pretty young things

a tally of 2 cities (and ignoring my absence)

2010-11-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

yeah, yeah- we're just going to mostly skip the fact that it's been over 7 months since this little blog has seen any action.

i could make excuses like "oh, work is really super hectic"

or "i'm too busy bein' in lurrve to post anything (ha! pleease.)"

but none of those things are the case.

the truth is I AM LAZY AND DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT.

buuuttt, sometimes you stumble across something and your brain just screams

"I MUST SHARE THIS WITH THE WORLD!!!"

(or with the 6 people who follow my blog- love you, girls!)

so here it is- probably the cutest, most clever thing i've seen this year, or maybe ever. i don't know, maybe that's an exaggeration.

my little kitten chloe is pretty darn cute and clever,

plus she's also hilariously psychotic so she probably wins over this. but i digress...

the paris vs. new york blog is my new favorite thing.

pretty perfect, right?

charleston fashion week

2010-03-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

Charleston Fashion Week just wrapped and I'm kicking myself for the 3rd year in a row that I didn't make time to scoot down there for at least a night.

The photos of all the shows on the website look phenomenal, but my favorite have to be the street style looks of the fashionable attendees.

I love seeing how everyday girls put together great pieces to form the perfect look.

{all images via charleston magazine}

pashley brittannia in blue

2010-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

This gorgeous piece of metal and rubber just got added to

my birthday wish list.

Swooon.

{image via pashley}

quote of the day

2010-02-24T10:04:00.001-08:00

why, oh why can't i be 6 years old?!

2010-02-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

Um...I'm not even this stylish now, let alone when I was in elementary school. It was a good day if I had matching socks on back then.

Work it, little fashionistas. I'm taking notes.

{images via j crew}

diy ruffle rosette top

2010-02-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Want to see how this...

and this...

turn into something this adorable?

Tea Rose Home has an awesome tutorial on this top and a few others that you have to check out!

{images via tea rose home}

suit up

2010-02-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

Fact: I love vintage bikinis. They always come in the cutest patterns with great whimsical details. Plus they’re soo flattering to the female form. Hello, curves!!

The problem: As a 22 year old college student in the South, this isn’t the style you see worn by girls lounging poolside or frolicking on the beach. Humph.

I know I should embrace the role of trendsetter and rock a vintage-style bikini hard and proud, but I’ll admit I’m a little scared of standing out from the sea of J Crew twist bandeau suits.

So a goal of mine before sun bathing season gets into full swing is to convince just one girlfriend to take the retro trend plunge with me. If I’ve got to go down in fashion flames, I’m taking someone with me!!

{image via anthroplogie}

quote of the day

2010-02-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

"I love hugging.

I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug 10 people at a time."

-Drew Barrymore

{image via alena chendler}

a little JM for your day...

2010-02-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

In honor of his presence at USC this week. This song served as the soundtrack to my Advertising Strategies class today while he was sound checking in the same building. Pretty sweet, right?

I was dying over the hilariously creative plotting by girls in my class to stalk him down and subsequently have his babies. I wish you luck, ladies!

girl crush: diane kruger

2010-01-26T14:58:00.001-08:00

Diane Kruger was definitely my favorite at the SAG Awards this year. I loved the saffron Jason Wu gown paired with the ruby jewelry, absolute perfection.

But her best accessory of the night had to be Joshua Jackson. They couldn't be any more adorbs if they tried. Who would have thought Pacey from Dawson's Creek would grow up to land such a babe AND have such great style?

{images via instyle}

temporary wallpaper idea

2010-01-26T14:20:00.001-08:00

Jenny over at Little Green Notebook is an absolute genuis. I stalk her blog constantly trying to pick up stylish, inexpensive DIY projects to use in my little house.

This time she really floored me, though. I've been searching for a solution to my depressing off-white walls that I can't paint or wallpaper since I'm a renter. I found a couple of ideas with those adhesive decals and temporary wallpaper but nothing really went with my decor.

