Friday Links + Calling All Potential Interns!

intern_insta

Happy Friday!  We’ve got a big weekend ahead- painting all day today and tomorrow, with the move-in on Sunday!  Cannot wait for the first night in our own bed and the first morning having tea in our backyard….we’ve been dreaming of these moments for what feels like absolutely forever.  And I’m just dying to throw myself back into the blog.  I’ve been doing all that I can to keep it going but I want to be doing so much more!  I have such high hopes for this site, so many dreams about what it can become and how it can empower women, provide inspiration for health and lifestyle, be a place where you call come to add a bit of happiness to your day.  And I think I need help (I heard admitting it is the first step).  So I’ve decided it’s time to travel down Intern Road.

So here’s what I’m looking for in a potential intern (non-negotiables):  must be LOCAL (San Diego),  proficient in Photoshop, Word, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and excel at internet scouring.  Must have transportation.  Must have experience or at least a burning passion for either food, fashion, travel or interior design.  MUST MUST MUST be a go-getter, independent powerhouse, high energy, excitable, passionate, driven, innovative, fun-loving person who will entertain the idea of an afternoon dance party if work is finished early.  Must love dogs.  Here are some bonuses:  writing skills, photography skills, creative talents not mentioned above, DIY capabilities or a crafty side, a proclivity for brainstorming, a desire to be a sponge soaking up all there is to learn. Basically I’m looking for a talented ray of sunshine who is looking for a place to shine.  Is it YOU?!  Email me!  [email protected].  Send me something that will showcase YOU, what you’re about, why you think you and I are meant to be.  I cannot WAIT to see!

Ok now, links for your weekend!  Enjoy every minute as if it were your last weekend, nothing is promised including the weekend after this one.  So get outside, feel the sun on your face.  Cuddle every creature you love.  Fill your mouth with foods that make you feel amazing.  Tell everyone you love how much they mean to you.  Laugh hard and be happy!  And put in a little prayer for us on Sunday moving day, if you think of it.  We’ll be hauling all our worldly goods with friends-but also  ending the day with beer and pizza!  Links below for your fun pleasure and I’ll see you here Monday!  xx- Sarah  {painting above by Britt Bass}

Click to read more

Our San Diego {Empty} House Tour

When we first moved into our Palm Springs home (seen empty here, and finished here) I photographed the space before we moved in, and it was so much fun to look back on later.  So, yesterday I did the same with our new house.  It’s quite the contrast!  Our PS house was brand new, mostly to our style and pretty much the cleanest canvas to start from.  I love our new (very old, as in built in 1926) home just as much- but it’s going to take some blood sweat and tears to get it to where we want it to be!  We put in a solid 9 hours of painting yesterday and it was just the tiniest taste of what’s to come!  So here we go, let’s take a tour, shall we?  I’m so excited to show you and to tell you a little bit about what we have in mind for updates!!

a_house_in_the_hills_empty_house_tour-29

Ok, so what you see here is the entryway to the house (love the front door, love the barrel ceilings, love that as you walk in- to the left is the living room and to the right is the dining room (see below for the view facing the opposite direction).  Although I love the history of Spanish homes and the style, we’ll want to do some updates.  I would love to replace the floors (they’re pretty beat up and the contractor we spoke with said that they’ve probably been refinished just about as many times as possible with the thickness of the wood).  And for this entry way I’d love a pendant light that’s in line with the architecture/design but an updated version.  I have my eye on a few already!  But both the front door and closet door are keepers, I’m determined to maintain the style of the house but add our own modern twist to it!

a_house_in_the_hills_empty_house_tour-28

Next up we have the living room!  This is the room that sold us the house- these windows have been restored, but are the original design.  And they are just AMAZING, right?!  One of the first projects we’ll be tackling is window coverings- we’ll need them for privacy and to make the room feel cozy.  But I also have intentions for that fireplace- a major makeover that I’ve already designed and cannot wait to tackle (and of course it starts with a paint job)!  We’ll be doing as much of the work as possible ourselves, so I’ll be sharing DIY tips as we go!

