Fabulous & Fascinating & Female

So, remember the weekly feature I began last week?

This week my fabulous, fascinating, friend is my big sister, Anne.

Well, She's actually my sorority big sister, but a fabulous big sister, nonetheless. She is the closest I will ever come to having a sister of my own.

I chose Anne this week because of some special memories that evoked wistful emotion this past weekend. It was sorority initiation and I couldn't help but think of my initiation memories and spending them with my new big sister, Anne. It was a wonderful memory that I know I will never forget.

Dear Anne,

You are an incredible woman. Your sincerity and friendship and beautiful soul inspires me, and your love for life, and those around you, teaches me to be a better woman. You are everything I could ever ask for in a friend. I believe, with all my heart, that you were the reason I never had a sister. Instead, God gave me you. And for that, I am eternally grateful. You are so special to me and purely irreplaceable. I cant wait to spend the rest of my life being your friend.

Some Boudoir Photos

Portland's fabulous photographer, Laura, from Elle Images Photography alongside Julie Flood Photography are presenting a super fun and amazing gift idea for Valentines day.

Together, they are holding an elegant Boudoir photo shoot event at the luxurious Nines Hotel in Portland.

It sounds like such a fun time accompanied by champagne, loveliness and fabulous girlfriends.

If you are interested in booking a photo shoot session or would like more information contact Laura at laura@elleimagesphoto.com

The daily drop cap.

The Daily Drop Cap is a project by typographer Jessica Hische. Each day, a new hand-crafted decorative initial cap is posted for various publishing enjoyments and for the adornment of blog posts everywhere.

{discovered via: junkculture}

I don’t:

Really like condiments of any kind

Take any kind of medication, unless I absolutely need it

Ever, under any circumstances, drive in the snow

Eat kiwi, or kiwi flavored anything, due to allergic reactions

Deal with bad customer service very well

Get my car washed or oil changed as much as I should

Lend my things out to others, very often

Drink milk

Like missing out on fun things

Agree that education should have to suffer due to state and federal budget cuts

I do:

Seriously HATE traffic

Always obsess about my safety

Really love old Hollywood movies

Make impulsive and spontaneous plans

Always decorate. My home is very important to me and my happiness

Wiggle my toes when I’m in uncomfortable situations

Love sushi

Love the smell of popcorn

Take really good care of my skin

Watch CNN & Read Forbes and Time magazine religiously

{image via: we heart it}

This weekend I plan to...

Go out on saturday night and make this cocktail.

Host a sorority girl sleep-over at my house with Erica (friends begin arriving tonight!)

Get ready for my birthday this week. Only 4 days!

Spend some time relaxing and finishing this fabulously adorable story on sunday.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

{image via: peter vidani here}

words from the wise.

"A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." - Bob Dylan

{Cannot agree more, Bobby-O!}

minnie in vogue

Love Minnie! Love Vogue! And Love the elephants!

As for the spread...? Well I'm not too sure about it...

The photography and the composition are beautiful.

However, the concept...it's interesting, but sort of funny to me. I guess that's the point.

I'm going to think about this one a little more.

Fabulous & Fascinating & Female

In the light of being inspired this week, I have decided to display a weekly feature. I have been a lucky woman, raised by powerful, successful, fabulously-fun women, who have all positively contributed to my life. I have spent my life being inspired by woman; the aspirations they seek and the support they provide. I've decided to write a column each week, emphasizing a woman who has, in some way, inspired my life.

This week the fabulous, fascinating, female is one of my great girlfriends, and sorority sister, Mallory. Today is her Birthday and I wish I was in Portland so I could celebrate with her over some margaritas. Don't worry Mal, I'll make it up to you...I promise!

Dear Mallory:

I think you're wonderful. I am so thankful that you are my friend. I am grateful for the many fantastic memories we share and the support that we have for one another. You are an amazing friend. Your compassion for others and genuine class is what I truly love most about you. I hope that today is filled with a lot of birthday magic and love from those who think you're wonderful too.

H A P P Y. B I R T H D A Y. M A L !.

♥ "Chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends" ♥

delicious. decor.

Alison Rubke is the co-owner of the incredibly darling, French-inspired lingerie boutique Faire Frou Frou located in Studio City, California. Faire Frou Frou is pronounced ‘fair fru fru’ and comes from a French phrase meaning “show it off”. Cute huh?

So, how does a lingerie boutique owner decorate?

“She takes her creativity, carves out three days (mainly for repainting her floors and furniture white), and sets her mind on transforming her bedroom into a lovely sanctuary for all things beautiful and pink. Alison did all of the work herself for this incredible result. Images on this post show her gorgeous, new bedroom.”

post- holiday eating stress

Did you eat too much over the holiday?

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to a normal, healthy routine.

Monday marked my first day back to the gym in a month and boy did I feel the pain! Now that i've eaten all the chocolate, ice cream and whip cream mochas that I could find--it's time to return to my healthier eating habits. Here is a good article i found at about.com:exercise. All things that I will seriously consider as I try to shed these extra lbs I've gained during all the holiday cheer.

• Get moving. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but getting the blood flowing is the perfect remedy for a food hangover. Think simple -- walking, light strength training, or yoga. Even a few minutes can boost your mood and your energy levels.
• Drink water. That bloating you're experiencing could be due to an overload of salt, which can cause water retention. Many holiday favorites contain way more salt than the body needs, so drinking extra water can help you get rid of the extra bloat.
• Eat lightly. After eating too much, you may be tempted to declare, "I'll never eat again!" You may also be amazed that you're actually hungry after all that eating. Starving yourself, however, isn't the answer. Nibble on light fare such as salad, soup, sandwiches and fruit to give your body nutrients without overloading it with calories.
• Make a plan. One of the worst side effects of eating too much is the guilt that comes after. Guilt is sometimes inevitable, but you can use that feeling to motivate you into something better. Make a plan for the next few days for how you'll get back on track with your eating and exercise. Just the act of planning can make you feel better...just make sure you follow through.
• Plan for the future. Last, take some time to think about the mistakes you made this season and what you can do to avoid those same mistakes in the future. Doing this can also help you make good choices more consistently so that overindulgence isn't a frequent problem.

rebel wishing.

I’m going to try a little experiment this year.

For Christmas I received $120 total in cash & checks.

I’ve been obsessing, to say the least, about this Canon Rebel camera ESO 12.2 megapixel for about…oh I’d say, two months now…

The only teeny tiny problem is… I unfortunately do not have an extra $575 just lying around somewhere. So…..(drum roll please)….

I am going to have to save the money, the good ole’ fashion way, and earn the camera myself.

Luckily, I am the kind of girl that wishes (and works) hard enough for the things that I want most in life.

In fact, my lifelong motto has always been “I usually get what I want in life...and if I do not, well…then I probably didn’t want it that much anyway…”

Here I come Rebel… only $455 to go!

12 days until I’m 23.

new years magic

Only a few hours into 2010 and I can already feel the magic!

I feel like 2010 has a lot in store for me this year. Here are some things I was thinking…

WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY ACCOMPANY 2010:

a canon rebel SLR camera.

Frequent donations (money or time) to charities

A career (not a 'job') offer with decent compensation

A move to Seattle

Trip to Thailand

Some toned arms. ...and maybe some legs, butt and abs...

Lots of laughter and good company