Kate

(Because who doesn't want to look like Kate Middleton?!)
Dress: Nordstrom / Cardigan: Target / Belt: unknown / Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Ring: QVC / Left hand: (awaiting a prince!)

For you

Here I Love You, by Pablo Neruda

Here I love you.
In the dark pines the wind disentangles itself.
The moon glows like phosphorous on the vagrant waters.
Days, all one kind, go chasing each other.

The snow unfurls in dancing figures.
A silver gull slips down from the west.
Sometimes a sail. High, high stars.
Oh the black cross of a ship.
Alone.

Sometimes I get up early and even my soul is wet.
Far away the sea sounds and resounds.
This is a port.

Here I love you.
Here I love you and the horizon hides you in vain.
I love you still among these cold things.
Sometimes my kisses go on those heavy vessels
that cross the sea towards no arrival.
I see myself forgotten like those old anchors.

The piers sadden when the afternoon moors there.
My life grows tired, hungry to no purpose.
I love what I do not have. You are so far.
My loathing wrestles with the slow twilights.
But night comes and starts to sing to me.

The moon turns its clockwork dream.
The biggest stars look at me with your eyes.
And as I love you, the pines in the wind
want to sing your name with their leaves of wire.

Sunday reflections

I hope you all had as wonderful of a weekend as I did.

After a 10.5 hour day at the office, I skipped happy hour to run home, throw on my pajamas, put on The Descendents and pig out on pizza with the family. So. worth. it.

(That Descendents movie is weird, right?)

I baked adorable cookies with my mother for a bake sale. I grew up making these little pieces of joy for nearly every holiday -- they taste like home.

I spent plenty of time in my favorite little nook...

...snuggled with my oh-so-handsome cat all weekend...

...enjoyed some tea (in a mug labeled for coffee), donuts and s'mores...

(I worked out, so I deserved it...right?)

...and spent a lovely early and rainy Sunday morning reading Jane Maas' Mad Women (more to come on that).

I'm hoping all of this sets me up for an energized, worry-free Monday. How was your weekend?

Effortless style

I've been holding myself back from purchasing too many clothing items lately. Because, let's be honest, both my drawers AND my closet are overflowing with perfectly acceptable -- even fabulous -- items. But that doesn't keep me from spending my free time on some of my favorite retail sites.

These are some wonderful dresses I've found while scouring the internet. What makes them so wonderful is that they are eff-ort-less. I mean, what woman doesn't want to throw on a cute dress, some ravishing accessories and nothing else!

Vince Camuto has long been one of my favorite shoe designers and I'm quickly racking up a collection. But he also recently debuted a clothing line and oh my goodness, it's good. The prints and outlines are to die for. Along with this one, I'm lusting after the Little White Dress and Safari Tribal Peasant Dress.

Old Navy's Belted Tie-Sleeve Crepe dress. I know first-hand that Old Navy knows how to do a wrap dress...and what a fun print!

This dress is on the pricier side, but I'm in love. I have yet to see one like this this season, and you can easily make it sophisticated and classy or playful and girly.

Old Navy's Jersey Mexicali dress. So simple - so much potential. And twenty bucks, people. TWENTY.

I've never been a fan of H&M solely because I can't buy their best clothing. The stores here are pretty crappy and only carry the scraps. I hear story after story of how great they are and see beautiful clothing from them, but I can never find it. I've perused their website and found drool-worthy items, but they don't let you (or me, at least) shop online. So here's hoping you can find this beautiful, perfect-for-the-beach dress at a store near you.

What are your favorite stores for spring and summer dresses?