Portland Bound

Early tomorrow morning I will be heading west to Portland, OR. I have never been and am taking recommendations from people---so if you have your own set, I would love to hear them! If I don't get a chance to check in for Wardrobe Wednesday or Thursday Threads, forgive me but I will be back next week with full reports.

XOXO

Music Monday: Talented Gentlemen

Hello Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend and enjoyed the holidays (if you celebrate them). We made the most of the egg hunt and made out like bandits courtesy of our 17 month old egg collector!

So this weekend wasn't just about eggs, family and pastel colored frocks. I also got to download some music... here are some of this weeks recommendations for you to add to your play lists...

For a few years now I have really enjoyed the music and lyrics of Death Cab for Cutie. One of their newer songs is called "I Will Follow You into the Dark" it's such a pretty song, sweet and simple. It has their ever recognizable sound that tends to stay with you all day.

Mayer Hawthorne sounds like he's stuck in the 1960's which is really fantastic! His single "The Walk" reminds me of an old Motown tune. If you miss Amy Winehouse's 60's like vocal stylings, I recommend you check out Mayer Hawthorne.

I first heard The Shins on the Garden State soundtrack. Their latest single "Simple Song" is fantastic and has a unique sound that is all their own. The video is pretty funny too!

So those are this weeks tunes. I hope you have a great start to your week. I am going to be traveling to Portland on Wednesday---so I will do my best to keep in touch...but I may not be able to.

xoxo

Hip Hop Happy Easter Weekend

I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend full of family, friends, good eats and may you find every egg in the hunt!

XOXO

Thursday Threads: Cardigans and Broches brought to you by Guest Blogger Sheffield MacIntyre

This Alice & Olivia cotton cardigan sweater is a whopping $330!  Here, Sheffield MacIntyre from BackInStyle.com shows you how you can do it yourself for around $100.  Our example even includes a cashmere sweater, and will only set you back $145, still less than half of the Alice & Olivia version.
First find, any cardigan sweater that fits you well.  It can be cotton, cashmere, silk, what ever feels and fits best.  The one shown above is a vintage Neiman Marcus cream cashmere sweater, and only costs $75!
Then, find a few vintage rhinestone brooches that you like.  They can be ones you already have in your closet, or that you find at a vintage store or flea market.  Choose colors that fit into your wardrobe, and motifs that you like.  This will likely be a conversation piece, so pick pins that you will want talk about, or that have a story behind them.  The rhinestone brooches pictured above cost between $10 and $35.  Pin on as many or as few brooches as you feel comfortable with, but be sure to group them all together in a bunch so they become one unit, sort of like a flower.  And there you have it.  It's simple, quick and easy, and you can probably make it with items you have in your own closet.  Not only will you look current and on trend, you'll save a few Gs.

Another great thing about an embellished cardigan sweater is that it is so versatile.  You can wear it to work wish serious, and sophisticated pants to add a personal and feminine touch.  You can wear it over a cocktail dress (instead of that annoying stole that always falls off your shoulders and the fringe lands in your drink).  On weekends, you can wear it with jeans and flats to the farmers market.  You can wear it just about anywhere!

Here are a few other options  from the  Back in Style website. Here

Enjoy and Happy Shopping!!

Wardrobe Wednesday: A Shade of Pink

Hello Wednesday! Tonight I was with a new group of lady friends who were asking me about Wardrobe Wednesday. I was telling them how I pick my outfits for Wednesdays so carefully now!
Here's what I am wearing...

1. Ray Ban glasses
2. My "Oprah" earrings
3. J.Crew Turq. link frog necklace
4. Old Navy pink tunic dress
5. J.Crew turq. ljnk frog bracelet
6. Gold link bracelet
7. Black tights
8. Tory Burch animal print Reva flats

I hope you are having a great week so far!!

Pink Lemonade

A few years ago I pencil sketched this piece. I was thinking about my favorite color combinations, one of them being pink and yellow. This is the digital version of my Pink Lemonade pencil drawing.

Music Monday: 50 Shades of Music in the Pages

I was a bit preoccupied last week. See on Friday March 23 after watching "The Hunger Games" my friends were talking about the current must read book, "Fifty Shades of Grey". I didn't think much of it, and then on Monday March 26 Summer in Newport blogged about the trilogy.  Curiosity hits me and when I get home I download the sample. I can't put it down! It's not what I was expecting...but it is very very good. Next thing I know I've read the first two books and have moved onto the third book. I've said it before and I will say it again...I am a slow reader...so getting through 1200 pages (according to my iPad) and being on page 500 of another 600 or so of the last book...with a 17 month old at home, work and other activities like the Junior League...well it's unheard of! But here I am telling you...this is what I spent all of my free time doing last week. As I was reading songs came to mind---the soundtrack to these books.

 There are lots of references to music the characters are listening to---but I also had music playing in my mind during part of the trilogy.

Book 1: Fifty Shades of Grey-
1. The Cardinals, "Lead Me Into the Night" I first heard this song in 2003 when my music loving friend Robyn introduced me to The Cardigans sophomore album. You may remember them for their song "Love Fool" Well their sophomore album is nothing like that song. It's low and brooding, emotionally charged and beautiful (apparently just like the character Christian Grey).
2.  Everything But the Girl, "Driving" a beautiful song about the lengths you will go to for the right person.

Book 2: Fifty Shades Darker-
1. Jason Mraz, "I Won't Give Up On Us" I love this song and it basically sums up the entire trilogy although the second book really has this undertone.
2. Celine Dion, "To Love You More" I know this is cheesy...but for some reason I kept thinking about this song while I read the book.

Book 3: Fifty Shades Freed
1. Mazzy Star, "Fade into You"  I can't tell you how much I love this song. It's so sweet and sexy and really bring back some great memories of trying to learn it on the guitar (fail) and of my mom's old apartment on Key Biscayne. It also captures the essence of this book and the entire trilogy.

So there you have it. My Fifty Shades of a Soundtrack. The movie rights have already been picked up...the industry is buzzing over who should play who in the film adaptation (which I have no idea how they will make these books into movies without being rated NC-17). Anyhow my vote for Christian is the devilishly handsome Matt Bomer.

Grey