~ sur la plage ~

November in Florida is like playing the weather lottery machine.  Take, for example, last November the 15th - it was COLD, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s.  This November is having none of that. Today was 70 degrees, a few days ago I wore shorts, and a few days before that we had the AC on.  But despite the unreliable temperature, there is something you can always rely on.  It will always be breathtakingly beautiful.

After a good lunch, a breezy walk on the beach, and a tour of the Crooked River Lighthouse, we got back home in time for dinner.  A perfect day.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ throwback thursday ~

This semester, Tuesdays and Thursdays have become my dress-up days.  Vintage dresses, bright lipsticks, my favorite shoes, actually putting effort into my makeup, and even attempting to match my socks.  Now as I write this, it's Friday, and I'm in my pajamas, have my hair in a knot on the top of my head, and a dab of honey on my cheek (FYI guys, gals, and everyone in between - honey works miracles on an overnight pimple), but I was too happy with yesterday's outfit not to share it.

Usually I have a pretty solid idea of what I want to wear when I wake up, and thanks to a week-long bout of insomnia, I've had more time than usual to think it over.  This not only makes my morning go smoother, but enables me to spend less time standing half naked in front of my mirror, holding up two different shirts to see which one matches the dark circles under my eyes best.

When in doubt, go with black (which, thanks to a house full of kitties, require some awkward positions with a lint roller).  I wonder if Audrey Hepburn had the same problem.

Slowly but surely my wardrobe is transitioning into that of a spy from the 1960s who specializes in jewelry theft and international espionage.  Not that I'm complaining.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ let's hear it for the boy ~

I've loved menswear as long as I can remember - walking into my grandfather's closet and seeing his suits on one side, and what seemed like 100 blue shirts that were only slightly different on the other, and all of his shoes, lined up neatly on a shelf underneath had a profound impact on my sartorial education.  Diane Keaton, Marlene Dietrich, Frida Kahlo, Cary Grant, equestrian wear from the '30s, etc., etc.  Classic tailored lines, broad shoulders, mismatched ties, vests, pocket squares, cuff links - I love it all.

This winter, I think I've worn a dress twice and that was only because all of my pants were in the wash (and it was 70 degrees), so I think it's safe to say I've entered a new era of my personal style.

{button up: Old Navy / striped shirt: Ralph Lauren via goodwill / blazer: Target / jeans: Gap}

I've spent the last week scouring Etsy, ebay, and Pinterest for vintage ties and riding pants, only furthering my obsession and making all my clothes seem boring and too feminine for my taste.  So if anyone has a velvet top hat or a three-piece tweed suit, I'd be happy to take them off your hands! 

xoxo,

Eliza

~ bad hair day ~

I've discussed turbans before - their practicality, versatility, and simplicity - but I'm going to talk about them again.  Just to start, in case you didn't already know, turbans are the best thing ever.  It doesn't matter what time of year, what time of day, or whether you have thin hair or incredibly thick, unreasonable hair (like me).  They look good on everyone, and are super simple to make yourself.

Cold day, hot day, rainy day, good hair day, bad hair day, cold day and rainy day AND bad hair day, and every other day.

All you need is a large scarf and a little patience and you've got yourself the style of Sophia Loren and a Vogue cover model from the 60s all rolled into one.

So the next time your hair is driving you nuts or the humidity is above 70%, try a turban!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ the good days ~

During the holidays (which I consider to be from thanksgiving to new year's eve) the days may be short, but I try to make them as fun as possible.  On friday I finished the semester with a very, very easy final exam, following three very, very difficult ones, and decided to celebrate with lunch in town and a visit to the Victorian Christmas in Thomasville...

After seeing this Humans of New York photo, I went back inside and put on a hat:

"I'm the lead designer for Stetson hats. I've never met someone as crazy about hats as me. My goal in life is for everyone to understand that there is a hat out there for them. I'm not even selling hats. I'm selling romance."

Next time you go to the Bread and Roses Kitchen, make sure you get the tofu bahn mi.  SO good.

Downtown Thomasville is even prettier at night.

What a great start to the winter holiday!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ cold weather cravings ~

In the summer I crave cucumbers, pasta salad, and mint ice cream.  In the fall I crave pumpkin-y things, halloween candy, and hot tea.  And when it barely hits 50 degrees all day, I crave hot, HOT soup and fruit.  A lot of fruit.

I've just discovered how awesome fresh pomegranate is and now nothing else will do!

And in this case, the soup in question is called Everything Soup (because I made it when I was in a bad mood and just grabbed everything from the vegetable drawer and dumped it in).  Green peas, onions, broccoli, carrots, tofu, pasta, some salt, lots of black pepper, cumin, and soy sauce.  First saute all the vegetables, then add the rest of the ingredients, about 4 cups of water, and let it simmer until the vegetables are soft enough.

Tonight for dinner it's butter beans, roasted vegetables, and a salad.  If the only physical activity I get this winter is going for a run every two weeks and speed walking around campus to avoid the cold, at least I know I'll be eating healthy.  (never mind the fact that I have a box of donuts on my counter right now)

xoxo,

Eliza

~ black and white ~

I love bright colors, don't get me wrong, but once in a while it's refreshing to stick to a black/white/beige color palate.  So a few days ago, with the help of my grandmother's coat, I stuck to my usual policy regarding pattern (LOUD, LOUD, LOUD) while keeping to my new color scheme...

{gap jeans, gap top, vintage coat, old navy flats, F21 hat}

Unfortunately it's now too cold to wear anything but layer and layers of sweater, three pairs of socks, leggings under jeans, a puffer vest, thick jacket, scarf, gloves, and hat.

{coat from my awesome mama, gap sweater}

Today I kept with the black/white theme but added a touch of red lipstick to warm me up (it didn't warm me up at all but at least I felt like I was doing something...)

And since Florida is expecting snow tomorrow, school got canceled - that means I don't even have to get out of my pajamas, can watch movies all day, snuggle with a kitten, and eat peanut butter cookies.  I can't think of anything better than that!

Hope you're all keeping relatively warm!

xoxo,

Eliza