links! look at them, darnit!

image via The Senses Five

What is uuuuuuuup????? Aren't the first 5 days after the w/e always the worst????? (ha, i got that from somewhere, that wasn't my own rapier wit)....so anyway, TGIF. What are you doing this w/e? I actually really am interested, it's not a weird filler question. I don't even know what I'm doing...maybe go lay in the sun to maintain my tan from vacay (because i'm vain like that?) and get some flowers at the market. Anyway, I hope yours is good and balanced and relaxing and that you take care of yourself. Ciao x

Oh and as usually, here are some links for you to peruse in your spare time!

+ The little grey tee - some cool styling options for your fave shirt...(well, my fave shirt anyway)

+ I really like this video regarding why Zurich is so liveable (via Newly Swissed)

+ Love this beach town day outfit...like, a lot. 

+ If you're serious about blogging, this is a pretty valuable article

And recap of this week on Village:
-A Shabby Apple Giveaway (you still have the w/e to enter)
-Stylish toothbrushes?
-Interested in Sponsoring Village?
-A new bag crush
-Revolving bookcases, avocado recipes and more good things.

Some things.

I'm having a love affair with Avocados this summer. So this post with 10 Avocado Recipes by La Domestique was a great find.

I'm always up for a pretty vintage watch, this one caught my eye recently.

Revolving bookcases, whaaaat? That would be a pretty cool feature for a new house! (more photos here)

I like the look of these Bixby chocolate bars...would be great for a themed party.

So that was like a little dump of things I've been eying recently...there is just too much goodness on the internet these days!

PS. do you remember the perfect work shirt from this post? I tried on an identical one at Zara - just so you know!

PPS. I'd love for you to have a chance to win something from Shabby Apple - so if you haven't entered my giveaway, do so now! You have until Sunday night, winner is announced on Monday :)

New neat store: Imegadito

I'm fascinated by this Imegadito bag and think its perfect for a city living, train commuting, biking around town kind of girl...love it. (hi mark)

Advertising Spots Available

After a not-so-brief hiatus, I'm proud to be offering sponsorships (by the month) again. It was so fun working with and getting to know my previous shops. I love that sponsors can support bloggers by advertising and bloggers can support sponsors by standing behind their products. It's definitely a situation that benefits both and I'm happy to be a part of it. Email me with any questions you may have!
_____________________

And please, enter the Shabby Apple giveaway if you are interested!

Stylish toothbrush

Dude, you can even brush your teeth in style. I'd go there...

P.S. Enter to win a $50 dolla Shabby Apple Gift Card if you're interested - see yesterdays post for more details

$50 GiftCard from Shabby Apple

hey!

Enter to win..

I have won a dress from Shabby Apple and it was way fun. I only recently noticed that they had matertnity dresses, toddler clothes and even shoes and accessories. Where have I been? Anyway, there are a few details for entering that you must follow for this particular giveaway gift...good luck!! (and btw, giveaway open only to US addresses)
(My choice would be this Pretty pleated maxi skirt )

2 Rules of Entry (sorry!)

1. You must like Shabby Apple on Facebook as well as leaving a comment here sharing your favorite item from their website (they want to know!). 

Good luck ladies and gents (i mean you have g/f's, wives and sisters right?)

Favorite pictures from Malta

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Malta (all from the island of Gozo). This was by far one of my favorite vacations - I suspect it has something to do with having a private pool? I don't know! But we stayed in Bellavista Farmhouses and I couldn't recommend them more. They were so welcoming and helpful - she even stopped by to see if we had made it ok to the doctor (when I had to take my feverish husband!). I'm sure I'll be going back someday even if its just to unwind by a pool for a week. Seriously. Best vacation ever. I can't believe I've already been back for a week. But I survived!

A perfect work shirt

Corporate casual shirts are harder to find than you would think (at least for a picky person like moi) but I think this would be perfect. So I'll just daydream about purchasing this since I could never wear it at the moment (what with the whole child growing inside of me thing)...and I'll also daydream about CUTE clothes actually being (easily) available for ladies, like myself, who are with child and who still want to dress awesomely - end of rant. 

(via)

Summer look

A mighty fine summer look. How are you?
shirt // jeans // necklace

Style.

Coolest headboard eva!

Stylish iPhone cases

These Mujjo iPhone covers are gorgeous. I'd need them in each color I think?? Makes me almost want to switch from my BB ;)

This neon case and this gold case are equally as awesome though. Whats your fave??? Where are all of the cool BlackBerry cases??

Love.

Why yes these both might be perfection. And attainable.
(earrings // shirt )

Post-it Note Desk...

Ummmmm brilliance. I think this post-it note desk would make work eleventy thousand times more enjoyable maybe because I wouldn't be working but playing tic tac toe with myself or drawing brilliant pictures that would never be discovered. (great find, mark!)

Luzern, you are gorgeous

Luzern, Switzerland

I  am so place oriented lately...whether I'm thinking of the Midwest, enjoying Malta, being charmed by my home Luzern or dreaming of London.Where do I want to be for forever???? (besides poolside?? amen?) And why do I not take more pictures of Luzern? 

P.S. I did like this article on 'deciding who we are' that Molly posted on FB

P.P.S. Have a great weekend you guys, we're going to enjoy our last day in Malta. My heart hurts, vacation ending is lame!

+/-

Good news: Scored these amazing rugs at a market in Victoria today! (for 2.50 euros each!)

Bad news: M has had a horrible fever/virus since we've been here :( I finally had to brave driving a stick shift on the left side of the road on crazy roads to take him to the health center in the next town over. They gave him some pills and sent us on our way - really hoping he improves over the night :(

Sunset

I don't want to leave our little dwelling with the lace curtains that flap in the Mediterranean breeze and the views of the sun setting over Gozo from our pool. Last night we brought some single mattresses from a spare room out to the pool deck and slept under the stars - it was heaven. Had you heard of Malta before? I don't think I had, but I think its my new favorite.

Favorites

I was going to be all cute and vacation themed to post about my 'vacation essentials' or whatever, but a) i don't think i'm a cutesie type blogger and b) this is just basically my daily routine (just missing normal perfume and lotion). So here you go...vacation or daily or whatever, these are my favorite products at the moment. Do you have something I should be trying??

1. Sephora Water Proof Eye Makeup Remover from Sephora 
2. St. Ives Apricot face Scrub from Target (my favorite)
3. Dry Shampoo. From anywhere, because i'm not drying and straightening my hair everyday. "ain't nobody got time for that!"

4. Tea Tree Skin Clearing (face) Lotion from The Body Shop
5. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion

6. Maybelline yellow concealing stick
7. Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation
8. Eye Shadow from Sephora
9. Black Eye Pencil from Mac
10. Colossal Mascara
11. H&M blush (Tawny Rose) 

12. Buxom lip gloss from Sephora
13. Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray (keeping it light for vacation) 

at last...

the view via instagram (it looks very deserty but i swear there is green in there)

We are finally sitting pretty in Malta! I've done nothing today besides go to town for some essentials (you know...milk, pringles, the usual) and lay by the pool reading glamour and working on my sun burn. I had enough excitement yesterday when M left his bag on the train (but thanks to swiss efficiency at its finest, still made the flight) and we fought to get to the ferry Amazing Race style once we landed in Malta...it's all good though but I'm still laying low today!

Pinterest
Twitter // Facebook // Bloglovin' // Tumblr

Floodline

*via Floodline
I want this painting in my house right now! It reminds me of the Midwest. I need to figure that out...
Anyway, today is such a great day to have off - rainy and grey at home with the boys - M in the kitchen making chocolate chip pancakes for me (how I like him, barefoot and in the kitchen!) ....speaking of, if he makes one more joke about me pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen...........

Have a great w/e you guys, are you up to anything good?

* Fixie bike for sale ad...SO FUNNY, you can't not laugh
* This before and after house makeover is insane
* I love this apartment and kitchen

* because how is a baby pig pic climbing down stairs not cute? 

* am i really already looking forward to fall? no. maybe. but i want to wear this!

Is this you, too?

I had to share this, because...despite my intentions, this is me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. 

But cheers to BBQ season anyway!

(via)

P.S. Thanks for all the congratulations you guys!!!

Malta...why not?

I have one more workday which is followed by Thurs-Friday off (public holiday) and then Sunday we leave for Malta for a week! Because why not Malta?! I'm so ready for a beach/pool holiday it's not even funny. We're renting a farmhouse on the smaller island of Malta and we'll have a private pool with a gorgeous view of the country side and Victoria. I'm down. Who even needs a bathing suit ammiright???

Also, while I'm discussing Malta, and this trip - I might as well throw in there that it's what they call a "babymoon"- which definitely means what you think it means...CRAZY, RIGHT? It was a surprise for me too!!! It still hasn't really sunk in (and it's been almost 6 months or something) which is why I haven't really discussed it, because I'm all WHAT AM I SAYING? 

So there it is, I am growing a small human (boy) who will be us hopefully sooner rather than later (because pregnancy is for the birds) sometime in September. So this is our last flight before I'm shackled to the earth for a few months. malta or bust!