Monday, July 30, 2012

necessities.

{source. p.s. don't you just love her!?}

five things i just can't live without:
{at least for now}

1. neutrogena sun screen. the absolute best.
doesn't clog pores, lightly scented and blocks those harmful rays.
what could be better? nothing.
2. salmon. it's my new go to dinner and lunch, for that matter.
lovebird and i have mastered a delicious way of grilling those bad boys-
 thanks to papa carlson for showing us his tricks. 
simply delicious, mouthwatering and irresistible.
3. burt's bee chapstick. {grapefruit flavor, please!}
known fact: i have a secret stash of burt's bee chapstick tucked away at all times.
i'm never without it, literally.
4. bikinis. yes, you heard me correctly.
i've been living in one all summer long; pool day after pool day. 
right now, i have to steer clear of the clearance bathing suits in target,
or else i'd be coming home with armfuls of them. 
5. longchamp bag. i'm convinced every girl needs one.
so practical, fashionable and the perfect size.
don't let it's simplicity fool you. 
one tip: given it's large open pocket, keep things organized inside. lots of little bags! 

go on, tell me something you can't live with out.
at least, for the moment. 

ballerinas meet yosemite.

{instagram username: eleasejane}

we had quite the weekend with this photo shoot.
the beauty that is engulfed in yosemite is unbelievable.
every single time it takes my breath away.
standing there in nothing but a leotard felt exhilarating;
as if for some reason my "nakedness" gave me a grander sensation. 
what better way to spend your weekend than hiking in your pointe shoes?
we all had so much fun laughing, posing, shivering, splashing and snacking.
it was a day full of nothing but smiles.
as well as posing with tourists, drinking the most delicious hot cocoa,
waking up {too} early to get ready, caravanning in the most windy canyon, 
demolishing our pointe shoes in the river, soaking up the sun,
posing over and over again, and laughing more than we ever have before.
 it was day to remember. 

how was your weekend?
did you spend hours watching the olympics? i sure did.
"olympic time" is possibly my favorite time. 
i think it's safe to say:
pointe shoes, yosemite and the olympics make for a perfect weekend.
happy monday. 
xoxo

Friday, July 27, 2012

ouch.

hello muscles.
the ones i haven't used in a couple months.
the ones that are screaming with soreness and exhaustion.
the ones i am suddenly discovering, almost as if i never knew they existed.

it takes me a good twenty minutes to actually roll myself out of bed.
as i do so, you should hear all the cracking and popping.
doing the good ol' wake up stretch in the morning is suddenly painful.

this is the life of a ballerina.
in fact, it's almost expected to wake up sore year round.
good thing the "out-of-shape" sore only lasts for a little while.
or at least that's what i'm hoping for.

i wouldn't trade my life of being a ballerina for anything.
however, i would trade those sore muscles of mine any day of the week.
oh, the life of a dancer.
this week i'm saying: bring it on. 

have a happy weekend.
this weekend for me includes:
a photoshoot in yosemite, while wearing a leotard and pointe shoes.
just when those tourists thought they were going to see half dome,
they just might run into some crazy ballerinas hiking and posing.
afterwards, i plan on coming straight home to sit in an ice bath. 
my muscles may then, actually thank me. 
surely, i'll post pictures. 
{instagram username: eleasejane}
follow along, and i'll follow your lovely weekend too. 
xoxo

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

take a boat into venice.


venice
this is where we started our lovely trip in italy.

venice in ten:
1.arrived and got completely lost; two hours lost.
2.first on the itinerary: straight to st. mark's square.
3.oredered our first margarita pizza and bought a painting from a local.
4.took a long nap. trust me, it was needed. 
5.first "real" italian dinner: 
i ordered the traditional pasta with mushrooms. lovebird ordered an italian steak. 
6.onto our first taste of authentic gelato! {grom}
7.enjoyed a {very} romantic stroll along the canals.
8.breakfast at the hotel while chatting with sweet english women.
9.last stop: the famous rialto bridge.
10.a gorgeous city; 
the atmosphere was so italian and nearly impossible to put into words. 
{the humidity was a little much, i'll admit that.}

Monday, July 23, 2012

just a taste.

here's a little taste of venice. 
i am still sorting through the ba-jillion pictures we managed to snap.
if only it was a quick and easy job to sort, edit and post pictures.
part of me has needed a vacation from my vacation. {if that makes any sense}.
i've been taking things slow:  
running errands, slowly getting back into work,
visiting with friends, laying by the pool and cleaning my home 
that seemed to have collected an inch of dust while we were gone.
{what a nice welcome home gift, right?}
so, please bare with me-
i do promise to eventually post pictures from italy. 

