Monday Muse

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

What better way to start the week off with some pretty inspirations . . .

 

All photo credits found on Tumblr and Pinterest.

Happy Weekend!

Geez, another week come and gone! Is it just me or is this year just flying by?! I've had a pretty fun week of visiting with friends in-between work and watching it rain day after day. Lucky me, I was off yesterday and took full advantage of our one day of sunshine. I even managed a picnic at Vulcan Park with some of my best girlfriends from college. Even though I haven't seen some of these ladies since Christmas, we didn't skip a beat when we were all together again. Talk about true friendship! Love these girls to the moon and back . . . oh, and sorry for the crazy eyes.

So excited for my sweet newly engaged Maegan!!!! Seneca is one lucky man!

What are you up to this weekend? I'm working a little bit and then celebrating my freshman roommate's wedding! Y'all have a great weekend and if you're in the reading mood, check out these fun links . . .

A song for you weekend.

Definitive proof that Ryan Gosling is like a fine wine.

Pretty floral top.

A light caprese salad with kale pesto.

DIY lavender and mint sugar scrub.

I was totally this kiddo.

20 things 20 year olds don't get.

9 Brit brands beauty snobs should know.

Seriously starting to plan this trip to visit Casey!

Blog Spotlight | Meet Lauren: An Americans journey of living in beautiful London with her family- her stories are wonderful and hilarious!

Wednesday Loves

 

Oscar de la Renta day print dress // Zara city bag //  Joie fire bootie //

 Burberry trench coat // J. Crew painter tee 

Ryan Kinder  Mine     //     Lana Del Rey  Blue Jeans

 

Weekend Roundup

Nashville did not disappoint {like it ever would, ha!} this past weekend.

First stop was in the heart of Nashville on Broadway Friday night at a place called Paradise Park. Picture a trailer park themed party complete with an awesome band and wearing your favorite dancing shoes. We made our way to the front row and sang and danced all night long.

Saturday we spent the morning and afternoon in Franklin. At The Factory we went to Third Coast Clay and painted something for the bride and groom. My cousin Alicia and I brainstormed and ended up doing a customized pitcher. After we painted, we headed to the downtown area and ate the best burger and cheese fries - I was in carb heaven!

Saturday night we had a little lingerie shower {ooh la la themed).

Then for dinner we went to the best restaurant I've ever been to in Nashville. It's called Whiskey Kitchen located in The Gulch. Alicia and I tried their bourbon whiskey with muddled fresh oranges. Oh my word, it was delicious! But then the food came out and I think I died and went to good food heaven! I was with a group of twelve ladies and tried a couple bites. I didn't try anything I didn't love. I decided on the pulled pork with spicy slaw on top and a side wedge salad with homemade lemon vinaigrette. Can you tell I'm craving it now?!

 

After a fun packed weekend and less than one hand can count on hours of sleep I got the whole weekend, it's time to rest a little {aka catch up on PLL and Park and Recreation}.

Happy Weekend!

I am on my way to Nashville to celebrate this girl's upcoming nuptials! I have a full spread planned out for the bachelorette weekend and can't wait to share next week. Maybe I'll break out some Woody Allen dance moves, ha! Have a great weekend and if you're in a reading mood, check out these fun links . . .

A song for your weekend.

I am loving these new Dogeared State of Mind necklaces.

What makes a salad even better? Yep, bacon.

A humorous interview by Stephen Colbert with Tumblr founder, David Karp.

Abercrombie models turned A-list actors . . .

Mid-summer essentials | tees, tanks, and tan lines

PBJ 2.0 - seriously cool version of a peanut butter sandwich.

Double-cleansing is a must!

How to give a high five.

9 problems with women's clothing.

The coolest animal hangers.

Willie made braids cool.

The 40 hanger closet. It's time to get organized!

Follow along on my Instagram for our Nashville shenanigans this weekend!

six questions

Beth over on One Day in June {seriously go check it out! Beth and her husband Strater are just adorable!} nominated me to "answer 6 fun facts about yourself" and of course I could not say no!

 

4. One goal you want to accomplish in the next year?

I like to think that I am a very goal-oriented person. I have many personal and career goals that I have set for myself and I try to achieve them on a daily basis. For the remainder of the year, I’d like to focus on my career. I have always been a very driven person and want to find something that I love to do every day. My degree is in fashion retail with a concentration in entrepreneurship – so I love the business side of fashion! I want to find a company where I can grow from the bottom up and I think I have found something special where I am at now!

As for a personal goal, I want to work on getting out of my comfort zone. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Pretty much everyone that is from here, ends up coming back and settling in the area - not that that is a bad thing , but I feel like you can't really grow without getting out of your comfort zone. I would like to move back to Manhattan. I don't really know anyone there, except for a few old classmates and then the girls that I interned for. I want to experience the city life for more than a few mere months. Watch out Manhattan, I'm coming for you . . . soon! 

