Weekend Wander: BarkBox + Madison Square Park Conservancy's First Annual "BarkFest"

Being a long time attendee of local film festivals and outdoor movie screenings, Holly and I wondered when someone would create a festival program designed specifically for pups. Our prayers were answered this weekend with the first ever BarkBox + Madison Square Park Conservancy "BarkFest," an evening of food, fun, and film under the stars in Madison Square Park.

We chose matching orange for the evening. Holly's polo, Ralph Lauren. My shirt, Threads For Thought. Headband, Jennifer Behr.

We arrived at the park at 6pm, right when the evening was starting, and were greeted by a portion of the park decked out specifically for pups, with a long stretch of astroturf dotted with plush dog beds, and booths along the side passing out treats by Bocce Bakery, BarkBox doggie friendly beer, and programs and crayons to keep the humans entertained. The Madison Square Park Conservancy had a booth with a raffle benefiting the park's beloved dog run (prizes included Shake Shack pup treats!). We claimed a couple pup beds and went to check out the people-friendly food offerings from Calexico and Shake Shack.

The scene was set for the paw-fect night out! Below: the raffle prize (left) and treats courtesy of BarkBox (right). 

While grabbing dinner, we were greeted by several pooches, including Thai the Boston, who looked simply smashing in a bow tie. More pup stars graced the stage of the event, including Hamilton Pug, Marnie the Dog, Pomsky Princesses, and Chloe the Mini Frenchie. After each pooch was introduced, attendees were able to pose for photos with them at a nearby step and repeat. Holly and I were having such a great time with our pals we decided to forego the step and repeat and instead headed back to our puppy beds, where we hammed it up for the professional photogs around for the event and befriended the pooches in our area. 

Holly and Lexie chill with some BarkBox pup-friendly brews. Above: the crowd checking out the celebre-dogs, one such dog, Thai the Boston, looked paw-sitively fabulous in his bowtie!

Henry knows his angles. This is a dog on his way to stardom!

After an introduction from BarkBox co founder Henrik Werdelin, it was time for the pups to silence their humans and settle in for the selection of short films! Holly was so tuckered out from all the playing she took a little cat nap, but our favorite film was the Pixar short Dug's Special Mission, featuring Dug the Dog from "Up."


After the movies wrapped up, we packed up our bags and said our goodbyes to our new pals. We love being a part of the New York City pup community, and the unique events like this one that we are able to attend as a result! We met so many amazing new friends and fellow animal lovers, and can't wait to go back again next year! What do you think of a pup friendly film festival? Will you try to make it out to BarkFest next year?
Until Next Time, Darlings!

Paw-sitively Fabulous: Mom & Pup Fashion for the Fourth

Hello and Happy Fourth of July Weekend!!

Holly and I are so excited to be travelling back to Colorado this year to visit my family for the Fourth, especially since my mom's birthday is the Fifth! We had a great Fourth of July with friends last year, but Holly was not a big fan about being in close proximity to the fireworks, so we have learned our lesson and will instead be sticking to a low-key evening barbecuing with family far far away from any big scary noises!

I'm also really excited about the outfits I have picked out for Holly & myself this year. Usually I keep my Fourth of July look low key with denim shorts and my American Flag scarf, but as soon as I saw these pants from the Gap I knew I had to indulge. The pattern is definitely patriotic but not so over the top that I can't wear them with a chambray shirt to work post Fourth festivities.

For Holly, I have an "Uncle Sam" costume from last year that she does look quite dashing in, but I can never really help but shop around for new wardrobe options for her when the opportunity presents itself :). And she's happy wearing whatever as long as people tell her she looks cute and I let her dig while wearing it (really mostly the second one)!

This year, I'm loving the Ralph Lauren Flag Hooded Dog Fleece, though I am a little worried that it could get warm in the July heat. For an evening outdoor BBQ in Colorado, though, the little bit of extra warmth might be just right!!

I'm also completely head over heels for this Miss USA dog dress, but it seems to be sold out everywhere in Holly's size!! If someone happens to stumble across it in their internet dog outfit searching (this is a thing people besides me do, right?) leave a link in the comments! I will be eternally grateful :)

Of course, the thing we're MOST excited to wear this holiday are our matching sparkle Fourth of July bows from Jumping and Jellybean. I know I have talked up this shop before, but Molly seriously makes the most adorable things, and I can't help but keep adding to my growing Jumping and Jellybean collection!

Holly senses there may be another matching outfit in the works.

PS--I'm also seriously obsessing over her latest coffee cozy, which is not only a seriously cute compliment to my upgraded walking wardrobe, but also benefits a great rescue organization!! Sparkle, puppy love, and proceeds to charity? Trust me, it's already in my cart :)

Have a fun & safe Fourth of July!

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Paw-sitively Fabulous: Barkfest At Sniffany's Photo Session

I'm so excited to finally share our fabulous photos from our portrait session with Seriously Sabrina Photography. Sabrina was so wonderful to work with, and really took the concept and ran with it! I told her while we were strolling thorough the Park that seeing engagement photos on Facebook inspired me to photograph the most significant relationship in my life, and I truly feel like she was able to capture that through these images. Enjoy!

