Hidden Perks of Polyester
Posted on April 4th, 2016
Dress // Sandals // Necklace // Earrings
It’s amazing how three words can pack a punch. I love you, I’ll be there, go for it, I miss you… But there is one in particular that sends off alarm bells in my head: Dry Clean Only.
Oh. So you’re saying I can spend $100 to wear this dress the first time, and then $11 for the privilege of every subsequent wear? No thank you. I love silky, crepe-y fabrics, but that is not a realistic part of my everyday budget.
I was so excited to find this dress— I love the seasonal versatility of the blue, it’s absolutely dressy enough for the office, but the flounce makes it fun. I wore it to work last week, received tons of compliments, and am pleased to report it is tumbling in the washing machine as we speak.
PS- my exact dress just sold out, but I’ve tried this one on too, and it’s basically identical! So many good color options, the Rosado is fantastic. This one is fun, too! Shop the look below:
Knowing Your Needs
Posted on April 3rd, 2016
Like many people, I love being needed but do not enjoy being needy. If you need a friend to step up and be your partner, I’m your girl. But I know how busy everyone is, and we all have our own problems to worry about, and I don’t enjoy saying “hello, I am feeling vulnerable, please give me more attention.”
Last week, I did exactly that.
Some backstory: Last summer, I moved 3,000 to a brand new city knowing pretty much just my (now) fiancé. I have heard people say it takes three years to really make a new place feel like home, and I believe it. We’re working hard to close the gap and make good progress (loved this piece written by my adventurous sorority sister, Hannah), but it can be slow going.
This is a moment in my life I want to share with those closest to me. As I prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime wedding to celebrate my marriage to Ian, I want to be looking at Pinterest while sipping wine with my girlfriends, browsing Little White Dresses with my mom, and looking at invitations with my grandmother. But they live thousands of miles away! It seems trivial, but I’ll never get this time again.
This past week, I panicked. We’re inside the 150 day mark until the wedding, and I have just felt much more alone in the process than I might wish. I articulated my feelings and emailed by bridesmaids something to that effect. I was very uncomfortable when I hit that send button, but their sweet responses have bolstered and reinvigorated me. (Thank goodness for technology!) Just being able to talk about it has made me feel more connected, and I have realized what I can do to quell a similar situation in the coming months.
Spring is a time for starting anew. Armed with a self-aware new outlook, I’m ready to advocate for myself and do just that.
A Hoppy Holiday
Posted on March 29th, 2016
Guys, Seattle is really far away. From everything. My own family hasn’t been able to visit us since we moved here; I was not about to blame the Easter Bunny if he wasn’t able to make the trip.
But you guys. He came!!! 😉
We had decided to host an Easter brunch at our apartment for a handful of close friends, and we really wanted to give them the full Easter experience.
After we made them hunt around our apartment for the eggs we had hidden the Bunny had hidden, it was time for brunch. I had made this breakfast casserole for my family at Thanksgiving and could not wait to make it again. With the croissants, gruyere, and parmesan, it’s a little expensive, a whole lot decadent, and and completely wonderful and worth it. (I modify it by adding a ton of veggies, using turkey sausage, and cutting the amount of gruyere and cream in half)
We paired the casserole with super yummy apricot glazed carrots that I’m sure the Easter Bunny would appreciate, fruit salad, champagne fruit punch, and traditional Hot Cross Buns. (Sacrilegious confession: I don’t care for hot cross buns) And of course, the coconut Nutella egg nests!
In short, there were eggs. There was tons of food. There was chocolate. Easter was a success.
Wedding Wednesday: Floral Arches
Posted on March 23rd, 2016
This past weekend, I stayed at the Ritz Carlton at Laguna Niguel as part of a weekend of JDRF fundraising. The JDRF events were great, but on Saturday afternoon I focused on a different kind of event: weddings! The Ritz is gorgeous and perched up on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, so unsurprisingly it is the site of many weddings. On Saturday, there were five that we saw! And while I am definitely not having a beach wedding, I am having an outdoor ceremony (more on that another time), so it was a lot of fun to walk around with my dad and get a little inspiration.
Christie and Jed conveniently got married right below my hotel room, so I could stealthily crash their entire ceremony. Best wishes, you two. You seem like a lovely couple!
Anyway. Outdoor ceremonies often need little decoration because the surroundings are innately beautiful, but the downside is these spaces lack a real altar, so they need a little definition. I think floral arches are the perfect way to add a little structure while maintaining the natural vibe. All of the brides getting married at the Ritz on Saturday seemed to agree!
One arch in particular stood out– I love the way the structure itself is entirely covered so the arch seems to be floating.
Such a beautiful spot.
I’ve pinned several others that I really like– I tend to like a mix of some greenery, too.
