obsessed

so i've clearly taken quite the break from blogging over the last several months. i'm working on getting back on top of it, and to kick off my renewed dedication to blogging, i thought a jam was a great place to start.

lend me your ears and enjoy this lupe fiasco jam. it puts me in the best mood these days--and who doesn't love a little idie rock/hip hop mash up?? enjoy...

day 29: music that will change your life

Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post

"music expresses that which can not be explained and can not remain silent." -victor hugo

1. dig by incubus

if i turn into another

dig me up from under what is covering

the better part of me

sing this song

remind me that we'll always have each other

when everything else is gone.

to me, one of the most beautiful things in life is to find someone who loves you despite your psychotic nonsense flaws. that's what love is. the ability to appreciate differences, flaws, and imperfections. knowing that michael loves me even when i've become the no-make-up-face-neurotic-emotional-monster, and knowing that it doesn't scare him off, makes me appreciate him and love him even more.

2. inaudible melodies by jack johnson

slow down, everyone,

you're moving too fast.

this was, not only, one of my dad's favorite songs and always will remind me of him, but it also just reminds me to relaaaaaaaax. as an event planner, i'm constantly looking to the future...the next week, the next event, the next deadline. sometimes you just have to chill. 

3. hey ya! by outkast

shake it like a polaroid picture

this song makes me think of back when i was in high school. it also just makes me happy and want to dance. let's be serious...sometimes you just need to shake it!

4. amarillo by morning by george strait

i ain't got a dime, but what i got is mine.

i ain't rich, but lord, i'm free.

amarillo by morning, amarillo's where i'll be.

this song makes me think of my granny and papa. they used to go out dancing all the time...they even taught me and my cousin, justin, how to waltz when i was probably no more than 9 years old. such a sweet memory. and you gotta love george!

5. shake it out by florence + the machine

i am done with my graceless heart

so tonight, i'm gonna cut it out and then restart.

cause i like to keep my issues drawn 

it's always darkest before the dawn...

...and it's hard to dance with the devil on your back

so shake him off.

this song reminds me to keep myself in a good mood. it's so easy to be grouchy/bitchy/negative...at least for me. i just love the picture this song paints for me. someone trying to dance around and be joyful, but they can't because the devil is weight down on their shoulders. i loooove this song, especially on days where my mood needs a bit of an adjustment! it also takes me back to the best. concert. ever. i love you florence!!

loving this right now

you guys have to hear my new fav jam. i'm absolutely looooooooving paolo nutini right now.  i went to my go-to "relax" playlist on spotify  earlier and realized that i just HAD to share this guy with the other 5 people that read my blog. anyway, he's so good and the epitome of easy listening and relaxing. 

enjoy, friends, and if you feel like it, follow me on spotify!

mrs. lee 2.0

so i decided that i needed a change with my hair. i had been wanting to cut it for a couple of months, but to michael's (and everyone else i know) forbiddance strong encouragement, i waited to do it until after our wedding. this ended up being a great idea. had i done it beforehand, i wouldn't have been able to have those long, luscious, curly, locks, and let's face it...long wedding hair is just fab. 

so, fast forward to three weeks after our wedding. i made an appointment with britney at OMGhairsyles. she was referred to me by my bff, erica, and i'm soooooooo glad! she's so fun to just chat with. we talk art and gossip and drama, and all the other good things you get to dish about with your hair dresser. major plus? she does badass hair. so badass, in fact, that it's her own tagline. now to the fun part--my hair transformation!

the cut inspiration:

julianne hough. what a babe.

the color inspiration:

love the brown. love the blonde. love the ombre. done.

the before & after:

photo courtesy of britney at OMGhairstyles.

first, i love how fun and summery my new 'do is! it's so bouncy and full all. the. time. i lost about 9-ish inches of hair (at the longest point), and i've never felt better! it takes me half the time to dry my hair, now, which not only saves me time, but it also saves energy. kudos to me for being a teensy bit greener. i've been re-mastering how to curl my hair with my straightener, and have to say that i'm getting quite good at it. it's so fun to try out different styles! anyway, enough babbling. my hair looks awesome and if you're in the dallas-area and want YOUR hair to look awesome, too, check out my girl, brit, at OMGhairstyles. you won't be disappointed. 

ps. jam for today: icona pop-i love it. and i really do.

count down

HO-LY crap, y'all! we're officially 40 days out from our wedding. seriously, WHERE did the time go?? luckily, i feel like i'm pretty on top of everything on my checklist...venues-check! bridesmaid dresses-check! table linens-check! centerpieces-half check! groom-check! 

and that last one--the groom--is the most important part. i think that sometimes, brides get so caught up in all the little details, they totally neglect the most important part of the big day, the person they're promising to spend their life with. now, i know i'm not perfect (i know, shocker!) but i do know that i constantly try to give michael love and attention whenever i can. i want to make sure that he knows that he is the one that is most important to me; not some silly centerpiece or catering decision. so, bridezillas ladies, let's take some time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. contrary to popular belief, the apocalypse will not begin if every little detail on your wedding day is not perfect. that's life, honey!

now that i'm off of my little soap box (you think i've been dealing with enough brides lately, or what? lol), i can catch you up on what's been going on in my life. here's the stats:

2: the number of attempts at bridal portraits i had to do. i truly have the worst luck with weather. my amazing photographer, shelley (you can find more about her here), was able to meet with me yesterday when the weather finally decided to cooperate. i can't wait to see the photos! she always does an awesome job.

13: the number of days until my bridal shower! amy, my oldest, sweetest, best friend, and her cute mom, nancy, are throwing me a bridal shower in dallas on feb. 17. they are such dolls! i'm so excited to get to have my close friends and family together to celebrate me and mikey-poo getting married! (the gifts won't be half bad, either. ;) ) but seriously, i am so so blessed to have a friend like amy. it's few, and far between, when you find a friend who you not only remain friends with, but manage to not screw each other over at some point during that friendship. love her!

19: the number, so far, of wedding related events we have booked at rooftop. eeeeeek! i'm so excited, i could just die! seriously, i am so grateful for the positive response that the venue has received so far. it's just amazing! 

55: the number of "yes" RSVPs we've received! yippie! and to everyone reading this who has not RSVPd...you BETTER!

32,165,498,413: the number of times i've listened to this song in the past week. can't. get. enough! (and yes, erica, i'm aware that i'm on a total mackelmore band wagon because this is the only song i know by him. sue me. lol.)

happy monday everyone! xoxo

loving this song right now

i'll hopefully have a birthday update for you soon. in the meantime, enjoy...

an update--press play first :)

this post is to serve as a forewarning because december is quickly approaching and that means that i will be totally out of commission due to one crazzzzzzy work schedule! rooftop event spot, as of today, has 18 (yikes!) events on the books for december! i'm so excited because it shows that my hard work is paying off, but it also means that i will basically not have a life this holiday season. (*tear!) here's some of what's been going on in my life/what will be going on in the coming weeks!

i can NOT believe i was too lazy forgot to post about the florence + the machine concert i went to a few weeks ago!! my friend, erica, (who shares an obscene obsession with music like me) found pit tickets about two weeks prior to the concert for stupid cheap. we obviously couldn't refuse. erica, my bff amy, and i headed to the concert and had the most amaaaaazing time. i definitely got to cross off one of my concert bucket list items! here's some pics from the concert!

she was like a fairy goddess.

rock star.

me and the girlies!

i had my wedding dress fitting and i just know that everything is going to be perfect! the lady who did my alterations was just awesome and clearly knew her stuff. she was a little asian lady named, men, and was just a tiny little thing. call me immature (i am, sometimes...oops) but i could not stop laughing about how her name was men. no pics for this update--gotta keep the dress a secret for the big day. :)

christmas is coming up waaaaay too quickly and michael and i have only gotten presents for 3 people!! eek! also, if anyone has any cool gift ideas for soon-to-be-husbands, i'm all for recommendations! i will be juggling my events in december as well as finishing my christmas shopping...maybe i should start thanksgiving week....

