The Gift Of Giving | Sugar Paper Holiday

Oh Christmas, you are almost here! I couldn't be more excited for you to arrive. The weather forecast predicts we'll be having a cold & cozy day...I am so looking forward to spending it with the ones I love. 

Like most children, as a little girl, I couldn't wait to see what goodies Santa had brought. Nowadays, although I do look forward to seeing what might be under the tree, I find myself most excited to watch my loved ones open their gifts. Especially this year, as I have a few extra special surprises ❤️ 

Another part of Christmastime I've grown to adore is gift wrap. I  l o v e  finding wrapping paper that fits the personality of the loved one I'm shopping for. I absolutely fell in love with Sugar Paper's line of gift wrap at Target this year - I was able to find wrapping paper perfect for every gift I'm giving. As you might be able to tell, this pink polka-dotted one was my favorite :)

Because I love sending & receiving mail, I sent out these gifts to a few friends as little Christmas surprises on their doorsteps. These beautiful Anthropologie monogram ornaments provided the perfect way to personalize them. 

I actually picked up these sweet winter greeting cards from the Sugar Paper Los Angeles shop a couple months ago. I love how well they ended up coordinating with the gift wrap. 

Wishing you the most magical Christmas morning - just 3 days away! What is your favorite gift you're giving this year? ❤️

Holiday Loves & Ornament Giveaway

Happy Holidays! I'm so thrilled this time of year has arrived. I've been enjoying the cooler weather, indulging in seasonal baking, and of course gift shopping! With Christmas only 9 days away, there are just a few more items on my list and last minute preparations to begin. I also plan on finding some time to sit down to watch The Holiday - would it really be this time of year without watching it?

If you know me, you might know that I'm absolutely in love with love ❤️ As this time of year is all about spreading love, here are a few things that have made my heart particularly full this season:

Holiday Loves

My little sparkly Christmas tree decorated with tiny heart ornaments

Snowflake-shaped marshmallows with hot chocolate

A brisk breeze through the window that only this time of year brings

Finding the perfect gift for someone you love & the anticipation of watching them open it

A fire in the fireplace
The N'sync Christmas album (of course)

Mistletoe

Late night baking 

Blessings.

In the spirit of the holidays, I'm so excited to give away this adorable heart-shaped ornament (nearly everything is better when it's heart-shaped, don't you think?!)  To enter, leave a comment sharing what you love about this time of year. I can't wait to hear! 

 

Wishing you a magical holiday season!

Happy Halloween! | Vintage 1920's Flapper Costume

Happy Halloween! I can't believe it's already here. To be honest, I feel as though every time I've sat down to write this year, I scribble the date down and find myself in awe of how quickly time is passing. In my last post, I described how bittersweet it was to say goodbye to summer as it was filled with memories I'll cherish  f o r e v e r.  Although autumn hasn't been as eventful as summer was, it has still been so enjoyable...such a beautiful time to reflect on the past months as well as daydream about next year (not-so-subtle-hint: I'm excitedly preparing to release music very soon ♥).

I've always quite enjoyed Halloween - I mean, who wouldn't love the idea of dressing up for a night and having an excuse to eat all the candy your heart desires, right? However, as much as I enjoy the holiday, I've never gotten too into planning my costume, usually throwing something together at the last minute (I think I've been a cat about 5 times, ha!). This year I came across this sparkly flapper dress at the costume store and thought it would be so much fun to wear.

The old soul that I am, I'm pretty sure I've had an obsession with almost all the decades at some point and imagined what it would have been like to grow up during each of them...but I've always been particularly drawn to the glamour of the 20's. The style was so classy and ornate - I love little details, especially when they're sparkly ✨

I also love red lipstick (I would wear it every day if I could!) so I of course was glad this costume called for it - Besame's "Noir" shade is gorgeous. 

