Wednesday, January 30, 2013

25 Before 25 + Two Months Left


At the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland on our East Coast Adventure.

I can't believe that I'm almost 25! My birthday isn't until April, but I wanted to assess what I still wanted to do in these next few months. A lot these plans are in the works, so I'm excited to see how many more things I can cross of the list.

1. See New York City
2. Go back to college
3. Take a bubble bath in a claw foot tub
4. Try a new restaurant/coffee shop once a week
5. Go camping
6. Fly a homemade kite
7. Take a hot air balloon ride
8. Hike Camelback Mountain with Jason
9. Visit Antelope Canyon
10. Spend a whole afternoon looking at the clouds
11. Create a garden full of herbs and vegetables
12. Play Super Mario Bros. on the Wii
13. Participate in a photo-a-day challenge
14. Buy an elliptical
15. Bake vegan cupcakes
16. Make new friends
17. Go kayaking at Woods Canyon Lake
18. Tear down wood paneling and paint living room
19. Make curtains
20. Learn to sew a skirt
21. Walk a marathon
22. Go to The Getty in Malibu, California
23. Build something
24. Use every Culture Pass from the library
25. Have an amazing one-year anniversary of being married

♥ What do you want to accomplish before your next birthday?

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Random Topic Tuesday + Inspiration

+++gift
On Danielle's blog Sometimes Sweet I saw the cutest collection of baby items on the Etsy shop Little Hip Squeak. I am a soon-to-be aunt! I love all the beautiful geometric patterns on these baby blankets.

+++home
On Elsie & Emma's blog A Beautiful Mess I read about these honeycomb shelves. I showed Jason, and I think it's a project we hope to tackle when we have some time on the weekends. For our home I think we will make them a little smaller, and paint them white.

+++store
Jason and I visited West Elm for the first time over the weekend. I swear, everything is perfect. We recently purchased a new mattress off of Craig's List, and we picked out this quilt. I can't wait to pick it up this week.

+++iPhone app
It seems like everybody in the blog world is starting to use this new app called Vine. I just installed it on my phone, and plan to give it a go sometime this week.

♥ What is making you feel inspired lately?

Monday, January 28, 2013

Brunch + Braveheart

It rained all weekend. It was lovely.

I celebrated this $1 vase with some pretty pink roses.

This is the first time I've actually arranged flowers. I usually just throw them in a mason jar.

I can't believe I had never seen Braveheart before. William Wallace was a badass. 

We decided to stay cuddle up on the couch, pop in a movie, and have a feast at home.

Delicioso!

+++Weekend Highlights

We had a mattress delivered from Craig's List and it was soaking wet from the rain, and had to blow dry it for almost three hours.

I saw Braveheart for the first time, and it was a brilliant film.

Taking Joker for walks in the rain, and splashing in puddles in my Hunter boots.

We looked around for bedding at West Elm. I'm in love with that store.

In a brief pocket of sunshine, Jason flew his remote controlled airplane and did a barrel roll.

I got a free Starbucks yesterday. I didn't questioned it - just smiled and said thank you.

Silver Linings Playbook was fantastic! Now I know what the hype is all about.

♥ How was your weekend? What did you do?

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Californ-i-a & One Great Weekend

Hi lovelies! Since we had an extra-long weekend because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jason and I went to visit my brother Michael, in Los Angeles, California. We are really lucky to be able to visit just an amazing place so often. It wasn't sad leaving this time because we knew we are coming back for President's Day, which is only three weeks away. Most of our weekend was spent exploring the city, hitting up our favorite coffee houses, and doing a little shopping.
We are a little completely obsessed with Modern Family. Cam is my favorite, so here we are in front of Mitchell & Cam's house. Nerd alert!

Rolling Greens is the most beautiful place in LA. Any plant you could ever dream of is right there in the city.

Orchids are my favorite.

    +++instagram+++


I had my first french macaroon!

I dream of this juice when I get home. I've tried to recreate it...not possible.



    +++what came home with us+++
This succulent made it all the way home to Phoenix.

I love this pot because it reminds me of a honeycomb.

I put my candle behind it so you could see it says, "Bonne Nuit" which means: goodnight in French.

This carafe is so much more fun than a water bottle on my bedside.

My new Tory Burch iPhone case. It was on sale *yay*

♥ What have you been up to lately? Do you have your next adventure planned?

Friday, January 18, 2013

The Wild, Wild West + Cacti

Last night we stopped by Home Depot and picked up some cacti!

I've lived in Arizona for almost 15  years, and never owned my own cactus before.

I got this tray from World Market.

This glass cloche is meant for candles, but I love using it as a terrarium. I collect rocks from all over, and my quartz crystal fits perfectly.

♥ Do you have plants in your home? If so, what kind?

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Oh, the Places You'll Go + World Map Cork Board DIY


What You'll Need:

                                                                       ♥ Cork Board
                                                                       ♥ World Map
                                                                       ♥ Frame
                                                                       ♥ Tacky Glue
                                                                       ♥ Tape Measurer
                                                                       ♥ Box Cutter

Instead of using a cork roll, we used a good ol' fashion cork board so when we stick the pins in they have something to adhere to.


Using the box cutters, we cut the cork board out in the shape of our frame.

We used tacky glue to glue the map to the cork board, and also to the inside of the frame.

I used white pins for the places we've been together, and blue pins for all the places we want to travel to. 

We hung it in our hallway, so we can constantly remind ourselves of all the adventures we want to take together.

I haven't pinned all the places we want to go yet, but it's a good start.

♥ Where do you want to travel to?

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January Wish List + The Art Of Relaxation

I love this glass terrarium with a cement base. An orchid would love beautiful in this.

I'm really into glass plant misters lately. This is the cutest one I've found! It just got back in stock.

I love amethyst geode cathedrals. They are pretty popular in Sedona, Arizona, which is a town a couple hours North of Phoenix. I can't wait to own one!

1 2 3 

Second day of school under my belt, and I'm already a little overwhelmed. I have a few hours to relax and I'm going to take full advantage of it. There are a few things that I like to do when I have some "me" time. I like to make little wish lists, get myself some Starbucks, put on some fuzzy socks, and watch Modern Family. It doesn't sound like much, but I'm already starting to feel a little better. I decided that after I work out I'm going to meditate, and make something nice for dinner. I love going to Trader Joe's because every time I get inspired to make something new.

♥ What do you do to relax?

Monday, January 14, 2013

Currently + The First Day Of School

The first day of classes means awkward introductions, the possibility of new friends, and lots and lots of coffee. By the by, this is my new favorite mug.

Loving. I'm still giddy over all of my Christmas presents. When I take Joker for a walk and pull out my Ray-Ban sunglasses I feel extra cool. It was really great to order those handful of things that I have been wanting forever.

Reading.
 Recently I read Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy. It was a really great read on a chilly Friday afternoon, with a coffee cup in hand. I have many more books on my shelf that I need to read, but I'm pretty excited to give The Help a go. My friend Lizzie's mom let me borrow her copy, so I'm going to get to that the first chance I get.

Watching.
 I'm still obsessed with Modern Family. We just finished season three! This show puts a smile on my face every time, and I love how much it makes us laugh. This is hands-down my favorite show right now. I can not get enough of Cam!

Thinking about. Today was the first day of school for this semester. I don't know why, but I'm always nervous. I'm taking more classes this term, so I guess you could say I'm a little anxious.

Anticipating. I can't wait until Friday! Since I have next Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, off of school Jason and I are going to spend the weekend in LA. I just can't get enough of that town. There is always so much to do, and I love spending time with my brother.

Listening to.
I've been in Pandora mode lately, so nothing too specific. I had a pretty good time blasting Lady GaGa's "Bad Romance" on the drive home today though. Good times.

Wishing.
 I really want to make time for everything I want to do this semester. I just need to stay organized. There is this quote by Lao Tzu that is very dear to my heart, and that I refer to in times of need: "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished".

Making me happy.
 I'm really proud of myself for finding time to work out on the elliptical for an hour a day 4 or 5 times a week. It's hard, but definitely worth it.

