over the weekend

 

[candied bacon in progress...]

 

last weekend, T and i drove up to tulsa to celebrate my dad's birthday and tackle some wedding to-do's. it was absolutely lovely from start to finish, and left us feeling refreshed for the coming week. here are a few snippets i captured along the way...

 

[said bacon from the above picture packaged a ready to deliver to my papa...he loved it :)]

 

[lots of cake tasting...5 bakeries to be exact]

 

[an inside joke with our friends i couldn't help but take advantage of; #elephantintheroom]

 

[drinks + amazing sushi combos + great views + family = a great lunch break]

 

[having an afternoon cocktail hour to unwind]

 

[my mom is such a babe]

 

[perfect family dinner. a new addition in favorite family memories]

 

[new book i can't wait to crack in to]

 

sadly not pictured but, a great moment, was our family birthday party held sunday. i learned about puppies with polka dots from my little cousin lyla, had dynamite grilled goods, and enjoyed some great laughs with our family.

 

here's to a happy start of the week!

striped & mini

 

dressing for the beginning of spring is like a balancing act; the mornings are chilly, by midday, it's in that sweet spot of not-to-warm, and late afternoon thru evening, is just short of being too hot. so, it's a game of dressing for all three moments of the day. sounds easy, right? well, here's my first attempt. in the am, i was a little on the cold-side, midday, felt just right, and by afternoon, felt a teensy bit too warm. basically, i passed the test for that day ;)

spring

 

i just love seeing all the trees and flowers start to bloom now that spring is finally here. the sun is staying out longer, temperatures are warming, and the birds are all a chatter. i absolutely love it. everything about this season just rejuvenates me, and makes me feel over-excited at even the smallest of things (like picnics, rose wine, and the smell of freshly cut grass). here's what i'm looking forward to most:

• taking the pups on short am runs to enjoy the fresh blooms
• get together with friends to try new brunch spots
• have a daily sunset cocktail hour with T to unwind from the day
• try out new taco concoctions
• explore more via biking around town
• go through my clothes and donate what's not being used
• complete our project of building a picnic table (for al fresco dinners)
• experiment more with floral patterns in my wardrobe
• plant basil, rosemary, and mint
• paint more!

can't wait to check these off! so, i'm curious, what are you looking forward to this season?

 

bridesmaid gifting diy

 

when T proposed to me last summer, it came pretty easy to me who i would have in my wedding party. since most of our loved ones were present (minus a few), i went ahead and popped the question to them all on the spot. now, i know most use a adorably pinterest-inspired way to ask but, i couldn't wait any longer in all the excitement. and while i didn't have a planned way of asking, i knew i wanted to do something special for them later. something sweet to get them excited for all the coming activites, and to let them know how much i loved them.

 

i was so thrilled with how they came out i thought i would share the diy for others to use. it could easily be used to ask "will you be my maid of honor or bridesmaid?" or for any occasion you want to show a special someone your love for them.

 

so, here we go...

 

first thing i did, was to personalize some hair clips for each of them. all of my dears have long hair that are perfect for some sparkly hair accessories. so, i picked up some basic clips from walgreens, layed a thin layer of glue and went crazy with each different shade of glitter i had. once they dried, i sprayed them generously with a clear coating spray (which you can find at hobby lobby).

 

[how cute right?]

 

next up, i decorated sweet cards for them using several different patterns of washi tape. i've been on a big washi tape kick lately and used it as a great excuse to get creative.

 

then, for the items i couldn't make: i picked up shades of blue nail polish by essie (as a hint to our wedding colors we'll be choosing), confetti pops by thimblepress (because who doesn't love to celebrate with confetti), and splits of champagne for the girls who were local (note: make sure you know your state laws on mailing alcohol. i didn't know, so i had to change a couple who i couldn't physically deliver to).

 

it was so fun to put together and a great way to show some love.

adelaide

life, according to my iphone

[standing at the center of the universe with T; finding little wonders at our wedding venue]

 

tomorrow is the first official day of spring and i am seriously ready for it. winter, we've had some good times and i know you and the groundhog have decided to extend it this year. but, i think we need to reconsider. it's time. you know it and i know it, so, head on home so spring can come visit. okay, i'm glad we had this talk. thanks.

[my sweet prince trying to wake me up and take a selfie; drinks at the mule with friends]

[exercising under supervision by a big cottonball; cozy knits on a chilly day]

[remnants of great times had; baking cinnamon rolls on a chilly snow day]

[a light dusting; sweet valentine goodies from T. and yes, those are cupcakes]

[sweet valentines from laun and a yummy tres leches cake; aren't they sweet?]

[spiky neutral beauty; making lasagna for my parents, so happy they loved it]

[gallery showing featuring T; awkward face during outfit posing]

[matching my nails to my post-its; a sweet gift from T]

[enjoying an impromptu spring day the best way we know how]

[our neighbor's kitty likes sunning herself on our porch; sweet birthday surprises]

knotted plaid

 

i have never been one to catch on to the trend of mid-drift baring. even in middle school and high school when it seemed everyone was doing it. i was always uncomfortable with the idea for what ever reason. the only time i felt comfortable doing so was in a bathing suit giving my best effort to become fish-like. flash forward to now, where baring the mid-drift has come back in style albeit with a slightly more demure twist. and i'll admit, it felt a bit strange to see a peek of my waistline, i welcomed this new take on an old trend without feeling out of place.