Happy Hump Day! 9 random things making me smile today. One that aims to help you make better pasta (because I could eat it all day). One that gives advice on how to start the first 10 minutes of your day with purpose (as opposed to stumbling out of bed and straight for the coffee maker). And one that makes you giddy scarf (and plaid) season has arrived. The other 6? Well, read on and see. Here’s what I’m lovin’ right now…
Another week, Gang! #1 below brings very timely and wise words for a Monday. And while I have a busy week ahead, I’m decidedly looking forward to changing things up a bit in an effort to create my own sunshine. I’m excited to meet the BF for happy hour drinks on what’s likely to be an otherwise uneventful Tuesday, instead of our usual gathering for a movie or hanging at my place while we watch Netflix over baked potatoes. And thanks to an awesome Groupon find (along with a 20% off discount), I’m trying out a new dance studio that just opened in my neck of the woods to shake up my workouts (and get my groove on!).
I’m finally starting to settle back into my routine after my recent trip to SF and it feels good. Here are a few other things adding to my sunshine. Here’s what I’m lovin’ right now…
Coming off what has to be the hottest days of 2014 here in LA over the weekend (and you know it’s hot when I, the perpetual lover of warmth, is complaining!). It’s expected to be yet another warm day making it hard to believe that my calendar says that fall arrives exactly one week from today. Ha! Those fools.
Here are a few random things making me smile – #2 and #8 are looking especially enticing as I wipe the sweat feminine glow from my brow currently dripping onto my keyboard. Here’s what I’m lovin’ right now:
The most succinct advice I’ve ever heard for those sipping “haterade.” | by Dr. Steve Maraboli
…and luckily we don’t have to wait much longer! Summer officially joins us this Saturday, though I’d argue the calendar is about 3 weeks behind the actual weather. While summers now take on a different meaning as an adult than when I was in 5th or 6th grade trying my best to past the time until school started again (yes, I was one of those nerds that actually liked school), I still have a deep fondness for this time of year. Long, sunny, warm days that somehow give the impression of having just a little bit more time after a long day of being an “adult” to go out and have some fun. When thinking about the things that make this time of year special, I realize that what I’m lovin’ right now are all things in salute to that memorable time we call summer.
Beach essentials: cover-ups, straw hats, and totes. Quick and easy meals that hardly require any cooking (because there’s nothing worse than trying to throw down in a HOT kitchen during the dead of summer). Open toed shoes. Even brighter lip and nail polish shades. Braids to keep things in place. Cotton dresses. And lots of sunscreen…because I basically plan to live at the beach until further notice.
Finally, let’s not forget cravings of “more.” Number 4 below encapsulates things quite nicely. So until the calendar catches up with the weather in just a few short days, here’s what I’m lovin’ right now…
It took nearly three decades, but I finally deduced that my favorite color is purple. For years, whenever someone would ask me what my favorite color is, I’d say, “I don’t really have a favorite color.” And though it’s not rocket science to figure it out, I started paying more attention to myself, putting two and two together when it seemed my eye was always drawn to any hue in the purple family.
Case and point: when I moved into my apartment, the first thing I did was decidedly paint my walls a soft lilac, with one big accent wall coated in a deep heather purple for dramatic effect. Many of the dishes in the kitchen are purple. My bedspread is lavender and the lampshades on my nightstand are orchid. The iPod I bought years ago (when you might call me more “color fickle” ) is purple. And the color of choice when it came time to purchase a case for my new Kindle is…you guessed it…purple. Let me preface that my apartment doesn’t look like Barney the Dinosaur’s crib, I do try to balance out all that purple love with lots of golds and browns to keep things from becoming too overwhelming.
Though I think I’ll stick with purple as my official favorite color (since it took so long to make up my mind), I’m currently crushing on corals as we gear up for summer at the moment. Last year, mint green was all the rage in the fashion world and though it has staying power, there’s something about coral that I find to be an equal competitor, if not taking a slight advantage. It’s a shade that looks uniformly amazing on the palest of skin tones, to the darkest of complexions. It represents all the things that I love about this time of year. Coral is fresh, bright and unbashfully playful.
Unlike those early days when I had a crush on a boy but could never quite bring myself to tell him so, I’m telling the world all about my new crush. I just hope my currently relationship with “the color purple” (pun intended) doesn’t get too jealous.
It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of my oh-so-fun “5 Reasons” post. It’s a post I like to do every so often to help get me smiling about the week ahead. Who-hoo! We all know how I just (enter sarcasm here) LOVE Mondays. And while they’re not my favorite after a productive, fun-filled weekend, they too, still deserve some R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
So, as I make a consorted effort to get excited about the fact that’s Monday (again, already) and transition back into the routine of the week – I’m looking forward to the little things. I think one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard time and time again is to “always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.” If I keep this concept in mind, while consciously treasuring and getting excited about the small things in life, I can’t help but think I’ll kick Monday’s ass (excuse my French).
As they say, perspective is everything…even when it comes to Monday.
