Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles

We're Going to Vegas!

2012-01-26T22:32:00.001-06:00

If you read my Christmas recap post, you may recall that for Christmas, Matt surprised me with a trip to Vegas! (I opened a Nevada calendar in which Matt made and glued the adorable paper Vegas sign above. Super creative that guy.) I was totally shocked, and not just because we said we weren't doing presents, but because we never seem to take vacations "just because." Not because we don't want to, but because since Matt and I have been dating, our travel budget has gone towards attending friends weddings, visiting family, traveling for showers and bachelorette parties, going on job and internship interviews, etc etc. I'm so glad we chose to make those trips happen; I wouldn't trade them for the world. But I can't lie, I'm pretty excited to take a "just because" trip, just the two of us. Oh and did I mention we'll be there this time in a month? Not that I'm counting down or anything :)

So here is where I need your help....

I've never been to Vegas, and Matt hasn't been since he was a young single dude. Our hotel is already booked, but we're a bit clueless about what we want to do in Vegas, particularly because there are so many things to choose from! So for those of you who've been, I would be forever grateful for your insider tips, recommendations, and favorites. Whether it's your favorite show, your favorite restaurant, or your favorite spot to grab a drink, please share! If you've ever tried getting discount show tickets or booking ahead with a great website, I'd love to hear. Big or small, fancy or casual, we're up for anything.

I know they say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but in this case, I'm asking you to break that rule just once and clue a Vegas-newbie in :)

Thrifted Vest

2012-01-24T19:16:00.001-06:00

Hey there, long lost readers! Sorry for my silence lately; things have been a bit crazy lately. My job has completely consumed my life the past few weeks, and given that I don't get to see Matt on the weekends, I pretty much unplug from the world to focus on spending time with him.

Even in the midst of the craziness, however, I had to pop in and show you all my new favorite thrift find. Two weekends ago, in honor of MLK Day, our local Savers hosted a 50% sale. Now I've been resisting some pretty amazing sale emails lately (I'm looking at you Loft and Talbots), but I could not pass up 50% off at my favorite thrift store. Matt initially tried to protest, but when I gave him the "are you seriously criticizing me for wanting to hit up a thrift store sale" look, he backed off. Smart move dude; I am not one to miss a Savers sale. Anyway, about ten seconds after we walked into Savers, I spotted this faux fur lovely, hanging ever so neatly, calling out to me. I may or may not have squealed when I saw it. I was certain it was too good to be true, but alas it was not. It was a fabulous fitting, faux fur find. (Dare you to say that 3 times fast?) And to top it off...it was four freaking dollars. I mean, how can you beat that?

So here it is, my faux fur vest, in its $4 goodness.

Vest: thrifted at Savers
Sweater: Ann Taylor
Leggings: Ann Taylor
Bracelet: Ann Taylor
Ring: David Yurman

PS: Did I mention that I'm pretty sure I tried this exact vest on at the beginning of the season at full price? I cannot for the life of me remember where I tried it on, and because it's reversable, it doesn't have a tag. Pretty sure I ended up getting it for about 96% off :)

This past Saturday, I ended up throwing on my beloved vest as Matt and I ate at our favorite local breakfast spot. Can't get enough of this little furball.

Vest: thrifted at Savers
Flannel: thrifted in college
Tshirt: Gap
Ring: David Yurman

So it's official. I have a new favorite thrift find A furry, fabulous, four dollar find. Freaking love it.

My Focused Effort for the New Year

2012-01-10T21:34:00.001-06:00

{via pinterest}

We're 10 days into January, and I'm just now sharing my focused effort for the new year. (Reminder: I don't make "resolutions;" I make "focused efforts." Read why here.) I waited ten days into January to share my focused effort, just to make sure it was appropriate and fitting for me. I'm here to report that it is doable and very pertinent for my life.

As I spent the last few days of 2011 cozied up at home in Texas, I reflected back on the past year, mainly the past 6 months, and how hectic my life has been. My internship kicked into full gear, I became a bit of a workaholic, and worst of all, I was (and still am) away from Matt. At some point, I'd like to blog about what this experience has taught me, but for now I'll say that living Monday through Friday as a single workaholic has led to some pretty terrible self-care. 12 hour workdays, constant caffeine, little sleep, and a rotating diet of frozen meals and canned soup. Not good.

They say you should treat yourself like you'd treat a fancy car. (Not that my Honda is super fancy, but I like to be prepared for the day I win the lottery and get my silver Range Rover.) Fancy cars need consistent attention, tune ups, good oil, car washes, and a faithful mechanic. If you want a car to run at top speed, you've got to be good to its insides. I firmly believe that our minds and bodies are the same way. If I expect my mind to operate at top speed, I've got to be good to my body.

I want my mind to be alert, I want to be quick witted with students, I want to engage them in the small moments. I want to be rested so I can enjoy my weekends with Matt, drive safe on my weekend commute, and remember the small details about my loved ones. I want to run like the best luxury car out there. Yet I treat my body like an old beat-up hooptie. I neglect it, pump bad gas into it, and leave the check engine light unattended to for way too long. I keep saying I'll get to it, but I don't. I leave it alone, treat it like crap, and hope my mind will miraculously pick up my body's slack.

So this year, my focused effort is simple. Be better to my body. It doesn't have a thing to do with weight, clothing size, or what I see in the mirror. It has to do with giving my body the things it needs to help my mind operate like I expect it and want it to. (Please note I considered capturing my focused effort with the phrase "be good to yourself," but I knew my twisted self would eventually manipulate that to mean "treat yourself" aka get massages, weekly mani/pedis, and take every Friday off work. I know the way my sneaky brain works.)

There are a few small, yet specific ways I'm focusing on this goal of being better to my body.

Each day...Take 1 multivitamin. Eat 5 fruits/veggies. Drink 8 glasses of water. Work in 30 minutes of physical activity. Get 8 hours of sleep. To help myself stay on track, I've embraced an easy reminder (which is now on a post-it note on my computer screen at work and on my mirror at home. 1/5/8/30/8. (1 multivitamin, 5 fruits and veggies, 8 glasses of water, 30 minutes of activity, and 8 hours of sleep.) I'm trying to be better to my body, using these simple numbers.

I don't think I'll ever do all of these in one day. If I do, that's awesome, but I'm not trying to be perfect. Just more mindful. Mindful that my brain and body are connected, and that if I want my mind to be focused, refreshed, and joyful, I've got to be better to my body.

What are your focused efforts for the new year? Anyone else need to energize and refresh your mind by being better to your body?

A Roadtrip in Numbers (and a Giveaway Winner!)

2012-01-04T22:33:00.001-06:00

2,263 miles driven...
36 hours roundtrip in the car...
9 caffeinated beverages consumed...
7 times "Santa tracker" (aka my mom) texted to see our location..
14 Missy Elliott songs jammed...
4 times Matt gave me the "what are those dance moves?" look...
700 dollars saved by driving instead of flying...
12 minutes I had to cover my nose and mouth in Missouri. Who knew the border of that state was so stinky?...
5 podcasts listened to...
67 dollars spent at Bucees, my roadtrip Mecca...
(Wondering how on Earth you could spend $67 without getting gas? 2 Circle E candles, 3 made to order sandwiches, 2 bags of chocolate covered pretzels, 2 cokes, 1 coconut bar, and 1 bag of Bucees beaver nuggets. Heaven!)...
3 consecutive times Beyonce's "Run the World" was blasted...
21 outfits packed by me...
1 McDonalds goodie consumed...
(You can't go on a roadtrip at not stop at McDonalds at least once!)...
4 restrooms that made me cringe and wonder why Bucees don't exist nationwide...
2 times we sighed, "It's so good to be home."

Our time in Texas was fabulous (see pictures here), and all in all, our roadtrip to and from wasn't that bad. When we initially decided to drive, we were optimistic, but as December 22 neared, I began to question if we'd maintain our sanity during such a long car ride. But halfway into our journey, I realized it wasn't so bad, especially as I thought about the crowded airports and the screaming baby that seems to always sit near me on a plane. Even as Matt and I pulled into Chicago, after 2,263 miles of driving, we both agreed we made the right choice and that it wasn't so bad. In fact, we might even do it again :)

And for the winner of the recent Stella and Dot giveaway...congrats Kayla! You are the newest owner of the "On the Mark" necklace. Please email Sara (sara.k.michael@gmail.com) to claim your lovely necklace. Another big thanks to Sara for sponsoring this giveaway. And if you didn't yet "like" Sara's FB page, I suggest you do so, because its rumored that she has some exclusive FB giveaways and deals coming up. Just an early heads up :)

Hope your week is going well, we're almost to Friday!

New Years Eve Celebration

2012-01-02T20:07:00.001-06:00

This year, Matt and I were thrilled to be able to celebrate New Years with our friends in Dallas, as we made a quick stop on our way back to Chicago. Not in the mood for a crazy, drunken New Years Eve, we talked about a low key dinner somewhere fun, but after seeing the crazy prices, we quickly changed our minds. So we agreed to do a low key night at our friends Jordan and Ricky's. We agreed no party dresses or heels, instead opting for leggings and oversized tunics. An hour into the night, we ditched the tunics for pj's and Uggs, kicking off an all night Xbox Kinect Dance Central challenge and the most intense game of Catchphrase I've ever played. When Jordan and I called it a night at 3:00 am, we both agreed it was our favorite New Years Eve in a long, long time. Proof a good time doesn't require a fancy menu, loads of cash, or a sparkly party dress!

We've been friends for nearly 14 years, and we still laugh like little high schoolers when we're together :)

My midnight man :) PS: wondering about my crazy tiger shirt? I snagged it a while back at Savers, and though part of me thought I'd lost my fashion mind, I couldn't resist bringing it home with me. Layering it with this vest and a pair of leggings, it was the perfect relaxed but fun NYE getup!

Richenda, me, and Jordan snapping a quick pic before running off to change into our extra comfy clothes :)

Annnnd with that, we're in our sweats, ready for a dance off and another glass of champagne!

I hadn't seen Richenda since Jordan's wedding in March, and it was so great to see her. Even more exciting to talk a little wedding with her, as she and her man are getting married in just a few months!

2011 was an exciting year for us, as we celebrated lots of fun things (a permanent job for Matt in Chicago, an internship match for me), but its also been a year of challenge as we've had to adjust to living 2 hours apart the past six months for my internship. But I have a feeling 2012 has some fabulous things in store, and I'm so excited we get to experience them together! Happy happy New Year to all my lovely readers; may 2012 be your best year yet!

Merry (Belated) Insta-Christmas

2011-12-28T15:24:00.001-06:00

I had the best intentions of being a better blogger over the holidays, but the minute I got home and saw my family, that went out the window. And I'm totally ok with that. Our time here in Houston has been beyond wonderful. I've been so cozy and content, that I've broken out Cameron just once, instead relying on my much easier to tote iPhone. Here are a few of my favorite snaps from the past week.

1. Getting into the Santa spirit after meeting friends for drinks at DOC Wine Bar. 2. My holiday manicure. I cannot get enough of OPIs Rainbow Connection; it is the perfect glitter polish!

3. Christmas cookie decorating, a family tradition. 4. A pre-Christmas visit from our friends Jesse and Steven. Always good to see them!

5. Finally in Houston and loving the weather. No coat needed! PS: I picked up this sweater from Macy's on Black Friday for $20! 6. My attempt at pretty but free wrapping...campus newspaper, gold ribbon, red paper, and tiny rhinestones. Use what you have, and make it work!

7. My parents pretty tree, ready for Santa. 8. Christmas Eve story time, The Polar Express and The Night before Christmas.

9. My sweet doggie, snuggled up in his Christmas sweater. 10. Moscow Mules in our new copper mugs (thanks Josh and Anthony!)

11. The Clark Griswald of Houston who lives near my parents. We love this house! (PS: you can watch the video I took with my iPhone here on Youtube. You know, in case you're still in the holiday mood.) 12. Out for yummy and close-to-impossible-to-get-in-Chicago Mexican food with my mom.

13. One of my favorite presents of the year? Matt surprised me with a trip to Las Vegas! We're planning to go early next spring, eeek! 14. One of Matt's presents from my parents and the hit family game this holiday, Six Word Memoirs. It's awesome and has been our go-to activity the past few nights!

I hope you have been enjoying time with loved ones, soaking up all the special moments that this holiday season brings. We're in Texas for a few more days, and I must admit, I'm not quite ready to leave. I plan to spend the next few days savoring every small moment I can! Merry (belated) Christmas to all!

Christmastime in Chicago

2011-12-21T11:03:00.001-06:00

Last Christmas was our first year in Chicago, and since we thought we'd only be in the Windy City for a year, we soaked up all the Chicago Christmas goodness and even hosted my family for the holidays. (See their visit here.) This year, we're heading to Texas for the holidays, and between my crazy weekly commute and trying to use weekends to rest, we haven't done a whole lot of Christmas stuff. So this past weekend, we grabbed two of our good friends and headed to enjoy a few of our favorite Chicago Christmas spots!

We love the Christkindlmarket, and since Norma and Jerry hadn't been, we were thrilled to take them. We also took it upon ourselves to introduce them to all our favorite market yummies, including Gluhwein, latkes, and roasted nuts.

Thankfully this year's visit was much warmer than our two visits last year. We spent much of Sunday giving thanks for the 40 degree weather and laughing thinking back to the previous year and how cold we were.

We never get tired of The Bean. Can you spot us? (Hint: we're almost smack dab in the middle, just above and to the left of the girl with the Santa hat.)

Have I mentioned how happy I am that we live here? God is so good.

We stopped to take in one of my favorite views of the city and watch the ice skaters in Millennium Park.

After taking an "extended tour" of the city (we frequently get lost when Matt plays tour guide), we stopped for dinner at Barrio. I found out about Barrio through Gilt City last week, and since we've been in search of a good Mexican restaurant, we thought we'd give it a try. And oh my goodness, I'm so glad we did because it was fabulous! The food, the service, the drinks...to die for!

Norma and I's first round of drinks: the Rehab Margarita and the house sangria.

So happy she's in Chicago this year :)

We did a combination of appetizers and tacos, and there wasn't one thing that disappointed. (Though Frontera still wins out for the best ceviche in the city.) We will definitely be back!

After dinner, we bundled up and headed to Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's no secret, Matt and I love this zoo (see here and here), but we hadn't yet been to see it decked out for the holidays.

It was really beautiful to see the zoo so spruced for the holidays. And though most of the animals were already asleep for the evening, we had fun just wandering around.

I'm so grateful that we made a point to get out and experience a few of our favorite Chicago Christmas spots (and that we found a new favorite restaurant in the process!) And of course, sharing the adventure with our friends who are new to Chicago made it even more fun. The Christmas season can be busy and hectic, but it's the small things that make the difference!

Tomorrow Matt and I are heading to Texas to spend Christmas with my family. I am SO excited to spend the break curled up in snuggly pajamas, lounging around my parents Christmas tree, laughing with the people I love. Now, if we could just get there without having to make the drive. Oh yes, you read that right...we are driving the 18 hours to Houston. My spending freeze had lessons that extended well beyond shopping. We just couldn't justify the $1,000 travel cost, and since Matt has a hybrid, we'll spend just a tiny fraction of that. So we're armed with lots of snacks, caffenated beverages, and books on CD. Let's hope we survive :)

PS: I'm guest posting over at Lindsay's blog today, sharing my Christmas Happy Lately List. Pop over and come say hi!

Ignore

2011-12-19T22:04:00.001-06:00

At 6:00 pm today, I gave up. I was done. No more energy, no more organized thoughts. My brain was a fizzled mess. Though I had a stack of paperwork teetering on the corner of my desk, a million student files to close, and a to do list longer than Santa's naughty list, I called it a day. I packed up my bag, turned out my office lights, and locked my door. I took a big sigh, acknowledged that I was leaving a ton undone, and walked out to my car. And then, just as a got to my car, I thought, I am choosing to be done. Choosing to ignore all the unfinished things, choosing to be okay with a mile long January to do list. Choosing to embrace a break. Because today, at 6:00 pm, my winter break started, and I couldn't be more thrilled. So I'm choosing to ignore things, instead shouting "hell yeah" for two weeks of no work. And that feeling is defiinitely worth ignoring a few things for!

PS: Have you entered the Stella & Dot giveaway? There are just a few short hours left, and its super easy to enter. Go go go!

Ann Taylor Christmas Fun

2011-12-15T22:45:00.001-06:00

Most of you know that last year, during the year between me completing my coursework and starting my internship, I had a blast working retail. I stayed mum about the retailer for most of year, but when a trip to New York came about, I spilled the beans. I loved my year working for Ann Taylor, and I'm lucky enough to have a boss that lets me work seasonly if I want to. (Weird fact about me: I love working retail on Black Friday and through the holiday season; the madness is energizing!) I loved my year with Ann, but more than the clothes or the clients, I loved my coworkers. They became my Chicago family, particularly since I started at the store two days after our moving truck pulled into Chicago. Though I'm two hours away during the week, I still try to see the AT girls when I'm home on the weekends. Two weeks ago, one of the girls hosted the store Christmas party, and it was so fun to get together and get crazy again. It made me realize how much I miss them!

Our big happy AT family! PS: we did a gift exchange at the party, and the gift I brought was that cute leopard cape on Kathy in the front. I really wanted one for myself, but I showed restraint and stuck with the one :)

I'm not sure I could ever have a white Christmas tree, but Kasombra's tree was so pretty; I loved it!

Pretty sure Matt snapped this picture as my gift was "stolen" away from me. I had initially scored a super cute bracelet, but I knew it wasn't going to last. Someone snatched it up, which allowed me to "steal" a Starbucks gift card. Perfect considering my recent ban on Starbucks!

Terri and Kathy, two of my very favorite people in the whole world! My AT family has taken such good care of me, even as I've moved on to finish my Ph.D. I am forever grateful for them and so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of women!

PS: Not sure if you remember the dress I wore in AT's runway show, but it's finally in stores (see it here). It's been so fun to see it in the window displays and to think I wore it before anyone else! By the way, a little birdie in New York told me that this was Demi Moore's favorite dress from the campaign she shot!

Also, DON'T FORGET TO ENTIRE MY CURRENT STELLA & DOT GIVEAWAY! You could win the fabulous "On the Mark" necklace for taking about ten seconds out of your day to enter. Go do it now; it'll be the perfect way to perk up your weekend!

If You Need a Laugh

2011-12-13T23:08:00.001-06:00

Please stop whatever you are doing right now and watch this video. I am certain you will be overcome with laughter and that your day will improve. Trust me. I've seen it four times and still can't stop laughing. LOVE IT.

Ok, be honest, did that not just seriously make your day a whole lot better? :)

PS: little blonde girl at the 1:40 mark, you are adorable beyond words.

Stella and Dot GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-12T23:00:00.001-06:00

Today I am thrilled to be hosting a delightful giveaway, and just in time for the holidays! The fabulousness of Stella & Dot is no secret; they have taken the girly world by storm and have most of us catching our breath at our computers. I love that they do big, bold baubles and super, sweet delicates; you simply can't go wrong. And today, I am so excited to share a giveaway, hosted by Sara Michael, an independent stylist for Stella & Dot.

Sara is an Oklahoma based Stella & Dot stylist, whose first love is being a mom to two insanely cute little boys, Canon and Crew. (Ya'll know I'm not exactly on the baby train, but oh my goodness, her little ones are literally the cutest kids I've ever seen! Seriously, they're crazy adorable.) Sara and I actually know each other from our OU Kappa days, and I have to admit, Sara has always been one of those girls that looks cute no matter what. For reals. When you live with 96 girls, you see it all, and I kid you not, I've never seen the girl not looking anything but adorable. She is beautiful on the inside and out, which makes her a perfect fit for Stella & Dot. She has been able to focus on being a mommy while still sharing her super chic style with girls everywhere. Everytime I creep on her Facebook, I instantly want every Stella & Dot bauble!

Sara is offering one lucky Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles reader the "On the Mark" necklace, which I am obsessed with! Simple enough for every day, yet chic enough to make a statement. To enter...

1. Visit and like Sara's Facebook page and leave her a wall post letting her know what your favorite Stella & Dot piece is.

2. Then come back here and comment below, telling me something you like or want to see more of on my little blog. I like to know what keeps my readers happy :)
*You must do both steps to be entered in the giveaway.

But wait, that's not all! Anyone who orders from Sara through my online trunk show will be entered to win a pair of soiree studs. Score! Annnnd...if you sign up to host a trunk show or be a Stella & Dot stylist through her, you get $75 in free jewelry. (Umm, yes please!) If you don't live in Oklahoma, don't worry, because Sara travels up to five hours outside of Edmond, Oklahoma to host shows. Five hours! So if you're in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas and have been wanting to host a girls night, this is your perfect chance. And you'll get free jewelry, woo hoo!

