Sleep Tight

My Anthropologie bedding is on its way! I am so excited to be getting new quilt. My Pottery Barn bedding fell apart unfortunately. I must say working isn't helping my low budget situation any. There are so many things I want for the apartment next year. I have one year left until I live on my own. I am looking forward to starting all the adventures on my own. I really have the opportunity to branch out and test the waters without being tied down to anyone or anything! Here is the bedding, now I need other creative wall and furniture ideas.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Ah, yes. The age old "DTR", or define the relationship talk. Never a happy thing, well maybe it can be sometimes haha. I just wanted to say that for all you single people, love exists.  I know it. I have felt it and I will feel it again. Here is my list of musts, based on my experience... 

Relationships must:

Be open and honest

Be a two-way street

Be fun and funny

Be a commitment (from both people)

Have a sprinkle of romance

Be healthy and wholesome

Not be dependent but interdependent

Be supportive

Be able to come to terms (in arguments, etc.)

Be adoring

Have similar values and morals

Be....liking and loving

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you refresh, not exhaust each other?

Can you share anything, whether you do or not? Does your mate know you better than your friends do?

Do you respect each other's insecurities? (everyone has them)

Finish the sentence: "She/He is wonderful, but..."

Do you understand the only person who can change is yourself? And even then only to a limited degree?

Do you handle conflict well enough not to fear it with each other?

Do your friends/family approve?

Are you both past the point of comparing yourselves? Or seeking approval?

Do you sit in silence easily together?

Do you love, not just like each other?

Do you like, not just love each other?

Just some food for thought....

Questions from article in The Dallas Morning News

Photo via Paper Tissue (couple) veer (heart)

Sun hat-tastic

Summer is here and it is time to accessorize. My favorite accessory this summer is the sun hat. Gals, saving your face from the sun we all know works wonders in the future. Sun hats are also a fun way to jazz up an outfit or even make a dull swimsuit come to life. With all shapes, colors, and brim sizes there is no way you can't find your perfect hat! Personally, the bigger the brim the more glamorous you become. Some great places to find these hats are at Target and Anthropologie. I also love the fedora. For those check out Target and Urban Outfitters. They have a wide selection of hats. I think the key to finding the perfect one, is all about the stiffness of the brim. I think the more stiff the better. You do not want a hat flopping in your face all the time. (annoying) Here are some hats I love from Anthropologie. --Also, the countdown begins the internship starts in two days and I have no clue what to wear.... nail biter. 

Days at Anthro

So I haven't written in a few days, this would be because my busy summer schedule. I started back at Anthropologie, and let me just say ahhh!!!! I miss being there with all the girls, but I don't miss closing ;). I am in love with all the summer clothes and I can't stop buying things. Thank goodness for my discount. I have new jeans (2 pairs) new tops and a skirt that looks grandma-ish, so I love it. I am also back with some of the funniest girls I have ever met. However being back makes me realize that wow I need to workout. Staying in shape in retail is essential for closing purposes I believe. I get really tired from hanging up hundreds of clothes it seems and walking around the store really fast. I go back to work today so who knows what I will bring home haha. I decided to add pictures of some of my purchases. I simply love summer and summer clothes! I promise to write soon!

All from Anthropologie.com

Love Letters

Love letters to you. These are love letters that I thought were so genuine. It inspires me to write my own love letter to someone I care deeply about. Love letters are a taste of how deep our heart and soul really are. The deep feelings come out, they are on paper for all to see. You become exposed. They are not just a dream, but real. These couples love letters prove that love exists. They prove that there is a happily ever after. Did I tell you that I love love? I am a sucker for romantic endings, love at first sight, and soul mates. Summer is here and I want to be swept off my feet and love and be loved. Read on...

______________

Dear Manu,

I can be myself when I am with you. Your idea of romance is dim lights, soft music, and just the two of us. You make me feel like I have never felt before. I can tell you anything, and you won't be shocked. Your undying faith is what keeps the flame of our love alive. 
You and I together, we can make magic. We're a perfect match. 
Thinking of you, fills me with a wonderful feeling. Your love gives me the feeling, that the best is still ahead. You never give up on me, and that's what keeps me going. You are simply irresistible. 
I love you because you bring the best out of me. I love your terrific sense of humor. Every time I look at you, my heart misses a beat. You're the one who holds the key to my heart. You always say what I need to hear. You have taught me the true meaning of love. Love is, what you mean to me - and you mean everything. You are my theme for a dream. I have had the time of my life and I owe it all to you. And, of course, I love your intelligence, 'cause you were smart enough to fall in love with me. 

