take.

i'll take a pair of these, please.

wouldn't mind having them in black too.

this week, i'll also take an extra piece of chocolate,

or four if i'm allowed.

i'd take an extremely hot bath at any given point;

one i can sit in for an hour while reading next to a scented candle.

if i could, i'd take a puppy tomorrow.

okay, i swear that's the last time i'll mention a puppy.

{at least for this week. i can't make any promises for next.}

if taking your bed to class in the morning was permitted,

i'd be the first one to class every single day. 

are taking your vitamins every day important to you?

if so, what do you take?

i'm curious, because i don't take anything, and i'm beginning to wonder if i should.

as tired and exhausted as i may be on any give day,

i never will take a sip of a red bull or a 5 hour energy drink.

they literally scare me and make my heart skip a beat just thinking about them. 

lately, i'm trying not to take life to seriously.

or should i say, living it with my stubborn perfectionist ways?

sure, i laugh {almost too often},

but, i never let go of that perfectionist in me;

 and sometimes that's exactly what i need to do.  

take, take, take.

what are you taking part in this week?

hi-ho, hi-ho, it's back to school i go.

back to school.

back to school i go.

first day of school, which also means the last day of summer.

sure, i'm sad to say goodbye to days by the pool, 

bbq dinners, adventures, sunscreen, lazy sunday nights, 

free time, staying up late and sleeping in.

but, boy am i ready to say hello to reading, text books, learning and 

walking around on campus while enjoying the changing of seasons. 

remember being a little kid, so excited for the first day of school?

new outfit, new backpack, new shoes, new teacher....

you are already to go... 

until you realize you've been tossing and turning and can't seem to fall asleep-

all due to a little set of nerves that creep up on you.

i hated that feeling as a kid.

but wait, i still kind of get those jitters the night before.

am i the only one?

maybe i haven't grown up yet.

growing up is overrated,

because let's face it, who doesn't love a new outfit for school?

a fresh new backpack? a pair of adorable ballet flats for campus walking?

and meeting those crazy yet genius professors?

i certainly do.

if never growing up, means i always get to go to school,

or learn something new on a daily basis...

count me in. 

back to school i go. 

happy as can be. 

happy first day of school!

cheers to being in school, textbooks, nerves and learning.

xoxo

wanted.

i want....

i want a home with lots of windows one day. lovebird knows i crave light more than ever. the first thing i do when i wake up in the morning, is open all the shutters. light is beautiful, fresh and awakening.

i want to grow old with lovebird, and thank goodness i get an eternity with him.

i always want to be a busy woman. sure, a stay at home mother is ideal- but, i want to be a busy stay at home mom. a woman who has work to get done, places to go, people to see and things to do; someone who is always on the go- feeling accomplished, successful and just plain... busy. i often complain of the overly busy schedule i have now- but, as much as i hate it in the moment, i love it in the long run.

i want all things covered and dipped in chocolate. {if only that was healthy}. life seems to function better when you have a taste of chocolate here and there.

i want my home to always be cluttered; a good kind of cluttered. you know, life's trinkets, collectables, memories, and gadgets. my walls will be covered in mismatched art, the shelves will house all sorts of books and empty space will be a rare occurrence. Sure, i love the pristine white, empty, neat-and-tidy homes- but, it's not me; not my style. i was raised a duffin, as my family would say.

i want to live closer to family and friends. i miss their laughter, hugs and being around their sweet spirits.

i want lovebird to magically wake up loving animals one day. why? because i want a puppy. also, i grew up with animals, and so will our kids.... i've just got to convince him of it.

i want all things with an indian print, floral print or animal print at the moment. all in rich fall colors, please.

oh, the wants of life...

what are your's?

all these wants and yet i'm

 still beyond grateful for all that i do have. 

life is blissful.

happy number ten.

ten things that make me happy right now:

1. pureology shampoo and condition. yes, it's expensive... but, so worth it.

2. looking at dog books. slowly but surely, i'm cracking lovebird's will against getting a puppy.

3. birthdays, anniversaries, school and ballet starting... this month is full of all things great. 

