steven alan: fall.

First, something embarrassing & something charming. I got my eyes tested this morning and then wandered around Seattle with the saran-wrap-like “sunglasses” to protect my eyes after dilation. At one cafe when I couldn’t read the menu or see without squinting, a particularly sweet cashier took pity on me and let me wear her sunglasses the whole time. Ah, Seattle, sometimes you still have the charm of a much smaller town. (And sometimes I have too little shame and wander your streets with black saran wrap over my eyes.)

Second, I’m not feeling so hot today, so I’m going to hold off on baking until mid-week. That means you still have time to enter your recipe in the contest. (The odds are great that you’d win, seeing as readers are either shy or nonexistent, and only a few– but very lovely– readers have contributed!)

So until I start posting the recipes and my experience making them, I’m going to focus on fashion, since it doesn’t require that I spend my time in the kitchen or exerting much energy whatsoever. I’m loving Steven Alan’s fall collection. Without further adieu, some favorite pieces… lv, molly

the blues.

How pretty are these simple blue pieces by Steven Alan?

This goes without saying, but they are not in a grad student’s budget. One can lust after from afar. lv, molly

my imaginary closet.

… would include the following pieces from Steven Alan’s fall collection. I curse the day he was born. Okay, not really. lv, molly

Plus… I’ve been obsessed with this song the past week. Probably because as a grad-student and student-teacher, I constantly feel like I’m treading water. The refrain sums that feeling up nicely.

more summer fashion.

Casual and colorful. That’s how I like my summer clothes. [I almost wrote "easy, breezy, beautiful," but I realized that's the slogan for Cover Girl, and it's supremely cheesy. Whenever I'm sick, I watch "America's Next Top Model" while drinking tea, and I seem to laugh involuntarily whenever Tyra says "fierce." And by laugh, I really mean "scoff at Tyra." This is not related to this post in the least; sorry, readers.]

I digress… Collages are as fun to make as they were when we were in 3rd grade, and we cut clippings out of our parents’ magazines and glued them on posterboard and poured glitter all over it. This is my virtual summer fashion poster board minus the glitter, which is a shame, really.

Some of the choices are insanely overpriced, and I wouldn’t buy them in a million years. Allow me to explain. I like to look at designer work and pinpoint what it is that I like. Then I skip on over to a thrift store and find a real steal on a piece that possesses the same qualities as what I loved in the designer item. This is what thrifty ladies do. Better on the wallet, easier on the environment. And it’s fun to have pieces with a little history, don’t you think? Maybe one day I’ll make a collage of some of my favorite vintage steals… Be forewarned: that part of my closet has a lot of polka dots. lv, molly

Parker Dress

Wiltshire silk tank dress
Clog Sandal- Honey
Stuart & Wright – A.P.C. – 70′s Collegiate Tee
Stuart & Wright – A.P.C. – Serpent Belt

Dakota Tank
Uni Jeans- Vintage
Levi’s 1960 Black Tab Shorts
Toms 001001B07LBG Classic Canvas Round Toe Flat Rubber Sole Shoe
kantha cosmetic bag
Maptote Portland
Bird :: bags :: small :: tarpalin weave utility clutch
Bird :: clothing :: dresses :: knit pocket shift dress

summer tops.

Instead of cleaning my apartment today, as I should be since I’m having someone over for dinner (sorry, M.! Expect a few dust bunnies.), I compiled a collection of some adorable and overly-expensive summer tops. Practical? No. Fun and enjoyable time-waster? Absolutely yes. I used some crazy internet site (redundant much?) called Polyvore to make this little collage.

When you click on a top, it’ll take you to the site! I can’t get over the technology! And no, I’m not plugging for Polyvore; don’t you worry. I’m just letting you know that a huge time waster awaits you should you choose to use it. Aren’t these tops just the cutest? Have I turned preppy? Okay, time to tackle the terror that is my kitchen sink… lv, molly

P.S. Did I mention that I have the week off? This is allowing me to pursue such frivolous endeavors as collage making. Come Friday, I will wish I used the time to clean, run errands, etc. Aw, self-awareness.

sun dresses.

Hello, all! I’m back! Kind of. How are you?

I’ve been busy with graduate school, tutoring, field work, + homework. A project is due today, so I’m breathing a sigh of relief now that it’s (mostly) complete. I’ve also cleaned out my closet and pantry to avoid doing said homework, so that’s kept me extra busy. It’s amazing the unpleasant things we’ll do to avoid starting a project, right?

But now I’m finished, and I’m here, and I’ve got a few favorites from Steven Alan’s spring line for you. They’re all above my price range, but it’s still fun to look at pretty clothes. They’re so flowy + floral — just what I love in a summer dress. Happy weekend! xo, m

P.S. I’d love to wear one of these dresses + listen to this song. It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer. [Also, the dance moves in this are almost painfully cute. I love this video.]

dress love.

A few pretty things I’d love to add to my wardbrobe for spring…. Steven Alan, let’s call a truce. I love your clothing. But it’s too expensive for almost everyone. Tone it down, and I’ll buy. Cool? This one-sided love/hate relationship is getting silly. Happy weekend, kiddos. I just saw a man with a pet parrot. xo, m