Hello hello, and yay… we made it to Friday! I’m feeling ready for the weekend. I have a pretty full day of meetings and then a “me night” tonight. Thinking of either… watching all of the TV while devouring an entire bag of Skinny Pop (my fav snack lately, ha ha) or going to see La La Land. Everyone I know has seen it and I am feeling a little left out – it sounds so incredible! I’m really looking forward to a peaceful weekend. I have a few workouts planned and a movie date with my best friend tomorrow and… that’s it. A nice, blissfully empty weekend.
I did something a little bit crazy this week. Okay, not crazy but a little impulsive. I booked a trip to Europe in mid-February! My friend Stanley is the master of finding inexpensive flights (my round-trip ticket was $400!!) and he was already visiting our friends in Belfast so I decided to go too! I don’t always take advantage of the fact that I can more or less do my work from anywhere and I can. not. wait. We are starting in Copenhagen (for whatever reason, flying to Copenhagen seems to be the secret to traveling inexpensively… tickets out of NYC are cheap and then you can just get $50 flights within Europe to whatever cities you want to go to).
From Copenhagen, we will head to Belfast together and stay with our friend Aly and her family there for five nights…. then I will head to London and Paris (two nights in each) and then then fly home! I am so excited. I am lucky in that I get to travel a lot for the blog but it’s been a while since I went anywhere “just for fun.” Of course I will be writing about the trip and taking photos but I’m excited for time in all four cities to explore on my own schedule and just spend time with my friends. Aly and her husband have three little boys and they are the cutest – and getting so big!!
Outfit Details: J.Crew Coat (4 years old but this, this, this, and this are all just as classic + similar) // Clare V Clutch // AEO Scarf (sold out but obsessed with this one) // LOFT Dress (40% off!) // Express Tights // BP Trolley Boots // Celine Sunglasses
I get asked about tights a lot for some reason, and I tell everyone that Express tights are the best out there. Better than Wolford, better than anything…. and also really affordable. They’re super thick and opaque and while I don’t think you are supposed to, I put them in the dryer and they’re fine.
You need this dress. Okay, maybe need is too strong of a word, but it’s such a good one. Cozy, comfy, flattering, and warm! It’s a great price (presently 40% off, no code needed) and if they made it in more colors I would be all over it.
photography by Lydia Hudgens.
Express tights really are the best – the only ones I buy anymore!
Thanks Carrie!! I am so glad someone else agrees – they really are just the best!
Copenhagen sounds like a dream! I hope you have fun!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
Thanks Charmaine 🙂 Happy Friday!!
Dublin is only about 2 hours from Belfast and trains run all the time.. just in case you are looking for some side trips!
Thanks Sharon! Aly and I did that a few years ago and had such a fun time. Might be hard with the 3 little ones but maybe we’ll be able to pull it off again this time!
I love the dress.
Thank you Sophie! xx
I’m feeling left out on the La La Land front, too! I planned to go last Friday after my workout, but it was freezing so I got Chipotle and took it home to the couch instead 😉 I love that you booked a spontaneous trip! I was randomly looking at flights yesterday and my sister texted and said she booked a last minute trip to LA. I have points burning a hole in my pocket, but can’t decide where to go. Looking forward to following along with you there 🙂
Oooh I hope you go somewhere fun!!!
I love LA. I am going at the end of the month for the SAG awards but I have not been in years. I love how healthy it is there… and the warm weather does not hurt!
OMG! Yay for your trip, lady! You absolutely need to go see LA LA Land! Seriously one of my top five favorite movies!!
You are giving me the push I need – I really gotta go see it!!! 🙂
Such an exciting trip! I booked an impulsive trip to London at the end of February and I’m SO excited – I’ve never been before!
Love love love this dress, it looks so cozy!
Pink Champagne Problems
Ahhhh that is so fun!!!
