friday links

things I want to eat:
this paleo-ified Thanksgivukkah leftovers sandwich from Stupid Easy Paleo
(inspired by the insane turkey sandwich I linked to last week from Food52)
this roasted tomato caprese grilled cheese from How Sweet It Is
this chocolate pecan pie from Elana's Pantry

things I want to buy but shouldn't:
this crazy awesome deco-inspired yoga mat from Magic Carpet
these leather skinny pants from Helmut Lang
everything from J.Crew's sale section (take an extra 40% off with code "styletime")

things I'm obsessing over:
this smoking slipper DIY project from Cupcakes and Cashmere
this outfit from Alison of Chain Strap Purse
this new paleo blog with a kosher spin from D
(and PS -- I actually authored the style portion of her Friday post! Check it out here.)

[click, purchase, mine] Target plaid blazer

Merona plaid blazer with leather detail // Target // $34.99

Adding this plaid blazer to my cart while shopping for necessities (laundry detergent, dish soap, dark chocolate, etc) at Target doesn't count as violating my shopping freeze, right? Oh wait, I guess I already did that yesterday. Oops.

[this is genius] Old Navy mid-rise skinny jeans

     rockstar mid-rise super skinny jeans // Old Navy // $34.94

     ($13.30 – $17.50 today with code "holiday")

I know, I know – Old Navy rockstar skinnies are far from new. But did you guys know that they created a mid-rise version? Oh, you did? Fine, maybe I'm the last person to find out. But I don't care; I'm still going to make a big deal out of this discovery. And pick up at least two pairs. Screw you, shopping freeze.

friday links

I cannot stop wearing these leopard print flats. If you follow me on Instagram, I apologize for the frequency with which they appear in my photos.

things I want to eat:
this insane turkey sandwich (aka "the Thanksgivukkah Double Down") from Food52
this brie, nutella, and pear grilled cheese from Wit & Delight
this pumpkin bread pudding from Paleo Parents

things I want to buy but shouldn't:
this brass finish bar cart from Target
this cashmere poncho from 360 Sweater
this printed tank dress from Aryn K

things I'm obsessing over:
this new rating system in Swedish movie theaters
this video of Norman Reedus from Team Coco*
this sold-out, way-out-of-my-price-range coat from Three Floor

* Is it just me, or are Daryl Dixon's biceps even hotter this season? This is a serious question.

[this is genius] Soia & Kyo 6-in-1 reversible jacket and vest

     Soia & Kyo 6-in-1 reversible jacket and vest with fox fur trim // Nordstrom // $560

Had I been aware of this genius jacket/vest combo last week, I definitely would have featured it as the serious splurge in my parka post. If it ever goes on sale, all bets are off.

friday links

things I want to eat:
this spinach, chick pea, and sweet potato salad with yogurt dressing from Melissa Clark
this balsamic brussel sprouts grilled cheese from How Sweet It Is
these paleo pumpkin swirl cheesecake squares from Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind

things I want to buy but shouldn't:
this cable sweater from Theory
this leather-trim dress from Madewell
this colorblock coat from Club Monaco

things I'm obsessing over:
this new Larabar flavor that I can't seem to get my hands on
this hysterical Pinterest board from Tiffany Beveridge
this DIY clothing rack project from You Have Broken the Internet

cold weather wishlist item #2: the parka

     the serious splurge

     Woolrich John Rich & Bros. arctic parka // J.Crew // $675

     a more plausible option

     1 Madison faux fur trim parka // Nordstrom // $199

friday links

(Fridays call for red wine, am I right?)

things I want to eat:

these sauteed greens paired with sweet potato and topped with a poached egg from Yes, I Want Cake

this caramel apple grilled cheese from How Sweet It Is
these creamy pumpkin pie bars from Joy the Baker

things I want to buy but shouldn't:
this moto jacket from J.Crew
this new novel from Jhumpa Lahiri
this silver necklace from the 2 Bandits

things I'm obsessing over: 
this collection for H&M from Isabel Marant
this street style blog created by photographer Ari Seth Cohen
this Yoda costume from Pugs Dressed As Things

[cheap thrill] Tarnish slouchy knit hat

     slouchy knit hat // Tarnish // $24

I was hesitant to post this cheap thrill, simply because I just don't think this photo from Nordstrom does the hat justice. In the end, though, I gave in, because people, this hat is just too good not to share. It's soft, it's slouchy, it comes in a bunch of practical colors (black, taupe, and grey) as well as a bunch of fun colors (bright blue, teal, and pink), and it's only $24. Buy it.

cold weather wishlist item #1: the wrap coat

     the serious splurge

     hooded colorblock wrap coat // Vince // $750

     a more plausible option (actually, two)

     wool wrap coat in black // Zara // $169

     hooded wool wrap coat in grey + tan // Zara // $139

friday links

Hello, Autumn.

