I'm currently coveting these two items for our home. That amazing marble + wood cheese board (which would also make a great hostess gift) is high on my list. I'm also loving this plant riser. I have managed to keep most (but not all) of my succulents alive, so I have a little ways to go until I'm ready for a full on riser filled with plants. But I'm slowly on my way.
Some weeks I just keep reaching for the same thing in my closet day after day (yep, I'm talking about you white maxi dress). So yesterday I started scouring the web for some new fashion inspiration and these gems caught my eye. Jean on jean, aka the canadian tuxedo...thoughts? Well I wore a similar version of this last night and actually kind of liked it. And an all black ensemble during the summer? If you pair some chic black shorts with a loose top, I'm all about it.
I couldn't agree more with this quote. I like to experiment with fashion. Why not? I once worked in a showroom for an amazing furniture manufacturer. It was a modern furniture company and they were fine with us dressing a little more fashion forward. One day I wore a super ruffly dress in a bright color (with a blazer) and one of my fave clients came in. He said to me "wow, that's quite the dress. It kind of looks like something my daughter would wear to school...on wacky wednesday...she's in kindergarten". I laughed out loud. While my co-workers seemed to look on in horror, I was smiling from ear to ear. I liked the fact that I was dressing a bit crazy, dressing just the way I wanted. So I completely agree, "forget the rules, if you like it, wear it"!
{fashion}
This might not sound like breaking news, but believe me it is...I made dinner last night. Yep, all by myself (note: I did have to call my sister once to verify the cooking time). Ha! So, in case you didn't already know, my husband is the chef in this home...but he might have some competition now. What I made wasn't anything fancy or crazy (I made vegetarian enchiladas), but I gotta say they were darn good. And I actually kind of enjoyed being in the kitchen. Here's to more dinners cooked by yours truly (but I'm not making any promises). p.s. How pretty are these kitchens? A girl can dream.
{marble}, {white cabinets}
Summer means lots and lots of gatherings with friends + family...friends + family who actually have some outdoor space. ha! I love getting together for potluck style dinners in the early summer evening hours. This year I want to try out some yummy fresh salads and these two are high on my list. This tomato and watermelon salad looks so refreshing. This mexican corn salad already has my mouth watering. yum!
{watermelon}, {corn}
Well I've been trying to incorporate more heels into my wardrobe and so far so good. I decided I needed to add a nude heel into the lineup and stumbled upon this pair. I just ordered them, so once I've received them and given them a whirl, I will let you know what I think. I feel like a nude heel is one of those staple closet items that I've been missing for far too long.
{heels}
Do you have a favorite flower? Well the peony is up at the top of my list (along with ranunculus and dahlias). I mean, they certainly bring a lot of happiness to any home. Ummmm and if you haven't heard, they are now at Trader Joe's and the price can't be beat ($6.99 for a bunch). Get over there immediately and brighten up your Monday.
A happy friday to all of you! I guess I just wanted to take some time to share a bit. Our vacation to Palm Springs was much needed. We found out a few weeks ago that our first attempt at IVF did not work (after all of this). It was heartbreaking to say the least. That's actually the exact wording I used when a friend asked me how I was doing after our long struggle with infertility, my eventual pregnancy...then miscarriage...and our first failed IVF...I said to her "I just feel heartbroken". So we decided that we needed some time away. It was so amazing and so needed. To heal our bodies and our hearts. And now we start over. A little hard to explain, but basically, not only did our first attempt at IVF not work, but we also have NO frozen embryos to work with. ugh! A very complicated and long story...the bottomline is we must start with more shots, another egg retrieval, etc. It's been a long process, but I'm ok and ready to dive in head first again. We will get there. I just know it.
And as my husband always says, "everything is going to be ok". I wanted to post this to not only give an update but also to say a big huge thanks to all our family, friends, and readers. It's been a long 3 years filled with a lot of heartbreak, but also a journey filled with a lot of smiles. You have all been there for us throughout all of this and one cannot express in words how much that means. I just wanted to say thanks for hanging in there with me. Thank you for the kind words. Thank you for letting me be honest! Just a big huge thank you! I wasn't sure if I'd ever share this part of our lives on this blog, but once I did, it really helped me feel a whole lot better! So thank you for letting me be me. For letting me be vulnerable and for being so supportive. It means the world to G and me.
As you can clearly see, my black & white obsession continues in today's modern budget style post. But hey, I did manage to throw in a bit of color with that kimono. Every piece of clothing I'm wearing here is super old. I'm a true believer in wearing my clothes over and over again, just styling them up in different ways. And if a piece sits in my closet for too long without wear, it's time to say good-bye. I bought that kimono at forever21 like 4 years ago, and it's still in heavy rotation. So, while there aren't any direct links today (with the exception of the hat), I found some nicely priced alternatives for you. Enjoy! And thank you Melanie for the pics.
{hat, similar $16.00}, {top is old Zara, similar $12.00}, {kimono is old forever21, similar $49.99, similar $18.80 shhhh no one will know it's a robe if you lose the belt}, {leggings are old Zara, similar $17.80}, {shoes are old Dolce Vita, similar $36.90}
