I'm Back!

Hi! I can't believe how long it has been since my last post. Thank you so much for sticking with me while I've been absent… so thankful for each and every one of you!
This last month has been so busy in a really great and amazing way.  I have had the chance to seize some exciting opportunities and go on adventures. I've been getting to travel lots, and am continuing on my journey of finding an answer to that ominous question: "so, Grace, what exactly is it that you want to do?"

Now that I am settling into a routine (so important for me!), I'll be back here every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday... I've missed this lots!!

Talk to you Wednesday! Lots of love.

xo, 

Grace

Work of the Week: Kerrie Hess Illustration!

Hi guys and happy Sunday!! I hope that you have had a restful and enjoyable weekend so far. Today I wanted to share the work of one of my favorite illustrators, Kerrie Hess. She does incredible illustrations for designers including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Kate Spade, and is featured in magazines like Vogue and Harpers Bazaar.

I love her expressive style, fluid lines, and use of bright color. Here are just a few of my favorites:

If you like her style, check her website for lots & lots more of her beautiful work!

Also, if you're on instagram, she is one of my favorite people to follow… so inspiring! (@kerriehessillustration)

xo,

Grace

Take a Breath!

With lots going on last week and in the coming weeks, its easy for me to get lost in my to-do list and start inventing more and more stuff to be thinking about.  This image made me really happy when it popped up on my Pinterest homepage.  So simple, so true …  Hey, it's OK.

You made it to another weekend! I hope it is a great one!

flickr

xo,

Grace 

Some End of Summer Finds (Glitterville and Target)!

Hi!! Sorry I have been so absent recently! Charleston with my mom was so much fun; I am sad it is over! After Charleston I drove up to NC to see my sister (yay!) and then finally made my way back down to Florida. It was so great to see some of my family and spend some time back in the beautiful Carolinas!

I recently picked up two sets of serve ware (I guess?) that I LOVE. I have been coveting these Polka Dot Melamine Plates from the amazing Glitterville website. I discovered these SO long ago in Oprah's magazine, and have attempted to order them twice before, both times getting a very depressing email that they were out of stock. They are back available now and I was so excited that I ordered two sets. After waiting forever, they did not disappoint!

 They look like paper plates but are actually melamine and are reusable/dishwasher safe dishes. I think they are so cute and I am so glad that I have eight of them now after waiting for so long! If you like these at all, I'd recommend ordering them soon because I was told this was the last time they would be offered ($20 for a set of four… not bad!).

Secondly, I picked up these Oh Joy! Plastic Goblets from Target and am loving them. I got mine (more summery colors than those linked) on clearance sale in store for only 99 cents… it does't get much better than that.

Since they are plastic, and I think intended for parties, I would never actually use these for drinking, but I think they make really cute, inexpensive vessels for storing and displaying things. I am using one now as easy access cotton ball storage and think it looks really cute.  Love the gold rims!

I hope you're having a great day, and I am looking forward to getting back on my Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday schedule!  Thanks for sticking around :)

xo, 

Grace

Favorite Charleston Restaurants!

Hi again from Charleston! I hope you all have been having great weeks so far. My mom and I are having an incredible time here in South Carolina. Today we went to our future wedding reception venue and got to do an extensive tasting of possible food options, and then went to the bakery our wedding planner (A Charleston Bride --check them out) suggested to do a cake tasting! I am sad that my fiancé "missed out" on this, but at the same time I'm excited because he will get to be surprised by the deliciousness!!

By the way, the bakery we are using, Ashely Bakery  is fantastic and I really recommend them if you ever need a bakery in the Charleston SC area!

AMAZING cake tasting! So hard to pick just a couple! 

