Story of My Life

Snapshot of a weekend

2012-03-05T09:52:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The weather has been divine here in Texas, so we took the opportunity to spend some time outdoors. It’s amazing what fresh air can do for your soul, you know? I saw a quote on Pinterest yesterday that said “the human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.” I thought that was profoundly true.

I’d like to make it a point to explore more of the natural areas here around Austin. There are so many good ones, and it’s looking like Spring has made an early appearance this year, so what better time than now? Seems like a good way to practice all the great new stuff I’m learning about my camera. Photo safari, anyone? :)

Here are a few scenes from our weekend…

Gracie’s little face melts me. She always looks worried.

Cooper is a big goofy, squishy, lazy sweetheart. I adore him.

A pile of paws.

* * * * *

Headed back to Commons Ford Park this weekend…

I could live in this field…

heh heh heh…

* * * * *

Tried out a new restaurant, Jack Allen’s Kitchen. It was great!

Have a marvelous day…

Best of Instagram, Week 9

2012-03-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

1. Received a bonus Birchbox in the mail this week!
2. In the makeup mirror.

3. & 4. Went back to Commons Ford Park for a perfect afternoon.

5. & 6. Sleeping Beauty.

7. & 8. Cooper being Cooper.

9. I’m obsessed with the little Matthew pictures I found this week.
10. Also quite intrigued by this Earl GREEN tea I bought. The flavor is definitely different, but it smells so similar!

Have a happy Sunday :)

* * * * *

Friday Features

2012-03-02T09:15:00.001-06:00

Friday is here, Friday is here! I have a feeling it’s going to be a GOOD weekend. I’ve mapped out some Pinterest recipes to try, bought all the ingredients for cupcakes, downloaded the new episode of The Walking Dead (apparently Matthew and I bond best over brutality and gore), and I just discovered two free movie passes in my wallet that I’d forgotten all about. Gotta love it when that happens. But since I have some chores to complete before that awesome aforementioned weekend can begin, I’m going to send you over to a few of my sweet sponsors. Go say hello!

* * * * *

First up we have my girl Fran and her lovely blog Being Fran(k). I knew she and I were kindred spirits after her very first email complete with bullet-pointed info and her profession of devotion to my #1 love, Harry Potter. The deal was sealed after her second email, which happened to have the subject line “Just then Neville caused a slight diversion by turning into a large canary.” Girlfriend knows how to catch my eye (and my heart), that’s for sure. But anyway, besides being witty and hilarious, Fran is also a flight attendant, which means WE get to benefit from all the awesome stories of her travels. To borrow words from her about page, “this blog is a cocktail of travel tips, disasters, city guides, and world-romping. COME FLY WITH ME!”

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

Next meet Meagan and Garrett, + One! This has got to be one of the most adorable little families I’ve ever seen, and I’ve loved getting a peek into their lives via Meagan’s sweet blog. Meagan and Garrett have a cute little guy named Rowan, who makes a few star appearances here and there, but besides blogging about her life and family, Meagan also includes some recipes, home reno projects, and plenty of really sweet pictures!

Blog

* * * * *

And last but not least is Besos, by Bri, a blog about Bri’s journey as a single girl working at NASCAR in Florida (though she hails from Texas, holla!). Bri is the cute and funny girl next door, and she invites you to follow along as she blogs all about her career, love life, friendships, family, and travel! (I was especially amused by her post about boyfriends past!)

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

See you on Sunday for Best of Instagram!

The Cutest.

2012-03-01T16:00:00.000-06:00

While cleaning house today I happened upon a photo album I hadn’t looked at in a while, and OH MY GOODNESS. I’m pretty sure Matthew was the cutest little guy in the history of the world.

That is all.

Leopard, Burnt orange, and Blue

2012-03-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

{ Dress: Forever21 (recent, but couldn’t find the same one online), Jacket: Loft (past season), Shoes: c/o Blowfish, Necklace and bracelet: Madewell, Ring: Premier Designs }

It’s totally creeping me out that my right foot looks all weird and veiny in that picture above. Bet you wouldn’t have even noticed if I hadn’t mentioned it, but I just wanted to know that you know that I know. The veiny foot is creepy.

Anyway. I think I’m going to do it, y’all. Shop only my closet for the month of March. I thought about doing Kendi’s 30 for 30 challenge, but that seems a little bit too much like math. And commitment. So I’ve decided to give myself a $100 clothing and accessories spending budget for the entire month of March, to be used only in case of extreme emergency. Feel free to join me in this endeavor, and we can be sad together.

Also, have you seen all the super cute new shoes over at Blowfish? Those of you have some discretionary income, that is. ;P

Happy Thursday, and happy first of March!

What I’m Giving Up (maybe.)

2012-02-29T08:15:00.001-06:00

I’m not Catholic and so don’t traditionally observe Lent, but lately I’ve been considering giving something up for a while…..

And what is that, you may ask?

Wait for it.

SHOPPING. GAHthereIsaidit. (Can you sense my inner turmoil?)

There’s something about buying a 2000+ dollar camera plus lens plus accessories that will do that to ya. Make you question your spending habits and whether or not you can really afford to step foot in another J.Crew for the next, oh, FIVE YEARS.

But what’s worse is that, as a blogger, I feel it my DUTY to make purchases. I have rooms in my house to finish so that I may photograph them! For the blog! I have outfits that aren’t quite complete or blog-worthy until I buy that extra accessory to go along with them! Hell, I just need new outfits, altogether! Spring fashion this year is fabulous! My style is evolving! Must stay current! For the blog!

Well that would all be well and good if there was a money tree growing in our backyard, but I’ve checked and all that’s out there is dog shit. So I’ve been feeling convicted that, if I want to make some money to be able to buy more stuff, it’s going to take a little bit of sacrificing for a while as I learn the ins and outs of photography and start up my business.

Sacrifice. I don’t like that word! But I’ve noticed that anyone who’s made anything out of themselves in this life was willing to do it. And for some reason I think what’s required of me, maybe just for the month of March at first (let’s not get carried away), is a bit of a spending freeze. Or maybe I just allow myself $100 to buy a new dress or as much crap from Forever 21 as I can bleed out of that $100? I’ll think on this.

Oh, and one more thing. You know, blogging and blog reading and Pinterest-ing can be THE WORST when it comes to coveting and lusting over material things. Sometimes I feel like around every bend I’m faced with some FABULOUSIHAVETOHAVEIT item or amazing little shop or “great deal” that I’d be stupid to pass up. But really, each and every one of us has to look at our unique situation and our end goals and ask ourselves if our spending habits are in line with those goals. Food for thought.

Here’s a pretty picture.

Happy Wednesday :)

I need a baby so it can wear these shoes. (Shwimmy Kids Giveaway!)

2012-02-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Do you have a baby? Do you know a baby? Do you plan on ever having/knowing a baby? Then this is the giveaway for you, my friends!

The Shwimmy Kids shop specializes in handmade baby shoes, but not just ANY handmade baby shoes. Really freaking cute ones. So if you’re interested in winning the precious little shoes of your choice, follow the directions below!

To Enter:
Mandatory: Like Shwimmy Kids on Facebook and comment letting me know you did so!

For extra entries (all represented by separate comments):

+ Visit the Shwimmy Kids shop and let me know which pair of shoes is your favorite!
+ Favorite the Shwimmy Kids shop on Etsy (if you have an account)
+ Pin a photo from the shop onto your Pinterest page and leave the link to your pin
+ Like Story of My Life on Facebook

Good luck! Winner will be announced next week! :)

Sneak peek of our shoot! (Brittney Squire Photography)

2012-02-27T09:04:00.001-06:00

I think Matthew rocked the plaid shirt, and it was really fitting for this location. But we DID get some shots in the stripes, too! :)

So, Brittney Squire is a rockstar and ALREADY sent us a sneak peek of our shoot on Saturday. I’m a little in love. These were taken at Commons Ford Park here in Austin, and I can’t say enough good things about that GORGEOUS location! Fields of long grass and flowers, big fabulous trees, a lake… it really was like some sort of fantasy land, especially late afternoon when the sunlight was perfection. I want to go back and just bring a picnic and lay in the flowers and smell the earth.

The location even came complete with a creepy farmer-dude watching our shoot through binoculars. Yeah, you’re not slick at all, Old McDonald. We see you peepin’ over there.

Anyway, it was such a fun weekend, and Brittney was completely awesome. Check out her blog for more fabulous, natural light couple’s photos... and stay tuned for more from our shoot.

Happy Monday!

Best of Instagram, week 8

2012-02-26T12:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Thanks for all your input on the stripes vs. plaid debate on Friday… I had to laugh about how passionately people felt on both sides of the argument! In the end, I wound up having him change halfway, so at some point we’ll have to have a vote about which looked nicer in the photos! ;)

Instagram was an afterthought for me this week. I only took a handful of pictures on my phone because I was too busy drooling all over my new Canon. I’ll try to be better next week! But here are a few choice Insta-shots. Leave your link below!

The reason my Best of Instagram today is sparse (and my new reason for living).

The dress.

A man sized scoop.

Cooper chillaxin’.

Hey what’s up mom.

Out to brunch this morning.

Happy Sunday :)

PS – I’m using a new link-up tool today—I had no idea the other one would turn into a paid account after 30 days! You have 50 characters in the “name” slot, so fill it with whatever you’d like!

Stripes or plaid? Help!

2012-02-24T09:48:00.001-06:00

Matthew and I have a couple’s photo session this weekend, and for weeks now I’ve been feverishly hunting for the perfect mustard or gold dress. 96.4% of Matthew’s clothing is blue, so I wanted something that would really contrast nicely with a shirt he already has.

In a happy little turn of fate on Wednesday night (and thanks to the ninja-like awesomeness of my best friend, who spotted it first), I found that perfect golden dress (here—it’s 50% off today! WTH!) and snatched it right up. That baby had my name all over it—there were only two left, one of which happened to be my size! When does that ever happen unless God himself intended for you to have that dress? Never, that’s when.

But now I have a dilemma. I posed this question to Twitter and Instagram yesterday as well, but the response so far has been split down the middle. Should Matthew wear the plaid or the stripes?! The setting will be natural (vs. urban), and while I’m leaning towards the plaid, I adore the stripes as well. Maybe I’ll make him change half through the session, but still, I’m curious to hear your opinions. What’ll it be, my friends? The stripes or the plaid?

Happy Friday!

Spring style

2012-02-23T07:56:00.001-06:00

It has been downright spring-like here in Texas. Guess what the high is today? 88. Isn’t it supposed to be winter?! Just a thought.

Well anyway, the weather has been ideal for taking outdoor pictures, and yesterday I had Matthew snap some of my outfit. I think even he felt the power of the Mark II in his hands. He is usually rather grumbly while taking pictures, but this time he seemed to be getting a little carried away by the super-fast shutter speed. I have a lot of sexy mid-blink, drunken-looking shots to show for it. Seriously, I could fill an entire blog with only awkward outtakes from outfit posts. It’d be awesome.

Anyway, this outfit is simple and sweet… just how I like it. I am all about the awesome bright shorts out at J.Crew right now, and this green color was my favorite. Also, pay close attention to the necklace I’m wearing! I’ll tell you where to find it below.

{ Shirt, shorts, and flats: J.Crew, bracelets: F21, necklace: c/o Vintage Wanna Bee }

So let’s talk about that necklace for a moment, shall we? Can we all just take a moment and admire the adorableness? Nichelle from Vintage Wanna Bee sent it over for me, and I am mildly obsessed with it now. Definitely the perfect little pop of color to spice up an outfit (and there are many other colors to choose from—I’ll certainly be going back for more). AND it’s handmade AND it’s affordable. Win win win. Check out the mustardy/gold color here or browse the rest of the shop here! Girlfriend has some seriously sweet stuff.

Have a happy Thursday!

The woes of a fur-mom.

2012-02-22T09:39:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was kind of a traumatic day for me.

At 8 AM I dropped Gracie off at the vet to have her teeth cleaned and a mass on her gum removed, but this was the first time in 5+ years I’ve left her anywhere besides with a loved family member or friend. Gracie is a very anxious dog, and my poor little baby was beyond terrified. I was fighting tears as they literally dragged her away from me. The vet tech promised they’d call me as soon as she was awake and available to be picked up after the procedure, so I went home to a very distraught Cooper who ran right past me to look for his sister when I let him out of his crate. Those two are NEVER apart.

So I ran some errands yesterday and left Cooper with “grandma” where he likely enjoyed a spa day filled with lots of treats and grandma-love, but I couldn’t get my little Gracie bear off my mind. I hated to think she was scared.

3 o’clock rolled around and off Cooper and I went to pick up sister. The vet tech and Gracie met me in a little room, and the reunion was joyous! She wasn’t even wearing the muzzle I brought her in with! Her tail was wagging! She seemed almost happy! What the heck, Gracie. Your mother was worried sick all day, and now you seem happy and well adjusted?! Hrrmph.

But that’s not all, folks. Later that evening I left the two of them to run a few more errands, but when I got back, I was greeted by a very ashamed-looking Gracie, who had escaped from her crate (the door is broken and it pops open if you push on it hard enough). Cooper was still locked in his, though, and by the looks of the slobber spatter that soaked the rug in a two foot radius from his crate door, he had been spazzing out for quite some time. Came to discover he had also been chewing the plastic sides of the crate and tore holes in his blankets! Clearly he was extremely upset by the fact that Gracie was free and he was not. It took a massive amount of paper towels to soak up all the slobber outside the crate… nice work, Cooper.

