June 29, 2012

SUMMER DAYS

As we get ready to start another weekend, I thought I would share a little about last weekend before this weekend becomes last weekend. Pretty profound for a Friday... yep.

Last weekend we spent a lot of time outside, which was wonderful. We spent two afternoons at Comfest - a big Community Festival in the park which started in 1972 and involves: multiple stages set up with local bands, lots of food vendors, artists selling their wares, and beer. Beer in giant bright plastic mugs. 

On Sunday our good friend, Megan, had a cook-out. It was a wonderful way to end the weekend. There isn't much I enjoy doing more than sitting outside, sharing good food, and having meaningful conversations with friends. I hope the summer is filled with many more evenings like this one. Don't you think cook-outs are just the essence of summer?


I made those 3-ingredient cookies that I blogged about 
here {they are so easy and so good}, and a corn salad I had for the first time a few weeks ago at my cousin's high school graduation party. Also so good! There aren't many pictures of that because the Mr. had retired to the living room.


Megan's son, Mason, is so cute and is full of so much personality. Ah... those faces he makes. The Mr. was saying on the way home that he could have just sat and watched him all night. 


I hope you all have a lovely weekend. It's going to be a hot one here - high 90's - Eek! The Mr. and I were originally thinking of spending a day hiking, and breaking in our wedding gifted picnic basket, but I believe we might need to re-think that one.

And... drumroll... It's a very special lady's birthday today -
Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother-in-law, Margie!!! 
I love you, and I am oh-so lucky to call you my m-i-l. The luckiest.


June 27, 2012

ETSY TREASURES


After yesterday's post on Etsy shop, River Luna, I was inspired to blog about a few more of my favorite Etsy finds... all on my wish list. I adore Etsy. The wonderful vintage treasures... and the talented artists with their unique creations. 


one. vintage gooseneck lamp / two. vintage fan / three. affirmation banner / 
fourvintage school chair for my desk / five. wire egg basket for kitchen linens / six. kilim coasters for our new coffee table



June 25, 2012

RIVER LUNA

Simple images sometimes carry the most impact...

Feathers.
Arrows.
Trees.

These are a few of my favorite things. 

I first came across this navy feather print on Pinterest a few months ago, but unfortunately the pin did not link back to the artist. 
So I am very happy to have found the source...

Maris Redondo does the most beautiful paintings inspired by nature. 
My personal favorites are her paintings of feathers. 
She sells them in her Etsy shop - River Luna, and even the packaging is beautiful.





June 22, 2012

THESE THINGS // THIS WEEK {No. 6}


Happy Friday, folks!
These are just a few things I came across this week through the eyes of my laptop.

 One of my favorite bloggers, Katie of Katie's Pencil Box, {along with her husband}
was featured on Amanda Jane Jones' blog series My Better Half.

 I'm loving the organic feel of these ceramic branch vases from Anthropologie.

I always look forward to posts from Jennifer Prince of Odessa May Society
and now that she is expecting - her posts often involve the cutest baby items!
These rocking sheep by Danish Crafts are so funny and charming.

You must check out the animal love tumblr series by Diana Moss of Miss Moss.

Backyard Bill is one of the first blogs I started reading, years ago before I even really knew what blogs were.
I sometimes forget about it, and then enjoy checking in on what he is up to.
This photography series on Chris Grodski and Lindsay Carver of Stanley & Sons is beautiful.


Ok. So have you heard all of the hype about B.B. cream? 
I have been looking for something to use this summer {and days off work} that wasn't all the steps of foundation, concealer, etc.
I recently read this article on Refinery 29, and this cream seemed like it might be the answer.
I was a bit skeptical of the Garnier version {considering they make hair products} but since it was the cheapest option 
I figured - why not. I used it for two days and started breaking out pretty bad. 
It did make my skin have that dewey glow and gave good coverage, but I also felt like my skin got greasy much faster.
Some people say your skin just takes awhile to adjust to new products, 
so do I keep plugging away?


Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
It's Com Fest weekend in Columbus, so I will be spending the afternoon channeling my inner hippie, listening to music, 
eating bad for me food, and possibly drinking a beer {or two} from a giant plastic cup.











