weekend review.

this weekend we celebrated my mom's 50th birthday! with the help of my dad and brother andy, we successfully coordinated a surprise luncheon at her favorite chinese restaurant with 45 of her closest friends and family. i was shocked my family managed to keep the party a surprise... but it was priceless to see my moms face :) 

if you follow my tweets, you might have noticed that i watched the oscars and had lots of opinions on all the fashion and acceptance speeches. overall i thought it was an entertaining show, although james franco was a little awkward at times. anne hathaway is not one of my favorites but she is growing on me and she looked gorgeous most of the night (i especially liked the flapper-esq swingy dress!). 

did you enjoy the award show? let's play fashion police:: who was your best dressed? worst dressed? my picks:: best: mila kunis :: worst:: amy adams

happy monday! 

jcd

{guest post} - i wander, i wonder.

Hey there, I'm Sylvia from I wander, I wonder and I'm excited to write this Oscar wrap up post for cornflake dreams. Thanks Jillian for having me guest post. :) 

While I keep my life & style blog I also hold down a day job in television and am trying to find my place in the entertainment industry with hopes of producing, acting, and even possibly writing one day so of course, the Oscars are like my Superbowl.  

This year, I hate to say it but, I thought the Oscars were a bit of a bore. Trust me, this is hard for me to say because I have been a huge and avid academy award follower for years. You see, I'm, like many, rather a dreamer and there's nothing I enjoy more than seeing people's dreams come true. Cheesy as it may be, I even tend to cry when people get emotional. A great film takes such work and creative vision that I am ecstatic that these pictures are honored. 

This year, the competition was stiff but I felt like the awards were rather, predictable. The same awards have been going to the same people throughout the awards season and there were really no surprises this year. All of the films were pretty incredible and I'm glad that each film got a decent proportion of deserved recognition.

I was really excited to see Anne Hathaway and James Franco hosting and was curious to see how the show would play out with their new aim to reach a younger demographic. Well, I guess I'd say it left me feeling on the border. I liked it, but I suppose I had higher expectations. The couple were sweet and looked genuinely happy to be there. James Franco did a fabulous Marilyn Monroe. Gosh, do I love him. However, I hate to say it, but I was disappointed by Anne's styling during the show. I'd say she had a few underwhelming dresses and I'm really surprised because I'm usually a huge fan of Rachel Zoe's work. But overall, I think the show was pretty classy. 

On the positive notes, I loved Sandra Bullock, and the montages were pretty great. The inception intro and the best picture nominee montage were good stuff. Celine Dion is always a doll. (I seriously owned Celine Dion's Falling into You, trying to be on some diva, before the whole Titanic business). And I think we had a fun variety of presenters, no? Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr., Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett. Cate Blachett?!!? Best dressed in my eyes, for sure. Spotted that Givenchy Spring 2011 Couture the moment she stepped out of the car and was in awe. She is so stunning and fabulous, definitely one of my idols. Jennifer Lawrence also looked amazing in my book and it was definitely Natalie Portman's year. 

What did you guys think of the show? the fashion? I wanna hear your opinions. 

love all the little details.

happy oscar sunday! i am v excited about the award show tonight, i can't wait to see all of the fashion, hair, and pretty little details. award shows (much like the super bowl) gives h and i a reason to bust out the dips and appetizers... so defiantly looking forward to that too. are you going to watch the oscars tonight?

i'll be tweet -tweet-ing tonight if you care for a twitter chit-chat. 

happy sunday lovelies! 

xoxo, 

jillian

meet your personal shopper.

last month i was introduced to aprizi. and it changed my life. well it made my blogging life a little easier. it's sorta like pandora for shopping, the site allows you to browse through clothing, accessories, furniture, and shoes and gives you the option of "liking" or "disliking" an item. once you create a (free) profile it saves your "likes" and allows you to review them later. here are a few of my favorite finds i pulled together for a guest curator post on aprizi's blog: the tail::  

[1] dress $83, [2] coat $68, [3] bag $170, [4] bracelet $200, [5] necklace $25, [6] shoes $70

have you checked out aprizi yet? what do you think? do you use any similar sites?

jcd

friday link love and a birthday wish.

as previously mentioned its my mommas birthday today!! she is pictured above along with a few of her favorite things :)


put a bow on it

wise words from a little one
cant stop thinking about. must go to LA as soon as possible.
girl crush- she is one of my favorites
pleasantly surprised and impressed with vera wang for david's bridal
just signed up for bloggy boot camp in chicago! are you going?
3 ways to tie a headscarf!

oOo and you might have missed::

my guest posts on lilac and grey and blue-eyed belle

have a fantastic weekend!

xoxo,

jillian

friday's fancies #6.

today h and i took the day off! we have big plans that include sleeping in (check!), grabbing donuts (check!), a super hot library date (so i can catch up on my magazines and he can study), and an afternoon movie (i think it's about time i see at least one of the oscar nominated films).  today is also my mom's birthday! we are celebrating on saturday and i've got a few surprises in store for her (more on that monday!) 
sunday i'm watching the oscars! no surprise there. so if you're down for a twitter chit chat i'll be tweeting! 
here are my friday's fancies pick for my laid back weekend:: 

top $97, jeans $189, headband $35 , clutch $60, shoes $72

friday link love and a little more love for my momma later!

jcd

wear something your boyfriend can't.

after seeing the tagline "wear something your boyfriend can't" on piperlime's current ad campaign i started rethinking heels. i know i just proclaimed my love and devotion to ballet flats but there are times i want to wear something with a little height. these wedges might do the trick (i would assume they would be easier to walk in than stilettos!)

[1] steve madden turnpyke $90, [2] see by chloe $260, [3] dv by dolce vita toni $79, [4] blowfish roman $49

jcd

let's go retro.

im a big fan of silk scarves lately.. i think worn properly they can be the perfect accessory at the beach and add a little retro feel to your outfit. 

[1] dotty necker $38, [2] cube art scarf $38, [3] jellybeans vera scarf $12,
[4] vintage marchesa di gresy silk scarf $16, [5] blue striped scarf $6.95

how do you wear your scarves? do you think you'll try this trend?

jcd

color crush: yellow.

i am a little in love with the color yellow right now (no surprise there). i keep spotting pieces in the shade that i am dying to get my hands on... 

[1] dishtowels yellow and grey mantra $16, [2] yellow stripped tote bag $19.95, [3] blooming goldenrod dress $138, [4] vintage rotary phone $198, [5] pride and prejudice $20, [6] pull on skirt $49.50, [7] cole haan crosby wallet $67.99, [8] mystic sandal $139

what colors are you loving right now?
jcd 


ps head over to lilac and grey today-to see my retro swimwear guest post!

no bangs for you.

last friday when i arrived at my hair appointment i was super excited. i worked up the courage and fought off haircut + bangs anxiety to ask my stylist if we could try something new. i wanted bangs! she let out a big sigh, then literally took a seat to tell me that i had a "small forehead, and bangs would squash down my face." shot down. so no bangs for me. i was disappointed but i guess it wasn't meant to be. so let's all admire some lovelies who have either a nice forehead or a nicer stylist... 

so, i know my stylist was just doing her job and cutting my hair the way she thought it would look the best. in the end she gave me little swoopy bangs but i still wonder if full-on heavy bangs would have been the worst thing (i mean it is hair and i can grow them out or pin them back...) 


on a brighter and less dramatic note, i had a pretty fantastic weekend! we got to hang out with old friends and enjoyed some tasty food. my newly engaged friend asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! and i am absolutely overjoyed to be included in their special day!!!  sunday was a rainy day so we spent most of it cuddled up :)  that night we ventured out to celebrate h's dad's birthday with dinner at a reallllly tasty Persian place. whew! lots of good food and quality time with friends and family :) 

happy monday! be sure to hop over to blue-eyed belle today for my guest post about making yourself happy :)

jcd 

i suggest.

leigh from very loveleigh, posted about the three things she needs in her house and i decided to play along.


i suggest not living without these three things:: 

1. i have been addicted to clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion for years.
2. h and i drink a lot of water. our XL brita pitcher is our bff.
3. and of course, we always have a basket of blankets on hand for quality snugglin time.

i'm very interested to hear... what are your three things?

{psst... bloggers post your three things and link up over on very loveleigh to enter her giveaway!}

jcd


don't miss the last oscar blog crawl stop:: bun & borough!

a little Q&A time.

Q&A

my old roommate from south carolina, ann has asked me to fill out a little survey. her answers were inspiring and v honest (much like her blog). soooo here we go! 

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
summertime when the weather is fine... served with a scoop of lemon italian ice and swinging in the park w/ h. 

What is your greatest fear?
not being able to have children in the future. 

Which figures do you most identify with?
confident women who are not afraid to speak up. 

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
i tend to be a neat freak...this has its ups and downs. 

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
dishonesty, slow walkers on busy sidewalks, loud cell-phone talkers on public transit.


What do you most value in your friends?
a sense of humor and optimism. 


What words or phrases do you most overuse?
check it. 

