Christmas Break

Are you ready for the holidays? December went by so fast this year, I feel like I just opened the first door on my advent calendar, and now there's only one left. But this makes me even more excited for Christmas, because at my house Christmas feels like a pause button for life. Which means watching Christmas movies, wearing PJs all day, and eating nothing but appetizers - cause who wants to spend hours in the kitchen when you can have smoked salmon and crackers? Not this girl.  

And Christmas wouldn't be complete without my favorite snack: Candy cane pretzels.

Spread some pretzels on a baking sheet, place a piece of chocolate on each one. Put them into the oven until the chocolate starts to melt, and sprinkle crushed candy canes on them. So easy, and so good.

And after reading this amazing post about Holiday Traditions (yay for fellow appetizer lovers!) on Cupcakes and Cashmere, I'd love to hear about yours! 

With that, I wish you happy holidays, and hope that you also have a few days to relax!

See you in 2015!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Another one...

A few days ago I blogged about my favorite Holiday ads,  unfortunately apple's "The Song" ad wasn't out yet, or it would have been number 1.  I love how it isn't as over the top as many other holiday ads.  It's just nice, and really shows how the simplest things are often the greatest presents. 

…and parts of it were filmed at Third Man Records, aka Disney World for music nerds, aka me.

There's even a behind the scenes, which includes a closer look at the Record Booth.  

…visiting Third Man Records is so high up on my bucket list.

(You, hear that Santa?)

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Silent Night?

Just like  any real 90s kid I've always loved  R.L. Stine. I've read everything from Goosebumps, to his adult novels, downloaded the new Fear Street novel (it is SO good!) the day it came out, and already preordered the next one.  

Yet, I've somehow managed to completely miss his Fear Street Super Chiller Christmas trilogy

"Silent Night"…at least until now:

Part 1, 2, and 3

To me, the books about mean girl Reva Dalby, and her not so pleasant Christmas surprises (psychos, kidnappers, stalkers) are the perfect holiday escape (nothing's more relaxing than reading about psychopaths, am I right?). And then there's the nostalgia factor (all the white mohair turtlenecks), which is always nice around the holidays.  

Also, these books would make pretty awesome stocking stuffers for the R.L. Stine fan in your life.(Seriously,  there is nothing better than finding childhood favorites in your stocking. Nothing!)

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Snow Purse

We interrupt the regular program to bring you the cutest  Christmas purse ever! (Ok, this is also the only Christmas purse I have seen, but it is pretty darn cute) 

New Look Bag

This little snowman also makes a really cute giftbag for smaller presents, like this little mince pie lipbalm:

Mince Pie Lipbalm

So Christmassy.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

A Touch of Monochrome

I could never get into the monochrome trend. I love it on other people, but it just wasn't for me...

at least not until I randomly bought a houndstooth scarf last week. And I don't know what changed, but I've been wearing it every day, and can't wait to stock up on more monochrome:

JCrew Sweater / Gap crossbody bag / Banana Republic gloves / JCrew infinity scarf / 

Banana Republic beanie  / JCrew wool shawl 

So many options!

I especially love how they look with blue coats. (Biker boots, black skinny jeans, a blue coat, and my new scarf are pretty much my uniform right now).

What's your favorite way to wear monochrome?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Don't change the channel...

Christmas is the only time of the year, when I'm actually excited about commercial breaks. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Kate Spade:

I adore this, It's festive, hilarious, has a cute pup, and there's a cameo by Iris Apfel... It doesn't get much better than that.

Mulberry:

I know that a lot of people are criticizing this commercial for it's message, but come on,  it's just some good old tongue-in-cheek humor and definitely not meant to be taken seriously. (Although I'd prefer a Mulberry bag over a unicorn any day…)

John Lewis:

I usually don't go for the overly sentimental ones (or the obvious choices)... But penguin!

Enough said. 

What are your favorite Christmas commercials of 2014?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Pretty (Ugly) Chritmas Sweaters

I love a good ugly Christmas sweater, but sometimes it's also nice to have something with a little more sparkle, like these amazing amazing options from H&M:

H&M

Check out more designs here (How cool is the one with the vintage flacon?) 

And H&M is also killing in in the present department, just check out this adorable phone case with matching tech gloves:

H&M

Santa would approve!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Falalalala…

The best thing about December? Christmas Songs! Duh!

Last night I tried to put together a Christmas playlist, but I quickly gave up. I just couldn't narrow it down to the usual 10 or 12 songs. And since I don't have the time to post a new playlist every week, I decided to try something new and call it a "project" – which is just a nice way of saying  it's a mess.  

…but I kind of like it this way, and I will add to this mess all the way up to Christmas (I'm always on the hunt for new festive songs).  So check in once or twice a week, or simply press the follow button.

See you on Spotify!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Black Friday Picks

My all time favorite Out Of Print Clothing has 30% off everything, and that includes this Nancy Drew sweater (need!):

ASOS is the perfect place to stock up on cold weather accessories, like this adorable cableknit beanie.

Oh, and EVERYTHING is 20% off.

If you're looking for a new winter coat, make use of Banana Republic's 50% off one full priced item code, and get the perfect Peacoat:

And GAP goes even further and offers 50% off EVERYTHING!

