#OOTD: Fit To Be Tied (Feat. SheIn + Rocksbox)

One of the many things I love about Pittsburgh is that though it is a small city, you can always find something to do. The Burgh is known for tons of fun events ranging from food festivals (We are known to have some of the best food and restaurants in the country after all!), live music, art crawls, and of course sports games. This weekend was no different, when Pittsburgh held its 40th annual Three Rivers Regatta, which was held at Point State Park. And of course after hearing about all the awesome activities going down at the regatta, you know I had to take sometime to check it out and be a tourist in my own city for the weekend.

Three Rivers Regatta 

As many of you know, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and know the city like the back of my hand. From its hottest bars, coolest museums, and best places to grab breakfast, I've been to them all. So, it's quite surprising that I never actually attended The Three Rivers Regatta until this year! However, I have to say I'm so happy I decided to go this past weekend because it was quite the sight to see. Though I have to say watching the Red Bull Flugtag competition took the cake, seeing the mass amount of boats on the river as well as seeing the boat race was pretty sweet too. I also finally had the perfect opportunity to style my newest blouse from my sponsor, SheIn!

The reason I chose this outfit is because I felt that a laid back look was best for a weekend that would be spent downtown and among large crowds of people. This blouse was a prefect choice because not only is it light weight and kept me cool during the humid August weekend, it also is quite the interesting piece though its front looks a bit plain--but I'll get to that in a minute. I chose to pair this top with these highwaisted shorts that I received from SheIn last year (Unfortunately these specific shorts are out of stock but you can find similar ones here and here!), due to the fact I thought these shorts added a nice contrast to the outfit and balanced out the amount of skin I was showing. And lastly, I chose to pair this outfit with my trusty white Chuck Taylors because a girl has to be comfy while walking around the city!

As I mentioned earlier, though this blouse looks a bit plain from the front, the back is what makes this top so fun! The reason I love this blouse so much is along with its airy summer appearance, is because I am absolutely in love with tie back blouses. I just think this trend is such a great look for summer and though it keeps your look casual, it is also a bit daring and subtly sexy.

Though I have reviewed these shorts in the past, I feel as though they deserve an honorable mention in this post because they are so incredibly comfortable! Though all of my clothes from SheIn are pretty comfy, at first I was skeptical about these shorts because they are highwaisted, however much to my surprise, when I slipped them on, they weren't too tight and fit me just right! And have since become one of my favorite pair of shorts, they also go with a variety of different tops and come in handy for quite a few different looks, making them one of my most versatile pieces. 

Curious about my smart watch? You can check it out here!

Curious about my smart watch? You can check it out here!

Last but not least, I have to mention my bag from my sponsor, Sydney Love. I'm sure some of you may recognize it from a post earlier this year, but I just have to say it is the ultimate bag to take with you for a weekend full of fun. This bag isn't only fashionable, but it is also incredibly functional! I've actually started referring to it as my "Mary Poppins bag" because it fits anything and everything you could possibly need!

One Last Look

How have you explored your city this summer? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cool photo of a summer event you went to recently? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Hollywood Cafe: St. Paddy's Day Celebration

For anyone who doesn't like in the 'Burgh, you may not know that St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal for us Pittsburghers. Every year, we actually have a "St. Patrick's Day Week" which is filled with various celebrations, parties, parades, and admittedly a ton of alcohol, personally, I think the holiday is an absolute blast. As I've mentioned here before, my heritage is predominately Russian, but I actually do have a little touch of Irish in my family tree too, so any reason to celebrate, right? With that being said, in celebration of the holiday, last Friday I decided not to venture out into the city, but instead headed to where I was born and raised, and celebrated at a little hole in the wall pub in Beaver County.

Beaver County?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area, Beaver County is made up of a bunch of old mill towns, the most prominent ones being Aliquippa, Monaca, and Ambridge, the last one being where I am from. And though these towns do seem a bit run down and not much to look at, in recent years the cities, Ambridge specifically, have been working hard on a gentrification project, to bring life and culture back into the town, and I have to say thus far, the community has done a knock out at bringing back businesses, specifically restaurants. Though I may be biased because I am from this area, I have to say the some of my absolute favorite pubs and eateries are in Ambridge, and one of them being Hollywood Cafe.

Hollywood Cafe

That little hole in the wall pub I mentioned earlier? Yep this is the one. Hollywood Cafe is hands down one of my favorite places to eat as well as to just stop by on my way home from to unwind after a fraught day at work. And though I do not remember the first place Hollywood Cafe called home, my mum does and that was no other than the main street of Aliquippa, back in the 1930s. 

