What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! How were your weeks? As is the case after any holiday, mine was busy but also productive, which is always a nice way to feel as the weekend approaches. And while I don't have any firm plans for the next few days yet—aside from picking up a little (live!) tabletop Christmas tree and getting the majority of my gift shopping done—I'm really looking forward to spending time here in Sarasota, enjoying the perfect weather we've been having lately. Oh, and I'm totally baking something this weekend, too, whether it's the brioche I was salivating over in this post or this orange gingerbread with cream cheese frosting from Joy the Baker (hello, holiday-appropriate dessert). I promise to report back on what I made next week.

In the meantime, if you're looking for some fun reads, here are three links:

I love Paul Rudd (he used to be a bat mitzvah DJ!). (T magazine)

Did Robert Burchfield, former editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, "covertly delete thousands because of their foreign origin" from the dictionary—or was he just a good editor? Regardless, it's pretty fascinating. (The New Yorker)

Ann M. Martin's 10 favorite Baby-Sitters Club books (!!). I was obsessed with the BSC when I was younger; I most identified with Mary Anne (take from that what you will). (EW via the Fug Girls)

Have a great weekend (the first one in December! Eek!), and I'll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

Photo: My new cake stand (with scalloped edges!), which I am in love with. Thank you, thrift store.

Animal prints.

I don't know what it is about me and animals on articles of clothing (or accessories) lately, but I've suddenly become obsessed. I bought that black-and-white bunny tee from Anthropologie above a few weeks ago and it's my current favorite shirt; if I can get my hands on that Madewell sheep sweater, it'll likely become a go-to top on cooler days, as well. Here are a few of my other favorite animal-inspired picks (how adorable is that little Scottie dog?).

Anthropologie penguin cardigan; Madewell sheep sweater (sold out online, but maybe available in stores); Anthropologie bunny T-shirt; C. Wonder Scottie dog sweater; Kate Spade iPhone case.

P.S. This year I put together a little holiday gift guide (which was a learning experience with Photoshop, if nothing else!). It was really fun to create and I tried to make it personal and not let the products overtake it, so if you're looking for some fun gift ideas, it'll be up next Tuesday.

Lincoln.

Have you seen Lincoln yet? I'm probably way late to this party, but we saw it on Sunday and it was so great—beautiful and moving and so well done. I love 19th-century American literature and history, so I had a soft spot for the film going in, but Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln is superb, and so are Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Lee Pace (who I've had a crush on since Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Pushing Daisies).

What movies have you seen lately? The last one I saw was Argo, which I also loved.

Manger.

I'm sure you all read Mimi Thorisson's beautiful blog, Manger, already, but I only recently discovered it and feel like I've fallen down a rabbit hole. The lovely writing, the delicious recipes (brioche with orange blossom water!), the beautiful, moody photography...it's all just so good (and French!).

All photographs by Mimi Thorisson for Manger. 

A breath of fresh air.

I don't know about you, but even though I love my job, the idea of crawling out of bed this morning was kind of awful to consider after four days of—at least for me—pretty much pure relaxation. I ate (my cheesecake was a hit!), I read, I shopped, I slept, I snuggled, I spent time outside (I highly recommend long Black Friday Bike Rides, by the way), I spent time inside, I watched movies...it was glorious. So if you're feeling a little...underwhelmed...about getting back to the grind today, too, I present you with this photo, which I snapped at my parents' house on Thanksgiving morning, as a sort of visual breath of fresh air. Here's to a new week.

How were your Thanksgivings, if you celebrated? (And if you didn't, how were your weekends?)

P.S. The holidays are officially upon us now, huh? Eep!

American tintype photography.

My friend Megan posted link to this video, American Tintype, on Facebook last week and I just knew I had to share it here. It's a beautifully shot and edited short film about a subject that I'm suddenly eager to learn more about.

And truly, how stunning are those photographs?

P.S. I'll be taking the rest of the week off for Thanksgiving; I hope you guys have a wonderful holiday (and a happy rest of the week), and I'll see you back here on Monday. xo

Thanksgiving baking.