4. opi's germany collection for fall. i'm especially loving "don't talk bach to me".

5. summer dinners with lovebird. tasty, simple and oh, so romantic. 

6. my go to earrings: hoops. never can go wrong, i tell you. wouldn't mind adding this pair to the collection.

7. thinking about the {near} future; so many big changes right around the corner. {hurry up!}

8. those little moments when you realize you are so in love. especially, when they hit you unexpectedly. 

9. pretty little liars. i am guilty as charged. 

10. soaking up the last of the summer sun, while anticipating school starting next week. bittersweet. 

five things friday.

five little things before the {big} weekend:

1. remember when i surprised lovebird at work for his birthday?

go check out the genius {and talent} behind the cake pops!

she has an adorable blog full of incredible crafts and the most delicious goodies.

and on top of that, she's one of a kind. i love her dearly.

2. we have a fun trip planned with my best friend and her hubby.

can't wait to meet them "in the middle" at lake tahoe.

say hello to a much needed trip with them, time to just chill, 

and the beauty of such a gorgeous place.

3. i'm so excited to spend my birthday weekend with lovebird.

he has hidden boxes from j.crew, a weekend getaway planned in the city and 

i can already tell he's spoiled me rotten.

why am i so lucky to be married to such a gem?

4. sunshine is the souls best medicine, while

a sunburn is the skin's worst nightmare.

i've experience the love and hate of both this week.

i blame the burning desire to read my book out in the sun. pun intended.

by the way, i finished my book already. loved it.

i'm not going to tell you again- read it now! 

5.a few of my favorite things from this week include:

crisp and clean bed sheets, sally hansen nail strips, a morning date with

my {other} best friend, lovebird's laugh attack, yogurt mill,

the product of a clean house after slave work,

dry shampoo, reading, mac's new russian red lip gloss, and 

complete freedom in the evenings as a result of not having rehearsal.

just one.

source

i sometimes find myself wishing for this or that.

i often times try to be like her or her.

i always put a lot {too much} on my plate.

i sometimes feel like i don't see lovebird enough.

i often worry about my appearance way more than i should. 

i always say yes to people. 

{more like i have the hardest time saying no.} 

i rarely break rules. 

i sometimes wish money grew on trees; only so i didn't have to work so much.

i often feel as though i fall short of people's expectations.

{or rather the high expectations i have for myself}

i am a perfectionist.

 life is a gift.

here's the correct way of saying those phrases above:

i am grateful for what i do have. wishing is a good thing.

i am who i am, and lovebird thinks i'm perfect. so that's all i need.

i put a lot on my plate because i love serving others.

we are at a busy stage in life. time with lovebird is bound to come later.

{every minute i get with him now, is truly lovely.}

appearance isn't everything. in fact, in the grand scheme of things, it's nothing.

i need to learn to say no. 

i plan on breaking more rules. 

{as in, i may just have to give into that rebellious streak of mine.} 

money doesn't grow on trees, and for that i am thankful. 

{working for things is vital for true happiness and success.}

i won't lower my expectations. 

but rather be satisfied with what i did accomplish, instead of dwelling on what i didn't. 

i will always be a perfectionist; it makes life challenging, and that i love. 

i am truly grateful for the one life i have been given.

it is up to me to make the most of it. 

today, my attitude about life has been changed forever...

and i'll be certain to act accordingly. 

happy living! 

xo

done and done.

the season has come to a close.

{this phrase might be foreign to those outside of the ballet word}

i am officially as free as a bird.

my afternoons and evenings won't consist of five hour rehearsals.

{at least for a few months}

it's time to celebrate.

{picture source}

here are the first five things on my "to do" list now that dance is over:

1. hit the spa, duh.

as in get a pedicure to remove my calluses and cover my bruised toenails,

and paint my fingernails a funky-bright color.

{i've been dying to do these both for a couple of weeks now}

2. spend my evenings with lovebird.

this never happens, and i mean never.

i plan on cooking lots of dinners so we can eat 

at a normal hour instead of at 10:00.

cuddle on the couch, watch movies and eat gelato.

and get planning our little trip that is coming up oh-so-soon. 