Anyway, that’s the most exciting part of my week so far. I can’t shake this cold and I haven’t been sleeping well… without fail, my mind always goes crazy when something new and exciting happens in my life (THE CAMERA), so I’ve been having trouble shutting down my brain before bed at night. It’s thinking: white balance! aperture! f-stops! pretty pictures! pretty pretty pretty! mustn't default on my loan! must look into photo blogs! must find people to practice on! Etc.

For now, these little models will have to do…

my little patient.

sometimes her lip gets stuck.

puppy dog eyes at their finest.

a rare captured moment where Cooper is standing still.

play time.

Happy Wednesday. :)

this just happened.

2012-02-21T09:47:00.001-06:00

See that sexy beast in the picture above? Do you see it?! The camera, people, not the girl who hasn’t bathed or brushed her hair yet today.

That, my friends, is what I was talking about when I said I was going to make shit happen this year (or part of it, anyway). For you camera enthusiasts, it’s a Canon 5D Mark II (with a 50mm 1.4 lens), and I’ll go ahead and admit right away that it’s a little like handing over a super high-tech toy to a perplexed two year old. BUT IT’S AWESOME.

All weekend I was researching my purchase before I finally bit the bullet, and yesterday Matthew (who loaned me half the purchase price) made up a contract complete with terms and penalties and everything if I don’t make monthly payments on my loan and start up my business like I’ve been running my mouth about for months. And I fully expect that he’ll take me to court if I don’t hold up my end up the deal. (Law school makes you hard.) It’s OK, though… I need that extra push.

So I’m planning to pour my soul into manuals and tutorials over the next weeks and months, and the thought actually sort of excites me since I’m learning something that I’m really passionate about. I’m trying not to get discouraged by the fact that I’m still in that gap between good taste and actual skill—because I know I’ll get there. It doesn’t happen overnight.

Here’s a few pictures from around my house (all were taken within the first 24 hours of buying this camera, so I certainly don’t claim to know what the heck I’m doing yet). Have a great Tuesday!

Best of Instagram, week 7

2012-02-19T12:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you’re having a nice long weekend (IF you’re having a long weekend). Matthew is off school tomorrow, so I have a husband for a whole extra day this week! :P

We’re working on some projects today, so I’ll get right to “Best of Instagram.” Here are my favorite photos from the week (leave your link below!):

1. A dozen roses from my Valentine.
2. Heart shaped macaroon from Walton’s.

3. Sometimes I eat a really healthy breakfast.
4. Sometimes I don’t.

5. I’m a REAL boy.
6. Having a rough day.

7. Found a Gracie ball on the guest bed.
8. This was mid-week—now all that’s left is the bottom part. Aren’t Kongs supposed to be indestructible?!

9. Seemed like the appropriate nail color on this rainy week (L’oreal “Raven’s Strength” with shimmer and bling for the ring finger. Bracelet by Lee La La!)
10. This happened last night. And I think it seemed even cheesier off the big screen. But I still loved it.

Happy Sunday… :)

Friday Features

2012-02-17T09:05:00.001-06:00

Good morning folks. It’s a foggy, dreary day here in Austin, and I have a cold. How’s that for a bubbly opener? So since my brain is also in a bit of a fog this morning, allow me to introduce a few lovely ladies to you, each of which will do a fine job of entertaining you while I take a sick day. Check them out!

* * * * *

Ladies and gents (if there are any gents), I need you to meet “Twiggy” (aka Amy). Maybe you’ve seen some of Twiggy’s comments around the blogosphere—they always have her mark of sarcasm and hilarity all over them, but besides being funny, Amy is also incredibly sweet, an amazing photographer, and an avid hiker (hence her blog name, The Dirt Life). This, my friends, is a blog you’ll want to read, and a girl you’ll want to know.

Blog | Facebook

* * * * *

Next is the adorable Britney from The Musings of a Twenty-Something Wife. Britney blogs about life as a newlywed and everything in between—she’s the sweet girl next door, who you get the feeling would be a wonderful friend in real life. Also, how cute is that outfit she’s wearing in the picture below?! Love.

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

And next up is Rachael, the blogger behind Let’s Be Adventurers. Rachael is a California girl now living with her Dutchman in Amsterdam and gallivanting all over Europe—jealous yet? (And yes, I said “gallivanting.” It seemed appropriate.) You will love to follow Rachael and Christian’s excellent adventures… go visit!

Blog

* * * * *

Have an awesome weekend! :)

This blew me away.

2012-02-17T09:04:00.001-06:00

Source: fab.com via Jenni on Pinterest

My girl Sarah posted a version of this the other day, and it blew me away. I feel like I am THERE. In that gap—photography, writing… hell, even in my my efforts as a WIFE. I found this SO encouraging. Like, wow wow wow. YES. I hope some of you find it encouraging too. Happy Friday!

Update on Edd

2012-02-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Those who’ve been around for a while may remember back to late November when my step-dad Edd spent a good amount of time in the hospital for seizures, among other things. It was a really rough time for my family, and we didn’t know if he would make it until Thanksgiving, much less Christmas. If you want to catch up on this story, feel free to look through old posts here (they’re in reverse chronological order, so it’ll make more sense to start at the end).

Anyway, I’ve owed you wonderful people an update for a while now, but as I said the other day, sometimes it’s just hard to write about, and I’m never quite sure what to say.

I guess I could start by saying things aren’t the same anymore. Whether it’s the cancer or the seizures or the cyber knife treatments a while back, Edd’s mind has been affected. Often he seems really present and “himself” and will say something very Edd-like, but he is also often distant and confused. He’s considered under in-home hospice care now, and while he’s doing much better physically than he was a couple months ago, he’s not taking chemo treatments anymore (a major reason for some of the physical relief). Edd’s cancer is in his lungs, liver, and brain, but since they’re not treating or testing anymore, it’s impossible to know what the progression has been lately. The waiting must be excruciating for my mom.

Edd is the sweetest man I know, and has been so good to her. My mom thinks of this as an opportunity to give back to him some of what he’s given to her. Unconditional love. Safety. Kindness. Tenderness. Sacrifice. I’ve learned a lot about love by watching the two of them. I’ll never understand why our bodies were created with what could easily be perceived as flaws—why they turn on us. Why someone so good and undeserving would be dealt such a rough deck of cards. (rough? there just isn’t a word strong enough for what he’s been through.) And yet Edd never complains. He was the favorite patient at the oncologist’s office. His only regret is breaking my mom’s heart.

All I know is that people like Edd put the rest of us to shame.

Honestly, I don’t even know what to ask for when it comes to prayers, anymore. But thanks so much for your kindness and support and for caring about my family. I’d give every one of your a big squishy hug if I could. :)

Have a happy Thursday!

“People eat with their eyes” (on the internet)

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

When it comes to food AND design, people eat with eyes first. I really loved this post and the excellent analogy on why it’s so important for writers/bloggers to design an appealing space. If you want to have a presence on the web, this is so, so key. Every blogger (or anyone with a website!) should read this!

I think I latched onto this concept early on, and maybe that has something to do with working at a restaurant so long. Presentation is extremely important. I don’t know how many times I sent a plate back to the kitchen and said, “this looks like crap, and I’m too embarrassed to bring it to my customer.”

Same goes for good blog or web design and good composition of a post. Remember that someone’s first impression ISN’T the words you write (or the way your food tastes). It’s the way your website looks to a new visitor when they enter—it’s the first signal of what type of content you’ll be dishing up. Just like how the look of a plate signals the quality and taste of the food!

I know not everyone is all that serious about blogging, but this is great advice for those who are. It’s something I don’t claim to have down just right, but continue to strive for.

Just some thoughts for your Wednesday. I love to share good info when I find it!

* * * * *

Also, the winner of last week’s Marolsha giveaway is…

Congrats! I’ll be in touch. :)

Happy Valentine’s! (+Walton’s, Austin)

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all! Any big plans for tonight, or did you love birds out there celebrate over the weekend? My husband will be with his mistress, law school, tonight. Sigh.

Yesterday my mom and Edd met me for a quick lunch at Walton’s here in Austin, one of Sandra Bullock’s two restaurants in town. I’ve been wanting to try it forever now, and I was so pleased to finally visit! The food was delicious, and I felt like I was in a little NYC cafe. I’ll most definitely be returning. Nice work, Sandra! :)

heart shaped macaroon

BFT (bacon, frisee, and tomato sandwich)

Edd enjoying his carrot cake cupcake

Walton’s, you get an A!

Also, thanks to those of you who’ve asked about Edd lately. I owe you guys a post, it’s just something kind of difficult to write about right now.

Tell someone you love them today!

Do you get away?

2012-02-13T07:32:00.001-06:00

This weekend we went out to the ranch to spend some time with family and to just “get away”… something that’s become increasingly important to Matthew since he started law school. We had a nice time, and I’ve been feeling lucky that we have a place like that to go to, even though it’s not particularly fancy or luxurious. Fancy or not, it’s a place to go to see things and do things that break up some up that monotony of every day life, and to make you feel a little less like you’re sinking in the sludge. Cause we all have sludge, you know. Such is life.

I don’t know about you, but personally I’m a bit (ok A LOT) of a homebody and sometimes it doesn’t feel like my natural tendency to get out and DO things and be around people. Sometimes that’s something I have to force myself to do because I know that once I get there I’ll enjoy it and it’ll be good for me.

But lately I’ve been realizing how incredibly important it is for an artist of any kind to simply get out or get away. Whether that means visiting a different country or a different town or just making time to meet new people or go new places in your own city. Our minds are funny things, and they’re most stimulated by new sights and sounds and smells and experiences. Of course that’s not really rocket science, and yet so many of us resist change and getting out of our comfort zone. Or in my case, my comfort RUT. And then we wonder why our art suffers.

I guess the main thing I wanted to say was that if you’re feeling uninspired, try going somewhere you never (or rarely) go or doing something you never do. Lately I’ve been having the strongest urges to do just that—even if it only means turning down a street I’ve never turned or going into a store I’ve never shopped in. I really find that it seems to jumpstart my creativity every time, and it also helps me to appreciate what I have more. Sometimes it even makes me happy to get back to the sludge. Imagine that.

Happy Monday!

sunset at the ranch

attire

an “Elk shed.” somewhere there’s a really lopsided Elk!

exploring

by the fire

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

Best of Instagram, week 6

2012-02-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

I am currently in a place they call No Internet Land (AKA the ranch), so this post was pre-prepared and my Best of Instagram today actually won’t include the weekend (when most of the fun happens!). But there were definitely some highlights to the week, and here they are. Leave your link below!

1. The re-creation of our first date. A happy night.
2. Amaretto creme brulee. Mind. Blown.

3. Starting over (Harry Potter). Oh so much happiness these books bring me. Pure imagination.
4. My coffee maker broke, and it was tragic, and then I fixed it, and all was well. (shown with my favorite creamer. mmmm…)

5. Met sweet friend Allison and baby Davis for breakfast-lunch. A bright spot in my week! (are you reading her blog? girlfriend is hilarious.)
6. Delish Bacado Omelette from Another Broken Egg.

7. & 8. These two light up my life. Obviously.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

First date, re-created

2012-02-10T07:30:00.000-06:00

To round out this week of mushy, wedding-y posts, I thought I might as well put up pictures from our anniversary dinner on Tuesday night. Poor Matthew had a cold but took me out anyway, and we did something we’ve been wanting to do forever now—we recreated our very first date. I even wore the same exact outfit!

Those of you who’ve read our love story may recall that Matthew and I only met briefly before he had to fly home to California, and then we talked on the phone for a couple weeks before he flew back down to Texas for a week of first dates.

I remember our first first date like it was yesterday. I was a weird mixture of nervous and excited as I drove to the Starbucks where we were meeting, and when I got there, I sat down inside at a table near the entrance and wondered where to put my arms and whether I should cross my legs and if I should watch the door for him or play it cool like I didn’t see him coming. I went for the cool option. ;)

Anyway, our first date was at Paesanos in San Antonio, and this time around we were even able to sit at the same table as the first time! It was a really special evening and we had a great time chatting and laughing about how different our conversation was on this second date. Neither of us could have imagined all that would change in our lives and how damn hard marriage would be sometimes, but while looking through wedding pictures this week, I was reminded of an excerpt from my favorite book (The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran) I had read our wedding. It’s taken on new meaning for me now, and it’s humbling and breathtaking all in one.

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth….

But if in your fear you would only seek love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover you nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing floor,
Into a seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course…
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

I have a couple more Instagram pictures to share, but I think I’ll wait until Sunday. :) Happy Friday everyone! Have a wonderful weekend!

Our Wedding Day: Bride and Groom Shots

2012-02-09T07:32:00.001-06:00

Are you sick of our wedding pictures yet?! Well, I just have a few more you today, then I promise we’ll be done. Here are a handful of my favorites among our bride and groom pictures, with a few of my favorite bridal photos thrown in for good measure. We didn’t do a first look so we just had a short time for couple shots between the ceremony and reception. Of course, all photos by Bend the Light!

