i'm ready for an adventure...

we're planning an adventure... it involves giant backpacks, peru and hopefully, a llama or two.

*as it turns out, i heart field trips to r.e.i. many thanks to our man rich for getting us outfitted.

confessions of a shopaholic: part II

sooooo, i may have also purchased this ecote knit print maxi dress during the memorial day shopping extravaganza. but, i got it for $29 bucks. score. urban outfitters how do i love thee? let me count the ways...

confessions of a shopaholic

this weekend yielded some fabulous memorial day sales. i'm a little ashamed to admit that i managed to visit all three valley anthropologie stores... but seriously, everything was on sale. i scored the little scoop neck top and the cummerbund halter dress in gray and black. i also picked up a cropped black jacket and grey ruffled hoodie (also from anthro) that i will be anxiously saving for the first hint of cooler temperatures.

*i was suffering from a bit of buyer's remorse... but i managed to assuage my guilt when i realized i haven't made an impulse purchase from target in over four months! quality over quantity. joslyn over at simple lovely knows exactly what i'm talking about. it's all about the "french closet"

rain, rain, don't go away...

i love rainy afternoons... it makes me want to curl up under the covers with a good book.
*there is nothing better than the smell of the desert after it rains.
(image found here)

a wedding blessing

Now you will feel no rain

for each of you will be

shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold

for each of you will be

warmth for the other.

Now there is no more loneliness

for each of you will be

companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies

but there is only one life

before you.

Go now to your dwelling place

to enter into the days

of your togetherness.

And may your days be good

and long upon the earth.

*i want to read this at our wedding. so beautiful.

(apache wedding blessing via gangsta bride image via she hit pause)

if you're into it...

I see you standing all alone by the stereo.

I dim the lights down to very low, here we go.

You're so beautiful.You could be a waitress.

You're so beautiful.You could be a air hostess in the 60s.

You're so beautiful.You could be a part-time model.

But then I seal the deal, I do my moves.

I do my dance moves.

kiwi and i are going to see flight of the conchords tonight! i am stoked... my little brother hayden is also a fan of the HBO show and even learned how to play their songs on the guitar. my personal favorites are the most beautiful girl and i'm not crying. seriously hilarious.

(image found here)

bridal bootcamp: week six

this week, we're focusing on healthy eating. i recruited a few girlfriends to go all organic, at least for one week. i've noticed i have been putting a whole lot of junk in my body lately (doritos and red bull are not food groups) so i think it's time to make a change. before the wedding i want to be my happiest, healthiest self. how hard can all organic be? here goes nothing...
*my boss was eating jack in the box in the break room this morning. this may be harder than i thought.
(photo via gourmet)

1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila.... more

so, i may spent the last few weeks collecting about twenty bottles of patron tequila... no, kiwi and i do not have a drinking problem. but, i did think they would make some pretty amazing centerpieces for the wedding. luckily, my future brother in law has some connections at a local restaurant and was able to hook us up. i totally stole this idea after a recent trip to the deli (my latest obsession) and have never looked back. now if we could just figure out what type of flowers to put in them...
*we spent a lovely sunday afternoon peeling off all the labels... not fun.

obama-rama

kiwi and i are going to see president obama speak at brother jared's graduation today! they are expecting 71,000 people and the lines are going to be intense, but i think it will be worth it. this is an opportunity you just can't pass up. i'm so excited.
*did i mention it is supposed to be 103 degrees today...and the ceremony is outside.
(image found here)

sweet dreams

wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up to this every morning? a daily reminder of how much your husband loves you. swoon.
(via design sponge, naturally)

mom's not much for flowers...

mom's never been a huge fan of flowers, or even cards for that matter... what she did request was a new pair of shades. brother jared picked out these sassy ray-ban clubmasters for her. please do not confuse my mother with one of the olsen twins... cowboys have been wearing ray-bans for years. they're really very hip. i think they are just pretty awesome. she will love them.

mom was busy kicking butt at a rodeo in utah this weekend but she will be back later today! happy belated mother's day mom. i love you.

(image found here)

what to wear to a wedding

(all from urban outfitters, obvi)

kiwi and i are attending a super rad wedding at taliesin west this weekend. a frank lloyd wright inspired wedding... i'm so there. i'm currently facing the age old dilemma, what to wear to a wedding? mr. wright was pretty cutting edge for his time and it is an evening wedding. so, i'm thinking something a little funky but that still makes me feel pretty. really, who doesn't feel pretty in ruffles? the couple getting married is pretty young and arizona events are notoriously casual, but is this ensemble a little too rock and roll? i kinda love it.

*i just realized that exactly six months from today kiwi and i will be getting married. OMG.

bridal bootcamp: week five

okay, so week four has come and gone with no major changes to the workout... but 24 hour fitness was so kind as to send me a coupon for a free session with a personal trainer ( i heart free things) yipee! i was a little nervous going into the session, for a kinesiology major i know very little about actually working out. but, as it turns out the session was incredibly helpful. we went through and my trainer dan taught me two new exercises for each major muscle group. kelly and i are going to use them to supplement our workouts from weeks one two and three. dan was a huge fan of the bosu ball which as it turns out, makes every exercise you've ever learned about 5 times more difficult.

legs:
lunges with bosu ball- 3x15
lateral lunges with bosu ball-3x15

back:
single leg rows-3x15 (on cable pulley machine)
single leg lat pull downs- 3x15 (on cable pulley machine)

chest:
push ups with bosu ball-3x15
chest press-3x15 (on cable pulley machine)

shoulders:
overhead press-3x15 (standing on bosu) *note: it is super hard to balance... good for the core!
overhead press-3x15 (on cable pulley machine)

arms:
bicep curls-3x15 (standing on bosu) *see above note
overhead soccer throw with med ball-3x15 (partner toss)

abs:
abdominal twists-3x15 (on cable pulley machine) *note: straight arms, eyes follow hands
sit-ups with med ball -3x15 (sitting on bosu)

*the entire time we never lifted above 10 lb. weights... high repetition, low weight.
** this program is not endorsed by 24 hr. fitness, just passing along what i learned . blah blah blah, disclaimer, blah blah blah.

the happiness project

i first heard of the happiness project over at simple lovely... and i've been a huge fan ever since. i check in every few days and i'm always inspired. this latest post really struck a nerve with me. as someone who is soon to be married i always wonder how couples keep that adoration and spark throughout the years...

"If I’ve learned one thing from my happiness project, it’s that if I want my life to be a certain way, I must be that way myself. If I want my marriage to be tender and romantic, I must be tender and romantic."

oh i just love that. i think we get caught up in the everyday grind and forget to really treasure our loved ones. we get so busy that the time we spend together feels leftover, scraped together at the end of the week... after work and school and other responsibilities are fulfilled.

here's to being tender and romantic.

(image via le love)

busy bee

i'm so looking forward to this weekend... kiwi said he has a surprise for me tonight, and i need to wear something fancy (i have a perfect ruffly black number) but he won't tell me what he's got up his sleeve.  then tomorrow, i've got a fun day planned with the girls, complete with pool party and skinny margaritas! sunday rounds out the weekend with a baby shower and some time with the family.  happy weekend! 

*malinda, i'm working on a post for you on monday!