A Bit of Brilliance - Spring Has Sprung

The first official day of spring was glum in these parts - but the weekend smartened up and graced us with some lovely sunny weather. It was so warm I drove around with my windows down and sunglasses on!

Spring makes me think of bright punchy colours and bold hues - brilliant green lawns, jewel toned blooms, and glistening raindrops. 

Handcrafted glass and wire pendant via Etsy

A colourful vignette via 79ideas

I want a jean shirt! via Lucy Laucht

Tulip via Pinterest

Teal table via flickr

Isn't it lovely to have summer just around the corner?

Enjoy!

Calli

Stay Classy San Diego

Like a polyester clad phoenix rising from the ashes, the legend himself is back. After many rumor filled years Ron Burgundy visited the set of Conan, jazz flute in hand, to announce that there will be an Anchorman sequel! You may not know this but it's kind of a big deal.

No cast details or release date yet - check out the clip (via youtube) for some classic Will Farrell.

My heart is so happy it's doing cartwheels to Starland Vocal Band's Afternoon Delight.

Enjoy!

Calli

Pucker Up - Lemon Cream Butter Cake

Lately I've had it bad for lemon. It's occupied my mind continuously and lemon water wasn't getting the job done. I needed something creamy, cakey, and delicious.

I just so happened to have a whole bag of lemons sitting in my fridge, waiting to be used, so I decided to try a new recipe - the lucky winner was this recipe for Lemony Cream Butter Cake from blackjack bake house.

The recipe is right here, so I won't re-post it but I highly suggest giving it a try. It's an easy to make, casual dessert, and although everything is cooked at once, it comes out as two layers; a soft lemony cake on the bottom and a creamy cheese cake-ish layer on top.

Worth noting - I used low-fat cream cheese and it was still delicious!

Needless to say, this curbed my craving. Also, my boyfriend loved it and he isn't a huge lemon fan.

Enjoy!
Calli

Hey Girl,

A couple weeks ago I made my 2500th pin on Pinterest - it's kind of a big deal depending on who you talk to. 

Being such a personal milestone (showcasing the tremendous amount of time wasted spent online perusing various pinboards) I wanted my twenty-fifth hundred pin to be special so...

via F*ck Yeah! Ryan Gosling

Yea, I think I made a great choice too. 

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Calli

On My Mind - 27.03.2012

I went out on a limb and bought myself a pair of cherry red skinny jeans. It's a big jump considering I only started wearing skinny pants this fall - but guess what? I love them!

And it's started a chain reaction. 

I love the red pair so much I went out and bought a pair of cropped royal blue skinnies - now I can't stop drooling over the rainbow of choices out there. American Eagle has a ton of great options, from pale pink and butter yellow to tangerine, sky blue, and my personal favorite, kelly green.

via daily look

via shopbop

via styleinz

via stitchfix

via Wendy's Lookbook

via style lovely

via Wendy's Lookbook

Aren't they just lovely? It makes me want a dozen or so pairs - although I only get two days a week to wear them (a little casual for the office).

Enjoy!

Calli

Drink, Drink, Drink

Hello! I'm back with a little bit of fun to kick off the week.

First let me start this post by saying that my drinking abilities are lackluster at best. I enjoy cocktails on the patio, and a beer now and then, but any and all of my friends will chose me last for a competitive drinking team - and rightfully so.

Luckily, this inferiority hasn't held me back from befriending some people who are extremely gifted in the drinking arena. As a result, I've been roped into the obligatory drinking games* and able to witness some truly creative games - games that incorporate props, special tables, sporting equipment, and a mental dictionary of Pokemon characters.

If I ever have a midlife crisis and end up as an activity director on a cruise ship I'd like to think my years as a spectator would pay off. 

Perhaps my lack of drinking skill has made me naive, but I was surprised when a plethora of television and movie themed drinking games started showing up on Pinterest ."You mean my friends aren't the only college students putting off homework to finalize the new rules to Harry Potter themed** King's Cup?".

I'm also a little worried that so many people are sitting at home on a Monday night drinking (to get wasted???) while watching The Big Bang Theory. I'll tell myself they've purchased the first season on DVD and are using it on a Saturday night to break the ice at a party where everyone is legal and has planned ahead for a safe ride home.

Here are a few of my favorites for all the "seasoned" drinkers out there.

Honestly, I question how people get through this show sober. via 9gag

For the non-diehard fans via Pinterest

So many drinking opportunities via Pinterest

A whole week of non-stop drinking fun via imgur

In tribute to these crazy-creative games, and to Pinterest where I spend a good portion of my time, I thought it only fitting that there was a Pinterest Drinking Game - for those nights on the couch with a glass of wine (or multiple glasses, no judgement). 

As more and more people join Pinterest (and fill it up with random crap - don't get me started...) this game may get you more and more drunk - use responsibly!

Enjoy!

Calli

*Roxanne is one such game - one person/team drinks whenever Sting sings "Roxanne", the other team/person drinks when he sings "Red Light". Watch out for people playing this game by themselves way too early in the night.

