A few weeks ago (right before the Arizona Blogger Meet-up) Scott and I attended a terrarium making class at a local art store/gallery, hosted by our Grow-Op buddies Josh and Kenny.
Made Art Boutique where the class was held (it was actually inside the Eye Lounge but they’re connected).
The class was pretty small, and Josh and Kenny did a great job of leading the group through the layers that were needed in a healthy terrarium.
Scott had fun sampling all the different dirt (just kidding!).
Scott and I had a lot of fun learning about the layers of a terrarium, and putting ours together. It was fun layering all the different kinds of dirt and rock, and trying to slip the little plant in the jar without breaking it. We also both really loved the jars we had to create them in. Pretty vintage jars with amazing original lids! Perfect!
We were both really excited when we finished our terrariums. After making these we have big plans to one day make moss based terrariums (I see another class on the horizon, Josh and Kenny!).
Since taking our terrariums home mine has somehow starting to grow a white fuzz (most likely mold) in the very bottom of it. I’m thinking about taking to Kenny and Josh at the Grow-Op to see if they can help make it better. I’m not ready for it to die just yet! I have a better green thumb than that!
Have you ever made a terrarium before? If not, are you interested in learning about them?
The other morning I woke up with this rock and roll state-of-mind. I had a vision of wearing lots of black, rocking a sweet headband, wearing a “rocking” ring, and attending a rock show to ward off those crazy school semester woes.
Ok, so maybe only a few of these ideas could be possible at this time (going to any kind of rock show is off limits this week, thanks homework), but I thought it would be fun to work with what I did have.
Headband: Target; Cardigan; Target: Black tank-top; Quartz ring: Stone and Honey; Bangle: Kate Spade; Levi’s; Jeans: Levi’s; Mary-janes: Dansko
Growing up I went to a lot of shows. In high school I went to one almost every weekend with my friends, and just loved spending the night singing along to all of my favorite songs. I remember having a somewhat “uniform” that I wore to shows, which usually included a tank top, jeans, closed-toe shoes, and a small cross-body purse to hold my essentials and tiny camera. Oh, and I always had my hair pulled up into a ponytail or a bun (my hair was really long in high school too).
This outfit definitely reminds me of my high school show uniform, and for me was a fun little reminder of the past. Ya know, those days that I would stand in line for hours just to see Brand New, The Format, and Fall Out Boy (shhh don’t tell anyone that).
On another note, for months now I’ve been lusting over everything in the Stone and Honey shop, but mostly over their quartz and gold rings though. For awhile I couldn’t justify spending the money on one, but after months of saving money I received as a gift for Christmas, I decide to splurge and buy something I truly wanted.
I bought the large quartz and gold ring a few weeks ago, and was so excited when it came in the mail the other day. It was a bit bigger than I was expecting (size of ring and quartz, although the website does say sizes of quartz do vary), but I am happy to say that I absolutely love it and it’s the perfect statement ring. I’ve already received some sweet comments about it, and have thought about how I could use it as a weapon if anyone ever tried to mug me. Pieces that are fashionable and functional are my favorite thing! :]
What is/was your concert uniform? What do you think about statement rings?
There’s this old saying that if you take photos right around sunset, then they are bound to turn out beautiful no matter what. Well, the other day I shot these photos at sunset in Scott’s backyard and I have to say that I’m really impressed with the way all the colors turned out. With all the yellows and oranges you would almost think it’s fall, but nope, it’s just some more of Arizona’s wacky wacky weather and lighting.
Recently I received this bag in mail from Adored Austin. Since January it has been making its way around the country, visiting different bloggers along the way. I really liked seeing the way Tieka styled it, and Tania too. I had fun pairing it with an every day outfit for school. It was the perfect bag to carry a few notebooks and folders, along with all my regular purse essentials.
Today I have class in the afternoon, and plan on working on homework and doing errands beforehand. I’ve been working on a magazine article that is near and dear to my heart for over a month now, and today is the day that it’s due. Here’s to hoping my professor loves it enough to feature it in a local magazine!
Today we have a lovely interview with Jess of The Doe Or The Deer. I met Jess at the Arizona Blogger Meet-up and just loved how funny and sweet she was. She made me laugh with her jokes about me making her photos too pretty (silly lady), and her little boy Ezra was just the sweetest thing (he was SO good during the whole meet-up and always had the biggest smile on his tiny face). I am so excited to feature her today in my weekly interview!
Meet Jess:
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
-I’m Jess, a 29 year old stay at home mother of 2, Ezra and Zoe and the wife of my husband, Derek, who is the drummer in the metal band, Bleeding Through. Before becoming a mother, I had a strong career in retail, that included being a buyer and creative merchandiser for stores. My blog, The Doe Or The Deer, is a conglomerate of mommyblogger meets fashion enthusiast meets lifestyle blogger that tends to curse to much, with no apologies. I’ve been told I “keep it real”… Hopefully thats a good thing..
I also have a fashion, decor and design inspiration blog, The-Doe.tumblr.com
2. What got you interested in blogging, and how long have you been blogging for?
-I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 14. It was always a creative and intimate outlet for me. When I decided to start a blog, I knew nothing of the giant blogosphere and wrote just about my daily happenings, thoughts on politics, pregnancy, my battle with postpartum depression, mixed with outfit posts. As the past 4 years have gonet by my “audience” grew, which became a sort of support system. My blog has definitely evolved through time, but I have kept true to my original writing style.
3. Can you tell us about your style?
-Is “eclectic” the nice word for “hot mess”? 😉 I honestly have no clue what my style is, but I do know what I like and don’t like. Looking at past outfit photos, I seem to be a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. Boots play a huge role in my wardrobe. I’m also a sucker for floral prints and mixing it with the unexpected to toughen it up.
4. You’re the momma to the sweetest little boy and little girl! How do you think being a mom has affected your style?
-My style hasn’t really changed, but my budget totally has. So now, I’m much more cautious of what I do splurge on and what I can pinch my pennies with. I’ve realized you don’t need to spend over $50 for a great pair of jeans and trendy accessories should remain cheap, but a fantastic, “feel good” dress… PRICELESS.
5. What are your favorite trends for spring?
-Wide leg jeans! They are a blessing for “large reared” ladies, like myself. Skinny jeans are great, but certainly not the most flattering. Plus, I’ve always liked a 70’s vibe in fashion.
6. When you’re not busy blogging, what can you be found doing?
-My family and I love to travel. Wether it’s to a show my husband is playing or just a Sunday drive up the mountain, we love to get up and go! And when I’m not in the car, I’m painting or taking photos. My first love is art.
7. With regards to fashion, what do you draw inspiration from?
-Fellow bloggers play a huge role of inspiration. I am a sucker for style blogs and can scour them for hours. With that being said, I don’t like the very “obviously trendy” fashion blogs. Its always some avant-garde, expensive and pretentious outfit, that has been over thought. I like real girls, with just a natural ability to style themselves and are uniquely gorgeous.
*I wish I could give you my complete list, but that be a never ending!
8. If you had to pick one outfit to wear the rest of your life, what would it look like?
-A classic shaped dress in a fun/unique print, paired with worn in cowboy boots and a denim jacket would make me one happy lady for the rest of my life.
9. I’ve noticed that you participate in “Steppin’ Out Saturday.” What do you like about this fun feature, and why do you participate?
-Mandy, at Harpers Happenings, is a gem and to be a part of anything she does is fun. And who doesn’t like to document the few times you actually put something other than yoga pants on?! I also love to see how other mama’s dress… It’s the creepy voyeur in me, I suppose.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring bloggers? What about someone interested in revamping their momma style?
-Write what YOU like. Don’t buy into the hype of how to be a “successful” blogger, with the “do’s” and the “don’ts”. Do what works for you, without coming across contrived and forced. My mantra? It’s my blog and I do what I want.
When it comes to revamping your “mama style”, ACCESSORIZE LADIES! Seriously, statement rings and necklaces can take a plain button up shirt to the next level. Also get outfits that you can build on. Start with basic shirts and dresses, but add vests, belts, scarves, floral pins to mix it up and not become so… Mom-ish? Also invest in a great red lipstick. Don’t be scared, just do it!
Thank you so much Jess for doing this interview with me. Don’t forget to check out Jess’s blog, and also her Twitter page for some daily doses of momma talk, sass (in the best way), and fun peeks into her life.
Morning! This past weekend was such a busy one, but I am happy to be back at the grind of school. In almost a month I graduate with my bachelor’s degree in journalism, and in less than a month I turn 23! It’s going to be such a busy month, but I’m ready for it (only with Scott by my side, of course-he keeps me grounded during crazy times).
Scott and I took these photos the other day before we left to spend the weekend with my family in Yuma, Ariz. We went to downtown Mesa with plans of just taking photos and heading out for some lunch before class, but right after we parked we noticed the neatest little shop-an antique typewriter sales and repair shop. Scott and I had a great time talking to the owner about vintage typewriters, and geeking out over the amazing pieces he had in his shop. Scott snapped a few photos while we were there, and I will try and share a few of those soon! It was so nice though to find something new and amazing in an area that you thought you knew so well.
Right after we got done chatting at the typewriter store we went over to a local coffee shop to grab some iced coffee. Scott and I have been going to Inside the Bungalow for years and years (more when it was actually Coffee Talk though). The iced coffee that day was fairly good, and I was happy to hear that the beans came from a local AZ roaster!
Not too long ago I received these amazing polka dot tights from We Love Colors. I’ve been having a hard time figuring out what to style them with, since they are already a statement piece by themselves. I decided to pair them with a neutral dress and colorful cardigan to balance the outfit out. I felt a little bit like Alice from Alice in Wonderful, but in a good way! I also wore this outfit to class and felt really comfy (yet cute) throughout the day.
On another note, can you believe that Phoenix has officially skipped the whole season of spring and has jumped right into summer? Oh my! At least is prepared for all the sandal weather we’re going to be having from here until later October!
Lastly, I’ve been relying on coffee to keep my mind and body going lately (sleep just isn’t enough). I pretty much always have an iced coffee in my hand! Even during mini-photoshoots I can’t get away, see:
This post seems a little all over the place, but that’s just how I’ve been lately! Spring is such a crazy time of year!
What are you up to today? Do you have any typewriter stores in your town? What’s been keeping you going lately?
Earlier this week Scott and I made a trip out to Lola Coffee. I usually go by myself twice a week, but it’s always nice to have him with me to sit and sip coffee at the cute tables they have there.
Here is what I saw:
Amazing window light and the featured artwork of the month.
Pretty counter, yummy pastries, and the neatest coffee posters Oh, and that old door that has be converted to the shop menu board! Genius!
Scott checking out the Arts section of The Arizona Republic.
Two Lola iced coffees (iced coffee + shots of espresso! Yum!).
The traveling bag from Le Mode Accessories that has been going around the country since January, visiting different bloggers along the way.
More reading. My guys likes the newspaper. A guy SERIOUSLY after my own heart!
Pretty flowers, and one of my favorite buildings in downtown. I always feel like I’m in New York City when I go to Lola. Their shop has such a wonderful vibe and I just love spending time there.
What does your favorite coffee shop look like? What are your plans for today?
Scott and I are spending the weekend in Yuma, Ariz. with my family, but I still wanted to update you all on what I’ve been up to this week. Oh, and don’t forget to check out all my lovely new sponsors!
The other day I broke out of my comfort zone and wore almost all light colored clothing. Generally I always have to have something dark on it, whether it be dark jeans, dark colored shirt, or cardigan. For some reason though I was a little springy and light and decided to pair some of the lightest pieces of clothing I own together (kind of a big stretch if I do say so myself).
Flower headband: Maie Dae; Cardigan: gift from my mom; Sweet as Pie t-shirt: c/o Dressing on the Side; Cords: J Crew; flats: Target.
Scott could really tell that I took the extra effort this day, and complimented my ensemble multiple times throughout the day. I am pretty sure that means this outfit is a winner in his book, and is something I will be trying to re-create throughout the season.
I purchased this pretty headband from Maie Dae back in December and instantly fell in love with it when I opened the cute package it was placed in. I’ve worn it a few times since I got it, but really felt like it was the perfect addition to this light outfit.
This shirt reminds me of this amazing pie place about 45 minutes outside of Phoenix. I’ve been stopping at this middle of nowhere restaurant/pie shop for years, and always love making a trip up there for pecan and fruit pies. Right now I don’t have any reason to drive so far just for pie, so if you know any good places to get pie in the Phoenix Metropolitan area pass them along to me please!
This week I’ve been busy with school, blogging about the Arizona Blogger Meet-up, and getting ready to come to Yuma. Scott and I have been so busy lately, and I don’t see things slowing down anytime soon. I don’t mind though! I am so happy with my life and I wouldn’t have things any other way!
What would you call your outfit comfort zone? And what’s not in your comfort zone?
The final post on the Arizona Blogger Meet-up is here!
After we finished up at Frances and Smeeks, some of us headed down to Aloft Hotel to freshen up and relax a little bit before the dinner.
I really didn’t get many pictures from this transition time, but I found these two photos on the Arizona Blogger Meet-up Flickr Group. Thank you Kristen and Karie D!
When we got to the restaurant a few people were already there. At this point I didn’t want to sit down, but instead hung out most everyone got there. I really wanted to be a good hostesses, and tried my best to visit everyone as they came in.
Once I did sit down I sat in a rounded table with a handful of the girls (Scott and Kelsey’s husband Jim sat with us as well. Promise we didn’t leave them out!).
After I ate some of the delicious salad and pizza that we had set up buffet style for the meet-up, I made my way around spending time with some of the sweetest ladies.
I was so excited to chat with Angela for a little bit. She is so sweet, and I absolutely admire her for all the hard work she has put into her company SeeSaw Designs.
I also had a nice time talking with Emily (although it was too brief). She’s a Tucson blogger and it was so nice to finally meet her. I am hoping that we can meet-up or coffee and lunch sometime soon.
