Too bad the weekend is over...

We had an awesome Sister Weekend in Chicago - we had a Gatsby date night with a champagne dinner, played at Dose Market (check out our handmade flower crowns!), had lots of amazing food, visited with family, & enjoyed some well-needed good sister time.

Hope you have a happy Monday!

2 \\ Weekend Reading

How is it already Friday again? It has been one of those weeks that feels simultaneously infinitely long while feeling like the blink of an eye in hindsight.  Luckily for us ladies at Merrimint, we have a sister weekend awaiting us! L is visiting Chicago for a weekend of Gatsby, champagne, running by the lake, and meeting our newest baby in the family.  It is guaranteed to be one for the books... look out for fun photos and recaps next week!

For now, here is some fun reading and inspiration to distract you from Friday work, and to get you in the weekend mood...

24 hours in the life of Jenna Lyons, Creative Director for J. Crew.  Hysterical and inspiring at the same time.

Loving the sweet, light look of this dress.

This Friday series is always fun for weekend to-do's.

Fascinating new research about cleaning a baby's pacifier.

Tips from photogenic women.

Got 7 minutes? Fit in a workout!

Reviews of the newly released Great Gatsby! (Will you see it?)

1 \\ Weekend Reading

Merrimint is starting a new Friday series! We're calling it Weekend Reading- a collection of thought-provoking, laughter-provoking, inspiration-provoking, or just plain old fun links for you to read and devour during your weekend.  Enjoy!

A response to Lean In that is particularly interesting.

Does financial equality depend on who you marry?

An entertaining video from the White House Correspondents dinner.

A first listen to She & Him's "Volume 3"!

Advice to equip kids for life.

When diet meets delicious.

Summer Collection - Look 2

So I'm posting these backwards (as I finish pieces :), and this simple shift was intended to be Look 1.  It's the most simple of linen shifts, essentially shapeless with a tiny bit of back detailing. There's nothing better than throwing on an easy breezy piece on laid back days.

Summer Collection - Look 1

Skirt: self-made  Top: Nordstrom  Shoes: Zara

One of three looks I designed & made as a summer collection for this year.  A breezy cream jersey maxi that opens up into a fun silk print in the back.  More to come! 

Quotable

Been seeing this quote around the Pinterest world lately, and find it speaks to me every time I read it.  Pinterest is always a great place to find some good soothing words or inspiring quotes.

In between

I'm so glad it's halfway through the week.  The weather here in Minneapolis has been dreadfully winter for so long, and the one glimpse of spring weather (Above 60!  And maybe some sun too!) is this Sunday.  I am so ready for the days of biking to work, outdoor patio happy hours, and Sunday picnics.  It's such an in-between time.  My mood is easily affected by it too - R has been super great at trying to cheer me up, but I'm grasping for that super-excited feeling I had just last summer, on the brink of moving here.

I still haven't quite ditched the opaque tights & boots at work, sad as that is.  Instead, I'm starting to look to classic neutrals & fresh, ligher fabrics, like utility jackets and flowing skirts.  Paired with grounding basics, some new-season pieces can be perfectly transitional (except it will still be a while until I can pull of sandals around here, with snow still on the ground).

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Keep your fingers crossed that it will finally be nice out soon - as soon as it's nice, I'll be showing you my spring/summer collection!