Anyway, today I want to feature three of my favorite restaurants in Charleston.  There are so many incredible restaurants here, but these three would definitely be in my top 5! Here they are (in no particular order)

1. F I G 

 (Food is Good)

Fig

Incredibly warm, inviting, comfortable, unpretentious and cozy, this is a Charleston MUST-eat. I remember the first time my parents took me here (circa a decade ago) and thinking it was like no restaurant I'd ever been to before. I was right! I love that they use only local produce and ingredients, serving eccentric food with wholesome ingredients you can be confident are only the best. 

I ate: 

-appetizer-

ricotta gnocchi with sea island grass beef bolognese (and my mom's salad of GEM lettuces)

-entree-

freshly caught mustard amberjack fish (and my mom's fish stew in coquette) 

2. C R U    C A F E

Cru

Classic low country comfort food, served in a historic yellow Charleston cottage with quaint porches, this restaurant exudes the spirit of the city.  It is extremely small, but also extremely comfortable. The menu has a wide amount of variation and the portion sizes are small enough that you can order multiple things (which I love!)

One of my favorites….

-small plate-

peaches n' cream: grilled balsamic peach, honey cream, and bacon jam

3. I N D A C O 

Indaco

This very new (for Charleston) Italian restaurant is absolutely delicious. It is only a year old, but has been thriving in its upper King Street Location. My mom and I had heard great things, and we were NOT disappointed! They have a superior selection of pastas, pizzas, appetizers, fish, veggies, wine, etc. 

The ambiance is also really fun, with exposed brick and beams creating an industrial-italian-comfortable-southern fusion look. I don't know how they pulled that off, but they really did!

I ate…

-entree-

black pepper tagliatelle, carbonara, pork tesa, egg yolk, chives, peccorino romano (and my mom's roasted and pan seared summer vegetables)

Do any of you have any favorite Charleston restaurants?? Or do any of these sound good to you? I am going to go to sleep and dream of food tonight!

xo,

Grace

Hi From Charleston!

I am spending this week in beautiful Charleston South Carolina with my mom doing some wedding planning and relaxing! We arrived last night and are having a wonderful time so far walking around, eating at delicious restaurants, and exploring the shops! I've always loved Charleston and have so many happy memories here so I am happy to be making even more.

I'll keep you posted about our adventures this week, but for now, here are some pictures I've snapped over the past day!

xo (from back in the Carolinas)!

Grace

Also, Tasha from xBeYOUtifulx has also nominated me for the Liebster award! She is super sweet and has a cool blog so head over and check her out!! I am going to answer her questions below! Thank you so much Tasha!!

1. What's your favourite high-street brand and why? 

I'm not totally sure what that means, but my favorite designer is Elaine Turner!! Love her handbags, shoes, and accessories! 

2. What's your favourite season? 

I love the winter. I love the feeling of coziness it gives me, the holidays, and getting to wear comfy sweaters, boots, and leggings. I'm also not a big fan of being hot in general so I prefer cooler temps.

3. What's your style (in terms of fashion)? 

I gravitate towards classic, timeless looking things, especially when purchasing more pricey items.

4. Picture this scenario: if you found out the groom had slept with another girl on your best friends wedding day would you tell her? 

Yes! Absolutely I would. No question!!

5. Are you a cat or a dog person? 

Dogs all the way! I love them so much!!

6. What's your favourite childhood memory?

Being with my family in Guatemala at my grandparents house! There are so many memories of that but one of them would be my favorite. 

7. What's your favourite perfume?

Juicy Couture Juicy. It has been my favorite since I started wearing perfume. 

8. Converse or heels? 

Heels every day!! I love them even though I am tall!

9. Daddy's girl or mummy's girl?

Both! I have great relationships with both my parents, thankfully :)

10. What's your favourite sport?

To watch, Football (American Football). Carolina Panthers all the way!!

Thanks Tasha, xo!

Work of the Week and More Liebster Award Love!

As you read this, I am driving up the east coast to meet my mom in Charleston, SC for the week! I am SO excited about spending time with her in one of my favorite places in the world.  Stay tuned this week for some extra special Charleston fun!

