Wednesday, February 19, 2014

What to Wear: Dreaming of Spring

It has snowed here no less than 3 times in the past month. I'm over it. This is the coldest winter since the 80s. I'm over it. I've been wearing flannel shirts and puffer vests like it's my job. I'm.over.it.

But, there is good news. The forecast this week includes 3 days in the mid 60s. I'm so excited about the possibility of being warm(ish) that I can't contain myself. I've looked through the L&L archives to find some of my favorite warm weather outfits.


This look is one my favorites. It combines my love for layering with my love for pastels.


This look is may be my favorite L&L look of all time. I'm a sucker for polka dots and hot pink.


This look makes me think about how awesome it is to wear skirts and sandals. Ah, to dream.


This look I love because I love sheer, flowy tops. It's my MO for spring.

What are you dying to wear this spring? Do you have a go to look? I'd love to hear about it! Until then, keep warm! I'm linking up for What I Wore Wednesday here.

Monday, February 17, 2014

How To: Modern Thanks

A true southern belle knows the importance of a expressing a proper thank you and my birthday was last week, so sending thank you notes is on my priority list. That being said, I want to say my thanks in a modern way without sacrificing significance.

I've teamed up with Tiny Prints to provide some tips on how to say a modern thank you.



Handwritten notes tend to make the best impression, but only if they're heartfelt. I can't even begin to say how important it is to write from the heart. You can click here to see Tiny Prints' selection of thank you notes.

Be sure to express what it is you loved most about the gift, gesture, etc., and specifically mention it. A generic "I really loved it" won't do. Go with something like "I loved the blender. I have a margarita recipe I've been dying to try. Now, I can!"

Unless you're super fancy (or just really like it), skip formalities like spelling out "Doctor" or "Avenue", for example. It's perfectly appropriate these days. For my closest friends, I use first names. That brings me to my next point...

Know your audience. A note to your best friend thanking her for a gift will look, feel, and sound totally different than a thank you note to your boss's wife for hosting the office dinner party.

Thank you notes should be within a week to two weeks. However, the sooner the better, in my opinion. So sit down with a cup of coffee and get to writing!






Monday, February 3, 2014

30 Before 30 Update

Wednesday is my 29th birthday. It makes me a little depressed; my last 20s birthday. Cue the dramatic music... Spare me the "you're still young" bullshit and just let me be a little bit sad. It's my birthday (almost) and I'll cry if I want to.

Last year, I made a 30 Before 30 list, and I updated it in August. Well now, I'm updating it again. I'm finding that the more I think about things I want to do, the more I want to adapt my list. But that's ok, because it's my list. So here we go, new items are bolded.

1. Travel to Europe
2. Take a cooking or baking class
3. Go back to Napa 4/26/13-4/30/13
4. Fill my house with items I love
5. Do a spending freeze for a month Done January 2014
6. Organize my closets UPDATE: Cleaned out master bedroom closet, linen closet
7. Go without television for a week
8. Call people instead of text or email for 2 weeks Done 6/4/13-6/18/13
9. Invest in a LV bag
10. See a show on Broadway
11. Print and organize my wedding photographs
12. Buy coffee for the person behind me in the Starbucks drive thru
13. Lose these dang 10 lbs I've put on
14. Attend a beyond fabulous event Dry Creek Valley Passport Festival 4/27/13-4/28/13
15. Go on a 'blate' Done 7/1/13
16. Grow an olive tree
17. DIY an ottoman DIYed a coffee table 5/12/13
18. Take a risk
19. Do canine good citizenship certification with Five
20. Commit to exercising at least 3 times a week for one year UPDATE: Started August 2013
21. Organize our wine collection UPDATE: Hung wine racks in November 2013
22. Send a card to a friend just because Done in September 2013
23. Do something I don't feel like doing just because it's good for me Gave up sodas on 5/30/13
24. Do a blog redesign Done 8/3/13
25. Go on a spur of the moment trip
26. Make my own laundry detergent Done 6/1/13
27. Send flowers to someone anonymously
28.Write a letter to myself to open when I'm 40.
29. Surprise my husband with something fabulous
30. Skinny dip (can you believe that I have never done this?)

Not tons of changes, I'm just trying to be a little more focused so I actually make myself do more of these. I've completed 10 of these and 3 more are in the works. I'm a little behind schedule.

What about you? What items are on your "to-do" list?

 
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