Women Supporting Women

One of the first fashion bloggers I started following way back in 2010 or '11, Arielle Charnas of Something Navy, is still going strong.  I've watched her go from single girl in the city with a trendy, girly style, to married with two kids and a more luxe, but still girly designer look.  She has over a million followers on Instagram, has a group of fun and interesting women working for her, and just released her first clothing line at Nordstrom this last Monday.

It's been really neat to see her evolution over the years.  She often mentions how grateful she is that what was once a fun hobby of hers (the blog), became a career and allowed her to fulfill her original dream of designing her own line.  I don't particularly like all of her style picks anymore, and her maintenance of the original blog platform has kindof gone to the wayside, but I still enjoy following her success and her family (especially two-year-old Ruby Lou) on Instagram and Instagram Stories.

As previously mentioned, the fifty piece Something Navy line came out at Nordstrom on Monday, with several of the items selling out within hours.  I wasn't a huge fan of any of the pieces they had shown on Instagram before the launch, but I thought it would be fun to go try some of them on in store.  

The line consisted of an accessory table and just two racks of clothing, so I picked out a variety of pieces and headed to the dressing rooms.  There weren't a lot of sizes left so I had to squeeze into a one-size-too-small pair of jeans, and tuck in the one-size-too-big shirt and sweater.  All in all though, I was very impressed with the quality and fit of everything.

The blush pink blazer jacket won this round, in my opinion, but was too expensive to justify a purchase, especially because light pink doesn't really go with my mainly dark and jewel-tone, deeper color wardrobe.  And even though they were a bit tight, I liked the fit and cut of the jeans.  I may have to order a pair online when her November or December lines launch.  Hopefully they'll come in black!

Something Navy was one of the blogs that inspired me to start writing my own blog, and it's been so neat to see Arielle turn into a high profile influencer.  I think one of the coolest parts is that she really was a trailblazer when it came to using Instagram as a blog platform, and she is still using it in new and different ways to define what an 'influencer' actually is.  She is definitely someone I look up to as inspiration, and it was fun to see her hard work and dedication come together into a line of her own.

(photos by e.hunt)

The Weekend Awaits

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today is the start of a little four day vacation I took from work.  Sometimes you just need a break, ya know?  Especially as I never have two days off in a row, and on a weekend to boot.

I don't have much planned, but I'm relishing the opportunity to sleep in, finish up my apartment reorganization plan, read on the balcony in the cooler temps the weather app has promised (finally!), meet up with friends for drinks, and perhaps go on a thrift shop/antique mall excursion.  Productively low-key, if you will.

Also, while sitting here looking out the window I just realized that the pumpkin patch at the church next door will be up and running soon!

(photo by e.hunt)

Pre-Fall

It is now mid September, meaning we're having those last few weeks of ninety degree hotness intermixed with rainy outbursts and the couple of cooler days that follow.  I'm ready to break out my collection of light jackets and ankle boots, but still trying to savor that end-of-summer feeling of lightness and opportunity.

Over at the old homestead, the bunnies have returned!  I've been going over for dinner my usual two or three times a week and most of the time, a bunny or two will hop out to graze under the bird feeder.

One night I documented the making of our favorite summertime cocktail, Vodka Pellegrino and Lime.  The glasses look exquisite with the evening light coming through the lace kitchen curtains.  Oh, those shadows!

I was off work on Labor Day and took advantage by meeting up with the fam at Kaldi's where we sat outside and I enjoyed a mocha (with an extra shot of espresso, of course) and my first slice of pumpkin bread of the season.

Later that week, Taylor, his old friend Elise, and I went to old Webster to check out this place called the Frisco Barroom.

It was huge, with a nice, old time-y quality, and because it was a Wednesday it wasn't crowded at all.  We had our pick of the spots: inside room with the bar, inside dining room area, downstairs outside courtyard, upstairs living room-like area, and upstairs outdoor patio.  We chose the last option and had a lovely evening sitting under the light strands and watching the quiet street happenings below.  It would be fun to go back on a weekend when it's a little more hoppin', and when it's at those cooler Fall temperatures I mentioned earlier.

