Paper to Polyvore

When I was little I played paper dolls.

When I was home sick from school my Mom
would buy a book for me.

Trying different outfits on the dolls was so fun...and if I found a favorite I would use scotch tape to secure it on indefinitely!

Fast forward to 2011.....the options are flipp'n sweet!



via mrs.lilien



Paper has turned to Polyvore.

Trying on clothes has never been easier.

exhibit A.

GET IT TOGETHER

A source on the Next Door website lets you put together an outfit....using pieces available in our store and for

purchase online. Just like paperdolls!!

 See what a huge selection of

accessories we have as well.

Check it...get it together

exhibit B.

This is how crazy detailed you can get at Polyvore.
(see below for a description of Polyvore...for you newbies...or fellas) 

Polyvore is a site where you can create different "sets" or outfits virtually. Its better and easier than looking at items seperately and trying to determine if they
would go together or not.

There are clothes, shoes, and accessories from different web sites and stores that you can choose from. If you download this tool, you can even get things from web sites that are not listed to use in your sets by clicking on them.

Paper Dolls don't have a chance.....

Moving on.

Have you ever had jalapenos on your pizza?

 If not trust me and try it.

They are never to be left off again.

I grew up in Greendale where Ricardos pretty much ruled the pizza world. Never knew it until Saturday...but they
also own Riverfront Pizzeria on Erie St.
Great pizza and right on the river. Perfect for a late lunch.

remnants of our lunch....

I just realized I am talking about being a kid and where I grew up... it must be all this back to school talk.  My 3 girls start school tomorrow. It's bitter sweet.  We love summer, but starting up at school again is exciting. All the new school supplies we organized last night, the new backpacks, shoes, and my favorite, fresh crayons.

Here is an old school favorite from all that growing up I did....if you can get past the grill and the mane on this guy,

this song is fantastic.

It's a school night...gotta go.

-JR

INdustri Cafe and The Scientist

Milwaukee is filled with 

some truly great restaurants. 

Sometimes though, it's finding them that can get tricky.

We found INdustri Cafe last night.

I love this joint.

First off, there is no way this appetizer should be missed.

Polish Sausage Kabobs with fried white cheddar curds mini all dipped into rosemary whole grain mustard dipping sauce.

Those of you that know me know that I have a drink. 

My drink is Patron on the rocks with a splash of each OJ, lime juice, Grand Marnier and club soda. This place had freshly squeezed OJ and a huge juicy orange 

slice floating in the glass. 

 Seriously, perfectly done and one is just enough.

 For dinner I wisely chose the grilled endive salad with fig-balsamic glaze, blood orange coulis,  and hazelnut oil drizzle.

The look of this place is pretty darn cool as well. Any of these words describe it. Easy going, low key, or chill. 

I will go back soon.  

Here is what is said about these two fellas 

who created this establishment.

With a combined experience of over thirty-eight years within the kitchens of Milwaukee’s finest restaurants, the founders of INdustri Cafe are more than ready to showcase their very own interpretation of fine-dining. Born and raised in Milwaukee, both Chris Miller and Robert Klemm started working within the industry at age fourteen. The two first worked together at a downtown sushi restaurant and quickly noticed their cohesive synergy. It didn’t take long for them to begin to  envision what their own restaurant would look like, noting the pitfalls they had encountered working for other establishments and making plans for how they would do it different when it was solely their project.

With much patience and perseverance the founders waited for the perfect location before taking the plunge into their own adventure. The space needed to be warm, welcoming and instantly make patrons feel comfortable. The venue they eventually chose does exactly that – it is a shelter from the ordinary.

The vision for INdustri Cafe pays homage to all Milwaukee-based industries: agriculture, artists, manufacturing and of course, the service industry itself. Every aspect of the restaurant embodies this mission – from the lack of a stringent dress code, the presence of local artists’ work on the Cream City bricks, the localized liquor menu – the beer list only includes Wisconsin-based products, and the use of Braise, a farm to table food coop used by only a few other restaurants in the city.