June 20, 2012

THE GLAD GAME {WHAT IS THE GLAD GAME?}

If you haven't seen Pollyanna, you might wonder what this Glad Game feature on my blog is all about. 
{If you have seen Pollyanna - you can skip the next paragraph.}

The title character in the 1960 Disney movie (based on the best-selling 1913 novel by Eleonor H. Porter) is named Pollyanna Whittier - a young orphan who goes to live in Beldingsville, Vermont, with her wealthy but stern Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The Glad Game", an optimistic attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation.

Pollyanna has significance to my family and me, not only because the film was a family favorite, but because we have always called my Mom "Pollyanna." She is constantly optimistic and trying to find the good in every situation. This can be a tad annoying when you just want to vent and feel sorry for yourself {wink wink}, but it's a quality I admire and love.

Days like today are what the Glad Game is about. Friends, I just plain had a bad day. I'm feeling a little lost about what I want to do with my career, and it was a pity party of one around our apartment today. Silly, silly way to spend your day.

So... today I was glad for this basket of flowers. 
Gifted to the Mr. from a co-worker, whose father owns a greenhouse. 


June 17, 2012

FATHER'S DAY



My Dad taught me...

to always carry a bear stick when walking in the woods
to have my own opinions
to appreciate history
to have an imagination
to stand up for myself
to have a good work ethic...

how to draw
how to play softball
how to build a snow fort
how to flip people off - the Texas way...

that it is ok for men to cry
that you can be a strong person with a soft heart
that life is like a bowl of cherries {huh?}
that fly fishing is the only kind of fishing
that you do not have to be a product of your circumstances
that they don't make music like they used to {although he likes the Black Keys}...

Happy Father's Day, Paul Richard Parrish.
We love you.
You are one cool dude.
The coolest.

{an extra special thank you to my Mom, for taking photos of these photos and sending them to me}

June 15, 2012

BAILEY + THE REMOTE... THE MOVIE

If you follow L&R you've seen past examples of Bailey's love for the remote here and here.
This 8mm video is just a little snippet of what has become part of our nightly routine.
He makes us laugh, this cat of ours... just a little furry bundle of joy.



The Mr. ended up having the day off today, so that was a happy surprise + wonderful start to our weekend.
Happy weekend, friends!



June 14, 2012

WHY MUST YOU TEMPT ME SO







Why do Zara shoes have to be so darn cute and tempting?
I wish each of these would just magically appear in my closet.
Zara can really do no wrong in my eyes.



JILL STUART

This morning I put off things I should have be doing, and spent a little time on Pinterest instead. Thanks to Diana Moss of Miss Moss, one of the below images came up on my computer screen. I was instantly smitten. 

Jill Stuart's resort / pre-spring 2013 collection is the perfect mix of girly and rock-chic. Not the rocker with the pink hair and studded leather, but the gal with the floral dress, biker boots, and that perfect, "I couldn't be bothered to brush my hair this morning, but it still looks fabulous" hair. It's that hippie, romantic, a bit vintage with a little edge. The look I constantly aspire to. Like, Stevie Nicks... or Kate Moss.




June 13, 2012

STYLE MUSE - MAREN ROTH

Maren Roth / Owner of Rowe - a contemporary boutique in the Short North / Columbus, Ohio

I met Maren Roth shortly after I moved to Columbus. I had never been to Rowe, so I stopped in to check it out - and met Maren. She was really friendly {she always is} and we ended up finding out that we had moved back to Ohio within a few months of each other {she from NYC and I from Chicago}, and that we were the same age. I remember this well because at the time I knew very few people in Columbus, and it was nice to talk to someone else my age that had just left a big city to come back to Ohio. 

You know those girls who are just so effortlessly stylish you want to dislike them? You know - the girls you love to hate. Maren is one of those... but - you can't do anything but love her. She is beautiful, successful, and Columbus' own fashion darling. 

Maren is one of those people that takes full advantage of the city she calls home... making Columbus her own little NYC. She's involved and active in the community in many ways, but the closest to her heart? The Jack Roth Rock N Run - an annual 5K race she organizes in honor of her late father. The race has grown each year since its inception. Not surprising because Maren just makes things happen. 

Thank you, Maren, for being a L&R Style Muse! 




L&R: Who are your style muses? 
M: Stevie Nicks,  Kate Moss,  Diane Kruger, Olivia Polermo, Rosie Huntington Whitley, Rachel Bilson, Lauren Hutton, Julianne Moore... is that too many?  I am constantly inspired by beautiful women in the arts! 

