I've Got That Beach Fever!

Beach Fever by elbonner featuring a bikini swim wear

Since my street is covered in two inches of ice and it hasn't made it past 23 degrees Fahrenheit today, I've been dreaming about a tropical getaway! It would be nice to start planning now, but where to go? Last year was a whirlwind of travel shenanigans and I'm ready for a new adventure. My travel partner, on the other hand, had his fair share of running around airports/foreign places, Dramamine tablets, and generally having too many places to go,  so he has been, understandably so, exhausted from all the friggin traveling we did last year. I'm hoping maybe we could take a short relaxation vacation somewhere not too far away where we can just hang out on the beach, drink rum punches, and be lazy. You need that sometimes and I don't think a long, stressful series of flights and layovers to some faraway exotic place is what we need after last year. I've been looking a lot at the Bahamas; more specifically Great Exuma Island. It is relatively close by compared to some other tropical locales, has white sand beach, crystal clear water, and little swimming beach pigs. I KID YOU NOT. Now, everyone knows that if you're going to plan a vacation you also have to have a dream vacation outfit to go with it, which is what I have done above. Nothing is set in stone, or really even more than a glitter in ones eye, but hopefully my partner-in-crime and I will be able to get away somewhere beachy and quiet and do absolutely nothing!

PS- I have got to get a jelly bag at some point in my life

Dress- Surf Bazaar
Bikini- Mara Hoffman
Bag- Factorie
Shoes- Ancient Greek Sandals
Nail Polish- NARS
Lip Balm- Sun Bum
Bracelet- Pearl. Love. Jewelry
Perfume- Comptoir Sud Pacifique

The Swimwear Spiciness Chart

Spicy Swimwear Chart by elbonner featuring a swimsuits two piece

The thing I love about beach style is that it comes in so many different shapes, forms, cuts, colors, and designs. There are so many ways to look beachy! It's also another outlet for you to be able to show off your own fashion prowess which works in two ways: 1.) makes you look really good at a place where people normally don't take the time = instant bad ass, and 2.) inspires other to experiment with beach fashion. It doesn't have to be big t-shirts and  Soffe shorts, people!

The Mild Look- Classy, elegant, screams "I own a beach mansion and you don't". By mild I don't mean boring, I mean put-together, muted, and simply elegant. Go for pastel-toned, beautifully made suits, paired with flowy kaftans and dresses for a super relaxed feel. You should exude an "I haven't had a real job in years" vibe and wait by your infinity pool for someone to bring you a mimosa.

Bikini- Tori Praver
Kaftan- Jenn's Pirate Booty
Sandals- Havaianas

Medium- Everyday fun is what this look personifies. You're out with your friends, you need something that stays on whilst playing frisbee, but still looks cute when you inevitably fall asleep on the beach with possible snoring. PRO-TIP: A cute suit will probably detract from the snoring.  Pair with a trendy t-shirt and some cut-offs from a post-beach taco and margarita emergency session and you're good to go!

Bikini Top- Roxy
Bottoms- Billabong
Shirt- Wildfox
Shorts- PacSun

Hot- You're one of those people who doesn't leave behind fashion for anything, even at the beach. You love making bright, bold statements and peacocking whenever you get the chance. People may make snide comments about your outfit, but secretly wish they had the balls to pull off something like that! Go for bright prints and interesting cuts to stand out in a sea of solids! Pair with an equally bright cover-up and some super bright shorts to take your look from walking the sand to dancing the night away at a cool beach club! Take the plunge and work some prints, honey!

Bikini- Maaji
Kaftan- Mara Hoffman
Shorts- Calypso St. Barth

I've got beach fashion on the brain as I start packing for Oahu. Less than a week and I will be sandy, relaxed, and full of spicy ahi poke and I can't friggin' wait! Beach fashion doesn't need to be laborious, just have fun and try something new every once and a while! Happy Sunday!

Bikini Madness!!!

Bikini Madness by elbonner featuring a strapless bikini

Oh my god I love swimwear! It's the number one indicator that summer is on the way. Neons and brights are back and making a huge impact on summer swimwear. I also LOVE the flowy tank top suits that have magically appeared. There are new swim brands popping up all over the place and I can't be happier. So much fun! If I had all the money in the world I would have a bikini closet, live by the beach, and never have to mop my kitchen floor. Since I don't live in an idyllic dreamworld, I'll have to settle with perusing the newest swimwear trends on the internet.  The above suits are some of my favorites, so get excited northern hemisphere, it's bikini season!

Seea
Tallow
Basta Surf
Tori Prayver
Mikoh
Mara Hoffman
L*Space
Beach Riot

**PS** I've created an Instagram page just for the blog, so follow @e_bythesea to get random stuff and updates from yours truly. Follow away!!

