Snapshots of Simple Pleasures

Above: This is how I spent this past Friday afternoon.  I live within walking distance of the coziest little coffee shop, Cafe Milo.  I trot down on a regular basis to sink into an antique chair and enjoy a big cup of light roast coffee near the warmth of a fire.  It's a lovely place.

When I was little, one of my grandmas gave me this funky piece of costume jewelry. Ornate gold and pink gems frame a really glittery center rectangle.  I've probably had this ring for twelve years... and I love as much today as the day I received it.  As a girl, I thought it was totally something a princess would wear.  Today, I love it for its unique, vintage, costumey feel.  It's probably not worth much at all, but to me it's priceless. :)

I'm trying to take more pictures of the little details in life: my simplest pleasures.  Hopefully I'll get around to sharing them here on the blog more often. 

Do you have a favorite coffee shop or treasured piece of jewelry?




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Valentine's Day Fashion

Blame it on Pinterest, but I'm already in the Valentine's Day mood.  Whether you're single, crushing, or involved... there's no excuse for not taking some cues from Cupid when it comes to dressing up in the lovey-dovey spirit.  The above fashion board is all about pink.  I threw out the bold, garish shade of pink you often see throughout February and replaced it with the perfect blushing hue.  The pale mauve dress with its long lace sleeves, slight A-line skirt, and waist-cinching brown belt would look darling with a pair of over-the-knee boots and pocket-watch necklace  A flirty, ruffly pink blouse would look oh-so-flirty with a pair of dark, slimming bootcut jeans---especially with crimson accessories thrown in.  Lastly, I couldn't get over this romantic dress, especially with glitzy-toed heels and a classic bag.  With blush, go big or go home.  Give your face a glowing radiance with natural pink blush.  Paint your nails to match ballerina slippers.  A light rosy lipstick completes your lovely look.
The color I want to focus on for Valentine's Day is a neutral hue you'll want to eat up: chocolate brown!  For a cozy couple hours at the coffee shop, get inspired by chocolate-covered cherries... put on a casual ensemble of skinny jeans, a brown long-sleeved tee, red scarf, and brown leather biker boots, accessorized with a bold ring and cute cross-body bag.  The second outfit is reminiscent of the fluffy, delicious nougat center of beloved candy bars.  Take the light brown lace dress to class by dressing it down with darker oxfords and a handsome bag.  Lastly, we dive into caramel-filled chocolate.  This deep brown tunic is sinfully sweet for a night out on the town when paired with milk chocolate pumps and a caramelly clutch.  Warm up winter with a golden glow on your face: bronzer, neutral eye shadow, and gold-flecked lips.   Cappuccino-hued nail polish will look delicious on your fingertips, might I add.
You know I wouldn't write a Valentine's Day fashion post without getting some red in there.  And who doesn't feel sexy in a little red dress?  For this board, I found a little red dress for every occasion.  The first is a flowy, pleated, cherry-hued frock.  It looks perfectly ladylike with peach, vintagey pumps, a coral clutch, and pearls---perhaps for a candlelit dinner?  Strapless, formfitting, and red hot, the second dress is ideal for dressing up with glittery chandelier earrings, a satin clutch, and lavender heels for a more fancy affair.  Finally, this short-sleeve dress is ready for the office.  Keep it professional and chic with a classic watch, classy purse, and spectator-pump-inspired flats.  Since you're wearing a bold color, go easy on the makeup and skip the red lipstick.  Instead, go au natural with the cosmetics---putting on a little nude lipstick and a lot of thickening mascara for some sultry eyes.  Paint your nails a pale, shimmery metallic.

Ok, tell me! What is your ideal Valentine's Day date?  And which of these ensembles is your favorite?




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Beautiful Laptop Skins


While you can't go wrong with classic and classy black... my lovely new HP laptop keeps dinging me for a makeover.  I stumbled across Society 6 and immediately knew I'd come to the right place.  The only drawback is that there are sooo many options!  We're talking thousands!  I rounded up a few of my faves, but I only skimmed through 50 of the 1,391 pages of options.  Did you really think I was exaggerating when I said thousands?  Anyway, isn't that laptop skin lovely?

Delightful Pastels in Germany

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I just have to gush over this pretty flat in Germany.  The dweller, Kathrin, is a software designer who lives here with her boyfriend Max and four bunnies.  She has an eye for lovely decor and a self-proclaimed "huge weakness for old furniture, which I love to paint in order to give it a second life."  (Sound like my kind of girl!)  She blogs about her life and home at WhereYourHeartIs.net/en/.  Let's take a tour of her beautiful apartment, shall we?

One Futon, Five Ways | Studio Style

 It's the piece of furniture we love to hate: the futon.  But since we college students are often short on space and low on money, this bed-slash-couch monster is often a necessary evil... especially in studios and efficiencies.  Lately, there are some handsome futon options appearing on the market.  It's more likely that your futon resembles the one above.  These pieces cause many a decor woe, but stylishly integrating a futon into your apartment is not a lost cause.  Don't give up!  Just check out these five futon makeovers for inspiration:

Winter Office Style Contest | Win $50

It's that time of year again... internship searches, career fairs, and hopefully some interviews. You only get one chance to make a fabulous first impression.  You want your interview attire (and workplace fashion in general) to convey how professional you are while still showing off your personality.  Not sure where to start when it comes to putting together a get-up that says, "Hire Me!"?  Check out this infographic:

Winter Weaknesses

Now that the snow is here to stay in Iowa... I suppose it's time to share my weaknesses this winter.  Here's what's getting me through the frigid days and frozen nights...

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