Everybody's Working for the Weekend {links}

{via}

Hey there!

I'm currently in Berkeley enjoying some time with friends and pretending I'm back in college. There have been some fun things I've run across the internet this week so I thought I would share my favorites. Follow along on my INSTAGRAM and TWITTER for some pictures of my weekend! 

THIS MAN'S VOICE is so beautiful. I'm so excited to hear him live in August.

THIS made my LOL (literally). Jon Snow has always and forever will be my favorite GoT character.

THIS post by Chelsea from The Financial Diet was so interesting and thought-provoking (and also written in a slightly humorous tone).

Oh how I want THIS SHIRT.

Will someone make me THIS DRINK?? And while we are on Wit & Delight (an amazing blog!) you should check out THIS POST on sisterly love. It's SO true.

Have you ever cooked Kielbasa before? I made THIS RECIPE the other night for my family and we devoured it! Also, it was crazy easy to make. 

Have a serious case of wanderlust?? Check out my SISTER'S BLOG and take a look at her amazing pictures. I wish I could fly out there right now and visit!

Did ya'll know that authors are writing modern re-tellings of Jane Austen classics? I recently found out and have been reading the retelling of Northanger Abbey. It's not as good as the original (Obviously, they never are) but it's still fun! HERE IS the newest one!

Have a great weekend!! :)

(reminder: all capitalized words are links!!)

Mood Board

dress, tassel, clock, shoes, earrings, polish, bag, tank, candle, suit, print, book, bottle, dress 2

Clearly I've got a 50 shades of blue situation going on here. Blue is supposed to be one of the most calming colors which is why so many companies paint their walls blue and I totally get it. There's something earthy yet tropical about the color that makes me take a deep breath and wish I was on a beach somewhere. Most of these items are under $100 (score!) and then some are definitely on the splurge end of things. But those shoes!! I have absolutely no reason to buy those Vince Camuto beauties but I so wish I did. 

Every spring/summer I paint my toes blue and keep them that way for the entire season. I've been doing this since I was younger and for me it's the sign for barefoot season. I really don't like painting them any other color during this time because for me, it's a celebratory color. Blue or nothin'. I'm eyeing that light blue Butter color for my next pedicure.
Do you have a go-to nail color? 

Have a happy Wednesday! Go out and buy something blue. :)

The Easter Dress

As you can see, I recently splurged on a new Kate Spade bag. Remember how I've been obsessively talking about my first adult purchase and how I would love for it to be a Kate Spade bag? Well I saved up my pennies and received this beauty just last week. I love it's light spring color!

 

 Happy Easter from me and my sister!

Now let's talk about my Easter DRESS. I recently picked this beauty up from Nordstrom in the TopShop section. Guys. Everything in the Topshop section of Nordstrom is AMAZING. I'm not usually someone who likes exposed backs but I thought this one was so classy and subtle that I couldn't pass it up. It ended up raining on Easter (classic California, we are in the worst drought ever yet it decides to rain on Easter of all days) so I paired it with my leather jacket from Target (purchased a while back) and I loved the biker-girly looked it created. 

Last month when my family had a big family dinner, I was not in the best place and ended up feeling down the entire time. Even my little cousins noticed and were all, "What the heck is wrong with you? Is something wrong?" But yesterday I felt hopeful and was able to enjoy myself and talk with the people I love. Maybe it was the power of the dress... ;)

I hope your Easter was filled with joy and hope for the rest of the year!

(anytime I capitalize a word, that means there is a link attached if you're interested in looking up the clothing item!)

Nesting

link

When you're in your 20's, it seems like you are never in one place for too long. Everyone I went to college with has plans of moving either for grad school or they are moving back home. I already made that jump since I graduated in December and still I felt unsettled. I let my pictures remain pushed up against the wall instead of hung, I didn't buy actual bedding for my bed which consisted of a duvet and no cover, and I was content letting everything sit just as it was when no one was living in this room. 

But for me, and maybe you're like this too, nesting and making a place unique and fit for you, is an important step in accepting where you currently are. I wasn't rushed to fix my room up to how I wanted it because I felt like I was going to be leaving soon, so why even bother? But therein lies the problem. Nesting forces us to move in our belongings and make space. It requires that we open up our mind to the idea that we never know how long a stage will last so we might as well get comfortable.  

I recently hung up my pictures, rearranged by bookshelves and bought the duvet cover because gosh darnit, I'm here now and I'm going to make the best of it. There's no reason my room has to look like a shell of a place while I'm living in it!

And maybe it's April and maybe I'm a sucker for new beginnings and fresh starts but every month I feel my heart get a little lighter at the thought that we have a new month ahead of us with unknown adventures, people, and hopefully some new plans.

Have a happy Easter! This Easter I am thanking the Lord for His grace because lately he has been extending quite a bit to me even when I don't deserve it.

Indiana Jones Style

When I stepped out of the car wearing this outfit my friends reaction was, "You look like a female Indiana Jones!" It must be the hat and the leather running throughout the outfit so I ran with it and voila, it's the title of this post now :)

I stole these shoes from my mom's closet and have worn them for pretty much everything since I found them. I also got this dress out of my sisters closet and have kept it in mine since she left for Italy (thanks Col!). I'm really good at borrowing other people's clothes... ;)

This area of town is my favorite because of its tree-lined streets and quaint homes. My parents always talk about retiring in the neighborhood and I 100& think they should. I'm all for cozy little homes and bonus points if they have cottage windows. 

