Red & Tulips.

This is an ideal outfit for me. I love the combination of the red and brown accessories. And that hat! I wonder if that hat would look as good on anyone else. The best part is that she is selling this dress at her etsy shop for $24! Someone really needs to scoop that baby up; I don't think there'd be any better way to ring in summer. (And those shoes are Cynthia Vincent from Target, the same designer as the wowzers I posted earlier.)

Let the light shine.

I've never been to the Met, but I certainly would love to see these amazing crystal chandeliers in person! Aren't they gorgeous?! I read here that the designer, Hans Harold Rathe, was inspired by a book about the Big Bang theory. I think that makes them even more grand, if that's possible. Supposedly the chandeliers silently ascend to the ceiling as the lights dim right before the show starts. Ah, I have goosebumps just thinking about it. One day, I tell you. One day.

Represent.

(via Shiny Squirrel)

Definitely awesome: Ork Posters! They carry posters and screen prints of some of your favorite cities. Of course I am partial to Chicago, but they have a pretty cool one of the Great Lakes, too. And all those other cities, if you're into that sorta thing. I'd love it if they'd eventually get a Twin Cities and Atlanta poster, so I could represent all my homies. If you don't know, I'm a Chicago girl via Georgia via Minnesota.

No, I don't have a Southern accent but I do happen to say y'all every once in a while.

And I am sweet as pie... most of the time.

AND I can totally take a fish off its hook. (Just don't ask me to cast for you, I'm not very good at that part.)

Loose lips.

I LOVE Rosebud Perfume Co.! I especially appreciate their salves. I thought I had tried them all, but during my research I see there are some I haven't tried. Brambleberry rose?? What's a brambleberry? Anyway. I have settled on Strawberry. I'm normally not one for fruity tastes (get that fruity gum away from me stat!), but I love me some strawberry lip balm! I also like that it is the lightest shade; I have pretty red lips (please note the lack of a comma -- I am not saying that I have pretty lips) and like to try to tone that down, not play it up. But seriously, these are great. Soo not sticky and just the right amount of shine. I always had goopy lip gloss and all the boys I kissed HATED the goopy lip gloss. Gah, I kiss sooo many boys. (Just kidding, Mom.) It's also super annoying when your hair sticks to your lips. Girls, you know what I'm talking about. Well, I found these suckers (again, great packaging!) and haven't looked back since. Bring it on, boys!

No words.

(via the thinking tank)

The writing's on the wall.

I love this hidden book shelf; it looks like magic once you stack your books. What a great way to get my books off of the floor next to my bed. Sign me up!

One for One.

Remember those commercials with the super cute guy talking about how he wants to give shoes to children who need them in the world? Yeah, I remember that cute guy, too. Turns out he actually makes cute shoes, too! Supposedly super comfortable, they totally look comfortable. Generally comfort and cuteness do not go hand in hand, but I believe our beloved Tom (unfortunately not his real name) has worked it out. And yes, for every pair of shoes that is purchased a pair is given to a child in need. One for One. That, my friends, is better than cute.

As of April 2010, TOMS has given over 600,000 pairs of shoes to children in need. It seriously doesn't get any better than that.

The true dilemma is how to figure out which pair to buy! There are seriously SO MANY to choose from.

Oh my jeepers.

Lauren Moffatt sure is calling my name. All of her pieces are adorable and they way she's styled them together, priceless. They are definitely not lacking in price, but if you're willing to drop the cash I am SURE it'll be worth it.

(Found at Camp Comfort)

Something blue.

I think these mini rosebud pins are lovely. And I think they'd be a wonderful addition to any bride's day as her something blue! If you don't want to wear them in your hair, I'm sure there would be a way to attach them to your underpinnings. What a sweet lil' secret for you and for 'those in the know'.

If you aren't on a path towards wedded bliss, these pins could dress up any outfit any day. They come in several different colors! Plus, Heart of Light has many other options that'll make a girl swoon. I have my eye on this corsage. What can I say? I love cobalt blue!!

