On the Seashore

(Marimekko Pixie dress, Seascape print from Sadly Harmless)

Happy Monday!

I'm really wanting this sweet Marimekko dress. I can't get enough of scalloped edges and Peter Pan collars these days. This particular design has a nautical feel, without being too literal; the perfect dress for summer. 

Isn't this adorable sea-inspired print so fun? The boat, the sharks, the "wavy" beard - I love it all. I want this print for my bathroom, immediately.

Saturday Style File: Week Eight

Happy Saturday!

I think lots of people struggle with the month of February; Winter seems never ending and spirits are generally a bit low. Have you noticed this?

Last week I mentioned that I've been in a bit of a rut, style-wise. For someone who loves clothes, I have a pretty small wardrobe. There are only so many things in my closet that are appropriate for bitter cold and many feet of snow on the ground (we just got another six inches or so yesterday)! I've been relying on a few pieces pretty heavily, just waiting for the weather to warm up enough to begin incorporating some of my more Spring-like items into the mix.

So, this week I will spare you the details of most of my outfit (blue turtleneck, skinny jeans, black ankle booties, blah blah..) and focus on the new piece in my closet - the Spring blouse I purchased from Express! The blouse is fairly sheer and lightweight, with a vibrant floral pattern. I wanted to inject some color into my look this week, so I decided to pair the blouse with my warmer Winter items.

I'm dying to get some bright cropped skinnies to pair with the blouse, along with my favorite pair of yellow flats. I will say, thought, that pairing the cheerful blouse with my Winter staples really did lift my mood on Monday :)

How has your weekend been so far? I'm off to run errands this afternoon, but I think I'll be able to talk A. into having Chinese tonight at the quiet little restaurant we love :)

For those of you who liked this, the card is now listed in the shop!

Neutral Ground

(Satomi Kawakita yellow gold ring, Fabric & Handle tote, Coclico Outro bootie)

I absolutely love color. If given the choice between a cheerful bright and a more subdued hue, I'll choose cheerful 99% of the time. That said, I still appreciate the role neutral tones play in grounding an outfit. Black, gray and brown tones mix effortlessly with the more "exuberant" pieces a girl's closet.  I'm sure I could find a way to work these cheerful, neutral pieces into my otherwise colorful wardrobe!

New Work: Hello, Cupcake

The inspiration for this fun little design is most likely a combination of several things:

- My upcoming 25th birthday in March (!)

- My extreme love for cupcakes (!!)

- My affinity for all things bright and cheerful

- My love for confetti, especially dotty confetti

If I can get my act together this week, I hope to have some cards with this design (size A2) up in the shop!

I'm thinking a batch of cupcakes might be on the agenda tonight..

Mango Brights

I discovered Mango today via the always inspiring You Are My Fave. I can't get enough of the line's bright Spring dresses. I especially love the more modest hemlines and longer sleeves; Perfect for work, but definitely cute enough for play. I'm a fan of comfortable looks that I won't fuss with all day, so a couple of these sweet little dresses would be perfect!

Losing The Fear..

Isn't this thought sort of profound? I can think of many instances where the fear of being "wrong" has complicated my creative choices. "Is it OK to pair this blouse and skirt? Would it be wrong to mix these two prints, even though I love them both and think they work together? Does my newest creative project reflect my true artistic voice, or am I trying to be something I'm not?"

I think that the most inspiring creatives are so interesting and dynamic because they are willing to take chances. The fear of being wrong isn't on their radar, or at least it doesn't prevent them from pushing the envelop anyway. The freshest ideas originate from those who dare to create without question or judgement.

I know I'm inspired to be a bit braver. What about you?

Saturday Style File: Week Seven (On Sunday)

Happy Sunday :)

So, I slipped a bit for week seven of Saturday Style File. It's Sunday evening, but better late than never, right?

The highlight of this week's outfit is my new haircut! I decided that I'm going to rock a blunt bang again for a bit. That is, until I get bored and cut it again ;)

This week's look is more of the same from previous weeks. My standard winter uniform applies here (black turtleneck, skirt, warm opaque tights and boots). However, I did mix it up a bit with a summer top I love and some metallic booties.

Favorite outfit this week:

- Black turtleneck from H&M.

- Black skirt from Old Navy, many seasons ago.

- Blue summer blouse from Gap, five-ish years ago.

- Belt from Kohl's.

- Booties from Born.

Tonight A and I had a homemade pizza topped with sun dried tomatoes and basil. What a fantastic combination! If you haven't tried this, I would highly recommend it. 

Enjoy what's left of the weekend!