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Paw-sitively Fabulous: Holly's Second Birthday Party

Holly & I were sad to send her Grandma back home to Colorado this morning, but loved having her in town for the past week! We had so much fun hanging out and enjoying the city, and this past weekend was packed with Holly's Second Birthday Party Saturday and our Barkfest at Sniffany's photo shoot Sunday (more on that later, though you can see a preview of the pics over on our Instagram).

Saturday promised bright skies and warm weather after a few days of rain, which was perfect for our outdoor venue of the West 79th Street Boat Basin. Lucky for us, even if it had rained, the covered portion of the restaurant is also pup friendly, but the sun stayed out and there was a breeze off the water that made the weather positively party-ready! We decided to ditch the matching black polo shirt idea and instead went with a polka dot theme for our ensembles--me in an old Betsey Johnson dress, and Holly in a cute little number from Baxter Boo. Even Grandma got in on the matching fun with a polka dot blouse!

Holly, my mom, and I ready to party in polka dots!

We arrived a little bit before 1:00pm and there was plenty of seating, so we were offered a large table in the back where we could set up shop and display our custom cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake (a custom "logo" or photograph can be added free of charge to large orders, just e-mail the store's catering manager for more info), and home baked pupcakes using Puppy Cake batter. Many more pups came with their parents this year, so Holly was glad we came prepared with treats for them too!!

A close up on the gorgeous and scrumptious cupcakes created by Georgetown!

Lexie is Holly's bestie from our block--they wanted to play so badly they wouldn't even hold still for a picture!

Holly with new friends Zoe and Guiness (and their humans)

Our registry at myregistry.com proved to be a huge success--but there were some great gifts from off the registry as well! Michelle's beau picked out a couple great toys including Holly's new favorite rope chew (she has since brought it with her everywhere she walks in the apartment), and Mariel brought some hilarious (and great smelling) Juicy Crittoure by Juicy Couture Pawfum Puppy Perfume that I know will come in handy between baths when Holly still needs to smell her best at the park!

Holly checking out the Juicy Crittoure Pawfum. Sniff approved!

Posing with the Bloomingdale's "Little Dog Bowl" from the registry! Thanks Michelle!!

It was great seeing all of Holly's human and pup friends, and we can't wait until next year's celebration!

The whole crew--thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate!

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Paw-sitively Fabulous: Bark-fest at Sniffany's!

Ever since I had my professional photos taken with Holly last year, I have been dying to do another shoot, this one inspired by Holly's namesake, Holly Golightly, and the iconic New York City scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I was lucky enough to snag the only NYC portrait session with Seriously Sabrina Photography, a super-talented Kentucky photog who luckily loved the idea as much as I do! We are currently planning out the session, which will take place just after Holly's second birthday party, but I thought I would share some of my ideas in advance!

In case you aren't familiar with it, Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 film based on the Truman Capote novella of the same name. In one of her most iconic roles, Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a girl who came from a small farm town to the big city and reinvented herself as an Upper East Side socialite (sound like a little dog you know?). I plan on styling our shoot based off of the opening scene, which was shot in front of the Tiffany's Flagship on 5th Ave at 5am, and to this day is a dorm-room poster fixture for just about every female college student:

To get the look, I plan on wearing a similarly shaped black sleeveless dress I have from Banana Republic, my string of large freshwater pears (my mother refers to them as "jawbreakers"), and vintage Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses in white and gold. Etsy has some great vintage black glove options that I am excited to try out (I have my eye on a pair from the 1930s covered in rhinestones!). I will still have a fresh blowout from Holly's birthday party, so I may stray from the image a bit and go with my hair either down or half up rather than trying to execute a complicated updo!

Of course, the most important styling will be for Holly Golightly (pup version) herself! I plan on having her wear her fancy birthday dress (we won't reveal that until the post on her party), dressed up with some Audrey-inspired accessories. I found a pearl collar and leash I love on Etsy, which I think will add the perfect touch of glam and make her look the part of a fashion icon and movie star!

Pearl collar via Etsy. Buy it here.

Faux Pearl Leash for Toy Breeds. Buy it here.

And of course, the photoshoot would not be complete without a certain Little Blue Box...a Little Blue Squeaky Box, that is!

Sniffany & Co. Toy; Haute Diggity Dog via Amazon.com.

Would you do a movie-inspired photoshoot with your pup? Which movie would you choose and how would you style it?

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Yet Another Reason to Love Kate Middleton

Maybe not everyone thinks Kate Middleton makes a great role model, but Holly & I are definitely big fans. I jumped at the chance to get my hands on her classic Barbour waxed cotton jacket when it showed up at my local consignment store, and I am currently coveting the pup version so Holly & I can match on our Springtime walks.

The Duchess and I modeling our Barbour waxed cotton jackets

The pup version (via Orvis. Currently unavailable.)

Despite my already existing Kate Middleton worship, when I saw this story on US Weekly today, I fell in love with the her all over again. While Duchess Kate was off living the dream, touring New Zealand with her Prince Charming (literally) and their adorable son, she admitted to missing her pup, and being thrilled that someone finally brought a gift for him!

The Duchess and her beloved pup, Lupo. Via US Weekly.

Of course Holly is pro anyone who thinks fur babies deserve presents just as much as human babies, and for that matter, so is her mommy! It's great to read that even with the responsibility of being married to one Prince and raising another, Kate still has a special place in her heart for her four legged bestie.  

Something in that look makes me think Prince George is quite fond of Lupo as well! Image via Vanity Fair.

Until Next Time, Darlings!