Art for Art's Sake

Cake by Clare Grill

In my daydreams of the super-awesome life I will one day lead, I see myself as a patroness of the arts. Since my wallet is too small to earn me that title right now, I'll have to be satisfied with supporting art in smaller ways. 20x200 offers great art by emerging artists, and the pieces start at just $20. Each print includes a certificate of authenticity and is numbered and signed by the artist. Right now, I am loving Cake by Clare Grill, Stay Icy by Martha Rich, and Ideal Bookshelf 102: Cooking by Jane Mount.

Do you collect art?

What's In My Bag Spring Edition

Just a quick video about the things I am carrying around this spring. For a chance to win a Louis Vuitton Speedy (who doesn't want one, right?), visit Elle Fowler (AllThatGlitters21) or Blair Fowler (juicystar07).

What's in your bag this spring?

Something Pretty Comes This Way

SCILIA rainbow crystal ring

Despite the beautiful weather, today has been kind of a blah day. I slept in late then went to work where I folded my weight in polos and pullovers. Now, I've plopped in front of my computer until I can muster the energy to do something useful. Browsing Etsy is, in my opinion, a great way to reenergize. And, I'm pretty sure that this gorgeous ring from Five and Two would help, too. It reminds me of the crazy rocks and crystals I used to collect as a kid, when family road trips meant gift shops and gift shops meant filling tiny velveteen pouches with fool's gold, amethyst, and quartz.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Reading Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams

Listening to the soundtrack from Jane Eyre

Hearting this dress from Topshop

Wanting this market backpack

Attending a performance of Propeller's Richard III

Watching Tangled

Attempting some spring cleaning

Finding flowers blooming in the garden

Everywhere I Look I See Rain

Target

All week I've had Cher's "Rain, Rain" stuck in my head. I can't wait for the rain to end and the world to be green once again. The bright side of the rainy days is shopping for rain gear. These glitter jelly rain boots from Target are just the thing for a gloomy day. Of course, new rain boots mean a new umbrella and this floral bubble umbrella would be a sweet weapon against April's showers.

Spring Faves

The Shape of Things to Come

Can shapewear whip your body into shape? Shapercise claims to be underwear and workout in one. How does this work? According to the website:

• The seamless resistance bands in the body shaper force muscles to work harder during normal activities such as walking and climbing stairs.
• Powered by ShaToBu™ and designed on the principle of resistance training.
• Shapercise’s stay-in-place, non-bindingwaist and leg bands put a stop to bulging, marking and rolling.
• Manufactured using moisture-wicking, breathable fabric with Lycra® and a cotton COOLMAX® gusset.

LiptonPublicity sent me the high waist body shaper in nude to review. The ShaToBu™ technology used in the shaper was developed by a chiropractor who wanted to find a way to incorporate exercises into her patients' daily routines. Because I suffer from back pain, I was eager to see if this body shaper would alleviate some of it.

I've been wearing the shaper at work and am very happy with the way it sucks me in and supports my back. I don't think I've worn it enough to tell if it tones or not, but as shapewear, I would definitely recommend the high waist body shaper. My only complaint so far has been with the sizing. The shapers run small so order up a size. Also, since I'm petite, I find the shaper is just a little too long and wish that petite sizing was available in order to get the proportions right. Overall, I'm very happy with my body shaper and would recommend it to anyone looking for a little extra support.

Do you wear shapewear? Any favorite brands?