Color of the Week!

This week I'm introducing something new, the Color of the Week segment! Starting today, every week I will showcase different and fun novelties that I have come across all from the same color palette! This week I found some really fun things to share with you guys, check it out!

1) Style Watch! These adorable scalloped shorts from Jcrew are an absolutely perfect addition to your soon to be spring wardrobe. With the high wasted style and the delicate scalloped design along the hem of the pant, pair these shorts with practically any top and you've got a go to spring look. 

2) Shoes! Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes are a classic and timeless item to have in your collection. These Pink Searsucker Original 2-Eyed Boat Shoe have just the right amount of subtle pink accenting in addition to the detailed light leather tassel which makes these pair stand out just enough to make a statement but don't have too much of a loud and crazy design that you can't wear them with everything. 

3) Yum! This delicious recipe from Cupcakes Take the Cake, one of my favorite baking blogs, will make the most delicious chocolate cupcake you could ever dream of. I adapted this recipe, exchanging the chocolate buttercream, for the Wilton vanilla buttercream frosting recipe, and to achieve the pink color- just add red food coloring until you have achieved the shade of pink you desire!

4) Jewels! This Baublebox Bib Necklace from Kate Spade is quite a loud piece, but paired with the right top- it's beautiful pink shade accented by the 12-karat gold hardware makes this the perfect accessory. 

5) Sweet Drinks! This delicious Pink Lemonade recipe outlines directions to achieve the perfect balance of sour and sweet with this refreshing drink. 

6) Home Decor! A creative and resourceful use for your cookie sheets! With three easy steps you can create your own personal magnet board to add a colorful touch to any wall in your home. First take a cookie sheet, or two and coat with paint primer. Second pick your shade of paint, obviously here pink was the desired color, apply coats as you deem necessary. Third, it's a good idea to spray with a clear coat of sealant to make sure paint job lasts!

7) A Steal! Right now this adorable Pink Tulip Dress is on sale for only $17.99 (asos) With the one shoulder design and the tulip skirt this dress is perfect for a casual spring party or could be dressed up with a few accessories and a great pair of heals to take it to the formal level! 

Essie Springs Into New Colors!

Spring time is almost here, but Essie Nail Polish beat it to the punch with their new spring color collection! From left to right, starting with the top row we have; 

 orange, it's obvious! {a bright orange}

a crewed interest {a luminous peach shade}

navigate her {a light, bright green}

to buy or not to buy {a lavender with shimmer}

tour de finance {a fuchsia with shimmer}

olé caliente {a red-orange, with pink undertone}


The color trend of spring 2012 is in, couldn't be more excited! Such bright and fun colors really make your nails pop and stand out acting just like a perfectly placed accessory!

How Many "Great's" Can You Count?

My mom and her Dad, my Papa.

My extended family on both my mom's side and my dad's side are very different, but very much the same. On one hand, my mom is one of six, she has two sisters both older than her and three brothers, only one is younger than her. They are all 100% Irish and grew up right here in Massachusetts. My fathers side of the family however is a little different, he is the only child of my grandfather, the born and raised Californian who never left the West Coast, and my grandmother who was born and raised in upstate NY around the Hudson River area, but spent most of her adult life in California. So while my mom grew up with 5 other siblings, and my dad grew up with none, they both have an extremely comprehensive extended family, which always makes for an interesting time.

 I spent this past weekend in upstate New York in a small town called Germantown, not 10 minutes from Hudson. I have an enormous amount of family in the Hudson area. My dad being an only child grew up spending the summers on the east coast in upstate NY with his cousins. Over the years the relationship he built with his cousins was more like they were his siblings, and years and years later, by the time my brother and I came along, his cousins were considered to be my "aunts and uncles" and their children were my "cousins."

Little Grandma and I

The New York family was like my dad's immediate family, and NY was home to all of my grandmothers extended family. Her mother, my great great grandmother I called 'little grandma', was one of 9 siblings-3 of whom are still alive today. My great great Aunt Julie, great great Aunt Mary, and my great great Uncle Gabe. I have very fond memories of my little grandma, although she passed away when I was about 6 years old- I have distinct memories of her and I think of her often- especially when I am visiting in NY.