And also, thank you all for your wonderful comments these past few days! I know many of us married ladies would change some things about our weddings if given the chance, but of course the most important thing is the love you take with you from the day. And who says you can’t have a wedding do-over one day, if it’s really important to you?! Like I said in another post, I would love to have a “celebration of love”/Valentine’s Day party at 5 years and just go all out. Since Matthew will have just graduated from law school, I use the term “go all out” loosely because a tight budget will likely be involved, but it’s still a fun thing to set my sights on. :)

Here are the other posts if you missed them!

Part 1: Getting Ready
Part 2: The Ceremony
Part 3: The Reception

Happy Thursday. :)

Our Wedding: The Reception

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

We had our wedding reception in the back of the church right after the ceremony, and we just had hors d'oeuvres and cupcakes with coffee, tea, and champagne. There were toasts, a bit of dancing, lots of pictures, and then Matthew surprised me with a horse-drawn carriage to pick us up before guests headed home to watch the Super Bowl—yep our wedding was on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon! A little detail we overlooked when signing our contracts. Oops. Good thing the groom isn’t too into sports! ;)

And as soon as that carriage pulled away from the church, I started bawling. It was like the release of so much pressure of the last days and weeks, and poor Matthew didn’t know what to do with me for a while there.

But anyway, I thought our reception was beautiful, and I love looking back on these pictures. Again, all photos by Bend the Light, and our venue was the Spire at Sunset Station. Enjoy!

cupcakes by Cupcake Couture in San Antonio

my grandpa had been following me around asking when we could have the cupcakes, so finally I just went and got one for him… haha! He’s so cute.

best man Jared.

My dad.

Mom Lynne

First dance.

the BFF and her man—bridesmaids dresses from Alfred Angelo

Mom and Edd.

My grandparents. <3

More photos to come tomorrow, so check back then! And happy Wednesday! :)

Our Wedding: The Ceremony

2012-02-07T16:00:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are photos from the ceremony! The venue is called the Spire at Sunset Station, and it was absolutely gorgeous. We had our reception there too, in the back of the room! Again, all photos by Bend the Light.

rolled up programs like a scroll and tied with ribbon

me and my dad

We’re actually not Catholic, but our rent-a-preacher wore a Catholic priest suit… there was a bit of a mix up there.

Check back tomorrow for pictures from the reception! :)

Our Wedding Day: Getting Ready

2012-02-07T08:05:00.001-06:00

Two years ago today Matthew and I tied the knot on a day that was crazy and beautiful and not without faults but wonderful just the same. I’ve never posted more than a few wedding pictures here before, and I thought this week an appropriate one to do so. :)

Our wedding took place before blogging (and PINTEREST) really entered the scene in my life. Those two tools would have probably been enormously helpful, but then again who knows… they may have overwhelmed me even more. I planned our wedding on a pretty small budget while the groom lived in another state and while I was working full time and in my last (full time) semester in college. I was stressed to the max, and in the final run I didn’t even care much about the decisions I was making—I just wanted them made and checked off the list. I’d never really dreamed much of what my wedding would be like, and after a year of long distance at the time, I was just ready to be married to my husband and living in the same state! That was most important to me.

As it stands now, with months of blogging and Pinterest-ing to thank, I would change just about every single detail of my wedding (as far as decorations, bridesmaids’ dresses, color scheme, etc goes), and have put in for a do-over “celebration of love” party in 2015… But that is neither here nor there. I’d love to write more about the wedding some time, but for now I’ll just be posting our pictures in increments over the next couple days. I’ve enjoyed looking through them again, and I hope you will too! All photos were taken by Bend the Light Photography (which we’d highly recommend). :)

GETTING READY

best friend Megan :)

my sister Kristen

sweet friend Kelly

sweet friend Leigha

texting Matthew

For anyone who might wonder, my dress was from David’s Bridal. Check back this afternoon for pictures from the ceremony! :)

An ode to the cupcake

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Do you believe in self-fulfilling prophecies? I do. I believe that what you tell yourself about yourself has a way of coming true, even if it isn’t. And I’ve been telling myself for a while now that I suck at baking. Hence, the suckage at baking.

Having said that, my issues with baking are, indeed, the result of legitimate disasters in the kitchen. There was the time I tried to make delicious pull-apart monkey bread and yet the dough simply would. not. rise. Yes, I used fresh yeast, and the correct amount. I put said dough in the warmest place in the house—the laundry room, while the dryer was going. When a considerable amount of time had passed and the dough had not yet risen a single millimeter, I did the normal thing and started to blow dry it. With my blow dryer. Nothing. So I just said screw it and cooked the dough like it was, since I was in a time crunch. Nastiest monkey bread in the history of the world. It tasted exactly like raw dough, except raw dough with all the moisture sucked out of it. Drizzled with icing.

Fail.

Then there was the time I tried to make this amazing brownie/cookie/oreo recipe, but got ahead of myself and misread the directions and ended up mixing all the brownie mix with the cookie mix before I realized that OOPS. That’s, like, completely wrong and there is absolutely no way to save this.

I called Matthew, bawling, because I had ruined yet another would-be delicious baked good. He thought someone had died and was very relieved when he finally made out the words “ruined!” “brownies!” “ALWAYS!” “wife!” “failure!”

Fail.

HOWEVER. Cupcakes. The one thing I have never sucked at. Cupcakes are my crowning glory. They give me great happiness—everything from the creamy and delicious batter, to the way that batter smells when it’s baking, to the icing, to the eating of the icing, to the pure delightfulness of the sprinkles.

Speaking of icing and sprinkles, this weekend I tried out a cheap Wilson decorating kit I got at the grocery store for $6.99, and it basically rocked my world. It made the icing part of baking cupcakes MUCH easier and quicker, not to mention the cupcakes looked completely legit as a result. Just thought you should know.

Oh, and also. I tried out this recipe because it seemed pretty amazing, and how could 50+ bakers be wrong? And they weren’t. I must say, the consistency and flavor of the cake was perfection. You use a real vanilla bean, which was pretty much mind blowing.

But anyway. That’s all just FYI. The main things I wanted to accomplish here today were A) to convince myself that if I can be good at cupcakes then there’s no reason I can’t be good at other baking-related activities and B) let’s all stop telling ourselves we suck at things we don’t necessarily suck at because we’re making ourselves suck at them. Probably.

Happy Monday!

Best of Instagram, week 5

2012-02-05T11:45:00.001-06:00

It’s been a weird weekend. This is one of those circumstances where shit is going on in REAL life that is simply too sensitive to blog about—the things that make life imperfect, the things that hurt, the things that can’t always be captured in words and pictures. Do you know what I mean? One thing I don’t ever want to do here is paint a picture of perfection that doesn’t match my reality, so that’s why I’m telling you that NEWS FLASH: life is hard sometimes. It’s not always puppies and rainbows, and for anyone else who’s going through some hard stuff, I just want you to know that it’s OK. We’re all in this together. You’ll do the right thing, and you’ll be OK.

One of my biggest pet peeves in social media is when others (whether on Facebook, Twitter, or blogs) are cryptic and vague, and here I am being cryptic and vague. So for that I apologize. All I can say is that everything really is OK—no one is about to go jump off a cliff or slit their wrists or anything, but I think that sometimes the fibers of life that can be so beautifully intertwined can also become maddeningly knotted. It’s like when your jewelry all sloshes around in a suitcase for a while and then you find it in a big tangled mess that has to be carefully undone. I don’t know about you, but sometimes untangling those chains just makes me feel a little like screaming and crying and punching someone in the liver all at once.

But it will be OK. Life is beautiful, and life is good. Even when it’s not.

Now here’s my week in Instagram. :) Link up below!

1. Chamomile-vanilla tea… good for the soul.
2. The disaster that was our bedroom while I was filling frames. I’m fairly certain that this gallery wall will be the death of me (literally—I almost fell off the ladder trying to reach the frames at the top).

3 & 4. On a dinner blate with Ruthie Hart… have you ever laughed AND cried AND felt like the person you just met has been your BFF your whole life? Me either. Until this past Wednesday night. Ruthie, I just adore you and had so much fun at dinner! :)

5. Cupcakes for Matthew’s birthday (which is today!). I used a cheap Wilson decorating kit with bags and metal tips for the icing, and they turned out SO pretty!
6. Tomato-Basil Parmesan soup… HEAVEN. (but NOT healthy)

7. Something I wore + Gracie face. :)
8. My sweet baby boy. (and his precious ball)

9 & 10. Dinner last night for Matthew’s birthday…such a nice evening. :)

Happy Sunday, my friends! It’s gonna be a good week.

Friday Features (don’t miss this one!)

2012-02-03T08:52:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! We made it to the weekend! I have a to do list a mile long today (working on that gallery wall took up most of my time yesterday—I think I’ve kind of grown to hate it) so I’m going to turn this post right over to my sponsor features. Today I’m introducing some exceptional bloggers, so definitely check these ladies out! You’ll be glad you did.

* * * * *

Miss Megan is the author behind Freckled Italian, a blog about her life as a master’s student in Virginia! She’s a girl after my own heart, with a degree in English and Creative Writing and a soon to be master’s in Children’s Literature. She includes lots of fun stories, pictures, and recipes in her posts, but what I love most is that we really get a glimpse into her life and her mind. Definitely check her out!

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

Next is my girl Alivia of Brunch in April. I have absolutely loved to watch this blog blossom as of late. Alivia’s photos really tell a story, as does she. This post in particular is one of my favorites ever, because it’s honest, and it’s real life. I’m pretty sure Alivia and I would be BFFs if we were closer. And that’s one of my favorite things about blogging—finding those long-lost BFFs. Go meet her!

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

And last but most certainly not least is Kendra of The Single Momoirs. The moment I stepped virtual foot into this blog I fell head over heels in love. The aesthetic is fabulous for one thing, and Kendi recently opened Poxxie, her own (really rad) blog design business. If you’re in the market, check it out fo sho. Besides being a great designer, Kendi is also a single mama to an adorable little boy and writes about her life in a slightly sarcastic tone (my favorite). Go make friends, y’all! (oh yeah! and she’s Southern!) :)

Blog | Facebook | Blog Design

* * * * *

Happy Friday! (and a reminder: Best of Instagram link up will be back Sunday!)

Vintage Jenni

2012-02-02T08:56:00.001-06:00

I might as well just admit that I have no material for a decent blog post today. On the agenda is finishing up some projects (like the gallery wall in our bedroom, which I CANNOT WAIT to show you) and cleaning my house before the weekend. I thought the above picture was appropriate given that I’m holding a broom. Clearly already in training for domestic life.

Also, do you want to know my favorite inspirational quote of all time? Of course you do. Let’s just call this your little nugget of truth for the day.

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well people can’t take their eyes off you.” --Maya Angelou

Bam. Inspired.

Now excuse me while I go scrub toilets.

Marolsha giveaway!

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Today's giveaway comes courtesy of the wonderful little Etsy shop Marolsha. Up for grabs is a $20 shop credit, and thanks to a fabulous selection, I have no doubts there is something in this shop for everyone! Enter below. :)

TO ENTER:

Mandatory: Visit Marolsha and leave a comment with one of your favorite items in the shop!

For extra entries:
(all represented by SEPARATE COMMENTS)

+ Like Marolsha on Facebook
+ Like Story of My Life on Facebook
+ Pin a photo from the shop to your Pinterest page and leave the link to your pin

That's four possible entries, and the winner will be announced next week. Good luck!

* * * * *

And the winner of last week's Blowfish giveaway is...

Congratulations Marybeth! :)

Gracie & Cooper: a love story

2012-01-31T09:29:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time I dated a guy who had a dog. That dog ended up knocked up with nine puppies, and I watched their birth on the evening of October 8th, 2005… the fall of my first semester in college. Those births were amazing and disgusting and breathtaking all in one.

One of the puppies was Gracie. She was third born and the first of only two girls, and as soon as I laid eyes on her I knew she was the puppy for me. We bonded immediately, and my love for her has only grown every day since then.

That ex boyfriend and I had two favorite puppies: Gracie and a little guy named Max. Max was the sweetest and funniest puppy of all time, and while we gave away all of the other puppies, we couldn’t seem to give away Gracie, Max, or the sickly little runt of the litter we named Chance.

So even though I wasn’t allowed to bring Gracie home with me (still lived with my Mom at the time), and even though the ex really couldn’t have any more dogs, we held onto these three puppies longer than we should have. And Gracie was the first to get sick.It was New Year’s Day of 2006 when I took Gracie to the doggy emergency room and found out she had Parvo—because I didn’t get her shots soon enough. The vets told me Parvo is a deadly disease for dogs, and she probably wouldn’t make it even if they did everything they could to save her. Then the vet asked me if she had littermates, and I told him about Max and Chance. I learned that any un-vaccinated littermates would have the disease by now as well, even if they weren’t showing signs yet.

I was devastated.

Essentially, I had to choose which puppy to save. My ex was broke as a joke and I only had several thousand dollars of waiting tables money saved. I couldn’t save all three, but a big chunk of my savings and 5 days of hospitalization later, Gracie survived.

Max and Chance passed before Gracie even came home from the hospital. And every time I think of them I cry.

^Max and Chance

^Max the day he got sick. He was such a sweet little boy.

^Gracie and Max (they were best buds)

^Max and Chance

I could spend a lot more time describing just how horrible it was to lose those two sweet little ones, but this is meant to be a happy story, not a sad one.

