A Spoonful of Life

1 year anniversary

2012-07-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

1 year of marriage. Wow. It feels like yesterday when I was putting on my white lace dress. But when I think about all that has happened this year, I am overwhelmed. So much growth, change, and learning has taken place in such a short amount of time. What I feel today is gratitude for the blessings I have been given this year. I have never been happier. I am taking this time to reflect on our beautiful and perfect wedding day.

Thank you Jordan Shepherd for loving me fiercely, leading our marriage with strength, and always putting Christ at the center. You are more than I could have ever asked for.

(and thank you for taking me to Cirque Du Soleil and the fanciest hotel, Conrad Hilton. You sure do know how to make a girl feel special.)

Happy anniversary, I can't believe I get to spend every year with you for the rest of my life!

6 steps to longer hair

2012-06-24T08:55:00.001-07:00

Ever since I chopped off my long hair in October I've been dying to get it back. I researched the best ways to keep my hair growing and now I'm putting these tricks to the test. My hair is definitely growing fast and I have no doubt that all of these new methods are working. If you're interested in growing your hair or just keeping it healthy and strong, then you can do the following things.

1. Ultra Nourish-Hair vitamins. Take one pill a day to load up on vitamins that help your hair to grow. You can purchase this at GNC for $12.99

2. No wash. The best thing to do is to not shampoo your hair everyday. If you are worried about your hair getting greasy, don't. It takes a few weeks to train it, but if you wash your hair once every 3 or 4 days, it will eventually stop producing extra oils. This is actually a lot healthier than damaging your hair with harsh product everyday.

3. No styling. The blow dryer and straightener should be used minimally if not at all. Most girls ruin their hair by styling it everyday with heavy heat, which frys your hair and slows growth. Summer is the perfect time to try the no style approach. Letting your hair air dry (without towel drying too much) will work wonders for moisture and strength.

4. Oils. Castor oil, Jojoba oil, and coconut oil are all great oils to put in your hair to keep the moisture in. You can mix these oils together or use them separately. I will occasionally do a leave-in overnight treatment with all three oils using castor oil as the main base. It also helps to add daily oil to your ends to keep them from breaking and splitting.

5. Professional salon products. When you do shampoo and condition your hair, it is worth it to buy the more expensive products because they make a huge difference in the health of your hair. Matrix shampoo and conditioner is great, as well as Aveda products which are plant based and natural. I have used Aveda for years and I absolutely love it.

6. Regular trim. Trim your hair every 4-6 weeks. It's simple, and it really does help to get rid of dead ends. Your hair needs to be trimmed in order to keep it growing.

If you do all of these things, you can bet that your hair will be long in no time. Almost everyday someone says to me "your hair is getting so long!" or "did you get a new haircut? Your hair looks different." I went from a pixie cut in October to shoulder length hair in June. Now I can even fit my hair into a bun. I'm telling you, these things work. Just try them for yourself to find out.

10 Things for Summer

2012-06-10T13:30:00.002-07:00

1. summer playlist (I get excited to re-create this every year). It's a must have for road trips with the windows down. A few of my favorites include Gold On the Ceiling by The Black Keys, Some Nights by Fun, Tongue Tied by Grouplove, and of course, Biebers All Around the World (with LUDA!)

2. juicing with fresh fruits and vegetables. If you're interested in some healthy juicing recipes, see this book.

3. therapeutic gardening. My job has given me a new appreciation for this soothing activity. Now I just need to get my own garden plot ready for tomatos, strawberries and basil.

4. coconut oil. Thanks to my friend, Anna Kujacznski, I have a new love for this magical product. I use it on my skin, my hair, and for cooking. Plus it smells heavenly, unless you're weird like my husband and you don't like the smell of coconuts.

5. cardio + kettle bell workouts. After doing this for the past few months now, I really can't imagine going through the week without it. Let me tell you, Kettle bells are the worst, but they really do give you a great strength workout.

6. CMT top 20 countdown. Yes, I love country music, and I'm not ashamed. I remember watching the countdown every week with my sister when we were little and loving the stories being told in the music videos. In recent years I have gotten behind in the country music world. It's time to get caught up.

