Here Ducky, Ducky...

Shirt- Forever 21, Pants- American Eagle, Boots- Old Navy, Bracelet- H&M, Necklace- Edor Jewelry, Sunglasses- Kate Spade

     I am not sure how it happened but yesterday was a sunny Saturday afternoon out and about eating tacos and playing with ducks, and today was a miserable, dreary, rainy Sunday where we didn't accomplish much and I had the sniffles all day. Sooo as you can tell, these photos are from yesterday. We drove high and low looking for a horse or a barn since I was feeling very equestrian-ish, but it was not to be found. Well, one without a 'No Trespassing' sign. So this gorgeous pond full of ducks and geese had to do, I am glad the geese weren't out because they are mean!  

     Currently, I am in the worlds most cozy blanket (I swear it is! It's the Target Home micro fleece.) with a cup of Refresh tea and watching the Screen Actors Guild Awards and I don't plan on doing much else tonight! Sounds good if you ask me. It has definitely been a week for the books... but one of those books I would like to forget. I hope next week is much, much better! 

     And if you haven't yet, go visit this post right here and enter to win a gorgeous pair of earrings from one of my favorite Etsy shops! 

Amazing 1st Giveaway!

     So remember how I said I was waiting for some goodies from Etsy? Well I got my pretty necklace, and I loved it so, so, much that I wanted to tell you all about it and share! But, what better way to share then with a giveaway!?

     Cindy, at Edor Jewelry is going to give one of my super lucky readers a pair of earrings (of your choice!) from her amazing shop! I had ordered the Sentiment necklace as a little treat for myself and when it came in the mail it felt like Christmas morning! It was wrapped up like a little treasure and the necklace itself is so vibrant, dainty and perfect. I already showed the boy what else I need (yes, need!) from her shop (ahem, alice emerald, ahem). Her shop is full of beautiful goodies that you could treat yourself to as an early Valentines Day gift! 

     Also, as a thank you to my readers for being so nice to me and my little blog baby (it's 3 months old this week!) this giveaway will be strictly for you guys, the followers! 

All you have to do is:

- Be a Follower by the close of this Giveaway (February 10th)

- Visit her shop here and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite item is or which pair of earrings you will be sporting soon!

- You can earn 1 extra entry if you post about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the link in the comments below. That's double the chance to have these pretties be yours!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Awkward and Awesome Thursday!

Another Thursday, another awkward and awesome post thanks to the lovely Sydney. 

Awkward-

- Russian man "Can I get a Peanut Butter Cookie", Me "Sure", "Can you warm it up?", "Of Course", "Can you do a little somthin' somthin' to it so it can get reaaaal hot?", "Uhh... we have an Oven. Thats it." Then I ran off to the back room and made someone else do it! AWKWARD!

- Being in the front yard with the dog at 8 am trying to get him to potty when your neighbors want to come chat, the mailman shows up, and your boyfriends mom comes over. Hair is a mess, no bra, no teeth brushing, nothing.

- Bodysuits. Especially bodysuits on adults. Forever 21, it isn't gonna happen!

- The acting on soap operas. I have been working nights and home in the day and man is it bad!!! Peoples Court and Maury are equally as awful. 

- This show on TV called "My Strange Addiction". People sleeping with blow dryers, eating couches... it is so weird!

Awesome-

 - Etsy. I love everything about this website and I can get lost browsing the shops for hours. 

- Awaiting two lovely new purchases thanks to Etsy!

- My mom bringing over a roast they have left over. Sandwiches for days!!!

- Having this Sunday off with no plans! Maybe a pajama and movie marathon?!

- Going to work early, helping out, but then it getting slow and you get to come home early! Sounds pretty good to me!

- Having the dog be sweet, quiet, and obedient in the morning time as opposed to earlier in the week when he was barking and crying for hours. 

- Nutella on toast. YUM!

