lovely lace.

 Cardigan & Lace Tank: Abercrombie & Fitch; Black Capri Pants: Banana Republic; Necklace: Express; Shoes: Kenneth Cole

I saw this cardigan on a recent visit to Abercrombie & Fitch and couldn't resist. The lace detail makes me feel feminine and sexy and paired with my Bon Look glasses, a little nerdy. 

Happy Hump Day!!

giveaway winner announced.

Sooooo excited to announce our giveaway winner. Drum roll please.....

CONGRATS TO SARAH Z.!!!

She is most excited about Spring sailor looks with blues and whites and the lucky winner of a new necklace from RUBY by Kaley Elizabeth. Yay Sarah!!

green envy.

Jeans: Guess; Blue Tank: American Eagle; Grey Cardigan: Forever21; Scarf: Banana Republic; Shoes: DSW

This weekend was pretty low key. Not that I am complaining...I needed a weekend of absolutely nothing. And it was ah-mazing! The most exciting part was using my new KitchenAid Stand Mixer (in Pistachio) and couldn't be more obsessed. Also a new obsession is these new green pants I bought from Macy's. Bring it on Spring! 

giveaway.

Today is the day!! Our first RUBY by Kaley Elizabeth giveaway. I am so excited about this necklace after seeing the bright colors at NYFW that I felt it only appropriate to be the first piece given away.

To enter, please leave a comment and tell us what Spring trend you are most excited to try. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Tuesday, February 28th.

Good Luck!! And have a wonderful weekend!!

loft life.

After this blog post, I received tons of questions and compliments on my loft. So I thought I would take the opportunity to give you a little tour.

I live in the Italian Village in Columbus. It’s full of charm and flooded with natural light — two things my past homes lacked and the number one reason why we chose this place. Because I work from home and spend countless hours in my apartment, investing in and planning the home decor was extremely important to me, even though I don’t own the property. I wanted to surround myself with beautiful things while keeping the space casual and bright. I would say that like me, my home is laid-back and welcoming. I always want guests to feel comfortable and at home when they walk through my door.

Since I work from home, I thought it would be appropriate to share where I spend the majority of my day....my office. Favorite parts are the vintage globe, handmade blanket and windows.

I bought this frame from Pottery Barn a year ago and instead of filling with pictures, I have decided to include my 2012 resolutions (which, by the way have already come in handy as I easily forget), an important message and a picture of the state of OH.

Nightstand: my mom found this dresser in a warehouse. She should have been an interior designer! I love the gold shine that reflects off the dresser from the windows. The mirror was my grandmothers that my mom gave me. Probably one of my most treasured possessions.

Nightstand: this was a yard sale find that I couldn't be more happy with. A nightstand wouldn't be complete unless it was filled with all the books I am trying to read and fresh flowers from Kyle. The picture was purchased from Etsy and another good conversation starter when friends visit.

One of my favorite parts about my bathroom is the handmade wooden jewelry box that Kyle's dad made me for Christmas. It is such a thoughtful present that I make sure to point out to anyone who visits.

Also a fun part of my bathroom is the hooks that hang my hand towels. I got these at Leon & Lulu in Clawson, MI and I just LOVE them. If you ever get the opportunity to go, you should. The store is filled with vintage and one-of-a kind treasures.

I am not the type to pick up furniture on the side of the road but I must admit that my TV stand was a garbage find (that's why I have to share). Once washed down, I sanded it with the intention of painting. However the rough look has started to grow on me so it may stay as is.

My Living room view. The blue lamp is another one of my mom's finds in a warehouse. I told you she was good!

My bedroom has the same natural light as the living room. This is a good thing because when it is sunny, I wake up happy and ready to start my day. However when not sunny, I want to stay in bed all day. 

That's all. I hope you enjoyed a little tour!!

aqua.

Jacket: H&M; White Shirt: Forever21; Scarf: Gift; Leopard Belt: J.Crew; Black Jeans: Express; Boots: Bakers; Jewelry: RUBY by Kaley Elizabeth

It was a cold and rainy morning and Ruby and I didn't get off to a great start. She hates rain so when I let her out to use the bathroom this morning, she made a 50 mph (a little over exaggerated but at least you get how fast she was running) sprint inside and slid halfway across the ground. Normally I would laugh and tell her how silly she is but with an ACL and Meniscus surgery under her belt, I wasn't happy. She didn't hurt anything but I can assure you she will not be doing hat again.

After a very eventful morning, I turned a normally boring outfit into something more colorful with this bright aqua scarf. Since NYFW is over, I am finding inspiration based on pieces I have seen in various collections. And the colors have certainly caught my eye.

retro vibe.

Black TurtleNeck: Banana Republic; Shorts: Urban Outfitters; Lace Tights: Forever21; Shoes: Enzo Angiolini; Necklace: Gift from Kyle :), Long gold chain (Unknown) paired with an On Paper Vintage Charm; Bracelets: J. Crew & Beadz 'N Bagz

  

I am channeling a retro vibe today. Sometimes I just wake up and have a vision of what I want to wear and then throw random pieces of what I think would look decent. Today, it turned a little retro, so I am as Carrie Hermann would say, "working it".

