Isn't It True...

Under what? Under eyes.

I recently went to Sephora to stock up on the regular beauty essentials. When I asked the lady helping me what types of under eye concealer she recommended she told me not to waste my money. Instead, she said, buy this product that reduces under eye puffiness and dark circles. I took her advice and purchased the Detox Eye Roller by First Aid Beauty. The $24 dollars was so worth it! You can feel the product under your eyes working. It has a cooling effect while it is distributing the lymphatic build-up under your eyes. You feel and look more awake after using it!

Detox Eye Roller gets an A +!

Wacky Wednesday

Is it time for Dallas yet?

www.etsy.com

BFF

Some fun on the way to the Kauai, Hawaii for our honeymoon!

About time.

After 143 days of temperatures over 100 degrees the spell is finally broken. Today's high temp. in Arizona was a woppin' 98 degrees. You know what that means? Fall online shopping....

I am in love with www.lulus.com right now. Great deals, great quality!

$40 bucks! Got to love ASOS

This vest with the dress above? Hello fall!

Fall boots: a must.

Happy Fall shopping!

Pick your poison.

Happy National Coffee Day! What's your favorite over-priced caffeinated beverage? 

I like a triple grande, non-fat, 2 pump SF Vanilla Latte.

Hope you day is filled with a cup-o- joe and good company :) 

Wacky Wednesday.

Excuses.

Lately I have been full of a great excuse. Just one. One that seemed to consume the past 11 months of my life. I thought it was a pretty good one, considering I was planning a ceremony and celebration that would shape the rest of my entire life. However, looking back this excuse shaped more than just my time. It shaped my social life, my domestic life, my "work out" life, my "crafty" life and my family life. It changed the way I spent my days and ALL nights. Oh and let's not forget to mention- love life.

Excuse of 2010/2011: "After the wedding...", "when the wedding is over...", "I will get to that when I have more time after the wedding...", "September is going to be a busy month when I have time after the wedding..."

So, now that I have the fairytale day behind me and I am now official Mrs. Barnes (most incredible, amazing, extraordinary, better than I could have ever dreamed of day) my to-do lists are our of control. It's almost like my mind has been wiped clean and ready for me to fill with new, exciting projects:

1. Work on work.
2. Run more. Justin and I are running the PF Chang's 1/2 Marathon in January so my normal 2 mile jog isn't really going to cut it.
3. Plan a girls trip with my Seattle besties. WE are in desperate need of some together time.
4. Clean out my closet.
5. Take a photography class to learn how to actually use the camera I have.
6. Make Justin more of his favorite cookies. As long as we do # 2 :)

That should be enough to keep me busy here for the next few months..

Oh yeah and one more...

#7: LEARN TO BE A BETTER BLOGGER!

Good thought to keep in mind.

Happy Wednesday!

It's official...

I am not good at blogging. I am not going to lie, blogging is at the very bottom of the totem pole these days. Lately, I have barely had time to call my best friends back let alone be a good blogger for my loads of 6 "followers." Which doesn't make much sense considering I have a ton more page views a day... follow me people!


The following image is a handy tool in the produce department. I don't agree with buying organic in all instances but in most the food tastes better and I know it is better for me (and Justin). 


Use this image next time you are at the store:

It's a sure great day for a wedding

This song is a must while the ladies and I are getting ready on the big day! 

Bibo

While in high school I worked at a coffee shop named "Bibo." It was a locally owned shop run by two 26 year old guys and one of their moms. I loved it. It was by far the best job I have ever had. We knew every customers name, drink and dogs name. We baby sat for them, house sat when they were out of town and special ordered pastries when we knew they had family coming to visit.


One of the girls that I worked there with is still one of my best friends in the world. We don't see each other often (she is in law school in LA, smarty pants) but when we do get together we pick right up where we left off. A part of me thinks I loved Bibo so much because of her. Whitney is going to be at the bachelorette party and wedding and I can't wait to drink a few too many cocktails with her and celebrate love!

Jersey party? Who knows.

We would always laugh when customers would come in and order coffee like they were at Starbucks. I never really minded, but it was funny to see other baristas get so angry about the "box store" coffee shop lingo.  "I am sorry, you want a tall venti mocha? We don't have that here, only small, medium and large!" 

One of my lifetime goals is to open a coffee shop. I don't know where but I do have a business plan in place and ready to go. Who knows when this will happen but the sooner the better is sounding REALLY good these days. 

A toast to...

