I went to NYC!

Okay so this trip was a little while ago but its been a while since I have made an actual written blog post and this one was top priority! I planned on writing this post ever since I found out I was going on this trip and have just been busy with school. Getting ready for finals- you know how it is.

The trip began at the Tampa International Airport with four of us- my boyfriend, his brother, and my long time friend. It was three boys and me so we called ourselves Three Men and a Baby. So we had a lovely flight and arrived at Laguardia where my friend Sigourney met us. She lives in Brooklyn so we got to hang out with her every day. We stayed at The Manhattan and Times Square Hotel. It was right in Times Square so I believe it was the perfect place to stay. It was nice and we got a groupon and I mean we were in Midtown so we could do anything and it wasn't super far or a long trip to get into the actual action of the city. WE WERE RIGHT THERE. Broadway was about a 10 second walk and we saw Chicago the first night. 10/10 would recommend.

Times Square was overwhelmingly huge and the shops! The shops were enormous and gorgeous and I wish I had a million dollars for shopping when I went there because I could've dropped a few hundred in the H&M alone.

I personally wanted to see just about every single museum but for time reasons, I picked 2. We went to the wonderful Museum of Natural History and the really cool Museum of Modern Art because those two seemed like they captured 2 different areas very well. Tip: MOMA has free tickets on Friday nights but its first come first serve! To get to the Museum of Natural History we walked all the way through Central Park and that was my favorite part of New York because it was absolutely gorgeous just like every movies you've ever seen. We also went to the 9/11 Memorial which was lovely and we ended up going into the museum as well and they had awesome artifacts from the day and an interesting video with political leaders explaining their mentality throughout. They have student discounts all of these places so bring your ID.



The places we went to were very cool. We went to a tiny cupcakery called Baked by Melissa which Siggy used to work at. The shop is as tiny and adorable as the cupcakes cold there. The mint one A+! Also, Ralph Lauren's daughter has a candy shop which has every type of candy you would want. We also did karaoke because you know, you just have to do that! The highline is also a very cool spot and its FREE. I got lots of neat pictures there and it was a great day.


The best food I had was at the Dallas BBQ in Brooklyn. Amazing prices (especially for New York City) and the food was delicious. This is definitely where the locals go to get the best BBQ. Seriously, eat there.

And that was my trip super condensed and all over the place because if it wasn't this post would be way too long. Apologies!

L

Coffee House Kids

Felicitous

We are crazy for coffee! There are so many places to get this little cup of wonder, but what if we tire of the same old same old? Good news! Even though I love me some home brew (we gon' save that money!) I have explored some cute, down-to-earth hangs for sipping alone or with friends. These coffee houses are a great place to cozy up and hang with people and are a neat alternative to the bar scene. Sometimes I go places and well, here they are!

Felicitous: If you live anywhere near USF you may have heard of this charming little hole in the wall. Its a coffee and tea house that looks like a little cottage and has a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. With art on the walls and a guestbook full of college-age musings, it is a hub to creativity and a productive place to study. Their standard cup of coffee isn't a super high price point in comparison to Starbucks at about 3-ish dollars. Most nights there aren't too many people, but occasionally there will be a large rush of hipsters.

Boba House

Boba House: If you like coffee and tea and possibly boba this place is my favorite. Boba seems to be a hot little trend but this place isn't too pricey and like Felicitous has some lovely artwork. They also have a book exchange where you can give a book and grab a new book for free. They have video games and an open mic night (once a week). In relation to the other boba places around, this one and Green Island in Brandon are the best in my opinion. The other places are a bit too expensive and this place also has promotions certain days of the week like buy a medium blended drink get a small for free. My favorite drink is the me gusta which is a honeydew and taro blended drink with boba on the bottom. Delicious and very refreshing!

Oxford Exchange: This is the most on trend of all Tampa hangs right now. At this point if you haven't been, it may seem over-rated to you but it is a must see. I did some exploring on the day of one of my photo shoots and it was such a beautiful place. It has some cool authentic wood furniture, a cute little book shop and a lovely patio great for brunching. Overall its a great atmosphere filled with light and dreamy aromas.

