Baseball Cap

This outfit is the definition of casual: denim shorts, knotted white tee & gladiator sandals, all topped off with my LA Dodgers hat. After months of stealing Greg's hats, I finally got my own baseball cap! I like to wear them any time I'm in the sun, to both shade my face and protect my hair color from fading. I also love the laid-back vibe that baseball caps add to any look. This one is particularly nostalgic and reminds me of the Dodgers game that Greg & I went to while we lived in LA. I need to get a Florida State Seminoles one next!

{outfit details}

White T-Shirt - boutique in Huntington Beach (similar tees here) || Denim Shorts - Express (great shorts here) || LA Dodgers Hat - Amazon || Cognac Satchel - Dooney & Bourke || Gladiator Sandals - Target (last worn here)



MC-gram

Sharing a few outfit snaps from my work trip to Miami for the Swim Show & Agenda Show. It was a crazy 4 days packed with thousands of bikinis, vendor appointments and after-parties but I loved every second of it!

Follow along on Instagram & Snapchat @meghanconard

{Day 2 Look: BCBG dress / Forever 21 bag / Target sandals - worn to the Swim Show in South Beach}

{handmade flower headband I scored as a "sample" from one of the vendors}

{Seafolly after-party - wearing a Zara olive lace romper (last seen) and thoroughly enjoying my piña colada in a coconut}

{Custom necklace I designed at the Billabong party. Check out Pixley Pressed on Etsy - she's so talented & sweet!}

{Day 4: Heading to the Agenda Show in Wynwood wearing a Joie tie-dye dress & major beadhead}

Something Blue

Black on black is always a chic combo, especially when paired with statement accessories like cobalt caged heels & my Clare V. leopard clutch. The racer-front cut of this tank adds a sporty element, offset by a classically sexy a-line leather skirt. I went minimal in the beauty department with a nude matte lip & sleek blowout (courtesy of my Irresistible Me Diamond professional flat iron). This look is perfect for a night out, although my only plans for the upcoming weekend are Netflix & chill. I'm really looking forward to a relaxing couple of days following a pretty chaotic 10-day work week, including the Miami Swim & Agenda trade shows. I'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes snaps from the shows next week - stay tuned!

{outfit details}
Racer-Front Tank - Forever 21 || Leather Skirt - BCBG (similar skirts here) || Leopard Clutch - Clare V. || Cobalt Heels - Zara (beautiful blue heels here) || Aviators - Ray-Ban || Lipstick - Maybelline Vivid Liquid Matte in "nude flush"

At-Home Mani Tips & Tricks

{Essie "enuf is enuf"}

While I find getting my nails done at a salon amazingly indulgent, I actually love doing my own nails - there's something therapeutic about taking an hour to relax and pamper myself on a Sunday afternoon. I've been religiously painting my nails myself for a few years, and I must admit I'm pretty proud that my right hand no longer looks like a 5 year old painted them! My nails used to chip after day 2 or 3, which invoked an enraged series of four-lettered words! Gel polish used to be the only kind that would last longer than a week, but the time and money was just draining. Years later after many hours of practice, trial and error, and a (growing) collection of polish shades, I finally mastered the at-home manicure. My most recent manicure lasted a record 13 days! See my tips & tricks for a long-lasting mani below.

{Step 1: Prep}
I start by using an acetone soaked cotton ball over all of my nails to remove any traces of polish or oil. Using a wood orange stick, I gently clean under my nails. Then, I file them into a squoval shape (square with rounded edges). Next I use a buffer to smooth out the nail surface, and soak my hands with warm water and soap. Cuticles are up next: while they are soft from the soak, I gently push them back with a cuticle stick and trim the excess if necessary.

{Step 2: Base}
Nailtique is my favorite product - it gives my nails protein and keeps them shiny, long & strong. I use it as a base coat (and top coat - more on that later),  and apply one layer over each nail.

{Step 3: Polish}
Next comes color! I use a lot of Essie & OPI honestly because I love the names - they're so fun! I apply 2 coats of colored polish. I start on the pinky finger of my left hand and work my way right so I don't accidentally bump my wet nails with my other hand. Beginning in the middle of the nail, just slightly in front of the cuticle line, I make a thin swipe of polish. I then fill in the rest of the nail, repeating on the left and right side to smooth out the coverage. Repeat on all nails twice. Let the two coats dry for about 15 minutes. If there are any mistakes (hey they still happen to me too!) I just dip a Q-tip into a little nail polish remover and run it around the outline of my nails to clean up any stray polish.