7. clean out the closet. simplify and minimize. I do this as much as possible. It feels so good to get rid of all the clothes that I can't stand to look at anymore. You should try it.

8. hair growth. I really really miss my old hair, and I'm doing everything I can to get it back. Summer is the perfect time to boost the growing because I rarely have to style it. If you're interested in growing your hair quicker, I'll be doing a post soon on helpful hair growth tips that have really worked well for me.

9. New movies. I am counting down the days for these few films: Rock of Ages - June 15, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (yay Steve Carell!) - June 22, Brave - June 22, The Dark Knight Rises - July 20.

10. Time with family and friends before the big move. We are so thankful to have this summer to prepare and visit before we head to Colorado to help plant Front Range Church. We will be taking lots of trips to Michigan and also soaking up the time we have in Indiana. This is a summer to be with the people we love most, and to cherish every minute.

What are you excited to do this summer? Do you have any favorite activities to recommend?

Have a restful Sunday friends.

he does it again.

2012-05-27T17:59:00.001-07:00

To My husband,

Thank you for being patient with me as I stress about this little blog. I sat on the couch for five straight hours yesterday designing, researching, and editing this thing until my eyeballs were dry and my bladder was exploding. You came home to a frustrated and weary mess of a wife, I apologize. Sometimes I get defeated by my lack of web design knowledge and html coding expertise. I always want this blog to be better, bigger, and sparkling with personality, but the reality is I can't have everything. You never fail to provide comfort and encouragement in my time of need, and somehow you always raise my spirits.

And then, you go the extra mile and design the coolest new header.

You're the best.
Meow ;)

Update

2012-05-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

My apologies for my lack of blogging lately. Life has been so busy in recent weeks.

Lets get you caught up.

I started my summer job as....basically a gardener. I mulch, plant, weed, and water the plants on the IWU campus. I also drive cool little vehicles like Kubotas and gators. I honestly love getting up and getting in the dirt everyday while scoring bronze skin and arm muscle. therapeutic.

I concluded my 4-Hour Body experience. It was a great and successful time of discipline, and it served its purpose. After hours of food documentaries and research, I have now moved to a whole foods plant based diet. And I can finally eat fruit!

went on a shopping trip to this place and got some new gear for Colorado. Mountains here we come.

girls camping trip (yes we did put the tent up all by ourselves).

community garen plot, weeded and tilled. SO excited to grow my own veggies and herbs :)

new Trek road bikes as a graduation gift from our parents. It took a total of five hours in the bike shop including test riding and bike fitting. Afterward we went on a fifteen mile ride with my Dad, the triathlon man.

witnessed the marriage of our close friends, Marie and Cory. One of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen.

(photo by George Flattery)

reunited with my bests from Michigan. Thank you Lord for these beautiful people.

So far, May has been a great kickoff to a fun packed and carefree summer. We will spend the rest of it in the outdoors with friends and family and food from the ground and bike rides and road trips with a little bit of sleeping in. Just a little.

And then...

off to Colorado :)

Graduated

2012-04-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

WE ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES!!!

We took our finals, hosted a party, slept until noon, shook President Smith's hand, and had some quality time with family. It was a full week.

I have to say, I did get a little emotional during the commencement ceremony. As I watched my fellow grads walk across the stage, I couldn't help but think about all of the memories we have made together in the passed four years. IWU has been the source of a lot of stress, but mostly a lot of joy and growth. During my time here, I have done missions in Greece, became a barista, started this little blog, got elected as Vice President of PRSSA, got engaged, lived in Ireland, spent a weekend in Paris, interned with The Boys and Girls Club, got married, and all the while forming deep and lasting friendships with some really amazing people. Now it's time to say thank you, and farewell.

And hey, we're done. We did it. We have bachelors degrees. What??!!!

graduating seniors party on Race Street!!!!

celebrating our first day of post-grad life with breakfast at a new local diner

walking to the senior picnic at President Smith's house

Friday night baccalaureate ceremony

our lovely caps & tassels (plus Jordan's Cum Laude Honors cord!)

my boys.

about to enter the chapel!

Public Relations degree....

...Marketing degree

President Smith. Love that guy.

all the pretty grads

yayyyy!!!!