Love Always,
Rani

______________

Dear Honey,

The first time I heard you say the words, "I love you", it was like I have been taken to Cloud 9 and I haven't gone down until now. Right after you uttered those words I asked myself, "Do I love you?", and as I look for the answer, I again asked: have you given me any reasons not to? No. I then realized that I have already fallen in love with you, and yes ... I am so in love with you, Lloyd!
In the past, I had always yearned for someone to love, to cherish and to take good care of - to whom I would share my dreams with and make them come true. I'd always walked around feeling so empty with a hole in my heart that I thought would never get filled... You filled that hole. I think back to how empty my life was without you, and I am so grateful that you are here. I have found in you what it means to "love." I tell you a million times a day, each day that I love you. Although you reciprocate these feelings, I am sure that you have no inkling of the magnitude of exactly what they mean to me. You can do the slightest thing and it warms me. You may not even realize it. Each day has me falling more in love with you. I love you more and more with each passing day. And it eases me to know that as tomorrow approaches, I will love you more than yesterday and tomorrow will be more than today. You are really God's gift to me ... my answered prayer that I will forever cherish in my heart.
You are the most wonderful, kind, compassionate, romantic, smart, sensible, intelligent, talented, kind-hearted, thoughtful, congenial, affectionate, appreciative, loyal, caring, loving, passionate, handsome and an incredibly sexy man with "killer abs" I have ever met and I thank God everyday that you are mine! I love you with my whole existence, my whole life and nothing in this world can take that away! I love you more than I could ever explain. More than I even understand. You touched my heart in ways no one could ever comprehend. 
I hope today turns out to be the day I wished it to be for you. Today, I'd like to give you this little glass that holds the unrelenting memories of my past that shackles my being. I just have to give this to you and I have to do this for myself, for you, and for us. Today, I give my life to you - my heart, my mind, my body and my soul ... I belong to you now.
This may start sounding like a poem ... I don't know. I just wanted to let you know that you are my heart, my everything, and the other half of my soul, that I love you with everything I have and hold. Now, when I look towards the future, you are always pictured there. Maybe, in this lifetime, you will never know how much I love, care and cherish you. Your love gives me the feeling that the best is still ahead. I can't wait to spend forever with you.
Happy Birthday, Honey! I love you so! 

Yours and only yours,
Mei 

______________

Dear Chris,

I am just writing to show the world how much I love you. From the moment that we met, 'til our last kiss I have always loved you... I have never stopped loving you. You are one of the most remarkable people I've ever known. You're kind, caring, compassionate, loving and incredibly sexy.
When I am with you, I feel alive. You bring to me a happiness no one else has before. You bring to me a love I have never known before. I could not imagine what my life would be like without you. I know that I don't want to even imagine. You have touched my heart in ways no one could ever comprehend. I love being with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. My caveman, my sexy monster, there is nothing on this Earth that I could ever give you that would ever come close to how I feel about you. I want to be with you for the rest of your life, and I hope you feel the same. If only you knew how much I want to stay in your life.
Is it wrong to be so young, yet feel so strong about you? I do not know what love is. But if it means caring for you, respecting you, believing in you and putting your happiness above my own, then I am in love. This is not lust or a silly crush... I really do love you. The past year and a half we have spent together have been incredibly romantic. I hope that there are more great times to come. I love you, Cave.... 

Love always,
Jolene

______________

I will be writing my own love letter tomorrow...

Summertime

Ahh the joys of summer. Tonight felt like summer. Watching the sunset, knowing that the beach lies just around the corner... Summer is a time of love, adventure, and relaxation. I hope that I experience all of that this summer. Life is just beginning for me and I want to soak it up. This is a summer of opportunity. With the internship, my job, writing a book (hopefully), tapping into my creativity, spending time with my family, love and heartbreak, summer definitely will not be dull. I look forward to feeling the sad between my toes, getting sunburns, laughing, crying, and being with the people I love the most. Summer...those words have never sounded so sweet. 

Images by Etsy

Take A Seat

I have a love of old furniture that has personality.  This summer, I plan on attending estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores to find inspirational pieces. I love to start a craft in the summertime. It gives me something to feel productive when my brain isn't thinking about school. I am really into chairs recently. Seating in my apartment next Fall will be crucial. So I decided to find 'additional seating' this summer and revamp it.I think it is a great idea to have a summer project. Long summer days require more than just laying poolside in my opinion. Summer is an opportunity to branch out and try something new. I may also start developing my painting skills. Who knows, maybe I will end up selling my creations on Etsy if I get good enough...

All images by Etsy.

