I want to own this

These are the things I would buy on my pretend shopping trip this weekend if we weren't saving our money to buy a new house

Alexander McQueen sheer shirt, $1,320 J Crew long shirt, $72 J Crew striped t shirt, $45 J Crew fitted t shirt, $75 J.Crew tall jeans, $125 J.Crew chino shorts, $50 Steve madden booties, $99 Diane von furstenberg dresses NUDE, £545

yay

Happy SUNNY day from Portland!! It's been so beautiful here this week, the exact reason that I love living here. I sometimes don't know what to do with myself now that it's nice out because I've been locked in the house for so many months! Forcing myself to head outside now and enjoy it!!!!!!

Source: essential-england.co.uk via Olivia on Pinterest

sun be here

spring at my house

guest post: {meg's musing}

hello, i'm meg, writer behind meg's musings and shop owner of pretty things by meg.
i am truly honored to be guest blogging for the beautiful,
inspiring and encouraging olivia today! hope you enjoy :)

♥♥♥

spring is hands-down my favorite season. i am counting down the days.
after a seemingly endless, brutally cold Michigan winter
(this one has been especially unkind),
it is the most glorious thing to once again feel the warm sun on my face,
and to watch new life spring up around me.. to see green again.
it is a beautiful reminder to me of the new life we have in Christ,
and how he is constantly re-creating us.

there are so many things about spring that i am pumped about.
i thought i'd share a few of the front-runners.

{1} flowers!
they make me ridiculously happy. most especially cherry blossoms and peonies.

{source}

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{2} farmers' market.
fresh fruit + fresh veggies + fresh bread + fresh pasta + fresh flowers...
within walking distance from our house = pure bliss.

{source}

{3} flats. 
because i am so. sick. of wearing winter boots. and socks. 

{source 1} {source 2} 

{4} lemon bars.
creamy meyer lemon crumb bars to be exact.

{source}  

{5} long walks & bike rides.
especially at the park with my hubby & our cockapoo magglio.

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{6} celebrating me and hubby's 3rd wedding anniversary! memorial day weekend. don't have plans yet, but i'm hoping to travel somewhere new.

{source}

what are you looking forward to most this spring??
T - 6 DAYS!!!
 

guest post: urban nester

hi . hey . hello .

molly here, from urban nester 

when olivia asked me to do a guest post , i was thrilled ! 

however, i had no idea what i was going to blog about {baking, fashion, faith , family, crafts . . . too many options! } i finally settled on doing a post on spring fashion. 

since it's getting close to spring, i thought i'd share with you my wardrobe essentials for this season 

#1  { fedoras }

{ via free people }

fedoras make any outfit trendy . i love them with hair pulled back in a low bun , or with beachy waves . you really can't go wrong with these hats .

#2  { feminine florals }

{ both items via anthropologie }

florals are always in for spring. i especially love this fifties inspired floral bathing suite. so chic.

#3  { wide leg trousers }

{ via emersonmade }

anyone can rock these seventies inspired wide leg trousers . universally flattering and so hip .

#4   { maxi dress }

don't  be intimidated by maxi dresses and skirts . they are all the rage this spring . i really love this one from anthropologie .

#5  { wood wedges }

{via nordstrom }

LOVE these . can't wait to invest in a pair .

#6  { lace }

lace will always look chic , glamorous , and feminine . whether it's a lace top or lace accessories , you really can't go wrong .

#7   { neutral nails }

soft and neutral nails are in for spring .

#8  { safari }

{ image one : via anthropologie . image two : jcrew }

safari jackets , dresses , pants , shoes , hats . . . you name it . all the rage .

#9   { fuchsia lips }

my favorite . i love this shade and it's so in for spring . i'm a drugstore cosmetics junky { especially when it comes to lipstick } .

#10 { gold watches }

{ via nordstrom }

LOVE .

hope you're inspired by my spring essentials !

happy shopping !

{ like what you see ? come visit me over at urban nester . i'd love to have you . }

turn over day....

at camp we called the day where one camp left and a new camp coming in- turn over day-

that is our day today in the carter house hold. we got back from NYC last night and are leaving for Austin, TX tonight!

On the agenda today: do laundry, pack, get my haircut etc etc.....

Brian is attending SXSW for work. (looks awesome, right? wish I could get in...)
and I decided to tag along since I am not working a 9-5 job anymore, no kids yet, never been to texas, free hotel room, vacation with my husband, sounds great to me!!!

Anyone have any suggestions for what I should do in Austin while Brian is at seminars???
comment or tweet me @oliviakcarter  !!!

I may be around, but if not, I have a few more guest posts to keep you entertained and ready for SPRING!!! :)

guest post: From Portland to Peonies

Hi there, For Me readers! So excited to be guest posting for Olivia while she is having fun in NYC!

When Olivia asked me to write on the topic of spring, one thing popped into my head. Spring fashion. More specifically, dresses. I own a ridiculous number of dresses, and each spring I continue to add more to my collection. They are just so easy to wear, feminine and make you feel pretty whether you’re wearing them with sandals or heels. The “it” color this season is coral, so I thought I’d do a little round up of my favorite coral dresses right now. Hope you enjoy!

{Left to right, top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

guest post: annalynnreilly

As my sister and her husband are off traveling around I am here day dreaming of New York. 

New York. I will never forget the first time I went. Riding on the bus into the city for the first time, graffiti on the walls, advertisements everywhere, a sea of yellow cabs, and people every which way I looked. New York made me feel alive, because the city was alive. Everyone was on a mission, everyone had a place to go, and everyone was doing something. My heart begins to race just typing this. 

My sister and I come from a family who also holds New York close to their heart. Our Mom moved there in her 20's to model and my Dad grew up in New Jersey, went to college in Queens, and worked in the city until we all moved to Oregon. I love going back with my family not only to be in the greatest city in the world but to go and see the things my parents use to love. But here are some other reasons why I love New York:

The diversity of the city. 

Walking the streets on any given day you hear a wide range of languages and see people of all different colors and backgrounds.

Pizza.

Or any kind of food for that matter. My number one would be New York style pizza, the kind my Dad taught me to fold and eat when I was younger. But besides pizza there are so many amazing restaurants and markets and food carts, I feel like I'm in heaven. I'm a sucker for an amazing meal. 

People watching.

Couldn't be a better place to people watch. My favorite thing to do is just walk around and see what everyone is wearing. The best is being on the upper east side and seeing old ladies with old money and the outfits they wear. I also love seeing all the menswear. I think all men should dress in suits and in New York you see the best dressed, classiest men. It's interesting to see the young twist on business attire but I still adore the older men who wear great suits to work.

The Fashion.

Fashion capital of the United States, of course. Like I mentioned before I love seeing all the fashion on the street. I feel like when I'm in New York I could wear anything not matter how out there or bold and no one would think twice. I admire all the originality that New Yorkers have in their clothing and how great everyone looks.

 The history.

New York is the heart of many love stories, award shows, banquets, broadway plays, movie sets, and more. I love going to such historic significant places.

I hope my sister is soaking up all that is New York. We love that place and it holds many memories for the both of us. I hope this post put New York in the softest part of your heart and on the top of your travel plans.

want to be friends? come over here