Friday Favorites #44

Another week's gone by, and my spring fever is in full force!  I'm really into home furnishings this week (more so than dresses, even -- a shocker!).  Here are some of the dreamy home goods I've found.  I especially love the pillows shaped like sweet treats, the magic wand whisk (I'm playing a fairy right now, so this is too perfect), and the retro tins!

a // b // c // d // e // f // g

h // i // j // k // l // m

This botanical cake stand is so pretty:

I think I'm getting more into florals lately (I've said before that I can be picky about floral prints) because I desperately want to see flowers outside.  I really adore these two floral pieces:

a // b

I'm in the market for a pretty pink dress for spring.  Any of these three would do nicely:

1 // 2 // 3

These Mary Janes are so sweet:

I want all of the unicorn decor (decornicorn?) that there is, and this jewelry dish is no exception:

This lavender dress is absolutely darling.  I actually like the back more than the front!

Bunny slippers loafers!  I want these for Easter!

Also, these emoji loafers are nothing short of amazing:

Charlotte Olympia sure knows how to make cute (and ridiculously priced) handbags:

A // B

I adore the colors of this retro frock, and the syfy ray gun print is pretty rad:

Sweetest socks ever!  Sprinkles and ice cream!

a // b

And speaking of sweet, these retro appliances and furnishings really hit the spot:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11

Some of my favorite links this week include...

Samuel L. Jackson's reading of Boy Meets World slam poetry:

These stunning human and animal portraits by Russian photographer, Katerina Plotnikova:

The cast of The Lion King performing "Circle of Life" on a plane:

This list of 69 inventions every girl wants, needs and deserves

That's all for now!  Have a great Friday!

xox Sammi

Name game

Outfit Details:

Customized name necklace: c/o oNecklace

Top: ModCloth (similar here)

Pants: ModCloth (similar here)

Cardigan: Forever 21 (similar here)

Character shoes: old

As a blogger, one receives an influx of e-mails from companies looking for exposure for their products or services.  Many times, the company's offerings will not be in-keeping with my personal aesthetic (or "brand") -- or sometimes will be totally impersonal or just plain bizarre -- and I will have to decline.  But sometimes, a new company will reach out to me, and I'll find that their products are a great match to my own point of view.  I always want to stay true to who I am, and I would never accept any item or service for free if I would not fully endorse or purchase it on my own.  Luckily, when oNecklace contacted me, I found that their jewelry was perfectly suited for my taste, and I'm ecstatic to have a necklace that bears my name!

I was tempted to give in to my desires to emulate Carrie Bradshaw with this necklace, but then I saw the retro-inspired script of this necklace, and I knew it would be a perfect fit for my many rockabilly dresses (though I am wearing pants in this post -- so rare!).  The chain is actually a bit longer than what's shown here, and the quality is fantastic.  Most of my jewelry is definitively on the cheap side (I don't often spend more than $15 on any one piece), but this necklace is 24 karat gold plated, and the difference between this and my inexpensive, now-tarnished necklaces is pretty obvious.  I'm also a sucker for customization, and not only can you customize exactly what you want on the necklace (you can get initials and monograms, too!), but you can also customize the type of chain and its length!  You can even preview how your name would look in different fonts before you order.

I've turned down jewelry sponsorships before, but I'm really glad that I decided to partner up with oNecklace.  I can be really picky about the kind of jewelry I wear (I dislike flashy things, and I'm drawn to either kitschy, unique pieces or very simple, delicate ones), and I can say nothing but positive feedback about my communication with the company representatives, their prompt shipping, and quality of the necklace itself.  If you'd like to snag your own customized piece, the kind folks over at oNecklace have offered a 10% discount when you use the code soubrettebrunette at check-out!  :)

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post, but did receive a product for review purposes.  All opinions are completely my own, based on my experience.  Any company or product endorsed on this blog is one I fully believe in and support, and would continue to do so, regardless of whether items are gifted or are paid for by me.

