Holiday Wish List | Twenty-Thirteen

I'm apparently becoming a bag lady, as said my wish list this year. Not sure how that happened, but I've had quite an affinity to them lately. And of course there's the usual houseware items and beauty products too!

ONE | Crate&Barrel Marin White Pasta Bowl

TWO | J.Crew The Claremont Purse

THREE | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

FOUR | Yotam Ottolenghi Plenty

FIVE | Katie Quinn Davies What Katie Ate

SIX | The Animal Print Shop Rooster No. 2 Print

SEVEN | Everlane The Weekender 

EIGHT | Shopbop Tiny Baguette Ring

NINE | Makr Plate Hook

TEN | Madewell The Biker Boot

ELEVEN | Butter London Matte Finish & British Racing

TWELVE | J.Crew Tartine Mini-satchel

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

While I know this treat is typically saved for the holiday season, I couldn't resist my temptation any more to try it. With some dinners planned for this past weekend and my assigned duty for dessert, I figured why not? Let me tell you...I am so happy I didn't wait any longer, because these are simple to make and even better to eat (I snuck way too many during the process!). And so, I found this recipe on Pinterest and made some minor revisions!

WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup white sugar
3 cups raw pecans
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup water

HOW YOU MAKE IT

Preheat oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit. Combine sugar, cinnamon and water in a large skillet. Add the pecans and stir on medium heat. You will continue stirring until the sugar finally crystalizes on the nuts - this took about 9-10 minutes for me. Transfer pecans to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes to toast. Let cool on a piece of parchment paper and store in mason jars or an airtight container.

Nesting

Blooming tulips | Dinner planning

New art print | Greenery for the office

Coconut ice cream sandwiches | Sunday breakfast

Salsa prep | Summer sandals

There has been all sorts of nesting going on over here, and for the record it's not the baby-kind-of-nesting just yet. I have been yearning for some more structure and simplicity in our home and daily routines. Picture frames have been dusted off and finally hung, closets cleaned out and organized, and the best yet...meal planning. Since moving in together after our wedding last spring, the nightly question, and occasional hangry question, remained "What are we doing for dinner?". And so, meal planning for the week has been a huge success and proved it's worth. Plus, not only has that dreaded question diminished, we've gained about an hour or two more enjoying our evening together. It's a win-win. 

Shop | Terrain

If your green thumb is itching to get ahold on some new garden accessories like mine is, Terrain has some great new finds for the summer season. The marble tray is perfect for being home to a small succulent while doubling for some bathroom necessities, and their preserved ferns are the perfect touch of green (plus you don't have to even worry about watering these guys). 

I'm especially wanting to get my hands on their wildflower seed bombs. I love the idea of dropping some of those in my yard, or perhaps even around the neighborhood, and seeing them bloom later on this year. And with the Florida sun giving me a beat while gardening outside, a woven hat may become an essential accessory.

Chiseled marble tray | Preserved fern bunch

Hand-woven garden hat | Wildflower seed bombs

Georgia On My Mind

Dress | BCBG, Hat | Gap, Purse | J.Crew, Necklace | J.Crew

We're off to Savannah, Georgia for a few days to celebrate our one year anniversary! For once in my life, I actually planned out what I'll wear ahead of time instead of stuffing way too many potential outfits in my suitcase. I'm really looking forward to some cooler Spring weather, exploring a historic city and finding many moments to just relax together and reflect on our first year of marriage, which has absolutely been the best blessing. 

Simple Moments

Fresh blueberries for breakfast | Making my desk at work more homey

Early morning conversation and chai lattes | Birthday cake baking for Chris

New goods from Anthropologie | Dinner with the ladies

Lunch time views | Mid-day espresso

Life has been consistently busy as of late, which makes the weeks go by faster than I can believe. So I've been trying to take time to focus on some of the more simple moments in life. A new favorite is when a good friend and I meet for coffee and tea in the morning; we like to end these mornings with leisurely walks around the town where we work. Even though the time we have is short compared to the day ahead of us, we've been feeling rejuvenated by the calmness of watching the city wake and feeling as if we've already accomplished some quality time. It's times like these that make you realize it is ok to stop and slow down. 

Mini Peach Cobblers

My father's sweet girlfriend, who just happens to be a true Georgia peach, taught me this quick, easy recipe for none-other-than mini peach cobblers one evening. This is a simple recipe her mother has made for years, and with only four ingredients and a handful of minutes to prep, it's needless to say these cobblers have certainly made their way into our kitchen many times.

