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...

Drumroll please....

Dun duh dun dun duh duh dunnnnnnnn! 

Ta-da!

Viola!

As promised, here's a look at the finished product of my Christmas craft of 2010. And just in time for the big day (got a little delayed with production due to all of the holiday festivities. priorities, ya know?)

I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED making this beauty and can't wait to make more next year!

As I was swimming in a sea of pink and green, I couldn't help but think how absolutely fabulous the whole house would look with everything trimmed in kelly green and hot pink! 

Can't imagine it?

No worries.

See below.

bonus: these aren't Christmas decorations, but HELLO! I've found a new office space.

Promises, Promises: Lessons from the Cage

Just a few Christmas tips from the ladies of my new fave Broadway musical, Promises, Promises.

There's just so much to love in this video. All the tips are simply common Christmas courtesy, of course, but we can all use a little friendly reminder, circa 1960.