Channeling My Inner Jackie: August 2014

Friday, August 29, 2014

Oh, Hey Friday!

Praise the Lord, I made it to the 3-day Weekend! I’ve been needing one of these since…well, my last 3 day weekend. Which might have only been 2 weeks ago. Whatever. This week I’m linking up again, in an effort to break my postless streak this week. I’ve been terrible about writing, partly due to my Dawson’s Creek obsession (yes, its still going) and an ever growing pile of “To-Do’s” at home.

Here are the five things that are making my week:

ONE

Obama’s Tan Suit – Yesterday the President wore an unsuspected tan suit, that caused quite a stir on social media. But, I suppose if you plan a press conference in which you tell the world in no uncertain terms that you don’t really have a plan to stop the greatest terrorist threat since 9/11 AND you’re not real interested in doing much to stop Putin’s sprawl into Ukraine you should at least look snazzy. I mean at least he looks professional, if nothing else. #theaudacityoftaupe #yeswetan #taupeandchange

TWO

This month’s Vogue – It was like a phone book was left at my door. Literally. This issue has over 856 pages of pure unadulterated fashion. I can’t wait to read it this weekend!

THREE

Russia’s excuse for sending 1000 troops into Ukraine “We got lost”.Yes. Literally. They said this. Here’s a tweet I saw yesterday that I died over:

FOUR

Flavor Palm Beach – This month is Flavor Palm Beach! I can’t wait to cash in on some great meals at a discounted price! Palm Beach has some amazing restaurants that can be impossible to get reservations for during season, and even if you do, it can get pretty pricey, pretty fast. Taste of Palm Beach offers three course dinners for either $30 of $50 – a steal on the island.

FIVE

And, the last one is the most obvious, a three day weekend. What’s better than an extra day to accomplish absolutely nothing? J

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Thoughts for Thursday - This Fall's Pantone Report

Before the start of a new season, I love to check out what the upcoming color palates will be. The best resource for this is to go to the Patone Color Institute's website to see what new colors are in store for us! Typically, these colors are the majority of the colors that you end up seeing in the stores - so picking an accessory in the upcoming color wheel can be help to ensure that the item you're purchasing will blend well with the colors of the upcoming season. Ever notice how some years you end up buying nothing but jewel tones, or neutrals? This is not a coincidence. Just check out the Pantone Report. To learn more about how you can download this year's Pantone Report click here.

Here are the 10 colors that will dominate the upcoming fall season, and New York Fashion Week -- coming up September 5-12 (Who's excited?!). I'm in love with the Radiant Orchid, Freesia, and Hemlock.

The best part about this report is seeing how all of my favorite designers will take these color palattes and make each piece specific and interesting, without it all appearing to be the same. Take a minute, download the report, and get excited for this fall's shopping!

xo
M

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Piperlime Guest Editor - Chrissy Teigen!

Here we go with Thoughts for Thursday!

I've blogged about her before, and I'm about to do it again. You may know Chrissy Teigen from her modeling jobs, or her infamous cover of Sports Illustrated this year with Lilly Aldridge, and Nina Agdal - but I'd say the best thing about her is her personality. Sure, she's gorgeous, and looks great in just about anything, but she's also hilarious...and very talented in the kitchen! I especially enjoy that she shares her 'flops' with her fans - for instance, last week she attempted to make ravioli, and only one came out right. She has a clever and interesting blog about cooking, and you can tell it's something she is definitely passionate about. Bacon is one of those things. (The girl loves. bacon.) She's funny, and silly and doesn't take herself too seriously, while also exuding a sense of confidence and ease that I really appreciate. She has great style and often I see her mix pieces that I would never dream to do, and it makes me want to run to the mall immediately to try. For example - I have often seen her pair over the knee boots with cut-off jean shorts. Think your OTK boots are for fall/winter only? Think you can't own a pair because you live in FL? Think again. If Chrissy can do it, so can we! (I told myself I couldn't get a pair when I moved to South Florida...guess I missed the boat on that one!)

Ok, enough gushing about Chrissy, her blog, her style...oh wait, nope not done with that. So, for those for those of you who shop Piperlime as I do, you know that they regularly bring in guest editors. This week they unveiled that Chrissy is one of their newest editors and debuted her picks. Here are a few of my faves:

Hive and Honey Nylon Anorak

Shutz - I'm seriously in love with this shoe brand

Rails Flannel Shirt

Clare V

Trina Turk Mara Crop top and skirt - I've posted about this before...I think it's a sign I need it!

Milly NY

Current/Elliot Jacket

Kate Spade NY

AG - Adriano Goldschmeid - noticing a trend? I love bordeaux...

