Family Photos: Spring in the Midwest

My mom — the burgeoning photographer, remember — snapped the above photo one morning at work at few weeks ago. There’s nothing like spring in the Midwest. Really. Everything comes back to life in bright colors, warm breezes and the smell of beautiful flowers.

We had the perfect Sunday yesterday — it was the perfect way to ring in spring. We went to lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant, and then took a stroll through the nearby park. The flowers were beautiful…

…and of course, we couldn’t resist taking a couple photos under a pretty trellis…

…but it seems like our cats are really the ones loving spring so far.

So, what’s spring like in your neck of the woods, friends? xoxo

P.S. Fall in the Midwest and the simple pleasures of apple orchards.

Fashion Friday: Pastel nail polish

In light of the new pops of color on the blog this week, I couldn’t help but smile when I discovered Essie’s 2013 Resort Collection, including such shades as Play Date, First Timer, Come Here, In The Cab-ana, Haute As Hello and Butler Please. Why can’t pastels be in fashion all year long? Yeah, someone should start a petition for that. Which color is your favorite? xoxo
 
P.S. Hmm, I wonder which color would go best with my polo shirts…here’s a handy color chart. :)

Wedding do or don’t: Colorful engagement rings

My mom didn’t save her engagement ring, but from what she tells me, it was pretty simple. Nothing too flashy, and most definitely not colorful. Well, it looks like times have certainly changed, at least when it comes to 2013 engagement ring trends. It’s all about abandoning the traditional in favor of the unique. “The newest crop of brides-to-be want a ring that showcases their individual personality,” says McQueen Jewelry CEO Yosi Elison in an interview with Yahoo! Shine. Just in time for spring, here’s a fun round-up of my six favorite colorful gems from Etsy… 
*14K ruby gemstone, $475

*Sky blue sapphire in white gold, $480
*Cognac diamond in white gold, $400
*Marquis diamond ring, $500
*Green rose cut diamond in yellow gold, $810
*Purple sapphire in yellow gold, $380

Your turn, friends: Would you choose a colorful engagement ring over a traditional one? Did you? Did your parents? What color would you choose? Any favorites — or least favorites? Let’s chat! xoxo

P.S. Wouldn’t this rainbow engagement ring be fun too? Talk about a POP of color!

[Top photo by Braedon Photography]

Fashion Friday: Colorful slippers

I have a horrible habit of losing slippers. My mother will get me a pair for Christmas, and by the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, my one lonely slipper is heartbroken because he’s missing his mate. I once had a pair of red Rover the Dog slippers (remember him…?), and they made my feet feel like they were resting on a cloud. But what happened? You guessed it — I lost them. Both feet. I’m thinking that if I had a pair of these colorful slippers from Europe-based Chattelles Paris, I’d be extra careful not to lose them. And you can even choose your own tassel color. How fun is that? xoxo

Video Hello: It’s polo shirt season!

For some, today is the start of the baseball season. For me? Well, let’s just say it’s officially time for me to start strutting my stuff in my fabulously fashionable polo shirts. Here’s a video of some of my favorites from my ever-growing collection (teaser: There’s a HUGE announcement at the end of the video, so make sure you don’t miss it)…