Brunch in April

2012-02-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

Found this guy at a thrift store, and after a thorough washing, Luna made a new friend. She absolutely loves this moose-- you can't really see it, but she's hugging and cuddling him. So cute.

last weekend...

2012-02-11T18:20:00.000-05:00

Lucia, the birthday girl & host.

We met new friends, sipped on mimosas, ate (and ate and ate), & even played bananagrams.

Best. Fabric. Ever.

"Here, Alivia" "Um, What is this again?"

Hello, best friend Mary Beth.

Hope you're all having a splendid weekend!

best.

2012-02-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

everything in this video is perfect to me. everything.

[via boho baby bump]

inspiration in strength.

2012-02-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, 1961

Joan, a 19 year old Freedom Rider, was sentenced to two months in prison for her involvement in the integration of a Jackson, Mississippi bound train. She served more than the required two months because each addition day reduced her $200 fine by $3.

In the Fall of 1961, Joan transferred from Duke University to historically black Tougaloo Southern Christian College because she felt integration should be a two way street.

Today Joan is a retired teaching assistant living in Virginia and mother to five sons. After the 2008 election she brought her Obama pin to the grave of Medgar Evers.

all content via coolchicksfromhistory

awkward + awesome

2012-02-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

a w k w a r d . . .
* When I sing along with Lily Allen, I fake a British accent. To sound authentic, you know?
* Three students of mine crying in the same number of days. Not my doing (entirely), but....still awkward.
* When I remember to take a deep breath when I'm teaching, I always get this little thought from my conscience, like "Are you sure you want to be so hard on them?" Woops.
* Leaving my number on our receipt at a bar a few weeks ago. Scary, but not awkward. Except then the waiter for whom the number was intended came over to ask me if I had left it, and I was 2 or 10 hard ciders deep. "Er....Yeah." was my smooth reply.
*He called. He's nice but, uh, he sounds almost like he isn't sure if he is gay, which is whatever, but perhaps awkward for me?
* The reminder that I maybe curse too much IRL by almost dropping some less-than-professional language at work. ALMOST. "Guys? Horrible. That was terrible. You've got to get your sh-----hhh......stuff, get your stuff together."
* Watching 'All Good Things' alone. I fully believed Ryan Gosling-Cram (he took my last name when we got married because he's a proper feminist) to be a killer and I was still swooning. Something is wrong with me.
* Eating an entire box of tomatoes in one sitting, not even bothering to fool myself with grabbing a few at a time from the container.
* "Dance Moms." Please, if you have any respect for dance as an art, teaching method, therapy, etc: do not support this trash by watching this show.
* Trying to eat a grapefruit while driving. Guys, don't do this. 1. It's not the safest thing ever, 2. It's even more frustrating than unsafe, 3. You will get to work with grapefruit juice and sugar all over your car and clothes
* "@ladyleeprocess: The more people that find pinterest the uglier the "everything" board gets." Yes, and yes.

a w e s o m e . . .
* Awkward waiter responded with "I will definitely call you!!"
* Phoebe and I are off to sunny (please, God, let it be sunny) Florida in a little over a week!
* The name Ebba.
* Oh my gosh, this.
* The brunch I attended last weekend. So so so much fun.
* Bananagrams. Anyone else LOVE this game?
* There is this ridiculous woman at a party in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and she is seen laughing at herself in the mirror and then, in the next scene, crying desperately into the same mirror. I burst into laughter at this, recognizing a favorite hobby of mine.
* Photoshopping tattoos onto myself and being so exciting that I almost made an appointment right there.
* My parents.
* Oh, you want proof? Here:
Setting: We're having a nice dinner at home, after deciding to stay in.
Mum: Can't get this at the Olive Garden!!
Dad: (slyly) No gravy?
Mum: It was moldy.

* I think this was on the last list I made, but Harry Potter audio books make my life.
* This.

* Alone, quiet time on a day off after working for days and days.

* Ryan's homemade oatmeal. Let's see if I can convince him to do a guest post with the recipe.
*Making choreography up on the spot and being happy with it.
* Watching Star Wars on slow Sundays.
* This. I miss that show so much.

i must not sink...

2012-02-07T18:19:00.000-05:00

Source: imgfave.com via Alivia on Pinterest

I've started a series called "Keep Your Heart Happy," and I've, of course, not followed up one bit.

Because I can't seem to figure out where to start.

Because I don't think I have started, or continued, rather. To keep my heart happy.

I watch Breakfast at Tiffany's for the first time, by myself in my apartment. I drink beer in the bathtub and sometimes I cry at the dog park when no one else is there. I drive through Boston at night in the winter with my windows down, Lily Allen carrying my good spirits home again. Passing people's faces make me laugh.

I can't explain how much I love my dog, or thick socks, or the morning, or how much I wish my bed were bigger.
Or how brave I want to be,
but am not.

How I wish I owned fewer and more things at the same time.

How much I crave a passionate man's company. How I wholeheartedly believe the smallest things in life are the most important.
The very, very most important.

How writing makes me want to sing, to give my shaking arms some relief, to count each deep breath I remember to take.
How loneliness makes me do silly, stupid things, and how dear some souls are to my heart.

I want to explain all of the things I love, and how analyzing that love fills my heart and keeps it happy for a time.
I just can't seem to find adequate adjectives, or worthy-enough verbs.

I know, after years of Pros and Cons Lists, that I cannot bear to drown this way. Frustrated and beaten and unhappily impatient. If I go, it will be fighting. And when I sink too far, I come here. Pour the filling of my heart onto symbolic paper. Thank you for letting me do that.

instant favorite.

2012-02-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

Usually I *hate* Beatles covers. Hate. But gosh darnit, her voices lends so well to the emotion in this song that I loved it immediately.

p.s.
Another cover I'm lovin: Rolling in the Deep by Adele, covered by Linkin Park.

motherload.

2012-02-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

I've been slacking, big time, on just about everything. Really. I went to do laundry today and actually forgot where the washer + dryer were.

Not really, but this is to make up for it-- a ton (15. holy.) of awesome blogs to love. Instead of reading my drivel, read their awesomeness.

You are so welcome.

Click the blog photo to visit. Leave them some love and tell 'em I sent ya.

i need this, please + thanks.

