My oh my what a week it’s been. To say that I was overwhelmed by all of your support after Monday’s announcement is an understatement. You guys. I can’t tell you how much your comments, emails and tweets mean to me. Truly, I am so humbled by your words of encouragement. And I feel honored too. I told Joe that the part about all of this that means the most to me is that I am inadvertently inspiring so many of you to keep chasing after your goals. I am promising you now that I will continue to do everything I can to inspire and encourage you. Let’s start with this: Don’t settle. KEEP GOING. Have faith in yourself and in your future. Okay?

Now, on to a few other notes and ramblings (including the winner of the Refinery 29 + Herringbone giveaway, and why the above photo references Friday when it’s Thursday…):

+ Beginning tomorrow and over the weekend, vmac+cheese will be doing a little housekeeping. Nothing major — the site is migrating to a new platform, and the layout will be changing slightly, but you should still be able to stop by and check back on posts from the week. However, because of the behind the scenes updates, I won’t be posting anything tomorrow, hence me sharing my usual random Friday thoughts (and the link of the week!) today. I’ll share more details about the new layout on Monday, once it’s all up and running and I can explain it better!

+ Oh, so, you’re probably wondering who won that ridiculously gorgeous bag from Herringbone and Refinery 29, aren’t you? Well, mosey right on over here to find out!!

+ Today I’m over on Cupcakes for Breakfast sharing a simple vanilla-almond raspberry tart recipe I put together as a potential Valentine’s Day (and beyond) dessert. Go take a look! It’s all so very Vivaleur…

+ So, this weekend. Good LORD I am excited to have my first full weekend off in months. Like, probably at least 6 months. And we have no plans, which kind of makes it even better. I’m going to try really hard to sleep in (though these days, with so much happening, it’s next to impossible), do laundry, clean the house, run errands…basically all the things I’ve let go over the last…well, it’s too embarrassing to tell you how long.

+ Link of the week time! I hear from new bloggers a lot, so the minute I read it, I knew this post on Shop Sweet Things just had to be my link today. Jeanne put together her top 10 tips for first year bloggers, and I agree with every last one of them. Don’t miss it! And if you still want to bounce some ideas around, shoot me an email! My blog consultation services are more affordable than you think. ;)

{Image Credit: Gary Pepper Vintage}

It’s been waaaay too long since we took a proper vacation. There have been the weekend getaways, even the short road trip we did last October through California, but not a REAL vacation. I’m talking passport packed, gone for two weeks, thousands of miles away from home vacation.

We’ve decided we are going to make this type of trip happen this year, perhaps in the very late spring or early summer. But here’s where we get tripped up — every time we start trying to plan what we want to do and where we want to go, we can’t decide if we’d rather visit the gorgeous coastal cliffs of the Amalfi Coast in Italy, or if we’d rather do a tour of Southern France, hitting up the lovely countryside in Provence and ending by the sea on the Cote d’Azur.

If we did Italy, we’d likely fly into Rome, train it down to Naples, then make our way from town to town along the coast. Capri is an option too, though I hear it can be touristy. If we did France, we’d fly into Paris and spend a few days (and yeah, that gives this itinerary bonus points, because hello, it’s Paris), then train down to the south. We’d tour the countryside for a week or so, then spend several more days in Nice, Antibes, Cannes, the works.

So if you had two weeks off and had to choose between the two…where would you go? And if you’ve been to one or both, share your thoughts in the comments for sure. I have a feeling Italy might be a hit with many of you, so Francophiles, put in your two cents!!

PS — My column ‘Double Take’ is up over at Young Sophisticates! Check it out here.

{Image Credits: Amalfi Coast 1 2 3; Provence 1 2 3}

The clutch is a powerful thing. There you are, standing in front of the mirror, ready to walk out the door with your regular handbag. But wait, you think to yourself, how would this look with a clutch? Put together, that’s how. Polished. Clutches can really be the icing on the cake, that last little statement that elevates an outfit. So you can imagine my delight when Refinery 29′s Reserve contacted me, wanting to giveaway one of Herringbone’s beautiful clutches to one of my fabulous readers.

That’s right. Valentine’s Day just came a little early.

Reserve is Refinery29′s destination for the style-savvy shopper. From fashion to beauty to décor, the R29 editors handpick the most coveted designers, stores, and websites and curate exclusive offers that you’ll truly love. The Herringbone clutches are no exception, am I right? R29 Reserve currently offers two exclusive versions, one with gold leather trim and the other a more subtle red-trimmed version, which we’re giving away today. Both clutches feature gorgeous fuchsia suede and Herringbone’s signature rose gold zipper.

