Daily Cute

I don't know what it is about fall but I feel like I love cute things even more. So when I found this I knew I had to share. Try not to get diabetes from how sweet and cute these are!

Coolest Jewelry for Summer and Fall 2011

I am obsessed with a seller on etsy named blockpartypress. I will take you on a journey in this blog post of my favorite items that are necklaces, and one ring. This seller does so many unique items from necklaces and rings, to magnets and hair pins, buckles, bookmarks and on and on. This seller works with hand carved stamps and polymer clay to create one of a kind items that I can only assure no one else around you will have. So lets take an amazing journey through necklaces that will become conversation pieces.

A night on the town, cities are hot right now and even if you don't live in a big one you can still appreciate a little city scape on your neckline. Neckline meet skyline <3

Big chunky bright flowers are hip and very hippy reminiscent. The seller has several colors available, so cute! It is girl but even a non-girly girl will find something to love about this flower.

Cupcakes! I am obsessed with this bite sizes bake good since I started thinking about opening a cupcake shoppe. These are adorable and delectable and the colors just pop!

Jet setters can become trend setters. Who doesn't love flying off to somewhere exotic, even if you are stuck on the ground wearing this necklace will show of your inner travel fantasies.

Who ever thought sewing would be hot?! Well it is and young and old sewers alike would love this cool spool hanging around their neck. Even cooler? Getting it customized in a thread color of your choice.

Anyone who paints knows its addicting. Wear it proud and say it loud with this necklace, I LOVE PAINT!

Best mood rings..... ever. Cloud rings, you almost need one of each. Plus they would match any outfit.

Bows are really in right now, so if you are feeling like you need a bow in your life opt out of the plastic thing on your finger and go for a bolder bow.

Cool quote!

"Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don’t be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally know who you are."

Kristin Armstrong

May Favorites

Since I am so behind on blogging, I KNOW I AM SORRY, I thought I would give you a big ol favorites post with tons of good stuff for May. 

• Ok so I know I did not want to jump on the Adele train, I know I am super late also, but I do not like any of her stuff yet just Rolling in the Deep. Reasons I like this song, Great beat, Adele isn't some skinny chicky singer she is a full bodied hottie, and the lyrics are completely my life over a year ago at the end of a long relationship. 

The scars of your love remind me of us, They keep me thinking that we almost had it all, The scars of your love, they leave me breathless,  I can't help feeling, We could have had it all,(You're gonna wish you never had met me), Rolling in the deep, (Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep), You had my heart inside of your hand, (You're gonna wish you never had met me), And you played it to the beat.

• So I have gone to a million pure romance parties in my life and some of the products are meh, but some are great like the coochy shaving cream, or better yet the save my skin oil. I love this stuff it is great for sunburned areas and stretch marks. I use it every night after a shower because that's when your skin is the most likely to absorb moisturizers.   
  

  Nutrient rich Save My Skin Oil aids in the prevention and healing of stretch marks. Save My Skin moisturizes and nourishes stretch marks with essential oils that allow the skin to expand with the least amount of damage. Cocoa butter, enriched with vitamin E, is a natural emollient that helps to restore moisture and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Sesame oil is a natural healing oil, as well as a potent antioxidant. Kaylaya oil promotes skin cell healing. Kaylaya oil penetrates seven layers of skin to soften lines from the inside out, does not clog pores, and significantly reduces recent scarring.

 

Dining by the Alphabet: C is for Crabcake Factory

We officially found the best Sunday brunch spot in Jacksonville. Well actually Jacksonville Beach, even better because it was a gorgeous day for the beach.
For around $20 bucks at CrabCake Factory you can eat all you can brunch and drink all you can mimosas. YUM x 100!

 

Raven enjoyed a plate mixed with lots of different items. It truly was a selection, there was so much to choose from,chicken, salads, potatoes, make your own omelet station, pancakes, french toast, and yes crab cakes. There was so much I can not even now, explain the expanse of this buffet.

Candace met us at one in the afternoon for mimosas, good convo, and WAY too much food!

I started out with Tilapia, mahi-mahi, chicken, potatoes, and vegetables. Do not be fooled I ended up getting way more food than I intended. When you are faced with so much food that you like and want to try it was hard not to over indulge. 

I ended with an amazing plate of my favorite breakfast standbys. French toast, Waffles, and Pancakes. I doused them in regular maple syrup and strawberry syrup. How did I avoid diabetic shock? There was also baked goods from a Bakery called Black Dog Bakers. The bakery is co-located inside the Factory restaurant. I had a to-die-for cheesecake brownie.

It was a fun day, an experience we all enjoyed. I think the amount of food + the endless drinks makes this the best Sunday brunch deal as of yet!

Dining by the Alphabet: B is for Biscottis

I am pretty sure Raven and I discovered the best brunch spot in Jacksonville.
Picture this, the weather is in the seventies in February, you arrive to a cute little bistro/cafe and sit outside in the early spring breeze enjoying sweet and savory concoctions that are only good enough to belong to a Sunday.

So Raven and I decided on Biscottis for two reasons. One: we both wanted to try it, and Two: we had a coupon. A coupon or special trumps and seals the deal in any decision.

 

Sitting outside in February was a treat, but not anywhere close to the treat of the extensive menu with an endless array of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drink options. Nestled in the quaint Avondale area Biscottis offers more than enough to satisfy your need for something new.

