Guest Post: A Few of My Favorite Things

+ Sun-kissed freckles. Not only are they adorable, they give me an excuse to go easy on the makeup all summer long.

+ Architectural salvage yards. I have this dream of living in a modern home, sprinkled with rustic details, like this sliding barn door.

+ Being feminine.

+ Big, thick, oversized glasses. I crush on a new pair every week.

+ Hats. My mom had me in all sorts of different styles from an early age. Right now I'm enamored of a classic fedora I picked during a trip to Sonoma, California.

+ Boy things, like flannel, hiking boots, oversized watches, broken-in jeans, and super soft T-shirts. I'm always stealing my fiancé's clothes!

+ Cats that do human things. Like this one.

+ Cheeky accessories. I'm a true nerd at heart, with a soft spot for dry humor. I love these playful mittens from Kate Spade. Gotta find a pair on eBay!

+ The best days start with two slices of avocado toast.

+ Designer Paul Rand. Get to know his work here.

-- By Kate from Wit + Delight

come back!

Powracamy wraz z sesją, którą stylizowałyśmy. Enjoy!
Photos by Ania

Toby is here!

My darlings! As you may have guessed from the radio silence, I went into labor on Monday night, and, on Tuesday at lunchtime, we welcomed Tobias Paul Goddard-Williams into the world! He weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces and has blue eyes and brown hair. He is tiny and wrinkly and just the sweetest thing in the world. We are beside ourselves and completely in love.

I'll be taking the next month off to dote on the little man, and some guest posters will be here (I'll pop in now and again with baby photos!). Then I'll be back on July 1st and am looking forward to sharing more baby photos, the birth story, and regular posts, too, of course. Thank you so much. xo

Sending a huge kiss to you...and the whole world!!!

Love, Joanna, Alex, and (now) Toby

Get sex and the city movie 2 looks from Debenhams

The way in which the story of these personalities is told through the use of fashion is so well constructed and continuously played out. Samantha is your dramatic dresser - your look at me personality while Miranda is your practical dresser in classic, safe black. Charlotte is your romantic personality in girlie pink and Carrie madame eclectic style wears neon lime green in a style as fluid as her personality.

For me sex and the city the movie is a never ending fashion show which gets better and better with every movie. It's truly liberating when you find your own style and know how to adapt trends to suit your personality and style.  It's great to emulate as long as you are mindful that every fad and fashion does not suit you. At the same time I leave myself open to try new styles and expand my capsule wardrobe.

So which fashion personality are you? I like to think that I am a little of all. I love classic fashion as it never goes out of style and simply adore unique fashion accessories that would get me noticed like Samantha. I'm also fast becoming a romantic dresser with the sweet heart necklines, gore skirts, frills and lace as I have been trying out the romantic nude look this summer. I do eclectic by mixing patterns but am afraid I'm not as daring at eclectic as Carrie can be.

 Photos from  the Huffingtonpost

If you're looking to find your sex and the city look then Debenhams is a great place to start. They've teamed up with Sex and the City 2 to bring you some fabulous summer looks inspired by the new movie. From party dresses to holiday glamour, to special occasion to summer in the city you will be spoilt for choice.

The movie hits the big screen tomorrow May 28.   I can't wait to hear what you thought about the movie.

Getting in shape for summer

Yes that beach holiday is looming and I'm counting down the days to my summer break.  Now that it has gotten warmer I'm finally reaching for my summer wardrobe.  But surprise, surprise those extra puddings and indulgent fried foods which spent moments on my lips are now lingering on my hips.  

Been there before so should be easy to shift the few pounds before my holiday.  Who am I kidding?  Easier said than done but I am motivated by pending vacation and the desire as Bridgette Jones would write in her diary "to look like beach goddess" in my halterneck swimwear.   Okay so I've just got to stop buying new swimwear as this is my second not to mention the one I already have.  How many swimsuits can I possibly wear?  My philosophy though is that summer swimwear - bikini tops - is like jeans you just don't have only one pair do you?

I'm not into the faddish diets which is only a temporary fix but do try to eliminate empty calories like chocolate, ice cream, crisp, fried foods etc and go for the healthier option of whole foods and low calorie foods.  One of my favorite food always is homemade soup which I don't make enough of because it could be so time consuming.  I do love soup and whole grain bread as a light but satisfying meal and my latest find - the cuisineart soup maker is an absolute god send at the minute.  It looks like a blender but it cooks your soup with no mess and no fuss.  

Other than watching what I eat, I am walking more since the weather is so great and making sure that I am getting my five a day - fruits and vegetables that is. Summer holiday here I come!!!

