A Book That Inspires…

… you to conquer the world, one day at a time.

Just last night I finished reading Katie Couric’s incredibly inspiring book, The Best Advice I Ever Got, and I knew that I had to tell everyone I could about it. What’s so great about this book, you ask. Think about your college or your high school graduation or any sort of pep talk you’ve ever had in your life. Now imagine two hundred and fifty-four pages of similar inspiring sentiments all at your fingertips and you’ve got Katie Couric’s book. Honestly though any speech could have been more inspiring than my college graduation speech from the first lady of Virginia who basically said, don’t get depressed about the economy, it’ll get better. Not that I hadn’t been hearing that all year long as the economy slowly took a nose dive into a recession, but I digress.

I believe good words at the right time can turn your life around. I collect inspiring words to remind me every day that I can do more, be more and have the life I have always imagined. Katie Couric was able to use her connections to some of the most powerful and inspiring people in America and the world and asked them to write essays giving advice to the reader. Many of them were college graduation speeches the writer had given or simply notes about a moment in their life that changed them. Couric broke them into sections such as “pluck and perseverance” and “commitment and contribution.” From Lisa Ling to Melinda Gates to Colin Powell and many others, their words on life are funny, sad and intriguing portraits of how they became the person they are today.

I think this book is so inspiring because of how genuine the writers are about their experiences and the advice they are giving. As long as you are reading consciously, you cannot help but absorb and internalize the advice. The book makes it feel like you’re sitting down with some of the most influential people around the world and they are telling you their greatest secrets. Why wouldn’t you read a book like that? So if you’ve got a moment, head down to the bookstore or the library and grab a copy of The Best Advice I Ever Got.

“Acts of bravery don’t always take place on battlefields. They can take place in your heart, when you have the courage to honor your character, your intellect, your inclinations, and, yes, your soul by listening to its clean, clear voice of directions instead of following the muddied messages of a timid world. So carry your courage in an easily accessible place, the way you do your cellphone or your wallet. You may still falter or fail, but you will always know that you pushed hard and aimed high. Take a leap of faith. Fear not. Courage is the ultimate career move.” – Anna Quindlen

“Whenever I start to blame God for what I encounter in the world, I stop and remind myself that maybe it is I who should be doing more. We get so hung up on the notion of success that we can easily forget about being of service to others. I have actually found that giving of oneself is far more fulfilling than gifting oneself.” – Lisa Ling

“So whatever you plan to do with your life, don’t just listen to your head. Listen to your heart. It’s the best career counselor there is. Do what you really love to do, and if you don’t know quite what that is yet, well, keep searching, because once you find it you’ll bring something extra to your work that will help ensure that you will not be automated or outsourced. It will make you untouchable.” – Thomas Friedman

Monday Links to Love

 

Is that not the coolest outfit? I can’t resist polka dots…Happy Monday!

* If you’re into weird history and cool architecture, check out this article about a new book on America’s asylums

* Can’t wait for a Sunday morning to make Emma of Food Coma’s baked oatmeal

* And from Emma’s sister Elsie a really cool recipe for a brownie sundae in a jar

* You can’t help it but to love Gala’s radical self love manifesto

* Check out this gorgeous South of France wedding

* What are your feelings on technology in schools? After reading this New York Times article, I’m wondering if all that money spent is actually worth it

* A usual interesting post from Danielle Laporte about changing up your time management 

Fall Fashion Cravings

Let's go 70s style!

It seems like only yesterday I was lying on the beach, watching the waves crash in and digging my toes into the sand. It might not have been yesterday but it’s only been a week since I last wore my bikini and now a cold front has pushed in and I’m thinking about pullovers and jeans. That’s the way September goes but I must confess that I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to wear this fall before this. Though I love my shorts and strappy tops, there’s something comforting and cozy about fall knits, long pants and boots. I’m channeling some icons of the 60s and 70s: Ali MacGraw, Goldie Hawn, and Bridgette Bardot. That fun, sexy, casual elegance that is slowly coming back into fashion but really never left.

What I’m craving for this fall is carrying over those loose, flowy tops from the summer and combining them with tights and skirts, cardigans and 70s style flare jeans. After a visit to the Lucky and Levi’s stores at the mall, I’m loving rich reds, dusty oranges and rusty browns. Native American prints with a high-end flare are colorful compliments that I’m searching for along with some old West button-downs. It’s a little early for it still but I’d love to add some chunky knits, especially ones to couple with my new skinny jeans, for those Saturdays spent at home working on my homework.

