inspiration: BHLDN

Can I please work for you? Thanks.

Amazing.

 ^^ I am DYING! So beautiful!

images via IG: bhldn

They just opened shop in Beverly Hills. Never in my life have I wanted to go to California before. Until now. Maybe when we are at grad school (if we go to Philadelphia which is an option) I can work for them... that would be a dream. Just to be around such a beautiful and creative brand. Love.

Some of my current favorites from their website..

^^ A.M.A.Z.I.N.G - in love.
Isadora Gown

 ^^ that BACK! so lovely.
Ortensia Gown

 ^^ love this idea.
Tulle Tiers Skirt 

 ^^ YES!! sequins for days...
Cyprium Gown 

^^ so beautiful. The detail is stunning.
Onyx Gown

 ^^ the beaded detail. Yes! Want that dress...
Scattered Pearl Capelet / Stardust Dress

((PLEASE go to this link and look at that dress close up - unreal (I added the up close picture below). I am dying, I want it so bad. It is modest and gorgeously stunning... I need. Need need need...like please can I not be a poor college student for a day so I can buy it? I promise I'll wear it for the rest of my life!))

^^ pretty sparkles
Monsoon Sash / Coterie Chandeliers

^^ um.... YES!! GORGEOUS beyond gorgeous
Polar Seas Earrings

^^ pretty bridesmaid gown

From their B-inspired page:

 ^^so dreamy...
Bohemian Wedding Dress Looks

^^I am so in love with all of their detail this season. Gorgeous.
Fresh Spring Wedding Dresses

And Blair from Atlantic-Pacific was featured: What to Wear to a Summer Wedding

She posted these GORGEOUS pictures on her blog from the shoot.

^^everything is so pretty with BHLDN.

Ah! Their site is amazing! I am LOVING their B-inspired section. And the gowns are seriously such good prices ($400-$3,000 with most around $1,500). I am always impressed with their selection.

Oh BHLDN - you have my heart.

Well, that was my inspiration for the week. Now all I want to do is sketch and design pretty evening wear/bridal gowns... and wear pretty evening wear/bridal gowns... Like really really bad. If only I had the time and money to just sit and design and create whatever I wanted all day long..I guess I'll just add it to the ever growing to-do list. There are just so many things I want to do an accomplish. And none of them are going back to school in less than 2 months...I just want to spend all day in the garment district looking at fabric and trimmings.. and feathers, and sparkles.. I need to go buy myself a sketch pad and pencil - I didn't bring any with me.

more fun with mom and Bain!

MONDAY: Chelsea Market lunch with mom and Bain at Ronnybrook Dairy. Stroll along the Highline in the rain. Doughnut Plant for dessert. Solo competition in the evening - Bain did AMAZING! and Pie Face for dinner with mom, Taylor, and me.

^^ one of my all time favorite sandwiches! Fresh mozerella with avocado, tomato, and basil on Pumpernickle. I get it everytime I am at Chelsea Market. The Pink Pasta was also delicious and so was the Orange Cream Shake... (don't try the "frozen" lemonade with mint ice).

 ^^ I love the contrast - buildings vs. nature

 ^^ amazing flowers, so beautiful

 ^^ Doughnut Plant - creme brulee, coconut cream, PB&J, coconut lime, blueberry, and chocolate

 ^^ Bain performed her solo and did an AMAZING job!!

^^ photo from her solo on Saturday!

^^ we tried pie face - savory and sweet pies. They were good - not amazing. 

TUESDAY: Today was a special day, Bain's 17th BIRTHDAY!!! So we celebrated with shopping (Lulu, Gap, J.Crew, Madewell, and Urban) and eating (Shake Shack, Vanessa's Dumplings, and Serendipity). I had work and grocery shopping in-between. AND Bain had the day off from dance (minus a 9pm rehearsal)! Best birthday present ever.

 ^^ Because everyone deserves fries and a concrete on their birthday!! The Great White Way concrete is amazing - it's basically two of my favorite treats mixed together: ice cream + rice crispy treats! It is served at the 8th ave. location and it is a mix of marshmallow sauce, vanilla custard, and rice crispies!!

^^cheap, slightly sketchy, but amazing - Vanessa's Dumplings

 ^^ my two favorite Serendipity sandwiches - The Haight-Ashbury and A Summer Bries. 

 ^^ Can't Say No Sundae - it is the best!! We had our humble pie on the side so Taylor could enjoy the sundae free from harm and mom and I could enjoy the peanut butter goodness.

WEDNESDAY: Worky work all day at a Private Equity firm on Madison Ave. while Bain had dance classes. Then we watched competition in the evening!

THURSDAY: Two special events occurred this day, (1) Our Nation's Birthday - Happy 4th!! and (2) Taylor and I have been married for exactly TWO months! Yay!! Taylor and I celebrated our little anniversary with Crumbs and we celebrated Independence Day with corn dogs from Shake Shack and fireworks! My mom also gave us a celebratory Levain Bakery cookie. Bain had dance classes all day and competition all night so Taylor and I stopped by after fireworks to catch her last dance.

^^ summer holiday special: Corn Dogs - seriously amazing!! 

 ^^ it was crazy packed with people - being claustrophobic I had a hard time.. but in the end it was all worth it because the fireworks show was amazing as always. I'd seen it two times before (2005 and 2007) but this was Taylor's first! 

FRIDAY: We basically have 3 Saturday's in a row this weekend. Taylor didn't work on the 4th, or today - and then we have our real Saturday tomorrow. Legit! We did laundry and things then met up with Mom and Bain for dinner at El Centro and dessert at Amorino! (Bain got PinkBerry!)

 ^^ I could eat Mexican everyday... so yummy!!

 ^^ love this place! Pricey but super good!!

 ^^ coconut, lemon, and yuzu. Heaven.

(I'm slowly converting Taylor into an ice cream lover! Success!)

SATURDAY: Bain had classes all day and then the NYCDA Gala was in the evening. This meant that Taylor and I had the day to ourselves. We went shopping (got Taylor some beautiful suits/dress shirts/ties - WE LOVE SALES! and we love shopping with/for each other) and ate yummy panini's outside at Europan Bakery Cafe. At NYCDA the top award is called Critics Choice. There are about 5 dances in each age group that are picked throughout the competition to perform in the Gala - from there one dance is chosen as the winner. So there are 4 Critics Choice winners - one from mini, junior, teen, and senior. The Dance Club, Bain's studio, won both the teen and senior Critics Choice awards!! So proud of her and TDC. Bain danced all week on what we think is a fractured wrist.. poor girl! She is amazing! Good thing Lake Powell is next week and she gets to relax for a week!! (SO jealous!!)

^^cuties in matching colors

SUNDAY: We met up with mom and Bain for brunch at Norma's! Then we walked along the Brooklyn Bridge before sending mom and Bain to the airport. It was so much fun having them here this past week.

^^ how cool!

^^ take me back.. so yummy! Huevos Rancheros (my favorite), Crunchy French Toast, Eggs Benedict. There were SO many things I wanted to try - everything sounded amazing.

 ^^ Bain has been to NYC 4 times and this was her first time seeing the Statue of Liberty. 

We had SO much fun!!