delovely details

What I Wore Wednesday - Stitch Fix

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:00:00 +0000

It's that time again! I haven't had a Stitch Fix for awhile, it's about time!

I asked my stylist for tops that could easily be paired with a pencil skirt or casual pants/jeans. I've got a few potential trips coming up and I wanted some very versatile pieces so I don't have to pack so much.

I think they did a pretty good job!

Pomelo - Indianan Tribal Mixed Material Tee

I really loved the look of this shirt when it was in the box. I even told my husband, this is probably a keeper. When I tired it on, I was a little bummed at the way the front looked. The cut is just a too short in the front for my taste, but I loved the back of it.

Fun2Fun - Hydrangea Lace Sleeveless Blouse
First look, I thought it was really cute but something I could easily find at a local Nordstroms or Macys. I wasn't all that impressed, but it was definitely versatile. Once I tried it on, I realized how unique the lace pattern on the front of the shirt was. Most lace patterns are simple and delicate, this had two diagonal patterns on it, which I fell in love with.

Daniel Rainn - Lander Watercolor Floral Print Blouse

When I saw this blouse in the box, I thought it looked more like my mom than it looked like me. Once I tried it on, I fell in love! I don't know specifically why I loved it so much. Was it the cut, the pattern, the tunic style? I don't know but I loved it.

Loveappella - Claudia Banded Dolman Sleeve Top

I'll be honest, this top is versatile, but it's just not me. I tried it on anyways and while I didn't dislike it as much as I did in the box, it just didn't do anything for me.

Just Black - Adora Skinny Jean

Stitch Fix has been pretty good about sending me adorable jeans/pants. I think I've kept almost every single pair they've sent to me. I've always had to get them altered. Usually in the thighs and waist but they've always been way too cute to pass up. Then comes this pair, a perfect fit all the way around and I swooned. The color, the fit, the style, I loved it all!

So what did I end up keeping? I kept the skinny jeans and the simple cream lace tank. You can see the whole ensemble in this post here. I wish that first top fit better, and that purple top just wasn't my style. I really really really loved that white/blue top and desperately wanted to keep it. It was a little high in my price range and I couldn't see myself spending that kind of money on a top if I had seen it anywhere else so I had to pass.

However, I am super happy about my picks and once again, Stitch Fix secures my love.

If you want your own Stitch Fix, I highly recommend it, you can sign up for it here!

Stitch Fixes:

First

Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth

Still linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Disclaimer: Stitch Fix has not paid me, comped me, or anything. I just really like this service.

Happy April!

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:52:00 +0000

Happy April guys!

Do you ever feel like you just need a "restart"? I am so overwhelmed lately. It's not a bad thing, but it is keeping me from doing some of the important things I want to do. So, I'm using April 1st as a restart. I'm setting some goals for myself for this month and I really hope I'm going to be able to make them happen.

1. I want to blog more. I miss this. A lot. I just always put it on the back burner. I have races, events, and stories to tell. I just haven't had the time to sit down and get them down. I want to change that.

2. I want to make it to yoga once a week. I really don't love yoga, but I do notice a difference in my body since I've stopped going for the past few months.

3. I want to make it to Disneyland a few more times. I know that sounds silly to those who don't live in Orange County, but we have season passes (the fancy expensive ones) and I want to get my money's worth. I need that break too, I need to get out of the house and get to my happy place.

4. Get my orders done! We've been swamped with orders which is a HUGE blessing. I just want to keep working and try and get our lead time down.

5. Changes. There are some business changes I've been thinking about for a long time. When I get ready to act on them, we end up crazy busy and I just don't have the time to work on them. I am so tired of that. I want to put these changes on the priority list and make them happen!

I'm really excited for April, it's a big month for me in general because it's National Donate Life Month which is a cause near and dear to my heart. You'll hopefully be seeing a lot more blog posts about it and I might hit you up for money or to join our team too.

Do you have any goals this month? Any tips on how to accomplish mine?

Cream Swag

noreply@blogger.com (delovelydetails) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Today, we are recovering from an epic night. Last night we were treated to an amazing gathering of some of the "cream of the crop" in the wedding industry at The Cream Event.

Last year I was lucky enough to win 2 tickets to The Cream Event in Los Angeles. It was such an amazing, inspiring night. I even found a new favorite band! I was so grateful to attend and it really got those creative juices going for us again.

This year we knew we had to go. However, that wasn't enough for me. I wanted to be apart of it in any way that I could. Lucky for me, these amazing ladies who put together The Cream Event, Bash, Please put out a call to vendors looking to get into the fabulous swag bags of The Cream Event. Took me absolutely no time to decide that I had to do this. Waiting to hear back for our approval for the swag bags was like agony, even though it was probably not even a full day. I was just so excited. I squealed when we got word that they were happy to work with us! Woot!

Deciding on what kind of swag we wanted to include with our information was a painful process. We had so many ideas, it was hard to decide where to go with them. We wanted to make sure that we represented our main product, hangers, but also show that we are more creative than just those. We are looking to extending our products to include other items besides hangers, but how do we go about tackling this?

It was also a matter of economics, what could we produce quickly, efficiently, and cost consciously yet still wow and hopefully stand out. We finally decided on this awesome little flags and I couldn't be happier with the decision. We also used our handy dandy tools to cut out hangers and include a coupon code for all those who were at The Cream Event.

I am so happy with the final product and how it all turned out. We are still a growing business and we are learning so many things in the process, but at the heart of all this, we want to have fun. Fortunately, that is not hard for us.

So, if we were to sell these flags, would you buy them?

What would you use them for?

Academy of Handmade Award Show

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:08:00 +0000

I was so excited to recently become a member of the Academy of Handmade, a community based on the celebration, encouragement, connecting, and acknowledgement of handmade businesses. They were raising money for an upcoming project and with a donation at a certain level, it included your first membership dues. What a great deal!

