True Beauty Files: Heart Patches and Print Mixing

September 24, 2012

{Scarf: Gap, skirt: Gap (similar), Heart Tank: ON, Shoes: Francescas, Cardi: DIY Patches/Gap (similar), Watch: Aldo, Chain bracelet: DIY. Specs: Nine West (similar)}

Has your style changed since college? As I was going through these back-to-schoolish photos it hit me how much mine has seemingly evolved and changed each year since my Freshman year in college when I would wear sweats almost every day to class. (I would like to just skip over and forget high school style..) I remember trying to figure out what my style was, and would second guess everything I tried on. I think so much of it has to do with where you are at in life, how your self-image is, and what makes you comfortable in your own skin. These factors have changed so much for me over the years, and hence my style has as well. I finally am at a place where I know exactly what is me and what isn’t. Gabe reminds me that he fell in love with me during the sweats phase, so that will always be his favorite, but I know he loves when I dress up for our dates as well. I still default to sweats on Monday mornings, but the beauty about putting on your best is that it changes your attitude for the day. I challenge myself to put a little more effort into the way I dress because ultimately its a positive uplift to how I face the day, which affects everyone around me. Now if I had a money tree, I am pretty sure that would affect my wardrobe as well;) Its probably best that I don’t have one…

I have been working on a closet overhaul, and re-vamping some cardis. Heart patch pockets met this grey grandpa cardi and together they created a new wonder. Will be sharing a few more up-cycles Thursday:)

How was your weekend? Do tell.

Love, Anna

The True Beauty Files

A lookbook for the modern modeste.

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

~ Audrey Hepburn

Giving Back: Gratitude Gift Tags

September 23, 2012

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” ~Melody Beattie

Welcome friends from RADIANT!

Enjoy your Gratitude Gift Tags and share with us how you plan to use them!

Download your own set of gratitude gift tags here.

Weekend Inspiration + Fun Links for Your Weekend

September 21, 2012

(photo source unknown)

“I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

I’m learning in baby steps to live for this day alone. Its a gift that could easily be wasted by looking to the past or the future. Its not easy but it sure makes for a better recipe of happiness.

The cool weather hit Atlanta this week so we are heading up to the mountains this weekend for some fall weather fun. Wishing you all a beautiful weekend!

Love, Anna

Fun Links for your Weekend:

Mara interviewed a J.Crew personal stylist and shares some great styling tips.

These colorful jewelry knobs are a fun and easy DIY to jazz up a room, and this new line of jewelry baubles would be perfect for hanging on them.

Megan hosted an end of summer soiree and I am wishing I was her neighbor. Its unreal.

A new blog to watch: West Hawthorne Place. I keep going back for more.

Liz shared some fantastic ways to wear a leather jacket.

Emerson Fry’s Fall Collection is Ridiculous. Can’t handle how good it is.

This movie trailer brought tears to my eyes. Can’t wait to see the whole film.

3 Yards of Chain = 3 Statement Pieces (DIY)

September 20, 2012

I admit I miss having an etsy shop and designing jewelry pieces (I don’t miss the crazy hours), so I will just continue to get my fix by sharing some statement jewelry DIY’s with all of you, and hopefully give you all some fun ideas for the upcoming holidays:)

Here is a DIY that you can do with just 3 yards of Cable chain…

Supplies:

3 yards of varying cable chain styles. I used:

1 yard large Acrylic chain (Tortoise or color)

1 yard 14 mm Textured Metal Chain

1 yard 9-10 mm cable chain (found mine at F21, but similar here or here)

Also good chain selection on Etsy.

1 Large Jump Ring

I Large Lobster Clasp

1 Medium Lobster Clasp

You can find all these supplies at a craft store or etsy.

(Polka dot tee- HM, also at F21)

Instructions:

Statement Necklace 1:

1) Measure out your large acrylic cable chain to fit around your neck and over your head (no clasp needed). Remove extra cables.

2) Lay first necklace piece on the table and fit your medium cable chain inside of the larger chain to help measure appropriate length. Using your pliers remove amount of cable length needed.

3) Keeping the end of the chain open, slide on the last set of 10mm chain and close the end shut.

4) Measure the last chain a few inches shorter than medium chain to layer, and remove excess chain with pliers. Add your large jumpring to the other end of your small chain and attach to the last link of the medium.

5)Add your large lobster claw to one end (I had bronze on hand but there are gold ones available), and try all three pieces on to make sure they fall correctly in length.