Dowell fam

Shepherd brothers & sisters

Shepherd fam

party at the Shepherd house with yummy food, coffee, Toby the dog, and gifts

Shepherd bro/sis Ben & Jerry's pajama party

A few of my gifts - leather name embossed Bible & a new road bike to take with me to Colorado!

To our parents,

You have made this experience possible. Thank you for all that you do for us. We can't express enough how much we appreciate your support and love and sacrifice. It is because of you that we are here living out our dreams. We love you!!!

- Alli and Jordan

Near The End

2012-04-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

At 12:00pm today, I walked out of my very last class session at Indiana Wesleyan University.

My college To-Do list is quickly getting smaller, and the feeling of freedom and accomplishment has started to settle in. I am relieved to say that I've completed my general class assignments, research papers, campaign final proposal, senior project portfolio, and the dreaded senior project presentation. Whew!

After finals are over on Wednesday next week, I will be officially done with everything undergrad. I can't believe this time has actually come (it still doesn't feel real). Now I am preparing to soak up every last moment with the people I have made memories with over these four amazing years.

This is a time to reflect, celebrate, and be thankful. Here comes the emotion roller coaster.

I think the right word to use here is bittersweet. yes, very bittersweet.

4-Hour Body: The Slow Carb Diet

2012-04-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Okay.

We know you are all very curious to hear more about this whole 4-Hour Body thing that we shared with you on this post. You have been asking us a lot of questions, voicing a lot of opinions, and shocking us with your interest in the 4-Hour Body.

We want you to fully understand what this program/diet/thing is all about, so we will give you some of the basics from our diet.

First of all, the book is big. The author, Tim Ferriss, does not recommend reading it all at once. He suggests choosing a few of the sections to read and focus on, depending on how you want to improve your body. We chose to do "The Slow Carb Diet" and "Building the Perfect Posterier" (gaining muscle/strength). For now, we will just try to unravel the Slow Carb Diet chapter for you.

The Slow Carb Diet:

RULE #1: NO WHITE CARBOHYDRATES

prohibited: all bread, rice (including brown), cereal, potatoes, pasta, tortillas, and fried food with breading. Tim Ferris says, "don't eat white stuff unless you want to get fatter"

RULE #2: EAT THE SAME FEW MEALS OVER AND OVER AGAIN

"The most successful dieters, regardless of whether their goal is muscle gain or fat-loss, eat the same few meals over and over again. There are 47,000 products in the average U.S. grocery store, but only a handful of them won't make you fat.
Mix and match from the following list, constructing each meal with one pick from each of the three groups. I've starred the choices that produce the fastest fat-loss for me" - Tim Ferriss

Proteins
*Egg whites with 1–2 whole eggs for ﬂavor (or, if organic, 2–5 whole eggs, including yolks)
*Chicken breast or thigh
*Black beans
*Beef (preferably grass-fed)
Pork
*Fish

Legumes
*Lentils (also called "dal" or "daal")
Pinto beans
Red beans
Soybeans

Vegetables
*Spinach
*Mixed vegetables (including broccoli, cauliﬂower, or any other cruciferous vegetables)
*Sauerkraut, kimchee (full explanation of these later in "Damage Control")
Asparagus
Peas
Broccoli
Green beans

Ferriss also suggests eating a lot of these foods. He usually does 5 meals a day with four hours in between each meal.

RULE #3: DON'T DRINK CALORIES

"Drink massive quantities of water and as much unsweetened tea, coffee (with no more than two tablespoons of cream; I suggest using cinnamon instead), or other no-calorie/low-calorie beverages as you like. Do not drink milk (including soy milk), normal soft drinks, or fruit juice. Limit diet soft drinks to no more than 16 ounces per day if you can, as the aspartame can stimulate weight gain.

I'm a wine fanatic and have one to two glasses of red wine almost every evening. It doesn't appear to have any negative impact on my rate of fat-loss. Red wine is by no means required for this diet to work, but it's 100% allowed (unlike white wines and beer, both of which should be avoided). Up to two glasses of red per night, no more."

