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chunky

i've always been more into flats than heels.

i have a couple pairs of heels in the arsenal, for work and for the rare occasion i go out on the town.

so i have been really happy with these thicker heels i've seen lately. this is a heel i can get behind.

top image: madewell

from top: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7


a little thickness for extra support? 

i like it. 

plus, the patent leather j crew ones are on sale at the moment. 

asos also has a couple pair that are much cheaper. 

score. 



potw: missing you

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i've been missing some out-of-town friends and family lately.

luckily, i plan on traveling a lot to visit them over the summer.

these cards are the perfect way to let someone know you're thinking about them.

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hope your week turns out to be amazing.
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looking for more letterpress goods? check out my press of the week series here. a new potw is posted (almost) every monday. but you can always find the latest by following me on twitter

cheers



here's to a great weekend. 

this is a picture i took a few years back. it's one of my favorites.

right now, it's making me miss days that look like this.

next week better be the last of thirty-degree mornings. this isn't boston.

happy friday, people.

almost ten years

for years, whenever i was at a party or happy hour and the topic of how long you've lived in dc came up, i always said something along the lines of, "oh, i just moved here X months or X years ago."

it took me a really long time to stop saying that for some reason. probably too long.

spring time always makes me a little nostalgic, and the other day, i was talking with my husband when it occurred to me that i've lived here for almost a decade.

that really snuck up on me. 

i moved up to dc in the summer of 2004, not knowing anyone really. at first, i was determined to move back south as soon as i could find a good job and as soon as i could afford it. but then out of nowhere, the district grew on me. i moved around a lot as a kid, and outside of my college days (go gators!), this is the longest i've ever lived somewhere.

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now, a decade may seem like a long time for someone like me with a nomadic childhood, but i know there are others who've lived here their whole lives.

that rare species known as native washingtonians. (i only know three.)

anyways, i was searching through the flickr page of the national archives, and found some pretty cool old photos of dc that i wanted to share today. 

hope you enjoy.


all images from the national archives flickr account except one from the glorious hum


can't imagine what city life must have been like back then. 

spring outerwear

i can't wait until i can take my winter coats to the dry cleaners and store them away forever.

the weather here in dc is all over the place this time of year, but right now it seems to be hovering around "too damn cold for march" and "why isn't it warmer?"

i grew up in the south and i have no patience this time of year.
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there's all kinds of fun outerwear that works for spring. 

here's some of my picks for the most anticipated season of the year.  


leather/faux leather: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
trench coats: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
casual wear: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
statement makers: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4



i'm a little partial to the statement makers, but i really love all of these jackets.

now, i just have to purchase one. or two. 

potw: colorful

how about some pretty springtime letterpress designs?




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on a day like today, these bright and cheery designs are just what i need.


i don't remember being this sick of winter in year's past. this year, i can't wait to pack away my coat for the season and wear a damn sundress.

here's to a great week.

_ _ _

looking for more letterpress goods? check out my press of the week series here. a new potw is posted (almost) every monday. but you can always find the latest by following me on twitter


one love

have you seen these one love signs around dc?

they're everywhere. 

i took this picture the same day i took these other sign pictures a few weeks back. then i was going through my pictures last night and realized i never posted this one.

i love this subtle street art.

there's a whole bunch of them as you drive down 17th street. yesterday morning, i noticed that a few had been ripped down, presumably by some sort of district officials.

the rebel in me loved seeing that they were back today as i drove into work.




happy friday, everyone.

perfectly seasoned

 back in january, i mentioned that i salt my saladsit's something i picked up from my grandmother after seeing her doing it for years.

today, i wanted to continue talking about seasoning and why it's so important. proper, generous seasoning takes a dish from meh to oh mama every time.

for this example, i thought i'd try to illustrate layers of flavor. if you've ever watched food network for more than five minutes, you've probably heard one of their talking heads use this phrase. but it really, really makes a difference.


you have your pork cutlets ready to go. they're looking good and you're feeling hungry.  

first things first: season both sides with kosher salt and pepper. this is true for any time you're seasoning meat. don't forget to give the underside of that meat some love too!





next, it's time for a dip in the ol' egg wash. after beating the eggs, i add kosher salt, pepper and hot sauce. you can omit the hot sauce if you want, but a few shakes adds a tiny kick and i really enjoy that.  



