Pinspiration: The Sweet Side of Serenity

My main color inspiration so far this season has been Rose Quartz, but let's not forget that Pantone named TWO Colors of the Year for 2016, both perfect for spring. This year's most popular shade of blue, Serenity, is romantic, soft, and cool.

January Fab Favorites

Rather than make New Year's Resolutions, for the past few years I've adopted the practice of choosing one word for the New Year. For 2016, my word is going to be horizon - I feel like it kept presenting myself to me, so I accepted it! I'm not sure what's on the horizon for me - the future is a blank slate for me to fill with my hopes and dreams for the future. Will I buy a house, write a novel, get a pet, travel the world, or make a new friend this year? I'm making positive changes in my life and habits and hoping that positivity will come back to me. Here are a few favorites making those changes a little easier to adopt.

1. Creative women building each other up - I've kicked off the year with two memoirs by funny women in creative fields (who are not too much older than me), Everyone's Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day (read my review from yesterday here) and Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling. Both share a common theme: boss ladies shouldn't be competing with one another, we should be building each other up - Felicia addresses #Gamergate and Mindy tackles topics from "Who Wore it Best?" magazine columns to Instagram friendships. Two of my favorite essays in Mindy's book are "(Minor) Fame Has Changed Me" and "Things to Bring to My Dinner Party." My favorite passage in Mindy's book comes from the essay "Some Thoughts on Weddings" (she kind of hates them due to the sense that the bride is leaving her behind):

With my friends, the sad truth is that our best "best friend" days are behind us. In college, we used to be able to meet each other in the common area of our off-campus housing, excited about our evening ahead, which consisted of someone making an enormous tureen of pasta and drinking wine from a box while we took turns regaling each other with details of our terrible love lives. Playful arguments would become fits of uncontrollable laughter, and like magic, that experience would get crystallized into a private joke, and the private joke would get boiled down to a simple phrase, which would become a souvenir of the entire experience. For years to come, the phrase alone could uncork hours of renewed laughter. And as everyone knows, the best kind of laughter is laughter born of a shared memory.

2. A routine that helps me glow - When I finally got my long-awaited Clarisonic Mia2, it came with a bottle of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser which I've been using religiously. Not only has my cystic acne improved, but I think my face looks glowy and my skin looks plumper in the mornings when I wake up. In addition to the obvious soy proteins, this cleanser is full of healthy ingredients like cucumber extract and borage seed oil.

3. Fashionable accountability - I've wanted a fitness tracker for a while now, and Mr. Q got me the Jawbone Up2 for Christmas. I liked the Up2 a little better than some other trackers because it includes a smart alarm feature than I can set to wake me up during the lightest part of my sleep cycle! So far, I'm using the Up2 to track my sleep, daily step count and workout lengths, and food (the Up app has a barcode reader feature or the option to type in what I've eaten and search through a database). I also have an idle alert set so that the wristband vibrates when I am still for a set length of time - currently, I've got it set for 45 minutes. I like that the app gives suggestions to help me reach my goals - for example, on Saturday night, we went out to eat, and when I opened the app to log my meal there was a suggestion from Smart Coach to take a 17 minute walk in order to maintain my average step count for the week - a short stroll was easily accomplished by doing some window shopping after dinner, but probably wouldn't have happened without the gentle nudge. I've lost two pounds since Christmas and I think the Up2 has definitely helped!

4. A cozy glow for cold winter nights - Mr. Q's aunt got us the Bath and Body Works Winter 3-wick candle for Christmas and it's my new favorite smell! The main notes are pine, mandarin orange, and "winter woods," and it's perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere in the evenings when we get home from work.

5. An inspiring calendar - If I have to look at something for 12 months, it had better be cute! I chose the Illustrated Bible Verses calendar from Workman Publishing, which I found at Barnes & Noble. If you still need a calendar to get your 2016 organized, Style Me Pretty has a roundup, and Lauren's featuring the best planners for boss babes at Style Elixir.

Linking Up:

Friday's Fab Favorites at Style Elixir

Summer Color: Mint and Gray

For me, summer break is a time to break free from routines, start new healthy habits, and explore.  Next week, I'll be heading off to volunteer at summer camp, but this week is all mine.  I'll be spending time with some of my best friends, doing some cleaning and organizing here at home, and planning the rest of my summer adventures.  These mint and gray pieces really complement my attitude this week!

