Feathered Fancies

I'm going to be up front about this: I'm pining for feather hair extensions. I'm fairly easy on my hair; I dyed it once, a color I thought was auburn but actually closer to an unfortunate shade of purple. My mom convinced me to go back to dark brown by pointing out that my hair didn't match my eyebrows. After that, that was all I could see in the mirror (my mother knows me very well). In comparison, feather hair extensions are a breeze.

However, this desire for feather hair extensions does not mean I want to look like I got on the wrong side of a pack of pigeons or was dragged backwards through the brush. For foolproof feathering, here are a few tips:
1. Neon pink feather extensions look like neon pink feather extensions. They also look as though you tried too hard to fit in when you went to a B-52s concert (in the hopes of hearing Love Shack played live, of course).
2. Therefore, find feathers that are as natural-looking as possible, ideally with shades that riff off your own hair color. This set of five loose feathers can work with anything from dirty blonde to dark brown.
3. Wear feather extensions with your hair loose and casual. These are not for the workplace (unless you're a beauty assistant)(eh, eh?)(just kidding)(kind of). Avoid perching a flock of feathers in upswept hair; a few can be elegant, but the look can turn a bit madcap, à la Marie Antoinette. She wore so many miniature birds in her updos that they had accompanying cages.
4. Don't have time for DIY feather extensions? A pair of long earrings, such as these pearl feather earrings, accomplish the look in seconds.

The key here, as with so many other things, is to keep it subtle. I am not a bird. I'm just a human being with a really big weakness for feathers.
[photo cred here]

City Living

I got an apartment in NYC with my best friend/college roommate! It was a hellish experience, especially since I'm not interested in utilities and size so much as gleaming hardwood floors, exposed brick and a pretty kitchen. My bedroom is tiny, but I'm excited to get my hands dirty and work with a small space. Up until now, I'm been spoiled with large bedrooms, and this will be...cozy. Nevertheless, it's New York City, so my expectations weren't too high to begin with. I can't wait to move in!

[photo cred here]

Pink Crush

Put a little punch of vivid pink in your Monday morning! (And sip some pink lemonade, for kicks).

[photo cred to 1, 2 and 3]

Ziggy Stardust

I'm not usually one for zigzags and/or prints of any kind, but that ethnic-inspired upholstery and this playful Charlie by Matthew Zink bikini are calling my name. They're yelling, "Deanna! Stop wearing black tees because you're no longer a sulky English major. THIS IS REAL LIFE, GIRL. BRIGHT PRINTS. GO FOR BRIGHT PRINTS." And let's be real, who could say no to a swimsuit like that?

[photo cred here]

Good News!

I GOT A JOB. A job I wanted very, very badly. A job for which this blog prepared me very well. A stellar job. A job that I'm going to love so much, and at a great magazine. This may be early (I found out yesterday, but have I ever been one to keep my mouth shut?), but I'm going to be the new fashion/beauty assistant at MORE magazine. I cannot wait to start!

[photo cred here]

Commencement

Going on a brief hiatus while I graduate and move back to NY this weekend. I'm just focusing all of my energy on finding a way to get my 30+ pairs of shoes home instead of the fact that my best friend is moving to Tanzania. I think that if I keep myself occupied well enough, I can remain knee-deep in denial about the next few weeks. I actually loved writing papers about Lady Macbeth's sexual ambiguity and the garlic-butter French fries from Edzo's and afternoons on the lakefill, complete with a view of the Chicago skyline.


My parents are coming into town tonight. When my dad asked me what I planned to do, I told him that I was going to take a note from The Graduate and drift around the pool with a beer in my hand.

Like so.

Garden Party

I'm crushing on just about everything in the summer Anthropologie catalogue—I've never felt such a desire to sit outside and drink lemon water (or lemon verbena lemonade, anyone?) while wearing something light and feminine. Now that I'm done with class and have no excuses for rolling out of bed, throwing on a tee and dark jeans and calling it a day, I swear I'm going to put in more effort. I'm a sucker for this bracelet and that pleated top.

How perfect are the navy pleats for an appropriate (but not too obvious) Fourth of July ensemble? Plus, you can wear a style like that anywhere, from a casual barbeque to late-afternoon drinks with friends.

[photo cred to anthropologie.com]

Flora and Fauna

Now that I'm graduating in less than a week, I'm trying to find reasons to look forward to leaving Chicago. Number one? New York has hills and my house there is surrounded by beautiful green forest. Number two is that it's impossible to find a deli in Chicago—as someone who adores sandwiches, I find this vaguely offensive. Number three: New York doesn't usually have 40-degree drops in temperature overnight. Although I don't actually mind if it's a drop from 95-degrees..

How was your weekend?


[photo cred to 1, 2, 3 & 4, all via love and some verses]

Summer Sun

I'm done with college! What should I do first? Dance around my room? Play outside in the rain? Burn my heaps and heaps of flashcards because the English language has a long and complicated history that I now have memorized? (Although here's a brief summary of the English language: first, the Celtics were invaded by Germanic and Romanic tribes. Then they were invaded by the Vikings, after which they were invaded by the Normans. Thus, the English language came about through a series of shoddy defense tactics).

But secretly, I love(d) school. Tell me, how's the real world?


[photo cred here]

Stepping Out

Always a good idea for finals week: Hugging a puppy. Dark pink nails. Throwing the windows open. Fresh air. Taking two minutes to ignore the gnawing thoughts of exams, graduation and everything afterwards.

Complete denial has been my tactic du jour.

"Senior bonfire? I wasn't invited. I'm a freshman."

or

"I was held back. That still happens in college."

[photo cred to 1 and 2]

Say Yes...

...to people-watching and breakfast al fresco.

Yes to the sound of crickets after dark.

Yes to summer getaways via The Coveteur.

Yes to Grace Bonney's response to the NYTimes article on online mags.

Yes to Pinterest...

...because I don't know how I blogged without it.

Yes to Ashley's gorgeous bridal collaboration.

Yes to June weekends!

[photo cred here]

Raspberry Red

How genius is the idea to stuff tart raspberries with chocolate chips? You get antioxidants and a fix for your sweet tooth, all for far less calories than inhaling one of the Truffle Pig chocolate bars that I adore. I love you, Truffle Pig, but my little denim shorts do not.

[photo cred, clockwise from left, to 1; 2 and 3 via Cognac and Coffee]

Oh Manolo

Heartbreaking: finding this gorgeous pair of Manolo Blahniks at the Barneys spring sale... 

and still not being able to afford them.

[photo cred to The Coveteur]