black & white

It is pretty safe to say that I love to wear black. Not too long ago, when you looked in my closet it was like looking in a black hole. I've tried adding color to my wardrobe for the past couple of seasons - which is so refreshing - but sometimes I like to stick to a basic color palette of black and white. The color combo is classic, chic, and bonus, each piece transitions from season to season so well!

wild

Have you ever gotten so enthralled in a book that you simply can't put it down? Well that is how Wild by Cheryl Strayed is for me right now. I've been meaning to read it for a while now {my cousin highly recommended it last summer} but have just recently  had time to start reading the gem. It's about an adventurous young lady who is wildly lost and decides to impulsively hike more than 1,000 miles through the Pacific Crest Trails in California in order to find and save herself. It's witty, suspenseful, entertaining, and inspiring. Add this to your must-read-next book list.

weekend roundup

A couple weeks back, I passed through a neighboring street and caught sight of a new furnishing the family put in their front yard. Yes, that is a statue of a zebra. I could not stop laughing and wondering what the heck they were thinking and why in the world one would want a zebra in their front yard. To make great table talk? For people to slow down and do a double take? For an afternoon laugh? So, to capture the interesting piece I took a little detour from my morning jog and here it is - sorry for the poor quality in picture, but I had to zoom in since I didn't want to go in their yard, ha!

As for the rest of the weekend . . . it was so great to catch up with old friends and have a mini high school reunion. I can't believe it has been five years since I've seen some of these folks, and it was wonderful to catch up on their lives and celebrate Mary Katherine and Steven. And since I'm so awesome at taking pictures - not - here are the only ones I took out of the 40+ people that were there.


so sad this is so blurry - darn iPhone.

This is our typical pre photo-fix hair-how do I look? - picture

As for Sunday, it was a perfect way to start the rainy week by making french toast. Since it was rainy all day - yuck- I took advantage of catching up with a best friend and her family that included wine and movies. I forgot how much I love Dermot Mulroney, I mean The Wedding Date.

 

 

 

friday

Hi there friends! Any fun happenings this weekend? I'll be celebrating an old friend/college roommate's engagement Saturday that is sure to be a high school throwback and mini 5 year reunion {5 years?!?!} Also, I'll be rooting on my sister and aunt who are running in Nashville's marathon Saturday! Have a great weekend and enjoy these fun posts . . .

Do you watch The Voice? I'm mildly obsessed with Adam Levine, I mean the show, and love the battle rounds they've had over the past couple weeks. Here are my three favorite:
Caroline Glaser v. Danielle Bradbery | Midas Whale v. Patrick Dodd | Ryan Innes v. Orlando Dixon

I would run a whole marathon to see this at the finish line, ha!

How to flirt with your husband, boyfriend, or significant other.

Kids are hilarious!

Serious chocolate makers - deliciously good and makes a great Mother's Day gift.

Isn't he just the cutest?!

Success.

Yes, let's add a television to your dashboard to catch up on your favorite show because this will prevent even more car accidents - not!

10 creativity tips from J. Crew CEO, Mickey Drexler.

Have you seen the new arrivals over at Anthropologie? I'm obsessing over this kaleidoscope dress, a pretty blouse, and these sailor shorts.

The world's coolest tree house hotels.

recent pinnings

Want to know a few of my secrets? I would rather stay up late reading a book, blogs, and pinning than get my beauty rest. I fall asleep to the sound of the rain. I set three alarms just in case the first two don't go off. I haven't met a vegetable I didn't like. Except peas and beans. They are gross. You know what else? I find a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest. Here are some of my recent pinnings for the upcoming seasons. Follow the rest of them here.

*all photos and credits can be found on my Pinterest

a mid-week pick me up

let's travel to | turks and caicos

Now seems like an appropriate time. Call it lack of sleep, motivation drained, or just a nice beach getaway sounds like a winning answer to me! Turks and Caicos is absolutely gorgeous and is the epitome of rest and relaxation. Long walks on the beach, maybe a pick up game of beach volleyball, and endless sun on your skin, let's start packing now!

And because everyone loves a nice refreshment while lounging on the beach, how about a Vermontucky Lemonade made by Smitten Kitchen?

