wish list

My birthday is next month and these are some of the prezzies I am considering getting myself:

Deux Lux Train Case

Nude Pumps 
{That I could wear to work}

Sea Folly Bikini 

Some fun lipsticks
{my latest beauty obsession}

Some new makeup 

And these Valentino Pumps are slightly out of my price range,
but aren't they beautiful?!?

What presents have you bought yourself lately?  For your birthday, Valentine's Day, with your tax return?  

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Oscars Recap

I love award season.  I love the red carpet pre shows and I really enjoy the speeches  as it makes it easier to tell if the actors are actually competent in real life or just very skilled at their craft.

Awards season ended last night with the Oscars, but the analyzing of gowns, winners & losers, and the industry will continue for at least another week.  And we will see plenty of gifs of J Law falling down and Sandra trying to open that envelope.   

Here are some of my thoughts on the show last night:

 Jennifer Lawrence looked beautiful. Loved her dress, her hair, and makeup; she was at the top of my Best Dressed list. She made falling up the stairs look graceful, and she apologized for taking a shot before heading to the press room.  She hilarious, real and charming. The girl crush continues.

How cute are Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck?  SO CUTE!  And so in love. It’s refreshing for there to be a real relationship in Hollywood.

Adele is just awesome. Can do no wrong and I want to be her BFF.

"Love you baby!"

half way to an EGOT!

Anne Hathaway sure has a lot of haters.  Like, whoa.  Horrible dress choice, and too rehearsed of a speech (at least act surprised), but she was definitely deserving.   She killed it as Fontine.

 On my Best Dressed list:

Naomi Watts
So different and fits perfectly.  Love!

Charlize Theron
This dress embodies 'movie star.' Gorgeous.

Kerri Washington
Not a huge fan of the top, but I just love this color!

Samantha Barks
Seriously this girl is smokin.

Other Bests:

-the cast of Les Mis reunited and singing

-Adele's Skyfall performance. And basically all the musical performances. 

-DDL and his wonderful, eloquent speech. Who knew he was so funny?

-Bradley Cooper and Hugh Jackman running to help J law

-The pressroom after. Seriously they need to show that on tv.  Jennifer Lawrence was sassing the press and apologizing for taking a shot before answering their questions, and the team of Affleck, Clooney, and Grant Heslov were hilarious.  Much more so than McFarlane.

Bradley and Hugh to the rescue!

Not the Best:

-Playing JAWS music to get people to wrap it up?  That's pathetic and rude.

-The FLOTUS announcing best picture.  Totally unnecessary.

-QT basically thanking himself and commenting on what a great job he did. #typical

-Super long.  Its as if these people don't get enough attention. 5 hours? Really?!   

What did you think?  Did you watch the Oscars?  

Till next awards season!

xx

I don't know about you, but I'm feelin' 22

It varies by the day.  22 or 16 or 7 years old.  I never really feel like I'm 24 (will be 25 in a month!)

It seems that advice to 20 somethings is quite popular in the blogosphere these days.  Here are some of my favorite articles with advice to those of us in our 20s.

25 Things I've Learned In My 20s

21 More Things I've Learned In My 20s

21 Secrets For Your 20s

And I really like this one:
20 Things I Wish I'd Known at 20

Really creative with all these titles, huh?  I don't necessarily agree with all of these thoughts or think that they really relate to me (let alone everyone) but I think it is nice to know that people have been through their 20s and survived and have decided to pass some tid-bits of wisdom along.

Words to Live By Wednesday

So start now!

Watch & Read

Take 6 minutes out of your day to watch this:  The Paperman

Then take a little bit longer to read this:  The Shooter

Now discuss.

be the girl you want to be

A couple days ago, I was chatting texting with my mom about random things: social media, friends, life in general, and she said something so simple, that has really stuck with me:

Be the friend you want to be.

It's like, Duh! Why didn't I think of that?  Its so simple!  I also took this as "Be the girl you want to be."  It's easy for me to to get weighed down by the pressure of who I think I should be, and who society expects me to be. I have this vision of this woman who I want to be, and I keep figuring that I will get there.  I will be her in a few years, when I have my life together and figured out.  I will be kind and beautiful and passionate and intelligent and witty and I will have an amazing job, husband, and family.  I will be put together, there will be no drama, and my life will be fabulous.  However, I have been thinking I will be that woman since I was 13.  That I will eventually get there.