Okay now it's your turn. Tag, you're it!
Natalie
Staley
Erin
Grace
Laney
Jana

Questions . . . answer 6 of the following
1) What's your favorite part of marriage?
2) How did your blog come about?
3) What is your favorite item in your closet?
4)  What's something about yourself that your readers don't know about you - a fun fact, a goal, embarrassing moment?
5) What kind of driver are you - backseat driver? speed racer? cautious and slow like a turtle?
6) What's your favorite snack?
7) What's your worst habit?
8) What is your go-to drink?

Join in on the fun and answer any of Beth's or my questions in the comments.
I'd love for you to share!

Monday Muse | Fall-spiration

 

I've got an itch for fall. I know, crazy right?! But it is my favorite season after all. I've got cravings for chunky knits, leather jackets, and boots! Not to mention my all-time favorite pumpkin spice lattes! Who's with me? Ha! But in all seriousness - it's time to sort through your closet and start preparing for this fall. Retailers are about to start launching their ready-to-wear fall goods and you need to start determining what you'll need. For me, it's all about classic basics this year. A nice buttery leather jacket, booties and practical heels, a white coat, and cashmere sweaters.

 

All photo credits found on Pinterest.

Happy Weekend!

Friday already? I started a new job this week {yay!} and got to travel to Nashville for a conference. They sure didn't have to twist my arm on that one ,ha! And the cherry on top of the trip? I got to spend some time with family in Franklin! If you've been a reader for a while now, I'm sure you already know my love of this town right outside of Nashville.

cousins Shelby and Lauren

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? I am finishing up some details for my sisters upcoming bachelorette party and the wedding - it's less than a month away! If you're in a reading mood, check out these fun links from around the web . . .

A song for your weekend.

Congrats to Joanna on having baby Anton!

How to love your work.

A pretty blue satchel that's too hot to handle.

This is cool New York, heads up it's tonight and tomorrow.

Espresso granita topped with whipped cream - sounds heavenly!

Jay Z and his Picasso.

The 10 worst people on the subway.

Lemon spaghetti for a light dinner.

How to: wash your hair in space.

A fun braid for the weekend.

11 fascinating places to visit.

Alexa Chung: The Hair Memoir

Weekend Roundup + Monday Muse

Did y'all have a relaxing holiday weekend? Mine was a little more stressful than I intended it to be with work, so a deep breathe is in order. Good news, I got to catch up with some of my best girlfriends - which never disappoints since it's always hilarious conversation! And to kick off this week, I headed over to Tumblr for some weekly inspiration . . .

Good food, bright colors, words of wisdom, and simple neutrals is all this girl is craving this week.

 

All images and their sources can be found on my Tumblr page.

Happy Weekend!

Happy weekend friends! I'm loving this extended holiday weekend - I think we're going to be celebrating America's birthday for the next few days with some pool time and barbeques. Enjoy and have a look at these fun posts . . .

A song for your weekend.

Cool off with graham cracker ice cream sandwiches.

Who says y'all and other words differently across the US.

Have you seen the gorgeous Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2013 show?

Things college girls love - hate to admit I totally was involved in some of these too, ha!

Mexican food has become America's favorite.

How to fold a shirt in 2 seconds.

Interesting article on why employees quit.

This would be perfect for a beach getaway.

A silk jumper is a must this summer!

A post card that was mailed 68 years ago and finally delivered. How cool?!

Taking note on how to give a proper MOH toast.

Want to know a secret for perfect summer hair up-dos?

Happy Independence Day

 

Happy 4th of July! How are you celebrating America's birthday? I am having a BBQ with friends and then going to watch some fireworks. Have a safe and fun holiday folks!

Wednesday Loves

I obviously am obsessed with blue today. Can you blame me? How cute are these RM jean shorts? And the new FEED USA Target installment - I can't get over how useful and how wonderful this company is!

Friends That Travel | Maegan

My boyfriend and I will be off on an European adventure for 18 days starting today! With all of the essentials we can cram into a backpack, we will travel through Spain, Italy, and France! A few of the items that I have deemed essential for myself include: a great pair of running shoes, dark aviators, comfy flip flops, J Crew walking shorts, and light Victoria's Secret tees. These items make up a comfortable outfit perfect for days filled with walking and site seeing. They are also easy to pack in a small backpack and easy to wash quickly. With all of the walking we are planning to do, it's important for us to have a good pair of shoes to do that in, but also a pair of flip flops or sandals to give our feet a break! The Victoria's Secret tees are light breezy, and so comfortable! They are also super easy to dress up with the right accessories, making them perfect for both casual site seeing or a sit down dinner. J Crew has awesome walking shorts! I have 3 of the same pair in different colors because I like them so much. They are easy to pack, easy to dress up and down, and have big pockets! Sunglasses are an essential. Who would want the sun to hinder you from seeing sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum? I love aviators and particularly dark ones. Of course, this won't be all that I pack or deem essential but I could safely label these items as my top 5!

Happy travels!