View this set on Polyvore

1. Lucky Brand flats from Belk  2. ASOS sandals 
3. The Lion and the Lark adventure print from Etsy  
4. White tea and mint travel candle from Bliss Home and Design
5. Express triangle bracelet  6. Zazzle chevron pillow  
7. The Lion and the Lark arrow printable from Etsy 
 8. Enelle chevron earrings from Wolf and Badger
9. Vintage clock from Etsy  10. Forever 21 nail color in Seafoam  
11. Sonia Kashuk nail color in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" from Target 
12. New Balance sneakers from Athleta

Linking Up:
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs
Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express
Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat
Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Three-Fer Thursday at Perfectly Coutured

Good Morning, Sunshine! Lemon Wardrobe, Decor & What I Smell Like...

Everything's coming up lemons this spring - the fruit itself and its sunny color are everywhere, from fashion to home decor.  No wonder - research about the color yellow suggests that it can really change people's thought and mood patterns.

Stylists cite yellow as an inviting color and studies have found that people feel happier and more open around this sunshiny shade - that makes it the perfect choice for many occasions, from an interview to brunch with your best girlfriend.  Interior designers and home decor color consultants recommend yellow to stimulate conversation, warmth, and connection and claim that saturated yellow can even help improve focus, which makes it a great wall color for foyers and living rooms and a good accent color for offices and classrooms.

Color therapists believe that looking at yellow can help ease some cases of depression.  Adding a little sunkissed yellow to your wardrobe or space is a great way to ensure a happy start to your day!  

View this set on Polyvore

1. Levi's sleeveless blouse  2. Kate Spade lemon wedge earrings  
3. J. Crew cotton lace dress  4. Vanzetti scarf from Zalando  5. Target soy candle
6. Xhiliration geometric wristlet from Target  7. Burt's Bee's cuticle cream from Target  
8. Kate Spade skirt  9. Rifle Paper Co. phone case from Walk in Love  
10. Pier1 microwaveable mug  11. Keds for Kate Spade sneakers

Those Kate Spade earrings are totally getting added to my birthday wish list.  Can I also come up with a reason to need the Keds sneakers?  They are quite possibly the cutest sneakers in world.

My personal favorite way to add a little lemon to my life is with my absolute favorite perfume for spring and summer - and the simplest scent I own.  A Bath and Body Works salesgirl sold me on C.O. Bigelow's Lemon Eau de Parfum years ago by telling me that in aromatherapy, lemon is linked to happiness and confidence.  Well, who doesn't need a little more happy?  The scent is crisp and a little bit sweet, and I get "you smell good!" complements every time I wear it.

Linking Up With:
Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post in any way, I just love all of the products and ideas featured!

Style: Time to Get Away...

Virginia's indecisive weather, standardized tests and general having to be a grown-up have me daydreaming about spring break... which is less than a month away now.  Shades of seafoam teal and chambray blue are calming, the perfect complement to a springtime escape, no matter what the forecast or appointment calendar may hold.

View this set on Polyvore

1. Wallis sweater (similar here, here)  2. GAP plaid scarf  

3. Voluspa jar candle from Anthropologie  4. Old Navy graphic tee (similar here, here)  

5. Banana Republic statement necklace (similar here and here)

6. Merona cowl-neck hoodie from Target  7. Essie nail polish in Rock the Boat  

8. Zoya nail polish in Nyx  9. Kellin Silver mint clover ring  

10. J. Crew drawstring travel bag set

And here's my take on this color scheme...

Necklace: lia sophia "Lily Pad"  Sweater: Merona from Target  

Purse: Rosetti from TJ Maxx  Jeans: Curvy straight legs from LOFT  

Boots: Merona from Target

I love this outfit - it feels very "me" and very comfortable.

Linking Up:
Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs
Favorite Fashion Friday at Penniless Socialite
Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat
Three-Fer Thursday at Perfectly Coutured
Be.You.Tiful Link Party at Maybe I Will
Weekend Block Party at Can't Google Everything

sunday simplicity: only love.

La Mariee en Colere via The Bride's Cafe

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Christmas PIN-spiration: A little cabin in the woods...

I started adding Christmas ideas to Pinterest before Halloween had even arrived.  By the time it was socially acceptable to decorate for Christmas, I had four different boards.  Our actual decor is a mixture of four trends I'm seeing this season.  I'll share some of my favorite PIN-spirational ideas before revealing our tree and other Christmas decor so you can see how I turned the inspirations into reality.

Collection #1:  Woodland

Wreath by Twoinspireyou on Etsy (this design is sold out)

DIY No-sew Burlap Tree Skirt from The Johnstons

Pine cone ornament from Better Homes & Gardens

Cinnamon Stick ornaments by Rosy-Posy

Animal ornaments from Pier1

Burlap stocking with wooden buttons by Cozy.Cottage.Cute

Kraft paper gift wrap from Luxe Finds

Candles in flowerpots via Amy Matson's Pinterest

Recipe: S'mores Cookies!

What trends are you seeing in catalogs, online, and in stores this Christmas season?