Half of the entire zoo was dedicated to snakes, alligators, fish, and aquatic life.

I love snakes. I think they are absolutely beautiful and some of the shades and patterns their skin comes in are completely out of this world. The rainbowish-black one pictured somewhere in the middle of this photoset is my ultimate favorite.

the zoo. (part 1)

Earlier this week, Samm, Moriah, and I took a day trip to Columbia, South Carolina to visit the zoo! I love the zoo and I haven't been to it in years, so I was filled with excitement during the whole 2 hour car ride there. I couldn't pick a favorite animal, nor could I fit all the sights into one post, so I have another one coming up with reptiles and things that swim.

pinterest favorites.

from this week:
this kitchen, because I can't even imagine how wonderful the breeze would feel blowing in through that amazing window on mild spring days.
these words, because they're important to remember.
this gorgeous art/beauty inspiration, because I am obsessed with emerald: both the color and the gem. I have pretty much set my heart on an emerald engagement ring instead of a classic diamond. Fun fact.
this delicious looking Mexican tostada pizza, because Mexican food is totally summer to me.
this image, because there's nothing that greater captures that summertime free feeling like a thin white cotton dress, preferably worn lakeside.
this place setting, because it's simple, seasonal, and completely fuss-free, which, to me, is how a good table setting should be.

Feeling a summery green this week leading up to Memorial Day: fresh, bright, alive, and all-over good.

my Pinterest.

toes in the sand.

Just dropping in with some quick highlights from my weekend beach trip. The same details never fail to catch my eye when I'm by the sea side. Certain colors and textures are just too good: fresh greens with bright corals, grainy sand, billions of different colored neutrals, soft clouds contrasted against ridged waves.

My grandmother does not have internet access at her house, and as soon as I got back home, I was thrown in to a 3 day long jury duty trial. That was fun. But the point here is, I have been away from my laptop for almost a week. Honestly, it was nice to take a break and not have to worry about catching up on missed blog posts, pins, tweets, and status updates. Definitely the kind of summer relaxation I need after a year spent religiously checking my school email and trying to keep up with friends and family via Facebook.

pinterest favorites.

from this week:
this bikini, because the soft blue color is perfect and the ruffles are so sweet.
this outdoor living space, because I wouldn't mind relaxing underneath those elephant ears.
these wedges, because I was inspired by a friend from high school this week after we had a discussion about wearing heels whenever, even if that makes you appear over-dressed and results in onlookers staring. Having the confidence to wear whatever I want whenver I want is definitely something I would like to work on this summer.
this gorgeous view of Panama City, Florida, because I had some friends who went there for Spring Break this year, and I've been living the trip vicariously through them ever since.
this print, because it's so cute and summery.
this lemon ice cream, because it reminds me of the Lemon Cream ice cream from The Hop, which happens to be my favorite flavor of their's.

I'm off to spend a girl's weekend at my grandma's house at Holden Beach with my mom and sister. I'm definitely looking forward for a quick, spur of the moment getaway. It's been a long time since I've seen both the ocean and my grandmother, so I'm looking forward to both!

my Pinterest.

may flowers.

A few quick updates:

Lonnie showed up to my house on Mother's Day with gorgeous yellow tulips and roses for my mom and I. They're making me smile.

It's finally warm and staying warm. This is hopefully the last time I will have to repeat that sentence this year.

I've been keeping myself busy while waiting on a call to confirm my summer job orientation schedule. I've spent a lot of time with old friends going to old places, while having new experiences and new conversations with some new friends added in. It can be a tough act to balance, but I think I'm doing fairly well at it. I'm having fun, at least.

I have been eating so much fruit lately. Pineapples, strawberries, and bananas are my ultimate favorites, especially when mixed together.

One of my first days back was spent rafting on the river which flows all around my hometown. I even jumped off a rope swing for the first time. I have some high hopes that this summer will be drenched in water. Lake trips and beach trips are already being planned. 

pinterest favorites.

from this week:

this bouquet, because the strawberry blossoms are so sweet and summery and pair so well with the peonies. 

this art inspiration, because I am in love with abstracted paintings of kisses where the lovers appear to be melting into one. It makes for such a magical image.

this lavender creme brulee, because it reminded me of the lavender creme brulee they sell at French Broad Chocolates, and it instantly made me miss the Asheville food scene(yes, already).

this phrase, because I just love it, and it reminds me of the typical Southern woman.

this image, because it perfectly illustrates how spring at the Biltmore felt, to me at least.

these pearls, because I love any kind of modern spin on a classic, and this example was executed so flawlessly.

I know I'm late this week, but I had over 400 pictures from the Biltmore to go through, alongside a seemingly endless amount of boxes to unpack from school, so I don't feel quite so bad about it. This set was pretty easy and straight-forward this week. I suppose I was inspired by the Biltmore and visions of ladies walking around the gardens in beautiful floor-length gowns with parasols and curled hair, which led me to this very lady-like set.

* Bonus Pin that did not make the cut this week, but I love it anyway:

this kitchen, because it is my absolute dream kitchen. White cabinets, butcher block countertops, dark hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, subway tile backsplash, mason jar-lined shelves, navy blue/lime green color accents. It literally covered all the bases, and I'm pretty sure I made an audible noise when it popped up on my feed.

 my Pinterest.

the biltmore. (part 3)

This last part includes pictures of the gardens farthest from the house. The grounds seemed to go on forever; I could've spent days wandering just the gardens themselves. It's pretty amazing how every single piece of land was planned and pruned to perfection. Everything seemed to be a part of this balancing act between undisturbed nature and perfected beauty. I've never really seen anything like it, and that alone was worth the trip.

The last picture is the view from the statue of Diana, where they host weddings and events. We walked up to the statue just as we were about to leave, and I'm so glad we did. This last view was the perfect ending note to our experience at the Biltmore. 

the biltmore. (part 2)

This part includes pictures from the main garden area of the house. My dad teased me for being in macro-flower-photography heaven. Har-har. 

But really, I was in color-inspiration heaven. Although I would really love to see the Biltmore around Christmastime someday, I'm so glad that my first visit was during this time of year instead. Spring seemed to be at its peak, and the beauty of all the different blooms made the house feel so alive. Despite overcast skies, the gardens were absolutely magical.