meanwhile, it's back to dance i go.
today is going to be ruff.
 tomorrow my muscles will be screaming.
wednesday, they will want  to kill me.
thursday they'll still be paying for the consequences 
of not me not staying in shape over the summer.
friday they may finally be used to the pain
and saturday they'll be rejoicing in a day off.
my reply to the pain will simply be:
sorry that i'm not sorry, because italy was well worth it; 
every last second of it.

life seems to suddenly be starting back up again at full force.
where did summer go?
is it really already over?
at least we have one last destination wedding to look forward too-
oh, and our anniversary too!
it's not quite over, and believe me- 
i'm holding out for every last second of summer i can get. 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

be a bird.

happy sunday.
may you be that patient bird today
and have an exotic adventure.

ours will be spent with dear friends eating delicious food laughing the night away. 
there is bound to be a silly adventure somewhere in that plan. 

i hope you are having a lovely weekend.
xoxo

Friday, July 20, 2012

life in links.


 i thought i'd fill you in on my life via links:
have you heard the big news? exciting, if you ask me.
so happy i splurged on these clearance mugs at anthro. 
we went here yesterday. oh, how lovely it was.
these, are my newest addiction. 
i'm just going to have to make all three of these .
if only i could have brought this place home from italy. 
please tell me you've heard of this.
have you entered this giveaway? trust me, you'll want to.  

your turn:
leave me a link below.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

a simple knob.

when lovebird and i first got married and moved into our first little home.
{it's an apartment, but it feels like a home.}
we refused to pay the hefty installation fee of 
mounting our tv above our fireplace.
even though that space had "i exist only to hold a tv" written all over it,
i wasn't willing to spend hundreds of dollars and give in. 
lovebird and i, not being big tv watchers (still to this day),
 decided a little table of some sort would do the trick.
we ran to trusting target, and sure enough we found a little table.
when i say little, i'm also talking a ticket price of $20.
for these first two years of marriage, that little table has done us well;
it perfectly perfumed it's job while looking somewhat decent.
however, i happened to stumble across a complete gem the other day.
ya know, the kind that has a big red clearance sticker on it.
disregarding it's few scratches and missing door knob,
i snatched it right up and put it in it's place before lovebird could 
even think of saying "no".
ideas of painting, sanding, turning into a
 vintage masterpiece raced through my head.
however, i decided to do simple, {at least for now}.
i'm proud to say this little guy only cost me $4.89 for "repairs",
and i couldn't have asked for a better home for our tv. 
trust me, i know there are hundreds of more impressive makeovers out there.
some are very time consuming and involve heavy labor-
which of course, produces a beautiful end product.

that being said, sometimes a little knob or two can do the trick,
and produce a just as lovely outcome.
a makeover doesn't have to be big, to be right.
now, go splurge and by yourselves a couple knobs to transform
a piece you are slightly tired of.
it will feel brand new all over again. 
p.s. knobs are all half off at hobby lobby right now! 
ready, set, run!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

a little chuckle.

i asked lovebird what to blog about today- his reply was,
"happy and hardworking husbands".
i chuckled a little, okay a lot, as we all know lovebird
is in a land of his own summer paradise at the moment...
waking up slow, drinking lemonade, watching tv, 
eating like a king, working a short little shift here or there,
playing soccer, working out and soaking up the sun's rays. 
he's in a land of his own, i tell you.
after all, it is summer, and just because we're "grown ups" doesn't mean
we can't make the most of these summer days.
being so busy year round, makes it easy to indulge in summer relaxation.
{working 24/7 or a day by the pool? you pick.}
which reminds me, lovebird is the hardest working husband i know.
he deserves living like a king in these blissful summer days.
we all know this paradise is short lived;
school, homework, dance and work is just around the corner.
he may be milking this paradise for all it's worth
but, he's certainly a happy hardworking husband.

are you in that summer paradise too? i hope so.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

it's all in the mattress.

good morning.
i'm calling on you for a little help, more like a recommendation. 
you see, we have a problem.
lovebird and i have already purchased two brand new mattresses in our 
{almost} two years of being married, and are desperately looking to buy a third.
why?
well,  because we wake up in the morning in pain. 
our backs just scream with aches and pains.
{that's like asking to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, if you ask me.}
i always thought it was because of my sore muscles due to dance, 
but now that i'm off contract, my bed has now proven itself to be the reason.
we slept on numerous beds while traveling through italy,
and not one time did we wake up with an ounce of pain.
please help.
i'm craving a good night sleep;
one i can wake up and roll out of bed feeling rejuvenated and rested,
instead of cramping in pain. 

you have two options:
1. you can go lay on the ground next to your nicely made up bed,
untuck the sheets a little and check the tag to see what mattress
gives you that perfect night sleep, and leave a little comment below.
or
2. you can plan on lovebird and i climbing in your bed tonight.
we are that desperate.

