tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8002773144939306242024-03-13T17:53:01.355-04:00Oops I'm in LoveImaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-66545103523099476502010-09-22T11:30:00.002-04:002010-09-22T11:32:22.488-04:00I did it!I relaunched my new Photography Website!!! To read more about it, check out my <a href="http://imaginale.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-new-website.html" target="_blank">post</a> at Imaginale.<br /><br />And here is the website: <span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.imaginaledesign.com/">Imaginale Design</a></span>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-39149327684793913582010-09-20T02:10:00.002-04:002010-09-20T02:32:48.589-04:00I'm moving!I just limped towards my laptop and I'm pretty sure the bottoms of my feet are SWOLLEN.<br /><br />Jose and I met some people through his tennis tournament who invited us to play sand volleyball tonight. I had dance practice which ended late, but we headed out to the game anyway because it had only been about 30 minutes. I liked the idea of playing barefoot... until it started feeling like I was playing on a nail filer!!<br /><br />I was already wearing band aids from dance cuts, and now I could feel the sand just <span style="font-style: italic;">grating</span> against the arch of my foot. On top of that, I REALLY like playing volleyball and I was throwing my body left and right. Usually when I work out really intensely I won't feel the soreness/exhaustion until the next day. Ummm, so much for that! I feel like my arms can't even type and definitely feel the pain now! <br /><br />I have some exciting news but will have to share it tomorrow because I'm going to bed! However, I wanted to let those who read this blog to prepare for the <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">move</span>.</span> Yep! I'm going to transition my wedding posts on to my <a href="http://imaginale.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Imaginale Design</a> Blog so that I don't neglect this blog. I'm not deleting this blog -- heck, I wish I could type it on my photography one and have it publish here too! What I'm basically doing is no longer publishing the NEW posts here and instead on Imaginale Design. So make sure you subscribe to <a href="http://imaginale.blogspot.com">Imaginale Design</a> because there will be lots of stuff going on there :) I've got lots STILL to share about the wedding, so get ready for the move! Don't worry... I'll post reminders on here, but wanted to give you the head's up once I'm finished transferring all the posts.Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-59561533523838993042010-09-10T02:43:00.003-04:002010-09-10T04:11:52.793-04:00I Got Your Spanish GoodiesRemember the post when I mentioned bringing you some <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/spanish-goodies-for-you.html" target="_blank">Spanish souvenirs</a>? If not, go read it, then come back ;)<br /><br />I have finally completed my Spain photos and picked my favorites that could (in my opinion) look fun as prints for your home!<br /><br />However, you'll have to cast your vote in my photography blog: <a href="http://imaginale.blogspot.com/">Imaginale</a>. You'll be able to watch the video there AND I'll pick a random comment to win a free print!!<br /><br />So <a href="http://imaginale.blogspot.com/2010/09/spain-photo-print-voting.html">take a look</a> at the video and cast your vote!!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-13289711644804236472010-09-03T18:51:00.010-04:002010-09-03T21:10:05.375-04:00The Hair Story - ConclusionAaalright. I last left y'all with the story of <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-ii.html" target="_blank">how bad my hair trial</a> went with the salon in Houston. I called a friend from high school, venting my frustrations, and discussing how simple this hair style could be.<br /><br />This same friend, let's name her Loreal (cause she has beautiful hair, haha), is the one who taught me how to MAKE the extensions. After sending her photos of the trial, she called and left the following voicemail: "Oh nooooo. Alejandra this is NOT what you described to me at all. Look at those curls! Are they even curls? She definitely didn't get it. You know what? If you want, you can come over and we can try creating the look you're going for. Then we can take photos and you can show her the process and I'm SURE she can re-create the look with instructions."<br /><br />Haha. Can you imagine showing up to a stylist with "How To" instructions. I'm sure she'd love that!<br /><br />Anyway, I thought that was REALLY, really generous of Loreal to offer. I couldn't believe it. I was incredibly grateful that she would take the time to do this for me.<br /><br />Excitedly, we bought the appropriate extensions, went back to her place and sewed them according to my head measurements. Another thing to note: I had just washed my hair that morning and blowdried it, so it was really flowy. Already I could tell the difference in the curls! They were bouncy, silky, and loose. She used a lot of hair spray (still), but it wasn't weighing my hair down too much since it was so clean. After simply putting on the extensions (3 tracks), and curling my hair, we got excited like little girls at HOW beautiful the curls looked in comparison to my trial!<br /><br />Look!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 540px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzwbgWyNnIbdk-HckzvsxV-gv5xVs4cjeKyHHTS0N_SZbMcnYWzfVC9R9fgJ1XzxiOheNt_aE9AxlAIyuHSjJixgr2VKL9-wq9DIHS6gomjJL90acpMFz82T3PxB-gE8t6Xm236MsZS4/s1600/IMG_3846-blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512832757641992114" border="0" /><br /></div><br />As you can see on my mini-diagram what a DIFFERENCE my cleaner hair made -- <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> blowdrying it. Note the length difference between my natural hair and the extension. Although I was going to cut it, it's MUCH better to have the ability to cut to YOUR desired length, rather than have no layers to work with.<br /><br />Check out the front:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 551px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROH6hYawF3ZGld_w6t3QWGuKeF73PjLZsmXiuC9FdZwKQ_661Hf8w26SdyV2YLnXJHqoGmOKKakCL4M-Nmg037rbfVlFInWRMOLHhG24pS0faQh_FJfDyeQb4Bu9jHyufObjaYBYce3o/s1600/IMG_3847-blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512832767731397346" border="0" /><br /></div><br />Talk about drastic improvement! Once we curled my hair and saw how much it would shrink, we knew how much to cut off. Like I said before, I didn't want to look drastically different SO, I cut the extension to the length my NATURAL hair is -- <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> it's curled. Obviously you lose a lot of length when you curl, so I wanted to make up for that. Also, it obviously adds even more volume.<br /><br />But want to hear something even crazier? You might be thinking to herself "WOW, those extensions obviously added length, but look at the VOLUME!" Guess what? If you go back to my last post with the <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-ii.html" target="_blank">bad hair trial</a> -- I had some extensions there too! The only difference is that they were the <span style="font-style: italic;">shorter</span> extensions. So why didn't they add VOLUME? Because my hair was too oily, FLAT, and hadn't been blowdried! I'm telling you this to emphasize what a difference it makes when you blowdry your hair. Granted, the Houston salon lady had only put in like 2 small tracks so we could "get an idea." Here's a really old picture of me with similar volume and my hair MUCH shorter:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 503px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s6Me6ikBtCH1MNHo65P7fnsNap7rRe4JHkgpAk4hY1Xzk5wjLypZm33Gfb2EYmyD-E45uKL3dc3wPKXpzGvsJsqFBlFgm5ItQHj9Vp7mo2kIYni_1Uf-kUFKvQRlg50ES9E4Ipi7_Kg/s1600/IMG_4941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512846047971547634" border="0" /><br /><br />or something with even MORE volume...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 501px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFTzCsAPhp4yg1_VG43yWI2vrdvvrrgiD4gZX6yic8AhtMeIB2FaHYSSeD5E89xOslLvZDhAnsHRRD9_Sh-JRPa0zSJ56egorAJvVZ_A5irRJnIkpXkoEOqljVCUe_8VFI-6qW7N5uYs/s1600/afro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512846034967437042" border="0" /><br /></div><br />Hahaha. You get the point!<br /><br />So we pinned it back, added the flower and it looked like this:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 540px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKJyc46wk-eothWnWO6AXVTOx1yEIzpE1qOxhnhqZK_aOgfe8bIJljQxhloMjyIFloIrQ3MRjNpdxyCF-P5qszroMH2DexuXEOKJIwb6n4hKiqBsSOqTteNhhQozq1cuHyYKkH0F72fA/s1600/IMG_3848-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512832743903410642" border="0" /><br /></div><br />The side<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 540px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl40gsbu50ekK4At1qRqdpkScu7tl3neEKFyRRqi3Uj39rfSU2csk1-X2MjXf1VNJqv7nSIEh6FCbSqgwwWOg2T_rwTrekavbbrgFYxwBWZkgCbp1krDxmpFLd1bowx26wrCWs-24P-Y/s1600/IMG_3851-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512832721203142034" border="0" /><br /></div><br />But now the problem is... you can see that we didn't put ENOUGH hair spray because within a matter of minutes, the curls started to fall:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 541px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMjvmmdGBOmL0xKjgjWxJyGbdcyV1rrYxJ_rpKstqd6_bj3XY0jPJLoz2Qg9gux6typVOvo4FkE89CTziizVUdqhpdt3t17jt2U5cRaFM9D4OZ_RqlV25_3T0NpVogfQRu_4hxTZDeg0/s1600/IMG_3852-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512832734688521602" border="0" /><br /></div><br />That's not even a curl anymore... it's like... semi-waves? Don't get me wrong, this was DEFINITELY moving the in right direction and I learned the following:<br /><ul><li>Blowdry my hair FO SHO!</li><li>I need to find an alternative to volume because I LOSE a good portion of it when my hair is pulled back (on the top section).<br /></li><li>Make the curls tighter because they WILL start to come lose</li><li>Add more hairspray<br /></li></ul>However, I was SO excited about it that I asked if she would be interested in coming to my wedding and doing my hair. I KNEW this was a big risk for me to take, and I also knew this could put a lot of pressure on her. I told her to think about it, and that I would be fine with <span style="font-style: italic;">whatever</span> she decided. Loreal took a few days to think about it, then fortunately agreed!<br /><br />I was so excited because I had someone I trusted, and I didn't have to worry about having to spend so much more money on really expensive hair trials. We decided to do a second trial with Loreal to correct the loss of curls, and get closer to that "wedding day" hair. Ironically, she actually suggested that I <span style="font-style: italic;">don't</span> wash my hair the day of the trial because that might have been why my curls didn't hold. And guess what? The second trial ended up being a hot mess because my natural hair oils once <span style="font-style: italic;">again </span>weighed my hair down and was even WORSE at holding curls.<br /><br />Panic mode. I had to leave for Houston in 2 days, and we had yet to have a hair trial that was "THE ONE." We schedule a last minute 3rd trial... and she ends up getting a stomach virus :( Ahh!! I HAVE to leave that Sunday to Houston for a meeting with my DJ. I don't hear back from my friend, and then it's Monday and I'm trying not to push it. I don't want to take advantage of her amazing help, but... my wedding is this coming SUNDAY. I wait for Monday to see if she'll call me and -- nothing. I finally call her on Tuesday and reach her voicemail. She ends up texting me, in a matter of minutes letting me know that some conflicts would not allow her to be there on Sunday.<br /><br />Um. <span style="font-style: italic;">What?</span><br /><br />I was really upset, disappointed, and stressed. I couldn't be that mad at her because of HOW much she helped me, but I felt so let down only <span style="font-style: italic;">days</span> before my wedding. Anyway, I HAVE to come up with a back up plan. There is no time to sulk or blame anyone -- it's time to take action. I was in the car with Jasmine (my sis in law) when I was receiving the bad news via text, and turned to her and asked: "Is anyone in your family <span style="font-style: italic;">decent</span> at hair styling?"<br /><br />I knew what I wanted for my hair and I knew I could do it, but I absolutely needed help. Thank God for Jose's Aunt Jane and cousin Sacora!! They were SO nervous about the potential of doing my wedding hair because of the stress. I reassured them that *I* would be guiding them throughout the whole process and no matter HOW crazy or good my hair looked, it would not be their fault.<br /><br />Bam! We pulled out the hairspray, my AMAZING curler (y'all this sucker is $75 but it's my secret to tossled curls), tons of bobby pins, and extensions. Since my curler doesn't have a clamp, it takes some time getting used to wrapping hair around the base of the curler and holding the hair. You have to wear a glove too! Otherwise you will burn your hand like crazy. Trust me.<br /><br />So here we were, our first hair trial -- <span style="font-style: italic;">days</span> before the wedding. I turned to Aunt Jane and said "Okay Aunt Jane -- your responsibility is to spray the curls, tease the roots, and add the extensions." So this was our flow: I divided my hair into sections, Sacora did the curling, and Aunt Jane sprayed them down and added the extensions with my guidance. Once my whole hair was done, we got to the tough part -- <span style="font-style: italic;">styling</span> it.<br /><br />I explained how I wanted the side that was pulled back to almost look <span style="font-style: italic;">braided</span>. Basically, I didn't want to just grab the left side and pull the hair back to the side and pin it. Aunt Jane BLEW me AWAY with her sudden creativity! I simply showed her from what I managed to reach on the side of my hair and she took over. It came out PERFECT!