I had such a good time hanging out with Britney during the day and at the dinner. She is such a sweet lady, and I just love her spunky attitude. I can’t wait to hang out with her again!
The whole night seem to go by so fast, but I had such a nice time meeting and hanging everyone! Scott took this photo of myself and so many sweet Mesa ladies when the dinner was wrapping up.
After the dinner was over a few of us went down to Mojo Yogurt for a late night sweet treat. Scott got us some cherry cordial froyo with chocolate sprinkles and chocolate covered raisins! It was such a good mix and I felt bad for eating most of it. I guess I didn’t eat enough at the dinner (too busy and excited).
I feel like I can’t finish these posts without saying that this meet-up wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Danielle and Kelsey. We all worked so hard, and each of us had our own part. We worked so well together as a team, and I am so lucky to have them as friends. Thank you Danielle and Kelsey! Love you girls!
Today I want to wrap-up my Arizona Blogger Meet-up posts that include photos and stories from the second half of the day.
After wrapping things up at the Grow-Op, a few of us continued on to Frances and Smeeks in midtown Phoenix. These two shops are favorites of mine, and I was so excited to share them with my fellow bloggers.
First we went into Smeeks where we eyed yummy candy, laughed at bacon belts, and picked up orange creme sodas (well a few of the ladies did).
Once we were done at Smeeks we headed over to Frances for some exploring and shopping.
Everyone seem to really love the vibe of the story, along with all the pretty things they had for sale.
Kelsey, Vanessa, and I had a good time admiring all the pretty rings they had for sale. Kelsey ended up picking up the cutest pair of mustache earrings, and Vanessa bought a fun slap wristband watch for her boyfriend.
Courtney and I also had a nice time looking! I was so happy that she spent the whole day with us! She is seriously the sweetest lady, and I am so happy we are friends!
After we were all done looking around and making our purchases we went outside for some Short Leash Hot Dogs. Short Leash was nice enough to open early for us, as we were all in need of food after a long day (how did we forget to work lunch into the schedule?).
Everyone seem to really love their hot dogs, and were all impressed by the pita bread, locally made meats (and veggie dogs), and their awesome array of toppings. Scott got a hot dog with bbq sauce, coleslaw, and blue cheese on it. He was seriously so excited about it!
After most of the group was done eating we passed out goodie bags that Georganne of Frances and Smeeks was kind enough to donate.
The bags were a huge hit among the group, and everyone was so happy to receive such a sweet gift. I am still honestly blown away at Georganne’s kindness, and I only wish she could have been there with us for the day (however, she was spending it with her daughter who she hadn’t seen in months, a great reason to miss such a fun day). Thank you so much Georganne and to the whole Frances and Smeeks family! We love you!
Ok, I will be back later with photos and stories from the dinner!
Now that all my planning efforts for the meet-up have ceased, my life has seem to only continue to be busy, busy. This week I have quite a few things due in my classes, and this weekend I will be going to Yuma, Ariz., for some family time. Even though I’ve been so busy, I’ve been trying to make an effort to do little things for myself that I know will only leave me feeling less stressful and overwhelmed at my situation, like going to downtown Mesa for a stroll and photos, or visiting with my cousin and chatting about how fun the meet-up was.
Cardigan: gift from my mom; Ruffle tank top: Frenchi via Last Chance; Burnt orange watch: c/o Tikkr Watches; Skinny Khakis: Banana Republic; Moccasins: Minnetonkas
Scott and I recently received these awesome watches from Tikkr Watches. I first heard about their company when the Texas Style Conference was in the works, and instantly fell in love with the idea of interchangeable faces and bands, and how simple, chic, and durable the watches looked. I also really like that they are based out of Austin, Texas! Such a creative, and awesome area!
I was super excited when Tikkr offered to send Scott and I both a watch to style and where around town. They have so many color choices of bands to choose from, and I love that you can even pick between two different watch face colors (white and black). In the end, Scott and I chose colors that we both liked so we could trade from time to time (ya know, because you shouldn’t be limited in the color watch you wear every day!)
Since Scott and I got our watches in the mail (in a very cool, see-through circular packing tube // I’m a sucker for good packaging) we really haven’t taken them off. We both have received a few compliments on them, and a guy even stopped us outside of a local coffee shop to ask us about them. To say they are a hit in our book is an understatement!
On another note, I still kind feel like I’m on cloud nine this week (even though I have mass amounts of work to do). Meeting so many of my favorite bloggers last weekend felt surreal, and I wish we all never had to go our separate ways. I felt so lucky to be able to spend so much time with Kelsey, Vanessa, and Danielle. We all had so much fun taking photos of our food, sipping coffee, and chatting about blog domains and photo accounts. I seriously miss those three so much already and can’t wait to see them all again!
Are you a watch person? How has your week been so far?
