The Lovely Side

When I was little, I was obsessed with the song "I'm Looking for Something in Red" by Lorrie Morgan. My mom watched the country music station a lot and whenever this video came on, I came running. (I even named my Barbie doll Lorrie... partly in honor of this song, partly because of my other obsession with the musical Oklahoma!)

A good desk space has always been an important part of where I live. A writer simply needs a desk, right? As a kid and teenager, my desk was where I wrote stories. In college, it's where I did homework and NaNoWriMo. Today, it's where I blog, write creatively, and sometimes work. Whether you need it for homework, creative work, or remote work, a desk is important. But sometimes, it's just so hard to set up a nice desk space in a dorm, studio, or tiny apartment. Unless, of course, you take a cue from some of these:

It's been too long since I've shared what book my nose has been stuck in. So today, I'm treating you to three! One thrilling, unraveling crime drama. One lush, luxurious historical fiction novel. And one creatively inspiring non-fiction must-read. Let's get started!

So excited to partner with Dove in spreading the word about their Dove Dry Spray antiperspirant. 


My love for Dove is no secret. Their soap bar is always in my shower and it's my go-to for washing my sensitive face. So I jumped at the chance when Dove invited me to #TryDry - as in, try out their award-winning Dove Dry Spray antiperspirant in my beauty routine.

You might not think of your antiperspirant as a beauty item, but it's definitely part of mine. If I had to leave the house with only three beauty items on... it'd be: antiperspirant, mascara, and a bold lipstick. In that order.

The verdict on Dove Dry Spray? Smitten.

Here's why Dove Dry Spray is now a staple on my bathroom vanity and a must-have in my purse:

Thank you VSP Direct for sponsoring this post. Be sure to enter the #VSPStyleSweepstakes on Facebook for your chance to win a style consult and designer sunglasses!
I basically live in my glasses. They're my favorite fashion and beauty accessory. I often wake up and plan my entire outfit and makeup look around what pair of specs I want to wear that day.

As Springtime settles in, I get the itch to not only do some spring cleaning, but also do some spring decorating. I don't want to overhaul my apartment, but I do love swapping out heavy winter fabrics and incorporating bright, fresh bits of color. One of my favorite one-stop-shops for decor is definitely Gordmans.

Everywhere you look on Pinterest and design websites, you'll see something about decorating man caves. And lately, "she-sheds" are trending all over the place... backyard sheds transformed into creative little hideaways for ladies. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for guys have a place to go do their man things (video games, tools, beer recipe making). However, I'm not the backyard type. I'd take a woman cave over a she-shed any day. 
So when the folks at Chairish invited me to curate a styleboard as inspiration for my dream woman cave, I hopped on board!

Last month marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year. And to celebrate the Year of the Monkey, TREAT & COMPANY created these gorgeous fire monkey pins.
Each pin is 3D-printed, hand-painted, and locally manufactured and designed in Minnesota. They make a thoughtful and beautiful gift to commemorate major life events - weddings, anniversaries, babies, birthdays - or to treat yourself. (And the classy, geometric designs would work for guy or girl.)

Remember way back when I posted a guide to decorating your apartment with Joan Holloway style? The stylish folks over at High Fashion Home were inspired by it when creating their infographic about interior design in the TV show Mad Men. I'm super flattered - and I love this infographic.

I was inspired by this charming fox print - and I love how orange looks alongside warm gray, creamy whites, and gleaming gold.

Inspired By: Gold, Glitz, and Elegance
I love the idea of outfitting a boldly colored bar cart like this green one with all-gold accessories. Brushed gold here, metallic gold there, and some glittery gold sprinkled around. Hang some pretty, fashion-focused artwork on the wall and throw down an elegant rug. It's festive, feminine, and a whole lot of fun! And I think Daisy Buchanan would approve! (Shop this bar cart here.)
Four more bar carts after the jump!