Until We Meet Again...

I don't like to quit anything, or give up. But I also don't like to do anything half-assed. Which is how I've been blogging this year - so lame of me! So I'd like to put a bookend on this wonderful blog for a while. I've loved it. I've loved sharing things with all my friends on here, and having a place to put all my thoughts, goals, memories and inspirations in one spot. But...blogging takes time, to do it well, and I don't have that same time lately that I used to. When I started this blog in 2006, I was working as a contractor at a job where I was bored out of my mind, and I didn't have a husband or a dog or a house to take care of. Now I'm very happy to say that my life feels very full, and that is an amazing thing. But a full life doesn't leave much room for me to blog anymore...or maybe I'm just lazy and not enjoying writing as much these days. This year I got so busy planning our wedding that I didn't want to spend any free time I had on the computer.

And after our wedding I decided I wanted to focus more on living my life to enjoy it instead of living my life to write about it. I've also struggled with censoring myself on here - I know that I only have about 5-10 readers but let's not forget this is the internet and I just don't want to get as personal anymore. This blog was amazing for me when we lived on the other side of the country. It was a fabulous way to communicate and share our experiences with everyone back home. And I'd like to share just one more wedding post with you, if You Guys can stand a last and final one. Here are some of my favorite images from May 5th, my new favorite day of the year :)

All of these photos are by our photographer, Jenny Jimenez. I'm very proud that these were featured on the Junebug Weddings Photobug Blog. After all the work that went into that day, I am so happy with the reflection that Jenny created for us, and it's so fun to look through all the images and remember how special everything was and all the love that we felt that day.

Of course I'll still be lurking all over the web, gathering inspiration - follow me on Instagram (@mansionmogul) or on Pinterest if you're PINterested!

TTFN You Guys!

XOXO

Art of the Day

OMG You Guys - remember "Art of the Day"s?

I love this rad “New York City” poster print by Sean Mort. {Purchase here, found via OMG Posters}

And check out these awesome graphic art print series by Thomas Postrano called "The Streets". I can't decide if they would be totally cool or totally creepy in a kid's room. {Purchase here, also via OMG Posters}

Honeymoon Eats

A reader recently asked for a report on some of our honeymoon culinary highlights...

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"Dear Mansion Mogul:
What was the craziest thing you ate on your honeymoon? What was the most deeeeelish thing you ate on your honeymoon?
Thanks, T. Ferguson"
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Well, T. Ferg, here are some highlights!


"Craziest thing you ate"

You guys, I have to say, the craziest things we ate were also DELISH! First off: I can't stop thinking about Poke. When we got to Waimea, that's when we discovered Ishihara Market. And I am looking at the pictures right now and all I want is some Wasabi Poke and Spicy Ahi Poke from there. It was so good! So good that I kept eating it day after day and probably more than one person should at a time. 

Next up: let's talk about Loco Moco.
While in Waimea we discovered this little hole in the wall, Yumi's Restaurant. Let's just say we went back...oh, a few thousand times before we left. Favorites from there included: the Pork Lau Lau (pork cooked in taro leaf - so good), Loco Moco, and Mango pie. Once the owner realized that Keene had a thing for Mangoes...oh boy, she was all about getting us these mango pies. Keene says that now "mangoes are ruined" for him, because the ones we had here were the best he's ever had.

And this right here is your Loco Moco - it's white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, fried eggs, and sausage gravy. Um...YES PLEASE! Although a nap is required shortly after this meal, it was still amazingly delicious. Rice for breakfast: brilliant.

"Most Delish thing you ate"

Postcards Cafe in Hanalei:
Hanalei was one of our very favorite places in Kauai! It's a little quiet surf town on the North end of the island. We went out to dinner at Postcards Cafe one evening because it looked so darn cute and reviewed really well. We were seated right there on that little front deck and it was lovely.

We got the "Postcards Platter": "Crunchy seafood filled rockets with coconut curry. Scrumptious crab cakes. Spice-crusted seared ahi. And our famous Hanalei taro fritters. These pupus are served with delicious pineapple chutney, relishes and sauces." - let me tell you, it was all was amazing!

We also ordered the "Trio of Tappenades" (I heart tappenade) and it was awesome: "House-Made CrostiniArtichoke/mushroom/walnut, creamy roasted eggplant, and traditional olives." We both ordered entrees with fresh island fish that were divine! I don't totally remember what exactly we had but I think it was because I was blissed out and just relaxed. YAY :)

We ate SO WELL on Kauai, I was so spoiled. It was my favorite way to travel: culinary tour through a new place. 

Classy.

In my dreams, this is how I look at work every day:

[The Duchess in Stella McCartney's Ridley Stretch Dress]

Except with my new sophisticate haircut and not hers (even though her hair is obvs divine). Oh yeah and I suppose I don't need the $78k in Cartier jewels. I would also like to point out that her earrings are very similar to my klassy Macy's gold sparkle drop earrings I wore on my wedding day! (image courtesy Paula):

But seriously, this little blue dress is the perfect work dress! I am always on the hunt for something like it but I swear it seems like everywhere I look everything has a cut-out back or crazy sleeves or something nutty that wouldn't allow for a bra or wearing to work. The search continues!

"Dressed for the Theater of My Life, Every Day"

Can I just tell you guys how flippin' excited I am for the day the Advanced Style Documentary comes out!? In my dreams I am a totally fabulous older lady, looking awesome and amazingly badass and creative all the time when I'm in my golden years. These ladies are so inspiring!

Good stuff from the internet...

Really interesting article on "Growth" vs "Fixed" mindset. I kindof had an inkling that resilience was the key to success, but man, dealing with failure and building that skill is hard! What a good concept to consider if you're a teacher or a parent or just a mentor. Strive for neuroplasticity!

"Intelligent people are those who grapple boldly with challenges, people who look at their mistakes and learn from them."
..
"If you don't know how to welcome failure, grapple with it and ultimately overcome it, you're not going to develop your potential to the fullest."


Wow. PREACH, Sister: Article by Laurie Penny, "Women 'having it all' is a middle-class myth":

"Without wishing to sound like a conspiracy theorist, if I had to invent a way to undermine feminism as a socially useful movement, here's what I'd do. I'd set up a ridiculous standard of personal and professional attainment, one that would be unachievable for the vast majority of women who weren't independently wealthy, white and upper-middle class and I'd call it "having it all". After I'd set up this impossible standard, I'd be sure to make women feel like failures for not attaining it."


Sad, and TRUE. We need to ask for more!

Ok I might as well continue with the feminism and re-linking stuff from GalaDarling - here's a video of wacky Nicki Minaj (she cray, and I don't like her music but she's making a point here): BOSS UP!

Ombre DIY Dresser

Does this paint job make this run-of-the-mill IKEA dresser look outstanding, or what?! This would be fabulous in a kids room! Or in even lighter shades in a master bedroom. Must-do. {via Decor8}

The Best Coast

Although I'll admit that since our move to Washington, DC my fanatical love for the West Coast has tapered a bit, it is still going strong and I am totes into this West Coast print from Coast Modern. $150 printed in bright pink Pantone 806, and featuring a shout-out to Vancouver, it's fabulous and I think I could make one of my own that is similar but of course calling out Seattle instead. {via Design Sponge}

Best MOH Ever

My sweet little sister had this welcome waiting for us when we got back from our Honeymoon:

Isn't she THE BEST? I loved it and it was so cute and sweet of her!