Just Like New

So this is the new blog layout...

I'm liking the simplicity and I think I'll really enjoy having more space to write and post photos, especially with my new-to-me fancy camera and soon-to-be-mine (8MP !!) iPhone camera. I'm really looking forward to having a really good camera, attached to my phone, that can be with me in my bag all the time. Miss iPhone and my Canon cannot wait to be brought on my New York trip with me.

This is all besides the point though, the point being that I like my new layout and header and want to share where I found them/how I made them.

The layout is called "Strawberry Shortcake" and comes from Pugly Pixels. This site is fabulous and has tons of cute free things along with their items for sale. Loads of downloads and tutorials to go with them, it's enough to make even me feel inspired about changing things up a bit. I love the velvet bows, and the How to Spot One of Those Darn Bloggers post is so good! Taylor is always getting on to me when we go out to eat. "Wait! Don't touch it! Let me take a picture first!" has been heard many a time at our table. Go look and enjoy!

The new header was made all by me, thanks to Picnik.com. I splurged a little (honestly, what I would normally spend on a cup of coffee) and paid for the Premium membership this month, and so far it's been worth it. It's nice to be able to access the entire site, especially some of the Holiday editing. The background  flowery stuff came from a picture of this dress:

Edited with Pixlr.

My face is SO goofy. I was trying to figure out my camera's timer settings and didn't realize it was taking a million pictures one after the other, so as I was fake smiling and posing I began to laugh as I leaned in to turn the camera off and this is what it caught. I ended up kind of liking the spontaneity of it though. Anyway.. the header image is of that dress and the font is Love Ya Like a Sister, a cute one that Picnik has.

Just wanted to let you all know a little bit about what when on behind the scenes here. I'm in Melbourne until Wednesday, when I leave for my grand ol' New York trip. I have my laptop with me now but may or may not take it up on the flight with me, so this may be the last post for a bit. Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Yule! Happy New Year! and any other major holiday I have forgotten!

XO.

Boo from Me to You!

   The boyfriend and I are headed out this evening to Melbourne and I wanted to wish you a very Happy Halloween Weekend! Eat lots of candy and dress cutely for me! Taylor is being an Irish rugby player and I'm going to be his leprechaun, we're dressing up for our downtown street party. Pinky promise I'll post pictures as soon as I get a chance.
   I've already decorated most of the house (I can't even imagine how ridiculous it shall get for Christmas!) and the little banner above is one of my favorites. It was super cheap at Target, I want to say only few dollars, and it looks so sweet at the top of our stairs. I've also decorated the entire front window and have a pumpkin full of candy ready and waiting for precious little vampires and princesses on Monday. This big kid decorating and candy-giving is much more fun than I could have imagined.

   And this is my pride and joy! The wall that had been decorated for Taylor's birthday is now decorated as a Halloween wonderland! Sometimes I just like to decorate things for the crafting of it, and this is no exception. I took down the balloons and the walls looked so bare- I was practically forced redecorate.
   Finally my dear buttercups, I'll leave you with a little freebie that I made this year. It's made to fit my computer screen settings, but it shouldn't be too terrible looking if it's on your screen.

Just click and "Set as desktop background!

Be super spooky and I hope you get the good candy! XOXO.

Happy 4th of July!

Mamma and I made a Fresh Market run and bought three cheese burgers, fries, apple pie and sparklers. Can you get much more American?! I'm super excited for it all. My only wish is that I didn't have 659874067843 things to do still before The Big Move. Only two more weeks! I don't have any pictures from this year yet, so I'll leave you with a couple from last years festivities.

Have a safe and happy 235th birthday, America! XO.

Sparkly Saturday!

With my equally fancy Mamma.

   Alright, so it's techhhhnically not Saturday anymore, but I still felt like sharing; Our Saturday was a lovely array of fanciness. I finally took a day off of work and everything else. I awoke at noon and rolled out of bed and down the stairs. I spent the "morning" organizing my closet. It may not sound like the most relaxing thing ever, but it totally was for me. Walking into a neat, clean room is so relaxing. I feel like I'm so on top of it all now. (I'll have to add some fabulous photos!) And what better way to feel nice and relaxed than getting a shower with super yummy bath stuff from, where else? Lush.
   Apres, I talked to my Beau for a while and then Mamma cooked our dinner:

 

Tres delicieuse! Eggs Benedict is my very favorite breakfast, but even better as dinner!

   We began to watch Julie&Julia and Mamma began to make Vanilla Bean cupcakes. And those little sweet cakes? Absolutely delectable! I put extra pink sprinkles on mine, because I'm fancy. I went upstairs and made my bed, then crawled in and got comfy.

   And today? I did a LOT of work. I took off yesterday, but that meant I worked 10 to 6 today instead. I watched the Superbowl while painting my toenails (walking contradiction, anyone?) and Who Dat!? the Saints won! Dudes, you don't even understand how white I sound when I say that!!

   So let me show you a couple cute things that are totally Sparkly Saturday/Sunday worthy:

Tarina Taratino "Electric Koolade" necklace! It's so colorful! It's so hippie chic! It's AMAZING!

   And then I was looking around the web and found this super cute song, so I had to share the lyrics. I'd share the song itself, but I honestly err.. didn't really like it. It was cute, but I thought the lyrics were more worthy of a better song? If that makes sense? Anyway, here goes. The song is called "Boats and Birds" by Gregory and the Hawk:

"If you'll be my star
I'll be your sky
You can hide underneath me and come out at night
When I turn jet black and you show off your light
I live to let you shine
I live to let you shine

But you can skyrocket away from me
And never come back if you find another galaxy
Far from here with more room to fly
Just leave me your stardust to remember you by

If you'll be my boat
I'll be your sea
A depth of pure blue just to probe curiosity
Ebbing and flowing and pushed by a breeze
I live to make you free
I live to make you free

But you can set sail to the west if you want to
And past the horizon till I can't even see you
Far from here where the beaches are wide
Just leave me your wake to remember you by"

 XOXO.

And to All a Good Night!

Merry Christmas!

  I may not be updating for a few days, so I'd like to wish everyone a very merry holiday, whichever you celebrate: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule! All night I've been tracking Santa, and now that we've given cookies to him and even our trusty gate guards, I am headed to bed. Tomorrow I'm spending time with my family and opening presents, and Saturday I'm headed down to Florida to spend my vacation (and see that most adorable boyfriend I have for the first time in almost six months!) I've planned a holiday get-together at my house on the 29th, while Mister Hunter is out of town. On New Year's eve he'll be back from his Phish concert, and we'll gallivant around. I may or may not be dragging along this brick of a laptop, so posts will either be done on another computer or postponed until the 7th when I am back to my home sweet home. It's going to be so lovely to not have any deliveries but still be getting paid because of past deliveries the next couple weeks. I'm gonna feel so rich! Tonight however, (er, this morning now I guess) I shall be going to sleep so I can be fresh faced and cheerful in the morning to open presents. Ham and latkes in the afternoon will be our special treat! Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!