Metallics and the nude look

I have been experimenting with the nude trend and I'm really getting the hang of it.  That's why the latest addition to my wardrobe includes metallics, a trend I found I had virtually little of in my wardrobe.  I like the way metallic especially bronze metallic accessories brings this nude look together.  So other than the copper jewellery which I like for this look, I've bought myself this metallic leather sandals which really adds impact to my outfit.  They are great with shorts and fabulous with skirts and dresses which I have been sporting over the last week with all this unbelievable sunshine and sweltering heat.  

The combination of metallic colours in this sandals- gold, bronze and pewter works well together to create impact, style and add hints of colour to neutral outfits.  The design is simple yet architectural and these leather sandals really come alive on your feet.  This sandal is handmade and the fit is absolutely amazing.  To use an old cliche - it fits like a glove.  Of course I had to have my pedicure and guess which colour nail polish I went for?  Nude of course!!!  But I did keep the bronze look going with my bronze make up as it is always about pulling the whole look together.

Accessorizing the nude trend with copper jewellery

Putting a look together is more than getting the clothes right. Accessorizing is absolutely key in pulling a look together and cannot be stressed enough.  Mind you, it's not just about jewellery but includes hair accessories, make up, belts, shoes, scarves and the list goes on.

When I'm going for the romantic nudes incorporating soft fabrics like chiffon and silk in cream and peachy tones then I do like to go for pearl jewellery like pearl drop earrings and pearl pendants.   But I do like the bronze and metallic accessories when it comes to accessorizing the nude trend as it is a great way of highlighting my outfit.   That's why I tend to go for copper jewellery which offers majestic peachy tones to my ensemble.  Not just any copper jewellery but ethnic style copper jewellery like this modern man copper bracelet which is both contemporary jewellery and ethnic jewellery in one and which will always be trendy.

Sunday Suppers

Sunday Suppers is the amazing cooking class in Brooklyn, where photographer Karen Mordechai invites a guest chef into her home to teach a small group how to cook a delicious dinner from start to finish. When Martha Stewart Living decided to write an article about Sunday Suppers, Alex and I were lucky enough to be invited to the photo shoot. We were psyched...
I dressed up in a Gap maternity dress, stretched an apron over my belly and joined a group of lovely people (including Sarah from Saipua)...
Alex poured blood-orange liqueur over fruit to make Boozy Fruit...
And under the careful watch of the guest chef--Martha Stewart Living food editor, Shira--we all chopped, diced and stirred to prepare an Italian feast.
Here, Sarah shows off the herbed flatbread...
The meatballs were rich and fragrant, paired with a fresh tomato sauce...
And my favorite part of the meal, hands down, was the ridiculously delicious penne frittata with basil, ricotta and lots of pepper. I would highly recommend it (and definitely ate more than my fair share).
During dinner, we all chatted and drank Prosecco (well, water for me). Ben and Laura, the cute couple behind Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, told us about their wedding in Central Park, recent trip to Bali, and how pistachio is their most popular ice-cream flavor.
Weren't the flowers by Saipua wild and wonderful? Sunday Suppers classes are always styled beautifully.
For dessert, we had delicious cookies...
...and affogato, an Italian dessert of espresso poured over gelato.
The classes always end with a little favor, and, that day, we got to take home Frankies Spuntino olive oil, as well as a booklet with the recipes. It was such a great day. If you'd like, you can sign up for a Sunday Suppers class here -- they're amazing! And read the full Martha Stewart article here and find the recipes here. We were embarrassingly excited to appear in the magazine, and, needless to say, our moms flipped out. :) Thanks again for including us, Karen!

(Photos by Karen Mordechai)

Chez Rone:The New and Ultra Fab Street Boutique

Chez Rone is a rookie the street boutique business but you could never tell by their chic and super affordable clothing and accessories.

Chez Rone’ Boutique Infuses Street Wear With Glam for New Online Shop:
Chez Rone’ Features Street Glam Fashion Brands for Women, by Women.

Kansas City, Mo - May 17, 2010.New street glam boutique, Chez Rone’
(ChezRone) brings feminine glam to the male dominated street wear fashion culture. Featuring independent brands from women designers across the country, Chez Rone’s selection of clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags and accessories fills the void for women wanting glamorous pieces with street
wear appeal.

Street wear fashion,made famous by skateboard teens, mixtape Djs, and rave scenters, seldom includes merchandise for women who love the culture,but also love feminine glamour.Chez Rone’ co-owner, Gabrielle Rone’understood this dilemma firsthand.“Much respect to street wear brands that authentically promote the culture,but I get sick of having to choose between that side of me and the side that wants to be glamorous and sexy,”says Gabrielle.“I started Chez Rone’ to highlight brands that seamlessly blend both street and glam fashion-a street glam boutique.”

Paige Rone’,buyer of Chez Rone’,scouts indie designers everywhere from Facebook to sneaker conventions.A featured brand on Chez Rone’, must meet two requirements: 1. Brands must represent authentic street glam fashion; 2. Women designers only.“Chez Rone’ lives the brands we feature,” says Paige.“Everything from the merchandise to the actual designers represents street glam fashion for women.”

