Pretty Without Pink

2012-10-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

My page has been relocated and renamed! Please go to my new blog, The Fashion Ladder for recent posts and updates. This site is no longer used.

Thank you!

-Andrea

www.fashionladder.wordpress.com

Twitter: @FashionLadder

Recent obsessions

2011-12-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

The weeks leading up to Christmas are always my favorite. The hustle and bustle of gift giving and last minute dress shopping for holiday parties. This week I've been extra busy buying gifts and getting myself ready for several holiday parties that so far have been absolutely wonderful. It's so nice to be around family and friends.

My week in photos:

My friend Ly's baby shower. It was all pretty in pink and absolutely filled with sweet treats!

My new Vera Bradley makeup bag. Perfect for gif giving to your favorite makeup friendly girl.

Day 1 of Christmas shopping. Not bad but not done!

My new holiday go-to shoes. Dolce Vita glitter heels I got from Free People! I love love love them

My Christmas chic shellac nails!

To end the week I celebrated National Cupcake Day at Crave! Gingerbread is my new favorite!

Short post but I just wanted to share a bit of my week with you all. How has the Christmas season been treating you all?

-Andrea

Social Media Update

2011-08-09T15:57:00.001-07:00

With the recent release of Google + I have been intensely using the new platform to expand my interests and horizons while building new relationships with contacts I never thought possible to interact with.
The new social media platform has been a game changer for sure and it has yet to cease to surprise me. I love G+ and have been sharing time between it and Twitter my real love on the Internet.

Find my Twitter page here
Find my G+ page here

I am most excited about the future of G+ in reference to its usage by businesses. So far I have seen few pages specifically for blogs or businesses that I have seen and I am interested in how G+ will be used. Perhaps I'll set up G+ for Pretty Without Pink and see what I can do with it. Let me know what you all think if you are using it right now.

Also, Belle and I have continued our photography work and recently did a photo shoot with a friend from high school who is pregnant with her first child. It was one of our favorite shoots and I had a blast. A great learning experience to say the least!
We also played around with some black and white photography..

Color just for fun ;)

-Andrea

Why DayGlow Houston was better

2011-07-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is my post on why DayGlow Houston was better than the rest...until it got shut down early day 1.

DayGlow banner. Image from here

My expectations for DayGlow - World's largest paint party in Houston were low. I had little confidence in Stereo Live's venue to put on a paint party successfully.
I began my night with my usual group of party goers and we were all antsy to see what the venue would look like and how many people would actually show up.
That being said, upon my arrival, I was blown away.

DayGlow has a certain set of expectations that I believe every raver wants to see fulfilled before the night is over.
Here are mine:
1. Get painted. All over.
2. Paint others. All over.
3. Join the movement of the pit
4. See the headliner
5. Survive

Now, I have a very short list of fulfillments or expectations per say. In Houston, I accomplished 4/5 and I must say I am totally satisfied and still really excited for the next opportunity to do it all again.
My sisters and I dressed the part and anticipated mass amounts of paint being poured on us and then at the end of the night sitting on trash bags in my car trying not to get neon paint all over the place.

Looking down at the pit from the second floor early in the night. No paint was out yet and everyone was in white. What a scene. Image from my iPhone.

To start, I want to talk about some highlights at DayGlow Houston. First of all, parking wasn't horrible and Houston is known for having horrible parking so congratulations to the Stereo Live parking team and local police department for insuring the safe arrival of their attendees. That went flawless, it was incredibly overpriced but what's new. Second I want to touch on the fact that at most locations of DayGlow the paint comes from one direction..the front and so the back of the crowd gets very little paint or no paint and must resort to buying bottles and squirting each other with them..which can be fun anyway. This is where Houston excels over the rest, Stereo Live is a square venue with a second floor over looking the main stage. The second floor wraps around the venue so you can see the entire pit in the middle below you. From that view, DayGlow was insane looking and rather mesmerizing. The best part of all? No matter where you are standing, sitting or hiding, you will get painted and it will get in your eyes. Paint came shooting out from the front of the stage into the pit but because of the second floor and partiers with bottles of paint, paint came from all directions a full 360 of paint splatter and flying at you. Epic.

DayGlow stage dancers. These girls gave the crowd something to cheer about. Image from the Houston Press

What I want to get to from my list though, it number 4. See the headliner. I feel like this is very important to "rave" type events especially one like DayGlow where they have created a very positive and respected impression of the United States. However, rather recently I know Houston has had some issues on overcrowding and having to shut down events early within the last couple months due to what I think is the mass amount of Houstonians becoming fans of techno, dubstep, drum and bass fans. That being said, DayGlow should be used to extremely large groups, Austin had about 4500+ attendees so what were they expecting in Houston? Stereo Live clearly has a maximum occupancy, and DayGlow clearly sold too many tickets and therefore cost the entire group of 3200+ the last hour and a half of the night and closed the opportunity to see our Houston headliner Richard Vission. I was upset, the party ended early, I hadn't finished my bottle of paint and it was 12:30 on a Saturday night with no after party planned for thousands of people covered in paint. Disappointed to say the least. So while I paid a good amount of money for my VIP pass to DayGlow and had a blast I was disappointed in the end. I would love a refund, or even a ticket to the second day they added in Houston but nothing was offered and the trouble of going through it all probably wouldn't be worth it (why would I want to go back to Stereo Live after that?).

