What's New at Modcloth?

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, whatever you were up to, and that you're ready and raring to make this week a great one. Today I spent a bit of time browsing new arrivals and can I just say? I am such a longtime fan of Modcloth and have so many of their items on my current wish list. After the holidays, I get a little obsessed with spring clothing...Mostly because it helps me wish the winter away! Do any of you guys do that? Below are some of my fave new arrivals from Modcloth that I've been coveting. I hope you enjoy and you're surviving whatever crazy weather this winter is bringing you!

1  Miss Mix-It Dress  |  $129
2  Edgy Meets Elegant Jacket  |  $69
3  Made for Each Color Dress  |  $99
4  Your Bubbly Side Skirt  |  $60

#Blogmas Day 10: Holiday Gift Guide - Kitsch Cat Press

Hello hello! We're 10 days in to Blogmas, and I must say I'm feeling good. I can definitely keep going, easy peasy. I've loved putting more thought into bringing you guys holiday content every day. But for those of you who aren't trying to buy thirty tons of makeup for yourselves and others, I thought I'd keep it fresh and share some incredible prints from one of my besties from high school, Jennifer, who is now a super cool screen printer (and badass improv comedian) in Chicago! Her online shop, Kitsch Cat Press sells some incredibly unique geometric and hand-drawn patterns that would make amazing holiday gifts. They can be purchased as framed art prints (how I've shown them below), or printed on tons of items like phone/ipad cases, shower curtains, carpets, even comforters for your bed! I am obsessed with Swim Fan, especially because I die for that name. Anybody remember that movie? But there are too many amazing options to choose from. Have a look for yourself here at Kitsch Cat Press!

Stoked Strokes

Abstract Flower Child

Swim Fan 

Swimmer Head

Geometric Pattern

Mannequin Bed Head

#Blogmas Day 9: Merry Quizmas

Okay, my little Christmas Kweens (or Kings), the time to prove your Christmas Pop-Culture Know-How has arrived! The Challenge is Merry Quizmas - A Nearly-Impossible Holiday Character Challenge that my friend sent me this morning. Things started out well for me, checking off the entire top two rows, easy peasy. Then there were some head-scratchers like...was this a Christmas movie? Why is the Russian from Rocky IV here again? I think I need to rewatch a lot of movies, starting with Trading Places. Also, this must have been made by boys because Little Women and Meet Me in St. Louis are nowhere to be found and there are so many aliens and people with guns #boymovies #amirite?

...BUT by the time I was half-way through, the entire office was in on the challenge! We were completely obsessed with guessing correctly, and as designers, we were drooling over these adorable illustrations by James Kenison! I could only manage to get 42 out of 60 on my own (the images in white vs. the colorful backgrounds). Note: I whited out the correct names so as to not give away any spoilers! Tell me your score in the comments below!

How cute are these illustrations by James Kenison?

Questions 1-30: Code by Tad Thorley

Questions 31-60: Copy by Ryan Kroker

#Blogmas Day 3: Holiday Wish List - Warby Parker

The time for new glasses is nearing, and if I'm being 100% honest, I just never quite fell IN-LOVE with my current pair from Warby Parker - Holcomb. Don't get me wrong, they are adorable, and they totally let me live out all of my 1950's fantasies. But the shape and size are just a bit too delicate for me and my personal style. It's the same reason I prefer statement necklaces over thin, gold, romantic jewelry. Like, more is more for me. It just is. So I've decided the holidays are a great time to have a little 5 pair try-on package sent my way! And this time, I'm sticking to what I know works for me: bold, conversation-starting eyewear. Below are the pairs that caught my eye today. Let me know which you guys like best!