3. soak up some vitamin d.

simply sit by our pool, relax, drink lemonade and read a book not related to school.

all, of course, while getting a healthy dose of the sun.

i repeat: healthy.

{i've decided getting a nice golden tan is officially lame and stupid.}

4. study for finals.

i realize this isn't so fun...

however, i'm excited to see what school is like without having to stress

and juggle homework and studying around 40 hours of dance each week. 

{not to mention, teaching piano and my other little job.}

5. clean our little home.

you'd think a tornado had come and gone through our little place.

{rather a tornado of busyness, school, stress and lack of extra time.} 

i'm a clean freak... and it's driving me crazy.

but now, with a little spare time i've already fantasized about being cinderella.

let's face it: i enjoy cleaning.

and i enjoy nothing more than the sight of a clean home.

well, there you have it.

there's my recipe to a celebration at the moment.

i'm looking forward to catching up on all the fun things
that i've missed on your lovely blogs while i've been busy performing.

{i'll post pictures of the show soon- i promise}

xoxo

p.s. don't forget that the coupon for nicole's shop is still up an running!

go take advantage of an awesome discount on such lovely prints! 

coupon code: lovebirds

on the go.

hello lovely readers, 

happy thursday.

i'm doing all i can to keep my head above water right now.

the word busy is an understatement.

that being said, busy is a good thing.

it keeps me on my toes.

{quite literally.}

i have just enough time to make a list of a few things

i'm simply loving at the moment:

1. i adore this hair color. so rich and beautiful.

i'm thinking this will be the picture i take into my next hair appointment.

2. i love catching myself in a moment of happiness. 

{one that makes me stop and smile to myself.}

right now, i catch myself in those moments when i'm day dreaming;

day dreaming about the adventures and mini trips lovebird and i will soon go on.

3. if i could be a wedding dress model,

i would beg to wear this one. 

simply put, i'm smitten by the bow. 

4.hearing my little brother's voice on the phone this week was amazing.

it's only been two months, but boy do i miss him.

hearing his laugh on monday will get me through the next 88 mondays.

5. i'm a ballerina, it's no wonder i love:

these cute colors, this leotard, and this hair tutorial.

i hope you are having a busy yet fantastic week.

the first week of may deserves a little celebration every day. 

i'm on the go as usual,

but i hope to sit and stay awhile next week.

{i'm counting down the days}

xoxo

life of a ballerina.

hello! another new week has so quickly begun.

i'm hoping your weekend was full of good weather,

date nights, laughter, food, parties, relaxation and lovely friends.

our's was full of most of those things-

plus the dreaded homework, long work hours and too many rehearsals.

i'm happy and excited yet tired and sad to announce 

that it's my last week of dance for this season.

it's always a bitter sweet thing;

bitter: because the thought of not dancing or working out 

for a few months is frightening and depressing. 

also, saying goodbye to those not returning next year is never easy.

sweet: because my body kills and is begging me for a break.

plus- the end of the season means summer is finally here.

i have hundreds {not an exaggeration} of photos from this ballet season,

but i thought i'd share just a few to wrap it all up.

we finish our season off with romeo and juliet this weekend.

it will be a busy and stressful week, to say the least.

i hope to stay caught up in blogging and reading your lovely posts-

if i don't, bare with me and remember my summer starts

in a week from now and i'll have lots of time to do just that.

unfortunately, the semester doesn't end until the end of may-

but believe me, not having to dance for six hours a day,
certainly frees up a lot of my time. 

cheers to the last busy week of the season.

xoxo

wed.nes.day

it's wednesday; which means it's hump day.

currently, wednesday is my least favorite day of the week.

my body feels exhausted and my mind is tired.

the thought of the weekend still feels so {too} far away. 

wednesday is my busiest day of the week;

i've somehow managed to cram everything i do into one day.

