December 31, 2013

Thank you!

It has been an exciting few months for us! From travels, to jobs, friends, and starting this blog it has been truly exciting. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have been following along with us on this new blog journey! Also, to our new followers and blog-friends as I call you all. It has been a great experience getting to know you all through the words and experiences you share on your pages.

We are really looking forward to 2014, hoping it will bring new inspiration for the blog. Travel posts, more fashion, creativity, and laughter!

We are excited to continue with our blog journey and for you to join us.

Have a fabulous last day of 2013, talk to you next year!

-A&K

December 30, 2013

New Years Resolutions!

I always try to remind myself to make resolutions throughout the year but there is always something about the new year and a fresh start that inspires fresh goals.

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Source: Google

So here are some of my own

1. Career research and networking: With the start of the new year I hope to start looking into a new career or possibly going back to school. I want to network and go on informational interviews and job shadow and meet as many new people as possible. Keeping both my options and my mind open to new opportunities.

2. Save to spend: I recently heard from my brother who heard via Freakonomics how it isn't practical to stress out about saving in your 20s. So instead of trying to scrimp and save and miss out on concerts or trips,  I'm going to save to go to concerts and on trips! I want to  cut down on frivolous spending and focus instead on what I really want and use my money to go after those things.

3. Travel: Anywhere and everywhere, however I do have a few trips at the top of the queue.

Seattle: Ashley and I have been wanting to go for some time so we will hopefully make it happen soon!

New Orleans: Also have been wanting to go here for a long time and have been pre planning it with a friend, just need to save up and hopefully I'll be there this spring!

Nashville: My cousin is getting married in Nashville this year and I'm so excited to visit and plan a trip to the south.

4. Be adventurous: I just want to constantly remind myself to put myself out there and meet new people, go to new places and not be lazy or boring.

5. Be happy: Whatever I'm doing and wherever I'm at I can be happy and appreciative for all that I have. Don't waste your time doing things that make you unhappy, make time for what does!

-K

December 26, 2013

Amazing Apps: Travel

I am going on a big trip soon and I am so excited!

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Parts of my trip have been all planned out for me while other parts have been left completely up to me. Exciting and overwhelming. Luckily traveling has been made easier through some very handy apps. I wanted to share a few I have been using and plan to use on my travels.

1. JetRadar: This app is soooo helpful. It is really user friendly and can help you find a flight from anywhere to anywhere.  All you have to do is plug in where you wanna go and when and the app does the rest. You can set limits on how many stopovers you have, flight duration, airline, and it will literally give you hundreds of flights to choose from. You can select favorite flights and save your searches while you shop around. You can also purchase tickets directly from the app or from the website.

2. Kurrency: The best thing about this app is its simplicity. Open the app and choose which currency you want to convert as well as the amount. I also like that is gives you the name of the currency along with the conversion rate. I have traveled before and kept a little card with the conversions on it. Trust me the app is better. It gives you up to date exchange rates and can easily switch from one conversion to another.

3. iTranslate: Like Kurrency this app is simple and easy to use, plug in the languages and what your trying to say and bam its there. It also has a microphone feature that will read the word or phrase out to you, so not only will you know what to say you will know how to say it!

4. Citymaps2go: This app provides offline maps that you can use without using your data. You just need to download the maps and your ready to explore! I can't wait to use this app while aboard. It will be much handier than carrying around huge maps all the time and will help me look less like a tourist!  The full version costs $2.99 but there is also a free "lite" version that allows you to download a limited number of maps.

Enjoy and let us know what apps you like to use while traveling!

-K

December 20, 2013

Nailed It

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I love a good Sunday afternoon of watching Sex and the City and painting my nails! Wine may or may not be included. It's a good way to relax, have some Ashley time, and get ready for the next week. While waiting for them to dry , a good fashion magazine is always needed. Over the years I have tried many different products and these are by far my favorites.

Boom Boom Room nail polish by Essie is the perfect shade of pink. Not too bright and not too "baby" and you can wear it year round. Essie's polishes go on smooth and last for a long period of time. Check out all their fun colors each season!

Sally Hansen's Hard As Wraps is fabulous. I put it on as a based coat and in-between coats or whatever color polish I am putting on. It is a great way to make your polish last.

OPI Top Coat is the perfect way to end any at home manicure. It will seal your polish and will give it a nice shine.

I use Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream before I go to bed at least once a week, it will keep your cuticles nice and soft - and manicure ready!

I also always keep a nail file or two on had. Not only do I use them to shape my nails, but also to smooth them before painting them.

I hope this help! If you have any favorite nail care items please let me know!

-A

December 18, 2013

HAPPY Holidays!

The holidays are great! They can also be extremely stressful. While it is not possible for me to eliminate your stress I can offer you a place of refuge.

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Source: Google

Enter Pharrell Williams. Not only is he one of my fave people he is also gorgeous,  an incredible musician, walking fashion inspiration and now instant smile provider. He recently released a 24 hour music video entitled "Happy" and while I have not watched it all I am working on it.
In short it is amazing.

So when the holiday stress or anytime stress seems to be bringing you down watch a few minutes of the video or a few hours and I promise you will feel better. Oh and there are amazing celebrity cameos and Pharrell dances through every hour, aka he's in it 24 times!

Happy Holidays and enjoy!

-K

December 16, 2013

I'm In Love With Crewnecks

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This is true, I have had a love affair with crewnecks for many years. They are amazing! And finally they are widely available for women! No more awkward fits and baggy shoulders!
Here are some of my favorite crewnecks. I could wear them everyday.photo 2 (2)photo 3photo (3)photo 2

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They go with everything! Here I've paired them all with jeans and chucks, but they can easily be dressed up or down. You can add jewelry or a nice infinity scarf  or pair them with nicer pants and flats. I love the gray sweater because its so versatile. I've worn it by itself or piled on jewelry and bolder make up for a concert. Here I paired it with a chambray button up and statement necklace. Something that can easily go from day to night.

Geometric and zebra print, Forever 21 - Gray, Old Navy - Floral, Thrifted

December 12, 2013

"Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

What's your favorite holiday movie? There are so many good ones to pick from! Classic black and white films, to hilarious comedies, and ones about finding your true love. We put together a list of our favorites... and we would love to hear what your favorites are!

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MV5BMTcyNDIyMjc0MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTcxNTkzMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR11,0,214,317_


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All links and images via IMDB.com

December 9, 2013

Closet Clean Out

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I Love a good clean out; closets, drawers, garages... whatever it may be I love getting rid of the excess.

A couple of weeks ago my mother and I cleaned out her closet. I wanted to share the results as well as some tips to clean and organize your own space.

First you need the time and the energy to see the project through start to finish. When cleaning out a space I always manage to make a huge mess in the process, so keep that in mind as you plan your day. You don't want to get half way through and have to leave and come back to a huge mess later.
You will also need a large clear space to start, I suggest you use your bed as a sorting station, that way all the clothes or items that come out of the closet have a place to go.

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Also get two large garbage bags. One for items that can be donated and one for items that you think you can resell.

Now sort through everything! And I mean everything, my mom always tries to get away with "Oh i'll go through that later" Trust me, there is no later. Do it all in one sitting and you will thank yourself later.

When sorting keep in mind how often you wear or use the items. Do they fit? Are they in style? Are they functional, practical? My mom had a lot of great stuff in her closet but if she never wears it and it is shoved in the back it's not doing her any good. Better to have less items that you actually wear than a closet full of things you don't.

Once you are through the sorting process begin to put things back in a way that is functional for you. Not everyone's closet should look the same.

Again I like to set aside two bags; one to donate to places like Goodwill and another one of higher quality more current items to try and resell at Buffalo Exchange or any other resale shop of your choosing.
Good luck and enjoy your beautiful new closet!

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The Bonus of cleaning out my mom's closet was all of the great finds. Above is a beautiful old clutch she gave to me and my great grandmothers shoes.

-K

December 5, 2013

Winter Wonderland!

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Happy winter! I have been so so so excited for all of the joys that this fabulous season brings, sights, smells, lights, friends, family, you name it- I love it! Similar to this post about my love of fall, I decided to put together a list of things I want to do to celebrate winter!

