I took these two lovelies with my favorite micro 40 mm lens and I'm linking up with Craft Cherry and Green Mountain Couple.
Earlier today I took a short stroll on Washington Avenue, snapping a couple of pictures and appreciating all the lovely potted plants and green flanking the street. They smell and look so stunning it makes the whole city just a little bit prettier. I now have a sudden urge to head to the nearest flower shop and load my basket up with succulents and peonies and everything beautiful and smelly.
I took these two lovelies with my favorite micro 40 mm lens and I'm linking up with Craft Cherry and Green Mountain Couple.
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This weekend I've spent hours on the couch reading and re-watching (for the millionth time) Harry Potter. Now, I have Harry Potter + owl projects swirling around in my head. Posters and pinboards, signs and mailboxes, and perhaps a makeshift wand or two. I'm pretty excited. I'll be filling my little work space with all these goodies and want it to be cheery and fresh, with lots of inspiration splattered around the room. I normal gravitate to white and bright for my home, but for work I decided on a colorful palette of red, green, blue, and yellow (naturally a nod to the four houses) for the main tid bits. But here is the dilemma - I bought a handful of these cute little wooden owls with the plan of painting them white and brown with little speckles of black (hello Hedwig). But then I had this thought - do my owls have to be realistic or could I make them a little more fun and whimsical? I can't decide!
Oy vey! I think I might actually like taking selfies. It's hard to imagine that a copious amount of self portraits would lead to some serious photography refining skills. But, I've been doing Elsie + Emma's 30-day self portrait challenge for about a week now and I've acquired a few tidbits of knowledge. My tripod, timer, and I have become very well acquainted -playing with light, poses, and camera settings. My first attempts were ultimately fuzzy, unflattering, and perfectly ridiculous. Each day my high-rise neighbors get a hilarious show of me parading, twirling, and fumbling around my apartment. Half of me thinks I should post the flops for a couple of laughs instead. So far, the challenge has been super fun! Fiddling around with the beautiful mess app and trying to make each picture a little different from the last. My biggest concern was actually posting them in public. I was curious (and slightly terrified) about what my Instagram followers would think about my continuous selfies. But overall I've felt extremely supported. Thanks friends! Y'all are the BEST!! All your comments and lovely likes have been affirmation that I can occasionally take a good picture. I love checking Instagram every day and seeing what my sister and other people have posted. I think it's my favorite part of the challenge. Love seeing everyone's each day! Here's hoping everyone is enjoying following along! I'd love to hear any tips
+ recommendations you might have... or if you are playing along! xoxo Yesterday was a sobering day. I was missing my family and friends and feeling pathetically lonely. So...today I am celebrating. Making a quick batch of zucchini Pad Thai for a late lunch while simultaneously making Bò Kho for dinner. Spending a lot time in my kitchen these days and trying to enjoy the slow isolated moments before I return to work. Feeling thankful for great food, teaching myself something new, and a happy full year of blogging. That's right my lovelies, Lavender + Pink is a year old...and that is something to celebrate. Thanks for following along.
Happy Birthday, L + P! xoxo I seem to be drawn to detail shots and pictures that illuminate my life in the most subtle way. I love taking pictures. My photography skills have come a long way this year, graduating from my iPhone to a big boy camera. Right now I shoot with a Nikon D5100 and I am in love with my micro 40 mm lens...capturing all the little things. However, I am terrible about seizing opportunities to photograph people (especially myself).
Starting today, I am joining Elsie + Emma from a Beautiful Mess for a 30-day self portrait challenge. I feel a little silly taking 30 pictures of myself, perhaps even a little embarrassed. But, the thing is, I think I am going to learn a lot about capturing pictures and being more creative. No rules and lots of fun. I will be sharing all my pics via instagram (lavenderandpink)! Additionally, I'm linking up with my big sister, from Craft Cherry, who is co-hosting (with Green Mountain Couple) a photo link-up with themes. Another reason to force creativity through photography. Their first link up was on Sunday, so my post is a little belated. But here it, two days late... my selfie! How perfect is that I decided to do a portrait challenge on the same day?! Thanks for letting me link up ladies! xoxo {Flowers from the hubby. Definitely needed these pretties this weekend.} {new shower head... the original one was so small and plasticy} {fresh watermelon is the best} {current obsession: Ghee} {We purchased a microwave this weekend! It's the little things y'all!}
I'll be honest with y'all, I'm not very skilled in the kitchen. I inevitably end up burning something or entirely forgetting an ingredient. Usually my husband does most of the cooking and I lend a hand by staying out of the way and cleaning up afterwards. I have to admit I've been pretty spoiled. These days I've been itching to reinvent myself. I'm calling it my "I-just-moved-to-a-new-city" transformation. And as I search for more healthy organic whole foods I've been spending more and more time in our teeny tiny kitchen. I've enjoying my little victories... not burning sweet potato hash and trying new veggies and neglecting the modern convenience of a microwave. This gal has been feeling like quite the Betty homemaker lately. Making homemade almond milk has been one of my favorite endeavors. It's so incredibly simple and perfectly gratifying. Slightly more expensive, but I was having a really really hard time finding store bought almond milk without the added sugar. So I decided just to make my own. I bought myself a nut milk bag and got started. Homemade almond milk
4 cups of water (plus a few cups for soaking) 1 cup of raw almonds *1/4 cup of dates (If you want to add a little natural sweetness) Place 1 cup of almonds in a bowl. Fill a bowl with water so that the almonds are completely submerged, cover with a towel and soak overnight. The next day, drain the almonds and transfer the drained almonds into a blender with 4 cups of water. Blend!! Pour the mixture into a nut milk bag and squeeze all the "milk" into an empty bowl. You'll be rewarded with a quart of almond milk and a bag of fresh almond meal. Drink and enjoy! xoxo *blend the dates with the soaked almonds and water. I love zoos. And I am one hundred percent smitten with the Saint Louis Zoo. A huge animal wonderland filled with hours of merriment. From wandering around Historical Hill with it's gorgeous architecture from the 1920's, to getting slightly lost in River's Edge looking for the rhinos. We walked around for five hours watching all the animals play, socialize, and hide from the heat and crowds. I could have spent all day at Sea Lion Landing watching those sweet mammals bobbling around in the water. Amidst the sea lions and elephants is the original Flight Cage, a beautifully constructed walk-through showcase of birds from the 1904 World's Fair and the beginning of the Saint Louis Zoo. I am in love. Happy day my friends! xoxo. Arianna
We've been celebrating today by watching the Veiled Prophet Parade right outside our front door. We started on the street then headed back up to watch the remaining floats and balloons march past our apartment window. Now for air shows, music, and a weekend of fireworks.
Happy Fourth of July! xoxo {lovely Saturday drive through the über cute neighborhood of Holly Hills} {a little glimpse of our street in downtown St. Louis} {Tex-Mex found! Looking forward to trying this place out} {Jackie, sunbathing across the contents of a unpacked box} {figured out my jogging route...it's kind of awesome that I get to see this everyday}
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