i heart birthday brunch

{birthday brunch}

{champagne bar}

{birthday peonies}

{what's on the menu}

{penne frittata}

{coconut cupcakes}

{fun with the fuji instax}

{i heart my friends}

There is nothing I love more than a champagne brunch with my girlfriends... especially when it's to celebrate my birthday! I don't officially turn 25 until Wednesday but I have a feeling it's going to be a really wonderful year.

*Penne frittata and boozy fruit recipes via Cup of Jo.... They were super easy to make and incredibly delicious!

use your good dishes

{image found here}

One of my favorite things about summer break is that I get to spend more time with my family and friends. I love driving up to my grandma's house to have coffee and flip through all her old photo albums. Even if it's just an impromptu visit, my grandma always brings out the Haviland teacups and saucers. The delicate china has been in my family for years... and it only gets more beautiful with time. It makes the mundane feel like a special treat. My grandmother's manifesto is, "life is too short, always use your good dishes." I couldn't agree with her more.

*For more great manifestos check out Joslyn's list over at Simple Lovely. My grandmother would be proud.

downtown chic

{images found here and here}

I am obsessed with Bravo's new show 9 By Design. The series gives you a peek inside the lives of genius designers Robert and Courtney Novogratz and their family of seven children! How they manage to be so cool and stylish with all those kids running around is seriously beyond me... They just released a new home decor book called Downtown Chic and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

*I told Kiwi if we ever win the lottery we are totally hiring them to renovate our next house. Hey, a girl can dream right?

discover your world

"One must work and dare if one really wants to live."
- Vincent van Gogh

"Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love."
- David McCullough

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."

- Buddha

*This post is dedicated to my friend, the lovely Kathryn Butler, who is doing something very brave and exciting today! Please send her all your happiest thoughts and good wishes as she starts a new chapter in her life! Hooray for new adventures!

school's out for summer!

{image found here}

I officially survived my first year of dental hygiene school.

Cue celebratory song and dance.

project 365: spring shots

{dainty daffodils}

{tulips for sale}

{take me out to the ball game}

{taste of phoenix culinary festival}

{mother's day bouquet}

Project 365 is moving right along! I can't believe it's May already... With summer fast approaching I thought I would share a few of my favorite spring shots with all of you. You can see the rest of my Project 365 photos here!

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."

-Rainer Maria Rilke

post spending hiatus purchases

I recently made my first foray into post spending hiatus shopping. Christy and I headed to Fashion Square to see what they had to offer. Overall, I think I did pretty well... I scored this sweet little cardigan from J. Crew and this comfy hoodie from Anthropologie. The best part is they were both on sale!

*I really stuck to my guns and didn't buy anything that I didn't absolutely love. If something didn't fit just right or the quality looked poor I put it back on the rack and walked away. It felt great.

wine, cheese and artisan salami

{image found here}

Over the weekend Kiwi and I got together with a few friends for a little wine and cheese party. Kiwi ordered artisan salamis from Creminelli and gourmet cheeses from Beehive. We had so much fun trying out different pairings. I loved the salami tartufo {made with black truffles} and the espresso and lavender rubbed cheese. We sat out on the back patio eating and drinking to our hearts' content. What did you do this weekend?

*For tips on putting together the perfect antipasto plate check out this interesting article from Creminelli.