit out and watch the neighborhood stroll by. No porch? No problem. A large cutting board, dishtowel, and a couple of sturdy mugs of wine -- or my favorite: gin, a couple of muddled blackberries, some chopped mint and basil, and orange seltzer -- makes for a nice table set-up for a fire escape, roof, or even a front stoop.

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+ What's your favorite way to start your weekend off right? Any suggestions?