summer update part 2

Last month, after an embarrassing update, I promised I would have at least three more items crossed off my summer bucket list at the beginning of August.  Since we are now forging into the middle of the month, I felt like I should make good on my promise.  Here's where I stand...

My husband (on the left), making me the perfect s'more.

I am obsessed with s'mores right now.  In fact, did you know that this past Saturday was National S'mores Day?  I actually didn't discover that fun fact until Sunday, but at least my obsession is a timely one.  I've had the chance to enjoy s'mores on several occasions in the last month.  The best was definitely the traditional version, enjoyed around an outdoor fire with family and friends at my mom's house in Western MA.  With Harper on my lap, my obliging husband was the one who actually made my s'mores (yes, I ate two), and he has basically perfected the art.  Thanks to the life-changing powers of Pinterest, I have also learned about and successfully recreated a version of s'mores that doesn't require a camp fire.  Behold, the s'mores bite; I know that s'mores sans fire sounds blasphemous, but these are pretty darn close to the real thing.  If you don't believe me, just try them:

Yet another reason I love Pinterest: s'mores bites

Ingredients:
-6 graham cracker sheets
-6 large marshmallows
-12 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Directions:
-Break graham cracker sheets in half.
-Cut each marshmallow in half.
-Heat oven to Low Broil.
-Align graham crackers in the center of a cookie sheet about 1/2″ apart from each other.
-Top each graham cracker with a marshmallow with the cut/sticky side down.
-Place marshmallow-topped graham crackers under broiler.  Don't walk away!  Watch them, as they will toast quickly, allow to toast until marshmallows are golden.
-Once golden, immediately remove from oven, and place 1 Hershey's Kiss in the center of each toasted marshmallow and gently press down.  
Yum.

It is indeed possible I have been eating so many s'mores in a desperate attempt to ignore the fact that I'm turning 30 this month.  I've been trying to adjust my attitude though, since the truth of the matter is that aging is a gift that not everyone is able to enjoy.  I haven't actively been planning the party of the century or anything, but I feel like my "perfect 30th birthday" is totally within reach, with my birth month off to a fabulous start.  On Saturday, my lovely sister treated me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, followed by window shopping, and then an indulgent spa facial.  It feels a little symbolic that I've shed a layer of skin (okay not really--but exfoliation counts) to greet a new decade.  Regardless, sister spa time was a truly incredible birthday gift--and my skin feels amazing.  Also amazing was the watermelon mint cooler I had at lunch, which I am now inspired to recreate at home.

Watermelon Cooler at The Cottage in Wellesley, MA

In fact, home creations just might be the theme of this month.  I have been wanting to redo our bedroom for a while now.  The décor just isn't working for us; it is dark and, despite our best design attempts when we moved in three years ago, just misses the mark.  At the top of my "must have" list is space-saving storage, and to that end, I have been coveting an amazing storage bed from Pottery Barn that is simply not within our budget.  So my handyman husband found the plans online and began construction this weekend; I am nervous but excited to see how it will turn out.  I have given him a pretty tight deadline of two weeks so only time will tell!  Also part of the bedroom redo is a new color scheme palette.  Right now, blue is our central color, but we're trying to move in a softer direction--perhaps a light grey, maybe accented by a pale aqua...  We have nothing set in stone yet, as the bed is taking precedence, but I am looking forward to the finished product.

So here's the official report:

Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

• Hoping to accomplish this while I'm off work next week...

Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

• Planning to finally order prints tonight!

Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

• Done--and yum!

Redo my bedroom décor

• A work in progress!

Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

• On the calendar for this weekend with some of my besties--another early birthday celebration!

Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

• Hopefully this week?

Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

• A walk is not the same thing as walks so clearly I'm still working on this one...  Fortunately for me, the temperatures have been lovely this month so far--so let's leave it at "to be continued."

Do more yoga

• Haven't been back to class yet...  Le sigh.

Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

•  Impossible (poor time management)

Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

• A work in progress...

I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm feeling much, much better about my progress this time around.  Things weren't looking good for me for a moment there, but I'm grateful that I actually put my summer goals in writing so that I can truly hold myself accountable.  Thankfully now it's all happening!  Stay tuned for the final report...

