december. the. list.

Christmas is only a week away and there’s still so much left to do.  Shopping, gift wrapping, pom-pom making, decorating cookies...the neverending list goes on.  Just as I wanted to push pause during the week of Thanksgiving, I’m really wishing that time could freeze now.  This is my favorite time of the year and, unfortunately, it’s also the most fleeting.        

It’s a tad late (we’re halfway through December already!), but here’s my second installment of “the. list.”  If you remember from last month, this is just a compilation of some items that I currently have my eye on.  As it is the holiday season, don’t be surprised if you see a few stocking stuffers mixed in!


december. the. list.

1. Wool-Felt Duffle Coat (Burberry Brit):  Two things that I love: Burberry and toggles.  Enough said.    
2. Epoca Cardigan (Anthropologie):  Though emerald may no longer be “the color of the year” come January, that doesn’t change how I feel about this cardigan one bit.  It’s festive and oh-so-perfect for every holiday function ahead.
3. Bayard Blouse (Aritzia):  I don’t care what anyone says, I’m still having a major peplum moment. I have a feeling this blouse from Aritzia is one that I would wear again...and again! (Not to mention that shade of beige/pale pink  gorgeous is an understatement.)
4. Scallop Ring (Kate Spade):  Oh scallop, oh my!  Right behind bows, scallops are quickly becoming a close second-favorite of mine.  
5. Eat Cake For Breakfast Mug (Kate Spade):  Besides the fact that this is pretty much my life philosophy, I wouldn’t mind having one more mug to sip tea from.     
6. Matilde Flat Boot (Loeffler Randall):  It’s about time (actually, waaay past time!) that I invest in a nice pair of boots.  Available in brown or black, these Loeffler Randall beauties would be the perfect addition to my winter wardrobe. 
7. FaLaLa Set (Twistband):  I swear by Twistband’s hair ties.  They don’t dent or damage your hair and this holiday-inspired set is too cute.
8. Color-Stripe Trouser Socks (J.Crew):  Anyone who says that socks make a bad gift is surely mistaken.  Here’s to hoping that Santa brings me at least a few new playful pairs on the 25th! 
9. 2 Park Avenue Lacey (Kate Spade):  If I can’t have the beau bag, then gosh darn it, I’ll just have to get the next best thing.  Enter in Kate Spade’s “2 Park Avenue Lacey Wallet” in macchiato/black.  Did I mention it comes complete with a bow? 
10. Crepe Boatneck Dress (J.Crew):  Ironically enough, I hate the color red...but I have an affection for dresses with a drop-waist silhouette. #gofigure Although this J.Crew boatneck dress also comes in black, the bright red is just speaking to me (blame it on the holidays, I guess!).
11. Nail Polish Set (Kate Spade):  What better way to start off the new year than with a fresh mani?  I call dibs on the sparkly pink polish appropriately titled, “All That Glitters.”  
12. Idiom Pencils (Kate Spade):  I spotted these “Idiom Pencils” at a local stationery store and boy are they cute.  With witty expressions like, “so well composed” and “55 words per minute,” writer’s block ain’t got nothing on me! 

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

xo,
A
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slm. holiday.

As it’s the start of finals week (for me anyway), I’m keeping today’s post short and sweet.  If you woke up this morning and instantly thought, “oh, just another dreary Monday,” think again!  Today, Sweet Lemon Magazine debuted their holiday issue and, as always, it’s p-e-r-f-e-c-t-i-o-n.  If it doesn’t get you in the holly-jolly spirit, then I don’t know what will :)  

Adam Braun of Pencils of Promise is on the cover so, what are you waiting for, check it out (linked below)!


If you're not familiar with SLM, then the following quote pretty much says it all:

“Sweet Lemon is the space for the food truck lovers, and fine dining connoisseurs; the backpackers, and the jet-setters.  We believe in being tech-savvy, well-informed, and capable of getting the job done especially when life gives you lemons.”

Basically, SLM covers everything that is of interest to the millennial generation:  politics, technology, philanthropy, fashion, music...and more!  

I’ve been part of the Sweet Lemon team for a little over a year now and contribute weekly to the website as a staff blogger.  It’s truly a pleasure to be associated with a magazine (and amazing pool of writers from around the world!) that is so inspirational and full of entrepreneurial spirit.

Show your #lemonlove by checking out Sweet Lemon Magazine on the following social media channels.

xo,
A

P.S.- Leave a comment below sharing your favorite features from the #SLMHoliday Issue!
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holiday. outfits.

So, it’s officially December!  Yay!  To be honest, I’m not sure where Thanksgiving Break went...it just flew on by and here we are.

Personally, this is my favorite time of the year.  I’m a big fan of the holidays I live for all things ho-ho-ho.  From the wrapping of presents to the shopping (duh!) to the festive decorations, I just love it all.  The worst part is when it’s all over…let’s not even go there.

With the holiday season fast-approaching (actually, it’s already here!), I thought I would share a few of my most seasonal outfits from last weekend.

Christmas is so much more than the typical red and green that it so often gets associated with. Fair Isle sweaters, pretty black patent ballet flats, bow headbands (heck, bow-everything!), wool skirts and sequins galore are just a few of the things that come to mind when I think of the holidays.

black. friday.

While some people bundle up in their warmest (and often frumpiest attire) for Black Friday, I did quite the opposite.  Take note, however, that I didn’t have to stand in any annoying lines waiting to get inside anywhere.  Nope,  I went outlet shopping with the fam in the wee hours of the night (or should I say morning?!).  It was super cold, but I simply cannot bring myself to not dress cute when I know that I’m going to be popping into stores like Kate Spade.

My outfit consisted of my favorite J.Crew black-and-white striped shirt, a red corduroy skirt and boutique necklace.  Oh, and I can’t forget my black sweater tights and coat which kept me warm and cozy!  Don’t be surprised if you see this exact same ensemble showing up on my Instagram feed in the coming weeks.


small. business. saturday.

Nothing starts the holiday season off right like a preppy tartan print (take note, I live for J.Crew’s city mini paper-bag skirts!).  Even better when you have a glittery skinny belt to add some dazzle.  Classic black ballet flats = standard.     

sunday. funday.

For outfit-number-three, though a tad cliche, I kept it casual in green denim by Blank.  To my defense, however, it was December 1st.  To achieve that effortless look that I so often strive for, I threw on a chambray shirt (yes, I finally got one - more on that in a future post!) and slipped into my sequined, peep-toe bow flats by Kate Spade. #bowsonthetoes    

What’s your go-to attire for the holidays?      

xo,
A
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chambray.

Today, I’m sharing the one clothing item that I’ve been majorly obsessing over and coveting lately.  It’s not anything out of the ordinary.  In fact, odds are you already own one yourself!  What item am I talking about, you ask?  Why, a chambray shirt, of course!  Like I said, it’s not super fashion-forward or anything that’s hard to come by (quite the contrary actually, it’s literally everywhere!).

To put it simply, chambray shirts are currently on my radar, and in a major way.  I love how they can be dressed up or down, styled preppy or oh-so laid back.  Throw on a bedazzled necklace or scarf, add a pop of color via colored jeans or a bright cross-body bag, or wear it as is.  The chambray shirt may just be the most versatile wardrobe essential yet.  #moveoverwhitetee  My favorite inspiration for styling chambray shirts stems from none other than Madewell.  All the models always look so cool and so effortless wearing their chambray and now I want in on all the fun!  

Chambray #1
While scouring the web for the perfect chambray shirt, I found this one by Acne at NET-A-PORTER.  It’s way out of my budget and is technically denim, but nonetheless, I love the faded wash – it’s so different than anything you’d find in my closet.  

Chambray #2
Chambray-shirt-number-two is by Band of Outsiders (another splurge-worthy option) and errs more on the traditional side.  It’s a good, all-around cotton-chambray shirt that has that borrowed-from-the-boys feel to it.

Chambray #3
Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to spotlight J.Crew’s classic popover chambray shirt.  It’s effortless and as the description online reads, it’s “what to wear when you don’t have anything to wear.”  That just about sums it up for me – another winner that involves little to no styling.  Score.
Once I buy my first chambray shirt (eek!  I’m way too excited!), stay tuned to see how I style it + lots of outfit inspiration along the way.

xo,
A

P.S.- How do you style your chambray shirt?
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monday. favorites.

Ironically enough, I’m always either too busy or not busy enough  there’s just no happy medium.  Hence, my epic fail for not having a post ready for last Monday. Since I'm blogging purely for fun (#nopressure), I hate the idea of throwing a post together just to have something up. I like to believe that quality wins out over quantity in the end. That said, thankfully, I’m nowhere near as swamped this week. Here are a few things that I'm currently loving, enjoy!

1.  [mani. monday.]  For me, Monday signals not only the start of a new week, but also a fresh mani.  My most current mani to date includes a lovely shade of dark blue (which is borderline black), a punch of magenta pink and, naturally, I had to top it off with gold glitter!


2.  [post. halloween. treat.]  Starburst’s fruit-flavored candy corn is the best.  So good, in fact, that I have a few bags of it hidden away for when my next craving hits (which happens more often than I would like to admit!).  All I can say is that it’s going to be a sad day when I run out…and that I personally think that Starburst should consider making their candy corn all year long. #onceayearisnotenough

3.  [this. sweater.]  It’s by French Connection and I just love it.  It contains the perfect amount of slouch and boasts the prettiest (and most autumnal + holiday-esque) striped color palette.  I remember lusting after this said sweater for the longest time (it was literally love at first sight!) and then I finally bought it and all was well in the world once again.  

xo,
A

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november. the. list.