1  Chelsea | Whistler Grey

2  Upton | Sea Smoke Tortoise

3  Coley | Crystal

4  Finch | Striped Molasses

5  Kimball | Marzipan Tortoise

#Blogmas Day 2: Holiday Wish List - Benefit

I thought it would be fun to share a few little brand-specific Holiday Wish Lists here on the blog this month. The holiday season is a fantastic time to try new products you've been eyeing, or maybe wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself but you can always add them to a little wish list so family/friends/loved-ones can get you something that's a treat, and that you'll love this season! I have a few brands I stick to again and again... (ahem, Clinique and lately Urban Decay) but there are several brands out there that I really want to take a deeper dive into this season and into 2016. So, kicking off this series, below are several products I've had my eye on from Benefit Cosmetics. Full-disclosure, I'm a total packaging design junkie and Benefit always kills it in that department! Plus, the Benefit Brow Bar at the 34th Street Macy's is my go-to brow waxing hotspot...so without further ado below are things I'm definitely adding to my wish list from Benefit Cosmetics!

1  Air Patrol
This BB cream eyelid primer is the latest product release from Benefit, and the tip is advertised as being even softer than your pinky for that delicate skin on your lids. In swatches and reviews, it seems to really help eyeshadow appear fiercely pigmented and last all day! While I love my current eye primer from Too Faced, I'm always up for trying something new so this makes the wish list for sure.

2  Puff Off!
I am obsessed with this metal applicator tip (it's shaped like an iron!!) that helps this under-eye gel go on cool and it even claims to smooth creases. It's literally like an iron for your eyes! I do love my under-eye rollerball from Clinique, but this is too cute not to try!

3  Majorette
This is a cream-to-powder blush in a natural peachy color that I've swatched time and time again. I need to just get this already! And the packaging is just so cute, I can't even handle it. I love the classic majorette-looking packaging, and it kind of reminds me of my high school marching band days, because our school colors were very similar! So so so cute.

4  Eye Bright
I have wanted to try this product (and Lemonade) since I was in high school, when I was obsessed with the retro-inspired bright eye makeup looks from the movie Down With Love starring Renee Zellweger. Full disclosure: this is a terrible movie but I still love it to this day. Don't judge me! Anyway, I have no idea why I've never just purchased this product in the last 10 years...but I don't really have eyelid discoloration, and (until fairly recently) I fancied myself fairly bright-eyed naturally. But honey, 30 knocked yesterday and I answered, so let's give this product a whirl!

5  High Brow Glow
The girls at the Benefit Brow Bar always top me off with a little bit of this under my arches, and I love the subtle shimmer and lift that it gives. It really shows off that perfect "groomed" brow shape, and it's totally something I should incorporate into my current brow routine.

6  The POREfessional: Agent Zero Shine
I love the idea of an in-purse powder to carry with me wherever I go. And this unique packaging (it's tube-like, quite a different territory for powders) makes it look so easy. It even includes a brush! My combination skin rarely gets shiny shiny, but no matter how much I prime, I can't really keep my foundation from disappearing throughout the day. So this product would be a life-saver in terms of adding a bit of polish when I'm on the go.

And there you have it, my all-things Benefit wish list! If any of these ended up in my stocking on Christmas morning, that would be quite alright with me! Have you tried any of these items? Leave a review in the comments. I'd love to hear your take on these products!

Artist Inspiration: Mary Blair

Did you see the beautiful article on Disney muralist and concept artist Mary Blair on The Huffington Post earlier this week? Her modern illustration style was a huge inspiration to me growing up, and her interesting take on shapes and colors was so quintessentially 50's and 60's that I credit her with being a large part of what I love so much about that period in art and design. Enjoy some of her paintings from the article below!

All images via The Huffington Post article

Mary Blair herself

Let's Go Skiing!

I have to say, the Winter Olympics in Sochi have given me the itch to ski. Luckily, it just so happens that my annual trip to the mountains is only a couple of weeks from now! Though, I must confess you won't be seeing my in the Olympics any time soon...I happen to prefer cruising along at a leisurely pace, enjoying the sights and sounds and smells. This year, we'll be traveling back to Sugarbush Resort, which was an ideal place to get away from the city for a long weekend.

And with skiing on the brain, my friend Cate shared with me these gorgeous vintage ski-themed posters from the book The Art of Skiing: Vintage Posters from the Golden Age of Winter Sport on the blog Brain Pickings, which I am absolutely obsessing over! I'll be sad when the Olympic flame goes out later this week, but at least I've got my own semi-athletic pursuits on the horizon. Hah! Enjoy!

