Always Summer

I am back from a most beautiful and relaxing trip in the mountains of Colorado! I would like to first apologize for my lack of inspiring content- family time and other activities (hiking, train to Pike's Peak, shopping, white water rafting, eating, photo session with wolves, pool lounging, more shopping & more eating) took up much more of my time than expected and left me rather exhausted by the end of the day. Second, everyone must stay at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs at some point in their life. It is a luxurious and beautiful place situated in the mountains, a combination I highly agree with. Third, it's officially the first day of summer! I hope you've been living it up and attempting to keep cool!

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Pink and Blue

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Lights

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Timing

I'm spending a long weekend in Colorado, and while the time change was only an hour back, it is really throwing me off, especially since we had to wake up extra early today to go white water rafting. All I can say about that is: I need a coffee. Immediately.

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My Friday Fancies: Copy Cat

There's something about Audrey Hepburn's persona that is so winningly endearing, especially as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. So why not emulate the gorgeous gal in the classic film?

Dress

Sunglasses

Earrings

Necklace

Pink Bracelet

Chain Bracelet

Shoes

Pepper Jack Cheddar Grits

Cheese and peppers and grits. Honestly, a perfect South-meets-Southwest combination. My mother has been making us this hearty (read: not healthy) little dish for years, always whipping it up as a staple at family brunches. It's not some super secret family recipe, in fact, I think she pulled it out of a cooking magazine many a year ago. The best part? It's cheap and extremely easy. A short little prep, then into the oven for fifty minutes, and you've arrived at one of the delicious hallmarks of Southern cuisine.

Each serving has about 165 calories, which doesn't sound terrible, but my guess is that you will indulge a little more than that (I always do)! Bon appetit, y'all.

Rooming

First of all, I would like to apologize for three straight posts of images and no content. How rude and neglectful of me! In my defense, I spent the weekend out of town with a very full schedule. I am leaving for Colorado Springs on Thursday for a short family getaway celebrating my grandparent's 50th anniversary (also coinciding with my parent's anniversary, Father's Day, and my dad's birthday... yikes!), although do not fret, I will have a few things prepared for my brief absence.

As you all may have picked up on, I am quite obsessively collecting inspiration and ideas for my bedroom and apartment next year. I'm sharing it with three other girls but luckily will have my own bedroom and bathroom. Such a nice change from sharing my first two years in college!

Anyways, I thought I would share a few of the ideas I have- I would love feedback and other ideas! My color scheme is white (white bedding, walls, carpet) with blues and pinks of all hues. And a few gold accents sprinkled in here and there. My bedroom size is rather small, as most college apartments are, but luckily my closet is generous enough to hold all of my clothes, shoes, bags, sorority tees... and so on.

1. Aside from white shams, I want to have a pretty assortment of different colored and patterned pillows on my bed like the little collection here. Nothing better to spruce up the simple white palette!

2. I've always loved these tassels, there are so many on Etsy in all sorts of different colors and lengths. Remember when I posted about them here? I'm thinking I want to hang them over a door or maybe over my desk.

3. Lipstick, art pen, and a gold frame- what a clever idea!

4. Once again, another Cocoa and Hearts creation that I'm really loving. I would love to somehow recreate this painting in a lighter palette with gold to hang over my bed.

5. I've been pulling pages from my favorite magazines, going through my pile of saved cards, and sorting through my mom's old ribbon drawer for some finds to serve as basis for an inspiration board (or wall). I can only hope that mine will turn out as pretty as this one!

6. Spray painting in gold can do wonders to a lackluster object. I have a few huge sandollars that I've been wanting to do, along with a little toy giraffe, which you can find at your local craft/toy stores.

7. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm sure I'll have a very boring utilitarian-style desk. My mother so graciously offered (only after I asked) to sew a cover to go over it like this one. Thanks, Mom!

8. I love these Polaroid-like photographs hung over the toilet in the bathroom with washi tape. It's such a simple idea to give a boring room like the bathroom more character.

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Announcement!

Hello friends! I have a most exciting announcement today- The Corner Apartment is on Tumblr! You probably did not notice the subtle button switch on the side bar- I took off the Etsy button (not sure why I had that, I don't even sell anything) and replaced it with a Tumblr button about a week ago. I've been reblogging pretty pictures ever since.

I'm still new to it, trying to get a feel of it all, but feel free to head on over and check it out. Mostly, it will be a more focused version of my Pinterest page based on my vision for The Corner Apartment. It will have all sorts of pretty pictures from shoots- editorials and the like, inspirational sayings, home decor (a ton of this at the moment- apartment idea!) and vignettes, and outfit ideas. I hope you enjoy it! It sure is fun to scroll continuously through such beautiful images.

