We've got our love to pay the bills

I LOVE...

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I Love Ingrid Michaelson and Mat Kearney (yea thats my blurry picture of them above). I just saw them live Monday night and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Both were so entertaining and sounded exactly like they do on their albums (it's so disappointing when artists' voices are horrible live). Mat Kearney was incredibly sexy and even sang about Charleston. Ingrid Michaelson is HILARIOUS! She and her band covered "Toxic" then did a little dance in the end. Then they both she and him came out to sing Death Cab's "I Will Follow You Into the Dark". It was such a special show - I highly recommend going if they're playing near you! Also the girl who opened for them, Cara Salimando, was supercool - I just bought her ep on itunes.
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I Love the fact that I am going home this weekend for Easter.
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I Love that it is finally spring! No more coats and tights and chapped hands! And the fact that it is spring means that summer is near.
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I Love honey whole wheat bagels from Einsteins with peanut butter.
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I Love my Modern Marie readers!
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***Also, Sunshine and Carousels has an adorable little giveaway! Check it out!

Lilacquer

This is my current nail polish : Lilacism by Essie

It's a cute Easter Egg lavender!

Le Printemps

{screen shots from Marie Antoinette}

This week marked the start of spring, so to celebrate here is my list of spring-y songs. They are very beautiful songs- just like the season itself:
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1. The First Days of Spring – Noah and the Whale
2. Printemps - Coeur de pirate
3. Honey Bee – Zee Avi
4. Red Berries – Angus and Julia Stone
5. Between Two Lungs – Florence + The Machine
6. Colors – Kira Willey
7. Lille – Lisa Hannigan
8. There Are Too Many Birds – Arthur & Yu
9. Effigy – Andrew Bird
10. Heartbroken – Meaghan Smith

It's Going to be a Long Walk

I don't get much of nature living in a city, so when I go home I relish in the fact that I live in the country. I find it so peaceful to walk through my neighborhood and the roads nearby. I just make a relaxing acoustic playlist and let my mind wander. It is so refreshing - I get a lot of thinking done when I take walks. These are some pictures from one of my walks in the early morning this past summer...it's making me want school to be over even more!

Guest Post: Sarah Bimmel

Raspberry Lemon Pudding Cake

When spring arrives, I tend to want lemons and berries all the time. Well, that's a lie—I don't want actual lemons. Straight-up, they're a bit too sour for me. What I really want are lemon desserts that are light and pillowy and preferably come with berries. When those desserts include include pudding, so much the better. Am I right?!

That’s why I adore this recipe for lemon pudding cake. It’s never failed me, and I’ve made it many, many times—it can be whipped up in less than a half hour, and it’s divinely delicious whether warm or cold. Plus, it’s perfectly suited for any kind of accompaniment. If you don’t have raspberries, try blackberries or blueberries. No berries at all? No worries; just stick on a dollop of whipped cream and some lemon zest along with the confectioners’ sugar. You can’t go wrong! The cake makes four giant servings or five to six more moderate portions.

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Ingredients

1/4 c. flour

2/3 c. + 1/4 c. sugar, separated

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 c. buttermilk

2 tsp. grated lemon zest

1/4. c. fresh lemon juice

2 T. melted butter

2 large egg yolks

3 large egg whites

1 1/2 c. raspberries

Confectioners’ sugar
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Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius), and spray an 8-inch square baking pan or similarly sized soufflé pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the flour with the 2/3 c. sugar, the salt, and the nutmeg. Add the buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, butter, and egg yolks. Whisk until smooth.
Beat egg whites with an electric mixer until they are foamy. Add the 1/4 c. sugar to the whites, one tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg-white mixture into the buttermilk mixture, just until combined.
Finally, fold in the berries, reserving a scant 1/2 c. to scatter on top of the cake. Pour the batter into the baking pan, and place the pan in large casserole dish that is filled with 1 inch of hot water. Bake the cake for 35 minutes or until it springs back lightly when touched. To serve, sprinkle on the berries and sift the confectioners’ sugar over them. It might be simple but it’s a beautiful spring treat!

This post was contributed by Sara Bimmel, who equitably divides her time between baking and writing about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.com

It's Hard Being Green

Because of St. Patty's Day being this past week and all the spring weather and re-growth that I'm seeing, here is a GREEN playlist - green songs and artists with items to go with. I also have a red, blue, yellow, gray, and pink one!