WHAT YOU NEED

1 can of crescent rolls
2 fresh peaches 
1/4 cup of white sugar
3 tbsp salted butter

HOW YOU MAKE IT

Peel the peaches and cut into small pieces. Open the can of crescent rolls and carefully press one triangle of the pastry down on a cutting board or counter until spread out thinner; the point of the triangle should be pointing towards you. Include a few pieces of the peaches near the top of the pastry. Fold the two larger ends over the peaches, and then fold the top over to encase the peaches as you roll the entire pastry down to the bottom of the point. Repeat with the remaining pastries and arrange in a square baking dish. Place the sugar and butter in a stove top sauce pan or in a microwave safe dish. Heat until the butter has completely melted; the sugar should still be thick and not disolved. If using a microwave, try heating in small 15-20 second bursts and stir after. Using a pastry brush, coat each roll with the mixture. Bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until lightly brown on the top. Set aside to cool for a few minutes as the centers will be very hot. Enjoy with a scoop of ice cream on the side. 

SPRING TO IT

Now that the weather has started to ease into the warmer temperatures us Floridans are use to, I can't wait to start enjoying all that spring has to offer. I've been subconsciously 'spring cleaning', bringing more greenery into our home and enjoying the outdoors, all while finding some more spring-infused inspirations for the days ahead. These are just a handful of my favorites.

Small boating trips | High-waisted print bikinis 

Rosemary & truffle oil popcorn

Potted plants & lanterns | Wavy ponytails

Winter Skin

I don't know about you, but as soon as that first winter chill comes rolling in, my skin likes to dry up and become more of nuisance then it has all year. Luckily Florida doesn't harbor many cold days, but my husband's family lives in brisk Philadelphia, so it was crucial to stock up on some products that would save my skin while visiting. 

I've tried many products over the years, but these handful are the best I've come across so far. Hopefully these suggestions will help keep your skin feeling hydrated and soft this season too! 

One | The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter - The best body cream ever. Goes on thick and stays all day.

Two | Philosophy Great Skin Is In Normal/Combo - The face cream works great for both winter and summer months - it's hydrating, but not heavy. In combination with the face wash, my skin was more vibrant then ever after using this set for only a week.

Three | Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - This is the only hand cream I've found so far that has been able to keep my hands smooth throughout the winter. It's a miracle worker.

Four | Say Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - These are great to remove eye make up and, well...all of your make up when you're feeling lazy after a busy day. Quick, easy and they leave you feeling refreshed. 

Five | Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in Coconut Lime - Great to exfoliate with in the shower and the shea nut oil ingredient helps to preserve natural moisture in your skin.

Six | Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose - Hydrates your lips and gives some subtle color.

Seven | Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash - It's so hard to find a body wash that doesn't have overbaring scents and this one does the job right. Lightly fragrant and locks in moisture. 

Eight | Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment - Soothes and heals dry, chapped lips. I like to use this first and then layer with the Burt's Bees after. 

Nine | L'Occitane Shea Butter - Use this shea butter for really dry areas like knees and elbows. 

Making Some Alterations

Of course with new years, come new resolutions. However this year, I decided not to suddenly jump on board the riot for change on the first of the month. I do want change - just not the kind of change that sticks for a glimmering second and then you're left every January 1st with a reminder that you couldn't (or just simply didn't) follow through the last time. So instead, I've been gradually working in some changes over the past month, and I have to say I've accomplished way more this January than other new years. Here are the couple areas I've been focusing on:

Caring for my home. I've been taking this one day by day by putting in 10-15 mins every day to improve or tidy up some area of the house. Even something as simple as picking up fresh flowers every Sunday during my weekly grocery shopping trip has helped to make our home more inviting, comfortable and complete (even if our bedroom is strewn with clothes that need washed/hanging up). I've also been trying not to get too intensive about the cleaning process and remembering that no one is glaring at the dust bunnies under our bed because in reality I'm the only one who even cares or knows about them.

Caring for my health. It is so easy to overwhelm yourself or even set yourself up for failure when you put unrealistic expectations on yourself when it comes to your health and fitness routines. I aimed to hit the gym four to five days a week for a few months last year, but ended up quitting a couple months in because I wasn't seeing the results I wanted. I knew I needed to incorporate healthier eating habits to get the results, but thinking about throwing so much change into my routine discouraged me even more. Instead of doubling on both at the start of the year, I simply chose to focus on getting a better diet in place since this aspect would affect my every day. And now after a few weeks of eating better, I'm going to start incorporating workouts back into my routine.