New

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Ombre Inspiration

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Journey

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Alphabet: The Letter A

Yet another new feature- enjoy!

aqua//anthology//alligator//apple//acrylic//arrow//Antoinette//anchor//amethyst//arm candy

My Friday Fancies: A Short Story

Starting today, I will be linking up with AV of Long Distance Loving and a ton of other bloggers from around the web for My Friday Fancies. This week's theme is short and sweet, inspired by- of course- shorts! Join the party here!

shirt//shorts//shoes

shirt//shorts//shoes

shirt//shorts//shoes

shirt//shorts//shoes

Destinations

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A Day at the Park: Picnic

It's a little (or twenty degrees) too hot here in Texas to be any grade of relaxing outside. For those of you that live a little further north, or perhaps for those of us down here who happen upon a cooler day (doubtful), ring up some friends, grab your pup, pack up your most delicious lunch and head to the park for a sweet summertime picnic.

Throw on a no-fuss outfit with minimal jewelry and some easy-to-move in sandals. This chambray shirt is perfect- light and airy and completely versatile. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've only recently discovered just how versatile they are. They are the perfect balance to a colorful bottom half. If you don't have one, head to your nearest retail district immediately and buy one. Immediately. If you're more on the graceful side, pull on something along the lines of this fabulously striped nautical dress from J. Crew. You may need to sit on a bench for this one.

Chambray shirt//Pink shorts//Tan sandals

Maritime dress//Red sandals

Unsure of what to whip up to throw in your picnic basket? Follow suit from the Mediterranean and make a fresh Greek couscous salad (feta and olives- delicious!) and a grilled vegetable and hummus wrap. Don't forget a watermelon- they are perfect at this time of the season.

Hurry- grab a blanket and go before summer runs its course!

For the Love of White Shirts!

There are few things more crisp and classic than a white shirt. Be it the all-purpose button down, a clean silk blouse, or a casual tee, there is nothing quite like this adaptable article. With pants, a skirt, and shorts of all colors, styles, fabrics and patterns, it is sure to be your go-to piece. Personally, I think Olivia Palermo does it just right!

Tinley Road//Joie//Lilly Pulitzer

La Garconne//J Crew//Madewell

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Oh How Pinteresting!

Sources:

Macarons//Girls//Paris//Colorblock//Swimming//Bread//Kate//Popsicle//Living Room//Board//Cliffs//Sandwiches

I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple for her weekly Wednesday roundup of Oh How Pinteresting! Hope you enjoy these pretty pictures! Also, don't you think those yogurt popsicles look delicious? Be looking out for a special announcement regarding these little treats in the next couple of days!

Lovely

Art Meets Fashion: Cocoa & Hearts

Sometimes simple and colorful is best. I love artist Jen Ramos' vivid and brilliantly hued brushstroke paintings that come out (and quickly sell out!) every so often on her website Cocoa and Hearts. She uses a delightful array of colors in her work, always bright and in beautiful combination. Jen has another design platform called MadeByGirl that creates paper goods and prints (remember this?), and a delightful blog also titled MadeByGirl that features interior design, fashion, and other lifestyle bits.

You'll be seeing a lot of new weekly/biweekly/monthly features and other changes on The Corner Apartment in the next few weeks, including today's Art Meets Fashion. Taking cue from a number of other bloggers who do a similar feature, I figured inspiring an outfit from art, considering my love of art (and oncoming art history minor!), is an excellent way to combine culture and fashion. Expect "real-life" artists such as Jen and historic greats like Picasso and Derain as well. I hope you enjoy!

Joie Top//J. Crew Shorts//Kate Spade Necklace//Kate Spade Pink Bangle//Vince Camuto Bangle//Kate Spade Knot Bracelet//Kate Spade Sandals

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Designer Spotlight: Milly

After studying at FIT and working at renowned fashion houses such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior Haute Couture, Michelle Smith set out to create her own line with sophisticated and elegant details. Thus, Milly was born in 2001, debuting collections with timeless silhouettes, clean lines, and perfectly preppy feminine qualities. Using luxurious fabrics of bright prints and colors, Milly faultlessly creates modern styles with a vintage air. Milly has a flagship boutique in NYC on Madison Avenue and is sold in fine department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue all over the world.

