KATIE KENNEDY

Salut to the Weekend

 

Tee: J. Crew || Skirt: ASOS || Wedges: Vince Camuto || Bag: Amazon (splurge) || Sunglasses: Ray-Ban || Earrings: Tory Burch || Watch: Tory Burch

I didn’t think I would make it to this point, but I am finally on Spring Break! Hallelujah! There was a long span between Winter Holiday and now (including a quick case of the flu), but I’m finally here. Do I have any vacation plans for Spring Break? Absolutely not and I’m so excited about it. My mom and I will be getting some wedding stuff done. It’s all the fun stuff though. I’ll be meeting with the florist, the baker, my hair stylist, PLUS picking out a dress for my dear mama. Busy, busy.

I’m starting off this jam packed week with a little happy hour to say Salut to the weekend with this ultra fun top from J. Crew. Spanish, French, and Italian motifs can be found in almost every store. I love of it, but have to make sure I don’t buy too much. Because I’m in such a good mood, and so many of you will be traveling abroad soon, I though it would be so fun to round up my favorite items inspired by foreign languages. Don’t worry, translations will be included.

Spanish (of the three languages) is probably the most widely spoken at one level or another. I took Spanish for four years in high school, two years in college, and frequently have to use it with my job. Unfortunately, I still only have very beginner skills, but think I would be able to get by in a pinch. One of my goals on my 101 in 1001 is to become fluent in a second language. Who knows, Spanish may be the one!

  • Hola: Hello
  • Buenos Dias: Good Morning
  • Adios: Goodbye
  • Fiesta: Party
  • Mañana: Tomorrow

I personally don’t speak French, but it’s such a beautiful language. As far as languages found in stores go, I think this one has to be the most popular. That makes perfect sense if you think about it. Paris and France in general has always been associated with style and fashion. It just goes to show that I’m not the only one who loves how this language sounds.

  • Bonjour: Hello.
  • Il Fait Beau: The weather is nice.
  • C’est la Vie: It’s life.
  • C’est Chic: It’s stylist.
  • Le Bon: Good.
  • Je T’aime: I love you.
  • Salut: Cheers.

Italian is one of the closest languages to my heart. I’ve been studying like crazy for my Italian honeymoon. I want to be able to chat with the locals like I usually do. Everything in Italian just sounds like a piece of music. The most common phrase to see or hear is ciao. As far as words go, it’s pretty useful, having more than one meaning. Of course it looks just as nice as it sounds.

  • Ciao: Hello and Goodbye.
  • Bella: Beautiful.

Learning new languages can always be a challenge. I’m thinking it has got to be easier if you wear it. After all, practice what you preach. It may not be the best way, but you might just find yourself hablando  español or any other language in no time.

Love from Florida,
Katie

Tampa Bay Saturday

 

Top: Old Navy || Jeans: LOFT || Sandals: Jack Rogers || Hat: Brixton || Bag: Amazon (splurge) || Sunglasses: Ray-Ban || Earrings: Tory Burch || Watch: Tory Burch

It’s kind of weird blogging about my St. Patrick’s Day weekend and not be wearing anything green, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. I actually was a total diva and wore two outfits on Saturday, but I’ll be blogging about this stunning emerald green sundress from Old Navy on another day.

Our Saturday started off like they normally do, a trip to a local coffee shop. Because we were making our way to Tampa, we tried out Blind Tiger Café in Ybor City. It was my first time going there, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be back very soon. It’s located on the main stretch of Seventh Avenue in this perfect little corner spot with all of the natural light you could ask for. A great mix of New Orleans style jazz was playing and it made me feel right at home. Because it was my first experience, I just had to try my go-to order of cold brew coffee, size large to help me make it through the day. I also couldn’t stop myself from ordering their Guava Cream Cheese pastry. That alone will have me come back. David had the Egg Croissant that was just delicious!

I also used my quick morning in Ybor to scout some blog picture locations. Because it’s one of the most historic districts in the Tampa Bay area, there is so much great architecture on every corner. It’s just dripping in rich character! I actually never get to visit this part of Tampa, but I want to make up for lost time. Expect a travel guide very soon!

Afterwards, we met up with my family in Downtown Tampa to see the annual dyeing of the Hillsborough River for Saint Patrick’s Day. It could not have been a more gorgeous day and it was such a fun experience to see the brightest shade of green. Even though this is the seventh year running, it’s another first for me. From there, we strolled the Riverwalk and enjoyed an Irish beer (or two) at the Saint Patrick’s Day Festival at Curtis Hixon Park.

We couldn’t stay out too late in the afternoon because we had a hockey game, where the puck dropped at 7, and a reservation for a late lunch at Ulele. This was probably the highlight of the whole weekend. I’ve been wanting to eat here forever and we don’t get over to Tampa as often as we should. This must-try restaurant is located in an old Tampa Waterworks building on a gorgeous park, right on the river. Talk about a stellar location! It’s the food that really steals the show, though. Inspired by native Florida cuisine from hundreds of years ago, Ulele gives a twist to what normally would be considered comfort food classics.

