Saturday, July 30, 2011

Etsy Spotlight: Sudlow Jewelry

I came across this sweet necklace on Etsy a while back and had to share.  It's available from the very talented Rachel Sudlow.  Her stuff is so fantastic and unique!

It's a necklace made from an actual hammered dime!

This is the "Long Distance Love" necklace...it can be customized so that the two hearts are in any location on the map.  Such a cute idea...it almost makes me wish I was in a long distance relationship again.  Almost. 

I don't wear earrings, but these are just darling.  So sweet and feminine.  

xoxoKate

Friday, July 29, 2011

Perfect Pumps

Maybe it's just me, but I've found that one of the single hardest things to shop for are plain pumps.  Something that's appropriate for any occasion (including professional events), not too high-fashion, and with a mid-height heel.  


I LOVE the Christian Louboutin Décolleté pump, but with a $600 price tag, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using these as a workhorse shoe in my professional wardrobe.  


Plus, I love the signature red sole, but I worry that it might be too flashy and distracting for a conservative legal environment.  


Enter the Ann Taylor Pump (I wish they had a flashier name!):  




I have three pairs of these in black exotic, black patent, and patent nude.  They're the perfect height for most occasions and ridiculously comfortable.  For $155 the quality is on-par with any pair of designer shoes I've owned.  They're also offered in a variety of colors and leathers, which is nice.  




They also come in a 4.25" heel, if that's your thing.  (It's not mine; I can barely walk properly in flats, let alone heels!)


Your thoughts?  What are your favorite professional shoes?
xoxoKate

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Lilly Agendas

How sweet are the new Lilly agendas?




I actually already purchased a planner for this year, but it's boring and black and very drab looking.  I may have to go ahead and pick this one up.  I think the bright Lilly prints would easily carry me through the dreary and work-filled days of winter, don't you think?

What kind of agenda or planner do you use?  Have you used a Lilly planner in the past?

xoxoKate

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Shipping up to Boston

I'm heading up to Boston later today to officially move out of my college apartment.  I have mixed feelings, but I've decided to turn the trip into an adventure.  I'm going with B...we're planning to get Korean barbecue at an awesome restaurant near my apartment and to eat way too much Oreo ice cream at JP Licks (the best ice cream place in the world...seriously it's the thing I'll miss most when I'm in DC).







All images via Pinterest

How did you deal with moving on to a new phase in life?
xoxoKate

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Recipe: Peanut Butter Stuffed Hot Fudge Cupcakes

My boyfriend (B) celebrated his birthday on Sunday and I knew I wanted to make him a special treat.  I'm a huge fan of How Sweet it Is so I immediately knew that I wanted to make one of Jessica's recipes.  B is a huge fan of the peanut butter and chocolate combination, so I knew these would be perfect.

Recipe here.  A quick note: the cake recipe says it makes 12 cupcakes...I found that it made closer to 18.  More cupcakes = never a bad thing.



It isn't a birthday without sprinkles!

These were so so delicious.  The peanut butter frosting was decadent without being overwhelmingly peanut butter-y and the not-too-sweet cake was a nice foil to the sweetness of the frosting.  And the hot fudge was really tasty too...it would be great just straight-up on ice cream.  

How did you celebrate the weekend?  What are your favorite special occasion desserts?  

Monday, July 25, 2011

Lilly Pulitzer Fall Collection

Miss Andrea Lee over at Tickled Pink recently did a post on the Lilly Pulitzer Fall Collection, available at The Pink Pelican.  There's a ton of cute stuff...these are a few of my favorite pieces.

Kelsi Dress in Standing Ovation

I'm a big fan of the Kelsi dress to begin with.  It's a really effortless silk jersey that can be dressed up or down and the open cap sleeves and defined waist make it very flattering.  I'm definitely digging the print here...the print on the skirt is definitely Lilly, but the coordinating top tones it down a bit and keeps the large print from being overwhelming.  

