Bohemian Manifesto

things.im.loving

2012-01-26T13:20:00.007-06:00

I'm going to get a little hippy-dippy earth mother on you with this list, but you can't say I didn't warn you!

1. This video

2. Oatmeal + Peanut Butter + Banana or Apple

How did I not think of this combination? The oatmeal and peanut butter mesh up to become this perfect, creamy, oat-y apple dip. Awesome.

3. Lululemon yoga clothes - okay, they are kind of pricey. But there's a lot to be said for pants that make your butt look like that. And yet still make you want to go work out despite having obtained the perfect butt for no work at all since you own their pants.

4. Finding an awesome yoga studio where I'm super challenged. I can do that. In the picture....and then jump back to plank. Okay, a lot of you could probably do it too but I was impressed with myself, and that makes me want to go back to do yoga all the time! If only it was free...

5. Eating seasonal food - my new favorite restaurant in St Louis is Local Harvest Cafe and they only serve local and seasonal food! With TONS of vegan options. Kale, citrus, and brussels sprouts? Who knew January was so awesome for food?

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

creature.of.habit

2012-01-18T16:43:00.003-06:00

as antsy as i get if i stuck in one place for one time. i really am a creature of habit. i was kind of bugged out by all the time off and running around during the holidays. since i work in two towns and travel to asia for work as well it's kind of hard to get bored. i mostly crave my most normal of days, with their mash up of cooking, yoga, laundry, work, and couch time.

the.secret.that.shouldn't.be

2012-01-17T13:56:00.002-06:00

If you're like me, sometimes, you just HAVE to have something chocolate. So you bake something, you eat some, and life is good. But then....you have that entire pan of brownies sitting around your apartment to pick at, and it's kind of hard to resist. A better plan? Make just one brownie. In your microwave. In about 3 minutes.

Happy Tuesday to you:

Vegan Mug Brownie

2 Tablespoons Flour

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Tablespoons Cocoa powder (Note: don't use cocoa mix or quik, it shouldn't have any sugar)

1 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil (a little less than)

1 Tablespoons Water (a little less than)

A tiny splash of vanilla

1 Tablespoons Chocolate Chips

Dash of salt

Mix dry ingredients, then mix in wet ingredients, then mix in chocolate chips.

Throw in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds (or maybe 10 seconds more or less depending on your microwave).

Enjoy!

(You're welcome.)

something.different

2012-01-13T10:01:00.002-06:00

as if this blog could get any more random - but i felt like this video offered a really unique perspective. especially for anyone who's ever turned away from God because of being looked down on by "christians." worth 4 minutes.

images.of.now

2012-01-05T10:45:00.005-06:00

Just a few pictures that have been floating on my desktop for a while -

Outfits I'd like to re-create, a living room scheme that's perfectly haphazard-the way I like it, and re-reading old favorites. We're planning on staying low-key this weekend, so I see lots of couch time, soup making, and reading in my future, and I'm kind of liking that considering the craziness that was the past month.

resolutions

2012-01-04T10:48:00.004-06:00

After not blogging for so long I'm not sure what to say! It's been a crazy couple months, but of course it's like that for everyone in November and December. Truthfully, I just haven't been that focused on fashion or design - I've been spending lots of time with friends, and doing way more cooking than getting dressed up.

But I'm going to start working on that - time get back to my normal routine, even if my new normal routine involves lots more inspiration and recipe posts and lots less outfit posts.

I also included my new years resolutions so I'd be accountable, but we'll see how long they last - I attempted a 3 day juice fast yesterday and only made it until noon, so I'm not sure my resolve has improved all that much with the new year....

autumn.winds

2011-11-08T08:25:00.006-06:00

the.secret.to.life

2011-11-02T15:06:00.004-05:00

starry.eyed

2011-11-02T14:36:00.002-05:00

flare jeans - loft, star blouse - express, mongolian fur vest - ebay

i.put.a.spell.on.you

2011-10-31T09:51:00.003-05:00

party.in.the.back

2011-10-27T09:12:00.001-05:00

love her - i may already have a man, but i still whip out a few man repelling outfits here and there - although admit it or not he's coming around to some of my crazy clothes and whipping out a few of his own. the boy tried to wear a cabbie hat (!!!???) the other day!

check out "The Man Repeller" blog HERE

brighten.your.day

2011-10-26T14:18:00.001-05:00

brighten your day with this charming video

everything sounds better in french

embrace.the.crazy

2011-10-24T21:10:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's post about Jenna Lyons really got me thinking about how lucky I am to have a creative job that allows me to never feel like I'm missing out on any of the things I love. Although fashion isn't part of my job, a lot of jobs today don't allow the kind of creative sartorial expression that I have. My office doesn't really have a dress code (other than "make sure you're appropriately covered"), and that allows me to have nothing off-limits - enter bright red pants. If these can't put a spring in your step, well, then nothing probably can. I didn't spend big money on these, as I usually try not to on super trendy things, although I have to admit that the thought of these going "out of style" makes me awfully sad!

Fashion isn't always friendly to those who have a sartorial responsibility. New York magazine says this about designer-of-the-moment Alexander Wang's aesthetic and secret to success:

"He’s built an approximately $25 million business on cool but benign day-into-night clothes for lithe, pragmatic downtown girls who all appear to work in galleries or PR or in fashion somehow themselves—anything vaguely “creative.” Wang synthesized the street-style-blog-derived notion of looking like a “model off duty,” a louche fantasy of effortlessly sexy living if ever there was one. After all, what exactly does a model do when she’s off duty? The Wang girl is, therefore, always ready to go out, dance with careful abandon, drink in hand, accessorized with a cigarette and a handsomely scruffy boy, swaying her hair around, pushing it behind her ears."

Now the last of that description certainly doesn't fit me - but "girls who appear to work in galleries or PR or in fashion somehow themselves - anything vaguely 'creative,'" is apparently a group that many woman would like to be a part of, because it's selling Mr. Wang's fur pom-pom accented heels & slouchy cutout sweaters like crazy.

Not that all woman can't toss a little personality into their work wardrobes. All I'm saying is to embrace the crazy you're allowed.

Life's too short to make your message "I wasn't inspired to wear anything fun today."

commander.in.chic

2011-10-23T22:05:00.006-05:00

I've been going nuts over all the inspirational photos and videos of J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons. Lately I've been loving a few things that were never a big part of my day-to-day dressing - sequins and glitter, denim & pants, leather & fur - and she's a great guide for mixing all that crazy with the best of basics. Which, of course, is exactly what makes her so perfect for her job at J.Crew. Check out the video above for lots of adoreable-ness - she dreams in sequins - (and try to ignore Jenna Bush's less than stellar journalism skills while doing so....)

diamonds.on.the.soles.of.her.shoes

2011-10-20T19:44:00.002-05:00

In case your budget doesn't accommodate the $700 + Miu Mius, go for these.

They come in two colors, and the second pair is only $15 - so my budget decided I needed both!

I am going to have some VERY sparkly feet this weekend.

Available HERE.

everyday.sparkle

2011-10-19T10:07:00.003-05:00

i wore this outfit last week on a quite rainy day (hence the topknot) and these booties proved they're going to be one of the more valuable finds of this fall!
not to mention - you can't beat these prices...

it's only 45 degrees outside (probably a little weird how excited i am by that) and i've decided it's finally time for chili - i'm heading to whole foods on my lunch break to pick up all the essentials and maybe there will be a yummy recipe post tomorrow - depending on how it all turns out! i've not made vegan chili yet, and although i had a FANTASTIC recipe for beef chili courtesy of my mother, i think i'm going to have to experiment with vegetarian versions for a bit before i find the perfect equation. wish me luck!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

tgif

2011-10-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

over.the.top

2011-10-13T20:08:00.007-05:00

funny how this time of year things start trending towards excess.

my closet has lately begun to overflow with cozy knits, suede heels, and LOTS of sequins...

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the.recipe

2011-10-09T14:46:00.003-05:00

I don't think I've ever truly known the meaning of "Indian Summer" in the way that I've experienced it this year. I know a lot of people are loving it - 80s in October in St. Louis was actually pretty perfect for the outdoor beer festival we went to this weekend - but I'm really itching to break out my winter clothes, and the cozy is totally eluding my autumn.

So in lieu of the fact that it's not yet cold enough to make chili - sad face - I decided to play pretend and make this yummy bowl of happiness.

When other people are hungover from a crazy weekend, they order pizza.

I make soup. It's my favorite food - I know, I'm an odd bird. I also invited this pretty much from scratch, so I'm a little proud of it!

Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup

you need:
1 butternut squash - peeled, cored, and cut into four big pieces
1 sweet potato - unpeeled
1 apple - peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
1 head of garlic - prepped for roasting, excellent instructions on that HERE
1.5 tbsp earth balance, 3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup soy creamer
1/2 cup soy milk
1/4 cup apple cider
dash vegan worcestershire
cumin
3 tsp sage
salt & pepper

step 1: preheat your oven to 425. wrap the sweet potato and apple in aluminum foil and place on roasting pan with prepped garlic. get your hands good and oiled up with 2 tbsp of that olive oil, and rub it all over the squash. then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a mild smattering of cumin. roast for an hour, or until squash and potato or easily smushed with a fork.
step 2: melt earth balance with the last tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat, and sautee onion and sage for 5 minutes or so, until very soft. add squash, potato (skin on), apple, and roasted garlic (squish out the garlic from the cloves), and sautee for another 2 or 3 minutes. add vegetable broth, apple cider, a few dashes of worcestershire, and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. lower heat to medium low and simmer for 23 minutes, tasting at 5 minute intervals to test for seasoning (i.e. more sage, salt, or pepper.)
step 3: add soy milk and soy creamer and stir, taste for seasoning. let simmer 2 more minutes.
step 4: puree soup in batches in a blender, food processor, or with an immersion blender. a blender will make a very smooth, creamy soup, a food processor a slightly chunker soup, and an immersion blender will really do whatever you want! then serve ad enjoy!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

so.sad

2011-10-06T20:32:00.001-05:00

steve jobs - 02/24/1955-10/05/2011

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

a.new.braid

2011-10-06T12:37:00.001-05:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

how.to.be.lovely

2011-10-05T13:24:00.008-05:00

olivia will likely forever remain my #1 style icon - i just never get tired of her increasingly interesting ensembles

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the.outfit/10.02

2011-10-02T21:43:00.003-05:00

My uniform lately has been my favorite jeans, booties, and a chiffon blouse. It really couldn't be easier - but for my October plans (orchards, staying in, enjoying the amazing weather) it also couldn't be more perfect.

Also - don't call it fall...autumn is such a prettier word.

top-nordstrom, jeans-madewell, booties-sam edelman

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

love.this.kitchen

2011-10-02T19:37:00.001-05:00

contemporary kitchen design by other metros interior designer Andrea Schumacher

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

vintage.notebooks

2011-09-29T21:05:00.000-05:00

Can be purchased HERE.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

vegan.eats

2011-09-28T20:17:00.004-05:00

As a vegan, there are two questions I get a LOT. The number one question is "where do you get your protein?" and that's getting old, so if you are still wondering, check out the answer HERE.

Number two is "what do you EAT??," usually followed by the most obvious punch line, delivered by a bystander: "grass, duh..."

So here's what I do eat! To show some good examples I wrote down everything for 7 full days, and these are the most interesting, and most boring/unhealthy days, respectively.

the.outfit/09.27

2011-09-27T21:04:00.004-05:00

Today we had some of that totally perfect fall weather, where a plaid shirt is just enough, and nothing else is really needed. I had fun getting to use my new Photoshop skills (thank you BlogShop) while working today, and got to enjoy the weather while running a few errands. For me right now, happiness is staying put - as much as I enjoyed New York this weekend, I have the entire month of October (my favorite month) completely free of weekend plans, which means I'll be getting in lots of time at home in St. Louis. I'm seeing lots of orchards, museums, movies, and pumpkin carving in my future...

plaid shirt-f21, wide leg jeans-alexa chung for madewell, watch-marc jacobs

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the.recipe

2011-09-25T15:40:00.003-05:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

all things cozy

2011-09-20T22:29:00.006-05:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

food for thought

2011-09-15T13:58:00.005-05:00

So Bikram yoga = my newfound love. (Bikram is a series of 26 yoga postures done in multiple sets, in a room set to anywhere from 100 to 104 degrees with 40% humidity). I've only been going for two weeks, but I'm loving it so far. Sounds insane, I know, but that's not the reason I'm writing about it. I just had to tell you how it even became possible for me to make it through a class.

I went to my first Bikram class back in April, before I became totally vegan, and let me tell you, it was an epic fail. I sat down every 5 minutes with my head pounding, and finally ended up just walking out before the class even ended because I was about to pass out. I felt incredibly weak a defeated (and truthfully, a little embarrassed), but brushed it off with a confident "it just wasn't for me." Except that I really wanted it to be. I had taken yoga for 4 or 5 years, and it had never really resulted in a big change in the way I looked, although it was always the only type of exercise I really enjoyed. The people in that Bikram class looked amazing, and although I don't necessarily aspire to that kind of athleticism, I knew how great it could make a person look & feel.

So last week, after eating an entirely vegan diet for 4 months, I went back.

It was night and day. I was still incredibly challenged, don't get me wrong, but rather than pant my way through the entire class and not even make it through, I actually found myself enjoying the challenges AND (if you can believe it) the heat. I was able to control my heartbeat through my breathering, and when we were done I was actually surprised at how short the class felt. In addition, I have bounce-off-the-walls energy pretty much all day after class, and actually look forward to getting up before 6am to go.

This isn't me saying that everyone should take a Bikram class, or that I'm now such a perfect devotee and I'll never miss a day - I'm sure I will, and I'm sure it's not for everyone. I tend to go through phases with my workouts. But I am saying that maybe just eating vegan a few days a week could make a difference in everybody's workouts, whatever you choose to do and the gym, and what you get out of them. Just food for thought...

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

heart tights

2011-09-14T13:28:00.003-05:00

It's really hard to capture the cuteness of these tights in the self-timer photos (also, I clearly have not yet learned how to model with my face), but these tights are indeed so cute. I love them. It's been a high of 64 (where did summer goooooo?) and rainy all day today in St. Louis, so I took the opportunity to break out some of my new favorite fall things, as well as some old. These Coach clogs might be my favorite shoe from last fall, and they might end up being my favorite shoes this fall as well - so comfy!! I'm always an advocate of a good & cheap pair of shoes, but your feet can FEEL the money you spent when you wear these shoes.

dress-urban.outfitters, cardigan&earrings-f21, tights-target, shoes-coach

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

fate knocked today

2011-09-13T19:53:00.003-05:00

If you read this blog much, it may not shock you to hear that I am not the MOST organized person on the planet. So when I tell you I completely forgot Missoni for Target came out TODAY and that I live 5 minutes from a Target but somehow didn't make it there until 7 pm, you shouldn't be surprised. Before I went, I checked the website - crashed. Drove to the store and EVERYTHING was gone. The perfect blanket throw, gone. The patterned tights, no more. Seriously. I'm pretty sure the only items left were a toddler bikini bottom and a candle. I almost saw hope in the above shoes (truly the #1 thing I wanted, I could see their subtle perfection with every single one of my outfits this fall) hanging out on an endcap, but obviously not in my size. (Though you're delusional if you think I didn't try to squeeze into them anyway.) So when I got home, I flipped open my computer to browse the collection, disappointed, and saw that my target.com browser had magically refreshed....and when I clicked to the "Missoni Women's Accessories & Shoes" section there was one shoe not sold out. My shoe. In my size. Now that's fate.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

All Things Green

2011-09-08T15:14:00.005-05:00

So lately, I have become addicted to all things green. Seriously, as we speak, I'm eating green soup. This all stems from an encounter a few weeks ago with these -

They are like crack for me. Seriously, and they're not even that low-calorie, considering that I can eat a whole bag in one sitting and one bag is equivalent to basically an entire meal. In addition, they cost $5.99, at the Whole Paycheck store (i.e. Whole Foods).

I blame this on Mama Pea (vegan blogger extraordinaire). God knows I love the woman - I like to call her my vegan savior, because ever since we made the switch, she seems to be the only recipe inventor I can find who genuinely satisfies Darrell. If you haven't seen her blog yet, you must go check it out HERE. And you can buy her book HERE. Even if you aren't vegan, I promise almost all of her recipes are worth making!

Thankfully, rather than desert me to come up with a way to fit in a second job in order to keep my kale chip habit up, she offers a delicious, and healthier alternative.

BBQ Kale Chips (slightly modified from the original to be a little spicier.)

1 t. paprika
1 t. garlic salt
1/4 t. sugar
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. chili powder
1/4 t. cayenne
1 head organic kale (I like the pre-sliced bags at Trader Joe's & Whole Foods)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Wash and tear kale into chip sized pieces and place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
In a small bowl combine all spices.
Spray kale with cooking spray and then sprinkle with spice blend.
Bake kale chips for 15-25 minutes, checking every 10 minutes. Chips should be light and crisp, but watch them so they don’t burn.

So good!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

october lovers

2011-08-26T06:41:00.011-05:00

Now that it's almost September (and I've officially started shopping for fall clothes) I'm letting myself dream a little bit about all the things I'm looking forward to. Thick sweaters, camel coats, polka dots, flared jeans, knit headbands, leather jackets, floppy felt hats, black tights with everything (commando matte opaque are the best!), boots, jeans tucked into boots, cognac leather boots (I really like boots...) and of course, plaid. Although fall/winter are definitely NOT my favorite seasons - that would go to summer - they are my absolute favorite clothes. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you feel) we don't really get the big cool down around here until October, so I kind of need to let it go until then, but I couldn't resist posting all these pics.

pics c/o free people, the daybook,

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

happiness and sanity are an impossible combination

2011-08-24T15:42:00.003-05:00

At the risk of being completely obnoxious, I'm writing this post about how incredibly happy I am right now. I'm engaged, my fiancee just got a great new job, and things just seem to be coming together in the best of ways. I'm all smiles. However...do you ever get that feeling? When nothing is wrong and your worries are few and far between - that something must go terribly awry and soon. It's like, if nothing is wrong, you worry about what will. So happy you're scared.

