Maybe it's because I'm ready for spring, but I'm obsessing over white dresses. When I saw Taylor Swift's music video for The Hunger Games, my love for long, white dresses only increased. Here are a few favorites that I'm longing to see in my closet.
I am addicted to Downton Abbey, the Upstairs Downstairs-ish series about family, rank, and a period in flux. With the final episode of Season Two airing tomorrow, I couldn't resist adding a post to Downton's ever growing blog love.
For those who have missed the magic of Downton Abbey, here is a short recap. The series follows the Crawley family - the Earl and Countess of Grantham, their three daughters, and their numerous servants. Season One begins with the sinking of the Titanic and the consequent loss of the heir to the Grantham estate. The Crawleys discover that the new heir is a middle class lawyer, Matthew Crawley. The household is divided over whether or not Matthew should be allowed to inherit or if the entail should be fought so that the eldest Crawley girl, Lady Mary, would be allowed to inherit instead. Naturally, there is a romance, rivalry, and betrayal to round out the main storyline of class conflict.
Season One
The long awaited Season Two covers the social upheaval and loss of life due to World War I. This season does descend into the realm of soap operas with some rather sappy and incredible storylines. However, I think this season may be my favorite, but I'll have to wait to see how the season ends before I decide. You can watch the second season online at PBS.org until March 6th. Also, there is a Downton Abbey Wiki!
Season Two
Lady Mary - the elegantly dressed, anti-heroine of the series - is my favorite character, and her tortured relationship with Matthew Crawley is what keeps me tuning in week after week.
Once upon a time, Valentine's Day was an innocent holiday where you passed out 30 cardboard creations to your classmates and were rewarded with various pink and red confections. As you got older, you discovered that the holiday is actually based on the martyrdom of saints and how fitting this is as each year this holiday brings people to their knees in the hopes of the long awaited engagement ring or at the very least dinner at a swanky restaurant with the requisite dozen roses. It's time to return the holiday to the magic it held when you were five and your biggest concern was finding the puffiest red dress you could wear to class.
Obviously, you must consume a great deal of chocolate on Valentine's day, but don't let that stop you from indulging in other sweet and simple culinary delights. I've got my eye on the red velvet crepes for tomorrow's breakfast.
Just say "No!" to the lace and mesh contraptions that would make a stripper blush and embrace your fun, girly side. ModCloth has a sweet selection of red dresses, and BaubleBar's Love Bites jewelry collection adds just the right amount of bling.
I am on a search for a new pair of glasses to wear to work. Recently, I discovered Warby Parker's Home Try On program, which allows you to try five pairs of glasses for five days free of charge, and decided to give it a try.
I think my favorites are Leigh and Finn, but I, also, love the geekiness of Roosevelt. Since Warby Parker provides a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair they sell, I know I can't go wrong with any pair I choose.
I admit that sometimes I am guilty of vegging out in front of the TV and watching the Home Shopping Network, so I was highly entertained when I saw this video from Vogue Italia. Wouldn't it be fabulous if you could buy designer clothes this way?
After an Internet break that felt like an eternity, I am now chained to my computer eager to be swallowed up by the blogosphere once more. Over the last three months, I went on many adventures of an outdoorsy nature, and my appreciation for soap and toilet paper knows no bounds. However, now that I am surrounded by the comforts of home, my head is spinning while I try to catch up on all of the things I missed such as the second season of Downton Abbeyand the hundreds of new beauty products that are jumping out at me from magazine ads (the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush has me intrigued). It will probably take a few days before I settle back down into some sort of blogging rhythm, so stay tuned...
It has been over two years since I started The Fashion Planner, which is no small achievement since I had tried blogging before but was never able to stick with it. It has been such a pleasure connecting with people through blogging and discovering people who love fashion and books as much as I do. Sadly, the time has come for me to take a blogging/internet break. A new job means a new adventure but no time for blogging. I'm not going to say much about my new job right now because I'm a bit superstitious and don't want to jinx it (silly, I know), but I am excited about it since this job is completely out of the box for me, and I love living outside of the box.
I hope to manage a few posts around Christmas time, but I may not be able to start blogging again until February. When I return, I hope to revamp this blog a bit, perhaps even switch to WordPress. (I'd love to hear any thoughts on Blogger vs. WordPress.) Even though this will be my last post for a while, I will still be online this week updating Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest.
Re-reading Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
I read this biography a few years ago and enjoyed it. The Duchess is based on this book, and while I found the movie beautiful but depressing, the book is simply fascinating. Georgiana's life reads like an eighteenth century soap opera.
Listening to "Under Your Spell" by Desire
I've had this song stuck in my head since I saw Drive.
I am the queen of cheap sunglasses, but for once I would like to splurge on a pair. "The Bowery" is designed by Rebecca Minkoff, which makes me want these even more...
IFB Project #16 asks bloggers to discuss their morning makeup routines. My makeup routine is pretty simple. After washing my face, I apply Mary Kay TimeWise Day Solution and then a foundation. Right now I am using CoverGirl NatureLux Silk Foundation, which I like to apply with a foundation brush for more even coverage. A touch of blush, a swipe of mascara, and a dab of lip balm finishes off my look. My current mascara is from blinc, a brand I was unfamiliar with until I won this mascara in a giveaway. The staying power is really great!
My routine does change a bit depending on where I am going that day. I reach for the Balm overshadow for times when I want to draw attention to my eyes. M.A.C. and Limecrime are favorites for when I want to play up my lips with bold colors.
This week I decided that it was time to rock a new look and had between eight and ten inches cut off my hair. Usually, I get my hair cut gradually into a shorter style, but since I wanted to donate my hair, I had it chopped off all at once. I've never donated hair before, so I did some research before deciding on Children With Hairloss, an organization that helps people under 21 who are suffering from medically related hair loss. It was a great feeling walking out of the salon with a new look and a way to give somebody else a new look, too.
I am on a search for a new pair of glasses to wear to work. Recently, I discovered Warby Parker's Home Try On program, which allows you to try five pairs of glasses for five days free of charge, and decided to give it a try.
This week I decided that it was time to rock a new look and had between eight and ten inches cut off my hair. Usually, I get my hair cut gradually into a shorter style, but since I wanted to donate my hair, I had it chopped off all at once. I've never donated hair before, so I did some research before deciding on Children With Hairloss, an organization that helps people under 21 who are suffering from medically related hair loss. It was a great feeling walking out of the salon with a new look and a way to give somebody else a new look, too. 
