25

I turned 25 on Saturday. 25?! Yes, 25. I can't believe it, but that happens every year. It's so cliche to say but the years really do fly by. 25 used to sound so old to me, yet here I am and I still act [and look] like a teenager and sometimes younger! [Can never get enough of those classic Disney movies] But with another year, comes hidden gems that you never expected to happen. 

I find that the older I get, the more responsibility I hold, but also some of the greatest events occur. Two of my best friends from home got engaged this year and two of my very close college friends also got engaged! I now have friends all over the world from studying abroad in Australia, friends in California from living in San Diego, and friends all over the east coast from attending Towson University in Maryland. I would never have been able to foresee all the amazing people I've met and gotten close with in life, but that is what makes getting older so great! Embracing your age and knowing that, hey, I can now rent a car! Or, a little more exciting, I get to be a bridesmaid for two of my best friends! I'm rambling, but what I'm trying to say is, even if the number seems old to me [or you] great things have come in my 25 years of living, and it won't stop there...and that is what  is so exciting about birthdays.

Now for some fun snapshots of my 25th bday

Gift Guide for the All Season Lover

I love summer. I also love winter...to an extent. Fall is fun to play around with leather jackets, layers and chunky scarfs, while spring is the best time to break out new slip on kicks. But what do you do when your birthday is the same month as Christmas?! Behold, the December (that's me!) and winter baby problem. Bikinis are on my birthday/Christmas list EVERY year. Some may think it's odd...but when else would I be gifted one of my favorite (and not to mention expensive) bikinis?! It's torture I tell ya. So I compiled a list of some girly gift ideas to give to the all season lover this Christmas.

1. Acacia bikini -- This beauty is on my birthday list! It comes in white [Haupia Mesh] or black [Storm Mesh] with a cheeky or not so cheeky option for the bottom.

2. Snowboarding pipe gloves -- You can also sift through a bunch here and can look for regular gloves as well!

3. Felt Hat -- Great to use as a year round hat. I provided a few options from pricey to very affordable. I just purchased a camel colored one and I can't take it off my head I love it so much!

4. Plaid scarf -- Unlimited options and big, chunky ones can add the perfect touch to any outfit in any season.

5. Spring wetsuit -- I got one of these babies for Christmas last year and it's such a favorite. Billabong and a ton of other companies have endless options that can still show off some style [and booty]. I will note that zippers in the back are much more comfortable while surfing.

Happy Gifting!

December

December is a special time of year for two reasons:

1. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, filled with cozy fires, merry decorations, and lots of family time. 

2. It's my birthday month. [no explanation necessary]

This month I will be featuring different gift ideas, holiday beauty essentials, DIY projects, and recaps of various [fun] trips and activities I'll be doing this month! I can't wait! 

 HAPPY DECEMBER!

Avocado Hummus

Stumped on what to make this Thanksgiving? Are you either tired of cooking the same dishes or are you like me and frankly, you can't even really cook? [cooking challenged over here!] I do want to be able to cook really well but at this point in my life, I like the idea of cooking, more than I actually like it...hopefully in a few years I really will like it. Anyway...I have a few recipes I love to make that don't really involve too, too much but still looks and tastes great. This one is a simple dish to whip up for next Thursday:

Avocado Hummus - YUM 

It's not very time consuming and luckily doesn't involve too many complicated ingredients...here ya go!

Enjoy!

bloglovin'

Happy to announce you can now find and follow me through bloglovin'! It's also just a really neat site to browse and stay up to date with all the amazing blogs out there!

Follow me via bloglovin' here and happy Friday!

November by the sea

Yet again, we've been blessed with beautiful weather...only this time it's in November. We've had days hit 70° and many in the 60's. While people in Southern California probably find our excitement for those temperatures humorous...it's beautiful weather where we are. My office is a block from the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey and I love to head up to the beach on nice days during my lunch break. This past week, I was able to find a lot of treasures; beautifully colored snail shells all over the sand, lots of scalloped shells in perfect condition, and colorful sea glass! Also, there was a bear chillin' by a palm tree on the beach. What? Side note, palm trees in NJ are unheard of (some beaches import them each summer) and the bear is really just a fluff monster that is my dog. 

