i figure things out as i go...

1.31.2011

{Men's Fashion} Monday

Wooohoooo Marcus got a haircut this weekend and he looks FINE! 
But don't take my word for it, take a look for yourself:
After I got my shots and told him I was done, he looked at me with mischief in his eyes and solemnly asked if I would take a few more...then he busted out these glamour shot poses that I couldn't resist sharing with you:
I know, right?

I Can Do Anything Good!

1.30.2011

Alright, am i just so lame for posting this because you've all already seen it a thousand times? 
Guess, what? I don't really care, because unless you can look in the mirror and say those things to yourself, you should watch it again!
I feel like people set all these lofty goals for the New Year and then reality sets in and we get behind a little and we can start to feel down on ourselves.
 Now, if it's just a little down that gives you that kick in the pants you need to become better, then it's okay. But if it's the debilitating kind of down that makes you loaf around and accomplish nothing--no no no no! Don't go there. 
Look in the mirror, tell yourself the things you love about your life, rehearse the things you are good at--the things you have accomplished, and then "LIKE YOU LIFE!"

I promise, it's great.

It All Would Have Been Really Embarrassing, Had I Not Been Facing Death Itself.

1.29.2011

After a stern and lengthy consultation with my ovaries, the following rules were laid out--
They are no longer allowed to:
1. Cause me to overheat, sweat profusely, and see black spots while in the girls locker room stall. 
2. Then as I’m scurrying to find some place private to suffer, make me collapse in a school corridor just as I'm calling Marcus to inform of my whereabouts.
3. Have the nerve to insist that I use the tiny black bag that once contained my, fresh from the bookstore, thank you Marcus, you good husband, you, box of Midol, to throw up in--so it once again contains my Midol tablets…now, regurgitated.
4. Cause my arms and legs to feel like thousands of pins and needled are being jabbed into them, only to then go completely numb and freezing.
5. Make my whole body shake and convulse as I uncontrollably punch Marcus in the leg.
6. Cause me cry and moan uninhibitedly into Marcus’ lap, while sprawled out on the gym floor as at least 20 strangers pass by me.
7. Invite 47 anciently trained, mini-Ninjas to assemble inside my abdominal region and do 537 round house kicks to my lower back.

Oh yes, the punishment shall be great should they decide to disobey...I tell you, they will rue the day!

Then the meds kicked in, and it was like it never happened...
Does this ad kill you?
hahah!

{For Fashion's Sake} Saturday: Week Fresh

I think purple is the color of royalty for a reason--I feel so rich when I wear it. 
Come to think of it, I need more purple in my life--that or just more money...

i've noticed that i use my hip as an arm-rest with some frequency. is this normal?

 The Breakdown:
Seafoam Cardi: Anthropologie hand-me-down
Sheer, Floral Blouse: Anthropologie Sale $20
Braided-Belt-Thrifted $1
Cigarette Jeans: Banana Republic sale $60
Trouser Socks: J.Crew sale $3
Grey Mary-Janes: Macy's sale $9
Bangley Necklace: Forever21 $6
Hair.do: Tutorial

{Top Five} Friday

1.28.2011

{Top Five} Photographers on Flickr
disclaimer: I have not looked at the thousands of photos in all of these photographers albums, so I am sorry if they have anything you find offensive or inappropriate, as in all types of art, that's just the name of the game, but what I have seen, I love.

fairytales.
dreamy.
editorial.
true emotion.
simple beauty.

confession.

So, I think it's time to spill the beans.

I've been feeling really blah about my hair color--although it photographed vibrant and shiny, in real-life it was looking pretty drab and faded

As much as I tried not to--I missed my blonde locks, but my hairdresser (sister) was 900 miles away, so I had to take matters into my own hands (although I probably made 400 calls home in the last 3 days).

UNFORTUNATELY: I was feeling too insecure to take any pictures of the process.
FORTUNATELY: The phases my hair went through have famous counterparts.

Day One: I basically looked exactly like this:
It was so terrifying. Not so much because my hair was ugly (it was), but because any relation to the wretched Malfoy Family made me hate myself. cringe.

Day Two: I could have passed for Lady Gaga:
I'm still not sure why my hair turned bright YELLOW, but it did, and ugh, I greatly regretted my ambition.

Day Three: This one's actually me:
I've cut a lot of the yellow out, but it's still a working process, therefore tomorrows {For Fashion Sake's} Saturday is a picture from last week. 

You'll just have to wait til 30 for 30 starts to see the blonde me... 

Love me through it, people, love me through it!

Shakin' In My Boots.

1.27.2011


So, I decided to take Kendi’s 30 for 30 challenge, with a few alterations of my own.


1st off: I ordered some new wedges from YesStyle recently, and I’m not sure when they will get here, so I couldn’t put them in my 30 items list. 
But if they come this month, there is no way I’m going to be able to keep from wearing them…so you all can just point at me and call me a cheater, but I don’t really care, because guess what? I can’t even see you!


The second alteration I’m making is that I can wear anything I make. I’m not saying that I’ll actually have the time or courage to try my hand at sewing without the professional eye of my mother, but IF I do, then I believe I deserve to don my creations. 
So, unless I think of some other sneaky way to change the rules to my advantage, that is all. 
Now, Wish Me Luck, People. 
I'm Gonna Need It!

