twenty-five.

When I was little I always had this grand thought that 25 would be THE age. There was something special about the number and I had a strong feeling all my life that something would HAPPEN at that time. Of course I never had any idea what the "something" should or would be.... but it never occurred to me to care.

Source: picturesandquotes.net via Taylor on Pinterest

I did however at least believe that by 25 I would be married, most likely either have one child or be working on it. ;) I thought I'd be settled into a career that I got from having accomplished my Bachelor's degree. I pictured a house with cute photos of my family everywhere and one of those fellas who makes you CRAZY but in the best way and you cannot believe really exists.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I had all kinds of dreams. I thought I'd have myself figured out.


Boy, was I wrong.


I turned 25 in March of this year. My fella turned 30 (sorry babe!) three days before me so I threw him a big surprise party at his favorite brewery. He got to snowboard and see lots of friends and family and I was just SO HAPPY to do it for him. Honestly though, that BIG DEAL 2-5 that I had been waiting my ENTIRE life for... turned out to be just another birthday. There was dinner and a movie date with my love, but nothing life changing occurred.

Source: google.com via Mary on Pinterest

And since turning 25?


Well, a lot has definitely happened this year. Starting a WONDERFUL blog and learning about an amazing community of people. Starting an amazing handmade business that allows me an outlet to be creative and share that with others. Leaving Oregon. Leaving my beautiful little girls (that I nannied for) that I ADORE and I'm sad to be without everyday.  Moving to California. Living with a BOY. Being totally in love. Not working a real life job for a few months and feeling the loss of income. Figuring out what I genuinely want to do as a career. Trying to figure out how to achieve that while still paying the bills. Getting published as a writer (and PAID!).

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Tara on Pinterest

a lot has happened. 

But there are still days. When I think.... "I'm 25. Almost ALL of my friends are married and most of those also have babies. Many people my age own a house and a car. Almost everyone has a pet of some kind. People my age are HAPPY in their CAREER."


And me.... I'm working two jobs that aren't my passion but I'm doing to pay the bills. I owe $40,000+ in debt from school. I live in an apartment and would DIE for a house (even just to rent) and a dog (and cat too!). I own a sewing machine that I'd love to have time to learn to use. I KNOW I could be a fantastic writer if I could just get a job full-time. I have SO MANY goals.....

Source: funkyvintagekitchenblog.com via Tara on Pinterest

So really this isn't a post to say... "gosh my life is so not cool". 

It's a post to say I'm working at it. It's not where I thought it would be, or where the majority of others may be... but that's not my life. 

This is a post to inform my childhood self.... 25 is just another number. It doesn't stand for anything. Just go after what YOU want for YOURSELF and the rest will come. Oh, and try not to be so grumpy. And wear sunscreen. And drink water. Ugh, nevermind..... too much to tell you. Just remember the first part. Mkay?

Source: flickr.com via Tara on Pinterest

So don't worry if you aren't "where you think you should be"  whatever your age or place in life is. Also don't compare your life to others. This is your journey and it's unique to you. If you don't have something that you want....figure out how to get it.

Source: darlingdexter.com via Chelsey on Pinterest

And remember to let go of all the worries once in awhile and just be. Chances are there's something to enjoy just about today.

just another manic {cyber} Monday.

Yesterday I had grand plans. Fella and I were going to spend the day taking photos of ALL my new product in a really pretty place (instead of just me alone in my house trying desperately to show you my lovelies). But then SATURDAY night I decided it was smart to update my iPhone to the new iOS5 and it instead basically died and wouldn't come back to me. I spent like 5 hours on my computer searching for a cure and ended the night exhausted and in total meltdown crying mode. Fella consoled me and said we'd get it fixed tomorrow. I literally couldn't even fathom tomorrow by this point.

The most evil symbol ever. Trust me.

So back to Sunday.... We did indeed go to the Apple Store. Waiting forever for an appt with one of their "geniuses" and he literally took my iPhone (that I had fought with for HOURS) and returned it in 5 MINUTES completely fixed and updated. The battery was even fully charged. Pretty sure he's magical. Thanks again Apple dude.

Then we decided we needed to eat and have a quick brew at our new friend's amazing brewery {Eagle Rock Brewery} which we LOVE. They have a food truck {Flat Iron Truck} that makes NO JOKE the BEST food ever. They have this Challah French Toast that is like heaven in your mouth. And then wash it down with one of Eagle Rock's brews and it's a fantastic relief to a stressful 24 hours. Or just a Sunday afternoon.

Photos via and via

So then we headed home so that I could gather what I needed for the shoot and curl my hair (must look cute when you are the only model you have to use....volunteers greatly accepted!) and headed out to finally take photos!