RULE #4: DON'T EAT FRUIT

"Humans don't need fruit six days a week, and they certainly don't need it year-round. If your ancestors were from Europe, for example, how much fruit did they eat in the winter 500 years ago? Think they had Florida oranges in December? Not a chance. But you're still here, so the lineage somehow survived.
The only exceptions to the no-fruit rule are tomatoes and avocadoes, and the latter should be eaten in moderation (no more than one cup or one meal per day). Otherwise, just say no to fruit and its principal sugar, fructose, which is converted to glycerol phosphate more efﬁciently than almost all other carbohydrates. Glycerol phosphate p triglycerides (via the liver) p fat storage. There are a few biochemical exceptions to this, but avoiding fruit six days per week is the most reliable policy.
But what's this "six days a week" business? It's the seventh day that allows you, if you so desire, to eat peach crepes and banana bread until you go into a coma."

RULE #5: TAKE ONE DAY OFF PER WEEK

"I recommend Saturdays as your Dieters Gone Wild (DGW) day. I am allowed to eat whatever I want on Saturdays, and I go out of my way to eat ice cream, Snickers, Take 5, and all of my other vices in excess. If I drank beer, I'd have a few pints of Paulaner Hefe-Weizen.
I make myself a little sick each Saturday and don't want to look at any junk for the rest of the week. Paradoxically, dramatically spiking caloric intake in this way once per week increases fat-loss by ensuring that your metabolic rate (thyroid function and conversion of T4 to T3, etc.) doesn't downshift from extended caloric restriction.
That's right: eating pure crap can help you lose fat. Welcome to Utopia. There are no limits or boundaries during this day of gluttonous enjoyment. There is absolutely no calorie counting on this diet, on this day or any other.
Start the diet at least ﬁve days before your designated cheat day. If you choose Saturday, for example, I would suggest starting your diet on a Monday.

That's All, Folks!

If the founding fathers could sum up our government in a six-page constitution, the above is all we need to summarize rapid fat-loss for 99.99% of the population. Followed to the letter, I've never seen it fail. Never."

So there it is. We have already lost pounds and inches of fat, we feel healthier than ever, and we look forward to cheat day (Saturday) every week :)

What do you think of the Slow Carb Diet? Are you skeptical? It's okay, most people are. All I can say is, don't judge it until you try it. This Tim Ferriss guys knows his stuff.

husbands birthday

2012-03-30T11:50:00.002-07:00

Happy Birthday to my husband, who turned 22 yesterday! He celebrated by eating deliciously saucy honey BBQ wings at B-Dubs and opening pretty boxes filled with new threads from J Crew. Since it's his birthday, I thought I would point out some of the simple reasons why Jordan is awesome (because the little things are worth celebrating too).

Jordan Shepherd is awesome because he...

has hidden talents (I just found out that he can play bass guitar. uh, what?!!)

is technology savvy

can build a masterpiece out of straw wrappers

has a contagious adventurous spirit

gives others room to shine while he remains humble

loves to learn

makes everyone feel like they are a part of his club

is a really good drummer

cherishes his family

has a really handsome face

is more selfless than anyone I know.

I could go on all day, but for now I'll leave it short and sweet. Speaking of sweet, you know what else is great about birthdays?

Cake.

I can't wait to eat some on Saturday (cheat day)!

capitol couture

2012-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Our 4 hours of Hunger Games costume prep turned out to be successful. Hannah and I used a full can of teal hair dye, plus a lot of needle and thread for sewing our costumes. Kate and Beth made themselves look like sad, poor children, and Anna perfected the Cinna look with her gold eye liner and slicked back hair.

We left the house in style.

Before we could walk into the theater, we already had people asking to take photos with us...and then three more people asked to take photos with us once we were inside. Stares and compliments kept coming our way, but once the movie started, all attention was on the true celebrities of the Hunger Games.

We loved the movie. Loved it. It was worth the wait and even worth getting split up and sitting alone in the theater (lame).

Here's a look at some of our shots from the night:

Do you like our costumes?

Which one should we submit to the District Style Challenge?

Thoughts on the movie? I really want to know.

[Hunger Games Premiere]

2012-03-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the night I have been waiting for since I devoured the Hunger Games books over our honeymoon in July. I remember reading the books and telling Jordan "wouldn't this be such a cool movie?! I hope they make one someday."

Well, I got my wish.