benny-boy is doing just peachy. he's recovered quite nicely from the hair-cutting debacle and michael took him to the groomers this week to get beautified. he's just so cute. (benny, not mikey....juuuuuust kidding!) :) 

this post is already getting to rambly for me. gotta run!  

happy friday!

happy friday everyone! my weekend is slated to consist of a going-away party (sad!), the dallas flea market (for potential wedding finds, perhaps?), and engagement photos (as long as the weather cooperates). i can't wait!

enjoy your weekend! 

p.s. i can't stop listening to this...i hated it when i first heard it, but now i'm obsessed.

brrrrr!

the high today is only 90 degrees, and the low is...wait for it...66 DEGREES!!! this is texas in august and right at this very second it's 70 degrees! it's been a long time since i remember having weather this nice, this early. i definitely do not hate it, though! 

in other news, i haven't been able to stop listening to fatboy slim lately. it just puts me in the best mood! **flash back to this little gem**

is it weird that part of me still desperately wishes i knew that dance?? don't lie, you probably do, too. ;) 

have a great wednesday!

just another day at the office...

let me begin this by saying i love texas country music. there's just something about sippin' a cold beer, kickin' back, and listening to some good ol' texas country....and two steppin' is always a good time. 

so i'm sitting at work a couple of weeks ago, and i get a call about a launch party for a new wine called thorny rose. 'thorny rose?' you say. don't worry. it's not some weird brett michaels brand. (get it? thorny rose? brett michaels? every rose has it's thorn? hahaha. i crack myself up.) it's actually a new, millineal-targeted brand that's coming out in the next few months! constellation brands and republic national distributing company were planning a launch party for the new brand, and wanted to have the party at rooftop! the event was monday, and overall, everything went awesome!!


and now on to the most important item...my two cents on thorny rose wines. thorny rose is not only affordable (retails for around $14 per bottle!), it's trendy, cool-looking (because that's the most important thing ever), and delish! (i got to sample some! the sauvignon blanc was my favorite!)


the other amazingly cool thing about thorny rose? stoney larue is currently the 'face' of the new brand! he was also at the event and did an impromptu concert! he sang 'oklahoma breakdown' (my personal favorite, featured above) and a single from his new album, 'velvet.' 


here's some pics of the party! (see! i have been busy doing something...i don't just neglect my blog willingly!) oh yeah, and sorry for the kind-of crappy pictures. all i had was my phone. anyone want to buy me a ballin' camera like this one, hook it up!

entry way!

merch. table

photo opp area

centerpieces

buffet table decor (catering by urban rio) 

tasting table

acoustic concert time!

it's gettin' hott in hurr...

summer is upon us, y'all!! however, contrary to nelly, please, do not take off all your clothes. you guys. it is HOT in plano, texas! 

good thing it's only going to be 106 tomorrow. i was getting a little worried it would be too warm this week. then it's supposed to drop to 102-ish for the rest of the week. i wonder if i should get my sweaters out?? i'd hate to catch a chill from these dropping temps!

i've got to make benny-boy an appointment to get his hair cut. he can't hack it in this heat, either! which brings me to my own hair. i'm thinking i want to cut it. michael (and everyone else i see on the reg) says absolutely not. a girl can dream, though, right?? 

look at those lovely locks! 

toodles, lovelies! have a great week!

YES!

i love this. period.

