ready to splash like a fish in the deep blue sea.

Four weeks I tell ya! Four weeks until I am finally basking in the heat of the island in South Carolina with my favorite people in the whole wide world - my family! I can't tell you how this week out of the whole year tops off everything about Christmas! Hilton Head Island is my second home that I have been going to for almost eighteen years now? Is that right?

Once April hits, I start preparing for this vacation. Its the mother load. If you don't know by now, my fetish is swimsuits. I have an awful obsession with them and I have to buy more and more every summer. The best part is that I keep every single suit I own, clear back to middle school days. You could say I have some great old school J.Crew treasures in my suit box that are still just as cute today! Some girls have shoe fetish's, I have a swimsuit addiction and I own up to it proudly.

I know the time has come when I have finally gathered together my swimsuits for the week of Hilton Head. Only four more weeks and I can hardly stand it. This year I was on the hunt for a starch white suit to mock the one and only Grace Kelly. Bam, I got lucky and found it at Anthropologie. It won't be original, as it's a popular item and I know many will rock it this summer but I am glad I was able to find a modest and classy one with a little flirty spunk to it. And I can't stay away from floral. I'll never walk away from any sort of floral pattern and when J.Crew describes their floral print as something that they took from curtain panels in a french home, or the inspiration came from botanical photos from the 60's and 70's or better yet, from perfectly manicured rose bushes out of the backyard of a socialites palm beach home, I'm sold and say I do.

I love reading J.Crew's descriptions of where their inspirations came from for their textiles and prints. It makes it all the more fun and chic while wearing it to know the story behind it. I love it because I completely connect with J.Crew and get what they are saying. I do believe Jenna Lyons and I have a lot in common when it comes to interests in things around the world, inspirations and color palettes. I too find all of my inspirations from the beautiful small things in life that might just be right outside of your own backyard.

Creativity and summertime, there is nothing else quite like it.
The countdown begins and I can't wait to splish-splash in these one piece beauties!

color palette inspiration

I'm constantly finding my inspiration from J.Crew. Especially when I'm swooning over things that I unfortunately can't and wont ever afford and with how beautiful they are, I know that what makes me love them is the color palettes and patterns so I'll whip them up into an abstract painting if I have to! I can't wait to get up on it with this color palette! Here's to a summer of painting whatever the heck I want!

J.Crew Jules Dress in Scroll Print For Sale!

Here we go! Another item outta my closet and into yours... that is, if you win it! Go check out my ebay account and press your luck with making a bid on this J.Crew Jules Dress in Scroll Print! It's in perfect condition, only worn once and ready to be worn throughout the summer with its bright cheerful colors! This is a size 2 dress and comes from a smoke-free and animal-free home! Don't miss out for it's no longer available at J.Crew! Ends in about six days! 

shop here!

life with no deadlines, no rhyme or reason.

My summer has officially begun. With school done, over and out about two weeks ago I have been graced with nothing but sunshine, a mix of thunderstorms, paintings for the sake of painting rather than crossing my fingers to get a decent grade. And well, numerous trips to the grocery store. Par-tay.

 Life with no obligations other than family and friends has been bittersweet. I have luckily conquered the sleeping in phase and I actually get up at a really decent hour and go to bed early with the Zoo, making my days with not much to do, long and beautiful. I have been focusing on staying healthy and have taken great advantage of the outdoors and I have come to love running through the neighborhoods on a morning basis. It wakes me up and it gets me a energy boost start for the day. I can't say I feel productive though. Don't think I'll be living this simple life forever with no rhyme or reason. At times I get so bored that I find myself dreaming of having a job, but with all of the weddings and family summer vacations ahead of me for a month and a half straight, I thought it would be best to make some mula once everything calms down towards July.

The weekends are what I long for as it's time where the Zoo and I can grab some delicious grub to eat out in the sun, be it Mexican to Indian or a flat out yummy American cheeseburger. We are making plans to hit up the Mummy Exhibit at the Leonardo Museum this weekend and I cannot tell you the anticipation that is building up inside of me.

Sometimes I feel pathetic not having an agenda, as though I am wasting so much of my time. But numerous friends have commented to me to not feel bad about it and love this aimless amount of time while I've got it because I wont have it once kids start rolling in, and so I guess I can't feel too bad.... eh?

Life is good, what can I say?

new shop to purchase my artwork!

Hello all of my beautiful friends! I have news for you all involving my artwork. I am currently focusing on my new artwork shop, which is

Rachel Anne Shop

I'm currently deciding wether or not my big cartel shop will take over my etsy shop. I just love the design and cleanliness of this one and would rather showcase my work on it over my etsy. Unfortunately, there is not much work to be purchased at the moment, but I am currently, and slowly working on a series of smaller abstracts that would add a splash of chicness and color to a gallery wall or work space, whichever you desire. So do stay tuned! I will be adding work randomly on a weekly basis. All work is original therefore, there is only one of each! 