I think the last one is my favorite– the ribbons are a lovely touch! I’m also hoping another plus of a floral arch is it will mask the smell of my sweat in the hot August sun. Probably wishful thinking.
Glitter & Glue
Posted on March 23rd, 2016
Yup, Mother’s Day is still 46 days away, but good news, your shopping is done, we can all go home. You need to give all mother figures in your life Glitter and Glue for Mother’s Day– but first, read it yourself.
I don’t generally think of memoirs as my thing, but my own mother recommended it to me, and I take her suggestions very seriously. She is practically a full time professional book clubber, or as she calls it, a “book club slut.” In fact, she was so anxious for me to read it that she told me to get it on Amazon and put it on her credit card. Twist my arm.
Whether you and your mother have always been the best of friends or have a complicated past, you will be so moved by Kelly Corrigan’s story. It may not seem like much– she just chronicles a fleeting five month period of life in her early twenties– but her interpretation and remembrance is lovely. Half journal, half self reflection, this book is short, sweet, deeply touching, and deeply human. And makes us grateful for mothers everywhere.
Recent Recipes
Posted on March 14th, 2016
Cooking has gotten to be a bit more challenging in recent weeks as I have added things to my schedule, but I continue to make it a big priority. At work, I spend time thinking about sweepingly broad questions with abstract solutions, and there is something that feels so good about coming home and using my hands to methodically make something for myself (and Ian, too).
We focus on protein with some veggies during the week, and whether I’m using a crockpot or putting everything together once I get home my #1 priority (besides making something healthy) is simplicity. I can’t imagine I’m the only one who feels this way– here’s a few recipes I’ve enjoyed lately to pin and add to your personal cookbook.
Crockpot Beer Braised Chicken— I don’t make a habit of breaking into booze during the week, but this was a wonderful reason to make an exception. I just dumped everything into my slow cooker before work. The hardest part of the recipe was chopping the onion and pepper.
Cauliflower Fried “Rice”— I’ve made this one several times over the past few years and I LOVE it. Without a food processor it could be pretty labor intensive, but if you have access to one it’s a snap. It’s an incredibly satisfying (yet low calorie) meal because the flavors are full and you get to eat heaping mounds of the stuff!
White Bean Soup— Loved the flavors here, although I did not find it satisfying enough as a standalone dish. Which we learned the hard way…
Drunken Noodles— A healthy version to make if you’re craving the kind of salty goodness that comes in a little white takeout carton. If you’re a bit of a wimp like me, though, you may want to tone the spice down!
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken— FOUR ingredients. FOUR. We used the chicken with a little homemade guac to make the most basic burrito bowls, but you could use this as the base for many dishes.
And not to be outdone… Sweet and Sticky Apricot Chicken— With three ingredients!!!!! I know the flavors sound a bit weird, but trust me, it works! I did make the skinny Russian dressing from scratch, but even that was super easy. We lightened it up and simplified a bit by using skinless chicken breasts and serving over steamed veggies.
What should I make next week? We’re still having chilly and gloomy days here, so I think this soup is on the short list.
Beauty Reset with Farfetch
Posted on March 13th, 2016
The past few years have been a little rough for my skin. Hardly a glamorous admission, but true. Most people link bad skin to oily teenage boys who got their dad’s old sedan for their sixteenth birthday last week, but my skin problems really set in after I started college. In fact, some studies estimate as high as 54% of women have some degree of acne. It’s practically trendy.
Maybe due to a new environment or added stress, but for some reason things really surged when I moved to Seattle. Not something a twenty-something in a new city with a new job wants to be dealing with. When I went to see a new dermatologist just after getting engaged last fall, he said “Ummm… how long do we have until your wedding?” So that was reassuring.
I’m probably jinxing myself with this kind of proclamation, but after six months of trial and error, things are more under control, but my skin does show some damage. Besides the prescriptions, I’ve been sticking with super neutral, drugstore products and my trusty makeup favorites… but I know I would probably see great returns were I a bit more adventurous.
Enter Farfetch! They reached out to me a few days ago about their new beauty section, a perfect addition to their dazzlingly impressive selection of designer apparel and accessories. Just the nudge I needed to start thinking more creatively about everyday maintenance options, particularly to help my skin look a little brighter and more even as it heals.
Brightening Cream // Eve Lom Moisturizer // Makeup Remover // BB Cream
So many good options! Plus then I browsed through their whole shoe section, too, just to make sure no beauty products had been misfiled. I’m not sure these pumps would help my skin, but they would definitely help my life.
Wedding Wednesday: SMP March Madness
Posted on March 10th, 2016
As I’ve mentioned, Style Me Pretty is my #1 source of all wedding inspiration. In addition to curated and styled posts, they share profiles of real weddings every day– I love them all!
