Dolce Vita

happy things to end the week with.

2012-01-27T14:38:00.005-07:00

♥ my friend sarah got me these magnetic book marks after i had mentioned how i dog ear so many pages while i'm reading a book. It was such a thoughtful surprise and she couldn't have picked a better set for me. Proof : i have the best friends.

♥ thanks to your suggestions on my Wanting to Know you Wens. post, i went in search for better shampoo & conditioner. While grocery shopping last night, i was amazed at the buy one, get one free sale they were having on Organix. Into my grocery tote these went and i can't wait to try them out (they smell like bliss!). Thank-you for all your helpful suggestions lovies! i knew i could count on you xoxo

♥ i had a customer who had the prettiest nails. i asked her where she went and she let me in on a secret. She said they were the Kiss Everlasting glue-on nails. For $6.99, i had to try it out! i got a lot of compliments but my verdict is, i would only do them if i had an event i was going to and didn't want to spend the money {or commitment} to salon nails. i'm so rough with my hands (gym, house stuff, work) that natural nails just work better for me.

♥ finally seeing this movie, after loving the book. i went wondering how it could compare to its written form but was incredibly touched with the film version. powerful acting for such a powerful story. i was glad i had extra tissues.

♥ since i've had three days off in a row this week, i've been enjoying little naps during the day with my pups (maverick and me). Puppy cuddles are my favorite and much needed rest.

♥ Hart of Dixie is back on! i didn't like being without my guilty pleasure (and girl crush) for so long. i love this show!

♥ not pictured, girl date with my other close friend Sarah. Sushi followed by thrifting and great girl talk? how i want to spend a free afternoon for sure!

♥ and of course this date with my husband was probably the best part of my week.

Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

today was just one of those perfect days.

2012-01-25T22:45:00.002-07:00

where you really thank God for blessing your life. For your husband who you get to keep falling in love with over and over again.

Because he likes to take you on little dates, like exploring the charming downtown of the next city over in New Mexico.

They have a Farmers and Crafts Market on Wens. and Saturdays from sunup to 1 p.m. I can't resist locally made anything, and my two "weaknesses" are coffee beans and hand made soap-- both smell delicious! I can't wait to go on a Saturday when the market doubles in size.

i had the best hummus sandwich and house salad ever at la iguana with my favorite company.

with an Aztec Hot Chocolate to go, we enjoyed endless stacks at Coas Book Store where i stayed true to my new years resolution but scored when it came to records. Like Eric Clapton's Slowhand on vinyl {instantly took me back to childhood when my pappa would play it and introduced us to his music}.

i squeezed in a run at the gym and afterwards, cooked dinner to "wonderful tonight." Is there any song more romantic? it's one of the best for sure.

also bought : billy joel's The Stranger and his Turnstiles -- truth, just to hear "New York State of Mind." It was absolutely worth it. Everything just sounds better on a turntable. My husband shared the story that the first record he ever bought was one of Billy Joel's. Another musician that reminds me of my father & childhood ("Piano Man" especially).

today was perfect. a little adventure with my husband. i want to bottle it up and remember how this day felt and keep it always.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2012-01-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

okay lovies, i need some hair care suggestions!

i have to admit that on my last store run, i went for the cheap bottle of salon selectives. It was a jumbo size bottle with a pump for $3. $3!

Maybe it would work for "normal healthy" hair but my thick hair tends to be like my skin-- a combination of oily & dry. ugh. i think in this case, i got what i paid for. *please know that if you use this as your hair routine, i'm incredibly jealous that i can't cos my hair is so brittle :) i'm in no way insulting you or the product!*

i'm usually a herbal essence kind of gal, but before i purchase another set i thought i'd ask what you used.

So tell me, what's the best brand of shampoo/conditioner at the drug store? or if you splurge a little more, what brand do you swear by?

and just because i love me some Elvis, a shower pic for you that i first fell in love with over at April's.

this is why i work out.

2012-01-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

on pinterest, i have a folder called "inspired to sweat" (photos to get me to the gym).

these photos of Michelle Williams went into said folder.

i treated myself to a coffee at barnes and noble before work and saw this GQ cover. i instantly texted M and asked her if she had seen her girl crush. wowza, i wanna look like her after a baby. hell, i wanna look like her before a baby!

strong and toned. that's my idea of beauty.

(more of her sexy photos here. also, did anyone see her portrayal of marilyn? what did you think? i can't wait to see it)

Sharing Sundays... an etsy favorite from Purple Shmurple Shoppe.

2012-01-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

i love this cute handmade bracelet for catching our dreams.

happy things to end the week with.

2012-01-20T14:31:00.002-07:00

♥ i'm pretty late to the game, but i've finally joined Pinterest (above are a few of my pins). Find me cos i would love to add more things to my boards and you lovies are my muses.

♥ i am in LOVE with my Free People crochet shorts and had to show off the price tag! i wish i was holding it steadier but the retail price is $128 and the Marshalls clearance ticket? ONLY $10. and they're flattering... which is priceless. ha

♥ my friend Sarah (and new pilates partner-- yay! i finally convinced her to join with me) posted this on my fb wall this morning and it made me laugh out loud. i told her, but hummus is so good!

♥ wearing red lips while grocery shopping last night instantly made me feel fancy.

♥ and amid the reports he's single, let's end this week with my favorite picture of Johnny Depp. ooh la la.

Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

a place to write my thoughts.

2012-01-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

"Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open."

-Natalie Goldberg

(quote source)

i have been on the hunt for a desk. i didn't really have in mind what it would look like but i was sure that i would feel it when i saw it.

My husband surprised me with one he said was "me."

He knows me well. Of course he does.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2012-01-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

Since Valentine's Day is around the corner, i thought we could share "Date Night" ideas.

Here are some i shared with Jasmine, during our life in lists swap that are tried and true :

your turn, love bird! i can't wait to hear (and do) some of your ideas.

my kind of love note.

2012-01-17T13:42:00.001-07:00

i've been pining for one of Shanna Murray's Illustrated Decals, especially her we are so good together dotted garland.

But this new design might take the cake.

“I hated myself for going, why couldn't I be the kind of person who stays?”

2012-01-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

i finished this book in two days. it took my breath away.

the movie coming out gave me courage to finally read it and i am so glad i did.

page to page, most amazing thing i have ever read. ever.

there are so many sentences i want to keep and remember but my favorite one, the one that plays over and over is this one :

"it's a tragedy that we get to live only one life, because if I'd had two lives, I would have spent one of them with her."

-page 133

Sharing Sundays... an etsy favorite from The Joy of Ex Foundation.

2012-01-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

because it is. and don't you just love their catchy etsy name?

(thanks april!)

happy things to end the week with.

2012-01-13T15:36:00.002-07:00

♥ my brother marco and his beautiful girlfriend Christina found out their baby is a girl! we got the exciting news Monday and i sent the above Tuesday. :) i am beyond thrilled for them!!! her name is Marisol Luz (which means "light" in spanish) Lechuga and i'm in love with her already.

i had to show you two gifts that made its way to Arizona. Christina is a huge Gwen Stefani fan so of course i had to get her baby something from target's Harajuku Mini line. How adorable is this sailor romper? & already proud aunties, me and marianne couldn't resist getting Marisol the bff onsie. We can't wait to meet her in June!

♥ scored thrifting find (currently listening to Sounds of Silence on my record player)

via

♥ there's no place like home... and thanks to my sweet brother-in-law, twinkie's husband Philip surprised us with the best birthday gift! he bought me a plane ticket to come home so we can spend our 28th birthday together!!! it was all his planning and yesterday i got my flight confirmation for feb. 29th - march 10th. I can't wait!!! isn't her husband the greatest?!

♥ Grey's Anatomy is back on (it's the little things in life)

Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

"the darkness is going to swallow us if we don't do something drastic."

