we're having a party over here!

photo courtesy of HBO.com

alllll day long. because we have waited a full year & it is finally here: Game of Thrones season 3. the best book, & now the best season is airing tonight. season 1 and 2 were fantastic, but 3 is going to be epic. i don't normally get so excited about tv shows, but this is more than a show. it is on the level of Lord of the Rings. both have entire new languages created, both have an entire world to get lost in, both have struggles over good & evil.

and this season will not disappoint: dragons, & weddings, & don't get too attached to your favorite characters because odds are they will be dead soon ;) 

we are so excited, can you tell?! it is the best day ever. good food, Easter celebrations, & episode one starting tonight. if you haven't seen this show, buy HBO & quickly watch 20 episodes all day long ;) because you look outside, & spring is most definitely here... but, Winter is coming! (see what i did there?)

HAPPY EASTER everyone! have a wonderful day full of family, great food, & love!

over the past week...

this season's catalogues were gone through & a little wish list was made here

+ bedroom inspiration for our new CA condo was found: a turquoise wall & white bedding

we went to Five Guys for dinner: BEST burgers, fries, & of course, peanuts!

my mother in law sent me this picture from outside her window

(we can't wait to get out there & visit: ahhh, the city of love)

+ pretty, pretty Leo was inside for about 2 seconds the whole weekend

he is in love with this warmer weather... and so are we!

i made little books with all the cards from our showers & wedding

(just hole punch, add rings & there you have it! little keepsake books that are so easy to look through & read!)

my mom and i got our hair done & highlighted blonder 
+ her hair is now long enough for her first ever sock bun!

my iphone cover has & always will be this Kate Spade vintage airmail case here

and so at target i found an ipad case that looks like a vintage envelope PLUS these botanical notebooks from my favorite paper company ever!!

we had a McDonalds feast after my brother's all day long soccer tournament

because they won! congrats boys & to my "coach dad"

a charm bracelet...

i think just about everyone has a little trinket or two that means something to them. i have my grandmother's college ring, a pair of earrings from a trip to Spain when i was eleven that i only wear on special occasions, my wedding ring: a very thin band of sparkly diamonds engraved with "all the way," the Frank Sinatra song we first danced to at our wedding & a phrase that embodies the two of us together. but the most meaningful piece of jewelry i own is a charm bracelet. it was my moms, given to her as a child & just recently, it was given to me. i can not tell you how much this piece of jewelry means to me. each little charm tells its own story and i am so honored to wear it. there is space to add hundreds of more charms & i hope to one day give it to my daughter when she becomes my age. 

my mom means the world to me. i think that it is very important in parenting to not let your children think that you are their "friend"... and my mom has raised me in a tough, but loving way that allows us to be so close, while still keeping me in line. she is comforting when needed & yet, can effortlessly snap me out of it when i am feeling sorry for myself. she is the strongest woman i know, busy all the time, raised four great kids, & always has time to look effortlessly chic. she doesn't even realize how beautiful she is. you'll tell her "mom, you look so pretty today" and she'll punch you in the arm. she was one of my gymnastics coaches when i was younger & i still hear today from my old teammates "i just love your mother" because it is true, we all love her. and with this big move coming up to San Francisco, as much as i am excited, & as much as i am ready to start a new chapter with my husband, i will miss the woman who has the biggest impact on my life. the woman who made me into the person i am today. 

but now, i have this bracelet. and every time i look at it i will think of her. and i can not tell you how excited i am to add my own charms to it. to intertwine her memories with my own. i hope one day it becomes an heirloom for our family. one where my daughter will be just as honored as i am to wear it... one day.

spring hair!

 

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it is that time again... time to get my hair done! and since spring is finally here & Easter is this weekend (i can't believe it!) i have decided to go for a warm blonde look. a partial with lots of thin highlights on top and ones surrounding my face... and of course, a very thin layer underneath so i can wear my hair up!

i have found over the many, many, many, years of getting my hair colored, that it is best to enter the salon with pictures in hand of exactly what you are looking for. or if you're like me, i save the images to my iphone so i can enlarge them once i'm there. & since i usually do something different each time i get my hair done, i love creating little inspiration boards like the one above of what i am looking for. it is mostly influenced by my mood or the season, and right now i am in need of some warmth & sunshine & a much needed tan ;)

i will be sure to show my new color tomorrow afternoon! but in the meantime, enjoy these pretty images of a beach blonde, a homeland blonde, the original & iconic blonde, & an Easter ready blonde! 

