THESE THINGS / THIS WEEK {NO. 3}

I tried to spend the week being a bit more unplugged, like I talked about here.

I even skipped a post yesterday because I had a busy few days...

spending quality time with some lovely women.

These are just a few things I came across this week through the eyes of my laptop.

Happy weekend, friends!  I hope it's wonderful.

I came across this book, which I hope to own soon.

Don't these kitty photos just make you smile?

This crocheted top was my pin that accumulated the most repins this week. 

Always interesting to see what others respond to!

I'm a bit obsessed with finding a cool kilim rug. This site has some beautiful vintage options.

This week, one of my favorite bloggers {Jennifer Prince / Odessa May Society} 

is back from a bit of a break with some exciting personal news.

This photograph { or should I say - outfit} I pinned of Miranda Kerr on pinterest is one of my favs this week.

I would love to have these {knockoff} mid century modern chairs to replace our dining chairs.

I love lemon squares and key-lime pie... and I feel like these lime squares would be the perfect combination of both. 

 The third volume of Kinfolk magazine came out this week!

DAINTY LITTLE THINGS

I'm partial to chunky jewelry {as shown here}, but lately I'm drawn to these simple, skinny bands - stacked and worn on multiple fingers. I tried a few thin gold rings at the Artists and Fleas when we were in NYC, but walked away without any... and so wish I hadn't left empty handed {no pun intended}. 

I also love it when I seen these thin bands worn as first knuckle rings {also known as memory rings or tea rings}. I would love to try this, but I'm a bit worried the first time I wash my hands - the ring will go right down the drain. If I take the plunge, I'll let you know how long I have it before I lose it!

{photo credits / links to purchase rings in images 2 + 4} 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

There are a lot of options available for these rings right now. Catbird in NYC has a great selection; although, some of them are a bit pricey. Etsy is always a wonderful place to support independent artists and get a good deal all at once; It is where I plan on making any future purchases of this sort.

{Catbird alphabet rings}

{via this Etsy shop / set of three - hammered, mixed metal rings}

ART APPRECIATION

I'm loving these prints by Sanna Annukka...

I would be happy to have any one of them hanging in our little apartment...

or maybe leaning on the mantle...

Just a little wishful thinking this Tuesday.

A LITTLE ON OUR LATELY

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Ours was spent soaking up as much time as we could with 

the Mr's sister, her hubby, and our precious niece {visiting from NC}. 

A picture is worth a thousand words... 

here is a little on life lately, according to Instagram.

A bit on the above:

a homemade dinner, thanks to my wonderful Mr...

an old print the Mr. did in college finally made the way to our kitchen wall...

Kildare's the day before St. Patrick's day...

last Sunday's drive to nowhere that began with coffee from our favorite place...

a yummy lunch that same Sunday, followed later by a custom drink from the coolest fountain machine ever...

the bestest cat ever + my morning routine {we usually have 4 - 5 boxes of cereal at any given time}...

two packages arrive the same day: one labeled above + a vintage skirt from Etsy - all the way from Poland...

a Madewell catalog arrived, which prompted a trip there to try a few things on...

a beautiful rainbow + two beautiful ladies...

my mother-in-law's amazing lasagna yesterday + our trip back home to Columbus...

WHAT I WORE {A NOVEL ABOUT MY SHOE SIZE}

Isn't this weather just crazy? I'm certainly not complaining, but I'm not ready for summer weather! Spring is my favorite season and we seem to have skipped it! Ok... I guess I am complaining a bit. I have this thing about dressing season appropriate. It's sort of funny, really. I see girls in tank tops and shorts and just way to say - it's not summer {I would say it in the nicest way possible}. I don't believe in wearing sandals until at least May...maybe June. And this weather is messing with my self-imposed rule big time. My sandals are still in a tub in the top of my closet...I'm just not ready for them. 

