Item Knocked Off My Wish List

My fiance and I are celebrating our pre-wedding anniversary, we are getting married next august. We are going to get dinner this weekend on the 14th, the actual date but this weekend my fiance wanted to get me something to celebrate. My Fossil watch!!! The wonderful yellow watch! It is so awesome. He told to me to pick what I wanted and I tried that one on in addition to a silver and white one. He of course loved them both and I sort of lucked out since both were on clearance. I have not gotten a new watch since I was a freshman in college and here I am in one day getting two watches! I am so excited and have been sporting them around town!

Shoe Crush: Fossil Vintage Collection

I love Fossil's new fall vintage line. There are so many pairs of fabulous shoes...how to decide on just one pair. How about these?

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Or These?

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Or These?

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Free E-Reader

My mom e-mailed me this morning to let me know about Barnes and Noble's FREE eReader. It downloads in about a minute and your account is automatically equipped with four free books for you to read. You can also download free samples of any book offered. I am excited to check it out but don't know if I will ever be able to part with my hardcopy books!

Barnes and Noble eReader

Wish List

Things I have seen recently that I would love to have.....so here is the beginning of my wish list!

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Yum!

I must make these! I love Tiramisu!

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Tiramisu squares

Makes 30

1 cup whipping cream

1 pound good quality dark chocolate

1 tablespoon amaretto

8 ladyfingers

Cocoa powder

Place cream in a saucepan and bring slowly to a boil.

Place the chocolate and amaretto in a bowl and pour the cream over.

Stir gently to dissolve the chocolate.

Pour the mixture into a small square cake tin that’s covered in wax paper.

Press the ladyfingers into the chocolate.

Leave to set,

Dust with cocoa powder.

Cut into squares and serve.

Starting a Wish List

During our normal Sunday errands Bruce (my fiance) and I took a trip into World Market. We were on the hunt for a housewarming gift. I love going in there, they have so many unique and wonderful items and food. I spotted these and wished we were shopping for us and not a friend because these totally would have come home! I am currently trying to think of an upcoming holiday that someone could gift them to me for. All of these items are made or recycled rulers and can be found at Word Market's website.

Art Break: Beautiful Stationary

As I am searching for stationary for my wedding I find myself drawn to non-traditional wedding stationary. I saw these and loved them! The are from OrangeBeautiful, an amazing stationary and letterpress studio. There is a store that carries their products located in Nashville not too far from where I live so I may be taking a trip to check it out! I will have to see what I find...I am hoping these!!

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Shoe Crush: A Ballerina's Dream

I have been dancing my whole life and just came across these shoes that look exactly like a pair of pointe shoes. What is even more thrilling about them is they come in red. I always wanted a pair of red pointe shoes! They can be found on the Acne website.

Back in the Groove~

It has been so long since I have posted it really is sort of sad, I have a whole list of things to post about but life has been so crazy I have not been able to find the time. Two weeks ago I quit my job working at the art gallery (hell on earth). I am now working at two different dance studios tending to the front desk and teaching dance classes, not glamorous but it is fun and a lot more enjoyable than the gallery job. With my new found freedom my fiance and I were able to go visit friends in MI and I was able to take a trip home to see my parents. I am finally just starting to settle into a schedule since my hours at the studio are a little weird and I guess the posting is back on! Hopefully with some sort of consistency now. I don't have to be to work till 1PM so that truly gives me plenty of time to blog in the morning along with do all sorts of other things!

To get back in the blogging groove here is the new Simon's Cat that was JUST released about 7 hours ago! YAY!

Enjoy and I promise new blog posts coming soon!

Necklaces that make a statement

I wish I had a whole collection of beads and craft materials stocked up somewhere in a secret cabinet in my apt so when Martha Stewart and her team comes up with new ideas I could whip out my craft supplies and get going. These necklaces were featured in the latest Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I love them and they would add so much to the simplest outfit! I may be making a trip to Michaels or Hobby Lobby in the near future! To see more click here.

Here is my favorite:

New and Improved Resume

A friend of mine sent me this resume link. I love people who think outside the box and this may be another idea that I steal for my own purposes!

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Sums Up My Day

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Dreary Day Bling

It has rained the past three days in Nashville, today included. So here are some beautiful floral necklaces to help with the gloomy weather!

To see more check out: Luscious Thing

Love This!

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I came across this business cards and love it! I think that it is perfect for anyone looking for a personal business card not associated with any business. It gives you a job title without really having one! Not to mention I would call this person in for an interview just to meet them because this card screams creative, interesting, and innovative.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Dizzy Feet Foundation

I am a "So You Think You Can Dance" junkie! I love it and cannot help but get engrossed in the TV every Wednesday and Thursday when it is on during the summer. Tonight the show made an announcement that they will be starting a foundation called the Dizzy Feet Foundation. This foundation aims to give underprivileged, talented, young dancers opportunities to dance. In addition to this they are planning on giving scholarships to dancers and work on establishing standards for dance education. Their goal is to bring the art of dance to the forefront and give kids the opportunity to dance and be involved in the arts since it is one area that is first cut when it comes to funding.

