Eat + Drink: Sparkling Master Cleanse C/Mocktail

The Master Cleanse. On a scale of 1-10 how mad are you? Are you a lover of this tart drink or do you actively speak out against its supposed benefits?

Today happens to be my 5th day of 10 on the cleanse, and I feel fantastic! I have done this cleanse numerous times throughout college and early adulthood and I always quickly tire of drinking this unceremoniously straight from the bottle. After seeing everyone's weekend brunch pictures, I jealously headed to the kitchen to make a fizzy, nonalcoholic version fit for any healthy brunch! If you've never had this mix before, you might be surprised at how tasty it is!

Vodka or gin optional.

No matter how much you love it or hate it, the Master Cleanse is just as adored for its health benefits as it is hated for its wobbly science. This controversial concoction is often used for a period of 5-10 days for its cleansing benefits and I happen to be a fan. While you won't find me going on a 40 day binge on the stuff, I do enjoy the glowing skin, body reset and general lightness I feel --- you know, once the headaches, fuzzy tongue and grumbling tummy subside. Glamorous, right?

Have you ever done the Master Cleanse before? Have your past experiences with the cleanse been positive or negative? If you decide to make this lovely libation, please snap a picture & tag me in your Instagram photo!!

Design Advice: My Interior Essentials

I was reading through a great blog post from Emily Henderson outlining her 12 essentials for styling a room for a photo shoot. Perhaps not so surprisingly, I own more than a few of her little trade secret trinkets because, welp -- #ithinkwewouldbeBFFs if we met. Aside from my harmless girl crush on her, I just really love the fact that she is an approachable designer in an industry that kind of prides itself in high prices and needless pretension.

Channeling my inner Emily and adding to her list, is my own list of luxuries and doodads that you can add to just about any room to give it a weekend refresh! A little brass piggy here, a few layered rugs there and VOILA! you have a new-to-you room for very little moolah and hardly any effort!

What are your favorite design essentials? Share your links and comments below! 

Marais A Side Chair: $145 / On The Spot Desk Lamp: $180 / Linear Wine Rack: $49 / Hex Marble Side Table: $149 / Gold Piggy Book Ends: $29 / IKEA Stockholm Rug: $299 / Koldby Cow Hide: $199 / Scoppio Wall Pom Poms: $14-24 / Succulent Terrarium DIY Project

I've been nominated for a Liebster Award! (Part 1)

My German grandmother would be so proud right now, as I have been nominated by the hilarious and witty Lisa of Sux In The City, for a Liebster Award!  

What is a Liebster Award you ask? It roughly refers to something you like, or that which is beloved in German – and the Liebster Award is a fun way to honor up-and-coming blogs who have less than 200 followers in order to get everyone more engaged, connected and it's a great way for you to find out about some new bloggers! Huzzah! Thank you Miss. Lisa! 

Now, I'm supposed to write a bunch of questions and nominate bloggers and tell you random things about myself, but I just spent 20 minutes on the graphic above and another hour answering the questions below-- so I'm just going to post half now and half later! 

ANSWERING LISA'S QUESTIONS:

1. If you could go back in time and alter a decision you’ve made, what would it be? I would have spent more time thinking about how to turn my favorite hobbies into a cool career before jumping into "real world" and dyed my hair from blond to red a lot sooner (even got to have a few pink days in between dye jobs!)
2. What’s your favorite thing about yourself, and why? My ability to throw together a great impromptu party - a handy and necessary skill. That or my winning personality.
3. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Sitting at just about any vineyard drinking wine with friends while my dogs troll around looking for willing hands to pet them.
4. If you had to select one food to live on for the rest of your life, what would it be? Champagne. Obv.
5. What scares you? Being too vulnerable, but I'm learning.
6. If you were 90 years old looking back at this time in your life, what would you regret, or wish you’d done differently? Keep in touch with old friends, wear red lipstick, and regret nothing. 
7. What is your biggest dream? My biggest dream is to happily live a life that is just right for me...and to pass the Sommelier Level 1 exam so I can be a legit wine expert!
8. If you could swap lives with anyone for 24 hours, who would you choose? Thelonious Monk or Frank Gehry -- just to have a glimpse into how these minds work would be incredible and I'm pretty sure my brain would explode.
9. Who’s your favorite person on earth? My grandmother- no longer on earth per se, but no less my favorite. She taught me that an all black outfit accessorized with big, colorful jewels, shoes, and purses is chic at any age.
10. If you had the power to change one thing about the world (circumstances, behaviors of people, etc), what would you change? I would strive for an emphasis on everyday happiness and focus on quality of life issues. More siestas, more laughs, less work, less competition, more brother and sisterhood, more wine.
11. Does your milkshake bring all the boys to the yard? Just the boys who aren't lactose intolerant.

Classics and Coral [MOOD BOARD]

The warm weather and longer days are leaving me to yearn for a killer patio to lounge on. Luckily, I actually have a pretty cool patio, but the sobering fact that I am merely a renter keeps me from spending any money to furnish this secondary living space. Instead, I choose to daydream about long hours spent lounging with friends and drinking wine while watching the sun dip below the horizon.

While I don't know if I would design my patio quite like this, I do have a soft spot for the classic black and white stripes and punchy accents (and that VIEW) shown in the outdoor space below. I've broken it down into colors and textures for those of you that would like to recreate it for yourself! Enjoy!

Entertaining: Dining Al Fresco

Mix up some Sparkling White Peach Sangria (a.k.a Porch Pounder Punch) and prepare your favorite summer salad because it's finally time to TAKE IT OUTSIDE! The nights are getting warmer and the days are getting longer. I'm ready for those animated conversations that last all night and may seem a little fuzzy the next day. Who's wants to join me?!

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What does your ideal al freso meal look like? Do you have a tried-and-true porch pounder punch recipe of your own? Share it below!

Design Advice: Integrating Screened Porches

Screened porches are a thing of amazing convenience and oftentimes very little beauty. Immediately  that sideways leaning, hastily built eyesore with sagging screens pops into my mind and I die a little bit inside. Of course, they serve a great purpose to those that love them. You are outside, breathing the warm summer air, becoming one with nature -- sort of.

I currently have a client who is very keen on having a screened porch integrated into the remodel of his home, and in this case I couldn't agree more. The keyword here is INTEGRATED! In Austin, the sun assaults your eyeballs and burns your skin for 8 months out of the year. Not only does this make it nearly impossible to enjoy the outdoors for most of the year, but it also comes with bees! bugs! mosquitos! raccoons! flash floods!

You bet I'm not going to give him just any old screened porch. He is going to get the crème de la crème of screened porches! So far, my search as turned of a few beauties you can check out below. Judging by these pics, a screened porch might be in my future too. You mean I can sit for hours sipping sugary gin + lemonades without the fear of bees?! Count me in! 

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Which of these screened porches would you like to spend hours lounging on? What unique details would you include in your perfect screened porch? Tell me in the comments below!