The First 10 Years

Well folks, my 21st year of life is quickly approaching & I’m feeling pretty good about it. I do honestly feel like it hasn’t even been a year since I turned 20, but nonetheless, I do welcome this next year of my life with open arms.

In celebration, I thought I’d let you take a walk down memory lane: say hello to my first 10 years in birthday form! If the following parties & their commentary do not say enough about my fam & I, then I have failed greatly but am not too concerned. ENJOY!

1st Year: Rabbit Party

Yes, you've counted correctly: 3 cakes. And the one I'm eating in the picture above? Not even real icing. Cool whip! My parents were 'those people'. And my mom has designed, baked & decorated every cake I've ever had! Only had one store-bought cake my entire life--she is amazing.

2nd Year: Teddy Bear Picnic

Nothing too exciting here except for the fact that in looking through pics, I'm sporting two different outfits on the same day--no surprise here but there was, indeed, only one party.

3rd Year: Crayola Party

How amazing does my mom look here? So fab. Oh, & does that cake shape look familiar? You'll find a darker teddy bear in a similar stance in the cake the year before! We call that resourcefulness.

This picture is my most favorite picture of all the pictures in the world. It is an extremely accurate portrayal of how I have spent most of my life with my mother--my facial expression & that OPI Red fingernail pointed right at me. In case you can't tell by her body language (HAND), she's saying "Francesca...". And that seemed to be enough!

4th Year: Jasmine & Aladdin

Ice Capades anyone? This was the year Disney on Ice performed Aladdin at the Fairgrounds & of course my parents took me for my birthday! A fabulous party ensued.

I had the full Jasmine costume--complete with wig! But I cried the morning of my party because I didn't want to wear it, even though I begged my mom to buy it in the first place. She's held that $22.95 over my head ever since!

You can't tell from this angle but my dad attached fishing line to Aladdin's cape & attached it to a vase on the buffet table behind the cake to make it look like they were really flying on the magic carpet (duh). He might have enjoyed that more than I did.

5th Year: I'm a Barbie Girl...

One of my most favorite birthdays! While we were out to dinner before the party, my dog got into everyone's favor bags & ate all the candy. Oops! But, everyone still went home with a Barbie. Literally.

Also the year I got my first bicycle!

Excuse the almost-bare mid-drift & the fact that I'm wearing no pants. Excitement doesn't require clothes!

6th Year: Garden Party

Does anyone remember the Secret Garden Teahouse? This amazing place where you could dress up in any one of their incredible costumes, watch an amazing puppet show, & eat lunch all at the same time.

My BFF Hannah as a princess & me as a bride (go-figure). 15 years later, she's married & graduates soon! Love this sweet pic!

Little pre-party photo shoot with my American Girl doll at Woodward Park? (the ? indicates the confusion I'm having trying to understand this concept.)

I had 2 parties that year. The second one was at our house & I had a temperature of 103° F the entire time & was royally miserable (the picture above accurately portrays how I remember feeling!). My mom made an entire tea set as my birthday cake as well as individual cakes decorated as purple hydrangeas. She's as magnificent as she sounds & the reason I love parties. My parents have celebrated my brother & I well.

7th Year: Easter Birthday

My actual birthday was on Easter this year! Also the year I was baptized. Easter, baptism, & birthday all in one day--and my dad got to baptize me! Lots of amazing memories from this year. It stands out as one of my favs!

8th Year: Pajama Jam

Gahhhh I LOVED this year. The first of my TWO (in a row too!) American Girl Birthday Parties. They had these incredible party kits that you could order--maybe they still do--and they sent you everything from party favors to decorations to cups, plates, napkins, invites, party games, food suggestions & cake designs! They were amazing & the day the kits arrived in the mail, I opened every single box, reorganized every supply & did so every day until the party date arrived. I am not kidding.

It was supposed to be a slumber party, but our living situation at the time was hanging in the balance & I didn't really do slumber parties well. Too much responsibility on me to make sure everyone has a good time. I still have never had a slumber party b-day & I think I'm okay with it.

What's that you see? A purple daisy picture frame and...what?...what's that?...in my left hand?...YES. Stephen Curtis Chapman's For the Sake of the Call Album. The album was released 8 years earlier but that was irrelevant. The 90s were so good to me.

