how to talk to little girls (and big ones too)

i loved this article in the huffington post.

when i read it i thought of my friends mom. i remember writing in my journal once that she gave the "weird compliments" because they were different than "your hair looks so cute" or "i love your shoes" (don't get me wrong, those are nice to hear too) but she'd always say things like, "i love the way you're always so willing to help" or "i love that you always smile and make eye contact when you talk to people" but they did make me feel good. and i remember them.

once in high school drew told said, "you're so nice vanessa. one day people will write songs about you."

best compliment ever.

what's the best compliment you've received that wasn't about something physical/superficial?

note:. i didn't mean to sound all braggy... no one's writing songs about me ;)

gorgeous photo by matt aka futureancient

is it friday yet?

no?
rats.

anthropologie playlist, vol. 4

Engery by the apples in stereo
get up by r.e.m.
been no good by nini kinert
thinking of you by tracy chapman
safe at home by starsailor
living so well by the crayon fields
in my arms by plumb
never go too far by oh darling
mexico by the holidays
secret by the pierces

to celebrate me only having to work two days this week here is another anthropologie playlist. enjoy!

Just FYI, I purchased all of things songs/albums on iTunes and am happy to share them with you. if you like them please consider doing the same. And please don't picture me wandering around Anthro with my phone schazam-ing songs. k, thanks.

most wanted

i just got back from a quick trip to utah to visit friends. the driving part wasn't quick.. it was very, very long. just ask harlow. she's currently passed out in the middle of the kitchen.

but on sunday after church i was hanging out with billie and brian and we were killing a little time before dinner with billie's family and having some snacks and brian said something like he could just eat right now to which billie replied, "don't give up what you want most for what you want now."

i kept thinking about that all the way home. how often do i sacrifice what i want most for what i want right now?
but more importantly what do i want most?

i'll have to take this list up with my journal but i'll share a few that i thought about on the (long) drive home:

a husband
a family of my own
eternal life
good health
to be surrounded by good people
for my family to be well and happy

i don't want to sacrifice anything on this list for anything in the world. not sacrificing takes courage, faith, and a lot of heart. thanks billie for always being a good friend and helping me to be a better person.

photo by nick burns


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uh oh

this happened a few weeks ago... did i tell you already? it was a good, good day.

and the winner is...

... lindsey of lost in cheeseland! yippee for lindsey! send me your address (joiebutter at gmail dot com) and i'll get your loot in the mail.

i used random.org to pick the winner... see?



i wish, wish, wish i had lots of moneys to send you all goodies... because i totally would. thanks so much for entering for all the nice comments.

photo by alison conklin, styled by styled creative for kate spade.

summer social

urbanic hosted a summer social this week and it was a blast. sweet lucies served up petit dishes of the most delicious ice creams (the strawberry mint was my fave), smock was responsible for the awesome pinwheels being made, mrs. lilien whipped up some lemonade cocktails (non alcoholic ones too), and audrey was a wonderful hostess.

for someone who can be quite shy i almost chickened out... but then i decided that was so 2010. there were a few people there i knew like bri, and angela and paige and a few faces i recognized from twitter (that's such a funny thing to say) so i plucked up my courage and introduced myself and met new friends and had a wonderful night.

if you want to make a pinwheel just let me know. i'm pretty much an expert now.

road trip!

i'm excited to have some time off to head back to salt lake city and visit friends. just me, harlow, and 15+ hours of driving. i'm looking forward to it actually - the visiting and the driving. i hope harlow does okay. i'm excited to get to stop in vegas to see erin too. finally! it's too bad that chelsea will be out of town... this is what i get for being spontaneous. oh well, i can't wait. please keep your fingers crossed that all the snow still on the mountains stays on those mountains.

there's really not that many days to count down but i think i'll make a paper chain anyway.

beautiful polaroid by phanieisfunny

master your thoughts, change your destiny

i love these coin necklaces from Emmerson. i think the balloon one is especially sweet. it reads "animum debes mutare non caelum" or "change your state of mind, not the sky".

random

i have running water again
and plumbing
i never want to not have running water and/or plumbing agin.
harlow has doggie body spray... why wouldn't you want a dog that smells like vanilla cupcakes??
i'm looking forward to driving to utah to see friends
i think a 15 + hour drive will be good for me
i'm currently wearing hot pink tights under my pj pants for no other reason than pure laziness
and watching "untamed heart" on netflix instant view
i love harlow so much
i am secretly loving this fall-ish weather we've been having
but don't tell anyone because this is cali and we're supposed to like sunshine all the time
did i mention i'm going to vancouver this fall
i'm so excited to finally meet pia
i've been listening to songs for may over and over again
i've lost my camera battery and charger. they've run off together and i miss them something awful
i realize it's been a long time since i've used my polaroid camera
this must be remedied
i got to substitute for my old primary class last week and they cheered. i felt like a rockstar
i painted my nails mint green and liked it
i'm not ready for this week
i really hope i win jordan's giveaway
did i mention i've started a raw diet? it's been about two weeks
i was going to post about it today but i cheated big time...
i'll tell you about it tomorrow

photo by elise.blaha

it's no trip to paris... but it's a giveaway!

i've got a little giveaway for all you pretty things. it includes some fun ban.do goodies, my favorite colored pens, a pretty travel journal, the pretty i "heart" macarons book, my favorite sparkly nail polish from sephora, and an awesome mix cd made by me. i'll probably through in a few extra goodies for fun.*

this is my first giveaway and one thing that always drives me crazy about giveaways is when you have to do a million things to be entered. i mean, i guess i get it but still. so to enter this giveaway you need to play your favorite tunes, twirl around in a circle and leave me a comment. a winner will be picked at random on tuesday, june 14th. good luck!


*please note that this is not a sponsored giveaway.

oh happy day - paris!

are you ready for the best. giveaway. ever? well boys and girls the lovely jordan is giving away a trip for two to paris. whaaaat? yeah amazing i know. the giveaway includes round trip air fare for two, and seven nights at mama shelter. i stayed there last summer and loved it. scoot on over here and get yourself entered.

if one of you wins please promise to bring me back a macaron. i promise to do the same.