It's a silly problem to have - one I probably shouldn't complain about - but I can't help but feel as though someone must feel the same. For right now, I'll try to enjoy this place and shake it off...surely that's the best road to take. I could do with forever being like right now: all cozy nights in with Darrell, dinner with friends, a long reading list, wedding plans, shopping for fall clothes (oh how i love boots), and cooking something new every night.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

i believe this

2011-08-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

bringing the forest indoors

2011-08-12T10:22:00.007-05:00

I am not one of those girls that is so obsessed with being married in the great outdoors. What I am obsessed with is having a plan, so wondering "what if it rains?" for over a year wasn't really my idea of a great wedding planning scenario. The bulk of our wedding day will be indoors. Still, I wanted the room to feel intimate and romantic, dreamy in the way an outdoor wedding would be without any of the complications, so when I started finding pictures of this branch decor I was instantly inspired. My main decor plan for the night is to bring in tons of bare trees and branches and drape them with twinkling lights and votives. Aren't these pictures gorgeous?

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

in all directions

2011-08-09T13:04:00.004-05:00

I'm sure it's been fairly noticeable to anyone that follows this blog that I've had a bit of loss in my direction lately. I'm not really sure where I want to take this thing. See, due to a recent dip in my closet funding abilities, I haven't really been buying clothes, so fashion hasn't really been the order of the day. Other than that, I've become entirely obsessed with vegan cooking, which is why I started Lighthearted Health, but other than one or two posts, that really hasn't gone anywhere either. To top it all off, I recently got engaged (which I'm VERY excited about) and most of my inspiration lately has been coming from wedding websites.

At first I thought, maybe I'll just put all three on pause for a while, but truthfully I need the creative outlet. So - if you've been coming here for just inspirational words & pictures, you're soon going to get a bit more. I'm just planning to combine all three. I'll be updating with wedding ideas, inspirational photos, outfit posts, music loves, and vegan recipes on and off. I suppose my compromise is that if I can't have just one direction, I'll go every direction.

Right now, however, my focus is on stretching out the end of this summer. I really don't ever want it to end.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the more you read, the more things you will know. the more that you learn, the more places you'll go - dr seuss

2011-07-18T08:47:00.009-05:00

This past week has been exactly what I wanted it to be - I spent it reading tons of books, cooking up all the amazing produce I bought at farmer's market this weekend (recipes for a yummy way to use your sweet corn HERE), and listening to Darrell become more & more attached to this guitar - a sound I love much more than hearing his xBox turn on!

I'm getting to know the local librarian much better now, since I become quite the reading fanatic in the summertime. I have an iPad, which I could buy books on, but they certainly aren't free on the Kindle & iBooks stores, so for now the library suits me just fine. Plus, free books equals more $ for nights out. One of the perks of living in a city is that the library network can find you just about any book you want, and although I love the convenience of having access to my book always, through my iPad, iPhone, whatever, there is nothing quite like a library book.

My current recommendations would be "History of Love" by Nicole Krauss - so beautifully written and heartbreaking. Afterwards I read "Water for Elephants" in just a day. It was quite addictive and also very beautiful, but definitely more of a summer "beach read."

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything

2011-07-10T12:49:00.007-05:00

Whoa - an outfit post? Yeah, I know, you had probably all completely forgotten this used to be a personal style blog. Due to our recent move I've only spent money on things for the house lately (plus I've lost quite a bit of weight...and buying clothes that will only fit you for a few weeks is no fun). But yesterday I got the itch to make a few additions to my wardrobe.

Darrell's new job has him working some funny hours, which is sometimes fantastic, and other times leaves me to my own devices for hours. At first I was a little at a loss with what to do, but lately I've been channeling some of that restless energy into yoga & my summer reading list (maybe next post?)

It's too hot to wear my hair down at this point, so I'm trying to get creative with ways to put it up, and I managed an upside-down french braided bun today. Not the best picture - it's courtesy of my iPhone camera - but I think I'll be wearing my hair like this a LOT. It adds a little interest to my standard topknot.

all clothes: forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

sanity and happiness are an impossible combination

2011-07-09T19:16:00.008-05:00

Well, so much for our "slow summer" plan. I've had a sort of nutso work week, and on top of that my car was hit & run, and then I got into an accident in the car I was borrowing from my Dad while mine is getting fixed. So now me and Darrell are working with one car to share - something I know many people do, but I'll admit it's harder than i thought! I like being able to go and do as I please.

However, we don't have to go anywhere until next Friday (when I'll get my car back), our best friends are out of town for a bit, my biggest plans for the next few weeks are the upcoming Harry Potter movie & yoga classes, so I think you can officially say we're on hiatus with the exception of work.

I've also been slowly adding to my wardrobe again after a few months of devoting all extra cash to fixing up our house the way I want it, so outfit posts may or may not resume soon - stay posted! I still have a few things on my home improvement list - namely, randomly framed maps & photos in a large collage over our sofa. I all of a sudden felt like our walls were too white, and I've been feeling a need to cover them with more art ever since. Maybe pictures of the changes soon....

Also, I don't know if you've noticed, but I added a link to a blog I started a few days ago in the top left corner (all vegan food, and other random posts related to my new-found way of eating) so check that if you're into foodie blogs!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

photo credits: i love wildfix, tumblr

Respectably Lazy

2011-06-20T22:13:00.013-05:00

Sometimes I feel like there are two kinds of summer. One is the version I've had so far - hinged on countdowns to big events, concerts, and parties - like you're trying to get in as much summer action as possible before the fleeting season fades into fall. That's what I've been doing so far, and it's been fantastic - I've managed to see close to 20 concerts (thanks to Bonnaroo), host an all-weekend gathering, take mini vacation to the lake, and go to three baseball games.

But considering we JUST moved here 2 months ago and have been constantly on the go since move-in day, for the rest of summer - which, according to the actual calendar, doesn't even begin until tomorrow - I'd like things to slow down a bit. Some things I've had on my list haven't happened due to slight over-planning of my weekends.

With Darrell starting a new job that has a more varied schedule, we're leaving all our time wide open to be spent at home in St. Louis, in an effort to get to know our new home a little better. We're looking forward to spending some time being tourists of our own town.

Our list of "slow summer" to-dos:
1. Sit outside listening our way through the newest additions to our record collection, letting the sound come through our screen door.
2. Slowly add to my herb garden (since I'm now mildly confident in my ability to keep flowers alive.)
3. Read through my summer book list! I canceled our cable...and was a little disappointed when it never actually turned off. I was kind of looking forward to seeing what we'd do if we didn't have any TV to watch!
4. Make more use of our community pool, laying out by myself all afternoon completing the previous task. I could spend hours reading while sitting by the pool.
5. Free concerts under the Arch
6. Go to the Soulard Farmer's Market on a Saturday
7. Take walks after dinner
8. Garage sale hunt for patio furniture - I need somewhere to dine al fresco!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

bonnaroo, feel the magic

2011-06-08T08:57:00.009-05:00

I'm like a kid on Christmas morning. We leave at 11 and drive all night!

Florence, Jim James, and all those other haunting voices are calling my name.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"It's all happening...." - Penny Lane

2011-06-02T08:29:00.016-05:00

Bonnaroo countdown is on: according to my app-7 days, 2 hours, and 21....20....19 minutes until Centeroo gates open and I'll be dancing to the music. If all goes as planned I expect my trip to look a lot like the pictures above. And if you're coming along, take a look at these and start dreaming.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the.times.they.are.a.changin

2011-04-17T11:48:00.015-05:00

I started packing today - a process that always stirs up silly feelings about memories and "how life will never be the same" as it is right now. I always have mixed feelings about moving, because there's always the thought of what you're leaving behind. That isn't so much tangible things when what you're leaving is Charleston, IL - our house is crumbling down around us a little more every day, and the only activity here is Wal-Mart. Charleston always felt a little bit like a "pause" in life - Darrell was still in school a year behind, and I was already working full time, albeit in a college town. Some days it felt like we had only halfway started life. Monday thru Friday meant work, while Saturday and Sunday meant frat parties and kegs. Leaving here together, we're really going to be on the same page.

Still, when I think about the intangibles - the fact that there will never be another "first house" again, I get a little nostalgic. This will always be the place where we learned to live together.

We have a lot to look forward to in our second home. While our first house was as cheap as possible, the kind of rental where at least one thing is always broken, our second place together is new and shiny, and we'll be the first ones to ever make it our own. The preparation for moving is daunting, it seems like I've been dreaming about moving to the city forever, and now it's so close to happening that we are really getting excited. We have lots of friends close to St. Louis, and too many plans for summer already - trips to the lake, trying out Bikram yoga, the farmer's market on Saturdays, recently opened wine bars, and (probably going to be our most frequent summer activity) baseball games at Busch stadium. What better time to go to a new city and explore than right at the start of summer.

