Norman, OK tornado 2013

Still in Norman, OK
Everyone is safe. The animals made it. The house is destroyed. Wanted to share some pics from our journey. ❤
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Location:W Main St,Norman,United States

Oklahoma...

Thinking of all those affected by the devastating tornados in Oklahoma.  We are in Norman, Oklahoma trying to help B's dad pick up the pieces.  sealaura will be off the grid for a bit.

♥

Christine Mighion Jewelry

 Once of my favorite things about blogging is getting to learn and "meet"  so many lovely artists that are inspired by the ocean.  Today I want to introduce you to Christine Mighion. Christine was kind enough to answer some questions about her design aesthetic along with some other fun things.  A girl with passion for fashion and the beach is cool in my book but read below for more proof.

Inspiration: On the deepest level, my inspiration comes from an emotional memory that color tends to evoke in me. You’ll often see that I’m drawn to shades of blue and seafoam green that captures the essence of the ocean with it’s many moods. I’m also drawn to soft colors reminiscent of sunsets such as smokey lavendar and soft blush pink. Pairing these colors with the sunny warmth of gold captures the heart of a day at the beach! 

Personal Style: I would define my personal style as west coast, casual chic. I love pairing gorgeous and sometimes more trendy accessories with simple pieces such as a pair of well worn jeans and favorite oversized shirt. 

Favorite Beach: Although the water and scenery of Bora Bora was hands down the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, Lanikai Beach on Oahu still holds the place in my heart as my all-time favorite beach. 

Musical Inspiration: I have rather eclectic taste in music, but on any given day you’ll hear anything from Jack Johnson to Jay Z playing in the studio.

Who do you design for? What kind of girl wears your designs?
I design primarily from my heart and I’m less focused on what will sell, but more on what I love. The girl who wears my work has an appreciation for the natural world and items that are created by hand rather than mass produced. She connects to color on an emotional level as well as natural beauty and simplicity in design. Quality of life is very important to her. Living the life of her dreams, pursuing her passions, and caring for herself guide her days.

Tell us more about using recycled metals in your work.
I utilize only recycled gold and silver in my work that I purchase from two different jewelry metal suppliers and manufactures here within the US. This commitment is something that I’m very passionate about as recycled gold and silver are readily available for designers to use and the destruction from mining to the environment and surrounding communities is devastating. Unfortunately, I have seen a number of new designers state that are using eco-friendly, recycled gold fill as a more economical option, but these claims are largely false. I have spent a lot of time researching sources for recycled gold fill and it’s just not there at this time due to the expense in manufacturing it.

How do you keep your beachy mindset while living in the Midwest?
I travel a lot! I still have a home in Maui that we visit each year and this brings me back to what I love. My husband, daughter, and I are scuba divers so we love to get away

during the winter months as much as possible and travel to tropical locals to dive. Our summers are spent at the lake so we continue to enjoy the water and outdoor living as much as possible. 

 

To learn more about Christine Mighion, click here.  And for more beachy inspiration check out her lovely blog, where she shares her passion for art, the environment and creates lovely looks like the beachy one above.

 

Which is your favorite piece? 

sealaura cooks: Pollo con salsa verde

When Friday night comes around, I know it's easy to want to head out for dinner.   But I rather make something hearty and avoid Friday night crowds.  Don't get me wrong, I love going out to eat but I rather save my pennies for our travel adventures and go out to eat then.  Today we are making pollo con salsa verde.

By now you know I'm all about the easy breezy recipes so this one is a mega cinch.  I was inspired to make it after seeing it here. BTW, I want to start a new regular series on the blog called sealaura cooks.  I will share recipes or food finds on Fridays and  that way you can give it a go over the weekend or prepare it the following week.  

***

For the pollo verde here is what you need:

chicken breast, chicken tenders or a whole chicken ( depending on the size of your fam, I used 3 chicken breasts
1 bottle of salsa verde

a few cloves of garlic 

1/8 teaspoon of cumin

salt to taste
a crockpot to cook it in

after putting all these ingredients cook in the crock pot for 2 hours on high
shred the cooked  pollo with a fork

*** 

you can steam some rice to have on the side, I made plain old white rice and added a side of charro beans from a can

***

for the toppings:

cilantro

scallions

chopped avocado

shredded cheese

tortillas or tostadas depending on how you want to fix it
as you can tell from my first pic, I fixed my self a bowl of delicioso!

And there you have it ! Enjoy, or as we say in Spanish,
Buen provecho!

Isle Style : Summer Nights

image via Free People

This is my official look for summer when I want to take it up a notch from beachy casual.  This is still not black tie mind you, but it is my idea of perfection.  Very Isle Style, very California Chic.  I've curated some pieces so you can get a similar look, all you have to do is add your own long necklace.  The best part is that all the pieces are waaaaay under 100 bucks! Make sure you press the arrows to see all my selections. 

What's your look for summer nights?

2 yrs ago today...

This is an oldie but a goody, our beach wedding two years ago today! Our bohemian life, has taken us to many beautiful places.  And Monterey, California was the perfect place to have our wedding.    They say all you need is love, and I agree but I would throw the beach in there too! 

Weekend White Wear

source : J.CREW

The weekend calls for comfy tees and feeling the sun on your skin, right (w/sunscreen of course!)?  These images from J.CREW's  April catalog still make me swoon.  I love this trapeze tee, a great mix of sexy and comfy especially paired with the softest most comfortable shorts you own.

source: J.CREW

Earlier in the season I shared with you my shift dress look for work and this look above, is a great look for the weekend.  Pairing it with tennies is smart, especially if you wear it to a festival or are busy running errands. It's so easy to just throw on "whatever" during the weekend, but for me there's nothing worse than running into someone you know when you look like "whatever."  That's why building a wardrobe of simple whites and shift pieces is so important.  Who doesn't always want to look their best?

What look will you be sporting this weekend?

Stella & Dot Spring 2013

 paradise studs, soiree studs, flower CZ studs,

I recently had the opportunity to check out some of the new jewels from the Stella & Dot Spring line and I was in accessory heaven.  I've been a fan of Stella and Dot (as seen here) for a few years and my love affair with their line continues.  Of course, with spring celebration coming ahead these baubles make a great gift for Mom, grads, and brides. 

I loved the Cameron necklace, the white coral pendant is so luxurious.  I thought it would be great to take along on a beach getaway or to wear for cocktail hour.  Not only do I fancy white clothes, but white accessories, especially against sunkissed skin.

rhea rose gold bangles, earrings,  carrie bangles, renegade cluster bracelet,

I've had my eye on the Renegade cluster bracelet forever (bottom right) , it is so dainty and dangerous all in one!  But as you can see, there are so many beautiful pieces to choose.

Where do you go for your baubles?