rainbow brights.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 }

Brights seem to be everywhere these days...and with the cold months {hopefully} behind us, I'm excited to find a few of these rainbow brights to wear this year. I have a feeling you'll be seeing some of these bursts of color in future Friday's Fancies ;)

How are you putting a pop of color in your outfits this spring?
Do you think brights are worth the splurge?

Make sure to check out my guest post on the fun and colorful blog, Daily Crush!
Have a fantastic Wednesday! xoxo {av}

blossoms aplenty.

I lived in DC for six glorious years. When {cv} and I finally landed jobs in the same state, it meant I had to say goodbye to the city I knew so well. This is the first year since 2004 that I haven't seen the cherry blossoms in their full glory. I'm aching to see those gorgeous blooms--especially on a bright sunny morning when they reflect on the Tidal Basin. sigh.

Last year, we got married during the last weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Though the blooms were a bit past their prime by April 10th, I blame it on the ridiculously hot weather the weekend before our wedding. No complaints from this bride though: I was happy to have a sunny day in the mid-60s rather than a sweaty day in the 90s!


With the disaster in Japan, the cherry blossoms are a fabulous reminder of what beautiful things their country has to share to share with the world. In keeping with that idea, I remembered the beautiful paper I always enjoyed seeing in the windows at Paper Source in Georgetown. When I hopped on their website, I was happy to see they were holding a fabulous promotion for the relief efforts in Japan:
{image sources: top row: left - right ~ bottom row: left - right}
Aren't those papers gorgeous? If you purchased a few sheets, how would you use them?


If you've never had the chance to see DC in full bloom, try to make the visit at least once in your lifetime. It's worth the trip! I'll just keep dreaming of our next spring visit to Washington...and living vicariously through my DC friends and bloggers! Happy Tuesday! xoxo {av}

kate spade strikes again.

On Saturday, I got an email which basically changed the course of my afternoon. I literally spent an hour drooling over all the fun goodies in Kate Spade's new Wedding Belles collection. I'll admit, some of me thinks the geniuses at Kate Spade just know how to brand themselves and that the Wedding Belles line is really just bringing them into the wedding world. I've seen a few of these pieces previously on their website, but this time, they're in manageable sections for the bride, her bridesmaids,
and even the honeymoon.
{jeweled kati cardigan - jillian dresscharmer slingbacksay yes "mrs" necklace}
I'm always a sucker for a cardigan--and I love the classic lines of that Jillian Dress. I tried SO hard in 2009 and early 2010 to find blue wedding shoes--and finally found a pair I loved. The funny thing is that there are now so many options, these Charmers included. And seriously, I've been a Mrs. for a year now, but I still want this necklace. Wouldn't it make a great gift for a bride-to-be?!

{date night ringmaribeth slingbackheart of gold idiom bangle}
Speaking of creative branding, I love the choices the folks at Kate Spade included in the Bridesmaids section. A lot of their picks were beautiful little gifts, like the ring or bracelet above.
I also loved the versatility of those gold slingbacks, though {in my opinion} it's unkind to
ask a bridesmaid to buy $300 shoes!
{kissing pineapple belt - sea glass twisted statement necklace}
Limiting myself in the honeymoon section was next to impossible, but I chose these as a few of my favorites. I adore the color yellow and pineapples, so the belt was an absolute winner in my book. The tipping point for me with that gorgeous necklace was the adorable little turtle. Too. cute.

What's your take on Kate Spade's new wedding collection?

Even though I'm now {almost} a year removed from wedding planning, it doesn't mean I have to close my eyes to the whole process! Right?! I can just love all of these beautiful goodies from afar... ;)

By the way, I'm still reeling over the HUGE Friday's Fancies turnout!! Thank you all so much for taking the time to create the beautiful outfits you did :) I can't wait to see what you create this week...
Until tomorrow! xoxo {av}

P.S. Need some distraction this Monday morning? Check out two fun guest posts from yours truly which debuted over the weekend...one on A Home Away from Home and another on From New Jersey to Texas!

friday's fancies #18.

Welcome to this week's round of Friday's Fancies! I'm so happy you're here :) 

I created my look this week around my desired post-work happy hour attire. It has a 
dash of cheery yellow to help me forget about the awful weather in New England 
and a splash of the professional preppy look too! 

{all images are screenshots from the corresponding links below}
1) I fell in love with this top a few weeks ago--and had been saving it for a future edition of Friday's Fancies! I adore this Marc by Marc Jacobs Edith Eyelet Top because of the beautiful lace work and soft lines. It just exudes femininity in my book.
2) There's just something about a BIG bag which makes my heart happy. This Yves Saint Laurent Crinkled Patent Muse Bag has all the right details for a work+play bag!
3) When I'm allowed to wear jeans at work, I always try to wear a pair much like these James Jeans Reboot Skinny Trousers. They're jeans, but they're also pants--a win-win for the professional world ;)
4) I love the color yellow with every ounce of my soul. When I spotted this Crumpet Fine-knit Cashmere Cardigan, I immediately gravitated toward that vibrant and cheery yellow.
5) These Brian Atwood Maya Patent Leather Open-Toe Pumps are so much more than peep-toes. The extra flair on the top of the foot puts them in a league of their own...
6) Though we're now into March, I still am eyeing this Kate Spade Year of Color March Ring. I love that it would give me another splash of yellow in this outfit. {I just can't wait to see what color Kate Spade picks for May--my birthday month!}

Is there a color which always catches your eye?
How do you like to incorporate bright colors in your outfits?

Be sure to check out my guest appearances on two {extremely} fabulous blogs today:



For those of you new to Friday's Fancies, click here to get more information on how to create your own! 
I can't wait to see what you all pull together this week! I can never thank you enough for the energy and enthusiasm you put into these posts :) You make me one extremely happy blogger! 
All your love has definitely helped me get through this rough week! 

Have a great weekend--and happy dreaming! xoxo {av}

P.S. A *big* thank you to Carly and Ashley for having me this week :)