Here are the deets: one lucky vmac+cheese reader will win an exclusive R29 Reserve fuchsia clutch with red trim from Herringbone, valued at $105. To enter, all you need to do is enter a comment below. No need to like or follow or do anything else. Just one comment! The giveaway will close on Wednesday, February 8 at 11:59pm Pacific time, and I’ll choose and announce a winner the next day, on February 9. Open only to US residents. See below for complete giveaway details.

Good luck! And cheers to pink and red. As we all know, it’s not just for Valentine’s Day anymore…

{Image Credits: Herringbone Bags}

No purchase or payment necessary. Limit one entry per person. Open only to legal residents of the USA. Sweepstakes prize is valued at $105. Chances of winning do not increase by purchasing this product, or by entering multiple comments below. By entering this sweepstakes, the entrant acknowledges that they are eligible for this sweepstakes according to all laws set forth by their home state or country. Winner is liable for any taxes associated with the prize. The promotion period for this giveaway will close on February 8, 2012 at 11:59pm PST and a winner will be chosen via random.org on February 9, 2012. A list of winner(s) will be available within 2 business days of the close of the sweepstakes, by request, and available for 6 months thereafter. For running this sweepstakes, I received compensation from Refinery 29 and Herringbone in the form of a clutch similar to the one the giveaway winner will receive. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes sponsored by Refinery 29. For official giveaway/sweepstakes rules, please click here.

“Do you know where this photo is from?”

I’ve read that (and typed that myself) so many times since starting a blog. Sometimes it feels like the battle to properly credit photographs (that is, not listing Pinterest, Tumblr, or some other photo sharing site) is never ending. It’s tough these days!

Last week Meg posted a great Alt Summit recap that included her own notes on image crediting. I am in complete agreement with her that it’s vital to pin and source from a permalink. Oh, the number of hours I’ve spent combing through someone’s Tumblr because an image credit listed just a Tumblr page versus a post URL…

Sarah turned me on to a great bookmarklet recently that can help you source images, because it integrates with Google Image Search! It’s not foolproof, but it’s worked better than any other photo searching resource I’ve tried, including TinEye. I was a little confused the first time I opened it, so here’s what you do. Once you open the page, drag the blue link that reads ?¿src-img to your bookmarks bar. Then, on any webpage (it can even be a Pinterest or Tumblr page), click on the bookmark whenever you want to try and source an image. Question marks will appear on every image on that page — click the one you want to source. A new window that contains a Google Image Search will open up! For some images, you’ll have to comb through pages and pages of re-pins and Tumblr posts, but if you’re sleuthy, you can often pick a couple blogs and odds are that one of them will mention where the photo is originally from. Give it a try!

PS — The response to Mini-Alt Week ‘n such was so good that I decided to keep the momentum going. So I’ll be popping in now and again with a blog tip of the day. Do you love it??

{Image Credit: Lonny Magazine, Nov/Dec 2011. Photograph by Patrick Cline}

You asked for it, so here it is! A snapshot from my whirlwind few days at the Altitude Design Summit.

It’s honestly kind of hard to describe the experience. Maybe it’s better to describe what it’s like after the conference. I’ve been dubbing it my “Alt hangover.” Symptoms include fatigue, feelings of excitement, a to-do list that’s a mile long, pining for blogging friends, wishing I still had room service and a steam shower, and more than anything, being unable to sleep because I have so many ideas floating around in my head. Fellow Alt-goers: sound familiar?

Beyond all the learning, my favorite part was getting to spend time with ladies that I’d previously only known online. My roommates Molly and Chelsea? Insta-connection. These girls were so fun, so sweet, and the best roommates I could’ve ever asked for. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without them! Chelsea even bought me a bridal magazine when she got to the airport, before flying in to Salt Lake. I mean, how cute is that? We had a blast getting ready for all the events and staying up late gabbing about our lives. Hello, multi-day sleepover.

Melissa | Megan | Jeanne | Erin | Visual Supply Co.

The sessions I attended included The Business of Blogging, Building Relationships With Ad Networks and Sponsors, From Blog to Book, Growing a Readership, and How to Make Yourself Press Worthy (you can see what all the sessions were here). Also of note was Ben Silberman’s keynote talk. Who’s Ben Silberman? Oh, you know. Just the co-founder of this little thing called Pinterest. Here are some notes I took that I thought you mind find useful (after the jump).

