3/19/13

Bikes, Waffles, & Van Gogh

Slip on your wooden shoes, grab your stroopwafles, and call up your Opa because I wrote another article for Darling Magazine--and this time, its all about Amsterdam! 

“Where the broad ocean leans against the land,” (Oliver Goldsmith) you’ll find a place stacked tall with narrow living, a maze of canals, and a bustling of residents dreamily riding bicycles with high handlebars. Some still call it Holland. But the names printed on maps know it as The Netherlands—and this city, Amsterdam. To visit this city below the sea is to experience a culture rich in architecture, art, and history. With 17th century neighborhoods, to markings of Van Gogh’s starry night, to memoirs of Anne Frank, to a city brimming with bikes and delicious waffles, to outskirts so green with mighty windmills and Dutch traditions, Amsterdam is yet another place to mark on your map of adventures.

You can read the article Bikes, Waffles, and Van Gogh at Darling Magazine Online where its posted in full--over here. Want to read more of what I've been contributing over at Darling? You can catch up by scrolling through posts--over here.  And of course, no travel post would be complete without a few photographs to delight your adventuring tastebuds, am I right? 

3/18/13

Darling Magazine | Issue No. 3


I often share my excitement about the down to earth, humble and true articles that are up at Darling Magazine online. If you are a friend of mine of Facebook, you might see an overwhelming stack of shared articles on my page--they just speak to me so loud and clear, and I cannot help but tell others about the wise words that pull on my heart strings. And if you follow me on Instagram, you may have been noticing the #darlinginstachallenge photos lately. It's also quite possible you have enjoyed a cup of coffee while reading one of the online pieces, which are written by a handful of women who love Darling so--me included. So yes, I am a huge fan of Darling Magazine. What this magazine, this movement, stands for I want to shout out to the world. One thing you may not be as privy to, is that Darling is not only online. Darling Magazine is in print-- and its truly wonderful! I have Issue No. 1 and Issue No. 2 on my coffee table, and I cannot tell you how often I open them and reread the message of true beauty and worth the pages bestow. Or how often my girlfriends can be found flipping through Darling when they sit in our living room. 

3/17/13

Grace

Ephesians 2:8 : "For by grace you have been saved by faith." [ESV]
Thankful for grace this Sunday, how about you?

3/16/13

Center Knot | inspired by thoughts by natalie.

I am all about dressing with ease. Perhaps that is why a large portion of my wardrobe is dresses. Boom, Pow! Slip one item on and--done! So when I saw an ever so easy and clever styling tip from Natalie's instagram, I was instantly loving it. Simply an oversized tee with a center knot! I love the look with a high wasted skirt or over a dress, to add a bit of laid back comfort. The vintage v-neck tees from Old Navy are my all time favorite, mostly because they are ridiculously soft, shades of heather, and affordable (and ladies, right now you can buy two for $7.50).

In celebration for St.Patty's day, and the little bit of Irish blood I got from my Grandma Pat, this middle knotted style is my go to today, with a very green pencil skirt. How would you style this center knotted inspiration from thoughts by natalie?

3/13/13

Swans and sunny days.

Today the sun warmed us up to 60 degrees. Yipee! The Beatles Good Day, Sunshine melodied through my mind all day. If I could be anywhere tomorrow, I'd chose to hang out at a lake, near a pool, on a beach... wearing a swim cap, yellow suit, and sipping a coke, you with me? And I am also wanting to find a clothing item in a print (I imagine a high waisted skirt, wrap dress, or tote being adorable in swan print) like this:
Spring and warm sunny days are blooming deep down in my soul! How are you fairing the transition of the seasons?

images 1 | 2

3/5/13

{Darling Magazine} Thou Art in Rome!

As I continue to take a step back from writing and DIYing everyday here at pearls poppies pinkies up, you can still find me writing over at Darling Magazine. Lately, I have been contributing pieces for The Explorer, relating to travel and adventure. I have been so blessed to be able to experience a few cities very different from my own--and am so thankful to get to write about them! The latest on Rome was posted yesterday at Darling Magazine online. You can read the article in full over here. 

 "Rome brought life to my taste buds, showed me how to dine for hours, and proved that gelato really is a food group. Rome opened my eyes to a beauty I had never seen, made from dirt, fire, and dust. This entrancing city was my first travel romance and my first true love in Europe. And even after weeks of prepping for this trip, brushing up on history, studying the hand of Michelangelo, marking my map with must see Piazzas and cafes before arriving, nothing could have prepared me for Rome..."

3/2/13

the Voice

Shel Silverstein makes it pretty clear. Just listen to the voice that speaks inside. Have you been listening?