<br /><br />Aunt Jane turned to me and said: "You need to tell me the TRUTH. Do you REALLY love it? Because I need you to love this on your wedding day. If this isn't what you want, you shouldn't keep it." I responded "Trust me -- I REALLY do love it. I promise I would not keep it if I didn't like it. I couldn't do that to myself on my wedding for the sake of being polite!" Haha. But let me say, we teased my hair SOOO much to get volume for the top section.<br /><br />Here they are in action on the wedding day:<br /><br />Sacora curling<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpIrddZvuFHXo7O7LJtIZa8rpVUNZr3_b_pAsY33-7mCWrR8ZJQd7sECjwqdPnArtEBZgW2B6_NSqLSRqY0o0JPejhhLw3hy_uB-YgYvGJRugV-qfDnzCWpeDsKvSrN9MdgYdKjCL0IM/s1600/0076-sm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 525px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpIrddZvuFHXo7O7LJtIZa8rpVUNZr3_b_pAsY33-7mCWrR8ZJQd7sECjwqdPnArtEBZgW2B6_NSqLSRqY0o0JPejhhLw3hy_uB-YgYvGJRugV-qfDnzCWpeDsKvSrN9MdgYdKjCL0IM/s1600/0076-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512853607526336274" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Aunt Jane teasing :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 518px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa9m3m3IPMrHQwT9r0HTxJbqHy9ZILdIRTYnr48_B6jISmZRZVKNvEBNbgGYwCiA3aAidBywLsvDzYBMXpQ8nzQgKCA3a5nrNQg6nGi3tHDw2B4YuMzisaO0PMIDwdQmK4XgycWXGa1I/s1600/0075-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512853588132479154" border="0" /><br /></div>NOTE: My hair is NOT that short -- we actually pinned the bottom UP so that as we did each section, we loosely kept the curls bunched together to retain their curl.<br /><br />We put on my veil, added my earrings and I looked at the mirror. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wow</span>. I realized how God literally took care of me. A situation that could have been so stressful ended up being taken care of by my new family. Aunt Jane and Sacora would have NEVER imagined they would be doing my wedding hair. Heck, I didn't think -I- would be doing it!! But ultimately, God proved that all it takes is trust. To trust that he will take care of you, no matter how far you're pushed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojzSAgIO1WGMts41yzN0I0uy_BFta3dGqSdx4aeVKOwt6PnYZ-D_JP2RUHH_ttpTh4VdiQxZa9HL5Kt1FUNuvIKk5BGdquSVI6QTtlZIO0HKAw3t3coGFGHDXYkYfxUwQKgHzZpM-YEo/s1600/0133-sm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 560px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojzSAgIO1WGMts41yzN0I0uy_BFta3dGqSdx4aeVKOwt6PnYZ-D_JP2RUHH_ttpTh4VdiQxZa9HL5Kt1FUNuvIKk5BGdquSVI6QTtlZIO0HKAw3t3coGFGHDXYkYfxUwQKgHzZpM-YEo/s1600/0133-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512854991237338706" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-20586434151527287942010-09-03T02:43:00.004-04:002010-09-03T02:56:21.175-04:00The Hair Story ... is coming<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_2tCF0-YPwhTa36vIH1QKO8619g60-MZS2_ZwGT7zy3Gl81-zRX2RfDqu6F7GeKg1MnfXbTeoI6c8k2aZlwcpcU4gXa8ed2EfMUgatDnFwosk-vnCRfYAjaRZMb_h5bF-2oEhAfFur0/s1600/0080-sm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_2tCF0-YPwhTa36vIH1QKO8619g60-MZS2_ZwGT7zy3Gl81-zRX2RfDqu6F7GeKg1MnfXbTeoI6c8k2aZlwcpcU4gXa8ed2EfMUgatDnFwosk-vnCRfYAjaRZMb_h5bF-2oEhAfFur0/s400/0080-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512575295865749794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://www.paperpony.net/" target="_blank">Raya Carlisle Photography</a>)</span><br /></div><br />It's a three hour difference from Arizona to Atlanta, where a lot of my friends live, so I had to post this "I PROMISE IT'S COMING" post.<br /><br />I said I was finishing the hair story, and I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span>, but I got home pretty late after bible study tonight and had to start working on an inspiration board for a last minute photoshoot. AND after working for only an hour -- it was suddenly almost midnight! I didn't realize how late it was and I have to wake up early for a photoshoot tomorrow.<br /><br />I had planned to type up the post tonight so you could have it in the morning, but -- well, I need to sleep and you KNOW I can't type the "finale" in just 30 minutes :( Curses for talking too much!<br /><br />If I end the shoot early tomorrow, I will type it when I get home! Either way, keep your eyes peeled and make sure you've read <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-i.html" target="_blank">part 1</a> and <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-ii.html" target="_blank">2</a>. Noches!<br /><br />p.s. Has anyone heard of the show The Colony on The Discovery Channel? Jose watched an episode on his laptop while I was working on my inspiration board and that show is C-R-A-Z-Y. Not to mention I can NOT handle watching people throw up, so you can imagine how I jumped out of my seat when they started showing that. Thieves, rotten pigs, pepper spray, robberies, milk poured on eyes... and my husband is <span style="font-style: italic;">loving</span> it. Seriously. He had to stop himself from watching a second episode. Anyway! Just some random thoughts to see if anyone out there shares his feelings or mine. Haha :)Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-55306455990008474402010-09-01T00:38:00.005-04:002010-09-01T01:16:05.889-04:00I'm Such a Girl<div style="text-align: left;">Ok, clearly I am at a point in my life where there are lots of people having babies. I mean, people that I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span>. However, that was not the case at ALL until my bestfriend just delivered her baby today.<br /></div><br />I got all emotional like I was the one who was pregnant! Kristen Lewis and I have been bestfriends since middle school. Back when we used to write notes and my name was spelled "Alahundra." Hahaha. Story of my life with my name :) For some reason we both just clicked and -- wait -- for SOME reason? No, let's not play. Let me count the reasons:<br /><br />-Kristen and I are both loud.<br />-Obnoxiously loud in high school.<br />-We liked to laugh. Kristen taught me to laugh at MYSELF.<br />-This included many accidents (on both sides) where laughter came first, followed by "Are you okay?!"<br />-We worked at the same restaurant and went to the same high school = ridiculous memories.<br />-There was typically never something we weren't willing to try. That includes skipping school for lunch to get free, DELICIOUS, fajita nachos from my Aunt's job downtown.<br />-Putting on the MOST ridiculous performance during our improv class (cheerleaders with asthma) that was applauded by our friends but incredibly scorned by our teacher.<br />-If we were in trouble individually, that's okay. But in trouble TOGETHER? Forget about it! That would just be <span style="font-style: italic;">more</span> trouble.<br /><br />When Kristen found out she was pregnant, her and Billy each chose one person to tell. They would tell the rest of their family & friends once they went to the doctor and had everything checked and confirmed. I remember missing her phone call and listening to her voicemail. I thought there was something different in her tone and when I called back the first thing out of my mouth was "You're pregnant?!" She was!!! I was so honored to be that person to receive the call.<br /><br />It blows my mind that the same girl who drew on the seats of the school bus with me (remember the turtle lady?!), peed between the portables because we could NOT hold it and her car wasn't working (only to later find out she hadn't fully shifted it into park! :), convinced me to audition for Arts Magnet by playing improv games with me, shared the MOST intense secrets that one day on the DART train, snuck out to the roof of my house so we could tan only to be embarrassed to see construction men working two houses down whistling at us -- is now a mother to a boy who will probably do ten times as much ridiculous things in his childhood.<br /><br />She's a <span style="font-style: italic;">mom</span>. Wow. When I saw the first photo of her holding Kent, I realized I was no longer an onlooker of friends with babies. Today my <span style="font-style: italic;">bestfriend</span>, the face I've been SO familiar with in my childhood, is holding a child of her own.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">No, I'm not pregnant. Just emotional. Happy Birthday Kent :)<br /><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 514px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGOdThPG_gjKLfFLObjweN4WJXyGxwG_8n1huKrOQmtKkzv1DxvpuA3c0Hl9cEjfVfE9VZC9CGJaemaYLrGL-AP_S-xI1W26PlsCm-QI_UtPeQmS1XI3RvQ4xoC-KKBPJ8gLu816rQkI/s1600/Kristen's+Wedding+Nov.2006+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511807716622118978" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kiki & I on her wedding in 2006<br /></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-2460133688424617102010-08-30T12:59:00.006-04:002010-08-30T13:10:59.414-04:00Inspiring Monday<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Photography, fashion, and design inspire me. What inspires you?<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG-epU3rmwQkqHZltgsEIRmoxCLhugFqMlAq245pDVT9oSK0q9VUrkMANWt5Ic3bzV1DI7KmHt9Wf-jCc_a77yg1qA-6n9YpuUd5FBwh_QzV-rAg54lXLnsllorEjsteGrCuju65Gbko/s1600/fffound7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 471px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG-epU3rmwQkqHZltgsEIRmoxCLhugFqMlAq245pDVT9oSK0q9VUrkMANWt5Ic3bzV1DI7KmHt9Wf-jCc_a77yg1qA-6n9YpuUd5FBwh_QzV-rAg54lXLnsllorEjsteGrCuju65Gbko/s1600/fffound7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511250006672015122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNDD6eCBS54L6DetJJEGpwTyI-CenfDOgbE6b0VTq9g14JTk98yR9RJb_qmQi7Eob1Z236iAzpy8Pvzd859qhO9WmHWH10espsrlcXI1Y4HfVpcsSOQ7ca13MmLZIgjctiL5DYEz27OQ/s1600/fffound1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 446px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNDD6eCBS54L6DetJJEGpwTyI-CenfDOgbE6b0VTq9g14JTk98yR9RJb_qmQi7Eob1Z236iAzpy8Pvzd859qhO9WmHWH10espsrlcXI1Y4HfVpcsSOQ7ca13MmLZIgjctiL5DYEz27OQ/s1600/fffound1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511249762102669634" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kcfbZ3ue5wbP1apKSkPkD1_yRdz-wVumyqKtGlbChaxXj57OCe2TusQVMP-GnV7SJaz6MnxlqR2HaoawbwTfnJDItSKoAD2lRnGZ92-X6MU0UY_9GplAlBW9mgvs2iGXVzHcvYBZQnc/s1600/fffound3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 453px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kcfbZ3ue5wbP1apKSkPkD1_yRdz-wVumyqKtGlbChaxXj57OCe2TusQVMP-GnV7SJaz6MnxlqR2HaoawbwTfnJDItSKoAD2lRnGZ92-X6MU0UY_9GplAlBW9mgvs2iGXVzHcvYBZQnc/s1600/fffound3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511249776936584738" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PMp-QgcJDQSlvIw19kh0XFPmg5cO5wP2f0ddbbCtjB03R9nUl4J84dfJhXOSOLMa54ymP4fvZSlc_TJuRoXGCrfNGtBPDO8Q7KJ-icGaT_K2P5VKqnEzZEBvfetk50rqAZgLMqWXQzQ/s1600/fffound5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 492px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PMp-QgcJDQSlvIw19kh0XFPmg5cO5wP2f0ddbbCtjB03R9nUl4J84dfJhXOSOLMa54ymP4fvZSlc_TJuRoXGCrfNGtBPDO8Q7KJ-icGaT_K2P5VKqnEzZEBvfetk50rqAZgLMqWXQzQ/s1600/fffound5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511249797234299586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j-uQN2uuGsK3fukr2ELT9QvIsLPdCXXJG1xKnJEviPpSxswH_kLhBkljZj6T-yiqeTFnelC1RazD1fJKfjL0531tOJM0COxe5sMd0Aga7HZ4D8p5O20Aw9VRV1BRjB_gPsZHFw1jLUo/s1600/fffound6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 463px; height: 463px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j-uQN2uuGsK3fukr2ELT9QvIsLPdCXXJG1xKnJEviPpSxswH_kLhBkljZj6T-yiqeTFnelC1RazD1fJKfjL0531tOJM0COxe5sMd0Aga7HZ4D8p5O20Aw9VRV1BRjB_gPsZHFw1jLUo/s1600/fffound6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511250000532488050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVDcpBiWSTl2mVwhKYfxk208B8XYomVrMrDHP6FgJYxC_kd1AkjztbHbdAGHl5zRM4JJoSfO3nNoPa96mkIHvUmaOTb6Tpt56uW2I3OZ6X94WvWDkkjEZBc5lAC4YqLtduGuDerwzB3s/s1600/fffound4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVDcpBiWSTl2mVwhKYfxk208B8XYomVrMrDHP6FgJYxC_kd1AkjztbHbdAGHl5zRM4JJoSfO3nNoPa96mkIHvUmaOTb6Tpt56uW2I3OZ6X94WvWDkkjEZBc5lAC4YqLtduGuDerwzB3s/s1600/fffound4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511249782953979810" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL39KgvvvUMJSXrjYbZ0hnlCST7NA6bS7Ww3oTxWMc1udb79ERxuYKEVgcEZSQgSTGE6qKV7lmgyPrKoxv8jeEYuMBEsOc_FqZQ57nklHOX21AdL80GuWokB12RspymHJfVueD6PXHXNI/s1600/fffound2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 507px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL39KgvvvUMJSXrjYbZ0hnlCST7NA6bS7Ww3oTxWMc1udb79ERxuYKEVgcEZSQgSTGE6qKV7lmgyPrKoxv8jeEYuMBEsOc_FqZQ57nklHOX21AdL80GuWokB12RspymHJfVueD6PXHXNI/s1600/fffound2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511249764635049522" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://ffffound.com/" target="_blank">ffffound</a>)<br /></div><br />I'll be finishing the <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Hair Story</a> this week :)Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-37282211675946032902010-08-26T11:36:00.006-04:002010-08-26T13:35:40.064-04:00The Hair Story - Part IISo where were we?<br /><br />Oh yes. <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/08/hair-story-part-i.html">Extensions</a>. Again, it can have a bad connotation, but why should it? It's all in HOW you use it. I heard something along the lines of : On your wedding you should look like a BETTER version of your everyday self, but not UNLIKE yourself. The idea is that you don't suddenly <span style="font-style: italic;">transform</span> yourself that it's almost unrecognizable, but that you also don't treat it like any other day of the week.<br /><br />My bestfriend, ironically, ALSO went for a Spanish look on her wedding (4 years ago!), and she wore a simple, low bun. Actually, my Godmother styled her hair :) Well, she DOES have thick hair, but it wasn't long enough to make the bun look FULL. You know, those <span style="font-style: italic;">luscious</span> hair buns? So my Godmother added some extensions to increase the volume of the bun and <span style="font-style: italic;">viola</span>! The perfect touch.