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Color Mix

(c/o Yumi Kim outer blouse, c/o Romwe top, c/o Hudson "Owl Feather" jeans, c/o Kork-Ease "Hailey" wedges)





**Special Giveaway from Kork-Ease**

Retail Value: $170
Size: 10 

If you wear a size 10 or know someone who does, here's a chance for you to win it!! 

 1. Follow me on Instagram @btsgrl 

 2. Leave me an email address along with your comment in this post! 


This contest is now closed. I will announce the winner via email!

Mother's Day: 4 gifts for new moms

Last week, I featured a Mother's Day gift guide with gift ideas for our own mothers. But I've gotten emails from husbands asking for gift ideas for their wives, since they want to honor the mothers of their own children. How sweet is that sentiment? So, here are four Mother's Day ideas for new mothers...
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i love you more than cupcakes

I Love You More than Cupcakes by Retro Love Photography via Society6
ph: Retro Love Photography | Society6

Yes You Can



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{Top: Similar | Scarf: Similar | Jeans: Gap | Bag: c/o Brahmin | Shoes: Blowfish}

A few weeks ago I was helping a girl in the store and I tossed a pink polka dot scarf her way. She looked at me bewildered and said "what do I do with this?" I spouted out a few different ways she could wear the scarf, one being with a striped shirt or a floral shirt. She said "I can do that?!" all the way keeping her big eyes on the suspect: the polka dot scarf. I assured her that she can certainly mix that scarf with anything she darn well felt like mixing it with. Because really -- who is going to stop her? If she liked it, then she should wear it. Isn't that what personal style is after all? 

It dawned on me that when I get dressed I rarely think "can I do this?" (Granted, sometimes I probably should.) But today as I was getting out of the car to take photos I grabbed my polka dot bag, looked at my striped shirt and thought "Can I do this?!" 

Then the nice voice of shop girl said, 'yes, yes you can.' 


About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head. (Seriously.)

The funniest thing we discovered in Amsterdam was definitely this classic children's book. The title? "About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head." Look inside...Read more »

Motherhood Mondays: Biking in Amsterdam

I'd love to share our Amsterdam photos later this week, but in the meantime, want to see some crazy photos of bikes in Amsterdam? Here goes...
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NEW GIVEAWAY: Ecco Shoes



Whenever I slip into these little ECCO heels, I'm immediately brought back to my day in Europe with the team back in February. Then, I was bundled in giant scarves, thick knits, and the warmest boots known to man. NYC is starting to get better each day, making it a perfect time to expose these neon pink toes around Soho! Though this "Montpellier" pair by Ecco is super dainty and pretty, I roughed it up a bit with an extra loose pair of orange jeans, a cropped knit sweater, and my favorite leather jacket. Right now, the colors in my wardrobe are all over the place, so it's no surprise I'm taking on the city in all colors of the rainbow!

So to kick of Spring/Summer, I'm giving away this adorable pair of ECCO "Montpellier" heels to one lucky reader! 

Simply choose ONE way to enter:

Either,

a. Like ECCO USA Shoes on Facebook and post on the wall “I want to win a pair of ECCO Montpellier heels from Natalie Off Duty”
b. Upload a photo of the outfit you’d wear with your new Montpellier heels to the ECCO USA Shoes page  

OR 
c. Tweet “I want to win a pair of @ECCO_USA_Shoes Montpellier heels from @NatalieOffDuty! (Link to blog post). #NordicChic”

Yep, super easy right? 
Like me on Facebook/ Follow me on Twitter for all giveaway updates!

 (Contest ends May 7th, must be a US resident and over 18 years old. Good luck!)

UPDATE: Congratulations to the winner: Cindy Batchelor!! Thanks to everyone to entered. For now, you can still go to ECCO's facebook..we're giving away a shoe a day (Thursday we're giving away this exact shoe again) Amazing right?! 

When you hang on to the things you love...



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Just found these while tossing out old clothes and shoes in the basement.  I kept them for over 4 years because they were too pretty to let go.  





It's a good thing that I did...



