Holiday Dress Shopping: Madewell Style

Okay, I know I say this every. single. year. but I feel like I blinked and it was December.  If you are anything like me, I always find myself in a panic trying to find a last minute dress to wear to holiday functions.  This year I decided I would simplify my life and plan my outfits ahead of time.  I spotted this dress at Madewell and had to try it on.  To put it simply, I didn't want to take it off.  Simple, festive and flattering, this dress made me feel like a million bucks.  I liked it so much I bought it in red and black.  I wore the black version to a friend's wedding rehearsal and again at Thanksgiving dinner with tights and boots.  I'm saving the red one for a few Christmas functions and can't wait to wear it with heels and a statement necklace.  Holiday dress shopping, done!  

Hawaii, in photos...

Our trip to Hawaii was a short one {only 4 days} but we came back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We watched a dear friend get married, ate seafood every day and sat by the ocean reading books and drinking Mai Tais.  Life is good friends.  Life is very good.

Fill Your Year With Wonder

My darling grandfather passed away over the holidays and it's taken me a while to process the emotions that come with losing a loved one. In the midst of missing him, I often find myself thinking about what an amazing life he had. I always loved his tales of sailing ships in the Navy, traveling around South America or moving to Puerto Rico with my grandmother. When I close my eyes and remember my grandfather I think of dark roast coffee, his dusty library full of treasured tomes and I hear him playing Las Mañanitas on his old harmonica. It got me thinking about how I want my future grandchildren to remember me. What adventures and stories will I be able to share with them?

So for my resolution this year, in honor of my grandfather, I am pledging to fill my year {and life} with wonder. For me, it means planning more adventures, drinking good wine, taking risks, dancing with my husband in our living room, worrying less and finding joy in the little things. I think this quote from Ernest Hemingway says it all...

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end

Friends, here's to an incredible journey and making every single day count. I hope 2012 brings all of you amazing things.

*Thank you to the lovely Kathryn Butler for leaving the the above message on the chalkboard wall in my kitchen. It's going to stay there for a very long time.

sneak peek: sydney, australia

Hi, remember me? I apologize for the lack of posting... I've been a very bad blogger! We had an amazing time on our trip but I seem to have returned with tonsillitis/glandular fever/the worst sore throat of my life. I am on the mend but I just wanted to stop in and share a few photos from our short stop in Sydney! I will be back later this week with more from Australia and lots of photos from New Zealand!

*I will also be catching up on all of your blogs. I've missed you guys!

fika: coffee break

Fika is the Swedish tradition of taking a break with friends, family or colleagues to have coffee accompanied by baked goods, cookies or cake. I love the idea of taking a few minutes out of the day to pause and enjoy a little moment of camaraderie... not to mention a hot coffee and sweet treat. Forget bringing back cocktail hour... I'm all about fika.

*All photos by Swedish photographer and graphic design student Hilda Grahnat. Her exceedingly lovely blog offers a beautiful little sneak peek into daily Swedish life.

northern exposure: alaska part II

{majestic mountains}

{waterfalls}

{coffee break}

{my life motto}

{pretty poppy}

{rope bridge}

{up in the treetops}

{zip-lining!}

{sunset on the sea}

On the second leg of our Alaskan journey we stopped in Juneau and explored the local bookstores and coffee shops and enjoyed the scenery. I picked up a great book about the Alaskan logging industry called The Golden Spruce... It was definitely an interesting read. Our last stop was Ketchikan where my brother suggested we try zip-lining! It was absolutely incredible. The thrill of whizzing through the trees while you look out over the forest is an experience like no other. I am dying to try it again! Overall, we had an amazing vacation.... I loved getting to spend time with my family. Congrats on graduating little brother, you picked a great trip!

*Speaking of books... I am officially obsessed with The Hunger Games! I finished all three books on the second day of our trip and got my little brother and sister to read them. Definitely check them out!

project 365: the finale

{April 15, 2010}

{April 20, 2010}

{September 4, 2010}

{November 7, 2010}

{November 21, 2010}

Well friends, I finally did it... I finished organizing all my Project 365 photos! I am finding it a little difficult to summarize my experience but I will tell you this, when you have to take a photo every. single. day. it forces you to find beauty in the most mundane objects or activities. Not every photo is a masterpiece, but each one is a little snapshot of your life and it's fun to go back and remember that moment in time.

*I made this little video of some of my favorite photos... or you can view the complete set on Flickr. Enjoy!

every day is valentine's day

This weekend was one for the books. It started out with a trip to the VNSA book sale and lunch at La Piccola Cucina. That was followed by a visit to the Willo District for their annual historical homes tour and a sweet treat at Sweet Republic. Last night we spent a quiet Valentine's Day with a heart shaped pizza, a bottle of wine and a romantic movie. Life is good friends, life is good.

*All photos taken with the Instagram app on my iphone. You can follow me at i_heart_kiwi if you like!