{ midi rings }

Source: Odette New York

Above-the-knuckle rings, midi rings, first knuckle rings. Whatever you want to call them, they're good to have around for when you want to put a ring on it. Double them up, wear one on each finger, mix and match styles, there are countless ways you can show off your fancy fingers.

1. Trending Tidbit Knuckle Ring: ModCloth

2. Kader II Pinky/Knuckle Ring: Tiklari

3. Silver Knuckle Ring; Galisfly Handmade Jewelry

4. Thin Knuckle Rings: Uncovet

6. Arrow Stack Ring: Odette New York

7. Druzy Triangle Ring: Amoorella

8. Gold Plated Set of 2 Rings: Amazon

{ 40 days of dating }

Have you guys seen this project? Like most things I find on the internet, I have no idea at what point I came across it. I usually just open up link after link of things I find interesting that I might want to read later, but that later can mean when I'm in bed later that night, the next morning, a week from now. Who the hell knows. Who the hell cares, for that matter?

So, this 40 Days of Dating project is probably one of the most intriguing things I've seen in a while. Basically a social experiment between two friends, Jessica and Tim, who share the seemingly common New York City problem: the inability to find another human being to love you long time.

She's the hopeless romantic who just wants to be in a loving and committed relationship, and he's the commitment leery dude who just wants to have fun. The premise of the experiment is that it takes 40 days to break a bad habit, so after their 40 days are up, the pair should have a greater understanding of their relationship shortcomings.

Making all the vulnerability of a new relationship public is incredibly brave, and I find myself rooting for this relationship to make it. But, whatever the outcome, it is super addicting to read. All the stress of forcing an inorganically formed relationship, putting every little aspect of the other person under a microscope, and analyzing and cataloging every "date" is like a recipe for the best drama you could ever imagine.

We're at day 20, guys. If you haven't already been following along, I don't want to ruin it for you. I'll just say this:


**********SPOILER ALERT************


They totally make out in the cab. Finally.

{ how to grow out your eyebrows }

Source: unknown

What are eyebrows for?

The main function of eyebrows is to keep moisture from running down our faces and into our eyes, kinda like a biological sweat band. But we all know they do so much more than that. We use them to communicate. We give our sexy, come hither, looks by arching one brow. We express our puzzlement by scrunching them together. We show how furious we are by furrowing them at mean people.

I have always been a bit obsessed with my eyebrows. As a preteen I would steal my mama's tweezers and pluck my poor caterpillar brows to death. I would also always seem to forget to put the tweezers back where I borrowed them from and my mom would get quite frustrated with me. After seeing the ridiculously thin lines of hair above my eyes, there was no way she'd believe that I wasn't the last to use them.

Until recently I was an everyday plucker. I had a nice shape with high arches, but with my dark and fast growing hair, daily maintenance was required. I don't like high-maintenance things, and am really trying to limit the amount of time and energy it takes to make me comfortable leaving the house each day. I figure growing my eyebrows to their former glory will only make things easier to maintain. Also, I really dig a natural look these days. I figure this is the way I was made, this is the way I was meant to look.

If you're fighting a similar battle, you might find these six tips below as helpful as I have. Maybe soon I'll post a before, during, and after photo so you can see how far I've come.

1. Don't pluck
Okay, I hate to be Captain Obvious, but this is the ultimate numero uno. Don't tweeze, don't pluck, don't wax, don't thread. Nothing! Leave them the heck alone. They're gonna look a fright, believe me, but there's no other way around it.

2. Trim them once a week
You can use a brow razor, but I just use a pair of scissors and a comb as a guard. This will help to lessen the Oscar the Grouch look and keep things looking clean.

3. Take a Biotin supplement
I take the Solgar 5,000 mcg super potency veggie caps. This supplement is said to promote hair growth, improve skin condition and strengthen nails. I've been taking it off and on for seven months and have noticed a huge improvement. I started seeing a lot of new hair growth within the first two weeks, and my nails have never been stronger.

4. Stimulate growth by exfoliating
I've read that brushing your brows with a bristled brush (think toothbrush) helps to stimulate hair growth. I haven't tried it, but it's worth a shot.

5. Use a brow serum
Try RapidLash Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum, to boost your growth. It's most commonly used for eyelashes, but can be used for brows as well. Hey, might as well use it on both!

6. Use an eyebrow pencil
Just fill in the bald spots with an brow pencil until they've fully grown in and call it a day!

I hope these six tips help. I'm here for you if you need any moral support. We can do this, girls.

{ hot dog day & modcloth }

Celebrate Hot Dog Day with some picnic-wear from ModCloth!

To celebrate the dog days of the sunny season, ModCloth is offering a 15% off coupon for the entire site (before taxes and shipping, excluding gift certificates). The coupon has no limit on number of uses, but you gotta be quick, the sale only lasts 24 hours!

Visit ModCloth, stock up your shopping cart, and enter the coupon code WOOF15 for your 15% off! Enjoy!

{ in your clutches }

Sometimes a purse feels so burdensome to carry around, that I find myself reaching for one of my clutches instead. I'm not even talking just for weddings or fancy occasions, but for trips to the grocery store and library, too. Just don't set it down and forget to pick it back up. I've been there, so I wouldn't judge if you did. But your significant other might get super mad if you do it too often.

Take a look at my eight favorite clutches from around the 'net. I'd probably go with one of each to coordinate with my many fancy library outfits. A girl's gotta look good when she goes to get her read on, after all.

1. New Look Mama Mia Color Block Clutch: ASOS

2. Leather Fringe Purse: byMART

3. Boardwalk Bistro Clutch: ModCloth

4. Patch Bar Clutch: Topshop

5. Black Rainbow Wallet: Need Supply Co.

6. Electric Arrow Clutch: Anthropologie

7. Navajo Envelope Clutch: L-atitude

8. Buena Vista Social Bag: Arc of a Diver 

{ someday baby }

My sister-in-law just had a baby girl! Scarlet Grace is now my second niece and while I'm super happy for the family, I'm pretty sad that I won't get to see her for a long time. We aren't planning any trips home in the near future, you see.

Sometimes moving away from your hometown sucks. You miss babies being born, friends' weddings, random parties, summer festivals. And sometimes really insignificant things seem like momentous occasions. Especially when you see your friends doing fun things in their instagram photos and you can only wish you were there.

Ugh. Enough of this sadness. Let's just look at cute things for little baby girls, okay?

These cribs and bassinets from l'atelier du petit parc are so beautifully crafted and delicate they make me wish I had one on the way.

{ style awhile // 01 }

A little summer style inspiration. 

xoxo

Tie-Dye Dress: Mod Cloth

Gilded Arrow Bangle: Stella & Dot

Minnetonka Wedges: Amazon

Medium Format Memory Tunic: Mod Cloth

Jesse Skimmer Jeans: Imogene & Willie

Minnetonka Fringed Boot: Amazon

Iconic Loves Tee: Scotch&Soda

Jacquard Pattern Mini Skirt: Zara

Wanderlust Triple Wrap Bracelet: Stella & Dot

Weave Got the Beat Wedge: ModCloth

{ rug envy }

At this moment, I am dreaming of a sunny San Francisco apartment with high ceilings, hardwood floors and a  Kilim rug in every room.

Reality check. We're looking for a fully furnished studio apartment. We'll only be there two years, so spending a lot of time and money on decorating and furniture is not in our best interest. Obviously these are the words of a husband. He's smart, I guess, but sometimes he ruins all my fun.

The odds of finding an apartment furnished to my taste, including all the beautiful rugs of my dreams are horrifically slim. So I'm left to scour the web on a daily basis to see what's available out there in my very tiny budget.

In the meantime, a girl can dream. Here are some awesome rugs I'm dying to walk all over.

Source: designsponge.com

Source: onekingslane.com

Source: designsponge.com

Source: onekingslane.com

Source: houzz.com

Source: burkedecor.com


Source: houzz.com

Source: amazon.com

Source: houzz.com

Source: onekingslane.com

Source: houzz.com

Source: onekingslane.com

{ where i am now }

I'm in Mesquite, Nevada, trying to survive in 120 degree desert weather.

I've been spending my days applying for jobs in San Francisco, cuddling my sweet puppy, watching old home movies with Mark and my parents, and just really enjoying the peace of living in a small town.

We went to the movies last Saturday night and were shocked to be greeted by a single employee at the ticket counter. He was there to sell us our tickets, popcorn, soda, etc. He was also there to direct us to the proper theater. He was also there for me to remind 20 minutes after sitting in the theater that the film hadn't started. Apparently he forgot again. He did the same thing during an earlier showing.

It's just part of the small town charm. We're really digging it.

{ lay your head here }

I'm not sure if you're aware, but I haven't had a home of my own in nine months. Mark and I moved in with his parents when our lease was up on our flat at the end of October, spent a month working on a farm in Hawaii, and are now staying with my parents in Nevada until we move to San Francisco next month. Being a lover of all things interior design, it's been pretty difficult to just accept my surroundings without trying to redecorate or add too much of my own personality. The only way I can get it out of my system is by blogging and pinning my home inspirations on Pinterest.

Changing the look and feel of a room can be as simple as adding a few pillows. Since my personal space has been limited to one bedroom as of late, funky printed pillows would be a very easy way for me to add depth and  personality to the room.

Belle & June Home Decor has the best collection of ikat and tribal inspired patterns that will easily transform any room into a funky and eclectic space.

* This post was sponsored by Belle & June Home Decor. Thank you for reading and supporting our sponsors! 

{ a hammock is the place to be }

While we were working on a farm in Hawaii last month, we spent a lot of our downtime in the hammock reading, drinking beer, or just trying to catch a cool breeze. We had to fight for it, especially since our Estonian friends often got to it first. But when it was ours you better believe we would stay there for hours.

If I could take a hammock nap every day, I'd be a happy girl. Here are some of my ultimate favorite hammocks I'd love to dream on.

Source: http:minasdecorandfashion.blogspot.co.uk

Source: anthropologie.com

Source: etsy.com

Source: urbanoutfitters.com

Source: urbanara.co.uk

If you are in the market for a dreamy bohemian hammock for your yard, garden, courtyard, living room, bedroom, cottage (you could seriously hang one anywhere, huh?) be sure to check out Hamanica, an Etsy shop run by a group of Nicaraguan artisans. Just look at these beauties!

I hope these inspire to you get outside with a margarita, your favorite snuggle partner, and a good book!


     

{ bohemian homes }

I love a good bohemian style house. There's something so comforting, peaceful, spiritual, and almost lazy about earthy tones and natural fibers. Coupled with busy ethnic prints, lush plants everywhere and over-sized furniture draped in soft blankets -- you're talking about my dream home here.

We're leaving ourselves open to the idea of renting a furnished apartment in the SF Bay area, but the nester in me is itching to put together another home. If my apartment looked anything close to any of these lovelies, I'd probably have to start using the word "vibe" more often.

Image Source: http://thedesignfiles.net

Image Source: thatbohemiangirl.tumblr.com

Image Source: themarionhousebook.com

Image Source: theselby.com

{ a place to leave your heart }

Today I'm feeling really excited about our move to San Francisco. We're still not to the point where we're making serious inquiries about housing situations just yet, but searching on Craigslist for apartments feels a bit more real today for some reason.

If only we could find a cute pastel-colored Victorian in our price range. You might say I'm a dreamer...