Month: December 2013

Aqua + Gold

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and for those of you who celebrate it, I hope you had a very merry Christmas! Between the boisterous game nights, delicious meals, services, singing, and cocktail drinking, T and I were able to escape for a couple peaceful hours at the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens in Northeast D.C. It’s a hidden gem on the other side of the National Arboretum [both just minutes from our apartment] in Anacostia. You would never know it’s there… and unfortunately I think a lot of people don’t. We visited on a Thursday afternoon and the entire park was empty, save for a few mallards splashing in the ponds and a couple of frisky doe romping in the woods.

It was absolutely gorgeous out. We didn’t need coats and I was glad to get outside for some fresh air in this little pocketed sanctuary of the city. T and I were heading to his brother’s holiday party later that evening, so I was already dressed in a new gold lace cocktail dress with an aqua cardigan for a pop of color. I’ve been legitimately obsessed with this color palette this season – I even wrapped all my gifts in gold paper with aqua and neutral rafia and ribbon!

Wearing: gold lace dress: ModCloth // aqua cardigan: Express // gold necklace: ModCloth

Photography by Teddy Wolff

I can’t wait for New Year’s Eve to break out some more gold… and maybe a little sparkle too!

Jackietara

Layers of Comfort

It is getting pretty darn chilly in this neck of the woods. D.C. has already experienced it’s first “real” snow storm this year, and it’s not even January! It was only a couple inches, but enough to shut down schools for two days and to give me a snow day away from the office. December is a crazy time of year. It’s holiday party after holiday party, leaving me in a daze of splendor, excitement, and exhaustion all mixed together. I do love it though: the garlands, wreathes, sparkling lights, and happy guests enjoying time with colleagues and friends lift my spirits on long work days that quickly turn into work nights. And repeat.

My lack of sleep and desire to stay warm frequently results in those days when all you want to wear is all of your least form fitting clothes, a style I have deemed “grandpa chic.” There’s just something so cozy and comforting about throwing on your significant other’s most loved sweater, a vintage jacket, a warm pair of pants, and boots. It’s hard to justify wearing anything else!

Wearing: denim collared button down: Madewell // men’s knit sweater: Express // vintage jacket: Liz Claiborne // mustard pants: Anthropologie // bib necklace: Eastern Market vendor // hat: Gap

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

DIY Clay Planters

It’s been a while since we made these, but I promised I would post photos and a “how-to” for these cute DIY clay planters. I’ve recently started hosting a monthly “Crafty Night” at my apartment, which has been a success so far! Our first crafty theme was miniature clay planters, a project I originally saw on the A Beautiful Mess blog. They are perfect small embellishments for a hallway table or window ledge, and you can hang them too!

Here’s what you need:
Rolling pin
Wax paper
Sculpey clay (or another oven-baking clay)
Sculpting tools
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes

Directions:
1. Roll your clay out about ¼ of an inch thick and cut a long rectangle that is 10 inches long and 2 ½ inches tall. Cut out a circle for the bottom of the planter that is 3 ½ inches wide.

2. Place your long rectangle piece on top of your circle to create your sides. Roll thin tubes of clay to put on the inside bottom of the planter (where the walls meet the planter bottom), then use the clay knives (or your fingers) to smooth out the clay tube between the crack to create a water-tight seal.

4. Roll out more clay and cut out the design that will go on the sides of your planter.

5. Use a wooden skewer to poke 4 evenly spaced holes near the top of your planter. Bake your clay according to the package directions and let the planter cool.

6. Paint freely!

Christmas is around the corner, and a mini clay planter would make a great gift!

Jackietara

Leather + Fur

Recently I’ve seen two of my favorite things, faux fur and leather, being paired together. D.C. has been dull, grey, and misty in the last couple of weeks, so extra layers this time of year is a plus! I’ve also been purposefully mixing in bright colors lately with my standard black and grey wardrobe. It’s so easy to dress drably in this damp, cold, and depressing weather, so keep a few brights from your summer/fall wardrobe handy! These layers were perfect for a walk around downtown Annapolis – the sun never made an appearance, but I was plenty warm. Unfortunately, I don’t think the weather is getting any warmer, but thankfully there are plenty of cozy ways to help me cope.

Wearing: leather jacket: Zara // faux fur vest: Costco // scarf: Target // purple leather bag: Kate Spade

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

A New York State of Mind

There’s just something about New York in the fall that makes me feel all tingly inside. Work brings me to New York twice a year, but it’s the November trip that gives me the warm and fuzzies. Twinkling lights delicately outline branches on the trees along 50th Street all the way to Rockefeller Center, people briskly walk from store to store with loads of shopping bags in tow, and vendors line the streets on chilly Saturday mornings to sell fresh fruits and vegetables to eager customers. One of my favorite things to do during my free time on Saturday is to walk through bustling Chinatown. After a delicious dim sum brunch at Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers St., we hit the streets to explore with friends. Not too long after, we were happy owners of 2 lbs of fresh bok choy and hot cups of freshly brewed coffee from Roasting Plant.

Wearing: aztec sweater: Urban Outfitters // mustard knit scarf: Zara // cognac leather boots: Frye

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

A Tartan Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was lucky enough to take a little vacation and disconnect from the city life with Teddy’s family in Bethany Beach. We rented a house in a golfing community, so we were surrounded by lots of greenery and trees, and had plenty of outdoor activities to keep us busy. T was able to play tennis with his family while I could jog around the community. It was cold outside, but the sun made it perfect running weather. Sometimes I can’t believe how quickly running has become part of my weekly routine. I get disappointed when I miss running club on Tuesdays for evening events and I actually wanted to go running in the cold… while on vacation!

Thanksgiving day was absolutely beautiful, which was magnified by the calmness and happiness of being with family in a new place. We had lots of great food, contributed by several members of the family [T and I made our famous goat cheese mashed potatoes], and wine, and once the meal was over, we sat around the table playing board and card games. It really couldn’t have been any better.