the whole fam damily

I am so excited for Easter break. In light of this, I thought I'd post about my family with a montage of pictures. Lets start with some early ones.

Summer '06 sailing back to Newport, RI from Bermuda with the whole family!

Summer '07 on Nantucket. Christopher is on the left and Ryan is on the right. This is probably the first picture where Christopher is taller than me. Finally. 

This is also summer '07, the day before I went back to school. This is one of my favorite pictures!

These are my adorable parents. I couldn't ask for more!

Summer '08 on Nantucket. My parents with Ryan (my youngest brother).

 My pride and joy: my dog Lily!

Christmas '08 at our house!

Ryan's graduation from our grade school, June '09

Christopher's graduation from high school this past June!

And there you have it, a bunch of Fish! 

In Theory, Go Neutral

This spring, it's all about neutral tones. Theory is always up with the current fashion 'must haves,' so I thought I'd share some of my favorites. On a daily basis, I wear a lot of color. However I have a great appreciation for the more natural, basic colors that are in stores right now. There is something to be said for white, cream, khaki and light brown and grey--they are soft on the eyes and very mature. Especially for someone about to graduate and (hopefully) enter the business world, perhaps this would be an appropriate color scheme to pay more attention to.

Nania Trench, $385.

The Trench: this is Fashion Insider's favorite piece for this season. A khaki trench coat is one of those things that I feel like I can never pull off but they look great on other people. Does anyone else feel like this? Perhaps now is the time to defy this attitude however, because they really are very becoming. They are versatile and lightweight, which means you can wear it well into the spring. This look with a mini dress or skirt is smart and sexy. Girls, lets take a hint from the Fashion Insiders this spring!

Bindi TS Blazer, $375.

This is my favorite pick at Theory right now. This white and bourbon blazer is so simple and yet says a lot: I am smart and put together. I am organized and focused. I am fashionable. It's a big world out there, and I have a feeling this piece of clothing will fare rather well this season.

Jaiha Dress, $275.

Block, two-toned dresses were very 'in' last summer and I'm glad they're continuing their popularity. This dress is so cute!

Neini Skirt, $180.

This skirt is just plain cool. If you click on the picture and look at the close-up images on the website,  you'll see that the skirt is made to look like a shirt tied around your waist. How unique! I love that it's made of silk, and the color is very dramatic. Theory even includes videos on how to wear it, so have no fear.

Theory Promotional Tees

Graphic tees are great, and I don't own enough of them. These are fun because they stay true to the whole neutral colors theme in a different way. They are a promotional item from Theory if you spend more than $350.

Easter break begins tomorrow after class! I can't wait to go home and see my family. CMG is going to Florida, and I'm trying not to be too jealous of the sunshine and warmth she is about to absorb. Here's to my lack of tan that will continue for the next few months.

xo, MPF

The Spring Collection

It's another dreary Monday in New England, so lets talk Lilly to make it a little brighter. A few weekends ago I was in the Lilly Pulitzer signature store in my town (complete with the Jeep parked outside) and tried on a couple of dresses. I do this for fun all the time because the colors put me into the best mood. Needless to say, there are definitely some dresses, shoes and accessories I would love to add to my wardrobe.

Betsey Dress Wave Jacquard, $248

Out of all of the dresses I tried on, my mom and I decided this was our favorite in the Spring Collection. The color is actually much brighter than is pictured, a little more on the aqua side than light blue. It would be perfect to wear to a wedding, Easter or a graduation party, and in my opinion because it's not full of multiple bright colors you can wear it both during the day and into the evening. 

Franco Dress Sewn Patch, $248

This is my second choice from the Spring Collection, and it is adorable. Quintessential Lilly, she does a great job controlling the busy print with the white top section. It ties into a knot on the back, something that I didn't realize from the website. I would definitely wear this one during the day, and hopefully with a tan!

Betsey Dress Eyelet, $328

My love for eyelet never fails, and Lilly Pulitzer consistently designs very tasteful dresses with simple details. There is beading around the center and the entire dress is eyelet. I love the clutch they have her carrying in the picture, but I would probably go with gold flip flops (such as the ones below) to add a little accent. 

Lilly Sandal, $148

Simple and classy, definitely the way to go. 

Deeana Top Silk Cotton, $148

This top is phenomenal. It would look adorable with white pants or skinny jeans for nighttime wear or white shorts during the day. It reminds me of something I would wear to a barbeque or a labor day party.

The Murfee Scarf, $118

 

I am a huge fan of springtime/summer scarves, and these truly could not get any cuter. My mom gave me one for Christmas and it is definitely one of my favorite accessories. They are made from the softest lightweight fabric, and add color to absolutely anything you are wearing. I can't wait to wear mine more frequently this summer, both with blouses and as a shawl for a white dress. This is something every Lilly-obsessed girl needs. Trust me. 

And there we have it, more color to an otherwise dark and wet day!