DayGlow after the paint was blasted. Image from the Houston Press

I did not attend day 2 of DayGlow Houston but I heard it went well and was a lot of fun. I do not think the number of attendees even came close to the previous night but I'm sure those kids had their fun.

Day 2 flyer

Overall I give DayGlow a 7.6 out of 10. Maybe next year we can hit that perfect score.

*For more photos of DayGlow Houston check out the Houston Press Slideshow here

El Primero de Junio

2011-06-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

The first of June has finally come.
Allison and I leave in 32 days. It is officially crunch time to get everything done!
How quickly our first week went by; it feels like yesterday we landed, yet at the same time I already feel at home and have grown accustomed to the way of living here. It isn't bad but every so often I miss home and the ease of everything there.

Last night our group learned some Flamenco dance steps and watched a show together. It was a lot of fun and Allison has tons of pictures that I will be putting up on here. The group had tapas together after and we have some great laughs to look back on already.

Tonight we go explore the Arabic part of the city and do a lot of so I'll be taping up my knees and looking a little crazy just to make sure I can make it through the whole thing. I am excited though, I hear it will be beautiful and I am definitely bringing my camera.

First Day of Class

2011-06-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

5.31.11
Hello Hello!

Sorry for the lack of posting and its sporadicalness but it has been a little crazy with school now.

Monday after the placement exam and orientation Allison and I went to dinner together and let's just say we didn't stop after our first bottle of wine.

Regardless this morning wasn't the easiest morning and I can definitely say we need to cut down the drinking before class (maybe).

Today was a great day though so far. I went to class this morning and the level 7 Spanish is perfect. It is hard but I know it will make me so much better. The first two hours I spend with Adolfo and he is a great teacher. We focus on grammar and writing in his class so it is really going to help me and I'm already excited about it. After a 15 minute break we have a new teacher for another two hours. Anna Ortiz (Spelling check later..) is alright, I am going to give it a couple days or a week to see if I like her or not. She has a teaching assistant but I don't remember his name right now so I'll figure that out if he ever talks to us because he just sat in the back of the classroom and didn't say anything today. Anna's class is all oral and it is interesting but I'm not as excited for it. Finally ending the day I have a grammar/oral practice class for an hour and it's with Allison and Alexis so I'm excited about that. The class was just the three of us and one girl today, hopefully it grows because it is pretty boring at this point but that class seems more of a headache than anything. After 4 hours of class one more hour is the last thing we all want.

It is now siesta and we are about to have lunch. Our host mom Paqui has her brother and some family at home today; I am so excited to talk with them and get to know more about where Paqui comes from.

Tonight is Flamenco night where we get to take a class as a group and then watch a Flamenco show. Should be embarrassing, difficult and entertaining!

-Andrea

Isabel Numero Dos

2011-06-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

5.30.11
Finally able to get a hold of two girls that are in our program yesterday!
Isabel (host sister) also invited Allison and I out to get tapas with her boyfriend and his friend. We rapidly agreed and were excited to get to hang out with her and get to know her better. We invited the two girls from our program as well.

Once we met up as a whole we walked towards town where we found ourselves dealing with a barrier...a procession had begun minutes before our arrival, therefore getting to the other side of the street aka town was impossible. Instead Isabel took us to a side of town we had not yet seen. There we saw the most beautiful area with a garden like nothing I had ever seen. It had a central park feeling but it was surrounded by apartments and included the home Huerta de San Vicente, which was the home of Federico Garcia Lorca a famous poet. The home has been maintained and is accompanied by rose gardens, benches and tons of trees lining the pathways. It was so beautiful and had a welcoming essence to the park.

Afterwards we went to a little bar to get tapas and drink yet again, amazing wine. We talked for hours in Spanish and English and got to know Isabel more along with our two knew friends.
I even found out that Isabel's boyfriend is a Green Bay Packer fan! What a surprise! Of all the places to find a cheesehead it would be in Granada.
Our conversations never ended and I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.
So with new found friends and future plans to hang out Allison and I ended our night much earlier than before (around midnight) and headed home to get some sleep for our placement exams this morning.

After being nervous all morning about the exam I am relieved to find out that I placed in level 8 Spanish! (I think it is out of 10 but I'm not exactly sure)
This afternoon we found out our class rooms and times which I am very excited about because Allison already knows someone in her level so she has a friend. I think I will be in level 7 to start (my writing skills suck) and then if I advance, I will move into level 8. Regardless I am really excited about classes and can't wait for my Spanish to get better.

Tonight we take a tour of the city with our group so hopefully that is entertaining if not I'm sure Allison will find some fun things to do.

*Edit*

So tonight our group field trip lasted MUCH longer than anticipated and Allison and I were so tired that we didn't even want to make the trip home and decided to eat in town. Our host family had graduation tonight so they were busy anyway but we decided to have ourselves a real meal, and a big one at that.
We had pizza, bottles of wine, and paella (vegetarian; turns out it's one of my favorites), and churros with chocolate and honey. Best food ever!

