Gearing Up For Fall

Yesterday, I had a long lunch on the patio of my favorite afternoon spot with both my daughters. It was great to relax, nibble a bit and there was fantastic jazz playing. With summer days being a bit busy....this was an ideal break in our schedule. Later in the day, I grabbed the canvas tennis sneakers I had been constantly looking at. I went with Superga in Grey Sage (which looks like a great dark dove grey)....

I have been looking at fingerless glove ideas and came across an Etsy artist who offers terrific cable knit  patterns. Her work is inspiring.... I'm thinking that I'm ready to purchase a pattern & give cable knit a try! Take a peek at her shop, called The Blue Brick, I just  love these!

Beachy Bronze

I love a great beachy look for summer. Wavy hair, effortless bronze-y makeup...just a perfect sunkissed glow. Two of my favorite women who have exactly this ideal style are Aerin Lauder and Lauren Bush Lauren. Aerin Lauder has just launched a great line called Aerin that features both makeup and home items. Her cosmetics offer stunning shades of bronze and nudes....this Pretty Bronze Illuminating Powder being my favorite. Her South Hampton boutique looks amazing and her Fall 2013 home line can be seen online. 

Lauren Bush Lauren cofounded the Feed Project organization that has now linked with Target. Sales from this great line feed children across America. I love these casual canvas bags....they are hip and functionable....and the sale of just one single tote enables Feed & Target to provide 28 meals for children.

Strappingly Handsome

I completely love, love, love this new bag from Anthropologie! Check out the rich brown leather with sequin straps....it's a perfect mix of masculine & a touch of girly! I just am so blown away by how great it is. So amazing for autumn.....

On an outside note, our hydrangea bush bloomed about a month late this season but it now looks really full and pretty....lots of pretty pink flowers. It's a welcome July addition to the garden and viewable from the kitchen which is the best part.

Love how hardy the Purple Coneheads are....such happy flowers!

How it Stacks Up

I love simple jewelry. Clean, crisp lines. Attention to the smallest detail. It's what I wear daily. I admire big statement items on others....I just find that I always pick for myself very streamlined pieces.

I am obsessed with stacking rings. I love them grouped together or worn individually. There's a shop on Etsy called Clementine that has amazing rings all custom made to order. The artist works in sterling and 14K carat solid gold and the stones are beautifully set. I love the slightly hammered, organic feel to the bands. Truly stunning offerings....

Ocean Blue

I am not a fan of switching handbags every time I go out. I always seem to leave something...a favorite lipstick, mints or a store gift certificate...in the bag I don't happen to have with me. So, I stick with the same bag quite often. I have a couple of favorites and I love this Yosi Samra leather bag in caramel and turquoise. It has a casual, unstructured cut to it that still looks totally streamlined. Outstanding workmanship....Yosi Samra is my favorite for shoes and bags!

Nearly June

I am slightly addicted to Anthropologie, and now that the warm weather has arrived, they have so many unique offerings for summer! I love a perfect drapey blouse...alone or with a cardigan. This Split Image Top is my new favorite. So cute with skinny jeans, ballet flats & silver earrings. xo

Anthropologie Split Image Top by Meadow Rue

Love these! SS Jewelry Creations

Hitting the Streets

Do you have summer favorites that you practically live in? Things that you use every day? I have a few staples that it seems I grab every time I go out! I love the shoes and bags by Yosi Samra. His ballet flats come in all kinds of interesting fabrics....leather, satin, patent, metallic or suede....the list is long of the choices he offers! His ballet flats are super soft and bendable....not at all stiff. He has a great celebrity following and his prices are reasonable. Love this line all year but especially in the warmer weather! 

A Fever Pitch

Is anything gathering more style attention right now than The Great Gatsby? Soon to be released nationwide in United States theaters, the Great Gatsby is influencing everything from clothing & accessories to hair styles to even beautiful decor in hotels suites at the Plaza. Beaded vintage purses have never been hotter and though there are many replicas out there.....with a little patience and searching you can find stunning originals. Antique stores and estate sales are always places where you may come across a beautiful collection of bags. Etsy has many vintage sellers as does Ebay. If your searching for authentic bags online it's helpful to search under "flapper bags". There should be a detailed description of the bag and it's estimated age. One great source  is the shop  "Decades Vintage on Etsy". Things to look for: A secure clasp. Vintage bags are small and usually fit only your essentials. You don't want to lose something important due to a faulty clasp. Look carefully at the bead work. The tiny glass seed beads on vintage bags are hand sewn. Inspect the bag for beads that are missing or rows of beads that are starting to lift off. I have found the quality and workmanship of vintage bags to be outstanding and it is fairly easy to find bags from the 1920's and 30's still in wonderful condition. Happy Weekend! xo

I love the copper toned glass seed beads and the framework of this bag!

This bag can be found in the shop "Decades Vintage on Etsy".

Just amazing!

