Have: Kate Spade bag

So I totally broke down during the Kate Spade sample sale and bought this beauty.

I'm very excited to take it out for a spin.

A to Z of

The A to Z of Brick and Ivy (me) 

A. Age: Twenty Three, but I look 17.

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you hate: Dusting... it never happens.

D. Dogs: None since I was little.

E. Essential start to your day: I always turn on the news.

F. Favorite Color: Emerald green and turquoise.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver, oddly enough. I've always found gold to be gaudy.

H. Height: 4' 11", I'm a munchkin.

I. Instruments you play: I used to play drums...

J. Job Title: Paralegal

K. Kids: Not for years.

L. Live: Massachusetts by way of the Pacific Northwest.

M. Mother's Name: Cagle

N. Nicknames: Lottle (because I'm little), Char, Charlie (pronounced shar-lee)

O. Overnight hospital stays: Two including my birth.

P. Pet peeves: I hate being late.

Q. Quote from a movie: "I've been blowing bubbles..."

R. Right or left-handed: Right.

S. Siblings: One

T. Time you wake up: Between 7:30 and 8:00am

U. Underwear: I have a drawer to pick from.

V. Vegetable you hate:Brussel sprouts

X. X-rays: Teeth, abdomen

Y. Yummy food: Berries, ice cream and pie.

Z. Zoo animal: Red panda!

Have: Around the home

G and I have an odd collection of home stuff. That is what happens when you combine two apartments into one. 

Here are a few of my favorite things. 

This coaster set was a graduation gift from one of my best friends. 

They are made of treated leather, so the are resilient to water. 

There are also embossed with cute drink terms such as "shaken" or "stirred". 

One of the many things G contributed to was this awesome magnetic knife strip.

He also contributed the awesome Global knives.

Pink & Green Thursdays

Pulled from Nordstrom:

DVF, Fleurette dress, $345

Kate Spade, Minnie dress, $395

Valentino Red, Ruffle Hem Faille dress, $595

From Kate Spade:

Botantical Bonnie Dress, $133 on sale

Kati beaded cardigan, $147 on sale

Verandah Place Small Coal, $172 on sale

Cherie coat, $695

My Favorite Products: Fall Clothes

When I think fall, I think New England. I had no idea what to wear in the fall my first year of college, luckily New England's most classic retailer, LLBean, steered me in the right direction.

Here are my (New England) fall must haves:

J.Crew makes the best sweaters. This year's update on the classic crewneck is super cute.

And their v-neck Cambridge cable v-necks are always on for fall.

J.Crew corduroy is my go-to pick for office casual attire.  Love the toothpick (above) and the classic bootleg (below).

On my purchase list is J Crew's corduroy pencil skirt.

Because the weather is chilly, not yet cold, I opt for a warm vest. I love my LL Bean waxed cloth vest.

I've been eying quilted riding jackets for a while now, and I think LL Bean's is the best for the money.

I picked up a vintage Pendleton plaid blazer at my local thrift store (yes, I love to thrift). If you are not so lucky you can always buy the above J.Crew one.

Eat: Berry-Biscuit Cobbler

This is the second time I've made this cobbler, and each time it comes out a little different depending on what you choose to put in it.

This time I went with raspberries and strawberries because they were on sale. Last time it was raspberries and blackberries (super delicious).

Filing:
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch
7 cups mixed fresh berries (make sure you core and cut up strawberries)

Dough:
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 salt
5 Tablespoons chilled butter (I use unsalted) cubed

1. Mix cornstarch and sugar in medium to large mixing bowl. Add in berries and mix together until well coated. Pour berry mixture into a 2 qt. baking dish (about 2-3 inches deep).

2. Preheat oven to 400F. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add butter, rubbing together flour and butter using finger tips or pastry blender until a course meal forms. Slowly add in milk, mixing with a wooden spoon as a dough forms.
3. Knead dough 5-6 times and dump onto a lightly floured surface. Pat dough into the shape of your baking dish, use a rolling pin to even out the dough. Dough should be 1-2 inches thick.

 4. Cut dough into 4-5 pieces and arrange on top of the berry mixture. Biscuits should be about 1/2 inches apart.

5. Bake until fruit mixture bubbles and biscuits are thoroughly cooked and brown on top. Should be about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before serving. It is especially tasty topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Feel free to experiment with different kinds of berries, and different add ins like vanilla extract, cinnamon, etc.

Want: White dresses

I don't care if it after Labor Day. I love white dresses. I love them paired with bright flats, cowboy boots, riding boots, and pumps.

It may have to do with a tradition at my school called Ivy Day, where graduating seniors wear pure white dresses (and black shoes) and are paraded into The Quadrangle for an award ceremony the day before Commencement. Graduating seniors line the streets, each with a long stemmed red rose. The Alumnae lead the parade through the seniors, followed by the ivy chain, carefully carried by the junior ushers. As the ivy chain passes by, the seniors fall in line at are led into the Quad. At Smith College each class is assigned a color that rotates through (red, yellow, green, blue). When Alumnae come back they wear white dresses (and white shoes) with a banner in their class color. It makes the day a stunning affair, with the classic brick dormitory background strewn with ivy.

Here are a few of my favorite dresses:

Urban Outfitters, Pins and Needles

These were found randomly on the internet (sorry!)

And a photo of Ivy Day to end the entry:

Yes, I'm the junior usher waving like an idiot

Pink & Green Thursdays

Lilly Pulitzer, Elsa Top in Azalea Pink, $138

Dian von Furstenberg, Emsley dress, $345, Nordstrom

Myne, Silk minidress, $260, Nordstrom

Abi Ferrin, Nikki 5-way dress, $258, Nordstrom

Inspire: Citrus

theweddingrow.com via pinterest

I am loving citrus colors for a transition to fall.

lunaandchloeweddings.com via pinterest

tumblr via pinterest

thistimetomorrow-krystal.blogspot.com via pinterest

via pinterest

Love: Date Night

The other night we had a date night and checked out the chalk art in downtown. Above was our favorite.

We started it off my getting ice cream.

 He was only supposed to take one photo!

And of course I made sure we ended the night with some shopping. I ended up buying the first white lace dress that I had posted about earlier.

Have: Vintage Paisley Dress

It is fall! I picked up this cute dress at my favorite vintage store, Retro Genie. I paired it with basic black flats and vintage white bauble earrings (from my Grandma). When it starts to cool down I'll pair this dress with some riding boots. Please ignore the awful blue siding on our apartment (not my fault)!

Here is a better photo of the earrings and my favorite apron.