Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Happy Friday! I hope you all enjoy the long Labor Day weekend :)

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Lately on Instagram...

I don't often post personal photos, but every once in awhile I like to share what I've been up to! Here are some photos from my Instagram feed...how have you been spending the last days of summer?

went for a long walk by the ocean with my boyfriend

sunglasses: vintage Christian Dior (they were my grandmother's!),

sheer mint top: H&M (similar), bag: Marc Jacobs,

watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs, bracelet: Gorjana 

lounged on the beach in Hyannis with my dad

had a fun girl's night out with my two pretty friends, Cordy and Renee

Gift Guide: Parisian Chic Under $100

I haven't put together a gift guide in awhile, and I'm not quite sure why - aside from sharing new recipes, gift guide posts are my favorite to write! I know there are a lot of people who have a hard time buying presents, especially for those they don't know that well, so I have a lot of fun putting these guides together. This one is perfect for the stylish girl who loves everything Parisian, sophisticated and chic. Best of all, each gift is under $100, so you don't have to break the bank to get her something she is sure to love!

gift guide: parisian chic by amybreckenridge

Design Inspiration: Outdoor Dining

One of my favorite things about living in Boston during the summer is dining al fresco. There are plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy a nice lunch or dinner on an outdoor patio. But dining al fresco outside of the city can be even more beautiful - you'll agree after seeing the photos below! :) Each one makes me want to take a trip out to the country just for a home cooked meal outdoors.

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Splurge vs. Steal: Black Platform Pumps

It's really important to have a great, comfortable & versatile pair of black platform pumps for the fall and winter months. You can wear them with pencil skirts and skinny jeans when the weather is still warm and then pair them with tights when it starts to get cold and snowy. There are lots of options out there, but the four pairs below are my favorite splurges and steals of the season!

splurge vs. steal: black platform pumps by amybreckenridge

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

It's my favorite day of the week! :) I'll be spending this weekend away from the city on the beach! My dad is renting a house on Cape Cod and I'm looking forward to spending some time with him. Do you guys have any fun weekend plans?

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Summer Art by Inslee

Although it's sad to acknowledge, summer will be ending sooner than we know it! Before September arrives, I wanted to share some summer-inspired pieces by one of my favorite artists, Inslee. If you aren't familiar with Inslee's designs, you need to get your stylish butt over to her website ASAP.  She has an amazing talent, especially when it comes to drawing fashionable ladies! Check out her blog, affordable prints or her brand new 2013 calendar! I promise you'll love them all!

Design Inspiration: Vanities

Someday when I live in my dream home, I'll have a beautiful, feminine vanity where I can sit and primp every time I get ready to leave the house. It will be super organized and topped with scented candles, fresh flowers and a few of my favorite trinkets. I'll make sure it's located near a window so I have lots of natural light streaming in which is the best for applying makeup. Until then, I'll just have to look at these photos and dream...

Smoking Slippers Under $200

I'm really excited for this fall's smoking slipper trend! My outfits are always very feminine, so I think the smoking flat will be a great way for me to add a masculine touch to my wardrobe. I searched for unique pairs under $200 and found 8 great options featuring studs, sequins, leopard print, suede and snakeskin, so there's definitely something for all tastes!

smoking slippers by amybreckenridge

Style Inspiration: Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel has been attending press events and walking the red carpet quite frequently lately for her new movie Total Recall and she has looked absolutely stunning every time. Her dresses have been gorgeous, the styling amazing and her hair and makeup flawless. I've picked ten of my favorite recent Jessica looks - which is your favorite??

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in a Dior Haute Couture dress

in an Elie Saab dress

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Happy Friday! Do any of you have fun plans for the weekend? I'm going to the Brew at the Zoo here in Boston, and I can't wait! I love animals so it should be a lot of fun :)

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Currently Craving: Tiny Diamond Rings

I've had my eye on a few rings lately that feature the tiniest little diamonds. Although I'm anxiously awaiting the day when I receive *the* diamond ring, I'd love to buy myself a "single girl" diamond for my right ring finger. All girls should own a diamond ring regardless of their marital status, right? Below are some of my favorite affordable (and not-so-affordable) tiny diamond rings. Which can you see yourself wearing??

tiny diamond rings by amybreckenridge

Design Inspiration: Crisp White Bedrooms

I've never really thought about decorating my bedroom entirely in white, but after seeing these, I'm inspired to remove all traces of color from it! There is something really calming and peaceful about each of these bedrooms - whether the style is glam, modern, beachy or shabby chic, each looks so crisp and clean. Which is your favorite?

