think in pink

dream in sequins

2011-05-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Looooooong time, no see, talk, or write fellow bloggies and friends! Oofta, it's been awhile since I've been on this "thing" here. I am sorry if those of you that look forward to The Happy Initiative or girly inspirations but i just got SO busy and burnt out with the end of school and other events in my life.

This past month or so has been quite the roller coaster ride. But I feel grown up because I am learning to embrace it because through the ups & downs and the dips & whips I grow as a person and end up in a much better place then when I started. #loveit #growingup #twitterspeakisaddictive

But enough soapbox talk and on to more important things liiiiike FASHION :) As I was perusing (if that's even how you spell it) Facebook yesterday I came across a wonderful mini-video on Jenna Lyons of J Crew. Can you say genius?! Ohmygahhhh, she is definitely one of my fashion idols! LOVE HER! I love how she "dreams in sequins". #obsessed

Just take a peek for yourself and let this be your style inspiration for the rest of this week.

Until next time!

xoxo,

agenda: happy initiative + copywriting

2011-04-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

Well what do ya know, I was lazy this past Sunday and didn't get to writing the happy initiative. My bad bloggies. But never fear, for happy is here... And vintage Chanel..

In honor of The Happy Initiative this week..

First on the agenda, "Shtuff" that made me happy this week...

1. Spring has sprung! Birds chirping in the morning is heavenly.
2. My morning cup 'o' joe with hazelnut cream. Yummo!
3. The end of my nursing home days... as an nurse aide that is.
4. Finding new brands to LOVE. [EmersonMade] <-- check out my last post about this one.
5. Living Word Christian Center.
6. Downtown Stillwater. I know, so not original since this has been on the list for the past couple weeks. But I'm telling you guys, its just devine!
7. Finding vintage Chanel, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent in the vintage shops in Stillwater.
8. Vanilla ice cream with a little bit of chocolate sauce and a sprinkling of ground up coffee grounds.
9. First BBQ din-din of the season. The smell of burning charcoal excites me.
10. 4 weeks left of school... yes, the countdown continues.

If that ain't a great list of happy things then I dunno what is people! [country accent emphasized]

And now second item on agenda, copywriting.

The North Loop: My new place of work.

I started my new job today at IN Food Marketing & Design. I am now their new (might I add lovely) junior copywriter. Never in my life had I seen myself as a writer. But look at me now, writing in the blogosphere, writing copy for an agency..who knows what else could be in the future for me. Exciting thing's I'm sure. I must emphasize the creative toll it takes on ze brain but I am up for the challenge! Now I just need to get this silly "school business" out of the way so I can focus on the good stuff like work, writing, and ...designing. Yes that is in the works my dears, big things on the horizon!

Must go now and study hard aka doze off after ten minutes of reading... tootle loo!

xoxo,

m

EmersonMade.

2011-04-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Need a little pick-me-up on this dreary Saturday morning? I have just the thing for you...Read on..

I found a classically chic new designer to follow, rant & rave about, and seek inspiration from. Who is it you ask... well its EmersonMade of course. This line is not new but sure new to me. I don't know how I haven't heard of them until now though, boggles.my.mind!

Emerson is the designer that lives in the countryside of New Hampshire. She does all the design, styling and artwork, and her "right-hand-man",aka here husband, helps out with the photography. They are high school sweethearts and still find time to run every morning together. [Precious] They opted out of New York City to live the farm life. They run a certified organic farm with a thriving business to boot! What a FAB duo!

You can find them online at Emersonmade.com. Emerson and her husband were also just featured in Boston Magazine.. check out the article here!

Pictures! Pictures! I hear you yelling all the way from your screen... I know, I know, I was saving the best for last obviously...

This is Emerson.

EMERSONMADE TRADEMARKED.

This woman embodies style.

Mod dress. Need it. Want it.

In white as well...

This blazer! I can't stop drooling over it.

Totally a Think In Pink necessity...don't ya think? Someday I WILL have my own t-shirt company with romantic tees such as these.

I hope this brightens up your day lovelies! Look for The Happy Initiative tomorrow and have a stylish weekend.

xoxo,

-m

rockin the reds.

2011-04-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Did anyone happen to see the beautiful day today? Ha, I keed, I keed. You'd be a fool if you didn't! Tis finally getting warm enough to roll down the windows, wear lighter clothing, and put on dem spring time shoes!

