Jaclyn Day

(Click photos to enlarge.)

1. Old Navy Top (Similar from Old Navy)
2. H&M Dress
3. Forever21 Earrings
4. Michael Kors Watch
5. Nine West Sandals
6. Target Satchel (Similar by Kelly & Katie)

P.S. Trying something new with the outfit post formatting. Do you like it better? Worse? There’s some funky blurriness that happens when Tumblr downscales images for multi-photo posts, but it seems to correct itself if you click to open.

I’m not sure how I feel about this swimsuit, but it’s one of the few I’ve seen that you could wear and hide post-baby fupa or stretch marks or a large lunch.

Still not sure I like it, but the idea intrigues me.

(Would also make a potentially good maternity suit? Discuss.)

[Edit: Just thought about how this might look wet. The image in my head is not a good one. Lots of hanging fabric, etc.]

J.Crew Jersey Lomellina Blouson Tank Suit, $118 - Also available in black, green and purple

I’ve been a cranky zombie the past three days, and if you have been too, maybe one of these cheap little trinkets will brighten up your Thursday. (At least the sun is shining here in MD today! Thank god!)

Essie Poppy Razzi Collection in Bazooka, $8 - Ships free

JaiJoDesigns Orbit Necklace, $27

Forever 21 Retro Waves Scarf, $8.53

Charlotte Russe Cutout Back Aztec Dress, $24.99

Cesca Rope Handle Tote, $18

Wet Seal Dolce T-Strap Sandal, $9.50 - Also available in teal, yellow and white

I love all Dara Ettinger jewelry, but these earrings ($330) are the prettiest.

P.S. If you’re feeling splurgey, use code BIGEVENT at checkout for $50 off.

I have no where in my house that this whale print would be appropriate, but I’m hoping you do because someone, somewhere needs to make this happen.

lindseydaisy asked you:

Hey Jaclyn! I love your recommendations and I’m hoping you can make some shoe suggestions for me. I’m looking for some versatile flat sandals in neutral tones that I can wear with shorts and sundresses. I want to avoid too much going on around the ankle (thick straps, etc.), but otherwise I’m open w/r/t style. I’d like to buy a couple pair under $50 each. I’m also strictly avoiding Target - it’s become a problem in my life and I need a break. Can you help?

Here’s a few you might like:

Deena & Ozzy Leather Buckle Sandal, $39 - Also available in black and white

I know you mentioned no thick ankle straps, but this style looks great with jeans and shorts.

Report “Roma” Sandals, $45 - Also available in nude and silver

It’s good to own one pair of metallic sandals. I recommend either a pewter or a gold for the most versatility.

ASOS FANCY Flat Sandals with Bead Embellishment, $43.49

These are a little more interesting than your standard nude/brown sandal.

ASOS Timeless Rope Leather Flat Sandal, $34.79

Rope sandals look chic and go with everything from denim to light summer dresses.

Ecote Breezy Suede Thong Sandal, $29 - Also available in coral, green, gold, nude and black

Another rope sandal option in a t-strap style.

Steve Madden “Swivvel” Sandals, $50 - Also available in gold, black and natural

White shoes can be tricky, but white sandals are much easier to wear (especially in a braided style like this).

ASOS FINSBURY Toe Thong Flat Sandals, $17.39

Short of a flip-flop, this is as bare as it gets for a sandal. (The price is great too.)

Wet Seal Leatherette Braided Sandal, $9.50 - Also available in pink, green, yellow, white and black

It’s always good to have a few super-cheap sandals on hand to wear into the ground if you live in a city or plan to beat them up at the beach. (All that sand and salt water can do a number on real leather sandals.) Wet Seal has a huge selection and most of them are buy one, get one 50% off.

What I’ve Read: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I know I’m reading a swath of great books when with each new book I’ve read, I pronounce that it’s the Best Book I’ve Read All Year. In this case, I think it is and will remain so.

After her mother’s death, a divorce and a bout with heroin, 26-year-old Strayed decides (almost on a whim) to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a massive route from Mexico to the Canadian border. The PCT becomes its own character in an emotional story that will simultaneously lift you up and crush you in waves. That’s the thing about a great book, and especially about a great memoir: even if you have not had one similar experience to the author and know nothing personally about the specifics in her life, there is a thread of human connection—of hurt, love and loss—that will still speak to you and touch you in some way.