{My} T-Shirt Necklace

1.26.2011

Original Necklace Seen Here.
Sorry, it's much longer than it needs to be...


Does Anyone Have a Suggestion On What 
{Top-Five} Friday 
Should Be About This Week? 
I'm At a Loss...

This Ain't No Déjà Vu...

Well aren’t you all just the luckiest! 
I have another giveaway, this time it's a $25 gift certificate that can be used at over 200 stores in the United States and Canada. 
Perhaps you need some modern dining room furniture, funky wallpaper, or some charming new dishes!
I’ve spent a good portion of the last few days checking out the stores and my, oh my, I’m jealous of whoever WINS! 
As soon as I have a home to decorate I think I shall fill it with anything Paul Thomas and cover all the walls in this!
Here’s how to enter:
1. Become a follower (or tell me if you already are).
2. Tweet/FB/blog about the giveaway (I need a link so I can see it).
3. Describe your dream house (location, size, style, etc.)

The first is required, the last two are extra entries.

**The winner will be announced Wednesday, February 2nd.

Viel Glück!

{Tunes} on Tuesday Featuring: Glee

1.25.2011

Yesterday was our 6-month anniversary, which is pretty much just a good excuse to go somewhere sort of fancy for dinner and reminisce about the wedding. Time sure does fly! 
Anyway, this is "our song" although it's not this version...we still like it.
  
Do You Have "A Song?" 
Do Tell!

a&m.

1.24.2011

i love my nephew for many reason, but i think i love him most 
for making this for me. 

Life in Technicolor.

We finally got to the condo, I ran in already half-way undressed,  curled a few strands of my hair and wadded it up in a side bubble thing while my mom stitched on the final piece of my 2nd dress. Someone told me they had found my vows, everyone who was already at the condo helped with the flowers and the place cards, and all was well--although I think my mom was, um, shall we say, tense?
Made by my overly talented chef of a SIL, Elizabeth!
We forwent to ring exchange within the temple, so that my best friends and a few of the family members who weren’t in the ceremony could feel more apart of the celebration. So we had a little vows/ring ceremony before the dinner started. I was really nervous about this, but I’m so glad we did it. 
It was really sweet.
I’m sure the dinner was delicious, but for once in my life, I couldn’t get myself to eat a thing. I was a little nervous about the, um, nighttime events…
I did however eat the cake, and man was it delicious!
We danced, cut the cake, took pictures, and threw the bouquet (which was caught by my maid of honor, who is dating the bestman), and around 9:30 or 10:00 it was time to go. 
So happy that the moon made his appearance :)
Pa Nielson pulled me aside and told me that Ma Nielson had planned just about every detail of the secret honeymoon, except for one, and that part we could figure out on our own…ha! It was hilarious! 
And we did figure it out, thank you very much.

And that was all she wrote…

and the winner is...

You lucky little ducky! You win this gorgeous earrings from MyLemonadeDreams!
Just email me your address so they can get mailed to your anxious earlobes!

(and sorry, i'm a day late announcing it.)

the wedding that started it all...

1.23.2011

The temple ceremony was beautiful. 
We knelt across from each other encircled about by our family and made promises that sealed us together for time and all eternity.

Apparently my big brother, Jason, bawled like a babe the entire time. I love him. He’s some 14 years older than me and I remember he used to wake me up and sneak me out to the trampoline to look at the stars to tell me about his most recent date and ask for my wise 3 or 4 year-old advice. 
I don’t know how many times that actually happened, but it meant so much to me that I feel like it was an every weekend occurrence. I always knew he loved me.  
I had the best childhood.

After the wedding was over, everyone that was in the temple made their way out, while my mom, Leisel, and I freshened my make-up and hair.

I was reunited with Marcus and we were greeted by a paparazzi of flashes and happy faces. 
What a special time to be surrounded by those who love you most! 


 I was glowing with happiness and the smiles could not be wiped off our faces. 
After taking some pictures, we had to rush back to the condo for a wardrobe change and to finish setting up for the wedding dinner. Marcus had to go get the flowers from his sisters house, so I jumped in the car with my sister and brother-in-law. 

The kids and I munched on sour worms and runts as we drove. 

It seemed like it was taking an awful lot longer to get back than it did to get to the temple…I started to run through all the things that I need to do in the slightly less than 2-hour time period.

1. Get to the condo (30 minutes away).
2. Change into my hippie dress and stitch on the bustle (15 minutes). 
3. Curl my hair and put it up (30 minutes).
4. Make sure the bridesmaid have their new outfits (10 minutes).
5. Get the flowers in place (15 minutes).
6. Lay out the place cards (10 minutes).
7. Find a way to print out my vows, since my copy had gotten lost in the drive to California (20ish minutes).

Basically, I had no excess time and this ride home was DEFINITELY taking longer than it should. 

Finally, the driver admits that he’s lost. Hahahahaha! What are the chances? 
I DID NOT have time to be lost, but there was nothing to do but laugh, because it was clear that the driver was frustrated and embarrassed, so I did my best to remain calm and make sure he didn’t feel too bad. 
After all, this was my party, and they couldn’t really start without me, so whatever, it would all work out.

The temple was being cleaned, but I was kind of diggin' the look! haha
Plus all the creatures in the forest came out to celebrate!


© i believe in unicorns. Maira Gall.