Have a Happy Weekend!

Hi, friends.  What will you be up to this weekend?  I am taking the opportunity to enjoy a little staycation, relaxing at home and maybe enjoying a dinner with friends.  Hope that you have a lovely few days ahead.  xox

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I walked by Barcelona, a new tapas restaurant on 14th Street, last weekend.  It is gorgeous.  Like, I might want to move in.  Strong Yelp reviews, too.

Alternatively, if you are in Madrid (Some of you are!), you may like to check out Marta Argüelles's exhibit at La Portegna's store in el Barrio de Salamanca next Thursday.  Find details on La Portegna's Facebook page.

Not Martha's hilariously suspenseful Kinder Egg A Day series.

Products to keep your winter boots and shoes looking new.

What to expect from Game of Thrones's fourth season.  Gulp.

I have been listening to this throwback on repeat since hearing Alison Krauss's CMAs performance the other night.

The robin's egg color of this sweater is refreshing. 

Why isn't there a filtering water pitcher (Looking at you, Brita.) as pretty as this carafe?

I'll play my Native Southerner card and say that D.C. still needs good barbecue.  Here's hoping that DCity Smokehouse delivers.

A whole lot of delicious uses for cinnamon.

(Image is Urbano 12 by Marta Argüelles.)

Isabel Marant for H&M

Isabel Marant's collaboration with H&M launches next week amid murmurs of approval.  (Find U.S. and Canada stores offering the collection here.)  Isabel tends to produce clothing that is a bit edgier than my typical fare, but this collection combines straight-forward staples with items that would give some pizzazz to less punky wardrobes.  Standouts are the pieces (of which there are many) with abstract, neutral prints.

It's not clear to what extent natural fibers will feature in the collection, but hopefully we'll see plenty of longer-lasting cotton and silk blends, rather than H&M's go-to polyester, viscose, and rayon.  This may be wishful thinking on my part, but a girl can dream.

See the best of the bunch after the jump. . . .

Have a Lovely Weekend!

Hi, friends.  I'm waiting for some big news, and my nerves are at about a 22, on a scale of 1 to 10.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to the weekend and unwinding a little.  Tomorrow, I'm having dinner at a French place that I haven't been to in a while, which should be nice.  Otherwise, I'm expecting a pretty quiet weekend.  Will you be working through your Halloween treats, or maybe you've got something special lined up for Saturday, too?  Whatever this first weekend in November brings you, I hope it's good.  xox

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Banksy just wrapped up a month-long "residency" in New York with a graffiti-like tag, made from Mylar balloons and installed on the side of a warehouse.  See all of the recent NYC pieces here.

Uniqlo may be coming to D.C.  Fingers firmly crossed.

This clip of a dad lip-syncing his daughter's tantrum had me in stitches.

Beauty bloggers have been buzzing about this pressed powder, which gives you a glow as if you were in the most flattering light.

A nice interview with one of the men who you likely will see behind you bar if you stop into Off the Record any time soon.

Classic pieces for a fool-proof fall outfit.  (I'd say that combining neutral pieces made from natural fibers is a fool-proof approach to dressing year-round. :)

If you're looking for a sweet weekend project, this brown butter apple pie looks like a delectable option.

(Lip-sync video via Little White Lion.)

Have a Relaxing Weekend!

Busy, busy it's been around here.  For me, the weekend will involve friends and finalizing my Halloween costume.  Till now, it's been just an idea (a very simple one :), so it's time to assemble the pieces and determine details.  I'm looking forward to the fun, low-fuss project, which may evolve into something with more pizazz than originally planned.  We'll see....

What are you up to this weekend?  Whatever your plans, I hope you have fun and enjoy browsing a few bits from around the web.  xo

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A dating site sees a spike in D.C. activity, thanks to the federal shutdown.

Local chefs look forward to new players in the District's restaurant scene.

Graphite drawings that the artist says are the product of "daydreaming and keeping track of it."

I found these German chocolate-glazed gingerbread cookies in the grocery store, and they are SO delicious.  Maybe a little early for the holidays, officially, but the delicate warmth of the spice is so lovely for fall.

Quirky DIY kids' Halloween costumes that will make you giggle.

I may be coming around to the idea of the heeled bootie.*  A refined ankle makes all the difference.  These and these and these pass muster.

A slouchy silk sweater that looks like it would be nice to live in. 

Would you order a custom-blended lipstick? 

This gnocchi looks like a hearty, indulgent weekend meal.

For the Why Didn't I Think of That? file: apple cider sangría.


*Yes, I know that they have been a thing.

(Image via The Editorialite, gnocchi recipe via Epicurious on Pinterest.)

Long Cardigans

Two (?) years ago, I picked up a long, beige, space-dyed cotton cardigan from J. Crew.  It's one of the open ones, without buttons.  I had not been on the long, open cardigan bandwagon until that point, and, honestly, it was a bit of an impulse buy.*  The piece was deeply discounted at the tail-end of one of J. Crew's big end-of-season sales, so I went for it, though I wasn't really sure how the relationship between that cardigan and me would pan out.**

Two-ish years later, that cardigan and me, we're still going strong.  The cardigan is made from a light-weight cotton, so it's great to wear year-round.  I've worn it with sundresses in the summer, and with jeans and boots in the fall.  It's one of those pieces that I often crave.  For casual occasions, it always just feels right.***  Now that we're on the cusp of cooler weather, I'm thinking about my fall wardrobe and wishing for a heavier-weight version of my beloved space-dyed friend.

Here's a collection of chic-casual long cardigans that might just fit that bill. 

Clockwise, from top left: Grey cardigan with pockets from Anthropologie, Leather (!) detail cardigan from Barneys New York, Oversize open cardigan from AnnaKastle, Grey open cardigan from Massimo Dutti, Camel stole cardigan from Uniqlo, Kimono sleeve cardigan from Zara. 

Do you have any wardrobe staples that always seem to feel right?  I'd love to know. 


*What on Earth was I going to do without buttons?
**Um, hello, it's a beige cardigan made from natural fibers.  I should have known.
***I am a textbook Virgo and feel very comfortable wearing all white and all beige outfits.  If I had to pick one color to wear for the rest of my life, I almost certainly would choose beige, as long as I also had chromatic latitude in accessorizing with scarves and large jewelry. 

(Top image via Polyvore.)