Like I mentioned yesterday, I really want to be better at taking photos of all the little moments Scott and I have in our daily life. A few mornings ago we went on a little winter date to Lola Coffee and enjoyed some quiet tim together. The morning sun was leaking in through their large windows and I felt like we were no where near Phoenix, and more closely to New York City enjoying some yummy coffee in a quaint coffee shop. One day, one day!
Iced coffee, americano, and an apple pie fritter made by our friend Tyler.
Rosemary shortbread made by our friend Tyler.
Today marks the first day of the semester. I just might have to stop back in Lola for a coffee and pastry to go on my way to class!
And today it ends, Winter Break that is. Today is our last day to have some kind of last hooray before the school work starts piling up. I’m hoping for a really successful semester. Grad school has proved to be very different than my undergraduate experience, but a true blessing. I’m thankful that at the age of 25 I will have a Master’s degree under my belt, and hope to have a few amazing things figured out by then. I just know the future is going to be great!
Scott and I have been really enjoying our new lens. Part of my new year’s goals was to get back on the Flickr train (I used to be obsessed), and this lens was just what I needed to spark the idea in me that we should go on more walks and photograph the beauty around us. Before we started taking outfit photos we used to take a lot of landscape and lifestyle photos and to be honest, I kind of miss that. Here’s to even more photos in the new year!
Can you see Scott?
Still loving my Ugglebo clogs! The quality is amazing and love how Nordic I feel while wearing them.
Today Scott has a meeting for the internship he will be starting this semester (more on that later), and I have a few things I want to get ready before school starts. Tonight we’re also having a coffee date with a few sweet friends and I can’t wait! Scott and I have been drinking so much good coffee and we’re back on our “clean eating” routine. Yahoo!
I’m so excited to announce that I’ve made it to round #7 of the Jane By Design Style Challenge! Major thanks to all of you sweet readers for helping me make to the end of the interview process! I am SO incredibly excited to have made it to the very end, but there is still work to be done and I’m here to get the job done!
So for challenge #7 Gray herself sent me an email telling me that I absolutely had to be at the premeire tonight (watched it with Scott, twice!) and had to take careful notes on what everyone was wearing because Gray says that at the end of the day, what people are wearing is our business. I was told I had to prove that I have keen powers of observation, and that I must be on top of everything going on. So for my final challenge I was told to choose one person I observed and write a “get the look” blog post! So who did I choose you’re wondering? Well, Jane more than impressed with her overall amazing style, but one of her looks really caught my eye. She is also the new girl, and the one that everyone has their eye on, so I chose Jane and an outfit she wore during a day at the office, and out to a restaurant/bar afterward.
Now, I couldn’t find a full photo of the outfit, but it was just too good to not do a “get the look” post because of it. Jane mixed a very mens inspired, button-up shirt (similar to the one we were asked to style up in a previous challenge) with a oversized, faux diamond/vintage inspired necklace, a colorful bandage style skirt, black tights, and some kind of amazing shoe (shoes were not entirely seen but they looked like a light pair of pumps).
So to recreate this look I searched around a few online shops and pulled together garments that would work perfectly to re-create this look. Jane’s most stand-out piece was the bandage skirt she was wearing, so I knew I had to pick a showstopper for that one! I’m absolutely loving this look and would completely rock it myself!
So now that you’ve seen my “get the look” blog post, head on over to the Jane By Design Facebook page and leave a comment letting me and the sweet people at ABC Family and Jane By Design know what your “get the look” tips are. Don’t forget to say that Chelsea from Tea Talk sent you as well (pretty please). Also, If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out this video clip from Jane By Design!
I feel so incredibly honored to have made it this far, and have had such an amazing time with the whole interview process! Thanks again for all of your support, and here’s to hoping Gray “hires” me for the job! Crossing my fingers! This would be truly a dream come true!
