friday loves

PHEW!  We made it to Friday...its been a long last week of June, and I am anxiously awaiting July.

Call me crazy, but I just want the bar to be here and OVER and July marks the final, final stretch.  

As an aside, thank you to Josh who notified me that I am 96.8778% of the way there...counting LSAT study time, law school, internships, and now bar studying (such an MBA comment.)

In the midst of the studying, here are some of my current "loves" that are keeping me going strong...

1. Starbucks Blonde Coffee - I could drink this ALL day long with just a splash of milk.

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2. Fresh flowers make the biggest difference...try an orchid next time you want flowers that last longer than a few days.  This one is going on 2 weeks plus!

3. Finding that quote on pinterest that perfectly describes my life!

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And last but not least - this tumblr page devoted to the terrors of studying for the bar exam.  I literally laughed out loud for a good 5 minutes this morning when two of my friends shared this gem with me. 

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

xo.

thought for the week: planning

drawing via

Can't we all relate to this one?  While I do get up each morning determined to change the world and have a good time, this summer has thwarted my plans just a touch.  While I think I am in a good place with my studying, I only want to go through this process once, so I am devoting all of my time to the world of multiple choice questions, essays, and legal terms.  

That being said, while blogging is a wonderful outlet for me and something I plan to continue, my schedule may be a little off or reduced in the coming weeks.  Please know that I will be posting as regularly as I can but sometimes planning my day (and fitting in the hours of studying) will be difficult.  July is quickly approaching which means that August 1 and a return to the real world is just around the corner.  Thank you in advance for sticking with me, and as always thank you for all of the support!

xo,

friday finds: haymarket designs

towels by haymarket designs

Happy Friday AND first day of summer!  In honor of the official first day of summer, I'm sharing these adorable beach towels from Haymarket Designs.  There are tons of choices for patterns, monograms and colors that you can customize.  (Say goodbye to arguments over who the dry towel belong to...)  I think these would be perfect graduation gifts, bridesmaids gifts, or hostess gifts.  This might also be the perfect way to have a little ikat in my life without going too crazy...

xo,

loving ikat

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

To say I have been obsessed with ikat lately may be a bit of an understatement.  I don't know if it's the bright fun print (perfect for summertime) or just that I am always a bit late to pick up on trends, but ikat is consistently catching my eye.

I know it's a bit trendy, and frankly, I worry that it will soon go the way of the chevron stripe and be totally overdone.  (I can say that since I still have a blog design with chevron stripe...)  In the meantime, however, I think it's the perfect punch to brighten up a space, an outfit, or just on its own.  

What do you think?  Is ikat's time in the sun almost up?

xo,

thought for the week: love and laugh abundantly

I love this quote.  It makes me thankful for all the love and laughter we have experienced in our family as of late.  Here's a quick recap...

LOTS of laughter as we celebrated my Grandmother's 80th Birthday...

mimi's children and grandchildren...we missed you emily!

Lots of love on my parents' 33rd wedding anniversary...

love them

Laughter and fun during Rebecca's debut at the Magnolia Ball....

2013 debutantes...rebecca is in the orange in the second row 

sportin' the carolina blue bow tie and cumberbund set.

Loving Dad at a Father's Day brunch... and Father-in-Law, JF from afar

we like aviators

Lots of love to mother-in-law Peggy for her birthday

happy birthday!

AND last but not least, love to Niece, B on her birthday!

happy birthday b!  never make a funny face in a picture...you never know where it might show up!

Thankful for so much love and laughter.  

xo,

friday finds: lily and laura bracelets

Hello Friends!  Just a very quick post today to share one of my favorite new finds: Lily and Laura Bracelets.  My sister introduced me to these a few weeks ago and we quickly snapped up more than I care to admit.  They are perfect for stacking together or even wearing individually.

lily and laura

my lily and laura stack

In addition to being super cute, the bracelets have a social benefit too.  The company's business practice is to improve the quality of life of artisans in Nepal by paying more than fair trade wages.  No need to feel guilty buying lots of these beauties...snap a few up today to add to your stack!

xo,

wedding registry: tableware quantities

Happy Wednesday!  The week is creeping by, but we are half-way there.  Just a few more days till the weekend lovelies.  What is it about summer weekends that make them even MORE appealing than a usual weekend?!

Today I want to share a quick reference guide for wedding registry "numbers."  I found that when I was registering for items, I had a good idea of what style I liked and what colors I preferred, but I had no idea about how much of everything I needed!  Obviously this reference guide should be adapted to fit your lifestyle (and your storage space), but here are some general thoughts:

xo,

PS: Thanks to Carrie for supplying me with so many wedding registry questions/topics.  If you have a question or a topic you would like to see covered feel free to send me an email or leave me a comment.

ALSO: click here to buy the butternut vanilla extract for yesterday's pound cake recipe.  Don't be alarmed by the orange color- it really does make all the difference.

the BEST pound cake

I don't know about you, but I am a chocolate girl.  When I want something sweet, it is usually in the form of chocolate, chocolate, or chocolate chip cookie dough :)  While I still love chocolate, when I married Josh, I found another favorite: Josh's mom's pound cake.  I can't explain what makes this pound cake so delicious (the crust is the best), but I do know that  in the Bryan family it is totally acceptable to eat the pound cake for BREAKFAST...what's not to love?!  

Perfect Pound Cake

Recipe from Peggy Bryan (and Dee Cowan)

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 1/2 c Crisco
• 4 eggs
• 3 c sugar
• 1 c Carnation evaporated milk
• 3 c cake flour (or 1 c cake flour and 2 c all purpose)
• 1 Tbs. butternut vanilla (available at specialty food stores.  You can use regular vanilla, but it won't taste quite as delicious...)
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Directions:

1. DO NOT preheat oven.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and crisco.  Add eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time.
3. After eggs are incorporated, add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
4. Grease bundt pan (I like Baker's Joy) and fill pan almost to the top.  (If there is extra butter, bake as a cupcake for 38-40 minutes at 300 degree)
5. Bake in 300 degree oven (remember, DO NOT PREHEAT) in the center of the oven for 1:30.  At 1:30, test for doneness by inserting a toothpick.  If toothpick comes out clean- pound cake is done. 

Enjoy!

xo,

thought for the week: choose joy

image

...And we are back with internet, our own bed, and a coffee maker - all the things you really need in life right?  Our new house is wonderful and despite a few unexpected repairs/replacements things are great.

I love this thought for the week and it is one I will be repeating often.  I have so much to be thankful for, and I am determined to keep choosing joy.  While we hand wash our dishes waiting for a new dishwasher...I'll choose joy that we had a nutritious (and maybe delicious) home cooked meal.  While I spend hours every day studying...I'll choose joy that I had the chance to attend an amazing law school, and I have the opportunity to become a member of the bar.  When I long for a perfectly decorated and renovated house... I'll choose joy that I have a roof over my head and my favorite pillow at night.  It's so easy to get caught up in the imperfect parts of life (and let's face it- they are there), but at the end of the day life is so much sweeter when we dwell on the good and choose joy.  

What are you joyful about this week?

xo,

PS: Rather than continuing to bore you all with stories of studying over the weekend, I'm going to try giving "thoughts for the week" on Mondays.  I figure you all might appreciate this a little more than me recapping what color highlighter I used to study Civil Procedure.  Let me know what you think!

back in a few days

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We are sailing through boxes and unpacking thanks to the help of our family and friends.  I'll be back in a few days with internet (if all goes well) and a regular blogging routine.  

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

xo,