31. 1. 10

Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behaviour. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them—if you want to. Just as some day, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.
~ J.D. Salinger


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happy weekend

wishing you all a lovely weekend.


i will be back monday with outfit posts, updates, and pictures from the preppy party, of course!
{ps, any of you atlantans interested in joining me on sat, let me know!}

xoxo

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"i'll be your serena"

so my girl kindredly invited me to a birthday bash this weekend for one of her co-workers, and when i say birthday bash, i mean it. apparently it's a really big to do, and each year there is a different theme. this year's theme happens to be "preppy."

enter kindredly's new-found obsession {and my longtime love} of gossip girl, and you have two incredibly excited gals. for her outfit, kindredly is channelling blair waldorf circa summer-in-the-hamptons, so she clearly needs a serena by her side!


i only have a couple concerns...
i really like serena's style, but it's not as preppy as most of blair's outfits, and i definitely want to play the preppy role. also, the items in my closet don't exactly resemble what a real-life serena might own. i was thinking about trying to pull off the plaid skirt look, but i don't really own any plaid. so, i'm not sure what exactly i will wear, but i am having fun looking for inspiration. {as if i needed another excuse to watch gg.}


so, my lovely readers, i need your advice/opinions! what would you wear to a preppy {but oh so fabulous} birthday bash?
xoxo


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fantastic 40s

{there is a very good chance that this blouse will make it's way into my closet before spring is over.}

it's no secret that i have a love/hate relationship with urban outfitters. on one hand, i can usually find some pretty cool things there either for our apartment or for myself. on the other, the prices are overly inflated and the trends often go too far towards rocker chic style for my taste.

that being said, i was pleasantly surprised {as were many of my fellow fashion followers} by the spring catalog and the 1940s collection, the golden age, that is currently on the website homepage.


i love the vintage-inspired style {of course} and the dainty quality of the photos. i can just imagine that first blouse with a high-waisted skirt and red lipstick... or that blue polka dot skirt with a white deep v-neck tee and some adorable wedges. unfortunately, the items are still overpriced, considering that one could easily thrift something comparable for a fraction of the cost. however, one thing i can say about uo is that their clothes actually fit me, so i will be keeping my eye on a few of these pieces.


what do you think? are you a fan of the golden age?
xoxo



images courtesy of uo.com
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happiness is...

blueberry almond muffins on a rainy saturday morning.


where did you find happiness this weeked?
xoxo


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24. 1. 10

"general opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but i don't see that. it seems to me that love is everywhere. often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. when the planes hit the twin towers, as far as i know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. if you look for it, i've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."
~ hugh grant as david in love actually


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spring fever

it happens about this time every year. the weather becomes slightly warm, and the sun begins to peek out, making the daily highs in the 60s. unfortunately, it's still january, and this spring-like weather won't last. nonetheless, i can't help but long for warm spring days full of sunshine spent in skirts, sunglasses and sandals. i find myself pairing florals with stripes and gravitating towards outfits full of color.
and this year, my spring fever is especially bad.

i love all of the nautical trends and corals that are popping up everywhere.
{images via anthropologie}

and i have always had a soft spot for stripes.
{images via forever21}{image via urban outfitters}

my feet can't wait to get back into summer sandals.
{image via anthropologie}
{image via urban outfitters}

sigh. i know that these days of indian spring are fleeting, but i am really looking forward to spring this year. maybe mr. groundhog will see his shadow and spring will come sooner rather than later. :)

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you know you're an adult when...

... you get super excited over the prospect of new cookware and appliances.


the background story:
lately our blender has been leaking from the bottom, spilling strawberry-banana-chocolate-soy-milk smoothies all over our white counter tops and into the blender base. it also has the tendency to spew chocolate soy milk out of the lid during its mixing process for no apparent reason. then, our saute pan decided to flake off into our scrambled eggs the other day. i guess that's what i get for buying the adorable, inexpensive pink pan from tj maxx.

i did a bit of research regarding which are the "safest" types of cookware {ones that won't flake off and give us cancer}, which are the longest-lasting, and which are the most eco-friendly. i basically found that stainless steel and cast iron are the way to go with pots/pans, and aluminum or glass is best for baking. as for cookies sheets, i would like to find one that is 100% aluminum, but i may just get a silicone liner for the cheap ones we have now.

so, husband and i are going to make a trek to macy's this weekend to use some of our gift card money from the wedding {it's a good thing we have gift cards. i never realized how expensive blenders and pans could be!} to purchase one/some of the following:

{a turquoise kitchenaid blender}

{a silpat liner for cookie sheets}

{stainless steel saute pan/deep skillet}

{cast iron skillet}
we received a martha stewart enameled cast iron casserole for our wedding that i absolutely love, so i am leaning towards the cast iron option. also, the idea of not having to replace them {at least for a reallllly long time} is incredibly appealing.

our need for new cookware really has me rethinking all of the cheap bakeware and pans from target and tj maxx that got me through college. i am really looking forward to investing in a few key pieces that will be healthier for us and will last much longer.