All this crazyness is going to pay off - life wouldn't be any fun at all without change.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

small.victories

2011-04-07T10:58:00.004-05:00

So, today is a big day for me. I completed a personal goal today. You see...I love braids. Yes, prepare yourselves, all guy friends reading this - I'm about to get incredibly girly.

I grew my hair out so that I could wear more braids. French braids, Heidi braids, braided buns, my own hair braided and pinned across as a headband, long side braids, you name it. I must've braided ten strangers' hair at Bonnaroo (music festival) this past year, and I literally plan to hang a sign offering to braid hair for $5 on my tent his year. But try as I might, I could not make a damn fishtail braid. My hair would end up a tangled mess after 10 or so tries and I would storm out of the bathroom with a topknot bun. So today, when I was reading the Free People blog and they were gushing over Sasha Pivarova's pretty fishtail braid from their April catalog, I was just irritated by it - until I watched their video tutorial, in which a woman completes a long fishtail braid with only two hands! And here I thought you needed five.

It's like magic. Here's to small victories.

i'm wearing: top-forever21, jeans-gap1969, moccasins-minnetonka, jewelry-lowluv&forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"you don't have a soul. you are a soul. you have a body" - c.s. lewis

2011-04-03T21:20:00.011-05:00

This spring weather has turned me into the morning person I was NOT all winter long. When there's snow on the ground & 8:30 am isn't much brighter than 8:30 pm, it can be quite difficult to crawl out of that warm bed, but lately the sunlight comes through the window to help me wake up in a much gentler way than the buzzing of my alarm. It makes it a lot easier to greet the day with a smile, get dressed in something fun, and get to work. Most of my day ends up being spent trying to be as creative as possible, so I keep the music on and and windows open, hoping to be inspired to make something beautiful. Of course, coffee helps too.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"maybe it's because I'm willing to believe stories & make wishes on falling stars but so far I've learned there is no reality but the one you create"

2011-03-30T20:49:00.009-05:00

I don't have much to muse about today other than how amazing this week has been, and how perfect it could only continue to be. The only things I could complain about would be the weather (hello, spring? it's april now, and we'd love to see you come back) but even regardless of the temperature the sun's been shining in a way that suggests genuine warmth. I love this time of year because you start to think that so much more is really possible. There's always so much less to worry about, like the sun's rays soften the edges of all your problems.

Little changes I've made have made it easier to feel as though summer's really coming. I've hidden away all my fur coats and filled their space with all my eyelet & floral dresses. I started buying tulips for the kitchen table again. I can't get enough turquoise & coral into my life after a winter of army green, grey, and black, and I've been painting my nails alternating rainbow colors. I've discovered the magic of putting feathers into your hair, and I love to run my fingers through as someone walks by and inevitably asks, aghast "is that a FEATHER?" I bought some anklet bracelets the other day and I know they're impossibly 90s, but I kind of like that nostalgia of wearing something I wore as a kid, and hearing the little bit of noise they make when you walk.

quote via boheme musings

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

home.is.wherever.im.with.you

2011-03-29T08:45:00.007-05:00

We're moving oh-so-soon, and I've put my closet on hold to think about our future furnishings. All we really have is a bed, a dresser, a desk, a record player and a piano. And since all you really need in life is to be able to work, play, dance, and sleep I guess we have all we need.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

we.are.here.for.a.good.time.not.a.long.time

2011-03-20T20:15:00.010-05:00

I'm buying my tickets to Bonnaroo tomorrow, so it certainly isn't hard to tell where my mind is at. I even bought feather hair extensions today, and I can hardly wait until they get here. Everytime I look at my calendar it all seems to fly past until summer - especially when I noticed today that it's 4 weeks until yet another trip to China, 4 1/2 weeks til I move to St. Louis, and 12 weeks until Bonnaroo. In between I can only hope the rest of spring is as amazing as the start of it has been. I'm definitely in a place where I'm nuts about life, as most people are when they have a lot of amazing things to look forward to.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

take.me.out

2011-03-08T20:18:00.011-06:00

Things that are fun seem to abound much more frequently once it gets close to that season we've all dreamt about for the past few months. No, it isn't WARM per say, but..it's warm enough.

It's warm enough to go out without tights, even if your legs get goosebumps on the walk home.

It's warm enough that on that walk home...if you've had 2 or 3 glasses of wine, the cold doesn't really feel that cold, and the flowing conversation keeps you warm by then anyway.

It's warm enough that you can leave your coat at home, so that when you feel like getting up to dance you don't have to spend any time worrying about where you left it.

And it's definitely warm enough that on a Wednesday - when you have to work the next day, and you really should just go to bed by 10:30 - but it's 60 degrees outside, and you're getting a text every 5 minutes, and you can hear crowds of kids walking by your window on their way out that you might just think to yourself -

I know I have to wake up at 8 tomorrow but,

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

only.boring.people.are.bored

2011-03-03T20:43:00.006-06:00

Today has been one of those days where I woke up with a plan that quickly disintegrated into nonexistence. In the BEST of ways.

I was supposed to go home to work, so I woke up at 6am to go home only to notice that my commute was canceled sometime during the night. So I drank the coffee I had set to auto brew and got productive a bit earlier than normal. I was so awake by 8 am that I decided to try something new with my hair, and this over the head french braid was way easier than I thought! Sometime around noon I received a call from a friend asking if I wanted to join an afternoon excursion to a nearby town, so at 2 pm I found myself riding to Champaign for a small errand but really nothing much at all. In retrospect none of that sounds very exciting, but all day I was just glad to be out of my normal routine. Sometimes all it takes to brighten things is a little bit of something out of the ordinary.

Also good for the soul: getting crafty. I love these bracelets, which I have been making like crazy. All you need is some twine, some hex bolts (best color selection and price at Ace Hardware) and a little manual dexterity. I found my tutorial HERE.

wearing: denim shirt-madewell, black jeggings-nordstrom b.p., heels-shoedazzle, ring-lowluv erinwasson, bracelets-selfmade

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

mama.said.there'd.be.days.like.this

2011-03-01T12:08:00.009-06:00

Do you ever have a day that's so mundane you think "seriously, I will be so pissed if I die tomorrow and this was how I spent my last day!?" No? No overly serious deep thinkers in this audience? I know it's a morbid thought, but sometimes I spend so much time trying to make every moment of my life count, because I want to 'live while i'm young' so to speak, that I get really disappointed when there's nothing I'm really able to do but wait on the internet repairman to come, work, cook dinner, and wear pajamas all day.

It makes me want to find a gypsy cart (like the one above, so dreamy) and just run away.

On a less dreary note - it's only 12:15. I have a new book & Lykke Li's new album, and the sun is actually shining. Those three things plus a quick shower, a chai tea latte, and an animated discussion with my boyfriend about our WAY fun weekend plans might be all it'll take to perk me up.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

cooped.up

2011-02-23T20:58:00.001-06:00

This week has been one of those weeks where I end up not leaving the house. Seriously, I've been confined to the yard for taking the dogs out, and gone no further. One of the dangers of working from home is that you can spend an exorbitant amount of time indoors (hence my entirely unkempt hair and rather 35-degree inappropriate outfit in the picture above). However, the benefits are sometimes collecting an outrageous amount of new music - Ellie Goulding & Adele - and having ample time to listen to it at whatever volume you please. I highly recommend both ladies' new albums (well, new-ish, they've been out in Europe for quite some time now).

By the way - I'm selling these Lita babies on eBay. I've realized that after having them for 3 or 4 months now, they've barely seen the light of day. I've start the bidding low, since they've been worn once or twice, you can check the listing HERE!

wearing: scarf-f21, skirt-asos, shirt-oldnavy, boots-jeffrey campbell lita

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

authenticity is invaluable

2011-02-22T21:31:00.007-06:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

extravagant necessities

2011-02-03T14:06:00.007-06:00

Oh I'm sorry, you mean you don't wear fluffy fur coats to go to the bank and the pharmacy and Wal-Mart on Thursdays? Well, I normally don't either, but tell me, what else am I supposed to wear when it looks like this outside?

That's our actual tree. It took me nearly an hour to clean this off my car this morning (but don't worry, I wore Uggs for that.)

coat, wedges, hat-asos, shorts-vintage levi's

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

No winter lasts forever. No spring skips its turn.

2011-02-02T19:52:00.008-06:00

I have to say, I really hate this time of year. That yucky end of winter, yearning for spring. There's just so much that I'm really starting to hate about this season - like this 2 inch layer of ice and snow that has completely blanketed the midwest. I hate that. Combined with the fact that the groundhog didn't see his shadow (EARLY SPRING!!!) and there are gobs of pretty spring clothes popping up over the blogosphere, I'm officially dreaming about sitting on my front porch with a beer and opening all the windows so I can hear my record player outside. Don't worry - I've blocked my mind from even *thinking* about festivals yet. It would be too painful. Of course, the Bonnaroo lineup usually comes out mid month...so we'll see how long that lasts. In the meantime, I leave you with some sorta spring-y images.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”

2011-01-31T13:23:00.006-06:00

I ventured outside to take some pictures of my outfit today since today will apparently be the last day I'll ever get to GO OUTSIDE. It would seem that everyone in the northern midwest is preparing for the apocalypse that is this disastrous ice storm we're supposed to get in a few hours. Seriously, Darrell's teachers canceled class in anticipation of it. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET PEOPLE. Good thing I work from home, because as I was writing this it started to sleet and they predict no stopping for 48 hours. I'm all stocked up on candles, food, & hot chocolate, and pretty much anything else you need to be snowed in. Bonus: our new record player arrives today and we have a plethora of albums we haven't even listened to yet!

