Alluring Kennedy: Ryan Gosling, by Laura

Have you ever heard the quote...
 "I love cupcakes like McAdams loves Gosling?"

(courtesy of Lazy Sunday by the SNL digital short crew)

I can tell you this much,
 I love Gosling more than a sugary treat.

His style is man candy.

No, I do not know him.

But does it really matter?

This Alluring Kennedy literally
 makes me weak at the knees with his style.

{Maybe I should stop...}

  Ryan takes basic apparel 
and makes it fresh 
with only TWO things:

1. Layering
2. Fit

{Let's review, shall we?}

White Tee Gosling

{image sources 1, 2, 3, 4}

Clean Cut Gosling

{image source 1, 2, 3}

Rugged Gosling

{image sources 1, 2, 3, 4} 

Perfectly Preppy Gosling

{image sources 1, 2, 3}

{image source}

Editors note:

Thank you, Laura. This guest post was amazing.

 In about 12 minutes, I will come back from the black out you just caused

 with this divine tribute to Ryan Gosling, 

and resume normal life.

Heart on my sleeve.

Can I tell you all something pretty dark?

Something that I am not sure I have ever muttered aloud?

I am carrying the burden of this secret alone,
and it's time to make it known.

I know many of you might judge me,

discredit me,

and perhaps laugh, but...

I like heart-shaped diamonds.

Yes,

the Anna Nicole Smith of jewelry.

Culture's most laughed at luxury.

I don't know why,
 but the girly side of me goes
gushy for them.

They just look... sweet.

I would love it if

Tyler bought me one.

And now I sit, 

awaiting your judgment.

Friend or faux pas?

image source 1 & 2

fast. break.

Sometimes I forget how wonderful 

breakfast can be.

How pitiful is it

that we only observe

this serene time of day

with the best food

on the weekends?

I think I'll start doing my best to change that.

In the meantime, are you enjoying anything delicious now? :)

*image 1, 2

Shake, Rattle, & Roll

Yesterday, I was privileged to 

throw a shower for one of

my dearest friends, Kellee...

The Baby Mama

Kellee is due in November with a sweet little girl,

and since we do everything together
(travel, eat dinner every night, text/email all day, etc.)...

I thought it only made sense to have a baby shower for her, too.

And I must say... 
the shower went exceedingly well.

The weather was ideal...

the decorations turned out amazing

{thank you, Tobin!}...

and even the cake that I made

 two times because the first one bombed

was really yummy

despite being on the verge of looking kinda homely.

The best part of the day

was watching such a good friend 

get completely showered in love & gifts...

the loot

by so many people who love her dearly.
{Like me. Who loves her guts. }

Lauren  & Kellee

The other best part...

was when the hostesses jumped in the pool after the shower.

Tobin & Jill... mid flight

Blog- Roll Call

Help!

I'm in the market for some great new blogs to add to my daily routine.

I know you all have your daily stops-

so I'm asking you, 

my friends-who-I-think-are-pretty-cool-and-have-great-taste,

for some advice:

What blogs do you love that I am missing?

I love pretty things, yummy things, cultured things, and well, you get the idea...

**As a "thank you" for your help, I offer you this gorgeous picture that makes me happy**

*image source, image 2 source

Fabulous Find

I saw these pillows on my friend Kelly's blog, Fabulous K.

Kelly is the coolest,

and only second to the design-savvy-diva 

{in regards to coolness}

 are these pillows by Tara Bernerd

made by The Rug Company.

Seriously, people.

 I want these very badly. 

But how can I, 

who am quite poorish at the moment, 

snag one of these when they are $265.00?

That price is slightly uncool.

I guess I will have to cuddle with my friend, FabK, in the meantime...

*image source

Happy Birthday to... me!

Don't you hate the people who let everyone know that it's their birthday?

Me too.

But today is my birthday...

and aren't you supposed to indulge me on my birthday?

Oh, today will be exceptional...

I don't have to go to work,

Then my good friend, Beth, is taking me for pedis/ manis....

{how nice is that?!}

I get to spend time with my family...

{who I love dearly and will miss terribly when we leave}

and to cap off the day, 

my hunky man is taking me on a date to 

The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

{because he's a big timer like that!}

So even though it may not be your birthday,

I hope you all have a day of celebrating & partying

just the way this Aspiring Kennedy would if I could join you!

Brave New World

I am moving 

to another continent
in 16 days, 

and I have:

                                             * no visas or passports back from the consulate

                                             * 2 cars to sell

                                             * no word back from our student loans

                                             * 3 million friends to say see before we leave

                                             * a bank account that gets smaller every day.

I want to hide just thinking about it all.

I have no doubt it will all come together-

{like things always have a way of doing...}

but in the meantime,

I'm in need of a mental pep rally

to remind myself that all this work is worth it.


This is when I start dreaming of...

Rhubarb

Have you ever tried this stuff?
It is so yummy!

Rhubarb is everywhere in England.

I can bake tarts, cakes, pies...

{I bet Pioneer Woman could throw down in the kitchen with some rhubarb.}

....Sweet glorious rhubarb...

Once I get all these hellish endeavors completed to England,
I can cook to my hears content with this local staple.

So as much of a fat kid reason as that may be,

it gives me a little jolt of motivation 

to sit through the horrific music on the other end of call waiting
with the British Consulate for another 45 minute

as I pathetically attempt to track down our passports.

*image source 1, 2, 3,  4, & 5