Also, the Jane By Design premiere was tonight and boy was it good! Check out the ABC Family/Jane By Design website for tons of photos and videos from the show, and don’t forget to check out Jane By Design, Tuesdays on ABC Family!
Well, today the Jcpenney Holiday Ambassador Campaign on Chictopia is wrapping up, and I have to say, I’m sorry to see it go. Over the past few months I have had so much fun getting to be involved in such an amazing campaign with these two amazing companies. To say I feel honored is an understatement, and I am SO incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to be involved. So thank you Jcpenney and Chictopia! I am one of your biggest fans and will continue to rock Jcpenney and be involved in Chictopia!
Today I wanted to share my three favorite looks/users who I awarded Jcpenney Trendsetter badges too. All three of these ladies were rocking great Jcpenney style, and I’m so glad I was able to give them Trendsetter badges!
Thanks so much to everyone who complemented my Jcpenney style! I am truly a fan of Jcpenney and plan on continuing to rock JCP garments throughout the new year ! Thank you again Jcpenney and Chictopia, you guys are the best!
I’m so excited to announce that I’ve made it to round #6 of the Jane By Design Style Challenge! Yahoo! Major thanks to all of you sweet readers for helping me make it this far! Again, the challenges have been a lot of fun, I’m so excited to be continuing on in the interview process!
So for challenge #6 Jane, Gray’s assistant, sent me an email asking what does the future hold for the world of fashion. She said it will depend on people like myself, and that the ability to be inspired by everyday life is an essential skill needed in order to succeed. She also so that the ability to translate inspiration into something fresh, and unexpected that could take the fashion world by storm is a rare gift, and that for this challenge I needed to take a long hard look at who I am and the world I’m surrounded by for inspiration.
Ultimately, my challenge was to get into my Jane By Design truck and pull out the bags of pretzels in it. I was then told to get inspired and create something using the pretzels that will amaze Jane and Gray! So what did I do? I made jewelry with it!
Two main inspirations in my daily life are nature, and amazing bloggers. I can be walking around outside and just instantly become in awe of my surroundings. Sometimes I can’t even believe how beautiful this amazing world is that we live in, and it often takes my breathe away. I often pick up twigs, leaves, and other little gems that I come across and dream up pretty things I can make with them. Lately I’ve noticed a huge trend in nature inspired jewelry, and I was more than excited to transfer the inspiration I’ve been receiving from it into a few amazing pieces of pretzel jewelry.
I was inspired by mismatched sized crystals with this one. I added the white beads for a natural pop color!
With this ring, I was really inspired by twigs wrapped together. Multiple finger rings have been so on trend lately too!
This sweet little pretzel reminded me of a peace sign. Peace and nature always go hand-in-hand!
I’m completely obsessed with this panel piece as well! I loved the honeycomb look of these pretzels, and thought it would be fun to make a statement piece using them. Again, the shaped reminded me so much of nature, and also of the honeycomb jewelry trend I’ve been seeing popping up lately. One of my favorite jewelry designers, Stone & Honey, has a line of honeycomb inspired necklaces, and her line immediately came to mind upon seeing the shape of these pretzels.
I also made a honeycomb style bracelet to complement the necklace. With this one, I’m really loving the salt flecks that add a little bit of natural detail to the bracelet, and, of course, the natural, wooden look of the pretzels. If pretzels weren’t so fragile, I could wear this bracelet every day!
Much of this jewelry was also inspired by the gorgeous pieces that a few of my favorite bloggers/jewelry makers create. Moorea Seal, Kate Miss, and The Blue Balloon all make these lovely, nature inspired pieces. For a few years now they have all been so inspirational to myself with blogging and other aspects in life (I’m so thankful for all of their little corners of the interweb!), so after I had decided to create jewelry using the pretzels, all three of their amazing shops immediately came to mind.
