Inspired travel: Mini vacation

Though I am a hiker, biker and nature lover, I am not a camper. After a long day traversing the outdoors I like to enjoy a comfortable bed and a warm shower. But, after seeing this adorable "camper" I think I could change my mind.

This MiniTear teardrop trailer is so light it can be hitched to the back of a Mini Cooper!

The back opens up to a slick little kitchen - complete with a collapsable table.

The cabin has a cozy bed with a night light for reading and cubbies for your necessities.

I would get one of these compact picnic backpacks for the trip which has been on my wish list for a while.

And maybe even this sweet little portable sewing machine... just in case your struck by sudden inspiration to make a...sundress. Ok, I know it's random, but it was too cute to exclude on my list of compact fun!

Inspired home: Cottage dreams

I love my condo and I am so completely grateful for it. But, I long to live in a cottage loaded with charm like this one. The Highland Park three bedroom (not including the den), two bathroom Craftsman beauty fits my vision.

Love the red door, big porch, the architectural details in the windows, hardwood floors and oh, to have a yard! I'm already decorating it in my head... for more beautiful homes check out Take Sunset

Healthy beauty: Flax seed meal

We all know we need our antioxidants and Omega 3s because they fight cancer and slow the process of aging - to name just a few benefits. But, we all didn't know that you could take your daily dose in just two quick, yummy tablespoons. Flaxseed meal is an incredibly simple way to add these nutrients to your diet. You can add it to cereal, pancakes or waffles.

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Here are some fun facts about flaxseed meal. Remember, we are talking about two tablespoons. It delivers as much fiber as 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal. You have to eat 30 cups of broccoli to get the same amount of lignans (a natural antioxidant). One serving of flaxseed meal contains 2400 milligrams of Omega-3.

I use Dr. Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed meal which I buy at Trader Joe's. But you can also find it at Amazon. Next week I'm going to share my secret trick for adding it to my daily diet - without having to bake!

Eco-lifestyle: Bamboo drinking straws

There is a mass of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas. Read more here. The ramifications to this are staggering. Not only does it kill wildlife who get caught in the tangle, marine wildlife is consuming the particles of plastic which obviously makes it's way into our food. The need for alternatives to plastic are obvious and require immediate action. There are a multitude of new products emerging every day. Bamboo drinking straws is one such product that caught my eye. It is a small change we can all make is replace the use of plastic drinking straws.

These lovely bamboo alternatives are not only cool but biodegradable and last much longer then their plastic step-sibling. For more about bamboo read my post about bamboo here.

Elopements

I was so happy to discover two different blog posts on elopements this week. Elopements are something very dear to my heart. I have created a business based on elopements because I passionately believe in them. As much as having the big day with a hundred of your friends and family is exciting, fun, spectacular and sometimes just plain necessary, I think there is a sweetness and magic to sharing the epic moment that you commit to each other privately. An elopement allows a couple to celebrate their love without distraction. The hopeless romantic within me likes the idea of "running away together". I imagine spontaneously whisking off into the night like a couple of crazy teenagers - with nothing but a suitcase, a tie and a white dress. It is so meaningful and intimate. And so very attainable. It's embodies everything love should be - simple, pure and genuine.

This adorable couple held a civil ceremony in Boston and had a photographer follow them around for the day. The elopement was featured on Forget-Me-Not weddings and you can check out more photos and details here.

This couple featured on 100 Layer Cake gathered a few of their closest friends and family members for a mountainside ceremony near the Kern River in the California Sierras. The resourceful bride crafted her own dress and bouquet. More details here.

Inspired table by Atlier Joya

I spotted this beautiful tablescape over at Atlier Joya, a San Francisco based florist, and just can't stop thinking about it so I'm going to stick it on the blog for everyone to enjoy. I wonder if I could make that light fixture with the mason jars...

Lifelong Cinderella: Tiara for all occasions

I recently watched the Movie “Million Dollar Mermaid” which featured the fabulous Esther Williams swimming in a deliciously sparkly tiara. I sighed and said “I would love to go swimming in a tiara”.

My S.O. didn’t miss a beat and responded “you would love to do everything in a tiara”. I was about to whack him in the arm when I thought about it and said, “It's true, I would like to do everything in a tiara.”

And why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t you? Like Esther Williams, if you are tiara worthy, you are not just tiara worthy on your wedding day or if you have a royal bloodline. You are tiara worthy all the time. Here is a collection of lovely tiaras you can wear anytime, including a weekend at the pool (just don't get your hair wet).

You can read books in a tiara as demonstrated by this lovely model from Lo Boheme's Etsy shop.

You can wear a tiara as a posh accessory to a cocktail dress, as demonstrated by this gorgeous Bando piece that looks like a starfish.

Or even just hanging out on a lazy day seems more elegant in a tiara. This affordable piece was spotted at Jane & Davis on Etsy.