Girl Scout cookies. Sweet, glorious samoa cookies.

I dream of the day when they'll sell them year round.

But then again, I'd probably be broke. (What makes those things so dang addictive anyway?)

And of course, I couldn't bear to be in the company of food without photographing it. It's just my nature ;)

What's your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?

-carlotta

Cardigan: Target

Tank top: Target

Dangly necklace: a store in Germany whose name I can't remember for the life of me

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: stolen from my mom

Purse: Payless

(I apologize for the slight blurriness of some of these photos - I didn't realize under it was evening that the focus was set wrong.)

I wore this outfit thrifting this weekend - what do you think? I was unsuccessful in my shopping endeavors, but at least I felt cute ;) I'm sure you've already noticed, but I've really been loving the belted cardigan look lately...I don't like buttoning my cardigans and adding a belt is the perfect addition. 

The weather here has been so perfect this week...seventy degrees every day! I even slept with my window open last night and I'm convinced it was the best I've slept all year. A week ago today we had way over a foot of snow, now that it's nearly all melted, that's so hard to believe! I'm not complaining, though - this is my kind of weather. Cold weather is not my thing at all.

I've been toying with the idea of getting an iPod Touch. It's certainly not a necessity, it would be more of a toy, really, but I've been finding myself thinking about the benefits of having one. For those of y'all that own one, do you recommend it? I need your opinion :)

My new blogging muse is Carrie of WishWishWish. Her seemingly effortless elegance, gorgeous photographs, and her love of the nineteen sixties are woven together in a blog. Her posts will leave you inspired and wanting more. If you haven't visited Carrie yet, do so as soon as possible! You won't be disappointed. 

I'm babysitting later this evening and I'm spending the night. Spending the night while babysitting is something I've never done before, so I'm curious to see how it'll go. Wish me luck! ;)

Have a lovely evening!

-carlotta

I told myself I wouldn't write a blog post on Valentine's Day. I told myself that it was another sappy Hallmark holiday to get people to spend more money. Heck, when I woke up this morning I didn't even wear anything pink, red, or any type of frippery.

Then I saw the myriads of love filled posts and a little seed of warmth was planted in my heart. That sounds totally cliche, doesn't it? It's true, though. As I was reading these posts (favorites here, here), I soon felt a certain fuzziness in the depths of my body.

So here I am. Writing on Valentine's, against my previous wishes, even if only as an excuse to share my girly, heart themed photographs. To tell you the truth, I would be lying if I said I hated February fourteenth. A day that's totally dedicated to love is something my heart adores even though my brain says otherwise.

And I also realized that Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily have to be focused around a significant other. That love could come from a little sister giving you a sweet kiss on the cheek. Or maybe from some songs that you heard (My current favorites: Poison & Wine and Bitter Heart; loving the soft, decisively non-mainstream sounds). Perhaps it comes from a note from a friend that made your day.

My day was a combination of all of the above. All afternoon I've been in a wonderful I-love-the-world-and-everyone-in-it mood. Maybe I had too much sugar, read too many romantic posts, or listened to too much soft, sweet music all day, but my opinion on the fourteen of February has changed for the better.

How was your Valentine's Day? Anything in particular you're loving right now? Do tell :)

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all.

xoxo,
-carlotta

(Psst...tomorrow's the last day to enter in the giveaway! Don't forget! :) Oh, and thank you so, so much for your super sweet comments on Lilly's birthday post. I read every.single.one to her and she couldn't stop smiling.)

I remember the day she was born so clearly. I remember the muffled sounds at five am of my mom walking around the apartment we were living in at the time and my dad on the phone.

I remember waking up MeMe and Jeremiah, hurriedly getting them dressed and feeding them a little bit of breakfast before I took them to our neighbor's. I remember peeking out of my room as the doctor arrived (Lilly was born at home).

I remember eating very little of a toasted bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam, my loss of appetite due to excitement. I remember going back to my parent's bedroom every few minutes to see if the baby had been born yet. I remember hearing an infant's cries after what seemed like forever but was in reality only half an hour.

I remember rushing into the room to see if it was a boy or girl, as my parents had chosen not to find out. I remember glancing at the clock, then running to the office to write on a Post-it note "Baby born! 7:10am, seven pounds eight ounces.". I remember the magical moment, the rush of love I felt while holding Lillian Esther, my new little sister, for the first time.

And now she's five.

Happy birthday, Lilly! I love you so much.

Would y'all mind leaving a little note for Lilly in the comments? I'd like to read them to her at the end of the day...I think she'll love it :) Thank you!

-carlotta

(comment moderation will be turned off for the day...I want to enjoy Lilly's special day :))