Happy Holiday Weekend!

Hello Lovelies!

Happy Memorial Day weekend (or bank holiday if you are across the pond). It’s been rainy and cold here in New York for the past few days, but the sun is looking promising this morning and hopefully we’ll squeeze some nice weather in before the holiday is over. I couldn’t help but have my mind in a sunny, vacation-ready spot this morning and thought I’d share a secret I learned last summer with you all…

I have always been in search of the perfect beach blanket. In Oregon however, that means it needs to work on sand, allow your dog to run all over it, deal with lumpy grass/rocks and clean up easily. In New York, it also needs to be lightweight and packable. Well, I think I’ve found it – the steven alan beach blanket.

Good news is they have it listed again for the year on their site just in time for Memorial day to kick off (it’s a seasonal item each summer). You can grab it in most locations, but if there isn’t a shop near you, they are selling them online this year. Only downside is that you can’t choose your color (although it says you can call if you want a certain color to arrange it).

Made of a super lightweight woven, these blankets are so easy to throw into a tote bag and carry around for the day without feeling like you are a pack-mule. For only $48, I’m definitely heading down to the shop in our neighborhood to get another one for this summer. I bought one in Venice last year and had planned on tossing it after leaving California so I wouldn’t carry the bulk of it, but couldn’t bring myself to do it because I was so attached.

Central Park NYC – August 2012

Venice Beach, California – July 2012

If you are looking for that perfect summer addition that can ride along to the park or throw into a suitcase for a beach vacation, I recommend checking this bad boy out. I couldn’t be more impressed with my newest summer essential. It’s really large (60″ x 84″) so it fits multiple people, or folds in half nicely for a spacious area for one. Did I mention it’s only $48?!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend, and I am over the moon that this Sunday is really more of a Saturday this week. Cheers to the beginning of summer (no matter how grey or sunny it may be where you are)!

xoxo
E

Ugly Dollies + Shiny Ponies

I have expressed my love of Jenna Lyons and her creative eye numerous times here. I find that anytime they turn the camera on her the passion she has and love for what she does just radiates. Yet another fantastic example of this is in the new video J Crew released this morning called “Shiny Ponies.”

Between leopard being a “neutral” and proclaiming that when she throws on a silver, 5-inch pump and all of a sudden she feels prettier; I love her honest passion about not only shoes, but the ones they make as a brand.

What do you think? Do you have certain shoes that make you feel empowered or put an extra spring in your step? I sure do. Maybe even my fully golden glitter mary-jane pumps I picked up on sale at their store to celebrate finally selling my car…

“There’s a sense of sparkle in a shoe… and I don’t mean sequins.” – Jenna Lyons

The best kind of beautiful.

I’ve always been more of an Audrey Hepburn girl myself, but in the past year or so I have been watching a lot of old movies, including some Marilyn films. If there is one thing that girl could do, it was nail the “having fun while being undeniably gorgeous and flirty” thing. I came across this photo set through a friend’s pinterest post and couldn’t resist posting. Between the pattern, the lighting, and her incredible way of working the camera… they are truly amazing.

Enjoy!

See more here.

xoxo,
E

Thursday Words…

As we continue our house hunting, I keep thinking about the type of space I want us to have. A big part of that includes finally having some studio space in the house. Every time I post Thursday words on here I think about how amazing it would be to have a space where I could start to arrange my selections as inspiration as I work on my own projects. Hopefully soon it’ll be a reality!

More and more I am learning the importance of not only doing my own projects outside of work, but in creating a fantastic environment to do it in.  There’s something about that mini sanctuary you create for yourself so that you have somewhere to escape. I can’t wait to build mine… I’ve  been collecting the perfect pieces to fill it with!

xoxo,
E

tumblr update!

Happy Monday lovelies!

I hope you are all having a great start to the week. It’s sunny and gorgeous here in Portland, and is rumored to hit 79 degrees by the end of the day (!!!) so everyone has been flocking outside. It seems like every meeting you go into there is a set of pink shoulders 9our Portland skin isn’t used to this!).

