Merry Christmas 2013

For Christmas, I made these Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Peppermint cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod! They didn't have white chocolate pudding at my grocery store, so I used vanilla instead.

12 crushed Oreos will get you a cup and a half, and 4 crushed candy canes will get you half a cup.

The batter was as delicious as the cookies!

I didn't have a one tablespoon scoop, so I used two two teaspoon scoops in the beginning, but then I got annoyed and just used a spoon.

 Fresh out of the oven!

I bought cooling racks from Target that morning. I don't think I let the cookies cool on the stones for long enough, because some of the bottoms got molded to the cooling racks! The candy canes were melting down too.

I painted my nails with OPI's A Spy Who Loved Me, from the Skyfall collection.

Ruffled red velvet and taffeta scarf plus a whole lot of black for Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house.

I was told about how I used to run around and press the buttons on this little jukebox to listen to the Christmas music.

Frozen waters.

xoxo.

Pomp & Circumstance

On Friday evening, I graduated from college with my associate's degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management! There were about 1400 people graduating with me, but only about 325 of us walked.

All of us graduates had to get there an hour early to stand in a room. There were seven of us walking from my program, which our hospitality instructor said was a large number. The largest groups of graduates were from nursing and business management.

When I was standing with my group, I noticed that four of them were wearing gold cords (highest honors) and one was wearing teal cords (honors). I only got one, maybe two, B's in college, and the rest of my grades were A's, so I was wondering why I didn't have honor cords. I figured it was because I was added to the graduation list late, and I asked one of the other girls when she found out that she was honors. She said that she got the cords with her cap and gown. I was pretty annoyed and embarrassed that I didn't have cords too, since I thought that I had earned them.

After standing in the room for about an hour (and having our picture taken), we lined up to march into the other room where the ceremony was being held. I saw my mom, and she asked me where my cords were.

When we all sat down, I was looking at the program to make sure that I was listed, and I noticed that there were two asterisks by my name, indicating that I was graduating with highest honors. There was nothing on my card that I had to hand to the person to be announced when I walked across stage. I know that this isn't going to matter in five years, but I was pretty disappointed, especially because I just barely missed the cutoff for honors in high school.

college graduation. too many cameras and my dress is kind of short. December 2013.

high school graduation. June 2011.

xoxo.

Winter in Door County

I took a wintery drive up north a few days ago. I was hoping to catch sunset, and I did, but it was pretty lame, with only a little gold and blue. I had actually set my alarm that morning with the intent to take pictures at sunrise, but I looked at the weather on my phone when the alarm went off, and I decided that seven degrees was too cold. Oh well, there's always another day.

These first three are from the Baileys Harbor Marina. Lake Michigan was not completely frozen yet. It was so pretty here, but it was cold, and my gloves were being annoying. {I later switched to fingerless gloves, but then my fingers were icicles. It was a lose-lose situation.} You can see the snowflakes falling in the third picture!

This one is from Schoolhouse Park in Sister Bay. I'm not really sure how this is a park, but there is an old schoolhouse here that looks like it's from the 1930's or 1940's.

Anderson Dock is located in Ephraim. The top photo is actually from a store and gallery across the street, and they have some really beautiful artwork and jewelry in there. I believe the barn in the bottom photo is also a gallery.

Ephraim Moravian Church is so beautiful! They're located on a hill that is just above the main highway (42) that goes through Ephraim. This birch tree was behind the church in their parking lot.

If you have never been to a drive-in movie theater, you are missing out and should try to find one in your area! The Skyway is in Fish Creek, and I hope I am able to see a movie there this summer. It's been a few years since I have been there.

It seems like I get a lot of hits from the search term "Chateau Hutter," so here is a winter shot for you guys. (: There was another car parked here, so I'm guessing that someone ventured down to get some pictures at sunset. I hope they were able to get some great shots! I would love to go down there for sunset pictures {and perhaps a portrait session} someday, but I am too freaked out to go down there alone!