THE BUSINESS OF BLOGGING

Molly | Chelsea | Erin Loechner

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH AD NETWORKS AND SPONSORS

+ Stop showing desperation in posts to make minimal amounts of money. Consider how much you’re actually making from a post with affiliate links before you spend hours on it. Is it worth it? People will come to you with absurd offers. Develop something that is organic to your site. Be picky. Build something that makes sense for your site. If you need to do so when you’re first starting out, give away ads to brands you really love. Guesstimate your rates. You’re going to get them wrong. Redo them! Provide a service to your community. Everyone is a consumer.

+ Know your brand and your value. Build your community first, make sure it’s passion driven, THEN you can collaborate with brands. Having something that you think is super valuable puts you in a position of power.

+ If you want to take someone’s money, make sure it’s going to be a good partnership. Be invested in your sponsors.

+ If you want to dive into the sea of sponsorship, you have to test the waters. Your moral compass WILL come into play. You’ll find a good fit eventually. If they don’t come to you, then you go to them!

+ Pitch it! Always always ask for what you want. Be very proactive. The more outlandish the better. Brands want to remember you. BE MEMORABLE.

+ If you get a crazy pitch, don’t say no. Say, “no, but.” See if you can re-pitch them an idea that might stick, and will work for YOU.

+ Consider your complete online presence. Don’t forget your Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook followers. Think about other bloggers that you know that you could collectively get together and exponentially grow your readership with just a single pitch.

+ Be upfront about what makes your blog special.

+ Big: Consider legal obligations. It’s so important to be upfront and professional. If you’re bartering for product or if you get gifted a product that is $600 or more, a W-9 is going to have to take place. It’s the law.

+Follow up with a sponsor. What worked, what didn’t? Should you discuss a future campaign? If you have time, put together a follow up infographic that explains what you did for them. Send a thank you note.

+ Solve problems. Find out what a brands’ business goals are and what they want to accomplish. Then, when you pitch them, you can show them how you can partner with them to get them where they want to be. Turn it into something that helps them versus something that just helps you.

+ Don’t be that person who will do anything and write about anything and promote anything just to make money. Your readers will know it, and other brands will too. Perception matters!

+ Be aware of when non-compete clauses will come into play. If you work with one particular brand, will it mean you can’t work with others you might REALLY want to work with?

+ These days, CPM (cost per thousand pageviews) range anywhere from $.25 to $10, depending on the thousands of  impressions you get. Be sure you differentiate whether you’re being paid on a CPM basis or a Cost Per Click (CPC) basis.

+ And the best thing I heard: Women are constantly undervaluing themselves. When you ask someone for money, it should make your stomach hurt a little bit. If it doesn’t, ask for more. You’re a business. It’s expected that you’ll negotiate!

QUOTES FROM PINTEREST CO-FOUNDER BEN SILBERMAN

+ Make one thing perfectly.

+ Discovering things about the world helps you discover things about who you are.

+ A lot of blogs talk about startups as if they were fated to be that way. But a lot of people are successful because they don’t stop.

+ There are so many things that are just good enough. Why not pick the one that’s most beautiful?

+ My favorite and something that has been resonating with me ever since: If you don’t bet on yourself, nobody else will.

One session I didn’t mention above was a round table called Legal Concerns and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines for bloggers. This was probably the most informative session I attended during the entire conference. I put together a HUGE email yesterday with notes on everything I learned at this roundtable; if you’re interested in receiving it, please let me know by leaving a comment below. It covers everything from copyright, trademarking, legality of giveaways, and more — way too much to type here!

Later today I’ll be back with a roundup of some very talented folks whose work I was lucky enough to come across at Alt. Get your wallets ready! There’s some goodness you’re definitely going to want for yourself.