So Gracie returned home at a mere 12 pounds—skin and bones, really, but she was alive! And she continued to live with my ex while I still lived at home. The mom dog had to be given away because she got really aggressive towards Gracie and other dogs in general (Gracie has a big scar between her eyes from where her mom bit her).

As time passed, though, Gracie became more and more neurotic when left alone. She had severe separation anxiety, so whenever my ex or I left her, she would destroy everything in sight. We decided to get her a “friend” in hopes this might help, and so began the search for the perfect addition to the pack.

About six animal shelters and a few days later, we wound up at one particular shelter after having looked at many dogs that didn’t seem like the right match for Gracie. She is pretty dominant and we needed the perfect friend that wouldn’t try to be “alpha dog.” So the ex and I were walking through the kennel, looking into the cages at the dogs, when suddenly I noticed that one of the kennel doors wasn’t shut all the way and the dog inside it was out and about to walk towards us!

Nervously, I pointed to the dog and let the worker with us know that the dog was escaping! You just never know what the temperaments of these dogs are, and I didn’t feel like getting attacked.

The worker put the dog back in his kennel and locked it securely, and we carried on looking at the dogs. None of them stood out to me, though—except that one that got out.

“Can we seem him?” I asked, pointing to “Kodak,” the black and white guy that nearly escaped when we arrived.

So the shelter worker put him on a leash and we followed her to the front. She handed the leash to me, and I immediately sat down on the floor beside “Kodak” and began to pet him.

Instant love. I knew immediately he was the one. He literally collapsed into my lap as I pet him, like it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“We’ll take him!” I said.

And a week later, after he was neutered, we did. We also found out he was 11 months old—the same exact age as Gracie. “Kodak” became “Cooper,” and we always commented about how much he looked like Max—such similar markings and close to how we thought Max would have looked when he grew up. Plus, he and Gracie got along amazingly well. They acted like old pals, and that was a pretty big deal since Gracie didn’t like most other dogs.

One day I was looking at pictures of all the puppies, and I commented to my ex that Cooper looked a whole lot like one of the other brothers we had named Oreo, but gave away fairly quickly. “The markings all look so similar! Do you think this could somehow be the same dog?!” I asked.

My ex said no. He noticed that the ears were different colors than Cooper’s ears now, so we never really studied other markings. Regardless, Cooper became one of the most loved dogs in the world, and Gracie’s best friend. It wasn’t until four years later that I discovered the truth.

Fast forward to 2010. Matthew and I were just married, and I was showing him pictures of all of Gracie’s brothers and sisters after they were born. “Look how much this puppy looks like Cooper! It’s how I imagine he would have looked when he was a puppy!” I told Matthew.

He squinted at the screen and said, “Oh my gosh… are you sure that ISN’T Cooper? He looks identical!”

“Nope… can’t be. Look—the ears are different.”

“Well look at Gracie when she was a puppy! She had a white spot almost between her eyes, but when her head grew it ended up on the back of her neck! His ears could have changed!” And then we studied the rest of the markings—something I’d never done before.

Every single one matched up, besides the ears. Impossible! It HAD to be the same dog!

So all along, Cooper was Oreo, and Gracie's brother. Now it makes perfect sense. God sent me Cooper to replace my sweet boy Max, and to be the friend that Gracie needed. I'm not sure how his previous owners could have possibly given him up, but their loss is my gain. I adore him, and Gracie too. Words can't even express how much--they've been with me through so much, and are always the brightest little spots in my life.

Funny how fate works out sometimes, eh? Here's a little tribute to Gracie and Cooper. Hope this love story made you smile! It is 100% true. :)

Another epic “blate”

2012-01-30T17:04:00.001-06:00

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Celine of Starbies and Sangrias, my future fellow Austinite and doctor BFF. We met at Clive Bar downtown (a really cool spot), and she brought her husband and I brought my mace gun (which I test-fired into the bathtub before I left then proceeded to nearly choke to death on the fumes). Better safe than sorry.

The below is what happens when you mix a couple of crazy bloggers who just met with a little bit of alcohol (and the Pocketbooth app on the iPhone):

(sorry these are so tiny! they were too blurry if I made them bigger… boo.)

No but seriously now, here’s a normal, less awkward picture:

Lesson here? Blogger dates are the best. Go on one.

What brings you back?

2012-01-30T09:01:00.001-06:00

Are there any fragrances that bring you back? Like, really bring you back. Make you feel something you once felt, like you’re back there feeling it all over again.

There are a lot of things that do that for me, but one that really stands out is Earl Grey tea. Who knew a fragrance could be so powerful? The smell literally transports me back to the Ritz Carlton in New York City where I sipped it on cozy afternoons in our suite on the seventh floor. I associate that scent so strongly with my perch on the window seat in that fabulous room, gazing out at 6th Avenue and Central Park below, tears running down my cheeks as I wondered how I ever got so lucky.

It also reminds me of chilly nights in Hawaii—especially one night in particular, when Matthew and I dined outside and watched a breathtaking fire show. I was cold, and I ordered some Earl Grey tea. I still remember how good and warm it felt going down, and how nice it smelled, and how happy I was.

I didn’t always love Earl Grey, though. In fact, our relationship started out quite rocky, before I ever tried it. For the longest time it reminded me of a particularly annoying customer at the restaurant where I used to wait tables. He was one of those older men that thought he was reeeally hip and cool, and would roll up in his SUV with the bass blaring, like he wanted everyone to know he was coming. Every single time he came in for breakfast he would ask if we had Earl Grey tea, and every single time I would tell him no. Still don’t have Earl Grey tea. Only Orange Pekoe. Just like last time and all the times before.

So whenever I used to think of Earl Grey tea, I thought of that guy at the restaurant and how I sort of wanted to punch him in the face. But then I tried it one day in New York City, on a trip a man I hardly knew surprised me with (that man is now my husband). And Earl Grey will always be the fragrance of my very fondest memories.

What brings YOU back?

Best of Instagram, Week 4

2012-01-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

Did this weekend FLY by for anyone else? It sure did for us. We’re about to enjoy another lazy Sunday afternoon of movies and muffins and maybe monopoly (whoa, did you catch that unintentional alliteration?), but first—here is my week in iPhone pictures. Leave your link below, if you’d like! (there it is again.)

1. Cooper prefers to be belly-up.
2. Gracie and her shiny lip.

3 & 4. This week’s nail color: Zoya “Megan” and Victoria’s Secret “Crystal Shimmer.”

5 & 6. An organized office—finally! It feels good.

7. Me and my red wellies were prepared for that puddle.
8. DSLR 1 class from Chimpsy! Very helpful and informative.

9 & 10. More of my sweet babies.

11 & 12. Is it just me, or is it even harder to spend money when you have a gift card? I went out to spend both my Madewell and Pottery Barn gift cards this week, and I had even more buyer’s anxiety than normal. How silly.

13. Trailer eats in Austin. Passed by this one in photography class and couldn’t help but snap a picture.
14. Dinner at Moonshine last night… one of our favorite restaurants here in Austin.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

in need of valentine’s day gift ideas for your man? look no further.

2012-01-27T10:17:00.001-06:00

February is a BIG month for me and Matthew. The 5th is his birthday, the 7th is our 2 year anniversary, and obviously the 14th is Valentine’s Day. This year we’re thinking about a staycation to save some dolla-dolla, and I’ve also been trying to come up with some creative (low-cost!) gift ideas. Matthew likes thoughtful gifts, but the problem is… weeeell… I’m not that thoughtful. I’m the kind that prefers to fork over the dough for an expensive gift because a) it requires less thought and b) you’ll HAVE to like it, because it was expensive! Right?!

Enter my incredibly sweet and creative friend Kristin over at Kristin’s Veranda. She’s one of those girls that puts the rest of us to shame with her thoughtfulness—I have encountered it again and again. And when I saw she was selling these sweet little Valentine’s Day packages for 20 bucks each and realized this could be that ticket to an inexpensive, thoughtful gift I so desperately needed, I was ALL OVER THAT. And I thought you guys might like it too. She has all kinds of patterns so you can customize to your guy’s tastes (I chose tools for Matthew since she didn’t have one with guns). And not to worry… I forbade him from reading this post so not to spoil the surprise. :) If you’re interested, go here for more details!

Happy Friday everyone, and don’t forget to have your Best of Instagram pictures ready for Sunday!

Lately.

2012-01-26T09:13:00.001-06:00

Lately I’ve been having difficulty getting the words out. My thoughts are disjointed paragraphs, and maybe that’s a reflection of life right now.

Lately I’ve been studying Gracie and Cooper’s faces, hoping I won’t find any signs of aging—but I do. And I think it’s the cruelest joke of all that man’s best friend doesn’t live nearly as long as man.

I cry often lately. Can’t blame it on PMS either (or pregnancy—might as well throw that out there). Maybe it’s just change.

Lately I’ve had a strong desire to get organized and finish projects. I think it’s an important step that needs to be taken before other, bigger steps.

Lately I’ve realized that I can only do me. I can’t do someone else. But I can sure do a better me than anyone else can.

Lately I’ve been placing happy little things in strategic places where I know I’ll see them, and I know they’ll make me smile.

what can I say, I love cool rocks.

obviously.

Expecto Patronum—from here. (a reminder of our power over circumstances and fear)

Lately I have been happy, despite sometimes being sad.

And lately, I think I’m realizing that’s key—accepting life as it comes at you, every single day. Some days will be better than others. Some days (like yesterday! sheesh!) you will just wake up on the wrong side of the bed and stay there the entire day, and on days like that, it’s important to just treat yourself, if you can. To celebrate life by doing something that you love (like watching Harry Potter… not that I did that), and understand that tomorrow is another day and a new chance.

Today is that new chance. And I’m happy to take it.

Photography tips in your inbox!

2012-01-24T16:30:00.000-06:00

my little baby. (camera strap from here)

I just wanted to make you guys aware of a new campaign by Chimpsy called Shoot In Manual. It’s a completely FREE occasional email sent to you straight from Chimpsy and its founder Mark Cafiero himself, who is an AMAZING photographer (check out his website here!). The goal is to get people to pledge to learn and use the manual settings on their DSLR cameras. And did I mention that this service is FREE? I know I, personally, can use all the free help I can get, so I was all over this. Sign up here!

I feel most beautiful in…

2012-01-24T08:43:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Pheeew, aren’t you glad Blue Monday is over? Things can only look up from here! ;P

For your information, I’m guest posting over at Running on Happiness today. The prompt was “I feel most beautiful in…” and I TRIED to come up with something deeply meaningful, but I just couldn’t. Also, I managed to work in a Twilight reference. You’re welcome.

Oh, and Katie? My host? She’s, like, the hottest blogger in Blogland, and she’s cool and nice, to boot. You should be reading her, and probably hating her a little. It’s ok, we all do it. Head on over.

The most depressing day of the year (and, to ease the pain, a giveaway!)

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Did you know that today is the most depressing day of the year? I didn’t either until I heard that on the news the other day... and thank goodness they told us, because I would have been confused if I’d woken up this morning not knowing why I was so damn depressed.

Just kidding. No, but really! Some experts have declared January 23rd of 2012 to be “Blue Monday,” the date on which a combination of weather, the passage of Christmas, holiday debt, and failed New Year’s resolutions all catch up to us and we start feeling really, really crappy. There is some debate that last week, the 16th, may have been Blue Monday, but I’m going with what I heard on the news. Today is the day.

In honor of Blue Monday, I incorporated blue into my outfit which, consequently, is quite springy in nature thanks to unusually warm temperatures here in Texas. If you’re feeling a bit down today, I hope you won’t do anything too drastic. It’s scientific people. You simply cannot help it.

Personally, I think what you need is some red lipstick. And maybe a super bright colored scarf. Oh! And free shoes from Blowfish! Any shoes of your choosing! Might turn out to be a great day, after all. :) (giveaway below!)

My pants are glowing.

Love these. Super comfy.

{ pants, shirt, scarf: J.Crew, necklace: Stella and Dot, bracelets: F21, shoes: c/o Blowfish, bag: Kate Spade, lipstick: L’oreal Colour Riche in “true red” }

To win your choice of shoes from Blowfish, enter below!

Mandatory:
+ Visit Blowfish and leave a comment letting me know what pair of shoes you’d choose if you won!

For extra entries (all separate comments):
+ Like Blowfish on Facebook
+ Like Story of My Life on Facebook
+ Follow Blowfish on Twitter

The contest is open to international readers, and a winner will be chosen next week! Happy Blue Monday everyone. Let’s CELEBRATE! :)

Best of Instagram, week 3 (+ link-up!)

2012-01-22T12:00:00.000-06:00

As promised, Best of Instagram is back, and I’ve attached a Linky Tool to the bottom of this post! Add a link to your own post anytime this week if you’d like… or not. I won’t be devastated if you don’t. (or will I?)

As I mentioned before, you definitely don’t have to have Instagram to participate… I hear there are some cool Android apps OR you could just use regular cell phone pictures. I should probably come up with a better, more all-encompassing name for this post, but I haven’t quite gotten there yet. ;)

I noticed that a lot of my pictures this time around were of food, signifiying an exceptionally lame week, but I tried to pick a nice little assortment for today’s post. Without further ado, here are some of my best Insta-shots of the week!

1. My workspace (do not be fooled—the other side of the room is a complete disaster).
2. This week’s nail color – L’oreal “caught red handed” with gold glitter on top.

