Thursday, January 28, 2010

Ruffles + Vest


Oh my goodness, you guys...I'm simply dieing over this new vest from J.Crew. Layers and layers of blue chambray ruffles??? Yes, please!!! Obviously, I won't be able to wear it this spring and summer, but I'm definitely picking it up as a little something to look forward to post-babies.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

LBD Love


I am not a Walmart shopper. No offense to anyone who is. I just find going there to be an incredibly depressing experience, and I want to feel good when I shop--not sad and icky. However, I've been wanting to take a look at the Norma Kamali for Walmart line for quite some time and haven't worked up the gumption to go to our local store to see if they even carry it (which I doubt). Then it dawned on me: DUH! Just go to Walmart.com!

And I'm glad I did, because how cute is this black sweatshirt dress?! And--it's only $15!!! I'm in LBD love for sure!!!

Tips for Staying Well this Winter, Part III


I'll admit that I'm a little bit obsessive-compulsive when it comes to keeping my hands clean. My mom was a dental assistant and every year she'd go to their mandatory OSHA training and come home with terrifying details of all the places disgusting germs can hide. Apparently I really committed that information to heart because I am now one of those crazy people who washes her hands constantly, opens doors with my sleeve or elbow, and always, always, always carries hand sanitizer.

But a few years ago I started reading about how hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial soap could actually be doing more harm than good by killing the good bacteria that lives on our skin along with the bad. I cut out using anti-bacterial hand soap in favor of Kiss My Face's Organic Grapefruit and Bergamot Liquid Soap and started looking for a natural on-the-go hand sanitation alternative. The natural hand sanitizer I like the best is made by CleanWell. It's a spray--not a gel, has a light citrusy scent, and doesn't dry my hands out at all. But the best part? I can now be as OCD as I want!

Monday, January 25, 2010

There are babies in there!


Thanks so, so much for your sweet comments on Friday about my super exciting news! Part of what has made this pregnancy so amazing for us thus far has been the amazing outpouring of support we've received from our family and friends. Having to go through fertility treatments can be such a scary, embarrassing, alienating experience for so many couples--and that wasn't the case for us at all, partially because we made a conscious decision that we didn't want it to be that way, but even more so because of all the love and prayers we received from so many people. In some ways, that alone has made me feel blessed to go through this experience.

Anyhoo, when we found out about the twins a few weeks ago, we decided to start taking a picture of my belly each week to document my "progress." This is the first picture we took. Can you tell how giddy I am?!

Three months of fertility drugs, plus two rapidly growing babies means the pair of jeans I have on in this picture, plus one other pair, are the only pants that fit me. Honestly--I've completely exhausted my supply of fat pants! That said, look forward to several upcoming posts about how to build a versatile maternity wardrobe! LOL

Tips for Staying Well this Winter, Part II


I cannot say enough good things about Alkalol. I love this stuff!

I have the world's most temperamental sinuses, but the combination of Alkalol, a nettie pot, and regular chiropractic adjustments has almost completely pulled me out of a cycle of one sinus infection after another. If you are feeling a little sniffle-ish or dried out from the raging heat in your office (like I am), try this herbal-infused wonder! It breaks up mucus, kills bacteria and moisturizes your sinus and nasal passages gently and naturally. You can either order it directly from the family-owned company that produces it or find it at your local pharmacy.

Blue Monday: Jacket/Scarf


What would you call that awesome deconstructed jacket she's wearing as a scarf? A jarf? A scacket?

I think I'll just call is pure genius and start scouring my local thrift stores for some ratty faux-Chanel to make a copy-cat version!

(via iknowyouloveb)

Friday, January 22, 2010

Foxy Friday Twin Post


A couple of weeks ago I came across this really beautiful image of twin foxes and, of course, immediately saved it for an upcoming Foxy Friday, never imagining that I would be using it in a post where I would tell you guys that the hubby and I are having twins!!!

We found out we were pregnant back in December, but just learned about the twins two weeks ago. We are feeling so thrilled and blessed and overwhelmed (well...I'm overwhelmed, anyway). It's been a really long, hard road to get here (more on that at a future date), and that just makes it all the more exciting.

