Friday Pick

Reed Krakoff's Kit Leather Purse from Net-A-Porter

This clutch purse just seems super fresh and cool. I would wear it with something pink or orange. We would be so happy together...

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

What's Up Thursday

I have a pretty bad La Croiz addiction. I'm talking like a three-can-per-day habit. My old faves were Lime and Cran-Raspberry, but then I found the Peach-Pear. It's so delicious and summery.

Photo via Styleite,com

Okay, this is super duper random but...did you hear they're making a Spice Girls musical?!?!? It's being produced by Julie Cramer of Mamma Mia fame. And, is aptly titled Viva Forever, after a '90s Spice song of the same name. I missed the reunion tour a few years back so I'm super pumped to maybe see this musical instead. It starts out in London (obvi), but maybe, just maybe we'll see a Broadway run.

Have you seen this awesome fireplace floating around on Pinterest? It's from the The Saguaro hotel in Scottsdale. How rad would it be to have a hot pink fireplace. Somehow I don't think it will happen in my house, but I still love it.

As much as I try to tell myself not to buy white dresses (because you literally can't wear them anywhere) I still end up buying them. They just look so amazing on! Like this dress and bananas jewelry Blake Lively wore recently...

Photo via People.com

By the way, can she take a bad photo? I mean, does she have someone with a wind machine following her? I feel like her hair is always perfectly blowing in the breeze. No wonder Ryan Reynolds is so smitten with her (btw did you see their new house?). Similarly I am obsessed with this white dress from Shopbop. So gorge, and imagine the shoe possibilities. But, seriously, where would you wear it?

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Benji Wednesday

I thought right before Fourth of July fireworks would be as good a time as any to talk about Benji's Thundershirt. Benji is by nature a pretty uptight guy. He's not a fan of many other dogs (except Luke and Elsie), he loathes parties and he is distressed by rain. Any rain, like three sprinkles and he's following me around the house panting. We've given him sedatives and tried to calm him down with petting him and holding him, but the one thing that really works well is his Thundershirt. It's supposed to work the same way swaddling a baby does, making him feel secure. And you can monogram it!

Now if only it would keep Luke away...

Bachelorette Recap: Week Seven

Photo via abc.com

Well, we got to the bottom of the "drama" between Arie (whoops I think I've been spelling his name wrong for a while now) and the Bachelorette producer. The short version is there is no story, a few dates a decade back do not a scandal make. Sorry, ABC, good try. I always love when Chris Harrison gets involved though, so let's make that happen again soon, mkay?

I'm telling you, Arie is in it until the end, and I actually think they could make it work. I see shades of Trista and Ryan here.

No such chemistry with Doug, who got the ax this episode on the group date. He was so sweet, but I really think he just wasn't Emily's type at all. And speaking of the group date, what a cranky pants Chris was. I felt bad for him in a way. I mean, I would be cranky too if I just sat in a hotel room in Prague and talked about other peoples' relationships, but you've got to have a poker face (and maybe a few cocktails). And, even though he got a rose, I stand by what I said last week about him. I just do not see it happening.

What did you think about Sean's run through the streets of Prague to find Emily? I found it cute and romantic, but I'm a bit partial. Methinks Emily likes him a lot too.

I really loved Jef and Emily's date as well. I thought it was super presh that Jef bought Ricki a marionette. He just seems like a totally solid person. And that hairdo is starting to grow on me. For serious.

At the rose ceremony, John was "auffed." I really didn't have much of an opinion about him, but I have to say I am so happy we will never have to see "The Wolf" after his name ever again. That was getting super old.

So four remain: Sean, Arie, Chris and Jef. Hometowns next week! Yay!

More Wedding Fun

Did you see these fabulous photos of Margherita Missoni's wedding (yes, that Missoni) this weekend? I love her wedding dress! So feminine and pretty. Apparently, she had two dresses that were the same cut and fabric, but the reception dress was pink. Per Styleite, the fabrics were Missoni. Just beautiful! Yay for wedding season!

