Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A Sunny Disposition

I'm constantly inspired by The I Am Project, which is intended to affirm and inspire beauty in every woman and to celebrate the uniqueness in each of us. The following "Be Yourself" print is a beautiful statement and set the tone for today's mood board.

Have a swell Wednesday!
Toodles,
ANF
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Etsy: Take Five Tuesday

Joyful Simplicities -- Like wasting hours on etsy?
Here are five etsy finds that were just so stinkin' cute, I had to push that little heart button and share them with you. Have you stumbled upon any splendid new vendors? Remember our policy, I'll show you mine, if you show me yours...
Pretty Smitten
A snazzy personalized iPad case? Sign me up! Pretty smitten, indeed.

Katharine Watson
 Look at this whimsical hand-block printed monogram card. That was a mouthful, but oh-so adorable!
Fortune by Kim Dulaney
Industrial meets hot pink and mint fluorite with this beautiful bead bracelet.

Tabletop Made
Long live the handwritten note! I'm making this my personal mission.

Little Bright Studio
Tell your friends and family they're awesome with one of these prize ribbons!

Have you made anything handmade lately? 
Do tell us about your latest and greatest crafty successes and failures.
Feeling nifty and thrifty? Why not try making one of these confetti tablecloths.

Happy Happy Tuesday!
(I figured today should be extra happy.)
Toodles,
ANF

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Honest to Blog

Image via Matchbook
“The original, shimmering self gets buried so deep that most of us end up hardly living out of it at all. Instead we live out all the other selves, which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather.”  Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets
Hello, lovelies! For the past month or so, there's something I've wanted to discuss with you. It's weighed heavy on my mind, and I guess I needed a few weeks to jot down some notes and iron out my thoughts. I want to discuss honesty with you, so let's get real, shall we? 

Your Choice.
One day I was chatting with my mom on the phone. I mentioned a card I saw at the mall that read, "I'm so much cooler on my blog." I couldn't help but laugh, but I told her how I often feel this way. Maintaining a sunny disposition each day can be a real pressure cooker. There's so much to be happy about, and I'm one blessed gal, but I have my good and bad days. In fact, I probably ended up bawling on the phone during this particular discussion, because I seem to have frequent sloth meltdowns with my mother. I think I let my guard down too much with her, but thank goodness she loves me all the same. I consider a successful phone chat to be one that doesn't end with a snot-filled hankie. Yikes! Sorry for the imagery, but today is all about being real. Anywho, I confided in her that my attempt at being honest with my readers is hard at times. There are challenges that I've faced or continue to face that aren't always pretty and witty and bright. There's a fine line when blogging -- How can I convey life's little details (the good, the bad, and the ugly)  accurately without being too personal? I mean, I don't need to air all of my dirty laundry. Then again, I don't want to come off as impersonal either.


I call it One Fine Day for a reason. It allows me the opportunity to focus on the good. On the flip side, it can also give this idyllic impression that my life is all stripes and peonies. Sweet perfection! Doesn't that sound divine? Well, it's not. I'm not always perfectly accessorized from head-to-toe, and my house isn't always sparkling clean and fur free, although I wish it was. While I never intended for this post to turn into Gripe Fest 2012, I thought I'd share a few little details with you.

Yes, I live in Hawaii and my husband flies airplanes (hence, Flyboy). I have two adorable dogs, an a-mazing and healthy family, and I live on a secluded hill (setting: Lil' Puna). That doesn't sound half bad, does it? You may even wonder what I have to rant about? In the big scheme of things, not much at all. Then again, to feel means that we're human and that we're living. Here are a few things I struggle with daily...


My plan vs. God's plan:
I try to remind myself to let go and keep the faith. It will all make sense with time. I need to strive to be patient (really not good at that one!) and grateful. When I take a step back and reassess, I'm very humbled by all the blessings I do have. Shifting my focus to the positive is paramount, but isn't always easy. I'm a work in progress, and I like who I'm becoming a little more each day.

My ego:
Most days, it really irks me that I'm not the successful bread winner I'd envisioned I would be years ago. Yes, I actually pictured myself living the frantic lifestyle of an editorial assistant in NYC, just working to get by -- all in the name of being published. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud as punch of Flyboy, and I believe in him and his career 100 percent. To be completely honest, I couldn't really picture our life together any other way. We complement one another quite perfectly, and I'm a better person because we're together. However, the way I measure my own personal success is based off of society's expectations. We put stigmas on young marriages and settling down. We assume "young love" won't last, but this old soul knew she'd met her match and wasn't silly enough to watch him fly away. Unfortunately, I've taken on the role of Stepford Wife in the eyes of some of my old college friends and professionals. I like to avoid the question regarding my career or current job scenario. It often makes me sad and angry; I'll do anything to avoid it. The variable of moving often and a slow economy doesn't make it the easiest to maintain a career or get a steady job for that matter, especially for a military spouse. How can I put my ego to the side and just be confident in the decisions I've made?

