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C.WONDER HAMPTONS TRIP

Blogging isn't always as glamorous as it seems. I've had a few friends take a stab at blogging for all the perks, only to jump ship when they realized how hard it is to actually sit down and make yourself write something new every single day. There's a lot of alone time, constant comparison to what other people are doing, and plenty of self-doubt over whether your diligence will ever amount to anything. That said, I'd be lying if I said the pros don't completely outweigh the cons. I've met so many incredible people, had so many cool experiences, and even seen new-to-me places because of this little blog I started back in college. So while I'll never complain about getting to collaborate with a new brand or receiving a free handbag in the mail, it's the experiences and the friendships I value above all else.


Getting to travel out to the Hamptons with C. Wonder last week is exactly the kind of experience I'm talking about. Fill a bus with my favorite bloggers and business women and drop them off at a gorgeous home in Southampton... It's the kind of day that dreams are made of. The public relations team at C. Wonder is one of the most awesome groups of women I've met in New York; they're all so perky and smart and just really well-suited for their jobs. They wear the clothing in a way that makes me see C. Wonder totally differently — I swear I could have stolen their outfits right then and there. (D-y-i-n-g for this silk dress in olive green.) Instead let's settle for a little early summer shopping spree, shall we?


Can we talk about this pool? It's definitely the crown jewel of Chris Burch's home. (And it should come as no surprise that I love all the hot pink and navy!) It was such a treat to get out of the city and spend a little time in the Southampton sunshine. 


Want to know the way to my heart? Easy: lobster rolls. My favorite summer food and extra pretty when served on a navy coral tray.




Oversized pots of hydrangeas? This must be heaven on earth.


I loved this side view of the house. Such a dream home! I dream of having that much space to decorate and landscape and wallpaper as I please. I'm pretty sure every other blogger there felt the same way!


Thank you, C. Wonder, for getting together such a good group of people and showing us all such a wonderful time! 

P.S. If you've had your eye on something from C. Wonder but haven't pulled the trigger, there's a good chance it's in their epic summer sale. Shop it here!




THE END OF AN ERA.


"When one door closes, another opens."
—Alexander Graham Bell


My parents are putting our family home on the market this week and it's been a really tough move for all of us to wrap our heads around. They'll stay in the same town at least until my brother graduates high school but we all know it won't be the same. Cleaning out my childhood bedroom, donating old clothes and toys, painting over the striped walls in our kitchen... Every step feels like a particularly painful part of growing up. I know it's the right choice for our family but it's been heart-wrenching to slowly say good-bye to the place where we grew up.


Every corner of that home is filled with countless childhood memories. My sister and I taking over the playroom with a Playmobil village that deserved a spot in their catalog. My parents surprising us with Coach on Christmas morning. Setting up obstacle courses for all our neighborhood friends. Celebrating my dad's 40th birthday with a big tent on the front lawn. Learning my back handspring on the trampoline. Eating veggies from my mom's garden. Hosting a French exchange student. Picking flowers from my dad's peony bushes. Celebrating my high school graduation. Finding out I got into Bucknell. Saying good-bye to Fenway. Launching my business from the dining room table. The surprise launch party my family threw me the week before it went live. Bringing Rory home. More than a dozen Christmas mornings with my grandmother and cousins.


We had a good family cry with everyone home a couple weeks ago and it was pretty incredible to hear everyone share their favorite memories in that house. Big transitions like this one always remind me how profoundly lucky I am to have the parents I do and how proud I am to be a big sister to my siblings, all of whom are funny and smart and growing up so fast. It's the people who make a house a home and I'm so unbelievably thankful that these are my people. Goodbye, beautiful home, and hello to our next chapter.


KERRY STEELE ART POP-UP SHOP



I'm so excited to share the first ever artist pop-up on Design Darling! I've been a fan of Kerry Steele for years (there's been a button to her shop in my blog sidebar forever!) and have an abstract piece of hers ready to be hung in my apartment. She works mainly in oils and watercolors and is known for her bold strokes and bright color combinations. Everything in the pop-up is one-of-a-kind so don't wait to check it out if you're looking for a good deal on an original canvas or a watercolor for your gallery wall. Scoop one up before they're gone for good!

P.S. There are other new arrivals as well! Double the fun.