To shop with Sara, visit her Stella & Dot site and browse till your bling loving heart is content. When you're ready to check out, you'll be prompted to create a log in. Once you do that, it will take you to the page below, asking if you were invited to a trunk show. Choose Allison Davis from the drop down menu, complete the rest of your check out process, and you'll instantly be entered for a chance to win a pair of soiree studs, courtesy of Sara.

I've got a few people left to shop for, and I know I'll be the favorite gift giver with anything Stella & Dot. (And since I've been a good girl this year, I'm hoping Santa will deliver a little something Stella & Dot in my stocking!) As soon as I can persuade Sara to head up to Chicago (a little outside her five hour range), I'm gonna host a trunk show of my own. But until then, I'm hosting blogstyle and hoping someone very special wins this giveaway. The "On the Mark" necklace is the perfect thing to sweeten up this holiday season!

Entries will be accepted through Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm. A big thanks to Sara for hosting this fabulous giveaway and for being so dang chic and inspiring!

Insta-Weekend

2011-12-11T21:48:00.001-06:00

*Waking up Friday to the first snow of the season. Hello Midwest winter, do be kind, please :)
*My favorite kind of weekend outfit: a tunic, leggings, and my favorite leather jacket.

*Manicure of the week: OPI's Not Like the Movies.
*We tried a new BBQ spot this weekend. I was hopeful at first, but when the owners said they weren't from Texas, I was skeptical. When I asked for ranch, and they said, "We don't have any ranch," I knew the place was a miss. But the fried pickle spears? They were pretty dang good :)

*So happy I have a husband who can cook. And who looks cute doing it :)
*A Starbucks stop during our Saturday Christmas shopping. Thanks to a gift card from my sister in law, Matt and I were able to enjoy our holiday favorites guilt free. (Thanks Julie!)

*Saturday night we went Christmas party, and I wanted to look festive, but not too overdone. I was smitten with this party dress+motorcycle jacket combo. And the big earrings, a given for this Texas girl. PS: wondering why I have an oatmeal canister in my bathroom? You can read about that here.
*These were an Ann Taylor holiday purchase from last year, and I am so glad I snagged them. They're over the top sparkly and the perfect addition to any outfit this time of year.

So what's the latest and greatest with you? How was your weekend?

Weekend Happenings

2011-12-05T21:28:00.001-06:00

Hey there...sorry for the quiet around these parts. It's almost the end of the semester, which for college students, means its crazy time. And for anyone that works with college students...crazy time. So I've been working late and attempting to be productive in the few hours between work and bed. It's left me feeling a little bit shredded, but luckily this weekend was fairly quiet and peaceful. Here's a little bit of what I enjoyed this weekend...

Taking Friday off work for dentist and doctors appointments, which aren't fun, but since they allowed me an extra day at home with Matt, I can't complain...
Watching a pretty good Netflix thriller...
Snuggling up under a magic blanket with the fireplace snapping...
Indulging in my favorite five year old cereal, Lucky Charms, and purposefully saving a spoonful of marshmallows till the end...
Deep cleaning our house for six hours on Saturday...
(Did I mention we have a one bed/one bath?!)...
Spending an afternoon at Savers scoring some pretty fabulous thrift finds...
Trying a new-to-me OPI color and loving it...
(Though I can't decide what color it really is)...
Listening to Pandora Christmas nonstop...
Celebrating the holiday season with my AT girls (pictures to come soon)...
Scoring big during the gift exchange with a Starbucks gift card...
(Perfect considering Freeze Lesson number 3)...
Finally renting Water for Elephants after reading the book this summer...
(Does Reese Witherspoon ever age?!)...
Solidifying details for an upcoming giveaway...
Whipping up a quick and easy "throw together" dinner inspired by these yummies...
Treating ourselves to after dinner ice cream treats and remembering how much I love Drumsticks...
Talking about Christmas plans and realizing we'll be leaving for Texas in just two and a half weeks, eeek!

What were you up to this weekend? Do tell :)

Insta-Sprinkles

2011-11-28T23:48:00.001-06:00

1. Flowers delivered to my office two weeks ago with a note from Matt reading "Congratulations Dr." He's definitely a keeper :) 2. Thrifted silk top with my new favorite Loft scarf {available here} 3. White bean and chicken chili {recipe here} 4. It's almost winter in Chicago, which means a trip to stock up on firewood. Dear Winter, please be kind.

One of my favorite nooks in our house, ready for dinner with friends, and complete with a dinner menu for the night {apple cinnamon cake recipe here} 6. A movie date with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 7. Nerd alert: I got in the spirit by wearing authentic Harry Potter glasses, courtesy of dollar store sunglasses with the lenses popped out. I'm mature, I promise. 8. Homemade smores treats, so yummy!

9. Our office hosted Operation Beautiful last week on campus, and this was one of my favorite messages given out to students. 10. A trip to the dentist, aka the most horrible place on Earth! 11. Baklava at a local Greek restaurant. 12. Cute turkey cookie for the few staff members who worked through most of Thanksgiving break. Almost too cute to eat. Almost :)

13. Our first fire of the season! 14. Last weekend, Matt and I drove to Ohio to be with my grandmother as she had heart surgery, and we had the most amazing salad ever at Northstar Cafe. (She is doing better now FYI!) 15. My fabulous Black Friday purchase from Talbots. I don't know why this gold puffy vest spoke to me, but it did, and I love it. I feel like Missy Elliott in Supa Dupa Fly meets Real Housewives of Orange County lol. (PS: Don't lie, that Missy video is an old school classic and you're secretly going to jam out all day at your desk.) 16. Pandora Christmas, a permanent fixture in my office and house for the next 27 days. Heck yes.

Thanksgiving Snaps

2011-11-27T18:24:00.001-06:00

I wasn't very diligent with picture taking on Thanksgiving, as I had my mind on other important things (i.e. mashed potatoes, returning for a second helping of pie, etc.), but nonetheless, I managed to snap a few pictures of our day.

Our lovely Thanksgiving hostess, two years in a row (see last year here). Terri was one of my bosses at AT, and she and her family have been so good to Matt and I since we've been in Chicago. They have hosted us for almost every holiday since we've been here, including two Thanksgivings, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and Easter. I told you they were wonderful. And Terri's cooking? Oh my goodness, it's insane.

Quick pic of my Thanksgiving outfit, which had two requirements: stretchy pants and a top that will conceal 13 helpings of mashed potatoes. PS: A few weeks ago, I was craving some oversized, chunky sweaters, and as a Texan, I had only two in my closet. So I snagged this one during Loft's Friends and Family sale a few weeks ago. (It was one of the four items I mentioned in my recent spending freeze post.) And I couldn't be happier with the almost-Snuggie-but-still-a-little-chic oversized look. Mashed potatoes here I come :)

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft {here}
Leggings: Ann Taylor
Brooch: vintage from my grandma
Tee: the Gap
Ring: David Yurman

Closeup of my greyhound brooch and my mixed metallic manicure (OPI Glitzerland and Ulta Chic Peek).

A very festive table with a few plates already missing, let the feast begin!

Getting to spend life with this guy is a big reason I am thankful, this week and always.

How was your Thanksgiving? If you did a Thanksgiving post, please leave a link in the comment section so I can come take a peek at your celebration! Tomorrow it's back to work, and I have a feeling this week is going to feel crazy long after having a few days off. But I'm counting down, because the Christmas season is here, and I get to see my family in less than a month. Eeek, I can't wait!

Thankful

2011-11-24T22:11:00.001-06:00

{via Amanda Catherine Designs}

We just arrived home from a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Matt and I stayed in Chicago this year, so though we were apart from our families, we were so blessed to share a table with dear friends who have become our sort of adopted family here. We left with full bellies and grateful hearts, for we are so very blessed. Here are a few of the things I'm giving thanks for this special day...

a husband that loves me...
parents who support me...
a brother that inspires me...
a job that fulfills me...
friends that get me...
a home that protects me...
students that challenge me...
a chicago family that has adopted me...
a church that nourishes me...
a blog that expresses me...
men and women fighting to defend freedom for me...
a fireplace that warms me...
extended family who care for me...
a spending freeze that saved me...
stretchy pants that forgive me...

Today and everyday, I strive to be thankful. I have so much love in my life, so many blessings around me, and I am grateful for a day that reminds me to focus diligently on these. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. May we all continue to be thankful this week and always.

Happy Lately List

2011-11-23T07:37:00.001-06:00

{via pinterest}

Today I am excited to be sharing Shelby's Happy Lately List with yall! (And if I can add just one little happy lately fact for me, it's that I am heading back to Chicago late this afternoon for four whole days with Matt, woo hoo!) Ok, enough of me, on to Shelby :)

Bringing out my fun leather bomber jacket for fall...
Using the fireplace finally! (love that I can start a fire by flipping a switch!)...
Country Music Awards last week – love listening to Brad, Carrie, Kenny and Jason...
Thinking of Christmas ideas, gifts, and décor inspiration via pinterest...
Peppermint hot chocolate in red cups...
The heart of college football season! Go Ducks!...
Psalm 118:24...
Getting recognized for hard efforts at work...
Rediscovering necklaces and bracelets that have been in serious hibernation in my jewelry box...
Knit scarves and boots...
Fun sparkly manicures...
Surprise date night from husband...

Remember, if you want your Happy Lately List featured on this here blog, just shoot me an email, and we'll make it happen. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and whatever table you're gathered around this year, may it be full of conversation, laughter, and of love.

The September Spending Freeze: Lessons Learned

2011-11-22T08:15:00.001-06:00

{via pinterest}

It's been a month and a half since the end of my September Spending Freeze. My month of "no spending" came and went, and since that last day in September, I haven't talked too much about what I gained from the Freeze. However, I haven't forgotten the Freeze, or the lessons I learned along the way. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I've been doing a lot of thinking, some of which was prompted by a friend's question of "So now that September is over, are you just going to go back to spending like you used to?" My initial answer, "Of course not," was soon followed with some self-reflection about what would change following my month of no spending. I realized I needed to redefine my spending style, nailing down what needs continued attention and effort when it comes to spending. So here are the highlights of my Freeze, as well as the biggest lessons learned along the way.

1. I spend entirely too much on clothes. This is without a doubt, the biggest and most uncessary source of spending in my life. I won't act totally surprised, I knew I was shopping a bit more than I should have been, but when I crunched the numbers and saw just how much I was spending, I was astonished. It was literally sickening to see how much I was spending on clothes and accessories. I wish I could pretend it was a top here, a dress there, and a cute scarf every now and then. But it wasn't. It was out of control. This part of my spending absolutely has to change. I cannot claim to be a responsible adult and continue to spend so much of our income on clothes. I can't, and I won't.

2. I don't wear the things I love nearly enough. One day in September, I wore one of my very favorite things to work (hint: this orange sweater.) By 10:00 am, I'd gotten more than a handful of comments about the sweater and how great it looked, followed by a comment from one of my coworkers, "Is that new?" "Nope," I replied. "I've had it for a while." The minute the words left my lips, I realized something. This is one of my very favorite things from my closet, yet I've worn it one time in six weeks (and still haven't worn it since). How is that possible? I realized it's because I have a lot that I love hanging in my closet, so much so that I only wear it once or twice a season. And I realized how insane this was. Why buy another gold statement necklace when I don't wear the three I have nearly enough? Why look for a second leopard button up when I've only worn the one I love twice this fall? Somewhere along the way, we've gotten the message that new is better, and it's simply not true. I need to wear what I love and if that's not happening, then I need to get real with myself and realize it's because I have entirely too much.

3. $5 lattes are insane. This lesson isn't a shocker, and I'm betting most of you learned this long ago. I did too, really, but I pushed it aside, trying to convince myself it was okay. It's not, not for me anyway. I'm sitting on a giant pile of Ph.D student debt, and its insane to be shelling out $25 a week on coffee. (Sidenote, that's $100 a month; $1200 a year. On coffee!) That is just crazy, crazy, crazy, and I can't do it. I've left myself a little bit of room by allowing Starbucks when we travel and some Monday mornings when I make the two hour commute back from Chicago, but that's pretty much it. Until my next trip, goodbye grande soy sugar-free caramel latte.

4. Preparing for the grocery store and being a bit more flexible can save me a lot. I've mentioned my awe for the extreme couponers before. Getting all those goodies for close to free, who wouldn't be impressed? And while I don't take near as an extreme approach, I have learned the value of grocery deals and steals as well as how to shop with an eagle eye. Since we don't get a Sunday paper, I skip on clipping coupons, and instead use the online program offered by Dominicks. By using a combination of their digital coupons, personalized offers, and deal matches, Matt and I have been able to save 25-50% on our grocery visits. Not bad for an extra 30 minutes of prep work before a trip to the store and some extra diligence while shopping the aisles.

5. Accountability is key. The dedicated work out people and the bible study regulars have known the value of this lesson for a long time, so I'm clearly a slowpoke for just now catching on. It's true; having people know your goals helps you stick to them. Plain and simple. When I wanted to cheat, I thought about this blog and the people who knew about my challenge. That snapped me back real quick. Enlist the support of people close to you: friends, family, coworkers, etc. You'll be surprised how much it helps.

6. The ordinary can become extraordinary with just a few details. The no dining out rule was a bit challenging for us, especially living in such a fun foodie city. I like the experience of dining out, the atmosphere, the music, the fun cocktails, the ability to try new things. And while these are all fabulous at restaurants, they're also fabulous at home. A Sunday lunch at home is suddenly spruced up when you pack it in a basket and take it across the street to the park, An easy at home pasta is a bit more fancy with candlesticks and a bottle of wine (even if it is 2 buck Chuck.) We've got the ability to make things more special; it just takes a bit more tweaking. Read more about the power of recreating here.

7. Wanting something does not mean I need something. Nor does it mean I deserve it. I had this little ephinany halfway through the freeze, and its one of the most powerful things to come out of my spending freeze. There is a big difference between my wants and needs. I have to remind myself of this on a weekly basis, and whenever I'm feeling particularly entitled, I reread this. Major lightbulb moment for me.

Now let me be clear that in no way am I all of a sudden a spending expert. Even with these lessons, I still find myself wandering into stores, tempted beyond belief. And while I've gotten better at handling that temptation, I'm not perfect. Since the Freeze, I've purchased 4 articles of clothing, and though I tried to reason myself out of buying those pieces, I didn't quite succeed. But I'm getting better, one temptation at a time. Each time I say no to myself, to Starbucks, to my online email offers, I can feel myself getting a little a bit stronger. Another thing that's gotten stronger? Our bank account. The freeze and the lessons learned have drastically changed our spending and in turn, our bank account. We're still sitting on a big old pile of Ph.D debt, and that will take us years to work through. But we're plugging away, doing much better than before. And that would not have happened without the Freeze. If you are at all wanting to take a look at or revamp your spending style, I highly suggest doing a spending freeze. I promise, if you stick with it, it will change how you spend and how you see your bank account.

So for those of you who participated in the Freeze, what did you learn? And for those of you who didn't, do you think you would learn anything from a month of essential only spending?

Dissertation Celebration Part 2: OU

2011-11-21T12:59:00.001-06:00

I'm back with the second part of my disseration celebration weekend. And before I get going, I want to express another big thank you to yall for your kind words of support and congratulations. Defending felt awesome, but getting cheers and virtual high fives from your blogger friends, well, that makes me feel even better :)

As I mentioned in my last post, the timing of my defense was quite crafty. I knew Dad's Day Weekend at OU was the first weekend in November, and ever since I was a student there, my whole family would come up for both Dad's Day and Mom's Day. So now that my little brother is an official Sooner, I thought I'd get in on the family tradition and crash the visit. And I'm so glad I did. Seeing Ryan in his new environment was beyond delightful. He seemed so grown up, so calm, and so well adjusted. My brother is lightyears ahead of where I was at that age, and I'm so very proud of him.

Whenever I visit Norman, I always make a point to stop by and see my old boss, Andy. He recruited me to be a Sooner and later recruited me to work in his office. He was a huge influence on my years at OU, and I can't pass up a chance to stop by and see him and the rest of the PSS gang.

Nothing making me happier than walking on campus, with my family, preparing for the craziness of gameday. Seriously, there are few things in life that measure up to that feeling.

When Matt and I first started dating, I always thought it was a little weird that he didn't know my OU world. The craziness, the magic...I was a little nervous he wouldn't be able to get just how much this place means to me. But after his first visit two years ago, he quickly caught on, and it's so fun to have him share the OU experience not just with me, but also with Ryan.

As we were walking through campus, Matt scurried ahead to snap this pic. Oh how he loves Cameron :)

Gameday started off early Saturday with a trip to my little brother's fraternity house for a Dad's Day BBQ and then to campus corner for some tailgaiting. And there's no one I like tailgating with more than this crazy girl. Jacque is one of my dearest friends from college, and I don't get to see her nearly enough!

I also got to see little Kelby, one of my sweet KKG sisters. You know those people you haven't seen in years, and when you hug them, you literally think, "Omg, its SO good to see you!" Kelby is one of those people.

And of course, we had to be those girls...representing our old school Kappa love :)

It's official. My life would be boring and sad without this guy. I'm certain of it.

Family pic and definite Christmas card contender. Since we're all rarely together, getting a family picture was my mom's main goal of the weekend.

Gametime woohoo! PS: it's so funny to go back through the college and see it through the eyes of a dude. Such a diffferent experience lol. And yes, I realize I'm not really "going back through college," but given the fact that I'm an overbearing, creepster big sister, it kinda feels like it :)

A sea of crimson and cream always looks good to me.

The student section was full of these reversible roll out banners with BOOMER on one side, SOONER on the other. We entertained ourselves for a good twenty minutes coming up with different word possibilities. This one was obvious after A&M's first touchdown.

Another bonus of the trip, getting to see my dear friend Quy. Quy and I were on homecoming court together our senior year and became quick friends. He's now a big time VIP, advising the biggest student group on campus. I literally could sit and talk with him all day. Love me some Quy :)

Getting to spend the weekend with my whole family in a place that means so much to me was the best end to my celebration. My love for OU is pretty insane, but now that Ryan is there, it's even crazier. I miss the little dude so much, and I'm already counting down the days till Christmas when we'll get to see each other next.

So now that the celebrating is over, I'm working to crank out the final edits and official copyedit stuff. I can't believe I'm so close to being D-O-N-E with the craziness that has been this Ph.D journey! PS: I hope everyone is getting to enjoy a short week, with Thanksgiving on Thursday. Most students are gone, which means I can finally tackle the mound of paperwork sitting on my desk. Have a wonderful week, friends!

Dissertation Celebration: Part 1

2011-11-15T22:59:00.001-06:00

By now, I'm sure you're sick of hearing me talk about my dissertation defense. And to that, I say "too bad." :) I worked for a looooong time on that dang thing, so you better believe I'm going to revel in the excitement of being done. I was pretty creative in the scheduling of my defense, which allowed me to squeeze in some extra friends and family time. Here are a few snapshots from the big day, with more pictures of the long weekend coming later this week...

This was me and my anxious self an hour before the defense. My old boss and dear friend Jenny let Matt and I hole up in her office prior to the big to-do, and I kept vacillating between my presentation and my i-Phone, reading all the sweet and thoughtful texts coming in from friends and family. (Have I ever mentioned that I have the best friends and family in the whole wide world?)

Two hours later...DEFENDED! This is me with my chair and advisor, Dr. Castillo. I meant what I said in my dedication, when I said that she has been an incredible source of support through this project. I'm not sure I could have made it without her.

Immediately after my defense, my parents (who were waiting anxiously on campus but not in the room), Matt, and I headed straight to Dallas to celebrate with my friends and family. It was SO wonderful to be able to celebrate with most of my best friends and family in one place. It felt like a mini repeat of Matt and I's wedding; all the people we love in one place at one time! There were several times I looked around the table, from my parents, to Matt, to my friends, thinking, "I want to hold onto this moment forever." It was that special.

These girls are pretty incredible, and its funny to think that we all met in sequins and cowboy hats. (Thank you CHS drillteam!) I love them so much and was extra excited to meet Kendall's baby bump.

The next day, we headed up I-35 to Norman, Oklahoma where to we got to see this little guy. The cherry on top of my celebration! Naturally, I took a bazillion pictures while at OU, so I'm going to post those later in the week. Looking back through all of these pictures and remembering the weekend, makes me all warm and fuzzy inside again. The only thing better than defending was being able to share it with my dear family and friends :)

Hope you're having a fabulous day. It's almost mid-week; hang in there!

Happy Lately List

2011-11-11T00:07:00.001-06:00

{via pinterest}

It's been forever since I've done a happy lately list. And since it's officially Friday and one step closer to Thanksgiving break, I figured today was the perfect time celebrate the small stuff!