She also has an awesome blog that I stumbled upon the other day. Check it out.

I am grateful for you.

Something I really try to do is remember what I'm grateful for on a somewhat regular basis. I always feel instantly better whenever I mentally list a small portion of the things for which I am grateful. There are way too many to list at one time! I think it would be lovely to have my own gratitude journal where I can keep a physical reminder of the wonderful things in my life. Especially if it's as pretty as this one! (Always so vain.) I only worry it would gather dust next to my bed because I have never been known to journal well. This I could work on right now.

I am grateful for my parents, who are more loving and supportive than many.

I am grateful for a family that I also consider to be my friends.

I am grateful when I walk the streets on a beautiful day and remember that I live in a great city and that this is exactly how I had hoped to live when I was a child.

I am grateful for my health.

I am grateful for friends that make me laugh, listen to me when I cry, and remind me that I bring something unique to the table.

Little Miss Four Eyes.

Ok, here's the deal - I absolutely do not need another pair of glasses, but these are amazing and I want, want, want them!! I have had the idea of these frames in my head for YEARS. And think it's about time I turn this idea into a reality. I would want them in the black/silver option, right? I'm thinking old-school style.

The thing is... I already own a couple of pairs of glasses, not that that's a reason to not get them (a girl's gotta have options!). The reason would be that I never wear them out of the house! I wear contacts every day. BUT I may not do so if I had these granddaddies in my possession. They just may be the extra kick to an outfit that I've been wanting for years and I think they'd go smashingly with my bangs. Don't you?

ALSO: They are only $40!!! That is so super cheap for eyeglasses. Seriously cheap. If you wear glasses GO TO THIS SITE. There are others out there like this one, but I've heard this one is legit (not that the other one's aren't). In fact, $40 is kinda expensive for this site; they have glasses that start at $8! All you have to do is get your prescription from your eye doctor. I've heard some places give you a hard time because, of course, they'd rather you spend your money on their expensive glasses, but don't give up, they have to give you your prescription. Legally speaking, right? (I ain't no lawyer.) Make sure it lists your PD (pupillary distance) - it's necessary for the glasses and sometimes those sneaky buggers leave it off.

Soooo, what do you think? To buy, or not to buy?

Holla.

These are rad. There is no other word more appropriate than rad. And they are only $30.00 - Cynthia Vincent at Target. The catch is you can only purchase them at the store. So get ye to a store, ladies. Let's hope they're not sold out.

Hello, gorgeous.

(Find here.)

I know these pictures are meant for the headpieces, which are absolutely lovely, but all I can see is THAT HAIR. I want that hair. I'd give...I don't know, something really big for that hair. I've always thought about going red but have never had the guts to do it. Between the fear of it not looking the way I'd pictured and the upkeep, I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. The woman who cuts my hair would probably die if I showed up asking for red hair. I'm one of those "just a trim" girls, except for the one time that I cut off ten inches (and donated it!). That I started regretting a couple weeks after the deed and am still in the painful process of growing it out. See? Red may not be so good. BUT if I made a deal with the devil to come out with this hair? I'd be all for it.

I've seen this fair lady in person and she is just as lovely as she appears to be. I saw Alison Sudol, the lead singer of A Fine Frenzy, at The House of Blues many a moon ago. Not only is she gorgeous (and has an awesome sense of style - at least the night I saw her, that is), but she can sing and play the piano. I don't hate her. I promise.

Widely known fact.

