Life Update • We Moved!
Aloha!!! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably already seen that we have moved to Hawaii! Ben got stationed here and we were in complete shock. We feel incredibly lucky and blessed for this moved and we are so happy to be here. After not living with our stuff and moving around for the past 7 months, I’m happy to be getting settled into our new home, finally!
It’s been 2 months now, and it still feels a little foreign to me. Island life is very different! Especially coming from Chicago. Easy deliveries aren’t a thing here aka postmates, packages take extra long to get to us, it’s hard to find lettuce that didn’t come from California that was harvested 7 days ago….etc. I was very used to just hopping on a train or walking to destinations, now I have to drive and find parking and check traffic times. We are very far away from family and the time zone change has me feeling like I’m stuck in the past! It’s all very silly (I KNOW), and definitely first world problems but it’s something I’m adjusting to. I’m sure it’ll get better over time! There are definitely perks though! We’ve been able to go to the beach for sunsets, hike to waterfalls, and I’ve had my fill of pineapple :)
We are still getting settled and our place doesn’t feel 100% yet so I’ll post pictures of our new space once I feel like it’s more put together. So stay tuned!
Thanks for following along! I know my posts have been lacking but this move has been the biggest adjustment yet for myself and my little family but thank you anyways for those who check in and continue to follow my blog. You mean the world to me <3
xx MK
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Valentine's Day Gift Guide
VALENTINE’S DAY
A GIFT GUIDE FOR HER AND HIM…
VALENTINE’S DAY is coming up fast! Can’t believe we survived January - probably the longest month of the year, at least that’s what it felt like. It’s fun to have a special day to look forward to with your loved one! Whether it’s romantic or just a night with your girlfriends, Valentine’s Day can really be a fun evening. If you’re not one to go out to dinner to celebrate, make a lovely Charcuterie Board like this one and open up a bottle of your favorite wine (mine is a great Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé) add music or a movie, et voila! It’s just a nice evening to share with whomever you love.
I always like making little gift guides and this year, I decided to make one for her and him. Hope you find something great for your girl, or guy!
FOR HER:
CELINE large strap wallet / KIKI DE MONTPARNASSE satin and lace bra / BYREDO burning rose candle / DAILY SLEEPER floral maxi dress / MEJURI editor hoops / NÉCESSAIRE the sex gel + the body lotion / LE LABO another 13 perfume
FOR HIM:
RAINS water-repellant rucksack / TIMEX watch / BREW better coffee at home / JO MALONE pomegranate noir cologne / AESOP Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet / STUTTERHEIM raincoat / ASICS trainer OG sneaker
STILL NOT FINDING WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
No worries! I also added a ton of new items to my AMAZON SHOP. Books, home decor, tech stuff, it’s all there and if you have prime shipping you can get it fast (for those last minute shoppers!).
Regardless of what you purchase as a gift, remember Valentine’s Day is about love and celebrating that in whatever form you want to. Just remember to hug everyone you love a little tighter on this day and let them know how special they are to you. Cheers, lovers! <3
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INTERIORS: Light and Airy Bungalow
Well, I thought I was going to start the year off strong. Instead, I came down with a cold and then an ear infection so I’ve spent the last 7 days in bed….it’s been wonderful! haha so I’m just now feeling a little bit better and had the energy to come up with a quick post.
Ben and I are moving soon and I’ve been gathering a lot of inspiration for what we want our home to look like! We still have no clue where we will be living exactly but it’s always nice to start off with some ideas of how we’d like our space to be. I’m hoping we can find a place that is bright and open with at least 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. Where are we moving to you may ask? Well, I will also be sharing that very soon, promise! In the meantime, here is a beautiful home I found that has a lot of elements that I love. It’s Scandinavian with a touch of California cool. I’ve always enjoyed Scandinavian interior design and have wanted to push those style elements more in our home so I think this is a good start.
It’s white and bight with great mixes of different colored wood. Not too fussy, just clean, simple and chic. I’m trying to minimize our home to feel very homey but also not cluttered. We tend to gather a lot of unnecessary stuff and my goal is to clear out the excess. I used to save candle boxes and good packaging for no particular reason other than I liked the boxes but they had no use! I’m trying to move away from that and just keep what is needed/sparks joy (Marie Kondo - anyone? lol).
I love this living space. It feels very inviting! I love how big the coffee table is as well. It’s reachable from every seat which I think makes a space feel more accessible. Nothing worse than a tiny coffee table and having to reach over to set your coffee or champagne down!
This outdoor area is also so beautiful! I dream of having an outdoor living space for entertaining. The mix of concrete and blues and grays feels like an extension of the family and dinning room. Imagine having a dinner party here?! ugh. Need it!
What are your favorite interior design elements? Would love to hear what you guys love!
Images via Dwelling Collective / Design by Thea Home, Inc.
Cheers to 2019
It’s 2019!
Can you believe it?! I’m absolutely shocked by how quickly this past year went. I’m also realizing as I write this that it’s already the 23rd of January. So this month is almost over? Wow. I feel like I’m going to blink and we are celebrating Christmas again. Isn’t that always how it goes?
Well, as everyone does, I decided to make a New Year’s resolution. I have a couple personal ones like making time for my health both mentally and physically as well as actively trying to read more/watch less TV. Those seem to be pretty doable for me. I enjoy reading! I just become a little lazy and switch on the TV instead of grabbing a book. I’ve started doing little tricks for myself like putting the remote control in a drawer and setting a book on the table so it’s easier for me to grab the book than grab the remote. Silly little tricks but I feel like 23 days into the new year, it’s working! Don’t get me wrong, I still have a list of shows and movies I’d like to watch but I’ve also made a list of books that I keep in my notebook to remind myself that there is so much material out there I want to read!
Another resolution I made was to create more. You may be thinking, isn’t that your job!? Well, it is… but, it can sort of take a back seat when you have to also be working on the logistics of what it is to be a creative. It’s not just picking up a camera and shooting. I mean, that’s the best part of it but it’s not the only part. The other part is scheduling the shoots, tracking down products and packages, sending invoices, re-sending invoices, waiting for payments, chasing down payments, following up with previous clients, et cetera! I mean, the list goes on and on and I sometimes feel like I can get lost in that whole process. So, the resolution is to create for myself. Not just for clients! I want to really focus on making things that push my creative boundaries. I used to carry my camera with my everywhere I went, now I resort to an iPhone because to be frank - it’s just easier. But that also means it’s more lazy of me. I could bring my camera around, it’s heavy and annoying but I’m always happy when I have it and with the results of my pictures. That creative process also trickles into this little blog I have. I like writing, I like posting pictures, I like making mood boards and talking about kitchens - so why don’t I dedicate more time to it? I don’t know! It just hasn’t been a priority but that is what I want to focus on this year. I want to post more and take more pictures and talk about those pictures. So, here we are. Figured the best step was to share to you all that I am going to try more. I feel like by putting it out in the world, it sort of gives me some accountability. Which is good for me personally - I need to be reminded!
I also want to thank everyone who comes and visits this space of mine. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read, respond, like, comment, or just scroll through! I appreciate each and every one of you. You guys have no idea how much you push me to post and create more. It means the world to me that you chose to check back.
Thank you to all the brands and PR Agencies who also worked with me this past year. Without you, it would be so much harder for me to do what love to do! Thank you for supporting me and your continued support. I can’t wait to see what’s to come in this New Year. I have a lot of exciting changes and projects coming ahead both personally and professionally and I’m so thrilled to share them with you all when the time comes so please keep checking back!
Cheers friends! Hope your New Year is off to a great start. :)
I’ll be posting again soon….promise!
xx Mindy
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