apps I love...

At the beginning of the semester, I got an iPad and I've been in love ever since. I do everything on it now...from emailing to editing pictures. It's wonderful. I thought I would share with y'all my favorite apps. Here's the apps I love... 

photography

• afterlight is my favorite photo editing app. There are numerous filters to choose from, as well as changing the shape of your picture. Here are some of my edits from a recent trip to the beach...

before...

with afterlight

before...

with afterlight

before...

with afterlight

before...

with afterlight

• a beautiful mess is a cutie photo editing app, where you can make a picture your own with fun text, graphics, and details. It's great for instagram. I used it to edit this photo when my older brother graduated from Baylor. It was a happy day!

• padgram is an awesome app for viewing instagram on your iPad. It's free and super easy to use! 

crafting & lifestyle

• Martha Stewart Craft Studio is a great app for making graphics and cards. I actually made my blog's logo on the iPad app. You can save your creations as a PDF, which is awesome! 
• Monogram is an app that you can create your own monogram design for your iPad or iPhone background image, or even to print off and use. There's so many options for the pattern, color, and font. Here's one I made for my iPad background image: 

• Makr might be #1 on my app list. It's an app where you can create your own brand essentially. You can design hip and trendy business cards, party invites, stickers, or holiday cards. Here's the sticker I made for holiday prezzies and treats: 

• bloglovin' is an app and website designed to easily track your favorite blogs. I follow cupcakes & cashmere and joy the baker to name a few. 

These apps have become my go-to's for many tasks on my iPad. I hope y'all are having a delightful Thursday. I'm craving a Starbucks treat...

m

starbucks' secret menu

I'm sure like many of you...you've always heard of a restaurant's "secret menu", but never thought about ordering an item. Now that it's red cup season, Starbucks outings are a must. So I've decided to research their secret menu and give y'all the details on ordering these yummy, festive, and creative drinks. The key to this secret menu is the names vary, but if you order by the ordering recipe, you'll have a delicious "secret" drink. Here are some of my favorites:

holiday apple spice ordering recipe

• start with gingerbread syrup (3 pumps for a tall, 4 for a grande, 5 for a venti)
• steam in apple juice 
• top with spiced whipped cream & caramel drizzle

chai cookie latte ordering recipe

• order a chai tea latte with:
• extra chai syrup (1 pump for a tall, 1.5 for a grande, 2 for a venti)
• extra hazelnut syrup (1 pump for a tall, 1.5 for a grande, 2 for a venti)
• add java chips 
• top with hazelnut syrup & cinnamon dolce sprinkles 

hot butterbeer latte ordering recipe (for those HP fans) 

• start with whole milk steamer
• caramel syrup (2 for a tall, 3 for a grande, 4 for a venti) 
• toffee nut syrup (2 for a tall, 3 for a grande, 4 for a venti)
• top with whipped cream & caramel bits 

cinnamon roll frappuccino ordering recipe

• order a vanilla bean frapp with: 
• white mocha syrup (1 pump for a tall, 2 for a grande, 3 for a venti) 
• cinnamon dolce syrup (1 pump for a tall, 2 for a grande, 3 for a venti)
• topped with whipped cream & cinnamon dolce powder 

cake batter frappuccino ordering recipe

• order a vanilla bean frapp with: 
• almond syrup (1 pump for a tall, 1.5 for a grande, 2 for a venti)

It's that easy! I encourage y'all to try these different "secret" items during this cozy, comfy, coffee-drinking season... maybe you'll come up with your own recipe.

m 

(credit to the daily meal) 

m's planner guide

I can't believe that I'm typing this...2013 is coming to close. It's been an exciting year, filled with growth and love. This morning, I looked back in my planner to April and I couldn't believe how much has changed. There were so many goals that I've accomplished, to-do's checked off my list, and assignments that were procrastinated until the last moment. Now that 2013 is wrapping up and 2014 is quickly approaching, I've been searching for a new planner. Here are some of my very favorite brands:

Erin Condren's Life Planner

I currently have an Erin Condren Life Planner, I love it. There are so many choices, like the cover design, labels & stickers, and add-ons. Condren has established a brilliant company filled with color and personality. Here's my planner (I even decorated it with some washi tape):

Emily Ley's Simplified Planner

I am obsessed with this planner...the design is adorable! You can purchase a pre-made planner complete with inspirational quotes on every page, or you can create your own by purchasing a binder and different fillers. I would definitely suggest the pre-made planner for students! She is a chic designer and I just love her. Here's some pictures of the Simplified Planner: 

photo credit: emily ley 

photo credit: emily ley 

the Day Designer

Whitney English's Day Designer can be classic or trendy, with covers ranging from a simple black-and-white striped pattern to a youthful print with a monogram. These planners are a little on the expensive side (monogrammed planners are $75), but totally worth it. Here are some of English's designs: 

photo credit: Whitney English 

photo credit: Whitney English 

photo credit: Whitney English 

myAgenda Day Planner

This planner is perfectly simple. It has a sleek cover design, weekly & monthly pages, and numerous resources. It would be especially appealing to someone who loves to create their own organizational style. Whenever I used this planner, I organized by pen color. Here's a look inside the myAgenda: 

photo credit: myAgenda

photo credit: myAgenda

sarah pinto's weekly planner

These planners are bright, funky, and inexpensive... three things I love! She has many different design options and the option of ordering a pack of three planners for an extremely reasonable price, hello holiday gifts! My personal favorite design is the "horseshoe": 

photo credit: sarah pinto

This planner searching made me think about creating my very own planner! I'll keep you updated on that plan... 

have a fabulous day, 

m

blogs I love...

I've been reading blogs for as long as I can remember, always searching for new inspirations and ideas. I love that each blogger displays their personality and style with every new post. I follow countless blogs and I feel like I know them personally (which is a little silly), but it's true! I thought I would share with y'all my very favorite blogs... 

Enjoying the Small Things is a beautiful blog by Kelle Hampton. She has an amazing story about her daughter with down syndrome and how to embrace the small things and to face life head-on. Kelle is also an amazing photographer and writer. Her kids are precious!

Hey Gorgeous Events is another favorite of mine...sharing a wedding planner's story, as well as her projects and events. She originally pursued a career in journalism...then took a leap of faith and dove into event planning. Now, she has her own brand. Truly inspiring! 

Lion Heart Image is a photography blog created by a husband/wife duo out of Fort Worth, Texas. Their style is sensational and their photos are so unique. They photograph weddings, engagements, and more.

Nancy Ray Photography is a beautiful photography blog out of Raleigh, North Carolina, where all things beautiful occur (like every Nicholas Sparks novel). She is absolutely adorable. 

Style Me Pretty is the ultimate wedding blog complete with featured weddings, vendors, DIY projects, fashion, and galleries. If you love weddings like I do, you will love this blog. 

take a bite is a blog by one of my very talented sorority sisters. Her take on fashion and food is fresh and exciting. My personal favorites are her "DIY tassel garland" and her daily "bites of her life".  Here's a picture of the tassel garland I made for my room, following her tutorial: 

The Glitter Guide is your guide to a fashionable, beautiful lifestyle. I love their "tiffany blue" layout and snapshots of each story. 

Since creating my blog, I've had a blast. I hope to become as successful as my favorite bloggers. 

happy monday, 

m 

house vs. home

Since being in college, I have yet to live in my own little house and live like a true college student. Freshmen year, I resided in the dorms with my best friend/roommate. My dorm was cozy and fun. We decorated with crisp white and bright-colored accents. For the past two years, I've lived in my sorority house. It's been so much fun...but I'm ready for something new. Earlier this year, my friend and I decided to live together and begin the house search! We found an adorable little cottage and I'm counting the days until we move in. I'm so excited to have my own space, decorate, cook, and relax in a house that I can call my own. I just can't wait! I'm excited to collaborate with my roomie and our different styles. I've been thinking about how I will decorate and arrange my room, our living room, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Even which doormat we should choose (you can tell I'm really excited). I've been pinning and searching on the Web like crazy to find the perfect things for our little house. Here are some of my favorite inspirations from Pinterest...

How adorable is this kitchen? I wish we could have a pink dishwasher!

This got me thinking... there's a major difference between a house and a home. A house is a place before you move in, before you make it your own with decorations, scents, and photographs. A home is all that and more. A home is where you feel comfortable and look forward to returning to after a long day. I'm anxious to turn our little house into a home. Wish us luck as we shop, decorate, and move in! 


You can follow me on Pinterest here to see more of my ideas & inspirations! 

happy sunday, 

m 

snail mail

In our technology-driven society,  I think it's so easy to forget about how fun it is to receive a little note in the mail. Instead of mailing a thank you note, an invitation to a soiree, or a just a little card...we simply send an email. I can't remember the last time I received something in my mailbox inviting me to a party. Instead, I receive emails or Facebook event group notifications. This got me thinking... I'm going to make it a point to send out more notes and cards via snail mail. I miss my friends that are in far away places and I'm tired of texting and emailing. So, I ventured out to Target this morning and wandered to their stationary section. I found the cutest cards! I couldn't buy them all (even though I wanted to), but here are some of my favorites:

And of course, no letter is complete without some washi tape! The pink and yellow-striped tapes are both from Target, and the gold & white polka-dotted washi tape is from a cute store in Norman called The Social Club. It's a salon/boutique duo with the most unique finds. I recently bought a candle there for a friend, she loved it. 

I hope y'all have an absolutely fabulous weekend. The sun is shining here and it's warm... I'm thinking of spending my afternoon outside. 

m 

bestie spotlight

I'm so blessed to have the greatest friends in my life. College is so fun and exciting, and it's even more fun when you have someone fabulous to share it with. I met this girl before I even decided to come to the University of Oklahoma, not knowing that we would become best friends (and she's my big in our sorority). Now I'm her bridesmaid! My bestie in the spotlight is Miss Mady Nolte (soon to be Mrs. Mady Davis, so EXCITING). She's the sweetest girl you'll ever meet and such a loyal friend. Not to mention, she has the coolest opportunities ever! She currently has an internship at Poppy Lane Design, the cutest floral company in OKC. You must check them out...to die for! I'm a sucker for flowers and weddings. She also has two jobs: one at Anthro in OKC and another at Tulips in Norman. She's a crazy working girl, but she has such an eye for design, who can blame her? I love her so much and I'm so blessed to have her as one of my besties! Here she is folks (with her fiancé), my bestie Mady Nolte! 

m