My husband and I have a rule around the holidays – we need to avoid buying things for ourselves from December 1. Reason being, we don’t want to run the risk of doubling up (which has only almost happened once with a handbag I got myself). I’m (mostly) pretty good about following this rule, except in rare cases with a vintage piece that stops my heart. So, come December 1, I lustfully drool over many glittery things in shop windows, but try to remain true to The Rule.
I have always appreciated a bit of dichotomy in my clothes. A dash of sweet and sour, dark and light. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can embrace a good theme and go full tilt into saccharine, but there is something about a look that has a bit of push/pull that makes me stop and look again. I think it’s because, just like people, clothing should be layered. None of us are ever one thing – why should our wardrobe?
For all of my fellow dress-loving ladies out there who struggle with how to dress for cooler weather, I really enjoy layering shirts under my dresses. Tights and cardigans are my go-to, but for the advanced dresser, there are all kinds of possibilities hiding in your closet you may not have even realized. I recently discovered the wonder of the Estelle Blouse from Heart of Haute – in addition to going with just about every one of my skirts (stripes are a neutral in my opinion), I’ve found they can very quickly take a summer dress straight into winter, where…
Have you ever been walking down the street or browsing on Insta, and seen someone come into your peripheral view that makes you stop. That makes you whip your head around and think to yourself, “That’s who I want to be when I grow up.” And not for a tangible reason. But for all of the intangible, critically important reasons you can’t put your finger on. An inner confidence that comes out of every pore. A quiet strength in embracing exactly who they are. A certain joie de vivre that beams right at you like the Care Bear Stare, filling…
Sometimes I think we are programmed for dissatisfaction, particularly when it comes to the weather. Have you ever noticed that, no matter the season, you find yourself gazing wistfully to the next one? Never satisfied, we are constantly craning our necks for greener summer pastures in winter. Yet in the sweltering heat of summer, we fan ourselves and will autumn to arrive more quickly. Although I’m not a huge fan of Jack Frost nipping at my nose, I’m trying to reverse the grass-is-always-greener mentality and embrace the here and now. Because if winter brings with it something magical, it is…
Happy New Year! Well, here we are yet again, at the start of another year. It feels like on the dawn of a New Year, we should be full of Big Thoughts and Big Plans. But, I have to admit I’ve been enjoying a LOT of down time. And with down time comes available minutes for the things you forgot about throughout the year – sleeping in, sipping lazy coffees, binge-watching Mrs. Maisel or indulging in cheesy romantic comedies, and reading a book for the fun of it. I’m not one for making resolutions (because New Years is somewhat arbitrary), but…
The past few weeks have been crazier than usual with the semester winding down. But as of Tuesday night, final exams were graded (and panicked last minute attempts for extra credit were addressed). I uploaded grades and polished off the last few meetings of the semester. And with the flick of my crinoline and the last woosh of my computer announcing that last email was sent, this semester has officially come to a close.
I’m sure this will come as no surprise to any of you who have been following along for any length of time, but I have a thing for a cinched waist. I know, shocker right? But, I swear it’s my super power. When my waist is nipped, everything else seems to fall into place. I stand up straighter, feel more confident, have a bit of extra swing in my step. In general, I am just a little bit extra.
Well, it’s official. The turkey has been cooked and the thanks have been said – in my world that means it’s officially Christmas! And the minute the calendar shifts, all of the Christmas pretties start dancing in front of my eyes and hence, my Christmas Wishlist is born.
Truth be told, I’ve never been much of a party animal. Now, I can go out and let my hair down on occasion with the best of ’em, and certainly pulled a few all nighters back in the day, but it was never the place I felt most myself. Even in college I far preferred a night in with friends, binge watching our favorite movies, than a visit to a frat party. I always wanted quiet conversation over loud nights with strangers (or occasionally loud conversation over silent, awkward first dates). People have always said I was an old soul,…