Happy Valentines’s Day!!

[image via favim.com]

Oooooooooo:) This one was fun! You might remember that I did a little feature on the fabulously stylish Sarahbeth Larrimore and her fabulous clothing line Unabashed Apparel back in June. I was incredibly honored by her invitation to be a guest blogger and am just so thrilled with how it all turned out. Thank you again, to Sarahbeth, for the opportunity and the never-ending support. I absolutely adore working with lovely ladies like you!!

Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll see over at Unabashed Apparel… for the rest, click here.

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Another adorable Etsy find:). I stumbled across these shops while in search of my ultimate sick day wish list. Oh, Little Rabbit and Rabbit Apparel are the creations of a husband and wife team out of Albany, OR. Sounds as though they adore what they do, which is doubly fantastic because the results are so darn cute! Looking for a unique hand-crafted gift? Be sure to check them out:)

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block printed baby beanies, $7.50/each – buy here

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screen printed organic cotton bird towel, $8  – buy here

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screen printed deer mob t-shirt, $18 – buy here

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screen printed goldfish onesie, $14 – buy here

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block printed organic cotton reusable produce bags, $15 (set of 3) – buy here

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screen printed weather vane tee, $18 – buy here

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block printed organic cotton mason jar towel, $12 – buy here

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[all images by the lovely couple at Oh, Little Rabbit and Rabbit Apparel]

I have to admit, this song appeals to my inner control freak;). While I don’t currently have someone in my life telling me what to do, I appreciate the sentiment and as a fan of Ms. Bareilles’ lovely pipes, I appreciate the delivery even more. I’m sure many of you have seen/heard this one already, but for those who haven’t, this is for you;).

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I know I know… I’m stepping way out of my target market on this one, but while this blog is generally dedicated to all things lovely, it’s also dedicated to the life of me… adventures, ideas, exploration. How could I possibly not include a little tiny post about my ‘ultimate dude weekend’ with my favorite person in the world, J?

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While I’m a relative newbie to the world of Mixed Martial Arts, J is an expert. I’m not joking here… he’s the guy who gives advance commentary during fights, typically saying the same thing that commentator Joe Rogan would say before Joe Rogan himself actually says it. J has been watching for 10 years, knows all the fighters, knows all the moves, and can explain to any willing listener, in detail, how each move works, why it works and who the experts are. I was always a fan of boxing but was generally a bit blasé when it came to MMA and UFC. “Cage fighting? Really? They look like they’re hugging.” Well… they’re not. Every single little move is a part of a strategy. There is intense training and skill involved and the fighters are some of the most advanced athletes around. I can say this because I’ve been to the ‘Sampy School of MMA’ just like the rest of my friends right here in the Lakes Region. I can also say this because UFC veteran Randy Couture took James “Lights Out” Toney down within minutes of the first Round.

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J outside the fan expo

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So, for someone so enamored with the sport, what would the ultimate weekend entail?

* Floor seats (11th row) for UFC 118 at the TD Garden in Boston?

check.

* Pre fight-night Joe Rogan stand-up comedy?

check.

* Pre-fight weigh-ins?

check.

* A fan expo with fighters, gear, demos, and scantily clad women?

check , check, check and check!

We arrived on Friday afternoon and had non-stop good times from them on. We stayed at the Harborside Inn right on State St. near Boston’s North End and Quincy Market. We were a short walk away from the Garden and a quick taxi ride from the Convention Center. Did I mention that the convention center is only a block away from Newbury Street? Seriously, even if I hated MMA (I most certainly do NOT), I would have had a fabulous weekend just being in Boston.

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Me, being a bit of a dork (as usual) outside the fan expo

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J was thrilled, and though he didn’t always show it, I’m pretty sure he was a bit like a kid in a candy store, never knowing where to go first or what to look at. I got pictures of him with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Forrest Griffin, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, and Joe Rogan. We saw a Q&A between Shaq (who I now love, btw) & Mike Goldberg with guest appearances by Big Baby Davis (yay Celtics!!) and Tito Ortiz (boooooo.) We snapped photos of Anderson Silva, Urijah Faber, Jorge Rivera, and Vitor Belfort. We saw Randy “The Natural” Couture take down epic boxer James “Lights Out” Toney. We saw Maine’s own Marcus Davis fall. We saw BJ Penn try and fail to regain the belt from opponent and reigning Lightweight Champion, Frankie Edgar.

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Randy Couture with Joe Rogan at the Weigh-Ins

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It was no relaxing spa and shopping weekend (perhaps that will be what I’ll call the Ultimate Ladies Weekend??) but it was exciting and super fun. Thank you J for bringing me along and making an ever bigger MMA fan out of me!

And to you fashion loving, design hungry folk that aren’t quite convinced that this post deserves a moment in the lovely spotlight, maybe you’d be interested to know that Designsponge‘s Grace Bonney is also a fan and has even talked about wanting to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . MMA everywhere!!

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Frankie Edgar Vs. BJ Penn at the Weigh-Ins

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Big Baby Davis, Shaq, Mike Goldberg and Tito Ortiz

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Forrest Griffin and J

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Stephan Bonner

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UFC 118!!!

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Marcus Davis, hanging in there!

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Nick Osipczak moments after losing to Greg Soto

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Randy Couture and James Toney, moments before Randy won by submission

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James Toney, post-loss

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Randy Couture, post-victory

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Frankie Edgar Vs. BJ Penn

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BJ still on his feet

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and me… showing a little love for the fallen BJ Penn

As you may know, Etsy is more than just a marketplace for handmade goods, it’s also a jackpot for vintage finds. It’s like having the best flea market ever at your fingertips. I usually gravitate toward the vintage shops with kitchenware and trinkets… I’m not entirely sure why. Despite that random tendency, this shop caught my eye. Meet mildred. Mildredmade is Jacqueline Dubois, an artist living and working in Maine. According to her shop, she has a BFA in Printmaking from Maine College of Art. She is inspired by her surroundings; the woods, the city, the ocean, family.

MildredMade

the shop

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Navy Calico Frock, $28 – buy here

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Azure Rose Apron, $14 – buy here

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Straw Market Tote, $22 – buy here

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Fawn Peep Toes, $22 – buy here

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Lemon Marble Necklace, $24 – buy here

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Dusty Blue and Peach Slip, $22 – buy here

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Pearl and Gold Seed Pouch, $22 – buy here

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Rust and Gold Umbrella, $22 – buy here

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I spend lots of time telling you all about the things that I love. The shoes that get me giddy, the jewelry I desire, the clothing I covet… but at the end of the day, I can only take so much home. Back in the Clarabella days, I was a bit of a jewelry hoarder. I admired and collected. Some pieces were set aside for special occasions, some pieces were put into rotation and a select few made the cut for the every day. They are my classics… the ones I adore. Two of my current dailies? Zoë Chicco and Page Sargission. Love love love.

Flat Stack Rings by Zoë Chicco – buy here

Available in White Gold, Yellow Gold and Rose Gold – w/White or Black Diamonds – in hammered, polished or textured finish

[I have the combo you see above]

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Amalia Tulips Necklace in 10k Gold by Page Sargisson – buy here

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“It’s not a man purse, it’s called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.”

- Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover

[seriously... please click here to watch Zach in action. Genius. Love the hair flick. Very convincing;).]

Men… if you’re going to do it, do it in style;).

No. 95 Shoulder Satchel by Billykirk, $325 – buy here