All You Need is Love: Countdown to Valentine's

1.) Heart Headband (ban.do ($35)
2.) Arrogant Cat Heart Back Sequin Dress (Asos $114)
3.) Pink First Base Murfee Scarf (Lilly Pulitzer $118) 
4.) Gumdrop Stud Earrings (Kate Spade $38)
5.) Olive Heart Pillow (Etsy $26) 
6.) Old River Road Valentine's Day Copper Cookie Cutters (Amazon $12)
7. )The Sonnet's and a Lover's Complaint (Amazon $13.60) 

Can you believe it's already the fourth of February? With only 10 days to go, the countdown to Valentine's has officially begun. If you're feeling prematurely lovey dovey, check out these fun Valentine's-inspired goodies. I especially love the heart-shaped cut out on this dress.

Maybe I'll have to try out my DIY skills and transform a t-shirt a la A Pair and a Spare.

Readers--do y'all already have Valentine's plans?

Gift Guide #1: Stocking Stuffers

With my exams almost finished, I'm finally starting to get into the holiday spirit. This post marks the first in a series of gift guides I'll be writing to help last minute shoppers find the perfect presents for their loved ones. I figured I'd start small, so today's guide is all about stocking stuffers!

Row 1 (L to R):
Taylor Swift's Speak Now (Amazon, $8.99)

Bliss Grape Seed Hand Cream (Sephora, $8)  
Behind the Hedge Cuff (Lilly Pulitzer, $68)

Row 2 (L to R):
Jeweled Headband (J. Crew, $26.50)
Tory Burch Leather Wristlet (Nordstrom, $125)
Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Man (Godiva, $6)

Row 3 (L to R):
Minnie Muse Notepad (Forever 21, $4.80)
Set of 6 Polka-Dot Coasters (Kate Spade, $20)
Set of 5 Fifi Lapin Notecards (Fifi Lapin, $15)

Anthropologie Previews Penguin's Fall Line of Clothbound Classics

As I perused the Anthropologie website checking out this week's sales, I was pleasantly surprised by a handful of new additions to the Home section. Anthropologie is already selling the new line of Penguin Clothbound Classics! You may remember I'm a huge fan of Penguin's colorfully designed covers, but I wasn't expecting new titles until September. A quick search on Amazon confirmed my suspicion that the line isn't available until later this year. What a treat for Anthro shoppers! The preview doesn't include the complete fall line, but Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, and Shakespeare's The Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint are available for purchase now. The editions cost $20 each, but if you're willing to wait until late September, Amazon offers a discount on pre-orders bringing the cost down to $13.50 per book. Additionally, Amazon will have the complete line of classics including Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist, and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles available this fall.

Stunna Shades

Readers-do you all have any big Memorial Day plans? I recently got a job at a local gift shop, so I'm just excited for a day off!

Everyone knows Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and sunglasses are summer's unofficial accessory so I thought I'd do a post about my favorite lenses. When it comes to shades, I like to stick to the classics-Ray-bans are my brand of choice. I, like Tom Cruise in Risky Business, rock the original Wayfarers ($145). Universally flattering, these frames look good on nearly everyone and are classic enough to complete a variety of outfits.

If Wayfarers aren't your style, try on a pair of Aviators ($139). Ray-Ban invented this style of sunglasses in 1936 for military pilots, but when celebrities like Michael Jackson and the cast of Top Gun were seen sporting them in the 1980s, they became a popular civilian fashion trend and have been ever since.

Both of these styles come in bright colors and there are several Wayfarer options with prints, but if you're only going to buy one pair, I recommend sticking with neutral frames. Knock offs and imitations are readily available for both of these styles, so if you're looking for a super cheap buy, you're in luck. If you have a little more cash to spend, Ray-Bans are worth the investment--I wear mine constantly.

Finally, if anyone is looking for some last-minute Memorial Day food ideas, check out my friend Perry's suggestions on the Coast Living website!

(Image Credits: Shopbop and Amazon)

Old Meets New

Facebook just told me to "like" the Charlotte Brontë classic: Jane Eyre. So strange. While I have no idea what the famed author would think of our culture's obsession with social media sites, I'm fairly certain she'd love the Penguin Classics edition of her most well-known work.

It's available from Anthropologie ($20), but if you're willing to wait, Amazon has the same book for $13.60 with free shipping. I was given Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility for my birthday, but I'd love to collect the whole set. How pretty would the whole collection look all lined up on a shelf?

(Images: Anthropologie)