What I Wore: The Hot Dots Edition

I've been on a buying kick lately. I know. I know. I'm supposed to be re-purposing and reusing and buying less, but with all the spring stuff going on sale I just couldn't help myself. Of course, I picked up the cutest spring jacket at H&M and now it's 90 degrees in Chicago. I'm being punished for my shopping spree, but I did get in a about a week of jacket time. Anyway, I also managed to pick up bright orange polka dot dress which is a total winner and perfect for spring nights.

Monday Design: Breakfast Nook Designs

All my life I've wanted a breakfast nook in the kitchen. Yes, you read that right - all my life. I was a weird kid. I have always been interested by home design and breakfast nooks are one of those interior design elements I remember begging my mom for. Yes, begging. Especially once we actually had the space. You see, my mom owns her own cleaning service and has some pretty fancy houses on her client list. When I was younger, we couldn't afford day car in the summers so I would go to work with my mom. Ok so mostly I would play while she worked, but I got to go inside these crazy huge houses - most of which had breakfast nooks. I'm assuming this is where my obsession began considering it was before internet (Right?! I know. When was that?).

Despite my darnedest efforts, we never did end up getting the breakfast nook of my dreams, but you better believe that when this little lady owns a house it will have a big squishy, sunny place designated for breakfast and tea. In the meantime, let's get inspired.

Monday Design: Escape By The Water

This pretty little home is such a gem if you're looking for a space that's quiet or just a getaway location. Even though this home is obviously surrounded by other homes and docks, something about the space still seems serene.

Photo Friday: Intimate

I love Elle magazine. I don't know if I've mentioned that before, but I feel it's worth mentioning now. Unlike some of the other women's fashion magazine out there, Elle has never struck me as trivial. Even though there are articles about life, beauty, and sex (of course!) they never seem trashy or unwelcome. Mostly what I'm always excited to see first are the fashion editorials (of course!). Elle magazine always seems to have their finger on the pulse of fashion and knows how to artfully display it. The editorials always seem to focus on the photography first and the fashion second. Something a photography loving gal like myself really appreciates.

What I Wore: The Long Skirts Edition

So I have to apologize, mostly to myself but some to anyone who's noticed. I've been in a blogging slump these last few months and I just haven't been able to shake off these blogging blues (cue the acoustic guitar and raspy voice). I've been ignoring my Etsy stores too even though I have been collecting cute vintage clothes and making jewelry again. Still, I somehow could not get myself motivated. But now that warm weather is here and the trees have finally started to bloom, I feel refreshed! 

So here's to getting my lazy butt back in gear and not being a disappointment of a blogger anymore! 

Monday Design: Grand Simplicity

Rose Uniacke's home is a dream. That's all I can really say about it. Although, I guess if I worked as an established interior designer, I'd make sure my home was a dream too.

What I Wore: The Prep School Edition

It's freaking spring in Chicago and I'm busting out the florals. You better believe it was an amazing feeling to finally wear this dress that I picked up from Target months ago. What I fool I was then, thinking the warm weather was coming soon. But it's finally here and that means that I am taking a stance against leg coverings!

Monday Design: Chic New York

If you love style and design and live on the internet like I do, you've probably already seen Athena Calderon's absolutely gorgeous New York apartment. And I do not feel bad about sharing it even though it's already been all over the internet because it really is an amazing work of interior design so seeing it again is a treat.

Photo Friday: Where Word Nerds and Design Nerds Meet

Word nerds and design nerds rejoice! I think I found the point where you two meet. I stumbled across this amazing collection on Brain Pickings today of unusual and rarely used words turned into bold graphics and the literature major in me swooned. Obscure words and pretty graphics make up most of my life.

What I Wore: California Livin'

Take me back to the west. The sun is finally starting to show a little today after days of stormy weather and it's making me wonder why I ever flew back from California in the first place. Anyway, my little road trip out there was amazing and I finally got around to uploading the photos from the trip to my desktop. Meaning I'll hopefully get to share those memories on here soon!

Moving on to the more important question: what does a Chicago girl, used to frigid weather, wear in California? Something that makes her look very confused as to what season we're in.

Monday Design: Best Use of Space Award

I've actually been meaning to post this video for a while and it kind of got lost in my back logs. My apologies if you've already seen it a million times, but I thought it was worth the share.

And the award for best use of space in a tiny apartment goes to.....

GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet from Gizmodo on Vimeo.

Photo Friday: California Dreamin

I've been a little M.I.A. this last week because I was on a cross country road trip to California with a friend of mine. I, of course, took a zillion pictures while we were making the drive, but Chicago decided to give me a big F-U on my trip back. Needless to say, I haven't even gotten to moving my photos from my camera to my computer yet. Hopefully I can have some pretty shots to share next week!

In the meantime, I found some gorgeous California shots on Flickr for us to enjoy today. And yes, I've only been back to the great city of Chicago for two days and I'm already missing Cali. Who wants to move there with me?

What I Wore: The Concert Edition

My high school career consisted of going to class (yes, I went to all of them) and going to concerts. That was pretty much it until I started working. There was not a whole lot in between. But, of course, I thought I was so punk rock then so my outfits consisted of a lot of mini skirts and fishnets. Maybe the occasional Dr. Marten. And that's all I've ever known or understood to be concert wear. How girls show up at 4 hour long concerts in heels is beyond me.

Because of this, I now struggle to know what to wear to concerts, because my brain is still telling me to pop on some chucks and concert tee and call it a day. Disregarding the fact that I no longer own any chucks or concert tees. So I still end up trying to look cute, but maybe a little too young? Or, in this case, a little too grunge?

Monday Design: Country Home

I think I might secretly be a small town girl at heart. Although I wouldn't really know since I've only ever lived in big cities. I probably would get bored if I moved out to some town where the downtown consisted of 6 city blocks. Unless of course I could live in a little country home like this one.