<br /><br />So! Back to me screwing up. I managed to make a hair appointment in Houston, and I wanted to have the extensions for the hair trial. She told me to wash my hair the day before our trial so it wouldn't be so silky clean the day of. I stayed up that night till almost 1 a.m. sewing those extensions! I had to wake up early and I just LOOKED so tired. I threw on a dress, and looking still half-asleep I left for the appointment that was 45 minutes away. By the way, I was staying at my cousin's house in Houston once I left Atlanta for Texas the month of my wedding.<br /><br />My hair decides to feel extra greasy today, even though I had washed it the day before. I think because I kept running my hands through it when I was stressing over the extensions that the oils in my hand made it more.. matte-y. Meaning, it didn't feel <span style="font-style: italic;">flowy</span> and just.. drabby. Am I making up words?! Blogger keeps underlining them in red! <span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway</span>, I was NOT feeling my hair and KNEW this was going to affect the styling.<br /><br />I show the stylist the photos, describe the looks, but also emphasize that I am VERY open to ideas. I want her to be inspired and use her skills to do what she does best. The first thing she does is start curling my hair. I notice that she doesn't even change my hair part. I start to shift in my chair when I see the curls slide out of the curler and they look so tight. Ugh. When she gets to the last layer, I speak up. She informs me that the curls will start to become loose as time passes because they lose shape, so it's better that they're slightly tighter. <span style="font-style: italic;">Slightly</span>? Um.. okay. Also, the curls aren't that bouncy because my hair is heavier from the natural hair oils + product. So much for the romantic curls :(<br /><br />Once the curling is done, she begins the styling. I interrupt and ask about the extensions. And guess what? Guess w-h-a-t. Dummy here picked extensions that were the actual LENGTH of my hair! Meaning, I wouldn't have layers .. I would just have a LOT of hair at the same length. I needed to get them a few inches longer so that some curls could be longer than others. Y'all, I REALLY thought I had picked some long extensions (12 inches!!). But I didn't realize how long my hair had gotten and how SHORT it becomes when you curl it. Clearly 12 inches isn't long enough. Who would have known. So make note of that ladies. Hold the hair to your ear and see how long it drops.<br /><br />Blah. She tells me that on the wedding I can just buy longer ones from them ($20 per/track) or bring them myself and that it "should work out." I don't know about y'all, but I DON'T want to see my wedding hair on my wedding <span style="font-style: italic;">day</span>. I want to see it BEFORE because that <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> not be my wedding hair if it doesn't turn out well!<br /><br />Finally, she starts pinning things so my hair can cascade down my shoulder, except -- the curls are so tight, it's not really "cascading." It's just sitting there. <span style="font-weight: bold;">POP</span>. That's the sound I heard in my head when my bubble busted. Plus, my part is STILL on the same spot when I came in, <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> she didn't do anything special when she pulled it back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Biggest mistake brides make</span>: Do NOT go home and complain about your hair style if you have not said a WORD to your stylist. Your stylist needs to know if she can make any changes because she can't read your mind. She could probably read my body language...<br /><br />And my body language was saying "Weeelll.. I was picturing something a little different." I explain to her what I was hoping for, and she re-does the side section. It came out pretty. Very pretty. I would be alright wearing this to a bridal shower. But NOT my wedding. I asked her to take a photo and I'm sorry it came out blurry!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The front<br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CUS7gMMFG-lOBWDtmV8tvjU1MtntA_a5YTWj6ZVLq1zytYkabIajdqp5AvwBvVO7ampb6IlRIOWol7LPerG_gRU-v8yslSkLTdw4_LrR8UBl68bSsxHT9f3x4uRYWUV1LABiqepfPOI/s1600/IMG_3722sm-BW2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509768399716114482" border="0" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You see my arrow? I'm pointing to the curl that looks like it's been brushed. Notice how at the VERY top of my head, it's like my hair appears to be <span style="font-style: italic;">slicked</span> down. (BTW - I made this one B/W so that the blur wouldn't look as strong).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The side<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4K8fw4v_6GfNcJpEkUMrlchqPJmi4SQcHpGfSdmw493XkxzD026ouNwdOhHPENOm6YvdoEY_jO77j6R5pLh5P17g5b4n3u9p8XRPcVKwlKyFiqLtzc6YkSpYmyTXE7xqGuvfwFG7KyY/s1600/IMG_3721-sm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4K8fw4v_6GfNcJpEkUMrlchqPJmi4SQcHpGfSdmw493XkxzD026ouNwdOhHPENOm6YvdoEY_jO77j6R5pLh5P17g5b4n3u9p8XRPcVKwlKyFiqLtzc6YkSpYmyTXE7xqGuvfwFG7KyY/s1600/IMG_3721-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509768406624459698" border="0" /></a><br />The curls were just... all wrong...<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The other side<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgco42rY2epBPPvq4JU-ILlht8HHKuzW3iIWOFVmoFQRXCbCNzF-gegW4JeJMGZ924FMtppxH9rDZDdXxp9kk8SsDP1vRARl0iQ8fTDGHuh8F6MxMZVCZTpOmvYFloCBkqleGtA9dpGc8E/s1600/IMG_3723sm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgco42rY2epBPPvq4JU-ILlht8HHKuzW3iIWOFVmoFQRXCbCNzF-gegW4JeJMGZ924FMtppxH9rDZDdXxp9kk8SsDP1vRARl0iQ8fTDGHuh8F6MxMZVCZTpOmvYFloCBkqleGtA9dpGc8E/s1600/IMG_3723sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509768419104806066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now this is the part I asked her to make it more 'intricate.' I REALLY did like it, but because I didn't like the hair as a <span style="font-style: italic;">whole</span> -- it didn't work for me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At this point, I had already asked to make changes, and even after the changes I wasn't satisfied, so my answer was clear = Not my stylist. If that's how she curls hair, it's not like I can say "Can you change the way you curl hair...?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I learned from this session</span>:<br /><ul><li>My hair needs to be washed relatively close to the trial because hair products weigh my hair DOWN. It gets oily easily. This is not the case for everyone, so this is why brides -- you MUST have a hair trial if that is important to you!!!</li><li>The tight curls REALLY shortened my hair length = buy <span style="font-style: italic;">longer</span> extensions<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>It is better to walk away from a trial you didn't like then cross your fingers it will work on your wedding day</li><li>I MUST, must, MUST blow dry my hair with as much volume as possible before the trial.</li></ul>Stick around for the FINAL part that includes photos of the SECOND trial with a friend and how we eventually got .... <span style="font-style: italic;">this<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZHPWtQ6UN5MgL3tqJ9NjABRAR4xSbxGnFfAioVbqshso0Q6fu0aaJVlWATR_YBfdtTNNKJwZv48U2x0Cch5LNtcwuJR4cAOHysxPKR2vk3MICjnOD38wAG-Lq8tC0zpDyewMgm8ibYU/s400/0168-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509772955882354290" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*photo by Raya Carlisle</span><br /></div></div></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-7960118847509851262010-08-23T01:00:00.008-04:002010-08-23T03:24:21.960-04:00The Hair Story - Part IGuess what I got in the mail on Friday?! My wedding photos! I want to take y'all back to some of the stories I wasn't able to share at the time due to the chaos that is... wedding planning.<br /><br />We begin with: <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hair Story</span><br /><br />How on earth did I manage to do my own hair with the help of Jose's relatives for the wedding? I have to tell you what pushed me there in the first place. And I'm completely putting it out there.<br /><br />Before even getting engaged, we all knew who was going to do my hair: My Godmother. Since the age that I had hair, which was probably around 2 years old since I didn't seem to GROW any as a baby(!), my Godmother was my hairdresser. She is also my mom's bestfriend and hairdresser. I suffered through horrible "let-me-try-this-cut" experiments, stylish cuts, and I was able to perfectly rotate a round brush on one hand and hold a blow-dryer in the other by 6th grade. Yeah, it was serious business.<br /><br />Then just a few months after my engagement, we found out my Godmother got cancer. Unfortunately it just became worse and worse as time passed. She is still alive (thank God), but around Christmas time she let me know that I needed a back-up plan.<br /><br />I didn't know how to feel. Upset? Frustrated? Guilty?! Stressed -- that was a clear one. At that point I let go of my Godmother as a hairstylist and just focused on desiring her attendance at my wedding. Then of course that led to: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is going to do my hair?!</span><br /><br />Ironically, she actually suggested that she teach me the style and that I could do it myself on the day-of. I thought she was crazy! Would I seriously want to stress myself out by becoming responsible of my wedding day hair?!<br /><br />Fast forward to March. Time was ticking and I was only 3 <span style="font-style: italic;">months</span> from the wedding AND on top of that, I didn't live in Houston so I had no knowledge of good stylists. I knew I was going to have to spend money on a hair trial (possibly more than one if need be!), and make sure they were available on my wedding.<br /><br />Wedding Hair + New Dresser = Hard to Trust. I was not excited. I searched Project Wedding and found 3 salons that got EXCELLENT reviews. The trials were pricey, so I set up an appointment with one. I took these set of photos as inspiration:<br /><br />I wanted volume for sure...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM409iCv3mu3h9JrTaWcGTqy3IkXdon1KOeHhzwCGlCeKEJT9hhq4jvNbfHkbveXfWdi90a5-ZF25hDf5k_wosnX_JXnycVmCBOEraMFQ7wNaxTkylL9zI7tL0ZdvQJ-YijY-_wOraWbE/s400/hair-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508486291915498594" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://jomygoodness.typepad.com/jomygoodness/2008/09/inspiration-begins-with-jim-hjelm.html" target="_blank">source</a><br /><br /></span></div>My hair pulled to the side, softly, cascading down my shoulders..<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5PeGvYrIyqKYYURoQs8mXnvkBLs-a0Gwh-bfu_ojg7sp9vMvNUpJiHBd9qxfpiZpLLUT2bqcuEn4nRuhyphenhyphenvUMJgu_zGX2udfTgmXtLZ8vcgGN6reO4upUnDpepptUYzLj3d6EFD6diXk/s1600/hair-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5PeGvYrIyqKYYURoQs8mXnvkBLs-a0Gwh-bfu_ojg7sp9vMvNUpJiHBd9qxfpiZpLLUT2bqcuEn4nRuhyphenhyphenvUMJgu_zGX2udfTgmXtLZ8vcgGN6reO4upUnDpepptUYzLj3d6EFD6diXk/s400/hair-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508486273566905746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://fashionbride.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/jim-hjelm-2009-bridal-collection-2/" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /></div><br />And the curls to be romantic and loose. I wanted to look Spanish and sexy, but not like a pageant girl either.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBphC2HpljdueINdk1GIHdPzplOqjzmRXqHsqrqM83KQhgIo9-HcVjenpYskdM1gzsYc5_OQWiU68ZDEoGcl8Iip-Dhmghhp9F6B-kxGKBenwzY0fyulyMA-y5hJ0RBtCouWnbGZgNVPQ/s1600/hair-3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBphC2HpljdueINdk1GIHdPzplOqjzmRXqHsqrqM83KQhgIo9-HcVjenpYskdM1gzsYc5_OQWiU68ZDEoGcl8Iip-Dhmghhp9F6B-kxGKBenwzY0fyulyMA-y5hJ0RBtCouWnbGZgNVPQ/s400/hair-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508486269475598466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://fe-malefashion.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /></div><br />I brought this picture to say <span style="font-weight: bold;">"I don't want these curls!"</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMY1_pkWIm3zqT7Vh4ID_FgHLP32sV-S6BLHsAk0UxSvRvBv3nMKczOwL-4G-dK99rEqJPL4EiYqPb-5U_cTmm54PSCNsVYsq-csG6lWtXKMwOjVe2HCXRhZ5nzC3uKEQWWAMbH8s7YA/s1600/dont-want.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMY1_pkWIm3zqT7Vh4ID_FgHLP32sV-S6BLHsAk0UxSvRvBv3nMKczOwL-4G-dK99rEqJPL4EiYqPb-5U_cTmm54PSCNsVYsq-csG6lWtXKMwOjVe2HCXRhZ5nzC3uKEQWWAMbH8s7YA/s400/dont-want.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508486296763285474" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://sangmaestro.com/tag/curly-wedding-hairstyle/" target="_blank">source<br /></a></span></div><br />I selected an up-do as a back-up and wanted to share it with y'all because it's so pretty:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos_IQRJmdUaPFLYqkdiVrPwwBl9nZ2XklJ8KeuKcV20fG2ZiXj_eesPJn-CxtjjSKSije3r-e_LP0VkoLhwNV68GgAp-gVEEPNkmR9tM7vQ09KJGS4zLf2H2UBkHHspzYwIoH3AO-SLA/s1600/back-up.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos_IQRJmdUaPFLYqkdiVrPwwBl9nZ2XklJ8KeuKcV20fG2ZiXj_eesPJn-CxtjjSKSije3r-e_LP0VkoLhwNV68GgAp-gVEEPNkmR9tM7vQ09KJGS4zLf2H2UBkHHspzYwIoH3AO-SLA/s400/back-up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508486307794716482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.theknot.com.au/wedding-planning/real-weddings/spring/rebecca-matthew-in-launceston-tas-brides-hair" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lovely, huh?! I didn't think it should be <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> hard. However, my biggest concern was my actual hair. I knew that curling it would shorten the length, and on top of that, my hair is fine.<br /><br />Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the wonderful world of: <span style="font-weight: bold;">hair extensions</span>.<br /><br />*shudder* Is that weird?! That feels kinda.. fake. It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> fake. And yes, I wasn't a fan of the idea.... <span style="font-style: italic;">at first</span>. Until <a href="http://www.makeupbyrenren.com/" target="_blank">Ren</a> showed me the ones she bought and made. She explained how much cheaper it was to buy the human hair at a beauty supply store (yes, I said HUMAN hair!! crazyyy!), buy the clips, and sew the clips onto the hair yourself. Let me show you...