{Image Credits: Alt Summit Flickr Feed}

BLOGGERS:
Jeanne, Shop Sweet Things | Bradley, Luella & June | Alex, Things That Sparkle | Gabrielle, Savvy Home | Liz, So Much to Smile About | Lara, Simply Irresistible | Alyson, The Average Girls Guide | Amber, Amber Interiors | Grace, Stripes and Sequins | Julie, Julip Made | Irene, designstILes | Liz, Sequins and Stripes | Lauren, L.A. in the Bay | Christine, Bijou and Boheme | Molly + Sally, A PIECE OF TOAST |

RESOURCES THESE BLOGGERS RECOMMEND YOU CHECK OUT:
Blogging Bliss eBook
Blogging Your Way to the Front Row
Independent Fashion Bloggers
This post on Blogging Resolutions from Grace
Blogging Your Way
The Blog Stylist

So…what did you guys think of Mini-Alt Week? I’m guessing by the comments that you liked it, you really liked it!, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I hope you’ll be able to refer back to this series of posts early and often, and that it not only helps you and inspires you, but that perhaps you’ll be able to make a connection with one of these bloggers too. For your reference, I created a category for all these posts, so they’ll all live at this URL. Bookmark it!

I’m back from Alt very late tonight, and will see you back here on Monday, when regular non-how-to-blog posting will re-commence. A lot of you heard about some very personal, exciting news that happened last Friday, and your patience will pay off — the full story will be told Monday.

{Image Credits: Les Composantes, Pocahontes Tumblr, Out of Sight Out of Mind}

BLOGGERS:

Christine, Bijou and Boheme | Alyson, The Average Girls Guide | Molly + Sally, A PIECE OF TOAST | Lauren, L.A. in the Bay | Tamra, Walks With Bella; Ever Swoon | Alex, Things That Sparkle | Gabrielle, Savvy Home | Liz,So Much to Smile About | Grace, Stripes and Sequins | Irene,designstILes | Rebecca, Young Sophisticates | Liz, Sequins and Stripes

RESOURCES:

Blogging Your Way to the Front Row
RewardStyle
Lucky Style Collective
ProBlogger: Make Money Blogging
Amazon Associates

***BIG UPDATE ON GIVEAWAYS: Live from The Altitude Summit, I learned today that doing giveaways on your blog is actually rife with legal complications. In that, doing it for free, or having people follow/like you on another platform, may not be legal or may bring about all kinds of issues that you should address with the brand before ever giving anything away on your blog. This is a relatively new issue in the blogosphere, and apparently one that the FTC is starting to monitor and crack down on. I am gathering more information on this and will report back to you all!

{Image Credits: The Sartorialist, Dottie Angel Flickr, A Gadabout Tumblr Bardot Database,  Garance Dore}

Filed under: Mini Alt Week ]]> http://vmacandcheese.com/2012/01/19/mini-alt-week-collaboration-sponsorships-and-giveaways/feed/ 30 vmacandcheese collab http://vmacandcheese.com/2012/01/17/mini-alt-week-design/ http://vmacandcheese.com/2012/01/17/mini-alt-week-design/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:27 +0000 vmacandcheese http://vmacandcheese.com/?p=13592 ]]>

Here’s where I’m going to take over with some basic text, because wordy as this is, it’s simply easier to type it all out here than to put this into a graphic. First and foremost, in order to learn a program like Elements or Photoshop or Illustrator, you need two things: practice and patience. I am not formally trained in graphic design or Photoshop; everything on my blog is self taught. I’ve experimented a lot, made notes of what I like on other blogs, and yep, made plenty of (very ugly) mistakes. It’s okay! It’s how you learn. One quote I didn’t incorporate here but which is so true is this one, from Julie:

When are you first learning the Adobe Creative Suite, you can’t expect to create graphics like someone who does that for a living. When you first start, really, just focus on making simple graphics the best you can with clean lines, great color palettes, and basic design elements. You can always learn shortcuts and “flare” as you go along. Sometimes, figuring out one shortcut the first time can take 20 minutes, but then the next time, it will speed up your work ten-fold.

It’s so true. Practice, practice, practice. If you don’t know how to do something, but have seen it done on a layout on another blog, email that blogger and ask them how they did it. Or, you can always Google it! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve googled, “How to do ____ in Photoshop Elements.” There are so many great videos and tutorials out there these days that you can easily find the answer with 5 minutes of research.

With all that being said, here are some screengrabs I put together that show a few of my favorite menus and tips. Ironically, because this is screengrabbed based, it’s not especially pretty:

BLOGGERS

Jeanne, Shop Sweet Things | Shannon, I Love Your Crazy | Gabrielle, Savvy Home | Liz,So Much to Smile About | Julie, Julip Made | Christine, Bijou and Boheme | Mackenzie, Design Darling

RESOURCES
Polyvore
Big Huge Labs
Da Font
Picnik
Don’t Fear the Internet videos (recommended by Grace, Stripes and Sequins)
Washi Tape clip art
Vintage Postcard Ephemera Brushes for Photoshop
Vintage Frame Brushes for Photoshop
Tons more downloadable brushes and images for Photoshop (all free!)
The Pioneer Woman Photoshop Action Sets (I LOVE these!)
Gadabout

PRODUCTS
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Creative Suite 5

{Image Credits: Remodelista, MadeByGirl, Apartment Therapy}

This is a big topic. Read more questions and answers after the jump!

