Gift Inspiration for Lover's Day

For Your Lady

{one} A diamond is a girl's best friend, right? A bracelet from Helzberg Diamonds Infinity x Infinity collection

{two} the sweetest print of all time by inspired by lovely

{three}Paris Postcard Collection by Nichole Robertson

For Your Man

{one} Jackalope print by Janis Fowler

{two} A cap for those crazy hair days 

{three} the butler: have your man organize all of his things and charge up his electronics when he gets home from work!

Bali, Indonesia (Part IV)

This is the last part of our pictures from the honeymoon.  Gosh, Bali... We miss you.

Gallery Wall: The Very Beginning Stages

 I have been yearning to start building my own gallery wall for months now. I have decided to start collecting the pieces that I want - but will have to wait until we move into our new place come late spring. 

I scored this crazy good lookin' guy via Etsy on NearandDeer.

You can score one of these for yourself for 10% off with the code: SPARKLINGFOOTSTEPS10

You won't regret that purchase, I can promise you.

I will update you on the pieces/wall art that I find as I go along. If you have any Etsy shops your recommend for prints or other sites- please let me know! :)

Great Lengths

{Outfit Details}

Topshop Jacket / Old Navy Sweater (love this sweater) / Ralph Lauren Polo / Forever 21 Maxi (old)

Karen Walker Sunnies / BaubleBar Necklace / Zara Heels / Ann Taylor Bracelet / Michael Kors Watch

My maxi skirts and dresses are always a go-to for me. I love how comfortable they are and how they can instantly make a sweater a bit more chic. 

This maxi from Forever 21 was scored quite awhile ago but is still one of my favorites. The material is slinky and comfortable and I love the way that it falls when you twirl (because twirling in a maxi is a must- duh)

This past weekend was very uneventful - I worked the entire weekend. How was yours? Anything fun and exciting?

Web Weekly Roundup (Favorite Posts)

(photo via)

{one} A great post by Melissa about how to increase your traffic via Pinterest

{two} My favorite new web magazine

{three} A cute family photo montage from Jen Loves Kev

{four} Love this cozy neutral home

{five} Loving this idea....

{six} Learn how to perform your burpee the right way! :)

{seven} The cutest mini Valentine's crafted by Anna

{eight} How to make the most out of Pinterest

to and from magazine (featured in)

In case you may have been living under a rock...

#toandfrom magazine is the latest (and greatest) way to shop for the perfect gift for the special someone. I was incredibly impressed with the first issue for the holidays and was stoked when Meg and Katie asked me to contribute to the Valentine's Say edition. 

I contributed to the guy section since I always have trouble coming up with new gifts each year for my husband. I found some pretty unique items and they all range from super affordable to a bit more expensive. 

What are you getting for your guy this Valentine's Day?

Field of Dreams (& Giveaway with Stylemint!)

{Outfit Details}

Zara Leather Jacket on top of Zara denim jacket /  gifted Stylemint 'Davis' dress 

Target Hat / gifted MIA Boots

Forever 21 short necklace / Clyde's Rebirth via Etsy (longer necklace)

I just cannot say enough about Stylemint. 

This dress is uber comfy and fun to jump around in (in case you couldn't tell!)

The best part about this?

I am giving out 1 credit (worth $29.99 each) to THREE readers! 

You can also sign up here - and buy one, get one free (new customers only)! 

All you have to do to win is sign up with Stylemint - click here to sign up, once you've signed up, let me know what your favorite item is below :)

For an extra entry- share the giveaway on twitter

"Enter to win an item from @stylemint over on @sparklingsteps http://goo.gl/Pezrw"

(Sorry, international lovers - only open to US and Canada residents!)

Briefly Introducing...Chasing Dreams and Wildflowers Photography

I am in the midst of building my photography portfolio and had the chance to photograph a close friend's family and my nephew this past weekend. It was so much fun and I instantly knew that this was the gig for me. I cannot wait to dive into photography a bit more. 

I would love for you all to follow along with Chasing Dreams and Wildflowers Photography here.

The website will go live on or around March 1st! :)
Here is some of my recent work with some gorgeous little models!

Living Life and Delayed Gratification {a serious post}

I was talking with a friend last week and realized quite a few things (listed below):

I spend way too much time in front of a computer screen

I spend way too much time on my phone

I spend way too much time on twitter/instagram & facebook...

instead of actually LIVING.

Now, don't get me wrong. I know that a lot of people work full time on their computers updating their blogs/shops etc. However, I work full time in a hospital and was then working full time on a blog. 

