Loving Lately

Lately, I’m loving:

A simple arrangement of daffodils that reminds me how much I Iove yellow. I look terrible in the hue, but perhaps a small dose of lemon by way of this clutch is in order?
March Madness, even if Kansas screwed up my bracket. I have Virginia going all the way, but I’d prefer to see my alma mater make it to the end. Go Badgers!
More spring cleaning. I went through our hall closet last weekend, resulting in three bags for Goodwill and two for the trash. I still can’t get over how much stuff we’ve donated this season, but it’s a huge relief to get rid of unloved items. (It’ll also make moving much easier. We’re past due for a two-bedroom apartment.)
Tory Burch’s botanical print in either the shirt or the scarf. I’m becoming such a Tory Burch fan and I need to own this print in some fashion. I actually had my eye on the dress from the runway presentation, but it’s not available yet. What do you think? Spring for the shirt or wait for the dress? The dress does seem more “me,” but the shirt might be more versatile.

Lately, I’m loving:

This beautiful druzy ring c/o Meghna Designs that happens to coordinate perfectly with my Lele Sadoughi necklace. Have you seen Meghna’s Kickstarter campaign to raise money for her fine jewelry collection? By supporting the project, you can own a piece of her collection for a fraction of the retail price. (Learn more about her in the “Behind the Baubles” feature.)
The Veronica Mars movie. I never did watch the series when it was on TV, but I was hooked a few weeks ago when Dave suggested we try it. After many evenings of binge-watching, the movie was a satisfying way to wrap up my time with Neptune (and took the edge off the crappy series’ finale).
Dave’s new car. We’ve been a one-car household for about a month after his old car bit the dust. As much as I’ve enjoyed our carpooled commutes, I’m going to enjoy his Volkswagen Eos even more. I mean, c’mon, we freaking own a convertible now!
The Tory Burch shoes I ordered. Aren’t they all sorts of nautical-meets-Mod perfection? I can’t wait for their arrival. They’re such a splurge after last month’s shopping binge, but I’ve been tucking away $50 per paycheck for a splurge and I’ve had some blog revenue and eBay cash to spend. Let’s just hope they run truer to size than this pair of Tory Burch shoes did.
St. Patrick’s Day. Hope you have a fun day!

Lately, I’m loving:

This Lele Sadoughi necklace. Lele was my very first “Behind the Baubles” interviewee and I’ve been obsessed with her jewels ever since. I still can’t believe I pulled the trigger.
A pair of $6 knock-offs of Dior’s double pearl earrings. Obviously I’d prefer the original, but I’ll happily settle on the pair that costs less than lunch.
Aquaphor. How have I been without this miracle worker for so long?! Winter leaves my skin dry, chapped and cracked and this balm immediately soothed and repaired the problem areas.
Fit and flare dresses. I’m keeping an eye out for one to wear on repeat this spring. So far, I’ve narrowed it down to this J.Crew dress in “haven blue” (but the sheen of the fabric might be too fancy for daytime wear), a Club Monaco dress in light pink (I like the placement of the seams and the v-shaped back), or this French Connection dress in poppy (I’m unsure about the pseudo cap sleeves).

Lately, I’m loving:

D’orsay flats from Anthropologie with a tropical print. I held out on the banana leaf bandwagon last year, but it wasn’t for a lack of interest. I just didn’t stumble across “the one” until now. I’m antsy for warm weather so I can wear them outdoors without fear of salt stains or, you know, frostbite. (They run true to size.)
Another retailer with on-trend pearl jewelry. This wrap ring is too cute.
A pair of striped flats from Gap. There was talk that the canvas was stiff and uncomfortable, but that wasn’t the case with my pair. They were actually pretty comfy for all-day wear—a nice surprise after paying just $26. The only downside is the synthetic insole. They’re not exactly breathable, so you’ll probably want to slip in a pair of these to keep things fresh when the weather warms up. (Ladylike? No. Honest? Yes.)
My latest shopping steal: Kate Spade’s Larabee Dot large rose bowl and the Hopper Dot mini rose bowl for $55 total. Thank goodness for killer sales at the Boston Store. If you’re in the Milwaukee area, they also have the silver and black tidbit plate sets for under $20.

Lately, I’m loving:

This gorgeous pair of rose gold aviators c/o Randolph Engineering. The quality of the hand-crafted sunglasses is impeccable. (I’ll share more details about them next week.)
Trying the recipes I have saved on my “Savory” Pinterest board. My favorites so far are the slow cooker chicken tikka masala, spicy Mexican quinoa, and turkey meatballs in a Thai curry sauce.
Two pairs of flats I ordered online last weekend: a striped pair from Gap and Anthropologie’s palm-printed pair. I’d like to add a new pair of sandals (possibly these or these) and then my spring/summer shoe wardrobe will be complete.