(photos by e.hunt)

That Point Where the Sea and Sky Run Together

And on the last day, we woke up to sunny skies and crashing waves.  I went down at 7am to claim our umbrella but the people we had been sitting by all week must have gotten there at six because they were already seated and settled and ready to talk.  I don't really speak in the first hour or so after waking up so I think my clipped, tired answers offended their Southern dispositions.  Oh well.  I left a towel and spread out a few things in front of the second umbrella from the end before heading back up to the room for a couple more hours of sleep.

After a slow hour of coffee and appreciating our fifth floor view, we headed down for a relaxing last day on the beach.  We didn't get to relax very long, however, due to a pack of middle-aged men carting all manner of chairs and coolers that decided to stop right in front of us.  I had run out to stand in the spot they were heading but didn't make it in time.  Mom saved the day though by yelling out to ask them to move over by about four feet.  Our view of the water was saved!

We started working on a sandcastle right away, keeping it fairly small though because it was just the two of us.  The water was pretty choppy and had a strong undertow to the left, so when not working on the castle, we were enjoying beach beverages under the umbrella.

A few hours later some pretty formidable dark clouds rolled in, and with it came a short rain shower.  People fled the beach fairly quickly, including our frat boy reunion poachers, but the rain ended shortly after.  It stayed cloudy, but I stayed down for a while longer to finish up the castle.

What a lovely last day.  We were lucky the two rain days were in the middle of the week, which gave us a break from the sun, but then we got to enjoy the beach once again before leaving.  I had a lot of fun hanging out with Mom and Dad.  It was a different kind of vacation without the rest of the family, but we had a great time making the 12-hour drive down, eating lots of seafood, constructing sandcastles, watching movies, and enjoying cocktails on the beach.

And later that night, Mom and I were treated to one last sunset for the ages.

The next morning we woke up early and headed home towards Nashville.  We stopped there overnight to see the newlyweds.  For some reason the drive took forever so we were pretty exhausted upon arriving, but we went to a cool burger place for dinner and then saw Andrew play music at this little place under a billboard.  Doesn't it look like a movie set?!

The following morning we had brunch at a delightful little coffee and brunch place where I had a delicious plate of peach waffles and good, smooth coffee.  The black, white, and pale pink theme looked extra good in picture format.  It was nice to see Andrew and Juliana, and was the perfect way to wrap up our last minute Florida getaway.  Until next summer!

(photos by e.hunt)

A Vacation of Skyscapes

That night we returned to the condo just in time for the sun to come out and give us a wonder of a sunset.  The beach was crowded with people venturing out since the rain had stopped.  Look how horizontal their shadows are!

We ate in the room that night, allowing me to document this incredible sunset through its entirety.

The colors were so vivid, set off by the contrasting dark clouds and skyline of buildings.  And the most amazing thing was that this was just one night, one sunset in a whole week of stunning sunsets.

(photos by e.hunt)

Rosemary: Streetside

After stopping for an afternoon frozen coffee, I started exploring the other side of town.  I had pretty much seen all the houses on the beach side on previous trips, so everything I saw from here on out was brand new.

There seemed to be more of the mission style design elements on this side, and it definitely had a more ethereal, marshland quality than the brighter, more open beach side.

After dodging through several side streets and alleys, I came upon this building that looked like it came straight out of the sixties!  It was the town stage, complete with a large, flat, field space spanning outwards.

And a Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, "No blades, no bows, leave your weapons here," sign.

Again, the properly kept but still wild-looking trees and flowers caught my eye.  These little stalks with their elvish curling leaves were quite lovely.

Sprinkled in among the neighborhoods were these little nature alcoves, providing a place to sit and just experience the surroundings.  Perhaps you've been walking for a while in the hot Florida humidity, or maybe you just want to stop and admire the vines crawling up the trellis'.  

I only got through about half of the street side.  The other half will just have to wait until next summer!

(photos by e.hunt)