{Step 4: Shine}
I end with a layer of Nailtique for shine and protection. I apply it all over the nail including the very tip in order to seal in the polish and prevent potential chips. I re-apply a layer of Nailtique every night to keep my manicure completely intact for 2 weeks!

Tropical

 Recipe for a Perfect Summer Date Night Look:

o u t f i t

flirty romper

Rompers are my favorite because it's an easy one & done outfit - ruffled hem highly recommended! I like colorful prints, but you can never go wrong with an LBJ (little black jumpsuit)

s h o e

woven wedges

I prefer a little height since I'm 5'2 but strappy flat sandals would be cute too for a more practical option, depending on your date night plans!

b a g

saddle bag/crossbody

Keep it hands-free, and just big enough for the essentials. Bonus point for fun details - think studs, fringe, tassels or a bold color.

m a k e u p

natural-ish

Summer is all about no-makeup makeup = bb cream, bronzer, bold lashes + coral lips

h a i r

beachy waves

Always better when they actually come from a day at the beach, but fake it til you make it with my mermaid hair tutorial here!

{outfit details}

Romper - Ron Jon Surf Shop (cute rompers here) || Lace Bralette - Forever 21 (blue version here / similar here) || Studded Saddle Bag - Forever 21 || Woven Wedges - Shoedazzle || Tortoise Sunglasses - Warby Parker || Watch - Michael Kors (more watches here) || Lipstick - Revlon "blasé apricot" || Nail Polish - Essie "enuf is enuf"



Sleek & Smooth



While I naturally have straight hair, sometimes I need a little help in the frizz department - thanks to the Florida humidity! Irresistible Me sent me their Diamond Flat Iron to try and I love the results - shiny, sleek and smooth! The iron design is streamlined and lightweight, but my favorite feature is the digital temperature! This thing heats up so fast - up to 400 degrees in just a few seconds! Also, am I the only who appreciates an extra long cord on my hair tools? My sister is a hairstylist so I've tried every professional flat iron out there and I have to admit the Diamond Flat Iron held it's own! Can't wait to use it for sleek blowouts & flat iron waves!





Currently Obsessed

{Clare V. Leopard Clutch c/o Shopbop}
 

I have lusted for this Clare V. clutch for years...so happy to welcome it home! {Thank you Shopbop!} I love a pop of leopard (proof here, here & here) and I've already thought of so many ways to wear this clutch, whether casually with cut-offs & stripes or for a sexy night out complete with an LBD and killer heels. The size is perfect - big enough to fit my full-size wallet, sunnies, keys, lipstick & phone. I'm warning you now that you'll be seeing this little spotted guy a lot in the near future!

Open Back Dress

Open back dresses (or anything open back for that matter) are my weakness. I've had this BCBGeneration dress for a couple years - I got it for 70% off when I was working at the BCBG corporate office in LA! I still fall in love with it every time I put it on. This dress is super versatile - I've worn it casually with gladiators sandals and a denim jacket, office-chic with nude heels and a crisp white blazer, and even transitioned it for fall with ankle booties & a cozy cardigan. The colorful print and handkerchief hem add an effortless bohemian vibe that was made for summer though. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

{outfit details}

Open-Back Dress - BCBGeneration (similar here & here) || Yellow Bucket Bag - Zara (on sale for $20!!) || Lace-Up Sandals - BCBG (also worn here) || Blue Mirrored Aviators - Ray-Ban || Lipstick - NARS "schiap"

Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sweet & salty is always a delicious combo. Case in point: caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies. Loaded with gooey chunks of caramel and crunchy pretzels, these soft & chewy chocolate chip cookies are dangerously addicting.

ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

 3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 package vanilla pudding dry mix

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup caramels, chopped into chunks

1 cup pretzels

directions

 {1}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars on medium speed. Add vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

{2}

In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda.

{3}

Slowly add the flour mixture, stopping halfway through to scrape down the bowl. Add the dry pudding mix.

{4}

On low speed, add chocolate chips, caramel chunks & pretzels. The pretzels will break up from the paddle, but depending on how small you want the pretzel pieces, feel free to break them first.

{5}

Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, place balls of cookie dough on a non-stick baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Lightly press down to flatten the balls. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and store in an air-tight container or freeze for later. Enjoy!