{Friday's Fancies} Back to School

I miss college. I do not miss high school. But I miss college. I had tremendously awesome college experiences. (Yes, plural. Three collages, three states, degree in four years. Good times.) I long for spanky new school supplies and assembling the perfect first-day ensemble. For me, comfort is key. If I'm wearing something fussy, my discomfort will be abundantly apparent (by either my tripping, groaning, or sour expression).

I liked to arrive early to class (shocking), sit near the front but off to the side (preferably near a wall on which I can lean), and feel confident that I looked cute but covered. (No classroom was ever above 45 degrees in my undergrad experience. Except that time I got heat stroke in pottery class. That's all I have to say about that.)


Studs // Watch // Messenger Bag // Blouse
Denim // Glasses // Ring // Oxfords

Confession: I miss my glasses sometimes. I am uber thankful for the gift that is Lasik, but I was totally one of those weirdos who didn't mind the way she looked in glasses. Especially when thinking about school, I have fond memories of dark bookish frames and messy ponytails with bangs. (I guess folks would be none the wiser if I just wore prescriptionless frames, huh? Interesting.)

This outfit pretty well captures the mismash of styles I tend to favor: classic and polished, edgy but cute, trendy yet age-appropriate, and comfy while pulled-together. I'm really digging the oxford trend, y'all. I don't know if I can pull it off, but I wanna.

What fall trend are you flirting with? 

Check out more of the Fancies over yonder. And big thanks to {av} as always for hosting us!

Nose in a book...once again

I love reading. I really do. (Ah, to be past the age when that statement would get your pigtails pulled...not that that stopped me from professing my adoration for the written word. Oh, little Natty.)

I typically opt for non-fiction, particularly Christian non-fiction as of late. But as the buzz of it's theatrical release swelled, The Hunger Games landed smack dab on my radar and I was intrigued. (They had me at dystopic, really.) I'm always years behind on everything (cell phones, iCrap, Arcade Fire, etc.), so it shouldn't be surprising that I'm just now getting on the bandwagon. But, y'all, I'm hooked.

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M gave me the book as a gift a few weeks ago, but I delayed a bit on starting it, knowing how voraciously I consume good fiction and assuming it to be so. (And I was correct.) I'm over half way done, and seeing as I have a free evening at home while my honey is hard at work, I've got a hot date with my book, a blankie, and a cup of tea. (Wild woman, I am.)

It's hard to avoid the commentary and images circulating all over the place about the movie, but I really don't mind it. I mean, I like to be surprised and cook up my own images of the characters, but the film teasers may also temper the stabbiness I'm prone to feeling when a beloved book is visually translated in a manner that doesn't do justice. (And really, they rarely do. It's tough for obdurate reality--or even virtual reality, for that matter--to compete with the imagination.) And I thankfully haven't encountered any content/storyline teasers yet, which is all the more reason to plow through quickly. (And because it's just. so. good.) I can't wait to finish it so M and I can venture out to the theaters with the masses and settle in for the games.

Have y'all made the journey to Panem? What'd you think?

Friday, I'm in Love, v.15

It's Friday and I'm in love with...

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I now realize that taking daily walks in a shopping center with an Anthropologie is highly dangerous. During my perusing earlier this week, I spotted this railroad spike cuff and nearly knocked over a rack of earrings trying to grab one. I was surprised at how great it looks with my MK watch, particularly with the spike side up. (Sadly, I didn't buy it. The reason for that has eluded me at the moment...) Heart.

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Get it? Man, do I love me a play on words. This cheeky card is one of several I found on Etsy that would be perfect for my cerebral cutie. (I'm a nerd. I own it.)

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Want. Waaaaant. Wednesday's debut of the TOMS ballet flats was every bit as exciting as I thought it would be. The prices? Not so much. But could these be any more perfect? Great color, great material, great support/comfort...I mean, this style is called "Natalia." Coincidence? Me thinks not!

Your eyes are not deceiving you; that is a salad. Yes, I'm loving salad. Well, I'm loving all things healthy at the moment, really. M and I got back on our walking/jogging routine (praying my knee allows that to continue), and it never ceases to amaze me how physical fitness inspires healthier choices when it comes to eating and drinking. I think less about taste and more about nutrition (though, rest assured, this salad was every bit as good as it looks).

Have a great weekend, friends!

Pantry Pretty

Living in an apartment, I'm not exactly swimming in space. Well, I am, just not space in areas where it actually counts. Like in the kitchen. My pantry is basically a shallow shelf unit. All the more reason to carefully select my shelf stockables for maximum nutrition and convenience for cooking, as well as keep my dry goods organized and tidy, right? Oh, I do love me a good OCD challenge!

