Spring Florals in Central Park

Spring is finally in full bloom over here in NYC and I couldn’t be more excited! It seems like forever since my last blog post, but I’ve been busy over here with an art show I’m preparing for my students and I had the lovely surprise of my family visiting for my 30th Birthday recently. (Sigh)  For the longest time it felt like we’d never see spring, so when I was finally able to put away all sweaters for good.  I couldn’t wait to transition to spring and summer months!

Living on the UES makes Central Park so accessible and I try to take full advantage of it’s beauty.  There’s always something going on whether it’s a concert, summer movie night,  or Shakespeare in the Park I love being able to explore all of it’s different spots. The conservatory gardens make for a great spot for strolling and gorgeous photos!  There’s also a few favorite cafes and restaurants along the way there I’ll be sharing this season that are perfect for taking a break from the park for a quick bite or cool down drink with friends. Although my favorite is just having a picnic setup and now there’s ways to make a reservation for one to be setup for you upon arrival! No fuss or bringing anything with you. 

Now with all of the spring blooms it’s also a crazy allergy season right now ! All of the trees were in full bloom the first warm weekend of the season and the park was unbelievably packed so I can’t wait until the school year ends so I can take advantage of it during the weekdays. 

I snagged this cold shoulder top on sale recently and hadn’t paired red and pink together in a while, which is a new combo I’ve been into. This top has the perfect ruffle that falls on the chest and sleeve and could be paired with black pants for an office look with a blazer or even with shorts for something more casual. I try to keep versatility in mind when styling different pieces together.  

What are your favorite places to adventure to in the spring ? I’d love to hear about them! 

TOP: Bardot Also comes in the most flirty dress style  / Denim: Paige / Wedges: (Old) Similar style and here/ Blazer: Loving this style and this cute option/ Sunglasses: BP and a splurge version /  Fold over Clutch: BP/ Bracelets: Styled Collection and Kate Spade

Carmel by the Sea + Date Night Outfit

This past week my husband and I flew to Cali for my spring break and spent it with family just in time for Easter. It was such a refreshing change to get in some sun and be without a coat! It's amazing what a little vitamin D can do for my mood and motivation! So over the winter blues. I'm so ready for shorts weather, now if only it would start feeling like spring in NYC!

While on our trip we made a bunch of day trips and we traveled back to Carmel by the Sea and Monterey to spend the night on the coast. This is one of my favorite spots, I just love the boutiques and quaint homes leading the way to the beach! I was smitten with all of the galleries and shops throughout the small beach town and this time of year it wasn't crowded so it felt relaxing and was quiet. The different climates in Cali can be so confusing and by evening on the water it would get cool. Before dinner we walked to the beach for the sunset then had some delicious gnocchi at an amazing Italian spot that felt like your grandmother's old home. It was called Casanova's and came highly recommended. If you're ever in the area, make a dinner reservation and enjoy the wine from the region! Monterey has some of the best around and there's plenty of places to stop in for tastings. 

My top has been selling out super fast since it was marked down so I've got a roundup or similar options in the widget below you can click through. I've also found similar bags to my sold out option here and this one is on sale for an additional 25% off! 

Hope everyone has had a great weekend!

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Athletic Gear Top Picks

Happy Spring! Now that spring has officially sprung I'm kicking up my time at the gym and stepping up my athleisure ware. Living in the city makes it necessary to have pieces that can transition easily between errands and the gym without needing to or making time to commute home to change in between. 

I usually go for more neutral pieces for working out in, maybe it's from my history of dancing in a black leotard since the age of 3 which I got used to :)  However, come summer I love a bright top and sneakers. So I've been updating some of my  activewear and investing in pieces that really wash and wear well.  I've found I can't live without my zella leggings, and the high waisted ones are SO good. Personally they're smoothing and hold you in without feeling restricted. I wear mine constantly and the quality stays. I wear them often not just to the gym too.  I've also been into this cropped top sports bra trend because I hate feeling restricted or having anything cling to me when I'm in a dance or pilates class. Then it's easy to throw a tank on over the top and jacket to transition into wherever I go to next. I've found so many unique styles at varying price points. The one I'm wearing above is from T.J. Max and was less than $20 and a great quality! My sneakers are the black and white pegasus style by Nike and I love the support and comfort they provide. I can wear them all day and they're perfect for running and lifting in. I even have a pink pair for summer that I bought twice because they're THAT good! 

I've been rewearing this Nike sweatshirt lately because it's easy to throw on and is long enough for leggings. It's fit is a little oversized which works for my taller frame. It's on the pricier side, but I do wear it a ton. It also comes in a black fabric with white print I highly recommend. 

My sunglasses are the tort/black print and can be found here.

Now here's to wishing the snow clears up from New York so it can actually start to feel like spring! I'll be sharing some other graphic print tees for the gym soon, so stay tuned on my shop-my-instagram tab or my colorsofcolleen instagram account.