Spring Saver

This was requested by my friend and business partner, Emily: clothes that you don't have to spend a large chunk of your paycheck on, but still look like a million bucks.  Here are some springy picks including a lightweight trench, fun patterned pieces and accessories, and  neutral shoes.  These peachy toned cosmetics will give you a fresh glow.  

1. Jack by BB Dakota Severt Jacket $40
2. Forever 21 Double Ankle Strap Wedges $25
3. Revlon Top Speed Nail Color in Guava $6
4. Rosebud Perfume Company Smith's Minted Rose Lib Balm $7
5. Old Navy Pleated Linen-Blend Skirt in White floral $20
6. Forever 21 Damask Lacquered Earrings $4
7. Old Navy Aztec-Print Bucket Bag $20
8. Forever 21 Hand-Painted Bracelet Set $7
9. Forever 21 Leatherette Weave Sandals $17
10. Peacocks Ladies Hook and Eye Dress in Mid Blue $26
11. Sephora Benefit Posietint $28

Rainy Day Road Trip

Going on a small road trip on the weekends can be a perfect way to get away without the stress of packing, planning, and filling up your gas tank multiple times.  My boyfriend and I went to visit our friend Shawn and his boyfriend Jared in Columbus.  The drive is extremely flat and dotted with farms, fields, and wide open Ohio skies. We listened to Iron and Wine and listened to the rain on the way there.   I packed light (which is hard for me to do), just sticking to the essentials.  We ended up making vodka tonics with fresh lime, Manhattans, and Mint Juleps and playing a fun game of Spoons.  We didn't get to go to Jeni's Ice Cream, but next time you're in Columbus you must try her incredible ice cream.  It's smooth, creamy, and decadent.  There's so many amazing flavors to choose from.  My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Salted Carmel on top.  You can also buy her Ice Cream on their website!

Spring Staples

When it comes to Spring in Ohio, Mother Nature's mood swings are out of control.  In the morning it could be freezing cold with icy rain and by the end of the day it's so hot you have sweat marks under you arms.  I usually keep a light trench coat with me because you never known when the rain will start and choose to wear light dresses and skirts for the heat.  I love the small pops of color with neutrals this spring, along with floral dresses and skirts.  Here are some good choices to have in your  purse and closet for Spring. 

1.Warehouse Button Bac Mac $92

2. Piperlime BCBG Castles Wedges $98

3. Essie Cute as A Button Nail Polish $8

4. Forever 21 Vintaged Chandelier Earrings $3.80

5. Top Shop Multicoured Floral Print Flippy Skirt $46

6. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Tiger Lily $7

7. Anthropologie Mangifera Straw Tote $328

8. Urban Outfitters Ecote Gladiator Wedge Sandals in Brown $38

9. Forever 21 Monsoon Bangle Set $5.80

10. Warehouse Stripe Box Top  $17

11. Warehouse African Patchwork Embroidered Dress $79

12. Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Honey $20

Morning Happiness

{I love my little coffee mugs from Pier 1}

This was one of those weeks when I was eagerly awaiting the weekend.  This morning, I made some strong coffee and sat with my cat and listened to some Bob Dylan.  It was incredibly nice to be stress free and peaceful for a bit. Opening my own children's art studio with a friend and fellow teacher was probably one of the most scary and amazing choices of my life, but it comes with enormous stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed.  Ninety percent of the time it's  amazing children, creativity, and hilarious stories, but this was a bit of crazy week.  So this morning I woke up looking forward to a couple of things that make me truly happy.

{Annabelle getting the last bit of milk from a cereal bowl}

{My Clinique face kit, (works wonders)}

{My new floral sheer shirts for Spring and Summer from Marshalls}

What get's you up in the morning?

Boardwalk Empire

I watched the Golden Globe awards a couple of weekends ago and saw the one and only Steve Buscemi walk to podium to receive his award for his role in the show Boardwalk Empire.  My boyfriend and I ended up watching all twelve of the episodes from season one, in a matter of two week nights...  It's a show on HBO so they are pretty long.  The show  immediately sucks you in with its snazzy 1920s flapper girls, flashy prohibition gangsters, beautiful Scorsese sets, and an amazing cast. I cannot wait to watch the second season.  Here are some stills from the show and some awesome fashion!  Highly recommend watching the shows, especially if you love that time era.

Here are the actresses in a photoshoot for Vanity Fair. From the left: Alleksa Palladino,Gretchen Mol, Kelly Macdonald, Paz de la Huerta (bottom).

The glitzy glamourous late night parties.

Michael Pitt playing the troubled and intelligent James Dormody with his wife and son in the show.

The unbelievably good Steve Buscemi playing the lovable gangster Enoch "Nucky" Thompson

Michael Pitt as James Dormody (adorable)

Here are some dresses and heels, that I found.  They are inspired by clothing worn on the show. ModCloth...you are incredible

Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel will always and forever remind of two things, both near and dear to my heart: Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous and my Parents.  Almost Famous not only has some of the best scenes (EVER) in my opinion, they also have one of the best soundtracks. Simon and Garfunkel's America is featured on their soundtrack.  My mom and dad raised us on listening to Simon and Garfunkel.  I was listening to Pandora (Andrew Bird Station) when Kathy's Song came on.  It has such a beautiful nostalgic feel to it.  Puts me in a calm mood.  Wish it was raining outside on a spring day  instead of this cold icy drizzle outside.

I hear the drizzle of the rain

Like a memory it falls

Soft and warm continuing

Tapping on my roof and walls.

And from the shelter of my mind

Through the window of my eyes

I gaze beyond the rain-drenched streets

To England where my heart lies.

My mind's distracted and diffused

My thoughts are many miles away

They lie with you when you're asleep

And kiss you when you start your day.

And a song I was writing is left undone

I don't know why I spend my time

Writing songs I can't believe

With words that tear and strain to rhyme.

And so you see I have come to doubt

All that I once held as true

I stand alone without beliefs

The only truth I know is you.

And as I watch the drops of rain

Weave their weary paths and die

I know that I am like the rain

There but for the grace of you go I.

Kathy's Song-Simon and Garfunkel

Blue Valentine

I've been trying extremely hard to watch as many movies on the Academy Award Nominations List as I can.  I kind of live for the Academy Awards... Every year my mom, my sister, and I get ready for the ridiculousness with big glasses of cheap red wine, a bowl of popcorn, our ballet lists, and big cheesy grins. We rip apart outfits and cheer when our favorites get the awards, scream and moan in annoyance and agony when someone undeserving and annoying gets it.  It's our Superbowl...  Anyways, this year I really tried to watch all the movies that were nominated or had actors and actresses that were nominated. My boyfriend and I laid in bed and watched Blue Valentine on my laptop the other night.  I ended up really loving it.  The more I think about it.  It's one of the love stories that makes your throat ache without making you cry.  Which can be worse.  Michelle Williams gives an emotional and heart wrenching performance of a woman that is quietly falling apart.  Ryan Gosling plays her husband who loves her so intensely that he ends up pushing her farther and farther away.  It was a great film that showcased two extremely talented actors. Not only did I really love the movie, I loved Michelle Williams fashion in the scenes when she is young.

 

 

I loved her plaid jacket and leather purse.

Here's an outfit I thought was similar to her's in many of the scenes: