book club? ya right!

i have never been a big reader. i kind of go through little spurts of reading and then i won't see the inside of a book for months. 

i wish i was better! 

i am currently going through one of those rare times that i am actually interested in reading!! go me! but i am almost done with the novel i have been tackling for the past 3 years. okay, come on...i don't read THAT slow! i have read other books during that time but this particular book was rather hard to get through. obviously. but i was determined to finally finish it & move on.

so for all your book worms out there, do you have any good novels that you just loved??? i'm not into sci fi or fantasy, sorry i only got through the first harry potter. i love girly books, mysteries, historical ones or basically anything with a good story that will catch my attention early on!

help me out!! i would love to be introduced to new authors or books that i would probably never find on my own.

**this picture is from a recent phototshoot i did with a friend. i did not go blonde! ;)

a lack of sleep + counting sheep

ah what am i doing to myself?? my sleep schedule has been completely thrown off lately. some might blame the daylight savings time shift, but i think i simply over slept this past weekend & my body is now in a funk. i attempted to head off to bed on two different occasions two nights ago, which were both unsuccessful. so i resorted to watching some tv until like 2am until i felt loopy enough to hit the hay. {i learned in a college class that if you can't fall asleep then you should get out of bed & do something until you feel tired enough to try again...using my education people}

^^^ yes, i like grape nuts ;) ^^^

so where are we now on this sleep issue?? well let's just say i started this post last night at 1:40am. i finally fell asleep at 2:30am & was completely regretting that 2 hour nap i took at 9pm...i know i know, terrible idea but it was unintentional. luckily i have today off so i was able to sleep in a bit.

i need to get back on my normal sleeping schedule, & fast! not only does staying up late affect how i feel the next day in every way, but when those late night munchies hit...and you are alone...and you start coming up with reasons why it's okay to eat the last of the cookie dough...trouble. i have never had issues with falling asleep, so this has been quite an experience &, let's just say, less than enjoyable.

friday's letters 02

i used to think winter & i got along, but after this year...i'm not so sure! i know i've blogged enough about

 the joys of winter {sarcasm}, but here are a few more for ya! 

>> dear hands, i'm sorry i let you turn to icicles every morning. i am now starting to really understand & appreciate winter clothes. like real winter clothes. lately my hands have been frozen, especially when driving in the early hours of the morning, & my little target mittens just aren't cutting it! leather gloves make sense to me now. i would kill for a pair right about now. >> dear excessive layering, as pretty as the snow may be...i'm officially over bundling up to go anywhere! this pretty woman in the picture above is so stylish & gorge walking down a city street with snow at her feet, but come on...there is no way. >> dear me, let's try to be more optimistic, shall we! so, on a more positive note, winter is a great time for soups. i have enjoyed making various soups & stews lately. i do tend to miss this aspect of winter when the hot summer months are around. so, i think i will try a few more new soup recipes before the winter chill is gone & spring arrives! >> & since we are chatting about food, dear waistline, my apologies for not paying enough attention to you. making desserts seems to be inevitable when you are snowed in...or perhaps simply too cold to even think about going outside. i sometimes feel like a bear. all i want to do is eat a bunch of heavy desserts & hibernate for a while. i know some of you girls know what i'm talking about! &&& with all the many layers of clothing i wear every day, no one will notice the extra lbs, right??? because we all know i haven't hit the gym for a few weeks...okay, months. yikes!

cheers, winter.
but i am happy to report i am headed to NYC today!!!! big apple, here i come.
i can't wait to see you tonight.

friday's letters 01

this is my first installment of "friday's letters!" this is where i will write little notes about various things in my life or perhaps just thoughts going through my mind at the moment. be prepared for some venting & random sharing! enjoy...

>> dear spring//summer, you can't come soon enough. i am longing for some warmth! sun, fresh fruit & flowy dresses. yes please!  >> dear lips, will you ever not be chapped??? it was fun for a while but chapped lips are such a pain. can't wear lipstick, they look bad & not to mention, they hurt!  >> dear anyone, if you are looking for a lifestyle or wedding photographer, check me out.  >> dear may, i can't wait for you to roll around. going to san fran for a long weekend with my family to celebrate my bro's graduation from law school? ah, so fun! & a new city to photograph :):)  >> dear dishes, why can't you wash yourself? you are such a pain to do each & every day. uhhhh but switching to paper ones would just be such a waste. i am green deep down!  >> dear january, you are quite the depressing month. with snow everywhere, freezing temps & no big trips back home in sight, i feel a bit blue.  >> dear NYC, i can't wait to see you in a week!!!!

