blooming.

{source}

this season of my life has been filled with "secret messages" about "blooming." it started out back in June when we moved to Connecticut. my friend said we were being transplanted by the Master Gardener.

then a beautiful woman declared that i would bloom where i'm planted. not looking back, but moving forward. not living based on the fear of what people think or what man has to say.

a lady last week said, "what happened? i left for two weeks, and you look like this. you are blossoming."

little whispers are speaking over my seed

and the true colors of my petals are springing forth. 

i am an orchid blooming; being renamed, truly seen.

bits & pieces.

this weekly feature has become one of my favorite posts. it's so fun to look for the "little things" and the  moments that make each week memorable. i'm grateful for a week of beauty, pampering & a little sparkle! 

one // my tiny treasure found this week was this heart leaf. {and it was inside the house! hmm...} 

two // there's no shame in capturing a good hair & make up day, right?

three // latest art journal page. blossoming: breaking through that which holds you back or attempts to stunt your growth.

four // the sparkle shoes made their debut!  

five // treated myself to a manicure after my second job interview. it went very well! should hear back next week!

hope you truly enJOY this weekend! <3

linked up with carina, casey and lauren.

oh how pinteresting // september edition.

fall is such an exciting season in the wonderful world of pinterest. tons of fashion trends, hearty recipes & autumn crafts abound! hope you enjoy this round up of my favorite pins for the month of september:

our favorite indian dish. chicken tikka masala.

pinned here.

DIY sweater leggings

pinned here.

LOVE this beautiful painting {especially the purple hair!}

pinned here.

these painted baskets are so fun!

pinned here.

baked apple chips. so simple & delicious!

pinned here.


love this subtle cat eye for an everyday look.

pinned here.

i've been on the lookout for some patterned leggings!

pinned here.

love this quote.

pinned here.

fall make up trends.

happy tuesday everyone! hope your week is off to a great start. 

i've been scouring the internet for the make up must haves for this season. my favorite look from this summer was simple mascara and black liner with bold, bright lips. but i'm ready to embrace some new looks for the cooler temps and changing fashion! here are four of my favorite looks for autumn:

sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

// really rosy cheeks. the flushed cheek is so in for this season. i think it adds a nice warm glow to accompany more pale skin tones. {at least for me...}

// brown smoky eye. i love this subtle twist on the normal black & grey smoky eye. it's a very versatile look that can easily transition from day to evening. 

// deep red lips. this fall i will switch my bright pink lips for bold burgundy. so sultry! 

// bold earthy shadow. if you are in the mood for nude lips, try this wash of earth tone shadow all over the lid. adds an instant pop of color with a neutral outfit. 

which one is your favorite? have you already started to embrace any of these fall make up trends?

no difference.

{story people}

i found this quote on her gorgeous, inspiring blog. it brought tears to my eyes.

i love you, babe.

(i don't have blue eyes, but you get the idea.)

links to love.

hello my lovlies! what's new with all of you? hope you had a wonderful week!

quick update // i have my second interview for a job this tuesday! super excited about that. and my parents are coming to visit us in our new place in connecticut this week. can't wait! 

here are some of my favorite links from the past few weeks. enjoy!

love this quote.

i'm still not over the ombre trend. this is gorgeous.

this poem. yes.

what a brave post sharing a vulnerable moment.

i've been interested in vegetarian recipes lately. {cooking meat grosses me out}. this sounds so good.

her art journal pages captivate me.

she's beautiful. the bird is beautiful. lovely.

ever heard of a moodboard?

oh how i would be delighted to win this giveaway on laura's beautiful blog.

bits & pieces.

one. real simple is such a treat to read every month. {thanks for the subscription, mom!} 

two. my "special flower."

three. i'm blooming where i'm planted.

four. isn't this piece of art amazing? thanks, jodi!!!

five. it's boot weather. yes!

i had one of the best weeks of my life. {and i'm not exaggerating}. it started out this past weekend. i spent all saturday morning exploring our neighborhood, hitting up some garage sales and ended in an amazing park sitting under what i have named as "my" tree. i sat under it's shade and had an amazing conversation with a kindred spirit/mentor of mine. then, on my way home, i found the pretty pink flower you see (above & below). my sweet friend had just posted the identical flower on her instagram a few days prior. it was such a wonderful little "sign" to end my adventure.

i have connected with so many brave, beautiful, artistic women this week. my soul is leaping!

here's to another amazing weekend filled with beauty and light!
{linking up with lauren and carina.}  

fall fashion // burgundy.

in case you missed the first part of the fall fashion series, you can find it here. 

i am swooning over today's trend: deep, bold burgundy! i've heard that "ox blood" red is really in (but burgundy sounds more lady like). it's a universally flattering color on all skin tones, and adds a touch of class and depth to an otherwise neutral ensemble. 

here are some ways to incorporate this trend into your fall wardrobe:

// perfect gold cocktail ring   // sassy shades   // suede ankle boots   // casual skinny cords

// fun graphic scarf   // versatile oversized bag   // comfy belted dress 

are you a fan of this deep fall hue? 

a neighborhood of my own.

i have a neighborhood of my own. 

it doesn't have a physical street address. but it's made up of my "tribe" of brave, beautiful sisters with unconquerable spirits & hearts bursting with possibility. 

my neighborhood is a familiar place where i am understood.

there is strength there, as we celebrate & rally around one another. where i am accepted, not just tolerated.

we are free to cultivate our spaces with the colors & words that we choose.

we open our doors wide for others to come in for a visit. there is a genuine hospitality here. 