2012-01-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Anna: People like us, half of them think it will never work out. The other half believe in magic.

how i spent wednesday night and how i think you should spend thursday night.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

i love a good celebrity crush. there's the obvious ones that we can all agree to {johnny depp, ryan gosling, forever brad pitt, maybe even zac effron these days... i mean have you seen this trailer? thx twinkie!}.

But today i wanted to talk about the not so obvious celebs on anyone's crush radar except perhaps yours. Wanna know who i have big crushes on?

Steve Carrell. He touched my heart in Little Miss Sunshine, stole it in Dan in Real Life, but cinched it in Crazy Stupid Love.

Tom Hanks. Can you think of one movie of his that you didn't like? he's amazing. He seems that way off-screen too. One of the reasons i find him attractive is he seems like such a good husband.

these guys make me swoon. i find them incredibly sexy even if they don't look like your "obvious" idea of sexy.

your turn! tell me who's your not-so-obvious crush, crush?

(my twin sister shared her not-so-obvious girl crush here)

Three Girls, Nine Stories.

2012-01-09T18:10:00.007-07:00

after my post about finally reading The Catcher in the Rye, Jo over at Thank U and Good Nite (one of my girl crushes) decided to do the same. I think we both agreed on how we felt about it, and after a suggestion from my girl Claire, we decided to read J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories together. Courtney over at kitten roar picked up a copy and a spontaneous book club was formed.

it may sound weird (though i think it magical), but every time i pulled out my dog eared copy in el paso-- i couldn't help but think of Jo in L.A. or Courtney in Chicago doing the same thing.

where to start, to put into words a collection of stories that left a pit in my stomach after each one ended because each one was an experience. Characters became real people who's loneliness, growing pains, and heart-ache become your own.

It would be difficult to review the entire compilation that i thought i would share my thoughts on the short story that touched me most. As you read Nine Stories, you'll start to recognize themes that weave through the core of each story. My favorite of these is love, which should be no surprise that For Esmé – with Love and Squalor stayed with me long after i closed the book.

"Isn't it a pity that we didn't meet under less extenuating circumstances?" I said it was, I said it certainly was. (page 103)

Borrowed here, i couldn't have summarized it better than this: "he writes not of love at first sight, but of human connection, posting two lonely souls who, during the course of a few brief minutes in an English tearoom on a rainy Saturday afternoon, share a moment that neither will forget."

It's not romantic love but you feel that chemistry as if you were the girl wearing white socks exchanging addresses. Human connection gives us hope. Reminds us that it's all worth it even when we feel broken.

The Catcher in the Rye did not make me want to run out and grab another work of Salinger's immediately like Nine Stories did (i already have Franny and Zooey on my bedside table). I am so glad Claire suggested it, and that i had the pleasure to read it with Jo & Courtney.

If you've read it, which one was your favorite? {this one was a close second}

*read Jo's thoughts // Courtney's thoughts

P.S. and now i absolutely need this ode to JD Salinger tote from i miss you already:

Sharing Sundays... an etsy favorite from Three Red Apples.

2012-01-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

whimsical textile art, yes please.

i think sharing sundays will become sharing one of my etsy favorites. Of course once in awhile i'll feature a blog crush because it can't be helped, i fall in love easily. ;)

happy things to end the week with.

2012-01-07T12:12:00.007-07:00

♥ a sweet surprise from a co-worker. i had mentioned loving religious art/jewelry and wanted a wooden one with the Saints but didn't know where to get one. Lucy came into work a few days after that and placed these two beauties on my wrist. i was incredibly surprised, incredibly touched.

♥ loving my sequined sweater, bought on clearance!

♥ and wearing it out while celebrating my co-worker Nicholas' last day in EP before heading home to L.A. (first pic with me though i wish you could see his dreads... very cool). I got everyone to VOGUE though when i told Nicholas that, he interpreted that as going GQ. love it! everyone was blown away by my digital polaroid. takes pretty good quality pics, no?

♥ i HAD to get this shirt from Coon-Smith Sutlery. As a big Woody Allen fan, how could i pass it up?

♥ this pic text from my pappa (who was on his way with our church to distribute gifts to an orphanage in New Mexico for Three Kings Day) : "reminded me of you." He knows my momma and i love the King and when i got this cute text during my lunch at work yesterday, it made me smile.

♥ and not pictured (unfortunately!) was date night with my husband. we had dinner followed by a night out dancing with his co-workers. Us Maxhams owned the dance floor ;) i can't remember the last time i had so much fun dancing! my husband? the cutest dancer.

Happy Weekend Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

for your reading pleasure.

2012-01-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

i'm really excited my bestie has updated her blog. please tell her how happy i am about that! also, when you read her posts, you'll understand just why Marisa's my soul mate.

also, remember when i asked you about your wishes for 2012?

visit me at april, maybe to find out a pretty saucy one i hope to keep this new year. and after you've read my little guest post, please come back and let me know if you've ever done that?

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2012-01-04T22:21:00.004-07:00

it's only day 4 of the new year and i'm trying desperately to not break all of my resolutions. a list of sorts of what i'm challenging myself to do in 2012:

(image 1,2,3,5,7)

1. take more photographs // use my new Polaroid Instant Digital Camera

2. take myself on more "me dates" starting with a movie... something i've never done alone

3. create more collage postcards & get back to sending love letters

4. volunteer {orientation at the el paso humane society is january 21st & i'll be there}

5. read from my own library {think kaileen elise's 1-year challenge} i am known to buy a beautiful book or three at a used book shop and there it sits on my shelves. not this year, i say!

6. eat healthier, beginning with this smoothie recipe from lesley graham

what are your hopes for your glittery new year? tell me a resolution below :

Ornament Swap Showcase!

2012-01-03T22:49:00.003-07:00

yesterday i showed you the ornaments i sent and received and today i can't wait to show you what you lovies exchanged in our third annual ornament swap.

To Dawn / From Mary

To Erin / From Lauryn

To Polly / From Marianne

To Elisha / From Alycia

To Carin / From Hannah

To Mary / From Dawn

To Kary / From Phoenix

(Phoenix is really crafty-- i mean look at the ornament she made Kary of her cute son Miguelito!)

they both spoiled each other. i love it!

To Phoenix / From Kary + Miguelito

To Erin / From Elise

To Madeline (my little seester who always participates) / From Antonella

To Antonella / From Madeline

my Momma also participates :) these are the ones she sent Karina

To My Momma / From Karina (love the elvis and the NYC ones)

To Elisse / From Erin

To Karleen / From Jenn

To Marianne / From Polly

To Nan / From Athanasia

To Carrie / From Sara

To Jaimie / From Jess

To Jess / From Jaimie

To Ginna / From Amanda

my little sister Madeline also swapped with M's daughter Kenzie

To Kenzie / From Maddie

To Maddie / From Kenzie

THANK YOU to everyone who played along and sent photographs xo

if you didn't get a chance to send a photo but blogged about it, please comment with your link because i'd love to check it out! {thank-you!} it makes me smile that through my little ornament swap we shared christmas cheer and will always have a sweet memory of it.

i love hosting this swap and already can't wait to do it again next year! x

what love is to me.

2012-01-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

my momma celebrates 41 years of marriage today with her "mike darling."

as a wife who just celebrated her first year of marriage, my beautiful parents are the very example of love.

"Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing

Like the love that let us share our name."

(marianne's anniversary wishes)

*thanks meg fee for these lyrics from The Avett Brothers. I can't stop listening to the mix that tells of your 2011. and of course you'd have this song on there. of course, because when i heard it-- i instantly thought of you.

My 2011 Ornament Swap.