In honor of TOMS "Going barefoot so kids don't have to" Day I went barefoot wore my tommies today.

I suppose I should have taken the pics outside to capture the glorious weather... another day, another time I suppose.

Next on my list for TOMS purchases... the pink glitters. Too cute!

Alright I better stop procrastinating. The solution to multiple deadlines? Diet Coke, pistachios, and Pandora :)

xoxo,

LC : self-made fashionista

2011-04-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

We all can remember the days of Laguna Beach where jean skirts, flip flops, and teeny bikinis was the "go-to" look we all wanted to emulate. And though this might be still okay for a lot of beach babes it is certain that a repuatble look these days is much more pulled together and effortlessly chic. One main Laguna lady, the one and only Lauren Conrad, has grown up before our eyes and transformed into a fashionista of her own making.

Its impressive to see a reality TV star to gain such a respected reputation in the fashion world. She has mastered the art of looking chic yet comfortable, trendy yet classy, and be able to cater to both ends of the budget spectrum when it comes to fashion. Lauren is a published writer, fashion designer (she's got line at Kohl's if you want to check out her work), and TV starlette.

I've pulled together some outfits that I loved her in. I love taking outfits I see celebs (or anyone really) wearing and seeing how I can put that outfit together with my wardrobe and maybe just a little shopping to add a few key pieces. Try this out! It makes thinking of a cute new outfit much easier if you have a picture to work with. (No one needs to know you copied wardrobe ideas!)

via Nydailynews.com

Perfect balance of casual and dressed. Simple pair of black shorts with a pair of peep-toe pumps and loose shirt looks great for a night out with the girls.

via Posh24.com

I seriously think a blazer pulls together any outfit whether you want to dress up or down. Black ensemble with the leather wedges and Chanel quilted bag is a great outfit for a day out shopping and lunch.

via X17online.com

One of my favorite outfits is a pair of jeans and a white tee. So many variations can be made with this classic outfit. Adding some leather accessories and a fun pair of sunglasses makes it your own.

via People.com

LOVE this outfit. Mixing feminine and masculine elements in one outfit can make anyone look chic. Throw on your fave accesories and a rockin hair do (love her bun in this) and you're geared up for a fun night on the town!

I love the way she puts together outfits. She's not afraid to mix it up but she never is a slave to a trend. She always makes every outfit her own... and that's what fashion is all about. Check out her book, Style, which I wrote about in the "early" days of Think In Pink.

Happy Outfit-Hunting!

xoxo,

no naked nails!

2011-04-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Being the girly-girl that I am, its only fitting that I love to get mani &pedi's whenever possible. And if not that, I have to have my nails polished. I mean, who likes naked nails? They're not pleasant to look at, especially toes (am I right, or am I right?) and just plain ole boring. Plus, painting your nails is a simple, affordable luxury that anyone has access to. Those are enough reasons for dressing up those nails ladies!

Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics, is the mastermind behind the nail polish line that I absolutely love! The name in itself is just down right adorable but the vast amount of colors and durability of polish gives this product an A+.

Essie nail polishes, from left to right: French Affair, Coat Azure, Topless & Barefoot, and Nice is Nice

Above is the line that I recently got. It is the spring collection, inspired by Southern French flair. I can't get over the names. I get laughed at for this but I think it would be such a fun job to be a "nail-polish namer". But anyways, I'm sporting Coat Azure (the blue one) and it looks pretty rad. And for those of you who can't bear to spend $8 on one bottle of polish, which is what one bottle of Essie polish costs, a cost efficient strategy is to buy a sampler pack, like I did with these four colors. That way you spend a little more the $8 but then you get 4 colors to work with. Deal!

So ladies, what polish names do you love? Have you tried Essie and absolutely love it too ;)? What color are you wearing?

Happy Sunday!

xxoo,

-m

initiate happy.

2011-04-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom and understanding for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and profit better than gold. "- Proverbs 3:13,14

Yes, you guessed it, it's time for The Happy Initiative. Ten things, among many, that made me happy this week.

via Jen Gotch Photography

- Bookstores. I don't even have to get anything, I love just looking...but of course purchasing the goods is fun too.

- April! Woot woot! That means only one month and a half left of school.