All Poster Images via Brain Pickings / The Art of Skiing

Beautifully Bilingual Wedding Stationary

I'm beyond inspired by these gorgeous 1940's inspired wedding invitations my friend, co-worker (and fellow Ohioan) Galina Arnaut designed for her sister Irina's wedding this past summer. The entire stationary suite was developed as a nod to her sister's stunning, golden bias-cut wedding gown. Taking inspiration from their Moldovan heritage, and to accommodate for their many Russian-speaking guests, they were printed with both languages on the alternating sides. Possibly my favorite detail, though, was the vintage post card RSVP that showcased the custom-created rubber stamps they commissioned from Casey Design Rubber Stamps in the East Village. Enjoy!

In addition to the stationary, Galina also adapted these designs for the bridal shower place cards and menu.

A Lady Never Forgets Her Earrings

The title of this post was something my Grandmother always used to say to me. In fact, she was full of other adages such as "Only the cook washes her hands in the kitchen sink," and "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar," and many, many more. She taught me skills I still appreciate today like how to do embroidery, how to mend clothing, and she tried many times over to teach me to crochet. She herself was extremely adept at it, completing over 140 blankets in her lifetime all of which bore a cute little label inside reading "Crocheted for you by Rose Marie Bruce."

Sadly, I lost her this past Saturday, August 10th very unexpectedly, as she left to join my handsome grandfather Gene who passed away last summer. Both of them were loved and treasured by friends and family and especially me. I will never forget their wisdom, the sounds of their voices, and especially won't forget the strong love I felt for them.

The picture below was (we think) their engagement photo. Weren't they a handsome couple!? I love love love my grandfather's glasses, and especially my grandmother's jewels and lipstick!

Rose Marie Bruce (née Weiss) and Gene Bruce, Sr.

Happy Friday!

Hi everyone, I hope you had a great week! I did because I feel my favorite season edging ever nearer to my fair city. And speaking of which, I found the below photo on Pinterest (can't find the original source, so sorry about that!) and it made me sigh with the deep regret that I didn't live in NYC in the 1950's. Those cars! And that pink townhouse... I can't even imagine how fabulous the woman living inside must have been. I will now aspire to be her. Have a great weekend!

Kate Spade Fall 2013

It's that time of year again! The time where the heat begins to recede, and the evenings get a little bit breezier, and then suddenly it transitions into the season to trump all other seasons: Autumn! Or Fall, whichever you prefer. Though, it goes without saying what I personally prefer are fabulous jackets, cute sweaters, and hats. Enter the Kate Spade Fall 2013 Lookbook! I want everything. Obviously. But especially everything in the yellow and black sections...What are some of your favorites?

Glamping!

When I stumbled across this photo series on Buzzfeed, I just had to share! I have always been a fan of summer camp, having gone to good ole' Camp Frederick quite a few times back in Ohio. But many of the East Coasters I know got to go away to 4 or even 8 week camps almost every year as kids and early teenagers, just like in Bug Juice. Stilling sighing with jealousy! I looooved camp.

How glam are these camp counselors from the 1950s in the photo below? They are up an at-em with their cute little penoir sets and their red lips! I imagine there were some pretty lucky male counselors at the all-boys camp across the lake, just waiting for their chance to spot these bathing beauties in their binoculars. "Just because you're in the woods, it's no excuse not to look your best!" quoth Phyllis Nefler in the classic film, Troop Beverly Hills. Let that be a lesson to us all!

Photo via Buzzfeed

Call Me, Maybe?

There are sooo many good jams songs about telephones...from Blondie, to The Backstreet Boys (a millennial classic), right down the the Song of 2012 from Carly Rae Jepson. Though I have to admit I am not personally very good at answering my telephone–SORRY friends and family! Yes, I'm aware it means I'm a bit antisocial if I prefer texting, and sort of can't remember a time before my iPhone was more for apps than conversation. But, after contemplating the purchase of few of these vintage phones on Etsy, purely for decoration, I can kind of see why the Telephone Hour was so popular.

1 Red 1980's Desk Phone – $42.50
2 Mustard 1980's Swedish-made Phone – $54.00
3 Yellow Push-Button Phone – $75.00
4 Vintage Green Rotary Phone – $27.50
5 Vintage Green USSR-Made Rotary Phone – $19.00
6 Vintage Purple USSR-Made Rotary Phone – $39.00

Mad Men Recap: The Doorway

Season 6, Episode 1: The Doorway brought back all of our favorite characters, up to their usual tricks, during the holiday season of 1967. Honestly, I was always a bit scared for the show to move out of the pseudo "perfection" of the late 50s and into the cultural turmoil of the mid-to-late 60s. But mostly what truly worried me was the fashion turmoil. Of course, taking one look at the style evolution of either Harry Crane or Joan proved my suspicions to be correct. Though one character has calmed my nerves about the fashions of the time period, and her name is Megan Calvet Draper.

In this episode alone, Megan rocked an amazing bikini, 3 punchy printed beach coverups, an ahhmazing sunhat, round sunglasses, and that was just in Hawaii! Being back in NYC brought her into a fabulous leopard fur coat with an epic hat to match, effortlessly glam New Years Eve sportswear, and her very own fondue pot from Bloomingdale's...She is a soap opera star now, so aside from being a rich advertising executive's wife, she could further up the ante with her wardrobe in a way that would make Destiny's Child "throw their hands up at her." If you can forget the fact that Don hiring her for that national commercial is what enabled her star to rise. And let's not forget that while Don keeps pretty classic when it comes to the east coast, whenever he's on vacation, he loosens up...just a bit.

In the world of Henry and Betty Francis, they seemed to have taken an orphaned teenager, and her violin, under their wing. This new character, Sandy, seems to have made an impact on nearly every member of the Francis clan... from Bobby's obsession over how her instrument case looks like a coffin, to the suspicion that she may be a future love interest of Sally, or possibly the distant fantasies of Henry or maybe even Betty (in probably one of the most disturbing scenes of the episode, we get a dark glimpse into Betty's ability to talk dirty). Though, I think Betty's opinions about this child show a level of maturity and nurturing in her character that make me think she's reached the age where she truly should have become a mother, versus the neglectful, selfish, wine guzzling, dry-cleaner bag days of her past.

Peggy is back and better than ever...ish. She has truly been able to thrive after escaping from the offices of SCDP, and from under Don's shadow, and she seems to be able to manage crises with confidence and New York chutzpah. Her new boss, the ubiquitous Ted Chaough, seems to trust and respect her in a way that Don never really would or could. It has to be said that I don't get the feeling things are very hot and heavy with her live-in boyfriend, but her listless late-night calls to Rizzo back in the old creative studio make me hold out a certain hope that she is still on the path toward professional and romantic happiness.

Now, catching up and fashion assessments aside, this episode set a tone for season six that leads us all to believe it's the beginning of the end for many of our characters. The opening sequence puts us in the point of view of someone who is being resuscitated after a heart attack. We then immediately transition to Don on the beach reading Dante's Inferno. Roger also must confront the idea of his own mortality when his 91-year-old mother passes away, though his constant need to use his humor as a defense mechanism remains undisturbed for the most part. Until his ex-wife brings her new boyfriend (husband?) causing Roger to lose it and cry out "This is MY FUNERAL!" Interesting... It should also be noted that Don, struggling with his own fears and uncertainty about death, vomited into an umbrella stand during the wake and all hell truly broke loose. Inferno, indeed. When Roger's shoeshine man mysteriously passes away a few days later, it all proves to be too much and we, the audience, see him in the middle of an emotional breakdown that only the likes of Joan has witnessed.

When Sandy, Betty's teenage friend, ran away to New York City, presumably to a shanty town in The Village with no running water where dirty hippies make goulash in a dirty pot using a dirty hunk of snow, Betty had no choice but to follow her there and intervene to make sure no one would end up contracting dysentery. But when one of them confronts her, and calls her hair "bottled", she heads home without Sandy in toe, as a brunette! Jaw, please meet the floor as Bobby tells her she's ugly and he hates her in the sensitive way that only an eleven-year-old boy could muster. Poor Betty. It always seemed like the less she knew about life, the happier she could allow herself to be. But all that's gone now that she's more self-aware than ever.

I'm sure I'm missing a few important elements of the episode, like the fact that the young whipper-snappers we met in the early parts of the series, like Ken Cosgrove or Peggy, now have a sort of high-and-mighty opinion about the new crop of young bloods in their respective offices. Ken gives the new account man with his uncomfortable amount of caffeinated enthusiasm and inappropriate bestowal of a deli spread at Roger's mother's funeral, a spectacular tell-off. And Peggy rips a few new "you-know-what's" on some young and lazy creatives regurgitating 3 versions of the same tired idea.

In the final pitch of the episode, Don reflects on his vacation to Hawaii in a proposed campaign with visuals that seem a bit more akin to a suicide at sea than a tropical vacation. He relates the Royal Hawaiian hotel to paradise, and to heaven, by saying "to get to heaven, something terrible has to happen to you first." All in all, the episode featured 2 deaths, a heart attack, a disappearing teenage runaway and more than a few unanswered questions, as creator Matthew Weiner sets the stage for season 6.

The Great Gatsby

The character posters from The Great Gatsby have been revealed, and I am so, so excited! I have been looking forward to this movie since I first heard whispers about the project and ties to Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge and Romeo+Juliet. I think he has such a unique, dreamlike visual perspective that will be perfect for helping to recreate the glorious jazz-age parties on Jay Gatsby's lawn. And the rest of the casting decisions have been equally exciting. I'm very much looking forward to the performances of Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Toby Maguire, and of course Leonardo DiCaprio. Are you guys looking forward to the movie? Any fans of the book? It's one of my favorites. I reread it this past fall, and I have to say that while I enjoyed it as a 15-year-old English student, I have a completely different perspective this time around. Perhaps you need to have lived some life to really understand where Daisy and Gatsby are really coming from? But these costumes can be enjoyed by just about everyone!

Chatelles

I saw these beautiful shoes over at Justina Blakeney's blog last week, and fell in love. First of all, they are so incredibly classic. And then there's the fact that I live in a walking city and flats are really the only option unless I want to cause myself some pretty significant pain by the end of the workday... But these shoes!! They are so fun and customizable (and colorful and tasseled and monogrammed) Also, did I happen to mention Justina and I have the same initials? So I knew I had to blog about them. Do any of you have a pair? I am busy pondering whether or not I can get them in the US...

Image via Justina Blakeny

City Showdown

Have you guys seen this adorable video comparing (in my opinion) two of the greatest cities in the world? I must confess, I'm a bit partial to bagels over baguettes, but I'll let you guys be the judge. Which one is your favorite?

     

Peachy in Columbus!

Until 6 months ago, I had never lived anywhere but Ohio. And I am not even a little bit ashamed of that fact! It was a great place to grow up and, franky, it's the state with the cutest shape in the union... So there's that. Since I moved to NYC, my life has been on overdrive. So much so that it felt like I warped into this alternate reality, and when I got back to C-bus on Saturday morning, my old life just picked up right where it left off. Very sci-fi, I know. I got to see lots of friends, eat delicious food that I have been craaaaving, listen to great music, hang out in the Peach District, go swimming, dance and dance and dance some more, celebrate the Summer Solstice early, wear a crown made of flowers, sit on a front porch, lay in some grass, and enjoy a record amount of Brooklyn Summer Ale (a little taste of new home at old home prices. Score!) Here is my entire weekend in photos. Enjoy your own little taste of Columbus!

My favorite old sign on High St.

My faaaavorite swingset ever right near Aab India in Grandview

Delicious breakfast at Marshall's in Grandview

I helped make these snowflakes right before I moved. Still there!

Party at the most famous backyard swimming pool in Columbus

My fabulous friend Abigail at the Peach District Classic

Peach District Classic: Photo by Cate, aka Pearrier on Tumblr, aka my BFF

The wonderful Johnny Newman performing at the Peach District Classic

The DewDroppers, aka my favorite local band in all of Columbus

I was having so much fun, I missed the bus back to New York...
Luckily, there was another coming in 2 hours!