BB Dakota Tank

So head on over to Piperlime and see Chrissy's interveiw, as well as the rest of her favorite things!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Newsday Tuesday - Fighting ISIS

Major ISIS defeat by Iraqi, Kurdish, and US Forces

I’ve briefly touched on ISIS in other Newsday Tuesday posts, but today I wanted to take a little more time to explain briefly what is happening in Iraq in regards to this militant Islamic group. Just in case you have missed previous posts, ISIS is a militant Sunni Islamic group that is a by product of Al Qaeda. Created in response to the ousting of Saddam Hussein, this group’s main goal and focus is to reclaim lands that they believe are the true historic Iraq. (The current borders of Iraq were drawn as a result of the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement between Britain and France, with little regard to the historical or cultural context of the people in the region. Most of the Middle East has been drawn this way – and done so primarily for the benefit of the Colonizing nation’s access to oil. The borders were drawn almost arbitrarily for the nations along the Mediterranean Sea, and done in such a way that the French would maintain control/influence in the northern Mediterranean bordering states (Lebanon, Syria, Turkey), while the British would have access to the southern states. (Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq). As a result, many different rival political, social, and cultural groups were grouped into statehood, which many would argue sparked most of the political unrest in the Middle East today.

(Note: Remember when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait? His reasoning was along the same vein, Kuwait, in his mind technically should be part of Iraq. Not to mention its oil.)

After the fall of Saddam Hussein, ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) emerged with the primary focus of erasing the Western imposed borders and revert back to the historical borders of the Ottoman Empire. Throughout the Iraq War, American forces were able to largely keep this group from growing, however with the recent troop withdrawals, this group has been able to rebuild itself, and is determined to remove the Shiite based government in Baghdad, and create a caliphate – the one true form of government for devout Muslims. The turmoil in both Iraq and Syria has set the stage to allow this group to sweep across parts of northeastern Syria, and northern/central parts of Iraq - and in June of 2014 ISIS officially declared its conquered areas a caliphate.

A clip from a New York Times Article, showing the entire conflict via maps, pictures, and graphics. Check it out here.

Despite the seemingly endless victories ISIS has been experiencing, taking a wide swath of land town by town, a major victory took place yesterday. Iraqi and Kurdish forces along with American air support were able to re-capture Iraq’s largest dam, and prevent the incursion of ISIS forces into the Kurdish capital of Irbil. Additionally, had the Mosul Dam been taken by ISIS fighters and destroyed, the US Embassy - only 200 miles away in Baghdad - would have been flooded. ISIS was reportedly on retreat after Iraqi Special Forces, Kurdish pesh merga fighters, and US Air Support launched their attack starting on Sunday. On Monday, the US continued the fight by using bombers and drones to take out some 15 different ISIS targets near the Mosul Dam. President Obama has said that his primary goal in Iraq is to ensure that the US has a viable partner in the region, as well as helping Iraq to form a government that does not exclude its Sunni citizenry. Since the recent removal of Maliki from office, the new prime-minister designate (Haider al-Abadi) is charged with forming a new government within the next two weeks. It is the hope that the new leadership in Iraq can solidify the nation so that it may effectively expel the influence of ISIS

(Note: The Kurds are an ethnic minority – approximately 20% of Iraq’s population- that live in the northern regions of Iraq. Although the Kurdish people live within the borders of Iraq, they have managed to create their own quasi-state that has been relatively well organized militarily and has managed to keep their region of Iraq relatively safe from in-fighting and groups like ISIS.)

Sources:
http://www.cfr.org/iraq/islamic-state-iraq-syria/p14811
http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/defeat-isis-let-iraq-split
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/the-iraq-isis-conflict-in-maps-photos-and-video.html?_r=0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqi-kurdish-forces-claim-defeat-of-insurgents-at-strategic-mosul-dam/2014/08/18/c869a59a-26d6-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html
http://www.dw.de/sykes-picot-drew-middle-easts-arbitrary-borders/a-17734768

Monday, August 18, 2014

Ode to the 90s

So if you're friends with me on Facebook, you're aware of my newest Netflix addiction. No, its not House of Cards, or Orange is the New Black....its Dawson's Creek. Yes, I'm reliving my favorite decade, the 90s. I was OBSESSED with this show growing up, and turns out, I still am. I still think Pacey Witter is the cutest thing on the planet, and really have been wondering how Joshua Jackson didn't work more in Hollywood?! Anyway, as I've been watching I have become re-obsessed with the vintage J.Crew, American Eagle, & Gap frocks that we all 'HAD TO HAVE' but apparently weren't all that flattering.

Let's begin.

1. The Carpenter Pant

Oh God, Make it stop. Why does a person need that many pockets? We don't. And yet, having a pair of jeans with only 4 pockets somehow made you totally inferior. #guilty

In this picture, Pacey & Dawson are guilty of 2 more 90s sins...the oversized sweater.

