White House Photo Stream

Have you seen the White House photo stream? I love how down to earth it is and the behind the scenes look it allows of never before seen places.
Images: flickr

Inspired: 07.06.09

Window by kate / for me for you

Happy Monday

Happy Monday to you! How was your weekend?

Mine was very relaxing and a lot of fun! Friday morning we headed up to Virginia Beach and visited our friend Chris for some R&R on the beach. It was gorgeous weather, mid-80s with a slight breeze, and I couldn't have been more relaxed! Because Stephen had to work on Sunday, we headed home on Saturday afternoon and had a barbecue the two of us and then rode our bikes and watched fireworks. It was great! Yesterday I slept in, organized my decorating book {that took forever but so needed to be done} and went to Target {my favorite}!

I hope you had a relaxing few days. Cheers to a wonderful week!

Be Good

Happy Thursday everyone! What fun do you have planned?

I'm signing off a day early because of the 4th and hope you all have a great weekend! We're heading to Virginia beach early tomorrow morning to visit a friend. It's going to be beer, barbecue and beach. Perfect 4th of July festivities.

I hope you have a relaxing long weekend and as always, be good.

P.S. I spotted this image on Erin's blog. It really spoke to me and evoked very patriotic feelings. Despite it's flaws, I think the U.S. is a pretty damn great place to live. I love this country! Happy Independence Day!

Into The Wild

Last night we watched Into The Wild and today the movie is still with me in an almost haunting way.

Inspired by a true story about a young, college graduate who goes on a trek across the country with an ultimate goal of exploring Alaska's wilderness alone, the movie is inspiring. It made me think about life and what's important. The fact that it has stayed with me this long is a testament to the acting and the story itself. And, I have to say, the music done by Eddie Vedder is out of this world.

Inspired: 07.02.09

Stretch by shespeaksoceans

Bangles

Can you tell I'm in a shopping mood? I think these interlocked metal bangles are sweet. They'd look great with a summer dress.
Image: Forever21

Skirt

I want this skirt. It looks so easy and comfortable.
Image: Banana Republic

Inspired: 07.01.09

Effed by shespeaksoceans

First of the Month

Happy July everyone! The year's half over and 2009 is flying by, isn't it?! This month I'm looking forward to:
-My Mom and Step-Dad visiting Charlotte.
-Having a date night with Stephen for Queen's Feast Restaurant Week.
-Celebrating 4th of July festivities at the beach with our friend Chris.
-Attending our friends Tanya and Jared's wedding weekend with a party Friday night at the Santa Monica Pier and the reception at the Adamson House in Malibu. {The Bride's Mom is an Event Planner so you know this party will not disappoint!}
-Spending the wedding weekend at the Loew's Hotel. {Check out the link, it's gorgeous!}
-Continuing to work on my upcoming surprise. {Sorry, I can't share just yet but will very, very soon!}
-Actually getting to eat those tomatoes that have been tempting me throughout the month of June in our garden.
Image: Back porch of the Adamson House

3/50 Project

The 3/50 project I posted about a bit ago finally got some national coverage! The article does a nice job of showing how supporting your local brick and mortar shops can really make a difference!

Belt

I want this belt {in brown- see below} so I can cinch all my billowy dresses.Isn't it pretty?
Image: Death and Texas

Shampoo & Conditioner

I'm on the hunt for a new shampoo and conditioner. I have thick, somewhat course hair that isn't colored. It takes forever to dry with a hairdryer but I need to wash it everyday because otherwise it becomes greasy. Any suggestions? Oh, and if they're safe for the environment, that would be awesome!
Image: flickr

Inspired: 06.30.09

An Organized Collection: My Shells by shespeakoceans

Review: Method Dishwasher Detergent

So my Earth Day Resolution was to start using only personal health products {where available} that are safe for the environment. And part of this, is to continue implementing green cleaning products into my life. I'm good to go on body wash, laundry detergent and floor cleaner but I've been on the hunt for a dishwasher detergent that actually works.

Well guess what? Method has come through! Their Smarty Dish is naturally deprived, phosphate-free, full of biodegradable materials and actually does a great job! We do a brief rinse of all our dishes, put a tab in, run the dishwasher and viola everything comes out clean!