- Rolling down the windows in the car.

- Green juice.

- Stillwater.

- Having to take summer classes.Wait....that definitely didn't make me happy BUT the silver lining is if I take the summer classes I'll FOR SURE graduate next fall. Oofta!

- Lipgloss, the really glossy and sticky stuff!

- Homemade facials.

- A night devoted to my relaxation because of my best friend Linley :) She made an amazing pesto linguini dinner, banana bread bread pudding and the homemade facials just to pamper me. Wow! Such an amazing friend!

- Jen Gotch. A LA photographer... her pictures are featured as my inspiration today.

Dun du dunnnnn.... guess who's turn it is? YOURS! What made your pearly whites gleam this week?

xoxo,

-m

rewind...and play please!

2011-03-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, Monday....

Photo- Pia ulin

I'm back. Ha! My "hiatus" didn't last long. I woke up this morning in a great mood and realized I started Think In Pink because it makes me happy and The Happy Initiative because I want to help other people be happy too. Why take a break from that?!

I also discovered that other bloggers are pushing The Happy Initiative movement forward by blogging their happy moments too! Woot woot! LOVE this!

I need to run off to work soon but I wanted to leave y'all with a couple songs that made me happy today. Take a look, or rather take a ...listen?...

One to make you happy...

"Happy" -Leona Lewis. Love the words in this one.

One to remind you of your own beauty, inner and out.

"Beautiful"- MercyMe.

And one to make you "wanna shake yo bootay" :)

"Super Bass" - Nicki Minaj

I'll leave you with those for now. Wish you all the bestest week full of sunshine, warmth, and dreams of summer lovin'.

xoxo,

-m

pause please.

2011-03-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday Lovies!

Once again I overslept about 2 hours past my alarm, something that has been happening all too many times lately. SO I have pondered long and hard about this (okay well not really) and I decided to take a hiatus from blogging for the month of April. Usually I can manage everything but it's insane how much school work I have coming up. Plus on top of that I have once job ending, another starting, and an internship still... and well my sanity to keep.

So....so long bloggers! I'll be seeing you...

xoxo,

-m

To end March on a good note, gaze over these lovely photos. I love photography, especially white on white canvases!

Check out this Norwegian-based photographer. Get more of her at her blog, So Mee.

{Photo credit - Trine Thorson }

Another Trine Thorson goodie.

Here's a Swedish photog ... Absolutely beautiful.

{Photo credit - Pia Ulin }

This would be perfect right now.

.h.a.p.p.y.

2011-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Oops, I did it again...

Image from Recherche. Super cute kid prhotography.

... forgot to post my happy moments of last week. Whoopsies! I'm slacking only because I have been preoccupied with other sorts of things. Sooooooo enough small talk, here comes the goodies:

The Happy Initiative- Week ?:

~50 degree weather, but now we just got dumped on, but I have faith it will melt fast! The weather can only get warmer from here on out!

~ Parade of Homes. Love dream-building.

~ Birthdays: yummy dinner, desserts, cupcakes, presents..

~ PAYDAY FRIDAYS!

~ Making payments on my maxed out credit card. One of my new years resolutions finally kicking in!

~ Justin Bieber. Yes, I have Bieber Fever.

~ Quick stop at Mickey D's... I know, I know, sooo bad for you but sometimes I just have to give in to my double cheeseburger kick. :)

~ Hearing the birds sing when I get up now.

~ Coffee with hazelnut creamer.

~ My new journal I got at Lifeway Bookstore.

You know what I'm going to say next.... tell me your happy moments please, that in turn would make me veryyyy happy :)

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Oh and ps I GOT A NEW JOB! Woohoo!!! I will be the junior copywriter at IN Food Marketing and Design. I'm so excited. It will definitely be a challenge because I always will have to have my creative cap on my I am definitely up for it! And its downtown, how cool.

the middle sister

2011-03-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Loves-

I found a FANTASTICly awesome wine last night that of course I had to share with you asap. You should know that I LOVE wine! Preferably reds but I'll take a white if I gotta. Also, I am the middle child, or rather middle sister of the family. And I also get ridiculed for being a "goodie two-shoes" sometimes..So as I was walking into the liquor store hoping to get a bottle of wine there it was. I saw "The Middle Sister": a red (pinot noir) to be exact, named the middle sister, and it even had a pink label. Dang, talk about fate. And to top off the cuteness the back description almost described me to a T, minus the vampire novels ;) It read:

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Or because I graduated top of my class. Being perfect is a terrible burden to bear. So I must confess I do have one or two vices. Wine, cheese, cheeseburgers, vampire novels, pink outfits and serial flirting...is that more than one or two? I hope my secrets are safe with you. I have an image to protect. Let me buy you a glass of wine."