What is your favorite journey?

my month-long study abroad in paris where i met one of my closest friends and fell in love with a beautiful city. also my move to charleston after college then back to chicago...i really believe everything happen for a reason. 


What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
absolute honesty isn't always the best when peoples feelings are involved. i don't advocate outright lying but somethings are better left unsaid. 

What is your favorite occupation?
i really admire teachers.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
my nose. meh. 

What is your greatest regret?
there are things i wish i could change, but nothing life altering. i am at peace with all of my decisions and i hope i can always say that. 

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
h bomb! is da bomb. and i've had a pretty good run with pumpkin pie. 

Where and when were you happiest?
right now... 2011 has been pretty good to be so far. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
i am awful at spelling... so i should brush up on those skills. i would also love to learn french again. and italian. and spanish.. you get the idea. 

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
moving to charleston, sc on my own, without knowing anyone in the city. i learned a lot about myself and even though i didn't stay too long (6 months) it really helped me with my priorities and figure out what really makes me happy. 

What is your most treasured possession?
my blankie. yep, it lives in my dresser and it is the only thing i would grab (aside from h) if the apt was on fire. annnnd the claddagh ring i received from my mom on my 21st birthday. 

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
when you lose someone you love, ive been v lucky not to experience this and i am dreading it. 

Where would you like to live?
somewhere warm, walkable, and affordable. any ideas?! 

What is your most marked characteristic?
i try to be optimistic and i like to smile. a lot. 

What is your greatest extravagance?
weekly dinners with h's family. we pick a new restaurant every sunday,  it's wonderful to get together to chat and try new food. 

What are the qualities you most like in a man?
a sense of humor, killer smile, quirkiness, a sense of adventure, a desire to travel and learn, fantastic taste in music, and spontaneous dance moves. 

Who are your favorite writers?
jhumpa lahiri and sloane crosley. 

How would you like to die?
peacefully, in my sleep (in a huge comfy, soft bed) next to my adoring husband. 

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
jem of jem and the holograms. the ultimate rockstar. 

Who are your heroes in real life?
my grandmother, she's not afraid to tell you like it is and to make herself happy. 

What is your motto?
{i've got dreams babe.} 
because i do and i can't wait to see how it all plays out. 

i am suppose to pass this along:: so ladies if you would like to participate i would love to hear your answers!
trisha from my pretty pink pearl, holls from little miss holls , joelle from love is home, electroglam from oui je t'aime aussi, krista from alla fiorentina, and meagan from mo, pie please. 

xoxo,

jillian


oscar blog crawl stop:: an oscar worthy affair -- a kapple a day

friday {blog crawl} link love.

via

happy friday!!! a huge thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the lovely ladies who have participated in blog crawl: a toast to the oscars! it's not over yet-- check out the orginal friday's fancies and {av}'s lovely oscar dress pick today on long distance loving!

also, stay tuned for special oscar posts this weekend::

saturday: kristen from a kapple a day
sunday: christine from bun & borough


blog crawl link love::

oscar memories: that was me! read about my first oscar crush here.

a rainbow of oscar dresses: christine of bijou and boheme

little golden men: rachel of the inspired house of wright

runway to red carpet: ashley of ashley nicole catherine

i hope you had fun visiting these blogs and are excited about the upcoming award show! i will admit i haven't seen a lot of the nominated films (i know, i know), which ones would you reccommend?

xoxo,

jcd

friday's fancies: the oscar edition.

i am getting my hair cut today (leaning towards bangs... we'll see what happens!) tonight, h and i are going out for happy hour drinks and dinner with one of his close friends from medical school. saturday, we have a lunch date at labriola bakery cafe with my friend and her fiance. i am excited to hear more about their engagement and upcoming wedding plans! i've also got my eye on a giant pretzel bun burger and if there's room a little gelato :)

i hope all of you have enjoyed the Blog Crawl: A Toast to the Oscars this week! in the spirit of the awards season i have dreamed up a special friday's fancies outfit, my dream Oscar outfit::

do you have any fun plans for the weekend? 

xoxo

jcd

oscar blog crawl stop: be sure to visit {long distance loving} today and check out the blog that started friday's fancies and all of her special oscar picks!

wear what works for you {ballet flats}.

as previously mentioned i love ballet flats. i rarely wear heels- and when i do they are usually under 3 inches (if that) and only stay on my feet for a few hours. i cannot bring myself to wear tennis shoes outside of the gym (which drives h nuts when he wants to walk for miles). i am the most comfortable in ballet flats and i wear them year round. 

here are my budget-friendly picks for spring in two of my favorite trends: nudes and nautical... 

