listen to this: laura mvula

lately, i've been on the hunt for good music.  after starting a new job almost two months ago - (wait what?  how has it already been that long already?) i am finding that the comforts of my home office are in short supply.  don't get me wrong, i am absolutely loving my new gig, but after almost 7 years working from home, i am finding the little things like voices, telephones and copy machines to be quite distracting, especially while trying to write.  so, to get my head in the right space for kickin' ass and taking names, i find solace in my earbuds and music services like pandora and spotify.

recently i stumbled upon the sound of laura mvula and had to share.  laura is a british soul singer with a sound i can't quite compare to anyone else i've heard.  the moody melody and her take-charge vocals are perfect for calming the thunderstorm of sounds in my office, or serving as the soundtrack  to relaxing nights on the patio with cold drinks and friends.  

check it out for yourself, and please feel free to leave any new music finds you've been enjoying in the comments below.  i'm also listening to a lot of this & this too.  

that looks familiar....

at first glace, we didn't think much of this article in the kansas city star:

it was an interesting and uplifting read about a local artist and professor from the kansas city art institute who was retiring after 48 years of inspiring students.  his plan?  to live in the present and focus more on his craft.

one of his original pieces accompanied the article; the piece entitled Brookside Park Houses immediately resonated with us because...

that's our house on the left!  the painting, done from the top of the hill just outside our front door must have been created before our house was painted yellow, but we don't mind, we were just shocked to find it the subject of such a beautiful piece of art!  here's a pic we snapped from a similar vantage point last year...

the full article can be read here:  http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/25/4202802_after-48-years-retiring-art-professor.html  and if anyone knows how we can get in touch with the artist, we'd love to hear from you.

part four: new york, new york

i know what you're thinking - this is the longest trip ever, but i assure you we are almost done.  day four - 347 fifth avenue (the site of my first post-college job interview) the empire state building, china town, mahayana buddhist temple, and a quiet, last dinner at nick & mandy's apartment - upper east side.  

sponsored post: frankly basic part II

i promised i would be back with a follow-up to my last frankly basic post - and here i am with the second and third outfits from my dreamy-day-o-dress-up.

the long and short of it:  the fact that i am in shorts in the following photos is a true testament to how much i love everything about this place.  i don't think i have worn shorts in a decade - but that all changed the moment i stepped into these seriously soft denim shorts and paired them with this peachy pink sweater and the cutest wedges in the world.  bonus:  the wedges are actually toms, insanely comfortable and currently loving their new home in my closet.

ps - please don't be envious of my pasty-pale-white legs.  tan i do/can not.

jackets and bags:  these two things are becoming sort of an issue for me.  i kind of collect jackets and i can't say to no to a stylish bag.  the combination of this red-hot trench, with the perfect basic tee and another ridiculously soft pair of denim along with that bag (!!!) well, let's just say there are worse problems a girl could have.

did i mention the gray and white toms?  anything gray.  also a problem.

april showers bring may flowers along with the ideal trench and fabulous floral wedges.  head on over to frankly basic and check them out on facebook then get outfitted for spring!

you'll be so excited you'll make up awesome dance moves - like this - and then let people photograph you while doing them...

...what do you care?!   you're a saavy shopper and you have seriously cute shoes.