Crush

New hair idol:

Suze Rotolo

Via

PS - I found a new apartment! It's pretty amazing. More to come.

Summer uniform

Currently loving the "Women of Mad Men" style posts on Tom & Lorenzo, and obsessing over Midge. She's a minor character in Season 1, and I didn't pay that much attention to her when I watched the show initially. I mean, how could you, when there is so much delicious Betty and Joan to drink up?

 Via

However, after reading these posts, I can't help but DESPERATELY need well tailored, high-waisted, black cigarette pants and a little bohemian half shirt. I imagine rocking the half-shirt with a pair of cut-offs and huaraches, serving margaritas on my front porch to friends.

I have tried Googling "cute boho half shirt" with no luck. If someone finds one, let me know. I'm about 98% sure this shirt and cut-offs combo would replace my romper (!) as my go-to summer staple, so really, I'd be doing the world a favor by finding one.

On an unrelated note, the days are becoming unbearable (110 last weekend) but I love the hot summer nights. The air is warm and you start to treasure the breeze. It makes me itchy for all-night conversations with old friends, driving out into the desert until I can see stars, cold drinks and mixtapes. I can't wait for monsoon season to start. Warm thunderstorms are the best part of living in the desert.

Thomas Jefferson, I presume?

Awww yeah.

Found this little lovely while on an impromptu thrift store outing with the boyfriend. I shouldn't have bought anything (I'll be moving before August) but I couldn't resist a founding father in a mustard frame. He's been mine for a little over an hour, and I'm already referring to him affectionately as "T.J."

I also bought a sweet little milk glass vase for 50 cents. I've been wanting one for a while to stuff with these.

Now I just wish that I knew where TJ and I would be hanging our hats.

A small pick me up

From The West Wing (or, how I wish the world actually worked):

Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes. We need gigantic revolutionary changes. Schools should be palaces. Competition for the best teachers should be fierce. They should be getting six-figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge for its citizens, just like national defense. That is my position. I just haven't figured out how to do it yet. - Sam

It is in the spirit of Andrew Jackson that I, from time to time, ask senior staff to have face-to-face meetings with those people representing organizations who have a difficult time getting our attention. I know the more jaded among you, see this as something rather beneath you. But I assure you that listening to the voices of passionate Americans is beneath no one, and surely not the peoples' servants. - Leo

Hearing those two mini-monologues always makes me feel better.

IN WHICH we discuss color obsessions

In case you haven't guessed, I'm just the tiniest bit neurotic. And a little bit obsessive. Just a bit.

On top of making endless lists and color-coding my calendar, I find myself going through different phases where I am unexplicably drawn to certain colors. A few winters ago, it was eggplant. I bought a purse, a long coat, a pair of really cute little flats. I have more mustard accessories than I care to admit. Right now, that color is a dark teal:

 

Dress, Forever 21 (Seriously, guys. Have you seen their new Boutique collection? TO DIE FOR.)

Blazer, Gap, thrifted from Sunset Clothing Exchange

Purse & Moccasins, Old Navy (50%!)

I also bought this shirt, which isn't in the picture because it's in the laundry. 

I picked up on my fashion-related color obsession a few years ago, so I know how to deal with it--identify the problem, and try to buy new pieces that will coordinate well with it. And neutrals. I always have to force myself to wear neutrals, because, apparently, some would say that mustard doesn't match everything. (Fools)

However, a few days ago, I realized that my color obsession extends to housewares, too. You know what my color-for-home obsession at the moment?

 

Vintage velvet swivel easy chair / rocker, Goodwill. Yeah, it's pretty much the coolest chair ever. Way to go, me.

Orange. 

Uh, yeah, like anything goes with that. 

Remember when I found out about the Shakespeare Billys? You know which one I found myself lingering over? The orange one. I just bought a piece of art from my work's silent auction:

 

Photo via the artist, Jon Arvizu

And I'm totally lusting over this piece from Cozy Little Cave:

 

$25 on Etsy

I need help. If left to my own devices, my house is going to look like a Chester the Cheetah threw up.

Do you find yourself being drawn to certain colors frequently, to--dare I say--excess? How do you deal with the impulse to throw a certain color all over your house?