Wednesday: Show some love

Images of affection just brighten what can be a dreary Wednesday.

via erin hearts court

via matt clayton

via lettres d'amour

via lol

just had to... via dog-milk

Love is all around us... let us take this boring Wednesday and remind ourselves who we love and tell our loved ones how special they are to us.

xoxo,

In the Details: Making a house a home

When I moved into my home, it was a maze of white walls and the only tepid source of personality was the tile, carpet and countertops that I was able to pick out myself from the builder. The last 8 months have flown by and I have yet to paint a wall, yet my house is slowly transforming to an empty abode to my home. I've learned that little transformations that aren't as committing as paint are the small little details. Pictures, art, candles, unique furniture all play into this notion of "home." We hear all these phrases "home is where the heart is" and "home" is not just a noun - it's a feeling, your personality, an idea - it's memories in the making. Lately I've been looking into changing up some little details in my home - starting with:

THE DOOR KNOB.

via Lowes

My house came with these - not ugly by any means, but nothing special.

But how about switching up some rooms with these stunning knobs? I think these take a door from something that divides a room to a sweet surprise,  leaving someone thinking...

"well, what is behind this door?"

I found a ton at Anthropologie (of course, my favorite store!)

Can you guess what the other side says? So cute 

Classic feminine chic

I'm having trouble finding doorknobs like this anywhere else - I'm on the hunt! Help me?


Until Next Time....




XOXO,


Nina 

Survival: The AZ Summer

Arizona is truly a different breed of heat. Our summer's are comparable to those winter's of Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, etc.. It's literally too hot to do everything. The problem is we have no such thing as "heat days" - we still have to get up everyday, get to work and try and look cute doing it. I've been doing some research of stylish summer garb that won't break the bank and I won't get caught drenched in - sexy.

1. THE CHAMELEON:  the maxi dress

The maxi dress is utter perfection. Its both classy, airy and flatters about every shape! Add on a belt to a cotton maxi to cinch the waist and you're good from day to night. Rock a cardigan in the office then strap on some glitzy sandals for the evening.

via Anthro (now on sale!)

via Gap

Both of these looks are both so simple an elegant and can easily be dressed down or up without melting our pocketbooks or ourselves!

2. THE STAPLE: flowy tops

Why be sweaty and wear something tight doing it? Yuck. First of all ladies - ditch that super tight top, we're not in high school anymore. There's a difference between form fitting and tight - I'm not saying we have to go all garbage bag on the world but let's show a little sophistication. Flowy tops are the perfect compliment to jeans, skirts and shorts. They also bear the heat well and make us look like comfortable sun goddesses (as if we're used to this heat!)

Via Modcloth

via urban outfitters

via Ruche

3. PERSONALITY: playful shorts

We sure can't sport a lot in this heat, so might as well make what we're wearing stand out! Colorful shorts in fun shades and bold prints are a hit this season. These classic choices will take an AZ girl all the way from summer to fall.

via Modcloth

via Nordstrom

Ahhh welcome Summer. One thing is certain for Arizona girls: we love the mall, it's freezing!

God Bless air conditioning!

Until Next Time...




xoxo




Nina

Pondering: Bridesmaid Duties

Always a bridesmaid? Not necessarily me.... uh oh.

If you're wondering where I'm getting at, my lovely roommate (who happens to be the fiance of my guy's brother) just asked me to be the bridesmaid at her wedding next March! I have to admit, her timing was perfect. Her and I tivo-ed the Royal Wedding about 2 months ago and never got around to watching it (well who honestly has 6 hours to spend watching royalty wed into matrimonial bliss? slightly nauseating..)

Anywho, it was actually really fun watching and being taken back to a time where I thought I could be a princess and my prince would take me away on my royal carriage (hello real life).

And so my roomie so sweetly asked if I could be her bridesmaid. In the moment of giddy-princess-girlishness I felt really honored (don't get me wrong, I still do)! Not only will I be summoned to dress fittings, cake tastings and making invitations until my fingers swell, BUT I will be in those pictures for the rest of her life. That's a big deal and I will fulfill my duties as much as I can.. the problem is.. what do bridesmaids even do??

A bride is a very delicate little creature, full of emotion, excitement and anxiety. In my opinion, there is a very fine line between laziness, being helpful and being overbearing. Since I've never had this age-old title bestowed upon me before, I try to think about what I would want as a bride - SPACE. I know we are there to help, but ultimately my little bride-to-be makes all the decisions (with the "help" of my guy's brother). I would rather give advice when asked instead of shoving new ideas into her head creating more confusion. A bride's day is supposed to be "perfect" (do we even know what that is?) so the last thing I'd want to do is stray her away from her original intentions.

I suppose the purpose of this post was to let all my "readers" know I'm still here, I will be back and I'll have lots of new stories ahead.

XoXo,


Nina