Make it a party!

So, this past week was my boyfriend's birthday. We had a get together with friends out at a sports bar one night, but I also wanted to throw a little one-on-one party for him, too. I wanted to make it special, with lots of fun little kid-like goodies, but mixed with a typical "guy's night" feel. Here are some of the things I came up with. These would be some fun ideas to incorporate into your next birthday party, but also perfect (and easy!) for any occasion that you want to make a bit more exciting:

 

 I went to the store simply to get a yummy dessert, and ended up buying lots of fun stuff, including a "Yearbook" with fun facts and old advertisements from the year he was born. I had to make fun of him just a little for being old! :P

 

 A "gourmet" take on a simple dessert: Homemade ice cream sandwiches. Fresh chocolate chip cookies (I used Toll House brand), and for a twist, coffee ice cream! I packaged them individually inside festive bags, fastened with twist ties.

 I picked up take-out buffalo wings.

His favorite beer, and mini cupcakes.

Oh, did I mention I greeted him in some sexy Texans' gear? :)

I really like coming up with fun, yet simple ideas, in order make an occasion just a little more interesting. Do you have any easy tips that you use to spice up your get-togethers or special occasions??

Weekend Style

How was your weekend? I enjoyed a low-key couple of days, with some shopping on Saturday and lounging on Sunday.
I was hoping to find a new sundress (or two!), but had no such luck finding anything that had patterns or colors I really liked and/or a style that looked right on me. I am still keeping my eyes open. Have you come across any good ones lately? Let me know where, so I can check them out!

Old Navy was advertising sundresses for only $15, and while I've never been a huge fan of their clothing (for me personally), I decided to have a look. As I mentioned before, no luck, but I did find a cute (and very soft!) blue and white scarf, which I thought would be really cute worn in my hair (see my inspiration here). It's long enough that the ends hang way down. I also can't wait to use it as a neck scarf to easily dress up a simple summer outfit.

Tell me about your weekend, a have a happy Monday! xx

Take me out to the ballgame...

I went to my first baseball game in years last night. It was a fun time. I played softball when I was younger, and come from a family of baseball fans, so time spent around baseball fields (big or small) was somewhat standard growing up. It was great to get out there and experience that familiar and nostalgic atmosphere again.

 Sporting my Round Rock Express t-shirt

Let's be honest, the food is one of the best parts!

My boyfriend and I autographed a souvenir ball for a little keepsake

Wishing you a fun weekend! xx

Oh, you pretty things...

Some things that make me happy...a short and sweet edition:

 

 An anklet from my boyfriend

  

 A soft camisole to slip on at bedtime (I'll admit, I love this one so much, I wore it out as a top recently)

 A comfy throw blanket for the couch

 Party dresses with a ribbon for my hair

Let's Do Brunch

With the beautiful weather lately, I've been craving some time on a patio (either mine, or at a restaurant) with friends, and a late morning brunch:

 I love mimosas, with grapefruit or orange juice. So refreshing!

 I haven't had waffles in forever, and have really been craving them lately!

 Eggs Benedict seems to be a brunch staple, although I've never actually had it! These look delish!

 Fresh croissants are a must. One of my favorite foods!

 Plenty of coffee should be on hand. Perhaps a cappuccino in a bright little cup?

Maybe I'll host some sort of "potluck" brunch in the near future. Fresh coffee will be brewing, eggs can be frying, and pancakes can be flipping while everyone arrives with their favorite breakfast treats. Have you hosted brunch before, or do you have any favorite spots to go? Give me some tips and ideas!

A Sunny Disposition

It's an absolutely gorgeous day today. A small cold front came through yesterday (providing for a very blustery day), and now the temperatures have settled into the low 70s, the sun is out, and there isn't a cloud in the sky.

It puts me in the mood to lay out at the pool or do some browsing over at the outdoor mall nearby.

My inspiration for the day. How cute does Nicole Richie look here? In love with this!

After I get some more work done, maybe I'll throw on a romper and cute scarf and venture out for the rest of the afternoon. 

I hope you are having a fabulous week and have some time today to squeeze in a little fun. xx

Coffee Date

For some reason, there's just something about coffee and fashion that goes together.
How fun is it to meet up with a close girl friend to catch up on each other's lives and gossip a bit; all while enjoying a latte', and wearing something that looks effortlessly cute and casual?

This sort of thing always puts me in a good mood, and I highly suggest such an outing, especially if you're feeling bored or restless with your daily grind (no pun intended). Call up a friend and meet up for coffee and a chat this week - even if it's only for an hour! Almost anyone can squeeze that into their schedule. Sometimes it's really nice just to have an excuse to wear something cute and shoot the breeze for a while.

So go for it! Pretend you're in France, pretend your a celebrity, pretend you don't have a care in the world (aside from what flavor latte' you want), and go! Call someone you know you can confide in, and get out of your head. Life's what you make of it. Coffee + fashion is a fun place to start.

Here's some inspiration:

Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere

 

This makes me happy

Ah, celebs and their coffee. I love Hilary Duff's and Ashley Olsen's style here. A good example of that "effortlessly cute" look I mentioned above.

 I don't recommend literally following Naomi Watts' lead at a cafe', but we're going for a mood here!

Office Spaces

I can't not WAIT to start doing a full-on decorating job on my apartment. There are so many ideas floating around my head, with no outlet (yet), that it's driving me a little crazy. I am so excited to get started, and I spend many a late night, in an insomnia-like daze, browsing decorating web sites.

One thing I am really looking forward to, is creating a little home office for myself. I have sort of a makeshift area squeezed into my bedroom right now (mostly I set up shop on the living room coffee table, in front of the TV), but in the near future, after a little rearranging, I will most likely be able to have a full work area (complete with a real desk...and chair!) in what will also serve as a guest bedroom. Towards the end of the year, I will be taking on quite a bit more responsibility for the organization I currently work for, so I can't wait to get organized, and create a comfortable space that I really enjoy and promotes concentration. It will also be an ideal spot for my blogging endeavors!

Here are some ideas I've been eyeing. I'm going more for the "feel" of these work areas, rather than the rooms as a whole, as my "office" will still be confined to a small area. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

 This one may be my favorite. I love the comfy chair (although I might prefer one with wheels) and the fact that it really looks like a "lived in" area, yet it's still organized and inviting.

 A fun little space with fresh colors to keep me in a good mood.

 From Cupcakes and Cashmere, Emily's home office. I only hope my desk would stay this clean! I am loving the flower. I think I will definitely try to have flowers or a plant (see photo above, too!) on my desk to keep some life in the room!

 A very cute, very compact work area. Perfect to fit into one corner of the guest room without feeling cramped.

 The recoccurring theme for me seems to be light, feminine colors, and a simple desk arrangement with accent pieces to keep the area fun!