luck of the Irish

Dress: clothesline Sweater: Grandfathers from Ireland Scarf: urban outfitters Necklace: forever21

I had on grey tights with this outfit when I left for school, but they got to itchy so I had to take them off. The scarf I got on sale at Urban for $10. Urban is one of my favorite stores, and they have some amazing sales. You can find some really unique high quality things marked down 2 and sometimes 3 times! The sweater used to be my grandfathers. He passed away October 4 years ago now. I like to wear this sweater around the house sometimes too because it is comfy and lets me still feel close to him. 

Love Always <3

Lexi

round up picture reel

My feet were really cold so I put my fuzzy socks on the heater to warm them up and it burnt a hole in them 

oops hehehe 

Ryan working on his pretty car. He was out there for 6 hours with his shirt off and got this perfect tan.

I was out there for 30 minutes and got really sun burn. ... Go Irish! 

My friend was having a finals week stress attack so I brought her over and we made 3 perfect little cup cakes. The other two were snatched up pretty fast but I managed to take a picture of this one. 

Working in a bakery is making my sweet tooth go insane! 

Snow Kapes! This super cool little shaved ice shack ... You can get probably 100 different flavors and every single one of them is soo yummy!! 

Only a dollar?! Yes Please!! 

Coffee ... a very essential part of my day 

I believe this one is a vanilla latte (I make all my own syrups from scratch)

Big spoon and little spoon 

I attempted to make macaroons. I can't figure them out though. I made three batches and this is the only one that somewhat turned out, but they stuck to the sheet :(

Leave your tips in the comment box please :)

pinterest nails ... I am a mast procrastinater 

I'm taking French next year. I hope I can get good enough so when I study abroad I can live like a local

Just another day in psychology 

This is pretty much just a normal day. ... Love this class

He loves me :) 

Hope you guys are having a fun week! 

Love Always <3

Lexi 

we the people

blue lace slip free people, sweater forever21, necklace pacsun, leggings ovi, booties blowfish

My splurge in this outfit are the leggings. I got them when I went to California with my boyfriend over spring break. They are super comfortable and unlike most of my leggings they don't fall down! The sweater was like 9 bucks on sale at forever, I found it on the floor. I is super soft and really comfy. One of those basic items that you can throw over just about anything. The free people slip I got on sale at a resale shop ... score! I love pretty much anything and everything freepeople. Their designs are so cute and their choices in fabrics are amazing. Oh and those booties. You know those shoes that you've had forever and are kind of falling apart. Your mom keeps yelling at you to throw them away (has maybe even offered to buy you a new better pair if you do throw them away) but you're so attached to them that you just can't do it ... my booties. :) 

Hope you are all enjoying the end of the school year!

Love Always <3

Lexi

mini pies

 In honor of my new job working at the bakery I thought I would post a little how to of mini pies. These were kind of spontaneous and didn't turn out exactly how I wanted them to. Make sure whatever fruit you're using is canned and is heavy cream, other wise the glaze wont turn out right. 

lets get started!! 

first crush your gram crackers in a bowl, this will be your crust

melt some butter and mix it in (amount will very upon how much crust you want)

this is when it starts to smell good 

spray your tin(s) and thumb print your crust until the tin is covered

bake for 5-8 minutes on 350 F or until browned

usually you can smell when they are about ready

what you will need for your glaze

plus the fruit of your choice (I did mandarin oranges)

mix about one cup boiling water with half cup sugar till dissolved

add in your fruit and juice

mix corn starch in tablespoons at a time until glaze is the thickness desired

(the can I used was not heavy cream, so your's will hopefully like a bit different than mine. The glaze will be kind of like a thick haze. You will know right away if you did it right) 

place your fruit and glaze inside your pie crusts

you can decorate them anyway you way; more fruit, whip up a meringue and bake it a bit longer, or even just simple whip-cream 

Enjoy! :) 

Love Always <3

Lexi

bigger is better

30 oz ... trenti me please! 

