currently loving...

spring is in full swing...isn't it fabulous?

mornings are still cold, but the days are getting warmer, longer, and i'm so inspired by all of the new and gorgeous things in my life that are making the season so much more splendid...

fresh blooms!
i love fresh flowers, and seeing them everywhere always brings a smile to my face.

a new scent!

i've enjoyed wearing Shenandoah, by Terri Michelle fragrances, a lot lately. the clean-smelling scent has floral notes, but also musks, making it sophisticated but still light. i admit, i probably wouldn't have liked this a few years ago, but i now find this to be quite lovely. this gem is perfect for the spring season with its notes of bergamot, white lily, white musk, freesia, lotus, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

pastels!

coral and mint in particular are among the eye-pleasing, happy-inducing pastel shades every beauty girl should be adding to her daily life this season. both shades are uber flattering and can easily be incorporated through clothing, accessories and beauty products. i'm loving Sally Hansen nail polish in Mint Sorbet and Revlon's Coral Reef lipgloss.

new mascaras!

even if i'm not wearing shadow or liner, i wear mascara. three i can't get enough of all happen to be made by Maybelline ~ One by One {clump-free, fabulous volume}, Lots of Lashes {amazing, glossy length and volume with a fabulous brush to get at every lash} and Illegal Length Fiber Extensions {gorgeous, flake-free length}. trust me, dolls, you need these eye-opening gems in your beauty arsenal.


what are you currently loving??

Shenandoah fragrance sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me

currently loving...the website edition

there are so many things to love when it comes to beauty, fashion and lifestyle. from new collections and collaborations, to the latest color palettes and design ideas, there's so much online to see and read and it's so inspiring...

at the same time, i confess, it sometimes overwhelms me. just the mere thought of all the info that exists on one lone topic out there is beyond my imagination! sometimes i find myself thinking, why didn't i think of doing that?, or i wish my blog was more like xyz's, and when i do, i have to take a step back...

in doing this, i allow myself to either unplug completely or limit my time online. blogs and websites are to be enjoyed; exploring and appreciating {rather than comparing myself to} what others have to share, makes for a better blog/website visit.

if you're a blogger {or any other creative type for that matter}, you know what i mean, right? :)

we all have something fabulous to share and can all contribute our view of the the things we love and want to talk about.

{i love this fun hairstyle...find out how to do it yourself }

all of this rambling is to say that the following are just a handful of sites that share fabulous style & beauty inspiration, encourage creativity and celebrate the beautiful things in life that we all find pleasure in...

please visit them very soon and enjoy!!

The Glitter Guide {i also j'adore the site's founding editor, Taylor Sterling's blog, Sterling Style
79 Ideas
Lace & Tea
Houzz.com
The Beauty Department
A Girl, A Style
Beeyond Yoga
Design Seeds

tell me: what are some of your favorite blogs and websites to visit?

image source; hair image source

currently loving...

how is your post-holiday week going? it's been pretty low-key here. my kids are out for winter break {for another 2 weeks!}, so lots of time is being spent reading, playing games, watching movies and just trying to take advantage of the time together and take most of the day at a slower pace.

along with these simple, everyday pleasures, i'm loving...


being able to wear sparkle for an reason, layering for the cool, brisk days, and creating cheerful ensembles by pairing bright, bold hues...


the newest addition to my accessory collection: this fab Michael Kors watch my husband gifted me for christmas...


finally got a french press ~ a new way to brew my coffee...


yes, i know, it's only three days post-christmas, but seeing the fun valentine's day dishes in Target made me smile...pretty sure it's all the pink...and those mugs are just too adorable... ;)


by the way, the top pic is of my precious pup, Piper, on her second christmas morning with us since we adopted her back in 2010...isn't she the cutest?!

source; source;

currently loving...

current things i'm loving...

crisp, clear, mornings; core fusion dvd workouts {they have changed my changed my body in such a fabulous way...i've all but the current release, and let me tell you, i love them all. the precise toning movements, stretching and gentle cardio are so effective, not to mention that no shoes are required!}; autumn leaves in my yard {yep, that top pic is mine}; the sound of my kids' laughter as they play; devouring books; sipping a freshly brewed cup of cafe bustelo coffee...


my adorable deep pink frame ~ j'adore the shiny lacquer finish ~ i found this beauty at TJ Maxx! for now i have an image of SJP, but will soon be replaced by a fab family pic soon...

mark Whipped Up body butter* in Lemon Sugar...need i say more? from the the fresh, light scent to the silky moisture it gives my skin, this is a keeper.


butter LONDON's British Racing Green nail lacquer is a shade i saw and really liked. i didn't anticipate that i would love it as much as i do. yes, my love affair with red polish continues {BL's Come to Bed Red is beyond gorgeous!}, but this perfect, deep hunter green is fabulous!


Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear foundation* {spf 10} has been altogether brilliant with its hydrating, oil-free, buildable-coverage formula. i love that it has a pump and a little goes a long way.

*sent to me by brand PR; pics taken by me :)

currently loving...

happy friday, beauties! hope you had a fabulous week...

the first rain of the autumn season fell for about two days this past week, and to say i was thrilled is quite an understatemnet-- i love this time of year! i know that the weather will be going back and forth between warm and cool temps for several more weeks, but i'm still thankful. crisp, cold morning air has greeted me for morning outings with my pup, the leaves are changing colors, i wore coat and scarf {also purchased a new one!}, as well as set a fire in the fireplace. over the past couple of weeks, i've picked up, and been given, some new tea and coffee {discovering and collecting them is so fun-- drinking them is even better!}, finally put my oven back to use for baking...

there are so many things about fall to love, right? and among these seasonal joys, i'm also loving...


my new Midnight Soiree Ring from jewelmint.com -- fabulous, oui?

though i've been a member since the site's launch, i never bought anything. i considered making this ring my first purchase after seeing it on one of my favorite style mavens {and editorial director at Who What Wear}, Hillary Kerr; it was when i recieved an email from jewelmint for a too-good-to-pass-up offer for first-time purchases that sealed the deal...



i've been a fan of MAC's primer, Prep + Prime Skin for a long time {fyi, Victoria Beckham is also a fan!}, so when MAC introduced their Fortified Skin Enhancer, i was intrigued. i have been using it in Recharge {comes in other variations} and not only does this tinted primer give my skin a boost and help my foundation stay put, it also contains an spf of 35-- always a huge plus!



my domestic-diva self loves this gorgeous, good-for-the-planet, lavender floral & mint-scented dish soap by Seventh Generation for washing the things i can't put in the dishwasher...

my beauty-girl self loves that this concentrated formula works fabulously for washing my makeup brushes. ;)


what are you currently loving?

hope you all have a gorgeous weekend! be sure to follow me on twitter and visit my tumblr for more of my musings regarding all things beauty {of course}, style, decor, books, and daily happenings in my life.

image image

currently loving...

it seems my days are going by so much faster these days. i wake up, and before i know it, the day is coming to an end and it's time to sleep! it's kind of nutty when i think about it, but i definitely many things to be thankful for-- my family, my friends, my health and the fact that you are here reading this! :)

sprinkled on top of my thankfulness are some delightful things i'm currently loving in this moment...


There's Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder....a fun chick-lit read {be warned, it is a bit rated-r, due to all the f-bombs dropped}, but the story is funny and engaging. i'm about 70% through it and can't wait to see how the story of three friends, their lives and hope for the future will end up!


fresh, roasted red peppers with my egg whites at breakfast {and sometimes lunch and dinner, too, lol!}...



this image of a small laundry room space is inspiring the redecoration of my own slightly larger laundry space...


NYX Natural Look Nude on Nude Kit is the perfect little gem for travel and everyday use. every shade is wearable, giving my eyes added day-friendly glam, but i also love that the neutral tones help to enhance the shade of a bright-colored eye liner!


philosophy Falling in Love...i picked this up on a Sephora run when they were out of favorite Unconditional Love {j'adore!}; i figured, "why not try it?"...and now, well... :)