(Elizabeth Dye)

If you know me at all you most likely know that I love weddings. I love everything about them. But I am an especially big fan when it comes to THE DRESS. I would be happy if I spent the rest of my life surrounded by wedding dresses. Seriously, a part of me actually squeals (usually audibly) when I come into contact with a wedding dress. I really do love everything about a wedding, though. I always cry and have had a few moments where I probably cried too much. Just ask my family or friends, they've seen it all. One time, in an attempt to get me to stop crying, my sister told me, "Don't worry, Grandma's dead." That was perhaps one of the funniest and most bizarre few seconds of my life. Anyway, back to the point: I am a sucker for a wedding. Come on, there's drinking and dancing and merriment and two people who stand in front of everyone they love to commit their lives to one another! What's better than that? Nothing.

I've recently been introduced to this website and blog. Thank you, A Cup of Jo. I am obsessed. I officially may have a problem. Just look at the archives of the blog and you'll know what I'm talking about. And if you don't feel the same fervor, that's okay; just know that I am making up for your lack of excitement tenfold.

This is also my disclaimer that I will post wedding stuff. People seem to not like wedding stuff, especially when they aren't involved in weddings, but I do and it's my blog. I promise it isn't becoming a wedding blog, but be prepared for a wedding dress or five. (I didn't think this blog could get any girlier, oh wait...just did.)

Gimme some of that.

This would be so cute sitting on a coffee table filled with candy. Not that I make it a habit of filling bowls with candy in my house. Really, I swear. I love how ironic it is, but not in a stupid way, like those fake spilled glasses of milk. Why would someone buy something like that? Or do they only belong in furniture stores? Anyway, I think this is cute.

Rock n' Roll.

Well, well, well. The Small Stakes certainly has made it possible for a fan to throw a poster on the wall and not feel like they're still in college. These bad boys deserve frames. Go, look and see - they have sooo many bands to choose from. Soo many that I am not nearly cool enough to know.

Oh! They also have a book of over 150 of their favorite posters. Now THAT'S a coffee table book I'd lug home. And not just to appear cool. But seriously, you would be very cool.

Blue suede shoes.

The perfect summer shoe! And it comes in four colors. Choose one, choose all; I think they're all great.

However, my heart remains with the blue.

(And yes, I realize they're not actually suede.)

Let's ride.

I was about to say that it's starting to be really beautiful somewhat consistently, but really, who's kidding who? It's Chicago. The weather is never consistent. But I'd totally forgive that if I had one of these bikes! Preferably purple, please. (Look at that alliteration!) I don't own a bike and sometimes have longing pangs to get one of my own to ride by the lake and to go shopping and to show up at brunch, but then I'm brought back to reality to see that I have absolutely NO room to store a bike. And, if we're being honest here, would I really ride it that much? If I owned this puppy I'm sure I would!!

Too bad they start at $1000. I repeat, start at.

I found them here, where you can link further to all of the pertinent info.

On the chopping block.

(via Design Crush)

This is more rustic than I generally go, but I think it's sweet that these are made from native Minnesota hardwoods. I'm a native Minnesotan myself (ask my friends, I just taught them the meaning of uffda) and would love to have a piece of home in my house.

Two steps forward, two steps back.

I have a wedding to go to in a couple of months that will be outside, on a farm. Doesn't that sound so great?? I'm super excited, but I would be lying if I said I hadn't already thought about what kind of shoes I'm going to wear. I've done the whole walk on your tip-toes so your heels don't sink in the grass thing and, lord knows, I don't want to do it again. I think these just might do the trick! Depends on the dress, of course, but I haven't even thought about that. Well, at least not definitively. But I love how they are casual, yet still fancy. I think absolutely apropos for an outside, summer wedding. The best part: I could easily dance all night long! Which really is always the best part.

They aren't really the cheapest shoes, which probably isn't such a bad thing; I've suffered through so many cheap shoes in my life. And they have my size left (others seem to have gone quickly). I don't know, should I get them? The real question is if I could wear these at other times and not feel weird being all jeweled out. Aaah, the dilemmas.

It's about time.

I really love the idea of a large, chunky watch on a woman's wrist. I think it's a great statement piece that'll never go out of style. I also like the idea of wearing it along with some bangles.

I, myself, never wear a watch. But if I did, this would be the one.

Top.
Bottom.

Hello, lovah.

Isn't she gorgeous? I love a skirt with a lot of texture! The only thing that makes me a little nervous is that it looks kiiiinda short on the model in the Look Book, but it also looks like she's hiking it up a bit. You know, models do that sort of thing. It could totally be the perfect dress for a wedding, if you're not showing a crazy amount of leg. H&M, please don't expect me to buy this if I can't buckle my shoes without embarrassment. Did I mention it's from H&M? The Garden Collection, it certainly looks like they pulled this one off. All I would need is a white blazer; I may even pop the collar. Look out!

She also comes in white. This would be perfect for those ladies getting married. Can you say rehearsal dinner much?

Side note: I hated how Carrie kept calling Baryshnikov her "loVAH" - that scene with the girls in the perfume shop drove me nuts! I am, however, totally excited for the new movie!! Bring on the fluff! And yes, I understand the hypocrisy of using the phrase as my title. Deal with it. I am ripe with contradictions. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I apologize, but really it isn't worth explaining.)

I'll band your aid.

Aren't these AWESOME?! I have an embarrassing lack of first aid equipment in my home (this was recently brought to my attention after breaking in those new shoes rendered my heels a bloody mess and nary a bandaid was to be found) and I think these would really fit the bill. You can either buy one or a full set. There are six in total, but I didn't want to waste all of your time by posting every single one of them. And by waste your time, I mean mine.

Great packaging gets me every time.

I found them at Post Grad Haircut. I know, I'm not really reaching my own goal of not poaching from other blogs. Oh well.

In other news, I was perusing the Anthropologie catalog this weekend and FOUND THE TEACUPS from my previous post. I can't believe it. This is both good and bad.
Bad = I ended up posting something else from Anthropologie, even though I was unaware.
Good = You can actually buy them now. If you so please.

Hollaback, girl.

(found here)

Yes. Yes to all of the above.

Credit when credit's due.

I love my city. Very much.

There ain't much more to say than that. Other than...

Thank you, sir, for the perfect title pic!

An elephant never forgets.

I love these salt and pepper shakers. They are so adorable and functional. One is sitting and and one isn't. Soo sweet. (I was about to make the stupid pun - Or SALTY - but decided against it.) I would like these boys in my home. Too bad they're almost $50. Too bad.

Someone told me once that a baby elephant will remember his mom's call for years even if they were separated! That definitely makes me swoon.

Ooohh man, do you remember Dumbo? That movie was so sad and made me cry when we watched it in class in 3rd grade. It was really embarrassing and I totally lied when another kid asked me if I was crying. Come on! That scene between Dumbo and his mom and that song. I could cry just thinking about it! That and The Fox and the Hound I will NEVER WATCH AGAIN. Never. "Sorry, future kids, we'll just have to watch Sleeping Beauty...again."

Sunny Days Ahead.

What to do, what to do? I am constantly unsatisfied with my sunglasses. I've never found a pair that I really like on my face and I feel like I am forever searching for The Perfect Pair. I should point out that I refuse to spend a lot of money on sunglasses because they only end up at the bottom of my purse covered in lint. Until I get some major cash flow my way - Target sunglasses all the way. That's a lie. I go to Target and see the plethora of sunglasses in front of me, but always leave empty-handed. (It's like DSW. I'm always disappointed in that place.) What was that that I read/heard somewhere? Oh right, the more choices you have the less satisfied you'll be with your decision. Man, I believe it. Annnnyway, here are three choices I like. What do you think? Which do you prefer?

Top - Wayfarer
Middle - Aviator
Bottom - Clubmaster

(All link to Ray Ban, obvi I would go a cheaper route.)

Ooooo la la.

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! I am in love with this. To be completely honest, I can't take my eyes off of that romper. To quote Rachel Zoe, "I die!" The romper is fabulous on its own, but what really makes it is that belt. Such a perfect choice. The shoes and purse certainly don't hurt either. I could give or take Paris, what I really want is that outfit. Just kidding. I think.