To read the healthy review that INdustri received

 from a real foodie, click here

After dinner I heard Coldplay's The Scientist played acoustically....I do believe having it played for you with a guitar is better than the piano, just my opinion. Do you agree?

Here is Chris Martin doing the same. -JR

This song has followed me over the last few

months. The universe must be in charge.

  

    

Random Speculation

spec·u·la·tion [spek-yuh-ley-shuhn] 

noun

1. the contemplation or consideration of some subject: to engage in speculation on humanity's ultimate destiny.


2. a single instance or process of consideration.


3. a conclusion or opinion reached by such contemplation: These speculations are impossible to verify.


4. conjectural consideration of a matter; conjecture or surmise: a report based on speculation rather than facts.


5. engagement in business transactions involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large gains, especially trading in commodities, stocks, etc., in the hope of profit from changes in the market price.


For your listening enjoyment. Colin Hay is the man behind the 80's band Men at Work...he still is at work. Love anything sung by him.



In lay person definition, I think speculate means to
chew over, think over, reflect, ruminate, contemplate, cerebrate, cogitate.....We speculate daily without even knowing we do it.

Will it rain?
What should I wear to work?
What to make for dinner?
What color to paint that wall above the fireplace?
Is it okay to blog about ____?
Which to buy?

Skinny
7 For All Mankind Roxanne Classic Skinny



Straight
Citizens of Humanity Ava Straight Leg

I ruminate over much more important things than written above, but those are not for the blog. :)
Another perfect tune for your Tuesday morning.

Have to go, my brother Vince just stopped by. We are discussing his outfit changes for his high school senior photos next week. I also need to hear more about his upcoming faster motorcycle purchase. I am a big sister cub...need to talk him out of this.

Faster is NOT better.

I can't even talk about this....

-JR



Taking a risk....nay or yay?

I have always been a fairly healthy person.  I eat well, excercise enough, and seem to make "healthy" life choices.  This got me thinking, what is healthy? Is it in the eye of the beholder? Can you have something healthy

and turn it into sh*t?

Take the egg, a general healthy option.



Soft boil it and it stays the same.

Devil it up with mayo and mustard.

It turns into an artery clogging mess.

The sun can be heathy....

according to this website

•Feeling down? One of the major benefits of sunlight is that it will soothe your nerves and boost your mood leaving you with a renewed sense of well-being. Sunlight increases the production of endorphins and serotonin in your brain which will definitely leave you feeling much better.

•Getting enough sunlight during the day can help you sleep better at night. If you are exposed to natural light during the day, it will increase your melatonin output at night. Melatonin is a natural hormone made by our bodies. It enhances sleep and slows down the aging process.

but the sun can also do this....

and this.....remember the old lady from

Something About Mary?

A glass of red wine...should be fine.

But too much of anything is a no go.



There are lots of healthy things in this world that make us feel good or satisfied, but of course nothing is without risk.

Everything can be risky. Driving to work, eating chicken with the bone in, or swimming in the ocean.

I see it this way. If you don't take a chance on the egg....

what's living life all about?

Healthy or not, eat, do, or drink what feels right to you. 

Have a great weekend.

-JR

I really do love denim....that's why I work for Next Door. ;)

It was a fun day at the store. Next Door carries a ridiculous amount of denim.  Ridiculous in a really good way.

 Glad to see some of my girlfriends stopped by to take advantage of the private sale day I had for them. 

There were some breaks in my day....so I did what I was told.

I tried on denim.

I wish these 7's could come home with me, but

I am now a girl on a budget.

7 for All Mankind Slim Trouser...fantastic.

Citizens of Humanity

Thompson

Cropped Skinny

(very fun cut)

High waisted...this is the only pic you'll see me in of these.

I am all torso in this style...but they will 

look fabulous on the rest of you chicks.

Ellen and I are done.....never thought I could tire of trying on some of the prettiest pairs of jeans.

Almost forgot the Palmer Baggy pant

from Citizens of Humanity.

