M.I.A... My Apologies

So... As some of you out there may have noticed, I have been M.I.A. for a little while... Well, this time it is not because I was being lazy (although I did have some down time), but rather the opposite indeed.

We have been looking for apartments, and it has been RATHER stressful, so I have been taking some time away from the World Wide Web, and focus on real life...

What is new with all of you?

And just in time for Spring, I found some cute summer dresses- more for weddings, and such. Well, as always, my gain is your gain- so ENJOY!

CORAL & SAND TUBE DRESS

FOR ESMÉ DRESS

SPUN SUGAR SHIFT

VALENCIENNES DRESS

Have a good weekend everyone!!! Hopefully see you next week!

Spring Time... YAY!!!

Today I awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and bees buzzing. Well, maybe not the later one, but it makes the picture I am metaphorically painting SO much better, don't ya think! But it is officially spring here, and I am PUMPED!!!

I am so happy to be able to take my spring and summer clothes out of their assigned boxes where it seems they have been hibernating for too long. The idea of being able to start to wear my dresses, skirts and sandals again is making me as giddy as a little girl in a glitter factory!

And thats not all... The good weather is bringing out the best in everyone's moods (especially mine! if you couldn't tell). This morning I was more than blessed with this little ditty form my wonderful Man-Friend, and I feel it is TOO good to keep to myself:

"Dear little squirrel in the window here,

Springy, springy, spring time,

Oh how you make me want to rhyme.

Spring time is a lovers ooh ooh,

It's got so many flowers- pooh pooh."

What are you looking forward to this springtime?

Candles Galore!

I have been in a really big candle mood lately... And because of this- I have been searching the internet far and wide for beautiful, interesting, crazy, and neat holders for them. So my findings are your gain!!!

Kikkerland Toy Soldier Candle Holder

Roost Tealight Log

Roost Large Coral Candleholder

Anthropology Driftwood Hurricane Candle Holder

Two's Company Opera Candleholder/Vase

Toore & Tagus Moor Wire Hanging Lantern, Point

Write- A- Bike

I had all sorts of ideas of things to write today- but they shall have to wait... I found the MOST AMAZING idea today for a bike...

I don't know about you, but I get a little nervous these days, even with a bike lock, to pin my bicycle to a tree or a post. But with the INGENIOUS idea of "Write-A-Bike" not many people would want to steal your bike (well, unless they had your name).

What do you all think?

I suppose I should also say, that they do also come in boys names- and in tandems!

Another Relationship Philosophy: The BoP

So here I am again giving you my advise on relationships. I personally think that we should all be more like the Birds of Paradise (of which there are over 42 strange and bizarre varieties of- fun fact to tell your friends)... The men do all the work to gain our attention, and if we are not satisfied with their pursuit, we simply walk away.

The male BoP, are the decorative and more fancy ones- meaning that they are the ones who have to spend 2 hours primping in the bathroom before they go out to the bars that eventing. They are also the ones who are in charge or catching the eyes of the opposite sex- unlike modern day humans...

If we humans were more like these BoP's, the women would be able to relax and spend more time on our own lives- rather than the intricate balance between social and private life.

What do you all think?

It Has Been Awhile... I Am Sorry

So- as the title pretty much states- point blank- it has been awhile since I have written a post, and I am sorry... So, not much has changed in my life- its been pretty ordinary (ha ha ha- title!), and I guess that is why I have not had much to write lately.

Today, I had a job interview, and it went REALLY well- I think... She said after the interview, that I did a really good job, and that she was going to refer me to the next round of interviews (of which there are 4 total).

I am trying not to get my heart set on this, or any other job, because I don't want to be disappointed if I were to not get the job... Sort of a self-preservation thing I guess... Smart? Dumb? Who knows... But I'm doing it!!!

What all is new in YOUR lives?

Side note, not to be cliché or anything... But what the heck Mother Nature- you tease us with nice, warm, snow melting weather- and then today, you decide to poop entirely on us... NOT nice! Get your PMS figured out!

Three Years!!!

Today (and Monday) marks the three year anniversary of my surgery, and I have to say, it feels pretty darn good to be here writing about it.

To mark this day of celebration, we are going out in the cities for some tasty dinner and then drinks. Following, will then be a night out on the town for a fun filled of crazy...

Have a safe weekend everyone, and enjoy your Saturday night!!!

