Bikini Season

I'm a Florida girl at heart so I can't help but love my swimwear, especially super cute bikinis! I was over on Damsel In Dior when I saw this majorly adorable bikini by Vix Swimwear.

Even when I don't feel particularly swimsuit ready I can't help but want to buy them. Growing up constantly being in and on the water does this to you... Swimsuits are a legitimate clothing item in Florida people, I swear! This suit is my new, "get off your butt girl," inspiration! How could nautical and hardware not inspire me! LOVE!

Kisses,

K

(Images via net-a-porter)

 

Inspire Me Tuesday (on Wednesday...)

I'm late, I'm late! For my Inspire me Tuesday date!

Why, you ask? Well... I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days and prior to that I was trepsing about the Magical World of Disney with my family. There was tequila tasting, Tonga French Toast, and much merriment in general!

(Perhaps I 'll share more later? All I know is this trip is proving to be more whirlwind than a Tasmanian Devil could manage, and more fun too!)

The Wishes Fireworks (are) Spectacular in front of Cinderella's Castle

So what's the inspiration today, you ask?

Take time to enjoy those you treasure and love!

Always be in the moment!

And...

Wishes are more powerful than you could imagine!

I take every wish-purtunity I can! Hey, it never hurts!

Kisses,

K

(All images property of Krista Carson)

Mineral Mondays!

A kiss on the hand can be quite continental...

But diamonds are a girl's best friend!

Formula:	C
System:	Isometric	Colour:	Colourless, yellowish to ...
Lustre:	Adamantine, Greasy	Hardness:	10
Name:	From Greek "adamas", 'invincible'. First known use by Manlius (A.D. 16) and Pliny (A.D. 100).
Polymorph of:	Chaoite, Graphite, Lonsdaleite

Diamond is the hardest natural substance known. It is formed deep in the mantle, and is only brought to the surface via kimberlite pipes, lamprophyres, eclogites and other rocks that originate deep within the mantle. It is also found in alluvial deposits, along with quartz, corundum, zircon and other minerals, derived from such rocks, and in certain meteorites.

The variety carbonado was suggested to form in stellar supernovae explosions (Garai et al., 2006), but this has been disputed by other authors.

 


Kisses,

K

(Images via Pinterest and info via Mindat)

 

Memorial Day

(Fiancé killed in Iraq in February 2007)

 

 

Lest we forget to remember and honor the price of our freedom in this country I call home... Thank you to those who make freedom free, your sacrifice is one of the highest honors ever to be bestowed on one's country and fellow countrymen.

In Grattitude,

K

(Image via Themcglynn.com)

 

Inspire Me Tuesday

Sunshine

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you the day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high

Today, I am traveling back down to the Sunshine State so I'll leave with a picture of sun on the water and wish you a day filled with sunshine and warm shoulders.

Kisses,

K

(Image photographed and owned by Krista Carson, "Sunshine On My Shoulders" Copyright 1971 by Cherry Lane Music; From the album "Greatest Hits" - John Denver; Words by John Denver; Music by John Denver, Mike Taylor and Dick Kniss)

Wedding "Belles"

My friend Terra is getting married today! The wedding is taking place tonight at Lowndes Grove Planatation's River House and promises to be a beautiful evening!

To wet your appetites to the wedding love that is to follow I thought I'd share a beautiful wedding shoot by Continuum Photography that I came across while looking for information on the plantation location! ;)

J'adore the fun cornflower blue of the bridesmaids' dresses in these lawn shots!



And you know what they say... Location, location, location... Her destination wedding choice may have been difficult to get to but if it's half as Wow as it is in these photos the wedding should be a true affair to remember!


Kisses,

K

(All stunning images via Continuum Photography)

The Holy City (No Not That One... Charleston)

So far Charleston has been nothing but hospitable and oh so charming! I have so much to share! Ghost tours, historic buildings, sweeping vistas, romantic hidden alleyways.... The list goes on! Here is just a tiny taste of a impromptu photo walk of sorts I went on:

Historic Graveyards with beautiful iron work.

The Dock Street Theatre

St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, built in 1835

A super cute entrance with my (super cute) husband's name!

Hope you enjoyed your amuse-bouche, more to come!

Kisses,

K

 

Charleston! Charleston!

I'm on my way to that sweet hotbed of southern food and hospitality known Charleston, South Carolina!

It may be known as the "Holy City" due to its many churches but it's also the namesake for one the roaring twenties most notorious dances!

I have a weekend to enjoy all of the great things Charleston has to offer with the girls before our friends wedding on Monday night (at a plantation no less!). It should prove to be a very memorable trip!

I can't wait to get there and start exploring this beautiful and historical antebellum city!

Kisses,

K

(Images and info via Charlestondownunder.com, Flickr, and Destination360)

 

Mineral Mondays!

Celestite:

A mineral with a beautiful blue hue and an ethereal name to match!

Formula:	SrSO 4
System:	Orthorhombic	Colour:	Colourless, shades of ...
Hardness:	3 - 3½
Member of:	Baryte Group
Name:	Named from the Greek "cœlestis," for celestial, in allusion to the faint blue color of the original specimen.

Kisses,

K

(Images and info via Mindat.org and Cochise)

Amour, Doux Amour

While I was down in Florida earlier this week I had the privilege of witnessing my sweet brother's proposal to my lovely new sister-in-law to be!!!

