STYLING IN: LONG CROPS

Photog: Courtney Boeckman
Shirt: Crop Top from Abound via Nordstrom Rack 
Pants: Cartonniev via Gabriel Brothers (old);
Shoes: Leopard Skimmer via Madewell
Earrings: Curate Boutique

You asked for it! Well, only one of you did (love you so much, Leis!)... still waiting to hear from the rest of you. But,  writing my first style post was so fun that I decided to answer for you. Here comes Magical Simplicity's Style Post Volume 2: The Crop Top. 

Crop tops have been sneaking into our wardrobes for years & now it's pretty much everywhere! In fact, the last time I was at Neons, there was midriff at every turn. (Including a turn around the mirror in the (omg when did Neons make both bathrooms downstairs women's?!?!) bathroom).

I love the crop top. For one, there is literally less material to it. That is oh so nice in these warm months. Also, I think it's cool that this trend is coming back from the 70s. It really is a testament to my theory that all fashion is cyclical. But lastly & most importantly, it's about time we own our bodies! To me the crop top says: Well heck yes! I am confident & happy & love my curves! (But in a humble way, because you're not actually speaking it... Right?)

Anywho, I'm not quite cool enough for the full crop, but I sure do like to rock a long crop from time to time! & because I'm Annie, I've incorporated bows where I can (the pants. They've been a pair of my faves for years.  Partially for the ruffles but mostly for the bow).

Trying to decide if I would be able to make it up there... I was :D

One of my best gals & I took a little walk through our neighborhood  this week in a quick & rare respite from the rain. I know I've talked about it before, but the murals in Cincinnati are just the coolest. & isn't Courtney a great photog!? I love her angles & shots & I gotta say the fact that she's seen me at my truest (we send triple chin snaps to each other throughout the work day) made this shoot so fun & natural. Felt like we were just out for a stroll :D

Oh & p.s. in case you're wondering: my arm. I want to lie and tell you I injured it doing something really cool (skydiving? scuba diving? hang gliding? even a cartwheel..). But nope. Poison ivy. Probably got it while exploring Cincy for the blog. So, I guess it was something cool, after all.  :D

Well, this is my last post as a twenty-three-year-old, lovers! I'll catch ya in my mid twenties! Hope you have the best weekend.

GEO ROCK CANDY NEON ICING

Well, well, well. Wednesday, we meet again! But today is not just any Wednesday, darlings. This is my last Wednesday as a twenty-three-year-old! To celebrate, I bring you cupcakes. You may remember these back from Magical Simplicity’s Birthday, the geo rock candy neon cupcakes. 

Now, looking back, geo (as in rocks, as in the building blocks of our planet earth) & neon (as modern day as it goes) don’t exactly go together. But life doesn’t exactly  go together either. (Read: I stumbled upon neon food coloring in the store & instantly wanted to make everything in my life neon.)

Anywho – this was my first attempt at these super fun cupcakes. I used boxed white cake mix from Betty Crocker & my icing was just your run-of-the-mill cream cheese icing from the cake aisle. What makes these babies special is the topping. Rock Candy.

That’s right, rock candy.

Where do you even get rock candy? I asked myself the same question. Though I’m confident Minges downtown could have helped my cause, I was in a hurry (per usual).  SO, my very original Google search for:“Where can I buy rock candy in Florence, Kentucky” lead me to Cracker Barrel.

Guys, they have really cute stuff. Like, unexpectedly. Six boxes of rock candy & one cute compass coffee mug later, I was en route home.

ROCK GEO NEON TOPPING | YOU WILL NEED

|1| Vodka + Food coloring
|2| Loose Rock Candy
|3| Mini Strainer + Parchment Paper + Cookie Sheet

|1| Pour a shallow layer of vodka in a cereal bowl. I cut it with a little water, just because. Add your preferred food coloring drops. Stir. You can do as many colors as you want! I ended up mixing a bowl for all 4 colors in the neon box.

|2| Divide rock candy amongst bowls to preference. It only needs a few second to hold the color, but the longer you keep it in the darker your candy will be.

|3| Dump bowls individually through a mini strainer (is that the right word? Eh, you know what I’m talking about.. those little tiny-holed ones). Spread out in single layer on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Let dry for one day. Then start topping!

I went a little overboard with the neon (dyed the batter, the icing + the rocks). As my friend CincinNatalie described it, "discovering neon food coloring really makes you wonder why the primary colors exist."

So fun, right! You could also use this topping on sugar cookies, or cake, or donuts (what?!?). Or, I feel like it's just a good recipe to have for life, really. It’s that much fun.

Can’t wait to see what y’all come up with! 

CINCY STYLE: ALMS PARK

Lately I've been obsessed with Alms Park. Do you know it? A lot of people get it confused with Ault Park. They are different. Alms Park is in Columbia Tusculum, at the top of my street. In fact, my house backs up to it. 

Apparently, way back in the day, Alms Park was the perfect place for Native Americans to spy on the early settlers of Columbia. & then later, for Nicholas Longworth to create his famous Catawba wine. But mostly, I just use it to relax.  It is so lovely. I almost am hesitant to tell you about it - I covet the Cincy gem more than anything. But you deserve to know. So let's begin :D

There's this secret hidden path that cuts through our woods to the top of the park.