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That is not my pantry. But given that I simply cannot capture a photo of my pantry that doesn't look like a dungeon (natural light shuns that wall of the house), this is the visual you get. This is pretty much my goal anyway, so it's kinda the same. Let's go with that.

Over this past weekend, I used some of my remaining birthday cash to nab some glass containers with which to organize my hot mess of a pantry. The Container Store is a very dangerous place, y'all. I about had a meltdown given all the choices available, but M helped reign in the crazy and I ended up bringing several of these guys home:

Stackable Square Glass Canisters

In addition to the fantastically therapeutic task of washing my new canisters and weeding through the contents of my pantry, I also reorganized the placement of my dry goods to encourage my efforts to eat better/cleaner. Whereas before my pantry resembled a concession stand, the central and most easily-accessible shelf overflowing with candy leftover from Christmas stockings, cookies and generalized naughties, it now looks more like a mini Sprouts, abounding with grains, low-sodium canned beans and veggies, whole wheat pasta, healthy oils and flavorants, etc. The candy is still there for the lingering sweet tooth, but I've placed the sugary items on the top shelf, barely visible for this shorty. It's better this way.

Not only does peering into my pantry make me do a little happy dance at the sheer order of things, but I can also take advantage of buying in bulk (cheaper and you always have needed ingredients on hand). And because these glass canisters are square, I can make the most of the limited space I have (a deciding factor M brought up while shopping for containers), particularly in eliminating bulky bags of lentils and quinoa. And they're pretty.

Have you tackled an organization project recently that inspired and excited you? 


Today is the last day to enter my GIVEAWAY! Don't miss your chance to own the charming Little Book of Etiquette. Easy entry, but you must comment by midnight tonight to be eligible. Good luck!

Road Trip!

M and I are trekking down to Austin tomorrow and I am positively giddy about it! I have not (to my own shock and confusion) been back to ATX since I moved away in July. I have since been jonesing for the likes of Sugar Mama's cupcakes, Bouldin's Veggie Royale, Mandola's ravioli, 24 Diner's veggie hash & coffee...I could go on for days, really.

As if the eats aren't reason enough to do a happy dance (not to mention road tripping with my honey and staying on the lake), we are going to see The Civil Wars tomorrow night!! Mr. and Mrs. Biscuit are going to join us, and I just know that this weekend is going to be awesomesauce.

I can't believe I haven't packed yet!! (Stop laughing. I seriously pack about a week before any sort of trip; including one for which you could feasibly throw everything into the backseat and just wing it. But I don't wing.) To that end, here is what I'm thinking for the show...

My outfit will be kind similar, minus some of these fantastic accessories (that I tragically don't own). I contemplated a dress, but figured I'd likely get pouty that I'm not wearing one as fabulous as Joy's, and that's just no fun for anyone. And (surprise, surprise) I'll be carrying a much bigger purse. (I mean, what if I need to write down an appointment in my agenda between sets or take some antacid in the midst of chair dancing to "Barton Hollow"?!) (Aaaand, this is where Mr. and Mrs. Biscuit wish they had purchased seats away from your crazy author.)

Happy trails, y'all!

Friday, I'm in Love, v.12 {2011 in Review}

It's the last Friday of the year and here's what I loved "best" in 2011...

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Best film: Super 8. To be fair, I haven't been to the theater near as much as I should've this year, so I know there are some gems I've still yet to see. But this film was fantastic. It was nostalgic, enchanting, well executed, and had just the right balance of genuine, character-driven storyline with the signature J.J. Abrams sci-fi twist.



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Best album: Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars. Since downloading this album in February, it has been in heavy rotation in my car, on my nightstand dock (I alternate between "The Violet Hour" and "My Father's Father" as my alarm), and during my travels. I was ecstatic to see that their cover of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" made it on the album. It's flawless.



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Best legislation: labeling regulations for sunscreen. I am not generally a huge fan of the FDA, but they finally took a step in the right direction when they introduced regulations for how sunscreen may be labeled and marketed to consumers. They certainly have a long way to go in terms of enforcing truth in labeling across the board for the products they oversee (specifically food, but that's another soapbox for another time), but this is an important change and one that will hopefully create awareness about sun safety.   

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Best trend: demure elegance a la Kate Middleton. I heart Kate. I really do. She has brought modesty back in vogue, which this prude really appreciates, and did so in a way that is timeless and elegant beyond her years. She is also a minimalist, which I adore. Homegirl could be draped in diamonds, yet she chooses understated pieces, classic lines and an exquisite color palette. Cheers, Mrs. Wills!

