THE UN-LEATHER JACKET

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I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! Frank and I went to a very pretty farm wedding in Suffield, CT and had so much fun! It was our first 24hrs away (alone) since Harrison was born and we definitely enjoyed ourselves! BUT I have to say I was so happy to come home to my sweet boys yesterday:) 

Last Fall I was pregnant and in search of a leather jacket that could go with me everywhere - day to night, maternity to non-maternity and I needed a neutral color. When I found this one I was so excited! Not only was it the best silhouette, it was vegan which meant it was basically kid-proof. Over the last year I've worn it over jeans, with dresses, and even took it to a wedding. Ummm did I mention its $95!!

If you're looking for something that's leather the same brand makes this one which is still very reasonable as far as leather jackets go. Also I should note, the jeans, t-shirt, and shoes are all old in this post but I tried linking very similar pieces. My pumps are almost identical!

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A HERO SWEATER

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I LOVE short weeks...I can't believe its Wednesday already! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend (I ended up working for most of it - so many exciting things on the horizon for TGG). I know its not technically Fall yet but we've already had some days in CT that sure feel like it. Is it bad that I'm already dying to whip out all my sweaters and darker denim?

Ever heard of a "Hero" item? Think season must-have thats also a wardrobe staple. I'm loving the sweater trends for Fall. Chunky aran knits with details ranging from fringe, to pom poms, to colored intarsia prints. This sweater has it all! 

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WEDDING GUEST DRESSES

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One of the top requests I receive from clients is help shopping for wedding guest dresses. Although the rule "you can't wear white to a wedding" is dated, it still stands true for most brides. Sidenote: we went to a wedding once where all the guests were in ivory and black and it looked AMAZING!!! I'm not opposed to a black dress for a wedding as long as there is texture. Also, lace and sheer accents are key!

So you can't wear black or ivory...what do you do? Personally I don't wear bright, solid colors and I always gravitate towards floral: one - it photographs well, and two - if you choose the right pattern they usually won't go out of style. I instantly fell in love with this one's soft ruffles and ethereal vibe. It can be worn both on and off the shoulder which is also a plus! Looking for personalized help finding the perfect outfit? Click here! OR scroll down to shop my picks for this Fall's wedding season at every price! 

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MY BEAUTY ROUTINE

Hi there! Welcome to my first beauty post! Since starting The Girl Guide I've received so many questions about my skincare routine. I'm a big fan of the "less is more" approach and I have to admit, it's pretty basic. BUT the key has always been natural ingredients.  I've been using Tata Harper skincare for almost 8 years! She is sort of a pioneer in the organic skincare space. When I met her I was instantly inspired by her story - her step dad was diagnosed with Cancer and when she started to help him "detox" the products he was using, she realized there was nothing 100% natural/organic on the market. I love everything about her line especially the scents of her products, so natural and clean. 

About two years ago a discovered JuiceBeauty at Whole Foods. I was looking for an affordable moisturizer to switch things up a bit and I fell in love! You can't beat the prices (my antioxidant moisturizer is $39) and I find it to be really effective during the dry winter months. SO when I heard that one of my favorite websites/brands GOOP was teaming up with Juice Beauty I was super psyched. I bought this discovery set and I'm only about three weeks in but I LOVE it! Especially the face oil! 

• I first tried this face wash when I purchased a Theory x Lola box for International Women's day. It was filled with goodies and one of my favorites was this product. I use it every night (in the morning's I just splash water on my face and re-apply moisturizer). The smell is very clean!
• I have a thing for face oils....I used to think it was weird - how does applying oil to your face not make you break out? Now that I've been using them for years I'm addicted. I highly recommend this one and this one is my new favorite. 
• The first skincare product I ever switched from mainstream to holistic was my deodorant. I once read an article linking aluminum containing antiperspirants to breast cancer and I immediately switched to an all natural deodorant. Disclaimer: The natural ones are NEVER going to work as well as the chemical ridden ones, BUT thats a trade I'm willing to make! This is my current favorite. 

Check out this article, Clean Beauty - And Why It's Important and you'll be hooked just like I am!

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SKINCARE

FACE OIL

FACE WASH

FACE MASKS

DEODORANT

OFF THE BEACH

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FLORAL MAXI

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Greetings from Sag Harbor! Having major technical difficulties here so this post is going to be short and sweet! I wore this dress to a recent event I hosted at Lord & Taylor and I love it! I hesitated at first because it was black but adding the floral makes it so versatile. We have a wedding in early September that I think it will be perfect for. I love wearing maxi dresses - especially flowy ones. There is a common misconception that if you're not supermodel height you can't pull one off but thats not true. The key is good tailoring and ensuring the length is right for you. These shoes are so comfortable (I SWEAR) and the only thing that made this dress possible for me:) I rounded up a few of my top maxi picks right now. Some of them are under $150!

