summer scent

My favorite scent in the world is that of freshly-cut grass.  Whether I'm driving down Lakeshore Drive and they are mowing in the park or I am driving to the lake, I always stop to take it all in and let the freshness hover and take down my blood pressure a beat or two.  It takes me back to the long lost days of summer...all my summers: as a child slurping popsicles in the backyard, studying on the campus lawn in college, reading books in Battery Park, playing with the kids in the baby pool on our small patch of city grass.  It's a universal, constant scent that never changes with time..

My second favorite scent in the world is Kai.  The scent comes in many forms, but I prefer it in the Body Glow spray.  Described as "a light and intoxicating blend of gardenia wrapped in white exotics..." it's as good as grass at exuding the the air of summer.

 

you arrrrgh awesome!

i'm pretty sure my decision to make these homemade valentine's with my son was a result of a major case of mom guilt, temporary insanity, and a slight urge to open that hot glue gun that's been sitting in my closet...in the package.  luckily, my daughter opted for the $1.99 doggie/kitty vtine tattoo pack at walgreens, so we only had to do a little doctoring to those.  these pirate patches, however took a little longer.  not too long though and my son's interest in the glue gun kept him on task.  but let me tell you that my table looks nothing like it does in this how-to video.  nor were my kids falling all over each other with adorable laughs and hugs.  i did put my extra glue sticks in a ball glass jar though. ding!

the dress that keeps on giving

when i originally wrote a post on this dress, i wanted to shout that everyone should have it in their closet.  hands down, it is the most versatile item in my closet...and, the best part, it's comfy cozy.  the sweatshirt material (hello?) is disguised by a great, classic cut and pockets, no less.  because the fabric is so non-seasonal, the possibilities are endless.  this was taken in the summer (looking like a drowned rat waiting for a cab in an nyc downpour), but i wore it in the fall with a leather bomber jacket and booties, solo with ballet flats, with a black under tee, tights and boots, with flips, to a cocktail party, to run errands, to work, to a garden party to an evening work event - the below pic was taken before an event at the MOMA - see what i mean?  from the MOMA to a street fest...the list goes on and on.

and i'm bringing this all up because i just saw that madewell brought the dress back, but now in short sleeve, which i think is even cuter and hipper.  besties, price per wear is in th negatives....just sayin.

madewell sweatshirt dress $118

san antonio feast

A recent shoot took me to San Antonio for three days.  After the sheer thrill and awe that I actually landed there safely (that may have been boosted by a little Rx assistant), I decided to take in as much as I could in the little time we had in between work commitments.  This resulted in me eating my way through this fine city.

First stop:  La Gloria-Street foods of Mexico.  My first and by far the best meal I had in San Antonio. You can just tell by looking at these chips that they are light and crispy.  My co-workers and I split the three taco plates and ended with the elote- the corn on the cob (I think I'll be trying Rick Bayless' recipe at home - all summer!) 

 

Next stop was La Fogata for dinner and Margaritas bigger than....well, take a look!  My cute little buddy is a regular size marg on the right.  The texas size marg on the left comes with a frozen beer in it.  That made for a fun client dinner.

Next up was Rudy's REAL TEXAS BBQ for a crew and client lunch on our shoot day.  Served family style with a few loaves of good 'ole white bread and any kind of fruit flavored pop/soda that you could imagine - icing down in the beverage trough.  My choice was a Pepsi from Mexico - gotta go big and REAL when in Texas.  And RUDY'S BBQ sauce is amazing and a bottle is in my fridge right now!  Merry Christmas to me from me.

We ended with an amazing dinner at a steakhouse that's hidden within an outdoor mall (and quite hard to find mind you after a 14hr day).  But we found Perry's Steakhouse along with an amazing ice seafood tower, too die for famous pork chop, and yummy banana's foster.  

When I wasn't eating, I was doing my producing thing in my favorite (and very lived in) kicks and j crew chambray shirt-which for sure is down to a zero price per wear status.  Both perfect for the construction site location backdrops.

boots:  charles david (similar, kinda)

j crew chambray shirt - a closet must have

denim:  gap recylced 1969 always skinny

a san antonio souvenir for kringle

Still need a ton of votes to stay in the Top 25!

the. perfect. black. dress.

For under $50 and for every body type.....leave it to the designer shop at target to offer this perfect lbd for every and any occasion.  Could be styled with ankle boots, scarf and denim jacket or dressed up with pumps. The fabric lends itself to wearability almost year round.  And that is why it's hanging in my closet, on a special hook, waiting...for this weekend.

Kirna Zabete for Target® Sleeveless Metallic Jacquard Dress in Black

 or, if you prefer a skirt....

as styled by

Happy weekend, besties!

Sunny: A Market Post

Sunflowers took over the market a few weeks ago and added brightness to an already sunny day.  

And this sunny shirt took over my summer.  And this is what I wore all summer!

Price per wear I would say is hovering around $1.75, but check back with me in a year and it will probably be closer to zero.  You can probably find it on the  sale rack at Nordstrom now or here.

With this bestie at the ChicagoBloggerBlitz and in Time Square, both back in June.

Umm, are my glasses too big for my face or what?

Linking up for what i wore wednesday!

