#LOVEMYJACKS

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of co-hosting a party at the Jack Rogers store in New York with Carly and Fred. It was so much fun to meet several Design Darling readers (and customers!) as well as a couple blogger friends I'd been dying to meet forever!

Michael and I met up with Hannah, Stephanie, and Carly before the event to catch up and grab a drink before heading to the party. I hadn't met Hannah and Stephanie before and was so impressed they made the trip from D.C. and back for the party! How fun are everyone's dresses?

I gave the girls these bangles from the boutique and somehow everyone found one or two that worked with their outfit!

I wore this Emma Graham dress and a J.Crew pearl necklace that my mom gave me for graduation last year (similar here). And you can bet I was wearing my favorite pair of Jacks!

There was lots of shopping going on during the event and my biggest temptation (which I successfully resisted — for now!) was this pair from their collaboration with fabric house Quadrille. (They'll be available on the website in early June!)

Shoe shot! My monogrammed Jacks and Carly's platinum wedges.

I always have so much fun with this girl! Here's hoping we'll be invited back next year ;)

*all photos by Carly Heitlinger

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of co-hosting a party at the Jack Rogers store in New York with Carly and Fred. It was so much fun to meet several Design Darling readers (and customers!) as well as a couple blogger friends I'd been dying to meet forever!

Michael and I met up with Hannah, Stephanie, and Carly before the event to catch up and grab a drink before heading to the party. I hadn't met Hannah and Stephanie before and was so impressed they made the trip from D.C. and back for the party! How fun are everyone's dresses?

I gave the girls these bangles from the boutique and somehow everyone found one or two that worked with their outfit!

I wore this Emma Graham dress and a J.Crew pearl necklace that my mom gave me for graduation last year (similar here). And you can bet I was wearing my favorite pair of Jacks!

There was lots of shopping going on during the event and my biggest temptation (which I successfully resisted — for now!) was this pair from their collaboration with fabric house Quadrille. (They'll be available on the website in early June!)

Shoe shot! My monogrammed Jacks and Carly's platinum wedges.

I always have so much fun with this girl! Here's hoping we'll be invited back next year ;)

*all photos by Carly Heitlinger

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

THINGS I'M AFRAID TO TELL YOU

You may have noticed a number of bloggers participating in a little movement called "Things I'm Afraid To Tell You." It started with this post on Makeunder My Life and expanded with this post on Creature Comforts. I sort of did a version of this here but when Meg emailed me about participating in a second wave of posts, you can bet I hopped on that bandwagon! So without further ado, some things I'm afraid to tell you...

I have no idea when I'll be moving out. I'm lucky to live within an hour of New York and even luckier to have parents who put up with having me at home. Inventory for the boutique used to be stored in the closet off my bedroom but as I've added new arrivals has taken over the dining room... which means wherever I move will likely have to have an extra room to house it all... which is totally unrealistic. Unless...

My dream for the next few years is to organize an office space for fellow creatives who run their own businesses. Bri does this in Los Angeles and Erin has a similar set-up in Boston. To be able to store my inventory outside my home and to stop working when I leave the office sound pretty great right now!

Running a small business is stressful. Behind the new arrivals and pretty Instagrams, there's a 22-year-old girl who's trying to figure it all out as she goes. I still feel a little surge of joy every time a new sale comes in... but also a little surge of anxiety every time I have a slow sales day. But compared to what I was doing eight or ten months ago? I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I take things personally. An anonymous comment, an upset email, or a tersely worded text message have all made me cry at some point or another. I wish I weren't so sensitive but I also like to think it makes me more empathetic.

I worry often about not being "enough." I'm not creative enough. My blog isn't big enough. My sales aren't strong enough. I'm constantly having to remind myself that nothing good can come of that train of thought — and this series in particular has helped me see how many of those people I compare myself to are actually feeling the same way.

- - -

Well, there you have it! I hope I haven't scared you off by keeping it real. And if you feel so inclined, leave a comment below sharing one thing you're afraid to tell!

You may have noticed a number of bloggers participating in a little movement called "Things I'm Afraid To Tell You." It started with this post on Makeunder My Life and expanded with this post on Creature Comforts. I sort of did a version of this here but when Meg emailed me about participating in a second wave of posts, you can bet I hopped on that bandwagon! So without further ado, some things I'm afraid to tell you...

I have no idea when I'll be moving out. I'm lucky to live within an hour of New York and even luckier to have parents who put up with having me at home. Inventory for the boutique used to be stored in the closet off my bedroom but as I've added new arrivals has taken over the dining room... which means wherever I move will likely have to have an extra room to house it all... which is totally unrealistic. Unless...

My dream for the next few years is to organize an office space for fellow creatives who run their own businesses. Bri does this in Los Angeles and Erin has a similar set-up in Boston. To be able to store my inventory outside my home and to stop working when I leave the office sound pretty great right now!

Running a small business is stressful. Behind the new arrivals and pretty Instagrams, there's a 22-year-old girl who's trying to figure it all out as she goes. I still feel a little surge of joy every time a new sale comes in... but also a little surge of anxiety every time I have a slow sales day. But compared to what I was doing eight or ten months ago? I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I take things personally. An anonymous comment, an upset email, or a tersely worded text message have all made me cry at some point or another. I wish I weren't so sensitive but I also like to think it makes me more empathetic.

I worry often about not being "enough." I'm not creative enough. My blog isn't big enough. My sales aren't strong enough. I'm constantly having to remind myself that nothing good can come of that train of thought — and this series in particular has helped me see how many of those people I compare myself to are actually feeling the same way.

- - -

Well, there you have it! I hope I haven't scared you off by keeping it real. And if you feel so inclined, leave a comment below sharing one thing you're afraid to tell!

SUMMER STYLE

Happy Monday everyone! This weekend I snuck in a little time under the sun, watching my sister play softball and eating dinner in the backyard for Mother's Day. I can't tell you how happy I am that summer is truly around the corner! Here's a little style inspiration for the coming months...

Loren Hope Sophia studs // Bop Basics clutch // Anthropologie heart ring // Banana Republic cuff 
Rag & Bone t-shirt // Citizens of Humanity jeans // Devon Baer Designs elephant belt // J.Crew sandals

Cool blues in complementary hues! Also let's discuss how this looks like the softest t-shirt ever. Right? Yes please. What are some of your summer staples?

Happy Monday everyone! This weekend I snuck in a little time under the sun, watching my sister play softball and eating dinner in the backyard for Mother's Day. I can't tell you how happy I am that summer is truly around the corner! Here's a little style inspiration for the coming months...

Loren Hope Sophia studs // Bop Basics clutch // Anthropologie heart ring // Banana Republic cuff 
Rag & Bone t-shirt // Citizens of Humanity jeans // Devon Baer Designs elephant belt // J.Crew sandals

Cool blues in complementary hues! Also let's discuss how this looks like the softest t-shirt ever. Right? Yes please. What are some of your summer staples?