here's to a fabulous LONG weekend {of feasting}

hello, everyone!

how was your weekend? i hope it was nothing short of fabulous!

as hoped, i had an amazingly relaxing weekend...the weather ended up being so nice, too!

i really did not do too much...except that after looking back at my photos...

i realize that i most definitely feasted all weekend long!!!

oh well, i suppose that is what holiday weekends are for, right?!

{and i got a little run & bike ride in there, too!}

here's a little peek into my weekend...

friday night: date night at home with dan...

gins & tonics kicked off our date night {yep, i'm a gin girl}

...i had recently watched a single man & it always makes me crave a gin & tonic!...

i planned on making halibut tacos with slaw...but i forgot the corn tortillas! 

no problem...i adapted and just served the fish with chips ;)

{it's hard to tell under all of that avocado...but that is a lovely piece of halibut}

saturday night: date night with one of my besties, katie :)

the black bottle...one of my favorite seattle spots...

Deeeelicious wine & very tasty tapas!

{i recently decided that tapas are my most favorite way to eat!}

-flat bread with brie & niçoise olives-

-seared ahi-

-roasted veggies-

oh! and meet katie...

so, after dinner we thought about going to see bridesmaids...

but, then we got the dancing bug...so we ended up at a really terrible dance club

and this is katie's 'brynn, why in the world did we come here???' face :)

{but we shook our booties & had a fabulous time anyways...because that's just what we do!}

sunday: chill-out day with dan

we started our morning out at our favorite little neighborhood vegan bakery, the flying apron

{not that we are necessarily vegan, but we love the goods!}

i enjoyed a very tasty piece of banana chocolate chip bread & a spicy soy chai

...then we moseyed on for a little stroll to the market...

on our way, we came across this gorgeous bush...isn't it so pretty

a little later we were strolling down the street where we came across a favorite little divey pub, the Dubliner...

where we decided to pop in for a beer & some good ol' fashioned conversation 

{dan + me & a pub = good times, always!}

that night, dan made dinner...spicy citrus scallops with cilantro, served with orange bell peppers & avocado

...let me just brag for a minute...my man can cook!!! that was a tasty meal, indeed! <3

i had a little fun art time with wine...

starting to make my logo for the wine blog that i will be launching {very soon!!!}

stay tuned for the finished product!

monday night dinner: may as well end the weekend right!

seared tuna salad with ginger-cilantro dressing :)

my belly is very content :) 

what did you do over the weekend? i would love to hear about it!

have a lovely day...and YAY for a short week ahead!

xoxoxo

brynn

just a little something lovely for your saturday

along the way of my pinning-mania today, 

i came across some lovely & thought-provoking words that i wanted to share...

{the words via  / the image via}

i hope you are having a lovely weekend so far :)

xoxoxo

brynn

friday's fancies {with a side of foodie fridays}

happy, happy {beginning of the long weekend} friday!!!

don't you just love long weekends?

{silly question, i suppose!}

so, as some of you might know, my fridays are generally 'foodie fridays',

but i got so excited about joining {av} in her 'friday's fancies' link-up on her blog {long distance loving}

SO...i decided to participate in the friday's fancies {my first!} & add in a side of foodie fridays :)

see...you can have your cake {err...ceviche in this case} & eat it, too!

my dream memorial day weekend outfit

{& the event that i will wear it to...& the food i will eat!}

THE DIGS:

seattle has been so darn chilly, rainy & dreary...

i am dreaming of a beautiful beach setting for my memorial day party!

{beach photo : praia piquinia by christian chaize}

and what makes a beach setting more festive than adorable umbrellas?

{back ground umbrella images:
cabana beach umbrella via

multi-stripe beach parasol : print via pinterest

aqua beach ball parasol via pamela's parasols}

THE LOOK:

dreaming of the perfect outfit {a little vintage, a little bohemian & perfectly carefree beach hair!}

first off, i have fallen in love, love, love this anthropologie bathing suit {sadly no longer available}...

it is the perfect amount of pretty & feminine with a bit of retro...& the high waist is so flattering! 

{image via pinterest}

& this lace cover-up is to-die-for bohemian-esque gorgeousness!!! 

{image via pinterest}

THE ICING:

accessories always complete the look...
i have loved these lucia puma sunglasses for so long...
{unfortunate for me, because i won't spend over a certain amount for sunglasses
...because i always break or lose them!}
{via need supply co.}

& i <3 flowers + stripes + lace!!!
these kate spade espadrilles would be the just the stripe i would need :)
{via nordstrom}

every girl going to a beach party needs a cute tote...hmmm, perhaps i could make my own!
{renske's diy minimalist tote bag via design*sponge}
&... lastly, but oh so importantly... a lovely, big floppy hat {sunburns, stay away!}

{white meidland summer hat via bhldn}

THE PARTY:

daytime would turn into a lovely sunset...

and we would start a beach fire
{image via sunday in bed}
& eat...
tasty shrimp ceviche {recipe via noble pig}

and refreshing quinoa salad with grapefruit & cucumber {recipe via eating well, living thin}

and {my favorite} grilled corn {image via vineet kaur}

& drink...

how tasty does this blood orange margarita look?! {image via amy bird tweets}

& be merry!

oh! & don't forget...

THE MUSIC:

 what memorial day weekend isn't complete without a fabulous playlist?

do you know diana from miss moss? she has this fabulous little blog {check it out here} 

& she puts together some of the best music mixes around! 

& she lets you download each and every one...how very awesome is that???!!! 

{i think it...and she...is extremely awesome!} 

so, i'll be listening to waiting on summer probably all weekend long...

i just can't get enough of its goodness! 

{i could play tracks 5 & 12 over & over & over}
so, i have loaded this playlist onto my site for your listening pleasure as you read :)
{you can see the playlist @ the bottom of the page}
i was able to locate almost all songs, but some of the versions may be slightly different...
& track 12 is nearly impossible to locate... so you'll have to download the playlist from miss moss to hear it...

wishing you all a fantasic, loooooong weekend... 
filled with all sorts of fancies ;)
{in real life, i am going to fancy a nice & quiet weekend that i am in great need of!}
what are your plans?

thank you to {av} for putting on such a fun weekly link-up...can't wait for more!!!
{and happy birthday to her, as well!!!}
xoxoxo
brynn

collections : digging for gold {sequins}

hello, lovelies :)

looking for a little sparkle in your day?

well, i have some pretties for you!

{column 1: lucy lacht, this is glamorous, tumblr /
column 2: ruffles n sequins, dernier cri, the glitter guide /
column 3: sewing embroidery /
column 4: modern hepburn, ruffles n sequins, mochatini}

have a brilliant day!!!

xoxoxo

brynn

guess what? i'm still dancin'!!!

hello, friends!

how are you today?

as some of you may know, this would normally be a WEDnesday post...

BUT

if you saw my second post yesterday, i spoke about all of the blog love that is going around...

& well...today the love continues :)

{so stay tuned for a wedding post a bit later today}

thank you so much to tamra, from walks with bella, 

for passing on this fabulous "stylish blogger award" to me!!! 

tamra, you are simply the best & absolutely one stylish gal!

i am truly so honored to receive such an award...

this is a first for me & i just couldn't be happier :) 

there are some fun rules to play by when receiving this award, and i am so excited to do so!

The rules are:  

1- thank and link back to the person who gave you the award {check!}

2- reveal seven things about yourself

3- bestow the award on ten great bloggers you have recently discovered

4-contact those bloggers and tell them about the award

7 things

{polka dot back ground & ribbon border via purl soho}

1. i have this little {okay BIG} crush on retro scarves...i think i managed to collect over 20 two summers ago - just from my local sunday flea market! - and the collection has only grown from there! you will definitely find me sporting a range of head scarves throughout the summer :)  {image of girl via ketsu}

2. i am pretty sure that our neighbors have caught dan & me dancing in our living room on several occasions! even after 12 1/2 years, we still have so much fun together :)  {this time was in our  friends' living room} 

3. i have 2 lovely kitties, mazzy {after mazzy star} who is naturally drawn to other gray things and thinks she can't be seen when near them ;)  & tink, conquerer of shoe boxes, paper bags, you name it! we've had these girls for a little over 10 years & are just so crazy about them!