{school, teaching, dancing, personal shopping}

coming across something motivational on a wednesday is what gets me through to a thursday.  

this quote did the trick a couple weeks ago-

so, i thought i'd share it with you.

as simple as it is, i've thought about it numerous times since. 

just when you think you are at your limit...

you are not.

there is always more in you.

lately, more often than not, i feel as though i've reached my limit.

it's as if one more math problem, dance step or errand just might kill me.

but, it won't.

and that's the hard part; understanding i'm fortunate to be busy.

that pushing myself is only benefiting the outcome of who i am and who i become. 

today i will think harder, dance a little longer, love a little deeper and

through it all- i'll be a little happier. 

maybe then i won't dread wednesdays so much. 

instead, i just may embrace wednesday with it's challenge of enduring it

while being a little better and giving a little more in all that i do. 

happy wednesday.

let's get over this hump together.

because believe it or not, the weekend is just around the corner.

xoxo

little love notes.

a few {little} love letters as of late:

dear elder carlson: i get to talk to you in one week! i am waiting as patiently as i can for monday to come. you can bet your bottom dollar i'll be by my phone 24/7 that day- i am dying to talk to you- and that's an understatement. hurry up already- mexico is calling your name!

dear shellac/gel nails: you are the best invention {ever}. if i could convince myself that i deserved to spend money on you every two weeks, i totally would. i'm a sucker for nail polish; especially un-chippped and shiny nail polish, which is exactly what you are for a solid two weeks.

dear romeo and juliet rehearsals: you are exhausting. your rehearsals are long. or maybe it's the long day i have before i start rehearsing you. you're lucky i am in love with the music and the starstruck love story- or i'm not quite sure how much longer i can put up with you and the bruises you cover my poor knees with.

dear number 26: what a special number you are this week. you happen to be lovebird's golden birthday this year. i'm looking forward to thursday, his birthday, and the year that follows. i hope 26 is a good year for him. please bring lots of luck, love, traveling and maybe a graduation...?

dear hairs upon my head: thanks for not being the oily type. i don't know if i'm embarrassed or proud to say that i haven't washed my hair since wednesday night. {that's not a joke.} with my extremely busy schedule not having to wash my hair is a true blessing simply because i don't have to take the time to style it from scratch every morning. a special thanks to moroccan oil, dry shampoo and the top knot for allowing my hair to get it's debut for several days in a row.

dear artichokes: you are a recent love of mine. i ate a whole one for dinner last night, and could have had another one if lovebird would have let me. you are scrumptious. why didn't i like you as a kid growing up? i wasted all those years on not enjoying your yumminess.

dear evolution: exploring your theories and principals are quite interesting. being raised religiously and believing in a creation my whole life interferes with you slightly. that being said, you do intrigue me. i enjoy learning your perspective. your point of view is scientific while my point of view is based on faith. both of our ideas together, make for a confused outcome. one thing is for certain; my anthropology class has certainly made me open my eyes to a whole new concept while planting my feet even further in faith.

i heart you.

i have a crush on you. 

i'm totally crushing on these few things lately.

long skirts: you are my fashion obsession at the moment.

especially the long-silky-pleated ones.

i just want to spend my days letting the wind blow you, as you make

me feel oh-so feminine and in a sense conservative. 

moroccan oil: i will be faithful to you until the day i die.

you save my hair every single day.

i love you more than you know.

up the amp:  hello purple lips.

thank you mac, for this fun bright color.

i'm clearly in love.

organic produce: i've been falling for you more and more lately.

you may be pricey, but you are well worth it.

i prefer you ten times over "regular" produce now.

you taste better, you last longer, and buying you locally supports a good cause.

j.crew: yes, the entire store.

if i could transform my closet into your store and catalog,

i would do it in a heartbeat. 

bright blue: simply the color.

whether it be this new clearance skirt i just bought,

the gorgeous blue skies we've been lucky to have lately

or the way you remind me of my lovely mother and grandma.

i'm totally into you.

what are you crushing on lately?

it's time to reveal your secret crushes.

beauty items, food, colors, people or places.

what ever it may be....

spill the beans, i want to hear! 

hello, busy.

