favorite things.

a few of my favorite things right now:
1. the sun that's trying to outdo the cold. it's warmth has been delightful lately- i want more.
2. time to myself.
3. anything and everything that has a bow. i've always been a sucker for bows. {1, 2, 3, & 4}
4. this nail idea for valentine's day. {it's coming up so soon!}
5. raw almonds. i could eat them endlessly.
6. crawling into bed with a good book and a lavender heating pad. blissful, i tell you.
7. the regular voicemails my dad leaves me. mostly complaining that i'm too busy, but always telling me how much he loves me.
8. grocery shopping with a set list. {saves money and fights temptations, cravings and my sweet tooth.}
9. downton abbey. need i say more?
10. lipstick. but, then again- lipstick always makes the cut when it comes to my favorite things.

h a p p y  m o n d a y.

cheers to the favorite things in life that make mondays seem doable. 

what's on your favorite list, as of late?

oh, and one last thing on the list!

{number 11 looked funny up there- so i moved it down here.}

besides, this should stand on it's own- because it's the most important thing on that list:

11. today marks exactly two and half years of wedded bliss. 

lovebird will always my favorite.

no doubt about that.  

greetings in february.

goodbye january. hello february. 

goodbye snowflakes. hello hearts.

goodbye new years. hello valentines day. 

goodbye vacation time. hello work, school and dance.

goodbye to missing him. hello to his one year mark.

{ahhhh! nothing makes me happier. seriously.}

goodbye bad habits. hello resolutions.

goodbye gold and silver. hello red and pink.

goodbye self control. hello dove chocolate hearts.

goodbye stranger spice. hello cinnamon every.single.day. 

{weird obsession right now.}

goodbye bitter cold. hello to living in sunny california. 

goodbye to never loving valentine's day. hello to finally coming around to it.

goodbye to dark nails. hello to nude nail polish.

{i'm so pleased this is the trend for spring. yahoo!}

goodbye to never being a t.v. watcher. hello to {dang} netflix. we're addicted.

goodbye to mowgli looking like a puppy. hello to stop-growing-up, right now.

goodbye to missing midge. hello to a much anticipated visit.

goodbye to classical ballet. hello to neoclassical. 

goodbye to time in the studio. hello to performing on stage.

goodbye to countless hours of rehearsals. hello to a whole week off.

{this never happens. i'm elated.}

goodbye cookie butter. hello almond butter. i'm trying to be good- it's not working.

goodbye to never being an orange/clementine lover. hello to i can't eat enough. literally.

{produce; another perk to living in california.}

goodbye to nights of tossing and turning. hello to {dark} new curtains. 

goodbye fuji apples. hello pink lady. i've been converted.
goodbye to being too busy to blog. hello to trying my hardest this month. 

goodbye january. hello february. 

i'm hoping you enjoyed this months list.

i have a feeling february is going to be a good month.

i mean, how can it not when love is bursting at the seams?

i love when those of you link up in your comment below-

it's always fun to go on and read what your goodbye's and hello's are for this month. 

have a happy friday, and weekend for that matter!

i look forward to reading your lovely lists. 

xoxo

jackpot.

jackpot.

this quote summed up my emotions of the last few days, 

into one perfect quote.

lately i feel as though, my days have been a little hectic;

a little too busy, a little too long and a little on the repetitive side.

i've been coming home feeling exhausted, yet satisfied.

i couldn't quite figure out why i was in a weird funk of emotions-

until i read this quote, and suddenly it was like i won the jackpot.

i now understand why my feelings of stress and tiredness 

can coexist with my feelings of happiness and energy. 

there is so much truth in

"every day may not be a good...

 but, there is something good in every day."

too quickly, i come home at night and judge my entire day off the emotions

i am feeling at that very moment. stupidity, right?

of course, when i get home from dance every night after 9-

i can only expect to be exhausted, hungry and overwhelmed.

so, when lovebird asks how my day went, i simply reply with an "okay".

i often vent, complain and sometimes even cry.

but, after reading this quote- 

even though my day, as a whole, may not have been that 

exciting, rewarding, joyous or easy...

there is at least one good thing that happened, that i can reflect upon. 

it can be a simple things. 

it can be a big event.

it can be something that you least expected to happen.

it can be someone. 

it can be anything really.

the good news is, my friends,

there will always be at least one good thing in our day. 

it's bound to happen. 

so, i've decided to look at my days a little differently  now.

i'm going to remember that,
 even if my day doesn't turn out to be the best of days,

i will always find the goodness in that day and smile big. 

currently.