The above look would be perfect for work, though I’d probably add a pair of brown or dusty red tights. I love bright jewelry in turquoise, red, orange or jade to give that extra oomph to the washed out, dusty colors of fall. Don’t you just love those boots?! Mine just arrived in the mail last week and they’ve already ventured out with many compliments. They might be too casual for work but are easily replaced by this season’s must-have flat booties.

Apple orchards and pumpkin patches, I love fall activities! This is my go-to outfit for the fall: comfortable chambray with Levi’s skinnies, and wedge booties (but be careful in the fields!). A girl can’t go wrong by throwing on a scarf and I love the buttery yellow of this one. I’m currently on the hunt for the perfect floppy felt hat, either in this nice tan or a deep burgundy. As chic for the winter as a floppy straw hat during the dog days of summer.

As for my fall evening wear, I am channeling a perfect 60s look: mini dresses, crazy fun heels and bright simple jewelry. I might throw in a pair of crazy patterned tights but a sheer black never goes wrong. I’ve got to start practicing my cat’s eye and beehives.

Monday Links to Love

via modern hepburn

* The soft pastels of this French-inspired wedding make me happy

* Going on a fall picnic after I make this fabulous DIY fall flower crown

* They say a turban is perfect for a honeymoon; I say it’s perfect for every day!

* You must read this if you have any interest in the education system, one educator is telling it like it is

* These are the cutest questions for a couple’s road trip!

* Another interesting article from CNN explaining how our economy is shifting away from a jobs economy. Maybe the government should be reading this…

* I love the Red Velvet girls and this is a great post on Elsie’s blog, A Beautiful Mess, with 5 tips to stay inspired

* What could be sweeter than some timeless tips for life?

Summer Old, Summer New: Vintage Shopping Around Town

For some reason shopping for vintage items always seems better in the summer and fall. Probably because most items are stored in barns, found at flea markets or other sorts of outdoorsy places and it’s so much better not to freeze your butt off in a subzero barnyard. I had a lot of fun picking up little vintage pieces here, there and everywhere over the past few months. Here are some of my favorite purchases:

My cute recipe was found on Etsy (ok, so not trolling through antique shops or like but Etsy’s vintage selection is my fave!) and purchased for me by my mom for my birthday. I became fixated by the idea of a recipe box and wanted something with some character to sit on my future kitchen counter. Nothing is better than vintage advertising!

Church board letters

This is one of my favorite finds of the summer! These church board letters were found at Three Potato Four’s warehouse sale in Manayunk. We were going to do our whole name but thought it would be cute to just start with our first initials. And you have to love the ampersand. The warehouse sales only run the last weekend of each month and I’m kind of thinking we need to go back and get more letters.

Salt and Pepper Shakers

How adorable are these salt and pepper shakers! I have been searching since my first college apartment for a cute pair to grace my kitchen table. Since I do not currently have my own kitchen table, they are living on my bookshelf.

Wire Egg Basket

This yellow wire egg basket was found at the cutest vintage store in Lancaster, Pa. I’d been searching for a long while for something to hold my small yarn collection. My original thought was a locker basket but when I saw this basket I fell in love.

Carnival Chalk Poodles

My plan for these chalk dogs is bookends on a desk but right now they pretty much brighten up anywhere. They make me think of the collection of chalk dogs my mom had in our old house. She had a chalk bulldog that I loved, loved, loved so if you see one anywhere, please let me know!

Light Insulator

I’ve been wanting one of these insulators for a reeeeaaaallllly long time. Something fascinates me about their color and shape. This will be my new paperweight. I am currently hoarding small papers to put under it.

Matchbox

And finally, even though this wasn’t purchased in the summer but gifted at Christmas, I wanted to share this amazing 1960s match box. So sparkly, so petite, so perfect.

Monday Links to Love

Back to school, back to school. You might see a lot less of me around The Lemonade Stand in the coming months but I am trying to be organized and proactive and create lots of content before school stuff gets to crazy. If you’re going back to school too, I wish you luck and it’ll be December soon enough!

