currently inspired by:

clicks of note.

get your week off to a colorful start...

SWOON.

• Maison de Pax is so aptly named - love Rachel's spring tour.
• Love the groom's suit in this romantic wedding from SMP.
• Southern Weddings features a glam gold Oklahoma affair.
• A vintage pastel Easter brunch at The Sweetest Occasion.

SMILE.

• Spring desktops: Design Love Fest, Eighteen25, K. Duke.
• These Ikea hacks from Domaine are pretty unbelievable.
• How cute are these new spring handbags from TOMS?
• 90+ last minute ideas for Easter on my Pinterest board.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year's Sunday Social was about my ideals and accomplishments. I featured some of my favorite spring green and black and white wardrobe picks, turned the blog blue for Autism awareness, rounded up my April favorites
• Two years ago I rounded up rainy day fashion ideas, white bridesmaid dress inspiration, explained how Mr. Q and I save money on groceries, completed my second Liebster Award survey, and shared my love story with Mr. Q for the Love and Marriage series.
• Three years ago I collected inspiration for an April Fool's wedding.

 

sunday simplicity.

McKenzie Powell and Bryce Covey via Wedding Chicks

“In character, in manner, in style, in all the 

things, the supreme excellence is simplicity”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

clicks of note: these are the best days of our lives...

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• Sometimes I hear a song I like so much I'm almost sure I've featured it here before! If so, this one's good enough to hear again (and add to all your spring party playlists). I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Theo Milo Photography via Style Me Pretty

Pretty sure this Wilmington bride is my wedding soul mate... check it out!

• Purple Wedding of the Week: this garden fete at SMP.
• Drooling over this boho baby shower at 100 Layer Cakelet.
• Check out these darling dance step save-the-date cards.
• Southern Weddings features a lovely Charlottesville soiree.

SMILE.

• These seven tips for introverted career women are on point.
• This Harry Potter/Friends mashup works surprisingly well.
• A BuzzFeed writer lived according to Pinterest for one week.
• I've gone a little crazy on my own boards now that it's spring.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I turned my blog into an outfit, shared vintage inspiration via Sunday Simplicity, rounded up teal and chambray wardrobe updates for spring, the prettiest watercolor wedding stationery, and recapped my February and March in Instagram and in entertainment.
• Two years ago I featured orange garden-inspired wardrobe ideas, rounded up inspiration for a French lavender wedding, and recapped my February and March in entertainment.
• Three years ago I reflected on the course of this blog, and shared my March blog loves.
• Four years ago we designed our invitations and found our flower girl's dress.

 

sunday simplicity: aquamarine

Ashley Bosnick Photography via Style Me Pretty

We Heart Photography

My March Favorites

I will be totally honest with you all and admit that for the first days of March I had a serious case of the grumps - I was over cold weather, over snow, and over teaching nothing but test prep. Slowly but surely, though, the skies are opening up - here are the things keeping me sane this month!

1. Fleetwood Mac - Since my parents were a bit older than most of my friends', I grew up on 60's and 70's music. I abandoned the classics for a while and go through pop, country, rock, and even rap phases every now and then, but in the past few years I've fallen back in love with Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie. This past weekend, my cousins (who were basically raised by my parents in the 70's) and I traveled to Charlottesville to see the On With The Show tour. Despite a few traffic-related headaches, it was everything we'd hoped for and more - top hats, tambourines and all.

2. St. Patrick's Day - I know that for most people St. Patrick's Day is a fairly minor holiday, but having studied abroad in Ireland and being married into an Irish-American family, I absolutely love it. My department celebrated today by doing a game show style team activity with rainbow and green-themed challenges and prizes. 

3. Once Upon a Time - We had a lot of snow days this year, and when I had run out of papers to grade, new books to read, and shows recorded on the DVR, I turned to Netflix. I'm not sure why I hadn't watched Once Upon a Time until now - maybe it was because the idea of a Disney show for adults weirded me out, or the commercials made it look silly. Well, I've always loved a good fractured fairy tale and Once is about as fractured as it gets - each episode goes back and forth between the characters' new, cursed lives in our world (the World Without Magic), and their old lives in magical settings like the Enchanted Forest, Wonderland, or Neverland. It's very tongue-in-cheek and funny, but also as dramatic as an episode of Nashville.

4. Antiquing - When my mom and I need some mother-daughter time but aren't sure what to do, a trip to one of the many local antique malls is always a good answer. We can spend hours browsing through nifty old things without spending a dollar - but when I do spot a deal on an antique camera, Pyrex dishes, or a blue Mason jar, I'm all in!

5. Hygge - This winter, a Dutch concept became my saving grace. I read about hygge on Yes & Yes and fell in love with the idea of creating purposeful coziness and warmth every day. My instant hygge-makers are throw blankets (I have a striped one from West Elm that I love) and candles.

What are you loving this March?

clicks of note: I'll be by your side...

get your week off to a colorful start...

SWOON.

Olivia Griffin Photography via Southern Weddings

• A haint blue Charleston wedding - such attention to detail!
• The Everygirl features a bright San Francisco home tour.
• How pretty are these DIY table numbers from Lia Griffith?
• At Style Me Pretty, a colorful Santa Monica Pier shoot.