Though Hollywood Cafe moved from Aliquippa to Ambridge back in the mid 2000's for location and spacing reasons, the interior, recipes, and ownership are all still the same. Though the original owner has since gotten out of the restaurant biz, his son, Chip, has kept the family business booming for the past 8 years after the move from Aliquippa. The place itself is laid out and much how you would expect a mum and pop type bar to be, but the thing that makes Hollywood Cafe stand out is their absolutely excellent food.

Though Hollywood's menu is small compared to other places in the Pittsburgh area, they still have quite the variety. From appetizers and pizza, to burgers and salads, it's a guarantee that you'll find at least one thing you'll love, and in my case, my absolute favorite thing on their menu is actually what they are most known for, and that is their wings. However, since this isn't a restaurant review and I am far from being a foodie, just take my word for it, and give them a try for yourself! Hollywood is open 12PM-2AM (Food is served from 3PM-12AM) 7 days a week and is located at 2917 Duss Ave, Ambridge, PA 15003.

The Green Scene

And of course since this was a party type occasion, I took the opportunity to dress up in one of my favorite dresses from the Pittsburgh local boutique, Terry Jolo. The reason I chose this swing dress for the occasion, was due to it's festive green pockets as well as its laid back look. To style this look, I simply paired it with some simple opal earrings along with my green and navy, plaid flats.

Sláinte! 

And last but not least, here are a few of my favorite outtakes from Hollywood Cafe's St. Patrick's Day Celebration!

Though I am not normally one to drink beer, I did have to get in on the fun for this party.

Patron at the St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Hollywood Cafe also was all dressed up in green to celebrate the big day.

Patrons playing pool during the party.

Bartender, Niece, went all out for the affair.

One Last Look

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? If so how did you spend it this year? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Love my dress? Be sure to check out my article on Terry Jolo Brand here, and be sure to visit Terry's website here!
 

And lastly, remember if you wanna check out Hollywood Cafe for yourself, their hours are 12PM-2AM (With food being served from 3PM-12AM) and they are located at 2917 Duss Ave, Ambridge, PA 15003. Later babes!

Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Matinee at the Museum (Feat. Make Me Chic)

Though I am generally one to enjoy my Sunday's by going to brunch, recently I have been finding my time better spent wandering around museums. If you remember, in my last outfit of the day post, I spent my Sunday at The Andy Warhol Museum, and talked about why I have such a special connection with my main muse. Well, in today's post, if you couldn't tell from the photo below, I took to exploring the Carnegie Museum of Art and I have to say it was a wonderful way to spend my Sunday afternoon.

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

 As I said earlier, and in my last #OOTD post, ever since I was a child I have enjoyed finer, cultured activities that not all, but many, people my age find boring. However, due to my infatuation with the arts and education, I am absolutely thrilled to be back downtown frequently and putting my museum pass to good use again. Though I have been to the Carnegie Museum of Art hundreds of times, in my more recent visits, I have been rushed through it, so this time it was nice to sit back and take it all in for a change.

Gleefully Grecian

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

Though I love many of the exhibits at the Carnegie (the Teenie Harris Exhibition being one of my all time favorites), I'd have to say two of my other favorite places to go in the museum are the Hall of Sculpture and the Hall of Architecture. Not only is the art in each of these rooms absolutely captivating, but the structures themselves are absolutely beautiful too. For instance, when in the Hall of Architecture and the Hall of Sculpture, you can't help but feel that you have traveled back in time to ancient Rome, due to the 144 architectural casts, 69 plaster reproductions of sculpture, and 360 replicas in bronze, that Andrew Carnegie brought to Pittsburgh in 1907.

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

For my Sunday afternoon outing to the Carnegie, I decided to wear this adorable, two piece shorts set, from my sponsor, Make Me Chic. The reason I chose this duo is firstly because I had nothing like it in my wardrobe which I am currently in the process of revamping and decluttering (Post on that coming soon!), but also because I loved its chic yet casual look. The reason I love this set so much, is because though it is darling, it is also incredibly comfortable. And, though the material is light wait, it is also a bit thicker, making it a viable outfit option for the chilly days of early spring, all the way through early fall. 

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

To style this two piece set for my day at the museum, I chose to pair it with my vintage, red leather bucket bag with my Hermes rodeo charm, along with my red, Nine West flats. The reason I chose these items is that I just loved the way the rich reds complemented the deep blues in the two piece set. I also felt that the red added some nice contrast to the duo, making this outfit more visually interesting.

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

Photographed in the Hall of Architecture.