We both ordered off the Sunday brunch menu. Asking the waitress what was good did nothing to help my decision because everything she suggested sounded amazing, all the descriptions were just as titillating. I finally chose the crab, asparagus, and brie quiche. Three ingredients I adored in a little egg pie, with a side of bacon and cheese grits. This was my first time trying grits, yum, not my last time with this side dish! This was the perfect mid day brunch item! I also tried one of the fancy pink lemonades. Delicious.

Raven ordered the Creme Brulee french toast. This was my second choice, it SHOULD have been my first. The waitress recommended it but she did not do it justice. So sweet that it does not even come with syrup, this is quite possibly THE BEST french toast I had ever sampled. It was so good you would eat a piece even if it fell on the table! HEHE!

This restaurant was easily one of the best places we have eaten so far and even though we are only on B I don't think it will be easy to top. I cannot wait to come here again, I peered in their dessert case a couple times but I had no room for more calories, I was so tempted. Next time I will be getting that french toast, it was worth it! This place is easily the perfect spot for coffee and slowing down the day for a few hours.

Some days I wish this was me

Some days I feel like it is me!

Dining by the Alphabet: A

A friend and I are doing a dining by the alphabet challenge, there is so many interesting restaurants in Jacksonville! We started with B then skipped to O, but I am going to do the blog in order as we are trying to continue on in order. A is for Aw Shucks

This time our group was pretty huge, eight people. Usually it is just Raven and I, which is nice, its chill and relaxing, we get one on one talking time, and we really get to explore and enjoy the food we are trying! But eight was also fun, almost everyone was new to the oyster experience.

Oysters Rockefeller: We all tried these oysters, on the half shell, with garlic, parmesan, parsley, and spinach. Yum! I had never had oysters

I ended up ordering a fried oyster and shrimp combo, pretty good, a little expensive, fun to try oysters. We also split crab stuffed mushrooms, and they were amazing, my favorite fungi!

 

Raven got a deliciously seasoned and flavorful spinach and feta topped flounder. It did not say mushrooms on the menu but came topped with them, not cool! Not everyone likes shrooms! She still enjoyed it!

My friend Candace decided to join us, she is an adventurer too! She got a fish slider, no complaints on her end.

After we had sat and chatted and stuffed ourselves silly with seafood we went and played arcade games. Yes, this restaurant had an arcade that gave away tickets for chintzy prizes. I sucked at all the games, and only got like eighty tickets, enough for two pieces of gum and two airheads! All in all I think I would give the night a 6 out of 10 stars. There was a few complainants, the food was pricey (not necessarily worth the price), the service was lacking a bit, but I decided that I would love to give them another try. The menu was full of lots of choices and I think I would love to try their gyro.

AND so onward and upward to new culinary delights and adventures. We only have three rules for dining by the alphabet
#1: Restaurants need not be visited in ABC order. (like if we find a wicked awesome coupon for Q but we are only on F it is ok to skip ahead, you cannot pass up a good coupon)
#2: Friends are welcomed both Raven and I both need to be present for it to count on our list.
#3: The goal is to find places new to each of us; however, if it is just new to one of us that will count. (So far three out of three have been brand new to both of us).

You should trying something like this challenge in your own city, you might just discover a new cafe or sandwich shop and broaden your horizons!

A blog favorite

Need a laugh once a week? This blog is updated on Wednesdays and I have never been disappointed.
http://butyourelikereallypretty.tumblr.com/

"Every Wednesday I meet a new celebrity. So if you are in the mood for a Hump Day Treat you know where to find it."

By: Ryan Casey

Dresses for Bachlorette Party

Dresses for Bachlorette Party by createathought featuring corset dresses

Some ideas of the look I am going for in October for the hot goth bachlorette party.

Summer

I cannot wait for all that summer has to hold. The beach, a new city, new friends, festivals, bonfires....

January Feature

Etsy Bloggers Team January Feature is
TheArtofJoy
Printable and Customizable Paper and Party Items

Stationary!

I was inspired today by some of my friends back in Michigan who have been writing me letters. My one friend Stephanie said something to the effect that texts, emails, and facebook don't quite compare to getting a good ol' fashioned letter in the mail. I agree! So I went on etsy and found some stationary that I thought was pretty cool. I tried to find paper that you can write whole letters on and not just cards that can only hold a few sentences. I found some pretty awesome stuff! ENJOY

Inspiration

While looking through my Elle Decor I found this print. It is From a collection called watercolors by Walton Ford.

If you look his collection up you will see the lion a lot. A lot of his art just seems so powerful and raw, natural for sure. Just thought I would share!

Ten Purchases of 2010

I think I bought some pretty cool things on etsy in 2010. So I am sharing it here with you, maybe you will find something amazing to buy in 2011!
ENJOY!
Support Love bumper sticker, I proudly have on my car.
Chap stick Five pack, totally addictive stuff!
Absinthe lip gloss, the drink is yuck, the chap stick is good!
F-Love resin Necklace, lots of fun comments on this one!
My yellow messager bag, aka, MY travel bag, never fly without it!
Mr. Moustache, such a fun shirt! I bought it for a themed art walk!
Sent this to my bestie Tyler for his birthday!
More lip balm, flavored and tinted!
Awesome headband for my birthday celebrations!
Red heads rock pinback, because DUH we do rock!