Love me some finals week

Love Always <3

Lexi

the round up

So unfortunately I did not get the house that I was so hoping for. I'm not going to let it get me down though. I have my eye on a few other houses/duplex that I'm going to call on soon to see what I can do. Hopefully the roommate business will work out well too. 

On the plus side though I GOT A JOB!!! Finally! After applying, calling, and reapplying place since January I finally heard the words I've been  praying for ... "You're Hired" music to my ears. My job is awesome too! The girls I work with a super nice and guess where I'm working?! A bakery! Not only do I get to do what I enjoy but I come home with lots of goodies and smelling delicious. As a little tribute to my new job I baked some mini pies the other day. I will post that blog as soon as I upload my next round of pictures, so stay tuned! 

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I ask that would continue to keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers. 

Love Always <3

Lexi

ps... good luck to the rest of my fellow studious college students with finals! 

bubbles

Lavender scented candles, my book, and a bubble bath. 

I don't know what it is, but when I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed this always seems to make me feel better. AND it makes your skin soft and clean. Baths are also a perfect time to do face and hair masks too. It is less of a mess and the steam helps boost the mask and feels great.   

Henley Manor Dream

At the end of this summer I have to move out of my boyfriends apartment and find my own place to live.  Since I came here I've had my eye on this gem. Being in Cedar City, it is Shakespearean themed and just as beautiful inside as it is outside. It used to be an old bed and breakfast but was foreclosed on and just had a for sale sign up. BUT the other day I saw a for rent sign and literally screamed in my car. I toured the house this morning and it is everything I want! Like I want to buy it and live there till I graduate, and maybe even after, that's how beautiful and amazing this place is.

The only thing standing in my way is a group of middle eastern boys who got to the landlord first. I've been kicking myself since I found this out because it took my a while to realize that the for rent sign was for students. I guess the boys called first. I am praying and hoping that they don't sign the lease for the fall semester. If I get the house I want to live there until I graduate, that's three full years (and most likely including summers). The boys have until this Friday to make their decision. So until then my mind is just taunting me!!

Fingers crossed and lots or prayers because this would be amazing if it works out! Just the thing that I need to finally feel at home and apart of something here.

Love Always <3

Lexi

 

Ps.. Did I mention that it has a fireplace, granite counters, two story high ceilings, chandeliers a bathtub(s) with jets, balcony, patio, double doors, closest space, in my price range and totally my style!! It's also in the most perfect location, right in the middle of everything I need.

hair pins

When I was at home, I went into my mothers sewing kit and found all these cute little flowers and bows. I pulled out the hot glue gun and started putting them on bobbypins. I think they make a cute little touch to a simple hair due. 

These are also my natural curls brushed out and a day dirty, sometimes I don't shower :) 

Love Always <3

Lexi

mint stripes

Lace top: forever21 Green tank: forever21 Skirt: Francesca's Necklace: target

Francesca's is this cute little boutique like store that has all kinds of fun stuff, but it is a little pricey. Recently they had this awesome sale though so I snagged this skirt. I have kind of a hard time finding what to pair it with though (suggestions are welcomed in the comment box below).   

Love Always <3

Lexi 

 

heavy medal

Sweater: Ann Taylor  Jeggings: BP Nordstrom Boots: London Bracelet: Grandma's Necklace: forever21

I wore this outfit to turn in my resume at a few coffee shops, home decor, and thrift stores. The sweater I got while  I was home on spring break at Ann Taylor for only $9!! You can't go wrong with a sale like that, and it is suuuper comfy! The jeggings were a splurge. I got them around my Jr. of high school. They kind of look like maternity pants at the top (it's basically an elastic band) so I make sure to wear longer lose fitting tops with it. It is a perfect match too since they are tighter than a regular jean is, and they make your butt look great ;) Who wouldn't love a pair of jeans that make you look amazing, but are still comfortable and stretchy enough that they wont restrict you from any normal activities. The boots I got last spring break some where in London, I've worn them out but I can't throw them away. The bracelet was one of my staple items in high school. It was my grandmothers and has beautiful gold floral detailing. 

breakfast for dinner

Keeping it simple with breakfast for dinner 

Guess which plate it mine and which is Ryan's 

I made the pancakes without eggs and milk; instead I used yogurt and water. They came out great too. Light and fluffy just the way we like them. To get even healthier, instead of using pam or butter to coat the pan I used coconut oil. You just have to use the smallest of small amounts, if you use too much you will end up with a mush for a pancake. 