{i'd take the first option, even though a sleepover might be fun}

thanks for leaving your recommendations below.
we greatly appreciate your help. 

*we currently are sleeping on a "tempurpedic"/memory foam bed from costco 
and owned a sealy plush top before that. 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

a pile of randoms.

five things you should know:

1. a spray bottle cures everything. especially wrinkles when traveling. but heck, we use it for wrinkles even when we're not traveling.
2. i have no self control when it comes to tortilla chips with a hint of lime. none, i tell you.
3. if you haven't worn something in over a year, it's time to get rid of it. no "but, i know i'll wear it..."- you won't. this is extremely hard for me. i swear my closet just got ten pounds lighter.
4. humidity is your best friend and your worst enemy. friend: dewey and moisturized skin, especially after coming home from italy and realizing just how dry it is here. enemy: sweating constantly making you feel ugly as your clothes stick to you reminding you that the heat is a bit too much.
5. life should be lived reading. books are full of more than just stories. read, read read. it changes your life.

let's hear something i should know. come on- tell me something good.

oh yeah, one last thing: i have red hair, just in case you forgot;
because to be honest, sometimes i forget until i look in the mirror. 
life is full of randoms, but that's what makes it good. 

Friday, July 13, 2012

officially over.

being home from italy for less than a week,
life already has picked us up in it's whirlwind of business.
you know that saying, "vacation is over"?
that's truer than true.
the minute you step off the plane from your vacation,
no matter how long or short it may have been, it's back to "real" life.
however, our real life has still felt like vacation...
considering we didn't exactly go straight home; we spent a few days in utah.
 also, a big thanks to holidays, family time, baseball games,
eating out, friends, treats and sleepovers
for helping drag out our vacation as long as possible.
{instagram: eleasejane}

1. jet lag requires early morning starbucks runs.
2. & 3. red, white and blue for the fourth of july. 
4. the gorgeous mountains in utah, which we miss dearly.
5. great harvest and einstein's = carb heaven, as well as my heaven.
6. currently in the market for a little putt putt.
7.  cutest little kids on the block.
8. pedicure, for both of us, was mandatory after walking the streets of italy.
9. nothing better than coming home to california's well earned rep for fresh produce.
10. lovebird being our family's 'grill master' on our new grill.
11. finally got around to changing my last name on my license. 
{never too late, right? ... two years later. ops!}
12. spending time catching up and writing my awesome brother. 

that's a wrap: a wrap to the close of our vacation.
vacation is officially over.
we are home safe and sound and surprisingly ready for "real" life again.
xoxo.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

goodbye italy. hello america.

home again home again jiggity jog.
{lovebird grew up saying jig, i grew up saying jog. to this day we "argue" over which one's right.}

{the classic airport picture: going to italy, then leaving it all behind.}

hello lovely readers.
 it's been quite awhile- wouldn't you say?
oddly enough, i've slightly missed the blogging world;
mainly catching up with your fun lives, envying your fashion,
trying your diy's and craving your recipes. 
i am back now and have every intention of staying put for a little while. 
where do i even begin?
maybe by sorting though the thousands {literally} of photos i took,
counting the calories i consumed from pasta and bread,
organizing my memories into words to post,
or reflect upon the "important" things to share with you.
all of which seem a little overwhelming at the moment.
you can thank a heavy case of jet lag for that.
i'm anxious to share our adventures amidst the beautiful country of italy.
i now know why roma {rome, in english} spelled backwards is amor. 
not only did i fall in love with everything in sight,
i fell in love with lovebird all over again.
italy has my heart.
i'm convinced i left it there.
thank goodness for throwing a coin in the trevi fountain-
legend has it, i'll return to rome one day and can then reunite with my heart. 
until then, i'll reminisce and share the details with you.
stay tuned. 
i promise to post those details as soon as i can. 
xoxo 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

meet bridget.

hi! it's swell to meet you. are you as envious as i am that these two are galavanting through italy? that said, i'm very honored to be filling in!