BLOGGERS
Jeanne, Shop Sweet Things | Bradley, Luella & June | Shannon, I Love Your Crazy | Tamra, Walks With Bella; Ever Swoon | Alex, Things That Sparkle | Gabrielle, Savvy Home | Liz,So Much to Smile About | Lara, Simply Irresistible | Alyson, The Average Girls Guide | Amber,Amber Interiors | Grace, Stripes and Sequins | Julie, Julip Made | Irene,designstILes | Rebecca, Young Sophisticates | Liz, Sequins and Stripes | Lauren, L.A. in the Bay | Christine, Bijou and Boheme | Sarah, A House in the Hills | Molly + Sally, A PIECE OF TOAST |

{Image Credits: The Alternative Wife, The Glitter Guide, A House in the Hills, Poppies and Posies, Lonny, Rue}

BLOGGERS:
Christine, Bijou and Boheme | Alyson, The Average Girls Guide | Julie, Julip Made | Sarah, A House in the Hills | Molly + Sally, A PIECE OF TOAST | Danielle, Breakfast at Toast, The Everygirl | Lauren, L.A. in the Bay

RESOURCES:

+ Vegan YumYum: Food Photography for Bloggers
+ Pioneer Woman: What the Heck is Aperture? Part I, II, III, IV
+ The Daybook: Photography and Post Processing
+ IFB: How to Take Your Own Outfit Photo
+ Gary Voth Photography: Why You Should Ditch That Zoom for a Classic 50mm “Normal” Lens

GEAR:
Great Starter Cameras:
Canon Rebel XS DSLR
Nikon D3100

Canon 50mm lens
Nikon 50mm lens

Got additional photography tips? Have a question you want answered? Share it below!

{Image Credits: The Sartorialist, Doo3 Flickr, The Sartorialist, See Jane}

BLOGGERS
Tamra, Walks With Bella; Ever Swoon | Alex, Things That Sparkle | Gabrielle, Savvy Home | Liz, So Much to Smile About | Lara, Simply Irresistible | Alyson, The Average Girls Guide | Amber, Amber Interiors | Grace, Stripes and Sequins | Julie, Julip Made | Erika, [shop talk] | Irene, designstILes | Rebecca, Young Sophisticates | Liz, Sequins and Stripes | Lauren, L.A. in the Bay

RESOURCES
Lucky FABB
Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB)
Capital Area Fashion & Beauty Bloggers (CapFABB)
Chicago Blogger Network

Live in an area near one of these bloggers and want to get involved in a local blogger network? Contact any of them! I’m sure they’ll be happy to get you involved. Or, if you know of a great blogger network in your own city, be sure to list it in the comments so others can get connected.

What additional tips do you have to grow your blog community, or meet other bloggers in your area? Share your triumphs (and any struggles, too) in the comments!

{Image Credits: Citydrowns, Home of Pia Jane Bijkerk via Other Peoples’ Houses, Freunde vonFreunden, La Dolce Vita, Three Potato Four, From Me to You, Wish Wish Wish}

This week, I am so happy to be bringing you a plethora of blogging tips and tricks from some of my favorite bloggers around! Whether you’re a new blogger or a seasoned pro, I guarantee you’re going to learn something. I know I did, just reading the emails from my wonderful contributors. The variety of responses was amazing, and it was interesting to see how all of these women approach blogging differently.

And if you don’t currently blog, I think these posts will still be interesting for you, as you’ll gain insight into how some of your favorite sites put together content day in and day out, and what it’s like to write a blog. Maybe this will even encourage you to start your own!

Here’s how the topics for the week are going to shake out. Get excited:

Today: Growing your community and Photography
Tuesday: Content and Design
Wednesday: Behind the Scenes, of course!
Thursday: Collaboration (think guest posts!) and Sponsorships
Friday: Miscellaneous items — find out what everyone thinks is the best and worst part about blogging, plus lots more.