To Haiti, with love

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) designed this graphic tee to raise money for the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, and I think they did a great job! The black and lime green graphics work very well together, and I've seen it in quite a few stores over the past few weeks including Theory, J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren. Designers are rallying to promote this $25 tee, so I thought I'd bring attention to this cause with my blog. It would look great with black skinny jeans or jean cuffed shorts. I bought one the other day and I can't wait to wear it! 

Remember...

nine words women use

I just came across this hilarious list of the passive aggressive terminology women use when we want to make a point but take a roundabout/snide way to do so. This pretty much describes my life. Enjoy!


1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the football before helping around the house.

3. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

4. A Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer quickly to No 9 for the meaning of nothing.)

5. That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

6. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot', which is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' - that will bring on No. 7).

7. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying, "F-- YOU!"

8. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to No. 4.

9. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in "Fine".


Thanks to Have Fun With English for making me laugh :) 

A Fish on the Alaskan Tundra

ALASKA: A place where the sun never sets and the mountains last forever. Two summers ago I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: a month on the Alaskan tundra and Prince William Sound. I went with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and I'm not kidding, this was by far the best month of my entire life. Nowhere else I have ever been compares to Alaska's ability to take your breath away. This is coming from someone who loves to be outside, but you catch my drift. 

With 14 other students my age, I hiked across the Chugach Mountain Range for the first two weeks (beginning in Anchorage and ending in Valdez), and sea kayaked across Prince William Sound for the second two weeks (beginning in Valdez and ending in Whittier). I'm convinced the only way to express the aura and beauty of Alaska is through pictures I took while I was there, so here we go.

These are the girls on the very first day of hiking! My hair was still clean at this point. Look how stylish we are. 

Kristen is one of my best friends from home, and she somehow let me convince her to come to Alaska with me. I'm also seriously considering moving to Colorado next year with  her. 

If you look really closely, you can see our tents at the base of the mountains. Ladies and gentlemen, my humble abode for the month.

These are the best cinnamon buns I've ever had (once they were cooked). Now, this is probably because I was in the middle of nowhere, but it's amazing what you're capable of making when you carry around flour, raisins and cinnamon and are desperate for something sweet and bad for you. This is also why I probably didn't lose a single pound on this trip.

I MISS THIS.

My instructors hung up Tibetan prayer flags on their tent at each campsite. I love the colors and I now have a pair hanging in my room at home. 

Hiking is tiring. This is also the spot where we saw a mama grizzly and her cub down in the valley. It was awesome!

In between the hiking and sea kayaking session, we spent a day in Valdez getting ready for the next two weeks. Watermelon has never tasted so good. Oh, and I got my first (and only) shower for the trip.

Sea kayaking in Prince William Sound.

Absolutely breath-taking.

Some of the most amazing people I've ever met.

Enchiladas!

 This is why Alaska is my favorite state.

Kayaking next to the glaciers was awesome, but very cold. They really put you into your place in the world--they're HUGE.

Kristen, myself and Brady in our cool gear.

Our very last campsite on the beach. I need to go back here.

The girls right before we went back to Anchorage. This was one of the most bittersweet feelings I've ever experienced. Obviously I couldn't wait for a shower and some new clothes, but there's nothing like living off of the earth for a month. I can't WAIT to do it again. 

And there you have it. Alaska does in fact exist. I hope you enjoyed the pictures! 

xo, MPF

FYI: The 12 Biggest Ripoffs in America

I recently came across the 12 Biggest Ripoffs in America according to CNN Money. Just in case you were wondering, here they are. Ironically, almost every single one plays a prominent part in my life.

Movie Theater Popcorn

I guess this isn't that surprising, but according to ABC News, movie popcorn costs more per ounce than filet mignon. So every time I'm tempted by the prospect of sitting in a movie theater with my buttery popcorn, I'll think about how much better a piece of tender filet would be right about now.

Text Messages

Well, too bad. I text and bbm all day long and there's no stopping me now.

College Textbooks

Surprise, surprise. Sorry Mom and Dad, in addition to the mountain of money you pay for my education per year, there's an additional $350 per semester on books I probably won't even read.

Branded Painkillers

Uh oh.

"Free" Credit Reports

Ironically I learned about this tonight. That's about all I have to say about it.

Wine Service at Restaurants

womp, womp. Apparently BYO is the way to go these days. I don't hate it.

Hotel Mini-Bars

My dad informed me about this at a young age after the time in Arizona when my brothers and I took every piece of the candy out of the mini-bar vending machine in our hotel room. ouch.

All You Can Eat Buffets

This is probably a good thing. Maybe next time I'll remember this before using the term 'all you can eat' literally.

Premium Gasoline

Regular gasoline is just fine with me.

Actively Managed Investments

Hopefully it's only a matter of time before I know what this even means.

In-Room (Hotel) Movies

Unfortunately predictable.

Health Club Memberships

This just reminded me that I need to start working out more often.

Ink Cartridges

This is exactly why my printer has been out of ink for two years.

And with that Wednesday, I'm done with you. Thursday night, please come faster.