Home Improvement

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When I think about summer, I think a lot about the outdoors and light and airy spaces. As soon as I came across the image above on Pinterest, I knew that this space is one of those breezy areas to lounge in during the summer. I love areas that work really well to easily switch up for times with friends that also work for solitary time, as well. With the white brick, light colored floors, inviting couch, and bright green plants, this is a place that I can absolutely see catching up with a couple of friends or spending time curled up with a magazine.

What does this space make you think of?

Winter Scarves

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I never really understood the importance of a good scarf until I went to school in upstate New York. While jackets and heavy sweaters are definitely an important factor to winter dressing, scarves are surely the needed finishing touch. Aside from winter and a heavy chunky grey scarf that I wear almost daily in the winter months at Syracuse, I was never one to have a collection of scarves. I met up with a couple of friends from high school yesterday who were both wearing scarves (one, a lilac-y purple, and the other a darker floral). It got me thinking that when we live in colder climates with so many pieces that are worn daily (heavy boots, down coat, scarves, mittens...) why not have a few different colors of the smaller things like the mittens and scarves to keep the long season a little brighter and not as drab as typical blacks and grays--as much as we love those.  In the image above, I have gathered five varying styles that I would love to tuck underneath my jacket to keep warm while not jeopardizing in the style department, as well. Fun fact, the Zara piece (4) has chain running through it!

Do you use scarves in the winter? What's your go-to style?

Instagram Updates III

This past week, while certainly busy and productive, was slightly calmer than usual. I had time to actually enjoy my work (a rarity lately), catch up with friends, and receive some happy news. Continue reading for more detail if you'd like for Monday's Instagram Updates.

1. For our final sketch project in draping we are focusing on resort wear for the 1950's. I decided to do swimwear, something I haven't done before, for a change. This was the starting part of the illustrations on Saturday night. Keep following up with me on Instagram (leshkoln) to see the final product.

2. I'm writing an analysis on Lucky magazine for my magazine class, so this purchase-along with the new pens and caffeine- were a necessary and  certainly enjoyable buy.

3. Studying abroad has been something that I have heard about for forever, and on Friday I finally got the exciting news that I will be spending this January through April in London studying at the London College of Fashion. Everything from getting to travel around Europe, finally visiting Paris (a dream for as long as I can remember), and just getting to learn in a different environment is thrilling. If you have any recommendations for me on places to go / see / shop / stay...let me know!

4. I went to visit my close friends on Friday night and we engaged in a Pinterest-worthy fall themed night in. Picking up fabulous orange skull glasses for a dollar at Target, we filled them with a special Pumpkin milkshake with pumpkin whoopie pies and sat down to catch up and watch a classic Disney movie, Halloweentown. 

I hope everyone had a great weekend and now a good start to the week!

Thanks for reading.

Home Improvement

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It's amazing how you can find yourself drawn to design aspects that you never thought that you would be interested in, don't you think? Today's 'Home Improvement' post is not necessarily one that I would really decorate my home with (see: cow tile work), but I certainly think that the image above is inspiring. Green is one of those colors that I think is so often overlooked when it comes to home interiors, and yet, it is one of those colors that pretty much have whichever impact you want it to. Pale greens can be calming and quite pretty, while emeralds and kelly greens are much bolder and make a stronger statement. I find the idea of a green kitchen interesting, in that green is often associated with a state of calmness. In the kitchen, cooking and being with family and friends, should not be a stressful activity. Who knows? By incorporating more greens in the kitchen, and not just on our plates, our general stress levels may even lower. All of the flowers don't hurt, either.

What do you think of green interiors? What about green kitchens?

Check out this green formal room that I would love to daydream in, as well.

For Mom

//A very happy mother's day to the best mother, friend, photographer, shopping companion, and partner in crime. I appreciate your endless love and compassion, desire to help others unconditionally, and for always supporting me in anything and everything. I love you.//

Give Thanks

As every year passes, I grow more and more aware of how thankful I really am. I am incredibly blessed to have a family that loves me and supports me in all of my attempts and failures, the opportunity to attend an incredible university to study and make what I love, wonderful friends who make me laugh until my stomach aches and embarrass me in the best ways, and so much more. 

I hope that all of you enjoy your Thanksgiving with your favorite people and loved ones and make sure to thank all of those who have made such incredible daily impacts without even realizing. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Friends + Fried Fruity Pebbles: Rodeo 2012 Part 2

{me and leanna}

Being in college, I have made many great friends and amazing people. There is, though, something special about getting to see the people that I had spent my seven years throughout middle and high school with. When we get together, sometimes it's almost as if we never left.

{Julie and Laura}

{Michelle, Leanna, and Dani on The Superman}

{Me and Michelle}

So, while I won't be seeing these ladies until basically November for Thanksgiving break as we all have our various summer plans with everything from internships to international travel, I know that when the air starts to get it's crispness back into it here in Syracuse, that it will soon be time that we can all be reunited again. And, let me tell you, I am looking forward to it.

{Leanna, Michelle, and me}

Friends + Fried Fruity Pebbles: Rodeo 2012 Part 1

{Dani, Julie, Me, Leanna, Michelle, and Laura}- Photo from Julie

The Houston Lifestock Show and Rodeo (aka the rodeo), is an event that people of all ages in Houston look forward to every year. Running from late February to mid-March, it is filled to the brim with rides of all kinds, calf roping, pig racing, petting zoos, shopping, and of course, the well-known deep fried specialties. While I have been going to the rodeo for as long as I can remember with my family and friends, this particular trip to it was especially memorable as I was reunited with friends while we were home for our Spring Break. 