2012-01-02T16:06:00.010-07:00

Forgive me for this long overdo post. As host (especially as host) of the ornament swap, i've been meaning to blog about my end of the exchange and showcase everyone else's thoughtful gifts to one another.

so without further delay, these are the beauties i received and sent.

since we had an uneven amount of exchangers, i paired myself up with two wonderful girls. the first one was Bianca from Romania.

what Bianca sent me : unfortunately, the postal system wasn't kind in transit and two of them as you can see were damaged. i tried to get the pieces of the snowflake back together but i think small pieces fell out of the envelope. drats! but it's the sweet thought that counts... Bianca, thank-you for my ornaments and the chocolate (the bottom right one is actually a magnet and she's currently holding my grocery list).

what i sent Bianca : i went with a flight of fancy theme for her. My fingers were crossed the glass bauble would travel safely across the atlantic and i was happy when she emailed to say it did. Thank-you air mail!

i also paired myself up with Lauren Nicole over at Letters, She Wrote, a good friend of mine. I had planned to swap ornaments as Christmas gifts with my close friends and it was perfect when she joined and suggested we be swap mates. She had never got around to sending mine from last year so as her cute note read, "i present the Lechuga-Maxham ornament collection of 2010-2011!"

what Lauren sent me : don't you just love every one of them? she said the skating shoes are what it would look like if i designed skates (sparkly and pretty). i adore the anthropologie M from last year and this year and i can't get enough of that hot air balloon! but everything is absolutely gorgeous.

what i sent Lauren : i fell in love with the deer glass bauble and had to include it but the above two are the ones that really stood out as very lauren.

those were the ornaments for my third annual Ornament Swap. Below are the ones exchanged between me and my closest girlfriends as part of our holiday tradition and christmas gifts to one another (because honestly, is there anything more sweeter or fitting for Christmas?)

what Claire sent me : a cute little birdie from Anthro (her most favorite place) and a glittery heel for our shared love of shoes.

what i sent Claire : i thought these mini kisses were adorable and what says Christmas more than a christmas tree ornament? (i was a sucker for the pom poms too)

what erin sent me (both made me gasp, both were so perfect!) : the sweetest deer ornament and festive Rockin' hot chocolate a la ELVIS, knowing what a fan i am of both.

what i sent erin : because she's a sucker for a cute snowman, this little one just seemed to have her name all over it! rosy cheeks included.

what my bestie sent me : i fell in love with the charming vintage/country feel to the ornaments M sent me this year. Don't you just love the fabric candy canes? and the key one is perfect from my soul mate since she carries the key to my heart always.

what i sent Marisa was a combination of my favorites : the glass deer bauble (like the one i sent lauren) and the fabric christmas tree (like i sent claire).

sweet surprises from sweet girls : a cowboy boot from rhianne, a locally handmade ceramic star from gracienne, and a winged christmas fellow from athanasia.

what amanda sent me : a hand made ornament of our wedding kiss... magical!

what i sent amanda : a mermaid ornament from jupiter designs (combining her love of crafts and mermaids)

what april sent me : hello birdie! i love the beads and the romantic vintage feel.

what i sent to april : a day of the dead sugar skull ornament from liz miera embroidery. how awesome does it look on her christmas tree?

i had to show you this cute mug i threw in for april who loves polar bears. look at the little one sitting inside the mug!

i'm such an ornaments girl... there's nothing like hunting for the perfect one for dear friends and swooning over the perfect one they find for this girl. xo

since i've already overloaded you with photos, tomorrow i'll round up your photos, promise!

ps. who else is sad to be taking down their christmas tree?

(see my ornament exchange 2011 & 2010)

hello 2012 xo

2012-01-01T20:40:00.001-07:00

We rang in the new year at home with our three dogs, dancing in our pajamas to "love song" on vinyl -- a sweet gift from my bestie {i think everything sounds better on a turntable}.

We started the first day of 2012 reading some food for the soul (we get one every christmas from his mama) and delicious italian new years panettone, a gift from my seester Maria who lives in Pisa.

quiet intimate moments with my husband... i can't think of a better way to welcome a new year of adventures.

Happy New Year's Day Lovies!!! xo

(a song with a wish for you)

home.

2011-12-31T13:55:00.004-07:00

It's hard to believe that a year ago we drove into El Paso.

I'll never forget the sunrise over the mountains or the feeling of being so far away from home and now a year later, we've made it just that. Home.

Happy New Year Lovies!!! what are your plans? i went out with friends last night and celebrated because today (on the actual day to celebrate) me and Max are going to enjoy a quiet evening in, dancing in our pajamas with our three dogs while listening to songs on the record player. i can't think of a better way to ring in 2012.

PS. i remember driving into El Paso the same day as the Sun Bowl game {right now my husband's alma mater Georgia Tech is playing Utah. GO YELLOW JACKETS!}. The man i married dresses up as the sun for his Sun Bowl forecast. i had to snap a photo on my phone! awesome.

i am a blessed girl.

2011-12-27T16:07:00.001-07:00

i realize Christmas is not about material things etc. etc. but i have to say... i was pretty spoiled this year. :) and because i want to remember it all, here goes the "materialistic" post.

Christmas morning started out perfect with the gift from my parents (coffee in the morning just got easier) paired with the locally made blueberry jam from my brother and his girlfriend.

Santa Husband even remembered our dog babies...

i can't even tell you how much i love my husband.

Christmas Aftermath

some of the things i got this year :

since i have a jersey with my maiden name, my husband surprised me with a cowboys jersey (from their vintage collection) with my "updated" last name. i love it!

(speaking of sports, it was nice to have Dirk Nowitzki back on my telly)

out of all the nice things his parents sent (including the softest flannel sheets), i had to show off these shirts they got us that made me giggle-- a joke on my texas.

i also got wonderful gifts from dear blog friends (thank-you beautiful alyssa, athanasia, kary, april, and gracie!)

along with my cowboys jersey and record player... my darling husband also threw in one of these. i am a blessed girl, indeed.

but the sweetest and best christmas gift was opening a framed photo of my little niece/nephew to-be, my brother Marco's first baby.

what was the best thing you got this year?

ps. what did we ever do before skype? since we didn't get to go home for the holidays, i was thankful to get to video chat with both of our parents and my seesters.

xo

2011-12-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jesus!

bits of christmas around casa di M.

2011-12-24T23:49:00.001-07:00

1. seeing all the christmas cards that made its way to our mailbox {many from you darling lovies} reminds me how incredibly blessed we are.

2. our little tree filled with hanging memories/presents (ornaments). do you spy my Rockin' Elvis Cocoa? a delicious gift from Erin who knows my love for the King. As an ornaments girl, i may have to get a bigger christmas tree next year and chance the fact that we live with three dogs.

3. is there anything better than brown paper packages?

4. "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

our stockings : Bubbles, Stella, Mavericks (our three pups) mine & husband's.

Happy Christmas Lovies! Happy Birthday Jesus xoxo

from my family to yours, we wish you a magical day full of love, laughter, blessings, and endless kisses underneath the mistletoe.

happy things to end the week with.

2011-12-23T09:44:00.001-07:00

♥ waking up to a winter wonderland {the view from our back porch in el paso, texas} on to my second cup of coffee while playing this in the background.

♥ these delicious cookies my mother-in-law made and sent with our Christmas package. i have the best parents (his + mine)

♥ they were so delicious, i made a batch for husband to bring to work-- while wearing my new but vintage christmas apron {a darling gift from my ginger Alyssa}

pic

♥ the CRAZY season finale of DEXTER!!! did you tune in sunday? i had so much fun texting Kary after we both watched it. we are so distraught we have to wait so long for the next epic season!

speaking of kary! they got my christmas pressies and i just had to show you what i got my sweet miguelito...

a fur trapper hat so we can match!!! how darling is his smile? i love it!!!

♥ one of the gifts kary & miguelito sent me is this genius reusable anti-bottle to take to pilates. i'm a HUGE fan! xo

can you believe christmas is nearly here?!

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

5 a.m.

2011-12-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

this morning i awoke right before 5 and couldn't get back to sleep.

what's a girl to do when insomnia strikes? this one takes a warm bubble bath while reading some Salinger, followed by eating christmas cookies while browsing the virtual world.

and i stumbled upon this.

and at 5 a.m. this morning, this love letter made me weep.

that last line struck a chord with my heart.

