Friday is Fancy + Have an Amazing Weekend!

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Happy Friday, everyone!  This week has flown by and I've been definitely been a social butterfly.  I've had a lot of fun these last few weeks and the fun isn't ending any time soon.  We've got some great company coming in from Chicago (who will also be rooting on the Jayhawks), some garden beds to finally be built before they arrive and tons of sunshine in the forecast.  Speaking of sunshine, there is no rain in the forecast, so this week's FF's seems a little out of place.  But it won't be long until it's appropriate, I'm sure.  

On rainy days, it's fun to dress the part.  A good pair of Hunters really works wonders if you're forced to be out trudging through the puddles.  I have yet to wear my Hunters in awhile (anybody else feel funny walking in them sometimes? Just me, cause I'm so short? Okay) but that doesn't mean I don't love them.  If I had this Steven Alan rain jacket I'd be sporting it on rainy days or not (even though we haven't needed jackets much as of late).  

I think the month of March mistook itself for April this year.  All of the April showers that should bring May flowers have already completed their cycle.  My bright and beautiful tulips are already starting to die off for pete's sake!  But I digress.

What have you planned for this weekend?  Will you be watching basketball?  Honestly, it's all I can think about.  I'm so proud of KU and their ability to show everyone wrong and bust those brackets.  They haven't played their best - that is, up until the game against UNC - but they'll finish strong.  And if only we could witness one of the biggest upsets in history -  U of L whooping UK!  Could it happen? I think I'd cry tears of joy if so.  Go Jayhawks! Go Cards!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway! It goes until Sunday at 10 p.m. est, so get your comments in before it's too late!

Thursday is Random

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With the weather warming up, my mind has been on all things outdoors.  I really want to be able to fully decorate our screened-in back porch but it is currently being used as a shed (until we have a proper shed, which might be awhile considering how expensive it is to build one).  I have high hopes for this back porch of ours.  High hopes indeed.  

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This morning, a Facebook friend of mine posted a link to this blog post and I really felt the need to pass it along.  My oldest niece is quickly becoming a teenager, and I really agree with just about everything the author had to say.  Teenage girls need to hear this stuff over and over, don't you agree?

I'm a big fan of maps - especially personalized ones, so when I ran across this personalized map of the United States of America according to...by Hands Workshop, I fell for it.  I'm not quite sure how I would personalize it though.  I've lived in 3 different states in my life and have visited many.  How would you even decide?!

Oh sweet Anthropologie dress, won't you be mine?  

I'm also rather obsessed with lighting these days.  I really want to string cafe lights all over the place and buy all new lighting for indoors.  Just more to lust after, right?

Last, don't forget to enter the giveaway! Time is running out before a lucky winner is picked to receive a bag of awesomeness from Kristen Solecki!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

A Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been absent as of late.  What a whirlwind week and a half since I've spoken with you last.  Since then, I've had multiple visitors who totally make me happy as a clam.  It's been lovely and I feel spoiled to have been given so much love lately!

Since I've been absent - I thought I'd treat you lovely readers to an awesome giveaway!  I'm so proud to announce my latest sponsor ::

Meet Kristen Solecki, an incredible artist who sells hand-drawn and painted prints, cards and other various items.

Kristen is offering all of you a chance to win a lovely goodie bag, full of notecards, mini prints and a silk-screened t-shirt - all totaling a $40 value.  If you take a look around in her shop and portfolio, you'll realize how awesome winning this giveaway will be.

For a chance to win a bag of loot ::

• Follow Mo Pie, Please 
• Visit Kristen's shop and leave a comment with your favorite piece

For additional entries (leave a comment for each) ::

• Follow Kristen's blog
• 'Like' Mo Pie, Please on Facebook
• 'Like' The Artwork of Kristen Solecki on Facebook

The contest will be open through Sunday, April 1st and a winner will be chosen at 10 p.m.  Best of luck to you all!

Friday's Fancies + Happy St. Patrick's Day + Have a Fantastic Weekend!

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Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm glad it's Friday because today my brother, sister-in-law, nieces and nephew are arriving to stay with us!  The kids are on spring break and I must say, it's perfect timing.  It's pretty beautiful here and the weather is telling us to enjoy ourselves outdoors.  Immensely.  

What is everyone up to this weekend?  Aside from hanging out with my family, we'll be watching more Madness, heading to the Red River Gorge and making the puppy run in circles so she sleeps like a baby every night.  I'm worried about her sleeping through the night, to be honest.  She does really well every night but with so many people in the house (7!) I'm worried she'll be a nuisance and keep us all up.  Am I being crazy?  

I'm in love with my Friday's Fancies today.  It has just the right amount of green for St. Patty's day, and just the right amount of 'Mo' for me to wear it all the time.  

Have a fantastic weekend everyone - hope your team wins, your hearts are filled with joy and the weather serves you well!

Thursday Leaves Me Feeling Random

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I imagine whoever's office this is, gets a lot done on any given day.  I'm getting inspired just looking at it.

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We have 5 VERY special guests coming to stay with us this weekend.  3 of those 5 guests include my favorite children! I can't wait to have them here in our house.  I think we'll even be making delicious pancakes.  So exciting!

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The mister and I have been talking all things gardening this past week.  Wouldn't it be cool to create a teepee out of bean stalks?  It's probably not going to turn out that way for us, but I like the option.

Even though this dress appears to be sold out, it doesn't mean I can't lust over it all the day long.  It's so pretty and perfect for life lately.  Speaking of life, lately...spring is in full effect around these parts.  My tulips have almost bloomed (hooray, successful planting! *pats self on back*), our magnolia tree has beautiful fuchsia blooms opening up, daffodils are everywhere on our road, a pear tree came to life overnight and since our windows are open, all we can hear are the birds chirping like crazy.  I love it.  

Speaking of spring, wouldn't this salad make for the perfect spring meal?  Not only is it healthy and satisfies a lot of food groups, it just looks so fresh and vibrant.  I think I need to eat it, ASAP!

What's inspiring you this week?  And how are your weeks going?  Today is shaping up to be a nice day.  I'm not at work, March Madness begins and I've got a golden opportunity to get the house ready for our visitors!  Happy Thursday, everyone!

St. Elmo's Fire

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Fire! Water! Earth!  All of these colors make for a fun outfit, don't you think? A fun outfit I'd wear all the time.

Weekend Recap

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Hello, everyone! How were your weekends?  Mine was lovely.  Spring is springing here in Kentucky and it's beautiful.  Yesterday's weather did wonders for my soul.  Some highlights of the weekend include ::

• Sol Aztecas - Holy yum, this place is good.  So was the company!  
• KU losing was a major disappointment, but Louisville winning the Big East championship PLUS UK losing the SEC championship pretty much made up for it.  Now, let the Madness begin!
• Flea Off Market - we briefly strolled through the flea market with Stevie in hand (which might have been a big mistake).  People loved on her a lot, which was totally cute, but man, she was annoying.  
• We spent the remainder of the day going in and outside, sipping brews and watching basketball.  Also, we may or may not have fallen asleep on the couch before SNL started.  
• Brunch, garden shopping and outdoor time - we planted a blackberry bush, bought starter seeds and wood to make a table (wood for the raised bed is next trip).  I'm so so so very excited for it all!
• Porch time - the critters are coming out and chattering up a storm.  It's so calming to sit on the porch and enjoy it all.

I've totally got spring fever.  It's bad!  With temps in the 70s this week, it's hard to not believe that winter is behind us, spring is here and happiness will seep out of every ounce of my being.  Here's to a great week, everyone! xoxo.

Friday's Fancies + Have a Sunshiney Weekend!

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Happy Friday, everyone! You may be wondering why I went MIA this week...well, needless to say, I've been internet-less for the last 3 days and it's been annoying.  But I unplugged somewhat, and enjoyed the unexpected break.  This week's Friday's Fancies is making me a little crazy.  The theme is spring break (as you may have guessed) and it's leaving me aching for a day on the beach.  If I had a spring break and could go anywhere, it would definitely be somewhere with a beach and crystal-clear water.  Since I don't have a spring break, I'll just enjoy the sunshine we currently have and continue dreaming of the beach.

