lace

... dainty and feminine, always imparting a certain charm on even the most ordinary pieces, and turning the casual into something quite alluring. Light, airy, and perfect for spring... Needless to say, I cannot get enough. Here are a few favorites spotted on ASOS...

[the only problem with this dress is that I might be tempted to wear it reversed since the back is just so darn lovely.]

[Love love love the touch of lace at the bottom of this dress, so flirty and fun]

[This blazer looks perfectly polished, but the lace gives it a coquettish touch- perfect for a night out]

[and just when I thought lace was limited to apparel, this bootie is perfection.]

What can I say... I want it all! 

Dear Gap,

You were right. I was wrong. 

I know I got a little sassy when I saw your "marketing ploy" with the city flats. 

But you won me over in the end. 

Still friends?

xoxo, cait 

[we couldn't find a street called "Diva," so "Princess" had to suffice]

When I first spotted Gap's "city flats" I was a little underwhelmed. Seriously, who needs "incredibly modern" flats that can fold in half to fit nicely in the "adorable drawstring bag" they come with? Evidently, the "girl-on-the-go," according to Gap. Well, this girl-on-the-go wasn't buying it. But they were red and on sale, so technically I did buy it but I never intended to use them as the clever packaging suggested.


And then I went to Charleston. And wore a fabulous pair of black heels to dinner (a few- like 20- blocks from the hotel.) And then I tried to walk the beautiful cobblestone streets after a few glasses of wine and way too much Italian food and nearly broke an ankle. Realizing I had tucked my "adorable" satchel-of-shoes in my purse I pulled those bad boys out and my feet were in heaven. 


Consider me a convert. I strongly encourage you to go buy them in every color as a safety precaution, they nearly saved my life, I declare! (p.s. That last bit was in my absolute best Chahhlson drawl, what can I say, I just can't shake my inner southern belle) 

well, here goes...

I’m not going to say I am in the worst mood ever, but this little peanut is not happy. Today had the makings of being a really great day. That is until it was hijacked by the worst project ever and the group from hell. Now I’m fully aware that a potential future employer could someday read this and say, “Hmm… homegirl doesn’t play well with others...” but here goes… I hate group work. I don’t hate working with others. I love working with people who share my drive, dedication, and determination (and if they share my appreciation for alliteration that's an added bonus.) People who are passionate about what they do and committed to putting forth their absolute best, bring it on. But this…. Is just unacceptable.

AND THEN… Sarah Hyland (aka La’Sarah) is on campus. Right now. And I had plans to go see her. Which fell through. So instead I microwaved Japanese leftovers (which is never as good as the day before) and watched YouTube videos of Sarah Hyland. Consider this you official invitation to the pity party. Just click play:

"I see London, I see France"

Is it rainy where you are today? Here in Wilmington it is cold and gloomy. It suits me just fine, since I have a long to-do list involving a lot of sitting and staring at a computer screen. Fortunately, it is a lot of fun stuff, like updating my portfolio (which I haven't touched it since November... shame) writing some cover letters, and putting the finishing touches on a comic strip! Talk about a fun assignment... I have seriously been falling in love with the Adobe Creative Suite in my Digital Multimedia class (eh, not so much with the $7842685 price tag)


Anyways, I digress. If I did have to go outside on a day like this, I would wear this:

 [rainy day essentials in action: classic trench and Hunter wellies. Words cannot express how much I adore these]

 [I like to do this loop thing with the belt, I think it looks a little more polished than a plain, old knot]

 [This cheery, red scarf brightens up even the dreariest of days, and a top knot is the perfect rainy day hair solution] 

 [jumping in puddles: mandatory]

 [This striped shirt makes me feel très French]

[... and the yellow detail is like a little pocketful of sunshine]

I just love channeling my inner London girl (the trench and boots are just so achingly British) and the striped shirt and top knot are quintessentially Parisian. Who says you can't have it all?

And a big thank-you to Jordan for the post title and photos! :)

breakfast for dinner

I was looking forward to Sunday brunch with my favorite little bee, but unfortunately we had to cancel when she came down with the stomach flu (feel better, Mel!) I had a productive day and was feeling rather accomplished by the end of it, but could not quell my brunch craving. So, in honor of another Wildcats victory, waffles for dinner seemed appropriate. I don't know about you, but I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than eating chocolate, strawberries, and whipped creamy goodness. Oh, and throw in a slab of bacon just to cover all of our bases. 