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i wonder

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ph: red__rum

Max,

Sometimes I think I act like some kind of pseudo-psychologist- know -it -all deeper than the ocean -star crossed lover -big picture thinker -creative soul- kitchen sink astrologer -with daddy issues -who over stays her welcome.

I'm insecure, and I'm naive, and I give it all away up front. I talk during movies and know endless amounts of useless trivia. In short, I am annoying. I am that sappy eyed puppy child that follows all the cool kids around.

I am the best friend who falls in love with you, but keeps quiet as I help you pick out something nice for your girlfriend on valentines day. I am the kind of girl who actually thinks a letter like this one could really change someone's mind. I wonder how many of my memories of you are just my own fantasies mulled over a million ways
and projected onto every surface, reflected and refracted off your eyeballs into mine, so that I think they're reality.

you were the foreman of my heart but your burnt the blue prints and quit the project ("I can't work in these kind of conditions") But I kept working overtime, doing your job, I'm breaking my own heart now so that you don' have to get stressed out over that too. you are the proverbial charming trouble maker loved by school girls and teachers and mothers alike. it's like Tyler Durden taking Peter Pan's Wendy out for a milkshake. one glass, two straws.

but I didn't feel stupid around you. I didn't feel the girl in the "before" picture. I didn't feel like a square -wet blanket -sissy tattle- tale -brace-face -cry-baby. I know you don't kiss all the girls like that. or maybe you do. maybe I don't give a shit either way (she tried to say with conviction but the stupid little heart on her sleeve gave her away) I know when you dream, you dream of yourself but better, and not an asshole.

I wonder if you lay around naked eating cereal and laughing hysterically with all the girls. I wonder if you hand select the records you are going to play for them, or is it only for the girls that have record players? I wonder if a bottle of whiskey and chinese takeaway is just your "go-to" date when you can't think of anything creative to do. I wonder if you always inch your hand towards theirs under the covers after a fight as your silent way of saying sorry. I wonder if you tell all the girls that "right now you just wanted to hold them as tightly as you could."

I wonder if they all have nicknames. I wonder if all of them let you fuck them in their kitchens and bathrooms and in cars parked next to that apartment complex, and on trampolines or beach towels in the garden. I wonder if they all know how wonderful you really are.

I wonder if I was special, but for the first time in my life not because my daddy ran away and boys wouldn't look at me that way and I never got asked to dance and my ipod didn't have cool music on it and I laughed too loud and didn't wear thong underwear and I was scared we would get in trouble and I gave it all away up front and I talked during the movie and I was always embarrassed or hurt or worried and I need you to tell me that I'm pretty and funny and witty and smart and great in bed and a fantastic dancer and that I "get" you and it's me and you against the world and we talk like were in a woody allen film and the soundtrack sounds like garden state and that you run through the airport and say "oh my god, I love you like no one has ever loved you or will love you and whatever you do please don't get on that plane because I can't sleep can't eat can't breathe without you I think you're the one let's get fucking married."

I want to know if I was special so that I can get a good nights sleep and say yes when other men ask me out to dinner. I want to know because the unknown hurts more than the truth. I wonder if I'll ever sleep.

love always,
L.

how to show someone that you love them

HowtoShow clara z flickr
ph: Clara Z

Nordic Chic: Hosting the ECCO Event!


I got to revisit a little bit of Scandinavia...yet in the heart of NYC! I just hosted the ECCO shoes event and it was the perfect way to gather all my friends and kind of bring them back to my ECCO trip in Europe. Glimpses of footage from the trip were lying around every where: images of the team and I trekking through Amsterdam, heading out into the snowy countryside to visit their tannery, and even hilarious video footage of our last-minute flight to Copenhagen for their Walk in Style runway show.  Basically, we celebrated Scandinavian style with hearty beers, too much food, and of course, there I was bouncing around the building in the "Sculptured 65" boot, which are basically a black patent ankle boot that can easily double as running shoes (they're that comffffyyy). I'll show you more soon, they are out this Fall! Always, always, I'll be a huge fan of simple Scandinavian design!