I got down to the Door County Boat Launch with plenty of time to watch the sun set, but as you can see, it wasn't very much of a show. Those dot-like things in the first picture are actually an ice covered scalloped metal edge of the dock. It was pretty icy there!

xoxo.

Oh Christmas Tree

We have a vintage tinsel tree that we leave up year-round where I work. We haven't really decorated for Christmas, but I figured I would share a few pictures anyway!

All of these keyboards and other instruments are total kid-magnets!

Such a beautiful guitar ornament!

Our raven and star tree toppers.

Bats freak me out, but I do like this sequined one!

xoxo.

All The Money's Gone!

If you've been around here for awhile, you've read about my friend Geri X. {her website here // posts mentioning her here}

Geri recently put out a music video for her new song "All the Money's Gone," which will be on her upcoming album entitled "White Light." A few of my other friends helped with the album {drums & recording, bass & artwork}, and I can tell you that it is going to be an amazing album! I am pretty excited about it!

Not only is the song catchy and great, but the actual video itself is pretty cool. It's stop motion {I think that's what it's called?}, and the photographs were taken by Thomas Anomolous. He's taken some beautiful pictures of Geri, and this video is amazing. It must have taken so long to shoot all of those pictures!


{click through to the video for all credits}

xoxo.

I own twenty-six black tops...

...and other random facts.

via

* I'm not really a dog person, but I love little dogs with wrinkly faces (like Boston terriers and these French bulldogs) - so cute!

*I've never baked a cake.

*Most of the pins on my Pinterest are on the recipe board... {like nearly half...}

*Things that I always will buy more of: phone cases, lip balm, scarves, stationery, nail polish, and cardigans. {this should be a post in and of itself!}

via

*I laugh a lot.

*I want to meet the Osbournes and Carson Kressley.

*I usually put mascara on my right eye before my left eye.


xoxo.

an evening away

last week, I had to go to an out-of-town event for a school activity in the evening. I didn't feel like driving an hour back in the late evening hours, so I rented a hotel room. it was the first time that I've ever stayed at a hotel by myself, so it was a little weird, but it was nice.

I chose to stay at the aloft because I had once done a project on them for my Hospitality Management class, and I thought that they looked pretty cute.

I love that little retro alarm clock.

the room at the venue all set up for dinner.

the other room all set up for the show.

xoxo.

The Month by iPhone: November 2013

I have been totally slacking on posting on Instagram lately!

Luna got cleaned and waxed and looked so pretty and shiny!

vintage shelf liner love.

running errands downtown. I just love those apartment windows in the background.

doing a little Christmas shopping! {that's my friend Erin on the screensaver. haha}

xoxo.

November 2013 Recap

I totally slacked on taking pictures this month. Wait, no. That's kind of a lie. I took over 1600 pictures this month, but a lot of them were from the first two nights of the month at the musical theatre shows that I went to to see some of my friends. I didn't really take like any pictures in the middle few weeks of the month.

a dusting of snow on the 22nd.

another picture from the 22nd. snow on the garage roof. it's crazy, because the leaves on that tree in the middle were just yellow!

Kiss Nail Dress Gradation Polishes - here's how they turned out! not sure if I like them or not.
I received this product for testing purposes from Influenster.

Sturgeon Bay. corner of Michigan Street and Third Avenue on Thanksgiving morning (approximately 9:45 am). I just love the historic buildings - they are colorful and I love all of the detailing. {I left this uncropped to prove that it was taken through my windshield while at a stop sign. Luna got waxed/cleaned a few weeks back and looked so shiny and glossy and pretty!}

Thanksgiving dessert - my aunt made a cranberry and egg nog tart with homemade whipping cream!

November NatureBox
Fall Cara Box Reveal
Influenster Rose VoxBox Reveal
Twenty While Twenty Three Month Progress
Rent the Runway Dresses (November 1st & 2nd)

xoxo.