Writing Spaces with: Katie and Kay

This week we are going international! Katie is a graphic designer who lives in Zürich with her husband: read about their adventures at katieandkay. I love the cozy-minimal aesthetic she's got going on in her writing space. Get ready to see a super-chic, efficient, romantic, and inspiring Swiss attic flat. 

Hot Tip: Use Magic Eraser to Restore Old Converse

In Mindy Kaling's recent memoir she writes briefly of men she's dated and the dirty, dingy Converse sneakers they tend to proudly wear and never replace. She says something to the effect of, "Come on guys, they're a $40 purchase and you are an adult. Let's maybe consider replacing them."

Apologies for the messy paraphrase but my Kindle is out of batteries (score 1 for books, 0 for e-readers/me remembering to charge anything).

Anyways, I was definitely implicated in that line. I was probably wearing my dirtiest, dankest gray-on-gray Chucks at the moment I read it. Then I called my sister to talk about the book and she immediately said, "Did you read that part about the dirty Converse? Spot on!" I purchased a new pair—the navy ones above—shortly thereafter, and they immediately became as dirty as my old ones.

But we both recently learned a hot tip to lengthen the life of your beloved Chucks!

Tip: Use a Magic Eraser to clean your Converse. This weekend found my sis and I sitting on my floor, scrubbing our sneaks with a choose-a-size Magic Eraser I'd picked up to clean my computer keyboard.

Simply wet the Eraser, wring it out, and buff. It took neither time nor elbow grease. The result really is magical!



And a second tip: insoles, because, really, walking around in worn-out canvas sneakers has the comfort and support equivalent of strapping a cardboard box to your feet.

Trying New Things, or: I Hiked and Didn't Get Eaten by a Bear

One of my "fall resolutions" (is that a thing?) is to take up hiking. My aversion to hiking is both long and well-documented. Too many bugs, too many things I'm allergic to, too many opportunities to get lost. Bears. Blair Witches, etc. And isn't it just walking, but in the woods?

Despite my preconceptions and completely justifiable fears, I'd never actually given it a fair chance...or tried it at all. I'm not sure what changed my mind but I thought it would be fun to try something new. Plus, after a week of new routines, long commutes, and long hours, I was itching to spend some time outside. So I met my bff and my sister for our midweek inaugural fall hike. And it was fun! Just like walking, but in the woods, in fact!  It was lovely to do so, and to scramble up hills and surround myself with trees and green and a friend with a map.

We live near some great hiking trails, hiking trails I have never once used (until yesterday). The autumn is going to be beautiful and I'm excited to have hiking buddies. The one potential downside? These trails are so close to a highway that the dull roar of commuters never quite goes away. On the plus side, I reason that as long as I can hear the highway I know I'm not lost or Blair-Witched.



There's something so energizing about trying new things or taking on challenges that are completely unrelated to career or school or anything else. It's even more surprising to find I enjoyed doing something I long assumed I'd hate. And trying something new mid-week, when I tend to fall into the same old routines, was particularly rejuvenating. Have you tried anything new lately? Would you?

Mixing it up: two tone boots

1. Frye //  2. DSW //  3. Hunter

I'm no stranger to mixing black and brown. I will mix neutrals any day of the week: the effect is a refreshing change from all-black or all-brown and, I find, looks quite intentional and classic rather than "got dressed in the dark." And that is key.

 I've done no fall shopping yet, but two tone boots are high on the wish list. And if you haven't made the jump to mixing up your neutrals yet, a pair of rainy-day wellies is a good way to ease in. But beware: it's a slippery slope.

Lastly, the three boots listed here are far above my normal price points for shoes BUT maybe worth it? I splurged on an expensive-for-me pair of tall Steve Madden boots a couple years ago and found that the quality really has surpassed my other cheapy boots. But for now I'll probably pin and save for that magical day when I'm in a full-time position.

This App is Completely Necessary

One year ago when I was happy as a clam on my non-smart-sliding-keypad phone, I would have given major side-eye to anyone who told me I'd soon have an app to track and tag my outfits. But there you have it. Technology cannot be stopped. I'm a modern woman on the go and I kinda love this app. It's called Cloth and it was free for a limited time (I think it still is) although it also has upgrades that will match your outfits to the weather, which is pretty awesome/ridiculous.

Look, one day recently I stood near my front door and said "I wonder what the weather will be today?" and then I checked my two weather apps instead of stepping the two feet outside, like I'm Zooey Deschanel without the bangs.

This app lets you snap a quick outfit pic and then categorize it (everyday/event/work) and add your own tags and notes. I like it because eventually I'll be able to gauge what I wear most often; I'll remember what I wore on specific occasions; and, on lazy, uninspired days I can find an already put-together outfit.

You can enable Cloth to be private, which is what I do so I can make silly poses and not worry about the surrounding mess. Plus I dig the general design, interface, and font—easy to use and aesthetically pleasing.

Edit to add: Apparently this is an iPhone only app. Sorry, Android users! Was not trying to alienate!