Naturally Neutral…

This holiday season we are still embracing the neutrals.  There is something natural and simple about them that just radiates beauty and elegance.  I love it.  It is gracing the pages of magazines all the way to the streets.  It is a nice break from the constant strict black (and we all know how much I love my black…some would even say too much, but I just do not think that is possible…).  The neutrals have a warmth and softness to them that is inviting and add to the holiday cheer.  Part of my draw to the neutrals may be how well gold goes with them…and there is an ever increasing draw towards gold these days that I am fully embracing and not trying to withstand.

So simple, yet so chic...

And the best part is, it does not stop at your clothes.  You can also style your house in these beautiful neutrals to add to the Christmas decorating, or whatever holiday of your liking…these neutrals add an elegance that that over the top bright colors seem to lack, but they are still fun.  They leave me smiling.

Neutrally chic for the holidays...

Are you all about being naturally neutral this holiday season?  Or do you have a different color scheme you are currently embracing for the holidays?

Have a wonderful Tuesday, loves!

Much love,

B

All Things Inspiring…

Monday mornings are hard.  Especially when they are extra early (the next two weeks have me waking up at 4:45am at the latest to get to the office on time for this part of my project).  So, we need inspiration.  For me, because it is hard for me to think that early in the morning, I need to use my ears and my eyes to soak in the beauty and let it inspire me as I being my day.  So, I wanted to share with you what is inspiring me today…

Love me some sequins...

I still cannot get enough of sequins, and I am sure this will not be the last you hear of them from me – but I just love them.  They are perfect for the holiday season to be worn out at night, or great for the office, too.  I mean everyone needs a little sparkle in their life…trust me, you will be inspired to at least smile…and that can go a long way on a Monday.

This girl’s name is Sarah Winters and she is from Minneapolis, MN.  I love her as an artist – and this may be one of the best covers I have heard in a really long time.  I have listened to it over and over again.  So good.  I can’t wait until I can go see her live.  If you follow me on Facebook you may have already seen this, but either way you should listen.  Needless to say, this is inspiring on this bitter cold Monday morning.

Mesmerizing...

The artist is Andy Denzler.  I think his work is amazing.  He makes me want to pick my paintbrush back up.  In fact, I think I am going to and I even have space in my basement to turn in to my very own studio.  This painting is from a post called, “People remain who they are even if their faces fall apart.”  So well put.  I could go on and on about my thoughts on this painting and the emotions it stirs, but we will save that for another day.  With his art and great talent he takes my breath away and leaves me inspired.

So, what’s inspiring you this Monday morning?

Much love,

B

Just a Thought…

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

-COCO CHANEL

Welcome to the Mistletoe Mansion…

Black Friday.  Did you shop until you dropped?  Did you head out early in the morning to get the best deals?  Or did you sit at home in your sweats, eat left overs and have a relaxing day?  Every year I talk myself out of waking up to do the early morning shopping and then in the afternoon I am sad that I missed out on the fab deals from the early morning, so I throw on some clothes other than sweats and at least head to Target to see if I can get any great deals on movies (huge guilty pleasure of mine), and I must say I am happy I went because I found three that I was wanting – but I had to cut myself off at three – plus, I was looking for Christmas gifts for others, not myself.  Does anyone else seem to have this problem on Black Friday?  I mean seriously, we are always looking for a great deal and they are everywhere on Black Friday, but we are supposed to be buying gifts for others.  When I do Christmas shopping I prefer to go to more unique stores, and I have a running list of the things I want to get people in my head and thought I would be able to get a few things crossed off my list – but no such luck.  Urban Outfitters and Patina let me down today and didn’t have anything I was looking for – this was very sad, but that’s okay because to cheer myself up I put on the Christmas music – starting with Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas” of course.  When I got home it was time to start decorating the Mistletoe Mansion and make it live up to it’s name (by only putting up mistletoe…don’t get any silly ideas).  We put on the Christmas music and made our sweet little haven festive.

Only side hugs under this mistletoe...can't get too crazy...

O Christmas Tree...

Well, friends, it is time for me to rest and curl up and watch one of the fun new movies.  Hope you have a restful and enjoyable long weekend!  Will you be shopping away?  Or doing any decorating?  What do you look forward to on Thanksgiving weekend?

Much love,

B

Giving Thanks…

This year I am thankful for…

1.  Wonderful friends that are so dear they are family.

2.  You, my wonderful readers – the sweet notes always make me so thankful and smile. A lot.

3.  A cute little house to live in and call home with two amazing roommates, that are far more than just roommates.

4.  Friends that understand me when I say something that is so close to what I mean, yet so far off at the same time.

5.  Music, art, fashion, design…basically any creative way people express themselves and share beauty with the world.

6.  Spyhouse – my favorite little get away that I call home away from home to refresh and relax, or go and enjoy with good friends.

