winter layers

 denim shirt: thrifted // dress, tights: Target // cardi: Ann Taylor // boots: eBay

It may not be spring weather yet, but I've decided that that doesn't mean it's not spring dress weather.

Although I'm getting a little tired of the cold, the thing about winter is that it forces me to be creative with my closet. Relegating a cute red dress to the back of my closet just because it's sleeveless doesn't seem fair; I'd rather figure out a new way to wear it.

So this is my latest tactic: layer shirts under dresses, and then cardigans over the shirts. My new favorite way to make a spring dress appropriate for winter. Even the dog agrees it works.

xo, erika

journaling through lent

Through most of my life I was a devoted journaler. From elementary school worries to junior high and high school drama and well through college.

I'm not sure when I stopped doing it as often. Maybe when I became a real adult. Got a job, got married and got busier.

I know that the moments I spent journaling, processing and writing prayers, I understood more of life and more of what God wanted for me.

It's always tempting for me to treat Lent as a self-help time -- to tackle eating sweets, or too much televison, but Lent is more of a heart thing, or at least it is for me.

Lent literally means to fast, so I've decided to fast from the little things I fill my time with and instead making time to write and process.

Lent means something different to everyone; if you feel called to give up chocolate, then do it. If you feel called to give up tv- then so be it. But this season, I feel called to re-engage something I miss.

xo, erika

bits of my week

from left to right...
>> moved where I sit at the day job and I no longer have a water view. Skyscrapers are cool, but my heart belongs to the sea.
>> been running more & had a pretty great one during my lunch break along the pier
>> kale calzone explosion! delish.
>> pike place market + sunshine.
>> pretty earrings from hannah's etsy shop happy days. (I'm wearing these.)
>> the husband sharing chocolate cake with his grandma while we celebrated her 94th birthday.


also... the husband and I booked a hotel in London. It's really expensive and it's really happening!

 internet life:
>> thoughts on your social media presence
>> discovering the "coast to coast challenge," which I think could be a great way to get more creative with my closet. (you know how I love that.)
>> it is like the season for sales. anthropologie has a ton on sale, ann taylor loft a huge sale right now, and so does jigsaw london. (use BlogLove0506 for 20% off their sale section until next wednesday).

this weekend I may catch up on laundry, I want to sew a few DIYs and I should sleep in a little bit. What are your plans?

xo, erika

go easy

I think I am, as many people are, good at being hard on myself.

I struggle so hard to hold control on to so many things and to be honest, I have small hands and there's not much I can hold on too without letting some things slip.

And I think that's OK.


Earlier this month, I wrote that I wanted to go easier on myself-- especially in regards to my house. Somedays, to be honest, most days, I feel inadequate when I look at my house.

I do love my little house but some days when I look at my home, all I see all that needs to be done-- all the things I haven't done and all the projects that I could be doing. I see the bathroom that needs repainting. The laundry that hasn't been folded. The weird unorganized papers piled on a counter. The neglected plants on my deck. And I feel bad, as if I have not been a good steward of what God has given me.

But I also know that I cannot do it all. And, if I was to be truly honest with myself, when I look at my house and the projects I need to do, I think I should do them because of what others may think. What would people think if they came over and saw the laundry, the messes, the unorganized papers?


I should ask myself why I really care what they think. I should also ask myself if I'm going too hard on myself -- that if it matters if some laundry piles up, if my bathroom is perfectly painted and if the closet door downstairs currently doesn't have a door knob.


I am trying to work on letting little things like this go -- not because I can't control them-- but because I shouldn't let them control me.


Just some thoughts for Thursday.

different, just to be different

blouse: Nordstrom // sweatshirt: hello merch // jeans: Urban Outfitters // flats: Born

The husband tells me that sometimes I try to be different just to be different.


Apparently that kind of makes me a hipster. Or so he says.


Then I saw a bunch of people tweeting about these sweatshirts being on sale...  and I really liked the sweatshirts but then I thought that I didn't want to buy them because everyone else was getting them.


But then I remembered what my husband said and decided that being different, at least this time, didn't matter.

Another point to bring up. Do you guys remember when crewneck sweatshirts were the worst thing ever? I remember that it was a hooded sweatshirt or nothing in junior high. Oh how things change!  Crewneck sweatshirts are something I've seen everywhere for spring. Hooded sweatshirts, not so much. I should probably diy a polka dot crewneck sweatshirt or something.

xo, erika

p.s. linking up to stylelixir