8 tracks...

puts pandora and iHeartRadio to shame...big time. if you haven't ventured out and found 8 tracks...do it, you will not be sorry! 


and click here for a playlist that i couldn't stop listening to today. so what? i love 90s music.


i've been soooo busy at work today and i love it. :) i'm just waiting on michael to get finished at his softball game (i didn't go because i was finishing up some work stuff) and then we're going to get down on some grub at urbanrio...i'm craving the tropical spinach salad. 
have a good week everyone! :)

p.s. btc has its first official meeting next week. i'm puuuuuuumped!

father's day

first off, happy father's day to all the dads out there! 


i hope that everyone has taken time today to tell the special man in their life (it may or may not be their biological father), how much they love, appreciate, and care about them. since i lost my dad two years ago (in may), father's day is one of those things that i really miss. i also think that sometimes i took it for granted...you know, those pesky teenage years when you think you're too 'cool' to do stuff with your parents. we had a tradition when i was growing up to take 'father-daughter' photos each year on father's day, and many of my father's day memories with my dad involve trips to astroworld, galveston, ice cream at vienna coffee, long talks, concerts, and just visiting. we'd talk about everything--my dreams, plans for the future, school, boys, religion, politics, history, science, technology...everything. what i wouldn't give to be able to just hang out with my dad this father's day. 


i do need to add a disclaimer here. i have another dad in my life that has had (and continues to have) such a wonderful impact on my life, and i love him dearly. my stepdad, tray, who's been in my life for the past 5 years is absolutely wonderful. he and i have a great relationship and he's one of the most trustworthy, smart, and hard-working people i know. if you looked up 'provider' in the dictionary, there's sure to be a picture of tray right next to it (as well as dedicated and selfless). i can always count on tray to go fishing, cook out, spend hours looking at movies to buy, watch really good movies, and give great, unbiased advice. 


it obviously sucks that my dad can't be around, but man, do i have a great 'stand-in.' here's some of my favorite pictures of me and my dad. 

december 4, 1987

hangin' out at dad's house...rockin' the bunny slippers
and mickey mouse sunglasses.

seriously? lol. he always just let me do my thing. 

one of our many photo booth sessions.

another photo booth. love it!

paintin' my toesies!

senior night- 2005

foot ball game-2005

parent's weekend at texas tech-2006

one of our many trips to galveston. i think this was back
in 2010 (the date on the photo is wrong). 

at my cousin's wedding in california.

my college graduation from texas tech- december 2009.

wedding planning update

is it too late to elope?? 

in having some slight issues finding a ceremony venue in/near plano that is within our budget, michael and i are having to move our date...again. this makes the third time. hopefully (see i'm trying to be positive!) this third time will be the charm and it will stick! 

i plan events for a living and love, and i mean loooove, it...just not really when it comes to doing it for myself. 

anyway, i'm just a little pants-shittingly stressed anxious about getting the major things set up. i'm sure once they are out of the way, it will be fine. RIGHT?!?! 

i need something soothing...maybe some ice cream?? ugh. too bad i have to go to the watch in the morning. womp! looks like some jams will have to do. this song is quite fitting...so what? i want to get the major stuff out of the way and if i don't do it soon, i'm going to scream! does that make me crazy?

tomorrow's wednesday, lovelies...half way there! cheers!

happy saturday

michael is in shreveport for a friend's bachelor party (he's already up $1000!) and will be back this evening. i have a meeting with a client in a bit, but after that, i will spend this gorgeous saturday with my book, the sunshine, and some of my favorite tunes. i may even surprise michael and clean the whole house...hmmmm...i'm in quite the good mood today, aren't i? enjoy your saturday, lovelies!

buy 'born and raised' by john mayer

(photo courtesy of http://blog.zap2it.com/)

let me preface this by saying that yes, i know that john mayer is a total tool. i absolutely love him, despite it. 

'born and raised' is a totally different sound than his previous albums. while some of his tracks ('love is a verb' and 'something like olivia')  have the familiar heavy lead guitar and that sweet, sweet voice of his sounding softly, they all have more of a country-bluesy-mumford-and-sons sound to it. i really love it and think he can basically do no wrong. 

right now, here's my favorite...'age of worry.' it's speaking to me today!

Close your eyes and calm yourself

Build your heart an army

To defend your innocence

While you do everything wrong

Don't be scared to walk alone

Don't be scared to like it

There's no time that you must be home

So sleep where your darkness falls

Alive in the age of worry

Smile in the age of worry

Go wild in the age of worry

And sing Worry, why should I care?