2012-02-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

"This is CUPPOW - our solution for easier drinking from a canning jar. The canning jar already makes an awesome platform for a travel mug: it’s easy to clean, made of heat-resistant glass, cheap, durable, and when sealed it doesn’t leak. The only problem is that with their large openings, canning jars are not great for spill-free sipping while on the move. So we adapted it - made a new lid that lets us drink like a boss from virtually any wide-mouth canning jar. It’s a simple eco-friendly alternative to poor-performing and messy disposable hot cups, and over-built and expensive travel mugs."

Only $7.99 ? Yes and...yes. I'll take ten.
CUPPOW! from Paper Fortress on Vimeo.

the january lovelies (pt.2)

2012-02-03T00:06:00.003-05:00

blog || twitter || tumblr

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

shop || elizabeth's blog || nicole's blog

behind.

2012-02-01T13:10:00.001-05:00

I am behind in my choreography, in my month-to-month resolution planning, in my sponsor features, in feeling "present" in this blog...

That said, I thought I'd at least stop in and say hello, to new friends and already friends.

Hello, friends.

source

I can't stop listening to this song, and I'm okay with that. I feel calm and reflective and peaceful after letting it sink into my soul.
Hopefully back into the full swing of regular posting tomorrow (awkward/awesome, maybe?).

Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch on Grooveshark
xo

p.s. happy february. did you say 'rabbit rabbit' first thing today?

good morning, sunshines.

2012-01-30T08:33:00.000-05:00

Luna loved having my sister here this weekend. Phoebe came to Boston on the train+ we got to see Matt Nathanson and Kelly Clarkson in concert; it was beautifully entertaining and so much fun.

If Matt is touring anywhere remotely close to you, GO.

I promise you will love it.

brunchish.

2012-01-26T12:11:00.000-05:00

When Nicole + Em came to visit, we of course had to go out for brunch, sans mimosas.

Which is hardly brunch at all.

I'm dying to get back to Leo's Place...maybe tomorrow with Phoebe??

strange day.

2012-01-24T13:56:00.000-05:00

I'm so contentedly happy, sitting here in my new spot by the window (I've moved an old desk of mine into the corner of our dining room bay windows and it fits perfectly).

After eating a yummy breakfast slowly after taking Lunabelle on a l o n g walk, I'm now wrapped in my warm sweater, catching up on blog reading....

All this, and I felt decidedly lazy when it came time to write my own post. I stuck a wooly hat over my ballet bun and threw on a Fleetwood Mac record, heating the water for tea (for the 14th time).

I even tried my hand at being productive, sorting out sponsor information and doing laundry.

(FYI: PillowPets explode in he washing machine. EX. PLODE.)
Meh.

So, guys.

I think tomorrow is the day I continue with "Make Your Heart Happy."

Because today has been quite strangely calming and nerve-wracking at the same time.

"I love having slow mornings....la la la....Wait. Time off? Choreography done? I need to do something! I need to get up and move and run and wash the floors and I can't move because I'm tired OhmyGawd I'm useless."

You ever feel like that?

I need this poster.

Here's a list of things I'm looking forward to, or currently loving, made in hopes of kicking this mood: :::
--Listening to the Harry Potter audiobook in the car on the way to work. If there's anything to make me look forward to driving, it's this.
--Texts from friends
--Perhaps seeing my sister and mum this Thursday.
--My adult class on Monday nights. And all of my students yesterday, rocking the choreography.
--New blog discoveries (post on that comin' up)
--Sponsoring awesome blogs, and getting sponsor requests from awesome bloggers.
--When Luna turns her head around and looks at me when we're on a walk. It looks like she's smiling at me and I squeal with happiness.
--New followers. HELLO, friends!
--TV nights with the whole apartment family
--When karma comes through. I'm sure I'll feel the need to explain this later on.
--Giveaways. What's that you say? I should announce the sponsor spot giveaway right now?
You guys are always right.

Leilani, email me (alivia (dot) dance (at) gmail) for all the info!

homegirl needs outfit post lessons.

2012-01-23T10:53:00.000-05:00

I always feel so weird asking people to take a photo of me (for anything) but especially if it's for an outfit post.

\\ details \\

tank: target,
necklaces: gifts
the following was borrowed from my mother and sister
top (similar)
furry vest (similar, but in grey)
pants (similar)
shoes (similar)
headband (similar)

looking ahead

2012-01-21T11:50:00.001-05:00

My business partner & I are now accepting February sponsors.

So hurry yourself up to the information page, now located in the nifty link bar above.

ALSO...

Leave a comment on this post, mentioning you've "Liked" us on Facebook to be entered to win a free ad space.

You've got to actually "Like" us, too.

In case that wasn't clear.

(please say you'll like us!)

Here's the page.

xoxo

visits with n + e

2012-01-19T19:58:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Nicole and Emily came to visit me in Boston. It was beautiful.

These photos are from the first night; we went out for tappas (I think I'm in love?) and sangria.

And also, sangria.

I have created two homemade batches of the stuff since that night.

I'm not ashamed.

a few of the lovelies...

2012-01-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

blog || twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

blog || twitter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

blog || twitter || pinterest

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

nicole & jeff.

2012-01-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

Got engaged.

And when the family found out, everyone exclaimed

~~FINALLY~~

HOORAY!

I'm just excited because, for reals, their bebes are going to be adorable and they love me enough ~~not to file charges when I steal them~~ to let me babysit.

Seriously, though, I'm very happy. Because I love them and they love each other and now a WEDDING is going to happen and it's so exciting and everyone is happy for them and I love babies.

P.S. Nicole isn't preggers, don't go spreading rumors...that I inadvertently started.

2012-01-17T07:59:00.000-05:00

“I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naïve or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.”

― Anaïs Nin

made this.

2012-01-16T07:50:00.000-05:00

Because isn't it true?

Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine on Grooveshark

ahhem: a sort of (long) rant. and a proposition.

2012-01-15T13:48:00.002-05:00

Winter sucks. Especially for those with SAD.

And some of us can only take so much of the

Just decide to be happy and love life! Appreciate all of your blessings! Snuggle up in your blanket fort with your hubs and watch black and white movies for the rest of your life crap. Because it's kind of crap.