Lastly, to add a touch of shimmer to this look, I paired this outfit with my gorgeous Elle earrings by Kendra Scott, this pretty (and fitting) marble accent cuff from SLATE, and of course my Ritani ring and its counterparts. The reason I chose these pieces is because I loved how the cobalt blue earrings matched this set, and the bracelet was just the right touch with out taking away from the look--the stone accents matching the atmosphere was just a happy accident.

One Last Look

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

Photographed in the Hall of Sculpture.

What are some of your favorite rooms or exhibits at your local museum? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a sweet photo you just have to show off of your local museum or a darling outfit of your own? Feel free to tag me in a post or in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic! Later, dolls.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Marah Frank: Blogger

Recently, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to once again return to one of Pittsburgh's excellent restaurants, The Urban Tap. For those of you who are new to my blog, you are probably wondering why the experience is so surreal to me, right? Well, the reason it is, is because though The Urban Tap is just your run of the mill, South Side eatery, it is also the place I met with two lovely ladies, almost two years ago for my blog's first ever collaboration. So as I stepped through the doors of Urban Tap to prepare for this interview with another young, talented, and rising blogger, the whole experience became very nostalgic to me. This was the place where I started and now it is coming full circle, only now I've grown so much since then, and couldn't be happier about where I am today. So as I sat and waited for my interviewee to arrive, I began pondering how much my blog has broadened since the end of last year:

From covering large fashion events, collaborating with major jewelry retailers, adding more lifestyle posts, and lastly, my most favorite addition to my blog's categories: interviewing other artists and bloggers. Just in case you haven't sensed a pattern here, I am thrilled to announce that I will now have a monthly segment dedicated to interviewing different bloggers, artists, and shop owners! And now that you have that information, let's get on to what you really came here for, and discuss the lovely, Marah Frank.

Meet blogger, Marah Frank

My first impression of Marah when speaking with her through texts and emails is that she seemed like a slightly shy but very sweet girl, however once I met her in person I have to say that she has a commanding presence and is incredibly personable. For those of you who have not yet heard of Marah, that is probably because she only stepped onto the blogging scene last fall and prior to the was primarily a YouTuber. But let me tell you, she definitely has a knack for what she is doing. Marah's blog (marafrank.com) covers a variety of topics including faith, fashion, and travel, and along with that her website also has an impeccable layout to boot! And though you will be reading her interview shortly and will see this for yourself, I have to say that this girl is bright, fun, and is totally going places. 

Aside from her bright and fun personality, another of of the first impressions I had about Marah was that her style was incredibly on point, but after all, she is a fashion blogger. The reason I loved Marah's outfit choice so much is due to her perfect pairings. Though many people tend to disagree with me on mixing patterns (my mum being one of them) I want to take this time to point out how fabulous Marah's striped shirt looks with her floral kimono--see fashion rules are made to be broken. Aside from pointing out that fact though, the reason why I really love this pairing is because the lightness of the shirt adds contrast to this outfit, but due to the darker stripes, this contrast isn't too stark, making these two pieces a perfect pair. To complete this cute, casual, outfit, I also really liked the way that Marah accessorized this look. I feel that her white pendant necklace adds just the right amount of shine to this outfit, without being over bearing, and then her tan booties are the perfect way to tie her whole outfit together due to the fact they match the tans of her kimono perfectly.

Bree Fesh: Okay so to start off, since I admittedly didn't gather this information from you while we were setting up this interview, though I know you're from the 'Burgh, what part are you from? Also, how old are you, because initially I was going to get us a pitcher of mimosas but then it dawned on me that I didn't even know if you were legal!! 

Marah Frank: *Laughs* Unfortunately, I am not legal yet, but in a few months I will be! But to answer your other question, I am from Murrysville.

BF: So what got you interested in fashion and led you to start your blog?

MF: Ever since middle school, I have been very interested in fashion and experimenting with my personal style. And even though this is a little silly, there was a book series that I read in middle school called Clique, and though looking back its a terrible series, at the time I really liked it and it also got me very interested in fashion. Same with other book series such as Gossip Girl.

BF: How long have you had your blog?

MF: Well, before I started my blog, I actually had a YouTube channel first because I am very interested in videography, and am actually heading to college for it in the fall. But the reason I decided to start a written blog is because I felt that it was a great marketing tool and would get me some more notoriety. So I started my YouTube channel in 2015, and then my blog in the fall of last year, 2016.

BF: Okay, one last question because I am very curious, what hosting site do you use? I just absolutely love your blogs layout and think it is so well put together!

MF: Thank you! And actually, my dad is a web developer on the side so my blog is self hosted and he helps me out with all the coding and the layout.

One Last Look

What are some things that got you into blogging? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Also, to see more of Marah's work, head over to marahfrank.com and you can also see the article she wrote about our different styles here! Later, babes.

Xx, Bree