wardrobe: green cargo jacket

JACKET: Bass (at the Clinton Outlets)

TOP: H&M

PANTS: Express here

BOOTS: Kohl's (Lauren Conrad)

i have been searching for a green cargo jacket for a long time now & i finally found one that is perfect in every way: good quality, girly with a touch of manliness, not going to fall apart on me, lots of pockets & details, & worth the money, but still 50% off! it was just calling my name. so today i wore it with my favorite longer striped shirt, perfect with my favorite black leggings that don't fade, & my two toned boots. pete is home for the next few days so we went to visit my mom's kindergarten classroom today to help out with all of her kiddos. the leggings were perfect for sitting in those little chairs & it was seriously enjoyable watching husband interact with the littles. he makes me super happy that man! 

happy hump day everyone! xo

spring catalogues!

it is that time again... all the spring catalogues are filling up the mailbox. most people find them annoying & throw them right out. oh but not me, they are my favorite! i like to play the game where i think in my head "if i had a million dollars and could buy whatever i wanted, what things would i choose..." and here they are: 

 this embellished white dress from here + these pale pink wedges from here

 this polka dot & eyelet top from here + these pin striped beach pants via here

 this modern striped one piece from here + these stunning sandals from here

& this bumble bee golden tie necklace from here + this breezy white top from here

the magazines i went through included Sundance, Eddie Bauer, Boden, Garnet Hill, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, & more... you can see the pattern developing just at a glance: a light, airy, & whimsical vibe ready for spring & warmer weather. each of the pieces above are the very definition of a splurge, but my birthday is in a few weeks & i am thinking of choosing just one of these for my husband to get me! 

chatfield hollow

yesterday afternoon my parents + pete and i all went to Chatfield Hollow... a state park that is right down the street from where my parents live. it is also the place my mom and dad first met! he worked at the park & she was a lifeguard, too cute right?! i spent the majority of my childhood at this park... swimming, playing, riding bikes, & hiking all the trails. it was so fun to go back & hear my dad tell us "i built that bridge" and "that is where i first met your mother" ... we had the best time walking on the beach & circling the lake. and i had the best time doing handstands wherever i could & skipping along the "swamp walk" :) 

over the past week...

i went to my favorite book store... more on these two books below. 

& we played lots of games of mexican train. i was losing here, can you tell?

my new mittens came!! 

& i made chocolate cupcakes + chocolate frosting, yum!

i purchased these two books:

i have been anxiously awaiting Jessica Alba's new book. she is my favorite celeb mommy

& i have been saving my pennies for Design Sponge's hardcover book

(the perfect addition to my stack of coffee table books)

and these...

these books are so amazing and are very meaningful to me. during my senior year, all four of us "gnomies" started using Wreck This Journal. my roommates and i would take turns on various occasions "wrecking" the journal throughout that final year of college. since then, it has made its way to birthdays, bonfires, & even our weddings. it has all of our memories in it & currently is in the hands of roomie down in PA.

and then, Keri Smith created "Mess" and i saw it at the bookstore this past week & obviously sent the picture to my roomies via instagram... and the idea came about: a sort of traveling pants meets a penpal slash journal. i am going to purchase Mess & put my mark on it & then mail it to whoever i think needs it next. i am going to put little notes in it, pictures, jot down thoughts, moments when i miss these four girls (which is like everyday) & whatever else i feel like. and it will make its way around to all of us & will be the cutest way to keep in touch. (especially since pete and i are making our way to California in the next two months!)

i hope it inspires some of you to do the same! as you grow older it gets harder and harder to keep in touch with friends. but i am truly blessed to have the greatest group of girl friends in the world. girls that understand how busy & crazy life can be, & when a month goes by & then you chat on the phone, it is like you haven't skipped a beat! 

so check out these two books here and here & start your own traveling journal!

sunday sunshine

CORDUROYS: H&M

BOOTS: Kohl's here

BAG: Madewell

TOP: Anthropologie here

well, i got my wish! it is just as sunny out today! so fun having all the kittens go outside & run around on the grass & climb the trees. we are seriously enjoying this beautiful weather over here! and i am looking like a blueberry & loving it :) the top is from the ridiculous sale still going on over at Anthropologie here. the bag is my absolute favorite from a California Madewell (also seen here), & the boots are my new ones from Kohl's available here. but they are only $20 in the store, so go & browse... i dare you to walk out of that store with nothing ;)