This time of year {when it's too hot for boots, but not quite sandal time either} I have a really hard time getting dressed due to my lack of "spring" shoes! I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but... I have big feet. There, I said it. 

I wear a size 10-1/2, and here is wear the problem lies: hardly any brands make a 10-1/2 and some stop at size 10. In the winter I can just buy size 11 boots and wear heavy socks or put a pad in them... and in the summer I'm good because 10s work in anything with an open toe. But spring... spring is hard because flats have to fit perfectly; you can't just buy them big because you walk out of them. The best is when I find a brand that just runs a little big and the 10s fit. It's always a happy day for me when that happens. Shopping for shoes is sort of traumatic experience for me because of this. Not easy at all. I order most of my shoes online and often go through 5 - 6 pairs before I find one that works. I love shoes so, but they just don't love me. Wouldn't you like to know who decided to stop making half sizes at 9-1/2? I sure would. 

Now that I've forced you to read a novel about my shoe size... here are a few spring outfits I've managed over the last two weeks. Thank you for all of your sweet feedback about my first post like this. I truly appreciate it, and I'll try to be better about sharing personal style photos.

The Mr. and I are headed home this weekend because his sister, her hubby, and our adorable niece will be in town from NC! We can't wait to see them. I can't wait to give my niece, Zoey, a big squeeze. We love her so.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

UNPLUGGED

Hello there, friends. Do you sometimes miss the days of no social media? Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my need to just unplug. Unplug from my laptop and my phone... from facebook, pinterest, instagram, twitter, etc. Don't get me wrong - I am not putting those things down or the people that use them; that would make me a total hypocrite. I'm simply saying... for someone that gets overwhelmed easily {that would be me} sometimes keeping up with all of those outlets after a long day at work is just too much.

When the Mr. and I went to see Steve Rannazzisi at the Funny Bone last weekend, he started out by making fun of someone who was on her phone - "Put down your phone and live your life". It was funny. We all laughed, but it stuck with me because it is something I have been thinking a lot about. It's one of the reasons I stopped doing as many "lifestyle" posts; I noticed myself taking pictures of everything we did, and I don't want to view moments through my camera phone {plus the Mr. and I have just been sort of boring lately}.

There are nights {post dinner} when I sit with my laptop on my lap... writing my blog... with the Mr. beside me on his laptop or phone... and then all of the sudden it's time for bed and I feel as if we've barely talked. Do you ever feel like that? I think I need to figure out a new system for blog writing... maybe wake up earlier in the morning? Not ideal, but might be necessary with this gorgeous summer weather we are having!

Check out this site - Unplug your friends, where you can send a Mad Lib type letter to a friend. It made me laugh, and I think it is something we all need to be reminded of once in a while.

IF I WORE HEELS TO WORK

Fantasy outfit...

x 2

{tencel "chambray" blouse / nixon watch / similar jeans / madewell leopard pump / turquoise ring} 

{rag & bone tee / dannijo necklace / boyfriend jeans / madewell film noir pump / retro digital watch / hammered bangles}

If I wore heels to work...

and if money grew on trees.

STYLE MUSE - MARNI SABIN

Style Muse #3 is lovely lady - Marni Sabin.  Marni and I met and became fast friends 9 years ago when we were both calling Chicago home.  She is an Ohio girl who transferred to Chicago with her job and now resides in Fort Greene {Brooklyn}, NY with her boyfriend - James {fellow fashion lover}. Marni is an Executive Editor at McGraw-Hill, a gymnastics coach for Sokol, a music lover, a fashionista, and a wonderful person + friend. Among her many talents, Marni is a bit of professional shopper... let's call her the Queen of discount shopping. In her own words, "There's certainly a discount story here, as the only things I paid full price for are the necklace and the lipstick! The shoes and jeans were on sale... the bag, ring, and jacket are from sample sales... and the tunic from Century 21."

