Spring Showers

I'm so thrilled that Spring is finally here. Being from Buffalo, I always look forward to the end of winter and the beginning of warmer days. We all know with spring, comes plenty of rain showers. Even in the rain, I love to dress like it's spring. I've always been a fan of a bright rain jacket, and  Joules has become my favorite brand for rainy weather. I feel like a ray of sunshine in this bright yellow jacket! The details of the Coast jacket are too cute, especially the striped interior. Another one of my favorites from Joules is their wellies. They make so many adorable patterns, that pair perfectly with their jackets. This yellow and navy floral could not be a cuter pair of boots to splash around in puddles in! 

You can use my code 'BELLERAR' for 20% off your full priced purchase on www.joulesusa.com! 

Have you ever seen cuter wellies?

It's all in the details! 

All  Joules items c/o 

Rain Jacket | Umbrella | Wellies  #JoulesRightAsRain

Thanks for reading and thank you Joules for sponsoring this post! 

Bathing Suits That Double As Body Suits

Hi everyone! On my fashion journalism exam last week one of the questions was to write the lead to an article about bathing suits with a unique angle, my topic was bathing suits worn as bodysuits! This is a trend that has been popping up in my Instagram (@belleoftheball45) feed lately that I've been loving. For a girl like me who loves the beach, this is a great way to get more wear out of a bathing suit than you typically would. I've been seeing so many cute one-pieces and even bikinis lately, that would look so cute styled with accessories. This also makes it easy to go from the beach to another event without having to change. Here are a few looks I drew inspiration from, along with a few outfits I put together with a few of my favorite suits I've been eyeing. I can't wait to try out this trend in the summer! 

I'm also obsessing over terrycloth lately. I think it is the perfect summer fabric. When I was at the Lilla P showroom in NYC a few weeks ago they had the cutest terrycloth set. Check out a few of my terrycloth and other items on my summer wishlist below. 

I have been coveting this suit since it landed on the J Crew site! From the floral print to the frill on the sleeves I think it is simply perfect. This pair of Levi's is so cute and easy to style with almost anything. For accessories, I added this adorable straw bag, a pair of mules, and some trendy tortoise sunnies. Now you're ready to take this suit from beach to lunch!

 If you've been reading my blog or a while, you know I love navy. This suit is such a classic silhouette, which makes it very easy to style. I paired it with a silk scarf, classic Raybans, the cutest striped skirt, and my favorite summer sandal.

This suit is SO cute and such a great price! I love the smocking on the top and think it would work so well as a top with a higher rise midi skirt. I love yellow paired with chambray, and these fun daisy earrings add another great touch.

A few other pieces I've had my eye on for spring & summer:

Inspiration:

     

@sincerelyjules                                               @juliahengel 

Thanks so much for reading! Tag me @belleoftheball45 how you style your bathing suits!

Bermuda Recap: Hamilton Princess

Hi everyone! I'm writing this during my layover on my way home from Bermuda- so sad to be heading back to the cold. I already want to plan a trip back! My mom and I had such a wonderful trip and I'm excited to share our experience with you.

Shop my Bermuda looks here: http://belleoftheball45.blogspot.com/


The Hamilton Princess is a pink paradise and the perfect place to stay. We loved how close it was to downtown Hamilton, which made it great for shopping and exploring. The hotel offers two beautiful pools which we enjoyed throughout our stay. We woke up in the morning and had the pleasure of dining in the Gold Club. The breakfast offered so many wonderful choices along with a great view. In addition to breakfast, there was also afternoon tea, canapés, and desserts in the evening. George in the Gold Club was so sweet and always a friendly face to see during breakfast. All of the staff at the Hamilton Princes was incredibly kind and very accommodating. There was so much to do at the hotel, and we loved their beach club as well. The hotel offers a shuttle to the Hamilton Princess beach club, which is a beautiful secluded beach only 20 minutes from the hotel. In the warmer months they also offer paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel boards- I can't wait to go back and experience this! The weather was a little chilly some of the days, but we were so glad to have checked out the beaches for the next time we're there!

Here's a break down of what my mom and I did each day:

M o n d a y

We were supposed to arrive Monday around 1, but since the Boston airport shut down in the morning because of a snowstorm we ended up arriving around 7pm. I was so excited to finally be in Bermuda and see our hotel! The view from our room at the Hamilton Princess was breathtaking and I was so excited to see the view in the morning. After we settled in, my mom and I headed into town to try the classic rum swizzle and a dark and stormy that everyone had been suggesting. They were delicious! 

T u e s d a y 

We started Tuesday with breakfast in the Gold Club- so delicious! Then we walked into Downtown Hamilton and did some shopping since my luggage did not arrive yet. The stores were adorable, and I found some great spring pieces. Later that evening we had a casual dinner at Crown & Anchor which was the perfect end to our first day.

W e d n e s d a y

We decided to explore the island on Wednesday and started off at the Crystal Caves. If you're ever in Bermuda I would highly recommend going. It was such an incredible experience and the perfect activity for a cooler day. After the Crystal Caves, we headed to St. George's Island for lunch. All of the locals recommended we ate at Wahoo's- which was so delicious. We also went to Tobacco Bay, which had gorgeous views. It was so fun being able to see the island! 

      

T  h u r s d a y 

On Thursday there was a thunderstorm in the morning, but once we finished breakfast it cleared up! We headed to the Hamilton Princess Beach Club, it's such a beautiful area and so close to a lot of the famous beaches on the island. My mom and I loved how secluded and relaxing the beach was. We also saw Horseshoe Bay which was incredible. For dinner, we went to Marcus at the Hamilton Princess. Our waiter, Aldo, was so passionate and made our evening unforgettable. The food and views were incredible. 

Horseshoe Bay was so close to the Hamilton Princess Beach Club! 

How beautiful is the Hamilton Princess Beach Club!

F r i d a y 

We were so sad to leave on Friday! Our flight didn't leave until the afternoon so we spent the morning enjoying the Hamilton Princess before heading out. Everyone at the hotel was so nice and accommodating. We couldn't have had a better stay!

Here's a short video of my trip!

Thanks for reading! Thank you to  The Hamilton Princess for such an amazing stay! 

Merrion Row and Public House NYC

Hi everyone!! A few weekends ago when I was in NYC, I had the pleasure of staying at the  Merrion Row Hotel, which also has a great restaurant (Public House) right downstairs. The hotel felt like home from the moment I checked in. I couldn't believe how peaceful it felt, being so close to Times Square. Everyone at the hotel was so friendly, and made our stay perfect.

Since the Merrion Row is a boutique hotel, there is 28 rooms which means there is so much attention to detail! My room was so beautiful, and gave me some major design inspo. From the velvet couch, to the art on the walls I was blown away by the design.

Another one of my favorite parts about my stay was  Public House! We had breakfast there everyday, and dinner on our first night. My friend Abby and I were so excited to try something new on the menu each morning. For breakfast I had the avocado toast, and the french toast- incredible! Dinner was also delightful, and the dessert was not only beautiful but I ate every last bite because it was delicious.

Here are a few snapshots from my stay at the Merrion Row!