Try it and tell me how they came out! 

Love always <3

Courtney

pink splatter paint

Top: Ann Taylor Loft    Shorts: Urban Outfitters    Shows: Thrift store in St. Louis   Headband: Forever21

Being goofy while getting ready. The white out dance was a bust so we ended up going to the C-City dance which was a blast. 

I did Jackie's hair for the night, four bobbypins and it stayed all night

comfy

Top: forever21 Jeans: sevenjeans: Marshall's Belt: Lucky Necklace: Forever21 Headband: Target

If you haven't noticed yet, I am a total sales shopper. These jeans are the only designer jeans that I have, and I payed a total of $20 for them. I got them my sophomore year of high school and still wear them all the time. Jeans are hard to come by for me so I don't mind splurging a little bit, but these are by far my favorite. The belt was also a splurge, but it's lasted me probably 4 years so far and still holding up fairly well.  

bird man

This guy just brought his pet pigeon into our psychology class today and let it fly around the room. No big deal or anything. 

Love Always <3
Courtney

movie mountains

Driving in the mountains during a snow storm...fun but kind of scary

What I see every morning on my drive to school

Good morning God 

generation knits

Sweater: hand knitted by my amazing grandmother. Skirt: forever21 Tights: target

One of my favorite places to shop is my mothers closet. She is my inspiration in almost everything that I do. When  I went home for spring break one of the first things that I did was run into her closet and take a deep breath. There is just something about her smell that is just an instant comfort. My mom has 3 tons worth of big comfy sweaters, so I picked one that big and soft one and threw it on. When I came out my mom smiled and asked me why I picked that sweater. I just shrugged and said because it smelled like you. She laughed and told me that her mom, my grandmother, had wanted to learn to knit so she made this sweater as her first big project. My mom said the reason she took it from her mom was because it had smelled like her! I love this sweater so much, not only because it is all silk so naturally soft and cuddly, but because I know that my grandmother knit it and both her and my mother have worn it. I love that it is kind of lopsided and one sleeve is much longer than the other, it gives it character. I can't wait to pass it down to my daughter one day too. 

caffeine college

Maybe it's because I'm in college that I find myself up at crazy hours of the night and always seem to have some sort of homework or task that needs to be done. Yet even with as much free time as I have with my schedule,  I still find myself not having enough time to get everything done. So I did the most logical thing I could think of ... I turned into a coffee addict. Correction .... a coffee snob. 

Though I am a almost a member of the Starbucks Gold card club, there is something about the local cafes that just call to me. There are a few that make great coffees that I would love more than anything to work at. Until then though, I have made it my mission to learn how to brew the perfect cup of jo. For my birthday I got a french press, that I highly recommend to everyone. It's simple, easy to use, and works like a charm every time. (Oh,  and it doubles to brew free leaf teas too) I make all my own syrups, steam and froth my milk; I can make flavored lattes or just a great cappuccino. I would venture to say that I am getting pretty darn good! 

I decided to take it to the next step though. I've been a little down lately and everyone around me keeps treating themselves to these beautiful things. Why shouldn't I?! Generally, I try to avoid shopping to make myself feel better, because it usually ends up in debt and a bunch of things that I don't want, but I decided to do it this time. SO, I went to amazon and bought myself a cheap espresso maker so I can better master my skills. I'm super excited :)) stay tuned for new pictures and maybe even a little latte art! 

One step closer to my dream of opening up my own coffee shop one day. 

Now all I need is a job.