Ocean Inspired Wood Art

I received a request to create a special, unique piece for a gift. I was given a range of interests for this individual and one ultimate interest, like myself, is a love for the beach. I have always wanted to create a painting on wood palettes or something alike, and this was the perfect opportunity!

I would love to create a wooden art piece for you! 

Please email me or visit my etsy shop to get in touch. 

New England

This weekend my boyfriend and I made a quick trip up to Massachusetts to visit my cousin. She lives in Foxboro and I was able to visit Boston and Newport, Rhode Island while on my mini trip!

I stayed with my cousin and her best friend, who has a St. Bernard, a Newfoundland, and a Maine Coon cat...basically the 3 biggest, fluffiest, and cuddliest animals you can have in one house! I was in heaven.

While in Boston, we walked around the harbor, grabbed a few drinks in different restaurants in the Quincy Market area, and went on a duck boat tour [which I highly recommend if you visit]. Our tour guide had the best dry humor but was also so knowledgeable about Boston and American history in general. Afterwards, we ate dinner in the 'little Italy' district and enjoyed nonstop laughter over a bottle of wine with some amazing salads, pasta dishes, and seafood. I wish I could eat there every night!

Sunday, we attended the Patriots game! I'm a huge Green Bay Packer fan, but I do love football in general, so it's always a fun time seeing a game in person, especially when you can witness a Chicago Bears beating :) Thanks to my cousin and her best friend, we were able to sit in the family/friend section, go under the stadium after the game to enjoy some food, and go on the field.

Monday, was our drive back home, but we stopped at Newport, RI on the way. Saw some mansions that I'm determined to live in. Ate an amazing lunch at the restaurant, 'The Black Pearl' (chose it solely for the name). Walked along the 'cliff walk' path. Took lots of pretty pictures.

A weekend well spent, full of laughter, great company, and great memories.

Ring Game

Midi stacking rings can easily become an obsession.

I often lose them though, so I have to document days when my nails are actually done and I have a good ring game going on. 

Nails: OPI Berlin There, Done That

Midi Rings: Francesca's

Bag: Free People

Pumpkin Picking

It's that time of year! October = finding the perfect pumpkin. 

I like to decide what I want to carve beforehand so I can find the pumpkin that would best suit my design. This year I have something extra fun up my sleeve, but I can't disclose my secrets until it gets closer to Halloween! Until then, get lost in a corn maze and enjoy pickin' pumpkins!

Engagements

When your 2 best friends get engaged in the same month,

you make Feyoncé shirts.

Want to DIY like I did?

You'll need:

Shirt(s) -- I used Fruit of the Loom men's v-neck shirts

Iron-on transfer pages

Iron & Ironing board

Flat piece of wood (I used a large cutting board)

Pillow case

Sewing Pins

How to:

Mock-up saying or picture in Word

Print finalized piece on transfer paper (let this dry for 30min)

Cut out design as close to the edges as you can (I made a black text box behind the letter to blend with the shirt so I didn't have to cut out each individual letter)

Place the cut out piece in desired location on shirt (measure from the bottom or shoulder points to center it and align it straight..use pins to mark measurements)

Remove grid backing on transfer paper

Place the design along pins then remove the pins to make ironing easy

Place parchment paper over design

Iron for required amount of time (no steam)

NOTE: Follow directions exactly how the transfer paper states

This description is for the transfer paper I purchased, some could be different.

Words.

Lyrics are something very special. They can create an emotion, create a vision, create a memory, and so much more. There are certain lyrics I can never forget and there are others that are just so catchy, you can't seem to get them out of your head. The ones that give me tingly feelings and make me see the world in a beautiful light, are the unique ones to me. Because of this tingly feeling, I thought to document some of my favorites. So I present to you a new watercolor collection I have been working on. A collection that can never be truly 'finished' since there will continue to be a surplus of beautiful lyrics, but I encourage you to enjoy the ones I've created, and tell me some you'd also like to see.

 Lyrics from: Steve Burgos Music and Van Morrison

Happy Fall!