At the end of each post, you’ll find links to the bloggers who participated in that topic. Please be sure to visit their blogs! Where applicable, I’m also including a list of resources with each post, which will hopefully give you lots of great info to bookmark.

Stay tuned, the first post on growing a blog community will be up very soon.

{Image Credit: Better Homes and Gardens}

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that since last spring, I’ve slowly converted nearly all of my beauty products to those that are formulated without the use of parabens, pthlates, and other unnecessary chemical junk. I’ve seen such an amazing difference in my skin, so much so that I no longer wear foundation or powder! That’s right. Only a dab of concealer (a natural one, of course), and I’m good to go.

Part of the secret of course is a great skin care program. And lately, Andalou Naturals has played a huge role in that. I use their Probiotic +C Renewal Cream, which uses apple and grape fruit stem cell cultures and hyaluronic acid to deliver smooth, perfectly moisturized skin. It soaks in SUPER fast, with no gross greasy, oily feeling. Plus, I like that it’s easy to find at my local Whole Foods.

Once they heard about how much I was digging their stuff, Andalou Naturals was kind enough to send me their Luminous Eye Serum. It’s been a lifesaver given some long nights and the fact that I’m in my late 20s and my skin just isn’t what it used to be. The extra bit of under eye moisture has really helped with lines! I also got to sample their brand new Grapefruit +C exfoliating peel, which had me a little nervous at first. Mention the word ‘peel’ to me, and I somehow always envision that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha has a chemical peel gone awry. I had zero reason to worry though. The peel soaks into your skin, and after 10 minutes and a rinse, you’re left with soft skin that for me, seems to make moisturizer work better! It’s gentle enough that you can use it up to 3 times per week.

Andalou is a fantastic company that uses all fair-trade ingredients, with a minimum of 70% organic content. Additionally, for every single sale of their products or newsletter subscriptions, Andalou donates $1 to one of four charitable organizations! And of course, none of their products are ever tested on animals. Beauty you can actually feel good about? I’m so down.

So today, I’m sharing the love with you guys. Andalou has been kind enough to offer one reader a full-size Probiotic +C Renewal Cream and the Grapefruit +C exfoliating peel to try — probably before the latter even hits stores! These two are sure to help perk up your winter skin routine.

Want in on the free beauty goodies? Here’s how to enter (up to six times!)

1. Leave a comment below. Whatever you want to say!
2. Like Andalou Naturals on Facebook and comment telling me you did so (or do already)
3. Like vmac+cheese on Facebook and comment telling me you did so (or do already)
4. Follow Andalou Naturals on Twitter and comment telling me you did so (or do already)
5. Follow me on Twitter and comment telling me you did so (or do already)
6. Sign up for Andalou Natural’s exclusive newsletter on their website or via Facebook. Remember, for every sign up, they donate $1 to one of four amazing organizations!

And that’s it. Enter once, enter six times, it’s up to you! The giveaway will stay open through next Friday, January 13, and a winner will be announced the following week. Good luck!!

The full disclosure part: all opinions are my own. Samples and prize provided gratis by a very generous Andalou Naturals. Yes, I really like and use their products.

Something to remember today. Embrace it, live it, love it.

Two other little items to update you on. Today I’m over at Karlita’s blog The Purple Bow, sharing the things that most inspire me in life. Check it out. Knowing you guys, we’ll have a lot in common. Secondly, today marks my first column on the blog Young Sophisticates! Each month, I’ll be featuring a fabulous editorial or street style photo, then show you how to get the look with both splurges and budget pieces. I’d love for you to stop by and let me know what you think of the column.

Hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday!

{Image Credits: Note to Self (where else?)}

Luckily, my mom has come up with the perfect solution. She asks me to donate money for farm animals through the charity World Vision each year. Certainly a unique gift; it’s fun giving her a card that says something along the lines of “Thanks for your donation of five chickens and a goat.” She gets a kick out of it!

However, there are times I still wish I could get her something tangible, despite her protestations. So I was glad to learn about the company NOVICA a few short weeks ago. In association with National Geographic, NOVICA is an organization that finds artisans from all over the world, then gives them a way to sell their pieces online. All fair trade. And you can even learn about the person that created the item you buy! There’s a huge assortment of things on the website, ranging from accessories for guys and gals alike (like scarves), to jewelry, to furniture, to art work, to home goods to rugs. Check out just some of the pretty I found:

This holiday, the kind folks at NOVICA are giving one vmac+cheese reader a $75 gift certificate! Use it for a gift…or spend it on yourself (I won’t tell!).

