(Mini) Tour-de-Detroit: Architecture Edition

My fiance's brother was in town recently and we made sure to spoil him with the finest food and entertainment Detroit has to offer... We actually just went to a bunch of breweries, but A- that is the finest D-Town has to offer (kidding! or am I?) and B- that's all my future brother-in-law needed to relax and enjoy a much-needed vacation, so it worked out nicely.

 My favorite thing to do with visitors (besides get a beer... or six) is to show them all the statuesque architecture in our new city. Back home in the wild west, there aren't a lot of the antiqued, stately buildings that popped-up like weeds here in the automotive heyday, so the architecture is a novelty for me and some of my guests. Even when we don't have visitors, I will head downtown for an architecture pick-me-up whenever I am in a design rut or just need a little extra inspiration.

Here are a few photos of Detroit's fabulous facades:

I am cheating with the above picture from the gardens of the Cranbrook school because it is from last summer, but this phone picture isn't the best quality, so hopefully I can get better pictures this summer. I love the stonework detail from the school gardens (below) as well:

Above is the interior of the Grand Trunk Pub (a former railroad ticket office that is now a charming pub filled with Michigan-made brews). I love the vaulted ceilings and the tasty fried pickle spears, which is one more reason why I need a new wardrobe of stretchy pants...

Do you live in an amazing city or one like mine with a bad rap? What do you love about your town?

Sick-Day Shopping

Can my new job be winning the lottery? No? Okay, well then back to square one.

Normally I am not very obsessed with money (you always want more no matter how much you get, so why not be happy with the amount you have?) but yesterday I was in the throes of the flu (or maybe food poisoning? not sure) and needed something to distract myself from reality while sprawled on my bed like a clammy-skinned rag doll with a seriously tangled mane (it was worse than when I put my Troll dolls in the pool and the chlorine fried their hair into matted, plastic-y gobs. Ever have Troll dolls? The ones with the jeweled belly-buttons were da bomb!!)

Anyway, my happy place centered on Pinterest and online shopping for a few hours, and my most exciting find was the Burberry Brogue leather trench coat I have been looking for ever since I saw it in the runway show (I saw the show online, not in person. I wish!). I am convinced they stocked it online for the sole purpose of keeping me alive yesterday. Kidding, but it is wicked cool:

Not a super-fan of the obi belt it was styled with for the runway, but I love that it is a classic trench, plus it's leather and an awesome teal color! And check out the trim details! If I was Rachel Zoe, I'd say this coat is "bananas" but I am not cool enough for that, so I will say it rocks. There.

Only problem, it is six grand and since I am weak from my battle with the plague I don't have the strength to rob a bank, so I guess I had just better start playing the lottery... Or maybe include this in my wedding registry? Kidding, again. It is great to have such fun distractions online-- what have you found recently to swoon over? Happy Monday!

Well, Hello There!

The past few weeks have not been exceptionally productive for me, but they have sure been fun!! My good friend (her awesome blog here) made her first visit to D-Town and I am happy to report that she made it home alive! hehe. It was great to have her visit and I am already having withdrawals :( but no time to dwell on that because my fiancee's brother is flying in today for his first visit!

[Side note: I love how my visitors excitedly equate Detroit with 8 Mile and Eminem. 8 Mile is just a road and I have never seen Eminem, but if it entices visitors or gives me street cred, I am all for it!]

I have also been looking for a new job-ola, but no luck yet. I have been told it will take a while, (this isn't the most booming metropolis) but I feel like I could do a great job at something if I knew what the heck I wanted. Readers, how have you found your (current) calling? Trial and error? Mystic visions? Jail? Divine intervention? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

This is one of my most recent projects: 

I know the next big trend will be earrings, but I love me a statement bracelet and a DIY project!

Are you working on any DIY projects of your own? Any job/soul-searching tips? I hope everyone is having a great week!