Truth in advertising

They claim this is The Best Broccoli of Your Life.

They were right. Holy hell. Delicious. Highly recommend!

Teeny tiny things

The littlest village.

Oh so sweet on a sunny Thursday.

via Rodica

Green eyes

This ring reminds me of soft, sweet smelling summer rain falling on a dark, empty field.

Who knew a pear cut emerald could be so romantic?

via CatBirdNYC

Aqua size

Speaking of aqua on the bottom, how fierce are these trousers on Tanesha, the Girl With Curves?

My girl crush is out of control. Look her rock that color! I might need to hit up my local H&M for a similar style.

via GWC

Clever thinking

Not sure what to wear? When in doubt, this is the ticket: aqua tie dye maxi skirt, celery flats, gauzy sweater the color of whipped cream and a floppy hat. 

via Making Magique

Bonus points for perching somewhere fabulous (but the checkout stand of the local grocery store would work too).

Empanadas with guava sauce

 Next week, when I have some of my personal life back, the first thing I'm going to make are these empanadas with guava sauce.

 via Adventuress Heart

I mean, yum!

Eyes on the prize

Friday night, Adam and I went to see Moneyball in the theatre. Have you seen it? Brad Pitt plays a baseball GM who tries a new method of scouting players. His character is intent on proving that his method can make a winning team, and he endures massive setbacks along the way.

via From Me To You

The movie had me thinking all weekend. I realized that I am working so hard lately, but I haven't really defined my end goal. I have felt for months like I am working just to work. Recently I have had more opportunities than ever, and my work days are stretching well into the early morning and into the night. 

But if there is no specific goal, what is the point? When will I know that I've achieved anything? How will I know when I can stop?

I will be thinking about this all week until I am able to do this: Define my career goal and write it down.

Then I will refocus my work efforts entirely to achieve That Specific Thing. 

Otherwise, it's all just time away from my friends, family and fiance. And that is the opposite of happiness. 

Fall Cleaning

I stayed in this weekend and did my Fall Cleaning. I did six loads of laundry, stored all of my summer clothes, scrubbed the fridge, and even washed the walls of our little apartment. 

via Rue

When things get really busy and stressful, I tend to get very productive. If my To Do list is out of control and I sit still too long, I panic. So I don't sit still. I get Things Done.

Things will be getting done this week. 

In the meantime, isn't the above picture restful? Deep green and white is the most calming of combinations. 

xo

Back in the atmosphere

I am in love with this star map from Thomas O'Brien's New York Apartment. 

 

 Photo from Thomas O'Brien via K Kerr Designs

 

I'm also super burned out from thinking about the wedding, so I'm sort of hiding from Teh Interwebs this week. 

 

Ever just need a break?

Maybe she's born with it

I'm just crazy about mustard with a red lip.

Works every time.

Photo via The Celebrity Dresses

Things we say today which we owe to Shakespeare

Did you know he also coined the word "barf"?

Just a little knowledge bomb exploding all over your Wednesday. Kapow!

via Nawasaka

Dress of the (Wednes)day

I've been staring at this image for days. The dress is so feminine, romantic and elegant, and her hair is modern, glamorous and chic.

I'm completely in love.

Photo by Studio Cabrelli via Style Me Pretty. The dress is Sassi Holford.

Childcare for beginners

And they say babies don't come with an instruction manual!

These made me laugh.

More at Did by Graham

Oh nothing, just planning our invites

No further text

Meatball Tacos

Here is my recipe for meatball tacos:

Take leftover meatballs. Take leftover tacos. Put together. Call it fusion. Why not?

Here's an actual recipe, if you're fancy like that.

Photo via I Wash... You Dry

Fashion FTW

This, my friends, is a bridesmaid's romper.

 

Paeonia Romper via Whitney Deal

Your move, skants.

A quiet day

Today is a quiet day. 

 Hailee Steinfeld for Miu Miu via The Fashion Spot

Can I interest you in a lovely list of lessons about money, the delicious daily menu of one Ms Liz Taylor (via Alison), or 10 home DIY projects under $50? 

If you need me I'll be working on my to-dos, dreaming of my honeymoon and beaming from my invention discovery of meatball tacos.

xo

Happy Weekend!

