Yesterday I could be found slamming caffeine, in any shape or form, as I was suffering from a severe sugar hangover. That lollipop was a yummy thought in theory, but I only made it an eighth of the way through!

In an effort to kill time with great friends before sadly boarding a plane back home, we spent our last day in Houston at the aquarium. We also spent it melting in the extreme heat, but a frozen mimosa and chorizo tacos at Onion Creek Cafe were the cure-all for that issue. On yet another weekend exploring a new city, I spent Saturday and Sunday with my closest college friends reminiscing, celebrating the marriage of our dear friend, singing karaoke, and having entirely too much fun. Having to leave on Sunday evening was completely depressing.  Parting with such wonderful and important people in my life is always difficult and the goodbyes don’t seem to get easier with time.

Photos through the i of my Phone.

Celebrity and fashion obsessed? Want to see a modern day Bonnie and Clyde?

Join me for a fun night out Monday, June 17th,  at Uptown Palladium 12 at 7pm for an advanced screening of the new Sofia Coppola film “The Bling Ring”, starring Emma Watson. Based on actual events, a group of teenagers obsessed with fashion and celebrity burglarize the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles. Tracking the whereabouts of their targets online, they break in and abscond with designer clothes, jewels and other valuables. Reflecting on the naiveté of youth and the mistakes we all make, amplified by today’s culture of celebrity and luxury brand obsession, we see the temptations of the members of the ‘Bling Ring’ that almost any teenager would feel. What starts out as teenage “fun”,  spins out of control and leaves us with a sobering view of our culture today.

Click on the following link to download your free advanced screening pass: https://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/a69bddf72c26a4704d8544319c9f6d76

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.theblingringmovie.com

OFFICIAL TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcE2fj-EtJY

FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/BlingRingMovie

TWITTER: @BlingRingMovie, #TheBlingRing

INSTAGRAM: @blingringmovie

And when you return to the office, you’re happy to be home. To a place where college lives on (hey, we’re all just kids anyway, now we just have extremely important responsibilities, right?), and where Monday Bundays are a staple. Or when you’re suffering a creative block and you need to let your latest meeting marinate, there are engaging things to take your mind off something other than another email piling itself into your inbox. Well, not me in particular, I am OCD about organizing my inbox and my sent box, but not everyone is perfect! So follow me as we journey through the mysterious life of an ad girl making her way through this crazy agency life as I…Pit stop between meetings in yet another chair. We’re rumored to have over 40 different types of seating options…Head to another meeting in a non traditional way…Or leave these fine wheels be and opt for walking…Look familiar to you Detroiters? Yes, that’s a replica of the Diego Rivera Court in the Detroit Institute of Arts…And of course pop by this 1948 pick-up to fix my makeup…or take a rest by the TED Conference sign. Which we have creatively re-purposed for our city’s name…And stop by our wall of department members’ heights to sadly realize I haven’t grown, it’s just the heels…In between a busy day of meetings and emails, pop by the Foosball player for a quick game with co-workers to reset your mind…Or a game of pool if that’s more your style. Note the mural in the background with the men chicken fighting!And if neither of those games are up your alley, improve your vocabulary skills on the life size Words With Friends board…And occasionally on a Friday, especially a summer Friday, you may find one of us playing bartender…Mixing concoctions of vodka and Capri Sun (remember, we are all just kids inside!)To finally unwind, kick up your heels (literally), and enjoy life’s greatest pleasure, the egg chair. What’s your work lifestyle look like?

Happy Friday!

Leather jacket: ASOS. Top: Forever 21. Trousers: Sabo Skirt. Pumps: Zara. Belt: Marshalls. Jewelry: J.Crew necklace (last worn as a headband here); Michael Kors watch; vintage Chanel charm bracelet.

Photos by Sam Sharp.

Every once in a while when I am either rushed or too flustered to take my time dressing or simply in need of inspiration, I look to Pinterest for guidance. Collecting ideas has been a favorite past-time of mine since I was a child. In recently redoing my bedroom, it was quite evident. Folders upon folders of recipes, wedding gowns, clothing, make up options, you name it, had been piling up over the past two decades. It was no wonder that when Pinterest debuted, I became obsessed. Yesterday was one of those rushed mornings with a dash of sleepiness on the side (I’ve recently decided that 6 am work outs are the way to go…and I am now rethinking that thought process), that led me to whip out my phone and go with one of my latest pins. Ever have those mornings?!

Photos by Pete Stevens.

Yesterday the ultimate prep, today a Twenty-first century hippie. Or a “hippie wannabe” if you ask my mother…she was the real thing. Saturday, we headed down to Orion Music Festival on Belle Isle to soak in the sun and listen to amazing tunes. Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bassnectar were the highlights of my day. Which festivals/concerts are on your horizon this summer?