 

stealing from friends

Last month, I attended a health and beauty exchange with some of my favorite ladies.  For those unfamiliar with this type of event, it is like a Yankee Swap but far more fabulous.  Here's how it works: you set a price point for a favorite health or beauty item; buy enough for all who will be in attendance; and get together to exchange and dish on your health and beauty secrets.  So fun, right?! 

I picked up some helpful tricks of the trade, and a few particulars have already been implemented in my own personal regime:

All About Eyes, $30 for 0.5 oz.
by Clinique
Available at Sephora

The lovely Genevieve shared a beauty secret she learned during her time in France: under-eye cream is a MUST.  She swears by Clinique's All About Eyes, applied twice daily as part of her morning and evening routine.  Since my under-eyes haven't exactly received rave reviews since my adventures as a fashionista became the unheeled adventures of fashionista and baby, I had to try it for myself.  I have been using All About Eyes for only a couple of weeks now so I can't speak to the long-term results, but I already love the restorative, moisturizing lightness of this cream and the fact that a little goes a long way.  Hopefully I am also on my way towards looking as fresh-faced as Genevieve and the tres chic women of France.

 

Almond Supple Skin Oil, $40
by L'Occitane

The lovely Mary shared a very helpful beauty secret for expectant mamas, the Almond Supple Skin Oil from L'Occitane.  Having recently moved into my third-trimester, this seemed like a necessity.  Made of almond and Cameline oil, your skin is left feeling deeply moisturized and more toned.  It is safe to apply all over, and since I find the summer to be a very drying season, particularly as Harper and I frequent the pool, I've also been using it on my legs to combat dryness.  I had shied away from oils in the past for fear that I would feel greasy or sticky, but this oil is light and absorbs into the skin quickly.  Those who know me also know that I am olfactorily-challenged, but from what I have heard, the scent is delicious too!

Sugar Shine Lip Treatment, $18.50
by Fresh
Available at Sephora

 
The lovely Aimee introduced me to Fresh's Sugar Shine Lip Treatment, and I am a total convert.  In the past, I have used and loved their Sugar Advanced Therapy, and so I trust Fresh implicitly.  While it is difficult to compete with Sara Happ's Lip Slip, which has been my glossy go-to for what feels like forever, the Sugar Shine Lip Treatment brings the amazing powers of Fresh to a shiny new place.  This all-in-one lip remedy is neither heavy nor sticky, but it moisturizes while also adding gloss and a subtle sheen.   All of this has earned it a place in my handbag to be used for any and every occasion; I am completely obsessed.

I feel very fortunate to be in the mix with some totally dialed-in girlies and to have the opportunity to beg, borrow, and steal their secrets to health and beauty.  Hopefully this will be the first of many health and beauty exchanges to come!

summer update

Here's the dirty truth about my summer bucket list so far:  

I missed fiddlehead season--by a long shot.  Eating fiddleheads, as it turns out, should have been on my May to-do list.  Now that I know, you can count on me to be first in line at Wilson Farms next year (not that people wait in line for that sort of thing--but they should).

The summer walks haven't been happening.  With a few exceptions, the temperature has been hovering in the 90s for far too long.  Over the holiday weekend, Harper and I attempted a leisurely early morning walk, and we (me) basically had to crawl home and dip our (my) feet in a cold bath (hers).  Definitely NOT the ethereal summer exercise I had envisioned.  

I have gone to yoga all of one time.  In fairness to me, Harper and I were away this past weekend--but still.  I am pathetic.  Or maybe I just need some new Lulu gear to motivate me???

On the upside, I am happy to report that I haven't been letting summer pass me by and have been trying to embrace a more DIY spirit this summer to really enjoy the little things...

Pesto caprese

Okay, so I missed out on fiddleheads, but there is so much amazing produce to be enjoyed in New England during the summer that the consolation is huge.  Caprese has always been a favorite of mine, and I've had fun putting my own spin on it.  Since Dallin rather loathes tomatoes, when our friend, Rachel, came for Sunday dinner last weekend, I was excited for the chance to share my most recent caprese experiment, made with these incredible yellow tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and arugula lemon pesto (added bonus: the pesto was homemade by my friend, Talyn). You'll have to ask Rachel for a more objective report, but I was in love.

