Wild & Dangerous

 

A few weeks ago, A & I noticed that a new EVOS location was being built in Carrollwood, & we had been hotly anticipating its grand opening. Alas, the two of us can't go anywhere without a photoshoot first, & we managed to get A's brother, Ashton, to crawl out of the house to snap a couple photos of the two of us together. When one of us is always taking pictures of the other, we find we don't have enough of the both of us. I think we added a couple of winners today. You wouldn't believe how many we had to delete! (She'd hate me for saying so, but A looks too beautiful in any picture to me that I've had to make deleting her responsibility).

Finally, I was able to take my little foodie there with me to try out some "airbaked" goodness. As we always do, we scarfed down a pair of cheeseburgers like we were famished, but we were rather impressed with the restaurant's ketchup variants(mmmm, anything called "Cayenne Firewalker" just speaks to me). As burger authorities, this place gets a thumbs-up. And if A loves it, you know it's delicious. She's the pickiest when it comes to tastes & smells.

Bellies full of burger, we scooped an apple empanada from Mr. Empanada's on the way home for a homework blitz. Little A tore through multiple academia-related blog posts, my lil champion. I couldn't get much done, in between air-drumming & getting distracted by her adorable face. I'm feeling over-complimentary today about that face, huh? 

A tradition for the two of us over the past year together has been to visit A's family while they're out somewhere in Florida in the RV. This weekend, we visited them at Hillsborough River State Park, where we dined on even more burgers. Mmmmm. A says she's never had burgers twice in a row before. How humbled I am to be the man she experiences such a glorious memory with. 

Our night was cut a bit short when the mutant mosquitoes of Florida did a number on A's legs, but a couple hours out in the wilderness with my little adventurer was enough to satisfy this guy. That girl looks her cutest when she isn't even trying (see the candid photos that made the cut above). Oh & I managed to capture some shots of B chasing a rubber ball. Nothing I could type here can describe the hilarity.

As I wrap this up, I realize that all I accomplished today was eating a bunch of cheeseburgers & not wearing the same t-shirt as multiple previous Stellar Piece posts, but it's the simple days with A that I love the most.

Love (you, bug),

J

Aisha // Blouse: Vintage from Revolve // Shorts: Levi's x Urban Renewal // Bracelets: Forever 21 & Pulsera Project Sunnies: American Apparel

Jake // Shirt: Supreme // Shorts: Fourstar // Pants: Levi's // Shoes: Vans // Sunnies: Ray Ban

Take a Walk

There comes a point in your life when you realize that someone means so much more than you than you had initially anticipated. You start wanting to do really weird things, like come over to just to help clean their house, or showing up unannounced with a pillow pet & a box of Milk Duds. You start wanting to share everything with this person: meals, thoughts, conversation, & even your past experiences & memories. 

Last weekend, A took me on a trip to South Tampa, where we visited her old stomping grounds & retraced the places where she formed precious childhood memories. We drove past her old high school, walked up to the front door of her mom's old condo, & took a walk on the Ballast Point Park Pier, where she used to spend many-a-summer-day playing with her mom & brother Ashton. It was beautiful to visit the places she used to spend her time at long before she even met me & listen to her recount some of her most treasured memories.

Aside from being a lovely day in the sun with an incredible view of the downtown Tampa skyline, I really enjoyed seeing all the places where A blossomed into the pretty little flower she is today. It feels good to have reached such a wonderful place in someone's life.

Take a walk down memory lane with your loved one as soon as you can, it's as fun an experience as it is beautiful.

Love,

J   

Aisha // Dress: Target // Shoes: Deena & Ozzy // Sunnies: Urban Outfitters 

Jake // Jacket: Levi's // Shirt: Brixton // Pants: Levi's // Bracelets: J. Crew & Pulsera Project // Shoes: Vans // Sunnies: Ray Ban

Summer Lust List

Call me old-fashioned or boring, but for me, summer is all about floral prints & bright accent colors. Living in Florida, it has been hammered into my head since I was 5 that black absorbs heat & it's not really an appropriate summer color, but I will always have a love affair with black & I've never been one to follow the rules anyways.