I've only been a member for a month and so far I've loved it. It's awesome to connect with other sellers via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media venues. I haven't been able to attend any of the numerous happy hour meet ups, crafting workshops, or business seminars but I'm really anxious to do so. They always sound like so much fun!

One major event coming up is their Award Show. Seriously, how cool does that sound?! They are the only awards ceremony honoring the skill, artistry and business savvy of handmade artists. This annual awards ceremony shines a spotlight on those people propelling handmade business forward. Awards are a recognition by peers, therefore only members will be able to vote for award recipients. But anyone can nominate!

If you want to nominate your fave homemade business, you can here! It's 10 dollars for a non-member and it's free for members. I've been nominating some of my favorite businesses and I really hope they win!

You can also buy tickets to the event, which promises to be a lot of fun. It is held in the Arts District of Downtown LA in cocktail attire, and we will be celebrating small handmade businesses all night long! You can get your tickets here. But lucky for you, I have a coupon code for you to use if you want to join us. It saves you 10 dollars off your ticket price, just use coupon code AWARDSSHOW2014 to save!

If you're ready to commit to becoming a member of the Academy and fit the requirements, you can use coupon code FEEWAIVE2014 to save 10 dollars off the membership application.

If you want to learn more about the Academy of Handmade and show your support for people like me, check them out!

Website/Social Media:

#AHASAWARDS

Hope to see you at the awards show!

What I Wore Wednesday - Stitch Fix Edition

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I haven't done one of these in a while, so I think it's about time I change that. For Christmas, I got a Stitch Fix gift card from my cousin. How cool is that? I love this idea and I was so anxious to cash in my credit and get some cool stuff sent to me.

Boy did Stitch Fix know exactly how to deliver too. I've said before that shopping makes me nervous, I don't have a whole lot of fun spending hours upon hours browsing places. My friends will back me when I say, when I try something on, I almost instantly know if I want to buy it or not and I tend to not waiver my thoughts on it. So after a season partly dedicated to the extreme shopping (aka Christmas), I don't have a huge desire to go out.

However, I have a few engagements coming up and I do need something to wear. Here comes Stitch Fix to save the day!

First up is this Burgdorf Diamond Printed Henley Blouse by Fun2Fun. I really love the fit of this shirt and the material was so comfy to wear. The sleeves could also be long or 3/4 depending on your mood so another plus for versatility. The pattern was sort of a miss for me, not a huge fan that the pocket on front didn't match the rest of the pattern.

This Crosby Floral & Dot Print Blouse by Uttam is so adorable and precious, it killed me. The fabric is again, very comfy. Although the fit isn't as loose fitting as the previous blouse but was still comfortable. Kind of bummed that the sleeves didn't have the same versatility as the previous blouse either.

Hold the phone people, because this was a slam dunk. This Colibri Heart Print Blouse by Fun2Fun was it for me. Sold. I love the print, I love the style, the sleeves were convertible, the length was awesome, it was comfortable. Sold.

This Elle Floral Print Dress by Under Skies was so precious and adorable, it was my favorite thing I first saw in the box. My note from my stylist mentioned how she saw a lot of lace pinned on my Pinterest board (remember, they stalk your boards for ideas for your box...WIN!) and she thought I'd like this dress because of it's pattern on the hem. Um...YES!

Lastly was the Topher Lurex Striped Dress by 41Hawthorn. I love the cut of this dress, I love the chevron pattern, and most of all...it has pockets. That's like finding a needle in a haystack these days. Dresses with pockets just make me swoon.

I can't tell you how on target my stylist Whitney was this time around. However, I actually only kept two items. While I loved all of them, I didn't keep the two dresses because neither one fit properly. Major womp for me because I really loved both of those dresses. They were just too big on me. I didn't keep the first blouse because I just wasn't feeling the pattern and the way it lined up on the pocket. I loved everything else about that shirt except that.

I was so happy with this Stitch Fix, it sort of reinvigorated me with the whole premise again. I can't wait for my next one!

If you want to start getting your own Stitch Fix, you can sign up here.

Stitch Fixes:

First

Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth

Still linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Disclaimer: Stitch Fix has not paid me, comped me, or anything. I just really like this service.

Guest Post - Spartan Super Run

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:45:00 +0000

So, how about another guest poster today? Some of you might recall me mentioning my first Spartan Race was coming up. I was so pumped. My husband was signed up for the Super (8+ miles) and then we were both going to run the Sprint (3+ miles) when he was done with his Super. Unfortunately, a bad bout of asthma kept us from running the Sprint. Don't worry though, it's been rescheduled. However, my husband's determination was so inspiring to watch. I am so proud of him. I asked him if he wanted to write a short blurb about his Spartan Super experience and he accepted.

I love a challenge. When a buddy told me about how he had just finished the Spartan Trifecta challenge, I knew I needed to tackle it myself.

First up was the Spartan Super (8+ miles of obstacles). The Gladiator 5K run that the wife and I had done wasn't that bad, and I had just finished a few half marathons. So this should be no problem, right? What was 8-9 miles and a few obstacles really?

Well, I was wrong. To be honest, it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done.While I handled all but 2 of the obstacles like a pro, the hills were another story. I quickly found out how out of shape I really am, and they took a major toll on me both mentally, and physically. Not a good combo. The thing that took me most by surprise was my asthma acting up. I've done 5 half marathons at this point, however I never had a problem with my asthma. I started to feel my chest constrict, I couldn't get a deep breath in, and I realized I don't even have an inhaler with us.

Normally I run with my wife, and we help push each other when we need a bit of a boost. Not having her there was also a big change in my mental game. I had no one whispering in my ear to keep going, and at times, I really didn't want to keep going.

By the time I came down the last hill, I was exhausted and rethinking this whole Trifecta idea. I had no idea how I would finish a Beast run if I could barely finish this one. That was when I saw Nikki, which was like a mirage in a desert with no water. And she even handed me a bottle of water when I saw her, thank goodness.