All in the Details

I have two daughters that go to private school. They wear simple navy and white uniforms that I love but the girls do occasionally like to put a pretty pin on their cardigans to give them a bit of color. I love these amazingly soft flower pins from The June Bride on Etsy. Each pin is made of unique materials from recycled, repurposed sweaters. Fiber content is outstanding quality lambswool or cashmere. I love the rich color combinations and the detailing of the petals. These pins are perfect for kids or adults and I love them as an accent on a pretty straw bag in the summer. Each flower has a hinged pin in the back.  I love that The June Bride is eco-friendly & even offers free shipping within the United States.
Happy Monday! xo

Love these pins as gifts! At under $15 each, they are so pretty for bridesmaids or Mothers Day!

 

A Vintage Vibe

I am in love with fashion influences from the 1920's - 1940's era. I love the way this style is continually reflected in fashion today. Whether it be the current huge success of Downton Abbey or the constant presence through the years of Chanel, this influence is so inspiring right now. 

I love antique shopping & coming across great fashion finds. I have a small collection of vintage handbags that are my favorite going out pieces. This silver antique bag is completely hand crafted in Japanese seed beads. The white and silver is a great combination with the gold clasp. It's perfect with everything from cocktail dresses to skinny jeans.

Love the simple timeless design of the beadwork.

2 3/4" RHINESTONE BROOCH (Google Affiliate Ad)

All That Shimmers

Some weeks have just a bit too much crazy in them. That's been my last seven days. I wanted a small treat to perk myself up. Still a bit too chilly for spring clothes...I opted for these new earrings from Amelia Rose. I love all their jewelry but these Cabo Gem Mother of Pearl Earrings are just stunning. A bit larger in size, I love the simple contrast in the shimmering pearl with gold. They are also available in silver, too! Happy Weekend! xo

Sunny Days

I love finding amazing work on Etsy. Such a wonderful community of artists....I often buy birthday presents, holiday gifts and customized invitations from this site. There's a fantastic Etsy store that I love called CorinneCitrolo. Her sewing is simply amazing and I love her fabrics and fresh print combinations. This "Yellow Chevron & Garden" duo of skirts is so sweet for twins! Perfect for a sunny day! xo

Jumping Beans Chevron Leggings - Girls 4-7 (Google Affiliate Ad)

Warm Hands. Warm Heart.

I think I've mentioned before that when I knit I work with primarily wooden needles. I love the warmth of working with them compared to using metal or plastic. They keep me much more toasty! I also love using a good hand moisturizer when I knit. Natural fibers can rob your hands of oils leaving them a bit dry. A good hand balm totally solves this problem and I like a great scented product. 

My older daughter has always gone by the nickname Lolo. I found this super hip line of moisturizers and they have a hand balm called the LoLo Bar. I had to order one....they are just so fun! This really is a great artisan line. You get to pick the design of your tin and a custom scent of your choice. We picked Hot Toddy. It's a rich, warm, spicy scent. Perfect for using while knitting. Their shipping was fast, they ask for customer input and all of the packaging was charming! Really great new find!

On the topic of new finds, I love shopping local and from artists on line. If you know of an Etsy site or small business I should peek at....leave a comment with a link. I'd love to take a peek at their work. Featuring people so passionate about their work is one of my favorite things about blogging. Happy Sunday! xo

The charming packaging enclosed with our hand balm!

Lion Brand 444121 Superwash Me (Google Affiliate Ad)

A bit of this with that....

Over the last week, I've chatted about the farmers market being one of my favorite aspects of spring. I love sipping coffee, walking and purchasing from all the local vendors. I also wrote about great knitting bags that I was thrilled to come across from from Yarn Pop. Combining a bit of this idea with a bit of that...I love these colorful market bags from the Etsy shop Knitshearbliss. These open bags are perfect for bread, produce, jars of preserves....all of your finds at the market. You can purchase the bag with a closure or not but I like the open, unstructured design shown here. The Venetian bag has such a great vintage inspired pattern to it. I love that these are roomy too...approx 17 by 24 inches. You can also pick the lining of your choice! So super cute! Happy Weekend! xo

Italian Ceramic One-Handled Soup Bowl, Red (Google Affiliate Ad)

Fresh for Spring

There are a few things that define my style. I love a perfect, broken in pair of skinny jeans. I could live in riding boots. Makeup wise I love a bronzey, smokey eye. And I wear fragrance every day. I don't like switching around my perfumes very much. I wear Chanel No. 5 or Coco when the weather is chilly. Warm weather I explore a bit more. I like lighter but still spicy scents. Kate Spade has just launched a new warm floral scent. Live Colorfully has top notes of mandarin and pink water lily but I like the added spicy balance of Tahitian vanilla, sheer amber and musk. It's also subtly scented with star anise and gardenia. I'm excited to try this new fragrance! Do you have a favorite you always wear?

