birthday treats

o me o my! what a lovely little birthday i had, thanks to my lovely family. buttercream frosting and brown paper packages, blt's with avocados and a couple hours of blissful napping. o yes, and some presents too!


this is my new red shift dress from Anthropologie which i got with my gift certificates from christmas. it came the very next morning after my birthday and so did the gorgeous glass earrings you see hanging near the collar which were a birthday present (thank you xty!!!!). they come from the shop of little brown bird who sells exquisite jewelry on etsy. here's a better look:

(photo talents of littlebrownbird)

i also received another etsy surprise, some handmade soap from "mom #2." thank you thank you! It's chocolate espresso soap from Kreated by Karina and it makes me terribly hungry...

(photo talents of KreatedbyKarina)

p.s. tomorrow i must tell you about the most bodacious birthday gift given to me by my fiance. i'll give you a clue: a brand spankin' new SEWING MACHINE!! photos and drool to come ;)

my new vintage inspired outfit

so very excited, i got a new dress today! it doesn't happen very often that i get new clothes lately but it seemed to have my name written all over it at the store. plus, i just began volunteering each week at the library/archives at Dumbarton Oaks and it's very nice to have a new work appropriate outfit that fits right and is not a sweater with holes in the elbows or pants that somehow became a bit too short since last winter...

it's one of those dresses that, on the rack, i would not expect to like. i can't quite pin down what color it is and i'm always afraid a dress will make me look like i'm expecting. how nice to find something that is ladylike and comfortable with a bit of vintage charm that seems to say, "hi i work with dusty books and old photographs all day and when i grow up i'm going to be a female indiana jones!" ooo i love it! i'll just need to add some warm leggings so i do not freeze while walking to work.


for now, i've paired it with an old cable-knit black sweater i have with large buttons and my favorite pair of black dress shoes...these also look a bit vintage but are actually only a few years old. i imagine they are the kind of shoes i would wear if i were walking over a bridge in paris (luckily blisters don't exist in my dreams).