Statement Bracelet:

6) With excess chain from your 10 mm chain, attach a jump ring and medium lobster clasp to one end. Measure to wrap around your wrist 2-3 times, and remove excess with pliers. The clasp will link onto the last link well.

Statement Necklace 2:

Using your excess cable chain from your large acrylic and textured chains, measure together to fit and slide over your head. Slide textured chain ends inside each end of the large acrylic links.

Very simple and easy!

This project took 15 minutes for all three pieces!

And I may just be giving one of these lovelies away on the facebook page😉 Stay tuned!

Have a beautiful day~

Love, Anna

September 19, 2012

Thank you Lynzy for having me as a guest on Sparkling Footsteps!

Anyone else excited to see her as a beautiful bride?? Can’t wait to see the photos.

There is something magical about your wedding day.

Its the one time in your life that all of your loved ones can be in the same place, and you finally get to be united with the person you were made for.

These photos tell a little bit of the story…

(photos via timwill.com)

We danced for hours, laughed, cried, and cheered the night away.

Thankful for a man who continues to teach me the meaning of the word love, and for the little family that is beginning to unfold before us:) We are only in the middle of our love story.

Thank you for letting me share it!

21 Dates of Summer: Dates 17, 18, and 19

September 19, 2012

I realized that each one of these dates revolved around food. That says something about us…

We love to stuff our faces at every opportunity we get. Truth.

(Scarf via Deloom Boutique)

After New York, Gabe got a severe case of poison Ivy (as you can see on his knee) and we couldn’t so much as hold hands for days. Brutal I tell you.

It was a crazy week for both of us so when we got the chance to get away all we wanted to do was sit outside and have some time to catch up with each other – the kind of time when the little ones aren’t tugging on your legs or trying to talk over you to be apart of the conversation;)

Atlanta Bread Co. had this beautiful outdoor patio area – I was very impressed.

We had a movie night which was the perfect excuse to make up our own popcorn recipe.

We made caramel popcorn following Paula Dean’s recipe, except we didn’t bake it, just mixed it in a brown paper bag, and topped with fudge and marshmallow cream. Don’t even get me started…..divine.

I am a morning person by nature (this could be argued since babies entered the picture), so it was cool to change up the time of day for a date and scope out a bagel joint we had heard about. It was in a random place, but true NY style. Loud and to the point, and the bagels being the size of my face.

A dozen cream cheeses and two dozen bagel flavors, Gabe and I stared for a good ten minutes before deciding which to commit to. We will become regulars no doubt…they were fantastic.

*Next week is the last two dates of this series with the 21st date being on the last official day of summer on the 21st. The post will be open for you to link up your summer dates to as well!

Blog Takeover: Healthy, Beautiful Food with Marshall’s Abroad

September 18, 2012

I finally get to introduce you to one of my favorite food blogs! I mean, I don’t have to even say anything because after you read this post, Amanda’s blog will fast become your new daily visit!

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Like Anna, I believe design & inspiration are everywhere around us,

and that we all have the capability to be creative artists.

Among other things, Anna inspires us with her creative DIYs and gorgeous fashion; for you, maybe it’s the same, or maybe it’s through music, painting, calligraphy, photography, writing, styling, interior design, or cooking that you bless others. There is potential for creativity & design in every facet of our everyday lives. One of my passions is creativity in delicious, healthy, beautiful cooking. It is an art form and one that we all benefit from every single day!

Sweet Rosemary Chicken Over Parmesan Orzo

Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter, Rosemary & Thyme

Lemon Nutella Cake

Prosciutto, Pecorino & Arugula Pizza

Big Molassas Cookie Mango Sorbet with Peaches & Dragon Fruit

Farmers Market Pizza

Apple & Goat Cheese Crostini Drizzled in Warm Honey

(our home on the East China Sea!)

Roasted Caprese Capellini & Grilled Pear & Papaya Salad

My philosophy is to cook simple meals with the freshest, most natural ingredients, straight from the source whenever possible — whether that be the garden, the fish market or butcher, or your own fruit trees. With the vast variety of fresh foods, meals don’t ever have to be boring; instead, it can be a beautiful gift to those you are cooking for.

I still have so much to learn (which is why it’s fun!) but here are some of our favorite recipes thought up and created in our tiny Okinawan kitchen… (:

Thank you so much for having me, Anna!