Outfit Details:
vintage coat – Beacon’s Closet
lace top – thrifted
twenty8twelve skirt – super sale at Gilt (click if you need an invitation)
lattice heels – courtesy of Lulu*s
sequin clutch – courtesy of Juicy Couture
rhinestone bracelet – from the Fenton/Fallon jewelry making party (I removed it from my DIY necklace)

Just keepin’ it real with my bruises and bug bites from the farm. The newlyweds (Jon and Amanda), Roxy (their daughter), Shelbey (Jon’s sister), Bobby, mom, my stepdad, Tessa, her boyfriend (!!!!) and I all went to dinner on my last night in town. In Coral Springs, there are a few food must-haves for me: Laspada’s hoagies, Publix subs (really!), Blue Moon, Big Bear’s beer muenster cheese soup and…Sweet Tomatoes! Yes, I got this dressed up to go eat soup, salad and blueberry muffins. We may have really great food in New York but I always miss Sweet Tomatoes. I’m a cheap date! I don’t want you to make my salad for me. I want to make it myself. I also want small portions of three different types of soup, thankyouverymuch. Variety…and freshly baked blueberry muffins! Also, when is New York going to realize that sweet tea is a necessity? It’s practically my religion.

As mentioned before, I met Tessa’s boyfriend. I was expecting to hate him just on pure principle that he is stealing the innocence and youth from my baby sister, but he’s actually really great. He fits right in, and though six feet tall, he’s still very much a kid – which I appreciate so, so very much. Both of them have their heads on straight and don’t seem to be in a rush to grow up and be too cool for their families. I lectured both of them on the dangers of drugs, alcohol and holding hands or kissing…and then I told Bobby to give him the third degree. He gave him a faux menacing look and pointed his finger at him. Then they became best of friends and bought matching speakers for their iPods. Good job, Bobby. I do have to give the kid credit, since he was thrown into a room with a small portion of our very large family and blended right in. If anyone stuck out like a sore thumb, it was me…in my vintage jacket and sequin clutch, which I received in my gift bag from the Juicy Couture bag preview. Like that transition?

Before I left for Florida and wedding festivities, I attended a preview at Juicy Couture’s showroom to check out their new handbags and talk to the designer, Kirsten Schwinn. I’ve always prided myself on being open minded and not judgmental at all (suuure), but let’s be real: Juicy Couture immediately brings to mind tracksuits and sweatpants with words on the butt and though I have nothing against them, they aren’t something I have in my wardrobe. I knew they had a lot more than that to offer, as demonstrated by The Glamourai Kelly  and the fact that Erin Fetherston recently signed on as a creative consultant, but I honestly didn’t know what to expect and was excited to see what they had in store for us. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I was immediately drawn toward the overtly girly bows and raw chiffon ruffles, and obviously thought of Kim when I saw an entire wall of glitzy sequins. Kirsten acknowledged their effort to breathe new life into the entire line, making everything a little more fashion forward, while still staying true to their customers. It’s kind of exciting to see Juicy grow. The moral of the story: don’t judge a brand by just its tracksuits – there’s a whole lot more in the store.

Love Love,
Keiko Lynn

p.s. Use the code KEIKO for 15% off any purchase at Lulu*s! FYI, the shoes I’m wearing would be $33 with the discount.