First, can I just say that I can’t believe it’s already November?!  (I remember just tweeting a month ago about how I could not believe it was October.)  Am I the only one who feels like time is flying by? Sometimes, I wish we could just push pause... 

From here on out, I think I’m going to make it a personal goal to stop dwelling over how fleeting the days are and just live a little more in the moment. 

In honor of the new month and the approaching holiday season (don’t worry, I won’t be talking about all things Christmas just yet...), I thought it would be fun to pull my favorite clothing items and accessories of the moment. What I’m currently lusting over, if you will.  Take a glance and don’t forget to leave a comment sharing which new arrivals you’re obsessing over!  


november. the. list.

1. Tim Tim Striped Raglan T-Shirt (French Connection): Nothing beats a good ol’ striped t-shirt in my book, especially when it’s as versatile as this navy/white one by French Connection.  
2. Shane Ivory/Black Polka Dot Crew Neck (Equipment): I have to say I’m digging the mega- sized polka dots featured on this cashmere crew neck sweater.  And it’s black and white, so the style possibilities are endless.  
3. It by Alexa Chung (Barnes & Noble): For fellow fashion-devotees (or shall I say Alexa-devotees), this is for you.  I don’t read much, but when I do, I make sure that it counts.  The next time I’m ready to welcome a new book into my life, you can bet that it will be this one.     
4. Contrast-Collar Topcoat (J.Crew): Dreamiest coat of the season there, I said it.  While J.Crew seems to excel in, well...pretty much everything, their outerwear is especially swoon-worthy. 
5. Collection Chelsea Monk-Strap Boots (J.Crew): One thing that my fall wardrobe is severely lacking in is boots. While the temperatures are still bearable, I wouldn’t mind adding this menswear-inspired pair of ankle boots to my collection. 
6. Print & Shine Bobbi Set (ban.do): This bobbi set by ban.do is too good. Gimme polka dots and I’m all set! 7. Taylor Cardigan with Contrast (Equipment): It’s cardigan weather and there’s always room for one (or five) more cardis to come home.  This buffalo check one by Equipment is all sorts of cute.  I need it.
8. Double Pave Bracelet (Club Monaco): As I’m not a fan of major arm parties (a stack of two or three is my limit), I adore how simple and sophisticated this double pave bracelet  from CM is.
9. Cedar Street Monday (Kate Spade): Although much too small to be practical, that shade of robin’s egg blue is too lovely for words.  (Just FYI, It also comes in ballet slipper pink…)    
10. Demi Flat (Coach): Ballet flat connoisseur and bow-delighted, I am.  These cream-colored ballerinas (with a black cap-toe!) by Coach are spot-on.   

Although, I plan on compiling monthly “I Need It” lists, in the meantime, feel free to check out/follow my board on Pinterest appropriately titled, “Things I’m Yearning For…”  I’m a Pinterest fanatic (#fact) and am always adding new goodies to it.  Enjoy!

xo,

A
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the. beginning.

“I think she’s caught between who she is and who she wants to be."
Well, hello!  It seems like it took me nearly forever to get here, but I’m finally ready to jump head first into this thing called blogging. (Better late than never, right?)  It’s been a long time coming but I’m so ready.  

In the same way that a lot of blogs start out, I’m hoping that bitte. und. danke will serve as a creative outlet of sorts.  I plan on sharing my love for impeccable style, knack for the occasional DIY project, neverending search for “the good” and much more.          

At a time when “building your personal brand” is at an all-time high among young twenty-somethings, I wanted to partake in all the fun.  I don’t know what will become of this blog, but I’m honestly just excited to be working on a project that’s 100% me. 

There’s no question I have my fair share of oh-my-gosh-what-am-i-doing-with-my-life moments. To put it simply, I’m currently in a limbo of sorts.  I know where my passions reside, but I don’t how to get things going.  Sound familiar?  #welcometomyworld (sorry for the hashtag craziness…)  As I navigate my way through grad school, maybe I’ll even try and throw in the occasional “food for thought” piece...we’ll see about this one. 

Why bitte.unde. danke.?  For starters, it translates to “please and thanks” in German.  I spent five unforgettable weeks in Vienna, Austria during the summer of 2011 and like to keep the Viennese spirit alive any way possible (German is the predominant language in Austria, hence the German title).

Second, I’m a classy girl who has a penchant for all things lovely and oh-so-charming.  How could a title be more inviting than “please and thanks?”  It can’t.  From the logo, you’ve probably already guessed that I also have a sweet spot for bows.  #itsaproblem

In the coming weeks, expect carefully curated content, an eye for detail, aesthetically pleasing photos and layouts and, hopefully, lots of inspiration along the way.

I’m so excited to be sharing my latest endeavor with you, and I hope that you’re ready for the ride :)

Here’s to new beginnings.

xo,
A

P.S.- For now, I’m going to be a Monday blogger — check back each Monday for fresh content!


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