Jenny has come to my rescue with a large scale diamond patterned "wallpaper" using Japanese masking tape.

Here are some of Jenny's home during the process...

and here is the finished product. So chic, right?

I love the aqua color Jenny used, but I'm also considering this green and the red dot. What do you think?

{images via little green notebook and happytape}

reese's pieces

2010-01-19T05:37:00.000-08:00

This bout of warm weather has given me the ultimate case of Spring Fever.
I'm itching to break out my light, flowy sundresses from storage.

In my mind, Reese Witherspoon can do no wrong but I'm especially loving this drop-waist dress/gladiator combo.

{image via instyle}

happy monday!

2010-01-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

That title sounds like an oxymoron. But when you work for a public library and have the day off when it's a sunny 67 degrees out, it's actually true!

p.s. I've been really bad at blogging on a daily basis, but it's one of my New Year's resolutions to keep up with it so I promise to start...now.

Yeah, now.

{image via penny lane}

meet little baby riley:

2010-01-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

the pudgiest, squishiest, softest, sweetest Bernese Mountain puppy with

the funniest cartooniest bark I've ever heard.

Best roomie ever.

the edge of love

2010-01-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

I've formed an unhealthy obsession with this movie. April Ferry is a costume-design genius, her war-time ensambles leave me drooling every time I watch the movie.

Floral tea dresses, well-worn, chunky cardies, thick, knee-high socks and folded-down wellies have consumed my life.

effortless style

2010-01-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

These Swedes really know what they're doing.

Gorgeous!

{images via stockholm streetstyle}

woo hoo!!

2010-01-01T09:50:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Bring it on, 2010!!

{image via plush palate}

praying, praying, praying

2009-12-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

for snow,

snow,

and more snow!

Please come soon so I can rip off this pouty pretty girl's adorable outfit!

{images via dress, design, decor and lookbook}

meet the parents

2009-12-30T18:14:00.001-08:00

The holiday season holds lots of dinners and parties which, for some of us, means nerve-racking meet-the-parents scenarios. Yikesies! Luckily, the gals over at Who What Wear are easing our minds with tips for parent-appropriate fashion.

to love somebody

2009-07-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

I couldn't love this any more if I tried. It's the only cover I've ever thought is better than the original. Sorry, Bee Gees.

garden state

2009-07-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

Taza and the Prince and Ban.do headbands are all so gorgeous, but lately I'm head over heels for a halo of simple wild flowers.

{photos via english muse, come and dance, merricat, and you are bon bon}

2009-07-24T00:13:00.000-07:00

Don’t you wish getting ready in the morning was always this glamorous?

{photo via bippity boppity boo}

garden party

2009-07-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Learn how to make these flowers here, from Martha Stewart Weddings.

summer is for breaking...

2009-07-21T21:10:00.001-07:00

oh em gee

2009-07-21T19:37:00.001-07:00

So this is what true love feels like...

{image via dress, design, decor}

rising tide fair trade

2009-07-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm currently obsessed with these weekenders from Rising Tide Fair Trade. The bags are crafted by Bengali women from vintage Kantha quilts and come tons of bright colors and patterns. The price tag is a little steep, but it's worth it since the Indian artisans earn 60% more making these bags than working in a typical factory job. For more info, check out the website.

happy {adventurous} weekend!

2009-07-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the beach on Sunday, and I'm already in need of another vacation. This weekend will be spent packing up my entire life just to haul it 5 minutes across town. Why must I choose to move every single year?! Hopefully I'll be able to take a nice break and find the time to sneak off for a little adventure...

{photo via lostsoul}

fab 5: flat sandals

2009-07-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

This week's "fab 5" comes from Piperlime. I'm so obsessed with this site...thousands of beautiful shoes with free shipping and returns. What more could a girl ask for? Most of these are Rachel Zoe picks which is no surprise since I die (ha!) over everything that woman does.