2. Oversized Sweaters - Why?

So bad, Joey, So bad.

I think I REALLY wanted this sweater in high school. In the rest of this scene (trapped in Saturday detention with Abby Morgan) you can really see just how boxy and wide this sweater is...

And here, Dawson is rocking the oversized sweater vest. Just as bad.

3. Overalls

I know these are desperately trying to make a comeback. I saw we block this move. I mean, don't get me wrong. I had several pairs of the overalls. Shorts, and Pants. And while they are amazingly comfortable, you look like a bum. End of story.

4. Pacey's Hawaiian Shirts

And yet somehow...he still was so stinkin' cute in them.

5. The Cargo Pant

I choose to focus on the cutest possible version of the cargo pant, and that is this pair of Gap jeans that Joey sported in season 2. I never got these jeans, and seeing them on screen, makes me a little jealous, even today.

I'm only on Season 3, and Joey and Pacey are not yet in love. However, I did see a little foreshadowing in the scene 2 photos up (yellow Hawaiian shirt) in which Pacey comforts Joey and jokes, "Hey maybe this year we'll even become friends". Man, I miss the 90s.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Oh, Hey Friday!

It's BACK! Oh Friday I've never been so happy to see you. Linking up once again with The Farmer's Wife & September Farm to bring you my Friday Five...

ONE

The Florida Keys

This past weekend we went down to Islamorada to stay at a friend's house in the Keys. I haven't been down in several years and it was SO nice to have a relaxing weekend by the water! It's lobster season down there, and we tried our best to reel in 3 of the largest lobsters I have EVER seen (in Florida...). They are all still down there, and Natalie, if you're reading this, I hope you caught that sucker.

Here are a few fun pics I snapped:

an attempt at a selfie...I think the humidity is affecting the focus...

TWO

Healthy Summer Salads

When its 90+ and humid every day, its nice to eat light meals! I made this salad with leftovers from a steak night we had, and it turned out great! I simply took arugula, baby bella mushrooms, grilled steak, red onion, green pepper, and blue cheese crumbles and tossed them together. I topped them with my favorite dressing - flavored balsamic vinegar! I do not use oil on my salads anymore - just this vinegar. This particular flavor is cinnamon pear and is from a shop in Greenville, SC. I have been noticing that these types of stores are popping up everywhere, and there is one near my gym! I can't wait to give it a try as well.

This vinegar is good on salads, but its GREAT drizzled on vanilla ice cream...

THREE

Junior League!

I finally (after talking about it for the last year) joined the Junior League! I moved here right during the end of recruitment last year, and was just too exhausted to even think about doing one more thing. Looking back, I really wished I had joined, because I think it would have helped me to make a lot more friends in the last year. However, better late than never right? So, I joined this past spring, and this Saturday is our first new members event!

FOUR

Rodan + Fields

I've recently started using the Rodan + Fields Eye Cream. I have a few wrinkles/puffiness around my eyes (see the selfie with my husband - YIKES!) and wanted to give a new product a try. I just started it at the end of July, so I'll let you know after my 2 month supply runs out if I think it works!

FIVE

Vitamix

Recently, my in-laws gave a GREAT gift -- a Vitamix blender!! We have used it to make guacamole and a few smoothies, but this weekend I am determined to really put it to the test. I have a TON of basil and tomatoes, and I think I might make some homemade tomato sauce! Or Soup. I haven't decided yet, but I'll let you know how it goes!

That's it for me this week...what are your five?

xoxo
M

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Playing with Pastels

So this Thoughts for Thursday has me thinking (more like dreaming) about fall. While I'll totally be rubbing it in that its still warm here throughout the winter, just know that I'm super jealous that most of the U.S. gets to have fall....so, here we go!

The end of summer is no where in site for me, but the rest of you are slowly starting to prepare for the transition to fall as September creeps up on us. I always find that this transitional time of year is the hardest to dress for - especially if you're like me, and live in white. Once its mid-September wearing white and summery prints can be tricky - even though in states like South Carolina where its still 85 degrees. Lately I've noticed, and I'm sure you have too, that the color palate for the summer was focused on more muted hues and feminine prints. These colors and prints are the perfect items to carry you through summer and into fall. I picked out several items that look great on summer bronzed skin and would pair well with your favorite white jeans - but, could also be paired with more earthy neutrals to take you into early fall. One item in particular in this collection is my favorite (no, its not the crop top) - the laser cut open toe bootie pump from Ann Taylor. Last fall I bought my first pair of open toe laser cut print booties by Via Spiga, and I adore them. They give you the cool comfort of a sandal, but look a little more 'fall-ish'. I wear mine year round, but for those of you with seasons, this is a great shoe to transition you. To shop these looks, just click the links below!
xoxo
M