caffe vero, albany.

Caffe Vero is definitely one of my favorite cafes in Albany. It is also one of the cafes that I frequent most often. The location is great, on Lark Street, and the coffee is even better. In my opinion, their coffee is some of the best in the area. Although the space is on the smaller side, there are many little tables at which you are almost always able to find a spot. In addition, there are some prime people-watching seating options along the front windows!

When I come to Caffe Vero, I usually get a cup of their freshly brewed coffee or a cappuccino. The baristas at this cafe specialize in latte art and they are all uniquely gifted. If you stop by, make sure you pick up a punch card! After ten (I think) drinks, you get one free! This is usually when I splurge for a cappuccino. In the summer, their iced coffee is delicious and if you're looking for something a little sweeter, their iced jasmine tea was pretty tasty when I tried it this past summer. During the warmer months, this is a great place to stop by for you caffeine fix before wandering around Washington Park. On an ideal summer day off, I like to stroll down to Dove & Hudson for a browse and then read for a bit in Caffe Vero's cozy atmosphere.

I also have to give Caffe Vero some props for their display of local artists' photography. I appreciate cafes that provide a space for locals to showcase their work.

Caffe Vero's Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7am-8pm

Friday: 7am-9pm

Saturday: 8am-9pm

Sunday: 8:30am-7pm

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Cara

5 things I love Wednesday.

1. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.

image from last.fm.

image from last.fm.

I think I first started listening to Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins' album "Rabbit Fur Coat" in high school or early college. Relatively recently, one of the songs off the album came up on my iPod while it was on shuffle and I decided to listen to the whole album again. I find it just as amazing as I used to. Jenny Lewis's voice is so unique and so sincere. If you're into singer-songwriter, folksy kind of stuff, you should definitely check this album out! Some of my favorite tracks are "Rise Up With Fists!," "You Are What You Love," and "The Big Guns."

2. leopard flats from Target!

I actually bought two pairs of these shoes, the leopard pair and also a black pair. It was love at first sight when I saw the studs on the back. When looking for shoes that I can wear casually as well as to work, I like comfortable flats with a little classiness to them. While I definitely would not wear the leopard pair of shoes to work, I would and have worn the black pair. Also, because there is black and brown in the leopard pattern, they go with almost anything!

3. Status Updates on Hulu

screenshot of Status Updates on Hulu.

Brigitte Dale, the creator of Status Updates is one of my favorite Youtubers. She is hilarious and adorable and quirky. She was MIA for a while and then turned back up on Youtube with a video explaining that she collaborated with MTV to create Status Updates, a web series on Hulu. The show is so light-hearted and very funny. I don't usually laugh out loud at TV shows or movies, but I found myself giggling a lot while marathoning through the first season of this show. The thing is, the episodes are only about seven minutes long, so you can really go through a season quite quickly. I am really hoping they'll come out with a second season!

4. Root: 1 red wine!

Okay, so maybe this should be more like a favorite for 2012! Root: 1 is probably my favorite red wine at the moment, although I recently tasted Sharecropper's red wine from Oregon at the Charles Lucas Confectionery and it may become a new favorite. One of the greatest aspects about Root: 1 is that we can find it around here at wine shops for about 8 bucks! I also love the graphic design on the bottle.

5. the VSCO CAM iPhone app.

Okay, so I have a new favorite photography iPhone app! VSCO CAM blows just about every other photography app I've used out of the water, other than Snapseed. Somehow, VSCO CAM makes your iPhone photos look like they are better quality than they really are. I also love the fact that they give your photos the look of film. The graininess adjustment really lends to this.

I hope you enjoyed this week's rendition of 5 Thing I Love!

xoxo

Cara

Valentine's Day outfit!

Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

Today has been so hectic... scurrying around, finishing presents, and getting dolled up. Not to forget class... which was rudely not cancelled!

I thought I'd share the outfit I wore out to dinner with the boo.

top - H&M; shorts - Forever 21; flats - Target. earrings - Forever 21.

coat - Gap.

I was so happy that I found the Gap coat I bought last year (I think?) and couldn't find anywhere for the past few months. Cleaning out my room is like a mini Christmas, rediscovering old treasures you had almost forgotten all about.

ring - Forever 21.

Happy love day, loves!

xoxo

Cara

my 5 favorite instagrammers!

Alice Gao

Instagram name: alice_gao

images from Alice Gao's Instagram page.

I've written about Alice Gao's blog and photography in a previous post. I love the simplicity and clean lines of her photos. I'm also a sucker for breakfast and coffee/tea photography. She is probably my #1 favorite Instagrammer.

Gabriel Flores

Instagram name: gabrielflores

images from Gabriel Flores's Instagram page.

I began following Gabriel Flores recently. He has some of the most photographically exquisite images on Instagram. I love his use of shadow and reflection. A majority of his photos are taken in New York City.

