Friday's Fancies #27: Beach Chic

This week's theme for FF was beach chic, and it was easy to find swimsuits that make me feel beach ready!

I think it's pretty clear to everyone that wearing matching top & bottom bikinis is the thing to do this summer, so I figured to make a little game of swimsuit roulette this week:

Sailboat top & bottom (J.Crew)  /  Turquoise stripe top & bottom (RiverIsland)   /  

Green dot top & bottom (J.Crew)   /  Coral top (J.Crew) & bottom (RiverIsland)  / 

  Orange top (Barneys) & bottom (RiverIsland)

Which combo is your favorite?

My vote is for the sailboat top and green dot bottoms...

xo, lp

pssssssssssst: we officially are moving sunday- AH! want to follow along for our 17 state road trip on our way back to the Midwest?

find me on twitter HERE and Instagram HERE! (both @lpodlich)

DIY Collage Coasters

I have an unnecessary amount of coasters.

No, really. 

Between the DIY scrabble drink coasters I made a while back and the Minnesota themed ones, I have enough coasters to have a small army over for a very condensation-free dinner party.

So what did I do while at the dollar store a while back? Well, pick up some tile coaster bases, naturally.

 Why not add to the coaster hoarding problem?

 I stashed them away and completely forgot about them, because my craft boxes are black holes...but found them a while back and decided to do something with them. Since we're moving, I decided it was finally time to cut up some old clothing catalogues we didn't need to bring with us (sorry J.Crew and Lands' End!). After longingly gazing at all the pretty clothes I'd missed out on, I cut out my favorite colors and patterns:

I cut them up into a ridiculous amount of squares and started separating them out by color, with the intention of making a gradating color pattern: 

After a quick dry-run to make sure I had cut the squares to evenly line up, I simply started using my trusty gluestick to adhere the squares. Difficult, right?

I decided to make one a more green-blue-purple, and one a yellow-orange-red-pink-purple, sealing both with a two layers of Mod Podge:

So here they are folks:

I happen to be madly in love with them. Yeah. Coasters. Madly in love. Deal with it. For some reason it makes me happy to recognize some of my favorite patterns (like the blue lobster seen above from a pair of preppy men's chinos). 

What do you think?

Anyone else a coaster hoarder? No? ::crickets:: Fine.

xo, lp

p.s it's my last day of work today (ah!).

Oh How Pinteresting #17

This week's OHP is one of my favorite in a while. Just sayin'.

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Favorite Bouquet [elegant touch]:

via

Favorite Recipe Idea [how did i never think of this?]:

via

Favorite Shoe [perfect summer comfort with Soludos]:

via

Favorite Bag [polka dot perfect]:

via

Favorite Interior [every.damn.thing.want.]:

via

Favorite Summer Idea [food color +lemons =neon drinks]:

via

Favorite Clothing Item [pool pretty]:

via

Favorite Bauble [need need need]:

via

I'm starting to worry the people at Bauble Bar are going to get annoyed with how much I tweet/pin/tag their items. But COME ON. They just came out with a nautical line and  I want every damn piece. Buuut we leave Sunday, so clearly there won't be any gratification for shopping until mid-July when we actually have an address again. Thus, I might just be knocking down their doors when we drive through NYC on our road trip. You've been warned, BB staff, you've been warned.

Which is your favorite pin this week?

....I think I made my favorite quite clear!

xo, lp

Oven Roasted Tomato& Pesto Crostini

As you can probably tell from my Food Love & Recipes section of the blog, I love making appetizers/snacks/party food a lot (like bruschetta, hummus, herb twists, and baked apple chips). 

My favorite types of snacks are ones that include crunchy bread or crackers. Sorry friends that avoid carbs, I am the wrong person to invite to your party. Michael and I both hate raw tomato..and yet somehow there was a whole tomato in our fridge. How it got there is beyond me. Either way, I decided to roast those babies up and make a delicious finger food treat.