i'm bridget from the deer circus, a blog about my life in denver, co with a way-too-cute-for-me husband, our beagle and our frenchie, and my photography adventures. the two of us like to document everything -- our little dates, small style tips, diys, and whatever we're currently crazy about.

for my guest post, i thought i'd share the things i'm most looking forward to traipsing around denver in this summer:
lovebird1
1. floral crowns. they're so easy to make! you can see my tutorial here. i've grown so accustomed to wearing them, that now my outfits feel blah when i don't. 
lovebirds2
2. shoe clips are great because they elevate the ordinary -- so-so shoes become real gems when you slap sparkle clips on them. disclaimer: may cause intense distraction. 
lovebirds3
3. i know we're all salivating over mint pants this season, but let's give a nod to the peachy hues too. maybe it's because peaches are my favorite fruit, and peaches remind me of picnics, and picnics remind me of my husband -- but i think it's so pretty and feminine. slap a gilded belt or watch on top and, well, you're golden. 
lovebirds4
4. i love how long hems are getting! pull it up to your smallest spot, cinch it with a skinny belt, and tuck in just about any blouse. this skirt length is flattering, modest, easy to sit on hills or ride a bike in -- and it's breezy enough to keep your knees cool in the summertime. 
lovebirds5
5. accessorize with found objects you wouldn't see other people wearing routinely. on my list for this summer: binoculars, a kaleidoscope in hand, vintage cameras on leather straps, a harmonica on a string, books to flip through like bird-watching guides, atlases, and french dictionaries.

come say hi! 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

meet TJ.


Hello Little Lovebird readers! I’m TJ from over at His Little Lady, and I’m so happy to be filling in for my girl, Elease, while her and her lovebird are off exploring Italy. Yep, jealousy is an understatement at this point. So while I’m filling in for the day, let’s get to know each other better! Some key things about me: I always have my iPhone in one hand, my husbands hand in the other, and a laptop never too far away. I love documenting my daily life, my handsome hubby, and all the little awkward moments that happen in between. Trust me, there are a lot of them. And some days, on those REALLY good days, I actually change out of my pajamas and put on some real clothes.


I’m a dachshund owning, stripe wearing, ice cream loving, instagram obsessing, tv watching junky, who could school anyone on their celebrity gossip. Yep, I’m kind of proud of myself. No shame. And if you want to get to know me better, head on over to the blog. Can’t wait to see you there! xo TJ

Monday, July 9, 2012

meet caitlin.


These lovebirds are good friends of mine from way back when, so I was very excited when they asked me to guest post for them while they were vacationing!

And now, a (very) brief introduction of me and my blog - Hue and Hum.  I like to draw, my husband likes to make music, we met when we were teenagers, and we're still totally into each other.

Hum and I just got back from our own lovely little weekend of vacationing.  Everybody vacations differently, but this one happened just the way I like it:

A true vacation [to me] means there are no rules on when to get up, when to go to bed, and there are no destinations to be late to.  It means carrying only a phone in your back pocket to capture pictures and a tube of chapstick in the front pocket to keep your lips from chapping in the sunny weather.  It means feeling like we are both in high school again - flirting unconditionally and freely without adulthood smothering our childish love.  It means taking a deep breath and exhaling the heavy worries and inhaling the sweet time you get to spend together.  This trip was absolutely perfect in it's (mostly) nothingness.  I spent a lot of time remembering how we fell in love and falling just a little bit deeper into that same thing.

I have a really hard time switching my brain to the "off" position.  Between all of the creative projects swirling around in my head and my finger tips, vacations seem to be the only way I can truly leave the world behind.  I am grateful I could escape with my love for a few days, and (attempt to) doodle what it feels like to be loved.

Here's to wishing the lovebirds a great getaway and to all of you who are skipping town.  Just remember to pack your bags, get on the road, and leave the real world sitting on your bed with all the other unpacked items.  Oh don't worry, it'll be there when you get back.

>> Stop by and say hi!  Hue and Hum blog
>> Tweet!
>> Instagram?  Yes please.

Friday, July 6, 2012

meet meg.

^ that's me. i'm meg. nice to meet you. i blog at the happy hour. you want my personal opinion? i think you should try this summertime recipe below. your tastebuds will thank you. it's my favorite thing. ever.


summertime bruschetta
you can spread baguettes with soft goat cheese, salty parmesan, olive oil, garlic & then broil, then pile on the tomato misture ~ experiment with it ;) 

1 cup fresh summer tomatoes, minced & drained
2 tablespoons fresh basil, slivered
2 tablespoons green onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
a splash of balsamic vinegar
pinch of red pepper (opt.)
salt & pepper
mix everything together & allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour or more ~ strain juices if you'd like before serving. pile mixture onto crisps, or crusty bread, or even pasta & salads.
i hope you enjoy!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

meet jenessa.

