Morning Light

In my bedroom at home, I have huge, arching windows that face east. I feel unbelievably spoiled and luxurious when I'm woken by the soft rays of the sun...until those soft rays turn into a heat lamp and before I know it, it's 7:45 AM and I'm sweating like a pig who knows he's dinner. Still, my bedroom windows here in Chicago face west, which means I no longer enjoy the pale glow of morning light. It's the happiest sort of light — it promises sunshine and clear skies, a perfect setting for a lovely day. It's just the thing to make a calm, bright Monday morning.

I spent my weekend bonding with old friends over pints of Stella, ice skating by Lake Michigan, and babysitting my friend's new kitten, Pants. Pants drove me a little crazy. He woke me up by meowing and continuously barreling into my door. I fed him. He kept meowing. I let him into my room, where he took my spot on the bed and proceeded to assault my teddy bear. Did I say teddy bear? I meant pillow. I finally had to put him back in the hallway once he began to claw my comforter. From time to time, he'd sit outside my door and positively holler until I put down my homework and went to play with him, at which point he'd gnaw on my ankles and try to pull down my jeans with his deceptively small claws. Luckily for Pants, he's super adorable. This is what he looks like when he's too sleepy to drive me out of my wits (I could've woken him up for a better picture, but I didn't dare do such a thing):

Totally redeems the 6:30 AM wake-up call he gave me. So tell me, how was your weekend?

P.S. I don't own the furry pink chair in the picture. I swear. Pinky promise.

[photo cred clockwise to 1 via That Kind of Woman, 2 via Patterson Maker, Mario Testino for Vanity Fair April 2004 via Everly True]  

Say Yes...

...Yes to flaky, fresh croissants.

Yes to springtime flowers and blue skies.

Yes to fancy sandwiches

...with bacon.

Yes to elegant, structured handbags.

Yes to sneaky little kittens.

Yes to planning spring break (Puerto Rico!).

And the biggest yes to the little things.

[photo cred to 1 via Patterson Maker, 2 via Musings in Femininity]

Freeze Frame

There are two types of people in this world: those who look good in glasses and those who don't, 20/20 vision notwithstanding. Unfortunately, I fall into the latter category. I've worn them since third grade, but never really considered them an accessory — that's just the sort of thing you overlook when you're almost legally blind and have to do everyone's math homework and still end up sitting by yourself at lunch, reading A Separate Peace and getting banana peels thrown at you. (The banana peel was only a one-time thing, I promise; I'm way cooler now).

Nevertheless, the genius of this ensemble lies in the details: the dark nail color, leather elbow patches (be still my heart!), and the black frames. The glasses tie everything together perfectly, but at the same time, the effect doesn't look at all contrived. It reads more edgy and intellectual than librarian, and gives her so much of the attitude that I never had in third grade. Tell me, are you super-cute in glasses or, like me, do you just slip them on before bed? (And if you don't wear glasses, you can take this time to count your blessings).


[photo cred to Elle Russia via charlie & marie]

Delicate Neutrals

This morning, I discovered this pair of L.A.M.B. crepe booties (pictured, lower right) and let me tell you, we're having the love affair of the century. This isn't our fault — winter has done a number on me, and I'd might as well admit it now that I am sick of wool, sick of fur, sick of Wolford tights, and even a little sick of my navy Hunter rain boots, which are, in their own right, pretty fantastic when I'm trying to wade through three feet of snow. I am so over you, winter. We are dunzo. I should really just give you a restraining order.

But seriously, these shoes! They look like they were made by fairies. I'm also one of those people who thinks that peep-toe booties are the most useless things ever, so this is an especially big personal breakthrough. All I want to do is wear these with dark skinny jeans or a frothy pale skirt, a white silk tee (I'm obsessed with these, although the white is now sold out), and no coat. Not even a light jacket. Maybe, maybe, a cardigan, but only for looks.

By the way, is anyone else as excited as I am about Matchbook magazine? They even have a editor's wish list for bookworms and it's calling for me. I can't wait to curl up with it and a steamy mug of green tea tomorrow morning.


[photo cred, clockwise, to 1 via Musings in Femininity, 2 and 3 via Patterson Maker]

Rose-Tinted

I'm not usually one for pink, but my hyacinths are blooming and I'm so grateful that I haven't killed them that I've decided to write a post they've inspired. And now, after finding these elegant and oh so grown up ways of incorporating pink into my sartorial choices and surroundings, I'm a little obsessed with pink. 

Maybe it's the combination of warm blush tones and a clean, classic black and white palette. Maybe it's Audrey Hepburn's obvious approval, or every single thing about that luxurious pink foyer. Maybe it's the satisfyingly thick Vogue tucked into the rosy-hued bag. Whatever it is, I know I need to have that unabashedly bright splash of pink in more than just my hyacinths.