No meal with the Coleman’s is complete with a cocktail and it was just as true here. I opted for the Floridita Daiquiri which was, although not what I was expecting, still very refreshing. Being the beer guy that he is, David decided to try a brew from Ulele’s very own on-site brewery. The ‘Hydration Station’ is exactly what the name implies and was a perfect relief for the hot Florida sun. Yes, even in March, the sun can be unforgiving down here and I have the sun kissed nose to prove it.

Moving on to the appetizer course, our table ordered both the Alligator Hush Puppies and Okra Fries. Not many outside of Florida know this, but alligator is often a menu item in many restaurants. I know it’s so cliché, but it really does taste like chicken. If you get an opportunity to try, don’t miss out (even if it’s in hush puppy form). These were served with fresh horseradish aioli sauce and were a great way to start off the meal. Now, I’m going to be honest, the Okra Fries were not pretty. Okra in general isn’t always that great to look at, but they make up for it in taste. They had great flavor because of their seasoning and home-made ketchup. I’m so glad we gave these a try, even if they weren’t quite Instagram worthy.

We rounded out lunch with a whole bunch of entries. I love eating with my family because we all usually end up get something different and have so much to sample. I may be biased, but I think my meal was the best! You really can’t go wrong with a 14 ounce pork chop and twice baked mashed potatoes. It was served with a guava demi-glace and was mouth-watering good. I left uncomfortably full, but I promise you it was all worth it.

Afterwards, stuffed to the brim, we made our way to a Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Boston Bruins. I don’t want to get into the score because Spoiler Alert, it wasn’t pretty. No matter the outcome, I always enjoy love a night out with my parents and can’t wait for the next time around. It was also great to explore a little bit of Tampa. I left with so much inspiration for photo locations and blog posts that I just can’t wait to share!

Love from Florida,
Katie

Formal Engagement

Mine: Dress: Soprano || Shoes: J. Crew || Bracelet: David Yurman || Earrings: Kate Spade

His: Shirt: J. Crew || Pants: J. Crew || Shoes: Aldo || Socks: J. Crew || Belt: Cole Haan

Happy Wedding Wednesday! It seems like I just posted a wedding update, but Irma has definitely helped me lose track of time and days. I’m so excited to return to normalcy and that includes my regularly scheduled blog posts.

We are so beyond fortunate to report that the family and home are all okay. We are currently without power (and may be for quite some time), but if that’s the only thing to complain about, I feel pretty blessed. St. Petersburg seemed to have made out okay too. The love and support I have seen towards one another is so inspirational and reminds me all of the good there is in the world. A special thank you needs to go out to the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and linemen and women who are helping the city get back to normal and continue to stay safe. I also greatly appreciate the local businesses for opening their doors and welcoming us in with open arms, sharing their AC, power, and companionship.

Our church and reception venue were also safe from any harm, which means that our wedding planning can continue on, business as usual. From here, we have a lot of the smaller details to work out. I’ve heard that this can be one of the more stressful parts of planning, but my Southern Wedding Planner helps me keep track of everything. New thoughts and ideas are popping up everyday, but so far the biggies left are:

  • flower arrangements. My favorite bouquet flowers are hydrangeas. Other than that, I’m looking to keep flowers simple, but tasteful.
  • bridesmaid dresses. I’m looking to save my bridesmaids some money by finding some rental options. Any former brides out there that have any thoughts or insight?
  • desserts. Keeping with the Florida vibes, our wedding ‘cake’ will be swapped for some Key Lime Pie. Meanwhile, my guests will enjoy cupcakes. Shoutout to my dear friend, Hannah, for the inspiration from her own wedding.
  • save the dates and invitations. Minted has so many great options. How will I ever decide?!

The last thing to share with you are some more pictures from my engagement session with Cathy Durig. Last week I highlighted the more casual of the two outfits I got to shoot, but today I wanted to share my formal. When I saw this navy, lace dress from Soprano, I instantly feel in love. The midi-length was so tasteful and the high neckline was extremely flattering. At under $60, this is a great staple piece I can have on repeat when the occasion strikes. It’s dressy enough to wear to a wedding in any season, but is still laidback enough to wear on date night when we’re out on the town.

Staying more monochromatic, David and I were coordinated with his white oxford and navy chinos (both from J. Crew). I admit, I was a little nervous about there being so much navy. Even though it’s my favorite color, I was afraid that we would end up looking too matchy. When I saw the results from Cathy, I loved how everything turned out. Our outfits reflect both of our styles and helped us look in sync. Now the tough part is picking which one to have printed on our save-the-dates. Any suggestions?

Love from Florida,
Katie