As I said, I've been trying to be more DIY lately, and this extends to the fashion/beauty realm.  This is in part a budget-driven endeavor, but it also feels good to accomplish something special on my own.  And given all the time I spend on Pinterest while we are watching TV in the evening, there's really no reason not to try some of my (p)inspirations.  Today's DIY attempt: watermelon nails.  Well, a watermelon deconstruction is perhaps a more accurate description, comprised of: Chanel's May, Maybelline's Green With Envy, and a pinch of pink fabric glitter.  While they may not be professional, they're totally fun and easy.  Which is also important.

Watermelon nails

Last week, my friend, Aimee, and I also began making friendship bracelets a la Martha Stewart.  I know I was bragging last month about how I used to make these all the time during my tween years, but as it turns out, it's not exactly like riding a bike.  Aimee and I both opted for the chevron "V" design; I have restarted my bracelet at least twice, and I think we also had to watch one YouTube video to help our technique.  Other things Martha didn't tell us: neon thread and metallic thread are really difficult, if not totally impossible, to work with.  That being said, fab company, plus ice cream from one of my favorite local spots and an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County was totally morale-boosting, and we will NOT give up until our bracelets look like they belong in Martha Stewart Living.  That is a promise.

To return to my summer bucket list, a little less than one month later, here's where I stand:

-Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

-Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

-Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

-Redo my bedroom decor

-Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

-Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

-Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

-Do more yoga

-Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

-Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

 Let's just say that I'm glad this is not school and that I will not be receiving a progress report.  Fortunately, summer is far from over, and so I will be so bold as to put it in writing that by, the time we turn our calendars to August (yes, I still have a real paper calendar hanging on the kitchen wall), at least three more items will be crossed off--and not because they are impossible to accomplish due to poor planning.  So stay tuned--and stay cool!

may the 4th be with you

It's July--what?!  Seriously, how did that happen so quickly?  This week has been amazing though; with the 4th on Thursday this year, I only had to work TWO days this week.  I could really get used to that sort of schedule.  My little family is looking forward to celebrating Independence Day, grilling with friends and enjoying time together as a family.  Here are a few pieces of Americana that have me feeling festive this week:

Movita Beaucoup Peach Cobbler

Peach pie.  We were asked to bring a dessert to our friends' 4th of July BBQ, and like any good domestic goddess wannabe, you know I immediately consulted Pinterest for culinary inspiration.  While the red, white, and blue cakes and fruit confections are absolutely classic, I feel like it doesn't get more all-American than peach cobbler.  Harper, Dallin, and I hit the market earlier this evening to gather our supplies, and now I couldn't be more excited to try this recipe from Movita Beaucoup:

For the filling-

4 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches (about 8 or 9 peaches)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon flour

For the crust-
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon brown sugar, for topping
whipped cream or ice cream for serving (optional)

To prepare:

-Preheat the oven to 425

-Combine all dry ingredients for cobbler crust in a bowl, and set aside.
-Generously grease a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Place the sliced peaches in the dish and sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and flour. Mix gently and spread evenly in the baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
-While the peaches are cooking, cut the butter into the awaiting dry crust ingredients with a pastry cutter or your fingers, to make the texture like coarse crumbs. Add the buttermilk and stir to form a soft dough.
-Remove the peach mixture from oven and drop rounded spoonfuls of dough on top. Then sprinkle the top of your cobbler with the remaining tablespoon of brown sugar, and return to oven. Bake until the fruit is bubbly and crust topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes. 

-Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.  Yum!

Girl's Milleraies Striped Tee in gitan/ecume, $22.50
by Petit Bateau

Patriotic stripes.  Harper's Grammy Sue surprised her on Monday with this special tee from Petit Bateau to wear on the 4th, and it has taken all my willpower to wait for the grand debut.  Granted, Petit Bateau isn't exactly classically American, but let's be honest, it doesn't get much cuter or more patriotic than red and white stripes.  Perhaps my favorite detail is the little bow at the neck (the neckline and bow on Harper's tee are white instead of the red shown here).  As a side note, the Petit Bateau store on Newbury Street in Boston is closing at the end of this week.  This means that we have recently purchased some amazing Petit Bateau swag at even more amazing sale prices--but I am absolutely heartbroken to see it go.  Anyway... My vision: this tee, paired with little H's chambray shorts, and her red, white, and blue hair bow...hello, Miss American Pie!

