Jeni's

When I first went to the gastroenterologist I was terrified that I'd have to go gluten free. No pasta or bagels - that would be a nightmare for my diet. I was only afraid of going dairy-free. About a night or two after learning of my dairy allergy I had this terrible thought that I would never eat chocolate peanut butter ice cream again. Now, I have nightmares where I eat other decadent desserts (only to wake up and realize I cannot actually eat them). I also longingly gaze at the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese boxes when shopping at the supermarket. 

Obviously the change in my diet has not been all smooth sailing - major life changes never are. However, I am pleased to continue to find great dairy-free dessert options, such as Jeni's sorbets.

As I related in a previous dairy-free post, I am not a sorbet person. I hate how most restaurants and supermarkets only sell two flavors - mango or raspberry. The beauty of Jeni's sorbet is that each flavor is incredibly different. I could easily subsist on the Riesling Poached Pear sorbet. 

Nothing is more refreshing than a bowlful of Jeni's sorbet on a hot summer's day. As the weather in NYC continues to get warmer I look forward to trying out new Jeni's sorbets for dessert. 

*Collages created by Gabriela Monsanto. Photographs taken from Jenis.com. 

Wednesday 4.29

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, Tee: c/o Walk Trendy, Jeans: American Eagle, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target, Sandals: J. Crew

I have always been a fan of graphic tees - IMO the cheekier the better. When I was contacted by Walk Trendy to style something on my site I was instantly drawn to this "Hey Sailor" tee. 

The shirt is even BF approved, few of my clothes are, so I expect it will be making numerous appearances this summer. 

*Photographs taken by the BF.

Lost Without Color

I have a new found affinity for agate necklaces. Occasionally I will search for the hashtag, #agatenecklace, on Instagram to find shops that sell unique pieces. One such designer, Lost Without Color, is one of my finds - and now a favorite shop on my Etsy feed. What I particularly like about this designer is that each piece contains multiple colors. Some of the necklaces even have color combinations you wouldn't normally think of, such as the necklace I purchased which combines the colors brown and blue. 

I currently have my eye on two more chocker-esque necklaces - I think one of them will make its way into my closet very soon.

*Collages created by Gabriela Monsanto. All photographs taken from Lost Without Color.

The View From Above

Thursday 4.23

Vest: Cos, Dress: Vintage, Bag: Michael Kors, Shoes: Target

*Photographs taken by the BF.

The Paying Guests

When I told my mom I was reading The Paying Guests she said, "ooo, that book was weird". I have yet to decide if I fully agree with her, however, the storyline is certainly out of the ordinary. The novel centers around Frances, a lesbian, in the 1920s. We follow her through an affair and a murder trial. My favorite part of this book was reading about being a lesbian in the 1920s. I found this particular aspect of the novel very intriguing and I wish it was explored in further depth. Instead, the novel focuses primarily on Frances's lusty affair. 

I did find that The Paying Guests was very easy to read and I finished it rather quickly - especially in comparison to my last unbearable reading experience. NPR published a book review on  the novel that states that the last 100 pages or so, "feel padded". NPR, I have to disagree - I found the book to be just the right length. I also particularly enjoyed how Sarah Waters ended the novel - she leaves the reader in a precarious spot, questioning what the future will hold for the characters. 

In my mind, Sarah has only breached the surface of an incredibly interesting topic. I dare someone to further explore the social dynamics of being a lesbian in the 1920s - that's a book that I would really love to read. 

*Collage created by Gabriela Monsanto. 

Tuesday 4.21

Sweatshirt: Forever 21, Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Pants: Kate Spade, Shoes: Madewell 

*Photographs taken by the BF.

Kate Spade New York

Splash Out Fish Tote, Pleated Drop Waist Dress, Bacau Sandals, Suki Flats, Chinese New Year Sheep Clutch, Multi Floral Ramona Top, Leafy Floral Cap Sleeve Top, Leafy Floral Synna Pant

My mom and I have made it a tradition to visit the Kate Spade store for a wonderful VIP shopping experience (more on our first trip here). I am a huge fan of Kate Spade's designs - everything is so whimsical and fun. The Spring 2015 line is even more playful than usual with incredibly cute animal shaped bags and bold floral prints. 

I absolutely love visiting the Kate Spade store for this special experience. It really makes me feel like a princess for a day. 

I did some significant damage during this shopping trip. The BF and I are going to Florida on Friday and I plan on bringing many of my new items with me on our vacation. 

It's hard to say what my absolute favorite purchase is from this weekend's haul - I'd say it's a toss up between the Splash Out Fish Tote and the Chinese New Year Sheep Clutch. 

I'm already counting down the days until my mom and I go back to the Kate Spade store for our Fall 2015 shopping extravaganza.

*Photographs taken by Gabriela Monsanto.

The View From Above

Thursday 4.16

Hat: Monki, Bag: Unknown, Sweater: Calypso, Turtleneck: J. Crew, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Madewell

*Photographs taken by the BF.