Taking a Second Look: Extend Those Sleeves

Bell sleeves weren't really a thing for quite some time now, and boy are they coming back for a resurgence. They add such fantastic drama to the silhouette, and I love the way that they border the line between girlish and chic. I have a  slightly similar black cocktail dress to Karlie's and I feel like a superstar when I wear it.

Fashion Crush Friday: Hannah Bagshaw

I was much more conflicted about this one than usual, simply because Hannah Bagshaw is famous through no real intention of her own. She is the charming wife of British actor Eddie Redmayne, and with his recent award winning streak and the upcoming launch of Harry Potter's Fantastic Beasts, the Redmaynes are on carpets galore.

Women Crush Wednesday: November

Today, I'd like to offer a shout out to a variety of women engaged in interesting projects that you may not be aware of. 

Karlie Kloss is not only my favorite super model, but she's also a good American gal from St. Louis, busily running her own empire. She's got her cookie business Karlie's Kookies, models up a storm across the world, and currently studies at NYU. The reason she's my crush right now is because of her initiative offering scholarships and training opportunities for young girls to train to code via her Kode with Klossy program. 

Fashion Crush Friday: Catriona Balfe

For those of you who somehow haven't seen Outlander, this is a PSA. Catriona Balfour is dynamite. Plus, for unknown reasons, she embodies what I imagine Rowena Ravenclaw to look like more than anyone else I've ever seen, which naturally established a girl crush. Note the Ravenclaw-esque scarf.

Littles: A Nursery for a Baby Lamb

Bunny & Lambs & Spring Flowers by buildingcamelot featuring moooi lighting

I had Springtime on the mind recently (Dear Maine, thanks for those photos of baby goats in hand knit sweaters) and I think you've all noticed by now that I'm a big yellow fan. I decided to give a Baby Animal nursery a shot and I'm really pleased with it.

Second Look: Soak Away Your Cares

In today's tidbits that you didn't ask for, I can offer the fun fact that I am a huge, huge, huge bath taker. Like I cannot even summon the energy to pretend to be sorry about it. I've been known to exceed an hour and a half soak on a Sunday afternoon. A cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of red wine, plenty of salts in the tub, and a stack of magazines or my Kindle and I'm good to go. My husband does regular checks to determine whether or not I've drowned, which is pretty romantic. 

Week's End: November 20th

Part of what makes this little blog so therapeutic and soothing for me is that it's a tool to keep track of what's been rolling through my mind. I was a bit of a scrapbooker as a kid and I'm obsessed with Pinterest and Polyvore now, so I suppose this is kind of my adult version of a journal.

So, what's been going on this week...

Fashion Crush Friday: Dianna Agron

Today my Mumford Wife appreciation continues! Dianna Agron is one hell of a Southern Belle. She does old fashion curls really well and feels like a walking Anthropologie ad. I love that she doesn't aim for that rumpled chic, bohemian look, or an androgynous streamlined silhouette. She wants to look like a polished finished lady, and she does it well. I feel like Dianna is genuinely sporting a look that is different, or at least less common, and she deserves a shout out.

Decorating the Nest: Shower Curtain Center Pieces

Oh Shower Curtains, the unfairly neglected canvas of the bathroom. Think fast- is there any piece of art in your home that's bigger than your shower curtain? If there is, feel free to stop reading this blog now because you're obviously too classy for me.

Green Thumb: Decks, Patios and Outdoor Entertaining

Floor Plans are my current obsession as we start the house scoping process. We've got our eye, maybe-kind of-sort of, on a summer 2017 purchase, which is both exciting and terrifying. One of the best lessons I learned about square footage came from my parents, who have a large backyard deck that they use for entertaining from April-October. It dramatically increases their hosting space all at a fraction of the price of adding an interior addition to the house.

Team S: Vow Renewals

I know, I know, we haven't even hit the 2 year mark yet, but we all know I can't resist looking forward. So today, let's talk Vow Renewals! 

For Team S, our chat has been about doing them every five years. To me, five years is long enough to have that special anniversary symbolism. Plenty of people take anniversary vacations, and I think combining those adventures with fresh weddings vows and using it as a time to look back at how far we've come and how many blessings we've had is really poignant. 

Advent: Deck the Rented Halls

Happy November! I am so, so interested in how other people handle Christmas decor. On one hand, I'm always reading on budgeting blogs that seasonal decorations are often the unbudgeted extra $50-100 that tips families over the edge. But it's also a dark time of year when decorations can really lift the spirits. For me (as with almost all things!) the key is to get as much bang for your buck as possible. The more classic and simple you keep your decor choices, the more affordable the season is, plus the less you have to store the rest of the year!