Otherwise, welcome back to a new Work of the Week (with an additional surprise at the end)! This week, I wanted to do something similar to last week and feature another living artist. French painter Claire Basler is one of my all time favorites. She has been painting since the 1980s, and her work could not be more different than the experimental abstraction of the 1980s urban art scene.  Instead, she turned to nature, drawing inspiration from the organic.

I love this quote from her:

The observation of nature brings me the ability to listen and to be open. I am but a link for the transmission of its vitality, its force, its gentleness, its violence, its sensuality.

Its wealth is an inexhaustible source ; its tenacity is a teaching ; its beauty is an emotion that finds itself every day renewed.

                                                                                                                                                Claire Basler

Photo: Remodelista (be sure to check out their post on her studio!)

She paints, draws. creates textiles, and murals. For more, check out her beautiful website! All her works are absolutely enchanting.

Textile 

Paintings (in her home)

Mural

Textile

Secondly, I was nominated by the lovely Matilda from Matilda Elizabeth for a Liebster Award. Thank you so much for the nomination Matilda! It is much appreciated :) Head over to her blog, its beautiful!

Because I have already gotten a nomination from Novelette, and have previously posted my 11 questions (see post here and I will include them below), I am going to just answer Matilda's questions this time around! She asked some good ones!!

Matilda's 11 Questions for me :)

1. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Definitely getting to connect with a diverse group of talented, amazing people who I otherwise would never have the opportunity to interact with! 

2. Do you have any tattoos?

Nope, none! 

3. Shimmery or matte eyeshadow?

Depends on my mood/the occasion, but usually I'd go matte. 

4. What is your go-to hairstyle?

I have thick, long, wavy hair, so I think it looks best and is easiest to style when I wear it down and in loose curls. My favorite thing to do is let it mostly air dry and then add some more defined curls with my flat iron (I'm hopeless with a curling iron and think that my thin flat iron works better for curls anyway!).

5. Do you have any pets?

YES! And I love them SO much. I have two boxer dogs, Henry and Bella. They currently live with my parents but I am trying so hard to get them moved here to be with me full time! I miss them everyday.

6. Where would you love to visit, and why?

There are so many places that I would like to travel, but in terms of doing touristy things on an active vacation, I think I have to say Paris. I feel like its a place I need to see during my lifetime and I would love visiting the museums there. Plus, I've always wanted to go to Versailles. 

7. What is your dream job?

This is a great question! As soon as I started thinking about it, my mind started going in a million different directions, so I'm going to go with what first popped in my head. My mom is from Guatemala and I spent a lot of time growing up there. My dream job would be working for or starting some kind of Non-Profit that helps artists and craftsmen there, sharing the incredible culture and artistry of Guatemala with the world. 

8. Who inspires you?

My mom and dad.

9. What is your pet hate?

When people crinkle or rub newspapers it drives me crazy. It sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me. 

10. Do you have a favourite dessert?

Cake or Cupcakes! I love frosting!

11. What is your favourite book?

The Harry Potter Series… nothing can beat it for me!

Thanks for the great questions Matilda!

I nominate anyone who reads this and who wants to participate!! I'd love to hear what your responses to my questions are! Be sure to let me know if you participate :)

Here are my questions for YOU:

1. If someone gave you unlimited funds right now to re-decorate your home or re-vamp your wardrobe, which would you choose?

2. What is the one fashion accessory you could never give up?
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
4. What made you decide to start your blog and what is your favorite thing about blogging?
5. You're running late getting ready in the morning and have to decide between doing your hair or your makeup. Which do you decide to do?
6. Do you have one go-to beauty product you couldn't live without?
7. What is the fall fashion trend you are most looking forward to trying?  
8. Who is your style icon and why?
9. Where is your favorite place to shop when looking for fashion on a smaller budget?
10. Would you rather shop online or in an actual store?
11. Describe your style in one sentence: 

(to see my original post on this and the rules, click here)

I hope you enjoyed this post and are having a great weekend!!

xo,

Grace