Tweet, Tweet

No, this isn't a post about Twitter! That phenomenon hasn't appealed to me just yet.

What does still appeal to me are birds -- and the jewelry, accessories and works of art inspired by them. I did another search for tweety stuff on Etsy. Here are a few things that caught my eye.

This pretty silver and pearl bracelet.

A vibrant, graphic yellow clutch.

These delicate hair pins.

A gorgeous art print.

Photos from etsy.com.

Birthday Wishes

In the soundtrack of my childhood, Bob Dylan enjoyed heavy rotation.

He has always been my dad's favorite singer, so his music is part of my memories of growing up. Certain songs remind me of being eight, eighteen or, now, twenty-eight. Fortunately, I love Bob Dylan's music as well. I was able to see him once in concert, and I find myself turning to his CDs again and again.

Happy birthday, Mr. Zimmerman!

Photo from bobdylan.com.

Getaway, Indeed

I have a serious case of wanderlust. I am positively itching to go somewhere, anywhere!

This happens to me throughout the year. Fortunately, I have a family that's passionate about traveling. Unfortunately, everyone has been so busy and the economy has been so cruddy that we don't have any getaways planned.

Therefore, I'm loving (and torturing myself with) this absolutely stunning St. Barts vacation home featured on LivingEtc.

Would you look at this view? Gorgeous!

I love the mix of dark wood and the lighter natural materials in the shades and baskets.

What a simple yet utterly romantic bedroom.

If I were here, I truly don't think I could leave ... well, except for another trip maybe!

Photos from here.

Big Shoes to Fill

A trend I'm intrigued by this spring is the major sandal. There's nothing dainty about these thick-strapped, chunky-heeled, embellished platforms. I'd love a pair that would make a simple tank, skinny jeans and a single piece of jewelry look like a stylish, complete outfit. I can only imagine the adventures a shoe like this could lead me on ...

A quick search on Piperlime brought me to these:

BCBGGirls' Dalton

Chinese Laundry's Belgium

Pour La Victiore's Pascale

Steve Madden's Madalynn

Photos from Piperlime.

TGIF

Oooh, what a week! It feels like about five were jammed into one. That’s why my immediate plans call for a glass of chardonnay followed by a weekend filled with family and, with any luck, lots of relaxing. Maybe some yard work will get done, maybe not. But either way, I’m looking to unwind.

Cheers to a happy weekend!

Photo from here. 

Thankful Thursday

Growing up, my sister and I bickered a lot. We were just a year apart in school, so we were quite competitive with one another.

One of the greatest blessings in my life is that this has completely changed as we've grown up.

My sister is now one of my very best friends. We are opposites in many ways (although we share the same laugh) but she understands me better than possibly anyone on earth -- and she still loves me nevertheless. You really can’t ask for more than that. And you know how when you see or hear something and have to tell the one person who would appreciate it because no one else would really get it? Well, she's usually that person for me.

Since she’s the younger sister, I’m afraid she doesn’t know how much I look up to her and how much I learn from her. I’ll have to make sure she knows because I can’t imagine life without her in it.

Photo by my mom.

Mad About It

Do you watch Mad Men? I had been hearing such good things about the AMC series that we rented DVDs of the first season this spring. My husband and I love watching a new show that way. We can completely immerse ourselves in it, binge on multiple episodes at a time. 

And what an interesting show! I find the 1950s and early '60s fascinating. The assumed roles people held are starting to crack and they’re beginning to see other possibilities. The program, which is set in a Manhattan ad agency, does a great job of showing the differences between men and women at the time, as well as the differences between working women and those who stay at home.

On a much lighter note, it’s a treat to look at the fashion of the day. I love the fitted tops and the pencil and full skirts. So ladylike! And oh my goodness, the furniture. The sofas in the executives’ offices are ridiculously amazing. And the sideboards and consoles that serve as office bars (seriously, did people really drink hard liquor all day at work in this period?) are gorgeous.

While I wouldn’t trade where I am now to live in 1960, I'm definitely enjoying this intriguing, sometimes dark, sometimes glamorous glimpse into the past. 