<br /><br />When you buy it at the beauty store, it comes in a looooooong set. You cut it into sections depending on how many pieces you want to add to your hair like so:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwNe9_67dxm2PB465iPuhjEIcyRQG-iLQszgGBg9vDetdhLwRCMGXF66uyGBVsbsiz2LehtVrM8M5DfQJ-7cxHvUL1AyaLUenSfjhGcu-pbOY4bhE1BleqSpKYHBfvvL_HFwC-QlmFGI/s1600/extensions2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwNe9_67dxm2PB465iPuhjEIcyRQG-iLQszgGBg9vDetdhLwRCMGXF66uyGBVsbsiz2LehtVrM8M5DfQJ-7cxHvUL1AyaLUenSfjhGcu-pbOY4bhE1BleqSpKYHBfvvL_HFwC-QlmFGI/s400/extensions2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508497281944683426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/chinawig/product-detailpoKnElLvgQcO/China-100-Humanf-Hair-Clip-Hair-Extension.html" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /></div><br />See the clips? The sections can be short or long, and all you have to do is part your hair on the layer you're adding the section of hair, TEASE the roots, add hair spray, and attach the clips:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDomJUKqjHW35bpfksNVTHb7lGfO2H-ao4LKh-hjEDqrFOBkBMBghnPR3JcNYeBA199B1d5pI_TELCMz-kIsyttFpBZhyphenhyphens94I9aE0WwU3-EX6OCApmLICGWiaV-yeoS1wAVM2Wm9TCmbA/s1600/hair-extension1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDomJUKqjHW35bpfksNVTHb7lGfO2H-ao4LKh-hjEDqrFOBkBMBghnPR3JcNYeBA199B1d5pI_TELCMz-kIsyttFpBZhyphenhyphens94I9aE0WwU3-EX6OCApmLICGWiaV-yeoS1wAVM2Wm9TCmbA/s400/hair-extension1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508497286200212690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.hair.becomegorgeous.com/professional_tips/instant_hair_length_with_clipin_hair_extensions-1543.html" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /></div><br />The girl above is using a really LONG strand near the crown of her head.<br /><br />Down here you can see the actual extension already <span style="font-style: italic;">attached</span> to the roots and being curled.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhxifo9qPiW9iB7urYiY-rKnxHFI_YG7IOgbOD6fHsypLNUOA7tF4xTHICdrzfjWHPYdbqXyvOewMHR9TZKA6ES9ZZoQYYgF3oJDgZPUrjbuSCVeTYJIgwU_oXGe0cerwkT5LAItzPwo/s1600/extensions3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhxifo9qPiW9iB7urYiY-rKnxHFI_YG7IOgbOD6fHsypLNUOA7tF4xTHICdrzfjWHPYdbqXyvOewMHR9TZKA6ES9ZZoQYYgF3oJDgZPUrjbuSCVeTYJIgwU_oXGe0cerwkT5LAItzPwo/s400/extensions3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508498913949748194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://hairstylesup.com/which-type-of-hair-extensions-are-right-for-you" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is why you MUST buy <span style="font-weight: bold;">human</span> hair -- you can curl it, straighten it, and wash it. And always keep it UNDER the top layers because you don't want the clips to start poking out of your head. The photo of the blonde girl's hair looks cheap from this perspective, but once the top layer of your natural hair comes over it, it blends beautifully.<br /><br />Luckily for me, I wasn't adding many and I was curling it. I only needed about 3-4 sections of it to add volume. <span style="font-size:130%;">I decided to go for it</span>. But was it that easy people? Of course not. Not only did I buy the wrong length the first time, but my trial did not go as I had hoped. <br /><br />That's for Part II. Yes, that includes pictures of the trial. Y'all didn't think I'd post the whole novel now, right?! I need some sleep! Night :)<br /><br />p.s. does human hair extensions freak you out?! I'm just curious as to where they get the hair... On second thought -- maybe I don't.<br /></div></div></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-62064983065874724082010-08-19T20:44:00.014-04:002010-08-20T03:24:49.794-04:00Jeggings baby<span style="font-size:100%;">So I mentioned that Jose's parents were coming into town this past week and today, sadly, they left.<br /><br />In just these past few days we have: gone swimming, deboned a chicken (Err.. Mama Nels did most, but I paid attention), traveled down the Apache trail IN THE CRAZY rain, ate ice cream that contained some cactus plant, went to farmer's market, drank veggie juice that tasted like "The Earth" (i.e. dirt) from the market, watched lots of TV, ate LOTS of homemade salsa, made Jose's dad taste tofu (and might consider dis-owning me as part of the family since Mama Nels is going to try it out in Russellville now), AND... discovered Jeggings.<br /><br />Have you heard of such things?<br /><br />Jeggings are LEGGINGS styled to look like </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >denim jeans</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. I had seen them at Dillards one time and put them down after I saw they were $30. I figured I might as well get REAL jeans for that price. Then last week I saw my salsa instructor wearing them, and since I've been wearing leggings a lot here (FORGET about jeans in the desert!), I was really craving some.<br /><br />As we're spending quality time watching TV (didn't you know that's the best way to bond?), Jose's mom asks me if I've "heard of those things called jeggings?" I tell her how I've been wanting some and she proceeds to say: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Well, they just showed a commercial that Wal-Mart has them for 6 bucks."</span><br /><br />Wait. 6 bucks?! Okay, I'm a huge fan of Ross, but I have to admit I don't ever look at clothes when I'm at Walmart. But... SIX DOLLARS... I had to investigate. Plus, can you REALLY mess up leggings?!<br /><br />Fast forward to us driving to the Apache trail when Mama Nels announces: "Hey! I need to go by Walmart." My eyes light up because I immediately remember the jeggings. However, we decide to first go through the 3-hour Apache trail that ends up being SIX hours due to a sudden MONSOON attack. But you know my big mouth STILL brings up Walmart when we're on the highway. Ridiculous! The rain is literally lunging itself at the cars, making it hard to see, but y'all don't know how sweet Jose's mom is. She says "Oh yeah! Walmart -how do I get there?" and I re-route us to Walmart on the gps, while Jose's dad says "Um... we don't need to go to Walmart right now in this weather." Mama Nels waves her hand and says "Naaaah, we're fine" -- she is also the one driving so she gets more say :)<br /><br />Where was Jose in all of this? ASLEEP! YES!! Cause you know if he was awake he'd convince his mom that this was not a good idea. I silently prayed that the rain would calm down near our exit, and it DID! Since it was still pouring, they decided to drop Jose and I off while they waited in the car. We went to pick up what we actually needed for that night's dinner and I stopped Jose right as we walked by the clothes. "Don't hate me, but I HAVE to see these jeggings your mom was talking about." Jose rolls his eyes and because he loves me agrees to let me try some on quickly. Unfortunately I had my bathing suit under, so the bulging knots on the side of my bottoms was not giving me the best image.<br /><br />Turns out they are actually </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >FIVE dollars</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. I go ahead and buy them and guys.. I LOVE THEM!!! On the rack they don't look that cute, but it's completely different ON. The weird thing is that I can't pull off skinny jeans (make my legs look even skinnier), but I THINK these look good on me. You can lie to me :P<br /><br />I am such a bargain hunter that I had to show you my outfit for today.<br /><br />The jeggings with my highlighter yellow nail polish (also bought at Walmart). </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Disclaimer</span><span style="font-size:100%;">: I'm not saying my nail polish is cute... that's an experiment lol.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTf0wjG3aWlNIXhFFTxe1Bev8mpIHCzrKPLKAZqTFqc2hRopHCzkb_swUq-SGGkgdVzw3D47awjwZxR_CnOmcgiZ8PHUxTfpsRsRRNTwZKnFjmF8p2aodt3BBftGw8M7I4oXHZKPlKlpY/s400/IMG_0179sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507374115277828834" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No fancy photos. Just my iphone. This was so hard to take without distorting my legs using the camera phone. Jose's not home so it's just me!<br /><br />My Ross shirt that I got for $12!! Love the back!!</span><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zarBP9JAgCurW4XlR0BiMMTrYLyU7K-FOk6c5SdZbysAIxLJ-ujpASCerQStrnsii9kHNpxU0GxHPv_JZWqfv4wY_VP-Yn1lwTl7X8cSuffnx4hM75-DO6lyAWs70pwEaOTglwoLn6E/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507293946935218050" border="0" /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUvYuGxdcuITMDYodvUUuB-8K73VYXCsxdcQ9aH87cZ4ifM_QbCHYCeUWoPRlv6DEJp-Lkl9gHA838DGM9SX0Zws10Hgzd-xEj_NibQWyTsq46ExQlwyYWK1VMBLyKDG8ncyTgagaD3s/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507293935735945746" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">My Lola Red belt from Goodwill for $3</span><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPE3_zPG9cCv9J2NXOBIpkSrtX5fP3il50nSo2XWVlunSKtYtiULWQJnyGs58F5jYELZzzbYt3QeefDZQ9oMGrpn2FshHYFGByxYoriOAVPMlzDaAwl_bWuQYt9GaS4DISImQsfSFYyU/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507293954416759202" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The awkward cell phone photo of my outfit ;)</span><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH6Uvtn1fYD3IuCyzaEgtVlA_-BlJ2Q_5FG_qlGhDhF-13BrG00cnWlV4DkDj03sf3w2-_ofLm3Oy9E70jHm0kVaRvTwdjdKLj_Pi7C4iQwmCpICaN4AnKrEY4j0h_Sk8wYyMuI3-YmE/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507293944676111778" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />And that's my $20 outfit!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pathetic. I was so excited about these jeggings I made a whole post about it, haha. Remember to wear these like leggings and not skinny jeans. Leggings are similar to panty hose -- they hug your curves and you probably want to wear the waist band ON your waist (and not hips like skinny jeans). Otherwise you might have curves in unwanted places.<br /><br />Feel free to share any amazing finds you've had :) Happy Friday!!</span><br /></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-72855377589109109632010-08-18T01:24:00.003-04:002010-08-18T04:10:38.160-04:00We Were FlyingIt <span style="font-style: italic;">rained</span>. Rained, rained, rained. Our second city in Spain, and the weather wasn't letting up. We opened up the tourist booklet the hotel gave us and scanned some of the options. Surfing? If the water wasn't FREEZING. Kayaking? Phone number is out of service. And then we saw it. I had been skydiving before, but this... this was different. Jose smirked -"Well, we finally found something you haven't done... what do you think?" It was a little pricey, but ... when would we EVER get the chance to fly in Spain?!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"We stood so tall, we caught a plane</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By the wing and held it safe</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until we found it a place to land"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MHT9D0BqVtE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MHT9D0BqVtE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm finally finished editing this, and an exhilarating emotion runs through me every time I watch the video. Mainly because it takes me back to Spain, the wedding (still!), and being able to do all of this with Jose. I feel so lucky... so blessed to be able to experience things like this. Yes, paragliding does make you feel incredible, but <span style="font-style: italic;">"Oh, for love we become larger than life size</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.. great in the eyes of someone</span><span style="font-style: italic;">... larger than life size we become" </span>-- A Fine Frenzy.<br /><br />Have you ever or would you consider doing something like this?!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-1480690429554692422010-08-13T12:17:00.004-04:002010-08-13T13:22:43.405-04:00Chicken, Inspiration, and DandelionsSo guess what I'll be learning soon? How to de-bone a chicken!! YIKES. Jose's mom and dad are coming in Saturday night and visiting until next Thursday. Our first visiting family! :) One of the activities she insisted on is teaching me how to de-bone a whole chicken, haha. I feel bad that they're coming on one of the worst months (in terms of heat). They're really great about wanting to just relax and hang out, but I also want to plan some fun things. We're thinking we might make the drive up to Sedona. Can you believe the temperatures drop by 15-20 degrees in Sedona and Flagstaff?!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOJDZjkwtx4SOyppJxjSSFr29hNRoZuqB1RQIZXlMBMrDxVlNr2HSv25T-pMcYDyQImUh_m_ttSbsNxrlPwMkPbhAH-e1FFQ4kZl7qrejRSIVo0EBq5XsirjViF6ygmzKsTVk-Bg6V9M/s1600/IMG_0117-3sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504940263202046578" border="0" /><br />(I love taking photos of dandelions!)<br /></div><br />Anyway! I've been working some long hours on my photography website which I hope to be done with in the next week. I wanted to share <span style="font-style: italic;">elements</span> that inspired me and will give you some idea of what I want my website to feel like:<br /><br /><a href="http://thepursuitaesthetic.com/2010/07/17/j-crew-womens-collection-fw-2010/" target="_blank">This</a> video -- those lovely creamy tones... LOVE the style!<br /><br />One element I knew I wanted was a hand-drawn piece.. something <a href="http://www.thesak.com/freebird.html" target="_blank">fun</a>.<br /><br />And FONTS! OH! Don't get me started. This is SO important and can add that <span style="font-style: italic;">flair</span> to a website. Obviously it depends on what look you're going for. Something <a href="http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/paratype/airy/airy/" target="_blank">quirky and curvy</a>? Or <a href="http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/canadatype/firefly/" target="_blank">skinny fashion</a>? Or a heart-stopping, curvy, flowy, <a href="http://www.sudtipos.com/fonts/123" target="_blank">script</a> that is mighty pricey! Yeah, I was tortured with that last one, especially because the price was just not in my reach.