The Lovely Side

Word of warning: This post is not for the faint of heart bibliophile.  A book did sacrifice its pages for this do-it-yourself project.  A classic, in fact.  I gazed long and hard at my bookshelf before deciding which tome I could possibly part with.  Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights took one for the team... since it was just an edition purchased for British Literature back in the day.  Again.  Hardcore literature lovers, you may want to brace yourself or considering exiting promptly if you cannot bear the thought of defiling pages sacred to bookworms near and far...

I'm in love with the idea of being surrounded by book pages.  According to the do-it-yourself post on A Well Dressed Home, wallpapering your walls with book pages is easy, a little tedious, and not as permanent as it sounds.  The pages add such visual interest---color, texture, words.

Mmmmm! Don't these caramel apples look delish?!  Well, they are!  Delicious and rich and decadent.  (I didn't even know caramel apples could be decadent!)

I know it seems like I just recently updated my bed nook for fall by turning the quilt to its colorful flip-side and swapping out the paint swatch art above the window.  Well, I made some more changes.  There comes a time when that quilt (as pretty and colorful as it is) just doesn't suffice... even with an abundance of my beloved fuzzy blankets.  So from my closet I retrieved a comforter reserved only for those winter months.  Every time I switch to this damask comforter, I forget how wonderful it is!  It's so soft, so heavy, so luxurious.  I sleep like a princess.

As I sit here on a quiet autumn night in Iowa, it's all too easy to take cornfields and countryside for granted while a tempest rages in the northeastern United States. 
My heart goes out to all of you affected by this storm. My thoughts and prayers are with you as Hurricane Sandy tests your strength, faith, and courage.  God bless!  xoxo
Stay safe, lovelies!

Since I always enjoy seeing what other bloggers wear through photographs of themselves, I've decided to start doing the same.  I often post about what I wore as a Polyvore set, but from here forward I'm on the mission to start taking actual pictures of me in those clothes.  So you can see how it works on a real girl... me!  Today I met a friend on campus for coffee and some computer lab time. (Sometimes it just feels good to leave my little laptop at home and spend some quality time with the giant, shiny white screen of a Mac. Heheh.) 

A couple years back, I scored a bunch of vintage Harlequin romance covers on Etsy for a super low price.  I can't say that I've ever read a Harlequin romance... but I instantly fell in love with the bright colors, vintage illustrations, and kitschy titles.  These babies have been hibernating in an envelope since then because I just couldn't figure out what to do with them.

I had a seriously lovely weekend.  On Friday enjoyed a cozy little downtown coffee shop.  (That's it up above.)  This place has one of the coziest atmospheres in town and the decor is beautiful.  You can't see it in this photo and I couldn't find any photos that do show it... but along one wall little table nooks are created by antique doors suspended from the ceiling as dividers.  The walls are a deep plum color.  It's the perfect place to write while sipping a pumpkin flavored coffee.  After the coffee, I met up with a couple girlfriends to get their costumes ready.

It's time for Apartment Therapy's annual Room for Color contest sponsored by Sherwin-Williams.  And I can't get enough of it.  ...But more than that, I can't get enough of this entry!  It is Rohde's "Energizing and Inspiring" Room in Kirkwood, Missouri.  (I love a fellow Midwesterner with fantastic taste!)  Word of warning: I'm basically just going to ramble about what I adore in this room.  Like that hot pink bedspread!  That mustard, velvet, tufted bench!  The gorgeous, ornate white headboard!  The pendant lamp!  And those cowgirl boots!  I might need a brown paper bag to breathe into...

The big reveal^.  I'm quite happy with how it turned out. :)

Harlie Walkup guessed correctly first... and quickly, too!

Good job to all of you who guessed it!  I'm masquerading as Pamela Isley (aka Poison Ivy) for Halloween.  I created this costume using only things I had on hand... except for three vines of leaf purchased at the Dollar Tree. 