{source}

did spring bring an extra amount of busyness to anyone else?

i feel like i am treading to keep my head above water.

i have "to-do lists" coming out of every pocket, purse and calendar.

i have chores piling up due to lack of being able to get them done.

homework is stacking up by the minute.

rehearsals at dance are never-ending. we are in crunch time.

spring is busy.

are you with me?

i am suddenly learning to manage my time differently.

i'm discovering what needs to be my priority rather than 

choosing what i think should be a priority.

i'm accepting the fact that i have to let go of being a perfectionist

in order to get everything done.

{i struggle with this one}

i'm watching time pass as if it never happened;

where do all the hours of the day go?

but through all of this busyness,

i am taking time to smell the flowers, quite literally.

it is a gorgeous time of year in it's entirety. 

the hustle and bustle of spring time paired with
the breathtaking beauty of nature. 

spring is beautiful even when busy.

and that is something i need to be reminded of as i feel busyness overcome me.

spring is such a beautiful season, that is over in the blink of an eye.

 let's embrace it's beauty.

even if that means embracing the busyness of it too.

p.s. today is the last day to enter this giveaway!!
winner will be announced tomorrow. 

the love hate chore.

a day full of laundry will get you thinking.

thinking about clothes, of course.

more often than not, folding endless piles of clothes is tedious. 

watching my dirty clothes pile grow into a mountain

is sometimes overwhelming.

having to dedicate a whole day to switching loads of laundry

is a penalty for having a busy schedule.

although, there is often times that glimpse of happiness as i hang 

my favorite blouse or dress to dry. 

i am reminded of my love for fashion, clothes, shopping and more clothes.

as much as i despise doing the dreaded chore of laundry,

deep down, i love nothing more, than a closet full of clean clothes.

the smell of dryer sheets and this detergent makes me melt.

slipping into a warm pair of sweat pants fresh out of the dryer is simply heavenly.

so today i am happy doing laundry.

cheers to laundry, dryer sheets, warm clothes and the beloved chore. 

mothers are priceless.

okay, i'm in big trouble.

and i mean big trouble.

you see, when you don't typically have a mom around to 

do all things girly and fun... you don't spend much money.

it's the normal: grocery shopping and saturday date night with lovebird.

however, when you do have your mom around...

that story changes. big time. 

with the combination of it being spring break {free time} and

the fact that i live in a place surrounded by fabulous shopping in every direction,

it's a little hard to not spend money. 

or should i say, it's too easy to spend money?

wether it be spent on clothes, accessories, diet cokes, lunches, decorations...

it all adds up. and it adds up quickly, might i add.

lovebird is about ready to hide my little wallet.

however, as much fun as it is to spend money on a new outfit,

there is nothing like "spending" time with my mom.

we are best friends.

and have been for as long as i can remember.

i was in need of a little mother-daughter time to reboot my engine.

she sometimes feels too far away from me.

being in her arms these last few days has been lovely.

yes, most definitely- spending hours shopping, drinking diet cokes,

reading, laughing until our bellies hurt, going on lunch dates

and running errands has been the absolute blast.

but, simply being in the company of my mom is worth far more than

any outfit, diet coke, decoration or pair of shoes i could buy.

i love her dearly.

xoxo

p.s. i'm back to "normal" blogging on thursday.

and stay tuned i have an awesome giveaway coming up! 

greetings in april.

goodbye march. hello april.

goodbye st. patricks's day. hello easter.

goodbye leprechaun. hello easter bunny.

goodbye self control. hello cadbury eggs. 

goodbye 25. hello lovebird's birthday.

{golden birthday, in fact. woot woot!}

goodbye feeling overwhelmed. hello spring break.

goodbye choreographer workshop. hello romeo and juliet.

goodbye seriousness. hello april fools.

{did you play a good joke?}

goodbye pandora. hello spotify. 

goodbye hatred of tea. hello vanilla rooibos tea lattes.

goodbye red lips & mint nails. hello coral lips & lilac nails.

goodbye to my usual: silent car rides. hello recent obsession: kina grannis.

goodbye side part. hello middle part.