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What you'll need:

- 1 small loaf crunchy french bread (freshly baked from Traders Joes are the best)

- 1 medium-large tomato

- 1-2 ounces grated Parmesan  (or mozzarella) cheese

- 1-2 ounces basil pesto

- dried oregano

- olive oil

-balsamic vinegar

- salt & pepper to taste  

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Cut your tomatoes into medium slices (if you're having trouble doing this without smashing it, get your knives sharpened!). Cut your crostini at an angle and set aside.

Step 2: Place your tomatoes on an ungreased baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil & balsamic. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper before roasting in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. You'll know they're ready when they start to look really shriveled. 

Step 3: Spread a thin layer of pesto on your crostini and toast in the 350 degree oven for 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Place a few tomatoes on top of your pesto crostini and lightly cover with your cheese. Sprinkle a little pepper and dried oregano before putting back in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step: Let cool for a minute, and enjoy!

Nothing better than a crunchy, garlicky appetizer in my book. The oven roasted tomatoes end up being a little sweet, and the salty cheese is just the perfect balance. 

I will absolutely be making these again for a future summer party. Be warned dieting friends, be warned.

What's your favorite party snack?

...have a recipe I should try? send it to beautyandbeard@gmail.com

xo, lp

life lately.

This weekend went by so fast I'm not even sure it existed. 

Between working every day, attending a baseball game/surprise going away party/Sephora Richmond blogger get together, and packing our entire lives away, I am tired. Thank god for Amtrak and their super cheap shipping costs & Michael's parents for being rockstars and picking up said cheaply shipped items. I've never gone through so much packing tape in my life!

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A few things of note lately:

+ My friend Tori works for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, so we went to another game on friday. She told us we'd be participating in one of those between-inning contests where fans get on the field and basically make fools of themselves. This contest was for Wawa gas stations, and involved me slingshotting (new word?) kickballs to Michael, who grabbed them and put them on a huge image of a meatball sub. The first team to slingshot and place all 4 "meatballs" on the banner wins. Simple, right? Wellll let's just say for one reason or another I only managed to shoot 2 of the 4 balls by the time the other team had placed already placed all 4. The best part of it all was after the game was over I was walking out of the stands and a little girl points at me and says "that's the meatball game girl!!!!!!!". ::sigh:: #richmondfamous

+ Jayme & Mendi of her late night cravings hosted a Richmond blogger & friends get together at Sephora. I am so bummed I'm leaving now after meeting all these wonderful ladies! Who knew there was such a wealth of blogger awesomeness in this city? Somehow I managed to take ZERO pictures. I'm counting on you, J & M.

+Not to get all sappy or anything, but I just realized this will be my last Monday post while in Richmond. wow. although we're happy with our decision to move on, the thought of leaving our first apartment together gets me a little bummed out!

What did you do this weekend?

It couldn't have been worse than being called "the meatball girl", so no complaining....

XO, LP

want to see a little more into the life of B&B? Find me on Instagram here! (@lpodlich)

Friday's Fancies #26: Colorblock

I've officially been participating in {av's} Friday's Fancies for 1/2 a year. Wow...where did time go?! 

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As you can see from last week's Friday's Fancies, I've suddenly warmed up (hah, summer pun) to the whole pink and orange combination. The theme this week was colorblocking, and it wasn't hard to find a whole array of gorgeous colorblocked pieces....

1. This Madwell Colorblock Tank looks too comfortable to be true. Anyone own it & can attest to it?

2. Um, the first person to send me this Street Level envelope clutch is my new best friend. Seriously.

3. Bauble Bar has by far the best summer baubles. These boho drops are colorful bits of heaven.

4. If my budget allowed it, this Roksanda Ilinic skirt would be mine in a heartbeat. Le sigh.

5. This Big Buddha bag rocks. My current go-to bag is already a black hole, may as well switch it for something more colorful!

6. J.Crew, why must your shoes be so perfect? Loving these colorblocked flats.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

(stay cool! i know we're melting in the 95+ heat here!)

xo, lp

etsy loves

I love Etsy.

[wow laura, way to make a generic and unoriginal statement]

No, but really.

