WELCOME TO IDA STREET!

Editor's Note: If you're looking for an older post (from Magical Simplicity), try searching the title in the search bar, top right. They're all in here somewhere. Thanks for stopping by!

You're finally here! I have been dying to say this & finally I can: Welcome to Ida Street! It's a new space, with a new name, to celebrate a new stage & talk about the same things. I'm so glad you're here :D

Ida Street is a real place. I moved here just after my 24th birthday. Do you remember? In my tiny studio apartment I started learning a lot. Like what the tool box is for. & that I actually love photography. & that personal style is everything, but that sweatpants are a girl's best friend. It was on Ida Street that I started growing up.

It's okay! Magical Simplicity is here too! I stuffed it (& all my old posts) into this beautiful leather tote. So... let's continue our adventure.  Welcome, at last, to Ida Street. I think we will like it here :)

Photography: Mintwood Photo Co.

MARIEMONT: DILLY. BISTRO, BAR & BOTTLE SHOP.

Dilly. Bistro, Bar & Bottle Shop.
Mon-Thurs 11a-9p; Fri-Sat 11a-10:30p; Sun 11a-9p

A "dilly" by definition is: "an excellent example of a particular type of person or thing." For example: "that's a dilly of a bistro, bar & bottle shop." I bet that is how Dilly. decided on it's name, because this place is exactly hometown excellence. (Actually, I did a little research, & it turns out the name Dilly was a happy accident. You can read about the transformation of Dilly Deli to Dilly Cafe to just Dilly HERE.)

Located in the heart of Mariemont (which, fun fact, is the United States' first planned community!), Dilly. is the perfect place to show off our city. There is a wine shop facing Wooster Pike (where you most likely do your passing through Mariemont) & a beer shop in back showcasing all Ohio's local favorites. 

The food at Dilly. is really eclectic & delicious. You can see the full menu HERE, but let me tell you about some really dilly dishes (wordplay!): Bacon Mac & Cheese (I don't even eat bacon, but what?!), the Mariemont Gobbler is a personal fave: cranberry chutney, turkey & a fresh baguette; but the salmon burger with sweet potatoes fries is my regular order :D

Though I usually am at Dilly. with my mom or my sisters, or catching up with great friends (Dilly. is an excellent place for all three!), I've also heard there is live music every weekend, wine tastings on Thursdays & $5 Bloody Mary's & Mimosas every Sunday. Basically, you can think of Dilly. as your really well-stocked friend's cool catered biergarten. Or something. It's a place to hang :) 

So the next time you're looking to dine at a real Cincinnati original, head to Mariemont's Dilly. Bistro, Bar & Bottle Shop. Free parking is in back (right behind Dilly.'s amazing outdoor patio & fireplace)(definitely going to spend some time out there once we kick this polar vortex!). I guarantee you'll love it. It's a real dilly.

THE [SUPERMAN] CAPE

Ah... I'm dreaming of warmer days! Seems like just last week it was sixty degrees & perfect cape weather... oh wait... 

Well. That was last week. This week Cincinnati is throwing negative temperatures our way. So you might want to bookmark this babe for warmer days. I predict they are only a little bit away. But maybe that's because I'm wearing a superman cape & that means anything I want to happen will happen. That's how it works, right?

I bought this cape in college, wayyy back in 2011. Then, I lost it in the trunk of my car for TWO YEARS. About a month ago, I found it again :D. Feels brand new! So what about you guys? I love that the cape trend has been going strong for four years - how do you wear yours?  You can tell me in a second.. BRB while me & my superman cape try  to conquer this polar vortex real fast.

Cape: For Cynthia via TJMaxx (four years ago) (similar)
Sweatshirt: JCrew (two years ago) (similar)
Pants: Thrifted Gap (similar)
Hat: Target
Tote: Madewell Transport Tote
Shoes: Free People (four years ago) (similar)
Photography: Jacob Heath

CASUAL MONDAY + BLANKET SCARF

Get excited people!!! I was on a stay-cation last week & spent a lot of time transferring Magical Simplicity to it's new home & new name. & NOW YOU'RE HERE! Welcome to Ida Street!! While we wait for everyone to join us...

...can we comment on this Cincinnati weather?! What the heck! Last week it was under 20 degrees & up to 60 in just the span of 48 hours. So, rather than bundling my blanket scarf under my huge eskimo coat, it finally got to take the spotlight. 

This is the most comfortable scarf in the entire world. I got it at a winter sale last year at Curate Boutique & never looked back. It doubles as a blanket when I'm traveling for work (airplanes get really unexpectedly cold, don't you think?) & a perfect cozy accessory when just running out for errands. 

Did you guys hop on the blanket scarf trend? How do you wear yours? I've seen some pretty neat ways lately.. I especially love this cape-look by twosixandcounting. Maybe I'll try that someday too :) P.S. We took these photos on Ida Street --- you might be hearing that name around these parts a little more soon ;)

Blanket Scarf: LOOK wool blanket scarf via Curate Boutique (last year) (similar)
Shirt: Merona Chambray Light Wash via Target (last year) (similar)
Pants: Skinny Ankle Jean light wash via JCrew Factory (last year) (similar)
Purse: Woven Faux Leather from SF (similar)
Sunnies: Street Vendor in NYC (similar)
Photography: Jacob Heath 

ANNIE'S SIX FAVORITE POSTS OF 2014

Wow. I'm heading to the Dollar Store to look for glasses that say 2015. What on earth?! (& side note: don't you miss the days of the two double zero thousands? They made for such great glasses!) But before we all dawn our sparkles & cheers our way into the New Year, I wanted to share my top six favorite posts out of the almost 100(!) that made 2014.

In Fashion...

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1.) The Rolling Stones Tee: I got more & more comfortable with every fashion post posted in 2014. From the first one way back in May (here) to the Rolling Stones Tee just last week, each one was more & more fun. This was one of my most recents, & a particular favorite :)

2.) The Beanie! One thing I love about blogging is that it challenges me to try new trends. The beanie/pom hat was one of those. I just love the way it looks! & this post also got featured on Midwest Dressed, another reason it makes my favorites list.

In Cincinnati...

Now, I truly, truly loved every single place I visited in Cincinnati this year. Every small business & Cincinnati original. You can read about each & every one of them HERE. But, for the sake of keeping my list....

3.)[Greater] Cincinnati's Carabello Coffee & their coffee for a cause is just such a Cincinnati gem. I can't wait to see how they grow & prosper in the new year!

In collaboration...

4.)Styling with Cincinnati's Curate Boutique: The cutest little boutique asked me to collaborate in 2014. I modeled some of Curate Boutique's winter line for the Holiday Look Book & had ablast running around town with a professional photographer & these stunning clothes!

In life...

5.) The Importance of Treating Yourself:  I love this post for two reasons: the sentiment, of course. It is very important to treat yourself & acknowledge your own accomplishments. (If you don't believe in yourself, who will, right?) The second reason I love it are these awesome pictures! This was the first time that Natalie & I played around with the settings on our new DSLR cameras & it was such a fun shoot :D

In DIY...

6.) Small Space Living: Building a Corner Coffee Bar. Last but not least, in DIY, the corner-coffee bar. Five months later, I still use this coffee bar every single day. It's the perfect place to set up for a morning of work & occasional people watching from the window.

& that is that! Thanks to each & every one of you for one truly amazing year. xoxo & stay tuned for 2015, we're kicking it off with a bang ;)