{the text in the box is: the pressure of loneliness}

my street is full of the neighbors you wish you had in "real life."

but it's not bound by distance. {hearts can stretch for miles}.

there's no "keeping up with the jones" mentality here. competition and comparison are void.

my neighborhood is a sacred, online community of artists, dreamers & kindreds.

our stories are intertwined. the connection is instant. friendships bloom naturally--it's not work. 

to all my neighbors: thank you for being a part of my community.
for believing in & speaking beauty to me.
my life is changed by your part in it.

{i'm home}

{source}

p.s. teresa chose the red roofed house on the end; i'm in the hot pink one; and mandy, so fittingly "resides" in the yellow home.  which one will you choose?

pin approved // recipes.

for this edition of the pin approved series, i am focusing on recipes! pinterest is my number one go-to spot for dinner time inspiration. i've tried quite a few new dishes lately. here are some of my favorites:

panera broccoli cheese soup

pinned here.

this soup tastes exactly like panera's version. it takes about an hour from start to finish, but it's so worth it. reheats very well (actually better the second day). i skipped the step about putting it in the blender. just make sure you chop the broccoli finely and it will be perfect!

banana bread

pinned here.

if you are looking for a simple, basic banana bread recipe, look no further. mine turned out moist, flavorful and delicious! and, to save you a step, i just threw all the dry ingredients into the wet and mixed them together in one bowl. less dishes! 

crockpot minestrone soup

pinned here.

this soup was pretty good. it had three "steps" so it wasn't the easiest crock pot recipe, but still a warm and hearty meal. i skipped the step of blending the beans with the broth, so i don't know if that really changes the consistency of the soup a lot. the parmesan cheese on the top adds a great flavor! if you are a vegetarian, this is the soup for you!

brownies from scratch

pinned here.

i'm not one to make brownies from scratch; i'm usually a "box" girl. but i had all the ingredients to make these this week, so i gave it a shot. they were delicious! moist, crunchy "crust" and gooey center. i halved this recipe to make an 8 x 8 pan. 

have you tried any recipes from pinterest lately? any winners? 

thrifting haul {video}.

i'm back with another thrifting haul video for all you lovely readers! Goodwill here in Connecticut is a bit more expensive than Michigan, but i have found some amazing deals {lots of name brand items in great condition}. here are some of my most recent finds:

{what an awkward still frame to stop on, youtube...}

you can check out my other thrifting haul video here. 

happy weekend!! 

bits & pieces.

happy friday everyone! i had a wonderful week full of creativity & contentment. hope yours was full of peace & joy as well! 

one. happy mail day! is there anything better than getting snail mail? i don't think so.

two. inspired by sweet hannah to make space this week. purging my closet felt oh so good!

three. my hair decided to do the "flip" and i went with it. i'm having so much fun with my new cut. 

four. latest art journal page. embracing my feisty side. ;)
five. spent the most relaxing afternoon at my favorite starbucks. they even had the fireplace on! <3

{linking up with carina & lauren.}

have a wonderful weekend!  

links to love.

i read somewhere that a "blogging rule" is that you are supposed to only post original content if you want to gain followers. 

well, i'm breaking that rule. 

there is just too much inspiration out there that i love to share! as a blogger myself, i can say i would be delighted and flattered if someone wanted to highlight one of my posts to share with their readers. as i've quoted before "bloggers are our community, not our competition." :)

here are some links i've been loving lately:

this DIY foot scrub sounds heavenly.

this interview about being an artist was really helpful.

how fun are these? i think they would brighten your day every time you wear them!

love this autumn decor project.

dark chocolate + sea salt. yes please.

my favorite wardrobe staple for the fall. {any variation of these}.

i'm loving alison's youtube roundup videos.

i'm a sucker for black and grey. exhibit a.

i can't tell you how glad i am that i found her blog. LOVE this post about her journey into joy. *sigh*

oh how i would be delighted to win this giveaway on my sweet friend brooke's blog.
  

fall fashion // ankle boots.

today i stepped outside and took a deep breath in and realized that the humidity was almost all gone. the crisp air was so refreshing after our muggy summer. i'm ready to welcome the cooler temps & changing fashion trends that fall brings as well. you too? this is the first part of a fall fashion series i will be featuring. i had to start off with my all time favorite fall fashion trend...boots!

i am normally a "taller the better" boot gal, but this season, i am loving the ankle boot trend!

// urban boho with sleek fringe   // perfect everyday leather with buckles   // funky feathered wedge

// classic military suede   // sassy studded heel 

which style is your favorite?

daily wisdom.

{find these beautiful nuggets of wisdom here}

i was so intrigued by these "wisdom cards" created by the beautiful suzanne vinson that i came across on instagram. i asked her the story behind them. here is what she said:

i found myself missing wisdom in 2011. hearing the inner voice, yet not listening. only to say in the end "i knew this. why didn't i listen?" so 2012's path became clear: listening to wisdom everyday, speaking wisdom, listening as a practice to then follow wisdom first. wisdom is within me, but also collective. so i wanted to share on my blog: called to create.

each day, i listen. at the end of the day i think about the lessons i learned, the messages i heart within and that surrounded me. one becomes clearer than the rest and i create a wisdom card. it's a fairly bold practice that helps me claim my gentle strength. many claim a given message as theirs. it's fantastic to see what resonates with others.

inspiring, right? i am so moved by her daily practice. i think i will start slowly incorporating the "listening for" and "documenting" words of wisdom into a new journal this week. i'll post pictures soon! 

thank you, suzanne, for sharing your journey with the rest of us. your art is breathtaking!   

you can visit her shop here and her blogs here and here.