New alternative to the played-out antler trend, for those of us who still love antlers

I love the antler trend in home design.  I know it's everywhere now and therefore probably uncool to blog about now, but there is something about antlers paired with feminine details that makes it rustic enough to balance a room.  Also, I grew up in Michigan, where hunting is a fun activity everywhere across the state except for my hometown of Ann Arbor.

I like this alternative to the antler trend--  one, I love lucite, and two, because living with a dead animal mounted on the wall just doesn't sit right with me, but I've always wanted a den with a 12-point.  I know.  It doesn't make sense.

I think it would look good with dark wallpaper-- like this Hygge & West fir wallpaper.  The dark tones make the lucite stand out, but is it too over-the-top with the forest theme? 

I think it has a sense of humor but I understand when you are spending $500 on a lucite deer head and over $100 a roll on the wallpaper, "humor" might not be the look you are trying to achieve.

(photo credit: A + R Store, also where you can buy me yourself this deer)

Fool me once, shame on me...

This is not the first time I have aired my grievances over ugly harem pants.

But to see so many brands with talented designers who should know better put their touch on this classic hot mess is unfortunate.  If this is what Jenna Lyons comes up with I will have nightmares about Target's in-house interpretations. 

One of my favorite interior designers/fashion bloggers, Erin from Elements of Style, has definitely commented on the JCrew sequin pants as have a few others around the internetz but I just couldn't resist. 

Especially after I saw what Lululemon was up to.  Lululemon is growing like crazy, but they should be growing because their yoga leggings and exercise pants prevent unsightly camel toe.  Stay away from harem pants Lululemon!  As an athletic apparel company and is it just me, or would running be made much more of a challenge with the extra fabric flapping in the wind?

Source of incriminating photos from JCrew, Lululemon

hello, delicious!

This caramelized chocolate banana marshmallow sandwich looks delicious, but do you eat it for a meal or is it a dessert? 

Ingredients:

2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp

2 tbsp packed dark brown sugar

4 slices buttermilk bread

8 whole large marshmallows

2 metal skewers

2 tbsp semisweet chocolate chips

12 banana slices

How the magic happens:

mix butter and sugar in a small bowl to blend and spread on one side of the bread slices.  Place 2 slices, buttered side down, on a plate.  Skewer 4 marshmallows on each of 2 skewers; hold over open flame and toast until marshmallows are blackened in spots (about 10 seconds).  Divide marshmallows btwn bread slices on plate, leaving about an inch of a border.  Sprinkle chocolate chips over marshmallows and top with banana.  Cover with bread slices and enjoy the deliciousness of an updated s'mores sandwich!

(recipe and photo credit: bon appetit)

well that's a crazy outfit!

Sometimes when I discover* a new blog it feels like I am talking to my snarky best friend who lives far far away in St. Louis!   That is what happened when I found The Man Repeller. 

I'm so glad someone finally wrote about this-- it's like the phenomenon of women dressing to impress other women.  I love my boyfriend, but he wouldn't care if I never wore makeup and started wearing my asics grandma arch supporting running shoes with jeans and a wife beater everyday, in fact, he might love me MORE because I'd have more money and I would only take 2 minutes to get ready when we go out. 

See also: this girl from Elle.com's Daily Street Style in difficult-to-wear-but-she-pulls-it-off-like-gangbusters-pants; and, also, Carrie Bradshaw.  Most men will tell you she dresses like a hobo or a child playing dress-up but ask most women and they will set you straight. 

*okay, honesty-police, when another blogger links to a blog and I read it


(photo credit: photo #1: elle.com, by courtney d'alesio, photo #2: fabsugar.com)

and now I have the Dawson's Creek theme song stuck in my head....

I'm loving these two photos of Katie Holmes right now.  They're taking me back to the middle school days when I just wanted to jump through the tv screen and Joey Potter's best friend instead of the awkward new teenager* I was.

So, the ironic part is that when she was on the show, I wanted to dress just like her-- those baggy boyfriend sweaters and rolled up jeans; even that stupid fisherman's hat--which I wore too, since she was my fashion icon.   These days I'd jump her for that Steven Alan top or the sequined sweater!  

(photos from people.com)

*Dawson's Creek premiered on my 13th birthday! 

Lady in Red

When I was in college, I found the most amazing red leather bag for $3 from my favorite thrift shop.  It was the perfect size: I could fit at least 2 notebooks in it, plus makeup, an assortment of pens, phone.  It was cross-body, durable worn leather, and the most wonderful shade of cherry red.  


I LOVED that bag.  Loved.  Past tense.  


My sister's dog ate it.  I was doggie sitting for the weekend.  The dog, a rescue, had (and continues to have) crippling separation anxiety.  Hs coping mechanism is to binge eat.  By the time I got to him, he had already consumed the entire strap.  


Since then I have been on the hunt for another vintage red bag but nothing comes close!  In the meantime, I do like these, found on Etsy:

Lauren's Closet in Sketches

My adorable friend Lauren is the talent behind this new blog, My Closet in Sketches. I love all of the pieces from her mom, who, by the way, is as stylish as her daughter.

I wonder if there is a gene for that sort of thing? (See: Charlotte Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin) I like to think I inherited and learned a few things from my onetime Macy's accessories buyer mother but mostly I think it is just the bad habit of acquiring way too many pieces of costume jewelry and trying to wear it as often as possible without looking like a pirate-gypsy.

These are a few of my favorite sketches so far and I am so excited to see what Lauren posts next!

(all photos are from My Closet in Sketches)