Thank you to Danielle at Sometimes Sweet for the idea for this post. What are you currently into? ♥

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Books + Antlers

I ordered this beautiful antler on Etsy, and I'm absolutely in love with it! I originally wanted a natural colored one, but painted white is more modern and fits perfectly in our home.

Anthropologie had a huge sale on their books, so I picked up these two because they were cheaper than the price in my Amazon cart. Score!

Tonight I'm going play with the antler and see what it looks like wrapped in the Starry Lights from Restoration Hardware. I just need to pick up some batteries.

♥ What's new with you? What books are you currently reading?

Monday, January 7, 2013

Flying + Zoo Lights

We went to Jason's alma mater to fly his Christmas present.

I thought the plane needed a name, so London Air is what we call this bird.

It was the 50th anniversary of Zoo Lights at The Phoenix Zoo.

These monkeys were so cute!

I didn't realize Jason had me in the shot, but I was taking a photo to put on Instagram.

I loved all the lights!

♥ What did you do this weekend?

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Senses + Thrift Shop


Sight. On New Year's Day we saw Django Unchained. I have this theory about Quentin Tarantino: he makes a lot of crappy films in between amazing ones. Django was ridiculously good! Jamie Foxx was perfect for the role, but Christoph Waltz who played Dr. King Schultz was my favorite character of all.

Scent. Typically we solely use our espresso maker, but lately we have decided to put our Keurig to good use. Green Mountain's Hazelnut brew makes our whole home smell delicious. It doesn't just smell amazing, but it tastes great too!

Sound. "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore + Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz. This song is insanely catchy and I can't get it out of my head. This isn't something that I wouldn't normally listen to, but Jason and I find ourselves pressing repeat over and over.

Taste. I'm so proud of myself because I've tried two new places this weekend! Friday night we had a wonderful coffee date at a local place called Cartel Coffee Lab in Downtown Scottsdale. It is definitely a new favorite with excellent music, beautiful art, and delicious lattés. Then for brunch we tried a great place for brunch called NCounter in Tempe. They have yummy omelets, and I was surprised by the freshness of all their ingredients.

Touch. I purchased a pair of Ray-Ban original wayfarers on eBay with my Christmas money. They just came in the mail and I wore them for the first time today. I absolutely love them!

♥ What are your favorite senses of the week?

Friday, January 4, 2013

Breakfast + Blogging

Yummy organic berries with a side of blogging this morning.

1. Unique Banner

I've never worked with a graphic designer, let alone created anything web-related on my own. I have a very specific idea of what I want it to look like, but this is a whole new world to me. I'm not sure if I should get a book on it and attempt it myself, or if it would be cheaper and easier to hire someone to create what I'm looking for. I would love to hear any suggestions that you have.

2. Grab Button

I'm not worried about figuring out how to make one, but I need to set aside some time to take a special photograph for it.

3. Followers

I am so happy that I have followers, readers, commenters, and dare I say: new friends. I'd like to increase readers and learn more about how to do that. I've played around with the idea of becoming a sponsor. Have you ever been a sponsor? What was your experience?

4. Little Adventures

It's definitely hard to take adventures while being in school. My new year's resolution to try a local boutique, restaurant, or coffee shop at least once a week will help with this. 

5. DIY

Once again, school takes up so much time and I haven't been creating anything on a regular basis like I used to. I'm going to set a goal to create something at least once a month, which is completely doable.

♥ Do you have any blog-specific resolutions for 2013?

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Restoration Hardware + The Best Calendar Ever

I've always wanted a space calendar, and I'm so glad we waited until the start of the new year because it was under $7!

I'm a little extremely obsessed with Restoration Hardware! They had an amazing sale on their little odds and ends. The little posy press was only $4.

I'm thinking about putting the sapphire lights around our entertainment center, and the amber lights around a deer antler I recently ordered on Etsy.

Now I have the best excuse to take a long walk, sipping coffee, and picking flowers.

I also got to cup that matches this soap dish. It looks great in the bathroom.

♥ What's your favorite store?