Darling Spring/Summer 2012

Darling S/S 2012 Lookbook

I am completely smitten with Darling's Spring/Summer 2012 collection for it's endless supply of beautiful feminine clothing. The London label, designed by Nadia Moraes, will soon be available stateside at ModCloth and Anthropologie. Darling's floral rompers, polka-dots, lace, and chiffon will please the girly-girl in you. Check out the full lookbook on Darling's website. Pin It

ShoeMint May/April Haul

ShoeMint's offerings have become increasingly tempting. This spring I purchased two swoon-worthy styles: The Jill criss-cross wedge sandal in a vivid coral hue, and the Bridget sandal in leopard print. 














The Jill has a 1 3/4" wedge and is ridiculously comfortable. I was very impressed with the comfort of this shoe, my only complaint is that the back zip does seem to stick and takes some patience to get on and off. 








The Bridget has a 1 1/2" wedge. I tend to flock to flat scrappy sandals, but I find them to be rather uncomfortable. The Bridget gives enough of a height boost to avoid the pains that come with wearing completely flat sandals. 


Both styles have been very popular on the site, but in the past they have brought back past styles and colors, so it is always smart to keep checking back for additional stock in your size.   Pin It

Top Ten: Printed Shorts

Memorial Day is widely recognized as the kick off to summer. With pleasant weather in store for us, printed shorts may just be in the cards. They are the perfect excuse to show off your tan & toned gams! I mean, why else would I be suffering through my bazillion lunges? If you need some help in the bronzing department, I highly recommend Michael Kors' Leg Shine. Not only does it smell terrific, but it also gives your legs a flattering bronzed shine! Check out my top ten picks for graphic shorts below:

{top} 1) Kenny Pin Up Shorts $143 @ Shopbop; 2) Joie Layana Shorts $158 @ Shopbop; 3) Dolce Vita Agustina Ikat Shorts $154 @ Shopbop;  4) Blue Violet Shorts $148 @ Anthropologie; 5) Something Else Metamorphis Short $134 @ Shopbop;

{bottom} 6) Printed Canvas Shorts $49.95 @ Gap;  7) 3" SHORT IN ANTIQUE PAISLEY $59.50 @ J.Crew;  8) Wayne Rope Print Shorts $365 @Barneys; 9) CO-ORD FLORAL PRINT SHORTS $70 @ TopShop 10)  Rosette Panorama Shorts $50 @ Madewell; 

Happy almost summer! Pin It

Nautica Color Series Watches: Perfect for Summer

Summer is undoubtedly my favorite season. Beginning in January the countdown for summer is in full swing. When resort-wear starts making its way into stores, and I am bundled up in my massive loop scarf I find it to be a natural reaction! Last year I went on two warm weather vacations early in the year, so by contrast this spring has felt like chilly torture! I haven't really had the opportunity to enjoy my spring attire unless you consider striped boat-neck tees and Sperry's to be particularly exciting! I am longing for sunny days on the beach and bold colored accessories.

Blue Color Watch $95; Green Color Watch $95; Purple Color Watch $95; Pink Color Watch $95; Orange Color Watch $95; all @ Nautica

 Last year, I purchased a bright colored plastic teal watch from Target, but admittedly it looks a bit juvenile. Nautica has released a new color series of unisex watches (NSR 100 Color Series) that capture the fun of summer without looking cheap or childish. The sporty watches come in a multitude of colors and are available for $95 each, and if you sign up for e-mails on Nautica's website you can get 20% off! It is time to get shopping! Pin It

Cheap Thrills: The Statement Bubble Necklace

The J.Crew catalog never fails to tempt me with beautiful and often overpriced things. After putting it down, I'm convinced I need that sweater in five colors, and of course a belt, shoes, and a statement necklace to match. I frequently fall victim to such ploys, but when the J.Crew models recently tempted me with their striking bubble statement necklace (pictured above) I resisted the $150 price tag. After all, I needed that money for the eight thousand color combinations of J. Crew's Cece ballet flats I am prepared to purchase! After a bit of searching, I have found an equally pleasing statement necklace in a similar style and colorfor a mere $39. I can now add a pop of contrasting color to my ensembles and still have a little money left over to put towards bills and ahem J.Crew related expenses. JOY! 