1. Spend a night walking around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights.

2. Have a fabulous New Years Eve, maybe wear this uh-mazing dress!

3. Host a girls night in and watch chick-flicks for Valentines Day

4. Make a snowman.

5. Go to a cabin and relax by the fire with family.

6. Decorate cookies to give to neighbors for the holidays.

7. Try not to fall while ice skating.

8. Indulge in peppermint lattes.

9. Donate to Toys for Tots, food bank, or another local charity.

10. Keep my New Years Resolutions (at least until the end of February)
What is on your winter to-do list?photo 3-3

Kira in the snow in Chicago

-A

December 2, 2013

Holiday Wish List 2013

The holidays are coming!!


Is everyone as excited as I am? Every year my Mom asks me, "What do you want ? Send me a list" I put together a list this year of things that I love and thought I would share it with you!



Holiday Wish List 2013




Bow Tie Clutch from Anthropologie to enhance any outfit

Go-to decorating guide from the beloved Domino

A cute "A" clutch from Anthropologie

Martha Stewart craft glitter - perfect to add to nails, crafts, and homemade cards!

An ode to 2003 with The OC on dvd

Oliva Pope's wine glasses from Crate and Barrel

Wedding planning is my dream job, so the Style Me Pretty book is perfect inspiration

A classic Kate Spade handbag



Happy shopping!


-A

November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving Crafts

I cannot believe it is almost Thanksgiving!

For me, Thanksgiving always marks the end of fall and the beginning of the holiday season. However, for some people (and retailers) it seems like Thanksgiving isn't even a holiday anymore. I went to the store recently to get some decorations and they didn't even have any!

This year is my first year hosting Thanksgiving for my family! I am so excited to see family, have some delicious drinks, and eat until we all fall asleep! I have decided on a rustic theme for my decorations and I have used Pinterest to come up with some ideas.

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A festive candle.

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Perfect for a mantle

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Gorgeous wreath.

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You can never have too much glitter!

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This would look great in a window.

Let me know how your crafts turn out - and have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

-A

November 26, 2013

Some Windy City Fun

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 I recently took a trip to Chicago!

I've been to Chicago a handful of times and each time I find something new to love. My last visit was in February, the weather was frightening and kept me inside so this time was chilly but manageable.

Most of the time was happily spent with family outside of the city. I pretty much ate constantly and enjoyed catching up with the fam. If your ever out in the midwest go to Steak 'n Shake! It is amazing. Essentially a diner, I think I've only eaten there once but every time I'm out there I go for a shake. They always have your standard flavors plus amazing other creations, and they are open 24 hours.

While I was in the burbs most of my trip, I was able to go into the city several times. My first trip into the city was to go see improv! Chicago is famous for improv and many great comedians and SNL folks have come through the Chi Town circuit. I went to IO for a Saturday night improv show. It was my first professional show and was so much fun. There were amazing comedians and it was just a fun night with my family. IO is downtown right by Wrigley field so we also got to walk around downtown a little and check out a few bars too!
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Second City is also in Chicago, if you wanna go to either venue I suggest checking out shows and buying tickets in advance. Shows will sell out and I did see plenty of people tuned away at the door.
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Another new discovery for me was the Wicker Park area. It's a little hipster but was fun to walk around for a few hours. There are tons of great little stores and cafes to check out. I got an amazing Chai Latte from Filter and definitely would have spent more time there if I had it. It was so warm and comfy in there. The barista was super nice and the couches looked so inviting.

I also found a great gallery, the Jackson Junge Gallery they had lots of different pieces and had tons of prints and Chicago art if you wanted to take a piece home. If street art is more your thing Wicker Park has tons of it.

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Enjoy the pictures and Chicago if you get a chance to go!


-K

November 20, 2013

Brown Sugar Scrub

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This is the easiest, tastiest scrub you will ever scrub yourself with!

Ashley and I made this a few months ago and it was amazing. Smells amazing and makes your skin so soft.  All you have to do is mix brown sugar and olive oil. There are no exact measurements, just add as you please.

We chose to keep it simple using only two ingredients but you can also add honey, lemon or anything else you wish to add to the scrub .


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Let us know what you add and how yours turns out!