Home Sweet Home

Home is a place where all your worries just wash away. I love my home. The smells, the taste of the air, the warmth of a blanket, the affection in a hug. These are all the joys of being home. Through heartache, through lost loved ones, through sickness, and health, we have home to go back to.  A place of solitude and security. Be grateful for the home you were raised in. It has shaped who you are in some way or another. Home is where the heart is. A mother's love, a father's stern look, a siblings first steps, these are a few memories of my home. The joy of love starts there. The sorrows of loneliness end there. We all find comfort in knowing we are appreciated, and that we have a purpose. Shelter is a necessity, but a home is a blessing.

“A smile is a window on your face to show your heart is at home.”

“A house is a home when it shelters the body and comforts the soul.”

"Love doesn't hide. It stays and fights. It goes the distance, that's why love is so strong. So it can carry you all the way home." 

Images from etsy.com

Love Lost

To have your heart broken, is the worst feeling in the world. They say it is better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all. I feel that quote is a bunch of bologna.  When you have loved someone unconditionally and lost that love, your heart melts. You feel as if you will never find love again. Trust is an absolute necessity in relationships. Being lied to, cheated on, manipulated, verbally abused, and treated poorly, makes you lose trust in your counterpart. Holding on may be a sign of weakness; but for some, it may be a sign of hope. When someone you adore changes, for the worse, it can shatter how you view the world. Maybe it is a good thing, to have your heart broken. You learn to cope and face reality. Maybe it is a test from God...for you to see what you are capable of. Maybe we will never truly know. I crave love with all my soul. To find my counterpart in another human to me is a miracle. Love is friendship. I have loved a friend, and it grew into passion and heartbreak. My heart feels empty at times but all I can do is trust myself. Trust that the Lord will guide me through all trials, trust that my amazing friends will stick by my side, and trust that my family will provide the love I need to get by. I am not a girl who is self-centered or spoiled. I am a girl with a selfless heart. I want to give more than receive. The love I get in return says enough. Even though I am a complicated girl, my goals, wishes, and dreams are simple. Love is all you need. However, with love comes great heartache and tragedy I suppose.

"They say, 'Time heals all wounds.' If that is true, then I guess mine go deeper than pain. There are no words to choose over losing you. I guess I found that out too late, and now all I feel is heartbreak that only hurts when I breathe."

Love can be the greatest feeling in the world. Love is what makes the world go round. Love lifts us up to where we belong. The Lord made love, it is a wonderful thing. Sometimes to know if you truly love someone they have to break your heart. "For as gold is tested in fire, and so will love be perfected in pain."

"To love someone is to understand each other, to laugh together, to smile with your heart and to trust one another. One important thing is to let each other go if you can't do this."

So for now, i'll wish on a dandelion for love. Or maybe I just will forget about it and not try at all...

Photos from Etsy.com

Are You My Mother?

Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there, but a special Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mommy. She is beautiful, she loves unconditionally, she is supportive, she is my rock. My mother has been through a lot and I look at her for wisdom and strength and know-how of what to do with my life.  My mother is a flight attendant and literally has the world at her feet, hehe. She meets random celebrities, and even makes friends on her journeys. She helped me get my internship at Stanley Korshak. She met the owner, Crawford Brock, on the airplane. She is Wonder Woman. She has three kids and still manages to hang out with her girlfriends. She is all about the outdoors and her "party pool" for this summer. She is my friend when she needs to be, and a mom all the other times. Margaritas are our weakness, so is wine, and we love People magazine. Shella is the nickname that I call her quite often. When I am feeling goofy or she isn't listening to me, it is Shericka. She can roll with the punches and I try to learn how to handle rough times like she does. She taught me not to care what other's think. She pushes me to preform better in school and always reach for the stars no matter what I am doing. She has been there for me in a rough relationship. She knows that I deserve better and not to settle for less than the best! She has always done so much for my brother, my sister, and I. She is a hero to me in many ways. She got herself out of bad relationships, she works hard to put food on our table, she pays for my college. She does not ever give up. Her love of gerber daisies spawned my love for the beautiful flower. She is beautiful. She is someone worth knowing. She is a hoot, and sometimes crazy, but she is wonderfully perfect to me. I don't always get my way because she has taught me work ethic. I work for what I want. She has raised me to take on challenges of the real word. Essentially, she has raised beautiful, smart, and talented children. Sherra Dee Ann is the best mother anyone could have. She is so selfless, and loving, and I couldn't ask for more. So Happy Mother's Day mom, I wish I was with you (finals stink). However, know that you are in my heart always.

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."  ~Washington Irving

I love you.