The fact that my DIY manicures are finally getting legit...
Beyonce's "Girls Run the World." My pump me up/get me through the day song...
This chunky, fuchsia infinity scarf I scored from The Loft. (40% with friends and family going on!)...
Snagging tickets to see The Nutcracker the weekend before Christmas. I haven't been the past few years, and I think Matt was getting sick of my whining...
Finally downloading Ellie Goulding's album and having Lollapalooza flashbacks...
Manly flannel shirts...
Breaking out the extra blankets for winter. Beds are so much cozier when they're stacked with blankets...
Getting flowers at work from my sweet husband...
This belt tying tutorial. Perfect for my trench coat which has been an everyday thing the past two weeks...
It's Friday. Enough said...
Looking forward to Thanksgiving break. 4 whole days with Matt, heck yes...
Crockpot dinners, the lazy girl's guide to warm and cozy weeknight meals...
Tights and cable knit boot socks...
Defending my dissertation, booyah! (You didn't think I'd be sick of saying that by now, did you?)...
Harry Potter comes out on DVD today. Hell yes. Date night planned...

What's making you happy today? PS: I want to get back in the habit of posting readers' happy lately lists. So if you wanna make a list of your own and email to me, I'll do my best to feature here on this little blog! Happy weekend yall!

The Art of Layering

2011-11-08T20:42:00.001-06:00

This season has been a big one for me. After a year and a half of living in Chicago, I'm finally learning to be prepared for the weather. (A big accomplishment, I assure you!) Several occasions this fall, Matt and I have ventured outside, and each time I've been surprised to realize I was wearing just the right thing. And the answer hasn't been a heavier coat or thick wooly socks. I'm attributing this achievement to layering, a complicated art that I'm just beginning to master. In Texas, we work in two layers...light cotton dress or naked. Thankfully, Midwesterners have several more layers to their wardrobes, and to be honest, I'm starting to dig the extra options.

Jacket: Nordstrom
Cardigan: Gap {similar here}
Long-sleeved tee: Ann Taylor {similar here}
Jeans: J.Crew
Scarf: Ann Taylor {similar here}
Boots: Burberry {here}
Earrings: gifted from a friend

I swear by Ann Taylor's long-sleeve knit tees. I have quite the stockpile, and I wear them all.the.time I love them because I can layer them under a cardigan or blazer for a more casual look or with a pencil skirt and statement necklace for work. I literally have to force myself not to buy them in every single color. I love them that much! I also rarely leave the house without a scarf these days. It's an easy layer that takes about 2 seconds to add. How can you go wrong with a 2 second layer? So now that my layering secret is out, I'm curious; what's your secret to the art of layering?

Insta-Sprinkles

2011-11-07T21:35:00.001-06:00

1. My latest read 2. Breakfast at Blueberry Hill 3. My favorite beer (and the only one I drink!) 4. Impromptu picnic at the park

5. Beatles spray painting on campus 6. Our simple yet delicious dinner with goodies from this trip 7. A brand new box of crayons snagged for this project. Seriously, is anything better than a brand new box of crayons? 8. A red velvet birthday cupcake for a fellow intern

9. Manicure of the week (Essie Pop Art Pink with OPI Rainbow Connection from the new Muppets Collection...love!) 10. A fun surprise from a coworker following a presentation I gave last week 11. The beautiful OU Kappa house which I got see this past weekend visiting my brother at school. His fraternity house is right across the street! 12. The coffee mug that got me through my dissertation defense :)

Defended

2011-11-05T08:23:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

Thursday afternoon at 3:10, I got the official word. I passed. I freaking passed my dissertation defense. I never thought I'd see the day. Though I was insanely anxious in the hours leading up to my defense, I felt the weirdest sense of calm come over me a few minutes before I started. (I completely attribute this to all the prayers and positive thoughts people were sending my way.) I won't lie, there was an intense amount of anxiety as the committee deliberated and I stood out in the hallway, but when my chair came out with a handshake and "Congratulations, Doctor," I almost couldn't believe it. I did it.

This whole thing has been a crazy ride. There have been so many ups and downs, it's hard to believe I'm this close to being done. As the hours have passed since Thursday, it's started to sink in more and more, and as I've celebrated with friends and family, it's begun to seem more real. I did it; I really did it. But I didn't do this whole thing alone, I had an insane amount of love and support from friends and family, and because of that, I wanted to share the dedication portion of my dissertation. It was by far the best part of the paper to write, and I've reread it a thousand times, giving thanks for the people who helped get me through. A big thanks also goes out to all of my blog readers who have sent words of support and encouragement along the way. However small they seemed to you, they meant the world to me!

This dissertation has been an incredible labor of energy and determination. Though my name is printed on the title page, many more deserve to have their names listed there, as this project wouldnot have happened without the love and support of so many. I want to first thank my husband, Matt, for his unending support and guidance. You are my partner in both personal and professional pursuits, and I am continually inspired and blessed by your love and desire for us to dream big. To my parents, who have provided me with unlimited opportunity and support. You have always encouraged me to follow my heart, staying close beside me for moments when I feared and wondered, “Can I really do this?” Without your guidance and love, I would be lost. To my brother Ryan, one of the biggest influences on my life, thank you for inspiring me in ways you will never know. You motivate me to step outside my comfort zone and embrace life for all it has to offer. To my friends and extended family, I am so grateful for your encouragement and influence over the course of my life. Even when I am unsure of what I need, you know my heart and remind me of what matters most. I am beyond grateful.

Thank you to Dr. Castillo, who in many ways, has been an unexpected but incredible source of support through this process. You believed in me when it seemed no one else did, and I cannot thank you enough for your ability to both challenge and support me, a balance that is always difficult to find. Thank you to my committee members, for your guidance and support during this project. Lastly, thank you to my Access family, who has been a continual source of inspiration and support for the past five years. You have been a safe haven in the face of sometimes daunting obstacles, and I am forever grateful for the impact you had on my personal and professional development.

I'm off to soak up the rest of the weekend and celebrate until I'm blue in the face. I've whispered to Matt at least ten times since Thursday, "I defended my dissertation," and I can't help but smile each time I say it. This whole thing is living proof that with a whole lot of hard work and determination, even the impossible is possible!

Go

2011-11-02T15:11:00.001-05:00

{via wax paper design}

Sorry for the silence around here this week; I've been busy putting the finishing details on my dissertation defense. I'm currently at the airport, waiting to fly back to Texas to defend a project that has almost consumed the last several years of my life. Sitting at the gate, I'm a weird combination of insanely nervous, semi-excited, and if I'm honest, slightly terrified. My defense is tomorrow at 1:30, so if you believe in the power of prayer, positive vibes, affirmations, meditation, or anything else...please send a little my way :) Until then, I'm trying to take deep breaths and remind myself that this is a moment I've dreamed of for a very long time...

A Fall Day at the Beach

2011-10-26T23:47:00.001-05:00

Two weekends ago, after our morning at the apple orchard, Matt and I were feeling adventurous. We'd made the almost 3 hour drive to Michigan, and we felt a little silly heading back to Chicago with so much of the afternoon left. So as we paid for our bags of apples, I asked the man behind the counter, "What else is there to do around here?" He looked a little confused at first, but after I explained we had some time to explore, he suggested we head to the beach. He warned it would be windy, but assured us that we wouldn't complain once we saw the view. And boy was he right. It was BEAUTIFUL!

We headed to the small beach town of St. Joseph and found out we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. I think there is something really special about exploring something during its "offseason." Even when most people have packed up their umbrellas and beach towels, there's still so much beauty to discover.

It was crazy windy, and the waves were rolling in, but I couldn't stay out of the water! I was so thankful I had my wellies on so I could splash around and have a little fun.

Isn't it divine? Cameron did a great job at capturing the moment; I feel like I can still hear the grass blowing in the breeze.

Matt and I must have stood in this spot for almost an hour. He'd wander off to take a few pictures, I'd wade out in the water, often squealing at how high the waves were getting. I'd get lost in the moment, only to turn and see my man, bent down, taking pictures of some tiny beach detail. It was so serene and comforting, just the two of us.

Eventually we ventured out on this narrow pier where we ran into a local who said he hadn't seen the waves so big in years. We stood there for while, dodging right and left as waves rolled in, crashing over the railings. It was so simple, yet so fun. And with Matt and I spending Monday-Friday apart, days like these are even more special.

I've been whining for a beach vacation since our honeymoon, and though this wasn't quite what I had in mind, I milked it for all it was worth. Cheesy sand writing and all :)

Just like a postcard!

After trying our hand at being beach explorers, we headed to Silver Beach Pizza for some dinner. The restaurant was housed in the historic train station and had the yummiest pizza I've had in a long time! The crust was perfect, not quite Chicago deep dish, but not quite thin. A big accomplishment in my eyes.

We sat in their enclosed patio, which offered perfect views of the water, but the right amount of protection from the wind. Did I mention I loved the pizza? :)

I'm so glad we asked the man at the orchard what was nearby and took the time to explore. We often get so caught up in life's to do list, that we miss out on unexpected surprises. And this little beach trip was certainly one I'll remember for a very long time!

PS: My blog got a ton of hits today, but my statcounter is acting up and won't tell me where people are coming from. If you're new here or were referred from another blog/site, will you please leave comment letting me know how you got here? Pretty please? Thanks :)

The Impossible

2011-10-24T22:28:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

Five years ago, when I started my Ph.D program, a dissertation sounded impossible. It seemed so big, so vague, and so out of reach. Two years after that, I got started and realized just how incredibly hard and overwhelming it was. It was hard to even know where to begin; it seemed impossible. A year after that I faced a huge obstacle, and suddenly, it seemed like my academic world was crumbling around me. I was emotionally drained and defeated; I was sure I couldn't go on. It felt impossible. Since then, I've had multiple moments where I sat at my computer, sometimes swearing, sometimes crying, burying my face in my hands, thinking, "I can't do this anymore; its impossible, I give up!" But a week from Thursday, I'm defending my disseration. Defending the project I swore was impossible, the project I was sure I'd never ever finish. It's here, its almost done, and suddenly, I'm realizing its not so impossible after all. Somehow, in those moments of impossible, I found a way to press through. Sometimes because I forced myself to, but usually because I had a loving group of people standing beside me, saying "You can do it. We believe in you." Between Matt, my parents, my brother, and my dear friends, I found just enough energy to keep going. And suddenly the impossible is possible.

Thinking about this journey and how close I am, makes me reflect on the things in my life I'm currently finding "impossible," the things I'm currently swearing I won't survive. As daunting as they feel, as overwhelming as they seem, I've realized today that I've got history on my side. Things have seemed impossible before, yet I've managed to survive and overcome. With a little bit of hope and courage, and a lot of support from those closest to us, even the overwhelming is doable. So today, I'm challenging us to take a closer look at our lives and realize that we can do it; we can make it. The impossible is possible after all.

Photography Bootcamp

2011-10-23T22:01:00.001-05:00

I'm almost three months into my internship and almost three months into living apart from Matt during the week. Outside of our trips to Texas and NYC, we've been able to spend every weekend together, in Chicago. This means that every single Friday after work, I load up my car and make the 2 hour drive back "home." Besides the weekend we moved me down here, Matt hasn't spent much time in my sleepy little college town. But this weekend, we changed things up, and Matt made the 2 hour weekend commute to visit me. And since there wasn't a single thing on our agenda, Matt came up with a unique challenge for me. Photography bootcamp! (The name was my doing, not his lol.)

Ever since we got Cameron, we've been taking her almost everywhere. And about 90% of the time, she's around Matt's neck. Matt's had a fancy camera before and has some beautiful shots that he took in his high school and college days. (You remember, when people still used film.) I was content just snapping a quick pic here and there, but thankfully, Matt came up with a fun way to get me more acquainted with Cameron and photography in general. Before we left the house on Saturday morning, Matt gave me a list of things to shoot: lines, pattern, color, depth, texture, etc. The result was a lovely afternoon, spent doing nothing but wandering and clicking away. I didn't quite get all of the things on my bootcamp list, but I got a good start and thought I'd show you my homework :)

Pattern
Downtown street grate

Color
Lettuce at the local farmer's market

Shape
Potatoes at the local farmer's market

Height
Center of downtown

Depth
Flowers outside a local spa

Texture
Ivy covered wall

Lines
Historic brick building

Monochrome
Flowers outside our lunch spot

I was actually pretty pleased with myself for my first round of photography bootcamp. I took a ton of pictures (some worked, some didn't) and got over my habit of constantly handing the camera over the Matt. We managed to snap a few more pictures during our outing that didn't count as homework, but nonetheless, captured the spirit of the day...

Both Matt and I left the market wondering why we don't make it a point to visit farmers' markets more often. You can't go wrong when its yummier, cheaper, and local. And the weather this weekend couldn't have been more perfect!

The weekends have a whole new meaning for us now, and we literally try to soak up every single second we have together. And ps: don't be jealous of my hair; it took me eight hours to get it looking like this, ha!

Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft
Gingham shirt: American Eagle {on sale here}
Scarf: Urban Outfitters
Jeans: J.Crew
Boots: Macy's (total steal at the end of last winter!)
Sunnies: Nordstrom BP (the best place for cheapies, these were $10!)

This weekend was just one of those lovely, lazy, and wandering weekends that I wish could have gone on forever. But sadly, it didn't, and I'm back to work tomorrow. But Monday is just that much closer to Friday, so I'll take it :) What were you lovelies up to this weekend? Do tell!

Fat Talk Free Week

2011-10-20T00:03:00.001-05:00

This week, as part of my job, I have been working on promoting an international campaign on the college campus where I work. The program, Fat Talk Free Week, is aimed at combating our society's thin ideal and standard of beauty. Its goal is to raise awareness of how our everyday language affects the way women and young girls everywhere view themselves, their bodies, and the world around them. Fat talk is around us every day, and I can't pretend them I'm innocent or immune to it. It's so woven into the fabric of every day life, that its often hard to even detect when we use it. But we do, I do, almost all of us do. But after promoting this campaign and doing what I do every single day (which yes, I know, I'm still vague about), I'm starting to see just how dangerous fat talk is. So I encourage you to watch this video and realize just how destructive our words can be. I'm not perfect, I'm not always good to myself, and I often speak before thinking. But after watching this video a million times and working with college women on a daily basis, I'm trying to be more mindful of my words and the impact they have on me, my friends, my family, the strangers I meet in line, and the daughter I hope to maybe one day have. So this week, I'm making a conscious effort to watch my words and find new things to focus on. Won't you join me?

Crayola Pumpkin

2011-10-19T07:28:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, I used to LOVE carving pumpkins. My whole family would gather around the kitchen table and go to town, drawing funny faces, scooping out pumpkin guts, and baking yummy pumpkin seeds as we went along. So the first year Matt and I were dating, I made a huge deal about carving pumpkins. Annnd...that was the first year I realized I do not in fact love carving pumpkins. Nope, not at all. What I loved was doing the first 10 percent of the pumpkin carving, then running off to leave my dad to do the dirty work, coming back right at the end to squeal, "Isn't my pumpkin perfect?!" (My poor parents, I must have been the biggest pain the butt as a kid.) So since that year, I've been on the lookout for different ways to give pumpkins a good sprucing up, but I'm often hindered by the fact that my craft radar is seriously lacking. (Another thing that typically got passed off to my parents when I was a kid. Remember my kindergarten ocean diorama, Mom and Dad?) But when I saw this DIY Crayola Pumpkin idea on Jenny May's blog, I couldn't help but wonder if I could pull it off. Then my office provided mini pumpkins for us all to decorate, and I couldn't help but think it was a sign from the crafting fairies to give this DIY a try.

And let me tell you...I.FREAKING.LOVE.IT. It's such a fun and unexpected take on pumpkin decorating; I can't help but want to decorate a million more like it. The instructions are super simple and pretty much foolproof. The result? A totally rad and fabulous pumpkin. LOVE.IT.

My Favorite Fall Tradition and an OOTD

2011-10-18T07:26:00.001-05:00

This weekend Matt and I got to do something that I have been looking forward to since this time last year...apple picking! You may remember that as a born and raised Texan, I was totally blown away by the experience last year. It was everything and more that I never knew I missing about fall! So this weekend, Matt and I hopped in the car and headed for one of our favorite spots, the apple orchard. The trip also gave us a perfect excuse to play around with our new camera and see what she was made of.

The minute we turned down the tiny one lane road, I knew this place was going to be special. But when we stepped out of the car, I was blown away. Breathtakingly beautiful!

Our orchard of choice this year was Treemendous Fruit in Eau Claire, Michigan. Last year we visited and loved Jonamac Orchard, and we were planning to go back this year, until Wednesday morning when I visited their website and discovered they were completely out of U-Pick apples! So after a minor panic attack and several frantic Google searches and follow up phone calls, I found out that Treemendous still had lots of apples left to pick. The fact that it was 3 hours away didn't phase us one bit. We were bound and determined to have our long awaited orchard experience!

The orchard was beautiful, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. And I got a chance to wear my red wellies :)

I'd say our new camera child did just fine for her first time out. PS: I forgot to mention in my last post that her name is Cameron :)

Matt used the day to play around with every possible filter and camera setting, and we loved the way the pop art filter made the colors stand out. PS: I'm still loving the DIY glitter manicure!

As much as I LOVE my home state, it just doesn't hold a candle to the midwest when it comes to fall. Now if I could just find a way to import the Texas State Fair and Fletcher's Corny Dogs to the midwest...

I feel like its been forever since I've posted an OOTD! Better late than never right?

Jacket: the Gap
Tunic sweater: Ann Taylor {last seen here}
Striped tee: Ann Taylor {similar here}
Jeans: J.Crew
Scarf: from a London street market
Belt: super old...Gap? Banana?
Sunnies: Oliver Peoples
Ring: David Yurman
Earrings: Matt's wedding day gift to me
Wellies: Town and Country. My mom bought these when my parents lived in the UK, and I swiped them when she got back :)

I wear this scarf at least two times a week; it's getting a little ridiculous. I can't help it; no how many other scarves I have, I always seem to gravitate towards it!

I love this picture, and I love that my mom's bright red wellies were with me on her birthday weekend. Happy birthday, Mom!

I feel like this picture says a lot about my life right now. I'm so blessed, and my life is so colorful and plenty, yet being away from Matt during the week often makes me feel like my journey is on pause, like the rest of my path is off limits. We've been living apart Monday-Friday for my internship for just under 3 months now, and I wish I could say it's getting easier. But it's not. Saying goodbye early Monday morning is getting harder. But we just keep reminding ourselves, this too shall pass. And then, we'll have a bright and exciting path to explore together.

The good ones are always tucked away in the middle, but worth every single tiptoe stretch!

Ok Texas friends, don't lie, you're jealous. It's ok, I don't blame you. You're only missing out on the best season ever :)

I love this dude.

Golden delicious. And yes, the name is dead on accurate.

I'm loving Cameron's grainy filter, so fun!

After spending the afternoon tucked among rows and rows of trees, we walked away with almost 100 apples! The orchard was running a buy one-half bushel, get another half bushel for free, so we said, sure why not? Little did we know the apples would overtake our entire fridge! So for this week, we're both the apple pushers at work, giving anyone and everyone who is hungry an apple :)

The afternoon was magical, and though I'm already looking forward till next year, I'm trying to soak up this year's fun for as long as a can. With me on internship this year, Matt and I's moments together aren't as often as they used to be, so I finding myself working hard to be intentional about living in the moment and enjoying the time we are able to spend together. And this fall day couldn't have been any more special!

So clearly, we love our orchard trips, but I'm curious, what's your favorite fall tradition? Any other orchard lovers out there? PS: check out last year's orchard trip here.

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family

2011-10-16T17:24:00.001-05:00

This week Matt and I welcomed a new member to our family. After months/years of pining after other people's cute cameras, we finally decided to expand and get a little one of our own. We are now the proud parents of an Olympus Pen. Isn't she beautiful? We've had our eye on a fancypants camera for a while, and after months of talk and debate, this little gal was just the right match for us. Most of the fancy and quality of a DSLR, but the ease and portability of a point and shoot. We are in love with our little one and have a feeling our lives will never again be the same. PS: For an extra bonus, we sold both of our other cameras on Ebay, meaning this camera ended up being a steal for us!

We our took our child out for a spin this weekend, and I can't wait to show you how well she did. Our little family of two just got a bit bigger, and we are beyond thrilled. Oh, and for those of you who clicked on this title thinking you'd see a baby sonogram or a cute and furry friend, sorry to disappoint, we're a looong ways from that kind of commitment :)

NYC through Instagram

2011-10-12T21:24:00.001-05:00

I've already posted twice about our NYC trip, but I couldn't resist one last post, showing some of my favorite mini-moments from the trip. And thanks to Instagram, mini moments are just that much more fun to capture!