Butler Please, $7.79
by Essie
Available from Target

Starry nails.  I was super bummed to miss viewing The Bachelorette with some of my favorite girlies this week, particularly as our TV night was also a patriotic nail painting party!  Sigh.  Nonetheless, I'm doing my best to nail it on my own this time, thanks to Essie's Butler Please, a nail color recommendation from my fashion icon friend, Aimee, who has it on her toes as I type this.  Called an "indulgent, bright blue," I'm totally loving it.  This blue is peppy, patriotic, and even a little nautical.  After another trip down the Pinterest rabbit hole, I've been inspired to take my nail painting party to the next level and to try this polished version of star spangled, using the reverse color scheme, all blue with one red (not just any red but Essie's Lollipop, another summer fave).  Pictures to follow!

Pinterest inspiration: 4th of July nails

From peach pie to stars and stripes, I'm looking forward to celebrating tomorrow.  I feel like I would be remiss if I didn't express my appreciation for living in the land of the free and the home of the brave--and for those men and women that have made those blessings possible.  Happy 4th of July--and may the 4th be with you!

Happy Summer!

Today is the Summer Solstice, and I am totally ready for the official start of summer.  The weather in Boston this week has been gorgeous; warm but not too hot, zero humidity, breezy in the evening...  Did I somehow transplant to California?  Seriously though.  Here are some happy summer things to start the season right:

Okay, so I haven't been to the beach yet, but that doesn't stop me from faking it with another layer (or two!) of bronzer.  Summer beauty products are tricky though.  When the temperatures rise, no girl wants her face to melt.  This luminizer from Benefit is a beauty product that I've heard a lot about; it is essentially a shimmery highlighter for your face.  You apply it to your cheeks and brow bones and then blend with the handy blending tip.  I'm dying to try it this summer, when I'm stuck in the office (sigh) but craving the beachy glow of a woman of leisure.
  

Watts Up! Luminizer in luminous champagne, $30
by Benefit Cosmetics

Not only is today the first day of summer, but it's also National Wear Your Lilly day!  Pulitzer, that is.  My newest Lilly love is the Jolene Skirt, a soft jersey maxi skirt with diagonal seams and stripes to match in a soft, tidal blue.  When I said I was all about maxis this season, I wasn't kidding.  Plus, in honor of Lilly day, you score a free Lilly key chain with any purchase or a printed wristlet with orders of $250 or more.  I love it when there is a cherry on top.

Jolene Skirt in tide blue lazy days stripe, $148
by Lilly Pulitzer

This Monday night, I was able to watch The Bachelorette with some lovely ladies AND have my nails painted by my amazingly talented friend, Aimee.  In honor of summer, I now have OPI's Hot and Spicy on my nails, a punchy lobster orange that pairs perfectly with nautical colors like navy and white--but that's not all.  I am also a total stud; well, my digits are at least, thanks to Aimee's guidance and the tiny gold pyramid studs on each of my nails.  It's okay to be jealous.

Orange Studded Nails--
love love love.

Remember making friendship bracelets?  I was obsessed.  Growing up, whenever we would take long family car trips, I would tote my trusty box of embroidery floss and fashion all sorts of fantastic bracelets that adorned my left arm like whoa.  Yes, I have always been this cool.  So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that friendship bracelets are making a comeback--for adults.  In the July/August issue of Martha Stewart Living, friendship bracelets are the main attraction--and they're all grown up, thanks to sophisticated color palettes, metallic thread, and other adornments.  Maybe it's because my nails are already studded, but I feel like a speckle of studs or perhaps even rhinestones would really take this summer camp classic to a fabulous place.  I honestly think I need a Bedazzler; do they even make those anymore?

Friendship Bracelets, All Grown Up
from Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2013

During the summer, I hate to turn on the oven when it's already so hot outside already--particularly when our house is regrettably not cooled by central air but by two window AC units and half a dozen old school fans.  Needless to say, summer salads and other cool treats are an absolute must.  I'm currently obsessed with this watermelon, feta, and arugula salad with balsamic glaze.  I had a version of it at Bertucci's about a month or so ago, and I have been in love ever since.  Plus, it's super easy to make:

Ingredients:
1 5-ounce package baby arugula
8 cups 3/4-inch cubes seedless watermelon
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar glaze*

*Balsamic vinegar glaze can be found in the vinegar section at most supermarkets, but in a pinch you can make it yourself by boiling 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until reduced to 3 tablespoons, (about 6 to 7 minutes).

