Baby Sloths... How Cute are They?

I promised Nick I would find some adorable sloth pictures for him since he's been a little under the weather (feel better soon!) and because we love sloths. The babies are especially cute! We've been talking for years about how much we'd like to have a pet sloth. (This video started the full blown sloth obsession.) When I was in first grade, I took home the book on the three toed sloth every night for guided reading. I'm not trying to say I started the trend, but I totally loved sloths before Kristen Bell. Anyhow, I hope you are having a fabulous, restful weekend. Nick, feel better and enjoy!

Top picture via
Second Picture via
Subsequent pictures via

Madewell Keds

I recently had a post about how I had rediscovered my love for my black Converse. Once I realized that my feet were much happier walking around Minneapolis in sneakers, I decided to look for some other shoes that would be both comfortable, quality and stylish. It's a tough world out there for sneakers. So many of them are ugly... I was worried I'd end up looking disheveled in sneakers, instead of chic in my flimsy flats. But then, I stumbled across these! I have slip on keys and love them! Therefore, these Keds that teamed up with Madewell are now my feet's desire. I just need to decide which pair to get! They're all so great. I'd love you thoughts!

Do you wear sneakers? Do you feel like a ten year boy in them or do you feel effortlessly (and comfortably) stylish and whimsical? 

Navy & White Polka Dot / Orange & Mint Stripes / Mulit Stripe

The Extremities of Flying

As I get more and more psyched about my upcoming two week vacation to the Sunshine State, I keep thinking about the flight. When I traveled to Florida with my choir in high school, we drove. Suffice it to say, the trip had some pretty horrendous moments (anyone starting to smell coach bus restroom?) amidst the good ones. This time, we're flying and I'm thrilled. Sure, there will be a ton of people on the plane. Heck, even in our entourage, there will be up to fourteen beach-thirsty Midwesterners! But I like being around lots of people. Right?

When it comes to the end-all, be-all debate of where to sit in crowded economy, I'm pretty ambivalent. A whopping 5 foot 3 inches, I very rarely care how much elbow, foot, leg (or any other extremity) room is available to me. There's always room. However, several family members drastically outgrew me during puberty and stand up to 6 foot 3 inches!!! Yowza. Being the sweet one in the family, I found this article in The New York Times by Michelle Higgins that might give them some insight and suggestions. 

Whether you're short or tall, this is an interesting discussion hosted by The NY Times.  

Photo above by: Eric Hanson via

{Splurge or Save}...Bow Rings

Did you ever try the trick of tying a string around your finger so that you don't forget something important? I never actually did, because I didn't want my finger to turn purple (like when you have a bandage too tight!) These bow rings, however, would be great substitutes! The shiny enamel gives them a very arcade prize quality, so they're not as glitzy & delicate as many rings. Fun, bright and quirky, what a great way to accessorize. Having a little bow on my finger would definitely remind me to be as silly and happy as a little girl is. What would a bow around your finger remind you to do?

Now...which is the splurge and which is the save? The top is Marc by Marc Jacobs and the bottom is by Ana Accessories Inc. I think you're answer is right there! I love the color blocking in the Marc Jacobs ring, but I'd be happy shelling out only 12 George Washingtons for the bold look of solid papaya and gold. 

Top / Bottom

Cheers! Now I Know My ABCs...

As a fan of fonts, hot cocoa, tea, coffee and literacy, these have got to be my new favorite tea cups! Leave it to Anthropologie to have fantastic monogram mugs. Monograms have the reputation of being preppy. Now I'm not saying I'm going monogram all my sweaters and go golfing at the club (I don't even belong to a club and don't know how to golf!), but I do love these! Bonus: only 6 buckaroos! 

Would you get these monogramed for your family's last name, one for each of the family members, or get a bunch of randoms just for fun (and to confuse guests)?

Vogue auf Deutsch

   I just love these totally sweet art deco covers of German Vogue from the late 1920s! They have such fantastic color and design. This is definitely an example of magazine covers done right!

    Don't you ever get a little sick of seeing gorgeous people in the most expensive clothing, their hair perfectly wind swept, make up dewy fresh and staring at you with that coquettish stare that makes you want to read the issues cover to cover? Well, I know I do. I think it's important to have a variety of culture featured in periodicals we read. They're so common; we read them on the street corner, check out line at the market, while eating Saturday brunch.

   

    Why not take that opportunity to mass appeal and have display great art? I'd even tear the cover off and decorate my house with these covers. I wish that more journals would do this today! Even just a throwback month! Anyway, enjoy!

From the Condé Nast Archive; via German Vogue

{Weekend Update}...Camdi

   This weekend proved to be busy and exhausting. I had massive amounts of work to do, a dress rehearsal Saturday afternoon and a concert the following day at the St. Paul Cathedral. Luckily, I had just enough time to enjoy some moments with family and friends. Nick came to visit Saturday evening and my parents attended the concert and took us to lunch on Sunday! The weather was beautifully sunny and warm, so I got to wear my new favorite shirt!

     With Nick in town Saturday night, we took the opportunity to try out a new (to us) restaurant in Dinkytown. Camdi is a small locally, family owned Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant. Camdi herself cooks in the kitchen everyday. While I was talking to her husband who mans the tables and register, he told me all the beautiful paintings that adorn the walls are done by by Camdi! Now that's what I call a talented woman; an amazing cook and a spectacular artist!

    I wasn't feeling overly adventurous that evening, so I stuck with some staples: boiled dumplings, spring rolls, sesame chicken and the sweet and sour combination. Everything we ate was delicious! I still have some left overs! My taste buds tend to be a little sensitive, so I found the sesame chicken to be on the spicy side, but it was still delectable. I can't wait to go back and thy the mongolian style chicken! Camdi is definitely one of my new favorite dining experiences! Great service and food!

