101 IN 1001 UPDATE

I have a little more than a year left to accomplish everything on my 101 in 1001 list and I'd say it's officially time to kick things into high gear! This summer I've been able to cross off the following...

{Monogrammed notecards}

18. Buy my parents an Apple computer. (They love it!)

22. See all the Harry Potter movies. (Super important, right?)

23. Send fifty handwritten notes. (I include a handwritten note with every Design Darling order so this should have been crossed off a long time ago!)

37. See a new Cirque du Soleil performance. (Michael and I saw Zarkana in June!)

{Recycled leather notebook}

48. Take a cooking lesson. (Remember that?)

50. Invest in at least ten coffee table books. (I have way exceeded ten thanks to amazing sales on Joss & Main and One Kings Lane!)

76. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. (One of my birthday presents from Michael and so much fun!)

79. Go zip lining. (A birthday present from my parents and also a blast, especially in the rain!)

{To do list}

90. Upgrade to a DSLR camera. (A birthday present to myself!)

99. Participate in a flash mob. (My sister organized one to say good bye to her best friend who moved to the midwest and it. was. awesome!)

That comes to 39 completed tasks and — eeek! — 62 to go. Check out the rest of my goals here. Is anyone else working on a similar list? Leave a link in the comments!

I have a little more than a year left to accomplish everything on my 101 in 1001 list and I'd say it's officially time to kick things into high gear! This summer I've been able to cross off the following...

{Monogrammed notecards}

18. Buy my parents an Apple computer. (They love it!)

22. See all the Harry Potter movies. (Super important, right?)

23. Send fifty handwritten notes. (I include a handwritten note with every Design Darling order so this should have been crossed off a long time ago!)

37. See a new Cirque du Soleil performance. (Michael and I saw Zarkana in June!)

{Recycled leather notebook}

48. Take a cooking lesson. (Remember that?)

50. Invest in at least ten coffee table books. (I have way exceeded ten thanks to amazing sales on Joss & Main and One Kings Lane!)

76. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. (One of my birthday presents from Michael and so much fun!)

79. Go zip lining. (A birthday present from my parents and also a blast, especially in the rain!)

{To do list}

90. Upgrade to a DSLR camera. (A birthday present to myself!)

99. Participate in a flash mob. (My sister organized one to say good bye to her best friend who moved to the midwest and it. was. awesome!)

That comes to 39 completed tasks and — eeek! — 62 to go. Check out the rest of my goals here. Is anyone else working on a similar list? Leave a link in the comments!

WHAT'S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU KNEW...

...before moving out and living on your own? I mentioned in Monday's post that so many friends are making the move to New York which is making me all the more eager to do the same. I'm crossing my fingers to make it happen in early 2013 which means I have a few months to save my pennies and soak up all the advice you have to give...

{Lynn Nigro in Lonny}

What's one thing (or two or three) you wish you knew before moving into your first apartment?

...before moving out and living on your own? I mentioned in Monday's post that so many friends are making the move to New York which is making me all the more eager to do the same. I'm crossing my fingers to make it happen in early 2013 which means I have a few months to save my pennies and soak up all the advice you have to give...

{Lynn Nigro in Lonny}

What's one thing (or two or three) you wish you knew before moving into your first apartment?

BORROWED FROM THE (LITTLE) BOYS

One of my favorite styling tricks lately (seen here and here) is to take an oversized shirt and tie it at the hem. The best part? It's easy to do with a slightly boxier boys' shirt like these...

Brooks Brothers gingham shirt // Crewcuts tuxedo shirt

Ralph Lauren big pony shirt // Ralph Lauren stripe shirt (on crazy sale!)

Crewcuts gingham shirt // Brooks Brothers tennis shirt (also on sale!)

The fit is perfect for scrunching up the sleeves and knotting the bottom! You'd be surprised at how generous the fit is (particularly with Ralph Lauren where the fit goes up to size 20!) and how much lower the price can be relative to comparable women's designs. Just be sure to check the size chart before you order! Have any of you ever worn boys' shirts before? Don't knock it 'til you try it! :)

One of my favorite styling tricks lately (seen here and here) is to take an oversized shirt and tie it at the hem. The best part? It's easy to do with a slightly boxier boys' shirt like these...

Brooks Brothers gingham shirt // Crewcuts tuxedo shirt

Ralph Lauren big pony shirt // Ralph Lauren stripe shirt (on crazy sale!)

Crewcuts gingham shirt // Brooks Brothers tennis shirt (also on sale!)

The fit is perfect for scrunching up the sleeves and knotting the bottom! You'd be surprised at how generous the fit is (particularly with Ralph Lauren where the fit goes up to size 20!) and how much lower the price can be relative to comparable women's designs. Just be sure to check the size chart before you order! Have any of you ever worn boys' shirts before? Don't knock it 'til you try it! :)

BAR CART DETAILS

Isn't it funny how pretty packaging on certain items totally makes the look? I'll never look at a bottle of Absolut the same way again ;)

P.S. On the subject of beautiful bar carts, did you see that Society Social's manifesto magalog launched today? Check it out for great entertaining tips and styling ideas from some of my favorite bloggers.

*Photo from Ivy & Piper

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

Isn't it funny how pretty packaging on certain items totally makes the look? I'll never look at a bottle of Absolut the same way again ;)

P.S. On the subject of beautiful bar carts, did you see that Society Social's manifesto magalog launched today? Check it out for great entertaining tips and styling ideas from some of my favorite bloggers.

*Photo from Ivy & Piper

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

TRENDSPOTTING: COLORED SOLE OXFORDS

For me, a key component of honing great personal style is knowing how to pick and choose which trends work for you. Cleaning out your wardrobe and starting fresh every season isn't really an option so it's important to invest in basic pieces you'll love forever and sprinkle in on-trend pieces that are still true to your taste. Lately I've been seeing lots of oxfords with colored soles and — while they might be "in" right now — they're the perfect updated classic for this tried-and-true prep...

(1) Crewcuts suede bucks — size K4 is equivalent to a women's size 6! (2) Del Toro suede wingtips (3) Splendid oxfords — a way to test out the trend for less than $100!

What do you think of this twist on classic oxfords? Is this trend for you?

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

For me, a key component of honing great personal style is knowing how to pick and choose which trends work for you. Cleaning out your wardrobe and starting fresh every season isn't really an option so it's important to invest in basic pieces you'll love forever and sprinkle in on-trend pieces that are still true to your taste. Lately I've been seeing lots of oxfords with colored soles and — while they might be "in" right now — they're the perfect updated classic for this tried-and-true prep...

(1) Crewcuts suede bucks — size K4 is equivalent to a women's size 6! (2) Del Toro suede wingtips (3) Splendid oxfords — a way to test out the trend for less than $100!

What do you think of this twist on classic oxfords? Is this trend for you?

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

KATE MIDDLETON'S OLYMPICS STYLE

I'm not usually one to ooh and ahh over celebrity fashion but this look was too perfect not to recreate...

Kenneth Jay Lane studs // J.Crew schoolboy blazer // Alice + Olivia side peplum dress

K. Slademade navy foldover clutch // Diane von Furstenberg suede pumps

This combination of classic navy and hydrangea blue is pretty much all I want to wear right now. Anyone else?!

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

I'm not usually one to ooh and ahh over celebrity fashion but this look was too perfect not to recreate...

Kenneth Jay Lane studs // J.Crew schoolboy blazer // Alice + Olivia side peplum dress

K. Slademade navy foldover clutch // Diane von Furstenberg suede pumps

This combination of classic navy and hydrangea blue is pretty much all I want to wear right now. Anyone else?!

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

KATIE ARMOUR'S HOME IN MATCHBOOK

I was delighted to contribute to Matchbook's August issue with an interview of the über-talented Lisa Salzer of Lulu Frost. Equally delightful were these snaps of editor Katie Armour's darling San Francisco abode. Does she not make you want to recover everything you own in navy blue buffalo check? Cute as it is, I'm quite happy to have her on the east coast now! See the complete tour here and read the issue here.

I was delighted to contribute to Matchbook's August issue with an interview of the über-talented Lisa Salzer of Lulu Frost. Equally delightful were these snaps of editor Katie Armour's darling San Francisco abode. Does she not make you want to recover everything you own in navy blue buffalo check? Cute as it is, I'm quite happy to have her on the east coast now! See the complete tour here and read the issue here.

CITY NIGHTS

It's crazy how many people I love have moved to New York lately. It makes me that much more excited to make the move myself in a few months! In the mean time I find myself hopping on the train to the city ever more frequently, which calls for easy outfits that are comfy for the commute but cute enough for dinner...

Acne dress // J.Crew earrings // Kate Spade bow belt // Dani Notes monogrammed iPhone case

K. Jacques leather sandals // Barneys New York clutch

Tonight I'm off to meet Alex, Jane, Katie, Sarah, and Sarah for dinner in the West Village. Matchbook girls unite! ;)

It's crazy how many people I love have moved to New York lately. It makes me that much more excited to make the move myself in a few months! In the mean time I find myself hopping on the train to the city ever more frequently, which calls for easy outfits that are comfy for the commute but cute enough for dinner...

Acne dress // J.Crew earrings // Kate Spade bow belt // Dani Notes monogrammed iPhone case

K. Jacques leather sandals // Barneys New York clutch

Tonight I'm off to meet Alex, Jane, Katie, Sarah, and Sarah for dinner in the West Village. Matchbook girls unite! ;)

PREPPY STYLING

You'll rarely see me in red (red jeans being the exception) but there's a lot to love about Mango's fall campaign: oxford shirts layered under blazers, leather belts over polka dot skirts, and trench coats on top of cable knit sweaters. I'm excited for the temperature to drop 30 degrees so I can start pulling fall basics to the front of my closet...!

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

You'll rarely see me in red (red jeans being the exception) but there's a lot to love about Mango's fall campaign: oxford shirts layered under blazers, leather belts over polka dot skirts, and trench coats on top of cable knit sweaters. I'm excited for the temperature to drop 30 degrees so I can start pulling fall basics to the front of my closet...!

Keep up with Design Darling on Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

HAPPY SUNDAY

Wishing you a fun-filled day with friends, sunshine, and striped beach towels.

*Photo by Amanda Pratt

Wishing you a fun-filled day with friends, sunshine, and striped beach towels.

*Photo by Amanda Pratt