my fave secret show...

man shops globe.

a show that follows a buyer for anthropologie {keith} as he travels around the world. he buys for anthro's floor sets + visual displays, in all kinds of stores all over the world. this show is so interestingly addicting. and makes me appreciate all different forms of art.

you have to flip over to the sundance channel on wednesday nights at ten pm. trust me. you won't be sorry.

happy friday!

xo

{ summer recipe }

watermelon feta salad anyone?

i say yes, plz! how can one go wrong with fruit + cheese?

recipe found here.

design smeshign...

i'm playing around with a new layout. stay tuned. {also this will explain if it has changed four times in the last ten minutes.}

:)

xo.

my newest blog fan!

i got this pic a few days ago...

this is dakota.

she loves to read about travel, interior design + kibble biscuits. enjoys long walks on the beach {or around german village} and loves watching gilmore girls. 

thanks for reading! you're too cute :)

mini deets i miss from london...

i miss...

cafe dining with weirdo drinks...

ginger beer!

"absolutely no nasties"

{thank goodness}

funky silverware. {and funky table service to match}

 colorful macaroooooons!

pretty cinnamon desserts :) om nom nom...

amazing department stores.

pretty outdoor dining with a view of the sky.

the word "queue!"

and of course... big ben :)

i miss london. vacations are so amazing! if only they never had to end.

i love being in new places where no one knows me + i can wander around and take in completely new things.

cute dress alert...

from something navy

i wonder if this dress comes with teeny tiny legs + thighs, too?

wonder if that comes seedless...

spotted this on oh hello + had to post because it screams summer. and i just love it. i'll probably never  be able to make it. but i can stare at this one.

{ best monday ever }

well this week is definitely starting off on the right {athlete's} foot. it seems i'm back in action with regular visits with my ol' friend gym. even pushing myself to run the stairs today! {gasp. i. never. do. that.} and aside from the motivation of blasting calories and toning up... i know my new friend the steam room is waiting for me when i'm finished. 


if you know me, you know my ability to produce sweat could rival that of a polar bear in the bahamas. but the steam doesn't make me hot and dripping... just dewey. plus, i rather enjoy thinking about the health benefits as i sit. and lemme just say... they've come a long way since a bunch of old wrinkly naked dudes sat around in 'em and talked about cigars + golf {if that's what you were picturing.} {i mean, i wansn't. but. if you were...}


1. bye bye toxins!
 during one session, you can sweat out 30% of the toxins built up in your body.


2. gimme that eve mendez glow. 
the heat causes the heart to pump harder + faster, trying to cool the body, causing blood to flow to the tiniest capillaries - just beneath the skin's surface. with the increased flow comes increased oxygen + viamins. thus leaving the skin glowing + healthy. {my fave immediate benefit}


3. brush up on immunity. 
while in elevated heat, the body  temp rises {like a fever.} usually a virus can only live in a specific temperature range. the higher temps can stunt + even kill off the virus. fever triggers more white blood cells, which also help to defend against infection. 


4. breathe easy. 
the steam helps to open airwaves - becoming more beneficial to those with asthma or allergies.


5. stress be gone. 
the excess heat causes muscles to relax, reducing their tension + widening the blood vessels to allow for more oxygen. the body relaxes, melting away stress and soothing muscles. 


if you haven't tried it, why not go for it. it's a tad uncomfortable, at first, if you're not used to the heat - but thinking about the benefits wills you to stay in a few minutes longer. 


happy monday!

like the sea...

from my photos in puerto rico

it's all downHILLS from here...

it's kinda sad that the show i deem my 'guilty pleasure' ruined this girl's life. just look at how pretty she was before she met the devil with a flesh-colored beard!

none the less, i will tune in tonight for the series finale. 

{i just can't help myself.}

le sigh.

{ new project }

found this here. i love the rich/classic look of the table with the cream tones – it just so happens, i have the perfect table to experiment with! and i've always wanted to spray paint an cheap, antique chandelier… but i can never find one! i don’t even care if it works or not. could always string some cute strand lights around it for the romantically-lit effect. friday project? i think yes!

notes from a weekend...

another weekend bites the dust. 

saturday, the mom came to visit! we met at easton to surprise the sister on her last day of work at anthropologie {as she landed a full time job -yay!}

how quintessential - little boys playing with sailboats in the easton fountain.

i may have purchased this table, too. {west elm was having a 70% off floor set sale! can you blame me?}

i may have obtained my last discount anthro ever {sad face}

and wore it out to dinner that night with the bf. we headed to haiku's patio for some drinks + dining as the sunset.

sunday was full of last second errands, cleaning + watering a lot of plants. {i finally have real tomatoes + peppers growing on my back deck!}

sunday eve, i watched the bf play hockey in a seriously aggressive game. {ouch!} followed by post-game dinner at barley's brew house. 

and what do i come home to? the hills marathon! could this day get any better? 

i don't know what i'm going to do after tuesday when they air the last episode ever! {i said ever!!!} i don't have a guilty replacement lined up yet, but am taking candidates + open to suggestions.

on that note - hope you're weekend was splendid! happy {rainy} monday!

my photo: taken in london in regent's park after a long day of walking.

see more london pics here.

{ take a wimbledon break }

a quick + witty response to the marathon wimbledon match this year between john isner + nicolas mahut.

hi.lar.ious.

happy wednesday.

iphone lovers - behold.

smile for ice cream!

how sweet is this? this "vending machine" can detect when you're smiling - and when you can't smile any longer, it gives you free ice cream. we could all smile a little more. and we could definitely all use free ice cream. {i think it's 117 degrees already and it's only 9:43 a.m.}

{ i heart traveling }

What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds.  When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then.  People don't have your past to hold against you.  No yesterdays on the road.  ~William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

from the rooftops of london...

back from a little holiday just in time for the independence day weekend. {ironic?}

verdict: i.love.england.

the eye.

big ben.

wimbledon {!!!}

pubs.

and a ridiculous amount of photos.

hope you all had a happy 4th. i don't know why we ever separated from britain anyway. they're lovely + they've revised their taxation system since then. ;) {plus... they make really good desserts.}