This trip we made a special visit to my great great Uncle Gabe's home. My great great Aunt Mary who now resides in FL was up visiting my great great Aunt Julie for a bit and we all got together. As I sat there, in a circle with my dad, my grandmother, and my great great aunts and uncle- I quickly realized how rare of a moment it was. In that very circle that we were sitting, there were 4 generations of my family. I don't think it is often that someone can say they have spent actual, quality time with their great great aunts or uncles, or grandparents even- and I would consider myself lucky to say that I have.

My grandmother's families' bar.

My great great Uncle Gabe, is an incredible craftsman, he and my dad toured me around his beautiful home which to my surprise was quite unique. He pointed out hinges on doors, and glass covered steel framed tables, horse shoe fabricated candlesticks- we walked from room to room as he described the materials which he recycle into beautiful works of art that were made extraordinarily useful in his home. Things from decades and decades back, that no one would have ever thought to use in such ways- but he managed to find a way to craft something beautiful out of it. The man has had a very interesting lifestyle, a formerly shrewd business man, he is a self made millionaire- but you would never know it based off of the way he utilizes what most of our society would call "scraps" or "trash." It's a mindset so rarely occurring now. Today he said is is "criminal to throw away and waste useful material." After walking through is house, and seeing the beauty he has created- it would be hard for anyone to argue with him.

As we were driving home from the weekend in upstate, I couldn't stop thinking about the visit, and how surreal it was to me after the fact- to think about 4 generations sitting in one room having a completely enjoyable afternoon. The stories my great great aunts and uncles would tell- seemed so much more than just stories from their past. Normally most extended family members with a title past just one great, is somewhat of a rarity for a person to have had the ability to enjoy a relationship with- take my mom for example who was the second youngest out of 6 siblings and never got to even meet her immediate grandparents. In my case it's different.

It got me thinking about how often we find ourselves taking for granted those moments at Christmas when our grandparents are repeating stories we've heard 7000 times before, or the jokes that never cease to show up at family gatherings- the little intricacies of the elder members of our family that become something we almost expect. What we sometimes fail to remember, is that having the expectation at all is something to cherish.

Springtime Favorites- Time for Clutches and Totes!

1) Bedford Road Leighton

2) Grove Court Maise

3) Hopper House Little Shyla

4) Essex Scout

5) Gold Coast Meadow

6) New Bond Street Florence

"note to self" a short exposé

I stumbled upon this image on one of my all-time favorite blogs; note to self. As the author herself Sarah D. Tolzman describes it, her blog is "a simple blog dedicated to that which we loved at first sight," beyond the shadow of a doubt. I check her blog at least once a day, and I am always inspired and left in a graciously pleasant mood. Tolzman's blog definitely caters to the interests of a more female based readership, but nonetheless her work is phenomenal and eye catching. 

The clean lines and pristine design of her blog is awe inspiring and truly a work of art.

Her main areas of content include a section called, hers/mine in which Tolzman demonstrates two aspects of one look- her images include on one side, the clothing items and the way in which they are intricately put together- and on the opposing panel, the somewhat DIY version of that very same look. An example of this is seen to the left. The name of every trendsetter pictured, can be found in the caption.

Another area of content that Tolzman includes in her blog is the quotations section. Much like the image pictured above, she combines striking graphics and or photographs with powerful quotations, each day is a new quote.

The round-ups segment of this blog is dedicated to new and fun/interesting things Tolzman selected to display for the week. These posts often look a little something like this image to the right captured directly from her site...

Lastly Tolzman includes a sip/snack section where you guessed it, she acknowledges different mixed drinks, and small bites that correspond accordingly in flavor to one another. The sip/snack post for today can be seen to the left; pictured are a Cardamom Rose Cocktail with a Rose Water Almond Cookie.


Note to Self is an intricately designed, bright and interesting blog that I visit it daily. You can always count on Tolzman to either inspire you, cause you to stop and think, feel an overwhelming urge to shop (ha ha!) or just plain give you a few new ideas to try.

I would absolutely recommend stopping by her blog, and I can almost guarantee if you do- it won't be the last time!