Three Ways to Wear Distressed Denim

I fell in love with a pair of distressed Joe's Jeans recently, and they've already been shown lots and lots of love in my wardrobe. Here are three ways I've been wearing distressed denim this spring.

1. Boho weekend

{Top: BCBGMAXAZRIA. Similar here}

{Bag: Local boutique find. Similar here and here}

{Wedges: unisa. Similar here and here}

Comfortable enough for errands, dressed up enough for coffee dates and brunch. 

2. Night out

{Jacket: collection. Similar here and here}

{Top: Pleione. Similar here}

{Shoes: BCBGeneration. Similar here} 

Even when the days are gorgeous, the nights get a little chilly. I've been adding a neutral jacket with a fun ruffle detail to stay warm.

3. Super casual

{Shirt: Cincinnati Reds MLB}

{Flats: Tory Burch}

Yesterday was Opening Day, which is basically a holiday in Cincinnati. I'm excited baseball season is back, and these jeans are laid back enough for the stadium. Comfortable flats make walking around the city a breeze! 

How do you style your distressed denim?

xx,

Rachel

Uber Cincinnati

Have you heard of Uber? It's the transportation app that's taking over tons of cities. Bearing the appealing label of "Everyone's private driver," Uber lets you explore your city conveniently - and in style. I mean, check out this gorgeous shot from their website: 

{source} 

Given all the buzz about the app, I was thrilled to learn they were coming to Cincinnati! Getting a cab here can be quite inconvenient, and as the city experiences an urban revival it's exciting to see growth. The launch party took place at Igby's, which couldn't have been more perfect for the young professional crowd in attendance.  The two drivers I had were so friendly, and the app makes getting a driver so easy. As a Type A person, I love feeling a little more "in control" of the process by knowing my driver's name, face, vehicle, and estimated time of arrival ahead of time. 

Of course, when you're friends with a comedian, photo booth time happens....

Does your city have Uber? Do you plan on using the app this weekend?  Happy Friday loves!

xx,

Rachel

*This post is not sponsored. I received no compensation for my review - I just really love Uber. 

Seven Things to Love About Spring

Yesterday (at precisely 12:57 p.m., I'm told) we officially crossed into spring! I was in the best mood all day. It's no secret that this winter has been brutal, and I couldn't be more ready for sunshine and all the wonderful things that the warmer seasons bring. Here are some of my favorite things about spring:

1. Fresh flowers. I love picking up cut blooms for my apartment, passing all the lovely gardens in my neighborhood, and just being surrounded by things more beautiful than bare trees and brown grass. 

2. Bare legs. I'm ready to retire my tights and leggings in favor of shorter hemlines. These J. Crew shorts are a warm weather staple in my wardrobe. 

3. Longer days. More evening sunlight means pleasant evening runs. My neighborhood is full of runners and walkers. It's fun to see the community stop hibernating!

4. Baseball season. Go Reds! 

5. Dining (and drinking) alfresco. Spring begins my mad hunt for the best biergarten. I got a little spoiled in Paris with the adorable cafes with outdoor seating on every block. 

6. Open-toed shoes. I'm ready to retire my boots for a long time. Bring on the sandals and fun pedicures. 

7. Spring cleaning. My apartment could use a top-to-bottom fresh start. It's also a great time to donate wardrobe pieces I no longer love, making room for the new things I'm bound to find. 

What's your favorite part of spring?

xx,

Rachel

White (Night) Out

As much as I love a little black dress, there's something so chic about a night out in all white. I love pairing a statement necklace with these beautiful white cocktail dresses.

  

{left to right}

Saint Laurent dress // BCBG dress // Victoria Beckham dress 

BCBG necklace // Kate Spade necklace // J. Crew necklace

Cincy Chic is hosting Night in White next month - the perfect excuse to wear a LWD.  The event is being held at Obscura, my new favorite cocktail lounge downtown.

Photos courtesy of Obscura Cincinnati

So perfect for a girls night out! Proceeds from the event go to the Eight Days & One Hour Foundation's Stephen Morsch Nursing Scholarship.

Do you have a favorite LWD?

xx,

Rachel

Happy Thanksgiving!

