Lost In The Woods

Traveling is one of my biggest hobbies, and it doesn’t matter if I go abroad or explore the country I live in. I’m also crazy about finding interesting places in New York and nearby states, especially different parks and cozy “toy” towns. This summer was pretty fruitful regarding local weekend trips and I think it would a crime not to share these experiences with you. From now on I keep silence no more and will be your guide to New York and the Tri-state area. So whether you live in NY/NJ or visiting/planning to visit the area and need an idea of a good day/weekend trip, or maybe you’re a fan of New York and want to know and see a little bit more than just skyscrapers, these posts will be interesting and useful for you. Stay tuned!

Today I want to tell you about my recent trip to Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY. If you want to totally forget about the city rush and spend several hours in a very, and I do mean very, quiet place, then this would be the perfect choice. Stonecrop is very peaceful, cozy and beautifully done garden that presents lots of different plants in interesting combinations. You can do nothing but relax and think nothing but positive thought there. Emptiness and calmness, especially by the water, create a special, a bit secretive and magic, atmosphere which is so unusual nowadays. Friendly stuff also adds to charm.

Two important tips for you:
1: No area of the garden is paved, most surfaces are uneven and walking paths are either grass, gravel or mulch, so be wise about your footwear. I didn’t know that and wore a pair of new beautiful sandals with leather soles. Need I explain why I’m barefoot on the photos? :)
2: There is no food or beverages sold in the garden, so take something to eat and drink with you. Of course, no coolers or other outdoor recreational equipment are allowed.
Read more about the garden visiting etiquette here.

Hope I inspired you to go to Stonecrop Gardens! Why not to do it this weekend?
And please let me know whether you liked the place if you ever go there!

On another note… I notice that I try to avoid black color during summer months, even though it’s one of my favorites. But as soon as it’s September on the calendar something switches in my head and I begin to incorporate dark colors into my outfits transitioning from summer to fall no matter what the temperature is. And the temperature is still pretty high in New York, Fall is only on the paper. So I opted for a sleeveless black maxi dress and combined it with a denim vest which is, by the way, not only a great layering piece but is a must for transition between seasons.

What do you think about this outfit? Do you wear black all year long or give yourself a break? What are your transitional wardrobe essentials?

I'M WEARING »»» MAXI DRESS: Warehouse (similar here and here); DENIM VEST: Levi’s (here or in a darker color here); SUNGLASSES: Oxen (similar green aviators here and here); WATCH: Kenneth Cole New York (very similar here or on sale here); NECKLACE: Olive & Winnie (option here); ROSARY NECKLACE: Forever 21 (option here and here); BRACELETS: Asos, Forever 21 (skull bracelet option here; snake bracelet options here and here); NAIL POLISH: Sinful Colors Professional, 975 Coffee (similar color here and here)