all these things shall give thee experience.

{spotted on brown button}

my pops is tops!

this here's me dad.

not only is he a BIRTHDAY BOY today,

but he's also...

hysterically and ridiculously funny

an incredible singer

THE biggest pittsburgh steelers fan ever ever EVER

a magician at the bbq

a fabulous example of hard work and sacrifice

loved by all who know him...'specially me!

happy birthday, popsicle!

p.s. this is what you're getting for your birthday. hope you like it!

the future's so bright.

i'm back from big bear and lovin' life!

the trip was ridiculously fun and just what i needed!

photo montage to come...prepare yourself.

in the meantime, how gorgeous is this room?

the colors...OH, the colors! i NEED that yellow chair.

and i might have to take a fabric marker to my curtains.

yes, i just might.

{via}

we made it!

i don't know about you but my week was ROUGH!

there was a day or two that i didn't think

i could make it another second.

phew! glad THAT'S over!

i'm headed to big bear this weekend!

i'm looking forward to relaxing

with some super fun friends.

what're you up to this weekend?

here's the scoop.

yesterday was rough.

so i went to williams-sonoma and bought this

cookie scoop to make these and these.

i feel much better today.

girls in white dresses.

did you know j. crew has a line of wedding dresses?

yeah, me neither. but i kinda love 'em!

these are two of my faves.

i like the sleek, tiered look of the first but i also

love love LOVE the idea of a full skirt...with POCKETS!

too perfect!

and no, i'm not shopping for wedding dresses.

don't be ridiculous.

willpower.

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

i'll spare you the lecture on my generation's

ridiculous obsession with instant gratification and just say:

the best life lessons are taught with marshmallows.

goodbye summer, hello deliciousness.

happy first day of fall!

i must admit, is does seem a bit ridiculous to celebrate

the changing of the seasons while living in southern california.

the seasons don't really change here.

most people are excited about

the weather, the clothes and the outdoor activities.

me, i'm excited about the food.

the chili, the hot cocoa, the cinnamon

and nutmeg flavored delights.

yes yes, happy fall indeed.

{image}

daycation + john legend = perfection!

this weekend, some lady friends and i took it

inland for a ladies "daycation" in temecula.

we went wine tasting.

well, THEY tasted wine while i watched

all the brides-to-be get snockered.

good times.

we saw john legend in concert.

um, yes...i really was that close. it was amazing.

jl's ridiculously hot.

holla holla holla!

gimme gimme gimme.

i wanna make strings of these and hang them all over my house.

ridiculous? you betcha. just the way i like it.

{via}

ttfn & tgif.

my calendar says as of tuesday, summer is officially over.

i think i need this eve simone print to console me.

and just maybe i'll have to spend this afternoon at the beach.

y'know, saying goodbye to summer.

aside from that, my weekend will be filled with:

birthday dinners

girls day feat. john legend

cookie baking

church

what're you up to this weekend? anything fun? crafty? productive?

do tell.

generally, i'm hatin' with the rest of you.

but since this is TECHNICALLY ferras featuring katy perry,

i'm okay with it.

i just can't get enough of this duet.

then again, i AM a sucker for a man that can tickle the ivories.

that ferras...yum.

all that glitters.

i've had my eye on these babies for awhile

and finally got around to ordering a pair.

love love LOVE them!

have you heard of TOMSshoes?

who lives in a pineapple under the sea.

'member how i got burnt? and 'member my tatt?

yeah well, a couple of weeks later and i'm still peeling.

and here's my lovely tan line.

yes, lovely.

diy decor.

i wanna make this pvc frame. like...bad.

i feel like it's cheating to order the kit, but i'm a busy gal.

my crafting has it's limits. ah well.

do you think painting it a color would be too much?

{via}

isn't she lovely.

i can't get enough susan in my life.

i forced my fave red lipstick on her.

i'd say it's a match. wouldn't you?

rude.

i'm wondering if this was a setup.

if not, kanye is an ass. if so, kanye is an ass.

{'scuse m'language, mama and popsicle}

why am i even blogging about this?

no idea.

still sick

it's been a week. i'm still sick.

the thing is, i'm sick enough that i have to take it easy

but well enough to be bored out of my mind.

why is my life so hard?!

{image}

in remembrance.

i debated on whether or not to do a 9/11 tribute.

but with so many friends and family members

fighting for our freedom, it seemed wrong not to.

i think this man's story is really touching.

it's a beautiful message about a day that affected many

and the lessons some have chosen to learn.

political oficionado, i am not.

but even li'l ole me thinks it's maybe

a LITTLE rude to yell out during the president's speech.

am i wrong?

viva le freedom of speech.

walkin' the walk.

when i arrived in washington last week, jayden was just

learning to walk. talk about timing!

i spent the week bribing him into walking to me.

such a funny little guy!

speaking of nine.

this came out today.

kind of excited.

no...wait. REALLY excited!

who's with me?!

nerdy is the new black.

yet another reason to love aubrey messick.

her excitement over a calendrical anomaly is so classic.

totally made me smile. she makes nerdy look REAL good!

happy 09.09.09!

{image}

may i be candid?

miss mona snapped this the other day

while we waited for the 'rents to load up the car.

i kinda love it.

evil league of evil.

dr. horrible's sing along blog.

have you seen it?

i hate myself for waiting so long to see it.

it's incredible. no seriously. watch it.

crimson fowl.

in the tri-cities, red robin is kind of the go-to

meeting spot.

{sad, i know...but true just the same}

so meet we did!

miss susan and i, that is.

actually, she's a mrs. but her man's away for awhile.

a little girl talk, a LOT of french fries.

it's good to be together again.

why i love the tri-cities: a photo essay

zips. it's a greasy burger joint.

tri-cities' finest. oh how i love thee, zips.

{that's susan's little gus in the background. adorable!}

home grown apples.

crisp, juicy, dee-lish. no, seriously...REALLY good.

i've eaten 10 in the past 2 days.

m'parents. doi.

aren't they just the cutest ever?

good peoples.

the jalapeno.

this is a little beater car that my dad sometimes

commutes in. it's like drivin' a go-kart.

confession: i LOVE it!

there's more but that'll do for now!

i'm enjoying my time in the motherland.

hope your labor day weekend is fabulous!

just married!

it's official!

m'baby sis got married last night.

it was a good time. yes, indeedy.

congrats to the happy couple!

{photo by bruce nguyen}

last night as a single lady.

last night, to celebrate my baby sis' last night as a single woman,

my family went bowling. good good times.

susan joined in on the fun.

she's adorable and oh so hilarious.

the perfect woman, really.

oh and in case you were wondering,

yes i'm absolutely and completely obsessed with

my little nephew, jayden.

can you blame me?!

doesn't look like much...

...but it's home.

i'm in washington for the long weekend.

baby sis is gettin' hitched.

lookin' forward to: bowling with the fam, yard sales with susan and

kissing jayden's face off...to name a few.

see ya in awhile!