Have a lovely weekend!

Hope you had a nice weekend!  The weather was really beautiful here in Chicago, which was so, so lovely (it just feels like it's been so long).  People are finally coming out of hibernation, too which means lots of celebrations and parties: I went to a baby shower and a graduation party yesterday, and our wedding season kicks off next weekend.  Here comes summer!  A few links for your Sunday skimming: 

Nerd uniforms (in the best way).

Cute shoes for the imminent wedding season, and great sandals on sale.

YUM (via Sho & Tell); and beautiful ice cream.

Rules for entertaining.

Paris photo porn.

Wines for spring.

Harry Potter nerditry at its finest (via Elements of Style).

Awesome Derby-themed wedding.

The most comfortable shirt is now on sale.

Emma Stone and Colin Firth are making a Woody Allen movie.  And speaking of Colin and Emma . . . this and this, respectively.

Paper bows (via swissmiss).

The apartment that launched a thousand desires for English roll-arm sofas.

This Mean Girls reference cracked me up.

She just always looks so damn cool.

(Image by Downtown From Behind via Coolhunting.)

In hot water

Though I hardly have a green thumb, I thought I'd share my one and only plant tip with you today: if you buy hydrangeas (or are lucky enough to have your own plant to trim them from), cut the stems on the diagonal and put them in hot (meaning steaming, fog-up-your-bathroom-so-you-can't-even-see-yourself-in-the-mirror-shower-temperature) water.  They can last for a really long time.  And I haven't tried this trick yet, but apparently you can revive drooping, wilting hydrangeas by putting the stems in boiling hot water.  Who knew?

After I give that a whirl tonight, it's back to Priority Number One: ridding my new basil plant of these horrendous little gnat things.  (It's just as gross as it sounds.)  Anybody have any ideas on what to do?

(Image via my Instagram.)

When it rains, it pours.

So I already got one piece of great news today, and this latest bit of information threatens to collapse the Tall and Salty world with the sheer weight of awesome stuff happening all at once: forty-inch inseam jeans in two styles from Frame Denim, designed by supermodel (and fellow St. Louis native!) Karlie Kloss, who's about six feet tall.

And though Vogue somewhat uncharitably describes these as "excessively long" (meanies), these sound fantastic, with a slightly raised waistband and a redesign of the proportions throughout (like another awesome line of longer-length jeans, TallWater).  The jeans, available the first week of June, will come in two styles -- the flare and skinny, pictured -- and in two washes, light and dark.  Huzzah!

Seriously, Universe . . . thanks.  And while I'm pounding salted margaritas and advance online purchasing multiple pairs of these jeans, consider spreading out the good news next time, okay?

[Updated on May 16 to add: you can check out all four styles here!]

(Images via Vogue by Erik Torstensson.)

Pass the salt shaker!

It's a big day for salt lovers: according to The New York Times, ". . . a prestigious group convened by the government says there is no good reason based on health outcomes for many Americans to drive their sodium consumption down to the very low levels recommended in national dietary guidelines."

Enjoy a little extra flavor (guilt-free!) with your dinner tonight.    

PS: the best salt you'll ever have and salty caramels.  

(Image by me; Salty print by Michelle Vaughan from the sadly departed 20x200.)

Springtime neutrals

I don't know what my deal is, but instead of following the usual springtime drumbeat of FLORALS ! BRIGHTS! PATTERNS!, everything that catches my eye lately is neutral, blush, cream, beige, or gold (like here, for instance).  Revel in the beautiful, chic, blandness with  me, will you?

Nars Dolce Vita lipstick and OPI Did You 'Ear About Van Gogh nail polish.

Cole Haan Air Talia wedge 40.
J. Crew Colorblock cosmetic case.

Madewell canvas zip tote.
Brook Farm General Store organic cotton and linen blanket (less expensive options here).
Sugar Paper Merci thank you notes.
Converse Chuck Taylors in unbleached white.

Hopefully you're not asleep yet.  There's just something simple and beautiful about classics, isn't there?  Sometimes a white shirt is the most standout thing you can wear.  (And if you're a coffee drinker or dropper of foods like myself . . . stock up.)

(Top image via Emerson Fry, where I want everything.)