<br /><br />I struggled with drafts and TONS of ideas with Jose.. but when I saw <a href="http://www.calypso-celle.com/HOME-orderby_0-p-1-c-279.html" target="_blank">this</a> site .. it <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> clicked.<br /><br />----<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question</span>: And by the way, I REALLY appreciate the feedback! Does music bother you on a website? I LOVE great music, but sometimes it can get old quickly. I think music can really add to your website-experience, but can also ... annoy you. What are your thoughts about music on websites? Specifically photography websites. Should I make sure I update it often? Or should I just scrap it?<br /><br />Happy Friday!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-41188171664490569902010-08-10T12:51:00.013-04:002010-08-11T01:23:50.212-04:00Spanish goodies for you!I could slap myself for the amount of photos I took in Spain. Ahhhhh -- I sit in front of my laptop, going through hundreds, deciding which to keep, which to post online, and which to edit. But I guess I shouldn't complain because at least I have photos to play with. I'm dying to start photographing again and my patience is really being tested here. My desire is overwhelming, but I have to trust God that he has plans and I need to just... breathe.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 501px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNWNmWP2ohE-nc9_ZukaCAXr8d8YiOZ8DTpSG4PsuCEzGj-6OUyi7zAui1WvxtztaGc4dhi3huuKg0q-UuigL2Zv8WbWEebDMLFMGxc-qU9oNDvXGjcoIRc6yH0AomDSID6kJ957-x8U/s1600/IMG_0608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503825700157331506" border="0" /><br /></div><br />So that's me. In the bullring stands. In Madrid. How awesome?!?! A friend of ours, Borja, is from Spain and we visited his family in Madrid. Before going to the bull fight, his mom gave me that fan. Love it :) But here's another awesome thing...<br /><br />I want to give YOU some Spanish souvenirs!! Since it's clearly not possible to buy everyone something from Spain, what I can DEFINITELY give you... is an artistic photograph. Something to hang in your home, from Spain, made with my love, for free. I love decorating a wall with different sized frames and photos like so:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb9n3wpSlE_uHI_NB1pEQwnuAh42i17G9_P-ezGRdPSwnc-qMVI37rqJDqh5DjtNI4lH0Uw_DBCaPaeLSQlmRZQ-KXesSo4jL4I8Jt9csVyTOPN2gfEn_gKhFJQBEEP4YpfDDUZGkvAo/s400/wall-frames.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503943568982433250" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.modnest.ca/journal/2010/1/7/picture-perfect.html" target="_blank">MORE examples!</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Clearly, you don't have to use mine, but in case you needed something different that wasn't a photo of a random stranger... I thought this might be fun :)<br /></div></div><br />My question is: <span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of picture would you prefer most- the artistic one, or the Spanish one?</span> I ask this because some of the artistic ones do not necessarily scream <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain</span>, BUT make great photography prints and vice versa.<br /><br />Let me show you an example of <span style="font-style: italic;">artistic</span> versus <span style="font-style: italic;">Spanish-y</span> versus <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span>. Keep in mind these are my actual photos (that you can have :) inserted into STRANGER'S homes via photoshop (haha).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artistic</span><br />(to me, it says Spain AND Latin America, but to some it might just be artistic :P)<br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 418px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSM5Nh1oDdCC0Uzg1QbbeaklnIBvXE27P0ZqjudMNXLEW4gFQlif5pIOl1w99ZIU8_Bh5GURqJ2csRQjOUj_-aIXgNOgajxF0o5jT-m5c-3DjyB9knr2rX1VkOketIJ-YVNGYM8mB8sM/s1600/chair-sample2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503869591581393010" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://yourhomeonlybetter.com/decorating-with-empty-picture-frames/" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spanish </span><br />(b/c of location.. it's my city shot of Barcelona)<br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 429px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KYsos-rXsd2lT_q83RouoBNDjYFv61oKLQYKvj5TMrWCsTBVyTR0aKARjSGZXi0Mc-Az7aN4p8eSLWlkYXIWiZfldCH_nHMPP8wbZmt6BKm0dHR9765FgPeeDmen16c5MZcNJPeX7kY/s1600/spain-city-sample.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503880984720010434" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/look-using-an-alcove-to-frame-the-bed-075271" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spanish + Artistic</span><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 419px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTy7Ig70hcMS-IW9hzXUdfZvWg0ec7UQxxWlHNk6Gi3ayM4xu-49g7qSK5xx5BxPAtOB5W3tdDE6dyiBxrhHAUPMMoCYDA-VqWRUKYMNWJzFvGrazPDK2xT3TSzMRbv6uP-nwThq6Myc/s1600/livingroom-insertphoto-spainflag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503869569550565682" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://wholelottalovely.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/monday-morning-mood-board/" target="_blank">source</a></span><br /></div><br />These are just some examples of what I have. Clearly combining artistic and Spanish is the MOST ideal, however, those are very rare because people have individual interpretations of what they consider "Spanish"-y.<br /><br />SO pick: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gimme artistic, gimme Spanish, gimme either! </span> ;)Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-15214881739065755512010-08-09T01:58:00.012-04:002010-08-09T02:48:01.961-04:00Recipe -- Salmon Success!<span style="font-size:130%;">I have to say that I am </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >not</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> the biggest salmon fan. Sometimes I get the courage to order it when it sounds really good on a menu (Flying Biscuit -- scrambled eggs + salmon) -- but am quickly disheartened when it tastes like... </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >fish</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /><br />This recipe is for people who want to try out a "different" kind of seafood recipe and something EASY. Unfortunately not cheap... so either save it for a special occasion or get it on sale. Whatever floats your boat! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeKhlS2x6SPVwCz5d4L_ts3TbDN0O2aFLcAEuJnO7AnAylpp9zd_eVIfBLf6421N4u3nwMunY4VySmZW_aTQwzqpHuK9O14mQLQJq4c9LWpU0B3uOYWRt7EmoHS-bCI60pdZNgTfIXnk/s1600/salmon-blueberry.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeKhlS2x6SPVwCz5d4L_ts3TbDN0O2aFLcAEuJnO7AnAylpp9zd_eVIfBLf6421N4u3nwMunY4VySmZW_aTQwzqpHuK9O14mQLQJq4c9LWpU0B3uOYWRt7EmoHS-bCI60pdZNgTfIXnk/s400/salmon-blueberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503287263345554674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://dianasaurdishes.com/08/blueberry-balsamic-salmon-and-potato-domino-squares/" target="_blank"">source</a>)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I actually took a photo of it with my iphone and had to scrap it because you can see how even a professional can't make this look very pretty. Look, blueberry sauce looks like black tar on camera... so enjoy the better photo and know that it tastes 10 times better ;)<br /><br />What you need:<br /><br />* 1 tablespoon olive oil plus additional for brushing<br />* 3/4 cup sliced shallots <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(but we used minced onion)</span><br />* 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced<br />* 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt plus additional for seasoning<br />* 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme plus additional for seasoning <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(didn't use "fresh" thyme :)</span><br />* 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice plus additional for seasoning<br />* 1 cup fresh blueberries<br />* 1/4 cup water<br />* 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar<br />* 4 7-ounce salmon steaks or fillets with skin (each about 3/4 inch thick) <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(only used 2 fillets)</span><br /><br />Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in large skillet over medium heat <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(note: we used large sauce pan)</span>. Add shallots/<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">onions</span>; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice. Stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add blueberries, 1/4 cup water, and vinegar. Stir to blend. Mash berries with potato masher or back of fork and cook until sauce thickens, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat.<br /><br />Add some olive oil to your skillet and warm to medium-high heat. Brush salmon on both sides with oil; sprinkle with coarse salt, thyme, allspice, and black pepper <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(pretty much just season both sides of fillets. Ours were thick so it's not exactly "sprinkling" haha)</span>.<br /><br />Cook salmon until just opaque in center, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Spoon sauce over salmon and serve immediately.<br /><br />Let me just say this did not have that fishy taste and once you have your ingredients, it is EASY to make. Yummmm. It was soo good. Kisses to my chef for picking this one :)<br /><br />We saved about 4 more recipes from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/" target="_blank">Epicurious</a>. So far so good. My favorite thing about the website is that they have an app for your iphone so it downloads all the ingredients you need as a grocery list! They even divide it by "produce, meat, spices, etc." We'll see how the others go!</span><br /><br /></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-75106489034318016662010-08-06T15:36:00.009-04:002010-08-06T16:54:48.431-04:00Behind Closed (Salsa) Doors<span style="font-size:130%;">I </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >could</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> show you the practice video where we run through the full routine, with minor hiccups, and us wearing our actual costumes. But what fun would that be when I could show you the one where my partner and I mess up our ending? Although the ending is far from graceful, I actually prefer the practice video with our instructor every now and then yelling "1, 2, 3.. 5, 6, 7!!" And honestly, I think I danced much more comfortably in this practice than when we had our costumes on and we looked a little more "uptight."<br /><br />Things to know about me (and witness on video): </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >I wear socks with my salsa shoes</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. (**EDIT: when I <u>practice</u>!! haha.. I can only imagine the look I would get if I left my socks on during a performance!)<br /><br />Look, I have no shame about this! I don't own salsa-sneakers (which are more like shoes rather than open toe sandals), so I </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >always</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> practice in my heels. Even if I owned the sneakers, I would still wear my heels because you work your calves out and the heel makes you dance better (in my opinion). Unfortunately, my lovely heels like to rub my skin off, no matter how MANY callouses I may build! That's probably because I have </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >cheap</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> salsa shoes, but that's not the point. Wearing socks makes the shoes much more comfortable, I'll have blood-free feet, and they're great for topic of conversation during practice. Granted, when I moved to Phoenix and started with a new dance studio here, I didn't wear my socks at first. I'm not THAT shameless! But after the first practice, I quickly regretted not wearing my socks. Plus, the people were really cool and I felt comfortable enough with my silly habit.<br /><br />Before hitting play -- you must know why I'm posting this. I learned and practice this choreography for probably 15 weeks. The week before the performance my partner CANCELED because it turned out he was going to be out of town. This was going to be my last Atlanta salsa performance to invite my friends to (whom many never saw me perform ANY salsa until my wedding). I went to the performance to cheer on my team mates anyway, and guess who was there? MY PARTNER!! Mhm. I could have kicked him with my salsa-sock-dancing feet where it hurts. Instead, I behaved and enjoyed the night with friends and cheered on the group when they performed. Turns out he was nervous about performing since he missed the last few weeks.. but I wish he had not waited till the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >week of</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to tell me.<br /><br />So here is the video (sorry about the low quality!). While my partner for this performance is a GREAT dancer, he let me down the last few weeks. On this video? Literally! lol. We got through the entire routine until the end where he forgot the "drop" and well... you'll see. But overall, I LOVE the music for the intro!! I loved taking classes with Salsambo, and can't wait to grow here in Phoenix at Tropical Vibes.<br /><br />Before I forget! In case you don't know me.. I'm the one in the middle with the baby-blue shorts & white long sleeve shirt. OH-- and the one wearing the WHITE SOCKS. ;)<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/2YPO2BQlSIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/2YPO2BQlSIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />Happy Friday!! I have some freebies for y'all coming up! Also, I made the pre-wedding video, but I haven't received my wedding photos yet and since I'm supposed to get them by this weekend it won't be long till' you see them!