L&R: How would you describe your personal style? 
M: Bohemian with a classic american twist.  I am a hippy at heart, long flowy dresses, big sleeves, fringe, maxi's, etc.,  but also I love beautifully tailored pieces, especially blazers, well fitted pants and a classic button down. 

L&R: What is your first fashion memory...the moment you fell in love with clothes? 
M: I have a terrible memory in general, but this, I remember.  My aunt gave me a white rabbit fur coat at about age four and I exclaimed "Ahhh, my furrst (emphasis on the u and not properly pronounced first), fuurr", I think my mom knew she was in trouble! 

L&R: Tell us a little about your career path, and what led to opening your own store.
M: I knew I definitely wanted to be in fashion after spending the summer of my junior year in New York working for a fashion trade pub called DNR.  It was the men's equivalent to women's wear daily.  After my internship, I was offered a fashion assistant job with my editor at his new job as fashion director at Men's Health; however, I had one semester of school left to finish in order to graduate, so I decided to pass it up.  He understood and was still  extremely helpful in finding me a position, once I moved to New York. But unfortunately, or fortunately - it would turn out, I landed a job at a fashion PR firm instead of at a magazine.  Long story short, I ended my career in New York working for a wholesale showroom, where I got to see the wholesale world. Although I was the PR director for the lines we represented at the showroom, I helped out at trade shows and got to help buyers and really see the ins and outs of the wholesale/boutique business.  After leaving New York and spending a few weeks in LA, I had an epiphany as I was helping some buyers at a trade show I was freelancing at, "I don't want to be selling the clothes to these buyers, i want to be buying them and selling them to the consumers!'  So I packed up my car and drove back to Ohio, where I wrote a business plan and worked my tail off to get the business of the ground.  After a lot of "No's", I decided to take matters into my own hands and start the store anyway.  I ran up a credit card and maxed it out buying small size runs, and got some designer friends of mine in New York to send me merchandise on consignment. A dear friend in Columbus, Rebecca Ibel, lent me her gallery space for a long weekend and I opened the very first Rowe pop up show/trunk show.  After that weekend, I saw it was viable and something people loved and wanted. I kept doing the moveable boutique thing until 11 months later when I opened the the doors of Rowe's permanent home. Two years after that, I expanded the store to the space next to Rowe... knocked a hole through the wall to combine them, re-designed the space and doubled the store!

L&R: Are there pieces in your closet you find yourself wearing constantly?  
M: For a short amount of time.  There are things I like to wear and then put away so they feel like new later on, however, once I wear something once, it looses a little of its luster, so I tend to shop more because I like that very first wear!  

L&R: Your favorite "find"? 
M: It's crazy hard to narrow that down to one item. My best friend, Val, actually finds me the most interesting vintage pieces. She's always sending me beautiful treasures, so I have too many to pick from on the jewelry and accessory side from her. As for clothes, I have this Iro jacket that my friend Rahav gave me at the Iro showroom in New York.  He lets me come and sort through boxes of old merchandise when I come to town to see if I want to buy anything for personal use.  Last summer there was this really cool jacket that I found and he said "you can have that" and I about fell over!  It's a thin cotton but has the most ridiculous chain and turquoise detail all along the arms and a tiny strip of leather with a hook & eye closure along the opening of the jacket.  It's one of those really special pieces you feel amazing in and just about everyone and their grandmother compliments you on!  

L&R: When you aren't wearing pieces from Rowe, where are they from? Other places you shop? 
M: Zara, Madewell, thrift stores and other boutique's I frequent when I travel, like my friend's store - Penelope T. in Tampa. 

L&R: What would your dream job be, if you didn't own your own shop? 
M: Rockstar

L&R: Who is your favorite band? 
M: Again, really hard to narrow down, so I'll give you top 5  right now: 
Fleetwood Mac, Black Crowes, Rolling Stones,Ray LaMontagne & Mumford & Sons

L&R: What are your favorite spots in Columbus? 
M: Rowe, Basi Patio, The LC for a great outdoor show, My aunt & uncle's pool in Bexley, The Wexner Center, Jr.'s Taco Truck in it's parking lot location

L&R: You live & work in the short north, are there any destinations that draw you out of the neighborhood? 
M: Harvest Patio/Curio Bar, I swear I am there like twice a week! 