 [confession: I always commission the artistic endeavors (like writing on coffee mugs with chalk) to Taylor]

 [... and I stick to cooking]

 [I cannot wait for local strawberries, but these were quite delicious]

[Tada! And to compensate for chocolate chips and whipped topping, the waffles were whole wheat. Healthy meal? I say yes.]

Do you ever eat breakfast for dinner? I rarely do, even though breakfast foods are my fave. It was fun to mix things up though!

As of late...

I have been flying by the seat of my pants, living out of a suitcase with reckless abandon for nearly 2 weeks now. Oh, and loving every minute of it. This is what this week looked like…

[Wednesday I got to represent QH2O at the Sysco Food Show in Raleigh. We were able to talk to so many great restaurants and some great partnerships came out of it! Very exciting. Also exciting, feeling moderately legit and almost adult. Traveling for work, staying in my own hotel room, this girl is grown.]

[And if all this adult behavior wasn't enough, I picked up my cap and gown. This girl is graduated. Well... almost.]

[but evidently, I still have to do schoolwork. I know, right? Throw in a random midnight panic crazed frenzy to put together something for a group project because group member x dropped the ball. This girl was not happy, but c'est la vie.]

and not pictured: an art studio open house, wild blueberry wheat ale (what?! a beer that is actually palatable?), my Kentucky Wildcats beating Ohio State, another trip to Raleigh (because 32 hours in the car these past 2 weeks just wasn't enough), and a fun Friday night with friends.

Gosh, with all this over-sharing the details of my personal life, I might as well get a Twitter. :)

Charleston Recap

Couldn't have dreamed of a better way to spend my spring break. I had the most wonderful time in Charleston, shopping the palmetto-lined streets, sampling some of the South's finest foods, sipping red wine, and dreaming of living on Rainbow Row...

It seems the older I get the more I realize just how amazing and inspirational my mom truly is. I could not have asked for a better spring break, or someone better to spend it with.

Worth Repeating...

"It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  

And when you've got it, you want - 

oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, 

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" 

-Mark Twain

[via]

I'm fairly certain I've had spring fever for weeks now (see here) and so now with today being the first day of spring the rest of the world can rightfully join me. Isn't it funny, I'm enjoying my last day of spring break on the first day of spring... oh the irony. Anyways, here's hoping the world is in bloom wherever you find yourself today.   

Guilt-free Friday!

Happy Friday, chickens! Fun plans for the weekend? I'm hittin the road, Jack. So excited to finally kick off my spring break! Hopefully the next few days will be filled with sunshine, rest and relaxation. I also plan to do a little shopping to jump start my spring wardrobe. Hope you have a lovely weekend too! Besos!


Hey! It's ok...


... if daylight savings time validates a mini shopping spree (hello sunnies, bikinis, and way too many dresses)


... if the idea of anything "DIY" makes you kind of, a little, just a tad nauseous.


... to use a stiletto as a hammer. The truth is, a lady should never be forced to use anything from a tool box. (But I mean hey, bonus points if you do.)

[via]

Rainy Day Essentials

The lovely Kate (no seriously, I know I say lovely a lot, but Kate is gor-geous) tagged me in a "Top 5 Things I Can't Live Without" post last week, and I have seriously spent 6 days trying to decide what to post! She made a travel essentials list, which was super fun. 


Unfortunately I have been battling a cold and/or strep throat, so I haven't been able to live without: penicillin, Day/NyQuill, ibuprofen, Ricola cough drops, and Mucinex. Eh, not so glamorous. 


I am feeling significantly better today and the dreary weather here in Wilmington provided the perfect inspiration for my essentials list...


Rainy Day Essentials... ready, set, go!


1. A gorgeous trench coat

A stylish and sophisticated alternative to the ever-present North Face. Of course the iconic British luxury brand Burberry does these best, but there are plenty of chic options out there if you aren't quite ready to break the bank (mine is by Jones New York.) 

2. Hunter wellies

[via]

What can I say? The Brits know their rain wear. These wellington boots seriously changed my life. I cannot even imagine walking to class in monsoon conditions without these little gems, and they are infinitely more comfortable than my former rain boots. I opted for black, which I adore, but a cheery red or yellow would be fun too (because sometimes you just need a splash of color a on dismal day like today.)

3. Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for lunch

Today I swapped the tomato soup for some of my grandma's homemade oxtail soup (yeah, the name freaked me out too, but then I realized it is just veggie beef) Yum.