Seeing her gave me enough energy to finish the last few obstacles and crossed the finish. At that point, I was ready to swear off Spartan races for good.

Immediately following the race, I was convinced that the Trifecta was out of reach, and I was never going to do a Beast. The following day however, that doubt started turning into determination and wanting to push myself harder. I started feeling pretty proud of myself of what I had just accomplished, and didn't want to stop. There were times where I doubted myself with the Super, but yet I finished it. So why am I doubting myself with a beast?

So yes, I will be signing up for the Beast, and the Trifecta challenge is still a go. I don't know who this determined person is, but I love it and I don't want to stop.

Happy Birthday Hubs!

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:22:00 +0000

Yesterday was the hub's birthday and since it fell on Super Bowl, we threw a Birthday/Super Bowl party combo for the birthday boy. In the morning he played golf with his buddies and then we ate like pigs and yelled at the TV for the rest of the day. It was perfect, and I think he had a great day.

I know how lucky I am to have this dude around. We've been married for 6.5 years, yet we still play and have fun like we are still newlyweds. However, the best part, is that we know each other so well, he always knows what I am thinking or feeling.We still talk a lot, but we don't always have to and we are so comfortable with that.

Did I mention how handsome homeboy is? And he just keeps getting better with age. That smile...::swoon:: I'd go toe-to-toe with anyone who says their husband has a better smile than mine. (At least to me anyways.)

I'm so glad I've spent the past 6.5 years as your wife, even happier that we've been in love for 14 years, and ecstatic that we get to spend the rest of our lives together.

Happy Birthday babe! Hope it was a good one, and damn...31 looks good on you!

New Product Friday

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

We get a lot of requests for things we don't already feature in our shop. Sometimes they are things we can accommodate, sometimes we can't. We are usually just as frustrated about it as the customer is, however I'll only sell what I can promise in good quality and through a good reliable supplier.

One item we regularly get asked about is white hangers instead of our standard natural wood color. It's been so hard to find a way to etch the hangers so the etch is pronounced enough, finding a good quality white hanger, and lastly, the time to experiment.

However, I am super excited to say we have finally found a solution. We've quietly been sharing the news through friends and family, but they've already been a huge hit in our shop.

The tops of the hangers are different compared to standard hangers, including the ones we offer in our shop, however I actually like the uniqueness. We are featuring these hangers with font 8. I'm still in love with that font by the way.

Hope you guys like them as much as we do! Any other ideas for what we should offer next?

We've got a few things up our sleeves...stay tuned!

My Fav Thursday - Office Space

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Now that business is getting really serious, I decided I really need a space to work. Too often I bring my laptop to bed with me, on the dining room table during dinner, on the couch when I'm supposed to be relaxing. One of my new year goals was to balance my time better. Work hard when it's time to work, and don't work when it's time to relax. Having a space set aside for only work seemed like a great idea.

So my office is currently underway. I can't wait to show you finished project photos, but right now, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite items I'm keeping in my office.

1. Make 2014 the Best Ever Calendar - Nicolina Designs

I always need a quick reference to dates throughout the year, so this is probably the cutest way to display the months ever created. I just love it! It makes me smile every time I look at it. Plus the quality is unreal and she's a great person to work with.

2. Sharpie Pens - Amazon

I'm addicted to these pens! Holy cow, they are the best pens ever! Go buy them!

3. Botanicals Notebook Collection by Rifle Paper Co. - Amazon

I have a secret love affair with Rifle Paper Co. Her designs make my heart sing. Her art has inspired parts of my office even. I love these notebooks for keeping ideas for various aspects of my life organized and looking pretty.

4. S*^t To Do Notepad - Julie Ann Art

I am the queen of to-do lists. I have so much going on, that if I don't write it down, chances are really good that I am going to forget about it. This list pretty much sums me up perfectly. It cracks me up every single time I use it and let's be real...these lists really ought to just be called the S*^t List.

5. Elka Mug - Anthropologie

I have just recently gotten into teas. Like, really recently. Like last month. I'm not a fan of a lot of the teas out there, but I love my Tazo Passion Fruit tea. I have a cup almost every single morning when I first get up and start up the computer. I have plain white mugs I have been using but the hubs surprised me with this one for my birthday. It makes my morning a little more fun drinking out of a fancy mug. Trust me, try it!

6. Kitchen Cart - Ikea

Drawers are bad news for me. I never keep them organize and I usually just end up cramming as much as I can into them. So when we started to work on my office, I didn't want a lot of drawers. Then I saw this cart, and it was like love at first sight. I had to have it! So far, it's absolutely perfect for me. I have everything I need at arms reach and it's organized! Plus it's so cute!

So there you have it, my office must haves! Hopefully I can get some photos of my office soon, we have a few more plans for the spare bedroom first. Anything you need while you're at work? What are your must haves?

Linking up with these lovely ladies!

Guest Post - I'm a Donor!

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I am always so touched when I hear someone who was once against organ donation, become a donor. I don't care what the reason is, it always moves me. My best friend, Heather, recently became a donor. I am so moved by her story because my daddy had something to do with it. We've been friends for 16 years now, she is so much a part of my life. I am so proud of her for making this huge decision, and selfless act. Way to go bestie! Her reasons for not becoming a donor are very common. A lot of people worry about the same things she did at first.

Here is Heather's story:

When the day came to apply for my driver’s license, I was beyond excited. The new found freedom that would come with this little plastic card was highly anticipated. As I was completing the form, I remember quickly skipping over the “check here to become a donor” box. The images of deflated beach balls, and the crazy notion that, God forbid something ever happened to me, the paramedics would let me die, flooded my naive mind. I couldn't be an organ donor; that would mean I was coming to terms with the idea that, one day, I might actually die.