a_house_in_the_hills_empty_house_tour-27

Click to read more

Spicy Potato Tacos

potato_tacos_a_house_in_the_hills_22015-1-2

Yesterday at a little before 5:30 we were handed the keys to our new home!  That feeling, I swear there’s nothing like it!  As you may remember from this post, a home means the world to me and because of my colorful history I have such a deep appreciation for it.  I can’t wait to share this next house adventure with you!  Today we’ll be photographing it (for all the many “before” photos to come) and starting in on painting.  We have a long, labor intensive week before we move in on Sunday.  So I’m cooking up super easy meals like these spicy potato tacos to keep us fueled up and happy!  May I recommend them for weeknight dining when time is short and hunger is high?!  Hope you love!  xx- Sarah

potato_tacos_a_house_in_the_hills_22015-1-7 potato_tacos_a_house_in_the_hills_22015-1-5 potato_tacos_a_house_in_the_hills_22015-1-10

Click to read more

Style Round Up

5a2c1b72335d5f448dfaff69ddfe88b1-1

Happy Monday everyone!  It’s a big day for us- we get the keys to our house today!!!!!  I will definitely share more about that soon, but I’m in the midst of scrambling around getting it (and us) ready for another move!  I’ll have a recipe to share with you tomorrow that I’m super excited about, but today is all about style. Lately I’ve been loving seeing black and brown paired together.  There was a time when I thought it was a must-not, but I think these ladies make it obvious that it’s a must-do!  Here are some staple black and brown pieces that I’m loving. Until tomorrow….  xx- Sarah  {images via :1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5}

 

 

33f97f016f5c014456fbcb1bc0683a362838288e3662ed14044cdb2ef8ca0697

Click to read more

BeautyKind- Eco Beauty Trial Kit

a_house_in_the_hills_beauty_kind_february-2

Hey Friends, happy Thursday!  I have some exciting news about what BeautyKind is offering up this month (see my past two posts about this amazing company here and here).   This month they’ve put together an EcoBeauty Discovery Kit that contains a mixture of full size and deluxe trial size products, which is brilliant if you’re looking to clean up your beauty routine a bit and want to try a bunch of eco friendly products without a huge commitment. The kit sells for $50, is valued at over $200 and has over 25 products in it!   So far I’ve been loving RGB liquid buff nail polish, the Mio Skincare Fit Skin Kit (I’m pretty sure it’s the equivalent of going to the gym for my skin!) and the Meow Meow Tweet Tea Tree deodorant cream, which smells SO fresh and clean! Every step I take towards using products with less harmful chemicals feels like a big win, so I’m super excited to dive into this Beauty Kit and see which of these items can replace those I’m already using!  Ok, pop over here and check it out- and I’ll see you back here tomorrow!  xx- Sarah  EDIT:  the excitement over the kits has been amazing, and unfortunately they temporarily sold out!   They’re working to quickly put more together more, so please check back in a couple of weeks!

a_house_in_the_hills_beauty_kind_february-12 a_house_in_the_hills_beauty_kind_february-11

Yahoo Style, Alexa Chung’s New Collection and a GIVEAWAY!

a_house_in_the_hills_yahoo_style-1

Alexa Chung is my personal Queen of Denim, I just think she’s always on point with her styling and has perfected the art of looking effortlessly put together.  So I was super excited to read this interview and use it as inspiration for today’s style post in partnership with Yahoo Style.  The article just made made me love her more and reaffirmed what I already suspected- she’s as fun, witty and charming as you’d think she’d be.  And she recently partnered with AG to create a collection that I’m absolutely obsessed with- including the jeans I’m wearing in today’s post!  They fit like a dream.

Ok, now for the giveaway details!  Yahoo Style is offering one lucky reader the two items from Alexa’s collection that I think are closet staples- the jeans I’m wearing in today’s post and what looks like it could very well be the perfect white tee (see below!)  Pop over to check out Alexa’s interview and check out the collection preview- leave a comment below about which piece(s) you’d be most excited to scoop up and a winner will be chosen at random next week.  International readers are invited to enter as well! Good luck my friends!!!  xx- Sarah

alexa_ag_jeans_

a_house_in_the_hills_yahoo_style-26 a_house_in_the_hills_yahoo_style-21

Click to read more