easter weekend getaway

Camping season is back in full force! And to celebrate the long weekend, we packed our Subaru and headed out to Santa Barbara County. More precisely, Cachuma Lake.

After setting up camp near the lake, I had my heart set on renting a kayak and heading out in the water. It was a sunny and breezy day in Southern California, and even though the drought has taken away most of the water from the lake, there was nothing stopping me from getting in. Then it occurred to me. How in the world am I going to get our little sausage dog in the tiny kayak? After much debating, we decided on a motor boat. Yes, the little fishing boat that you never thought of getting on. Hands down best idea ever!

Lady was on board with the idea (pun intended, duh!) and we were off on a bumpy ride. Very bumpy indeed. After two hours of holding on tight to this scary little pup and soaking up the sun we headed back to light a campfire and relax for the night.

This was definitely a non-traditional Easter weekend and, like always, we missed our families dearly. However when life gives you an opportunity to be adventurous and embrace the unknown, I always say 'take it!' Because in the end there is no much harm that can be done. And so much good to take away with you.

Hope you come back soon,

m.

living room design: featuring chairish

rug, coffee table and pillows (yellow/elephant) from chairish.com

It all started when the husband and I sat down at our dining room table for our regular evening meal. When Chris mentioned something about our tiny little table... Two years ago when we set out to LA we had nothing except our clothes and lots of books, and after moving into our first apartment it was as if we were racing against time to furnish that 700 square feet home. Which brings me back to the table... I desperately needed (wanted) a modern looking table with personality and only had a $200 budget. Ha! Complete joke. So I did what any determined gal would do: search craigslist up and down, every single day, non stop. Usually I find incredible stuff on craigslist, but this time luck wasn't on my side and I ended up giving in and heading to Target's website to purchase the said table. 

We are all aware that a $200 table at target = one year of use and that's pretty much it! I was aware of that from the beginning but made a choice to overlook it. That night when Chris made a comment about the wobbly table I couldn't help but feel the need to get rid of it right there and then. And just like that crazy decorating women kicked in and I set out on a journey to re-decorate our living room!

After buying a new table, chairs and a cover for the couch, I started investigating rugs. Have you ever tried finding the perfect rug? Man, what a difficult task it is. I searched all over the web, homegoods, tjmxx, that was when I came across Chairish. If you are into design and home furnishing, I am sure that you have spent plenty of time navigating their website (if not, please do!) Even though I am a lover of all color, I am a total white/brown/gray kinda girl when it comes to decorating and I have a really hard time investing in big splashy new purchases - I usually stick to the classics. However what I found to be incredibly helpful is to invest in pops of color in other areas, like pillow cases, art work and a rug that has a bit of both worlds. I love to mix cold hues like gray with warm colors like brown and yellow.

What about you? Are you a bold kind gal or do you tend to walk down the neutral/safe side of decorating? 

thanksgiving getaway

Happy December guys! I still can't wrap my head around the fact that we are in the last month of the year. I am also very excited, because December is the Friday of months, right? It is finally acceptable to watch Christmas movies, sing carols and bake an absurd amount of sugar cookies. 

To wrap up the month, I wanted to share our Thanksgiving trip to Zion National Park, in Utah. Let me begin by saying that Utah is one of the most gorgeous states I have ever been to. Its one of a kind landscape gives you a feeling of calmness and makes you wonder why people love the hustle and bustle of concrete jungles. We started our holiday weekend in Vegas, on Tuesday night and after enjoying two nights in Sin City, we drove to Southern Utah. 

The following days were amazing! Beautiful landscape, fresh mountain air and a few hiking trails to burn off all the sugar cookies I was talking about :)  

On our last day before heading back home, we decided to take Lady on a walk down the Virgin River. It was just what we all needed to say goodbye to all this amazingness. 

It was definitely a different kind of Thanksgiving, nonetheless we were able to celebrate with our own little family. To be thankful for what we have crafted out of love and patience. To cherish nature around us and to let go of the things that deep down inside have little significance. The big things are usually the ordinary that already surrounds and embraces us. You just have to stop, sit still and breath it all in. After days like these it is always clear to me that what I actually need was always here... just waiting for me to notice it.   

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend! Now let's put on some Christmas music, heat up the apple cider and do a little happy dance around the tree, shall we? 

xoxo,

m

 

happy thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to be spent around family eating hearty food and enjoying a cozy fire. However, since Chris and I moved out west our traditions have changed a tad bit. Life in a new city is scary and it has only brought us together as a little family. Without relatives to lean on, we have learned to cherish the time we have as husband and wife. We adopted a little pup that brought us more love that we could have ever imagined. We've been learning how to take advantage of our surroundings and to be thankful for the little things that life and love brings our way. 

In order to celebrate life, we are heading out to Zion National Park, with a pit stop in Vegas. There is nothing better than enjoying Sin City for the night and heading out to soak up nature the next day! I am sure that this holiday will be filled with hot spiced apple cider and a ton of gorgeous views. 

Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving break and get to enjoy some down time with family and friends.

xoxo,

m

weekend in pictures (and a few words)

Hello and welcome back! This past weekend we set out on our last camping trip of the season. I made some yummy chili on Friday night so we could have some warm hearty meal to go along side with the campfire and a good bottle of Cabernet. It was simply delicious and you can get the recipe here. 

We knew it was going to be pretty cold being that that was the last weekend the campsites would be opened, but we never expected the extreme wind that woke us up in the wee hours of the morning the following day. Our tent almost didn't survive, however we managed to get everything in the car and drive back home safe! :) Even though, it was a crazy ride, we had such a blast soaking up the fresh mountain air and taking fun family pictures. 

I was very pleased with my crazy decision to chop off my hair earlier that morning - I was expecting a total meltdown, since it wasn't a thought out plan...

That was our weekend in a nutshell. Hope you are having a splendid week so far and are enjoying Christmas music (yes, that is so happening!) and the first signs of cold weather. 

xoxo,

m

vogue editorial

When I was in college majoring in Publishing, my heart wasn't sure whether I would pursue the book or magazine industry. Even though I have always been infatuated by paperbacks and the stories that are told, shinny magazines have always been a world I wanted to tackle. They have the perfect mix between words and imagery that collide in the most unexpected way. Where typography has the freedom to occupy any blank space giving a greater purpose to letters and their kerns. 

This Vogue Australia editorial caught my attention last week and has been on my mind ever since. There is something so classic about this photoshoot that makes me a tad bit nostalgic... The lighting, the sail boat, the outfits. Simple, yet elegant. Extraordinary in a simplistic way.  

friday thoughts

Designed by me and quote from la la lovely 

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for the weekend friends! Chris, Lady and I will be packing our civic and driving 6,000 feet up the Angeles National Forest to camp next to a small lake. It is only an hour away from LA and you are actually able to swim in the lake... I know this may sound strange, but ever since I moved to Southern California, I have encountered several lakes where swimming is not allowed. Some due to it being a man made lake or reservoir, and others due to the current drought. Being that the average temperature here is 90 degrees and the beaches are way too crowded and impossible to find a place to park for less than 20 bucks I can say a secluded lake (there are only 8 campsites available!!) in the forest sounds like paradise to me! Plus who likes to sit in traffic on the freeway just to get to the beach? Not me!! I will always choose nature over traffic. Any day...especially in LA! 

This quote from la la lovely inspired me to pause my busy weekend schedule. No running errands, cleaning or doing laundry for me this weekend. Floatin' is all I wanna do. Chores can wait! Sunday we will be back renewed and restored. Ready to take on the daily challenges and inspired to live life on moment at a time. Pausing. Re-arranging. Whenever we want and need to. 

Here is to a beautiful summer weekend to all of you! 

xoxo,

m

p.s: yes, i will be listening to little big town's pontoon song while i float down the lake. 

hooray! it's the fourth

I love everything about 4th of July. The colors, the fireworks, family BBQ's and the good old American patriotism. Even though I was not born here in the States, and my immediate family lives far far away in Brazil, after being taken in by my lovely husband's family, I feel like this is my home. I am building my life here as an adult and I love everything about it.

With that said, having family in another country makes snail mailing not the best choice. Sure, I love writing letters and cards, but when the estimated arrival date is an average of a month at a time, I rely heavily on Paperless Post! They have great options with designs from Kate Spade, J. Crew, Johnathan Adler, and even Oscar de la Renta. Pretty fancy, hum?

It wasn't a surprise that the moment I received Paperless Post's email showcasing their Independence Day card collection, I flipped out! Even though I probably won't send anyone a "Happy Fourth of July" card, I fell in love with a few too many of their designs... If I had to choose, my favorite would definitely be the "Dinner and a keg" one. Common' a 4th of July celebration wouldn't be the same without a keg stand performance, am I right? Ok... I'm just kidding. I don't even remember the last time I did a keg stand.

Any-who, Chris and I (plus my lil' bro) are on our way to Vegas tomorrow!!! MY VERY FIRST TIME! To say I am excited is an understatement. This is will be a memorable Independence Day for sure!

Hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend, m'dears!

xoxo,

m

{collections} a very special christmas

Have you ever been to San Francisco? If not, this is definitely one of those places you need to visit once in your lifetime. Chris and I had the awesome opportunity to spend christmas eve and day there and we had a blast to say the least!

Our trip started on Wednesday, December 24th at 6 am. When we packed our little honda civic and headed towards the 101. Since we didn't have much planned and this was our first road trip in California, we decided to take the scenic route and go up the Pacific Coast Highway. Needless to say, it was amazing. Took us about 10 hours to get there, however it was well worth it! Once we arrived, the first thing we did was check in at the ever so cute, Hotel Griffon. We were pleasantly surprised by the little boutique hotel. It was truly decorated like a christmas wonderland and the staff was absolutely wonderful and accommodating. With it's unique feel and quirky interior, I felt like a true San Francisco resident!

The hotel was located on the bay side and we had amazing views of the bay bridge and the waterfront. It was located in such a walkable part of town that we put our comfy shoes on and enjoyed the sunny weather. We did mostly laid back and free stuff around town and enjoyed a few good local restaurants in the evening.

Here are a few shots I took while wandering around this oh so beautiful city...

There is something very unique about San Framcisco... Maybe it's the laid back vibe you get from local residents walking around minding their own business. Or maybe it's the way the buildings are so perfectly placed together over the never ending hills. But then again, it might just be the wonder of being surrounded by water, gorgeous weather and never-ending culture. Nevertheless, it will surely steal a piece of your heart and leave you wanting more.  

Ever been to San Francisco? If so, please do share. I will definitely be needing extra tips for the second time around.

Hope you're week is off to a fantastic start and until next time! 

xoxo,

m 

{collections} esteban vicente on artsy

Autumn by Esteban Vicente (via Artsy)

Hello and welcome back! It has been a while...but the long holiday weekend kept me busy and longing for no to-do lists (ever again!!) :)

Today I will be sharing with you a website that I so dearly love: Artsy. If you are a little bit like me and love some good artwork you will fall in love with this online gallery. At first it can seem quite overwhelming, however when you get the hang of it, it all makes sense - and works! I don't know about you, but I despise all newsletters/promotional emails sent to me (even though I always opt in...) but Artsy's newsletter is always an email I love receiving. 

While starting to bake some goods for our Thanksgiving gathering this past Thursday, I opened my email and there it was.... Esteban Vicente's works of art delivered right to my inbox. I am a lover of all abstract expressionist paintings and am always on the lookout for new and inspiring artists and Esteban Vicente fits right in. With his colorful color palette, geometric forms and a never ending pulsation of light... It's safe to say I fell in love! 

Untitled, Esteban Vicente (via Artsy)

Tercios, Esteban Vicente (via Artsy)

Horizontal, Esteban Vicente (via Artsy)

Composition Red & Blue, Esteban Vicente (via Artsy)

Pretty lovely, right? These are only a few of my favorite ones, there are plenty more to chose from - that is if you feeling pretty generous this holiday season. For now I will be day dreaming of a white living room, with huge glass windows, plenty of natural light, a comfy grey couch and some of these pretty paintings hanging on the walls (YES, this would be my dream home).

Off I go to tackle my extensive to-do list. Hope your week is off to a great start and until next time.

xoxo,

m

sunset watching {in a tropical territory}

Photos by Chris Hodges

After my first post about things we did in Rio (read it here), I finally got through another one hundred plus pictures and came across these beauties. One thing I have never done before was to plan to watch the sunset. For some reason we always say we want to do it, but never make it a point to be there in time to take in all the beauty and ever-changing colors. So while in Rio we decided that sunset watching would be on our to-do list. And what a marvelous one it was....

This is actually a few minutes away from my parents house and it is located in a National Park called "Parque da Cidade" (city park). The awesome thing about this spot is that because it is used for hand gliding they have a super cool concrete ramp that makes a perfect place for lounging around and enjoying the view. 

Twilight to me is definitely the most magical time of the day. Right before it starts, the sky feels like a blank canvas awaiting to be filled with a never ending mix of light, powerful hues and a certain sparkle. Without a doubt mother nature knows how to end a busy day.   

I am extremely glad we made it in time to experience this unforgettable moment. And when it felt like nothing could beat the colors of of sky mixed with all the shadows created by the mountains... The moon came out greeting us with a perfect smile.

What a magical way to start the week! I am glad I pulled out these pictures and was able to share it with all of you. Maybe the picture perfect color palette mixed with the sparkle of the city lights will inspire you this Monday morning. 

