Simple Summer Style

Dress, ROSS // Shoes, ROSS // Earrings, c/o Bluebird Bride

Summer dresses are my favorite. 

If you're thinking about doing some shopping soon, I suggest picking up the following... 

• a flowy knee-length dress
• some neutral sandals
• a pair of bold earrings 

Preferably in multiple combinations. It's got to be the easiest summer outfit EVER!

Add some bright lipgloss, a pedicure to match, a little self tanning gel, and you're set for the spring to summer transition. 

Some of my favorite beauty picks...

• Lips // Maybelline's Baby Lips Moisturing Lip Balm in Coral Crush
• Nails // O.P.I. Bright Lights - Big Color
• Skin // L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One-Day Tinted Gel

You can find me combining the above on repeat until September ;)

What's your favorite go-to summer look?

linking up with The Pleated Poppy + Style Elixir

That Time I Went to Zumba

Whoa guys.

I actually worked out this past weekend.

I ZUMBA'D... and almost died 10 minutes into it.

But that's only because of my smoker lungs, and also the fact that I've been extremely inactive for quite some time now. I went into it confident I could handle the moves, but then 40 squats later I started panicking... so. many. effing. squats.

image via

My whole body has been paying for it these past two days and I'm pretty sure I pulled something in my left lower back... BUT!  I'm proud of myself for actually going through with it and surviving an entire hour without passing out, crying, or leaving.

I didn't know any of the routines, but I did have a friend with me who I tried to follow the whole time. I probably caught on 62% of the time. The other 38% I was half-shimmying in circles of confusion and trying not to bump into anyone.

Why did I randomly decide to go to a Zumba class?

Good question, because if you know me you know I don't actually work out. I don't even remember the last time I was in a gym, or doing any kind of exercise for that matter. I wanna say... maybe 2 years ago? I was doing Namaste yoga pretty regularly for about a month. But then I stopped, just like I stop eating healthy as soon as I run out of Greek yogurt.

But the real reason I went to the gym is because I realized something...

I realized I had successfully squeezed past my early twenties without my weight fluctuating more than 5 pounds. But today, a whole month away from my 26th birthday, I have indefinitely hit my metabolism wall.

In other words... I'm getting FAT. Like, 20 pounds heavier, can't fit into any of my work pants, permanent food baby, fat.

Honestly, I was fully aware this day would come. I don't exercise, I don't care about nutrition, I eat out wayyy too often, and drink. A lot. Oh and I never cut calories at Starbucks or feel bad for drinking soda or over indulging on chocolate. Ever. And I pretty much live off bread and cheese.

I LIKE FOOD, OKAY?!

Apparently the food does not love me back because the pounds have been adding up since Thanksgiving, probably around the time I gorged myself and my body stopped handing out mulligans.

I'm freaking out, and mourning a little, because it means I have to stop being lazy. It's time for me to act like an adult and take care of myself already. Thus the reason why I forced myself to try Zumba.

I really liked the class, and I'm trying to get motivated about losing weight, but it all just seems so daunting. Mostly because I have to change. I know "little by little" is the name of the game here - trust - I've seen so many Pinterest quotes and photos from fitness bloggers to understand what I have to do... I just need to find it in myself to want to do it and then actually do it.

...but then I find myself wanting bacon. And burritos. And McDonald's fries.

*sigh*

Lord have mercy on me.

When did you start becoming health conscious?

Back Burner Blogger

Lately I feel like I haven't been as creatively attached to the blog as I used to be.

I've been keeping myself pretty busy managing my design services and adding prints to the shop, and when I'm not working on that I'm also working my day job and trying to have a life.

Consequently I've noticed myself putting blogging on the back burner, mostly because I need that time away from my computer to connect with the outside world!

This blog is never far from my mind, however. I still have so many ideas and things I want to write about, places I want to go with it, and yet they remain inside my mind waiting for the opportunity to come forward.

Though, if I've learned anything about blogging over the past couple years, I know that the inspiration and time tends to ebb and flow, and so I'm not too worried about it, but I do miss it!

One topic I probably won't run out of content for is design. I've always got something to share in that corner of my mind, I just hope you don't get tired of it ;)

So here's a wrap up of my most recent work (Apologies to everyone who already got spammed on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook... love youuuu!)

Below are two of my latest prints added to the shop...

(Pssst... I just ordered a bunch of mugs with the happiness quote - more on that later!)

"Happiness Is" Print // "I Love My Dachshund" Print

(these also come as iPhone covers, pillows, stationary cards... etc.)

And here are THREE recent blog design projects... *phew!*

Chelsea at Red Velvet Rooster wanted a face lift from her previous DIY design. She loved the chalkboard trend and wanted in! I'm loving the simplicity, fonts, and cleaned up layout - I think my favorite part are the sidebar titles. Aren't they pretty?

Fonts used: Petit Formal Script, HandyGeorge, Georgia

I had helped Brin from Bold Butter Baby design her business cards to take to Blissdom a couple months ago, and she wanted that same look translated on her blog design. The chevron background was toned down, the layout more structured, and fonts more streamlined. I love how her new and improved look stays loyal to the brand her readers are already familiar with!

Fonts Used: Sacramento, Open Sans Condensed Bold, Open Sans

I just can't get enough of this one! Holly from The Oklahoma Peppler's was super easy to work with and trusted me completely. She gave me a few basic ideas of what she liked but admitted she was not too keen on design speak, that's why she hired me! :) So she gave me a color scheme idea and let me off my leash. I came back to her giddy with a great representation of my favorite design aesthetic, and I was so glad she liked it! Modern, clean, and bold - I'm head over heels.

Fonts used: Oswald, Meddon, Questrial

...and onward, I go!

What have you been working on lately?

What I Wore to Work

Dress, ROSS (Beige by ECI) // Shoes, Payless // Earrings, F21 // Sunglasses: Gifted

Summer has definitely arrived early here in Utah. It's been around ninety degrees these past few days. As my mother would say, "It is WICKED!"

Consequently I've been looking for ways to stay cool during the work week, mainly with trying updo's and finding summer work dresses so I can worry less about the temperature and more on my concentration.

I'm pretty modest in general when it comes to my wardrobe, so summer always pushes me to the edge of what skin I'm comfortable showing.

For example, I felt a little risqué in this dress at work because it's so above the knee, and I wasn't wearing leggings or nylons (I blame this awareness on my religious upbringing!), but after running errands in the heat all day I knew it was a good choice.

Guess I'll just have to adjust!

Has summer hit your state yet? 

How do you beat the heat with your style?

A Beautiful Storm

Just as the sun was setting last Friday, I went to take the dogs outside and was greeted by my usual surroundings, but this time it was as if the world had a gorgeous yellow filter on it.

A storm was on its way and I could see the rain coming down in the distance, but above me the skies were painted with these deep shades of amber. I watched as the planes flew by and the clouds shifted to a gorgeous pink, casually snapping picture after picture until I saw it from every angle.

It was so surreal, and too stunning not to admire with a proper stare. I'm glad I caught it during for those short twenty minutes while others were inside, not even aware of the beauty just outside their door.

Am I the only weirdo who gets caught in trances staring at the sky?