But I am not there yet. And truth is, I may never be there. But why can't I just be that woman now? Maybe not the most put together, knows exactly what she's doing and where she's going girl, but I can be the kind, smart, fun girl I expect my future self to be.  I can reach (and then exceed) my own expectations right now. I don't need permission from anyone and I don't need to wait for the perfect time to come along.

These are simple words to live by.  If I just remind myself to be the friend, daughter, sister, employee, woman I want to be, I  will be her!

Warby Parker

A couple of months ago, I discovered Warby Parker, a company that sells chic, inexpensive glasses and also donates a pair to someone in need, with each purchase.  They have a few retail shops, but if you aren't near those (NYC or Oklahoma) they will send five pairs straight to your door for you to try on at home.  Perfect!  I loved the styles, the price and the cause, and I was in the market for some new spectacles.

I had five pairs shipped to my parents house over Christmas, so I could get my friends and families opinion on which pair to get.  I tried on:

Linwood in Striped Chestnut

Marshall in Striped Sassafrass

Japhy in Revolver Black Crystal

Pierce in Revolver Black

Sloan in Rum Cherry

Love this post on the Sloan glasses, but unfortunately they didn't look that great on me.

(taking selfies in a coffee shop is awkward, in case you were wondering)

I ended up getting the Marshall glasses in Striped Sassafras  I love them!  They were $95, and I had a Wrapp Coupon from Glamour Magazine, so I got a great pair of glasses for $75.  Quite a steal!

Be Thankful

This is something I really need to work on:  Being thankful for all the blessings I have, and not obsessing about the things I want or think I need.

It is easy for me to become obsessed with something (right now its lipstick:  I want to find the perfect shade) and I will lust after something that is not at all necessary. Even now I have a pending post labeled "Wishlist" about all the things I want to buy if I had the money to spend.  Instead I need to focus on all of the great things I do have- and not in just the materialistic sense.  I have a wonderful family, great friends, a good job, a nice cell phone, a working car, cute clothes, tons of make-up, a full fridge, insurance, running water, and the first and second seasons of Happy Endings on DVD.  I mean, what more could I want?

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12 Things I learned in 2012

1.  How to French braid my own hair (I know I am super late to the party on that one, but its still a big deal to me).
2.  I have, hands down, the best parents in the world.  They drove me across the country, encourage me every day, and give the best advice. Mark and Katharine are the most generous, silly, hard-working, amazing people and I am a lucky girl to call them my parents.
3.  I don't want to live in the following states:  South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Delaware.
4. Social media is either the greatest tool, or the most wretched, narcissistic activity we as humans engage in.
5.  How to spell 'hors d'oeuvres' perfectly, every time.
6.  Growing up is scary and highly overrated.
7.  There are functional relationships out there.  There are a lot of crazy people in dysfunctional relationships, but then there are really good people, who are really in love, and its refreshing and inspring to be around them.
8.  Comparison is the thief of joy (my buddy Teddy Roosevelt said that- and its so true).
9.  There are so many people in this country.  Let alone this world.
10.  I definitely took the mountains for granted when I lived in them.
11. My friends are awesome.  All of them.  Even though I may not see them every day, or every month, or even every year, I know a lot of really incredible people.  And I am blessed to have the friends that I do.
12.  I have come a long way.  And I still have a long way to go.


2012, you were a wild ride.  I can't wait for 2013.

Dream Job

How does one go about getting the following jobs?  I would be perfect, and then some, at each of them:

1. Nail Polish Namer.  Tart Deco?  Mrs. Leary BBQ?  I can do that!

2. Host of Diners, Drive- Ins, and Dives.  I know that technically Guy Fieri is a chef, so he knows a whole lot bit more about cooking than I, but he doesn't cook on this show.  No, he just eats.  And that is something that I have mastered.

3. Professional People Watcher.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this probably isn't a real job, but according to the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation, I am a very observant individual. Therefore, (I have no idea how exactly that is related) I am a very good people watcher.  (PS, best place for people watching? Vegas.  Hands. Down.)

4.  Professional Pinterest-er.  Yes, I know that this too is not a job....yet.  Just you wait, I am going to make this my career.

