I love stumbling upon amazing artists whose work creates an emotion I can feel deep within my chest and these amazing paintings by California artist Clare Elsaesser do just that. Here are a few of my pieces:

vacation.

I realized on Wednesday of last week that if I don't go to a European country that has a beach for at least a week, I may just die. Not really, but internally I may go a little cuckoo. The last time I went to Italy was the summer before I began my senior year of college, and the escape from reality, from work, technology, real life-- not only put me back on track but left me with a sense of calm and the feeling that I was ready to take on the world when I returned home. Right now the weekends fly by far too fast to get anything but errands in and the weeks fly by so quickly that very few hours of sleep are possible. All I keep thinking of is the beach, the warmth of the Italian sun, wiping sand off of my legs, and the feeling that I, yet again, cannot believe where I am.

a sunday kind of love.

Last week this blog missed many an update! And it has made me a very guilty blogger, to be totally honest. But sometimes life takes over and you just can't help yourself. Instead of spending an hour or so taking outfit pictures with the boyfriend, I spent it lying in bed next to him today, talking and simply trying to move as little as humanely possible (Sundays are particularly difficult for me-- even moreso when I don't know when I'll be seeing him next). Instead of running around and doing errands on Saturday, I hung out with my friends and streamed the Eurovision competition, ordered food, and had a blast. Yes, getting errands and chores and blog entries done is always on my to-do list (and haunting me in the back of my mind), but sometimes it's a little better to spend your time laughing with people you don't see very often (or, who you do, but don't necessarily get to spend 3 hours laughing with) than running around and paying half attention to them. It's nice to take a breather every once and a while and just be with your friend or significant other. And when you do it as rarely as I feel that I do, sometimes there really is nothing better :) 

But don't fret, I am back this week-- with entries!

{Source}

m-o-u-s-e.

I finally pounced on the Marc by Marc Jacob mouse flats I have been dying for since I was 15 (I ordered a gift from ShopBop and thought, why not?). Marc more than delivered!

 

They are not only adorable (I am a sucker for putting faces on inanimate objects), but are super duper comfortable. I got in 3 hours of shopping in these babies on Sunday and my feet did not blister or hurt in the slightest. And when I'm feeling funny I like to make whoever I'm with look down and watch my mice dance-- gotta love a shoe that lets you have a little fun!

{aren't they just the cutest?}

guest blog: the accessory without which I would feel naked.

Hi everyone! I'm Diana (you may know me from here & here) & I am so excited to be guest blogging today! I am a little nervous as I've been reading Corinne's blog every week and the thought of writing something for it makes me giddy with excitement. I just wanted to share a little bit about my fashion obsession with all of you and Corinne, amazing as always, agreed to let me steal "Cat eyes and thigh highs" for a little while.

So here it goes:

You know how some girls want to have a closet full of shoes? Or a wall with shelves for tens of bags?  I have always wanted to have a closet for watches. I could wake up every morning and pick the perfect one for each perfect day.

I am not sure when the obsession started but I am pretty sure it was early on. The watch, for me, growing up seemed to be a sign of sophistication and elegance that went unspoken. Like the missing piece to a puzzle. The thing your outfit needed but you just couldn't put your finger on it. Adding a watch always changed the way I saw a person. It was a way of showing professionalism and class just with the help of a little accessory.

The first time I saw one was on my dad's wrist. It sat there majestically and it did not leave his hand until bed time.
It guided him day after day and I wanted to have one almost immediately.
From the time I got to pick my first one in a local market in Bucharest, I knew shopping for watches would become a passion.

Since that plastic, black watch I'd like to think my watches have evolved. Maybe not my purchases but at least my taste.

I believe in watches that talk about you as a person. You could be the most soft spoken girl ever and yet rock a kick ass boyfriend watch on your tiny wrist like nobody else. A watch should not only match what you wear but who you are. It should match what you want to think of when you look at it. Much like underwear, the perfect watch can make you feel different almost instantly.

There are people out there that argue that cellphones are eliminating the need for an actual watch. Wrong! The watch is so much more than a way of telling time. It's a fashion statement and it has no expiration date. It's up there with the thigh highs and the satin pjs. Sure you don't need them, but they make you feel special.

In my never-ending quest for watches I stumbled upon one that I fell in love with. After hours of debate and incessant complaining (Corinne was a good sport and put up with all of this), I purchased it. It came in on Monday and I was so excited to see it, mostly because it would have been the perfect start to my week that had already gone so bad. I opened like a kid on Christmas day, only to be disappointed because they sent me the wrong watch! There's nothing worse than a failed order. So for all you fashionistas out there, if you see this watch

be a friend and tell me. I will forever be looking for it.

From a diehard watch fan to all of you reading this, the next time you go shopping look for a watch, put it on and let it work its magic. Try a couple, see which one fits you and keep it on for a day. See if it makes a difference. Don't take my word for it, but don't give up on them. And never ever just buy one because it was the first one you saw! :)

where have i been?

So much has been going on that I just don't have a clue where to begin. Work is picking up and I feel like the days go by so quickly that by the time I come home I am beat, unable to do anything other than lie in bed until I can't keep my eyes open any longer. Last night was particularly difficult-- tossing and turning has become a nightly routine that I simply cannot break, and morning coffees have multiplied.

Speaking of, Frank has gotten me addicted to Nespresso coffee. He just received his machine in the mail and we must have had 7 coffees on Saturday alone. He had off- which was a splendid change of pace. We spent the morning with Jay Gatsby (which I feel I need to see again to really decide if I like it or love it), went home and slept through a thunderstorm, and saw Iron Man in the evening. Before we knew it, our weekend was over, finished off with warm milk and cookies (my new favorite before-bed snack).

Sunday was spent running errands (with me picking up a few items for myself-- I simply could not resist this adorable blazer) and preparing everything for Monday before Game of Thrones came on TV (Frank & I have a Sunday ritual that consists of dinner & GoT). I also busted out my Marc by Marc Jacob mouse flats that I bought last week (after 7 years of want); they held up well during my 3 hour shopping spree very well (could not be happier)!

At the moment I am freezing my booty off at work in NYC (Mother Nature had me hot as anything on Friday when I wore a sweater and freezing yesterday wearing an oxford shirt). I have been dreaming of blog shoots and entries lately, but just haven't had the time during those few moments of beautiful weather-- and it makes me feel quite horrible!
Just know that I am thinking of this blog-- and you guys! You have not been forgotten & neither has CE&TH! I (& entries) should be back in full swing as soon as I can (but no later than next week. Pinky promise). 

happy {yay} friday!

The weekend is fiiiinally here again! Only this time I am more excited than usual because I get to spend it getting a double feature (Gatsby & Iron Man--crossing my fingers that they are both amazing) & hanging out with the boyfriend who has off on a Saturday for the first time since Valentine's day. Seriously. This was the last time. Talk about a weekend worth celebrating!
Anywho, because I am unable to pass my happy, giddy feeling along to you guys in person, here's a video to get you on the path toward it. Truthfully, I haven't watched something that made me laugh this much in quite sometime-- or make me smile as much. Enjoy!
  Happy Friday, guys!