SNOW DAY!

Finally we got some real snow! Happppppy! Forgot what snow brings with it though... COLD. haha I wish I could just have the beautiful snow without it only being 7 degrees out. 

Jacket and headband are both amazing finds by Max's mom, Janine! 

~Marybeth~

Shirt: Forever 21 (thrifted)

Shorts: Modcloth

Tights: Forever 21 (gift)

Shoes: Borrowed from Anna

Belt: Forever 21

The sudden snow storm didn't stop Max and me from going on a lunch date on Friday. It also didn't stop me from wearing shorts. Ha! We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Al's Cafe and Creamery. And even though it was freezing out Max and I couldn't help but order milk shakes, they are the best! I got a chocolate with bananas! YUM! They have the best food there, ever. Al's is literally my favorite restaurant in Elgin and a go-to for birthday dinner several years in a row. I highly recommend you going there, if you haven't already. 

Another problem with this snow is that I'm already a pretty clumsy person but when you add slick snow and shoes with no traction, you get a sad Marybeth after she fell on her butt. I've fallen a couple times already since the snow arrived on Friday and unless I walk slow and take baby steps for the rest of winter, there will probably be some more tumbles and bruises. : / I guess I don't really need to wear heels every where but.. you gotta pay a price to look good, right? hahaha!

Speaking of paying a price Anna and I are resting our poor toes and feet today after an amazing night in the city. We both wore heels and seriously didn't consider how much walking we'd have to do.. ha! But more on that later (with pictures!). I hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the snow. 

Auf Wiedersehen,

Marybeth

Pinot Grigio

She's staring into your soul. Cute!

Meet my kitty cat, Pinot (she's a real whiner..). Marybeth found her two summers ago near her boyfriend Max's house. She was a very friendly stray cat who Marybeth couldn't help but save. She has a real bleeding heart for animals. However, we already had enough animals at the house (I think we were at 6 at that time) so Marybeth couldn't keep her. My parents aren't completely heartless, though, so Pinot lived in my dad's woodpile, and my mom would bring food out to her (my mom called her Woody. Har.).

When I came home from college for a couple weeks that summer, I volunteered to take her back to Winona, MN, where I went to school, to live with someone up there who I knew. However, my boyfriend and I fell in love with her on that car ride up and we decided we wanted her all to ourselves! Buuuut... I couldn't have pets in my apartment, and while she stayed with Cole for about a month during the summer, she spent most of her year in Winona living at the ramshackle house, fondly referred to as The Canswer House, next door to my apartment. I visited her everyday, tried to do my part picking up after her and getting food to her (the owners also had 3 cats and a dog so she was in good company), but I couldn't help but be jealous of the boys who actually got to live with her.

But now that I'm home with my parents, I get to live with my cat. It's wonderful. It's more than wonderful. It's purrfect (I couldn't resist!). I'll be going away to Korea in less than two months, though, and we'll be separated again :( I look forward to the days when I have my own apartment (here in the states) and I can come home and greet my cat and we can hang out together like the mother/daughter/best friends that we are.

Wow, have I gone on too much?

-Anna-

shirt: Old Navy (from waaay back)

skirt, shoes: thrifted

sweater: borrowed from Marybeth

stockings: gift from Forever 21

watch: gift

This is the outfit I wore substituting the other day. I bought this skirt the same time I found the sparkly sweater a few posts back. I needed to find more conservative skirts to wear teaching (seeing as most of my favorites are above the knee, and probably just barely appropriate). I liked this one for the length, the pleats, and the pattern on the bottom. I'm not sure what else I'll wear with it, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. I think the maroon really brightens up the whole ensemble in a nice way! And, of course, I had an opportunity to wear the thigh high stockings Marybeth bought me for Christmas. Oh, joy!

Hasta luego!
Anna

First day of school!

First day of the spring semester today! Up and out of bed by 9 am! That's the earliest I've gotten up for a while. I really enjoyed this break too much. haha Luckily for me, waking up early is only a couple times a week kinda thing. I'm really excited for this semester though. It's my last one and I finally got to pick classes that I want to take. I also have a class with one of my best friends, which will make getting up early easier cause I'll get to see her smiling face. :]

~Marybeth~

Shirt: Banana Republic (thrifted)

Necklace: Thrifted

Leggings: Target

Boots: Gift (from a while ago)

I love when you find name brand clothes at the thrift store for less than $5!