3. Delish, Austin cupcakery. (THE best)
4. Oreo double stuf. And Gracie.

5. Veggies and fruit about to be juiced. (I don’t own a juicer—this was over at my mom’s)
6. Green.

7. One of my favorite notebooks—from here.
8. Just-because gift from my best friend. The Hogwarts Express is on it. Enough said. (from here)

9. Pre-workout breakfast.
10. Delicious lunch out at La Madeleine.

11. This happened last night. I lost quite badly.
12. Received this photo in a text from Matthew. The caption read: “whale vagina.” Only my husband. (oh, yours too?)

I think we’ll end on a positive note. Happy Sunday everyone! :)

*Suggestion for link-up: include your name or a brief description of your photos where it says to enter your link title—that way not everyone’s title is “best of Instagram” or something similar. And be sure and go make new friends with others who may link up! :)

Notice anything different? ……anything at all?

2012-01-21T08:05:00.001-06:00

Hello my friends. You MIGHT have noticed a bit of a change in the scenery took place here last night… and I must say, I’m obsessed.

I recently contacted my good pal Dana from Wonder Forest about redoing my layout, and basically I’ve been a nervous wreck ever since then. SOMEBODY is a liiiittle bit of a control freak, especially when it comes to her precious baby blog, and handing it over to someone else to recreate was no easy feat. I told Dana as exactly what I wanted as possible, then crossed my fingers and hoped I would love it.

This past Wednesday I was treating myself to a nice quiet lunch out, enjoying a delicious salad and creamy potato soup, when halfway through I checked my email on my phone to find that Dana had sent me the first preview of my design! A jolt of sheer terror washed over me and I suddenly lost my appetite and nearly threw up my soup as I waited for the preview to load. What if I hate it? What if it’s not what I asked for? What if I have to ask her to change it and then she hates me for all eternity? PleaseGodpleaseGodpleaseGodmakeitawesomepleeeeeeeeease!

And then the preview finally loaded, and….. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! I absolutely love it. Dana did exactly what I asked for, except even better than I imagined it in my head. I would highly recommend her services to anyone who asks—her level of experience and imagination is completely impressive, and I just wanted to say that it makes a big difference to hire someone who truly knows their stuff. Dana has a super wide variety of design experience in her extended portfolio, and can really do absolutely anything you ask her to. So if you’re in the market for a new design, I’d strongly consider going with Wonder Forest… or if you’re not, definitely go check out Dana’s amazing blog and shop. This girl just oozes creativity, and I’m happy to count her among my friends. :)

Oh, and real quick. About the ANTLERS. I know that’s unique. Why antlers, you ask? Well, first off, they’re kind of a cool and trendy thing right now, but more importantly they are a symbol of the home and husband I love so dearly—two very important aspects of the “story of my life.” We sort of have antlers all over our house (many still attached to heads…. SAD DAY), and so I felt it appropriate to include them in my header here as well. Matthew approved! :)

So, what do you guys think of the new design?? Ehhh?? EHHHHH??

Happy Saturday!

Sunday link-up + Blogger Highlight

2012-01-20T08:40:00.001-06:00

Good Friiiiiiiiday morning! Did you know that it’s Friday? Yep, it is. And I just completed my first week of waking up at 6:00-6:30 AM every.single.morning and making ish happen, y’all. We’ll see if such productivity is sustainable for the long term.

Also, get your Best of Instagram/cell-phone photos ready for Sunday afternoon, cause there’ll be a link-up! I know now that there’s a similar link up out there, but not aired on Sunday afternoon. And not on Story of My Life. BAM. Feel free to copy the way I format the post (see past here—I use Picnik.com for the collages), or come up with something of your own. There are no rules!

Anywho, today I’d like to introduce three fab sponsors of this here blog, so let’s get to it!

* * * * *

First up is Celine, the blogger mastermind behind Starbies and Sangrias. Celine is a DOCTOR currently living in Portland but about to relocate to AUSTIN, and while I tried to tell her that we cannot be friends since she’s a doctor and way cooler than me, upon exchanging several emails I fear that we are destined to be BFFs. Chick is funny. And pretty. And smart. And a doctor. And an awesome blogger. No fair.

Blog

* * * * *

Next is adorable miss Valerie from the blog Southern Cupcake. Valerie is a college student and hails from the great state of Louisiana where she blogs about her love for vintage, fashion, crafting, cooking and baking, and overall being sweet and awesome. Doesn’t she have the perfect smile?

Blog

* * * * *

And last but certainly not least is beautiful Stephanie of Stephanie and Such! Stephanie is funny and sweet as pie, resides in Utah, and blogs all about her life and loves and adventures in dating. This post made me laugh out loud. You will love this girl!

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

* * * * *

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

On this day, three years ago

2012-01-19T09:06:00.001-06:00

January 19th date necklace, c/o Stella Collections (use coupon code Jenni25 for 25% off!)

On this day, three years ago, I woke up in a rented little house I paid for waiting tables. The walls were cold in that little house, and I snuggled with my puppies every night so we’d all stay warm.

On this day, three years ago, my three and a half year relationship had just ended, and I was feeling lost.

On this day, three years ago, it was Martin Luther King Day and a university holiday—it was my second to last semester of college.

On this day, three years ago, I met a friend for breakfast—a date that had been rescheduled since it didn’t work out the first try.

On this day, three years ago, I was running late (typical)… but the timing was still perfect.

On this day, three years ago, paths were crossed in a funny little turn of fate. I didn’t know it then, but one year later I’d be married to that blue eyed man I met out in the parking lot. My best friend.

On this day, three years ago, the entire course of my life changed direction. Matthew, I hope to someday be someone who deserves you, and to be what you deserve. You make me better everyday. I am so grateful.

Funny all that can happen in a single day, isn’t it.

“I have learned to listen to my heart. I have learned that if you never make room for better things and better ways to be, if you never clear out the things in your life that stand in the way of your happiness, then you are not aligning your universe to allow for amazing things. In this life, you don’t find yourself. You create yourself. And the same goes for love: you don’t find love, you create a road for love to travel and wait for it to come.” Full love story here.

PS – The date necklace pictured above is one of my favorites and would make a fabulous gift (guys—Valentine’s Day… ehhh?) Be sure and use the coupon code Jenni25 for 25% off! :)

I should have been a Cullen.

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

YOU GUYS. My mom and I went out and took some pictures last night and HOLY WHITENESS. Upon reviewing said pictures, I realized that I have, indeed, become so pale that it appears I am literally bloodless and could pass for a stone cold vampire, especially while wearing blood red lipstick as pictured below. I’m not sure if I feel awesome about this or slightly terrified. I think it may be a confusing mixture of both.

Point is, this girl needs to find herself a legit looking spray tan, stat. I’m trying to give up tanning, and it’s NOT easy!

ANYWAY.

I also wanted to mention how amazing it feels to find the perfect shade of lipstick. Especially when it costs 5-7 dollars at your local Target/Walmart/HEB/pharmacy. I’ve never been a lipstick person (primarily because I’ve always thought I look all kinds of ridiculous in it), but the winds of change are blowing, people. And I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again. :)

I vant to suck your blood…

Nope, it wasn’t raining. Nope, I didn’t care.

{ Belt, gingham shirt, pants, and necklace: J.Crew, Jacket: Loft (last season), Boots: Hunter (duh!), Bag: Kate Spade (similar here), Bracelets: F21, Lipstick: L’oreal Colour Riche “true red” }

Happy Hump Day everyone! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

PS – If anyone is in the market for Hunters, go a size down! They run big. I usually wear a 6 1/2 or 7, but I got a 6 and they fit perfectly. :)

Let’s talk hair.

2012-01-17T09:02:00.001-06:00

Let’s face it. One of the perks of being a blogger is getting to try out awesome products so I can report back to you all about them! Today I’d like to tell you a bit about a super sweet hairdryer from the wonderful people over at Missiko. It’s like maybe they saw my pictures and knew my hair needed some serious help… and they’d be right. I’ve been using the same cheap Revlon hair dryer for probably about 5 years now, and sometimes it sparks inside and smells like it might actually burst into flames. Fire hazard, anyone? No to mention it doesn’t dry my hair very well. Which I didn’t know then, but I know now.

After receiving my Hana dryer in the mail, I did a little experiment. I set a stop watch on my phone and timed both the drying and the flat ironing afterwards, which is how I usually style my hair, and with my new Hana dryer, it took 7.5 minutes to dry and 17 to flat iron, to total 24.5 minutes. (and I have A LOT of hair.)

A few days later, I dried my hair with the old Revlon and then flat ironed it, and the drying took a whopping 13 minutes, flat ironing 20 minutes—to total 33 minutes. So basically, the Hana dryer just shaved 8 1/2 minutes off my styling routine. For someone who is ALWAYS running late (as we discussed), this is sort of life altering.

What I found interesting was that it not only shaved time off the drying, but also off the flat ironing. It’s hard to explain, but I was sort of in awe of the incredibly what I’d call “soft” but powerful airstream coming out of that puppy. It doesn’t even get as scalding hot as my old dryer, but it dries the hair more quickly and the end result is so much softer and less frizzy than how my hair would look after using the ol’ Revlon. I was pretty dang impressed, you guys.

Ok, and ONE LAST THING. Missiko doesn’t just send you the hairdryer when you purchase. You get this huge box of all kinds of amazing goodies. I was literally shocked, and even emailed them to ask if it was a promotional deal or if everyone gets such an amazing VIP package. Sure enough, everyone who orders this dryer gets the same box, stuffed with Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner, Hana shine serum, a straightening comb, an eyelash curler, two hand sanitizers, bath petals, a handful of nail files, and a freakin’ teddy bear, y’all. Talk about bang for your buck!

So check out their hair dryers (I have this one) or professional hair straighteners if you’d like, and know that they definitely come with a shining recommendation from your ol’ pal Jenni. :)

Ask Matthew: Questions answered! (pt 2)

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are most of the rest of your answered questions! I’m still holding out hope that Matthew will make an appearance in a vlog in the near future, but don’t hold your breath. ;)

Let’s turn it back over to Matthew!! (once again, I inserted my own comments here and there…)

He WILL kill me for using this picture, but I just can’t help myself. It looks like a picture from a tabloid, doesn’t it? I can just see the caption now… “Matthew out shopping… he’s just like US!”

What made you decide to be a lawyer—lifelong dream?
I've always had a desire to go to law school and become an attorney. I don't think it was a lifelong dream though. I've done well in my business and felt like it was time to take the next step in my long term career goals.

If you could only pick one, what is one trait from Jenni you would want your kids to have? One that you wouldn’t want them to have?
Jenni has a great heart, is very intelligent, and has a memory like an elephant. (that’s three babe.) I wish I had her memory. I have an awful memory. I have to write myself reminder notes to look at my reminder note. I wouldn't want our kids to have her procrastination. And it's not that Jenni procrastinates, it's just that she lacks discipline to get started on things. (alas, ‘tis true) A great quote that I love says: "Discipline is doing the things you hate, but doing them like you love them." Guess who said that? Mike Tyson. I know, i know. Not only is it smart, but maybe the only complete sentence he's ever articulated.

What is Jenni's biggest pet peeve with you?
I think I have like 492 that are all tied for 1st place. She gets frustrated that I can't remember what I did that morning. I always have to remind her that I deal with so many stresses that my brain has to make room for the really important stuff. (of course, sometimes our opinions differ on what’s important… ;) She gets frustrated with my impatience and that I'm always hungry. (the man eats like 6 meals a day!!)

I am sure there are many things you love about Jenni, but what was the one “thing” that really spoke to you saying this is THEE girl? The first time I looked in her eyes. I knew right away. She was gonna be my wife whether she wanted to or not. :)

Jenni does a lot of outfit posts, but what is your favorite sort of outfit to see her in? Glamorous? Casual? Sweatpants/hair tied chillin with no make up on? (lil Drake lyrics)
Hmmm...my parents read this so I can't answer honestly. Soooo, my second favorite would be glamorous. Probably because I never really get to see her that way. (And no babe, this isn't an open invitation to go shopping). (and by saying he never gets to see me that way, I don’t THINK he means it’s because I’m a slob… it’s because we rarely go anywhere that calls for “glamorous” dress!)

What is it like being married to a(n) (awesome) blogger? e.g. Very well knowing many things in life are documented. I'm really torn on the whole blog thing. On one hand, it takes a lot of time away from our relationship and it gets really annoying when she's always taking pictures or doing things for this whole other world. (as discussed in last week’s post, we are working on a bit more balance :) On the other hand, it's something that she really loves and it's helped her to grow and mature. It's also helped her learn what her passion is. Jenni is an amazing photographer and really has an eye for turning everyday things into art.

Any advice for other blogger husbands/boyfriends? Dude. I have no idea. Perhaps we should come together and create our own blog and start a battle of the sexes. We could talk about fun stuff...like guns, sports, preparing for the end of the world, guns, and guns. It would probably fail though. Our blogging time would be seriously interrupted by having to take outfit pictures for our wives' blog. (good point.)

What are some good gift ideas for the guy who doesn't want much?
I'm hard to shop for. If I want something, I just go get it. I like thoughtful gifts. I've been asking Jenni for a photo album of my favorite pictures of her! I like coupon books that I get to use at any time; none of that 24 hour notice crap (hint hint wifey). Make him his favorite dinner. Stuff like that.

