Dandelion Fields

You know how dandelion fluff floats along so effortlessly? The wind just carries them so until they float up and far, some landing right back where they may have started but others in a completely new place, so unlike the field they came from. And once they land, those little white petals have the freedom, the absolute liberty, to pop up anywhere, amongst daisies, a front yard lawn, or in the field were horses trot and eat the grass around them. 

As I was running the other day, this little flower helped me make sense of it - make sense of this part of my life right now- this part about change, and new roots, and the wind. (Because, you know, it's not unlikely for the subtle things in nature to help make sense of it all): I was on a path next to a wide open field, the late afternoon with wind picking up the light white cottonesque flower petals. They danced right in front of me and were taken up and over to the trees on the other side of the path. They were headed high and far, and I didn't see where they landed, but it was away and up out of the field they knew. And in that moment I realized that I am like that dandelion (or at least that I should see myself as such). With the freedom to be uprooted and moved if the wind so takes me somewhere else. And so, like a feathery dandelion, blown up by that unseen force, I have left my field: the career path I graduated into, and have landed somewhere completely new, fully running and ready to take root: to a position as Manager in Training at Anthropologie.

I haven't written about work and my career too much here, and maybe one day I will. But for now I can honestly say this, when it comes to work: Taking the stance much like that of a dandelion, and being open to following the spirit of your heart, or the wind, in regards to true joy and fulfillment in whatever it is you do, is the most freeing thing. 

Blow little dandelion ;)

Two Toned Walls

There are so many more rooms in our new house than I'm used to. Three of the rooms are small bathroom spaces, which means more small spaces for me to experiment with paint color combinations. Our spare guest bathroom has been on my mind lately, because all that really needs to be redone is some new paint and framing of an off-center mirror. Long-term, I'd love to fix the cabinets, but they work just fine until that day, and the budget, arrive. The tile for the shower/bath is original to the house, it seems, and its a tan/neutral tone. I always love aqua paired with tan. But really, what I would love to do is play with the aqua or robin's blue tone and white paint with the tan tile. I was thinking that a two toned wall would be pretty fantastic in such a little space. And then getting some beetle kill wood to frame out the mirror plus some new knobs on the cabinets, and voila! Plus, fresh white linens also make a room seem new and bright. What do you think about the two toned wall? I'm thinking this project could be done in a day - so maybe one of my days off coming up I'll whip it out on a whim, and surprise ya'll!

// photos via Pinterest //

Notes from a Swimmer / RahRah Designs

You guys. Summer is almost here. Can you feel it? Do you find yourself pulling out your pile of swim wear and dreaming of all the warm refreshing destination each suit could go with you to? I thought so. Me too.

Living in southern California my entire life (until recently) plus competitive swimming all through my youth, pretty much defaults me to being a swimsuit lover. Give me the beach, a pool, or even just turn the sprinklers on and I'll meet you there, suited up. Even in the dead of Colorado winter, I like to look at swimsuits on sale at anthro. Any of you with me? I know there are more of me out there ;). It might be a problem - BUT - I really just love everything that swimsuits mean: sun, water, and a fabulous day. That, and feeling beautiful in my own skin. And for me, swimsuits have got to stay put and get the job done. Whether it is paddle boarding, swimming two miles, or just floating with piña colada in hand; there's a suit for every occasion.

When Natalie showed me these adorable monogrammed swim suits from RahRah Designs, I swooned. So I only thought it fitting for you to see them too. The thing that strikes me the most about these suits, are not only their beautiful monogram detail, but the versatility. I think this suit would be perfect for all those things I mentioned above - from surfing to poolside lounging. You can see more of the options that the ladies at RahRah have for you here. (I personally love the mix of the navy bottoms with the white top like the model is wearing below).

WEAR | Floral Peplum

floral peplum // anthropologie     striped skirt // LOFT (similar here & here )  

  sandals // anthropologie (similar here)     bag // gift from my mom

Oh warm nights! YES. They are finally here. And to think that last weekend we saw over a foot of snow. Oh, Colorado, you are teaching this California girl what Spring is all about. This weekend was an amazing 80 degrees and to celebrate, I wore tank tops, linen shorts, cotton skirts, and even a big floppy hat while out in the yard pulling the never ending weeds. Sunday night we cleaned up and went out on a double date for some serious Mexican food and margaritas with our cousins. We managed to squeeze in these style shots literally as I walked out the front door. Oh yeah, this is the front door of our house! Which I am going to be painting this summer! Speaking of, this peplum top is a metaphor for how my heart longs for the vibrant hot days of summer. The back detail might be my favorite part, but of course we forgot to photograph that (don't you worry though, the peep hole back detail is shown off pretty great right here.) I hope your weekend was refreshing. Happy Monday!

WEAR | Scarf that Dirty Hair

A busy life means prioritizing. And for me, that means clean hair often gets the ax. Especially on the weekends. Dry shampoo is a life saver, truly and always, but lately for me I've had to come up with clever ways to make amends with hair that cannot be helped by dry shampoo. Embarrassing, really, to share this maybe, yet the reality of my life (and yours too I'm sure)! When my day is going to potentially end with a run or a swim, it feels silly for me to wash my hair in the morning when its just going to get dirty or completely soaked later in the day. Work days at Anthropologie are pretty much designated hair washing days -all the rest- fair game for dirty. One of my beyond the help of dry shampoo hair solutions is the head wrap. Scarf, handkerchief, fabric: any and all do the trick. Yesterday I wore my hair like this through yard work, errand running, coffee shopping, and a mid-afternoon stop for Belgium fries.

I like the messy Bohemian feel, and tend to leave it a bit tousled and imperfect. I take the front portion of hair around my face and leave it down, then wrap the scarf around and under the back portion of my hair (you can put the back portion in a pony tail while you wrap the scarf and tie it in place). Then for the braid, incorporate the front pieces into the back pieces. Pull a few strands out to frame your face and  wiggle your fingers through the braid to loosen it up for a more messy look. Or, just wear it all day and it becomes tousled on its own :) The key is that the scarf covers dirty roots. Shhhh, don't tell….

The Studio

Upstairs, at the very end of the hallway, there is what I've donned as "the studio." You see, I've always dreamed of having a space for art. A room to sprawl out with a mess: paper, paints, pencils, fabric, glue, and all the goods that messes typically spill out as when I make them. So when we moved, and ended up with three bedrooms in addition to a basement, this room emerged as the space I've always wanted. One filled with natural light, a big wide desk, and room to sprawl out. 

An art room really needs materials right at your fingertips, am I right? That way no setting up really has to happen. Its all right there, whenever you need it. It's kind of funny to think that the over the toilet shelf that we built for our tiny place in Denver has now become the perfect set up for all of my art supplies. You wouldn't even know it if I told you that is was in a bathroom for the past two years. Between the shelf, the wire drawers from Ikea, and the closet; this room has such great storage.

Secretly, I chose this room not only because of the lighting, but because it feels like you are in a treehouse. The ash tree in the backyard nearly reaches into the window. Its so calming and pretty to work on a piece of calligraphy or paint up here.

Although the closet side of the room is basically art storage until they each find a home on walls throughout the house, I feel like this room is pretty well under way. Eventually I'd like to have a little lounger or a comfy retro loveseat that can go between the door and the closet. Wouldn't it be great to just curl up with a book in here with a view into the winding branches of the ash tree outside? I've been playing with color ideas, and want to stick with something that is bright and clean, and still allows the aquas and red that are in the collection of art above the desk to have that pop. I may stick with the neutral for awhile until maybe just going with white, but I've also been toying with the idea of a color blocked/two-tone wall. Like this, this, or this. Kind of bold, BUT lately I'm obsessed with this idea. I'm just so thrilled to have a home. And so thankful to have this studio and space to make messes. Trust me, this is the cleanest its looked since we moved here ;)

Thoughts on Age and Beauty

I'm finding that with age, beauty comes along with it. Not just because smile lines around my eyes mean that I've experienced joy, or sun spots that used to be considered freckles reflect sun kissed moments - what I mean is that with age, I am learning how to allow myself to truly embrace my beauty. The beauty that was there all along, but I allowed comparison, and "I'm not enough", and all the other lies to cast a shadow on--that beauty--I can see it and I can feel it more than I could ten years ago. With age, I am better able to appreciate what it is that makes me uniquely me. Beauty comes with the years I add to my life, because with age I am more equipped able to ward off lies that try to tell me I'm not something. When really, I am something -- something beautiful. Someone beautiful. Inside and out.

And you know what? It's taken time and a transforming of my heart to see it. But I'm finding that with getting older, and with a community of women who focus on true beauty (like Natalie, Anne, Allie) rather than all the rest of superficial things that this world can focus so closely in on, that I'm welcoming age with open arms because wrinkled hands and a grey hair, to me, means a straighter aligning of my understanding of the beauty that is within. The beauty that really matters.

photo taken by Jenna, in Breckenridge after a Spring mountain adventure in which I felt truly alive and beautiful despite dirty hair and freezing hands