It's ridiculously easy; hop online and create your account, then add items to your cart just as you would at any other online retailer. Specify quantities of your favorite deli meats and cheeses, stock up on your favorite snacks and pantry staples, all of your favorite brands and items are available just as they are on the shelves. Our fridge was empty when we returned after a week in northern Vermont so I quickly filled our cart with all of our essentials to get us through the week; Polar Seltzer, speciality cheeses, sweet treats, and of course, dinner essentials like meat, pasta, and spices.


I picked a time that was convenient for pickup and took Bubzy to the park during the time I would have normally been walking the asiles, stocking my own physical grocery cart. The best part? Bubzy got to tag along at the grocery store for once since Click and Collect doesn't even require you to step foot in the store! Upon arrival we followed the signs for online pick up and pulled into the designated parking spaces. After calling the number on the sign, a Stop & Shop employee came out with a cart containing all of my groceries, made me aware of a couple of substitutions in my order, and loaded my groceries into the trunk of my car for me.

I wanted to get in on the fun celebrating the opening of their new location, so I popped into their Natick store to shop for a new look. The staff there was in the process of unpacking their new collection and I'm absolutely in love with it! When I laid eyes on the block party dress I could see myself wearing to beach days, cookouts, and even running around the city on warm summer days. I'm hoping the weather gets better so I can wear it alone, but until then I'll be layering it with their dusk dress jacket. I'm absolutely loving this lightweight layering piece for meetings and running around town and I have my eye on the matching pants!

By far my favorite new piece I picked up from Nic + Zoe are these Brynn Wedges. They come with these beautiful printed scarf ties for the ankle but they also came with leather ankle straps for a more traditional espadrille. It's like two pairs in one! And did I mention they're amazingly comfortable? A great shoe all around.

With trains leaving throughout the day, we opted to hop on the Amtrak Downeaster just after lunch and made our way to Freeport, Maine for a quick getaway. We boarded the train, loaded our luggage, and grabbed drinks in the Cafe Car before settling in for the ride ahead. We both logged onto the free on board wi-fi, and Zack tuned into his favorite podcasts while I worked on email and blog content. It was a smooth, comfortable ride the whole way with coastal views of Maine and since I wasn't driving, I got to enjoy every bit of it! The view, the wi-fi, and even a cocktail! I'll take the Amtrak Downeaster to Maine over driving any day.



Just a few hours later we arrived in Freeport and set out for our hotel. Freeport is very accessible with the outlets, hotels, and dining all steps from Freeport Station. We checked in at the Hilton Garden Inn, dropped our luggage and set out to explore the town.

We had drinks at the local tavern before checking out a couple of the outlets and making our way to dinner. We took an Uber to nearby Yarmouth, Maine for dinner at Gather, which was absolutely delicious! We loved the locally sourced ingredients and menu and ordered the Smoked Duck Rillet, Fried Chicken and Biscuit, and the Butcher's Plate Special which was a yummy Lasagna Bolognese. Every bite was delicious!


After dinner we headed back to the hotel for drinks at the bar and a quick dip in the pool before heading back to the room to watch movies and turn in for the night. The next morning we totally missed breakfast (Whoops! The free breakfast is one of the best parts of staying with Hilton!) and requested a late check out.



We checked out and had a few hours to kill before our evening train back to Boston so naturally we hit the outlets! L.L.Bean is HUGE (and open 24 hours a day/365 days a year), but there was also Banana Republic, LOFT, Oakley, J. Crew, plus some really great local spots including the Coastal Maine Popcorn Company where we stocked up on Wasabi Soy and Dill Pickle Popcorn before making our way back to Freeport Station.


You can see more photos from our Maine adventure at #ExploreMoreDriveLess. Ready to board the train to Maine?! Be sure to you share your own photos from your adventure on the Amtrak Downeaster using #ExploreMoreDriveLess and tag @amtrakdowneaster on IG and @riderail on Twitter you'll be entered for a chance to win pair of round trip tickets on the Amtrak Downeaster for your next trip! With so much to see and do along the coast of Maine, we're already planning our next Amtrak adventure!

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While the facade of the building is still very reminiscent of the pre-renovation aesthetic of decades past, the interior renovations reflect a sleek and open, modern interior that rivals many new constructions. The lobby is spacious and comfortable and spills into a large open concept restaurant and dining space with a small marketplace for snacks and essentials.




