Stripes and Flowers

I will be the first to admit that I am a little leary about the mixing-prints trend. I feel like every time I open up Vogue or Bazaar I see pages and pages of mixed prints and find nearly all of them absolutely unwearable or impracticle. I've found though, that sticking to the conservative side and using striped and flower patterns of similar color palettes can create quite an elegant statement look that does not appear to be too over-the-top. These skirt and shirt combinations are perfect for a fun lunch date with friends or even a night out on the town. Hope you enjoy!

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Listening to: You and I by Ingrid Michaelson

Picture this

In art history this past semester we learned a lot about photography and the more believable illusions of realty it created. Cindy Sherman posed in staged photographs that were made to look like film stills, feeding into the phenomenon that not all photography is telling a true story.

Untitled Film Still #7 (1977)

Untitled Film Still #14 (1977)

Untitled Film Still #43 (1977)

Listening to: Act Naturally by The Beatles. Hear it.

Summer's Past

I'll never be condsidered a west coast girl, and that's okay. I can't imagine living in such a busy and ever-changing place like California, but I will say that visisting San Francisco, San Jose, Palo Alto and Sonoma Valley with my family was one of my favorite trips. We visited a beautiful winery, strolled through Fisherman's Wharf, canoed through a redwood forest, walked along the cliffs above the ocean, and had wonderful food although I'm not partial to seafood. It was such a wonderful trip.

Listening to: West Coast by Coconut Records. Hear it.

Your Road is Yours to Tread

How I am longing to be out on the ocean right now. From catamaraning from Boston to Salem or whale watching in the habors of Juneau, floating out on the water gives me a solace I cannot convey, not to mention to beauty of the landscape surrounding.

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Hakusai

Now playing: La Mar by the Beautiful Girls. Hear it.

Fresh

Now that it's getting warmer it's time to revert back to the wonderfully delicious smoothie. Of course, I'm not suggesting going to Smoothie King and getting a large sugar-and-syrup disaster that will set you back by upwards of 500 calories. As a personal favorite of mine, I love to make my own and I have a very simple and healthy way to do it. You have to have a blender, but I prefer to use a  Magic Bullet, which even though sold widely on the info-mercial market, actually works very well. So get your magic bullet cup, put about four ice cubes in it, then fill it nearly to the top with your frozen fruit of choice. Personally, I prefer strawberries and peaches, but whatever you like works just fine. Then, add two packets of Crystal Light, the kind that you put in water bottles. There's a ton of different flavors, but my favorites are lemonade, raspberry lemonade, or orange. Fill it up almost all the way with water, shake, blend, and you've got yourself the most tastey and easily made smoothies yet. You can replace the water with milk if you prefer, but I like mine with just water, more crisp. Obviously, any of these steps and ingredients can be adjusted accordingly to your taste. If you don't want a ton of flavor, then add only one packet of Crystal Light. Enjoy!

Now playing: Far Away by Ingrid Michaelson. Hear it.

For now.
Elizabeth

Sail the Seas

I couldn't help but show this look that I found on Lookbook.nu. How classicaly perfect is this? It brings back the wonderful nostalgia of catamaran-ing and sailing in Boston and Newport from a couple summers ago. Being out on the water is possibly the most relaxing thing in the entire world.

Listening to: I Feel It All by Feist. Hear it.

For now.
Elizabeth

Les tomates

I think my producivity today has left me dry for inspiration. I've been a domestic gal, doing four loads of laundry, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, and vacuuming. So enough of the physical work, and now for some blogging. As much as I would like to write about clothes and fashion the whole time, I won't, because then my page will be just like everyone else's, trying to prove to be some fashion guru, which, let's be honest, I'm not. I'm not a fashionista, a socialite, a photographer, or a profound music expert. I just like to think, to write, to explain and inform. So now to inform.

I was reading some articles today from the American Dietetic Association and came across an article about tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of my favorite vegetables, aside from the potato which really doesn't count since it's starch. But it turns out that they are more than just a delicious and low-cal snack. They are the largest source of dietary lycopene, which is a powerhouse antioxidant, and isn't as easily destroyed when cooked like others. Now I'm sure that everyone has heard of antioxidants, and if it weren't for taking nutrition and health I wouldn't know what exactly they were. They are molecules that are capable of inhibiting oxidation. Without getting too chemically descriptive, which is something I'm really not fond of, oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, and free radicals cause damage to cells. AKA, it aids in aging, which is something that I don't think anyone really embraces. Additionally it helps in lowering certain cancer risks and cardiovascular disease. So enough terminology. Tomatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables, in pasta, ketchup, salad, and other things. Some of my personal favorite tomato snacks:

• tomato and mozerella salad with vinaigrette
• tomatoes and cucumbers with light ranch
• tomato and bacon (without the fat!) pasta with parmesan cheese
• fried green tomatoes, of course! Although, not one of the healthier options

All these options are pretty light, and equally delicious if I must say. Eat up!

Now playing: Measuring Cups by Andrew Bird. Hear it.

For now.
Elizabeth

Springtime

Nothing beats the onset of spring, especially an early one. Where ever you are (if there is a you), although it may still be in the throws of winter, it's clear in online blogosphere and array of websites that spring is here. Of course, it truly is here in Auburn, it's been an even seventy degrees the past three weeks. I can't express how much happiness I get out of walking past the same tree everyday and watching it progressively bloom. Not to mention, it smells lovely. Here are some of my favorite, decidedly spring-y picks for the (incoming) season.

Acne Blacksweet Denim Jacket
Wispy Cirrus Blouse
Temperley London Oriana Mini Dress

AG Cutoff Shorts
Fanning Button Up
Tory Burch Ames Lace Up Sandal
Rebecca Minkoff Clutch Bombe

Don't forget to listen to this poppy tune while perusing the world wide web for that new pair of summer go-to sandals. I know it makes me want to ride with the windows down.

Now playing: Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake. Hear it.

For now.
Elizabeth

Mountains

I really do love my art history class. And it's strange. I've never enjoyed art until this semester. I remember being so terribly bored at the Louvre when I was in Paris about five years ago. Yes, I saw the Mona Lisa, among many other things, but I could have cared less. Now all I want to do is go back to Paris and spend a week at the grand museum. Not to mention just the thought of being in Paris makes me want to jump for joy. I have this newfound interest in anything French, all I want to do is travel the city and the countryside, speak the language, emulate the idea of the "French woman." It's funny how things always seem to come around. You never think you're going to actually enjoy reading, wine, looking at art, writing, and then it happens. I have to say, I do feel older, maybe even more sophisticated? Anyways, here's my favorite painting from class today by the French painter Andre Derain, painted in 1905.

Mountains at Collioure

I love the simplistic and carefree brushstrokes it uses, so different from its contemporaries. I would love to have a print of this in my room, the color scheme is so enlightening.

Listening to: Beautiful Girl by INXS. Hear it.

For now.
Elizabeteh