Just too cute! Pictures of course...

Trying to be cool with the effects...

Cute huh?

Ahhhh... refreshing...

Of course opened with my PINK Houdini... Get one. Seriously. They are so fun!

Pink gem stopper. So presh!

The wine was only $7.99! Bingeing on a budget..ha just kidding! A glass of wine is juuuusttt fine with me :) Try it out and let me know what you think, and until next time..

xoxo,

DIY : Facial Scrub

2011-03-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Who loves pampering themselves? I do! I do!

While I was reading my Whole Living Magazine, which by the way has so many fun and healthy beauty/health/wellness tips, I found a great do-it-yourself facial scrub that you can make with just the ingredients in your pantry! Sounds like a plan to me!

So I started off with the directions...

(horrible photog but had to show you the original recipe)

I gathered the correct ingredients from the pantry...

This scrub calls for 1 teaspoon of organic raw honey, 1 cup of raw or regular granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of olive oil, and 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice.

Then assembled it into this adorable jar for cute presentation. I was opting for a mason jar at first ( I love the antique country feelings that mason jars convey) but couldn't find it so I used this instead. Still super cute!

Though I had to substitute regular sugar for raw and concentrated lemon juice for fresh lemons I still got phenomenal results! I rubbed the scrub onto my face for about a minute then left it on for about 30 minutes. Once I washed it off my face was amazingly smooth, pores appeared smaller, and red spots seemed lighter. WOW! And I still have plenty left for the remainder of this week and even beyond that!

So you may be sitting there wondering what are the benefits of these natural ingredients?

*Honey: Absorbs the impurities from the skin making it a perfect cleansing agent, especially those lucky ladies who are so privileged to have oily/combination skin, such as moi. Lovely, huh? Honey also has antioxidant properties and retains moisture to keep your skin supple and wrinkle free!

*Lemon Juice: As a natural detoxifier for your internal system, lemon juice can also help with skin. The citric acid exfoliates, dries out pimples, and helps to bleach and heal scars.

*Olive Oil: This ancient beauty remedy packs a powerful punch of vitamins A & E and include polyphenols too. This works to help with cellular repair and aids in delaying aging.

*Sugar: This sweetie exfoliates your skin big time! With a good exfoliation comes radiant and glowing skin. But be careful to not use sugar scrubs too often. As I just learned, when used too much it can cause tiny fissures in your skin which is not good. So be sure to use gentle strokes when applying this scrub. Good alternatives when you want to switch it up? Oatmeal, yogurt, egg yolks... all work wonders!

Besides getting phenomenal results, I didn't have to spend a single dollar! Talk about beauty on a budget... perfect for THINK IN PINK :) So try this out and let me know what you think! Any more DIY beauty tips for me? Send them my way!

xoxo,

p.s. I found another great blog/site to follow for those of us who love anything to do with fashion, beauty, and health & wellness- FabFitFun.com started by the gorgeous Giuliana Rancic. Check it out!

oh happy day!

2011-03-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Another week gone by, another happy initiative to complete.

I feel as though I have been neglecting Think In Pink. Perhaps because I am so drained from midterms the past two weeks. Spring break couldn't have come at a better time. And though I don't get the luxury of traveling anywhere warm and sunny I still will be appreciating the time off to rejuvenate, get back to my regular workout schedule, catch up on some long overdue reading and just plain ole veg out!

Thanks to some shopping rendezvouses this week, I was able to collaborate a "happy" list with ease for this week. So here it is:

- New nikes! About dang time.

-Reading, reading, reading.

- A few goodies from Stacia Wilson Skincare... A couple Murad products and a few things from her own makeup line! Love it!

- Hearing what makes my awesome readers happy! Thanks for commenting ladies. Keep 'em coming!

- Sleeping in.

- Crave salad and Margherita pizza from Crave Restaurant. Yummmm.