</span>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-84907865889146208372010-08-05T19:17:00.005-04:002010-08-05T19:44:38.389-04:00We're Out of Milk.. again?!<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrtjE6zQPbOGnlN7phl2vPu4at7jAYRJzzsvJu3u5QVWehoppPLRFuj1EGjpWAZ3yHmfCsFnSClgrAffI7KFZ1WlATeArY5ITZwks2lwLujnHC5cCbVN3tiZdW9DOOv1n0eCI_JIp4ZQ/s1600/IMG_4461.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502070207069448242" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(My jamon iberico, queso, & pan baguette in Spain)</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;">I knew things would change when we got married. And I especially knew our </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >grocery</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> bill would change. But I didn't realize HOW MUCH! We go through a gallon of milk every week, we probably go to the grocery store twice a week, and somehow I feel like we're always missing something (a veggie, a fruit, or... MILK!).<br /><br />So I need some opinions... or advice. Here's the thing: I buy organic produce. Mainly, I buy organic milk and chicken. The milk isn't really a problem, but the chicken is definitely expensive. They don't typically sell organic "skinless, boneless, chicken tenders" in bulk. Also, instead of beef, we usually buy ground turkey which is leaner and not as expensive. I'm not a fan of fish, but I bought a blackened catfish at a market yesterday and it was DELICIOUS! So now I'm considering fish for more protein options.<br /><br />Anyway, what I really want to know is: How often do YOU go grocery shopping? What do you typically run out of the most? I know this changes for every individual/couple according to their preferences (Jose is a cereal killer = milk is like water at our place ;). But I'd like to get an idea of what the "average" is -- whether you buy for one or two.<br /><br />Do you always eat some type of meat for dinner? Or do you turn to other options for protein? Any tips on saving at the grocery store?<br /><br />I even considered us getting a Costco account, but we don't even have kids! So I'm not sure if we would take advantage of the benefits in "bulk" purchases. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">But the way we run out of milk, cereal, bread, and chicken is making me have second thoughts.<br /><br />Maybe we're just skinny cows. What do you think?! :)</span>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-84824749660337517732010-07-30T12:53:00.011-04:002010-07-30T16:46:59.969-04:00Living Room Decor on a Budget<span style="font-size:130%;">Okay, I don't know if it's the fact that he's married to me... or something in the Arizona air, but I am featuring yet another decor piece created by Jose. Yes!<br /><br />Also, I want to give you some tips on finding some unique furniture pieces on none other than: Craigslist!<br /><br />During our 'decor' shopping the first few weeks in Arizona, I mentioned to Jose that we needed to find a lamp shade for the light fixture in the dining room area. The standard one in our condo looked like this:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZGQ46iL8oKEy0-Qvz2gZYn5C-DxWXL8Z-1dQjDpe9bCvBkq1xEN68wAJHUrF8hivC9VBnirdI_BJtXufwKHwGHoO43wu0SxpPoO_cxdbZxf3U2jzvYxAinOkW6Vf-sht_lqvPreAEi8/s1600/frostedlight.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZGQ46iL8oKEy0-Qvz2gZYn5C-DxWXL8Z-1dQjDpe9bCvBkq1xEN68wAJHUrF8hivC9VBnirdI_BJtXufwKHwGHoO43wu0SxpPoO_cxdbZxf3U2jzvYxAinOkW6Vf-sht_lqvPreAEi8/s400/frostedlight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499753215836058514" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Ugly, right? I mean, it looked uglier when it was hanging down from the ceiling (which Jose ended up hitting his head on about 5 times).<br /><br />Unfortunately, I never realized a freakin' light fixture could be so expensive! While I'd love to create an accent piece, I'm not willing to spend over $50 on a light fixture in the dining room. Maybe the living room. Well, while we were at World Market, we found these cute bamboo parasols for... </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >ten bucks</span><span style="font-size:130%;">!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuC9uEa2W8Dy0PboK14ftuaWbDAUeylaxFc1aArMBM__PR9bAtdOa85UDIb7ah-cqIhUck5mEOqJhNtkvQJ9DMztFyxObbruqJjKcV2v7Uz-pGwQCXbGj_ZyYTSaTE45slg_ocmD66SfE/s1600/parasol.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuC9uEa2W8Dy0PboK14ftuaWbDAUeylaxFc1aArMBM__PR9bAtdOa85UDIb7ah-cqIhUck5mEOqJhNtkvQJ9DMztFyxObbruqJjKcV2v7Uz-pGwQCXbGj_ZyYTSaTE45slg_ocmD66SfE/s1600/parasol.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499756374559492834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(from World Market website)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This is where the Arizona air hits Jose and he says "what if we used THIS for our light fixture?" And, you know, after that <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2010/07/diy-fruit-basket.html" target="_blank">fruit basket idea</a>, I was actually considering his suggestions now. While I had my hesitations, I LOVED the thought of the parasol hanging upside down to serve as a light fixture. How would this work?! You know... ten bucks... it's worth the try!<br /><br />First, Jose took off the ugly fixture, which left a metal pole hanging down with exposed bulbs. Jose chopped all but 4 inches of the wooden handle on the parasol. He then took a left over metal bracket from our IKEA furniture and used it to connect the parasol to the metal pole. Like this:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 505px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1T2udvrC9AOKDrQ9Y-IIzGPzo5-Ke15FZOBr18kTgraFmcivplCGaZBMBwLwU5EVVTymbIKehZXJHw0EuJL16YL3KM2VhfJ9CwMgcDTXqWJqoZWeuCyFQ_gkmBdUW2uQjRzB0DDHOrg/s1600/IMG_8563-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499763924741548194" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 506px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3lQ6ZGmfM7TAYMnbMaOrZ6v1WKoNe5uoSHv4fYIvjI32usA07Wzv1KcdGN4aBT57UjvEKai8y0xcU1M6FSKKkaOE20Ur712SrBlq9Wp95NzBbQKlyWYJf9h39vB8K2KhBCfxLQ3ov1M/s1600/IMG_8555-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499763899200496546" border="0" /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 508px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU5fO6yqJxocE7JjNv4g8RgamGRYhwuaBZ1Q1utnTIDjhlbIPAA-sacDyCyqx2UrhyIy7_OgTqGk5-kjszXjmecTggLCjfA2VoPIdMfO6agdF3TIgAwJqnV7-Ov9iKvx5I560eTYqKW8/s1600/IMG_8559-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499763921456030354" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And this was the result!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaAXZBmRs8TOIpQqYulCR84UvOws-_oEipkEuOT8VNKZtIFps4r2JEHOo2stkmD9tx6Vg6xhr-Nf3GKst03AwmxpkWi4DvnRRFu4XAFhNSeF8inJaGg9h4XBYlHL-EjfXQgJuy60Tb48/s1600/collage1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 562px; height: 424px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaAXZBmRs8TOIpQqYulCR84UvOws-_oEipkEuOT8VNKZtIFps4r2JEHOo2stkmD9tx6Vg6xhr-Nf3GKst03AwmxpkWi4DvnRRFu4XAFhNSeF8inJaGg9h4XBYlHL-EjfXQgJuy60Tb48/s1600/collage1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499763909773855426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't mind the missing chair from our dining room table -- I currently don't have an office chair, so I'm stealing one of those in the mean time :)<br /><br />SO, how can you find some cool accent pieces if you're decorating? Well, it's all about the WORDS you use when you search. This goes for Craigslist, Ebay, Etsy, or any other place you look online. Let me show you.<br /><br />I'm a huge fan of vintage furniture, with that kind of chic look (though currently I'm leaning more on the modern look). Let's take this inspirational photo from <a href="http://www.vnbonsai.com/newsitem/12/Living-room-decoration-trends-2009-2010.html" target="_blank">vnbonsai.com</a>:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaaiywdglslMN_c-wELiZ3yrb97AaYR5qdktXGZV1n-kZNTLkOP_Yc1Hkhw6oWLk2xJaKE-hsTndrQUJP2lhmx7jzj6hVa3qfJ4VRN5dRmDD4uq9wpfmpD-wzfZmpP3InAga5ttxkX-w/s1600/livingroom.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaaiywdglslMN_c-wELiZ3yrb97AaYR5qdktXGZV1n-kZNTLkOP_Yc1Hkhw6oWLk2xJaKE-hsTndrQUJP2lhmx7jzj6hVa3qfJ4VRN5dRmDD4uq9wpfmpD-wzfZmpP3InAga5ttxkX-w/s1600/livingroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499766644887927586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">UGH, I love this so much. So feminine... if I was living by myself I'd be all over this! Anyway, some of you are familiar with Craigslist "furniture searches" (or Etsy even!) know that if you simply search "vintage" you come up with SOOO many things. You really have to sit there and filter through hundreds of finds. "Vintage" is so vaguely used that you end up with old, garage sale items that people classify as "vintage."<br /><br />The word that instantly came to mind with this furniture for me was: French.<br /><br />Guess what items I found on Craigslist when I searched ONLY "French" under furniture? THESE beauties!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Accent chair -- hello! $150<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQDYQsyt_ksL_9FZ0w89RzIMfNK7iLThFqITZp5mX3LS306HXl_-e4bAkpeJ9n-NGeaU0Mc1Wbqeadl4ttZh8IfWd-U0x7UG_YTOWDvWpOdW_lEgKCpB_FHkRHnsha0yAOvw20AK8UnE/s1600/wingedchair.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQDYQsyt_ksL_9FZ0w89RzIMfNK7iLThFqITZp5mX3LS306HXl_-e4bAkpeJ9n-NGeaU0Mc1Wbqeadl4ttZh8IfWd-U0x7UG_YTOWDvWpOdW_lEgKCpB_FHkRHnsha0yAOvw20AK8UnE/s1600/wingedchair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499756392492694802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bedside table $60<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPeFkmeEDYSRgC5JzaU7lq7YNtozCaXvj2sJ4WydLYr7pocwoLjnCR5rY3ciXWTdUkCykGg8LyvNMbbM5TiwFG5pvd-1TDngRAj0b2EiBZ1rCCSZvnOkNn_S6DyAx9Db_RHp89YIrjAQ/s1600/Styled-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPeFkmeEDYSRgC5JzaU7lq7YNtozCaXvj2sJ4WydLYr7pocwoLjnCR5rY3ciXWTdUkCykGg8LyvNMbbM5TiwFG5pvd-1TDngRAj0b2EiBZ1rCCSZvnOkNn_S6DyAx9Db_RHp89YIrjAQ/s1600/Styled-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499756385991041698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dresser $250<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB3Wda89111jw2HwVLA35BGJR1j4ujIkx7jmwIYcLQry8hwCExqHTqzDPj5K-jVWiwxTc3wNn5_Xhu_hAnfruBbxiVfGuYw_WLqOJGZWUVExd4iwHylSEAwmv6trzTXqZcJ8L_c8iG14/s1600/dresser.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB3Wda89111jw2HwVLA35BGJR1j4ujIkx7jmwIYcLQry8hwCExqHTqzDPj5K-jVWiwxTc3wNn5_Xhu_hAnfruBbxiVfGuYw_WLqOJGZWUVExd4iwHylSEAwmv6trzTXqZcJ8L_c8iG14/s1600/dresser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499753212554938322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Desk $295<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoSgGErBuLBHBO_3CO2vcint50oqkn4S4JamkQEvXaNV9Vflfc5oQAjBiSitPzkS1mYYpwW6TSgGkborzzkMuuyLVwwGVzJuTgAOPvYP2tSIJwEIwij47hi4cT-CWcUSqji4wPDwWbyE/s1600/desk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoSgGErBuLBHBO_3CO2vcint50oqkn4S4JamkQEvXaNV9Vflfc5oQAjBiSitPzkS1mYYpwW6TSgGkborzzkMuuyLVwwGVzJuTgAOPvYP2tSIJwEIwij47hi4cT-CWcUSqji4wPDwWbyE/s1600/desk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499753209651088258" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bookshelf $120 (Imagine painting it a solid red?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_9EKzNsDEsKstCQUBN2VzQbkFICSX9dqRn2_xzpG_HmpOUnnPJeEu9jdjhZDEiqvmaM0pBXHWFHII3TIMU2dIOATxdqK9RSVV3k2I06taQtP55E3fuNB4ESEB8kMdhgWmjlru73EQmI/s1600/bookshelf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_9EKzNsDEsKstCQUBN2VzQbkFICSX9dqRn2_xzpG_HmpOUnnPJeEu9jdjhZDEiqvmaM0pBXHWFHII3TIMU2dIOATxdqK9RSVV3k2I06taQtP55E3fuNB4ESEB8kMdhgWmjlru73EQmI/s1600/bookshelf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499753191159967122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And last.... Okay, some of you may think I'm crazy and just can't understand my vision. That's okay. For those of you who get it, I'll let you come over and sit on this beauty:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0g2zwni8V1BZ0xY2sf796dexbIr9iIv_gx-Pjh0mu27tt9dRk6RN_FuMugykYxOn4YfPqA2dXciJRqEmArKbUnEnIei-Cg0tGpVrzBCCnk3xSfMMg3jDsh3Ba_wVJOfkO_gSie-7I1j4/s1600/chair.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0g2zwni8V1BZ0xY2sf796dexbIr9iIv_gx-Pjh0mu27tt9dRk6RN_FuMugykYxOn4YfPqA2dXciJRqEmArKbUnEnIei-Cg0tGpVrzBCCnk3xSfMMg3jDsh3Ba_wVJOfkO_gSie-7I1j4/s1600/chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499753202345493986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Aaaah!! Okay, we haven't "bought" this...</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > yet</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. But I'm in love!! To me it's the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >perfect</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> accent chair for our living room. It's a reasonable price (well, the one in my HEAD that I have to convince the seller is reasonable... ;) and it looks comfy!! Jose said it has to pass the "comfort" test in person. Lord, I hope this chair is super comfortable.<br /><br />Anyway, while these prices were between $50-$200 -- they are absolutely reasonable in comparison to furniture store prices. My advice is to pick an inspirational photo (like the one I posted), and draw ideas from that. I'm no interior design expert, but there are people online who are that I can get visions from. After you have your "vision" search words like: french, feminine, ruffle, shabby, chic, modern, etc. You will find uglies, but that's because people are just trying to sell stuff.<br /><br />Last, remember you can PAINT!! Pay attention to the -design- of the piece -- it's curves and accents. If you find a coffee table with a really unique shape, or beautifully carved legs, but it's a tacky wood color -- paint it! This is where consignment stores can be your best friend. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Warning</span><span style="font-size:130%;">: be picky! It's easy to fill your place with junk. Ask yourself if it's a piece people will notice AND does it match the style of your furniture. Be in love with it :)<br /><br />Happy Friday!</span><br /><br />p.s. I'm trying out bigger font because I started noticing how small my default "normal" font is... See? Don't I look small?<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-3661489576114223392010-07-26T02:54:00.006-04:002010-07-26T03:31:31.100-04:00French ToastI found out there was a farmer's market -- the kind where <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> farmers show up -- every Wednesdays and Sundays around where I live. Excited about this, I drove down Wednesday afternoon to check it out. After stopping by some booths, picking up chicken and fruits, I smelled a heavenly aroma -- <span style="font-style: italic;">bread</span>.<br /><br />Oh my word.<br /><br />This man had cinnamon rolls on steroids!! Then he showed me the cinnamon loaf with <span style="font-style: italic;">pecans</span>. Now, I'm not a huge pecan lover, but Jose <span style="font-style: italic;">loves</span> sweet breads (ok, ANY bread) and pecan pie. Then, like he actually has to convince me to buy any, the bread man says (as I pick up and smell the cinnamon-pecan loaf) "Yeah, these make GREAT french toast!"<br /><br />Genius!! I set down the beast of a watermelon I'm holding, pay him, and get home asap to... hide the bread. Now, before you start thinking I'm a horrible wife, I'm not hiding it so I can keep the starchy, buttery glory to myself. In fact, I plan on surprising him with breakfast the next day!<br /><br />I'm ridiculous about "gifts." I love giving them, and I LOVE surprises. So the whole night, I was reading up about french toast because I HAD to make it right. I couldn't ruin that beautiful loaf with my clumsy cooking skills. Every now and then, Jose would walk by while I was reading the recipe online and I would yell "Don't look at my screen please!!" Or he'd open the pantry door and I'd say "STOP!!" The loaf was wrapped in plastic, but let's just say our pantry STILL smells like cinnamon. That stuff is crack!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Picture I snapped during my wedding tasting: french toast, soaked in french vanilla ice cream the night before!!)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 498px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinU9RF2UBN1BIFFo4v4GVs2KoeCaN6VwT6LAEbk923Uq4_4xj4FKOVuRH6wChybA5YAjz-h5RexxLQzSKc_jXAfrt5nEBsAm1U7xBXkFIZYBOaflRrhtPMJ0X5wjBJs-5gi8ABNddtFNI/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498112428957207362" border="0" /><br /></div><br />Anyway, I decide to prep the milk-egg mixture the night before. BUT, I also read that <span style="font-style: italic;">stale</span> bread makes the best french toast (absorbs the mixture better apparently). This means I need to pre-slice my bread and leave it out during the night. So I prop Jose's laptop on the kitchen counter as I'm prepping everything AND meticulously making him stay in the living room. If you don't remember, we're in a condo so this is just a large room (living + dining + kitchen).<br /><br />Right as I'm finishing things up, I find this video revealing great tips about french toast. However, what I DON'T remember is that when I used Jose's laptop earlier that day -- I had the volume on FULL blast for my workout video. Before I get the chance to even hit <span style="font-style: italic;">pause</span>, a woman's voice BLARES out of the speakers <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Cooking FRENCH TOAST IS"</span>--- I hit the pause button and immediately look over at Jose on the couch with the desire that he SOMEHOW did NOT just hear that after spending the entire day keeping everything secret!!!<br /><br />He busts out laughing.<br /><br />Ugh. I could have dumped the egg mixture on his Mac. But then I wouldn't be able to watch my workout videos.<br /><br />And want to hear something else that's funny? We didn't have VANILLA. So Jose suggested I put vanilla YOGURT in the mix. This is the same guy who brought me banana nut bread when I had a stomach virus because it was "practically a banana."<br /><br />I have to admit it's those pieces of him that I love so much. They're so ridiculous sometimes that they just make me laugh. Okay, AFTER the fact. Cause I was <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> laughing at that stupid video. I'm talking FULL volume people. The NEIGHBORS KNEW I WAS MAKING FRENCH TOAST!<br /><br />The french toasts? They turned out great. Vanilla yogurt and all.Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-22193094725122185202010-07-20T14:46:00.007-04:002010-07-20T15:00:05.504-04:00Love BoatGot word that my wedding photos should be done next week! Woo hoo! I'm juggling trying to finish my Spain photos <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> putting together the wedding-prep videos I took with Jose's point & shoot.<br /><br />In the mean time, I came across <a href="http://www.sheenajibson.com/2010/07/blog-post.html" target="_blank">this</a> engagement shoot and thought it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fXAym3Bmfa4-TJvO-qi5JAt-4T8ozfcUs09XTEc4DY_40-b9DVZgZNfRoENPRMwSAGtGTnu3svVCH2x1nQThDo1Vi4qF8Eb8wKiZqNbwHKK2bCX1zeTeCrhzVzH5h4_IlownwcnA02w/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 484px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fXAym3Bmfa4-TJvO-qi5JAt-4T8ozfcUs09XTEc4DY_40-b9DVZgZNfRoENPRMwSAGtGTnu3svVCH2x1nQThDo1Vi4qF8Eb8wKiZqNbwHKK2bCX1zeTeCrhzVzH5h4_IlownwcnA02w/s1600/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062490482826882" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJnRGwwmpNc6VBzPSS3-uOpYnLpdsw5YK2C_S1nRexWIixLFWlPF9twJG4vzZrtkdcR4uRKiosvOVuoKSXMehRxaFAAfj86vfZP0nInoRMFRsUHnmSkOFEDRhJJJyxXd_FoS_JZL-F14/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJnRGwwmpNc6VBzPSS3-uOpYnLpdsw5YK2C_S1nRexWIixLFWlPF9twJG4vzZrtkdcR4uRKiosvOVuoKSXMehRxaFAAfj86vfZP0nInoRMFRsUHnmSkOFEDRhJJJyxXd_FoS_JZL-F14/s1600/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062689297032082" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3U0aKHyot1VTl55UhanHWzVkT6PO1JhoRkHbj6RnyMVS8PM5Uh9IhGKpYBGIYYcU7CNyaS2m3UPjSBu7daCRL1g2sEMmHwaxJBgVhEK782PUHgrEuqVPjuPqbPwiGwzMsR6zatAwHj8/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3U0aKHyot1VTl55UhanHWzVkT6PO1JhoRkHbj6RnyMVS8PM5Uh9IhGKpYBGIYYcU7CNyaS2m3UPjSBu7daCRL1g2sEMmHwaxJBgVhEK782PUHgrEuqVPjuPqbPwiGwzMsR6zatAwHj8/s1600/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062505447115282" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Doesn't it have that "Notebook" feel to it?! I have admired <a href="http://www.sheenajibson.com/" target="_blank">Sheena Jibson's</a> work for some time, and I just HAD to share these with y'all. What I love MOST about this shoot (aside from the gorgeous photos), is Sheena's ability to get creative on this ONE spot. She took so many angles and came up with so many poses which is truly a challenge as a photographer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNqyBDWfghoakgeIEHdfN7QSZ7q6Y_Ziq9oOULkCQ3hOveL9WQxVMpwQ5Eh0a52g2tUhZBOZhc3_WRuDlW2UaZBrNfJayVxukYash0_GPgzf-TJDiQdqu6_W-GgiJq9KsodwPKUUeQy8/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNqyBDWfghoakgeIEHdfN7QSZ7q6Y_Ziq9oOULkCQ3hOveL9WQxVMpwQ5Eh0a52g2tUhZBOZhc3_WRuDlW2UaZBrNfJayVxukYash0_GPgzf-TJDiQdqu6_W-GgiJq9KsodwPKUUeQy8/s1600/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062498902387314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji__k6JogNVfLeB2DdWZZeGCQlpIDC7zjF61HwmnT708YSG-F7Q5Emmz32WfYeynxsn7GLKojm2Re7cKOKAT7CSA4aE3P2_0dIz_te7-56BIRgScz5ZpYEqpRlxXn44leJCKAg6uVWn4Q/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji__k6JogNVfLeB2DdWZZeGCQlpIDC7zjF61HwmnT708YSG-F7Q5Emmz32WfYeynxsn7GLKojm2Re7cKOKAT7CSA4aE3P2_0dIz_te7-56BIRgScz5ZpYEqpRlxXn44leJCKAg6uVWn4Q/s1600/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062523655203378" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvghgBMqeEXcWWO2rlU4hUbeymwryFLkRavQXfm0ZH6vwH_G3GWMSBpC_RYmK404lWainylCkga6kPRBZOZDeiahT6JwLkxvxEixVaLCaUeBfhl-QTbGSu4damKK9cmxIYBQy0msMkLY/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 484px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvghgBMqeEXcWWO2rlU4hUbeymwryFLkRavQXfm0ZH6vwH_G3GWMSBpC_RYmK404lWainylCkga6kPRBZOZDeiahT6JwLkxvxEixVaLCaUeBfhl-QTbGSu4damKK9cmxIYBQy0msMkLY/s1600/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062698029816418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />It's hard enough on land to really help couples become intimate with each other in front of your lens without the awkward part and she...<br /><br />clearly....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwBXSENIRHayziodqrOqwR5m9KXKGNpXpjfyC4nA5VgGw0daID5jMFBS5dLPENFnrogtKDNSqDZl7-fiHoRh2C_aJAjN7HubptVdkunZ6Sm_oN9a7F1h0ThN0UODtrUdEv8jl_qZwwvs/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 485px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwBXSENIRHayziodqrOqwR5m9KXKGNpXpjfyC4nA5VgGw0daID5jMFBS5dLPENFnrogtKDNSqDZl7-fiHoRh2C_aJAjN7HubptVdkunZ6Sm_oN9a7F1h0ThN0UODtrUdEv8jl_qZwwvs/s1600/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062702867669218" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />had no...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcpnEuwH3wLR8MtGQ030m4DlH61n1ZYRjiZo2Bf3mZvCZ1mVj2Ihb6HqgALw8jRZQoOpNAG4Pz6DesWgMEu1ObJDFt-8BP49DgtjMO0oxeT4dYVa0kiNPj-zCBbOrX-tX872V6e1QS9s/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcpnEuwH3wLR8MtGQ030m4DlH61n1ZYRjiZo2Bf3mZvCZ1mVj2Ihb6HqgALw8jRZQoOpNAG4Pz6DesWgMEu1ObJDFt-8BP49DgtjMO0oxeT4dYVa0kiNPj-zCBbOrX-tX872V6e1QS9s/s1600/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062710743008434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />trouble :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4GSOT9veyhlE2VQXChKCBvEl5COpb_SX8nH2SzSLRXXR3bx2ewSiAQPsgtLlNvBwL6d5l8MKQTcFtfIf3FGkL-NuVDHFbQmO8Af3WechvDOu2yXzYG6h1aFnt1KPNfPOnto46JnZGN0/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4GSOT9veyhlE2VQXChKCBvEl5COpb_SX8nH2SzSLRXXR3bx2ewSiAQPsgtLlNvBwL6d5l8MKQTcFtfIf3FGkL-NuVDHFbQmO8Af3WechvDOu2yXzYG6h1aFnt1KPNfPOnto46JnZGN0/s1600/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062719323258594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hope you enjoyed! :)Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-57347810377859823162010-07-15T20:29:00.007-04:002010-07-16T13:09:35.070-04:00Maybe it's SpainI can't tell if I feel this way because it's naturally what happens at a certain age, or if Spain tucked itself into my pocket and materialized itself via my taste. My taste of clothes that is.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 530px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10mbQQaVWZ_6hkDNDh-Ojyv2WibwY5kRds9HuIWjDiE4O3gSoTr_vwvpcdOyuS8kGo4dimqO3jneQSEbPBLDppOGyWHeuP-V4z6ILVWBDYxxxwbmiHPUfj9fvspOagzZ-daZOIoJDVME/s1600/IMG_8499-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494294877989493810" border="0" /><br /></div><br />Lately I've just been wanting to wear soft, light colored flannels, rolled up shorts (cargo, jean, or corduroys), and just... really comfortable, yet slightly sophisticated and feminine clothes. I'm not a fan of formality, but I'm not really interested in my fitted t-shirts anymore.<br /><br />Since we are in no mode to spend money on clothes (cause our furniture is eating it up!!) = I have to get creative with what I already have. SO, I took a bright (but not neon bright!) red top, some tweed/brown colored, formal capris -- rolled them up, and added a thin, brown belt (which I got from Spain!), to define my waist, and pulled my hair back in a bun but not without adding LOTS of volume around the crown.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 566px; height: 425px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhgijMygGHtJ4kSu3_tf-b8QQZ-7S_EwmC4-VhMXV_6GnvtdE4XzKOuqCh71qI6EN2JP6V_45aTgPgJBKcdNIy-usp3OEZhfuW0vgney79itiH5zWYDOZ6oOJ5R4yvlHiF07NYSjdPt0/s1600/collage1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494294890354706290" border="0" /><br /></div><br />I'm no fashion expert as we can <a href="http://oops-im-in-love.blogspot.com/2009/10/im-not-colorblind-i-swear.html" target="_blank">recall</a> ;) BUT, I'm starting to really like combining "business" with feminine casual.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 566px; height: 422px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCPk9I5vQKrWJDXS3IjshyWrL-eICXrp5i0pyo-RsHbH9IWjk7W7kIMQl6ovt7KN25WxvPUukyVxrxTNQ9GbxnzuUH-cfrd-ukVvkV0kmqDn9NNmgeKNS-7Ud-rxXVwRqbeoO3TMV0RI/s1600/collage2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494294898432731794" border="0" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm also starting to pay attention on ways to dress "my shape." Yes, I'm petite, but I can really make my curves disappear with certain t-shirts, or suddenly look stumpy with certain dresses because I'm pretty short. I found a really great article (<a href="http://www.thechicfashionista.com/body-shapes.html" target="_blank">go read it</a>!!) that breaks down body shapes and ways to accent your best attributes with the right clothing. Though watch out for the scandalous body photo on the first page but just scroll down to the good stuff.<br /><br />So what's your style?! Learn anything? Any recommendations?<br /><br />Ciao!<br /><br />p.s. You like my moving boxes in the background? ;) Haven't finished my office quite yet...<br /></div></div>Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-53601740932584506082010-07-09T17:47:00.005-04:002010-07-10T19:45:36.402-04:00I went with bangs!Don't you just love when you've done something for someone and they squeal with excitement? See, I'm weird in a way that sometimes I do and sometimes I'm slightly silent.<br /><br />Example A) Getting my bangs cut!<br /><br />I was so nervous! Mainly because I didn't want to look like a 3rd grader. Granted, I just turned 25 and I will never grow old of people thinking I'm 18 because if that equation continues... then that means I'll get to look 25 when I'm 35 -- holla!<br /><br />Having just moved to Phoenix, I searched Yelp and found <a href="http://www.therootsalon.com/" target="_blank">The Root</a> hair salon. They got some AMAZING reviews and the price was very affordable -- $45 for wash, cut, AND blow dry. Considering they were the best reviewed, I made the appointment.