Corgi butt + sausages.

la pratique rend parfait.

In order to help me keep up with my French, I sometimes play a little game where I'll look at an object or a thing, and try to think of the French word for it. Sounds dumb, but whatever. If ya don't use it, ya lose it!

of course, I could just buy this awesome shower curtain and practice a little every morning...

or lounge around on these handy guys..

or just keep one of these at my desk. 

I could always just have Bradley Cooper tutor me... anyone remember THIS video of him promoting "The Hangover 2" and speaking PERFECT FRENCH? MON DIEU.

via gracehelbig

bought this today, it's fine.

via

FYI- Martha is a really, really smart lady.

Just check out this April 29 article from entrepreneur.com 

Here are four lessons from Stewart on how to stay relevant, no matter what stage your business [or personal life/career] is in.

1. Be a life-long learner. "You should never retire; you shouldn't even use the word," Stewart said. "It implies going off into the sunset, and who wants to do that?" She pointed to career second acts such as parlaying a passion for gardening into a horticulture business. "There's always something else you can do," she said.

2. Seek inspiration everywhere. Take note of your surroundings, and always be on the lookout for new talent, said Stewart. She scouts out potential artists to feature in her magazines at events like the Smithsonian Craft Show. She also finds inspiration for new products everywhere, and even multi-tasked during the interview. The flower arrangement on stage sparked an idea for a pattern in her bed-sheet collection, she said.

3. Define what work-life balance means to you. Stewart makes no distinction between her personal and professional lives. "My life is my job, and my job is my life," she said. For an entrepreneur whose personal brand is her business, living and breathing work may be crucial for her success, but Stewart acknowledged that it won't work for everyone.

4. Keep going. Despite facing very public obstacles, including her 2004 trial and time spent in federal prison following an insider-trading scandal, Stewart keeps a positive outlook. "I've never hit a bottom, just bumps in the road," she said. Ever the epitome of her brand, Stewart said she never tries to distract herself from her problems. Instead, she seeks opportunities for inspiration, such as gardening, when times are tough.
 

"People underestimate their capacity for change. There is never a right time to do a difficult thing." – John Porter

Thought I'd share whats been inspiring me lately. Here are some of the newest additions I've picked up for the home (clockwise): 

• Target, you never fail me when it comes to home decor. (Or anything, really, for that matter.) Giant glass turquoise vase found here. 
• White ceramic pottery, also from Target, red framed photograph taken by my very talented friend Rachel. 
• Red chevron rug (Target, duh.)
• This Mid-Century modern-esque piece of art via Mathis Bros.

what the shift.

 

dress- Zara (old), similar here.

necklace- Stella & Dot 

Weekend.

On Saturday, Dan and I ventured out to the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, OK. It was about a two hour drive from Tulsa. But rest assured, it was more than worth it. 

that, ladies and gentleman, is a tie-dyed, cutoff denim shirt. 

we had great seats.

the winner was THIS CHICK who pulled in a 72-pounder. #whoruntheworld?

hi.

gotta start 'em young

Open up ya mouth, ya grill gleamin'.

we get weird. 

on my mind today:

Clutch Digital/Proud Mary via twofold

Unno Cotton Dress by French Connection at Gilt

Tory Burch 'Robinson' Double Zip Leather Tote via Nordstrom

via

Friday! Friday! Friday!

OH HELLO.

Coldplay- Strawberry Swing

                                     

This is the perfect song for a sunny summer day. 

Landscaping with Ann.

My Mom came down for a visit this past weekend, and so I put her to work. 

But seriously, she came prepared, with gardening gloves in-hand. Love her. :) 

Phase 1: Planted little baby boxwoods above these insane looking grasses.

Martha loves boxwoods. So I love boxwoods.

Phase 2: Tilled up the soil, pulled out old roots. Planted three Magic Carpet spirea, and three vertical growing boxwood shrubs. 

Phase 3: Lined the front with some pink (duh) begonias, and filled in the other side with hostas. (Did you know there are hosta-lovers clubs? Maybe I should join...)

Then, we mulched. 

#DOMESTIC

I would just like to say that a navy blue pencil skirt is just about one of the best staples you can add to your work-wear wardrobe. It's way less boring than black, and goes with everything.

Banana Republic is doing that thing where they sometimes mark off 40% on pretty much everything in store and online for a few days, and, well, needless to say I did some damage. 

Sale ends tonight so GET ON IT PEOPLE.

via 

Why You Shouldn't Let Your Foreign Language Skills go to Waste

The other day I was proofing a piece of  copy for a client, when I noticed some improper punctuation in the phrase, "à la ____." 

Someone had marked the "a" with an accent aigu instead of an accent grave. OMGCANYOUEVENBELIEVETHAT??

As you can see, it was a very small +1 for me that day, but inside I was gleaming. Huh-ha!. Nine years of French and I finally got to use it on the job!, thought I.

And then I realized how many times I have made it a resolution of mine to "keep up" with my French; to keep it polished and to continue to learn new vocabulary, and to even remain informed of the politics and current events of France and other French speaking countries. 

