Update

Hey everyone!! There is a reason I haven't posted in a while and it's a good one...

I was gonna becoming a lifeguard!!! I am officially a guard at the Princeton pool and couldn't be happier with this summer job op. Two of my brothers are also lifeguards there and I'm so excited to continue the tradition :)

The training was actually much more fun than I expected! The only part i did NOT enjoy was "pretending to be the victim" and have to fake drown..six feet under water. Believe me when I say it was not fun sitting on the bottom of a pool and holding your breath.

Other than that though it was so much fun and I'm extremely happy that I now have the ultimate summer job. Tanning, hanging out in the guard room, meeting new people, making money. Nothing I'm complaining about.

I'll keep yall updated!

xo, Molly

Outfit Inspiration

I get OOTD inspo almost anywhere.. stores, online, movies, blogging, magazines, friends. If I see an outfit I like, I'll think of ways I can recreate it. here are some of my absolute fave outfit ideas and I hope they spark inspiration in you!

Virginia and Georgetown trip

Morning bloggers! So this past weekend was one of the most fun I've had all summer. My family and I headed down to Virginia for a UVA tour and to visit friends!

 UVA tour

 

Obviously UVA has a beautiful campus, but honestly the more I heard about UVA, the LESS I wanted to go there..

 Two thirds of the student population is from Virginia, which makes it that much harder for out -of -staters to get in.

Also, I had lunch in one of the dining halls and all the students seemed super homogenous. It just really didn't seem like that much diversity there and I don't want to a college where people are segregated and everyone groups off. That just struck me as a little bit too high school. 

The school definitely had some cool aspects, like a late night car service and free admission to all games (aswell as an on-campus Chipotle.. umm amazing).

But altogether, it was definitely not the school for me.

Georgetown

Living in one of the most widely known and adored towns in America, I've always thought, "Well, it can't get much better than this."

Georgetown has proved me wrong. 

I literally have not been able to stop thinking about Georgetown ever since I left. It honestly made me wanna go to Georgetown University so bad (if only I could get in). It's the most amazing town I've ever been in. Here were some of the highlights of my trip:

The J.crew in Georgetown

It's no secret I'm a J.crew addict. So if there's any stop I'm going to make in Georgetown, it's to J.crew. Sadly, I didn't get anything. BUT, just a couple days ago, I did happen to order this sweatshirt. So while shopping with my mom and our family friends, Abby and her mom Irene, we spotted this exact sweatshirt, the last one, and in Abby's size. Of course she had to try it on. She ended up needing a different size, but she loved it so much, they ended up ordering it to their house! 

Long story short, we will be #twinning in J.crew this winter!

Cute, right?

Sequoia

We went to a restaurant called Sequoia for dinner and it really was divine! We sat outside and the view of the river was so breathtaking. I had Charcuterie which was delish and it was such a great time!

We were gonna go to D.C. cupcakes.. if the line wasn't half a mile long, we would have.

All together though, I have to say Georgetown was definitely the highlight of my summer so far! 

Have you ever been to Georgetown? Did you love it as much as I did?

xo, Molly

If you didn't know, I am a huge movie person. Specifically, romantic comedies. you name one, I've seen it. So here is my very-unofficial list of the top 10 romantic comedies of all time (in no particular order).

1. You've got mail



An absolute classic! With three very important main characters, Joe, Kathleen, and Manhattan 

2. 27 dresses

Saw this movie when I was 13 and definitely share the main character's obsession with weddings! Such a fun storyline and I'm a sucker for James Marsden (the romantic male lead).

3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past



This will not be the last time you see Jennifer garner on this list. Oh and the mansion that the whole movie takes place in? I'm definitely getting married there.

4. Sydney White



My obsession with being in a sorority started here,but it's also because of this movie that when i rush, I will be skeptical about Kappa

5. Bride Wars

I'm honestly shocked that this movie got such bad ratings because I think it's hilarious and perfect and I love Kate Hudson AND Anne Hathaway. What's not to love?

6. 17 again

I don't care what anybody says, THIS is the Zac Efron I know and love.

7. 13 going on 30


Here she is again and I like her even more in this one. It's such a sweet story, you'll be rooting for Jenna and Matt all the way through.