But then..... we couldn't find the park we were searching for, the sun was setting like it was trying to make me upset and once we found the park there was no parking. We literally just drove around for awhile and then ended up right back at home. I was SO disappointed. I really want to list product for y'all and I've been working SO HARD at getting it done in time for an article that was being posted about my shop on Dec. 5th on ivillage.com.

Well then I got word this morning that the article went out today instead. Of course. 
And I'm still so excited that so many people will be visiting my shop but obviously I'm just beside myself that there's no new product! I suppose these are the woes of being a handmade biz owner. Here's the article:

So anyways....it's really exciting but so frustrating all at the same time. I'm just happy for the exposure {thank you Cory} and here's hoping for some sales!

Also.... it IS Cyber Monday and so all day you can SHOP {pretty please} and save big! Just use the code: BIGSURPRISE at checkout and I KNOW you'll be happy! I WILL get that new product listed soon too.... just ordered myself a tripod in fact. Ha.

Thanks for being such great bloggy friends!

such a bad blogger

So apparently I decided to take a little break from my blog. Didn't really intend to be gone for the past week but it sort of happened and I must say I'm ok that it did. I really love blogging but sometimes you realize that your ENTIRE focus is here and not with those around you that you love.

Speaking of that.... We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving. This is our only big weekend off together for who knows how long and so we decided to take full advantage.

Thursday morning we packed up and drove from LA to Vegas to have a wonderful dinner with our family. There were laughs, snuggles, movies and the grand eating of copious amounts of turkey....again and again and again. No joke, we ate it three times in 24 hours. And it was awesome. Also I made a much LOVED dessert and was sworn to add it to the Turkey day tradition and make it year after year. Success! 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Don't worry I'll share the recipe SOON! 

And then last night (Friday) we headed home, got silly in the car of course, and enjoyed sleeping in our own bed.

I cannot even begin to describe all that I am thankful for but mostly let's just say it involves going through a lot of BIG CHANGES and my amazing supportive man. I couldn't be happier to be in this community of bloggers and my life is forever changed by my LOVE of all things handmade. I just LIVE to be a handmade biz owner. 

Thanks to everyone who's been a big support! And if you haven't already.... support #ShopSmallBizSaturday. Find your fav handmade shop and just show them a little love. Just $5 spent really makes a difference and sincerely puts a smile on a person like MY face. 

{Thrifted Thursdays} Week 5

If you are new to this read about it all here. 

This week I'm going to share with you one of the fabulous link-ups from last week and hopefully encourage you to join in with the fun.

Last week the cute Miss Edna from iluslifexxo joined {Thrifted Thursdays} and shared with us her finds from thrifting adventures as well as the amazing items gifted to her from her grandmother. It's so great to have items passed onto you from friends and family. Remember my mixer?

{click on the photo to visit her blog}

 I don't have an item of my own to share with you this week but I just got my first adorable item in the mail today from the Vintage Shine Shop and I can't wait to try it on with all kinds of cute accessories and show it off.  If you haven't visited the shop yet, you certainly should. Ash {from The Shine Project} loads it up frequently with her vintage thrifted buys and we all get to reap the benefits.

How to Cook {if you don't like cooking}

It's no secret that I am not the best cook. That's why fella and I are together. He likes to cook. I don't but still need to eat. Thus, true love was born. 

But now he's working looooong hours everyday. And I'm not as much. So I feel like I want to have a nice hot meal ready for my hungry man when he gets home. How very June Cleaver of me right? 

via

But the problem I have with cooking... besides not enjoying it all that much.... is that I didn't ever really learn how. AND add to that, I've been living by myself most of my adult life (by choice of course) and when you are feeding just ONE person.... you can get by with lots of pizza and spaghetti and less basically anything Julia Child would approve of. 

But here's what I've learned from wanting to be a better cook; even though I don't like cooking. 

Take your time

Source: juztimage.com via Jillian on Pinterest

I am completely guilty of getting all flustered trying to make every component of the meal come together perfectly at the end. It's not important. Take your time with each step, know that mistakes are ok {there's no perfect recipe} and just stay cool.

Work with ingredients that you know and love

Source: themarionhousebook.com via Tara on Pinterest

If you try to cook something that uses ingredients that you don't like or are unfamiliar with; chances are you'll just end up frustrated. Plus, you either won't like the end result or you'll try to change the recipe as you go and it might not work out. That's not to say you shouldn't try new things.... you should for sure. Some of my favorite recipes involve foods I've never had {hello...turnips!} but work up to it. Start... with what you love. 

Read reviews on recipes

Source: thesmallobject.com via Casey on Pinterest

I have learned that with ANY recipe I try, it's important {and time-saving} to first read other people's reviews. Typically I'll read through a page or two of responses before I even head to the store to buy the ingredients for a recipe. Nothing's better than someone who has already done the trial and error. They can tell you what was good, bad or even some favorable changes. And leave a response if you do make something and have new tips to add.