I wanted to take the chance to do a quick public service announcement that I re-designed my tumblr over at hotonadime.tumblr.com. It’s my visual diary of sorts cataloging some of my favorite inspiration images from around the interwebs, and now it just feels like it captures that intention a little better than it did before.  Check it out if you get a chance, and hopefully you’ll find something fun on there that inspires you too.

I started a few projects this weekend that I can’t wait to finish up and show you on here, but if you are following me over on instagram (@hot_on_a_dime) you may have seen a sneak peek or two, including my little helper. More on that soon!

Good luck this week.

xoxo,
E

Thursday Words

Possibly the most re-pinned image I have ever seen on Pinterest… and such sage advice.

The past few weeks I have been taking every opportunity in front of me to learn new skills. A class on the Anatomy of the Foot, Moccasin Making, etc. It has been so wonderful just to be using my hands again! It sounds weird coming from a designer, but I feel like I rarely get my hands dirty anymore, and this has been such a great reminder to keep this trend going.

What new skill would you learn if you could take a class about anything?

I hope you’re all having a fantastic week!
xoxo,
E

Spring Fever!

Shorts BDG from Urban Outfitters $39, Cap Toe Heels from Zara $89.90, Silk top from J Crew $198, Leather Shopper from Zara $79.90, Kate Spade “Meet Your Match” Bangle from katespade.com $58, Necklace from Modcloth $12.99, Floral Top from Modcloth $37.99

With hints of spring showing up in Portland, I can’t help but have a wandering eye at all things Spring. So with that, here is my round up of the things I am lusting over to round out my Spring wardrobe. My absolute favorite jean shorts, the shocking pink silk blouse I have been obsessing over at J Crew,  a great floral, and the perfect mint pumps with a metal cap toe… all on a nice friendly budget.

Happy Friday lovelies, have a fantastic weekend!

xoxo,
E

My kind of collaboration

Well, it finally happened. Just what I had always secretly dreamed of… Pantone has done a collaboration with Sephora inspired by the Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango.

“United by a passion for color, Sephora and Pantone combine their expertise to become beauty’s leading authority on color. Sharing an affection for how color can transform a face, mood, or even an attitude, this breakthrough beauty partnership will change how you wear, feel and think about color. You’ll be introduced to playful shades that will inspire experimentation and exhilarating new products you’ll impulsively want to sweep on. It will reawaken and reinvigorate your own passion for color—or ignite a new found love. Join us in celebrating Color of the Year: Tangerine Tango.”

I’ll be the first one to admit that this year’s color is the perfect chance for a collaboration of this type. Tangerine lips, nails, and anything else imaginable have been showing up everywhere. Perhaps Mimosa wasn’t the best shade for lips (Color of 2011)? Either way, I’m going to have to get something from the collection this weekend, and I’m thinking it’s that lipstick.

Available online here, and also at all Sephora locations (according to the girl I was harassing on the phone yesterday).

xoxo
E

My First Birchbox

Awhile back I found a service called Birchbox via Eva Chen, who is the Beauty Editor for Teen Vogue and one of my favorites to follow on Twitter. They had done a collaboration between Birchbox and Teen Vogue just in time for Prom season. I hadn’t heard of the service before, and instantly became a fan of the simple idea; each month you get a box as part of a subscription, and inside it is a collection of high-end beauty samples handpicked and delivered to your door. It also doesn’t hurt to find a bright pink package in your mailbox after a long day!

I must say, I was a tad bit skeptical about what they could do with the $10 fee you sent them, and I was highly impressed. Not only did it come with a full size Essie polish, that I actually am wearing right now, but other products as well. The box and packaging all felt very special and highly considered as well. All for $10? Sign me up! Oh wait… I already am.

So go check it out for yourself, and sign up for a fun monthly surprise!

xoxo,
E

Stella McCartney FW12

I couldn’t help but post about this show from this morning in Paris. The material, the color, the details… I just feel like every aspect of the collection is dialed perfectly in tune, and I want to wear it all.

Last weekend there was a fantastic article on Stella and her path in the industry in the New York Times Magazine that you can find here. A great read!

Images via Stylesight