My "imaginary" career  and the worth in blogging:
I often wonder if it's worth the numerous hours it takes each week to post daily. Who's reading? Why do they care? How do I keep the creative juices flowing? How can I make something of this? Should I just give up and look toward another career? Is it really that easy? There are thousands of other bloggers who are more stylish, funnier, better at design, writing, etc. How can I keep this up without becoming boring?
Despite these hefty insecurities, my imperfectly perfect life can be quite comical. It's a lesson I learned from my parents, who are both seasoned when it comes to marriage and this military lifestyle. They've taught me that faith, family, and a good sense of humor can get you through the toughest scenarios. For example, here are a few "issues" that have occurred lately...
  • Because we live on a hill, we can't really have friends over often because there's nowhere to park additional vehicles (#punaproblems). This steep driveway makes me sweat every time I back out of our car port and come home to park. My leg literally shakes because I don't want the tires to squeal and burn rubber. If you could only see the maneuvers it takes for Flyboy to park his truck or leave the hill, you'd probably call him Austin Powers. He's got it down to a three or four moves, but my heart is racing every time that truck comes and goes. I'll have to take a video and share it with you sometime.
  • Hawaii might seem like paradise, but there's a catch! I clean up gecko poop on a weekly basis, and it's common to find cockroaches and giant centipedes in closets and cupboards. It's wet, so there's a lot of mold issues, and I find myself every other weekend bent over with a bucket of bleach scrubbing various surfaces outside. Because of the humidity and salt water in the air, I have to cover all metal surfaces with Pledge to prevent our furniture and appliances from rusting. The house is left smelling lemony fresh, but it takes a good hour to ensure everything is doused properly. Oh, and it's best to leave approximately an hour in advance of any commitment to ensure you arrive on time -- we're talking a drive about 12 miles in distance!
  • And from time to time, I might share a few beauty tips on my blog, but don't call me an expert. This past Friday, I recently took the advice of another blogger who advised her readers to get rid of yellow nails (after months of dark polish) by scrubbing toes with whitening toothpaste. What a mess!! My Essie Clambake stained toes were nothing but sticky and minty fresh. The toothpaste paired with cotton pads was a disaster and stuck to my fingers and toes. It took me a good five minutes to clean the mess. Yeesh!
Again, I realize these problems are all quite insignificant, but I want to keep it real around here. I want to strive to be my original, shimmering self with you. Cheers to the good and the bad, and to finding new ways to smile!
Happy Monday!
Toodles,
ANF

P.S. Thanks for listening, but this isn't just a one-way friendship. I've got a set of ears, too! As Tom Hanks said to Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, "I'm here. Talk to me."
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Friday, February 24, 2012

Weekly Round-Up

Happy Friday, my dearest bloggie friends! This has been quite an eventful week. Ya feel me? After almost two months of quality time with Flyboy, it was only a matter of time before he would grace the open skies again. And in true Air Force fashion, his itinerary changed several times. It was one of those great reminders -- change is our only constant with this lifestyle. It was a good way to get back into the swing of things. In fact, I was completely unprepared for all of this change, and you know all too well that Type-A is a planner. I planned on him leaving early in the week, so I never planned this week's menu. Whoops! And with my new part-time gig, I never made time to get groceries, so the fridge and pantry were pretty bare. It was only a few shifts of work, but finding time to blog and produce quality posts became rather challenging. These problems may seem minute, but I can't say I felt like I had my act together this week, and I hate that feeling. I know I'm going to find a rhythm in this new routine, but I'm looking forward to this weekend as I've got a rather lengthy to-do list. Now that Flyboy's departed, it's time I make a trip to the grocery store and sit down for an intense blog brainstorming sesh. Most importantly, I need to make some time to catch up with family and friends. Big Deal Alert: I didn't send one piece of snail mail this week, and I haven't talked to my sister in 10 days. That's just pitiful! MUST regroup and stat. With that being said, it's gin o' clock somewhere! In need of a fizzy gimlet to welcome the weekend? Why not whip up a Honey Badger? It's the perfect reminder to not care so much -- it's an absolute party in a cup!
Not in the mood for tasty libations? 
Here are five things that made me feel twitterpated, smile contagiously, giggle uncontrollably, etc.

Word.
Illustration by Emily McDowell
First off, I thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It means the most to me! 
You come back every day, and you leave comments. You give me so many reasons to smile.

