Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! While I'm not one to get caught up in the "Hallmark" hype surrounding Valentine's Day, I do appreciate today as a day to show those around you that you love them and care about them. Whether it's your best friend, your parents, your siblings, or your coworkers, today is a great day to share the love. Here's some 'lovely' touches I've brought to the day.

Heart-shaped sugar cookies I made last night (recipe here). I love the look of them and they taste delicious but that dough put up a fight with me and I was up very late rolling it out.

Light pink nail polish with an added bright touch. 

{Photos © Laura Clarke Photography}

Birthday Wishes

Happy 30th Birthday to my sister. It's a big year, it's a big number, it's 20 more years until 50! While I may think 30 is a scary reality, my sister is ever so cool, knowing that she's young at heart and always will be. To her I say: thank you for being my big sister, for protecting me when I was little, for teaching me, for all the hand-me-downs, for being a great listener, for never taking things too seriously, for always striving for the best, for being tough on me (in a good way), for introducing me to skinny vanilla lattes, for always making me laugh, and for taking the old-age hit before me.

And this little sister is always looking up to you. Love you and your crazy self.