It's been a funny week. Packed, but not busy. I've been spending a lot of time thinking about beautiful things: what the light in our engagement photos might look like, the sky limit of our wedding decor, beautiful things to put on my body, and what my future work may hold. Amazingly, the dishes still get done even if you're thinking of sparkles and silk while you do them.

 via Making Magique

And speaking of inspiration, Lizzie has inspired me to start brainstorming design ideas for my (small business) website. What's inspiring you this weekend?

Here are a few links to jump start your happy thoughts:

Hilarious customer service (via Anna)

I have a soft spot for pre-engaged pep talks

A quote every freelancer should memorize

Something blue

Something new (and oh-so-sparkly)

Layers of awesome: Horseback fishing

A one-stem bouquet: Hydrangeas are so pretty and simple

A fabulous home office

I love this simple aisle decor (from this post on SMP)

By the way, we booked our wedding venue! It's so fun to imagine it now I know what the space looks like.

Have a good one, darlings

xo

Be brave

One thing I cherish about reading blogs is that other peoples' loveliness is contagious. I wrote a 101 in 1001 list thanks to Emily, learned to cook vegan thanks to Angela, and have busted out of my jeans-and-tshirt rut thanks to Tanesha.

I am short and have curves that won't quit, so I often get stuck in basics that are boring but fit.* When I saw Tanesha in this cobalt blue maxi dress, I realized that I needed to get out of my own way. Last week I bought a beautiful white maxi dress on sale at Banana Republic and I've basically been living in it. I feel so glamorous, comfortable and sexy in it that I have been lingering over cocktails in the late summer sunlight all week. All because of a simple little Tumblr post.

Just goes to show how a little boldness can echo across the internet and really change how people live. Be bold friends! You never know who's reading.

*No more rhyming and I mean it

Photo finish

Our engagement photos are taken! Now comes the hard part: waiting to see them. 

By Steven Bonner

Luxury problems.

Picture day

Today Adam and I are having our engagement photos taken. I am really excited. I hired the photographer who shot my sister's wedding and who I already know that I like. I hope I am confident enough to tell her exactly what style I want. Mostly I will let her do her thing, but I know for sure that I want simple, natural portraits, and not overly cheesy shots or gratuitous ring close-ups.

Here are a few more inspiration images that I'll be keeping in mind this evening. Wish us luck!

   By Dave Richards Photography via Inspired by This

By Oh Darling Photography via Once Wed

By Jose Villa via Once Wed

Love xo

Iconatomy

Iconatomy is a project by George Chamoun, a 26 year old Swedish jewelry designer who has basically blown my mind to smithereens.

These are collages. 

Stunning. 
 
Via George Chamoun Iconatomy.

Happy Weekend!

This weekend Adam and I will finally make a decision on our wedding venue. It feels like we've been deliberating for months! It's time to pull the trigger. We've already delivered our Save The Dates and I want to get moving on menu, flowers and decor.

 

via Departika

Along with that, we'll be going for a leisurely bike ride (of course!), relaxing on a patio, smooching by the sea and enjoying the relative calm of this weekend before a very busy September.

Here are some links to keep you entertained on this Friday-before-the-long-weekend.

Rock n' Roll (non-cheesy!) engagement photos

Love these creative Mad Men posters

Haven't you always wanted to see a highly creative, modern pop-up book about Sarah Silverman tweeting about balls?

Buttery-mustard yellow is my favorite transitional color (works perfectly in that funny time between summer and fall)

Nap on the moon

All that glitters

The most professional wedding website I've ever seen

"When in doubt, set it to 350!" and other bite-sized cooking wisdom nuggets

Advanced DIY: Herringbone wood table

On not fearing change

Cooking this weekend: Buffalo Chicken Rolls

Glamorous drop earrings

The beauty of white bridesmaids dresses

Hedgefund piggy bank (heh heh heh)

Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend lovers!

xoxo

Work it

My burlesque teacher often tells us, her fledgling troupe of wanna-be Glamazons, that practicing is "not about being strong, it's about gaining strength."

This has been my mantra as life gets more and more hectic. Don't forget, dolls: it's not about being good at everything. It's about finding joy in the effort, not in the result.

And with that, I'm off to bed.

xoxo

Photo: Irina Lazareanu by Rasmus Skousen for Cover February 2011 (via Fashion Gone Rogue)