Links.
Danielle Moss (Breakfast at Toast) and Alaina Kaczmarski (Live Creating Yourself) launched The Everygirl this week, a new site intended to help and inspire creative and career-driven women to lead a life well-lived with stories and tips regarding style, career, finance, and living. I was particularly smitten with their list of kitchen essentials and 10 budget-friendly meals. Gee, I wonder why? I'm also quite tickled by their "Use Fancy Words" category and their budget handbook. I'm ecstatic to see what these talented ladies have got up their sleeves! They've left me pining for more.

Lust.
Ever the loyalist, I can't seem to get enough of J.Crew's newest arrivals. This stripe boatneck with colorblock action (look at that perfect punch of pink) made me click my heels at first sight. Leave it to J.Crew to offer another subtle reminder to look on the bright side!

Love.
I'm a ginormous fan of Lulie Wallace's work, but I think this little gem is my favorite hands down. Look at that perfect shade of green in the background? And white stripes? I'm in lurve. It's like this painting found me when I needed a splash of happy. I must thank AB for her sweet Pinning skills; she indirectly introduced me to my newest Lulie love.

Create.

Confetti is the only way to cure the creativity blues! I think I might make a few of these cards to celebrate the weekend and catch up with a-mazing friends. I'm bringing postal back...

Do you have any weekend plans? Do tell.
Thanks for tuning in! 
Toodles,
ANF
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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Style Files: The Sidewalk Skimmer

If you're in the market for a pair of flats with comfort and flair, look no further. Madewell's Sidewalk Skimmer has got to be my favorite shoe purchase. This past December, I had some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket. I'd been eyeing these suede cobalt skimmers after obsessing over Zooey D's bright blue flats in New Girl

Must. Have. Flats. Now.

This obsession could be seen by some as unhealthy, but the addition of the Sidewalk Skimmer gave new life to my wardrobe. I wear these flats all of the time. In fact, I wore them for the first time all over New York City and the MoMA, and I couldn't complain. This may have been a gutsy move, but in the name of fashion, they completed the outfit perfectly. If that's not a testimony, I don't know what is. While the cost is somewhat steep ($88), they're an absolute treat yo'self MUST! You won't regret this wardrobe investment.






 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Toodles,
ANF

P.S. You have my stamp of approval to treat yo'self!
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Two-sday

Two cheerful images and quotes that I'll use as inspiration this week.
Sounds like the good life! // image via
A Type-A personality (like moi) needs small reminders like this. // image via
Toodles,
ANF
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Monday, February 20, 2012

Life's Little Details

Discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of everyday moments.
An Afternoon Reward / Beach Reading Material
Vintage Stamps (Thanks, AB!) / Rifle Valentine (Thanks, Aub!)
A Nice Reminder / Valentine's Day Acquisition (Thanks, Flyboy!)
Fun Straws / Fresh Tulips
No, You Are! / Floral Ensemble 
Another Annoying Trolley / Currently Reading (Thanks, AB!)
Tripp & Truck Rides / Stay Inspired
A Colorful Hankie (Thanks, AB!) / J.Crew Flats & Lust 
An Afternoon Movie / Beesly Loves Snuggling
Kate Spade Pins / Color Burst: Pink + Orange Clutch
Local Signage / Heading Home
I hope you're enjoying the three-day weekend. Happy Presidents' Day!
Toodles,
ANF
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Friday, February 17, 2012

Color Burst

This color combo is absolute pair-fection! Don't you agree? It shouts, "Hello! I'm cheerful and bold! Incorporate me into your wardrobe or home, and I dare you to not be happy." To personify colors in this way is borderline crazy pants. I get it. But, as the reigning Queen of Crazy Town, I'll continue this colorful chit chat as I wish. Won't you join me in my efforts to live color fully? I've always loved orange, but my affinity for pink has only intensified with age. Anyone with me? I guess I never realized how girly I am until recently. If you would have told me 10 years ago that pink would be one of my favorite brights, I would have told you to sell crazy somewhere else. These days, it's one of my go-to pops of color. For those of you who might doubt this color choice, I haven't gone all Barbie and Pinkalicious on you. I prefer this POC paired with other bright hues like orange. Take a look at some of my favorites...
1. Lessons in Neon / 2. Raffia Tweed Bracelet / 3. Perfect Pink Print / 4. Talitha Blouse / 5. Color Stacked Clutch / 6. Blurry Floral Emmie
Pop It! / Lara Harwood / Orange Bird
Roses / A Bright Spot / Ranunculus Color Palette
Friends Lift You Higher / Chevron Tote Bag
Have a wonderful weekend! Got any big plans?
Toodles,
ANF

P.S. You may have noticed a little blog facelift. What can I say? I get bored easily.
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