- Sampling perfume at the perfume counters. I love perfume! Hear are some of my favorites..

(Notice these are all shades of pink. By chance, I swear!)

- Informational interview with Lisa Shortridge from La Rue Marche. She gave me some rockin' advice about starting my own business!

- Twitter. I'm officially addicted. Follow me @MonsThinkInPink. Please and thank you :)

Just click here.

- Spring break has arrived! Yayayyyyyy.

That should do it. Now your turn. What made you happy this past week? Any shopping indulgences perhaps? Tell me, tell me!

xoxo,

happy happy joy joy

2011-03-06T16:10:00.000-08:00

Alright people!! It's THE HAPPY INITIATIVE time!

10 things that made me HAPPY this week are...

- Sister time.
- Delish bread and dipping oil from Biaggi's in Maple Grove.
- Dresses. I would wear one everyday if I could!
- Homemade truffles and caramels. No, I didn't make them... But I should try some time.
- Naps. LOOOONG naps.
- My BCBG Paris black, suede peep-toe booties.
- Informational interviews with savvy business people.
- Puppies.
- Earl grey tea.
- The thought of just one more week left until spring break. Wahooooo!!

Tell me your happy moments of the week. No really, please do. You would make my day if you responded!

xoxo,

m

p.s... So I have an update on my "business plan". I have been meeting with different business owners and talking with professors about how to start my own business. I finally feel like an entrepreneur now. I have all these ideas in my head that I feel like I'm going to burst..I'm lovin' it. I mean, it's going to be awhile before I even have the money to start but ya gotta start somewhere right?!

I'm trying to figure out some cute ways to set up a little work station for myself. I'm likin' the rustic feel captured here...

Image found at Lushlee.com. Photography done by Artemis Russell.

musical chairs

2011-03-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I forgot to post my top ten happy moments of last week! So I must share those ASAP!

But first- remember the days of musical chairs? How fun was that game?! It was especially exciting when the teacher would put on a silly song that made all the kids laugh. So this week's, well actually last week's, happy initiative is/was inspired by music.

Anyone up for a game of musical chairs? Or perhaps just a lazy day beach getaway with some good tunes?

Image from A Beach Lover's Place

Top Ten Songs that made me HAPPY:

1. "Rolling in the Deep" -Adele
2. "Born this Way" - Lady Gaga
3. "All Day Long" - Billy Currington
4. "Show Me a Good Time" - Drake
5. "Mountain and the Sea" - Ingrid Michaelson
6. "At or With Me" - Jack Johnson
7. "Don't Panic" - Coldplay
8. "Man of the Hour" - Norah Jones. So cute for the dog owners out there!
9. " E.T" - Katy Perry ft. Kany West
10. "Syrup & Honey"- Duffy
Bonus tracks: "Karaoke"-Drake, "Love Gun"- Cee Lo Green ft Lauren Bennett, and "Kissin in Cars"- Jesse Lee.

Tell me some from your playlist! I love adding to mine. Also, keep your eyes out for this week's happy initiative!

xoxo,

m

i enjoy being a girl

2011-03-01T16:25:00.001-08:00

Here are some fun, girly commercials that lit up my day today... perhaps it can do the same for you.

"Pretty Khaki", GAP

"We're only human", Dove Chocolate

"Back in Black", GAP

"Balcony Kiss", Nivea

I couldn't find the video for this one youtube but go to

http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/2677-Nivea-Lip-Care-Balcony

Super cute!

Tomorrow is hump day! Hopefully everyone is having a fantastic week so far!

xoxo,

gals in gowns

2011-02-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

Who watched the Oscars last night? I did! I did! Though it was more of catching a few glimpses here and there as I was taking care of residents at work, so not glamorous. But no worries, I still was able to catch my favorites for the night.

Drumroll please....

Reese Witherspoon had to be my number one favorite. She's gorgeous, the dress is gorgeous but I think what did it for me was the hair! Retro-chic, love it!

Dress: Giorgio Armani Prive

Image: people.com

Mila Kunis in a beautiful Elie Saab Haute Couture.

Image: justjared.com

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana. Again, love her hair!

Image: huffingtonpost.com

Matthew McConaughey's girlfriend, Camila Alves = Beautiful!

