Obsessed: around the web this week

Happy Friday, 3P wonderfuls!  Have an amazing weekend, stay cool and enjoy, and I will see you back here next week! 

1. One of my goals is to visit each of the National Parks in my lifetime- happy to have found out about this interesting guide to the lesser known parks. (latimes.com)

2. I love to carry a fun, bright clutch on warm summer nights- LOFT has a great selection. (loft.com)

3. I know someone who would love this simple dotted DIY as a gift. (pinterest.com)

4. Helpful household cleaning tips that I will put to good use... one of these days! (msn.com)

5. I have been on the hunt for maxi dresses lately, and Old Navy has some great styles. (oldnavy.com)

6. I scream, you scream... love this DIY idea for a summer gift. (pinterest.com)

7. Fruit and cheese? Yes please! Going to try this pear with brie & pistachios dessert soon. (pinterest.com)

8. Oh summer hayfever- ever wonder what your sneeze says about you? (nbcnews.com)

9. So happy to hear about this new collaboration between H&M and Isabel Marant. (forbes.com)

The kitchen remodel, revealed!

< loving this beautiful new kitchen in our home! >

So happy to be sharing a house project that I have been so excited about these past few weeks... our kitchen remodel!  The man and I have been dreaming about remodeling the original kitchen in our house since, well, the day we moved in, and we finally bit the bullet on this project.  Cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and hardware were all picked out by my husband and me- I was a little nervous about everything coming together, but and so pleased with the final result! We were blessed with an amazing contractor, who paid attention to the smallest details and worked with great speed.  I really could not be more pleased with the outcome of this remodel!! So much storage space has been added, the countertop is beyond fabulous, we now have an amazing island/bar for entertaining, and... well, everything about this kitchen has me doing a little happy dance every time I glance at it.  I feel beyond blessed to have this beautiful new kitchen in our humble home.  Peek through the pictures below for the before, during and after!

 < before: blue walls and... a wall with no cabinets! >

 < before: a large, rectangular island, standard grade cabinets, and white tile (which I so do not miss!) >

< during: cabinets are down, appliances are out, and the island wall is about to disappear >

< during: electrical and plumbing is put in- also, note that the blue walls are covered with primer now >

 

< during: the start of the new construction- our new kitchen island, framed out >

< during: the new sink goes in- a cast iron Kohler sink I scored on Craigslist for a great deal! >

< during: new cabinets are installed, under-cabinet lighting is completed, appliances are reinstalled, and all thats left are the countertop and some small details >

< after: a brand new sparkling kitchen! >

 

< after: so much storage added around the refrigerator with these pantry cabinets >

< after: totally loving my new sink, the countertop, the backsplash, and check out the new faucets- we picked out a tall Delta faucet with a retractable pull down nozzle, added a button for the garbage disposable, and an instant hot water faucet >

< after: a beautiful, long, solid-surface countertop >

 < after: so happy with these glass front doors on these upper cabinets! >

 < after: the little kitchen table still fits, and the white adds a nice brightness against the color of the new cabinets >

 < after: a little wine bar filled with all kinds of storage, was added to this small corner of the kitchen- it is perfect for entertaining! >

 < after: so thankful for this amazingly beautiful kitchen! >

Pretty pairings: mixing prints with florals

I love to wear florals year round, and summer is the perfect time to debut those bright, cheery floral patterns hanging in your closet.  In order to add some diversity to the way you wear your floral items, please boldly venture into the wonderful world of pattern mixing!  Here I have gathered four different ways to mix and match your florals with other patterned items in your closet: stripes, spots, other florals, and ginghams.  I can't wait to try out some of these ideas, and hope you find some inspiration here, too!  Psst!  For super-easy floral/other pattern mixing, try dresses like this, this, or this.

Find these photos and more pattern mixing ideas over here!

Wonders from the weekend

Happy Monday, 3P pretties!  Hope this is an absolutely fabulous day for all of you!!  My weekend was pretty low-key, just like I wanted, with the addition of a wonderfully successful event for my friend's foundation, For One Another. Today is supposed to be nice and cool with a touch of June rain, so it might be time to bring out that rain parka of mine again!