And just like that, tomorrow is  N o v e m b e r !  I can't wait to see what kind of memories it will hold. But for now, I'll be enjoying the holiday, all dressed up with the excuse to eat all the candy my heart desires :) I would love to hear about your costume - tell me all about it!

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Bittersweet Goodbyes

As summer comes to a close, I'm reminded that I've never been particularly good at goodbyes. The word "goodbye" has always seemed so permanent to me. As if the wave of a hand signifies farewell for always. I suppose that's why I love writing so much: even when you have to say goodbye to a magical moment in time, you can always revisit it.

This summer has been filled with countless magical moments. I spent afternoons in the sunshine, recorded music, turned twenty-four...I sang in the car at the top of my lungs with my sister, wrote letters, had 80s movie marathons, and laughed until I couldn't breathe with loved ones. I filled the pages of my journal with memories I'll cherish  f o r e v e r. To celebrate the last precious moments of this season, I spent an afternoon at the beach. It couldn't have been dreamier.

Although growing up, the beach was just minutes away, I'm always in awe when I visit. There's nothing quite like the ocean breeze or the way the sunlight hits the waves. Such a simple escape. This afternoon was particularly beautiful because although I spent it celebrating the last moments of summer, I could feel a familiar change in the air that only autumn brings.

Albion Fit | The Audrey Swimsuit

Despite visiting the beach during the last week before school is back in session, it seemed like no one else was at the cove. Nothing but the sound of crashing waves and quiet thoughts. I wore my favorite Albion Fit swimsuit as I have nearly all season - I absolutely fell in love as soon as I received it and made some of my favorite summer memories while wearing it.

As I stood before the shore, reflecting on the memory of this summer, I recalled a quote I recently came across: "The person you think of when you stand in front of the ocean." I realized everyone must have one. Whether it be your mother, your best friend, the love of your life, someone you've had to say goodbye to, or even a soul you've only dreamed of - everyone has a name or face that comes to mind when they watch the waves roll in.

The afternoon came to a close with a visit to Urth Caffe (if you are in California you must go!) I couldn't help but order a vanilla latte - my very first taste of autumn this year. The last days of August were bittersweet but as I wave goodbye to this season, something tells me it is not farewell for always.

On the first day of September, my morning journal entry turned into a letter addressed to this summer. As I wrote, the word "goodbye" seemed less permanent than it ever has. I knew the pages of my journal would forever hold these special moments in time and that I may revisit them as often as I'd like.

With autumn arriving in just a few weeks, my heart is full of contentment and excitement. If fall brings even of a fraction of the joy summer did, I expect I'll be writing all about it - and sharing it with you of course ❤️

What was your favorite memory this summer? I would love to hear!

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Dear Friend, || Stationery Favorites With Lauren Of Chic Éthique

If you've been visiting for awhile, you may have gathered that I  l o v e  writing letters. Sending and receiving mail is such a fun & beautiful way to connect with friends, family, or even people you haven't met. A couple years ago I started sending thank you cards to lovely people who have said kind words about my music. To my surprise, many started asking if they could send me mail too! My love for writing & storytelling only grew as I started exchanging mail with wonderful & inspiring people I have yet to meet face to face. A kindred spirit, Lauren of Chic Éthique, and I met through social media last year and have loved exchanging mail since. Her blog is filled with beautiful photos and the best recommendations for just about anything you can think of! She is so lovely & inspiring, I know you will adore her as much as I do! Because we both share a love for writing letters, we thought it would be fun to share our favorite stationery with you. 

            Rifle Paper Co., Parisian Foil Assorted Card Set

For as long as I can remember, my friends and I have always exchanged letters, even when we saw each other in person on a regular basis. At school we'd leave envelopes in each other's lockers filled with memories, secrets, and jokes that only we could ever understand. We passed notes in class and made birthday cards celebrating every adventure we had that year. Most of my teenage years are documented in written words exchanged between those who experienced them alongside me...I wouldn't have it any other way. Among the letters I've kept in a box of favorite memories, there is one in particular I know I will cherish forever...