To enter, just leave a comment below. Say hi, say what you’d order — doesn’t matter! For extra entries, you can:

1) Follow me on Twitter 

2) Like me on Facebook

3) Follow NOVICA on Twitter

4) Like Novica on Facebook

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. If you already follow or like me or NOVICA, leave a comment anyway letting me know you do! The giveaway will close this Sunday, December 11, at 11:59pm Pacific time. I’ll announce a winner later next week. Good luck and happy shopping!

Of course semantics say that something cannot be both new and improved. But take one look at the new and very much improved vmac+cheese, and I think you’ll agree that these two can coexist very well.

The amazing Erika from small shop has been working on this design for me for the last few months, and I could not be more grateful that I got to work with such a talented, kind, inspiring designer. You probably know Erika from her blog (and if not go read it…like now), but you should also familiarize yourself with her fantastic design portfolio. She just gets it, y’all. I sent her like 50 jumbled emails of what I thought I might like and she was able to interpret my ramblings, then flash bam send back mockups of that and more.

I have to also give a shout out to the developer we worked with, Mr. Shannon Dannettelle, from The Pixel Studio. What I thought could be a long, arduous installation process was actually only a painless few hours. You guys might have seen it happen right before your eyes…Friday morning, old vmac. Friday night, new vmac.

So thanks to this talented twosome, you have this pretty new design to look at. Hooray!

If you’re new ’round these parts and have just started following along, don’t grieve for the old vmac. This version is much better. And since we’ve only just met, I would be remiss not to inform you that I’m also on Twitter and Pinterest. Say hi there, too!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Happy Friday! I can’t believe how quickly November is passing us by. At this time in two weeks, Thanksgiving will be OVER. How crazy is that?

On my agenda for the weekend? A birthday party, a double date (complete with pizza and beer), and lots and lots of laundry. I also have promised myself I’m going to sit down a read a bunch of articles I’ve been bookmarking for the last few weeks. This week felt so frenetic, and I’m looking forward to a slower pace for the next few days.

Here are some of my favorite links of the week:

+ I’m guest posting today on Aspiring Kennedy! Lauren recently started the Friday Faces series, giving you an inside peek to bloggers’ real lives. Be sure to check it out! There are a couple more shots of my home office included.
+ New blog alert! I came across the blog Young Sophisticates this week, and so far, am really enjoying their posts. The blog is a mix of fashion images, product roundups (often with looks for less), interviews, with some interiors mixed in. Check it out!
+ Via Jacquelyn, I found this recipe for butternut squash orzo. With bacon. Sounds SO delicious.
+ How do French women achieve that effortless, feminine style? During my visit to Paris, I was in awe of how chic French women were. This post dissects the je ne sais quoi.
+ Erika featured the lovely Naomi from Design Manifest this week, and her post on Boho Glam was jaw dropping. I loved the images she curated…and the fact that she so accurately described my own aesthetic.
+ I’m sure many of you saw this, but I kept coming back to Blair’s collection of Tahoe outfits. How inspiring is this for the cold months ahead?
+ Crystalin whipped a batch of crispy peanut butter cups. YUM. I love the idea of making a bunch of these for gifts this holiday season, versus the usual bag of cookies.
+ J.Crew’s gift guide is here. See anything YOU want? (This, this and this make my list for sure)
+ Another great blog I discovered last week: A House in the Hills. This week alone, Sarah shared a great recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts with fig balsamic vinegar, and a closet reorganization (I’m eager to check out her hanger rec!).

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

{Image Credit: Photograph by Lukreszja, Deviant Art. Found via Victoire de Samothrace}

Today Joe and I are celebrating our 9 year dating anniversary! It’s a day I look forward to all year (well…along with birthdays, Thanksgiving and New Years Eve). Not only is it a good excuse to go out to dinner and eat whatever we want and drink lots of Champagne and vino, but that kid is my absolute best friend on Earth, and it’s fun to take an evening together and really reflect on how lucky we are to have found each other out of the billions of other people on the planet. Cheesy but true.

Since living in SF, we’ve usually celebrated at a local Italian joint in North Beach, but this year, we’re branching out and will be having a blowout dinner at Kokkari. Mediterranean food is among our FAVES, and I can’t wait to pop open a bottle of wine at the restaurant and reminisce on all the good times we’ve had over the better part of a decade.

