BUMP IT UP

As I'm walking Rory around the neighborhood, I'm constantly taking note of places I need to visit when I find myself out and about sans my canine companion. A new-to-me boutique, grocery store, nail salon, restaurant... You name it. My latest nearby obsession is Journelle, an adorable lingerie boutique that has three locations in the city and also offers online shopping (with free shipping!). 

I stopped in to shop for couple new bras — truthfully, not the most fun errand and one that I'd been putting off for probably too long — and surprisingly fell in love with the playful branding, upbeat sales associates, and the amazing little number above: Ongossamer's Bump It Up bra. If you didn't think you could get excited about something so very simple, think again. The low neckline and seamless finish mean you can wear it underneath every top in your closet — but it's the French knot center that has me sold. It's a darling little detail on its own but it can also be twisted a second time for a little extra va va voom ;) Affordable, practical, and subtly sexy? You can bet I bought it in both colors!

P.S. For more NYC favorites, check out the comments on this post!

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

As I'm walking Rory around the neighborhood, I'm constantly taking note of places I need to visit when I find myself out and about sans my canine companion. A new-to-me boutique, grocery store, nail salon, restaurant... You name it. My latest nearby obsession is Journelle, an adorable lingerie boutique that has three locations in the city and also offers online shopping (with free shipping!). 

I stopped in to shop for couple new bras — truthfully, not the most fun errand and one that I'd been putting off for probably too long — and surprisingly fell in love with the playful branding, upbeat sales associates, and the amazing little number above: Ongossamer's Bump It Up bra. If you didn't think you could get excited about something so very simple, think again. The low neckline and seamless finish mean you can wear it underneath every top in your closet — but it's the French knot center that has me sold. It's a darling little detail on its own but it can also be twisted a second time for a little extra va va voom ;) Affordable, practical, and subtly sexy? You can bet I bought it in both colors!

P.S. For more NYC favorites, check out the comments on this post!

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

NEW ARRIVALS + SO TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on Friday's post! You all know how to make a girl feel sparkly and new ;) Speaking of, have you heard?! There's a fresh batch of new arrivals in the boutique, including a brand spanking new bath section! I hope you love what you see :)

And to keep the conversation flowing this week, let's bring back So Tell Me About Yourself!

Favorite quote:

Furthest you've ever traveled:

Guilty pleasure:

One thing on today's to do list:

Trend you're over:

Copy and paste to leave your answers in the comments! Here are my answers:

Favorite quote: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." —Walter Isaacson

Furthest you've ever traveled: Istanbul, Turkey

Guilty pleasure: Getting sucked into Bravo marathons

One thing on today's to do list: Finally replace the lightbulb above my bed... Am I the only one who puts off chores that will actually take thirty seconds to complete?!

Trend you're over: Foxes on everything 

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter 

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on Friday's post! You all know how to make a girl feel sparkly and new ;) Speaking of, have you heard?! There's a fresh batch of new arrivals in the boutique, including a brand spanking new bath section! I hope you love what you see :)

And to keep the conversation flowing this week, let's bring back So Tell Me About Yourself!

Favorite quote:

Furthest you've ever traveled:

Guilty pleasure:

One thing on today's to do list:

Trend you're over:

Copy and paste to leave your answers in the comments! Here are my answers:

Favorite quote: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." —Walter Isaacson

Furthest you've ever traveled: Istanbul, Turkey

Guilty pleasure: Getting sucked into Bravo marathons

One thing on today's to do list: Finally replace the lightbulb above my bed... Am I the only one who puts off chores that will actually take thirty seconds to complete?!

Trend you're over: Foxes on everything 

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter 

KEEPING IT REAL

I can't believe I've been living in New York for six weeks! The time has truly flown by and yet it feels like so much has happened in a brief period of time. I've realized my friends and I keep having variations of the same conversation: how crazy it is to be 23, living in this incredible city, feeling like the world is your oyster, and yet having so many things up in the air. Apartments, careers, friendships, relationships... There are so many moving parts and so little real stability.

The past month has brought a lot of unexpected changes. Move in a week after Christmas? Why not! Head to Salt Lake for a few days? Let's do it! Time for fashion week? RSVP yes! And for all the happy moments I've shared on Instagram and Twitter, truthfully I've been in a bit of a funk. As some of you noticed, my boyfriend and I decided to part ways after three years together. Trying to maintain a happy demeanor while nursing a broken heart is exhausting. Running my business out of my little apartment has been a huge adjustment. Heck, even raising a puppy in the city has been more challenging than I'd anticipated.

I don't say any of this to complain but simply to keep it real. As someone who craves routine, I struggle with the feeling that nothing is really on solid ground right now. But there's always a silver lining, especially in New York. Every walk around the block is reenergizing. For every sadness and stress, there's a bright spot — a funny text message, a new favorite coffee shop, a night out with girlfriends, a tried-and-true T.Swift dance party. My friend Eddy has been helping me pack orders a few days a week, which has pretty much rocked my world. There have been bad days, yes, but on the good days I get the sense that something amazing could happen the very next moment. And I'll be here, right where I'm supposed to be, when it does.

I know this hybrid of confusion and excitement isn't unique to being 23 or to living in New York. I imagine lots of you are in the same boat – embracing adventure, making mistakes, realizing that maybe there's no such thing as having it all figured out (or maybe that it's more fun not to). As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And thank you all for being part of this crazy, exciting, weird time in my life. It wouldn't be the same without you. :)

*Images 1 / 2 / 3 and more New York favorites here

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

I can't believe I've been living in New York for six weeks! The time has truly flown by and yet it feels like so much has happened in a brief period of time. I've realized my friends and I keep having variations of the same conversation: how crazy it is to be 23, living in this incredible city, feeling like the world is your oyster, and yet having so many things up in the air. Apartments, careers, friendships, relationships... There are so many moving parts and so little real stability.

The past month has brought a lot of unexpected changes. Move in a week after Christmas? Why not! Head to Salt Lake for a few days? Let's do it! Time for fashion week? RSVP yes! And for all the happy moments I've shared on Instagram and Twitter, truthfully I've been in a bit of a funk. As some of you noticed, my boyfriend and I decided to part ways after three years together. Trying to maintain a happy demeanor while nursing a broken heart is exhausting. Running my business out of my little apartment has been a huge adjustment. Heck, even raising a puppy in the city has been more challenging than I'd anticipated.

I don't say any of this to complain but simply to keep it real. As someone who craves routine, I struggle with the feeling that nothing is really on solid ground right now. But there's always a silver lining, especially in New York. Every walk around the block is reenergizing. For every sadness and stress, there's a bright spot — a funny text message, a new favorite coffee shop, a night out with girlfriends, a tried-and-true T.Swift dance party. My friend Eddy has been helping me pack orders a few days a week, which has pretty much rocked my world. There have been bad days, yes, but on the good days I get the sense that something amazing could happen the very next moment. And I'll be here, right where I'm supposed to be, when it does.

I know this hybrid of confusion and excitement isn't unique to being 23 or to living in New York. I imagine lots of you are in the same boat – embracing adventure, making mistakes, realizing that maybe there's no such thing as having it all figured out (or maybe that it's more fun not to). As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And thank you all for being part of this crazy, exciting, weird time in my life. It wouldn't be the same without you. :)

*Images 1 / 2 / 3 and more New York favorites here

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter