painting

 

earlier this week, laun and i went to a new wine & palette class. we had the sweet pleasure of being treated to a class by laun's beau, andrew, as a present to her (isn't that the cutest?). so, we met our class at the yucatan taco stand to learn how to paint a gorgeous sunset, at sunset, over delicious drinks and food.  

 

[our favorites to sip on: the cucumber mint margarita, and the strawberry basil margarita]

 

[not pictured but, our favorites to snack on: the shredded beef tacos, and the latin caterpillar roll]

 

we had such a great time (as always), and, as an added bonus, have become huge fans of the yucatan taco stand. win, win! can't wait to come back up and sip those tasty margaritas again, and am looking forward to our next painting adventure!

ye olde medieval fair

 

last saturday, T and i met up with l&a (laun & andrew) + gambit, and jen + bandit at the medieval fair. it had been a couple of years since we had been able to make it out, and, man, has it gotten bigger! there were so many crafting booths, novelties, food, and games to see, i hardly think we made a dent in it all. however, first thing's first, the guys had to get a couple of turkey legs. because what is a medieval fair without having a big piece of meat to snack on in hand?

 

[jen and i couldn't help but make fun of the sign]

 

[the little and big kids loved getting to see gambit and bandit]

 

next up, andrew and T wanted to try their hand at ax throwing...

 

sadly, they didn't win the prize but, they both got two in the shield!

 

[all finished and feeling very victorius]

 

next up, l&a and T tried out knife throwing. again, no prize but, andrew got at least three in the shield that time!

 

and lastly, laun and i got to ride and feed an elephant! a big-time favorite in my memories with my bestie and left us on cloud nine. granted he was an old giant but, we loved getting up close and personal with him, even for just a few minutes. he even tapped our feet when we left!

 

[taken just having fed him]

 

[success!]

cream & white

 

some days you just crave a classic grey, rainy day. or, at least i do. spending the day watching movies, reading a book, sipping hot tea, or eating a hearty soup...what's not to love? plus, i love the excuse to wear a cozy sweater, shorts and comfy booties. it feels like the best of both worlds, not too layered up to feel like you're dressing for winter but, not too light where you'll be chilly.

 

by the way, if you were thinking my hair was looking much blonder, you are right. last friday, i went to see my favorite hairstylist katie (seriously, she's amazing, and, hilarious), for a cut. lately though, i had been feeling like my hair needed some change. nothing crazy like dyeing my hair purple but, some blonde highlights were definitely overdue. at first, i was a little nervous since it had been well over six years since i had put any color in my hair. but, after seeing it cut and styled, i knew it was exactly what i needed.

sunshine

 

we are in full swing with the springtime weather and i couldn't be happier! weather like this must, of course, be celebrated by wearing bright colors. and while i don't wear yellow very often, after several days of spotty rain (and tornado-like clouds), i felt it was the best way to show my enthusiasm.

 

have a great weekend!

 

wedding planning

 

[taken the day after we got engaged...still on cloud nine]

 

since T and i have gotten engaged, we've been working our way down the to-do's to getting married. almost instantly, we had to think about what time of year we wanted to get married, where, what type of venue, colors, bridal parties, inside or outside, photographers, caterers, etc. i was never one of those girls who grew up dreaming of their wedding so, at first, i did have a little trouble not feeling too overwhelmed. it felt so strange to have everyone ask what i wanted and that be the decision. while i'm more than comfortable giving my opinion, i've rarely been in the situation where my decision was final. it felt strange and daunting. but, since then, have gotten much better at giving a description of what i like or deferring to loved ones for their counsel.

 

the question i get most often is, does it feel like you're getting married yet? and oddly enough, T and i simultaneously state no. not because we don't want to, or aren't thrilled, but, it just feels like it is off in the future...not, six-ish months away. thankfully, i haven't been too stressed yet, and have really accepted that i just need to enjoy the ride. i really can't believe i'll get to say i do to the sweetest, wittiest, silliest, and most brillant, stud of a prankster i've ever known. i had never pictured i'd be so lucky to find someone who makes me feel whole, and, teaches me that it is okay to be vulnerable. to share that moment surrounded by all our loved ones, from near and far, will feel out-of-this-world amazing. however, until then, i figured i would share a few snips as we go along...

 

[bridal mags, lovely lillies, and sweet words of encouragement]

 

[(laun pictured) finding my ceremony and reception dresses]

 

[champagne tasting for toasts]

 

[falling in love with gorgeous engagement photos]

 

[cake tasting...a delicious but, very serious, decision ;)]

over the weekend

 

[candied bacon in progress...]

 

last weekend, T and i drove up to tulsa to celebrate my dad's birthday and tackle some wedding to-do's. it was absolutely lovely from start to finish, and left us feeling refreshed for the coming week. here are a few snippets i captured along the way...

 

[said bacon from the above picture packaged a ready to deliver to my papa...he loved it :)]

 

[lots of cake tasting...5 bakeries to be exact]

 

[an inside joke with our friends i couldn't help but take advantage of; #elephantintheroom]

 

[drinks + amazing sushi combos + great views + family = a great lunch break]

 

[having an afternoon cocktail hour to unwind]

 

[my mom is such a babe]

 

[perfect family dinner. a new addition in favorite family memories]

 

[new book i can't wait to crack in to]

 

sadly not pictured but, a great moment, was our family birthday party held sunday. i learned about puppies with polka dots from my little cousin lyla, had dynamite grilled goods, and enjoyed some great laughs with our family.

 

here's to a happy start of the week!

striped & mini

 

dressing for the beginning of spring is like a balancing act; the mornings are chilly, by midday, it's in that sweet spot of not-to-warm, and late afternoon thru evening, is just short of being too hot. so, it's a game of dressing for all three moments of the day. sounds easy, right? well, here's my first attempt. in the am, i was a little on the cold-side, midday, felt just right, and by afternoon, felt a teensy bit too warm. basically, i passed the test for that day ;)