Thanks for you support and love!

favorite pinned photos of the weekend.

I just felt the urge to share with you my favorite photos i've collected on my pinterest from the weekend. I'm a sucker for beautiful photographs, images that are captured in the most beautiful light of beautiful places, people and animals. It gives me the simple joy I love to have beaming each and every single day. The little things.

I have nothing really more to say, I just want to ooo & ahh, and I do plan on printing, framing and making these wonderful images keepsakes in my workspace and home.

mums the word!

I'm so happy that there is such a thing as "Mother's Day" because it's a well deserved day for all of those hardworking, selfless and loving women out there, especially my one of a kind mother. I love my mom like it's nobody's business. She really is the cat's meow. I am so grateful I chose to be her daughter. I am her number one fan and I adore everything she does and who she is.

I hope to be just like her some day. I couldn't think of anything more wonderful. She is a contagious woman, one who naturally calls the company of others through her spunkiness, smile, youthful energy and her out of this world dance moves. Her company is a treasure to hold and I love her with all of my heart. The world just can't get enough of her. And I don't blame them. I am so proud to be your daughter.

I love you Mom, happy Mother's Day, you deserve to kick your feet back and wear a crown.

xoxo,
Rach

she's got that charleston swag in her brush strokes, i tell ya.

Oh heavens to betsy. I've found a new obsession/inspiration to my artwork. Here is the amazing work of Charleston artist, Teil Duncan. Known for her color block nudes and beach scenes, I can't even begin to tell you how inspired and in love I am with her work. This photo right here of her wall space in her studio just dripping in her work is nothing short of marvelous and I'd dream to have this in my home. I can't tell you how bad I've been swooning over her color palettes. This girl has got her color palettes down to an art, no pun intended.

And let's talk about the nudes. I normally don't go crazy over nude paintings. I'm not offended by them if they are tastefully done, but most nude artwork is tastefully done. Therefore, I'm really never offended. I don't view it as pornography and having been in numerous figure study classes, I have a new view and take on it, which I won't get into. Would I ever become a nude painter, no, probably not, but when someone chooses color palettes such as these and this color blocking technique, I'd buy a gazillion nude paintings. There is something so effortlessly chic and feminine with this work. It's more so abstracted brush strokes that give a beautiful take on women and their femininity. I would love to have this in a powder room, or even by a vanity area. I cannot stop day dreaming about her work and how talented she is.

Her medium consists of Gouache and Acrylic. I used to be so anti-acrylic since I was so in love with oil, but after working with acrylic here and there this past semester in my Watermedia IV class, I've grown to ease into it and form a little crush, if I don't say so myself. Gouache, I LOVE. So, I'm inspired to play around with these two mediums as Duncan does, and give it a whirl.

I haven't really produced much new work so far since the semester ended. I did put an end to my Vintage Americana Vogue painting that I began a year ago and I fell in love with the ending results. I'll post later. I want to start selling my work, but the larger the canvas, the pricier it becomes, both for me and buyers. Oil's are just so whopping expensive that working with large scale canvas takes a load of paint, especially when I work with palette knives which is my numba one tool for abstracts. So, I wanna try something new, and start working on smaller canvas, take a break from oils and experiment more with acrylic and gouache, which dries in no time so the amount of work I can get done will double. They are also less expensive and you use less paint, and the double plus, shipping will be less expensive and easier to ship! You see where I am going with this? I wanna create smaller abstracts that people can hopefully swoon over for their office space, or a gallery wall. Just a beautiful little nic nac for their home. You got it?

So wish me luck, Im off to the studio today.

the seventh of may.

May 7th has always been a special day for me, just as any birthday would be for anyone else. But I truly love May. Everything about the month brings such happiness and it's always a joy to start the month off with my birthday.

May is one pretty little lady, with her flowers blossomed and lush, with occasional southern thunderstorms treating me every so often growing up. It was the month school was let out so it was the best of both worlds, it was spring one week and summer the next. Every thing and every one is so alive and giddy.

I wanted to bring that back to Utah this year for my twenty-fourth. People say twenty-four is a good age. I can't help but believe them, and I have to remind myself that any age in your twenties is going to be a good year. So I'm taking it all in. I told myself by making a New Years Resolution that I'd practice my southern cooking and learn to master the food I grew up on and share it with my friends. What better occasion then your birthday? I always corner myself into a project that's very much over my head, but I secretly think I love a good challenge. I'm pretty sure I get it from my mama.

