floral valentine

Looking forward to special occasions always inspires me to go dress shopping. There's something exciting about wearing a dress for the first time on a special date night. While I wear a dress almost every day, I very rarely get dressed up to this degree. When I saw this floral dress over at Ruche, I knew it was the perfect fit for Valentine's Day! (P.S. Today is the last day of their "perfect match" sale for 25% off sitewide!).

This weekend has been so refreshing. On Friday I had completely forgotten that I had Monday off, so it was a really pleasant surprise to leave work with 3 whole days off ahead of me! Our Valentine's Day was delightful, and we spent all of Sunday with Dustin's family. Today is my bonus day of pajamas, Posie-making, Friends-watching, and coffee-drinking. There's nothing better than a Monday spent doing nothing. (Introverts unite!).

be mine

Happy Valentine's day, everyone!

I'm currently all fancied up and getting ready for Dustin and I's date night. We're seeing Kingsman: The Secret Service and going out to a new restaurant, Olive and Ivy! I can't wait.

Yesterday's outfit was definitely due to my novel dress series. This dress was inspired by The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, and once I posted about it I couldn't help but buy it. That series has been so much fun to read and even though I'm the one that named it a Lamora dress, I needed to own it anyway. I'm really glad I took the leap, because I love it. It's much silkier and brighter than I originally thought, which is totally fine by me!

Overall, this post is just a quick note in honor of one of my favorite holidays. There are plenty of valentine naysayers out there, but I think it's beautiful that there's a day set aside for love every year. Of course, we should always show our loved ones we cherish and appreciate them, but Valentine's Day brings with it sweets and chocolate-shaped hearts, little cartoons of cherubs and Disney characters, Galentine's Day (cutesie term for honoring besties), and so many other fun ways to celebrate. Whether you're dating someone and dressing up for romance or simply dressed in pink and red to go out with your best friends, it's a day worth celebrating. We are lucky to have so much love.

Dress (shop!): Ruche

my funny valentine

One of my favorite things to do is shop around the internet for the best possible gifts for people. I love haunting Etsy and trolling around online boutiques, adding things to my wishlists for later use. Sometimes the things end up being on my personal wishlist, but I'm equally excited to find superb presents for my favorite people in life.

I recently went down that rabbit hole of window-shopping, as it were, and decided to share a few of my finds with you in honor of Valentine's Day coming up! The less conventional the better, in my opinion. I adore thoughtful, quirky presents that supersede the norm. Flowers and chocolates are always welcome, of course, but if you're looking to really find something unique and special this February to celebrate the month of love, I'd start here:

Matchboxes // Harry Potter Sweatshirt // Embroidered Bouquet Necklace
Lunar Phase Necklace // Heart Clip // Irresistible Card // Swedish Magnets
Cameo Pendant // Molasses Print // Old Book Candle // Floral Dress
Fantastic Mr. Fox Card // Bee Knuckle Ring // Cat Lady Tattoos // Heart Dress

I shop for clothes way too often, but it always takes me pleasantly by surprise when someone buys clothes for me. I love being fashionally thought of, so if someone were to give me a Valentine gift bag that included a colorful Harry Potter sweatshirt, I'd basically be bonded to them for life.

Adorable magnets, sweet prints, funny cards, temporary cat tattoos, heart-related accessories...you just can't go wrong with those things.

Perhaps my favorite things on this entire list are:

1. The "Old Books" scented candle because yes, please. This Etsy shop, Frostbeard, has some of the best candles I've ever seen in my life (including scents like Sherlock's Study, Cliffs of Insanity, The Shire...).   
2. Book Cover Matchboxes. Forget just Valentine's Day, friends, this is the perfect gift for any occasion. Think bridesmaid gifts, book club favors, birthdays...the event opportunities are endless, and Matchmakers has the matches for them all. 
3. The Lunar Phase Necklace. Lorena of the Etsy shop Gemagenta has a gorgeous collection of fine jewelry, but her Lunar Phase collection is (quite literally) out of this world. You tell her a specific date (your date of birth? your wedding anniversary?) and she looks up the lunar phase on that exact date in time and crafts the moon from that day for you to wear. Necklace, ring, bracelet...your choice! They're gorgeous. 

It's hard to believe that January is already coming to a close, but February is tapping on the door and has me thinking of bright bouquets and pretty trinkets. What are your favorite places to find special gifts for the people you love? What are your favorite entries above?

Happy Friday!

Xoxo

love sweet love

Snapshots of all things valentine. 

<3

gifts: valentine's day

We're only a few days away from the month of love!
February is characterized by bright reds and pinks, flowers and candies, friends and loved ones.
Love is truly in the air in the weeks surrounding Valentine's Day.

However, I think it should be a time to celebrate all the forms of love in your life. All those relationships that are dear to you.
I remember growing up and not being able to wait until I could give away some little Happy Valentine's Day cards to all my favorite friends.
I don't remember when I stopped doing that. Probably around the same boy-crazy time when Valentine's Day became all about cute guys, and not as much about friends and showing love to those you care about.
So plan to celebrate this year with some sweet accessories, lots of desserts, and a few dates with your favorite people! Whether that be your best friends, your sister, your mother, or your husband/boyfriend.
Take the time to send a card or a gift to show someone they're loved this February!

Ruby Red Kiss Earrings, from Ruche

Card by Rifle Paper Co., from Ruche

Sweet mini brooches, by Sweetkeetle on Etsy

Valentine's Day studs, by Posies by Cait on Etsy

Hand-embroidered necklace,
by Poppy and Fern on Etsy

Chocolate lollipops, by Xocolatl Chocolate on Etsy

Funny Valentine's Day Card, by Wit and Whistle on Etsy

Little Envelopes Studs, by Rare Indeed on Etsy

Hand-sculpted Book Necklace, by A Child of Whimsy on Etsy

Red Heart Earrings, by Chelsea Girl Designs on Etsy

E.E. Cummings Print, by Old English Co. on Etsy

Red and Lace Pendant Necklace, by The Whirlwind on Etsy

Strawberry Chocolate Truffles, by Xocolatl Chocolate on Etsy

Etsy is a ridiculously great place to look for unique gifts for any occasion!
Handmade and often one-of-a-kind, you can pretty much find anything and everything you're looking for, from small business men and women around the world.

What are your favorite gift ideas for Valentine's Day?
Any outfit ideas, or favorite places to go for a date night?

Dustin and I are planning on a romantic dinner out and a movie. Classic!
Last year, I also decorated the apartment for Valentine's Day and had a bunch of girlfriends over for a chick-flick movie night. It was a blast!

Whatever your plans are, enjoy preparing for the month of love and treat yourself to a truffle or two. ;)

Cait

asymmetrical questions

The candid question of the asymmetrical. 

I have been in a serious debate with myself for a few months now. I still can't decide whether or not I'm on board with the business in the front, party in the back scenario. 

Sometimes I think I could pull it off, but most of the time I'm just shaking my head. 

The truth is, the last 3 blouses I've bought have asymmetrical cuts - it's definitely a clothes-wide trend, but I don't mind it as much on a top as I do on a dress or a skirt. 

There has been one dress I've had shopper's envy for, and if it wasn't sold out in my size I would probably still buy it. It has the asymmetrical/sheer thing going on, and something about it really draws me in.

It reminds me a lot of a similar dress that Elizabeth at Delightfully Tacky wears really well, so maybe subconsciously I wanna snatch it up and find a girl's denim jacket at a thrift store to de-sleeve and wear as a vest. I've definitely thought about it.

What are your thoughts on the asymmetrical trend?

Long-lasting, classic style, or short-lived danger zone - like the front hair poof that plagued my high school?

In other news, if you're in need of a quick treat, head on over to Modcloth before their Cabin Fever Sale runs out! I got some amazing deals on a great $90 Valentine's Day dress (for $23!), and another cutesie print top (my favorite!). 

Follow the link to get $15 off a purchase of $50! Can't get any better than that.

Happy Wednesday!

Cait