{i'm talking hair, incase you didn't pick up on that.} 

goodbye kelly green. hello chartruese.

goodbye chickadees. hello robins. 

goodbye animal print. hello floral print. 

{ever-so trendy yet completely adorable.}

goodbye to spending. hello to saving for summer vacations.

goodbye to dark winter layers. hello to light silky pastels. 

goodbye march. hello april. 

hello lovely followers,

happy april to you.

please link back to my page if you carry on this idea.

i greatly appreciate it. 

xo

the color green.

happy thursday.

obviously, i'm still in the st. patty's day mood, 

and i'm sporting my green.

then again, it is spring.

to me, the color green represents spring.

it's when the trees are staring to portray there deepest and healthiest shade.

it's when the fresh green grass comes out from it's winter nap.

it's when you can spot four leaf clovers if you look close enough.

it's when you look up to find the mountains 

blanketed with green, instead of white snow.

it's when the rain makes you nearly taste the intense shade of green.

it's when the hills in this valley are so green,

you for a split second, feel like you driving through europe instead.

or it's when you realize that green is the color of life;

and that you are living in a beautifully created earth.

springtime is a lovely time.

and i couldn't be embracing the sunshine more than i am today.

i hope you have a little piece of green on today.

what a great reminder of the beauty around us. 

xoxo

spring fever.

happy springtime.

since yesterday was the official first day of spring,

i find it fitting to post a few springtime obsessions and inspirations.

 dear anthropolgie: your catalog screams spring. it's lovely.

 dear essie: is it possible for you to make a rotten color? no. i'm in love with all of them.

dear seychelles: i adore your shoes. especially cute these sandals. 

dear tulips: you're my springtime addiction. 

dear floral skinny's: you are currently number one on my wish list. 

well, now you can see i simply have spring fever.

do you? what are you drooling over right now?

i hope all things spring.

xoxo

ten happy things:

the little things that make life beautiful {as of late}:

1. holidays that insist on me wearing my favorite color: green.

2. cadburry eggs and girl scout cookies.

3. homemade banana bread with whole wheat flour. yum.

4.  getting a little package in the mail from little brother:

{a t-shirt with the mexican flag. too cute and funny. oh, and something for my smash book too}

5. watching downton abbey with lovebird. [every night.]

we are a bit addicted.

it's apparent we are quite connected to the characters:

we both looked over at each other with tears in our eyes after a death in the episode.

6. washing my face with the {trendy} mia. 

there's a reason it is trendy: it works wonders. 

7. the saying "brunettes have more fun".

it's fun being on the dark side for once. pun intended.  

8. the lovely peter pan collar.

i think it is so feminine and classy.

{i love this, this and this one. i want them all.}

9. wearing my hunter boots like they're going out of style.

thank you, rain.

10. warm weather for the mere purpose of not having cracked/dry hands.

you have no idea what my poor hands have looked like.

this is a true blessing. 

miss you most of all today.

i am missing this little man today.

{okay he's not that little- he towers over me.}

but he is my little brother. 

he's already been gone a whole 11 days. 

missionary time goes extremely slow and quick all at the same time.

it's bizarre.

wanna know what else is bizarre?

my burning desire to move right now.

move far away, to a new place.

i'm not unhappy here. in fact, i love our little home.

but, i have this crazy want to move cities, states or even countries. 

i bug lovebird with my fantasizing every day.

that's probably because i am beginning to think my dreams 

of moving are going to come true.

lovebird just laughs.

he tells me i want too many things.

which, i do.

that comes with a "go-getter" personality. 

although it doesn't seem soon enough,

we are bound to move in the next year or two-

due to the next chapter in our lives. 

i suppose for now i'll keep dreaming.

alongside missing my little brother dearly. 

happy weekend to my lovely followers. 

just some ideas:

 a place like this down by the beach. {carmel, california.} 

or a little romantic apartment in beautiful italy.

or i would love to live in a little old fashioned city like this.

if i could convince lovebird, we'd live in a cottage. 

or i'd even be happy in an upbeat crammed studio in a big city.

i clearly just want to move.