Look EVERYTHING up

Source: aisletoaloha.blogspot.com via Tara on Pinterest

It seems silly probably but I'm terrible at converting anything metric. And if I see an ingredient that sounds strange, I immediately hop on google and find out if I have it or where I can possibly find it. Spices are the most challenging because they cost so much and typically you only need a pinch. Many times I will see if there's something I already have that I can substitute.

Ask questions

Source: inomthings.com via Tara on Pinterest

People LOVE to help. I have a very hard time asking for it, but when I do....I'm always surprised to see how easy it was. If someone made something amazing that you enjoyed, ask for the recipe! Better yet, ask if you can prepare it together sometime. Friends are where most of my favorite meals have come from. 

Watch ridiculous amount of videos/food network/pintrest

Source: theculinaryenthusiast.net via Tara on Pinterest

The internet is amazing. I can't tell you how much I have learned how to do, just by watching videos online. It's sad to say but I probably could've skipped ALL of school if the internet had been around. But sincerely it's the BEST way I can tell you to learn how to cook on your own. You can see how everything is done and how it's SUPPOSED to look. You can know what it means to "brown the garlic" or what the inside of chicken SHOULD look like when fully cooked. Trust me, not a mistake you want to make. Take advantage of what's to offer online.  My favorite sites are Food Network, All Recipes, Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box, A Collection of Passions, Whole Family Fare, and of course Pintrest.

Stay in your comfortable zone at first and then start taking risks

 

{Caution: Above video is hilarious.....but contains adult content. Language mostly.....because of all the drinking.}

Just as the drunk kitchen chick knows.... cooking needs to be fun. Because it's difficult. So you can keep it simple and fun, or stress.  Now I'm not saying you need to be drunk while cooking, in fact it seems to be more dangerous than anything else. BUT, my point here is to say just start with something easy. Don't try to pull off some crazy complicated recipe when there are SO MANY delicious easy ones you could start with. AND, don't worry if it doesn't turn out perfect. It's about having fun. And usually, people will smile and tell you it's great anyway. Because they love you.

Let me know if you have any cool tips to add. Or recipes..... I'd love to hear 'em.

ShopKempt Winner

Want to know if you're the one......

dawngrimes you are the winner!

If this is you.....please shoot me an email so I can get you your prize! Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn't win....I know it stinks, but right now ShopKempt has 20% off all their SALE items with the code: SALE20. That's a pretty stunning deal let me tell ya, and if that weren't enough, there's also free shipping for orders over $50. Pretty suh-weet.

Happy Friday my friends.

{Thrifted Thursdays} Week 4

If you are new to this read about it all here. 

This week I'm going to share with you one of the fabulous link-ups from last week and hopefully encourage you to join in with the fun.

The wonderful and super cute Paper Mama has been linking up since Week One and I'm so excited because not only do I la-la-love her blog but I also think she's just such a sweet mama. AND she posts the BEST hair tutorials.  Here's her cute pictures from last Thursday:

LOVE those cute shoes and cigarette black pants!

Also....this week I finally was able to purchase something that had been in my Etsy cart for AGES.

They were way too cute not to get and ON SALE. Plus they are vintage. I think that counts as thrifting of the online and handmade style. Click on the photo to go to the shop and find your own cute vintage items.

Yesterday.

Yesterday I woke up and was excited to write you a post. I had several ideas floating around my head and I was anxious to pin them down and get them to you. But then......the virus happened. Or at least I assume that's what caused the mess on my beautiful computer and destroyed everything that was normal and comforting to me. First my screen went nuts with weird boxes that wouldn't close and programs running that seemed normal but would not let me do anything else. Then when I would figure out a way to restart (and hopefully put the mess away) my computer would almost restart but get stuck every time just BEFORE finishing the restart. THEN... I would have to give it a HARD restart (you know... push the actual power button) and it would come back all the way but with a black screen and no icons. Also, there were no programs in my windows bar. Ugh.

Source: icanrelate.info via Adriana on Pinterest

Well needless to say eventually I figured out a way to do a system restore and whew...once that happened, everything appeared to be normal again. Until I went to find my photos, documents and every other important item on my computer.  Pretty much anything I had EVER saved and worked hard on and WANTED to keep..... was gone. And I KNOW that I should have backed these items up. It's true I've learned this lesson before....losing years of pictures and hours of music. But for some reason I live ignorantly every time and forget about the horrible bugs that destroy the life of your computer.

Source: twitpic.com via Bobbi on Pinterest

So now today I sit here feeling very defeated and crossing my fingers and toes that nothing bad happens again. I'm actually nervous to turn it off because I worry it won't turn back on. Why oh why do people have to create evil viruses? And more important.....how did I get this one? Also.....why does the stupid system restore delete all your stuff? I've tried a few free programs from online to "recover" my files but one couldn't find them and the other took all afternoon and night and found the files (or so it said) but wanted me to buy the premium version of their program before it would release them to me. Home girl cannot even afford lunch today nevermind some program that's trying to tease me by saying it FOUND my files but first I have to pay for them. I MADE them, their MY files....give them back!