Alex Ann

Tweet This

So is Twitter the new black? I am not sure how this will catch on to Generation Y. However, I do know that it is drawing lots of traffic because of the celebrity and business pull. I enjoy it, but I feel it is a one-way street. There isn't a lot of interaction like Facebook or MySpace. I am recently on the social media binge because of all my marketing classes. All my professors push putting yourself "out there" and "be bold". I like leaving "tweets", I just am weary of how popular this networking site will be. I am currently using Twitter to let people know about my (A+A) blog updates and where to find this! Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/alexlarabee. I would love to follow you.  I'm hoping to become a social media queen. Tweeting, I think the concept is cute and current. Time will tell how the public feels, so far so good. So for now I will keep talking about happy hour with my friends, updates on my blog, college, and social media. 

Also, for those of you who haven't joined the Linkedin network, I suggest you get on board. This is a great way to make business connections, help with reconnecting, and possibly get a job! This an easy way to basically post your resume online and get people's attention. All eyes on you never seemed so real! All these social networking sites, all this information, this is a great way for companies to listen up and take notes. Companies should survey customers about the likes & dislikes of their company and how they can draw more market share in these tough times.

Simply put, relationships matter.

Delicious Ideas

These delectable cakes are just a few ways that InStyle Weddings, can inspire you in any event where you need a gorgeous cake. Draw inspirations from your favorite clothing patterns or a coffee cup! Take these ideas and run with them. Design beautiful cupcakes, maybe make your best friend a "thank you" cake! I just love baking. Check out InStyle Weddings for other party ideas. Get great drink ideas and sooo much more!!

All cakes were created by different bakeries. Photographs by Kirsten Strecker. Check out all this and more at http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings.

Wideawake

One of my favorite bands is Wideawake from Austin, Texas. Their song "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow", is a very inspirational song.  They have a rock/pop feel but their songs are very deep and motivational. I love, love, love, the CD they made titled: Not So Far Away. Check them out on MySpace!

http://www.myspace.com/wideawake

The Letter A

I found this to be inspirational...

Lea's Alphabets by Grégoire Ganter

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens

These are a few of my favorite things...

1. The letter “A”.

2. LaVanilla Grapefruit perfume & Dr.Pepper Lip Smacker.

3. Music to provide the soundtrack to my life. (My love John Mayer)

4. A glass of chardonnay after a long day with a cupcake.

5. Travel, because seeing new places is so essential to inspiration.

6. Simple l-o-v-e.

7. Mountains in Colorado during springtime.

8. Gerber daisies. Especially, the orangey-red ones. They light up my face.

9. One of a kind clothing pieces that make me feel special.

10. Small nick-knacks people give me from their adventures. They remind me that my friends think about me on their journeys through life.

11.“You Are My Sunshine” song.

12.Bubblegum.

13. Candles & scents (*Capri Blue in Volcano*).

14. My planner.

15. Broadway plays.

These barely scrape the surface of my loves, passions, and necessities. 

Oh the places you'll go

Suitcase available through Moxiethrift on Etsy.com

I have been thinking about where to go from here. With two semesters left of college, the options are endless. New York stole my heart this past spring, yet Dallas is home. I don't know where to go or what to do. My passions are people, love, creativity, and style. I want to write a book this summer and have it published. I want to become a social media queen of sorts (being the marketing major that I am). I want to own a cupcake shop & boutique. These are all passions that I have. I just need a little push as to where to start first. The Lord has blessed me with the ability to do whatever my heart longs for. I have always been a go-getter, but now I am a little scared. A 21 year old, in this economy doesn't have a secure future. Security is key, and I want my dreams to fulfill those needs.  My recent obsessions have been room decor/styling. Maybe I can start a business there?  I am going to make a portfolio this summer of all my ideas and inspirations. I believe that where there is a will, there is a way. I'll close this off with a little motivational quote...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

- Henry David Thoreau

The Beginning...

This blog is one of many things in my life. It will be a smorgisborg of life events (good and bad), fashion, decorating, food, and so much more. I am really excited to dig deeper into what makes me tick and be able to show it to the world. P.S. I exaggerate, but for the most part I am real and down to earth. But, I DREAM BIG! A lot is starting in my life so pay attention! This summer I will be interning at Stanley Korshak in Dallas, and working at Anthropologie. All the while I will be training for a half-marathon, learning tennis and golf, and taking an online ethics course, spending time with my family, and writing about it all!!!

Check out my other websites:
www.alexlarabee.com
www.twitter.com/alexlarabee
www.linkedin.com/in/alexlarabee