take it to go: serving 1

We made it to Friday! I'm excited about that. And I'm excited to debut a fun new series, TAKE IT TO GO—a "doggie bag" of links that caught my attention throughout the week, packaged in a snappy, grab-and-go format. Look for it (named as a fun play on my soon-to-be-revealed blog rebrand!), on Fridays—'cause I love a good routine, the attention span for anything long-winded is shot by then, and with the weekend just hours away, you've got places to go, people to see. Hope you enjoy! This weekend's scheduled events include finishing up my taxes, trimming my hair and getting a pedicure. A little work, a little play. Only seven days til Arizona sun!

A SECOND LOOK. This trippy photo series explores beauty through facial symmetry. It'll make you stop, stare, squint—and maybe appreciate a little imbalance.

DRINK UP. I buy a different fruit juice every time I go to the store and this week it's red orange. What's left after Monday through Friday breakfast smoothies will be perfect for this Sunday brunch sangria.

CULTURE. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, but it's becoming increasingly pervasive in our lives: marriage proposals are now happening on instagram.

TRENDS. Baby-faced men are paying big money to get the manly beards of George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. I do appreciate a little scruff (wink).

PARTY HARDY. Wishing my Academy Awards viewing party was going to look like this! Ballot voting and Champagne are happening.

artisanal cheese and birthday candles

Fromagination is no secret when it comes to best specialty stores in Badgerland. A friend included it on a newcomer's guide she gave me when I moved to Madison last April, so it's been on my radar for awhile. But I hadn't stopped in until this weekend—I'm just coming around to some goat cheese dishes and can only eat feta if finely crumbled—so I didn't feel a pressing need to scope out the stock of artisanal cheese at this local favorite. But, really, any gourmet food shop has me wrapped around its finger and I was not disappointed in the Carroll Street stop. The warm-glow ambiance makes you want to linger, the French-speaking clerk (oddly) makes it feel familiar and homey, and the shelves are filled with more than just brie and bleu (going back soon for an adorable appetizer tray and keeping the gift baskets in mind for birthdays and holidays!). I'm bummed that the tastings and fondue classes are only offered on Wednesdays. They're just what I've been looking to schedule for my mom's next visit, but the mid-week timing is tough for out-of-towners. Happily, come spring (will it ever be here?) I found they offer more frequent wine and cheese pairings on the outdoor patio – and that, I'm sure, will be worth the wait. I ended up deciding on a jar of tapenade and expressing it to Minnesota for my mom's birthday, which is today! I have so many adoring words for her, but included them in her card and don't feel the need to repeat them here—so enjoy this pic of us at the lake instead (slides in the water were the coolest). Happy birthday, Mom!
 

mules and wall street wolves

Mules: clunky, chunky-heeled clogs often found on the feet of older women. Not traditionally the first style I'd choose to freshen up my spring footwear assortment. But that's all changing this season. The backless shoe is stepping into "it" status with metallic touches, spiky stilettos and more modern designs—and because it's perfect for both office hours and after hours, I won't feel a bit guilty about buying a pair. John Lefevre isn't feeling any guilt either. The man behind the @GSElevator Twitter handle was recently revealed—though he was never a Goldman employee, did work on Wall Street— and he's cashing in on his tattletale tweets with a six-figure Touchstone book deal. I am seriously intrigued by this guy's inventive "extracurricular activity," his method ("Early on, I tweeted more about specific people or deals, inside jokes/commentary, and even a few ad hominem attacks. That gave me a certain validation and credibility. But over time, the tweets have been increasingly styled to have a bit more commercial appeal."), and the book will no doubt feed your Wolf of Wall Street curiosity ("I went into investment banking and I saw a group of people that aren't as impressive as I thought they were—or as impressive as they thought they were. They defined themselves as human beings by their jobs."). Treat yourself to a mule, then read more about the proposed hardcover here.

 



















SHOP MULES: pointy toe. open toe. wedge.

seeing the sun

It's so much easier to get back into the weekly grind when the time between the cyclical task and toil is fun-filled. Brunching, window shopping and cocktailing on Saturday and Sunday is fuel for the next five days. And I feel like I'm starting Monday with a pretty full tank. It was such a high to get outside and walk around downtown for the first time in months. The sunny sky and mild temperature brought back to life the inner-animation that winter kind of kills. Saturday Emily and I joined the ranks of people stumbling out of their cold-weather comas for a bite at Bassett Street Brunch Club. The staff was friendly—while perched at the bar, several servers jumped in on our chatter which felt very "Cheers"—the service was quick—our meals arrived before we could decide which daily doughnut flavor to sample (but slipped in a maple-bacon as dessert)—and the energy was high— booths were bustling with UW students curing hangovers before heading out to incur new ones that night. Creative, unstuffy touches—like dubbing the breakfast drink list "Wake Up Calls"—give the place personality. And that's all I'm really looking for on the weekend. That kind of spirit and the impervious delight of my Saturday is something Alice Herz-Sommer had all her life. The oldest known survivor of the Holocaust, Sommer passed away Sunday morning in London. Her peace is something to hold onto. The documentary of her story is nominated for an Academy Award—catch it before the show airs Sunday!

via

best-dressed strategy and solid cologne

HAPPY FRIDAY. It was a quiet week, but a good week. I did receive a belated Valentine’s card and ten bucks sent direct from the coldest place on earth, so there’s the excitement for the past few days. Sometimes (I stress, sometimes) an uneventful routine is relaxing. But the wardrobe boredom I described Tuesday isn’t something I want to luxuriate in. This look is fun because it layers textures (rugged denim + soft knit with delicate cutout detail) and aesthetics (a feminine but sporty cotton skirt and masculine duck boots). It has elements of spring while still being practical for snowy sidewalks. Add thick gray leggings or faded stone skinnies to channel this fall trend. Combining classic separates in unique ways is a solid style strategy – it assures your wardrobe isn’t overly trendy and disposable, while keeping it fresh. In the end, these pieces all have longevity. And for my male readers today (perhaps prepping for a night out?), another thing that lasts: solid cologne. I don’t think men need to wear it, but do find a faint scent attractive – in itself and in its suggestion of good grooming habits. You might prefer dabbing a solid texture on the skin to spritzing yourself, it’s subtler and lasts longer than a spray, and the compact packages are easy to carry in your back pocket or gym bag. If there’s one thing you can be proud of, it’s leaving a good scent when you go. Check out a few options here. 

jacket. sweatshirt. shirt ( similar). skirt (gap - old). boots.