New Shoe Debut: Aldo Starace

Totally felt like the epitome of trendy (in a good way) rocking these about town last night... and now they're on sale! Run! Go get yourself a pair!

I'd like my workspace to look like this, please...

Happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend!

Too Perfect for Words.

My wallet will officially be anorexic, but aren't these beautiful?? What's a girl (who is trying not to use her credit cards) to do?!

Making Sense of Style.

From the time I was a little girl, I've always had a very distinct sense of style. I see pieces that make my heart melt and I'm drawn to them like bees to honey. I've developed a pretty impressive wardrobe for a girl my age-- I am very blessed in that my shape hasn't changed too, too much and neither has my taste. Sometimes though, I'm disappointed in my ability to "put things together." By this I mean, there are a number of headbands with bows, chunky necklaces, chandelier earrings-- all really beautiful pieces-- that I can never figure out how to properly incorporate into an outfit. Part of the problem is that I am, by nature, a pretty casual gal. Don't get me wrong, I love getting dressed up for special events and the like, but on a day to day basis, you're probably going to find me in a cardigan, jeans, and a cute pair of flats or sneakers.

The same can be said for my taste in interior design. I know what I like, I buy what I like-- but how can I take these unique, individual pieces and make them gel in a setting that is cohesive and tasteful? I'm hoping that with a little more distance from my college experience (i.e. gradually detoxing on ramen and paper towels functioning as plates), that I'll gain a better sense of what does and doesn't work in a more mature, sophisticated living space. In the mean time, however, I'll just sit and drool over the apartments and homes of people who have gotten it down to a science.



I really love pink peonies and any flower that even resembles a pink peony-- just call me Blair Waldorf, please!






I have no idea where I found these photos-- they are just a couple of the hundreds that have accumulated in a file on my desktop named "pretty." If you can help me identify and give credit where credit is due, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Espadrilles in Bloom

Thus far, I am totally failing as a blogger, and I am so sorry for that. My life has been quite hectic to say the least, and I'm often prioritizing the "have to" writing over the "really want to/fun stuff" writing. With that being said, I couldn't help but share these beautiful shoes with you. It will be a pretty serious splurge for me, but I don't think it can be avoided... I'll just, um, skip dinner? For a month? I mean, who really needs to eat anyway?!

dalla nonna jewelry

Recently, my boyfriend purchased me one of these beautiful necklaces (with our anniversary date) as a birthday gift. Being as sentimental as I am, I loved how personal and thoughtful a gift it was-- it is one of those things that will forever remind me of him and I and where we are now. Since I've been wearing it though, I've gotten compliments from almost everyone I see on the unique beauty of the necklace. I'm afraid I'll never take it off again.

The neatest thing about their jewelry though is that it started so simply-- two lawyer-by-day friends had inherited jewelry from their grandmothers (hence the company name, dalla nonna, Italian for "from the grandmother") and fell in love with the idea of creating pieces that brought together things old and new. In particular, a tie clip (that had been passed down to co-owner Jess from her grandfather) inspired the classic piece, the calendar necklace. They also make the calendar available as a bracelet as well. You can check them (and their lovely creations) out here.

As for me, I think I know what I'm getting for my mom for mother's day...

About a Girl.

When I graduated from college last May, I assumed I would stroll through the gates of our green and gated campus, entering the "real world" with a diploma and a crystal-clear vision of what the future would entail...

...my road map must have gotten lost in the mail, because I still haven't seen it and I have no idea where I'm headed. Despite this, I'm learning a lot about myself, including a few things I probably should have already known. For example, I love to write. I also really enjoy design-- fashion, interior, graphic, you name it. Here's another little tidbit-- I don't have much of an adventurous side. I don't mean in the "exciting sports" sense of the word, but more along the lines of, "How on earth could I want to become an interior designer?" sense.

Perhaps it's my small-town background, perhaps it's a fear of disappointing my parents (I'm an only child and a recovering goodie two-shoes, to boot), but I'm learning to embrace myself for who I am. One tiny step at a time.

That's where you come in, blogging friends. It is my sincere hope that this blog will serve as a teeny, tiny toe-dip into the ocean of my professional future. I promise to provide you with entertainment-- beautiful photos, designs, shoes, and the like-- if you'll just give me a chance to ride without my training wheels. We get one chance at this life, and I'd like to make the most of mine-- even if I have to learn to break the rules to do so.