the small tear is becoming a much larger hole.

I am completely in love with this blogfeatured on CUP of JO (one of my favs!)

I am completely in love with this blog
featured on CUP of JO (one of my favs!)

enjoy!

Messy side ponytail

My lovelies, you know the messy side ponytail from J. Crew's spring lookbook? Well, I really wanted to learn how to do it myself, so I invited over my friend Caroline (who is a hair genius) to explain how to get the look, and the fabulous Jamie Beck took a few photographs. (What I love love love about this style is how the top looks like a beehive!)

Here are Caroline's steps, if you'd like to try it out....
1. Start with day-old hair...meaning it's been a day since you've washed it. (If you must wash your hair, then use a volumizing spray to add oomf; and if your hair is oily, use a French dry shampoo to build body and texture.) Now make a deep side part on one side of your hair. You can use a rat-tail comb to get an extra straight part.

2. Backcomb the top quarter of your hair. Basically, brush the hair downwards toward your scalp so it's sort of frizzy and can stand on its own.

3. Gently brush the very top layer of your hair to make it smooth on the top. That way, all the backcombing will be hidden under the layer that you brushed. Still, don't brush too much, you want it a little messy.

4. Take the entire backcombed section and pin it behind your head. To make it secure, place the bobby pins in an "X."

5. Now take all your hair and put it in a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Tighten the rubber band as tight as you can. This will help "push" your hair up, creating more volume at the top.

5. You can either leave the rubber band exposed, or hide it by taking a small half-inch section of hair from the ponytail and wrapping it around the rubber band. Take a small bobby pin and pin the hair to the rubber band.

6. Rough up the ponytail with your fingers to match the texture at the top of your hair. Use the same motion as you did to back comb, but use your fingers instead, since this will create a messy texture but will be softer and gentler than using a comb. Remember, this look isn't about perfection; it looks best slightly messy.

Let's do it! Thank you so much, Jamie and Caroline! xoxo

(Photos by the wonderful Jamie Beck)

rubbish.

i have decided that maybe blogging isn't something that i'm good at. i look around at other blogs and see the creatively that they seem to ooze from their very pores, if computer screens could have pores. and like most things in my life, what i create seems a bit limp, empty souled and sad.

the truth is, i'm at a bit of am impasse. i lead a rather lonely life and this pitiful online body seems to add to the lackluster that is my current state. if this existence continues, it will only be considered a space filled with pretty things and no real substance. as is most of my life.

happy valentine's day

to all of you who have found your love;
happy valentine's day. consider yourself
blessed to have found your hand to hold.
i hope and pray that one day someone will
be as excited to receive my love as i am
to give it.
























i loved you - and my love
i think was stronger

than to be extinct
within me yet

but let it not distress
you any longer

for i would not have you feel
the least regret

i loved you bare of hope
and of expression

by turns with jealousy
and shyness sore

i loved you with such purity,
such passion

as may god grant you
to be loved once more

-pushkin

where did my sleep go?

So, I have found myself in a quandary lately - I have not had
a good night's sleep in the past 3 weeks. I find myself in these
"ruts" during transitional times throughout my life. I chalk it
up to growing through an uncomfortable stage.

However, these sleepless nights have given me plenty of time
to think, wander the web and explore the pretty things out there.
Tomorrow, I will indulge my sleeplessness with a bottle of wine!
For tonight (this morning)... I will wander a while.

House of Turquoise is one of my standard "must-follow" blogs!
I struggle between being a comfy-organic person and a minimalist
in my decorating/living style. So somewhere between the two, I have
found my niche.

















this bathroom makes me oh so happy. :-)































so beachy and laidback - everything my style "tries" to be...
makes me long for a beach house.

















such a wonderfully bright and energizing workspace!
think of how creative you could be!

what i'm inspired by today.

my favorite detail is the framed shopping bags in that beautiful closet.
yellow is quickly becoming my favorite color of the season. so happy.

what i love about sunday.

so a wonderful friend introduced me to the civil wars' new album
barton hollow. if they aren't on your current life soundtrack,
they should be!

the end of a wonderfully lazy day. bath. book. wine.
sundays make me extremely happy.
(and today was sunny nonetheless!)
cheers - have a happy monday!

oh, and a shout out to my one and only follower Mallory!
thanks for reading - have a great week!

here comes the bride.

the rumors are true. anthropologie unveils (pun intended)
their new bridal line on valentine's day. better than chocolate
if you ask me! visit www.bhldn.com for a teaser & to sign up
for their email list.

i'm smitten with the idea. happy early valentines!

water.

it is 14 degrees out right now and i'm surrounded by frozen water
so it seems fitting that this post might be about water as well :-)

so my main new years resolution was to drink at least 8 glasses of water
every day (which being a caffeine addict is sometimes hard to do).
so i made a bracelet with 8 beads to remind me of my resolution
(which i've been doing fairly well on so far!)















if you happen to jump on my water boat and
make a bracelet of your own send your pics in!





















i snagged these great boots at target for a stellar $12
bucks on clearance last week and this terrible weather
gave me a chance to try them out - super comfy and
for $12 how could they not be winners?

back to the water feature....

my favorite thing about winter are my baths!
and nothing helps me relax and unwind like a good soak
and some scented epsom salt. there are so many medical
benefits to soaking in epsom salt - relaxes your pores, smooths
and softens your skin and most of all leaves you relaxed and ready
for a great nights sleep! my fav is the eucalyptus scent and when
i don't have time for a full bath my feet love the peppermint soak!
pick a bag up at target, walmart or even walgreens & cvs,
light some candles and just r-e-l-a-x.












this brings me to my latest hobby endeavor!
this weekend i'm scenting my own epsom salt and making
homemade soap! homemade soap is so pretty and will be
great for thank you presents or a house warming present!
i'm thrilled at the idea!















if you've made soap before, send me your tips!


stay warm. be safe.
jen

my snow day on etsy.

a co-worker asked me to create this awesome gift for
his soon-to-be-wife and I visited etsy for inspiration!
and naturally, I found plenty of it!

all the pretty things from such creative people!



















Vintage Wooden Stamp
Zakka Around the World



























Amazing Pillows that I want all over my couch!
Alexandra Ferguson

























I want this for my entry way!!!
Wuda




















I'm very much a quote addict
the big harumph

lustworthy rooms

these rooms make me say "ah"
so pretty!

and that tub.... oh my!

cravings.

anthropologie is such a dangerous place to set foot in.
hence my new desire list.