Cautionary tale: 

Ashley and I made the scrub and put them in these beautiful glass jars.  I then put this beautiful jar in the shower and one day while I was trying to open the scrub it slipped and broke in the shower. Let me tell you there are few things scarier than broken glass all over the shower while you're in it! So be careful and perhaps go for plastic!

-A&K

November 18, 2013

Central Coast Getaway

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A few weeks ago I went on a weekend getaway with my mom and aunt. We were celebrating my aunts birthday and decided that a quick trip down the coast would be perfect. We ended up in Pismo Beach which is about 4 hours south of San Francisco. Pismo and the surrounding area is the perfect beach town - perfect views, great people, and delicious food.

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I wanted to offer some tips for planning a weekend getaway and share with you some of the fun times we had. We picked a hotel off the main highway, we wanted it to have ocean views and close proximity to all of the area without being right downtown. We did some research to pick out what would be the best place for us - which included a fabulous balcony.

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When picking a hotel you should really consider these three questions;

1. How much time will you be spending in the room?

2. How close is it to the activities that you will be doing?

3. What amenities will you be using at the hotel/do they offer them?

During the weekend we had two fabulous dinners. One at Steamers and one at Ventana Grill. I highly recommend both restaurants if you are in the area. They both offer great drinks and a full and flavorful menu.

The big highlight of the weekend was an afternoon at the Sycamore Mineral Springs spa. The mineral springs have been around for over 100 years and the resort was built around them. The spa was tucked away in the forest and featured a variety of massage packages. Additionally you can rent a private hot spring for an hour. It was definitely worth it, and the grounds of the resort were absolutely breathtaking.

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On our way out of town we stopped at Avila Valley Barn, they had a pumpkin patch (which I checked off my list), sunflower fields, farm animals, and local produce and goods to purchase in their store. We weren't planning on going but saw it on the road and decided that it would be a great stop.


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Weekend getaway tips:

1. Do some research about what the town or city has to offer.

2. Talk with locals about their favorite things to do (restaurants, sights, ect).

3. Don't plan too much - go in with some ideas but leave time for exploring whatever you may find along the way!

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Happy travels!

-A

November 15, 2013

Dresser Makeover

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I haven't had or needed a dresser for what seems like forever.  Now, however, my closet is overflowing...so I dug out my childhood dresser for a much needed makeover. 

1. First I had to give it a thorough cleaning. It was pretty grimey so I wiped it down with soap and water and tried to get it as clean as possible.

2. Then I removed all the hardware and sanded down the entire dresser. I used a medium grain sand in case you    were wondering. Sanding is important because it helps remove unwanted blemishes as well as to help the paint better stick to the wood.

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3. After sanding I wiped down the dresser again and got ready to paint! Earlier in the week Ashley and I went to The Home Depot and picked out paint. I decided I wanted to paint the dresser white with teal accents. There are however many different kinds of white so make sure you pick carefully. I decided on Pearl Drops and Mermaid Treasure both by Behr. To paint I used a small foam roller (It helps the paint go on smooth and even with no brush strokes to show through).

I painted the whole dresser white. Because the paint is so light it easily shows imperfections, as well as the wood underneath so I did a few coats of the white. I taped off the edges as needed with painters tape and added my teal accents.

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4. I wanted to keep the charm of the old dresser but with a more updated feel, so I bought new white knobs and painted the old ones. After everything was painted and dry I just had to screw on the  hard ware , step back and Enjoy!

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-K

November 13, 2013

Quick and Easy Stir-Fry

On Wednesday we went on a little adventure, did some blog-talk and realized that we were super hungry. After much thought we decided on an easy lunch time stir-fry. All you need are a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge/pantry.photo 1-2

In ours we decided on shrimp, edamame, broccoli, and green bell peppers.

All you really need to do is chop everything up (or use frozen veggies), cook over medium heat, add your spices, add your protein, and serve over rice with your favorite sauce!photo 2-2

Veggies: bell pepper, mushrooms, broccoli, onion, asparagus, carrots, edamame, water chestnuts, baby carrots

Protein: chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, tofu

Sauces: siracha, soy sauce, sweet and sour, lime& ginger.
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Enjoy!

-A&K