jewelry souvenirs

{photo credit: me}

if you guys have been around my blog block recently, you know that i love to travel and i try to as much as i can. within the last year i've been able to travel to lots of different cities (and a new country!)

i've had such wonderful experiences during each of my travels, and as a way to help me remember my trips, i decided to start a new tradition. instead of getting a type of souvenir that i honestly won't use-a plastic snow globe, a gift store t-shirt, a picture frame with garish colors-i had the idea to get a piece of jewelry from each place i travel.

i think it's such a cool way to remember a trip and definitely something that i will actually use and wear. the piece of jewelry doesn't have to be expensive (one of the bracelets i got in england already has fake jewels missing, who cares), but it does have to be something i like, something that will remind me of the trip when i wear it. and it's fun to be able to tell people where it came from when they ask!

here are most of the pieces i have collected within the last year.

{photo credit: me}

starting from two necklaces at the top:

necklace on the left: claremont, ca
necklace on the right: charleston, sc
brass triangle bracelet: wilmington, nc
jeweled chain bracelet: cambridge, england
stone wrap bracelet: nashville, tn

{photo credit: me}

small silver studs and turquoise square studs: cambridge, england

do you guys have any special souvenirs from travels you've made? the jewelry idea works for me, but i'd love to hear if you look for a different something special when you go on trips!

california recap

{photo credit: me}

home from california, and i sure do miss those palm trees. they are one of the things i look forward to seeing most when i go out there. such massive beauties! we had such a wonderful trip. like i mentioned before, i had not been out there in years, probably since early college (eight/nine years?). it was great to see all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandpa and catch up with everyone. my uncle told me as we were saying goodbye that it was great to finally have a conversation with me! i can imagine that the lacey he saw eight years ago was quiet and awkward and not super engaging in conversation. i can say that i'm still very awkward, but perhaps a little better at using my words.

during our visit we celebrated my grandpa's 90th birthday, met my cousin's wife and their new baby, traveled to pasadena and claremont for some day trips, had a mini family reunion party at my aunt's house, enjoyed liquid nitrogen ice cream, went on a run beside orange groves, drove up san timoteo canyon and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the valley below, and ate mexican until it came out our ears. when can i go back?

{photo credit: me, aunt barbie}

1. olive street market for afternoon coffee
2. the house where my dad grew up (super special to see this).
3. twinning in denim jackets. does that make it dwinning?
4. airstream trailer

{photo credit: me}

1. back abbey bar and restaurant in claremont. we got the best burgers and duck fat fries here.
2. san timoteo canyon. the views, people.
3. peach tree in my aunt's backyard
4. parliament chocolate shop

{photo credit: me, mom)

1. augie's for coffee
2. my grandpa and i on his 90th birthday! he's totally got it going on. what is his secret?
3. drive to pasadena
4. microbrewery at the redlands airport. yum yum beer.

{photo credit: me}

1. redlands public library.
2. california ootd
3. tiny airport planes
4. the flight heading home

home again

{photo credit: me}

hello, all! wow. i didn't expect to be gone so long from this little space, but since returning from california, life has been a busy catch-up game! my roommate returned from england while i was on the west coast so it has been really wonderful to see her again and have our standard gab sessions. i've also been spending time with a certain mister, too. i kinda missed his cute face while i was away. i promise a california recap will be coming soon!

happy friday and have a great weekend! getting into anything fun?

headed to california

{photo credit: me}

today i am california bound with my family! i haven't been to california in several years, and it's been even longer since i've seen my grandpa, uncles, aunts, and cousins who live there. i know our plans include celebrating my grandpa's 90th birthday and eating our body weight in mexican food, but other than that i think our itinerary is pretty open. i will be sure to take loads of pictures and instagram at least one meal a day. i think that's the minimum requirement in the blogger's handbook. i think i would lose my blogger license if i failed that one.

i'll be MIA until late next week. hope you guys have a great week, and i will catch ya later! surfs up.

reading list

{photo credit and graphic text: me}

one of my goals this year has been to read one book every month. that may not seem like very much to some of you, but given the amount of free time i have throughout my weeks (sometimes quite a bit, sometimes not a free moment), it has been the perfect amount. i'm not really limiting it to one book exactly, but that is my minimum goal.

it is so satisfying to finally point to books on my bookshelf and say "read that". it's the fourth month into the year, and so far, so good! (i did finish march's book on april 2nd, but i'm still counting it since i read the majority of it during march. i make the rules.)

while i do have a good amount of books that i already own that i want to read, do you guys have any suggestions for me? anything you've read lately that has stood out to you? do you lean towards fiction or non-fiction generally?

here are a few of the books i am currently reading or want to read this year:

tell the wolves i'm home : carol rifka brunt

the day i ate whatever i wanted : elizabeth berg

evolving in monkey town : rachel held evans

a million little ways: uncover the art you were made to live : emily freeman

in the grip of grace : max lucado

the book thief : markus zusak

the ghost at the table : suzanne berne

please share any suggestions you have for me! i trust your judgement. you're a wicked cool and smart bunch.

april mix

{photo credit and graphic text: me}

slowly but surely spring is creeping in. the weather is still fluctuating a bit, but i think it's safe to say that the worst of winter is behind us. (fingers crossed). i was in charleston this past weekend for the cooper river bridge run, and the weather was an absolute dream. beautiful blue skies and warm sun. how's about we listen to some happy tunes in celebration of the warmer temps? yay, spring! 

april mix

girl named tennessee : needtobreathe

heart beats : johnnyswim

from eden : hozier

colors : grace potter and the nocturnals

get gone : white arrows

only love : ben howard

screen : twenty one pilots 

waves that rolled you under : young summer

from nowhere : dan croll

a little opus : little comets

green eyes and a heart of gold : lone bellow

come a little closer : coasts

hymn #35 : joe pug

boogie children (saturn day night) : shawn lee

fade and then return : william fitzsimmons

happy spring!

etsy swap 2014

{photo credit: me}

i recently participated in the etsy swap 2014 hosted by meg and amy and had a blast! the person i was assigned to "stalk" and shop for was the ever-cool jess from writing in red lipstick. based on the short bio i received about her and from reading up on her blog, i found out she lives in virginia and has a thing for bees and woodland creatures. oh yes, i could definitely work with this. i got to work scouring etsy for some choice gifts and it didn't take me long to find some items to send to miss jess. here is the little package i put together for her.

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

when i got the fox brooch in the mail, i wanted to keep him for myself! how cute is his face? i was stunned by the intricate detail of the stitching. i thought the cookie cutter would be a cute idea since jess hails from virginia, and i also included some chocolate bars because a gift isn't truly complete without a little sweet. hope you liked everything, jess!

the lovely kiki from in its time had my name, and i can't say enough good things about this fun package! she really did her research and got all of my favorite things. peanut butter, the cutest hand-stamped spoon, hexagon stud earrings that i have honestly been eyeing for a long time, and my favorite candy bar. thank you, kiki! you are so sweet and thoughtful to put all of this together!

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

had a blast both giving and receiving some great etsy finds. thank you again for hosting this swap, meg and amy. looking forward to next year! head on over to the link-up and check out what the other bloggers gave and received! you can also search #etsyswap2014 on instagram. etsy love forever.