Have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Blogger Interview: Rhiannon of Happy Leaps

Hello, all!  I've been really inspired by the idea of creating positive energy in my own life lately, and I think supporting other bloggers is incredibly important.  I want to be able to feature other bloggers (especially newer ones!) on my own platform, so I've decided to try out a new feature on the blog.  I'm going to try to post a new one on the first day of each month for a while, since I think that's a nice way to start anew and gear up for the next 30-or-so days.  I'm starting off this feature with the lovely Rhiannon from Happy Leaps!

Name: Rhiannon Sarah McLeod

Age: 20

Tell me about yourself and your blog: I blog over at Happy Leaps, where I mainly write about fashion and my day-to-day life, sharing my music, art and experiences throughout school.  I spend nearly all my time at school, studying jazz.  My principle instrument is the alto saxophone, and I am pursuing a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music.  I'm also a photographer and freelance graphic designer.  I love musicals, dogs, snow, Star Wars & LOTR, salt and vinegar chips, collecting sand from famous beaches, and spending nights out with my dearest friends.

How did you get into blogging?  I discovered the blogging world through the ModCloth Style Gallery, where I started reading and following people.  My life was feeling a little direction-less at the time, and after reading other people's blogging experiences, I thought it might be a nice way to allow myself some sort of outlet -- something that I had previously kept only to myself -- all while posting fun outfit photos!

If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  Possibly any time between the 1920's and the 1950's, during the height of jazz.  It would have been truly remarkable to be able to go out, listen and play jazz in a club.

What's your favorite season and why?  Fall -- I love the changing of the leaves and it's always just warm enough out to wear a cute dress without tights (and without it being so scorching hot that I need a heaping dose of sunscreen).

Drink of choice: Milk, or a nice IPA beer while out with friends :)

Favorite food: Eggs -- I can eat them every which way, forever and ever.

What's your favorite musical?  The Sound of Music, without a doubt!

One character from a movie or TV series with whom you identify:  This may sound odd, but I like silly TV shows and movies, and I find that if I watch a TV series long enough, I will unintentionally find a character I like and I will start acting like them for a good week or two!  Right now, I'm watching a lot of Community (best show ever) and I love Abed's character.

Favorite book (from childhood or now): I'd have to say The Hobbit, most likely.

What's been your favorite post from your blog so far (or favorite outfit you've worn)?  One of my recent favorite posts was one where I wore my favorite ModCloth dress and cardigan, paired with my beautiful YesStyle heels and my thrifted picnic basket purse.  You can see more from this post here.

How would you describe your personal style?  I'm not really one to subscribe to any kind of label; I feel as though I'm often changing it up over at my blog.  However, I'd mostly say I adore collars, wearing a lot of pastel colours, and pairing a pair of jeans with some cute heels!  Plus, I have a vast collection of dresses (my closet is bursting).

Where's your favorite place to shop?  I love to shop local and support local brands, so one of my favorites is Noul (formerly Loft82).

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  I always look up to my favorite bloggers, and I adore Zooey Deschanel's style, but I often like to think I pull my style from colours around me and old photographs (if that counts, haha).

Go-to accessory?  My collection of hair bows from American Apparel.

What's the most beloved article of clothing you own?  That's a hard choice, but I'd have to say that my two graduation dresses (one from 9th grade and one from 12th grade).  They are two beautiful pieces of clothing that I adore, and luckily, my grade 9 one still fits!

If you could wear only one outfit every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?  I would probably pick something simple, seeing how I'd be wearing it for the rest of my life.  I'd most likely wear one of my many skirts and pair it with one of my collared blouses.

What are some other blogs that you love?  I love reading Someone Like You, Amy Flying A Kite, Hello, Mr. Rabbit, The Pineneedle Collective, and your blog!  The list goes on, but those are just a few of my favorites!

Thanks so much to Rhiannon for being my first interview, and be sure to check out her blog!