Allison and I even stopped by our favorite bar tonight and had a glass of wine, met Martha (lives right next door to us) and got to know William a little better. It was a pretty chill night with some really great times. Allison and I ended early again because we have class at 9 in our new and official rooms so we didn't want to be late or too tired for the day. Wish us luck on our first full day of school tomorrow!

-Andrea

First Night on the Town

2011-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

So yesterday and last night Allison and I adventured out into the city on our own for the first time.

Allison looking as cute as ever

Local protest about the politics of the country and city as well as the education system and much more.

First of all a big congratulations to Barcelona for winning the champions league UEFA! The game was amazing and I can't describe how wild the streets were after the game. People were hanging out of cars, yelling, and we even came across a celebration circle near one of the big fountains in the center of town. It was wild, we saw police, yelling, flags, horns, children and of course mass amounts of drinking. The town was on a high and lit to the sky.

Now, to back track a little, Allison and I had dinner at what we are going to call the most amazing restaurant thus far. It was beautiful, the tables were comfortable and line the river that runs through the city. The restaurant is one of the oldest remaining buildings on the side of town we were walking through and it looks as beautiful as ever. We had the most amazing bottle of wine, cheese bowl and salad. I have never felt so satisfied.

Rioja wine

Nom Nom to the maximum.

After dinner, the excitment of the game and a little bit of getting lost, we came across an Irish pub. Knowing that a little bit of English would be spoken we decided to go in and have a drink. The Black Russian (not the same as the White Russian) stole some of my heart. It was so delicious. I felt like I was drinking a rich chocolatey reduction of smooth liquors. Across the street was Kabob King. I am an avid falafel eater back home so the chance to try a European falafel is one I will not pass up. Might I add that this falafel is perfection. The crepes the owner made us were delicate to the touch and melted in my mouth. He's going to be seeing us a lot I think...and I think he knows it.

We decided to try and walk up the street a little more towards our school to find a nearby bar or to attempt to head home. Then, the fun really began. We had read about a little bar called Casa Lopez Correa that an English man and wife own and were dying to find it to take a look. As we were walking and giving up hope we walked right by it. It was so close! Our school is walking distance! Perfect.

The adventure story of Casa Lopez Correa is one not to be missed, pay close attention:
After walking in we sat down on two stools and began talking to the bartender. He was older and very nice and quickly served us a local beer he thought we would like. From there it turned into a shit show. We took them by surprise to say the least. The guys say we are more educated and intelligent and not so "American," aka we have some world knowledge and aren't you normal uneducated girls. Let's just say we enjoy talking politics and have knowledge of world issues...regardless the guys seemed to really like us and I can tell they are going to teach us a lot in the future.

A wide variety of English beers that I cannot wait to taste

The wine I will be taking much of back home!

We hung out until the bar closed and it was so much fun.
We tried some really great tapas and some amazing beer. At the end of the night we were the last two customers and being the gentlemen that they were, they offered us a ride home instead of making us find a taxis at 5:00 AM! So sweet. We showed them on our map where we lived and they knew exactly where it was (refreshing).

Miles being silly

The car ride was the best part. We were telling them how much bigger the cars in the US were and since they were from England they had a car with the steering wheel on the right! It was so exciting, I felt like we were in a movie.
We can't wait to go back and we can't wait to become really good friends with them!

Tonight I am going out with Isabel for a while and I am so excited to meet her friends and see what kids her age do around this town. She's about 17 or 18 and she has lots to talk about all the time so I'm pretty sure it will be a good time.

-Andrea

My first Tapas bar

2011-05-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Today has been an interesting day to say the least.
First Allison and I slept for about 14 hours. So around 3:45 we woke up and were ready to start the day.
We had an amazing lunch with our host family and learned a lot about them (I will make a post dedicated to them later) and then decided to run some errands and see the city.

As we began our city tour they took us the way we would walk to school, not as close as I imagined and much more hill walking than I would like but the building is beautiful and the old buildings and beautiful architecture makes it worth it. We walked an enormous portion of the city today, it is so beautiful and filled with little shops and these bars called tapas. There is a section that has a strong Arabic background; it is beautiful and I can't wait to shop tomorrow.

Our school had an improv show tonight

The Cathedral had an ensemble playing, it was so beautiful and the acoustics are phenomenal.

There are many different fruits here we don't get back in the states, and the tomatoes for one are ENORMOUS here!

A coffee house Allison and I want to hang out at one day after school. It's courtyard is beautiful. (See below)

Where you sit and drink coffee and catch up on the day.

Now, the Tapas bars are a concept I think the USA should adapt ASAP. I am not kidding these are the best bars I have ever been too. At the bars you and a friend order a drink and you get a free tapas which is like an appetizer. The tapas at most bars are jamon (ham) and queso (cheese) sandwiches or bread and cheese dishes, calamari and can vary from place to place. They are amazing and my favorite part about drinking. It makes the whole experience so different from regular drinking at bars. It is so chill and choosing from different tapas is always the first conversation. After that when it arrives you talk about how amazing and wonderful it tastes.