So tell me, though I'm a little late, how was your weekend? And thank you for your really sweet support yesterday — things already seem to be looking up.

[photo cred to, clockwise, Top It, Retinal Delights, House Beautiful via Design Crisis, coco+kelley]

Small Comforts

I usually prefer to spill my guts in my Xanga cool Moleskin journal, but man, this weekend really had its way with me — I broke up with my boyfriend of over a year, had a complete job-hunting meltdown, and spent my Saturday night with a vacuum, a bottle of... Windex (okay, even I'm surprised that I didn't type "wine"), and a Swiffer in hand. I like to take emotional messes very literally, so cleaning is my obvious coping mechanism of choice. This is about the time where I dive into a book and don't surface for a few days (I'm an English lit major, after all); there's only so much that hot tea and fresh flowers can do, although this video cheered me up immensely.

I've just begun rereading Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan: A Novel, but other than that, I don't have a ton of books with me on campus that aren't academic. I do, though, have a gift card to Amazon, and I'm more than ready to wield it. I like essays (like those in When You Are Engulfed in Flames)(or really, anything by David Sedaris) and pretending that I'm French (...I own Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl — and may have read it to shreds). Do you have any recommendations? What are your favorites?


[photo cred to JKLDesign and Pinterest]

Say Yes...

...Yes to shimmering, dusky purple nail polish.

Yes to a short, swingy coat.

 Yes to baby polar bears.

Yes to these short stories...

And to reading them in bed.

Yes to a little Frank Sinatra.

Yes to bright pink hyacinths that smell like spring

...and yes to a glass of bubbly.

What are you saying yes to this weekend?

[photo cred to Patterson Maker]

D&G in the Springtime

It seems that Dolce and Gabbana are as ready for spring as I am. I'm already crushing hard on those little floral jackets and blazers — I'm so used to seeing pretty prints on dresses and skirts, but with jackets? Genius, and the perfect transition into spring. 

[photo cred to Mario Testino for D&G via Fashion Gone Rogue via Sparkles and Pretending]

Live Colorfully

Sparkles, red lips, and cake — does it get any more Kate Spade than that?

[via Musings in Femininity]

Give Me a Tee!

As I make my daily effort to dress more like a girl, I feel myself being more and more drawn to the comforting and supersoft arms of my favorite items in the closet: tees. I'm currently crushing on this by Madewell, which has barely-there stripes and a slouchy cut that makes my heart beat a little faster. Naturally I'm going to take a page from the chicest, tee-wearing girls I could find (both Ms. Portman, top, and The Lucky Lady Who Presumably Owns a Vespa, lower left) and pair my beloved staples with a skirt in a sheer, floaty fabric or with ruffly pleats. It adds the touch of femininity to my usual repertoire of simple, silky tees — plus, after living in dark skinny jeans all winter, who wouldn't jump at the chance to show a little leg?

P.S. A huge thank you to Baily Jones, who thought of me for her Stylish Blogger Award.

[photo cred to That Obscure Object via Musings in Femininity, The Sartorialist via Patterson Maker]

On Holiday

Ah la la, I know I say I'm in Chicago, but I think it's clear that my mind is wandering through Europe in a trench, with an espresso in one hand and and an pretty umbrella in the other. Fortunately, I don't have class today, so I can think about all of the things I'd like to be doing (shopping in the markets in Florence, eating a croissant with turkey and Havarti, sitting on a warm bench in the sun) while I'm avoiding all of the French homework I didn't do this weekend. But let me live vicariously — did you do anything lovely this weekend?


Also, here's a little something to kick off your week (but only if you like dogs) (pugs, to be specific).


[photo cred, clockwise from left, René Bouché via Matchbook Mag; Douglas Friedman, Livingetc. April 2008 via This Is Glamorous; Patterson Maker]

Say Yes...

...Yes to ton carré.
Yes to the February issue of Real Simple.
Yes to red heels...
And to red lipstick.
Yes to this cat.
Yes to late nights and early mornings.
Yes to brunch, complete with bacon and raspberry jam.
...And mimosas.
Yes to Prep Talk.

[photo cred to We Heart It and Simply Seleta]

The Little Things

I've just been enveloped by a brief obsession with all things teeny tiny — mostly due to Time.com's list of Top 10 Miniature Animals. Homework is really superfluous when I find articles like this.