Whatever you are facing this week, make it a great one, 3P style!! 

Obsessed: around the web this week

A little later than usual, but here are my weekly obsessions from this busy but great past week!  Hope all of you 3P wonderfuls are having a fabulous weekend!

1. I would love any prayers you can provide for a little brave girl I know who is having this procedure- learn about her amazing doctors and this process in Fire with Fire.

2. Although I don't really wear headbands too often, beauties this this sparkly one are especially piquing my interest lately.

3. I love this grown-up nautical display for fourth-of-july and pretty much any summer celebration.

4. Full moon's arising- enjoy the Sunday morning perigee.

5. I have seen these strappy heels from Target on a few of my favorite blogs and I just might have to add them to my summer shoe collection!

6. This easy chocolate mousse is surely going to become my go-to dessert.

7. Love this motivational quote- perfect amount of encouragement!

8. Fun ice cubes for summer?! Sign me up for this fish ice tray!

9. I am itching for an easy DIY, and these rhinestone and rope bracelets are a perfect craft for summer.

Summer clutches and bracelets

< a few of my current favorite accessories for summer >

Sunny summer days always leave me wanting to wear the brightest arm parties, and any evening summer event has me reaching for a woven, colorful clutch to carry around under my arm.  Pairing some bright arm swag with a fun, summery clutch?  This is the perfect answer to how to accessorize a summer outfit.  Here are a few clutches and bracelets that I find to be totally perfect for summer accessorizing.

< perfect summer clutches: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 >

< perfect summer bracelets: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 >

Weekly Wardrobe

And the middle of the week is here, at last!  Today, here are this week's outfit pics! The summer heat and a lot of different June celebratory events have totally made this month's wardrobe a bunch of fun so far. Pops of color, everywhere- I totally love it! Enjoy perusing through these photos, and let me know which ones are your favorites in this week's Weekly Wardrobe Win!

< Outfit 1: pink lace >

Occasion: friend's bridal shower

Dress: LOFT (similar)

Belt: came with dress

Heels: Guess (similar here and another cute option)

Jewelry: all Stella & Dot

< Outfit 2: gray lady >

Occasion: work

Dress: Simply Vera Wang (another gray option here)

Jacket : Gap (save/splurge)

Purse: The Limited

Heels: Calvin Klein (love this pair too)

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson

Jewelry: Paul Frank (watch); all rest Stella & Dot

< Outfit 3: workin' it > 

Occasion: work

Dress: Anthro (lots of sales right now!)

Blazer: F21

Purse: Target

Heels: Jessica Simpson (another great pair)

Sunnies: Calvin Klein (similar)

Jewelry: J.Crew ( necklace); Stella & Dot, BR (bracelets)

< Outfit 4: tribal maxi >

Occasion: attending a graduation

Dress: Ross (other options here and here)

Purse: BR (similar)

Wedges: Nine West (another option)

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson (in brown here)

Jewelry: LOFT (ring); F21 (R bracelets); Stella & Dot (earrings and L bracelet)

< Outfit 5: mixing it up >

Occasion: lunch date

Shirt: J.Crew

Skirt: Target (similar)

Heels: Jessica Simpson

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. (ikat option)

Sunnies: Nine West

Jewelry: Briel (watch); Vince Camuto, Tiffany, F21 (bracelets); Target (earrings)

< Outfit 6: sheens of greens >

Occasion: casual work day

Collared tank: TJ Maxx

Shirt: Liz Claiborne (fun option)

Jeans: BR (similar)

Heels: Target

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C.