Yes, this way of thinking does work some of the time, but what if your blanket fort supplies & significant other are MIA (or imaginary)?

Ain't gonna make you feel better to curl up on your shitty apartment carpet and watch daytime TV while waiting for your husband/wife to apparate.

HOWEVAH.

I've got a kind of idea.

See, it's okay to be angry at those grey clouds and cold temperatures and still-decorated-for-Christmas houses because that's normal and accepted and who do they think they are? Grey-ing up everything, or mocking your pain with the twinkle lights, and slowly eating your soul, dammit?

Again: HOWEVAH:

What if we added a little comfort to our winter dullness-- if we were active in this hunt to feed our hearts?

It's worth a try, yeah?

I'm going to start doing a weekly "Keep Your Heart Happy" post-- one with tips, stories, music, art, embarrassing stories and the like.

To cheer you little bugger muffins up.

Because I love you and I don't think we should waste 1/4 of our lives being inexplicably grouchy. Winter is freaking a quarter of our lives.

W a n t t o h e l p ?

Email me with things you do to beat the crap out of sad feelings, subject reading

"Happy Heart."

Simple lists, embarrassing stories, movie favorites or quotes, or a tutorial on how to best throw porcelain plates at trees in the woods without getting arrested

are so, so welcome.

P.S.

I don't care if you live in the Bahamas or LA or Happy Sunshiny Sparkle Land,

the time after the holidays & before it's acceptable to start decorating for the next national holiday (Valentine's? Taylor Hanson's birthday (3/14)? Earth Day?)

is stupid.

P. P. S.

I'm cranky to the max because I just finished catching up on blog reading and I just can't stand a particular blog sometimes, even if she does have 1,000,000,000 followers, her dream job/life, a husband and a new puppy.

#bittermaybe ?

ARE YOU EVER UNHAPPY, Lady? Can't you post a picture with a booger in your nose or something so the juveniles out there can feel a bit better about their lives? How about you tell us about the time you didn't have a perfect outfit? No? Okay, well...okay.

background image from

settling.

2012-01-13T16:38:00.002-05:00

via

Wake, walk, gym, rest.

Another cup of boiling water, rip the tea bag paper open and drop it in, add milk, sugar.

And again, then again.

Rip. Drop. Add. Drink.

There's a perfect, silent peace that covers the mornings. I take a deep breath before my eyes even open and relish this. My eyelids open and the alarm jars my nerves. Dammit. I'd love to sleep in, but a walk is in order and before I can take a second deep breath, I'm pulling on boots, a scarf, hat, mittens, coat, my awake face.

We walk in the bitter cold and warm from the inside.

Back at home that afternoon, I wait to drive to work. Wait for the structure of my life to tell me what to do, where to go, instead of the other way around.

I settle myself in blankets and pillows and fill my soul full of music, and writing, and photography, and stillness.

Or, that's the plan. Luna rings her Take-Me-Outside-Now bell and I'm up.

I sit and wait. I teach and think. I drive and talk. Every spare moment or space in my mind is full of this quiet whisper

"When?"

If I'm driving, I'll ask aloud. When will I meet him? When do I move again? When will these thoughts go away so I can simply enjoy the present? When...

When will my life's pieces stop flying around and settle into the space created for them? Settled. I want to be settled, my soul creaks each day. At home, with enough love to fill it completely.

Last week in my ballet classes, I coincidentally taught renversés. Renversé means, very simply, to upset.

To overturn.

To unsettle, if you will.

It creates the illusion that the dancer has fallen off balance for the moment. That she has lost control.

What does my life currently relate to better than renversés? Control, without control. Balanced unsettling. Beauty, and even sometimes grace, in the shadows of uncertainty.

As I open the tea in my parents' kitchen, barefoot and sans makeup, wet hair tied into a bun, I smile. I don't know why, and it's nice, solid feeling, so I dwell on the happiness and turn that around in my head instead. Instead of the When? questions, and the anxiety that carries them along.

Maybe my soul doesn't need settling. Maybe I need to find the beauty in being unsettled. Maybe that's the point?

the long & short of it.(dress love)

2012-01-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Favorite dresses right now (all found via my pinterest). Also my new favorite font. It's called "Chardin Doihle."

1//2//3//4

new year's eve.

2012-01-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

Mummy, why can't I go to the New Year's Party?

Pretty Mary Beth.

A//A

2012-01-08T08:26:00.000-05:00

found

awkward
= Getting pounds of candy as a gift after resolving to eat less sugar.
= Feeling tired even after two large coffees, a five hour energy, and a nap.
= How unhealthy I feel while making this list.
= Sweat patterns on gym-goers' awkwardly fitting clothes.
= Having class on a national holiday, waiting three hours for any student to show up, then leaving because it ain't gonna happen
= Working an insane amount of hours and not getting paid for it (We thought you knew it was a volunteer position!)
= Did I ever tell you the time I found my ballet shoe in the road the morning after a long night of teaching? And how it now has tire marks? No? Forget I said anything.
= Putting candy in the jacket pocket in which you already have dog treats. You know the rest.
= Not being able to open your water bottle at the gym. Before working out.
= I (almost) always read "debauchery" as "douche-baggery."

= Noticing, upon walking into the gym, that my pants are inside out.

= When your mum signs you up for Match.com and doesn't inform you.

awesome
= GUYS. A Canon Rebel for Christmas. The list could end here.
= Morning walks with Luna
= Fashion rules aside, anything made out of fleece
= This.
= Watching Star Wars on a relaxing afternoon.
= Puppy sitting.
= This! Thanks, Erin :)
= Luna gazes out the window.
= Visits from N + E (see?) More photos soon, promise!
= Love this more than words can say.
= Explaining why I greatly dislike Jennifer Aniston. A whole buch, kids.
= Getting an unexpected white Christmas.
= My sister getting the job she wanted! Wee!
= Hot rollers.

tattoo ideas.

2012-01-07T20:46:00.000-05:00

I've had these images saved in a folder on my desktop for awhile, so if anyone knows the sources for them, I would appreciate it!

my roots have grown but i don’t know where they are.

2012-01-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

This song makes me want to stand in my backyard, barefoot, arms open and face to the sky. Just breathing.

outfit post: christmas day

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

twirling.

