During the summer months, I basically live in various iterations of shorts-and-a-t-shirt. Siwy denim cut-offs with drapey tanks, my little black Kim Ovitz shorts with just about everything, and most recently, an ankle-length semi-sheer Opening Ceremony t-shirt dress that I snagged at their sample sale for $50 with little nude boyshorts underneath (yes, that counts). When it's hot outside, I can't really be bothered with outfits that get any more complicated than that.
My current favorite version of that uniform comes via Vena Cava. I'm obsessed with their little acid-wash-denim print shorts and their amazing easy-to-DIY safety-pin-and-bead necklace. The little t-shirt I'm wearing is another closet staple of mine by Kain. I must have at least a dozen of them by now--they are seriously the best t-shirts around. Shoes are Jessica Simpson. xo
P.S. All photographs taken by Mark Iantosca. Take a look at his photo blog for more amazing pictures.
When I was 15 years old and broke up with my first boyfriend for the third time, I consoled myself by throwing my beeper (yes, beeper) across my bedroom, stomping into the kitchen and weepily whipping up a large, sweet, chocolate-dense Texas sheet cake. Some people drown their sorrows in booze and painkillers and a quick 10-pound weight loss. I tend to go in the opposite direction straight towards the nearest bag of refined white sugar. It’s just the way it goes with me and some things will never change.
Over the weekend, I got into a fight with a boy who was clearly indulging in some seriously idiotic behavior—I’ll save you the brain-deadening details—and proceeded to storm semi-dramatically (it could’ve been better/more dramatic) out of the bar we were in and jumped into the first moving yellow taxi I saw. By the time I stepped into my apartment, I had successfully ignored five phone calls from aforementioned idiot boy. Alas, restraint has never been my strong suit, and when I heard my iPhone’s jingle for the sixth time, rage stepped in and composure stepped aside. In other words, I picked up the call and lost it. LOST. IT. Not pretty.
Anyway, when I woke up the next morning, bleary-eyed and drained from the late night emotional gymnastics, I didn’t pick up the phone and call a friend to rehash all the ugly details, I didn’t pop an Advil and drift back to sleep, I didn’t even delete him from all my social media outlets. Instead, I went straight to the kitchen and started pulling ingredients out of the cupboard and assembled the same gooey, decadent, completely delicious Texas sheet cake I’ve been making since the beginning of time (or, at least, since the beginning of boy problems).
And you know what? It worked. I felt better. That’s what Texas sheet cake does. It makes everything better in the 25 quick and easy minutes it takes to come together. It’s like magic in the form of some good old-fashioned Southern comfort. Try it.
Cake: Combine butter, water, and cocoa in saucepan over medium heat; heat until butter melts. Add sugar, flour, salt, eggs, soda, sour cream, and vanilla; mix well. Pour into a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Spread frosting over hot cake and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
For frosting, combine butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients and mix well with electric mixer. Spread over the hot sheet cake then sprinkle with chopped pecans.
This is the first contest that Milk & Mode has been part of and I couldn't be more excited! I'm pretty much obsessed with Anthropologie as a whole, so when they called me about doing a contest with their adorable brand Leifsdottir, I jumped at the chance. Can't wait to meet the winner! xo
I love my new Elizabeth and James nude jersey dress. It's pretty awesome for a random night out, don't you think? The black leather studded shoulders are the best part. This was taken right outside my building on Wall Street before a night out. One of the benefits of living all the way downtown in the Financial District: it's an absolute ghost town after dark (which I like). Also wearing: Lia Sophia cuff and Jessica Simpson shoes (which are apparently sold out everywhere in black).
Pictures taken by Mark Iantosca--my fave. Check out his super amazing photographs on his blog. xo
I spent a hot, lazy Sunday with friends hanging around the South Street Seaport last weekend. It was a nice little preview of long summer days to come. There's nothing like a little, barely-there knit jumper when it's so hot outside that all you want to do is find a big blue pool and dive in. I love this one by Kimberly Ovitz--my friend Elizabeth said that it looked like a retro bathing suit, which was exactly the point. The cropped sweater with amazing ridiculously long arms is Kimberly Ovitz too. I clearly have a thing for her. xo
P.S. My friend Mark Iantosca took all of these pictures, which magically make me look way better than I actually ever do in real life. Check him out on his photo blog.