8. Something Borrowed


This movie makes me want Shake Shack. and a cute lawyer like Dex.

9. 16 Candles


I mean, even though her family forgot her birthday, she did get the attention of the hottest senior in her school. I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

10. When Harry Met Sally 



If you haven't seen this, I don't event think you can call yourself a true rom-com fan


Did I miss any of your faves? Let me know!

xo, Molly

FIT hits NYC

So on my summer list I had put, "Have dinner in NYC with my friends from FIT" and I can officially check that bad boy off my list :)

 

 We went to SUCH a cool restaurant called Elmo, between 19th and 20th on 7th ave. We split the truffle fries as an appetizer which I could have totally eaten all by myself they were so amazing. And the dessert? Salted caramel rice krispie treat with ice cream. I know, my mouth is watering. They even had a disco ball that turned on once is got later. My friends and I were by far the youngest people there but it was nice to feel like a hip-happening New Yorker, even for just one night.

All together it was such a great night, but not just because I love New York and great food. I met these girls at an FIT pre-college styling class. I expected to go into this course, make some acquaintances to help me get through the days, but mainly focus on the class and the things about the fashion industry I was learning. This really turned out not to be the case, as now I realize that the only real everlasting thing from the course were these friendships. (From left to right) Kaitlyn, Jessie, Nicole, me, and Cara. And we were actually missing one of our buds, Kayla, who couldn't make it that night. I got so lucky in meeting them and I am so surprised at how close we got during 5 short weeks. I feel closer to them than I do some of my own friends, probably because we met at a place where we all shared such a common interest and now, goals. Anyway, I love these girls and I know that we'll all bump into each other as we grow up and all get into the fashion industry.

It just goes to show that the best things in life are not planned

xo, Molly

New scarf + ootd ideas!

Hello all! Just this afternoon, i decided to take advantage of the J.crew 30% off sale and purchase the Sicilia scarf

This scarf is amazing because not only does it look great on but it's kind of interesting in that unfolded, it is actually a beautiful map of Sicily! So it's a a cute accessory and a conversation piece! Would you expect anything less from J.crew?

Here are some ootd ideas I thought of today:

I thought this would be a great fall outfit for school! I love the fall colors

Also a fall ensemble, love the navy skirt with the scarf so much!

aaaaand here is a summer one!

Which is your favorite?

xo, Molly

Summer to-do list

Ahhh... summer. The time where nothing is required and fun is encouraged. Summer is amazing but of course, there are always times during it when I feel aimless and that "I'm not doing anything and wasting this time!" mentality comes on. So to avoid that as best I can, I've made a summer bucket list of everything I wanna do! Here it is:

- Take a yoga class

-Buy new riding boots

- Try a new restaurant

-Go to the farmers market every Thursday in my local town

- Have dinner in NYC with my friends from FIT (update: did this last Saturday night, post to come about it soon!)

- Try sailing

- See "The Godfather." There has got to be a reason every guy on the planet cannot stop quoting this movie.

- Golf with my dad

- Watch documentaries on WW1 and WW2

- Go to the beach with friends

- Finish "I am Charlotte Simmons" by Tom Wolfe

- Volunteer

- Prepare for Biology honors

- Start SAT prep (not to excited for this one). 

- Tour UVA

- Tour Lehigh University

- Tour Villanova University

- Tour Marist

- Tour Fordham

- Tour American University. Clearly I have quite a few college tours ahead of me but I actually love them so it's all good.

- Read a new book

- Get tanner than I currently am

- Read Of Mice and Men

- Finish the series "Freaks and Geeks" For everyone out there looking for new netflix shows to binge watch, WATCH THIS ONE!

-  Whiten my teeth

- Get in shape for field hockey (hopefully I'm making the v-squad this year!)

-Keep blogging!