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LINEN STRIPES + FAVORITE TOP ROUNDUP

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Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is having a great week so far:) I'm pumping out this post while simoultaneously entertaining Luke and Harrison with a Baby Einstein video. If you have kids and don't know about these you need to order ASAP! They're educational and the images play along with the prettiest classical music so I can actually concentrate while they're on! I thought Luke would grown out of them but he still loves them! 

What do you guys think of this top? I can tell you I love wearing it...the linen is so soft and its really comfortable. I always talk about wearing pieces from day to night and tucked into white jeans and a pair of gold hoops you're good to go! I can see myself wearing it into early Fall too. There are so many great (and affordable) blouses out right now. Check up my roundup below:) 

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GARDEN PARTY ANYONE?

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AT HOME with THE GIRL GUIDE

I've thought a lot about how I wanted to start this post. After working in fashion for almost 9 years it felt so natural to start a life and style blog. What I didn't expect is how hard the "life" part would turn out to be. Styling is a passion of mine and that part comes so naturally. As each photoshoot passes it gets easier and easier to share my outfit pics with you guys, but what about the other 98% of my life? How much do I show? I never wanted The Girl Guide to be a "mom blog". Not because there is ANYTHING wrong with that (I love and follow so many), but because it doesn't represent my passion which is styling all women (and men), not just moms. 

So here's a first real glimpse into my life. If you follow my InstaStories you know that my oldest son Luke is 2 and a half and Harrison (Beau) will be 2 months old next week. Right now things are a little chaotic but I am so thankful for the time I've been able to spend with Luke on my maternity leave. I shot these photos with the SUPER talented Brooke from Brooke Allison Photography. I was really nervous about shooting with Luke, toddlers don't love being told what to do:), but after she snapped a few photos I felt like she wasn't even in the room. The result is a handful of photographs that I will cherish forever. 

One of the reasons I love being a stylist and a blogger is that I get to meet the most amazing and creative people. Brooke is no different. Check out her new Instagram handle @storiesofsentiment and follow along as she captures real life through her gorgeous photographs. On another note I want to thank YOU for your support as I find the right "balance". I'm so happy to take you on this journey with me!

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WHITE LACE

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Happy HUMP day! This shoot was one of the most fun ones I've done so far! Brooke and I found this fabulous "secret garden" while driving around looking for locations and I am so excited to share these pics with you. What is better than a little white dress for summer? Add lace and I'm sold! I was shocked when I saw the price of this one. My only tip when ordering is to SIZE DOWN. This style runs very big but I love the skirt part of this dress. Hides everything and is so fun to wear casually or dressed up. Check out some of my favorite LWDs of the season below!

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TASSELS AND STRIPES

Hey friends! I hope your weekend was as lovely as mine! It finally stopped raining and we took advantage of every minute of sunshine! I shot the pics for this post with Luke, the baby, and my hubby Frank just a few feet away. Luke was yelling for me pretty much the whole time wondering why mommy was in the middle of the street. Its definitely a little crazy these days being a mom of two and working on the blog but at the end of the day all the chaos is worth it because I get so much out of both jobs. 

I love the earrings in this outfit and the price is so amazing at under $60!!!). I don't really wear a ton of jewelry but if I do, its almost always a fun pair of earrings. The trend has blown up this year and I love that there are so many fabulous options at every price point. Shop the post and check out all my top picks below:)

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EYELET TOP + Nordstrom SALE

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THE PERFECT OTS TOP

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SHOP off the shoulder PICKS

KIMONO DRESS

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dress // bag // shoes (old Ralph Lauren, similar here) // earrings

STONE BARNS

BLUE HILL FARM

SO its been killing me that I haven't been able to shoot any fun Spring outfits for you guys! My last official day of work was yesterday and now its time to rest up and prepare for baby number 2! Although I really have no idea what to expect, I hope I'll be able to get right back to blogging and shooting because it miss I so much right now! 

Anyone who followed me on Instagram last summer knows that one of my favorite places to go on a sunny day is "the farm". I grew up only 10 minutes from the Rockefeller preserve in Westechester, NY and walking the trails became a tradition for me and my family. In the last 10 years it has transformed into a working farm, world renowned restaurant, and market. Recently Blue Hill (the restaurant) was rated number 11 in the world! Its a true culinary experience and perfect for celebrating a special occasion! BUT if you're just looking for a fun place to take the kids on a Saturday like we are, visit the grounds and be transported to the English countryside.  They have lots of activities scheduled during the weekends and we always make our way to the grain bar for lunch or a coffee (make sure you try the chocolate chip spelt cookies!). 