1. See Green, See Blue - Jaymay

shoes, Kate Spade

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2. Green Eyes – Coldplay

cupcake liners, layercakeshop.com

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3. Green Light – John Legend

watch, Timex

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4. Green Fields – The Good, The Bad, and the Queen

cardigan, anthropologie

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5. Secret Tongues – Adam Green

floss, fredflare.com

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6. Come On – Green River Ordinance

top, Maharishi (at net-a-porter)

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7. Green Grass – Matt Pond PA

print, Rifle Paper Company

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8. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day

cardigan, See by Chloe

Cypress Gardens

Right outside downtown Charleston there is a enchanting, swampy forest called Cypress Gardens. Last spring a few of my friends and I went to visit and take a canoe ride. This place might look familiar if you have seen The Notebook, remember the scene with all the white swans surrounding Noah and Ellie?

Well the swans weren't there, but the romantic and serene setting still was. Here are some of my pictures:

Do Wah Doo

Kate Nash is back! My favorite British songtress who sings the soundtrack to my life debuted a video for her new single "Do Wah Doo" (the album is due in April). Its been a while since her last CD, which is one of my most frequently played - so this is soooo overdue! She sings songs about mouthwash, skeletons, and dickheads... but other subject matters too, like crushes, drinking wine after a breakup... You get the idea: SHE IS AMAZING!

Anywho is video is super duper retro and super duper cute!

Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway Winner:

Congrats to randomly picked #9 - AMANDA!

Sash-a Fierce

I just bought The Sash from American Apparel in Mint Green. Two of my friends had it in pink and dark purple, so I saw how much versatility this little sash had. I hate being a copycat, but with all the colors it comes in and all the different ways you can wear it - it can transform countless outfits into something new. I don't think we will ever wear it with the same thing or style it the same way, which is the beauty of The Sash :)

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Also, my Orient Watch Giveaway ends Sunday 11:59 pm - enter now!

Purchase Now:

These songs are fantastic, you must get a hold of them!

1. It's Not My Fault (It's My Fault) - Discovery
2. Knocked Up (Rodeo Mash Up) - Kings Of Leon Vs. Lykke Li
3. Armistice - Phoenix
4. Skeleton Boy – Friendly Fires
5. 15 Step - Radiohead
6. Colors – Amos Lee
7. O.N.E. - Yeasayer
8. Jerusalem - Mirah
9. Song For No One – Miike Snow
10. Now – Mates of State

Les Fleurs

This is the left side view from my window. Seeing all the colors is such a pleasant way to wake up in the morning:)

The lighting on my window ledge is best, so I decided to take some pictures of my flowers I bought. I love walking to Harris Teeter with my eco grocery bags, filling them with yummy food to cook, and buying myself a bouquet of fresh flowers just because. My favorite part walking back to my place carrying my filled bags with flowers hanging out the front.

I must say I feel so French whenever I do it!

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Also, enter my Orient Watch Giveaway!

Academia

I was pleased with last night's Oscar red carpet! Lots of blush pinks, golds, nudes, and purples - my favorite colors! Anna's dress was probably my favorite of the night, it was so delicate and ethereal. I could so see myself wearing this! And her skin is FLAWLESS! I'm loving all this gold on Cameron and Sandra - they look like Oscars themselves! Carey took a risk, and I think she pulled it off. I really like all the edgy yet youthful dresses she's been wearing lately and I LOVE her pixie cut! She's so adorable! Meryl always looks so radiant - she just glows. I bow down to her - she is queen! I love the murky lavender in Rachel and Elizabeth's dresses. Good color on them - and I am digging the watercolor pattern and ruffles! The material on Amanda's dress kind of looks like cellophane/bubble wrap. She looks like a futuristic princess :)

Who was your favorite?

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Check out my guest blog post over at Pocket Change!

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AND, enter my Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway!

Fly Like Paper

paper doves image via flickr
My blog was neglected this week due to the papers, midterms, quizzes and all the other school assignments that had to be done before spring break! But now I am home and relaxed (I slept 11 hours last night). After staring at paper all week, decided to make this week's playlist about just that: paper!

1. Paper Planes – M.I.A.
2. Paper Bag – Fiona Apple
3. Paper Doll - Blondfire
4. Paper Aeroplane – Angus and Julia Stone
5. Hotel Paper – Michelle Branch
6. Paper Doll – Rachael Yamagata
7. Paper Bag – Anna Nalick
8. Paper Aeroplane – KT Tunstall
9. Paperback Writer – The Beatles
10. Paper Gangster – Lady Gaga

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ALSO - don't forget to enter my Orient Watch Giveaway!

Charmed I'm Sure

I am just completely charmed by this little stop - motion video featuring A Fine Frenzy! I think you will love the arts and crafts feel of it too :)

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Also, enter my Orient Watch Giveaway!

Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway!

I got another giveaway for all my readers: This fabulous, blue faced, silver woman's watch! The high quality of Orient watches makes this a truly timeless piece!

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Rules to enter are to simply leave a comment with your email address on this post and I will randomly choose a winner with a random number generator. Only one comment for person please! The giveaway will run through Sunday March 14th 11:59 pm and the winner will be announced that Monday.

Good Luck!

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