I'll keep yall updated on which ones I accomplish!

until then,

xo, Molly

Graduation

ALRIGHT it's been forever since I've posted and that is only because Finals have been insane! But I have studied and passed them all, so I can officially say the backpack is off and summer is on!! So take a look at my cute fam and my brother, Jake, who graduated high school yesterday and is headed to Franklin&Marshall in the fall

What makes this graduation even more upsetting (but meaningful) is that my best friend, Emily is graduating as well and headed to Northwestern this fall

 

These are without a doubt two of the best people in my life and I can honestly say I am so happy that both of them got into top colleges and are headed for excellence. They deserve the world and are just both so talented and brilliant and I can't say enough good things each of them. Jake and Em, congrats and I know both of you are going to be the stars of your colleges. I love you both. 

xo, Molly

 

Columbia University

Lately I have been OBSESSED with Columbia! The idea of an enclosed campus in the middle of Manhattan is so appealing. So on Friday, I went for a tour and info sesh and this was my take:

Campus:
Very stone-and-marble campus. It was a bit cold, but that's coming from me who's looking for warm lighting and lots of trees in a college campus. The low memorial library had a really nice, old money vibe with a very high ceiling. The cobblestone walkways were so cute and I could definitely understand loving it there! I personally just wouldn't feel at home at Columbia. My dad and I went to Joe's coffee shop after our tour and usually, one would expect dark lighting and wood, chalkboards and jazz music in a college coffee shop. This one was quite different. It had a lot of metal and white around, alternative music playing (The Shins, to be specific). it was very modern and cool but again, personally I would want to study in somewhere for warm and comforting. That being said, all the Columbia students studying there seemed to really enjoy it!

Info sesh:
It was very very interesting! I've been to quite a few info sessions (Muhlenburg, Lafayette, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, and Franklin&Marshall) and this was definitely up there with the most engaging. They stressed a few main things, One, the two things you absolutely need to attend and enjoy Columbia is 1) a love for reading and 2) a love of an urban environment. They talked about how much the core curriculum was valued and again, contained lots and lots of books!! They said you might end up reading more in your first year than other college students read in their full four years. They stressed how awesome it is to live in New York as a Columbia student because of all the opportunities made available to you. Tickets to museums and shows, hands on experiences for classes. It really is the cultural capital of the world, and they let Columbia students take advantage of that.

Tour:
My tour guide was so sweet. She was this tiny Asian girl with a huge, loud voice and a British accent. She was so awesome and of course she shared the fact that when Gossip Girl came to Columbia to film, the called it Yale and got kicked out. And when they went to Yale to film, they called it Columbia and also got kicked out. She showed us one of the libraries and the names of all these dead white men inscribed on the outside, and that years ago, a bunch of students climbed up there and put names of women, African Americans, Hispanics up there.Now there are screens covering them and whenever people ask if their for the birds, they have to say, no they are for the students.

Overall, I just realized Columbia was for a very specific person and that person is not me. A very academically oriented person would love it there, someone who is going to college for an education first and a social life second. I absolutely love to learn and read and have a huge intellectual curiosity, but not at the level Columbia is looking for. It was definitely a great experience though and i could totally see how people would love it there! I mean, a college campus in the middle of NYC is pretty dreamy.

Well, ta ta for now

-Molly

How to wear: white pants

Ahhh... white pants. The universal sign that summer has begun. Memorial day is infamous for being the start of white pants season. Barbeques, pool parties and beach days are now within our grasp. And now you'll know what to wear to every single event!

This would be the perfect outfit to wear to a summer dinner with friends or a party. The beautiful periwinkle tan will enhance even the lightest of tans (which gives you an excuse to hit the beach!) The bright coral necklace adds a dressy touch and compliments the light blue instead of taking it over. The sandals just add a bit of gold detailing to the bottom half of the ensemble. All together it makes the perfect classy yet comfy outfit!

Peasant Blouses are THE hottest summer top as of now. The flowy look on top with tight bottoms is flattering and chic. The top is so Boho, yet the white pants, dark leather sandals and gold clutch make it palm beach-esque. You could walk onto a yacht in this ensemble and be the most stylish one there. This Mediterranean inspired outfit will have all heads turning.

Who says lazy days have to contain sweatpants? The perk of white pants is that they are soft while still being stylish, so feel free to go comfy with the top! The styles of white pants and a Shep shirt really go together, as opposed to two things such as a sweatshirt and a skirt, which will NEVER go together.The light blue Shep shirt, white pants, and Sperrys make a nice and easy outfit. Throw on your pearls and Longchamp for a preppy comfy day look.

