The Spring Line I'm Craving Mid-Winter

I'm seriously practicing trying to be more "in the now", but as a Minnesotan it gets FREAKING HARD to do so for six gloomy months straight. So, confession: I may or may not be already dreaming of spring shopping, ESPECIALLY Madewell's bright and cheery designs. I want a polka-dot skirt and bright yellow flats and an outfit that's bright on top and bottom (eyein' the CRAP out of that cherry red and fuchsia combo.) How many days until spring break again?

P.S., did you know I'm on Pinterest? Cuzzzzz I am. And here's my page. 

Knowledge Worth Knowing

The perfect breakfast potatoes. 

Perfect.

I can't be the only one who needs this print as motivation...

So how convenient that you can buy the print over at society6 for $18-$40. 

Tiffany + The Sartorialist + Garance Doré = THEE. BEST. CAMPAIGN. EVER.

This is. the most heart-warming, brilliant, makes-my-heart-skip-a-thousand-beats-per-minute, campaign. EVER. EVER EVER. Tiffany (everyone's favorite robin's egg blue jeweler) teamed up with street style photographer Scott Schuman—of The Sartorialist fame—and his equally talented blogger girlfriend, Garance Doré, to create What Makes Love True, the most (impressively uncheesy) collaboration to celebrate all that is love. 

Tiffany represents everything that is tangible about love; engagement rings, jewelry, things you buy to "show someone you love them." Revealing a deeper side of the brand, they teamed up with Scott, Garance and their customers to launch "a unique guide to matters of the heart." Users can upload photos (the website even has a special filter app for the photos making them romantically hazy like the ones below), videos, stories, and songs. Creativity at its finest. 

Who knew anything as simple as initialed mugs could be so adorable?

Karlie Kloss for Free People is Exponentially Amazing

At nineteen years old, Karlie Kloss is pretty much the model of the moment (she just snagged Oscar de la Renta's Spring/Summer 2012 campaign, you can see her lookin' gorg in that here.) This LA-girl editorial is for Free People's spring catalog. I give every single one of these outfits a standing ovation. 

I normally don't pay too much attention to models but this girl just seems so cool, I just wanna hang with her, ya know? Apparently Ms. Kloss also just started her own tumblr, where she gives an inside look to her modeling world. 

P.S. I don't know why the photos are all mismatched sizes and fuzzy, don't yell at me. 

Photos: Elle.com via Free People

5 Perfect Winter Outfits

Cozy. Comfy. STYLISH.

Presented by: Style Me Grasie

My Favorite Kind of Wedding Pictures ...

... are the moments no one really sees. 

Images: Apartment 34 via erin hearts court

Do You Have a Pair of These? Because You Should.

These Jordi Ballet Flats look heckishly more expensive than $60. I'm demanding that you buy and add them to your wardrobe. K I'm not but, it would be foolish not to do so. The leopard looks non-cheapy (which is SOOO HARD TO FIND) and the black patent toe is the perfect accent. I'm picturing them paired with other classics like black matchstick ankle-skimming jeans and a navy-and-white-striped nautical shirt. Go on, you know you wanna. 

5 Things I Found Today (The January 23rd Edition)

• Craft and DIY PORN. I'm sorry, there's just no other way to describe it. 

• This is the world's biggest treehouse. And it's in America. And I'm going. 

• Pictogram movie posters. Can you guess what films they are without looking?

• "Skillshare's mission is to flip the notion of traditional education on its head and democratize learning. They believe that anyone can be a teacher, and everyone has valuable knowledge and skills to share." (Swissmiss)

• The 10 funniest commercials of all time. 

10 Commandments For a Good Life

(From Marc & Angel Hack Life)

I.  I am not perfect and I will not try to be.

Think of how many things don’t get done in this world simply because people are waiting for the perfect time, place and circumstance. The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists.  It rewards people who get things done.  And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time. 

ll.  I cannot, and will not try, to please everyone.