7.  Books – and time to read them.  It never fails to give rest to my soul.

8.  A city to live in that is filled with culture and never seems to be exhausted in discoveries…that is right, I am thankful to live in Minneapolis.

9.  My family – no matter what happens, I really do love them and am thankful for them…they help me see that miracles really can happen and never give up on someone.

10.  That I even have a spirit of thankfulness because let’s be honest, that is not our natural disposition.

So, those are just a few of the things I am thankful for this year.  And sure, it may be cheesy to make a list on Thanksgiving, but really the answer is to not give thanks on Thanksgiving – really we should make a habit of giving thanks on a daily basis because we really do have a lot to be thankful for.  What are you thankful for this year, lovies?

Happy Thanksgiving, to you – that’s right, I mean you.

Much love,

B

Yellow Bird Project…

Do you love music?  Do you love giving to a good cause?  Do you love seeing the charities you love make a difference?  Now, how about you mix all that together.  What do you get?  You get the Yellow Bird Project.  They started back in 2006 because they wanted to make a difference – and they are.  You should head over and see what great indie musicians are on board and doing more than just making wonderful music for our ears to enjoy, but also living on mission.  And one of the best parts – to support the mission you can buy some really sweet t-shirts (or scarves…that’s right, they have Yellow Bird scarves!) that are designed by the bands themselves – and then support both the band you love and a good cause.  How great is that.  And, with the holidays of gift giving right around the corner – you could get them as a gift, but really the gift goes further than the back the t-shirt will end up on.  I know this is a different take on fashion than what I normally take – but there is something about a wonderfully soft t-shirt that let’s me rep one of my favorite bands that I cannot resist from time to time.  Here are a few of my favorites…

Rilo Kiley...

They are not just for the ladies…

Elvis Perkins...

Yellow Bird also has Yellow Bird Project merchandise…like this super sweet scarf…

Can never go wrong with a scarf...

How do you feel about donating to a charity in honor of someone for a gift?  How about making a donation and you still get a sweet shirt out of the deal?

Enjoy the long holiday weekend (well at least those in the States…)!

Much love,

B

Gift a Mix…

Now, I do not know about you, but I love making mixes.  And Pitchfork and Heineken are giving away VIP passes to a lucky winner if you take the time to make a mix and send it to your friend – pretty sweet deal if you ask me.  So, I just had to share it with you!  Go – have fun…mix away…well, as long as you are 21+…

Hope you enjoy and have as much fun as I have been!

Much love,

B

Crop Me Up…

With winter here, we have been talking a lot about layers.  One layer I love every year is the perfect coat.  And really, you can have more than one perfect coat – let’s go with the perfect coat for the occasion, meaning we can have lots of perfect coats…which most every little lady can appreciate.  One coat that has caught my eye this season are the super cute coats with cropped sleeves that are perfect for when it is only mild out, but also perfect for showing off your fun gloves of choice.  It works well that both are in style this season – and not just the classic black glove (though that is always a good option if not feeling bold), we are talking gloves of any color – all they way over the elbow or scrunched up to give some texture to your arms. And with so many options you can keep this look looking original to you by giving it your own twist.

Long gloves with cropped sleeves...so chic...

Go for suede or leather...

Chanel can do nothing wrong in my eyes...

I am especially a fan of the fingerless gloves (as seen done by Chanel) this year due to working in an office that is not a fan of heat – keeps me warm, but still allows my fingers to work and type away.  Are you a fan of gloves?  Or more a mittens person?  Either way, do you rock classics or try something fun and new?  Would you wear them with cropped sleeves to show them off?

Hope you are staying warm and enjoying the short week!

Much love,

B

Loading on the Layers…

Well, it is clearly winter, at least for those of us living in the north. And to our advantage, layers are in – and lots of them at that. They are so fun to play with because you can mix textures and lines adding depth to the piece of work, being your whole outfit. You start with a blank canvas every morning and you get to play with different fabrics and textiles to get just the right combination. You can mix soft with harsh, playing with shapes and lines to really create a piece of art that is both beautiful to look at and keep you warm in the bitter cold of winter. It also is fun because you get to be the artist, and when you master this art you can create looks that have loads of layers without hurting your figure, leaving you feeling both great and warm – this is a win win for those of us living in the land of tundra. The layers have been all over the runways and celebrities, but really they are just catching on to what has been survival in MN and making it trendy – was MN actually ahead of the trend for once?! More like living in practicality, but either way I am thankful designers are giving us beautiful pieces to mix and match as we layer them on to create one complete piece.

Love the different textures and lines...

Keira Knightley doing layers well...

And just so you know, men, layers are for you, too. In fact, they work to your advantage…

Layers on men...love...

So, how are you keeping warm this winter? Embracing layers?

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday, and think even though the week just started it is almost over…gotta love holiday weeks at the office!

Much love,

B

Just a Thought…

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”

- ROBERT FROST