Classically Inclined

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Making a Marc

There is almost no way you can go wrong with anything that's Marc by Marc Jacobs. To do a little follow-up of last week's arm stacking inspiration, here are some excellent picks to add a little something special to your ever-growing stack.

From L to R, top to bottom
1. Katie Turnlock Bracelet, Bloomingdales
2. Enamel Turnlock Katie Bracelet, Bloomingdales
3. Exploded Katie Bracelet, Net-A-Porter
4. Link Bracelet, Far Fetch
5. Hinge Bangle, My Theresa
6. Red/Lilac Gold Bracelet, StyleBop
7. Katie Acrylic Bracelet, Cusp by NM

Stretch & Relax

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Reading

I'm sure I'm not the first to admit that my list of books to read is ever-growing. Unfortunately, most of my time reading is spent in the library with a hefty textbook as opposed to being cozied up with hot tea and my Kindle. Fortunately, summer for me is a little over two weeks away, and I already have a little lineup waiting for me on my Kindle the moment finals are over. A couple classics, a bit of art, Paris, and grammar. Sounds just about right.

1. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

2. The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English by Roy Peter Clark

3. Confessions of an Art Addict by Peggy Guggenheim

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

5. Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard

6. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson 

Stackable

For those of you working toward the perfect arm stack, take cue from pros Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific and Helena at Brooklyn Blonde, who always manage to create a clever mix of their ever expanding and covetable bracelet collection.

Top row: Atlantic-Pacific; Brooklyn Blonde; Atlantic-Pacific

Middle row: Atlantic-Pacific; Brooklyn Blonde; Atlantic-Pacific

Bottom row: Atlantic-Pacific; Atlantic-Pacific; Brooklyn Blonde

Striped Interiors

There's something decidedly sophisticated and chic about adding bold black and white stripes to a room. Whether it be on the walls or on the floor, in the kitchen, living room, or bathroom, stripes have a way of adding extra dimension and personality to the room quite unlike anything else.

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Noteworthy

Timeless, classic, graceful, elegant, sophisticated. Each of these notable women, in their own way, paved the history of style and etiquette, tailored it to their own preferences, and created a popular legacy sought out still today by women all over the globe.

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By the Spoonful

It's no secret that I love hot tea and the occasional cup of coffee. Thus, I always like to keep my eye out for new teacups and saucers that might add to my eclectic collection. Though I've never considered the teaspoon, until now, anything but a regular old spoon from the cutlery drawer. Now, I'm not sure I can continue my tea time ritual without at least a set of these beautiful teaspoons.

The first set is from Anthropologie, and comes in lime and khaki colors as well. The other collection is from Leif Shop, which has plenty of other covetable and colorful housewares. Blogger Joy Cho from oh joy! handpicked the colors for this limited edition collection. I know I'm definitely going to order one of the two (or even both!) one of these days. Happy stirring!

Healthy Virtue

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Always Buzzing

I'll admit that it took me a while to catch on to the neon jewelry trend. A couple seasons ago, it was forecasted in all the high fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar that neon was going to be a huge movement amongst designers on the runways. It's finally trickled down to be more mainstream and affordable to the masses, and I must say that I am loving it!

It turns out that these bright hues can complement a wide variety of outfits, and add a unique something special to an otherwise boring ensemble. Here are my favorites.

Starting at the top:
Bracelet//Noir Jewelry
Earrings//Juicy Couture
Necklace//Juicy Couture//Shopbop
Bracelet//LoveObsessed//Etsy
Bracelet//Juicy Couture
Necklace//Noir Jewelry
Watch//La Mer//Shopbop
Necklace//BaubleBar
Bracelet//Marc by Marc Jacobs//Shopbop
Earrings//Sandy Hyun//Endless
Earrings//Noir Jewelry

Listening to: Neon by John Mayer

Bijouterie

I'm not sure whether I should be proud or slightly embarrassed at how rapidly my jewelry, namely necklace, collection has grown within the past couple of months. The few hooks that they are hanging on are nearly about to come out of the wall, not to mention it's a jumbled mess of tangles. As much as I would love to have an elaborate chest with drawers and drawers to fill my precious jewels, it's not so plausible for me at this point in my life. So, I did a bit of research and found these lovely ideas to organize my little collection for my apartment next year!