Sunnies: Betsey Johnson

Jewelry: The Limited (necklace; old); Target (ring and earrings); LOFT, Stella & Dot Renegade, Tiffany (bracelets)

< Outfit 7: kaleidoscope >

Occasion: dinner with friends

Dress: Cynthia Rowley (similar)

Belt: ON (old)

Purse: Liz Claiborne

Heels: LC Lauren Conrad (love these too)

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson

Jewelry: Stella & Dot Soar necklace, Renegade bracelet, and Eden bangle; inherited (keepsake ring); Target (wrap bracelet)

< Outfit 8: tanked >

Occasion: weekend errands

Tanks: The Limited and ON (similar here)

Jeans: AE Outfitters

Wedges: Carlos Santana (save/splurge)

Purse: TJ Maxx

Sunnies: Nine West

Jewelry: all Stella & Dot

Weekly Wardrobe Win

My June Birchbox

 < loving the new logo >

Another beauty delivery by Birchbox arrived in my mailbox a few days ago, and I had to tear it open with excitement!  I am loving the company's new logo, the cure chevron pattern on the interior of this box, and the signature pink tissue paper!  Not only did this delivery contain a nail polish I can't wait to use and some badly needed tanning towelettes, the marketing materials included in this shipment make me want to travel all over the world!  

< wanderlust... yup, I think I might have a touch of that! >

 < girly pinks- a lip liner and Color Club nail polish I cannot wait to debut >

< cute postcards from 'around the world' >

< an exfoliating face scrub that will be very useful this summer, self-tanning towelettes that I am looking forward to trying this bikini season, and the cutest polka dot nail files that I am going to stash everywhere! >

Want to try your own Birchbox?  Sign up here for all kinds of fun from this company!

Wonders from the weekend

Happy Monday, 3P wonderfuls!  After a bit of radio silence (due to 3P summer fun), I'm baaaaaaaack! Here is a peek at a few of the delightful things I got to enjoy the past few days: a little road trip in the sunshine, a 50/50 basket of greasy goodness, time on one of my favorite lakes, Jamba Juice smoothies with my guy as an afternoon pick-me-up, and one of the cutest, most detailed weddings I have had the pleasure of attending!  It has been a great mini-vacation since last week, but now it is nose to the grindstone once again!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and are ready to make this a fabulous week, 3P style!

Bridal showers and bridal shower games

A few weeks ago I had the joy of celebrating my best friend's upcoming wedding during a weekend full of her two bridal showers.  Each shower was filled with wonderful women, adorable decorations, delicious food, and plenty of love and spoils for the bride to be!  I didn't do too much planning for either of these wedding showers, but was happy to add a few details here and there.  Here are just a few details from each of the bridal showers, as well as the scoop on some of the bridal showers games I created for one of the events.  My dear friend- you know who you are- I am so happy for you!!

The details, day 1:

< Picked up a little notebook from Anthropologie, pasted the bridal shower invitation inside, glued a bow on the outside, and made it into a guestbook! >

< The 'Bridal Tea Party' tablescape for bridal shower #1 >

< Lovely table set up for mimosas and tea, with a DIY pendant banner above >

< The cutest little personalized bridal shower favors- so in keeping with the tea party theme! >

< The mismatched blue place settings were perfect for the tea party bridal shower >

The food:

< Little fruit cups filled with cream and fresh fruit >

< Tasty sandwiches fit for a high tea! >

< A warm brownie topped with chocolate and a fruit compote- yes please! >

< Cupcakes set up in the shape of a wedding dress- perfect for a bridal shower! >

The details:

< Supplies from Michael's for an easy, semi DIY pendant banner >

< The DIY pendant banner in its glory! Personalize it any way you like for the guest of honor- I stuck sticky glitter letters on mine to read 'Valerie bride to be' >

< The first bridal shower game was a clothespin collection contest.  I personalized the clothespins with a few different stickers, and handed one to each guest as she entered the shower.  Throughout the event, there were three words that you could not say- if you said one of those words, the guest who caught you saying that word could take your clothespin.  At the end of the wedding shower, the guest with the most clothespins won a prize >

< The second game I created for the bridal shower guests was a 'guess the herb' game.  I hid 6 different herbs in plastic cups, covered them with wax paper, and labeled them with a number.  I poked holes in the wax paper right before the game was played so that guests could smell each herb.  >

< The answer sheet I created for the guests, to go along with the herb guessing game >

< A few of the bridal shower game prizes I wrapped up with a little love quote >

The details, day 2:

< Adorable brunch tablescape at a beautiful country club >

< The favors, all with a touch of the bride's favorite color >

< The gift table with ribbons, ribbons everywhere! >

< The sweetest, handmade cookies from our other best friend, for the guests at this shower! >