If you would like to be a part of this new monthly series, please send me an e-mail!  :) 

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Mint condition

Outfit Details:
Dress: purchased from Kate
Necklace: Forever 21 (similar here)
Heels: estate sale store

I always seem to luck out when Kate sells items from her closet.  It sort of goes without saying that she and I have a similar aesthetic, and it's fortunate that she and I wear the same size in most of our clothes.  I managed to snag this beauty in her latest sale (along with a fantastic citrus print dress), and I couldn't wait to wear it.  I was beyond thrilled that both dresses fit well, and this dress wasn't nearly as see-through as I had feared (thank goodness!).  With its little cape-like bodice, this dress feels so special that there isn't much of a need for fancy accessories, so I paired it with a simple wishbone necklace from Forever 21, and the best vintage shoes ever (a $10 estate sale store find!).

This week was rough.  In addition to dealing with all the stress that comes along with tech week for any show, my grandma passed away on Friday morning (if you missed my post yesterday, you can take a look here).  My mom went to Florida on Wednesday (she's coming home this morning), and I'm glad she was able to make it there in time.  She and my grandma were quite close, just like my mom and I are.  My mom is essentially my best friend.  I've been thinking about mortality and aging a lot because of this, and frankly, it scares the hell out of me.  I am not exactly a realist, by nature, and I'm so sensitive to the thought of change that I can't bear to think about losing my own parents.  I don't want to lose anyone I love.  I know it's a part of life, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  

It can be really difficult to put a positive spin on these types of situations.  I guess I have to close with the hope that you can live in the present, enjoy your life, and take nothing for granted.  Easier said than done, especially given this world in which we live.  But I do hope you have a beautiful day.

xox Sammi

Grandma

My grandma, Betty Schwittek

My grandma passed away yesterday morning.  I don't think it's fully hit me yet, though the sadness is palpable.  I wish I could do more for my mom.  She was down in Florida with my grandma, at least, but I feel sort of useless.  I wish I could have gone down with her.  I'm glad I was able to go down to Florida when I did, though it was really heart-wrenching, since my grandma was in a lot of pain and wasn't the Betty I always knew.  I know she would want to be remembered in a different way.

My grandparents on their wedding day -- February 9th, 1946

My grandma was always a social butterfly.  She married my grandpa (who passed away in 2011) when she was 17.  She loved music, and I think she would have pursued a career in it, had she been able.  She was part of the Sweet Adelines for many years, and I feel proud that my grandma, mom and I all had a shared affinity for -- and love of -- singing.  She went to see my mom sing in seedy, smoky clubs, and I feel fortunate she was able to see me in a few things, too.  I always loved to hear her hum a little snippet of something, and she had such a gift for storytelling.

Mom, Grandma and me -- my first trip to Florida

She always reminded me of Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls, though my grandma was very quick-witted (and not at all vapid).  She loved that show as much as my mom and I do, and given that she was a Minnesota girl with Swedish roots who spent the last part of her life in Florida, the similarities are pretty clear.  I have such fond memories of visiting her and my grandpa in Florida as a kid.  We would go shopping (my grandma loved clothes as much as my mom and I do), go out to dinner at our favorite Floridian restaurants... we would sometimes rent a boat and go out on the Gulf.  I miss the smell of the air down in Naples.  I can never describe what it is, but it's one of my favorite smells in the world.  I still have dreams about her and my grandpa's old house.  I miss swimming in their big pool and exploring all of the beautiful rooms.  She always decorated in shades of peach and teal.  

My grandma and grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary

In earlier days, she had acrylic hot pink nails with lips to match.  She was wonderfully funny, and had a great memory, even up to the end.  She liked to golf, loved cats and could quote any episode of Seinfeld you could imagine.  She loved my grandpa with all her heart.  I don't know what I believe, as far as heaven is concerned, but I really hope they're together again now.  I wish I had been able to spend more time with her, or go back in time to experience all our Christmases and Easters and vacations with her and my grandpa again.  That's greedy on my part.  They always made me feel so special, and all of my childhood memories that involve them are so happy.  I feel so lucky to have had her for a grandma.

I love you 100, Grandma.