Dress: Kaufmanfranco

Image: Huffingtonpost.com

And last but not least, one of my all-time favorite singers, the one and only Celine Dion. Dazzled in Giorgio Armani Prive.

Image: Justjared.com

All beauties, don't ya think? Who were your best dressed picks? Happy Monday everyone!

xxoo,

spring fever

2011-02-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

As I sit here in bed, working on advertisement project, drinking hot tea and looking out the window at the gloomy snowy weather I can't help but yearn for spring. I've had enough of the snow, the puffer jackets, thick scarves, and dark colors.

I've been struck with spring fever. Here are some pieces and trends that I'm pining for:

Definitely will be rockin the denim on denim some more this spring season. I absolutely love this combo.

H&M is showing a lot of earth tone colors for this spring. I'm loving the pants here, need to find me a pair!

Seriously blazers are a must for me and this tan one is definitely on my shopping list. Great outfit too. Perhaps I'll have to find a cream colored lace skirt too. Lace is also a trend for this spring.

More lace, right off the runway from Anne Sui (image from Style.com). Love this outfit; no perhaps it not something you take as a head-to-toe outfit, but you take pieces away from the outfit that inspire you, that's how runway looks work.

With sheer and lace being hot trends for the season, this cropped sheer lace top is something I must find.

I would love to get this Ardisia Maxi Dress from Anthropologie. I imagine myself wearing this while strolling down the beach in Santa Cruz, at sunset, with my hair down and flowing in the wind. Ahhhhh...a girl can dream right?

Must. Get. These. Trousers... Tradewinds Trousers, another goodie from Anthro. Ugh, I'm in love

I seriously could go on and on about all the cute things that are coming out for the season. I can't wait to hit up Anthro, H&M, Forever 21, Primp, and much more. he he.

What are you hot for this spring? Have you caught spring fever?

xoxo

Jessie Tomme Salon

2011-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

I just got back from some long overdue hair pampering. Seriously, I wait way too long between cuts and colors! But today I went to Jessie Tomme Salon. This was my second time and I'm pretty much hooked.

Jessie Tomme is located in Mahtomedi/Willernie, just a few doors down from Stacia Wilson Skincare actually! Its an Aveda salon so right as you walk into the doors you get a whiff of that wonderful Aveda product smell. The salon is situated in a house or cottage type buliding, I am not sure if that's what it was before or was just made to look that way, but you are welcomed in to feel right at home.

The salon boasts calm colors of green, blue and brown with an eclectic mix of leather couches and wooden chairs, dressers, and mirrors. Greeted upon entry, you are welcomed to sit with the comfort of a warm cup of Aveda tea poured just for you.

Then comes the service... I asked for the same girl this time (shout out to Rhianon Anderson) because she did such a wonderful job with the color and cut. I got exactly what I wanted! I also was treated to a decadent hand massage, paraffin wax hand dip, and styling at the end. Better then exceptional from beginning to end!

(All pictures shown are from their Facebook page and can also be found on their website)

The grand total? $94, broken down to $65 for the color and $29 for the cut. So hey, it wasn't exactly inexpensive but its quite a steal compared to lots of of other salons! In my opinion, it was worth every penny because of the wonderful service, friendly staff, beautiful space, and cozy atmosphere. And for you guys reading this, you are definitely welcome too! They have plenty of male clients!

To follow up with the price...

Its not cheap to get your hair done, especially at a salon, but I do it anyway. So that got me thinking... Though I am an avid "bargain shopper" I still love to splurge when I can. But I realized that there are some things that are definitely worth the money!

Top 3 "Splurgers":

1. Pampering
   - This would include your hair services, skincare such as facials and products, and massages. Putting your money into the upkeep up of your hair, skin, and body makes it feel and look good not only now but for years to come.

2. Jeans
   - Shopping for jeans is the WORST for me! Short legs, big butt, little waist...just doesn't work out. But I find when put more money into my denim purchases, which means higher end brands, I find cuts, sizes, lengths, and materials that are much more flattering. But don't get me wrong, I have a few Target skinny's and I love them!

3. Food and Wine
   - Trying new restaurants and wines. Experimenting with organic/healthy/better ingredients. Putting the time and effort to eat well...there's just nothing like it.

