My favorite rose bush has started to bloom.  I noticed this morning when I was making my favorite breakfast smoothie. 

(That's two favorite things before 8AM.)





Let me bring out some more favorites...


At least once a day, I peek into my favorite store, anthropologie (online), to revel in pretty things.  

Today, I put together a little anthro outfit, inspired by this morning's dewy, soft-petaled roses.




Kahiwa Falls Chemise ------------ $58
Cooling Cardigan ------------------- $88
Pave Posts --------------------------- $24

PS: That's an accessorized outfit from anthropologie for well under $200.  mini-victory!

(I had a little trouble with the links for some reason... but I hope the item names help you find these things on the website.)

........ 

Now for another favorite...

BOBBI BROWN.  She's the creator of my favorite make up line.  The aim of Bobbi Brown is to allow women to feel amazing about looking natural.  Emphasis is put on skin care and using simple touches and techniques to enhance the natural beauty every woman already possesses. 

Here are three little tools you can use to bring a lovely, rosy glow to your face.



Natural Brow Shaper --------- This is a perfect mix between a brow shaping brush and mascara.  It brushes out and shapes your natural brows - and fixes them in place with a clear solution.  I love the natural brow shaper - it keeps my eyes looking wide-open and bright all day long.

Pot Rouge (for cheeks and lips) ------- Just dab the rouge with your finger and lightly pat it onto cheeks and/or lips.  It's not powder - it's a moist gel - so it leaves your skin looking rosy and dewy at the same time.

Vintamin Enriched Face Base --------- The perfect pre-makeup toner.  It moisturizes, smooths, and smells divine.  I use this after my regular moisturizer and before I put on any makeup.  It wakes up my face and makes my skin look (and feel) super soft.


OK, one more of my favorite things: learning other people's favorite things!  I love coming to understand what's special to friends and family and I love hopping onto blogs and reading about all kinds of things that I've never heard of.  Honestly, most of my favorite things are probably ideas I've adopted from others!

Mmm.
Spring is coming...
Dresses are coming...
Roses are coming...
and many more favorite things, too!

Every girl needs to wear flowers in her hair. 

Roses, peonies, violets, jasmine... Wedding day, Friday, birthday, everyday.

My pretty friend Jess is helping the cause by creating lovely little floral headbands.  I saw, I loved, I bought.

Jess designed this dreamy cream & yellow number just for me -- and she named it the k.v.! 




I'm trying to figure out how many of these I need to order for Christmas gifts... I love giving pretty things.

Email Jess if you'd like her to make you one!  She has a fall collection (including the k.v.) and she also does custom orders.   ---------- jessdulcet@gmail.com

PS girls: put flowers in your hair!

I'm in love with succulents.  Their soft, sea-scape colors and intricate, unique shapes entrance and calm me. 

This week, my church held its annual women's boutique.  Every fall, many creative, lovely ladies donate their home-made goods to be sold - and all of the proceeds go to supporting missionaries around the world. 

I was overjoyed to find a whole booth filled with potted succulents for sale this year -- and I just couldn't resist.  It's for a good cause, right? :) 

Now my pretty succulents are at home on my window-sill... enjoying the rain.



Here's to a cozy, rainy day.

A few weeks ago, I spotted a pretty little pink book at Anthropologie... and each day since then has been a little brighter.

It's a book of Love Poems by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.





The book gives you Neruda's works in the original Spanish as well as English.



Yesterday afternoon I stopped in to Peet's, chose a seat by the big window and took time to breathe and think... soaking in the golden sunset.

Before I left, I tipped my pretty Neruda book open and read one of my favorites...

Your Laughter

Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but
do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,
the lance flower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.

My love, in the darkest
hour your laughter
opens, and if suddenly
you see my blood staining
the stones of the street,
laugh, because your laughter
will be for my hands
like a fresh sword.

Next to the sea in the autumn,
your laughter must raise
its foamy cascade,
and in the spring, love,
I want your laughter like
the flower I was waiting for,
the blue flower, the rose
of my echoing country.

Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
boy who loves you,
but when I open
my eyes and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air,
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.

 

Recently, two dear friends and I went to cute&chic Hayes Valley just to taste macaroons.  Mmmmm.... my idea of a good time.

Our first stop was Miette Patisserie.  Cutest place ever.


I had my usual chocolate lavender macaroon.  As always: perfect.

The whole trip was thought up by dear Christine. 

Bri got a pretty lemon macaroon at Paulette.  She said it was delicious!

And here's my pistachio macaroon.  Such pretty colors at Paulette. 


A day in the city that involves friends, cute shops, and macaroons = absolute perfection.