1. Pour La Victoire's Ella in Rose snake print, $215

2. Pierre Dumas' Nadine in Gold, $49

3. Groove's Charmer in Silver, $55

4. Mystique's 1641 in Turquoise, $155

5. Sam Edelman's Gigi in Mango snake print, $79

{all photos via piperlime}

good luck, carol hannah!

2009-07-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, my little fashionistas, but I’m anxiously awaiting the return of Project Runway to its new home on Lifetime. Can you imagine, not too long from now, a PR marathon followed by episodes of Will and Grace?! Too much perfection to even contemplate right now. But the best part about Season 6? A fellow Carolina girl on the show!! A friend informed me that 24 year old Charleston native Carol Hannah Whitfield will join the cast of talented designers and I’m beyond thrilled! As a young, innovative designer with her own line, Carol Hannah’s life is pretty much my dream.
Watching the video below, it’s easy to see this adorable girl knows what she’s doing. Carol Hannah’s description of her creative process, like mixing Charleston’s aesthetics and music, is really inspiring. I wish her the best of luck and can’t wait to see the show!

white hot

2009-07-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have a confession: I looove white jeans, almost to an unhealthy extent. They just scream summer to me and can be worn with practically anything. With 2 months left before Labor Day (if you follow that rule), there’s plenty of time to break out the white denim. And one thing I recently realized I adore white jeans on boys, too. Time to force the boyfrans to expand their horizons, ladies, and get them into jeans that are hot, white hot.

Personally, I choose not to spend much on white jeans just because you can’t wear them but one season a year and well, I’m very messy so it’s not uncommon for me to spill marinara sauce or a glass of red wine all the way down the front of my outfit. Luckily, plenty of trendy stores out there carry white jeans at a really affordable price. The pair I live in right now are skinnies from Charlotte Russe and were less than 30 bucks.

{photos via instyle, lookbook, and the sartorialist}

dear miss sara

2009-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Seriously?! You are soo my new fave.

girl crush: drew barrymore

2009-06-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

"I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful."