TGIF & hope you all have a great weekend!
p.s. thanks for helping me reach 100 followers!

liebster award

in the blogging world there are fun little ways to help your blog get noticed & the Liebster Award is one of those things. it is a fun way to share a little bit more about me & i would like to thank brooke & mrs. adventures for nominating my little blog over here.

so what is this award??

the rules

1. list 11 facts about yourself

2. answer the 11 questions given to you

2. create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award

4. choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate

5. go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award

6. thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog :)

11 facts about me

1. i hate to vaccum

2. i love love love to cook & try new recipes. healthy or not! but dishes are a different story....

3. i declined graduate school in order to become a photographer

4. i work as a nanny during the week

5. i am so hot! as in, i get over heated SO easily! my body temperature is a good 10 degrees higher than everyone else's at any given moment...thanks mom!

6. i've always wanted to be a real city girl

7. i wish i wore glasses - i think they are so adorable, but i know the day i actually need them i will hate it 

8. i am known as having terrible taste in tv, movies & music. to get a better understanding of what i mean...i love reality tv {almost ALL reality tv...yes that includes the bad girls club}, i love lifetime movies & the radio is where i get my music.

9. i have recently fallen in love with lipstick. i never used to wear anything on my lips, but i am really learning to appreciate having a fun color pop on my lips. 

10. i want to move back to california SO badly at this point in my life

11. i try really hard to drink lots of water in a day & so i always have my pink camel bak water bottle with me at all times. that, or a diet coke...haha i know, total opposite.

11 questions for me

1. Favorite book? i'm not a huge reader, but the last book that i couldn't put down was the help. if you haven't read this book you should. i movie was good but the book was great.

2. The song you currently have on repeat? i have two. c'mon by kesha {i know, i know} & the a team by ed sheeran. two very different songs but AH i love them both.

3. Least favorite thing about your day? the idea of showering!! i love to shower but getting ready afterwards is so time consuming. long hair can be a blessing & a curse.

4. Favorite meal? mexican food. growing up in southern california i was blessed to have endless amounts of mexican food all around me. i could eat tacos everyday & sometimes do.

5. Favorite nail polish? i love OPI nail polishes. i tend to stick with pinks, reds & orangey reds. a few of my favorites are >> color so hot it berns, hot & spicy and charged up cherry. interesting names, huh? hah

6. What was your last tweet? i am not a huge twitter person. the last tweet i did was about one of my blog posts haha. i am way more into instagram than twitter.

7. Last store you visited? uhh, the grocery store? haha. we made a huge, fancy meal last night with some friends.

8. What do you like to do on a week night? i wish i was more interesting...but, i like to come home from work, eat with the husband & watch some of our favorite shows on tv.

9. Your most re-purchased beauty item? MAC zoomlash mascara...this has been in my makeup bag since 9th grade.

10. Favorite shampoo and conditioner and why? i love redken shampoo + conditioner. i actually don't use it right now cuz it's about $50 for each bottle but when i can afford it again, i will pick these babies up again! i love the smell & they have so many different kinds of shampoo for any kind of hair type.

11. Essential piece of jewelery? The one you can't leave home without? my wedding ring! i do tend to take it off at home a lot when i'm cleaning, cooking, blow drying my hair, putting lotion on, etc. so i kind of, more often than i'd like to admit, leave the house without it & feel naked! so i have to remember to grab it, it is an essential!

11 questions for my nominees

1. what is your favorite color to wear?
2. what is a hobbie that you wish you had?
3. best part of your day?
4. favorite beverage?
5. what is your favorite season & why?
6. do you have a hidden talent that most people don't know about?
7. what is your go-to junk food?
8. favorite vacation spot or memory?
9. what does your ideal saturday night look like?
10. what is a guilty pleasure of yours?
11. are you a morning or night person?

my nominees
kaylyn from the weir house
rachael from shore society
erica from la petite reine
ani from catch 21
melissa from a little bolt of life

a summary of me...today

 

these images sum up what i'm up to & how i'm feeling perfectly today. 

i can't wait to go back to LA & to seattle over the holiday break. i love that mark & i get to travel to both of our homes over christmas & new years. i feel like i have been working really hard for the past few weeks & will really enjoy some time off to see family. with photography & full time nannying i am pooped by the end of the day now! although, i have somehow found some time for baking lately :) & i hope to do some more & to eat some great food in the next few weeks. and finally, i CANNNNNOT wait for christmas. to give & to receive. i haven't had the chance to go shopping in like...forever, it seems. so getting the chance to get a few new things is very exciting!!

happy wednesday!!
12/12/12!