I just hope the power doesn't go out...

wearing: cape-asos, jeans-gap1969, boots-stevemadden, beanie-f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

“Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need”

2011-01-27T17:25:00.003-06:00

So with my new job, I work from home 3 days a week since technically the office is 1.5 hours away from where I currently live - I drive there the other two days. Before I started I didn't have a home office, or even a desk. It became quite apparent that I would need one after I tried to work from the living room couch one day, only to be asked my boyfriend every 5 minutes "whatcha doin? working? working hard or hardly working?"

He's a college student, and home quite often, so I had to demand ownership of his former "man room" and turn it into this. It's surprising how much you can get done away from an office setting if you just find yourself somewhere you can be productive (and you can still swap out loads of laundry between projects.) Of course, the dress code is a bit more relaxed as well.

Almost all of my office furnishings came from Target, with the exception of (obviously) the piano, which is a Baldwin upright that belonged to my mother and her siblings as children, and the desk, which is a white Parsons from Amazon.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

there is much to be done

2011-01-07T13:16:00.010-06:00

Today is the one and only day of unemployment I've had since my sophomore year of college. I'm not one of those people that likes to sit around doing nothing - I think my free time is better enjoyed if I don't have ample amounts of it. So it's no surprise that today (although I did REALLY sleep in) I'm spending my day preparing to leave the country for a few weeks. Between doing laundry so I can pack, making sure every bill gets paid on time, and taking a ton of clothes to the goodwill - I'm sort of an anti-hoarder - I managed to fill up my "day off." Still, I think I'll be finished with all of my jobs just in time for happy hour!

wearing: fox fur coat-vintage, sweater "dress"-darrell's, tights-commando, boots-steve madden, rings-ebay

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

things fall apart so that other things can fall together

2011-01-05T15:16:00.007-06:00

Although sometimes when things fall apart it's because you smashed it on purpose to move onto the next thing. I'm leaving my current job for bigger and better things as of tomorrow! I'm very excited to make the switch (I'm going to be working for my family business) and I'm kicking off my fist week with another trip to China, so preparing for that has sort of been taking over my week - making sure bills are going to get paid, stealing Darrell's man room to make into my home office, etc.

Despite my busy-ness I couldn't wait one more day to show you the Christmas present he gave me : this super-cute Marc Jacobs watch. I'm in love! I always wanted a watch but I was very particular about something that I would be wearing every day, and I found this one a few months before Christmas. I also got an iPad from my parents....which has been taking up every minute of my time that I'm not prepping to leave town and leave my job. Seriously, I think I've read three books in a week on that thing, it truly is addictive in a way that sitting on the couch with a laptop just isn't. It's a good thing I got Darrell an xBox he's equally addicted to for Christmas, otherwise he may be quite cross at my ignoring him all the time - not that he isn't already for my stealing the man room!

wearing: silk shirt, shoes, key ring-f21, scarf-chinamarket, headband-anthropologie, jeans-gap1969, watch-marcjacobs

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

hell is empty, and all the devils are here

2010-12-28T19:54:00.009-06:00

Lately, I've become kind of obsessed with the Kindle App. Did you know that you can have the same book on your iPod, iPad, Droid, and Kindle all at the same time and wherever you pick it up to start reading, it will sync with the last place you left off?

(yes, i'm fully aware that my device ownership is outrageous, i listed the kindle on ebay today, and you can buy it HERE if you want)

Anyway, this has led to mass readership on my part, especially of the classics, which are shamefully FREE in all their perfection. Did you know that Shakespeare, Bronte, and Fitzgerald are considered to be worth NOTHING in Amazon's store? (For the dead authors' souls sake, I'm instead going to think of the works as "priceless.")

I can be sitting somewhere pretending to be sending a text on my phone or whatnot, and really I've just been reading a book the entire time, which is highly convenient, and wonderful to someone who, as a child, use to carry a book everywhere and pull it out at every chance, something that just makes me look bored and rude as an adult.

This assortment of pictures has no particular relation to my topic of discussion, although the post title is my favorite Shakespeare quote - from 'The Tempest' - other than they're what's been inspiring me as of late. Lots of rings, sparkle, dark clothes and boots have been my uniform, and mostly as a result of seeing these magically mysterious images keep popping up.

You can't limit your sartorial recommendations to magazine pages anyhow, there's so much else to light a creative fire.

As Tim Gunn says (in his awesome book, something I read a few weeks ago)

"there is no excuse not be inspired."

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

2010-12-27T20:12:00.008-06:00

I suppose I'm a bit late for a Christmas post, but I just can't skip these pictures. These are from "me & Darrell's" Christmas. We decided that since this was our first Christmas in our first house together, we should make a Christmas dinner and open each other's presents on our own, pre-family visits. We both practically squealed with delight at our gifts - no really, Darrell's voice did get really high, which probably has something to do with the fact that he got an xBox. Mine was a gorgeous Marc Jacobs watch, soon to be photographed of course. I think our tree was adorable for a low-budget version. No itnwasn't real - I wish, I love the smell - I read somewhere that real trees were toxic to puppies and ours has a major chewing "problem" (see above, with her Christmas collar). Either way, it's pre-lit and covered with tons of $1 incredibly glittery ornaments from Wal-Mart, but I loved it.

These silk cargo shirts have been something of a fixation of mine lately - I love how they're so simple, and with black pants and boots you can pile on all the jewelry you want. It's pretty effortless dressing if you ask me.

wearing: silk shirt-gap, pants-op, booties-chinese laundry, scarf-nordstrom, rings-ebay & asos

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

easy like sunday morning

2010-12-19T20:11:00.004-06:00

So we spent this entire perfect Sunday sitting on our new couch watching Modern Family - which is addictive and hilarious, by the way. Our new couch was courtesy of a very sweet friend who couldn't fit it in his U-Haul for his move home (after graduating yesterday). It's a very cushy wraparound that completely trumps the Christmas colored one that really only looks appropriate during this time of year, and we've found it difficult to remove ourselves from it.

We did however, manage to make ourselves some sustenance. I invented a yummy vegetable soup, which I have never made before but surely will again. I'm also currently working on THIS recipe (at my boyfriend's request/demand.) Homemade Oreo's = SOLD.

wearing: velvet shawl-qvc, dress & boots-f21, tights-commando, rings-ebay

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

i wear the pants

2010-12-18T14:34:00.005-06:00

Usually I feel as though half the battle with blogging is actually taking the pictures, but this week it seems to be that I have trouble actually getting said pictures onto my computer. I've got a Nikon stuffed with 3 or 4 outfits that have been sitting on my memory card for far too long, so I figure I'd better get to getting. I took these Wednesday - aka the last day I managed to get fully dressed for work as in NOT in jeans and a sweatshirt. Our office gift was casual days until the New Year and I've taken more advantage of that than I'd like to admit.

I bought this headband on Etsy once I read the tagline "for days when you feel like a messy fairy" and this day just about covered it. Twisted tan leather makes me happy.

Funny story about these trousers - I got sent to the "disciplinary office" for wearing these one day under the guise that someone thought they were leggings, which are not allowed, and when I got there out of sheer irritation at having been called out of work for wearing PANTS I spontaneously responded "but these are from ANN TAYLOR!" As if that automatically made them conservative work-wear. In any case, I was cleared once I proved that they have pockets and belt loops (seriously, these are pants) and went on with my day.

wearing: fur-h&m, pants-anntaylorloft, tunic-f21, booties-gojane, cowl-life'slittleperks

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

i am the combined effort of everyone i've ever known

2010-12-13T23:01:00.001-06:00

i'm fully aware that this may be the least original thing i've ever posted, but like everyone else, i'm really obsessed with giant antique rings right now. love these finds from

ebay and lowluv x erinwasson.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Maybe the most perfect outfit ever, with black skinny pants.

2010-12-13T22:37:00.001-06:00

I was never that invested in the denim shirt trend, but this one may have changed my mind.

Perfection From the Gap, $59.50

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood.

2010-12-12T16:51:00.008-06:00

I woke up this morning to not just flurries of snow, but an outright blizzard. After trudging through the snow to get supplies for dinner and vehicle extraction, I posted up on the couch with our beagle for movies and some quality time with my Kindle.

Needless to say, a foot of snow and a movie day didn't exactly make for a day of dress-up, so these pictures were taken Friday. I absolutely loved wearing this black fringe shawl, it's a little over-the-top in a good way (one of my co-workers told me I looked like a fortune teller...I decided to take it as a compliment.)

