Favorite Things: Cozy Winter Necessities

If the constant snow storms and freezing cold are any indication, we're still in for a long month of winter ahead. Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to bog down, get cozy, stay warm, and pretend that the outdoors don't exist. So to help each other out through these rough and windy days and dream of blankets, candles, and warm tea, I've put together a collection of all my favorite things that make winter hibernation not so bad.

First off, what everyone needs to start hibernation season is something warm to drink and nothing makes tea better than an adorable tea pot with an even cuter infuser. I'm a loose tea drinker mainly because I like the idea of wasting less packaging, but with all these new and adorable infusers, it's hard not be a loose tea drinker!

What I Wore: The 60s Shift Edition

Ah, estate sale shopping. That is the life. If my day job could be hunting for gems at estate sales, I'd be one happy camper. Unfortunately, it's just a hobby for now, but when you hit a jackpot it's oh-so-satisfying! I stumbled across a gorgeous collection that belonged to a little stylish lady who travled a lot in her lifetime with her husband. The collection of souvenir plates in their home was out of this world. But, naturally, I gravitated towards the closets and I was not disappointed. This little number is definitely one of my favorites that I picked up recently. So simple, yet so eye catching with it's delicately detailed collar and sleeves.

Interior Design: Cozy Winter Cabin

Well, we're sitting pretty in the middle of a blizzard and when that happens, it's hard not to dream of cozy winter cabins and lots of blankets. So, in the spirit of the season, here's a chic and cozy modern cabin to dream about.

What I Wore: The Winter Has Arrived Edition

Yep. This is not a false alarm. It's here people. Winter has arrived already and it freaking sucks, already. Can you believe it? Well, actually if you're a born and bread midwesterner like myself, then yes. You can believe it and you think it's silly that I'm even talking about it, but I'll talk about what I damn well please and I hate the cold, dammit! 

Anyway, the point of this post isn't to bitch about the cold, it's to bitch about dressing for the cold. Does anyone else go into a panic when the temp drops below 40? It's like I forget how this works and start putting together some really odd combinations. Anything to stay warm, you know? One thing that is definitely essential is a good winter coat. If you can find one that's cute on top of good, you better buy 10 of them. After several years of attempting to look fashionable in the cold, I just gave up and decided that I need a large collection of warm coats and I'm always on the lookout for a good buy. When it's 20 degrees outside, your best bet at fashion is 2 chunky sweaters, a cute coat, a colorful scarf, and a big hat...under your hood, of course.

What I Wore: The Thrifted Sweaters Edition

I know I talk about this every week, but I am so tired of winter. More sickened by it than I have ever been. There was a glimmer of hope with some 40 degree days and then it snowed and the temp dropped again. I'm moving. Enough of this.

Anyway, due to the never ending Siberian weather, I thought I'd talk about my sweater collection. It's gotten a little out of hand. I could probably wear a different sweater every day for a month - unless we're counting cardigans, then make that three. How did I amass such an insane collection, you ask? Easy. Thrifting. One thing I've become great at finding in a sea of ugly 80s sweaters is the 1-2 good ones. 

I buy them too, of course, but when your wardrobe consists of fleece leggings, a skirt, a sweater, and Doc Martins for 5 months out of the year, it can become expensive. So I thrift!

What I Wore: The Winter Brights Edition

It's snowing as I write this, so I feel confident in saying that winter is not going anywhere any time soon. And I am SICK of it! Winter has taken my closet hostage and I want my damn shoes back most of all! In Chicago, temps have not gotten above 30 degrees in a few weeks, with all of last week hovering around the 10s. As you can understand, that means snow boots and ALL OF THE LAYERS! That doesn't mean I haven't been trying, but it does mean that when I try it stays covered by sweaters and jackets. Even this shoot was challenging.

To break free from my back-to-black wardrobe, I wanted to start adding colors back to winter and knew this purse was the perfect fit! 

What I Wore: The Bomb Girls Edition

It's been freezing in Chicago. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a big baby when it comes to the cold, it's literally been dangerous to set foot outside for the second time this month. As you can imagine, taking outfit photos or wearing anything that doesn't make me look like the Queen of the Bag Ladies has been next to impossible. I am sick of it. I've even been wearing pants. PANTS! What is the world coming to?

The never-ending polar vortex has forced me to discover new shows on Netflix as well, because, well, what else am I going to do? After I finished all the seasons of MadMen (yes, I'm incredibly behind on tv), I had the urge to keep watching a period television series. That's where Bomb Girls comes in. The show follows a group of women working in a munitions factory in 1942 Canada and aside from the drama, the outfits are to die for. These 1940s style dresses have seriously re-newed my love of all things vintage.

Dark Interiors: Macabre Charm in Grey Walls

I have to admit, I have a dark streak in me. On occasion, I'm drawn like a moth to the macabre - explaining my love of all things skull-printed. As obsessed as I currently am with any interior that has white walls with touches of wood, this shadowy shoot by photographer Tommaso Sartori really grabbed my attention.

New Year, New Start, New You!

Well, we did it folks! One more year behind us. Busy, quick, eye-opening - 2013 was a lot of things, but it's definitely helping me realize what I want 2014 to be. One thing I wish I had done more in 2013 was blog. Somewhere between starting a new job and making new friends, I lost the time and the urge to create. I think now, closer to a new start, I'm finding it again. With that, more blogging and more tutorials!

