Packing for Hawaii | A Christmas Story

We all know the classic tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge... The man is grumpy, rejects the Christmas Spirit, and is given a wonderful gift. He's taken to see his past, how beautiful things were... He's brought to the present, and shown things from a different point of view, things he may not have cared about... then he's shown what the future will look like if he doesn't change his ways, usually the product of him caring more about work than personal relationships...

I have been given this gift... don't worry, I wasn't taken away in my sleep, though I have dreamed of flying... Mine was in the perspective of moving. I had been given the opportunity to move to Hawaii with my cousin, work/housing wouldn't have be an issue, and who wouldn't love it being warm all year!

It gave me a lot of time to think about my life, friends, and job here. Which has made the last few months a roller coaster of emotions... it's weird the things that become priority when you might lose them.

I spent a lot of time doing things with the perspective of them being "lasts"... which made me really wish they could've been my "usual's"..

What I've done since I started mentally packing...

-I've gone ice skating multiple times
-I traveled 3 hours, and spent who knows how much on gas, to spend two days with my friend Emilee for her 21st birthday.
-I spent Thanksgiving with family that doesn't live close by, when normally I would just wait until Christmas.
-I became more thankful for Bayside (my church) and friends there.
-I quit one job (out of the two I had) to have days off before hand, so that I could be with people, and enjoy Christmas time

But we all know what happens at the end of those movies right? Something happens and that person is given a second chance. Well by golly my life is a movie... things came up and plans were canceled, I'm not moving and though it gave me quite a bit of whiplash, I'm slowly but surely getting into my new usual.

 And to prove it's stuck
-I'm taking a few days off work to go spend time with my cousins for another 21st birthday
And I couldn't be happier to do so!!

Happy Holidays &
Merry Christmas
<3 B

Because Santa Always Needs a List

I Love these cozy pink and white Flannel Striped Pajamas from Victoria's Secret, and
who could say no to matching slippers! $49

Fell in love with this scent Twilight Woods from Bath and Body Works (my new heaven!) when a friend wore it. And isn't that the cutest sparkle tote! $42

Essie has quickly become my favorite polish! It glides on easily, and lasts without chipping! 

This color I found today, Lady Like. $8

Speaking of Essie... A friends of mine Emilee tried their polish Matte About You, it mattes your high gloss polish in seconds. I can't wait to try this out! $10

Normally I'm a jersey girl, but this 100% Cotton Fitted Tee from Nike was too cute!  $31

The baker inside of me saw this and haven't stopped thinking about it since. A Jumbo Muffin Tin from Target for large muffins, like the Costco kind! $9

Call me a mom, but how could I resist putting a Subscription to my favorite magazine on 

my Christmas List, $15 for three years!

After mistakenly purchasing a down alternative, this is a must have on my list. A Hypoallergenic Luxury  Feather Down Pillow, $26

I've have my hot pink gloves for dishes, and they'd be the perfect pop of color for this Chic Black and 
White Parisian Inspired Apron by Jessie Steele, $24

And lastly, who wouldn't love a Styling Wand by John Frieda to make perfect curls in a jiffy, available at Target Online, $35

Photography | Olivia

It's senior picture time!! I was so happy when I was asked to take Olivia's senior photos. Three bay area locations were chosen with a spontaneous stop on the side of the road (to take the photos where she's in the red flannel). It was such a good time seeing her personality and sharing this special milestone. Congratulations Olivia, and class of 2013!

Photography Friday | a flashback

Early this spring I had a chance to take some quick family pictures for the Peoples Family after church. It was so fun to see them, and their beautiful little (but big!) ones. They've been dearly missed after moving to Roseville, so this was a great trip!

Waffles for Breakfast

There's something about homemade waffles that still remains special to me. We didn't have them that often growing up, it was more of a Saturday/Sunday morning thing, but maybe once a month or so.

Feeling up to the challenge I decide to pull out my favorites, raspberry syrup and strawberries. It was a delight to say the least. 

Photography Friday | Blind Eye Challange

Years ago, while reading Garrett Richardson's blog, I came across a photo challenge he did. Now I don't remember the details, but the point of it was taking pictures with out looking. A disposable camera, no focusing, just doing the best you could to capture what you saw. 

Photography Friday | Kelsey

Joe and I had planned out "Photography Friday" for the same meeting place, and the same time. Little did we think about the sun.... It's getting closer to winter, in fact today is the first day of Fall, which means the sun is coming up later, so what was planned as 6:30am, turned into 6:45/7:00am, now if only I could've used those extra minutes to sleep in!

Anywho, I suprised Joe and invited a mutual friend of ours, Kelsey. She's a fashionista and is quite photogenic. We loved her energy and enthusiasm, as well as her patience while we figured things out, and improvised.

