...

Sometimes when a friend has a family member die you need to make them tissue paper flowers and a cheesecake.

Cheesecake courtesy of the ginger of course (he's the best cook)!!

Me and Alex with our part of the gift:

On a side note I just got this sweater and super cool compass necklace! 

So of course I made them business posh for work.

 

This necklace is great because you never know when your going to need to find your way...also I think it could be handy during a zombie apocalypse...you know to find North and all.

 

 Pictures of my mom's 70th birthday weekend in Vegas to come soon!

good ol' Wes

Movies on summer nights are the best!

We finally went and saw Moonrise Kingdom over the weekend. I know, it's about time!!

Serious LOVE!!

Wes Anderson makes some of the most amazing movies!

He's actually my hubs favorite film maker, which inspired this costume of his a few years back

He even had a costume change that he was pretty proud of

(I was Iron Maven from Whip It, but next time I have a fur coat and blond wig to be Margot so that we both can be Tenenbaums together)

Life Aquatic & Royal Tenenbaums have been his favs for years, but Moonrise Kingdom may have overtaken them (which is really saying something for this movie snob).

Go see it if you haven't yet, I promise laughter will be had.

Also, this is one of my favorite summer outfits

The pockets are big enough to hold my phone, my Thor pez dispenser, & chapstick.

Love!

fourth

I love the Fourth of July!

I don't see how you can't! Every Fourth I feel like I'm transported back in time to a place where everyone was patriotic and loved our country. Plus the Fourth always feels like a small town celebration (small town as in where you know and trust all your neighbors and feel kindred), and I'm definitely a small town girl at heart.

The best of all though is the fireworks! Who doesn't love fireworks?!?

They're the bomb dot com.
(We may have spent around $100 on fireworks this year...I couldn't help myself)

Also, I may just happen to be one of those people that like to dress for the holiday or event.

It's true, I super can't wait to be that eclectic old lady on the block that dresses all crazy...someday.

Anyway, here are some threads I wore to celebrate.

Work:

Play:

Hope everyone had a fun patriotic Fourth!!

**pics courtesy of my iPhone. I haven't had time to download the cannon yet. Too much Fourth fun happening with the Steele clan. 

fair-ly good time

Scott and I went to our first fair of the season over the weekend!
I LOVE going to the fair!

It has pretty lights, excitement in the air, yummy food, and the BEST people watching!

(It's super hard to take a pic of ourselves with the big ol' Cannon. Plus what is up with my blah flat hair?!?)

 

I ate popcorn, cotton candy, and a funnel cake...which apparently got all over me. Even down to my shoes.

I wish there were fairs every weekend during the summer!

 

Naughty Bridal Shower

My best friends and sister seriously went above and beyond for my naughty bridal shower. It was so much fun! Though I still think it's awkward being the center of attention and pulling naughty thing after naughty thing out in front of everyone!

Side note:
My co-workers also gave me a bridal shower that I didn't get pictures of (sorry!).
It's always fun to see everyone outside of work
and eat super yummy coconut key lime cupcakes!
They are my favorite!!
(but only these ones that my boss makes....she's the best at these cupcakes!)

Here are some highlights of the awesomeness from my naughty shower.

What it looked like:

Who was there:
(sorry, I didn't get a pic of everyone)
(These are my cute new in-laws!)

Best friends!

Sissy!

What went down:

Lots of this naughty stuff

What I wore:

(Tank-Target $8, Sweater-F21 $22, Jeans-Levi $40, Boots-Nordstrom Rack $70, Necklace-Grandmothers)

Thanks everyone!!
I can't wait to put all the gifts into use!

a bit obsessed

Recently it's come to my attention that I own 24 cardigans & 16 scarves!!

You're probably thinking does a person really need that many of either??
The answer is yes!!
For a girl who wears cardigans and scarves almost everyday it's dire to have at least this many. Also, in case your wondering I have plans to buy more.
May the collection never end!!

Yellow Bird

I've always had a hard time wearing yellow because I feel it makes me look like I have jaundice. My skin tone is very olive. I've always hated not getting to wear it because I love yellow! For some reason yellow feels like a retro color to me, and I love the idea of being a retro/alternative dresser. :-) Anyway, this last weekend I went shopping with my girl Alex and found the cutest mustard shirt I just couldn't live without! Now my first thought was "Blast, why can't I wear yellow!!! Curse you Universe!" Then I put it on and it turns out mustard doesn't affect my skin like other yellows do!! The loophole!! I just love loopholes.

(note: the pictures make the yellow look brighter than it actually is. I swear it's a mustard.)

(If you tell me it still looks like I have jaundice I will be crushed! But still tell me because I don't want to look like I'm a sicko.)

Smokey and the Bandit

I went to the MAC counter recently and had them show me how to do some smokey eye goodness. I've always wanted to know how to pull that look off, cause lets be honest, who doesn't want to be smoldering sexy once in awhile?!? Plus Emma Stone looked hot with her smokin eyes in Zombieland....and I kinda want to be like her in that movie (a.k.a. badass).

After trying it out though and seeing what look I could pull off, I've come to the conclusion that smokey eyes don't work in every setting for everyone. I've decided the extra smokey look is really only practical for:

movies
the red carpet
rockstars
magazines or photo shoots for figures in the public eye
artsy photos
Halloween
or hookers

I'm curious to know what guys feel about smokey eyes. If it holds the same loathing as the pants tucked into your boots? I've never heard a guy say anything about a girls smokey eyes...not that I would change liking it. Just curious...Regardless though, for now I will be sticking to the subtle smokey, more of a smudgy eyeliner look. Maybe someday I will move onto something more smoldering or on days I'm feeling frisky and daring I will smolder my eyes more. I wonder if this is just the gateway and someday soon I will be goth girl?!? (gross)

It Girl

I've always been a big fan of bright red lipstick. Not just anyone can wear red lipstick. Yet you see some girls pulling it off and wearing it out on a normal day, which I think is totally awesome! I've often wondered what does it take to be "that girl". Do you have to have big juicy lips to pull it off like Scarlett Johannson or Kat Dennings?

Or is it just having confidence and owning the look? So lately I've been wondering do I have what it takes to pull it off? My friend Alex and I have decided to venture into the red lipstick zone and see if we have what it takes. Our first outing with the color was at Alex's house warming party. Man it was a lot of work to keep that lipstick on all night! Plus my first attempt at red wasn't successful....too pink.

(I think I might have a crooked smile)

I needed more red and I needed it to be less maintenance. So I bought a long lasting color, which seriously does not come off for anything...that's right, kiss away! I think I may have just the right shade now! I gotta admit I kinda feel a little more grown up with it on, scary I know. It's almost like the red makes you more outgoing, confident, and sexy (though I don't recommend boys try red lipstick to feel this for themselves). The question still remains though...can I be an It Girl??