#abc13

My sister in law, Reachel from Cardigan Empire was my date

This weekend was the 2nd annual Arizona Blogger Conference and I was really glad I got to go--every time I push myself to go to social events that I don't feel completely confortable at, I am glad I did and I end up meeting someone or many someones that I get so excited about.

This conference had many high-lights, but here are a few:

Dani (from Sometimes Sweet) inspiring me to make at least a weekly effort to spend 20 minutes free-writing, no editing, no stopping, just writing. She said we all have a story to tell, so get telling it. I've always loved her, and I'm happy for every opportunity I get to mingle with that sweet lady.

Getting to meet Sarah Hubbell of the beautiful Emma Magazine. She's funny and incredibly smart and super friendly and easy to talk to--now let me tell you, that's a hard combination to find, so i was lucky to spend a few minutes with her.

And who could forget this surprise! I've been kindly teasing Chelsea about getting married for a few months now, and BAM! she got engaged right before my eyes. I love them.

And lastly, I was so happy when Georganne called me over to meet Katy, my sister and I have been admiring her handmade dolls for over a year through instagram and last week when I went into Frances, I got to see them in real life and find out she actually lives in Arizona, so it was just really fun to meet her, and as a side note, if you follow her on instagram and think she has the greatest hair on planet earth, rest assured you are correct. amen. (why didn't i snap a picture with her?!)

brittany's from brittany's notebook

megan from and here's to you, mrs. robinson

Adrianna from Le Mode Accessories

hello gift bags!? let's not lie, it was a big reason for me wanting to attend this event

April 24th.

Today i went out to Frances in Phoenix. A few months ago we got the sweetest, most exciting email from my friend Sarah Rhodes, telling me that she's working with Georganne, the owner of Frances, to make a Summer Style Guide and they wanted Marcus and I to be in one of the shoots.
Getting ready for the whole thing, we got to meet the coolest people, running the most beautiful shops and it made me really proud and excited to call the Phoenix area my home.
It's so cool to get to interact with creative, positive people that are doing something they love and are passiate about, and who are willing to help and support other people and business that are trying to do the same.
That's kind of what this whole Style Guide is about--its a collection (a beautiful and fun one, i might add) of Frances' favorite things, places, activities, shops, and restaurants in Phoenix to inspire you this summer.

You're definitely going to want to check it out!
They're having a big magazine launch/anniversary party May 3rd, that unfortunately we'll be out of town for, but when i went into Frances to buy a pair of shoes that i wore (and fell in love with) at the shoot, Georganne was in the store and pulled me into the back room to get a sneak peek at the rough draft of the magazine--it's so fun, you guys! And getting to know her, even for the few minutes I had, was a delight and a highlight of my week.

She even mentioned she would send me a few extras to giveaway on the blog, so if you're interested, I'd be happy to do that :) 

(and don't worry, if you're totally sick of seeing me and marcus, we only take up a page or two!)

And if you live in the area, I strongly encourage you to go to the party this May 3rd! These people are so awesome, and you're going to want to meet them and see all they're up to.
I'm pretty sure if I had to come up with two of the nicest, most genuine people i know at the moment, it would be Sarah Rhodes (the photographer) and Georganne (the owner of Frances and Smeeks). They're the best. That's simply the truth.

The whole point of this story was, that today was a really great day.

i hope yours was too.

<<what i wore>>

crop top//nastygal sale $11 (buy similar here)
sunnies//amazing $9 (buy them here)

earrings//c.o. sheinside $10 (buy them here)

dot trousers//c.o. oasap (buy them here) 

dara re-mix wedges//frances

world watch//urban outfitters $30 (buy it here)

#LulusStyleStudio (and social anxiety)

Last weekend was one of the funnest weekends I've had in a while.

And to think I almost missed it all because I was nervous about going.

You see, I ran into Chelsea at Rita's Italian Ice and she told me about this Lulu's Style Party and I said I would see if I could, but in the back of my mind, I was already nervous. 

I don't really know when it happened or if I've always been this way, but big groups of people I don't know (or at least know very well) give me mild anxiety.
This is a weird realization for me to come to, because I grew up being labeled as and even feeling like I was very social and that nothing made me feel embarrassed. 