9th Year: 50s Sock Hop

My second & final American Girl birthday party complete with homemade poodle skirt! 

My parents went above & WAY beyond that year--they borrowed a friend's Classic Mustang Convertible & surprised us by taking us all for a ride around the neighborhood. We make no small plans in our house! 

Unfortunately, neither my mom nor I could locate any pictures of my 10th birthday. None whatsoever! So I apologize for the fact that I left you hanging with 9 years instead of an even 10, but I'm fairly convinced that my extemporaneous & possibly slightly irritating commentary made up for it & you're glad this post is over! 

Thanks for holding out this long!

I've got my eye on you...

1. Bridget Sandal in leopard, ShoeMint. I stumbled upon ShoeMint after I followed a link from one of my favorite fashion blogs. It's a nifty little website that allows you to take a quick personal style questionnaire, and then, based on your choices, they recommend a dozen or more pairs of shoes that best match your style! Shoes are $79.99, shipping is free & returns are a cinch. Love the concept of ShoeMint but prefer jewelry or clothes to shoes? First of all, you're crazy; secondly, have no fear! Affordable jewels are at your fingertips & so are some new duds. 

2. Metro watch in coral, Kate Spade. It speaks for itself.

3. Erika Sunglasses in violet or havana, Ray-Ban. Want them, need them, have to have them.

4. Emily Post's Etiquette, Barnes & Noble. I know, I'm an old soul. My mother is proud.

5. Have you heard of Birchbox? I'm convinced it's the best thing since sliced bread. But really. It's $10/month & each month they send you a handful of deluxe (and by deluxe I mean huge) premium samples of everything from hair & skin care to fragrances, beauty tools & that's right, C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. What's not to love? I'm currently on a waiting list, but by golly, this is one thing I'll be patient enough to wait for. Jealous? You should be. But not for long because you can sign up here.


6. Animal-print calf-hair pumps, Mulberry. At a STEEP $625, I'm currently searching for a version that does not cost as much my left leg. Found some good alternatives here and here.

I'll try and catch you up to speed...

I should probably start this post off with some sort of long, sappy, drawn-out apology & a verifiable excuse for why I haven’t written anything for, oh, almost a year, BUT, considering I think maybe 3 people in the world actually read this (one of those being my mother), all you’re gonna get is this:

SORRY! 

Wish I had some amazing reason as to my anything-but-brief hiatus, like a year of studying abroad or a great new business venture too time consuming to even give a thought to blogging! Alas, that has not been the case but life is good. This post is dedicated entirely to some of my fav things that have transpired thus far in 2012. 

The One Where Zach & Bailie Got Engaged!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh. One of my most favorite days of all time--AMAZING proposal, AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING ring, AMAZING party, AMAZING people. Seriously, one for the books! Can’t wait for 7-6-12 when they tie the knot!

The One With Lady Antebellum

Such a fun concert with such good friends. They are amazing live & Thompson Square & Darius Rucker weren’t too bad either. However, it did get a little weird when Darius ended his part of the show with Prince’s Purple Rain.

We may or may not have waited 2 hours after the show was over to meet them when they got on their tour bus--and it paid off! I became one of ‘those people’ and I have to admit I’m not ashamed.

The One Where Sophia Grace & Rosie Go to the Grammys

This is so not related to me, but I laugh every time I watch it. There’s just nothing quite like hearing a little 8 year old girl say, “I’m wearing Flo Rida’s shades!” in a British accent. 

The One With the Midnight Premiere

I’m not usually one to read the books & then see the movie, and I have ALWAYS been anti-Twilight books, HP books & things of that nature because they don’t peak my interest. So glad my friends had the good graces to talk me into read the beloved Hunger Games series because it made the movie that much better. I’m even more glad I contributed to the $155 million it grossed on opening weekend, even if my part was only $7.25. Midnight premieres are my favorite way to see movies because you either get the entire theater to yourself or get to see lots of crazy fans in insane costumes & it’s just way too thrilling. And if you get lucky, you get early seating in your theater & you don’t even have to wait in line. Cinemark Theater, how do I love thee? Let me count thy ways.

