The Proper Way To Ice Champagne

It has been ages since my last post. The main reason I haven't posted is because I have been feeling uninspired. Rather than write some bullsh*t post about nothing (remember Carrie and the perfect french fry?), I thought it was better just to take a short sabbatical. I would love to be one of those bloggers that can post five times a week. But that just isn't realistic for me. So I am going to take the pressure off myself and post when I have inspiration. No schedule. No agenda. Just when I want to. Sounds lovely, right? 

Anyway, speaking of inspiration, an ice, cold glass of bubbly usually helps my creative juices start flowing. During the summer, sparkling rosé was my go-to cocktail. But, nothing ruins your bubbly experience faster than when your fizzy beverage is warm. I like it ICE COLD. Too many times you will see champs getting iced down in just a bucket with some cubes. Wrong. All wrong! Never fear my loyal readers, I am here to save you from lukewarm champs and ensure that your bubbles are always cold and happy.

First, grab a bottle of your favorite bubbly and an ice bucket. 

Next, place your bottle in the bucket and fill it to the brim with ice. 

Now here comes the most important part: fill the bucket with water. When you only ice the champs with ice the bottle does not get chilled evenly. But once you add water, every part of the bottle will get cold. 

Wrap the neck in a "sweater". It's cold in there!

After about 20 minutes your bottle should be properly chilled. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

On a side note, lately I have preferred drinking all of my bubbles from large wine glasses rather than traditional flutes. How do you drink your champs?

Happy Chilling!

Hot Charleston Days

Like the evenings in Charleston, the days are pretty warm. Short sleeves, shorts, skirts and cool dresses are a must. On our last day in the Palmetto City, I donned this off the shoulder number for some sightseeing and more eating. These spaghetti-strap/off-shoulder mashups have been all the rage this summer and to be honest, I wasn't that crazy about them. But when I spotted this one on sale at Neiman's, I loved the romantic lace and soft color and decided to yet again step out of my clothing comfort zone. 

Probably not the safest way to cross the street...oopsie

Let me tell y'all something about Charleston...they have AMAZING iced coffee there. Normally I prefer my morning Joe scalding, but in the humid city icing was a must...and it was DELICIOUS. I wish I had some right now. 

Some other musts when it is hot, hot, hot and you are out sightseeing with your best friends: putting your hair up, lots of rosé breaks, and comfy shoes. After two late nights of dancing in high heels, my feet were ready for something comfy and flat to the ground. Havaianas make the best flip flops in my opinion, and while they didn't add anything special to my outfit, my feet were thanking me. 

Melanie, Me, Beth and Jennabeth

TOP: Love Sam (similar here) || SHORTS: last seen here (similar here) || WATCH: Michael Kors

PURSE: Louis Vuitton || SHOES: Havaianas || NAIL POLISH: OPI || SUNGLASSES: A'Gaci

What do you think of off-shoulder/spaghetti-strap combo tops?

*photo credits go to the talented Beth*

Hot Charleston Nights

Last weekend my DC friends and I flew down to Charleston, South Carolina for Melanie's Bachelorette party.  I knew I needed to take advantage of the city's charm for some outfit posts and spare you another glimpse at my not-too-special backyard. Luckily for me, I had a talented photographer in my midst: my dear friend (and fellow bridesmaid) Beth. 

My sweet (and oh-so stylish) Mommasita sent me this skirt (I love receiving surprises in the mail) and I had been saving it for the Charleston weekend. While it looks exactly like a Clover Canyon piece, it was a fraction of the cost. Mommasita is a savvy bargain shopper and got this skirt for just $13.00! Clover Canyon pieces can run upwards to $300.

I paired my skirt with a tight fitting top to make it feel dressier, but Mommasita has paired her's (yes, we have mother/daughter skirts) with tees and tanks to give it a more casual look. I love pieces that can be dressed up and down. 

While I do like to invest my money in timeless pieces, I do not like to spend a lot on trendy items. I love the what I have termed "scuba look": bodycon skirts in stretch material. Uber cute but, I don't want to spend $300 dollars on something that will likely be out of style next season. Recently I found Zaful, an online website with thousands of trendy items that are almost all under $20 bucks. Perfect for being trendy without breaking the bank. I have been eyeing this Wildfox sweater forever but didn't want to spend the money. Luckily, Zaful has an identical one for a third of the price. Holla!

SKIRT: Boutique, Similar Here & Here || TOP: BCBG || SHOES: Joie

CLUTCH: Louis Vuitton || EARRINGS: Sheila Fajl || BRACELET: J.Crew

What do you think of the "scuba" trend?

I had so much fun with my amazing friends. Stay tuned for more details on our Charleston shenanigans! 

Beth, Jennabeth and the Gorgeous Bride-to-Be