26

today is my 26th birthday and, truth be told, i am really excited about it. i know that most start to feel the blues once 25+ hits but, i only feel excitement about the coming years. this weekend should be a lot of fun and filled with loads to celebrate. thursday, T and i will be going to a friend's benefit for als, friday, T and i go out just us two to celebrate my birthday, while saturday and sunday, my family is coming in town for delicious food, wine and company.

here's to 25 and beyond!

pinspired

 

lately i've been accidentally stumbling across some really great quotes via pinterest. and some, i loved so much, that i felt the need to share....hope you find these to be pinteresting too!

(originals were found and tagged via my pinterest boards)

chihuly at night

 

just before nye, T and i ventured down to dallas with my family to check out the chihuly exhibit. the exhibit has been held at the arboretum and botanical garden for a hot minute but, they had decided to have a special viewing of it at night. i love chihuly's eye for color, design and attention to detail, especially his use of light to enhance his pieces. so we were thrilled to get a chance to see a new "view" of his work under the glow of nightfall and accent lighting.

i took this photo of my grandpa bj and T...their faces are a mix of "we're stopping again?" and "it's so cold, i can't feel my toes".

 

i loved how chihuly used water and light pointed at the right angles for the above and below photos. in the snapshot above, it looks as if water is pouring from both the top and bottom. below, the water acts as a mirror making the viewer wonder were the piece actually begins.

 

needless to say, it was well worth enduring the chilly weather that blew through dallas that night. but, then again, i don't need an excuse to see chihuly's work :)

the grandpa sweater

 

to say i love this sweater is a massive understatement. i found this gem several years ago at an old navy, tucked away in the back of a sale rack during the heatwave that is our summer. and as crazy as i sounded even wanting to look at it, i couldn't ignore the $5 price tag. what! it had to be mine. and as all great finds go, i wanted to wear it immediately but, obviously, couldn't. so there it sat in the back of my closet awaiting to be presented in the chilly weather to come.

 

funny thing, ever since i first started sporting this in public, i always get loads of compliments from grandpas! and while most would see that as a sign to not wear something, i only felt comfirmation that i made a great purchase. and, coincidentally, it has been called the grandpa sweater ever since. perfect accent to any outfit but, especially mint jeans and a pair of slouchy canvas boots.

have a great weekend!

a painting

 

a little over a year ago, i came across the lovely and talented artist jessica marianello via her etsy shop. i found myself instantly in love with her pet potraits and her ability to pour the personality of every living being she meets into her paintings. my favorite, upon going to her website, Stray Dog Arts, was her painting of a man playing the harmonica while his dog howls along. it was just so funny, sweet and out of the norm of what you typically see animals painted as. more times than not, their personalities are not captured as vividly.

 

so with christmas to come, i set out my plans to have jessica come meet boba and i (pre solo bear) and create a piece that would perfectly capture T and i's sweet lovebug of a pup. her and boba became immediate friends and after telling her all about him and his nickname, sir pouts-a-lot, her face lit up as she just had to see this herself. sure enough, it didn't take long (since boba feels he has a lot to pout about regularly....he really has gotten quite good at it) before he gave that signature pout you see below. and it seemed only fitting that this photo be chosen to capture sweet boba's like-ness.

 

then christmas morning came, T and i exchanged our gifts, and upon opening T's painting, he took one look and said...that's our boba :)

 

jessica, we truly cannot thank or recommend you enough to any animal lover to commission your work. we are forever grateful and can't wait to have one made of solo once is has finished growing.

 

[i love this photo. i kept trying to get boba to sit with all the distractions around him and then finally he did sit. ...right on my lap. that sweet boy sure does have my heart and then some]

 

should you ever want to have something to remember your furry loved ones or to give as a great, personalized and unique gift, please contact jessica. i can promise, you will get so much more than just a painting. :)

**and yes, we are aware we are those people who talk about their dogs constantly...they may not be our whole life but, they certainly make our lives whole. ..even when boba is sir pouts-a-lot**

cositas

[gorgeous blooms from my valentine's day flowers]

 

this weekend has been such fun for T and i. it was filled with an impromptu happy hour to reunite busy friends, baking childhood favorites, a delicious dinner party, hilarious gals brunch and finished with enjoying the strangely warm weather to come our way. and while i'm sure that amazing weather will quickly change back to being winter-like, we sure did enjoy it while we could.



[exploring new bars with interesting drink combinations]

 

[white chocolate and cranberry creme brulee]

 

[funky odd-ends that my mom uses to hold her glasses]

 

[lunch dates filled with champagne and delicious appetizers]

 

[chips and salsa. a great way to greet warm weather]

a splash of red

 

i have been in love with ponchos and capes for as long as i can remember...but finding the perfect one is like goldilocks finding the bed that fits just right. this one is a great starter since it combines simple colors with a funky pattern. which felt just right when paired with riding boots and a bright red pencil skirt.  

happy valentine's day everyone!

valentines and wine

shortly after christmas with the lull of all the non-decor around, i decided i wanted to play host to a valentine making party. just a few friends, a little wine, plenty of sweets to snack on and, of course, some extreme girly-ness. it was the perfect remedy to cure my post christmas decoration blues.

valentine's day always has this stigma where people walk on eggshells of being in a relationship or not and what to do and not do. ick! i always loved valentine's day when i was younger...not so much for having a special someone but more about making fun cards and candy. so i thought a few friends and i could do just that. not focus on who it will be but, have fun goofing around and making valentines..for the sake of making something cute.

 

there was lots of laughing...girl talking..toasting gallore..

 

lots of pink...sweet notes..and of course confetti.

it was perfectly sweet, simple and felt just like grade school all over again. minus the wine of course ;)

starry, starry night

after my first time trying out an art class with wine and palette, my mom and i had been toying with the idea of doing one together. upon finding out january would be featuring one of my mom's all-time favorites, we figured the time had come! so we set out to each paint half of the beloved starry night painting by van gogh himself.

it was so cool to work on the same painting and see how our two styles came together. especially since most of my technique comes from this lovely lady :)

and while it was so fun to channel one of the greats in art, we were pretty happy to walk away with both our ears this time around.

cheers!

fresh coat of paint

so i decided not too long ago that i wanted to change up the blog a bit. it felt like it needed to be re-vamped a little and while i am still working out the kinks, i hope you all like it! and even though these balloons don't have anything to do with it, i love the festiveness they bring to even the smallest of occasions...like a fresh coat of paint.

happy monday!