Fast forward ten years to the day I received a phone call from my very best friend, Nikki. She explained to me that her dad was in the hospital and in need of a kidney and liver transplant. In that moment, my brain flooded with ways of how I could help. Can he have one of my kidneys? Part of my liver? How do I know if I’m a match? Suddenly, all of my previous “fears” of being a donor were replaced with the overwhelmingly need to give all that I had to help Mike. After all, the Madrigals were my second family. I would do for them what I would do for my own mother and father. Sadly, Mike never received the transplants that he so desperately needed. I had to watch my best friend say goodbye to the most important person in her life. It was in that moment that I knew I needed to rethink my preconceived thoughts of becoming a donor.

Fast forward another two years, and here I am, still without that donor sticker on my driver’s license. It wasn't a matter of IF I wanted to become a donor, it was WHEN. I have watched Nikki participate in various runs in honor of her dad, raise money for Donate Life, and share knowledge on the benefits of becoming a donor. I am so touched by her eagerness to continue to make her father proud, and I know she is doing just that. I have had several conversations with myself about becoming a donor, and decided that today would be the day. Today was the day that I would finally register to become an organ donor.

Before registering, however, I had a conversation with my husband. I explained to him that I was ready to become a donor, and asked how he felt about it. To my surprise, he wanted to register with me. My husband is a man of very few words, but he loves harder and cares more than any person I have ever met. I think it meant a lot to him to be able to do something in Mike’s memory. This was his way of showing Nikki and her family how much he cares.

After completing the donor registration forms, I had this indescribable feeling overcome me. I was excited, yet a little disappointed that I hadn't done this sooner. I felt at peace with my decision, but wish it hadn't taken the death of my best friend’s father to finally open my eyes. All that set aside, I am happy knowing that regardless of the amount of time it took for me to finally click that register button, I did it. I did it, and now I can hopefully save the life of someone in need, whenever that time may come. I feel proud to call myself Nikki’s best friend, but more than that, I am thankful for all that she has done to spread the knowledge of what it means to be an organ donor. I vow to stand by her side for the rest of my life; doing all that I can to pass along the same information she gave me.

Aren't I lucky to call her my best friend? I think so!

Heather and her husband also signed up to be on our team for the Donate Life Walk/Run. It really means a lot to me and if you want to sign up or donate to our team too, just click below! Help save a life, donate.

Hot Chocolate Run Swag

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway a few weeks ago. I bet you all loved that recipe if you tried it! I was hoping to get this post up earlier, but life got in the way. I did pull a winner and the winner is:

Kishna W.

She is going to run the Hot Chocolate 5/15k in her area! Congrats Kishna. I hope you have a great run!

If you didn't win, don't worry. I didn't forget about you. If you sign up for the San Diego run with me, use coupon code DELOVELYMUG and you'll get a free travel mug when you pick up your race packet! Pretty snazzy huh?

I am so excited to be an ambassador for this run. They definitely know that a run is only as good as it's participants and so they really treat you, the participant, well. As I was chosen to be an Hot Chocolate Run ambassador, I got some pretty awesome swag to sport including a really sweet note from a coordinator.

I think my favorite item is that headband, I wear it all the time. It's so comfortable!

Most of these items I believe are available at the expo, plus lots more. So if you're going, make sure you bring some fun money! I was wearing my shirt the other day and I had two people stop and tell me how they've done the Hot Chocolate Run in the past, and that they were looking forward to it again soon. I just love the running community!

I also can't wait to use my luggage tag. We are making our San Diego Hot Chocolate Run into a runcation and getting a hotel room to spend the weekend. Last time we went, we stayed at the W Hotel and saw a lot of other runners staying there too. So I'm pretty excited to flash this bad boy around.

So are you going to be running for chocolate soon? Are you going to be in San Diego? If so, let's meet up!

Recap from last year's Hot Chocolate 5/15k.

The Last Year Before 30

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:31:00 +0000

I'm officially less than one year to my thirties. My husband took 30 like a champ. Never let that number get to him. But, if I'm being honest, it's kind of getting to me. I don't feel like I'm so close to 30 at all.

However, I didn't let any of those thoughts stop me from enjoying one great week of birthday celebrations. It definitely started with PRing the Tinkerbell Half, more on that later. Wednesday I was woken up right at midnight to my husband wishing me happy birthday and it just got better from there.

I've always wanted a pool party for my birthday, but being a January birthday, that was bound to never happen for me. This year though, the weather gods took pity on my plea and we had a gorgeous day. We ate al fresco at lunch and finished the evening with a boat ride around Balboa Island. Drew had flowers AND cookies sent to me! I got a tiara from my little sister to wear during dinner, tried a new yummy restaurant, and got some awesome presents.

Then, this past Sunday, my best friends and I were just supposed to be meeting for dinner. However, they had other plans. That morning they tweeted me to let me know I should get ready because I was going to be seeing them earlier than dinner. After a whirlwind of tweets/texts/and a blindfold I finally arrived at a surprise location, the Mandarin Spa inside of the Grand Californian hotel at the Disneyland Resort. I've been wanting to try their spa forever! We were pampered from head to toe, but the best part was getting in some much needed girl time. It's been a while since we've been able to sit and just talk like that. It was by far one of the best parts of my birthday. I love these girls so much!

After our treatments we got ready and headed out to meet the boys and babies for dinner at The Beachside Restaurant in Marina Del Rey. It's a little place inside of a hotel and it was so yummy and right on the water. The weather was perfect, we were able to eat outside and enjoyed the weather. We joked around and planned an upcoming group trip. I love nights like that!

So far, 29 is off to a great start and I am very optimistic about this next year. I still have my 30 by 30 list I'm working on and we have a lot of other fun things planned.

Did you have problems turning a certain age? How did you let them go?

Wine & Dine Half Marathon Recap

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I was so nervous for this run. 3 weeks prior to the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, I did a 10 Mile Surf City run. I don't know what happened, whether it was something serious or just how I taped my knee that day, but I was left hobbling and in a lot of pain. I went to the doctor, started physical therapy for apparently a week left hip. My pain was in my knee though and I finally got the results that I had a discoid lateral meniscus. Some people can have this and still be fine with running, other times it requires surgery and a long rehab. I was so upset. After careful consideration, I decided I was going to just stop running, allow my knee as much time as possible to heal, and go for it in Florida.

