So Perfect

My fave wedding blog Style Me Pretty just posted gorgeous pictures of a beautiful destination wedding. Check out the pics on their site. It's perfect!

This Looks Like Fun

Here's the preview for a Tina Fey / Steve Carrel movie that is hitting theatres soon. It looks like The Hangover slapped with a little suburbia!

On a lighter note

I love this outfit! The jacket is super cute but I absolutely adore the tights! What a fun way to wear plaid!

Puppy Envy

Everytime I see a picture of Ashley Tisdale with her little pup Maui I experience a serious case of puppy envy and immediately cal boyfriend and express my deep desire for us to own a little puppy that will never get big. I must admit I have been wearing him down and now his response is let's talk after your done coaching this basketball season. Sounds good to me!

image: People Pets

Individual Apple Pies

Boyfriend is a huge apple pan fan. He's really cute when he makes it because he never uses a recipe and his pies always have a new look and taste to them. Even though they are different they are still delish. Anyways, I found these great pocket pie molds that are for sale at Williams-Sonoma. This is such a great idea and a great way to make individual sized pies on the go. I think I may try it out this weekend and make somes pies boyfriend can take to work with him!

image: Williams-Sonoma

Tea Anyone?

Last week my friend Taylor and I went to the Trellis Restaurant in Kirkland for lunch. This restaurant is located just down the street from my job and I have been excited to test it out for quite some time. I'm usually not a tea drinker. To be honest I'm kind of a water girl but I wasn't feeling too well and when the waitress offered their tea service I decided to give it a shot. I had a white Orchid tea that had hints of peaches. It smelled and tasted delish. Since that day I've been thinking of how much fun it would be to go to High Tea.

I've been to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel's Georgia Tea with my mom quite a few times and it is always a nice time. I remember when I was younger I going to the Four Season's High Tea with my friend Ashley and her mom. It always was really fun and felt special especially during Christmas time.

Hmm.... maybe I'll start planning a tea party!

images: Bing Images

Pumpkin Bonfire

I found these great pics in Better Homes and Garden and absolutely wish I could copy this idea! This has been such a mild and beautiful fall. I've really enjoyed being outside and next year I would definitely love to host a pumpkin bonfire complete with yummy treats and fun outdoor games!

images: Better Homes and Garden

Insanely Creative Bathtub

This giant shoe is actually a bathtub designed by Massimiliano Della Monaca. They can be custom designed and are covered with precious glass. The purchase price begins around $17,000. This would be perfect for an eccentric and feminin bathroom.

image: Massimiliano Della Monaca

Teacup Cupcakes

I ran accross these super cute tea cup cupcakes on the TomKat Studio blog. I think I'm going to keep these in mind for my Birthday Brunch!

Lollipop Cookies!

Yesterday I made some great lollipop cookies that were very similar to the ones picture above. The only difference is each cookie had its own lollipop stick that was baked in. I still have to play around a little bit with the coloring but they're definitely an easy and fun cookie!

image: Bing

Reusable Produce Bags

I have to admit, I always feel guilty about using the plastic produce bags and this is a great solution! I found these profiled on a great blog. I can't wait to try them out!

Beautiful Dalias!

These dalias are from my parents backyard and were giving to me last night. The picture was taken on my sidekick and really does not do justice to the color and fullness of the flowers. My mom is like the plant whisperer. She finds plants that have been neglected and nurses them back to life. It's amazing how many flowers are still in bloom in her backyard! You would never guess it's almost November.

Recycled Drawers to Book Case

How innovative is this? One of my favorite blogs Pepper Design posted this fabulous idea from one of their readers. She found discarded drawers on freecycle and transformed them into this fabulous modular bookcase. I love the color and pattern she chose. This just shows what a can of paint and a weekend can create.

Here is the supply list and instructions courtesly of Pepper Design:

Supplies

• 2 coordinating paint colors
• primer
• decorative or wrapping paper (I would probably use shelving paper)
• découpage glue
• drywall screws
• wood filler
• paintbrush
• drop cloth
• scissors or craft knife, straight edge, and cutting mat
• tape measure or yardstick
• brayer (optional)
• drill
• sandpaper

1. Fill the drawer-pull holes with wood filler. Let dry. Sand the rough edges and vacuum off the dust, then paint one coat of primer.
2. Paint the outer sides one color. I used Ralph Lauren Aged Mint (IB25). When dry, paint the inner sides the other color. I used Infinity Edge of Wedgewood (no longer available). To achieve a clean edge where the two paint colors meet, pull your paintbrush toward the edge. No taping necessary. Let the paint dry for several hours.
3. Measure and cut the decorative paper to fit in the bottom of each drawer. Insert the paper to make sure it fits. Trim as necessary.
4. Paint a layer of glue onto the wood, then place the paper on top. I found it easier if I poured a thin line of glue onto the surface, then spread it with my paintbrush. Flatten the paper with a brayer or your hands. Smooth out the air bubbles before the glue sets. Let dry. Then spread another layer of glue over the top of the paper. Wipe off excess glue on the sides before it dries. Let dry.
5. Affix each drawer to the wall with a drywall screw. Pre-drill into studs or use a drywall anchor or molly bolt.