<br /><br />Results<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 507px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOETlp_6a0_D0zGPouxERo9tLFUTWniG4UUxaZkFsZUIVCxw5xp54cDOd_WM_e00cBGfmT3ZjzuqhfzBy2bqkyel9GK7J2GaS7my3feBnlRyEI_mWyznsc3RosSl3Serz4RREDM2nlkxM/s1600/bangs1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492032587999286194" border="0" /><br /></div><br />When she snipped away my hair and revealed the new bangs, I was... speechless. It was <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> new to me that I couldn't grip an emotion. I also did this when the fabulous <a href="http://www.makeupbyrenren.com/" target="_blank">Ren</a> did my make up trial. I felt so bad because both of them asked "So what do you think?" and I was like ".. I.. I really like it" but my speechlessness betrayed me to appear "hesitant." Yeah, okay, I WAS a little hesitant about the bangs... but that's because I haven't had these since grade school. Though I've had the swoopy-bangs if that makes sense.<br /><br />My point is that sometimes I'm overwhelmed with the change and can't just squeal with excitement right away, but I know what it's like to be on the other side too. I love doing someone's hair and having them gush "I LOVE this!" -- Who doesn't?! But it helps me realize that even the same person (me) can react differently yet STILL love the results. I went home and straightened my hair a little more to give it a modern look (rather than it being slightly curled under = too young). Then I started to really love it and get excited.<br /><br />Here's the full length<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 492px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHSWIj9DnGABli66RhOMS1RG_i2q92z325ZMlLyfqe3UfaJu0qb13_mYs8chyphenhyphenJyDsuoz9BwZ_0ppwQvl8qbBSJGe2KMKLKlWCs7ylxFyFd5Xz5N-f4ItzD676sCXeQDLOk0lPyq6_bNo/s1600/bangs3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492427593071288562" border="0" /><br /></div><br />If you're considering bangs, get ready for MAINTENANCE!! Cause these suckers don't do well when they're not controlled :) We're getting "humid" weather this month, so we'll see how much I love them then... ha.Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-11802689734265369702010-07-08T20:57:00.005-04:002010-07-08T21:27:57.734-04:00DIY Fruit BasketI shouldn't necessarily call this "DIY" because you don't actually <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> anything. But since it's not meant to hold fruit per say, I figured throwing DIY in there isn't completely false ;)<br /><br />Anyway, I want to share with y'all Jose's little Martha Stewart moment.<br /><br />This here..<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 535px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeCNJ8QQ6QbnV4WrLQw1aXwff7td2wpOd88Th74dMs8VMtqD9SK89-4Oy_b-PS5ktjA_tLxEeG9b_72vBKD-8I1QcZwhlkgF1bm48-XAt5uxV6qSFfV3cRbj_TGIubTd3ownRrmnSv3g/s1600/IMG_8487-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491705014499382018" border="0" /><br /></div><br />... turned out to be one of my favorite pieces in our kitchen. While shopping in Pier 1, Jose pointed out these wooden boxes with fruits and vegetables painted on them. Of course, being the platano addict that I am, my eyes lit up at the plantain box. If I had painting skills, I would be inspired by this to paint more wooden boxes -- but that, my friends, I am not.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 535px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44velB-T49cO1oqZnwq8tpww1GI-z6sFmiHMmZl2NZ5TdeKMU8xxFoZNGyyY-SXxKpZTfq2N4txRKmRBroJTh0pAf4K30KVtsBVjbgFzki_iz6fTYz0GBjyR9t1UOn4UN28R5-J1LUVo/s1600/IMG_8482-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491705023160936242" border="0" /><br /></div><br />He suggested making it a fruit basket and I knew God made this man for me!! Haha, jk. Anyway, all you do is add a beautiful decor napkin (mine is from Anthropologie because it's about the only thing we can afford there!), and voila!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 535px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAzqjmsdTyy69nBSu53H1hhr3TTEklE7iE_hEIU0LoEVCSYo4S-kGSN5r2NrKufJxMfL2B-KXJ6ZHHC5WaOAUqfiBsxDarQ72zSkJvE0Q_g_b4xySYX5-Oj2WZjjgw8amkgzDEUY7yLs/s1600/IMG_8477-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491705005157980338" border="0" /><br /></div><br />You've got yourself a colorful, Spanish, vintage fruit holder. So clearly my wedding theme is more of a "Alejandra's Life" theme. I can't help it... my love of Spanish design + vintage runs deep! (and NO those plantains were not planned for the shoot! I promise. I really am an addict ;)<br /><br />Like it?Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-18039124750216682842010-07-06T03:36:00.003-04:002010-07-06T03:59:04.142-04:00It's comingGet ready!! I'm slowly (and finally) getting back to blogging!<br /><br />I'm sorry for the delay, but my days have been everything BUT consistent. Every day Jose and I are shopping for some kind of house furnishing. I have HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of Spain photos to go through, not to mention videos I took before the wedding of Jose's family and I crafting the week before the big day. We are still surrounded by boxes, but at least half of that amount has been tackled this past week.<br /><br />I want to share tons with you!! I can finally show you the hair trial photos and eventually the wedding photos. I'm still waiting on my photographer to get me the full set of photos.<br /><br />Just bear with me while I make my way through these transitions and know that it's going to take time because there's a LOT of catching up I have to do!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 580px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34t_cqRM4RTeNv7qvd5pTeg_rJqPEj7O0U_5gNZFZ3YIiNp5JL0RC4Qqiy9u8E1YuME5ZSMt_hdk1eG6ouxYKMnu-Ny83yoQCdtKpHg-JHUlB-XmejOUsK9Qv7K3sK55pNQlaXb0r_y0/s1600/IMG_5400-2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490698208640054994" border="0" /><br /></div><br />Hope you enjoy this snippet of Barcelona of people dancing in the street I took. What a bold woman, eh? Strap on some orange shoes and I'm sure you are ready to dance on ANY floor. Speaking of dancing, I'm going to see a salsa studio Wednesday night and I'm SO nervous because they dance a different style of salsa from the one I dance ("on 2" versus "on 1"). I feel like my first day of school! Don't know anyone, I'm nervous of the new style, and don't know if I'll get it. Aaaahh! Wish me luck!!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-3320165935318462892010-06-28T04:58:00.004-04:002010-06-28T05:25:55.370-04:00MeltingAnother quick update to let you know that I have not yet melted in Phoenix, Arizona. NO, Texas (or Atlanta for that matter) did NOT prepare me for this heat. Yeah, yeah, it's "dry heat" but guess what? It's STILL 114 degrees!! And the refrigerator moving man told me this is "only the beginning."<br /><br />The beginning? What does the end look like? Apparently like our condo when we first moved in -- HOT.<br /><br />We were not told by the leasing manager that we had to call the electricity <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> we moved in, in order to have A/C in the unit. Oh yes... that means what you think it means. Our first night was spent without A/C. In Arizona. In the summer. At this point, not having our mattress yet didn't matter. Sleeping on the floor would have been divine compared to not having A/C. But thankfully it only took one day to be installed and the A/C was up and running the next morning!<br /><br />Since arriving in Phoenix 3 days ago, we have only been shopping. Woooooo. That has been OVERWHELMING! We have been to IKEA 3 times (still not done), Walmart, World Market, Pier 1 imports, grocery store, Home Depot, 3 thrift/antique stores, and Bed Bath & Beyond (3 times and more tomorrow). I've also managed to get into someone ELSE'S car at the Walmart parking lot, until Jose yelled from the trunk he <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> going to load "this isn't our car!!" To which I yelled back "of course this is our car! How else would I have unlocked it?!" Then I saw this club bar locked on the steering wheel and my eyes got huge after realizing that he's right: "This ISN'T our car!" I jumped out, locked the door, and darted to the other side of the parking lot quickly, and very confused. I just hope that person didn't leave their door unlocked and I just locked them out of their car! Hahaha. How does that happen?!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Me in Spain reviewing a picture I had taken -- by Gloria)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qn2F9v31P6Hp6xklAnbMB-DrY5Pk5vgfMvvPig3PYAKiO-LSBXpq20iZtSiqgB_Q79i_BVUogtMsDLzbdsTYElDQm-GXkVWIhVwAsS0kxzGW7VScbvfhbMx795kUMR4tUtE1OOl2ioQ/s1600/ale-camera.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qn2F9v31P6Hp6xklAnbMB-DrY5Pk5vgfMvvPig3PYAKiO-LSBXpq20iZtSiqgB_Q79i_BVUogtMsDLzbdsTYElDQm-GXkVWIhVwAsS0kxzGW7VScbvfhbMx795kUMR4tUtE1OOl2ioQ/s1600/ale-camera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487752333184033778" border="0" /></a><br />(OH! Pay attention to the girl behind me -- her pants. I will discuss this fashion trend in Spain. I'm talking about MC HAMMER PANTS!! Whaat?! More on that later ;)<br /></div><br />Anyway, I'm exhausted and it's 2 a.m. I have some videos to show you of the week before the wedding when I was staying with Jose's family at a hotel. It looked like Hobby Lobby and Michaels threw up in the living room. I'll keep y'all posted!! I just need some time for this stuff to settle here too :)<br /><br />p.s. Jose came up with a great idea for a fruit holder from Pier 1. Yes, Jose! I'll take some pictures and post it to share!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-800277314493930624.post-78672414281481600982010-06-06T10:11:00.004-04:002010-06-06T11:07:45.517-04:00I Am MARRIED!!PHEW. Can you believe it?! A year of planning and then that moment finally gets here. The good news is.. Im still in SPAIN!! The reason I am writing is because we are staying with a friend´s Aunt here in Madrid and right now the family is watching tennis with Jose. We leave tomorrow for Sevilla. The bad news is that I won´t really get to all the details until the end of June when we get back to the States.<br /><br />Geez.. the immensity of that day was overwhelming. But, as you can FINALLY see, I DID make my brooch bouquet and you can see my Spanish dress. Also, I ditched the birdcage and went with a mantilla. It was a decision made closer to the wedding day, but the birdcage was kind of awkward on me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVOWVYdqyrs0Y4-IPIvkfzCVAADDtVr7KSwPcXoK-f7hFBzY-9PBCJCxo0x5RsgVOWLJYkuSsM11p7FvG328F4BSFXdVXyBJRkSN_5iMCrWLW3hHoBopfgsRcmqBF9EYkrF-m2naAduk/s1600/ale&jose"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 504px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVOWVYdqyrs0Y4-IPIvkfzCVAADDtVr7KSwPcXoK-f7hFBzY-9PBCJCxo0x5RsgVOWLJYkuSsM11p7FvG328F4BSFXdVXyBJRkSN_5iMCrWLW3hHoBopfgsRcmqBF9EYkrF-m2naAduk/s1600/ale&jose" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479666165526150018" border="0" /></a><br />(By <a href="http://rayaphotography.com/" target="¨_blank">Raya Carlisle</a> -- our photographer :):) :)<br /></div><br />Do you like my hair?!? Remember my last post?? Well, I decided to do my hair myself! But clearly that´s crazy, right? I knew I couldn´t do it ALL by myself, but I needed to try. The night I found out about the girl canceling, I guided Jose´s Aunt and cousin to do a hair trial with me. I needed help curling the back, and LOTS of teasing, with some bumpits and stuff thrown in there (haha), we made it WORK!! They were pretty nervous, because I mean.. DUH, you are asked to do someone´s WEDDING HAIR just days before the event (AND you are not a hair stylist), who wouldn´t freak out? If it turned out badly during our ¨trial¨then I would have just gone with a stylist, but I LOVED it. I´ll try to get some detail shots of the back because it´s more than just volume and curls.<br /><br />If there are any brides out there that haven´t gotten married yet, let me tell you that the MOST stressful moment was before the rehearsal. In short, I should have expected this but I simply didn´t. My phone would not STOP ringing and my entire family didn´t have the freaking directions to the VENUE!! Then one of them gets lost and of course calls me. Someone else wants me to text them the address (HELLO?! What are the invitations for?!) and my phone just continued to ring away, elevating my stress. SO, if you know that this very well could be your family - PLEASE -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">designate an INFORMATION person!!!</span> Make one person solely responsible of these calls. They should have the address, directions, access to an i-phone (yup, the stoneagers here still don´t have one :P), and you should let all of your family know BEFORE your rehearsal that they can ONLY call them. And that designated person can call you if need be.<br /><br />But thank God... that was the only big stresser. The actual wedding day was incredible. I am going to write several posts breaking down the moments to give you a better idea once I´m back from Spain. In the mean time, I´m having a crazy time here! We went HANG GLIDING in the coast of San Sebastian!!! We walk a LOT, which is good because we eat bread almost ALL of the time. And patatas bravas - diced potatoes with ketchup & mayo -- YES, please! Gotta love that cholesterol! haha. I also bought my first vintage camera!! Err, well, I bought <span style="font-style: italic;">two</span>. I also bought a vintage kodak ad from Spain. I KNOW. But you guys, I am going to furnish my FIRST place!! You know I´m going to go crazy there with all my obsession with decor.<br /><br />Time to go! Gonna eat some straciatella now! Ok. That´s Italian gelatto, but they have them everywhere here and well... Italy is much closer now. So that counts right?! ;)<br /><br />p.s. We performed a salsa version to Dirty Dancing´s ¨Time of Your Life¨ at the wedding -- and yes, there was a video which I will post!!Imaginale Designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11648616424467549705noreply@blogger.com3