Lovely Links

Happy Friday! Here's a behind the scene shot from our Motor Oil on my Manicure shoot. This is Martin, and as far as I'm concerned, he totally stole the show. When he showed up, we naturally stopped everything we were doing and (politely) accosted his owner to let us play with him. Now we're BFFs. Isn't he the prettiest?

Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? We plan on taking the dogs outside to enjoy the sunshine, celebrating Tony's birthday with Happy Dog, and going to watch Ben play his first solo show in a long time. If you're in the area, he's playing at Kling tonight!

We also wanted to thank all of you for your support on this little project of ours. We're learning a lot, and your encouragement and kindness mean so much. Stick with us, we have a lot more fun to come!

Here's some fun from around the web to get you through your Friday:

These empowering monokinis for breast cancer survivors are fierce!

Are you a Pixar fan? Check out this mind blowing theory.

This is at the top of my must have makeup list right now.

This post has me itching to fly to France. UGH!

Hilarious dating advice from TVs leading ladies.

You can buy Katherine Hepburn's home in Connecticut.

Have a lovely weekend!

Summer Getaways in the Midwest

Memorial Day has come and gone, and that means it’s (un)officially summer! Bring on the cookouts, sundresses, and adventures! We’re starting to plan out a few small weekend trips, and I thought I’d share our ideas. Here are five easy getaways in the Midwest (and beyond) for your summer weekends.

Motor Oil on my Manicure: Part Two

Welcome to part two of our movie heroine inspired fashion series! This look is loosely inspired by Marilyn Monroe's character in Bus Stop. The movie's saloon singer heroine, Cherie, demands respect and fights for her independence as she escapes the pursuits of an unwelcome lover. While the actual premise of the movie is slightly creepy, I love what Cherie stands for, and I wanted to put a look together that captured her femininity and her strength.

We paired this flirty vintage dress with a Rosie the Riveter-esque chambray and menswear-inspired wedges. We love that this look embraces everything that's traditionally "girly" in a way that reflects strength and demands respect.

We hope you enjoyed our little foray into movie fashion! I promise there will be more to come, but for now it's back to real life. See you when I graduate, Netflix!

Motor Oil On My Manicure: Part One

I don’t have a lot of free time. Between double majoring in grad school, work, and practicum, I rarely get to have those lazy weekend days that never seem to end. However, I do try to sneak in some veg-out movie watching whenever I get the chance. Some favorites include The Graduate, All About Eve, and Rebel Without a Cause. Or anything with Michelle Williams, because she is obviously a perfect human. All joking aside, Wendy & Lucy and Blue Valentine are two movies that I adore.

But I digress- this weekend I watched It Happened One Night (1934) and Bus Stop (1956)! Have you seen them? It Happened One Night is about a spoiled heiress who has run away from home. Bus Stop is about a cowboy who falls in love with a café singer, played by Marilyn Monroe. I found it really interesting that both of these movies featured badass, yet vulnerable female leads. I took this intrigue and made it the inspiration behind a two-part fashion series!

When collaborating with Lindsay on the perfect pieces for these two looks, I told her I wanted them to look  “spoiled brat learns to change her oil.” The looks we came up with mix traditionally feminine elements with edgy accents. This one features a simple, sleek shirtdress with juxtaposing accessories. My combat boots are a favorite staple in my wardrobe, but it was fun to pair them with this ultra-feminine wide-brimmed derby hat. I think the final look is a nod the vulnerably badass movie heroines we know and love!

More photos inside! And be sure to check back tomorrow for part two!

Refresh Your Home for Spring

one. two. three. four. five. six.

Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? We'll be spending every extra minute outside with the dogs, and celebrating Ben's birthday with his favorite things: food, beer, and baseball! And as the weather finally seems to be settling into sunshine, we're dying to give the house a refresh for spring. We like to bring brights and florals inside to make our home feel festive and airy. These are just a few of our favorites this year!

Have a wonderful weekend!

PS. Have you seen Mayhem's instagram feed? She makes INCREDIBLE paper dresses and models them for the internet. How can a 4-year-old be so chic?

Where in the World: Cinque Terre

Do you get wanderlust in the springtime? I do. Maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's the last 20 some years of my life telling me that this time of year is made for adventures, but I keep finding my mind drifting to fabulous beaches and quaint countrysides. Lately it's been Cinque Terre, a group of 5 small towns on the west coast of Italy. Have you been? It was one stop on my European excursion with Ben last summer. Unfortunately our time there was cut short, but ever since then it's been at the top of my Must Visit Again list (well, besides Iceland). I could spend weeks wandering the old streets, hiking the Via Dell'Amore trail, and jumping into the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean. I'd love to share a little bit about our short time there, and some tips for those lucky enough to be planning a trip.

MASH

It's one of those days, you guys. I just got off a very red-eye flight home from Madison, WI (details to come!) and I'm completely out of it! So what's a girl to do when she can't focus on anything besides celebrity news and young adult lit novels? Revert to middle school era entertainment, obviously. It's time for MASH!

The fabulously accurate fortune telling game was a staple throughout my younger years, and I'm happy to share a brief (but promising!) look into the future of our very own darling, miss Skyla.

Here were her choices (along with insightful commentary form yours truly):

How to Make the Perfect Bread

You guys. Let's talk about one of my favorite things in the world: freshly baked bread. From the moment that earthy, buttery smell wafts out from the oven, I'm sold. It's the perfect comfort food. And it's actually pretty easy to make yourself, even if you're not an expert baker. We'd like to share some basic bread baking tips and tricks, and one of Skyla's favorite Ciabatta Bread recipes.

Spring Pastels

Spring is finally here! I was ecstatic when I went outside and realized I didn’t need to wear a cardigan over this lacy lilac dress. After a long, cold winter, the sunshine and budding flowers inspired me to embrace the season and play with pastels. Soon I'll blend right in with the blooming lilac bushes in the backyard. My bun is like my Pistil.

(Flower anatomy humor, eh?)

Dress: Target

Necklace: Target

Shoes: Lucky Brand via TJ Maxx

Hello!

Hi there! Welcome to Dearest Darling. We're glad you're here! We're Skyla and Lindsay, and we'd love to share some of our inspiration on all things fashion, design, food, travel, and life. So settle in, pull up a chair, and stay awhile! We can't wait to get to started.