Here are 5 reasons this week will rock…
#1. After 3 MONTHS of one of the most torturously comedic cliffhangers ever, The Mindy Project is back and they’re rightfully apologizing for such a lengthy hiatus with a 1 hour spring premiere. Will Mindy and Danny finally get it together and admit they have the hots for each other after their kiss in the sky? The point is – don’t bother me this Tuesday night between 9:00pm-10:00pm. I’m unavailable.
(p.s. If someone were to ever ask me who I’d want as my famous BFF, hands down, it would be Mindy Kaling. Rashida Jones, a close second.)
#2. What will surely be a nice addition to my week? Looking for something in my purse and actually finding it. For almost a month now my now defunct make-up bag kept popping open. Every make-up brush, tube of mascara, and lipstick I carry was always in the bottom of my purse. I finally went to Target and treated myself to a new make-up bag. I can’t wait to have the pleasure of seeing the bottom of my purse again. (Hey, it’s the little things, remember?)
#3. I love pasta. I also love anything that I can come home and whip up after a long day in no time. On one of my solo nights in this week, this super simple Pasta with Fresh Tomato dish will be on my dining agenda over old episodes of Ally McBeal on Netflix. Win. Win.
#4. I’ve been hearing manicure miracles about Essie’s All in One 3-Way Glaze. This formula is your base coat and top coat in one, while strengthening and providing a high shine. Ladies claim that your mani/pedis last longer, with no chipping or dullness. An at home spa treatment this week using this new gem is in order. I’ll report back on if it’s worth the hype.
#5. A mid-week date night with my boyfriend at one of our favorite theaters, some candy for sure, popcorn perhaps, and this incredibly interesting documentary on street photographer, Vivian Maier. Finding Vivian Maier, follows the story of a nanny who secretly had a passion and talent for photography. Her photos, unearthed in 2007, shortly before her death in 2009, are making a huge buzz on the art scene, labeling her one the best photographers of the 20th century. The film delves into the life and times of a woman who clearly preferred anonymity and secrecy, while being a mystery herself. This should be a good one. Here’s the trailer:
“Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.”
― Maya Angelou
I’m in the mood for a little sharing of wisdom today. I came across this great quote from Maya Angelou and the moment I read it, it spoke to me. The more I thought about it, the more the words rang true – and not purely from the perspective of building an intimate relationship with someone (which is sound advice), but in every single relationship in our lives (that so-called “friend” that always flakes on you comes to mind). This message, while pertinent to all, is particularly important for us gals – who have a tendency not to honor our worth at times and just take what we can get.
This theme also runs through a great blog post I came across yesterday, Hannah Brencher’s 25 Things Every Woman Needs To Know. She poignantly and humorously touches on this concept throughout her entry and reading her words brought some light to my day. I hope Maya and Hannah’s advice bring a spot of inspiration to yours as well.
For us to be well into August, it hasn’t felt much like summer here in LA at all. The weather actually feels truer to spring, filled with gray mornings and rather temperate afternoons along with a spot of rain here and there over the last few weeks. In fact, this past spring felt more like an extended winter. Perhaps there really is something to this whole global warming stuff. We have perpetually been a season behind for the last year. This means, I can’t wait to until Christmas when it’ll finally start to warm up! Despite our “spring-y” weather patterns this summer, I know us Angelenos are lucky when it comes to the weather gods. While you can get away with a sundress right now, you might still need a light sweater to make it through the day – at least I do. I know I’ve mentioned the peculiar weather more than once in recent posts and though I dream of one day moving to another great city to live and explore at some point in my life, I’m really starting to authentically understand how much of a California girl I really am. It looks like I’m trapped here. Until the weather decides, yet again, to catch up with the calendar…
here’s what i’m lovin’ right now
1. Belted shirt dresses and gold aviators.
2. Essie nail polish in Fiesta.
3. Inspiration for how to rock stacked skinny bracelets perfectly.
If you haven’t noticed, mint green is THE hot color of the season and I’m totally into this particular chroma trend. While I do like to keep an eye on all things fashion and indulge daily in fashion blogs (Wendy’s Lookbook is my addiction right now), I’m not one to go out and personally buy a lot of expensive stuff that lasts one season (but talk to me in a few years when I’m loaded). In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with shopping in general. In a nutshell, I love the idea of finding the perfect piece and adding it to your collection. I certainly adore fabulous clothes, handbags (my fav!), shoes, and jewels as much as the next girl; but if I were to be perfectly honestly with you, I hate the physical process of shopping. In particular, the trying things on in a fluorescent lit dressing room only to get frustrated that it looks better on the mannequin than you part. Ugh.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate a good fashion trend. I can’t think of a more refreshing salute to spring than the subtle yet vibrant shade of mint. And since I don’t have anything in my collection representing this craze, I’ve been dreaming of fun, yet affordable ways to incorporate this beautiful color into my look. I have a feeling this color might last longer than a season. Perhaps it’ll inspire ways to find you dressed in mint as well.
EARRINGS| Mineral Teardrop Earrings // Francesca’s Collections // $12.00
All That Glitters 
