Shark Week.

Ladies and gentleman, Shark Week is 

here. Cue the "Jaws" theme song... 

 In honor of the best week of television 

(you can quote me on that) I decided to 

take my shark obsession to the next 
level and don this rad t-shirt.

I'll be glued to the Discovery Channel 
this week. Catch ya on the flip side, dolls.

T-shirt: Green Hill Clothes

Chambray shirt: J.Crew

Skirt: New York & Company

Purse: Thrift

Bangles: Thrift

Sunglasses: H&M

Loafers: Dollhouse

Men Have It So Easy.

"Ohh, you showered today and have health insurance. I'm in love!"

I found myself, as I often do, wandering through my local Sephora. I was having a lackluster day and got to thinking about how guys have it so easy. 

No tireless searches for the perfect summer lipstick (which is “Heat Wave” by NARS in case you were wondering). No quests to find the right bronzer that makes you glow without glowing like Snooki. 

Men have it so easy. 

Frankly, I feel like some women's standards are so low these days that if you can tackle any of the steps below you're way, way ahead of the pack. 

 1.  Smell nice: Ugh, I just love a good-smelling man. A little spritz of a great cologne and I’m yours. Disclaimer: Less is more in this department. If I can smell you across the entire bar it’s too much. That means you, guy-at-the-club-with-the-deep-v-neck. Also, Axe Body Spray does not constitute cologne. I feel like this is obvious, but you never know with some people.

2. Shoes: Throw away those God-awful square toe dress shoes. You know the kind. The ones you bought in high school for senior prom. A classic wingtip shoe will make you feel and look like James Bond.

3. Pump my gas: Call me a 1950’s housewife but I love when a man pumps my gas. Especially when it’s 20 degrees outside and sleeting rain.

4. Walk with me and not in front of me: Look, if I am wearing heels my pace is about cut in half. And frankly, I am wearing heels to look hot for you so slow the eff down.

5. Learn to cook a few good meals: A man who can cook a meal that doesn't include Hamburger Helper might as well be Wolfgang Puck in my eyes.

6.  Be kind to the wait staff: A man who is polite to our waitress at dinner is a huge plus. Chances are if you’re comfortable barking orders at a waitress over forgetting to bring my Diet Coke you’re probably a total ass. Bonus points for being a good tipper.

7.  Bring soup/medicine/whatever when I’m sick: If you show up with soup or cough drops or whatever else I need when I look and feel like utter death you’re probably a keeper. Also, if you can look at me for more than a few minutes in my sweats, red, runny nose and messy bed-head then I suspect you’re a pretty decent human being because even I can’t stand to look at myself like that. 

National Aquarium Adventure.

I convinced Andrew to fulfill my 3rd grade fantasies and 

accompany me to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

 I guess I'm just a kiddo at heart because I was pretty excited.

 Oh, did I mention how much I love sharks? Like, a lot. 

 The Jellies Invasion exhibit was one of the best. 

 This cute starfish reminded me of Peach from Finding Nemo. 

In fact, I actually heard kids ask where Nemo was in the exhibit 

with the clownfish. Ah, the power and influence of Disney! 

 And now the main attraction (for me)...  

 The sharks were so brooding.

 Colorful jellyfish art installation. 

The day's finale was the dolphin show 

which was, of course, adorable. 

 

Beach Babe.

1. These pink gladiators from Nine West are colorful and chic. 

2. A straw hat protects your gorgeous face from the sun and looks cute.

3. Avoid warm white wine with the Corkcicle. Genius.

4. A cute tote to store all your goodies.

5. I swear by this beach spray. It gives your hair loose waves with no fuss.

6. Stick the Beach Butler right into the sand to hold your drink and sunglasses.

I will be headed to the beach this (long) weekend and couldn't be 

more excited. Bring on that sunshine and hand me my drink! 

DC Weekend Exploration.

This weekend Andrew and I ventured to DC 

to swing by the Craft Mafia indie craft fair and

 explore the Logan Circle neighborhood.    

The fair featured forty vendors from the area. 

Andrew gravitated toward the leather.

We picked up this miniature terrarium 

with succulents and tiny people. How cute.

Watching the game at Drafting Table. 

By the way, amazing fries. Ugh, just to die for. 

I loved the art deco accents on this building. 

Colorful Buddha garden and townhouse. 

We visited Miss Pixies's which is home to the most

amazing vintage furniture, collectibles and knick knacks.

The inventory was so well arranged.

They had everything from trunks to glassware 

to old postcards from yesteryear. 

There were so many great art prints. 

If only I had more wall space...

What a fun green dresser - very shabby chic. 

The next stop was the Buffalo Exchange which

houses vintage and thrift clothing and accessories.

By far my favorite find of the day - a V ring 

in a sea of random jewelry. I had to buy it. 

A church I spied on the walk home. I liked the signage. 

The terrarium has found a nice home in my apartment. 

