a weekend for moms

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I can't help but feel a mixture of sadness and joy.  Sadness obviously because my lovely mom is no longer here, but joy thinking of all the wonderful things we could do together, especially since I'm headed home for my brothers' graduation.

 Here's a few posts from around the web which remind me of my mom and moms everywhere:
The sweetest little post from a daughter to her mother.
My mom had a love of fake flowers (because they never die), but she'd love these real ones too.
Spring looks any mom would adore.
I would no doubt get my mom one of these for her special day.
A mom's funny + adorable photos of her son's eyebrows.
This would make her laugh, and she'd volunteer my dad to try it out.
I could see this vintage piece hanging in our house.
Bedroom decor that would make my mother swoon.
When the boys left town, my mom and I would often make delectable dishes (if we didn't order Chinese).
A brand of shoes moms and daughters can drool over, and dream about affording.
Cute and quirky momma tattoos.

photo via glitter guide

I hope everyone has a lovely, family-filled weekend!
xx

snapshots

homemade chocolate-chip belgian waffles

stripes and color

watching our pizzas being made at 800 degrees in beverly hills

cocktails at the churchill

a fun weekend outfit {j-crew chambray shirt, zara jeans}

an inspirational stop sign

rose wine and tomato pasta with basil and goat cheese

surprise roses from the beau :)

Where has this week gone? I can't believe it's already Thursday. I've been a very busy bee and I wouldn't have it any other way! Today I'm trying to get everything organized for next week as I fly to Oklahoma Saturday for my little brothers' graduation! I can't believe those two little guys are graduating high school.  Not only has the week flown by, but apparently life has too. I know my momma would be so proud of her boys.

As you can see, the past couple weeks have been spent eating, drinking, and dreaming of clothes in my (little) spare time.  I actually realized yesterday I hadn't had a glass of wine in over a week! Don't worry, I fixed that as soon as I got home from work last night :)

I hope everyone is having a lovely Thursday!
xx

yacht club

[target cardigan {similar here}, lush blouse, bdg jeans {similar here}, zara shoes {last seen here}, hobo wallet, david yurman bracelet, ring from lavish, polo ralph lauren glasses]

Sometimes a girl's just gotta dress like she's headed to the yacht club.  Granted, the only one I've ever actually been to is at Grand Lake, but it was still a damn good time.  Anyway, something about white pants and stripes makes me think of water and boats--which are two of my favorite things, in case you were wondering.  Summer, are you here yet?

The last photo is actually a candid...I was asking Lauren if she thought we had enough shots.  We snapped these after visiting the farmers' market on our lunch break, so we were in a rush to get back to the office and devour all our fresh finds.

I hope everyone has a lovely Tuesday! This week is another crazy one. Bring it on!
xx

recharging

Happy Friday, everyone! I apologize for my lack of posts this week--it has been chaotic training my replacement and moving into my new role at work.  Chaotic, productive, and exhilarating: now that's my kind of week.  But I am more than worn out (especially after my SoulCycle class last night), and ready for some R+R.  I realize I say that at the beginning of almost any weekend, but I really mean it now.

image via glitter guide

 Here are some fun posts from around the web:
Beautiful embroidered book covers.
The perfect wedding reception.
A simple + bright DIY for the home.
Homemade ice cream sauces.
A lovely crochet dress reminiscent of the '70s.
Bride kits--such a smart idea (Lizzy, if you're reading this, I'm totally making you one of these)
Clearly I'm on a pizza kick--these little guys look scrumptious.
The perfect beach or grocery tote.
Simple metallic sandals I'd like to add to my shoe collection.
A mother's day gift guide that makes my heart happy.


I'm spending much-needed quality time with friends this weekend, which will include some cocktails, tacos and margaritas for Cinco de Mayo, pedicures, and finally some productive house-hunting with my roommate. I hope everyone has exciting + relaxing plans as well. Have a great weekend!
xx

kale and avocado salad

I'll be the first to admit I'm not always the healthiest eater.  I am a lover of all things sweet, starchy, and packed of carbs.  But there are times when I crave something healthy--and I definitely don't want to sacrifice great taste.  So when I found this hearty kale and avocado salad recipe, I decided to give it a whirl.

Kale and avocado salad (spotted here)
What you'll need:
-1 avocado
-1/2-1 head of kale
-1-2 lemons
-1/2 cup feta cheese
-1/2 cup pine nuts

What you'll do:
After washing the kale, cut off the ends and chop it into 1/2 inch pieces. Combine small slices of avocado with the kale in a bowl and mix/massage the greens.  Make sure that all the avocado is dispersed.  Sprinkle with lemon juice (to desired taste--I used 1), add the feta cheese and pine nuts and toss. Make sure you leave some cheese and nuts to garnish the top at the end.
*Tip: kale has a bit of a grassy taste raw, so it's best to steam it first--just add a little water to a pan and cook the kale over medium heat for a few minutes

As you can probably tell from my photos, I went a little crazy with the cheese.  I guess I can't clarify myself as a health nut after all...but its a start!

Indulge all you want in this salad--kale contains several necessary vitamins so it's incredibly healthy. Here's to a week filled with health and happiness!
xx

minty fresh

[madewell blazer, target tank and shoes, zara jeans, rebecca minkoff bag, michael kors watch, bracelets: david yurman, street vendor, arrow ring from brandy melville, polo ralph lauren glasses, opi nails]

I've been drooling over mint jeans ever since the Spring season began.  So whenever I spotted these mint jeans at Zara (for only $30!), I was over the moon! I love how they spice up a casual outfit, even on a foggy day like this one.  I'm also realizing after seeing these photos that I really should have put my frizzy hair up...

This is a crazy week--so I'll keep this short and sweet. Until tomorrow loves!
xx

shakin' lemonade

Stepping outside today (in a tee, maxi skirt, and sandals, by the way) reminded me that Spring is actually here.  Despite all the rain and cold we've had in SoCal this week, today is a warm, sunny, and beautiful day.  The kind of day where I love sitting on a pretty porch with friends, sipping refreshing cocktails into the evening.

 

I first tried a Shakin' Lemonade at one of my favorite restaurants, M Street Kitchen.  They serve this refreshing cocktail in a mason jar--and let's be honest, that makes me love it even more.  I also love how simple it is to recreate--all you need are three ingredients!

Shakin' Lemonade

What you'll need:

-Ketel One vodka (or whatever you favorite is--just make sure it's a good vodka)

-Lemonade

-Rosemary

What you'll do:

-Fill a glass (or mason jar) with ice and a sprig of fresh rosemary

-Pour desired amount of vodka into a shaker (I prefer 1-2 shots), and fill the rest with lemonade

-Shake it up!

-Pour contents into your glass and enjoy!

Simple and refreshing--can you think of anything better? I hope everyone has a warm, relaxing weekend!

xx