To The Max

Dress- Mossimo @ Target, Jacket- Label says "AC", Sandals- Dolce Vita, Scarf- Forever 21

     Something about this outfit was so effortless and so simple, yet I really felt dressed up and cute all day. That always means you are going to have a good day when you put on clothes and instantly your mood changes. I actually love this black maxi dress and find it to be so versatile, but the boy doesn't care for it. I think it might be the fact its not a mini skirt, but what does he know! I know Lewis liked it, every time I walked by him he tried to bite it!

     I wanted to ask all of you what you would think if I were to open a little shop on this blog. I have so many unused and unworn clothes and bags I buy (Hello, my name is Hayley and I am a shopaholic...) and never wear. I was thinking of posting items every month or so, keeping shipping costs low and having it just go through Paypal. I can already think of a few Orla Kiely and Coach bags I would like to part with, not to mention a few Anthropologie dresses (worn literally once for some occasion) and sweaters. Would it be something you would be interested in? 

     Oh! And for someone who asked, that ring I am usually wearing is a Claddagh ring. Yes it is on my ring finger, but no I am not married! I actually was fortunate enough to spend a St Patrick's Day in Ireland one year and I bought the ring for myself from a little street vendor. It has a beautiful abalone shell inside the heart so it always looks blueish or greenish depending on the light. I love it!

Old Towne Stripes

     Last saturday we took a day trip down to Temecula to shop around and have lunch. We stopped at Rosa's Cafe. If you live nearby, and have never eaten here... you are missing out! The make handmade tortillas in front of you all day long, and they are so floury and warm when they serve them to you! I usually just get the burritos and Geoff gets a plate of chicken tacos. But, the best part is dessert! They fry the tortillas and put cinnamon and sugar on them and they give you a little honey bear and you can go to town. They are called Sopapillas and they are deeeeelicious! I dream of them!

     The town is kind of made to look like an old vintage type town in the downtown area only. There are plenty of restaurants and a really cool bar called The Bank, in what else but the old bank building, that looks like it is pretty hoppin. There are tons and tons of antique stores and little family and locally owned shops that sell everything from candy to dried fruit to clothes and even a root beer shop! We loved walking through the garden stores with really beautiful flowers and plants and interesting sculptures and fountains. People come down and park their fancy cars or motorcycles along the sidewalks and you get the men sitting on the stoops just watching everyone go by. It is really charming and a nice escape from the typical city life and traffic for a few hours to get away and feel like you are totally transported back in time!

And here is my entry for the Everybody, Everywhere  challenge. Today was Breton stripes, and since I committed a fashion flub and wore the same outfit today (GASP!), I am at least submitting the much more lovely photos from our trip out! 

Around the House

     Right now, I'm blogging, the boy is watching football and the puppy is asleep on the couch! Perfect Sunday if you ask me! Too bad that little thing called a job is going to get in the way soon and I will have to go sling lattes later. 'Til then I wanted to show you a few of my favorite things around our house! Enjoy!

1. Vintage movie marquee letters we picked up at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Sometimes we spell 'EAT' sometimes 'TEA'!

2. Orla Kiely jars holding spatulas and wooden spoons, and all of our cookbooks arranged on our counter give our white on white kitchen plenty of color.

3. Extra, extra large coffee cups saved for really serious caffeine situations!

1. Our new wall full of frames. Photos taken on vacation, of the puppy, and prints I have purchased off of Etsy. I can stare at these forever. Such great memories!

2. The boy loves Legos. Enter the Lego Architecture series. We usually get one a year of somewhere we have been and he builds away. These live on our mantel next to framed photos, vases and another lego Ferrari.

3. Authentic Danish furniture inherited by family, and my Orla Kiely pillow brought all the way back from London!

4. Wallpaper city guides, Anthropologie candles, and a Ceramic White Owl piggy bank sit atop my desk in our living room.

Lessons in Light

Shirt- Forever 21, Skirt- Forever 21, Necklace- Forever 21, Tights- Target, Boots- Old Navy, Sunglasses- Kate Spade

     I am calling an S.O.S out to the blog world for some advice here. I do not like to wear short skirts, or full skirts. But I couldn't pass up this cute skirt the other day. My problem is, I want to wear it higher, where it looks better on the waist but it gets muuuuuch shorter. The boy says I should wear it lower on my hips, where it isn't as flattering, but covers more. Fellow followers, what do you think? These photos were kinda taken in the middle range, because I kept fiddling with the skirt the whole time!

