Vegas Blogcation

{Image borrowed from Rachel from Rachel's Look Book}

Most normal families go to family friendly locations to spend time together on vacation, but in my family, when you grew up with a dad who owned race horses and dressed you up in pink baby jockey uniforms, then your family goes to the gambling capital to spend quality time together.

I'm not a gambler, I prefer to spend my money on things I can wear or see, so I will be spending time with my fashionista-in-training niece Allie at Fashion Show Mall and Caesars Forum Shops because that's how we Hovanes Gals do Vegas!

Other than that it will be pool time with the whole family at the Mirage and date nights with Andrew. We may even bring the niece and nephew along for a date too!

And to truly make this a vacation, I'm taking the week off blogging. I will be Instagraming constantly I'm sure, so keep up with me there and on Facebook!

Don't worry, I wouldn't do you like that, leave you high and dry on a Friday without planting a little shopping seed in your head. Let me share with you the miracle that happened yesterday at Woodfield Mall. I went to Lord and Taylor to return a pair of shoes and walked past a huge rack of bathing suits all for just $39! Now since this is a family trip, I was in need of some modest one-piece suits, and they had a ton! I actually found two adorable ones which is unheard of in bathing suit shopping history. And to prove it I rounded up all these one piece suits that are all just $39! Believe it! Shop it. Also an additional 15% off regular and sale price items and 20% off clearance online with promo code SAVINGS.

Have a great week everyone! 

Madison and Berkeley Showroom

Since today is #tbt, I guess it's only fitting that I drop this post from the first week of summer break when I was in NYC. What an utterly amazing trip. Peggy and I were rocking all of our New York connections and having a blast. We were so grateful that on our first day there we were able to meet up with blogger buddy Maria, who was on her way out that afternoon, have lunch together at Fred's to have lobster sandwiches. Yep, that actually happened! After that we were off to meet Annette at the Madison and Berkeley/ Ten-Sixty Sherman showroom in Times Square (check out this view!) and get a inside look at what's to come this summer and fall. I have to say that this black tank below with "eat your lettuce and be sad" on it is my personal favorite. We even left with a few goodies of our own (you may have been admiring one of them here.)

Later that night we went out for Greek food and had a full-on Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl sighting! Peggy was even sly enough to unknowingly-to-me snap this pic of him!

If that wasn't enough the very next day we got to take a tour of the Lucky Magazine offices thanks to the Lucky staffers that I met during the Best Dressed Teacher in Chicago Contest I was a finalist in. We got to see EVERYTHING! We were even just feet from Eva Chen right outside her office door! She was busy of course but we did get a peek inside since the door was wide open. I was even brave enough to send her an Instagram message later that day and she responded with such sweet words thanking me for doing the most important job in the world, teaching! Her words, not mine. I nearly fainted! 

Such an amazing trip. Have fun perusing my snaps from the Madison and Berkeley showroom and of course, shopping what I wore there! Hope your #tbt is as memorable as mine!

Annette, our adorable tour guide through the showroom!

And of course there were outfit pictures on the library steps in Bryant Park.

 Loft skirt // Zara top (from last year) // La Mer watch // Vintage bracelet and necklace // Sole Society Tilda sandals // Target jacket (super similar on clearance) // ASOS bag

Cover-Up Pool Style

In my personal opinion, swimsuit coverups can be pretty tricky, but my girl Samantha of the blog Gold Coast Girl nailed it! Samantha and I got a chance to get together poolside and hang out all while showcasing our summer swimsuit cover-up style.

I love how chic her look is, and how easily it could be worn to a beachside cafe. Samantha mixed a bold pink coverup and mirrored sunglasses with neutral summer basics like her black Tory Burch sandals and a straw hat and beach bag. 

Outfit details: Cover-up: Roberta Roller Rabbit (on sale) // Hat: H&M // Sandals: Tory Burch // Bag: Old from Spain (cute option here) // Towel: Target // Sunnies: H&M (similar)

Learn a little more about my summer-break-loving, fellow teacher friend Samantha here!!

What made you want to start a blog and how did you come up with the name?

I have always had an obsession with fashion ever since I was little. I am a huge fan of reading fashion blogs so one day I just went for it and decided to start my own. I wanted to express my own voice, style, and creativity. I came up with the name Gold Coast Girl because I grew up in that area and live there now. I liked how it sounded, so I went for it.

How would you describe your style? 

I love all things black, gold, leopard, sequined, and hot pink. I feel like my style is a mix of preppy + feminine with a splash of edge.

What trends are you loving this summer? 

I too am obsessed with rompers. They are super fun, extremely comfortable, and a great go-to when you want to give your summer dress the day off. I also love the comeback of the overalls. They too are very comfortable and go great with tanks and sandals. 

What are your beach bag essentials? 

When packing my beach bag, I must include: sunscreen (I am currently into Coppertone Clearly Sheer SPF 30) , a water bottle (loving the glass Lifefactory ones), my iPhone and headphones, EOS lip balm, a headband to keep my hair back, some mirrored aviators (like THESE), and THIS fabulous towel I got from Target (it has pockets and I am loving it). 

Tell me about your favorite summertime activities in Chicago? 

I LOVE Chicago in the summertime! I am all about going for walks and runs on the beach bike path, having picnics in Millennium Park, and meeting friends for some rooftop cocktails. I also love the weekend street festivals and dining al fresco.

Sam also shared what she keeps in her beach bag...

Magazines, Old Navy swimsuit, EOS lip balm, Henri Bendel bags, Sunscreen, iPhone

See my outfit details and more over on Samantha's blog today!

Photo Credit: Peggy of HAMR

Shop this post by clicking the images below!

H&M Colorful Jacket

This is an old outfit from when school was still in session. Lucky for you, if you like this jacket, I've been seeing it around in the H&M clearance section. Apparently there aren't many girls who like to wear insanely colorful jackets to work, let alone pair them with stripes, so there were quite a few left. To all of you out there who fear no color or pattern, go check the clearance rack and score this jacket for an amazing price!

Side note. It was on the day I wore this that I was told by 2 separate incoming Middle school girls that I looked like Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. Should I be ashamed or proud?

Jacket: H&M // Pants: Zara // Shoes: J. Crew Janey Flats // Necklace: eBay // Sunglasses: Forever 21 (get almost identical here for $3)// Sweater: Old Navy (about 3 years old) // Earrings: Nordstrom // Lips: Nars "Yu"

Stormy Weather

This top (on sale now for just $15) is actually from the swim section of Old Navy, but I think it makes for a perfectly acceptable shirt. And if your as tall as me it is nothing else but a shirt. Because even if Old Navy wants to label it as a swim tunic, its no tunic on me.

The Joe's Jean shorts were a last day of school find from Nordstrom Rack. I was so excited for school to be over and freedom from my pencil skirts that i bought these destroyed jean shorts. Turns out they have been the best buy of the summer! They are comfy, easy, match with everything and most importantly, they represent summer in a nutshell for this teacher on break!

Tunic: Old Navy (on sale for $15 bucks right now) // Shorts: Joe's Jeans // Spike Necklace: Alimonada // Bar Necklace: Forever 21 (comes in a set of two for $7!) // Bag: Coach vintage Willis (buy a new one here) // Sandals: Dolce Vita (get them here on mega sale in 3 color options) // Lips: Burberry Lipstick and Gloss

Photo Cred: Peggy of HAMR