I'm sicker than a dog and beyond exhausted, so I hope you'll forgive me for my VERY sporadic posting and lack of e-mail-checking the last few weeks. Most days it's all I can do to get myself to work and then I come home, try to eat dinner and am asleep most nights by about 7 o'clock. It seems the first trimester is all about survival at it's most basic!

Next week I promise I will pick back up my tips for staying healthy and will tell you more about this baby business, but now I'm too nauseous from my lunch to type any more! LOL

Have a great weekend, ladies ! Many Xs and Os!

(via beehive)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Team Conan


Ahem...(stepping up on soapbox)

Just to go on record, the Brahler household is staunchly a member of Team Conan. I hate Hollywood anyway, and the longer this silliness goes on, the more incensed I get. I don't understand how someone as smart, funny, and downright nice as Conan can get shafted so badly. Is there no justice in that God-forsaken town?

(stepping off of soapbox)

(via fanpop!)

Dino Jr.

DINOSAUR JR. IS COMING TO MY TOWN TONIGHT!!! I'm really excited--can you tell?!?! I've never seen them, so this is huge for me (for some reason I feel the need to see all my favorite bands live, at least once). The hubby saw them at one of the early (i.e., REAL) Lollapaloozas, and I now sleep in the Dino Jr. t-shirt he got there (What can I say? He prefers rock tees to lingerie! HA!).

This band has so many positive associations for me, not the least of which being all the times they were featured in Sassy. Anyone else remember the awesome pix of them at the Museum of Natural History next to...you guessed it: the dinosaurs?! Oh Sassy--you were so cheeky! The magazine world hasn't been the same without you!

Hmmmm...I think my weekend plans now include putting on my purple Doc Martens and pulling out all the issues Sassy I saved from high school.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Blue Monday: Blue Hat


I just love her royal blue hat and teal scarf. I always feel the need to have my hat and scarf "match," but this complimentary combo is way cooler. She looks so cute and cozy!

(via STYLECLICKER)

Tips for Staying Well this Winter, Part I


Something that I'm very passionate about but haven't really focused on here on the blog is natural health care. For as long as I can remember I've hated taking any kind of medicine, but spent many years being forced to take one round of antibiotics after another due to chronic sinus and allergy problems. I finally got fed up with that vicious cycle about six or seven years ago and started to pursue alternative remedies. What a difference I've seen (despite the fact that I was sicky-poo last week)!

All this being said, you can imagine that I am also not the biggest fan of vaccines, so all the current bombardment of media attention--and even commercials for cleaning products--pushing the H1N1 vaccine has me a little bit peeved. Obviously, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate is a very personal choice (particularly when it comes to children), and I in no way profess to have any medical knowledge. Regardless, since we are all looking for ways to stay healthy this winter, I thought each day this week I'd share a few of my sure-fire stay-well-naturally tips, since you all are just too lovely to go pumping yourselves full of scary, scary things!

Tip #1: Traditional Medicinals Organic Echinacea Plus Tea

Much has been written in the last decade about the health-promoting effects of echinacea. Whether you buy into the hype or not, I know that as soon as I start to feel a bit run down or sniffly, I reach for this delightful herbal tea and after a few cups I always start to feel better. I love how the light, minty/citrusy flavor immediately clears my head and soothes a scratchy throat. The fact that the echinacea is helping to boost my immune system is just an added bonus!

Tomorrow's tip: Have you heard of alkolol?

Friday, January 15, 2010

Pale Pink + Neutral






I'm totally loving how fresh baby pink looks when juxtaposed against serious neutral pieces. Don't you think that even a frothy, ruffled petticoat suddenly seems wearable when paired with thick tights and a pea coat?

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've been functioning at the most rudimentary level. I'll try to regroup this weekend and be back on Monday with some good stuff for you. Many thanks to the hubby for his guest post yesterday! XO, ladies!!!

(via Booklover, Audrey Hepburn Complex, and LOOKBOOK)

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Guest Post from the Hubby: Alternatives to the Big Game


The wife is a little under the weather this week, so this is the first time I get to directly talk to the fabulous readers of Shell.

Super Bowl weekend is approaching fast. And I do enjoy the game, but mostly because it is a good excuse to eat something naughty. If it weren’t for the bad food, I probably wouldn't care about the event. I am not a football fan; my sports-love is baseball.