No you fight is not within

Yours is with your timing

Dream your dreams but don't pretend

Be friends with what you are

Give your heart then change your mind

You're allowed to (throw) it

Cause God knows it's been done to you

And somehow you got through it

Alive in the age of worry

Rage in the age of worry

Sing out in the age of worry

And sing Worry, why should I care?

Rage in the age of worry

Act your age in the age of worry

And sing Worry, get out of here!

how pinteresting!

yes, that's a corny dog, and yes, i'm 24.

so as i sit and enjoy my dinner corny dog, i'm catching up on some pinterest. everyone who's anyone knows that pinterest is the go-to site for, well, anything. i, myself, have been trying to narrow the scope of how i want to decorate for the wedding (302 days and counting). in doing so, i've realized that i really want our wedding to look, feel, and be like me and mike...simple, casual and fun. therefore, i've decided on a spring-y, rustic theme...wildflowers, nature-influence, candles, etc. more importantly, i want our friends and family to walk away thinking, "that was so much fun!" here's some things that i'm particularly drawn to right now...oh! and you can follow my pinterest here. 

we won't have table numbers, but my goodness
i LOVE those old books! perhaps covered in newspaper?

how wonderful are these??
outdoors-y, and sooooo romantic!

love these grey dresses! casual
and so fun! i wonder if they (or
something like them) come in navy?

my dream flowers! still haven't
decided how i feel about mason
jars. yes, they're adorable and
definitely rustic, but a tad-bit
overdone, wouldn't you say?

love this crudely mad crate!

i obviously am obsessed with centerpieces right now. haha. literally 80% of my attention automatically goes to centerpieces/flowers. is that normal?? 

i bought the newest john mayer album this morning. i've only listened to a couple of tracks, but so far, i'm liking what i hear! hahaha. i seriously just laughed out loud at myself because i'm SUCH a record exec. wannabe..."album?"..."track?"...who talks like that (mainly "track" is what gets me). 

anyway, it's definitely a different sound...more mumford-and-sons-ish. once i listen to the whole thing and form a real opinion (i'm sure that will be tough), i will post a review. in the meantime, let's enjoy one of my personal favorites...

oh, god bless you, john! happy weekend everyone!

it's a date!

i will officially become mrs. michael lee on march 23, 2013! eek! we originally wanted to do march 30 (no particular reason, just picked it out), but then realized that that's easter weekend. we know a lot of our friends and family will have to travel to come to our wedding and that they also would probably like to be able to be at their home church for easter sunday, so we opted to move it up one weekend. 

i'm so stoked!!

i get to spend the rest of my life with this guy...

look at that face! he's adorable!

how could i not be totally pumped?! 

in other news...our lease is up on our apartment at the beginning of august and if we choose not to renew at our current complex, we have to let them know 60 days in advance (june 2). we're looking into our options, but so far, i haven't really had anything turn up. we'd LOVE to get into a house, but i haven't really found any decent rent houses just yet. any ideas, anyone?? worst case scenario, we can stay where we are, but i know it'd be amazing if we could get a little more space. (disclaimer: we love the neighborhood that we live in now. it's quaint, within walking distance to both of our jobs, and close to 75 and george bush. however, from what we've been told, the management likes to bump the rent up ridiculously when tenants renew. awesome. i guess we'll see what happens...)

lastly, incubus is coming back to town in september and i want to go soooooooo bad! michael, my sister, becca, her boyfriend, nik, and i went when they were in town last september and it was soooo fun!! they're my favorite band, hands down, and i'd love to see them again! here's some shots from that weekend!

nik and my sis.

ps. this photo was taken about 37 seconds
before nik convinced michael to be a hippy
 and take his shirt off for the concert.
needless to say, fun was had by all.

and since incubus has come up, i leave you with one of my favorite songs, "love hurts." 

enjoy...