home (and t-shirt love)

Hey guys! So I just got a new t-shirt at work and I'm super glad that tees are the new big thing (Doesn't that sound weird? t-shirts are always in, right? But apparently, fashion is telling us that tees are in NOW). I'm really a huge tomboy at heart so I can't wait to be able to incorporate the easy peasy style of a casual t-shirt into more fancy ensembles like these pleated pants in the pictures below, and skirts as well, especially midi length. I also love that there's a cat silhouette in this particular one, along with the Manhattan skyline. Meow!

t-shirt: American Apparel
high waist pleated pants: also American Apparel
loafers: thrifted





I'm planning on doing the t-shirt + skirt combo a lot this fall. This Sailboat tee from Anthropologie and this other one from Madewell are on my list.


Up at the top of this post is a picture of me and J sitting in front of our house at the tree stump table, which is probably my favorite part of the house, although there's way too much to choose from. I thought it would be kinda neat for everyone to see inside my house. It's really cute and old and all mismatched furniture and decoration from different eras, thanks to my roommate, Alyssa, who's got great style and is super crafty. In fact, she just recently refinished the coffee table in the living room. To see her DIY you can go to her blog, Love & Space. Also, there are pictures of my bookcase, and my room, kitchen, etc. Just a couple glimpses. The outfit pictures are taken in my backyard (the sign is leftover from Alyssa's wedding photos. All you need is love! :)

challenge

So I'm going to be starting the 30-for-30 challenge from Kendi Everyday. You can find out the rules on her blog here. Basically, it's to help you work with what you've got-- and forgotten-- in your closet, to make outfits that will last for a month, so as to help you with your binge-shopping. I'm really excited for this because I need to stop spending my money on clothes.

It's not as hard as it sounds since coats and accessories aren't included in the item count. I'll be posting my outfits on here hopefully. I do tend to get real lazy. If not every day, I'll do a weekly roundup. Actually, that sounds more doable. Of course, since I work at American Apparel, my work outfits won't count (although some work clothes will be part of the 30, like my high waist zip pants and pleated trousers). Y'all should get in on this, too!

Also, I don't know if I told you, but I moved into a super cute house in Redlands and am still in the process of getting situated. The only thing done is the little cupboard thingy in my bathroom. Here are some pictures.

the lullaby of spring

So I'm leaving for Denver this Thursday morning for the AWP Writer's conference, and I decided to charge up the old iPod tonight. And now my dilemma is that I'm trying to come up with a plane ride mix. Care to help, anyone? With a theme, a name, songs to put on there? Please? Feel free to think up lots, because I'm gonna want enough for the plane ride there and back, hopefully.


This is what I want to do in terms of my window treatments; have the diner/cafe curtains halfway up, and then normal curtains on the side so I can sometimes have natural light coming in up high, but not have it glare on my tv. Perfect, no?




And, I'd been meaning to do this after Kristine did this on her blog.
101 simple pleasures courtesy of Yahoo! I bolded what I liked most.

coloring
crisp cotton sheets
soft skin
old family recipes
the first daffodils of spring
sleeping in
an exercise endorphin high
window boxes
a perfect cup of coffee
a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
the way babies smell
a handwritten letter
waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
singing in the shower
finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
doing something nice for your neighbor
a home cooked meal
laughing
movie theater popcorn
playing hookey
a bubble bath
swimming
an afternoon nap
street musicians
your favorite song
saying thank you
helping someone in need
old fashioned photo booths
fresh whipped cream
inspiring blogs
a glass of wine
rainy afternoons
the funny things kids say
a novel you can get lost in
finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
clean laundry

Yis, please. (first picture is from Anthropologie, the second from Urban Outfitters Spring 2010)


the wind in your hair
treating the person behind you at the drive-thru -- wow that's a neat idea
sharing an umbrella
the smell of lavender
a long walk that clears your head
a bear hug
The Beatles
smiling at a stranger
eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
butterflies
staying in your pj's all day
singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
fresh herbs
ordering in pizza
happy endings...even if they're fictional
flying a kite
puppies
root beer floats
holding open the door...
...or having someone hold the door for you
fountain soda
white, fluffy towels
sunshine
spending an afternoon at a museum
really great advice
green lights all the way home
the sound of rain hitting the windows
sitting in a booth
holding hands
a great hair day with no effort
building a fort with your kids
when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
fireflies
the perfect taco
geraniums on a windowsill
slow dancing
the smell of fresh-baked bread
cheesy, uplifting musicals
great stories
the smell of gasoline
the cold side of the pillow!!!!!
love letters
old friends...
...new friends
a pull-through parking space
a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
when a dog licks your hand
sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
using your favorite dishes
reading your child a bedtime story
Girl Scout Cookies
flossing
kissing someone you love
the smell of onions and garlic cooking
hot chocolate
jumping in puddles
old photographs
birds hopping on the sidewalk
Ella Fitzgerald
a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
your softest t-shirt
a new magazine in the mail
fireplaces
having exact change
bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning. I miss this one.


My singular yum food item over spring break: candied walnuts. I had them in a wonderful spinach salad at the Gypsy Den (Santa Ana, not the Lab... har, har) and then the next day-- also in a salad-- at the Blue Bayou at Disneyland; not to mention caramel corn, surf 'n turf, and chocolate covered honeycomb. Blurg. (the sound of fat clogging my arteries) <3