One of the things I have always admired about Marni is her personal style.  I love that she has always worn what she wanted to wear with no fear.  She is the girl at the party in a sparkly dress when everyone else has on jeans... the one at the concert with the black sequin beret.  I love that despite our individual style being quite different, we both appreciate the other's fashion.  She is the lady who always gets my "these shoes or those shoes?" emails {along with my Mom}, and always takes the time to answer thoughtfully without judgement over my picky nature and indecisiveness.  Over the years our style has begun to overlap a bit more than it used to back in the day, but she still rocks that Brooklyn Bridge two finger ring like I never could.  And I love her for it. 

Thank you, Marni, for being a Style Muse!

{photo taken by M's friend, Eryc / his blog here} 

CURRENTLY COVETING {No. 8}

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine consisted of the following: 

a wonderfully sunny Friday off spent with my Mom {who came down to take my sis to the airport}... 

work on Saturday, followed by a late night outing to the Funny Bone to see comedian - Steve Rannazzisi - 

from "The League" {he was SO funny}... the Mr. and I heading out Sunday morning for a drive, 

which included a trip to our favorite coffee shop - Luck Bros.+ one of our other fav spots for lunch - North Star Cafe ... and the fabulous surprise of TWO face-time calls from my sister {all the way from Ireland}!

1. this assortment of cards from Rifle Paper Co. / 2. loving everything in the new Emerson Fry collection, but especially these gold coin necklaces 
{the lion is my favorite... on the lion coin "FIDUCIA, VIRTUS, AMPLITUDO" - which means "Confience, Courage, Nobility of Soul"}
3. Alice + Olivia "Crosby" knit top {we have this at the store!} / 4. this amazing brass cuff from KORA 
5.  vintage 1970s Robert Altman lamp... sigh / 6. Modern Vintage "Carina" bootie... why do you have to be so expensive?
7. my obsession with finding a few new hats continues... this one via Urban Outfitters

LOVING... LEFT ON HOUSTON

I am loving the Spring 2012 collection by Left on Houston {we carry LOH at the store}.

And their lookbook is just. so. good. 

Below are just a few of my favorite photographs from the lookbook,  

and a few of my favorite items!

My favorites are the poncho sweater and the fringe kimono jacket... 

I heart fringe... I'm such a hippie.

Happy Weekend, friends! I hope it's wonderful. 

SLAINTE, BIG SIS

My sister and I are Irish. Well... we are about 1/4 Irish {or something like that}, but I would say we both cling to that little bit and like to think it's more. {There is a magnet on my fridge that says, "There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish... and those who wish they were."} We both have an abnormal love for St. Patrick's Day {second only to Christmas}, bagpipes, and green beer. Some of my favorite memories from the years I lived in Chicago hail from St. Patrick's Day - watching the river be dyed green, being in a bar downtown... with bagpipers coming in to play. I used to call my sister and Mom and just hold the phone up for them to hear. Ireland is at the very top of my wish list of places I'd like to visit. 

Tomorrow is a big day for my big sis. She leaves for Ireland tomorrow morning {with our cousin, A}. To say I am jealous would be putting it mildly... but I am definitely more happy for her than I am jealous. Most days. 

In honor of my sister's trip, I wanted to share a recipe for one of my favorite things - Irish soda bread. Truth be told... I love bread in general... any bread. The below photos and recipe are from a lovely blog I found via pinterest, The Pastry Affair. I will be trying out this recipe very soon, maybe this weekend!

 

I love you, big sister. I hope you have the most wonderful time in the history of wonderful times. Take lots of pictures, drink lots of beer, and bring home something really cool for me.

"May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you 

In the palm of his hand."

{Ireland landscape image credits: 1 / 2 / 3} 

PHOTOBOOTHER

Check out this cool little web app...Photoboother.

Designed by creative couple, Stanton + Ruby Jones.

Found via this wonderful new feature, called My Better Half, on Amanda Jane Jones' blog. 

All photos courtesy of our wedding. 

Revisiting photos to create these strips made me laugh all over again. 

