Animal Magnetism

Not too long ago I posted about my love of animal patterns {not animal prints, mind you} in the form of a scottie dog shirt. Since then I have come across quite a few furry friend-inspired pieces that I would gladly wear any day. The patterns below are fun and playful while the shapes and weights of the pieces are prefect for the summer to fall transition.

Aquarium Field Trip Tunic - Modcloth

Owl Print Tunic - Topshop

Bird Print Sweats - Topshop

Fleet of Foxes Top - Modcloth
Andalusian Horses Dress - Anthropologie

Dog Trot Cardigan - Anthropologie

Swan Song Skirt - Anthropologie

Hear Me Roar Dress - Modcloth

Helia Printed Silk Dress - Paul & Joe Sister via Shopstyle

Happy Monday

xoxo

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Pretty Pretty Poppies

Exciting news.
Hiking in Stilettos has been registered with the Coach Poppy Project! Follow the poppy trail to the left, and make it grow by tweeting with the hashtag #hikinginstilettos and #CoachPoppy. You can also become a fan on Facebook.

Look through the pattern and click for special suprises as well! If you find a Coach Poppy bag, click on it for a fun gift!


Help me make the poppy trail grow by tweeting with #hikinginstilettos!

xoxo

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Trail Running: It's Not About the Trail

Or about running, or staying fit, or losing weight, or getting faster, or winning races.

It's not about fancy trail shoes, or electrolyte replenishing, or protein shakes.

It's about finding inspiration, thinking through the day, or memorizing drug interactions until my mind just goes blank. It's about losing myself into the trees to the point where the only noticeable sounds are my breathing and the cadence of my feet. It's about melting into the woods and becoming a part of the trees and trail that surround me. It's about that one hour every day (or sometimes every week) that is completely mine. No obligations, no responsibilities, no distractions. Just me. And the trail.

Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's a choice. I can quit, cry, and complain or I can just keep running. (Don't worry. I'm not going to go all "running as a metaphor for life" on you here.) It's about pushing yourself farther. It's about pushing forward.

It's about feeling exhausted, sweaty, overheated, muddy, and completely empowered. It's about mental strength and perseverance. It's about overcoming self-imposed limitations.

So really, it's not about the trail.

It's so much more than that.

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Blushing Baubles Giveaway Winner

First of all I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for reading and commenting on this blog and for entering the give away. It really brightens my day to see and read the comments that you leave! It makes this whole experience that much more wonderful. That is  the whole idea behind this giveaway series... a thank you for your support.

So, the winner is...

 Heather Taylor from The Dream Machine, lucky {random} number 16!

Congrats, Heather! Just email me your address!

hikinginstilettos@gmail.com

xoxo

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Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake

Until recently, I had never made a cheesecake. Something about needing a special pan always made me wary of the process, assuming it was time consuming or difficult. In order to rid myself of my cheesecake timidity, I made this Barefoot Contessa cheesecake last weekend, and it was not only simple, but delicious.

Mine didn't turn out to be quite as lovely as Ina's as it cracked a bit in the middle, {any tips on how to prevent that?} but it tasted divine. And although I did enjoy the chocolate-espresso combination, it was a very decadent dessert. I think next time I will try something fruitier, perhaps blueberry. 

What is your favorite kind of cheesecake?

xoxo

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Scottie Dog Chic

Two things I love: peter pan collars and fun prints. While I tend to stay away from more traditional animal prints such as leopard and zebra, I do like actual animal patterns, like this scottie dog top. The bright yellow is perfect for a summer day, and the little dogs remind me of my beloved alma mater.

 Forever 21 top, The Loft denim, Michael Kors heels, gifted ring, Target earrings, Essie California Coral polish

What about you? Would you wear an actual animal pattern?

xoxo

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Coffeemaker Crazy

As much as I hate to part with my tiffany blue coffee maker, I think the time has finally come.  It turns off mid-brew, and the "on" button is completely missing so turning it on requires a bit of skill. So, after four years of loyal coffee brewing, I began the search for a new coffee maker. Turns out it's not as easy as I had imagined. I have already brought two home and returned them and am up to my ears reading reviews. I want something that will flow with the white and bamboo in our kitchen, but I also want it to have a slightly retro feel. 

Here are some of the current contenders:

Kitchenaid vs. Cuisinart

These are (obviously) very similar styles, and both of them have mixed reviews. Half the purchasers love their choice, and the other half hate it.

Hamilton Beach vs. Cuisinart

The HB reviews state that it is difficult to pour cold water in the the reservoir, which really is quite small. A few Cuisinart reviewers said that their units stopped working after only six months.

Krupps vs. DeLonghi

Same mixed reviews with Krupps... water drips on the outside, coffee drips when pours. I do really like the look of it, though. The Delonghi has no reviews. (Is that good or bad?!)

What are your opinions? I want something that will look great sitting on the counter, but I also want it to work well for the next several years. What coffee makers do you use?

xoxo

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Run This: Leadville Trail 100

The Leadville Trail 100 mile race began 29 years ago when ex-miner Ken Chlouber invented the "Race Across the Sky" to generate tourism in the city. The first LT 100 had 45 runners, only 10 of whom actually finished. To date the course follows the same 50 miles out and back as the original route, winding through the Rockies and topping out at 12,600 feet at Hope Pass. (It's important to note, too, that the lowest point in the trail is 9,300 feet.) The racers are provided with flashlights and batteries as approximately half of the race is run in utter darkness, (old mining roads in the mountains don't have street lights) and typically only a little over half of the runners make it to the finish. Exhaustion, broken ankles, and altitude sickness are common in the Leadville ER the weekend of the race.