So after several tapas and the most flavorful wine I have ever tasted we took our first bus ride back home. We are told there are two buses we can take and they both can take us home but only one can take us to the center of town (confusing eh?) but we make it home safely and honestly it's not a long walk. Bus cards are available and I got one tonight so I can start taking the bus around town. Buying a bus card is a million times more simple than it is back in the states, everything is on the bus and you get your card right there. Simplicity is key in Europe and they have it down to a science.

One of the most amazing glasses of wine I have ever had in my life. I can't wait to have more.

One of our many tapas. This one had a brie type cheese melted over bread with italian herbs and spices (or something similar.

One thing I quickly noticed was that all the tapas come with chips and as an American, this comes as a pleasant surprise.

So this may seem weird but let me remind you...it is. Beer here comes in a glass...a wine glass. Yes, it was very confusing but no it doesn't taste any better or worse, beer will always be beer. However, this is definitely an interesting and more entertaining way of drinking it.

I will be taking my SLR camera out to town tomorrow so I will have some good pictures but today I just had my iPhone and still living in a 3Gs world makes my camera not so amazing so bare with me and my photos. Tomorrow is Saturday and apparently the town flourishes with people and farmers market type set ups so I am very excited to explore and photograph it all.

Until then, I am in dire need of more sleep! Hasta luego!

-Andrea

We'll just figure it out..

2011-05-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

So from my title you can probably guess my trip to Spain hasn't gone as planned or anything close to it. Allison and I decided to just take things as they came and not to stress out by focusing on one task at a time. "We'll just figure it out." has become our new motto to live by.

To start off our flight out of Houston to Paris wasn't as horrible as anticipated. Yeah our seats weren't amazing and yes there was a small and of course annoying child accompanying us BUT we watched 6 hours of movies, had some pretty legit airplane food and dreamed of what was to come on this trip. Around 8:30 AM Paris time we arrive at the WORLDS WORST AIRPORT! I am not kidding, this place is more disorganized than the Miami airport which I despise. No outlets for charging our dying phones and no one checked us through customs. Now anyone traveling to Europe knows you MUST go through customs and you MUST get your passport stamped. Well having no idea what was going on we kept going through the motions of normal airport traveling. Not a single person questioned us, asked, or said a word about our passports...2 hours later we are on a plane to Malaga, Spain. Now at this point we are thinking OK Spain is our final destination we will get stamped there. NOT THE CASE.

we end up being able to leave the airport and go about our day. WRONG! We know this isn't right so we go to the airport police and let them know what has happened...a good while later, a weird stamped form by the Malaga Police and a ride to the wrong train station we are on our way to a different loading location. Let me remind you we have been traveling for more than 24 hours. A train later, a little lost later, and a 2 hour bus ride after, we arrive in Granada. To say the least, I am relieved. Tomorrow we tackle customs to see what we can do about our "immigration" issue and lack of stamp. Wish me luck, this will be interesting.

have uploaded some pictures of our place, our closet, and our view. Our host family is more than amazing and we couldn't be happier to be "home."

-Andrea

My New Direction

2011-05-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
It has sure been a while since I have posted. I have recently decided to take my blog a different direction and leave the majority of my original goals and desires with my blog behind.
Not all is lost though, there are many aspects of my blog I still love and want to maintain.

However, my first major change is going to be turning my focus back on to my life and my adventures. First up on the list? Spain.
I will be leaving for Spain this week for a study abroad program through my school.
I am so excited and can't wait for the journey.
I will be tweeting my journey and blogging about my trip and the adventures I take.

I am so excited and hope that you all enjoy the direction my blog takes me, it has been a rough and tough year so far, so I could use all the support out there!
Can't wait to share with you all!

~Drea

What to bring - SXSW 2011

2011-03-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! It's midterm time here for us college kids but that doesn't mean fun isn't just around the corner. Spring Break is next week! Now, while everyone is off at the beach I'll be taking my second trip to SXSW (South by SouthWest)in Austin, TX. I am SO EXCITED! This is the first time I'm going to Interactive and I'm going along with a company called GomezTech where I'll be doing promos and marketing for them as well as some personal blogging :)

Be on look out for me or any of the team because we are handing out free Tweeted Times t-shirts. Tweeted Times is an online personal newspaper generated form your Twitter stream. It's really cool and the site is super easy to use. My own newspaper? Don't mind if I do.
Check mine out here
Set yours up here

So, for today's post I'm going to talk about what to bring to SXSW. Aside from the norm (Jeans, t-shirts, shampoo, etc) I'm going to talk about what you need to bring, or what I have decided is totally necessary for me since I learned my lesson the hard way last year.

First thing is first, no one wants to see your broken falling off your feet shoes. So invest in something extremely comfortable. Want comfort and fashion? Try flats. Heels are a night time going out thing, and even though SXSW is filled with parties, avoid heels at all cost. It's rough.

