inspire

needing some inspiration today!  here is what i found on pinterest!!

headed to the treadmill!!!!

i was just thinking...

how nice a warm bowl of soup and a toasty fire are on these cold winter days.


how amazing it is to learn something new each day.


that everything happens for a reason.


i really appreciate my friends and family.


about the true meaning of the holiday season and how to relax through the craziness.


how i would really like to make some egg rolls!!!


how excited i am about a few little things that have just come up!!


what are thinking about???  


happy monday

cheers

happy monday!!  are you ready for christmas??  i am not, but no stress, i know it will all get done.   have a great week and spend lots of time doing things you love.
CHEERS!!! 

senior

i havnt had a whole lot of time lately for photography:( but here is a picture from my nephews senior portrait shoot this fall. this is the one he chose for the yearbook.  i wish i had more time in the day for picture taking.  

second hand, please!

its been about two years since i began my quest to shop (as much as i can) second hand.  i love it and prefer to dig through consignment stores over a department stores or mall shopping!!  not only do i shop this way, but i also consign my own items at our local store in town.  to date i have made over $800 back on my clothes, purses, shoes and jewelry!!  this way i don't feel so bad buying new clothes.  i don't keep my clothes long and wish i could wear something new everyday.  since that is not possible!! =) consigning is a great way to keep my wardrobe exciting.  i am lucky with our local store because it is not only a great second hand store, but it is also a fundraiser for our local theatre group.  if i am willing to donate what doesn't sell, they take everything i bring in!  its a win win for everyone.  other consignment stores are not so easy.  my favorite store in the city is super picky (and they should be) i have taken stuff in once and they only took a few things.  here are a few guidelines if you are interesting in consigning your wardrobe.

(one of my fav consignment finds ever is this anthro dress!!  $20!!)

1. brand name brand name brand name!!!!!  its all in the brand!!!!  lets face it people love to buy good brands at good prices, so that is exactly what the stores are looking for.  good brands in good shape!!  anthro, free people, jcrew, ann taylor loft, and nordstrom brands are all great!!  

(this dress is a nordys brand for $28)

2. familiar!!!  be familiar with prices so you know what kind of deal you are getting.  i love high end jeans and i love to find them at consignment stores.  i am very aware of their prices in department stores so i know that when i find a pair of paige jeans for $10 ($180-$220 ish retail) thats a great deal!!!!  that is rare and i am still pinching myself with that find!!!!!  i can usually find them for around $60.  jeans to look for, paige, joes, true religion, hudson, citizens of humanity, and seven for all mankind.

(this dress is a anthro brand jammy dress, but i don't wear jammy's this cute, so i wore it to work!! $30)

3.  if you find something you like, don't leave it on the rack!!!!!  carry it with you and think about it, but if you set it down, i promise you it will be gone!!!!  i learned this at the coach outlet in vegas.  omg those ladies are crazy!!!!  don't feel bad carrying 5 purses on your arm!!  i have learned how to play that game!!!

4.  offended, no!!!  don't be offended if they don't take a lot or any of your clothes.  try again in a couple of months, or try another store, you never know what they are looking for.  they are also looking for items that  are in season and not out of style.  if you have had something in your closet for years there is a good chance they are not going to take it.  vintage is another story, 20 years or older is considered vintage!!  most consignments stores, but not all love vintage!!  the one i go to in anchorage has vintage dishes, linens and furniture.

(dress $18, and denim jacket $8.  the jacket was on clearance at the consignment store--its a gap kids so i think the size large was throwing people off, but i loved it and was thrilled because i had been looking for a jean jacket for a couple of years)

5.  shop often!!!  if you can stop in once a week that is your best bet to finding fabulous items. but lets face it, thats not possible with our busy schedules.  some days i find a pile of beautiful finds and other times i walk out empty handed!!  you just never know, but don't get discouraged if you don't find something on your first visit.  the more you try the more you will find.  


good luck and happy shopping!!  
P.S. if you wondering what crazy things are on my counter in the background of these photos!!!  i don't blame you!!  my husband brews really yummy beer!!!  

red dress

yesterday i received a text from one of my good friends daughters.  it was a picture of a young girl in africa trying on a red dress.  the dress looked familiar.  about a year ago my good friends daughter was going on a mission to mexico and wanted to take some things for the girls.  clothes, makeup, etc, so i packaged up some clothes and sent them with her.  for some reason she was unable to take them with her so she saved them and sent them to africa with my friend jessies brother who was going to help his uncle who is a doctor.  
well, i had completely forgotten about the dresses and was beyond thrilled to see this sweet picture of this beautiful young girl trying on the red dress that came from my heart.  it simply made my day, week, month, year.  this is what life is about...helping others in need.  something so simple as a new dress to make them 
feel special and loved.  it would be amazing to travel and do more to help these dear children.  love love love

catalogs & duct tape

its all in the packaging!!  when i shop i always choose the items that are packaged cute over anything else.  does anyone else do the same thing??  i love to wrap and over the years i have stopped buying wrapping paper and starting using random things to wrap gifts with.  its so fun and makes the gift giving even more special.  i am not even half way done with my shopping=( i am having a really hard time this year!!  i want to find the perfect thing for each person, but the ideas are just not there=(  here are the few gifts i have wrapped and under the tree.  

newspaper, anthro catalogs, colored duct tape, mod podge, boden catalogs and left over parts of christmas cards from years past.  

what do you wrap your gift with???

happy shopping, wrapping and monday to you all.

love

christmas card

Lots of love to you this holiday 2011

from my family to yours!!

here is the picture i chose for our card this year!  

a little painting

i love etsy and rarely order anything for myself--soooo the other day while i was shopping for christmas gifts i found this adorable little painting from aisle to aloha for my bedroom and decided to treat myself=)

our bedroom

bedding: anthro (on sale)

bed: pottery barn look a like (made by my dad)

lamps: pottery barn

pillows: pier one imports

have a great tuesday!!

i heart california

it was so nice to visit with my mom and dad while there here and it always makes me miss my home state of california.  here are a few fun california gifts i found on easy.  enjoy

by paper parasol

by truche

by lily gene

by hands workshop

me, today

i have seen this on a few blogs lately and i thought tonight was a good time to let you know a little bit about me over here in the last frontier!!!


obsessing over...being warm!  my clothes!  working out!  


working on...kenzi lu, christmas wrapping and tags. i don't buy wrapping paper or bags!!  i use what we have--recycle baby!!!!


thinking about...a warm tropical vacation!!!!!  i am so tired of the cold!!!!


anticipating...feeling the warmth of the sun.  i am already craving it and it is only the first of December!!!  alaska's winters are tough!!!


listening to...joshua radin radio on pandora!!!!


drinking...a nice glass of wine (red of course)


wishing...i lived closer to my family and that my kids follow their dreams and do what they love.