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Best song: "Down in the Valley" by The Head and The Heart. It's tough not to pick one of the many lovelies off of Barton Hollow, but I positively adore this song. It's layered, rustic, melodic, and simply demands the listener sing along and tap their feet. The transitions within this tune create a sense of receiving an awesome two-for-one. I can't get enough of it. 

What were some of your "best" loves in 2011?

Christmas Spoils

To say that I am blessed is an understatement. I am positively spoiled. The sheer volume of gifts, on top of the thoughtfulness with which each item was selected, was nearly overwhelming. In the sound words of Wayne and Garth: "[I'm] not worthy!"

Cuddled up at work with a few of my gifts.
Anthro scarf & Natalya's Studio cozy

A sample from this year's collection o' lovely gifts: J. Crew Majesty peacoat, proper pajamas, Hello Kitty slippers and ornament, food processor(s), gorgeous graphite date book featured here, Sur La Table measuring cups and spoons, bamboo cutting board, I Love Your Style, cozy scarves, framed photos of me and my honey, and a stash of my fave candies (Red Vines, Heath bar, Almond Roca, Mounds) to last me months! See? Spoiled.

Fabulous gifts aside, this Christmas was wonderful for many reasons...
~It was my first with M; truly a holiday to remember.
~My dear Mamaw had a scare on Christmas Eve but recovered completely to join us for Christmas lunch.
~My brother was able to fly in from Cali.
~I was blessed with some absolutely fantastic moments with the kiddos.
~And most importantly, every celebration began with prayer, thanking God for the gift of His son, that we may have life because of Christ. A family rooted in faith is an immeasurable gift.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend of celebration and love, and that it continues into this week and the new year. We truly have so much to celebrate, every day. Enjoy the time of rest, for those of you cuddled up and disconnecting for a few more days.

Day Planner: Paper vs. Electronic

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I'm a wee bit on the Monica Geller side when it comes to planning and organization. I fully admit it. Especially as I get a bit older and am not nearly as sharp about remembering things as I used to be, my day planner is an asset to my life. (I can't remember birthdays to save my life, but I sure do recall the five uber random things I need from the grocery store. Thank you, highly-selective photographic memory.)

And yes, I said day planner. I have tried to make the switch to electronic, I really have. But even with my spiffy iPhone, I just can't get on board with e-calendars. I like having everything written out and being able to look at my life by week or month as I so desire, as well as review past events and dates. (I know that electronic versions do this too, but it's not in my handwriting. Ergo, lies.)

Plus, day planners are pretty!

Exhibit A: {ELEGANTLY COMPACT}

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Exhibit B: {GLAM MEETS RUSTIC}

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Exhibit C: {COME TO NATTY}

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These are just too lovely to forsake, no? I personally like to keep my planners on my bookshelf for a few years because they can function as a journal when I'm not keeping a separate diary or blogging often. It's a great tool for recalling timelines or tracking special moments.

(Nerd confession: I've notated many relationship landmarks for M and I in my date book. Laugh now, but you just try nailing down an anniversary date for a romance that started out friendly and you'll be whistling a different tune.)

(Where do they come up with these sayings? And why do I use them?!)  

My day planner must-haves:

~Weekly view.

~Lined pages with enough room per day for multiple detailed entries.

~Must be compact enough to fit in my LV mini looping, even if I usually carry a more spacious satchel.

~A ribbon or tab for marking the current week.

~For the love, no pre-printed time slots.

An old-fashioned gal, I most definitely am at times. Much as I'm not a fan of e-readers, I'm not a fan of e-calendars. I simply cannot give up tickling the gilt edges of the pages and scrawling engagements with my Zebra F-301 (best. pen. ever.).

But that's just me.

[Inspired Thursdays, v.2] The World of Tim Burton

Perhaps because Halloween is looming, or perhaps because of his sheer awesomeness, I am once again knee deep in my adoration of all things Tim Burton.

Photo: Google

I can imagine that given my penchant for girly soft pretties, this may seem an odd romance. But I assure you, my appreciation for this man runs deep and true.

It really knocks me over when someone is not only immensely creative, but so distinctly brands his work that you know within moments you are witnessing a Tim Burton creation (and not just because of the also recognizable/awesome Danny Elfman score). From the creepy-yet-endearing renderings and quirky black and white motifs that pepper his work, to the juxtaposition of his beloved characters with otherwise hum-drum realms, I am absolutely enchanted every time.



"Tree of the Dead" from Sleepy Hollow


I could go on for days about his films and artwork, but I will spare y'all in an attempt to keep this post brief. However, it bears mentioning that Big Fish has been one of my all-time Top 3 Favorite Films for quite a few years now. Given my snobbery, that's saying a lot.

And I may be dressing up as one of his characters for Halloween...