Tuesday, November 25, 2008

rachy + brett

My good friend and old roommate, Rachel, tied the knot on Saturday and I had the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. This was only my second time as a bridesmaid so for me it's still exciting and fun! I think it probably gets to be a drag if you are a bridesmaid seven times in one summer. :) The pace I'm at is perfect and I will most likely only get to be a bridesmaid in 2-3 more weddings... which I am looking forward to!

First up, the beautiful bride and I...


Cory, Me, Beth, and Shawn...


Core & I...
(does it look like I have a second head?? damn lady.)


Bridesmaids: Beth, Lindsay, and I...


Bridesmaids (minus two) with the bride at the groom's dinner...
(Lindsay, me, Rachy, Melissa, & Beth)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

a spectacular birthday.

My 26th birthday definitely did not disappoint. I did almost everything I planned, waking up at 8 am.. Stopped at Caribou Coffee for a free birthday drink to enjoy while getting my hair done. In fact, my day was full of savings. A free coffee, 20% off my hair color, a free manicure, free lunch (thanks core!), a J.Crew scarf I thought was $30 turned out to be $20, and a free #9 sushi roll during dinner. After dinner, it was off to the Jason Mraz concert. We arrived at the Myth only to see a line that was literally wrapped around the building. Instead of standing in that line, we met up with some others at Acapulco. Oh yeah, free birthday shot which I had one sip of after seeing that it was florescent green. Barf! By the time we got back to the Myth, the line had disappeared. The place was jam packed. We hung out with some friends back by one of the bars...




Since we couldn't see the concert, we settled upstairs in the back by the bathrooms. One of the only open areas in which we took advantage of by making it our own personal dance floor. I really don't think I've ever had more fun at a concert. And we definitely gave the concert-goers, who sat on little couches and couldn't see anything but the backs of hundreds of people, some entertainment to go along with the outstanding singing by Jason Mraz.




Our view of the concert was a flat screen TV...


I managed to work my way up to the railing to get a couple photos of the actual Jason Mraz, live, not on TV:


But this is mostly what we saw:




Tuesday, November 18, 2008

my last day of twenty-five.

Didn't I just wake up to the song "Sixteen Candles" blaring from the stereo [thanks dad] the morning of my sixteenth birthday? It feels like it. Now – it's ten years later. I can hardly believe that I can start a sentence with the phrase "I remember twenty years ago when...". Twenty years ago!? Yes, it is true, tomorrow I will cross over into my late 20s. As weird as it seems to already be close to 30 years old, I couldn't be happier. It drives me bananas when people get all emotional about getting older and don't even want to leave their house on the day they should be celebrating. What ever happened to just being happy you are still on this earth and living the life you have? Growing older is part of it. Grow up, people. :)

I am excited for my birthday, for once. I can't remember the last birthday I really enjoyed. Last year it fell eight days after a horrible accident that took away someone special, the year before that I had to be the DD, and the year before that I almost got dumped. Yes, really. This year will be different. To start out, I am lucky enough to have a boss that, out of the kindness of his heart, told me I didn't have to work on my birthday. How awesome is that!? So tomorrow I have a full day planned for my own personal enjoyment. I am going to sleep in a tish.. 7? 8? Then be up to St. Paul to get my hair done, have a romantic (?) birthday lunch with the greatest thing to ever happen to me (core), and do a little shopping before returning home to pack for a weekend trip home-home. And, if I  have time, will watch P.S. I love you. By this time, Cory will be back from work and we will get ready to head up to our favorite sushi joint to enjoy another birthday meal before attending the Jason Mraz concert! Sounds like a perfect birthday to me!

For fun... After 25 years on this earth...

Best Advice
"Always help your fellow man. Kindness & generosity go a long way. And love with a capital 'L'."
(from my Grandma Klegstad)

Favorite Quotes to live by:
"If you want to be happy, be."
-Leo Tolstoy

"The world is a book and those who do not travel ready only a page."
-St. Augustine

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
-Leo Buscaglia

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed in the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

"Happiness is never having to stop and think if you are."


I've Learned:
"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain."
-George Eiot

"Relationships are difficult, time-consuming, baffling, and sometimes heartbreaking. They're also what make life worth living."
-Martha Beck


My Biggest Downfalls:
1. I somehow am always late.
2. I am forgetful.


Absolute Favorites:
(people not included)
1. Lucy, my vizsla.
2. Coldplay.
3. Scarves.
4. Dresses.
5. Photography+Design.


Happy Birthday to me tomorrow!! :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

even more ideas!

This year my wish list consists of not only a few ideas, but lots and lots! The more ideas of things I want, the better, right!? Here are the new additions...



Bull Dog Keyfob
Style #92358
$38.00



Coach Ergo Pleated Leather Capacity Wristlet
(My #1 choice out of this and the two below)
Style #41507
Color: Brass/Magenta
$98



Graphic OP Art Wristlet
Style #41995
Color: Brass/Gray
$58.00


Lurex Capacity Wristlet
Style #42037
Color: Silver/Plum
$98.00




2009 Date Book
Color: Pool (but I think it's sold out) or Persimmon (pink)
$29.50



Harajuku Lovers Fragrance
Item #1118330 or 1118280
$25 or $45




Velour Furry Hoodie
Size Small
Color: Lux Grey
$78.00





Mukluk
Size M
Color: Moonlight or Close Knit Grey or Stripey Blue
$34.50




Moccasins
Size 7.5
Color: Comfy Brown
$49.50



Ruffle Scarf
Color: Alabaster or Vineyard or Scottish Mosh
$24.50



W Baker Jacket
Size XS
Color: Black
$279.00

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

a new boot.

On Saturday my sis and I had a bite to eat at Cafe Latte and in line behind us was a very fashionable chick— wearing the boots below. Well, being the kind of girls my sister and I are, we just had to ask her where she got them because they were close to perfection. Totally serious. She informed us that they are from Nordstroms and that she thinks they are on sale. Oooooo, the temptation! So, I looked them up online and sure enough, they certainly are on sale– 40% off even! With that, here are the new boots on my wish list. Love them.

Steve Madden "Intyce" Boot
Cognac Leather
Size 7.5
$119.90
(originally $199)

Monday, November 3, 2008

a different lens.

On my first list I had a lens that I knew I probably wouldn't get as a gift.. so over the weekend I went to National Camera Exchange to try out some lenses, including the one on the original list. Unfortunately they didn't have that one in stock, but I was able to try a different one that is very similar – The Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM. And for a fraction of the price as the other, it seems like the obvious choice! It was a great lens that would be a nice addition to my collection! So, new to my list (replacing the other lens), is the one below...