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've got a few thousand photos to sort through, but in the meantime, here.
Doesn't this make you so happy? I love these beauties.
ALSO
Winner of the sponsor spot giveaway is
Nicki of The Little Things.
Please send me an email (alivia.dance (at) gmail) so we can get your button up right away.
xoxo
P.S. I recapped this blog's 2011 in the post below; check it out.

goodbye, eleven.

2012-01-01T17:57:00.000-05:00

In January 2011,
I posted more about my amazing Las Vegas trip. I started writing about my anxiety more seriously and more frequently. I moved, again.

In February 2011
I broke up with my long-time boyfriend just in time for Valentine's. I started reshaping my definition of happiness. I began my Awkward/Awesome series along with Sydney from The Daybook. Phoebe & I went to Florida.

In March 2011
I relearned how to be a friend by spending more time with people I had missed out on for 18 months. I overused photo edits and cut my friend's hair. Started the slippery slope of thrift store shopping. Cried for Japan. Vlogged. Turned 23.

In April 2011
I visited Emily in DC with my cousin who grew to a best friend. Continued learning about who I am and want to be.

In May 2011
I learned that I love Bon Iver and long conversations with best friends. Joined Pinterest. Wrote about my amazing mother. Wrote about reading.Watched my work onstage for the first time. Experienced the scariest event in my life thus far.

In June 2011
I fell in love with Portland. Wrote my first outfit post and hit 200 followers. Witnessed, through my students, the beauty that is ballet. Learned that it takes an indefinite amount of time to come to terms with a breakup, and what it means to realize you're almost there. Alphabetized myself. Told you about my as-close-to-perfect-as-one-would-want father.

In July 2011
I shared my bedroom "design" with you, 1.5 months before moving again. Saw my favorites, again. Visited and rekindled my love of Portland. Again. Changed my name. And explained it.

In August 2011
I got a new job. Met the love of my life. Go on and laugh. I was proud of you and me, too. School shopped in my heart. Went to Charleston to see my cousin get married. Moved...again.

In September 2011
I felt at home. Stopped letting her take up my precious thought space. I shared Etsy shops I adore. Shared some good awkwards and a few awesomes

In October 2011
I wrote my first guest post. Started offering sponsor spots. Told you about my quirks that aren't quirks. Fell in love with design over and over again. Believed in the power of people.

In November 2011
I showed you some pieces of my apartment. Learned about Drew Tabor and her beautiful covers. Wrote a gift guide/shared some beauties from around the internet. I ~~wasted~~ enjoyed more time on Pinterest. Finally got photoshop. Hosted a kickass Halloween party, and got dressed up for Thanksgiving.

In December 2011
I balanced. Snapped a few more photos of my bedroom to share. Scotch taped my eyes for beauty. Thrifted some great ornaments for our apartment tree. Worked my ass off during Nutcracker season. Explained how awkward I am inside. Failed at texting. Changed my sponsor rates & sizes, and spent Christmas with the best people I know.

In the year 2012

I will turn 24. ~~Grow taller~~. Visit my grandparents in February. Work harder to build my creative side. Travel even more. Shop less. Check more off my bucket list. Walk Luna more. Finally learn how to accept a compliment? Watch more classic movies. Be dedicated to reading more often. Stand up for others. Donate to wildlife. Move again? Volunteer. Forgive. Blog better. Love more, and eat less candy*.

Did you do a recap of 2011? Share the link below so I can see.

*This is a lie.

the lovelies.

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I curse like a sailor. I forget birthdays. I'm a font-oholic. My dog and Photoshop understand me better than most people. I bite my nails like it's my job. I like tattoos. I enjoy nonsense.

blog || twitter || tumblr

I write most often at night, when I should be sleeping. Sometimes on Saturday afternoons, accompanied by sips of hot lattes or gulps of iced coffee. It's a way to figure things out, you know? And I will be the first to admit that I do not have everything figured out. But if ever I could, the time is now.

blog || twitter || tumblr

My blog: It's brain soup. I just kind of go on about whatever's in my head at the time, and sometimes I think it's neat. and sometimes it's just strange. But we're all okay with that, over in my corner of the internet.

blog || twitter || flickr

I blog non-sense. I started my blog for fun last year and now it has branched into something a little more special. It is dedicated to creative, kind, loving people!

blog || twitter || photography

Hi there. I'm Tori! A lover of: all things girly, photography, fashion, and family. Life can get a bit heavy and chaotic at times, but the most important thing to do is remember to "Keep Calm and Carry On". It can only get better :) My blog focuses on my search to find the lovely that life has to offer.

blog || twitter || pinterest

As the title suggests, my blog chronicles my life in Austria and Germany, my travels across the rest of Europe, and the cultural differences that I, a silly American girl, awkwardly encounter on an unfortunately regular basis.

blog || twitter

I'm Bekah, very much in love with Marc and our two girls, Ocean and Luna. I write about simplicity, raw foods, zen living, and all things bohemian.

blog || twitter || pinterest

christmas morning.

2011-12-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

So I got a lot of gifts this year.

Like...way more than I deserve. Way, way, way more.

I don't have any words to describe how happy I am with one in particular.....

EEEK!

So this will have to suffice. Below is exactly how I looked when pulling back the paper.

new things.

2011-12-25T20:44:00.000-05:00

New things starting in January....

- - - - -

>>one size only<<

- - - - -

Here's some info from my (updated) Sponsor Page...

|| Group contribution post topics vary each month. This post shares sponsors' current favorites in music, art, blogs, food, etc.

|| One giveaway allowed per month, per ad. All giveaways will be featured over a selected week mid month.

|| If you have a product you'd like me to wear/style/review, I would be happy to talk more about it with you through email.

|| A discounted rate will be given for multiple months purchased together:
1 month >> $10
2 months >> $18
3 months >> $25

|| Button design must be approved prior to posting. I would be happy to create a button for you for a additional fee of $5.

|| For maximum traffic, my new posts are shared on my Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin, Networked Blogs and various other blogs.

|| I will begin to sponsor some of my favorite traffic-heavy blogs in the coming months, increasing visitors to this site.

|| I do button swaps. Fair ones.That means I will swap with you if we have a similar following/stats. A site that gets one million views a month wouldn't swap with a blog that was just starting up, ya get me?

|| Brunch posts' topics are varied and published on a regular basis.