* What great tips about making your business sparkle (sounds fabulous right?) over on Yes and Yes

* After spending one summer working Jekyll Island, I fell in love with it. I am also loving this wedding held there

* And right across the water happens to be the awesome St. Simon’s Island where another gorgeous wedding took place

* Who cares about getting married and having bridesmaids? I am making these beautiful fabric flower bouquets to decorate…everywhere!

* Another colorful wedding with great details; you’ve got to love lots of color!

* Gala Darling is really doing it right lately with the posts! Another great one about living a beautiful life

* Donut cake sounds like the perfect snack for a Monday

Good-bye Summer Clothes

Top: Anthropologie, Shorts: Forever 21, Sunglasses: Ray Bans, Hat from Puerto Rico

Summer clothes are my favorite clothes. I love flowy and loose, short and airy and bright, bright colors, all things that become more acceptable in the summer months. But summer clothes can often be hard to put together. Unlike with cold weather where you just pile layers on and take them off as needed, hot temperatures make you want to start with no clothes on and go from there. Very unacceptable. You also don’t want to go too short or too skimpy when you’re headed to work or going to anywhere else other than the beach or a bar. But when you find the perfect summer outfit, you just don’t ever want to take it off. These are some of my most favorite outfits that I’ve worn this summer. I’m sad that cooler air is coming in but I am starting to get excited about button-downs, flared jeans and boots! Change is good.

Dress: Michael Kors, Flip-flops: Urban Outfitters, Earrings: Terrain

Romper: Forever 21, Shoes: Merona by Target, Bag: Vintage, Pearls: Vintage

Dress: Urban Outfitters, Flip-flops: Havianas, Bag: Urban Outfitters

Summer whites make me happy. The blue top and shorts from the picture at the top of this post are two of my favorite pieces. White traditionally was only acceptable between Memorial and Labor Day but now people wear it all year round. I find that white in the summer is so fresh, especially paired with beautiful bold colors. This romper was an end of the summer purchase and I love it’s cute 60s style. Summer is also a time for experimenting and this was definitely one of mine. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the all-in-one outfit but there’s something chic and simple about it that I can’t get enough of. Any ideas how I could wear this through the fall? And finally, this is just one of the examples of my fun and comfortable sundress collection. I don’t think summer would be quite as good without my dresses.

Happy Birthday Lemonade Stand!

While the title may say happy birthday today, my little blog actually turned one on September 1st. With all the end of summer festivities I unfortunately failed to recognize this momentous occasion. I have to say that I cannot believe it’s been a year already since I started writing this blog. The first post was about my love for the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia and since then I have been writing about anything and everything.

When I started writing The Lemonade Stand, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to blog about but I knew I wanted to blog. I tried writing my own blog before but it always turned out intensely personal, too personal for anyone but me to get anything out of it. What I know now was that my vision was to write about the things I find interesting in the hopes that other people will find them interesting too. So many of the blogs I love to read have a great mixture of the things they love, their perspective and wonderful writing. This is the mixture I am still working on everyday as I continue to blog. I want people to see who I am and what makes me excited and do it in such a way that it sparks something in them to discover their world and share it with others.

I want The Lemonade Stand to be about me, but me in a wider sense: a young woman exploring her world and finding some really great things. Life is different post-college, everyone’s path through life is unique, and I want to share my perspective of what it’s like to be 24 years old and figuring it all out. The other part of The Lemonade Stand is giving advice and insight into what I’ve found works for me. When I write, I imagine I am talking about life with my girl friends, sharing all the new and exciting things we are learning on our adventures.

My only regret about The Lemonade Stand is that I have not written more. This blog has renewed my love of writing more than I could have imagined and I wish I could devote more time to it. Though the silver lining to this cloud is that I’m not writing because I am working towards my great life goal of becoming a teacher.

I believe that The Lemonade Stand is something that I was dreaming of when I set out to conquer the world post-college. It’s become a big part of me and I believe it’s changed my world view a great deal. I hope that I have showed even a few readers something new and I want to keep sharing my adventures with you for many more years to come.

Monday Links to Love

 

 

Happy Labor Day everyone!

* Love the colors in this beautiful Florida wedding. I kind of want to use them in my room, must make it work!

* So in my last outfit post I wrote about our trip to the Terrain store in Glen Mills. Here’s a wedding held there and it’s fabulous!

