The temperatures in Boston have finally broke. You know what that means? It’s time for fall. Time for chilly weather, changing leaves, cider, and pumpkins. More importantly, it’s finally time for me to bust out the faux furs and leather.

Fall fashion, it’s nice to see you again.

What I Wore:

Jacket — Forever 21

T-Shirt — H&M Studio

Jeans — American Eagle

Shoes — MIA

Sunglasses — Topshop

Bag — H&M

Necklace — Marc by Marc Jacobs

I have a very special post for you today, friends. I started this blog because of my love for fashion, music, and the arts. Like anyone else, my fashion and music preferences changed many times as I grew up. One passion of mine that has stuck with me for as long as I can remember, is my love for whales and marine wildlife. I’m guessing it started after seeing movies like The Little Mermaid and Free Willy. We all change throughout the course of our lives, but we all still seem to have that one pleasure that is left untouched. Before blogging, I spent two years working as a photographer on a whale watch boat. I’ve had the opportunity to see many different species as well as individuals. I still go out on the boat from time to time to reunite with these giant mammals, and it is always a truly amazing experience. Allow me to introduce you to some of my friends…

This weekend I met up with a bunch of my friends from Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Atlantic Whiteshark Conservancy for a day on the water. I haven’t been out to the Atlantic in about a year, so I was super excited to get back to the old ‘office.’ About an hour after departing the dock in Hyannis, we began to see blows from the whales, and before I knew it, I was greeted by a few familiar ‘faces’ (or in this case, flukes.)

Humpback whales are named and identified by the black and white pattern on the bottom side of their flukes. There is a catalog of around 2,400 known individuals that inhabit Cape Cod Bay, and the Gulf of Maine in the summer months. I love photographing a fluke that I don’t immediately recognize, and then going through the catalog to match it and find out who the whale is.

Two whales we saw on the trip, whom I’ve seen before, were Orbit (pictured above) and Bounce (pictured below)

Bounce has a calf this year. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings more than seeing mother/calf pairs together in the wild. The calf cannot yet hold it’s breath as long as mom can, so when she is down on the long dive, the calf will splash around to keep itself occupied. Adult whales will sometimes be active as well. On our trip we did see a bit of tail lobbing, fin slapping, and a breach (whale comes fully out of the water) happening further off in the distance.

The whales visit the area every year between April and October to feed. The waters of the North Atlantic are nutrient rich, and full of plankton and small fish known as sand lance, which humpbacks feed on. The whales spend the winter months in the Caribbean breeding/calving grounds off the coast of the Dominican Republic. They need to feed as much as possible in the summer months, as there is no food supply in the Caribbean waters. It is also important for new mothers to teach their calves how to hunt for food during their time up north. After about a year, the calf is on it’s own. Female humpback whales will give birth to a single calf, and will reproduce around every 2-3 years.

Aside from Humpback Whales, we also saw two Fin Whales, which are the second largest animal on earth behind the Blue Whale. We also saw a number of different shorebird species and grey seals. One thing I was hoping to see, but weather did not allow, were Great White Sharks. Yes, we have those too. The come up to the Cape Cod area in the summer months to feed on the seals.

Pictured above: Humpback Whale ‘Semi-Colon’

Now that I’ve given you a quick rundown on cetaceans, and introduced you to some specific individuals, I highly recommend anyone in the Massachusetts area to go whale watching if you get the chance. These whales are a big part of my life, and I love when others are interested in learning about these incredible animals as well.

Have you been whale watching off Massachusetts before? Feel free to send any fluke photos to morninggloryblogger@gmail.com if you are interested in finding out which whale you saw!

Ashley

What I Wore:

Faux Leather Jacket: Topshop, Shirt: Uniqlo, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Michael Antonio,

Sunglasses: Jeepers Peepers, Clutch: H&M

Although it was June, I awoke to my last day in London welcomed by colder temperatures and rain. Most people would be upset by this, but I loved it. You would be surprised at how seemingly ‘typical English’ weather makes London that much more magical. We had an early morning date with the London Eye so I could capture some aerial photos, and the rest of the morning was spent wandering the Westminster area. We made sure to see all the major spots like Big Ben and Parliament, as well as Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. One of my favorite places we walked through was St. James Park. Just a short distance from Parliament, this massive, and gorgeous green sanctuary, is home to beautiful flower beds, ponds, and a small variety of animals. The park was not crowded either. Granted it was a gloomy morning, but it was so peaceful and relaxing. It is a place I wish I could spend time in everyday. Sigh.

