Giveaway

Okay, so you all know from previous posts that I absolutely love Charlotte's! They always have the cutest stuff and are up-to-date on trends within clothes, shoes, jewelry, home decor and gifts. They have everything you need! I can never go in Charlotte's without melting .

They offer a abundance of fashion, furnishings and gifts from designers Elizabeth McKay, Tracy Negoshian, Jack Rogers, Southern Proper, Kenneth Jay Lane, Michael Kors, Moon and Lola, Molly Beads, Vera Wang Paper, and more! We have all seen how much the monogrammed necklace has blown in up fashion. Paired with others, or alone, it is the perfect piece of jewelry. To share some Charlotte's love, we have set up a give away for a custom Lucite Moon and Lola 3-initial necklace!!  I just cant take my eyes off the tortoise with gold chain!

So here's the deal. Be sure to  like their Facebook page, and become a follower of Mer a L'autre for your chance to win!! The winner will be chosen Tuesday, April 3rd!

Good luck :)

-Katie

Bow Tie How To

This might come in handy early Saturday Morning! Wishing everyone a Happy Carolina Cup!

See you there!

-Katie

ps. be sure to enter the Giveaway! Details will be posted tomorrow! :)

Charlotte's Trunk Show

Okay ladies, Carolina Cup is right around the corner and jacks are a perfect addition to your derby dress. They come in many colors, that are sure to match your attire. Charlotte's, one of my favorite stores, is having a Jack Rogers Trunk Show through April 1st at their Cameron Village store. The kick off is March 29th, 5-7 pm and they will be raffling off 3 pairs at that time! Also, the first 15 costumers receive a special coupon! 

Be sure to check out their website, here and like them on Facebook, here, to see their new shipments, for promotional events, and more!

Get your pair there and see you at Cup!

-Katie

 

Get the Look for Less

I love the classic look Kate Spade always pulls off, especially these linen flats with the pink colorblocked toe! You can get these flats for $225 at Nordstrom or any other Kate Spade retailer.

Or you can get this look for a lot less! You can find the look for less from our friends at Alloy for $25.00!! I also like that they have a coral toe, rather than hot pink. Coral is an easy color to incorporate with other bright colors and neutrals as well. The coral and linen is a precious combination. These are perfect for summer with a light, airy top and chino shorts!

Your Savings....$200!!

Happy Shopping!

-Katie

A Cool Treat

It seems like we just skipped right over Spring and moved right into Summer. For days you spend sweating it out on the beach, a nice, healthy, way to cool down is just a step back into your childhood...popsicles!

 Store bought popsicles are loaded with artificial ingredients and sugars, so its much healthier to make them on your own. I just got a juicer and have been so surprised with how much fresh juice tastes like a sweet smoothie without the additives. A recipe I have been wanting to try is...

Pina Colada Pops

1 can pineapple chunks, in juice

1 banana

1 can coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend and freeze the ingredients, don't forget the popsicle sticks! Makes 6 servings.

The Pina Colada Pops are only 117 calories per popsicle! Coconut milk has a lot of calories so  pure fruit popsicles are even better for you! Also, a fun way to incorporate popsicles into your summer entertaining is to throw them into a glass of wine or champagne. It's a cute decoration but also keeps your wine cold, and as it melts, it adds a burst of fruit taste to your adult beverage!

Stay cool!

-Katie

Stacked Rings

When I saw these stacked chevron rings on Atlantic-Pacific, I fell in love.  I love the pastel colors and that you can mix and match your stack, color-wise or how many you wear!

Asos has this six pack of stackable chevron rings for $17.91! You can find them, here.

Have a great day!

-Katie

Birthday Festivities

I have been absolutely swamped with school work so I haven't been able to post in a while! I had a wonderful birthday this past weekend. I am lucky my birthday falls on St. Pattys day, so there is always a celebration! This year I had some friends over for an oyster roast and keg in our back yard. Nothing beats beautiful weather, beer, oysters, and the beach! I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and it was so enjoyable to have them share my birthday with me! I was so happy the weather turned out gorgeous and we have the perfect deck/backyard for day party. The party kept going through the night so a good time was had by all!

The view from our deck 

 The girls!

 My wonderful roommates!


Recently, my Mom moved to Wrightsville Beach so I was so surprised when a Madhatter Black & White cake showed up at my house. This is my favorite cake in the entire world and my Mom has gotten it for my birthday for many years now. The bakery is in Durham so I wasn't expecting it this year but Chip ordered, picked it up in Durham and brought it down with him to Wilmington! It was such a sweet surprise!

Saturday was full of day festivities and friends so Sunday night my family, Chip and I had a wonderful dinner at Brasserie Du Soleil.They have absolutely amazing french food and I had the best steak of my life. We also got these deserts which were so yummy! It was a relaxing dinner and a perfect way to end the weekend and my birthday!

I was overwhelmed with sweet messages and plenty of love on my birthday and it was so special! Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with me! I am so blessed and lucky to have you all in my life!