Source: Uploaded by user via Erin on Pinterest

Well here's to hoping that your day is better than mine.
I'm going to try to be inspired enough to craft and probably just watch terrible movies in my pjs while not showering. Something for my fella to look forward to when he gets home. Oy ve.

JUST BECAUSE

Because I love my readers,
Because I want to welcome everyone who's new,
Because I want to thank everyone who's been here,
Because it's Monday,
Because the holidays are quickly approaching,
Because it's been a slightly off day,
Because I want to encourage handmade dreams,
Because of you.

{Shop now}

fairy tales.

Ever since I was little I have loved fairy tales. Be it from a book, a cartoon movie or something more realistic and maybe even slightly creepy. I love the lessons and stories they tell and even the sometimes eerie nature of the characters. There's something so intriguing to me about this type of fantasy.

Faire Tale Theater was one of my immediate favorites as a child. It was on weekly and told the tales we all knew but with real people; and almost always very well-known actors.

Shelly Duvall in " Rumpelstiltskin" via this

"The Dancing Princesses" {one of my absolute favorites} via this

If you've never watched this series you really should look into it. You can watch it on Netflix or on Hulu Plus.  Or a sneak peek here:

Snow White Teaser

Walt Disney movies are of course classics and in my opinion also have their fair share of creepiness as well. I most definitely remember being quite scared of the witch from "Sleeping Beauty". Weren't you?

Sleeping Beauty via this

And recently the networks have introduced some pretty interesting new shows about fairy tales. The child inside me, as well as the me that likes a good scare, can't help but watch these new tellings of our favorite childhood stories. If you are interested here's what you should be watching...

Once Upon A Time
 A new telling of what really happened to all of your favorite fairy tale characters. 

 




GRIMM

A telling of the tales from "the Brothers Grimm" in a creepy and very realistic drama detective-type series. An awesome blend of "Dexter" meets "Disney". 







Hope you enjoy these shows. But maybe you don't like to be freaked out like I do. To each his own.

{Thrifted Thursdays} Week 3

It's been such an exciting and busy day that I almost forgot to post the {Thrifted Thursdays}. Much is to tell later about what's been exciting but for now I'll just say if anyone knows a good/affordable photographer in SoCal area; PLEASE send me their info. I'd love it even more if they wanted to do a trade.

But now onto the thriftiness...
This week I'd like to show you my favorite pair of boots. Granted, these are the only ones I own so far... but they rock because a) they're super cute and comfy, b) fella bought them for me and c) they were thrifted.

**Also see that rad Coral top in the photo. It's from ShopKempt. And right now you can enter my giveaway to win $40 to spend at their shop. Just sayin'.

What I Wore. ShopKempt + {giveaway}[closed]

I have a pretty serious obsession. I've been swooning over it. Drooling over it. Bookmarking and pinning over it. And now I have it. The prettiest clothes I've ever owned. And no joke, they got here in 24 hours. It was the fastest, most exciting package I've even torn from the UPS man's hands. He's ok.

What is it?

 

Such a beautiful amazing site with GORGEOUS clothes. I spent SO many hours looking at the gorgeous clothes/accessories on this site before I finally got to bring some home. And I couldn't be happier with what I have. 

{CORAL TOP}

 

 Top:: ShopKempt, Leggings::F21, Boots::Thrifted, Scarf::F21

 

It's such a great top that I seriously wear it every week. And if you live someone colder than California you could easily add a long sweater on top to warm it up. I did this weekend for pumpkin carving. :)

{Grey Short-sleeved Sweater}

Sweater::ShopKempt, Tank::F21, Jeans::Old Navy, Earrings::Gift, Cowl::BBShop

This gray sweater is so comfy for any day but today I wore it for my interview. It has just a little bit of sparkle in the front and the deep V-neck is great for layering it if I need some extra warmth.

What's even better? ShopKempt has agreed to do a giveaway for my lovely readers! But of course!

Want to know how you can win?

How to Enter the GIVEAWAY:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, visit ShopKempt and leave a comment telling me what you'd buy with your $40.

2. Follow ShopKempt on Twitter.  {one entry}

3. Follow ShopKempton Facebook and leave them a comment saying I sent ya. {one entry}

4. Tweet about this giveaway: I just entered @TBlendings givewaway to win $40 to @ShopKempt for some lovelies. You can too!  http://bit.ly/vN2Jui 

5. Follow any of BeautifulBlendings extras and tell me which {additional entries for each}  

That's a lot of choices! Giveaway ends November 9th at midnight. Winners will be announced the following day. Please be sure to leave your email so I can contact you! 

Good luck!