Preparation:
Arrange arugula over large platter. Scatter watermelon, then feta over. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with pepper.

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad

with Balsamic Glaze

from Bon Appétit

I feel like I should also put a summer to-do list in writing so that I can be held accountable for my grand plans.  Otherwise, it seems summer always slips through my grasp, and it's Labor Day weekend before I know it.  So--in no particular order--here are 10 things I hope to accomplish before the clock chimes Labor Day, and the fashion laws force me to stop wearing white:

-Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book)

-Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

-Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

-Redo my bedroom decor

-Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

-Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

-Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

-Do more yoga

-Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

-Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

And on that note, it only feels right to greet summer with F. Scott Fitzgerald:

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees--just as things grow in fast movies--I had the familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

Happy summer!

Summer Things

With Memorial Day weekend come and gone and Boston temperatures over 90 degrees for three consecutive days this past week, I think it's fair to say that summer is here.  Some years, I feel like summer comes and goes without me having the chance to acknowledge or even properly appreciate it.  I resolve that this year will be different.  I have grand plans for beach days, delicious summer menus on the grill, and summer fashions.  Here are 5 of the things that I'm already excited about:

Glitter Nail Color
in Candy Shop, $19
by Deborah Lippmann
Available at Nordstrom

Nail care is a crucial part of the summer, and today I finally had the opportunity to get a much-needed mani/pedi.  Now I'm feeling far more summer-ready.  And speaking of summer nails, while I don't yet have this amazing nail lacquer from Deborah Lippmann in my collection, I'll stress the yet because I'm thinking it is a must.  Growing up, I was obsessed with the game Candy Land, particularly with the character Queen Frostine who I felt was my game character doppelganger.  This polish is like Candy Land for grown-ups, a light pink with candy colored glitter flecks throughout.  Let's be real, this is a party for your nails, and after finally seeing The Great Gatsby this weekend, I am ready for parties AND glitter.

Peach Bruschetta with Ricotta and Prosciutto
Recipe thanks to Williams-Sonoma

When I look at the Williams-Sonoma catalog, I genuinely want to be more domestic.  Of course, life always seems to get in the way, and we wind up eating quesadillas or cereal most nights.  Summer resolution?  I will make this peach bruschetta with ricotta and prosciutto.  According to WS, it involves 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cook-time.  Now that is a timeline I can commit to!  Plus, doesn't this picture make you want it to eat it, like NOW?  Here's the recipe so you can:

Ingredients:
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
4 slices country-style bread, each about 1/2 inch thick
1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 large peaches, pitted and each cut into 12 slices
6 Tbs. ricotta cheese, lightly seasoned with kosher salt
3 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto
1 1/2 oz. arugula
Maldon sea salt for sprinkling

Directions:
-In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the vinegar to a simmer and simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool.-Preheat a panini press on the “sear” setting according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Generously brush both sides of the bread slices with the 1/3 cup olive oil. Working in 2 batches, place the bread on the panini press, close the lid and lock the top of the press so the bread is not being compressed. Cook until browned on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
-Working in 2 batches, arrange the peach slices on the panini press, close the lid and cook until the peaches are nicely marked on both sides, about 2 minutes.
-Spread 1 1/2 Tbs. cheese on each bread slice. Drape the prosciutto on top, dividing evenly, and top with the peach slices. Put the arugula in a small bowl and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Top the bruschetta with the arugula. Drizzle with the reduced vinegar and sprinkle with Maldon sea salt. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Lounging poolside with my girl

Lounging poolside.  Okay, for us, that means Harper's little pool in our backyard.  On Friday afternoon (day 2 of aforementioned 90 degree temperatures), like most Bostonians, I was beyond hot.  Not even day 2 of ice cream treats offered sufficient cooling, and that's when you know you're in trouble.  So we decided it was time to break ground on our swimming pool--and obviously we went with the top-of-the-line kidney-shaped pool!  That's just how we roll in the Wilson family.  Seriously, sitting inside that tiny pool with my sweet girl was exactly what I needed.  I have a feeling it was perhaps the best summer investment ever made.  Oh, and Harper's watering can to go with it, of course.

Printed Tee-Shirt Dress
in Egyptian Turquoise, $35
by Diane von Furstenberg for babyGap

Wishes really do come true!  One of my favorite fashion icons, Diane von Furstenberg, did another limited collection for babyGap and Gap Kids this year.  Her Explorers Collection features graphic prints in bright, cheerful colors that are fun and youthful.  Obvi, I couldn't resist getting something for little H.  It was hard to pick just one, but Harper just had to have this printed tee-shirt dress.  Is it wrong to want one in my size too?

Lululemon hits the tennis court!  Until today I had NO idea that Lulu did tennis wear.  Fortunately, my super stylish friend, Aimee, filled me in--and how cute is this Hot Hitter Dress?!  I played tennis during my middle school years but haven't been on the tennis court since, and lately I have really been wanting to get back to it.  What appeals to me about tennis is that it is a sport you can play forever.  My grandmother played until she was in her late 70s; how great is that?  Of course, the fashion doesn't hurt either; who doesn't love tennis whites?  Especially from Lulu, with irresistible design coupled with amazing moisture-wicking, breathable fabric.  Now, to get back on the court...  

Hot Hitter Dress in Aquamarine/White, $98
by Lululemon

The first official day of summer isn't until June 21, but it feels like summer is already upon us.  With my newly painted nails and fashion and culinary inspiration, now all I need is a tan!  

I Party With Jay Gatsby

Since I first read it during my formative years, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby has been my favorite book of all time.  I have read and re-read it countless times since, highlighting poignant and meaningful passages, and it seems to only get better with each read.  That, I feel, is the mark of a truly good story.  Of course, I have also seen the 1974 movie adaptation with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.  And now, as of two Fridays ago, Baz Luhrmann's  version, starring Leonardo DeCaprio and Carey Mulligan, is a contender.  Unfortunately, haven't had the opportunity to see it--yet!  But I will--and I couldn't be more excited to discover how this version stacks up to the absolute perfection that is the story of Nick, Daisy, and Gatsby.  In the meantime, I'm partying with Jay Gatsby from the sidelines...and here are my inspirations:

He smiled understandingly--much more than understandingly.  It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.  It faced--or seemed to face--the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor.  It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.  Precisely at that point it vanished--


One of the most stunning examples of literature come to life, the iconic Tiffany & Co. created Jazz Age Glamour, a collection of jewelry for the Gatsby film.  As a celebration of the 1920s, featuring amazing diamond necklaces and bracelets, looping strands of pearls, and ornate headpieces, "The collection captures [Fitzgerald's] characters’ privileged lives with modern versions of their Tiffany jewels that glittered through posh parties and summer soirées at grand estates, fueled by jazz and bubbling champagne. "  This dazzling Corsage Necklace (not to mention its price tag) take my breath away.

Corsage Necklace, $485,000
from the Jazz Age Glamour Collection
by Tiffany & Co.

I like large parties.  They're so intimate.  At small parties there isn't any privacy.

I can't take credit for discovering this tank; the lovely Megan shared her fabulous Etsy discovery with me, and I have been obsessing ever since.  While it seemed that no one who came to Gatsby's parties was actually invited, aside from perhaps Nick and Daisy, I wouldn't mind being a Gatsby party-crasher.  The Spring House on Block Island is how I've always pictured Gatsby's house in my mind, but I have a feeling Baz Luhrmann has something a bit more elaborate in mind.  I suppose I'll have to wait and see.  

I Party With Jay Gatsby Tank, $28
by SilksAndScreens
Available on Etsy

"I wouldn't ask too much of her," I ventured.  "You can't repeat the past."

"Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously.  "Why of course you can!"

He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.

This Gatsby clutch is one of a zillion reasons why I love Kate Spade, for keeping geeky English majors like me on trend.  I've had my eye on the Gatsby clutch for some time.  Against the cheerful yellow, I love that the strand of pearls seems to represent the excess of the roaring twenties and the pool of black the dark subtext of the Gatsby tale--and all with an irresistible pinstripe lining that would have been right at home in West Egg.

The Great Gatsby Book Clutch, $265 (on sale)
by Kate Spade

No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.

