Shannon's Wedding 10.13.12

One of my best friends and roommates from college got married and I got to be a bridesmaid.  The wedding was at the LDS Temple in Mesa, Arizona.  Except for some ill-fitting shoes, the wedding was beautiful and the weather was just right.

Mesa Temple

Eric and Shannon, the happy couple

Bridesmaids

Shannon and I

What a gorgeous cake!

Can you believe this groom's cake?!

Congratulations Shannon & Eric!

i won! i won!

you guys, i actually won something! you know those awesome giveaways that really cool blogs do? the ones that you enter all the time but never think you're going to win? well, i actually did!  my friend, meg, hosted a giveaway on her blog for a new phone case from her awesome etsy shop, vintageprintage. and i won! it probably has to do with the fact that i entered the giveaway 12 times, but who cares?

i bought this case from meg's shop when i finally broke down and got an iphone a few months ago.  i love it and get so many compliments on it! it's really sturdy and has saved my phone from a few close calls. it's also easy to get on and off.  

















The only problem is that I don't know which one to choose now!  Here are my favorites:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

 

 

My favorites are #2 and #3, but the pixelated one is so fun, too. What is your favorite? Which one would you choose? 

P.S. Meg is having a giveaway to celebrate the one-year anniversary of VintPrint.  Enter and see what you could win!

Emmys 2012

Did you watch the Emmys?  I was super excited that Maggie Smith won, but bummed that she wasn't there to accept the award.  That would have been fun to see what she's like.  I enjoyed Jimmy Kimmel's videos--especially the Modern Family one.  Clearly, though, I need to be watching Homeland.  I'd better get on that.  And now, the gowns:

Michelle Dockery from Downton Abbey. 
 So fun to see these girls in modern clothes! 
I am loving Michelle's beautiful glowing skin!

Joanne Froggat from Downton Abbey
Stunning, right? 
Beautiful color and cut and her hair and makeup are gorgeous!

Tina Fey 
Best I've seen her on the red carpet in a long time.
Love the color and detailing. 

Nicole Kidman
So different and fun! 
Just wish she'd shake things up and do something different with her hair.

Lucy Liu
What a spectacular dress! 
Love her hair and makeup.

Julianne Moore
So different! The skirt is awesome!
What a bold color!

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss
Beautiful color and such amazing draping!

Jena Malone
I love the bodice of this.  Plus the color is awesome!

January Jones
I love the shape of this dress and how it's the opposite of boring black. 

Ariel Winter from Modern Family
I love the interesting print and great cut.  
Also, her hair and makeup are so fun!

My top 4:

Leslie Mann
Everything is so unexpected and fun! The color, cut, fabric, and jewelry!

Zooey Deschanel
I love this fresh color and the beautiful detailing on the skirt.  

Emily Van Camp
You know I have a serious thing for pleats and grey. 
 This is maybe the best example of that.

Ginnifer Goodwin
I love everything this lady wears! 
The color and detailing are ridiculous.  And those shoes!

What did you think?  Any favorites?

Rachel's Wedding

My sister's roommate Rachel got married in California and I tagged along.  It was great to see friends and family and have a mini-vacation.

Beautiful Newport Beach LDS temple

 

Rachel & Kane, the gorgeous bride and groom

Me and Lindsay

Lindsay and cousin Kellyn--they were bridesmaids

Me and Lindsay with cousin Catherine

 

 We loved seeing Cath and catching up on tv, movies, and her california adventures.  It's a bummer that we don't live closer!

First time at Sprinkles.

Gelato next door--I've never seen so many flavors!

Dying over the cuteness.

I got red velvet and coconut.  I enjoyed them slowly and loved every bit.

 I had lunch at Bruxie with my college roommate, Whitney and had such a great time catching up.  We talked blogs--including her awesome blog, Eat Sleep Cuddle, fashion, and food, and ate amazing waffle sandwiches.  And of course, we did not take any pictures.

 I stayed with my Aunt Valorie and Uncle Brad in Fountain Valley and got to take a ride in my uncle's Studebaker.

                I also got to see my D.C. roommate Meg and finally meet her little guy, Boston.

                                                      This little flirt is the cutest ever.


 Side note: this was the first time I used a rental car and the first time I went through a toll booth.  Turns out I paid the toll incorrectly and my rental car company gave me up to the feds.  I explained what happened and they dropped all of the charges.  Yay!

But seriously, California was awesome and did a pretty good job of making me want to live there. 

I graduated!

After almost two years, I graduated from my Masters program at Lewis & Clark.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to the ceremony since I did high school and college, but I'm glad I went.  I got to see professors and friends I hadn't seen in a while and it was a good ending to a great program. 

Now I'm applying for teaching jobs and hoping I find something full-time in the fall.  Wish me luck!

kellyn's wedding

My cousin Kellyn got married in the Oakland California LDS Temple.  I was able to fly down with my mom and dad and cousin.  My sister was also a bridesmaid.  It was a quick weekend but so great to see family and celebrate Kellyn & Glen. 

Kellyn & Glen

Oakland Temple

Kellyn & Bridemaids

Wedding Party

View from the top of the Temple

Such a beautiful dress!

Surprise visitor

Also during Spring Break, my friend Jessie called and said she was filming a show in Portland and was looking for a place to stay.  I said of course, we love having guests.  And then she told me she was filming for Grimm!  One of my favorite new shows this year!  I was beyond excited.

 Jessie and I were buds in high school and spent many an evening watching Alias together and eating Cheddar & Sour Cream Ruffles.  Besides our shared love of Jennifer Garner, I also got to work behind the scenes of one of Jessie's high school plays.  It has been so exciting to see her grow as an actor and get more recognition.  I can't wait to see what she does next! Click here to see my visit to Seattle to watch Jessie in Sense & Sensibility. 

We had a fun time shopping and catching up--how's that purse working out, Jess?

Her episode aired in May and it was so crazy to see someone you know on tv.  It felt so surreal!

Here's a link to Jessie's blog where she shares her experience working on Grimm. 

She worked on the episode with Bigfoot.  If you didn't get a chance to see it, here's a link to the episode.


Jessie- Somehow we didn't take any pictures together! 

Spring Break 2012

We don't usually go anywhere big during Spring Break, but we do try to go on small day trips.  I'd been wanting to go to this Wildlife Safari for a long time.  I love animals but I'm not a big fan of zoos.  It's so sad to see the animals in cages that are way too small and nothing like their natural habitat.  At the same time, it's really fun to be able to see animals that you might not ever get a chance to normally.  That's why Winston Wild Animal Park is so fun!  You get to drive around and see animals hanging out in tons of space and having a great time.  All of these pictures were taking from inside our car or at the indoor village.

Wallaroo

Miniature Horses!

so tiny!

one sassy llama

Baby pygmy goats!

I reallllly want some food!

Black-tailed Deer

Porcupine

Tamarin

Look at those tails!

What a cute face!

Almost got it to turn.

Armadillo

Huge Tortoise

Brown or Grizzly Bears.  I love their little tails!

These bear siblings were so fun to watch...

One bear was playing with a stick but his brother took it from him...

But not to worry, his sister brought him a new stick to play with!

Posing for the camera

What beautiful turkeys! Who would want to eat them?!

This guy was really enjoying his mud bath.

Totally submerged in the water.

Dromedary Camel

Don't mess with this dude.  A friend of ours got bit by him!

Black swans

Flamingos...where is the other leg?

Rhinos

Zebras waiting out the rain.