I picked up this hat at a little boutique in Folsom called Southern Kissed and the color was what caught my eye. It's such a pretty emerald shade that I couldn't resist. The rest of the outfit is borrowed (as I mentioned) or older. The dress is from Old Navy a while back and I think everyone should own a simple, classic dress like this. It's one of my favorites to throw on when I need a good & comfortable go-to outfit. THIS ONE has a similar fit. (Also, PSA: all of Old Navy's dresses are on sale right now!!!)

I couldn't find a hat exactly similar to mine but Topshop has their classic Fedora at Nordstrom HERE and it's pretty great.

Have a lovely Wednesday! Oh yeah, and IT'S FINALLY APRIL!!! (leaps for joy and does three almost cartwheels)

Why Knot {Listen}

link

top tracks

1. Hold Back the River- James Bay

2. Unclear- Kodaline

3. Agape- Bear's Den

4. Future/ Past- John Mark McMillan

5. Sugar- Maroon 5

6. We Will All Be Changed- Seryn

7. Budapest- George Ezra

8. Work Song- Hozier

9. She Lit a Fire- Lord Huron

10. Shut Up and Dance- Walk the Moon

11. Sweet Virginia- The Rolling Stones

12. Brother- NEEDTOBREATHE

I always like seeing what people are listening to so I can get exposed to new bands and new songs, so I thought I would share a little of my favorite songs of the moment. :) (If you hover over the song title it will take you to the YouTube page. )

Happy Monday!

 

Stop and Smell the Lilacs

 I've said it once and I'll say it forever, spring is my favorite. The fragrance in the air right now is unbelievable. Everything smells like flowers! I feel like I should be frolicking in fields and going on picnics! Anyone want to go on a picnic with me? Get some wine and cheese and we are good to go!

 

Ok, so this jean jacket. Every girl knows a jean jacket is a staple we all need but this girl was a little late to the game. I have been borrowing my friend Monica's jean jackets for the last couple of years so I didn't find the need but then I ran across this beauty! The jean is SO soft!! Also, this tank/tunic is MARBLE!! You know me and my obsession with marble so the minute I saw the tank I knew it had to be mine. 

Also, something else I did that was so unlike me, was buying these turquoise earrings! I love how it added a fun pop of color with a more neutral outfit. Am I becoming a new person? Look at me buying earrings and jean jackets! 

Lastly, big shout out to my friend Allison who was home for spring break and took these photos for me!! She's crazy talented and you should check out her INSTAGRAM and all of the pretty pictures. :)

Jacket-similar, top-found at TJMaxx and I can't find anything similar so I would go to the store if I were you, pants-similar (every couple of years I splurge and get black pant/leggings from Anthropologie because I swear by them but right now they seem to be out

The Precious One

 

There is something about a good book and a good author that is so frustratingly rare. I just finished reading The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos, a longtime favorite author in my family, and I spent my whole day consumed with the thought of finishing the book as soon as possible. Every negative thing bounced off of me as if I was made of steel because I had the opportunity to dive back into these characters lives and the wonderfully delicate words that the author wrote.

Marisa de lost Santos started out as a poet and her writing depicts that. There are whole paragraphs that I wish I could memorize and keep forever in the back of my mind. Every book that she writes (and sadly there are only 4) has rich characters that make you want to be better. While reading her books I want to be braver, more confident and I want to change my world in some way. Having The Precious One come out when it did was really a God thing because I needed this book in my life. I needed Taisy, Willow, Ben, Luka, Wilson and Caro in my life. After finishing one of her novels I always want to name my future children after the characters in her novels because then maybe my children will reflect even an ounce of the people she created. 

All of this is to say, if you need a good work of fiction in your life that will make you feel light and alive, then read The Precious One. And while you're at it, if you haven't read her other books yet, you should get on that. :)

Wanderlust

 print

Ever since studying abroad, I have had a serious case of wanderlust. There are so many places just within the U.S. I have yet to see! One goal I would love to pursue once I start saving enough money would be to travel to 2 new cities every year. If I am thinking of going out of country then it would be one city but if it's an in-country trip then why not 2? Even if it's only for the weekend, it would be worth it. 

The four places above have been longtime dreams of mine. My parents went to New Orleans last year and absolutely loved it and I know I would too. Charleston is one of those places that I know I would want to photograph nonstop. It seems so quaint and there are so many bloggers living there that it would be a fun meet-up spot!

As far as over-the-pond trips, London and Dublin have been at the top of the list forever. I would love to spend at least a week in both so I wouldn't be rushed and I can explore cities outside the main cities as well. Sometimes I love going over to Lauren's blog at Aspiring Kennedy and just admire her travel guides. We all need a little inspiration and day dreaming in our lives, right?

And there are so many other spots I would love to go to as well! Austin, TX is supposed to be fun, I would love a summer in Nantucket, and don't even get me started on all of the island trips I dream about. I feel like once you start exploring the world, you never really want to stop. :)

What are a couple of your dream destinations?