SMILE.

• Dress your tech with Going Home to Roost and Kate Spade.
• Audrey rounds up this spring's trendy reversible leather tote bags.
• Chanelle shares basic floral arranging tips on The Kim Chronicles.
• Can you tell if these fashion photos are from the 1970's or today?

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I rounded up my favorite mint and gray pieces for spring, inspiration for a mint and baby's breath wedding, and the prettiest mint wedding invitations.
• Two years ago, I reminisced about Ireland and rounded up citron wardrobe inspiration for spring.
• Three years ago I featured inspiration for a country wedding in pastel grays, purples, and blues.
• Four years ago I shared ideas for wedding card storage and thank you signs.

 

sunday simplicity: magic

Grace Photography via One Fab Day

“The world is full of magic things, patiently 

waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

- W.B. Yeats

Grace Photography via One Fab Day

style: blush and lucite for spring

One of the must-have items on my spring wish list is this floral scarf from Target - it's very similar to the Kate Spade scarf I spent last spring drooling over (note to self: stop waiting for Kate Spade pieces to "go on sale"... they will go out of stock instead!).  Target's version includes two of this spring's most popular colors, blush pink and lucite green, is 1/8th the cost of a Kate Spade scarf, and makes me look forward to the days when my lunch buddies and I will be able to eat outside!

Disclaimer: Modcloth links contain affiliate codes. Thank you for supporting Beyond the Aisle!

1. Target  floral  infinity  scarf     2. Kate  Spade  studs   from Piperlime  

3. Analog clock from Modcloth  4. Modcloth dress  5. Old Navy reversible tote  6. Target faux succulents (I'm loving this idea for planting succulents in mugs)  7. Modcloth ballet flats  8. Essie Resort 2015   nail   polishes   in  "Stones  N  Roses"  and  "Time  for  Me  Time"

Linking Up:
Color Me Tuesday at Undergraduate Style

I Feel Pretty at Get Your Pretty On

Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Style to Inspire with Rhea Et Cetera
Style Me Wednesday at Shopping My Closet

Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express

Oh Hey Girl at Pumps and Push-Ups

clicks of note: the spark in your eye...

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• I always like to spotlight great country songs that aren't all "beer and trucks" (thanks, Nashville for that quote!), and when I heard this romantic new song from Brett Eldridge I knew it'd be a perfect fit here. I'll be linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Katie Stoops Photography

• Swooning for a pretty Lexington wedding from Katie Stoops.
• At the Everygirl, a studio apt. where modern meets vintage.
• Southern Weddings features a fresh green Charleston fete.
• I love everything about this NC garden wedding at SMP.

SMILE.

• More pretty desktops: Oana Befort,Gennine, Pepper and Buttons.
• A little bit obsessed with Carrie Underwood's new activewear line.
• Another reason to not hate snow days... fancy snow calligraphy!
• 50+ ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day on my Pinterest board.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year's Sunday Social was all about Pinterest. I rounded up my favorite kelly green pieces for spring, did some snow day dog-sitting, shared a St. Patrick's Day manicure
• Two years ago I featured a blush pink Sunday Simplicity, turned my decoupage Easter eggs into a spring wreath, and rounded up inspiration for a 1920's-inspired wedding and an Art Deco home office. 

sunday simplicity: share it...

Canary Grey Photography via Style Me Pretty | The Edges Wedding Photography via Style Me Pretty

"All who joy would win

Must share it -- 

Happiness was born a twin.”

― Lord Byron

who to follow on instagram: spring 2015

It's no secret that I love Instagram - for me, it's an endless source of inspiration and joy. I get ideas for decorating my home, cooking, getting dressed, and constantly add places to my dream travel list based on these little snaps of goodness. Here are a few accounts I'm loving lately.

missmustardseed | waitingonmartha

missmustardseed - Marian Parsons is the antiques dealer and designer behind the Miss Mustard Seed blog, and her Instagram feed reflects her classic style and favorite things: white pottery, chippy milk paint, and of course, beautiful antiques. Her fresh, bright photographs are always inspiring.

waitingonmartha - in addition to her blog Waiting on Martha, Mandy Kellogg Rye is a contributor to Style Me Pretty Living and stylist for The Celebration Society. Her feed features yummy things to eat and drink, cute outfits, decorating ideas, antiquing rambles, travel, and her fun life in Atlanta.

rachelroams | oliviaraejames

rachelroams - Rachel Rudwall is a professional explorer, Emmy-nominated TV producer, and co-host of How2Travelers on YouTube. On Instagram, she creates a beautiful travel journal. From cities to deserts, beaches to mountains, she shares shots of beautiful people, wild animals, famous landmarks, and unique accommodations from around the planet.

oliviaraejames - Wedding photographer Olivia shares her travels in the south, life in Charleston, and creative process. There's always something pretty and different to drool over.