Post Birthday Update

Oh blog, how I have neglected you this week. Please accept my sincerest apologies! This past week has been full of fun celebrations, food, and that close-to-death feeling you get when you've eaten nonstop for 3 days straight. This past week was my birthday week, and even though the Boston Marathon bombers tried to ruin like every other horrible event in recent history has, they did not ruin my third week in April! I spent one day with my friend at Busch Gardens eating ice cream, pizza and doing stupid poses on the log flume drop-camera. My friend also got my an airbrushed t-shirt with a taco on it. It's as awesome as you'd think it is! Went to a swanky new burger bar last night for dinner, drank fancy beers, and had delicious french fries. I didn't get much for my birthday, which is fine. Just a new pair of Toms:

and one other little, insignificant thing...

I'M GOING TO HAWAII!!!

It's true, my lifelong dream of visiting this magical place is coming true this August. Hopefully I don't die or the world doesn't end before that, because if it does I'm going to be pissed! It was a birthday present for my mom that I happily got pulled into. It helps having one parent who wants to go somewhere the other one doesn't want to go anywhere near, so I reap the benefits! I've already started planning out where I want to eat, swim, shop, and bronze myself (safely!) and on top of going to visit my family in England, it's looking like an awesome summer. Last summer was a bit of a bust; in fact last year was pretty terrible and stressful. I'm ready to have a bit of fun with some of my favorite people.

Other than that, everything has been pretty status quo. Now, I just need to step up my workout game so that I don't gross out the locals when I'm on the beach. Also so I can have as much poke, shaved ice, and garlic chicken as I want. The weather has warmed up, the college kids at the gym are all about to go home, I had a cupcake with breakfast, and my boyfriend didn't even look ashamed of me when I ate it. Thanks to everyone who made my b-day great and for my wonderful (and secretive)readers. Everything's coming up Emily!

Winter Brights

Winter Brights by elbonner featuring ski sweaters

It has been unseasonably warm the past few weeks and it's keeping winter from literally sucking any joy or moisture out of me (suck it, winter!) and it's wonderful. My only qualm (ONLY) is that I can't wear any chunky sweaters. Chunky sweaters are a godsend during the holiday season. They give you the room to disguise all of those break room gift basket binges that we all do. Everyone does it, don't act like you're above me! I'm loving all these bright, geometric-print sweaters and cardigans. They're fun and keep you from having to wear a bunch of layer to keep warm. A coworker and I vented about our hatred of layers because all they do is ride up over your love-handles and remind you of how out of shape you are. So go for one layer instead of lots of bunched up tanks and long-sleeves. Ain't nobody got time for that!

L-R
BB Dakota
Mara Hoffman
Quiksilver
J. Crew
Topshop
Mango

Winter Getaway

Winter Getaway by elbonner featuring 1 piece swimsuits

I'm ready for a vacation that doesn't involve a lot of cooking and shopping.One where I can laze around in the sun and take a swim if I want to. This isn't something that can happen where I live in December which is why today I'm daydreaming about a winter getaway vacation! Since I've been in grade school/college/graduate school for the past almost 20 years, I haven't been able to really go anywhere in the winter time. Hopefully, with cooperation from the boyfriend, we can have arelaxing week away somehwere nice and warm. Since I am convinced that I have seasonal affective disorder since I get incredibly aggravated with the cold each winter, I think a beach vacation right in the middle will break up the cold and grey and also keep me from committing winter boredom suicide.  I've put together a little collage of what would be great for a winter beach vacation, including some things you can still wear once you get home!

1. Loose white t-shirt: great for layering over a bikini or layering under a big sweater once you return from your trip. Rag & Bone 

2. Beaded silk shorts: loose and flowy for the beach over a swimsuit, great for lounging around the house when you get home and realize how dumb it is to even bother going outside in January. Mara Hoffman

3. Swimsuits, two-piece and one-piece: a two-piece just because it's winter and you can and a one-piece in case the holidays have you feeling less than fabulous. Zimmermann, We Are Handsome

4. Gladiator Sandals: I'm convinced that gladiator sandals will never go out of style(they haven't for 3000 years) so get yourself a simple, leather pair and keep them forever. Ancient Greek Sandals

5. Sunscreen: just because it's winter at home doesn't mean you don't need sunscreen. This formula from Lancaster lets you get a bit of color while keeping you from getting the cancer. Lancaster

6. Big Cardigan: You have to come home sometime. Skip the big jacket and get a big, blanket-like cardigan that you can use on a chilly island night. Calypso St. Barth    

7. Lace Dress: this will look as at home on the beach as it will over leggings and under a giant coat once you get home. Free People

8. Wrap Bracelet: very beachy, but in a neutral tone that is great for winter too. Chan Luu 

9. Printed Backpack: You need a beach bag, why not get a pretty printed one that isn't a giant hot pink vinyl bag that looks odd and can't be used for anything else. Billabong 

Let's all keep our fingers crossed that our Christmas bonuses will be enough for a quick island getaway or that we'll meet a Daddy Warbucks while drunk at an office outing and never have to work again. However you get out of the cold this winter, go for it!