the earth laughs

It's been a hard, hard week. But these bright, lovely things help a bit. 

"The earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

rest for your soul.

one of those days, friends. this is on repeat in my head. I took this photo on an adventure last week, and it is completely perfect for this verse, as nothing reminds me of the might of God quite like the Washington mountains. the idea of finding rest for your soul is so beautiful, so alluring to me. still looking. 

xo, Charity

Angela added some adorable new pieces to the shop this week--come & see! happy Sunday! xo. 

local goods: Gypsies and Ginger Snaps

Sometimes the best things in life are the things you stumble onto. Like the friend you meet in the most unexpected place, the amazing restaurant you find after getting lost in the middle of nowhere, the guy you meet after swearing you'll be single for a while....etc etc. Or sometimes, you're walking with a friend and you see the sign above on the street, wander into an alley, and find the most adorable shop you've ever seen. 

After an unsuccessful thrifting trip, my lovely friend Megan & I happened upon local shop Gypsies and Ginger Snaps and basically died of cuteness. They have everything from dresses, jewelry, and shoes to tiny animal figurines, candles, purses, sassy decor, and even espresso. Basically, the essentials. Some vintage, some new, and some in-between. The dream of owning a vintage & handmade shop is always humming in the back of my mind & perusing Gypsies and Ginger Snaps made that hum just a l-i-i-ittle bit louder. 

I picked out a few precious little things for a loved one, but in case she reads this, I'll keep them a secret. 

If you are in the Bellingham area, you must pop in to this shop. Bring a friend to ooh & aah over the items with--and, it is conveniently located right next to the Honey Moon, so you can wander over for happy hour after. Best. Day. Ever. 

insta peace

ohhh my, is life busy right now. so looking forward to summer & a chance to b-r-e-a-t-h-e. here are some instas of small, peaceful moments of late. 

may flowers | afternoon reading | fave from a design gallery | Capitol Hill dinner with my family | post-gym treat | packing pretty vintage

see more by following me on instagram @charityvictoria. xo! 

Sunday Sweet: Strawberry & Nutella Tarts

If you're not following Amanda's blog yet, you should be. She's another Bellingham blogger who just so happens to post amaaazing recipes (that are photographed impeccably). I want to make them all, especially these banana nutella popsicles, but when it was my job to make some treats for a coworkers birthday last week, I had to first try Amanda's recipe for yummy tarts. 

 (rule of thumb: always bake with a glass of iced coffee or wine in hand. much more fun)

I made some with just nutella, some with just (homemade) strawberry jam, & some with both. I marked the top of each differently so people could choose which they wanted! 

one has to sample their finished product, of course. 

Find her recipe here! This is a really easy and fun thing to bring to a brunch, shower, picnic, birthday party, etc. They're cute and yummy. And fun to make. Thanks for the inspiration, Amanda! xo. 

no one's gonna love you more than I do

nobody loves ya like a sister can. 

Recently I came home to this sweet care package at my door after a l-o-o-o-n-g week. how lovely is she? This sweet little necklace has become my new favorite piece. So delicate. Though I feel like I'm cheating on WA a little bit when I wear it here...oh, well. And please excuse the fact that I'm holding it backwards--geography never was my strong suit. Thank you, sista!