I absolutely love this little blog community and would never stop blogging, but may slow it down. I want to produce quality VS. quantity. 

I also want to wake the heck up and travel more, see family more often, make new friends - see old friends, and create what really matters - a life full of abundant joy. Abundant joy (to me personally) is having people in your life that make you laugh, think, and smile. I want to be able to say one day that I lived every second to the absolute fullest...and that, my friends, is not in front of this computer screen (or iPhone screen). 

Another topic that came up during our conversation was delayed gratification. 

I can relate this to many things within my own life, but will focus only on two.

{one} The fact that I buy many items to fill my closet (that I do not actually need), rather than saving for a wardrobe staple that will last a lifetime.

This is a delayed gratification that I need to work on. I have not bought a new item for the past 21 days. I plan on making it up to three months. After that three month mark, I plan to save my money and only buy what is necessary for my closet. I need to start loving what i have, rather than loving and wanting what I do not have.

{two} As Americans, we work and work...and work some more. When it comes down to booking that vacation or buying that boat - we think twice, saying that we cannot afford it, or that we do not have the time. 

I am telling you now.

Do not wait.

Do not wait to take that trip our Europe with your significant other that you have been waiting years for.

Do not wait to travel to New York City and see what all the fuss is about. 

Do not wait to buy your first ticket to that Broadway play.

etc.

Life is way too short. "Get busy living or get busy dying" (Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman)

Now, I am not saying to go crazy and go broke doing all of these things. I am just saying that every few months of work, deserves one week of play. Treat yourself. Make memories that will last a lifetime. 

I wish I could stand on a busy corner, hat in hand, and beg people to throw me all their wasted hours” ~ Bernard Bereson

Don't waste these years working every solitary day. Work some, play some. Less computer and iPhone screens and more lifetime memories. Get on it! :)

Be My Valentine...

Pondering about what to get your S.O. for V-day? Run out of ideas? Don't fret :)

Here are a few totally affordable gifts for your loved one!

{one} Valentine's Everlasting Paper Flower- discovered these on Etsy, and they are so flipping adorable!

{two} Datevitation - This website is pretty cool. You can create your own coupon books for a loved one featuring things that they can cash in- whether it be a date/household chores/etc. It was so fun to make one!

{three}Love & Respect - Just ordered this book for the hubby for V-day, heard that it is amazing!

{four} V-day kits - put together by a fellow blogger, Vignettes Paperie. These are so cute. Each kit comes with massage oil, cinnamon heart tea bags, a dry erase board with markers to write them love letters all year 'round, homemade BBQ rub tin, and 5 Love note cards and envelopes!

Bundled Up

{Outfit Details}

Old Navy Vest  /  gifted Margaret O' Leary Engineer Coat (Check out her fall collection)  

Ralph Lauren Polo  /  Kasil Workshop Denim

gifted Mia Boots  /  Zara Hat  /  J.Crew Tassel Keychain  /  BaubleBar Chandelier Necklace

I find myself more and more drawn to independent designers as of lately. I love supporting their passions and there is something that is so special when you tell someone that you are wearing something from the "Margaret O' Leary" collection, rather than a big name designer. Her collection is totally flawless and this particular coat is made of the thickest material. Oh, and a bonus: it's ridiculously comfy :)

I have also been using this new curling iron ( I used to curl with a straightener ) and I am loving how the hair starts to fall in an hour and comes out in perfect curls. Loving it. If you all are interested in a tutorial, let me know!

xx

Shop for a Cause

If you are not already aware, January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

 Make yourself aware.

For the month of January, Radiant cosmetics is donating a lipstick for every lipstick sold for current victims of human trafficking as well as survivors.

Get yourself some plump colored lips and help someone else at the same time. 

Do it ;)

A Trip up North

This weekend was one of those weekends where you just had to get out of town for a little while. Vermont was the perfect prescription.

It was incredibly warm while we were there- temperatures in the 40's, which is crazy warm for VT this time of year. It made for some great skiing and snowboarding!

This craziness above is call "Bulldogging" - where you climb these tall spindly trees and then hang down the top of it until it lowers you to the ground.

Via Instagram 

I miss it already. 

Being "unplugged" for a few days always reenergizes me and makes me realize how much we overuse things like twitter, Facebook, instagram, etc. I mean it's great to be able to document the memories on instagram - but also better to enjoy the actual moments without pulling out your iPhone. I loved not having the pressure to create another blog post or post another tweet. It feels so good to be disconnected that I sometimes want to do that completely. 

That day is not today or tomorrow, but who knows...

How was your weekend?!