things I want to eat:
this paleo hollandaise sauce paired with poached eggs and sweet potato from Cave Girls Eats
this balsamic blueberry grilled cheese sandwich from Amanda K by the Bay
these epic fish tacos from the Dolphin Restaurant in Hanalei, Kauai

things I want to buy but shouldn't:
these infinite pyramid earrings designed by Gabriela Artigas for Of a Kind
these classic chelsea boots from Madewell (they'd go with everything, right?)
these super chic running tights from Lucas Hugh

things I've been obsessing over: 
this TV show (along with everyone else, apparently)
these fashion icon Halloween costumes for kids from Oh Happy Day
this shampoo and conditioner from Organix

friday links

things I want to eat:
these potsticker burgers from CupcakesOMG
these beet/walnut/goat cheese stacks from Wendy See Wendy Do
this caramelized pineapple lassi from How Sweet It Is

things I've been obsessing over:
this outfit from Cheetah is the New Black
this mango kombucha from GT's (yes, still)
this tampon commercial from HelloFlo

things you should bookmark:
this iphoneography post from Sweet Thing
this list of 25 healthy alternatives to common cosmetics from Mark Sisson

and more things I want to buy but can't:
this crossbody bag from Botkier
these silk pants from Haute Hippie
this moisturizer from Josie Maran that everyone keeps talking about

summer reading list: vol. II

(alternate title for this list: the only three books I managed to read in July)

Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar // by Kelly Oxford

If you're not already familiar with Oxford's twitter feed, please trust me when I say you should be. And also, read this book.

Beautiful Ruins // by Jess Walter

I mentioned in a previous post that I devoured this book in just one day and I was not exaggerating. It's a serious page-turner. I know you've already seen it on a ton of summer reading lists, but if you have yet to add it to your must-read list, you should definitely reconsider.

A Game of Thrones // by George R.R. Martin

I cannot stomach this show. I just can't. But it kills me that everyone is always talking about it and I have nothing to say, so I came up with a solution: read the book(s). I can't quite decide if I think Martin is a talented storyteller, a 13-year-old boy masquerading as a much older man, or just a complete asshole, but now at least I understand most of season one. I think.

friday links

watched this trailer more times than I'd care to admit
can't stop listening to this song

bookmarked this recipe to make for dinner next week
must find a way to get my hands on this book
resisted the urge to buy these sunglasses
(sadly, eyewear does not fall under the category of groceries or gas)

testing my resolve

'Anneke' studded heel // Sole Society // $59.95

Last week I got all serious and decided that until my current credit card bill is paid off, I will not spend money on anything but groceries and gas. I unsubscribed myself from practically every email list that might test my resolve, returned a dress that I bought for our trip to Kauai but never wore, and stopped compulsively checking Madewell's website every morning before leaving for work. But guys, I totally need these shoes, right? Right? Ugh. Damn you, Hitha.

since we're already doing this backwards

How pretty is my ring?!

finally (a few wedding photos)

March 17, 2013

photography by Helen Hausmann

[late] friday links

couldn't put this novel by Jess Walter down last Saturday and am now anxious to read this one
started using this genius iPhone app to create a shared grocery list
loved this behind the scenes look at Edible Perspective's photography process
dying to try this Chunky Monkey "ice cream" bon bons recipe from Nom Nom Paleo
why must this silk shirt dress be so far outside my price range?

snapshots from Kauai (the garden island)

As promised: snapshots from our belated honeymoon in Kauai. I limited it to ten. (You're welcome.)

lessons learned in Kauai

(and while traveling to and from)


number one: I may not actually like hiking. I mean, at least not as much as I want to.

number two: I love fish tacos. Love love love. And macadamia nut ice cream. However, I remain ambivalent about sushi, much to K's dismay.

number three: Why does everyone and their mother seem to think that they deserve to de-board the plane before everybody else? (Okay, this is more of an observation than a lesson, but still.)

number four: One super cute dress is all you need, even if your vacation is a full week long. Fine, maybe two dresses. But not three and definitely not four.

number five: Nothing destroys a pedicure as well as wet sand in your sneakers at the end of an eight mile hike. At least my shoes survived.

number six: Apparently there's a right way to apply sunscreen (patting it in) and a wrong way to apply sunscreen (rubbing it in). 

number seven: Sandals are not optional on Ke'e beach. Trust me. Hottest. Sand. Ever.

number eight: Guacamole is a totally legitimate breakfast food.

number nine: Rats are nocturnal; mongooses are not.
(link)

number ten: When housekeeping asks if you'd like turndown service, say yes. Turning down free chocolate is just dumb.