* Another archived post from Gala Darling that has some great ideas for a stellar date night with your hunny

* Can we please talk about how amazing this bride’s dress is?! Very unique and cool wedding

* Another good post about how to get through work you’re not crazy about

* I want my own kitchen now so I can fill my drawers with these ruffled pot holders from Sunshine and Carousels

* A pretty, sophisticated wedding in a beautiful setting

Farm Fresh Fashion

When the sun is shining and you have just purchased the prettiest white summer dress, how can you not head for the fields and the farms spending a couple of hours outdoors? That’s what I did on an August Saturday when I put on a brand new dress from jane, a consignment store in Princeton, NJ, and headed to the wild suburbs of Philadelphia (the Brandywine River valley). My boyfriend and I planned on a fun day exploring the area and being outside and I planned on a lot of pictures in my new dress.

Our first stop was Terrain in Glen Mills. Terrain is Urban Outfitters’s gardening and outdoor store and this is the only outpost of it. Since I am such a big fan of Anthropologie and Free People and Urban Outfitters, I was interested in seeing what kind of place their outdoor store would be. I didn’t have any expectations but if I had, they would have been blown away. It was like a nursery but had greenhouses that connected and formed the store. From room to room there were so many interesting things to see from beeswax candles to terrariums to enormous wreaths of dried flowers. There were organic and natural beauty products as well as jewelry that were natural forms like twig bangles and gold-plated leaf cuffs. I bought a beautiful pair of copper and gold earrings and have been wearing them so much since. I didn’t snap any pictures, mostly because I was in awe of the fact that I was actually enjoying a gardening store (I was traumatized as a child with too many weekends looking for perennials). I cannot wait for another trip out there.

Victory Brewery’s bar

In continuing our search for delicious beer in the state of Pennsylvania, Nick and I headed over to Downingtown to Victory Brewing Company’s headquarters. We were sad to learn that they no longer give tours of the brewery but were excited by the really awesome restaurant they had built around their brewery. Victory produces about 24 beers (or maybe more than that but I think there were about 24 available when we were there) and you can sample all of them. We chose to share a flight of five beers, mostly light ones because I am not a beer drinker in the traditional sense. I don’t think you will ever see me drink a Guinness unless I am in Ireland and I will try any fruity beer you put in front of me. I have to say Victory’s Festbier was my favorite of the ones we tried and it was delicious with my portabello jerk grinder, though the grinder had too much chipotle mayo for this mild girl.

Ah sweet Victory!

From there we hopped back in the car, twisted and turned down some winding roads all the way to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. This 1,050 acre property encompasses several different gardens, a conservatory, treehouses and former home of the Pierce and duPont families. It is huge! There was so much to explore and we wandered from garden to garden just exploring the different types of greenery that were tamed into these amazing tableaus. My favorite part by far was the lilies and the Conservatory. I remember these things from my childhood when my grandmother used to take me to Longwood on short trips from where she lived in Wilmington, DE. It’s such a beautiful old building and I love having such an abundance of plants inside. The lilies’ ginormous pads looked like boats I could sail away on.

Now are you ready for the fashion? I cannot begin to tell you how much I love the dress I wore for this fabulous adventure. I knew I was going to adore it the moment I plucked it off the rack in the store. The pure white cotton mixed with rough lace, the dramatic bell sleeves, the cut of the neckline and the sexy strip of lace just below the bust sold me at “Bonjour ma cherie!” I am so into the rustic look right now, if that’s what you call it, the sweetness and sexiness of down home, farm fresh fashion. Think peasant blouses and gingham prints if you’re not catching my drift. The dress is secondhand Kors by Michael Kors and a steal for $30. I paired it simply with a pair of Urban Outfitters braided flip flops and even threw on my new Terrain earrings.

Now I am not normally a fan of wearing long sleeves in the summer. I like being free and easy and the east coast humidity always makes sleeves feel like an impossible thing to bear. I’m not going to say that I was cool as a cucumber as we wandered through the gardens but it wasn’t terrible and they are just so dramatically wonderful I can’t hate them one bit.

I am love exploring a big city and all the crazy things you can do there at any time of the day but it was so relaxing and fun to explore the countryside. The flowers and the sun, the wind through the open car windows and the haziness of the Longwood Gardens meadow in the afternoon sun made me feel like I was almost in a Jane Austen novel. Except for the many sneakered tourists.