[photo cred to We Heart It, Tracy Olan via Hilary Cosgrove via Dress Design & Decor, Tin Eye via Bonnie Tsang's Pinterest]

Belt It

Love the extra detail that a little cinch around the waist adds to any outfit. So elegant and feminine — and what I wouldn't give for that rosy red dress with the black ribbon! If I wasn't trying to do something about my sore throat with mugs and mugs of green tea and thick, soft scarves, I would most definitely find a way to incorporate this into a pretty, romantic ensemble that could help stave off the winter blues. And let's be honest, if I tried walking around in bare legs like that, the Chicago chill would probably lay claim to a few of my limbs.


[photo cred to Stockholm Streetstyle]

Little Luxuries

Now that sorority recruitment is over, this is what I feel like doing: sipping a glass of Chianti, sleeping in sequins, and taking the frothiest bubble bath known to mankind. All while wearing a huge, excited smile, of course!


[photo cred to Life of Polarn Per, Lauren Withrow, and Matt Jones Photography, all via Patterson Maker] 

Fairytales & Dreams

This weekend was chock full of stories — an article on a professional (and dear, eighty-seven year old) cupcake decorator, une histoire for French about how I once hit myself in the face with a tennis racquet and chipped my front tooth, and a spin on a fairytale. I've only written the fairytale in my head, but my goal is to make the old woman from the Brothers Grimm's Hansel & Gretel seem like a sympathetic character. Wouldn't you be a little irked if some kids came around and tried to eat your house? Especially if it looked something like this beautiful castle. Since I'm in the mood for a fairytale, it seems only natural that I can't look away from these elegant and sumptuous images: the frothy dress, ice blue lake, girlish peep-toes.

In other news, Sara in Le Petit Village so kindly gave me The Irresistibly Sweet Blog award! I've been blushing for about twenty minutes now. And, as my senior superlative, my sorority named me "Most likely to ask for Brie and Veuve Clicquot at a gas station." Then again, can anyone ever resist some cheese and champagne?

[photo cred to Periculosus Rabidus via We Heart It and the Cherry Blossom Girl]

Weekend & Exciting Things

So many lovely things have happened in the past week! I returned to Chicago and began classes, received a my first ever blog award from Alison of {long distance loving} (one of my very favorite blogs), and wrote my first column for the College Prepster's new newsletter, Prep Talk (clever, right?). This weekend will be filled with sorority recruitment and barely enough time to breathe, but once it's over on Tuesday, I can stretch my legs, open a few books, and consider doing my homework. I hope you all have a far more relaxing weekend than the one I'm about to see!

[photo cred to kittynelle via Matchbook Mag]

Pops of Technicolor

I'm completely obsessing over the idea of black and white with cheeky pops of color. I know this is incredibly preemptive, but it's such a perfect way to incorporating bits of spring here and there: a dash of rich pink, a hint of cheerful gold. Plus, I just can't get over the look on that puppy's — Winston's —  face; he seems so pleased with everything. And he's freaking adorable, which never hurts. The colorful flowers around his neck and polka dots on his ears actually inspired this post and hopefully, taking a cue from him will add a big bright dose of happy to my rough Chicago winter!

[photo cred to Reasons to Breathe via Pretty Stuff, Neiman Marcus, Garance Doré, and Coco+Kelley]

Penne with Chicken and Arugula

When I'm back at school and faced with the proposition of having to cook for only myself on most nights, I end up curled into a ball in my desk chair with an enormous hunk of Meunster in one hand and a box of Kashi crackers in the other. It's so much nicer to cook for my family, with a set of good knives that aren't from Ikea and the redeeming knowledge that it helps my parents immensely. Since moving into my apartment, I've begun adjusting my favorite recipes to make them a little kinder on my wallet and really awful time management skills. I adapted this recipe from Giada De Laurentiis's (my Food Network crush) original.

Penne with Chicken and Arugula

1 lb whole wheat penne pasta

1 box pre-grilled chicken, like Perdue Shortcuts

2 cups baby arugula

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tbs dijon mustard

1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped

1/4 cup basil, finely chopped

salt, black pepper

Bring water to a boil and add pasta; let cook for 10 minutes. While penne cooks, chop chicken into bite-size pieces. Whisk together the oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, parsley, basil, salt and pepper to taste. Strain pasta and  put it directly on top of chicken and arugula (it'll heat the chicken and wilt the arugula). Add oil and vinegar mixture and toss.

Do you have any tips for making dinner a little less stressful but just as delicious?

[photo cred to Design*Sponge via French by Design]

Tangerine Lips

Since returning to Chicago, the weather has been dismal and grey, perfect for cozy nights in but really detrimental to my getting-out-of-bed-and-being-excited-for-anything habit. These juicy tangerine and coral hues are the perfect antidote, particularly for a dreary Monday morning. They add a much-needed dose of cheery color and remind me that winter only means that spring is just around the corner.

[photo cred to J. Crew, via Strikes Our Fancy]