I’m loving the silver and white detail on this last piece. The overall looks reminds me of these charms I used to make out of wooden sticks when I was younger. Nature and I have always been friends, and I feel like it’s going to continue making a huge influence in the fashion world throughout the new year and well into the next! I’m so happy with how this collection of pretzel jewelry came out, and I’m excited to actually make a few of these pieces out of more sustainable materials!
So now that you’ve seen what I’ve created using my inspiration and unexpected items, head on over to the Jane By Design Facebook page and leave a comment letting me and the sweet people at ABC Family and Jane By Design know ways in which you were inspired to make fashion out of unexpected items. Don’t forget to say that Chelsea from Tea Talk sent you as well! It would TRULY mean so much to me! Also, If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out this video clip from Jane By Design!
I’m SO loving being involved in this awesome challenge, and feel so honored to have made it this far! Thanks again for all of your support, and here’s to hoping I make it to the next (and final) round! I really, really want to continue on in the interview process!
Also, the Jane By Design premiere is tomorrow! Don’t forget to check out the first episode on your local ABC Family channel!
and I don’t feel any different.” Ok, maybe I do feel slightly different, but that could be due to all of the inspirational blog posts I’ve been reading lately and the hopes I have for the new year. I have a really wonderful feeling about this year, and I’m hoping for great things.
A few mornings ago Scott and I spent some time in downtown Phoenix. It was a gorgeous morning, and the sun just beckoned to be photographed in. For Christmas I received the most amazing lens, so it felt like the perfect time to give it a whirl. I’m pretty much obsessed with it already, and can’t wait to take more photos with it in the new year.
These cozy sweater knee-highs that Scott gave me for Christmas were perfect for the chilly morning we had. The weather has been unseasonably warm the past few days (I’m talking 80 degrees yesterday), so I’m definitely trying to soak in the cold weather while I can.
Today Scott and I are soaking in our last bit of winter break. It went by terribly too quickly, and I’m definitely not ready for it to end. However, I’m ready to start another semester of Grad school and get this show on the road! 2012 is going to be a great year and I’m ready to see what it holds.
Outfit details:
Olive cardigan: Banana Republic
Tan cardigan: Banana Republic]
Purse: Coach
Dress: Levi’s
Knee-highs: Levi’s
Flats: Ruby & Bloom
What are you up to today? Any new year’s resolutions?
Every year around this time I find myself contemplating what my goals should be for the new year. I usually write out a lengthy list, and often left it fall to the way side. Throughout the year, a handful of the goals are met (I usually write them with goals I know are definitely possible, and not super unrealistic), but I feel like this is not enough. My hope for 2012 is to meet small, reachable goals that will allow me to approve upon myself. Sometimes I feel I get so caught up in the rush of school, staying up-to-date with everything I’m involved (something I am more than thankful for each and every day), and worry about so many things that are out of my control. In the new year I would love to worry a little less (ok, maybe a lot, but we’ll see), focus more on who I am becoming as an adult, cherish each and every moment I get to spend with Scott, and make this year one to remember.
Other small goals:
-take photographs just to take them
-write more letters
-read more
-do more freelance work
-wake up earlier
-not let a bad morning ruin my entire day
-use our film cameras more
-bring my new found healthy eating routine into and all the way through the new year
-make many, many more happy memories
-update my Flickr account at least every other day
The last few mornings (and afternoons) I’ve found joy in drinking Stumptown Coffee from my new dishes (a lovely Christmas present from Scott). Sometimes it’s nice just to sit back and breathe for a moment. Here’s to more moments of “breathing” in 2012.
I’m so excited to announce that I’ve made it to round #5 of the Jane By Design Style Challenge! Yahoo! Thanks to all of you sweet readers for helping me make it this far! Again, the challenges have been a lot of fun, I’m so excited to be continuing on in the interview process!
