a mini Oscars party

To celebrate the Oscars, I invited my mom and dear friend, Diana, over for a little impromptu party - complete with pizza, popcorn, ballots and bingo.

My mom took first place by correctly identifying the winners in 10 of the 24 categories. And she won bingo. I hope she buys a lottery ticket or two and keeps her winning streak alive.


I found the Oscars bingo and ballots via Pinterest at this website. Such a fun idea!

coffee and color-changing straws

Every morning, I make myself a to-go latte before I head off to work. I'm obsessed with these Nespresso machines and they make the most delicious espresso in a snap. 

I also recommend picking up the milk frother. It whips your milk into a frenzy and keeps it cold for iced beverages or makes it hot if you prefer a warm drink.

During a recent trip to Target to pick up a few more of my favorite coffee-to-work cups and mugs, I spotted these swirly color-changing straws. 

Although they're made for the Aladdin tumblers {there is a little nub around the bottom of the straw to keep it from falling out of the tumbler}, I've been using them in regular cups. They change color with cold beverages and totally make you feel like a kid again.

They're such a fun way to dress up your drink.

tweet tweet!

Are you following me on Twitter? If not, you're missing out! I'm always posting fun little tidbits and photos.

And since life has been pretty hectic lately, it's a quick way for me to keep up with sharing fabulous finds and updates with you!

Find me @modern_lovely

happy halloween!

This weekend, I spent time with Superman and Bumblebee. How lucky am I?

~my nephews in their costumes at their school's fall carnival~

This year, I didn't dress up myself - or my house, really, since we're still unpacking - but I'm loving this festive look. And with Halloween decorations on sale now, I can stock up on items at a discount. Who doesn't love that?

~via~

Happy Halloween!

before and after : full fringe

I love to change up my hairstyle. From sleek ponytails and wavy locks to pin-straight styles and fluffy ballerina buns, I'll even change my style throughout the day.

One style I've been loving for a while is a full bang. Since I'd been planning our wedding for more than a year, I didn't want to do anything drastic before the big day. As soon as I officially became a missus, though, I headed straight to the salon and had my stylist chop away.

I haven't had full fringe since I was a kid {I was one of those little girls who had 80s bangs that started in the center of my head - can you relate?}, and  I have to say I'm so happy with my new look.

before



~one of my favorite shots of Stacey and me~



after

easter weekend

Today, my mom is headed over to my future sister-in-law's house to learn how to make handmade raviolis {from scratch} with my SIL's 90-year-old Nonna. Nonna is amazing and an absolutely beautiful woman. We'll be enjoying the made-from-scratch meals on Easter Sunday, and I can't wait. Nonna's pasta is the best, so I'm excited my mom is learning the tricks of the trade.

I'll be putting together Easter baskets for my nephews tonight, filled with candy, arts and crafts. What goes in your Easter basket?

~image~

egg hunt

This year, my definition of a perfect Easter egg isn't one filled with chocolate {which is nice}, or peanut butter {who else loves Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs?} or money {although I'd love that, too}, it's filled with lip balm. Remember how I told you of my lip gloss/balm obsession? Add another favorite to that list.

EOS makes the most obsession-worthy lip balm I've tried in a while. I found it at Walgreens {near medicinal lip moisterizer, not the makeup} and shared it with a few people, who also found themselves quickly obsessed. I even pulled it out while in line at my favorite coffee shop and the girl in front of me squealed "Where did you get that?!"

It's 95 percent organic and 100 percent natural. The one on the left is well-loved, while the one on the right is about to be.

channeling jules leotard

There is some unusual "inside baseball" terminology that specific groups of people use to communicate. Most of it sounds foreign to others. In rowing, phrases like "weigh enough" and "catching a crab" don't hold a lot of meaning for people who don't find themselves in that circle.

This weekend, I added another term to my vocabulary - hep.

Yesterday, three of my friends and I tried our hand at the flying trapeze at Trapeze U in Gilbert. Yes, the one like you see in the circus. And it was amazing.

Let me preface this by saying I'm deathly afraid of heights. Get me anywhere above the second step on a ladder and I get light-headed. But I was determined to try the trapeze, so I mustered up as much courage as I could and climbed up the 20 or so steps on the one-foot-wide ladder to the two-foot-wide platform, chalked my hands and grabbed the trapeze. 

Jenny's flight was awesome, too.

After little more than an hour of taking turns climbing up the ladder and swinging, flipping and twisting, we tried some more advanced tricks. Katy practiced her catching and Skyler was busy showing us all up by doing two different tricks {here he's doing the bird's nest}.

Oh, and by the way, "hep" is circus-speak for "go." 

weekend recap

This weekend spent in L.A. with Stacey was a-mazing. We had so much fun catching up {we haven't seen each other since JULY!}, shopping, hanging out and just being girly.

~and a basket for Louis~

~talent is navigating a bicycle around kids and old people while taking a photo~

~mmmm...sangria~

~shellac mani~

~the best brunch place ever. frenchmen, crepes and French press coffee~

up in the air

This weekend kicks off a jet-setting three weeks for me. First up : I'm off to Los Angeles to spend some quality girl time with one of my besties and MOHs, Stacey. Then, I'll be catching a flight to Houston for work and following that, I'll be heading down to Tucson for another work-related special event I'm coordinating.

~from a work trip to seattle~

Have a wonderful weekend!

happy friday!

Can't wait for the weekend - it's going to be full of family, friends, food and fun. Just the way I like it.

I stumbled upon this photo and just swooned.

{image via weheartit.com}

i hope this gets to you

Have you seen this? It's been floating around for a bit, but I couldn't help sharing it with you. It's so sweet {and, of course, topical for me!}.

pure bliss

I'm a big fan of folky singer/songwriters; mellow artists whose music helps me to relax. I'm usually always on the go, so I'm grateful for a moment to take a breath. I can close my eyes and just concentrate on the guitar, a voice or a melody, and everything else just fades away.

Here are a few of my favorites. 

re: Stacks by Bon Iver

An amazing artist to experience live. I saw him at Mesa Arts Center {awesome venue and I highly recommend seeing a show there}, in the 4th or 5th row and it was pure perfection.

Did you catch my favorite line? Your love will be safe with me...

I'd Rather Be With You by Joshua Radin

I also saw Joshua Radin live - for free at an outdoor concert - and he, too, was amazing. And dreamy. I mean, look at his hair! And he plays the guitar and sings? Swoon.

Falling Slowly by Swell Season

I love the Swell Season. If they sound familiar, they won an Academy Award for their movie "Once." One part Dublin's The Frames and one part Czech pianist/vocalist, Swell Season has some truly epic, haunting songs. I had a hard time choosing just one to share with you, but I suggest you also check out Leave - it's raw, emotional and heart-wrenching, but absolutely gorgeous.

I had the chance to see them in concert, too - another great show at Mesa Arts Center - earlier this year. Sadly, they've since stopped performing together.

P.S. KEXP in Seattle is awesome. You should check it out.

table for one, please

Two days after Mark asked me to marry him, he was off for a contract gig in Virginia and I have been alone ever since.

In honor of my semi-independence, I've compiled list of things to do when you're separated from your significant other for an extended period of time.

Hog the TV

Find a hobby

Learn more about yourself

Learn how to fix your car / house

Spend quality time with your family

Get rid of bugs {or in my case, scorpions} on your own

Spend oodles of time with your girlfriends

Redecorate your house

Volunteer your time

Hit the gym

But no matter what we do to entertain ourselves, Mark and I still miss each other terribly. We talk every day {thank goodness for unlimited minutes and texts, and bless you, inventors of Skype} and send each other care packages. He's scheduled to come home just after my birthday, which is the only present I could really ask for.

outfitted | backyard bbq

I love a good backyard get-together. String up some bistro lights, cook something yummy on the grill, enjoy beers, wine or something equally as tasty with your nearest and dearest - it's pure perfection. So when Stacey asked me to create a look for a bbq she is attending at her aunt's house in Southern California, I was so excited.

It's casual and cool, comfy with a little bit of sparkle (you know, to play off the mood lighting).

Click for shopping info on Stacey's Backyard BBQ look.

And don't forget, if you have an upcoming event and are looking for some outfit inspiration, drop me a line at modernlovely@hotmail.com or leave me a comment with your event, location and time of year. I'd love to put something together for your fete.

outfitted | girls' night out

I love to help people create stunning ensembles, get them out of their style rut or jazz up their wardrobe with a  few key pieces.

But last weekend, I found I was the one who needed to get out of my style rut. I planned on meeting a couple of girlfriends for pizza and wine at our favorite downtown spot. I scoured my closet to find the perfect outfit and nothing was jumping out at me. I needed some inspiration.

And came up with this {via polyvore.com}

Do you want me to create a look for you? Let me know the occassion, location and where you live, and you could be feautred in a future Outfitted post! Leave me a comment or email me at modernlovely@hotmail.com.

Want to purchase any of these items? Dress: Catherine Malandrino, net-a-porter.com; Earrings: Suzanna Dai Copenhagen, maxandchloe.com; Clutch: Asos, asos.com; Sandals: Mui Mui Suede Platform, net-a-porter.com; Bangles: Amia, amritasingh.com.

a southern {arizona} fete

This weekend, I had the chance to head down to Tucson to celebrate Diamond Children's Medical Center at their inaugural gala. The Diamond Children's Medical Center is Southern Arizona's only children's health facility connected to an academic medical center and is a partnership between University Medical Center and UofA's Steele Children's Research Center.

The gala took place at JW Marriott Starr Pass, a vast resort and spa nestled in the Tucson Mountains, offering a sweeping, breathtaking view of the city.

~the city and the pool~

~the gorgeous mountain view from my room~

The gala itself was a wonderful event. It offered the requisite tear-jearking video montages mixed in with a rousing speech from Dr. Fayez Ghishan, the head of the medical center, and a delicious meal.



~that sparkly clutch got a lot of complements~

~gumball centerpiece and candy apple takeaways~

~my big fluffy bed {testing out a new camera setting. what do you think?}~

the three-week mani

I love to have my nails done professionally, but I'm so rough on my hands that I usually smudge them within the first 15 minutes of leaving the salon. But I have to tell you that I found something wonderful : Shellac by CDN. It's a hybrid gel-type polish that lasts for 14 days {or more} and dries before you even leave the salon.

It's been out for a while and three weeks ago I finally tried it. I think I may be a convert!

~freshly painted~

~end of week one~

~end of week two~

~a little chip that i made worse by peeling. oops!~

~end of week three~

Other than the chip, the only tell-tale sign that my manicure isn't freshly done is the grow out. 

A manicure with Shellac polish is a little more - typically $15 more than plain polish - but for my money, it's totally worth it.

twilight trek

On Saturday, some of my friends and I spent the evening running around Tempe - literally. We participated in Tempe Twilight Town Trek. Think "The Amazing Race" meets your local city. We solved clues, completed tasks, took pictures and ended up {supposedly} running a 5k.  My team ended up coming in 12th place. Not too bad, considering we had to backtrack...

~pit stop : name that movie quote~

~running from the law...and to the next pit stop~

~ziggy and the statue - look at those legs~

~our final challenge~

~team town lake mud wrestlers~

working it

It's the end of the workweek and the weekend is almost here! Whether your week felt long or short, have you stopped to think about how much time you spend at work? Wait, don't calculate it - it is Friday, after all. But it's pretty safe to say that we all spend the majority of our time at work. So why not make your space as welcoming and fun as possible?

And if you love to be organized like me, it helps to have things that are more colorful than plain ol' manila.

Perfect Planner
From Bob's Your Uncle, this planner is bright, fun and broken down hourly. Not only do you get Monday through Sunday, but you also get Someday, which is essential for all those home projects you keep putting off.

a little something extra : it now comes in mini!

Writer's Block

I take lots of notes. I jot down story ideas, reminders, to-do lists, contact information. I love this big pad from Target. It's not available online, so you have to go to the store. Dangerous, I know - it's like Costco or Ikea, you always come out with something you didn't know you couldn't live without. 

It has four different layers, each one is a different color and design.

Pretty Pens
Sure, most of us use computers day-in and day-out, but that doesn't mean you can't have some old school writing utensils. And these are so fun.

Fashionable Filing
Jazz up your filing system with fancy file folders. These make me smile.

Happy weekend, lovelies!