How perfect are these plaid pajama bottoms? 

Happy Shopping!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Rosewood

Rosewood, guitars are made out of it, it's the home of my favorite TV show, and the name of the greatest lip color  ever:

Rimmel London's Rosewood (08) from the Kate Moss Collection.

Lipstick is a tricky thing. It looks different on everyone, so I was hesitant about calling this "the greatest color ever" - but it really does look great on everyone.  A lot of my friends (and not all of them are pale blondes) swear by this color.

It's the perfect in-between shade: Pink enough to look girly, and red enough to look just a little bit vampy.

The best is, however, the great formula: It feels like a creamy moisturizer but is still incredibly long lasting (and so shiny!) 

And then there's the packaging which – just like the color itself – is the perfect mix of girly and classic.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura 

Blasts From The Past

I spent the last four days cleaning out the attic (while listening to 1989), so I don't really have a lot to blog about (unless you're interested in antique toys).  

That's why I decided to use this post to bring back some old favorites (especially recipes, everyone loves a good recipe):

These crunchy tortilla leaves, or these cinnamon chips with apple pie dip are the perfect fall snacks, 

and click here for an easy (and healthy) way to spice up (or dress up) a cup of coffee.

…and let's not forget my famous red velvet cupcakes (they're always in season).

Of course, you are going to need a good book to relax after all that baking, or (if you're anything like me) you might want to unwind by giving yourself a fresh manicure (or a wild one).

If you're in the mood for a makeover and want to make Taylor Swift's adorable vintage look your own,  follow this link,  or look here for my take on Emma Stone's laid back style.

picture by Sammy

…And last but not least:  the greatest App you will ever own.

Have a great weekend!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Shift Gear

There are few pieces that are as versatile as a classic shift dress,  even if it's leopard print like this little ASOS number:  

Asos

Pair it with flat suede boots,  black tights, and an oversized cardigan for a casual look. With a navy blazer and riding boots for a more put together (maybe even office appropriate) look. Or with red heels, statement earrings, and a great coat for a holiday party.

So basically…

See more styles on ASOS.COM

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

A penny in a diamond mine

Style inspiration is a funny thing. Personally I would describe my style as very classic and preppy (and I own enough chambray shirts and  navy cable knit sweaters to prove it), yet I would never refer to the Blair Waldorfs and Sarah Vickers of the world as my fashion idols. Don't get me wrong, I love them but I believe that the best inspiration can be found outside one's comfort zone.

And for me that's in Alison Mosshart's closet:

She is the epitome of cool, has collaborated with fashion and music icons alike, and fronts not only one but two of my favorite bands (The Kills and The Dead Weather). Oh, and she was on to the whole leopard thing years before it even was a thing. 

Her look is simple: skinny jeans or leather pants, tattered tees and silk shirts, well worn boots, and great jackets (she seems to have an endless collection of vintage fur and leather jackets, with the occasional Burberry Prorsum trench thrown in for good measure).

pictures:1,2,3,4,5

My favorite thing about it is the way she mixes high-end pieces with thrift store finds. It looks so effortless, so easy and playful – which is exactly why her iconic look  is so hard to imitate. Still, that doesn't mean we can't at least try to take a couple of hints from Miss Mosshart.

The first and only rule is to wear what you love and to wear it all at once. It's all about finding your favorite pieces, and mixing them in unexpected ways: A simple hoodie under a vintage fur coat, a designer scarf with your rattiest shirt, or two crazy patterns at once.  Basically, the idea is to reach into your closet, pull out something random, and look amazing – and a touch of leopard never hurts (for me that means my favorite pair of riding boots).

via polyvore

Who's your biggest style inspiration?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

A Breath of Fresh Air

Essie's new Holiday/Winter collection is as basic as it gets, 

but that is exactly what's so great about it:   

When I first saw the collection on Instagram, I wasn't sure about the colors. There's an odd contrast between  classic christmas colors and pink hues that look like leftovers from the spring collection.  But the longer  I looked at them, the more I liked them.  Essie has always been great at classic looks (Wicked, and Mademoiselle can't be beat), so why not celebrate just that?  'Cause as much as I love me some silver or green glitter, you can't really beat a color like Back in The Limo (below) in terms of versatility.

Back in The Limo

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Return of the Pumpkin Heads

If you've been around for a while, you know that the Sunday before Halloween is my favorite day of the year  because it's pumpkin day! 

This year I made a vicious cat, a barbaric pirate, and... there's no way I can sell daisies as scary, is there?

Are you carving pumpkins this year? Tweet me pictures!

Check out the Pumpkin Tag for more.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

"Meep Meep"

I wasn't going to post any Halloween tutorials this year, but then a little guy in a furry vest and a taste for chicken came along and changed my mind:

You guessed it:  Freak Show's "Meep the Geek"

I was heartbroken when they killed him off so soon, but he surely left an impression, and since the Meep look is super easy to recreate I figured I could honor him with a Halloween tutorial: 

Click here to see where to get everything

A pair of faded denim or chino shorts, some white tights or leggings, a worn out flat boot, and you have the basics. The blue fur vest (or a jacket if your Halloween activities take you outside) can be found on Ebay or – if you have time to look around – in thrift stores. The chicken hat is available on Amazon, and Meep's other hats, can be recreated with some cardboard, a couple of feathers and a glue gun.

