Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

 

Maya Angelou quote

:: Weekend Lovelies ::

{favorite things}

Hello, friends! Nicole and I are so honored that you have stopped by our blog during your busy weekend! We hope that you’ll have a chance to sit down, sip some tasty tea, and look over our favorite picks from across the web! {If you are a fellow blogger or have an Etsy Shop, we’d love for you to link-up to this post! Directions on how to do so are listed below! Thanks a million!}

After an exhausting, fun-filled week celebrating Miss Blue and Mr. Amazing {which included a trip to the happiest place on earth}, I’m finally making time for some much needed r & r, at home with the kids. We are planning to fill our days with lots of downtime… soaking up the sunshine while playing outside, and preparing for the week ahead. What are your plans for the weekend? Do share! 

Whatever you do, we’re hoping you all get drenched with a healthy dose of vitamin D! {It really does make the world seem brighter… and happier, when the sun is shining!} We encourage you to lift the spirits of someone around you this weekend! Spread your inner happiness… much love! {xo}

  1. Oh this blog… it captured my heart. I could read her beautiful, eloquent words all day. Her recipes are just as remarkable… like this Cardamom Oat Crumble.
  2. This sandwich ~ avocado, mint, cilantro… yum! The perfect fresh sandwich for a sunny afternoon, don’t you think? This blog… so lovely, too! Turns out she lives in the dreamy Southern California coastal town I grew up in, Dana Point {smile}. 
  3. This beautiful home will soon be a vacation rental in Palm Springs, CA! Nicole and I both adore the desert and frequent it often! This gorgeous space has me giddy with excitement for a possible future stay! 
  4. Can’t get enough of the handmade jewelry on this refreshing Etsy Shop! 
  5. Visiting Thailand is on my personal bucket list, especially after viewing these lovely photos on Design Love Fest… (part 1) and (part 2). 
  6. A great interview with one of my favorite fitness guru’s, Tracy Anderson! Those of you that love to dance and move will adore her at-home fitness DVD’s!
  7. 30 great weekend projects to update your home from BHG… hope you find them inspiring!
  8. These pretty rainbow mini cakes… simply perfect for a little get together or party! 
  9. My darling sister-in-law recently shared this fabulous site that has the most fun DIY projects for the modern woman. Check out this project! 
  10. Revisiting my favorite tumblr page… the photos Charla features bring happiness and peace to my soul! Hope they do the same for you!  [Read more…]

Date Day in Old Towne Orange

City of Orange, California {photos via Simply Happenstance} 11

:: Date Day in Old Towne Orange ::

Last week, this super cute guy and I had a daytime date. We dropped the kids off at his mom’s house… and spent some time meandering around Old Towne Orange. It’s not a place we normally go to, when we have time away from the kids {maybe because it’s so familiar}, but for some reason… I had wanted to walk around our old stomping grounds. Perhaps it was the thought of Valentine’s Day being in the near future that had me hoping to revisit where we started… the place where our relationship began, and our love bloomed… more than sixteen years ago. 

City of Orange, California {photos via Simply Happenstance} 1

We spent the afternoon wandering around the circle, taking our time sifting through the old antique stores, and dawdling in the quaint boutiques.  [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

 San Clemente

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Sara and I are trying our hardest not to brag, but this is California!  This is the weather we have been experiencing… crazy yet beautiful all wrapped into one.  For this edition of Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}, we hope that you, our readers, are experiencing weather you adore, as well! I actually took this picture on New Year’s Eve in San Clemente.  A peaceful day by the pier allowed us to keep perspective of our blessings going into the New Year.  I know for January, it often seems like a slow month, but this year, it seems to be speeding along. 

We hope that you can take a moment this weekend and enjoy some of your blessings…. whether it be inside snuggling and keeping warm with the ones you love, or being out and about… enjoying the weather at hand.  But of course before you do all of that, take a moment to enjoy some of our favorite things!  Don’t forget if you are a blogger or Etsy Shop owner, you can link-up your favorite post of the week {or your fabulous Etsy Shop}.  The link information is at the bottom of the page.  Enjoy! [Read more…]

{weekend} lovelies

Chateau St. Jean

:: Weekend Lovelies ::

Welcome readers to our {weekend} lovelies!  Sara and I look forward to this segment, as it gives us a chance to catch up on the things we love in life, slow down a bit, and take a little time out for ourselves. 

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to sneak away on a trip to Napa and Sonoma with my husband, Shane, for our 10-year wedding anniversary.  Not to brag… but it was truly amazing {hence the snap shot of Chateau St. Jean above}! Though not long enough, it gave me some time to think and actually take in and observe some of my favorite things {wine, food, music, and nature}.  It was our first trip in too many years to count, as like most of you, life moves forward too quickly to notice this thing called time. One year ends up turning into three…yikes! One of the things I learned on our trip was really how much I appreciate fall.  Though not terribly noticeable in Southern California {but we swear there are some seasonal changes}, the beauty of wine country really exudes the true meaning of fall and it’s “harvest.”

Thankfully, I captured a few pictures on our Simply Happenstance Instagram feed, as my new phone lost all of my pictures except the couple I uploaded.  Go ahead and check us out on Instagram! Sara and I love capturing our love of food and life over there, too!

With the inspiring weekend of food and wine still replaying in my mind, I can’t wait to share with you this {weekend} lovelies.  I hope you enjoy! [Read more…]

Orange County Charity Book Project

 

Ladera Ranch portrait photographer Paul F. Gero has launched the 6th Annual Kids of Orange County Charity book project!

This project has been widely popular and the charity benefactor is CHOC {Children’s Hospital of Orange County}! So far the project has raised nearly $50,000 for CHOC by the 100% donation of the session fee. 

Paul and his wife Nicki organize the project — Nicki handles the marketing and scheduling of the project, while Paul handles the session planning, actual portrait sessions, image production and viewing presentations. Over the course of the last six years, Paul has photographed hundreds of children, including Nicole’s children, Mason and Madeline.

Here are a few images that Paul took from Mason’s first session in 2008, for the original Kids Book project…

 

Paul again photographed Nicole’s family late in 2009 when Madeline joined the family… [Read more…]

{weekend} lovelies

:: Weekend Lovelies ::

This weekend lovelies is a glimpse of summer lovin’ and the good old U.S. of A….

 

Oklahoma // The Pioneer Woman

Our hearts and prayers have been with Oklahoma this week.  It’s so hard to wrap our minds around natural disasters.  One of our cooking inspirations is Ree Drummond.  Her photographs have captured the scenery of Oklahoma for many years.  On her blog this week, she has listed ways in which we all can help out.  Click {here} for more information on ways to help Oklahomans during their time of need.

 

 

[Read more…]