My group of girlfriends and I purchased our tickets back in February for the 12:04 showing in Muncie, Indiana. This week, The Hunger Games fever is buzzing all over campus, and truth be told, my school work has been on the back burner (considering I had to spend all of my time researching about the film and prepare my costume, of course).

Here is the evening line up:

Hair dying: bright teal and teased
Costumes:
- Hannah Towler and I as capitol citizens
- Kate Rush as Primrose Everdeen
- Anna Kujacznski as Cinna
- Bethany Ezawa as Katniss Everdeen
Makeup: Capital couture and dirty district 12 looks
Photos: submitted to District Style Challenge
Movie snack run: we need our cheap candies for munching
Early arrival and seating: show off all of our hard work
12:04 premiere: two and a half hours of brutal fighting, love triangle, and beautiful capitol fashion

We are currently at the peak of excitement and anticipation. We only have a few hours to wait before we are watching Katniss on the big screen.

And just in case you were wondering, I am team Gale all the way ;)

Are you are going to the premiere too? If so, don't forget to salute Rue in the theater! And I want to hear what everyone thinks of the film afterward. Have fun and get there early for prime seating!

The 4-Hour Body

2012-03-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

We are not "diet" people. We love food, and we like consistency. When it comes to staying healthy, we tend to live by general principles rather than strict rules. One time we said we would cut out sweets from our diet completely. That lasted about two days.

For us, true motivation and real results are accomplished by setting goals and following a routine. When our friend Santiago told us about the The 4-Hour Body, we knew we had to do it, because it's actually more of a lifestyle than a diet.

And honestly, it just looks pretty amazing.

"The 4-Hour Body is the result of an obsessive quest, spanning more than a decade, to hack the human body. It contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. From Olympic training centers to black-market laboratories, from Silicon Valley to South Africa, Tim Ferriss, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, fixated on one life-changing question:

For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results?

Thousands of tests later, this book contains the answers for both men and women.

From the gym to the bedroom, it's all here, and it all works.

You Will Learn:

how to prevent fat gain while bingeing

how to increase fat-loss 300% with a few bags of ice

how Tim gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, without steroids, and in four hours of total gym time

how to sleep 2 hours per day and feel fully rested

how to produce 15 minute female orgasms

how to triple testosterone and double sperm count

how to go from running 5 kilometers to 50 kilometers in 12 weeks

how to reverse "permanent" injuries

how to add 150+ pounds to your lifts in 6 months"

So today we bought the book, and we're ready to get started. We'll be sharing this journey with you as we go. Wish us luck!

We're Moving to Colorado

2012-03-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of our senior year of college people always asked us what we were going to do after graduation. Truth be told, we had no clue. We had some faint ideas, thoughts, and wishes, but nothing was set in stone.

That has now changed.

In October, we were approached by Mark and Lauren Shepherd and Nate and Julie Lamb with the opportunity to join them in planting a church in Denver, Colorado. It was a lot to think about at a busy time in our lives. We committed to praying about it and tried to put it on the back burner of our minds.

...that didn’t happen

It was at the forefront of our conversations as a couple. We loved the idea of moving somewhere for something more than a job. Moving to Denver means moving somewhere with purpose, with a mission.

After 4 months of prayer, conversation, thought, and more prayer, we know that God has confirmed our desires and directed our steps to Denver. We will be joining the launch team of Front Range Church in August of this year.

Please visit Front Range Church’s website to learn more about our mission and vision for what God is and is going to do in Denver.

Now, when people ask us what our plans are after graduation, the answer is simple…

We’re planting a church in Denver, Colorado.

Mission: To be a "Rooted and Reaching" movement of local churches in Denver and the Front Range through which our communities are reached, disciples become deeply rooted, and culture is redeemed through the truth and power of the Gospel."

http://www.frontrangechurch.com/

[Art & Copy]

2012-03-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

As people who love advertising, Jordan and I watched Art & Copy and couldn't stop talking about it. We have a deeper appreciation for the creativity, intimacy, and passion that is involved in the business. We study it, we are surrounded by it, and we interact with it as consumers and marketing/PR majors. Often we find that people have a strong negativity towards this industry, and that is mainly because they don't understand what it is at the core. This film captures the truth, and it reveals its raw potential for greatness.