First he went to a photo booth at Disney's Boardwalk in advance to "prepare."

Then later that afternoon when they just happened to be walking past it he got her to take a picture in the booth.

So... What did she find when she went to pull their picture out?

A stealthily placed "Will You Marry Me?" photo strip in its place! As she was processing what was happening he got down on one knee with the ring and proposed!

(We were standing by with champagne, roses, and lots of excited smiles! The sweet Disney workers who witnesses it even gave them a happily ever after Just Engaged pin, what fun!)

Congratulations to the happy couple!!! I am so excited for you both and can't wait for Jen to officially become part of the family!!! Let the joyous festivities begin!!!

Kisses,

K

 

And I'm Off!

I left Seattle for a whirlwind trip to Florida (to visit family), to Durham, North Carolina (to visit an old friend from back in the day), then down to Charleston, South Carolina (for a friend's wedding), then back down to Florida for a smidge, and finally end up in Chicago, Illinois (to visit my sweet In-laws) all before flying back home to Seattle! Whew!

I'll post as I'm able but in the meantime I leave you with this photo from my airplane window of some of Washington State's beautiful mountains.

I love how the sky was clear enough to see what would normally be covered by clouds but still a little bit hazy... I think it gives it a artistic quality reminiscent of a Japanese woodblock print (which I love). Till later...

Kisses,

K

 

Inspire Me Tuesday

Enough said!

Kisses,

K

Mineral Mondays!

Beryl (i.e. blue/ green goodness!):

Formula:	Be 3 Al 2 (Si 6 O 18 )
System:	Hexagonal	Colour:	Green, blue, yellow, ...
Lustre:	Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Greasy	Hardness:	7½ - 8
Member of:	Beryl Group
Name:	Possibly from the Greek "beryllos" which referred to a number of blue-green stones in antiquity.

 

Kisses,

K

 

Quotable Notes

 

Quoted: Bertha Calloway

Kisses,

K

(Image via Pinterest)

Get Nailed

I have always loved (understatement!) painting my nails since I was a kid! So I couldn't be happier with all the fantastic nail art trends and colors out there right now, kid in a candy store much?

But sometimes you need a palette cleanser, so to speak, but still want in on all the cool summer fun out there color wise... The answer:

Essie's Blanc on my fingers and...

China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy on my toes!

Summer, here I come!

Kisses,

K

Inspire Me Tuesday!

We're all a little like icebergs. There is always more to us than meets the eye (you know, the old don't judge a book by its cover thing). What hidden talents or strengths do you have that others aren't aware of? Maybe it's time to get out there, share them, and let others see the immense beauty of you that lies beneath!

Kisses,

K

Mineral Mondays

Welcome to Mineral Mondays! Every Monday I will share a different mineral with you. I love geology and am excited to share a photo and the mineral's information with you.

To begin: Atacamite

Formula:	Cu 2 (OH) 3 Cl
System:	Orthorhombic	Colour:	Bright green, dark ...
Lustre:	Adamantine, Vitreous	Hardness:	3 - 3½
Member of:	Atacamite Group
Name:	Named after the type locality, in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Polymorph of:	Anatacamite, Botallackite, Clinoatacamite

It is a secondary copper mineral formed through the oxidation of other copper minerals, especially in arid, saline conditions and may alter to malachite and chrysocolla, creating pseudomorphs.

Kisses,

K

(Information and photos found via Cochise, Mindat.org, and Wikipedia)

 

Graduation Day(s)! or To My Brothers

Two of my brothers graduate this week! One from college and the other with his Masters degree! I couldn't be any prouder (just in case all the exc!amation points didn't tip you off...)!!!

Aristotle said: "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."

Tim and Jonas, I know you've both succeeded through hard work and perseverance and I know that because of that, because of those deep roots that you've put down, that your reward is sweet this graduation weekend. My wish is that it is just as sweet everyday of your lives. I love you both and am so proud of you guys!!!

Kisses,

K(J)

 

Rainy Day Ready

Yesterday was super rainy here in in Seattle (we'd been having such a nice weather spell too despite the chill!). So I can only come to the conclusion that Mr. Raincloud's vacation is over :( and he's back and ready to "spill" the details of his trip...

In the meantime though here's a cute wellie storage I spotted over on Damsel in Dior:

(I know my Hunter's would look so much happier stored this way!)

Kisses,

K

 

Objets De L'intrigue

Ibride is a French "atelier de création" that breathes life to fanciful objects that function both as art and household item. With their animals holding court, in some cases literally, over your everyday life you'll put the "fun" back in functional!

My favorite piece is their White Ming Vase that is actually a stack of, oh so very pretty, painted bowls!

I also love their very cleverly cute shelving designs:

Feeling light? Try the Nibus and Cirrus shelves!

Inspire Me Tuesday!

Jennifer Fisher's designs via Glitter Guide

Glitter Guide recently did an interview with Jewelry Designer Jennifer Fisher and she said something that I found to be be very inspiring:

Glitter Guide: "What advice do you have for women looking to start their own jewelry line?"

Jennifer Fisher: "Just get out there and do it. Don’t be afraid of anything. Its the only way. No Fear."

The thought of getting out out there with no fear is inherently scary in and of itself... But you can't get out there unless you get out there!

So here's to a week of fearless flying jumps and leaps of faith!!!

(Let me know what fearless thing you did this week!)

Kisses,

K