**Yes I played a HP themed drinking game a couple years ago at Halloween and it was magical

It's Not You, It's Me

Well it finally happened - after a year of using Blogger I'm having some technical difficulties 

I'm going to take this as a sign and take a week or so off. While I try to fix a tech issue I have no idea how to fix I'll try to squeeze in some crafty projects too so I have more to share once I'm back!

Calli

A Very Van Morrison St. Patty's Day

Are you planning on celebrating St. Patrick's Day this Saturday?

I always remember to wear green but don't normally go out of my way to plan a party or bake up green treats. As a result I wont have any festive tutorials or creative ideas to share. 

But there is light at the end of this sad little leprechaun-sized tunnel...

Through random internet surfing I discovered that Van Morrison is Irish - I honestly didn't know! At least I know who Van Morrison is...

Whatever your take on St. Patty's Day, everyone can sit back and enjoy a little Morrison.

What a lyrical genius.

Have a great weekend,

Calli

On My Mind - 15.03.2012

Spring is on its way - the reason I know this is because I just had my toes painted neon pink, which coincidentally makes you look more tanned. How can spring stay away when I am so clearly prepared to welcome it with open arms?

My favorite spring outfit right now is the maxi dress/jacket combo. I tried on a green and white striped dress at Winners last week and it was the most comfortable thing I've ever worn. Like a giant nightgown, the dress skims over all the 'bumps' and covers less-than-freshly-shaven legs. Needless to say I took it home with me and it's waiting patiently in my closet for a warm day.

via Kristina KH

via Refinery 29

via This Time Tomorrow

via Stockholm Streetstyle

I love the idea of pairing these dramatically long dresses with a cropped jacket - I recently accumulated a white denim jacket that will receive lots of attention this summer. All I need are some sandals - perhaps with a metallic detail and I'm good to go, at lest for one day a week. 

Enjoy!

Calli

Hey Girl,

via F*ck Yeah! Ryan Gosling

I wouldn't even care if it rhymed...

Happy Wednesday!

Calli

Perfection Found - Office Space

As I head off to work this Monday morning I really wish I was simply walking down the hall, still in my pjs, to this amazing space. 

via FFFFOUND!

Endless windows, ample light, and nothing other than a laptop - what else could a girl want?

Enjoy!

Calli

House Tour - San Francisco Loft

I saw this amazing loft online at The Pretty Pad over the weekend and just knew I had to share. The high ceilings, ample light, exposed beams, and concrete feature walls make my heart stop - what I would give to have a tree-sized houseplant! 

There are a ton more photos - go check them out!

Enjoy!

Calli

Hey Girl,

via F*ck Yeah! Ryan Gossling

Have a...um...good...um...I mean...um, a happy...Wednesday...

Calli

On My Mind - 06.03.2012

Right now I can't stop thinking about... Turquoise jewellery. 

My love for chunky bits of turquoise is traced back to a family vacation to Mexico in 2000. Now, when I get a yearning for warm sand beaches and pina coladas (usually starts every winter and lasts until April) I also start thinking about turquoise and how lovely a new bracelet or pair of earrings would be.

Unfortunately a trip to Mexico isn't in the cards this winter, and I'm stuck at home drinking Coronas under a wool blanket and browsing Pinterest and Etsy for anything turquoise.

Over-sized rings are my favorite accessory right now and I really like the oblong shape of this one. It's amazing what a statement ring can do to an outfit.

via Simply Good Stuff

This Anthropologie cuff is so lovely and needless to say completely out of my price range. I'm starting to like gold more and more and the large center stone is fantastic.

via Anthropologie

The gradient hues in this beaded bracelet are so lovely1 I like that the stones are all a bit different, nothing is too perfect - Except the bracelet itself, which would pair perfectly with jeans and a t-shirt.

via Etsy

Again, this casual pendant necklace would look fabulous with jeans and a t-shirt. I'm really loving pendant necklaces right now and the chevron/arrow shape is very trendy.

via Etsy

Have a great day!

Calli

A New Addition to My Kitchen

On Friday I led you on with a little teaser post featuring cupcakes - aren't they the perfect mix of adorable and delicious? 

Well there's a reason for all of this and that is... to introduce you to my new cake stand! 

I'd been wanting one for awhile, and even thought about making my own, but then I saw this beauty at the thrift store a couple weeks ago. I left it there (like an idiot) only to come back later, fingers crossed that it was still there. 

When I saw it still perched upon the shelf I knew it was meant to be and toted it around the store for 30 minutes unwilling to let it out my sight.

Can you believe it? Base and dome in perfect condition for under $20!

 

Enjoy!

Calli

A Bit of Brilliance - Too Cute Cupcakes!

The reason I'm so cupcake crazy right now has a lot to do with an amazing thrift find from Wednesday.

It was a classic case of see-it, love-it, pass it by, come back a week later, fingers crossed it's still there... but I'll share more next week!

Until then, enjoy the brilliance of these cupcakes...

via la boom!

via ModCloth Blog

via Cupcakes Take the Cake

via Pinterest

via Armen Atoyan

via Call me Cupcake

via Brown Eyed Baker

Enjoy! 

Calli