Independence Day in America’s Capital

I hope everyone had a truly Fabulous 4th of July. I can’t lie, it was a little strange having a holiday in the middle of the week and to have the early morning wake up call for work. But, I’ll just look at it as a couple of two day work weeks! Aren’t we lucky?

Speaking of lucky, I feel very fortunate that I was able to spend the 4th of July in Washington D.C. this year. This is only the second year I’ve been in town for the holiday, but this was the first year I put myself right, smack dab in the middle of the city and I am so thankful I did! Granted, we did frequent two Mexican restaurants (Cantina Marina and Pacifico Cantina) – and, as my husband said, we were just one bratwurst and a potsticker away from making America really proud. It was my first time at Pacifico Cantina, which just opened a few weeks ago, but I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to kickback with a margarita. Check back later today for a full review, but for now a picture tour of my D.C. Independence Day Celebration!

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Some mango beer-garitas with some of my favorite ladies.

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We walked from Barracks Row in Capitol Hill, down Independence to get a view of the fireworks. I only had my iphone, but this was one of my favorite shots!

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And of course, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t include our view of the Capitol Building.

After we walked down to the National Mall for the fireworks finale, we quickly realized that we were amidst thousands of people all clamoring to get to the nearest metro station. The line to get down to the stations closest to the mall were at least a hundred people deep – and that was just to get down the stairs to the metro. I can’t even imagine what the platforms looked like! So, we kept on trucking down the mall and through the city, which was a great experience in of itself. We strolled past the White House and just enjoyed being in the city, even though I would have preferred the temperature to be about 15 degrees cooler.

We caught a cab in Dupont and once we got home, saw another fireworks show from our living room window. I’d say it doesn’t get much better than celebrating America and our independence with the people you love in our nation’s capital! I hope you all had a great holiday and work is at least bearable today!

 

 
 

Fourth Fashion: Don’t let the Fireworks be the Only Show Stopper!

First of all, I can hardly believe it is July already. It seems like I was just celebrating New Years Eve and here we are nearly halfway through 2012! But, I digress. Let’s focus on more important things – like the fashions we can don while celebrating America’s birthday!

I usually travel for the 4th of July, but I am very excited to be celebrating here in our Nation’s Capital for once! There is nothing quite like the displays of patriotism that occur, leaving us all feeling more American than a slice of Apple pie washed down by a swig of Budweiser.

As you can imagine, here in D.C., there is no shortage of things to do, places to be and people to see on the 4th. In fact, the trouble often is choosing just one option! I’m taking a more laissez faire approach to my plans tomorrow and just seeing where the day takes me. However, if you have your plans all ironed out you are probably now wondering what the heck to wear! Fret no further and take a peek at some of the outfit ideas below. No matter what your plans are, you’ll be prepared to do America proud in these patriotic ensembles!

One tip to make sure you look like Miss America and not Uncle Sam – don’t over do it! Anchor your outfit with one patriotic color and accessorize with the others; don’t try to let them all compete.

Fourth Fashion: From Day to Night
Not sure what your plans are? Be ready for a daytime celebration, an evening event and everything in between in this outfit.
Fourth Fashion: A Daytime Celebration
– Planning for an outdoor bbq or staking out a plot of grass for some evening fireworks? Take the casual approach with these looks.
Fourth Fashion: A Daytime Celebration by kerrychannon featuring peplum and polka dots.
Fourth Fashion - A Dressy Affair
– Does your 4th of July call for playing a bit of dress up? Pair your favorite red, white or blue dress with some eye-catching accessories and you are ready to party the night away!
 
 

Sale Roundup: J. Crew and Ann Taylor Loft

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I’m making this a quick one since I am bouncing around a lot here on the West Coast, but I had to share some of today’s sales with you.

The J. Crew Factory Store is running some nice specials on some of their classic pieces with some items up to an additional 40% off. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Factory Store, it is basically the J. Crew outlet you’d find at your average outlet mall, but J. Crew was smart enough to but the steals and deals online. Now we can pick and choose our favorite items at our leisure, without having to fight our way through the masses and take down that crazy lady who thinks she is getting that last pair of pants. Er…ok, let’s just take a look at some of their best deals…

Factory Drawstring Day Dress – originally $79.50, on sale for $49.50. The perfect casual dress for any summer day. Throw it on with your favorite sandals and you’re ready to go!
Factory Bell Skirt in cotton – originally $54.50, on sale for $29.50. I own this skirt and blue and can attest, it is a versatile piece that you can pair with a tee or tank for the weekend or a button up for polished, work appropriate look.

Ann Taylor Loft is running two different sales today, both with pretty stellar savings! Now, it is no secret that I tend to make a lot of purchases from Loft and a significant percentage of my wardrobe can be attributed to the store. Well, with these savings, you can understand why! Online, you can score 30% off all purchases with the code SHOP30. In stores, you can rack up 50% off all items today as long as you shop from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Check out their Facebook page to snag the deal.

Honey Stripe Knit Maxi Skirt – Originally $59.50. On sale for $54.99 and an additional 50% off – $27.50. Another incredibly versatile piece, pair with a tank or tee and a fun jacket.
Cotton Batik Carnation Print Tie Neck Peasant Tunic – originally 49.50, on sale for 50% off – $24.75. A bold, bright tunic top will help add an element of the unexpected to your wardrobe.

This is a great time to stock up on some of your summer staples. With prices this low, you really can’t afford NOT to treat yourself to something. It is Friday after all!