2.5

That's how many weeks are left before I am launched out of my safe little college bubble and into the big, exciting, scary, fast-paced, dream-driven, opportunity-calling world!
2.5 weeks and I will be done with classes, all-night study sessions, frenzied deadline-pushing, stinky classrooms, granola bar lunches, and 2-minute showers.
2.5 weeks.

Anyways. I wanted to share 3 awesome news bits before I go finish one last massive paper! If this sounds like procrastination, it. is. not. How dare you? Gosh.
In order from least to greatest (save the best for last, yes?).

Big News #3: Reese Witherspoon wore one of the Jason Wu dresses I was obsessing about during Fashion Week! So this is old news to you. But I had to post it because it made me all smiley inside. Also, she wore said dress on the Water for Elephants red carpet!! Remember my book review?? Oh, I guess Rob looks good too...

Big News #2: I found my graduation dress today!! It was on the sale rack at Loft (l-o-v-e), it was the ONLY one left, it was MY size, and it was beautiful. Oh, and the price? $80. My price? $25. Yes please and thankyou with huge cherries on top. I cannot wait to whip off my Harry Potter-esque regalia to reveal this (+ a skinny belt and killer heels):

And finally, Big News #1: Yesterday I was offered my first big time job. And it just happens to be my dream job. Can I just say, God is SO GOOD. I am thrilled, eager, nervous, and incredibly thankful for this opportunity!! I start in June, so I will have a month after graduation to chillax with my family, go on vacation, hit up some of my fav haunts (aka Charleston), and gear up for the next big step in my life.

Keep on keeping on,
-B.
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Cuff Love

How fabulous are these romantic cuffs and mini-bracelets by Old Money Corp.? If you are not aware of my Valentine's Day fetish, consider yourself informed.

I get so many compliments on my OMC bracelets (someday I will post pictures of them). Leather is unexpected and stylish, adding a splash of personality to any outfit. Did I mention how much I love the vintage coins too?

With hearts and chocolate,

-B.
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So Fresh

Behold, le new layout. Love? Hate? Yes? No? Calling all opinions.
Also, I would love the person who can tell me how to center my header image. I am in the process of creating a new one, but this one would look so much better in the mean time if it were centered. Excessive thank you notes in advance!
*Update: Figured it out on my own. Go me!

To celebrate, try this to die for chocolate. A friend introduced Chocolove to me at lunch this week and I am dangerously hooked on the pretty packaging. Just when I thought chocolate could not be more alluring!

The wrapper isn't even the best part. Underneath the silky, dark goodness lies a poem printed on the backside of the paper.

So the whole experience happens like this: 1 -beautiful wrapper, 2 -shiny foil, 3 -chocolate, 4 -romantic poetry.

Divine.

-B.

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Newsworthy Bits

Happy almost-Friday! Posting consistently during the school week is 100% harder than I planned. Having a few regular readers definitely keeps me motivated to try though! Although I am itching to write some content-heavy posts, time is allowing only a few snippets here and there.
So. A few thoughts that rambled around my brain today:

*Remember this post?
Supermodel Stella Tennant is coming back on the scene, walking the runways at Chanel, Balenciaga, and Giles. I am excited to see her since reading a little about her background.

*Big job interview tomorrow! My first post-grad-job callback. Kinda nervous, can't lie. After hanging up, my first thought was "What will I wear??". I have a few ideas...

*Cupcakes. I am obsessed with the tiny fat-growers. If someone can explain this illness, please do so. Some great recipes and decorating ideas would be appreciated too.

*Couture shows are the most beautiful artistic expressions that humans are capable of. I am convinced. Style.com is homework's new arch enemy.

*Experimenting with a new blog layout. It's about time, right? Maybe (miraculously) this weekend?

Here's to a successful Friday.
-B.
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Late Nights and Early Parades

*Perfect reading position*

*Pick a beach. Any beach*

*Dance in the waves*

*Jackie O. goes to the picnic*

*Aerie's delicate new arrivals*

Thoughts of summer filled my head when Aerie and StyleFind filled my inbox.
Dear Time: please fly.
-B.

