The Good Girl Gone Blog

Serve Review and Giveaway! December 19, 2011

This post is sponsored by Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account!

Last week, I had the INCREDIBLE opportunity to go out to a lavish dinner with good friends, c/o Serve, a new way to settle bills between friends. It's a great way to split the bill without driving the waiter crazy!

Amy, Stew, Eric and I met at UpStairs on the Square and were seated at a table in the Monday Bar. The decor was out of this world- bright colored walls, zebra carpeting and and exquisite lighting. Because we weren't worrying about the bill (thanks Serve), we ordered an expensive and delicious bottle of wine, two appetizers (oysters and a mozzarella dish), entrees AND four different desserts.

Believe me, after that meal, I think we were all ready to burst! Though the food and atmosphere were both fantastic, the best aspect of the evening was definitely the great company. We've been wanting to go out with Amy and Stew for a while now and finally did it. We talked about everything from travel to TV and even began brainstorming a really cool blogger event (stay tuned, Boston!).

When it was time to pay the check, Amy paid the physical bill and I reimbursed her via the Serve mobile app. It was as simple as signing in, answering a security question and then inputting Amy's email and the bill amount. She received a confirmation email soon after and we were all set. We were happy and full and left the restaurant already trying to come up with a location for our next double date.

Would I use Serve again? Probably! I really hate having to get separate checks when dining out and this eliminated the need for that. Plus, the handy app includes fun features like a calculator for splitting bills, a Quick Pay button where you can calculate hourly rates and a (somewhat silly) Pizza Party button!

Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Photo Diary: Brunch at 94 Mass Ave April 26, 2011

A few weeks ago, my friend Sean tweeted about a brunch event he'd won on Twitter from 94 Mass Ave, a new hot spot in Back Bay. Because I love brunch...and Sean, I knew I wanted to be there. Sean and I first met at a tweetup hosted by Style Boston and became fast friends. He dresses extremely well, likes good food and is super friendly. Plus, he has a really funny tumblr that features some pretty epic fashion faux pas shots from around the city. What's not to like?

How cute is Sean? I love that he and Eric shop at many of the same stores. It was one of the first things we talked about when we met!

Brunch was super fun. I got to hang out with Shanna and met a new Boston blogger friend, Jess. Drinks were endless and the miniature brunch offerings were adorable.

A special thanks to 94 Mass Ave and Sean for hosting the event. Eric and I will definitely be back soon!

Day 18: Lace + Plaid + Ruffles + Gold November 25, 2010

Nick and I became friends practically instantly this summer when we interned together at PayPal. Though he initially thought I was "ditsy," he liked that I always said what was on my mind and I liked that he listened to me. Nick was kind of a combination of my "work boyfriend," little brother and general buddy. We spent the summer sharing snacks, scouting event locations, and planning a very successful company offsite meeting.

Though we're miles and miles apart now (he's at school in Alabama, and I'm up north in Boston), he'll occasionally call or text to catch me up on his life, and I'll send him IMs (usually in CAPS) just to say hi.

At a time when I'm feeling very distant from my "home" friends it was great to catch up and simply hang out. (I also think it's particularly funny that I look like an elf next to him in the above photo.)

Nick even took today's outfit photos:Outfit Details: Dress: French Connection, Sweater: Loft, Skirt: Loehmann's, Boots: Target, Belt: Borrowed from Sophie's Closet (Can I keep it, Soph?)

How blogging broke me out of my shell November 03, 2010

I've always said that one of the best parts of blogging is the friendships you make, both online and offline. Take Amy, for instance. 

I met Amy almost a year ago when she hosted the Boston Fashion Blogger Mixer. I remember being slightly terrified to interact with so many fashionable ladies, but I attended the event regardless. I spent FOREVER just trying to get dressed. Oh how things change! Now I'm constantly tweeting with Boston blogger friends, making future plans to actually hang out with them and randomly hiding from the rain in the Haberdash at SOWA!

Like I said in a recent job interview, blogging has really broken me out of my shell and made me more comfortable interacting with people I'd otherwise be scared to approach both online and in person.

I think it's pretty fabulous.

Also, I might be starting to not hate small dogs. How can you resist when they're so stylish?

Penny is so sweet. She was so cold, Amy had to buy her a sweater and she was still shivering! Can you tell she's dressed as a bee?

Editor's note: I'm still never getting a little dog. Ever.

Swap til you drop! October 05, 2010

It's always great finding a community of talented, fun and sweet people that you feel you can be a part of. Although I was pretty intimidated at first by the Boston Fashion Blogger scene, I've come to think of many of these ladies as my friends.

