Giving Away a little 18k GOLD!

'ello loves! Because I'm completely lame I totally spaced hitting publish on this two days ago...whoops. Major, whoops! So sorry! Anyway, today I'm happy to bring you all a fun giveaway with Whiting & Davis! If you'll all remember they're the brand behind the lovely little bracelet I featured in Monday's post.

Anyway, today you're all getting a chance to win one of their Marion 18k GOLD green and blue bracelets!! Are you all so excited? You should be, because these babies retail at $85! Anyway, the rules are simple. The giveaway will run from now until the 23rd and is open internationally! I will be announcing the winner either on Wednesday the 23rd or Friday the 25th so be sure to check in to see if you're the lucky winner! Enter away, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If Wizards Had Internet

Work has been a doozy as of late. First, that "honeymoon" stage that all new jobs have has begun to wear off, rather quickly. Which, to be honest, was to be expected. I mean, no one has ever equated "DMV" with "fun". I have now begun trying to entertain myself by attempting to spot PB's (potential babes). They are rare. Really, rare. As in, I haven't spotted one since my third day, rare. Tis a sad thing. Ya know, one would think that there would be more PB's in need of renewing their vehicle registration, but no. Tis a boring job, that of a DMV worker. Although, this morning the system crashed, and admittedly I kind of loved the chaos of it. Not only did it make it a little more entertaining but it also gave me a good couple of hours in which I got to just sit and wait for the system to come back up. In other news, did you guys know Kristen Bell sang all of her own parts in Frozen? Melt your heart, right? I mean, could she get any more loveable? First Veronica Mars, then the whole sloth thing, and now she sings all of her own parts? She's my fave. Check her out singing it live...

Top: h&m similar
Boyfriend Shorts: h&m similar
Purse: h&m similar
Sunnies: F21 similar
Sandals: F21 similar 
Hat: JMR similar
PC: ropastoriniphotography.blogspot.com

I know this look is way more Summer than it is Spring, but hey, if the weather fits, am I right? Also, I know I've worn this hat waaaay too much already, but I just can't see myself not wearing it at least once a week. It's just that cute/fun. Also, when it comes to summer, it really is all about the accessories. Bright colorful ones at that too! Well, that's all I have for you all today. I know, I'm boring. I've just been feeling blah-y lately, which if you read yesterday's post you already knew. Also, for all my fellow Harry Potter nerds out there, check it! 

Much love!

P.S. Credit to finding the Kristen Bell vid and texting me the Harry Potter comic go to my sister (hi Allison, I knew you'd get all danka schoen on me if I didn't give you your deserved street cred;)!

Ice Cream Cone of Flowers

(Original Source)

Inhale...and...exhale. I know I should be posting my final installment of the "Blog Design 101" series today...but honestly? I just don't have the energy/desire for it. Today has just been one of those phooey kind of days. For many specific reasons, but also many specific reasons that I just don't want to get into. Frustrations that I've been carrying around for 4+ years, and that I had sincerely thought I had let go of, just came back to whammy snitch slap me across the face again. I guess it's just a reminder that life isn't always fair and no matter how hard we work, things don't always work out the way we plan...which is immensely frustrating. I mean, a lot of this just has to do with road blocks in my life that were completely out of my hands but also choices that I made myself which set me up for these massive stop signs. 

I mean, I know the world isn't going to cease to function if I don't get to accomplish all the things I've worked for in the exact time that I expected, but sometimes it can sure get discouraging. Especially when I see my peers crossing the finish line that, had life been picture perfect, I would have crossed two years ago. If there's one thing I've learned so far, it's that patience is key...and Chick-Fil-A works wonders on a worn out heart. That, and a nice long and arduous run. Seriously, though, the past couple of weeks I hadn't been able to fit in time for my weekly 25 miles and boy could I see a difference. Not necessarily physically, because I was still cross training, but emotionally/spiritually. After four years of using running as therapy I've discovered that it has just become a necessity to my emotional health. I don't run to burn a certain amount of calories, or to look a certain way, I run to be free. When life is hard, I run. When my heart aches, I run. When I need direction and clarity, I run. When I'm happy, I run. Nothing feels as good as the escape of a heart pumping like rapid fire, burning lungs breathing in fresh air, and legs aching to slow down but loving every second of pushing faster and faster. 

(Original source)

I think I'm loosing my point here, though. Which, I guess was just that I'm tired of life never being easy. Of all too often feeling like this dude. Like screaming into a an ice cream cone full of flowers. I guess there's that saying, "good things come to those who wait", so I will continue to work and wait. In the meantime, though, I need to give myself my own wake up call and realize that life is a thousand times harder for so many other people and I need to be grateful for how easy I actually have it. Not only that, but that through prayer I'm blessed enough to have a friend who understands perfectly. I think Elder Bednar put it best this last conference, 

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12). Thus, the Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities—but also for our physical pains and anguish, our weaknesses and shortcomings, our fears and frustrations, our disappointments and discouragement, our regrets and remorse, our despair and desperation, the injustices and inequities we experience, and the emotional distresses that beset us. There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy...The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah (see 2 Nephi 2:8). I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease (see Mosiah 24:15). As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14). We will be blessed with spiritual traction. (Find his complete talk here)

Much love!