4. Save It For a Rainy Day by Starbucks Entertainment 

I think Starbucks makes the absolute best CDs. Seriously, their Christmas albums are always swoon-worthy. This CD features so many great artists and is perfect for snuggling up indoors or for blasting on your iPod as you trudge to class. (Ryan Adams' version of When the Stars Go Blue is perfection) 


(p.s. You might as well go ahead and grab a grande nonfat latte while you're there, because everyone needs a little extra caffeine on a rainy day.)


5. Some sort of mindless activity that requires no effort whatsoever. Trashy television, a sappy romantic comedy you have seen 100 times before, a Nicholas Sparks book that you know how it is going to end but you still cry like a baby for the last 25 pages, etc. Today I'm thinking nail polish, Food Network, and something (anything) chocolate. C'est la vie, kittens. Stay dry! 

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love oreos. And I love chocolate chip cookies. So when I started seeing Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies all over the web, I could not wait to try them out. 

We cheated and used Toll House cookie dough. And I decided to try out mini oreos because everyone said the originals made massive cookies. 

I made little cookie dough balls and flattened them in my palms. Then wrapped it around each oreo like a delicious blanket.

We baked them at 350 for about 12ish minutes?

The final product was gooey and delicious, perfectly melty and sweet. Now, admittedly, they would have been infinitely better if we had used my dad's recipe for homemade chocolate chip cookies (because you know he makes the best) but they were still quite delectable...

And with ice cream it made for a toothsome treat!

Eat Fresh

Do you know what the largest restaurant chain in the world is?

If you guessed McDonald’s (like I did) you’re wrong.

This past year Subway climbed to the top of the fast-food-chain, knocking out the reigning heavyweight champion (McDonald’s) who has held the title since the 1970s.

How did they do it? According to this article by Kim Peterson, they beat McDonald’s at their own game, spending heavily on advertising and using the same franchisee model. Entrepreneur magazine identified 6 key strategies that catapulted Subway to the top. 

 1. Tell a great story.

We have been talking about the role of narrative in my IMC class and Subway’s Jared Fogle is a prime example.  People can identify with his story and are inspired by his significant weight loss (while on "the Subway diet") and continued achievement with the completion of a marathon.

2.      2. In touch with trends.

At the time of the economic downturn, America wanted value. In response, Subway launched their “$5 footlong” campaign and prospered at a time when most businesses struggled.

3. Use a flexible brand.

Originally Subway was known for quick sandwiches, but over time the demand for healthy food increased. In response, Subway reemerged as a wholesome alternative to greasy, fried food (hence “Eat fresh”). 

4. Creative locations.

From courthouses to college campuses, (oddly enough, one opened up just yesterday in UNCW's student union), airports, and even the Pentagon, franchises are popping up everywhere. Also, Subway had an advantage over their competitors because they could get into places like hospitals where their unhealthy counterparts were denied prime real estate.

5. Customer engagement.

One word: Customization. Subway pioneered the concept of fast food that is made to order right in front of the customer, thus raising the bar for the industry. They took Burger King’s slogan, “Have it your way,” to a whole new level.

6. Great franchisor-franchisee relations.

No matter how successful your advertising strategies may be, a fragmented internal structure will lead to failure. If you do not maintain strong relationships within your corporation and with your stakeholders your company will not grow. 


Sorry for nerding out, but it is just incredible to me that communication is such a powerful tool. And did I mention how much I love my major?

shut it down.

Whenever I feel like channeling my inner diva (a la Rachel Zoe) I spend hours lounging around in my bathrobe...

Actually, I just put mine on when I get out of the shower, but I tend to linger in it until clothing is absolutely mandatory, often waiting until the last minute to get dressed. Don't get me wrong, I looove clothes (probably too much) but there is something about pants (particularly jeans) that feels so terribly constricting. 


Anyways, robes are tricky though, because if you get one that is too warm, the activity of blow drying your hair starts to resemble 2 hours of hot yoga or intense cardio. Lesson learned from experience. When I decided to replace my plush, comfy robe, I went to the opposite end of the spectrum- a thin little number that was mistaken for a dress on numerous occasions (Not in public! Just in the apartment) and not very comfy for lounging around lazily. Finally, I found this guy and I have been in love ever since

Lucky Brand Womens French Terry Robe

It is warm and cozy without being too hot. And the collar is absolute perfection. Here are a few other lovelies, in case you're in the market:

VS Supersoft Lounge Robe

VS Sweater Robe

It's funny, I never really considered my bathrobe to be part of my "wardrobe," but after thinking about it, it really is one of those things every (glamorous) woman should own.