This post is two-fold (well, three-fold if you count that AWESOME romper).

First: You can find the above at ShopStyle. Forgive me if this is all redundant, but if you haven't heard of it, stop what you're doing. Go to this website. You're welcome. Now come back. Not only can you find incredible outfit pairings like this one, you can also search basically all of the best places on the internet for clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it. And you can change up the price point, size, color, etc. It will change your life. (Totally giving away my secrets.)

Second: I have plans of grandeur to create my own outfit pairings on this here blog. I just have to figure out how to combine pictures on the same page to download. Or whatever. Technicalities are not my forte, hence the lack of outfit posts. It WILL happen. One day.

Until then you have ShopStyle.

Who's that laaaday?

(found here)

Look at my girl, Ginnifer. She sure has stepped it up, hasn't she? I've never seen someone 'come to' so much before due to a haircut. She loooves that hair cut and I love that haircut. I love Ginnifer Goodwin. I love her character on Big Love, even though she is a little batty and went off and married that guy; she totally thought she was doing the right thing! You know what else I love? THIS OUTFIT. She's totally feeling it. You don't make this face unless you're feeling it. It takes a certain amount of guts and charm to pull off short, tapered pants, but I LOVE this and she is doing no wrong. And there are pockets! You always get major bonbons with me when there are pockets. She just looks fabulous. She's going to the Opera and she's not wearing a dress. I dig it. I love the blue with the black. I love the jewelry and the lack of a necklace. I'm never really a fan of matching your shoes to your purse, but for this, I will let it slide. She has enough going on, the matching totally works. I'd go to the Opera with her any day.

In the Year 2000.

Oh.My.God. How adorable is this? His beard and jacket are removable; the beard for when he is on strike or off-air! Go find him here. I love Conan and was excited to hear he is coming back to television. Granted, I'm not much of a late night talk show kind of a girl. Or really any kind of talk show, for that matter. (Now reality shows are a totally different matter.) Conan was always my go-to. I watched his final show on The Tonight Show and cried. Literally shed tears. I was in my Aunt and Uncle's house and was glad they didn't make an appearance because that would have been embarrassing. But seriously, what he said about not being cynical will stick with me forever. I'm a sucker when a grown man is grateful (even when he's kinda getting screwed) and gracious and chokes up. Conan was all of the above and more aaaaand 30 million dollars richer. I don't feel too bad for the guy. But I sure would love a little doll of him.

Dim Sum Plum.

I wouldn't mind looking down at my toes and seeing this purty color. I think it's a nice transitional color before it gets supah hot out. I've always been incredibly indecisive when it comes to choosing my nail colors. I generally end up going with something because of its name. They have the weirdest names! Can you imagine that being your job? I still think the worst name is Cajun Shrimp and it's really too bad because I love that color so much in the summah summahtime. (I would include links, but the colors seem so wackadoodle on the comp that I'm afraid it would scare you away forever.)

I always want to go get my nails done with my friends on beautiful days. There's nothing better than brunch and a little pampering, no? Honestly though, I generally end up sorta regretting it. Weeeell, not regretting so much as it makes me a little squirmy. It's just a little weird to hold a conversation with someone while two people in such close proximity -they're holding your feet! - can do nothing but listen. It ALWAYS makes me uncomfortable. I revert to lame conversation points and end up having a non-conversation, if you will. (I also hate it when people continue to carry on conversations when a stranger enters the elevator. Come on. We'll be out of here soon enough, let's not subject this poor person to the random ramblings of two twenty-somethings. It makes me cringe.) Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there will be more than one time this summer I end up at the nail salon with a friend or two, but I might just head straight to the magazines.

DISCLAIMER: If you're my friend and we've gotten our nails done together before, I love you very much and I will totally do it again.