Here are some of my favorite flats -

Next thing is super crucial as it will save you from being the only one who didn't know...
Bring an extra battery pack for your camera. I know that lugging around your SLR camera can be heavy and bringing an extra battery is the last thing you want but seriously consider it. If your camera dies what will you do? Another way to save yourself, bring a power shot camera. They are small, lightweight, and easy to use. SXSW is fast paced and messing with SLR cameras can be time consuming, I suggest a power shot...don't forget a battery. They have charging stations all over the area (Samsung recharge is an example) but also an extra set of power cords or an extension can save your laptop during keynotes or learning session. Be prepared for all electronics to die, this includes cell phones.

Other necessities:

Be aware also that while drinks may be served everywhere water can be expensive at these types of events and since SXSW is known for it's music, parties, and events alcohol is easier to come by than water on a regular basis. To combat my thirst I like bringing a canteen. It's environmentally more friendly than using 2 or 3 water bottles a day for the week that I'm there and it's also fun and easy to use. I like to decorate mine with different stickers I get while I'm there, people (especially bands) are always giving out stickers.

At large events people and germs are going to fill the air. Whatever you touch could get you sick in the long run. To be safe I like to carry around Hand Sanz by a company called All Terrain which is eco friendly and naturally biodegradable. It doesn't leave the strong alcohol smell that most do and it doesn't dry out my hands. Keep it handy you never know when you will be sitting in a chair that has been occupied by someone very sick moments before.

Along with your water it's nice to bring a couple snacks. I love snacking on my favorite granola bars by Kashi. The TLC Trail Mix chewy granola bar is one of my favorites. It has whole nuts in it and still tastes great. It gets me by on a long day when I don't have time to get a meal or pack fruit because they won't last. It's easy, small, and can fit in a pocket.

9.10.

Of course to top it all off, a nice springy dress to wear out never hurts. 6th Street is only part of the SXSW scene but it isn't one to be missed. Be sure to mix and mingle with all those you can. Swap business cards, "Bump" using your iPhone, or simply say hello to someone next to you at a keynote. This year SXSW looks like a great time, I hope it doesn't disappoint!

1. Toms Shoes: http://www.toms.com/womens/glitters/gold-glitters-shoes
2. Aldo Camilli Sneakers: http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/women/shoes/flats/82854113-camilli/44
3. Aldo Ansara flats: http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/women/shoes/flats/83011222-ansara/38
4. ASOS Lake Stripe Bow Ballet Pumps: http://bit.ly/gNy8z2
5. Miss KG Licorice Bow Front Flat Shoe: http://bit.ly/e5eYN7
6. Klean Kanteen: http://www.kleankanteen.com
7. Hand Sanz: http://www.allterrainco.com/natural_soap_sanitizer.html
8. TLC Trail Mix Bars: http://bit.ly/fM8SVp
9. Rare Chiffon Fluted Sleeve Mini: http://bit.ly/ietx8P
10. Miss Sixty Dress With Mesh: http://bit.ly/f34szr

Hope this is helpful to all those on their way to SXSW coming up this week. I know it's going to be a long week ahead but it's filled with lots of fun. I can't wait to get there and meet everyone it's going to be a blast!

~Andrea

Coloradan

2011-02-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

Well, the end of the month is finally here and it's my best friend Sarah's birthday! So I'm off to Colorado for a couple days! I'm so excited to snowboard!

Before I get back I'll try and make a post, I can't wait to share my adventure. Today, I'm taking off and I wanted to share a couple things I like to keep in my carry on when I fly. This is just some of my essentials. What are yours?

I have to carry my EOS lip balm. It's amazing. I love the cool egg shape, and the way it looks, smells, and feels. It's really my favorite lip balm at the moment, and I think it will stick around. You can buy one at your nearest drug store. I got mine at Walgreens.

Aveeno Ulta-Caling Daily Moisturizer is so light weight and clean feeling. I love applying it throughout the day when my face feels dry especially during the winter. This is a definite must in the airport and on the plane along with the dry and cold air in Colorado.

My favorite gum of all time. It's the best I think.

Definitely need some good beats to jam out to so these are great for that. They block out sound perfectly. I love using them on planes because they can be noisy and crying babies are never fun.

One of the best fashion magazines in the world. Love reading this magazine and looking at the beautiful photographs they provide us with.

Products:

1. EOS Lip Balm: http://www.evolutionofsmooth.com/products_lip_sphere.html

2. Aveeno Ulta-Caling Daily Moisturizer: http://www.aveeno.com/facialcare/ultra-calming-spf15

3. Orbit Wintermint Gum: http://www.orbitgum.com/#/home/orbit/wintermint

4. Beats By Dr. Dre: http://www.beatsbydre.com/products/Products.aspx?pid=B3808&cat=1

5. W Magazine: http://www.fashionfame.com/2011/02/mila-kunis-covers-w-magazine-march-2011-issue/

Here's some pictures of my outfit for the airport! I love being comfortable in airports and on planes. Heels are a no go so I put on my comfy new FRY brown boots and a loose dress. I have my heavy coat in my bag and I'm ready to go. Can't wait to land in CO and see snow!

My face is blurry in all of them. Such a bummer. Oh well, next time I will take my time! Hope you enjoy, Have a good weekend everyone!

See you all in a couple days!

