Slowing down, catching the. light, and embracing everyday style with a splash of color, polka dots, and graphic tees.
Read moreWork of Art
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Art In Bloom After Dark, a stunning event where art and florals make magic. Art In Bloom at The Cincinnati Art Museum allows the city to experience artwork in a fresh, vibrant way.
The concept was as lovely as it was creative, local florists selected pieces of art as their inspiration and then crafted floral arrangements to reflect their chosen works. Walking through the gallery, you could feel the dialogue between the paintings and their artists and the blooms and their artists.
One of my favorite moments was standing in front of Two Sisters, a painting by Kehinde Wiley, also known for her amazing portrait of President Barak Obama. The riot of color and textures of the tulips, snapdragons, and proteas bring the drama of the piece to life.
I couldn’t resist dressing up for the occasion. This skirt is one of the things I chose from my mom’s closet to remember her after her death in January 2020. I couldn’t think of a more perfect occasion to wear it. My love of flowers, fashion, and big, bold prints were inherited from her. I paired it with bright fuchsia heels that I know she would have loved!
Art In Bloom reminded me how powerfully art in all its forms — painting, sculpture, floristry, fashion — wakes you up and feeds your soul. It is one of my favorite spring events in the city. I’m already looking forward to it next year!
With Joy and Whimsy-
xo
Courtnee
Revelation and Revolution
I’m writing this on a gray and rainy day. It's safe to say that fall is here. I was ready for cool, rainy days where I could make tea and settle in with a good book, but now that they’re here, I’m having second thoughts.
These days I’m seeking joy in the little things- favorite places in the city, listening to Purple Rain on vinyl, and fancy shoes on a weekday just because. With the shift from fall to winter and the familiar replaced by uncertainty, I think it's important for everyone to find little joys and bright spots.
I’m not suggesting we ignore everything happening around us or walk around in a “good vibes only” state of toxic positivity. I’m suggesting that finding joy and celebrating little things is keeping some of your power when many of us feel helpless—a revolution of one to disrupt the status quo.
Vive la révolution
Worn|| She's Overboard and Self-Assured
Confession time.
I was never the grungy, edgy teen with heavy eyeliner and a fuck the establishment attitude. I was much more United Colors of Benetton, Polo popped collar kind of girl who attempted to charm authority.
Now that I’ve hit 50, aka the land my ‘give a fucks’ went to die, the brooding, angsty in me has been dying to express herself.
That’s the beauty of middle age…the power to reinvent yourself and not a single worry given to what anyone has to say about it. Quoting the wise Sheree Whitfield, "Who gon' check me, boo?"
Because I never had a pair of Doc Martins as a teen, I decided I needed a pair or something similar. I stumbled on this pair in near-perfect condition and in my size for $10 during a recent trip to the thrift store. The rest of the outfit seemed obvious. Nothing says “smells like teen spirit” like fishnets and combat boots.
Chapter 51...
Half a century plus 1. I’m not sure I like how it sounds when written out that way. Last year was a milestone birthday. I had a party. I got to celebrate with the people I adore most in this world. The dress I wore was amazing, it made me feel like a cupcake and look like a million bucks.
I set the bar pretty high for this year’s birthday and if I’m being honest, it’s just not hittin the same way. But it’s nothing a dress, a pair of heels, and a slice of birthday cake can’t fix.
Here’s to another rotation around the sun, to embracing the person you’ve worked so hard to be, to loving yourself as much as you love everyone else in your life, to growing old with the person who gets you, to impractical shoes, cupcake dresses, funfetti birthday cake, and prosecco!
Cheers!
Worn|| This Ain't Texas
Imagine being gifted a musical tour de force like Cowboy Carter and being so caught up in your expectations of who and what country music is supposed to be that you deny yourself a sublime listening experience. Couldn’t be me …
I’m not saying that Cowboy Carter has become my entire personality but when you see me out in cutoffs and cowboy boots don’t say I didn’t warn you!
And, We're Back...
Oh, hey! Long time no blog. I wondered if I'd ever fire this thing up again and despite the push towards short-form video content nothing grabs me like words on a page (or screen) and photos. I'm old-fashioned that way.
Not much has changed in my life since my last post. I haven't been busy. Life isn't too challenging right now. There haven't been any unexpected plot twists. I've just been trying to stay present. Enjoying the moments as they happen. That small shift has been great for my mental health.
Anyway, here I am. A girl. Standing in front of a brick wall. Asking you to read this blog post and follow along as I attempt to navigate this new season of life.
Worn || Ready or Not
I’m a week away from my 50th birthday and I have so many feelings about it; very few are good. I desperately want to be one of those people who celebrate their birthdays for the entire month but I can’t remember ever being happy about getting older.
Not to get all “therapy” speak, but I’m certain it’s because I rarely give myself permission to exist and enjoy the present. I’m either punishing myself for the past or anxiously trying to micromanage the future.
My goal for the week is to live in this moment. Enjoy the person I am right now. appreciating the life I have is so much more than I ever imagined it could be. 50 is on the horizon, ready or not.
Worn || Gingham Style
August is a weird month. Many people are focused on getting themselves or their kids ready to return to school, so there’s always a little hope that comes with fresh starts and new school supplies.
I have an August birthday and this month has always been about endings. The end of another trip around the sun. The end of those long sun-drenched days filled with possibility. So long summer romance. Goodbye to my golden summer tan.
I’m going to do everything I can to hold on to the last few glorious days of summer, embrace the sweetness of August and reflect on my last few weeks as a fortysomething.
Worn || Hi Barbie!
Saturday my daughter treated me to a movie. We got dressed up in our pink to see the Barbie movie. The movie and afternoon out with one of my girls were an unexpected delight.
There have been a million think pieces written about this movie. I don’t know if I have anything more to add to the conversation. It was funnier than I thought it would be while being unexpectedly deep. The final scene between Barbie and the creator of Barbie, Ruth Handler (played by the brilliant Rhea Perlman) is the one that made me sob and leave the theater with a tear-streaked face. It was beautifully shot. The set design was fantastic. The wardrobe department hit it out of the park. And, I didn’t think I could love Ryan Gossling more, then I saw him crying shirtless in a faux mink coat and a sweatband. The choreographed Kens dance/fight scene is worth the price of the ticket alone! Seriously, get all dolled up in your version of Barbie and go see it. Then grab a Barbie drink after to discuss how amazing it was.
Starbucks Vanilla Frappucino with Dragon Fruit