Is BRIKA the new Etsy?

Many of us can admit that we have fallen down the Etsy rabbit hole more than a time or two! With a mix of vintage, handmade, and completely random items, Etsy is a fun site to browse and as far and I knew everyone thought/thinks it was/is fantastic. This was true until I noticed a post on Facebook last night from a blogger about the upcoming IPO of the Brooklyn based company. As I read the thread of comments some good and some bad, as can be expected with anything online,  I noticed a mention of a site called BRIKA. Upon further inspection, my conclusion is that BRIKA seems to be a slicker yet much (currently) smaller competitor to Etsy's handmade/vintage angle. BRIKA's tag line or mission is "featuring the work of authentic makers, artisans and designers, we've created an online shopping experience that celebrates modern craft, storytelling and the belief that our lives are as beautiful as we wish to make them". 

Long story short - I don't have an opinion on it either way. I enjoy Etsy but I also love to find new sites to shop and source ideas and items. So, if you haven't seen Etsy you can check it out below and if you haven't heard of BRIKA you can do the same. Between the two we can probably find anything under the sun! 

St. Paddys Day means one thing to me: GREEN!

I am not into beer, I am not Irish (although I could pass for it) and I don't like to party but I do love one thing about St. Patrick's Day and that would be green everywhere! I could easily go the rest of my life wearing not much other than green & black. With my love for green now clearly professed, here are some awesome green items to pick up on this lovely pre-spring celebration of the patron saint of Ireland. 

Classic Fiestaware

Talbott Tissue Box

Ball Heritage`Jars

Le Creuset in Palm

Spring Green 36oz Water Bottle

Jadeite Cake Stand

Lucca Drive Candace Bag

Stripe/Gold-Tone Green Chronograph

Katie Top Boden

Retro Desk Phone

Green Metal Caddy

Chuck Taylor

  

Great Movie: Boyhood

At this point everyone is familiar with Boyhood but I just had to share because I loved it so much. This movie probably isn't for the fan of the big budget 4th of July release, although I could be wrong. Boyhood is for the introverts, the thinkers, the fan of the heavy dialogue think pieces ala Whit Stillman, Woody Allen and of course many of Richard Linklater's projects. I love a movie that takes hold of you and doesn't let go for a week or so and this did just that. I can't even put words to why but I just loved it. Attached is a glimpse of the movie along with the video for the beautiful "theme" song by the group Family of the Year.  As a side note, I think Ethan Hawke is fascinating. I think dinner with him would be both exhausting and exhilarating and very much like the opening scenes of Melinda and Melinda. 

Good Tunes: The Mighty Souls Brass Band

The Mighty Souls Brass Band is bursting with gifted musicians and their new CD, Lift Up!, does not disappoint. If you aren't lucky enough to be able to see them live you must download their new music or buy their CD. The MSBB successfully blends the always pleasing traditional New Orleans brass band sound, funk and the Memphis sound.
Check them out here: http://www.mightysoulsbrassband.com/MSBB.php

Good Read: It Was Me All Along

Finished this book last night and I honestly hated to read that last page. I didn't want to be done getting to know the author! Andie Mitchell's memoir about her life, difficult upbringing, struggle with weight,  relationships and finally how she found her way will make you feel like you can call her up after reading that last page because you have known her forever. If you have ever had anyone call you fat, ugly or any other derogatory term, Andie's story will sting at times as you remember your own difficult moments growing up. Her candor in her writing really makes you get inside her struggle to show a brave face and a smile while she was crumbling on the inside. She eventually came out on the other side of food addiction and depression and, from what I have read and seen on interviews, she seems like an absolute ray of sunshine. Her blog, Can You Stay For Dinner, is a plethora of delicious and healthy recipes, stories and weight loss tips. Both the book and the blog are worth taking some time to get to read as you get to know the author, get some wonderful tips and read a soul searching story about the life of a very inspiring person. 

Get the Hunter Look for Less at Target

Love my Hunter boots! Of course, I had to order the "wide calf" that only come in black and hunter green. Anyway - got them, love them and, bonus, I can get my legs in them. Hunters tend to be a bit expensive ($148 give or take) so I was thrilled to see some at Target that look very similar, come in some cute colors and are over $100 less.

Target's Hunter Look:

___________________________________

Here are your Hunters:

___________________________________

Here are my wide calf! (which apparently come in more colors now) 

I can Honestly say it works!

I am sold! I haven't cleaned a bath tub or shower in years. My husband took one for the team and did it for me every time. I simply couldn't breath when I used most of the shower/tub cleaners on the market. As soon as I sprayed it I would feel like something was coating my throat. I am not exaggerating. It was awful! So I purchased the bathroom cleaner from The Honest Company recently and took it for a spin this week. It worked like a charm and the best thing about it - it didn't make me gag. The smell was actually nice and refreshing. I felt like it did a very good job of cleaning the entire bathroom and it honestly didn't have any sort of chemical smell. I highly recommend this product! 