4. i really, positively don't think that i could survive without avocados... i eat one avocado nearly everyday... slight addiction, perhaps?! {image via azwebear}

5. my ever growing glassware collection from antropologie {& wherever else i see pretty glassware} ...this is like a little treat for myself when i need a pick-me-up or can't shop...a new glass always makes me so happy :) they have gotten much use, too...via dinner parties & brunches...& sometimes, i just love to drink my wine in a pretty little glass :) {i placed the glasses across our piano for the shot - & you'll see in the background anthro & uo catalogs...instead of sheet music, i open up the catalogs to the prettiest pages & it is music to my eyes!}

6. sometimes {maybe too often} i dream of just picking up & taking off to live in france {with dan & the cats, of course!}, where we would own a little café that looks like this :) ...sigh... {image via pinterest}

7. postal service : give up...the one & only album from them, that {even after all of these years} i still just can't get enough of {sadly, i have given up hope that they will make another} p.s. track 9 is my absolute favorite!!!

and now...

to pass on the love

to 10 fabulous bloggers!

{in no particular order}

heather at olive & a

julie at love, julie

alexa at the short & sweet of it

jillian at cornflake dreams

natasha at schue love

audrey at park street

jenna lee at a la mode

monica at bohemian twilight

lenore at lenore nevermore

jenny at jenny in ohio

if you don't know these lovely ladies yet, DO check them out :)

have a fantastic day!!!

xoxoxo

brynn

doing a little dance : {gratitude}

there has been just so much blog love going around lately...

so, today, i pay it forward...

i received two very lovely shout-outs last week...

one from the gorgeous tamra from walks with bella 

{you may recall my birthday shout-out to her & then she shouted right back! 

thanks again, tamra! you brought a very big smile to my face that day!!!}

& 

the other shout-out was from my lovely friend over at a la mode, jenna lee

{thank you so much, jenna...it means a ton!}

i am sending some love right back at'cha!

i would like to also give some love to...

amber at imagine.create.play ...amber is truly my first friend in the blogging world

{thank you so much for everything...getting me on twitter...sharing fun conversations via pinterst...etc}

jillian from cornflake dreams

{if you don't know jillian, you are missing out! thanks, jillian for the <3}

natasha over at schue love

{you've got a lot of love to give...thank you!}

julie at love, julie

{thank you for your always sweet comments!}

monica from bohemian twilight

{all the way from montenegro :) thanks for your love!}

& some newer friends...

heather at olive & a / lenore from lenore nevermore / brittany at swirls of happy 

{thank you, thank you, thank you... so much to all of you...
& to so many more...to everyone else who stops by}

you all inspire me :)

& you all make me want to do a little dance...

{michelle williams via la vie boston}

xoxoxo
brynn

tuesday huesday : mmmmmustard {yellow}

hello, lovelies!

how are you today?

i am craving mustard...

mustard yellow, that is!

oh how i love it...

& so desire to wear it...

but so sad that it does not get along with my skintone :(

oh, well! at least i can enjoy it in other forms :)

{& on others who do wear it so well}

{found on interior groupie...you can purchase your very own via bayan hippo}

{via miss at la playa}

{via boheme extreme}

{via pinterest}

{silkscreen print by sharon elphick, available for purchase via}

{via sacramento street}

{via sunday in bed}

{via shop narcisse}

{ashley oostdyck}

{photography by from me to you}

{via refinery 29}

{martha stewart}

are you craving a particular color right now?

have an excellent day!

xoxoxo

brynn

{p.s. the adorable little background used for all images is patternwork designed by robin sheldon}

here's to a fabulous weekend!

hello! 

how was your weekend, friends?

mine was pretty fabulous! 

it was supposed to be jam packed...

but it actually ended up being pretty relaxing :)

as mentioned on friday's post, 

i took a "sun day" on friday...
i started my morning off with breakfast with a friend...

then i just planned on biking through the city or having a picnic in the park,

but spontaneously ended up joining a girlfriend for a little day trip...

we went to Vantage, WA on the Columbia River

{it is about 2 1/2 hours east of Seattle & was about 10 degrees warmer!!!}

the drive was absolutely gorgeous...

i have always had this thing for windmills...

they remind me of road trips when i was little :)

there is the Columbia River...

we had the entire beach nearly to just ourselves

{the closest to a personal island as we could get!}

i made sangria for the occasion!

it was deeeeeeeelicious :)

{ingredients: strawberries, raspberries, green apples, blueberries, 

white peaches, fresh squeezed orange juice & garnacha wine}

i was supposed to attend a wine event on saturday, 

but i was feeling a bit under the weather, so i stayed in...

& had lots of ME time 

{i was needing me time so bad!}

i worked on my blog most of the time...

as you might see, i revamped my page a bit :)

i refreshed my logo,

learned how to make buttons {finally!}

& made a few other small tweaks...

all things that i have been wanting to do for so long, 

but was not finding the time for.

YAY!!!

saturday was also a food experimenting day...

{greek yogurt with maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon 

blueberries, raspberries & strawberries, topped with oats}

YUM :)

{popcorn with olive oil, sea salt & basil}

this was so tasty! 

i just buy the popcorn kernels in bulk & cook them in a pot w/ olive oil & sea salt...

but as i was starting to heat up the pot, i caught the basil out of the corner of my eye...

so i threw a few leaves in to cook with the popcorn...& poof! oh my tastiness!

{i even enjoyed tearing up the fresh leaves and sprinkling on top}

sunday 

{the real sunday, which was actually cloudy and a bit rainy}

was jackson's 3rd birthday - the son of one of my best friends...

so, the day was spent with friends & lots of kids :)

i would love to hear how your weekend was!

xoxoxo

brynn

foodie fridays : just peachy

hello friends :)

happy friday!!!

i hope you all are well

& have survived the week!

i am taking today off...i needed a "sun day"

YEP! it is sunny & gorgeous here in the pacific northwest :)

& i am taking full advantage!!!

i have a full weekend again 

& can't wait to report back on monday with all of the details!

what kind of fun are you up to this weekend?!

i am feeling like it might be a peach cake kind of weekend...

how about you?

{if only just to look at... because it is soooooooooo pretty!}

{you can make it, too! via kiss the groom}

cheers! to a long & lovely weekend, friends :)

& i have a quick couple of shout-outs...

mina & kingway...CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

{my co-worker & her fiancé are getting married today!}

&

tamra {from walks with bella...one of my favorite blogs}...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

{i encourage you all to pop by her lovely blog to give her lots of birthday love!}

xoxoxo

brynn

summer is nearing...an ode to the cherry blossoms

the weather is {finally} warming

&

the sun is {finally} shining

...summer is {finally} on its way!

...which is mostly sweet...

but i am always so bummed to see 

the cherry blossom trees

shed their lovely petals...

{all photos shown are my own...feel free to pin or use as you wish,
but please give credit & link back to chartreuse and a twist}

 what will you miss most about spring?

xoxoxo

brynn

collections : le vélo {bonus post}

going hand in hand with the WEDnesday post...

CUTE bicycle shots!

{row 1: lani photography / highland gillie on flikr / one summer day photo
row 2: pinterest / note to self / musings in femininity /  rafaella on flikr
row 3: 2photo / mary elizabeth inspire / tiny white daisies}

xoxoxo

brynn

WEDnesday : bicycle love

happy WEDnesday!

{half-way through...phew!}

i just adore bicycles...

i am a proud owner of a yellow schwinn cruiser

{her name is jenny}

we have become great friends over the last couple of years

& 

dan and i have made a new pastime of long bicycle rides on warm summer days :)

i want to take our bikes with us to the vineyard...

i imagine lots of wine-tasting bike rides the week before the wedding...

and we could get some cute shots in at our wedding!

{like this cute couple on their tandem} 

{via oh happy day}

i would like to imagine these two had a super cute summer wedding...

{which they really did...but just for fun, i am going to create my own idea of their occasion}

p.s. loving her adorable sunglasses!

red & blue were their colors

& 

retro was the name of the game!

{background via purl bee}

i am thinking...

~ that i am loving the bike graphic...this style will set the tone in invites & such 

{via slice of pink}

~ vintage soda pop bottles for  props & vases 

{via ffffound}

~ a milkshake bar fully equipped with retro straws & maraschino cherries! 

{via elizabeth anne designs}

~ hydrangeas & blueberries would make perfect centerpieces

{via styled creative}

~ mason jars filled with their hand-crafted preserves would be given to guests

...as well as served at the wedding on top of brie & served with crackers 

{via honey & jam}

~ and their getaway "vehicle" was {of course!} their tandem bicycle 

...with a 'just married' sign on back :)

{via 2sisters}

have a lovely day!

xoxoxo

brynn

tuesday huesday : POP! {goes the color}

hello, loves!

to my blogging friends out there...

don't you love how you can be headed down one path when creating a post

& then all of a sudden you find your self totally derailed {inspired, in creative speak}

...and you end up with a completely different post than planned...

but you are SO happy that you did!

well, that is what happened here...

i think the lack of sunshine in my life has me naturally gravitating towards the

BRIGHT & POPPY colors!

{all background trim via purl bee / POP! letters via inkblot paper designs, dezeen, typograffit, carrie anne design  /
left & center girls via une americaine / right girl via pinterest via street fsn / bracelets via something trendy / christopher kane shoes via net-a-porter}

i am love, love, LOVING the juicy neons that are POPPING up all over the place!

whether mixed with neutrals {like those fabulous platforms w/ neon green piping}

...or with washed-out color {like that lovely water-washed aqua & the bright coral shorts <3}

...or simply paired with stark white...

i  am digging it ALL

{and i want lots of it in my summer wardrobe!}

my spring has been a lot of neutrals, peaches & corals,

so i am definitely feeling the need to add the POP!
{but definitely in a fresh & updated way - not 80's}

how would you wear your neon?
or, if you don't prefer neon...

what colors are going to be in your summer wardrobe?

p.s. have you checked out une americaine?

it is such an inspiring fashion blog...definitely check it out!

have a lovely day!

xoxoxo

brynn

here's to a fabulous weekend!

hello, friends :)

how was your weekend?

i am starting to realize that my weekends {these days} 

are either all or nothing...and this was definitely an "all" weekend!

saturday started out with a barrel tasting at icon cellars

{this is the winery that i will soon be writing a wine blog for!}

look at that gorgeous spread...

they don't mess around! 

mmm... 

olives & cheese

meet jim, winemaker & owner of icon cellars

{this is him siphoning the wine straight from the barrel!}

look at that gorgeous color!

{i believe that this was the syrah}

at the tasting, i met mark...

he is a real-life puppeteer! 

{this is him demonstrating how to move a puppet's mouth...

hint: move the thumb, NOT the top of the hand}

later that evening, i went out dancing...

i was told it was a 60's mod dance party {how cool is that?!}...

but there was some sort of mix up because it ended up being soul night...

which is fine because soul night is one of my FAVORITE dancing nights, always!

...AND...now i know how to do mod make-up! {major plus}

...and i'll use any excuse to wear statement lashes!

{this is sara on the left on me on the right}

a little blurry...but this is me in action :)

AND...oh my goodness! 

check out the latest in light night street food...

YEP! gourmet grilled cheese! {how brialliant is that!}

hot dogs, watch out! {they are so overrated, anyways}
...this was definitely my little treat-cheat for the week!...

meet the crew...

they will DEFINITELY give you the best

grilled cheese experience you may ever have!

{if you live in seattle or ever find yourself dancing at lo-fi...

look for these guys right outside the door...they will treat your palate right!}

and sunday was fun-filled, too, but shame on me for not photographing!
we had a fun little wine tasting with our friends, tarah & austin
{all in the name of research for the blog!}
and then enjoyed a lovely dinner at my favorite neighborhood mexican restaurant, el camino!

how did you spend your weekend?

have a great monday!

xoxoxo

brynn