Also, I am so excited to have my first giveaway on Friday from RUBY by Kaley Elizabeth. Make sure to check back then to have a chance to win a fabulous accessory!!

the basics.

It's been a busy week so I am heading into the weekend in some basics: white button down, boyfriend jeans, flats and didn't dry my hair (which is actually becoming part of my daily routine).

And I couldn't help not sharing my Valentine's present. A vintage globe in French. I am obsessed with globes and have been wanting to start a collection for years. So in true Kyle fashion, he couldn't wait to give it to me and I got it the day before. LOVE!!

with love, kaley & ruby.

Sometimes I think Ruby is way more emotional than I could ever be (and that is saying a lot). If she is not the center of attention, she will let you know. Her feelings get hurt and you can tell when she is not in the best mood. It must be all the love in the air because she is wanting some major attention...and that's why I love her so much! From us to you, Happy Valentine's Day!

cookies, basketball and a wedding.

What a ridiculously fun and busy weekend!! I mean, wow! Baking and decorating cookies, played a soccer game, drove to Dayton, went to a basketball game, attended a wedding, went to IKEA, put together a cabinet, drank wine, ate oysters, drove back to Columbus and finally got some rest. 

Cookies:

My Friday was spent making these adorable Rice Crispy Cookies from this Pinterest recipe and Sugar Cookies from this recipe. They turned out great and were a total success.

Basketball:
Saturday afternoon, my cousin had a basketball game that I was beyond excited to attend. The majority of the Hedric family is athletic and able to chew gum and walk at the same time...the majority. And my cousin was no exception! She was the smallest girl on the floor but wasn't scared to get in there with the bigger girls to fight for the ball. I was so proud!!

 After scoring, she couldn't resist to turn and wave for the camera (in true Hedric fashion). 

Wedding:

After the big game, Kyle and I got ready for a special wedding of a good friend. The ceremony was intimate and filled with close friends and family. I couldn't be more happy for the newlyweds and wish them a lifetime of happiness!

niche in the kitche.

I have been so honored to have another guest post today. Nichole from NICHe in the KITCHe has prepared a breakfast to remember for you guessed it....Valentine's Day! This is seriously one of the cutest and most romantic ideas that I have seen. Check out the full post at NICHe in the KITCHe and look for some of her other amazing recipes!!

Whether you feel Valentine's Day is a dumb "Hallmark Holiday" or a perfectly delightful reason to make love & not war-these thoughtful, inexpensive and romantical breakfast ideas will keep things warm & fuzzy, if you know what I mean... ;-)

Me and the hubster have been together for over 11 years now- more than 1/3 of our lives! And I can honestly say I can recall many of the Valentine's Day's we've spent together. It's a bit of a struggle for us in February because his birthday is the 13th & mine is the 21st, so often we have smooshed all the Feb events into 1 large celebration together. And let's face it- all this stuff costs money. Chicks want jewelry, flowers & expensive dinners for their birthday's, so it goes double for Valentine's Day!! And on the contrary, guys want a great meal (regardless of price) & something sport's related, like a new golf club or dry-fit shirt.

What are the commonalities? FOOD! It always goes back to food, as it should- and when it roles around to Valentine's Day, it doesn't matter if you think its a lame occasion or a perfect justification to devote all your love & attention to that someone special.

Breakfast, overall, is a very overlooked meal! Imagine on Tuesday, sneaking out of bed a little early in the morning to prepare a few of the following ideas, then turning on the coffee pot and letting the aroma awaken your lovie. I can almost promise the rest of the day will feel fantastic, and full of love:)

Ingredients & Recipe: (printable link)

Heart-Shaped Hard Boiled Eggs-
(idea from http://www.annathered.com/)

~ Eggs (as many as desired)
~ A milk or juice carton (cut open, washed and dried) -OR- ziplock bag box covered in a piece of plastic wrap.
~ A round chopstick or another round utencil
~ 2 rubberbands

1. First cut the milk carton or ziplock box in half, lengthwise. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap to keep things nice & clean.
2. Hard boil your eggs. Peel once it's cooked & slightly cooled. Set aside and keep warm until your "contraption" is all set.
3. Place the egg lengthwise (while it's still warm) into the box/carton. Place the chopstick or round utencil across the center of the egg, then place rubberbands on both ends.
4. Set the "contraption" into the fridge for a minimum of 10-15 minutes.
5. Finally, remove the egg from the "contraption" and slice in half. Your heart is now ready to serve to your love. 

Other Great Heart-filled ideas for Breakfast:

 

skylark & king.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner (Tuesday, people!) so it's time to start narrowing down what you will be getting that special someone. I am always looking for thoughtful gifts to give so when I learned about Skylark & King, I knew this was something that needed to be shared. Skylark & King is an alternative clothing company dedicated to bringing clean water to the 1 billion people who live without out.

A potion of the price you pay for every product goes directly to solving a clean drinking problem in a specific village, town, or city in the developing world. Whether that is a well in Malawi, a community filter in Nicaragua, or local sanitation system in India, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.


How amazing are they?! And since Valentine's Day is all about love, consider giving a present that will not only have your special someone looking good, but they will also have a wonderful story to share when people ask "What did you get?!"

I can't help but to think how cute their t-shirt would look like with a blazer, skinny jeans and pumps! LOVE!