February Crushes.

Last week in class a professor asked our class of about twenty students if we had all already made plans for Valentine's Day. He waited about ten seconds, & then burst into uncontrollable laughter. "About half of you began to smile when I asked that question," he said, "and the other half were girls without boyfriends & all of the boys in the room."

Although I laughed at his terrible joke, it made me begin to think about what he was implying. He was generally pretty dead on; most of my friends with boyfriends were building up their dreams of gifts and gestures of love, while most of my single friends planned on binge eating chocolates, playing Taylor Swift on repeat, and boycotting romantic venues on the holiday.

I realize that I may stand alone in this opinion, but I think that it needs to be said. Valentine's Day is a lot of things. But to me it has never been only about romantic love. To be honest, my most memorable Valentine moments haven't been the years where I've had boyfriends. They've been the sweet and unexpected gestures from people who are not just a potentially fleeting fling, but who are the cornerstones of my happiness-- my best guy friends, girl friends, roommates, parents, and even brothers. Love is all around us and I think that we should all embrace it instead of forcing ourselves to set high expectations or to be miserable if we aren't currently IN love.

Enough of the sappy.

Here is an incredibly random assortment of things that I LOVE about Valentine's 2011 from some of my favorite designers and such that will hopefully leave you with a smile.

1. Lilly Pulitzer Murfee Scarf in "First Base"
I am head over heels for this print, & the Murfee scarves are seriously the best. They're the perfect length and weight. I wear them daily with fleeces in the fall, under heavier jackets in the winter, and over tank tops or dresses in the spring.  

Order yours or one for your Valentine (or mine... Momma I know you read this.) for $118.00 here, at Lilly Pulitzer.





2. Love Me Tender Cookie Cutters


People love cookies. People love people who make them cookies.
Grab a set of these for $10.00 here, at Urban Outfitters, and make some love in the kitchen. 

3. Mi Amor Margaritas
I stole this recipe from Cosmo. I haven't tried them yet, but I can guarantee you that I will have by next weekend. If you try this let me know, I'd love feedback! They look like the perfect fun drinks to share with your girlfriends, and they combine chocolate & strawberries... my favorites. 


- 3 parts chocolate milk (store bought or homemade)
- 1 part Sauza Silver Tequila
- 1 part strawberry puree or daiquiri mix
- Chocolate covered strawberry

Combine chilled chocolate milk, Sauza and strawberry puree in a tall glass. Stir vigorously to combine. Pour into a glass and garnish with a chocolate covered strawberry. 


4. Magenta Tory Burch Tumbled 
Leather Reva Ballerina Flats


You don't need a boy to fall in love with when your shoes are this cute. Perfect to wear with any outfit, casual or dressy! & you can wear them all year, with or without tights to match the seasons.


$195.00 from Tory Burch.


5. Biwa's Bounty Cuff by Anthropologie


This bracelet is perfect to transition from later winter into spring. I love the classic aspect of the pearls mixed with the eclectic look of the design. It would look so darling with the lacey/girlie looks that are in all of the stores right now & will go perfectly with your seersucker and sundresses this spring!


$48.00 from Anthropologie.

6. Lilly Pulitzer Dog Collar in "Beach Bum"
Girl's best friend deserves some love too. If you love your dog
as much as I love Grace, you'll fall for this pink and green patter designed by PinkysPetGear on Etsy using Lilly's "Beach Bum" print. Watch out for the preppiest puppy in the neighborhood!

Order one for your dog today for $17.99 here.


*Also, if this collar is too girly for your manly guard dog, she has lots of other patterns to choose from!

7. Boy Crazy Athletic Sleep Shirts 
from Victoria's Secret PINK
Snuggle up in these super soft sleep shirts with messages that will leave no doubt about your interests. Alternate available sayings include:
-"Let's Get a Room."
-"Kiss Kiss Kiss" &
-"Can't Get Enough"

Snag one for yourself or your best friend for $19.50 at Victoria's Secret


8. Dear John..."Sometimes I get the itch to go out for a drink thinking I might miss meeting the woman of my dreams, but then I realize the woman of my dreams isn’t at a bar at 12:36 on a Wednesday morning. No, the woman of my dreams is asleep in bed with her lame boyfriend she’s only now beginning to see is lame. Nice enough guy, but no passion or curiosity. It was cute when he called her babe at first but now it’s just lazy and distant sounding. The woman of my dreams just twitched in her sleep because I mentioned her. The woman of my dreams is not usually twitchy. The woman of my dreams likes Family Guy but doesn’t LOVE Family Guy. The woman of my dreams will engage in conversations that don’t necessarily cater to her in exchange for my moving quickly through the shop talk. The woman of my dreams has to be up at 7am. Maybe the woman of my dreams is at the gym, not the bar. I better get to bed..."- John Mayer

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all! 