My 21st birthday is coming up quick. I've already bought my dress and can't wait to show it off. I'm counting the days until February 5th! 19 days to go! The only sad part of counting down to February is I also feel like I'm counting down to Anna's departure! :[ I'm going to miss her but also.. her clothes! I'm going to have to start making a list of things that I need to buy myself for when she leaves and I can't rely of her navy blue heels to tie an outfit together or her cute skirts and funky tees. OH! My liiife! Maybe I'll sneak a few day by day and she won't notice they're gone until it's too late. ;D

(Just kidding, Anna!)

<3<3<3<3<3,

Marybeth

Who Arted?

I drew this portraits for my sister, Liz, and her husband, Joe, for Christmas this year. She told me she would really like it if I drew her a picture or their family! I love drawing my own special caricatures of my friends and family :) So I thought about it, and decided to make individual portraits for each member, Wrigley the Weimaraner included. I even hand cut their name from the same paper I drew them on! Very careful work with an Exacto knife...

Last Spring, I did some other portraits commissioned by a girl I went to college with. She wanted me to make something for her son based off of the longer piece below that had been claimed by someone else already.

Trail of Fears, 2011

Going along with the monster theme, I created a series of school portraits. I cut out their silhouette, adhered it to Masonite wrapped in fabric, and framed them. I thought they came out pretty cute!

Huey

Colby

Thora

Post graduation has been pretty uninspiring as I haven't been creating much artwork. Now that I don't have to for an assignment, I decide not to. I'm getting to complacent. I'm getting soft. Creating the Denman's portraits was fun though. I need to get my hands on some Modge Podge, markers, and paper stat!


Adios!
Anna

Those Crazy Girls...

Marybeth and I took these pictures yesterday right after we picked up some things from our favorite local thrift store. I had gone the day before after subbing at a nearby elementary school. How could I help myself? I found this sweater, with these darling sequined shoulders. And from H&M to boot! But the price tag had fallen off sometime in between when I first picked it up and when I was at the register; no price tag, no sale, they told me. So I had to come back the day after to buy it. Poor me. I also picked a couple belts, including this black one, during my second trip. How could I have not had a skinny black belt before yesterday? Now I don't need to borrow Marybeth's. I don't need to... 

-Anna-

sweater, skirt, belt: thrifted

tights: Target

shoes: I can't remember

Funny thing about these pictures too... Our dad sells firewood, and there was a family in a minivan waiting in our driveway while we took our pictures. Haha, they probably thought we were crazy taking pictures in the snow without any coats. Oh well. We are crazy.

Adios,

Anna

Kinda fell behind there...

{Tree branches in our front yard}

So, the holidays were a pretty busy time for Anna and I. I feel bad that we've neglected our blog for so long. But that just means we have lots of lovely photos to show you! Above is a picture of frost covered tree branches in our front yard. SO pretty! We still haven't gotten a lot of snow yet so when I saw this one Sunday morning I knew I couldn't pass up a chance to capture it. Now... where to begin?

Let's start with our oldest sister Liz's birthday/Christmas Eve, otherwise known as Lizmas Eve. (yeah, she's a Christmas baby :]) We went out for brunch December 24th to celebrate our big sister turning 30! (She'll probably kill me for revealing that. haha) We went to a little breakfast place called Benedict's. That place is so cute and has realllly great food. We go there as a family often for special occasions. We gave Liz her birthday presents and enjoyed our bloody marys and mimosas. YUM!

Anna was keeping it cute and comfy that day.

She's wearing:
Sweater- GAP
Shirt- Thrifted from H&M
Pants- American Eagle
Boots- Forever 21

After brunch we came back home to rest our full bellies and to relax before the nights festivities! Our wonderful mother cooked us a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. Liz and her husband Joe came over, along with their pup, Wrigley. Our Grandpa came over for a bit as well and Max was there too! Then we exchanged Christmas gifts and had a couple glasses of wine before our parents, grandpa, and Liz & Joe went to midnight mass at our church. It was a great night and I couldn't wait for morning to come. 

I'm wearing:

Dress- Forever 21

Shirt- Target

Tights- Forever 21

Belt- Charming Charlie

Shoes- Payless

Necklace- Macy's

Bracelet- Mother's Day present from Max. XD

Then came Christmas morning! We all got up bright and early because I wanted to do Christmas morning at home with my family and also at Max's family's home too. All before noon when we were expected at our other Grandparents house for the Flores family christmas lunch. Our Christmas tree was LOADED this year! I know I checked a lot off my wish list that morning. I hope Anna got what she wanted as well. 

Above and on the left is our Christmas tree at home. The one on the right is the one at the O'Neill's. I think they need a bigger tree. ;]

{Max and our daughter puppy Storm on our way to the Flores' house! Which is actually right across the street from Max's house, if you can believe that!}

{Storm says MERRY CHRISTMAS!}

So we made it to Grandma and Grandpa's in good time. Not even the last to show up! Grandma Flores made an amazing lunch, as always! We all got to sit around drinking and joking around. I love gatherings at the Flores'. It's always so warm and happy. Before lunch and presents though Anna and I snuck Max off with us to take pictures in our grandparents yard because it is amazingly beautiful! Max sure enjoyed that part. haha

Again, I kept things pretty out of season but I had just gotten this blazer from Liz for Christmas and was dying to wear it.

I'm wearing:
Blazer- Forever 21
Shirt- Thrifted
Pants- Thrifted at Buffalo Exchange
Belt- Thrifted at Village Discount
Shoes- Payless
Necklace- Christmas present bought at American Eagle

{Max even let us take a picture of him!}

Anna looked amazing that day! I wasn't home to see her get ready so her outfit was a great surprise.

She's wearing:
Dress- Urban Outfitters
Tights- Target
Sweater- borrowed from Marybeth
Belt- Thrifted
Shoes- Can't remember
Headband- Charming Charlie

{I made her the cute collar as a Christmas present. I got the idea while stumbling through blogs.}

Here's Anna and I outside our grandparents house. We were sad we didn't have a white Christmas this year. But I was just happy that I got to spend this year's Christmas with Anna. I'll be lonely without her next year. :[

{The "infinity table" at the Flores'. Keeps getting longer!}

{A shot of the family room filled with family. :]}

{Liz and Joe looking cute as always. Maybe next year there will be a little bundle of joy between them.. eh?}

 So that was what Christmas looked like this year! It's great to have so much family around and to be able to celebrate each new year the way we do.

Speaking of New Year... New Years Eve this year was a blast! Max's sister, Brooke, and her girlfriend, Sam, hosted a Mafia themed party at their house this year! It was so much fun using the week in between Christmas and New Years to shop for an outfit worthy of Mafia night. And even though the night went by so fast, it was still so much fun! Perfect way to ring in the new year! It was crazy to think, as I looked around the crowed living room and at every one counting down to midnight, how much had changed since last year and how much was still the same. I was glad Anna was here this year though. I cried last year from missing her so much! (alcohol didn't help either haha)

Here are a few shots from the night!

{I bought Max's suit at a thrift store for $12! He looks GREAT in it! Anna found this fur shawl at Goodwill and the dress I'm wearing was one of Anna's old homecoming dresses and she let me borrow her shoes and costume jewelry.}

Needless to say, it was crazy! But also the BEST! Wish I had gotten a picture of the next day. Their floor was so sticky from large amounts of who knows what being spilled on it all night and their counter was filled with half finished bottles of alcohol! haha We really appreciated them having the party at their house though and I tried to help clean up the next morning as best I could. Brooke and Sam are the best! 

January 1st 2012 also happens to be Max and my 3 year anniversary! So we left Brooke and Sam's around 2 or 3 pm and went home to get ready for our date at Melting Pot, the most delicious fondue restaurant around! 

{Max looked adorable that night. I look like a hot mess here. haha But it was an unforgettable night.}

{Our waiter surprised us with this little treat! 3 candles for 3 years. <3}

Dinner was amazing and afterwards Max came over to my house where we popped open a bottle of champagne, turned on a movie, and cuddled on the couch with our puppy. I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm so grateful for the amazing life I have and for all the wonderful people I get to share my life with.

Well, that about wraps things up. Anna's visiting her boyfriend Cole this weekend and when she gets back it's back to work for her being a great substitute again. :] School starts for me in a week. I'm really looking forward to this semester. It's going to be my last semester at ECC and then... well I'm not sure what's next to be honest. But I just hope that whatever my future holds I'll always have the people who mean so much to me around. I hope you guys all had happy holidays and grand new years! 

See you around,
Marybeth

P.S. Can I use the word amazing any more?? haha