Gyros

 The other day I learned how to properly pronounce the word gyro. Gyro. See? I can say it! But in the end I ordered a falafel instead. It's easier to say and is delicious : )

City Hall Presents: Ballet In The Courtyard

Free. Ballet. PEOPLE. I'm talking about free ballet! This doesn't happen all the time. City Hall Presents is a summer long series offering free events in the courtyard at City Hall every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm. Last Wednesday Ballet X gave a chill raising performance. I can't say enough good things about their music selection (hello, Mumford and Sons!) and their choreography. I can't wait for the next event! Let me know if you're going to be there! 

 To see more posts on Philadelphia click here.

NYC: Monk Vintage Thrift Shop, Greenwich Village

Tucked away on a side street in Greenwich Village is Monk Vintage Thrift Shop. There was nothing but quality in this shop. While they work off of donations, they shift through every piece that comes through with an eye for taste. They have everything from blinged out jackets to red flare pants and your classic vintage leather satchel.

Giveaway: SquidWhale Designs & Mouse Trap Vintage

Today is your lucky day because this week there are TWO shops hosting the giveaway. Here's what you can win...Pictured above is a Sea & Sky Zipper Pouch and vintage gold plated brooch from SquidWhale Designs and below is a $50 gift certificate to Mouse Trap Vintage!

Details

• There are TWO WINNERS!
• One willer will receive a hand-dyed natural organic cotton Sea & Sky Zipper pouch and a vintage gold plated anchor brooch from SquidWhale Designs.
• And the other will receive a $50 gift card to Mouse Trap Vintage!
• Deadline to enter is Monday night. Giveaway winner will be announced next week!
• US entries only

How To Enter

1. You MUST follow Streets & Stripes either on Google Reader, Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) or Blog Lovin.
2. Read the interview so you know how awesome these girls are.
3. Visit SquidWhale Designs and Mouse Trap Vintage.
4. Leave a comment with your email included.

Extra Entries

For each of these you can leave ONE comment saying you've done each with the link to each post / tweet / requirement in the comment.

1. Follow @SquidWhalePHL and @MouseTrapVtg
2. Follow @Chaucee
3. Tweet about the giveaway with a link to the post and written to @chaucee

Me + Hip Hop

This top is my FAVORITE at the moment. My absolute FAVORITE! See how much more emotion I can convey when I italicize and capitalize?  Also, I just can't stop listening to hip hop lately. Anybody know what I'm saying? And now we close the most random post I've ever written.

But wait! Before I go...do you like the new blog design? Thanks to Kendra from The Darling Blog for making this space attractive. Maybe now my blog can get a boyfriend! Also, (before I forget) I'm now on Tumblr! I know, I know. But it's so much fun!

Fellow Philadelphians: Squid Whale Designs

Welcome to the first installment of Fellow Philadelphians! As you know, a big portion of this blog is dedicated to life in Philadelphia. I think it's important to support local businesses wherever you are, and this new series of introductions is my part in supporting the local talent and creative artists in Philadelphia! So for this first edition of Fellow Philadelphians I'd like to introduce you to Sarah and Beth of SquidWhale Designs!

I first met Sarah and Beth at their studio (which they affectionately call The Sea Shanty) located in a charming brick warehouse (mostly filled with women artisans) laden with colorful layers of graffiti.  They offered me a refreshing drink, some red cherries, and a little something to munch on as we chatted and got to know each other a bit. 

Here's a few things you HAVE to know about these girls: One is that they met at college; Sarah was majoring in Fine Art and Beth in Textile Design (later these areas of studies would make them the perfect partners in business!). They began their professional relationship while working together at the Midwives Gallery, curating and collecting for that space. This collaboration would show them that they work well together and eventually it led to the opening of their shop SquidWhale Designs in 2010 selling handsome goods for the wayfaring way.

SquidWhale Designs stemmed from their love of nature, animals and science. In the shop you'll find nautical inspired goods that are carefully curated, as well as handmade pieces.  Vintage fabrics are sewn into pouches and bags with a focus on functionality and aesthetics. "It's hitting that sweet spot between functionality and aesthetics," Beth says, that makes their shop so unique.

What is your curating process? 

"We've developed a color palette at this point. It's a really particular palette and if we find something that fits in with the colors, then we know we have to buy it. The color is our background and the filter for what we buy. We also always try to channel that feeling of an old fisherman's shack. We also try to have a more unisex, even sometimes slanted towards a masculine feel in what we do and incorporate in the shop. We pictures this character, an Old Sea Captain, and ask ourselves 'What would he decorate his cabin with'. We also try to satisfy our own aesthetic desire. Would we want to own it, would we want to use it, these are all questions we ask ourselves."

Sarah is on the left and Beth is on the right.

What do you love about Philadelphia?

Beth: Philadelphia is going through a renaissance and it's a great opportunity for a new businesses. It's a great location, you're able to get outside a lot, and it's a great city for convenience and urban living. 

Sarah: I love living in West Philly. It's a great neighborhood. Lots of flea markets, lots of farmers markets, and beautiful gardens and greenery.

Girls ... you're awesome. Thanks for inviting me into your space and sharing your work with us! 

Keep your eye out for a sponsored giveaway from SquidWhale Designs later this week!

Uncle Bill's Pancakes

Prior to this day of heaven, I couldn't remember the last time I had a waffle. So I thought it was okay to treat myself. I couldn't have made a better decision. I'm STILL thinking about those strawberries.  Thanks for the tip Abby!

Do you prefer waffles or pancakes? There's something about pancakes I just can't wrap my head around (unless they are homemade).  But really, I'm a waffle kind of gal at heart.

About To Break

Lately I've been finding myself in different cities and towns every other night. Most of these commutes have been done in the rain. But there's something eye-catching about a sky just about to break.

The Easiest GIVEAWAY You'll Ever Enter

Sooo this giveaway isn't being sponsored by anyone...well unless you count my inability to know my shoe size as a kind of sponsorship....Yup, that's right. I ordered these shoes from Urban and had every intention of falling in love with them, but they are too small! Then I got caught up in graduation and moving into my apartment, and time went by and I can't return them anymore.

So because I love you, and because I love hearing from you....
(Click through to see how to enter)

Kicking Ass And Taking Charge

Every once in a while something happens that challenges you to re-focus and re-work your life. One of those moments happened to me while on vacation this week (perfect timing, right?). Instead of sitting in self-pity and wondering why in the world this was happening, I decided to get pro-active and take ahold of my future. I'm not one for sitting around doing nothing, so I've been hunting and searching for answers and opportunities these past couple of days.  While the future looks scary and a little bit unknown, I do know that what I can do is valuable and who I am is valuable, and even though others might not see that through an online posted resume or a quick email, I don't want to settle for anything less than where I know I can thrive. So here's to taking charge. Independent, strong women is where it's at!

These photos were taken a few days ago while on vacation in Ocean City, NJ. 

Fractured Prune Donuts

I've never really enjoyed the delicacy of a freshly baked donut. I've always gone with the ones at Dunkin or Wawa, but these, these, are on a whole 'nother level. So far there's just three locations, Maryland (where FP originated), Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but trust me it's worth the travel!

You can see how they hand dip each of the donuts individually and then arranged them in a purple box ready for feasting. I chose the peppermint chocolate, and boy was it delicious! For kicks I went in for a second one, but it was too sweet for my stomach (I've been trying to eat more greens and fruits, well, except for this minor slip up). But I wonder if they have a frequent buyer card.....