The Mr. and I really do have the best friends.

ON THE HUNT: NUDE MAXI SKIRT

I've been on the hunt for a nude skirt for what feels like forever. Every store has been searched, both online and in person, and I have googled "nude maxi skirt" ten different ways. It's been on the list in my wallet through numerous re-writes / updates. 

A few of these images have been saved on my computer for a very long time {particularly six, seven, and eight}. 

Diane Kruger {eight} is wearing my perfect nude maxi, but alas... it is from Zara last year. You know that package I shared with you yesterday? Zara did a nude skirt this year also {eleven}, and even though it was more than I wanted to spend, since I've been searching forever I thought I would give it a shot. That is me giving it a shot in the last photo. I'm just not certain. It may be a little too pale... a little too sheer... a little too dressy? I prefer the darker more casual version with pockets Zara did last year {again, see photo eight}. I might try one last skirt Friday on my day off {this one from American Apparel}.  

Thoughts?

{sources:  one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / me!}

WEEKEND ACCORDING TO INSTAGRAM

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had a great time at home visiting our families. 

Here is just a little on our weekend, according to Instagram...

It involved way too much bad for you good food;

including ice-cream three times. Yes, three. 

{A sundae + shamrock shake + blizzard. This is not a normal occurrence.}

I feel like by admitting it + telling all of you, I can start feeling less guilty. Or not.

The above...

...antique stores with the Mr. and my parents Saturday morning

...Coney Island for lunch: where I hate to say, they messed up every one of our orders {the Mr.'s twice}!

...my few vintage finds: two ties for the hubby {one is Yves Saint Laurent!} and turquoise mugs

...my sister helping me out of my "bored with my hair" slump {it's a lot darker!}

...one of my favorite meals growing up - tacos! No one does tacos like my Mom

...ice-cream trip #3 - the Mr. eating his DQ blizzard Sunday evening

...an old tv stand of my parent's = our new bar

...a lovely surprise upon arriving back to our little apartment... something I ordered from Zara arrived early!

...we finally got what we needed to hang our wedding reception guitar "guest-book"

{not pictured: a yummy breakfast of biscuits + gravy at my in-laws... because I was too busy eating!}

WHAT I WORE {ACCORDING TO MY IPHONE}

I'm trying to be better about posting personal style pictures. That was how my little blog began, but it didn't last long as I felt weird putting myself out there like that. I'm too self-conscious, critical of myself in photos, and I just didn't want to take a picture of myself every day. So, I stopped. Somehow I feel more comfortable snapping a quick photo of myself with my iphone, rather than having the Mr. take a photo of me with the camera. Silly? Maybe... Probably... but true. So, here a few photos I snapped quickly at work over the last month or so. {Snapping these photos has made me realize I need to do my hair more often!} This might become a regular feature... Thoughts?

I'm very excited to say I have this Saturday off work! The Mr. and I are headed home for the weekend to see our families. Our only plans consist of a Domino's pizza tomorrow night when we arrive {we both swear that the Domino's in our hometown is like no other}, and it's such a great feeling to not have plans. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

MARNI FOR H+M... TODAY!

{I promise I would not wear these pants + blouse together. Perfect example of the "pajamas as daywear" trend}

Marni for H+M is launching today. I'm sure there will be long lines at stores and items sold out in hours. I've never been a huge fan of Marni for myself. As in - it's not typically my style; however, I appreciate it. I have a dear friend in NYC who {I think} will be doing her best to grab a few pieces {and she doesn't just like the line because it shares her name}. Unfortunately, none of the H+M stores in Ohio will be receiving the collection, but if you can ever get through online...

Above are my personal favorites from the collection {most of them are available in other prints}. I think it's cool and unique that the prints are different on the front + back. The line for H+M is really true to the main line, so I think those ladies who love Marni {but can't afford the real thing} will be very pleased!

I appreciate you, Marni.  Both of you.