Comparisons: Dresses

There is no hiding that I love ASOS and their extensive styles. They accommodate all shapes and sizes on a very affordable budget. However, with that plus, there comes very bad, ridiculous clothing options.

Classy:

wiggle dress

Trashy:

hi lo cut out

I never want you to buy a high-low hem dress WITH cut outs. Ever. 

30 rock

anyone else devastated that the last episode of 30 Rock EVER is happening this Thursday??

Friday Feel Good

Sia, 

the cutest person in the world.

travel backpacks

I'm starting to feel like backpacks are the most practical packaging in the world. The asymmetrical loading of my purse to my shoulders is starting to take its toll and I need something a little bit more durable to carry. I've been eying travel packs/ sacks/ backpacks etc. for a while now. I think our trip to Iceland is finally the perfect time to splurge on one!

Any of these will be perfect for traveling and sightseeing... and maybe Ben will be a little bit more responsible for sharing the load, literally.  I favor the kind of pack that can transition to a tote or messenger bag when the need calls for it, too.

Here are a few many of my favorites:

wool rucksack

Fjallraven rucksack no. 21

large tote/pack

brown backpack

transformer backpack

baggu daypack

Obey Noreaster

Finkel Backpack

three in one tote

Do you have a favorite travel bag? 

Winter Vacation

Next Month, Ben and I are headed to Iceland (I know! OMG! Can't Wait!). Unfortunately, it's going to be a chilly 30 degrees!! 

To keep warm, stylish, and adventure-ready -- I'm going to assemble a suitcase with these much needed items:

Winter Vacation by sonodana featuring side zipper boots

It's always been on a top ten places to visit for me, and after finding a killer deal through IcelandAir, we couldn't say no to the adventure. We both wanted to do an out-of-the-country vacation before having kids, so the timing works perfectly. AND we'll be budgeting and paying for this trip all with existing funds and NO CREDIT CARDS! In our effort to become debt free this year, this is a HUGE deal.

We're so excited to see all the wonderful sights and culture Iceland has - and have been reading non-stop about what to do & where to go. Ever been to Iceland? Or what's your dream vacation? I'd like to do Costa Rica or Alaska sooner than later!

Here's some of our favorite posts we found about Iceland:

http://bigbangstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/iceland-diary.html   

http://www.littlethingsbringsmiles.com/2012/03/iceland-day-one.html 

http://beersandbeans.com/2011/04/10/visiting-iceland-on-a-budget-our-daily-travel-budget-in-iceland/

http://nelkindesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/iceland-adventure-in-photos.html#

http://www.flightcentre.ca/blog/destinations/a-winter-in-iceland/11576

http://witandwhistle.com/2011/09/12/iceland/

Friday Feel Good

Today's smile is brought to you by an old favorite: Ida Maria

These exists

so everyone should buy them :)

BUY ME BRUNCH SHIRTS

ridiculously awesome t-shirts.

Where I buy Dresses

Rachel Rachel Roy

I love dressing up. 

I don't wear make up, like ever, for work... so I get very excited when there's a night planned with friends, food, drinks, and laughter because it often means I get to put on something fancy and doll up my face.

For fancy party dresses and special dates with my man:

Try Gilt (members only online shopping, great prices, great designers, love love love.)

http://www.gilt.com/invite/danabrutsche

Try Rent The Runway (rent designer, in style dresses for $30-$400 for 4 days)

http://www.renttherunway.com/referral/dana.brutsche

Try J.Crew (they seem to run the "extra 30% off sale" promotion all-the-time, catch a great deal on super pretty dresses)

http://www.jcrew.com/sale.jsp

For Casual and Everyday dresses I shop here:

Try Target (I have 300% more luck buying dresses in the store than online, the pictures don't sell the dress well)

http://www.target.com/

Try Madewell (super cute, casual dresses with great fit and cuts)

http://www.madewell.com

For Quirky and Fun dresses, Casual to Party:

Try ASOS (inexpensive, youthful, different, sexy to casual - it definitely has it all)

http://us.asos.com/

Try Dorothy Perkins (also inexpensive but also pretty classy in fun cuts and styles)

http://us.dorothyperkins.com

Try RachelRoy (feminine but fun - different cuts and prints, drool worthy. They also tend to run a lot of "get extra 20% off sale" promotions)

http://www.rachelroy.com

For Business - the 9-5 grind and networking events:

I pretty much shop exclusively at banana republic or gap. Their styles are always clean, feminine, and professional.

Friends

It sounds so cheesy when I say to myself, "I am so thankful for my friends."  I hate thinking that it sounds cliche. But every time my friends pull through and help me sort through the chaos, I just want to shout from the rooftop that I am so thankful for the people in my life that can help me. I wish for the day I can return the favor.

emotional debt

So thank you, friends, for

- Answering the many cries for help with our house (and always being on Facebook or near your phone)

- Pet sitting either Yogi or the Kittens, evenings or weeks, you are fantastic people.

- Always receiving us with such big hearts and hugs. & Letting us get to know your families and your food.

- Making me smile because I know some of the most fun, goofy, and passionate people!

prints i'm loving on etsy

evesand $18

redcruiser $24

slowshirts $60

East Witching $18

ashleyg $20

There, I said it.

1) Keep log of my food choices and time/events/feelings that make me choose poorly. Use the reflections notebook/blog/app. Keep track of food and water intake AND exercise successes. 

2) Schedule: a long run (3mi +) outside each week. Gym at least 2-3 times a week. 

3) Read or Create each day 

don't call it a resolution

It's a lifestyle refinement

I found your

Wedding jumpsuit.

for a cool $1,130

buy here

Friday Feel Good

I hope your weekend is full of laughs

our souls

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." 

Emily Bronte

 Buy here

Brown Beauty

I love a good pair of textured shorts, especially over tights for the colder months. Here's a $300 option and a $35 pair. And the monochromatic feel of layered browns warms up any outfit!

Brown Beauty by sonodana featuring chevron tights

I found your wedding bands

His and Her matching "not to be fucked with" wedding bands.

Found here: anna sheffield

want: nude mesh on everything.

I have a new designer crush. 
and it began with this dress.

obssession: nude mesh by sonodana featuring pave earrings

Sheer dress
shopbop.com

Corso Como slip on shoes
piperlime.gap.com

Peach jewelry
baublebar.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs bangle bracelet
ssense.com

Vince Camuto pave earrings
vincecamuto.com

Dutch Baby Breakfast

Yummm! We cooked up a crispy pancake, otherwise known as a dutch baby, this weekend - and oh my goodness was it delicious! Ours was topped with powdered sugar and lemon juice once it came out of the oven. This recipe was based on MomFilter's pancake upgrade. Enjoy!


DUTCH BABIES (makes one):

2 tablespoons butter.
2 large eggs.
1/2 cup coconut milk.
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour.
1/4 teaspoon salt.
1 teaspoon sugar.
Pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Fresh lemon wedges.
Powdered sugar.

Pre-heat your oven to  425ºF. Beat eggs, milk, sugar and salt until uniform. Stir in flour and nutmeg – or vanilla – until the mixture is a smooth batter. Place butter in a 9″ or 10″ cast iron skillet (or a pyrex pie plate of equal diameter) and place in the oven. Leave for 3-4 minutes for the skillet to heat up and the butter to melt. Remove from the oven and pour in the batter. Replace in the oven on the center rack (you need some headspace as the pancake will rise) and allow to cook for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven, plate and dust with powdered sugar. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the Dutch Baby.