Tunes Tuesday: Esperanza Spalding

Anyone else watch the Oscars this past Sunday? Esperanza Spalding won Best New Artist at last year's Grammy's and she sang the "In Memoriam" tribute at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

p.s. My favorite Oscar gown... And probably my favorite Oscar lady! 

(via nytimes.com)

Strawberry trifle? Yes, please!

I've recently given up chocolate and candy for Lent. The first three days, I realized just how much I ate the two... and just how much my roommates could have killed me due to my lack of sugar. 

Post-Easter, I can promise this strawberry trifle will be on my list of baking-musts!  

This Spring: Polka dots

Polka dots are popping up all over this Spring! According to Refinery 29, "the polka dot’s all grown up, and ready to steal the spotlight in sophisticated silhouettes, this season..." as if I needed another reason to embrace this fun trend!  

If you're hesitant to leave your winter stripes behind for this pattern, start small with a clutch! 

But if you're feeling a little more gutsy, try this polka dot skirt from Etsy. It would look so cute with a red tank and some wedges! Very Zooey Deschanel. 

p.s. the polka dots I'll be wearing this Spring!

Tunes Tuesday: Sufjan Stevens

Looking for a relaxing song? Walking through the park anytime soon? In desperate need of some chill music amid all this midterm craziness, Hoosiers? 

Look no further! Sufjan delivers every time!

Stop motion

I recently watched "Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie, and I was once again reminded of how impressive stop motion is. Just watch this short two minute clip. I love the scene with the mustache!

Have a fun week!

Looking for something sweet to make? How about trying one of Martha's 17 cookie recipes?

Looking for something to drool over? Check out this NY Fashion Week coverage. I'm positively dying and wishing I was there! 

Looking for a laugh? Damn You Auto Correct or Anthroparodie.com 

always do the trick for me! 

Looking for something intriguing? Watch here.

Looking for Grammy fashion coverage? Guess who was covered in head to toe glitter...

Looking for music? Look for my latest Tunes Tuesday soon! 

Who's up for a cruise?

I've never been one who was intrigued by the Amazon... but this river cruise - my heavens! Spot pink dolphins? Sign me up! 

Plain or patterned?

Have you noticed how hot nail art is lately? I am not normally one for crazy designs (call me classic), but Chalkboardnails is a great resource if you're looking for some fun design ideas! 

Check out this James Bond design tutorial here!

Who doesn't love a good cheetah print? 

Tunes Tuesday: Wolf Gang

Have you ever seen Where the Wild Things Are? 

Me neither, but the ornate animal costumes in this video definitely make me feel as though I am watching an ode to said movie. This is definitely a song you will have stuck in your head for days to come, or at least have you tapping your foot for the next four minutes.

p.s. The singer was one of two boys who attended an all girls school. I didn't even realize administrators allowed boys in an all girls school! 

Have a fun week!

After staying at a friend's near Indy for the SuperBowl this past weekend, I am finding it hard to muster the motivation to get back in the rhythm of school. Woof.

Check out this helpful post about getting back in the groove from nycprgirls.com.

For me, planning a work out schedule and mapping out the week ahead of me always do the trick! ...Not to mention, watching the latest (and hundredth!) episode of Gossip Girl instead of tackling that that stack of homework.

Did I mention catching up with my favorite blogs is always a welcomed distraction? Here are some finds that make Monday a little bit brighter...

Still looking for Valentine's Day cards? 

This woman makes a living out of painting on vintage pages. What a cool mixed media idea!

I would like to check out the MOMA just so I could fill out one of these cards. What would you say? Learned? Got confused? Saw some stuff?

I've been itching to hit up Chicago's museums and the Shedd Aquarium lately. These discount days are most definitely something to take advantage of! 

Have you seen J. Crew's new arrivals? They are bright and spunky, but still classic and wearable forever! And that military jacket - too cute!  

Jason Wu for Target makes looking like Zooey Deschanel affordable for everyone! 

You can bet your bottom dollar my love can be bought this holiday

with Crumbs's Valentine Signature Collection

Roald Dahl takes London by storm

Although the world of paperback books might be dying, it's nice to see there is still some appreciation for a good read in the classic tale "Matilda" which is now a theater production at the Cambridge Theater in London! 

Although my oldest sister Madeline always preferred "Harriet the Spy," Matilda has remained one of my favorite children's stories. So much so, that when my cousin Joey made a reference to moving curtains with his eyes, I thought I had encountered quite possibly the coolest kid ever. No, in fact, I knew I had encountered the coolest kid ever. 

Now check out this killer set!

And how stinkin cute is Matilda? 

London, as if I didn't already want to visit you enough already, this play only adds to the fact that I must stop by soon! 

Tunes Tuesday: Jose Gonzalez

Hello, Wednesday, we meet again. Happy Feb. 1, friends! "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez is the perfect tune as everyone begins readying for Valentine's Day... Or readying for homework and midterms. Feel the love! 

I fell in love with this song after my sister pointed out that it appeared in this Sony Bravia commercial. 

Wonder how they got that many bouncy balls to roll down the streets of San Francisco? Watch the making of it here!