You've seen the bed nook, now here's what has been going on with the writing nook.  Since NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, I'm gearing up and creating a cozy little space where I can sit down and write my novel.  I always blog from bed or on the couch... but novel writing I like to do at an actual desk. 

This blank picture frame that hangs over my writing desk has really been bothering me lately.  Most of the time, I've had photos in the four slots.  But this time I wanted to do something different.  I toyed around with the idea of printing off some post-card sized prints with my favorite quotes... and I may yet get around to doing that.  

This is the first glimpse I caught of this lovely attic bedroom.  It had me at, "Hello."  Or rather, it had me at its antique wooden vanity, gleaming white tulip chair, and sunlight pouring in through windows. 

So you know those fancy little garlic chip things that are often served as appetizers at parties and such?  The thin, rounded, sliced-to-perfection pieces of French baguette covered in garlicky goodness?  Basically... crispy garlic bread?  Well, sometimes I just get a craving for them.  So I went on a kitchen mission to re-create the garlic chips I was craving.

Who doesn't love a great, clever, creative, totally original costume?  These four costumes are sure to stand out among the French maids, sexy referees, and cowgirls this Halloween season.  (Clockwise from top left: Silent Film Star, Roy Lichtenstein Illustration, Binder full of Women, and Rosie the Riveter.)  Now let's talk about how to pull 'em off!

Need a last-minute, fun, colorful costume idea for you and a few friends?  Look no further than My Little Pony.  I don't know about you, but I was obsessed with the ponies when I was little.  So I'm delighted to see they're making a comeback.  Depending on your personality or what is already in your closet, pony costumes are a cinch to pull off!  All you'll really need to invest in is some diy pony ears + tail and a wig or temporary hair color.   I'm actually masquerading as Rarity on Halloween night!  (I took a My Little Pony personality test to find out which pony best suited me. Haha.)  What pony would you be?

Readers, meet my lovely little pink phone.  And meet an ecstatic me with my lovely little pink phone after a near twelve hours of separation.  She's quite the looker, huh?  She may not as smart as most phones. She's a little rough around the edges from my careless handling.  Yes, that's a little crack in her screen.  ...But I seriously adore this phone.  It's small, square, pearlescent pink, flowery, and at first glance looks like a cosmetic compact.  As Emily Bronte would put it, she's "more myself than I am.  Whatever our souls are made of, his (well, hers) and mine are the same."

Charmed by life's simple pleasures, I relish in the small things.  Here are four fall favorites.

Without reading the descriptions, pick the color that most appeals to you. Then decide if the description matches you.  Since I'm drawn to several colors here, I picked the top four colors that I like best... not only to just look at, but to dress in and decorate with.  I went with Chartreuse, Lake, Persimmon, and Gravel.  What top three or four apply to you?

Trick-or-treat as Zooey Deschanel's quirky character Jess on New Girl.  To pull off her style, pair girly dress with a cardigan and flats... all in different but bright colors.  Don't worry so much about matching.  Accessorize with fun jewelry and don't forget her trademark glasses!

Hey ladies! Halloween is right around the corner! Stumped on what to dress up as?  Well, I dug back into the Lovely Undergrad archives to bring you the costume ideas of trick-or-treats past.  Check out the following posts for loads of creative costume inspiration:

4 Clever, Creative Costumes You Probably Haven't Seen Before
Silent Film Star, Lichtenstein Girl, Rosie the Riveter, Binders full of Women

My Little Pony DIY Halloween Costumes
Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash

TV Show Halloween Inspiration
Jess from New Girl, Leading Ladies of Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Downton Abbey

4 Easy Halloween Costume Ideas (...that might already be mostly in your closet)
Sherlock Holmes, Carmen Sandiego, Nancy Drew, Catwoman

Halloween Costume Inspiration 1
Zelda, Carmen Sandiego, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Mario, Luigi, Cookie Monster, Arthur

Halloween Costume Inspiration 2
Librarian, Where's Waldo, Pirate, Smurfette, Dorothy

Halloween Costume Inspiration …

With the green leaves turning shades of gold, orange, and red... I felt the need to do a little bit of color turning in my own space, swapping out the summery turquoise and lime green for those vibrant hues of fall foliage.  The first place I started?  My bed nook!