Weekend Snaps

One of my oldest friends got married this weekend in our hometown. It was such a joyful weekend from start to finish. I can't believe it's already over!

The rehearsal dinner

The bride's bunny slippers

Bridesmaids dresses by J.Crew

The maid of honor's beautiful ring and the bustle of Allison's gorgeous dress

The sweetest ring bearers and flower girls ever

The awesome windows in the reception venue

Fresh table arrangements

 The happy couple

Can't wait for The Bachelorette tonight!!!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

What's Up Thursday

It's the little things in life that make the biggest difference. Isn't it? For years I wondered why Central Market only made a HUGE Mediterranean salad. So, I was beyond excited to find this little lunch-sized salad in the take away area. It's delish, and way cheaper than most salad lunches.

I finally found a mirror for this cute little table my mom gave me. It sits in our hall and it just needed something pretty above it. This mirror is from Global Views.

Oh and I found the nail polish color!!! It's Privacy Please, which I always shied away from, due in no small part to the super cheese name. But it's totally a new favorite.

This pretty clutch is from Target. Yes, for serious. And it was only $19.99. I'm kind of obsessed with it.

And, speaking of steals, how great is this little planter from Ross? I'm thinking it will be perfect for an orchid or a larger succulent in our kitchen.

That's all I know. Come on weekend!!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Benji Wednesday

I left my seat for like 5 seconds and came back to this on Sunday night. His face is the best. "Oh, were you sitting here?"

Also, while online tote bag shopping I came across this cute pet carrier at Lands' End. I don't know about you, but I've had trouble finding a pet carrier that doesn't remind me of Paris Hilton circa 2004. This one is just perfect for a dog Benji or Elsie's size, and it can be monogrammed! Hooray!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Bachelorette Recap: Week Six

Before we talk about any dates or plot twists or anything can we just discuss the top Ryan was wearing at the very beginning of the episode? I'm referring to the white ladies' workout tank top he was sporting while sitting around talking smack about Travis. I think it actually had a halter neck. In the end, Travis did go home, due to a seriously obvious lack of chemistry with Emily. I was sad to see him go, but it's hard to make an argument for him to stay.

All photos via abc.com

In other attire news, the best line of the night has to go to Sean: "The difference between a skirt and a kilt is, uh, nothing." But kilts were the order of the day at an impromptu Highland Games where Sean was undoubtedly the victor.

 Later in the evening, we saw more of Emily and Ari's chemistry on the romantic streets of Dubrovnik. I think he's definitely her favorite now, as long as he keeps her apprised of what's going on with the other guys, and if we can get to the bottom of what happened between him and the producer...

Was anyone else surprised about Chris getting the group date rose? I mean, he seems super sweet and everything, but for some reason I just don't see the two of them together.

And finally, after a three-hour grooming session that presumably included way too much manscaping, it was time for Tank Top and Emily to go on their one-on-one date. Oh my gosh, where to even begin. Let's start with him calling Emily a "trophy wife" numerous times and then trying to explain what that is to her. Props to Emily for not asking him to get on that oyster boat right then and set sail. 

Then, the list of twelve qualities Ryan wanted in a wife. I especially loved "servant" and "catches my eye." The wink that came after that last one will haunt me in my dreams. I think Emily felt the same, and thus he went home.

And that was it for the eliminations for the night. Six bachelors are going to Prague. I can't wait to get to the bottom of Producergate next week!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Weekend Snaps

I'm gonna be honest. Most of my weekend was spent like this...

When not lying comatose watching Girls on HBO (how awesome is that show, btw?) I helped friends host a baby shower for our friend, June, who is having a girl. The shower colors were super cute and there was a lot of delish iced tea and sweet baby loot.

The favors were these popcorn balls, aren't they cute?

The shower was at Forty Five Ten, and the T Room is currently decorated with all of these awesome oil portraits. I totally want one!

 I took my new L.L. Bean Boat and Tote to the pool. It took me a while to decide on something funny to monogram on it and I hope I succeeded.