Concord Coffee

Concord Coffee: This one is in the heart of Lakeland and is the workplace of one of my best friends. Its kind of far and hard to find but OH MY. It is a beautiful place and they take the craft of their coffee with such care and that you will taste it with each sip. The atmosphere is cool, simple, and clean with white and black accents and comfy places to sit. They also have bagels there and the blueberry one is to die for. I had a latte with caramel and it came out beautiful and delightfully flavorful. The cold brew is a must try and is the most refreshing coffee for the mornings with the perfect bite of bitterness to get you focused. At this place they really care about their coffee and tea - its a wonderful place to go if you're ever in that area.

Concord Coffee

Let me know what coffee/tea spots you love to go to!

L


What I'm Wearing:
1st Picture: Scarf: Forever 21
2nd Picture: Turtleneck: Aerie
Hat: Windsor
Skirt: Forever 21
Boots: Charlotte Russe
3rd Picture: Knit Cardigan & Denim: American Eagle Outfitters
Shirt: Forever 21
Boots: Steve Madden
4th Picture: Boots (right): Target

Gasparilla

Some of you may be familiar with the Gasparilla parade on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa and some of you may know it all too well. Personally, I have only been one other time and all I can say is that it is an experience. If you live in South Tampa, you're probably sick of it by now. If you're in college, you probably love it. It's fun to hang out with your friends and get free things thrown at you, and the people watching is the best.

We started our day at about 8 am and headed to Bijan's house in South Tampa close to the parade action. Growing up here has given him a lot of experience with Gasparilla and it was great to have a home base! Our friends had never been to the parade before so they were determined to see what it was all about. Other friends brought a cooler with refreshments and it was still early by the time everyone met up, so we headed to Sally O'Neil's for some good quality pizza. Bijan and I had been there before for lunch but today was a different kind of business day for them with all the festivities going on. They had three types of pizza - cheese, pepperoni, and supreme. Most was already prepared and ready to order. The sauce was on point but they might have rushed it on the dough that day. However, if you're in South Tampa and you get a chance to go, they have great pizzas!

The parade itself was fun, but unless you're in front, you don't get a ton of beads. There were a lot of people getting wild and my friend got punched in the arm by a drunk and unruly porta potty girl. After the parade we sat on the lawn and watched people go by. Eventually people start making their way to Howard to go to the bars and such. That's basically Gasparilla.

We went home to get some Moe's and grabbed coffee at Felicitous. Deciding to keep with the pirate theme, we decided to finish the day by watching Pirates of the Caribbean.

So as far as the clothes for Gasparilla, I wanted to look cute but not reveal everything, (also, it's chilly there in the morning and evening). So I picked one area to show (midriff ) and wore a comfy sweater over it. It worked for me and it was cute and not too cold and I didn't feel too exposed. The sweater was an open knit so it had a pirate net vibe and was cool enough in the sun and warm enough in the shade. Boots are a must. I wouldn't recommend sandals just cause it gets a bit gross along the route. Plus, boots are piratey! Hope you like the look!

L

What I'm wearing:
Sweater: Don't Ask Why (I'm showing lots of love to this brand lately)
Crop Top and Leggings: American Eagle Outfitters
Boots: Charlotte Russe

First post is something kind of important - the acceptance of a proposal. Today my friend since fifth grade asked me to be her bridesmaid and I accepted! I have known this girl through every stage of our lives and I cannot say enough for how important it is to invest in friendships. Life may lead you down different paths, but if you happen to find someone who you have the utmost respect for and have unconditional love for - you keep them. It is so hard to find quality friendships in the college age bracket. We youths are so self-absorbed. We love instant gratification and we can be too lazy to go out and invest time and energy into other people. Stepping outside our bubbles is hard sometimes, and its difficult to find someone who shares the same beliefs you do (even though your beliefs may be constantly evolving). But life is nothing without people who make you feel like living it. Its important to be with those who make you feel like... you.

So yes, this is a fashion and lifestyle blog, but it will be wrapped in love and infused with heart. Without pretension. Without judgement.

Sometimes what you need is to put on some cute boots and a big hat, and go meet your friend for a long talk and some good coffee.

L



What I'm wearing:
Hat: Windsor
Top: Cotton On
Necklace & Denim: American Eagle Outfitters

I don't know what she's wearing but she's adorable.