on days when i remember

There's a lake by my house, and often I forget about it. 

shirt: forever 21 // skirt: anthro // shoes: target // necklace: forever 21

 It's tucked away behind the trees off the side down my street.

But when I catch a glimpse of the clear, blue water and the grass that peeks out from underneath, I don't waste a second to snap some shots.

charming elephant

p.s. - credit goes to the talented photographer of this shoot, my brother!

for love of sleepovers

What's in a sleepover that is so thrilling to teenage females? Is it the awkward loveliness of posing for the camera? Is it the assumed permission to pig out on brownies? Is it the late night conversations? Or is it simply the amount of laughter shared together? Whatever it may be, I have to admit, it's one of the best parts of being a girl.

I spent the afternoon yesterday with my dear friend Erin. I hadn't seen her in months and we had so much to catch up on. So we sprawled out on my bed, and talked. About clothes, instagram, blogs, life. And every-so-often she'd slip in an 'I love your room!'. Before we knew it, an hour had passed by and we were running out of things to say.

Erin was anxious to test out my camera and some of my clothes - in other words, she was ready for a photo shoot. The sun was still high in the sky, a few clouds here and there. My favorite time of day. We ran around the yard, posing in front of anything and everything, feeling awkward all the same. And after a few hundred shots, our stomachs were growling in unison.

After a few slices of ordered pizza (I know, how very original), we tore open the brownie-mix box, whisked the ingredients, and threw the pan in the oven. When the agonizing, 30 minute wait was over, we pulled them out to find chocolaty perfection (never mind the crisp edges, which made them easy to eat like watermelon). Saving a few bites for later, Erin and I decided it was time to do our nails.

Now, let me warn you of something - if you ever decide to paint your nails on the screen porch at dusk, your decision may result in exploding nail-art pens, squinting to see if you are even painting the right nail, and missing your nail altogether. This may or may not be related to the conditions.

left: erin's hand (orange with gold sparkles) right: my hand (pink with gold sparkles)

The entire day there had been rumors of evening thunderstorms. Well, more like late night thunderstorms. And Erin and I were both looking forward to watching our movie with sounds of rain and thunder in the background. But how dissapointing mother nature can be - we recieve a full 30 seconds of rain and one, pathetic thunder. How dissapointing indeed. However, even though our ohsoanticipated thurnderstorm didn't arrive, the rest of our evening wasn't as dissapointing. We spent the rest of the night crafting snacks and climbing in bed to watch 'I Am Number Four' on Erin's portable DVD player.

And we didn't fall asleep until 1 in the morning.

What's your favorite part of a sleepover?

p.s. remember I am leaving on Wednesday, when I have my first guest post schedualled. (Sadly, I only have 2 guests posting for me, but I hope you will be kind to them!)

stripes and typewriters [a fashion post]

Two of my favorite things.

shirt: forever 21 // neclace: forever 21 // tank: forever 21 // shorts: hollister // shoes: target

--

want to guest post? check it out here.

summer reading

I could not be more inspired by Anthropologie. I mean, no-brainer their styles are mouth-wateringly delicious. And, have you seen their stores? But, seriously, any photographer who is a photographer would gape at these creative, totally original, and beyond beautiful photographs in their catalogs. 

Seriously. There's not been but one issue that's failed to impress me. 

Today I fell in love with this theme (summer classics) and couldn't stop myself from testing it out.

 I only wish I could model their threads at the same time...

a collaboration of fashion, food, and words

lace and denim

One thing I love about doing the laundry is that I can steal anyone's clothes - and, until I actually wear it, no one ever notices. Now, truth be told, I stole that shirt - from my mom. I stole it, I paired it with some denim shorts and forest-green, gold-studded flats, and I wore it proudly all around the house. 

shirt: mom's // shorts: forever21 // shoes: thrifted //
necklace: forever21 // earrings: anthropologie

Then, later, when we took a short trip over to Anthropologie, I literally ran into a worker, and after saying her apologies, I was delighted to hear her say how cute I looked. That's really something coming from someone who's covered head to toe in Anthropologie merchandise. 

strawberry-rhubarb crumble
I made an absolutely, scrumpdiddlyumpscious treat the other day. It's called strawberry-rhubarb crumble. And I got this wonderful recipe from this amazing lady whose photos never cease to make my mouth water every time I see them. So, do you want to know how to make 'em? (Oh, and for your information, the recipe calls for oatmeal, but somehow I skipped over it, realizing it was still on the table when I had just slipped the dish into the over. So, don't do the same, please.) :)

1. Gather flour, brown sugar, room temp butter, and salt and combine dry ingredients. Then add butter until substance is crumbly.

 2. Gather rhubarb and strawberries, sugar, and flour.

 3.  Peel off the outer skin of the rhubarb and cut off the ends. Cut the stalks into one-inch pieces, or enough to make 3 cupfuls. Hull the berries, and cut in half. Then toss the fruit together with the sugar and flour until evenly coated.

 4. Place the fruit in a 9x9" baking dish. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit until evenly coated. Bake for 1 hour, or until bubbly, brown and crisp.

 (The crumble looked so yummy that I forgot to take a picture of it on a plate - until after it was long gone.) :)

Crisp Topping
1 cup toasted slivered almonds (optional)
1 cup flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup oatmeal

Fruit Filling
6 stalks rhubarb
1 1/2 pints of strawberries
6 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, oatmeal, and almonds. Mix the softened, room temperature butter into the flour mixture with a fork or with your fingers until crumbly.

Peel off outer skin of rhubarb and cut off the ends. Cut stalks in one-inch pieces, enough to make three cupfuls. Hull the berries, cut in half. Toss fruit together with the sugar and flour until evenly coated. Place the fruit in a 9×9″ baking dish. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the fruit. Bake for 1 hour, or until bubbly, brown and crisp.

etsy
You may or may not have known that I started an etsy a few months ago, but I did. If you didn't know about it, well you have good reason, because it contained but one item and I did nothing whatsoever to advertise it. Until now. Yesterday I added 10 new items that I hope you will like. Head on over and let me know what you think! (I have a showcase on the side if you didn't already notice it.)

That's all for now, friends!
Charming Elephant

On the Dress Form

I've been inspired by a few blogs (via/via) to start my own fashion series. For the moment, I'll call it On the Dress Form - because, well, lets just say I prefer to stay behind the lens. :) Besides, I'm a little in love with my 'new' vintage dress form. *eek!*

Uptown Artist

Scarf: Limited Too (quite a while ago)

Shirt: from the dress-up box. (I really had no idea it was there - and I'll say, when I found it, I was a little giddy. It's just so cute!)

Renaissance Fashionista

Dress: dress-up box

Pearls: great-grandma's

Bohemian Babe

Dress: handmade by mother

Skirt Wrap: came with dress form

Pearls: given to from mother

Gold/Pearl/Lace necklace: advent gift

Do you like? I had a fun time dressing-up the dress form (it's like a giant doll!). And the backdrop is actually a sheet hooked up to the curtain hangers (hence the gold design behind the sheet).

Fun things are in store for the month of February! Just be patient. :)