Guest Post: A Dreamer's Daze.

Well, hello friends!

I have been away this week, but I'll share more on that soon.

Right now I want you all to stop what you are doing and read this lovely guest post. 

Ariel is the best.

I'm serious.

She is the sweetest lady!!

When I get a text from her I laugh so much.

Then hours later, I remember that I completely forgot to text her back because life is crazy, busy! :/

(I'm sorry. I promise to get better!!)

Everyday I pretty much think about jumping on a plane, flying to the west coast, and hanging out with her for a week...or a month...or forever.

OR...just however long she will have me around. ;)

So, without further ado:

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Hello!
My name is Ariel and I blog over at A Dreamer's Daze.

I'm so so excited that Colie asked me to guest post- isn't she just the sweetest thing ever!?
I've found so many wonderful people in blogland- where are you people in real life!?
Kidding... kind of.

Anyways, a little about me:
I am a 21 year old college student and I blog to document daily life, adventures, and inspirations. I love life and love and happiness and seek to capture it at every possible moment. My blog is a love letter to the world- to the places I've been, to the people I've met, and to the beauty and uncertainty that the future holds.

I grew up in a small northern California town. Home to the phrases "like" and "you know!?" Totally guilty of overusing those ones.
I've lived in the house that my daddy built since I was five years old.
I am one of five kids and my cat, Mr. Feeney, is my child.

I believe in viewing life as an adventure. This isn't hard to do, living in California. It's a beautiful state that has everything to offer.  

I live in a suburb about an hour from San Francisco. It's a cute town with street fairs and Saturday morning farmer's markets. The temperature never seems to drop below 50.

 I'm surrounded by mountains and fields and gorgeous bodies of water.

I believe in the power of music and I make it a goal to see at least one act of live music per month.
Lucky for me, California is home to many a music festivals.

Even though, I spend most of the year in Vermont for school, California will always be home. I feel so blessed to live here every time I smell the ocean air and feel the sunshine on my face. It really is an absolutely magical place to live.

Thank you for having me, Colie! 

Feel free to check out my blog, A Dreamer's Daze. 

There's nothing better than making new friends!

xoxo

Ariel

Guest Posting today, friends.

Today is the day that I am guest posting for the lovely, Ariel, over at A Dreamer's Daze.
Which, I am over -the-moon-excited about for two reasons.
First, it is actually my first guest post. Hooray! (Short & sweet...the way I like it).
AND.....

She is wonderful! Truly.
Her blog has been a breath of fresh air for me.
I love that I am getting to know her more.
She makes me laugh so much. :)
& can't wait for her guest post this coming week on my blog!! :)

PS. Also, do yourself a favor and follow her on Instagram here.
You will love all of her sweet photos!

Happy Friday, everyone.
much love.
xoxo.

Nicknames.

So, I have said it before & I'll say it again: I LOVEE nicknames!

I don't know why, but I always have.

If I could shorten everyone's name or call them something that suits only them, I would!

So, I was sitting around thinking of all the nicknames I have gotten over the years & thought I'd share them with you.

2007. My trip to Florida to see family. 

I was dark. 

Oh, and I kinda want short hair again...:/

My real name is Nicole.

My nicknames have been (or are):

Colie

Nickel

Pickles

Nikki 

(which is the worst. I'm sorry if this is your name. 

It's nothing against you. It just doesn't suit me.)

Freckles

Coe

Pebbles

Coliebear

Nic

Macolely

Cuban

Now it is your turn! 

What are your nicknames??

Any favorites?

Birthdays are for celebrating...

This past week has been a tough one for me.
I have had a lot going on with my family, car problems, finances, wishing I had a new job ... ya know, just everything.
In the mist of one of the worst days I have had in awhile, I was able to find real joy in it.
Life is hard. There are constant ups and downs, but if we seek joy, we will find it.
& I did.


One of my baby sisters turned 17 this past Tuesday.
Gah. They grow up so fast, right? Craziness, I tell ya.
We had my brother, sister-in-law, and all my nephews over. We ate burgers, sang happy birthday, ate some cake, and then headed outside for a long afternoon of slip-in-slide and laughs!

That last one is the only photo I took of myself that day.

I looked like bum. Seriously.

Also, I would like to mention that I adore those boys above.

They are the sweetest, funniest, cutest, and most lovable kiddos I've ever known.

I may be biased, but I speak truth people. :)

I truly hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

I have been packing and will be moving out of my parents house by Monday.

I will share more next week.

Until then...

much love, friends.

xoxo

Guest Post: Funny Lady.

I'm stoked about this guest post.

I know you are all going to love, Heidi.

She is so funny! Seriously.

& I am pretty sure I tell her that EVERY time I talk to her.

She is probably sick of it, but it's true.

Plus, she and her husband are the cutest. 

Oh, and she gets to travel A LOT, which makes me jealous!

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First off I want to say thank you to Colie for having me. I have loved our email/text exchanges over the past few weeks, she is truly a breath of fresh air. And she has fun Instagram pics, you should follow her. Bonus, her birthday is my wedding anniversary! Happy May 29^th to us!

Hey! My name is Heidi and I blog over at Heidi of the Future. What a strange name you might be thinking... yes, yes it is. I started my blog when I moved to China in 2009 to teach English to university students. My family and friends needed to stay up to date with all the weird food I was eating, so my blog was created. At the time I was in the future, aka 14 hours ahead of America, but now that I'm back stateside it sounds like I'm into science or time travel or something...