-Katie

Sea foam

One of my newest obsessions is Sea Foam Green! Here are ways to incorporate Sea Foam Green into your life, just in time for St. Patricks Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

-Katie

Floppy love

It is absolutely gorgeous here today so I cannot wait to bask in the sun with friends! It feels like summer and there is no better feeling than frolicking around in a bathing suit all day. One thing I adore about summer fashion, is a big floppy hat. They're perfect for adding a touch of glamour to any bathing suit or for fashionable sun protection.

One brand I absolutely love is Marley Lilly. Their monograms are precious and they monogram floppy hats! Whether you want one for Summer, or Carolina Cup, they are a perfect item to have in your closet. Marley Lilly offers tons of different color hats and thread colors to personalize a hat that fits your wardrobe. I got one for Cup last year and love it. They have plenty of colors to choose from, but I think a neutral color, like one of these, will be my next purchase and a staple item for summer!

Be sure to check out their amazing selection of floppy hats, here!

Soak up the sun!

-Katie

Laduree

We had a fabulous time in the City and I wish we could have stayed longer! We had action-packed days and nights full of shopping, eating, sight-seeing, and seeing friends and family. I will post pictures later, but for now, here is something I loved about our trip. The first and only  Laduree  in America opened in New York City on Madison Avenue and I just had to go! Their Macarons are delectable, as is their precious packaging. Not to mention, their French, so of course I love...

 If you have never had one, I highly suggest it. Their taste is hard to explain, however, they are refreshing and indulgent at the same time.  They have a soft, light, flaky outside, and a smooth, soft center. I introduced Chip to them, and he loved them. We got an array of flavors, all were fabulous, but my favorite was a caramel with a salty caramel center.

Check out their precious website, here.

-Katie

New York State of Mind

Ahh, we made it! I am so excited to see around the city, eat, and shop! We have some awesome plans to try and tackle as much as possible while we are here. I am especially excited to see all the new memorials at Ground Zero, enjoying some amazing pizza, croissants and bagels, street food, and exploring all of the fashion. I am definitely in a New York State of Mind and I cannot wait to show you pictures and stories of all the awesome stuff we see! 

Stay tuned!

-Katie

Suitcase Staples

Im getting ready to pack for NYC this evening, which will be a challenge for sure. There are just so many things that I want to bring! I can already see a ton of stuffed suitcases in my near future. 

If you are packing for vacation too, a while back I posted about "packing light". You can find that post here. It has a guide to staples you can pack that can be layered, are versatile and can be mixed and matched. The clothing featured in "packing light" included winter clothing, boots, and colors, such as navy, black and camel. Here is another guide for suitcase staples that include a pop of color, more appropriate for Spring!

Good luck and Happy Travels! I can't wait for NYC!

-Katie

The Countdown Begins...

I wasn't planning on an extravagant island vacay for Spring Break, or any kind of trip for that matter. However, the beau and I have been wanting to go to the City for a while so we planned an impromptu trip, got a little apartment in Soho for a nice, long weekend away and man, am I excited! We've planned out our days full of sightseeing, dining and of course, shopping (Sorry, Chip). Fashion week was just in NYC, so I've been dying to go shopping in the City. My friends, Kaitlyn, Mackenzie, and Rebekah will be there as well, so were hoping to enjoy a night or two on the town with friends, as well.  However, this week is full of midterms & assignments before our little vacation, so I am anxiously counting down the days. Ahh, just get me there already! 

Any suggestions or must-haves for what we should eat, do, see or any good shopping spots? Hope you all have had a fabulous Monday!

-Katie

The Bun Breakdown

To say that I love the "bun trend" would be an understatement. Its super easy, takes about 10 mintues, and can be done with next day hair, or in other words, unwashed hair. It is a easy solution for a simple, classy style that is great for when you don't feel like  getting ready or blow-drying your hair! I have dark hair and usually make mine pretty big so I like to call mine the "Kim K" bun. Kim Kardashian is known for rocking this style, dressed up or casual. Here are some celebs that do the bun just right. 

So here is the breakdown on the bun. I love the sleek polished look, but a messy bun is a precious addition to a casual outfit. In order to secure a messy bun, I turn my head over, grab all of my hair at the end, twist it up tight and wrap it around in a circular motion until you get a bun. Secure with elastic and stretch the bun out and pull out pieces, for desired messy-ness. If you like the more dramatic effect, tease your hair before making the bun. The messy bun can be done in multiple ways so its a process of playing until you find your way. Here are some examples of the messy bun, done right.

Okay, next in the bun breakdown, is the sleek and polished bun, like the celeb pics above. I secure the sleek bun by pulling up a very tight pony. The pony should be in line diagonally with your chin bone to the back of your head. I secure the pony and then back comb or tease the entire pony. Then I use a sock around the pony. After you have put the sock around, tease again, then polish the outside hair by brushing it. Wrap the hair around the sock and pin it with open bobby-pins. There are many tutorials online if you are a visual person. Here are some examples of the polished bun that can be done using a sock..

On New Years Eve, I  wore my "Kim K" bun for a night out with Chip!

Enjoy!

-Katie