{image credit}

While I will admit that the idea of a 100 mile race is slightly intriguing, I definitely don't see myself actually withstanding 30 hours of running, half of which may be in the dark. (The 4:00 AM start time and mandatory medical check are also great deterrents.) The Marathon and Heavy Half Marathon, however, are a bit more within my reach. The half/marathon course winds its way through the historic mining district of Leadville via old mining roads and tops out at the 13,185 feet of Mosquito Pass. Not exactly your weekend trail run, but an appealing challenge nonetheless.

{click to enlarge}

So if you are in the Leadville, CO area during the summer months, there are a number of events for you to attend. From Lance-approved mountain bike races, to 10ks and training camps, Leadville has definitely made a business out of its trial running. But don't worry about the crowds of racers, Leadville still maintains it's small town affections. One participant described the trail 100 mountain bike race as riding with 1500 of your friends.

{image credit}
{read more about the LT 100 history here.}

Happy Trails.
xoxo


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Happiness is...

buttons (and childhood memories).

When I was a little girl I used to play in my mother's sewing box while she mended the knees of jeans and restitched buttons on our coats. My favorite part of the box was the seemingly hundreds of tiny slots containing the buttons, all arranged by color and size. I would sit by the sewing machine and help sort the buttons when they got mixed up.

What is making you happy on this Monday?

xoxo

images via we heart it

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Just Jade

I love collecting vintage jade kitchen ware. The pale green is both classic and chic and adds a bit of vintage flare to the natural bamboo and white in my kitchen. But jade isn't just for antique mixing bowls and sugar dispensers. These green pieces below are perfect for everything from a girl's brunch to a date night to work wear.

Artemis Dress - Modcloth
Pin Up Heels - Anthropologie
Indie-candescent Dress - Modcloth
Style State-Mint Dress - Modcloth
Dorian Wedges - J Crew
Free As A Bird Blouse - Modcloth
City Field Bag - Anthropologie
How Do You Dew Top - Modcloth
Ikat Scarf - Madewell
Rimni cardigan - J Crew
Frill Neck Silk Vest - Topshop
Emerald Green Wellies - Hunter
After Dinner Mint Clutch - Modcloth


xoxo

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Favorite Things Giveaway: Blushing Baubles

*Note: This give away is now closed. Please check back for another soon!

 
Dressed to the tens.

That's how someone once referred to my bestie's ever-polished wardrobe. Not too overdone, but definitely not understated. A perfect mix of trendy and chic. That's how I like to think of accessories, as the final touch on an outfit that takes it from a nine to a ten.

When it comes to necklaces, I tend toward statement pieces with lots of color and/or texture. One of my favorite places to find interesting jewelry is Ann Taylor Loft, so I am giving away this Loft necklace to one of you! I adore the different shades of pink beads and the simple silver links. This piece would dress up a jeans & tee look or add the finishing touch to a dress quite nicely.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling me what you would pair this necklace with!
For an extra entry, become a follower here or here.
*Edit: if you already follow, let me know in your comment. It will count as your extra entry!

The giveaway will close on Wednesday, August 4th.

xoxo

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Sweet Sweet Sui

Anna Sui has been among my favorite designers since about middle school. I simply adore the mix of feminine and pattern in her work, and I feel great wearing the pieces she creates. Working at Anthropologie during college was almost torturous since I couldn't bring myself to splurge on any her beautiful dresses at that time. Fortunately, however, I have grown up a bit since my 19 year-old retail days. Although this top is from her Gossip Girl-inspired Target line, it is still as precious to me as the silk dresses that it hangs beside.

Anna Sui for Target silk top, The Loft denim leggings, vintage belt and bangle, Steve Madden shoes, Michael Kors bag

xoxo

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Junk (tbd)

One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is sitting at my desk with a big cup of joe, catching up of all of my favorite blogs. From inspiration to entertainment, reading what each of you have to share is an absolute joy. A new addition to my daily reads, Love this Junk is quickly becoming one of my faves. {It doesn't hurt that the author is also one of my fave friends.} From book lists to hunky vamps to hilarious rants, Junk covers it all. If you like(d) Kindredly, you'll love Junk. Go check it. Now. I promise that you won't be disappointed.

xoxo

image via we heart it

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French Apple Tart

Although apples are traditionally a fall fruit, I can't help but munch on them all year round. There's something so very charming about the sweet simplicity of an apple. Not to mention how well the taste pairs with everything from sharp cheddar to peanut butter to pork. So when I stumbled upon this Barefoot Contessa recipe in my cook book the other day, I decided that a French Apple Tart was the perfect companion to a summer weekend.

I used gala apples instead of granny smith to give a slightly sweeter taste, and chose a dark rum at the advice of a good friend. The oven-baked apples came out golden, and the apricot & rum glaze gave the tart a delicious warmth that paired just as well with vanilla bean ice cream as it did with sharp cheddar.


xoxo

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A, B, C, Easy as 1, 2, 3

I am not generally a fan of clothing with words or letters, but something about this dress pulled me in. Although I tend to stay away from long skirts as they typically make me look shorter, I think there is a certain charm to this dress. It may not be the most flattering piece in my wardrobe, but it's comfortable and breezy. Two things that are an absolute must in this scorching southern heat.

xoxo

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