Life didn't become normal just because I was back home in Oklahoma (love you Oklahoma!). It actually might have gotten crazier, and China is crazy. Ten months after returning from China I was married to my super long distance out-of-the-country boyfriend who stuck with me when I said, "I'm going to China, date me if you want, I'll be back in a year". He is also from Oklahoma (miss you Oklahoma!) but moved to Philadelphia to start optometry school.

So, I found myself married and moving the next day to Philadelphia where he was the only person I knew. China prepared me for this... my independence (I also was living in the city where independence happened… or something like that). I lived there for 8 months before starting out on the next journey of our life... optometry rotations. We move every 3 months to a new state, and there is never a dull moment.

So I write about our day-to-day (or week-to-week, not a lot happens sometimes, that's when I just post youtube videos) crazy adventures. We have no money, no friends or family around us usually (we do right now in Denver!), so it's just us... being gypsies... loving life, trusting God, and seeing the country in a really unique way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, okay, maybe getting paid, but that's all. Okay, and having my people to travel along. That would be cool.

So come stop on by, say hi. Who knows, maybe I am moving to a city near you, and I need friends... Like, really, I need friends. Anyone? Also we need a place to live in Miami... anyone?

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So, now go do yourself a favor and pop on over to her blog.

Say hello and stay awhile.

It will make her day! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

much love,

xoxo.

Front page news!

This evening I was so sad to hear the news that Richard Dawson, host of Family Fued, had passed away on June 2. :( 

He will be missed.

Also, do you remember him on the 70's game show, "Match Game"?
Probably not.

Listen people: Let me just say that if I were growing up during the 70's, then this is the show I would watch all the freakin' time. I'm serious.

It is the most hilarious show EVER!!

To prove it, I suggest you take a moment after reading this post, hop on over to YouTube, watch snippets of the show and then laugh until it hurts. 

(PS. You are welcome.)

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Now, onto Miley Cyrus. 

I am pretty sure most of you are about to judge me right now.

I don't care.

I was happy to hear the news about her engagement to Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth.

I am going to be quite honest with you guys.

I kind of want to dislike Miley.

I know that sounds horrible. 

I really do.

BUT!

I think I feel that way mostly because everyone seems to have a reason that they don't care for her.

However, I think that may be the reason I like her more.

She isn't perfect, truly not the best actress, and the singing could improve a bit.

However,

I feel like she would be someone I'd love to hang out with, someone who despite how many people tear her down she is always talking about loving/caring for others, and I also love most of her outfits.
Plus, have you seen Liam?
That is definitely a hottie with a body. Just sayin'.

{She is also a big supporter of TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms), which is a very important organization to me.} 

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In other news, a girl walked into the store the other day.

She looked straight at me and said, "You look just like Amy Winehouse. It is definitely the eyes."

I didn't know what to say.

So, I responded with, "Well, thank you ... if you meant that as a compliment."

She did and I was glad.

Amy Winehouse was a genius.

Have you heard her voice?

Phenomenal.

It is a shame that she was taken from us so soon.

I believe she is someone who was truly beautiful inside and out, but that she couldn't escape her demons. 

People can say whatever they like about her tragic life, but I must say that I have a spot in my heart for those that are most often judged. 

I'm always the one rooting in the corner for them.

[I also know I look nothing like Amy Winehouse, but it was a sweet compliment.]

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This next photo melted my heart:

Gahh!!

So. stinkin'. cute!

I must mention that it took me some time to warm up to Jared's (Padalecki) hair, but I don't mind it being long anymore. Though, he could trim it up a bit. 

But, hey .. the photo is still adorbs, right?? 

& one more thing.

Can we please talk about how cute he and his wife, Geneieve, are together? :)

Aww. :)

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You go girl!

Congrats to Kelly for losing 30 pounds. 

Either way, she is GORGEOUS! :)

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Ok, that is all the news I have for now.

Not because I don't have more to share, but mostly because it is late and I'm sleepy. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Monday.

much love, 

xoxo.

Lovelies.

This photo is from back in '07 when I went to Florida to visit my family. 

My grandma had her birthday the other day. I obviously couldn't be there. :(

So, I thought I'd post this photo of us because I miss her.

Plus, it makes me happy seeing us together.

You can definitely see the cuban in me now, eh? 

Alright, now onto the favorites:

I absolutely adored the video Mandi and her husband did for their baby gender reveal! So cute.

I could sit at look at this lady, with her red hair, ALL day. :)

Can I please just go to New Jersey ... and hit up some boardwalks ... or something?

I really liked reading Erin's 'About Me' page. 

When I continue to do posts on my trip to NY, you WILL see photos and talk of musicals. Why? Because I LOVEE them. Seriously. Love. I never thought I would until I saw one on Broadway...and  then there was no going back.

So imagine my excitement when Lauren posted all about her favorite musicals here!! :D

The photos from Stef's special day are gorgeous!!

I love me some polk-a-dots.

Can I please have a blogger meet up soon? It looks like so much fun.

I liked reading about Kyla's summer intentions.

Maybe I should make a list? I dunno. I might ... I probably won't. :/

 I love everything in this post: from the dress, to Beca's tattoos, to her cute iPhone cover!!

This week I am loving this blog and this one. :)

Happy Friday (almost Saturday), friends!

much love,

xoxo.

Today.

[instagram: theplaidsparrow]

Today was filled with sleeping in (until 8:10am), not cleaning my room, crazy hair, eating sushi with a friend, book store shopping, fun nails, relaxing, soaking up the sun, falling asleep on the swing in the backyard, and spending the evening with great friends. 

How was your day?

PS. Feel free to follow me on Facebook, if you don't already. :)

xoxo