Weekend Roundup

one of my happiest places to be in Alabama

Can we go back in time please? That was seriously a gooooood weekend! I got to spend it with some of my best friends and celebrated with my sister {aka the bride-to-be}! Between both showers, we got to sneak in a little blueberry picking, eating on the porch, and caught some rays by the lake. I can't believe the wedding is only a little over a month away {what?!?}.

Oh, and happy July 1st! How the heck did that happen?

pickin' blueberries

and makin' cobblers
sorry for the lack of make-up, but this is lake life, ha!

sisters

the blake cousins

so in love with little hunter

All of our dad's were cousins and all men had girls. What a fun time we've had growing up together and walking in their mischievous footsteps.

Happy Weekend!

 

Hi there friends! Hope you all had a great week! What are you up to this weekend? Mine is filled with wedding festivities for my sister's wedding {I actually get an extra day since I left yesterday!} First up is a couple days at the lake and then a shower by the Blake side of the family and then off to Georgia on Sunday for the groom's side! It will be busy, but tons of fun seeing family I haven't seen in a while and celebrating the bride-to-be. Have a relaxing weekend and visit these fun links from around the web . . .

 

A song for your weekend.

 

What's the most famous brand in your state? - I have to disagree on this one. I mean, what about Milo's or Blue Bell ice cream?! And I'm pretty sure Saks is best known in New York.

 

Art on toast.

 

14 books to read before they hit the big screen.

 

Making this summer inspired cake this weekend.

 

Having a frumpy day? Try this trick.

 

Anthropologie has hit the jackpot. I am so in love with this, this, and this.

 

Natalie Deayala Collection is the best -love her high neck mini!

 

How bubbly can boost your brain power.

 

The best SNL skits.

 

Humans of New York. 

 

Now this is cool Urban Outfitters.

Friends That Travel | Cati

 

My family and I are spending a week in California. We will start in Los Angeles - explore Sunset Boulevard, Grauman's Chinese Theater, spend an evening at Santa Monica Pier, and the most exciting to me . . . We got tickets to the Conan O'Brien Show! Next we will head to San Diego, hit up Six Flags along the way, but spend our next couple days at the zoo and enjoy this city's notoriously delicious food. We will end our trip in Anaheim, spending our last 2 days in Disneyland ;) 

  Each outing deserves a fun outfit that is both comfortable and functional. I love maxi skirts, because they are dressier than jeans but are so comfy! But most importantly, I packed a good amount of flats due to all of the walking and added in a lot of fun accessories to spruce up my outfits. My birthday dinner will be in LA, of which I picked something a little fancier. Who doesn't like getting all dolled up for their birthday? For our amusement park days, I chose a comfy cute outfit - I adore Keds/Converse, anything fun that shows off my personality! 

California Dreaming

Santa Monica Pier

Birthday Dinner

Exploring San Diego

Theme Park

Friends That Travel | Mallory

 

Few things are as lovely as going on a new adventure in the summer! As a teacher, I take every single travel opportunity I can over my summer break. First stop: Stamford, CT to visit a best friend from college. As I've traveled more often, I've realized that relying on a carry-on and not checking baggage is the way to go. I've also learned that summer travel requires a few essentials. 

 

 

 1) A maxi dress | I have a maxi dress obsession. A good basic dress like the one pictured is my too essential travel item. It's easy to throw a cute cardigan or an airy sweater over it for flying or casual roaming around your new surroundings. For a night out on the own, grab some wedges to dress is up!

2) A sheer top | This is a close second to my obsession with maxi dresses. A sheer, flowy shirt is the perfect summer travel option. It can go from a precious beach cover up, a casual shirt to pair with shorts for a lunch date, or with white jeans and a great statement necklace for dinner.

3) A colorful necklace | I am loving long necklaces this season. A bright and colorful one is perfect to dress up that maxi for a night out, or over a plain tee and jeans to pull an outfit together.

4) A great book | Kisses from Katie is what I'm currently burying my nose in (for the 3rd time). It's a wonderful story of a 20-something who found herself in Uganda, adopting children, and starting a non-profit by the grace of God. No matter where I'm going, a great book for the airplane or the beach to read is lovely.

5) A camera | Last, but not least, my camera is with me at all times. My big purchase last summer was a Nikon D3000 and I am still in love. I love the quality of the photos and capturing every moment of a new adventure.

Happy traveling!

 

- Mallory

P.S. Mallory is about to go on a twelve day mission trip to Ghana. Please pray for her and the team she is going with for safe travels and that God would be glorified in everything that happens in the duration of their trip!

The LWD

One of my favorite colors to wear year round is white, although I am prone to spill something within the first five minutes I put it on. Anyone else out there with this issue? A little white dress has become a recent favorite in place of the classic little black dress. It's versatile for almost all occasions {refrain from wearing to weddings and bridal showers} and you'll stand out from the black sea of LBD. I love pairing a LWD with cognac leather sandals and adding color with other accessories like a coral clutch or turquoise bauble necklace.

Donna Karan // Karen Millen // Calypso St. Barth // A.L.C. // Monsoon // The Row