Snail Mail. My favorite.

via

Let's write some letters:

Dear crappy-no-touch-screen phone, I dislike you. I miss my iPhone (4S) so very much. :( I might cry. Seriously.

Dear baby sister, please don't rush into another relationship. The last one was awful to you and I hate seeing anyone break your heart. You are beautiful, kind, and gracious. Be patient for one who is worthy of your heart!

Dear Hunger Games, I wish desperately that I could get you out of my head. So. leave. me. alone. I still love you, though. 

Dear boyfriend, thank you for being kind and patient with me. It means more than you know. Also, thank you for the new bed frame. Just remember that next time I will NOT be putting ANYTHING together. The photos on the instruction manuel makes it look easy. It lied.

Dear body image, please stop making me feel bad about myself. It isn't nice. This post helped, though.

Dear Michelle Williams, I watched 'My Week with Marilyn' yesterday afternoon. You are absolutely gorgeous and shine like the stars! PS. I found out that you are now dating Jason Segel. I wanted you to know that I am okay with that. I hope it works out for you! ;)

Dear coffee shops, I wish that you weren't so expensive. It breaks my heart that I can only go once or twice a week now. :/

Dear patients, please don't come into the pharmacy today and cause me problems. I know you want your drugs, but please realize it isn't my fault if you don't receive them. There is a good reason why.

Dear chapstick, I beg of you not to disappear on me again! I always seem to lose you & my lips just can't take that. 

Dear blogger friends, I am so glad I have you. There may not be many of you, but I'm more grateful than you could possibly know!

Until next time...
much love.

Giveaway

GOOD MORNING!!! :)

I got to sleep in today.

For me, that means 8am. ;) ha.

Sad, I know, but all those years waking up for college early just seemed to stick.

I know Mondays aren't always the best since it is usually back the grind for most people.

However, I do hope that this giveaway will start off your week on the RIGHT track. :)

So, I am making it simple, especially it being my first giveaway.

I thought all week about what I wanted to do.

I know how much I love this store:

:D:D

So, why not giveaway one of these:

So, my sweet friends ... if you are interested in a $25 gift card, then you should definitely be apart of this little giveaway.

I'll be honest with you all...

I might be a tad bit jealous because I would love to purchase another cute dress from Forever 21. ;)

However, I am oh-so happy to give you all the chance to buy one for yourself (or a shirt, or a pair of jeans, or some pretty jewerly... just whatever you can't live without!)

I just have two rules for this giveaway:

1. You need to be a follower of my blog.

2. I want to know what you are most looking forward to for this spring season!! :)

That's it!

The winner will be announced next Friday, April 13th (whoa. creepy. I just realized that will be Friday the 13th!!)

Happy, happy Monday!!

much love.

xoxo

PS. You have no idea how hard it was not to say: "...and may the odds be EVER in your favor!"

I'm still stuck on The Hunger Games, after watching it twice now.

I was able to refrain myself, though. ;)

Tumblr Thursday

I thought it was about time for another one! ;)
All photos found via my tumblr. 
**Credit is always given, if requested!


Enjoy, friends!

Smile.

& have the happiest Thursday.

xoxo

Are the odds in your favor?! ;)

The Hunger Games.

Where to begin?

No, seriously. Where to begin??

Sometimes I hate how novels can take over my life.

It happens frequently. :/

This has definitely been no exception, I'm afraid. 

So, I must start off by saying that if you have not read the books then you probably don't want to go past this point. -- Of course, unless you have now seen the movie.

But, if you HAVEN'T read them, then you need to be slapped. 

I'm sorry. I'm only being honest. ;)

Now I must say that I am happy that I didn't read Book 1, again, before seeing the movie last night! 

I already had a preconceived notion about how my expectations would NOT be met.

However, once I was able to let go of the reality that every aspect of the novel could not be fit into the movie, I was able to except it a little more. 

Into the first 15-20 minutes, they have the reaping in District 12.

Now let me tell you all that I obviously knew what was going to happen.

I knew the crazy, Effie Trinket would pull out a single piece of paper from the "girls" bowl, which contained Primrose Everdeen's name on it.

I KNEW that Katniss would volunteer as tribute.

I did NOT know how strongly I would be effected by her response.

Which seems silly since I was in utter shock and sadness when I first read it so long ago.