Winning!

2011-12-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

every time i win a giveaway, i feel like i'm walking on sunshine {because usually i'm the girl who never wins anything}. I've been meaning to blog about two giveaways i've recently won and to thank the wonderful hosts!

first up was Beca's Mustache on a Stick Giveaway from Something's Hiding in Here to support Movember. I chose the barber.

such pretty detail (also, that's the nail polish i was telling you about)

here's Beca with her stache....

and me playing with mine!

thank-you Beca & SHIH! my barber mustache is going to provide so much fun in photo ops.

can you believe i was lucky to win another giveaway? Megan had a springtime giveaway and my lucky number was chosen! i am now the proud owner of this pretty pink number by ASOS (perfect pop of colour, no?)

thank-you ladies!!! again, i always feel like a million bucks and am always so grateful when my name is chosen for anything.

have you won anything recently? do tell or share a link.

Ornament Exchange Check-In.

2011-12-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

i know many of us are busy with last minute Christmas shopping, but I wanted to touch base with those lovies who signed up for my Ornament Swap. Ornaments were supposed to have been mailed by November 26th.

It's my hope that nearly all the ornaments sent are currently hanging on your beautiful Christmas trees. Some of you have sent me photos of them or like Erin, Marianne, and Phoenix-- you've already blogged about the gorgeous baubles you've received.

Unfortunately, some of you may be waiting on your ornament to arrive.

swaps are a lot of fun and can be an amazing way to become friends with another blogger... but only if you participate-- because why else would you sign up {i promise that's not meant to sound ugly but it's the truth, no?}

that said, i know life happens and if that's truly the reason, hopefully you at least let your swap partner know. i bet she's pretty wonderful and would understand (i would).

so please dear ornament exchangers, let me know if you never received your ornaments or as the sender, of any delays etc.

if you've blogged about your ornament exchange, i'd love to see! + please leave me a link below + i'll be sure to include it in a follow up post.

thank-you so much lovies!!! this is my third time hosting and so far i haven't had problems... knock on wood! xoxo

image above : ornament i sent my vintage soul sister (it's so her). the photo is from her sweet blog post. amanda wasn't my swap partner but this was a surprise thank-you for the adorable ornament she made me and my husband.

happy things to end the week with.

2011-12-16T18:42:00.002-07:00

♥ remember last friday when i told you how excited i was about sarah's jewelry party? well i'm happy to say my red velvet cupcakes were a hit (kary, you would've been proud)! it was a fun, wine-filled night of girl talk with sarah's hand-made jewelry line "pretty you and me". i love everything i bought, but especially these feather earrings i had to have. Aren't they gorgeous? they are my new statement piece.

♥ did you hear who's going to my beloved Dallas Mavericks?! me and Kim can really be bffs now.

♥ speaking of sports, if you know my twin sis then you KNOW 100% what a smitten kitten she is over former Texas Rangers "Ace" Pitcher C.J. Wilson. Now that he's pitching for the Angels... guess what four blog girlfriends in four different cities are going to do in May? details on twinkie's blog but i am SO excited! these girls and sports-- it can't get any better.

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

i love you s'more.

2011-12-12T11:05:00.002-07:00

s'more dates in my flannel snowmen pjs (a Christmas gift last year from his mama) with my husband in front of our fireplace can make any thursday night feel magically delicious.

{of course that's my dallas mavericks stocking hanging on our mantle. the furry dog who needs a haircut is not a stuffed animal but the real maverick watching for any graham cracker spills}

The Lumineers.

2011-12-10T14:49:00.001-07:00

i can't get this song out of my head {thanks Hart of Dixie, my favorite guilty pleasure}

"i belong with you, you belong with me

you're my sweetheart"

happy things to end the week with.

2011-12-09T12:00:00.005-07:00

♥ I recently -and finally- put The Catcher in the Rye under my read list which inspired beautiful Jo (i think we both agreed on how we felt about it). I'm pretty excited that after the suggestion from Claire, we're going to read Nine Stories together. Here's to getting lost in a book: dog eared pages, underlined sentences and coffee stains.

♥ what i wore on a dinner date with sarah. brick oven pizza and girl talk? my favorite.

♥ these are perfect for those mornings you want to bake something for breakfast but don't have the time- delicious you won't believe that all you do is add water.

♥ cashing in one of my anniversary massages and feeling healed. It's so nice to have a random tues off (and a husband! ha) btw, this was the envelope my card was in... yup, max put those stickers on it all on his own.

♥ i really want these fashionable band-aids

♥ and finally, i'm super happy with who my darling husband randomly picked as the winner of the Shine Project Necklace Giveaway:

and Leanna, your answer touched my heart! please email me your mailing address so i can send it along to Ashley. xo

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

i'm off to make red velvet cupcakes for sarah's jewelry party tonight (i can't wait!!!)

red & gold.

2011-12-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

part of my apple & tin collection // my fun italian christmas flats
(i wear them with black tights and a LBD) // all thrifted

my favorite colors to combine during december

{last day to sign up for the shine project necklace giveaway!}

happy things to end the week with.

2011-12-02T13:57:00.004-07:00

♥ the most delicious pears by Harry & David delivered to our doorstep thanks to my dear friend (and once upon a time) joel. thank-you jolie! we loved them. xo

♥ my momma makes beautiful crochet doilies (like the one i use as my little tree's skirt) and sent me this necklace she made just for me. My momma's so cute! She was so excited about it and i couldn't love it more!

♥ i've been wearing milani jewel FX nail polish in gold - perfect for the holiday season! the possibilities are endless, but i've been wearing it over nude nails just to give my hands a bit of sparkle (like this photo)

♥ i can't stop playing this song! it got me through my work-out on the treadmill yesterday. just the name of the song is one of those perfect simple sentences that hold so much weight {not to mention how hot is the video?}

♥ having a friday off is def. a happy way to end the week! except it feels like chicago instead of el paso outside-- the wind is insane! but i have to take advantage of this day off and get some christmas shopping done... husband's fur trapper hat to the rescue!

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

***also, if you haven't entered the giveaway, please do so! winning a pretty necklace for free while supporting a great cause? seriously, why haven't you entered yet?! :)

Perfect for the 1st day of December.

2011-12-01T23:46:00.001-07:00

the mailman delivered a surprise package from my vintage soul sister amanda.

don't you just love random kindness? in her christmas card, amanda wrote:

"When I saw the picture of your wedding kiss I just knew I had to make you a holiday ornament with it!"

i can't get over how sweet it is of amanda to make a magical moment for us into an ornament-- especially since i'm such an ornaments girl! Isn't it adorable? lace and colored sequins on the bottom? perfection!

i'm always amazed at her craftiness. I mean remember the customized snack bag i ordered? i still get giggles when i bring it to work with my lunch.

vintage soul sister, you truly touched my heart with this awesome surprise! your ornament swap partner is lucky to have been paired with such a thoughtful and talented friend as you. i adore you a hundred twinkly lights! xoxo

ps. Amanda shared how she made my beautiful ornament on her blog.

A GIVEAWAY for a great cause : win a shine project necklace!

2011-12-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

lovies, i am pretty excited about this giveaway because not only is a gorgeous necklace up for grabs but it's for such an amazing cause. I'll let the beautiful hostess tell you more:

Heyyy new friends! I'm Ashley, and I blog over at The Shine Project.

I created The Shine Project at the beginning of this year to motivate others to go after their goals, and spread their light to others. I believe that service is the best way to feel happiness and love in our lives, and I created SHINE necklaces to help remind us of our daily purpose. Money from each necklace sold goes into a scholarship fund to help inner city high school students go to college. You can read more about that HERE and HERE. The Shine Project is in the process of becoming a Non-Profit organization so that thousands more students can have a positive future.