So for challenge #5 Jane, Gray’s assistant, told me about how her life is a constant juggling act. Sometimes she doesn’t even have time to change her outfit between her daily work schedule, and a high fashion event. Jane said it’s so important to be able to change up your outfit in a snap, so my next challenge was centered on this idea. I was told to get into my Jane By Design trunk and pull out the plain, white button-shirt. I was then told to style it up on my dress form for a look fit for a day at the office, and then style up the same shirt for a dressy cocktail party.
For my daytime, work outfit I styled up the classic white shirt with a black cardigan, and a black and grey knee-length skirt. Black, white, and grey is a classic combo (my go-to color scheme in fact), and I thought the cardigan and skirt felt very appropriate for a day at the office.
I added my favorite Tiffany’s necklace, and a pearl bracelet with a silver heart hanging from it. I feel both pieces of jewelry are absolutely timeless, and add something special to the outfit.
To round off the outfit I added a classic, black Coach purse, and my favorite pair of black flats. Each garment is comfortable enough to wear during a long day at the office (no heels and chunky jewelry to wear you down while you’re running around), but each piece is also classic, and oh so chic. You can never go wrong with a little Coco Chanel inspiration!
For my cocktail party ensemble I decided to trade the black cardigan in for a black, moto-style, faux leather jacket, and swapped out the skirt for a shorter, more flowy skirt with a little bit of shimmer to it!
I also switched out the day-time jewelry for a sweet, silver owl locket. This piece is a little bit chunkier, and brings a hot trend to the outfit. Owls are so in this season, and I love the idea of bringing a little bit of nature into an outfit.
I rounded off the cocktail attire outfit with a mini-wedge, peep toe shoe, and also a brown leather clutch. The clutch was made from recycled, vintage materials and also has a little bit of shimmer on it (similar to the shimmer on the skirt). To me, the clutch is the statement piece that I feel every dressy outfit needs. It also has a great story behind it, and is something I’m more than proud to show off (it can also fit easily into my day-time bag, bonus!).
So now that you’ve seen my day-to-night outfits, head on over to the Jane By Design Facebook page and leave a comment letting me and the sweet people at ABC Family and Jane By Design know what are your day-to-night styling tips! Don’t forget to say that Chelsea from Tea Talk sent you as well! It would TRULY mean so much to me! Also, If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out this sweet video clip from Jane By Design!
I’m absolutely loving being involved in this awesome challenge, and feel so honored to have made it this far! Thanks again for all of your support, and here’s to hoping I make it to the next round! I really, really want to continue on in the interview process! I’m getting so close! ECK!
Also, the Jane By Design premiere is almost here! January 3rd is when the show first airs on ABC Family, and I can hardly wait! Did I mention that whoever wins the challenge gets to have their blog’s name mentioned on the show? How amazing would it be to be able to hear “Tea Talk” on Jane By Design? I think it would be more than a dream come true!
Winter break has been more lovely than I could have ever expected. Scott and I both got great news about our Fall semester grades, we went on an awesome trip to Las Vegas, had fun shopping around and enjoying the holiday cheer, and had an amazing Christmas. What I’m trying to say is that I’m so thankful for our sweet life together, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!
The title of my blog post today might have been inspired by something else. For years I’ve said that if I could own one record, it would be Stars’ Set Yourself On Fire. Since high school I’ve been obsessed with the band, and we even saw them once a few years ago in downtown Phoenix. Their records are fairly rare, and Set Yourself On Fire is even more rare than all of their other ones. Finding a US or even European of it seemed almost impossible, but I’ve been letting my heart wish away for years now.
So for Christmas the sweetest man in the world track down a copy of the European edition of Stars’ Set Yourself On Fire on ebay and purchased it as a present for me! It arrived all the way from Germany last night, and I have to say, my heart couldn’t be any more full. I’m so thankful for having such a kind, loving man in my life. Thank you John Scott, I will cherish it forever.
Today Scott and I have to get a few things ready for some scholarships we are applying to. I also have some cleaning and de-cluttering to do, as well as a few fun blog related things. Tonight we’re going to an annual holiday party that we always look so much forward to!
