The St. Paul Winter Carnival

by Meredith

The St. Paul Winter Carnival is a tradition that has been around since 1886 when citizens of the Minnesota tundra wanted to plan something fun during the dead of winter.  It's always held in our state capital during the last week of January/ first week in February and runs for 12 days.  This year it runs January 26 through February 6.

The celebration entertains thousands of people from Minnesota and beyond - revealing man-made ice sculptures, an ice skating rink, ice bar, stage for music, fireworks, multiple parades, a coronation selecting each year's large royal court and more - all within a few blocks of each other.  Definitely a must see if you're here this time of year.  Last week I strolled through Rice Park and took some pictures of them working on the ice sculptures and gearing up for the first big weekend.

Betsy Johnson

by Meredith

I love my new Betsey Johnson handbag, I picked it up for winter.  I've really gotten into her items lately.  If you're style is quirky, fun and chic too, you'll like her stuff.  Check it out for yourself.

Anthropologie Knock Off Bobby Pins

by Meredith

I love a good knock off and this one is awesome.  Anthropology's stuff is wonderful, but pricy and if you know me you know I adore fashionable bobby pins.  The blogger at Little Miss Momma came up with a great way of making your own.  If you like what you see, check out the link below for more.

Houndstooth

by Meredith

This is what I'm loving this week: the light brown houndstooth  dress pants I just picked up.  The mysterious pattern you may have been wearing this whole time has a name, Houndswooth.(houndstooth check, hound's tooth, dogstooth, dogtooth, dog's tooth)  This textile pattern is characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white, although other colors are used.  It originated made of wool cloth of the Scottish Lowlands, but not is used in many other materials and was created by a woman in New York City De Pinna, when she included the houndstooth checks along with gun club checks and Scotch plaids as part of its 1933 men's suits collection.

Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit & Fasching

by Meredith

I'm gearing up for my 26th birthday next month and have been trying to think of something fun to do.  I decided this year I would embrace my German heritage and go to my new favorite bar, Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit (aka Gasthofs) especially after learning that the Friday after my birthday they are celebrating the German holiday Fasching, a German Mardi Gras style celebration.  Apparently back in the day women could not join in for fun at the pubs and one day just decided to dress up as men and join in.  This holiday has become known as Fasching.  I haven't decided if I'll participate in the costume contest.