want this now: embellished gladiators

Yesterday, refinery29 posted their picks for the 10 best summer shoes under $200. **Music to my ears!!** While I LOVE the studded oxfords and the Ann Demuelemeester-inspired sandals (à la Jane Aldridge), I am smitten with these Phillip Lim-esque Pour La Victoire zippered ruffle sandals:



But at a price tag of $198, they just barely made r29's list. Hence my plee, "Anyone want to buy me a present??"

So naturally, seeing that Free People is selling these beauties, I had to go on the website to check out what other incredible sandals they are offering this season. I wasn't disappointed.




Propositions: Move Hanukkah up to early May? OR Celebrate my birthday, round two?

Maybe I'll just ask my mom for a congratulations-for-completing-my-sophomore-year-of-college present.

You all know I'm going for the Pour La Victoires.

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

all time favorite spots

There are few things that excite me more than stumbling upon a great little boutique with unique inventory or a delicious, off-beat restaurant. Whenever I'm exploring, especially in Boston and New York, I love to take the business cards of my finds for future reference. I keep a few of my favorites posted up on my bulletin board at my desk.



POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL is a small vintage shop whose second location is on on Newbury St. in Boston. (The original one is in Somerville.) The selection is limited, but what the store does have is wonderful dresses, feather headbands, and great vintage heels. The girl who works there is so sweet too! I bought the black romper there last Saturday!! *[See past two posts. Do I seem a bit obsessed with this romper? I think so.]

AKIMBO is this little tchotchke shop in Copenhagen that carries all sorts of cute toys and gifts, including jewelry handmade by the owner. I could have spent all day there admiring all of the pretty nick-nacks and doo-dads.



I couldn't resist this neon pink string bracelet (obv):


I never take this bracelet off- I've been wearing it since I was in Copen in August. Unfortunately, the pink paint has worn off the little bell.

SUGAR SWEET SUNSHINE is a fun little bakery in New York's Lower East Side. A couple years ago, my friend Jessie dragged me across lower Manhattan to try it out, and it was well worth the walk. In addition to a large variety of creative cupcakes (everyone's favorite) they also have amazing old-fashioned banana pudding (the kind with Nilla Wafers-- so yum!).

OAK is a boutique also located on Newbury St. that carries handcrafted items by all different artists. I love the Lego rings and the plastic candy sprinkle heart necklace. It's an awesome store if you're looking to get a gift for someone special- and the prices are very reasonable. My friend Allison and I picked up copies of Boston's Motion Affair Planner here to give each other as birthday gifts. The MAP is a daily planner + guide of cool things to do around Boston. Flip through one if you ever see it! (Or better yet, buy one for yourself!) I decorated mine, obviously.


BARLOLA is, as the card says, a Tapas Lounge in Back Bay in Boston. Though the card isn't as whimsical as the others on my bulletin board, it is equally as deserving of its spot there. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food is delicious (I suggest the tuna canapés) and they are known for their sangria and other fruity mixed drinks. Allison and I had our birthday party here last month and everybody loved it! Really, one of the best nights ever.

OVANDO on Bleeker Street in New York is the most gorgeous florist I've ever encountered. Every time I walk past, which is often, I always tell whomever I'm with that this florist will be doing my wedding flowers. The first time I saw this shop, the window display was covered entirely with bright blue peacock feathers- love at first sight! They always have the pinkest orchids and the most creative window displays. If The Neon Tea Party lasts long enough to see my wedding (and if Ovando is still in business, of course) I promise to upload pictures of my floral arrangements. I actually dream about what they're going to look like. No joke.

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Finally, after months and months of bitter cold Bostonian weather, it finally feels like summer. It seems like we all went from warm winter coats to sundresses and sandals in the course of a week. I don't hate it!

So I really should be studying for my Nutrition exam, but I can't help but do a quick post with some gorgeous pics in celebration of today's weather report of a whopping 93 degrees! It was so fabulous to spend the day lying in the sun.



I love how green the grass is. Mmmm...

This is a picture from my "photoshoot," trying to get a good shot for whowhatwear.com's MySpace Muse. My friend Ilyssa interns for the site (which I am obsessed with and check every day, without fail) and asked me if I would like to send in a picture of myself for the monthly feature. DUH! Easiest question of my life. This happened to be a great shot, if I do say so myself, but not quite WWW material.

Oh yea, this is the new perfect black romper from the last post... In case you were wondering...



So naturally when I saw that three of my friends were (unintentionally) wearing coordinating outfits, I had to include them in said photo shoot. It was too perfect of a moment to pass up. Do I care if they think I'm a dork for making them pose together? Uh, no.

Don't they look like a J. Crew ad or something?? Haha-- love it.

*Check out Jess' Alex Wang-inspired "bag-pack" -- LOVE!!

I'll leave you all with some pictures of tulips near my brownstone in Kenmore. I have this strange obsession with using the "flower" setting on my camera. The pictures always turn out so sharp and beautiful.







Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

WELCOME TO THE THE NEON TEA PARTY!!

What is The Neon Tea Party?

The Neon Tea Party is a blog about all things fashionable, fabulous, girly, trendy and amazing.

Stay tuned for trend reports, restaurant reviews, shopping lists, adventure ideas, and more, obviously.

Also, the banner and layout aren't finalized, but I'm too excited to launch my blog, so this will have to do for now.

In the mean time, check out my new favorite store, pinkyotto -- it just opened on Newbury a couple weeks ago and I'm in love.

I wasn't planning on buying anything, I SWEAR, (I had already been shopping all day and bought two pairs of ripped denim shorts, a tye-dye tank dress and the perfect black halter romper with ruffle at the neck [!!] AND picked up my two pairs of Chanels from the shoe repair), but I was pressured into it by my friends. Obviously I couldn't say no.

After trying on an AMAZING off-white lace skirt with little lace star explosions [obsessed], a grey silk short-sleeved shift with a black lace panel down the front and back and fringe on the bottom, and two other printed silk masterpieces, I decided on this:

Perfectly simple, yet still funky and totally me. I couldn't resist the little owl print. (I had actually tried on another dress in the same fabric.)

Definitely check out the store-- there's no way that you won't find a treasure among the racks and racks of unique printed dresses of amazingness. FYI, there is not one, but THREE locations in New York. (A fortunate discovery just in time to return to the city for the summer!!)

Oh and look for an editorial about the store in the first published issue of The Buzz. I already spoke to one of the owners about doing a collaboration for the magazine!!

Okay, now I actually have to work on my Spanish paper now. Le sigh.

Check back soon for post numero dos.

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

P.S. Check out this video of Boston University's best a cappella group, the Dear Abbeys, performing one of my favorite Coldplay songs. (Who am I kidding? Every Coldplay song is my favorite Coldplay song.)