Amy and Melissa aka "The Swapaholics" (pictured above) threw an AMAZING fashion week soiree complete with wine, clothing and even a runway show. They've been so encouraging and lovely, urging me to attend the event and even walk the runway, I just couldn't say no!

Eric and I ended up missing the special Blogger pre-swap event, but when we arrived, we went straight to the good stuff. I knew I'd be too small to fit into most of the clothing, so I headed right to the good stuff: shoes!

Because we were late, I didn't have time to drop off my swap pieces pre-event, so I just dumped them on one of the tables. It was so funny seeing other people grab my stuff!

The event was definitely a mix of highly fashionable ladies looking for designer pieces and more, let's say...bargain hunters, who filled up multiple bags with everything they could grab.

I found a gorgeous black and white strapless dress that I eventually wore down the runway. I wanted to change into the dress ASAP but couldn't find a private place to do it. So, I employed the techniques that most girls learn at summer camp: changing in front of people without letting them see the goods. Eric didn't think I could do it and he was only partially right.

At one point he said: "you need to go find a girl to help, I don't know what to do!"

The very sweet Najeema ended up guarding the door to a janitor's closet while I changed and then zipping up the dress. I guess the broken zipper was just too much for Eric.

I think the dress needs to be hemmed and the zipper definitely needs to be fixed, but other than that, it was an amazing find. (Also note the adorable Michael Kors heels!)
It was really fun to show off the pieces I found with friends. I was definitely a little jealous of Lindsay's Marc Jacob's jacket!
In addition to three pairs of shoes (the gold ones were actually Lindsay's!), I also took home the black and white cocktail dress, a sheer pink and white swirled top and a pale blue Loft cardigan!

Have you ever been to a clothing swap before? Would you ever attend one?

Fashion Blogger Meet Up! July 26, 2010

Meet Grace (who is trying on a super cute nautical dress at Goodwill)

And Megan (who was not supposed to buy anything!)
I met these lovely ladies for the first time last Saturday in Fell's Point. Megan kindly organized a mini fashion blogger meetup starting with pizza at BOP and ending with some browsing in thrift stores. Thrift stores? Talk about typical fashion blogger activity! It was very hot out, but very fun.

I know this is a very Alana heavy photo post, but I thought Sophie did a fabulous job with these pictures.

I'm Wearing:
Skirt (as dress): Ayin Ha'shlishi, Israel
Shorts: Target
Belt: H&M
Shades: c/o GA press office, London
Shoes: DSW
Bag: Coach

Hot dots July 22, 2010

What a great trip to Florida. I spent 3 days relaxing on the beach, enjoying the water and searching for sea life. I ate tons of food, drank lots of beer and took a bunch of fun photos.
Eric and I spent the first morning exploring the sponge docks. There were tons of tacky beach stores selling sponge related items. Also notable- the entire area looked like a tacky little Greece. Too fun! We also went to a special glass blowing exhibit with Eric's parents.
Eric's family was extremely friendly and welcoming. They were already making fun of me after knowing me for a few hours, and I took that as a good sign. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them and hope that they'll have me again in the future.

I'm Wearing:
Top: Target
Skirt: Primark
Shoes: NY&Co.
Shades: c/o GA press office, London
Necklace: made by my friend Elana

A girl after my own heart July 11, 2010

Zooey hid in my closet when I brought out the vacuum. Clearly she feels safe around cute shoes. I knew there was a reason I adopted her!

I've been having so many parenting moments lately- I get excited when she takes interest in a new toy, when she follows me around the apartment and when she conquered her fear of my bathroom! I'm about to leave her for the first time and I feel horribly guilty.

Still, if she loves my favorite things (shoes), she'll definitely understand the necessity for a B&N date with Pammy. We're off to get Starbucks and read wedding magazines- it's a tradition and we haven't done it in a while. I'm so excited!

*And no, I am not getting married, but a girl can still plan!

It's brown don't frown June 18, 2010

Today was pretty gloomy, so brown seemed fitting. Still, I managed to stay smiley for most of the day because my "intern" was in. Apparently, she spent a ton of time picking out an outfit just to impress me. Awww! I also let her draw on my whiteboard, and although she erased it soon after drawing it, I saw her write my name and then something along the lines of "wears cute shoes, accessories and clothes."

Can I adopt her? Seriously!!

I'm wearing:
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft
Belt: Primark
Shoes: DSW?
Necklace: Made especially for me by my best friend, Becca

Halloween 2010 June 17, 2010

Eric thinks we should dress up as Katy and snoop for Halloween. I think he's spot on. I so want to wear that dots dress! Now, where we're going to find something that even remotely resembles Snoop's suit is beyond me.