Sorry I look like a boy in this pic!

And even though I've already seen it, sometimes I watch the trailer again just because I can. Or I watch this instead.

Small side note: is it weird that the absolute depravity & barbaric nature of the actual Hunger Games didn’t really hit me until I saw it happening on screen?

Sorry to leave you with the awkwardness of there only being 4 things on this list of fav things. Kinda bugs me too!

Birthday Wish List

VI. Six. 6. 

The number following 5 and preceding 7.

Also the number of days left in my teenage career.

That's right ladies and gents. Only 6 days stand between me and the big 2-0.

I couldn't be more excited! 19 has been good to me, but yes, it is indeed time to move on. 

With a birthday comes candles, cake, streamers, balloons, dinner dates with friends, and maybe even a pinata or two! And of course...birthday wish lists. I'm always so bad at letting my parents know what I want in an organized list but this year I did my best to cooperate with my mother and let her know, first things first.

A few of those firsts include...

Number 1:

+

=

I've only been begging to go back since the day I left 2 years ago. There's so much to love about this place. Let me grab a couple girlfriends, put us on a plane, don't expect us back for a week. 

Okay, a weekend is probably more feasible and it'll more than likely have to be a road trip! But I don't mind.

Number 2:

I fell in love with these sheets from Anthropologie right before Christmastime when I was searching for treats to add to my 'Dear Santa' List. 

The design is composed of vintage love letters from a shop in Brooklyn, NY. I DIE.

Now, if I just had my own apartment to go along with them...

Number 3:

I love it so much I don't even need to be specific.

I believe the store front says enough.

Number 4:

April showers bring May flowers, and what do May flowers bring? 

Contrary to popular opinion, they do not in fact bring Pilgrims as once described (heartbreaking, I know) but they are known for simply bringing more rain and crazy weather! Well, in Tulsa that is. Which means I have put considerable thought into how to prepare myself for the deluge of thunderstorms and tornado watches (please, Lord, NO!). 

The dilemma lies in which color to choose! Olive, Pink, Navy, Green, Red, Chocolate, Aubergine (which is a delightful shade of purple, trust me I did NOT come up with that one on my own)...the possibilities are endless!!

Number 5:

Number 5, Part A--These classic wayfarers=Spring/Summer/Poolside.

Number 5, Part B--PERFECT for Fall/Winter/Every Season.

Number 6:

Thanks to J. Crew, #6 is a 'two-for-one' deal. They go perfect together and this makes it possible for Mom and Pops to knock out two gifts in one store. I'm just trying to make it easy.

Number 7:

Go big or go home, right?

Oh, time does fly...

Well, I suppose I'll start off by apologizing tremendously for my absence from this pretty little page. Life has been moving full speed ahead and it's all I can do to not get swept away myself! 

With that being said, this is your warning about the deluge of information you're going to receive in the next few posts. I may have been busy but I haven't stopped daydreaming! Duh. Spring has sprung, and so have all my fave stores' spring lines; my birthday's coming up (and not without a wishlist); school's almost over; and I'm concocting MAJOR plans for a summer in T-town. You're going to want to keep reading.

But, first things first, and while it's subtle (and possibly unexpected--I like to keep you on your toes) it is well worth a post!

This little number has become one of those movies I could watch on a loop for the rest of my life. So refreshing, some of my all-time fave actors all combined in a great feel-good movie. And the soundtrack! AMAZING. Might even be better than the movie itself, but I doubt it.

"Free Me"--Joss Stone

"Waiting For My Real Life To Begin"--Colin Hay

"Incredible"--Joss Stone

"New Shoes"--Paolo Nutini

"Stuck in the Middle with You"--Michael Buble

"Don't Hold Me Down"--Colbie Caillat

"Two Sleepy People"--Hoagy Carmichael

"Same Changes"--The Weepies

"Candy Shop"--50 Cent

"Are You Here"--Corinne Bailey Rae

"Gone In The Morning"--Newton Faulkner

"Strip Me"--Natasha Bedingfield

Trust me when I say you will be far from disappointed!

You're Gonna Wish You Had...

a seat at these tables.

One braid, two braid...

Now, if only my hair was a little bit longer...