Since wedding planning has started I haven't been super emotional about the events taking place. My personality is to plan, plan, plan and then just get through it without any bumps in the road. Not in an insensitive way, just in a time is ticking sort of manner. 

That, however, has not been the case when it has come to our wedding invitations. When Justin and I went to proof the wedding invites a few weeks back it was sob central. I couldn't help it. Seeing our names, together, on the same piece of beautiful paper, in the pretty font made my eyes fill and tears fall. 

So-the night has come to take out our pretty pens and start addressing each and every envelope to our wonderful guests. I can't wait to open the bottle of champagne we have been saving for this day, (from the wonderful Dan and Jen), plant our bums on the couch and toast to many rsvp's and not to many no-see's! 

Oh, and I apologize if your invite has a little bit of smeared ink on the front... this is why...

Justin has amazing handwriting so I am sure he will be doing a little bit of addressing, too :) 

Feeling whole

Nothing has made me happier than becoming "roomies" with Justin. It feels like our relationship has come full circle. The best part of my day is coming home to see him. Yes ladies, he cooks, cleans, makes the bed and he is Mr. Fix IT! 

I can't wait to spend forever with him, he is the best roommate a girl could ask for! 

One for One.

Loving Toms NEW eyewear line! 

"With TOMS Eyewear, one person buys, and one person is helped. TOMS will help give sight to people in need through medical treatment, prescription eyeglasses and sight-saving surgery, administered by its first Sight Giving Partner, Seva Foundation. Based in northern California, Seva has been implementing sustainable blindness prevention and sight restoration programs for over 30 years. Seva programs and partners have helped nearly three million people worldwide to see again. Nepal, Tibet and Cambodia are the first countries in which TOMS Eyewear will give."

http://www.toms.com/eyewear/

Shoe fetish

I have never been much of a shoe fanatic. The first pair of expensive shoes I ever bought was in San Francisco junior year of college when I went to visit Michelle. I bought a pair of black, patent, Tory Burch flats that I have basically worn with every outfit for the past 3 years straight. I literally have to be wearing denim shorts to not put them on. Despite the horrid smell that reeks out of them after I take them off after a long day of work I would say they are still in pretty good shape. Thanks Tory for showing me that if you spend a little extra money on a nice pair of shoes you will get your wear out of them.

With that being said after I bought my wedding dress in January, Katherine and I went to Bellevue Square in Washington to meet my family for a quick sushi lunch before my flight back to Phoenix. On the way to sushi I walked by the Nordstrom shoe department and found my wedding shoes, tried them on and ordered them within five minutes. They were perfect, beautiful and I couldn't wait to wear them. Fast forward 6 months when Justin and I were in Seattle ironing out some last minute wedding details when I tried the shoes on again. Yes, they were beautiful. Yes, they were pretty affordable. Yes, they matched my dress perfectly. But HECK no am I going to wear a 5 inch heel, on grass, on Labor Day weekend

for 7+ hours. Time to go back to the drawing board.

This is the time when this post comes into play: I ended up splurging... ok splurging A LOT on the new wedding shoes. Not only are they the most comfortable, cute and amazing shoes I have ever worn but I am absolutely obsessed with their color, texture and heel size.  Maybe it is because I am so excited for September 3rd that it is hard to sleep some nights, or maybe it is also because Kate Spade makes the most unbelievable shoes I have ever worn and I can't wait to walk down the grass isle, on Labor Day weekend and never take them off. (That's not true, I have another pair of "FUN" shoes to wear for the reception.... that's another post-wedding post). Stay tuned for the BIG day to see the new "kicks!" 

So am I shoe obsessed? Still no. But am I wedding shoe obsessed? YES! YES! YES! 

Neale Donald Walsch

Every morning I get a regularly scheduled email from Neale Donald Walsch with a unique and different message telling me what he thinks God wants me to know and carry with me for that day. The messages are inspiring and seem to fit exactly what is going on in my life at that time. It may seem dorky, but sometimes that is all you need to put your mind in the right place to conquer the day. Do yourself a small favor and sign up to get his messages of encouragement, hope and love. 


I love Donald, thank you for being a light in my life. 

If You Always Do....

“. . . what you’ve always done, you’ll always be, what you’ve always been”. . .

Trader Joe's Gentle Facial Cleanser

While I was at Trader Joe's yesterday I was in the market for some new face wash after mine had a little accident on the way to Huntington Beach last weekend. I picked up this gentle facial cleanser for $6.99 and I am so glad I did. It is a great makeup remover and leaves your skin feeling smooth and clean. A MUST BUY! 