J.Crew Bubble Necklace in Citrus Lime $150; Yellow Bubble Bib Necklace $39 @ Ily Couture;  Bubble Statement Necklace $39 @ Ily Couture;  J. Crew Bubble Necklace in Turquoise $150;

Pin It

Shopping Report: Madewell Favorites

I used the pleasant weather we experienced on Easter weekend as an excuse to do a little bit of shopping. I didn't go crazy, but I did stop into Madewell to pick up the polka-dot flats I've been lusting after, and a beautiful celestial chart scarf.

the polka-dot sidewalk skimmer $98; Starsign Storyteller scarf

the polka-dot sidewalk skimmer $98; Starsign Storyteller scarf

I've been busy breaking in those flats, first wearing them with my Hudson cherry jeans, then with this knit "embossed basket" Anthropologie dress (now on sale), and later I wore the scarf paired with a grey James Perse tee and my fave J.Brand Twill jeans in Navy.

Pin It

Casa y Cucina: Shrimp Tacos

Summer is a time for sun, drinks, and seafood! It isn't quite summer yet, but my husband and I decided to whip up some shrimp tacos with a twist. Frequently fish/shrimp tacos are served with some sort of slaw, usually yogurt or mayonnaise based, but the hubby isn't a fan of coleslaw, so we stuck to fresh veggies, spices and olive oil.

Shrimp Tacos served with a side of black beans

Shrimp Taco Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Shrimp

Avocado

Tomatoes

Green Pepper

Frying Pepper

Carrots

Crumbled Blue Cheese (or any other cheese of your choice)

Olive Oil

Basil

Red Pepper

Chili Powder

Red Pepper Flakes

Sea Salt

Choice Hot Sauce

Choice Salsa (we opted for Mango flavored Salsa)

Side:

Black Beans

Steps:

Left: Carrot/Pepper Slaw Right: Prepping Tomato & Avocado

• Place shrimp in bowl with a bit of olive oil and a rub of basil, red pepper, chili powder and red pepper flakes. Allow this to sit while you chop veggies and prepare the slaw.  
• The slaw was made by julienning a green pepper and a frying pepper and then mixing with fresh shredded carrots, olive oil, basil, sea salt & chili powder. (If you have some on hand, red cabbage would be a great edition to this mix as well).  
• The shrimp were sauteed on the stove top with olive oil. (In later summer months grilling the shrimp would add a second flavor dimension.)  
• Warm the tortillas, then place slaw, add shrimp, diced tomatoes, and sliced avocado on top.  
• We topped off our tacos with crumbled blue cheese, mango salsa, and hot sauce, and enjoyed them with a side of black beans and a cold beer.

  Pin It

Ban.do Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

Ban.do's Spring/Summer Collection of accessories is a girl's dream of glitter, bows, colorful gems, and hearts. Everything is wildly affordable, so go ahead, add a bit of color and whimsy to your life with these lovely new arrivals to the Ban.do shop:

{top} sunburst bobbi set $20; perfect bow bobbi $20; bermuda rose $50; pom pom flower $15; all @ shopbando
{bottom} crystal crush bobbi $20; glitter bobbi set $15; girlie chiffon bow $25; ban.do iphone case $25; ban.do heart tote $20; all @ shopbando

Pin It

Drugstore Detours: Coral Nails With Gold Stripes

After a week of polka-dot nails, I made quick change to coral with simple twist: gold stripes on my ring finger. I chose Wet n' Wild Wild Shine nail color in Blazed as my base. I free handed three stripes on the nail of my ring finger with Art Club's striping nail polish in gold.

The brush with the Art Club polish is very thin so I trusted that I could maintain a steady hand. If the polish you choose for the stripes has a standard brush, I recommend using an eyeliner brush or a very thin paint brush instead. For precise stripes I recommend slicing strips of scotch tape and placing on your nail. (make sure your base color is 100% dry before placing tape on your nail to prevent chipping. I typically place the tape on my skin first to pick up a bit of oil to make sure the tape doesn't latch on to the polish like glue.) When you peel off the tape you'll have clean stripes. Top off the look with some clear polish and you're ready to go show off your diy mani! Pin It