You wouldn't knowingly eat chemicals that kill animals and plants and pollute the water that run into your drinking source, right? So why would you eat off dishes that have been washed in them? My thoughts exactly!
Image: Method

Birthday Cards

Once again, it's time to stock up on birthday cards! I like to have generic ones on hand so I can take an inventory at the beginning of the month, pull out the ones I need, and have them ready to go and {hopefully} in the mail on time. It helps me stay on top of the multiple birthdays I have on my calendar each month. Do any of you do something similar?
I think this birthday postcard is so unique! I like how you circle the month and day of the birthday and then send it on it's merry little way.
And, I just like the simplicity of the one below. I definitely think it could be used for young and old, male or female.
And of course, both of these are on their way to me!
Images: Simplesong Design and Anemone Letterpress

Inspired: 06.29.09

Light at the End of the Tunnel by Pink Peony Photography

Happy Monday

Happy Monday to you! How was your weekend?

As usual, mine flew by in the blink of an eye! The mountains were a lot of fun with time spent tubing on the river, riding ATVs and enjoying time with friends. And of course, my weekend wouldn't be complete without my usual trip to Trader Joe's. They always seem to have the best flowers and this week I picked up yellow Snapdragons. They're beautiful. I love my New Years Resolution!

I hope you had a relaxing few days, cheers to a wonderful week!
Image: flickr

Be Good

Happy Friday everyone! What fun do you have planned?

We're off to the North Carolina mountains to spend the weekend at a mountain house with two other couples. We're celebrating our friend Sean's birthday so it should be a ton of fun! We're tubing down the river {which basically looks like this picture}, barbecuing, reading, riding ATVs, going to the farmers market and soaking in the clean mountain air and sunshine! Internet and cell phones don't work up there so it will be the perfect setting to relax and recharge.

In other exciting news, I just found out today I have July 3rd off {like the rest of America}. Yee Haw!!!

I hope you have a relaxing few days and as always, be good.

I'm in Love with a Phone

Yes, it's only a phone. But to me it's so much more. This NPR article pretty much sums up the love affair I have with my iPhone.

Stationary

Pam from Pixel Impress left a comment on my blog and boy am I glad. Check out the amazing stationary I stumbled upon when I headed over to her Etsy shop. Really, really lovely. I can promise you I'll be making a purchase very, very soon.
Images: Pixel Impress

Dress

I'm in love with this dress. Has anyone purchased anything from Lulu's? I'm unfamiliar with their sizing.
Image: Lulu's

Inspired: 06.26.09

Life is Calling by Sarai Woah Photography

Sunscreen

As a child, wearing sunscreen wasn't all that important. Which is too bad, because I grew up in Arizona, land of the sun. Twenty years ago there wasn't the knowledge and warnings out there that exist today. And yet sometimes, when I listen to what people say, I realize that the facts about sunscreen are either ignored or more likely misunderstood.

Now that I'm older, I slather the stuff on my face everyday {it's not mixed in my makeup- the dermatologist says that won't do}, and when I'm going to be outside for an extended period of time, I put it on all over my body. So today when I heard a piece about sunscreen explaining the facts and debunking myths, I listened with interest. It's really educational so I'll hope you'll listen too. It really could save your life.
Image: flickr

Clothe Me

Just a few things I'm coveting...

Wide Basket-Weave BeltCampo Bag {Sigh... one day.}

Viscose Pleated Top

Nottingham Tall Leather Boots

Twist Sash Dress

Striped Navy Cardigan

Inspired: 06.25.09

If Everyone Cared by Sarai Woah Photography

Summer Reading

If you're anything like me, you use summer to catch up on reading. I'm always looking for recommendations and thought I'd share five of my favorite books. They're books I could reread every few years, something I don't do very often.

It was while reading The Bean Trees that I discovered Barbara Kingsolver's gift for descriptions both physical and emotional. So as not to spoil the plot, the basics of it are that a woman, Taylor, finds herself caring for an orphan Indian child in Tucson, Arizona. There she discovers the wonders of motherhood, risk-taking, self-discovery and the crazy town of Tucson {a place 90 miles from where I grew up.} The book pulls at your heartstrings in a beautiful way and the scenery will make you think of the West in a completely different light.

This collection of columns, originally published in The Arizona Republic {where I also used to work as a writer!}, is downright hysterical. Following her daring exploits from teenager to adulthood, each story in The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club will have you laughing and relating at the same time. Be warned: You'll want to call your closest girlfriend and rehash your now comical teenage angst years in depth. Each story is short {3-4 pages} and it's an easy read-perfect for taking on the road or to the beach.