By featuring indie women brands only, Chez Rone aims to navigate the street glam concept to the forefront of the street wear scene, earning women more options and opportunities.

Check it all out here Happy Shopping!

BRANDS FEATURED ON CHEZ RONE: CandyBella Collection, Neon & Acrylic laser cut jewelry, Glamour-Eyez Shades, and SewFunky. Non-featured brands include: Steven Shein, SneakerGeeks, and Latchkey Creative.

**Currently,Chez Rone only ships within the United States**

Have a goofy weekend.

My darlings, what are your plans for the weekend? Alex and I are squeezing in some final pre-parenthood socializing, including watching the sunset from our friends' roof deck and going out for cheap pastas. We're also putting the finishing touches on the nursery. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and, meanwhile, here are a few great posts from around the web...

This spring is for tomboys. And that includes beers.

Shit my kids ruined made me laugh (and hide the pens).

Love the idea of a TV cozy.

A Claire Huxtable paper doll!

Alyson's beautiful wedding invitations.

What a cute raincoat.

Random tip: I've been wearing the Nars Multiple stick lately and love it. (I have the Cannes color, and my friend swears by Orgasm.)

Build your own chocolate bar!

Chalkboard pendant light.

Sweet mama moment.

Vintage polka-dot dress.

I literally gasped when I saw the watercolor business cards that Jordan made. Aren't they fantastic?

Sheepskin rugs in nurseries.

These would be pretty beach cover-ups.

A reflective vest for bikers. And a cute bike poster.

Plus, five Cup of Jo posts you may have missed:
* Sea salt brownies.
* The Peter Pans of Broadway.
* Balloon canopy.
* Elle shoe diaries.
* Hot-air balloon ride.

(Photo by Sara)

Airbnb

Alex and I often rent houses when we go on vacation. It's fun to meet the homeowners, you instantly feel like a local, and rentals are typically more budget-friendly than hotels. We usually find places through HomeAway or vrbo, but I just discovered the vacation rental website airbnb, and I'm officially obsessed. I've spent an embarrassing amount of time lately browsing through their listings and daydreaming about future trips. I'm especially loving the majestic homes in the Hudson Valley, maybe for a little family getaway this summer!

(Thanks, Yolanda)

Car wedding invitation

What a cute wedding invitation! That's all. :)

Trend Report

White Blazers

Don't fret there's many ways to rock the ultra polished white blazer without looking like a depressed pre-med student (I would know). White is always crisp and angel like.Be daring (and keep it clean)!

Gingham Shirts

Try a tailored or more femine fit for a super cute yet sexy look!

Straw Fedora

Very beachy nad bohemina cool. It's light and perfect for Spring
Fossil $28

Distressed Baggy Denim

Not so baggy that you look like a runaway convict-just enough so your thighs can breathe a deep sigh of relief. Mix it up,ladies!
Diesel $200

Leaf Earrings

How can you not love this? I got a pair from Forever 21 for $4.50!

Environmentally friendly/For Charity bags

There are widely avaible in just about any department store and grocer.There are many cute ones for cheap. Save the planet!
Breast Cancer Awareness $12.95 on https://shop.thebreastcancersite.com/

Suede flats

Marc Jacobs Suede Flats w/ python print leather
My flat collection is seriously lacking. I need some cute ones preferably suede:)

STAY TRENDY XOXO

Curently on the hunt for a summer job!

I do not have any previous work experience so it makes my job hunt that much harder. But please send any inquiries and offers to: shrconstantine@aol.com Of course I would love to write/secretarial-intern work for a fashion magazine. I'm a full time student majoring in Biology-Physician Assistant.So anything in the health career field would be of my interest as well.

Thank you!

The latest from Echo Design

Summer is only a couple of weeks away. Bring on the fun in style...

Large terry handheld tote $ 98;Available in 5 different colors
Really cute bag to bum around on the beach with.


Studded scarf with fringe $98
Add some color and embellishment to your wardrobe. Pair with a simple solid colored tank and white jeans for the full effect. Fab!


Imperial paisley oversized square scarf $48
Echo is known for their beautifully designed and durable scarves!Perfect for just about any occasion,transform a plain outfit with a paisley scarf.


Cheetah Spots scarf $58
If you're not ready for an cheetah print dress,shoe or bag-start slow with this beautiful scarf!

Happy Shopping

Exams outfit

Crikey. Here's what Annabel wore to finals. I was decidedly NOT that cool in college. I think I wore pajama pants. (I love how she rolled the striped sleeves up with the cardigan.)

Thursday Giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Simone Richmond, a Vancouver-based jewelry designer. She's offering this adorable handcrafted bird necklace, which would be the perfect touch for spring and summer ensembles.

For a chance to win, please visit Simone's shop, and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!

Update: Madeline is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo