take 5: #18 Grace from Grace Happens

1. Indulge: In a spa day with girlfriends and laugh till your belly hurts.

2. Wear: Your mom's vintage clothes and jewelry. Raiding my mom's closet was my favorite thing to do growing up.

3. See: Capri, Italy. I traveled around Europe for one month with my family, and Capri was absolutely breathtaking.

4. Know: How to grow your own organic vegetable garden.

5. Love: The simple things in life. It amazes me how the smallest things can make my son the happiest little boy on earth.

Grace is a local blogger that I met through the ladies at the Rustic Rooster. She is absolutely adorable with the cutest little guy, Harper. Her blog blew up into a business making beautiful burlap runners, which lead her to a spread in Cottages and Bungalows Magazine and a spot on HGTV. She is the perfect example of the power of blogging. Grace, your Take 5 is inspiring and fabulous. Thank you so much!

Hope you all have a great weekend. Today marks one week until my big trip. I am so excited but have so much to do... yikes!
ox, Alexis

Take 5: #17 Suzanne from Milk

1. Indulge... daily. Whether it's something sweet with your coffee or an extra twenty minutes of snooze button action in the morning, allowing room for life's little indulgences is a must.

2. See... Party Down as soon as possible. I've been watching it via Netflix, obsessively checking in to see if a new episode is available. It's one of the best things I've seen in quite some time.

3. Wear... something that makes you feel special. My husband gave me this dress {from Anthropologie} after a business trip to Los Angeles. Knowing he was thinking of me so many miles away makes me feel like a bike riding Grace Kelly when I rock this dress.

4. Know... how to get lost on your bike. As long as you find your way home eventually, nothing beats an adventure on two wheels.

5. Love... the summertime! It's so easy to start resenting the season for making you a sweaty mess, but embrace this time of year as much as possible. Remember how much you missed the sun just a few months ago? Now go outside and wait for the ice cream truck.

Suzanne's blog, Milk, is full of inspiration and wit. I absolutely love her sense of humor which is why I think my new show is going to be Party Down. Thank you Suzanne for your amazingly thoughtful, beautiful and inspiring Take 5. Excuse me while I go wait for the ice cream truck.

Happy Happy Friday & Happy Happy 4th of July! ox, Alexis

Take 5: #16 Dulci from La Dulci Vida

1. Indulge- In alone time. And Champagne.

2. See- Paris. Often. Diets don’t exist there.

3. Wear- Whatever makes me feel fancy. And diamond studs. Always.

4. Know- Every line from “Waiting for Guffman”. And my friend’s birthdays.

5. Love- Fresh flowers, garage sales, a stiff drink and friends & family.

Dulci's blog La Dulci Vida is not only full of inspiration {weddings, products, fashion & interiors} but I completely fell in love with her 'trip notes'... Paris, Nantucket, Boston and San Fran/Napa. It is so much fun that we met in blogland Dulci, thank you for your fabulous & beautiful Take 5!

Have a happy & bright summer weekend everyone. ox, Alexis

take 5: #15 Estelle from Under A Pink Moon

1. Indulge - In rest: Naps, meditation, baths, quiet walks alone. Whatever, just checking out for a few minutes (or hours) is the ultimate indulgence for me.
{Photo by Cassia Beck}

2. See - The possibilities in every moment: We are rarely left with only one move in life, but it takes a really open mind to see all those options.
{Photo by me.}

3. Know - What makes you happy. Do that. As often as possible. (I love to make stuff.)
{Photo by me.}

4. Wear - A vintage prom dress: I still have not crossed this off my list, but when I do I expect to feel just like this image.
{Photo by Bethany Howson}

5. Love - Your home. Whether it’s a rented room or a sprawling palace, make it you own private sanctuary. Your favorite place to be.
{Photo from Apartment Therapy}

One of the things that happens in the blog world is you encourage each other. There are many days that I feel tapped out and uninspired. Estelle is an example of a sweet blogette that reach out to me and we have encouraged each other to keep creating and do what we love. Thank you for a beautiful 'take 5' Estelle and I think you should cover your house in those stars {wink}.

Have a wonderful summer weekend. ox

Take 5: #14 Joslyn from Simple Lovely

1- Indulge: Green tea ice cream… (My favorite is madea-en.) Literally the best ice cream ever. It’s wholly addictive, thus completely dangerous.
{image: mine}

2- See: Great Art – There is nothing more inspiring, restorative, humbling than taking in art with my girlies in tow. I always walk away feeling somehow transformed.
{Images: My Polaroid Blog & mine}

3- Wear: Stripes and Wedges… I’ve never met a stripe I didn’t like (no love) and I live in wedges. They really are comfortable, I promise!
{Images: Atlantis Home & C&C California}

4- Know: How to bake a chocolate cake from scratch, how to say you’re sorry, how to make your kiddos laugh uncontrollably…
{Images: forty-sixth at grace & mine}

5- Love: The smell of eucalyptus…every one of my childhood memories is wrapped up in this scent. It’s magical – both sweet and sharp. I dream of having a little stand of eucalyptus trees in my backyard in Texas.
{image: mine}

I have been blogging for 9 months and today {hands down} is the highlight in my blogging career. Even before I had a blog I have been a humongous fan of Joslyn at Simple Lovely. She is a fabulous writer, incredible photographer, amazing cook, style/design guru and on top of all that she is so nice. Today not only did Joslyn give a fabulous 'take 5' but she asked me be a guest!, follow me over to Simple lovely for my favorites + a chance to win a little giveaway al la Art Barn.

take 5: #13 Haydee from Happenstance

1. Indulge: In Ben & Jerry's Brownie Batter. My absolute favorite!
{image here}

2. Know: To just laugh when you see a clean home, but your kids see a playground:)
(my photo)

3. See: Humor in as much as possible.
{image from here}

4. Wear: A pretty lipstick the next time you go on a date with your significant other.
{Image from JCrew}

5. Love: What you have. We may not have the pool, but we do have the beautiful beach just minutes away.
{image from we heart it}

Haydee has known my husband for a long time and I met her for the first time a few years ago at a surf event. It is so funny how this blog world has connected us because it wasn't from either of those connections {those were both made later once we started talking}. Anyway she doesn't live far and last week we got our kiddos together. If you have ever seen her blog, Happenstance, you know that this is one totally talented, lovely lady. And now I can say that she is incredibly sweet, kind, beautiful and an amazing mommy.
I love that we have reconnected and adore your take 5. thanks Haydee.

Take 5: #12 Heather from La Feem

1. Indulge: Chocolate mousse with raspberries, one of my favorites.

2. See: The Louvre, there's nothing better than great art in the most beautiful city in the world, I must go soon!

3. Know: Where to find your inner peace, mine is laying in the healing sun on the beach.

4. Wear: Jewelry, my favorite accessory. If your feeling bland just throw on a fabulous necklace and you'll suddenly be glam.

5. Love: With all your heart openly and honestly, the Universe will take care of the rest.

Heather and I met a couple months ago through our blogs and found out that we lived about 500 yards from each other. Soon we met in person for tea and before I knew it we were both spilling our guts... everything from blogs to family. She is such a sweet friend and an incredibly talented stylist. Heather has a fun little niche and following... women with all sorts of events and budgets come to her and she will style them with the perfect vintage accessories. She has a shop selling her jewelry + a fabulous blog that I love to frequent. Thank you so much Heather for a lovely take 5! ox, Alexis

take 5: #11 Keely with Luxe + Lillies

1. Indulge: In Teuscher Chocolate Truffles.

2. See: The Eiffel Tower light show from the Champs De Mars (Lawn in front it) with someone you love and a bottle of wine.

3. Know: The power of helping others. My dad always reminds me that there is someone out there with it a lot harder than I have got it on my worst day. There is the most simple pleasure in helping people, and it gives something to society that is priceless! ( how could you deny those faces?)

4. Wear: Whatever makes you feel happy, comfortable, and confident. I am in love with my white J.Crew Painter Tee's, my favorite pair of skinny jeans, a few everyday pieces of jewelry that I cherish, and a great pair of flats.

5. Love: A lingering summer meal. I love the way that food brings people together for quality time, and the way the summer breeze invites everyone to stay just a little bit longer.

{images via: We Heart It, a glamorous little side project}

Keely's beautiful blog, Luxe + Lillies has been a daily read for me. She has an incredible eye and is a crazy talented designer. I am so thrilled to have her be a part of my little weekly. Thank you so much Keely, your Take 5 is wonderful!

take 5: #10 Catherine from Rikshaw Design

1. Indulge... in naps, i swear by them.. they are my religion.
{image from Pretty Stuff}

2. See - India, spiritually it will move you.
{image from We Heart It}

3. Wear... something girly... whether a ruffle on the dress or a braid in the hair, add a feminine touch always.
{image from Pretty Stuff}

4. Know... how to let loose and dance... anywhere.
{image from We Heart It}

5. Love... your pet... she is my love.

Catherine is a huge inspiration for me. Her business Rikshaw Design is beautiful, fun, and is wildly successful. I found Catherine through Simple Lovely {another fav} and was hooked. I had heard about Rikshaw but once I found out that there was a beautiful fun lady behind it, I was hooked. Catherine is an example of why this WWW is so incredible... I heard about her through a daily read, I fell in love with her line, I followed her blog and then I got the courage to reach out to her. She was so fabulous with all of my questions that we found ourselves on the phone for 45 minutes! SO FUN. Any way I could go on... Please check out her gorgeous line and follow her adorable blog to see for yourself. {wink} Thank you Catherine!

take 5: #9 with my Mom

1- Indulge... in the smallest act of kindness for yourself & make it beautiful.

2- See... beauty in a lifetime of love.

3- Wear... your love with your arms outstretched, this is joy.

4- Know... your heart to feel the beauty of your dreams.

5- Love... the faces of all the people you see and you will learn compassion.

With Mother's day on Sunday I thought it was perfectly fitting to invite my Mom to do a Take 5.

Here is to my mom who loves to live and lives to love. Happy Mother's day Mama. I love you! lex