My first Starbucks inover a month! When I first started the freeze, coffee trips and eating out were one of the first things to go. But knowing we'd be traveling to NYC, I wrote a food exception into my freeze rules for the weekend. If I've gotta grab a meal at the airport, you better believe I'm gonna make sure to work a long lost treat into it!

My beloved gold, wonder woman cuff from Ann Taylor. I first saw this cuff when I walked in AT's fashion show, and I knew then, I'd be loving it all fall. It's definitely my favorite statement piece of jewelry at the moment!

Goodbye Windy City, hello Big Apple!

Walking through Central Park, the prettiest "shortcut" I've ever taken.

Matt embracing his inner New Yorker, weekend paper and all :)

The girls spent Friday afternoon perusing The Met. The building alone is beautiful!

My favorite piece at The Met. I literally could have stood there for an hour looking at this picture. A woman with a perspective, committed to being heard. Past, present, or future, I love it.

A larger than life sweet tooth at Dylan's Candy Bar.

My smart and sassy niece glammed up for the rehearsal dinner. Love her pink hair extension and think it looks much better on her than when she made her uncle Matt try it on :)

Cocktails at the oh so swanky, Mandarin Oriental. A special thank to Matt's aunt for treating us to such a fun night!

Times square. No matter how many times I go to New York, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement at all the hustle and bustle here.

Grabbing a drink at SD26 before the ceremony.

The view from Josh and Anthony's fabulous upper west side apartment. Floor to ceiling windows with a view like this? Yes please!

The lovebirds reading through cards and guestbook comments. Spending Sunday afternoon lounging and putzing around the neighborhood with these two was one of our favorite parts of the weekend.

Congrats again to Josh and Anthony on their new life together and thanks for hosting such a fabulous celebration!

Hair How To: According to Lauren

2011-10-11T21:07:00.001-05:00

Back in August, I posted about getting out of a hair rut, which for me, included a change to a warmer hair color and a move away from long and straight to loose and flowy curls. Getting out of a hair rut also came with an attempt to embrace the middle part. The color change and loose curls have been easy, but embracing the middle part has been a little bit harder. I can't ever quite get the front pieces to frame my face just the way I want. But I love the look, so I've been determined to make it work! And after watching this reader suggested video (thanks Alexandria!) I think I'm finally finding my hair groove. So if you've been coveting celebs' fabulous loose and flowy curls with a middle part, look no further than this quick and easy tutorial by none other than my style icon, Miss Lauren Conrad!

PS: If you have crazy long and thick hair like me, you may have to hold the curling iron in place a little longer than she does. That has seriously helped me, as has holding off on the hairspray till the end (which is different than I described in my last hair how-to!)

Weekend Happenings

2011-10-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

{made by my dear and talented friend, kelsey!}

Sneaking out of work a bit early to head back to Chicago and see Matt...
the highlight of my week!
Trying out the oh so recommended Hopleaf...
and loving that they have the one and only beer I drink.
Meeting a long-time blog friend who was in town to kick ass in the Chicago marathon...
you go Cely!
Sleeping a solid nine hours on Friday night...
and not feeling the least bit guilty.
Cheering on my beloved Sooners who dominated Saturday's big game...
Boomer!
Texting and Facebooking all my Longhorn friends to furiously rub in their embarrassing loss...
I'm such a classy winner.
Loving watching football at Norma's in sweats and no makeup...
and realizing the best kind of friends don't mind if you take a cat nap on their couch.
Reuniting with my AT friends for a fun night out...
and laughing at some of the crazy stories they've collected since my departure.
Spending Sunday morning grocery shopping with Matt...
and realizing it's the ordinary things I miss most while we're apart during the week.
Soaking up the oddly fabulous weekend weather in Chicago...
with what else but an afternoon picnic!
Watching a hot air ballon take off from the park across the street...
and secretly wishing the owners would have offered us a ride.
Snuggling up for a Sunday Red Box...
and realizing Matt Damon can do no wrong in my eyes.

What were you up to this weekend?

Comparison

2011-10-04T20:59:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

I saw this little diddy on Pinterest, and I couldn't help but sigh a big old "amen!" I'm sure I've heard phrases like this before, but after the spending freeze, they have a whole new meaning for me. When I was "doing without," I often found myself gazing at others who were "with" thinking, "man that looks nice." Even when I liked what I had, I still found myself thinking, "what if I had that?" The things I compared ranged from morning coffee, to new nail polishes, to fabulous dresses at the NYC wedding. I soon realized this was a terrible habit and ultimately it was distracting me from the lovely things I already had. I have so many beautiful and wonderful things around me, yet the minute I compare them to someone else's or something I see in a store, I start to forget about how much I love these things. So I'm really trying to be aware of how often I compare my closet to the clothes in the newest fashion pages or how often I long for a Starbucks latte over my homemade morning brew. And in those moments when comparison sneaks in, I'm working hard to remind myself of just how much I love my things, the people around me, and the life that I am so blessed to lead.

PS: I made it to the next round of the Lucky Lifestyle Contributor contest! (They're getting down to fewer and fewer people!) Voting starts completely fresh, so if you've already signed up and voted in previous round, please take a second to click HERE and vote again. And now you can vote AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT! Which means if you want to sit at your computer and click "vote" for five minutes, you totally can lol. Some people have in the thousands of votes, so I've got to catch up!

If you're new and haven't yet voted, click "vote" and then follow the steps to create a log in account. Voting ends next Tuesday, October 11. A big thanks to all you who are voting and supporting me; it means so much!

Instagram Weekend

2011-10-03T22:00:00.001-05:00

I've had the Instagram app on my phone for a while now, but until recently, I wasn't quite sold on it. But lately, I've been addicted, using it as a fun way to capture day to day details. Here's a bit of what I was up to this weekend...

Saturday morning we were up bright and early for a 5K event in Grant Park. And after being in NYC a few weeks ago, I am appreciating Chicago's train system more than ever. Its SO much easier to understand!

Crossing under the bridge near the museum campus. It was the perfect day for a 5K, a little chilly but sunny as could be. PS: Cely I'm praying for similar weekend for you this weekend :)

Our race tags should've probably read .25K run/4.75K walk lol. Both Matt and I were pretty exhausted from a long week, so we took it easy and ignored the fact that the 10K crowd was lapping us!

Clearly, I have the dedication and mindset of a true runner :)

After the run, we went to meet up with my sister and her friend who were visiting Chicago for the weekend. They were staying at the ever so gorgeous Palmer House hotel. Matt and I have stayed here several times (including my match day celebration), and I'm always mesmerized by the lobby ceiling. Breathtaking!

Posing with my sister and Matt after a yummy brunch at Yolk. Matt and I went straight from the race to breakfast, so please excuse the random get up. Though this may be the one and only time in my sister's and I's lives where she was more dressed up than me :)

Ever wonder how the windows of all those downtown Chicago buildings get washed? Check out all those men waaaay up top. No balconies, no platforms, just a bucket, a squeegee, and some rope. CRAZY!

So even though this picture is the most boring, it's definitely the most exciting part of my weekend. Because guess what? I SUBMITTED THE FINAL VERSION OF MY DISSERTATION THIS WEEKEND! Can you believe it? All that work, all that energy, all those tears...wrapped up into a paper and emailed off to my committee for them to read before my defense. Best feeling EVER!

So of course after I hit the "send" button, Matt and I celebrated with a big old ice cream sundae. And if you're thinking, "Wow, that girl looks slightly delirious..." you would be correct. Exhausted but totally thrilled, a crazy combination!

So that's it around these parts...what's new with you?

SSF: The Power of Recreating

2011-09-29T18:01:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

I'm a few days out from the end of the freeze, and I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what the whole "no spending" thing has taught me. I think I'll take a good part of October to continue talking about my freeze lessons as well as talking more in detail about some of the things that have helped me survive. From week one, the biggest thing that's helped me survive is taking a serious look at the things I love to do (and spend money on) and figuring out ways I can recreate a similar experience at home.

Eating out with friends has been one of the biggest sources of spending for Matt and I over the past year. Chicago is really known for being a foodie city, so during our first year here, we seemed to justify every restaurant stop as part of "experiencing Chicago." But then we found out we were staying in Chicago long-term and our spending should of changed. But it didn't. We continued to eat out with friends several times a week, some days just grabbing drinks and appetizers and other days splurging on hip hot spots. But at the end of August, we took a good look at our American Express bill and realized just how much we were overindulging.

So the freeze started, and I was forced to give up eating out. But I found myself trying to be creative about ways I could still get the "experience" without having to eat out and spend money. I began asking myself what I enjoyed most about grabbing dinner and drinks with friends. And surprisingly, it wasn't usually about the food. It was about getting together, with people we love, and having a good time. We started inviting people over more, cooking for friends on the weekend, having them bring a bottle of wine or a few favorite local beers. When we craved patio dates with fun cocktails, we'd dust off our patio chairs, blast some fun tunes, and sit outside with the grill going. When we craved wine nights, we'd hold off on the downtown wine bars and instead hit up Trader Joe's for a few of our favorite cheese and jams, spread them out on our cutting board and open a bottle of wine. Same feel, same type of food, much different price.

So my advice is to think about the things that you love doing and how you can recreate them at home or on your own for a much cheaper price. Maybe its a dinner party, maybe its a backyard barbeque for two. Or maybe its as simple as buying a flavored creamer to create a home version of your favorite Starbucks drink. Whatever it is, find a way to recreate it, and watch your wallet grow.

NYC Wedding Weekend: Part 2

2011-09-27T21:20:00.001-05:00

Last week I posted the first half of pictures from Matt's brother's NYC wedding. Today I'm excited that I finally got my blogging act together to share the rest.

Posing with my niece and mother-in-law before the ceremony. The ceremony was in Madison Square Park which was the perfect space to see Josh and Anthony exchange their vows. Small, intimate, yet totally fabulous.

Matt and I before the ceremony. PS: I would like to point out that I resisted the urge the buy a new dress for the wedding and wore something I already had hanging in my closet. Hooray for the September Spending Freeze :)

Before the guests arrived, the family was able to see the green space and do a quick walk through. I should note that I did not plan on wearing this blazer with this dress, but NYC decided to experience a big time temperature drop the weekend we were there. I didn't bring anything remotely appropriate to wear over my strapless dress, so a few hours before the ceremony, I snagged this blazer at Forever 21, hoping it would keep me warm without looking totally ridiculous. A special thanks to Matt's parents who insisted on buying the blazer for me as they didn't want me to fudge on my spending freeze :)

Instead of having their parents walk them down the aisle, Josh and Anthony walked down the aisle together, hand in hand. I won't lie, when they turned the corner of Madison Square Park and started walking towards their friends and family, I got pretty emotional. It was incredibly unique and special to witness. And how cute are their matching suits?

Though it was just friends and family standing in the immediate vicinity, onlookers gathered just outside the gated area. There were tons of iPhones and flips recording the event, and it was cool to see so many New Yorkers in support of a stranger's special day.

I snapped this picture when the officiant asked Josh and Anthony to turn and face their friends and family. She spoke about the love they have for one another and the support they have and will continue to receive from the people who love them. It was definitely one of my favorite moments from the ceremony. And ps: look at that crowd behind them!

"I now pronounce you husband and husband." Beyond cool. I should also note that when the officiant said the bit about "By the power vested in me by the state of New York..." people went crazy. Glad to see so many New Yorkers loving the state's recent decision. Now if the rest of the country would get on board...

After the ceremony, all the guests paraded a few blocks away to Hill Country, home of the reception and the world's best barbeque. (And naturally, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pose with the greatest state flag around!) You may remember me gushing about this place last summer when we were in New York, and I have to admit, I'm still smitten. Any place that serves real Texas BBQ is a hit in my book, but to find it in the middle of New York City is even more delightful.

Posing with my sister-in-law Julie, part paparazzi, part glam squad for the evening :)

Between the fried chicken and cornbread bites, we could barely find time for photos. But we managed to sneak out a few :)
PS: If any of you watch the ABC hidden camera show, What Would You Do, you might recognize the host of the show, John Quinones, just down the table from us.

Hahaha, I love this picture so much because I remember it so clearly. My brilliant husband suggested tequila shots, and these two were split over the idea. Josh won out, but Anthony was able to sneakily divert the shot with the old "fake take it and set it on the table" trick. True love, it's a compromise :)

Cheers to the newlyweds!

Posing at the end of the night after a fabulous celebration. We couldn't be happier for Josh and Anthony, and frankly, I'm thrilled to have another Texan trying to survive the craziness that is the Davis family with me :)

Another big congrats to Josh and Anthony, and of course, a big thank you my in-laws who treated Matt and I for most of the weekend. Until next time NYC :)

Don't Go All Rebecca Bloomwood on Me

2011-09-22T20:39:00.001-05:00

With just a week and a half left in the freeze, I'm starting to feel the itch. The itch to buy that one fall knit, that one new nail polish, or that one new pair of boots. I'm working hard to convert these feelings, not just for this week, but for good. I don't want to the freeze to be a fad financial diet where I restrict and then go crazy after a few weeks on the diet. I want the freeze to be a lifestyle change. And because I'm determined not to have October 1st look like this...

NYC Wedding Weekend: Part 1

2011-09-20T23:00:00.001-05:00

We've been back from New York for a few days, and I'm desperately hoping that sometime this week, my body will attempt to recover from all the late nights, lack of sleep, and tons of fun we had. The weekend was fabulous, and it was so incredible to be able to share in Josh and Anthony's big day. Not surprisingly, I took a ton of pictures while we were there, so I thought it would be easiest to break the weekend up in a few parts. First up...pre-wedding festivities!

Matt and I arrived early Friday morning after a smooth flight out of Chicago. (FYI: A 6:00 am departure time makes for a painfully early wake up call.) The rest of Matt's family arrived the day before, so as soon as we landed, we dropped of our luggage and headed for brunch at Popover Cafe. It was so yummy and the perfect start to the weekend!

After brunch, the guys headed off to move a few things for the wedding the following day, so the girls headed off to explore Central Park and The Met. The weather was beautiful and perfect for exploring NYC on foot!

Leopard and Central Park...New York staples in my book :)
Top: Ann Taylor, Necklace: H&M

After an afternoon of exploring, we stopped by the famous NYC sweet spot, Dylan's Candy Bar. Nothing like a little freshly spun cotton candy and pink rock candy to reenergize you :)

Chicago is my without a doubt my favorite city, but I can't deny that New York City has some fabulous views.

Friday night, Josh and Anthony hosted their closest friends and family for dinner and drinks at Rosa Mexicano, home of a delicious pink pomegranate margarita that got me into a little too much trouble :)

Snapping a quick pic with my sister-in-law Julie who is just as picture happy as me (hard to believe, I know).

Julie and I with our soon to be brother-in-law. PS: As much as I wanted new outfits for all of our NYC events, I resisted (love you September Spending Freeze) and rewore the Tadashi Shojidress I wore to my best friend's rehearsal dinner in March.

After toasting to Josh and Anthony's love (and tearing up at Matt's mom's speech) a group of us headed for cocktails at The Mandarin Oriental. Though we could probably never afford to stay at that hotel, the views from the 35th were unreal, and it was such a fun treat to experience!

I'll be back later this week with pictures from the ceremony and reception. A big thanks to Josh and Anthony for hosting such an incredible weekend!

New York, New York

2011-09-18T15:47:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

Hello from NYC! Matt and I flew to New York early Friday morning to be a part of Matt's brother's wedding. It was a fabulous time, and we were so thrilled to be able to share in Josh and Anthony's big day. We're taking the last flight back to Chicago tonight, so we're spending most of the afternoon lounging around Josh and Anthony's upper west side apartment reliving wedding memories and hilarious moments. I'm hoping to work through some of the 937 pictures I took this weekend, but in the meantime, I wanted to share some exciting news. I made it to the next round of the Lucky Lifestyle Contributor Challenge! Which means...I need your votes to get me through to the fourth round. I hate to keep posting about this, but its the chance of a lifetime, and I can't help but geek out about how fun it would be to win. Voting for this round ends this Friday, so if you've got a quick second, follow the instructions, and vote. If you voted last round, your log on info is the same, so just click on the link (it will probably recognize your computer) and click "vote". It would mean the world to me!

Click HERE to view my entry on my "entertaining, my way."

Click on "vote."

If you have not already registered, you will be redirected to a login page. If you are already a member of Lucky online, enter your information. If not, look under the section titled "new user" and click "register." Its super simple, and don't worry, you won't be hit with a bunch of spam. Pinky promise :)

Be back tomorrow with NYC pics, ciao lovelies!

SSF: Needs Vs. Wants

2011-09-15T00:22:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

I started this spending freeze to give my bank account a chance to recuperate, and I hoped that maybe, along the way, I'd learn a thing or two about the way I spend. I'm two weeks into the freeze, and I'm already starting to do some heavy reflecting. I'm learning a lot about the who, what, when, where, and why of my spending. This freeze has got my brain wheels turning, and regardless of how much I save this month, I'm grateful for the amount of time its forced me to reflect on my spending. "Forced" may seem like a strong word, but it's true. Not buying, not going out, not aquiring...it really does leave me with a lot of time to notice what's different.

One of the biggest thoughts that has been resurfacing in my mind the past week is about needs versus wants. Needs are non-negotiables. You can't live without them; you gotta spend for them. Wants are obviously the extras, the icing on the cake, the things I should buy in small doses. Needs and wants...they're very different, yet somewhere along the way, I've gotten them terribly confused. And what's worse, is that even when I can identity something as a "want," I still find myself traipsing to the store to snag what I've been coveting. Somewhere along the way, I got entilted, thinking, "If I want it, I should get it. Even more shameful, somewhere along the way, I started thinking, "I deserve it, I'm gonna get it."

Even though I'm on this spending freeze, I still find myself creating an "I want" list. A fuchsia blazer, a pair of mustard pants, and a pair of perfect black flats. A rust colored chunky knit, an emerald silk blouse, and a hot pink statement necklace. I think these things would be perfect additions to round out my fall closet. But you know what? I don't need them, I won't go naked without them, and I won't even be un-fashionable without them. Do I want them? Yes. But since when did wanting something give me the go ahead to whip out my American Express and make it mine? When did wanting something turn into buying something, no matter what my brain or my bank account told me?

I wish I could peg down where this blur between needs and wants happened. I wish I could identify the spot where things went awry. I have a few hypotheses, but none seem to stick quite as they should. Before the freeze, I think I would have looked back and thought "Ehh I should probably do better about this." But something about the freeze has magnified this issue in a major way for me. I'm not just thinking back to my old ways, I'm thinking back and realizing how ashamed I am. Ashamed that I wasn't more thoughtful and ashamed that I've watched Matt and I's money drain away because I wanted the perfect polka dot scarf or the perfect fitted blazer. Those things weren't needs, those were wants. And I let myself believe they had to be mine.

Though I'm embarrassed by my blurred spending, I'm also incredibly inspired. Inspired because I see the error of my ways and realize just how backwards my thinking was. Inspired because I know better now and can choose something different. I'm inspired because I am choosing something different.

So for all you readers out there, how do you handle needs vs. wants? What trips you up?

SSF: Triggers

2011-09-07T23:32:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

I'm a week into the September Spending Freeze, and I have to be honest, its been surprisingly easier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been easy, but easier than I expected. So a week into it, I've noticed two very specific things.

1. Holding myself to no spending is much easier than holding myself to reduced spending. I am apparently a five year old who can't grasp the concept of moderation.

2. Some things have been easy to give up, but others call my name at the grocery store, haunt me in my dreams, and plead to be purchased. My Freeze kryponite, or what I now maturally refer to as my "spending triggers."

I've probably always been aware of these spending triggers, but the spending freeze has called them to center stage. When the items used to call out to me, I'd try to resist, but after a few seconds, I'd quickly give in. But now that I can't give in, I'm forced to endure a longer period of "But you need me! I'm fabulous, flawless, and will make all your dreams come true!" Triggers are the things that seem to trip me up the most often and the easiest. So after a week on the Freeze, here are my top 5 spending triggers.

1. Nail polish. I don't know what it is about those small glass bottles, but lately I've noticed my insane weakness for them. I see all those candy colors and go weak in the knees. I feel the need to own every single shade of pink and every hot color for the season.

2. Mid-afternoon coffee. Its 2:00 pm and I've had back to back meetings and committments all day. I was up late and got up early to Jazzercise. I have four more hours of work, and I can't keep my eyes open. And there's an Einstein's across the steet. Temptation hell.

3. Black leggings. I don't know what it is about these stretchy lovelies, but I buy them like they're going out of style. This habit started when we moved to Chicago and has gotten a little out of control. My legging radar is elegantly honed, and it pains me to hear it beep as a I walk away.

4. VS Pink tees. To go with my black leggings of course. While I try to avoid pants with words scrawled across my backside, I can't stay away from their tees. They're the perfect sheerness, perfect length, perfect deep V, and perfect sleeve length. (I loathe cap sleeves.) After the big sorority shirt cleanout of 2009, I've been rebuilding my loungewear collection, and these tees are easy to buy in bulk. I love them.

5. Its Friday, I just got home, there's nothing for dinner, and I'm starving. Every bone is body is thinking, "Just go out...it'll take too long to cook...wouldn't a dinner out be way more fun." Enter the moment where I throw my keys across the room in an attempt to keep myself from hopping in my car and zooming to one of our favorite dinner spots.

"But why even talk about triggers?" you may ask. My thought is that if we're to succeed, we need to be aware of what trips us up. We've all heard the phrase "the first step is admitting you have a problem." I've done that by taking this challenge. I have a spending problem. The second step for me is getting specific about where my sticky spots are and where I get tripped up the most often and the easiest. Knowing my triggers. Word.

I'm going to revisit these triggers, as well as other hurdles I'm experiencing over the next month and give some insight/helpful hints into how I'm dealing with them. You didn't think I'd just list my problems and leave you fend for your own solutions did you? :)

So whether you're participating in the Freeze or not, I've got to ask, what are your spending triggers?

(Free) Weekend Happenings

2011-09-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

Hey lovelies, I hope yall are winding down after a fabulous Labor Day! The day off from work was much needed as things have been pretty intense since starting my new job. And of course, the holiday was extra appreciated, because in addition to a day off, it gave me an extra day in Chicago with Matt, hooray! We enjoyed a pretty restful, low-key weekend, and due to the recent start of The September Spending Freeze, we also enjoyed a free weekend. Here's a peek into what kept us smiling (and not spending) this weekend...

Curling up with our Kindles and ignoring the pile of work related books on the kitchen counter...
Trying our hands at a homemade peach cobbler...
Cheering on my beloved Sooners in a fabulous first game of the season...
Meeting with the youth pastor at church to see how we can get involved with the high school students...
Overcoming an intense "lets go out to lunch" craving with two made-with-love grilled cheeses...
Sprucing up our patio with a little elbow grease and no money...
Snuggling up during a Saturday rainstorm with no plan or schedule in sight...
Hosting friends for an at home Labor Day BBQ...
Enjoying the insanely wonderful weather (hello 70 degrees!) with two afternoon walks...
Cranking out some serious dissertation work...
Scouting out future houses and talking about our want list like we're buying tomorrow. (We're at least a year away, but its never too early to dream house hunt right?)...
Watching a few episodes of our beloved American Pickers...
Sitting out on our patio with friends, a bottle of wine, and a few cold beers...
Soaking up the end of summer with this yummy summer salad...

All in all the weekend was lovely and total proof that delightful weekends don't have to cost a thing!

PS: If you haven't had a chance to vote for me in Lucky's Lifestyle Contributor challenge, I would LOVE it if you would read this post and take a few seconds to vote for me. Pretty please :) Round 2 voting ends this week, and I'd love a few more votes to help me advance to the next round!

Have a wonderful short week!

This Is Happening Tomorrow

2011-09-02T06:13:00.001-05:00

Chills, goosebumps, and insane excitement. BOOMER SOONER!

SSF: My Rules

2011-09-01T07:10:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

Happy September 1st yall! Now I don't normally get so pumped up for the beginning of September, but today is different. Today is the official kickoff for The September Spending Freeze, my attempt to get a grip on my insane spending problem. I am pumped to get started and even more pumped because so many people have decided to join me. So as we kickoff this exciting event, I thought I'd get it started by laying out my rules for this challenge. I tried to get pretty specific, leaving myself as few loopholes as possible. (Loopholes are my crazy attempts to justify things I shouldn't be doing. Loopholes are bad, bad, bad.) So without further ado, here are my rules for The September Spending Freeze.

1. No clothes. At all. No tops, no jeans, no skirts, no blazers. No boots, no sandals, no tennies, no heels. No workout clothes, no scarves, no headbands, no jewelry. No new clothes; no exceptions. (This is where I stuggle the most, so I've got to be firm with myself!)

2. No eating out. No Friday night out dinner dates, no impromptu lunches, no quick coffee runs. No Starbucks, no Sonic cokes, no cocktails out with my coworkers. If I'm gonna eat, I better be eating at home or bringing it from home. And if I planned poorly and didn't bring food, I'll have to deal with whats shoved in the back of my desk. (Um, hello peanut butter crackers.)

3. No new beauty products. During the month of September, I'm working with what I have. No new nail colors, new perfumes, or new mascaras. No Sephora ordering, no drugstore.com surfing. Nothing new goes into my makeup bag, medicine cabinet or overflow beauty drawer.

4. No extra entertainment. For now, trips to the movies are on hold. Weekends exploring Chicago sights are off (unless they're free!) We're going to make do with what we have and entertain ourselves with the 3,000 DVDs in our cabinet, the stash of board games we've collected, or the free park outside our apartment.

5. No pampering. For the next month, its straight up DIY with my beauty routine. At home mani/pedis, self-maintained brows, and dealing with split ends if they happen.

Exceptions: Now of course, there are a few exceptions to this list, but I'm pretty proud of myself, because there aren't many. (Loopholes be gone!)

a. In two weekends, my friend Christie will be in Chicago for a night, before prancing off to Italy for a year. We will most likely meet for dinner/drinks. She has to see a lot people in one night, and I'm not going to be difficult by imposing my freeze on the group.

b. Matt's brother is getting married in NYC on September 17, meaning we'll have to spring for a few meals on trips. Matt and I will eat light and share meals, but I'm not packing 9 pb&j sandwiches for the weekend. I'd rather not spur a new TLC show idea...Travel PB&J Hoarders.

c. I am this close to setting a date for my dissertation defense. (Praise Jesus!) This means I'll have to book a trip back to Texas sometime this month. Unavoidable and frankly thrilling.

And that my friends, is it! 1 big rule (no spending!), 5 areas of focus, 3 small exceptions. (You guys have to give me props...those exceptions are legit.) I will continue to buy groceries as normal and continue with my workout membership. I don't believe in all of a sudden eating totally cheap and crappy food, then paying that money back later in gym fees and doctors bills.

So now that you've heard my freeze rules, I want to introduce the other 15 brave souls taking on this challenge. Some folks have blogs, some don't, but I've linked to those who provided me with blog addresses. For those without blogs, feel free to leave your rules in the comment section or on my FB page so we can check out your freeze plan.

Kenda at On My Mission 4 Fitness
Kindra at Keeping Up with Kindra
Kayla at Lala in the Land of Enchantment
Shelby at T and S Lovenest
Jamie at The News from LaFuze
Nikki at Me 2 We
Lydia at Boy Howdy Daily
Lindsay at Life as Lindsay
Heather (who has one exception for work clothes)
Deviled Megs
Glitterista
Makenna (whose FB page I will stalk for updates!)
Allie at More Moores
Kristin (who is allowing a fall boot cheat)
Lesley (one of the most fashionable girls I know!)

So with that...we're off! We're officially frozen and on our way to having a better idea of where the heck our money goes each month. I'll continue to post regular posts throughout this challenge, sprinkling in freeze stuff as the months goes along (and of course on Thursdays.) Have a fabulous day, and to those of you who are braving this freeze, kudos to you!

48 Hours Till the Freeze

2011-08-30T22:10:00.001-05:00

{image by Kendall Stoy}

We're two days away from the start of The September Freeze, and as crazy as it sounds, I'm kind of excited! Sure, the no-spending thing will be hard, but I'm looking forward to challenging myself and getting a better handle on my spending. So far, 20 brave souls have agreed to take on the challenge, and I can't wait to see how each of us makes the challenge unique for our own lives. If you're participating and you haven't commented or emailed me that "you're in" make sure to do so, asap. Thursday, I will be posting a master list of participants with links to blogs so everyone can check in on you and your journey. And if you are still on the fence about the challenge, I say go for it! Dive in, take a risk, and learn something new about yourself and the way you spend. Its only 30 days...how bad can it be? :)

And for those of you who are participating, Thursdays are our days to officially post and check in with one another. I will likely post more often about my progress/tips/tricks/etc, but I think a once a week post is imperitive for reflecting and really engaging around this challenge. When you post, feel free to use The September Spending Freeze image (posted above) and link back to my blog so people can see a list of all the participants. This Thursday, I encourage everyone to post their rules for their challenge, remembering its all about making your own rules and making this challenge work for you!

So the official kickoff is less than 48 hours away. Bring it.

Weekend Lovelies

2011-08-29T22:32:00.001-05:00

Having Matt come down to my new town Friday night for a staff bbq...
I love showing him off :)
Getting up bright and early Saturday for a little volunteer manual labor at our church...
I now consider myself an expert dirt/grass/rock raker...
Seeing a dear friend from college (see above) and feeling like we were back at our favorite OU hangout...
How is it that so much in our lives has changed, yet with old friends, it seems like nothing has changed...
Rocking my "new" utility vest with a maxi dress and leopard belt...
And ignoring the fact that the guys said I looked like I was going on safari...
Loving that fact that so many of you are participating in The September Spending Freeze...
Determination + accountability = SUCCESS...
Chatting with a friend who've I've been playing phone tag with for eight months...
Seriously the longest game of phone tag ever...
Piling my hair on top of my head for most of Sunday and not caring the slightest what it looked like...
Sundays are my "days off" from hair fixing...
Obsessing over the fact that Sooner football starts 5 days...
My excitement is literally uncontrollable...

What did you do this weekend?

A Little Help Please...

2011-08-27T19:14:00.001-05:00

Happy weekend, readers! Blog posting is usually light for me on weekends, but today I'm blogging asking for a little bit of help from you. I recently (at the strong encouragement of my friend Whitney) entered Lucky Magazine's Search for a New Lucky Lifestyle Contributor contest. This of course would be the opportunity of a lifetime, so I couldn't pass up the chance to enter. The first few rounds of the competition are based on votes, where online readers across the country weigh in on their favorite entries.

This is where you come in :)

If you have a chance (and feel so inclined) please take a minute to follow the instructions below and vote on my most recent entry. It quick, painless, and would mean the world to me!

Click HERE to view my entry on my "go-to beauty."

Click on "vote."

You will be redirected to a login page. If you are already a member of Lucky online, enter your information. If not, look under the section titled "new user" and click "register." Its super simple, and don't worry, you won't be hit with a bunch of spam. Matt registered today and hasn't gotten an email about denim trends, eyeliner, or skincare routines :)

Once you register, go back to my specific entry and click VOTE. This time, the site will recognize you as an official Lucky user, and your vote will be officially recorded! Simple and easy!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful readers, as yall are always so encouraging and supportive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I get enough votes to go on to the next round!

PS: If you want to share this with friends and family or on your own blog, I will love you forever :)

Become

2011-08-26T07:57:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

What are you doing right now, this evening, and this weekend? It is in line with the person you dream of being? If yes, seize it! If not, rethink it.

The September Spending Freeze

2011-08-25T19:50:00.001-05:00

Next Thursday, I am thrilled to be starting a new adventure here on Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles. An adventure that I'm nervous about, slightly dreading, but also pretty excited for. Next Thursday, I'm starting The September Spending Freeze, a month long freeze on everything but non-neccessity items. The freeze will likely be a bit painful, but its beyond necessary, and now that I've made up my mind to take on the challenge, I'm ready for it!

So why start The September Spending Freeze? It's a combination of reasons really. The first is that Matt and I really have to get serious about saving. We're starting to focus on the future more, wanting to save for a house, and build up a healthy "in case of emergency fund." And lets not forget, we didn't get these Ph.D's for free. So thats one reason. The other reason is that we're failing miserably at sticking to our budget. Last month, after careful planning and serious promises, we blew past our budget. And not by a little bit, by a lotta bit. (Too lotta bit to even share.) And almost every penny that we blew past fell in one of three catagories: clothes, eating out, or entertainment. While I like to pretend that I don't shop often, the people at Amex don't lie. I saw that paper and couldn't find a place to hide fast enough.

So rather than endure another month of "I'll cut back, I'll do better, I promise," I'm finally fed up enough to go all extreme. No spending on non-necessity items. At all. Not ten dollars a week, not a latte here and there, zip, zilch, nada. A total freeze on buying nonesstentials.

I threw this idea out on my Facebook page earlier this week, and several of you had something to say. A few said no way, some sent prayers (Melissa, you know me too well), and surprisingly, several of you said you'd be game to join in, woo hoo!

Now let me be clear, The September Spending Freeze is a personal choice. And with that, comes personal options. While I'm choosing to apply the freeze to all non-essential items, maybe that's not quite for you. Maybe you want to focus on freezing your clothes spending, your eating out, or your beauty buys. Maybe you just want to kick your habit of Starbucks. Whatever and however you choose to do, it is totally up to you. I've already had several questions about whether or not a few "cheats" can be allowed. And to that I remind you, this is about making your own rules. If you're still on the hunt for the perfect fall boots, write that in your rules. If you've got a weekend getaway planned, and you want that weekend to be off-limits, go for it. This is your September Spending Freeze, you can play it however you like.

So I encourage you to give it a thought. Whether you're purposely trying to cut back, saving for a special vacation, or just trying to become more aware of your spending, The September Spending Freeze is a great way to get started. And please, for no other reason, think about joining, so I'm not suffering, err, I mean discovering alone :)

The Freeze starts next Thursday, September 1, and if you want to join me, in any capacity by your rules or mine, shoot me an email. I'm going to create a master list of Freeze participants. (Even if that list is me, myself, and I.) Every Thursday, I'll have a September Spending Freeze themed post, and I'll post the topic ahead of time, so you can join in. But again, this challenge is about your own rules, so if you don't want to join in on the Thursday posts, no sweat.

Next Thursday's post will be titled "The September Spending Freeze: My Rules, My Way." This is your chance to dictate the rules for your challenge. What's off limits, what are your cheats (if you have any), and what are the specifics of your freeze.

So that's the challenge if you choose to accept it. A spending freeze for the entire month of September. Who's with me? :)

PS: a MAJOR thanks and shout out to my friend Kendall Stoy for creating the fabulous September Spending Freeze logo featured above!

Getting Out of a Hair Rut

2011-08-23T21:43:00.001-05:00

For the past 2 months, I've been in a bit of a hair rut. I desperately wanted something different, yet I couldn't quite figure out what I wanted. (And I've learned my lesson about when I'm not quite sure about a hair change, I need to wait. Impulsive hair decisions have not faired well for me.) I was certain I wanted to keep the length, but I was wanting something different in terms of my color and style. I was taking my time, slowly looking and inspiration photos, hemming and hawing about what I really wanted. Then after my NYC trip, I saw a picture of my hair and just about fell over. My hair looked terrible. Straw straight, dull color, three inch roots, no body, no shine...good grief, it looked disasterious.

So after seeing that picture, my hair inspriration search took on a new life. I became a Pinterest addict, I took iPhone snaps of strangers sitting near me who had fabulous hair, and I became "that girl" who constantly talks about her hair, what she wants, blah blah blah. Last week, I made some good progess in finally nailing down some options. Colorwise, I wanted more warmth, less blonde, and potential for an ombre effect as my roots grow back in. Stylewise, loose curls, a middle part (still trying to get used to that), and anything but the straw-like 'do I saw in that NYC photo.

When I showed Matt my inspiration photos, he gave me one of this doubtful, "Are you sure?" He reminded me how I felt about my hair the last time I went dark...

{Christmas in London, 2007}

Crazy, right?! I went super dark in the fall of 2007 after being forced to give up my beloved tanning beds. (The warnings are no joke; they really do give you skin cancer.) So with my new pasty skin, I didn't feel right as blonde, and I tried dark. I really liked it for a while, but then, I got tired of it, itching for my oh so loved blonde. But being the fickle person that I am, I now want to find a medium between the two, something that would allow growth to show, resulting in less frequent trips to the salon.

So Saturday, I finally felt prepared enough to give my hair lady a good idea. I went armed with my Pinterest photos, my three buzz words (warm, caramel, ombre), and the trust that she wouldn't lead me astray. And this my friends was the final result...

Overall, I'm super happy with it. It's not as drastic as it could have been, and for that I am thankful. What I also love is that as my roots grow out, it will naturally darken up and take on the ombre effect that I loved in pictures. I love the middle part with the loose curls, but unfortunately, my stylist wouldn't let me kidnap her and bring her home to do my hair every morning, so I'm still working on how I can replicate that. But all in all, I'm so happy to be out of my hair rut and into a color that is the perfect warm happy medium for me :)

Does anyone else find themselves in the occasional hair rut? If so, how do you typically get out?

Weekend Happenings

2011-08-22T22:29:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

Getting to sneak out of work 30 minutes early on Friday, which made my 2 hour drive to see Matt that much better...
Enjoying a pizza-and-movie kind of Friday night...
Snuggling with Matt and appreciating being able to physically be next to each other...
Finding the perfect pair of black crop pants, perfect with silk button ups and sky high heels...
Spending a rainy Saturday morning perusing the grocery store...
Watching the past few episodes of the craziness that is Whale Wars...
Padding around in jeans and an oversized button up, my typical weekend uniform...
Whipping up homemade hummus courtesy of this recipe...
Taking advantage of Michael's 60% off custom framing deal and getting Matt's new Ph.D (and my old Master's) framed...
Having a Saturday night family dinner with our friend Norma and her precious dog, Pepper...
Accepting the fact that I'm an old fart and fall asleep by 10:30 pm on weekends...
Lunching and sangria sipping on the patio in what might have been the perfect Sunday afternoon weather...
Phone chatting with my brother as he experiences his first week of college and fraternity rush...
Snagging this fabulous cuff from Ann Taylor after obsessing over it at the NYC fashion show...
Gabbing with friends on my two hour drive back from Chicago...

I've got lots to post this week, so check back for some fun updates (including a new hair color!) I hope your weekend was fabulous, and may your week be even better!

Cheers to Dr. Davis!

2011-08-18T18:27:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was a HUGE weekend in our house as Matt graduated with his Ph.D, eeek! He is officially Dr. Davis! There are no words to describe the joy I felt this weekend watching Matt get his degree. It has been a long and crazy journey, and I couldn't be more proud of all his hard work, dedication, and success. Without further ado...pictures of the newest Ph.D in town :)

Me and the oh-so-official Dr. Davis! This day has been so long in the making, it felt totally surreal!

Matt getting his degree and his fancypants hood. PS: It's hard to believe we spend 6 years of our life working on these degrees, and all we get is an oversized piece of paper and a bad, blue velvet drapey hood :)

My favorite four people on the planet :)

Me and Miguel (aka Dr. Cano.) Neither Matt or I's grad school experience would have been half as fun without this guy!

Besties.

I love you both more than words and am so so proud of you! And I'm giving you a month to rub it in my face that you're doctors and I'm not. Then for the next 11 months, not a dang peep from you two!

After graduation we headed back to my parents for a graduation bash, complete with friends, family, neighbors, and of course, Texas BBQ!

What's a party without personalized napkins? :)

My best friend Steven and his boyfriend, Jesse, drove in from Austin for the occasion, and I'm so happy we were able to celebrate with them. They always keep us laughing, and we don't see them nearly enough!

Matt and his celebratory flamingos! My parents have the most fabulous group of neighbors, who take advantage of every reason to celebrate. Whenever someone has a big event, the flamingos "mysteriously" arrive in the yard. This time they were accompanied by some fabulous sidewalk chalking, courtesy of the little girls next door.

Saturday night, after a day of thrifting, lounging, and BBQ leftovers, we headed down to Montrose to eat at Cafe Brasil. Ryan recommended the spot, and with an apple bacon pizza, how can you go wrong?

Still wearing my turban, even though Matt calls me Rambo and Steven called me Aunt Jemima all night. Boys seriously just don't get it.

After dinner we headed back for game night, a major event in my family. And though I am normally an Apples to Apples champion, I lost miserably. But with two new doctors at the table, I had to let them beat me :)

The winner of the box game, a crazy hilarious game my family plays at every holiday/special occasion.

Fabulous stairstep friends :)

A last picture of me and the graduate. The weekend was truly special, and I'm so grateful for all the people who made this celebration of Dr. Davis so very special. A big thanks to my parents, who hosted the party, made a million airport trips, and let all us grown up kids sprawl out all over the house all weekend :) A big congrats again to my sweet husband, Matt. What...did you really think I'd start referring to him 24/7 as Dr. Davis? Please, until I get those big initials next year, he can forget about it :)

Lollapalooza!

