how does your garden grow?

By all accounts, I have a black thumb. I'm a chronic over-waterer and no matter how hard I try, I just can't keep any plant alive. I give them to my mom for rehabilitation - she's so much better than I am. But recently, I was over at my friend's house celebrating her birthday and I spotted several ranunculus sitting pretty in a pot on her front porch. The blooms were so beautiful that I was inspired to try my hand at potted gardening again.

I went to Home Depot and Lowe's to find the perfect plants {by the way, Lowe's had the best and healthiest-looking selection} and pick up a couple of extra pots, then spent the weekend planting and praying that my flowers make it more than a week.

To help me from over-watering, Mark bought some Aqua Globes. If you look closely, you can see the green and blue glass bulbs peeking out from behind the foliage.

Mark also helped me clean off the back patio - which for some reason always collects an astonishingly large amount of bouganvilla flowers, leaves and dirt - by using one of his favorite yard toys...the electric blower. I have to say that I'm not a fan of the gas blowers {they're pollutants - both in the sense of noise and air}, but the electric blower is much quieter and doesn't spew gross gas into the atmosphere.

~please note the fashionable footwear~

And in case my flowers do fail, I picked up a lovely little succulent for the front yard.

gilding the lid-dy

I am an eye person when it comes to makeup. I like to play up my brown - sometimes hazel - hue. And I've found one of the best ways to do that is with gold shadow.


Some of my favorites include

...bareMinerals In the Buff...

...Smashbox On Stage...

...NARS Kuala Lumpur...

 

food coma

This weekend, Mark and I flew to San Diego to test out some cake bakers and caterers and I think we're still stuffed.

Wanna see a few shots?

:: our gorgeous venue ::

:: appetizers, anyone? ::

:: sweet treats ::

hola! bonjour! nin hao!

Have you seen these videos for ef.com? It makes me want to travel around the world, immerse myself in the culture, make friends, learn a language...just generally expand my horizons.

While I love the one from Paris, my favorite has this one from Barcelona {I may be biased since I studied in Spain}. You can also check out the videos promoting London and Beijing.

EF - Live The Language - Barcelona from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

love shack

My sweet Valentine's Day gift.

napoleon {non} complex

It's been a while since I've shared a yummy recipe with you, and today I have something light and healthy for you.

On it's own, this tasty recipe is super easy. However, I took a cue from Sandra Lee and make it even more simple!

My not-so-secret timesaving tip : Trader Joe's - one of my favorite grocery stores - sells prebaked chicken breasts in the meat section. Seasoned with a little salt and pepper, just pop these individually wrapped packets into the mircowave or pot of boiling water and, voila! Juicy, tender chicken. It's perfect for when you want to make something healthy but are short on time {which is the case for me, most days}.

~fresh avocado~

~my sous chef slicing chicken~

~cutting the puff pastry~

~tomato for mark~

~avocado for me~

~quick and easy sweet potato fries~

bag lady

~image via here~

So I came across this post over at Hey Little Birdie and thought - what a wonderful idea for an art wall - designer shopping bags!

I have an obsession with saving paper shopping bags {I use them for everything from lunch totes to carry-alls} and recently acquired a Louis Vuitton one {which carried my 30th birthday present to myself}. I know I have a Tiffany one hanging around, too, so I could absolutely recreate this wall as an ode to my shopping addiction passion.

There are so many more photos of this closet and the framed bags {as well as where to get the frames!} over at Moth Design.

tsa-fty first

Mark and I have been eating our way through San Diego, sampling catering menus and cakes, and I don't think I've ever been so full for so long.

To kick off our trip, I was one of the chosen ones at security and was scanned in the full-body scanner -  Mark got off easy and walked through the metal detector.

On our way home, I got chosen for the full-body scanner - again {and fyi, if you have a bobbypin holding back your bangs, take it out or they'll pat down your head}. And again, Mark didn't. Sometimes I wonder how I get so lucky.

When we got home, I opened my checked luggage and noticed something was off. Then I found this

Safety first, right?

Check back later this week to see what kinds of foods we indulged in!

happy hearts

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies! 

friday fave

I love everything about this photo. Absolutely everything.

Happy Friday!

{image via here}

pasta perfection {and a bruschetta fail}

One of my favorite Sunday traditions is to make pasta carbonara with Mark {and watch Mad Men when it's on}. Since this past Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday, we switched up our tradition and whipped up dinner on Saturday. 

For lunch, while running wedding errands, we stopped by Pane Bianco, had lunch and picked up a loaf of their homemade rustic bread.

~best. bread. ever.~

~bedhead~

~a yummy mix of bacon, garlic and peas~

~finished with a bit of shaved parmesan~

And the epic bruschetta fail... too much oil and extra watery tomatoes do not make a delicious side.

swoon!

Let me start by saying that I love my wedding dress. But if I were looking...

Um...yes, please.

Bhldn has shared some of their pieces with Aisle Dash and Glamour. I cannot wait to see the entire collection on February 14!

{image via here}

love actually {is all around}

Sometimes people can just be wonderful and show you they care in simple, meaningful ways.

this week...

...a dear friend I've known since preschool texted me out of the blue - just because she was thinking about me. And we haven't seen each other in a couple of years.

...in the midst of wedding planning madness and frustration, a sweet gesture from someone I've never met in person, but have only communicated with via email, brought a smile to my face, gratitude to my heart and even made me a little misty.

...two friends reminded me that what we do is just for fun {thanks Jenny and Anett!}.



{so inspiring}



They may be small gestures, but they are no less significant.

How do you show people you care?

wedding wish list

On Sunday, Mark and I went to Crate & Barrel for one of their new wedding registry parties. Couples who RSVP for these parties have the store to themselves, shopping around before the store opens. There are demonstrations and lots of employees there to answer questions and help you navigate the store to find everything you want to include on your registry.

And like any good party, there is food and refreshments {mimosas, yum!} and even a party favor - our first wedding gift! - when you leave.

{cake plate, natch}

{the spirit connoisseur}

{it's official}

{our sweet surprise}

a little something extra : make sure to RSVP early so you can get your choice of date at the location you prefer.

fabulous finds

One of my favorite places to find great amazing fabulous stuff for a great, sometimes unbelievable, price is at Last Chance. A division of Nordstrom - and the only one in the country - it can be really hit-or-miss {much of the stuff is used, well-worn and can be a little gross}, but every once in a while you can get a Really. Great. Hit.

I've picked up a North Face jacket, a Tahari coat and more shoes than I really care to count. But what I've really been most excited about have been the last two purchases - designer shoes.

I'd been lusting over these shoes for months and months.

And these retro pretty blush-colored satin treasures...what can I say? Love.

If you don't live in the Valley, make sure you stop by Last Chance the next time you're in town. Just be sure to bring some patience, a keen eye, quick reflexes and hand sanitizer.

sweet heart

Isn't this so cute? I can't wait to make something delish...like this recipe or this yummy-sounding soup.

cute and affordable

I know, I know. It's freezing where you are. And it's freezing here in the desert, too. But that doesn't mean you can't wish for sandal weather. Especially when you stumble across these pretties from Dolce Vita for Target.

This weekend is going to full of wedding errands with Mark. We have lots to do and I love to check things off my list. It gives a lovely sense of accomplishment.

What will you be checking off your to-do list this weekend?

did you forget already?

I know a few people who need some cheering up today. To that I say,

...remember...

and the truth shall set you free



{image via here}


Did you read that? Everything is going to be amazing. Not just ok...amazing.