I love the look of a light summer sweater, pants and slip on espadrilles. It gives off a vaguely Mediterranean vibe to me. The white splits up the whale pattern of the sweater and the striped shoes so the outfit is not too busy. The nautical whales give permission to the anchor necklace and steering wheel earrings. It's a very cohesive style that I would love to wear all summer long. 

Which look is your favorite?
-Molly

Quote of the week

"Be as you wish to seem"
-Socrates

Be as you wish to seem. Such a simple thought yet to heavy and important. There is an art to coming off a certain way and some think of this as "being fake." There is nothing wrong about wanting to be something and becoming it. I've dealt with this issue a bit, People will see how I dress and think I'm trying too hard to be something. But honestly, if they think this, they don't know me. I appreciate fashion and clothing and the different impressions that clothing can give off. And I am completely aware of the vibe I give off and it is truly who I am, my clothes just help express it. It's a big reason I dress the way I dress. Also, I really just love clothes and what I wear makes me happy.

If one wishes to seem smart, become smart. If one wishes to seem cultures, become cultures. Become ambitious in a pursuit to embody what you dream of.

So readers, how do you wish to seem? And how can you make yourself become this?

Sweet Sixteen!

Hello all! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been a little busy lately with lots of exciting things, one of which was my birthday! And what better way to celebrate a birthday than a New York City day with mom?

Started off the day with Brunch at my absolute FAVE brunch place EVER, Petite Abeille at 134 West Broadway. It's french essence and cute little-cafe-in-Paris ambiance is to die for! I've been coming here ever since I was a baby and have yet to be disappointed. The waffles stacked high with fruit are insanely delish and ...so is basically everything else. I highly recommend checking it out!

Posing in front of The American Ballet Theatre  (Oh, and by the way, those sunglasses were my dad's in the 80s, totally vintage right? 

 What's a mom daughter day without manicures and pedicures? Featuring my new birthday Jack Rogers!

Stopped by the best store on this earth and picked up (another) pair of their insanely adorable chino shorts! In a really pretty apple-green color that I am obsessed with! At the Columbus Circle Time Warner Center

"May Each Step You Take Be Sweet" the perfect motto for a 16th birthday! If you don't recognize this magical candy wonderland, it's Dylan's Candy Bar, a necessary stop every time I'm in the city.

This kind-of-rough candid shot was at the Dos Caminos, a Mexican restaurant in Soho i decided to try (confession: I'm a Mexican food addict) and I was thoroughly impressed! It's super popular (It was packed at 5:30 on a Sunday. A New Yorker eating dinner at 5:30 is like eating dinner at 3:00 for the rest of the country). Anyway, It was great food and a great time, they even put a little birthday candle in my dessert :)

Well, that was my Birthday! It was such a nice day, one of the best ones yet! What was your favorite birthday?

-Molly

Trend watch

1. Jack Rogers Sandals

These sandals are super popular right now and I can definitely see why! They're versatile and can look effortlessly cute with anything from a nice dress to gym shorts and a tee. Jack Rogers are THE summer sandal.

2. Sailor's knot jewelry 

This nautical trend has everyone looking like sailors. It's a nice touch to almost any outfit and goes in perfect cohesiveness with your old Sperrys!   

3. Mens watches for women

I'd never been a huge fan of watches until I started seeing them on every single girl's arm recently! They're practical and look totally professional! The ultimate win-win.

4. Kendra Scott earrings

The next must-have for jewelry. I guarantee it. 

5. Peasant tops
I'm loving the whole boho for summer style that J.crew is taking over a bit. A flowy peasant top is the perfect summer shirt because it's airy so you'll keep cool and it's flattering on just about every shape!

6.Cross body bags
Just wrote about the fabulous-ness of cross body bags in my last Current Obsessions post

7. Shift dresses
Shift dresses are EVERYWHERE! I recently bought a white eyelet one from Gap! There so pretty and summery, the ultimate summer dress!

Which Trend is your fave?

-Molly

Current Obsessions

I fall in love with things fast. These are some of the things I've been loving lately:

Fashion:
 Cross body bags:

J.crew Edie tricolor purse

It's almost impossible to go in a store and not see a cross body bag on display! They're so hot for summer 2014 and I can definitely see why! They're cute while being super functional. They're also great because they can exhibit so many different styles and vibes! Clean and structured for the preppy look. Loose and fringe-filled for a more boho vibe. Dark and studded to go edgy. Don't be seen without a cross body bag this summer! 