Option No. 1: Pretty Trays
This darling display can be compiled with finds from the thrift store, bed and bath store, and a number of other places. Be daring- go for an eclectic mismatched set to give a special pop for your dresser.

Option No. 2: Hanging Frames
Grab an old frame, paint, and burlap to throw together this repurposed showcase display.

Option No. 3: Small Bowls
Just like the trays, these little accents can be found almost anywhere. Small bowls, teacups, saucers, almost anything will work. This display is perfect for an unused drawer or empty dresser space.

Option No. 4: Clipboard Display
You can really get creative here. Cover the clipboards with fabric, burlap, or paper to tailor it to your taste and decor!

Option No. 5: Wall Display
If your jewelry is pretty enough to be its own work of art, this and showy display is perfect- and not to mention super easy to do. Nails, anyone?

Option No. 6: Jewelry Tree
This display is almost a piece of art in itself. The tree pictured is from Anthropologie, but Etsy has a wide variety for sale from individual sellers.

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Life in Color

They say it is sometimes better to view the world through rose-colored lenses. But what about some spectacles that are vibrantly and whimsically technicolored?

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Have a Tomato

Unfortunately, I will not have access to a kitchen until this summer. Thus, Tuesday's posts will be a little lacking as far as content goes. My apologies!

Here are a couple snack recipes that incorporate fresh tomatoes. I didn't include exact amounts, so you can add however much of each ingredient you want. It shouldn't be too difficult to eyeball it!

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A Traditional Antipasto Dish

• sliced tomatoes
• fresh mozzarella
• fresh basil
• drizzle of balsamic

Mediterranean Vegetable Salad

• tomatoes
• green bell peppers
• cucumbers
• Kalamata olives
• feta cheese
• balsamic vinaigrette

Quick Open-Faced Sandwich

• sliced tomato
• hummus
• whole-wheat English muffin

French Sandwich

• French bread
• tomatoes
• goat cheese spread
• fresh basil
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Now that summer is quickly approaching, these fresh and tasty treats will be the perfect complement to a hot afternoon spent relaxing at the pool. Enjoy!

A Dark Indulgence

As a delicious luxury for those of us who are weight-conscious, it’s hard to believe that something as decadent and seemingly sinful as chocolate can be beneficial to our health. Of course we’re going to be skeptical. It’s the thing we cut out of our diet when we’re counting calories, what we allow ourselves to have only on special occasions, what we give up for lent (it’s over, eat up!). Luckily, we don’t always have to spare ourselves the pleasure of consuming the creamy delectable treat. In fact, chocolate can actually be beneficial to your health.

There are two caveats that you need to keep in mind with this little tidbit of information: dark chocolate and moderation. For it to be most effective, the chocolate needs to be at least 70% cacao and have as few ingredients as possible. The Ghirardelli variety pictured fits this mold perfectly. For those of you who aren’t huge fans of dark chocolate like myself, try biting off small pieces and letting it melt in your mouth. This undercuts the intensity and makes it very manageable. Make sure that you eat only one square a day, which equates to about 11 grams and 60 calories.

So what about the health benefits? A number of studies have shown that dark chocolate’s special antioxidant properties help protect the cardiovascular system, including:

• Widening blood vessels
• Modest effect on lowering blood pressure
• Reduces platelet action- reduces blood clotting

While these revelations may seem like excellent news to your cardiovascular health, remember not to get too carried away. Over-consumption of both of these can decrease their beneficial effects and also cause weight gain. Yet, in a way, you can have your cake and eat it too.