What I Wore: The Winter Coats Edition

The weather outside being frightful is an understatement. It's a nightmare out here in the big, windy city right now. If it wasn't so bitterly cold, I could have maybe enjoyed the first snow over this past weekend. I did, however, try to make the most of it for today outfit shoot!

Interior Design: Vacation Lodge in Wyoming

Anyone who knows me IRL, knows that I went on a road trip in April of this year and took a stop in Laramie, Wyoming that made me completely obsessed with the city and the state. I've told everyone that I plan on moving to Wyoming and marrying a cowboy. I'm only half joking. Seriously though, it was the best evening of the whole road trip and we ended up in California. The only draw back of Wyoming is the gorgeous mountain landscapes brings with it a 6-month winter and freaking hate the cold more than the KKK hates things that aren't white I don't do well in the cold. However, if I could spend all the winters in this luxurious, rustic lodge, I would move in a heartbeat. Boom. There.

What I Wore: The Vintage Holiday Sweater Edition

Well, shit. It's December already, huh? Here I am, once again, not prepared for any sort of holiday season. I thought that I would get the apartment decorated this week, have started my holiday shopping by now, and have ideas for what I was getting everyone on my list. Planning is so much easier than executing. #amirite If you're ahead of me at the point, you go guuurrrl! You deserve some sort of expert-holiday-wrangler award or something.

The only thing I have been able to get on top of is planning holiday party outfits - never mind that I have no holiday parties to attend yet.

What I Wore: The Leather Vest Edition

Am I cool enough to rocka leather vest? No. Just by asking myself that question it's obvious I'm not. But, damnit, I'm going to try! So I went with my go-to outfit option when trying a trend that I think is too "tough" for me, I mixed it in with something sweet. Balance  as always, is important in any outfit or else you start looking like you're wearing a costume if you're too "biker chic" or too sweet or too rocker, etc.

What I Wore: Beaded Vintage Sweaters Edition

Hello, my name is Maggie and I am a hoarder. It's been about two days since I've kept something that I probably won't ever need. It's a problem. I am looking into support groups and trying to throw little things away here and there. Of course, it's so handy, what if I need that thing in the next 5 to 10 years?!!? Ugh, ok, so I'm not making wonderful progress in my hoarder-ism. However, it does sometimes have it's upsides - like when thrifting. Having a hoarder's eye makes for great finds when vintage shopping, which is why I started my Etsy shop.

I just had to buy cool things I found, whether they fit me or not. Eventually I had too many vintage pieces and not enough room. I put up a lot of pieces in the Etsy store that I would like to keep, but I just don't have the room, every once in a while though I find piece that I just can't give up (sorry world!).

What I Wore: The Vintage Checks Edition

Every once in a while, I like posting a look using something from my vintage Etsy shop, Stranger Than Vintage (self promo, sorry!)! I love all of the vintage pieces I pick up, obviously since I chose them, so I like trying them on and showing them off. I have to tell you though, sometimes that just makes me want to keep the dress or shirt or whatever. I'm seriously debating about this one.  

Monday Design: Cozy Fireplaces

It's really snowing here in Chicago now. After a few dry and cold months, I am now remembering why I hate when it snows in the city. Travel times are terrible and everything is a dark slushy mess. All I want to do right now is curl up under some warm blankets in front of a ride and read or knit. Doesn't that sound pleasant  Too bad that's not happening for me any time soon, but maybe it is for you? If it is, can I come over? Please?

What I Wore: The Big Cats Edition

Ok, I know this is my year of limiting my spending and not really buying anything new, but yes this sweater is new. Before you quarter me, I did buy it before the new year. It just happened to get here after. Now that's not my fault is it? Being a lover of leopard print and cats it stands to reason that other big cats would catch my attention too and they do. All the time actually. Lions, jaguars, tigers, you name it and I've probably got some fashion item with it. So you can understand that when I saw this sweater of a tiger wearing a bow tie I had to have it. I mean really? Is it not freaking adorable?

What I Wore: The Heavy Lockdown Edition

Happy 2013 to everyone! This is my second post of the new year, officially, and I feel some weird sense of pressure to make it awesome. I think I'm going to let myself down. HOWEVER, I do feel the incredible need to make 2013 awesome, so here I come world! Er...blogger?

Anyway, I skipped putting up my New Year's outfit since I was super sick with the plague right after the New Year, but my outfit wasn't that exciting anyway so forget that idea. Instead I'm just putting up a plain, old, borring winter shorts outfit. F.Y.I. if you're tall, wearing shorts and a baggy sweater makes you look like you're all legs. #WIN

Photo Friday: The Great Midwest

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent a little weekend up in snowy Wisconsin for the holiday and I spent a lot of that time knitting and taking pictures. It's amazing how much you can get done when there's no cell reception or Internet.

What I Wore: The Holiday Getaway Edition

My parents have been going up to Wisconsin every weekend since I can remember. When I was younger it was fun to get away and play by the lake. As I got older, I of course didn't want to do anything but stay in the city and hang out with my friends  - like most normal jerky teenagers. And they were oh so nice and let me stay while they went away for the weekends. Yes, you read that right, a teenager alone on the weekends. I promise I didn't cause too much trouble.