the raleigh hotel, miami

Can we jut say "brrr?"

I'm suffering from a bit of weather whiplash here in Nashville. We had an appropriately chilly Thanksgiving, followed by a burst of springtime weather that led into...freezing rain, freezing temps and a whole week's worth of gray skies. Blech.

I'm escaping my weather woes by researching a spring getaway for me and the Mr. It's been a whammy of a year and a few days on a beach sound so very necessary. Sure a trip to an island sounds great, but what about Miami? It's close, cheap and Miami has the Raleigh Hotel.

Can you say magical?

This refurbished hotel has beach front access. It also stays true to its roots boasting that gorgeous art deco style that is so very South Beach.

nice pony!

Bobs are apparently the jam these days, but I've been growing my hair long for the past few months for one main reason. This girl loves a good ponytail.

Pinterest is filled with beautiful, grown-up versions of the hairstyle that really work for me this time of year. As we know, washing our hair everyday is no longer the goal. Especially in the colder months, the less washing and drying we do to our mane, the healthier (read: less dry and brittle!) our hair will be.

Here are a few gorgeous, messy ponies that work well for medium to long hair. Bonus? They look better a little tousled. So, get out that can of dry shampoo and your hair ties. It's time to whip that hair back and forth...or just pull it back, really.

Goop does brushed back, teased low pony in Elle Magazine. Bonus points for the dainty, unconventional tie. Very 60's.

This blonde stunner keeps the bed head look with part low pony, part bun. She keeps it work ready by wrapping a piece of hair around the tie. Classy move, madam.

This messy side ponytail featured on Cup of Jo comes complete with a tutorial. Click here for details. Jo's pal Caroline has starred in several hair tutorials. She is a stunner!

This is a similar pony to the lady at the top...just skewed slightly to the side.

P.S. New York Mag (we still get our subscription here in Nash) just posted this  fun slideshow of the 30 Best Ponies in History. Enjoy!

it is friday...

and THAT is truly worth celebrating. Have a most delightful weekend!

most popular names for girls

I'm fascinated by this state-by-state guide of the most popular names for U.S. girls over the past 60 years. Isn't it intriguing?

Apparently, Sophia was crazy pop in 2012. Who knew?

(gif spotted on swiss miss, originally from jezebel)

rustic wood details

Perhaps it's my overwhelming need to nest lately or a weekend spent in a cabin in the Mississippi countryside, but I'm finding really drawn to rustic wood details for the home.

Our Victorian cottage here in Nashville is hardly "rustic," but I love the cozy feeling that these rough around the edges details can inspire.

Here are a few favorite inspiration pics from Pinterest (beginning with that gorgeous, statement-making headboard above)...

This rough wooden table with the prettiest sloping legs paired with modern chairs looks like a gorgeous spot for intimate dinner conversation.

good advice

Oh, my. Does Tina ever get it wrong?

I feel like the above quote sums up our little family's approach to life over the past two years. It hasn't always been easy (or relaxing), but it certainly hasn't been boring!

Here's to staying inspired as we wind down the week. Happy Friday!

currently cooking: goan style shrimp curry

Now that chilly temps are here to stay, I've found my self craving hearty, comfort foods. Since S and I are fans of spicy, we decided to whip up one of KJB's favorite one pot meals, Goan Style Shrimp Curry.

We have been craving Indian flavors lately and we were excited to use them in our own kitchen. Curry powder, turmeric, fresh grated ginger and coconut milk are a few of the ingredients that make this vibrant dish so delicious.

Measuring the ingredients...

another feather

another feather has the most stunningly simple collections of geometric jewelry.

 I'm mad for the Artemis and Artemis II collections (pictured above), but the Winter bangles (etched with the shape of evergreen leaves) are also my jam.

greetings from austin, tx

This week I flew away to Austin for a work trip. While being away from home for several days at a time can sometimes be a drag, we made the most of this conference trip and saw a bit of the city.

Here are a few snaps from our trip away from work. Very excited to head back for a mini getaway with S and a few pals soon!

Exploring food trucks....

Korean Mexican tacos mean spicy chicken with kimchi.

Exploring South Congress

we think alone

Have you guys heard about the We Think Alone project by artist/writer Miranda July? It's a pretty cool concept.

By visiting this site and entering your email, you sign up for a weekly batch of personal emails from notable people. Each Monday's collection is organized by theme. So far, I've received "An email about fear" and "An Angry Email." Participants include Kirsten Dunst, Lena Dunham, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the designers behind Rodarte and many more.