Previously recommended: A Beach Cottage, Bright Bazaar, thislittlestreet, Kat Tanita, jane_lilly, Justin Chung, Anna Rifle Bond, carmenmariez, Anthony Danielle, This Is Glamorous, Justin's Lens , Trenton Michael Davis, Glitter Guide,  Cozy Stylish Chic,  Hungry Editor, tifforelie, Oh Joy Studio, sugarandcloth, Snippet and Ink,  Stylish Petite, A Girl, A Style, BlairEadieBee, elsiecake, Kiss My Spatula, The Pink Diary, Wit and Delight

Are you on Instagram?  I'd love to follow you - 

leave your username in a comment to this post 

(you can follow me here). 

Book Review: Still Life by Christa Parrish

Still Life by Christa Parrish is a story about how small choices can change our lives. It's also a story about fallout - after a world famous photojournalist dies in a plane crash, two women's lives are sent reeling. One is his young widow, Ada, who followed her heart out a fundamentalist Christian sect to marry him and isn't sure she can survive alone in his world. The other is Katherine, the woman who gave him her ticket - so she could spend one more night with her lover before returning home to her family.

Parrish uses third person point of view to describe Julian's courtship of Ada and the aftermath of the plane crash that took his life. Ada feels overwhelmed and ill-equipped with suddenly having to deal with adult choices. Katherine is drowning in guilt and confusion as her husband and teenage sons welcome her home and thank God she's alive. Katherine's teenage son, Evan, is dealing with both the death of his idol, Julian, and with discovering his mother's infidelity. It's inevitable that their worlds will collide, and as the book progresses readers see just how connected we all really are.

I was drawn to Still Life because the premise was really interesting to me - I have to admit, I am oddly fascinated by cults, and the way in which Ada mustered the courage to leave her father, the self-described prophet, but couldn't quite shake the worldview she'd learned from him, seemed very realistic. I was proud of Ada each time she took a step outside of her comfort zone and just wanted to give her a hug when she felt despair. On the other hand, adultery is usually an automatic reason for me not to read a book or see a movie, but Christa Parrish was able to make me feel sympathetic for control-freak Katherine. I do wish that Parrish had shown more of the work Katherine and her husband Will had to do to restore their marriage - we see Katherine making the decision to turn her back on a passionate love affair, and counseling is mentioned, but it's obviously still a work in progress.

Overall, Still Life is one of the most spiritually-centered Christian books I have read. In many Christian romance novels, the characters will pray about a decision and that's about it. Throughout Still Life, Ada, Katherine, and Evan struggle to understand and define their relationships with faith, and Julian is the anchor - a model of strong, dedicated belief in Christ. I really loved that Julian got to know Jesus in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship because I was an IV member in college, too! While the story covers difficult ground with grief, disloyalty, and jealousy, there's also hope on every page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Spring 2015: Custard Yellow

Don't adjust your monitor - leading color authority Pantone's favorite yellow for spring 2015 really is that bright. Custard is a creamy, muted yellow that's popping up all over the place now that spring is just around the corner! Here are a few pieces I wouldn't mind adding to my closet.

1. Old Navy pleated skirt 2. LOFT polka dot pouch 3. ModCloth fruit earrings 4. LOFT hair ties 5. LOFT trouser socks 6. Francesca's knotted necklace 7. Old Navy crossbody purse 8. LOFT chino shorts

Anthropologie | Trina Turk via Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Jenny Packham via Style.com | Dennis Basso via Style.com

Please let me believe that spring is just around the corner, even though the forecast includes snow on Thursday...

Linking Up With:
Color Me Tuesday at Undergraduate Style

Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Style to Inspire with Rhea Et Cetera
Style Me Wednesday at Shopping My Closet

Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express

Oh Hey Girl at Pumps and Push-Ups
Let Your Light Shine Thursday at Made With Zeal

clicks of note: picture the love...

get your week off to a colorful start...

• How was your weekend? I went antiquing with my mama and had a very difficult time leaving this 1960's educational chart at the antique mall... unfortunately, I just didn't think a bacteria poster would be appropriate for any room in my home.

LISTEN.

• Here's Pharrell being all smooth to help you get your Monday going. I'll be linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

• Design*Sponge features a bright Nashville home tour.
• An elegant Carolina wedding with moody colors at SW.
• SMP features a lovely pink Chesapeake Bay wedding.
• LOVE this vintage milk glass soirée from Wedding Chicks.

SMILE.

• New wallpapers: Cardstore, Design Love Fest, Sarah Hearts.
• In honor of last week's Parks finale, Leslie Knope life lessons.
• Probably late, but digging Better Homes' color palette for 2015.
• Next time we get serious snow, I'm building a maze like this.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year's Sunday Social was a blast from my high school past, we threw a rock and roll 50th birthday party for a friend, I rounded up my March favorites
• Two years ago, I featured a Sunday Social all about the 5's and a round-up of emerald and jade wardrobe inspiration.
• Three years ago, I did a #FebPhotoADay photodump, made chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow frosting and shared ideas for soft gray and blue home decor.
• Four years ago, I recapped my wedding planning thrift store adventures, and found my bridesmaids' dresses.

sunday simplicity: love story

A.J. Dunlap Photography via Heart Love Always

“The minute I heard my first love story,

I started looking for you, not knowing

how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.

They're in each other all along.” 

― Rumi

Becca and Louise on Etsy