Photo Series: Part 2

A few more favorites from my shoot with Kara Rivers Photography. I am by no means a model but we had so much fun shooting that I thought I would share!

Shirt - Mara Hoffman

Hat - J.Crew

Jewelry - Julie Vos
Sunglasses - Warby Parker

Shoes - Kaanas

(No books were hurt in the making of this photo series : ) )

July Mood Board

 

 

My Life Lately 6.19.15

My life lately has included photo shoots and brunch and Coachella and work and school and friends visiting and Riley visiting and some shopping and some selfies and playoff games and cocktails and hikes and baseball games and golf (!!) and birthdays and fun. Not a long update today but you catch my drift - off to good ol' BC tomorrow but will check in from up North. Have a great weekend!

 

 

 



2 Year Anniversary of MM!

My parents told me that post-grad life flies by but this is ridiculous! I cannot believe my little blog turns 2 this week! I have had SO much fun writing and curating this blog and it has been such a treat to interact with my readers both in the comments section and in person. It means the WORLD to me when people tell me that they are loyal Metropolitan Musings readers - you have no idea!

 

Two years ago this week, I was working in NYC in finance and trying to figure out my post-college life. Today, I am happily settled in Santa Monica, CA working for a company I adore and working towards a professional designation degree at FIDM. So many things have changed but a lot is exactly the same. I still have the support of my amazing family/friends/boyfriend/co-workers and I still love putting content out for you all to enjoy. I have been crazy busy recently but also incredibly happy. That said, I know the volume of my posts has decreased but I am working on the quality of the posts so hopefully that makes up for it. Please continue to read and support and comment because without you guys I wouldn't have kept up the posting for two years and counting! Here's to many more (and to hoping to Veuve fairy visits you all tonight - cheers)!

 

via Vogue

 

source unknown

 

 

 

 

Changes

As many of you have noticed, Metropolitan Musings has a new layout and I hope you all like it! I wanted to have a cleaner/crisper look. Does anyone feel like this holiday season has completely crept up on them?? One minute it's summer and the next everyone's buying a Christmas tree! Before we know it, it will be the New Year and so I thought I'd get ahead of the game by making a few small changes to the blog now. 

via

Sorry I have been MIA this week but sometimes life gets in the way of writing every day. By this point every year I have usually finished all of my Christmas shopping - I haven't started yet...nor do I know what to ask Santa for. Sometimes life events put things in perspective and it's hard to ask for things when you're so thankful for the people in your life. I got to spend time this week with a bunch of friends that I truly adore and although it was for unfortunate circumstances, we all found a way to make each other smile. 

Anyways, I'd love to hear all of your thoughts on the new layout! Excited to share pictures of the progress on my parents new house next week. They have completely redone one of the little cottages and it is adorable. My mom truly has a gift. I'm heading up to Hudson tomorrow morning (if I can roll out of bed after a hectic and tiring week). My sister, Tory, made reservations at Fish and Game, which is one of my favorite restaurants in the Berkshires. Their seven course tasting menu is truly a culinary experience and the atmosphere is cozy and rustic. The restaurant actually used to be a 19th century blacksmith shop and it has gorgeous fireplaces and delicious cocktails. I can't wait! Have a great weekend everyone! 

Above images via

Happy One Year Anniversary to Metropolitan Musings!

I can't believe it's been a year since I started writing this blog. At first, I didn't know what I wanted to write about and how this would all shape out but now I am getting a new blog redesign (soon!) and a clearer voice (I hope!). Thank YOU, all of my wonderful readers, for all of your support. Here's to many more years of "my life latelys" and my other musings. 

via

In the last year I-

+Got settled in my apartment in Manhattan and in my new job. It's been almost a year and a half!

+Tried numerous NYC restaurants and fitness classes and diets... (thanks for sticking with me on those..)

+Traveled a lot! Granted, almost all of my trips were within the U.S., I visited San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Raleigh (a dozen or so times), Charlotte, Boston, Boca Grande, Toronto, British Columbia, etc....I love that I was able to see so many friends and tell you all about it.
+Shopped. A lot. I think this blog is an enabler because I am constantly looking for new things to show you guys!
+Took an interior design class that I loved. I met really interesting people and learned a ton. Future career? Could be!
+Colored my hair for the first time. I swearrrr I will share some photos soon. : )

All in all, it has been a great year! As an aside, I love feedback (and criticism). Please let me know what you like to read about and which posts you aren't as crazy about. It really helps me focus in on what drew you guys here in the first place.I am working on getting more original content and I think my new redesign will help me. Thanks for sticking by me! Happy one year, MM! xo Clare

June Mood Board

Did May fly by or what?? No complaints, though - I've been so excited for summer since, well, last summer ended and my June is packed with fun activities. I have the Botanical Garden Gala this Thursday and a fun birthday at the Bowery Hotel on Friday. I'm playing on a softball team with a bunch of my friends from Cornell, which I anticipate will be a grand old time, as well! I leave for Canada on the 29th for 8 days to see Riley and will be missing the 4th of July but get to celebrate Canada Day, which I hear is also pretty fun (definitely has nothing on the 4th, though)! Pretty excited to relax and take some time off. 

June is also gluten-free month in hopes of looking good in a bathing suit in July. So far so good with the cleanse (no alcohol has been the hardest by far...) and I'm all done with it on Wednesday. I'm also redeeming my Best of Bliss gift certificate which is a half day at the Bliss Spa on 49th complete with hour long mani, hour long almond milk pedi, 75 minute blissassage and 75 minute Bliss Oxygen Facial. Can you say Heaven??? I also plan on going home to Greenwich quite a bit to play with the pups (and my siblings...) and get some sun! What are you all up to for Summer?? PS can't wait to show you all my dress for the gala! P.P.S. Can you tell I'm really inspired by blues and greens this month??  xo

* Images from House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Woodennest.tumblr.com, Thefirstmess.com, Simply-Boho.tumblr.com, Sacramentostreet.com, Rollingpearl.tumblr.com, kevinandamanda.com, Graememitchell.com, Casey Matthews Art, Ashley Goldberg Art

Happy Weekend!

Crack open the champagne! Metropolitan Musings has hit 10,000 views. Thank you all for supporting my little blog and for all your comments and constructive criticism. The site is, as always, a work in progress and I'm so excited to keep growing with it. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Pound it! We got 10,000 views!

*Image from Pinterest.com