 

 Kate Spade Twirl Eau De Parfum Collection (Google Affiliate Ad)

I'm still on my recent organizational kick. I came across a great Etsy site for knitting needle cases yesterday. Lena Brown Designs offers pretty handcrafted cases for all types of needles. Some are designed for shorter or circular while she offers longer cases as well. Her fabric choices are fresh, there are lots of dividers for needles and I like the easy tie closures. Super cute selection! Happy Knitting! xo

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

Don't you sometimes wish you had a clear path mapped out for you?  Something that would simply ensure you a good week? Just a handful of days with no snags in them would be great. How I wish for days where there's no forgetting to drop something in the mail...or I can't find my camera or I have nearly no gas and it's raining.....the list of goes on.  While I don't see myself getting better on the "always have a full tank" front, I have found that it's some tiny good things that make a such difference in my day. 

One....I like a good, strong cup of coffee first thing in the morning. No fooling around here. It officially sets the tone for my morning.  I get up extra early to have that quiet half hour uninterrupted to myself. It gives me time to get focused & plan my day. Two....I am a manicure girl. I discovered gel manicures 18 months ago and I never looked back. Prior to that, I was a non-manicure girl. I could never stand all that chipping & peeling. But now, these gel manicures are a ritual for me. They last for weeks and look amazing.  Even if I feel rather rushed, a good manicure goes a long way to making me more pulled together. I have a current favorite polish. It's a dark eggplant shade (from OPI) called "Every Month is Oktoberfest." Now that spring is here though, I can't wait to try out OPI's new Wizard of Oz collection. There's a really great light pink that I love called "I Theodora You."

So, while not guaranteeing a perfect week....those are just a couple tiny things that help me start things off on a positive note. Happy Monday! xo

OPI's "Every Month is Oktoberfest"

OPI's "I Theodora You"

Keurig Signature Brewer with My K-Cup and 36 K-Cups (Google Affiliate Ad)

All Wrapped Up

Holiday weekends are such a wonderful treat. Whether celebrating with family, or friends or perhaps traveling....they are a welcome time to celebrate all we hold close to our hearts. The weather here is sunny today and I grabbed a quiet moment to peek at some pretty necklaces from Lex & Lynne. I love this collection! The multi-stranded Sacred Beads Necklace is made up of various wooden beads from India that have a rich warmth to their hue.  The Monique Necklace is composed of matte black onyx, obsidian and sterling detailing. Both can be styled so many ways....worn long or wrapped a few times over. May your day be sweet & festive! xo

Sense of Community

I love the sense of community and positive inspiration you find amongst people who share the same passion. Whether it be knitting or cooking or whatever craft you may hold dear....if it involves taking the time to make it yourself and sharing it with others...there seems to be a common bond. I love the way people encourage each other...offering their own tales of both successes and errors...and sharing what they have learned and come across.

I see the work of other knitters and I'm constantly awed by their endless creativity. A continual example of that is the beautiful creations in the Etsy shop "Fringe". All the work in her collection is amazing and this over sized cowl especially caught my attention. It's from the Urban Decay line and incorporates two lighter weight wool yarns with various vintage fabrics. As someone who lives in skinny jeans, a long sleeved tee and riding boots...I could simply wear this cowl all spring (footnote: please see previous posts this week pertaining to the fact it's still snowing here!!)  Happy Friday! xo

Frye Paige Tall Riding Boots (Tan Leather) - Women's Boots - 5.5 M (Google Affiliate Ad)

Always Running

My daughters have running club today. And dance. These activities nearly overlap. We will get home just in time for me to leave to teach my knitting class. There are times like this that we are just always running. So...I try desperately to balance these days with others that are not over scheduled. (Emphasis on desperately...)

With that in mind, I just found this super cute bunny pattern on a blog called Big For Small. It's a wonderfully creative site with so many fun knitting ideas. I'm not certain I will have this project completed by the weekend but what I love about knitting is that it's okay to file away an idea in your head until you have time to take a deep breath and get it done right. So, my plan is to have two bunnies completed but, if not, I will do this very soon and set them aside for next years baskets!

Also on my "I love this" list...this amazingly pretty necklace  has been on my mind for weeks. I love really delicate handmade jewelry...this slanted initial necklace is airy light and so unique. Super great mix of gold with silver. This would look so cute with a soft tee and cardigan.....

Super cute bunny friends!

love the silver on gold detailing

Spinrite 428905 Silk Bamboo Ya (Google Affiliate Ad)

Confetti drops!

We are expecting maybe an inch or two of additional snow here this weekend. On days like this I live in Frye boots, leggings and a sweater. I'm constantly adding to my collection of scarves and earrings in an effort to change things up a bit. It seems no matter how many you have though...there are always the favorites you grab each day. I love these Gem Confetti Drop earrings from Anthropologie. I wear tons of chocolate brown, light grey, black, navy.....these earrings look simply great with everything. Love them!

 

Frye Paige Tall Riding Boots (Tan Leather) - Women's Boots - 5.5 M (Google Affiliate Ad)