NOTE: I put this entry together before I headed off to WPPI but, with the events of last week, didn’t get around to sharing it when I intended to. A few standing features coming down the pipe late this month, but given February’s circumstances, I’m giving myself a free pass on all matters where the words “schedules” and “blogs” are concerned.

1) Chambray: Yes, yes as a matter of fact I AM dedicating a few sentences to my new love for this fabric. I have been on the hunt for the perfect chambray shirt for a LONG time now. It seemed like whenever I found one online that I liked (because spotting them in the stores was like being on a safari and never finding the elusive alpha lion), it was always sold out. Or, the only size left was XXS (seriously, who WEARS that size?) Then I found what I had been looking for over at Land’s End Canvas. I was GIDDY to discover that the shirt fits me perfect, is super high-quality and will most definitely become a wardrobe staple of mine. A bonus of shopping with Land’s End? Receiving a hand-written thank you card for my purchase. Talk about amazing customer service! It’s like, well, if you’re gonna twist my arm, I *guess* I can shop with you guys again! haha

2) Burt’s Bees Cuticle Balm: I have been having one HECK of a time this winter with keeping my hands from looking gnarly. A lot of that has to do with how dried and cracked my cuticles have become. I love anything Burt’s Bees (their clove lip balm is my all-time favorite!) and this product is no exception. Now, if I could just remember to slather my hands, feet, arms and legs in lotion every morning. I’m bad with the lotion…which means I’m ready for summer to come and banish winter’s pesky dry skin!

3) Catfish: Nick and I rented this movie last weekend and WHOA. I had heard a lot about how it had a surprised “twist” ending but what happens is nothing that you could really expect. Truly a FASCINATING look into our digital-driven lifestyle and the relationships we can let ourselves get swept up in online. Also, if you watch the documentary, I can guarantee you’ll spend the next 30 minutes discussing its authenticity with others who’ve seen it. At least, if you watch it in the Werner household you will….

4) SO much new music!: What can I say, I loosened my “one album a month” rule in February. I mean, I already knew I was going to snatch up The Civil Wars’ new Barton Hallow album (which is AMAZING, by the way). What I did not anticipate was the discovery of a British up-and-comer, Misty Miller. Misty is only SIXTEEN and with her debut album, she gives American musical darlings like Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson a bit of a run for their money. What I like about her style is how it’s a little more messy, a little less “unproduced” than similar sounds of her U.S. counterparts. Check out her acoustic rendition of “Remember” for Burberry and see if you don’t fall in love with her the same way I did. And then, right before my birthday, what an awesome discovery to find out that Radiohead was releasing its latest album, The King of Limbs. Already, just on a few listens, I’m in love with it. Also loving Thom Yorke in this video for “Lotus Flower” off the album. I swear, that man could sit and read a phonebook and Radiohead fans everywhere would just applaud him. The House of Yorke is THAT powerful.

5) Clara and Mr. Tiffany: I wrote a pretty extensive review of this book over on my Good Reads profile, but I’ll say this book was such an enlightening read on a powerful time in American history. The story shares light (ooh, a pun here!) on how the iconic Tiffany lamp was a design not of Louis Comfort Tiffany himself, but of one of the women he had working in his New York studio, Clara Driscoll. I am a sucker for historical fiction like this and I loved reading about this powerful woman who was trying to break the gender barriers of her era while at the same time, look for love in her life and determine if she could do it all.

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