I believe that no act of kindness is too small or insignificant to perform.

I believe that it's when we feel the most inadequate

that we're able to grow and rise above ourselves.

I believe in miracles. Not because they happen out of nowhere,

but because hard work brings blessings that would otherwise not come.

I believe in reaching goals. Pushing yourself when you feel like you've

reached your outermost limits is how you obtain what you want.

I believe in learning who you are through serving other people.

You can see your potential and abilities when you're using them

to lift and teach others.

I believe that nothing is impossible.

Go HERE to see more shine necklaces and order information. There are even options to personalize your necklace with dates and initials -- and are affordable holiday gifts! Right now, get 10% off your total order by using Shine10 for your code.

to win a SHINE necklace :

*comment below with who you'd give shine necklaces to

For extra entries:

*Follow The Shine Project Blog

*Like The Shine Project on FB

I'll pick the winner in a week + a day on December 9th so be sure to put your name in the tin of chance.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-11-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

i have celeb crushes. There's the forever crush (as in i still would marry him variety) in Robbie Williams and Penelope Cruz, who i call my girlfriend.

it's fun to get slightly obsessed. My twin sister Marianne is more than slightly obsessed with last season's Texas Rangers Ace Pitcher C.J. Wilson (fingers crossed he stays in Texas!). So much so, she joined twitter just to read his tweets.

the other day i get this phone call from a very excited twinkie saying that they had tweeted each other!!! as in THE Cj Wilson, her celeb crush, had replied to one of her tweets about working out after turkey day. Proof:

A hot guy she loves talking about working out? a big deal. {I love seeing his twitter name and her name}

i think i would melt if Robbie Williams ever replied to one of my tweets.

who's your celeb crush? have you ever had a celeb reply to one of your tweets? i wanna know! please share below xo

here's to co-workers who become close friends.

2011-11-28T14:17:00.001-07:00

{the pretty girl on the far right is the maker of these bracelets i love}

i'm going to miss my work bff Kristi who's leaving on the 1st to go back home to Michigan. This weekend we celebrated her last work shift by going out to the first place we all went to together (this outdoor karaoke bar called Erin's).

In a few short months, we've become so close that i don't think it's hit me that she's not going to live across Mesa St. from me or that we'll never laugh behind the registers at work together again. Or make cupcakes at midnight.

Don't you love those "natural friendships"? i can't think of a better description because that's how it felt... natural we were friends.

the date.

2011-11-26T18:55:00.002-07:00

even though we've decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary the day after Thanksgiving every year, i did purchase a hand stamped necklace from k. byas impressions that i absolutely love.

Kristin is a friend from back home in wichita falls and sells these for $30 (a steal!). It has my last name and our wedding date, exactly a year ago today.

thank-you for all your sweet congratulations on making it to the first year mark.

my darling husband got me three 1-hour swedish massages and all he got was this mug filled with bite-size snickers :)

i happen to whole heartedly believe i do indeed have the world's greatest husband.

are you married? how long have you been married and what's your advice for marriage bliss?

Happy Ornament Mailing Day!

2011-11-26T01:30:00.004-07:00

Don't judge me, but after my coffee and pumpkin scones on Thanksgiving morning... i put up our little (we have 3 dogs) Christmas tree.

Todays' the day when hopefully ornaments should be in the post. I wanted swap partners to have enough time to hang the ornaments chosen for them on their Christmas tree this year (how special is that for all you participating? i love the idea!).

So this is just your friendly reminder. I can't wait to see all of the ornaments you get! don't forget to send me pictures and a link to your blog post about it so i can showcase them on my dolce vita.

THANK-YOU to everyone who joined! xo

"knit your hearts with an unslipping knot." -shakespeare

2011-11-25T00:30:00.007-07:00

a year ago i became a wife.

a year later, i keep falling in love all over again with my husband.

{We got married the day after Thanksgiving November 26, 2010. And just because it's our day, we've decided to celebrate it the day after Thanksgiving every year.}

cheers to our first year of marriage bliss!

Happy Thanksgiving Lovies! xo

2011-11-24T10:33:00.002-07:00

via

making pumpkin spice scones to go with our coffee... perfect way to start the holiday!

i hope you're surrounded by friends and family--- or if you're like me and can't be home for the holidays, i hope you're sharing it with someone who thinks you're wonderful (because you are).

p.s. Go Cowboys!

oh and... i loved it.

finally finally finally! & i couldn't be more excited!!!

2011-11-23T15:49:00.004-07:00

as my first year wedding anniversary gift, guess what i asked for? for my darling husband to take me to see Breaking Dawn : Part 1.

i mean it's only fitting... Bella & Edward say i do in this one. I saw the top movie still and had to put our wedding photo underneath. Hilarious right? and proof it's the perfect wedding gift for this "Team Edward yet loves how Jacob loves Bella" girl.

and because he's such a good husband (like Lacey's!), he's taking me on a date this evening. Honestly, i think he's taking pity on me that this is the first one i didn't get to see on opening weekend with my twinkie. I am so sad i don't get to watch it with her {after all, these books hold a special place in my heart thanks to marianne-- they were what helped me through being homesick}.

"In that moment, as the minister said his part, my world, which had been upside down for so long now, seemed to settle into its proper position." pg 49

lovies, i can't wait!!!

since i do live in "sun city" ...

2011-11-21T23:57:00.001-07:00

i saw these cat eye sunglasses on hello again vintage and couldn't stop thinking about them.

when i decided to treat myself, of course they were sold. and of course, i saw kourtney kardashian wearing similar ones around the same time (hence the photo of my tv screen that i sent marianne & april venting about how i should have bought them).

luckily for me, grace was expecting more sunnies and reserved a listing just for me. i love them! because did you know the sun shines 302 days per year on average in El Paso? that's a lot of sun which means this girl can never have too many a pair of sunglasses.

and since i'm all about sharing a good sale, get your own pair during hello again vintage's black friday/cyber monday sale...25% off!

ps. they also come in tortoise

happy things to end the week with.

2011-11-18T11:03:00.002-07:00

♥ proof my husband does love me : he recorded Coldplay's Chris Martin for me on Howard Stern's radio show (Coldplay is the soundtrack of my life). We listened to it drinking michelob ultras and eating grilled cheeses in front of the fire place {my kind of friday night}.

♥ breaking out my stockings ... anyone have a good way of storing them besides a pile on my closet floor?

♥ i'm excited my oldest brother decided to follow his passion and get serious about photography. i may be biased, but his landscapes of Germany could be postcards i'd send to you lovies. :) would you do me a HUGE favor and "like" his photography page on facebook? it would mean so much to me but more importantly, it would mean everything to him. thank-you for your support! xo

♥ getting ornaments packaged (including the ones for my ornament exchange) to send out while listening to christmas music. Erin, this one is for you!

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-11-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

mixed tapes are my favourite.

i always say they are our own personal time machine, reminding us of certain times in our life (the exciting thrill of a new relationship, of college summers, heartache and the in between, childhood...).

i made this mixed tape as a thank-you for the amazing one sharni made me in a mix share swap. you can always count Coldplay to be on any compilation tape i make because theirs would be the soundtrack of my life. And of course i have to throw in a song by my Robbie Williams and that needs no explanation.

what songs/bands/singers do you always put on a mixed tape?

Ornament Exchangers : Check Your Inbox!

2011-11-14T13:21:00.004-07:00

with plenty of pumpkin spice lattes (and the best blueberry scone), i managed to email everyone signed up--- hurray!

if you signed up and for some reason don't have an email from me, please email me and i'll get it sorted, promise!

i'm so excited for this and hope you are as well!!! thank-you so much for playing along and for each one of you lovies that blogged about my swap. Don't forget to take photos of your ornaments so I can showcase them, one of my favorite posts to share.

happy ornament shopping!

xoxo

happy things to end the week with.