I will be sure to share everything we do in London – it’s one of my favorite cities. I don’t know how into art you are but museum/gallery hopping is my absolute favorite. Promise me you will go to the bar at Chiltern Firehouse and have at least one negroni (while celeb spotting of course). It can be hard to get into but if you go on the earlier side you’ll be fine!
That dress is really cute! The material it’s made of looks super cosy and warm. Have fun on your trip! Next time you come to Europe you should visit Portugal, we’re a really pretty country, you’ll love it!
Thanks Marta! It really is so cozy and warm.
I really really want to go to Portugal some day! In March, my sister + my parents are going… I am jealous.
Have a great weekend!
This dress is SO cute on you! Express tights are my fave, too. And you can’t beat the price.
Can’t wait to hear about your travels! Happy weekend!
–Roxanne
http://glassofglam.com
Thanks Roxanne! So happy that you agree on Express Tights – they are the greatest! Have an amazing weekend! xo
i’ve been eyeing this dress at loft and it looks so great on you! my husband and i just took a trip to copenhagen and ireland (road tripped around!) in november and it was amazing and a really great combo of countries. i hope you enjoy your trip!!
It is the best dress!!!! I love it so much. So cozy!
That sounds like an amazing trip… I’ve been to Ireland a bunch but never Copenhagen – I am so excited to see more of it!!
You’re not the only one!! I rather impulsively booked tickets to Europe for next month as well. $69 one way from SFO to Bristol, England, then explore from there. We’re flying back from Germany. Both tickets were around $600 total. From the west coast, no less. Can’t beat it!!
PS – Hope to see a packing guide from you!!
Aw yay – that is incredible!!!!! Enjoy your trip!
And thank you for the suggestion on the packing list – will do!
That scarf is beautiful! It goes wonderfully with a classic gray dress!
xo, Caitlin
http://thesolcompass.com
Thank you so much Caitlin! xo
AH! Copenhagen is amaaaazing! I just got back and loved it so so much! Hopefully you’re spending at least a teeny bit of your trip there!!!
Yes! I can. not. wait!!!!
so cute and cozy!!
Thanks mom 🙂 love you!
I just saw that Emirates is doing awesome deals to Milan (which is how I went last year): https://www.emirates.com/us/english/offers/v2/3916494/give-your-valentine-the-world?stop_mobi=yes&utm_id=dck|4328593|10003599|2368198|144576542|72246651&utm_source=N5716.1425TRAVELZOO&utm_campaign=drao1617_valentinesday&utm_medium=display_directresponse&utm_content=US&dclid=CIvthaSBwNECFem0swodGeEM6w
I haven’t read the details but if it’s anything like when I went last year it’s sort of off-season…which is pretty nice, even if the weather isn’t always super awesome.
Ahhh that’s amazing!!!!! Great find.
La La Land was OK, but honestly I was a little disappointed. The musical numbers were charming but the rest was kind of uneven.
STRONG recommendation for Hidden Figures though — I took myself on a movie date today and I loved it. I laughed and cried a lot (and the music was great, too!).
My best friend said the same thing!!! I am nervous I will be let down because I’m so excited for it. We shall see.
Cannot wait to see Hidden Figures!!
Grace….I just ordered this dress. While ordering, I discovered that Loft has a give back program! You should partner with them and let everyone know!
So good to know, thanks Jen! I will look into it. 🙂 xx
I love how you styled this simple dress! Lovely outfit <3
TheNormcoreRebel
Thanks Nikoline! Hope you had a great weekend.
You look beautiful as always!
What street was this taken on? I keep thinking that can’t possibly be NYC… I haven’t kept up so not sure if you are on a trip to New Orleans or Charleston…? (But couldn’t possibly be so cold in NOLA…)
Thanks, Catherine! It’s actually this cute little alley down past Union Square (between University and 5th), I think near 10th street – it’s across from the Le Pan Quotedien!
This dress is SO cute! Hope you have the best time on your Europe trip!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
Thank you Katie! xx