L&R: Three beauty products you can't live without? 
1. Laura Mercier silk creme foundation
2. Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Beauty Burnt Brown Sugar & Karite ButterBody Wash  
3. Bumble & Bumble Straight Blowdry

L&R: Inquiring minds {like me} want to know, what is your favorite nail polish and lipstick at this moment? 
M: I am terrible at painting my nails because I bite the heck out of them, which is a horrific habit I wish I could break myself of and if anyone has a secret to it I will take it!  So, I will give you 2 of my favorite lipsticks instead.  One of my best gal pal's, Brooke, turned me onto Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for lips & cheeks, it works double duty and always keeps my cheeks looking perfectly dewy while adding just the right amount of gloss to my lips at the same time.  My other tried & true is cover girl lip perfection in flame, it stays on even when you want it gone!


{All photographs taken by me...  I wish Rowe was my closet.}


ps. Maren's shoes were so cute, and I should have made her show them off for a photo. I let you down, lovely readers!

June 12, 2012

LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Over the last few weeks I've seen a few fabulous Father's Day gift guides, but I have to admit... not gifts relevant to my father. These guides have given me great ideas for the Mr... wood iPhone cases, cool sunglasses, and lux products. Maybe it's an age thing... maybe a younger gal with a younger Dad would find those guides helpful, but my Dad barely knows how to use his flip phone. So, I wanted to do a guide for those gals with dads a bit older {mine is in his mid 60's} and a bit more "old-school". 




1. A baseball hat - to cover that possibly balding head. This is always a safe bet for my Dad. Over the years I've purchased the following: multiple OU hats when I was in college, a Cubs hat when I lived in Chicago, a "Jackson Hole fly fishing" hat when the Mr and I were there for a wedding, and many many more. / 2. Cologne - this specific one is DSquared2 He Wood, and it is one of my favs. / 3. Books - my Dad is interested in WWII history, but he would love this one on the Alamo because he is from Texas. / 4. A new wallet - because you know he's had his current one for 30 years. This one is from Fossil. / 5. A zippered hoodie or tee from his college alumni or favorite team. This Ohio University hoodie would be a gift from my alma mater / 6. A classic watch - this leather band Timex would go anywhere and it's affordable. / 7. Tennis shoes - to replace those bad white Dad tennis shoes he might have. These Vans are cool, but not so cool that it will look like he's trying too hard. / 8. A flask - the Mr and I got my Dad a flask for all of those fly fishing trips. And you could get it engraved. / 9. Microbrewed beer of the month club. They have multiple level plans to choose from. / 10. Leatherman tool - this one is my Mr's suggestion, and I have to say it is a good one.

June 11, 2012

GRADUATION CELEBRATION

Hello there! I had every intention of posting a blog on Friday, but the day got away from me. I spent it running around getting last minute items for the Mr's graduation party, cutting fruit and veggies, mixing up dips, blowing up balloons, and making a burlap banner. While I was flying about the house like a crazy lady, and the Mr was writing his graduation speech {he was chosen by his class}, I walked into our bedroom to see Bailey fast asleep looking quite angelic. It made me pause for just a moment... grab my camera... and take a break. 


Saturday, the Mr's graduation day, came so fast.  It does not seem that long ago that he was making the decision to go back to school for his Master's. Time goes oh-so quickly. In the two years he was in school, we got engaged and married. What a busy two years! And the Mr handled it all without ever getting very stressed... because, well - that is his nature. And thank God for it, because I have enough anxiety for us both.

I can't sum up the emotion I felt listening to him give his speech, or watching him walk across the stage to be "hooded". I would say - it was second only to seeing him in his suit on our wedding day. 


Saturday was a day packed full of celebration. It started early when our families arrived for the ceremony, and didn't end until the wee hours of the night spent with friends. It was a day split into two celebrations. Since it was also our good friend Stu's 30th birthday I bought {I cheated} 30 cupcakes, and the Mr decorated them with little flags with funny sayings. Stu came down from Cincinnati, and our good friends - Laurie-Beth and Brian - came from Cleveland. Our apartment never feels small until its packed full of family and friends, but then again... I suppose I can't complain if that is the reason.


A slight disclaimer: I feel the need to mention some of the pictures of the ceremony are blurry, but I had to post them anyway. It was really darn hard to take good pictures in there! When I used my flash it just lit up the people's heads in the row in front of us, but on manual I could not get the settings to work without the photo being blurry. So - I went with blurry instead of bright heads. I figured it was the lesser of two evils.