And now you have a refashioned modular bookcase!

Thankful Thursdays

I would like to say how thankful I am for the fabulous fall weather we are having. The leaves and trees have been so beautiful and the weather has been so lovely and brisk that it has allowed Boyfriend and I to explore our West Seattle neighborhood. We've really been enjoying runs and walks on Alki and walking through the classic West Seattle neighborhoods looking at beautiful homes. This has been a beautiful fall and I am so grateful for it!

image: Bing
Boyfriend and I after the alki 5k

Image: West Seattle Blog

Blog Inspiration

A few of my blogger friends have been inspiring me have a little more fun with my blog. My friend Miss Carol at Every Day Delights has such a cute blog and has introduced me to other fabulous blogs. She's like the Queen Bee of blogs and I'm just waiting for the day she becomes a Blog of Note.

I also have two new favorite blogs that I was introduced to from Miss Carol. The first one belongs to my friend Brynn. She's super stylish and chatty and just made her blog debut at the Simple, Sweet, and Silly Sophisticate. The other blog I've started reading is called the Seattle Smith's and it's about a couple from Dallas who adventerously moved to Seattle. It's a fun read and I reccommend it.

In an attempt to start having more fun with my blog I'm taking the bloggers thirty day challenge and I'm going to attempt one post everyday. To help with inspiration I'm going to do a few themes. In the spirit of Whishful Wednesdays I'm going to post Twitter Tuesdays where I post my favorite tweets from the week. This week my fave tweet is from John Mayer who said, "Why are we calling him Balloon Boy if he wasn't in the balloon at all? Isn't he just Attic Boy?"

Another theme is going to be Thankful Thursdays. I know that's cliche but I've been blessed with a lot of wonderful people and experiences and I need to spend more time being thankful and appreciative. If anyone has some tips on how I can improve my blog please let me know!

Thanks!

Justified Hypocrisy

I recently saw a Facebook post from someone I know that read: "Show your respect for your married friends and family and REJECT R71. Marriage is between a man and a woman ONLY!"

For some reason I had a really strong reaction to this statement. I was equally offended and angry at the same time and I really wished Facebook would come up with a dislike option. However, the first thought that came to mind was, "I have no tolerance for this type of intolerance." Is that not the most hypocritical statement ever made?

I strongly believe in human rights. I believe Gay rights will be the civil rights issue that helps define my generation. I don't understand why it is so divisive and I don't understand why people don't support civil rights for homosexuals. It's crazy and archaic and I don't think the world will be negatively impacted if we provide equal rights to everyone regardless of their race, religion, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.

Anyways, back to the comment: I think the reason I reacted so strongly to what was said had less to do with the author and I having differing opinions and more to do with the manipulative wording of the statements. "Show your respect for your married friends and family and REJECT R71. Marriage is between a man and a woman ONLY!" Could you find a more misleading argument? It's one thing to say, I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. So I'm voting no to Referrendum 71. To that I would say, "Sounds good. We'll agree to disagree." However to say that it is disrespectful to married people is deplorable.

Beautiful Story

A friend of mine directed me to this story recently published in the New York Times. It left my eyes a little wattery at work:-)

Compromise... the win/win or the lose/lose

Like most normal and rational people I believe in compromise. It's a key societal value and it's truly impossible to imagine a world without compromise. Commerce wouldn't work, relationships would be impossible, and families would not exist. As todlers were taught the lessons of sharing and it later becomes the platform for comprimise. With that being said I believe in the power of mutual understanding and accepting that conflicts are never one sided. Parties are always going to share responsibility in a dispute. They may not share equal responsibility but it will never be 100% one parties fault with 0% of the responsibility landing on the other party, excluding random crimes.

On Tuesday I went to court. It was small claims court and I was suing my former landlord. Without getting too deep into details she acted super sketch to avoid a move out inspection and then without communicating with me at all said I owed an exorbitant amount of money in damages. I questioned this and she sent me to collections. There was no communication or response until a lovely woman (sarcasm) called me from a super low budget sketch collection agency.

