It's 5pm Somewhere ...

Photo: Mark Seelen

Happy Friday! No, really. Very happy it's Friday. We've had quite an eventful week with our 4 y/o starting kindergarten (yay P!) and our 2.5 y/o going on his fourth day of no diapers! So needless to say, nap times are all amiss, making it to the potty is 50/50, and personalities are all over the place. But enough about my rock star life. Do you have fun plans for the weekend? Given our exciting/tiresome week I'm looking forward to having movie night and watching Happythankyoumoreplease. Anyone seen it? Hope everyone has a great weekend! Group hug:) Some weekend links for you ...

In case you missed it ... I did a fun guest post about X-Girl over at Tomboy Style

Vans can do no wrong in my eyes

Great identity

A fun backyard movie night by the brilliant Samantha. Goonies!

Caroline's illustrations are so fun

Love Judy's outfit based around her pencil skirt

It's just around the corner;)

Guerilla, Style ...

Absolutely loving this guerilla style presentation that Warby Parker did yesterday at the New York Public Library! They presented their 2012 collection by having models and friends slowly take over the main reading room and reveal book covers with the names of their frame styles. Something like this must've been so fun and refreshing for editors to attend. Bravo Warby Parker, bravo! Read more about the fun here.

Pieced Out ...

Individually, these pieces would be so hard to picture together and thus, pull off such a great outfit. Enter Joanna Hillman, Sr. Fashion Market Editor for Harper's, who always manages to do just that. A walking inspiration always. Plus, I'm liking the side braid.

Photos: Citizen Couture

A Summer Hurrah ...

No I'm not in denial. I know it's September, but our weather isn't exactly cooperating (it's supposed to be 93 degrees today!) with the fall calendar so I figured I'd do a last hurrah, summer outfit. This weather we're having is amazing, but it kinda put a kink in my pumpkin spice latte plans for today.

Wallet | Sammy

Sunglasses | Dita

Lip Stain | Tarte

Bracelets | Kate Spade

It's 5pm Somewhere ...

Photo: Michael Dweck (via Nowness)

Okay, so I blinked and suddenly it's September 2nd! What the? Who the? I mean, not that I'm bummed. Q4 happens to be my favorite part of the year what with the many September birthdays we have in our family, pumpkin spice lattes arriving at Starbucks (in just 4 days!), and the holidays peering around the corner. Yup, I said it "holidays." Let's do this! Hope everyone has a great (long) weekend! Group hug:) Some links for you ...

Lizzie was interviewed by the Simon Doonan! (the Steven Tyler comment made me Lol)

We need to bring this back.

Karen Elson & Alber Elbaz busting a move!

Some serious style in this skate video.

A great DIY for kids lounge pants aka "ankle biters."

What a view! (second photo down)

Loving Lucy's outfit.

Giveaway Winner! ...

Congratulations to Citymouse and "the perfect wall in your front hallway!" I will be contacting you shortly!

Thanks to everyone who participated! Guess what? You're still winning 'cause the lovely Danielle from Urban Walls is extending a 15% discount when you enter coupon code "happenstance" at checkout. Happy decorating!

Giveaway! Urban Walls ...

Our giveaway today is brought to you by Urban Walls! Urban Wall decals are an easy way to add some fun and style to your home. Plus, they're a great way to achieve the look of wallpaper for a fraction of the cost and time. Love that they have so many designs to choose from and in so many colors. I really like the idea of putting their new chalk vinyl in the kitchen area or home office for a cute designated "to-do" list area. And not only do I like the flowers decal for a master bedroom, but the large graphic would also look really great in a small powder room. Lucky for us the great minds behind UW are offering a $75 gift certificate to one lucky winner!

What you need to do (just two things!) ...

• Visit Urban Walls, then leave a comment here telling which decal(s) you like.
• Become a follower! If you already follow Happenstance (thank you;) then you're already qualified after you leave your comment

Giveaway open worldwide and will end at midnight tonight. Winner will be chosen at random and announced tomorrow. Good luck everyone!

Paris vs. New York ...

How fun are these graphic designs from Parisian Vahram Muratyan? He dedicated an entire blog to the pop culture and iconic differences between New York and Paris. These would look so great framed in a home or even as a gift since the holidays are just around the corner (did I just say that?). You can purchase posters of these great designs here and you can pre-order a book (being published by Penguin in March '12) of the designs here.

Source: T magazine

Me-Conscious, Eco-Conscious ...

So what you see here are four new products I've been using in an attempt to go with products that are more natural in their ingredients and paraben-free. Prior to this I was using brands we all know and love, but unfortunately I learned aren't very natural and contain many toxins (a great resource for learning more about what you use is the EWG–a great rec by my SIL Elizabeth). I didn't intend to use so many Yes To products but I love how their entire line is free of parabens, petroleum, SLS, and pthalates (plus, their prices are amazingly low!) so I thought I'd give them a go. And I went with Tom's of Maine deodorant (also free of parabens) because I was simply looking for an aluminum free deodorant. So far I like what I'm using but I'd like to learn about more products out there.

So my question to you is, do you have any suggestions on products? Advice? I want to keep learning about and using the best products until I find what works for me. Not only care products (face, body, hair, etc.) but make-up too! So I'd love to hear what you're using (high or low end). I'm in no way an expert on this subject so this novice would really appreciate what you have to share! Thanks a mil in advance.

Graphic: Happenstance

fonuts & Dinosaurs ...

Is it Monday already? Wow, seemed like a whirlwind weekend. We did so much! But I have to say one of our highlights was going to the Natural History Museum Los Angeles to check out their new Dinosaur Hall exhibit. Dinosaurs are a very big deal in our household at the moment so we knew the kids were going to be so psyched. Although K, our 2.5 y/o, wondered why the dino's were broken (only skeletons). And P, our almost 5 y/0, got to participate in the Dinosaur Encounter exhibit. We were so proud that she wasn't scared at all! And the life-sized baby Triceratops that came out later was so unbelievably real looking that it made the entire trip worthwhile. Highly recommend if you have a dino lover in your house.

Prior to our museum visit we checked out fonuts in Los Angeles. I was eager to check them out for two reasons. One, co-founder Waylynn Lucas was previously pastry chef at The Bazaar–a restaurant I've heard so much about and still need to visit. And two, because they looked so good I couldn't believe they were baked and not fried! The consensus? Good, really good. Obviously they don't taste exactly like the fried versions but they are something to enjoy and appreciate. Especially with their wheat free, gluten free, and vegan choices ranging in flavors from chocolate hazelnut, strawberry buttermilk, cinnamon sugar and so many more. All in all, a great weekend was had. Hope you had a good one too!

Top Photo: fonuts (via Daily Candy)