{image via we heart it}

the 30 most satisfying simple pleasures life has to offer

2009-06-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

1. Sleeping In on a Rainy Day – As the rain beats lightly against the window, you nestle your head deeper into your pillow. The sound is soothing and your bed feels like a sanctuary. There is no place you would rather be.
2. Finding Money You Didn’t Know You Had – You reach into your pocket and find a $20 bill from the last time you wore these jeans. You aren’t rich, but you are richer than you were a second earlier.
3. Making Brief Eye Contact with Someone of the Opposite Sex – You pass her on the street or in the subway. She glances up at you momentarily, making direct eye contact in a way that seems to communicate a subtle curiosity. For a split second it makes you think… and then it’s gone.
4. Skinny Dipping – There is something mysteriously liberating about being naked in a body of water. You are naked, but it feels natural, a sense of unrefined freedom.
5. Receiving a Real Letter or Package via Snail Mail – E-mail has become the primary source of written communication. Most snail mail these days is junk mail. When you check the mail and find a real letter or package from someone you know, excitement overtakes you as you tear into this rare gift.
6. Making the Yellow Light - It’s one of the most common simple pleasures, the act of beating the pack. As you blaze through the yellow light you glance in your rearview to see all the cars behind you stopping at the red light. Yes! You made it!
7. Telling a Funny or Interesting, True Story - One of the most enticing roles you lead in life is that of the storyteller. You love to share stories, especially those that will captivate your audience with deep curiosity and humor. There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.
8. Seeing a Friend Stumble Over Himself – As you walk across the street with your friend, he fails to accurately address the curb on the other side. He trips and stumbles around momentarily before regaining his footing, then swiftly attempts to play it off like nothing happened. This can be a hilarious sight if the moment is right.
9. Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment - It doesn’t matter what the setting is, hearing the right song for that moment is one of those simple pleasures in life that instantly lifts your spirits. You could be driving home from work, hanging out at a bar with friends, or jogging. When the right song rattles your ear drums the entire meaning of life seems crystal clear.
10. The First Sip of a Beverage When You’re Thirsty – You just finished mowing the lawn or taking a long jog. The only thing on your mind is an ice-cold glass of water. When you are really, really thirsty, that first sip of any liquid beverage is sheer bliss.
11. Catching a Glimpse of Bare Skin on the Opposite Sex – For guys, it’s when the waitress bends over a little too far. For girls it’s seeing that buff guy in a Speedo. Either way, when you see a bit more skin than you were expecting on the opposite sex, you can’t help but to smirk on the inside.
12. Saying the Same Thing Simultaneously – There is a moment of silence. Then all of the sudden you and your friend blurt out the same exact set of words simultaneously. This rare occurrence is something to smile about.
13. The Pull-Through Parking Spot – You pull into a parking spot and are delighted to see the availability of the parking spot immediately in front of you. You pull through to the spot in front so that when you return to the car you can drive forward out of the parking spot. Why? Because driving backwards is a pain in the butt.
14. Realizing You Have More Time to Sleep – Something abruptly awakens you and you think it’s time to get up. Then you squint over at your alarm clock and realize you still have 2 more hours to sleep. A warm euphoric feeling shoots though your body as you glide gracefully back to your dreams.
15. People Watching – Sitting there on your bench you can see people in every direction. Tall people, small people, thin and plump. Blond, brunette, and redhead alike. Each of them has a different stride and a unique expression. As you drift from body to body you are mesmerized by what you see.
16. Putting On Clothes Straight from the Dryer – As soon as the dryer buzzes, you pull out your clothes and put them on. They feel soothingly warm on your skin and emit a fresh-scented aroma into the air. A sentiment of ease comes over you as you head out to conquer the day.
17. A Familiar Smell – You just pulled into your parent’s driveway and opened the car door. You haven’t been home in a long while. You smell familiarity in the air, the scent of a large pine tree in the neighbor’s yard. As you head through the front door, more familiar smells consume your senses. Gosh, it feels good to be home…
18. The Feeling You Get When Your Idea Works – You have been struggling to resolve a complex problem all day and you just can’t seem to get it right. Filled with frustration, you decide to exercise one last idea before calling it a night. You’ve had many ideas before that failed miserably… but this time it works.
19. Fresh, Clean Bed Sheets – You yank at the corner of the bedspread to create just enough space to slide your body under the freshly cleaned sheets. The sheets feel cool to the touch. Everything seems so clean, like nobody has ever slept in this bed before.
20. A Beautiful View – As the car veers around the side of the mountain you gaze out the passenger window. It’s a clear, sunny day and you can see the entire valley below filled with wild flowers and bright green vegetation. The scenery reminds you of something you once saw in National Geographic. But here it is live, right before your eyes.
21. Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Closest Friends – Pink Floyd once said “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”. There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.
22. Receiving an Unexpected Compliment – It’s been an average day. Nothing really great has happened, but nothing terrible occurred either. This monotonous day has put you in a dreary mood. Unexpectedly, an older, attractive lady taps you on the shoulder, calls you “handsome” and says she loves your shirt. The day just got a whole lot better.
23. Having a Good Laugh – Laughter is the greatest cure of all. Life is extraordinary in the moments when you are laughing so hard you can barely breathe. These moments of deep laughter are divine in the sense that they cleanse your mood and set your mind on a positive track.
24. The Feeling After a Healthy Workout - It’s a giddy feeling of self accomplishment; the one true activity that actually makes you feel better and look better simultaneously. When you walk out the front door of the gym you are on top of the world.
25. The Celebration in the Instant Something Makes Sense – Even now that it has explained to you for the third time, you just don’t understand how it works. Everyone else seems to understand but you. Then out of the blue the dots connect in your mind. You finally get it, and it feels great!
26. Relaxing Outdoors on a Sunny Day – As you relax sprawled out in a lawn chair, the sun warms your skin and a light breeze keeps the temperature comfortable. Birds are chirping merrily in the trees behind you. You are at complete peace with the environment.
27. Holding Hands with Someone You Love – Every time she grabs your hand you are overcome with an awareness of how much she means to you. Holding hands is sensual and physically intimate, yet subtle. There are few people you allow to hold your hand, so when it happens you can be sure that the moment is special.
28. Playing in the Water – Water marvels people of all ages. From jumping in puddles as a child, to doing cannon balls in the pool as an adolescent, to enjoying a cocktail in the Jacuzzi as an adult… water is enjoyable.
29. Making Someone Smile – You notice that your colleague has been under a great deal of stress with meeting a deadline, so you take it upon yourself to complete one of her indirect responsibilities for her. As soon as she realizes what you did, she comes into your office with a big smile on her face. “Thank you”, she says. You just hit two birds with one stone, because making her smile just made your day.
30. Finishing What You Started – You just finished up a big project you’ve been working on for the last few months, or maybe you just finished your first marathon… Either way, you finalized what you set out to accomplish. The feeling of self accomplishment you get when you finish what you started is by far one of the most rewarding simple pleasures life has to offer.

