There is Beauty in Everything

Have you seen that little charming commercial where the guy is sitting in the bar being a grumpy pants and negative and everyone around him is pointing out the little things in life to be happy about?

Man, I wish I could find it on youtube but I digress...

Sometimes, when the week seems to drag on and on and it's only Wednesday, it's good to remember the little things that make you smile: 

Like an ASU rootin' one-eyed cat...

a Jeff Goldblum who loves road trips...

A new puppy roomie...

Meeting Matthew Gray Gubler..

and having him draw something just for you..

playing dress up, even in your twenties...

thoughts of moving to New York City...

 friends who keep you laughing...

and
This song:

There really is beauty in everything.

What are some little things that make you smile?

STYLE WATCH: Spring Trends- Prints&Patterns

If this month is any indication of the next year, this year is going to fly by in a minute! 

I feel like it was just yesterday I was thinking about my own personal favorite trends for fall  (here ) and now it's already time to gear up for Spring (in Arizona anyway..I'm sorry for any Easterners brrrr! I'm sending warmth from Tempe your way!)

It's funny because if you read my favorite fall trends, I mentioned color blocking which is now according to Glamour.com a very popular Spring 2012 Trend. 

Weird, huh? I guess I was too early to the party on that one.

But anyway, onto what I've been/will be digging this Spring from either my own collection or street fashion..

1. Mismatched Patterns

The other day, I literally had nothing to wear so I threw on a long striped black and white shirt and belted it with a black and white animal print belt. My mother would have cringed at me but I got more compliments on it than when I actually try. Anyway, here is a loud and proud declaration to wear those mismatched patterns with gusto!

(...Sorry Mom)

2. "Geo" and "Tribal" print..anything.

I posted a few examples below of items that display these types of patterns. I included a few from some online stores in case you're interested in checking them out. 

(photo sources:unknown)

(photo source: http://www.shopakira.com)

 (photo credit: http://www.forever21.com)

(photo credit unknown)

I want these boots so bad it hurts. 

(photo credit: http://www.stevemadden.com)

 If you know me in person, there is a good chance you know I'm a BIG Steve Madden Fan but I still haven't made my mind up on these ones yet..

(photo credit: www.stevemadden.com)

3. Bright Colors

Okay, this is an oldie for Spring time but there is a reason it's a trend year after year. 

Bright colors are fun. Simple as that. 

So add a little bling to brighten up your day every time you look down with a bright, colorful ring..

(photo source: unknown)

Or, maybe a little color to your work day?

(photo source: http://www.hm.com)

Love this blazer. Love this skirt. Love this whole outfit. 

Completely unrelated note: When do I get paid again?

What are your favorite Spring Trends?

Bad Blogger & Long Post

My oh my, haven't I been a bad lil blogger!

Here is the place that I solemnly swear to be a better blogger (at least 3 a week!) AND that this will be a long post (my apologies)

Let's take it back about two (and a half) weeks...

Right up to New Year's Eve where my friends and myself rang in the new year for 

the second year in a row at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess.
If you're not from the area, just know this place is 

a beautiful resort and throws a mighty good party too I might add

My favorite siblings: Ricky and Leah

Andrew and I

Not really sure what's happening here but me and my ladies: Leah and Sam

The boys!

Literally ten seconds before midnight..

Me and my lil Court court. She came all the way from San Fran and I miss her already!

To sum it up: I could not have asked for a better way to bring in the new year with old friends.

The day after New Year's I started my brand new spankin event job that I mentioned here!
I'm still a little hesitant to say what event/company I'm working for because you never know how employers will find you! I will post pictures of the event once it comes to fruition though.
Needless to say, I love it. Some days, I feel like I'm way over my head and I'm just a befuddled, confused mess and other days I feel like I'm totally on my game and rockin it.
All you can really ask for is that the "rockin it" days outnumber the befuddled days.

As I may or may not have mentioned Sam and I have a third roommate, Annie. Or should say had. After almost two years of living with Sam and I in our little three bedroom Tempe home she unfortunately had to move out. So in light of the new year  and new beginnings we also have a newer third roommate, who from here on out will be referred to as St. Louis. St. Louis also came as a package deal which included the sweetest darn dog west of the Mississippi, Goose. Goose looks like the dog from "The Mask" and I'm sure photos will be coming soon and often.

I'm admittedly pretty obsessed.


Lastly, in my stupidly late new year's post..
Instead of New Year's Resolutions
Sam and I made "12 goals for 2012" list's

Sam's List:
1. Watch all Tyler Perry Movies 2. Plan for New York Move 3. Read More
4. Have more themed parties
5. Work on Forgiving people 6. Challenge my photography
7. See the Avett Brothers on New Year's Eve
8. Leave a nice waiter a BIG tip
9. Send out Christmas Cards 10. Get a Tattoo
11. Be open to loving someone the way I did when I was 18
12. Dance without being insecure...SOBER

My (Lindsey's) List
1. Visit NYC again
2. Save $2500 for NYC move
3.Read/Finish seven books 4. Visit Courtney in San Fran
5. Finish and put on Play
6. Be active. everyday
7. Lock down event job. full time
8. Get a tattoo
9. Go to more plays (at least five.) 10. Take a creative class
11. Have frequent small get togethers
12. Be more open. attentive. forgiving.

But more on those later...
If you made it to the end..I CONGRATULATE YOU!!

WOO!!!

I hope you all had a very blessed and wonderful holiday! 

On Friday ( Christmas Eve Eve) we hosted a Christmas Party for our friends AND families which resulted in the most adult party that I have thrown so far. It was rather exciting having some catered food and my family/my friends families milling around. It all felt so...adult. I liked it.

My brother and I (in my purple party shoes) in front of the (hidden) Christmas tree.