I’m going out on the limb and assuming the majority of you readers are not counting down the days until Super Bowl whatever-number-it-is. (What the heck is up with the Roman numerals anyway?) So while the rest of the country is watching the big game, this is your shot at bucking the system.

Here are three suggestions for Super Bowl alternatives:

1. Organize your makeup kit. Once a year, take out your cosmetic bags, sit in front of the TV, and organize your makeup during the game. In fact, my family actually calls Super Bowl Sunday "Tackle Box Sunday," because for years our tradition has been that my dad and I organize our tackle boxes and my mom and sister do the same with their makeup. Of course, it's essential that you take a break when the commercials come on so you don’t miss out on the water cooler talk on Monday. Make it an annual tradition…it’s a new year, time to get rid of the old and make some room for the new (except you, Rebekah. You have enough makeup. You don’t need to wear it anyway).

2. Buy stuff on eBay. At least 90 million people will be watching the game. Less bidders means better deals.

3. Go out to dinner. Every area has a few restaurants that usually require reservations many days in advance. This is the one time where you can get in (provided they do not have a TV).

What ever you do, have fun...and drink a beer and eat some nachos for me, okay?

Monday, January 11, 2010

Blue Monday: Kitchen Blues


1. I wish I ever looked half this cute in the kitchen. Somehow my nasty, stained apron doesn't look nearly as chic as this cobalt suit (HA!).

2. I'm in a total cooking funk right now. Nothing sounds good, and moreover, I'm bored with all my recipes anyway. Does this ever happen to you? What inspires you in the kitchen?

(via Like Neely O'Hara)

Friday, January 8, 2010

Foxy Friday


This post has been in my drafts file for a while with just a URL for the website of this really cool recycled/reinvented clothing line called Stone_Cold_Fox. I had stumbled upon this line via someone's blog month's ago because her sister is one of the designers, but silly me, I didn't bother to make note of how I found it...all of which is slightly irrelevant because what I really want to write about is how beautiful the SCF clothes are (but you all are used to me being slightly long-winded by now, right?!).


Since the early days of Imitation of Christ, I have been such a fan of the concept of giving vintage clothes a new, completely different life, and the girls at SCF are doing it with with gorgeous details, a modern perspective and a design aesthetic that mixes pretty and edgy in a way I always find enviable. I love how the cardigan in the first picture reminds me of a vintage chenille bed jacket that's been reincarnated as a sexier, deconstructed version of itself. Check out their site and let me know what you think.

Have wonderful weekend, ladies!!! The windchill is supposed to be under zero here tomorrow, so I guess I'll hunker down and finally pack away my Christmas decorations...I'm feeling like a total loser because they are still up. xo

Thursday, January 7, 2010

You can wear your fur like a river on fire...

I would never personally wear fur (even though I wear leather--an issue very nicely debated a few months ago over at Leproust Vintage), but it's hard not to be tempted by fur when it's worn the way these ladies are styling it up:







(via Lulu Letty, LOOKBOOK, and StyleClicker)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Have you tried...?


I'm not usually into those supped up juices, protein bars, etc., even though a lot of people think it's the only way for vegetarians to get all the daily protein they need. I think as a culture we are way too obsessed with protein, and I have happily--and healthfully--lived and cooked using very few of these faux proteins for the last 17 years.

That said, a friend recommended the new chocolate flavor of the Odwalla Super Protein drinks to me the other day, and I decided to give one a try. It rocked!!! Seriously, it's like a chocolate milkshake that's healthy! What's not to like about that?!

Midweek MidCentury: Mod Dots


The hubby and I are working our way through episodes of the awesome early-'70s show McMillan and Wife (more on that soon), so I'm digging all things from that era even more than usual; hence this post.

I would guess this room is probably from the late '60s--and how awesome is it?! And more importantly--how come no one decorates like this any more? It's so fun and matchy-matchy and wacky!!! I mean, Jonathan Adler espouses wacky, but not like this!

Those chairs look totally uncomfortable, but that's really beside the point because who doesn't want to sit in a polka-dotted chair and play Chinese checkers?!?!

