Polka Dots for Fall

Summer is Over!

I know you're questioning why I added an exclamation point to that statement. But trust me, it is worthy, and here's why:

Fall fashion!
My trip to Italy in October!
Fall fashion!!
I'm moving into my new apartment in Jersey City at the end of October!
Halloween! Thanksgiving!
Um...Have I mentioned FALL FASHION?

Guess which one of those I'll be talking about today? Yeah, tough one...

So everyone knows that patterned/colored denim is huge right now. A twist on this that I'm starting to see more and more is polka dots. Not tiny little demure office-appropriate dots, but big, bold, fun, statement making ones.
They work surprisingly well as a neutral piece or they can be the statement-maker if your style is a little more laid back. Those two possibilities are my favorite thing about this whole pattern's/80's moment: colors and patterns that used to be impossible to find and seemed a little kooky when worn are now readily available and acceptable. But...I suppose that's also the downside. Without personal touches, the originality of the look is lost.

Ok Ok I'll shut up now.

Check out POLKA DOTS!

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1. A Pretty Preppy Life

2. Paige Premium Denim

3. Preppy College Glam (same jeans as above, here they are in the black-on-white)

4. Kendie Every Day

5. Brooklyn Blonde

6. Pinterest

I tried to find the original source for each picture (IE: Where the items can be purchased) but only had luck with a couple of them. I'll update if I'm able to find more of the items!

Hecho en Mexico

Hola!

Mexico is known, amongst other things, for their fantastic hand-painted ceramics. The colors are vibrant, the quality is great, and the price is fairly affordable, considering how beautiful everything is.

Below are the pieces I picked up during my trip:

The intricate details on these pieces are so extraordinary that I wanted to take home everything I saw! 

Choosing only these few was such a difficult process. The plate has a little hole on one of the edges, and I fully intend on displaying it on a wall in the kitchen/dining area of my new apartment (more on that exciting development later!). 

The bowl will be perfect for ice cream...but...I think it might just be too pretty to actually use for food...so it will likely become a focal point on my bookshelf, as will the Dia de los Muertos skull. 

Two of the skulls I brought back were gifts for people, and I already regret not buying a couple more of them for myself. They have a sort of romantic macabre about them that I find incredibly intriguing. 

What do you think of ceramic pottery? Like it? Love it? Not your taste? Think it's gross and tacky? Well, I think you're gross and tacky, so there.

Just kidding. 

But really...

Pastels

While perusing blogs and Pinterest, I've noticed that I am consistently drawn to pastel color schemed interiors. They are light, airy, and...make me happy. What do you think of pastels?

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1. fificheck

2. Oliveaux

3. Caitlin Wilson Design

4. Pink Wallpaper

5. Gabba Gabba Gorgeous

6. Simply Kelly

7. House of Turquoise

To Mexico We Go

What are your vacation essentials? 

I'm going to Mexico next week (I'M SO EXCITED!!) and in true form, I've already begun to plan my packing list and will likely start packing some time in the next couple days. Too early? Nahh.

These are some of my beach necessities.

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1. A cute, comfortable, well fitting swimsuit is my key to being happy on the beach. (Well, that and the sun...)

2. Cascade Cool, a fun new color by Essie that I'm excited to try.

3. A great sun hat to keep the rays off my face. Wrinkles? No thank you.

4. A good sun block is a no-brainer.

5. A cover up for walking to/from the beach, around town, out to lunch...

6. Last but not least...A great book to pass the time on the beach. I love witty, humorous writing, and Mindy Kaling's musings are next up on my list.

Home again, home again, jiggidy jig!

Well I guess the title gives it away. After quite a relaxing five days in California, I am home. It's nice to be back, although I have to admit, I have taken a liking to LA. There must be something in the water (aside from cancer).

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1- The CUPCAKE ATM MACHINE! at Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. If you don't know what the cupcake ATM is, you're slacking and you need to get on that ASAP.

2- That is yours truly in front of one of the canals in Venice. What a beautiful area. 

3- The 'Venice' lights.

4- A delectable latte from Amandine (the only cafe ever to be closed on a monday. Lame.)

5- Two perfect palm trees basking in the glow of the sun, like I wish I was right now.

An LA morning

I'm sitting at a table outside of a bagel shop in Los Angeles right now. Across the street is a wonderful little cafe called Amandine. My original intention this morning was to nestle into one of their corner banquettes, sip a non-fat latte, eat french toast with strawberries on top, and use their free wi-fi to catch up on all I've missed since getting to LA (MM doesn't have Internet set up in her new apartment yet).

 But that did not happen. Because Amandine is closed. On a Monday morning at 9am. Unhappily, I walked back to the crosswalk at the corner (because that's how people cross the street here, always) and made my way to the bagel shop I'm at now.

It's on the ground floor of an office building, and I'm sitting at a steel table facing the traffic-filled Wilshire Boulevard, with a black iced coffee and a bagel with cream cheese. So...sort of a different experience than what I was aiming for. On the bright side, however, I was still able to pick up on Amandine's free wi-fi. So I suppose it's not a total loss.

The signal, however, is extremely weak, so that's all for now.

House Warming Gifts

Next week, I'm going to Los Angeles (EEEE!!!!) to visit one of my very favorite friends, MM (whose fantastic blog can be found here). On June 1st, which unintentionally coincides with my visit, MM is moving into a new apartment. Up until now she has lived with room mates, the most recent of which an insufferable human on oh-so-many levels.
So they're parting ways, not quite amicably, and MM is moving into a one bedroom apartment. This, of course, means she gets a house warming gift.

So now, What am I to get her as a gift? What do people WANT as house warming gifts?

Well, my first thought for MM was monograms. Monograms on EVERYTHING!

These salt and pepper shakers are from Design Darling. These are number 1 on the list of what to get her right now.

Another great option:

A customizable throw blanket from West Elm

Not into Monograms? Ok fine.

A cocktail shaker is always a great choice. It's not style specific, which is important if you're not sure of what style the recipient prefers. And will inevitably come in handy.

Jonathan Adler post-it notes (OneKingsLane). 

No one packs up their home thinking 'Oh, I better leave some paper and a pen easily accessible!' but the truth is, they'll need it. Think of all the appointments that need to be made: Internet, TV, painters, installations...the list goes on. Obviously this gift is best given right upon the move-in, but it's pretty enough to be appreciated even if they've lived there for months.

Coffee table books are another great choice. They can be displayed on a table or hidden away on a bookshelf. They can be funny, like the one above, artistic, photographic, design-centric, or anything in between. Here on Amazon they have a great array of choices.

If you know someone well, go ahead and buy something taste-specific (like monogrammed salt and pepper shakers). But if not...stick to generic. They'll appreciate it, and you won't be offended if you never spot it in their home again.