IT'S MY BIRFDAY!!!

I am officially 24, and I still love sprinkles as much as I did when I was three. Shoot.
I wish I still had those My Little Ponies.....

wish list: another year older

Friends, let me tell you, September is my all time favorite month. It holds so many wonderful things... the last days of summer, my wedding anniversary, sweater season, the welcoming of fall, golden bean fields and chubby squirrels. I can't believe it's almost over.

The best part of September, in my opinion, always falls on the 29th... my birthday! This means going out to lunch with my coworkers, forcing my husband to eat breakfast for dinner, German chocolate cake, and a few presents here and there. Obviously, this list is a little late coming for any last minute shoppers, but here is my September-birthday-inspired wish list of awesomeness...

1. I don't think I need to explain why I want this wool tote from UO. It's wonderful.  2. If you follow me on Pinterest, you probably know that I love this military style cardigan. The epaulets, brass buttons, pockets, and "cinnamon cider" color are perfect for fall. Better yet? It's on sale.  3. I've already cashed in my free birthday drink at Starbucks, but I'll probably end up getting another venti half-caf caramel latte tomorrow. 24 ounces of smooth, sweet, caffeinated gold.  4. Hello, vintage brass key necklace.  I like your turquoise patina.  5. Is it sad that I want these West Elm bed sheets for my birthday? Perhaps... but can you really blame me?  6. I love iced coffee, but all the recipes I've seen online involve a little too much work for my liking. After reading this review by Anna of Door Sixteen, I'm convinced that a Bodum Cold French Press is the way to go.  7. I won't try to hide it: I loved Easy A and all it's ridiculous high school drama. Emma Stone is golden and I love everything she's done. Also on my b-day list? Bridesmaids.

After being with Christopher for nearly five years, I've come to learn that birthday celebrations in the Ross household last a good week or so. We visited Frankenmuth last weekend as a family celebration (my mother-in-law's birthday was a few weeks ago) and met up with my family for an epic Shriiiiimp Fest. Chris and I will be capping off the festivities this weekend with a trip to Grand Rapids to check out this year's Art Prize displays. Such a great way to celebrate my 24 years with the ones I love.

Yellow Week!

This week is Yellow Week over at Oh, Hello Friend, which is perfect therapy for the slightly overcast Midwestern mornings we've been having lately. I do love yellow, but I'm pretty particular about the varying shades (Mustard? Of course. Buttercream? Of course not.)

Danni has done a great job rounding up inspiring bits featuring the sunny hue and is even hosting an amazing yellow giveaway. Yesterday she featured a few color combo inspiration boards featuring yellow paired with other colors. A few of my favorites...

Yellow and pink is borderline prissy in my opinion, but it reminds me of pink lemonade and sunburned skin, and then I'm okay with the combo. I like it paired with gray, which adds a little more sophistication. And how great is that yellow bag skirt from J.Crew? I want.

Yellow and seafoam isn't really a combo I've seen too much of in the design world lately, but I love how fresh it looks. Used in the wrong hands, this could be a bit much (1980s fashion, I'm looking at you...) but the lighter shades are crisp and refreshing. I wonder if that cake tastes as amazing as it looks...

Yellow and brown is another combo I wouldn't necessarily think to use, but the two create instant vintage warmth. This duo is probably my new favorite and makes me excited for fall. Images of crisp leaves, honey, dappled afternoon light and golden chocolate chip cookies come to mind.

Speaking of fall, I've finally embraced the cooling weather (as much as I've fought it.) It is my favorite season, after all. This is probably the last week of sunny weather in the seventies here in Michigan, so it's the perfect time to bid summer adieu and welcome autumn. Onward to cardigans, pumpkins, turning leaves and cider.

All color inspiration boards from Oh, Hello Friend.

Gorgeous Geodes

Have you seen these beauties floating around the web lately? THEY'RE OIL PAINTINGS. Seriously... can you believe it? Since 2009, artist Carly Waito has been photographing the microscopic details of minerals and turning them into beautiful, intricate oil paintings. 

Seriously, the detail and realism of her work is incredible. When I first saw them, I honestly thought they were photographs. I still can't get over it! I want to hang these on my wall, framed in black, in a series of three: tourmaline, smoky quartz, and barite.
Come on, guys. You know I love me some geodes.

All artwork by Carly Waito via Anthology Magazine.

Anniversary Adventures

Last week Mr. Ross and I had a wonderful little one year anniversary celebration... it was so nice to take a break from the real world (internet included) and spend some time together. We filled it with all of our favorite things... sushi, adventures, hand-holding, a trip to Ikea (seriously, guys... we love that place so much), more sushi, pumpkin spice lattes, robots, pad thai, sweaters and general awesomeness. It was the perfect way to celebrate our first year of marriage.

Our trip to Ann Arbor was so much fun. It was cut a little short because we gave my in-laws the wrong key to our house so we had to get home to Ulia, but what sight-seeing, shopping, and eating we did squeeze in was great (although I think Chris was happy that we cut out Zingerman's cheese factory tour...)

We explored downtown, searched for all the Fairy Doors, shook hands with robots and did our best to avoid UofM and the first-game-of-the-season football crowd. (btw see that awesome skirt I'm wearing? Remember seeing it here? Chris secretly ordered it and surprised me before we left for Ann Arbor. He's such a fantastic husband!)

We also visited the Henry Ford museum, which was about 20 minutes east of Ann Arbor. We were amazed by some of the exhibits and pieces they had on display. We viewed the theatre chair President Lincoln was assassinated in and sat in the same bus seat as Rosa Parks. Although their huge collection of antique and vintage cars was being renovated, we were able to view a few special ones on display, including the original Wienermobile and the Presidential limo that Kennedy was shot in. We also toured a sci-fi Dymaxion House from the 1940s and viewed a fun collection of doll houses. Two thumbs up for the Henry Ford, for sure.

Ann Arbor is apparently one of America's best foodie towns, and we had our pick of places to dine. Our favorite spot, by far, was Frita Batidos, a Cuban-inspired restaurant by Top Chef star Eve Aronoff. We ordered the fritas, of course, which are seasoned meat patties (I had beef, Chris had chorizo) and a chili-mayo sauce topped with crispy fries on a Cuban egg bun. I can't begin to describe how delicious these babies were. The atmosphere was great too... chalkboard menus, white-washed brick walls, communal picnic benches, glass carafes filled with water... it was a hungry designer's dream.

All in all, we really enjoyed Ann Arbor and we'll probably make it back up there soon. The city has a lot of character... downtown was lovely and filled with interesting shops and people. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend adventure with Mr. Ross.

100 Years of Fashion

I can't get over this video: 100 Years of Fashion, presented in 100 seconds through dance. 

It's actually a commercial for a new branch of the British shopping center, Westfield Stratford, but I think it's a work of art. The musical transitions, the clever choreography and of course, the costumes... advertising can be so great.

I'd also like to pretend that the dancers are married. Because they're super cute together.

A few of my favorites... oh how I love the gypsy lifestyle of the 70s and those 90s power suits...

Art direction by Jake Lunt for The Viral Factory.
via Uppercase.