2011-11-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

♥ thrifted score (one of my absolute favorite love stories)

♥ because i lurved these over the knee boots in black, i had to get the grey pair. Since it's still BOGO (+ my 15% off coupon) i scored these faux vintage oxfords for $6.50. I'll be pairing them with stockings to wear with my dresses.

love this ornament from 12 legs curiosities

♥ today was the last day to sign up for my ornament exchange and i am thrilled by the response! it seems each year just gets bigger and better (what a mundane description on my part ha but you know what i mean). i'm going to tackle getting everyone paired this weekend... wish me luck!

♥ and lastly but most importantly, we end this week remembering our Veterans. Here's my favorite one, my pappa. There's not enough thanksgiving in my heart for all our troops currently serving.

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

only TWO more days to enter the ornament swap!

2011-11-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about our 3rd year to swap ornaments across the miles...

already 70 lovies have signed up so far and if you haven't yet-- there's two more days to do so. We'd love to have you!

DETAILS HERE.

*special thank-you to everyone who's spread the word xo

(doily vintage fabric velvet scraps stocking & crochet snowflakes from ItchinStitchin)

proof we once existed.

2011-11-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

"I have scars on my hands from touching certain people."

-J.D. Salinger

i need to spend more late nights reading him.

(quote / photo)

Sharing Sundays... Homako.

2011-11-06T12:02:00.001-07:00

i can't get enough of her designs.

etsy : Homako

hello, sales!

2011-11-05T14:59:00.000-06:00

when it's not a thrifted outfit, i love a good sale-- especially when it comes to shoes. I have never really worked part-time hours until my most recent job so watching my budget has taken some getting used to (meaning, sometimes i'm down to single digit dollars before my next paycheck).

Since i work in retail, i've been on the hunt for flat boots. Where does a girl on a budget go? Payless BOGO sale! incase you're a babe on a budget, check out my savings:

Lower East Side's Riley Tall Slouch Boot (reg price $39.99 / sale $34.99)

what i love most is you can pull the boot over your knee or cuff it, as pictured

i got these wedge pumps half off (reg price $26.99)

(side note : does anyone else but me notice shoe names? i love the name of the brand... i'm such a dexter nerd obviously) these are so comfortable! (they also have them in a beautiful red and leopard print. ugh, it took will power not to get them also)

speaking of BOGO... my girlfriend tiffany told me about target's online deal :

go "like" them on facebook for a promo code and you can buy the perfect cardigan to wear over dresses this winter like i did, because i'm a sucker for elbow patches and a good deal (thanks tiffy!).

Mossimo Grandpa Cardigan $24.99

scored any good deals lately? do share, please! xo

happy things to end the week with.

2011-11-04T06:48:00.000-06:00

♥ my brother's beautiful girlfriend Christina (who's expecting their first baby) wearing the maternity necklace by maid of clay and holding Texas Rangers pacifiers; gifts from me and twinkie.

♥ the onset of chillier weather is my favorite. not my favorite? drier lips. thankfully, i was reminded of a simple DIY lip scrub. amazing!

♥ felicity and ben (and noel)-- every free second i get has been spent with my netflix remembering why i loved this show so much.

♥ this woodland deer diorama christmas ornament would be perfect for the ornament swap. have you signed up yet?

♥ and to start your friday off with a laugh and an awww... you have to click play on this video! (thanks to my little sister for this)

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-11-02T06:18:00.002-06:00

what time is it where you are?

what are you doing?

and describe how you're feeling at this very moment.

it's a little after 6 a.m. in el paso, texas

i've just had my first cup of coffee

the sliding doors are opened to let in the delicious autumn air and i'm thankful the chill is literal this time round

because how my heart drops remembering the last time i sent this curious question to the universe.

Ornament Swap!

2011-11-01T11:42:00.001-06:00

can you believe it's already that time of year again? this year marks the third year of hosting the ornament exchange on my dolce vita and i couldn't be more thrilled!

getting to spread Christmas joy and connecting with another blogger is my favorite.

to join:

* email me, micaela.maxham@gmail.com with subject line: ORNAMENT SWAP!

* include your postal address + blog link (also indicate if you can't send overseas)

* cut off date is Nov. 11th {i'll try and get everyone partnered by Nov. 14th; ornaments will be mailed out by Nov. 26th}

* ornaments can be bought/vintage/hand-made... whatever you fancy but $10 is the max spend amount because i know it's about to get crazy with holiday shopping. Please put some thought into your ornament-- check out your partner's blog and see what her style is etc.

* DO include a Christmas card for your person. Tell them your favorite Christmas quote, song, or why you chose the ornament for them.

Have fun with this! snap a photo of your ornament sent/received so we can share them on our blogs (i love the actual exchanges and showcase them).

via corner mouse house

feel free to use the button on my sidebar lovies! i hope you'll join- the more the merrier!!! xo

Gotham City Came Out To Play.

2011-10-31T10:18:00.006-06:00

this weekend my coworkers and i dressed up as Batman Villains. We had the Riddler and Two-Face to my Catwoman but how can you have Gotham City bad guys without Batman? Yup, lovies i talked my husband into dressing up as the dark knight.

The Halloween Maxhams

It was purrrfect! especially since my close girlfriend Kristi went as Robin.

there were some amazing costumes! of course me and kristi wanted photos with the hilarious ones:

we had so much fun in our couple costume (didn't catwoman always have a thing for batman?)

we may have left around 1 a.m. to get greasy whataburger and have a picnic on our coffee table... that may have happened and may have been a puuurfect way to end the night.

Happy Halloween! did you dress up? leave me a link below if you posted about a halloween costume or tell me what you dressed up as please?

happy things to end the week with.

2011-10-29T00:22:00.002-06:00

♥ there is nothing like starting the morning with pb + bananas on toast, drinking coffee out of my elvis mug while listening to my favorite elvis song {april, your elvis halloween costume is fabulous! i can't wait til you post photos on your blog}

♥ as you know, my bestie's birthday was this past sunday and i wanted to share two things i got off etsy for her. To me, there's nothing like supporting artists: the jane austen quote from Pride & Prejudice speaks our heart and i love it as a hand stamped pendant for a necklace from Design By Any Other Name // i love these upcycled vintage spoons from sycamore hill (i got this one for darling husband on his birthday) -perfect for any coffee lover.

♥ i'm so proud of my girl claire who passionately contributed to this series. Please read more about it here on her blog (and then tell me how you can't help but want to get it asap!)

♥ sigh... It was a devastating Game 7 last night (in which i selfishly prayed to God and vowed to do anything for my team to win) and although me and my husband didn't get to wear our Wash shirts while Doing The Wash for the Championship title, i still love my Texas Rangers!

♥ Happy Halloween weekend! tonight we are dressing up as the above (yup, i talked my husband into being Batman to my 1960s Catwoman!) and going out with my co-workers -who are dressing up as fellow Batman villains- to this patio bar called "Hope & Anchor." i can't wait!

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

couldn't have said it better.

2011-10-28T10:33:00.001-06:00

i thought yesterday i would be the happiest girl wearing a Michael Young baseball jersey...

but Game 6 broke my racing heart.

From a Champion himself, Dirk summed it up best:

Game 7 tonight of the World Series and I'm praying the whole nation will finally be Doing The WASH. GO RANGERS!

fancy thrift.

2011-10-27T12:48:00.000-06:00

sometimes you get incredibly lucky while thrifting...

like my new-to-me Hobo International iconic double frame clutch wallet in a salmon colour.

Legendary for its stylish design and carry-all attitude. Toss it in your bag or carry it alone.

you can score one of these at marshalls for $30 compared to their retail value of $100

or score it for $5 like i couldn't believe i did! quite possibly the best thrifting find ever.

a fancy thrift, indeed.

Doing The Wash.

2011-10-24T22:04:00.000-06:00

i love it.
One.Win.Away. !!!