Now I'm going to continue my lazy day by making homemade soup while it continues to come down outside. I'm not going to lie, I hope to wake up to an even thicker blanket of white tomorrow morning.

wearing: jeans-gap, silk tee-f21, lita booties-jeffrey campbell via solestruck, velvet burnout shawl-qvc, jewelry-ebay, vintage, f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Winter is the time for comfort, for warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.

2010-12-09T17:54:00.010-06:00

I've started to sort of feel that way about the clothes I've been collecting and wearing as of late - if it isn't cozy, oversized, and soft it holds no interest for me! Here are a few things I'm pondering buying and maybe have already bought...all very budget friendly of course.

from top to bottom:

Fringe Velvet Burnout Wrap - QVC, $50

Intarsia Cape - ASOS, got it for $38 with my 20% + free shipping code

Plaited Headwrap - Anthropologie, $24

Ethnic Fringe Poncho - eBay, (sadly, i lost)

Leather Twisted Headwrap - Etsy, $19

Web Ring - eBay, going for $4

Navajo Poncho - Spotted Moth, $38

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Pretty Quotes and Leopard Coats

2010-12-05T21:28:00.006-06:00

I did not have a good Monday morning, so in the interest of keeping it positive, I'm going to leave you with a pretty quote, and my outfit from yesterday....which I loved.

wearing: hat-forever21, wedge boots-alloy, jeans-gap1969, shirt-bittensjp,

leopard coat-topshop

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

effortless: calling for, requiring, or showing little to no effort

2010-12-03T09:20:00.007-06:00

You know what irritates me? I am not one of those spontaneously stylish people who wears piles of jewelry just because they feel like it. I buy it, love it, hang it up in a pretty places and admire it, but almost never wear it. No jewelry in these pictures. Zilch. Probably hasn't been for the last 10 posts. And because I absolutely can't stand to sleep in jewelry I don't really have any "signature" pieces or anything that I never take off. Apparently effortlessness isn't very me.

Another non-effortless thing I do: I totally lay out my outfits the night before, because if I don't I'm almost ALWAYS late. Maybe I should start laying out the jewelry too hmmmm...

Basically, I put a lot of work into looking like I didn't try very hard, which is a ridiculous oxymoron. Soon I'll be having to PRACTICE doing that ultra-cool thing where you just wear your jacket sitting on your shoulders...

wearing: cape-asos, dress&sweater-forever21, tights-commando, boots-gojane

gatsby dog-blogger's own

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

2010-11-21T21:41:00.005-06:00

I'm sure the last week of no posting needs no explanation - i've been celebrating thanksgiving with my family....well, families. I count my boyfriend's family too : )

After a way-too-big meal, failing at 4 am Wal-Mart black friday shopping (but I made it too the gap for 50% off before 10am) , and finally getting all but one person on my list the PERFECT gift, we are finally decorating the family tree with our mismatched, children made ornaments and then heading off to St. Louis to celebrate a holiday well-done.

Although Thanksgiving is a "break" and a very welcome one from work, I think by tomorrow I'll be ready to return to my little house with Darrell and collapse on our couch .

Although I'm always sad about a holiday ending, there is one light to Thanksgiving being past us: I now consider it completely legitimate to blast Christmas music at all hours. My favorite!

plaid shirt, fur vest, and boots-f21, jeans-gap

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"That is your fur coat?" "It is." "Kramer says you need it cause you're desperate for attention." "That's true." - Seinfeld

2010-11-17T20:08:00.010-06:00

You know, I understand that fur is a little extravagant for the everyday. Hell, I understand that it's a LOT extravagant for the everyday.

Sure, there are other options for truly frigid weather. Parkas, pea coats, hoodies, fleeces, trenches, they're all fine. But they're not l-o-v-e-l-y.

There is nothing as soft, as warm, or as pretty as a really fantastic fur.

images-tumblr

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.

2010-11-16T18:10:00.006-06:00

So despite the autumnal nature of these photos, I spent all day today thinking about Christmas. I made Christmas music playlists for my iPod, my office was decorated for Christmas today, and I actually made my Christmas shopping lists! I love to buy presents, and half the fun is trolling around for the perfect gift on the internet - I am not a mall gift shopper.

What will I be going to the mall for? A sparkly frock. I'm going to two Christmas parties for sure, and I'm going to have to find the perfect dress - it will ideally be totally covered in sequins.

wearing: dress-charlotterusse, aviator-forever21, boots-jeffreycampbelllitas

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun.

2010-11-14T10:49:00.008-06:00

I know my boyfriend hates the time I've got him waking up, but it's hard to deny that there's any other time of day that better suits capturing a beautiful image. I may hate the darkness that begins at just 5 pm, but I don't hate the bright, glittery sunlight that comes in the window so much earlier that it did before. It certainly beats being woken up by a buzzing alarm clock.

Today we have one of those fantastic Sundays where there's really nothing we NEED to do. Sure I have laundry going, and we'll probably take the dogs on a walk later, but other than that it's likely that I'll fill my day with coffee, reading blogs, and catching up on my DVR.

wearing: flare jeans-gap1969, bird blouse-charlotterusse, felt floppy hat-forever21, clogs-poppybycoach, jewelry-forever21&limited, "daisy"dog-myown

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"action is character. i think that means that if you never do anything you'll never be anybody."

2010-11-10T20:10:00.004-06:00

So after a few months of obsessively following the photography on my favorite blogs of late (song of style & late afternoon) and being bitter that their boyfriends took their lovely pictures every day, while I was stuck with a self timer camera and my front door, I finally struck up a deal with my boyfriend. I do the dishes - his absolute least favorite chore - and he wakes up an hour earlier and takes my blog pictures before I go to work at 8. I figured it was a fair trade, an hour of sleep for 10 minute of dishes every day....in the long run, I really think I made out well, but don't tell ; )

Today's weather was sort of hilariously bipolar: 40 degrees when I woke up, 65 by lunchtime, 70 this afternoon, and down to 50 again by nightfull, hence the fur vest, cardigan, scarf, and t-shirt I layered up.

wearing: fur vest-ebay, oatmeal cardigan-dkny, tshirt-trulymadlydeeply, chinos-americaneagle, scarf-nightmarketinchina, booties-forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Allure & Warmth

2010-11-07T11:57:00.005-06:00

Was there ever a more alluring piece of outerwear than a cape? Sure, coats are lovely, but capes are so elegant. Coats make me think of nothing but cold, while capes inspire images of Russian spies a la Bond girls, their intentions hidden behind their dark hoods, a satchel hanging from a leather gloved hand.

My favorite affirmation from the day I wore it? An older (well...much older) co-worker of mine said as I passed by "I love a cape. I had a cape when I was a girl.." in a wistful, reminiscent way, as though she was picturing herself in the early 50s, probably in something quite similar to the one I had on. I had to suppress a giggle, but not a smile.

wearing: cape-asos, jeans-gap1969, boots-gojane, bag-chinese night market

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Fads are the kiss of death. When the fad goes away, you go with it.

2010-11-04T06:17:00.009-05:00

Wonder of wonders, I actually managed to sleep through my jet lag haze last night and get dressed like a human being this morning! Most of the outfit is comprised of clothes that I got while on my trip to China. My favorite newly acquired piece would definitely be this jacket. A camel coat is something I'd been contemplating for a while, and when I saw this version in the window display at H&M in Hong Kong I literally marched in, tried it on, and got in the checkout line!

The booties are my low-budget answer to the perfect shearling Burberry booties everyone's been obsessing over. Honestly, they're as comfortable as my Litas, and have a rugged quality that's perfect for marching around in the cold.

I realize this outfit is a little bit of a trend overload, but in my opinion, all the 'trends' that are so in style this season aren't really so "un-classic." Camel? Regardless of its ubiquity at the moment, it's not like camel won't be cool ever again. Military? It's popped up so often that I hardly think it's fair to say it'll soon be "out." A shearling aviator jacket is arguably a completely classic style

As for this Mulberry Alexa look-a-like? Well, let's just say that I hope someday it WILL be timeless. I love the style that much.

wearing: coat,dress-h&m, boots-gojane, bag-night market, scarf-f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

2010-10-19T16:16:00.008-05:00

So tomorrow morning at 3:30 am I'm heading off to the airport for a LONG flight to Shanghai. From there - Yiwu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and back again, and to say that I had a hard time packing into a carry-on sized bag would be an understatement. My dad thought lugging my giant suitcase from trains to airports to cabs would be a pain (and he was probably right). Even with my lack of clothes, I'm so excited, China was the most amazing place to visit the first time around, and I get to go even more places with more of my family (and my boyfriend) this time around. Sadly, I had to leave my new coat behind - too much tropical weather and not enough suitcase space. But when I get back to the November cold I doubt you'll even see many of my actual clothes through the fuzzy, leather exterior.

Penny Lane eat your heart out...

jacket-nastygalvintage, plaid shirt-f21, jeans-gap1969, pumps-stevemadden

(PS : the winner of the giveaway was Tiffany Christie - expect an email from CSN Stores' marketing department with your gift code)

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Glamour & Giveaways

2010-10-16T14:21:00.006-05:00

photo source: the vogue diaries

If there ever was a girl who embodied the spirit of Audrey Hepburn in a modern way, I'd think it would have to be Olivia Palermo. Her impeccable style is more inspirational to me than anyone else's, and I'm trying to recreate a few of these looks in my China packing plan.