If you want to go the extra mile and still have some left over Easter candy, you could even take some Peeps (don't worry you can buy them online all year round), and use a syringe to inject them with red frosting to make them bleed when you bite their heads off.  

Happy Halloween!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Pictures: FX

The Best of Both Worlds

I've never been a pencil skirt kind of girl. Don't get me wrong, I like the look it just always felt a little too grown up dressed up for me. But there is a way to change that: Instead of wearing the skirt with a blouse, pair it with your favorite vintage tee:

Shirts:  Beatles, Jazz Age, Arctic Monkeys, Ghost Busters 

Skirts:  French Connection, Eastex, J Crew, Phase Eight

Now that's more like it.

There is just something insanely cool about pairing a structured wool skirt with a ratty concert tee, and you can bet that I will be rocking this look a lot this fall.  

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura 

Ghoulish Trends

It's never too early to show some Halloween spirit. I'm not saying that you should start wearing costumes as soon as the leaves start to turn orange but a few ghoulish accessories won't hurt anyone.  And as always ASOS is the place to find them: 

Clutch  / Halloween Sweater / Skeleton Tights / Trick or Treat Slippers / Halloween Headband / Pumpkin Socks

How amazing is the  Ouija board clutch? That paired with  the those slippers, some skinny jeans and a black chiffon top could even double as a Halloween party outfit for those who don't feel like dressing up.  And the Jack O' Lantern  socks are a must for any horror movie marathon.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Wild Things

Is it just me or is Zara seriously hitting it out of the park  this season? 

Especially when it comes to bags:

See more at Zara

Leopard, crocodile, autumn hues....

What's not to love? 

Peace, Love, and Lobster

Laura

Good Morning Good Morning

I don't like to use the word epic for  everyday things like breakfast food, but in this case I will have to make an exception, because:

Beatles Pancakes!

Is there are cooler way to start your day? I don't think so. 

Also, let's add "pancake artist" to the ever growing list of  awesome back-up careers.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Wicked

If you're not following Essie on Tumblr  you need to change that right now!  

Not only do they post the cutest ways to wear their new shades,  they also like to celebrate the classics. And this month it's wicked:

Did you know that this color has been around for  21 years? 

"Wicked" has been my go-to fall shade for as long as I can remember, last year it got some competition from the navy "After School Boy Blazer" but that didn't last long. There's just something about painting your nails a deep red. It looks super preppy with a navy blazer, incredibly sexy with black skinny jeans,  and so cozy with a cream sweater.  

...No wonder it has been a favorite for so many years, and to celebrate Essie gives you the chance to win "wicked" and 99 other shades. Check out the Giveaway here. 

Are you a fan of "wicked"?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Look For Less: Burberry Poncho

Here's the thing, while I usually have an "it's ok to splurge" philosophy when it comes to all things Burberry, I'm not going to spend my lifesavings on a glorified blankie  – even if it's monogrammed.

And thanks to Zara I don't have to.

Here's Olivia Palermo looking cozy in the Burberry poncho:

picture via Glamour

And here's  Zara's answer to it:

Zara Scarf

 Sure the pattern's different, it's thinner, and  not as much of a statement piece as the Burberry one.  But it is a nice alternative, and who says you can't monogram a Zara scarf?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Fall Mix

I promised that these playlists would be a regular thing. So here are my favorite fall tunes. It's the usual eclectic mix and some Taylor Swift. Because she writes pretty things about autumn leaves:

Listen to it on Spotify

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

The Prettiest Season

It's officially fall! And here's what I'm excited about:

1) Forever on ABC

If there is one show that I'm excited to watch this fall it's Forever. I usually need to see a couple of episodes until I'm hooked on a show, but I knew this was great before the opening credits were over.

Maybe it's my crush on Ioan Gruffudd, maybe the intriguing "Sherlock" meets "Unbreakable" premise, but either way I hope that "Forever" stands the test of time. 

2) Fall Colors:

New Balance 410s

I love the sneaker trend, I hate the sneaker trend, seriously my opinion on this changes daily. But this week I'm pretty into it.  Especially because it's a great way to incorporate some color into your fall wardrobe.

3) All the pretty leaves 

This is a no-brainer, but it goes well with the colors. And who doesn't love pretty leaves?

What are you excited about this fall?

Peace, Love, and Lobster

Laura 

Call it Love

I've always loved Keds shoes,  they're comfy, cute, and come in a all the colors of the rainbow.

Unfortunately I live in a climate that doesn't allow me to wear them all year round.  Canvas shoes and freezing rain just don't mix.  So I was thrilled to discover their newest collection of leather oxfords:

Keds Boyfriend Oxfords

The tan ones are perfection. They already have that faded look, and I think they'll only get better with age.  The tiny heel is a nice addition too, and don't get me started on all the fun options when it comes to the laces:

leopard laces

A shoe just isn't complete without a touch of leopard.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura