sweet little cakes and a simple little 'scape

Happy Easter!

I spent Saturday baking Easter cupcakes for the first Easter dinner Mark and I hosted in our home. I found the cutest liners, crackers and napkins for my tablescape, and used the arrangement from my first floral design class for the centerpiece. {The candles and burlap runner were from my wedding tablescapes.}

~butter and eggs captured with my new lens~

~pretty liners found on sale: pink & yellow petals for vanilla and chocolate cakes~

~the first time I EVER over-portioned~

~completely unsalvageable~

~cupcake toppers~

~napkins from ikea and crackers from sur la table~

~simple tablescape with plenty of room for the food~

an apology and a style shocker

Between fighting a cold, nursing a rowing injury, finalizing details on our new home and packing up our old place, I've been slacking on posting. I hope to be back on my regular schedule really soon!

And now - a brief story on how I surprised myself by actually liking a shoe line I said I'd never wear...

I can appreciate that TOMS shoes are socially conscious. In fact, I really like that about the company. What I don't like? The shoes. I know they're comfy and supportive, but they look like they belong on prisioners' feet, not on fashionable men and women.

But TOMS may make a wearer out of me yet. Look what I've spotted!

The ballet flat line is launching next spring and I'm excited to try a pair or two on. I'm loving the pink and blue ones. Which is your favorite?

orange blossoms

It's one of my favorite times of year here in the desert. It's springtime and the temperatures are perfect, the days are getting longer and a sense of renewal is in the air.

When I was little, my parents would take me down the street from our house to an orange grove filled with hundreds of delicious-smelling trees. We would get out and walk around, hoping to see one of the many peacocks that called the grove their home.

I still love the scent of orange blossoms. Luckily, there is a street not far from me where I can soak up the heady scent.

When it's not blossom season, there are two products that bring the scent I love straight to my house.

This Jo Malone candle is a luxurious indulgence, but it smells amazing.

More accessible is Trader Joe's French Liquid Soap in Orange Blossom Honey. Delicious!

seasonal musts | stripes

I still love stripes - they're classic and a good staple for everyone's wardrobe. They can be thick and preppy, or thin and Parisian.

*where to find it: forever21, anthropologie, free people, anthropologie, target

seasonal musts | patio dining

Another must - especially in the spring here in the desert - is patio dining. And we've got some great patios. One of my favorites is Cibo in downtown Phoenix. It's located in a converted historic home and has the most. amazing. patio. Seriously, it's perfect. The brick patio is surrounded by bistro lights, shrubs and gorgeous trees. There are heaters for cooler weather, but springtime dining is my personal favorite.

Everyone I take here or suggest dine here falls in love. Pizzas, salads, sandwiches, dessert...no matter what you order, you can't go wrong. And on Tuesday and Wednesday, they offer a special pasta dish {or two} - always made with homemade pasta and always worth a try.

I spent a breezy spring evening here with one of my dearest friends, Diana, sharing wine, stories and yummy food.

~sunset on the way to dinner~

~wine while you wait~

~welcoming home~

~salad, bread and wine~

I wish I had more photos, but the conversation was just too good to remember to take shots. Suffice it to say, if you come to Phoenix, swing by Cibo for delicious food.

seasonal musts | bright flowers

Daffodils are the perfect springtime flower. Bright, sunny and big. Over the weekend, I stopped by my local grocery store and saw they were having a sale on bunches of daffodils. I selected three groups {that were still closed} and watched each day as they bloomed.

day one

day two

day three

By day four, they were in full bloom and smelled heavenly.

day four

seasonal musts | nude shoes

They are my go-to color for this season. In a heel, they elongate the leg. In a flat, they go with everything.

seasonal musts | sun block

And we're back!

Whether or not you live in the desert, you should always protect yourself from the sun. Wearing sunscreen daily is the best defence against premature aging and cancer - but you already knew that, right?

Face

Moisturizer, tinted moisturizer or foundation/primer with an SPF is the easiest way to cover your face. 

Body

A quick-absorbing lotion with a touch of SPF kills two birds with one stone.

Hair

You may not think about it, but protecting your hair against harmful rays is just as important as shielding your skin, especially if you color your hair. I just picked this up at Sephora, and although it says it's formulated for curly hair, it works fine on all hair types. {Aveda also makes a nice sunscreen for hair, but I have yet to try it out.}

Since I spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities {I just picked up a new one! Details - and photos - coming soon}, this is a must.

Outdoor
If you're going to be out in the sun, be it at the beach or out on a hike, the easiest way to apply - and reapply - is by using a spray-on sunscreen. And applying a sunscreen that is specially designed for your face won't clog your pores and cause breakouts.

Out and About
I found these sunscreen wipes in travel size at Nordstrom and full size at Sephora. Toss these in your handbag or car to always have sun protection on the go. The best part : it won't leak or burn you if left in a hot car for an afternoon in the desert.

seasonal musts | beachy hair

Warm weather is upon us {or will be very shortly} and if you haven't been already, it's time to think about the looks that will carry you through to fall. Each day this week, you'll find my picks to perk up your spring and summer ensembles.

This season, I'll be rocking beach waves. Soft and flowy, waves can look easy and effortless but still put-together. Case in point : my hair is naturally stick straight and baby fine, but the other day I pulled out my curling iron and in less than 10 minutes had perfectly tousled waves. Looks good, right? My boss even complimented me, asking if that's the way my hair is naturally when I don't straighten it. Now, maybe it's just me, a girl who has longed for thick, gorgeous, textured strands my entire life, but this comment was akin to telling me I look like I've lost five pounds.

It's easy to do, trust me. Here's what you need...

Day-old hair and/or dry shampoo. I prefer both, since my hair loves to produce oil

I have two favorites : Bumble and Bumble {$$$} or Tresemme {$}

1.5-inch curling iron

I love Hot Tools because it heats up quickly and stays hot

Flexible hold hair spray

To me, Goldwell is the bee's knees

Now that you have the tools, here is the how-to...

1: Spritz your hair with a bit of hairspray.

2: Face your curling iron barrel-side down.

3: Open the clamp and wrap a thin piece of hair (one-half inch wide) around the barrel away from your face, keeping the end of your hair off the heat source.

4: Hold your hair without clamping it for 15-20 seconds.

5: Repeat, moving around your head. 

6: Run your fingers through your hair and finish with another spritz of hairspray.

7: Enjoy the compliments!



no luck

Shouldn't everyone have a bit of luck today? Being that it's St. Patrick's Day, you'd think so, but not so much for me today. And it all stems from my car.

I just got my car back from the shop yesterday, where it's spent the majority of the last four weeks {it needed a part that was only available from the factory ... in Germany}, so I was pretty excited to drive it to work today.

And about an hour after I got to work...

Luckily I have a wonderful and trustworthy mechanic. And on the plus side, I can't complain about a few more days of driving to and from work with the top down on the convertible!

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?