Single Belles, Single Belles

Is it just me, or are more and more people within my social circle getting ENGAGED? WHAT? I feel like our society has tied me to some timeline: that it's expected of me to be flaunting a ring by the spring that I turn 22 and graduate. Someone else shared with me THEIR timeline for getting married recently that went as follows: "If I can't afford an open bar at my wedding, then I'm not old enough to be getting married." Perhaps it is the recently-dumped angst within me, however I have decided that this is a very smart mindset to have-- especially in today's world where marriages dissolve seemingly overnight. In reaction to this idea, I have compiled a list of reasons (mostly specific) as to why I am happy to be single right now. This is not to say that I am against being pursued by the right person at the right time, (I really, really want to fall in love and live happily ever after, and if that happens by the time I'm 22, that's perfectly fine by me...) just that these are the reasons that I am happy, in my current state, at this very moment, with being single and dependent only on myself (and my daddy):

1. I can actually eat the food that I buy at the grocery store, instead of someone else destroying it before I can get it into the refrigerator.

2. I can fill my entire apartment with holiday scented candles UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JULY and no one can tell me I'm being ridiculous.

3. I can accept date invitations to ANY fraternity events that I wish to attend. At any college that I wish to visit.

4. I can wear leggings and t-shirts/Nike shorts and t-shirts EVERY single day, and no one will tell me I'm "letting myself go."

5. I can also wear my favorite dresses out without anyone complaining that they are "too short."

6. I can go shopping without anyone telling me that I'm wasting my money.

7. I don't feel like I ever HAVE to be the designated driver.

8. No one tells me that I spoil my dog or that I'm too nice to her.

9. I am the judge of how good my cooking is. And I say it is fantastic.

10. I can blast Dave Matthews without anyone changing it to rap or punkrock. (Amendment: I would give up my Christmas candles to marry Dave.)

11. I don't have to listen to complaints about how many guy friends I have. (Note to future boyfriend(s): They've been here since kindergarten. They're staying, whether you do or not.)

12. I don't base my schedule on anyone except for myself..... And my dog.

13. I can get excited about sorority events without anyone telling me that they don't sound very fun or that they're stupid.

14. I can watch every single Harry Potter movie in one day, on a Sunday, instead of football, because guess what? The Panthers SUCK this year, and I don't really care to watch every other team in the NFL play on repeat ALL DAY.

15. This also goes for Monday night football and EVERY OTHER NIGHT of the week. Not that I dislike football. I just really like being about to watch it when I WANT to.

16. I can watch every single Red Sox game & not be told that baseball sucks.

17. The only rumors that I hear are about what I did the night before, not who my boyfriend is cheating on me with.

18. Boys buy you more drinks at the bar when they hear you're no longer tied down.

19. Now, I obsess over boys treating me the right way as opposed to constantly obsessing over how I'm being treated poorly.

20. I can shave my legs when I want to. Which is every day. But that part is irrelevant.

21. My lime green toenails can exist in that color at peace from criticism.

22. I can sleep in flannel shorts or ratty t-shirts. And spend the next half day in them.

23. I can eat spaghetti-O's and lean pockets for dinner. For a week straight. Without complaint from anyone.

24. I can and did just apply to NYU on a whim. Because I had been wanting to. And there is no one to hold me from going or not going.

25. The only insecurities I have to deal with are my own.

26. People in long term relationships are fatter, on average, than those who are single.

27. Compliments from others aren't expected, so when they come, they feel deserved and/or intentional.

28. I can go to church on Sundays, if I want to, without thinking that I'll ever "change" someone else.

29. No more guys hiding in my phone under girl's names (sorry.)

30. I can pour my energy into my friendships and my passion into my goals.

31. I can clean my apartment at 3 am instead of rushing to have it neat by the time my boyfriend arrives.

32. I'm sure others will critique my body, goals, and decisions in many ways, however none of these people are close enough to me for it to hurt me. The people I allow close enough to hurt me, are the ones who I trust not to.

p.s. If you were to decide to put a ring on it, these are the rings that one day, someday, maybe, perhaps, (Harry, Tiff or David) will end my single streak.