pack your summer travel bags - a shabby apple give-away

For years, my best friend Cassie and I have called packing for a vacation Paper Dolling (that's what I named my fashion board on Pinterest, too!). Half the fun of anticipating a trip for me is deciding who I want to be when I'm escaping my reality of daily commutes, deadlines, and what's-for-dinnering. Clothes can set the tone for a glamorous getaway. 

Just in time for summer travel,  Shabby Apple is offering one I Do Declare reader a $50 gift card to shop its online vintage boutique. Let's get to packing....

A Long Weekend with Girlfriends:
Right now, I'm on a long weekend with a mix of friends from high school, college, and D.C.  We'll be seeing a concert, touring a winery, relaxing at a day spa, and dining at our resort. I will regret not putting this Lemon Drop skirt in my suitcase. With flats by day, it's perfect for shopping or lunch. At night, it's easily glammed up with jewelry, heels, and a clutch.

Fourth of July at the Beach:
I spend most Independence Days in Virginia Beach. No matter where you are on the 4th of July, you'll be the star in this striped Catalina one-piece.  It's made in the U.S.A, so Lee Greenwood approves!

Destination Wedding:
How nice of you to plan your vacation around your friend's special day. The fact that cake comes with sand and sun can hardly be beat! One of my all-time favorite destination weddings was to Maine to see our friends Megan + Eric say I Do. In this pretty Tie the Knot frock you'll stop just short of upstaging the bride. 

You can buy one of these dresses, the swimsuit, or choose from so many more styles (Shabby Apple offers maternity and children's clothing, too) with the $50 gift card you can win by: 

1. Giving Shabby Apple a thumbs-up on Facebook if you don't already "Like" them
2. Leaving a comment below telling me what Shabby Apple dress is your favorite

I will name a winner on Friday, June 7. Good luck!

where the blogway meets the runway it's a small, small world

**enter here to win a $50 gift card from Tiny Prints!**

One fun fact about Washington is that you can bump into strangers on the street and hours later find yourself sharing secrets over dinner.  Now this doesn't happen every night, but in my years here it's happened a few times, and that's where today's story picks up.  Last night.

I was solo at Bloomingdales for a charity fashion show (which you can read more about over at Fedscoop!). Going to events alone makes me nervous and socially awkward so when through a cluster of geeks and glamazons I saw the familiar face of someone I "know" but have never met - MCW from Saving the Best for Last blog - I was thrilled!

When we locked eyes MCW rebuffed the gentleman vying for her attention by telling him she'd just seen an old friend. HAAA.

We've been reading each other's blogs for a while, even meaning to meet up for drinks. Life just kept getting the way. Until...life suddenly imitated Anna Wintour and landed us front and center beside the runway.  I call this The Devil Wears Forever 21......(cause that's where I bought my sunglasses). 

I mean, how often do you meet people who'll play Posh with you by pose-harding for sport? 

MCW was there with Landlocked Mermaid (center above; she blogs privately). Before we knew it the three of us were shopping for lip-gloss before gossiping over a late night dinner. I had SUCH a good time, and loved that a soiree I feared would leave me the wallflower instead made me a bonafide Disney princess.....

"The Disney Princesses" is what Mermaid's husband calls all the bloggers she knows and reads. Hysterical.  I'm so happy to be part of Mermaid and MCW's small blog world! 

first birthday gift for little girls

I never have a clue what to give a child on its first birthday.  Moms can be very particular about the types of clothes their kids wear, and what do I know about toys? Nada. 

I think I have found the perfect present for an auntie-type to gift a baby girl that will guide a path that leads towards citizenship of  the world. This gift will inspire dialogue on global issues like the economy....

and international affairs.

Vanity Fair covers and Ferragamo kitten heels, sadly, are not the birth right of every little girl, but if we can instill in the next generation how imperative it is to relate to other women on a very common level of pop culture and fashion...

then we've done our job in outfitting the next generation for the red carpet that is life. Just like the practice of proper sunscreen application, one can never, ever start too soon.

That is why I'm giving Suri's Burn Book to every little girl I know.