     We went to Old Town Temecula today to get the car out for a ride (Geoff has a 1986 Porsche) and to stock up on delicious tortillas at one of our favorite restaurants. We wandered the streets and within minutes found this cool green wall and decided this would be our spot. Good spot, bad lighting. I would like to know how everyone gets such wonderful photos with such great lighting?! Our little shoots are still a work in progress and the camera kept throwing an error message. I am guessing 1 p.m. isn't the ideal time either, but hey, I had lunch to eat first! 

     Okay I still have half a Saturday to burn so I am going to go kindly ask the boy to take me to a movie in return for a home cooked meal tonight! Happy Weekend!

(Apologies for that graffiti, I am not sure what it says but I can make out one word... whoops!)

Wanna Laugh Really, Really Hard?

You're Welcome!!!

     Remember when I told you guys "If only I knew how to make a GIF then I could show you something funny"? Well, apparently it is as easy as just googling it and letting a website make one for you. So I thought, what better to kick off your weekend then sharing one of my proudest moments with you guys. Sometimes posing and trying to look cute seems awkward so I say I am just going to walk back and forth and tell Geoff to take photos. Well, this is what happens when you are shimmying in the mud in heels!!

     On another totally exciting and thrilling note, the incredible ladies over at For the Love of Blogs featured me today on their Featured Blog Post. The ladies are so sweet over there and their community is so great, I have found so  many cool new blogs to read! Looks like today was a silly day to not check the internet. I came home wondering how the heck I had so many new faces around here! So welcome, new friends! Ooh, Lewis also just so happens to be featured on their Photo of the Day today as well! I might be biased, but he is ridiculously cute. 

Feeling Inspired by Aztec

1. Bindya Scarf $45

2. Dwell Studio Ikat Cushion $58

3. Southwest Kisslock Wallet $20

4. Colorblock Fedora $13.80

5. Ikat Ceramic Bowls $8

6. Gothic Large Shield Necklace $8.80

7. Aztec Print PJ $5.80

     As of late I cannot walk past anything that is in an ikat print or very aztec influenced without stopping and wanting to take it home with me! I think it is the warming trend we are going through... making my mind gravitate towards these bold punches of color. I cant wait to wear a large statement necklace over a flowing maxi dress or layer with a multi-colored scarf. Plus, how cute would your cereal look in one of those mini bowls? This is just a handful of things that are inspiring me at the moment. 

What is making you feel inspired this week?

Four Months

     Yesterday was one of those days where I just kind of needed to unwind and unplug. It might have had something to do with the 80 degree weather, I am not sure... Sunshine or not I still had to be awake at 3 am for work but was off by 9 am, so I couldn't complain too much. I headed down to Newport Beach and my friend and I wandered Ikea, met up with Geoff for lunch and shopped around Fashion Island for awhile. All I came home with was a frame from Ikea but I really, truly, could have bought everything inside the Kate Spade store! So apologies for the lack of post, and outfit shot. By the time I got home yesterday it was all about comfy clothes and a nap!

     Today this boy is officially four months old. I cant get over how big he is, how smart he is, and how bad he can be at times! Since he has really only experienced the winter, this weather is such a change for him. He loves sitting out on the hot asphalt in the afternoon and rolling all around. I do not like this because my white dog looks gray when we get inside!! We really need sidewalks in my neighborhood! 

Off to make a fancy dinner of  Mac and Cheese (by fancy, I mean straight outta the Kraft box). Anyone want to come fold my laundry for me?

Guest Post: Get the Look!

     

     My dear friend and amazing Make-Up Artist, Rachel Rose offered up her time and expertise to write a little guest post on how to get one of her current favorite looks for the Spring. She is the beauty editor over at ELIZA Magazine, works for Make Up For Ever, and is a great friend to have around when you are feeling ugly... two seconds in her bathroom and your better then ever! Anyways, enjoy her post while I take the day off and enjoy some homemade spaghetti courtesy of my favorite guy!

