Give Me Sunglasses!

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! I just got back from New York and I couldn't help but stare at all the fun sunglasses! Here are a few of my favorite styles for this summer:

Kate Spade Domina. Similar from Forever 21.

Sawtooth by Proof. I saw these guys on Shark Tank a few months ago. The materials are renewable & biodegradable.

Ray Ban "Cats 5000" on Bluefly.

Stylish & classy Square frames from Forever21.

Jackson bamboo shades by Cassette. 

Where else is a good place to find sunglasses? Please comment & let me know!

xo kristen genevieve

Summer Style: Pleated Maxi Skirts

Hope you ladies had a great weekend! Today I am dreaming of long, comfortable, flowing skirts. I have long admired pleated maxi skirts, and I wanted to share a few of my favs from Pinterest!

Lace crop top with a flowy pink skirt. I normally don't wear a lot of pink but this is too beautiful for summer! (Also love the beige & gold bag!)

I saw this on Pinterest awhile ago, but its too gorgeous not to keep sharing. Awesome mustard & mint combination.

 

I absolutely LOVE this indigo/royal blue color! The statement belt is great, too. (I spy another Chanel bag...)

I always like a good mustard yellow, not just for fall! But I think the navy blue top really makes the skirt pop.

Another lace crop top with a mint slash seafoam colored maxi skirt.

A relaxed, (literally) beach look!

Purple maxi skirt with a jean jacket, out for coffee.

I personally have a hard time finding maxi skirts because I'm so short, but I love to admire them. What maxis do you love for summer? Any crop top or jacket suggestions for maxi skirts? Please comment & share with me!

xo kristen genevieve

Summer Reading Picks

Hey all! One of my favorite things to do in the summertime is to take a book to the beach or any patch of grass I can find. Here are some of my picks to add to your summer reading list:

Fiction pick  A Song of Ice & Fire series, by George R.R. Martin
Fan of HBO's Game of Thrones? You will love the books even more (isn't that always the case?). I have never read a fantasy book before these, but the character depth mixed with intriguing plot twists wrapped me in. It's much more related to real life than other similar novels that focus simply on good vs. evil. Each character has a bit of both in them, and is often perceived very different than who they really are. Another thing I like is that the characters that are introduced as disabled or somehow down trodden seem to be the closest thing to heroes in the books. Also, there are dragons! Woah. I can't wait for book six!

Psychology pick  Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell never disappoints. Outliers is divided into two parts, describing how both opportunity and legacy impact individual's success stories. In his first chapter, "The Matthew Effect," Gladwell argues that the most successful people are those who "are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success," resulting in a "accumulative advantage." The book became somewhat controversial because it led parents who wanted to give their child extra advantages early on feel that "red-shirting," or holding their child back a year before starting them in kindergarten, would be a major advantage down the line, according to the accumulative advantage theory. There was an interesting 60 minutes video about the topic.  

Child psychology pick  NutureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman
This book is great for parents of kids of all ages, covering topics such as why children lie (and why that may mean they are smart), the inverse power of praise (how praising your child might ruin them), why testing preschoolers for gifted programs is flawed, why teens argue with their parents (they see it as constructive), success stories of jump-starting infant language development (it's not Baby Einstein), and more. A short read, this book intertwines scientific studies into an interesting, well-written string of stories.

Parenting pick  Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Druckerman's witty insights about raising infants & toddlers in Paris has given me a lot to think about as a prospective parent. French mothers are more free and relaxed than American moms in some ways, not worrying too much, because they keep with a structured cadre (framework). As an American woman married to a British man living in France, Druckerman has some very interesting cultural observations. And unlike many parenting books, Bringing Up Bébé is full of humor combined with self doubt, which actually made me laugh out loud. 

What are you reading this summer? Please give me some recommendations!

xo kristen genevieve

Independence Day Feast!

Some people look forward to fireworks every year. Personally, I love creating the holiday feast! Since we don't have a grill at our apartment, we decided to get creative with red, white & blue. We also wanted it to be tasty of course, so I thought, why not go Mexican & Italian for Independence Day?!

 

Guacamole made with ripe avocados, organic tomatoes, sauteed garlic, juice from half of a small lime, salt, pepper, and a bit of chili powder & cayenne to taste. We also tried to keep in the spirit of the fourth of July with blue & white chips!

Bruschetta made with toasted baguette slices topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano, organic grape tomatoes & garlic sauteed in olive oil, and julienned organic basil. Sooo good!!

Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake with homemade whipped cream. I picked up the shortcakes at Trader Joe's so this dessert took about 5 minutes to put together! 

What sorts of food did you eat this Independence Day? I'm dying to find more recipe & craft ideas for the future! What other traditions do you love on the Fourth? I hope you all had a great holiday!!

xo kristen genevieve

Breakfast Of Champions

Today's breakfast is so healthy, its inspiring me already to get exercising today! Not to mention how simply delicious it is. YUM!

Just Watermelon, hashtagnofilter.

Grape Medley from Trader Joe's. I don't think I had ever tried black grapes until I bought these, and now they are my favorite! They're just more flavorful overall.

The best thing about this breakfast: these fruits are not only loaded with vitamins, but they are filled with water, so this breakfast keeps you hydrated & feeling fuller, longer. So go get some! Enjoy! :)

xo kristen genevieve

Moving Day!

Today is moving day! My husband and I are moving from Vermont to Massachusetts today. Its a little bittersweet since Vermont is where we met, where we went to college together, where he proposed, and where we got married. So many memories in the Green Mountains. 

But at this same time, its exciting to make a change! I'm looking forward to a new apartment and a new city with new food & places to explore! Any suggestions for good restaurants in or around Boston? I love spicy food, especially Thai, and my husband could eat Mexican everyday. But we also love Italian, Greek, French, whatever! We especially love local spots. I can't wait to explore!

Please give me suggestions in the comment section below! 

xo kristen genevieve