What are some things you like to do?
I like to shoot guns, hunt, spend time at the ranch, dinner and a movie with Jenni, spend time with our dogs, prepare for the end of the world, camping (which Jenni and I need to do), etc.

Would you rather be superhumanly smart, or superhumanly strong and athletic? Probably superhumanly smart. Being strong and athletic only gets you so far. Sure, you can make a ton of money, but that does nothing to help humanity. I'd rather give gifts to the world, like curing cancer or AIDS. I just don't want being so smart to give me a big head. Not talking about my ego. I literally mean I don't want my super awesome brain to make my head huge ...that would just be weird.

* * * * *

Ha ha, indeed. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this for us Matthew!! And if anyone missed his first Q&A session, check it out here. Happy Monday!

Best of Instagram, Week 2

2012-01-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

Is it weird that I’ve been looking forward to this post all week? I really enjoy looking back on my Instagram shots of the past seven days and compiling them here… I guess because they consist of some of my favorite little moments!

It was a good week for materialism. Not gonna lie. I bought myself a shmancy purse, something I never do, and on Wednesday I received a certain pair of red rain boots I’ve been wanting for MONTHS UPON MONTHS but had convinced myself were frivolous. Once my birthday and Christmas rendered me a tad bit of discretionary income, down came the defenses, and out came the debit card.

Best decision of my life.

1. Choir of angels singing. (Red Hunters are hard to come by in stores, but they can still be found here, with FREE shipping!)
2. Whoever said the best things in life are not things was on crack. (I kid, I kid)

3. Of course, no rain in sight on the forecast. I shall wear them anyway, and without shame.
4. The ever-popular in-car cell phone pic.

5. A little something special with Matthew’s afternoon coffee.
6. My favorite place in the house (sans bubbles since my skin is STILL freaking out).

7. Sauteed chicken breast with topping made of tomato, avocado, fresh basil, minced garlic, EVOO, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Heaven in your mouth.
8. Minestrone soup and bread with butter. Don’t be fooled—the soup is straight from a can.

9. Cooper—DONOTTAKEMYKONGIWILLBITEYOU.
10. Gracie—Hey mom what’s up. (love that sweet face.)

11. Dust bag.
12. New purse—love at first sight. (similar here.) Guys, I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I don’t buy expensive designer purses, but Kate Spade threatens to change that once and for all. I. am. obsessed. Luckily this one was a big time deal at the outlet store, though! But I fear I am like an animal that has had it’s first taste of blood… it’s a slippery slope, y’all. I better get that photography business up and running. ;)

* * * * *

Would anyone participate if I made “Best of Instagram” a weekly link up? Not sure if non iphone users have a similar app, but of course anyone would be free to join in!

Christmas in your mailbox. Once a month.

2012-01-13T09:03:00.001-06:00

Hello lovers… anyone out there feeling the after-Christmas blues? January can sometimes be a bleak month. This year, though, I was only briefly visited by that post-holiday depression—like, only during the time it took me to pack away all the Christmas decorations and get my filthy house back in order. Now I’m just super excited about the year stretched before us! So much possibility! :)

Anyway, I know lots of bloggers are probably already privy to this information, but I wanted to do my part to spread the word, too. (plus, I get free stuff if you sign up… holla…) I want to tell you about Birchbox, the most ingenious thing invented since dry shampoo which, consequently, came in my December Birchbox.

What IS Birchbox, you ask? Why, it’s like Christmas in your mailbox, once per month. A reason for living, if you will. For the price of $10 measly dollars per month, you get a delightful little box of high-end beauty samples tailored to your tastes, so that you can try them out before you spend the big bucks on them.

I’ve received a Birchbox for both December and November so far, and have been thrilled will the samples in each. I ended up ordering the dry shampoo pictured in the last photo!

My January Birchbox…

And a few of my favorite items from December’s Birchbox…

Seriously, why didn’t I think of this concept?! (*bangs head against the wall*) Brilliance.

So go sign up for your Birchbox. It’s $10 a month, and there’s no commitment. Only awesomeness. And a Birchbox subscription would also make an amazing gift. Doooo it.

Things to do in Austin: Another Broken Egg Cafe

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

There are only a few days left before Matthew officially starts his second semester of law school and until I must again adjust to the ~~loneliness and neglect~~ brand new schedule, and so he and I have been soaking up his last few days of freedom. I took him to a new restaurant called Another Broken Egg Cafe near UT downtown, and we beyond enjoyed ourselves. One might say we in fact gorged ourselves, and have found a new favorite spot.

The menu is really unique and everything we tried was fabulous. Might I recommend the Bacado Omelette? Stuffed with crispy bacon and avocado and topped with melty Monterey Jack Cheese and fresh salsa? I should also mention the perfectly crisp and seasoned to high-heaven potatoes. They will likely haunt my dreams.

This is not a sponsored post, by the way. Just sayin’. If you’re in town, you should go.

PS – Hey Austinites! Another Broken Egg is better than Kerbey Lane. Gasp! That’s right. I just said that.

What’s In My Bag VLOG

2012-01-11T09:15:00.001-06:00

Hello loves. Guess what? I vlogged. About “what’s in my bag.” And it’s probably the crappiest quality vlog you’ll ever see. I suck. But maybe you’ll find it interesting, nonetheless. And apparently I can only write in short, abrupt sentences today. (my brain is still boiling from a really nasty migraine this morning… ick.)

The irony of it all is that this video was shot a couple weeks ago, and I now have a completely different purse and wallet! Oh well. I’ll have to do another one of these sometime.

Head on over to Becky’s sweet blog, This Road Called Vida, to watch! Happy Wednesday!

Balance. (and the TRUTH about comments)

2012-01-10T09:19:00.001-06:00

So, I’m thinking Matthew’s post yesterday was a hit… the blog had record visits, and now Matthew is feeling very cocky and keeps mumbling to himself about being famous. I should never have told him about the spike in my stats…

But anyway, I actually wanted to talk about something serious today. Two things have happened in the past couple of days that were sort of eye-openers for me, and so naturally I wanted to discuss them with you.

For one thing, while Matthew was writing out his answers for yesterday’s post, I noticed he wasn’t answering any of the multiple questions on how he feels about the “Blog World” or what it’s like being married to a blogger. I said, “babe, you should answer some of the questions about blogging! People seem really interested in that!”

And then he told me he doesn’t want to answer those questions, because he only has negative things to say about my blogging.

WHAT?!

I was shocked for a few minutes. I thought maybe he would write about how it’s given me a fun hobby and part time job, how it’s given me confidence and a way to make a little money of my own, but nope. Turns out his view on it is influenced more by the time it takes away from us, by the attention it takes away from him when I’m glued to my phone reading and replying to comments, answering tweets, posting pictures to Instagram, etc. When I’ve managed my time poorly so I’m still on the computer at 7:00, 8:00 o’clock sometimes, and wasting valuable time he and I should be spending together. Sometimes blogging is like a job you never shut off, never go home from. Or at least that’s the unhealthy way it’s been for me lately.

I realized how unacceptable that is.

And THEN I read Elizabeth’s post last night, and it really hit home. Like her, blogging has become more than just a fun hobby and part-time job for me—its become an addiction. “Strangers” sometimes feel more important than my own family. Replying to comments so that people don’t stop leaving them has become that mountain I can never quite reach the top of, and it’s starting to make me feel a little crazy.

Let me tell you a little about how it works with comments. When your blog is still small, it works to reply to them. You develop relationships with people, and it’s fun, and it works.

But as your blog continues to grow, and if you continue to attempt to reply to as many comments as possible, things get out of control. Because when you reply to comments, those people just keep coming back and leaving them. Naturally! I, myself, have been thrilled to receive replies from my favorite bloggers occasionally, and it makes me want to keep leaving them—I feel heard and appreciated, and that’s a great feeling! You feel a bit like you’ve developed a relationship with that blogger, and it’s not so one sided anymore. I’ve always wanted every one of my readers to feel that way.

But like I said, the more comments you reply to, the more you receive, and the more impossible it becomes to reply to them all. I always mark especially nice comments as “unread” in my inbox so I’ll remember to go back and reply to them, but since I post almost daily, those unread messages pile up and start to seem insurmountable, and then they clog up my inbox such that I become slower at responding to actual emails from people, sponsor requests, etc. And I’ve realized I need to come up with a better system, or just “let go” a little better. I’ve been letting go a little more lately, and though the comments on my blog have dropped some, I think it’s ok.

The truth is that when a blog’s following get’s bigger, the blogger him/herself does, indeed, start to become a little more inaccessible. People stop leaving comments because they know they won’t get replies—they don’t feel “heard” and sometimes feel like they’re just writing into the wind. I get that. Even here on my own blog, only a small fraction of my readers comment. I’m not going to lie—that makes me sad, because I love hearing from you SO much. Receiving positive or engaging comments on something I write feels like the best kind of reward and validation—it’s absolutely wonderful, and I read and appreciate each and every comment. They are little bright spots all throughout my day as they come in, and I feel like I get to know you through them. But what people need to understand (and, as a blog reader I came to this conclusion a while back), is that a blogger’s post is their letter to YOU; the comments are your letters back to them, and generally shouldn’t be left only in hopes of building a relationship with the blogger. If that happens, it’s a fabulous bonus, but I have learned to lower my expectations for commenting and now try to leave thoughtful comments only as a sign of appreciation and admiration for what someone has written—never expecting a response. If I want to reach out to a blogger a little more directly, I’ll write them an email.

Maybe some of you will think that sounds a little cold, but I am just explaining the reality of how things are when your blog gets a bit bigger. I like to think of myself as a pretty kind person; I hate to think of ever making someone feel “left out” or unappreciated, which is why I try to reply back or visit readers’ blogs now and then. But I think every blogger reaches a point when they realize that it simply isn’t possible anymore, and you can’t completely avoid letting really amazing comments go unanswered sometimes.

Now, having said aaalllllllll that, I don’t think I’m quite there yet. Since I DO treat this blog like a (really awesome) job, and since I don’t work outside the home at this point, I DO still plan to reply to comments occasionally. But for me, the key moving forward is going to be BALANCE. I will have a list of priorities, and it will go something like this: keeping my house clean, food in the fridge, and spending QUALITY time with my husband---->writing blog posts, answering emails--->replying to comments (and all but spending time with my husband need to be done during set hours, so they aren’t taking time away from him, friends, or other family). Maybe that will mean picking a post every now and then and replying only to those comments, or maybe it will mean continuing to do as I’ve done and marking especially thoughtful comments as “unread” and revisiting them later (perhaps I just need to move them to another folder so they are no longer in the inbox.)

So, WHY did I write all this? I guess I just have this strong desire for every blogger and blog reader to understand how crucial it is to have balance and to have your priorities in order, and also to understand a little better about how commenting works once a blog reaches a certain point. I hope that you understand how very much your words mean to those bloggers whom you leave comments for—myself or any other blogger—even if they go unanswered.

Thanks for reading my thoughts, if you made it this far. You are so very appreciated. :)

And now, here’s a completely unrelated photo of Gracie from last night (that’s MY pillow). One might say that she believes in balance, as well.

Ask Matthew: Questions answered! (pt 1)

2012-01-09T09:18:00.001-06:00

It’s here, you guys. The first installment of answered questions from last week’s “Ask Matthew” post. I tried to get him to do a vlog, but we’re not quite there yet. I will continue to ~~nag~~ attempt to convince him to do one for some of the rest of the questions!

This was a very interesting exercise, and I loved reading his answers! FYI, some of the law school answers are pretty lengthy, but of course you don’t have to read those unless you’re interested. Also FYI, I inserted a few comments in red here and there. :) And now, over to Matthew!

(another favorite picture of mine)

Emergency Preparedness

Q: Let’s say zombies DO take over the world, and let’s say one of the zombies confronts you with your emergency preparedness bag and says he will spare your life (and Jenni’s), but you are only allowed to bring ONE item from your bag: which will it be and why?!
A: Please, you don’t think I haven’t prepared for this exact situation do you? This would never happen; I have more than one emergency bag placed in strategic locations. Corporations call it redundancy and spend millions trying to get rid of it; I call it survival insurance.

Q: Please give us a true 1st person testimony of your so called view on the Zombie Apocalypse that Jenni has told us about.
A: I didn’t actually think zombies were going to take over the world until I saw “I am Legend” and was like “oh shit…that could actually happen!” With all the cloning and gene testing crap that we don’t even know about, I definitely think one of those lab experiments gone wrong could escape and try to populate the world through cross breeding.

In reality, it’s just good to have stuff on hand. We live in the most powerful country in the world and our own government couldn’t (or just didn’t) make it to the victims of Katrina for 3 days. If you remember, some people were forced to loot from grocery stores, broke into people’s homes, and at a time when one would hope the community would come together, hysteria set in and women were raped, a few people were murdered, and people went without food and water for almost a week. That will not happen at my house…you try to break in or touch my wife, you’re gonna get a bullet in your ass (awww… that’s sweet?).

Q: We are pretty stocked up in our emergency/disaster preparedness kit… but what, in your opinion, is the most important item to have on hand?
A: There isn’t one specific item…it’s like saying what kid you love the most (maybe some of you can say that, I don’t know). If I could choose only two things it would be food and water to last at least 7 days. Get this: the average American household has less than a 2 day supply of food and water on hand. If you have nothing right now, you should at least buy a 72 hour preparedness kit and supplement it with extra canned food and water to get you to last a week. Also, add something that can give you something to do. Boredom is one of the greatest things overlooked in an emergency. For example, I put a pack of playing cards and a card game pamphlet in every one of my bags.

