Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday Instagrams

I had a really busy (but fun) weekend - went out to Chinatown on Friday night, was up really early on Saturday to volunteer with Destination Imagination with my sister, then on Sunday I went to class, ran a bunch of errands, and was surprisingly motivated to get a couple of projects done around the house.

A few of my Instagrams from this weekend (and earlier):

Sharing a margarita with my sister.

Setting up my new (!) iPad mini.

Anniversary dinner with the boy.

Out for Japanese BBQ, grilling up some s'mores.

An adorable thank you note that came with my order from Parima Creative Studio.

Egg carton cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery.

My backordered measuring hedgies finally came!

Amazingly delicious free shot at Square One.

First purchase from Stella & Dot, loving their cute packaging!

I can never say no to a flight of champagne. 

My Instagram name is yesitskris, let me know if you follow so I can follow you back!




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Friday, April 12, 2013

Dressing Up

I.love.dresses.

If shorts weren't an option (ahem, I may have already bought two pairs this year), I would probably wear a dress every day when it's warm.  I love how easy they are, and they always make me feel so feminine and flirty. I'm looking to add some new options to my closet this year, here are a few of the trends I'm looking for:





Do you wear a lot of dresses?  Which styles are you looking to grab this season?




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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Ensemble: Too Trendy

I realized after putting this on, that it included lace, florals, pastel, black and white, and stripes.  Too many trends for one outfit?  I think not!


Shirt - Loft / Skirt - Express (old, similar here) / Shoes - Nine West / Necklace - Stella & Dot / Bracelet - Michael Kors / Ring - LC Lauren Conrad (similar here)



This little necklace was a birthday present to myself.  I want to wear it just about every day.







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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Crochet Earwarmer

It's been starting to warm up a little, which has given me a false sense that I can leave the house sans hat and gloves.  No, no it isn't warm enough for that.  I thought I'd crochet something new to keep my ears warm since I keep misplacing all of my hats and earwarmers.  I have no idea where they keep running off to.  On a semi-related side story, in college I made my brother a hat and he ended up forgetting it in a bar one night.  A couple of weeks later on the quad I spotted a girl wearing it - who wears a clearly homemade hat they found in a bar?!



To make this earwarmer, I crocheted a long strip using a slip stitch that was ten stitches wide and twice the circumference of my head.  Then I folded it in half and used contrasting yarn to stitch around the edges.  I used the same technique to create the bow, and then crocheted a small loop to connect the two.  


Because of the stitches around the edges, you don't have to worry about this stretching out, so you can make it the actual size of your head.  



And of course I made it in lavender, because I've been all about the pastels lately.  Is it still cold where you live?




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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Ensemble: Black and White and Neon

As a former neon hater, I guess you could say I've been fully converted.  I love the fun pop of color it adds to black and white, my favorite trend this spring.  I also rocked black and white and neon here.


Top and Necklace (similar here) - Loft / Skirt (old, similar here) - Gap / Shoes - Nine West / Watch - Michael Kors




And an outtake.  What?






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Monday, April 8, 2013

Later Liebster


So I was nomintated for the Liebster Award by Turquoise from I am Turquoise you know, a month or two ago.  I'm clearly really on top of my game.  The Liebster Award is supposed to go to bloggers with less than 200 followers.  But what I enjoy about it is that it's like those little quizzes that used to go around on MySpace or Xanga.  What, weren't you on Xanga?  Anyway...


The Rules are:
1. List 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger who nominated you gave you.
3. Ask 11 new questions for your nominees to answer.
4. Nominate 11 more bloggers with less than 200 followers.
5. Let each blogger you’ve nominated know that you have chosen him or her for the award.
6. Thank the blogger who nominated you and put a link back to his or her blog in your post.

The Facts:
1. While we're on the subject, yes I had Xanga.  And GeoCities.  And MySpace.  And My Open Diary.  Wait, did I just give away my age with that last one?  
2. My obsession with those sites when I was younger was actually how I learned about web design.  I think I first learned HTML when I was in middle school and wanted my sites to be prettier.  
3. I always think that I had my own bedroom growing up, but it turns out I actually shared a room with my brother until I was five, and then shared a room (and a double bed!) with my sister from about age 10 to 13 while we were remodeling.  From those years, I know I'm a terrible person to share a bed with.  I used to wake up with all of the covers, and sometimes both of our pillows.  
4. In college I competed in a couple of canoe marathons - like running a marathon, but in a canoe.  My friend and I won actually won our division one year, resulting in a sweet trophy of an old man with a canoe paddle that I keep on my bookshelf.  
5. I've always lived in Illinois, except for one summer when I did an internship near Philadelphia.  Well, they told me it was near Philadelphia.  It turns out it was in a little town in New Jersey, Glassboro.  We spent that summer taking trips to the shore, hanging out at the WaWa, and dominating at trivia at the one bar in the area.
6. My siblings and I all love to sing, and are obnoxiously loud when doing so.  Like, so loud that the neighbors used to call and ask if everything was alright and then our parents we must have been having a party.  Um, no, we really just needed to belt out "A Whole New World."
7. My whole family also has always made up songs about what we're doing, a la Jess from New Girl.  My personal favorite?  Definitely "Shaving for the Lord," which my dad always sings while getting ready for church.
8. My favorite way to watch TV is in marathons.  I've seen the entirety of Arrested Development at least 20 times.  I think it's because I didn't have cable growing up or for a significant portion of my adult life, so I'm used to watching a lot of re-runs.  
9. Thanks to my obsession with TV show marathoning, about half of the things I say are obscure references that 95 percent of people don't understand.  Sorry, everyone I've ever had a conversation with.  
10. I met my boyfriend on eHarmony, and knew we were meant to be before we had actually met. Say what you will about online dating, but it totally works.  Our two-year anniversary is this week.
11. I know how to play the violin, flute, and oboe, and have dabbled at trumpet, guitar, bass, and saxophone.  I was in marching band and musicals in high school.  Nerd alert!

Questions from Turquoise
1. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be?
Africa!  Because we've been talking a lot about Africa lately.  Because I might be going to Africa in the fall!! The boyfriend says we're already financially invested in this trip because he bought a travel book, so really we have to go now.
2. Who’s the one person you look up to?
This is super cliche, but it's definitely my mom.  I look at the life she leads and the decisions she made when it came to her family, and think that's definitely what I aspire to be.  Mom, if you're reading this, try not to cry!  She's really good at crying.
3. What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you would never trade?
Honestly, there isn't anything I wouldn't trade eventually.  The one thing I can't live without right now is my giant work bag, but if I find a cuter one it could probably be replaced (sorry bag!).
4. If nothing or no one could stop you, what would you do?
I would live abroad.  I never did when I was in college and now I'm a little sad I missed out.  
5. It’s saturday morning, what are you doing?
Waking up at some ungodly hour (thanks body), making breakfast, and most likely blogging.
6. What’s the one thing that bothers you at the moment?
Blisters on the bottom of my feet.  I just had to wear the cute heels this weekend ;)
7. Your life motto?
I tend to overthink things, so I always tell myself to "just do it," Nike style.
8. What motivated you to start a blog?
People always asked if I had a blog, because I liked cooking and crafts and have a general internet obsession.  So I thought I might as well dive in!  
9. Any fashion tips?
Plan what you're going to wear the night before.  You make more interesting choices when you actually have the time to think.
10. Favourite blogger?
I always look forward to reading Kate from The Small Things Blog.  Hers was one of the first I started reading regularly.
11. Something about you that will shock us.
I'm sure I've given this one away before, but I'm not a natural redhead.  I was born blonde, it slowly faded to a medium brown, and then I started dying it red in college.  I have Loreal Feria to thank for my ginger locks.  If you're looking to dye your hair red and you're fair like me, make sure you look for a red with orange undertones rather than purple - it'll look more natural!  

My Nominees:
I think all of you have less than 200 followers, but if not, my bad!

11 Questions for my Nominees:
1. What's the best decision you've ever made?
2. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
3. Flats or heels?
4. Why did you decide to start blogging?
5. If you could live in any time period, when would you live and why?
6. What is your favorite thing to shop for?
7. What's the best book you've read recently?
8. What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?
9. Are you a dog person or a cat person?
10. What's the most embarrassing show you watch?
11. Where would you go on your dream vacation?

Make sure to link back to me, I'd love to read your answers!!





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Friday, April 5, 2013

Want//Need: Ankle Strap Heels

I'm dying for a pair of ankle strap heels.  They're so flirty and feminine, plus look much easier to walk in than platform heels.  I can see myself wearing them to the office, out on the town, and to all of the weddings I have lined up this summer.

1. / 2. / 3. / 4. / 5. / 6. / 7. / 8. 


Are you loving this trend?




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