Last week, I sent out a worried tweet:

"Fretting over whether I have time to make Thanksgiving dessert Thurs. morning if I go to my parents' then instead of Wed. #firstworldproblem"

(When I called my mom to vocalize this thought, she replied, "That's so funny; I was just thinking about that." The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)

Anyway, you'll be happy to know that I've decided to bake my dessert—a pumpkin cheesecake featured on the cover of November's Saveur, which will satisfy the pumpkin lovers in my family (my mom and me) and the cheesecake lovers (my dad)—on Wednesday night, then cart it to my parents' house on Thursday morning, along with a chocolate cream pie from Yoder's (remind me to blog about the pie lines sometime soon). I'm really excited for Thanksgiving; we're having a super-small one this year, since my brother will be in California, but with all that's been happening lately, it'll be nice to unplug, relax and eat a lot of really good food. 

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

P.S. These Parker House rolls from the November Bon Appetit will also be making an appearance. Yum.

Photo by Beth Rooney for Saveur.

Red lips.

One of my favorite ways to add interest to any outfit—be it super-casual or super-formal—is to apply red lipstick. I'd been hesitant to do this in the past because I was always afraid of looking like a clown, but I've found that the right shade and some good blending make all the difference, and now I apply a coat at least a couple of times a week. My current favorite is Revlon's good old "Ravish Me Red," available at most drugstores for less than $10, but I'm dying to try Ilia's "Wild Child,"  which is made from organic ingredients and looks like it would be so pretty.

Photo: Martha Stewart

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! How were your weeks? Things seem to be picking up around here lately, and while I'm excited for the holidays, I find myself making tons of lists and programming a lot of reminders into my phone in an effort to make sure things don't slip through the cracks. (Excitingly, I think the next list I'll be making is my holiday cookie master plan. It may be time for those nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookies to make their debut in my kitchen.)

In other news, I am in desperate need of some new clothes (ACS has started to referring to my favorite striped Gap top as my "Sunday shirt," as in I wear it every weekend), so I think a trip to the store is in order. It's been a little cooler here, so I'm looking forward to picking up a few pretty things that aren't T-shirts. What are your plans for the next few days?

Oh, and if you're in the mood for some reading, here are three fun links:

I know she's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love Stacy London (I met her earlier this year and she was wonderful), so I really enjoyed reading her feature on The Coveteur. (The Coveteur)

I want to see Anna Karenina (the movie), which stars Keira Knightley. Here's the New York Times review.  Will you be seeing it? (The New York Times)

No more Twinkies: 16 vintage Hostess commercials. (New York Magazine)

And bonus: I know you've probably all seen it, but here's Pete Wells' scathing review of Guy Fieri's new Times Square restaurant. Eep. ("Why does the toasted marshmallow taste like fish?") (The New York Times)

Have a great weekend (the last one before Thanksgiving!) and I'll see you on Monday. xoxo

Photo: Kari Herer

Dress your desk.

I guess it's time to begin thinking about 2013 calendars, huh? (Seriously, where does the time go?) This desk calendar from Rifle Paper Co., with a stand designed by Makr, is at the tip-top of my super-official (ahem) Calendar Consideration List. So pretty, right?

P.S. Thanksgiving is one week away. Yikes!

Signature scent.

Do you guys have a favorite perfume? For the past few months, I've been wearing J'Adore (by Dior), and although it smells good, it just doesn't feel like me. Before that, I wore Jo Malone's Orange Blossom (it smelled amazing but faded super quickly), and before that I was in love with Miss Dior Cherie, but that feels too sweet these days. I also keep a tube of Long Winter Farm's Orange Blossom roll-on perfume in my purse, but I want something I can spritz.  I've been thinking of trying Kai (gardenias!), but I'd love to know what you guys are wearing and loving, too.

Photo: Anthropologie. 

Homemade hot chocolate.

There are just some things that are perfect for cool fall nights. Hot chocolate is one of them.