So at the Wine & Dine Half Meet Up, that little jog around the park we took was the first run I had to prep for this half. Luckily, I felt fine and so I was cautiously optimistic. We switched our run/walk method around to 30/30. I didn't want to PR this run, I just wanted to finish it and not in a wheelchair. My family and friends were supportive but also encouraged me to just walk the whole thing if I had to. No one wanted me to ruin my vacation because of my stubbornness to run this thing.

This half marathon started at 9pm. While some people would think that was crazy, it was perfect for us. We were still on west coast time. So it felt like 7pm to us. That's usually when we get our evening runs in anyways. However prepping for a long run like that was a little nerve wrecking. What do we eat? When should we take a nap? How much activity should we do during the day? I was so nervous about our prep.

We decided on a little shopping around Downtown Disney and then a relaxing walk around our resort. Then we found a hammock and decided to kick back there. Not a bad way to prep for a run right?

We had a big pasta lunch at around 2:30pm and took a nap till about 7:15pm. We woke up feeling refreshed, digested (very important), and got into our costumes. Chip and Dale of course, the classic duo! I had ears for us to wear too, but forgot them. Drew wasn't too bummed about it...hmph.

Races are so different at Walt Disney World then they are at Disneyland. We had to take a bus to the start line, and that was the only way to get there really. We had so much time to kill though because of the timing of the buses. Drew started to get a little hungry, but was nervous about eating anything so close to a run. We should have had a little later lunch.

People were just lounging around the area, hitting up the port-a-potties, and dancing to the dj music. It was fun to be able to walk around and see everyone's costumes.

Then I spotted a photo op with none other than our costume inspirations! We had to get a photo with them. When we got up to the front of the line, everyone went nuts for our costumes including Chip and Dale. It made me so happy!

We finally made our way over to our corral and got a great spot right in front. We were right next to a couple from the Disneyland area too and had a blast chit chatting with them until it was time for our game faces. Because there are no local neighbors near Walt Disney World like Disneyland, they were able to do a ton of fireworks to kick off the race and even every corral. Very cool!

We had a couple seconds to grab a quick photo when we got to the start line. Drew kept reminding me to keep my pace slower and listen to my knee pain and take it easy, however I was starting to get pumped.

Finally it was our turn and we started off doing the pace and the timing we said we were going to do. However, I noticed I didn't have a single pain in my knee. I asked if we could reevaluate our plan at mile 1 and Drew begrudgingly agreed.

I was not only feeling fine, but I was killing it. Miles 2-3 were some of my best miles ever. I have no clue why. It was humid as all get out, but I was feeling awesome. We decided to just go for it, pushed ourselves a little more but still talk walk breaks so I could evaluate the knee. I can't believe how fast this half went by. In no time we were at mile 9 which was "Italy" so I had to grab a picture.

The last two miles were the hardest, usually it's the last three. So I was happy that I didn't hit my wall as early, but those last two miles were still tough for me. My other knee was giving me some problems, which really pissed me off. We pulled through and finally I saw the finish line. Thank goodness!

It wasn't as well run as the Disneyland finish line, I think with the free wine/beer, it really hosed things up. However, I was just so glad to be done, I didn't mind. We checked our time and I figured we missed our PR by 5 minutes. I was so disappointed since I felt so strong in the beginning of the run.

We ran into Melissa and her husband as we were exciting. They seemed to have had a great run. She's on her way to do the Dopey Challenge this week, I can't wait to hear all about her expierence. She's going kill it!

Just as we finally sat down to change into clean clothes (I was a sweaty beast), and both of our moms texted us to let us know we PR'd it. WHAT?! Sure enough, when we went back and checked our last half marathon timing, we were wrong! We PR'd it by 5 minutes! Whoops! Talk about a high! Not only did I finish it (which I didn't know if I would) but I PR'd it. That meant it was time for a big margarita! We headed into the food and wine fest, which was packed! Everyone was partying, so much fun. We grabbed some food and some drinks. We didn't make it very long, at this point it was 1:30am and we were starting to feel tired.

It was a great night, I finished a run that I really doubted myself on, I PR'd it, and I knocked one more off my 30 by 30 list.

Is that some beautiful bling or what? I just love that coast to coast medal.

27 more to go! Which one should I do next?

Wine & Dine Half Marathon Meet Up Recap

Don't forget: I'm hosting a giveaway for a free race entry to any Hot Chocolate 5/15k run! Enter now!

Wine & Dine Half Marathon Meet Up Recap

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I told myself when we booked this trip, that if I didn't get into the Wine & Dine Half Meet Up, I wasn't going to be upset. But as we got closer and closer to the date, my desire to get into it grew exponentially. These events are amazing, and there is no way I was going to be happy on missing out unless I knew I had given it my best shot.

My squeal when I saw that I was in was probably frightening for my neighbors. I then had a moment of pure panic and freak out when I realized that we would be landing at the same time the event started. This was the first night runDisney meet up and so I knew it was going to be extra special. A quick search on Southwest.com and a few phone calls to some hotels, and everything worked out! Whew.

This was my first runDisney meet up alone. I knew Jenny at the Disneyland Half Meet Up, but this was my first time not actually knowing someone IRL. So I was a little nervous. I finally gave in and wore my fancy runDisney New Balance running shoes, instant confidence boost along with my Team Sparkle skirt.

The meet up included a fastpass to Test Track, a fancy runDisney shirt, and a ticket into Epcot.

Since the meet up was so late in the evening (after Epcot closed), I had made arrangements with two Twitter friends to share a cab back to our hotel since the buses were done for the night. So I wanted to find those girls right away so I knew who to look for when the meet up ended. Melissa and I exchanged information on twitter and found each other in no time. She's such a sweetie, I'm so lucky how it all worked out. I don't have a picture with Connie but these two ladies were a blast and I was so happy to spend an evening and cab ride with them.