I feel like I've missed so much this week.  How have you all been? And what do you have planned for the weekend?  Aside from basketball (hooray, March Madness is upon us!), we'll be taking advantage of the sunshine this weekend.  There is a flea market we're thinking of going to tomorrow, with Stevie! And we've got some garden projects to start.  It's shaping up to be a nice weekend, needless to say.

Whatever you get up to this weekend, I hope it's wonderful! xoxo.

Forgotten Hopes

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A fierce image deserves a decently fierce outfit.  Thank God for that ring.  Or else this wouldn't be fierce at all, right?  I mean really, how great is that ring?  I want it.  I want it all.

Weekend Recap

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Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Monday...again.  What a crazy weekend it was.  Since I checked out on Friday morning, tornadoes threatened to destroy our community to start the weekend and winter weather decided to end it.  My heart goes out to the communities destroyed by Friday's outbreak.  Honestly, it was terrifying.  I'm so thankful to have been left alone and to have our family in Indiana untouched as well.  What a heart-pounder of a day.  Other than that, some highlights include ::

• Clifton's pizza and homemade pie kitchen ice cream - yumminess x10
• Friday night we watched funny tv.  Because we had to.  I had to.  I needed to laugh and chill out after being worked up all afternoon!
• Barton Distillery - We went to Bardstown, KY for a bourbon distillery tour and tasting.  We learned a lot about bourbon and enjoyed tasting Very Old Barton and 1792.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon if I do say so.
• College basketball and Miller Lite - unfortunately Louisville lost (not surprised) but KU won!  It was a great season ender!
• Puppy play time - her buddy Murphy came over for some wrestling and barking.  We did not enjoy her barking but the wrestling was cute.
• Did anyone else enjoy that SNL skit about the Real Housewives of Disney?  That was the only redeeming one that Lilo had in her.  My God, prepare yourself next time!
• Girl Scout Cookies! We went to the grocery store and as we were checking out I noticed some bright green badges in the exit.  I quickly opted for cash back and hightailed it on over to buy some thin mints, tagalongs and samoas.  
• Mexican food + friends - delicious shrimp and bean tacos, garlicky guac and yellow tomato salsa.  Nom.

For the sake of my stomach, it's a good thing its Monday again.  I've been eating like a horse and drinking like a fish.  Here's hoping it's a good week ahead!

Friday's Fancies + Have a Lovely Weekend!

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This week's Friday's Fancies is all about...you guessed it...tangerine!  Obviously I wouldn't take all this tangerine goodness and put it into one outfit (wouldn't that be silly).  I thought I'd do FF a little differently this time and just share my dream tangerine essentials.  That Essie nail polish just so happens to be on my fingers right now, and it's every bit as awesome as it appears.  If I could slip my feet into those awesome Diane Von Furstenberg flats, I would be prancing around all day long with a smile on my face.  Pair that TopShop sweater with some skinny jeans and flats and you'd be set for the early stages of spring!  What do you think, are you a fan of Pantone's color of the year?  I sure am.

What are you up to this weekend? I'd love to hear!  Our weekend plans are minimal, which is much to my liking.  I'm feeling a bit adventurous and am trying to talk the mister into a day trip to spend outdoors - weather permitting, of course.  And that is only if today's threat of tornadoes doesn't live up to the hype.  Fingers crossed.  Oh, and, I know it's so cliche, but today's weather is making me incredibly homesick for Kansas.  

Whatever you get up to this first weekend of March, I hope you have a great weekend!

Thursday's Randoms

Once again, my Madewell obsession is fueled stronger by the Keds for Madewell collection for spring.  I do declare that the middle pair really should be mine.

This is another one of those "I want to go to there" photos.  I really do.  Via

This straw bag from TopShop makes me long for a vacation so bad.  I can almost feel the sun against my skin and hear the sound of the waves crashing in.  Oh Mexico, some day I'll visit you.  Hopefully some day sooner than later.

This dining room is so so lovely.  I'm such a big fan of the combination of dark walls + wainscot.  I love that pendant light, too!  And the floors? Le sigh.  The owners of this house have got it going on.  Via

How eggsellent does this veggie and egg tower of power look?  I want to snarf it down right away!  Via My New Roots

How have your weeks been? What's inspiring you today?  Happy Thursday!