I don't generally keep cow's milk in my fridge unless I need it for baking (long story), but when my wonderful friend and college roommate, Mel, came to stay with me for a couple of days last week, I bought a carton of milk with the clear intent of using it for one thing and one thing only: Homemade hot chocolate.

The way I make hot chocolate isn't groundbreaking, and I'm sure I could fancy up the recipe by chopping up a good-quality chocolate bar and adding some spices (cinnamon or maybe even chipotle would be amazing) instead of using cocoa powder, but it is delicious and rich and comforting and creamy and everything you want in a cup of cocoa. All I do is heat a cup of whole milk on the stovetop and then pour it over a mixture of 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Stir everything together (make sure to mix well, as it'll get clumpy if you don't), add about a quarter teaspoon of vanilla (maybe a little more; just eyeball it) and then top the whole thing with generous clouds of homemade whipped cream. (The more whipped cream you add, the creamier the cocoa will be because the whipped cream will melt right into it.)

And seriously, that's it. Serve it in a pretty teacup with a little garnish—we had salty-sweet chocolate-covered pretzels from Sirard's here in Sarasota that I got at an event—and enjoy. Yum.

Photo: A la mode*

How to plan a Sarasota beach wedding.

I know I say this all the time, but seriously: meeting new people is a huge perk of my job. A few months ago, I met and had a brainstorming session about local weddings with the amazing, lovely and talented Naomi Chokr and Sarah Tucker, and the result is a stunning  feature that the two of them concepted, produced and shot for the magazine I work for. Above are just a few of my favorite images; you can see the rest—and a list of vendors—by clicking here.

All photographs by Naomi Chokr

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy weekend, everyone. It's been quite a week, hasn't it, what with the election and, at least for me, the realization that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away?

Tonight I'm having dinner with friends (including my college roomie, Mel, who's staying with me through tomorrow morning) and then heading to Orlando to see family on Saturday. It should be a busy weekend, but with the weather being insanely beautiful lately and a plethora (yes, a plethora!) of people I love around, it should be a pretty good one, too.

And if you're looking for something to read, here are three fun links:

How the photographer behind New York magazine's amazing Hurricane Sandy cover got that shot. (Poynter)

The many beverages of James Bond. (Bon Appetit)

Huffington Postmodern: Creating haikus using only HuffPo headlines. Awesome. ("Meanwhile, in Florida...") (Vanity Fair)

See you guys Monday. xoxo

Photo: My sweet Oscar, mid-flop.

Kate Spade for Keds.

Kate Spade for Keds: Cute.

(I wore Keds all the time as a little girl—specifically white ones paired with my grade-school school uniform, which consisted of oh-so-attractive plaid culottes and a white sailor shirt with a plaid tie. Memories...)

Life lately, in Instagrams.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I love Instagram. While I admit that it probably makes my life look unrealistically charmed (you won't ever see a photo of my messy apartment on there, you can count on that—also, no lie, the filters are excellent for faking glowy, flawless skin), I enjoy that it often makes me stop and capture a sweet moment that I might otherwise have missed.

Here's a snapshot of what's been going on in my life lately, according to my Instagram feed: A new bag (thanks, Mom). Leopard heels. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a cookbook I'd been coveting for ages. My favorite bookstore ever (in Jacksonville), where said cookbook was procured. Dinner on the water with friends at Mar Vista. Chickens in Sarasota! Pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting. A wedding at the beautiful Ribault Club (also in Jacksonville). My all-time favorite shoes: hot-pink heels. An old bag: my grandmother's vintage beaded clutch, which has the loveliest silk lining. Burgundy and polka dots. A happy mail day (including my first Birchbox, Whole Living magazine and a Rifle Paper Co. card).

Do you guys love Instagram like I do? You can find me there at "pinkoclock" if you want to follow along, or click here to see my most recent photos.

Yes, we did.

In 2008, I blogged about watching Barack Obama win the presidential election and wrote that one thought ran through my mind: "And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." (It's a quote from the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and it sure felt apt.)

Last night, I felt that same pure, unbridled sense of joy, and that same quote came back to me again. I can't even tell you how proud, relieved and happy I feel this morning. Those tears of joy, they sure are sweet.

