15 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

My Paintbox manicure courtesy of Arm & Hammer (for more details on the design--it's from Paintbox's new bridal menu!--check out my column on brides.com later today)

I hate winter. Seriously. Can it just be spring already? Ugh. But when I'm not bitching about the cold this weekend, I'm going to be prepping for my daughter's upcoming birthday party (those mermaid cupcake toppers aren't going to make themselves!), and hopefully squeezing in a bang trim for her as well as a first haircut (squeeee!) for my (currently very shaggy) son. 

I hope you have an awesome--and warm--weekend. Here's a few fun links!

• These sandals are gorgeous. The touch of metallic adds such a fun twist to an otherwise simple style.

• I've been wanting a tassel necklace. And this one would be so perfect to wear with maxi dresses, right?

• I just ordered this pretty floral dress earlier this week. Love that it can work for the office, dinner, drinks--anything. (Can you tell I have warm weather on the brain?)

• These birthstone art prints from Minted are so beautiful--and such a fun, different idea. I really want the aquamarine design for the (someday-to-actually-happen) gallery wall in my daughter's room!

• Grain-free, gluten-free sweet potato gnocchi? Sign me up!

• Remember when I was sad about Starbucks starting to offer coconut milk...that is loaded in sugar? Well, now the brilliant nutritionist Lauren Slayton over at Foodtrainers has details on exactly how sketchy it is. (Thanks for the mention, Lauren!)

• This entire ghost town is up for sale! Here's praying whoever buys it doesn't just knock it down. God, I would love to explore those old Victorian buildings. (Not alone though!)

• A look at how some local governments are cracking down on the societal scourge known as the FREE NEIGHBORLY BOOK EXCHANGE. Gee, it's a good thing these cities don't have anything else to worry about! #sarcasm (h/t Felicia)

• How one pharmaceutical company is charging $84,000 for a drug that costs less than $300 to produce. Also known as: why pharmaceutical companies are THE WORST.

• This video is hilarious: what happens when a baby teaches a dance class. (Dying to know what that little kid was thinking!)

• Jennifer Lawrence looks incredible in the new Dior ads.

• The clever moms who came out with that hilarious Blank Space parody a few months back have a funny new video: all about spending your family vacation posing the perfect Instagram shot. #guilty

And in case you missed it, this week I...

• Talked openly about the very real struggle that us moms experience around 3 a.m.

• Gave a peek into a fun mommy-daughter morning filled with shopping, braids, and brunch.

• Shared the pretty spring fashion finds that I cannot wait to wear.

The Best Summer Dresses for Work

From left: Tory Burch (on major sale!); Gap; Diane Von Furstenberg

As you may have read, I had a bit of news this week. And this is the kind of news that brings...new clothes! (It was necessary, I swear!) See, for the past few months, I've been freelancing. And working from home (or the coffee shop) can mean wearing anything from a casual chambray dress to cutoffs to--ok, being real here now--pjs. And considering that last summer, I had just had a baby, and basically lived in sweats, I hadn't really gone shopping for new summer work clothes in, like, forever. It was time for an upgrade--a.k.a. New Dress O'Clock.

I love dresses for work, don't you? They take so much less time in the morning since you don't have to think too hard about what to pair them with. Plus, they're so much more flattering (for me, at least) than separates. Specifically, the most flattering dress silhouettes on my body are the ones that are fitted on top, flared on the bottom, and usually sleeveless, so that's what I tend to gravitate towards. I also love me a good cap sleeve, though, too. And, I have a definite soft spot for an embellished neckline. Case in point: This LBD. (Can't believe it's from Ann Taylor! Looks so similar to a Phillip Lim dress I bought a few years back. Going into the cart in 3, 2, 1...)

Here are a few more dresses that I love for work. There's a few I've actually already purchased (this one, this one, this one, and this one), along with a few more I've got my eye on. Which is your favorite?

SHOP MY FAVORITE SUMMER WORK DRESSES

The Coolest Spring Sunglasses

I love sunglasses. LOVE. (I mean, no surprise--I wear them in nearly every outfit post.) I have a huge wardrobe of them and love nothing more than scoring a new pair. So, I was thrilled when the eyewear fashion trend site Eyecessorize invited me to attend the recent Vision Expo trade show to view some of the new spring looks. I saw so much cool stuff--and sooo many shades that I'm now coveting. Here are some of the biggest trends you'll be seeing--and some of my favorite pairs...

Subtly Studded. I love me a good stud, and this season, we'll be seeing hints of tasteful studding all over eyewear. My favorite pairs? It's a tie between the two Balmain stunners below: the gorgeous blue pair (snatch them up here in brown or black) and the white ones with round studs dotted across the top (get 'em here). 

Girly Embellishments. Studs weren't the only decorative element to make an appearance. I saw everything from wood accents to lace to fur trim! But I went absolutely BANANAS for the honey-colored Ferragamo shades below with that adorable bow detail. It was very, very hard to walk out of there without them, let me tell you. (Find them here--and make me jealous!)

Cherry Red. There was a rainbow's worth of colored frames at the show, but my eyes gravitated right towards the bright scarlet ones. Though red is one of my favorite colors in general, I've actually never owned a red pair of sunnies. But I think it may be time. I loved how they looked totally modern and not at all Sally Jesse Raphael. (Is anyone reading this old enough to know that reference? Haha...) I especially loved the cat-eye Kate Spade pair below (find it here). Want. So. Bad.

Super Sparkly. I mean, how could this not be one of my favorite trends? We all know that I love a good glittery detail and shimmer was there in spades. I fell especially hard for these black Diane Von Furstenberg sunnies with their sprinkling of gold glitter (similar here), as well as the sequined tortoiseshell Bebe pair.



While I was there, I also got to play with some cool, non-shade specs. I don't wear prescription glasses  yet (but I can feel my eyes getting worse lately, so I'm probably close--oy), but when I do, at least I know now that there are some seriously cute options out there. Here's me having my Tina Fey moment with some clear frames and some ombre-colored ones.


So, tell me below: Which trend is your favorite? And, just for fun, I'd love to know: How many pairs of sunglasses do you own? 

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Eyecessorize, but all opinions are 100 percent my own.