alexis russell // badass jewelry.








i have been spending a good amount of time looking at product and going to trade shows lately, with my focus on children's product. during these trips, it is very hard not to notice stand out women's and home lines that i come across.

after my last trip to new york, i went through the list on my phone of things (other than kids stuff) i saw that i liked. i googled alexis russell and was so happy to see this line of jewelry that was even better than i remembered.

not only is the line full of amazing geometric shaped rings, bracelets, and jewelry, but also the beyond-cool engagement type rings. the raw cut and grey diamonds are amazing and unique and probably everything i have ever wanted.

i won't lie and say an engagement ring isn't something i think about or that i don't spend time looking on the internet for. and while i have been mostly looking at estate pieces because i want something unique and because they are often much larger in size than new engagement rings (i am not saying i need a big diamond, but a big sized ring overall), one of these alexis russell rings just might fit that bill.






photos via alexis russell.

one hippie to another.

mara hoffman.










i feel like every year the 70s is back and this fashion week is no different. mara hoffman and joie are only two of the many collections taking on this look. these two collection share many of the same styles, but couldn't be more different. both have attributes that could have easily been found on ali mcgraw in love story, like plunging necklines made demure with turtlenecks and those knee high suede boots. mara seems to make this look more modern with her amazing, intense prints and chunky knits, while joie keeps it pretty classic, yet still sexy.

joie.





anatomy 101.








how could mixing the reproductive system, floral prints, and crewneck sweatshirts ever be a bad thing? rachel antonoff show us that it really can't be. my only hope is that under that seymour pussy sweatshirt lies a full floral jumpsuit.

photos via style.com, nyfw.

goodbye 2014, hello 2015.

i know it is now the 5th day of 2015, but i still felt like i needed to say my goodbyes to the past year. i put off this post, thinking that by the time i would write it i would have a new blogging schedule ready for this year and everything would be in its place for a perfect new year. but that is unrealistic. i made a list of 15 things to do in 2015 and a few of them had to do with my blog. now i have to remind myself that it was something to complete this year, not by the end of day one of the new year.



ending the new year // spring rolls + confetti cake with my favorites.

but anyway.. 2014 was an interesting year. it started off like most other years. i felt ready to conquer it all and finally get organized and lose weight and all that. being that is was 2014, i put even more pressure on the year. 14 is my number, as well as my birthdate, so to me this meant this had to be the big year for me. it ended up being anything but.

a quick recap of the year:
i worked a lot. my job was physical and stressful and man, was i always tired. i had injuries that caused me pain. everyday. then i got in a car accident which didn't make any of that pain better. i stopped working out and tried to eat well, but put too much pressure on it and didn't stick to anything. i stopped blogging and taking outfit photos and doing the things that were fun to me. and again, put too much pressure on what i wasn't doing and took away the fun.

in the summer, my sister got married. it was amazing. planning the bridal shower and going away for a weekend with her to new york were really great experiences. her wedding was amazing. terry's sister also had a beautiful baby girl, stella. these were definitely highlights of the past year.

also in the summer, there was talk of leaving boston and moving back to maine. in the fall, it actually happened. i quit my job. just quit. no new job lined up. no real plan besides leaving boston. it was scary and sad to leave the people i had become so close with. but let me tell you, it was kind of exhilarating. in a way, i was free. moving back to portland and finding a job was an adventure in and of itself, but one i happy i took.

2014 may not have been the year i had wanted it so badly to be. but it was the year that helped me make decisions that will help me be happier this year.

as for 2015, i'm starting a new job. it is full of all the things i love.. merchandising, managing, buying, some social media, and surprisingly, baby clothes! i also am going to open my online store. this was another thing on my list of 15 that i have the year to complete. this is something that has been on my list for at least 5 years and i am more ready to finally do it than ever.

and i guess the biggest thing that is going to happen this year happens in 9 days. i turn 30. i have spent the last year and a half worrying and planning for it that now i am ready to take it on. i want to embrace 30 and whatever it has to bring. i want to start my 30s as my best self and for me, among many things, this means getting healthy. i want to learn to take care of myself, so i can take on all the things i want to do and feel good doing them.

okay. there is it is. this year is going to be so much better than the last year. taking care of myself and treating myself well is going to be number one. so.. what are you planning for 2015?

buy local, portland.

this weekend is all about shopping for most of us. here are a few of the ways you can support you local favorites this weekend:

friday just got a little prettier in portland with plaid friday! plaid friday is the new black friday, putting the focus on portland's favorite local businesses. you can check out the full list of participants on the buy local website, but i am most excited about sampling sweetgrass's holiday gin cocktail and the portland flea-for-all being open on a friday (plus having refreshments while you shop!). the best part of the day.. wearing plaid!


take a photo while you are out shopping local today (and throughout december) and use #happylocalshopper to be entered to win a gift cards to your favorite portland buy local store!

and the other best part of the day, the tree lighting tonight in monument square at 5:30. you won't want to miss this because my favorite childhood musician, rick charette will be there. oh, nostalgia..




let's not forget about saturday! small business saturday is tomorrow. these days, there is no way you can't find everything you are looking for from a local business. to participate, you may not even have to leave your house. there are so many online local small business to shop right from your computer. but if you want to get out and get in the stores, portland is full of them.






here are a few of my suggestions for shopping small this weekend..

for the ladies:
bliss boutique
suncity
judith

for the men:
portland trading co
portland general store
portland dry goods

for the home:
angela adams
more & co
folly 101

vintage:
portland flea-for-all
material objects
moody lords

coffee:
tandem
bard
coffee by design

these are only a few of my many favorite portland stores. get out there and get shopping. remember to shop small this weekend!

it's official, we are residents of portland.











this past week has been full of moving boxes, unpacking boxes, and trying to set up our new apartment to feel like home. it has been a lot more work than i expected, but i guess thats what you get when you put detailed-oriented and ocd people together. everything is still a work in progress, but this is the first apartment in the past few years that i want to make my home. so if you were wondering what i have been up to over the past week, this is it. that, and well, taking pictures of my cats. like hundred of them...