I quickly found out that sending someone to collections is a total bully move. It doesn't matter if the debt is valid or is being disputed once you're in collections the option are to pay within 30 days so it is not reported on your credit score or refuse to pay and take a heavy hit to your credit score and continue to be harrassed by the collection agents until you actually do pay. Either way you're totally bullied into paying. It's awful.

So I sued her for the amount I was unjustly forced into paying. It was a really interestin experience. The judge was a spitfire named Judge Judy and she forced all the litigants to leave the court room and discuss settlements. I hate direct confrontation and I was confronted by the owner and her property manager. Initially they did not want to discuss a settlement and tried to convince me that I had no case. They barely let me speak and dismissed everything I had to say. However, after seeing how prepared I was and the documentation I had they started to discuss settlement. I stated I would be willing to split the difference. At the time it felt fair and I felt like I was being the bigger person.

They accepted the agreement and we moved into mediation. Boyfriend joined me in the mediation room and I was really glad he was there. It was difficult for him because the owner had made some hideously untrue accusations directed toward him. During the mediation they were very disrespectful and it was difficult not to take some of what was said personally. I so badly wanted speak my mind and stand up for myself. It would not have been the appropriate time to do so but I think I would have felt better.

At the end of this experience I felt very conflicted. I didn't feel good or bad about the sitution. I value comprimise but I feel like I comprimised my values...

image: Bing Images

Falling in Love with West Seattle

When boyfriend and I first moved to West Seattle I was excited to move into our own home. I thought West Seattle was a nice area but to be honest it was really fourth or fifth on my list of desired neighborhoods. I viewed it as a good spot for us to live for a few years while we're starting out until we can afford to move to the Eastside or buy a home in the Queene Anne Area, but I actually have been pleasantly surprised by how much I love West Seattle.

Over the weekend I was on a mission to find a new coffee house to study in. I ended up trying out a few different locations and came across a great spot called C&P Coffee Company. It's super cute with really friendly down to earth staff. They also big tables where I can lay out all of my books which is a big plus!

I've been spending a lot of time walking and jogging. Most of the time I've been on Alki and I love it. It's so beautiful and it reminds me of the Kirkland waterfront which I loved. This last weekend I walked about 10 miles over the course of two days and found an undiscovered area of West Seattle. It's right where Beach Drive and Alki Point meet. There's beachy waterfront with gorgeous views and beautiful homes. While I was exploring my new neighborhood I can safely say I totally fell in love with West Seattle. It may not have been love at first sight but I'm very glad things worked out the way they did!

Boyfriend and I even found our "Lottery" house. That's the house we would buy if we won the lottery. It was super cute with gorgeous views. I heart West Seattle:-)

Read This!

Last night I finished a wonderful book called Eat, Pray, Love. It's a beautiful memoir written by a woman named Elizabeth Gilbert. I really enjoyed her perspective on life and her journey through life. I found a sense of calm and peace with my own life after I was finished. I really reccommend it to any and everyone!

Growing Up...

For my 25th birthday my parents took me out to dinner. During the conversation My mom said that she asked her mother (my grandmother) what the best year of her life was. Her mom replied the year she was 25 years old. I don't remember the reasons she gave for it being the best year of her life but it was an age that brought back found memories.

My mom then went on to tell me that 25 was her favorite year as well. She said it was before my parents had kids and they were still a young couple starting out. They vacationed together in Hawaii for the first time and stayed at a swanky resort. Hearing this caused me to wonder what the next year had in store for me. I dreamed up exciting possibilities and new experiences. I imagined adventures with new people to new places. I looked forward to the possibilities in the year to come.


I've always had a difficult time with birthdays. With the exception of a few milestone birthdays, namely 16 and 21, I have never looked forward to turning another year older. My earliest memory of this was when I was 8 years old and planning my 9th birthday. I'm sure I was excited for the party and the cake and gifts but I really dreaded turning nine years old. I felt like nine was a little too mature. At eight years old I felt like a kid and I loved the "cuteness" of being a kid. Turning 9 years old was like the exit of being a "kid" and the entrance to young adolescence and I didn't like that.


Each year had it's own set of problems, mainly new responsibilities and consequences that I never had any desire to accept or acknowledge. I've always craved freedom. When I look back on the mistakes I've made, most of them stem from this strong desire I have to be void of consequences and responsibilities. It's the nature of some individuals to be driven to achieve, others have tendencies to be sensible and balanced. Other people are content with their lives. I have always craved freedom.


The feeling of freedom is a little bit different than being a "free spirit." I remember moments of this feeling and I can only describe it the way addicts describe using heroin for the first time. Freedom has always been the drug I've craved. I remember as a young soccer player dribbling past defenders on an open field, delivering the ball to the back of the net and feeling free. I distinctly remember the first movie I went to unaccompanied by an adult. I went with my friend Claire Comfort and we saw The Net. That taste of freedom was so exciting. I also found it in roller coasters, heights, fast cars, college schedules when class was "optional."


I remember my first solo road trip. I was 20 and drove a rental car from my house in Seattle down to Santa Cruz CA. It was the most exhilarating time. No one really knew where I was and I didn't have a set destination. I just drove and when I was tired I stopped at inexpensive motels and I slept. I stopped at the beach on the Oregon coast line and remembered feeling free and at peace.

Had it not been for the structure and expectations of friends, family, and society in general I think I easily could have forgone education and made bigger mistakes and now in adulthood I would be facing consequences I tried to hide from during my youth.

Where all of this was going is... I think my 25th year has been my greatest year to date. Instead of bringing the adventure I had hoped for I've made peace with the maturity I've been dodging. It has finally caught up with me and I've found that I actually like it. I'm confident I can take care of myself. I've found happiness and contentment in my relationships. I'm embracing adulthood and I'm excited for the next chapters in life.

Emmy Fashion

My favorite looks of the night included:

January Jones in Versace


Heidi Klum had my favorite all around look of the night. Look at that silhouette! It doesn't get fiercer than that! She wore a custom made black Marchesa gown which managed to flaunt all the right curves and hide any imperfections.


Kate Walsh wore my favorite dress of the night. I loved the sweetheart neckline and the gorgeous draping. The floor length J. Mendel dress felt effortlessly formal and perfect for the night. The bangles and earrings are cute and the clutch was $30 from Aldo which is so fab. The only thing I wasn't too crazy about was the hair. I think a Grecian inspired updo with curls would have been pretty. I guess her hairstyle was chosen as part of a suave commercial where people voted so she didn't have a lot of choice.
Sandra Oh looked flawless in this gold floor length Marchesa gown. That dress fit her like a glove. I could have done with out the tassel belt though!


Olivia Wilde is stunner of a beauty. Usually I am not a fan of dresses that utilize nude netting. It looks a little too ice princess to me but I thought this Marchesa gown was pretty and the look was supported by flawless make-up.
I really enjoyed Blake Lively's Versacy gown. I have the feeling she'll be blasted by the fashion police but I thought the gown was very flattering and was young and sexy without being distasteful. I wasn't a huge fan of the uber long Fergie inspired braid though.


Kristen Chenowith. This 41 year old uber petite actress looks about 21 in this short sparkly Zuhair Murad designed dress. She came under criticism for being too casual for the Emmys but I love it and she seems to love it which is even more important. However, I would have added a bangle and swapped out those hideous shoes with a strappy nude heel.


I have the feeling there was a collective sigh of relief when Drew Barrymore chose not to dress up in her roller derby punk inspired costumes. In reality she could have worn any pretty dress and would make any best dress list.

Not my Faves:

Christina Hendricks in L'Wren Scot. Ms. Hendricks has some killer curves and and a coke bottle body but this dress seems taught in all the wrong places The fabric wrinkles in her thigh area are not flattering. Plus the color of the dress is a little goth against her pale skin. Had she chosen a dress that flaunted her curves she could have been a show stopper among swizzle stick actresses.
I think Leighton Meester is a very pretty girl with a fab body but I am not feeling this look at all. The Botega Vaneta dress is not particularly flattering and the whole look is confusing to me. It's not "pretty" or "edge". It just feels a little messy.

Hayden Pannettiere looks very matronly in this J. Mendel dress. She's so young but nothing about this is youthful. The red lips, updo, and draping would be a much better fit for someone twice her age.

Shopping at the Bravern

Last night my mom and I went to check out the new Bravern shopping center in Bellevue. It's so nice the Pacific Northwest has a Neiman Marcus with a Chanel and Prada boutique. Although I can't afford anything they have to offer it was nice to drool over the fabulous quilted bags. We checked out the Louis Vuitton store and I am convinced my next bag is going to be the Damier Canvas. An expensive classic that will last for ever. We also checked out Jimmy Choo and Anthropologie. They set up a few different outdoor fireplaces and seating areas. I think it's going to be a great hang out spot when the weather is warm.

For dinner I had a pizza at the Artisional Table. It's a great date restaurant where you can split a salad and pizza. I also brought home some cupcakes from Trophy cupcakes which I love!!

I'm dying to try the Artisional Brasserie and Winebar with my girlfriends. It looks yummy and super fun!