"ART & COPY is a powerful film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray (SURFWISE, SCRATCH, HYPE!), it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time -- people who've profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Exploding forth from advertising's "creative revolution" of the 1960s, these artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for "Just Do It," "I Love NY," "Where's the Beef?," "Got Milk," "Think Different," and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion."

"most advertising is pretty offensive, intrusive, aggravating, annoying, and intellectually based at the lowest common denominator, so its a hard business to remain prideful. But I happen to believe that when advertising is done well, the wall or the billboard that celebrates a brand artfully and beautifully can be part of our culture as opposed to some form of pollution." - Lee Crow

This is a brilliant documentary. I promise it will inspire you.

[Bridal Shower for Beth]

2012-02-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

I hosted my first bridal shower yesterday!

It was simple really. With a little planning, decorating, and crafting, I managed to get the whole thing together in just one week. I reserved a room with a giant table for twelve at Midwest Coffee Company. Naturally, the theme was coffee. We nibbled on homemade muffins, we played Staches and Tiaras, and we talked all things wedding and relationships. It was a lovely time with a small group of IWU girls who all adore Miss Bethany Ezawa.

(photography by Alicia Wines)

[oh, college]

2012-02-23T22:25:00.006-08:00

Life is crazy right now. And when I say crazy, I mean crazy busy. Not only is it my final semester of college, but I am also taking 17 credit hours and working almost 20 hours a week at McConn. And I am not just taking 17 normal-college-whatever-class credit hours, I am taking my senior capstone AND my senior project, which are both extremely time consuming and ultimately lead to stress, self-doubt, and anxiety.

The most difficult part about this semester is time. I never have time to sit and share a meal with someone. I don't get home until 10:00pm. I barely have a social life. There isn't a minute in my day that isn't scheduled.

Like I said, life is crazy right now.

Yes, it's crazy, but I also have to remember that it is worth it. I have reached the point where I am tempted to slack off and give up on this school stuff. I want to spend all of my time with the people who I will soon be separated from when we all graduate. The emotional sentimentalism has set in, and it's only going to get worse. My conversations with friends lately never fail to end in reminiscing about these past four years of college. Everyone is feeling it. We are close to the end and we don't want to forget these moments of life together.

And then we realize it midway through our storytelling. We are hit with the reality that we will never again experience anything like college. It really is a once in a lifetime thing.

So I am challenged with making every interaction, conversation, and hour count. I don't want to take it for granted. Someday, I will look back on my college years and laugh at how beautifully odd it all was. I will ask myself, "How can it be that we lived in a world where our classes, jobs, meals, entertainment, and friendships all took place on one little campus?" We worship together, learn together, grow up together, and live together. It's pretty cool actually.

Today, tomorrow, and everyday until April 28, I will do my best to intentionally make memories that will keep my heart full forever. Oh gosh, I am beyond excited for these final two months :)

To sum it up in photos...

[For The Love of Leather]

2012-02-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

Jordan and I watched this and found ourselves wanting new leather wallets, passport carriers, and trendy backpacks. These guys have skill, and their creative process is fascinating (plus they have a really cool office).

I hope this gives you a boost of inspiration to last you the rest of your week.

Cheers to: simplicity, the handmade, and good design.

Makr Carry Goods by Jason Gregory

[3 years Together]

2012-02-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

I became this guys girl on February 8th of 2009.

(yep, that is facebook official)

Met freshman year in speech class.

Dated during winter.

Fell in love.

Dreamed about the future.

Learned each others quirks.

Grew up together.

Fought and forgave.

Went on adventures.

Got married.

Us in a nutshell.

From freshman year to senior year, and we are more in love than ever.

5 Things Men and Women Do Differently

2012-02-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

Mr. Shepherd here again! After being married for over 7 months and watching other couples for the past years, something has become very clear. Men and Women do things very very differently...

5 Things Men & Women Do Differently

1. Clean

Men: Make sure everything is off the floor

Women: Ask men to clean something and then follow behind them examining

2. Go to bed

Men: Fall asleep in 2 minutes

Women: Wait till men are asleep and then wake them up to “just talk”

3. Look in the mirror

Men: just make sure they have on clothes

Women: adjust the same piece of hair 30 times and then walk away frustrated

4. Shop

Men: “What’s next on the list?”

