minnetonka dilemma.

you may remember when i was lusting after these minnetonkas*.

well, i won the auction (ended up at like $55 total. not bad!) and since then, the boots have just been sitting here staring at me, mocking my indecisiveness on what to wear them with.

so, now i pass that dilemma onto you.

what would you wear them with?

for the first time in months, i turned off my air conditioner, thanks to a beautifully bleary day (or couple of days) and am jonesin' for some fall ensembles. i really want to break these out before rachel zoe decides they're not hot anymore (though – to toot my own horn – i did take a likin' to them before i knew they were all the rage. toot toot).

well, get to it! skirts or skinny jeans or what? help!

*excuse the jank photo. i wanted a nice clean shot of them (the better to polyvore!), but can't find a green pair anywhere on the web, so i photoshopped them to the desired color. and, yes, i'm lazy so the soles & laces are green too.

all's clear.

i'm still feeling a serious need for these clear-frame glasses. i tried on a similar pair last night, which was a bad idea because it soon had me considering selling my body for glasses (i know. what a dork i am).



these are from oliver peoples, and the top two (danver and larrabee) are my favorite.

more print liberation.

as a member of the press, i would never dare publicly advocate for one party or candidate.

but, i just can't help it when good design and politics mix. so, i bring you these obama buttons, which print liberation* put out some time ago.

head over to moveon.org to request a free button, or chip in for a few (or 45).

once payday rolls around (see how poor i am? i can't even afford buttons), i'll be springing for a few more (especially that smiley face) from the shop.

p.s. remember when you were in love with shawn hunter from boy meets world? yeah, me too. well, if you've been wondering where he's been, look no further.

*still my favorite t-shirt.

stella mccartney.

earns points from me for making pretty things in normal sizes. thank you, stella.

fascinating!

if i had all the money in the world, my head would never go unadorned. and i'd start with these.


from charm school design.


from stylesmith.


from whichgoose. (newspaper designers holla!)

juicy couture for fall.

rarely do i get so excited about anything bearing the juicy label, but i thought these were some really fun fall looks!

a feast for your eyes: house of hengst.

yum, yum, yum. i'm loving me some of this:






from san francisco's house of hengst. holly, i foresee a trip to the mission in our future.

via a cup of jo.

you be the judge.

spotted at the dave matthews concert last night.

i wear some wacky shoes sometimes, and i'm fairly knowledgeable of weirdo 'high fashion' things. but this is beyond me.

so wtf?

you tell me.

take a trip to 1983.

head to flickr, type in the year you were born and choose your favorite.

i was really torn between scary rabbits and children photos (this one too) and bros at the beach.

ultimately i chose these fun-loving ladies.

and what would i be if i wasn't relevant? you, too, can own this look: cropped t-shirt (good blog find) and ubiquitous running shorts (remember, wear 'em high). you're welcome. don't forget your rush hat (that one's for izaak).

via for me, for you.

old navy shoes.

i'm very happy today with old navy for having these lovely yellow mocs in actual suede for less than $25.

the rest are pretty sweet, too.

old navy, $25

berkley illustration.

saw the work of ryan berkley on apartment therapy and was smitten.

animals in clothes? how distinguished, i say.

berkley illustration, (most seem to be $7 or $15. hi, cheap, right?)

open letter to forever21.

dear forever 21 people,
why must you do this to me?
just please send me all of the above, and we'll call it even.
achingly yours,
caroline


[shoppy info here.]

tukaani chopsticks set.

i am the worst when it comes to using chopsticks. i can get by with sushi*, but if it comes to noodles, it's a no go. (actually, i feel pretty uncomfortable eating noodles with a fork, so maybe it's not a utensil problem after all.)

enough of my problems though.

lincoln kayiwa, a recent design school graduate in helsinki, was inspired by the bill of a toucan* when he designed this sterling silver chopsticks set. i love the easy grip.

completely practical and pretty, to boot. (the designer also gets extra points for being adorable.)

kayiwa oy, (i'll get in touch with mr. kayiwa about prices and ordering. check back!)

*watching lost in translation (one of my very faves) & hungry for sushi and tokyo.

**tukaani, get it? finnish words are so pretty.

heidi merrick.

two things.

a. a $349 dress is not a sale item. my eyes are filling with tears because that yellow beauty will never be mine. i'd love to look like a dainty little daffodil. no, but really.

b. why can't i be this girlie in the bottom row? she's like 4,000 more adorable than anyone i've ever seen. wait, i think it's just the lipstick. oh, and the effing fabulous blue and orange combos.

ampersand t-shirt.

i've had my eye on this for a while and keep neglecting to post it (though it's been ALL over the blogosphere in the past couple months). still, i like it.

house industries, $26

my heart is hurting ...

for these moccasin boots. i tried to bid but my frugality won't let me go any further.

let's all shed a tear.

ebay, $28 (that's what they were when i started)

freddy&ma.

i am determined to one day own my very own freddy&ma bag. it's way too fun to wander over to their site and design pretty little bags. if you haven't yet done it, it's just about the most fun ever.*

and i love the idea of designing unique clutches for each of your bridesmaids like in the photo above.

*i hate days like this when i feel like i really need to blog something but stupid words just come out.