Love/Relationship/Jenni

Q: How do we find a find a romantic guy like you who will propose so quickly?
A: Russia. Definitely Russia. Mail order husband is the next wave; I suggest investing in it.

I think sometimes it just works out that way. I wasn’t planning on proposing so soon, it just happened to work out that way and felt right when I was doing it.

Q: When I read your love story, it said that your parents talked about you and Jenni meeting. I assume they talked to you about it too, so I’d love to know, what was it that they used to say to you about Jenni?
A: My Mom told me about Jenni for two years before I met her. My Mom would always say that she just knew I would fall in love with her. She would always talk about how beautiful she was, how gorgeous her eyes were, how she could tell that Jenni carried herself well, was educated, and the perfect girl for me (aww, shucks…).

Q: When did you know know Jenni was “the one?”
A: It didn’t take a full second for me to fall in love with her…the first time I saw her I knew she would be my wife (he has stuck to this story since the beginning).

Q: What are Jenni’s quirks? (for example, I tend to have OCD when cooking/cleaning, I sing sentences, like to snuggle my feet under his butt because I hate socks…)
A: Jenni thinks she’s the animal whisperer and can actually speak dog. (not thinks… KNOWS.) She’s constantly talking for Gracie and Cooper…notice I said “for” and not “to.” What’s crazy is that if you spend enough time with Jenni, you’ll find yourself actually having “conversations” with our dogs. Jenni will talk in her dog voice and a few minutes will go by before you realize that you’re not actually talking to a dog. It’s now transferring to other dogs; dogs we see when driving around, at the store, or wherever…..it’s getting bad, I think I need to stage an intervention.

Q: What are Jenni’s best and worst domestic attributes?
A: This is dangerous territory.

I’m like a wolf that use to hunt for my food, but has been brought indoors and forgot how to feed myself. So, if I want to avoid cereal and Top Ramen every night for dinner, I must be very cautious. So, she can’t bake to save her life…seriously…it’s bad. I don’t know how or why, but she’s got serious issues with yeast. She does a great job decorating and has made our house feel like a home; she’s done a beautiful job. If it were up to me, we’d have animal heads in every room, including the bathrooms. So I guess it’s good she has an eye for design and decorating.

Law School

Q: What type of law do you like best so far and why? Can you please say environmental so I can compare you to Marshall on How I Met Your Mother?!
A: I love that show! No, not environmental law. I definitely care about our environment, but also think people take it way too far. I say drill away and put American families back to work. Law is hard to explain unless you’re studying it too. You quickly learn that just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right and just because it’s legal doesn’t make it fair. The law is all about preventing an injustice of one party and sometimes creates an injustice for someone else by trying to prevent the original one.

Q: Is law school as hard/easier/harder than you expected?
A: Way harder…like brutally harder. I met with quite a few recently graduated attorneys who unanimously said that it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I kind of shrugged it off because I know what it means to go to work. I built my life insurance practice from scratch, put in consistent 80 hour weeks, and became the youngest associate partner of my firm. It’s harder than I thought because law school is unlike any other academic environment I had been exposed to. For one, everyone is smart…everyone. Just being accepted into law school is no easy feat. Law school is nothing like undergraduate courses. In undergrad you can just memorize class notes, regurgitate them onto the exam, and get a good grade; you do that in law school you’ll fail out. The amount of material covered is almost insurmountable….I have a much better understanding of why post office people go crazy because right when you’re caught up, you have just as much to get through the day after (sounds EXACTLY like my email inbox). You have about 3 hours of class prep for each hour of class; that comes out to roughly 54 hours of case work in addition to the 18 hours of actual in class time. The other thing that I didn’t expect was how much we would cover in a single semester. Law students will cover an entire 700 page case book in a single semester and have an 80 page outline to memorize before going into a final exam. Oh yeah, the other thing that surprised me is that there isn’t a single graded assignment and no midterms; you get one shot to make your grade and that’s the 4 hour final.

Q: How long, roughly, did you study for the LSAT test? Any tips?
A: I can’t remember how much time, but it was pretty extensive. The LSAT itself is about as indicative of your law school success as that ferret thing that predicts how long winter will last (it’s a groundhog, babe). I took an LSAT prep course in October and took the December LSAT (if you’re in Austin email my wife and I’ll give you the name of the best LSAT instructor in the state). I studied about 6 hours a day M-F and must have taken 35 practice exams. I had to do well because my undergraduate performance wasn’t that great. I wish I had done better, but it was good enough to make up for my comparatively low GPA. Law schools are inundated with applications because the economy sucks and everyone is going back to school. They’re being very selective, so if you’re thinking of going to law school, take the LSAT seriously. Tips? Take a prep course, learn logic games like your life depended on it, and don’t go to public places or eat out the week before the exam to prevent getting sick. The biggest thing to prepare for is your stamina; take enough practice exams from start to finish to get used to how long and demanding the exam really is. A lot of people will short change themselves by taking half of a practice exam and then reach burnout on the actual exam way before they’re done.

Q: What type of law are you interested in studying?
A: Securities, insurance, and financial services law.

Miscellaneous

Q: I’ve seen you like hunting. How did you get started? Is it like a family tradition? Has this caused trouble in your relationships with people who might be against it?
A: I grew up hunting. I think people just do things that their parents do. If my dad was into football, I’d probably be into football. I could care less about football. Sports are boring to me unless I’m playing them. Hunting can sometimes be a sensitive subject with people who are against it. I ask them why and they usually respond with some uneducated statement like “I could never hurt an innocent creature” and I take a quick look at them and see their leather purse, leather belt, leather shoes, ask them if they eat meat, etc. and they quickly realize how many animal products they are using. I will often then reply that I think it’s more ethical and humane to be the one doing it versus letting some else do it for you. What most people don’t realize is that the hunting industry is necessary to keep animal populations in healthy control and adds billions of dollars or revenue and hundreds of thousands of jobs to our economy. (I’m definitely still not a fan of hunting for sport, but it came with the package (i.e. my husband) so I have learned to accept it to an extent. The animals we have in our home are beautiful and I have actually grown fond of them.)

Q: When are you guys gonna make some babies?!
A: Ummmmm…..not so much. Jenni really wants kids, and I’m torn on it. I don’t want to deprive her of it, but I am so far from being ready that it hasn’t even reached my radar yet. I always say if they can pop out at 4 years old, potty trained, talking, and can help pay the mortgage then I’ll consider it (I think in order to have a child any time soon, it’s going to have to be an “accident”).

* * * * *

THANKS MATTHEW!!! Hopefully I can get him back to answer the rest of your questions. :) Happy Monday!

Best of Instagram, Week 1

2012-01-08T14:40:00.001-06:00

Instagram is such a fabulous app because it allows you to creatively capture and share little moments that might have otherwise been lost. I’d like to make “Best of Instagram” a weekly or every-other-weekly post, probably on Sunday afternoons… capiche? Kind of a “week at a glace” type of thing.

Let us begin.

1. Walked into the sweetest scene the other night. Pure bliss.
2. They have a rough life.

3. Santa left these in my stocking for me. Love.
4. Covergirl Natureluxe gloss balm in “Pinot.”

5. Sneak peek of the gallery wall we've been working on in our bedroom! Not quite done yet… blog post coming soon! (I need approximately 4 zillion prints to fill these frames…)
6. Arrangement on our dresser. It’s only taken me two years to decorate our bedroom…

7. Antiquing
8. Italian, with plenty of fresh basil and garlic. Can you smell it?

9. One of my favorite mugs, from our first trip to Serendipity 3 in NYC.
10. Fortune cookie truth.

11. Wild Hibiscus Flowers and bubbly with friends.
12. Me and Edward, just hanging out. No big deal. Oh, and Jacob.
(courtesy of FACEinHOLE app) ;P

Instagram username: jenniStoryOML

Weekend Plans + Featured Sponsors!

2012-01-06T09:46:00.001-06:00

I have big plans for this weekend, y’all, BIG PLANS. Lately I’ve been opening closets and drawers and cabinets and thinking to myself, how IN THE WORLD do things get so cluttered around here?! It stresses me out, and I plan to tackle and complete projects this weekend—the perfect time, because I have the world’s most ridiculous skin, and I’m currently breaking out in this weird rash on my face and chest and don’t really wish to be seen in public or wear makeup at the moment…

TMI? What? You don’t like to read about people’s weird skin reactions? OH! Well then. Forget I mentioned it.

While I’m slaving away and checking off the multitudinous items on my to do list and applying ointment to my rash (oops, there it is again), here’s two lovely blogs and a shop for you to browse. Knock yourself out! :)

* * * * *

Jenna is the gorgeous redhead behind The Life of the Wife, a lifestyle blog about everything from life as a new mama and wife, to DIY projects, to fashion and beauty! Jenna is sweet as can be and just starting out, so go show her some love!

Blog | Twitter

* * * * *

Ariel is the sweetheart behind A Dreamer’s Daze, which chronicles her journey after moving from California all the way to Vermont for college! Ariel and her blog are a perfect breath of fresh air—she is a fabulous writer, and also happens to be moving to England for six months (leaves in a few days)! Can’t wait to follow along.

Blog | Facebook

* * * * *

Ruby Lane is a wonderful antique marketplace you can browse right from the comfort of home! This site is an antique-lover’s dream, with every kind of item in every kind of price range. Ruby Lane has it all, from antique jewelry to vintage clothing to fabulous old books!

Website

* * * * *

Happy Friday everyone!

We’re late, we’re late! For a very important date!

2012-01-05T09:14:00.001-06:00

A consistent bone of contention between my husband and myself is my strong tendency towards lateness and procrastination. Call it a character flaw, if you will. I have little to no concept of time, and it drives Matthew completely crazy. I think it started when I stopped working a “real” job and going to school—I work well under structure and a little bit of pressure, so now, without that, I am sort of just a feather in the wind. One of my major New Year’s goals is to get this under control, because I don’t love it about myself either. (by the way, I’m NEVER late to really important things, I’m just talking about every day stuff. And sadly, if we’re good enough friends or family members, you have probably experienced my lateness quite frequently—if I don’t think there’s any risk of being fired, broken up with, or excommunicated, tardiness become less of an issue in my mind.)

In an effort to help create a little of that structure and “pressure” I seem to need in order to stay on task and schedule, my husband decided to enact a new little rule, which decrees that if I’m not ready by the time he says we’re leaving, he leaves without me. Though it sort of makes me furious at him, it’s working.

But that doesn’t exactly help me stay on task during the day, and the other morning, when it was 10 AM and I was still unshowered and sitting on my computer in my PJs, Matthew came up with a solution. “You know what I think would work really well for you?” he said.

“What’s that?”

“Electroshock therapy.”

Dun dun DUN. Is it really that bad? Well, please don’t think less of me, you guys. I have big plans for the coming year, and my lack of a schedule is the first thing that needs to go before I can achieve my goals. AND, I now have the perfect little reminder of the passing time and my need to get a handle on it… this lovely little pocketwatch necklace from a company I’m sure you’ve heard of—Shabby Apple! I’ve been wanting one of these puppies for quite awhile now, and this little token has come at the perfect time. It’s lovely and I have dubbed it a symbol of my goals going forward. :)

{ Shirt and belt: J.Crew (last season), Necklace: c/o Shabby Apple }

Do any of you suffer from this same affliction? Have you found any tricks to keep it under control? I know most of you work and/or have a family so wasting time may not be an option, but if you work from home or otherwise have a similar problem to mine, I’d love to hear ways you’ve found to fix it! :)

Weekend Retreat

2012-01-03T08:11:00.001-06:00

Matthew and I made the last minute decision to head to the ranch for a little New Year’s weekend retreat, and it wound up being just what we needed. I don’t consider myself a country girl by any stretch of the imagination, but I really enjoy going down there and just getting away from it all for a bit—spending a little more time with nature and a little less time with technology. (though, who are we really kidding… I had my iphone with me the entire time, hence the following photos courtesy of Instagram.)

On New Year’s Eve Matthew, Gracie, Cooper and I sat by a big fire and ate s’mores cookies and talked a little about our goals for 2012, then the fire died prematuraly, and we were cold and went inside and fell asleep at 10:30. My kinda party.

Anyway, hope you’ve all had an excellent start to your week and, really, your whole year. :)

1. Such a good girl in the car
2. Cooper giving sister kisses

3. Hello there Mr. Red Stag
4. Windmill at the ranch

5. A really friendly goat… thing.
6. With my little loves

7. A nest among thorns
8. Morning sky

9. Cows loose on the road
10. Couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched…

11. About to head back home
12. Aaand sexy husband on a 4-wheeler thrown in for good measure.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Make it a great day!

And the winner of last week’s Poshlocket giveaway is…

Congrats to the other Jenni with an “i!” We’ll be in touch! :)

Ask Matthew

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

favorite picture of him to date, just before going skydiving.

I have persuaded my beloved husband to make a guest appearance here on this blog of mine (either in vlog form or otherwise), but I am relying on YOU to provide topics for his post. No pressure.

You may ask him anything, from questions on the zombie apocalypse we are so very prepared for (i.e. his emergency bag and/or man satchel), to questions on law school, to questions on ME, or whatever else you may be dying to know. Keep it appropriate, people... but make it good.