~Andrea

For Him and For Her

2011-02-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday!
It's beautiful and amazing weather where I am right now and I can't get enough of it. I want to play outside all day. It's really just perfect.

It's also nearing the end for people to grab some gifts for their loved ones for Valentines Day.
In case you are missing some gifts or can't think of what to get, I have a a list of some fun things to get someone, especially things that are a little bit different from your normal list. Instead of putting different jewelry and expensive typical gifts, I've complied a list of things that aren't so ordinary, and can really surprise someone.

Custom Dog Tags, I think these could be really cute and this website My Dog Tag here, has so many different types, styles, and colors to choose form, personalization is easy. It's a fun gift idea for a couple to have each other's name on their tag to always look at.

I saw this in the dorm area on my university campus this week. I couldn't help but take a picture. it's a perfect way to start a day or come home from work too a house full of sweet notes written by a loved one. Not only could one do this for Valentines Day, but to leave a note every day would be the ultimate way to show affection.

The custom M&Ms make for a sweet treat when you can pick from tons of different colors and customize them with personal messages. I loved the Triangle Bowl because it made it easy to grab many different colors all at once!

This engraved money clip is great for any guy. You can even put his name on it, or a message that you know he would love to see every time he goes to pull out some cash. A girl can get really creative with this gift idea found here.

I love this heart shaped compact mirror. This idea came to me from one of my girl friends who gave our group of girls each an engraved compact mirror for Christmas. I use mine all the time, and I love how it has my name on it. I think every woman has a mirror in her purse and what fun it would be with her name on it or a little message from her loved one. An inexpensive way of saying I love you on a permanent basis. Found here.

1. Custom Dog Tags: $30+ http://www.mydogtag.com/

2. Love That Sticks: Post-it notes

3. Custom M&Ms: $31+ http://www.mymms.com/gifts/

4. Engraved Money Clip: $25 http://www.personalizationmall.com/

5. Engraved Heart Mirror Compact: $22 http://www.personalizatoinmall.com/

Of course there is always beautiful jewelry, flowers, and chocolates. But these gifts can give your Valentines Day and extra lift with a little more thought put into gift giving then the usual. Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend and relaxing the way we all should more often.

~Andrea

Valentines Day Inspired

2011-02-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, hope this amazing weekend is treating everyone well.
I'm swamped with work and school as usual, but couldn't help but get excited about today's post.
All over town and I'm sure everywhere in the US at least, Valentines Day decorations, balloons, gifts, and chocolates adorn every store and every window. Normally I'm not a huge fan, but while stopping by my nearest Dollar Tree for some wrapping paper I noticed the hundreds of heart shaped balloons all over the store. I thought, hey why not, this could be fun. So I grabbed a few, and went out.

I also picked up these adorable containers that I filled with some of my favorite sweets to put on my coffee table. Holiday decorations, complete!

These balloons made me day a little bit more exciting. They are so fun to play with.

Be sure to celebrate Valentines Day with some balloons, I promise they will put a smile on anyone's face. Up next: Check out my next post about gift ideas for him and her. Also don't miss next weeks post where I recap Valentines Day and talk about NYFW!

P.S. What is everyone doing for Valentines Day?
~Andrea

Super week(end)

2011-02-11T15:40:00.000-08:00

Ok guys so late post I know, it's been a rough week at school.
Anyway I wanted to recap on my Superbowl weekend because not only was it amazing, I just can't help but continue to be excited about the Packers winning.
Second, I wanted to talk a little bit about FASHION WEEK. Yes it arrived, and I have been watching it so far on livestream and keeping up with Tumblr. You can follow the tumblr fashion week page or look at updates and photos on mine.

So here's some pics from last weekend:

Me and Mr. JW

Yummy queso me and the girls made.

Green Bean Casserole. Delicious

Deviled Eggs. First time I had ever made or even tried them. Awesome!

7 layers of spectacular dip.

My French vanilla cupcakes.

Brownie Cookies...gone so quickly

The ladies. An amazing group I must say, love them.

In case you were wondering, my shirt says "I wana get sacked by Clay Matthews" Yeah I know, awesome and hilarious. I have an obsession with him, so when I saw the shirt, it was only natural to expedite it to my house and wear it all day during the Superbowl.

I love these two girls.

Ok so enough reminiscing on the weekend, we have one right now! Fashion Week is still underway and I can't wait to post some more about it, but coming up this weekend I'll be posting some Valentines Day themed posts. Since Valentines Day is on a Monday, my boyfriend and I may be celebrating early. Pictures to come!

~Andrea

1st Disappointment of the Year

2011-02-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

So, I have failed to continue my 30 Days. disappointment
I am so sad, I was so ready...but alas time has gotten the best of me. Should I continue anyway? Will it be ok I missed a couple days? What to do what to do...

The reason why, if you're asking, is because the weather here took a turn of the worst last week and I lost internet for 3 days..YES THREE WHOLE DAYS. Terrible. Second reason, my Grandmother all the way from Puerto Rico came to visit for my younger sisters senior recital, let's just say I chose hanging out with her rather than going somewhere with Internet connection to post...THIRD and most importantly, the SUPERBOWL finally arrived! OH I HAD FUN! There will be a post dedicated to that. I know I am supposed to do these things before the events actually happen but it just didn't work out that way this time around. So those are my excuses, and excuses they shall remain.