The Secret Life of Bees

Last night boyfriend and I watched The Secret Life of Bees and it was wonderful. It's a movie set in the rural south in 1964. It shows a community coming to terms with the newly signed Civil Rights Act and old southern traditions. The characters are quirky and have depth. Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifa are especially impressive in their roles.

I laughed a little and cried a lot and I would recommend it as a great weekend rental.

Wine Labels

So Lately I've been on a huge party planning / hosting binge and loving every minute of it!!! On Monday I'm having my dear friend Kim over for dinner to celebrate her birthday. Here's a sneek pick of the wine label I designed that is going to be on our bottle's of wine!

Kim's Bday by ive2334 featuring Element

Kim's Bday by ive2334 featuring Old Navy

Kelly's Wedding

This past weekend boyfriend and I took Friday off from work and drove down to Salem Oregon for my co-worker Kelly's wedding and it was so much fun. Her wedding had a Hollywood theme. They ceremony was held in an old school movie theatre. The groom walked down the aisle to the theme music from Top Gun and the bridesmaids wore Marilyn Monroe inspired dresses. On each place setting was a romantic movie quote. It was a really cute event!

The wedding party was one of the largest I've ever seen. There were eight groomsmen, 5 bridesmaids, 2 bridesmen (which I loved!), three ring bearers, and a flower girl. They looked so fab stading up on the theatre with the eiffel tower in the background.

Marilyn greated guests at the door and Boyfriend asked for her digits. I was cool with it:-)

Boyfriend and I with wonky eyes!

Read This!

A few years ago I read a great book by Anna Maxted called Running with Scissors. It was a fun summer read that I greatly enjoyed. It had a little more heart than most novels in the Chick Lit category but was still felt like a guilty pleasure read. I was really excited to read some other works by this witty English author. I purchased Behaving Like Adults to read on while I was on vacation in Mexico. I was anticipating a light summer read but after a few chapters I was really surprised by the intensity of the subject matter. I recently picked the book up again and was riveted. I loved the characters. They had depth and were relatable. It was the perfect combination of light hearted fun and exploratory truths that allows the reader to question their own values and explore how they would react if faced with similar circumstances.

I highly recommend it!

Nicole Richie Baby Names

So I love Nicole Richie... I think she's fabulous and it has been so much fun to watch her evolve and come into her own. Last night she just gave birth to a baby boy and named him Sparrow James Midnight Madden. I love it! It's creative and serene at the same time. Just like little Harlow Kate Winter Madden.

The Gorge In George!

On Saturday I packed up and headed to the Gorge with two of my good friends Taylor and Kim. It was a belated BDay celebration for Tay's bday in June. The ride up was super wet and rainy. We kept waiting for the rain to clear but it seemed like it had a mind of its own and was on some sort of drench mission.

My Hair did not take nicely to the rain!

When we arrived at the campgrounds it was still raining and the grounds were overflowing with hardcore DMB fans. We entered the gates and drove past honey buckets, tent-like sleeping contraptions that were a little foreign to me, and super deluxe campers that caused me to have an extreme case of RV envy! We kept driving as directed and the campgrounds attendant opened up one of the gates where there was a pasture with grass up to my knees. I was very skeptical as this did not look like the other areas of the campgrounds. We then realized we were sharing a pasture with cows and we had been herded into some sort of overflow camping area!

After we positioned our car Kim put us to work! Thank goodness for her and her camping knowledge. If she hadn't been there to run the show Taylor and I would have been some wet and miserable campers. I was not really able to contribute much. In fact Kim sent me to "Yonder" to gather rocks. When you're in the country yonder is pretty close. While I was completing my chore some girl loudly whispered, "Why is that girl picking up rocks? That's so weird." I tried in vain to explain myself but it was to no avail. I got labeled the "weird" girl in a sea of extremely weird people. I felt like in a line up of me, the women at Pacific Place who wear burlap, don't shave, and dance with full body movements to music that no one hears but them, I would have come out weird.... Like that kid in elementary school who forgoes recess to pick up bugs... I pick up rocks!

The concert started after some of the rain died down and Dave played a lot of his bigger hits which I really enjoyed. It was fun to watch the people who were smoked out of their minds passed out on the grass. I'm not sure how it's possible to be so stoned out of your mind that you fall asleep on a wet muddy hill with an extreme incline, where music is blasting, and you're surrounded by crazy crowds of people but to each their own.

When I got home Boyfriend went to give me a hug and then said, "Maybe you should go take a shower boo." I tried to protest but my attempt to sit on the couch was met with, "We need to put protective covering down before you sit on the clean couch... iloveyou." Apparently I was a little stinky:-)