Hello Little Lovebirds Readers!
I can't even tell you how happy I am to be posting on Elease's blog.  I love reading about her living her dream, and just about every other little girl's of being a ballerina.
I can also relate with her on the whole "natural blonde going brunette" thing.
And I'd say we both rock it, don't you think?

Since I'm sure you're wondering who I am, I'll tell you a little bit about moi!


I guess I'll start off with my name...
I'm Jenessa! 
And I blog over at C'est La Vie about...my life!
Things I love, things I don't love, things I do and want, friends, and family are all included in that.
Otherwise, I'm a twenty-something poor starving college student.  
A California Gurl living in Southern Utah.
Kind of a silly move, I know.  
(And yes, Katy Perry's song has been my ringtone since it came out. Represent!)
I have a top knot obsession, a high heel addiction, and a deep ardent love for all things Disney.  
Oh, and my favorite color is yellow.
And I'm so excited for summer!

via Pinterest

Taking 17 credits in school and working part time definitely helps me look forward to warm lazy days during these few months off.  
But it's going to be strange.  It's my first summer away from home.
No beach
No family + puppy
Different friends
No free room and board
No "real" mall
And so many other little things will be missing.

But luckily, I'm a pretty positive person!  
And kind of excited about summer in a new place with new activities to offer. 
I'm thinking my summer will be full of

Hiking


With Zion National Park basically in my backyard, how can I not take full advantage of it?!
Angel's Landing, tubing, canyoneering, it's going to be awesome!
And I'm thinking it'll help that I have a friend who works there.  
Yeah, I've got connections.

Lake trips


As close as I'll get to the beach for most of the summer.  Definitely not the same as listening to the waves crash on the shore, but it'll do.

Tiki Shack


Snow cones are the new fro yo.
Or just snow cones.
Mmm.
And riding my bike there makes it taste even better.

And I think I'll mix in with all of that
some catching up on TV shows
(New favorite: Once Upon A Time. Addicted)
a trip home
weekends in Salt Lake
working at my favorite youth conference
fireworks
(the actual fire kind, not the feeling kind.  although some of those would be nice too)
and just relaxing!

It's going to be one great summer.
I can feel it.

I'd love to hear some of your summer plans, so stop on by!
Stay a while.
Let's be friends.
Happy Summer!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

meet jessi.



Why, hello!  My name is Jessi and I blog about the good, the bad, and the smelly over at Hopes and Dreams.  I am thrilled to be here today!  I just love The Little Lovebirds and couldn't be more tickled to contribute to this adorable blog space.  For my lil' guest post I thought I'd answer this questionaire that's floating around the www so that yous all can get to know me a tad and decide for yourself if it's worthwhile to head on over to my blog and take a looksie.  I hope you do and I hope we become true bloggy pals!!  Mkay, here goes:  

1.| Tell us a little about yourself (family, where you live, job, etc)
I was born and raised in good ol' Utah and currently live in the Salt Lake Valley with my husband, Prince John William, and 10-month-old bubbers, Jameser boy.  I love all things domestic {call me old fashioned} and am currently staying at home most of the time to raise Sir Chubbikins.  I do work as a receptionist once in a while but feel very blessed to be able to stay at home and manage our household while Prince John studies to become a professional nerd {he's an engineering student and likes to build robots and such}.  We are overwhelmed with gratitude for our simple little life together and, although it isn't always easy, wouldn't have it any other way.

2.| Favorite vacation spot and why?
DISNEYLAND.  I dream about Disneyland far more than any grown woman should....  There is just something about the happiness and wholesomeness and innocent adventure that sucks me in and never lets me be.  I simply neeeeeeed Disneyland.  It has been far too long since I've been there {two years} and I am counting down the days until Prince and I can take Dudeski there and I can see John's face as he snarfs a turkey leg and James' face as he experiences the Tiki room for the first time.  EEEEEEEPPP!!! {I also have a small obsession with Ireland because I lived there for a year and a half...}


3.| What do you most look forward to every day?
Two times during the day:  1. When Jameser wakes and gazes up at me with his hammy grin and huge, stunned eyes, and 2. When he goes back down for a nap.