Followers & Stats
Google Friend Connect: 319
Bloglovin: 38
Twitter: 177
10,000 visits/month
200 visits/day.
141,000+ visits in all time history.

If you'd like to sponsor or have additional questions, send me an email...

alivia DOT dance@gmail.com

Leave a comment on this post to win a free spot in January!

All you have to do is tell me your favorite song right now.

Homegirl's gotta update her music library.

auto incorrect.

2011-12-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent good ones.

("Awww, can you rewind it?")

???

("I am cracking up")

("Go to sleep! Come in before you go to sleep.") I was half-asleep while writing this and trying to tell my Mum to come in and say goodnight before she went to bed.

I was trying to say Selena Gomez. And I'm right, for the record.

perhaps worth reading.

2011-12-22T10:10:00.001-05:00

Today I was all
"I'm going to write a post about dancing to Charlie Brown's Christmas and homemade hot cocoa and sprinkles and my cat drinking from the faucet and warm socks."
Not joking.
But then I was all
"I wish I were funny. Like the ladybloggers that other ladybloggers tweet about "Girlfriend is so funny!" "This girl is the shit."

You know how in middle school, when you're the only one on the planet in your neverending awkward stage? Except everyone else is thinking the same thing but you can't see it because you're covered in a pile of insecurities and social anxieties and 'what kind of person am I going to be today?'-ities and terrible fitting clothes? Maybe you didn't have an awkward faze and you were just cool and collected from birth and you can just stop reading right now because I hate you.
Well, wait a second. I guess good for you. I'm bitter, that's all.
Here's kind of why:

I don't think I ever grew out of my awkward stage.

That pile I talked about up there? I'm still under it. It's heaviest when I'm blogging and dressed like I am. Sister's bathrobe, glasses, hair held with a scrunchie and probably some puppy food for volume, bare feet and I'll be damned if you can find a bra anywhere. And I'm reading blogs while listening to the sound of my list of chores growing to the size of a toddler and Suzy Sarah Mae Perfect Blogger is talking about her babies and husband and "This dress is super perfect! And only five dollars! Off to the farmer's market we go, and then to get new records and high heeled shoes and then out to a fancy restaurant for dinner and then we're so perfect, thank perfect goodness God has blessed our perfect little family with such perfect perfection."
And I'm all
Shit.
But even when I've showered and put myself together, I'll go to tweet something and stare at the screen for what seems like ever, thinking "I wonder if this is funny. Funny enough." I wonder if I'm enough.
And then I get angry at myself because this whole thing has a total "First World Problem" label on it and I'm selfish and misguided and ugly inside. Oh, she feels insecure when tweeting? Her life is so bad.

My ever present internal argument concerning what is okay to be sad about is another story for another day, though.

I get it, and maybe that's why it's so hard. I could just comment on Suzy Sarah Mae's blog and be all "Oh, I want your life! It seems so lovely! Do you have any tips on how to get so lovely?"
And she, assuming she has a heart, would maybe reply with "Be yourself! Just be yourself :)"
WHICH WE ALL KNOW TO BE BULLSHIT.
Not entirely, but you know. Being yourself is a double edged sword cliche...thing. Just be yourself...but may God have mercy on your fashion blogging soul if you post something you wear and it's boring and 0 Comments is staring you in the face and you're sponsoring a blog and gain absolutely no followers. There isn't not a lot of support, there.

Well, you know what? I'm going to take my bathrobe-wearing, dirty face-having, sans bra self and sit up a little straighter. You too. Do it. Even if you went to Julliard for modern dance and have a perfect life already, try to sit a little straighter.
Now that we're all up here...
I don't know. I don't know what to say. I am least insecure when I'm pairing my blogging with beer (beering? blogging and beering?). IMAGINE THAT. Just think, I get less insecure when I've had alcohol. But here's the thing. I feel like I say that a lot with out saying specifically one thing, so here's A thing:

Alivia
+ Hard cider
+ Blogging
-----------------------------
Honest writing that people actually read and find interesting.

I'm not suggesting you start spiking your coffee or tomato soup in order to blog freely, but remember that it's okay. It's okay to blog without the thoughts like "But what if no one likes it and there's this big chuck of writing no one reads and I don't want to be myself I want to be someone else!" Try to consciously tell yourself to blog unhindered by these thoughts. People prefer it. If they don't, well who cares. If you're writing/whatevering for other people's enjoyment, you're doing it wrong in the first place anyway.

at the ballet.

2011-12-21T08:20:00.000-05:00

A few photos from the warm up before one of our Nutcracker performances...

It was the last show of the weekend. My loves were tired.

clickity click.

2011-12-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

Blogs I found recently & am just loving.

Here ya go-- just click on a banner to visit.

a tour of the tree.

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

(there are tons more, I just didn't get great photos)

Do you have lots of different ornaments on your tree? Or do you prefer more matchy, color-coordinated ones?? Or maybe you have a couple trees decorated differently? Or maybe you don't have a tree and that's fine too.

Guys. Today is my last day of teaching before my holiday vacation time starts! Luna & I are heading to the studio later on for some holiday-themed dance classes and then heading up to Maine tomorrow morning. Weee!

a few of our favorite things [no.3]

2011-12-18T16:10:00.000-05:00

Brunch's beautiful sponsors are sharing some of their holiday favs! The playlist with the songs we love will be updated with each edition.

A Few of Our Favorite Things...

(Christa & Emily)

via

A few of Christa's favorite things...

Favorite holiday song?

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland" :)

Best winter memory?

I live with my grandparents, and my best memory is when my dad came to spend Christmas with us! He lives 3,000 miles away. It was a special Christmas that year!

Are there any holiday traditions you love/want to start?

Every year, my family sits in out living room and my grandpa reads the Christmas story. We all know it, but being reminded what Christmas is all about it the best!

. . . . . . . .

via

A few of Emily's favorite things...

Favorite holiday song?

Maybe This Christmas by Ron Sexsmith has been a favorite for a few years. There's something so hopeful about it... I just love it. (And does anyone else remember this song on The O.C.? Heeeeyyy, 2004.)

Best winter memory?