2011-08-11T23:36:00.001-05:00

So its been over a week since I blogged last. A week and a half if you're counting. And though I wish I could say I'm back to blogging because I finally got internet hooked up at my house, sadly that is not the case. (Oh yeah Comcast, I'm giving you the evil eye.) But since I'm currently parked at Gate 4 awaiting a flight to Texas, I thought I'd take advantage of some free airport wifi :)

This past weekend was my first weekend back in Chicago after starting my new job two hours away, and I was lucky enough to be able to spend it with both Matt and my little brother. Ryan was in town for Lollapalooza, and though mega-concerts aren't typically my thing, I couldn't pass up the chance to spend Saturday with him at one of the most legendary concerts around. So Matt and I snagged tickets, quickly got the run down of the line-up, and attempted to not look like the oldest, most unhip people there lol. Here are a few of my favorite photos from our day at Lollapalooza, most photos courtesy of my brother's oh-so-fabulous girlfriend, Makenna. (Thanks Makenna!)

Me and my not-so-little brother, Ryan. Though Matt and I only went to Lolla on Saturday, Ryan and Makenna braved the fest for all three days. Dedication!

Listening to Phantogram Saturday afternoon, just after the rain stopped. I hadn't heard of Phantogram before last weekend, and since Saturday, I've obsessively had them playing in my car, in my office, and in my room. They are insanely fabulous!

Our lineup for the day consisted of Phantogram, Black Lips, The Drums, Ellie Goulding (love!), Atmosphere, and Eminem.

If the crowd in front of us doesn't clue you in about the craziness of Lollapalooza, check out the crowd on the screen. And to realize they had 6 stages going at once...it definitely got a little crazy.

Our Lollapalooza crew. PS: please excuse my totally random and un-hip outfit. It was humid, hot as hell, and muddy in some places, which for me, translated to no effort left to attempt to look cute.

Pretty city.

Two of my favorite people in the whole wide world. They keep me loving life and laughing through most of it :)

Eminem might have been my favorite show of the day. Now, let me preface this by saying, I'm not the biggest Eminem fan in the world. He's a bit too angry and unfiltered for my taste. That being said, his show was pretty freaking awesome. It was one of his first shows back since he pulled off the scene a few years ago, and the energy was insane. He did new stuff mixed in with old stuff which had the crowd pretty crazy. This picture was taken right after he brought out Bruno Mars for "Lighters." Awe-some.

Not even 90,000 people crowded in Grant Park can distract from what a beautiful city Chicago is. A day spent in my fabulous city, listening to one-of-kind artists, with a few of my favorite people in the world...it doesn't get much better than that!

The Makings of a First Day

2011-08-01T20:28:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

Hello friends, happy Monday! I just wanted to pop in and let you know that my first day of my new job was today, and thankfully, it went off without a hitch! The program is great, the people are wonderful, and I'm so thrilled to be back doing what I love. Having the past year "off" from the field gave me a great deal of perspective and really confirmed that this is where I'm meant to be. And to celebrate my first day, I got ready with tunes from my girl Britney, donned my favorite leopard blouse+black pencil skirt, and gave myself a quick in-the-mirror pep talk. And to seal the deal, I drove to work belting out my favorite "pump me up and boost my confidence" song. (It's here in case you need a Tina Turner pump me up jam too. I swear, you can't listen to it and not feel like you're the best thing since sliced bread!)

After work, I came home, slipped on my fuzzy leopard robe, and turned on my favorite girl power movie, Legally Blonde. All the makings of a great first day. (Ok, annnd I ate a couple of mini frozen Snickers. But it was my first day, so calories don't count.) And several of you have asked about my new job, what I'm doing, what my Ph.D is in, etc. and yes, I'm still being somewhat vague about what I do. It's just a part of me that for now, I enjoy keeping somewhat private. But in a nutshell, I work closely with college students on a daily basis and love getting to work with so many incredible young people.

I'm without internet this week (except when I sit outside Starbucks in my car) so I'll be a little sporadic with blogging this week. I may just take advantage of the down time and catch up on my dissertation or hit the gym. Oh please, who am I kidding? I'll probably rewatch Legally Blonde 49 times and obsessively quote every line like its my job. Because if they offered a Ph.D in Legally Blonde knowledge, you know I'd be alllll over that :)

Have a fabulous week, and thanks again for your continued support on this new journey. I'm so blessed to have yall by my blogging side through all this!

Amazing People

2011-07-28T08:16:00.001-05:00

{via pinterest}

I came across this print a few days ago on Pinterest, and it has been on my mind ever since. "Amazing people do not just happen." Its simple really, yet its something I think we tend to forget all too quickly. We live in a world where a lot of things come in an instant. With a click or simple command, its ours. But when it comes to truly amazing people and amazing things, the picture isn't quite so simple. Amazing things take work, insane devotion, and relentless effort. That girl you see with the amazing job? It didn't just happen. She likely worked her butt off for it, putting in years of prep work, doing tasks she wasn't crazy about, knowing there would be a payoff in the end. That relationship you see that seems so effortless? It probably isn't. It probably takes a ton of work, communication, and commitment to one another. That mom you see that grocery store who has two kids and looks unbelievably fit? I'm gonna guess she didn't get that body by sitting around eating Twinkies. She probably gets up at some insane hour, while most of us are sleeping, to hit the pavement and sweat it out. These people, these things, take an insane amount of dedication and passion; they don't just happen.

All too often I think we sit by, thinking, "I wish I could do that, I wish I could be that, I wish I could have that." And in lots of those situations, I bet we could. If we really worked, if we really pushed, if we really made it a top priority. I'm not saying we need to become these accomplishment obsessed people, never satisfied with our lives. But we all have those amazing things we want to accomplish, those amazing people we want to become. And guess what? It's possible. But it doesn't just happen. So today, I'm asking you (and myself) what amazing things do you want for your life and what are you going to do to make them happen?

I Did It Again

2011-07-26T07:45:00.001-05:00

After last week's brave turban trial, I've been hooked. I've been wearing scarves wrapped 'round my head so often Matt has taken to calling me "Rambo." A nice change from "Indiana Jones" when I wear this hat. Men...they don't get it do they? Anyway, several of you commented on my look (thanks!) and asked for a turban tutorial. That left me with three options.

1. Stalk the adorable salesperson from Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue and beg her to come visit each and every one of your houses. (Could seem a bit creepy.)

2. Subject you all to my Minnie Mouse video voice with a Youtube tutorial. (My video voice is pretty mousey, and I'm sure if I was focused on turban tying, it would go up a few octaves. And no one needs to hear Minnie Mouse this early in the week.)

3. Find an already existing Youtube tutorial that covers the same turban tying technique used by the Nordie girl and yours truly.

Because stalking and subjecting you all to the slow painful torture that would be me on a video tutorial both sounded like bad ideas, I skipped the first two options and found an existing video tutorial. You can find the super easy to follow tutorial HERE. However, before you run off to practice, I thought I'd add my two cents to the tutorial. (PS: apparently this look is referred to as a turband not a turban. Potato, pototto.)

1. I've had the best luck using silk scarves, as opposed to typical knit scarves. They were a bit too bulky for me.

2. You really do need a fairly long scarf/piece of fabric. I have pretty big collection of silk scarves, and I was certain they'd all be the perfect turban tying length. Wrong. Most were just a few inches too short leaving ends poking out or a turban that was tied so tight, I could feel my brain squishing. Not good options, so go long.

3. I place my turband farther down on my forehead than she does, though either look works. If you like the look a little farther down, use her same process, but wrap closer to your hairline.

4. You're going to get makeup on your turband (assuming you wear it lower on your hairline like me.) The first turband I wore was darker, so it wasn't as noticable, but the one in this picture now has a bit of MAC Studiofix on it. No biggie to me, but this fact has kept me from trying the turband with my vintage DVF scarf. No way I'm risking that.

Alright, so for all those that commented and asked for a tutorial, there you go. A tutorial and my 2 cents, whoa. It's clearly gonna be a crazy Tuesday :)

The Next Step

2011-07-25T09:55:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

Back in February, I rejoiced over my internship match news and spent an entire weekend celebrating the good news. The entire process of getting a Ph.D has been exhausting, but my internship has kind of been the light at the end of the tunnel, the signal that I'm almost done with this six year marathon. (Yes, you read that right, six years.) Since celebrating back in February, I've been kind of quiet around these parts about internship. Not because I haven't been excited, not because it isn't a big step, but mostly just because August 1st felt so far away. Well, summer has come and almost gone, and suddenly August 1st is almost here.

Lots of people have asked me how I'm feeling about the whole thing, particularly the moving two hours away from Matt thing. And my answer has consistently been, it'll be a challenge, but more than anything, I'm just excited. Excited to get back to what I love doing, excited to be surrounded by people who are passionate about the field, and excited to resume what I truly believe God intended me do with my life. (Ok, and I won't lie, I've also been excited about being able to decorate a girly space again!) Even yesterday as we had dinner with our friend Norma, both Matt and I downplayed the big move, focusing instead on the excitement and the significance of starting and finishing this internship (and this degree.) But last night, after Matt went to bed, I began to feel a little differently. As I made lists of what needed to go and what could stay in Chicago, it hit me that I'm moving. Away from Matt. As I ordered pictures online, I was reminded that I'm ordering pictures because I won't have Matt there in person and I'll need reminders of the memories we've made together.

When I finally crawled into bed last night, I snuggled up next to Matt and cried. I cried because I'm going to miss him terribly and because change is hard. This year, we've established more of a routine and built such a fun little life together. It will be weird not having that on a daily basis. And even though I'll be home most weekends, its going to be weird not being with Matt Monday through Friday. But just as I start to feel completely overwhelmed, I remember my excitement about going back to what I love. I remember how good it will feel to immerse myself in a job I am truly passionate about. And I remember that all of this, every tiny piece, is a part of God's plan. He has carefully crafted this picture for both Matt and I, and with that, I know we'll be just fine.

A week from today, my new adventure begins. I'm excited, I'm sad, I'm happy, I'm nervous. But most of all, more than anything, I'm eager to see what God has in store for me on this next little part of my journey...

Yesterday I Wore a Turban

2011-07-22T00:10:00.001-05:00

As the title of this post so eloquently states, yesterday I wore a turban. Groundbreaking news around these parts, as I had 99% made up my mind that I'd never be able to pull off the turban trend. I've seen girls sprinkled throughout Chicago and the blogosphere that pull off the turban beautifully, but I was certain if I even attempted the trend, I'd look like a complete and total doofus. (Yes, I just used the word "doofus" which you probably haven't heard since fourth grade. I'm vintage like that.) So anyway, back to my "yesterday I wore a turban" title. Sunday, while I was purchasing a few goodies at the Anniversary Sale, the adorable associate complimented me on my hat. (FYI I was wearing my beloved panama hat, seen here.) After a very delighted "thanks," I complimented her on her super cute and trendy turban. She swore it was super simple to do, to which I replied, "Umm pretty sure I'd look like an idiot if I tried to pull that off." Before I knew it, she "no no no-ed" me and shooed me towards a mirror and a shelf full of scarves. She proceeded to tie a scarf on my head turban style. She had me repeat her tie job, and I had to give it the girl, it was pretty simple.

So yesterday, I woke up a few minutes early (which pretty much never happens) and thought I'd practice my turban tying skills. The Nordie girl was right, it was foolproof. And I actually kinda liked the way it looked. But then I started talking myself out of wearing it, thinking "What if I look stupid, I'm probably too old for this, what if I look like I'm trying too hard" blah blah blah. But then I decided... to hell with the "rules." I tell clients at AT all the time that there aren't rules in fashion. I tell people to wear white year round, I adore mixing prints, and I'm adamant that leopard is a neutral. So why should I let a few silly rules and some self doubt keep me from trying a trend?

Turban: made from one of my mom's vintage scarves
Blazer: The Limited
Tee: J.Crew
Necklace: Ann Taylor (one of my fashion show swag goodies)
Bracelets: vintage, Loft, Ann Taylor
Jeans: Ann Taylor

With that, I twisted, knotted, and turbanned, and decided I'd keep the look all day long. No wimping out, no taking if off halfway to work. I had to go for it. At first, the reviews were mixed. I got a few odd looks and a few non-comments from people who almost always comment on what I wear. I interpreted those to mean, I did in fact look like an idiot. But slowly, throughout the day, several clients at Ann Taylor approached me, loving the look. And each time I caught a glimpse of my turban wearing self in the mirror, I got more used to what I saw. And by the end of yesterday, I really liked it!

So let my turban wearing Thursday be a reminder for all of us that there are no rules in fashion, no age limits, and no trend that we can't try!

PS: Is there a trend or look you've been wanting to try but have hesisted on for fear of looking like a fourth grade doofus? :) Do share and maybe we can all motivate each other to just go for it!

Snapshots From My Week as a Model

2011-07-21T08:28:00.001-05:00

After an early morning and insanely delayed flight out of O'Hare, I finally made it to New York, delighted to find a driver holding a sign with my name on it. Official notification that I've made it in life :)

The view from Ann Taylor Corporate at 7 Times Square. This is where all the models were fitted and styled for the show. How could you not love coming to work everyday when you're surrounded by fabulous clothes and this view? And if you're wondering, yes, Ann Taylor has their own version of "the Vogue Closet." And it was every bit as fabulous as you'd expect :)

My fabulous boss Mandy and I before dinner. It was so funny to see so many women in one place totally decked out in Ann Taylor. Mandy and I were almost twinsies in our orange. (For a better view, I'm wearing the same sweater from this OOTD post.)

Getting my hair done before the show. The theme of hair and makeup was big, loose curls with a bold red lip. Love!

I couldn't stop drooling over the racks and racks of gorgeous clothes. It was fun to see not just what people were wearing for the show, but also what is coming to stores over the next few months. Now that I live in a place where the temperatures actually drop below 60 degrees, I am obsessed with fall and holiday collections. PS: The guy on the left in the orange is Paul, and he was one of the primary stylists for the show. He was fabulous and helped me with everything from putting on my shoes to sprucing up my runway walk. Thank you Paul!

Looking at the trays and trays of new fall and holiday bling was like watching my paychecks go out the window. I'm a huge sucker for AT's jewelry.

We ended up being kind of rushed before the show, so I didn't get a ton of pictures, but I managed to have one of the other models snap a quick pic of my look with my iPhone. I wore a dress from Ann Taylor's upcoming holiday collection, which features a black and cobalt blue color story. The dress was black lace with cobalt blue undertones, and I loved it so much I almost cried when I had to take it off after the show. (And if you're wondering, no we didn't keep the clothes. Most everything in the show was a sample, so they needed them for upcoming press stuff, features, etc.)

Here I am with Elizabeth, one of the other models, who works in one of the Phoenix stores. I loved her big faux fur collar!

So I don't have any pictures of me walking in the show (I was a little preoccupied with walking and not pulling a Carrie Bradshaw), but Thursday morning, in the closing meeting, they flashed up pictures from the show on the big screen. My boss snapped this picture with her phone and texted it to me as I was flying out. That's me walking on the right, trying to give my best little Heidi runway wave :) It was a fun surprise to receive as I was headed back home!

All in all, the trip was a success! I had a fabulous time, and I was beyond honored to be able to walk the runway for a company I love so much! And for those of you still sad about me not getting to keep the dress, don't worry, I scored some fabulous swag that will be making an appearance on the blog very soon :) Thanks again for all yalls support and good luck wishes as I went on this fun little adventure, it means more than you know! Happy Thursday!

Weekend Happenings

2011-07-19T11:13:00.001-05:00

I'm back! New York was a whirlwind, and since I got back late Thursday afternoon, I've furiously been playing catch up, which has left this little blog feeling quite neglected. So I thought I'd post a few of my favorite things going on around these parts since I've been back...

Reading the last page of Harry Potter as my plane touched down at O'Hare on Thursday. Perfect timing for the midnight premiere...
Grabbing dinner and drinks with friends at our favorite Asian fusion spot...
Catching a quick Saturday afternoon cat nap...
Scoring this fabulous beauty at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I don't plan to take it off all fall...
Catching my first episode of Extreme Couponing and debating whether I'm obscenely horrified or intensely inspired...
Trying a new gelato flavor (pistachio) and realizing odd can be good...
Getting to spend Sunday afternoon with Melissa, my dear friend from high school...
Replaying every moment from the HP midnight premiere and wishing it wasn't over...
Eating a delicious brunch at Yolk, including an entire half pineapple, cored and stuffed with fruit, yogurt, nuts, and granola. Yum is the word...
Looking through my pictures from New York and wondering how on Earth I, the picture queen, didn't get more photos...
Soaking up time with Matt before my big move in two weeks...
Taking a walk to the corner ice cream store. Nothing cures a sore throat like a chocolate malt...

This week, I'm playing more catch up and trying to get things in order for my big move, which is less than two weeks away. Time has kind of snuck up on me, but I'm determined to sneak in a few more summer treats before I start my new job on August 1st. And since I've been gone from blogland for a while, fill me on whats new with you and what you were up to this weekend!

Fashion Roadkill

2011-07-10T22:00:00.001-05:00

Thank yall so much for your sweet enthusiasm over last week's good news. I am so lucky to have such a great group of blog friends to share life's little adventures with :) I'm nervous, jittery, and excited about tomorrow's trip to New York, and for the past week, I've been having nonstop flashbacks to my all time favorite episode of Sex and the City. I'm just praying that Tuesday I don't pull a Carrie Bradshaw in her jeweled Dolce and Gabbana panties :) For a wonderful laugh and a peek at my favorite 1 minute and 53 seconds of TV's best girlie show, watch below. PS: As this is Sex and the City, there is some iffy language in this video. If you're at work or around little ones, use headphones.

It's unreal how much I love this show :) Have a fabulous week!

Just Call Me Gisele

2011-07-06T22:18:00.001-05:00

{via Pinterest}

So last week I alluded to some good news round these parts, and today, I am so excited to finally share my news!

As many of you know, I have been working retail part time over the past year as I've been trying to finish up my dissertation. Overall, I have had a really positive experience; I've been so blessed to work at a store I believe in, with people I adore, and clients that now know my name and keep coming back to see me. Next week, our store is hosting its national conference, where all the store managers from across the country, along with the folks at corporate, gather together to talk about the brand, connecting with clients, and continuing to make an imprint on the world of fashion. In addition to talking business, they reveal the new fall line in all its glory.

This year, the company selected 12 associates from across the country to model in the fashion show, walking in this fall's latest and greatest. And to my total surprise and delight, I was one of the 12 associates selected! So next Monday, I am flying to New York to model in the Ann Taylor fashion show! I am so excited, its unreal. Monday is full of fittings, while Tuesday is about hair, makeup, rehearsal, and then, the big show. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity, and I can't wait to see what next week brings. Eeek!

PS: Wouldn't it be great if the show's makeup artists could make me look as pretty as the model above? I'm keeping my fingers crossed :)

An Ohio Filled 4th...

2011-07-05T23:43:00.001-05:00

This weekend Matt and I celebrated the fourth in Ohio with my grandparents. (Both my dad's parents and my mom's mom live there.) Though grandparents aren't typically known for celebrating holidays with rowdy parties or poolside barbeques, I must say that this weekend was one of the loveliest 4th of July weekends I've had in a long time. Something about just sitting and talking with the ones you love is so delightfully simple. Here are a few of my favorite things from this weekend...

Finally taking Matt to experience Foy's, an old five-and-dime store, in my dad's hometown.
(We went there every time I visited my grandparents as a kid, and I have so many happy memories in that place)...
Sitting on my grandma's patio talking about nothing but talking about everything...
Hearing more stories about my grandparents' 1945 honeymoon to Chicago...
(You can read more about sweet Dorothy and Flash here)...
Enjoying an oversized slice of apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream...
(You can't pass up apple pie on the 4th of July, its a crime!)...
Watching my grandma wave her new American flag, courtesy of Foy's...
(My grandparents are celebrities at that place)...
Sneaking off to do some dollar store shopping for our Harry Potter party this weekend...
Watching Matt clean my grandma's window screens with a toothbrush...
(and realizing how lucky I am to have a husband with such a good heart...)
Sneaking glances at small moments between my grandparents...
Loving us some 99 cent rock candy...
(We went patriotic with our flavors; Matt got red strawberry, I got blue cotton candy)...
Doting on my grandma and enjoying the shift in roles...
Wondering what Matt and I's love will be like after 66 years of marriage...
Hearing all three of my grandparents laugh. No holding back, no half chuckles, just full and joy filled laughter...

But the best moment of the whole weekend, was catching the big fireworks show from the comfort of my grandma's driveway. For twenty minutes, the three of stood in her driveway, leaning against her car, gazing up at the sky. My grandma had her arm around my waist, my arm was around her shoulder, and I kept squeezing my eyes tight, thinking, "don't ever forget this moment." It was beyond lovely, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share such a special day with such special people.

Hope your 4th was lovely!

Happy Birthday, Ryan

2011-07-01T09:35:00.001-05:00

19 years ago today, I became a big sister. Peering at this little guy through the hospital window in my pink puff paint "I'm a big sister" shirt was one of the best days of my life. Happy birthday, Ryan. Being your big sister is such a joy, and I love you more than you'll ever know.

