As it turns out, Tricia & I know a boy who works at ModCloth, one of the most fabulous online clothing retailers in existence (TRUE). As far as I have been informed, Tricia & he served coffee and vegan brownies at the most delightful & artsy coffee shop on campus, while he & I shared stories in literary magazines and writing classes.

In conclusion, these anecdotes prove that Mod Cloth is a haven for we creative-types, thus, since we have spent this entire weekend turning all of the clocks in our entire house forward one hour (spring forward!), indicating the coming of spring, we three bloggers of S&D have chosen a total of 10 favorite spring items from Mod Cloth to get you ready for your sunny debut.

Maria’s Picks

1. Alright, so I’m an idiot and the Lo and Boho Pashmina in all of its turquoise glory and featured in my delightful collage above is SOLD OUT! But my reasoning behind its selection stays true for my second-favorite neck-thing (A Study in Scarlet Scarf, $27): They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb (for those of you not in the northeast, “lion” = “two feet of snow”). This will keep your neck warm during the spring in-between-season, but its bright colors (yay) still say SPRING pretty loud-and-clear.

2. The Classic Wayfarers ($10) Great for sliding across the floor in your socks and underwear (cough, cough, Tom Cruise). Or blocking the sun. Also, 90% cheaper than the Ray-Ban-originals.

3. Plaid Poise Dress ($65) Get ready to serve ice tea to your lawn-cutting husband, because you are now clothed in a dress cut for a prim-and-proper 50s housewife.

4. Rose Colored Tights ($30) I’m pretty sure these tights will inspire roses to grow. They are much better than the fruit ones I own (which are covered in grapes, oranges, bananas, etc without a single space for solid colors, so much so that three times while wearing them I’ve been asked a question about the “tattoos” on my legs leading me to believe that I should put them in Disney vault, so to speak — anyway, I don’t think these tights will recreate any Fruit Tattoo-esque Incidents).

Tricia’s Picks

5. Wuthering Heights Jacket ($48) This is perfect for spring-time ambulations in the park, and features the most glorious ribbon pin that I have ever seen.

6. Cycle Knee Socks ($12) Due to a decrease in sidewalk obstacles (good bye random ice chunks), spring is a good time to ride a bike!  One must only heed potholes!  (and sometimes small children…unless the children are ugly…then, i guess, concentrate on the potholes.)

7. Whistle Stop Boots ($170) These boots are good for the current transition period between winter and spring.  I really admire how the leather on these boots are cut to resemble a radiator grid!  Jeffrey Campbell always has interesting designs, and his shoes are extremely well-made and comfortable.

8. Nantucket Weekender Dress ($95) Ideal for adventures to Long Island’s North Shore, or in my case, to Lake Geneva.

Lorraine’s Picks


9. Everlasting Love Dress in Sky ($40) Just add fairy wings.

10. Ship Shape Tote (On Sale for $19) I’ve been eyeing this tote for a while now: wouldn’t it be great to take on a lazy day to the park? (Or a viking adventure?!)

Happy Birthday to Britney Spears, Lucy Liu, and ME!  Although I don’t really plan on celebrating this year, I still thought I’d pull a Maria, and share my Birthday wish list.  Based on my selections, you are probably envisioning me as a cross-dressing grandpa who likes to take photos and stare at manatees.  You are basically correct!

1. Anthropologie Tick-Tock Cardigan.  I actually almost bought this for myself, but the only size left was too big on me.  I wear a lot of cardigans, and lately I’ve been trying to diversify so my cardigan collection doesn’t look Mr. Roger’s (who, by the way, wrote 200 songs during his career!).  This cardigan actually (sometime during the last half an hour?!) just sold out, but there’s another cardigan that is identical. (Albeit, a different name and more expensive.) Anthropologie, $60 before…but now $118

2. I like boat shoes, because I think they are funny and make me feel like an old, grumpy man.  I own a pair of blue patent boat shoes, but they aren’t the best quality, and they’re falling apart.  These Sperry Top-Siders are more durable than my last pair, and they’re red!  6pm, $44.85

3. KIVA gift certificates!  KIVA gift certificates are perfect for holiday gifts (or birthday gifts).  You can designate the amount (as little as $25!), and the recipient gets to pick who to fund.  Kiva

4. Every Monday is more pleasant with Gossip Girl.  Anticipation builds up throughout the Monday workday, and I leave work in a better mood.  I usually don’t have the patience to endure spoiled rich kid drama, but Gossip Girl is different.  The dialogue is hilarious and charming, which I discuss to great deal on gmail with my friends- concurrently, while watching the show.  And all of us are no longer in high school or college.  Amazon, $36.99

5. Even though I’m not in NYC, I am fairly well versed in New York happenings.  My homepage is the NY Times, and I read New York Magazine and Gawker daily.  I also like drinking tea and reading the New Yorker.  New Yorker subscription for me (please)! Subscribe here, $39.95

6. I don’t know much about SLR cameras, and don’t really own a camera (other than a camera I got 8 years ago), but I’ve been dreaming about getting an SLR for a long time.  I really enjoy taking photographs, and I’m excited to think of all the adventures I could document with a fun camera.  I’ll probably end up buying one for myself soon.  Birthday/Christmas present for myself?  Sounds okay to me.  Canon Rebel XSi w/ lens, $639

7. I don’t know how I picked it up, but “good grief” is definitely part of my daily vocabulary.  This scarf is ideal for my neck.  Fred Flare, $24

8. The most pleasant thing that I have inherited from the previous tenant (sorry! not the mix cd with Limp Bizzzkit!), is a catalog subscription to Williams-Sonoma.  Ha!  The most recent catalog advertises a wonderful 3-D BEAR CAKE PAN.  When I went to investigate it online, I noticed an even more wonderful surprise.  A GIANT 3-D CUPCAKE PAN.  Instead of filling the icing mold with cake batter, you can pack ICE CREAM in the mold, thus resulting in a GIANT. ICE CREAM. CUPCAKE.  Note the picture above!  Magical.  Williams-Sonoma, $36

9. A MELODICA!  Aka the most glorious, dazzling instrument other than the ukulele.  It is like playing a keyboard, and tooting a kazoo, AT THE SAME TIME. Try to fathom THAT!  Musician’s Friend, $35

10. I love manatees.  I have even discussed my attraction to manatees before.  On the WWF website, you can even adopt a manatee!  If you choose the $50 or $100 option, the WWF will give you a plush manatee!  Not so fond of manatees?  Whale shark fan, perhaps?  There are over 90 species you choose to adopt.  WWF, $25/$50/$100

11. I like pens, stationery, and crafting send-worthy letters.  I have been dreaming about getting a WAX STAMP for a long time, because when I think of wax stamps, I think of Thomas Jefferson and his tight glasses.  I always thought that using wax stamps would be difficult, but then I noticed that Paper Source sells wax sticks that can be used like glue sticks!  You just have to squirt a puddle of wax, and stamp!  Paper Source, $6.80 for the wax, $9 for the seal

12. Argyle socks!  My favorite!  I have a hard time finding ones that I like (preferably blue and green), so I had to settle for the weird color assortment above.  Joy of Socks (heehee), $7.50

Note: The middle picture is the cake my friends made me last year.  A glowing T-Money cake.  No, I do not know how I received that nickname.  The candles make the cake worthy of a being in a Darkness music video.  Below is a picture of the cake, unlit.