As a teenager reading The Great Gatsby, I was always struck by Gatsby's seeming obsession with the past.  During days when I was beginning to carve my own path, the story of Gatsby and Daisy--and the collateral damage left in their wake--was an almost cautionary tale to me, of lost love, regret, and broken dreams.  All of that, of course, wrapped in a shiny package of lavish parties, amazing clothing, and wealth beyond measure.  To me, this tiny heart ring is a sweet symbol of what should have mattered most for Gatsby and Daisy, of what was ultimately lost.

Wee Heart Ring, $78
from Anthropologie

He must have felt that he had lost the old, warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream.  He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely created grass.  A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about...

When I spotted this print on Etsy, I was immediately sold.  Representing wealth and recklessness, the image of Gatsby's car is printed, appropriately, in green over an actual page from The Great Gatsby.  For me, Gatsby's "gorgeous car," an object of his material wealth and the source of coveting and admiration in the early Gatsby chapters, becomes sinister in the end--a physical harbinger of death, a vehicle (quite literally) of Gatsby's undoing.  Admittedly, I am a bit obsessed with this story, but I truly love this print for its subtle loveliness and sadness.

Great Gatsby Rolls Royce Print, $9.90
by Story304
Available on Etsy

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther... And one fine morning-- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Green has long been my favorite color.  I inherited my green eyes from my wonderful mother.  For a little while, while I was growing up, I was slightly covetous of my brother and sister's bright blue eyes--until I learned in science class that green was the most rare...  So, while I may not believe in the green light the way Gatsby did, I absolutely appreciate the symbolism of green in the story, as well as its glorious physical manifestations in the wide world of fashion, like this absolutely stunning trench from Burberry Prorsum.  I mean, a green lace Burberry trench: need I say more, old sport?

Kickback Lace Trench Coat in kelly green, $5,500
by  Burberry Prorsum

I've spoken several who have seen Baz Luhrmann's Gatsby so far, and people either love it or hate it.  I sincerely hope that I am in the former camp, a failed movie adaptation is perhaps one of the biggest disappointments ever.  For me, I've never had issue with artist liberty and interpretation, provided that the integrity of the story and its themes remains.  I suppose I'm just going to have to see for myself and report back! 

Psst... For more information about Tiffany & Co.'s Jazz Age Glamour collection, click here.

Little Things To Love

When I decided that She's Come Unheeled would actually come unheeled last summer, I was excited for real life posts about my new adventures avec mon bebe.  I mean, how Kourtney Kardashian totes her tot around in those Louboutins is beyond me!  Not that I don't still love my Louboutins, but I am writing these long-overdue words from the comfort of my bare feet, which are also overdue--for a pedicure, that is.  While some might interpret this as decidedly un-glamorous, I'm okay with that.  For the past couple of months I have been happily enjoying the little things--and wanted to share five of my favorites:

Tea tastes better in a pretty little teacup!

Tea party for one--and a sweet moment of silence to enjoy it.  I am recovering from my addiction to Tazo Refresh right now, a blend of peppermint, spearmint, and a teensy bit of tarragon.  It tastes better in a pretty little teacup, like this one from my grandmother.

Lolly and Leonora

Found photos.  My grandmother sent this to me last month, an old photo she found in her desk.  The cool kid in the oversized bow is me, posing with my great grandmother, Leonora.  Clearly, we would have made quite the fashion-forward duo.

A text convo with my beloved

My husband, who doesn't fall for anything.  But you can't blame a girl for trying, right?  I mean, my birthday is coming up this summer so I was only trying to help him prepare.

Alicia by Tom Ford

New Sunglasses. I've been wearing my faithful Chloé sunglasses for about six years, which is fair, as sunglasses to me are an investment piece.  Yet, lately I have been feeling that it's time for a change.  While I have always believed that Jackie had it right with basic black, the time had come to go tortoise.  I mean, he won the race, did he not?  Jokes aside, tortoise is equally timeless, and I couldn't help but fall in love with the Alicia by Tom Ford.  I recently learned that Tom Ford names his sunglasses for people that he admires.  There is not a Laura--yet.

Leopard nails

New friends with crazy skills!  Last Friday night, I had the opportunity to join some amazing ladies for fun conversation and amazing nail treatments.  Pink leopard nails!  How did I make it almost 30 years on this earth without it?

Spring has arrived in Boston, and I am thankful for the arrival of warmer weather and time outdoors.  And also spring fashion.  If I don't see a puffy coat or a pair of Uggs until the fall, I will be a happy girl.