While this weekend was originally shaping up to be busy, a few of my plans have fallen through, and to be honest, I don’t mind. I’m looking forward to some quiet time at home. I mentioned on Twitter that Joe just had Lasik surgery, so I think it’ll be nice to hole up in our apartment (especially since the weather has turned cold and rainy) and let his peepers recover. I have a couple craft and cooking projects I might tackle too — if so, I’ll be sure to share them here next week!

If it’s as wintry where you live as it is in SF, here are some links to enjoy while you stay indoors:

+ I’ve been thinking that I’d like to get a new, stately looking lamp for my desk at home. I was stoked to see Lesley post a lovely white lamp roundup with lots of amazing options. This one from the new High Street Market shop is on the list too!
+ Brittany curated a post on Swalla Studio’s original paintings, and I was pretty much in love with every single one.  It’s great discovering new artists!
+ Kyle from the fantastic interiors blog Knight Moves has been sharing her pro tips on bookcase styling. Part I focused on how to amass an enviable collection of design books; Part II has been on accenting the bookcase itself. Stay tuned because I’m pretty sure there’s more to come.
+ This image of Clairborne Swanson Frank’s ridic apartment circulated this week; the blog Kelly Market shows us how to get the look in your own home!
+ Loved this take on glitter booties. Cute outfit, no?
+ With the cold weather coming on, I can’t think of anything better than a hot bath with some of this homemade milk sugar scrub. So divine.
+ I loved everything about Lauren’s post on having a full passport. Her parents’ approach to giving their children the gift of travel is such a good one. Lucky girl.
+ Jenn remains one of my favorite bloggers out there, mostly because she’s able to keep it real. And her recipes are good, too.
+ Finally, something I definitely want to do sooner rather than later: create my own life mission/intention statement!

Bon weekend, everyone!

{Image Credit: Jose Villa}

And the winner of the Aquiesse giveaway is…

#15, Andrea!

Please email me at vmacandcheese [at] gmail [dot] com, and I’ll put you in touch with Aquiesse.

Thanks to everyone for entering and happy Monday!

This weekend should be a good one. Tomorrow morning, I’m waking up early to go take a workout/dance class at a local studio (I make myself sound like I’m going to a jazzercise. I’m not, promise. No promises on the sweatband and unitard though).

Joe and I have tentative plans to visit a pumpkin patch too — so many people have posted photos of picking out pumpkins, and it made me want to join in on the fun! We’ll see if we can make it happen. Sunday, we’ll be headed to the 49ers stadium for a tailgate and some football. I’m not that much of a pro-football gal, but the Cleveland Browns (Joe’s hometown team) are playing the Niners, so it’s my duty as a lady friend to show my support!

You might be wondering about the lack of Halloween plans. Sacrilegious as it is to say this, it’s probably my least favorite holiday. Costumes and spooky decor just aren’t my thing — I’d rather skip all that and go right to Thanksgiving. Don’t hate me.

What are you up to this weekend?

+ If I can get a pumpkin, I’m definitely going to reference Jacquelyn’s two recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds…
+ Two exciting store openings/unveilings this week! One, Jamie Meares store Furbish just re-opened in a much larger space  (locals, go check it out!). And Kelly, who curates probably my all time favorite Etsy shop, just announced a new online store as well. So far, her offerings are looking really good.
+ I loved the idea of these slate gift tags from Kate. How pretty!
+ The undershave. Could you do it? No way I am brave enough.
+ Did you guys see Erika’s home accessory picks on Made by Girl? I wanted every single one of them. Especially that horn vase from Jayson home. So unique and gorgeous.
+ Another great installment in the Biz Ladies series. Lots of us dream about leaving our day jobs. But when is the right time?
+ While I was on vacation I read this article in NY Mag about millenials. Some interesting ideas. What do you think?
+ It’s definitely apple season, and this recipe for chicken and apples in honey mustard sauce sounded like a perfect autumn weeknight meal.
+ My friend Meredith sent me to another great food blog this week — Eat.Live.Run. Check it out!

And, around these parts…

+ I was honored to guest post on three different blogs this week! Be sure to check out my posts on Stripes & Sequins, So Much to Smile About, and L.A. in the Bay.
+ Today is the LAST day you can enter to win a candle from Aquiesse. I’m taking entries until 5pm Pacific time. Go here to enter. It’s really easy!

Happy Weekend!

{Image Credit: Note to Self}