For the love of {florals}

Florals, florals, florals.

I just can't get enough of them this spring. 

In other news, I'm bad at blogging these days.

If you need me I'll be riding my bike, day-dreaming over Anthropologie catalogs, and planning frantically for the upcoming weekend! Two of my long-time besties are getting married (no, not to each other) and I just can't wait to celebrate their big days! 

Have a happy, flowery spring week!

Images via: illustrious illusions, honey houses, hannah rose beasley, grey likes weddings, deer circus

For the love of {icy blue}

Normally in the winter I am all about bright, warm hues to bring life and heat back into the cold, dreary world. I crave bold colors and rich textures and warmth. But sometimes you just have to embrace the cold and take your inspiration from what's going on outside you. Find your hues in the snow and ice and pale wintry skies. I'm majorly inspired by this icy blue, aren't you?

Images via: nordstrom, photowall, the chic department, you broke the internet, blue eyed boutique

a Fall affair: rich hues

Once upon a time I dreamed of having my wedding in the Fall. I was in love with the idea of combining rich hues with flaming foliage and the changing of the year. I ended up getting married in December and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I still have a slight love affair with Autumn weddings.

To me, Fall is the perfect time to mix rustic elements with warm and rich textures.

Bold lips and flowers blended with vintage accessories and seasonal foods and perhaps a bonfire to help you keep the party going as the night turns chilly.

What kind of Fall wedding would you have?

Coming soon: my muted version of a Fall affair!

Images via: magnolia rouge, style me pretty, snippet and ink, style me pretty, adventures in cooking

{mustard}

I've got a huge crush on mustard right now.  It's everywhere in fashion and decor and I'm always drawn to it, whether in small doses or large. It's just so warm and glowing and cheerful! I think it's one of those fall colors that will keep coming back. At least I hope so!

As much as I'd love to rock that sparkly Jenny Packham dress, I'm going to have to stick to hints of mustard in my home or on the lower half of my body, because every time I hold mustard up to my face I turn pale as a love-struck vampire. And we can't have that, now can we?

What are you favorite hues for Fall?

Images via: apartment therapy, britta nickel, house beautiful, elle decor, ann street studio, my first little place

Happy {mint} Weekend!

Oh weekend! Welcome back!

I can't wait to celebrate the delicious spring weather, probably by spending many hours outdoors but also hopefully by installing the overhead fan in our master bedroom. Because hot weather is coming! 

I also really want to add a hint of mint to my life. Because nothing says spring quite like it!

For the love of {emerald}

Emerald green has always been my favorite color. Unfortunately, I think it's hard to capture so much rich vibrancy. Really beautiful things in emerald are rare and hard to find. It ought to be easier this year, however, considering it's Pantone's color of the year!
What's your favorite color?

For the love of {yellow dresses}

It's Spring. And we all know that means brighter colors, warmer temperatures, and flowers blooming! Well, everywhere except here, apparently, because the temperature hasn't made it past freezing in several days. Nevertheless, I'm having a love affair with long yellow dresses. Not that I have much of anywhere to wear such a thing. Maybe I can hunt one down in a more casual form. 

What would you splurge on for Spring if you had somewhere to go and money to blow?

Happy {practice gratitude} Weekend!

I hear a lot about "practicing gratitude." What does that mean? I've been thinking about gratitude recently, about my attitude towards my life and situation, about how I approach my prayers and requests. And I've come to realize it really is all about practice. It takes practice to remember to say thank you, to be grateful, to appreciate what we have. And when we practice (and practice and practice) gratitude, it becomes a habit, it builds inside us and becomes the practice of gratitude. That's what I want. A habitual, constant outpouring of gratitude in my life. Because I really do have so, so much to be thankful for. 

paint pop

Just a touch a paint and a smear of bravery and these warm, white spaces are set for life with the perfect pop of cheerful color.

I could really use a pop of cheer after spending my entire afternoon on the phone with insurance providers and doctors offices trying to get my follow-up appointment set up, only to discover that they'd already booked me for an appointment this morning at nine and I missed it because no one bothered to tell me. Sigh. Keeping my fingers crossed they can squeeze me in next Monday. Because it makes sense for doctors to only work on Mondays, right?

Hope your day is more productive than mine! 

For the love of {rainbow stairs}

When this broken leg is healed and I'm back to my regular energy level, Phillip and I plan to tackle a small flight of stairs that are currently completely unfinished and disgusting. I've read a few DIY accounts on how to refinish them myself, and I am thinking pretty stained wood steps with white risers. 

But if, someday, I have stairs going up to the attic where a kid lives, or perhaps down into a basement, or outside in a fun backyard, you can bet I will be painting the risers in rainbow brights! My very favorites are the white walls with colored risers and wood steps. They are just so unexpected and cool.

I showed these pictures to Phillip and asked if we can paint our stair risers bright colors, or even just one bright color, and he just gave me the side eye. Someday, I will convince him. Just you wait and see.

Would you ever paint your risers a bright color? Do any of you have an appropriate set of stairs for this madness?

icy hue

Today I'm still a little bit sleepy, because I hit snooze more than once this morning to finish an interesting dream.

I desperately need to clean my house, do my laundry, and pack my bags before we leave town on Saturday. I also have to buy or make some ugly sweaters for a Christmas party with our youth group, acquire several stocking stuffers for Phillip, survive a soccer tournament, create some activities for my AWANA kids, and hopefully set up some blog posts to entertain you during my time away. Because I'm doing so well at keeping up on the blog front. ;)

For some reason, the cold weather just makes me want to curl up by the fire, watch girly movies, and drink cocoa all day long. Whenever I'm not actively busy, that's where you'll find me. 

Here's hoping I can get it together soon!

Meanwhile, just join me in daydreaming about all things teal and blue.