Pretty photos to come!

belated honeymoon essential #7: the cover-up

rainbow mini cover-up dress // Mara Hoffman // $264

I die for Mara Hoffman prints and the one on this cover-up is no exception. Totally honeymoon-worthy, right? And how perfect would it look with the Panama hat I posted yesterday? I know it's a splurge but there has to be some way to convince K that this is a necessary purchase. (Suggestions welcome.)

belated honeymoon essential #6: the Panama hat

Panama hat // JCrew // $58

I honestly don't understand how other women manage to have such normal-looking hair in the summer. As soon as I step out of my house, my naturally wavy hair turns into some kind of Medusa-esque monstrosity. Truly, "frizzy" doesn't even begin to cover it. Fortunately, warm weather is also a perfect excuse to wear a Panama hat. I'm hoping that this version from JCrew will fool everyone in Kauai into thinking that I'm super stylish rather than just super lazy about personal grooming.

belated honeymoon essential #5: the statement necklace

"Gwyneth" necklace // Loren Hope // $165

Belated honeymoon essential #5: the statement necklace. My current favorite is this gorgeous sparkler from Loren Hope. Perfect for dressing up a plain tee and making it look like you put way more effort into your outfit than you actually did.

PS – A little outside of your price range? Yeah, me, too. Le sigh. But check out Bauble Bar's necklace section for a ton of affordable options. I'm loving this one (super similar to the one above), this one, and this one.

belated honeymoon essential #4: the carry-on

the OG // Lo & Sons // $295

Another glaringly obvious essential for traveling pretty much anywhere: the carry-on. I've been waiting for an excuse to order the OG from Lo & Sons for quite a while now and don't know how much longer I can resist. Seriously, check out the link above to see how much crap you can fit in this bag. It's unreal.

belated honeymoon essential #3: sunglasses

'Era' sunglasses // Juicy Couture // $120 now $73

Belated honeymoon essential number three is a no-brainer: sunglasses. I mean, duh. If I had been really on top of things, I might have ordered myself a pair of RX sunglasses from Warby Parker a few weeks ago, but I'm just not that organized. Such is life, I suppose. So instead I'll be bringing my favorite Juicy Couture sunnies with me to Kauai. (And probably a pair of classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers, too, because sometimes a woman needs options, damnit.)

belated honeymoon essential #2: red lipstick

semi matte lipstick in red lizard // NARS // $26

Oh, you thought item number two might be something practical, did you? Sunscreen or something along those lines? Nope. Meet my belated honeymoon essential number two: NARS lipstick in red lizard. 

Disclaimer: I promise, sunscreen IS on my packing list. I'm not completely insane.

belated honeymoon essential #1: the bathing suit

JCrew polka-dot underwire top ($54) / JCrew polka-dot retro brief ($50)

K and I leave next week for Kauai (a belated honeymoon of sorts) and although I've started putting together a packing list – you know how I love lists – I'm still totally paranoid that I'm going to forget all the essentials. This bikini is number one on my list and already tucked securely into my suitcase. 

summer reading list: vol. I

(alternate title for this list: books I re-read compulsively at the start of every summer)

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

This book has a special place in my top-five-books-of-all-time list, especially if Harry Potter isn't up for consideration. If you've already read it, I also highly recommend Unaccustomed Earth. Or basically anything else Jhumpa Lahiri has ever written.

The Beach by Alex Garland
SO much better than the movie. Seriously, give it a chance. Especially if you're like me and entertain fantasies about living on a beach in Thailand. 

*In the interest of full disclosure: I read this book while traveling through India with my then-boyfriend-now-husband (more on the whole wedding thing soon, I SWEAR) so I might be slightly biased.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling rocks, and her first book is just as clever/entertaining/hilarious/truthful/awesome as you'd expect it to be. (If you don't already know who Kaling is, please consult Google.)

It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig

If you're interested in learning more about how food affects us -- both physically and psychologically -- this is a fantastic read. (I also enthusiastically recommend their Whole30 program, but that's another post.)

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Don't judge me.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

I first read this book during freshman year of college and I still have so much love for it. Don't even get me started on the copyright page or the appendix that was added to later editions. I die.

So what's on your summer reading list?

click, purchase, mine: winking eye clutch

"All Hours Winking Georgie" clutch from Kate Spade

($49 $36.75 with code SAVE25)

should I or shouldn't I?

Dannijo 'Galapagos' necklace ($820 now $574)

I know, I know. $574 is still ridiculous. But I did just file my taxes and oh yeah, I'm getting married next month. This necklace would be so perfect with my dress that I can't even stand it. COME ON, PEOPLE. Help me justify this purchase.