Until next time... give Jessie Tomme a peek at http://www.jtsalon.net/  and then book your first appointment and then let me know what your top slurgers are!

xoxo

m

l 'initiative heureuse

2011-02-19T07:54:00.000-08:00

It's about that time of the week again... dun dun duh duhhhhh... The Happy Initiative! So here it is; the top ten things that made me happy this week.

un- sugarland's new song- "little miss". love love love it.

deux- 50 degree weather in the middle of february.

trois- my off weekend from work. thank the Lord!!!

quatre- preston kelly. i had an informational interview there this week. Kate, the young woman I spoke with was very down to earth and the space was awesome. It was just what I needed to give me a boost of motivation to keep trucking along with these countless interviews, yet no offers.

cinq- my weiner dog, Lucy, aka Lulubelle, luci-nator, fatty. So fat and so cute.

six- chinese food. mmmmmm.

sept- got my new red TOMS. can't wait to wear them! Not only do I love how cute they are or how every pair of shoes sold gives a child in need a pair of shoes but I love how Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, had a dream to start a company that had this idea of one-for-one and so many people thought he was crazy and it was a crazy business plan. Low and behold... a phenomenon was born.

huit- getting some ideas of what to do with the happy initiative. I want to start a business, I want to give money to some charities that I love, and I want to make people happy. Some how, some way, I will make this happen.

neuf- french. the language just puts a smile on my face. thus the "french-inspired" post today.

dix- potato chips with kethcup. baaaaaaadd habit but ohhhh so good. tastes just like fries.

C'est fini. Now it's your turn.

Avoir mes amis! Je t'aime.

xoxo

m

blog break.

2011-02-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

Man oh man. It's already pushing 10:30 and I have yet to finish up my second paper of the night. Yes, I said second paper! Note to self- do not procrastinate to the point of leaving TWO papers to write in full the NIGHT BEFORE they are due. And since I've adopted the habit of going to be bed around 10 or 11 this semester during the school week, I can tell tonight's going to be a rough one, as will tomorrow morning..and day...and night. Oh boy!

BUT I wanted to share an awesome quote with you that I heard, pretty sure from a woman entrepreneur. I want to say Jen Groover but don't quote me! In my quest of internship/job/passion searching I heard this little tidbit that I think we all should keep in mind in order to always strive to be the best we can be....

"If you are the smartest person in a room full of people, you are in the wrong place."

Awesome! Great! Wonderfully spoken! This is saying we should always surround ourselves with people who are the best at what they do in order to challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do! Remember that the next time you are in a room full of knuckle heads...

Well that's all I got for tonight folks! Unfortunately I need to analyze nonverbal communicators of physical attractiveness. Its actually pretty interesting, but I just don't fancy writing a school paper. Ish.

Stay tuned for this weeks "Happy Initiative"!

xoxo

oh...and as always, some pretty photography...

Compliments of Lushlee blog... photo from Karin A. Photography.

extending the love

2011-02-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day has come and went. One of the "most" romantic days of the year is gone. One of the days of the year that I love has flown by and I did absolutely nothing to share my love with loves in my life. Instead this is how I felt- jshgoilsknvajodhvn ak.dfbglzhjds ,hsvkjdfnvskdbalkjbg vkjxcb kjdmbjnkdfhbnaldmbndkjlfbakjbfjlnfosjlnvklsennegke.

Yes, that was a lot of curse words in a row..And this is how I looked.Ha...

Image- Edwin Tse photography thanks to Lushlee blog. Beautiful.

I had a crabby, horrible day dealing with rude customer service people, classes with an empty belly and a forgotten wallet, a pounding headache, a sliver of patience, a long evening at work and no valentine. And to top it off I didn't get to publish a post here because I had no time. What. a. drag! Talk about a happy camper...not.

So I come to you today extending the love for at least one more day. Because why limit it? It only leads to overindulgence later, right?... I want to thank you bloggers and followers and Facebook friends that take the time to read my blog and for the wonderful feedback I get on it. I love you all. I'm sending you a plethora of virtual hugs and kisses...MUAH!

Fun picture from Etsy. It's an actual wall at a theatre where the actors kissed I guess. Pretty fun!

I also want to share with you a certain someone that I have found that I am an avid follower of. Her name: Gabriel Bernstein. How did I find her? Well probably one of the countless nights I was spending endless hours looking up "stuff" and procrastinating tackling piles of homework.