Molly & Rex Notecards available at Barnes & Noble

Upon high school graduation, an unexpected letter arrived...one written in handwriting that looked vaguely familiar. As I read: "Dear Hayley, How are you? I have about a million questions to ask..." I immediately flashed back to my first day of high school. I remembered sitting on the gym floor surrounded by classmates I barely knew the names of, waiting to be given a blank piece of paper, and pondering what I wanted to say in a letter to my future-self. Four years later, I had this letter in my hands, made up of words laced with innocence, hope, and excitement.

Punch Studio Notecards available at Barnes & Noble

I'm so thankful I wrote that letter, that I have a souvenir from a precious moment in time. That's what letters are don't you think? Souvenirs commemorating moments you felt one way or another. I've adopted the habit of writing a letter every time I have a story to tell someone, a thought to share, or words I wish I had the courage to say out loud to them. In fact, I've written quite a few letters I've never sent. Sometimes it's enough to just to write a letter and pretend it was delivered to the mailbox of the person you wrote it to. 

However, most of the time, I do send the letters I write - like this one :) I got this card with Lauren in mind as it is her birthday this month! I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to connect with kindred spirits like her. And of course, for the simple joy of writing down how you feel at the exact moment you feel it ❤️

Please be sure wish lovely Lauren at Chic Éthique a happy birthday & take peek at her favorite stationery as well as her links! // Instagram: @chicethique | Twitter: @chicethique | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest | Snapchat: @flowerchildmuse

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Summer Celebrations

Hello Friends! How has your summer been so far? Mine has been absolutely lovely. I've been spending my days in the studio recording a few of my most personal songs. I've gotten completely lost in the creative process in the best way...to say I'm elated to share these songs with you would be an understatement. I  c a n t  wait! 

When I'm not in the studio, I've been soaking up as much summer sun as possible.  I've been trying to find simple ways to celebrate summer everyday which means a lot of neighborhood walks, late afternoon swims, and ice cream runs. Today was National Ice Cream Day which made it quite easy to find a way to celebrate summer: pistachio ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, and some brownies for good measure :) 

Summer has always been such an important season to me. For as long as I can remember, some of my most cherished memories have taken place during this time of year. When I was 8, my mom and I would spend summer days walking to CD Warehouse (oh how I wish it still existed!) We'd browse through all the albums and I'd undoubtedly come home with a new single to pop in my portable CD player. 

Middle school summers were filled with innocence and adventures, visiting Barnes & Noble to pick up the latest issue of Teen Vogue and staying up way too late. 

Summers in high school were particularly memorable - filled with young love, magic, and wishing September would never arrive. Nowadays, I still feel the remnants of past summers when June comes around and some how, I feel as though this season holds the most possibility for unexpected surprises & once upon a time's. 

"There's this magical sense of possibility that stretches like a bridge between June and August. A sense that anything can happen." - Aimee Friedman

Because I have such wonderful memories of summer, I've always felt it was an important time of year to celebrate, even if only in the simplest of ways. And inevitably, by celebrating the simple joys of summer, by the end of August you'll find yourself with beautiful memories - ones worth writing songs about :) 

I hope you are having an unforgettable summer so far. Do you have any special summer memories? I would love to hear about them 💕

Magical Musts For A Day At Disneyland

I'm slightly (and by slightly I mean totally) convinced that Disneyland actually is the most magical place on earth. Growing up in Southern California, I always felt so lucky to be able to visit often. I remember when I was little, we'd spend the entire day at Disneyland, until fireworks lit up the sky and my feet were so tired that my dad had to carry me to the car. Nowadays, I prefer to spend an afternoon at the park, appreciating all it's little details. I had the most magical Sunday afternoon exploring Disneyland, particularly Fantasyland (my favorite ♥). 

