June Favorites

Hi beauties,

I am on a long flight to start my first trip of the summer as you are reading this. However, I wrote this post a few days ago since I knew I wouldn't be able to complete it on an airplane. I will be away for two weeks, and am not sure whether I will have a good enough internet connection to post live while I am on vacation. But being the smart, resourceful young lady that I am (go ahead and laugh), I have written scheduled posts to go up every few days in the event that I cannot post myself. I will be working on my travel series while I am gone, and will hopefully be able to upload new posts. But unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that you will have to wait until I get back home to see my trip (and outfits, of course!). I apologize for this, but do still check back here every few days for a new post either way. I appreciate your patience, and in my next post I will announce where I am going!

So with that rather confusing introduction, here are my June Favorites:

Nail Polish

Essie 'Mint Candy Apple' and 'Bikini So Teeny'

I love Essie polishes and these two pastels are simply stunning. I painted all my nails except my ring fingers with 'Bikini So Teeny' and used 'Mint Candy Apple' as an accent color for the other two nails. I didn't even have to reapply top coat or fix the edges, and this manicure lasted me almost three weeks with very minimal chipping.

Essie 'Tart Deco'

I borrowed this polish from my friend so I don't have the bottle to show you. I will definitely be purchasing it soon, though. It's a gorgeous salmon color that applies beautifully.

I also really love Sephora by OPI 'Ocean Love Potion', which I have on my toes right now.


Accessories

Speckled infinity scarf shown above is from Nordstrom.

I've been loving scarves with prints and patterns this month.

Tribal pendant necklace is from BP.

I love long gold chain necklaces with pendants hanging from the bottom. 

Clothes

Picture is from my day dress post.

I have been living in sundresses since school got out earlier this month. They are so simple, comfortable, and you can really accessorize with them. 

I have also been having a coral craze lately. My nails are coral and I've been wearing coral scarves, shirts, shorts, and skirts. I've always adored this color, but it has recently become an obsession.


New Purchase

Oversized geometric sunglasses are from American Eagle.

I absolutely love sunglasses. Oversized, Jackie O inspired sunnies have been grabbing my attention lately. I especially love the dramatic frame shapes, such as pentagons and hexagons. 

Book

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

The amazing sequel to last month's favorite, Grave Mercy!

Music
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation
When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down
Done. by The Band Perry
Made In America by Toby Keith
Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) by Gary Allan

These are the best songs that I've listened to and loved this month.


Movie

Saving Private Ryan

This movie had me bawling. And trust me, I am not a crier. It is so sad and moving, and really opened my eyes to the consequences of war. I have to say, Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite movies now.

TV Show

ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars, Season 4. 

Season 4 of Pretty Little Liars premiered earlier this month and I can already tell that it is the best season yet! I love this show so much and have watched it since the beginning. I think it's better than the books.

Other shows I've been enjoying this month are Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives of Orange County, and Pretty Wicked Moms. You can probably tell that I enjoy reality TV.

Quote

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

This quote has really helped me with blogging this month. I'm an amateur photographer at best, my little sister takes my OOTD pictures, and there are so many more "professional" seeming bloggers out there. But I have to remind myself that starting this blog was a huge step forward for me and that it's okay not to be perfect, especially when I've been blogging for less than a year. This quote is a great reminder and pushes me forward when I start to feel like my blog isn't good enough yet.


Event

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

School finally ended the first week of June. I'm so relieved that all my exams are over. So far, my summer has consisted of swimming, dinner with friends, shopping, blogging, and volunteering. 

This month I seemed to have a ton of favorites! Summer has been great so far and I'm so excited for the trips I have coming up. Traveling is so much fun, and I'm really looking forward to leaving my city behind for awhile. I'll be announcing the surprise you've all been waiting for, my first destination, in my next post. And posts will be going up either live or scheduled, so you'll still have something to read while I'm gone. Thank you for your understanding!

Sunny Sunnies

Hi lovelies,

Today I'm here to announce the new Warby Parker sunglasses collection! Named after the geographical line that pilots use to determine their longitudinal degree (the Prime Meridian, if you're wondering), the Meridian Collection consists of three different sizes of aviator sunglasses. Each style is available in gold or silver.

I've always had a really hard time finding a pair of aviator sunnies that fit well and are flattering on my face shape. So I think it's great that there are three sizes to choose from in this collection. This increases the possibility of finding a pair of aviators that are right for your 'one of a kind' face. Each style is available with prescription lenses ($195), or as a regular, non-prescription pair of sunglasses ($145).

