Bucket List

This past weekend was “Back 2 Bellingham” or alumni weekend at Western.  With the sun shining and activities going on all over campus I started feeling pretty sentimental about graduating.  Okay…I’ve been feeling sentimental all quarter, but having the count to graduation slowly shift from months to weeks to days has really given me a shake.  The anxiety and concern that I didn’t do everything I should have before leaving college is increasing, so I have decided to create a bucket list to be completed before June 9th graduation.  So far it is rather short, but I’m looking for help.

1. Swim in the Red Square fountain

2. Climb Oyster Dome

3. Run Lake Padden

4. Watch the sunrise

I am asking Western or Non-Western students and graduates: What should I do before leaving?  What did you wish you would have done before leaving?

xoxo

-S

Tuesday Shoesday: Ombre Espadrille

When I was 17, I went to Spain on a trip with my high school. I was obsessed with the effortless and gorgeous European style that my host family pulled off.  I purchased a pair of Espadrille shoes, and wore them the entire time I was there. When I got back, I stopped wearing them. They sat in my closest for years, they might even still be there. Anywhoosie, I love that the espadrille is coming to us for this summer. This Ralph Lauren Damian ombre style is really bringing me back to those Spain memories but with a fresh twist on the color.

photo: Piperlime

photo: Piperlime

What do you think? Will you be picking up a pair of espadrilles?

xx

-h

Color Run Seattle 2012

On Sunday, S and I ran the Color Run 5k in Seattle. It was a total blast, every kilometer there is a color bomb area where they throw powdered chalk type color onto you. Everyone wears white, and ends up covered in a rainbow. Check out this video from the finish area.

Color Run Seattle 2012

Looking for a fun way to get your first, second, or millionth 5k under your belt? I would totally recommend The Color Run.

xx
-h

Tuesday Shoesday: Nudes

I am loving the neon and brights trend for spring.  I love it so much that I almost forgot about my love for nudes.  Recently, I bought a bright color-blocked dress (the dress is pictured below) and was pondering the shoes to go with.  At first I was wondering about another bright, maybe a hot pink?  Too much.  It wasn’t until a noticed another item in my closet – a striped neon yellow and tan top – that I realized what I needed: nude.  A simple nude had completely slipped my mind!  Nudes are the perfect pairing the bright color trend.  They perfectly complement wild colors and even prints.

Lov-10ysu-002-1_thumb

Photo from ideeli.com
Dress by LOVE… ADY

I love these patent “bronzed clay” wedges from J.Crew.  They could be worn casual or dressed up and the wedge makes them totally wearable all day.

Photo from JCrew.com

For something that is a little closer to earth, try these patent flats in the same “bronzed clay”.

Photo from JCrew.com

Tune in next week for another edition of our Tuesday Shoesday!

xoxo

-s

Shoesday!

Okay, I’ll be honest, this was supposed to happen yesterday because Shoesday is more like Tuesday then Wednesday. Anywhosie – what do you guys think about these bootskis?

Photo: Nordstrom

I’m thinking that I love the orange. Totally out of the ordinary for me, but I’m interested.

xx

-h

Someone needs to buy this…

OMG, OMG, OMG. I so wish I could justify buying a new couch right now, because this baby was posted to Craigslist yesterday.

to buy: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/2951325538.html

I immediately emailed the lady even though I knew full well I wouldn’t be able to buy it. I just had to know more. It is gorgeous midnight blue velvet. $1000 for the sofa and ottoman.

Here is the link to the posting: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/2951325538.html

I can’t get it out of my head.

xx

-h

Upholstery can’t be that hard…right?

6 months ago, I decided to rip apart the upholstery on a chair at my parent’s house. It needed help bad, and I figured, how hard can this be? Slap some fabric on it, good as new right? NO. WRONG. Upholstery is difficult, time consuming, and your husband WILL NOT help you when the Broncos game is on.

Here is a photo of the chair before:

photo: hh

Fast forward 6 months. The  chair is still a work in progress, I got scared away when I started working on the cushion and it was very time consuming to sew the cording.