i am currently....
1. missing her so much. sometimes i just want and need her around.
2. loving this shower gel. no need for perfume after using this heavenly scent.
3. thankful i don't have to drive in the snow. {be safe, utah friends!}
4. wondering about this whole vine thing. i'm slightly intrigued and confused.
          *insert all of your thoughts on this topic here. i'm curious what you think.
5. learning to love water. unfortunately, it's not my favorite.
6. wishing there was a "slow down" button for life. it's passing too fast.
7. craving greek yogurt. it's a toss up for whether this one, or this one is my favorite at the moment.
8. wondering why i seem to overbook myself, when being super busy seems to stress me out. 
9. obsessed and addicted to my fireplace. a fire every morning is a necessity nowadays. 
10. in the mood for lots of t.v. this is so out of character for me. 

tuesday is already here, just like that.
thank goodness monday is over- it was a long one.
i'm currently wishing this week goes by quickly.
to help the time pass- i plan on catching up on all of your cute blogs,
so i can stay current with what your darling lives consist of.
xoxo

weekend hangover.

happy monday.

today marks the first day of spring semester for me.

i'm a little excited, anxious and already stressed at what's to come-

{meaning the homework, making room to study and an amplifying the word busy in my life}

but for now, it's still a happy monday.

our weekend was a lovely one.

a busy one indeed, but that's nothing new-

tons of rehearsal for me, a much needed dinner date night- just us two, 

a gossip girl marathon {should we be ashamed? good, because we're not.},

a little church, hung out with some of our favorite friends,

downton abbey- of course {yes, i'm still crying over sybil.},

and some very anticipated play time with mowgli.

how was your weekend?

tell me something good.

meanwhile, february is quickly approaching.

i'm feeling the need 'heart attack' my house.

i'm beginning to brainstorm which diy/crafts i'm wanting to tackle. 

do you have any suggestions?

i have one in mind- which, i'm hoping to share with you later this week.

so, please stay in touch, so we can share projects.

since monday is typically a long and dreaded day,

 i better say it one last time...

happy monday.

let's make the most of today.

xoxo

p.s. i'm well aware that my legs need to see the sun.

although- a sun tan, mid season for a ballerina, is a big "don't you dare".

so please, bear with me.

come may, my legs and the sun will have a joyous reunion. 

let's get dolled up.

let's talk makeup, shall we?

makeup is such an individualized thing.

my observation of makeup and women:

-some women don't dare step foot outside without completely being done-up,

while some women won't step foot in the makeup department. 

-some women load, cake and pile it on,

while other women wear barely any.

-some women swear by their favorite brand and never branch out,

while some women go from one trend/brand/product to the next eagerly.

-some women go for a bold, bright, daring and "out there" look,

while others stick to nude, subtle and "i'm not really wearing makeup" look. 

-some women spend hours practicing that perfect cat eyeliner

while some women don't even know what a liquid liner is.

where do you fall into place?

are you someone who can't imagine life without makeup?

or are you the type to give "el natural" it's definition? 

by the looks of the picture above you might have an assumption

of my obsession or love for makeup.

let's face it, it's true.

however, you may be surprised- because you have slightly been fooled.

yes, i do love makeup- the colors, the trends, the creativity, the product itself...

everything about makeup fascinates me.

however, and it's a big however,

i myself don't wear a ton of makeup on a daily basis.

my daily ritual and the three items i swear by:

a dab of mascara, blush {always!} and a bold lip.  

but, who's to say i can't live on the 'wild side' occasionally, and get all dolled up?

which, explains the shopping splurge pictured above.

{don't worry, it's not all for me. my mother and friend participated in the splurge as well.}

besides, in my opinion, a girl can never have too many lipstick colors.

since i haven't already asked you a million question in the post {ops, sorry!},

one last important one:

if you had to pick three, and only three, items of makeup to wear 

for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

i'm hoping to get a good makeup/product review out of your answers. fun, right?!

so, be specific and detailed- pretty please! 

meanwhile, it's time to be a girly girl and pull out that makeup.

go on, glamour up- it's the weekend!

love vs. hate

{image via}

five little things i love currently:
1. pink lady apples. they are out of this world right now.
2. the happiness i receive from teaching piano. i am blessed, i tell you.
3. all things white, cream, bone or ivory colored.
4. falling asleep with my head on lovebird's chest. it's the best kind of snuggle.
5. taking baths with epsom salts and homemade candles. pure bliss.

five little things i hate currently:
1. the sore throat that seemed to have made itself a home in my body. 
2. girls who are mean. what is the point? 
3. tomatoes. but, i'm learning to love them. or i'm at least trying to. 
4. my {recent} bad habit of going to bed super late.
5. the thought of having to start school on monday. aka: homework. 

your turn:
let me hear a love and/or a hate on your list today. 
in all things there is opposition, and that is why life is beautiful.