Yum.

A+J Wedding Shower with a few special guests

Tammy did what she does best and planned an amazing wedding shower for Justin and I. She orchestrated a HUGE surprise and had Kelby and Jessica come into town for the big celebration. When Justin and I walked into her house they were hiding behind a wall. After a few seconds they jumped out and completely SHOCKED us! It was the best addition to such a great party. The night was a blast. Justin and I are SO lucky to have such amazing family and friends.

When Justin and I pulled up to the Crawfords these were hanging from the gate...

How cute is he? 

I can't wait to hang this "Barnes- Established 2011" sign in Justin and I's home!

Cute decorations and decor. It's like being at the beach... in Arizona!

Justin and his beautiful sister after the BIG surprise! 

Thanks for coming past roomies- can't wait to boogie in Seattle in just a few months! 

Not a huge sugar cookie person but these were too cute to pass up! 

SO GLAD Kelby was able to be there! She is the best sister!! 

I have to be the luckiest girl in the world to get to marry Justin AND get to call this girl my sister!

I have the greatest bridesmaids... and this is only 1/2! They have gone above and beyond the typical BM duties...thanks ladies! 

My favorite white lights- soooo pretty. 

Centerpieces :) 

Justin... I mean "we" got the Bobber cooler Justin registered for.. yay? Haha! 

This is the next day with the Bobber cooler, thanks Megan and Jade! 

Thank you so much to everyone for making this day so special for us. We could not be more excited to share the rest of our lives together with each of you in it. 

Judgement Day? Is anyone there?

I had a mild panic attack yesterday followed by a manic email to Justin concerned about the predication Harold Camping made that Doomsday will fall on May 21st, 2011. For a second I thought we might have to run away to Vegas and head here...

Justin laughed at me and told me not to worry, that he was pretty sure everything was going to be ok and it is all in Gods hands. I thought about what he said, calmed down and then started to think about what Redemption Day really meant to me. It reminded me to live every day to it's fullest just as you would if it was your last, to treat people as if you will never see them again and if you feel a certain way to tell people, you will regret what you don't say much more than what you do. AND I am not going to lie, I am pretty glad today wasn't the big day because we have a pretty exciting wedding shower being thrown for Justin and I tonight by the wonderful Tammy Crawford!

I think I am going to keep this hanging in my car for a while...

107 sun rises and sun sets...

Until this man is my husband.

July 2011

I received this in an email today and thought it was neat.  This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. This is called money bags. May be the only time we see this in our lifetime!

July 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Seattle success!

Justin and I had a wonderful time in Seattle crossing a few T's and dotting a few I's for the September celebration. We had a chance to pick out the rehearsal dinner spot, meet our amazing DJ Tony Schwartz,  do our menu tasting at the Salish Lodge, pick out our flowers and decor for the ceremony/ reception (which was by far the most fun thing, ever) and meet our wedding officiant. 

Justin LOVED Snoqualmie Point Park and the Salish Lodge.  I am so happy that he is so happy. He said he couldn't have picked it better himself. We are on our way to a pretty good start at forever :)

I feel like I lost 5 lbs in stress this weekend. PHEW! 

Our own private room for our menu tasting :)

and our own table...

Dad and I at the wedding site, such a beautiful day! 

Kelby Jean is an amazing MOH and took part in all of the wedding planning festivities. Thank you Kelbs, you are the best! 

Tomorrow, tomorrow... I love you tomorrow!

Tomorrow I get to go home! Justin and I are finalizing a few wedding details (like showing him the venue, which he hasn't seen yet, ha!) and spending some quality time at the Sullivan compound as Mr. Sullivan likes to say. Nothing makes me happier than sitting in the kitchen in North Bend, with a big cup of coffee (or wine depending on the time of day) and spending time with the people I love. There is nothing better. Can't wait to see all my favorites! 

Ahhh... home. There is nothing quite like it. 

I get to see this fur ball tomorrow!

Heaven.

Hopefully we will make it out to see little man playing baseball with the Knuckleballers! 

I am going to miss this little stinker tho. 

Tammy is coming too! Can't wait to show her old home videos of my sisters and I belting out The Judd's. 

And of course my bestest friend, Shannie will be there to play the whole time! This picture is an oldie... but a goodie :) Let's take more like it.... minus the peace sign. HA!