{inspired by} prada ss2011

Welcome to my new prada ss2011 inspired bedroom. :)

Here're some before and after pictures of my bedroom that I promised.  

before:

 after:

before:

after:

post-hibernation

It has been an incredibly long dreary winter-- filled with way too much leggings and layered fleece jackets for my comfort. I apologize for the blogging hiatus... the snow takes a toll on my style. Hopefully this time I'll be back for good. Jennifer and I took some photos on an amazing (& rare) sunny day last week. Also I redecorated my room for spring. (inspired by Prada SS2011) I will post some before & after photos soon!

meet my baby...from Saddleback Leather Co.

impatiently waiting for my eggplant parm sandwich...

this is where we go for the best outdoor daydrinking/ sangria in town

{feeling like} soup + bread

Soup and bread is such a great staple in the winter months, just like my puffy Soia & Kyo coat and fleece-sock-lined Hunter boots. Today we made some coconut chicken and wild rice soup from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice. It's savory (from the herbs/spices), creamy (from the coconut milk), and incredibly filling (from the rice and the chicken) without being too heavy (from the veggies) Exactly everything you'd need in the perfect soup meal! Well, except for some garlic chive butter bread made from a fresh baguette that we picked up at Whole Foods. Yum!

{inspired by} the inevitable SAD?

As winter closes in for good in Michigan, my body begins to get incredibly confused. No sunlight and it has to be awake and active? Total darkness at 5pm and it can't stop moving and go to sleep? What's a girl's body supposed to do?! Here is the solution, the men's button that I literally lived in all summer to give me a little bit of hope. I almost put this turquoise gingham button-down away when I took out my winter clothes because I thought the color was too "summery", but decided against it at the end. Boy am I glad, I plan on layering this baby under every sweater I own for the next two months, until I can wear it by itself and a mini skirt and sandals in 70 degrees sunny weather again.

P.S., today we had a high of 31 degrees. And it snowed. UGH!

Express men's button down, VS yoga leggings, h&m necklaces, Frye boots

a close up of the Frye Bethanies that I'm trying incredibly hard to break in

Giving Thanks... in 2010

I don't think anyone can deny the love we all have for thanksgiving. No school (or work), pigging out, bonding with the fam, and cybermonday (and/or black friday)... I am incredibly grateful for a break at this time of year, and an opportunity to give thanks. This year I spent my thanksgiving day in yoga pants and an oversized sweater- and I could not be happier with my fashion decisions as I laid flat out on the livingroom rug post-stuffing my face dinner.

Here is the short list of what I'm thankful this year (trust me, you don't want the long list- it'll take forever to read)

1. my parents, for always loving me and putting up with my childish ways all these years.

2. being in the company of really really ridiculously fabulous people while I shop/ study/ work/ cook/ discuss fashion/ travel/ gossip... etc.

3. health. though I'm still really young, I'm getting to the point when I start worrying about my parents/family getting sick... I'm glad everyone is healthy and well. 

4. optimism. I'm a firm believer in that as long as you look for the good in people and life, things will turn out. There's nothing more important than keeping an optimistic attitude if you want a happy life.

Annnd here comes the best part, some pictures of the delicious/will-make-you-salivate foods that I've had the opportunity to make/eat this last week. Enjoy! 

inspired by {rainy day & british girls}

theory velvet blazer, old navy checkered shirt
american eagle skirt, hunter rainboots

Today was one of those days that rained all. day. long. It poured, it drizzled, it stopped, and it poured again. Good thing I had my trusty Hunters to carry me through the muddy/wet sidewalks and keep my feet dry and warm. I decided to make the best of it by pretending to be a cool British girl- in a chiffon polka-dotted skirt, checkered button down and velvet blazer. Speaking of cool British girls, I actually like Kate Middleton's boring classic style. I think it's so crazy funny that every online blog/magazine ever has been speculating her wedding gown designer non-stop since the engagement was announced. I guess we will forever be obsessed with anything related to British Royalty.

this is my winter song to you

I am officially ready for winter, with Thanksgiving in a week and Christmas right around the corner. 

Okay that's not entirely true... but I am glad that it's finally weather-appropriate to take out my chunky-knits. There is nothing that says hot chocolate by the fireplace better than a great chunky-knit sweater. The funny thing is that none of my chunky-knits were store-bought, they were all thrifted. Maybe it is exactly the classic 90s scratchy wool and the boxy shapes found in thrift store sweaters that draw me to them. I got this cardigan for $5 last year for an "ugly sweater" party. Obviously I got made fun of for my lack of "ugliness" because this cardigan is really quite normal. This year though I swore to myself (and my friends) that I will actually wear an ugly holiday sweater- which means I should begin the hunt soon.

Thrifted sweater, urban outfitters red henley, f21 skirt, frye riding boots