Photo from here.

Think About It

"I think everybody should like everybody."

Isn't this quote by Andy Warhol great? Sometimes the simplest messages really are the best. 

Thankful Thursday

I've been married for five years. I can't believe it's been that long. And I can't believe I was lucky enough to meet my husband. We met in college, so while I can't say we grew up together, I do think we became adults together. He's wonderful -- smart, funny, kind, sexy, adventurous -- and I can't imagine my life without him. I'm thankful that I've been able to create a life with him.

It can be difficult to grow together, in the same direction with someone, but I'm so grateful we've been able to so far. I want us to support one another and help each other become who we're meant to be. I want to always appreciate each other and remember why we came together. I hope we can always be good partners. I hope we can always be in love.

This photo was taken a few years ago while we found ourselves living in a new city. I like how this picture turned out. It reminds me that I always want us to walk side by side.

Packing a Punch

I'm always on the lookout for fun, interesting and easy ways to punch up the rooms in my house. While perusing the Elle Decor website the other day, I stumbled across some neat ideas. Check 'em out:

I love the wild purple print on these otherwise conservative chairs. They elevate the entire room to a bolder, much more fun level.

A mirrored table is the perfect way to glam up a kitchen characterized by wood floors, white cabinetry, natural baskets and French doors opened to a leafy-green yard.

A room needn't have a lot going on -- white walls and simple furniture look great -- if you place a graphic black and white rug underfoot.

Why the heck not use a fabulous shoe collection as wall art?

Photos from Elle Decor.

Heaven-Scent

I experienced my first lilacs of the season this week. It happened several times, actually, on a walk around the neighborhood with my husband and our dog.

It's hard to think of a better example of pausing to appreciate the little wonders in life -- the simple bliss, if you will -- than by taking in the heavenly smell and beauty of lilacs.

Isn't this lilac-inspired Flickr mosaic lovely?

Photo from here.

Jump to It?

When it comes to fashion, I strive for a balance between simplicity and style. Too much of anything just doesn't look right on me, no matter how chic it may look on someone else.

I'm not sure I'd be able to pull off the look, but I am really liking some of the jumpsuits showcased on the spring runways. These somehow manage to be fun, stylish, effortless and, from the looks of them, quite comfy.

Only time will tell if I actually work up the nerve to try a jumpsuit this spring. But in the meantime, I'll mentally dress myself in these four beauties:

Derek Lam

Chloe

BCBG Max Azria

Halston

Photos from style.com.

Delicious!

In an effort to save money and be healthier, I've been bringing sack lunches to work. I need to step up my game in this endeavor. I'm definitely tiring of peanut butter sandwiches. And what's more, my reusable lunch bag is really quite sad looking.

I have to believe I'd be more excited about my mid-day meal if I had an adorable, cheery resuable lunch bag by drawflowers, a retailer on Etsy that uses vintage wallpaper to make journals, jewelry, lampshades and, yes, lunch sacks.

These cute bags are made of vintage wallpaper with an oilcloth interior and velcro closing.

Now if learning to cook were only as simple and fun as shopping. Oh, how I wish it were for me!

Photo from here.

Looking Out, Looking In

Aren't windows neat? They're brimming with symbolism, of course. I like that they allow a glimpse into something, and I especially love how they frame what you see when you're looking out from one.

I always find myself slightly obsessed with windows when I travel. I love looking at -- and sometimes through -- the windows of houses and apartments in the cities I visit. It helps me imagine what it would be like to live there. I wonder what's inside and what the city must look like from that viewpoint.

Similarly, one of the first things I do when I enter a hotel room is run to the window, fling back the curtains and see what slice of the city is revaled through the window. I remember during my first visit to London when I was fourteen, I didn't sleep very well. Jet lag likely contributed to the problem, but I think part of it was the excitement of being in the city and not wanting to miss anything happening around me. Every chance I got, I perched myself on the windowsil and watched what happened on the streets below.

This lovely photo reminds me of that experience -- the excitement of wanting to be a part of everything outside and the feeling of being enchanted by what I saw.

Photo from here.