Here's a brief list of some items that I have been obsessed with this summer:

1) This daisy print cut-out TopShop dress ($92) is absolutely to die for. I might be a little biased towards the situation because I've seen it on Alexa Chung & Miranda Kerr, but I would kill to have this gorgeous little frock hanging in my closet. I would probably pair it with a worn in pair of boots or a pair of red flats.

2) When I really want something, I tend to get a little obsessive about it & that is exactly how I've become with these amazing Tom Ford 'Nikita' cat eye sunnies. Every time that J & I are at the mall, I always make him come into the shop so that I can try them on over & over again. My problem is that they are a whopping $360 & that just isn't doable for a college girl like myself, but at least I can still dream about them... 

3) Leandra Medine of The Man Repeller is an everyday inspiration for my personal style & when I spotted this gorgeous Dannijo Helena rosary ($445) in one of her Instagram selfies, I immediately fell head over heels for it. I love chunky, floral inspired jewelry & this piece reminded me of some necklaces that I own from J. Crew. These pieces are brilliant because they make a simple outfit effortlessly classy.

4) Whenever I walk into Urban Outfitters, I have to talk myself out of wanting to buy all of the Kimchi Blue bags that they have in stock. I'm obsessed with their bags because they are well-made for how reasonably priced they are. I adore this specific cross-body satchel ($34) because of its gorgeous gold heart accents & the black (p)leather of course.

5) Last, but certainly not least, J has been trying to get me into sneakers & I know he would adore these sweet kicks just as much as I do. As a die-hard sandals girl, sneakers are an uncharted territory for me. Socks make my feet kind of hot & my toes feel slightly claustrophobic under all of that canvas, but sometimes you just have to give new things a try. I'm crazy about these daisy print Vans because they are mainly black with the addition of my favorite summery print on top. They would look super cute paired with a little sundress & a topknot. And at $55, they fit right into my college girl budget. I just might have to give these a try...& I swear not only because they are the only remotely affordable thing on this list...

What are some pieces that you have been lusting over this season?

Love,

A

Beat the Heat

Now that it's officially summertime in Florida, it's time to start thinking of some interesting ways to avoid losing your cool in a heatstroke-induced rage blackout. Rather than letting the sweltering temperatures & daily thunderstorms cramp your style, check these tips to stay cool in the summer heat:

• Roll your pants - Instead of letting your chinos collect dust in your drawer until the fall, cuff them up above the ankles to let your legs breathe without having to rock a pair of chubbies.
• Get a pair of summer shoes - They're great in the cooler temperatures, but leather desert boots won't get you through July. Invest in a cheap pair of canvas sneakers, like my summertime favorites, Vans or a printed pair from Urban Outfitters.
• Visit your local bookstore - If the rain has got you down, get lost in a new novel or find a new favorite magazine (like Aisha's, i-D). I finally have a break from cramming information from required textbooks, so some pleasure reading of my choice is a luxury these months.
• Find a bucket hat - Braving a summer music festival? My Milkcrate Athletics Tie-Dye bucket hat got me (& the back of my neck) safely through Bonnaroo this month, sans-melanoma. Dunk it in a chilly bucket of water & put it right back on. Trust me, you'll thank me later.
• Get breezy in a chiffon top - Chiffon is the perfect summer fabric because it is super comfy & lightweight. Grab a few in bright whites, pastels, or floral prints & even navy or black.
• Go on a popsicle date - Take yourself back to your childhood & bring your date to Whole Foods for some Fruitfull fruit bar popsicles. These frozen chunks of heaven are loaded with bits of real fruit & can take the edge off of a 90°  afternoon.

Love,

J

Aisha // Blouse: Forever 21 // Shorts: Levi's x Urban Renewal // Shoes: Staccato // Bracelets: J. Crew & Pulsera Project Sunnies: Topshop 

Jake // Shirt: Fourstar // Pants: Levi's // Shoes: Vans // Sunnies: American Apparel