Meet Exley:

Shown above in 'Jet Silver' and 'Polished Gold'. 

"Exley’s charm lies in its shape: a flattering take on the teardrop, rimmed with a just-right metallic shade that offsets both the fairest and most sunburned of tones." 

Meet Raskin:

Shown above in 'Jet Silver' and 'Polished Gold'. 

"With its larger lens and wider frame, the Raskin is a sharp companion for on-the-road affairs." 

Meet Flannery:

Shown above in 'Jet Silver' and 'Polished Gold'. 

"Both mavericks and traditionalists will appreciate the classic, polished Flannery—a medium-fit pair perfect for playing hooky or completing more stately activities."

I think the Meridian Collection is great for the wanderer, the traveler, and the day-tripper. Each of the three styles has unique personality while retaining a similar teardrop shape. The frames are fashioned from sturdy Japanese ion-plated titanium. I love the different metallic mirroring of the lenses in each style. I also love how the sides (or 'arms') of the glasses vary by style. These sunglasses are stylish, durable, and affordable, making them great for road trips, weekend getaways, or longer summer adventures. For every pair purchased, Warby Parker will donate a pair to someone in need. The limited edition Meridian Collection launches today and will be available on Warby Parker's website and at Warby Parker retail stores. I just might have to snatch up a pair of these aviators for myself, and online shoppers can relax with free shipping, home try-ons, and returns.

What do you think of the new Meridian Collection? Let me know by commenting below!

*Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post, nor was I sent a free pair of sunglasses from the collection. Warby Parker asked if I would be willing to feature the launch of the Meridian Collection in a post, and as a self-proclaimed sunglasses addict, I was more than happy to. All opinions are my own.

not all those who wander are lost

Hi lovelies,

I am going to be starting a new post series relating to travel and fashion that will continue through early August. I have yet to come up with a creative name for it, so I decided to call this first post introducing the series, "not all those who wander are lost". This famous line comes from the poem "All That is Gold Does Not Glitter" by J. R. R. Tolkien in his novel, The Lord of the Rings. Also, Jessica Stein from Tuula Vintage (whom I adore) seems to live by this quote, and she includes it in the bio section of her blog and Instagram. I felt it was a fitting title for this post since I will be taking several long trips this summer to very different places. If you have any suggestions for the name of my new travel series, please leave me a comment!

I will be going on several trips within the next month or so, and I want to share as much of my travels as I can with my readers. I can't tell you the places I'm going yet (it's a surprise!), but I have some ideas of what I want to include in this series that I can tell you about now. I am planning on including OOTDs, packing tips, beauty essentials for trips, travel diaries, and posts showing you what I packed. It is very possible that I may add to this list as I go. And not necessarily every post I write until August will be part of this series. I will be sure to indicate whether a post is part of the travel series in the title or by creating a post label for the series. Labels for my blog posts can be found at the bottom of the right sidebar. Some of the posts in the series, such as my personal style posts, will be pretty normal other than the backgrounds and locations being more extravagant since I will be on trips.

I am looking forward to traveling this summer and being able to share parts of my trips with my wonderful readers! I am so excited to start this post series, so be on the lookout for a new travel related post in a few days. I already have another great post planned for Tuesday, so my first travel post will probably be this Wednesday or Thursday. All of these "travel" posts will still be related to or include fashion. If you have an idea for a name for this travel series, I'd love to hear it. Please leave me a comment under this post and I might use your suggestion.

Thank you for your amazing support. I hope you enjoy my new series and your own travels!

If you'd like to keep up with me on Instagram, where I will share even more from my trips, please click here (my username is @marthafab).

summer solstice

Today is the summer solstice, and I spent the long daylight hours poolside with friends. Before I left, I snapped pictures of my essentials for the day. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get any shots while lounging around on the deck. 

So you can stare at the sun without hurting your eyes.

China Glaze 'Rich & Famous' nail polish, Maybelline 'Mega Plush' mascara (my absolute favorite), No.7 shine free primer (I wear this without makeup to keep my face from getting oily), Estée Lauder self-tanner, Revlon Lip Butter in 'Strawberry Shortcake', Nivea 'A Kiss Of Shimmer' lip balm, DKNY Be Delicious 'Heart Rio' travel size perfume (full size here).

BP. hat (similar here) and A.J. Morgan sunglasses.

Beach bag was a freebie last year from Sally Beauty, flip flops from Old Navy.

Great beach (or poolside) read: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols.

It's officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere! Happy summer, beauties. 