So before settling down for my first-ever episode of The Walking Dead, I needed a snack.  Popcorn?  No, I hate how the kernels get stuck in my teeth.  Pretzels and hummus?  No, I've kinda outdone myself on the hummus lately.  But I remembered a recipe I'd impulsively pinned earlier this week for some delicious looking saltines.  I hopped on Pinterest and found the link to the blog Sweet Teeth for the recipe.  Overjoyed, I found that it called for a few things---and I had them all on hand.

Decorating.  It's all butterflies, Persian rugs, crushed velvet, French Provincial furniture, vintage trunks, floral patterns, Gone with the Wind art, chandeliers, and cute little birdies... until your guy moves in.  No! It's not happening to me. I've never lived with a boyfriend.  And being the single girl that I am, I get my lovely bedroom (birdies and all!) to myself.  
Recently a few of you have commented or emailed on a topic that I've overlooked when it comes to design advice.  Most of the decor inspiration I post assumes that you are decorating for yourself, or possibly sharing a space with a roomie.  And now some of you are asking how to decorate when you share a space with your boyfriend or husband.

Lemme see ya grill. Let ya see my what?! Ya ya grill. Ya ya ya grill.
I can't help it that I get my rap on while whipping up a grilled sandwich.  (Don't judge.)  Anyway.  That looks like the world's tastiest grilled cheese sandwich, riiiight?  Wrong! 

As autumn's chill hits the air, it's time to hit the books. (Not just your textbooks, though!) When temperatures drop, what's more appealing than curling up in a blanket with a good read and good cup of coffee?  Well, maybe taking that book from your couch to the streets... in wardrobe form!  Out of Print is a unique online shop specializing in clothing and accessories inspired by great authors and great stories.  Being the bookworm that I am, I'm quite smitten with their mission.  So I picked out a few (okay, eleven!) of their literary tees and daydreamed about how I'd style them. 

Halloween is just around the corner!  If you're like me, you might have more fun creatively pulling together a costume than actually buying one.  (It'll leave you extra bucks for going out, plus homemade costumes tend to look the best!)  Before you think about buying too many extra articles of clothing (even if only from the thrift store), take a good hard look at your closet.  You may have key pieces that are just begging to masquerade as a costume for the night.

Got a trench coat and a mysterious side?  You could be Sherlock!  The lovely red coat you bought last winter and a desire to travel?  Carmen Sandiego!  Some vintage pieces and a hankering for a good mystery?  Nancy Drew would be proud!  Or how about a lot of sleek, black attire and a perfect Meow?  Sounds like a perfect Cat Woman.

Here are four simple costumes that can be re-created using items from your own closet and supplemented by a trip to the thrift shop:




Sherlock Holmes What you'll need: A dapper pair of t…

There are many things I can't resist.  To name a few... Spending hours creating rooms and decor boards on Olioboard.  Online window shopping at places like Layla Grace... for brands like Dash & Albert and Pine Cone Hill.  Daydreaming about my dream bedroom.  *sigh* Such irresistible impulses.  So when I found out about Layla Grace teaming up with Olioboard for the Design Your Dream Bedroom contest... you bet I poured myself a cup of coffee, plopped down on my pallet sofa, and got to work dreaming up a beautiful bedroom.
And there's my entry up above! (With me hanging out on the bed, too!)

In my perusal of Pinterest, shelter magazines, decor blogs, etc... I see a lot of pretty.  But sometimes, a place reaches out from the screen and grabs my heart.  Love at first sight.  Me oh my, this is one of those dwellings!  It is truly an explosion of everything lovely.  And it belongs to Tam: designer, photo stylist, blogger behind Nest Decorating, and creator of Nest Pretty Things.  Her home in Vermont just might be the prettiest thing I've ever seen. 

