Everybody Must Get Stoned -With Addison Weeks, That is

Today's a holiday, and nothing gets me more jazzed than an excuse to get festive and in the spirit. But being the nonconformist-who-enjoys-a-good-play-on-words that I am, I've opted to celebrate in a non-traditional (and healthier and legal) way: getting gem-stoned (cue the crickets).

Throw all notions of how cheesy/lame I can be aside and instead focus on our headliner, Addison Weeks, makers of some of the most fab jewelry and home-ware in the game. Launched by Lee Lesley and Kat Mulford in 2012, the brand offers an array of pieces made of handcrafted brass and semiprecious stones that can give you and your bar cart that extra pizzazz you've been needing in your life.  

So why am I such a fan? Because for gals like moi who feel a need for accessorizing-speed, it can be tough to find pieces that work just as well in the office as on the weekends - but Addison Weeks jewelry fits the mold. If you've ever been in the "I need to spruce up this white shirt and black blazer ASAP before someone mistakes me for someone who takes herself too seriously" dilemma, then you know what I'm talkin' bout. So why is Oprah such a fan (yes, they made the list of her favorite things - which is probably all I needed to say but we all know I can't mute myself)? Because the pieces look like fine jewelry with a costume jewelry price point and they "add tasteful glamour to your everyday outfits" (she always does say it best).  

If Oprah, Gayle and I are all on the Addison Weeks bandwagon, I'm not quite sure what you're waiting for. 

Meta Monday: Karen Mabon

As if Monday's aren't a big enough headache already, I present a collage of scarves that are themselves collages. We goin' meta level today because these scarves, the works of Scottish artist Karen Mabon, are what my little aspiring collage-blogger dreams are made of. They're the kind of find that induce audible "oh-ma-gewrd"s because the magicians who conjure up the Insta-feed algorithms that lead me to such discoveries have done their job, and they've done it well. 

Karen Mabon's scarves portray whimsical illustrated montages that evoke (in her own wise words) a "sense of dreamlike familiarity and nostalgia." A fitting description for the "Unhealthy" scarf, which depicts the dangerous combination of champagne, donuts, cigarettes and dancing that we're arguably all quite familiar with from time to time (and that time is Friday, folks). The "Bedroom Floor" scarf is another winner because it teleports you back to the 90's - you suddenly find yourself in your childhood bedroom, surrounded by beanie babies and lava lamps, with not a care in the world besides what hunky automated voice will answer your call on Dream Phone.

In an interview Mabon noted she has "started to notice that the kind of people who buy [her] work buy it because it resonates with them on a personal level." No truer words were ever spoken. I felt so inclined to snag the "Robber in a Sweet Shop" scarf after it spoke to my candy-fiend, sugar-addicted self on a deeply, deeply personal level. I'll venture to say I also feel a connection with Karen the artist, who admits: "I exaggerate everything and my work grows arms and legs too." My itty-bitty blogger arms and legs are still growing, but one things fa sho - my Karen Mabon-decked neck is ready to par-tay. 

What all the Opinionated Champagne Mamis are Wearing: Lingua Franca

If you're as glued to the insta-tube as I am, chances are you've seen Linga Franca's embroidered sweaters on some form of social media. It was just last month when I took many a screenshot (how most of my research is done - I'm just such a *MilLeNnIaL*) of these statement sweaters after they populated my news feed during the Women's March. Rachelle Hruska MacPherson is the mastermind behind the brand, which began by merging rap lyrics with 100% cashmere until recently when "the resistance sweater" collection was born.

The term "lingua franca" means a bridge language used to make communication possible between two people who don't share a native language. Now eso si me gusta because if you over-analyze everything like I do, the name picks up on the idea that she who wears the sweater presumably chooses a message to communicate to another who is not fluent in the same background or life experience that forms the opinion behind said message (still with me, Bueller?). With the end intention of finding some common ground (or at the very least an "well I'll give you that" concession), Lingua Franca succeeds in provoking dialogue in today's topsy turvy political climate, and it does so in my favorite medium (fash-un!).

So when the time came to decide whether I was going to take the plunge (and a fiscal plunge it certainly is, although arguably justified with the charitable donation aspect), I knew to wait for the right message and the right audience. Then came the invitation to last Friday's luncheon for Annie's List, an organization dedicated to getting more women to run for public office in Texas, where none-otha than Hillary Clinton spoke. Now, regardless of your feelings on the big H and in keeping with the spirit of finding a bridge language, I will make two points I hope all readers can agree on: 1) getting to be in the audience during a Hillary speech surrounded by impassioned females makes for an awesome lunch break and 2) getting more women to serve as our elected officials makes for a very worthy cause. 

Which message did I end up going with? You gotta fight for your right, of course. The Beastie Boys boys perhaps said it best, and the rights I feel like I'm fighting for are endless: to party (le duh), to blog, to not bill every hour of my life, to be in good standing with the women-supporting-women bandwagon, so on and so forth.

As Lingua Franca makes evident, a lot of power can be tucked behind certain quotes and lyrics, which makes it all the more fitting that Hillary quoted Ann Richards (late governor of Texas) who said: "Precious, get over it and get on with it." My new Monday mantra or the words for my next sweater? Probably both. 

What my Dreams are Made of, Literally: Hill House Home & Biscuit

Call it pitiful, call it unfortunate, call it whatever you damn well please - but there is quite literally nothing I look forward to more each Mon-Thurs than getting home from the oficina and putting on ma' PJs. While this ritual more often than not only involves the shift from working at my downtown desk to working remotely from the sofa (lawya life!), it nevertheless signifies the end of the work day is near, my best friends (huzband + cats) are close by, and sleep is in the foreseeable future - aka my personal witching hours are afoot. It's when my mellow mood sets in, I brew my cabernet potion, and the supernatural hocus pocus activity behind this blog reaches its height.

Hence, the importance I place on my nighttime regalia and all associated linens. Leave it to two girl bosses and the "experts in bedding" behind Hill House Home, Nell Diamond and Katherine Kapnick (yo srat sista!), to create the sleepwear that gets me antsy for bedtime while the rest of the young adult world is prepping for happy hour. With the help of these threads, I'm no longer just a banana in a pajama (I'm always that), because I join the ranks of the workday warriors who GSD in the wee hours - and I do so comfortably.

So what eventually lures me off the couch and into actual shut-eye mode? Besides my dire need for beauty sleep, I give credit to my pillows from Biscuit Home, the brand started by Houston-native Bailey McCarthy that creates colorful and quirky "heirloom quality bedding." Biscuit's new season of fashion for the biscuit was recently released and (justtt like Lay's potato chips), I betcha' can't pick just one. 

Wear some HHH pajamas before resting your head on some Biscuit pillows and watch the beautiful magic of inspired productivity followed by some well-deserved, sound sleep unfurl. 

Pajamas - Hill House Home// Boudoir Shams - Biscuit Home

Venezuelan Shoulder Dusters: Katherine Cordero

Maybe it doesn't surprise you I'm a big fan of big earrings. And maybe you're thinking another pair of 'em is the last thing the both of us need (we're all in this together, amiright?). But maybe, just maybe, you haven't heard of Katherine Cordero, the Venezuelan artist/jeweler who is taking the Miami ear candy scene by storm. With Frida Kahlo as her muse and the magic of mythology as her inspiration, Cordero is designing creative, hand-made statement pieces that will make your ear lobes feel like they're the life of the fiesta (which is exactly what they deserve after rocking work-approp studs during your weekly 9 to 5).

Since her website is currently under construction (fear not, I'll Paul Revere the news once it's up and running - the party earrings are coming!), I sent my sister to a Camila Canabal trunk show in Miami last week to get the scoop (I ain't too proud to beg). Miamians can also visit Cordero's Wynwood store (deets below) to get their hands on the one of a kind shoulder dusters. So maybe a pair of fun earrings is exactly what you're in the market for after all. And maybe, just maybe, you need some evil eyes to ward away the haters that tell you differently.