My beach trip essentials are pretty simple no matter if I'm going to Florida or the Caribbean.

1. A pretty tote to store all my necessities for a day at the beach: book, sunglasses, sun block, and an extra beach towel.



2. A lace dress to change in to for dinner and cocktails.




3. A wide brimmed hat for shading my shoulders.




4. I love this printed bikini!




5. High-waist pastel shorts that can be dressed up or down.




6. Stripe tunic that doubles as a beach cover up or can be worn with shorts for shopping at the town markets.



7. Big sunnies to block the sun.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

 

1. A pretty apron for the mom who loves to cook.
2. A culinary spice windowsill garden for the mom who keeps things fresh.
3. A great read for the bookworm.
4. Send your mom a sweet treat.
5. A thoughtful bracelet of nice reminders of your childhood and hers.
6. The perfect beach tote for this summer's family vacation.
7. Personalized gifts are always better, how about a new cell phone case?
8. Give her a touch of luxury with this massage oil.
9. Pamper her with a blowout for the weekend at a drybar in your area.

weekend roundup

living close to the golf course makes a nice back drop to an early morning run

Well that weekend came to a close a little to soon, eh? It was so nice to soak in some great weather and spend time with friends and family. Here are a few shots to show all the fun . . .


ahi tuna burger  + crispy wontons + pear beer = one good meal

baseball games have been the entertainment as of late

the sweetest friends

sarah + will

99.9% of the time it takes a few shots to get one good one

 

And maybe one night I'll get a shot of the entire group - this is only about half.

 

f r i d a y

via

Hello friends, can you believe it's Friday already? This month is slowly slipping away. What are you up to this weekend? I'm meeting some college friends for another baseball game, celebrating birthdays, and continuing my marathon training. One thing I've learned this week is that waking up early is spectacular! Waking up by 7:30 am, going on a walk or jog, making a light breakfast, and reading over magazines, journals, and blogs is the best way to start my day! What are your morning remedies? Have a great weekend and enjoy these fun posts . . .

 

A song for your weekend.

35 things you will never see again - as a 90s child, this list is depressing.

Was your dad hip?

This is incredible. Three people live in a 72 room old bank on Bowery Street, New York, New York.

35 quotes to transform yourself into a leader.

This lace dress just got added to my wish list.

What to cook when a vegetarian comes over for dinner.

Donate here to help Boston victims.

Bizarre questions people ask their personal trainer.

A bag that I want, real bad.

A pretty tray to display jewelry.

How to: rope braid chignon {aka a braided bun}.

Can. Not. Wait.

Like Victoria and myself, do you judge a wine by it's label?

A wall of herbs.

Make your own dressing.

a shift dress

I've been pretty persuaded the last couple of years in buying shift dresses. Why? Because they are incredibly versatile, great for layering, and are perfect for transitioning from day to night or weekend to formal event. I've gathered 3 different dresses and sharing my take on casual and dressy outfits - perfect for any occasion this spring and summer!

 

The Neutral

The foundation for any dress collection {hello twenty black dresses in my closet) is a great neutral. I typically lean towards gray and black since I am prone to spill something if I'm wearing white, ha! For a casual look, pair your neutral with open-toed sandals and a chic baseball cap. Swap out your accessories for a fancier take on this shift. How about pretty drop earrings and a colorful clutch?

The Bold

 Red dresses have always been sexy to me. Call it a power color if you will. I'm trying to incorporate more color in to my wardrobe and I think this will be the start. Pairing this red number with tennis shoes seems unfathomable to some, but wouldn't this be great for running to the fresh market or farmer's stand this weekend (welcome back humid 80 degree weather and an abundance of fresh strawberries)? Make it date night appropriate by switching into black lace-up sandals and a leopard clutch.

 

The Printed

The epitome of summer perfection is accentuated with fun prints and patterns. Whenever I put a pretty print on, it's an instant mood changer. They make you feel lighter and brighter. Last summer I spent many early afternoons stationed at the park reading a good book. So before I leave in the mornings this year, I'll be sure to put on a pretty dress to start the day off right. With printed shift ensembles for a bridal tea shower, it's best to keep the rest of your outfit basic. You don't want to go overboard since the dress itself is the show-stopper. Easily pair it with matching heels and a nude lip.