Feelin' It

I've never been able to narrow my fashion preferences down to a single silhouette. Full and pencil skirts. Skinny and wide-leg pants. Tailored and slouchy. Fitted and flowy. I love 'em all. But there's something so appealing about the effortless vibe of '70s style. And these blouses, blazers and pants by EmersonMade get that feel completely right on. Can't you just see yourself striding through the day in these clothes?

Photos from here.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Bed has been extra comfy lately, which is wonderful ... until it's time to get up. This morning the bed was perfectly cozy, my husband was still dozing and the pup had her warm little back to mine. The fact that it's cold, rainy and dark outside made it even more impossible to leave. Can we all just stay in bed all day today?

Photo from here.

Gray Areas

It's been a wonderful, long holiday weekend. I got to spend time with family, do a little shopping with my mom and relax at home with my husband and our dog. We had a perfect Friday night listening to holiday music and putting up our Christmas tree.

We made a few tweaks to our living room, too, replacing bright paintings with two prints from our London trip and bringing out a white faux fur pillow and cream afghan my grandma knitted. I also swapped out the yellow covers of our big floor pillows for fuzzier, more wintry ones. And I'm contemplating ordering a gray cover for our blue sofa, which is looking a little faded nowadays.

I'm hoping for a cozy, sophisticated feel, and these gray and white living rooms, featured on Living Etc., are providing pretty inspiration.

Photos from here.

Thankful

I'm overwhelmed today with how much I have in my life to be thankful for. My husband, dog, family and friends. The fact that we're all healthy. That we have good jobs and warm homes. That we can have fun and go on adventures, laugh and cry, connect with others and feel so much. That there's always more to see, do, learn and experience. That I can make a wish, and it can come true. That anything is possible. It's pretty wonderful. Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo from here.

Reset

Ahhh, this was a wonderful weekend. It was one of those weekends with the ideal mix of the fun of doing neat stuff and the satisfaction of getting things done. We went shopping (I didn't get a coat but I got some goodies), saw a movie, went to hear a band play, had a lazy date night in with a bottle of wine, went to breakfast, and cleaned the house top to bottom. So now it's Sunday night and I'm cuddling on the couch with my pup, enjoying a tidy home and looking forward to the week ahead. I feel reset, refreshed and ready for a new week.

I feel like I could be ready for anything if my bedroom looked like this one, photographed by Laure Joliet. I love the clean lines, texture and all that white. Something to work toward, I guess!

Photo from here.

It's On

"Hey, do you want to go shopping this weekend?" my husband asked me this week. Um, yes! Of course I do. So that's our mission for the weekend. We'll be looking for clothes for him, but I'll try to find some special pieces for me, too. Maybe a new winter jacket? Here are a few I found to get me prepped to shop.

Pale and tailored.

A little bomber.

Belted and plaid.

An unusual shape.

Fun faux leopard.

Happy weekend to all!

A Welcome Home

The first thing I noticed about this Ohio home on Apartment Therapy was how welcoming it seems. It looks like a happy, relaxed place where friends pop by and hang out for a long time. I hope it's that type of home. Let's stop by for a little visit of our own.

Photos from here.

Livin' it Up

Don't you just love Liv Tyler? I find her beauty and her carefree spirit so inspirational. And I want her hair. Don't you think she's just the thing to brighten a Tuesday afternoon?

Photo from here.

Ready to Go

This is a tricky time of year. One never knows what the weather will bring, and a whole assortment of activities and events can pop up at a moment's notice. You have to be ready for anything.

That's why I'm feeling Tory Burch's fall 2010 ready-to-wear, especially the black and gray pieces. The texture is fantastic, and the shapes are sophisticated with a touch of the unexpected. These clothes could take you practically anywhere, which is why I'm going to pull ideas from them as I navigate the next few weeks.

Photos from here.

His Day

Today is my husband's birthday. When I met him nearly eleven years ago, I was was struck with his assuredness, this quiet strength and confidence he has in knowing who he is and what he stands for. Getting to be with him all these years has been a privilege, and seeing him grow into the man he's meant to be a joy. I love him with all my heart.

Photo from here.

Windy City Weekend

My husband and I spent the weekend in Chicago. It's a great city with incredible energy. I always enjoy simply walking around and taking in the views. And perhaps this visit more than any before afforded us with fantastic spots to see the skyline and skyscrapers. The short getaway has me feeling energized for the week ahead!

Photos by me.

Fired Up

A few times this week, we've woken up to frost on the lawn. Fall is very much here, and winter surely isn't far behind. My goal is to embrace the colder weather this year, so in that spirit I'm going to focus on a good side effect: it's the perfect opportunity to make a fire.

I love spending time in a room where a fire is roaring. So I was pleased to see a gallery of fireplaces on Canadian House & Home. Here are a few photos to spark (get it?) some cozy, cold-weather ideas:

Photos from here.

Slow Fade

I'm a girl who loves color. I usually go for clothes in saturated tones; neutrals typically bore me. However, something unusual has been happening lately. I'm drawn to grays, muted metallics and creams, even camels and beiges. Somehow, these hues seem sophisticated and understated.

So I was excited to see a roundup on Shopbop highlighting light-colored jackets, boots, sweaters, blouses and more. But I especially liked these dresses:

A gold minidress by Milly.

A one-shouldered frock by Alice + Olivia.

A short-sleeve dress by Madewell.

A tiered number by Reformation.

A shirred minidress by Halston Heritage.

A knit dress by Ports 1961.

Photos from here.