While I may not be able to visit my immediate family this year, I'll certainly be celebrating.

I'll be fitting in an early morning workout for a great cause at Elmntl Fitness. Kevin Wimmer, the brains and brawn behind the outdoor fitness program, is donating all the proceeds to an animal rescue.

(Calm down ladies, he's married)

If you aren't familiar with Elmntl Fitness, here's an example what I'll be doing while most people I know are still cozy in their beds:

Luckily, I'm a morning person! Sunrise is by far my favorite time of the day.  

 I'm also very blessed to have the opportunity to spend a few hours with some extended family and friends in Cincinnati. Let's all take a moment to be thankful for hospitality and cocktails, shall we?

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and lots of things to be grateful for!

xo,

Rachel

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Holiday themed everything is creeping into my life, and I love it. The holiday season is my absolute favorite, and I like to celebrate as long as possible. This BCBGMAXAZRIA dress makes it all the more fun:

I love cozy weekends in parks and coffee shops. What are you up to this weekend?

xo,

Rachel

On Being a (Terrible) Runner

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I don't particularly enjoying feeling like I'm performing any activity at a less than excellent level. As a result, I've sometimes avoided activities that don't come naturally to me. This trait has certainly made me miss out on some amazing experiences.

I've made it a personal goal to do things at which I'm terrible. Running is one of these things. I am prone to injury, slow as molasses, and usually miserable every step of the way. That's exactly why I keep doing it.

Chasing perfection instead of progress only hurts you. I might never have the best mile time or become an ultra-marathoner, but I am okay with that. I do it because it's good for me - for both my cardiovascular health, and for my level of humility.  I don't just risk failure - I readily invite it into my life. While I still devote myself fully to projects, work, and reaching my goals, I think it's healthy to have a "Phoebe" moment every now and then:

This weekend, I will be volunteering with my sorority alumnae group at the Disabled American Veterans 5K. We will be pushing veterans in wheelchairs through the Honor Roll course, and I am so excited to participate in this event. It's such an amazing privilege to be able to use my body freely and push it to its limits. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to thank some individuals who gave up this privilege to protect our freedoms.

xo,

Rachel

P.S. Online registration for the Cincinnati DAV 5K is closed, but you can still register on the day of the race! Details here. 

#runOMcincy

Last night, I tucked myself into bed around 10:30 p.m. in preparation for today's event - runOMcincy! In this super-fun community gathering, around 2,000 Cincinnatians ran either 6, 3, or 1 mile distances to Great American Ball Park to do yoga. If you're from the area, you know it's kind of a big deal to be on the grass.

I pulled myself out of bed around 5:30 a.m. (eek!) with a huge smile on my face. I had a feeling today was going to be a blast, and I was absolutely right. I even got to cross it off my 101 in 1001 list. Check out some of the pictures!

Yogis taking over the outfield!

Feeling happy in the sunshine post-run and post-yoga

Love this picture of the whole group

Rosie did some yoga too!

The (totally free) event was organized and executed by some wonderful employees from lululemon Hyde Park and lululemon Kenwood, and amazing yoga instructors from local studios. Do it with me next year?

xo,

Rachel

Weekend Recap: Hello, Fall!

Cincinnati was seriously blessed with beautiful weather this weekend, minus the crazy storms on Friday night. I completely took advantage of the perfectly crisp fall weather! 

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati was this weekend. It's the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the USA! The event also features the World's Largest Chicken Dance...yeah, my city is a little strange sometimes. I also went to the City Flea in Washington Park. It's always nice to support local artists and small businesses.

 

(I can't take credit for these three photos)

On Sunday, I went to a yoga class sponsored by lululemon, followed by lunch with a new friend. Fresh green juice from Whole Foods after yoga is probably my new favorite thing.

(follow me on Instagram!)

In order to cancel out that healthy morning, I had to bake and lounge around watching football. I improvised a little and came up with a great healthy (well, healthier) recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies! The picture quality is terrible, but the cookies themselves are so, so good. 

I can't even have the Monday blues after that super relaxing weekend. Cheers to a new week!

xo, 

Rachel