The first day of fall. I usually cry a little bit inside knowing that summer truly is over. No more jumping in the ocean for a quick dip without worrying you are going to freeze when you get out. No more surfing without a wet suit. No more sun bathing on the beach...it's very upsetting. I can't complain though because while living in San Diego last year, I got to enjoy summer ALL year round. While I was there, I actually missed fall days, the occasional snow storm, and spring weather. While I wish summer lasted just a bit longer, I am excited for 'fall things' -- Pumpkin spice everything, crunchy leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and so much more.

One of my favorite fall activities hands down has to be apple and pumpkin picking. I never really wind up doing anything with the apples I pick [besides eat them] but the experience is the best part. So Happy Fall, and here's to hoping you get to pic some delish apples very soon!

booties [similar] | chambray shirt | fringe purse

TBT

 

I'm one of those people who literally cannot believe how fast time goes. Every birthday, I can't believe I'm already 'that age'. I mean, I still feel like I should be riding in my neighbors Barbie jeep. I do however, love every experience I've been fortunate to have during my time growing up. One of those times is when I lived in Australia for 6 months while studying abroad. Australia was everything. Just like Mary-Kate and Ashley made me believe it would be (of course I'm referring to 'Our Lips Are Sealed'..duh).

I have sooo many pictures that make me fall in love with that land over and over again. I miss it dearly but I am happy Instagram and the Internet made Throwback Thursday a popular day so I can share my nostalgic thoughts with you.

Let it Go

A half a year ago I didn't understand why everyone was signing 'Let it Go' everywhere you turned. I love Disney movies, probably more than the average person, but it's not like that song is even that good. Recently it dawned on me. Sometimes things happen in life. [Ya know the days where anything and everything seems to stress you out and you're on the verge of becoming a boiling teapot] For whatever reason, you need a place to go to just let it all go. For me, that is the ocean...the quiet, serene ocean. Just bobbing along with the current while sitting on my surfboard is the reason I would break out into song and have a 'Let it Go' moment.

"The Earth laughs in flowers" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

New original piece inspired by one of my favorite quotes. Email me for orders, variations, and inquiries.

follow me on Instagram and have a look at my Etsy shop

A September Summer

 

 




It's hard to say summer is coming to an end, when we still have all of September to enjoy it. Here in New Jersey, we are kind of trained to associate the end of summer with the beginning of September -- post Labor Day weekend means school starts in a few days, no more lifeguards, and summer bars close up shop again [Parker House we're already counting down the days]. Now that I work a 9-5 job, Monday-Friday, you start to appreciate your weekends more and more...that being said, I am actually looking forward to September weekends! No one on the beach, parking will be a cinch, no line at surf taco, and you can go to whatever beach you want without worrying that you don't have a badge for it. Talk about the best of the best!

It's something little, but it's just another way to always find the bright side to situations, which I encourage everyone to do more often.

S U M M E R is still here :)

Don't go chasin' waterfalls?

Why? Why shouldn't I go chase waterfalls? TLC you were seriously so wrong. -- My exact thoughts when I was hiking along waterfalls at Swallow Falls State Park this week. I understand it was some metaphor that TLC needed to share with the world but if you ever find yourself at the foot of multiple waterfalls, don't listen to TLC's advice. You better go chase 'em. And take a selfie or 2. Maybe while listening to the song, because it is a classic 90's jam.

L*Space bikini top || Acacia Swim bikini bottoms || Goodbye Tiger band tee

#SweatySelfie

We're all guilty of taking a selfie whether we share it on social media or not. And we've all caught someone not so subtly taking a selfie and then trying to pretend they weren't when they realize people are looking. But selfie's are definitely here to stay, especially according to Mr. Webster...AKA, the dictionary. So why not win something for that beautifu, not so sneaky, selfie of yours?

Beachbody is running a Sweaty Selfie contest until September 3rd for a chance to win some pretty awesome products! 

Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @BeachbodyHQ on Instagram

2. Upload your #SweatySelfie to Instagram from your account

3. Caption #SweatySelfie and tag @BeachbodyHQ

5 lucky winners will receive:

3 Day Refresh Kit

1 bag of Shakeology

1 Recovery Formula

Beachbody workout program of your choice (base kit only)

I told you it was awesome. Now get out there and break a sweat!