now, it's time to coat the pork.

again, we're seasoning every layer, so don't forget to season whatever breadcrumbs you're using. i use panko most of the time.






after you're done frying them up, i sprinkle just a touch of salt on the golden fried beauties. 

delicious. 

the example here is meat-based, but the concept of adding flavor to every layer holds true for almost everything. when i make homemade tzatziki, i salt and pepper the cucumbers before adding them to the yogurt. don't be scared to add salt--i'm not someone who likes their food particularly salty, but that extra seasoning will really bring out the flavor of any dish...even desserts. 

my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe doesn't call for salt, but i add it anyways. it's so much more flavorful. 


and while i love me some real simple recipes, we jokingly refer to them as "real under-seasoned" at our house. almost all of the recipes i've tried from there end up needing just a pinch of salt. when you're working from a recipe you found online somewhere, if it doesn't tell you to season the base layer (meat, veggies, whatever it is), throw in a little salt and pepper. 


your tastebuds will love you for it. 

sale time

i'm a dress lover.

in every season, really. 

but spring's warmer temperatures make wearing dresses even more fun.

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there's some decent sales* happening right now, and so i rounded up a few of my favorite dresses that are comfortable, affordable, and almost universally flattering.

get em while you can...



zara* not technically on sale, but i just liked it | madewell 


also, i don't usually go for full-length numbers, but these two from piperlime caught my eye. they'd be perfect for a plane trip and could easily be made more chic with some fun, simple accessories and a cute bag.

i also like that these pieces are pretty perfect for these transitional temperature days we're about to face: not hot, not cold, just somewhere in the middle.

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happy (almost) spring!

beauty faves

i've never been a huge make up person. 

i mean, i love trying new products, but you're not going to find 57 different eye shadows on my vanity.

but there are few products that i really love and have consistently bought over the years that i wanted to share. 

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eye makeup remover: i've been using this brand since high school. it's the only remover that truly does what it's supposed to do. there's no oily residue left behind and you can bet every last drop of even the toughest of mascara comes off with this stuff. my tip: thoroughly soak two cotton rounds with this stuff and gently press on your eye for at least 60 seconds. 

mascara: i've mentioned this mascara many times before, but, much like the remover, it's a staple for me and has been since college. there's not another mascara out there that works like this one does. it makes my thin blonde lashes pop all day long. two coats always, please.

clarisonic: yes yes yes. i don't think i need to say too much about this little gem since so many people own one and can attest to its smoothing power already. but i love mine. 

liner: i like a solid, thick (but not too thick) dark black line. this one stays on all day too. and even though the felt tip takes a bit of practice, once you figure it out, you'll love it too. 

dry shampoo: i hate the process of washing my hair every day. mostly because blow drying it all the time gets old fast. but i hate the feel and look of unclean hair and have loved having my handy dry shampoo to make things feel fresh again. 

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anything you can't live without?

snow day




just a few pictures i took during yesterday's weird weather.

rain or snow, i didn't really care. i was just happy for the unexpected day off work.

and in case you're wondering, the perfect rain/snow day snack is a grilled cheese made with white cheddar, a granny smith apple slice, mustard, and sriracha. 

oh yeah.

potw: lucky


st. patty's day letterpress cards anyone?

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i was surprised at the lack of cards available for this holiday, but i guess it's more of a beer holiday than a send-a-note one. 


oh well.

here's to a great week! i'm so happy it's march. my god. i can barely bring myself to put on my winter coat anymore. 

you've had your day, winter. now leave us alone. 

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looking for more letterpress goods? check out my press of the week series here. a new potw is posted (almost) every monday. but you can always find the latest by following me on twitter



bring on spring

this is the third day in a row that i've talked about spring.

can you tell i'm excited?

i actually haven't been shopping in a while so i was thinking it's probably time to add some new warmer weather items to my closet.

even better?

all of these are less than $100.

time to hit the stores
from top: jacket | chambray shirt | sleeveless equipment blouse | skirt
earrings | sandals | necklace | shades



i can't wait for longer days, sunshine and pretty blooms.

oh. and leaves on trees. i'm so sick of the sticks in the sky look that the bare trees have.


 

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