Dores Winter Collection is here!

Fellow Milwaukeean, Stephanie Renee of Dores unveiled her Winter collection on Etsy this morning. I love how simple yet feminine her jewelry is. It can easily be layered or worn alone, dressed up or dressed with jeans. Here are two of my favorites: the signature hand cast brass holiday necklace (now in a longer size) and the brass and leather drop necklace. Can't wait to see more of her stuff in the future....in the meantime, if you're into vintage clothing check out her vintage shop.

Milwaukee Style: Hunter boots

I was screaming like a little girl at Hannah Montana when I unwrapped my new pair of Hunter wellies this past Christmas. I have been seeing them on fashionable people here and there, but that's not the only reason I wanted them......they are sooooo practical for Milwaukee winters. You can go out shoveling, walk the dog, step in mud, and still go out and look cute. I love that you can just wipe them off; no leather, furry lining or laces to worry about.

Here are some cute outfits topped off with a pair of wellies!.......







images from: lookbook, weardrobe, the Guardian

Lulu the dog has a new foster friend

I picked up our foster greyhound, Lacy, this morning. We will be introducing her to "home life" for the first time and teaching her new skills like potty-training and how to walk up stairs. So far Lulu approves, but is not wiling to share her bed(s). Once we get Lacy adjusted, she'll be off to meet her new adoptive family.

GPA, a greyhound rescue organization in Wisconsin, has many greyhounds up for adoption on their website. If you want to meet a greyhound, the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County (HAWS) has several greyhounds up for adoption. There are also a lot of meet and greets sponsored by GPA, schedule here.

Daily Fix: Winter beers

When the snow starts falling, I love staying inside and hanging out at home. Here are some of the winter seasonal beers that have been keeping us company....

Upland Winter Warmer

Captital Winter Skal

Lakefront Holiday Spice

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

One of our new discoveries was Shiner Holiday Cheer. There weren't any bottles left to take a photo.

Wedding update: cake topper

These little ceramic birds are from mudpuppy on Etsy. I wanted something I could use as home decor or accent after the wedding. I think they'll like living atop some books on my desk.

New Year's Resolution Week: get cookin'

2009 was perpetually busy and somehow I had forgotten that I have a kitchen and that I know how to cook. This year, I hope to actually make some of those recipes I had ear-marked and filed away for later. I will be cooking a real dinner (frozen pizza doesn't count) at home more often starting today. Tonight I made Turkey Sloppy Janes from the Hungry Girl Cookbook. I love to page through cookbooks looking for good recipes and I wanted to share the Real Simple recipes that I can't wait to try. I hope they inspire you to do some cooking, too.



Lasagna style baked ziti


Pan-seared lemon sole


Pan-roasted chicken with lemon garlic green beans


Cauliflower and ham gratin


Skirt steak with pepitas sauce in warm tortillas

New Year's Resolution Week: Keep Calm and Carry On

Photo: evbjone, sfgirlbybay

This year, I am adding stress reduction to my list of New Year's resolutions. It's a learning process that sometimes just comes with age, but here a few things that I think will help speed along the process to keeping calm and carrying on.

1. MANTRA- Sometimes "breathe" or "slow down" works pretty well, but I am really liking the "keep calm and carry on" quote. Those red posters have seemingly surfaced everywhere as a tribute to nostalgic WWII British propaganda, but the message is clear and direct. I find it very useful.

2. QUIET YOUR MIND- Last year I bought "Quiet Mind: One Minute Retreats from a Busy World". This is my go-to book, for a quick dose of "the bigger picture". Each passage helps you reflect on one thought or action that will better your soul.

3. YOGA- I have been taking yoga at the Delaware House in Bayview, but there are lots of places in the city that offer Yoga.

4. LAUGHTER- I play the "30 Rock" DVDs while I workout, and sometimes I almost fall off the elliptical. My other comedic relief standbys?.....The Daily Show (episodes are available 24/7 on Comedy Central, David Sedaris books/NPR commentaries, and the weekly Onion.

