Dinner with friends

There is nothing like spending a a night with friends enjoying delicious food! This particular day/evening was spent visiting the fashion show at the Phoenix Art Museum with Kierna and Deanna and then running to the grocery store to pick up dinner. What you see below is the fruits of our labor. Caesar salad, a mozzarella vegetarian pizza, and buffalo chicken tenders with ranch dressing.

For dessert we enjoyed chocolate cupcakes (leftover from nannying) with raspberries. And we decided to experiment with store bought frozen creme brulee. Though tricky to caramelize without torch and instead in a broiler, they tuned out to be extremely delicious! These are the days summers are made of!

The Great Cupcake Day!

Being the crazy nanny that I am, last month I promised to bring the kids cupcakes. The cupcake making process ended up being a bit of a nightmare but the end result was worth it. The kids were so delighted with their creations. I brought my family's whole box of sprinkles and decorations and the kids literally played with them making towers, organizing them buy size and color, and deciding what they wanted on their cupcakes for at least a good 45 minutes. Note the tower of sprinkles above has a dinosaur on it. Yes, the kids know I am a sucker for dinos and they themselves enjoy using them in every game we play! These kids are pretty rad!

Outfit post brought to you by David

This outfit post is brought to you by my handsome boy David. He is such a dear to put up with my pickiness for photo taking. Thanks for being my photographer hon. You're a keeper ;)

Every week when I go running I pass by this wonderful be-vined wall. I always think to myself how perfect it would be as a back drop for outfit pictures so when David came out I finally got my wish, an outfit post in front of this beautiful vine covered wall.

Alright onto the outfit. This is a shirt I designed and made myself. I have seen so many of these beautiful slouchy shirts around and I dearly wanted one for myself so I snatched up some fabric and whipped up this little lovely with my friend Kierna. I later made made a second slouchy gray shirt featured in this post.

Outfit Details:
Striped Shirt: Handmade
Shorts: Thrifted, Bullhead Jeans
Shoes: Toms
Thumb ring: Gifted by mother, Target
Floral Ring: Gifted by father, The Cottage Garden II

I later found this shirt at Anthropology which was quite similar and made me want to make a dozen more comfy striped shirts!

Source: anthropologie.com via Mia on Pinterest

Dear Daddy

Dear Dad,
Thanks for working hard to make my life better. I know things aren't always easy between you and I but I've seen you grow through your pain so much in the last year. Please hold on to everything you have learned. I know you want what's best for me. You, first and foremost will always be my daddy. Never forget that I love you and I have been rooting for you from the start! I pray that God will continue to work in your life in crazy ways. Shaking up your world to the core, forming you into the best version of yourself. The Kerry who He intended you to be, set free from fear and the power of sin and living and relying solely on Him. Thank you for being you and being my father, the father God picked out especially for me!
I love you!
Love your baby girl, Mia Helen

Father's Day Outfit Post

This year, was by far one of the best Father's days I have ever had! My dad came and picked up my brothers and I and we spent the afternoon at The Cheesecake Factory! It was so nice to enjoy time relaxing with 3 of the best guys ever!

My dad and I split a lunch tempera salmon and a monterey cheeseburger with fries!
Can you say yum?!

And this is what I wore to lunch. The shirt I wore is one of two slouchy shirts I have designed and made recently. Later this week I have be doing a post on the first one I made.

Outfit Details:
Shirt: Handmade by me
Shorts: Gap, Crossroads
Cami: Kohl's
Necklace: Last Chance
Moccasins: Minnetonka, Last Chance
Braided Headband: Last Chance

A Shot of Java

Before I flew to California for a weekend I spent a wonderful morning with Morgan at an independent coffee shop in downtown Glendale called A Shot of Java. We enjoyed their coffee cake and chatted about etsy and creative businesses. Morgan ordered an iced Mexican hot chocolate which was excellent. And I ordered their signature coco mocha nut frappe which lived up to all of my coconut coffee dreams. While we enjoyed good conversation I decided to paint for a bit. It was so relaxing! Thank you Morgan for sharing such a wonderful morning with me and also taking such beautiful photos!

Outfit post with Morgan

This is what I wore yesterday to a morning of coffee and art with my wonderful friend Morgan!


My outfit details:
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Ked's from Crossroads
Rings: both gifts from my mother that I wear 24/7

And here is what the beautiful Morgan wore.

Morgan's outfit details:
T-shirt: Target
Shorts: Levi's, thrifted
Necklace: Handmade with oyster shell from a beach near Vancouver in Canada
Purse: Vintage Liz Claiborne, thrifted
Ring: Saturday outdoor craft market in Cairns, Australia
Shoes: Thrifted
(We actually discovered these lovely shoes on a thrift run together!)

Doesn't Morgan have a lovely style! She is such a simple and beautiful dresser and I love the way she is able to incorporate her travels into her style!

More from our morning adventure to come!

Win a trip for two to Paris at Oh Happy Day!

Jordan over at Oh Happy Day! is hosting a giveaway that is too good to be true. She is giving away a seven day trip for two to Paris France! I know right?! Unbelievable! Head on over here to enter! It's super easy and you can have up to 4 different entries!
Happy contest entering!

Feeling Comfortable In My Skin

Yesterday for the first time in my life I realized I felt comfortable in my skin. I am no longer worrying about how other people perceive me. I am focused on the fact that I am what I am, exactly who I am meant to be. No more lying to myself, making myself think I am what other people see me as. No more tricking myself into feeling insecure because I am not the same as everyone else. No more ifs or buts. My relationship with insecurity is over. I feel great about my body, my hair and my eyes. I like the way God made my body. It's perfect for me and that's all that matters. This feeling of liberation is exhilarating. Thank you Jesus for this freedom, help it to bring glory to you.

Getting Film Developed is like Magic

Life, Life, Life, why have you been so busy?!
Well, I started working full time last week which means 12+ hours a day. On the flip side I enjoyed the most amazing memorial day weekend with my beloved boy! We had adventure after adventure and were able to experience so many new and wonderful things together. Here's a sneak peak into our weekend through the lens of a disposable camera we shot together. Turns out my man is very handy with a camera and has quite a good eye!
Also, taking these pictures helped me cross off another one of my 19 before 20 goals! Yippee!!!