PS: Please don't be jealous of what a gorgeous eight year old I was lol :)

Glitter Nails: The Easiest DIY Manicure

2011-06-30T00:05:00.001-05:00

{via}

Earlier this month, I posted about having to tighten up the old budget, and it seems that several of you are in the same boat. (As evil as it may sound, its a tad bit comforting to know I'm not the only one trying to keep my Amex in its place this summer!) The main thing to take a hit during this spending lockdown has been my clothing budget. I think I can count the number of closet covetables I've purchased since April on one hand. (A big fete for me!) But not far behind in the spending lockdown has been my beauty budget. Luckily, I have a small MAC store under my bathroom sink, so I've been in the clear there. But I've had to quickly reevaluate my $65 nightime moisturizer, weekly manicures, and like-clockwork highlights. I traded in the bank breaking moisturizer for a Neutrogena fave and have learned to embrace a bit of roots and stretch out my highlights. But one of the hardest things for me to give up has been my manicures.

Call me girly, call me high maintainance, whatever, but something about freshly painted nails just makes me happy. My love for pretty manicures does not translate however into the slightest ounce of skill when it comes to DIY manicures. Don't get me wrong, I've tried several times, and good heavens, was it a disaster! No matter how careful I was, no matter how still I tried to be, my manicures always looked like they were the work of a blindfolded first grader wearing thick wooly mittens. Uneven layers, polish halfway down my fingers...eesh, it was a mess. But a few weeks ago, this blog post by Lindsay changed my life. Seriously. Armed with determination and the realization that I had to cut back on my beauty budget, I gave her tips a go, and holy goodness, what do you know? It worked! I successfully did my own manicure and didn't have polish smeared on my elbow. Hallelulah!

Since then, I've sucessfully done two more at home manis, both better than the one before. So if you're like me and have been longing to get better at DIY manicures and save your bank account unneccesary strain, catch a few tips me...

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

1. Go read Lindsay's post.
2. Reread it, just to make sure you registered all that goodness. Seriously.
3. Start sheer, nude, and light with your polish color. The mistakes aren't as easy to see and you won't spend all night staring at that one spot. (I mean, its your first time, it won't be perfect!)
4. When painting your nails, start in the middle, painting a stripe down the center of your nail, then slowly moving toward the outside of the nail. Much easier this way!

And my favorite tip...

5. ADD GLITTER! I have always loved anything sparkly, glitter nails included, so imagine my delight when I realized glitter is the ideal coverup for not-quite-perfect nails. My first glitter go was silver layered over an Essie pink, and I can't stop squealing over my cotton candy princess nails. Now I'm dreaming of a minty green with glitter, glitter tips, glittered ring finger manicures, and black with gold glitter. Its a whole new world out there yall. Glitter is the perfect tool for DIY nail newbies!

Needless to say, me, my nails, and my bank account are happy campers. Expect to see lots of pretty paint jobs and loads of glittered nails around these parts. If I wasn't already, I'm officially smitten with glitter! And if you're a hopeless DIY manicurist, give these tips a try. I swear, if I can do, you can definitely do it!

Anyone else a hopeless manicure DIY-er or a glittered nail lover?

Weekend Happenings

2011-06-29T11:03:00.001-05:00

Taking an afternoon trip to see the new "Jellies" exhibit at the Aquarium...
Saying goodbye to all Matt's fellow interns at their farewell party...
Staying out entirely too late Friday night but having a blast doing it...
Picnicing with Matt for our anniversary...
Barbequing with friends...
Mixing up the simplest cocktail thanks to Trader Joe's fizzy pink lemonade...
Brunching at Big Jones with out of town friends...
Enjoying my first Starbucks in a MONTH...
Having success with new recipes stored on my Pinterest...
Treasure hunting at RAD Vintage in Andersonville...
Celebrating summer with the girls from "the store" on the most delightful deck I've ever seen...
Furiously catching up on Harry Potter before July 15...

PS: I have some SUPER exciting news to share, but I'm desperately trying to wait until I have a few more details. I'm hope to share later this week, eek! Happy Wednesday!

Two Years

2011-06-26T10:31:00.001-05:00

{photo by Rachel Robinson}

Two years ago today, we said "I do." Surrounded by our family and friends, in a beautiful church, we committed our love and our lives to one another. I remember that day like it was yesterday; there was so much anticpation, so much joy, and an overwhelming amount love. Not just between Matt and I, but between the people who love and support us, the people who continue to encourage us on our journey of marriage.

If I could sum up the past year for Matt and I in one word it would be adventure. This year, we packed up our lives together, moved somewhere new, and found a place to call home. We grew roots together, took chances together, and made big decisions together. We learned a lot about compromise, rolling with the punches, and leaning on one another in times of stress. We became our own little family, learning to make decisions as a unit, (and even tougher, learning to make decisions as a unit even when we don't see eye to eye.) This year, we took an adventure together, and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity it has given us to learn and grow together.

Sweet Matt...today and always I am grateful for your love. Grateful for the person you are and grateful for the person you inspire me to be. You are one of a kind and such a blessing in my life. This year has been such an adventure, and I can't think of anyone more fabulous and special to share it with. Happy anniversary, I love you beyond words.

PS: If you wanna see more wedding pics, I posted a ton in last year's anniversary post. I never get tired of looking at them :)

The Anatomy of a Bracelet Stack

2011-06-20T10:22:00.001-05:00

Lately I have been absolutely obsessed with bracelet stacking. I've always been one to pile on stacks of gold bangles or double up on rhinestone bling, but for some reason my obsession has gone to a whole new level in recent weeks. Maybe its the summer heat or maybe I've just gone plain looney, but I have abandoned all fashion and color rules and started stacking bracelets of all shapes, sizes, and colors. And to induce even more swooning is the fact that I've found thrifted/gifted bracelets make the best stacks. True story. I've purchased a million bracelets over the years, but whenever I stack, I always find myself drawn to the bracelets that cost me next to nothing.

Bracelet Breakdown (from top to bottom):
1. gifted from my parents trip to Greece
2. gifted from my grandma
3. thrifted last weekend (25 cents!)
4. passed down from my great aunt Bunny
5. thrifted by my mom
6. thrifted in Houston along with matching red and green bracelets
7. snagged from American Eagle eons ago
8. thrifted last week at a Chicago garage sale (50 cents!)

So the next time you're wondering what bracelet to wear, I say wear 'em all. Beaded or bangled, silver or gold, thrifted or gifted...just pile 'em on!

My Dad

2011-06-19T12:08:00.001-05:00

{Father/Daughter dance circa 1991}

Any man who loved his daughter when her bangs looked like this and her dorky smile tried to disguise a pink retainer is a rare find :) Thank you Dad for your constant love and support and your words of wisdom. You are the best dad a girl could ask for; Ryan and I are so very blessed. Happy Fathers Day.

(PS: Isn't it creepy how little my dad has aged and how much he looks like my brother does now? I hope I got those anti-ageable genes!)

Iron and Wine Concert and Giveaway Winners

2011-06-14T12:39:00.001-05:00

Last Monday, Matt and I headed to Millennium Park to hear one of our newish (yep, that's a word) favorite bands, Iron and Wine. They were a part of Millennium Park's free New Music Monday series, which gives Chicagoans the opportunity to gather in their favorite park and listen to great music...for free! The concert was crowded as hell (literally, it was slightly insane) and we snagged one of the last open spots inside the pavilion. Which meant for an hour we got to watch people beg and plead with park police, jump over barricades, and run through bushes. It definitely provided good pre-show entertainment :)

If you haven't heard of Iron and Wine, you should definitely check out their website where you can listen to their newest album. (My favorite songs are Boy with a Coin and Tree by the River.) The Head and the Heart opened the show, and as much as I enjoyed them, I was kinda let down by the weird version they did of my favorite song, Lost in my Mind. (If want a midday jam out song, listen to it. I love it.)

We packed a little picnic, found a spot along the fence, and made friends with our blanket neighbors, who happened to be responsible DePaul students. (They brought their math homework with them!)

There are few things I love more in the summer than plaid picnic blankets and armfuls of thrifted/gifted bracelets.

I literally wear this hat every chance I get. Even if Matt calls me "Indiana" (aka Indiana Jones) when I put it on.

Lol, what a stud :)

Oh how we love our city. I'm so happy we get to stay here for a long while!

And now for the giveaway news...the winner of the $50 gift certificate to Ellaine's Stella &Dot e-boutique is Alexandria! (Congrats girlie, send me an email and I'll forward your info onto Ellaine.) And for the second giveaway...the winner of the Petra bracelet is Luann from Newport Beach! (Luann, Ellaine will be emailing you directly about your new bling.) Thanks to all of you who entered, and a big thanks to Ellaine for providing such a fabulous giveaway! Now go listen to some Iron and Wine and tell me you love them as much as I do :)

Common Things

2011-06-08T11:40:00.001-05:00

{pinterest}

"Being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."
Henry Ward Beecher

Lately, Matt and I have been making a more concentrated effort to pull back the reigns financially. With my internship nearing, we're looking at two rents as well as four hour weekend commutes to see one another. That, combined with dreams of buying a house sometime in the (hopefully) not too far future, has encouraged us to watch our wallets a bit more. And though this always proves to be a bit of a challenge for me, in a weird way, I'm learning to love and appreciate the challenge. Because happiness isn't dining at posh restaurants, drinking $5 lattes, or wearing a new dress. Happiness is grilling hot dogs on our patio, doing a 25 cent garage sale puzzle together, and getting creative with what I have hanging in my closet. And while I have the occasional moment of "why is this so hard?" I'm learning to be slow down and see that the common, everything things are oh so lovely indeed.

Graduation in Texas

2011-06-07T13:02:00.001-05:00

Two weekends ago, we flew to Texas for my brother's graduation, and I'm still blinking wondering where the trip went. I thought I'd be more snap happy with my camera, but in reality, I left my camera in my purse for most the trip and focused on celebrating my wonderful brother. But thankfully, I was able to swipe pictures from friends and family after the fact. Cause yall know how much I love pictures :)

The sisters, the graduate, the parents, and the brother-in-law...all so very proud of our graduate. PS: Did that make it sound like Matt is my brother-in-law? Cause that would be just weird. My husband, but brother-in-law of the graduate. Lol, got it?

Ryan and I would be lost without the love and support of these two.

My sweet sister and I.

My brother and his oh-so-adorable girlfriend, Makenna. Graduation was my first time to meet her (a major downfall of living so far away) and I couldn't believe how unbelievably delightful she was! Genuine, funny, mature, fashionable, and insanely down to earth. But best of all, she adores my brother, and nothing makes me happier :)

Family events always make me smile at how easily Matt has fit into my crazy family.

There is not a prouder big sister on the planet!

One big, happy family, including my aunt, uncle, and cousin who flew in from Atlanta. PS: thanks Makenna for the picture!

At my brother's graduation party. Friends, family, and Texas BBQ...the best kind of celebration!

Love my sweet dad :)

For my brother's graduation gift, I put together a slideshow with tons of pictures of Ryan growing up, playing sports, living and traveling in Europe, and enjoying high school. It was such a treat to make and a blast to show to family and friends at the graduation party. This picture made the video, and it makes me tear up, thinking how much time has passed since this picture. The Lion King pajamas no longer fit, the baby teeth are gone, but my love for this little guy is as big as ever. Ryan, I'm so proud of the person you are, the growth you've experienced, and the love you give to the people around you. No matter where life takes you, I hope you always know how very much your big sister loves you.

These pictures are proof that time flies, so today, take a second to hug someone you love and squeeze extra tight, because life moves fast and we don't get the seconds back. Have a happy Tuesday sweet friends!

Weekend Snapshots

2011-06-06T00:08:00.001-05:00

After what seems like months of back and forth, rainy, cold, and overcast weekends, Chicago had an (almost) full weekend of sunshine. It may have been hot and humid, but it was sunny, and dang it, we were gonna enjoy it! So minus today's inside only dissertation workday, the rest of the weekend was spend outside, enjoying some much needed Chicago sunshine!

Fruity drinks on the patio? Yes please.

My love affair with pina coladas is out of this world. They are worth every single one of their 9,000 calories. So much so, I had two :)

We tried a new spot for dinner on Friday (thanks Groupon Now for the push) and we were pleasantly surprised. A Friday fish fry, a huge outdoor patio, and pina coladas on special. Does it get any better?

After a slow moving Saturday morning (oh how I love waking up without an alarm), we headed to the Morton Arboretum to enjoy the sun at one of Chicago's best outdoor spots.

As soon as I saw the maze garden, my Harry Potter geek meter went off, playing a million Goblet of Fire scenarios in my mind. But after thinking back to our previous corn maze experience, we decided to spare ourselves the anxiety/agony and just enjoy the maze from above.

Pretty flowers, happy little bee.

For lunch we packed a picnic and found a great little spot near the lake to unfold our blanket.

The view, looking up, from our picnic blanket. I'm hardly the "outdoorsy type" but even I can't deny this loveliness.

After lunch, I caught up with Harry and his friends, in preparation for the upcoming movie. July 15...anyone else counting down?!

The Arboretum has over 1,700 acres of gardens, woods, and lakes, so it truly is impossible to experience everything in a visit, so after our picnic, Matt and I agreed to hike the trail to Big Rock. I was slightly unprepared for the hike as I thought it would be more of a "stroll through heavily manicured gardens." Not entirely lol. So after a little bit of whining, I calmed down and we set off for a solid hour hike.

I can't help but laugh at this picture. A little lost and a lot hot, we pause for a break, and in true fashion, Matt turns to the map and I turn to the camera. We make a good pair us two :)

So there you have it, a little sneak peek into our sunshine filled weekend. What was your weekend like? PS: Don't forget about my Stella & Dot giveaway! You've got a few more days to enter to win one of two awesome prizes! Hope your weekend was lovely and that this week is even better!

Alphabet Me

2011-06-02T11:19:00.001-05:00

{etsy via my pinterest}

Ambition: be good to the ones I love and use my degree in a creative way...
Bad Habit: eating raw cookie dough...
City: Chicago...
Drink: Diet Dr. Pepper...
Education: almost done with this dang ph.d...
Food: potatoes...mashed, baked, fried, cubed, oh how I love them...
Guilty Pleasure: buying one more black dress...
Hometown: Carrollton, Texas...
Ice Cream: Blue Bell Fudge Nut Brownie...
Jonesing for: a beach vacation...
Kryptonite: obsessively buying, sending, and loving snail mail...
Look-a-like: I get Katherine Heigl a lot, and even though I don't think I look anything like her, I think she is gorgeous, so I'll take it...
Movie: Legally Blonde, Wish Upon a Star, Mean Girls, Emperor's New Groove, Home Alone...
Nickname: Alli, AJ, Neebs, Sprinks...
Obsession: my little brother, he's the shiz...
Perfume: Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue...
Quirk: when possible, i prefer to write in all lowercase letters...
Regret: not studying abroad in college...
Starbucks: grande sugar-free caramel soy latte...
Thrift Find of the Year: a vintage Diane von Furstenberg silk scarf...for a dollar...
University: Boomer Sooner...
Vacation: Positano, Italy, absolute paradise...
Wine: yes please, red...
X: now this one is just impossible...
Years: 27...
Zen: being with the people I love...

Leave me a letter or two about you, I'd love to get to you know you better. Or better yet, do an "alphabet me" post on your blog and leave me the link so I can come and visit!

Stella and Dot GIVEAWAY!

2011-06-01T09:17:00.001-05:00

Today I am thrilled to be hosting a fabulous and just-in-time-for-summer Stella & Dot giveaway! I think everyone has heard of Stella & Dot, but in case you've been living under a rock, the company has recently burst onto the scene with fresh, youthful, and one of a kind jewelry designs. I have been drooling over their stuff for months now, so when Ellaine, an LA based Stella & Dot stylist contacted me about doing a giveaway, I jumped at the chance. The only thing better than pretty baubles and big bling is gifting pretty baubles and big bling to my fabulous readers!

And to get summer started right, Ellaine has graciously offered TWO prizes. The first is a $50 gift certificate good towards any purchase in Ellaine's e-boutique. $50 to spend on whatever your bling loving heart desires! Here's how to enter:
1. "Like" Ellaine's Stella and Dot Facebook page and leave her a comment/wall post.
2. Then come back here, and leave a comment telling me what your favorite piece is.
**You must do both steps to be entered in the giveaway.

And for another entry, "like" Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles' Facebook page and leave a separate blog comment telling me you did so. Two chances to win...yes please!

And to sweeten the deal, for every $50 you spend, your name will be entered in a drawing to win the Petra bracelet (a $98 value and seen on Leighton Meister on Gossip Girl!) Here's how to purchase from Ellaine and get qualified for the drawing.

Visit www.stelladot.com/ellainec and click on "find your hostess."

Type "smartandsassy" into the host first name spot, search, and follow the link to our private trunk show.

Once you do this, you'll see my blog name as the party host, and you're ready to start shopping!

Both giveaways will close Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 11:59 pm. I already have a list a mile long of baubles I love, earrings I want to gift to friends, and bracelets I can stack halfway up my arm. Best of luck and a huge thanks to Ellaine for providing Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles with such a fabulous giveaway!

My New Summer Staple

2011-05-30T21:41:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I find an accessory or piece of clothing that induces instant swooning, instant vows to include it in my daily wardrobe. My most recent swoon-worthy purchase? This Panama hat. I stumbled upon it about a week and a half ago in the men's department at Nordstrom and was certain it was the perfect addition to my summer wardrobe. But just to be sure, I plopped it on my head and wore it around the store for a good 15 minutes. After that time, I was certain it would be on my head for the rest of the summer. So it came home with me. I have a feeling it'll see its fair share of blog photos, but until then, I wanted to introduce you. Readers, meet my new summer hat...summer hat meet my fabulous readers!

Hat: Nordstrom
Jacket: Gap
Belt: super old...Gap? Banana?
Necklace: Ann Taylor
Bracelet: Ann Taylor

Home to Celebrate

2011-05-27T12:58:00.001-05:00

"Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we falter."
Brad Henry

This weekend I am home in Texas to celebrate this guy's graduation. The end of one chapter and the start of another for my sweet brother, the first love of my life. Friends and family are coming in from all over, and I can't wait to celebrate with them. Cheers to new beginnings, celebrations, and time with crazy family! Have a wonderful weekend :)

Facebook Bound

2011-05-25T12:40:00.001-05:00

Guess who is FINALLY on Facebook? That's right, I have joined the times and gotten this little blog a Facebook page. So why don't you head on over and give me a "like." I've got a giveaway coming up that will be done using Facebook, so hop on over and get a head start. Find me here!

Arizona Recap

2011-05-24T09:43:00.001-05:00

We've been back from Arizona for over a week, yet I'm just getting around to posting pictures...bad blogger! We had a wonderful time in Phoenix, and it was so great to have the whole gang in Arizona. Matt's sister and her two kids came in from California, Matt's brother Josh and his fiance Anthony flew in from New York, and Matt and I of course flew in from Chicago. It was a full house, but we loved it.

First stop on Davis family trips...brunch at The Good Egg. Always followed by shopping. The first time I met Matt's family, I knew I liked them. Our priorities are the same...eat, shop, take pictures.

Sibling love.

Another group shot, after a full day of cardio, err, I mean shopping. After a quick rest we headed out to dinner to celebrate Matt's belated birthday.

To celebrate, Matt's dad picked a spot called The Mining Camp, a barbeque joint that has been in Mesa for over 4o years. The food is served family style on giant platters and tin plates. It sounded a little sketchy, but in the end, we all agreed it was the perfect choice. Even the New Yorkers above liked it :)

Any reason to celebrate Matt is fine by me :)

Hahhhaa, I love this picture of Josh, his biscuit, and his baked beans. We were all a combination of horribly disgusted and totally delighted with the amount of food that was on the table. But in the end, we had no trouble packing away all that goodness.

The waitress was thrilled to hear it was Matt's birthday. She brought out a homemade oatmeal cookie, ice cream, and a train whistle to accompany our table's rendition of happy birthday.

Bowling with Matt and I's niece, Alex. She is turning into quite the little fashionista!

At lunch, I couldn't help but order the fruitiest, girliest cocktail on the menu. Back in Chicago it was cold and rainy, so I soaked up the Arizona heat and the opportunity to cool down with a fruity frozen beverage.

Anthony's first Pizookie experience. I'm not sure how someone goes their whole life without that deep dish cookie/ice cream goodness, but Anthony had. Clearly, we had to change that, but he didn't seem to mind :)

Our last night there, we headed out to Tucson for Matt's cousin's wedding. The wedding was outside at the Westin La Paloma and it was beyond beautiful!

Matt's cousin, Ian and his gorgeous wife Sarah. (Remember when they visited us back in September?) Congrats you two!