Where to find:
Brushstroke Kali Strapless Dress//Vivienne Sheath Dress//Haley Trapunto Dress//Calais Striped Tube Top Dress//Julia Dress//Darcie Combo Dress//Sari Beaded Dress

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Yellow

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Adorned Wrists

I have always loved a pretty statement necklace. Throw one on over a silk blouse or a plain tee and you're ready to go. Other than wearing a few signature pieces (watch and bracelets) on my wrists, I've never been too much into elaborate arm adornments. However, designers such as Ann Taylor and Kenneth Jay Lane have created a number of beautiful bracelets that are certainly game-changers for me. These affordable and alluring pieces are the perfect complement to whatever little (or large) stack you already have going. Pile on!

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For the Love of Gingham!

Long reserved only for picnics and the preppiest of fraternity boys, gingham has made its way to be a most versatile pattern for daily wear. Pair with colored skinnies, tuck into a skirt, or throw a sweater over it- the possibilities are numerous. Take a cue from these bloggers around the web and stock up on the checkered treasures.

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Shirt//J. Crew

Necklace//Anthropologie

Skirt//Net-A-Porter

Shoes//Madewell

Weekly Favorites

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful and relaxing long holiday weekend so far! Here are my favorite posts from around the web this week:

A home tour of Jen Ramos' home from MadeByGirl on The Lifestyle Guide. Very beautiful and clean white interiors with colorful artwork made by Jen herself.

Summer essentials on The Vault Files. Casual and wear-with-all pieces.

A very inspirational message from Chiara at The Blonde Salad.

Style spotlight on Rachel Bilson at One Stylish Day At A Time. 

A peek into Diane von Furstenberg's colorful NYC apartment on Brunch at Saks. 

A pretty pastel outfit at Atlantic-Pacific.

Perfect accessories for the summer at The Daily Crush.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

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To Paris

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A Seahorse

I have been itching for a new iPhone case and came across this lovely little Tory Burch number from Nordstrom. I can't imagine anything more perfect, colorful, or festive for summer. I'm not usually a fan of having animals on my clothes/shoes/accessories, but this vibrant seahorse certainly bypasses that concession.

Find it here!

A Hint of Leopard Part 2

As promised, here is part two featuring belts and shoes! I will be the first to raise my hand and say that I obsessively watch the Kardashians. All three (or however many they have nowadays) shows, tirelessly. But I can only get so much of their high-end meets Jersey shore animal print fashion strategies. Take a cue from these pictures, and add a spot of leopard to jazz up an outfit, colorful or not. It many ways, it's considered a neutral, so don't be timid! It's very possible for animal print to be refreshing.

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A Sunny Day

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More Macarons

After being semi-successful on my first venture making macarons, my sister and I decided to make another foray into the expansive and complicated field of French macarons. With this recipe by Annie's Eats in tow, an appetizing combination of hazelnut macarons with Nutella filling, we quickly made our way to the kitchen.

Disaster struck rather early into the process. In fact, the oven hadn't even been turned on yet. While pulsing the nuts in the food processor, I noticed that the almond/hazelnut flour was clumping up. Due to freezing the nuts, they were attracting moisture and forming into little pellets. I decided to put the mixture through the sieve, and while some dry flour made it through, most of it stayed clumped up in the sieve. My sister likened it to cleaning the litter box (ummm, ew). Thus, the process was further delayed while I set out the moist mixture in a flat glass bowl to dry out.

Finally, we got the mixture to be even, and it was relatively smooth sailing from there on out. We made the shells broader and thinner, and let them sit out for a whole two hours. I think that's what made all the difference. A firm coat was able to form on the shells, which allowed for feet to form. Yes, they had feet! I've never been so proud.

Let's compare the two batches.

Needless to say I'm rather embarrassed of my first attempt. I'm so glad I was able to redeem myself. Lesson learned: broader and thinner shells, and DO NOT pulse the nuts while still frozen. Recipe for disaster. And almond flour dust everywhere. 

Maybe next time will offer an even more varied flavor profile? I'm thinking something with fruit. 

For You

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Silk Blouse

Never, under any circumstance, underestimate the power of a silk blouse. Perfect for all seasons and with any type of shorts, pants, or skirt, it is the essential wardrobe basic to build upon and create a fabulous outfit. Pile on the necklaces, wear a statement piece, or throw on a scarf to complete a marvelous and put-together top look.

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From the Stores:

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A Hint of Leopard Part 1

I can't handle it in Kardashian proportions, but sometimes, a little spot of leopard is a good thing. Especially when it comes to accessorizing. It seems to have become the perfect neutral companion for those who need a neutral don't want to appear boring. Wearing nautical stripes? A neon blouse? Mint pants? Add a little leopard.

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Look for part two tomorrow: belts and shoes!