Fashion Week has begun and the Spring conferences have as well. Currently taking place:

Lucky Fabb conference. I wish I was there. So badly.
The conference is dedicated to those bloggers in Fashion and Beauty.
It is currently being Livestreamed here, and you can also follow them on Twitter here.
I've been obsessing with it and following some of my favorite bloggers who are there with their updates on speakers and activities (this morning was Joan Rivers < JEALOUS!)
Check it all out, the conference looks amazing, I hope I can go next year!

~Andrea

Watch out Batman

2011-02-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

Day 6 - Favorite super hero and why

So it's easy to guess with a title like that who my favorite super hero is, Batman.

I can't remember the age I decided he was the super hero I not only wanted to meet but I wanted around me all the time but I am assuming it was somewhere around age 4 or 5. I remember seeing the comics, and playing with the figures, and then later see Cat women, who I was also a big fan of. I wasn't super big into the super hero world, but I definitely have had my fair share of comics, figures, and cartoons that I watched. Plus it helps that the Bat Mobile was always tricked out super cool and sleek. Movies that came out later when I was older also caught my eye and let me tell you, I've seen all the Batman movies. All.

*All images from this post came from the web via google*

So who is your childhood super hero?

~Andrea

Puerto Rico

2011-02-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

Weather Update: It's 17 Degrees today. Despite my efforts to stay warm, I can't help but feel like I'm living in Alaska. It's cold, and the wind chill makes it feel colder. However, today's post is about something much much warmer.

day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been

As soon as I saw day 5 come up, I got excited to share. I visit Puerto Rico pretty often (I have family there) and I couldn't wait to share some of the images I have taken of the years. Especially some from my most recent trip there during the Summer of 2010. It's the most beautiful place in the world to me, I have never seen beaches the nice, water so clear, and an island so excited about every little thing. It's a beautiful place and I highly recommend it. If you are a US citizen you don't even need a passport! AND to top it off, it is the only territory the US owns that has a living rainforest. THE ONLY PLACE! Ok, picture time:

Love that island more than anything.

~Andrea

My bad habit

2011-02-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have

I chew my nails. BAD. It's terrible, I know it, I just can't stop, especially when I'm stressing out. I've tried many different ways to kill the habit but they just never seem to last. I have figured out though, getting solar nails keeps me from chewing them unfortunately that's an expensive way to keep myself from chewing. I'll learn some day I hope, for now, I either chew, or I get my nails done.

Current status: Chewing. Blah.

While I won't post a picture of my ugly ugly nails, I'll post some pics of the nails I wish I had, and the nails I will probably have when I get mine does this week. Can someone say Spring nails?!

I got these images and trends from this website.

I love the gold tones and soft pinks and tan colors for spring. I am very excited about that.

The China Glaze nail polish, which isn't necessarily my favorite, but they always have some great colors, have an extra cool Spring lineup called Texas. Got to love that. I want to try the light blue color soon!

~Andrea

Old School Picture

2011-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

Day 3 - a picture of you as a child

Oh boy, I searched and searched, I have no pictures of myself as a little kid here at my apartment!
This was the ONLY one I found, but you know what? I LOVE it. One of my favorites.

I'm in purple (center) hugging my best friend Lauren (1996)

So, story behind the photo? I thought you would never ask...

It seems like ancient times ago now, but then I realize I'm only twenty and it's really not THAT long ago. I was about six or seven in the picture I think. I was living in Florida at the time and the girl I'm hugging is Lauren, we were inseparable. My best friend of all time. Unfortunately we were torn apart just a few years later and I was off to Texas. We found each other now thanks to technology and Facebook and have since then continued our friendship at a distance. While I don't talk to her everyday or anything like that, I will always think of her as my first best friend, and a friend forever. I've taken a couple trips to Florida in the last few years and actually got to see her, that was an amazing day, and seeing someone after so long, felt so good. It was almost like I never left! We were still the same old silly girls. Can't wait to see her again some day.

After my cheerleading competition in 2008, once again I'm in the middle

It is so cool to see how much we have grown up!

Does anyone have any friends like this?

~Andrea

My new day 2

2011-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am already a day late, but that's ok it's two days late so I guess for number 2 that works perfectly.

day 2- the meaning behind your blog name

PrettyWithoutPink is my blog name, pretty much it starts with my relationship with the color pink. I love to hate it, I hate that I love it, and I know I can survive without it but choose to embrace it.
I don't own a mass amount of pink, mostly more of a purple kind of girl, but as I have grown up I have become more open towards pink items and their femininity. I love that I can be girly and feel beautiful without having to wear pink. As little girls grow they are taught that pink is for girls and blue is for boys, and I fought that for so long. I guess I named my blog after what I have learned over the years, and as a reminder that no color is meant for one sex.

For the time being I'm going to start working on a custom banner so that my blog will be more personal, ideas are welcome!

~Andrea

My 30 Days

2011-01-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

So I was looking at Eva's blog and she has started her 30 Days of Blogging. Now I have never done one of these but the days seemed interesting and so I signed up, and here I am, giving it a shot.