Travel Inspiration: Italy

Italy is such a beautiful country. I've been to Rome, Venice and Milan, but there are so many other gorgeous cities and villages that I'd like to visit someday. I'm adding these to my bucket list!

Vernazza

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Napoli

Cinque Terre

Shift Dresses

I absolutely love shift dresses. They're flattering on all shapes and sizes, can be paired with ballet flats for work or sky-high pumps for a night out, and leave a lot of room for fun accessories. They can be worn all summer and then transition into fall and winter with the simple addition of a cardigan and a pair of tights. I've been shopping around for some pretty (and affordable) shift dresses and wanted to share my top picks with you!

shift dresses by amybreckenridge

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Happy Friday! This weekend I'm going kayaking on the Charles River (provided it doesn't rain!), babysitting my boyfriend's adorable nephews and helping a friend go wedding dress shopping! What are your plans?

Here are my favorite quotes from this week!

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Design Inspiration: Dream Closets

Although I live in a studio apartment, I'm very fortunate to have a walk-in closet, which are really hard to come by in Boston. It's nothing fancy, but it's pretty big and has more than enough space for all of my clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. That doesn't stop me from having major closet envy though - these insanely glamourous closets make mine look like a cardboard box!!

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Filling

It hit me this weekend that I've never made whoopie pies before, and that needed to change ASAP. I had printed off this mini chocolate whoopie pie with Nutella filling recipe that I saw on Pinterest, but as soon as I started to make the cakes, I realized I had no Nutella at home. Whoops.

I was wayyy too lazy to run out and buy some, so I started rummaging around my cabinets for something to fill the cakes with. I saw that I had some marshmallow fluff and knew that if I made the same filling I used for my creamsicle cupcakes, these would be some pretty tasty whoopie pies! I whipped the filling instead of using the flat paddle attachment to make it super light and fluffy, and it was the perfect match for the chocolate cakes.

I also decided to make full sized whoopie pies instead of doing minis. Go big or go home, right?? Although they were a bit messy, they were really darn good and very quick to make. I promise you'll love them!

Splurge vs. Steal: Cap Toe Pumps

During the spring fashion shows a few months back, I spotted these gorgeous Louis Vuitton cap toe pumps on the runway and fell in love. I immediately looked them up and found that they cost $1000. Sigh. I would have a really hard time spending almost a full month's rent on a pair of pumps even though I know they'd go with so many pieces in my wardrobe. I could picture myself wearing them with dresses, skinny jeans, pencil skirts...pretty much anything!

I started to search for lower priced options in a similar style and came across these Guess 'Myrick' pumps. While they're not dead ringers for the LV pair, they are pretty darn close! The shape of the shoe is the same, but the heel is a bit shorter and they're made of patent instead of regular leather. The cap is gold instead of silver, but overall I really like them! They're also only 1/10th of the cost at $99, so you can't go wrong!

I'm definitely going to go with the steal here and buy the Guess pumps.
What would you do - splurge or steal?

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Today, all of my favorite quotes come from the blog Music & Lyrics & Words. The author mixes beautiful photos with inspiring quotes to create awesome images! Take a look at her blog for more.

Cookie Dough Cheesecake Layer Bars

This past Sunday was rainy and gloomy, so I stayed in and baked these chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake layer bars. They were definitely tasty and would be great to make for someone when you're not sure what their favorite flavors are. I mean, who doesn't like cheesecake or chocolate chip cookies?? They're pretty much a safe bet for any party! The cheesecake layer is my favorite part :)

My Favorites: Lip Gloss

Like any beauty junkie, I've tried tons and tons of lip glosses and it's taken me awhile to find my favorite ones. Some smell weird, some are too sticky, some are too sparkly, some leave my lips feeling dry and some don't last long enough.

I've highlighted my top 5 favorite lip glosses and share my review on each below - do you agree with any of my picks? If not, which lip gloss is your favorite? I always love to try out new products! :)

my favorites: lip gloss by amybreckenridge