celebrate

This weekend was insanely full of celebrating. I had two engagement parties, multiple birthdays, and a few miscellaneous occasions to prepare special somethings for. As a girl on a budget, I favor sweet gifts with more thought put into them than flash. This often means getting crafty, whipping something up in the kitchen, or shopping at unconventional places. It was slightly overwhelming trying to get everything done on time, but in the end, I was happy with what I came up with and grateful to have so many reasons to celebrate. Here are a few of my favorite inexpensive ways to show someone you care:

1. Fresh flowers are my favorite gift to receive and to give. I prefer breezy bouquets of one type of bloom, available at most grocery stores. I like to give them in a simple glass container with a ribbon or some colorful tissue paper tied around it. Flowers are so fun for a gift- because they aren't really a necessity, they immediately make an occasion (or ordinary Tuesday!) feel special.

 {fuschia anemones}

2. Crafty cards are a fun way to personalize your greetings. They make a lovely first impression when attached to a gift or can stand on their own for occasions where a gift is not warranted. I picked up most of the supplies for these cards at Michael's craft stores. They have a great selection of blank greeting cards, rubber stamps, mini stamp pads, and rub-on appliqués for only $1 each- amazingly cheap and a great resource for crafters, hobbyists, or teachers.

 {homemade cards}

3. Freshly-made baked goods are perfect for birthdays and special occasions where a gift might be too much, but you do not want the occasion to go unnoticed. I made these for a Nutella-loving friend's birthday that we had celebrated previously- I didn't want her to feel like her actual birthday wasn't special! With so many amazing recipes on the internet (I found the cookies below on the blog Erica's Sweet Tooth, previously mentioned here), all it takes is a little searching to find a treat that is practically tailor-made for a friend.

{peanut butter nutella swirl cookies}

shoe safari

I am completely drooling over all the graphically-printed chunky-heeled sandals out right now. Paired with a breezy dress or crop pants and a billowy blouse (like those mentioned here), they make a perfect summer uniform, though I wouldn't take them anywhere here the Serengeti. I have my eye on more pairs than I'd care to divulge, but here are a few of my favorites. They are all a bit spendy for my student budget, but if they can't make it into my closet, at least they can live here!

{tory burch florian wedge}

{loeffler randall dita heel}

{anthropologie trianon wedge}

play with color

With spring in full swing, my eye is naturally drawn to all things colorful. With that in mind, I decided to highlight some of my favorite of-the-moment color palettes for the home in case yours is in need of a little freshening up.

GRAY, WHITE, AND CORAL

{image via apartment therapy}

This palette is subtly beachy but not so much that it feels out of place in a land-locked suburb. It looks lovely here in this pretty baby's room but would also do well in a bathroom, entryway, or den.

NAVY AND CHARTREUSE

{image via porter design company}

Navy and chartreuse are playful and a little preppy. They pair nicely in this grown-up bedroom here, but I think they would also be fantastic in a family room or little boy's bedroom.

CREAM, GOLD, AND BLACK

{image via sarah gilbane interiors}

This subdued color scheme is lovely on its own (the gold will really shimmer) or as a backdrop for punchy-hued accessories (think fuchsia, tangerine, and/or aqua!) for something fun and summery. Large spaces like a great room or kitchen look especially great in these tones.

city life

I arrived home yesterday from my trip to NYC and miss the hustle and bustle of the city already. It was a great getaway filled with great sights, amazing food, and best friends. Highlights for me included browsing the Guggenheim, shopping in SoHo, and seeing How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway. I also loved exploring Williamsburg, where we stayed. There were so many hip shops and adorable restaurants, and the view of the City's skyline from the riverfront can't be beat.

{delicious avocado blt from dean & deluca}

 {spindly trees at bryant park + a yellow taxi}

{playbill from the incredible show we attended}

candy shop

This past weekend, to celebrate to start of Spring Break, a friend and I felt the need to bake something and decided to make homemade Snickers bars. We followed this recipe from the Brown-Eyed Baker and were delighted by the results. Each step was super easy, but the entire process did take a while since we had to wait for each layer to cool before adding the next. We were not phased by the waiting game, however, because we had several episodes of Real Housewives to catch up on. Hey, we're on vacation!

{adding the last layer} 

{cutting got a little messy so we put them in the freezer} 

{the finished product}

pack attack

I am finally getting the vacation I have been yearning for in the form of a trip to New York City to visit one of my best friends from high school (who is obviously leading a cooler life than me, but that's another story). Of course, before I leave, I need to pack for my trip, which is proving to be a real struggle. I normally enjoy streamlining my wardrobe into a few carefully-chosen, well-planned outfits for a vacation. It's the Type-A personality in me. But for this one, I can't decide on much of anything. The weather is throwing me for a loop (it's supposed to be nice- but what if it's not?) as is the size restriction of bringing a carry-on bag only and the fact that I am traveling to a fashion-forward destination and finally have a chance to try out some of my trendier pieces (hello, knit cape!). Instead of my typical organization, it looks like I will be employing the classic "throw a bunch of crap in a bag and hope it works once you get there" strategy practiced by my best friend and travel companion. I have a feeling she will appreciate having this in common, even if it makes me uneasy.

{part one includes a rust-colored maxidress i've been dying to wear}

{part two features the aforementioned cape}

 {bringing only three pairs of shoes pains me but there's just no room!}

quite charming

{a few charm necklaces from my own collection}

Although I think the bracelet version is fun, I have a real weakness for a little charm on a necklace. There is something simply delightful about a tiny version of something meaningful hanging around my neck. I have collected several styles over my years but am consistently tempted by new ones, each time I find a new delicate symbol to represent an aspect of my life (oh who am I kidding?- or that just looks adorable in miniature). New purchases are justified because these little necklaces look lovely layered, and I'm always trying to find my perfect combination. Here are a couple more choices that would be welcome to live in my jewelry box:

{maya brenner state charm}

{jennifer meyer small gold leaf necklace}

it girls: alexa chung

Alexa Chung is the second pick in my series of It Girl style icons (see the first one here). Alexa always looks hip with her knack for mixing high and low pieces and interesting shapes. She isn't afraid of trendy things like crazy hats and hemlines but can also be seen incorporating traditional items like blazers and trousers into her ensembles. And somehow, she just makes it all work. For those without such a keen eye, it's easy to find great pieces designed by Alexa herself with her line for Madewell.

vacation wanted

Maybe it's the gloomy weather we've been having, maybe it's the fact that school is 
taking over all free time lately, but something is making me desperate to get away. 
Since reading these posts (here and here) on Tori's Spelling's blog, ediTORIal, I've 
had visions of Palm Springs dancing in my mind. All I want to do is book a room at 
The Parker and lounge my days away in the desert sun.

1. Tucker Silk Minidress

2. Kate Spade Gayla Sunglasses

3. Jennifer Zeuner "Love" Anklet

4. Old Navy Canvas Tote

5. Essie Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish

6. Old Navy Twist-Front Wedges