Red, White, Blue's in the skies, Summer's in the air...

Happy Fourth of July weekend my Americana babes!

If you didn't catch fireworks last night, I hope you do this weekend. There's something so magical about the stillness of the night, right before each firework goes off. Just sitting there with your friends and family, watching them sparkle against the summer night. 

Wear your stars and stripes, lounge in the pool, toast s'mores at a beach bonfire with your friends, light sparklers, and treat yourself to an ice cream cone with extra sprinkles. Xx

Model Crush: Cailin Russo

California crushing on Miss Cailin Russo, the familiar face behind brands like Brandy Melville and Wildfox Couture. American Apparel put her on the map a couple years ago, and its been smooth sailing ever since. If her perfect features, flawless complexion, killer style, surfer boyfriend, or rockstar dad (Scott Russo of Unwritten Law) didn't already have you a little green with envy, while then you might not want to listen to her new single:

Penny Lane

Director Cameron Crowe's Tiny Dancer scene in Almost Famous is the perfect backdrop to this post.

Trends and styles come and go, and there are few (maybe more) that haunt us from our childhood, making it difficult to give a fair chance when they come back around. One example faced by many right now would be overalls, but a second and more consistent one would be bangs. 

If you had a bowl haircut with bangs like you were the fifth member of the Beatles that your parents referred to as a “shag,” and called you “pumpkin head,” you may be scarred for good. Be better than the bad haircut of your childhood, be brave and embrace the art of the bang. Hollywood A-listers left and right sport bangs, but my inspiration came from the ‘70s vibe that I’m always loving. I was inspired by models like Cailin Russo and Abbey Lee Kershaw, icons like Jane Birkin, and movies like Almost Famous and Dazed and Confused. They’re light and wispy, can easily be pushed to the side, and feel perfect for the summer.

Xx Sami

butterfly kisses

For all the girls who grew up wanting to be just like their dad. The ones that love baseball, Law & Order, and listening to the Oldies. To the lucky ones that can call their dad their best friend. Xoxo

Going with the flow

Roadtrips, sunkissed skin, flower crowns, peach smoothies, heart shaped sunnies, mermaid hair, crazy colored sunsets, ferris wheels, and cotton candy.

Summer's hit the East Coast, and I'm day dreaming about my road trip to California with Addi. After all, it's her 22nd birthday today! 

Xoxo

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Live the life you've imagined

Here's a special congratulations to any 2013 college graduates out there, we did it!

This is such an exciting and scary time in my life, but I am so grateful to have graduated from URI and ready to move on to the next stage of my life. I truly feel blessed to have had such an amazing four year college experience at a quintessential New England university. This is where I've met the most wonderful friends, professors and peers who have guided me to a study abroad experience in London, and to two degrees in journalism and fashion! It is so wonderful to see how many of my good friends are continuing on to amazing journeys, and I'm thrilled to be able to watch them continue on the path to success! :)

I think this is a very important time to reflect on what success means to you, on both a personal level, and a financial level. There is perhaps no single more important time in my life where I will deeply consider this, especially before I start applying for graduate school. I look forward to a little break from school, but I am eager to start up again at the same time! I am so passionate about learning and life that I am simply happy to just be, for the time being at least. I think it's important to remember that wherever you are, you should be all there. Cherish the past and dream about the future, but please live fully in the present.