We did it.

Now: forward.

Photo via the Obama campaign's Instagram. 

This election.

Dear friends,

Today is election day, and I don't know about you, but tonight I plan on coming home from work, doing a little exercise, and then hunkering down on my couch in front of the TV with a big bowl of soup, a cup of tea and a body full of nerves. On this night in 2008, I felt incredibly optimistic about the outcome of the presidential race; this time around, with so much at stake, the prevailing feeling is anxiety. I really hope the right candidate wins.

This will likely be my last political post for the next four years—I try to reserve this space for lighthearted things, like cupcakes and silly stories about my life—but I read the below last week and it's stuck with me ever since. It's specifically about gay rights, but the sentiment applies to so much else that's so important in this election, including women's rights. I hope that if you're still undecided, it'll make you think a little bit harder about who you'll vote for today, and that if you're a Romney/Ryan supporter, you double-check your gut and consider the social issues at stake here as well as the economic ones. (Keep in mind that, as Hila brilliantly and eloquently said in a comment on this post, where I also commented with the following quote, the economy exists to serve people; without people, there wouldn't be an economy.)

"I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they're voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level, clear voice and say, 'My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.' 

"It's like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements and apologizing for his racism. You're still complicit. You're still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don't get to walk away clean, because you say you 'disagree' with your candidate on these issues." —Pulitzer- and Tony-award winning playwright Doug Wright (via Salon.com)

I'm done now, except for one last thing: Please, please, please, whatever you do, go vote today.

Love,
Megan

Found: The perfect fall boot.

As you know, we don't have much temperature variation here in Florida—the weather flip-flops between face-meltingly hot (May-October) and totally gorgeous (November-April). That's why the second the barometer drops below 70, even for a few hours, I break out my boots. Boots are such a quintessentially fall item, and fall is my favorite season, so it makes sense, right? Even if my feet get sweaty?

Anyway, I have a pair of Frye boots and a cheapie pair from Target (I love Target) currently in rotation, but these cognac-colored Loeffler Randall beauties are currently at the top of my wishlist, as much for the fall feelings they evoke as how gorgeous they are. A girl can dream...

P.S. These polka-dot heels are also on that wishlist.

What are you doing this weekend?

Last weekend, I went to one of the loveliest weddings I've ever attended at a place in Sarasota that I never knew existed. My friend Charla got married at The Oaks at Windsong, a tract of green land that's framed by a gorgeous field (where cows happily graze) on one side and thick woods on the other. It was the most beautiful night; the weather was a cool 70 degrees, white cafe lights were strung up everywhere and the whole evening had a comfortable yet elegant country-rustic feel to it, as you can see from the photos above. The simple ceremony took place near a pond—Charla and Harrison got married on a dock hovering over it, and the guests sat in a semi-circle around the perimeter of the water—and then we moved over to the adjacent reception area for a delicious family-style dinner. (And speaking of, we need to talk about gorgeous carrot cake and the homemade Amish pies that were served for dessert, because I am still thinking about them, days later.)

But my favorite thing about the venue was that it didn't even feel like we were in Florida. I think people automatically think of Siesta Key Beach when they hear the word "Sarasota," and this was totally the opposite of that. After living here for more than six years, I love that this city still surprises me with places like The Oaks at Windsong; I'm thinking that many drives out east are in my future this autumn.

No links this week, but I'll see you guys back here on Monday. Have a great weekend.

1. The reception area. 2. That carrot cake. 3. Me and my friend Cindy (I'm wearing my Camilyn Beth dress!). 4. Menu—"pie, pie, pie." 5. Said pies—glorious. 6. The head table with a sparkling chandelier. All photos by me, taken with Instagram.

Glitter feathers.

Anabela, of Fieldguided, posted this glitter feather DIY last week and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Isn't it beautiful? I think I'm going to make some glitter feathers myself; I'm not sure what I'll use them for, but they're so pretty that they'd look nice even in a simple glass vase.

P.S. Another super-easy DIY: gold brick bookends.

Photo by Anabela