Come on Over, Come on Over Blog Fans

It's been a while my friends, but I haven't stopped blogging, I've just been moving.

Please join me at my new and improved site, thedailybatch.com!  

I am very excited to share this with you and I think  you'll enjoy having easier navigation and more access to the find what you're looking for: new recipes, shopping tips, fashion trends, wedding inspiration boards and advice and a glimpse of my life beyond the blog.

I hope to see you there!  Thank you for supporting, reading (and loving) The Daily Batch!

A Wild Trip for Spring

The weather is changing, the sun is out, flowers are popping up on every corner, and my Passport is asking to be used.  It is saying, throw me in a bag with a flowing dress, some bejeweled sandals, radiant sunglasses, and lets find some far off land, where spices are sold in burlap sacks, the food is hot and the people are beautiful.

Ashika Pratt in Vogue India

I pulled together these pieces that are all different but tied together but the vibrancy of the colors, the boldness of the print and the ease of wear. 

A Tribal Spring

A Tribal Spring, from L to R: Shine on Dress at Anthropologie, Gibillterra scarf-embellished printed swimsuit by Missoni Mare at Outnet, Belted Print Skirt at Barneys New York, Lottie patent-leather and raffia clutch by Jimmy Choo at Net A Porter, Frayed Straw Fedora at Forever 21

Bottom, from L to R: FALIERO SARTI Ios Sand/Multicolor Pompom Scarf at StyleBop, Alligator skin-print jersey dress by Tibi at Outnet, Alba Mini Skirt at AllSaint Spitalfields, Dollhouse Alfa Slingback Sandal at Endless, Knot intrecciato snakeskin clutch by Bottega Veneta at Net A Porter, Melbourne Sunglasses by Lacoste, Rainbow Ring by Citrine by the Stones at Charm and Chain

The trick for going big with color, prints and patterns is to not be afraid.  Find a silhouette you typically gravitate towards, a slim pant, a waist cinching wrap dress, a pencil dress and go bold.  Step away from the gray and black and add yellow, oranges, limes, cerulean, ruby.

I love the idea making a splash in a bold and beautiful way, that's as wild as it is sophisticated.

Setting the Stage, Part 2

A few weeks ago I shared my staging inspiration boards for a cute little house in DC.  The house had been completely redone and needed fabulous furniture and decor to make someone's future house a home.

I loved this living room, it maintained the heritage of the home and yet felt very modern, clean and beyond livable.  

Living Room

Living Room Inspiration

Who doesn't want to come here for dinner?  Seriously, no one would turn down a seat at this table.

Dining Room

Dining Room Inspiration

Even the bathroom deserves some love, and I love how this little powder room came out - and I love those towels!

Guest Bathroom

Guest Bathroom Inspiration

I didn't share the inspiration photo for the Master Bedroom, but the real life photo is more than inspiring!  The closet space, the clever office, the way the light floods the room, waking up in here would be a dream come true.

Master Bedroom

Very happily this house has already sold!  If you like this style of home and live in the DC area, I'll point you in the direction of the developer Walnut Street Development.  They're mission is to create better homes, for better living, and this sweet little home illustrates it perfectly.

Why I love the Internet, Part 2

I previously talked about why I love the Internet, or Google (which for me, is the Internet), but now my love has gone to an all new level. 

If you have a heart of any kind/size, love to get emails, enjoy pictures, or are an over all sap (hello!) this quick video is worth a watch, and whatever tears may follow.

Look, I cried at my desk - that is the power of Google!

All the News That is Fit to Tweet

This is how I learned last night that there was news to know.  I'm on Twitter (@CRL26) and this tweet prompted me to visit CNN's website - which was not yet updated.  

I continued to get my news from today's leading Twitter journalists (which aren't really journalists at all, at least not in the traditional sense).  These are people who are digesting the Internet at a rate that makes keeping up a game and a challenge. 

In the next few minutes, without the use of television and only my little smartphone, I learned the following:

Rumors:

 

With Sources:

Facts:

During the Twitter news-cycle I saw a lot of people tweeting about "Where they were when..."  They discussed where they were when they first head of 9/11, and now where they are as the President announces that Osama bin Laden had been captured and killed.  

To me what is most interesting is how did you learn?  In 2011 I was in high school, and I learned via the public address that something was wrong, and then watched on the morning news.  Last night, I learned via Twitter.

The low barriers of the Internet make it possible for us all to be journalists and to be on the front lines and embedded within our own daily lives.  Just ask @ReallyVirtual who unknowingly live-tweeted the assasination.  

The low barriers of the Internet allow for us all to be published authors (hello, this blog!), leaders of movements (the 2008 election) and revolutionaries (Iran, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and so on).  The Internet isn't going anywhere, and the technology is accelerated further because of the value that it adds to the potential for  democracy and transparency for all people.

I look forward to seeing what  makes the news next and when, I already know how...