{check out my pinterest here}

SBB

If you haven't read Suri's Burn Book, you are seriously missing out.  It is a hilariously funny little blog written in the words of Suri Cruise as she passes judgement on the other children in Hollywood.  I was not a huge Tom/Katie/Suri fan until reading this- and now I like to think that Suri thinks and talks and acts just like the witty girl behind the blog. 

The author of the blog has actually written a book, and she is having a book launch party in DC next week.  I secretly want to go.  Any one in the DC, MD, VA area want to join? :)

follow Suri's Burn Book: @surisburnbook

x

Matchbook Magazine Survey

Remember in middle school when you would get email surveys forwarded from all your friends?  And then you would fill them out and forward them to all your friends?  I have a confession: I loved those!  I loved learning random facts about people, to what they liked, what they didn't, what they would rather do...

Matchbook Magazine (one of my absolute faves!) has really classed up those surveys and their cover girl gets to take them and share their thoughts.  I stole this from the August Issue of Matchbook Mag.  A little about Maria.

TEA OR COFFEE?  Sweet Tea or Iced Coffee

I COLLECT... Koozies

FAVORITE CITY? Rome

SPRING OR FALL? Fall in Montana, Spring everywhere else

BLOOM OF CHOICE?  Hydrangeas.

STYLE ICON? Reese Witherspoon

CHINA PATTERN? Don't have one.  I will someday though!

I'M LUSTING AFTER... Frye Boots

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?  This is a tough one.  The pearls my parents gave me and my postcard book from Europe.

GIRL CRUSH? Kate Middleton

BOY CRUSH? Ryan Gosling

ON WEEKENDS... Sleeping in, brunching, going out, church, reading, being outside.

have a great weekend!

x

Target + Neiman Marcus

I am so excited for this!  

What a fantastic collaboration this will be!

Oh Target, how I love you.

x

Ummm

These are adorable.

Kate Spade Mildred Sheer Pumps.

Obsessed.

x

a few happy things

all of these things are random, but they made my pinterest boards week a little prettier.

I get to go home in 13 days.

I could not be more excited!

And this article/list made me think, laugh, feel better about myself.

have a wonderful weekend!

x

1 month...

...until I am home.

x

Sunday Things

It is difficult living alone, not knowing anyone, in a place that is so incredibly different than any place you've ever known.

(And that is the understatement of the next ten years.)

But I decided yesterday, to suck it up and make the day a good one.  And it was.

I went to church (I'm lovin' the church I found), I got an ice coffee, I sat outside and wrote, I walked around the cute little downtown, I window shopped, I engaged in some wonderful small talk with some really nice people, I cleaned my house, I made an at home skin brightening toner (potions!) and then I went on a date (like a couple beers and a boat ride date).

Here are some photos from my day:

cute little cosmetics case

Scottie Dogs and Antiques!

delicious salad for lunch (if I do say so myself)

casual ootd

hope you had a wonderful weekend!
xx

Two

 Today Baby Al turn 2. She is no longer a baby!

Alyson (aka Gal Pal Al) is the youngest of the 3 children I used to nanny for, 

and most definitely my favorite tiny person.  

We had lots of fun together: having photos shoots with my phone, visiting my parents and the dogs (dahs?), going on walks, and pretending to read books.  

I will take full credit for educating her on the various dipping sauces for chicken nuggets, as well as teaching her the basic moves from Toddlers & Tiaras.

First day we hung out

Winter Walk

Fantastic Pigtails

Besties

If you give a toddler a cookie...

I miss her so much!  

Happy Birthday Alyson!

x

New Dress

I have been obsessing about this dress for a few weeks, and decided today that I need it.  A Cup of Jo, one of my favorite blogs, has a coupon code for ASOS, and obviously 20% off anything makes it totally worth it.

So do I get mint or navy?

hmmm decisions decisions.

Pomp and Circumstance

 On May 27th, my baby sister, Rikka Louise, graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College.

It was such a great weekend, including her golf banquet (go gusties!), moving her out (so much funnn), touring the beautiful campus, great music from the choir at the baccalaureate, meeting all her awesome friends (they are so nice in Minnesota!) and of course graduation.

I was also thrilled to see my family after 3 long months and just hanging out with them was a major blessing.

So proud of you Rikka!

The Fam

Such proud parents...

...and of course Henry and I were ecstatic

So excited

Roomies: Amy, Erianna, Rikka, and Hillary

Congratulations Frix!

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