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THE DRESS ADDRESS

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dress // shoes

As many of you saw on social media last week, I had the privilege of partnering with Lord & Taylor for Charity Day and hosting their Dress Address Fashion Show on Saturday. Their store in Stamford, CT was recently renovated and it is BEAUTIFUL! From their new restaurant to their super chic beauty floor, the store offers a luxury experience that made me feel like I was in New York City. The fashion show looks were curated by the in-house stylists who offer personalized consultations by appointment. The At Your Service team led by fashion veteran Kendra Porter is a phenomenal resource for anyone seeking wardrobe guidance in-store or online. Lord & Taylor is definetly the "dress address". If you're in the CT and have a special occasion this should be your first stop! See more of my top picks below (BTW my dress was not maternity and with the sale was under $150)!

Top Dress Picks

This one is similar to the lace one I wore but with a plunging neckline and the white is ON SALE! This style is so pretty and it looks like it should be four times the price. Perfect for Easter, graduations, and showers...I think I may pick it up for my niece's communion. BLACK TIE! Check out this gorgeous Jill Stuart gown. To me, if you like off-the-shoulder, this is the epitome of the perfect cocktail/black tie dress. I had never heard of this brand but this dress is so pretty and versatile! Dress it up with a heel or down with a pair of scrappy flat sandals. 

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STATEMENT NECKLACE

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Sooo yup! No hiding this belly anymore! (not that I was trying to but after seeing these pics I remembered I was 9 months pregnant!) This season is all about the statement piece. By now you've definitely seen the famous Rebecca de Ravenel les bon bon earrings which have inspired this similar much more budget friendly pair (both styles a cult favorite among bloggers). I recently purchased the second ones and can't wait to wear them this Spring. But until then, one of my favorite pieces to wear is this Aztec scarf necklace from Mignonne Gavigan. It turns a plain white t-shirt and jeans into a super chic look and these last few days I can use all the help I can get spicing up my maternity tops. I love it so much I'm considering one of their more neutral styles for a more tonal look. Check out some of my favorites below!

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LUCY NECKLACE // DANIELLE NECKLACE // IKAT LE CHARLOT

ASHA + IN MY CLOSET BLOG

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blouse // shoes // earrings // bracelet // zodiac bracelet // ring

*GIVEAWAY ALERT*

I couldn't be more excited than to partner with the most amazing women for my first giveaway! Chrissy and Kaitlin from In My Closet Blog and ASHA's founder and designer Ashley McCormick. To be honest I've been super self-conscious lately about being photographed this late in my pregnancy but this shoot was SO fun and the ASHA Penthouse in Greenwich, CT is like walking into a life size jewel box! Be sure to stop by my Instagram and enter to win:)

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ASHA Penthouse 409 Greenwich Ave (Second Floor), Greenwich CT 06830

HIGH/LOW

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sweater - zara // denim - zara (old similar here) // handbag - chloe // booties - isabel marant

BACK IN STOCK!!! So many of you have asked me about this sweater that I posted on my Instagram a couple of weeks ago. It's back in stock in a size S and M, but hurry, it will probably be gone again soon! I love it because its just the right combination of feminine and chic and at under $50, you won't worry about wearing it with the kids. I really haven't had to buy any maternity tops/sweaters this pregnancy and I really have Zara to thank for that! 

High/low dressing is something I've talked a lot about on the blog. I posted the splurge version of this sweater in one of my first Lust Lists. Here is another twist on the original. I bought this sweater too which I can't wait to wear back to my white jeans post baby. One of my favorite things about Zara is that most of their tops are machine washable which makes my life so easy! Here are some of my other top picks from them right now:

trousers // perfect white shirt // dress // dress // espadrilles

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THE ARMY JACKET

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jacket - theory // t-shirt - theory // clutch - hermes // sunglasses - illesteva //

pumps (old, similar) - zara

The army or safari style jacket has always been a staple for me. I must have three in my closet at varying price points! This classic style can be worn with jeans or back to a maxi dress and is a huge trend for Spring. If you're looking for a one with a little more going on I love this one. This one is great twist on the classic and under $200!

SALE ALERT!!! One of my favorite sites is having a major sale and its the perfect time for some retail therapy. Here are a couple of my top picks: 

Tops: Everyone knows that I'm obsessed with SEA.  This top is a show stopper and won't break the bank! Love it with white jeans and a nude pump or sandal. This tank is a staple. I would seriously consider buying it in both colors....you won't regret it. 

Dresses: If you're looking for the perfect packable maxi to take you day to night, this is it! YES to this dress in every way! So cute with sneakers or gladiator sandals and this Kayu bag. Check out this style under $100!

Baubles: Love these earrings! So easy to wear all summer long with a t-shirt or a floral maxi dress. 

Shoes: I bought these a couple months ago and they have become my go-to heel. The price is incredible and they are the perfect balance of sweet and sexy (also the color?!). SPLURGE but so chic and will go with everything in your wardrobe this spring and summer!

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