This. will. be. awesome.

PS - Questions will be kept private until Matthew's post. :)

Have you seen this?

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Have you guys seen this yet? This kid lived here in Austin, and he ended up passing away on Christmas day, a week after creating these videos (which have now gone viral). It's a really inspirational and comforting story, though. What a sweet kid. His family now celebrates his life and his passage on to a better place. :)

Friday’s People You Should Know

2011-12-30T08:27:00.001-06:00

Good Friday morning everyone! Any big plans for New Year’s this weekend?! We’ll probably keep it low key and just go get some dinner and drinks then head home to ring in the New Year with a little Monopoly (one of my gifts to Matthew this Christmas!). I tried to get him to play it with me the other night, but he said he was too tired and that the game “requires concentration” in order to “crush me.” MEN! :P Maybe his guard will be down on New Year’s Eve, and I’ll stand a chance…

Anyway! I’d like to highlight a few of my most loyal sponsors this morning. These ladies have all been with me at least six months, and I’m proud to help promote their wonderful blogs. Check them out if you haven’t already!

* * * * *

Kelly @ Eat Yourself Skinny – lifestyle, food, and healthy living blog with plenty of personality and fabulous pictures! Kelly is the girl you WISH lived next door (so you could be BFFs and so she can cook some of her amazing recipes for you)!

* * * * *

K. Syrah @ Shoes Never Worn – K. Syrah is an Indie writer and published author who also happens to be a deployed soldier in the military. Each of her posts read like a story right out of a book, and I promise you will be fascinated.

* * * * *

Hanna @ Bouffe e Bambini – Bouffe e Bambini is a lifestyle, food, and fashion blog by the lovely Hanna, who has also posted openly about her incredible weight loss journey (hint: she lost 100 lbs!). I’ve so enjoyed getting to know Hanna and her sweet family—and the amazing recipes she posts don’t hurt either!

* * * * *

Kristie @ Kristie Was Here – Kristie is a beautiful writer and PERSON, and her blog is full of raw honesty—like a look right into someone’s lovely journal. My personal favorite type of blog! You’ll laugh and cry with her, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll keep coming back for more and more. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Year in Review

2011-12-29T09:36:00.001-06:00

When one year comes to a close and a new one stretches out before you, it’s nice to reflect on what is past and peer hopefully into the still-unknown future… wouldn’t you agree?

I just spent some time looking through old pictures and blog posts from the whole of 2011, and it was crazy to think of how much has changed in only one year. Big things. Family… finances… law school… this little blog… ME. And as crazy and scary as life can be sometimes, I am simply beside myself with excitement for the year to come, because it feels like a fresh chance. I know that’s mainly a mental thing, but who cares?

I just went back and read my post from the end of LAST December, and I was amazed by how different 2010 and 2011 were for us. In 2010, Matthew and I had just gotten married and moved into our new home together and were exploring our new city and went to New York and Hawaii, and I started this blog! And this year… oh, 2011. Life! Stress! Marriage not perfect—hard! Cancer. Loved ones suffering. Identity crisis on my part. Questions. What the hell do I want to do with my life? Why haven’t I figured it out yet? Crazy health scare. Pieces falling into place. Beginning to see things clearly…Not all of that was expressed here on my blog, but I certainly still remember it.

2012… Such high hopes I have for you! Not because I’m being unrealistic and I think that THIS year will be the one where I actually keep all my resolutions. Please. But because I’m starting to understand myself a little better, and I’m discovering passions I didn’t even know I had, and I’m feeling ready to make shit happen.

So basically, that’s my resolution this year. My mantra, if you will. Make shit happen. A little less wishing and hoping and thinking and a little more acting and doing and creating.

We’re all on our own journey here, and yours will likely look different than mine. But I hope you’re going into 2012 with a similar mindset: it’s gonna be great, because we’re gonna make it great. Why can’t 2012 be the year that all your dreams come true?

And now for a little trip down memory lane… these are some special and/or silly moments I posted about in 2011, so let’s go back in time for a bit, shall we?

* * * * *

+ One year anniversary celebration in Fredericksburg…

+ South America trip of a lifetime!

+ First ever vlog.

+ “Possibly Voyeuristic Old Neighbor and Why Quasi-Pornographic Photos of Me May or May Not End Up Somewhere on the Internet.”

+ A truly epic “then and now” pic.

+ Took pictures for my mom and Edd… beautiful memory.

+ Law school. ‘Nuff said.

+ Edd’s cancer.

+ My own health scare.

+ Lessons learned in my first 25 years.

* * * * *

And those are just a few of the highlights. :) Looking forward with great hope and anticipation for the clean slate ahead. Life won’t be perfect, but It will be beautiful.

S’mores Cookies Recipe + Giveaway extension!

2011-12-28T09:36:00.001-06:00

Have you guys tried this s’mores cookies recipe yet? I’ve seen it floating around Pinterest, and my friend made it the other day. And then I ate one, and my life was forever changed. They. are. amazing. The cinnamon adds a little somethin’ extra and is kind of mind-blowing, if you ask me. So, yeah. You should try them! (I found the recipe here.) This would be a great treat to bring to a New Year’s Eve party, and I’m pretty sure everyone will probably love you for it…

S’mores Cookies
(or you can make them into bars, see directions)

Ingredients:
11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces (I like Hershey’s Symphony bars—the chocolate is incredibly creamy!)
1-2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper.

Lay out graham crackers on the pan, an inch or two apart if you want cookies or side by side if you want bars. You may have to add or remove graham crackers according to how much dough you have.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixer and combine on low speed.
Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers and press down slightly with spoon or fingertips.
Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven to press Hershey’s bar pieces onto the top (break the Hershey’s pieces in half if you want two pieces of chocolate per cookie). Bake for 5 – 7 more minutes or until dough is beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. Remove to a wire rack to cool. If you chose to make the bars, make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

Enjoy!

* * * * *

Also, I’m extending the Poshlocket giveaway until next week! So if you didn’t get to enter last week, go here and check it out! Poshlocket has some fabulous jewelry at incredibly reasonable prices… here’s what I chose from the collection!

Best part is that this piece is only $30, and shipping is free! Enter the shop credit giveaway here. :) And have a great Wednesday!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T09:17:00.001-06:00

Well, it’s that time of year again, folks. The time where we all dump a zillion pictures from Christmas onto our blogs and/or Facebook. I thought about breaking this into a couple posts, but I think you guys can handle it! ;)

We had a very nice holiday, filled with good food and the people we love. Edd was home and is able to walk around a little bit now… it was a wonderful gift to have him here this Christmas. Hope you’re all enjoying your new toys and looking forward to the fabulous new year to come! I have this funny feeling about 2012… it’s gonna be a good one. :)

For now, here’s a few pictures from our Christmas!

* * * * *

Morning with mom and Edd… (just before all of Edd’s family got there… we missed most of the excitement! [but got first dibs on the amazing breakfast!])

most delicious monkey bread in the world

yummy breakfast casserole my mom makes every Christmas

opening presents

peeps!!! yessssss.

two special men in my life

pretty mama

Afternoon with Matthew’s side of the family…

sweetest MIL :)

sweetest SIL :)

good lookin’ family eh?

fall finally arrived in TX

Pierre le cat

amazing.

love her!!

How was your Christmas? Did you get any extra-meaningful gifts?

Instagram Christmas preview

2011-12-26T10:01:00.001-06:00

1. To Grandmother’s house we go!
2. New shoes + Christmas sweater + beautiful fall leaves in Texas… only a couple months late.
3. Mom’s homemade toffee/AKA CRACK
4. Gracie & Cooper, patiently awaiting Santa Claus
5. Marveling at the beautiful leaves
6. Sweetest and prettiest sister-in-law in the world!
7. Candid shot of the handsome huz
8. Matthew’s Grandma surprised me with a portrait she painted… what a treasure.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Santa was good to you! We’re still basking in the glow of a wonderful day… while cleaning up the house (looks like a tornado blew through) and finishing up the wainscoting in our bedroom. No rest for the weary!

Enjoy your day, friends!

A Christmas tradition

2011-12-23T08:57:00.001-06:00

When I was a little girl I used to wake up in the wee hours of every Christmas morning and sneak out to the living room to open up my stocking. My parents knew I did it, and they were fine with it as long as it was after 2 or 3 AM.

Oddly, to date this is one of my very favorite Christmas memories. I would wake up automatically in the night and feel that jolt of excitement in my stomach when I realized it was Christmas morning—I’d check the time, and if it was an acceptable hour, I’d pad out of my bedroom to find the Christmas tree still lit and heaps of presents piled beneath it. Santa had come! And there my stocking would be—stuffed to overflowing right next to my sister’s. Sometimes my sister and I would even end up out of bed at the same time (she would usually wake up in the night too), or other times I would see the contents of her stocking spilled out on the floor and I’d know she’d already been there.

Most of the time I’d be alone, though, there in the dark stillness of the morning and the glow of the tree, and that was how I preferred it. I would slowly empty my stocking, delighting in the wonderfulness of each little treat it held. Then I’d spread out the contents around me, maybe eating a Christmas Peep or munching on some chocolate. I’d count the presents to make sure my sister and I had an acceptably similar amount (you know you did it too…), and then I would just sit there for a while, trying to soak in the magic of that quiet morning before anyone else was awake. I knew the house would later smell of cinnamon rolls and thick cut, frying bacon, and those beautifully wrapped gifts would soon reveal their mysterious contents, but my favorite part of Christmas was always those quiet moments when I sat all alone beneath that fragrant tree, anticipating the morning to come.

And now, whenever I sit in the glow of my Christmas tree, I think of those moments, and how they were the best of every Christmas, and how I’d love to pass along that tradition to my children one day.

So that is what I wish for every one of you, this year: an appreciation for the quiet moments; the ability to be alone sometimes, and to be happy in your own company; the patience to wait for the good that will come; and that feeling of magic you experience as a child but never really have to lose.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend… I’ll be back at it next week!

PS – If you didn’t catch it the other day, I’m now on Instagram! I’ll be posting plenty of pictures over the weekend, so look me up if you’re interested! Username jennistoryoml. :)

Wrapapalooza 2011

2011-12-21T12:00:00.001-06:00

ignore the hair.

Hello again, and welcome to what I’m calling “Wrapapalooza 2011.” As mentioned before, wrapping presents is pretty much my favorite thing to do, and I may or may not have something of a wrapping paper fetish. I just can’t help myself.

So you can pretty much count on a Wrapapalooza post every Christmas for the rest of my life (yes, I plan to be blogging while elderly)—I love to document the fun in pictures so I can go back and enjoy them for many years to come!

Ok, enough talk. Here are some shots from the past couple days!

A post in which I use words like “jerkasaurus rex.”

2011-12-21T08:35:00.001-06:00

Morning/afternoon/evening everyone! This is just a quickie to let you know that I’m Across The Pond today… talking about my very first experience with a bonafide a-hole. Check it out, and if you’re not already following Megan, I question your status as a serious blogger/blog-reader. She’s the shiz.

Also, I’m now on Instagram! Matthew and I got our beloved iPhones back after a short stint with androids… long story there, but let’s just say that Matthew destroyed his phone in a fit of rage yesterday, and then we vowed never to stray again (no offense android users! Maybe ours were from a bad batch or something). Instagram username JenniStoryOML! (I have a whole one picture so far, but I promise there’ll be many more where that came from!)

Also also, have you entered yesterday’s Poshlocket giveaway? They have some fab jewelry y’all! :)

What I’ll be wearing New Year’s Eve + Poshlocket Giveaway!

2011-12-20T08:55:00.001-06:00

{ Dress: ASOS (find it here), Necklace c/o Poshlocket, Shoes: Enzo Angiolini from Nordstrom }

Remember this dress you guys?! (and don’t feel sorry for me—it wasn’t even cold when we took these pics!) It didn’t make it here in time for my birthday, so I’ve designated it my official New Year’s Eve dress and already let Matthew know he better take me someplace nice where I can wear it. I don’t know what your thoughts are on the cutout sides, but I’ve been seeing these on a lot of dresses lately and I think they are damnright sexy without being scandalous or revealing too much. And also, your boyfriend or husband will be very intrigued by them. Just thought I’d throw that out there. ;)

And do you see that super chunky and sparkly necklace? That baby was a gift from Poshlocket, an online jewelry store with seriously incredible prices and awesome stuff. This necklace is really high quality and now my current favorite item of jewelry I own! I will absolutely be shopping with Poshlocket in the future.

Aaaand these nice people are giving away a $30 shop credit to one of YOU! That will buy you almost anything in the store, you guys! And they ship for free—how awesome is that?

To Enter:

For your mandatory entry you must do one of the following three things AND comment with your favorite piece from the store (leave only ONE comment representing both please, and include your email address if it isn’t on your profile!):

+ Like Poshlocket on Facebook
+ Follow Poshlocket on Twitter
OR
+ Get on the mailing list for extra promotions

For extra entries do any of the other items you didn’t do for your first entry (follow on Twitter, get on mailing list, etc) and leave a comment for each additional. One extra entry for liking Story of My Life on Facebook! :)

Winner will be announced next week—good luck you guys!

* * * * *

And the winner of the Etta Grace giveaway last week is…

Congrats girl! I’ll be in touch! :)