So, food... Though I was searching for Fried Coke, as I constantly talked about it finding it all year, fried fruity pebbles (seen above) was definitely one of the top for oddest fried food for this year. It was, however, tied with fried kool-aid. While we didn't go for the fried fruity cereal, Leanna and I opted for a fried brownie for her, and fried cookie dough for me...needless to say, the only bites we really took were those taken for the pictures.

And...let's not forget Michelle's fried zucchini

{Note the fried kool-aid}

Since the very essence of the rodeo is a livestock show, of course we had to attend the petting zoo. Though the large llama is our favorite every year, there were definitely some runners up when it came to baby sheep, goats, and even a pig.

A Thanksgiving with Family and Friends

Though Thanksgiving was almost two weeks ago (whoa!), I hadn't yet shared with all of you how my family's festivities, and the event that I shared about here actually went. The actual break, though still quite busy, was exciting. I was with two of my closest friends, Leanna and Michelle, almost all time I was home, and I couldn't get enough. However, everyone breaks off their connections with their friends for that one third Thursday of every November for Thanksgiving.

{Nellie anxiously hoping some of my mom's brisket will fall onto the floor for her}

{Cousins Denise and Sheldon enjoying some post-feast football}

{My amazing grandfather, Milt}

{Mashed sweet potatoes and marshmallow topping: An obvious choice}

After a late Thursday/ early Friday pre-black Friday excursion that my sister, Lauren begged me to let her experience, the Weisfeld/Shkolnick girls headed to the mall for our annual Black Friday shopping (which usually meant about two hours longer spent in Tory Burch than everywhere else). Rushing home after a long day of crowds of busy shoppers, I began to hurry to set up for my own first hosting of a Thanksgiving party. A few months after planning with Julie and it was here. I hadn't seen most of my friends since we all left for school late August, so, this first Thanksgiving Dinner: Friends Edition proved to have high hopes to be a special one.

{Our festive table and glittered gourds}

{Unfinished Turkey Oreos}

{Successfully made turkey cake pops this year!}

{Even added little heart sprinkles for their beaks}

{Left to Right: Me, Michelle, and Leanna with our turkeys}*

I wore a Lyn Devon Blouse, Michael Kors Watch, Madewell Oxfords, and H&M Skirt

{Leanna and my co-hostess, Julie}

When you've been away from home for almost four months, there are bound to be at least a little jitters when it comes to seeing your friends again (finally). You wonder who has changed, who looks different, what they've all been up to, and so on. However, after a few minutes of realizing that everyone doesn't know the same people that you do now, you're not all in the same classes, and even your weather conditions are different, you resort back to your good old fashioned fun and remember why you were all friends to begin with.

Group Shot (Minus Cori and Ronit)

{Top from Left: Sammy (Tulane), Tori (UT), Dani, and Laura (Emory)}

{Bottom from Left: Leanna (UGA), Julie (Tulane), Michelle (Texas Tech), and Me}

* The head on my turkey is missing

Finally

With finals projects and exams next week, everything around campus starts to tighten up. Time spent in our beds is lessened and added to time in studio, the library, and on the computer surrounded by countless cups of coffee. We work endlessly to finish projects for this week to then begin them for the next. Tired and worn out, we work to make the best work in time spans that allow for equal attention to be paid to each class. During the few final weeks of the semester...

As having completed countless exams and finals throughout all of my years of schooling, you would think that I would have the perfect recipe to success in not only studying for these exams, but in achieving a grade I am pleased with as well. Well, so far I haven't. However, here are some of the things that help me to not only get me through studying for finals, but in succeeding at them, as well. 

Find a new way to put your cutest loungewear to use, cuddle up in those loose cardigans, oversized t-shirts, and classic leggings to begin the long list of projects and notecards that you have to accomplish before the big day.

Coffee. Every college (art) students "life juice". During finals, there are two uses for coffee. One, the large amount of caffeine is a quick fix to that night before you spent staying up way too late, and two, it is a quick way to just sit down and unwind for a few minutes. While the usual Dunkin' Donuts iced coffees are most popular around the student center here, sometimes just taking a few minutes to unwind with a piping hot cup of joe is good enough to get your mind back into work-mode. 

Do something you truly love. Even though literally everyday I am doing art project after art project after art project, it is a strong passion of mine. During stressful times, like finals, it helps to take a break from assigned art projects and do just simply do the painting, drawing, designing that you love. Only for you.

Lastly, hang out with your girlfriends. In a time of stress and worry, there's nothing better than hanging out with the ladies that know you best, can make you laugh, and know how to cheer you up with nothing better than their being there.

So as we begin to start, work on, and soon finish our final projects and exams, remember to stay calm, take time for yourself, and it'll be done before you know it.

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }

Things to look forward to

{From left to right, a few of the besties from home: Julie, Cori, Tori, Ronit, and me at our senior dinner this past June}
[Dress: Forever 21, Necklace: Francesca's, Shoes (not shown): Jessica Simpson, Watch (not shown): Michael Kors]

Last night I was catching up with my friend Julie over everything on Pinterest, Project Runway, and online shopping, when  we realized how excited we were to all see each other in basically a little over a month for Thanksgiving. While obviously each of us have made an abundance of friends in our past few months of being freshmen in college, nothing beats the hugs from the people that have known you for as long as you can remember. We got on the topic of having a "Friend Thanksgiving" party. As a lover of all things celebration worthy, what could be better than celebrating the thanks that we have for each other as friends as a chance to all see each other again over good food, stories, and great company.

Here are some ideas I have been inspired by lately:

{Thanksgiving Oreos}
[ourbestbites.com]

{Simple touches that make even the most home-made treats extra special}

[marthastewart.com]

{All things orange...'Cuse anyone?}

[amairi.tumblr.com]

{Cute and easy place settings that set the theme and season}

[bhg.com]

I am counting down the days until I hop on that plane and head home to see my family, friends, and hometown. For now though, party planning until then will just have to do.