I think I can credit that to my core group of friends--I had the same best friend since I was in 3rd grade and just about the rest of my 'core group' since I was in 9th grade. We did everything together and I felt 100% comfortable and confident around them. Which in turn made me feel like I could do anything or go anywhere with them without ever feeling nervous, because I knew they would always have my back and think I was cool/funny/fun no matter what anybody else thought.

Well, as I grew up, moved around, got boyfriends and friends that were outside that 'core group', and then got married, we drifted a part a little bit, which for a while was really, really hard for me, but now I know it's a normal progression.
We still love each other and hang out from time to time, but we're all at different places and have busy lives, so it's okay that we're not connected at the hip anymore.
What I'm trying to say, is that I don't have my security blanket anymore and going to events and blogger parties with a bunch of beautiful and talented and sweet ladies that I know only from the internet makes me really, really nervous.
I'm afraid I'll have nothing to talk about, or I'll be nothing like they imaged I was, and so I usually talk myself out of going. 
But last weekend with some encouragement from Chelsea and the support of Marcus I went.
And you know what? It was awesome. 

Marcus was there for me in the beginning when i didn't know who to talk to, and then we found Scott and Chelsea and had some fun with them, talking and taking silly pictures. Did you know they are the nicest and easiest people to get along with?

After that, we were on our own again, and I got a little nervous and just as we were about to leave, I decided to be brave (i know this sounds lame) and introduce myself (in person) to my blog friend, Mara.

little black dress and belt: c/o Oasap, necklaces: j.crew shoes: last chance

And you know what? It was awesome. 

She was so nice, we went and got delicious POM mocktails and did the Mr.FunBooth and just hung out. I felt like we were long-time real-life friends and I can't wait for her to bring Matthew back to Phoenix so we can go on a triple date with them, Scott and Chelsea!

What I learned was that if you want to have great experiences in life, you've got to put yourself out there and feel uncomfortable every now and then. Sometimes it will probably be really awkward, but sometimes it will be awesome--and for that, it's worth it.

making daylight workshop with arrow&apple

this weekend i had the pleasure of attending a 'making daylight' workshop taught by Sarah from arrow&apple photography (she did elsie's/a beautiful mess & delightfully tacky's wedding photos which were amazing if you haven't seen them).

i had met Sarah at the Arizona Blogger's Conference that I recently attended and she was so sweet, that i knew i wanted to buy a ticket to her workshop as soon as they went on sale. 

she held it in her home, which was super cool, and felt so inviting, but that might have had a lot to do with the two loving people who reside there.

the bright orange couch was packed full of adorable women and few handsome men who were ready to learn.

sarah taught us some nifty little tricks to mimic both studio lighting and natural daylight with simple objects you may have at home or could buy at walgreens and home depot for less than $30.

i'm super excited to try out my new skills--being an "on camera flash" addict, it's going to be a challenge to not pop it, but i feel prepared now!

thanks so much for the great class, and I may just take you up on that offer of having me over anytime...i had such a great time in your home :)

you all should follower her blog or twitter so you'll be informed on her upcoming classes, some of which will be online, so even if you're not in Arizona, you can partake!

YAY FOR GOOD LIGHTING! 

it really makes all the difference.

#abc12

credit for 1&2

 i had a really sweet weekend, after a VERY busy week, hanging out with blog friends at the Arizona Blogging Conference (we missed you dani, angela, ashley, reachel and lauren!).

Kristine and i were each other's wingmen...we even had a "hurry-something-terribly-awkward-just-happened-and-we-must-evacuate-immediately-meet-me-at-the-car" sign.

luckily we didn't have to use it...

we sipped a shirley temple and explored the ever-so-adorable in hotel restaurant that i can't wait to go back and try.

sparkle tables? my unicorn-loving heart cries, "YES!"

and to top it off, they had dia de los muertos skulls!

it was a fun evening learning from other bloggers and exploring another little gem in the desert i call home. thanks phoenix style collective for a great evening.

now...does anyone know where i can get these amazing stools?

how sweet it is.

after church on sunday, i spent the afternoon out on the grass, with this girl and her pretty mother (my sister) enjoying the last few drops of our nice spring weather.

remember the good old days of bare-feet and sidewalk chalk?

how great it is that we get to relive it all when we surround ourselves with children.

What's Your Favorite Summertime Memory?

{For Fashion's Sake} Saturday: From Daytime to Date Night.

