august in instagram

getting ready for the launch of my fall collection

holy tape heaven 

keeping it real in new england

family bbq

my little brother and his fiance, mid toast

brainstorming new pieces

hey new necklace, you are fabulous

brillz

love a good business card

cotton candy with edible glitter...A+

I decided my doorbell needed to be more friendly

fall collection!!

colorful zippers in the bergdorf goodman window display

garnets for holiday!

I'm sorry but this is false advertising...no alcohol is served here

(and chances are if you are here you really need it)

an organized and color blocked cobb salad

packing for a weekend in the woods

adventures at summer camp!

lake raquette

glow bracelets: a summer camp staple

I'm so outdoorsy

amazonite moment

chandeliers are fabulous

colorful cocktails with a jewelry friend

swoon

goodbye 2003-2013 passport

if I'm going to have allergies, I'm going to be chic

run along the beach in ct

catching up with a dear friend (at 11:30am on a monday...)

super excited for fall clothing

inspiration tuesday: too pretty to eat

fact: I don't cook. I use my oven to store gemstones and christmas decorations. 

I'll be spending labor day weekend at my parent's house in CT {where their kitchen is much more spacious than my studio apt kitchen} and I am beginning to contemplate doing some cooking. so far the process of convincing myself to cook has consisted of me looking at photos of pretty food on pinterest. here are some images of dishes I dream of preparing:

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just go for it

preach.

every couple of months I like to take a step back and reflect on business decisions I've made and how they turned out: what should I have done differently? what worked?  what didn't?, etc. and one common question I always ask myself is: "did I time that correctly?". 

you hear the phrase "timing is everything" a lot in business. and as someone who is very type A, I constantly try to be in complete control of a situation before I start a new business opportunity or go in a new direction. but one thing I've learned is that you miss a lot of opportunities if you hold back until the situation is just right, because let's be honest, things rarely happen perfectly. sometimes you just have to throw yourself into something and figure it out along the way.

this summer has been all about taking leaps of faith with my business (but always, always, always listening to my gut...and doing my homework). and over the next few months I will start to see how these decisions start to play out and I have to say I'm really excited. so, bring it on fall :)

how to style the ottavia necklace

1. katie bartels wood and gold glass ottavia necklace // 2. scotch naturals nail polish in canal street daisy // 3. alice and olivia heron jacquard twill dress // 4. christian louboutin panettone leather tote // 5. balenciaga origami sandals

1. katie bartels wood and gold glass ottavia necklace // 2. tibi two-tone silk crepe de chine camisole // 3. deborah lippmann nail polish in girls just want to have fun // 4. j brand luxe sateen mid-rise skinny jeans // 5. chloe leather envelope clutch // 6. lucy choi london sequin pointy-toe shoe

1. katie bartels wood and gold glass ottavia necklace // 2. markus lupfer explosive star sequin sweatshirt // 3. deborah lippmann nail polish in lady is a tramp // 4. rag and bone gina star-print silk trousers // 5. marc by marc jacobs classic Q karlie textured-leather mini shoulder bag // 6. jimmy choo wheel suede slippers

farewell 2003-2013 passport

sadly, its time for me to say goodbye to my current passport. its crazy to think I've had it since the summer before my sophomore year in college. lots of adventures have taken place in the past 10 years. here are some of my most exciting stamps from adventures:

summer 2005: backpacking adventure in cambodia

winter vacation 2009: bonaire with my family

beyond amazing trip to india in early 2012

belize in 2006 and barcelona in 2005

travels in thailand in 2005 and the greek isles in 2006

china in 2007 and korea in 2012

back to school chic

its hard to believe the summer is winding down and back to school preparations are underway. here are some of my back to school picks to keep you well styled on campus this fall:

my janna earrings {which come in 8 different colors) are a great lightweight statement piece. 

pair them with an oxford and school boy blazer or turtleneck sweater when the days get cooler

a pop of turquoise is always a good idea during the fall season. my blake earrings look great with charcoal grey, burnt orange, hunter green, deep violet, and pretty much any other signature fall color.

one of my favorite things about fall is when the leaves in central park start to change color. my sarah earrings {which come in 8 different colors} remind me of all the shades of foliage change.

lightweight and versatile, the steph bracelet takes you from a history lecture to homecoming bonfire.

brown and orange is one of my favorite color combinations for fall. my ashton necklace pairs smooth round wood with bright orange spike howlite and small gold glass accents for a pop of sparkle.

colorful ribbon adds a feminine touch to the samantha necklace. the adjustable nature of the necklace allows it to be worn with a variety of necklines.