These were controversial...I loved them.

Susan (SP smarty pants) says they look like I had a diaper on. Thoughts?

Last minute addition...my favorite DL1961.

The Emma Skinny.

This is the first in a long time and most likely the last you will see my mug trying on our wears....but it's for the greater good of our store. (sarcasm)

See you soon.

-JR

Bringing the JOY

 Things that bring me

Nina Bean.

  Rachel Lydia.

Ellie Belly.

Having a fun bowl of cereal with my little ladies.

My sister.

My mom's favorite song.

A fresh pedicure.

Dreaming of a kitchen like this...so shallow, oh well. :)

Sticking with shallow...this looks delicious.

Have a good night....I am heading to the

M Magazine's 

Best Of Milwaukee Party

It's all for a great cause.

-JR

We HEART Lauren Moshi Totes

Based on their love of the finer things in life, brother and sister team, Michael and Lauren have created their own standout clothing company, Lauren Moshi. Michael and Lauren are inspired by high fashion and fine art. Lauren Moshi creates unique pieces that are meticulously crafted in limited quantities.

They are here waiting for you at NEXT DOOR!

Check out Lauren Moshi's blog.....

We are full service here....stop and shop...I'll hold your babies.

This is AJ, Renotta's grandson.

Future Denim King.

Have great weekend....see you at Next Door.

or at shopatnextdoor.com

-JR

Yo Mama!

My girls and I tried something new tonight, well it was new to me. Yo Mama is the hot new place in Tosa.  My girls ride their bikes there with friends, but tonight they convinced me to check it out. (love these crazy little ladies.)

You start here...

Fill er' up (I chose ginger sorbet and pistachio yogurt)

Add some of this good stuff!

(I forgot to take pics of the healthy things...I added strawberries and raspberries.)

Then you pay and eat.

You can sit inside and read the cool walls.

Or sit outside the sweet new exterior.

A friend of mine and I were talking about this whole concept in the Midwest....what happens in winter? Does business slow so much that the rent is hard to pay?  Or do they have some sort of winter concept? Is it like the ski store in summer...when they sell patio furniture?

Do they sell hot chocolate? 

Why do I really care?....good lord I think too much.

I guess we'll see how it plays out when the snow falls.

We had a fun time. Our little "downtown" Tosa was bustling tonight. All of the outdoor restaurants were filled.  It was good for me and my chickys to get out.

Things in my personal life are changing and that's all I really want to say about that at this point.

That being said, I was at the Public Market with my 6 year old Nina on Tuesday afternoon.

I bargained with her..... if we could stop at Anthropologie we would then head to Kehr's Candies for a chocolate IPod. crumby photo, but she could hardly stay still because she wanted to eat it. :) It started to downpour while we were in the market....we didn't mind. We took the long way back to our car...we both didn't mind getting drenched.

While there I found a little self direction in the card section.

My personal favorite....

On a super happy note....my little younger brother Michael married his high school love, Katie this past weekend. It was a great weekend.....what a perfect outdoor wedding with some of the most touching Irish prayers.

My younger (and little) brother, Vince with all of our kids.

Michael and Katie brew their own beer....they had 2 of their favorites at the reception.

Katie was a beautiful bride...this shot was taken with my phone in the dark.....so cool.

We spent the wedding weekend at my friend Kori's house. We claimed to be house sitting, but they have a pool, live near all the wedding festivities...and it was 90 degrees everyday. Someone has to help a friend out when their out of town. (Thanks Kori. xo)

 The past 8 months have been sort of insane. I am getting off this crazy train and sinking myself into my life.

Here goes nothing. -JR

my lovely daughter snapped this shot. xo

P.S. Heading to Chicago this weekend for the Fall/Holiday buying trip at StyleMax.....sneak peeks for you next week.

P.S.S. Thanks Amy for convincing me to blog tonight...glad I kept running into you EVERY place in Tosa tonight. Oh, and thanks for being a loyal reader. ;)