What I Want Wednesday

Ted Baker London dog cosmetics case

Michael Kors Tortoise Jet Set Watch

Coach Willis Bag

Frends 'Taylor' Headphones

Kate Spade iPad mini folio

MAC 'Ruby Woo' lipstick

Chanel nail polish in 'Azure'

Rag & Bone Classic Newbury Booties

Parisian Chic style guide

Marie Claire magazine, July 2013

I created this collage myself. Thanks for reading!

To follow my blog with bloglovin', please click here.

Style Spotlight: Olivia Palermo

Hi lovelies,

I want to share with you some of my favorite style moments from one of my biggest fashion icons, Olivia Palermo. Olivia's style is sophisticated, feminine, and very chic. She is known for her high-low mixing (for example, wearing Topshop with Hermès) and superb layering skills. Her looks always seem so effortless and flattering, and I really look up to her as a role model in the fashion world. Here are some of my favorite Olivia Palermo looks:

Rainy Day Style {photo from here}

NYC Street Style {I die for that vintage crocodile Hermès Jige clutch}

Pretty Pooch

A Great Color Scheme

Black, White, & Birkin Bag

Mixing Edgy {the killer jacket} with Dainty {those pointed pumps}

Furlicious {I love this look from head to toe}

Unless you look closely, you don't even realize she's wearing denim shorts!

These are some of my favorite looks by Olivia Palermo, but there are honestly too many great ones to put in one blog post. I will probably have to feature her in a Style Spotlight post again soon! I adore her and her style so much that I even have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to her. You can view it by clicking here. 

What do you think of Olivia Palermo's style? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Thanks for reading,

Martha

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the photos used in this post. If I gave a link for a photo, it was from Olivia Palermo's blog/website. If I did not give a link, the photo was found on Google Images. 

If you'd like to follow my blog with bloglovin', please click here.

a play on prints

  

Shirt: BP. (old but similar here and here). Dress: BP. (old). Shoes: Payless (old; last seen here). Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: American Eagle (also in this color). Watch: Betsey Johnson. Jewelry: BP. and vintage. Nails: Essie 'Bikini So Teeny' and 'Mint Candy Apple'. Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 050 'Berry Smoothie'.

Happy Father's Day!
xoxo, Martha

work it

 

Shirt: J.Crew (similar here). Denim: Vigoss (similar here). Bag: Nila Anthony. Shoes: Easy Spirit. Belt: Ralph Lauren. Sunglasses: local boutique. Watch: Betsey Johnson. Jewelry: Dillard's, vintage, and local boutique. Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 045 'Cotton Candy'. Nails: Essie 'Bikini So Teeny' and 'Mint Candy Apple'. 

 To follow my blog with bloglovin', click here.

What I Want Wednesday

Hi lovelies,

This is a post series that I discovered on Jacey Duprie's blog, Damsel in Dior. It looked fun and I will try to continue with this post series as often as I can. I used Polyvore to make my collage, and you can view it here.

Dolce Vita 'Piazza Tour Sandal' in Black (I also love the watermelon version) $40

Free People 'Abbey Road' Sunglasses $18

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick - 13  $34

Essie 2013 Resort Collection (4 colors available; 'In The Cab-Ana' is shown above) $8 each

Stella & Dot stackable flower rings $39

Stella & Dot snake ring $69
Stella & Dot beaded bracelet $34

Stella & Dot spiked gold bracelet $59

GiGi New York mint 'All in One' pouch (personalization available) $105

Kate Spade polka dot laptop sleeve $60

To follow my blog with bloglovin', click here. 

summer stripes

Skirt: J.Crew (similar here). Top: Abercrombie Kids (old, but I love this one). Jacket: Macy's (currently sold out online, but the brand is Alfani). Shoes: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: A.J. Morgan. Watch: Betsey Johnson. Jewelry: Dillard's, vintage, and local boutiques. Clutch: Kate Spade (literally an 'envelope' clutch). Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 050 'Berry Smoothie'. Nails: Essie 'Bikini So Teeny' and 'Mint Candy Apple'. 

To follow my blog with bloglovin', click here.

day dress

Dress: Old Navy (old but similar here). Sandals: Miss Trish for Target (old). Sunglasses: Forever 21. Watch: Betsey Johnson. Necklace: local boutique. Rings: BP. and vintage. Earrings: local boutique. Nails: Essie 'Bikini So Teeny' and 'Mint Candy Apple'. Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 080 'Strawberry Shortcake'.

To follow my blog with bloglovin', click here.