Color Me Portland!

Weekend Highlight: Running in the PORTLAND COLOR RUN.

You really can't beat exercising, spending time with friends, running through tons of paint, loud music, and supporting the education of children in under-developed countries all at the same time. I do not consider myself a runner by any means. However, when 16,000 people are all gathered in one location for the same event, pure adrenaline and excitement takes over. Which is good because I invested less than 2 hours into preparing for the 5k run. 

And then, when it is all over, there's hours of scrubbing that has to take place. And you better believe it takes the use of every kind of soap under the sun to remove the color. 

I am still finding green streaks all over my body. 

How did you spend your weekend?

Much Love,

P.S - I have an exciting giveaway scheduled for later this week. So be sure to stay tuned!

I want to know YOU!

I would love to have you sponsor On A Whim for the month of October. If you wanna swap, visit my "sponsor" tab and sign up! 

Looking forward to getting to know you and having you be a part of On A Whim's growing community.

Much Love,

DIY: Anthro Inspired Cup & Saucer

This weekend, I was browsing through the kitchenware on Anthropologie's website. It is all so adorable and SO out of my price range. And then I thought, "I could totally make something similar for way less money". So with a little help from Goodwill and Pinterest, here is a easy and affordable alternative to add a little class to your kitchen. 

Begin with a plain white cup and saucer.

Using a pencil, draw a rough draft of your design.

Gather together several Sharpie pens in a variety of colors.

Trace over pencil with any colored Sharpie. Bake cup and saucer in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely before washing and using.

Any new girl fans out there? The season 2 premier was last night and you better believe I put my homework on hold to watch it. And it did not disappoint. If you don't watch it, it's not too late to get on board for a half hour every Tuesday of pure heart warming sitcom perfection.

Also, On A Whim is now on facebook!
Go check it out and give it some FB lovin'.

Happy Hump Day!

Much Love,

Tuesday Trends: Back to School

That's right, today was my first day of school. And I therefore, have three great back to school looks for  this week's fashion post. 

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack Sweater: Nordstrom Rack Pants: Nordstrom Shoes: Target Headband: Nordstrom
(Apparently there's a theme in today's outfit...)

Pairing a bright colored shirt with a soft, neutral cardigan balances the pieces out. A headband is a great place to add a fun print to a color blocked outfit.

Shirt: Urban Outfitters Sweater: Gap Pants: Levi's Shoes: Birkenstock Necklace: Gifted

Wide legged jeans are a great way to dress up what would typically be a fairly casual outfit. Because the jeans are so detailed, it is best to pair them with a plain or more muted top.

Shirt: Macy's Jeans: Gap Shoes: The Loft Necklace: F21 Bracelet: H&M 

First off, don't you love a good pair of skinny jeans? They are the perfect thing to wear on the first day of school. Wearing a solid but detailed shirt adds just enough sophistication while still keeping the look casual. 

Today was in fact, my last first day of school ever. For the past 17 years, I have put together a back-to-school outfit, purchased school supplies, compared class schedules with my friends, speed-walked trying to find and make it to my new classes on time. And today was my last first day of school. It's a strange and bittersweet feeling.

Also, I'm guest posting over at Teatime Thoughts today so go say hello!

Much Love,

This city that I love

This is a humbow. If you have never had one, you haven't lived. 

I haven't been to very many big US cities. But I do know that Seattle is one of the best cities in the world. I love all of the water that surround the city. I love watching cruise ships come in and ferry boats go back and forth. I love watching sailboats and kayakers and paddle boarders on a sunny summer day. I love the crisp, cold air and the rain that makes the grass and trees so green. I love driving into the city at night and seeing the whole sky lit up with the buildings' lights. I love watching the little yellow elevators go up and down the space needle. I LOVE the food. I love the people, in all forms that they come in. I love never feeling bored and always having something to do or somewhere new to explore. I love going to Mariners games. I love the Starbucks on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower that overlooks the entire city. I love how unique each neighborhood of Seattle is. I love that a 30 minute drive can take me out of the city and put me right in the middle of nature. And I love that on a clear day, you can see the entire Olympic Mountain range. It is absolutely breathtaking. 

What do you love about the city you live in? 

Much Love,

P.S. I have some exciting posts lined up this week that I can't wait to share with you so stay tuned!

Cookie in a Cup

And that's it! 

Two minutes for your new favorite go-to snack.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Much Love,

Thoughts for Thursday

And created for a purpose.

I think as women, it's so easy to forget that. 

But the truth is, that we were made perfect by our creator. Every single part of us, from our personalities to our talents and gifts, we were designed with a purpose in mind.

And that He wants to use us to move the world.

Pretty awesome.

So today (and everyday), allow God to use what he created in you for his glorious and perfect plan.

Much Love,

P.S. Thank you so much for all of your sweet words of encouragement about my big announcement yesterday! I am so excited about the adventure that lies ahead and it was so fun to share it with you. So thank you for making it even more exciting. 

Four little words

You know that longing to go out and explore beyond the bounds of what you've already experienced?
To see new things and live in new ways.

I have that.
Bad.

The thought of looking for a real job and doing the same thing every day for the rest of my life freaks me out. Because why would I do that when I could explore this world that God created and meet all the wonderful people in it?

Which is why I just purchased a one-way ticket to Sydney, Australia. 

Here's my plan...

All that stands between me and the greatest adventure of my life so far is three months of school. 

I can't wait. 

I can't wait to see what life is like somewhere else. I can't wait to remove myself from my familiar life and try something new. I can't wait to be surrounded by beaches and learn the Aussie lingo. I can't wait meet new people and understand another piece of creation. And I can't wait for you to be a part of the many adventures that await me.

So, let the adventure begin.

Much Love,

Tuesday Trends: Last Couple Drops of Sun

Shirt: Nordstrom Jeans: Vigoss Shoes: Target Headband: Whippy Cake

Two things...

ONE. It hit me today that this is my last week of summer break. That next week, I'll be in class, learning new things, and spending many an hour each night on homework. And that in three months, I'll be graduated from college.
Done. DONE WITH COLLEGE.

TWO. I've almost hit season 7 of Grey's. That's three seasons in one week.
Pathetic? Maybe. Impressive? Definitely.

Much Love,

Bedroom Reveal!

DISCLAIMER: The room was painted yellow by my landlord and I, under no circumstances, am allowed to re-paint. 

So, with that in mind, here is the final product...

I'm loving how it turned out. Besides the yellow walls, it is exactly what I was envisioning. I wanted to use mainly neutral tones with lots of different textures. 

I hope you like it as much as I do! And I also hope that you had a fabulous weekend!

Much Love,