But after Effie calls Prim's name, and she walks off tucking in her "tail", everything is silent. 

So still.

I sat in the theater chair just bracing myself.

And then ... the blood wrenching scream "I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute."

I was a goner.

So, I was in trouble from the very beginning.

I should have known better. ;)

ALSO! Can we please take a moment to talk about Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

 Now I really like Josh Hutcherson.

I think he is a cute guy and has played some really decent roles, especially for his age.

BUT!!! I must say that I was EXTREMELY worried about his role as Peeta.

I honestly wasn't sure if he could pull it off.

With that being said, I went into the movie thinking I would very much dislike him as Peeta.

However, I'm not sure at what point -- maybe the way he looked at her the whole freakin' movie, maybe when it flashed back to him throwing the burnt bread to her when she was about to starve in the freezing cold, maybe when he screamed at her to run when she was hallucinating from the tracker jacker stings, maybe when he told her that he had always noticed her, maybe when he held her in the cave, maybe when they kissed and you knew that he gave his all because it wasn't just an act for him, maybe ... just maybe when he was willing to DIE for her because the rules changed and said there truly could be only ONE victor! 

    I just stopped worrying

 about who was playing him and started focusing on the Peeta I knew from the books. & then at some point Josh just shined through as Peeta, for me. 

  I'm pretty sure I became even more

 in love with a fictional character than ever before.  

This is sad. I know.

But please ... just let me have my moment. ;)

I can say without a doubt that I loved everyone else who played each character.

Rue. Sweet, sweet Rue.

Another tearjerker moment people!

Ugh. But I was so mad when she died. 

I just wanted to punch President Snow out.

Which is quite a shame considering I like Donald Sutherland as an actor! ;)

Aw ... and Katniss.

I'm telling you all ... Jennifer Lawrence is phenomenal!!!

I truly couldn't picture another actor to play the part.

For me, she was so invested in the character. 

I didn't doubt her for a moment!

That is all for now.

I just want to take this time to apologize for my full length novel. ;)

Please do yourself a favor and read the books or at the very least, go watch the movie!

Happy Hunger Games! 

xoxo

Happenings.

Lately:

- I am trying to work towards my goal of losing 35 pounds. 

-In that process, I'm letting go of sweets ... slowly. :/

-Wishing there was more time in each day to do more of the things I love.

-So happy to have my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews back home. It has been wonderful having them here. :)

-Stressing over finances (same ole, same ole)

-Happy that I get to dress up for work this Saturday, but sad to have to miss church on Sunday!

-I watched 'Moneyball' & 'Reel Steel' this week. Very different movies. I enjoyed them both.

**PS. No matter how you feel about Brad Pitt, I still believe he is a phenomenal actor. & Jonah Hill's performance was awesome. 

-Working on my posture because I'm pretty sure I stay slumped over far too much.

-Dyed my hair all black. (It pretty much looks the same, though)

-After today, I wish I had bought rain boots. 

**I ALWAYS say that when it rains. Do I ever go buy any? Obviously not! :/

-Reminding myself to find the good in others, even when it isn't always evident. 

-Trying to read about 6 different books at the moment.

-Finding new & interesting sites + blogs this week. :)

-I miss watching Top Gear, the UK version, so bad!!

-Thinking we need a Chick-fil-a, then deciding on breakfast wouldn't be so hard!

-AND ... waiting patiently, but on the edge of my seat, for the release of 'The Hunger Games'! Aw. I'm beyond excited & praying that all the actors hold true to each character. So, of course, I had to leave you with the official music video for Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars!!!

Lovely, right?! :)

Its strange because I used to not be a huge Taylor Swift fan. I just didn't think she was that great of a singer. However, there is such a genuine quality about her that I can't help but like.

She has definitely grown on me.

I'm so happy she did this song and included some of my favorite people!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thursday. 

much love.

xoxo

The games are almost here!

This short, new trailer for 'The Hunger Games' got me even more excited for the upcoming movie!

March 23rd could not come fast enough, folks!! :)

Goodness, & can I just say how perfect Jennifer Lawerence will be as Katniss ... the girl on fire!?

Flawless.

Also, if you happen to be one of the few people who haven't read the books, then PLEASE for all that is good in this world ... you need to ... TODAY!!

Ok, ok ... I've said my peace.

& may the odds be ever in your favor. ;)

My Christmas present.