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homemade salad dressing {part two}

when i posted about homemade salad dressing a few days ago, i received so many yummy recipes, that i decided i needed to share them with you!


from sarah:
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
2 tbsps sesame seeds
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1/4 c sugar
2-3 splashes Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 c vegetable oil
"it goes great on a salad of spinach, strawberries, walnuts, and bleu cheese."

from mel:
my favorite is a take on caesar, but healthier b\c it's eggless.
i just eyeball all the ingredients-
lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)
dijon mustard
olive oil
coarse salt
fresh ground pepper
parmigiano reggiano or peccorino romano cheese.
whisk together, and wa-la!

from katy:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- sprinkle of onion powder
- 1 tablespoon apricot preserves (found on with jelly at the grocery store)
- lil bit of salt and pepper
shake shake shake!
best on a spring mix salad with crazy stuff like feta, avocados, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, red onions, etc.


i can't wait to try all these! thanks for all of your comments, my lovelies!
xoxo


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today i am thankful for...

our little apartment home

down comforters & soft sheets

besties

the upcoming spring

running water & hot showers

sweet kisses

{photo from our wedding, taken by my erin}

what are you thankful for today?

xoxo

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weekend adventure no. 4: neel's gap

for our last hike of 2009 we ventured out to north georgia with some of our favorite friends.
it was a cold but beautiful day. quite perfect for a three to four hour hike and lunch on the mountain.


{for some reason pb&j and apple slices taste so much better when shared on the top of a mountain with someone you love.}


with the trees having lost their leaves, we could see to the highway and the surrounding mountains even on the trail. the wind was cold, but the sun felt wonderful on our faces.

it was definitely a great way to end the year & look forward to all the adventures that 2010 will bring.

xoxo

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{happiness is}...

{old family photo}

old photos and family histories.


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17. 1. 10

all the people on the street, out on buses and on feet,
we all got the same blood flow.
~ amos lee, musician


help the people of haiti in their severe time of need.
even a $5 donation will provide food and medical attention for the hundreds of thousands in need.

donate here.

{and if you aren't moved to give financially,
see more images of the devastation here, then rethink your decision.}



images via cnn
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oh how i love glee

i have been meaning to post about fox's new show, glee, for quite a while.
perhaps it is because of the ridiculously fun musical segments, or because of jane lynch's dry humor, or because of the adorable preppiness of jayma mays, or because in high school i was part of what would have been considered a glee club,
{we had song/dance routines that we preformed at all the schools within the county and for the public}
but i simply love glee.

i think that jayma mays' character is just the sweetest with her bizarre quirks and cardigans, but i really do love her style.

{image credit}

{image credit}

i love how jayma mays' character, emma, is so blatantly preppy and conservative, yet still manages to look quite fashionable through accessorizing and vibrant color combinations. i think this look is perfect for professional/workplace attire... conservative yet not dull.


what do you think? do you love glee {and emma} as much as i do?
xoxo


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homemade salad dressing

as much as i love food, sometimes i think that i could live on salads alone. from grilled chicken caesar classics to unusual combinations of spinach and oranges, i love just about every salad recipe i have ever tried.

recently i decided to start making my own salad dressing. i had previously complained that it was too time consuming and i would never use the ingredients again... blah blah blah. well, it's not at all true. making my own salad dressing is definitely one of my new most favorite things. {sorry hidden valley}


here is the recipe for my current favorite oil/vinegar based dressing:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
3-4 tablespoons basalmic vinegar
2 large tablespoons romano cheese
4-5 shakes onion powder
4-5 shakes oregano
black powder to taste
1 packet italian dressing mix
*blend above ingredients in blender/food processor for 30 seconds.
add 1 3/4 cup extra light olive oil & blend for 90 seconds.
{store at room temp. don't refrigerate!}

it tastes great on spinach salads with cranberries, feta/blue cheese, walnuts, and chicken. this is my go-to salad when i am in a rush. this recipe also makes a great marinade for chicken. i can't take credit for the it, though. i received it from my incredible cook of a mother.

let me know if you decide to try it!
and... leave your favorite homemade salad dressing recipes as well!
xoxo


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{happiness is}...

playing in the snow with someone you love.


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10.1.10

the only journey is the journey within
~ rainer maria rilke


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2009: my year in pictures

ten things that made 2009 a truly happy year:


{a trip to nashville}

{sunday mornings with husband}

{stopping to smell the roses}

{trips to the lake}

{a summer full of dresses}

{camping in the mountains}
{beginning our life together}

{concerts in the park}
{trail races in the fall}

{a honeymoon to colorado}

i can't wait to see what 2010 will bring us.
xoxo


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