I decided to make a list of all of the reasons I find it important to hold on to those foreign language skills:

1. It's sexy.
Girls/guys-- everyone loves someone who can speak another language to them.

2. It makes you look smart at your job.
Let's face it- employers love to see language skills on a resume. Many companies prefer bilingual applicants for certain positions, but besides that, it proves that you are educated, and (at least at one point) were dedicated to learning about what's going on in the rest of the world.

3. It's not just a skill, it's an open door into other cultures and experiences.
If you're like me, then you didn't choose the language you were forced to learn in high school just because it seemed like the easiest one. You chose it because you were passionate about the food, the music, the history. You may have studied abroad, and met people who came from backgrounds completely different from your own. It encourages you to continue to travel the world throughout your life.

4. It's good for your brain.
 According to Barbara Zurer-Pearson, Ph.D, "When a bilingual person speaks, she always makes a subconscious decision about which word or phrase to use in which language ... This constant mental exercise helps keep the brain sharp."

I am all about teaching children a second language at a young age. Much like learning a musical instrument, studies show that this can lead to higher standardized test scores, and the development of strong "executive function" skills -- an ability to maintain focus on one task when distracted by another. 

So, with that, if you want to join me on my quest to secure this treasured knowledge, I recommend regularly doing the following in your language of choice:

• read newspapers online
• watch movies
• find a local conversationalist group 
• read books
• listen to music
• eat the food!

And, keep a mini dictionary handy at all times :)

Avignon, France 

 a montage of study abroad in France. Hello, 2007 Laura. 

we obviously did a lot of studying.

How adorably adorable are these greeting cards from Rifle Paper Co.? 

Je pense que j'ai besoin un de chaque! 

via

Instead of a a corgi butt today, I thought I'd share with you that time that I met a corgi in a stroller meant for a child. 

Have a great weekend!

Lonny Magazine is my new favorite digital publication.

For two reasons, specifically: 

1. It reminds me of Domino magazine (which I miss dearly)

2. You can click on most of the items you like, and you're taken to the site where you can buy them!

View their June 2013 issue here.  

Tastes of Tulsa

Blue Moon Cafe 

check out their Facebook page here.

Another hot Saturday afternoon in Tulsa. D and I ran errands all morning like crazy people.  I still can't get over it is how easy it is to drive around from place to place. No traffic, no idiot drivers, no parking woes. It was mid-afternoon when we both realized we hadn't yet eaten that day. 

This needed to be resolved, and QUICKLY.

So, we hopped back in the car and drove the one mile over to Brookside, and walked in to the Blue Moon Cafe, with it's quirky atmosphere and old-school feel.

I chose the: 

ultimate veggie burger 8.95chic peas mixed with fresh cilantro, jalapenos, red onions, alfalfa sprouts, a little egg, grilled, served on an onion bun with lettuce, tomato & our “supersecretconfidential sauce”.

Now the veggie burger was OK, nothing mind-blowing, as the “supersecretconfidential sauce” suggested. (Wouldn't you be pretty excited to find out what that obnoxiously withheld information was, too??) In retrospect, I should have opted for one of their breakfast items, because good lord they sounded good. Example: Pork Belly Cheesy Grits.

exterior + patio reminded me of one of those celeb-studded restaurants in L.A.

view from the bar

could not be more accurate.

adorable salt + pepper shaker collection

Um, they had corgi salt and pepper shakers. 

Obviously I sat at the seat directly in front of them.

No, I didn't steal them.

Atmosphere: A
Food: B+ (...but going back to try breakfast. Final GPA tbd.)


Blue Moon Cafe
Where: 3512 S. Peoria Ave.
When: Monday-Friday, 7am-9pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8am-2pm
Call: (918) 749-7800
Web: BlueMoonBakeryCafe.com

Today, I miss getting stuck in traffic because the presidential motorcade is coming through.

#formerDCpeopleproblems

decoration inspirations

There is a lovely little shop in the town that I grew up in called Checkered Moon. Cutest name ever, right? When I was home a few weeks ago I popped in with my mom and sister and spotted some lovelies:

These pillows...they've been on my mind since...think I need em...

UPDATE: I bought em. (so shocked, I'm sure.)

Cool idea- giant framed quote: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

kelly green/black and white combo

I loved the geometric fabric on the chair reupholster. Also, that raspberry colored LAMP. 

Happy Friday!

It's FRIDAY and that means you get another corgi butt!

Have a great weekend :) 

I freakin' love Amanda Uprichard. Bright colors, bold, funky patterns-- everything she puts out is so delightfully feminine and fresh. Accessorizing only enhances the designs, as their romantic, simplistic lines present the perfect canvas to be decorated.

Big sale going on at amandauprichard.com June 17-30. (Lemme know if you score anything good!)

 Some snaps from the instagramz:

^(girl crush)

^(perfection)

^(belt, bag, shoes- give me now)

I recently wore this gorgeous silk AU dress for our engagement party in D.C. I received tons of compliments--and managed not to spill my drink on it ;)