Women: “Oh my Gosh! They have a whole section of French Cheeses! We have to get some!”

5. Greet their friends

Guy 1: “What’s going on man?"

Guy 2: “Hey Man”

(End of Greeting)

Girl 1 & 2: “AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!”

(Hugging and Jumping)

Girl 1: “I love what you’ve done with your hair!”

Girl 2: “Thank yyoouuu…I just miss you so much!”

Girl 1 & 2: “KINDRED SPIRITS!!!”

I have only scratched the surface…

[Red Lips Equals]

2012-02-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

When I came home from the gym today I realized that I had a few hours to spare with the house to myself. I thought for a few moments, evaluated my options, and decided that I was going to have a pampering session. I had way too much fun playing with makeup to say the least... particularly with lip color.

'Revlon Really Red' lipstick is my new best friend. When I see a woman wearing bold red lips, I think of these things:

1. Boldness

2. Confidence

3. Sensuality

4. Fearlessness

5. Glamor

Red Red Red = female power

;)

[Five Favorite Fashion Trends]

2012-02-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

1. Color blocking

Hottest colors being tangerine, fuschia, and purple. More about color blocking here

2. Feminine pastels

Soft pinks and teals - paired with lace and nude colored pieces

3. Denim

Vests, jackets, and even denim on denim has become popular lately. And guess what? Kate Bosworth is launching a new denim collection.

4. Peplum

High waisted peplum skirts are extremely flattering. I found one at Pull and Bear in Ireland, and it's my absolute favorite piece of clothing. More about peplum here

5. Bright colored skinny pants

J Crew has a quality new selection of unique colors to choose from. Best worn with heels in my opinion.

[The Kennedys]

2012-01-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

Jordan and I started our new show, The Kennedy's last night. After only two episodes we are already hooked. I'm learning new things about the Kennedy family while being inspired by Jackie (played by Katie Holmes) and her 1960's style.

Jackie colors: pink, yellow, red, ivory

Jackie's icon: Audrey Hepburn

Jackie's designer of choice: Hubert de Givenchy

Jackie staples:

pillbox hat

pearls

white gloves

sleeveless dresses

high waisted trousers

"Often sketching designs for her clothing as First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy fashion immediately drew international attention; more than any other First Ladies her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and a large segment of young women."

{SOMM}

2012-01-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

This new documentary looks fascinating. It's about four sommeliers who live and breathe wine, and they are attempting to pass the Master Sommelier Exam. Watch this trailer to see what I mean...

"A sommelier, or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching. The role is more specialized and informed than that of a wine waiter."

{Oscar Nominations}

2012-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

This is the year for The 84th Academy Awards!

The official nominations came in today, and there are only 33 days left until the awards show, which will air Sunday night on February 26th. I can't wait to see which film wins Best Picture, I can honestly say that I have no idea what will happen this year.

Here are some of the main noms:

Best Picture:

Hugo

The Artist

The Descendants

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The Help

Midnight in Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

Actor In a Leading Role:

Demian Bichir - A Better Life

George Clooney - The Descendants

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Actress In a Leading Role:

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis - The Help

Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

Best Original Score:

John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin

Ludovic Bource - The Artist

Howard Shore - Hugo

Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

John Williams - War Horse

To see the full list, go Here

so what do you think? which film will win best picture? I'm taking a wild guess and saying The Artist (which I haven't seen yet), but it's a silent film/musical and it looks absolutely amazing. Plus it won the Golden Globe award for Best Picture along with the Descendants.

I am making it my goal to watch all of the main nominated films before the awards show. Wish me luck!

Cam & Beth

2012-01-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

Two of our best friends got engaged this weekend.

Cameron Kinch took Bethany Ezawa to the church where he asked her to be his girlfriend a year ago. He proposed with his grandmothers ring, then brought her back to his parents house where friends and family were waiting to celebrate.

Watching her face when she walked in the door was one of my favorite moments. I could relate, because the same thing happened to me a year ago. This day could be described as an overwhelming dream-like rush of happiness and gratitude. It is one of the best and memorable events in a girls life, and it was obvious that Beth soaked up every second of it.