I really love exploring new neighborhoods. 

DC, you never let me down! Until next time... 

Change.

Well, hello there. It’s been ages, I know.

I desperately needed to take a break from this blog for a while. In early February I tragically lost my brother, John. Losing a loved one is like having the rug swept out from under you. It is equal parts shocking and sorrowful. Life has been so different since that day. There is a sadness that hangs over me like a dark, obscure cloud. Life, however, keeps moving. Although the tragedy never goes away you begin to learn to cope and move forward - or at least I am trying to. 

What is beautiful is the amount of love and strength felt from others. My heart is so full of love from family, friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances. What is beautiful is the capacity to love one another and relate and sympathize on the most basic human level.

I am reminding myself every day how much he loved me and how much I loved him, and how that love doesn't dissolve in silence or death.

PS: Along with the theme of change you'll notice I changed my blog as well. Fresh start. I hope you like it. 

Ladylike Chic.

Ever since the royal nuptials the world has gone ga-ga for Kate Middleton and

 her effortless, polished style. According to a study by the British paper, The Sun,

 the duchess' fashion choices have brought $1.5 billion to the British economy. 

She manages to look ladylike yet modern which is not always easy. 

Her influence has trickled into America as well, and her ladylike ensembles 

are sending a powerful message; that you can look chic without showing 

too much skin. I can dig it. If you're looking to pull off this demure style 

here are some options that won't break the bank. 

What is more timeless than a trench coat? This trench is $99 and 

the beautiful lilac color is perfect for spring and punching up any outfit.

If you know me you know how much I love polka dots. They are 

equal amounts whimsy and retro. This ladylike frock is a $89 and

you could pair it with a glittery red clutch to add a bit of fun.

Taking a cue from Kate's emerald dress above, this dress' bold color, 

A-line skirt and lace make this Jessica Simpson dress a head turner.

Inauguration Tourist Tips.

The Presidential Inauguration is just around the corner and while experts are not expecting the madness of the 2009 Inauguration there will certainly be an influx of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of Barack and his brood. 

If you're planning to visit DC I've got a few tips for you. Washingtonians are a very particular type of people so listen up!

1. If you are riding the metro please walk left and stand right. This is very important and you will receive dirty looks if you disobey this cardinal rule. You've been warned.

2. Speaking of the metro the Smithsonian, Archives, and Mt. Vernon Square stops will be closed so skip those stops. 

3. The metro does not tolerate food or drink. Just keep that Subway foot long tucked away in your purse until you get off. This is not the NYC subway, folks. It's clean! 

4. If you're lucky enough to be attending an Inauguration ball I beg of you to consider flat (but still cute, duh) shoes. Know ahead of time that there will be long lines and a lot of waiting. If you absolutely must wear your sky high heels consider these, ok? Walking home barefoot is not a cute look. 

5. If you'll be visiting Barack's favorite stops for grub as such Ben's Chili Bowl or Ray's Hell Burger remember that they only accept cash.

6. And most importantly never, ever, ever say anything negative about RGIII. Just don't. 

New Year. New Beginnings.

The new year is here and for many folks that means it is time for resolutions and new beginnings. Whether that means getting fit mentally, physically, progressing in your career, having more fun, getting rid of clutter, traveling more or anything in between here are some tips, tricks and general food for thought.

Karma queen? This soapstone karma counter is used to track good and bad deeds. 

If you're looking for a change of scenery check out this 12 month travel guide (thanks, Kristen). Traveling to Tokyo to enjoy the original cherry blossom festival sounds pretty rad.

How to get ahead at work from former Hearst exec, Cathie Black. Her book is straight forward, useful and sincere. 

100 ways to get more organized. Less clutter, less stress. 

Trying to spend less money but still look chic? New Dress A Day is a blog about a woman who created an entire year's wardrobe from altering outdated thrift store finds. Her craftiness is all sorts of amazing and her 'before' and 'after' outfit transformations are incredible.

101 creative resolutions to get your creative juices flowin'.

Even if you do not believe in resolutions (a la Sandra Bernhard) there's always room for goals at any time during the year. Here's to a fabulous 2013! 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here, can you believe it? I hope you are enjoying the day with your loved ones and embracing the spirit of the holidays. Here are some Christmas-y posts to brighten your day:

The First Lady and their adorable pup, Bo, reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

Motorcyclists and citizens recently linked arms in the streets of Connecticut to block hateful, extremist group, Westboro Baptist Church, from protesting the Sandy Hook vigil last week. How awesome is that?

Oh my gosh, these stories made me tear up. Phew, hand me the Kleenex. 

Santa sightings around the world. 

Fruitcake taste test. Do people still buy these anymore? Apparently there are fruitcakes that actually taste good. Who knew?

Hate that sweater your Aunt Mildred bought you? Here's your guide to returning your gift with minimal hassle. Save. Your. Receipt. 

The North Pole and all it's wonder.