A little bit of old and a little bit of new….

Giana: www.28knots.tumblr.com
Chelsea: www.styledbychelsea.tumblr.com

When the MV Explorer first entered the Amazon River, I was amazed at the sheer vastness of it. We were unable to see land for an entire day aboard the ship. The only way we knew we were no longer on open ocean was the sand colored water and the intense Brazilian sun. The small riverboat that my group transferred to from our ship was no five star hotel. We were ready to rough it-5 hours into the middle of the Amazon! Piranha fishing, visiting a backwater village, a beach luau, and cayman hunting were some of the highlights of the trip.

{swimming with wild pink dolphins}

{where the Rio Negro meets the Amazon River is called the Meeting of the Waters. the two rivers don’t mix!}

{the Amazon at dusk is so beautiful}

{I felt like I was on an episode of Swamp People while Cayman hunting!}

-Giana

It may seem as though I have dropped off the face of the earth. Well, actually, I have just been circumnavigating it. It took nearly 4 months and 25,000 nautical miles. Each day aboard the MV Explorer brought a new element of surprise, a new sunset, and often even a new time zone. I have been to Dominica, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Japan. My “campus” not only had a library and lecture hall but also a spa, gangway, and pool deck. Have you ever had classes cancelled for a synchronized swimming competition? What about to see the inside of the Taj Mahal or the un-restored section of the Great Wall? With my friends by my side I have experienced everything from the poisonous snakes of the Amazon, to the post Apartheid world of South Africa, to the nightlife of Tokyo. “Where I used to see shapes on a map I now see people; beggars, politicians, drug dealers, philanthropists, thieves, travelers, parents, children, and in many countries, angels. I have done more and seen more than most people will in their entire lives. This is how it feels to have a dream come true.” 

I can’t wait to share what I have been discovering over the past few months! Check back soon to see more pictures from my nautical life.

-Giana

It’s official, I’m a college grad! I had to celebrate the last four years with the perfect outfit.

I couldn’t pass up on this mint dress-such a fantastic color for the season that I’ll be able to wear year round. 

A chunky necklace was my accessory of choice that adds a fun element to the classic silhouette of the dress. Naturally I had to add another pop of color with my tangerine tango colored clutch!

*Dress: H&M, Necklace: H&M, Clutch: Michael Kors, Shoes: DSW, Rings: Forever 21

Congrats to all other grads out there, we did it!

-Chelsea 

With an amazing internship with the Mall of America now behind me, I figured I had to share with you all my favorite places to dine, shop, and snack at around MOA! 

First off, Typo (which just opened!) is a wonderfully cute store that offers the most stylish notebooks, desk accessories, and gifts for yourself and others. 

Best gift bag ever. 

Can’t get enough of this notebook. 

If you are a popcorn fanatic you must make a visit to Doc Popcorn. They let you mix and match from their nine flavor choices to make your own concoction. My go-to combo is cheesy cheddar, triple white cheddar, and caramel kettle! 

Must try restaurant: Stir Crazy. You have to give the market bar a shot where you can create your own wok-tossed sensation! 

Need a sweet treat? Pardon My French has macaroons that are to die for, yum! Try and have just one. 

H&M: where I spent most of my time and too much of my money, whoops. When I thought I didn’t have anything to wear for the weekend, H&M was always the place I went to first. You can’t beat their clothes that fit any budget and occasion. 

Perfect picks for the summer sun.

Aldo Accessories has wonderful sunglasses, jewelry, hats, and endless accessories-need I say more? 

I could easily go on and on about my favorite spots around MOA but I’m going to let you get out there and explore, enjoy!

-Chelsea 

Think you can only be fashionable with what you wear? Not so fast my friends. Don’t take the look of your phone, iPad, passport or even stationary for granted. There are plenty of ways to spice up these everyday accessories. Here are some of my favorite….

Lovely lavender iPhone case: Society 6

Silver leather passport case: Kate’s Paperie 

Patent snake iPad case: Kristin Kahle

Fantastic shimmer iPhone skin: Society 6

Haute couture stationary: Papyrus 

Get out there and explore. Your favorite new accessories await! 

Looking to add some excitement to your business wear? Take a cue from my Product Development group project as our team created a “new luxury” line of clothing for Target.

Having the opportunity to work with Target is just ONE of the many perks of having their headquarters only minutes away from campus!

Mode (our product line name) consists of staple wardrobe pieces with modern twists and fresh colors of the season. Attention to detail and an emphasis on quality construction is what our team focused on and is always a rule of thumb when you are shopping for investment pieces that will last you for years. 

And hey, maybe when you’ll even get a picture with a UPS man!

Presentation board for Target :)

You won’t be seeing our line in stores any time soon (or maybe you will one day!) but our team put a semesters worth of work into our “new luxury” line and we couldn’t be more proud. 

Color-blocking: the options are endless. Watch this video for tips on how to perfect the art of color-blocking on your own.

Bag: H&M

From complete outfits, to accessories, and even home goods, color-blocking can be found anywhere and everywhere. 

*Dress: Lola, Heels: Charlotte Russe

My take on this trend gave me an excuse to play dress up. Pairing your color-blocked outfit with neutral accessories is always a smart choice so you don’t take your look over the edge. 

Looking for a yummy summer refreshment to go along with your new look? Try any number of homemade sangria recipes out there like this! 

Happy color-blocking! 

*Sunglasses: Forever 21, Ring: H&M, Earrings: Target, Necklace:Forever 21, Vest: Herbergers, Top: Primp, Leggings: Lululemon, Booties: Nordstrom Rack

Afraid of fur (well, fake fur that is)? Don’t be! This fun little fur vest is a piece every fashionista should have in her closet. I was skeptical of the whole look at first but when I tried this vest on I could NOT pass it up. Adding it to any outfit adds a certain pop that you can’t help but to feel sassy in. And yes, you can wear it all year round, don’t get stuck in a rut thinking it is only for those colder months. 

Enjoy!

How about this weather, eh? One week we have 65 and sunny and yesterday I had to practically destroy my closet to find the scarf I thought I had stored away forever! I guess that is what we signed up for living in Minnesota. 

Well, if you are looking to add one article to your closet that will take you through any season, look no further than a chambray shirt. Not to be confused with denim, chambray is a lighter fabric that is perfect on its own but can easily be layered with a cute striped tee or over your favorite spring dress.

*Chambray: Old Navy, Necklace: ForLove21, Skirt: Charlotte Russe, Flats: Primp,Purse: NY & Company, Bangles: ForLove21

For this look, I decided to dress up my chambray a bit with a black mini and fun, feminine accessories. For a pop of color I couldn’t resist my bright new bag! I’m a lover of anything high waisted paired with a cropped top and this outfit is no exception. 

If you haven’t already gotten off the couch to get to the nearest mall, do it NOW. You will thank your chambray shirt for being the ultimate staple for any weather situation Mother Nature throws our way.

-Chelsea