For all that is good in this world, can we PLEASE talk about how:

+

+

=

oh, katniss ... peeta. 

i'm sorry. i can't.

i have NO words. 

none.

colie.

PS. Yes, I am one of "those" people. The ones who become obsessed with fictional characters. : / It may be sad, but so very true. 

feel. INSPIRED.

i am extremely excited about this post today.

there is so much inspiration around me -- & i hope i can send a little your way, as well.

for those of you who do not know, i have a tumblr account.

on that account i follow miss dianna agron, otherwise known as charlie. ;)

dianna.

i enjoy her posts on music, friends, life, and the arts.

i'm sure that you will too!

so dianna just kicked off a new website.

& after popping over last night, i truly felt inspired & encouraged!

if you decide you would like to feel the same then please click on the "about charlie" tab when you get there.

it will explain the name behind the person named "charlie".

:)

taken from youmeandcharlie under "daily inspiration".

over the past couple of days i have been feeling musically inspired.

& of course being on (youmeandcharlie) last night, i stumbled upon miss emma louise.

i love her!

emma louise & a lovely birdie. :)

& on that note ... i stopped over on lauren's blog this morning.

boy, oh boy was i in for a lovely treat! :D

it is week 2 of the hunger games countdown & she did NOT disappoint.

her friend kate gave us a hunger games mixtape.

the mixtape was amazing! -- if you loved reading the books and fell in love with peeta & katniss, then please check out these posts. i promise you won't be disappointed. :) -- & if you haven't read the hunger games. please, PLEASE do so TODAY!! 
** i must say that if you have not read all three books yet, then i would not suggest you read any of lauren's hunger game posts, yet. -- you will find out far too much information, which won't make reading the novels as much fun. : /

ALSO,  just a heads up ... i know that kate had adele's "make you feel my love" by bob dylan on the list of songs, but i didn't find it on the actual playlist. so i decided to add the video below:

much love, colie.

Friday Favorites

it is almost midnight, BUT i have finally gotten all (well... almost all) of my favorite things from this week. -- hope you enjoy!

first, i just want to start off by saying that the first blog i really started reading, which got me interested in the blog world, is by danielle. she is so lovely. her posts are always encouraging and thoughtful. her weekend links gave me the idea for the friday favorites. so please pop on over and say hello.

ok ... ok ... i know that you won't all know this right now, BUT! i am a book worm. i'd rather read books than watch movies. yes..i'm one of "those". ha. -- so when miss lauren gave her thoughts on the hunger games novel,  mockingjay ... well, let's just say it took all i had not to jump up off my bed, run across the house, grab book 1, and begin the whole series over again!

i love the holidays. friends & family getting together. so sweet. & i absolutely adored katie's fancy christmas party.

lately, i have been attempting to complete several DIY projects. this one is now on my list! love, love, love!

victoria's fab friday made me laugh and think about  'the wizard of oz'!

i really like scarves. you may come to know this soon. however, i also really like headbands. this mustard-yellow-flower headband is a MUST! :)

i think all women need to learn to love themselves. & i'm preaching to the choir, folks. & most importantly to like their bodies. miss tanesha is definitely curvy -- and quite gorgeous. this outfit is everything i adore. she pulls it off flawlessly.

i try my best not to go "searching" for new blogs. i already have a few that i read on a daily basis. & frankly i'm afraid if i find too many that i like then it will be a never ending venture! however, lauren schaefer is living in NYC ... a place i miss so dearly. & her blog is so funny, entertaining, and lovely. please check it out!

amber seems like the sweetest person in the whole world ... & adorable to boot! she has a ton of tattoos which is also very awesome! please pop on over & see all the tattoo art she has + what it means to her. -- oh, and feel free to read the rest of her blog! she doesn't disappoint!

this past weekend i watched 'the help' & 'the debt' ... both starring an actress that i'm starting to love more and more. jessica chastain is beautiful, breathtaking, and absolutely phenomenal in her performances.

i like food. i do, i do. & casey had some help from a friend on this homemade chicken pot pie. (i never thought i would say that pot pie looked so cute! ha)

last .. but not least, barney & his awesomeness. **side note: true 'how i met your mother' (himym) fans will really appreciate this photo. ;)


happy friday, folks!
it is now time for sleep.
night, night.
& much love!
-colie