New Year's Resolution Week: dress more European

Photos: Orchid Grey, The Owls Are Not What They Seem, Peter Miszuk

One of my goals for next year is to, overall, dress better. I feel that I have gotten myself into a rut this past year. The solution and plan is not to go out and buy a bunch of new clothes, but just to wear things better. I love the European philosophy that you dress "simply", buy your 10 basics, quality shoes, a quality handbag; and you use the accessories you have in new ways. Based upon these pictures, I need: more skinny pants, more statement necklaces, a REALLY nice Balenciaga bag, and a classic black blazer....and just stick to black in general. I'll get working on this.

For more tips on dressing European, see Joanna Goddard's blog ; she writes a whole section about "How To Dress Like a French Woman". Check out the photos from Paris Fashion Week in Elle magazine. I also go to the Weardrobe site to browse what other fashionable gals are wearing these days.

Over the next few days, aka "New Year's Resolution Week", I'll be posting more resolutions. Now, let's just hope the resolutions last for more than just this week.

Milwaukee Faves: Glorioso's Italian Foods

Glorioso's has been in the same storefront on Brady St. for over 60 years, but soon it will move across the street into the large stucco fortress that used to the be the Brady St. Pharmacy. I'm not thrilled about the move, but I do realize that Brady St. needs a larger grocery store. The little deli was small, yet cozy; a little outdated, yet charming. It sort of kept the trendy and ever-changing Brady St. grounded.

Free Downloadable Labels and Tags

I love these tags (especially the forks and knives labels). Download them here. The Poppytalk blog has lots of other great free downloads, too!

Top Ten Albums of 2009

This is it!.... my ten favorite albums of 2009. If you want to listen to these albums I suggest going to Lala.com because you can stream the album for free. Come check out the Top Ten Albums of the Year party at Trocadero tomorrow night (12/27), more info here.


Number 10: Great Lake Swimmers- Lost Channels


Number 9: Regina Spektor- Far


Number 8: Coeur de Pirate- Coeur de Pirate


Number 7: The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love


Number 6: Bon Iver- Blood Bank


Number 5: Discovery- LP


Number 4: Neko Case- Middle Cyclone


Number 3: Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


Number 2: The XX- XX


Number 1: Beach House- Teen Dream

New stuff: Christmas shoes!

These red plaid point-toe flats are now $11.88 at Target!

More cute red plaid stuff......



Red plaid iPhone skin from istyles, Buffalo check jumper from forever21, plaid clutch from Red Clover on Etsy, Wool dress stewart plaid wool throw from Pendleton

Wedding update: Vespa road trip through Italy

Photo: Adriano, bananastrudel

For our honeymoon, we talked about a lot of options: New Zealand, France, the Caribbean. Those just didn't seem like "us". But this, I'm really excited about. I think we'll spend a couple weeks in Europe traveling, but the main event will be a road trip from Rome to Naples along the Amalfi coast riding on a Vespa. It's about 120 miles one way and the terrain looks to be easily done on a scooter. We've done similar trips on Matt's scooter so we'll totally be ready for this!

Let me know if anyone has Europe travel suggestions (I love the heck out of comments!)

UPDATE: We went on our road trip! It was amazing. Read all about our trip, our route, our Vespa, and my tips for Vespa travel in Italy HERE.

Backyard Discovery: Rudolph the Red-nosed Mattress

I was driving down KK this morn', when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a old crusty mattress with Rudolph, a spray-painted reindeer.

Picture frame display at Abby's house

My friend Abby lives in Brookfield in a beautiful tudor style cottage house that she and her husband bought this past spring. After her holiday party last week, as I was leaving, I snapped this picture of the arrangement of picture frames hung above her dining room buffet. Her dining room already has a lot of architectural interest: built-in china cabinets, crown molding, textured walls, hardwood floors, old eight square windows, a radiator heater. So, this was a neat way to fill the wall space but keeping it simple to not over decorate the room. You could also hang vintage Christmas ornaments inside the frames or add fabric to the inside, like this one.