One of my favorite winter memories is from a few years ago when I was still in law school. It was the middle of finals and I was overtired, burned out, over-caffeinated, and in the middle of a full fledged meltdown when I arrived at Nicole's house. She gave me a hug and let me cry until I felt better (amazing how that works), then made me hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music, and we decorated her tree. What started out as a disastrous evening ended up being one of the best.

Are there any holiday traditions you love/want to start?

I love making candy cane cookies with my mom. Every Christmas, even the ones when I would be traveling home from out of state, we always make these cookies together. They're adorable and delicious and heartwarming. I can't imagine a Christmas without them.

Chirstmas Favorites by Alivia Lynn Cram on Grooveshark

cat eye tutorial.

2011-12-15T15:05:00.002-05:00

So I did this, and it totally worked...except when I tried to film myself doing it. There was a lot of cursing and dropping brushes and stuttering and "Ummmmm"-ing and ...more terribleness. So, here. Here's the original to make up for my video completely going to shit.

You're welcome.

How to Be a Girl: Cat Eyes By Magic! from The Hairpin on Vimeo.

P.S. Just to go along with my now foul mood, can we all pay close attention for a sec? I've been seeing something on a few sites lately and I justcan'ttakeitanymore.

Ahhem:

A LOT

is TWO mcfrickin words, kids.

Two.

With a space.

Between the A

and the Lot.

See here for more explanation. Pass it along.

super great.

2011-12-14T12:02:00.000-05:00

My gramp says that. Super great. I think it's perfect, so I'm going to start saying it, too.

Things I think are super great...

Our new living room set up (though it took us five roommates hours of pushing, pulling, pondering in silence, question-asking, measuring, lifting (a couch over a second-story porch railing), tree-dragging, ornament-breaking, sweeping, and cursing). Luna loves to look out the window and search for squirrels.

Squirrels. They are h u g e right now. Rolly polly fuzz balls.

This cape. I want.

Kai's Christmas Quiz
Handmade ornaments from my students. Daw.

This warmed my heart so much, I think the feeling will stay all day long. Thanks for sharing, Mama!

My beautiful dancers had their first big Nutcracker performance weekend this past Friday-Sunday and...I cried. I don't think the roommates noticed because they were in awe (yay!) but holy I am so proud of them.

Babies. Multiple ones.

Advent calendars. I love seeing how creative we (I say we but, hah, I don't have an advent calendar. I have cookies and I eat at least one a day, so that's the same-ish thing) bloggers get! :)

All of Katie's photography, but especially this post. Huge girl crush.

The Blue Balloon. Dear Santa....I can has all the pretty things?
Ponchos.
My classes before vacation. The kids are excited, I'm excited, excitement all around.

The clip of James's wedding video. Let's all say it together: Dawww!!!

odds & ends.

2011-12-13T13:25:00.002-05:00

>> Stay tuned for a post on our tree ornaments. I love them.

awkward//awesome

2011-12-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

awkward
- How long it has been since my last A/A post.
- Quitting one of my jobs.
- How much I love gnomes. So. Much.
- How mean I am to myself in the morning in order to get up and go to the gym. (Ooo I'm sleepy...NO. YOU ARE NOT TIRED, YOU ARE A PUDGE. You had Sourpatch Kids for dinner last night--again-- you look like a fluffernutter sandwich!)
- I went grocery shopping, and may have forgotten a few things. My roommate noticed. "I see you got the essentials yesterday: chocolate, marshmallows and milk."
- The song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Freaks me out.
- Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.
- Thinking I'll run in to grab a few things at the grocery store and subsequently balancing things on my head because nothing fits in my basket any longer.
- Dropping wrapping paper 5+ times and having to reach under shoppers to get it. No, it's fine! I got it! Thank you, unhelpful juicebags. Sorry to bother you while you're standing with your cellphone in the middle of the aisle aimlessly.
- Dropping the aforementioned roll of wrapping paper under my car and swearing at the top of my lungs down my street. Classy.
- Realizing the text you promised your brain to remember to reply to was 3 weeks ago.
- Selena Gomez & Justin Bieber. Together, alone, whatever. Awkward sauce.
- Misunderstandings.
- When Rufus the cat attacks my dog. And wins.
- Curing iron burns. "Oh, that looks like a hickey!" "It's not. I'm miserably single. So miserable, I burned myself with the curling iron." I may not have said that exactly, but, dangit, I wanted to.
- Dropping my keys at the gym, and when bending to retrieve them, dropping my ipod.
- Laughing at myself at the gym.
- The gym.

awesome
-Quitting one of my jobs.
- This. Please for the love of anything read it.
- Homemade hot cocoa. Making this AS WE SPEAK. Read. Whatever.
- Watching 400 episodes of Arrested Development. A day.
- Brett's new baby puppy! Once the photos get edited, you'll see. Melt, really.
- Extra shifts at work. Ka ching.
- Our Christmas tree.
- Auto-correct. You'll see.
- It's a Wonderful Life. Just saw it for the first time tonight! It was...wonderful :)
- Sugar cookies that serve as tiny afternoon pick-me-ups on the drive to work :)
- Thrifted ornaments
- Luna is faster than all the other dogs at the park. HAH. She may not have brains, but homegirl is a speed demon.
- Beautiful sponsors. See? >>>
- These.
- Finding so many spectacular blogs. Sharing soon!
- Chirstmas shopping is alllllmost done. Huzzah!!
- Sending packages to friends.
- Double sided wrapping paper
- Mum's almost done her last first semester of college!

a few of our favorite things [no.2]

2011-12-10T21:05:00.001-05:00

Brunch's beautiful sponsors are sharing some of their holiday favs! The playlist with the songs we love will be updated with each edition.

A Few of Our Favorite Things...

( Suzy & Jenni )

A few of Suzy's favorite things...

Favorite Holiday Song?

My favourite holiday song is Carol of the Bells. Because of Home Alone. You know what I mean?

Best Winter memory?

Oh good graish. I don't know. all...of...them? Sledding? And drinking hot chocolate with little marshmallows?

Any favorite holiday traditions you love or want to start?

My husband and I set up our little silver Christmas tree--lovingly named "The UFO" and sleep under it every year. It's cute. We're cute.

Alivia's note:: They are so cute.

