To the stars...

I've been a Kansan all my life. I was not always excited about this fact, but have grown to realize there's no place I'd rather claim as my home. Kansas houses many of my loved ones and most of my memories. As for my hometown, it's a funky little place; full of its quirks, its characters, a rich history and charm. I love living and working in the heart of downtown and I am proud that Lawrence is different than most of the state. I like to think that a visit can change the way people think of Kansas. We were even acknowledged on Design*Sponge, so you know we're legit!

When I came across the customized key necklaces in the Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno shop, I knew I had to have one. I brainstormed design ideas and could not settle on one. Finally, I thought "Kansas!!!" I love our state motto...Ad Astra Per Aspera, meaning: "To the stars through difficulty." I finalized my idea & put in my order.

When I got back from Arkansas, guess what was waiting for me? The final product!

In love! After a long & relaxing weekend, this little gem helped ease the pain of returning to real life. Thanks Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno!

Arkansas post coming soon...

on turning 4

Happy 4th birthday to my best girl, miss Riley! So far she went for a big walk, chased some big sticks, and took a celebratory dip in the creek (ew). Next, she will also be getting a birthday bath. :)

Here is a SUPER unflattering photo of Riley giving me a cuddle when I wasn't feeling so hot. A true friend right there, wouldn't ya say?? It's love.

Hope your Saturday is relaxing and filled with all things wonderful!

sunflowers

For the past couple of weeks I've been bugging Aaron to take me to the sunflower field that's just outside of town. I would go by myself, but as you all know, I am not so good with directions. Ha! Anyway, we took the trek out there & the sunflowers were a little bit past their prime, but still beautiful nonetheless. Next year we'll make it out earlier because I just know it would be spectacular. Here is a sneak peek at our Very Kansas Sunflower photo shoot...enjoy. :)

cool september night

Laying on the bed. Windows open. Cool air. Bon Iver.

Feeling grateful that my favorite season is approaching. I have started pulling out the hooded sweaters and cardigans, shopping for the perfect boots, and buying new knee high socks for work (essential--seriously!). Grateful for a family that is so supportive, full of love & words of wisdom. Grateful to be employed. Accepting that it's not my dream job, but it will pay the bills until my next adventure! And last, I'm grateful for the unconditional love of a pet. Riley is the best.

goings on

Alright party people, I must apologize. I have been a terribly inconsistent little blogger. I really do enjoy writing, so I hope that once I work it into my routine I will be a writin' fool! Consider this my pledge to try a little harder.

I know you all are dying to know what the heck I've been doing recently, so here is a list of sorts to get you all caught up on my goings on:

I ate ribs with my honey (@ Guy & Mae's in Williamsburg),

celebrated 1 year o' dating with aforementioned honey,

traveled to Minneapolis with my girlfriends,

celebrated many birthdays...

(Holly's birthday @ Tasso's)

(Hannah's birthday in Westport)

celebrated the baptism of my friend Franny's son, Giovanni,

Tried out "Heidi Braids" for the first time (haha!!!)

And last, but certainly NOT least...I found out I'm going to be Auntie Claire!!! WOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!

This is my super cute preggo sis, Lauren. I couldn't be more excited to meet & cuddle my first nephew!

Alright, that's enough for now. But expect to hear more from me...and SOON!

The new digs. I'm trying to clean my room today, but it's hard to stay inside. The weather is absolutely perfect! Lucky for me the rest of the week's weather is looking wonderful! My plan is to do all the yucky chores today so I can have tomorrow (Labor Day) to be free & easy. I've got the windows open, fresh breeze, downtown is buzzing just outside, and my music's turned up.

I've concluded that I need to move somewhere that has temperatures in the 70s all the time! My happiness would quadruple! Enjoying life today.

AZ

Overdue pictures from my trip to AZ. The trip was a month ago and I must say, I wish I was back there now with all of my best friends. I love these people!

today, i wish:

i wish i had a job that i believed in!

and really, really loved...

and found inspiring

& maybe looked forward to once in awhile.

fill-in-the-blanks

1. If I could get away somewhere for the weekend I would go to North Carolina to see my grandparents and I would bring my family & my boyfriend! I miss family vacations and I want Aaron to see NC!

2. Something I often rant about is work. I rant about work a lot--too much in fact! I need to get better about leaving all my frustrations when I leave the building. Having nightmares about work is so terrible.

3. One item I need to have in my fridge at all time is Laughing Cow cheese! Often it is the only thing in my fridge - ha!

4. My "life-saving" product is bare minerals make up! It is such a fast routine and the results are pretty dang good.

5. A friend is someone who will stick by you through thick & thin and is there for you even when it's inconvenient.

6. If I could write my own blank it would be about favorite blogs. I like discovering new ones!

7. My favorite kind of art is interior design/decorating, photography, fashion, and music. Colors & sounds. :)

good vibrations

I should be packing, but whaddya know...i'm procrastinating!!! I'm so good at it. Tomorrow at the crack o' dawn I will be headed to AZ for a girlfriend's wedding. All of my best friends will be there. In fact, we are all sharing a hotel room. It'll be like a good old fashioned slumber party--a 3 day long slumber party, in fact. Case in point, I am stoked. I've been working some extra hours at work and rather than bore you with the details, I'll just say I am more than ready for a vacay.

P.S.- I purchased Adele's "21" and I am in l-o-v-e. It's rare that I come across an album that I can listen to on repeat.

P.P.S.- My big sis Lisa comes in a couple of weeks to do some wedding planning! HOORAY! We have been sharing our ideas on a Pinterest board and it's been soo much fun. <3 my fam.

frustrated

Today was an incredibly frustrating day. My frustration was caused by lots of silly, insignificant events that accumulated. I am ready for tomorrow so I can start anew! My boy had a lousy day at work also so he made me dinner and we whined to each other. It helped. Immensely.