Here's what I came up with

Joe Took My Pictures

While out on our Photography Friday adventure last week, Joe and I had the opportunity to share the spotlight. We were both in front of the camera and took turns shooting each other; an experience we're both easing our way into comfort with. This was now my third time being the focus, and at times I was feeling awkward, and frustrating that I couldn't see through his lens. But my first time with Jamey (click here to see), and second with Emilee (click here to see) gave me a an idea on what to expect and I'm getting more and more comfortable with it. Plus, Joe is amazing; he brings laughter and calms nerves with familiarity.

Through Joe's Lens

Photography Friday | Joe

Call us crazy, but the other day a good friend of mine, and I decided to wake up... get ready... and meet at 6:30am to go take fun pictures... all before a long day of work. Here's what what we came up with.

This is my friend Joe.

Emilee Took My Pictures

A few weeks ago a friend of mine Jamey, and I went out and took pictures, check them out by clicking here! It was such a fun day, and a bonding/growing experience, that my friend Emilee and I decided to try a similar outing... except it was raining and gloomy all day, but we tried anyway and here's a few photos she got of me. We'll be posting the ones I took of her soon, so stay tuned!

Summer Travel - Mokelumne River

I'd just gotten off work, and I received a text that we'd be meeting in 15 minutes to head to the river. Ran home and changed grabbed a backpack with sunscreen, gum, and some snacks, and we left!

It was already cooler, just seeing the river! And then came the hike.. It wasn't a strenuous hike, as we did it in flip flops, but it's up and down with rocks and three trees to climb over, but once we got to the little spot we settled down at, we were pleasantly rewarded with cool water and no party goers. Here's some pictures...

Summer To Do List

My friends and I aren't big planners, as far as making plans in advance. We go out and do things, but they're more of "it was a good idea at the time..." aka the week of. To maybe have a little more fun, I made a list of things I wanted to do for sure this summer. With only a month and a half left, I have a lot a head of me, but I can't wait to tell you all about them!
Here's my list. (click the links to see the story)

Go to or have a bonfire

Lake Day

Make a new kind of pizza

Visit the Zoo

Finish a book

Make a music video with friends

Make pop cycles

Tour my town like a tourist

Visit an Art Museum

Go Camping

Pick fruit for a pie

Go to Santa Cruz

Rodeo at Fair

Find that Zebra that everyone talks about

Fly a Kite at least once

Anything else? Tell me what I'm missing? What's one thing you have to do during summer? I'd love to hear about it!

Summer Travel - Tahoe

I rarely have days off... so when I do, I spend them right! And what better way to spend it, than to check off something on my Bucket List!

Last Monday, some friends of mine and I all packed up and enjoyed not only the car ride but the adventure that comes with Tahoe. We went to hang out in the casino arcades, go laser tagging, and enjoy the time with each other, we don't normally get, seeing how difficult it is to get matching days off!

After visiting my amazing cousin who works at Jamba Juice, we walked around town (where I got a cute orange baseball cap), in search for laser tag. With no luck we ended up going down a street fair type thing, and ten headed to the casinos for gaming!!

$30/hour

I've recently gotten into this yard sale site my town has on Facebook. It has rules, like no more than two posts a day, unless you create an album, no bidding wars, and first come first serve (comments)... it's created quite well, there's not much confusion, and those who try to be sneaky are deleted. Then you just private message, arrange a meeting (I typically use Safeway Coffee Shop) and BAM you've just sold online.

Let me show you the things I sold today

 I sold 6 books 2/$5 = $15
 and I still have 2 left to sell


I sold 2 pairs of shorts for $5/pair and have two more left to sell
=$10


I sold a pair of shoes, never worn = $5

All of these things have just been sitting in the back of my car FOREVER!! As I was cleaning in out, I thought I'd give them a try. And I got $30 for things I wasn't using.

And that's just today, I've sold furniture/clothes/collectibles etc..

I challenge you, look around and find what your not using, put them on your local listing and see what you come up with. If you more interesting in having a Facebook group like this one in your area, comment below and I can send you details on how ours is ran. Ours has grown from 200+ to 2,000+

Be creative!!

Commercial Workout!

Want to have a relaxing day watching TV clipping coupons, while the laundry is running, and the water is on the jasmine outside? Me too!

While I was on Pinterest looking under the fitness tab, I found this super do-able commercial workout!

Check it out!

Every time there is an insurance ad                                 10 crunches

Every time there is a car ad                                               10 lunges

Every time there is a fast food ad                                     15 squats

Every time there is a department store ad                      15 jumping jacks

Every time there is a restaurant ad                                  10 push ups

Every time there is an ad for a movie                               15 jump ropes

Every time there is an ad for a tv show                            15 bicycles

Every time there is a make up shoe ad                             10 reverse lunges

Every time there is an electronics ad                                10 reverse crunches


I'm definitely starting to notice how many insurance and tv ads there are!!!

         

Jamey Took My Pictures

While out on our photo excursion yesterday I too took my turn, leaving my comfortable spot behind the lens, to be the focus of the shots. It was quite the growing experience, I must say.

All photos by Jamey Thornhill