The second I finished The Time Travelers Wife I wanted to begin rereading. This book follows Henry who has a disorder that makes him suddenly disappear without warning and finds himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of importance in his life. He marries his wife Clare and then minutes later finds himself transported and meeting her as a child, then again as an old woman after he's passed. Don't be worried, this book is only a small part science-fiction and large part wonderful, beautiful love story. It switches back and forth from Henry and Clare's point of view as well as jumps in time, but, it's actually really easy to read. It's one of my top three books.

Part historical fact, part answers to a love mystery, Loving Frank, examines the life of famed archictect Frank Lloyd Wright and his longtime mistress Mamah Cheney. Their affair became the stuff of headlines when they left their families to live and travel together. But, this isn't just a love story. Instead, it focuses extensively on Mamah and the restrictions she encounters due to being a woman in the early part of the 20th century. The author does a great job of recreating Frank's overwhelming personality and the toll it had on everyone he loved.

Set during the Civil Rights era and all the racial tension it harbours, The Secret Life of Bees follows Lily and her African American nanny, Rosaleen, as they go on the run and end up in Tiburon, South Carolina. Searching for clues about Lily's mother, this book is a beautiful coming of age story weaving a mystery with wonderful Southern charm.

So tell me, what are your recommendations?
Images: Amazon

Sandals

I love summer sandals. Especially when they go with pretty much everything I own.
Image: Piperlime

Inspired: 06.24.09

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark by Kristybee

Revisit: New Years Resolutions

Well, we're almost a full seven months into the year so I think it's time to revisit the New Years Resolutions!

1. Consistently have fresh flowers in the house. Done. This has been really easy and enjoyable. And, now that we have summer flowers blooming everywhere I don't even have to pick them up at the store.

2. Start a realistic workout routine to have a more healthful lifestyle. This has probably been the most difficult because I absolutely hate working out. With the wonderful spring weather it made going out for jogs and walks a lot more enjoyable. However, now that it has started warming up and the humidity has kicked in, it has been more of a challenge. So, I've started doing circuit training at home, inside, and it has remotivated me, somewhat. I'm sure it will be a constant battle but I just need to keep my eye on the goal of having a healthy lifestyle.

3. Continue building wardrobe with classic pieces and incorporate more color. This has kind of taken a back seat because it seems like all spare change is going to the house. It's okay though, I love buying things for the house.

4. Find a fulfilling job. Keep reading... I have something in the works.

5. Continue making the condo feel more homey and finish painting all rooms. As mentioned above, {and seen in the pictures on thh blog} it seems like we've been doing a lot to the house. Next up, I'd like to get our bedroom painted.

6. Plant a full spring/summer garden with flowers and a few vegetables. This took so much work! Next year though, we won't have a ton of planting except seven pots that change every season and replacing the Impatiens in front of the Hydrangeas.

7. Try two new recipes each month. With a few months I think it may have only been one new recipe. It was mostly due to traveling and not being home on weekends when I have the time to play around. Recently, we've made Indian food and a new fish taco recipe. Unfortunately, neither of them were good enough to share the receipe. :(

8. Start an annual Christmas letter/card tradition and make something in the kitchen for neighbors and close friends. We'll see how this goes in December.

9. Take a trip with Stephen that doesn't involve visiting or staying with family. In addition to the long weekend we took to Savannah, we are planning a big trip this fall. Once I know details, I'll definitely share.

10. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Being a member of a CSA has definitely made this easier. We've been trying lots of stuff we normally wouldn't, like beets, collard greens and kale. It has been very enjoyable and we've discovered lots of things we love!

11. Read at least 8 novels. I got a very late start on this, just reading my first novel, The Quiet Game, at the beginning of this month. I'm currently reading Eat Pray Love and hope to keep up the momentum.

Looking at them now, I feel pretty accomplished! The workout routine has been weighing on me lately... I think it's because swim suit season is upon us. And, the house stuff just seems to take so much time but overall I'm feeling pretty proud!

How are your New Years Resolutions going?
Image: flickr

Nail Houses

This pictorial about nail houses {people who have refused to sell their home to developers and the developers instead build around them} is really interesting. I think this piece especially intrigued me because we have a home like this just down the road. The whole block has been cleared except one house with a huge KEEP OUT sign. It's pretty amazing what people go through to keep their home.

Inspired: 06.23.09

Canoe Rentals by Rebecca Lily