Rebound

I'm totally and completely having "Being Human" withdrawals. I misssssss it. Boohoohoo. I need a rebound show. Stat. In fact, I've been on the hunt for one...with little success. A TV series ending is completely and one hundred percent like going through a break up. It's all you think about, you keep replaying the ending in your head over and over again, you miss it, wish it was still on, and are constantly looking for something to replace it. Yep. I completely just compared TV to a real life relationship. "Nerd, nerd, nerd." she says as she as kind of wants to delete the last few sentences. ;) Oh well. Give me palette cleanser rebound show suggestions guys! I'm testing out Heroes, I vaguely remember it being all the rage when I was in middle school, and Scandal right now. Neither one is sticking, but hey, maybe in a few episodes. I guess there's that saying, "never judge a show by it's first episode." Well, I'm done over sharing my couch potato TV addict tendencies.

Top: h&m
Pants: h&m
Hat: JMR similar
Sandals: F21 similar
Purse: h&m similar
Sunnies: F21 similar
PhotoCredit: ropastoriniphotography

I'm so in love with this hat you guys. So in love. It's THE perfect Spring/Summer accessory. Also, remember how I mentioned that I'm mildly obsessed with dual toned looks lately? Whelp, here's further proof. ;) I mean, what's more fun than mixing neutrals? Nothin' I tell ya. Especially since there was a time when I was convinced that brown and black didn't match. A pfft. A pfft. I was cray. Way cray. Black and brown are a combo made in heaven! I've also really been drawn to the simple looks lately too. Basic pieces like tees and skinny jeans with spunkier pieces like this wide brimmed fedora and metallic sandals, which, coincidentally, I've been wearing almost everyday. Seriously, these metallic sandals where like, the best birthday present ever! I am fully appreciating this warmer weather in them! :)

Much love!  

Hangry

I'm so excited to share these photos with you all today! One of my best friends recently got herself a brand new camera and lens and on Saturday we got to play around with it and shoot a few looks! It was so fun! Also, she's just so skilled! I mean, how cool do these look? Girl's got talent. Holla! ;) The only thing is, we were actually approached by a couple of weirdos while we were shooting...talk about creepy. Who knew the courthouse was the official hang spot of McCreepers? Go figure. Shortly thereafter we changed locations, though, just to be on the safe side! Anyway, be sure to stop by my girl's site (here) and show her some love!!! And, gosh, you guys, I had something completely different in mind to post about today, but I'm currently sitting in my room waiting for rolls to rise so that I can eat dinner, and all I can think about is how hungry for dinner I am, which, in turn is making me irrationally angry. And we all know what happens when hunger mixes with anger, you get HANGRY and hangry is not a good mood to be in. Also, I've come to the realization that I'm hangry quite often. At least three times a week in fact. Let me just say, I am not a pretty person to be around when I'm hangry. I start crying irrationally, wanting to pummel strangers, punch who ever is unfortunate enough to be with me, yelling random bits of rudeness to the public in general, and finally just wanting to curl up into a ball and sleep. Anyone know what I'm talking about here? I know I'm not the only one out there who has experienced hanger before. Tell me, what are you all like when you're hangry? I know through this commercial (which, coincidentally, I think is pure genius) that when Tina Fey is hangry, anything in reach suddenly becomes edible. ;)

Basic Tank: h&m
Blazer: h&m 
Shorts: h&m similar
Bracelet: c/o Whiting & Davis
Purse: Aldo's similar
Shoes: F21 similar

Now that I've gotten my hanger off my chest (and hopefully out of my belly once those stupid rolls decide to rise) lets talk outfit! First, I'm so so so in love with dual toned looks! I love the idea of wearing only two colors exclusively, in this case white and blue! Also, I love the juxtaposition of pairing something as relaxed as light wash baggy shorts with something as structured as a blazer. SO fun! Now, notice that gorgeous beyond gorgeous bracelet on my corpse wrist (my sister frequently tells me I have the hands and wrists of death)? A lovely lil' jewelery brand, Whiting and Davis, sent it to me. Now, I just have to give you all some quick background on Whiting and Davis because their back story is seriously the best! Whiting & Davis was established in 1876 as fine silversmiths and since, has become the world-renowned for their metal mesh in the fashion jewelry and handbag industries. AND, AND, as if they couldn't get any cooler, they're the brand behind some of the most iconic jewelry trends of the 1920's! EEP! How cool, right? The 20s are seriously one of my favorite fashion eras! Not to mention, that this little baby feels liquid smooth, and that's something that I'm a huge fan of, especially with my freaky corpse sized wrists! There never seems to be a bracelet that fits my wrists well, so they're constantly sliding up and down my wrist, which gives me pretty bad rashes at the end of the day but that is SO not a problem with this baby. Even., though, it's textured it's so liquid smooth that my skin never gets irritated from it's movement! Seriously in love with this bracelet peeps! Oh, and lucky for you all, I'm going to be teaming up with Whiting & Davis in the next week or so to give away one of their lovely Marion bracelets, similar to the one I'm wearing above so stay tuned for a chance to win one of your own!

Much love!