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Sweet Tooth



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A shot of pure spring inspiration




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things are different now

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ph: Shannon Crosby

Things are different now. No other eyes are as captivating. No other smile is as contagious.
No one else’s words are as reassuring. No other arms are as comforting. I don’t long to hear any other voice on the other side of the phone. I don’t get butterflies at the thought of anyone else. Things are different now. When another walks by, I no longer give a second look. It’s like no one else exists; no one but you. They say that “love is blind;” and if anything, I’m only blind to everyone else. No one can measure up to you. They always fall short. Things are different now. Seeing through the eyes of love is like seeing under a microscope. I see things in you that I could never see in others, with my old eyes naked of love. Each little quirk, story, and moment with you are like the cells that make you who you are to me. The more I know you, discover things about you, the deeper I fall, captivated by the simplistic nature of who you are. It’s as though I’ve discovered something for the very first time, and now that I know of its existence I can’t imagine a world without. Things are different now. As I learn about you, I am also learning about myself. I’ve never felt like I quite belonged in this world until now. Until I had someone to walk beside me, encourage me, dream with me. Things are different now. I smile at the thought of you. I cry at the thought of being away from you. I fear, always have and always will, but with you it’s a different fear. It isn’t so much a fear of you causing harm, but a fear of losing you to the unknown. Things are different now. I let my guard down. Give you a straight shot to my heart and all that I am. I trust you. Something that is not easy for me to do. Things are different now. I love this difference: the joy, the anxiousness, and the longing. I hate this difference: the unknown, the risks, and the doubt. Things are different now. Please, be careful. I never thought this would happen. I had given up hope. But here you are…my hope in love, in true happiness, in the future. Things are different now. Thank you.

H&M/Fashion Star Party



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Tuesday's H&M/Fashion Star event



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Have a relaxing weekend.

My darlings, what are you up to this weekend? Alex and I just got back from Amsterdam, where we had an amazing time (I'm excited to share photos next week), although now that we're back, we've been smooching on Toby non-stop this morning. We missed him so much! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun posts, if you find yourself in a blog-reading mood...xoxo

Our friends in Austin took family portraits. Adorable!

Fascinating piece about marriage and sex.

Such a gorgeous haircut.

Alternative to flip flops.

Lion tattoo. Rawr!

Great round mirror.

Fourteen City Hall weddings.

This white cotton dress would be perfect for City Hall.

Make a taco box for new parents!

And these taco holders are a great idea.

Painted glass tumblers.

What an awesome neon clutch.

Have you seen this baby elephant on a beach?

Surprising safety tip: Don't go down slides with toddlers in your lap.

Domino Magazine's special issue is on newsstands now. Excited to nab one today! xo
(Top photo of the Green Tunnel, Castle Garden, United Kingdom)

Friday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Paper & Chain, a beautiful jewelry line designed by two British friends. I'm completely over the moon about their geometric designs, especially the leather bracelets and triangle studs. Today they're letting one lucky winner choose her favorite piece. Which would you choose?

For a chance to win, please visit Paper & Chain and leave a comment below with your favorite piece. A winner will be selected on Monday, so you have three days! Good luck! xoxo Update: Amanda W. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing.

Dusk till Dawn


(Chaser Brand leather jacket and tee, David Kahn jeans, Alimonada skull bracelets, Shoemint leopard sandals)

Friday, you roll around quicker than expected week by week. Everyday for me has been go, go, go and I can't wait to finally sit back and do absolutely nothing...or absolutely everything this weekend. I don't even know how I'm alive right now! Late nights and early mornings have been taking over my life. Thank goodness for coffee... but darn, I've come to realize I'm completely out of milk and creamer. Grocery shopping has been on my long to-do list for ages! It's about time I get some things organized...the big sis is coming to town and lord knows this weekend will be crazy. We've got some killer shows to see and of course insanely sick projects in the works. I just can't wait to see her, especially since Coachella madness is over and we can finally act like normal people. For now, all you need to know is that life currently revolves around Chaser Brand's rock n' roll tees, and their brand spankin' new moto leather jacket. Funny, they're really all I need to feel happy right now.

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