No matter what you do or how you do it, there will always be people that disagree with what you’re doing.  That’s life.  So don’t try please everyone.  Simply do what you know is right. And remember, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it, it matters how many people do.

III.  I will take part in something I believe in.

IV.  I will prioritize my obligations and do important things first.

It’s the only way to turn a dream into a reality. 

V.  I will choose my friends wisely.

Your friends are family you choose.  So make sure you choose friends who are worthy of your time and attention. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be.  Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.

VI.  I will help others when I am able.

In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.

VII.  I will focus on the positive.

Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  The mind must believe it can do something before it is capable of actually doing it. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on the next positive step forward.

VIII.  I can only be me.

Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”  Live by this statement.

There is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes.  The only shoes you can occupy are your own.  If you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing.  And ask yourself this:  If you don’t like who you really are, why should I like you?

Trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy.  Be you.  That’s when you’re beautiful.

IX.  I will be here now.

Life is happening right now.  Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice being and living in the present moment. Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.  

X.  Life never gets any better, only my perception of it does.

The world around you changes when you change. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.  The opposite is also true.  The choice is yours to make.

Photo via: Alice & Olivia

It's Always The Simple Things

“It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, life is on a stroll.” 

 -donald miller

Oh 'fer YUM.

Hommade Hostess Cupcakes. A WDITOT moment. This stands for "Why Didn't I Think Of That". I abbreviated it for my own purposes because it happens, frequently. Somebody patent my acronym. 

Tell me if I'm wrong. Everybody loves Hostess, and Twinkies, and DumDum Ho-Hos ..... or .... whatever the other ones are called .... but noooooobody wants to admit it because they are made out of nothing even close to real food and it's cool to be like, "I like things that are five ingredients or less" and I AM OUTING MYSELF. I LOVE ARTIFICIAL DESSERTS. Do you feel closer to me? 

But these are different. They are homemade. And that makes me feel safe to know that they can be produced in your kitchen and you don't have to buy them from somewhere that also sells spark plugs and icees. No hate on icees though. Plus they are in the form of a cupcake. And we all know how I feel about that. Carrying on. 

Recipe over at 52 kitchen adventures. 

Where You Live, Influences How You Live

Or so goes my own theory. I feel like my creativeness would be bursting at the seams living in a borderline-magical designer workspace like this one. 

Images via: Design Love Fest

Flawlessly Fashionable at Any Age

One can only hope this is what my future holds... one can only hope. 

Coco is Boss

"I don't care what you think about me. I don't think about you at all." — Coco Chanel

Music Monday

For all the frat boy's out there ... 

Religious Views Aside, This is Pretty Clever

50 Things to Give Up Today

1. Give up trying to be perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  
2. Give up comparing yourself to others. – The only person you are competing against is yourself.
3. Give up dwelling on the past or worrying too much about the future. – Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.
4. Give up complaining. – Do something about it.
5. Give up holding grudges. – Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.
6. Give up waiting. – What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.
7. Give up lying. – In the long-run the truth always reveals itself.  Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.
8. Give up trying to avoid mistakes. – The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
9. Give up saying, “I can’t.” – As Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”
10. Give up trying to be everything to everyone. – Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  Start small.  Start now.
11. Give up thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
12. Give up setting small goals for yourself. – Many people set small goals because they’re afraid to fail.  Ironically, setting these small goals is what makes them fail.
13. Give up trying to do everything by yourself. – You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you work together, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.
14. Give up buying things you don’t need. – Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you.  Do not spend to impress others.  Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects. 
15. Give up blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can live your dream life depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
16. Give up making mountains out of molehills. – One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
17. Give up trying to live up to the expectations of others. – Work on it for real and exceed your own expectations.  Everything else will fall into place.
18. Give up the ‘easy street’ mentality. – There is too much emphasis on finding a ‘quick fix’ in today’s society.  For example taking diet pills to lose weight instead of exercising and eating well.  No amount of magic fairy dust replaces diligent, focused, hard work.
19. Give up making promises you can’t keep. – Don’t over-promise.  Over-deliver on everything you do.
20. Give up letting your thoughts and feelings bottle up inside. – People are not mind readers.  They will never know how you feel unless you tell them.
21. Give up beating around the bush. – Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Communicate effectively.
22. Give up avoiding change. – However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  That’s the one thing you can count on.  So embrace change and realize that change happens for a reason.  It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.
23. Give up your sense of entitlement. – Nobody is entitled to anything in this world.  We are all equal.  We breathe the same air.  We get what we give.  We get what we earn.
24. Give up waiting until the last minute. – Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
25. Give up being dramatic. – Stay out of other people’s drama and don’t needlessly create your own.