One more thing I'd love to have to finish off my wish for glamorous travel wear is a certain DVF weekender I've had my eye on from Luxe by CSN, and one lucky reader could be well on their way to owning it, since the lovely people at CSN stores have gotten in touch with me to do a giveaway for one of my readers.

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need, whether it be a chic bar stool, a stylish handbag (like the one I'm coveting HERE) or even cute cookware!

Just leave a comment on the post with your e-mail address, and CSN will send the winner (picked at random by me) a $35 gift card code that works at any of their online stores.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Concert in My Living Room

2010-10-12T17:50:00.004-05:00

I seriously can't stop wearing these bell bottoms - every single pair of platforms I own (and that's kind of a lot...) looks about the thousand times better with them. It know it's a little over-the-top seventies, but that's very ME.

I'm still not very happy about the weather here - it's yet to get cold enough for me to wear my cape, and with Jim James sporting one on Letterman tonight, it's really starting to annoy me. He's possibly the only man alive who could get away with that...

We're currently postponing Glee to watch My Morning Jacket's Live on Letterman concert, and it's making me think it's time I find a way to get to a show of theirs soon.

wearing: bell-bottom jeans-gap, floral top-walmart, fedora-asos, bag-fossil, platforms-steve madden

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Dare to Dream

2010-10-10T18:16:00.008-05:00

I'm loving all these fuzzy, seventies, and shearling this week - I wouldn't tell you if mine weren't already on the way, but those perfect Burberry look-a-likes are from GoJane, and they'll only set you back $44.50. They definitely softened the disappointment I felt when I realized Andy from Style Scrapbook's perfect River Island ones were not available to US customers.

Sadly, it's not cold enough here to wear any of these clothes until after I return from my trip to China on Halloween. I've really started to detest the words "indian summer," especially after our temps reached 90 degrees today. I guess I'll just keep fantasizing about November...surely it'll have to be cold by then?

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

perfection

2010-10-07T21:50:00.003-05:00

It may not be Burberry, but I sure am glad I held out on all the other versions made up to now - this baby only runs $44.50. I can sacrifice a buckle or two for a couple thousand dollars.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs

2010-10-06T18:31:00.006-05:00

So to say these shoes got a few stares yesterday would be a lie - they command attention. But the statement they make is interesting & pretty. The color of the suede is actually pretty hard to nail down in person, because it veers between rosy and a mousy grayish tan. Of course, the ambiguous nature of the color means these go with just about everything in my closet, so expect to see them a lot because the comfort level is kind of remarkable. If you were lucky enough to get a pair, I commend you: I was on the phone with Solestruck several times to find out when exactly they'd go up, and I'm glad I was because about 2 hours later they were completely gone. To be honest, I hadn't cared much for the Lita before seeing it in this shade.

Today we had our TV unhooked because we're getting set up for DirecTV tomorrow, so I'm enjoying Jane Eyre once more on my Kindle - although I have to say, I feel like I'm enjoying it for the first time. This book was never meant for children's eyes - not that it's inappropriate, but Bronte's language was meant for those who would savor it rather than suffer through it.

These are just a few of my highlighted passages:

"What a singularly deep impression her injustice seems to have made on your heart... Would you not be happier if you tried to forget her severity, together with the passionate emotions it excited? Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs."

"I sometimes have a queer feeling with regard to you--especially when you are near me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I've a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly."

Sorry to go all 'dorky english major' on you, but I just couldn't keep from sharing - I highly recommend it.

on to the clothes: dress,cardigan,tights,necklace,hat-forever21, shoes-jeffrey campbell

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

all the small things

2010-10-03T18:00:00.004-05:00

Well my attempt at a low-key weekend was pretty much relegated to Sunday, since we didn't manage to be very low-key at all on Saturday. Somehow cheering on a friend at his bowling tournament Saturday morning (and by cheering on, I mean drinking perfect bloody marys in the bowling alley bar) turned into buying tickets for Kool and the Gang, which turned into dressing in every vintage 70s piece I have and dancing until my feet hurt so bad I almost took them my shoes off on the way home.

Luckily, the concert ended early enough that we were in bed by midnight, so I actually did something useful with my Sunday. I finished my weekend cleaning early enough to bake a homemade pie - crust and all - and sit down with my book (Jane Eyre, re-reading it since I remember loving it the first time around and it was FREE on my Kindle - all the good classics are free on kindle).

In other random news I'm pretty excited for this coming week since

a) my taupe suede Litas are coming Tuesday : )

b)we're getting DirecTV Thursday which means I get my very own DVR...this sounds small but you've no idea the amount of football I've watched since living with this man all year

I also despise Mediacom since they like to have FOX "outages" every time a new episode of Glee is on

c) and I'm foregoing getting my nails done this week to get my hair worked on, which is desperately needed, as evidenced by the heidi braids i'm sporting to hide it here

on to the clothes: olive cardigan-f21, wedges-stevemadden, jeans-gap1969, bag-fossil

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

off-kilter

2010-09-30T17:46:00.007-05:00

I am loving these quirky, rough-up lady-like looks that are proliferating the sidewalks for fashion week. I had one day where it was actually cold enough to wear tights, and ever since the temps around here have jumped back up - but I'm getting antsy for this weekend's cooler weather. I can't believe tomorrow is October!!

To make the most of it, me and my boyfriend are going to the orchard this weekend and staying all-around low key. Movies, apple cider, and pumpkin carving sound like the perfect way to spend my days off.

Oh, and how amazing are the taupe suede litas??? I didn't even like them before I saw this color, but those are amazing. If only I could find them anywhere!

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

find a job you like and you add five days to every week

2010-09-26T19:16:00.004-05:00

So what I assume would be a pretty low-key weekend spent at home was anything but when a bunch of hometown friends showed up for a visit and made the weekend one very long marathon of a party (which was totally worth the lack of sleep I forced my body to endure Friday thru Sunday!)

Even though I slept a full 8 hours last night I still don't think it was quite enough catch up...I had a bit of difficulty keeping my eyes open today. I had some motivation to wake up and get going this morning though - it's finally cool enough to wear my fall clothes and my office is completely dress-up friendly.

Even my post-weekend exhaustion couldn't keep me from being excited about the fall weather we've been having. I've officially decided that I'm over bare legs and have completely reverted to wearing tights with anything shorter than mid-calf. This was, I suppose, my farewell to summer outfit (although I couldn't resist wearing my new fall accessories). Hellllooooo dreamy army green suede booties. Hiiii chevron striped mixed media satchel.

wearing: dress-bananarepublic, headband-loft, satchel-fossil, booties-gojane, necklace-f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Everyday Eccentric

2010-09-22T19:55:00.003-05:00

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

the times they are a-changin

2010-09-19T20:40:00.006-05:00

This weekend was possibly one of the best I've had in months. Three days of fun and family that were seriously needed. The rundown of good things I was blessed with are pretty long, but I'll highlight the big ones.

1) The best shopping trip ever! I don't see my family a whole lot anymore, so a whole day of shopping with my mom was such a treat, and it seemed like all the good deals and cutest shoes were just coming our way. I took home so many great finds (and so did my Mom...too bad we don't live close so we can't share).

I can't wait to wear them all!

2) The Kindle Darrell bought me for my birthday finally came! Sounds small, I know, but whenever I managed to download 5 books for $15, I was pretty thrilled.

3) I got some really fantastic work-life news.

4) We got another puppy! I already have my little maltese-poodle mix Gatsby, and ever since we had to separate him and my former roommate's dog I've felt like he needed a playmate. (Plus, Darrell has sort of been wanting a more manly breed of canine.) Enter Daisy - The Great Gatsby's love interest in the book - a beagle basset hound mix that completely stole our hearts.

I'm also loving being able to mix in some transitional clothing.

wearing : military jacket-target, dress-forever21, platforms-jessica simpson

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

everything in moderation - except shoes

2010-09-14T22:17:00.003-05:00

Some of My Favorite Fall Shoes Under $150

One: Steve Madden Annton, $129

Two: GoJane Ruffle Heel, $21

Three: Chinese Laundry At Once, $69

Four: GoJane Cutout Bootie in Khaki, $34

and a video i think is adorable, also about shoes : )

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

i totally wear hats

2010-09-11T13:44:00.007-05:00

I'm considering this weekend a success already, and it's only Saturday afternoon yet. I managed to laugh more than I have in the past month for a few hours last night, largely due to my boyfriend's friends being completely and totally obsessed with "icing" one another, and that combined with my full 10 hours of sleep makes me one happy girl at this point.

I'm also pretty happy about this new hat.

Speaking of, how hilarious is this Target commercial?

Only fall clothes do that to a girl: I'm dreaming about tights and sweaters and fur and boots..and when they'll show up.

