happy birthday to emmylou!

{pic stolen from her about me page HERE because when i take a picture of emily, i share it. therefore, no new pics of her. :)}

Emily. Em. Emmylou. Bestie. And, if we're feeling sassy, the ever popular "woman!". For as many nicknames we have for each other {if you're wondering, the Nichols started the whole SA thing}, I have the same number of great things to say about you, friend...and more.

You are the model young woman, the homemaker in training. I love watching {and helping!} you fix meals for your family and light up when they compliment you & your cooking because OMG you cook the best meals!! I mean, French toast on a weekday?! Yes, please.

You work so hard at your schoolwork, you are an amazing blogger and even have sponsors for Practically Pink, and you are developing into a great photog. Seriously, I look at pictures on the ol' blog and say to myself "SA, you totally missed that photo. Why?!" But that's not the point. It is YOUR birthday post, after all. ;)

You've been my bestie forEVAH, and I'm so glad to have such an inspiring friend that's a year older than me to help me through that year. Remember that time I made a card & I asked for advice on being 15? And you laughed? Good times.

Love you, bestie, and I hope 17 treats you well...

birthday wish list

It's month until my 16th birthday, ya'll. A month. While I'm not asking for anything expensive or anything, my wishlist from online is being added to daily. What better way to show you guys what to get me than do a post about it? ;)

{image courtesy of google images}

1} iPod touch. I've drooled over Andrew's iPod for a year now, and even though I'm a proud PC, Apple is growing on me ever since I've touched an iPad. For now, I'll stick with the pipe dream of getting and iPod touch.

{image courtesy of google images}

2} iTunes gift card. Because what good is an iTouch without the money to get apps & music?:

{image courtesy of sseko designs.com}

3} Sseko sandals. Thanks to Kim to getting me hooked on Ssekos. For only $50, these shoes are looking like they actually might make it into my hands sooner than later. Also? You can change out the straps from any one their site, or you might could even switch them out with a lightweight fabric of your own!! Win-win!

4} Epiphanie Camera Bag {Lola}. I think I can officially thank Maddie for introducing my to  camera bags. At over $100, this one is staying on my wishlist indefinitely. BUT. It's pretty to look at, no?
And...what's a wish list without a little handmade love? Not a every good one, I'll tell you that.

{image courtesy of Gussy}

5} Gussy Sews & Eclectic Whatnot combo set. Ya'll, I just died and went to ruffly heaven...and curly hair heaven because these girls are gorgeous as well as talented. Anyways, about the set. I'll take it! 


See what I meant about expensive? Ah well, there's always next year. :)

WIWW {10}

Today I'm linking up with Lindsey for WIWW {What I Wore Wednesday}. Initially, it was started to keep Lindsey accountable and wear things {real clothes! gasp!} other than yoga pants and sweatshirts. Now it's blossomed into over 150+ bloggers joining in and sharing fashion tips/tricks for other WIWW particpants. 
All the cool kids are doing it. Gussy, Lisa Leonard, Kim, Moriah, and Lindsey herself. I'm not one to buckle under the peer pressure, but I've jumped on the bandwagon. I think it's a great way to show you guys what I wear...without having to wear skirts for a week.


Another week, another 3 outfits to show you guys! If you want to get technical, I'm showing you what I wore for 5 days this since I washed and wore these three outfits again later on. But that's only if you want to get technical... ;)

{Saturday}

{Tank top: Target}

{Shirt: Gift from Dad from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello gift shop [the quote is awesome, no?]}

{Jeans: Old Navy}

{Bracelets: Dogwood Fest & beach shop in Cali}

{Flip Flops: Speedo}

{Thursday/Sunday}

{Dress: Goodwill}

{Heels: Borrowed from Mama [first time wearing heels & I rocked them, ya'll]}

{Friday/Tuesday}

{Tank top: Target}

{Shirt: Hand me down from Anna Ormond [quite possibly my new fave shirt]}

{Shorts: Hand me down from Emily}

{Bracelets: Dogwood Fest & beach shop in Cali}

{Shoes: Target}

P.S Some ppl are probably wondering why I "recycle" outfits & not wear a new one each day. Truth is, if I did that, I'd run out of things to show you guys. Sure, I don't like wearing the same thing when I see the same peeps, but I try to show off old & new outfits. Just thought I'd put that out there! 

letters to juliet {movie review}

During the French manicure of 2011, we discussed what to do while we were waiting for our nails to dry. The only logical answer was to watch a girly movie & ::swoon:: at the romance of it all. Wanna know what movie we watched?

{photo credit}

Letters to Juliet, that is!! Every time we had a sleepover, Emily & I swore we were going to watch this movie. We ended up making chipmunk videos and eating midnight snacks, if I remember correctly...but that's not the point. ;) I'm glad we finally got to watch it and squeal over the beautiful streets of Verona. Here's what the official Letters to Juliet website says...

"In Verona, Italy – the beautiful city where Romeo first met Juliet – there is a place where the heartbroken leave notes asking Juliet for her help. It’s there that aspiring writer Sophie finds a 50-year-old letter that will change her life forever. As she sets off on a romantic journey of the heart with the letter’s author, Claire, now a grandmother, and her handsome grandson, all three will discover that sometimes the greatest love story ever told is your own."

Ah, the romance of it all. I was blindsided at first because I had no idea what the movie was really about, but I quickly got into it. My commentary is probably a little more in your face & blunt, but hey! I liked it! 

This guy? He's a jerk. I mean, he basically cares only about food & his budding restaurant, which isn't really on it's way to success for the record.

{images from google images}

Spoiler Alert: Sophie and jerk face break up. Didn't see that one coming...NOT! 


And this guy? He's also a jerk...at first. And his hair is all that great.

{image from google images}

But he comes around in this moonlit scene...

{image from google images}

...And spoiler alert: Sophie and snobby grandson get together after the epic jerk face guy break-up and snobby grandson becomes less snobby. 


I love Amanda Seyfried. Not only can she sing, but she's got the simple look down pat. No extraordinary wardrobe choices, no fancy makeup, and she cares about helping people.

{images from google images}

In between the snobby grandson stuff is a 50 year old love story that Sophie puts her heart and soul into after following one of the Secretaries of Juliet to their home. The adventure that enuses is so beautiful...

{images from google images}

Oh, the ending. In my humble opinion, it wasn't awesome. Actually, it was so cheesy it WAS awesome. Katie  warned me about it, but I didn't really know just how cheesy it was. We all fell out of our chairs, dying of laughter. And Sophie didn't see it coming either.

{photo credit}

These words were oddly reminiscent of Mr. Darcy. Stick with your own script, buddy!

{photo credit}

THIS. SCENE. 

{photo credit}

Gah, so cheesy, right?! And afterwards everyone comes running from the wedding party to see what happens and intrudes on the moment. Grandmother promptly starts to cry. 

All in all, it was a great movie. Loved it!! 

happy birthday Aunt Michelle

{no pics of the aunt, because pictures are apparently her enemy. i still love her anyway.}

You're my earthy aunt: the one who has the most amazing and thoughtful gifts from your way talented friends. You're my aunt that reflects my Dad the most. Every time we have a family get together you finish each other's sentences and relive the "glory" days. You're my aunt that isn't afraid to speak her mind & tell it like it is because why hide your opinions? You don't, and that's awesome.

Happy Birthday to you, my eldest aunt!! Here's to many more!