Read 26-50 here. 

"I'm Not the Silly Romantic You Think..."

"I'm not the silly romantic you think. I don't want the heavens or the shooting stars. I don't want gemstones or gold. I have those things already. I want...a steady hand. A kind soul. I want to fall asleep, and wake, knowing my heart is safe. I want to love, and be loved." — Shana Abe

Photos by: Shannen Norman

5 Things I Found Today (The January 12th Edition)

• This is pretty cool (for the Disney princess obsessed). Illustrator Claire Hummel drew all of the lovely Disney ladies in historically accurate costumes. Some Disney did pretty well, others are completely different! 

• Ahem, guys: 25 pieces of sartorial knowledge so you don't look dumb. Hopefully we all have #21 down by now. 

• The best time to buy....everything. Click the infographic once to magnify. 

• Cutest engagement proposal ever. While this much effort is probably not expected by a lot of girls, big ups to you, dude. 

• Desk-it is a great organizer to always have by your computer if you're like me and always have random ideas coming to you.  

Photo via: Glitter Guide

Weddin' Hair

Big fan of the loose, undone yet absolutely beautiful styles. 

Side braid with a perfectly placed sequin headband? Absolutely. 

A black headband intertwined with a braid is so simple yet such a statement making 'do. 

Photos via: M Loves M, A Beautiful Mess, The Beauty Department

Try NOT to Fall in Love With This Guy

Hi, this is my future husband newfound music love, Steve Ertl. He does some dang good acoustic covers, and oh, I guess I guess he's PERRRTYYY CUUUUTE. 

I don't know about that newsboy cap there though, pal. Check out his youtube page here. 

Chocolate-Stuffed Raspberries

It's as easy as it looks, just stuff with whatever kind of chocolate chip you're partial to. 

Via: Saucy Sprinkles

Red Lips Tutorial

If there's anyone I trust giving me a red lips tutorial, it's The Girls With Glasses. I think they came out of the womb with red lipstick on. 

The Outfit That Changed My Opinion on Turtlenecks

Why didn't I ever think of an outfit so cute and clever? Probably because the turtleneck has a bad rep goin' for itself ever since we came into the 21st century. I, and I'm sure I'm not alone, have this problem where I think a certain clothing piece is mom-ish, so I feel like it can only be styled mom-ish (no hard feelings to all the mamas out there, LUH you.) 

When paired with a navajo-inspired cardigan, gold-sequined skirt, neutral black tights and booties, things turn out quite nicely for the turtleneck. It's like the clothing-version of the movie plot where the pretty, popular girls give the ugly duckling a makeover and now she's all hip. 

...or something. 

Try for yourself: 

gray turtlneck//sequin skirt//geo-print cardigan//gray booties

Photo via: M Loves M

In Order to Lead a Fascinating Life...

Art/Music/Intrigue/Romance

Photo via: Kate Spade

Winter Shoe-Care Tips From Tory Burch

7 Rules For Making More Happiness

And if you don't want that then, well, you are either the happiest person alive, or should be voted off the planet. But even if you are one of those two things, you should still watch, because Ted videos rock.

DIY: Paper Flower Key Holder

Never lose your keys again. And be cute about it. Directions here.