She is a writer, business owner, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker to name a few. Her book "Add more -ing to your life, A hip guide to happiness" is on my list of books to purchase ( also in my amazon store). She also posts regular vlogs that are interesting to watch. She preaches about the importance of mediation, being one with your self, and finding self-acceptance. I find her very inspirational and can't wait to get her book to read about happiness. A happy initiative book perhaps? :)

Click HERE to watch a clip from her iLove Me lecture she just had last week. And since this is my belated Valentine's Day blog, I love what she said here about relationships- "A holy relationship is when two whole people come together to share in their abundance; when two complete people come together to enjoy their awesomeness". I think that statement is so profound and so awesome. I want to be a complete and whole person on my own and then hope to share that with someone else who feels that way too...Get more of her nuggets of wisdom on her site, gabbyb.tv and buy her book!

Here's the book. Check it out!

Wishing you a wonderful LOVE filled week bloggies :) Lots of hugs, kisses and chocolate. And perhaps wine too!

xoxo

m

double deuces

2011-02-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday Funday!

My birthday week has come to an end but I must say it was a blast thanks to my lovely family and friends. I got to celebrate more than once for the big double deuces! It was filled with cupcakes, food, wine, drinks, presents, laughter, pictures, and just down right bliss. And since I've taken a hiatus from t.i.p. this week, I need to follow up on "the happy initiative, week dos...a birthday edition".

10 things that made me HAPPY this week:

1.A cupcake cake, topped with a tiara of course! Made by my mother, this cake was delish, and uber cute!

2. A whole week full of birthday celebrations.

3. Birthday drinks: Vodka lemon freezes. mmmmmm...

4. My nephew. He came for my family birthday dinner and just is the cutest thing alive. Since I'm 22 now, instead of saying "twenty-two", he says two-two. Just too dang cute!

5.A cupcake piggy bank. My mom went a little overboard with the cupcake theme this year...

6.Dinner with friends at Mozza Mia. I must say, the atmosphere was awesome and the pizza was tasty but Punch Pizza still holds a special place in my heart for favorite pizza pick!

7. Black and white photos.

8. Wine... in this case, Montepulciano. Us girls shared a bottle of this with our pizza. Not only is it tasty but its fun to say too!

9. Getting a bajillion notifications on Facebook on my birthday with birthday wishes from people I talk to on a regular basis and those I never see. Its a good feeling that people will remember and be willing to wish you a good day....even if Facebook makes it easy.

10. The realization that I'm one year closer to the rest of my life.

Share with me what made you happy, contact my via email, leave a comment, or Facebook me. I would LOVE to hear!

xoxo,

m

little bits of happy.

2011-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

~the happy initiative. week one. ~

Talk about happy... Image- Davina Zagury. Check out her work at here.

10 things that made me happy this week ...

The weather warming up ever so slightly.
New followers on my blog.
Polish birthday cards that came in the mail.
Fresh grapefruit.
Positive comments on my blog from individuals I do not even know.
Skinny cinnamon dolce latte.
The beginning of February.
A random lady on the bus commenting on a lemon wedge in my water.."Is that a goldfish in your water?"...."No ma'am, its a lemon."..She just giggled and looked out the window.
Lemon water.
The bus driver waiting for me as a run to catch the bus in the morning.

What made you happy this week? Let me know.

xoxo
m

all things pink

2011-02-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

February is upon us! This means nothing in terms of a weather change, unfortunately, but at least I will be turning 22, eek!, (gifts are GRACIOUSLY accepted) and the many colors of pink are everywhere. This month was made for me. No wonder I was born in February. Truly, all things happen for a reason. So enjoy my collage of pink...ahhhhh.

Essie nail polish is my favorite line of nail colors. My pick- Sugar Daddy.

Nothing like some pink flowers...my fave = roses and peonies. (Birthday gifts perhaps?)

Image - Copyright of Aran Goyoaga. Best photography! Check out her blog please, Cannelle et Vanille!

I have a renewed love of books. I adore the look of vintage ones.

Image - Honey Kennedy. Originally from Candice Lesage

I collect buttons. So if you have any laying around, send them over!

Image - Inspire Co.

mmmm I love cupcakes!

Image- Lola and Ruby

And of course, Audrey Hepburn..

Image- Candice Lesage

Hope these inspire you to always think in pink!

xoxo

m