1. asos lagoon stripe bow ballet pump $43.83
3. calvin klein lexa II lychee crinkle patent -$46.75

2. gabriella rocha ady nude leather -$24.30

4. asos lake stripe bow ballet pumps -$43.83

jcd


pshh.. ballet flats for babies! 


and day four of blog crawl: a toast to the oscars- ashley nicole catherine

etsy wouldn't lie.

i recently checked out my etsy favorites i noticed a trend: i like girly things. a lot. generally i don't think i consider myself to be a girly-girl, i am drawn to masculine detail and clean lines, i prefer a geometric design over a floral pattern (well, that isn't always true). so i suppose i give in...

french lace bag, darling print, earrings, cake stand, coffee & cake tea towel,  twilight blue art, 6 spanish cards, sesame jasper necklace

xoxo,

jcd


keeping up with the blog crawl- a toast to the oscars?! GOOD. visit the inspired house of wright today!

neeeed supply spring lookbook.

my favorites:: top $24, weekender bag $72, earrings $38, seams mini dress $54, 

knit waves dress $68, necklace $45, shoes $125

see more here. 

jcd

ps:: keep up with the blog crawl: a toast to the oscars- check out bijou and boheme's a rainbow of colour at the oscars!

oscar memories.

the first time i actually paid attention to the oscars and watched the entire awards show was when that titanic was nominated. to say i liked the movie was a bit of an understatement, i was in love with jack dawson and i had visions of our wedding invitations (jack and jill!). i also was in seventh grade and leonardo dicaprio was a big deal. so naturally i covered my walls with titanic posters and tiger beat photos of my romeo. i know, i know creeper. but everyone has had their first celebrity crush, right? my family even encouraged the behavior, for christmas, my mom surprised me with a bright plastic sapphire and rhinestone 'heart of the ocean' necklace. when i discovered it in my stocking i squealed with delight and as embarrassing as it is, i still don't have the heart to get rid of it.

during the 1998 oscars i kept a dry erase tally (nerd alert!) of how many awards titanic reeled in that night (the final count was 11). i continue to be a big kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio fan, sense and sensibility has trumped titanic as my favorite film and leo still has it-- hello, the departed & inception!

titanic was my tipping point, and after that award show i was hooked on everything oscars- especially the fashion. who could forget Gweneth Paltrow's 1999 ill-fitting pink Ralph Lauren gown, Angelina Jolie's 2000 morticia adams-esq look, bjork's 2001 crazy swan getup, Julia Robert's 2001 black and white Valentino dress, or Halle Barry's 2002 gorgeous barely-there Elie Saab dress?!

what are some of your favorite oscar memories? nominated films? fashion? first celeb crushes? 

xoxo, 

jc dicaprio (jk!)

the blog crawl continues:: up next- tomorrow:: christine of bijou and boheme

blog crawl- a toast to the oscars!

i am v excited to introduce blog crawl-a toast to the oscars! follow along all week with special oscar inspired posts, featuring a few of my favorite bloggers:: 

monday -- my favorite oscar memories

tuesday -- christine -- bijou and boheme

wednesday -- rachel -- the inspired house of wright

thursday -- ashley -- ashley nicole catherine 

friday -- {av} -- long distance loving

saturday -- kristen -- a kapple a day

sunday -- christine -- bun & borough 

pssst: don't miss a post! this schedule is linked to the little blog crawl button on the left sidebar :)


jcd

to h.

i recently received this print from sarah tucker's etsy shop and i have to say it's pretty much the perfect way to describe how i feel about my boyfriend h. my favorite thing about our relationship is that we can be ridiculously weird and crazy around each other, without (much) judgement. i've never known anyone who can make me laugh the way he does and my days are brighter when we get to spend time together. 

i hope everyone finds a love like that.

happy (early) valentines day.

xoxo,

jillian

breathtaking views.

adoring these photographs by randy p martin::

buy a print here.

jcd

friday link love.

via, via

happy friday lovlies! in addition to portillos, i am craving chocolate cake like crazy! so i'll have to try to convince h to make that happen too this weekend.


a few of my favorites::
two of my favorites link up!
add budapest to my travel wishlist.
kisses
try this cat eye liner
master the messy side pony - via cup of jo
loving these skirts--enter to win one!
too cute... little ones talking about love - via {av}
piiiink! that print looks familar!

in case you missed them- guest posts galore::
valentines dresses, classic chambray, and spring things.

 get ready for a week long of oscar bloglove next week! blog crawl: a toast to the oscars starts right here, monday, february 14th :)

jcd