Day 1
A recent picture of myself:

This was Mr. JW and I before the Packer playoff game last weekend. Super fun, I decorated my shirt!

15 Facts about myself:
1. I have lived in 3 different states
2. I have lived in 9 different houses
3. I have a younger sister who is now taller than myself.
4. I have dyed my hair more times than I can count
5. I can touch the back of my wrist with my thumb
6. I have hyperextended arms
7. Whenever I go scuba diving I want to see sharks and love when I do - they are beautiful
8. I love reading about techy stuff especially having to do with software development
9. There are 4 girls I call my sisters along with my real sister. People get confused
10. I play a lot of video games, call of duty is one of my favorites
11. I skip class in the spring time to hang out at the park a lot
12. Taking pictures of things that don't matter are what I do best
13. I would rather go naked than wear clothes
14. I think I was born 5 years too late, but I've adjusted
15. I can't think of anything else about myself...I am a hands on learner

PHEW Day 1 is done. See you all tomorrow!

~Andrea

30 Days of Blogging

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
day 2- the meaning behind your blog name
day 3- a picture of you as a child
day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been
day 6- favorite super hero and why
day 7- a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you
day 8- short term goals for this month and why
day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days
day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- write a bucket list of things you want to do before you die
day 12- write a poem to someone you love
day 13- your 5 favorite books and why
day 14- a picture of you and your family
day 15- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
day 16- a picture of yourself
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- write about a sweet memory from your past
day 20- write a letter to someone
day 21-a picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
day 23- something you crave a lot
day 24- post your favorite quote or verse of scripture and why
day 25- what I would find in your bag
day 26- list 10 things that you are thankful for
day 27- my day job verses my passion
day 28- cruise a thesaurus and pick out 10 words you like the sound of
day 29 - favorite tv shows and why you like them
day 30 - movies you can watch again and again.

Get Rich Click!

2011-01-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

I am officially swamped. It's going to be a long touch semester I can feel it.
I have 18 hours this semester and I am excited about taking on the large load along with my usually clubs and outside activities.
However, this semester is extra special!
Not only do I have more hours but I have an internship!

I am working with Marc Ostrofsky's team on his book release later this Spring.
(You can read more about Marc and his Get Rich Click book/site by clicking here and here)
It is very exciting to be working with such smart and driven people.
I was selected along with about 12 other students to work on a team helping Marc and his team on his book release, social media motives, and working on a viral video project.
Today was our first official day and we got to meet the whole team. We will be working with people from the Houston based Integrate PR company closely so I am very excited about learning about PR companies and their impact on book releases and social media ventures.
Using programs such as fusion soft, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and more are just the basis of what I will be using during my internship. I am so excited and can't wait to share what I learn here on the blog.

During our first meeting, Marc brought each of us a present; his book!
I am so excited to be one of the first people to have access to the book. I have one of the first 100 prints and even got mark to sign it! I can't wait to read it and see the finished copy.

I will be doing a followup post with more information on the book and what it is all about later once I finish the read. So far I can say that the book is about how to make money on the internet, how to be your own boss, and the details on how he did it and how anyone else can do it too.

How is everyone doing now that the holidays are over, school is in session, and spring break seems ages away? I would love to hear some great stories!

~Andrea

It's All About The Hair

2011-01-27T13:37:00.000-08:00

January has FLOWN by!
Goodness It's already time for February which means Valentines Day is just around the corner.

Before we get into the lovey dovey gooey part of the year I am going to focus on this amazing weather Houston is having and my new year hair cut. Warning: No serious pictures today, I'm in a good mood and goofy pictures are all I wanted to take!

Can you say amazing?

A friend of my referred me to her hair dresser at Urban Retreat in the near by neighborhood of River Oaks. Konstantine is top of the line, and that is an understatement. I went in very nervous because I hate getting my hair cut, I trust no one, and when I say I want two inches cut off I don't mean three, and people don't seem to understand it. However, Konstantine must have memorized what inches look like, because he cut the EXACT amount I was hoping for. I brought in some pictures of soft girly bangs and the layered levels I was looking for and let me say he hit it spot on. Perfection at its finest.

Final Cut:

Now, before I send you all off to get your hair cut and styled beware, Konstantine takes his work VERY seriously, there is always time to play and make jokes but when he needs to focus you can just tell. No touching of the hair, relaxation is key, and waiting until the last possible minute to adore your hair is worth the wait. I will admit I have had some hair pro's pull and hurt my hair and head every so often but his hands are so controlled and smooth that I almost forgot that my hair future was in the hands of a stranger.

No stranger anymore, I have fallen in love not only with my hair but with Konstantine. I will be seeing him for a long time to come. He's a little pricey but for how often I don't get my hair done, it's totally worth it. Urban Retreat has a great staff that treat you like royalty and an environment where I felt at peace.

Great experience, and I must say, a night on the town is calling my name.

Schedule an appointment today: 713-523-2300

By the way, I love how my bright pink bra is showing in every picture....annoying. oh well.

Hope you all enjoy!

~Andrea