Sunset in the City

Nothing like a crisp fall golden-hour night. Well, maybe a pina colada on the beach. But come on, look at how beautiful Milwaukee is! 

I discovered this uniquely lovely riverwalk space on a local photographer’s Instagram and knew I had to go. It’s so gorgeous in person and is the perfect playground for a blogger.

If you haven’t noticed by now, fall is my favorite season. I have never been partial to summer or warmer weather fashion. I mean, if you live in the Midwest as I do, you must love colder weather (better) or you should probably move south. Something about putting on a warm sweater or pair of boots, really gets my spirit going! 

I found this beautiful trench coat earlier this summer on my first visit to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. If you haven’t gone, boy, are you missing out. They have every store from Gucci, to Diane Von Furstenberg, to Burberry. I picked up this scalloped beauty from Club Monaco. I paired it with my trusty Target tank top and of course, added a pop of pattern with the earrings and heels.

What is your favorite season for fashion?

Riva.

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Milwaukee Moments: On The Water At Discovery World

I hate to even type this…but I have never been to Discovery World here in Milwaukee. You know I am Milwaukee’s number one cheerleader, so what’s my excuse? Sadly, I do not have one. I knew I had to change, so I scheduled a visit! I was welcomed with open arms to come take some photos and explore the science and technology museum right on Lake Michigan. My consensus, it’s amazing! Interactive, easy to navigate, and ultimately, a good time. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this museum; you’ll see below, once you get there you feel like a kid! My favorite part of Discovery World had to be the Reiman Aquarium! I enjoyed seeing all the sea creatures from the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and, naturally, poking the tank as if that would get their attention.

In addition to the interactive exhibits and hands on labs, Discovery World also hosts sail rides on the Denis Sullivan. The sailing vessel is the world’s only re-creation of a 19th century three-masted, Great Lakes schooner and it is seriously SO cool to see in person. Michael and I had the pleasure of hoping aboard for a brew sail a few weeks ago and it was such a memorable experience! We were treated to Gathering Place beer (their IPA was delicious) while sailing Lake Michigan. It was so great to see the city from the water! I high recommend a brew sail for a special date night.

Visiting a Milwaukee staple, I knew I had to represent a local boutique, Soho Boutique. The red striped top has a nautical feel, so why not wear it next to water? I will never turn down a peplum top, so that’s why the top was so appealing to me! I loved the shape of the sleeves and the tie in the back is adorable. I paired the top with these Flying Monkey denims which were comfortable and I knew the hemline had to be in my closet. I completed the look with my chunky black hemp wedges and naturally, a fun bucket bag!

Are there any landmarks in your city you are dying to see? And to my local followers, have you been to Discovery World yet?

Riva.

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The Perfect Summer OOTD

Now I know I have said this a million times, but my absolute favorite thing about blogging is meeting new people and finding new businesses to support. I started my blog about two and a half years ago and since then I have met countless people I may or may not have ever met otherwise. There are brands I wouldn’t have ever discovered and stores I may not have been introduced to. It’s funny how a couple years can make such a difference and made an impact on the way I shop now. I would much rather take the advice from a reputable blogger the way I share my honest opinions with others, to help make shopping easier and more efficient.

I was introduced to Willow Boutique by email and was instantly drawn to the shop. Although it’s located three and half hours north, I am still one to support a local-ish store over a national chain. They were kind enough to gift this adorable outfit and I cannot wait to share their store with you all! When you get a minute, go to their website to see their amazing selection of pieces to elevate your closet!

I often drive down Lake Drive (for my non-Milwaukee followers, it’s the fanciest block with all the houses facing Lake Michigan) and have always loved a particular house, with amazing landscaping, so decided to feature it today. I figured I wasn’t trespassing, and the likely-hood of the owners following my blog was slim. And I mean, I am technically on the sidewalk 😉 But I figured the outfit I had on was the definition of the most Summer Uniform so their flowers were the perfect backdrop.