PS: Your lovely comments have made my days so bright. Thank you and welcome, new readers!
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In Now: Textiles by Rodarte

The Fashion program at my school includes several textile classes, so I geeked-out when I heard about Rodarte's collaboration with Knoll Luxe (thank you, Zoe Report)! The collection is intended for home projects, like cushions and drapes, but interior design fabric can be used to create AMAZING clothing designs as well.




I am itching to get my hands on a few yards to experiment with my DIY Rodarte fantasies!
-B.


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In Now: Never Gonna Survive Unless...

...we get a little crazy. These flats are currently on-sale in the boutique where I work. Nothing leopard-printed has made it's way into my wardrobe yet, but I think this is the right time, yes? As if the sale price and adorable style (buckles + leather) were not enough, they have a padded sole that equals serious comfort.

SOLD to the broke college girl behind the desk.

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The Importance of Being Real

Nonfiction is generally not accepted by my flighty, 20-something brain. Give me Jane Austen, Lauren Weisberger, Dan Brown, or a stack of more New York Times bestsellers and I will be happy for hours. Christmas vacation coincided, unfortunately, with a rare lack of work so the County Library System has been brought back into my social circle (I de-friended it in 2007 when college became more popular).

The “New Books” section is conveniently placed near the door so I don’t have to venture too far into the sea of 60-and-ups (no joke, I am routinely the youngest person present). I decided to break out of my comfort zone and see if anything on the nonfic side caught my attention. This book instantly sprang out at me. Let’s be honest.. The bright pink binding probably was the main attractor.

Big HUGE fabulous luck.

The Duchess of Devonshire (Dowager, now) is 90 years old and has the writing style of a sarcastic, fresh-out-of-college journalist. “Wait for Me!” is her most recent book and tells the first-person story of her life, with lots of commentary on English happenings and on her family. Sounds boring, right?

Good thing I kept reading!

Deborah Mitford Cavendish (aka Debo) led, and is still leading, a fascinating life of social obligations that regularly include ridiculously famous people, remodeling massive castles and estates, and heading up dozens of committees, not to mention mothering 3 children and grand-mothering countless others (including supermodel Stella Tennant). She paints her family with beautiful humor that only the English can correctly pull-off, refers to dinners with Adolf Hitler and JFK as though it were perfectly normal, and gives herself absolutely no credit except when necessary.

Reading this book makes you realize the importance of the important things and the unimportance of the silly things. Personality quirks in others (that we are so quick to hate on) are accepted by her as what makes people interesting. Designer dresses, jewels, fabulous parties, regular trips around Europe, and unreal friendships with the Kennedy family and Givenchy himself fade into the background. Her parents, sisters, and husband are clearly much more dear to her than anything her status can provide.

Read this book for pleasure, since the extremely dry humor will make you laugh out loud, but also for personal benefit. I mean, really, how important is the latest Chanel nail polish in light of refurbishing one of England’s most picturesque estates to be enjoyed by the entire world?

Good question.

Now read,
-B.

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Let's Go Disco

Every few months a certain trend crosses my path and turns me into a completely obsessed moron. I will not be satisfied until I have turned every store in the area up-side-down to find the perfect top, or skirt, or coat, or necklace, or shoe. My current obsession is a bit more dangerous than usual because instead of being a specific style or cut, it is a general desire for anything with sparkles. ANYTHING.

The sparkle craving began to take hold when OPI revealed the new Burlesque line, and became a full-fledged obsession when I saw shimmering skirts, tops, tights, and jackets on many of my fellow students at a recent theater event. Although the glitter-as-daywear trend has been on the blogs since August, it took me this long to appreciate the many uses a girl can have for something sparkly. Lucky for me, Black Friday is only 2 days away!

OPI Burlesque line. Bring On the Bling is going in my Ulta bag!

J. Crew sequin drizzle tank. Love paring this with jeans and a black jacket!

Charlotte Russe sequin mini skirt. Try it with a structured jacket or top in blush tones.

Loft glitter capri wallet. Perfect wristlet and super affordable too!

Kate Spade charm pump. Because it's just too pretty not to look at!