HUZZAH!

i ordered this shirt off etsy:

and i've been eating copious amounts of chips with guac + homemade serrano salsa , drinking beer out of my cups from the ballpark, wishing i was in Arlington for the last two HUGE wins!

what a nail-biting Game 5! It was especially intense because I know how bad Marianne wanted her ace boyfriend to do good as the starting pitcher {calling/texting with my twinkie during games makes it feel like we're watching together which is the next best thing! also she calms my racing heart}

but like me and my chips and dip, the Rangers are hungry and we are ONE WIN AWAY.

and i pray on wens. i'm still doing "The Wash." Rangers baby!!!

a video message that went to my bestie on her birthday.

2011-10-23T20:00:00.023-06:00

i wrote a little birthday post about Marisa's birthday on Sunday and was waiting to share this after she got my birthday surprise. You'll see why i had to wait...

there are no words to describe how much i wish i could transport myself to North Dakota to celebrate my bestie M's birthday.

A little over a month ago, her precious daughter MacKenzie emailed me to say that she was surprising her momma with an 80's birthday party and was hoping I could help in a surprise. Knowing how close we are, she asked me to record a birthday message she could play for her mom {ADORABLE right? i can't even begin to express how much it meant to me}. I even sent m's birthday gifts in Kenzie's name for safe keeping until this past Sunday.

Marisa, i love you so much! and adore your daughter for allowing me to share in your family's celebration of you. i hope you have one amazing birthday bestie! no one deserves it more.

lovies, because she means so much to me as does your continued reading of my little dolce vita-- i'll share the video that made it's way from TX to ND (no laughing!)

birthday message for my bestie! from micaela maxham on Vimeo.

P.S. i think it's very cool that our Texas Rangers won BIG and redeemed themselves for M's birthday!

help me wish "my person" a happy birthday!

2011-10-23T19:19:00.000-06:00

{even though you went back to your natural gorgeous brunette, this is one of my favourite photos of you and your sweet daughter}

quite simply, my world is better because you are in it.

Marisa, i hope you had a beautiful day and felt every bit loved.

P.S. i do so believe that OUR RANGERS got serious and won game four for you M! HUZZAH!

Sharing Sundays... sho & tell.

2011-10-23T00:00:00.002-06:00

I'm so glad this beautiful blogger decided to go public because i love her sho & tell for so many reasons:

advice found in graffiti

that anything by Roald Dahl is among her favorites

inspiration (especially the above)

clearly, i wanna spend a lazy sunday with her

it's pretty obvious why Shoko is my blog crush, no?

blog : sho & tell

happy things to end the week with.

2011-10-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

♥ this easy recipe for cherry tomato pizza margherita (though my photos will never look like a food blogger's + i didn't have enough basil on hand)

♥ finding the perfect welcome home baby girl gift for my dearest friend Sanja (who loves hello kitty) and her daughter Elena from designs by susan on etsy.

♥ enjoying sweaty runs outside with our dog bubbles while wearing my Mavericks Championship hat, a gift from my brother-in-law after our team won.

♥ in love with April's new tat and the fact she got it where i got my first one (on 6th street in Austin). also loved what she wrote on my fb yesterday, "Come to Arkansas and sleep on my couch and distract me from my awful calculus filled life. I'll make you coffee and we can talk about poetry." sounds like bliss!

♥ got off work in time to catch the AH-MAZING end of game two of the World Series {loved my friend Tim's comment!}

♥ i joked it was my jesus bracelet and that my favorite Ranger waited for me to get off work to get to business. Lovies, we have an even World Series but we're back in TEXAS for game three Saturday! (i will be wearing my jesus bracelet ha) i can't wait!!! RANGERS BABY!

♥ speaking of the Rangers, look how cute my twinkie looks in her cj wilson shirt and her Texas pumpkin! every year my family carves pumpkins and i'm sad i couldn't be there :( check out their pumpkins on twinkie's happy things to end the week with.

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

there are a million reasons why i love my husband. this is just one of them.

2011-10-20T10:23:00.000-06:00

i saw something similar on pinterest and my husband surprised me by making me one {painted white, because i love that shabby chic look}.

last night after working late, i relaxed with red wine + bram stoker's Dracula (just in time for halloween) using my very own handmade bathtub caddy. It was perfection.

i have an amazing husband who makes me feel like the luckiest girl.

two years in a row.

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-06:00

wearing my MLB for Victoria Secret shirt from my twinkie

WORLD SERIES BABY!!!

the night they clinched the win, i had to work {just like tonight for Game One against the Cardinals, le sigh} so i told twinkie to call me with the final score because unlike my past jobs, i'm really not allowed to have my cell phone out on the work floor.

she called me THREE times. three times my name went over the PA system for "line one." ha
the second time she called was right after Michael Young (my favorite Ranger!) hit a homer!

michael young fist bumping dirk nowitzki (be still my heart!)

or as justin ozuna said it best, "how michael young got his mojo back"

it's so good to be a Rangers fan and luckily this one will only miss game 1 and some of game 2 of the WORLD SERIES! (because believe me, i would have paid someone to cover my shifts!)

this is OUR year, i can feel it.

giving / receiving sparkle.

2011-10-18T19:05:00.002-06:00

As you might already know, i love a good swap. My dear friend Kaileen hosted a Sparkle Swap where you send another blogger four unique gifts-- a bit of sparkle, a treat that soothes, something sweet, and a surprise. I was excited to receive my sparkle gift today from Heather of Day Dreams & Fairy Tales.

sparkle included chocolate raspberry coffee i can't wait to try out, journal with glittery pencils and cupcake stickers, "lay seeds not stones" packets, wine coaster with wine stem charms, and two of my faves-- a book and chocolate. Heather, i've already devoured the espresso filled dark chocolates and wished there was a world market nearby so i could buy some more! thank-you for a wonderful swap package xo

i got Ginna of My Pretty Pennies who wrote this very sweet write-up about my swap package to her and why i chose each four things.

getting to know a blogger through swaps are my favorite.
*speaking of swaps, it's almost that time of year for the ornament exchange on my dolce vita!

preview.

2011-10-17T21:53:00.002-06:00

Halloween 2011 : Vintage Cat Woman

(do you spy little stella?)

update: you lovies are the best and most sweetest with your comments. truth be told, i was a little shy to post a pic but went ahead and hit the button after a glass (or two) of wine last night. Erin, i wish i was crafty enough to make this but alas i bought the catsuit from a halloween store {here it is online} - the accessories unfortunately are separate.

thank-you for making an unsure girl feel "meow" xo

Sharing Sundays... neena creates.

2011-10-16T20:13:00.001-06:00

"Contemporary Romance with an Edge :: For the Hopeless Romantic"

i want every shirt by Penelope Valencia.

Obviously, i need this one first. obviously.

etsy : neena creates

happy things to end the week with.

2011-10-14T12:24:00.001-06:00

♥ finding the perfect sweater with elbow patches to autumn-ize any dress or jean ensemble

♥ maverick's smile

♥ the most exciting news that my brother Marco and his girlfriend Christina are expecting!!! not only am I going to be an auntie to two beautiful babies (my older sister and her husband are also having a baby) but this is the first time my brother will be a daddy. We are thrilled! me and twinkie ordered this gorgeous porcelain necklace for the sweet mom-to-be.

♥ need this tea towel (i think i would frame it rather). need to keep living this tea towel.

♥ speaking of books, i won this one in dorothy's giveaway and i can't wait to read it. i'm in love with her idea -- she's doing a series of giveaways of her favorite titles. brilliant! i believe there's no better gift than a book you love.

♥ letters from edward (my bff inVA) are my favorite but his last one especially so-- knowing how much i miss fall in Virginia, he enclosed these for me.

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

his films are my favorite dates with myself on the couch.