Having trouble being positive today, so I just thought I would share some recent photos. The first few are from a random day of photo fun with my best friend, Erinn. I finally convinced her to take pictures with me and whaddya know?! She actually enjoyed it. :)

The next few photos are from the most recent wedding I attended, Melissa & Wade's! Melissa is one of my good friends from college. So awesome to share her special day and to meet her other half. It still blows my mind that we're old enough to tie the knot and reproduce.

CRA-ZY.

In other wedding news, one of my lifelong besties (Megan) is getting married in Sedona on the 21st. Anyone have anything we must see &/or do while in Flagstaff and Sedona?

Life is weird

It is so strange to look back a year and think about what my mindset was and where I thought I was headed. My life is different now and not in a bad way--in a great way. When you feel down and out and you're so upset by changes in your life, it's hard to believe that it will play out the way it's supposed to. Things will work out. It will be OK.

Sometimes I just need that reminder. Hang in there. Something good is around the corner.

april showers

cake pops! yummo!

The clouds haven't left the sky for days now. I must admit, I kind of like the rain--especially a good Kansas thunderstorm. I love sleeping with the windows open when it's really coming down. The only con? It's hard to feel motivated to get anything done when I just want to be lazy and enjoy it.

Easter was fun. My cousin Morgan and great aunt Jean came to town. It had been far too long since I'd seen them (a couple years at least!). We've got a little tiny family so when you go so long without seeing everyone, it's super weird! Also, mom & dad gave us presents that Lisa sent--kimonos from her trip to Japan! Be-autiful.

with the lovely Lauren

fam!

Kimonos from LW

I have a super strong urge to redecorate my apartment! I think this is an itch I've just got to scratch. I need to do something creative and this apartment is driving me nutso. Something fresh & new is so needed in my life right now!

Today I'm tweaking my resume so that I can apply for 2 internships! Send your lucky vibes my way. :)

Listening to: Decemberists- The King is Dead

busy bee

I must apologize for my lack of postings. I have had lots going on!

Tuesday was my 24th birthday! On Saturday my ladies came from KC to hang out! We had plans to go out on the town, but after dinner and a couple drinks we came back to my house, got to talking and never left! We got in our pajamas and had a good old slumber party. My ideal birthday party. :)

Aaron was in Arkansas for work for a week, so I picked up a few extra shifts at work & kept myself busy! As for some good news, I got promoted to bartender! I was caught off guard & very flattered by the offer and I had my first day of training today. I was extremely nervous, which I now know was unnecessary. The only big concern I have is remembering all of the names of the regulars...there are SO many!

I have been feeling super lame lately, so I thought I should list some exciting things coming up:

*Meeting baby Giovanni next week

*Melissa's wedding

*Trip to Sedona

*Megan's wedding

*Lisa & Dave visiting

Life is good.

Lisa & Dave, sittin' in a tree...

What am I loving, you ask? I'm loving Pinterest. I know, I know I'm behind the times, but now that I'm there...in love. As y'all know, my oldest sister got engaged in February and we have been exchanging ideas via Pinterest. It's a great way for us to share *all* of our ideas (there are lots of them) since she is across the pond!

I'm not even close to getting engaged, but I love me some wedding websites! Currently obsessed with browsing color palettes.

Do you have any favorite wedding websites or blogs?

stars

today was...

inspiring because i spent 2 hours on skype talking wedding with lisa,
productive because i got my hair cut,
relaxing because it was obligation free,
frustrating because i bought the wrong color of lip stain (ugh),
quiet because aaron was out of town & chelsea is in mexico,
yummy because of a tasty latte, huevos rancheros, pad thai & spring roll salad. uh, yum.

‎"Hitch your wagon to a star..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

april fool's

1. The best prank I ever pulled was nthe one I just attempted to pull on my lovely boy. It has to do with a certain Jayhawk basketball team & certain key players entering the draft...and it was probably a little cruel. I even fell for it for a second & I wasn't the only one. See here.

2. The best prank ever pulled on me was not very memorable as I cannot think of one. However, at the gym today, my class instructor came in with her ankle wrapped and on crutches. All the other ladies were wondering & speculating--what did she do to herself?! Couldn't fool me. I'm done being the gullible one!

3. A day without lotsa laughter is a day wasted.

4. The most important things in life are simple: don't take what you've got for granted, be it family, friends, or circumstances. Work hard, play hard. Share as much kindness & love as you can!

5. I dream of someday having a job that I don't abhor, owning a home, getting married, having babies!

6. I dread going to work, particularly on Sundays, laundry day (today),& most of all, hearing my alarm clock when I've had a tossing-and-turning kind of night.

7. A discovery I made this week was The Thoughtful Dresser by Linda Grant. I am only on chapter 3, but would highly recommend. It combines fashion history with some interesting insight as to why people wear what they do.

Wishing you a very happy Friday!

24

Here you go, mom...

Birthday list #24:

(The name of each item is a link)

Necklace from hiyamoon on Etsy

Canon Camera Remote from Amazon

Atmosphere poster from Brainstorm Print and Design

Camera Ring from Ruche

Tumbler from Bed, Bath & Beyond

cute "c" from Urban Outfitters

Heart Ring from ASOS

Hydrangeas from Target

White Board from Urban Outfitters

Heart Sunglasses from Urban Outfitters

Blazer from JCPenney

OPI "Tickle My France-y" from Amazon (or Beauty Brands)

Other colors I like: I Think In Pink (light pink),

Flower-to-Flower (bright pink)

Bag from JCPenney

Also on the wish list:

*Gift cards (Beauty Brands, Shark's Surf Shop, Target)

*Sports "arbs" :)

*Measuring spoons (we don't have any!)

*Return address stickers