     Michael Kors had one of my favorite beauty looks on his Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear runway. The hair is tousled and non-fussy with that orbit of fuzz that just screams casual luxury. There are a few designers who have a hair and make-up aesthetic that just hit it out of the park regularly, Kors is definitely one of them. The make-up on his Spring 2011 RTW runway is both wearable and fresh. It’s a great look to start the transition from winter to spring. 

     Start with a sheer base such as Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Make Up ($38) and apply with your fingers focusing on the areas of the face that might require a little extra lovin’. The great thing about this foundation is that it sets itself and doesn’t require powder... oh yeah, and it’s also sweat-resistant, waterproof and consists of 80% rosewater, so it’s gel texture really wakes up the skin. Apply concealer as usual over the foundation and set with a bit of translucent powder if you need a bit more coverage. 

     The key ingredient in this look is the coral blush, I am a huge fan of Benefit Cosmetic’s Coralista powder ($28), it’s a bright coral that has exceptional buildability and a teeny-tiny hint of sheen to give the apples of the cheeks a healthy pop. Bright blushes tend to incite fear in a lot of women, but I am telling you, fear not- they are super awesome and give a beautiful (and most times natural) glow. It’s always better (and easier) to build up to your desired color than to try to tone down a very saturated product. So, dip your brush lightly, tap off the excess powder and then build your color, one stroke at a time- be sure to check it out in natural light too. Smile big and start applying the color at the apples of your cheeks and then move toward the side of the face. 

     The eyes are simple and rich. Using a brown instead of black creates a soft, dramatic and fresh look. Opt out of the black liner and go with a glowy cool brown cream shadow such as Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream #15 ($22) followed by a rich brown liner such as Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Bourbon ($17). Apply the cream shadow with your finger, gently dabbing on the eyelid and blending out, keep it lightweight here- a little goes a long way. Blend until the desired shape and shade intensity is achieved. After the cream shadow is applied, gently line and smudge the liner on the top and bottom of the eye avoiding the inner corner tear duct area. After the shadow and liner are placed, use a sheer luminizer such as Yves St. Laurent Touche D’Or in the inner corners of the eyes and above the cupid’s bow of the lip to add a radiance to the look. Finish the look with a quick sweep of your favorite mascara- I love Maybelline Falsies ($5). 

 

     The lips in this look are an interesting combination of bright and mute, opt for a less glossy tinted balm such as Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter, the color is sheer and the product will keep your lips hydrated and soft all day. This stuff is paraben-free, sulfate-free and infused with shea butter. Simply dab on with your finger, throw in your bag and go!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Weekend.

Top- I <3 Ronson, Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad, Heels- MIA from Nordstrom, Watch- Burberry, Necklace- Tiffany & Co.

     This weekend seems like it is just the weekend from hell that wont end. I apologize for the lack of creativity in these photos, but last night we were literally chasing the light trying to get any moment of sun left for our photos! 

     It all started with my family being delayed in Ft. Lauderdale over night until Saturday morning because of broken parts on their plane. This cut into our Saturday day date out but that was all right, we could go Sunday. But, for some reason... we were bickering all day long. Finally in the evening we decided to stay in and start a little house project and make some chicken fajitas for dinner. Around 10 p.m. our neighbor (we literally share a wall) came over and told us they had been robbed! Turns out their dog wasn't barking at us hammering on the wall, and the loud noise we heard wasn't a car backfire but people inside their house. Talk about scary and creepy and violating! Needless to say, I am sure shaken up!

     So today I have been rocking the "Home Depot Chic" look, in jeans and a t-shirt and we ran around this morning buying padlocks for our gates and motion sensor lights for the yard. Looks like it will be another week or so until we can have our date! The boy is off installing our new lights and locks now, while I am watching the Golden Globe arrivals. Olivia Wilde is so far my favorite, with Julie Bowen a close second. 