The project came out of the author's interest in reading other people's personal message. Even without complete context, it's an interesting exercise so far.

always steamed (never fried)

Isn't this ceramic Japanese Steamer Set from Anthro lovely? I wish it would come live in my kitchen.

As my dear ones know, my love for dumplings knows no bounds. While some of you weirdos may prefer your dumplings fried, I will always and forever prefer steamed.

Back in NYC, our proximity to Chinatown and the amazing dim sum options offered there kept my dumpling habit fueled. Since moving to Nashville, however, I have yet to find the perfect dumpling spot to get my fix.

Luckily, the always awesome food blog spoon fork bacon features a delectable recipe for Shrimp Shumai with Ponzu Sauce that I'm desperate to try!

saving face

A few weeks back I stumbled across this amazing make-up tutorial on the blog oncewed entitled The 5 Minute Face.

I love, love products (just ask my Sephora points card!), but I'm not a girl who really gets into makeup. I would much rather invest in a good body scrub or a fancy bottle of hair conditioner. Still, this simple, everyday make up plan is so simple with such lovely results that I simply had to share.

Head here to get view the step-by-step directions. Now, is there also a tutorial for getting that gorgeous hair?

(all images via oncewed)

sparkling pumpkin cider beertail

Talk about a perfect libation for fall! This beautifully autumnal recipe comes from the site Brit + Co. (check them out here).

The super simple combination of pumpkin beer and sparkling cider garnished with lemon and cinnamon might be pure genius. 

A great, packable option for a tailgate or backyard cookout on those slightly chilly evenings. Do we even need to mention its appropriateness for Halloween? I didn't think so.

a swell getup for...an October dinner date

It's officially October which means it's time leave behind those summer pieces for new fall ensembles.

It's been years since I've been "back to school," but there's something about the change in season and the need for new duds that has been burned in the brain.

monday morning pep talk

After a great weekend, I got smacked *hard* by the Sunday blues last night. Mondays are tough, people. From the moment the feet hit the floor on Monday morning, the week kicks off with work, appointments and adult responsibilities. Gross, right?

Well, let's use this Monday as spring board for positive thoughts.

friday fun

Today is one of those beautiful September days that makes me long for fall to arrive all summer long. Fall is hands down the best season. When else can you justify the purchase of 3 mini pumpkins at the market I ask you? When?

It's been a bustling week and I can hardly wait for the clock to hit 5. In the meantime, here is a little bit of randomness making this Friday my favorite.

oversized photography

What say you guys to decorating with large scale photos?

Our new house has incredibly high ceilings which makes for some amazing wall space. While our aesthetic usually gravitates toward painting and sketch works, the crisp, modern feel of these oversized images has me interested.

Here are a few other cool examples:

rings on her fingers

I love the blog Unruly Things. Lately the feature" Show Me Your Stack" has been catching my eye.

Get your minds out of the gutter. The "stack" in question only refers to various combinations of stacked rings, okay?

The above combination from Julie Cohn is unbelievably gorgeous. Such a cool way to wear different styles of jewelry at once. Also, that blue ring...oh my...

Here are a few of Julie's rings pictured separately.

"Caviar"

little bacon

little bacon's Etsy shop is the sweetest.

Based in France, this clothing shop is filled with feminine pieces touched with a bohemian flair.

My favorite piece is the patterned "jupe" mini featured above. Paired with suede booties and a light sweater, this makes me excited to break out my fall clothes.

Other favorites include these saucy "culotte" shorts that look straight off the set of "Boardwalk Empire,"

and these floaty silk tops,

batch nashville

Have you guys heard of Batch Nashville?

I recently stumbled across their website and let's just say I'm picking up what they're laying down.

The concept? Each month Batch will deliver a box of local goodies right to your door. Ingredients, confections and other artisan products from local purveyors are pulled together for the company's themed monthly deliveries.

September's batch featured a "Rise and Shine" theme and included purveyors such as Haulin' Oats, our friend Rob at Garage Coffee Company, pancake mix from My Friend Who Loves to Cook, Dozen Bakery, TrueBee Honey, etc. Here's a peek at their cute packaging:

I'm bummed to have missed September's batch and October's is already sold out. Getting my order in for November now. Wouldn't these boxes make a thoughtful gift?

Check out Batch's website here.

(images via batch and style blueprint)

celebrity makeunders

It's Monday and that's hard enough. For this reason, I suggest we take a moment to enjoy the silliness that is the phenomenon of "celebrity makeunders."

What's that you say?

These photoshopped images of what some of the world's most well known celebs might look like as regular folk have me laughing. These images were created by New York City artist Danny Evans.

Let's explore shall we?