Lovely Day

My outfit:

Dress: thrifted (Old Navy)

Cardigan: thrifted (Merona)

Leggings: Old Navy

Boots: thrifted 

Today consisted of much-needed girl time. I went to the local farmers' market this morning and met up with my friend Mae. She has a booth there with "recycled jewelry" she sells. She makes new pieces of jewelry from unwanted costume jewelry, and let me tell you, they are pretty awesome. She is one talented girl, this Miss Mae.

I love her displays, they're so creative.

Splendid Handmade Jewelry:

 Blogspot

Etsy

I bought two of her necklaces today (she was having a killer sale). I think I'll try to do more outfit posts so I can show them off. Speaking of showing off, I love these boots. 

Never in my life have I owned cowboy boots until now. They were just calling my name yesterday at the thrift shop. It was truly incredible because they are just my size, which is very hard to find (especially at a second-hand store), having such small feet. I am not a cowgirl or an extreme country music lover by any means, I just really like these boots. Maybe it has to do with living in the Southwest. Maybe it has something to do with these boots looking fit for a superhero. Whatever the reason, I was drawn to them. 

After farmers' market, I ran a few errands and went to Savers with Mae. It's always nice to have a shopping buddy. I bought an adorable dress for church and helped Mae pick out some kitchenware for her new apartment. Also! I found an amazing framed owl. I think I'll post a picture some other time (too lazy right now). I ended the day with a delicious dinner at Japanese Kitchen with the husband. Now it's time to go feed the in-laws' pets and maybe wind down with a DVD and some cuddling. 

Toodles, xo 

Plans have changed.

It looks like I will be working lots of extra hours this week due to Spring Break. I suppose a lot of my coworkers asked for the week off. So... I will not be having as much free time as I would like. It's a bummer, but there's nothing I can do about it, so might as well deal with it the best I can. It's going to be a crazy back-and-forth driving week for Mr. Houpt and I, seeing as we only have one car and we were given bizarre hours. Thankfully we work at the same place, I guess. I am still going to manage and plan fun stuff! I asked Ryan on a date to the sushi bar Wednesday night :) I am very excited. Sushi = favorite food. I am hoping to manage to do everything on my list. So whoever happens to read this blog, wish me luck?

On another note, the photographs I took of my brother-in-law and his fiance turned out wonderfully. They look so in love and I am so happy for them:

Congratulations, Adam and Jonelle!

Schedule.

I was never one to keep a strict schedule during school breaks or summer. I want to change that once Spring Break comes next week. I want to be able to do fun stuff, but I also need to take responsibility and work on a few art projects during that time. So here's a rough draft of my Spring Break:
Monday:
-Work from 11am to 5pm
- go see a movie :)
Tuesday: 
-Go thrifting
-Go out to lunch
- Work on drawing projects while Ryan is at work
Wednesday:
(Hopefully, I get work off this day.) Lazy Day? Do whatever I want! Maybe finally spend that Best Buy gift card. Possibly have a photo shoot?
Thursday:
- Go shopping for things we need around the house
- Work on 3D fundamentals project (a huge, stuffed, tea kettle!)
- Laze about at home, watch a DVD...
Friday:
- Work on drawing projects while Ryan is at work
- Got to work all night
Saturday:
- Work 11am to 5pm
- Who knows? Go eat ice cream? Take a walk? Both?
Sunday: 
- Go to church :)
- Relax
- Got to parents' or in-laws'?

I'm sure this list will change. I want to hang out with my sisters possibly Wednesday or Thursday. We'll see.

I have another photo-shoot planned for this Friday. I ran into my brother-in-law's fiance today at school and she asked me to take their engagement photos! Everyone's gettin' married. I hope I can come up with a few cute ideas before Friday. They both play instruments... maybe I'll incorporate that into the shoot. Yes, I think I'll suggest that.

That's all for today. xo

Time Change

I love when the days are longer and the nights are warm.

I've been thinking a lot about engagement photos, seeing as I will be taking Holly's next month. I am super excited and I want them to be the most creative that I've done so far, with props and a theme, maybe. Here are a few ideas I might steal.

Bubbles, a guitar, and tea cups will definitely be possible. A tent/fort would be ideal, but I'm no architect my any means. I just think it would be fun to combine all these things :)

All images found at Green Wedding Shoes. 

Fire kite, drifting through the skies

My latest photo-shoot was fun. This is Ciara:

I hadn't had a photo shoot in the longest time, it seemed. And now I'm excited for a couple of more in the next month!

Business-wise: 
I ordered some business cards and got them in the mail today! These are my first business cards ever. I hope they'll be successful:

I ended up choosing 16 different images for the fronts of the cards. It was too hard to just pick a few, haha.

Glee-wise: 
I was very pleased to see that Emma Pillsbury had made an appearance in this week's episode. She was just so adorable and clueless in this one. And as always, I approved all of her ensembles. Except maybe this one:

That's all for today. xo

All I ever talk about

I can't stop listening to Eisley. Each time I listen to the Valley it keeps getting better. I keep the CD in the car for sing-alongs. I'm listening to it as I blog... You could call me obsessed or devoted. In other news, my husband got me a present. The pretty camera ring from Ruche :)

I let him know that it was something I had my eye on, but then I totally forgot about it. He was going to give it to me for our next "special occasion," but since there are none coming up any time soon, he cracked and presented it to me the other day. Every day should be special, anyway. I should do something nice for him. It's fun. 

I feel the urge to take more pictures, and even model in some. I have been busy busy busy this semester. When I'm not at work all day, I'm at school all day. Friday nights = 8 hour shift and Saturday = working from 11-5. Sunday is free, as it should be :) At least I've got no money problems. I just need a break. Spring break will be here in a couple weeks, I believe, but even then it doesn't seem like I'll get much of a break. Teachers shouldn't give assignments during a break. I'll be sure to go on a few outings during that week. I hereby promise myself to: 

1. Go see a movie in theaters 

2. Go on a date. Maybe a double date? 

3. Go thrifting, of course! 

4. Have a photo session 

Welp, I gotta do something more productive now. Gotta fold some clothes and tidy up so Mr. Houpt can come home to a clean apartment. Listening to The Valley should make these otherwise boring chores much more fun.

xo ;) 

So, today...

I got the new Eisley album, the Valley, in the mail!
I'm going to get free lunch at church.
I'm going to have a photo shoot with a very pretty girl.
I'm going to go to work for eight hours...

Speaking of photo shoots, my best friend Holly recently got engaged!

I'm taking her engagement photos :) I already have so many ideas for this photo session. She just needs to tell me when! I'm excited to be married friends.