Watercolor Magic

images via Jessica Durant's Etsy Shop

Within the next week, I will finally be moving into my dorm room. I'm really excited to decorate my room this year, seeing as last year I pretty much had the bare minimum of college essentials. It was a snooze fest. 

Rather than purchase the standard posters of Audrey and Marilyn, I really want to purchase some original artwork (okay, copies of original artwork) to display. Etsy has been my go to website for nifty one-of-a-kind items for awhile now, and I was blown away when I stumbled upon artist Jessica Durant's amazing watercolors. They're simple yet elegant and right up my alley. 

My favorites are the fashion watercolors and the NYC landscapes. I can't get enough. 

No but really I'm gonna buy everyone of them.

Cheers,

Sam

Everybody Loves Madewell

 images via Madewell

Given my SoCal roots, I tend to shy away from anything that's too preppy or polished looking in favor of looser fitting, more bohemian looks. (I'll take Free People over J.Crew pretty much every day of the week.)
That being said, I fell in love with the quirky twist on classic prep that Madewell took with its Fall 2012  lookbook. It's the perfect combination of boy meets girl, meets Zooey Deschanel from "New Girl."

Love.

Cheers!

Sam

Moody

images via Topshop Sensationalist Lookbook

I love the medieval inspiration in these looks. The metal detailing and the dark, moody colors give the whole look a very rich and glamorous feel. 

This is the right way to do sparkle.

Cheers, 

Sam

Before I Was Born

I went digging through the hall closets in my house yesterday (seems to be a theme), and I came across some yellowing photo envelopes with these lovely photos inside. Unfortunately there wasn't a year listed on the package, but I'm guessing the photos were taken sometime in the seventies. 

The flowers were photographed by my mom, who at the time was an art major. Even with a disposable  camera she took better photos than I can with my fancy digital one. It figures that I got skipped over when it came to inheriting the art gene. The dog also belonged to my mom; it's where the dachshund obsession began. 

The last photo is my mom and dad. So seventies I can't even stand it. 

Cheers, 

Sam

Artsy Fartsy

images via Maria Aparicio Puentes

I finally got a Pinterest account the other day and was browsing the art section when I came across these beautiful threaded photos. And I like them. A lot.

Cheers, 

Sam

Good as New

I've always appreciated the idea of thrifting and transforming old pieces into modern staples, however being a germaphobe tends to complicate things a bit. In fact, the only used purse I ever purchased I ended up ruining from a lysol overdose.

However, this past weekend I ended up stumbling into my mother's closet and, low and behold, I found these gems. My mother and I have never been that mom and daughter pair that shares all of their clothing, mostly because my mom is 4 inches shorter than me, and has a taste for pieces with a Southwestern flair that don't exactly fit my style. But, these two jackets, the sweater, and scarf, untouched since the mid nineties, will be the perfect additions to my fall wardrobe (no lysol needed).

Cheers,
Sam

En Route for Fall

1. Warby Parker, Preston in Sandalwood Matte
2. John Galt by Brandy Melville, Cassidy Sweater
3. Free People, Voile Trapeze Slip in Copper
4. Free People, Printed Cord in Burgundy
5. Free People, English Garden Mini Dress in Black
6. Urban Outfitters, Staring at Stars Crepe Open-Back Romper
7. John Galt by Brandy Melville, Angelica Sweater
8. Urban Outfitters, Sparkle and Fade Scenic Vest
9. Urban Outfitters, Ecote Kyle Stud Boot in Black

All of these items are currently en route to my house thanks to the convenience of online shopping (and my handy-dandy URBN inc. employee discount). The only downside to online shopping is the wait. Five to seven business days is a long time for a shopping addict to sit in suspense. And there's also the fact that I have to stealthily sneak the items into my house without my parents knowing I've made the purchases. They don't necessarily approve of my spending all of the money I earned working two jobs this summer on clothing, but hey, better clothes than drugs, right? (too far?)

If there's one thing I learned from my first year of college in LA, it's that during the fall quarter it is H-O-T. I'll probably pair the sweaters with my denim cutoffs and ankle boots or sandals, even though I'd really love to layer them with scarves or collars or heavy moto jackets.

Can't wait to make room in my closet for my new goodies!

Happy weekend!

Cheers,
Sam