We had time to mingle and chit chat with other people, most whom I had never met in real life before, but talked to a lot via social media. It's always so fun to just pick up conversations with internet friends like you've known each other for years.

Then our night really kicked off with a special viewing area reserved for us to watch Illuminations. I had only ever seen this show one other time, 10 years ago, when people still camped out for good seats for a day. It was so cool to get a great seat and really enjoy the show.

After that we were invited into The American Gardens Theater where there was a wide arrange of appetizers and drinks, including wine. I didn't have any wine since I knew that I not only had a half marathon the next day, but a 3 mile run around Epcot in less than an hour. It was tough to say no though. Excuse my blurry photo of the food, but you get the point...lots of noms.

It was really a perfect start to a Wine & Dine Half Marathon meet up.

I was sitting with Melissa, enjoy our snacks, when I saw this on the stage. ACK! I still want one of these suitcases so bad. I said a little prayer that I would take it home that night.

Once everyone had gotten some food and found a seat, Darrell Fry, Disney Sports Media Director kicked things off.

He welcomed all of us, introduced some important people to us runDisney folks, and then passed it over to Faron Kelley who basically jumped right into those giveaways.

Alas, the rolling duffle bag was not meant to be mine that night, oh well. Another time right?

After that nutritionist Diet Diva Tara and the famous Jeff Galloway spoke about how to appropriately prepare food wise and physically for an evening race. I was so worried about all of that, even though I normally run in the evenings. I was listening so intently, I must have looked incredibly serious.

Next we got to hear from some of the chefs that put together some of the food available at the Food and Wine Fest. They spoke with their creative processes, as well as what some of their personal favorites were. They also mentioned how a glass of wine is considered a health benefit....yup. Happy girl right here.

Then represenatives from New Balance spoke and gave us a sneak peek at the new runDisney shoe. Oh.em.gee. I was in love. And, if a new shoe design isn't enough for you...a new box!

And new race themed sole inserts! Be still my heart! I wanted them all!

Then Olympian and all around crazy awesome runner, Jenny Simpson came out. She holds the 2013 woman's record for fastest mile. I'd let you guess what it was, but there is no way you would. 4 minutes 19 seconds. Yup, go ahead and read that again...I didn't stutter. She's amazing.

Finally, the man of the hour showed up. Mr. Mickey Mouse himself. Part of my love for these events is that one on one interaction with the characters. I loved how Mickey was decked out in his chef gear. What a cutie!

After that we gathered in groups to start our run. I chose to run with Jeff Galloway just because I was still uneasy about my knee and an injury I sustained. This was the first time in two weeks I ran, so I wanted to take it very easy.

After all the runners finished, we met in front of Space Ship Earth for a group photo. Can you find me? Look at the very end of the left side. We were a big group for this meet up!

After our group picture, they announced that there was yet another surprise for us at the main gate. A champagne toast to wrap up the night. There was cider for those who didn't want to kill any hydration they had been working on but I decided to go ahead and indulge.

Then Faron Kelley led us in the most perfect runDisney toast ever. It really was the perfect way to end the night. This is the best way to end any runDisney meetup really, hint hint.

We did a little more mingling, while sipping our champagne. I had to say thanks to Darrell Fry for hosting such an amazing night. My jaw hurt from smiling so much for the whole night. Thanks again Darrell!

Another shot of my new friend Melissa and I again before we rounded up our other cab buddy and started to leave Epcot. At this point it was close to midnight.

I wasn't ready to end our night, but I know I had a ton of prepping to do for the next few days of sightseeing and then running a half marathon.

This was the first evening runDisney meetup and I hope it's not the last. It was so much fun and the fireworks, champagne, and "party" feeling made it so special. I was so grateful to get to be apart of it and they are memories I will forever cherish.

I know how hard the runDisney team works to create these fun events for us, and I'm so glad they do them. It's created a community like no other run community and it's created some very dedicated followers.

Thanks runDisney! Cheers!

Wine & Dine Half Marathon Recap

Don't forget: I'm hosting a giveaway for a free race entry to any Hot Chocolate 5/15k run! Enter now!

Christmas Video

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Now that things are starting to calm down around here, I can finally reflect on what this holiday season was for us. Loosing some people who were closest to me over the past few years has made me appreciate these holidays, even through the madness and even sadness they bring.

My dad passed right before Christmas in 2011 and it's been a challenge (nicest way to put it) to get through it with a somewhat level head at the end of the day.

This year I tried to focus on what I had, rather than what I didn't. I'll be honest, it's hard. I miss my dad and I have a somewhat hatred for these family holidays. There is probably little to no chance that will ever change. However, I'm working on it.

Drew and I decided to capture Christmas through our camera. We have a lot of family to celebrate with.

As difficult as these days can be, when I looked back at the video we took, all I saw was home. I saw where my past began, where my present is, and where my future starts. With my family.

This might be boring for some of you, feel free to skip it, but this is Christmas through our eyes.

Christmas 2013 from delovely details on Vimeo.

Fan Appreciation

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I love when we get a non-traditional bride. I get to have a different kind of fun with their hangers. We've had some pretty interesting requests to put on the hangers. Some have left me puzzled, some have cracked me up, and other's are just so uniquely original, you can't help but smile when you see them.

I did these hangers for a special couple and I love how they turned out. I love this font too, I even used it on almost everything lately. Perfect for that special captain your life.

Photo Credit: Beth

Thanks again for sharing Beth and Steevin! Hope your big day was everything you hoped it would be, and congratulations on your marriage! We wish you nothing but the very best!

Were you a traditional bride? How to you make your big day unique?

Guilt Free Hot Chocolate - A Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I am not a huge chocolate fan. I like the occasional brownie and maybe a candy bar at Halloween. However, I'm not really what you would call a chocoholic. There is one way that I do crave it though, and that is hot chocolate. I have always liked the hot drink. In college, my apartment was around the corner from a Starbucks and I got a tall hot chocolate with extra extra whip almost every other night.

