Apartment Hunting Recap

While fun, the hunt this weekend was absolutely exhausting. We managed to fit nine appointments into one day, looking at units from 9:45 in the morning until 5:30 at night. Out of nine, we found two buildings that we could see ourselves living: one literally right next door to my bf's work and one a bit north of downtown on a lake. Unfortunately, most every building we looked at were at high occupancy, with little units to choose form. Also, in Washington, residents only have to give 20 days notice before moving out, leaving us to play a bit of a waiting game to see which building has a unit for us.

Here are a few pictures from the two buildings we liked:

The building near my bf's work had two rooftop decks with an amazing panoramic view of the city. 

And had this amazing burger joint, Lunchbox Laboratory downstairs. I had an oreo milkshake there that was easily the best I've ever had. I foresee some weight gain if we move here. 

The second building, in Green Lake, had a much nicer kitchen with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops.

And I talked in the leasing office in to throwing in free painting - don't you just love this slate gray color? Perfect for my white and gold color palette.

And it has Green Lake right across the street. Green Lake has a giant park, a 3 mile walking trail around it, and would be heaven for Frankie.

Plus, it also had a rooftop garden.

Can you tell which we are leaning towards? The Green Lake unit. It was a little less expensive, had better amenities, and is more dog friendly but both buildings we would love living in. 

Friday Favorites

This weekend could not have come sooner. While I stayed home sick on Monday, this weekend really seemed to drag. Due partly to the return of the rain and and partly for my excitement for this weekend, I'm ready for this week to wrap up. This afternoon, the bf and I are driving up to Seattle to spend the whole weekend apartment hunting. With over ten building tours set up, I'll have lots of pictures to share with you all Monday. We are going to need all the help deciding on a unit we can get. After all, it did take us almost a whole year to pick an area. 

Below are a few things, beside a hearty glass of red wine here and there, that got me through the week. What got you through the week? Any fun plans for the weekend?

1. Realizing the pound of organic apples I bought a few days ago was already going bad, naturally forcing me to make this. 

2. Looking at next week in my planner. I'm almost done with school (finally). While I'm really happy I pushed through my masters, I'm ready to be done. No Phd for me!

3. Rediscovering an old vintage find that goes perfectly with this spring's pastels

4. My favorite perfume and my favorite candle

5. This little guy is an obvious highlight to any week but his shedding (as can be seen on my rug) is not. After this spring, his first with a full grown coat, has proved to me that his breeder was not lying when she said they shed...

Thursday Thrills

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Just a few things from my wish list that I'm saving my pennies for. How amazing is that Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams leather chair? I think a pair is necessary for the new place, budget allowing. Speaking of decorating the new place, four of the Zinc Door lucite chairs above are currently on their way. I told myself I wasn't going to buy any furniture before the move but I just couldn't resist Zinc Door's 20% sale this weekend. Whoops. Lastly, can you totally see that Asos watch and Noir bracelet together as a summer arm party? Oh yes, nothing gets me more excited in the summer than inexpensive additions to my arm parties. Happy Thursday loves!

My Skincare Ritual

{Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer / Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Serum / Clarisonic Mia / Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Cream Cleanser / Lancome Eye Makeup Remover / First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roller / Rosebud Salve} 

When it comes to my skincare routine, I have to keep it simple or else I won't keep up with it. I'm a chronic "fall asleep with my makeup still on" kinda gal. To combat this, I try to keep my skincare routine under two to three minutes. With that said, I don't want to come off as someone who doesn't really care about her skin. On the contrary, I'm a bit of a beauty nerd, with the annual beauty award issue of InStyle being my bible. 

The small collection of products above happen to be my favorite, combining both high and low-end products to achieve big results on my dry, but acne prone, skin. These products all cleanse, moisturize, and repair, without leaving my twenty-something skin shiny.  Have you tried any of the products above? Any of your favorites you think I should know about - I'm dying to here!

Famous Fashionista: Jessica Alba

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After seeing some pictures of Jessica Alba floating around Pinterest lately, I've started to take notice of her seriously cute outfits. Her style always seemed a bit casual for my taste, but she has seemed to step it up these last few months becoming a fashionista I look to for fashion inspiration. Thus, I couldn't think of anyone better to kick off a new series on this blog: "Famous Fashionistas", paying homage to those famous ladies who have used their fame to build seriously amazing wardrobes, all the while keeping it classy. Not only does Jessica Alba do just that, she also is a busy, working mom who manages to mix casual and trendy perfectly. 

Summer Dress Staples

{Topshop Coverup Dress / All Saints Sequin Dress / Topshop Cutout Dress / Wallis Stripe Dress / BCBG Max Azaria Maxi Dress}

I'm not sure if it was where you live, but the weather here this weekend was absolutely amazing. Both Saturday and Sunday approached heat records here in Portland and for the first time this year, it felt like summer. Naturally I celebrated by living in dresses. Summer is the one time of year when dresses are the most comfortable thing to wear. Typically, dresses feel fussy to me, something I only wear for special occasions, and leave me freezing cold. In the summer, they are the coolest, and most comfortable, option in my closet. Above are five dresses I think every girl must have in her closet to survive the heat. A few fancier options for summer celebrations, and a few casual day dresses to enjoy the sun. 

Thursday Inspiration

Just a little inspiration to get you over the hump this week. This week, my Pinterest pins have been telling me I really want to find a way to incorporate pastels at the office and that I really need to hone in on a direction when I start decorating the new place. Traditional, bohemian, modern, they're all a jumble in my head! Happy Thursday darlings!The weekend is almost here!

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Nerdin' Out

There are very few things I love more than office supplies. My obsession started early with annual school supply shopping trips with my mom. I'd anxiously await the day in August when my school supply list would arrive, dragging my mom to the nearest office supply store within minutes. Needless to say, I was more than excited when Poppin', an online office supply company, asked me to participate in their "Dress your Desk" series. They were kind enough to let me pick a few of my favorite of their products to upgrade my own desk. Make sure to pop on over (pun intended) to their blog to see more pictures of my picks and read a short Q&A I did.

Flower Power

{H&M Top / Theory Pants / Asos Cuffs / Givenchy Bag (similar) / Nine West Pumps (similar) }

This outfit has been in heavy rotation in the last month, for both work and pleasure. The perfect mix of comfort and being on trend, it's an easy go-to. The only drawback? The pants aren't exactly man-friendly. My bf calls them my MC Hammer pants. One of my male co-workers asked if I was really wearing pleats. \I guess I just need to starting hanging out with more Brad Goreski types: he'd love these!

Weekend Recap

As spring arrives, I feel like each weekend gets better than the next. Sunny afternoons are turning into full-on sunny days, bare arms are possible, and eating outside is now the norm. Among other things, my weekend was full of yummy food (including a chocolate beer float, a first), catching up on blogs, devouring the new Domino magazine, and a few new purchases. 

The bf was gone Friday night and most of Saturday to take an eight-hour engineering exam so I filled the void he left the best way I know how: baking cinnamon pull-apart bread Friday night, which I may or may not have eaten half of, and shopping all day Saturday with my mom. My two standout purchases were the perfect peplum top and a new cookbook, both from Anthropologie. Saturday night I went to the Portland Blogger's Meetup and had the most amazing time. Every time I go to one, I can't help but nerd out. Ad networks, analytics, getting our bf's to take outfit posts, you name it, we talk about it. It's just so nice to get to talk and connect over something that plays such a large part in our lives. Plus it was sponsored by one of my favorite bakeries and free macaroons and a $20 gift card doesn't hurt. Sunday was much more low key, spent washing cars and a date at one of the local breweries. Overall, the perfect way to recharge for the week ahead. How was your weekend?

Budget Buys: Five under $50

{1. Old Navy Striped Shirt / 2. Forever 21 Fedora / 3. Asos Watch / 4. Target Dress / 5. Asos Jelly Sandals}

I'm a big believer on saving  money on summer clothes. I tend to avoid tailored, heavy fabrics (two things to invest in for the winter months) in the summer and go for lighter, cotton pieces instead. So as we all ready our bodies and our wardrobes for the warmer months, try and save money by buying some of the budget pieces above. You can dedicate your savings to good margaritas and a few pedicures - two of my favorite summer pastimes. 

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend! Any big plans? The bf has an eight hour cumulative engineering exam on Saturday so I'm spending a much needed girl's day with my mom followed by the Portland Blogger Meetup that night. If all goes well, Sunday will be dedicated to the bf's purchase of a new Acura TL - all his hard work is paying off!

Lunch Favorites

{Grilled Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad by With Style and Grace / Quinoa and Vegetable Salad by With Style and Grace / Mediterrenean Orzo Mac & Cheese by Eat, Live, Run / My Favorite Salad by Eat, Live, Run / Puttanesca Pasta Salad by Vmac + Cheese}

Lunch is one of the hardest meals for me: I have to prepare it the night before, am limited to the microwave in my work's lunch room for heat, and barely have time to even eat it, let alone chop or do any last minute finishing work. Since I'm assuming a lot of you are in my same situation, I wanted to share a few of my go-to lunch recipes, all from fellow bloggers. Below you'll see mostly salads, either pasta or vegetable based. They're my go-to in the warm season; soup is my go-to in the winter. I tend to gravitate towards things I can make in large batches ahead - another requirement of a busy schedule. What are you go-to summer lunch recipes? Any favorite healthy food bloggers?

Stylin' Digits

{Butter Cheeky Chops / Butter Blagger / Butter Trout Pout / Essie Secret Stash / Essie Ole Caliente / Essie Orange, Isn't it Obvious / Deborah Lippman Between the Sheets / Deborah Lippman Daytripper / Deborah Lippman Pretty Young Thing}

Without a doubt, spring and summer are my favorite time of year for nail polish. After months of resorting to deep reds and other drab colors, I'm ready to break out my brightest polish and welcome the warm weather. While not work appropriate, I get away with these shades on my toes all summer and on my fingers on weekends. What colors are you looking forward to most over the coming months?

What to Wear: Mat Class Master

{Pullover / X Back Tank / Leggings / Yoga Mat / Bootcut Yoga Pants / Adidas Gym Bag / Bobble Bottle}

There are few things I get more excited about than new gym clothes. Maybe it is the fact that I wear them so often, or maybe it is that I get to fully fulfill my neon obsession with them, or maybe it is the extra boost they give me. Whatever the reason, I try to buy myself at least one new piece a month whether that is a tank, new leggings, or a new pullover. Since I tend to do mat classes (barre, in particular) more than anything else, typically you'll find me working out in an outfit just like the one above. What does your go-to gym outfit look like? Any brands you favor?

Monday Pretties

Just a little spring fashion inspiration for your Monday morning. Obviously there is an underlying theme in my pins as of late; lots of yellows, pinks and purples, and clean lines. While the Chanel purse isn't really any of those, I just had to post it. Is it not the most perfect must-have purse you've ever seen? I'm in love...

Quick note about my weekend, it was incredible. We were in Seattle to celebrate Easter but had a whirlwind time in the 48 hours we were there. While Friday night was dedicated to commuting, Saturday was filled with two birthday parties, randomly stumbling upon the perfect neighborhood for us (apartment hunting is scheduled for later this month - I'll make sure to post pics!), dancing, champagne, and more dancing. Sunday was dedicated to celebrating the holiday with family, friends, and of course, an Easter egg hunt for "big kids". Did you have a great holiday weekend? Was it as beautiful where you live as it was in Seattle?

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Egg Hunting: What to Wear

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Happy Easter everyone! Religious significance and traditions aside, Easter is a time to gather with love ones and reconnect with your inner-child. Embrace pastels, eat sweets, and embody the happiness and excitement that comes with the spring season. Wishing you all a lovely holiday, filled with delicious goodies, baby animals (even if just in pictures), and fun... hopefully in a cute outfit like the one below!

{Tibi Tank  / Target Umbrella / Victoria Beckham Jeans / White Kate Spade Bracelet / Yellow Kate Spade Bracelet / Gold Kate Spade Bracelet / Topshop BlazerZara Heels / Zara Necklace / Asos Clutch}

The Fun Begins

{Picture via Lonny Mag}

Our upcoming move to Seattle will bring about a lot of changes, possibly a new job, a new city, new daily routines. The change I am most excited about, as I typically am when moving, is getting to decorate a new space. Finally able to afford "big girl" furniture, a happy transition from what I call the "hell of taupe and black leather" that we purchased when we first moved in together to more colorful, classic pieces will occur. Not knowing where we will actually be living quite yet, I'm been hesitant to start purchasing things until I know the floor plan of the new place. However, since I am the world's most impatient person, I couldn't help myself from gathering a few new pieces in anticipation over the last few months. Below is a little sneak peak for you. 

What's up next? A new area rug for either the living room or dining room, a fab bar cart, a new sofa, new arm chairs, new dining room table chairs, more throw pillows, new coffee table books... and so the list continues. Don't worry for my wallet quite yet, most of this will be funded by selling things we have now. Craigslist is the ultimate way to recycle!

 {Bed, Coffee Table, and Yellow Urn via Joss & Main, Milk Glass Urn was found at a local vintage spot, Rug via Rugs USA}

Well Suited

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I'm not sure if it is the fact that I might end up working from home when we move to Seattle in a few months, allowing me to work in Lulu's constantly, or the fact that I've been trading my usual sophisticated wardrobe for all things fun and colorful this spring, but I've had a craving for some monochromatic suiting in my life as of late (preferably in blush or camel). It's funny because I never, ever thought I would say that. I remember being in high school and dreading the years ahead of me where I would be forced to wear a drab suit and white blouse for 40+ hours a week.

As it turned out, the real world is much more flexible in what you wear in a corporate setting and things are tailored so much better than what I originally imagined. Plus, there is the whole menswear trend style that has been popular since the 1990's. I think it's pretty safe to say that suiting, especially monochromatic suiting (to make you look long and lean) is sexy. Thoughts?

{Topshop Blazer / Topshop Shorts  / Zara Heels / Chloe Marcie Mini Bag / French Connection Blazer / J. Crew Trousers / Zara Heels / YSL Clutch}