2011-10-13T10:26:00.000-06:00

nothing like starting your day off with sleeping in, pumpkin spice latte, and a woody allen film*

(oh how i wish today looked like my Tuesday)

*it's on insant on nextflix. i loved it and wondered how it had slipped my fingers before. Truly touching, so much so parts are uncomfortable to watch but you'll be glad you did.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-10-12T21:35:00.001-06:00

As much as i desperately wish i could pull off the natural look, you'll rarely find me wearing anything but a dress / heels and certainly always with mascara and painted lips (even if it's just my tinted burt's bees lip balm in rose). In other words, i'm pretty girly that when i meet someone new they can't believe i love sports.

i always say it's the best gift my ex boyfriend ever gave me, a love for my Texas teams.

like tonight? my stomach was in knots watching Game Four as we went into extra innings. I was jumping up and down on my coffee table (good thing its sturdy and wooden!) with Nelson Cruz's three-run homer in the 11th Inning bringing the Texas Rangers ONE away from the World Series.

if you're my facebook friend, you already know what my status updates look like on game day but i just love the comrade (even the friendly "trash talk"). My friend Viet's comment on my status tonight made me smile.

so that's my curve ball... people are surprised by my love for sports.

what surprises people about you?

it's the simple things.

2011-10-11T09:52:00.000-06:00

i am a blessed girl xo

delicious bliss.

2011-10-10T19:49:00.002-06:00

the first of the season

happy things to end the week with.

2011-10-07T10:12:00.000-06:00

♥ packing a snack and folding a love note for husband {snack pack by itchin stichin}

♥ as if i needed more proof of why i love this man

♥ look what twinkie bought for me! i can't wait to wear it as we take on the Tigers (sorry Yankee fans! A-Rod messes up two years in a row? wow). BRING IT! {thank-you twinks! i have so much fun "watching" with you via texts/phone calls during the games. lets hope your c.j. wilson also brings it! ;) love you! xo}

♥ a new guilty pleasure? Hart of Dixie. i just love Rachel Bilson.

actually, my tivo just got busy... besides said new show, dexter!!!, and another season of Grey's Anatomy, i'm also watching these:

♥ i'm late into the game of its always sunny (thanks to manny and kidnapping his dvds, i'm all caught up!) // season two, finally!

♥ grabbing a dinner out of my choice (an order of large chick-fil-a waffle fries and a veggie corn dog from Hot Dog on a Stick conveniently next door) and being touched by this film. Perfect mid week date night with my husband.

and because i sound like such a couch potato (i can be) who eats horribly (i do), i'm lacing my trainers for a good sweaty run before i have to work this evening.

Happy Friday Lovies!!! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

Holly Golightly: "Thursday! It can't be! It's too gruesome!"

2011-10-06T09:53:00.000-06:00

now this would be a way to beat the mean reds.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

i'm thinking 60's version catwoman.

what are you going to dress up as this year?

"your love is better than ice cream better than anything else that i've tried..."

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000-06:00

hello thrifting find : the cutest bowls for the perfect sized scoop of ice cream

sharing my most favorite book.

2011-10-03T00:15:00.000-06:00

Bring your cup of coffee and come join me as i host this month's favorite book club over at april, maybe.

i'll share my favorite book with you, where you'd find this sentence underlined:

"...she smiles in an exhausted but warm sort of way, as though she is a brilliant sun in some other galaxy." -pg. 170

click here please? and as i mention in my guest post, if you haven't read my most favorite book i'll happily let you borrow my copy although i can't promise there won't be dog eared pages, coffee stains, and underlined sentences like the above. xo

D-DAY.

2011-10-02T11:08:00.002-06:00

all my Dexter lovies will know and be excited today is D-DAY!

Karina {my beautiful sister who shares my love for the sexy and good serial killer} sent me this picture text back in August and the season premier seemed forever away. And now it's here!!! *speaking of kary + dexter-ness... remember the valentine she made me? brilliant and such a perfect quote for me.

usually on this little blog of mine, today's feature is called "sharing sundays..." where i feature a blog or etsy crush. in celebration of D-Day, i have to share two items i found off etsy that would be perfect for any Dexter fan!

i found Ellen Weldon's etsy while searching for a birthday gift for my girl Claire. As you probably know, Claire is a huge Sons of Anarchy fan so i was beyond excited when i found this one of a kind screenprinted top of her Jax Teller.

Ellen is the kind of seller you hope for--- fast communication, helpful with sizes and fast shipping on a quality item. I was so impressed, i had to ask if she had any Dexter screen prints? right away she sent me different designs and my season premier top was custom ordered.

seriously, check out Ellen's etsy! especially if you're a True Blood, Harry Potter, Buffy, SOA fan.

how about these Dexter Blood Slide Soaps?! the scent : blood orange. hurry, they're on sale at Bloodbath!

yup, i'm such a nerd that i'll be wearing my Dexter shirt tonight

Happy D-Day Lovies!!!

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." -T.S. Eliot

2011-09-29T10:19:00.001-06:00

Happy National Coffee Day!

{and because i collect coffee mugs, i couldn't resist this vintage one. i really like this one too}

Wanting to Know you Wens.

2011-09-28T22:50:00.000-06:00

I was excited to pick it up Mia Farrow's memoir, What Falls Away on my last used bookshop date but I'll be honest... it had more to do with reading about Woody Allen in her own words.

And yet, i'm far from that chapter in her life and i can't put her words down.

on Frank Sinatra:

"...I thought what a beautiful face he had, full of pain and somehow familiar."

"It might have been right then, as our eyes met, that I began to love him; I felt a column of light rising inside me, pulling particles from dark dead corners.... And when I could look again, behind his eyes was no stranger. Again the feeling of recognition took me by surprise." -page 86 - 88

do you ever read biographies? do share some you've read below please!

an answer to a prayer.

2011-09-27T21:55:00.002-06:00

i had such a fun-filled weekend in Phoenix with my brother and his family including the birthday girl, my now 9 year old niece Brianna.

here she is with one of her birthday surprises (isn't their new house gorgeous?)

we had an alice in wonderland tea party, complete with the croquet and pin the smile on the cheshire cat {since i was helping with the games, i'm sad to say i only took photos of some of the decorations}.

my brother had some of his friends surprise bri with a fly over, right over the house (seriously!? awesome).

and the next day, brianna had her first horse riding lesson.

as many of you know, my brother is in the national guard and has gone to Iraq on three separate year long deployments. On this last deployment is where he met Christina, the love of both of our lives. :) me and marianne have prayed for my brother's happiness for so long. She is the answer to our prayers... they both are. Brianna was the extra blessing. I was so lucky to be part of her birthday weekend!

and this, i just had to show you! last december bri's class had an art assignment where they had to answer when "a christmas stocking isn't a stocking" and this was her answer:

i am blessed with an amazing family. beyond blessed.

waiting at the airport essentials.

2011-09-23T11:36:00.000-06:00

i caught a late flight into Phoenix, AZ last night to spend the weekend with my brother, his girlfriend, and her daughter in their new house together (it's beautiful!).

best of all, it's for Brianna's 9th birthday (an alice in wonderland themed tea party)!

i hope you have just as fun a weekend planned and i can't wait to read all about them on monday.

happy friday lovies! xo

how i lazily soak up the rest of what was an epic summer.

2011-09-21T11:11:00.000-06:00

today you can find me over at one of my favorite friend's blogs, the newly married Sarah of Sadie Designs.

come check me out? please, and thank-you!

if you came to visit me in El Paso, this is probably what we would do. this and some thrifting.

true story.

2011-09-20T16:58:00.000-06:00

while at the grocery store i picked up a snickers bar at the register as a treat for my husband. I came home to surprise him (it's the little things) and i kid you not--- he said he had also bought me something while he was at the gas station.

what was this little treat for his wife? a SNICKERS ice cream bar.

usually he gets me reeses mini cups // usually i'd get him peanut m&ms but today we had the same idea.

thanks snickers, you proved i married my soul mate!