Bubby and Bean ::: Living Creatively

Online Savings, Re-Imagined >> Meet Chippmunk

2013-05-22T09:42:00.000-05:00

Today's post is a special interview with this month's featured sponsors, Brian and Samira of Chippmunk. Chippmunk is a hip, young start-up that does something pretty revolutionary - they find the best deals and coupons on products that actually interest you. And their innovative website allows you this do this very quickly, for free. The concept of their company is so fresh and interesting, and it's been really cool to get to know them and learn more about their small business over the past few weeks. I'm excited to be able to share some of this with you guys today!

Hi Brian and Samira! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live, and what you enjoy doing for fun besides running Chippmunk?

BRIAN >> I live in Santa Monica, California. I love being outdoors, and outside of Chippmunk time I can be found hiking in the mountains with my wife and miniature dachshund Anastasia, bike riding along the beach, and surfing. We laugh about surfing, which basically entails waking up at the crack of dawn, putting on a seal suit, and heading into the cold Pacific ocean to paddle around on a flotation device for a few hours. My wife thinks this is kind of crazy, but I love it! There is nothing like riding a wave; do it once and you'll be hooked for life.

SAMIRA >> I live in Los Angeles and currently host Chippmunk's office in our addition. I'm a passionate husky mom and dog rescue volunteer, and outside of Chippmunk I can be found visiting local schools and nursing homes with Chili, my rescue husky who is a certified therapy dog. I’m also passionate about home decorating, am currently remodeling a duplex with my mom, and make a mean batch of guacamole.

Brian, how did you become interested in developing a small start-up, specifically a coupon resource?

I've worked for consumer internet companies for the last 7 years, starting at Yahoo!, and later at Internet Brands where I built a division of ecommerce sites. Through these experiences, I realized that it's really hard to find and use online coupons. Most coupon websites are plastered with ads and coupons that don't work. There has to be a better way – and I finally realized that I needed to lead the change I sought in the world. I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and the idea of starting Chippmunk.com was so compelling that I found I couldn't sleep until I started the journey!

What is the mission behind Chippmunk? What makes it different?

Our mission is to organize coupon information and make it useful for consumers and retailers alike. Our focus on creating an outstanding experience for consumers is what makes us different – we make sure that the coupons we publish work, we provide helpful tools for consumers to find the coupon that will save them the most money, and we deliver the information in a user friendly way. Our team is incredibly passionate about delivering on our mission, and I think that genuine passion shows in our product and the experience we create for consumers.

What types of things inspire you in your work? Are there any other artists or businesses who have influenced you?

We are inspired by great design, authentic experiences, and simplicity. Fab.com is one of our favorite sites. We love the simple user interface, the curation of awesome content, and the helpful emails that actually make us want to shop. Jason Goldberg and his team just create awesome. Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Square fame is another business artist from whom we draw inspiration. The focus in both of these businesses on creating a really simple, intuitive, and helpful product for people is just amazing. We also admire Apple and the revolutionary products they have build that combine style with function. The iPhone and iPad are such intuitive devices. I've seen two year olds pick up iPads and engage with then as if they've always known how to use them. Incredible! And it's so hard to build in so much functionality and complexity into this type of device, yet have it be so simple to use that anyone can pick it up and derive enjoyment from the experience.
We hope to incorporate just a fraction of what these companies do into the Chippmunk experience.

The Bubby and Bean blog focuses on living a creative lifestyle. How does the Chippmunk staff work to keep things fresh and creative?

One of the fun things about Chippmunk is that we get to create every single day. In fact, it's critical to our success. Our dogs are actually a really helpful part of the process. They are in the office every day, and we've found that some of our most creative conversations come during our mid-afternoon walks with the dogs. It gives us time away from the computer, from emails, text, etc; and we find that some of our best ideas happen while walking through the neighborhood.

If you had to pick one specific aspect of your business that was your favorite, what would it be?

We are building Chippmunk to help people. We help consumers find great deals and discover new stores. We help retailers connect with new customers. And we influence transactions. When you find a great new store to shop at and can use a deal to save money on your purchase, everyone wins! Being a small start-up we take pride in every new connection we make between people and stores, and we love hearing from people about their experience so that we can make Chippmunk a little bit better every single day.

Where do you see yourself and/or your business in five years?

We are establishing Chippmunk to be a starting point for online shopping. In five years my hope is I'm still skipping to work every day and building the next generation of awesome couponing experiences for consumers with a team of really creative and inspirational people. Maybe by that time we'll be doing some really far out stuff, like organizing coupons for space adventures on Virgin Galactic or powering mobile couponing through a wink on your Google glasses.

One of the more popular series on Bubby and Bean is 'Friday is For Favorites.' Tell us your favorite of each of the following: color, movie, food, band.

BRIAN >> COLOR: ocean blue. MOVIE: Bull Durham. I played minor league baseball and this movie captures the experience like no other, and has a great cast – Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins among many others.) FOOD: sushi. BAND: Jack Johnson

SAMIRA >> COLOR: pink MOVIE: French Kiss with Meg Ryan. There are so many funny moments in that movie! I’m from Canada, love the south of France and just really enjoyed the comedy. I'm easily traumatized by horror movies, so I love light romantic comedies that are a fun escape. FOOD: Sushi. BAND: I love music and this question was so tough because I adore so many different genres. I worked at a giant record company early on in my career and loved seeing artists come in to perform for us in the office. I’ll pick two artists – a classic and a contemporary: Jimi Hendrix and Sia.

How did you come up with the name 'Chippmunk' (with two p's)?

Great question! We spent several weeks trying to come up with a name that was unique and memorable, that evoked savings, and that we could purchase with a very limited budget. Samira was listening to NPR one morning and she heard a feature on Sqirl jams, and it came to her! She thought chipmunks are way cuter than squirrels, and they are known for having great searching and saving skills by stocking up on acorns for the winter. Chipmunk with one p was a domain that was already being used, but with two p's was for sale! We registered the domain on the spot. When we started experimenting with typefonts for our logo, we realized that two p's seems to be much more visually compelling as it balances the word better too. And two p's means we are creating our own, unique interpretation of Chippmunk through the quality of the service we offer, which is a big, exciting responsibility.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with Bubby and Bean's readers?

We are launching a new Expert Shopper feature this month which will be a place for our passionate, awesome online shoppers to share the great deals they've scored. We'd love to extend an invitation to Bubby and Bean readers to participate in this experience, with a chance to win some pretty cool prizes. Details are still tbd.

Thank you Brian and Samira for sharing a little about your incredibly innovative small business (and yourselves!) with us today! Make sure you guys pay a visit to Chippmunk and see for yourself all the awesomeness that it has to offer. I've found so many great deals since discovering them, in a fraction of the time that it used to take me to search for coupons. And their searches are so tailored (you can choose from clothing, accessories, beauty, gift, home, pets, and more) that you don't feel bombarded by offers that don't interest you. Trust me, you'll be glad you checked it out. And stay tuned next week for a very special giveaway from the Chippmunk crew!

You can also find Chippmunk on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

How to Host A Perfect Summer Kickoff Soiree

2013-05-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

image via Lucky Magazine

Whether I'm playing hostess or attendee, my favorite dinner parties are those that feel effortless - the ones that forgo stuffy, extravagant traditions and allow for the type of simple (yet still well-styled) pleasures that make you feel like you're on vacation. Summertime is a natural when it comes to providing the perfect backdrop for these types of gatherings (think golden lighting, warm air, late sunsets). So when Lucky Magazine and La Crema Pinot Gris asked me to team up with them for a summer entertaining series and to host an outdoor get-together that showcased my personal style, I was all about it.

With a little advance planning and a few key details in mind, it's easy to come up with a beautifully designed summer kickoff bash that will give guests something to remember. For my dinner party, I chose to focus on concepts that embody the season: vibrant flowers, classic-meets-playful patterns and color schemes, garden fresh foods, a light, summery wine, music made for spontaneous dance parties, and for my hostess outfit, a casual, feminine-yet-edgy sundress and sandals. My only set rule for entertaining is to get preparations done early enough in the day that I can relax with my guests. Because like summer itself, this type of blissful gathering never lasts quite long enough, and every moment should be enjoyed with reckless abandon.

Read on for the details of how I designed and styled my party, and where you can get the goods to host one of your own! (You can also read my piece for Lucky Magazine right here.)

This time of year marks a transition from rainy skies into sunshine and vivid hues, so for the color theme, I felt inspired to combine classic neutrals like grey, black, and white, with pops of bright, bold tones. One of the ways I brought color to the food was by adding fresh strawberries and sliced green apples to organic mixed greens. This is an easy way to create a colorful summer party salad that's as lovely to look at as it is to eat.

(Pinot Gris $20, La Crema; cotton steel grey napkin, $3.95 each, Crate and Barrel; white wine glass set of 4, $49.95, Williams-Sonoma ; classic wine coaster, Crate and Barrel; aspen dinnerware, $64.95-$69.95, Crate and Barrel. Some great salad cookbooks: Salad Days, $12.79, Amazon; Salad of the Day Cookbook, $34.95, Williams-Sonoma)

For the wine, I served La Crema Pinot Gris. Bright and fruity, it's the perfect 'anytime wine,' and a deliciously summery choice for casual gatherings.

My go-to summer party outfit is always a comfortable yet elegant dress that makes a statement. For this event, I also wanted to wear something that coincided with the color theme (neutral with pops of color). My dress's bodice was filled with feminine ruffles, so I contrasted that with edgy studded black sandals. I love heels, but when I'm hosting an outdoor gathering, flats are infinitely more appealing.

(Target dress, sold out. Similar style: Parisian Slip, $88, Free People; Odella Gladiator Stud Sandal, $19.99, Target; Pinto Gris, $20, La Crema)

The table setting featured silverware bunched with chives from my garden and tied up into grey napkins with black and white striped ribbon.

For summertime social activities, I tend to opt for bold nail polish shades (I chose coral here) and lots of mixed accessories in gold, silver and turquoise.

(Cotton Steel Grey Napkin, $3.95 each, Crate and Barrel; Peach Daiquiri nail polish, $7.79, Essie; Turquoise Necklace, $23, Oh Nostalgia; La Mer Simple Wrap Watch in Black, $88, ShopBop; ring, picked up in a Colorado rock shop)

A summer cheese tray featuring a variety of fresh local cheeses, almonds, olives, red grapes, homemade preserves and crackers is a perfect complement to a refreshing summer wine like La Crema Pinot Gris. And for an easy, delicious main dish, try a light vegetarian pasta (linguine, grape tomatoes, shredded spinach, olive oil, and spices) served in a pretty bowl.

(Bowl, handmade. Similar style: Le Creuset Serving Bowl, $44.95, Sur La Table; Slate Cheese Serving Board, $44.95, Williams-Sonoma)

The biggest entertaining lesson that I've learned over the years is to always make an effort to get party preparations done early on. This allows me to spend quality time hanging out with guests (and time to start spontaneous dance parties) during the event itself.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, 'And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.' I’m pretty sure the same can be said for outdoor dinner parties. I hope that this guide to throwing a summer soiree provides some inspiration for those of you thinking about hosting some fun backyard gatherings of your own in the upcoming months. Happy summer friends!

P.S. La Crema will be hosting a fun 'Pair and Win' contest where you can win $200, starting on May 28th. Just click here to get the deets.

I N S T A G R A M // T W I T T E R // F A C E B O O K // P I N T E R E S T

Lazy Weekend + Garden Beginnings

2013-05-20T07:02:00.000-05:00

This was Robbie's last weekend in town for a while, and I'm taking a little road trip next weekend, so we decided that this weekend would a nice, lazy (for the most part) one spent close to home. On Friday night we went to a birthday party, on Saturday we hung out with an old friend then went out to a relaxed group dinner, and on Sunday I worked a little and we spent time on the beginnings of this year's organic container garden.

I love snapping pictures of the garden when it's just starting out every year. At first glance, there really isn't anything to see. But I love capturing the tiny details of the fresh dirt and plants just starting to sprout. In a few weeks, it will all look completely different, and it's pretty cool to look back at photos and see how far it's come. Until very recently, I was admittedly one of those people who thought that the act of gardening sounded excruciatingly boring. I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance two summers ago. There is honestly something amazing about putting a seed in the dirt, adding some water and sunshine, and literally watching it grow into a full-blown plant or flower (especially when you can step out your back door and return 30 seconds later with something healthy and fresh for dinner!).

Anyone else have a blissfully boring weekend working on their gardens or doing other lazy outdoor activities?

Big May GIVEAWAY // Win a Prize Package of Goodies Worth $215!

2013-05-17T07:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I know that I gush every month about how that month's group giveaway is the best yet, but I swear, they just keep getting better and better. Six incredible shops and blogs have contributed some truly fantastic prizes that include gorgeous clothing, jewelry and accessory shop credits, paper goods, and blog ad space. This giveaway includes 6 prizes and is valued at $215 - and one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all!

VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS BLOG // VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS SHOP // VISIT THIS BLOG

VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS BLOG // VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS SHOP

This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers. (Please note that Google Reader will be defunct as of July 1st. We recommend following through GFC or Bloglovin'.)
To enter, just leave a comment telling me which item you'd be most excited to win!

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following. (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).

Visit any of the shops from this giveaway (Gaia Conceptions // Skaggsy // Oh Nostalgia // Roots & Feathers // Little Tree Vintage // Bubby and Bean Art) and list your favorite item(s).
Follow/subscribe to any of the blogs from this giveaway (Roots & Feathers // Little Tree // Little Nostalgia // Gaia Conceptions)
Like Bubby & Bean on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram. (user name: @bubbyandbean)
Post an image from this post on Instagram and tag it with the following: @bubbyandbean #bubbyandbeangiveaway
Follow us on Pinterest.
Pin the top image from this post on Pinterest.
Follow us on Twitter (please list your username)
Tweet this: I entered Bubby & Bean's big May GIVEAWAY for a chance to win 6 prizes worth $215! >> http://bit.ly/14KFK6I via @MotM_EcoFashion
Click the Facebook Like button below to like this post on Facebook.

This giveaway goes through May 24th and is open to Bubby and Bean readers worldwide. The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Thanks again to our May sponsors for contributing such great prizes! Good luck!

My Style // Hello, Blossom

2013-05-16T07:02:00.000-05:00

I will confess that I had a moment while wearing this outfit where I felt suddenly overwhelmed with the fact that I was just a little too close to channeling my inner Blossom. (Those of you too young to get this reference, I'm sorry.) The floral dress, the denim jacket, the hat - there was a whole lotta 1990s going on with this ensemble. Ultimately though, I was okay with this, because I felt all sorts of playful and summery and free while wearing it. I really did. Beside the fact that florals have made yet another big comeback, if you're going to take a walk in the park (which was literally what I did), I think having a little Blossom-style energy might just be the best way to do it.

I've actually had this dress for a couple of years now. I picked it up for $5 at a thrift store, wore it once, and then it somehow had the unfortunate fate of becoming buried in the depths of my closet for two years. A few days ago, while looking for a completely different dress, I saw a corner of pink and purple floral fabric peering out from behind my motorcycle jacket. And there it was. It's got a nice drape, the fabric is soft, and it's very summery. Now that I've saved it from the closet abyss, I'm looking forward to wearing it a lot over the next few months.

Speaking of things I'll be wearing a lot this summer, can I just say how much I adore my new Delmar Sandals from Blowfish? I've wanted a great pair of metallic sandals for a while now, and as soon as I saw these, I knew they were the ones. I think that the key to incorporating metallic fabric into accessories is pairing it with a clean, streamlined design. These shoes are the ideal example of this - they're simple and comfortable, and they have the perfect amount of sparkle. They'd do just as well with a dressier nighttime look as they do with this casual day dress.

Despite the crazy floral-ness going on with this dress's print, the cut is simple enough that I felt inclined to pile on lots of jewelry. I'll take any excuse I can get to wear one of my beloved Roots & Feathers necklaces. And the delicate turquoise necklace (made by the wonderful Miss Paige over at Oh Nostalgia) is quickly becoming one of my new favorites as well. I also have to talk for a minute about how smitten I am with this handmade leather cuff that I recently received from the talented Lisa Leonard. Aside from the fact that it was custom made to say 'Melissa + Robbie' (!!!), it is also amazing in its ability to be so simple and organic and beautiful and perfect. Seriously. The style is so me, and the fact that I was able to have it engraved makes me cherish it even more. I'll have this piece of jewelry forever and ever, mark my words.

Dress: Thrifted // Shoes: c/o Blowfish // Leather Cuff: c/o Lisa Leonard
Jacket: Ann Taylor (thrifted for $4) // Necklaces: c/o Oh Nostalgia and Roots & Feathers
Other bracelets: gifts // Hat: used to be wall decor in my mom's house (true story)

Okay, spill it. Which of you have also channeled your inner Blossom via a '90s ensemble recently? And which of you have no idea what I'm talking about?

P.S. Want to win a free pair of Blowfish shoes? Enter our Blowfish Giveaway!

Guess Who WON the ASOS Gift Card Giveaway??!

2013-05-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks again to all of you who entered the ASOS Giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card to ASOS! The winner was chosen via random.org, and that lucky Bubby & Bean reader is...

CONGRATS ELLIE! Please contact me at bubbyandbean {at} gmail.com so we can discuss getting you your gift card.

Thanks again to ASOS for giving Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win a gift card to their amazing online shop. And if you haven't yet, be sure to enter our current giveaway for a chance to win a pair of Blowfish Shoes of your choice!

Simple Summer Pleasures (A Wish List)

2013-05-14T07:03:00.000-05:00

1. Bow Wrap Floppy Hat in Natural, Wet Seal // 2. Organic Popsicles, SolPops //
3. Shake Your $$ Maker Nail Polish, Essie // 4. Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray, John Masters Organics // 5. Floral Crown, Threadsense // 6. Honey Bee Bath Bomb, LUSH // 7. Sea Salt and Coconut Milk Chocolate Bar, World Market // 8. Kinfolk Volume 7, Kinfolk Magazine //
9. Floral To-Go Cup, UO // 10. Coral Geo Scarf, Target

I have a half-written post that I'll be sharing here soon all about my recent experiences transitioning from a go-go-go lifestyle to a (at least somewhat) simpler, calmer one. I talk about my many years of constant traveling, events, career-obsessed adventures and workaholic-fueled fears of missing out. I also talk about how I'm entering a new phase of my life where the things that for so long took top priority no longer do - where success as the ultimate goal is being replaced by learning how to feel content in just "being" (along with how to experience delight in the simplicities of everyday life). Of course, it's much more complicated than that (I am a Capricorn after all), but that's the jist.

Today, I decided to focus on some of the lighter parts of this somewhat heavy subject via some fun little treasures I've been eyeing for summertime. These are the types of things that I find to be the perfect simple pleasures in the warmer, lazier months - goodies that supplement the enjoyment of a time of year when living is naturally easy. Simple summer pleasures, of course, don't need to involve material things. But a little indulgence or present to yourself is a great way to add to the wonderful, at least in my eyes.

I Want To Know: What Is Your Favorite Flower?

2013-05-13T07:28:00.000-05:00

It's kind of impossible not to associate May with flowers. This gateway-to-summer month is full of them, all fresh and blooming and vibrant. I've been taking evening walks everyday over the last couple of weeks, and I'd be lying if I said that spotting new patches of flowers hasn't been the highlight of every single one of them. In honor of the unofficial official flower month, I decided to ask Bubby and Bean's May medium and large sponsors to share their favorites with you guys. These amazing shops and blogs inspire me on a daily basis, and hearing about the flowers they love (and why they love them) had made me ever more pumped for the all of the floral goodness that this month brings. To find out more about the rad people behind Bubby and Bean's May sponsor team, just click on the links in each of their submissions below to visit their homes around the web.

1. THE TEAM AT BLOWFISH SHOES: POPPIES
Poppies! They remind us of spring and we love the bright orange color!
VISIT BLOWFISH'S SHOP // BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK

2. MACK FROM SOULMAKES: BEARDED IRIS
I love all flowers but my favorite is the Bearded Iris. I'm not quite sure what draws me to them so much, perhaps the way they bloom so tall and then seem to literally swell and overflow with such a vibrant delicacy. We had a ton of them in our yard when I was a kid, my mom kept the wildest garden and she always told me to "Follow the Flowers," so that's what I'm doing.
VISIT MacK'S BLOG // SHOP // FACEBOOK // TWITTER
(PSSST... DISCOUNT! Take 15% off at SOULMAKES with code BUBBY)

3. BRANDI FROM MUCHO MUCHO BUENO BUENO:
BIRDS OF PARADISE
My favorite flower is birds of paradise, it reminds me of my wedding day and our special place. Oahu!
VISIT BRANDI + KELLY'S BLOG // SHOP // TWITTER 1 // TWITTER 2

4. LAURA FROM ROOTS & FEATHERS: RANUNCULUS
I have alot of favorites!!! But right now I think its ranunculus. I love the way the stems grow all wildly, and how delicate the flower blossoms are. They are like a beautiful woman who is in touch with her wild roots.
VISIT LAURA'S BLOG // SHOP // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

5. PAIGE FROM OH NOSTALGIA: RANUNCULUS
I like a lot of flowers, but my favorite is probably Ranunculus. Queen Anne's Lace is also pretty, but I think that's technically a weed...
VISIT PAIGE'S SHOP // BLOG // TWITTER // PINTEREST
(PSSST... DISCOUNT! Take 15% off at OH NOSTALGIA with code BUBBYANDBEAN

6. MARIA FROM LITTLE TREE: SUNFLOWER
My favorite flowers are sunflowers because I feel like they look different than the "standard" flower and they're so bright that it reminds me of beautiful weather!
VISIT MARIA'S BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

7. SANDRA FROM NOTES FROM THE S LIFE: CASABLANCA LILY
My absolute favorite flower is the casablanca lily. Although I love all lilies, the casablanca lily is so beautiful and smells fantastic, which is why I had them as part of my wedding flowers. They bloom so big, fragrantly fill up the house and are just beautiful to see.
VISIT SANDRA'S BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

8. KRISTIN FROM SKAGGSY: LAVENDER
Fragrance-wise, I've never found anything I like more than lavenders. But for decorating, I like to make flowers out of paper or fabric.
VISIT KRISTIN'S SHOP // TWITTER // PINTEREST

Not all of our medium and large sponsors were able to able to participate, but the others have lots of goodness to offer too! Take a minute to click on their links below and see for yourself.

GAIA CONCEPTIONS // SINCERELY, KINSEY
JESS VARTANIAN // CRUMPLED FANTASIES

LITTLE CHIEF HONEYBEE // SCATHINGLY BRILLIANT

SUSANNAH BEAN // J.CREW // EMERGING THOUGHTS

YELLOW BIRD, YELLOW BEARD // EDIAPER CAKES // JO CLARK DESIGN
YOUR CHARMED LIFE // JACK & GINGER'S // WARBY PARKER

PIE IN THE SKY // LUCKY LITTLE BEANS // LEE LA LA

Thanks again to everyone who took part today (and to all of the wonderful shops and blogs who chose to advertise this month!). Sponsors are crucial to Bubby and Bean. The funds raised by their ad spots are used to devote the necessary time and money to keep this blog going and make sure it's at its best for our readers. Sponsors support Bubby and Bean, so when our readers support our sponsors, everyone wins! Also stay tuned over the next couple of weeks for a special giveaway and an intriguing interview with May's featured sponsor Chippmunk.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you all know what my favorite flower is at this point (hint hint).

Your turn! What is your favorite flower? I want to know!

All flower images taken from Wikipedia.

GIVEAWAY // Win a Pair of Blowfish Shoes (Of Your Choice)!

2013-05-10T07:22:00.000-05:00

It's time for another amazing Friday giveaway! Today I'm excited to be teaming up once again with my pals over at Blowfish Shoes to give you guys the chance to win a pretty incredible prize. As my regular readers know, I've been a fan of Blowfish for years. I own several pairs - most recently the Delmar Sandals in Pewter, which I've happily worn every single day since they arrived. Their shoes are comfortable, great quality, and chic without being stuffy. In their words, they "make shoes for creative girls who can put together a look with effortless originality." Love that! And now, one of you is going to get to go shopping on Blowfish's website and pick out a new pair of shoes for yourself!

To enter, just visit the Blowfish Shoes website and leave a comment below telling me which pair of shoes is your favorite. That's it!

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following. (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).

Like Blowfish on Facebook
Follow Blowfish on Twitter
Follow Blowfish on Pinterest
Follow Blowfish on Facebook
Follow Blowfish on Instagram
Tweet this: Enter Bubby & Bean's Giveaway to win a pair of @BlowfishShoes of your choice! via @MotM_EcoFashion >> http://bit.ly/19zur20

This giveaway will run through May 17th. The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after. (Please note that the winner must have a U.S. shipping address.) Thanks again to Blowfish Shoes for giving Bubby and Bean's readers this chance to win a pair of their rad kicks!

In the Details // My Kitchen

2013-05-09T07:02:00.000-05:00

Recently (okay, over three months ago), I posted about how I would be starting a new series here where I share bits and pieces of different rooms and spaces throughout my home. I explained that when I visit someone's home for the first time, it is most often the details of the space - pictures, patterns, knickknacks, textures, corners, artwork, colors - that move me and stick in my memory. I also shared some details of my living room, with a promise to make it a more regular thing.

Well here's the deal. I love design, and I love home decor, and I love how it feels when my space is organized and beautiful. But I am also very messy by nature. And I work from home, and that means all sorts of extra clutter. The reality is that my house is usually in no condition to be snapping photos to share on a public forum, hence the lack of these "in the details" posts on a regular basis, despite my original (and best) intentions. My home is lived in, and a lot of times it just looks like crap. Period. Thankfully, I decided the other day that my kitchen was clean enough (although truthfully still far from spotless) to share some of my favorite details from it with you guys. So here we go.

I've mentioned before (several times, actually) that I'm a terrible cook, but that I still have a thing for kitchens. The kitchen is the heart of the home in many ways, and although mine is tiny, I've still done my best to create a space that is equal parts visually appealing and practical. My kitchen is also probably the boldest, most contrasting room in our place as far as color scheme. Whereas the living room is quite minimalist and neutral in both the furniture and the decor, the kitchen is full of pops of vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and greens against dark backgrounds. The counter tops are charcoal, the walls are very dark grey, and our dinnerware (which we keep in an open cupboard) is classic white, so I went for cheery, bright color with things like containers, countertop appliances, and our vintage Pyrex mixing bowl collection. (Side story - the big orange daisy bowl was a wedding gift that my parents received and ultimately gave to me because it was always my favorite. A few years ago, Robbie and I were in an antique shop and found the rest of the set for $15. Score!)

Anyone else get much more excited about the details of kitchen design/decor than they do about the act of cooking?

Summertime, I Hear You Knocking

2013-05-07T07:08:00.000-05:00

I have a feeling that it's officially going to be one of those winter-into-summer years here in the Midwest (at least here in the Chicago area). Winter painfully lingered long past its welcome, only to be replaced by dark, chilly days filled with rainy, cloud-blanketed skies. But the past few days brought weather fit for bare legs and sandals, the kind where butterscotch sunbeams perfectly warm your skin and sudden cravings for backyard barbeques and icy margaritas sipped by swimming pools take over. I love springtime and all of the freshness that it brings - budding trees, the first peeks of flowers, mild temperatures. But summer is my season of choice, and if it needs to come early this year, I'll take it.

This past weekend was full of early summer moments, and in between enjoying them, I snapped a few photos (because that's what bloggers do, right?). I spent a lot of time just "being" outside with friends, Robbie and I took several long walks, I did yoga in the sunshine, and I had a special work opportunity to design and style an outdoor dinner party themed photo shoot (more on that in a couple of weeks!). But mainly I just reveled in the fact that I was able to be barefoot without a jacket, with the knowledge that very soon, these days will be an everyday occurrence. I'm ready for you, summertime.

The Most Beautiful Gardens, Greenhouses + Plantscapes

2013-05-06T07:52:00.000-05:00

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

This will be the third year for Robbie's and my outdoor container garden, and I am nerd-level excited about it you guys. When we did our first garden in 2011, neither of us had any idea what we were doing. At all. We don't have a sprawling yard or big country plot - just a little balcony deck and some patches of grass beneath it. Somehow, it actually worked, and we loved it so much that we even built raised beds last year in addition to our pots.

7 // 8 // 9 // 10

It's been a cold spring this time around, so nothing is planted outside quite yet (other than the garlic we planted last fall). But our house has been covered in seedlings and tiny plants for the last couple of months, and I've been finding myself browsing gardening websites and Pinterest (I even started a new plants + gardening board) on a pretty regular basis. Our lack of outdoor space hasn't stopped me from feeling ridiculously inspired by some of the gardens I've come across. I'm actually not nearly as impressed by big, overly landscaped spaces as I am by creatively constructed, often simple gardens and plantscapes that have clearly been grown and designed with love. I know that many of my readers love gardening as well, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you, in hopes that they bring you some growing inspiration as well. I'd also love to hear about your gardening plans this year!

GIVEAWAY // Win a $50 Gift Card to ASOS!

2013-05-03T07:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I am absolutely thrilled to start the weekend off by announcing a giveaway to go shopping at one of my very favorite shops. Today I'm teaming up with my friends over at ASOS to offer Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win a $50 Gift Card to spend on their website! ASOS carries thousands of gorgeous, on-trend designer label clothing items, accessories and shoes. I personally am a huge fan of their dresses (and desperately wish I could win this giveaway myself!)

To enter, just visit ASOS's Dress Section, then leave a comment below telling me which dress is your favorite. That's it!

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following. (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count.)

Like ASOS on Facebook
Follow ASOS on Twitter
Tweet this: Enter Bubby & Bean's Giveaway to win a $50 gift card to @ASOS_Us! via @MotM_EcoFashion >> http://bit.ly/10auJIa
Follow ASOS on Instagram
Post the top image from this giveaway to Instagram and tag it with the following: @ASOS @bubbyandbean #bubbyandbeangiveaway
Add ASOS on Google Plus
Click the Facebook Like button below to like this post on Facebook

This giveaway runs through May 10th. The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced here on the blog shortly after. Please note that the winner must have a U.S. shipping address. Thank you again to ASOS for offering Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win such a great prize!

GOOD LUCK!

A Cheery, Floral Themed (Surprise!) Baby Shower

2013-05-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, my friends Rachel, Andrea, Anna, Neely and I threw a surprise baby shower for our dear friend Mary Welch. She moved away a few months ago but was in town for the weekend, and had no idea what was in store for her when I picked her up "to go to brunch" Saturday morning! Her reaction was beyond priceless, and I'm fairly certain that every single one of us was in joyful tears after her grand entrance. She is an absolutely amazing lady with a huge heart, and to see her so thrilled was truly one of the highlights of my year so far.

When we started planning the shower, we decided to go with a bright, cheery, floral theme. Mary Welch ("Melch") is such a glowing, colorful spirit, and combined with the arrival of springtime (and the fact that she's having a baby girl!), it seemed like the perfect plan. We wanted to keep things as DIY as possible in terms of decor, favors, activities and food, and did a lot of brainstorming to come up with different projects. We chose to place fresh flowers throughout the apartment, and to incorporate lots of vivid, feminine colors and fun decor that included handmade hanging tissue poms in different shades of pink, letters for the baby's initials, and clotheslines full of baby clothes and bibs that Melch could take home. Andrea came up with the clothesline idea and it was a huge hit! For those of you planning baby showers, it's a great way to create an adorable decoration that doubles as a gift for the mama-to-be.

We wanted to incorporate a DIY activity in place of traditional games, and Rachel came up with the idea to make headbands. We purchased plain elastic infant headbands in different styles and colors, along with pretty flower pieces, bright feathers, and other fun accents. Guests used craft glue to adhere the decorations and design their own one-of-a-kind pieces. In the end, Mary Welch had dozens of beautiful, bright headbands to take home for her baby girl.

All of the food was homemade (extra thanks to our very talented chef of a friend Laura for her delicious contributions!), and featured everything from unique salads, dips, and breads, to a springtime sangria and fruity non-alcoholic drinks, to my personal favorite: salted caramel brownie bits. For the favors, I bought mini daisy, poppy, and sunflower grow kits, printed out personalized tags ("Nurture these flowers and watch them bloom, just like Amelia who will here soon!"), and tied them on with red and yellow ribbons.

Since Melch was the queen of this event, we made her a flower crown to wear (and as she always does, she looked stunning!). It was a such a fun afternoon, full of friends and food and laughter and tears and all of the other wonderful things that go along with showering love on a special person before a big event in her life. Preparing for the shower was seriously such a treat as well. I feel pretty lucky to have such a kind, creative group of friends who love entertaining as much as I do! I can't wait to do it again. (Off topic, but I should add that the lovely mom-to-be is also an incredibly talented interior designer, and we plan on sharing some of her work here on Bubby and Bean in the future!)

The winner of the Big April Giveaway as selected by random.org is...

Congrats Lauren! Please contact me at bubbyandbean (AT) gmail with your mailing address so we can get you your prizes!

Welcome to My (Dream) Kitchen

2013-05-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

Thank you Electrolux for sponsoring this post. Check out sleek Electrolux matching kitchen suites for a stylish, consistent design look with innovative product features for your kitchen.

Every few months, I share a pretend tour of my "dream home" with you guys. Usually this entails posting images of gorgeous interiors (and sometimes exteriors too), while I ramble on about them as if they were actually mine. Yep. Well today, I'm focusing specifically on one room: my dream kitchen.

My regular readers likely know by now that I'm not much of a cook. The majority of recipes you see posted here come from my sister Morgan, and meals in my house tend to be prepared by my husband (or if he's on the road, by me - via the act of opening a box containing an organic frozen meal and sticking it in the oven). But my lack of cooking prowess does not mean that I don't love being in the kitchen. Creating a really great space to make morning coffee, house groceries, entertain, display our vintage mixing bowl collection, and yes, cook, is actually quite important to me.

The thing that appeals to me about all of these particular kitchens (enough to make them dream kitchens for me!) is that they have just the right mix of cohesive aesthetic and practicality. The key to creating a stylish yet functional kitchen is embracing the art of "Suite Design," by selecting beautiful appliances that complement one another - like the Electrolux matching suites of appliances. I love that their designs are sleek, timeless, and ingeniously designed to enable professional results. The modern, minimalist suite and clean, white suite with matching stainless appliances in the two images above are my Electrolux favorites.

Even if you're not an expert chef, I think that the kitchen is the heart of the home in so many ways. You spend time in it every single day - not just hanging out, but actually doing things. My real-life kitchen is very small, and although I do my best to keep it organized and visually appealing, it sure would be nice someday to have a kitchen like the ones that exist in these photographs. For now, I'm fine with continuing to pretend. There's nothing quite as inspiring as the spaces in your daydreams.

What does your dream kitchen look like?

Image sources from top: 1. Residence Magazine, 2. Agent Bauer Photography, 3. House to Home, 4,5 & 6. Electrolux, 7. Mark Roper Photography,

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Inspired By Daisies

2013-04-30T08:44:00.000-05:00

1. Your Lucky Daisy Dress, Modcloth // 2. daisy image // 3. Flicker Fabric Bee Wristlet, Kate Spade // 4. Daisy Chain Link Necklace, TopShop // 5. Casual and Effect Flat, Rocket Dog //
6. Meadowlace Mini, Madewell // 7. Spitfire Mixed Ability Sunnies, Urban Outfitters //
8. Daisy Stud Earrings, TopShop // 9. Rooftop Party Colorblock Clutch, Threadsense

Daisies are my favorite of all flowers, and have been since I was a little girl. They instantly evoke feelings of summertime, sunshine, and all things happy and good. I love that they're simple and unassuming and elegant and timeless. They were the main flowers in our DIY wedding bouquets and arrangements, and they're my go-to choice when I'm buying fresh flowers for my house. There also are aren't many colors that I love more than white and yellow.

Any other daisy fans in the house? What flowers are inspiring you this season?

Snapshots from the Weekend

2013-04-29T07:56:00.000-05:00

This weekend consisted of Robbie's band playing a six hour show on Friday night, a night in a fancy hotel, co-hosting a surprise baby shower for a dear friend on Saturday (more on that later this week), Robbie's band playing another local show Saturday night, a visit to my grandmother's, a major replanting of our springtime seedlings, a lot of errands, an afternoon of work catch-up, and an overall lack of sleep. I'm so tired you guys. But it's Monday - and that means way too much to do to let sleep deprivation get in the way. Did you do anything fun this weekend?

My Favorite Nail Polishes For Spring and Summer

2013-04-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

1. Blimey by Scotch Naturals // 2. Million Dollar Mermaid by Deborah Lippman
3. In the Cab-ana by Essie // 4. I Saw... You Saw... We Saw... Warsaw by OPI
5. Jasper by Butter London // 6. Clean by Kure Bazaar // 7. Kimber by Zoya
8. Avenue Maintain by Essie // 9. Sun Kissed by Sally Hansen

I'll start this post by admitting that more often than not, my nails look pretty terrible. I don't bite them, but I polish them and then let weeks go by before I polish them again. The end result is a hot chippy mess. My excuses are as follows: I work from a home studio and very few people see my hands during the day, I use my hands a lot in my work, I don't have a ton of free time, and I refuse to pay for manicures outside of special occasions.

All of that said, now that the weather is starting to warm up, flowers are beginning to bloom, and I'm feeling inspired by the season in all its vibrantly colored glory and stuff, I have officially decided to make the effort to keep my nails colorful and in good shape for spring and summer. Despite my excuses (aka laziness), I think that the act of painting your nails is a simple, fairly quick way to do something nice for yourself.

The nail polishes you see above feature my favorite new (or newish) colors from some of my favorite nail care brands. (Right now I'm wearing #3, Essie's In the Cab-ana. It's bold and bright and pretty freaking happy, I have to say.) Are there any nail polishes or specific nail colors you've been especially into this season?

The winner of the Ray-Ban Sunglasses Giveaway as selected by random.org is...

Congrats Kelly! Please contact me at bubbyandbean (AT) gmail with your mailing address so we can get you your sunglasses!

10 Mother's Day Gift Ideas (That I Know My Mom Would Adore)

2013-04-25T08:10:00.000-05:00

1. Mother's Day Pendant ($58), Kate Spade // 2. Wall-Mounted Teardrop Vase ($4.95), CB2

3. Gigi Bracelet ($18.90), Shopbop // 4. Mr. Boddington's Mistral Soap ($8), Anthropologie

5. Mother's Day Taster Snack Kit (Small: $45, Large: $70), New York Mouth
6. 'Mom I've Always Wanted to Tell You' Book and Journal ($14.99), Modcloth

7. 'Home Is Where Your Mom Is' Wood and Silicon Spatula ($9.95), Paper Source
8. Handmade Ceramic Stoneware Bowl ($55 each, various colors), IMKAdesign

9. Mother's Day Be Lovely Card ($4), Bubby & Bean // 10. Facial To Go Kit ($34), Terrain

My mom is one of the most amazing people I've ever known. And although I try to make sure she knows that I feel this way on a regular basis, I always get excited for the chance to make her feel extra loved on Mother's Day. When it comes to gifts, I usually try to make her something unique, but I like to buy her a little something too. She and I have very similar taste, so it's always fun to shop for her.

Above are some of my favorite gift ideas that I've come across in my search - objects and goodies that are beautiful and interesting, and that I think would make any mama feel special. Oh and mom, if you're reading this and want to know which one(s) I purchased for you, thank goodness you only have to wait for 17 more days to find out. :)

P.S. Bubby & Bean is teaming up with our pals over at Emerging Thoughts to offer you guys 20% off store wide with coupon code MELISSA through midnight tonight! It's one of my very favorite online stores and if you haven't visited it before, I highly recommend it. They carry some really gorgeous clothing and accessories from small, emerging designers all over the world.

A Weekend in Austin, Texas

2013-04-24T07:38:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning, I hopped a plane to Austin, Texas for a short two-day trip. My brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, nieces and step-sister all live there, so when Robbie's band plays there and I can find a way to make it a semi-business trip for myself, it becomes a very convenient, practical, and affordable getaway to one of my favorite cities. I was especially grateful to get to go this time because my sister-in-law ran the Boston Marathon last week, and all of the little kids were there when the tragedy occurred (as I shared in more detail here). Knowing that I'd get to hug them extra tight after what they'd just experienced sealed the deal on this trip for me.

I only brought a small carry-on, so there wasn't room for my camera, but I made sure to snap a few photos with my phone. We didn't get to do a lot because I was there for such a short time, but it was really nice to get to hang out with family, see my husband after a couple of weeks apart, play in the sunshine with the kids, and do some quick exploring on Monday before it was time to board my Chicago-bound plane. Oh, and eat deep fried avocado tacos. Yep.

I'll admit that I've been insanely tired since I got back Monday night (two flights in 48 hours, an overall lack of sleep, and four energetic kids between the ages of three and eleven will do that to you), but sometimes a fast, last-minute weekend trip can be the best kind of trip. There's so much less planning and stress involved, and if you can stay with friends or family and plan a work meeting or two while you're visiting, it can be infinitely more cost-effective too. If you can make it happen in one of your favorite places, even better. Austin is such a great town. I used to move from state to state every couple of years, and I've reached a place in my life where I'm content with the roots I've put down here in Chicago, but Austin is definitely on my "I'll maybe live here someday" list. In the meantime, it sure does make for the perfect weekend getaway.

Want To Be On Bubby & Bean in May?

2013-04-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

Today starts the very last week of April, which means it's time for the official sponsor call at Bubby and Bean. May is one of my favorite months - warm weather clothing, springtime DIY projects, music festivals, summer foods, fresh home decor projects. All the things I love most about May will be featured here on the blog, and I'd love for you to be a part of it! If you have a blog, shop, Etsy store, small business, or brand you'd like to promote to several thousands of interested people every single day, I'd love to help you through a Bubby and Bean Sponsorship!

In addition to promoting sponsors through their ads on all pages and posts here at Bubby and Bean, I work one on one with each advertiser to ensure they are given optimum exposure through the blog and our social media channels. For more information on our various advertising packages, current stats, press, and pricing, visit our sponsor page right here. You can also book your ad space there directly in one click. We currently have a handful of spots open in each size except for the featured spot, which is booked for May (but available for June). All ad spaces are first come, first serve.

Have questions? Feel free to contact me.

Our 5th Annual EARTH DAY Project

2013-04-22T07:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Earth Day you guys! I'm spending the day in beautiful Austin, Texas (came here for a short weekend trip to see my nieces and nephew, watch Robbie's band, and have a quick business meeting), but I wanted to make sure I stopped in here to share this project with you. As many of you know, I've been designing for the sustainable fashion line Mountains of the Moon for the past 12+ years, and for the past 5, we've put together something called the Earth Day Project. In honor of Earth Day, we offer our customers a special discount, and then team up with American Forests to plant trees! This year, I'm especially excited because my line of art and greeting cards, Bubby and Bean Art, is participating in the project too. In either shop, by using the coupon code EARTHDAY2013 today (4/22) and tomorrow (4/23), you'll get 30% off your order and 30% will be given to American Forests, who will plant one tree for every dollar we donate. Pretty cool, huh? If you've had your eye on a pretty new organic cotton dress or some 100% recycled greeting cards, now is your chance to make a difference through your dollar (and save some big bucks for yourself!).

Are any of you doing anything special today for Earth Day? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

*Coupon code is valid through 04/23/2013 only. May not be used toward the purchase of gift certificates, or combined with payments made with gift certificates or store credits. Coupons cannot be applied after purchases have already been made.

Big April GIVEAWAY // Win A Package of Prizes from 8 Shops & Blogs!

2013-04-19T07:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I'm telling you guys, I get more excited with each month's big group giveaway. This time, some of my favorite shops and blogs have contributed goodies, including clothing shop credits, jewelry, art, blog ad space and more. This giveaway includes 8 prizes and is valued at $240 - and one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all!

VISIT THIS SHOP // VISIT THIS BLOG

VISIT THIS BLOG // VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS SHOP // VISIT THIS BLOG

VISIT THIS BLOG // VISIT THIS SHOP

VISIT THIS SHOP // VISIT THIS BLOG

VISIT THIS SHOP

This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers. (Please note that Google Reader will be defunct as of July 1st. We recommend following through Bloglovin'.)
To enter, just leave a comment telling me which item you'd be most excited to win!

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following. (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).

Visit any of the shops from this giveaway (Obsessivision // Soulmakes // Oh Nostalgia // Emerging Thoughts // Roots & Feathers // Jess Vartanian // Little Tree Vintage // Bubby and Bean Art) and list your favorite item(s).
Follow/subscribe to any of the blogs from this giveaway (Roots & Feathers // Little Tree // Jess Vartanian // Little Nostalgia // Soulmakes // Emerging Thoughts // Obsessivision)
Like Bubby & Bean on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram. (user name: @bubbyandbean)
Follow us on Pinterest.
Pin the top image from this post on Pinterest.
Follow Bubby & Bean on Bloglovin'.
Follow us on Twitter (please list your username)
Tweet this: I entered Bubby & Bean's big April GIVEAWAY for a chance to win 8 amazing prizes! >> http://bit.ly/ZL8DvG via @MotM_EcoFashion
Click the Facebook Like button below to like this post on Facebook.

This giveaway goes through April 26th and is open to Bubby and Bean readers worldwide. The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Thanks again to our April sponsors for contributing such rad prizes! Good luck!

The winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway as selected by random.org is...

Congrats Beautifully Pure! Please contact me at bubbyandbean (AT) gmail so we can get you your voucher!

My Style // Everyday Effortless

2013-04-18T08:14:00.000-05:00

You guys must be getting pretty sick of looking at my ugly mug, because this is officially the third outfit post in the last two weeks. I'm not quite sure what has gotten into me aside from the fact that spring is (verrrry slowly) beginning to make an appearance, and every time the sun so much as peeks through the clouds, all I want to do is be outside and go do fun stuff. I met a friend for an early dinner the other day and we got to eat on the restaurant's patio, which seriously felt like the most decadent thing ever. And although what I chose to wear wasn't anything fancy or out of the ordinary, it was a very "me" outfit, so I thought that made it a good one to share here. It's sort of my 'everyday effortless' look. Also, the sun was very, very bright - so that it created some weird shadows and washed things out a bit. But that's okay. All that matters is that there was sun. Sweet, glorious sun.

I'm actually slightly embarrassed at how often I wear this particular outfit. It's my uniform: black leggings, an oversized tee (this is one of my favorites because I really dig the high-low hem), a chambray shirt, and a hat. And you've seen me wear these shoes in more posts and Instagram pictures than I care to admit. But I love it. I love that everything I'm wearing is comfortable but still semi-put together. I do think that it may be time to trade in my husband's old fedoras for a couple wider brim hats (these are some that I've been eyeing), but other than that, I'll probably continue to wear this trusty little ensemble regularly throughout the spring.

When I'm wearing a simple, solid outfit like this one, I like to pair it with geometric jewelry to give things a little kick. These earrings were a gift from Robbie (awwww), and the necklace was a gift from my sister (awwww), who are clearly both well aware that I'm a fan of triangles. I picked up the bag last month after spending way too much time debating over it, then leaving the store, then going back the next day to get it. I'm so glad that I did because it's truly the best bag that I've owned in a long time. It was affordable but the quality is really great, and I love how versatile it is - I can wear it with anything.

My favorite accessory though is the watch, which is a new daily wear of mine. My pals over at Watchco sent it to me, and I absolutely treasure it. I chose this particular watch (from Citizen Eco-Drive) not only for the design (it's really gorgeous you guys), but also because it's light-powered. Yep. It's charged by any light (natural or artificial) and never needs a battery. Pretty amazing.

Denim Shirt: c/o Marshalls   // Leggings: H&M // Grey Shirt: F21
Watch: c/o Watchco // Shoes: Target   //   Earrings and Necklace: gifts
Bag: DSW   // Bracelet: c/o Oasap   //   Hat: stolen from husband

I may or may not be wearing this outfit again today, as I type this. And although it's raining (come back sun, come back!), it's supposed to be in the high 60's. I'll take it.

12 Vintage Albums I Can't Stop Playing (+ Why I Love Vinyl)

2013-04-17T08:32:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, I posted about my ten all-time favorite books. Today, I thought I'd shift the focus to music and share some of my favorite records. This is slightly different than my book list - I'm only including albums from my vinyl collection, and unlike my book list which has stayed fairly consistent over time, these favorites are rotating. Regardless, right now there are twelve particular records that have been on my regular listening schedule pretty incessantly lately.

1. Blood On the Tracks, Bob Dylan // 2. Revolver, The Beatles
3. True Stories, Talking Heads // 4. American Beauty, The Grateful Dead
5. Harvest, Neil Young // 6. Pearl, Janis Joplin

When my husband and I first started dating, we discovered that we were both avid vinyl collectors. Many of the records we each owned were passed down from our parents. Others had been thrifted or gifted. And a handful were new and had been purchased. We knew that we had a lot of records between the two of us, but it wasn't until we first moved in together that we realized just how many. We ended up having to take a day to go through them and decide which ones to fit on our entertainment/book shelves so the rest could be stored or given away. (And for those that were no longer listenable, we later did this.) That day is actually one of my favorite memories from the time when we first shacked up. It was fun to see how many overlaps we had, and also to unearth and listen to old records we'd each forgotten about. It was a bonding experience for us, and it was awesome.

7. Europe '72, The Grateful Dead // 8. The Band, The Band
9. Now Here's Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash // 10. Autoamerican, Blondie
11. Rubber Soul, The Beatles // 12. Bare Trees, Fleetwood Mac

You always hear people say "vinyl just sounds better than digital" - to the point that it's become almost cliche. But for me, there really is something extra special about listening to music via a good old fashion record. The sound that vinyl produces actually is more authentic and does more closely resemble the original, real-life sound (that's analog for you!). And although vinyl gets scratches and heat damage and just generally breaks down over time, the warmer, more weathered sound that comes from vintage record albums is very appealing for some (myself included). Really, there's nothing like it.

Any other old vinyl record lovers in the house?

P.S. I can't thank you guys enough for the comments, emails, tweets, etc. in response to yesterday's post. For those who have emailed, I promise I'll do my best to respond to each of you by the end of the day today. We really are all in this together. xo