{The Adventures}...Madagascar

Madagascar has a richly unique variety of plant and animal life that can be found nowhere else in the world. The large island off the southeast coast of Africa looks fascinatingly beautiful. The one thing I desperately want to see is the rock forest, Grand Tsingy. Its razor sharps points look like massive stalagmites made of limestone. The landscape is nothing less of spectacular with coastal plains and mountainous plateaus. Isn't it breathtaking? I'd love to just spend a week soaking up all the sights and experience the culture. This would be such a great vacation if you were looking for an adventure to make you really excited about life! Madagascar, you are officially in my Top 5 Destinations. 

 Photos via National Geographic

Black, White & Red All Over

How fantastic is this deck of cards wallpaper? I wouldn't call myself a gambler, but I am tempted to use this paper on a feature wall...It's bold both chromatically and graphically. I love that is has so many hearts hidden in it and the curves against the harsh points. Black and red sometimes have this connotation of being "bad" and hard core. This is probably because every villain in every story wears only black and red. I think we should change that. Create a wardrobe and home that is stunning with these killer colors and feel bad in a really good way. 

Wallpaper / Picture Frame / Tote Bag / iPhone Case / Bow Bracelet / Red Bangle / Black Bangles / Graphic Shorts

{Listen Up}..."The Port of Morrow" by The Shins

"The Shins are finally back to reclaim their throne as indie rock's leading men." 

                                                                          - Huffington Post

I hit play and the sun popped out for the first time today. That is how spectacular the new album, "The Port of Morrow," by The Shins is. We've waited long enough for this day and they have returned with a bang of colorful, funky sound. "Simple Song" is groovy, upbeat and delivers everything you want and then some. The title song, "The Port of Morrow," is a combination of their usual quirkiness and a new haunting quality that completes the album. If you haven't taken a listen, do it right now here! It's the best thing you could do today. Happy, awesome music makes for happy, awesome people. The Shins are back and dominating the indie music scene. Let the countdown for their tour commence. 

Controlled Color

I'm organized. I like everything to be in a special place. If my desk is ultra messy, I simply can not work, brainstorm or be the tiniest bit productive. I just stare at the heap of "stuff" and must organize it immediately. However, I'm not picky about this organization. I love color and a little chaos. Nothing beats it! Think how exciting it is walking into a store and every color shirt imaginable is there. When you go into a museum and you are suddenly hit with indescribable colors, some you've never seen. The great thing about both scenarios is they aren't necessarily "coordinated" or displayed rainbow style. 

I just love seeing walls of color. Heck, I like boxes of color. That's why I love closets, books, floral shops and anywhere color might be organized in a cool, unexpected, and sometimes unintentional way. When colors are lined up in a clean linear fashion, there is something so pleasing and satisfying about that. There is a mixture of control, chaos and lovely color! Here are some linear color displays I've seen recently. 

{I Adore My}...Converse

     Traditionally, not the most fashionable foot ware, I have always loved my Converse. I remember lusting over every pair I saw in every store for years until one Christmas....I got a pair! They were beautiful & perfect. Black body, flawless white rubber toes, shiny sliver rivets. My dream shoe. As I grew older, they migrated farther and farther to the back of my closet until I forgot about them. I was more mature; wearing high heels and fancy flats, chucks were no longer acceptable. 

     I got to college and rediscovered my adoration for these much loved sneakers. Having to walk around exceptionally more than before, my tired feet gladly welcomed the beloved friends they used to wear. My feet were happy. I was happy. These chucks had been with me through many phases of my life. The year I wore plaid flannel shirts and ratty jeans, when my style consisted of preppy polos & dark flare jeans, the summer I painted in the sun everyday (hence the blue paint stain), the years of show choir, tossing off my sneakers for character shoes into the communal pile of street ware (this explains my name in Sharpie), even my adventure around Europe. 

     Although I wear them less often than before, they are still a staple in my foot ware collection. No shoe, whether it be a fabulous pump or a chic city flat, will ever compare to my black Chuck Taylors. 

{Weekend Update}...Spring Break

Breakfast with my good friend after a classic girly sleepover!

 This entire week and weekend was officially spring break for me, so I headed home to Wisconsin for some family time. Nothing feels better than sleeping in your own bed, relaxing on the patio, making breakfast in the kitchen (knowing where everything is) and betting able to see your mom and dad and friends whenever you want! We did so much in so little time and still got to relax. Making popovers in late morning on weekdays, reading outside, enjoying fresh air, and celebrating my dad's birthday, it was the best break I could have asked for. I had a wonderful talk with my mom and some friends about how I've been feeling a little confused. Now, I feel ready to go back to school and finish the year with a bang!

Birch trees & blue skies

Cheesecake. Need I say more?

Unreal cumulus clouds for a magical evening. 

Twinkle lights, planets aligning, first rainfall. Gorgeous night.

Mocha mud pie ice cream for a sunny day.

Little Love...DVF + Gap Kids

"Imagine a garden in black and white...how sad that would be. This collection is all about celebrating life and color." 

The queen of timeless fashion, Diane von Furstenberg, has teamed up with Gap Kids. Gap is one of my favorite clothing stores, especially for whimsical, fun, affordable children's clothing. Diane works with fabulously funky patterns and bold colors to create a children's line of which I'm totally envious! Looks like the little tykes I know will be getting lots of clothing love from me....I applaud Gap and the lovely DVF for this fantastic partnership. I hope to see more exciting collaboration in the future! Bravo and three cheers for super cute kids!

Pink / Green / Multi Floral / Blue