Whim Wham Weekend #3

{via}

This weekend was one of those really busy weekends that suddenly transformed into a low-key couple of days. (We had some plans that were moved to a different weekend last minute). Probably the good way to go since I'm just getting over the flu and re-entering the land of the living. We lived a little and lounged a lot.

Friday Highlights

{sisters}

• Coffee run/Shopping with my best friend, Emily, aka Matron of Honor/Sister-friend/Other half. We magically transform into 14 year olds when we get together. Random fact: We have all of our inside jokes written down, (The Mr. Thomnas & Luigi Joke Book), encompassing our 16 year friendship.
• Friday Night Fort Night, obvi. Mint Chocolate ice cream and homemade kettle corn.
• Boy Meets World Marathon. {that.definitely.happened} It was glorious.

Saturday Highlights

{mmm}

• Homemade breakfast croissant sandwiches. Sausage/egg/cheese, oh my.
• Shopping trip to the mall with the stud hubs. I didn't even look at anything for myself...that my friends, is when you know I'm still a little sick & tired. A Strawberry Orange Julius was the perfect pick-me-up! So 90s and so good.
• Movie date to see The King's Speech. Worth every penny. But we didn't spend any of our pennies with our Regal Gift Card, so, hypothetical pennies?
• Pure Cardio/Cardio Abs workout. Always followed by chocolate milk. True story. Don't worry, it's a good "protein" drink. Honest.

Sunday Highlights

{little monkey}

• Happy 7th Birthday Elizabeth! Her fancy lunch request was steak, twice-baked potatoes, and salad. She's either the actress of the family or the rocket scientist. We're still debating. Either way, she's got gumption up the wazoo.
• Receiving a 5-months-after-the-wedding-gift in the mail.
• Receiving my fun giveaway gift in the mail, thanks to the lovely ladies here.
• Currently watching the Blazers game, of course.
• Jealously glancing through my friend's New York Fashion Week photos, here.

What was the theme of your weekend? {"go" or "slow"} Whatever it was, I hope it was full of wonderful!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Friday Favorites: Fa-la-la Friends

{via}

I'm gonna go out on a limb today and assume that anyone reading this is a general fan of music. Bold prediction, right?

If you're like me when it comes to music, you are always looking for something new and something different. {You can check out my views on music here}. Well, today for my Friday Favorites, I bring to you glad tidings of great joy a.k.a something new and something different.

Best part: These are just a few of our talented friends who recently finished putting together their album/ep. Meaning, we have a ton of talented friends you have yet to meet. I feel like a little fish in a BIG pond around these guys. Sheesh.

{say a big hello to}

Hot Bodies in Motion

Synopsis

*Seattle-based (with roots in Oregon)

*Indie Blues Rock

*"Baby-makin’ mammal funk, laced with old-school blues roots---Hot Bodies acknowledges that it's dangerous to put this much sexy into one sound. The melodies are soulful and catchy enough to put that iconic smile on Stevie Wonder’s face while the music would make Stevie Ray Vaughan tip his hat."

Check HBIM out here and on iTunes

{and a warm welcome to}

Natalie Closner

Synopsis

*Portland-based (with roots in Seattle, LA, and Nashville)

*Indie Folk Pop

*"These are the sounds of a twenty-something girl learning to live, to love, trying to understand what that even means... and singing about it."

Check Natalie out here and on iTunes

Ahhh. Music to my ears. Literally.

Have a lovely and lively Friday! Turn up some music, have a dance party, and celebrate the weekend!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Valentines Schmalentines

{From My Heart to Yours}

Oh Valentines Day. What am I going to do with you? I understand the love/hate relationship we all have with you. What's not to love about a holiday that focuses on romance, chocolate, and flowers?

Then again, if you find yourself hrrumph-ing in the Hallmark aisle, feeling forced to pick out the perfect card for your significant other, (or spacing out that Feb. 14th has anything special about it and getting hrrrumph-ed BY your significant other), it kind of takes the "love" out of what it attempts to represent.

On the other side of the spectrum, maybe you feel forced to stay at home, eat pints of Ben & Jerry's with your girlfriends, (or by yourself), and watch a plethora of rom-coms. Preach it sister! I've been there too, (hey, it's kind of fun).

Sometimes February 14th just doesn't involve all of the love we hope it would or the world tells us it should.

When I think of love, I think of memories. Instances in my life where someone did something for me or said something to me. In those moments throughout the year(s), I felt tinges of love. It's something tangible I can hold onto. That's what drives me to feel loved, be loved, and ultimately, love others.

{Our 1st Valentines.2007}

Of course, since it's my 1st married Valentine's, I'll get a little mushy with the stud hubs and relish in my flowers and chocolates, (ahem. Daniel: Reminder, it's the 14th and caramel chocolates por favor). But I'm excited, because I know this isn't the only day I get loved on. It's just a small moment in life to make a little love memory, and even though Daniel is my life, he isn't my everything, if that makes sense.

My God, family, and friends show me little and big examples of love on a daily basis. So, my heart is full.

As Valentine's approaches, no matter what your situation or relationship status is, don't be afraid to feel loved and represent love. You can even start doing it, right...now, because it overflows and encompasses you on a daily basis. Even if you don't recognize it. Remember, it's the little things.

Now bring on the chocolate!

Be Loved today!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Fashion and the Flu

{vitamin c. yes please}

Even though I'm feeling a little under the weather, I figured I might as well try and get out of my sweatpants uniform and dress for the day like a normal functioning human being. Then I had an epiphany. Twofold. (A). I'm not normal. I've learned to embrace the quirky. (B). Sweatpants are fashionable these days.