When we arrived we discovered we had a quiet room in the corner of the third floor with double beds and a bathroom that rivals mine at home. We quickly made ourselves at home snacking on fruit and cheese and hung out for a few hours before freshening up and heading downstairs to the Herb N' Kitchen Restaurant and Bar for dinner. We both ordered the Steak and Frites entree and devoured it before returning to our room for a night of girl talk complete with face masks and popcorn.


The next morning Kara and I woke up early to have breakfast and scope out the indoor pool. Breakfast (also served in the Herb N' Kitchen area) was buffet style with plates piled high with bacon, eggs, potatoes, toast, fresh fruit, pastries, oatmeal, and more. It's free for Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors members, a major perk if you ask me! After breakfast we opted for a late check out and spent some time hanging by the indoor pool. The pool is a great size with a large adjoining outdoor space that's perfect for lounging and soaking up some sun.



Eventually, we had to check out (unfortunately) but our girls weekend didn't stop there! Hilton Boston-Dedham is just a short drive from Legacy Place, Dedham's premier shopping center. The Hilton generously offers a complimentary shuttle that includes service to Legacy Place making it easy for guests to explore the area and access public transportation. We shopped the rest of the day away making stops at Anthropologie, Madewell, Paper Source, B.Good, and Whole Foods before calling it a day. I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing weekend with a cooler gal!

If you've never attended a #ShopPru event you're really missing out! Twice a year the Huntington Arcade of the Prudential Center is transformed into a destination for an epic evening of shopping. They serve champagne alongside light bites from restaurants like 5 Napkin Burger and California Pizza Kitchen, and sweet treats from Sugarfina. You'll also find deals and events by your favorite Prudential Center retailers like Sephora, Club Monaco, Sam Edelman and more.


This year the Prudential Center welcomed Madewell, Oliver Peoples, and David's Tea to their impressive list of retailers. Madewell has always been one of my favorite places to shop for shoes and stripes (two of my favorite things) so I'm more than happy to see them expanding into the Prudential Center. Our visit to Oliver Peoples was my first experience with the brand and I'm in love! I had no idea the brand had such a rich history dating back to the 60s and Andy Warhol. If money were no object these Remick frames would have gone home with me that night!


If you work in or near the Prudential you've probably stopped into David's Tea for a midday pick-me-up. The Canadian-based tea company brought its expertise and knowledge stateside in 2011 and has been expanding ever since. The Prudential Center location is the 6th David's Tea location in the greater Boston area. I love David's Tea because of their friendly, down-to-earth approach to tea. We got a little education in iced tea from their store manager before leaving with our own iced tea tumblers. If you like iced tea, you'll love their collection of tumblers and accessories.

Photo by Saleema Adel

We ended our evening with dinner at Terra, the newest restaurant to open within Eataly at the Prudential Center. Inspired by authentic Italian cooking, the seasonal dishes here center around a wood-burning grill. We sipped on a fantastic sparkling rosé (Bollamatta Rosa, available in the wine shop!) and snacked on the freshest burrata, housemade blood sausage with salsa verde, and cured pork fat with rosemary and black pepper on fresh bread. It was a flavorful and indulgent meal to say the least! I'll definitely be heading back for dinner again soon.

We loved the earthy space at Terra so much we did a photo shoot later that week before the restaurant opened. Stay tuned for more from #ShopPru and our shoot at Terra Eataly! 

My default combination when it comes to styling leggings usually includes some type of grey top, hoodie, or layering piece, combined with sneakers in a coordinating color. Simple and easy, it's become my unofficial uniform of sorts. No complaints here!

Style Wire: You were both voted Best Dressed in high school, did you both know you wanted to pursue a career in fashion?
Nikoleta Lirantonakis: I always knew because I can't remember a time when fashion wasn't a huge part of my life. My mom always took pride in dressing us up for all occasions and she's the reason I fell in love with fashion.
Vicky Lirantonakis: For me, it was very different. I always loved fashion (in large part, thanks to my mom and sister), but it was secondary to getting a business degree and having a corporate job. I did what people expected of me, but I don't regret it because now, with Best Dressed, I have the best of both worlds (I work full-time as an IT Project Manager, while running the company with Nik).