I am a college basketball fan, but if event planning and pretty pictures are more your thing, check out SMP’s March Madness bracket. So much fun! This is the post of weddings who made it into the big dance, and voting is open for the Sweet 16— make your voice heard!
I’m not good at picking favorites from such a beautiful group, but I love the Blue Ridge Mountains wedding, the Napa wedding, and the outdoor Georgia wedding. They all look like parties that would be both fun and beautiful to attend, and the couples’ love is really captured in the photos. Which are your favorites?
Here’s hoping our big day will be half as gorgeous!
Collection of Collections
Posted on March 7th, 2016
There are several collections floating around the internet that I’m pretty darn jazzed about. From new homes for amazing designs to the refreshingly exotic, there are lots of reasons to feel inspired. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Pillowfort
This is hardly the first Target offering I have loved, and it certainly won’t be the last. Their gender-neutral line is designed with kids in mind, but when has that stopped me before? This pineapple lamp will be mine. Strategically and sparingly used, I think several of these pieces can be very easily (and affordably!) incorporate into adult spaces.
Favorite items: Pineapple lamp, Flamingo lamp, Scallop side table, Be Happy print, Oar with hooks, Happy Place pillow
PS- it’s all 20% off right now!
Loren Hope
The Loren Hope lookbooks are always visually so stunning, and the recent Hawaii-inspired one is so on point. I literally gasped when I saw this necklace… and then gasped again when I saw how woefully out of my price range it is. Looking forward to the release of more chapters!
Favorite items: Amala statement necklace, Amala necklace, Eden Y necklace
C. Wonder
Look who is back in action! The sudden closing of C. Wonder stores a year ago left lovers of cheeky loafers in shock, but Brad Goreski (of Fashion Police and Kate Spade fame) has answered our prayers and resurrected the brand with a collection on QVC. To be honest, I have no prior experience with QVC, but the C. Wonder items seem to be completely reminiscent of the preppy, feminine lifestyle brand we all knew and loved. And yes– they brought back the shoes.
Favorite items: Be Happy loafers, tassel necklace, striped shirt dress, signature cardigan
Blithe at Belk
I have been so excited about this one. I first saw Blithe NYC dresses featured on Society Social‘s Instagram, and anything that is good enough for the fierce Roxy Te Owens is good enough for me. Blithe dresses have been available for a few seasons, but as of Saturday their collection is available at a major retailer. Belk now carries a handful of exclusive, adorable, and relatively affordable styles. I have this one in mind for upcoming wedding events!
Favorite items: White embellished sheath, Pebble jacquard A-line, Blue double ruffle
PS- Watch for a 20% off code on Thursday! Smaller sizes to be added to the site soon.
Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week
Fashion week is nearly always too avant-garde for me to really appreciate, but D&G’s Fairytale Fashion collection was too fun not to love. The finale is enchanting!
Well, we started with Target, and ended with haute couture. So don’t tell me there isn’t something for everyone on A Cultured Pearl!
Buy the Warranty
Posted on March 6th, 2016
When you’re making a big purchase, the last thing you want to do is spend more money on it, let alone weed through the legal jargon on a dense warranty document. But let’s say this time you do buy the warranty. Can you ever imagine a scenario where you say, “ugh, if only I had not bought that stupid warranty! what a waste!” Maybe I am just speaking for myself here, but I imagine even if funds were low at the end of a month I would a lot more critical of my Starbucks and chopped salad habit than of a sense of security I had purchased.
I have had two recent circumstances where I was just so glad to have had a warranty on the books. In October, I finally replaced my pre-college laptop. “Laptop” in this instance is a misnomer because it was in fact too old and clunky to be unplugged and moved. I got a beautiful new Mac Book Air with a side of that pricey Apple Care. The difficulties with this computer set in nearly instantaneously, but I limped along until January. Once Ian convinced me that it really isn’t normal for a brand new computer to shut off without any explanation, I took my computer back to the store. They ran the diagnostics and gave me a new one, no questions asked.
On a more sentimental note, I was so sad this fall when I noticed a diamond had fallen out of the beautiful right hand ring Ian had given me on the fifth anniversary of when we started dating. The peridot center stone is very meaningful for me, as it is both my birthstone and the birthstone of my beloved grandmother and great-grandmother– it was a very sweet, sentimental selection. After noticing that I wasn’t wearing the peridot ring as much, I confessed to Ian what had happened. He reminded me that he had bought a warranty on the ring that covered all manner of repairs, and I was ecstatic when it came back as good as new this week!
All of this is to say that you’re much, much more likely to be glad you did buy a warranty than wish you hadn’t. One of those delicate grown up matters I am learning is that some expenditures are better than saving, and I think this really qualifies. So, take the chance; protect your favorite and most important things. Worry less, and live more!