I double checked my resources upon this revelation.

{Yigal Azrouël, Alexander Wang, and Rag & Bone}

Comfort and style? You don't have to choose one over the other? It's too good to be true! So, I threw together my own version, cause I'm ridiculous like that, even when stricken with the black lung. Did I mention I get really dramatic whilst sick? Haha. Whilst.

{tired eyes. bright lips}

Top: Lulus

Necklace: A gift from Spain

Sweatpants: Aerie

Shoes: Michael Antonio

I posed for a bit. Contemplated life. Practiced my runway walk, just for old times' sake. Ate a grapefruit. Good times were had. Good times.

Then I kicked off my heels and snuggled back onto the couch.

After all, isn't that what sweatpants really were created for? Let's be honest here.

The red lipstick stayed on though. I still wanted to feel a bit glamorous for the day and, surprisingly, it pairs well with a red runny nose. Whowhouldathunkit.

Would you ever take your sweatpants out of the gym and into the "real" world?

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Spotlight: Glass Cocoon Jewelry

Hello lovelies! Today I am excited to introduce you to someone new. Someone with sparkly and feathery things to share. Her name is Glass Cocoon. Or G.C. for short. Yeah, that's how I roll.

G.C. meet everyone. Everyone, meet G.C.

The mastermind behind Glass Cocoon Jewelry is my friend Lindsi!

{isn't she gorgeous?}

She is a beautiful wife and mama of two adorable little girls, who enjoys art, photography and making pretty things.

Here's a little peek at some of the G.C. loveliness!

OOOH AHHH

{Golden Sunset Earrings}

{Gold Sparrow Dangles}

{Gold Leaf Necklace}

{Long Distance Love Bracelet}

{Feather Earrings}

{adorable gift-wrapping}

Lindsi also has the biggest heart! When she learned about the issue of human trafficking internationally, as well as locally, she decided to use her creativity as an instrument for change on a global level. A portion of her sales goes to Compassion First, a local non-profit organization helping to bring relief to those enslaved in human trafficking in Indonesia and the broader Asia/Pacific region.

Every time you wear her lovely jewelry, you know that a little part of it was used to make someone else realize their value and worth.

That is beautiful to me!

You can check out her Etsy shop here.

I've got some feathery earrings flying to me in the mail, and I can hardly wait!

Have a lovely and lively Tuesday. Spread the love and the live...ly!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Sick & A little Verklempt

Happiest of Mondays to you and you and you!

Yep, only three of you. Ok ok. All of you!

So, this morning after I woke up, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, croaked out a cough,(I'm a little sick walking germ right now), and ate a leftover buffalo wing, (it was just a funny morning all around), I checked my emails and was elated to see that my tiny ol' blog was getting a shout-out!

(Check it out here, thanks to the ever-so-lovely Megan. She is the epitome of a sweetheart. Is there a southern sweetheart award? I'm inventing one now and I dub her the winner!) An air fist pump may or may not have occurred. Is that embarrassing to confess? I'll blame it on the cough syrup, or, should I say, blame it on the a-aaa-aaa-al-co-hol. You know what I'm talking about!

Cause there's alcohol in cough syrup, and T-Pain speaks deep down to who I really am, and...I'll just stop there. This post is getting out of control.

Did I mention I won this giveaway today too! I'm kind of liking this week already! Goodness gracious.

What I'm trying to say is: Why, hello new friends and thank you old friends!

My whole purpose for starting this blog a few months ago was as a place for me to express myself through writing. Jotting down things that popped in my head and whatever else life was doing to the stud hubs and I. A tangible scrapbook to process and reminisce life. A from-me and for-me kind of thing. Many different reasons.

Little did I know how much fun I would have keeping up with it, but even more than that, how inspiring and uplifting it is catching glimpses into your lives as well! Finding connections in the little things. We live in a big world that has such beautiful moments on a small scale, especially in relationship and community!

Happiness is only real when shared!

Cheers to living life fully, even on Mondays!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Whim Wham Weekend #2

{Currently sitting on our counter. Please come over and eat them for us!}

{Friday Highlights}

• Friday Night Fort Night: (long story short: in college, this was called Friday Night "Fright" Night. However, watching scary movies soon lost it's appeal after two nights in particular. I'll have to tell the tales sometime! So, now we catch up with our DVR and build a fort in the living room, eating bowls of ice cream and brownies. Happy times!
• Hanging out with some friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery. Root beer and fries for me. I'm still acquiring a taste for beer, but I still felt adult-ish ordering something that had the word "beer" in it. Made me feel like I got carded for somewhat of a good reason.
• Our friend is currently in school getting his PE-Teaching-license. His stories of working with high school girls were both hilarious and terrifying.

{Saturday Highlights}

• Sleeping in with the stud hubs. We are definitely night owls on the weekends. Hoot.
• Hanging out in the quirky Hawthorne District. People watching at Peet's Coffee while playing some cribbage. Always a good time!
• Dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Huckleberry lemonade, honey bbq wings, and the Blazers game.
• Scoring a pair of Stuart Weitzman sandals for $14.00 at Buffalo Exchange.
• Watching "The Hurt Locker." I am so in awe of anyone serving in the armed forces.

{Sunday Highlights}

• Driving down to Salem, (where Daniel's family lives), for church, lunch with friends, the Superbowl, and a birthday party. So much food this weekend!
• Finished Week 3 of the Insanity program.
• Received the Stylish Blogger Award 3x from some sweet blogger friends!
• My father-in-law just got his book published! Check it out here!

I am just so in love with weekends! Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to the next one?

Hope you all had a lovely and lively one as well! Now I need to get caught up with all of your beautiful blogs.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}