Cody Cardigan

This is so cute!  At first glance it's a basic navy cardigan, but the white trim and the sweet bow details on the pocket really add a lot to this closet staple. 

Vanessa Dress in Behind the Rope

This is so sweet and feminine.  I love that the neckline shows some skin without being too bare (I love dresses with straps that you can wear a real bra with) and the crossover detailing at the waist is really cute and flattering.  It would be adorable with a long cardigan for fall, too.  I also think the print (both the  look and the name) are precious.  

Joanie Dress in Behind the Rope

This would be so cute with a pair of navy tights and brown leather boots for fall.  Definitely something I could see myself wearing to class.  

Jodie Sweater

This would be really cute under a navy suit or blazer.  I love a pop of lime green, especially with professional pieces...it livens things up!

Printed Lexie Crew in Thrill of the Chaise

This would be great under a blazer, too.  Animal prints in bright colors look so fresh.

Have you gotten a chance to check out the Lilly fall collection yet?  What do you think?  What are your favorite pieces?  

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Happy Birthday B!

My adorable boyfriend is celebrating his 26th birthday today!  

Photo from a recent hiking trip...ignore the no-makeup look

We're celebrating with homemade peanut butter hot fudge cake.  Photos (and recipe from How Sweet it Is) to follow!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Essie: Too Too Hot

I'm currently loving (and wearing!) Essie's "Too Too Hot" polish

Photo via www.essie.com

It's such a perfect summer color; a sweet mix of red and coral.  Plus, with the recent heat wave that's been hitting the East Coast, the name is pretty spot-on.

What are your favorite summer nail colors?  Do you ever pick polish based on its cute name?
xoxoKate

Thursday, July 21, 2011

J.Crew Fall 2011

Have you gotten a chance to check out J.Crew's fall collection yet?  The lookbook is now available at www.jcrew.com.  There's definitely some pieces that I like, but overall the stuff seems pretty hit-or-miss.  Given that J.Crew's sales have been declining and the company has pledged to adopt a more "back to basics aesthetic," it seems silly that this latest collection features high-waisted brocade skinny pants and what appears to be a pair of skinny leg velour sweatpants complete with tapered ankle (no, seriously).

That said, there are a few pieces that I'm liking.

 I'm normally not a huge fan of blazers (weird, I know), but this tweed blazer is definitely cool.  I could easily see it working with boots and jeans.  

These are a little "out-there" but I think they're cool.  They also appear to come in cognac leather, which I'm a total sucker for.  

I'm not crazy about the color of this sweater, but I love the knit and neckline.  If this comes in a neutral or a jewel tone, this could be a great fall staple.

I've been dying for a pair of leopard pumps for ages.  These look perfect.  As an aside, I generally really like J.Crew's shoes.  From what I can see of the Fall collection the shoes are definitely the high point.

I'm totally digging this jewel tone trench.  Ignore the aforementioned high-waisted brocade skinny pants.

And before I go, I just have to ask: Umm...what's with the OJ Simpson gloves?  Terrible.

Thoughts on the J.Crew Fall collection?  Are there any pieces you love/hate?  Are there any fall collections you're currently eyeing?  

xoxoKate

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Etsy Spotlight: Michelle Chang Jewelry

I'm a huge fan of Etsy jewelry.  I love my Tiffany and Cartier as much as the next girl, but the unique pieces on Etsy really catch my eye.  I've had my eye on Michelle Chang's stuff for a while...I'd wear practically every piece she has for sale.  Here are a few of my favorites...

The detail on the Manta Ray Pendent Necklace is incredible.

Such a sweet idea for an anniversary...

How adorable is this?

So simple yet SO pretty

The detail on this is so beautiful and delicate

I definitely recommend checking out the rest of her Etsy shop.  Who are your favorite Etsy sellers?  

xoxoKate

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Sun Savvy

Carly over at College Prep linked to a great site that reminds us all to take care of our skin and watch our sun exposure, which is especially important during these summer months.



There's a ton of great information about skin health, sunscreen, and the different kinds of UV light that can affect skin.  Remember, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.  Let's be smart about our health!

xoxoKate

Monday, July 18, 2011

Ann Taylor Pre-Fall 2011

As a (budding) professional woman, I love Ann Taylor.  Although the beginning of 1L year means that I'll likely be spending more time in jeans and oversized sweaters than suits and silk tops, I'm beginning to work on building a professional wardrobe.

Here are a few of my picks, all from the Ann Taylor website.

Lyrical Forms Print Top

I love how this top is a modern take on the silk shell.  It would be perfect under a suit for a professional event and it would look equally fabulous with jeans or black skinny pants.

Refined Snake Print Shell

I love the snake print!  And the tie around the neck adds a little dose of style without taking it into work-inappropriate territory.  

Knit Interlacing Movements Dress

I will definitely be picking this dress up.  Between the just-above-the-knee length, the seaming at the waist, and the bateau neckline, this is sure to be super flattering!  Plus, knit jersey is just such an easy, wearable material.  

Striped Pullover with Shoulder Buttons

Love this.  A girl in one of my classes last semester had a sweet sweater from Ann Taylor with similar buttons at the shoulder...I was so disappointed when it was sold out in my size.  This is something I could definitely wear casually to class with jeans, too!

Colorblock Tee

Ok, so this is definitely more causal than professional, but I love colorblocking.  I'm normally not a huge skinny jeans person, but I'm thinking the slightly oversized fit of this top would work really nicely with a not-too-long pair of skinnies.  

Do you shop at Ann Taylor?  Do you like the pre-fall collection?  What are your favorite pieces?  

xoxoKate

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Apartment Furniture

As I may mentioned before, I'm in the process of moving to a new apartment in Washington, DC.  I'm so ridiculously excited and I LOVE the place!

One thing that has been simultaneously fun and stressful is shopping for furniture.  I'm still undecided on bedroom furniture, but I've fallen in love with a few things from L.L.Bean's collection.  One of my friends decorated his place with L.L.Bean stuff a few years ago and I loved it.

Here are a few of the things making an appearance in my new home...

I really like that this television stand tucks neatly into a corner.  I'm living in a one bedroom apartment that, while generously sized, still requires me to smart about space.



I'm also really digging the matching desk.  I got it in stone tan...if B likes it we'll have to get him the same one in green.  


And my personal favorite...it's made from reclaimed wood.  I really like how it's kind of imperfect and that no two pieces are exactly the same.  It's definitely a little more unique than the piles of IKEA furniture I had up in Boston.


What are your thoughts?  Where do you all like to find home furnishings?  What's your interior design style?

xoxoKate

Friday, July 15, 2011

Lilly Inspiration

I saw this image the other day while browsing Lilly online (what else?)...how beautiful is the dress on the left?


Does anyone know the name of this style?  Do you have any favorite Lilly photos you go to for inspiration?

xoxoKate

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Weekend Lilly

Like I mentioned before, this past Sunday was my dad's birthday!  Obviously a great occasion to wear some Lilly!

We went to a friend's engagement party in the early afternoon and then headed back to the house for crabs and birthday cake (we ARE from Maryland, after all!).


It's the Lilly Del-Mar dress in Look Lady...I picked this up during the Lilly two-day sale a few weeks back.  It was my first time wearing it and I think it worked really well for both the engagement party AND the crab boil.

What do you think?  Did you wear any Lilly over the weekend?

xoxoKate

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Weekend Photos

We celebrated my dad's birthday this weekend with a backyard crab feast...here are a few of the shots I snapped!

Maryland blue crabs


My mom's delicious homemade cake...chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream.  With a homegrown rose on top!  And of course icecream!  So delicious.


With a layer of homemade whipped cream...did I mention this was delicious?


Birthday present for my dad

How did you all celebrate the weekend?

xoxoKate