So with that said, I made up a menu of fried cajun pickles, with a remoulade sauce, jalapeno cheddar cheese grits and bbq chicken, and Minnie's Chocolate Pie. I was going to attempt beignets, but when I realized the heavy load I was carrying already and the fact that my friends had actually piled into my bungalow on time, I just had to throw in the towel at some point.

It was good though, real good. The original plan was to eat outside under the trees in mine and the Zoo's backyard, and I have been dreaming of this day in the warm weather since we set foot in the bungalow, but it didn't happen when thunderstorms decided to roll in, forcing us to move inside. At first, I was pretty bummed, I can't lie to you about that. But when I was alone by myself today, cooking familiar smells from back home with Ray Charles singing in the background and all of a sudden the ground shook with thunder, I got a little giddy and was instantly flooded with memories of home. And I accepted it, and treated it as a birthday gift from above.

Tonight couldn't have been more perfect. It was low key, I had great company, and the Zoo couldn't have been any more wonderful. He was such a big help, coming home early from work to help me finish cooking - eh I admit, I didn't fully make all of the food completely by myself, but I was desperate on time here. But I loved that he wanted to make it work for me. I can say, as much fun as I had, I won't be throwing parties anytime soon. Like forever. They are great and all but boy do they kick the can right out from under you. I can tell you right now, I am spending my day tomorrow doing loads of dishes and watching my tv shows in bed and I don't even care. Im whooped. Im whooped and I'm happy. Happy to be alive.

Happy Birthday to me.

a little zoot zoot at the giza plateau circa 1961.

While we are on the Egypt kick, I couldn't help but not share one of my favorite photos of one of my favorite men, Louis Armstrong, tooting his gold horn for his sweetheart at the Giza Plateau in Egypt of 1961. 

Does this photo make you grin with such happiness or what? I love all things Louis and when you throw Egypt in the mix of things, you've got one heck of a party! I was at Zurchers party store today, getting ready for my birthday next week, and they always have the best playlist jamming through the sound system. Today was all things Louis Armstrong and it put me in the best of moods. 

What a talent Louis Armstrong was. Im sure his wife was so proud. If I had it my way, and could choose a group of people who have passed on to meet, I'd choose Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and Billie Holiday and have them all throw me some jazzy beats late one night in a jazz club. I can't explain to you the zone I'd be in... 

one ticket for a magic carpet ride to egypt please,

I would like one ticket for a magic carpet ride to egypt por favor! The Zoo and I have been wrapped up in watching all of The Mummy movies with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. They are secretly some of my favorite movies to watch because it takes me back to the days when they had come out in theaters and I was beyond thrilled.

Egypt is another topic of discussion that I am very well pleased with and totally into. I remember seeing previews for this movie on t.v. and asking my dad all sorts of questions about Egypt. I was fascinated and still am. I even begged for a computer game that was based in Egypt and all about mummies in hieroglyphs, the only reason my parents agreed to buying it for me, was that it was a MATHEMATICS COMPUTER GAME, clearly, I was desperate to consume my spare time with anything Egypt.

What a dream it would be to visit the sand pyramids of Egypt, explore the tombs of mummies that are cursed with spells, visit the City of the Dead, giddy-up on camels, and discover hieroglyphs! Now that sounds magical to me!

The Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake City is currently exhibiting Mummies Around the World. The Zoo and I have been dying to go! I love to educate myself on ancient history, I can get pretty caught up into too. So this exhibit is surely a must see!

I'll keep you posted if I am able to go to the exhibit, until then, I'll be dreaming on my magic carpet ride.

oh, the places you'll go...

I have an itch. I've had an itch for years, I believe it's deep in my blood, and thankfully with my luck I've married a boy whose blood boils to travel the world as well. I thought I had a pretty impressive resume, if you will, when I began dating the Zoo telling him my whereabouts outside of America. I had some Caribbean Islands, Cabo, London and Ghana, Africa... and at the age of twenty-two, I think that's pretty awesome to have seen those places, don't you?

Then here comes the zoo, though he is four years older than me, and he's been all over the map! Let's just say, he's a sucker for Mexico. I love to hear stories about his travels and his adventurous side. It makes me want to pick up my bags and jet out, right now. I mean now. I have eyes that are yearning to see the world, ancient parts of the world, where I will stand all amazed. I have too large of a list of places to go, ruins to see, sea's to splash in.

I can't wait to take on these adventurous travels with the one I love, whether we do it while we are young or when we are wiser, it will be experiences that I'd cherish. I can only day dream now. But I will say, my one true love, and one of the most precious memories I hold in my life was my trip to Ghana. I'll never forget those days.

The world is a beautiful place.