{photo via casando ideias, simple pleasures via marc and angel hack life}

happy {sunkissed} weekend!

2009-05-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

I finally get a break from school and work so I'll be spending the long weekend back at home. I can't wait for tubing on the lake tomorrow and dancing the Carolina Shag to beach music legends The Catalinas and Chairmen of the Board on Sunday!

{image via we heart it}

portroids

2009-05-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

I've always found comfort in telling myself that the only reason movie stars are so gorgeous is because they have 24-hour makeup artists, stylists, and personal trainers to keep them that way.

Portroids, though, has proved me very wrong. The photographer catches celebrities on the street and snaps an impromptu photo, then asks them to sign it while the polaroid develops.

Keri Russell, Kerry Washington, and Anne Hathaway all look too ridiculously beautiful and fresh-faced for words in their Portroids.

rain, rain, go away

2009-04-03T00:12:00.000-07:00

I would rather be laying by the pool drinking one of these.

{image via we heart it}

next project

2009-04-03T00:10:00.000-07:00

{image via cookie magazine}

fab 5: summer music festivals

2009-04-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

This week's "fab 5": summer music festivals! Live music is probably one of my favorite things on earth. I love seeing musicians getting really into their music while the crowd sings and dances along. And because there are usually several acts at a festival, you have the chance to experience some music you might not have heard before.

1. Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Dates: June 11–14
Location: Manchester, Tenn. (66 miles southeast of Nashville)
Cost: $224–$249 for a four-day pass that includes camping and parking
Headliners: Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Snoop Dogg, MGMT
Crowd vibe: Artsy types, jam-band fans, partygoers, alt-country wannabes, college kids
My Opinion: Bonnaroo ranks as my top festival pick for several reasons: Musical acts- The are so many musicians in this year’s line-up I’m dying to see, including Bon Iver, Passion Pit, Andrew Bird, and Lucinda Williams, I can barely contain my excitement! Location- Manchester is only a few hours from me which is perfect since I haaate long car rides. All the extras- along with musical acts, Bonnaroo hosts comedians like The Daily Show’s John Oliver and Rob Riggle, a batting cage sponsored by the MLB, and Garnier Fructis will even be there with the “Bonnaroo Salon,” pretty sweet right?!

2. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Dates: April 17–19
Location: Indio, Calif. (146 miles east of Los Angeles)
Cost: $269 for a three-day pass, $55 for onsite camping, $99 for a single-day pass
Headliners: Paul McCartney, the Killers, the Cure, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Leonard Cohen
Crowd vibe: Music critics, 30-something hipsters and their cool, younger siblings, college kids, some young families
My opinion: If you’re into celeb lurking, Coachella is the place to be. Less than 200 miles from Hollywood, Indio becomes overrun with movie stars and models during this April weekend. Last year, Sean Penn, Elijah Wood, and Agyness Deyn were seen wandering around backstage at the event. Another huge selling point for me, at least: when else in your lifetime will you have the chance to sing along to Beatle's songs with Paul McCartney?! Totes jeal of all West-Coasters.

3. Summerfest
Dates: June 25–July 5Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $8–$15 festival admission daily; concerts on small stages are included with admission; concerts on main stage at Marcus Amphitheater require additional admission
Headliners: Bon Jovi, Conor Oberst, No Doubt, George Strait, Asher Roth, the Fray, Judas Priest
Crowd vibe: Teens, weekenders, big-haired Bon Jovi fans, a few cowboy hats and Gavin, Kingston and Zuma Rossdale, perhaps?
My Opinion: Summerfest is known as the world’s largest music festival, which I guess could be considered a good and a bad thing. Most of the acts will be very mainstream, stuff you’ve heard on the radio over and over again. That’s not really my style since one on the draws to music festivals for me is discovering new musicians I’ve never heard before. On the other hand, Summerfest is said to be very family-friendly so no need to worry about a babysitter, bring the kids along! Big selling point for me, as a broke college student: tickets are as cheap as $8 a day, which means I’ll have enough cash left over to splurge on the perf outdoor concert outfit.

4. Rothbury Music and Arts Festival
Dates: July 2–5Location: Rothbury, Mich. (200 miles west of Detroit)
Cost: $249.50 for a four-day pass that includes camping and parking
Headliners: Bob Dylan and His Band, the Dead, Willie Nelson, Black Crowes, Ani DiFranco
Crowd vibe: The tagline says it all: "A sustainable camping festival revolution celebrating music, art and action."(read: peace, love and fighting The Man)
My Opinion: Umm, Bob Dylan...do I need to say anything else? If you’re not a Beat junkie like me, I’ll elaborate. Rothbury is an environmentally-conscious festival, which is usually hard to achieve considering the hoards of people with all of their trash. The event features a work-exchange program called Green Team- you pay for a pass on your credit card, sign up and then show up to work three shifts as a festival volunteer, and your credit card will be refunded at the end of the festival. Free show for a little good work? Sounds like a pretty awesome deal to me!

5. Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge
Dates: May 23–25
Location: George, Wash. (150 miles southeast of Seattle)
Cost: $66.50 per day if you purchase before May 18, otherwise $76.50 per day; $95 weekend camping pass
Headliners: Kings of Leon, Jane's Addiction, TV on the Radio, Nine Inch Nails, Ben Harper
Crowd vibe: Indie insiders, ex-punks, bearded boys, college kids
My Opinion: One thing comes to mind when I think of George, Washington (besides our 1st President, obvi): RAIN. Be prepared with a rain jacket and boots is all I’m sayin’.

Five festivals just isn’t enough? Don’t see anything in your area? Check out New Orleans's Essence Music Festival, All Points West Music and Arts Festival on New York Harbor, Lollapalooza in Chicago, San Fran’s Outside Lands, and another Southern favorite of mine-Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis.

{some info via newsweek, bonnaroo photo via jaunted}

2009-04-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this girl. Definitely the coolest twin, hands down.

{image via i heart you}

i need this...now, please

2009-04-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

Either color, I'm not picky.

{image via sunday brunch}

yaaaay!

2009-04-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

If it's half as good as Paris, Je'Taime, I'll be thrilled.

2009-04-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

3:26 am

...and I have to be at work at 8. Why? Why? Why?

2009-04-02T16:27:00.001-07:00

Ballerinas have to be the most beautiful human beings on earth. Why did my mom ever let me give this up?

{images via we heart it}