I decided to do a little 'how to turn a casual Saturday outfit into a sassy date night ensemble" and I was really excited how it turned out. I'm crazy about the whole pairing something really casual, like a plain t-shirt and a leather belt with something quite "fancy" (please tell me you've seen that Up All Night episode?), like a lace skirt and pearls to create a perfect medium of dressy/casual--appropriate for a fun pizza joint or a prestigious art museum.

Would you do it?

Have you all heard about this Amazing Lace e-roomates thing that's happening on the blogosphere? Well it's pretty exciting and you can read about it over here at Ask the Duplex. Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, only it's a lace dress that some lucky bloggers get to style however they please. That's what I'm wearing in this post...and now that I've totally fallen in love with it, I have to send it off to Kristen from 6th Street Design School. Have fun styling Kristen!

The dress wasn't my style nor was it my size, so I flipped it under and belted it to make it a skirt instead.

the breakdown:

hair.do: top-knot

pearl necklace: mom's

t-shirt: gap body

grandpa sweater: Marcus' thrifted

green scarf: forever21

'a' watch: urban outfitter

dress-turned-skirt: the amazing lace

jeans: flying monkey (old)

rainbow huaraches: target (old)

blue suede heels: seychelles (from high school)

leather belt: thrifted

{Top Five} Friday

Well friends, if you didn't already know, I'm on Pinterest and I love it. Go ahead and follow me if you'd like, it's a great way to keep track of things that inspire you.

credit

Today I've picked my pinterest soulmates, we pin each others pins quite a bit because, well, we have similar tastes! 

What I'm trying to organize is a group fund, we all put our money in a pot, buy a giant dream home together, decorate it with inspiration from our shared pins, share all our dream clothes, and have group DIY nights. 

Come on ladies, we like the same things, let's make it happen...

{Top Five} Pinners:

 Chelsey Oliver

she pins everything from delicious desserts to gorgeous make-up inspirations, but my favorite of hers are her ultra glamorous, vintage inspired editorials. i don't know where she finds them all, but she's good.

Jessica Marcum

we just have very similar tastes and i enjoy almost everything she pins. normally home decor and fashion.

Brittany Jepsen 

anything and everything colorful and creative.

 Melissa Gallup

she pins a lot! but her pins are so gorgeous that i don't mind. she also pins in categories. my feed will suddenly be swamped with all things orange, or all things stripes. it's quite fun to follow her minds workings.

e.day

i love her sense of fashion and home decor. she also pins hilarious, touching, and thoughtful quotes that i love reading.

Bonus Pinners:

Kristine

fashion

Elaine Hearn

fashion, home, how-to's

Jennifer Thomas

typography, design, fashion, beautiful people

Summer Bellessa

photography, fashion

Reachel Bagley

organizational tips, home

Elizabeth Bryant

everything

we love colors winner will be announced this weekend, so get your entries in now!

(sorry jenni, i had to...)

{Top Five} on Friday

{Top Five} Blogs You Might Not Know About, But Should:

jenni+

piotr= my favorite post on

1. Jenni Austria Germany

Jenni and I have already decided that once we meet in real life, we will be best friends. She is hilarious and even if she wasn't, it's an American in a foreign country with a Polish boyfriend who says the most innocently hysterical things I've ever heard how can you go wrong with a combo like that?!

Please read her Conversations with a Polish Boy Series. You will be glad you did.

eday is the girl i have a lot of things to be jealous about. first off, she recently went to Europe and met up with the previously mentioned Jenni. From what I got to read about their adventure together, it sounded like the best of time. A time i would have very much liked to be included in. 

The other things that really turn me green with envy are one, her hair, and two,  the fact that she lives in California, right near the beach, the beautiful weather, and all the best shopping. 

I, on the other had live in the hottest place on earth...ughhh. Why don't I live there? At least I can live vicariously through her via her blog--and you can too, right here:

2. daily eday

delicious, simple recipes+

gorgeously stylish girl+

happy, handsome new husband=

3. M Loves M

4. Color Collective

This blog is so inspirational. It's basically color pallets, and its a great reference for anything from wedding color ideas, blog designs, family pictures, or decorating your house. I love the creative and beautiful combinations she comes up with!

5. K is for KANI

I just think she's one of the cutest little things I've ever seen and I'm so impressed that almost all of her clothes are thrifted! Plus her pictures are so fun to look at! Can you believe that first one?

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Blogs?