Graduation Thoughts

I just ordered my cap and gown today, and it made me think about all of the things that I wish I would have done while still in college, and the things that I am looking forward to be able to do now that I am done with school.

While in school, I wish I would have studied abroad, traveled while I had the time (and the money), and done a lot more with my undergraduate education. Looking back on it, even though it has only been a few months, I think about all of the sorts of classes I wish I would have taken.

Now that I have graduated- I am looking forward to getting a job that actually pays some real money, being able to live a true life (not the sheltered life that a college kid lives), and decorate a new apartment that I will be able to live in for a longer while. I am also excited to move on.

Any of you have any after college thoughts- good or bad?

Wedding Dress Madness... AHH!

THE "OUTDOOR" DRESS

So, I should start off by saying that I am not getting married any time soon... Having said that, a girl can still look, right?

Well, I have, and I have found various dresses for every type of wedding you could imagine... The "tropical beach" wedding. The "runaway Vegas" wedding. Even one for the "traditional Catholic" wedding (and I'm not even Catholic). But my latest, and quite possibly greatest (time will tell on that one) find is the "romantic outdoors/eclectic?" wedding.

I think it is a fun way to examine what all is out there, so when the time is right, there isn't a chaotic tornado/fury storm of terror as to where to start looking. And, for the readers out there who may think that I have gone off the deep end, admit to yourself that you have thought about it once or twice too...

Do any of you do any "crazy" things (such as look for wedding ideas, houses, etc.) that are worth getting off of your chest?

Weekend Recap!

This past weekend I did not do much worth writing an entire blog post about, however, I am going to, so enjoy.

Friday, I had my first job interview post-graduation- and I think it went well. It was weird, because after having been the person doing the interviews for so many years, it was an odd feeling to be on the other side of the table. But, as always, I managed. Later that night, my boyfriend and I went out to dinner (nothing fancy, just burgers- but they were delicious and were EXACTLY what I wanted), and then went to a "Kinect" party with people from his work.

Have any of you ever played Kinect? It was super fun, both to play and to watch. People get crazzzzzyyyy!!!

Anyways, Saturday, we were pretty much snowed in all night, so we just watched movies and kept it low-key.

Sunday=laundry day. Yuck!

Did anybody else do anything worth mentioning?

Food Blog

So- I want to be a food blogger... However, there is only one set back, I am not good at making recipes. I am good at cooking (or at least I like to think I am), but they are more like quick fixes to meals, or spin-offs of other recipes. But when it comes to making a solely independent recipe, I feel lost.

The idea has been lurking in the back of my mind for a long time- and I look at a lot of different really good and unique food blogs- and I feel that I too can be amongst those good blogs- but as I have already stated, there is a problem with that.

I also follow a lot of other kinds of interesting blogs about fashion, decorating, weddings, life, photography, etc. and I think that those are probably more up my alley.

MY Dream Home

This year, HGTV has a beautiful "Dream Home" in Stowe, Vermont. It is filled with personalized touches that make the house wreak of East Coast luster and appeal. This house is made to order and filled to the brim with details that were customized for ME!

I (along with my boyfriend) have been signing up twice a-day, every day to win the Dream Home. I sure hope that I am going to be the winner. If so, I will be writing a whole new set of posts, and if not- the cynic in me will still be here. I would like to be the winner, and if not me- it had better be the boyfriend- MY boyfriend...

It also comes with $500,000 dollars and an GMC Arcadia Denali- which wouldn't be so bad. We could both use a new car... and some money!

Wish me luck (or luck to the people who decide who gets it, that they draw my name)!

Coming Down From A Valentine's Day High

Well, maybe I am the only one who experienced this, but the buzz and hype up to V-Day this year was intensified by my actual somewhat caring for it, and post-"holiday", (like always after a holiday- ESPECIALLY Christmas), there is a certain level of disappointment and it almost puts you into a funk.

I am not comparing Valentine's to Christmas by any means, but I am saying the the post-holiday slump, and feeling of "what is next/to come", always leaves me feeling a bit off. I am usually able to pick up from it right away, and there is NO doubt that this one will be any different- considering how minor of a holiday it is for me- but there is still always a certain level of need to be back in the excitement of what was.

Anyways, I am looking for something to do with my days- besides write on this very blog, and surf all that the internet has to offer (multiple times)... So, my question comes on to you- what do you think would be a better use of my time that sitting and doing virtually nothing all day? I am getting desperate.