Strayed’s story is intense from start to finish. Obviously, the portions with Strayed on the PCT itself have elements of adventure and danger, but the quieter portions—moments in her failing marriage, vignettes along the bedside of her dying mother—are equally profound. There have been so many books over the past several years (arguably starting with the bestseller Eat, Pray, Love) that encourage excess, relaxation and, well, vacation in order to “find yourself.” I appreciated that Strayed’s story is presenting a different narrative—one far away from the self-indulgence we as readers have become so accustomed to reading in memoirs. Yes, there may be some merit in healing losses with the balm of self-indulgence, and there may even be solace (though perhaps temporarily so), but I couldn’t help but compare Strayed’s journey to that of others in books I have read. In the end, I found Strayed’s more genuine, more moving and—dare I say it—more authentic. By pushing herself to every limit and by physically removing herself from the problems in her life, she was able to think. In the silence of her own thoughts, with her blistered feet marking a slow cadence on the trail, she was able to discover the start of own path out of the mistakes and heartbreak that littered her past. 

I think the hardest part of moving past a tremendous loss or change is finding the will to just keep going. Often there is no trumpet chorus with the clouds opening up proclaiming that you have finally reached your ideal and enlightened self. There is no ashram and no tropical paradise that can hide the realities of your life once you return to it. “Making a fresh start” is impossible. As life unfolds one page at a time (to use a popular metaphor), what makes us want to rip out entire chapters? Those times will always be with us, but we do not have to live in them. We can just continue.

It’s not often I start crying when I’m reading. It happens occasionally, but is often more like a stray tear or two escaping than a full-bodied sob. Yet, this book reduced me to nothing. Brandon and Isobel were asleep, and I was reading in bed at 1 am sobbing so hard I nearly fell off the bed.

I’ve perhaps never read a book that conveyed so poignantly every spectrum of human emotion in a mere 300 pages or so. I hope you’ll give it a chance and see how Strayed’s honest, beautiful memoir might move you as well.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

It’s easy to love summer when you’re young. My sister and I used to love the summer and would spend it romping around, riding horses, going on long bike rides and adventuring with our friend Lisa. Then I grew up and realized I live in a barren swampland and three months of vacation became nothing but a distant (VERY distant) memory.

I still have a love/hate relationship with summer and here’s why:

HATE:

• Every day is a bad hair day waiting to happen
• It takes 15 minutes to cool the car down, which happens to be usually just enough time to get where I’m going
• The Metro
• Dining outside becomes like an episode of Survivor. MORE WATER
• Gnats
• The constant, incessant humidity that makes the entire world feel like it’s swathed in a disgusting moist blanket even at 10 pm

LOVE:

• County fairs
• Weekends at the beach (Virginia, Rehoboth, Outer Banks)
• Long afternoons at the pool
• Dresses! Skirts! Shorts! Sandals! (etc)
• An excuse for pedicures
• Farmer’s markets opening
• In that same vein: fresh berries, tomatoes, corn (on the cob!)
• The 4th of July

Hmm, well, after looking at this list, I’d say that the Love list kind of outweighs the Hate, right?

- Romans 7:15-16

Sometimes I can’t believe the words coming out of my own mouth. Sometimes I wonder why I’d rather win even when it’s not a contest. What do I have to prove? Hours later—to what end? Choosing happiness is often as easy as simply saying, “I’m going to be agreeable in this disagreeable situation.” But why can that be so hard?

These are important words to remember on a bleak Tuesday morning after an even bleaker Monday. (And the sun will come out eventually.)

Do want. (Especially with a plain white tee, shorts and sandals for summer.)

RACHEL by Rachel Roy Necklace, $85

Someone is going to have to explain to me how my little, fits-in-the-crook-of-your-arm infant turned into a rolling, sitting up, foot-eating, giggling baby seemingly overnight.

I’m afraid I’m going to blink and she’ll be off to school for the first time.

When I used to commute every day to work, I was constantly on the hunt for large satchels or totes that could work to carry the enormous amount of things I “needed” to bring with me. I’d be hauling a laptop, a book (or Kindle), a newspaper, usually a scarf or cardigan and occasionally an extra pair of shoes. It was ridiculous, but this oversized tote would have been perfect!

Madewell “Caravan” Mailbag, $78

Yay for wedges with unique silhouettes! Boo on the only available sizes left being 6.5 and 7.

BCBG “Destin” Wedges, $139.99 (from $195)

Great summer work dress (worn with a cardigan) that also doubles as a fun after-work dress (just add wedge sandals and a clutch!).

Warehouse Stripe Bow Dress, $95

I love the green shade of this Diane von Furstenberg dress, but will have to settle for this The Webster for Target top instead.

I don’t usually pick turquoise or teal colors first, but I think this jacket is really pretty. (Also love the little bit of blue lining showing on the sleeves.)

Pins & Needles Crepe Collarless Blazer, $49.99 (from $69) - Also available in ivory

I can think of a million things to wear with this versatile scarf.

Lori’s Shoes Batik Print Scarf, $22.95

Great casual tank for summer. Looks like it’s time to pull out the white pants again too.

Daftbird Striped Low Back Tank, $84