Photos by Mike Damman and Pete Stevens

Ok, I make it past the border sometimes. By staying in my car and keeping my attire under wraps. If you are not from Grosse Pointe or have not heard of it, I’ll give you a brief run down. The preppiest or the preps, “The Preppy Handbook” was based on our prepster of a town, GP, as we like to call it. Our colors are bright pink and Kelly green (think Lilly Pulitzer), and most clothing seen in GP will have a whale, pony, alligator or some kind of animal embroidered on the front of a collar popped polo and cable knit Ralph Lauren sweater knotted loosely around one’s shoulders. While I strayed far from my roots to Alabama and embraced country and lived briefly in New York (ugh, take me back to those days!), embracing all things high fashion, I sometimes find myself reverting to old ways. Pink pants, polka dot peep toe heels and a matching sweater with bright jewelry do scream prep, just with a slightly fresher look. Don’t get me wrong. I still tend to stick to blacks and whites (check back this week for my love affair with those “colors”) and tend to grab anything tulle or leather with a side of Chucks (I’ve been wearing them a ton as of late), but it is nice to mix it up on occasion.

Last week we headed down to Rodin, a new bistro next to the Detroit Institute of Arts, my favorite place on the planet. Rodin’s “The Thinker” just happens to hold sway over the front entry of the DIA.  With a glass of white wine and the most devine ratatouille, charcuterie, herbed parm popcorn, and cauliflower salad in our bellies, we strolled the marble steps of the museum and allowed life to emulate art . It was a perfect evening in our bustling city…I’m so glad they let me out for the evening!

Photos by Debra Kraus.

Sunday afternoon Detroit and Belle Isle ,in particular, were abuzz with the sound of engines roaring and echoing on the river and a lively crowd who came out to support the Detroit Grand Prix. It was beautiful to see the city and it’s locals filled with such excitement and for a positive spotlight to be shed on our crown jewel and one of Frederick Law Olmstead‘s greatest works, Belle Isle Park. From our seats, we had a perfect view of the pits, the start/finish line, one of the few passing turns and off in the distance, down the river the high rises of Detroit standing tall along the horizon. It’s easy as we go about our daily lives to forget how magical this city is and I relish the days when there’s time to take a step back and truly appreciate it for what it is. Home.

Photos by Pete Stevens.

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. Our 8-state road trip began at 6:15am and continued for 17 hours. While many aren’t fond of this sort of travel, I’m quite used to it,  having commuted by automobile from Michigan to coastal Alabama twice each summer during my four years of college, not to mention the yearly winter trek down to Florida to horse showing in my younger years and the drives through a color changing Pennsylvania and New York each fall on the road to equestrian National Finals competitions. However, this trip was way better than the usual. We were not only seeing the breathtaking Appalachian mountains up close and personal for the first time, but we spent the majority of our drive listing to the comedy channels on satellite and thus, laughing until our sides ached.

It was a second best in road trips, coming up behind our memorable drive down the east coast three summers ago when we stopped for a night in Baltimore, Kitty Hawk, Charleston, Savannah, and Seaside. Nothing quite beats exploring each of those historic and charming cities in the summer heat with a short drive down to our next locale, eager and ready to see a new part of the country. With the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday (see tomorrow’s post) and work on Monday, we were a tad crunched for time, but we happily accepted that challenge.

Photos by Debra Kraus.

To keep up with my future adventures, be sure to follow me on instagram: @hkraus. Happy June!

Photos through the i of my phone.

A few weeks ago my co-workers and I ventured to Local Kitchen and Bar in Ferndale to spice up our Thursday evening. The food was delicious. Heartier meals, amazing wine and cocktails, and a beautiful decor that personified a laid back yet stylish atmosphere made this a great to new spot on my Places to Frequent list. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from finally falling off my Places to Try list.

One quirk about me is that I am a list person, probably to an unhealthy OCD extent.  They make me happy. Color coordinated to make them pretty, I make a To Do List almost every day, as well as a million other lists ranging from Places to Travel, Things to Try, Wish Lists, etc. It’s a habit I developed in middle school when my junior equestrian career took me out of school several days a week to travel for competitions and I had to be responsible enough to stay on top of my schooling while on the road. They originated on post-its of all colors, making their way to every surface of our kitchen as I’d make one each night (sorry Mom!), but have since been confined to a specific notebook I carry for this very purpose. There’s rarely a day I actually accomplish every item on these lists, but it’s a great way for me to  organize my overly active mind and imagination and the feeling of crossing off a completed task is pure bliss-well worth its weight in pastel sticky notes.

Photos by Lindsey Wickens and Sam Sharp.