The Look For Less...

I fell in love with this dress at Anthropologie today. It's $158.00 :( which would just do too much damage to my monthly alloted retail spending to allow for much fun for the rest of the month (not to metion my Halloween costume!)

I know it looks rather simple but it's quite stunning in person! The pleated tweed skirt with pockets, the pin-tucked silk top and embroidered shoulders. I am sad to have to say no to the "Harbingers of Fall" dress


But I haven't given up! I did some research and found a skirt/top combo at forever21 that just might measure up.



The "beaded grecian top" is $24.80 and the "elastic waist linen skirt" is a steal at $15.80!! This is a grand total of $40.60, that is ONEHUNDREDSEVENTEEN dollars LESS!! Now I love owning something special, expensive and luxurious just as the next girl- but not as much I love money in my bank account. Can I get an AMEN!?
How about you? Have you discovered any favorite looks for less??

Lovely Living Room

I picked up this month's issue of House Beautiful Magazine this past weekend. I'm not a big magazine person but when I saw this living room featured on the cover I had to pick it up!! This might be my dream living room (minus the odd art on the wall). I LOVE all the mixed patterns and bright colors!!

Unfinished Business

I'm the first to admit that I've been a shameful blogger this summer. Sorry gang. The inspired content isn't flowing the way it used to. But blogging isn't the only thing I've been ignoring. I've also all but given up on several knitting/crocheting projects that I have been "working on" since Christmas! I watched "Julie and Julia" recently and Julie's mom said something to her on the phone that stuck with me- "For God's sake Julie, you gotta finish SOMETHING in your life!" This got me thinking and left me feeling a little dejected regarding all the projects I've never completed... not to mention grad school. In 2006 I started a quilt, sewed all the patches together, and then never completed the back of it. I used it as a Christmas tree skirt last year. My potted plants are not thriving like they once were, so that's a bit of a bust. I cant even finish my laundry in a reasonable amount of time. It always ends up sitting in the dryer for a week before I fold it. So, one day while mulling over my lack of follow through I glanced at my big yarn basket which holds three unfinished projects.
Knitting and crocheting are very sedentary, indoor activities. When you live in a place that is sunny and 85-90 degrees EVERY DAY you dont much feel like cozying up with a ball of yarn on your sofa. However, now that fall is approaching (it's still sunny and 85 by the way)I am more inclined to spend less time doing my summer hobby (tanning) and more time cozying up with all that yarn.
Here is a glance at the projects I am determined to finish before the end of 2010. Let's call it a "3/4 Year Resolution".

My neglected knitting basket bursting with heaps of yarn.


This is a baby blanket for my nephew Benjamin. I originally wanted to finish it in March when he and Kim came up to visit in Philly. Then I thought I'd have it ready for when I saw Benjamin at the Outer Banks for family vacation in July. No dice. Then I thought "His first birthday is in August! A perfect gift!" Didn't happen. So this one is my priority at the moment because at this rate, Benji will be off to college before I finish this thing. And by that time the blanket will have to be 5 times bigger in which case I'd be totally screwed. And while the blanket is looking a little "Jewish prayer clothy" right now, there is no way I am starting over. Maybe I'll add some yellow buttons or something.*


I started this blanked in January. My friend/ex-coworker, Meghan Bierschmitt, taught me this crochet technique and we used to work on our blankets together during our lunch breaks. When I moved to CA it made me a little sad to work on this blanket because I would reminisce and miss Philly. But as soon as I finish Benjamin's blanket, this one is next! I'll put on my big girl pants and crochet! This one is nearly done anyway so it shouldn't take too long.



These bad boys are another result of tutoring under Meghan. Granny squares are a lot of fun to make. I worked on these during my morning commute on the BART train here in CA a few times but, it made me a little nauseous so I stopped. I am not sure what I'll do with all these. Any ideas? I could attach them and make a blanket but I'd have to teach myself how to do that... which will likely result in it not happening at all.

Thanks for your support! If any of you still bother to check and see if I actually posted something- THANKS!!!

*Note: Not that Jewish prayer cloths are bad, it's just that neither I, nor my nephew are Jewish so it wouldn't make sense to make one for him.
** Just remembered something else I haven't finished- mastering Spanish via Rosetta Stone! Mike and I bought it as a Christmas gift for each other last year and neither of us has advanced past Lesson 2.***

***I would just like to say that the reason I have not advanced passed level 2 is NOT because it is too difficult. I minored in Spanish!