I purchased mine from Target. Here is the link. 

or

You can give a few other Honest items a try a purchase it from their web site. 

Good Tunes: Star & Micey - Levitt Shell - Memphis

Image from levittpavilions.org

 I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of the Levitt Shell here in Memphis. The Levitt's, from what I understand, have given a lot of financial support to music venues over the years and there are quite a few across the country (see more info below). The Levitt Shell in Memphis has 50 free concerts a year. They are always good and always packed. Well - tonight I was thrilled to see a group I have heard of for years but have not ever seen, Star & Micey. I can't put into words how much I enjoyed the show and I am now completely obsessed. So check them out here. Go see them if they come near. Also buy their stuff. They are the bees knees.

Please support the Levitt Pavitions here. 

Stitch Fix Box #3 - Swing and a Miss

Just...no....none of it. I don't have a lot to say other than I am sending the whole box back. Here is hoping that next month is more me. 

Late to the game!

There might not be any reason for suggesting this book to you all because I think I might be only person who made it through high school in America and never read this! Chances are that it was either never assigned to me or I just didn't read it if it was. Either is possible. Anyway - I have recently started To Kill a Mockingbird. Yes, only person in America, and probably beyond, that waited 37 years to read it. What a phenomenal book! I am about 50 pages in and have loved every second of it. Jem just got his pants uncaught from the fence and I can't wait to see what happens next. After finishing this iconic piece of American literature I plan to watch the movie which I hear is equally as good. So - Here are links to both in case you want to pick up a copy for your own. You can buy them here, at your local bookstore or check them out at your local library. 

Now my next "late to the game" item. Carole King's Tapestry! I picked up an old copy of this record at a local music shop. I am not saying anything original here but EVERY song on that album is a hit. Every song! It is a glorious record that is worth the purchase. I suggest getting the record if you have a record player but if not, just get your hands on it in any form your can. Fabulous! 

Tonight, On a Very Special Blossom

No, I am not 13 years old. Yes, I am aware it is not 1991. 

Now that I have cleared that up I must share with you that I have fallen back in love with Blossom. The HUB has just started showing this ode to the 90s weeknights at 9 (CST) and 9:30. (Excluding this week because it is Dog Week.....whatever) I tune in every night or DVR it for the next day and have enjoyed almost every episode (excluding "Student Films").

When you watch a show at 14 and then again at 37 you pick up on so many things you missed as a young teen. Blossom is still awesome and completely independent, Joey is hilarious and Anthony is so dry and sarcastic in the perfect way. What I have said over and over as I watch it is...I just really holds up. It isn't like going back at 37 to watch an episode of Alf, which I loved at whatever pre-teen age but can't stomach now.

I was about the same age as Blossom and Six when the show came out so it is a glorious trip down memory lane for me. One of my favorite things about this time and that duo is that they had no cel phones. They sat in Blossom's room, talked, danced to tapes or Top 40 on the awesome Sharp QT 50 and just had fun. Maybe calling a boy on the land line (which was just called a phone back then) every once in a while. It really was like that! Random though but here is another little thing that I didn't notice quite as much then as I do now - Joey was hot!

I follow Mayim Bialik on FB and she has clearly become academically and professionally very successful. There seem to be a lot of parallels to character of Blossom and how Mayim really is, intelligent, bold, confident and thoughtful. It is very interesting to see the actors that played the main characters have all grown up. Each has become successful in their own ways. I will list their individual sites, twitter, imdb, etc so you can catch up with them at the bottom of this post. 

So, if you love the 90s like I did or even if you just love a well written sitcoms check out Blossom on the HUB. 

Blossom - http://www.mayimbialik.net

Six - http://www.jennavonoy.com

Joey - http://www.joeylawrence.net

Anthony - https://twitter.com/MikeStoyanov

Nick - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913637/

Vinnie  - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489476/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Buzz - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400464/?ref_=tt_cl_t6

Rhonda - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206236/

Update -  The above information pertains to season 1 & 2, maybe season 3 here and there. After that...not so much. 

Stitch Fix Box 2

I am into month #2 of Stitch Fix. So far so good! This box was equally as fun and cute. I ended up keeping 2 items this month. The earrings and the solid blue/green sleeveless shirt.  Everything fit well and while I didn't love everything they weren't way off my personal style. One thing I really liked this month was the personal note from my stylist. You always get a personal not but she (Joy) had clearly been looking at my Pinterest Fashion board (here) and had used it as a reference. Overall I was pleased and I am looking forward to next month's box. Here is the run down:

Of course, as I am posted this picture I noticed that the stylist didn't take the last girls name of her note. I am not Kelsey. :-) 

If you are interested in checking out Stitch Fix I encourage you to use my reference link. 

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3913031