Oh and I found my new favorite nail polish color. The only problem is the sticker was worn off the bottom at the salon so I have no idea what it is. Thinking of going to Ulta and going one by one down the OPI displays to see what it is. Fairly certain it's not Sweet Heart, Bubble Bath, Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs., or Passion. So that just leaves about 100 pinks in the OPI collection to look through. NBD, right?

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Friday Pick: The CBK dress

Before I got married I had an embarrassingly large inspiration book of wedding images. This was obviously pre-Pinterest--a total Godsend for brides-to-be. The first and probably most important pull page was this one.

Chances are you've seen it more than once. It was taken of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy on their wedding day (September 21, 1996) in Cumberland Island, Georgia. The dress was designed by Narciso Rodriguez, a close friend of CBK's, arguably launching his career into the upper fashion echelons.

Despite CBK's short time in the spotlight, due to her untimely passing, her style remains something of a standard for posh and minimalist style, due in no small part to the fact that she worked at Calvin Klein in the mid-1990s when the minimal look was at perhaps its most fabulous and Kate Moss looked about 12.

I snapped that last photo of Kate Moss and CBK out of my own copy of John F. Kennedy Jr. A Life in Pictures. Isn't it cool?

Even five years after her death, CBK was mentioned in the opening page of Bergdorf Blondes to describe the precise shade of Manhattan blonde (white not yellow) that could only truly be achieved by salon touch-ups every 13 days. But perhaps what I most associate CBK with is the minimal cocktail dress (usually black) that she made look so utterly amazing.

And while no one could do it like she did it, I noticed a few cool twists on the CBK dress recently I had to share.

Tibi

Ralph Lauren Black Label

Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein

I would pair them with very minimal strappy gold or silver sandals and a swipe of red lipstick for evening. They're just such a refreshing change of pace from over-the-top embellishments and patterns that are so abundant lately--not that those aren't super fun too! But, as CBK knew well, sometimes the best way to stand out is to scale back.

xo,

The Canary Diaries

What's Up Thursday

 I finally got around to really styling my office bookshelf. It formerly looked like so--just a complete jumble of random books and other stuff. I'm definitely a sentimental person and tend to hold on to things way too long, but this was ridiculous and very cluttered. As it is one of the first things you see when you come in our house, I wanted the bookshelf to be functional, but also pretty so I gathered up the silver, blue and white items I had in our house and put them all together. The only exception are the pink lizard frames on the left second shelf. Because, you have to have something pink in a "girl" office, right?

Against all better judgement I started reading Fifty Shades of Grey. I realize I am probably the last woman on earth to read it, but whatever. So far I think it's...interesting. Literary gold it is not...it makes Twilight look like Tolstoy, but I'm game to continue at least until the end of the first book.

You know I love a lip gloss, really of any stripe, but Maybelline Baby Lips may be one at the top of my list. It's super moisturizing and flavored but not overly so and it has an SPF.. This is the peach one, apparently the cherry flavor sells out everywhere, including my Target. It's no Sugar lip gloss, but it's a fun change (and way cheaper).

Okay, how cute is this little guy? My husband still hasn't noticed his appearance in our den and I think he'll probably banish him to the guest room when he does, but I think he's awesome. A pirate monkey?!? I mean, that's so funny, right? I think I'll put flowers in his tiny little vase hat. Aww! 

I think I'm going to start collecting hotel room keys. I love a good collection, but it has to be small. I have no display room for the 100s of Madame Alexander dolls I would like to collect a la Candy Spelling. So far all I have are these from the Hotel Giraffe where I've stayed a few time in NYC and  the below awesome pimp one from the Encore in Las Vegas (can you see the name printed on it?!), but give me time. Isn't that the mark of a good collection? Patience.

And, my craft projects!!! I recently completed my first big girl cross stitch sampler. It was a challenge, but also so fun.

I also did a set of coasters for my friend Allison with her wedding monogram. I made these for my girlfriends for Christmas a few years ago and I was so flattered she would ask for updated ones!

xo,

The Canary Diaries