I would say a GREAT majority of the gifts I've purchase for others (&myself) in the past two years have come from Etsy. I mean, if you're going to buy a creative print or jewelry, why not support awesome artists on Etsy? I could make a post 20+shops long, but these 4 are my favorite at the moment. Visit, click around, buy something pretty or inspiring & thank me later. 

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Pen and Paint

When it comes to art, sometimes I feel like one Etsy shop runs into the next. Saying that seems funny, since art is supposedly such a personal and creative thing- but it seems like shop after shop comes up with the same typography charging ridiculous amounts for annoying "keep calm and ______" prints. Then I came across Pen and Paints through another blog, and my cynicism went away a little. Lindsay hand draws the images and then can digitally alter the following prints to the color you want. The vivid colors and inspiring words will have you hooked. You can see her drawing them if you click through her Etsy Shop. The best part, everything in her shop is around $20. I may or may not have bought 4 prints last night. Oops. Warning friends and family: I may have just ruined the surprise of your holiday/birthday gifts!

Find Pen and Paint on Twitter / Facebook / Blog 

to buy, click here

Christina M. Boutique

Y'all know I have an unhealthy love of jewelry. Chains have been everywhere lately, and I love the feminine spin Christina puts on them. If plain chains are your thing. you can get them for around $25, but if you like a little something extra, Christina has plenty of options. Most of her necklaces and bracelets feature different colors of ribbons (mint, neon, black- you name it!) and in case you question her fashion prowess- click through her Etsy shop to see just a few popular bloggers that have worn her baubles!

Find Christina M. Boutique on Facebook /  Twitter 

click here to buy! 

click here to  buy!

Steph Loves Ben

I love this shop. It's small, but it is so, so sweet. Stephanie's shop is full of sweet garlands & other homemade party decor. With baby showers, bridal showers, and birthday parties being more and more "DIYed", the personal touches seem to matter more and more. The best part? Stephanie will customize the colors/length/lettering for anything in her shop! I seriously want a collection of those colorful flag cupcake toppers. 

Find Steph Loves Ben on Facebook!

click here to buy!

click here to buy!

Rocks Paper Metal
WAIT. Before you go calling me unoriginal because they were recently featured on BaubleBar (shop special collection here) may I just say I actually did have them "favorited" on Etsy before that. Yeah. Great. Now you have me sounding like an annoying hipster saying "I listened to that band BEFORE they got mainstream".  Whatever. Tease away. Back on track: Diana and Kat have some seriously killer neon designs. Edgy, bright,  stunning; the items in their shop are the definition of "statement pieces". Their Tangelo Tear studs? Mine.
Find Rocks Paper Metal on Twitter/Facebook

click here to buy!

click here to buy!
PSST: these ladies are so cool that when i told them i was featuring their shop they said they'd offer all of you 10% off their shop! just use code RPMLOVESU at checkout! 
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Which of the featured shops is your favorite?
...or is there another shop you'd recommend? 


xo, lp
* no, i wasn't paid or perked for this post, these are just some talented ladies with some awesome shops i thought i'd share! all pictures are from their respective etsy shops. why are you still reading this, go show them some love and tell 'em i sent you and say hi!

Oh How Pinteresting #16

Ever since my post on Monday  I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. After having shared it with a limited number of family and friends, it felt good to share our excitement with everyone else! Since we only have 2 weeks left in Richmond, we've just been enjoying our favorite things to do in the city, working as much as we can to get road trip cash, and packing like crazy people. 

The first pin this week is in honor of our excitement to get back to our isthmus city!

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Favorite Home Good [need.]:

via

Favorite Party Setting [perfect colors]:

via

Favorite Recipe Idea [genius]:

via

Favorite Shoe [holy crap. that print!]:

via

Favorite Interior [airy heaven]:

via

Favorite Inspiration [simple truth]:

via

Favorite Bauble [summer colors at their best]:

via

Favorite Outfit [the chambray obsession continues]:

via

Which is your favorite this week?

I'm all about that print. Need to find it for our next place!

xo, lp

(find me on pinterest here!)