proof of engagement!

eeek, so today we are meeting with our wedding photographer and we are gonna take some engagement photos!  I am super nervous/excited....  Its been hard to think of photos that will be fun/interisting, but not cheesy and that we wont hate in 20 years.... One of my favorite ideas is inspired by these old engagement photos I found....

aren't they fabulous? now, we'll just have to wait and see how they turn out!

Mexican Fiesta!

outfit details: top: Walmart (Miley Cyrus brand! haha!), shorts, belt: thrifted

Since Ryan and I have had all week to hang out together we didn't really do a focused date night, although we did have a great day together, topped of with a sweet mexican fiesta for two! 

 

closeups: I was really extravegant and got a manicure! here are my fav earrings, too!

we started off the day with a bike ride (that ended at the local ice cream shop!)  I didn't get any photos of the bike ride, but really it wasn't pretty, these shorts are so tight that they were NOT bike seat friendly (tmi? sorry)

anywho, like I said, the main event was the fiesta! 

 I made a spicy salad and we grilled some tilapia filets based on this recipe...  

Ingredients

• 6 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
• 6 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for brushing
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place the fish in a large nonmetal dish. Whisk together the 6 tablespoons oil, the orange zest, orange juice, ginger, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, to taste; pour over the fish. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare grill. Brush the fish with additional oil. Grill until fish just flakes when tested with a fork, about 5 minutes per side for each inch of thickness.

summer=seventies, man.

so i think that i always have a bit of the 70's vibe, but when it comes to my summer duds they are heavy on the high-waisted and peace-loving looks.  As you can see with this outfit!  

Ryan and I went to the...dunh.dunh.dunh.... dreaded suburbs yesterday (an activity that both of us abhor), but for a good cause.... we finally registered for our wedding gifts. 

It was such a strange experience, trying to find and anticipate all of our needs for the future.  To be honest, we are at a stage in our lives and have lived on our own long enough, that we almost have everything that we need (ie toaster, blender, towels...)  Do any of you married gals have some suggestions?  like maybe what was the best gift you got?  or the things you use the most?  We registered at Target and Crate and Barrel...any other ideas?   

now that I am done with work for the summer I have no excuse not to get down to business with this wedding planning stuff, but man-oh-man can it be draining!

outfit details: shorts, belt: thrifted, blouse: Forever 21, shoes: Old Navy

While we were looking for registry items we ended up buying some stuff for the new house... we desperately needed these curtains, but they will need to be hemmed  (as soon as I unpack my art studio/ sewing room)!

double whammy!

so, you tell me.. does absence make the heart grow fonder? did ya miss me? ive missed chronicling my days here on the blog.  So, as a hello to you all I'm giving you a double whammy of blogging! ( we all know this is more for me than anyone else..right?  im a nerd!)  So I am bringing you two tree-themed outfit photos.  

The first set is from 2 weekends ago when I went to my future bro-in laws college graduation at my alma matter, The University of Kansas.  The KU campus is only about a 45minute drive from Kansas City, but I don't make it out there as often as I should, and even when I do go to Lawrence I usually just hang out in town, I don't visit the campus, but I am totally gonna have to rectify that, because the campus is so super beautiful!  It has a pond and a couple of large parks and flowers galore!  

This awesome tree sculpture is new since I graduated (back in 2006), but totally photo worthy!

It was a chilly and rainy day and we had to stand outside for hours, waiting for the grads to descend a hill and enter the football stadium, so I wanted to dress up, but be comfy and warm.  so this blazer, boots and dress combo worked out perfectly!

outfit details: dress and blazer: thrifted, boots:Aldo, scarf: target

so, for part 2 of this post... this was just yesterday, and man oh man, has the weather changed!  It is like 90 degrees and sooo humid!  I feel like we skipped over my favorite part of year when it is warm, but not too humid and jumped right into the full heat of summer! (i really shouldn't complain now though, cause it's only gonna get worse)

This awesome giant tree is in our neighbors yard but it has been showering our lawn with the prettiest flowers!  It almost looks like snow out there, sooo pretty!

and remember how I said I am jumper-obsessed?  well, here's one of the many! It is perfectly light and easy to wear on a warm day!

outfit details: jumper: Target, sandals: tourist store in Mexico

happy mothers day!

my mom and her sister, and cat.

to my beautiful mother!  and all of the other mothers out there, may you be recognized on this one day for the amazing 24/7 job that you do with love and compassion!  you are oh so  appreciated. xoxo

a little work...

so, as I've mentioned earlier, this is show week over at the Kansas City Ballet (where I work making costumes)  and I  thought I'd share some of the beautiful images of a piece that was designed in house by my boss, Jennifer Carroll, and of course built by the two of us!  remember that "mock-up" post from a while back?  well this is the finished product!  the lights were beautiful and the dancing is really great (its my favorite piece on the bill)  if you wanna read some reviews of the dancing head over to the KCB facebook page, its been a pretty great season! 

jumpersjumpersjumpers!

I have a serious jumper problem... honestly I've bought like 4 jumpers in anticipation of the warmers months! 

 I'm in love with them, and it just hasn't been warm enough yet, but I paired this one with tights, which made it more weather appropriate.  

We had our opening night last night at the ballet, and it went off fairly hitch free!  and now we only have a few weeks left in the season!  I can't wait for a summer of fun, free of work (and full of jumpers!)

outfit details: jumper: Forever 21, boots, belt: thrifted

all graduated.

I wore this outfit over the weekend to my fiances, cousins college graduation.  Looking back it is a biiit short, but c'est la vie!  when you are 5'10" everything is short on ya (especially items purchased from Forever 21.  what is that?  are their fit models munchkins or something everything at that store runs on the tiny size!  sorry, slight rant...)  It was really funny taking these photos, here were all of these grads around me, having their photos taken, to honor their GREAT achievements, and there I was just some schmo, having a mini photo shoot....hehe!  

Well, we went into the theater yesterday for the KC Ballet's Spring Show.. Who Cares, so lots of late nights and boring black/utilitarian clothing in my future!  

outfit details: jacket, shoes: thrifted, dress:Forever 21