Monday usually means: “BACK TO THE DAILY GRIND!” Luckily, it’s summer and, for me, that means the office I work for on campus is closed, for the most part, and I’m scot-free for a few months!

My DKNY dress was a hit with my girls last night and the hot waiter we had at the restaurant. He even recognized it was DKNY, which was incredibly impressive! A lover of fashion, to say the very least.

I made a great breakfast today. Two egg whites scrambled with chopped fresh cherry tomatoes with feta cheese sprinkled on top. Delicious!  After a good work out doing a mix of Pilates, weights and cardio, I went to get my hair done in preparation for my date tonight with Matt.

My hairdresser is a doll and she is the only one I trust to style my hair. I have very curly hair and she manages to blow it out, stunningly, into big glamorous curls! She did another great job and I left feeling sexy, which was the perfect time for me to go to the mall.  I felt like a movie star as I searched for a dress. I went to, at least, a dozen stores, but I kept thinking about the Catherine Maladrino dress I’d re-discovered in my closet. I left the mall and decided to go home and try it on.

It was a poppy (reddish in color) silk beaded halter gown. The shape flattered my body and the length made me look ten times taller because you couldn’t actually see where my legs end and the floor begins. I felt like a million dollars in it and due to its length and the impossibility that my shoes would show, I decided to wear my Chanel flats for comfort. I want to be able to dance with Matt and not worry about a stiletto heel ripping my dress or breaking my feet! I’m keeping my makeup sheer: orange gold-flecked lip-gloss and sheer eye shadow. I’ll add some 60’s-styled, cat-eye, eyeliner and fake eyelashes for added drama. My accessories will be simple: a beige clutch.

Quick Tip: No matter what you think you may need, “in the case of an emergency,” always keep your purse size small and simple. You’ll be less likely to tire your shoulder, you won’t look high maintenance and you’ll be able to find what you actually need!

I always watch my friends struggle with gigantic tote bags, but I religiously use a small vintage Fendi purse that holds just what I need. It’s a freeing feeling, really. That’s not to say, I’m not an advocate for an extensive bag collection…just keep it simple when the occasion calls for it.

I’m not showing up to a formal charity event with a beach-sized tote; Catch my drift?