(via Sweet Home Style)

Sneak Peak of Stella & Dot Spring/Summer 2010

Yesterday Stella & Dot released this little teaser video of the Spring/Summer 2010 line. Of course, being the Lilly Pulitzer lover that I am, the Palm Beach collection is my favorite. Which one do you like?



I'd like to try doing some virtual trunk shows this spring, so if you're interested in hosting one, please let me know!

And p.s. S&D is also having a big 50% off sale--check it out!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Faves of 2009

So I've been listening to the Top 25 Albums of 2009 on Pitchfork.com, and it inspired me to share a rundown of some of my own top picks from last year, spanning from music to movies to shoes I bought. Here we go...


Song: Spaceman, The Killers - Great lyrics, wacko video featuring a super cute lead singer, catchy melody. Works for me!
Honorable mention: anything by Gaga; Empire State of Mind, by Jay Z featuring Alicia Keys


Movie: Watchmen
Honorable mention: Star Trek - Now you all know what a sci-fi nerd I am!!!


Shoes: Dolce Vita wedges - I've already expressed my love for these shoes here and here. There's nothing more to say really. My best purchase of the year.
Honorable mention: Corso Como Key sandal


Album: New Moon Soundtrack - I know this seems like a dorky choice, but seriously, the line-up of bands on this album is insane. And I love how dreamy and melancholy the mix is--it totally fit my mood this fall.
Honorable mention: It's Not You, It's Me, Lily Allen; The Blueprint 3, Jay Z; The Resistance, Muse


Accessory: the hair bow
Honorable mention: the hair bow - That's how much I love it!


TV show: How I Met Your Mother - Although this show has been out for several years, we didn't discover it until last January, when we spent the entire first eight days of the new year slamming the first four seasons on DVD. Barney Stinson rocks.
Honorable mention: Golden Girls - Another non-2009 debut, but as I mentioned in a few posts last fall, we spent a lot of time since September escaping to Miami Beach circa 1987, so I couldn't leave it out!; V


Food: scallops - I decided in the spring to try eating seafood again after about seven years, and for some reason I decided to start with scallops even though I had never eaten them before. Seth grilled them for my birthday, and it was love at first bite! But the maple bourbon seared scallops we made in the fall really look my love to a whole new level.
Honorable mention: celeriac - Terrifying to look at, but totally worth getting past the fear.


Book: Time Traveler's Wife - I don't typically read "new releases," hence why I just got around to reading this book last summer. Definitely in my top 5 faves EVER.
Honorable mention: The Historian - The Dracula saga revisited and beautifully written--what's not to love?

What were your favorite things of 2009?

LBD Love


It's still snowing and still freezing cold, so you can bet that I wish I were wearing this breezy little eyelet LBD today instead of the layers of sweater tights, wool dress, velvet blazer, etc., etc., I'm wearing instead...sigh....

That said, JetBlue is have its big winter sale right now--$109 flights to Bermuda!!!--so maybe I'll be baring some skin sooner than I think! Check it out!

(via Like Neely O'Hara)

Monday, January 4, 2010

Thinking Spring


So it's 3 degrees and snowing here today, but even though I'm totally bundled up at my desk, drinking oodles of tea and running a space heater, my mind is thinking about what I'd like to be wearing once warmer weather hits...


...like lots of crisp, dark denim...


...stripes...


...and more stripes...


...ruffles...


...and pencil skirts.

Sadly...here I am in uninspired cords, a giant wool turtleneck, and a gray blazer. How many days until spring?!?!

(via W by Worth and Anthropologie)

Blue Monday: Navy Walls


I've been drooling over these two images in my inspiration file for quite some time. I love how crisp and dramatic the navy walls are. The only blue we have in our house is in the hubby's home office, which we painted four shades of the same blue-gray. He's a big Mets fan and loves the Fantastic Four, so there are a few pops of orange (a couple of vintage Mets signs, a Thing figurine) in there--but nothing as chic as this orange phone.


And this room...well, I'd like to just move right in. It's probably the antithesis of my decorating style, but can't help but love the floating shelves, the starfish, the whaling print, the Shaker chairs, the baskets!!!

(via Sweet Home Style)
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