That background makes it almost impossible to take a bad picture!

And because, I love this dress so much, I had to show yall a better picture. I spotted this Tracy Reese dress at Anthropologie back in December and instantly fell in love with it. Its the perfect combination of garden gnome and fairy princess!

Dress: Tracy Reese, Anthropologie
Earrings/Bracelet: Ann Taylor
Clutch: Coach

So there you have it, our yearly trip to Arizona. We don't see Matt's family nearly enough, but thankfully we have both Matt's graduation and Josh and Anthony's New York wedding happening this fall, so we're sure to see them at least two more times this year. And as always, thanks to the Davis family for adding me to your family and making me feel so welcome!

I'm Alive, I Promise!

2011-05-22T12:16:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

Oh my goodness, it has been nearly a week and a half since my last post, eeek! I didn't realize quite how long it had been until a coworker (hi Nicole!) asked, "Why haven't you updated your blog lately?!" Guilty. I was out of commission during our Arizona trip and since then we've been so busy I haven't had a spare minute to blog. I promise to be back tomorrow with an Arizona recap, but until then, here's a peak at what's been going on in my neck of the woods lately...

Hanging with family in Phoenix...
Enjoying the insanely-tardy-but-finally-sunny weather in Chicago...
Cranking out some work on my dissertation (I hate it, but it has to be done)...
Working on a surprise slideshow for my brother's graduation next weekend...
Grilling out every chance possible...
Soaking up evening walks with Matt...
Settling into our new one bedroom and learning how to properly downsize...
Loving our new church home...
House creeping with Matt (similar to house hunting but not quite as serious)...
Scouting new spring patios with friends...
Finding a roommate and a place to call home next year on internship (catch up on that jazz here)...
Catching up on my favorite nerd show, "Numbers." (Thank you Netflix for releasing 293 episodes)...
Planning our September trip to NYC...

I promise to be back tomorrow to resume normal blogging. Till then, cheers to the last little bit of the weekend and may you soak up rest, sunshine, and whatever else your soul needs to recharge!

Scoozie and an OOTD

2011-05-11T01:14:00.001-05:00

One of my most favorite parts about living in Chicago is the constant flow of visitors. Its seems like every other week someone we know is in town for business, to see family, or just for a quick weekend getaway. Matt and I always laugh that we had more visitors in our first two months of living in Chicago than we did during our four year stay in tiny Texas grad school land. (We laugh, but its true.) So last week when my friend and sorority sister Emily emailed me to let me know she'd be in town for a few days, I was thrilled! There are few things I love more than seeing old friends and showing off our fabulous city, so the chance to combine the two is a definite win in my book!

We met for dinner and drinks at Scoozi, one of the oldest Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants in the city. I'd heard pretty good things about it and had been wanting to try it for a while, so luckily Emily was trusting and up for trying something new. And in shocking dinner news, Matt and I arrived early! I didn't even know I was capable of such things :)

And you know what they say...the early bird gets the wine! So wine we did :) Scoozi's wine list was posted on the wall, and I was grateful for the variety in both type and price. (Sometimes wining and dining in Chicago can get a bit insane pricewise. so its always refreshing when restaurants here have options.)

Emily (on the right) and her good friend Holly (who after 5 minutes I felt like I'd known for years.) I love that they have been friends forever and though they live in different cities, they make it a point to travel together every so often.

Matt's birthday didn't technically start for a few more hours, but I couldn't resist the chance to surprise him with a birthday dessert. Unfortunately our server didn't catch my stealth signals, so I pretty much spelled it out in front of Matt (and half the restaurant) that I wanted a candle in our dessert lol.

What could be better than happy-almost-birthday profiteroles?

After finishing up at Scoozi, we headed to Fountainhead for my friend Christie's going away party. I am going to miss her so much its insane! The past year in Chicago has been incredible, and Matt and I owe so much of that to Christie. She has graciously showed us so much of the city, helping us transition from tourist Texans to almost-native Chicagoans. Its been so fun this past year to relieve our elementary school days, having impromptu sleepovers, movie nights, and late night laugh sessions. And though I wanted to cry myself into a puddle when I hugged her goodbye, I vowed not to be "that girl" bawling in a bar.
PS: Christie, I miss you already. Are you ready for a reunion yet? :)

Excuse me for being a sorority cheeseball here, but there really is something special about the bond you share with your sorority sisters. Time goes by, people change, but there's something comforting about coming back together long after rush skits, Kappa tshirts, and 700 College Bachelor/Bachelorette watch parties :)

And since Matt was with me (and we were actually early), I was able to get a quick OOTD picture...

Top: Ann Taylor
Blazer: Tahari
Jeans: Gap
Earrings: thrifted
Bracelet: Ann Taylor
Rings: vintage
Heels: Ann Taylor
Sunglasses: Gucci
Bag: Charles David
Scarf (on bag): Anthropologie

I hadn't originally intended to wear the blazer, but in true Chicago fashion, the temperature dropped about 20 degrees as we were leaving. Typical. Luckily though, Matt and I are getting away from the Chicago weather for a few days, as we are heading to Arizona tomorrow to see Matt's family and go to his cousin's wedding. Hooray for sunshine, no humidity and the chance to wear open toed shoes! Its the little things, right? :)

OOTD: Whoever Said Orange Was the New Pink...

2011-05-09T10:26:00.001-05:00

If you can finish the sentence from the title of this post, we are destined to be best blog friends. If not, well, I suggest you quickly brush up on your classic movie knowledge :)

I've never been a big fan of orange (especially when it has to do with a certain university in Texas.) I've always considered the color to be an enemy with my first and true color love, pink. But when I saw this orange number at Ann Taylor, I had to try it. Sure, it had all the wrong things going for it...the color, the oversized bag-lady territory...but something called me to try it on. And I'm so glad I did, because I LOVE it! I wore this last week on Cinco de Mayo when most of you were sunning on the patio and sipping margaritas. But I was stuck working a shift at the store, so I figured if I had to be putting back clothes instead of cocktails, I could at least look festive doing it :)

Open cardigan: Ann Taylor (sold out in orange, but here in different colors)
Dress: J. Crew (its navy jersey, but looks black in the pictures)
Belt: Gap
Necklace: vintage; from a trip to Cabo
Ring: David Yurman
Earrings: my mom's from the 80s :)

The orange looks a little different in real life than it does in these pictures, but I guess that's what you get with not-so-awesome bathroom lighting :)

I got this chunky beaded necklace when I went to Cabo one spring break in college, and even though I love it, I always have a hard time pairing with actual outfits. So when I couldn't decide between the beaded or the gold necklace, I just decided to wear both!

PS: Notice a different background from my usual bathroom OOTD pics? When Matt and I moved a few weekends ago, we had to start sharing a bathroom. Which sadly meant my wall of jewelry storage system had to be relocated (tear!) It took some getting used to, but I'm adjusting :)

So while my love for pink is still in full force, its going to have to make some room, because I have a feeling this orange number is going to see a ton of wear this summer. Is anyone else being a traitor to their favorite color this season?

My Mom

2011-05-08T21:50:00.001-05:00

My mom is amazing for so many reasons and so many things. But what I find more incredible than her unwavering love, her ability to win the laughing game, or her determination to make any small step into a major celebration is the fact that 27 Aprils ago, when the doctor handed her that tiny, red, smooshed, alien looking baby, she didn't give it back and say, "Nevermind." :)

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You're the best friend a girl could ask for.

Happy Birthday Matt!

2011-05-08T02:44:00.001-05:00

Dear Matt,

You are the key to my locket,
the sprinkles to my cupcake,
and the lovesong to my soundtrack.

You make the good days fabulous,
the bad days bearable,
and the ordinary days anything but.

You are my rock,
my lifeline,
and my comedian.

And today, on your birthday,
I hope you know how very much you mean to me,
and how very much I love you.

Happy birthday, handsome.

The Counter

2011-05-04T23:52:00.001-05:00

Last Friday, we headed out to celebrate some recent FABULOUS news for my dear friend Christie. I feel weird revealing her personal life on my blog (my friends are troopers enough with my constant camera toting and blog talking) but let me just say, its big, amazing, and fabulous news. In short, she is getting a huge award/fellowship to finish her Ph.D in Italy! Oh yes, you read that right...ITALY. See, I told you it was big news! And what better way to celebrate big news than gourmet burgers, fancy fried pickles, and "adult" milkshakes :)

After a year of me living in Chicago, I think Christie has finally gotten used to my train photo opps :)

After hearing about The Counter, one of Chicago's favorite build-your-own burger joints, on Gilt City, I knew we had to try it. (And the discount deal didn't hurt either.) The "check yes or no" paper menu approach is broken down into 5 catagories: Choose your burger, cheese, toppings, sauce, and bun.

Hahaha, I love this picture. Jess and Christie were deep into burger building at this point. Though all the ingredients were amazing, fresh, and some pretty unique, it was totally overwhelming to narrow down your choices!

Me and my burger builder :) I decided to go with a beef burger with brie cheese, bacon, dried cranberries, lettuce, cucumbers, and apricot sauce on a pretzel bun. I know it sounds a little crazy, but...

...it was SO GOOD!

And to finish off the meal...adult milkshakes! We chose the Banana Split which was a banana milkshake with cherry vodka and whip cream. And not only was it delicious, but the Skyy cherry made it taste just like a one-sip banana split!

The fabulous guest of honor! I can't wait to see all that God has in store for her in ITALY, eeek!

Anyone else out there a major fan of build-your-own burger spots? The Counter has several locations across the country, so check out their website to see if there is one near you. And by the way, in case you're wondering, I am already scheming how I can get myself to Italy to visit Christie. I mean, I can't let her experience all that fabulousness without me? :)

Weekend Loves

2011-05-02T11:36:00.001-05:00

Soaking up a sunshine filled Friday...
Celebrating a friend's big news with dinner at The Counter...
Waking up to the smell of waffles...
Flipping through my pile of backed up magazines...
Beautifying our porch for spring...
Going for an afternoon walk/jog...
Enjoying a yummy lunch at Noodles and Co...
Watching a Scrubs marathon...
Cosmic bowling...
Grilling homemade pizzas
Soaking up a nourishing church service...
Cheering long distance for my brother who got a big award at school...
Sipping a long-craved pina colada...
Loving the return of our herb garden (complete with new cute tin labels)...

What were you loving this weekend?

Moving Day Treasures

2011-04-27T00:26:00.001-05:00

{we heart it}

This weekend, Matt and I did the "big" move, shuffling our stuff a couple hundred feet to a different unit, downsizing from a two bed/two bath to a one bed/one bath. In addition to pulling out our hair about how everything was going to fit in our new place, we got some great laughs over the crazy, silly, and sentimental stuff we found amidst the rubble...

My very first OU shirt (tear!)...
945 bobby pins. You think I'm kidding...
An Anthro candle I had stashed away for a special occasion...
My muscles (which are now sore noodles)...
A large stash of Glamour, Lucky, and InStyle magazines that in are desperate need of my reading attention...
A random ankle brace. Matt's humorous response and short lived plea to keep it: "I might hurt my ankle someday!"
Three separate stash piles of broken-but-I-swear-I'm-gonna-fix-it jewelry...
My notes from both semesters of grad school statistics. Hello trashcan!
Four half-read and never finished books next to my bed...
Over a dozen unburned Christmas candles. I prepare in advance for a cinnamon scented Christmas...
Matt's haven't-been-worn-since-high-school ski pants. If you save pants for 10 years without wearing them once, you are close to being submitted for an episode of Hoarders...
My 35 page grad school meta-theory paper that I wrote in 24 hours and got a big red "100" on. Don't judge me if I kept that for days I need a self-esteem boost...
Old love letters from Matt (swoon!)...
My P90X gear. Good thing that kick lasted a whole three weeks...
4 unopened bottles of Windex, compliments of Matt always "swearing" we're out...
A cute Juicy blazer I'd completely forgotten about. Hooray for "new" clothes...
Britney's fabulous 2008 Rolling Stone cover. Oh how I love her...

But the best find of the day?

Spice World on VHS. Hell yeah.

What "treasures" have you found during a move? :)

Wedding Etc.

2011-04-21T09:25:00.001-05:00

I realize that by now, you might be tired of me talking about my best friend's wedding last month. I've already blogged about the bachelorette party and the wedding, but I have a few more pictures from wedding weekend events that I wanted to share. Last round I promise! :)

Thursday before the wedding, Jordan and her mom hosted a high tea for the bridal party. We wore pretty dresses, sipped tea with our pinkies lifted, and nibbled on pretty bite-sized desserts.

The only thing I loved more than my new dress was the fact that it let it me wear my favorite pair of shoes ever. Fuchsia Stuart Weitzman peep toe heels!

Jordan's rehearsal bouquet made by yours truly! Ok, who am I kidding? My dear friend Melissa did most of it the night before as I had a near panic attack looking at all the loose ribbons from Jordan's showers wondering what the hell I'd gotten myself into. Thank you Melissa, it turned out beautiful, blinged out and everything!

Me and my man :)

Hard to believe we've been best friends for 13 years!
UPDATE: A few people have asked about my dress. Its Tadashi Shoji from Nordstrom. Its a little over the top in the sequin department, but all the more reason to love it :)

The pretty bride-to-be :)

In front on Perkins Chapel the night before the big day. The four of us never fail to have a good time when we're together.

Almost married, eeek!

Richenda, Jordan, and I representing CHS Mustangs :)

Our table at Iron Cactus for the rehearsal dinner. Quick story about Matt's toast at the rehearsal dinner: When Matt and I got married, Ricky gave a toast at the rehearsal dinner and presented Matt with a hilarious t-shirt that on the front said "Groom" and on the back it paid homage to my super confusing hyphenated name, saying "Mr. Hyphen-Davis." (My last name isn't really Hyphen-Davis, but you get the picture. I still feel weird about putting my full last name on my blog.) So for payback, Matt poked fun at Jordan's obsession with rhinestones and monograms, giving Ricky a bright green shirt monogramed with "Groom" and bedazzled with a million rhinestones. It was perfect (and yes, Ricky wore it the whole next day lol!)

Two days later, after the wedding madness was over, we got to have brunch with our dear friend Miguel. He lives about an hour and a half outside of Dallas, so he was kind enough to drive up and spend the afternoon with us before we flew back to Chicago. Seeing Miguel and hearing him and Matt laugh always warms my heart beyond belief. We miss that guy!

Ok, so that's the last of wedding stuff, I promise! Hope your Thursday is fabulous, the weekend is almost here, woo hoo!

Closet Confessions

2011-04-19T00:05:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, while procrastinating horribly on some freelance work, I was doing some internet hopping (the modern girly girl's version of internet surfing) when I stumbled across Bluefly's Closet Confessions feature. Instant obsession! They profile some of the big name celebs as they take viewers on a behind the seams tour of their coveted closets. (Hahha, get it...behind the seams/behind the scenes...I am sooo funny!)

I started out intending to watch only Giuliana Rancic's and before I knew it, I was clicking through some of fashion's heaviest hitters. Thankfully, these videos take a more fun and lighthearted approach to celebs' closets, so you're left feeling 95% inspired/happy and only 5% jealous. (You can't help but be a teensy bit jealous of their fabulous threads!)

You can see all the Closet Confessions here, though my favorites are definitely Giuliana, Kimora Lee Simmons, Kelly Cutrone (super cute with her daughter), Nicky Hilton, and of course, Bethenny Frankel. (I recommend watching Bethenny's last because she'll have you in tears laughing over her honesty.)

So if you're looking to do a little procrastinating/internet hopping, have a peek at Bluefly's page. But don't blame me if you spend more than a few minutes there...

*ps: I was not paid or compensated for this post, I just saw it and wanted to share :)

Blind Date Brunch

2011-04-17T22:46:00.001-05:00

I went on my first blind date this weekend. True story. And despite all the horror stories I've heard about blind dates, this one was pretty fantastic. The conversation was great, the food was fabulous, and I spent about 90% of the meal laughing hysterically. See, told you, a blind date gem I had. But this wasn't a romantic blind date (that'd be pretty weird considering I'm married and all), this was a blogger blind date!

Erin and I have been followers of each others blogs for a while and after a lot of commenting and emailing back and forth about Chicago events, recommendations, and must sees, we finally decided to meet up in person. (I realize that to some people, especially non-bloggers, this might seem a little creepy, but we were both fairly certain the other wasn't a serial killer, so the creeper factor was seriously reduced.)

Both of us had been dying to try Hot Chocolate, so we scheduled a Saturday brunch and met up in Wicker Park. Even though we'd both been drooling over the menu for a few weeks, it was so hard to decide what to order. Everything looked so good!

Erin, her fabulous necklace, and her yummy french toast. So nice to finally put a face to the blog :)

Cheers to non-creepy blogger first dates!

Homemade donuts? Yes please.

Me, my quiche, and my almost empty Bellini (shocker.)

Outside the restaurant before doing a little shopping. (It wouldn't be a blogger meet up without at least a little shopping!) PS: If you're wondering why we're both bundled up beyond belief its because Chicago is season-challenged and can't the memo that spring is supposed to be here. Parts of the city got snow on Saturday. Sheesh. Get with it Chicago.

So to all of you who've had terrible blind dates, my condolences. Because my first blind date was a total success. Lots of laughing, more than a few "omg, me toooo" moments, and a big hug goodbye. A second date is definitely in the works :) Thanks Erin for a fabulous brunch!

PS: Has anyone else done a blogger blind date? Was it awesome like mine or totally creepy lol?

27...and A Year in Review

2011-04-12T12:29:00.001-05:00

Today is the day, the big 27! My morning started off perfectly with a sweet smile and a "happy birthday" from Matt and a million emails, texts, and FB messages. Because I'm a big fan of reflection (and because I did this post last year and loved it) I'm celebrating 27 by taking a look back at all the things 26 threw my way.

I celebrated my 26th birthday with some of my best friends at a Texas vineyard and had a blast sipping wine, nibbling on fancy cheese, and laughing till my face hurt.

I spent the year with some fabulous students and tearfully said goodbye as we all moved on. But not before a celebration and some obsessive picture taking :)

Matt and I flew to Arizona to see his family and celebrate his birthday before our big cross country move.

The biggest adventure of 26 was certainly our move to Chicago! After two full cars, a jam packed U-haul, and two and a half days on the road, we arrived in our new home!

Matt and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary together. (I can't believe we're already coming up on our second, eek!)

We flew to New York for the fabulous wedding of one of Matt's childhood friends. The wedding was breathtaking, and we also got to squeeze in some sightseeing and family time with Matt's brother.

We explored Chicago and fell in love with our new home. The Windy City is so beautiful and I'm constantly pinching myself to see if we really live here.

I fulfilled a long time bucket wish list to see Sarah McLachlan in concert. It was beyond amazing.

My little brother flew back from Spain and came to see me in Chicago! My love affair with picture taking at The Bean was already in full swing :)

Matt and I traveled back to our grad school stomping grounds so he could get his university ring and I could propose my dissertation. Success on both fronts!

We experienced a true fall, and I fell head-over-heels in love with the season. We went apple picking, and it became one of my top 3 favorite things we've done since moving to Chicago.

Our best friend Miguel came to visit and we celebrated his birthday with our first trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo and an insane amount of good Chicago food.

Matt's sister Julie and her family came to visit us, and we got to do one of our favorite things, play tour guide!

We spent Christmas in Chicago with my family and had our first white Christmas in years. It was one of the best Christmases I've ever had and having my family in Matt and I's new city was the best present of all.

We survived our first Chicago winter complete with a blizzard and 2+ feet of snow!

Prayers were answered as Matt landed a full time position in Chicago. Best news of 26 was certainly the fact that we get to make Chicago our long time, permanent home. We celebrated and continued to say "Oh my gosh, I can't believe we get to stay here" all throughout dinner :)

After completing a million applications, interviewing all over the place, and enduring way too many hours of "what if" stress, I found out that I matched for an internship position at an incredible spot. Blessed is not even the word. One step closer to those three little initials!

My best friend got married and I flew back to Dallas for showers, bachelorette parties, and of course the big day. I loved being able to share so much of the experience with her.

My brother came back to Chicago for a spring break visit, and like any obsessive big sister, I was thrilled to have him in town and spoil him Chicago style.

To say 26 was a year of blessings is an understatement. I also learned a lot about sacrifice, conquering fear, and trusting God's plan. Throughout it all, I've been surrounded by incredible people (including you!) who have supported and encouraged me. And honestly, that is the very best birthday present a girl could ever ask for! Thank you for the bottom of my heart.

PS: In this post, I asked what yall were looking forward to about April, and oh my goodness, there are SO many exciting things going on! Weddings, trips, babies, visitors...I am so excited for all the fun things happening and I can't wait to hear all about them on your blogs!