. . . . .

A few of Jenni's favorite things...

Favorite Holiday Song?

Absolutely any song from this boxed set.

Best Winter memory?

A few Christmases ago, an enormous blizzard hit Oklahoma and my entire family (grandparents included) got snowed into my parents' house. There were a total of 9 people and 3 dogs under one roof for 48 hours -- watching Christmas movies, playing cards, eating Christmas treats and being lazy. I don't think I changed out of my pajamas at all. It was glorious.

Any favorite holiday traditions you love or want to start?
No matter how old/married my sisters and I get, we have an agreement that we will always spend Christmas Eve together at my parents' house (usually all 3 sleeping in the same room, too). I'm sure that this will become increasingly complicated as we start our own families in the future and begin to have children but so far, we've never spent a Christmas Eve night apart.

*
Chirstmas Favorites by Alivia Lynn Cram on Grooveshark

lately I am...

2011-12-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

Listening to... "Hey, It's Christmas!"

Thinking of...Daddy's present arriving in the mail any day now.

Looking forward to...Seeing family at the Christmas gathering

Smiling at... Luna sleeping & Bethany's blog FB page

Wishing...That it would snow.

Feeling... A bit anxious, a bit tired, but happy.

Blown away by... How much fuller my days are after having a whispered conversation with God at the end or beginning of the day.

Saving...Money in the bank. Happy, unexpected acts of kindness in my heart.

Loving...Our Christmas tree, my new-to-me thrift store blanket, wrapping presents. Also: you guys.

Making...Homemade gifts, tea, burned cookies, tea. And tea.

Learning...To listen. To think before reacting. To grow from remembered sadness.

Feeling...Like crying happy, calm tears when listening to Silent Night. This version, especially.

rise & fall of my balance.

2011-12-06T13:23:00.001-05:00

I sit down at our dining room table with my giant mug of steaming tea. It's wonderful. I check and reply to email, I find new music for my classes. I pat the dog.
I think about the mundane and so my heart turns a lighter shade of red. I browse warm, motivating-to-the-core inspirational photos and stories. The shade of red gets a bit deeper.

I watch my little ones dance over the floor, see the concentration between their eyebrows, and the color gets deeper still.

And then, suddenly, it's gray. All of the things I want, the thoughts that consume my mind while driving, that pummel my heart with "What ifs," sink into my muscles, somewhere between the collarbone and neck. Distraction makes them lighter, but never does that feeling lift completely.

I meet a man at the park and he's sweet to Lunabelle. The weight lifts slightly.

The talks with my grandparents make me forget negatives and what-ifs and timid thoughts and weak feelings. I almost cry with happiness and comfort that I am blessed enough to know such beautiful people. I put the phone down and the full feeling slips, albeit slowly, away.

The list of "Somedays" hasn't gotten longer, but it hasn't diminished noticeably. This lack of progress sinks into my shoulder spot and strengthens the grayness in my heart. I write to reverse this and I am left with only rearranged thoughts and a shifted anxiousness. Now I'm late for the life I live,
often resent,
chose and would choose over again,
& need--so much that I feel empty without.

The balance will restore itself soon enough.

a few of our favorite things [no. 1]

2011-12-05T12:41:00.001-05:00

Brunch's beautiful sponsors are sharing some of their holiday favs!

The playlist with the songs we love will be updated with each edition of "A Few of Our Favorite Things," perfect to listen to during baking, wrapping, driving through the snow via car or sleigh, or even to de-stress your holiday errand-doing.

Sign me up for that last one.

A Few of Our Favorite Things...

( Bekah & Tori )

source lost-- help?

A few of Bekah's favorite things...

Favorite holiday song?

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas" I love almost all renditions but Coldplay's holds a special place in my heart.

Best winter memory?

As terrible as it was, after Marc and I first moved in together we lived in this old farmhouse that had no central heat, it was gas heaters and the one in our room was bi-polar, meaning it worked only half the time. We would wake up in a freezing room because the heater had gone off during the night, we would lay in bed and sigh, neither of us wanted to get out from under the covers and turn the thing back on, we would lay in bed cursing and cuddling instead. After taking showers at night, Marc and I would hop out and run into our room, slamming the door behind us to conserve heat and then huddling in front of that flaming heater with just our towels, it was always so warm. Marc worked at a farm during that time and he had to get up early (5) to get to work on time (6) so I always got up with him and we would sit huddled in front of the heater with a blanket and cereal, having our morning talks.

It is a time in my life I will always look back at and smile. Even though it was so miserable, haha!

Any favorite holiday traditions you love or want to start?

Our little family is doing a 25 days of Christmas except with experiences(baking cookies, reading, etc) to count down the days instead of little candies, trinkets or toys.

Im loving it.

. . . . .

source lost-- help?

A few of Tori's favorite things...

Favorite holiday song?

Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas isYou". It may or may not make its way to my holiday playlist at the end ofOctober ;)

Best winter memory?
Gathering with all of my extended family everyChristmas Eve. Family fun is the most fun!

Are there any holiday traditions you love or want to start?

Mysisters and I dress up in the same p.j.'s every Christmas morning! I now have ababy niece, and I'm so excited to see what kind of mini jammies we'll get forher to match with us :)

Chirstmas Favorites by Alivia Lynn Cram on Grooveshark

important.

2011-12-05T11:42:00.001-05:00

I had another post planned for today, and hopefully I'll get to that one too, but I thought this was a very important fact:

via

Sister Style

2011-12-03T09:06:00.001-05:00

When I was home for Thanksgiving last week, I told Phoebe that I wanted to take some shots of her outfits because she always looks sooooo cute.

Some of these photos are low-quality. My camera is dying on me, and in low lighting, it tends to get moody.

How I love this scarf.

How cute is she? I can't stand it. Stop growing up, Phoebs.

And here's a shot of her footwear.... the element of her outfit of which I am most proud.

Boots: Mine, thrifted \\ Scarf: NYC? \\ Cashmere Sweater: Mum's, TJ Maxx // Jeans: American Eagle (thanks Nic)

Dear Universe... {a series}

2011-12-01T14:10:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about starting a 'Dear _____' series for awhile now.

Sometimes my notes will be short & sweet. Sometimes I'll hunker down and write a mother of a letter. These are on the teeny side.

