Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to my roommate Alicia!!!

Below is her 21 birthday...doesn't she look excited!?!? I don't know why I can't turn around for a cuter photo...


This year we'll be going to NY for a few days!!!

We'll try to take some better birthday pics this year :)

Ready set...

Sorry...but a fair warning that all of my posts will be about my upcoming escape/trip to NYC for Liza's wedding.

All of these Madewell/Crew outfits scream vacation to me!!

I'm soooo ready to go!! :)

In serious need.

of a vacation.

i think that's what this gal is thinking, as she cocks her head to the side in her adorable hat.


she's thinking..."omg, get me OUT of this friggin office. you people are driving me crazy."

i think she's packed and ready, but could be a tish hung over from last nights' pre-vacation cocktails.

and she's completely chilled out...at her destination...ready to roll.

i know i am. totally looking forward to new york next week for Liza's wedding!!!

all via jcrew's looks.

Macy's ?

Not that I'm knocking Macy's (I don't shop there much)...but have you seen their new bar III line?

Prices aren't visible yet---but if they're comparable to other Macy's prices...I could be shopping there more often! Check out the full look book here!

Modern Art.

Just your modern interpretation of George Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon".

Affordable fashion.

Where do I go? South Africa of course!!! Well, at least that is where I got my market-weaver's bracelets. Madewell is now selling these for only $10. (I have to admit I bought 6 for under $20 in Africa, but who can get there on a whim?)

They are hand made in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa. I bought them at a teeny gift shop in SA at the Waterfront!

inspired by Anthro

Doesn't this look like a dream world? My favorite shot from the Anthro video campaign shot in India.

Things that make me smile today.

1. This jam, sent to me by DailyCandy. I have to get my hands on Miss Eliza.

2. Ava Witherspoon---seriously how adorable is she!? I was reading about them in the U.S. Weekly while enjoying some coffee this am.

3. Let's go ahead and make that #3 on the list...coffee. Coffee gives me that morning jolt I need to open my eyes a little bit wider (even though I endure 60 minutes of work out before it). It also makes my heart race just a bit so I plow through a few hours of work right in the morning.

4. A couple of Tumblrs I've tumbled upon (wah wah). First off-what they hey is a tumblr?! I'm working on figuring that out just yet. Nonetheless, the unofficial JCrew tumblr is fab (appropriately named 770 after their corporate store), as well as this tumblr called cognac and coffee (yes please).

I think that sums up my loves for the day..that is until I start perusing the Internet and that list continues to grow.

DIY Pouch.

My roommate and I really want one of these clutches. But wouldn't it be fun to customize it especially for you!?

Here's the DIY. It's something I might try this weekend if I can squeeze it in.

I'm in the mood to cut costs and find creative (and free or cheap) ways to spruce up the otherwise boring and plain. Are you with me?

neons & neutrals

this who what wear reminded me how much i love...neons and neutrals right now. the subtlety of the neutrals (nude, light coral, cream etc) mixed with the wow-effect of the neons...ah! can't handle it!

pop for play...

or work...

or nice and calm...

is it so wrong to love both!?

less affordable swimwear.

so just ignore the other days' post where i talked about affordable swimwear and step onto the dreamboat with me...

i'm obsessed with this suit.

it is utterly overpriced. and utterly fabulous. funny how those two things usually coincide for anthropologie.

The search for affordable swimwear.

Several things. 1) I'm tired of spending a fortune on JCrew swimwear. 2) I'm underwhelmed by their offerings this year. 3) Their prices are getting higher and higher, causing you to drop $100+ instead of $60+ on an outfit that is worn only in the water!!

Start: looking for other options.

I've found two great options thus far.

Old navy! Prices starting at $10 and styles are ca-ute!

Land's End! What the what? Look how cute these suits are!! Trendy neon colors, great shapes, and cute patterns!

Have you found any other options you want to share???

Make up your mind!

one..

or two??

one..

or two??

one..

or two??

sometimes it's a really tough decision...

JCrew May catalog

Of course it's adorable. Of course. The current catalog is all about love-and includes best friends, real life couples, and real life kiddos. So presh.

Isn't this totes cute? (the couple, and the totes).

I think she nailed the nerdy/cute look.

Jenna's picks are always so dreamy!

And is it weird that I'm really into her eyebrows?

As well as their eyebrows...

I heart..

monogram. Really, it's nearly an obsession. I bought an A for Alicia and my living room wall. I have a B in my kitchen window. I have A mugs and A tea cups. And now Anthropologie comes out with one more, heartbreaking-ly adorable mug...monogrammed.

if only they had monogram sheet sets, my life would be complete...

Royal Fascinators

This DailyCandy video has me intrigued. Hat maker Eugenia Kim shows us how to make quick and easy fascinators in this short clip.

My cousin Cindy (the one in S Africa) asked me recently what I thought of "fascinators" that the British ladies are wearing lately. Being that I am a maker of headbands and hair pieces, I'm obviously a fan of head wear in general. Lately I haven't been wearing much more than a bun on top of my head, but the upcoming nuptials might be an occasion to change that.

Kate Middleton is a frequent wearer of these feathers, and keeps it classy and fairly simple.

Inspiration can also be taken from SJP, and she definitely isn't afraid to go the extra mile!

Cleaning out the cobwebs, and starting fresh.

So you remember my condo revamp right? It stems from purchasing the couch.

My roommate and I were drawn to the frame hanging frenzy on Young House Love (see it here) and are trying to recreate it at my place. After weeks of magazine tear outs pasted on the wall...to random frames...and now to this, everyone had their doubts (and voiced them!!). I do think it turned out nicely so far, don't you? Still a few mats left to buy and that upper space on the top left leaves me wondering how to fill it...any thoughts?

(sorry for the low quality phone pics..was in a rush to get out the door this am!)

This is a quick and clean painting I did myself. Sometimes, if you've got a simple idea, it might be easier (and cheaper!!) to do it yourself. The goal was to also tie into that pink/salmon color of some of the couch pillows (seen here).

The project is not complete...I think we need more frames to get it nice and tight on the wall. But, as with most things, it's a gradual process of accumulating pieces I love and getting them a spot on the wall.

Share your thoughts!!!