I love when two seemingly dissimilar and unique items combine together to create something kinda perfect.  Like balsamic vinegar and strawberries, for example.  On the surface, their opposing flavors seem like they’d clash.  But then you splash a little balsamic over a bowl of sliced strawberries and before you know it, you’ve eaten an entire pint and you’re not sure what day it is.

Moral of the story: I love clashing combos.  Especially when I can wear those combos.  Good transition right??

Basically, I live in slouchy, pocket tees and desperately need to break my habit of pairing them with jeans, jeans, and more jeans.  Why not mix in a leather skirt, like this Topshop Leather A-line Skirt?  It’s equal parts chic and sexy.  Tucking a slouchy gray tee, like this T by Alexander Wang number, into the skirt instantly gives it a casual cool vibe, making it a perfect transition tool from summer to fall.  Leathah was everywhere on the fall runways, non?

A few years ago, one of my good friends, Val, taught me an incredibly delicious, yet totally simple trick: reuse Claussen pickle juice to make your very own pickles.  Claussen is like the gift that keeps on giving.

Here’s what you do (clearly, I’m all about lists lately):

1. Buy a jar of Claussen pickles (or your favorite brand) when they’re on sale.  Those babies are expensive.
2. Eat those pickles.  Nom nom nom.
3. When the pickles are gone, save the jar, the vinegar juice, and all of the garlicky goodness that settles to the bottom.
4. Chop up a cucumber or two in any shape or size that suits your fancy.
5. Load up the jar with all the cukes.
6. Seal it and put it back in your fridge.
7. Twiddle your thumbs in front of the fridge for at least a week or two until the cukes have started pickling.
8. Depending on how “pickled” you like them, eat them after a week or wait as long as you like!
9. Enjoy your very own semi-”homemade” pickles.
10. Cry when the jar is empty once more.
11. Repeat steps 1-10.

It may be nearing 100 degrees today but that’s not stopping me from shopping for a fall wardrobe.  Right now I’m browsing for a sweater that I can live in during the colder months (and by cold, I mean “mild”).  You know the kind: comfy, cozy, and full of love.  My requirements for such a sweater are as follows:

1. Large and IN CHARGE.  I’m talking oversized and ill-fitted – as if it came straight out of an episode of Blossom circa 1990.
2. Camel-colored.  Tan is the new black……obvs.
3. The chunkier, the better.  It is called a “chunky sweater,” am I right?  Or did I make that name up…
4. Slouchy and soft.  Double as a blanket, perhaps?
5. Versatile.  It must look equally good in public as it does sprawled on a couch next to hot cocoa and an empty dvd box.
6. Breathable.  I can’t stand a sweater that suffocates me.  I need some filtration!

So you can only imagine that when I spotted this Free People Front & Center Pullover, it was simply meant to be.

[Image via Free People]

Lately, all of my free time has been occupied solely by Artessen, a visual melting pot of the most creative and inspiring blog posts in the blogosphere.

The site is expertly curated, with blogs ranging from food, design, fashion, photography, weddings, crafts, etc.  Everything I love!!  Let me tell you, it’s equal parts enchanting and inspiring.  Be careful though, it has a strong tendency to suck away any and all free time you had allotted for yourself.

I may not technically be going back to school (tear…those days are long over), but there’s something about mid-August that makes me want to replenish my office supplies.  My internal clock says I must get new notebooks and I need a new set of folders.

I can’t help it!  Here are the products on my back-to-school list:

1. Jonathan Adler Zig Zag Sticky Notes, Paper Source, $8.95: I may not be able to afford 95% of Jonathan Adler’s home decor (which I ADORE), but these sticky notes will tie over my Adler cravings for now.  Plus, I love a good sticky note, don’t you?
2. Task Clips, Kate’s Paperie, $10: Colorful task clips??  Yes, please.  I’m tired of the dull black and silver task clips.  How mundane!  I need color in my life at all times.
3. Paperterie Poulain By Decole Vintage Camera Tape Dispenser, Florspacehome Etsy, $19:  I’ve been searching for a fun tape dispenser for awhile now and when I came across this vintage camera-inspired one, I knew I had to have it.
4. Green & Blue File Folders, Kate’s Paperie, $16: I get positively giddy when all my papers are organized neatly in file folders.  But the idea of having those papers in cute and colorful folders makes it that much more appealing.
5. Personalized Notebooks, Paperwink, $15: I’m a notebook hoarder.  I have literally 20 or so blank, unused notebooks in my possession and yet I still feel the need to buy more.  Girl has issues.
6. Cavallini Jumbo Erasures, Kate’s Paperie, $3: Okay so I rarely use pencils but I like anything Paris-related.
7. Luddite Collection Pencil Case, Anthropologie, $14:  I love having all of my pens and highlighters in one nifty case like this one.
8. Deskpad, Erin Condren, $30:  This deskpad is the best way to stay organized.  Plus, it doubles as a mousepad.  Chic and conventional!

