Kate Spade lovliness

(Images via Kate Spade home campaign)

My little monster...

I got an Anthropologie gift card the other day (only the best gift in the entire world) and it was tucked away inside of this stuffed thing. I don't know exactly what he is supposed to be--or if he is supposed to be anything--but I think he looks like a monster. And I like it. Isn't he one of the cutest little monsters you ever did see? And, considering he was bearing gifts of the Anthropologie kind, isn't he one of the nicest as well?

Red + Ruffles

I'v been lusting after this red dress since I saw it in a movie trailer for the first time a while ago. Can't seem to find anything like it though, except this one from Net-a-porter. But it doesn't come in red! Hmph.

Obsessed

I have a thing for bracelets, and every single bracelet on Charm and Chain is gorgeous. And every single pair of earrings. And every single necklace. Pretty much everything on that site is beautiful. I want it all!

Inspiration

I'm convinced that cat eye sunglasses are making a comeback. My friend just got a pair and I've been lusting after them since I've tried them on. Aren't they such a fun, classic look? I've been even more inspired to buy some since seeing this lovely picture of Catherine Deneuve. Such a classy lady!

(Images: unknown)

Daydreaming...

la la la la la....

(Image: Unknown)

Things I like

#1 This guy's dance moves.

Beautiful Maps

Look at how cool these maps are; blue points on the map are pictures taken by locals and red points on the map are pictures taken by tourists (compiled from Geotaggers' World Atlas maps on Flickr). It shows a really interesting divide between tourist photography and local photography, and it turns out to compile into quite a cool design as well! Enjoy, lovelies!

NYC:

San Francisco:
London:
Paris:

(Photos: Eric Fisher)

The Tao of Pooh (for Forts)

Yesterday, I decided to rediscover my inner child. So, naturally, I built a fort. I gathered up a bunch of sheets and tacks and tape, recruited my lovely friend, Tori, to help with the childish endeavor, and got to work in the middle of my living room. Three short hours later, Tori and I had built one of the most beautiful forts I have ever seen, complete with lanterns, streamers, balloons, and, in the spirit of all good forts, an extensive list of fort rules. Knowing that this cozy example of architectural genius was a cause for both celebration and exhibition, we invited all of our friends over for an impromptu tea party. (After all, what kind of party is better inside a fort than a tea party?) The rest of the night was spent in the company of great friends tucked away under mismatched bedsheets and streamers. Was it childish? Yes. Was it frivolous? Definitely. Would I like my future employer to know that I participate in such activities in my spare time? Probably not. But for those few hours that I spent laughing and chatting in that silly little fort of mine, I felt absolutely, totally, and completely carefree. And most importantly, I was happy. Just like I was when I was five years old. It was fabulous!

All of this fort nonsense got me thinking: why don't I do this more often? Or better yet, why don't people in general do this more often? Because it's immature, I suppose. It also takes up precious time and energy. And it musses up public living spaces quite a bit, too. However, it's so incredibly relaxing to convert back to the ways of a child, and every single one of my friends who entered that fort realized the same thing. With societal expectations of responsibility and respectability and maturity and dependability for the over-18 crowd, is it too much to ask for a little simplicity? Childhood was simple; you color within the lines, can (somewhat easily) blame everything on the dog, and when a problem arises--poof!--you just use your imagination to make everything better. And in the midst of all of the complexities of adulthood, while adulthood definitely has its benefits, sometimes an afternoon spent like a child again is the most wonderful thing in the world. As The Tao of Pooh states, "When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few, other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret: life is fun."

So, cheers to childish activities that keep us all young at heart, and to the adult maturity that allows us to truly appreciate them!

(Photos: Tori Simmons)

Dreaming of...

...going on a spontaneous vacation to Cinque Terre, inspired by Jacinta's recent travels. I've gone on spontaneous trips before, and I'm nearly convinced that it's time for another. Sigh... a girl can dream.

(via Lost)

Pops of Blue

It's lovely, no?

(Photos: unknown)

DIY Photobooths

Can we all just stop for a moment and look at how insanely adorable these DIY photobooth photos are? It makes me want a photobooth at every party!

I think these strips were taken at a "Peter Pancake" birthday party. Photobooths, Peter Pan, pirates, and pancakes at one party? My goodness, count me in!

(photos: unknown)

Summertime

(images via From Me To You)

Striped Jcrew Heaven

I know this ad came out quite a while ago on JCrew.com, but I just absolutely adore it. Mmmmm stripes and tortoise shell sunglasses...

(Images: Jcrew.com)

The beginning...

"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked.

'Where do you want to go?' was his response.

'I don't know,' Alice answered.

'Well then,' said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'"

When I first came across this snippet from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, I smiled. I suppose it's because it is exactly the type of advise that I'm looking for right about now. Cheshire cat, I thank thee very much. As an almost early twenty-something putzing about this mass that we call planet Earth, I'm finding myself as many early twenty-somethings find themselves: lost. With so many opportunities at my fingertips and so many paths to explore, what I thought I wanted my entire life has now become fuzzy and complicated, and I don't quite know what I want anymore. A quarter-life crisis, if you will.

However, I'm thinking that lost might not be so bad. In fact, recently, I'm starting to think that being lost is quite good. Especially after reading Cheshire cat's advise. No matter which way I go or what path I take, I'll figure something out. Hey, I may even discover myself along the way. Now wouldn't that be some kind of wonderful?

So, cheers to the beginning of this wonderful, little, happy-go-lucky blog and to the beginning of my documented wanderings and ponderings of my wonderful, little, happy-go-lucky life. Enjoy, lovelies.

(Photo: unknown)