I'm always so mesmerized by the castle. It's the most beautiful grand entrance to Fantasyland - filled with storybook rides, the carousel, and the tea cups! There's a little gift shop inside the castle where you can dress up like a princess and find beautiful souvenirs. I love the pair of pastel sequins Minnie Mouse ears I found there (pictured above :)

The roses in full bloom made Disneyland that much more magical. After admiring the gardens around the castle, I bumped into Mary Poppins. I'm always so impressed by the characters' ability to truly stay in character. My sister complimented her dress and then Mary complimented us on our Minnie Mouse ears and asked if they help us to hear. She was so lovely and charming - but what I loved even more than talking to her was watching little children interact with her, they were enamored.

The tea cups have always been a favorite of mine. I always try to get the pink one with hearts on it!

It's A Small World is SO beautiful. It's the perfect ride for a warm day. Every room is so detailed and thoughtful, celebrating different parts of the world.

After snacking on a dole whip float (a Disneyland must!), I went for a ride on King Arthur's carousel. The Spring breeze was perfect and I felt just the same way I did when I visited Disneyland as a little girl - simply  h a p p y.

Other magical experiences you must have during a visit to Disneyland:

♥ Explore all the shops on Main Street, particularly the candy store & ice cream parlor! 

♥ Go on at least one ride for little kids (Peter Pan is my favorite!)

♥ "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln" - I love this little show about Abraham Lincoln, it tells an incredible story and the Abe Lincoln animatronic is SO realistic.

♥ Mint Juleps in New Orleans Square.

♥ Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels, of course.

♥ Make a wish at Snow White's wishing well.

Have you ever been to Disneyland? What are your favorite things to do there?

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Twelve Reasons To Write (& A Giveaway!)

'It is important for us to journal or to create or give voice to the things that we're even afraid to think about.' 

A few days ago I received the loveliest surprise in the mail, a journal adorned with the quote, 'Think In Magic.' I've been battling with creative block for awhile now & it was just the piece of inspiration I needed to start writing again. 

I've loved writing for as long as I can remember. A notebook and a pen became best friends to me when I was a little girl. I still have journals I wrote in when I was six years old documenting memories like a day spent with my best friend and what my first grade teacher was like. Today my journal is filled with stories about people who have touched me, memories I'll cherish forever, inspirational quotes, lyrics, polaroids, ticket stubs...you will probably find a piece of every single thing that has ever had meaning to me in my journal.  

The first page of this gift is filled with lyrics of a new song called 'In My Locket.' It's about a moment you share with someone that seems like it could be straight out of a movie - absolutely everything about it is perfect. The last line of the chorus says: 'It was a moment full of promise. It was a picture to keep in my locket.'

Because it has brought so much joy to me, I hope that I can inspire you to write - whether it's a letter to a friend, a journal entry, a list of goals, or a few words about a loved one, I'm convinced writing is magic ♥

Twelve Reasons To Write: 

1. When you're writing, it feels like you're having a conversation with your best friend.

2. It gives you the opportunity to let your mind wander & relax.

3. It's a beautiful way to express yourself.

4. You can keep your writings private, locked away for a rainy day.

5. It's a lovely way to leave your legacy. 

6. It's a wonderful way to document your opinions & experiences.

7. It helps you destress!

8. You'll get to know yourself better.

9. It is an excellent way to organize your thoughts & ideas.

10. You'll have a tangible creation that came from your heart. 

11. It's a fun way to challenge yourself.

12. You can inspire others with your story.
-
G I V E A W A Y! 

Bella Grace Magazine is always such a wonderful source of inspiration for me & I'm so excited to be hosting a giveaway for their latest issue. I just got my hands on it yesterday and I've already been through it multiple times. It's filled with gorgeous photos, inspiring stories, and writing prompts that I love! To receive Bella Grace Magazine: Issue 7 (along with a handwritten letter of course :) leave a comment on this post ♥

For further inspiration, please visit these these lovely Bella Grace bloggers! 

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