Pumpkin Carving

We have been so excited for all the fun holiday parties that come with the fall and winter seasons and we're so glad they've finally started!  We kicked off the Halloween weekend with a lovely, festive pumpkin carving party.  Nothing says fall quite like hot apple cider, pumpkin spice treats and friends getting together...and no, the striped shirt theme wasn't planned!  Seth (Suz's husband) was the defending pumpkin carving champ, two years in a row now, with his 'Hipster Pumpkin' sporting a mustache and Toms shoes.  Hope you all had a great weekend!

Happy Halloween! 

(We're not too old to be dressing up tonight, right?)

Suz & Jenn

Vintage Floral

Dress: Aleila Clutch: Dareen Hakim Necklace: H&M Heels: Dolce Vita

With Halloween on Monday and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's a good idea to have a couple go-to outfits to wear to upcoming holiday parties. For this look, the vintage floral tunic makes a huge statement while still being completely understated. The necklace elongates the body and ties in the gold accents and vintage feel of the dress. The white clutch is a fresh/contemporary touch - all grounded with a chunky burnt orange heel to show off the legs (you may want to add gray tights for these chilly nights).

What are your plans for the weekend? We would love to hear about your costume ideas or any fabulous parties you are attending.

Have a great weekend! See you on Monday!

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Product with Purpose | ARK Collective

The organization, ARK Collective, has created a line of clean, classy, functional backpacks and they are committed to benefiting others with the products they sell. They call it the "Get to Give" model and it ensures that for every backpack purchased, a brand new backpack is given to a child who cannot afford one. Just because the school year has already been in session for a few months now, doesn't mean kids have gotten what they need by this point.

While doing a giveaway in Los Angeles, the ARK Collective team witnessed and learned about students carrying their school supplies in grocery bags, and some just holding what they could in their hands. Although a backpack might not seem like a basic necessity, we think the idea of providing one to a student in need can bring them so much joy as they are finally able to have what their friends and peers have. We just love the grey backpack, and think it can be so versatile! So grab one for yourself or for your man and help provide for a child who doesn't have their own!

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

DIY : Fabric Art

Happy Monday! This post is for all of you that love DIY and all of you out there who are scared of DIY projects - it's fast and easy!

For this project all you need is...

1. Fabric   2. Frames

Step 1: Find some fabric laying around the house or go to your local fabric store and pick out a great print that ties in with your home decor.

Step 2: Cut the fabric to fit the outside of the frame (measure by using the back of the frame).

Step 3: Place in frames and find a lovely place to hang your new art!

We hope you had a great weekend and that this starts your week off with some creative juices flowing and inspires you to start a new project!

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Leopard :: Trashy to Classy

Top: J.Crew Jeans: Acne Glasses: Ray-Ban Clutch: ASOS Shoes: TopShop

Happy Friday!! Today we are talking leopard - a huge trend for fall this year. It can be an overwhelming print, but done in the right way, adds the perfect amount of edge or class to an outfit. Just a tip when wearing leopard, only wear one piece. Definitely rock a leopard dress, but keep it simple with the accessories or throw on a chunky leopard heel to sass up a black cocktail dress.

This whole look is classy but contemporary with the over-sized jean top, black skinny jeans and black shades. The leopard loafers are the perfect touch of print and interest keeping everything cool and completed. To finish it off, maybe put on a red lip to add some color.

Have fun with leopard and don't be scared to rock it this fall - just remember to keep it tamed.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Suz & Jenn

Freedom Climb

Our Purpose post this week is full of great organizations and we're so excited to share this opportunity to be a part of an awesome cause!  Faithquest Missions and Operation Mobilisation are both involved in the Freedom Climb: 42 women on an ascent to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to raise awareness and funds for women caught in the deadly sex trafficking industry.  The tallest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is 20,000 feet at it's summit, Uhuru Peak.  Uhuru is Swahili for 'freedom' (hence the name Freedom Climb), and as the word spreads, the climb these women boldly make will advocate for the freedom of millions of enslaved women and children in 'at risk' areas.

These women have a HUGE vision: raise $400,000 to fund projects that combat slavery through prevention, rescue and development for 10,000 women and children.  However, we think this goal will definitely be achieved as more and more people find out about and join their wonderful cause.  We encourage you to take part in The Freedom Climb by supporting the team and by learning more about the organizations involved.

Check them out!

Suz & Jenn

October Sunsets

Photo by Suzʻs talented husband Seth

Southern California in the fall is such a wonderful time of year with perfect beach weather (for the most part) without the summer crowds.  October sunsets have been especially beautiful this year and we're soaking them in as much as possible.  How did you spend your weekend?  Hoping it was filled with fun and relaxation as we head into another week!

Happy Monday,

Suz & Jenn

Mixing and Matching

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Today's post is all about using what you have in your closet. It can definitely be hard to think outside the box when you have been looking at the same blouse hanging in your closet for 4 years, but there's hope! 

Loving both these looks using the same neck tie blouse. For the first look, we paired the blouse with a striped, cropped jacket and gray skinnies. The pattern on the top is nice and subtle and compliments the graphic print on the jacket. Add accessories with a delicate ring to tie in the black and add shine with the gold, slip on a black flat and complete the look with a sienna brown clutch and you've got yourself a versatile outfit you can wear to dinner or run errands in style.

For the second look, this more conservative blouse is paired with wide-led trouser jeans, faux-fur vest and platform boots. The vest gives the look a touch of 70s edge and the pants add glamour, especially with a platform boot! There is no need for a necklace, because of the neck tie, so earrings add some interest without overpowering the outfit. 

Moral of the story, have fun with what you have and start mixing and matching pieces in your closet!

Have a great weekend!

Suz & Jenn

Product with Purpose: WeWOOD

WeWOOD is a company that set out to create a product that fulfilled the need for 'sophisticated sustainability', and we think they have absolutely succeeded!  Trendy, unique and eco-friendly, WeWOOD watches are 100% wood and free of any toxic chemicals.  These statement-making pieces are made mostly from scrap wood, yet the company wants to do even more to support the environment.  For every watch sold, a tree is planted, and in the first three months alone, 5,000 trees were planted through their partnership with American Forests!  We love this whole 'one-for-one' movement that seems to be continually spreading.  Whether shoes or trees, giving something just by purchasing a great product is something we hope to see more of in the future...and we'll let you know whenever we do!

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Andy + Mercedes | Vintage Barn Wedding

This beautifully rustic wedding perfectly captured the style and personalities of our good friends, Mercedes and Andy. Their wedding took place last year, and we are so excited to relive it and share with you all of the timeless, lovely details that are so fitting for fall! 

Wildflowers were used everywhere from bouquets to centerpieces and gave the wedding a fun, laid back country feel.  Mercedes scoured estate sales and flea markets for all of the vintage pieces used throughout the day and we loved how personalized every aspect turned out!

The bride and groom used beautiful neutrals that truly captured the essence of the barn's vintage feel and natural surroundings. Colorful flowers in vintage glass vases complemented the neutral, multi-textured table scape where guests enjoyed a delicious BBQ buffet.

We love Andy and Mercedes and hope their wedding offered some sweet style inspiration that can be used for anything from weddings to home decor!


XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Wedding Vendors: 

Venue: The Cayucos Creek Barn

Photographer: Matthew Morgan

Event Coordinator and Florist: Floral Designs by Christa Rose

Pannikin

If you're ever enroute to San Diego, be sure to check out the nearest location of Pannikin Coffee & Tea...a multi-story coffee house experience. Sip a latte in one of the wooden lawn chairs or enjoy any of their delicious menu items out on the patio.  Just taking a walk around the property made us wish all local coffee joints could be so lovely and inviting.  We hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  

Here's to the beginning of another week!

Suz & Jenn

Curling Up With a Classic

      Top: Rag & Bone  Sweater: La Garconne  Mug: ModCloth Jeans: Hollister  Boots: Nordstrom

Ok, so we've definitely had some kind of a change in weather (I guess you could call it change in seasons with a brisk 65 degrees during the day) which is not always so characteristic of Southern California in the beginning of October. With this sudden cold front, it seems like the only natural thing to do is to throw on a cozy (but always chic) outfit and dive into a good book while sipping a favorite tea or coffee at the local coffee house or local living room couch. Thoughts? Well, that's where our weekend is headed. Any suggestions on some good reading for fall?

Have a cozy weekend!

Suz & Jenn

Person with Purpose | Amanda of RESURFACE

Our person with purpose this month is the beautiful, talented, creative mind behind a wonderful cause, RESURFACE.  Amanda has been such an inspiration to us and we think you'll love what she has to say about using her creative gifts to help others. Check out our interview with her below!

What is RESURFACE?

I started RESURFACE a little over a year ago to be an outlet for something I was completely passionate about.  I take old surfboards that are no longer being used, resurface them and paint (usually custom-ordered) designs on them to be used as wall art.  A portion of the proceeds is then donated to World Vision specifically for deep water wells.

What inspired you to start using your art in this way?

Growing up taking art classes, surfing, and watching my dad shape wooden boards in our garage, I always knew I wanted to use my gifts in a similar way.  Also, there are so many surfboards being thrown into landfills; foam does not biodegrade.  RESURFACE was created out of my desire to use my talents in a way that would help others as well as the environment.

How did you begin your partnership with World Vision and what has your experience been like working with them?

Partnering with World Vision was an easy decision.  They are a wonderful organization, always at the front lines of pressing social issues, and I knew I could trust them to put my money directly into digging new wells exactly where they are needed most.  It has been a wonderful experience and the money raised by RESURFACE is getting close to its first well, which is so exciting!

How would you encourage people to use their creative gifts to help others?

Before I answer the 'how', I think it is so important to know 'why' we should be helping others.  I think we have been put on this earth to be restorers.  To bring God's glory to every dark and ugly place on earth.  We can all do that if we know what our gifts are and start using them in a strategic way.

As for the how, I personally just began journaling and praying about what issues really got my hear pounding, world issues that kept me up at night.  For me, for some reason, it was the issue of clean water.  That got the ball rolling, and then it was a matter of just doing it.  Taking the next steps and pursuing it no matter what.

We are SO grateful to Amanda for letting us sit down with her to talk about RESURFACE!  If you'd like to learn more about this great cause, check out: www.resurfaceart.com or the RESURFACE Blog. Also, if you have a board you'd like to donate, or would like your own custom-designed RESURFACE board, contact Amanda through email: amanda@resurfaceart.com or by phone: 949.521.3154 

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Paris Fashion Week | Spring 2012

Photos: Fashion Gone Rogue

Spring 2012 fashion weeks are coming to a close with the last week in Paris. As always, Paris is delivering over-the-top, beautiful shows and collections. We wanted to highlight Chanel's spring collection. Chanel is a fashion institution and this collection is no exception to their iconic brand.

Loving the twist on their classic suits, adding modern design with a 90s touch.  Also, we're extremely excited to wear soft florals and textures juxtaposed by structured jackets this coming spring!!

XOXO,

Suz & Jenn

Shabby Chic Shower

Over the weekend we were honored to attend our good friend Paige's (she's the adorable one in the black polka dot top who you might not even know is pregnant even though she's due in a month!) baby shower as she is about to welcome her second little one in just a few weeks.  We had such a wonderful time catching up with good friends, and overall just having a great Saturday afternoon with the girls.  

The shower really came together with so many sweet planned out details that we couldn't wait to share with you (thanks to Erica, the blonde beauty on the far right who planned and hosted this special day).  We loved the idea of a shabby chic theme with a modern twist.  Mismatched chairs and antique China place settings lined the tables, and a variety of classic tea sandwiches were on the menu.  One of our favorite things about the shower was the colored vases filled with Gerber Daisies used as centerpieces, which were then given out as party favors as the guests were leaving.   Such a fun idea!  This was such a beautiful celebration and we can't wait to meet Baby Girl soon.

Have a Great Monday!

Suz & Jenn