Needless to say, I am so happy tomorrow is a holiday and the boy will be home all day while I am at work. Coming up this week I have an aweeesome guest post from my best friend and amazing make up artist, Rachel Rose!

You Ask, I Answer

     Since I began this little blog I have been getting a few e-mails and comments asking me some questions. I decided to answer them here in a blog post, so everyone can find out a bit more about me and my life!

Who takes your photos?

     - My lovely boyfriend take all the outfit photos you see on the blog. Unless they look like they came from my iPhone, then those gems are all me!

What kind of camera do you use?

     - Canon Rebel XT with a Sigma Redline 28-80mm 

How do you post process your photos?

     - I really don't do anything that crazy. I play with the photos in iPhoto and then do everything else like re-sizing and making my graphics in Seashore. 

What type of dog is Lewis?

     - Lewis is a Cockapoo. Cocker Spaniel and Poodle mix. I prefer to call him a Cocker-doodle doo!

What is your career or what do you want it to be?

     - Right now I am a Barista. I have done this for far too many years then I care to admit. I don't have a clue of what I want to do in my life, which is scary. I do know I want to do something that challenges me into being more artistic and creative. 

Where are your favorite places to shop?

     - Anthropologie and Forever 21 are probably my top choices. If I cant afford it at Anthro, I will use their ideas for inspiration and then find something similar at F21! I also like Cotton On, Nordstrom, Zara,  H&M, Topshop, Target, Ann Taylor, Gap, and Urban Outfitters.

Why are you moving?

     - We are moving to be closer to the boys job. Right now he spends about 3 hours on the freeway everyday, sometimes more when there is traffic and he has been doing that for two years. Not only that, but we want our own little place to call ours and live closer to most of our friends. 

Awkward and Awesome... With a Twist!

     Sometimes in life... things are equally as awkward as they are awesome. What better for today then to really get into these issues, shall we? Follow along buddies, you will get my drift...

Awkward/Awesome-
- That smile on my face right there is pretty awkward / But being with him on the weekend is awesome!

- Receiving someone else's mail in your mailbox / Being able to thumb through their issue of People or Star before returning said mail!

- Getting rung up for something and the price is totally wrong / Cashier saying "it must be on sale" and getting a $60 dress for $18!

- Doing that thing where you wave the car to go, and they don't go, so you try to go, but they go too, and you both stop / Deciding you are just going to go and speed on like a race car driver!

- Being told you don't have to come in to work until later / Getting to sleep more!!

- Walking into a store and setting off the alarm / Remembering you forgot to cut out that sewn in sensor that Gap and Old Navy put in their pants, and you didn't really accidentally take something.

- Fighting with your boy / Letting it all go and getting in bed and snuggling no matter how annoyed you have been.

- Having a really bad hair day even after washing, blow drying and styling / Remembering you have a very cute beanie that will go with your outfit. Problem solved!

- When the self check out line at the store starts yelling and making loud noises because you messed up / Cute cashier boy coming to help, then giving you a $5 coupon because the system is having "issues"!

Party in the Back

Sweater- Anthropologie, Shirt- Forever 21, Jeans- 7 for All Mankind, Boots- Old Navy (soon to be retired, they are quacking!), Necklace- Tiffany & Co., Bracelet- Gift from Hawaii

     Let's be honest here. This outfit is all about the sweater. And not even the front of the sweater, but the back. It's like screaming "Ohhlaalaa look at me!" This caused boyfriend to get an abundance of very bootylicious (this word is actually in the dictionary now!) photos. Oopsies. 

     I am going to admit something here. I put this outfit on to go to Petco. Yea, that's right, real exciting. You see, there is this weird problem that happens when you sleep late or stay in your pajamas too long and then you have to go to work at night. You think to yourself "Should I really put real clothes on?". Well, for you guys I did. And I shimmied all around that Petco like a model. Not really. I went to get my dog food because we ran out and came back home but I looked decent while doing it!

     Thanks for sending and asking your questions. You still have time if there is something you want to know, I think I will post the answers on Friday or Saturday. Saturday we are going to have a day date and go to lunch and look at some houses. Yes, real estate on a date. It can be really exciting. You never knew how much fun you can have until you go to an open house telling them you are Bob and Marsha from Iowa. Kidding... maybe!

     

In The Grove

Sweater- Forever 21, Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad, Boots- Sofft via Nordstrom Rack, Necklace- Forever 21, Watch-Burberry

     As you may know, from one of my previous blogs, I hate oranges. The smell of them is disgusting. The idea of something all squishy inside and people peeling it and sucking on them totally grosses me out. I cant believe someone actually thought to make household cleaner with that scent. Now its on toothpaste and deodorant. Im sorry, but if your armpits smelled like oranges I might not be able to stand near you... it is just so weird. I just tell people I'm allergic so I don't have to describe in detail my great hate for them, because people usually think it is so strange. Oh, well! In the name of good photos I managed to walk my booty around the orange groves a few miles from our house, and I actually really loved how the photos turned out. Little did I know... mud + heels = hilarious photos. I need to figure out how to make a GIF of some of the out-takes from this shoot!

   In other news, I have been getting a few questions on the comments and some in e-mail so I was thinking of doing an up-coming post answering your questions or talking about anything else you might want to know or be interested about. So if you want to leave your questions in the comments here, I will add those to the list and address them this week!

What's for Dinner?

So Friday I promised the boy we would have a good dinner at home. We had some ground beef, but I wanted to do something a little bit more interesting then the standard burger so I decided to make Patty Melts. And let me tell you, they were deeeelicious! Full of flavor, hearty in size and made without a lot of butter or oil. I am not the best cook, but I know the basics and I really like to see what I can do with ingredients we already have in our pantry.

You will need:

Hamburger Meat (we used Fresh & Easy BBQ Bacon Patties)

Rye Bread (in our case we used Honey Wheat since it was all we had)

Provolone Cheese

1 Large Onion

Butter

Brown Sugar

Olive Oil

And, if you want to make your own 1000 Island dressing like I did you will need:

Ketchup

Mayonnaise

Chili Pepper

Garlic Salt

Sweet Pickles (we didn't have these but I wish we did)

Start by slicing your onion into fine pieces and grilling in a small pan with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a little drizzle of olive oil. Remember to return and mix occasionally or your onion will start to burn.

Move on to your bread. Butter the bread like you would butter it for a grilled cheese. Liberally on one side, and just a hint on the other. The darker, crunchier side will be your outer piece. Get another flat skillet ready to grill the bread but don't do it yet.

At this point, I would start your meat so you can get your desired result around the same time the onions will be done so they don't get cold and soggy. Since Geoff was home, he was actually grilling the meat outside in the dark so he took care of that, and I missed that kodak moment (whoops!)

Now I have never made 1000 Island before but I went ahead and just tried my best and it turned out to be really, really good! Start with mayo as your base and add ketchup until you get the desired color. Then sprinkle and stir in the chili pepper and garlic salt to taste. If you want, I would also dice a sweet pickle and add the little slices in. Easy!

Once the burgers are a minute or two from being done, begin to grill your bread on either side.

Take your toasted bread, place the meat on top, melt your cheese over that and add your onions.

Now, add that delicious sauce on the other slice and you are nearly done...

Fold, press, cut, and enjoy! Incase you are wondering how I made those fries well... it was easy. Open bag, pour on baking sheet and cook! WOO! 

Did Someone Say Gingham?

Shirt- Old Navy, Vest- H&M, Belt- Forever 21 (came attached to a dress), Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad, Shoes- Target, Necklace- Tiffany & Co.

     AAAAH! I have so much to say and only one post to fit it in! I want to thank everyone for coming over and saying such sweet things about my little blog! Yesterday I had a record amount of traffic and today I woke up to my first blog award! I am just beyond overwhelmed by the positive response! So thank you guys!!

     In other words, I had to settle for photos in the kitchen because the boy came home late and I had promised a delicious dinner so... two birds, one stone... you get the idea. Don't get distracted by the little white fluff ball who is trying to steal the show, he wanted to show off his new groomed 'do! Also yesterday, Kendi mentioned that we should all wear our gingham goodness. Although mine isn't the J. Crew version, it is pretty spot on so I decided to go with the flow and join the party! 

     

     

     Lastly, the important stuff! I WON AN AWARD! The lovely Ramsey over at Love, Ramsey nominated me and I am prepping my acceptance speech as I type! In order to accept I need to follow these rules...

1. Thank and link back the person who gave you the award.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself.

3. Pick 7 new Blogs to award

4. Tell them they are award winners!

So here we go!

1. I am a Taurus. Stubborn and strong willed!

2. To me there is no better meal then a delicious cheeseburger!

3. I have been to seven different countries.

4. The boy says I have enough handbags to maybe wear a different one for a month straight!

5. I'm a pretty good cook and I really enjoying cooking for others.

6. I do not, no matter what it is, like the smell or idea of an Orange. Just thinking about it makes me gag.

7. Im thinking of updating my resume to say "Barista and Award Winning Blogger". Good Idea?

And the awards go to...

1. Kristen at Honestly Kristen

2. Jeanelle at GLocalGirl

3. Keira at A Pretty Penny

4. & 5. Kristen and Kelly at Kris & Kel

6. Emily at Le Quaintrelle

7. Kristine at Kristine. Or Polly.

Up on the Roof

Sweater- Forever 21, Shirt- Aeropostale, Jeans- 7 For All Mankind, Boots- Old Navy, Belt- Forever 21 (came attached to a dress)

     So boyfriend and I are starting to breakout of our shell and we actually left the confines of our neighborhood to get some outfit photos. These have to be some of my favorite. We snuck up to the 6th floor of a parking garage in our downtown. I think the people in the 10 story office building next door were probably typing away on their computers, looking out their windows, wondering why this girl was making her boyfriend play model with her so early in the morning. Oh well. We gotta get creative and lets face it, I cant keep taking all my photos by our creepy tree in the backyard. 

     I really need to see some movies. I want to see Blue Valentine, Country Strong (yeah, don't laugh), Black Swan, and even that lovey dovey one coming out with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. We managed to see The Fighter on New Years Eve and it was so good. Different then what I thought it was going to be like but good. Apparently one of those sisters is in real life the sister of Conan O'Brien so we played the game "spot the look-a-like" and trust me if you see it, you will find her! Any other movie suggestions? Should I skip any of these? Let me know, movies are like $12.50 so I have to pick and choose wisely!

Another Thursday

This is the face of a girl who just ordered a lovely meal at El Pollo Loco and is happily awaiting the goodness that is on its way... Come hither, BRC Burrito! Your mine!

Awkward-

- When its freezing in your house, and you keep pulling the sheets up higher and higher, really snug, right under your chin, then your feet pop out and the sheets will not go back to normal. Biggest pet peeve ever!

- Saying "Good Morning!" loud and proud to arriving customers... at 9pm!!!!

- Only putting in $5 worth of gas, then having to get gas again before the day is even over because you drove too much. Grr!

- Pigtails on adults.

- The new Starbucks Logo. It LOOKS awkward!!!!

- Finding a new blog I am in love with, looking through tons of posts over and over and wondering if this is borderline stalking...

- Trying on clothes in the fitting room, and there is a mom in the room next to yours, and a child's little face pokes their head under the door into your room. This can also be substituted for bathroom stalls as well.

Awesome-

- Finding a great necklace at Nordstrom and thinking you cant have it because it is expensive but then taa-daa! its affordable! And now safely at home with you!

- Gift cards. I get to shop and not feel guilty for months and months!

- Reruns of Sex and the City every night on E!

- Rolling over in the morning and knowing you have to get out of the warm bed and start your day and the boy sleepily mumbles "Love you."

- Making plans for a possible NYC trip in May and thinking of all the delicious places we are going to eat at.

- Winging it when making dinner and actually making something everyone thinks is pretty delicious.

