Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

treasure hunting

It is so thrilling and just plain fun to visit antique/vintage/junk shops in hopes of discovering something old that will get a new life in my home. A few weeks ago, I finally ventured out to Curiosities in Dallas [something I've been dying to do for months] and was amazed at the vast amount of inventory that they had! Admittedly, I was a bit overwhelmed but it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here are a few photos I took:


Since I left empty-handed, I still felt determined to find some new pieces to decorate with since the hubs and I decided to revamp our living room [I'll save the re-do photos for another post once everything is in place!] After mom and sister decided to visit me last weekend for a girl's shopping day, I did some digging and found a fun "junk" shop to explore much closer to home: Junker Val in Bluebonnet Circle, Fort Worth.


This place was a little piece of heaven! It was a much smaller and more manageable shop to navigate than Curiosities, with a bubbly shop owner who offered cookies/cake/wine/soda to all the visitors who wandered in the open front door. I purchased three items that I am so excited about! A silver tray [$5], a gold piggy to hold my rings [$5] and a vintage photo of the Dallas skyline [$10]. This is definitely a place I plan to frequent more often! If you plan to visit, note that this is a cash only business. If you are a klutz like me, I've learned it's best to wear a slim cross-body style purse as opposed to a large bag to avoid knocking over breakables.





Do you like to treasure hunt? What are some fun things you have found or places you've visited? xo.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

BonLook

Attention fellow four-eyed friends, there is now a stylish and budget-friendly way to sport specs. Introducing: BonLook! A similar concept to the [in my opinion] more widely recognized company, Warby Parker, BonLook sells fashionable frames for a fraction of the cost of other optical wear retail chains. Most frames are $99 with free shipping and easy returns.

Anyway, I recently had an eye exam and decided it was time for a new pair of glasses. I'm most often a contacts girl, but every now and then I like to give my ol' eyeballs a rest. Though Warby Parker has an equally adorable array of frame shapes, I ultimately loved a pair from BonLook the most! Here are a few of my favorites from BonLook:

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I went with #1, "Cavelier," in black. See the FAQ page for tips on how to choose a frame that best complements your face shape! For many styles, BonLook offers the option to upload a photo of you so you can try on the frames virtually before you make a purchase. It's pretty awesome! Have you ordered from BonLook before? What are you favorite frames? xo.









*Not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Monday, October 8, 2012

brrrrr

Oh, how I love this cool weather! Granted, it's much harder to drag myself out of bed in the mornings, but it's perfect for coffee-drinking and bundling up in layers of warmth.

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Friday, October 5, 2012

color love | emerald

Glittering emerald hues, 
from vivid kelly green to rich hunter green,
are lively yet sophisticated. xo.

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Friday, September 28, 2012

color love | burgundy

Oxblood, wine, crimson, burgundy... 
whatever you call it, I'm definitely craving more
of this autumnal hue in my life. xo.

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

the dallas flea

Saturday was an absolutely perfect "fall" day. Overcast, cool, and breezy--it was truly dreamy! My mom and sister drove up to visit for the day and we set off for the Dallas Flea. If you aren't familiar with this event, I highly recommend it! Vintage, artisan, and antique vendors take over the first floor South Side on Lamar [a downtown loft building with a cool industrial vibe] and show off lots of seriously awesome and unique loot.






I could have definitely spent a lot of money there, but walked away with a few treasures that I knew I just wouldn't be able to live without.

Vintage Samsonite luggage bag [hello, new purse!], vintage cat eye sunnies,
some old keys for a future craft project. Pictured with: Trader Joe's 2 [now 3] buck
Chuck and Cookie Butter that everyone RAVES about.
After a couple hours browsing the Flea, we headed back to Fort Worth for some al fresco dining at Shaw's Patio on Magnolia. Being my first time at Shaw's, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, the cheddar/bacon/tomato panini I ordered was delicious. It's definitely made my restaurant rotation! I can't wait to eat on the patio again now that fall weather might be here to stay.



 We ended the day with a quick visit to Trader Joe's, Bath & Body Works [can't get enough of those candles!], and some petite desserts at McKinley's.



Seriously. Best day ever! Can't go wrong with fall + shopping.  xo.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

lately

Hey, there.

I know it's been a while. It's been a very busy few weeks; in fact, I've been trying harder to carve out more time for artistic pursuits, which digs in a bit to my blogging time. I'm working on a little project that, if it comes to fruition, I am excited to share on here very soon!

Anyway, last weekend was a fun weekend. It was the first in a while that I was actually home! Saturday started off with the Color Me Rad 5k. Colored dye [temporary], gorgeous weather [hello, 70 degree temps!], and a run along Fort Worth's Trinity River was just what I needed.

I'm rocking the neon green sunnies!
After cleaning off, I picked up some ingredients to whip up this recipe I found on Six Sisters for Copy Cat Chili's Skillet Queso to have during the A&M vs. Florida game. One word: Perfection. My husband is a big fan of this appetizer and gave it raving reviews. I also stopped by one of my favorite local bakeries, J. Rae's, for some Texas A&M themed sugar cookies. Delish. Despite the Aggies' devastating SEC debut, it was still a fun and relaxing afternoon.

Adorable and colorful cookies!

I'll ignore the fact that the apostrophe definitely goes in front of the e. :)
While at J. Rae's, I couldn't help but snap a few pics of the up-and-coming Foch Street area. It's really starting to look great and I'm excited to visit this area a little more often [especially the new Urban Outfitters expected to open soon!]
Wag [pet store] and Blow W7 [blow dry bar]
Reservoir- a restaurant/bar that looks like it'll be pretty awesome!
The Reservoir's patio area. It's huge!
One place on my bucket list I've still got to try!

Hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful rest of the week. xo.


Friday, August 31, 2012

terrific terrariums [diy]

You may have noticed Pinterest has been blowing up these days with photos of and tutorials for terrariums. Being a non-gardener myself [I have no green thumb. Not even a little.] I was intrigued with this low maintenance way to introduce some life and greenery in my little condo. After pinning away for weeks, I finally went out and bought the supplies and did it! I couldn't be happier with results.

There seems to be a variety of methods, but I went with a simple base of medium-sized black rocks [found in the pet fish aisle], Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus Soil, and some adorable little plants from the Gardening section [all supplies from Wal-Mart.] For the container, would you guess this was a candy jar? I'll save the lid in case the whole plant thing doesn't work out and I'm in need of a candy jar. According to the back of the soil bag, plants only need to be watered when soil is completely dry to the touch. So here's to watering very infrequently, fellow non-green thumbers!

Have you made a terrarium before? What kinds of containers and plants do you use? xo.

Inspiration:

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Mine:







Thursday, August 2, 2012

seattle or bust

I can't believe my annual vacation is just a few days away! The hubs and I are spending a week in the great city of Seattle. We like to take trips to places neither of us has been so Seattle made the cut! We've heard nothing but fantastic things about it so we cannot wait to escape the Texas summer heat and bask in more temperate weather. There will be lots of coffee drinking, donut eating, and exploring. And who am I kidding--probably a lot of shopping! I've spent the past week or two thinking about my packing list. The weather is so opposite of Texas, so I had a hard time figuring out what to wear for mild days and chilly nights [with the constant possibility of rain.] I finally came up with a mix of comfortable attire for walking, with some dressier [-ish] pieces in case we go to a nice dinner, some activewear for possible morning walks/runs, and of course some pieces for rainy days. Have you been to Seattle? What would you recommend I do or see? xo.
hoodie / hair / purple long sleeved tee / umbrella / headband / boyfriend crops / TOMS / nail polish / striped sweater / skinny jeans / leopard tuxedo flats / necklace / workout capris / running shoes / book / bag / rainboots [Old Navy, no longer sold in stores] / camera


Friday, July 27, 2012

tgif

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm looking forward to a fun weekend playing in Fort Worth and neighboring Dallas with my sister. She's coming up to visit tomorrow morning and I cannot wait! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Xo.


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

crockett street bottle shop review

I'm not sure if I will post Fort Worth business reviews often, but this little gem was too good to keep to myself. Located in an older retail building that's nestled in the booming West 7th District, Crockett Street Bottle Shop is a laid-back liquor store that perfectly fits the Fort Worth vibe. It blends so well in its surroundings it took me a year to realize it existed.

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I wandered inside one Friday evening after some fantastic sushi and proceeding cocktails at MK's Sushi and Hacienda San Miguel to search for my hubby's favorite whiskey as a "just because" gift. I was greeted warmly upon entering and felt immediately comfortable. The soft lighting and exposed brick walls created a cozy ambiance, making this little shop stand out way above the chain stores. I had a great experience there and definitely plan to go back for future alcohol purchases.

Things to know:  1) According to the owner [Jim, if I remember correctly...], they allow pets inside! That's pretty darn awesome. Now, I can't say I would volunteer to bring my rambunctious, people-obsessed -loving yellow lab, but I still think that says a lot about this establishment being an inviting place.

2) There is a wine tasting room/cellar, which I did not get a chance to check out during my visit. It was a really neat little nook in the shop and I definitely plan to go back for some tastings.

3) They also have a beer room and offer "Make Your Own Six-Pack." I've done this at World Market plenty of times, but it's neat that they do this as well. Basically, you can get a cardboard bottle carrier and fill it with 6 beers of your choice for a perfect custom gift for friends or family [or yourself, if you just like variety!]

4) From 1-7 p.m. every Saturday, they offer tastings to explore their variety of liquor selections. Pretty awesome!

If you live in Fort Worth or plan to visit anytime, you should definitely visit Crockett Street Bottle Shop! xo.


Monday, July 23, 2012

fort worth summer bucket list


This summer I've had many Fort Worth firsts--things I've been meaning to do in the three years I've lived here and hadn't done yet. From exploring the Botanic Gardens by day and attending Concerts in the Garden by night, to dinner at the scenic Woodshed restaurant on the Trinity River and a candlelit dessert at Lili's Bistro. I'm thrilled to have finally done these things but there's still plenty more on my list before summer comes to an end! What's on your summer bucket list? xo.


photo 1 / photo 2 / photo 3

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

featured :: fort worth on design sponge

All I can say is: It's about time!

Take a peek at Design Sponge's newest City Guide featuring Fort Worth. This guide includes many of my favorite local gems. Coincidentally, I'm working on a little Fort Worth blog post of my own that will be up in the next few days, so make sure you check back soon!



xo.

Monday, July 16, 2012

DIY Monday

Hi friends! Ever get a "case of the Mondays?" I know I do!



What better way to bring a ray of sunshine on America's least favorite day of the week than to feature some snazzy DIY's brought to you by Pinterest. I've been feeling crafty lately and am saving these pins for a rainy day. Will you be trying out any of these DIY's? xo.

pretty painted mason jars via Free People

color blocked coasters via Poppytalk

wedding card book via Something Turquoise

sweet personalized coffee/tea mugs via A Beautiful Mess

fabulous color coded keys via A Bubbly Life






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