I love reading blogs.  I love food.  So naturally, I love Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman.  Besides the fact that her blog is witty and has amazing photography, it’s also full of delicious meals and recipes.

Last night, I was craving something fruity and sweet and the first place I looked was my bookmarked Pioneer Woman recipes.   When I landed on this Blueberry Crumb Cake, I knew it was love at first sight.  I had extra blueberries and all of the ingredients on hand.  I seriously love when that happens.

The crumb cake is simple to make and relatively healthy on the dessert spectrum.  I mean, it’s full of blueberries!!  That’s healthy right?  Besides it’s semi-health factor, it is SO DELICIOUS.  Like oh-my-goodness-I-need-3-more-slices-please.  That good.

The blueberry cake itself is moist and full of sweet flavor.  That alone will bring you to tears.  But then add the crunchy,  cinnamon-flavored topping and it elevates it to a whole other level.  Ree, I love you.  And just for reference, the serving size is 16.  Baked it last night aaaaand it’s already gone.

American-bred companies specializing in classic, heritage leather goods are making a comeback in a HUGE way, including J.W. Hulme Co. And let’s face it, there’s really nothing better than good old-fashioned American leather (besides Italian leather but let’s put that fact on the back burner right now).

J.W. Hulme Co. has been around for over 100 years now, producing all of their products in St. Paul, Minnesota.  And let me tell you, those Minnesotans know how to fashion leather.  These bags are beautifully structured and perfectly rugged – exactly what I look for in heritage leather goods.

Funny enough, I ran into these bags a lot in Vancouver (which reminds me that I still need to post about my favorite Canadian finds!).  They were displayed in many of the small shops and boutiques throughout the city.  Each time my eyes spotted them, I fell in love a little more.  And now, I need one (or several) of my own!

1. Legacy Handbag – Heritage Leather, $390
2. Legacy Handbag – Century Black Leather, $290
3. Shell Handbag – Green Canvas, $180
4. Travel Kit – Green Canvas, $120
5. Gladstone Carry-On – Century Black Leather, Medium, $630
6. Portfolio – Sahara Sand Leather, $370
7. Weekend Satchel – Heritage Leather, Medium, $760

[Images via J.W. Hulme Co.]

As I’ve mentioned before, Vancouver never disappoints.  My family and I had a jammed packed week in British Columbia full of exploring, eating, and lots of beer drinking.  We hiked in Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain, wandered through the markets of Granville Island, went on a tour of Victoria and Butchart Gardens, and of course shopped and ate endlessly in downtown Vancouver.  I’ll let you know about all of my favorite places in the next post!

Here is a snippet of our 800+ photos:

In approximately 5 mins, I’ll be departing for Vancouver.  I’m so excited!  It’s one of my favorite cities in the WORLD.  Good food, clean air, friendly people, gorgeous buildings, great stores/boutiques, city skies, open wilderness.  What more could you ask for? It has everything.

I’ll be gone the whole week so I’ll see YOU next Sunday!!  In the meantime, don’t spill the beans about what happens on True Blood and Mad Men.

If you want to see (or read?) all the shenanigans I get into in the gorge city of Vancouver, you can always read my tweets: twitter.com/TheStyleEater

And P.S. the last time I was in Van, I ate at the most delish restaurant, Chill Winston.  You can read about my experience here.

Besos!! …oops that’s South America.

They say you should never judge a book by it’s cover, but I’m sorry, I can’t help but judge.  I want these remastered Penguin Classics just because they’re pretty.

Okay I lied.  They’re more than just good looks.  I’m a huge literature buff and love the idea of displaying some of my favorite works.  The fact that they’re super eclectic and colorful is just an added bonus.  Wouldn’t they look absolutely perfect lined up on a bookshelf?  Stacked on a fireplace, perhaps?  Next to a ceramic vase?  In between two antique bookends?

I need them asap.  I think this Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility will be the first addition to my collection:

[Images via Anthropologie]