SW: How did you identify a need for a shop like Best Dressed?
NL: We realized that getting dressed up can be stressful and expensive, and loved the concept of renting a dress. What we didn't love were the unknowns: how would it look on you, how would you know if it would make you feel beautiful and confident? Those things are so important, we wanted to create a place where women could come and feel like they were in their best friends' closet, while getting styled, and saving money.

SW: Best Dressed Southie just opened it's doors as well as the launch of in-home and in-office styling; did you expect your business to grow so quickly?
VL: We didn't expect to grow so quickly, but we've learned that when you combine passion with hard work, your business grows faster than you ever thought it could.  Opening our first store in Charlestown was never the end goal. We expect to continue to grow throughout the Boston area and also expand upon our services. It's something that excites us and pushes us to work harder every single day!

SW: Do you find it more challenging or inspiring to be in business with your sister? 
NL: For me, it's more inspiring than challenging but she definitely challenges me to be the best version of myself. I guess because she's my sister, I never want to let her down, which helps to motivate me even more.
VL: Inspiring, for sure. We both have strengths and weaknesses that play off of each other and we're better together. We've been best friends since the day she was born (aside from that time time in high school when I was too cool), so I really couldn't ask for a better business partner and best friend.

SW: Whats a typical day in the life for you two?
VL: Every day is different, but we're usually meeting to discuss purchasing or marketing and/or planning for an event. We do a lot of in-store parties and are currently preparing for our Spring fashion show at the Liberty Hotel.

SW: How do you select the dresses you carry in store? Is it based off your personal tastes, trends, or a little of both? 
NL: First, let me just say that this is our favorite part of running Best Dressed, who doesn't love to shop? We carry dresses based on our personal tastes, as well as what's trending but we also take the input of our clients into account.

SW: What do you think a "Best Dressed" woman embodies? 
NL: She is the woman that lifts other women up. I overhear women in our fitting rooms complimenting each other all the time and it puts a smile on my face.

SW: When you're not working at the shop, how do you like to spend your days?
NL: I know it sounds cliche but spending time with my family and friends. They always make me laugh and take my mind off work for a little bit.
VL: Doing something outdoors, like taking a walk with my fiancee and the dog. Spending quality time with my parents, they're so cute and always make me smile.

SW: How has running a retail boutique changed your lifestyle? 
NL: I don't procrastinate as much as I used to and I honestly have no idea what I did before. I probably watched way too much Netflix.
VL: I definitely don't have as much free time as I used to, but I'm okay with that! Owning Best Dressed has taught me to be present and learn how to focus more in order to achieve my goals.

Like what you see? You can shop my look directly on Ash & Rose's website or visit them at 460 Harrison Ave. Special thanks to the team at Ash & Rose for inviting me to participate in this fun collaboration, and to videographer and photographer, Kenzie Kupyn! 

I opted to visit their newest location in Southie on West Broadway where Nikoleta welcomed me and helped me pick out my gown for the ball. I was worried they wouldn't have enough options but I was very pleased with the selection! Nikoleta and her sister Vicky (co-owners and sisters) update their selection of styles weekly with gowns in all lengths and sizes for every occasion. I tried on more than eight different dresses before deciding on "the one." Nikoleta was even kind enough to have the dress I selected temporarily hemmed for my event, which is always a concern for petite gals looking for full length dresses!


In addition to dress rentals, Best Dressed also sells a selection of dresses, jewelry, handbags, and undergarments to complete your look. You can get pretty much everything you need for your special event look at Best Dressed. After selecting my gown Nikoleta helped me pick out the perfect pair of earrings to complete my look for the Ball of Enchantment! The dress is yours for 5 days, and then Best Dressed takes care of the dry cleaning, too. They also have an amazing loyalty program--rent 5 dresses and the 6th is free. Shopping for special occasions has never been easier thanks to the Lirantonakis sisters!

We all know at least one beauty junnkie; The girl lining up for a limited edition launch, the kinda gal who has no shame in applying a sheet mask on a plane, or the friend with a strict bi weekly beauty regimen of face and hair masks. These gifts are perfect for the lip gloss obsessed in your life, or anyone who needs a little encouragement to treat themselves like new moms and workaholics!




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