This is a subject near and dear to my heart since I have been dancing since I was 3 years old. I have seen what amazing things dance has done for me and also what wonderful things my students (I have taught dance for many years now) have gained from their dancing experience and it is far beyond dance technique.

If you are at all interested in the foundation click here for more information. Currently the website is nothing much but I am sure more information will come soon. I can't even express how exciting this is for me and how overdue we are for this kind of leadership in the dance world!

Father of the Bride

My mom has been talking about this father of the bride business card ever since I became engaged. It was something that my father had found in my grandparent's house after they had passed away. My mom says that my grandfather had these at her wedding and had a blast handing them out to people and I guess my father plans to do the same since he salvaged the only card that remains from the original pile and has been holding on to it for almost 1o years now. I am trying to recreate the card so that I can reprint them for my dad. I am just happy that he is excited about them, which is saying a lot since my dad does not get overly excited about a whole lot. He is pretty even keel especially when it comes to wedding stuff. I don't think he realizes his card is missing yet and it will be a nice surprise for him to get a nice, new set of his own.

Almost Friday: Thriller

There were so many things that I wanted to blog about this week and never got a chance to and due to the fact that it is Friday so much of what I was going to blog about is such old news. With that being said I figured I would touch on the timeless. As the news of Michael Jackson's death is finally starting to sink in I think we all have fond memories of him and his music. I can think of many an occasion when we jammed out to his music at a party or a bar but my fondest memories come from the dance studio. What dancer can say they have never danced to Michael Jackson? I am sure none! I have danced and even choreographed to numerous Jackson songs throughout my many years of dancing. They are dance studio staples.

My favorite Michael Jackson and dance memory is from my college years. I was a dance minor and decided my senior year to take it easy and only participate in technique classes my last semester not performing in the department dance company as in the past. Of course this was short lived due to the need for more dancers and I was asked to perform. I agreed and was cast in a few numbers one of which was dance through the years featuring Michael Jackson's Thriller as the iconic song from the 80's. Let me tell you that was not an easy dance to remember or master but I have never had so much fun going out on stage and acting so strange. Below is a picture, through the midst, from backstage. There were three of us in the dance, completely covered in head to toe in ghoulish costumes and masks.

Enjoy the picture and break out the Michael Jackson tunes. Here is Thriller to get you started!

we're in there somewhere (I am the monster with my head poking forward)

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Mieces to Pieces

Again, I am apologizing for being a major blog slacker. Life has been more than crazy but no excuses!

A couple weeks back I blogged about needing a creative outlet and when push came to shove (my awful job) I have decided to be brave and take on an adventure. My mom and I have always talked about doing something creative and opening up a business. She wants to open a cupcake shop but that is a little hard to do since shipping cupcakes is not ideal. She is amazingly crafty and really can make anything and I also consider myself quite creative with a good business sense. In the thrill of the moment last night I quick designed a logo for our business. Check it out below.

Now we only have one problem....what in the world are we going to make and sell??? Yes, I know major problem but I do have to say on the upside at least we are already branded and named, something that takes people a great deal of time!

So here's hoping that something comes of mieces to pieces and our little elephant duck duo!

Suggestions are welcome about what our product should be!

Almost Friday: Walk the Dinosaur

Since my work week is Tuesday through Saturday, Friday is not really the end of my week, hence Almost Friday!

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Boom boom acka-lacka lacka boom
Boom boom acka-lacka boom boom

I heard this song on a commercial last night while watching TV and just couldn't help but bust a move in our small apt living room! Yes, I am a product of the '80s but even if you are not how can you not groove to Walk the Dinosaur?

Walk The Dinosaur - Was (Not Was)

Charlie Harper Couture?

Yes you are hearing that correctly, a French Fashion house named Celine has unveiled a new line of resort wear featuring Charlie Harper's illustrations. If you're not familiar with Charlie Harper he is often referred to as the modern day Audubon. With that being said Harper has definitely created his own style in which to portray animals of all shapes and sizes. I saw this dress and just about died! What a superb way attend a cocktail party! In addition to the dress there are shoes, handbags, t-shirts, and bikinis.

Charlie Harper "Flamingoes"

Dress inspired from Harper's work!

For more information about the collection visit News from the Harper Art Studio.

Art Break: Art for Everyone

In the July 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living I was pleasantly surprised to find a small article titled "Art for Everyone". It featured two websites 20x200 and Viewville who both carry wonderful artwork for insanely reasonable prices. Since I work in an art gallery I see over priced artwork ALL day long and was shocked to check out these two sites that have great works for next to nothing. I was impressed with the range of work each carried and am plotting what I would like to purchase!

Enjoy browsing the sites and here are some of my favorites!

"Nastya Before Class, St. Petersburg, Russia" Rachel Papo - 20x200

"I Bought All of These", Kate Bingaman-Burt - 20x200

"Pear", Tim Chumley - Viewville

"Ladder", Alli Jagoda - Viewville