But guess what, I will finish this sucker. My new goal is to have it done by the end of April. Wish me luck, I will need it. Don’t make my mistake, sometimes hiring someone to do the re-upholstery job will be worth it. Although expensive, they would’ve had it done in at least 1/6 of the time it has taken me. And realistically, at the same cost that I’ve spent on this “little” project.

xoxo

-h

Spring Break-I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow it

Seattle –> Las Vegas –> San Diego –> Anaheim –> Seattle –> Bellingham

For my last spring break in college, I went on a whirlwind of adventures in different cities and came to several conclusions.

1.  Las Vegas IS sin city.  I would like to plan a trip there once a month.

Four of us girls got on a plane at 6:45 am to head to Sin City for a couple of nights.  When we arrived at the Las Vegas airport at 9:30 am, I was surprised to find slot machines.  I tried my luck, and lost the first of many dollars.

The first night we went to the Marquee, a nightclub that is three stories, each of which held a very different vibe.  Cabanas and tables cost $10,000 and a bottle of Grey Goose goes for a mere $3,000.  Needless to say, we made friends.

A peek at the Las Vegas strip at night

The next day we made our way to the Palms for the MTV Spring Break pool party!  Look for Courtney and I front row at the concert on MTV airing April 2nd!

MTV Spring Break at the Palms

The last night was filled with much of the same-confetti and bubbles falling from the ceiling, bottle service and sore feet.  We left the city the following afternoon wishing for just ONE (or two or three) more nights, but not after learning the meaning of casino war and roulette.  I wish I would have taken time to see a show or two, but I’ll make sure I fit that in for my no-doubt trip back soon.

2.  San Diego is full of beautiful people and scenery.  Children are scarce.  I would like to move there.

From Las Vegas, Courtney and I had a short plane ride to San Diego.  We stayed with a friend, Megan who we are forever grateful for.  We found out fast that life in San Diego pretty much is like being on spring break all the time.  There are lots of slushies, rooftop parties, interesting people from all over, places to artificially surf, good food, strong drinks, seals, caves and really great bars with secret doors!  I think it is better that I show you some of our experiences in San Diego rather than tell you…

The first of many slushies. Red Bull vodka

Slushie Bar

Poolside at a rooftop party!

We went down a long dark scary staircase to get to this great cave

Not too shabby for us Washington girls!

We got so close to these adorable creatures-seals

Gorgeous San Diego

Gas Lamp District

The hidden door at Syrah Wine Bar-Alice and Wonderland themed

At Syrah Wine Bar sipping on prosecco

3.  Disneyland is fun, but crowded.  I enjoy visiting, but not too often.

We saw more children in the lobby of our hotel than we had seen the previous six days in Las Vegas and San Diego.  Downtown Disney is the area full of shops and restaurants between the California Adventure and Disneyland parks where there was a free concert getting put on my some very talented U.S. Army soldiers.

Despite the weather forecast for rain the next day, the high clouds and warm air was promising…at first.  We dipped into an Aladdin show just as the rain began and by the time we got out it was pouring over California Adventure and Disneyland.  For a place that is supposed to be the “Happiest Place on Earth”, there was an awfully large amount of grumpy looking people in their Disneyland ponchos.  The rain didn’t get us Washington girls down though!  Courtney even opted for one of the adorable ponchos, I thought I could stick it out without.  I admit, I had to hunch up under her poncho a couple of times.  When our shoes had turned to swimming pools, we headed back to the hotel to blow dry our clothes and recharge.

We were able to snap this pic of us before we got too wet!

One of many shots from the Aladdin show

Grumpy people in ponchos

We weren't grumpy!

When we walked back to California Adventure for the “World of Color” show, described as a mixed water, light, fire and smoke show, again the weather looked promising.  After a quick stop at the Corn Dog Castle, we settled in to watch the show.  The pictures below don’t do justice on how cool it was.  Then the rain came, and the wind. Before we knew it, a combination of the rain and the water show was blasting us full force in the face.  That was enough for us, so we took off toward Space Mountain.  We rode Space Mountain and Star Tours before calling it a night and heading back to the hotel.

World of Color

Fire!

World of Color

World of Color

My favorite rides were:

  • Space Mountain
  • Soarin’ California
  • Tower of Terror

The next morning was almost surreal to head home.  We got into SeaTac and immediately headed for Bellingham with long faces wishing we could go back in time a week and start the whole thing over.

xoxo

-s