Cutting Room Floor

Sweater- Forever 21, Tank- Target, Jeans- Citizens of Humanity, Boots- Old Navy, Necklace- Urban Outfitters, Bracelet- Forever 21

I was never going to post this outfit. But then I decided... this is my blog, and everyday I am not going to be 100% happy with the way an outfit turned out (or my angry facial expressions... but more on that later) but it is real and I want to stay real so I am going to put it out there. 

This outfit was actually from last Monday. I worked all morning then we began our marathon of holiday returns and purchases. Literally, we shopped for almost 5 hours. It was like un-shopping since all we really left with were empty bags and little hopeful pieces of plastic to return at a later date. Then we came home and I was feeling quite put together and I begged for photos...

This was the result. 

I noticed I didn't make the hair straightener all around my head in an even fashion. And my comfortable and cozy sweater photographed like a wrinkly sack. Lets not even talk about how my charming boyfriend caught me mid yell in that second photo and thought it was so funny that I should keep it (your welcome). I am going to focus on the positive here and say that even though our lighting sucks, it made a cool effect on my muted outfit. And well, I really like that necklace. It was in a clearance bin for 99 cents! Who ever finds something at Urban for that price!

So here it is... keepin it real in 2011!

Daily must haves...

Awhile back I showcased my favorite daily makeup products but I decided to take it a step further and show you some of  my favorite other must have products to help me feel human every day!

1. Tweezerman Tweezers- Lets face it, there is always a rogue eyebrow or a hang nail that needs taken care of and I have found that nothing stays as sharp or works as good as the Tweezerman Tweezers. Mine are red, so they are easy to spot in all the chaos and are mini so they come with me nearly everywhere.

2. Brazilian Tech Keratin Smoothing Treatment- I blow dry and heat style my hair nearly everyday and sometimes I feel like I am making it very rough and dry. Using this treatment once a week is honestly like giving my hair a big glass of water. It looks and feels so refreshed afterwards... it's amazing!

3. Sephora Superhero Hand Cream- This is a must have for me since all of the cleaning chemicals at work are so rough on my hands, this stuff is like miracle cream. A little goes a long way and it smells divine and it really repairs my dry hands in seconds.

4. Stella by Stella McCartney- One of my favorite perfumes, it is not too overpowering or sweet but just subtle enough to get away with wearing everyday and not making people sneeze when you walk by!

5. Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner- I just got hooked on this about a month ago. The Mint wakes you up in the morning and the Rosemary gives it a nice, well rounded scent and clean feeling.

6. NYC Smooth Skin- I use a little of this on top of my finished makeup to set it and give it an all around even finish and I really like how it prevents your makeup from really smearing or disappearing into your skin.

7. DenTek Tongue cleaner- Ever since I bought this I have been obsessed with brushing my teeth and the cleaning my tongue. It sounds gross but it feels so clean when its done, its become part of my daily routine.

8. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets- For oily skin or in the summertime these are the perfect thing to take with you during the day to freshen up. I carry these everywhere and leave a stash in the bathroom and they always, always come in handy to fix up the edges of your eyeliner or lipstick. They are  especially great to blot away excess makeup or oil on your skin. 

Vacation, Over.

Beanie- Forever 21, Scarf- American Eagle, Sweater- Nordstrom, Shirt- Cotton On, Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad, Boots- Old Navy

     Today is a bit bittersweet around our house because the boy has to head off to work again tomorrow and  it is another cold and rainy day. We literally had to run outside and take these before the raindrops started to fall! We slept in and headed to Coco's for breakfast and ate enough food for a family of 4! We rarely make it up and out for breakfast so when we do, we go big!

     Has anyone seen any of these new "As Seen On TV" commercials that have sprung up all of a sudden? Pajama Jeans? Wonder File? I have to say these things look tempting, but who cant manage to put on jeans to go to the store, they have to put on pajamas that look like jeans? I just don't get it! And don't even get me started on this file folder that folds up and you can fit everything under then sun inside it... I doubt it gets that flat!