26

Oh, life. Crazy, beautiful, stressful, sometimes-wonderful, but always-makes-my-head-spin life.

I swear, things have been so hectic lately I often feel like I barely have time to catch my breath.

All I've wanted to do all day is e-x-h-a-l-e... and yet, I can't. Not quite yet. Still more work to do.

BUT. It is my birthday, so even though I haven't posted in ages (since the beginning of the month, more accurately) I felt the need to stop in and say something.

Today, I am 26. I don't feel different. Better or worse. But I am older, that's one thing that is for sure.

Now, I am on the side closer to 30 and farther away from 20. Still, I think I have more than a few good years left in me :)

While I am chained to my computer tonight, I am hoping this weekend I can let loose and relax. And put on my dancing shoes! My friends will tell you, I always want to go dancing. And there's nothing else I really want to do to ring in 26. But we'll see. I'm hoping my friends have recovered from the quick weekend getaway to Vegas we took two weeks ago.

As for right now, I just got back from dinner. The fam asked what I wanted and, despite the fact that I have two more stories to write, I turned down the idea for takeout and we instead went to Macaroni Grill. Yum. This Dane could eat Italian every day. (I joke I must have been Italian in a past life. Pasta is in my DNA.)

Oh, and my parents (really, my mom) got me this beautiful embroidered dress from Ruche that I wanted as well as a pair of feather-like earrings that I hadn't seen online but love. So even though this hasn't been the best day or the best week work-wise, I have things to be thankful for. 

And I am thankful. To be another year older. And, hopefully, another year wiser.

Cheers to that!

Hope you are doing well. Chat soon. (I won't promise, but I mean it.)

xo,

Adorable newsie cupcake that seems to be made for a journalist like me via we heart it

Lush looks

Have you seen the March catalog for Anthropologie? The photography is as gorgeous as usual. I never expect anything less. But I am in love with the feeling of the images too. They have me dreaming of warm, lazy summer days, preferably in a tropical locale. They have me wishing for sunlight streaming through windows, using the light only to curl up in a chair with a good book. They have me wanting to throw on a breezy colorful dress that is perhaps too dressy but completely perfect for taking a stroll through a garden. Oh, and they have me wanting to dive into this impossibly cheerful ruffled bedspread. Sounds nice, doesn't it? :)

Well, if you haven't checked out the catalog yet, take a peek at these beauties, my favorite lush looks:

Wishing you sunshine, no matter what the weather outside or how hard the wind blows...




P.S. I got a 15 percent off discount card in the mail from Anthro, a little birthday present from them to me. So if I am really good, perhaps one of these lush looks will be mine. Which one would you choose? (If money wasn't an object, of course.)

Oscars Fashion

Oh, Oscars fashion. You left me dazzled. Wasn't this year's red carpet simply divine? At least, I thought so. Watching the arrivals in the hours leading up to the 83rd Academy Awards, I found it hard to find much that I didn't love (hence the longish, photo heavy post to follow). Almost every star who walked out on the carpet looked fabulously glamourous-- just as they should for Oscar!

Still, I have to play favorites and so my picks for Best Dressed of the night are... drum roll please...

(If you've read my awards show fashion recaps in the past, you know I love color and so my choices won't surprise you...)

Jennifer Hudson in a shockingly good, electric tangerine Versace gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. If those recent ads weren't reason enough to join Weight Watchers, her Oscars look has me almost running to sign up. (Did you catch that? Almost running? Ha. Me. Run. Ha.)

Tied for fabulosity on the red carpet was the always smoldering Mila Kunis, who still looked hot even in a romantic lilac lace number by Elie Saab. Now, if I lived in a dream world and actually strolled down an awards show arrivals line, this I imagine is how I'd want to look. Fun, pretty, vibrant... and still smokin'.

Now, onto my long list of runners ups... I told you there was a lot to love!