Now that we are living on the west coast I am sure we will be enjoying many more wonderful sunsets. Any suggestions of sunset watching spots near LA? Here is to a productive week ahead! 

xoxo,

m

{collections} road trip tales

We made it to Cali! After 3,000 miles driving from the east to the west coast and experiencing the most extraordinary time of our life, we arrived in the golden state of California. 

My heart has never been so incredibly happy. Before we set on this adventure, I had no idea what to expect... what I would encounter along the way. And this made me a tad bit afraid. The unknown always causes me to experience mixed feelings. In one hand, there is the fear of letting go of all things comfortable around you. On the other hand, the endless possibilities that await you is quite exciting.  And how exciting things have been! 

We started our drive in Chesapeake, VA and set through Savannah, New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin (yes we did the southern route), Albuquerque, Flagstaff and finally arriving in Los Angeles.  Every single stop we made was unique in its own way. It is incredible how you can find parts of yourself in places you never knew existed or never imagined visiting... here are a few things that I will always hold dearly in my heart.

1. Street car in New Orleans. It takes you a none touristy route and you get to enjoy all the amazing historical architecture the city has to offer.

2. Austin's rich culture. While driving around Austin, I encountered this mural on the street. It covered an entire concrete wall that would otherwise be colorless. The texture and color on the artwork was the first thing that caught my attention. However when I stopped to take a further look, it brought a smile to my face when I noticed the love and kindness that was put into the piece. 

3. The little mountain town of Flagstaff. Amazing view and welcoming people. In the midst of tourists driving to see the Grand Canyon, this town holds its uniqueness and hippie personality.   

4. Le Grand Canyon. Yes it is grand indeed! Something about the endless beauty of it all makes you feel small and powerless. All my mindless thoughts and fears immediately vanished when I sat down to take in the view.

Now that we have finally reached our final destination, it is time to gather our energy and build a new start! Apartment searching has initiated and job applications are next on the list.  

xoxo,

m.

{what colored my weekend} adventurous green

What better way to start the week than immersing yourself in a new adventure? An exciting and/or unusual experience. Bold and risky, with an uncertain outcome... Even though this might seem quite the nightmare for a control freak such as moi, there is nothing better than taking big steps forward - and this is just the first one! 

With the wind in my hair and "I want to get away, I want to flyyyy away" on the radio (it's an oldie, but a goodie), we will cruise the country after our own little escapade. While on the road there are a few things I can't live without... First most importantly is a cute little notebook to write down bits and pieces of inspiration you encounter along the way. I am a true believer in paper and will never fully rely on electronic gadgets to keep myself in check. Plus I love having a reason to buy cute little pens and highlighters! 

I live for scarves!! No serious... If I could have one in each color, pattern and fabric I would. They are my second best accessory (after statement necklaces, of course!) So what better than a lovely boho chic scarf to brighten up your comfy outfit or hold your hair back when you're singing Lenny Kravitz down the interstate?? Oh, and paired with these gold lip sunglasses... yes, adventurous to say the least. 

Here is to a wonderful week ahead and off I go to tackle our first 400 miles. 

xoxo,

m

restaurant hopping {in a tropical territory}

Hello there and welcome back! I am happy to be back to the blogging world and excited to post some extremely gorgeous pictures from our trip to sunny Brazil. Vacations are a funny thing. When I book a flight somewhere the first thing I picture is me laying around, sleeping in and getting foot massages... however, as soon as I arrive at my destination I get an itch to go and see everything and everyone (in this case) and all that laying around never seems to actually happen! 

While in Rio, I made a point to try to see all my lovely family members and friends. And since Brazil has the.best.food.ever the gatherings usually took place at local restaurants such as this one.

I absolutely love the openness of the building and how colorful the decoration was. The concept of this restaurant was based on topicality and freshness. The food was oh so wonderful, and the fruit decor made my color-loving heart skip a beat! 

If there is one thing I miss about living in a tropical location it would have to be fresh fruit! There is nothing better than ordering a fresh squeezed fruit juice to go along with your meal. And ordering can get me pretty exciting as well. There is no limit in creativity when it comes to combining different fruit and flavors. My personal favorite would have to be strawberry and orange (no sugar, please!)

Oh, and don't forget you can also add some ice and sugar cane rum (called cachaca) to your beverage. Transforming your drink into the famous brazilian caipirinha! 

As for our move (read more here) we have finally set a date. Chris and I will be leaving Virginia on Monday morning and starting our long cross country road trip to Los Angeles. With that said, I am off to tackle boxes and more boxes of random household items for our yard sale tomorrow. Price party!! 

xoxo,

m