Stones for Summer

So as many of you know, I am an accessory junkie and love making jewelry. I have not kept up with it as much as I would like; however, with summer approaching I have had an itch to invest in some fun and vibrant stones that would make perfect pieces to throw on with an airy summer outfit!

Below are some necklaces I made in the past (I apologize for the very bad picture quality!) My passion for making jewelry really started when I visited The Bead Shop in uptown New Orleans quite a few years ago when we were visiting for Christmas. Ever since then, I love browsing bead stores and picking up fun stones when I see them!

And while we are on the topic of accessories, I thought I would share some fun summer pieces I love that I have stumbled across recently either in person or online (Anthropologie, Club Monaco, French Connection, Anne Taylor Loft)

Sea of Canvas

During my lunch break today, I went to Atlantic Station and stumbled into Z Gallerie where I spent a full hr thumbing through their fabulous selection of paintings. I always knew they sold art work; however, i was blown away by the assortment I found! They have prints and paintings that suit every taste...abstract, art deco, modern, landscape, watercolor, you name it! Even though I do not currently own a home, I consider my style contemporary and love a clean, fresh, chic look that consists of whites and neutrals with splashes of color thrown in. What better way to add a vibrant pop than with a fabulous painting.

Below are some neutral and clean interiors that use paintings for color....love the contrast.

Music to my ears...

I have found myself listening to this song and band a lot recently so thought I would share some Avett Brothers- Happy Wednesday!


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A Fabulous Find

I went to NYC a few months ago to visit my good friend Keeley from high school who has been living there since college. It was such a perfect weekend and was so nice to escape work and real life for a few days. Our 3 day weekend was packed full of fabulous shopping, delicious dinners at eclectic little cafes in the west and east villages and walking all around the city! Keeks might have been ready to shoot me with how much shopping I was in the mood for. While we were walking around the Upper East side, we stumbled upon a little boutique called Yumi Kim...who I later found out is an up and coming designer who has really made a name for herself in NYC. We literally spent over an hr in there trying on almost everything in the store (yes, the woman working working was about to shoot us) but it was worth it since I left with a few goodies :) I was thumbing around on her site a few days ago and loved the vibrancy and freshness and these pieces. They are such fun summer must-haves so thought I would share!

Crawfish!

This past weekend I drove to Mississippi to visit Joe...and to enjoy his Air Force squadron's yearly crawfish boil. Growing up in New Orleans, all I have to do is smell me some crawfish and I get nostalgic about my childhood. When you grow up in the Big Easy, every summer is filled with weekends full of these festive boils. You gather in the front and back yards of your closest family and friends and peel those puppies open like you haven't eaten in a week. The kids run around the neighborhood while family and friends mingle amongst music and drinks. You could smell a crawfish boil from a block a way...and you knew a good time was being had :) This past weekend, it was so wonderful to combine the old with the new. Over one of the best known New Orleans feasts, I was able to meet a few more of Joe's co-workers and also get to know some of their gf's, fiance's and wives. It is so amazing to see the bond these women have and the camaraderie that exists between everyone on a military base. It's a bitter sweet kind of life I have learned...especially for the families. You meet some of the most amazing people, and then have to say goodbye once your husband or wife gets relocated again. These women wouldn't trade it for the world though...they have made their husband's life their own and love every second of it. It's refreshing to see what sacrifice really is and to get an even better glimpse into this way of life. In a nutshell...it was a good weekend!

My First Post

I have been pondering starting a blog for quite some time but was "nervous" to commit to it since my days seem to fly by faster than my actual drive to work. Thanks to my friend Jill who threw out the idea of our group of friends each writing one, I thought it was about time I gave it a shot. I love the idea of jotting down and sharing your thoughts, adventures, memories, passions, opinions and everything else that makes up who you are. Your mid-20's are and should be some of the best years of your life and what better way to celebrate that than to share it with those closest to you :) I'm not sure how much I will keep up with this...I hope I surprise myself and end up writing multiple times a week. I can't wait to use this forum to share things I love, places I have been, projects I am doing at work and so forth. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much I love writing it. We will see where this goes :)