Near the top of my list was Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Natalie Portman. She and her growing baby bump look so regal in this aubergine Rodarte gown. I heard some criticism of her "matchy-matchy" look-- note the Jimmy Choos and tassel earrings-- but I think she looked perfect and radiant... ready to accept an Oscar.

These ladies were equally stunning, all in very different ways.

Amy Adams sparkled in a midnight blue L'Wren Scott column gown, and I loved the contrasting pop of emerald jewels at her neck and wrist.

Jennifer Lawrence looked like a "Baywatch" bombshell in a form-fitting tank dress by Calvin Klein; her blonde flowing locks and bronzed makeup were just right, too.

Reese Witherspoon, one of my all-time favorite actresses, went classic in a black-and-white Giorgio Armani Prive gown-- which reminded some of the Valentino Julia Roberts wore when she won the Oscar for "Erin Brockovich" and others of, well, vintage Barbie. Both not bad comparisons in my book!

Then, there were those ladies who simply sparkled and shined...

How adorable to Hailee Steinfeld look in this Marchesa frock that she helped design? I swear, this girl knocks it out of the park every time. Don't we all wish we had stylists when we were in high school?

Also cute as ever was Michelle Williams in a simple but body-con Chanel sheath.

Mandy Moore looked elegant in a nude, crystal-encrusted Monique Lhuillier gown (which, I have to say, looked much better on TV than in this photo).

And Hilary Swank, who is not usually a fave of mine, won me over this year with this fun and feathered metallic number from Gucci.

Thanks to the eternally gorgeous Oscars co-host Anne Hathaway, the fashion surprises didn't stop once the celebs went into the Kodak Theater. She had eight-- including her red vintage Valentino bustle gown she wore pre-show-- wardrobe changes. What girl wouldn't love playing dress up in these designer frocks? (I think my favorite is the first, the burgundy silk Atelier Versace gown.)

via Bitten and Bound

Unfortunately, her counterpart's sudden wardrobe change wasn't as fabulous. Moderately funny, but not fabulous.

Poor James. I had high hopes for Franco but he was just so lackluster, I half expected him to fall asleep. Luckily for Anne, it made me appreciate her over-the-top enthusiasm that much more. At least with her I could tell she was actually delighted to be there.

So... what was your favorite fashion moment from the Oscars? Or favorite moment in general? Admittedly, the red carpet was, by far, my favorite part. I can't lie. But there were some genuine speeches that left me tickled and pulled at my heartstrings (sometimes simultaneously, like Luke Matheny's). And I loved seeing the PS22 chorus close out the show with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Those kids rock my socks.

Oh, and while there were many nominated films I have yet to see ("The Fighter" and "The Social Network" to name a few), I really want to go check out the night's big winner now, "The King's Speech." Though, it will probably come out on DVD before I find the time... story of my life.



Images via here, here, here, here, and here

A quick hello!

what better way to welcome March than with an adorable girl and pastel balloons?

Hello, everybody! Just popping in real quick to give a big, warm thank you to all the lovely ladies who left such sweet comments on my last post. You guys truly lifted my spirits and made me feel cared for and loved. Thank you thank you thank you. While I still have had a few moments of feeling sad and lonely, overall I am feeling much better. It is mostly being busy with work-- a blessing in disguise-- that has kept me away from here. But I can't wait to catch up with you all once I get a bit more time! I have been dying to post my fave Oscar fashions-- you know how I love a good pre-awards show red carpet. So look for that (hopefully) later tonight.

On another note, I can't believe it is March 1! Where is the time going? Well, no use looking back at wherever February went... welcome spring (it is hiding somewhere behind the clouds) and welcome March, my birthday month! :)

Hope you are having a wonderful day! (I just finished my second mug of hazelnut-flavored coffee and a sugar-crusted apple turnover... so other than the deadlines hanging over my head, I'd say I'm doing pretty good :)

xoxo,

Image via we heart it