Bonnie Tsang

Instagram name: bonnietsang

images from Bonnie Tsang's Instagram page.

Bonnie Tsang's Instagram is a true combination of fun and skill. Many of her photos bring a little smile to my face. She frequently posts images of her adorable daughter. She also posts many cafe images, which I love.

Sandra Juto

Instagram name: sandra juto

images from Sandra Juto's Instagram page.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Sandra Juto's Instagram, but I'm so glad that I did. Her photos make me long for Europe and most of them seem to have a vintage quality which is very aesthetically pleasing.

Steph Goralnick

Instagram name: sgoralnick

images from Steph Goralnick's Instagram page.

Steph Goralnick's Instagram photos are breathtaking. She posts many photos of New York City, but she also travels around a fair bit. Recently, she's even posted some photos that are taken from the airplane looking down over the earth.

I hope you enjoyed viewing these talented Instagrammers' beautiful images. If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, my username is amourbrillant!

xoxo

Cara

unseasonal weather.

I might try to do more fashion-related posts now. These are some of my favorite posts on fellow bloggers' sites, so I figured why not give it a shot myself? The weather here has been rather erratic, but mainly warm for this time of year. This allows for more tights and dresses and less form-swallowing eskimo coats.

coat - Forever 21 ($12!); dress - Old Navy; button-up shirt - Salvation Army; shoes - J. C. Penney.

It's always quite awkward for me to take photos of myself, but if it's for the sake of fashion, who am I to let my discomfort get in the way? From what I've heard from other bloggers, the process gets less awkward in time.

Thanks for reading! Let me know how you feel about outfit/fashion posts, please.

xoxo

Cara

5 Things I love Tuesday (Thursday)?

1. Breaking Bad.

I have been borderline unhealthily obsessed with Breaking Bad. I watched my first episode a couple weeks ago and have since completed two seasons. After watching the first few episodes, I was so emotionally and intellectually challenged that I didn't know if I could handle continuing to watch the show, but I persevered and now I am a full-on addict. It's been getting in the way of cleaning my room... Whoopsy!

2. Light Witch's Blog/Tumblr.

Image from Light Witch's Tumblr.

Image from Light Witch's Tumblr.

I had been familiar with Light Witch because I follow her on Instagram. Her username is light_witch if you are interested in checking her out. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon her blog, but I'm so glad I did. I love the whimsical and ethereal quality of her photography. When I look at her images, I feel transported.

3. My social work friends!

I am so grateful to have met so many amazing people during my social work studies. It really is true that if you pursue your genuine interests, you will likely find friends who have similar mentalities as yourself. Thursday social work happy hours were one of my favorite memories from last semester!

4. Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks.

Image from TBE Blog.

Recently, I've been getting really into wearing bright colored lipsticks again. I had heard about the Kate Moss lipsticks on YouTube, so I decided to pick one up while at CVS one day. I bought a deep reddish-fuchsia color and I was so surprised by both the color pay-off and lasting power, especially considering the price point of about $5.00. I was so impressed that I recently went back and bought a more true red shade. So excited to rock a bold lip!

5. Afterglow Photography App for iPhone.

I've really been enjoying the Afterglow photo editing app for iPhone. I mainly use it for its light leak options. There are different light leak overlays you can place on top of your photos. You can control the intensity and orientation of the leaks, as well. I like the lomography-esque effect these leaks give to an image. They just add so much character! The app also allows you to tweak your images in more standard ways, like by playing with contrast, brightness, etc.

Thanks so much for reading!

xoxo

Cara

The Charles F. Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar.

I first heard of the Charles F. Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar from my friend Chris. From his description of an intimate setting with kitsch decoration and sweets, I immediately knew this was somewhere I needed to check out. First, I visited with Erika about a week ago and I went again yesterday to grab drinks with Alex before she leaves for D.C.

The ambience of this wine bar is incredible. I almost feel transported to another time when I walk in, as if the entrance door were some kind of time portal. After speaking with the owners, I learned that they traveled around the country gathering inspiration from different wine bars along the way. They wanted to create a space that truly captured the essence of Troy and the city's history. As soon as you walk into the wine bar, you can tell these founders have refined taste and an impeccable aesthetic.

Anyone who's known me for a bit knows that I am a huge red wine fan and the glasses of red wine that I have tried thus far at this bar have been delicious. I can't wait to try one of the cheese platters! After all, wine and cheese goes down as one of the most perfect combinations in history.

Having grown up in Troy, I've always had a soft spot for the city. Troy has kind of held a rougher reputation in the past, but I feel that, as of late, certain parts of the city have really been bustling in a positive way, particularly in the Antique District and its surrounds. I have plans to spend more time in Troy and to visit the Charles F. Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar again soon.

Thanks for reading! If you haven't already liked my page on Facebook, please do!

xoxox