Now to the outfit… I was drawn to the fun woven straps on this adorable Knot Sisters top and I even got a compliment from my husband, who never notices my clothes… I mean unless he’s making fun of me or telling me I look really good. The Joe’s Denim skirt is a great addition to my summer and fall wardrobe. I am excited to pair it with a sweater and pair of booties. Naturally I don’t take my Gucci belt off so I thought it’s presence was a great addition.

Have you found a store through social media or a blog that has impacted your closet?

Riva.

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Girls Just Want to Have Sun

Summer!

I feel like it’s finally here. Watermelon, bonfires and lake days are some of my favorite things about this season. I also love not wearing jackets or being concerned about how late I will be for work if it snows the night before. I am a lover of fall and winter fashion, but I do like to dress up in bright colors and feel I have a few more options when it comes to the clothing choices in warmer weather.

Another fun thing about summer is that my birthday is in July! This year is extra exciting because I am turning the big 3-0 and probably have a different mentality on it than most people do… I am excited about it! I am very content and happy with my life so I am excited to see if my 30’s are going to be as rewarding and eventful as my 20’s.

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Anniversary Celebration at The Iron Horse Hotel

Memorial Day weekend isn’t just an extended holiday weekend for me and my husband Michael. May 25th is our wedding anniversary and it almost always falls on the holiday weekend. To kick off the celebration of seven years of marriage, I planned a weekend that we would both enjoy; a night at the Iron Horse Hotel and a weekend of brunching and exploring Walker’s Point. Michael has been dying to get to the Iron Horse and the hotel was kind enough to partner with us to start the weekend off great.

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Girls Weekend at the Pfister Hotel Milwaukee

The Pfister Hotel is a landmark in Milwaukee and I am so proud that we have such an amazing place to represent out city. I had the honor of sharing a girls night there with three of my favorite Milwaukee bloggers. We were wined, dined and pampered, and I have probably too many photos to share, but a photo really is worth a thousand words. The beautiful hotel was built in 1893 and has continued to be the ‘it’ hotel in Milwaukee.

Let me take you along on the two day #staycation we enjoyed… We arrived in style and a naturally had to document the stunning exterior of the hotel. The intricate facade has a very vintage, but inviting feel. I mean, even the flipping parking lot has curb appeal. Now, if you have been to the hotel, you know how indescribably beautiful the lobby is… Take a look at the photos below. In addition to the ornate painted ceiling, there are beautiful pieces of art mixed throughout the entire hotel.

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90’s Vibes

What goes around comes around, right?

Well, the 90’s grunge look has been in style for a while and I just haven’t felt ballsy enough to try it. I grew up in the 90’s, so there is something about a jean jacket or cropped tank top that I really enjoy, but I just didn’t think I could pull it off… Maybe I can, maybe I can’t; I will let you guys be the judge! Growing up I was a total tomboy (weird and unexpected… I know) so mixing some over-sized pieces with sexy ones was fun! I got a bit of courage to step out of my style box when I teamed up with Pretty Little Thing. Their clothes are trendy, fashion forward and most excitingly, affordable! What I love about their items are that you able to wear them day to night! I styled this outfit with that in mind.

All photos are outside of one of my favorite Milwaukee landmarks, the Milwaukee Art Museum. I have always been obsessed with the architecture of it and have a soft spot in my heart because the owner of my company was a large donor for the wings that open twice a day. I know I don’t need to tell my local followers to head there, but my out of towners, if you are ever in the Milwaukee area, this is a must see.

RivaAM-1019

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Winter Wonderland

Snow. It’s so beautiful and I don’t care what anyone says! My hair stylist put it in an interesting way, she said, “every snowflake is different and there are millions of them, how is that not amazing?!” #WordSister.

My friendographer, Gina of GE Creative, had mentioned she wanted to do a winter shoot. What I love about Gina is I sent her an obnoxious Snapchat asking if she needed a ‘snow queen’ for the day and she said, ‘YES’. We took ourselves out in the frozen tundra (what we call Wisconsin 60% of the year) and had a blast!

It was a great opportunity to model her handmade knits! In addition to being a great photographer, she is a very talented jewelry and knitwear maker! Take a look below and look at her site linked down there too!

Do you like the snow??

Riva.

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