At the top, most people head for the river overlook, which is really beautiful (actually, there's been a wedding there every weekend this spring). But not me. My favorite spot is this grassy overlook of Lunken Airport. It's kind of hidden. Sometimes I'm the only person lounging in the sun.

When my college roommates were in town last weekend, we needed a really low-impact activity for Sunday. (Don't have quite the stamina we did in college for beverages...) (like, seriously though). &, though I'm not much of a yogi (much to my despair, all the cool people are yogis), I did have fun documenting our trip. & jumping in for some core near the end.

But truthfully, if you're asking, my favorite activity will always remain parking it in the sun with a good book. (See what I did there? Parking it... because it's a park...) :D

Happy Monday, y'all. I hope that you have a really awesome week. If you can, try to make it to one of our amazing Cincinnati Parks... maybe with an umbrella though. Apparently we are to expect rain. Gotta love Cincy weather :D

 Photog: Annie Butler & Leisa Kozak

MAY FAVES.

May, May, May. You were so fab! I can't believe that we are one weekend away from June - but I'm ready for it! June is our busy season at work (fourteen events in the first three weeks!) & it's the start of all my favorite summer things. & also, I'll be celebrating another year of life. So, May, let's get you in the books: here are some of my May Faves :D

So technically this was the last day of April, but I had May on my mind :) Not important. What's important are these fries. As a Columbia Tusculum resident... for the past two years... obviously I've been to Green Dog Cafe. But my little sister hadn't! She's a 13-year vegetarian, so I knew she would love eating here before we jetted off to The Phantom of the Opera  (I have no words to tell you how amazing Phantom was. & you know I'm rarely speechless..). I actually love the fact that my phone paints this halo around my head because these fries for real make me glow in happiness. God Bless Green Dog Fries Forever.

For the over-a-year I've been working in Florence (y'all), I've wished for a coffee shop. Back at my first post-college job, I walked to Coffee Emporium OTR at least six times a week. My wishes were answered in early May. Velocity Bike & Bean is a half mile  from my office. ONE HALF MILE.  It's a coffee shop in front & a bicycle shop in back! I'm going to be the world's best customer. I can already tell.

On Mother's Day we had a really wonderful family day. My little brother (a rising senior at Hillsdale College) (How?! I feel like I was just telling you about moving him in to his freshman dorm) was in town for a few days before he jetted off to an internship in California. I met my older sister (& her pup) at my parents' house in Loveland. It was a perfect day & we had so much fun testing out my new camera (ok, it's not new. & its actually not mine. My little sister left it at home over the summer while she interns in New York City. But it still was a lot of fun :D)

I told you all  that we're moving out of Columbia Tusculum, right?  Well, on May 13 I signed on at my new apartment! Shout out to my gal Courtney who found it & to my mom who helped me search through a million others. It's on Ida Street in Mt. Adams, a cute little studio with painted yellow walls. I'll be very close to the Cincinnati Art Museum & Playhouse in the Park & I can have a puppy (hint). & since I'm sure you're just dying to know: Yes, I will be able to walk to an independent coffee shop. Bow Tie Cafe, get ready for me.

I love butterflies. There is no creature more magical. The Pura Vida Butterfly Exhibit has been coming to Cincinnati's Krohn Conservatory for years & the tour always falls near my birthday! I hardly believe it myself when I tell you, but this May was the first time I've ever been. Obviously, I loved it. & if anyone can help convince 1,000 butterflies to follow me around everywhere I walk - that would be just great.

<insert video>

I told you in my April Faves that I loved Coldplay's Magic.  Well I decided I liked it so much I should just buy the whole album. I love the entire thing, but my favorite on Ghost Stories is the hidden track, number nine: O. I just think it is so beautiful. Take a listen.  

At the end of May a few of my college roommates came to town for a fabulous reunion weekend. We had the most lovely time, but I won't tell you about it here, because you can read all my thoughts HERE. It's my fave :D

So, Happy Summer people! Hail to white pants & summer nights. Have a magical weekend! xoxo.

STYLING: IN PANT ROMPERS

What's up y'all? I'm thinking about sharing a few style posts with you guys. Maybe. If you'd like them. Would you? For me, fashion is definitely  a Magical Simplicity. Personal style is your impression maker. People see your style before they even know your name. It's like boom: I'm wearing a pant romper. Also, hi. My name is Annie.

Your clothes tell people what you think about yourself & what you want them to think about you. Personal style is your art. It's your mood. It's your personality. It's you. Plus it just makes me really happy. & happiness is what Magical Simplicity is all about.

This season I'm obsessed with the pant romper. It's seriously perfect. Comfy & cozy & simple. Excellent for sneaking around railroad tracks & being rebellious.  I know - I really live life on the wild side.

Anywho, I'm excited to hear what you think. I'd love to share some of my wardrobe with you, but only if it's something you'd like to see on Magical Simplicity. P.S. This was a really fun photo shoot. :D

Photog: Jackie Butler
Wearing (in my first ever style post!!).... 
Pant Romper: dolan los angeles via TJ Maxx
Jacket: Finders Keepers via Curate Boutique
Shoes: Restricted via TJ Maxx;
Sunnies: Clearance at Target.