Tuesday, May 31, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge

Day 1: My favorite song: On the Safest Ledge, by Copeland
I love the female vocals in this track. It makes the song. 
I listened to this album a lot a couple of summers back. I'd say that it really got me through a tough time in my life. I guess that sounds pretty cheesy, but it "spoke to me." While this song is one of the happier ones of the album, I was thankful for the sadder ones at that point in my life. I think listening to music that matches your depressed mood can be sort of therapeutic... to me, anyway. It's like listening to your thoughts put into a song. It gave me comfort knowing that other people have been through similar situations.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Polk-a-Dots and Stripes

It is our last week of house sitting and I'm a little thankful for it. I'll miss having a backyard to take pictures, but I'll be glad to stop going back and forth from house to apartment.



Skirt: Savers
Shirt: Forever 21
Cardigan: Target ($6)
Shoes: Payless 

I really dig this skirt. Why? Because I'm pretty sure it's homemade... and just look at it. The first thing I thought of when first seeing this skirt: "4th of July." I hope very much to put an outfit together involving this skirt once the 4th rolls around. 

In other news... there is no other news. Nothing has changed much since the last post. I'm anticipating Holly's arrival from Albuquerque. I've been needing more friend time. Plus, I gotta continue with some maid of honor duties. Holly, you are not being neglected. 

Oh yes, almost forgot. I'm getting my truck back tomorrow! Finally. It's been over a year without my dear truck. If all goes well tomorrow ( I hate the MVD), we will be reunited. 

Farewell,
xo. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Been a While

Hello Bloggers. These past couple o' weeks have been filled with sleeping in, house-sitting, watching the many channels on the dish network (What Not to Wear :D), watching Fringe on DVD (so intense), watering plants, dates with the husband, a few photography jobs, playing Beatles Rock Band, and just being kinda lazy... But this might be the last "real" summer I have! I plan on going to Summer school next year.
My little sister Melanie (yeah, she's taller than me) and I hung out today. We began the day with lunch at the Boba Cafe. Forgot how good it was. Then we had some fun photo time this afternoon. Yup, that's the backyard of the house I'm babysitting. It's quite spacious and the lighting is very photo worthy. 



I think these photos prove how our personalities differ. Melanie is pretty eccentric, so it's easy to take her photo. Not camera shy one bit. 


Yay for sister time! 



Dress: Down East Basics
Shoes: Target ($5!) 

The husband is out playing with his friends,
and I have a date with hulu. 
xo 

Monday, May 16, 2011

Feelin' like the 1950s

Finally got myself a peter pan collar, and this outfit reminds me of the 1950s. 
Shirt: H&M
Skirt: thrifted and altered  
Shoes: Payless
Belt: H&M 
Hair clip: Walmart 
I just had to add the poodle hair clip to finish the look. 

Ryan and I have decided to read a few books this summer. I desperately need to read more. I feel that the internet is consuming all of my free time, and besides blogging, it has become wasted time. We're going to start off with 1984 since neither of us have read it. Are there any good books I should know about for some Summer reading? 



In other news, I found out that I only work one shift this week. This is a little exciting but also worrisome, of course. I work at Sonic as a carhop. Sometimes I like my job, and other times I completely loathe it. I'm guessing that it's this way with most employee/job relationships. I'm trying to decide on whether to find a new job or to just stick with it and see if I'll get more hours later in the Summer. I can always make extra money with my photo-shoots, but what if there isn't too much of a demand for it this summer? Maybe I'm overreacting. We're not hurting for money right now, anyway. Just gotta be on my toes! The house sitting job will bring in some money as well... 
I think we'll be fine. It's not like Ryan doesn't have a job. 
This just in: We are going to start house sitting tomorrow as opposed to Wednesday. You know what this means? I get to watch GLEEEEEEEEE(!!), on its scheduled TV time instead of waiting for it to be on hulu. Oh happy day. Only two more episodes left this season :| Rachel + Finn, please. 
That is all. 
xoxo

Sunday, May 15, 2011

About Time

It's about time that I've posted another outfit. But before we get to that, check this out: 

Holy heck, did this biggie surprise the husband and I. 
That batch of strawberries was delicious though. I love strawberry season. So cheap and juicy. 
Shirt: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: Down East Basics
Cardigan: Wet Seal
Shoes: Target 

I was having a bad hair day so I decided to put my hair up. I hardly ever rock a ponytail, especially not on Sundays at church, but it was necessary this time around.
News news news... For the next three weeks, Mr. Houpt and I will be house sitting for an elderly couple from his former family ward. This means free use of a washer and dryer, satellite TV..., and no internet. I'm sure we'll be slinking back to the apartment to get our fix now and then. Oh technology, what have you done to us? Despite that, the house is in a gorgeous neighborhood with lots of trees. Trees = shade. Shade = acceptable photos during the bright, sunny days. I think I'll persuade Ryan to take a lot of walks with me while we're there. 


Also, I have a couple of photo sessions this week. Looks like the business cards are payin' off! Wish me luck :) 
xoxoxo 

Friday, May 13, 2011

Scottsdale, AZ


Probably the most ritzy city I've ever been to in my life.
Any-who, the trip in itself: A learning experience. As we were driving along I felt so prepared for what was to come. Had the snacks, sunglasses, money, oil change, gas, and directions to Scottsdale. See, I wrote down the directions to the city, but forgot to get the directions to the hotel. I didn't even think of it.... You can imagine that I felt pretty dumb for not having done so. Neither Ryan or I have a smart phone or GPS to give us all the answers to life, so I kind of made him ask for directions at a gas station. I just felt so ashamed, ha.
Once we arrived at the hotel, we wanted to change clothes in prep for the concert. We then discovered that Ryan forgot to pack his pants. His only bottoms were the basketball shorts he wore on the 6 hour drive up. Luckily, we found a TJ Max and bought some shorts.
It was nearing the concert and Ryan and I walked around tons. We were passing by the venue in which the bands would play that night and I noticed a group of people walking across the street. A girl with pink hair... it was Eisley. The fan-girl in me squealed, but I could not bring myself to go anywhere near them. Do I regret it? Probably. But I'm not going to dwell on it.

Watin' in line. 

Concert time! I was afraid the venue would be jam packed with people and we'd have to "fight" for a decent spot, but it was nothing like that. Since it was at a bar the floor was divided in two: drinking side and non-drinking side. Hurray for being 21! The 21+ side was much more spacious than the opposite side. I stood in the front row. I'm sure it was the most comfortable show I've been to yet. 


Christie Dupree and her brother Colin were the first act of the night. Her voice is just as beautiful as her elder sisters'. 



The Narative. I had not heard of them until that night. They were adorable. 







(Doesn't Sherri Dupree remind you a little of Ramona Flowers?)
Eisley. Beautiful. 
We bought Christie Dupree's demo and The Narrative's album. 

The next day was a little nightmarish. Not completely, but it was a bummer in some ways. As we were checking out of the hotel, I saw a puddle under our car. We had just got the oil changed so we were freaking out a bit. Further investigation proved that it was the antifreeze that had leaked. Long story short, we had to wait a few hours for our car to get repaired. The good that came out of this? We browsed the HUGE mall for a couple of those hours. Most stores were pretty expensive (including Kate Spade and Anthropologie *swoon*), but besides that I finally got to step foot into an H&M. Bought a couple of items that might inspire me to do more outfit posts. ALSO, had one of these:
Thanks to my father-in-law, the car repairs were paid for and we got home very late, but safe. I feel very blessed. And that concludes our Scottsdale adventure. xo.