After exploring the Westminster area, we made our way up to one of my favorite areas in London…Primrose Hill. Considered one of the ritzy London postal codes, and current/former home to some famous rockers and models, Primrose Hill is a world of its own. It’s also home to the legendary Abbey Road Studios. It is a place I have always wanted to see, and my chance had come. After exiting the nearest Tube station, I was a bit surprised to find more of a suburban like setting. I had expected Abbey Road to be in more of an area in the city. But the Hill and the homes are beautiful. And the foliage! So many trees and plants, some of which look like they can belong in a tropical setting. Making our way down the street toward the studio, I fawned over the brownstone and white homes. I probably picked out at least 5 ‘dream homes.’ Towards the end of the road, I noticed a small gathering of people at the intersection; tourists there to recreate the iconic Abbey Road album cover. While I didn’t participate, I did make my way to the gates at Abbey Road Studios. The studio itself looks like a house. Traditional London architecture, with perfectly planted flower boxes in every window. I can only imagine what the inside looks like. Recording heaven. The outer wall on the gates dons a massive mural of names and drawings from people all over the world whom have visited. It was a special place and music lover would appreciate seeing.

After leaving the studio, we ate at one of my new favorite restaurants…Carluccio’s. A small Italian restaurant situated in the middle of the Hill, Carluccio’s has some of the best food around. My ravioli were handmade from scratch. Handmade! Not like the standard pre-made kind you get in normal restaurants. The flavor was fresh and wonderful. To cap off my dinner, I ordered a glass of peppermint tea. I know the English take their tea very seriously, as do I, but what happened next even I didn’t expect. First off, the teacup was one of those glass cups with the metal handle. That alone made the interior decor lover in me happy. But instead of a tea bag, or infuser, there were actual peppermint leaves steeped in a bath of hot water. It was pure and fresh. This may be normal for some, but I sure as hell didn’t expect a glass full of water with a plant stuffed in it. Easily, one of the best cups to tea I’ve ever had. My happiness was short-lived, as it was here my depression about leaving London started to set in. I said goodnight to Primrose Hill and made my way back to Tower Bridge. The next morning we were headed for Paris. Most would be excited, and a small part of me was, but I sulked my way to the EuroStar. As we left London, I spent the next 20 minutes trying to figure out when I could get back to the city I love. I gazed out the window at the English countryside until all went dark as we entered the tunnel under the English Channel.

Until next time London.

Ashley

Just because I am already married doesn’t mean I can’t get into the wedding spirit, right?! On Monday night, I had the opportunity to view the new Fall line of BHLDN wedding dresses at Anthropologie’s Chestnut Hill location. While mixing and mingling with other bloggers and photographers from the Boston area, I swooned over the colors and fabrics of the new line. The dresses are stunning, and perfect for the vintage and bohemian bride.

Upon arrival, I graciously accepted a glass of wine, and immediately began to take in the beauty around me. Every rack and display were perfectly arranged and organized. One table boasted a silver platter of beaded headpieces that caught my eye right away. Bridesmaids dress styles were color coordinated, and ranged from blues, to violets, greens, and soft pinks.

The wedding dresses themselves boasted beautiful details of lace and beading. The silhouettes are simple, but the detailing is intricate. Aside from a vintage/bohemian theme, some dresses, to me, also had a bit of a ‘Gatsby’ feel to them. For the bride who longs for difference and something unique, BHLDN has the answer. Looking for short, cocktail style wedding dresses? They have that too. In fact, I became obsessed with one ’70’s vibe’ lace dress with 3/4 length (and slightly flared) sleeves. I almost bought it to wear as an everyday dress…it was that gorgeous.

BHLDN also had a range of wedding necessities like jewelry, books, cards, and other collectables.

Special thanks to BHLDN and Boston Bloggers for hosting a wonderful event!

Head over to their website to see more here!

Ashley