Damn you Topshop for not allowing your US customers to track their orders - I need to know where my leopard print coat is, regardless of the fact that I may not be able to wear it outside until October.

wearing : hat-asos, tee-trulymadlydeeply, scarf-nordstrom, jeans-gap1969, shoes-jessicasimpson

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

some people save their clothes for "special occasions" - i say, the occasion is that you're alive and you woke up today...you may as well look cute

2010-09-08T18:07:00.011-05:00

I can't really use lack of inspiration as an excuse for my lack of posting - if anything I've been even more so. The outpouring of fall images and concepts in the blogs & magazines has been exceptional this year, and I feel like every single aesthetic applies to my life - something I haven't felt since the over-the-top gypsy hippie look of '08. It's as if all the good grown-up clothes came out right when I finally needed to start wearing them, and I've been piling up magazines pictures and filling folders with images for the past few weeks - all in the hopes of creating a closet full of clothes I love to wear. With caution, I began the process of collecting a few pieces that make want to get dressed up again.

A few things I've checked off my list:

a leopard print coat (from topshop...i'm kind of freaking out over how amazing it is)

black wedge boots

brown wedges in a menswear style

the tan hat from my last post - i about died when i saw that the one on olivia palermo was ACTUALLY available at a reasonable price for us normal people to purchase

The one thing I may be most excited about, however, is this rvca hat. I can't really wear a small fedora - they don't suit me - but this wider brimmed version just reeled me in.

Plus, a girl needs to keep her head warm right?

dress & shoes - forever21, hat - rvca

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

what dreams may come

2010-08-21T18:15:00.007-05:00

After a long, frantically fun weekend it's odd to say that I'm sort of happy the week began again today. I spent all week wishing for Friday, and by Sunday I'm ready for work again...I guess that means my life is fairly in balance. I'm never upset about what's coming up next - just anticipating.

Tonight my plans are exceedingly simple:

bake cookies

take a bath

put away laundry

play my piano

drink a glass of wine on my porch

and

watch a movie with my boyfriend

Nothing remarkable, I know, but I can't think of much else I'd rather do.

I don't know why everybody is so upset about the end of summer, I think it's pretty sweet.

Plus, while both are great, don't you just love what comes next?

Fall.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

“Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.”

2010-08-11T20:28:00.008-05:00

I've lived in Champaign for the past four years, and if there was one thing about it that I maybe didn't like, it was that although I stayed close with my friends from home, they all lived far away. Unsurprisingly, the upside to my move to Charleston is that I know more people than I can count here - there's always someone popping in to say hello, have a drink, or have dinner with us, and I love that! However - my long list of things to do, general exhaustion from a very busy schedule, and the realization that it had been quite a long time since I'd just sat and done nothing prompted me to ask Darrell to make his own plans tonight. So far I've taken a bubble bath, done my nails, downloaded music, and folded laundry all in solitary bliss. I'm sure by 10:30 tonight I'll be wondering when he's coming home....but until then this couch is all mine.

For you - a little inspiration I've run across during my blog-browsing.

In case you can't tell, I've become inspired by this seasons covered-up bohemian aesthetic. It's perfect for my work dress code - nothing revealing, short, or denim, but other than that I have pretty free reign.

It's much more fun that my t-shirt and jeans everyday for waitressing - plus they let me keep my boho braids, bird tattoos, and flowy dresses.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

less than fancy

2010-08-06T18:25:00.004-05:00

I know I know - I'm sure some of you were beginning to give up on me... but I have excellent excuses for my incredibly long absence.

1. I've moved!! I spent the last 11 days packing, moving, and unpacking - it's not my favorite pastime, since furniture moving basically requires a uniform of tennis shoes, denim cutoffs, and my boyfriend's v-necks. I now live in Charleston, IL, a town even smaller than Champaign with less than three sit-down restaurants...no really. Which leads me to my second reason...

2. I've had absolutely no occasion to wear anything more formal than jeans and a tank top since I got here. Seriously, between carrying boxes and working at my business casual job, I have a pretty small window for fashion. Like a good girl, I put off doing anything remotely dress-up worthy until last night, when I threw this on. (For the record, it was for a birthday party, and I was still overdressed.)

3. People walk EVERYWHERE here. If they're not flats, they're not worth wearing, because for some reason there are basically no sidewalks.

But other than that, I'm basically in love with where we live. Our house is cozy and adorable, just like I intended it to be, and I promise my next post will be shots of our humble abode.

Also, I'm going to start working on my "casual" looks...

i'm thinking of it as a new challenge.

dress-f21, shoes-jessica simpson

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

i want indian summer

2010-07-25T00:33:00.015-05:00

Around this time of year it seems as though everyone is hoping, praying, wishing for fall to get here as soon as possible so they can slip back into their fur jackets, leather leggings, and plaid flannels.

I am not one of those people.

I cling to my bare legs, freckled skin, and cotton dresses until September's end, when I start to get goosebumps from lack of tights under my chiffon dresses, and finally cave into the beginning of fall. I soon miss the warmth of these nights, and the freedom that comes with summer, so I refuse to give into the draw of these shiny, rich, pretty new clothes. My current inspiration? Any look from the spread above.

I'm claiming this as my personal August style reference - after all, I suppose I was born in Texas.

picture credits: knight cat

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

there's no place like home

2010-07-23T16:49:00.006-05:00

I've been on vacation for almost 7 days now, and I've devoured 8 or so books in that time. Lazing by the pool getting my skin freckled and brown with a margarita in hand has been my only pasttime. It's funny, I'm fairly sure that I could do the same thing if I just got a chaise lounge for my front yard, but there's just something about doing it poolside!

We even managed to fit in some time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, where I would have liked to do a little more castle exploring, and a little less line-waiting!

Despite all the fun, I'm finding myself yearning for my little house - when I get back I have just a week left there, and all I want to do is drinking coffee in my kitchen, play records in my living room, take bubble baths in my big jacuzzi tub, play with my puppy, and sit on my porch. I've actually found myself missing my everyday chores...I may like vacation, but I'm a creature of habit and a bit of a busy-body. I need something to do or I get restless (hence the 8 books I've read this week)! Don't forget to savor this last month of summer...it'll be gone before you even know it was here.

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

A Map Of The World

2010-07-13T11:14:00.007-05:00

As you can see, the hunt for decorations for the house is going well - I found my boyfriend a globe, the one thing he wanted for the house! A used, broken one, albeit, but Darrell can be pretty handy when it comes to fixing things. Also, the trunk (best viewed in the top photo) was a gothic, shiny black thing when we got it at a garage sale, but we covered all the hardware and spray-painted it a burnished gold. We plan to use it as a coffee table, and we're going to put blankets, board games, and playing cards in it.

I know it seems silly to be taking indoor pictures in the summertime, but it's a torrential downpour outside now! I had a lot more fun taking them than usual, thanks to my new camera remote. I had gotten it into my head these would be expensive and never bought one, and I felt rather dumb when I realized that camera remotes cost about $10. Best ten bucks I've spent in a long time!

i'm wearing - dress-abercrombie, shoes-jessica simpson, blazer-express, bag-old navy

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

there is magic in that little world, home

2010-07-11T15:12:00.014-05:00

There's just a month left until we move into our new house and I'm getting a little excited to decorate and change my scenery. We bought the beginnings of our furniture set at a few different yard sales for an absolute STEAL yesterday, and once I get my hands on an appropriate rug, a few end tables, and the appropriate knick knacks we'll have the shabby chic living room of our dreams. I even spray painted a big trunk burnished gold, and it's to function as our coffee table. We plan to fill it with blankets, board games, and card decks.

The top picture is basically my dream living room, a hodgepodge of books, art, and interesting vintage finds.

The other things I'm hoping to acquire via thrift stores, flea markets, and ebay are inspired by the pictures I've collected above, among them:

an old wooden magazine rack

printed throw pillows

apothecary jars

a patchwork quilt

an interesting floor lamp

patterned rugs

flowers in big vases

a big antique globe

gilded mirrors

candle stands

& dreamcatchers

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you

2010-07-08T12:37:00.007-05:00

I had the house to myself today, courtesy of it being my boyfriend's day to work and my day off, so I'm taking advantage of it by playing my music as loud as I want and continuing my summer reading list. Darrell's been bogarting my laptop since his is now defunct, but what I thought would just irritate the hell out of me has become a happy accident. In an attempt to find something to entertain myself with since I'm sans laptop and, let's face it, summer television sucks, I went the library and checked out a stack of books last week, and haven't stopped turning pages since. I've been through a few True Blood novels (sooo addictive, but I'm trying to alternate), the new James Patterson, Growing Up Dead: Confessions of a Teenage Deadhead, and Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang all in week. Nothing too literary, but entertaining all the same, and I have plans to start some Vonnegut, The Alchemist, and To Kill a Mockingbird this week.

Sooo I want to know, what are you reading this summer? Anything challenging, funny, sad?

Comment or tweet me!

(ps-can I just say I LOVE this "sweatshirt dressing" trend? I was sold because of the appliques, but now I might be addicted.)

wearing: applique sweatshirt & heels-f21, "slouchy skinny" jeans-gap 1969, silver necklace-tiffany & co, and berry black nail polish

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse