1) It’s official. B*SPOKE is now trademarked. Who knew the process would take forever and a day? Now that that’s done, I’m on to wrapping up other internal projects. There is a new website coming. Very soon. And because I have designer ADD, I’m also revamping the blog. A lot. Prepare yourselves. It may come as a shock to the system, but I’m really ready for the change. Picture lots of open, yummy white space.

2) Shoe shopping with your best friend. Is there anything better?? I think not.

3) The lovely and amazing Emily Steffen is having a baby. On Saturday evening, we showered her with love and cute little baby things.

4) I decorated the party. Enter lots of candles, little vases and cut flowers. Simple and pretty and perfect for Em.

5) I would like some lights like this for our patio. Don’t they just spell instant P-A-R-T-Y?? Speaking of which, I need to start planning a few summer parties. The time is here!

6) I have been doing a whole lot of this lately. I’d call it kayaking, but really, all I do is paddle to the center of the lake and then float, sometimes for hours.

7) Life is too short not to indulge occasionally. Chicago dog on a warm summer day. Oh, yes.

8) These girls have my heart. Fourteen, fun and a total breath of fresh air. I love them.

And now, because my timer still hasn’t gone off, I will add a few more ponderings.

9) My pots and window boxes and gardens are planted! I went SIMPLE this year. Meaning, minimal upkeep. Not one vegetable plant in sight. I know, I know.

10) My computer is slowing down and it’s driving my nuts. How can I make it go faster??

11) We got a new couch! The living room is taking shape.

12) The timer just went off, so I should go get to work.

More to come, soon!

TRACK: Tongue Tied
ARTIST: Grouplove
CATCHY : “marmalade we’re making out”
MAKE ME WANNA: dance barefoot in the kitchen

The living room project is coming along–at a snail’s pace. I’m blaming the slow progress on the increasingly nice weather. Poor quality photos above, status update below:

WHAT I’VE DONE – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

1) Painted the walls “Brook Trout” by Martha Stewart.

2) Painted the inside of the built-in’s a color that has the word “seal” in it, also by Martha. Don’t recall the exact name. Carry on.

3) Painted the fireplace white.

4) Painted the hearth the same gray color as the inside of the built-in’s.

5) Put one coat of white on the baseboards.

6) Painted the face of the built-in’s with a fresh coat of white.

8) Bought new hardware for the lower cabinets.

WHAT’S YET TO BE DONE – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

1) Touch up wall paint.

2) Second coat of white on the baseboards.

3) Coat of white on the shelves.

4) Hang cabinet doors.

5) Find new couch and a side chair.

6) New rug.

7) Curtains.

8) Wall art.

9) Etc. Lots of ETC.

All for now! Will keep you posted as things progress (slowly).

the PENNY LOAFER :: Asher Penny Loafer by Banana Republic ($140) :: Your go-to dress shoe. Pair with a suit, slacks or chinos.

the CASUAL BOOT :: Herdon Boot by ALDO ($80) :: This boot DEFINES “snappy casual”. Pair with dark jeans.

the DRESS LOAFER :: Turnstyle Dress Loafer by Banana Republic ($140) :: Sleek and modern, with a square toe. Every guy needs a pair. Pair with a suit, slacks, chinos, or dark jeans. These shoes spell versatile.

the BOAT SHOE :: Sperry Top-Sider for J.Crew ($98) :: These shoes are your perfect summer kicks. Comfortable, light, classic and oh-so-nautical. Pair with shorts, chinos or jeans. Skip the socks!

PRO TIP :: With dress shoes, remember, socks should match your pants!

the RUGGED SANDAL :: Venice Sandals by Keen ($95) :: Supportive, waterproof, durable and washable. Or in a word, bulletproof. These are the shoes for your hiking/kayaking/exploring lifestyle. Pair with shorts and a sense of adventure.

the CASUAL KICKS :: Onitsuka Tiger by Asics ($65) :: These are the shoes for cas’ Fridays. They are the in-betweens. And they do a rockin’ good job of filling in the gaps. Pair with jeans or shorts.

the LEATHER FLIP-FLOP :: Reef Playa Cervesa ($85) :: Two words: beach, baby. For sun-drenched days and hot August nights. Pair with board shorts and a tan.

the CROSSTRAINER :: TerRoc 330 by inov-8 ($110) :: To the gym, at the gym, off-road, on-road, these will do it all. These are the shoes you want on your feet for every athletic endeavor. Pair with workout duds and a good sweat.

We were recently discussing shoes.

Before you get the wrong idea, I should clarify that Brandon is straight. As an arrow. Also he’s single and looking. But he’s stubborn, moody, and a heartbreaker. So carry on.

Anyways, we were discussing shoes. For guys. And he helped me come up with a list of essentials for every man. Bottom line, if you’re a male, you need some shoes like this.

the WORKBOOT :: Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger ($280) :: Casual, but still sharp. Good for all seasons. Rugged, wears well. Pair with jeans.

the BLACK PLAIN-TOE :: Allen Edmonds Kenilworth ($295) :: Your basic dress shoe. Sleek and classy. Pair with a suit.

the SNEAKER :: New Balance for J.Crew 1400 Sneakers ($130) :: Casual kicks. Lightweight, and good for summer. Pair with shorts or jeans.

the BROWN CAP-TOE :: Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue ($335) :: A good second dress shoe. Details add to the character. Pair with a suit.

the RUNNING SHOE :: Brooks PureFlow ($90) :: For all your fitness endeavors. Comfortable, well-built. Pair with running shorts. Shirt, optional.

DISCLAIMER :: Brandon has expensive taste.

All for today, friends. Stay tuned, cuz I will be putting together another style guide with a few more of my favorite kicks for boys!