 Food and health: 
Lemon and cucumber water
 




My fridge has not been without a pitcher of this fruit-infused water for weeks. It is so delicious and refreshing, plus filled with vitamins and antioxidants. Definitely pick up some produce (I've found lemons, cucumbers, mangoes, strawberries, and raspberries work best) and fill a pitcher of it with water for a nice summer drink!



Beauty:
Trader Joe's lavender salt scrub 




Oh my!  This salt scrub is so unbelievably amazing. It feels so good, I can actually feel myself getting cleaner just using it. It smells so refreshing and floral, I doubt you won't fall in love!



Entertainment:
Mixology
  
This. damn. show. Don't mind the fact that it just got cancelled, it had one season and it was STRONG. I highly advise just binge-watching the whole season.  The season and series finale is May 21st and I will most definitely be watching! The show follows 5 guys and 5 girls in a swanky NYC bar for one night and who ends up with who is the big question! It is so fun, you will not want to stop watching. 



Other:
Anthropology monogram mugs




 I just got one of these for my friend, who's graduating and going to Northwestern, and she loved it! they're so perfect as a cute dorm room pencil holder or just a mug to drink your fave tea or coffee! Either way, these personalized mugs are lovable and an eye-catching piece for any room!

 What are your current obsessions? Let me know!
-Molly 










 

Quote of the week

I am absolutely obsessed with quotes! I feel like, most of the time, they can express how I am feeling better than I can. So I'm starting a weekly column: Quote of the week! Every Sunday I'll put up a quote that I love and want to share! Alright so, my first quote;

"People will love you. People will hate you. and none of it will have anything to do with you."
- Abraham Hicks

I feel this quote so much. If you're so focused on people's opinions of you and let that drive how you act and who you are, you will never genuinely grow as a person. You will never truly know yourself if you're so focused on the image that others have of you. I think people, especially teenagers, are having mini identity crises so often nowadays because they're are getting confused as to who they really are. They're so caught up in appearance and how things will look from an outside perspective that they never take the time to stop and figure who they actually are as a person. This past year, I've made a point to take time and get to know myself, and it's been great. I'm more confident and comfortable with myself than ever before and it's because I have made an effort to stop caring so much about how people perceive me and started to focus more on how I perceive me. That's all that really matters in the end, anyway.

-Molly

How to Wear; light blue button-down

Good Morning! So all last night I was thinking about columns to do and I love the idea of of taking a piece that most people have and styling it with different outfits! So here goes: How to wear a light blue button-down!

1. This outfit kind of gives off a Working-20-something year old-in-Manhattan vibe. It could be cute for a nice lunch with a friend or client on the weekend, but the loafers make it a bit too casual for the office. It's practical and professional, without being boring. The light blue and playful Lilly pattern add the bright-springy feel while the many tones of brown and gold keep it classic and luxurious (I know, having every shade of brown in an outfit can go wrong, quick. But in this case it works!) The pearls are just a nice little touch to complete this fun and adorable ensemble.





2. This outfit is the perfect welcome to autumn. This Kate Spade-esque ensemble would get all the attention walking down the street. The light blue offsets the warm tones of the bag and vest (Don't pretend you haven't thought about buying this super-trendy J.crew herringbone vest, if you don't already have it!) The cute coffee tumbler adds some fun to this fall uniform that will keep you getting compliments all day long.


3. Ahh... the summer uniform. A linen top, chino shorts and sandals. But this uniform is anything but standard. The bright green and light blue compliment each other instead of clash (which lots of bright colors tend to do). The anchor necklace and messenger bag give off the nautical vibe without being too loud about it. Just grab your iced tea and head off to almost any occasion in this cute yet casual summer outfit!

 
4. And here we've come back to fall. While the other fall ootd had a girlie vibe, this one has a classic prep-school, almost equestrian essence. With the touches of plaid and big pearl necklace, this outfit is a twist on the classic school girl uniform. With khaki pants instead of a skirt and a leather top-handle bag instead of a boring backpack, this outfit adds fun to the standard university vibe.

I hope you enjoyed my first How to Wear column! Thanks for reading and come back soon
-Molly