So you can imagine how excited I was last year to sign up for the Hot Chocolate Run in San Diego. Here is my recap if you want to see exactly what it's all about, but I'll give you a hit...the name says it all. You run and there is chocolate, like a lot of it, waiting for you.

It was such an awesome run that I was stoked to see when they were looking for ambassadors. I quickly emailed them and low and behold, I was chosen!

I'll give you a run down on all of that later, but I'm too excited to share with you one of the best parts about becoming an ambassador. They've given me a race entry to any Hot Chocolate Run to giveaway! How cool is that?!

You can enter below multiple ways with our handy dandy Rafflecopter below from now until next Thursday (1/9) at midnight. The winner will be announced next Friday (1/10).

I couldn't just leave you thinking about hot chocolate without sending you off with one of my favorite recipes for the beverage.

I had Italian Hot Chocolate in Italy and man do they know how to do it right. It's thick, creamy, rich, and just sinful. As to how you can make this a guilt free hot chocolate, sign up for a run after you drink it!

For locals: use code DelovelyMug to sign up for your Hot Chocolate 5/15k run in San Diego to receive a free mug upon registration packet pick up.

Italian Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups of half and half
1 3/4 teaspoons of cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
3.5 ounces of finely chopped semi sweet chocolate (good quality)

Directions:
In a bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of half and half with cornstarch. Whisk so there are absolutely no lumps.

Place the rest of the half and half in a sauce pan over medium heat. When the corners start to bubble, whisk in the sugar. Then add the cornstarch mixture and whisk until it begins to thicken.

Remove from heat and quickly stir in chocolate until it's completely melted and very smooth.

Pour and take a trip to heaven in a cup.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with Craft Frenzy Friday.

2014!

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Happy 2014!

I can't lie. New Year's Day is one of my all time favorite holidays. I love the fresh start, I love the new beginnings but I especially love the optimism. Most people start off their fresh year with such high hopes, promise, and determination. If I could bottle it up and keep it with me throughout the rest of my year, I would.

I've been away recently because we've undertaken some major projects around the house. Of course, I'm sad that it has taken time away from some of my hobbies, including this blog, however, in 2014, I hope we continue to put value into our home and make it ours.

I hope to grow my business more this next year, specifically streamline it a bit better and add some new products to our store. But I would also like to balance my time better, and keep more consistent working hours.

I still have my 30 by 30 list that I'm working on slowly, but steady. Look for an update on that soon.

One of my biggest hopes for 2014 is to complete a full marathon with diligent training. I do not want to push my body to it's limits, I want to grow them. I don't want to barely feel accomplished, I want to be prepared.

And lastly, for 2014, I hope for the health for my friends and family. I hope everyone takes care of themselves and that we have many more opportunities to make this an amazing year.

What are some of your hopes for this new year? Any special things you've got planned? How about some normal ones?

Thankful

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:00:00 +0000

All too often, we get swept up in the daily routines, and we forget about how to be grateful. Luckily, we have a day that makes us stop, reflect, and be grateful.

I have a lot to be grateful for. I have some amazing best friends, I have made some amazing new friends, I have my health, two of the cutest puppies that have ever lived, but yet I always go back to the one thing I know I can't live without.

Cheestastic moment in 5...4...3...2...

My husband. (Gah, sorry for all the cheese that is coming out of this post but it's the truth.)

This homie, he is so supportive and encouraging. From my business, to half marathons, to still working through my dad's passing, I can always count on him. And the best thing, I know I always will.

I'm linking up today with the lovely ladies of Julie Ann Art, Yellow Heart Art, and Rouge + Whimsy. Thanks for hosting!

#ForPhilippinesWithLove Blogger Day of Silence

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 08:00:00 +0000

http://forphilippineswithlove.com/

What I Wore Wednesday - Disney Edition

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Have you figured it out yet? I am kind of a Disney Freak. Except, I have never been to Disneyland Mickey's Halloween Party. My family has talked about it for years, but we never pulled the trigger. It is a pretty penny in addition to our premium annual passes.

Eventually, my cousin mentioned she wanted to take her 2-almost-3-year old and invited us along. Finally! I had a good reason to go. As soon as I mentioned it to my little cousin, she asked what I was going to be for Halloween. Not really wanting to walk around Disneyland in a full costume, and yet I didn't want to let my little cousin down, I just said Ariel.

Time to start thinking creatively. This is eventually what I came up with.

Shell Shirt - Adorkable Apparel

Green Skinny Jeans - Old Navy: Rockstar Fit

Gold Flats - Cathy Jean (old)

I quickly made up a starfish/seaflower hair accessory in the morning to wear. The hubs wore jeans and a long sleeve white shirt with a red scrap of fabric around the belt area to be Prince Eric. We kept getting called "casual Ariel and Eric". That was basically what I was going for. (I threw a green tank top underneath for Disneyland).

I was so excited about this outfit. Ariel is my favorite princess. I was her for Halloween when I was 5 and again when I was in high school on the homecoming float. It was nice to finally "don" the outfit once again.

We ended up having an amazing time. I could have spent my entire night watching my little cousin, B, trick-or-treat. She is finally grasping the whole concept of Halloween. She was so cute and serious when it comes to filling up her bag of candy. She is also getting so brave on the rides now. My bahbay! She's growing up and I'm so grateful my cousin invited us so we have these memories with her.

Still linking up with the regulars: The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blond and Whatever Whenever Wednesday.

Circus Baby Shower

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Remember last week when I mentioned this new little person in my life? We've been waiting for this little girl for a long time! My bestie is one of those people, after you've known her for 15 minutes, you just know she's gonna make an amazing mother one day. She has always worked with children, she's a teacher now, she's fun and outgoing, children just adore her. It was an amazing day when we learned (on Drew's birthday) that she was going to be that mother we all knew she was meant to be.