4.| Favorite food?
Potatoes, because you can prepare them in countless ways.  All of which are delicious.  I'm also a sucker for mac and cheese and breakfast sandwiches.  I'm a savory/salty as opposed to a sweet. But give me a savory/salty/sweet and I'm done for {yes I dip my fries and chicken nuggets in my frosty...which is why I'm currently on Weight Watchers}.

5.| Tell us something you are looking forward to this summer!
Taking Prince and Dude to the zoo!  Which I am actually doing today!  I'm also looking forward to going to Bear Lake and Sun Valley.  And I wouldn't say no to some strawberry picking and family bike rides.

6.| Why did you start blogging?
Honestly, and I know everyone says this, I started blogging as a way to keep a record of my life.  My dad was pretty much the only person who read my blog for the first few years and  I had no intention of ever turning it in to anything other than a journal, really. Until earlier this year when I decided to try to get my writing out there a little more.  I do so love to write.  


          7.| What is your favorite part of blogging?


My favorite thing about blogging is that it helps me see the beauty in my life and in the whole "life experience."  If I have a responsibility to my readers to write something inspiring or intriguing then it helps me feel inspired or intrigued as I live, so that what I end up writing will be worth reading.  My life is no beautifuller now than it used to be before I started writing about my day-to-day-ness {except I have a kiddo now}, but the fact that I know I'll be putting words to my daily experiences helps me feel them more deeply and gratefully, which makes my life seem, taste, and be more beautiful to me.  To sum it all up: Blogging really has made me appreciate life more.  
Thanks for taking the time to get to know me a tad.  I'd love to have you over to my place soon and we'll have a right good time!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

meet laurie.


hi everyone!  my name is laurie and i blog over at love, laurie.  i am so thrilled that elease asked me to do a guest post on her blog today!  i absolutely love to cook and bake, so i thought that i would share a recipe with you.  in the summer time, nothing beats desserts that incorporate fresh fruit.  since raspberries are one of my all time favorite fruits, i wanted to share my recipe for fresh raspberry sorbet.  this sorbet is so simple to make, and it only requires a few ingredients.  the tang of the raspberries together with the lemon juice is so bright and refreshing in the warm weather months.  it will make you feel like you will never want summer to end!

fresh raspberry sorbet 
prep time: 20-25 minutes
freezing time: 1-2 hours
yields: 6 servings

ingredients:
- 12 ounces fresh raspberries
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

directions:
1. in a saucepan, bring the water and the sugar to a boil, stirring constantly in order to dissolve all of the sugar.
2. reduce the heat to low, and simmer without stirring to make a syrup (about 5 minutes).
3. pour the syrup into a bowl, and add the vanilla extract.
4. place the syrup in the freezer to chill (about 15 minutes).
5. in a blender, puree the raspberries, the syrup, and the lemon juice, until smooth.
6. strain the raspberry puree through a sieve and into a bowl in order to remove the seeds.
7. pour the strained raspberry puree in to an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the ice cream maker's instructions (about 30 minutes).
8. remove the sorbet from the ice cream maker and transfer to a freezer-safe container.  freeze until completely set (about 1-2 hours).
9. serve the sorbet garnished with fresh raspberries and a sprig of fresh mint.

enjoy!
love, laurie

Monday, July 2, 2012

meet crystal.

Hey ladies! I am Crystal!
I blog over at Coffee at Nordstrom. 
I am so happy to be guest posting here today! I am a new wife! Matthew and I got married on June 2! So while you are reading this post, I am living the dream with my husband in Bora Bora! 
My honeymoon is by far going to be my most favorite vacation, but you'll have to read about my honeymoon once I return at the end of July! But for now, I want to share with you a special trip that I was able to take with my Mom, Sister, MIL, and a couple bridesmaids!
 My Wedding Dress Shopping Trip!
I am sure you all have seen the show Say Yes to the Dress! Well, I headed to NYC with my Mom, Sister, MIL, and a couple bridesmaids to spend the day at Kleinfeld picking out my wedding dress! 
It really was a fairy tale experience!
 I cried when I met Randy. But he's used to emotional brides crying when they meet him, so it really was no big deal.
 This was the whole group of us! Completely over-joyed to see Randy Fenoli!
This is the dress! I thought I loved it when I purchased it back in August, but I love it 1000x more now that it actually fits me and it's pure white!
My Pnina Dress. Completely Obsessed.

The back might be my favorite! :)

You will have to stop by my blog to see the rest of my wedding pictures!
Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram(c_gonzalez602)

Have a great day!

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