So I have a little confession to make.  I have a serious attraction to guys in suspenders.  I can't quite put my finger on the reason... Is it the vintage flavor?  The throwback to more pulled-together, refined men's fashion of bygone eras?  Could it be the just-nerdy-enough that it's sexy look?  Well, whatever the reason... I'm coming out with my strange little swoon-trigger and sharing some seriously classy eye candy with you.  So before the suspense suspend(s) kills ya, on with the show!

Seriously. I'm obsessing over watches right now. I mean... I love my big, bold, gold boyfriend watch. But I want every single one of these. Especially the dark red one. And the brown Indian head one. And the Once Upon a Time one. So lovely.

That's it. Short post. Just had to share these beauties!

(Oh! And you can go here in case you wanna track down and buy of these babies.)

For me, fashion translates into interior design... and vice versa.  I dress similarly to how I decorate.  When flipping through fashion magazines, textures and color palettes inspire vignettes and whole rooms.  And beautiful rooms can be re-created as cute ensembles.  If you're having trouble figuring how to decorate your dorm or apartment, think about what you wear.  What's your go-to outfit?  What's your favorite thing to wear on a night out on the town or during day-to-day activities?  Seeking inspiration from your closet will help you in creating a space that not only reflects your personal style, but also sets an atmosphere that you're totally comfortable with.

Where'd the weekend go?!  After suffering from allergies most of last week and then going out with friends three consecutive nights this weekend, I really needed today to recover and recharge in glorious solitude.  I planned to spend the day doing some light housework, laundry, and some diy projects.  I didn't turn out to be so ambitious.  So my Sunday was spent napping, popping allergy meds, and a lot of New Girl, Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother. 

Yep, you read that right!  Lovely Undergrad is a'Tumblin'.  (And I don't mean in a bad way!)  Once upon a time, LU operated a lovely tumblog for your visual pleasure.  Then, it sadly fell to the wayside.  But it's back!  Today, the Lovely Undergrad tumblog has been re-freshed and re-launched.  What will you find there?  Well, links to daily blog posts from here obvi.  But you'll also get a heavy dose of stuff that might not make it to the blog or shorties that don't quite stack up to compose a real blog post.  
Plus, since many of you are dying to see how lovely quirky my life really is... the tumblog will be spattered with plenty of pics of, well... me!  (Hence, Rudolf the Red-nose Reindeer and creamy coffee in a white mug being one of my favorite simple pleasures.)   Plus, I'll share stuff I'm really smitten with... like the song Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men.  (Though you won't be lucky enough to hear me sing it, I'm sorry to say!)
So …

Pasta! It's what's for lunch! :)

For lunch, I decided to get a little experimental in the kitchen.  I whipped up this simple pasta from scratch and it was soooo good that I snapped a quick picture so that I could share it here on the blog.  
What you need: Angel hair pasta. Olive oil. Couple cloves of garlic, finely chopped. One roma tomato, all sliced up. A couple white mushrooms, sliced. Handful of shredded carrot. Herbs (basil, parsley) to taste. Parmesan.
(I know, I know... I didn't provide very exact measurements of ingredients.  I usually just add stuff in, estimating it by sight and add more of one ingredient if I'm craving it.)
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add angel hair.  While the pasta is cooking, add olive oil to a separate pan.  Heat.  Add tomato, mushroom, carrot, garlic, and herbs.  Let simmer so that all the flavors can blend!  When the pasta is al dente, strain.  Pour the contents of the other pan on top and stir.  Top with parmesan! 
It&#…

My favorite small spaces to admire are the ones that the dweller really makes their own by not only maximizing the meager square footage to suit their needs, but also totally infusing the space with their personality.  Jessica's tiny Calgary apartment is a prime example.  She creatively re-worked the space to fit her artistic and lifestyle needs, while filling it with her artwork, memorabilia, and vintage style.