Valentine's Day 2011

So, normally I am a cynic when it comes to the day of love- and as you may have noticed, I am all that big of a fan of the day itself. There are certain perks, like it is one of my dear good friend's birthdays, people are not usually as crabby, and that is about it.

But this year, it is different. How can I be upset when I have the BEST boyfriend in the world! I woke up to a V-Day scavenger hunt- where I had to search out my own gift. 18 clues later- I found myself a Sterling Silver "S" necklace. All-in-all a good day for gifts.

THE CLUES

THE NECKLACE

As for my gift to him- I got him a mix-n-match six pack of beer... boring right? WRONG! With personalized labels and caddy- I stepped it up a notch, and made something he can enjoy not only the look of, but the taste of too...

THE FRONT OF THE CADDY

THE BACK OF THE CADDY

A FEW OF THE BEERS

A FEW MORE OF THE BEERS

Not that I am changing my view on V-Day 100%, but this year- I do not want to climb into a hole for 24 hours to avoid all people and their loving gazes...

How was your day of love?

The Weekend!

So here we are- the weekend it upon us, and it is a big one indeed. Anyone have any big and exciting  plans?

Personally, I've got some big plans... Today (Saturday), we are going to go out for a friend of mine's birthday. Her birthday is on Valentine's Day, so instead on intruding on her and all of the other love birds' plans, we are going to go out tonight and celebrate! We are going to go out to the cities to dine and play. Then on Sunday, I think we will make a big breakfast and enjoy the day off.

Then the next day comes the BIG day of love... Not that I personally think it should be shrink wrapped- a whole years worth of love- into one day, but that is what seems to be. So- knowing me, I am sure I will have something cynical to write about... Lucky you!

Anyways, Have a safe and enjoyable weekend everyone!

New Relationship Motto...

The other day I was talking with my boyfriend, and I said something that I thought was pretty profound. Again, this is something I thought was profound, so feel free to disagree, or comment... We were arguing about something dumb- like always- and I said, "you can either be happy or you can be right, pick one".

I think it is true, you both can fight about the things that you think are true- until you are both blue in the face, but when it comes down to it, someone has to give up to make the other one happy. Not saying that we fight all the time- because we don't, but it is just those silly little quarrels that couples get in, about the small stuff, like what movie to watch or what to have for dinner, you know, the important things. haha!

Anyways, that is my new motto, and I am sticking to it!

Another Valentine's Day- Just Around the Corner...

I think that Valentine's Day is just another "holiday" for people to make fools of themselves and prance around like defaces... Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I do not like the holiday.

I think the only decent part about the day is the fun love themed gifts, because on what other occasions do we give those to our significant others. Now, I think that giving gifts because it is expected of us, is sad, and I personally would rather get a "Tuesday" gift- I like the idea of giving and getting gifts on random days.

This year, I think that I will lay low on the Valentine's Day events, but I will be giving my "other" something nice... What do you all have in mind?

Strong Black and Whites...

An Idiot Abroad

I have started to watch this show called “An Idiot Abroad” on the Science Channel. The show’s premise is a man (the idiot) travels to various countries (abroad) and learns about them and about himself. Well, in short, it is HILARIOUS! The main character, Karl, is the most ignorant and naïve man on TV today, however the quick, witty and dumb things he says are a direct line to my funny bone. I would highly recommend watching it if you get the chance... It's great!

Tales from the Arctic...

So- some readers may be from warmer climates- California, Florida, or maybe somewhere exotic... Well, I am from a freakin' cold place called Minnesota, where the air is crisp and the snow is deep. Today, I decided to go for a walk with the boyfriend, which sounds lovely and all- but the minute I stepped outside into that frozen tundra, I realized the error of my mistake... It was a miserable walk, I'll say that much... So stay warm all you midwesterners, and for the rest of you- enjoy your warmth........

Daily Inspirations...

I am extremely inspired by visual images... Daily I look at about 10-15 different photography, life and other inspirational blogs. I take pictures from them on a regular basis for no particular reason. I have no need for them, but I feel the need to keep a large stockpile of images around for instances such as this... So my gain is your gain! Throughout the next however long you should decide to read this, I will be attaching images along with blog posts, or having simply image posts, because it is my belief that images make that world go round!