The Long Weekend

{view of Los Angeles from my friend's front yard}

Although making plans has its advantages, I find that spontaneity allows room for less expectations and more adventurous spirits. I just returned from a post-grad mini trip to L.A., where an agenda-free calendar made for a perfect getaway. I visited with everyone on my list and did whatever sounded most fitting at that moment. After months of deadlines, plans and schedules, I found that living in the moment was the thing I needed most this Memorial Day weekend. 

{lily pad pond at the Getty Villa in Malibu}

{beautiful grounds at the sunny Getty Villa -- amazing spot for a wedding!}

{Memorial Day outfit: Urban Outfitters dress, Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Juicy Couture bag, Coach sandals and Michael Kors watch}

{exploring the gardens}

More to come...

Cheers to the New

{pink shoes, black cap & a little sparkle}

I'm graduating today! And thank goodness it's warm and sunny. I've been anticipating this day for what feels like forever, and am welcoming it with much excitement. I remember the day I graduated high school and everyone around me was so sad that it was coming to an end. I remember feeling so much excitement for the new, and happily looked back on what a fun time I'd had over the past four years. 

I feel the same way today. I'm never one to look back, but only forward. I couldn't be happier to welcome a new chapter of my life, with hopefully lots more time for blogging, yoga, friends and new challenges.

Cheers!

How-To: Tissue Paper Flowers

A few weeks ago my friends and I made these tissue paper flowers for craft night, and I was delightfully surprised by how easy they were to make. They are the only fake flower I find attractive, and had always wanted to try my hand at them, but was sure it was quite complex. That's why I was so happy to find this easy tutorial and see how fun and simple tissue paper flower making really is. The best part is that it's really hard to mess them up, and you can get as creative as you like when it comes to designing the shape and color. 

{this is all you'll need}

{get creative with color combos and petal shapes}

{a fun bouquet}

{perfect bedroom flower arrangement that will never fade}

Mother's Day

This is my favorite photo of my mom and I, that I keep on my desk to look at often. Still to this day, my mom is always reminding me to stop and smell the flowers. 

{love you!}

Dreamy

{sea of magazines}

As a young girl, I spent endless hours clipping (or tearing) my favorite images from my favorite magazines and making collages. I think my entire bedroom was once a big collage. Today I much prefer simplicity over clutter when it comes to wall space, but I still love to collect images that make me happy and get my mind dreaming. 

{lovely way to collect magazines}

That's why I've decided to start a dream board. My parents both make them, collecting images of dream homes, vacations and lifestyles that they want to achieve in their lifetime. I used to find it silly, but now think it's the best idea. In life, we don't realize how much we create just by visualizing. I used to daydream about things I'd find myself accomplishing just months later. 

So why not put your dreams into one place that you can see everyday? And guess what, you might just end up living your dream life!

{image via pinterest}

Here's how to make a dream board: 

1. Collect images over a few months that resemble your biggest dreams

2. Find a board to glue them to that's a perfect size

3. Once you have enough images, arrange them in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to you

4. Find a fun frame that you love and put your board in a place that you see on the regular

...and dream away!