sponsored post: frankly basic

when the cool folks over at my favorite local boutique, frankly basic, asked me if i would be interested in helping promote their new spring line - you better believe i freaked the f out calmly and professionally said yes.  this is my favorite spot in kc for finding affordable fashion and now that they have two locations in the metro, it is twice as nice.

you might recall that we did a little feature on them HERE.  check it out for a refresher course and then check out the first of four looks to get you geared up and outfitted for spring.

look one:  cool-la. la.  it's perfect for warmer spring/summer days and cool nights when a jacket is required.  plus, this is an ensemble that you can easily transition to fall/winter.  and don't even get me started on that gorgeous emerald green clutch and all the gold jewelry.  love it all, all year round.

admittedly, i looked at these pieces on the hangers and thought, meh, not for me - but this outfit is further proof that you should:  

1.) try things on before nixing them.   

2.) step outside of your comfort zone every once in a while. 

once it was on, i was in love.  the jacket is so soft, a perfect neutral color and the dress is the perfect daytime look for spring events and a great length for the office.  i say pair with a blazer for a totally polished look. it also doubles as a great get-up for a night out on the town.  add some tights and boots in the fall and you've just expanded your wardrobe with a year-round look.  

head on over to frankly basic and see what you'll fall for this spring.  then, stay tuned for the other three looks! 

new york, new york: part 1

it is my most favorite place on earth.  the sites.  the sounds.  the way every inch, corner and crevice houses something new, something artistic, something bat-shit crazy and something so very nyc.  we spent 5 days there last week and it was everything we imagined it would be.  i've been on several occasions, almost always during march, for work, for fun, for no reason at all - twice now with evan -  but this trip would mark the first time alex has been and the first time we were there together, as a family.

we arrived by 10 am saturday morning and we had nothing but time to look forward to.  hosted by our good friends nick and mandy, whose home captures the most beautiful views of the city, we set out to discover all that it had to offer.

day 1 guided us through central park, on our way to the museum of natural history, where alex would see every animal and dinosaur that her little heart could handle, hail her first cab, find a ginormous pinecone, over-indulge with an italian dinner and marvel at this wondrous place i have been telling her about since birth.

all of us being awake since 3:30 am that day and still going strong, it truly lived up to its rep as the city that never sleeps.  we caught up with great friends and all but fell over dead - 20 hours later for her, a full 24 for us - exhausted, exhilarated, and totally enchanted by the endless possibilities that were up ahead.

this is our nyc spring break vacation, part 1...

an irish & greek birthday bonanza

we've been away for a while - digging out of the wintery snow bubble that burst all around us and just doing the day-to-day things that, before you know it, fill up an entire month.  and what do you know - it's snowing again today.  aside from this avalanche of winter, a lot has been going on.  some really great and new adventures have occurred and more are on the horizon - we'll get to those eventually - but first a quick look back at the past weekend, and a birthday celebration that was an absolute blast. 

my birthday was the 16th and since it fell on a weekend and the day before st. patrick's day, we decided the entire weekend should be devoted to celebrating.  yeeesssss!  you know how we roll.  so that's what we did.  with the brookside st. patrick's day warm-up parade falling on my birthday, we invited a house full of friends to taste-test our first bangers & mash endeavor and hit up the parade. 

i am telling you people, there is no better way to celebrate a birthday than filling your house up with your closest friends, feeding them and toasting with them for an entire day.  

which leads me into later on that evening....

once again everyone regrouped for the evening celebration which included a table for 11 of our besties complete with all the hilarity and hijinks tassos restaurant regularly serves up.  

another year gone by.  another year older.  another reason i love birthdays and getting to celebrate life with these party animals in tow.  cheers! 

thanks friends for celebrating with us!