My obligatory cute couple picture of Leah and Matt!

Some friends hanging around the fire pit

Our riveting game of White Elephant 

Courtney and Ricky being cute and Christmas-y

After the party, I was very happy that I was able to stay at my parents house over the holiday and soak up all the Christmas wonderment and youthful glee for a few days and not worry about too much. 

We have both some normal and wacky traditions and it just doesn't feel like Christmas until they occur. For example: it's not Christmas until my whole family goes to Christmas Eve Service, followed by driving around looking at Christmas lights and then dinner. Then once we get home my dad gets all dressed up in weird clothes and uses props to read the "Night Before Christmas" story (even though me and my brother are both in our mid twenties..), then after my parents go to sleep my brother and I alwaysalwaysalways watch "Jingle All the Way".  

On the actual Christmas day my whole large extended family hung out, ate food and enjoyed each others company at my cousin's new home. We stopped getting presents for each other a few years back and we all pitch in to get my little cousins/second cousins toys. We decided we don't need anything and it's so heartwarming to see the pure joy and excitement on their faces when they open up their gifts. 

Do any of you have any wacky/interesting holiday traditions?

We have a winner!

 Congrats to Krystal on being our lucky Lush gift card winner!

I want to thank you all who commented and I will be adding all the silly/corny jokes to my arsenal 

because I love the cheese!

In all seriousness, knowing people actually read this silly thing lights up my life like whoaaaaa

So..

FROM,

Sam , her puppy, ...

Vegas Elvis and I- we say a very big...

 "THANK YOU!"

CHRISTMAS LUSH GIFTCARD GIVEAWAY!

Let me start this post by saying...

Today, has been a very exciting day for me because I planned on spending my day off from working for my dad to update my resume and apply for as many jobs as I possibly could before nightfall.

INSTEAD!

I woke up to a wonderful email from a nonprofit organization I interviewed for (but had no real hope of getting because they were interviewing SO many candidates) that started like this..

"Lindsey, we have some great news to end your week.."

and went on to offer me a position within their organization to help plan this HUGE and super fun event in the springtime.

Needless to say, I SPRUNG off the couch, grabbed my phone and called my parents and my closest friends to let them know the good news!

I am reveling in this moment because I have been looking for a job that fits my degree for almost a year now. I am finally breaking into the event planning field ee!!

SO, in the spirit of the holiday season and of todays good fortune I want to do another giveaway!

We will be giving away a : $25 dollar gift card to my favorite store LUSH!

(A little blurb if you're not familiar with their products/store"We specialize in handmade, 100% vegetarian (and over 70% vegan!) products for shower, bath, hair and body that are loaded with fresh, natural ingredients and minimal preservatives. Our products and ingredients are never tested on animals. To learn more visit http://www.lushusa.com/shop/")

So here is the deal the only thing you have to do to enter is:

**Leave a comment with a silly/corny joke

AND

your email address/name.**



**The email address is REALLY important because the giftcard is going to be an E-GIFTCARD which means it will come in an email **

This Giveaway will end SUNDAY 12/18 at 12 MIDNIGHT EST

GOODLUCK! :)

A Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

We have been quite busy with holiday madness, traveling, work, and the like so this is going to be quite the bomb of pictures and short descriptions of what has been going on in our lives as of late...

First off, let's go back about three weeks to Thanksgiving time. We host an annual Friendsgiving dinner the day after Thanksgiving every year where our second family (our friends) get together to have food, wine, and play silly games. This is honestly one of my favorite "holidays" and one of the only traditions that has kept after 6 years with everyone moving away and on with their lives.

Here are just a few pictures from the night. 

...and then we all went into a food/libation/silly games coma so the pictures stopped..! But we had about 15 people show up all together and it was a very successful "Friends"giving indeed. 

Next up, Samantha and I got contacted through our Etsy, about being in a Fashion Trunk Sale type event on the UNLV campus called Sassy City Chicks. 

Unfortunately, we only had about a week notice and Sam could not get out of her day job so I went alone with my friend to just check it out so that we would be prepared for the one in February in San Diego. 

Plus, how could I pass up a trip to LAS VEGAS??!

We stayed at New York, New York because it had a SMOKIN deal for mid-week. 

**I didn't feel too comfortable taking pictures in the actual event but I'm sure they are online somewhere!**

The event was really cute though!They had a DJ, cocktails, and plenty of great booths and deals on super cute clothes. I skipped the designer deals because getting to Vegas to check out the event took some savings but I did buy some fun shirts from Jac Vanek, a sassy lady with fierce style. 

Plus, another one that is based off the "Keep Calm" series and it says " Keep Calm and Party On" 

I pretty much love it. 

After the event, CC and I went out for our one night in Vegas and spent it at the club Rok and had a little bit too much fun in a way only Vegas can provide

Lastly, as a second year tradition I helped my good friend turn his office into a Christmas/Holiday Explosion. We played Christmas Music, Elf the Movie, Home Alone 2, and pulled an all-nighter decorating his whole office to surprise his co-workers who walked into a winter wonderland the following morning. 

 One of the things we did was make a fireplace out of cardboard boxes to create a "living room" scene

 Next, we set up the Christmas tree, wrapped some miscellaneous things from around the office and created a "window" that looked out into a snow filled valley that included snow capped mountains and a happy snowman.

Things not pictured(but hopefully I will be in possession of soon!):

*A Christmas Wonderland that we created at the front entrance with snowflakes and twinkling lights

*A sleigh set up for photo ops

*An igloo built over an entire desk

*A "candy cane" room where everything was decorated in red and white

Overall, the night was a huge success and from what I hear his co-workers loved it :)

**Vacation Santa approves of this post.**

We are hoping to have another giveaway very soon just in time for Christmas so stay tuned!