Pretty Edgy

It's been a while since my last product review and I realized that I never shared with you my latest eyeliner obsession.  Real Simple magazine had me at "it's natural so you can use on the inner eyelid."  The Amazon order was made within minutes of reading that blurb and my Daliia was in hand and on my inner lids within a week.  This eyeliner is quite magical in that is self sharpens (because who can ever find the right size sharpener), comes in a perfect little case with hidden mirror (yeah, i broke mine, hello 7 years), and is easy to apply.  It's considered an Ayurvedic product in that it's made with herbs and is all natural.  I love the pop that inner lid liner brings to the eye.  It's stunning and perfect with mascara; no other makeup necessary.  

Note:  If using with a cream shadow, make sure to add a top layer of powdered shadow to prevent smudging.  

Happy lining!

It's a double review.  Lucky you.  

With all the lovely lavendered and blue hued toes walking around out there, I decided to go green with this Essie shade from the 2010 collection. Because that's pretty much how I roll, about two years behind.  Plus, I'm pretty edgy, just ask me.

Happy painting!

 

pretty edgy 

only $6.99 @ eNail Supply

Stripecast

stripecast pullover $49.99

similar

Another Madewell goodie goes on sale.  I always think it's so much easier to judge it you see the item on a person - and a regular, at that.  You know, not a model but a very regular, like me. 

in soho just about to jump in a car to airport 

$4.99 neon Forever 21 tank underneath

One Shade of Grey

my last minute outfit for an event in nyc

it was raining after all and the originally planned colorful dress wasn't fitting the mood

this dress is so versatile, i am picturing it with brown fryes in the winter, a denim jacket in the fall, but it was worn with these on a rainy tuesday night in june

madwell softshade sweatshirt dress

yep, you had me at soft and sweatshirt...

sam edelman 'sophie' sandal

meets my 2.5" limit coming in at a nice and comfortable 2", maybe even a few cm less

the dispatch clutch

i got in on sale at the madewell store for $68 

top it off with

tower earrings by jules

FINALLY...I've been dreaming of this product for years.  Well, at least for two years I know for sure - since the time I posted about my morning struggle to get through one hot cup of coffee before having to warm it up.

Burning Cup designed by Ryan Jongwoo Choi

 

I haven't quite figured out where to order yet, but you'll know when I do!

Happy Friday, besties!

loft love

i have become obsessed with loft spaces.  the openness is very appealing and i dream of kids rollerskating to the dinner table.  here are some photos i snapped of a loft i was recently in - well, we were in a party next door and it's connected to this space.  the owner walked in and was a little suspicious of my picture taking, however, after learning he was a photographer, he may have been more appalled at my shotty skills.  either way, i explained that i wasn't casing the joint and only loving his space.

i'm off to nyc this morning for work.

hope to give you a good visual dose of soho and the big city when i return.

Doughnut Vault

This may be the cutest food venue storefront in the city!  The Doughnut Vault is open until they sell out of doughnuts.  I have yet to make it there before they sell out, which seems to be as quickly as an hour.  My goal is to get there upon the opening of the doors.  Soon, I will.  And I will report back with my doughnut review.

                          DON"T FORGET TO ENTER MY STRIPED TEE GIVEAWAY!

Studio 53

I stumbled across the cutest (and smallest) antique/art studio shop in Delavan, Wisconsin a few weeks ago.  And it just happens to be for sale.  We bumped into the owner as he walked out of his house while I had my nose pressed against the window of his little shop (the shop was closed and I was just trying to get a peak).  Studio 53 is a work/create/living space all in one with the shop in the front, art loft studio in the back and three bedroom house to the right.  I dream about leaving the city and going to live on a farm, but I think this would be the perfect little compromise - loft space in a small town, kids jumping into the nearby lake via rope swings, hitting the local coffee shop on a daily basis - well, they would serve better coffee, of course - in my dream - and we would bike everywhere as a family (if I actually liked to bike).  Ok, see, grass isn't always greener, but Studio 53 is pretty darn cute.  Don't you think?

 

easy summer sneaks

my new favorite summer kicks.  

when joanna posted that "bensimon are french girl's converse "- she had me at french AND converse.

a cross between tom's and keds, they are easy throw on shoes.

admittedly, they have a lot of flaws where the rubber meets canvas, but maybe that adds to their charm.

and they are kinda over priced.

but, you know what, i am loving them and thinking about pair #2

mine

and they come in a million styles and colors.  i got basic boring black, but look at all the awesome shades!

Fresh Flavor, Friends & Fun

My friend made this amazingly fresh and flavorful salad over the weekend.

The best part is that all the flavor comes directly from the fresh ingredients and there is no oil or any sort of dressing.

I think it was equal parts chopped ingredients (pretty much what you see):

Avocado, Tomatoes (strained), Mango, White Onion, Cilantro

The salad accompanied a meal of grilled pork chops and grilled vegetables.  My other friend grilled the vegetables to just the right amount of crisp in this must have vegetable grilling basket.

Weber Style Professional GradeVegetable Basket

Perfect Father's Day Gift for the bbq lover, might I add.

Lovely weekend spent with lovely friends, fresh food, and happy kids.

Here's to kicking off the summer season (even if a little bit early).