As soon as she told me, I squealed with excitement and I'm pretty sure the next thing I said was "I wanna plan a baby shower!" Luckily another close friend, Amber, offered to plan with me. Woohoo!

Fast forward 7 months, and the day finally arrived for the big unveil. It was a fairly large baby shower and it was coed. So as girly as I wanted to make it, Drew made sure that Amber and I kept it pleasant for all the men that would be in attendance. We decided on a circus theme. Special thanks to LoveLetter Photography for letting us share all these pictures!

I did my best to recreate a big-top feel in the space we rented for the party. Amber and I went to town splashing anything that would hold still with neon pink, orange, and gold.

Isn't my pregnant bestie gorgeous? She is so cute, it kills me. Amber and I look a little tired, we had a busy morning setting up. But we had a little too much fun doing it, thanks to Amber's smart hubby for bringing the mimosas! Everyone got to take home a bag of peanuts as their favor. The cake was from my local French's Bakery. I love their cakes! So fluffy and flavorful.

All photo courtesy of LoveLetter Photography

The dessert table is always my favorite area. Maybe because I love my sweets! So I handled that portion, complete with circus peanuts. My sister, mom, and I got up early the day before the shower and drove down to the LA Flower District to pick up all the flowers for the shower and then we put them together in painted mason jars. Each table got a set of 3 or 4 so that most people could take one home from the party. BTW, the LA Flower District is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. I painted small circus animals in gold paint and we scattered those around the tables as well. Amber painted baby bottles gold and silver for first and second place winners in our "Beer Through A Bottle Chugging" contest. That was a huge hit with the boys.

All photos courtesy of LoveLetter Photography

The last picture is one of my favorites from the whole day. Amber and I couldn't have thrown of this party without all the extra help we got from our other friends. This group...we can accomplish anything we put our mind to.

The day was a lot of work, but well worth it to give this baby girl the party she deserved. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my bestie, and now for her daughter. I am so grateful I got to have an intricate part of this special day.

Hocus Pocus Brew Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Why is it that Halloween and drinking go hand in hand? I don't quite understand it all. Maybe it's so we feel more brave about watching all those creepy movies. Maybe it's so we don't feel weird about wearing random clothes we wouldn't wear on a normal day? Whatever the reason is, I'm definitely not going to knock it. I love myself a good cocktail and I found a perfect one for this spooky night.

Hocus Pocus Brew
Ingredients:
1 ounce White Rum (Mount Gay is my favorite)
1 ounce Peach Schnapps
1 ounce Grenadine
2 ounces of lemon juice or lemonade
3 dashes of Blue Curacao

Directions:
Dip the top of a glass in lemon juice and then colored sugar of your choice. I used purple. Carefully fill the glass with ice. Pour in rum, schnapps, grenadine, and lemon juice or lemonade if you want it on the sweeter side. Stir. Along the sides of the glass, pour in the dashes of blue curacao to create your purple pocus streaks.

Cheers!

New Product Friday

noreply@blogger.com (delovely details) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said I fell in love with a new font. Well, one of my bridesmaids from my own wedding recently tied the knot. I'm so happy for her, she deserves an amazing man like J and they are going to make a great family together. She's a nurse and he's a firefighter. How cute is that?

I was so anxious to use this font, and I needed a wedding gift. Perfect! Oh my gawd! Look how gorgeous this font is on one of our wine boxes?

I hope they loved it. They just recently got back from a honeymoon of a lifetime in Tahiti and Bora Bora. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Congrats again S and J! Thank you so much for including me on your special day, it was a gorgeous wedding and we had way more fun than we should have! Thus this blurry picture, I still love it though.

That is our Best Man from our wedding and also the brides' brother. How fun is our group!

If you want to buy a wine box for yourself, you can buy one from our etsy shop here.

Snail Mail Collective Recap

noreply@blogger.com (delovelydetails) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

I love to travel. I want to do so much more of it and since I can't, I love expat blogs. Of course, I eventually came around to finding Melyssa at The Nectar Collective. She's a California transplant in Japan. She chronicles her life as an American living abroad and I'm just fascinated by it. I would love to be able to do that from Italy one day.

Melyssa and Chelsea from Lost in Travels got together and came up with a brilliant idea, The Snail Mail Collective. To connect bloggers from all over the world. You send in a short profile, they match you up with a blogger from another country. You spend a few weeks getting to know each other, emailing and reading each other's blogs. Then you exchange addresses and send each other a small gift from your country pertaining to that month's particular theme. Seriously, how fun is that?

It was very popular and so some people had to get paired with someone from the same country. The first round, I got paired with Michelle from Dixie Lust Blog. It was a great pairing because her blog is about food and her "baby" is her Great Dane named Ollie. So perfect!

I had a great time getting to know Michelle and swap puppy stories. I squealed when I got her package. She lives in the same town as the Tabasco plant! Perfect, because I put that crap on everything! She even remembered our puppies! Seriously, so sweet of her.

Those Pecan Praline candies because the source of a sore subject in our house. Drew and I both couldn't find it in us to share. So it became a battle. Thanks so much Michelle for the yummy treats and cute bandannas for our pups.

Next up, I was paired with someone who literally moved the weekend we first started talking. Alex from Our Live Are An Open Blog, moved from the States to South Korea and still managed to constantly write me. We had a great time chatting. Alex is such a sweet heart and I really hope we meet in real life one day. Her husband and her set a plan in motion and made it happen. That's so inspiring for me.

The theme for this month was "Under the Sea". Alex sent me this gorgeous wind chime with a fish on the the bottom. The pooches were enchanted with it's unusual noise. They would just sit and listen to it.

I've signed up again this month and I'm having a blast getting to know another lovely lady. I'll write more about her next month. It's amazing to chat with someone who (even in the same county) is living a very different life than you, yet still find so much in common and talk about. It takes our very big world, and makes it very small.

If you want to join the fun, check back when sign ups are available at The Nectar Collective.