Cardigans, Clogs and Clutches- An Evolution of Personal Style...(I Guess)

I was never much of a "girlie girl". As a kid I played with dolls and barbies but also played sports and climbed trees with boys. I wore whatever my mom bought me which was often a "s'prise" waiting for me on my bed after school. When I was a teen, I was a little more high maintenance I guess, but nothing outrageous. Any makeup I had was just stuff my mom got tired of using and passed on to me. I liked to get my clothes from American Eagle (like every teen did in the late 90's early 00's) and loved looking through Dehlia's magazie but wasn't really obsessed and never actually begged my mom long enough to end up ordering anything. In college, fashion-wise, I was all about the holey jeans*, cool t-shirts from salvation army, clogs, and trucker hats. (thanks for that, Ashton Kutcher). Of course it was fun to dress up for special events with my roommates but that was a once in a while activity. But in general, style-wise, college was a contest to see who could look the best while looking like they cared the least. Then came "career Kelsey" when I was suddenly forced to shed the clogs and jeans for pumps and pencil skirts. Not an easy transition when you're used to dressing for comfort. One day I was poked fun at by my boss at my first job for wearing 5 different shades of brown- khaki pants, beige cami, brown cardigan and brown shoes (cheap suede loafer wedges that were different shades of brown from one another-oops). I've improved since then, but I still typically dress for comfort and avoid wearing high heeled shoes, especially since I commute into the city now.
However, since moving to California I have acquired a taste for some very girlie things. First, I was unemployed for a month during which I played "real housewives and of Danville" aka "bored housewives of Danville". I learned that a $12 pedicure is a lovely and cheap pick-me-up and it's so pleasant to have a decent set of nails. Since then, I've upgraded to getting shelack nails which is between acrylic and basic paint. It's strange even knowing that. Since then I've become employed with an organization where I work with and serve a primarally low-income, urban population which I love. However, there are times when I need to escape the "street" and I head to the glorious Bloomingdales right next door. Just the smell of the perfume and leather handbags is like being in a spa. A few months ago I bought a JPK Paris tote as a "congratulations to me for getting a job" gift. A few weeks ago I purchased a canvas Michael Kors tote. (On sale for $80! Are you kidding? How am I supposed to ignore and walk away from that?). I have my eye on a Tory Burch wristlet (not to mention those black leather ballet flats with the gold medalllion- dont get me started!). I'm also perusing the market for a large Longchamp tote, although I am undecided on the color. I have a small black one which I adore (thank you Ellen and Nicole!). And a special shout out to Ellen for getting me my first legit designer bag- a Coach clutch. I'm ammounting a small collection of purses, totes, clutches and wallets these days. I dont need designer jeans, high end make up or name brand shoes- but I wont carry a cheap purse. Where did this come from? I blame California.

I Want That.

gorgeous colorful kitchen featured on design sponge (of course)
clean. bright. cheery. perfect.


sorry for the lack of writing lately. more content coming!

Funny Girl

So I recently discovered that an old friend of mine, Heather Adams, is currently living the dream and doing stand-up comedy. She's doing gigs in southern cali and I am so thrilled for her, proud of her and inspired by her! One of her recent gigs was posted on youtube.com
take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi8WDAgYwIo
(Sorry, I can't figure out how to friggin' hyperlink! Just copy and paste it. It's worth it, I swear)
We keep in touch via facebook and I was so excited to see her status about a gig! I could only assume it was stand-up since I know personally how outrageously hilarious she is and that she doesn't sing or play any instruments. I left a comment asking for confirmation on the comedic nature of said "gig" and she wrote back this: KELSEY!! You gotta do stand up, you are hilarious, you were my comedic shaman in Carlisle. Without you I never would have filmed my first improv film, Chubby Lovin' or known about Spinal Tap and Drop Dead Gorgeous. FIND AN OPEN MIC STAT!
WOW! I am so pumped by that! I've made lame attempts at doing "bits" before in front of people but it's super awkward, I have ZERO stage training. I really want to take some kind of improv class- I've been thinking about it for a while. But I really think I am better at writing and coming up with material than I am at performing it. Oh well, maybe writing will be my gateway to performing?
I've been told I'm "funny for a girl" by guys and my parents think I am absolutely hilarious. My friends laugh AT me as much as they do at my jokes. I've had a lot of inspriation in my life to be funny. Heather is definitely in the top 3.

Kelsey on California #3

The Guilty Grocer:
Within a 5 mile radius of my home there is a daily farmer's market, a weekly open-air farmers market, a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods, and a Lunardi's (a hoity-toity grocery store). Needless to say, the trend here is to buy local and to eat fresh, natural, organic, and healthy good food.
What's a girl gotta do for some oreos and hot dogs around here?*
It's embarrassing enough arriving at the check out line with all my non-organic, frozen vegetables, frozen pizzas, potato chips**, and Coors Lite... But then I never remember to bring in my pile of canvas bags from my car. So not only am I that bad cook and unhealthy eater but I "hate the earth" too. It's a lot of pressure at the check out lines around here. (And as much as I'd like to load up on fresh fruits and veggies, I happen to live with a die hard carnivore and I've already wasted too much money throwing rotten uneaten food away.)
So for all you rich liberals who turn your nose down at my hot dogs (Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. "I rode my $8,000 bicycle here with my vegan grocery list on my i-pad) Don't judge me just because I don't like hummus and I use plastic grocery bags in my bathroom trash cans. At least I'm not wearing a helmet in the grocery store. dork.

* There is a Costco nearby. However, I prefer not to buy my hot dogs in packs of 50. Oreos on the other hand.....
** For the record, I'd like everyone to know that we buy the BAKED Lays.