Here we go.

instagram of some special Christmas cards. Do you have instagram? I'm alivialynn

Dear New Christmas Records,

Thank you for your simple sounds and calming crackles. I love how much you make me smile. Even if my house isn't decorated yet, You're getting me in the right spirit.

Dear New-To-Me iPhone,

You are doing a great job of being a phone. And music player. Though I wish you were a bit bigger in the storage department...And perhaps a bit faster in the, uh, functioning department. But holy moly, having a working phone is kind of sweet.

Dear Gingerbread Coffee and Vanilla Soy Milk,

I love you.

That is all.

Dear Crazy, Blonde, Perpetually Bedhead-ed Hair,

I think you might be gone soon. I'm thinking haircut. Like chopped. Off. What do you think? You're right, I'll probably chicken out. But the idea is there.

Dear New Sponsors,

I love you. Even more than gingerbread coffee--and that is A. Lot.

Dear Katie,

Your blog is chock full of things I love. Thank you for being you.

Dear Hanson Beer,

I am going to start drinking beer. Thank you for this great development in my already slightly pathetic life, boys.

But seriously, I'm excited.

Dear Peppermint Flavored (just about) Anything,

Please see my letter to gingerbread coffee. Sorry you guys have to share. Chocolate, coffee, hot cocoa...mmmm.

Dear Roommate Ryan,

Thank you for taking care of my Lunabug all of the times. You are the best.

Dear Christmas Tree,

I am so excited to meet you.

buttons!

2011-11-30T13:44:00.000-05:00

300 x 200

250 x 200

235 x 170

200 x 179

185 x 160

200 x 70

125 x 125

weiners.

2011-11-30T13:09:00.001-05:00

Yes, you read correctly-- that's an S on the end there.

I was all

"Well, It's Christmas, and the time of giving and all that, so let's pick two winners."

I can do that, 'cause I'm the boss around here.

- - -

Want to know who won?

I used random.org and got #12 and #8.

That came out to....

and

Woo!

Check your email, Ladies; I'll be sending you details!

Featured Sponsor Highlight

2011-11-29T13:58:00.001-05:00

I asked Emmy to answer a few questions for her sponsor post, and here they are!

If I could only recommend one blog to follow, it would be hers.

So go do that. Here's her blog:

If Ever I Could

She puts words to indescribable feelings and leaves you with a sense of peace. I am so thankful I get to know this wonderful woman.

[1]

How do you feel about tattoos?

Is it terrible to admit that I am indifferent when it comes to tattoos? At least when it comes to other people. For myself, well, I have some hard evidence that I would pass out if I ever tried to get a tattoo (see my experience getting my ears pierced as an eight-year -old, see also every time I have to get a shot at the doctor’s), so I don’t see myself getting one any time soon. But! I think I’d be pretty good at helping someone else pick out a tattoo.

[2]

If you inherited one billion dollars, what would you do first?

Before I simultaneously paid off student loans and saved the word, I would probably go to Starbucks and buy a seasonal drink. Probably some type of latte. I celebrate with Starbucks (and console with Starbucks) and do my best thinking over Starbucks, and I can’t see even a billion dollars changing that. (Yes, Starbucks, I might be your walking billboard.)

[3]

If you could have brunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Ooooooohhhhh. Hm. Can I bend the rules on this question somewhat?
I want to have brunch with all of my friends from different points in my life, but I would like them all to be frozen in time. I want my friends from elementary school to come to brunch and convince me to climb a tree nearby after pancakes. And I want my friends from middle school to come and talk about boys in code names. My friends from high school would plan some ridiculous adventure over mimosas. It would probably involve driving around for hours within our own town. (A plan to be executed at a later time, not directly after mimosas. You were worried about that, right?) My college friends would still be excellent at rolling out of bed and discussing the meaning of life over a noon brunch (why won’t our bodies let us sleep that late anymore?!). And my friends from after college would dissect our mid and late twenties, trying to figure out which pieces fit where, and are we the only ones who are fumbling with this? (No, no way.) So, it would be brunch with many people and a time machine. A simple request, right?

[4]

Pick one song to describe how you're feeling at this exact moment.

I am o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with Florence + The Machine, Blinding. Apparently, it has described how I feel for every moment for the past two weeks. Although, I couldn't tell you why.
(BTW, if you have suggestions for another song I should pair with the repeat button, let me know in the comments. Blinding will be forever grateful for the break.)

[5]

If you could be friends with a fictional character (book, movie, show, etc), who would you choose?

Felicity from the show Felicity. You know the one... where she follows the boy to college in NYC and works at Dean and DeLuca coffee shop and changes her major from pre-med to art and... I’ll stop. I don’t want to give anything away if you have yet to see it. (In which case you should go find the DVDs somewhere.) Anyway. I am pretty sure we would be best friends forever.

twitter \\ blog \\ tumblr

Thanksgiving (Outfit)

2011-11-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Oh, and shoes. I wore these:

Did you get dressed up fancy for Thanksgiving? Or did you go my usual route of "I'll dress up by changing into clean pjs for dinner..."

P.S.

Thought you could appreciate a dose of A Day in the Life of Doodle Owners...

Sponsor Spot (Giveaway)

2011-11-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

Want to promote your blog? Want to not pay for it?

WELL??!?

Alrighty then.

If you are a follower of Brunch, leave a comment, telling me your favorite thing to do in winter. I'll pick a random number and they will win a medium sponsor spot for the Month of DECEMBER.
That's IT.

Well. That's all that's required.

You can enter additionally by...
*Tweeting about it (mention @alivialynn & then come back and leave a comment here)
*Blogging about it (leave a link in the comments)
*Referring a follower (they must follow and then leave a comment with your name-- if that comment is picked, both blogs will receive a space! Woo!)
Winner will be announced Tuesday, November 29th.

P.S. Please include a way for me to get in contact with you if you win!

down time = blog time.

2011-11-25T21:28:00.001-05:00

If you have any (down time, that is), check out these lovelies-- my most recent stumbled-upon blogs that I Love with a capital Love.

>>Be sure to let them know in the comments/by following if you share my love for their sites<<

Previously Owned
The Secret Life of Bee

the original link for this photo has escaped me. please let me know if you know!

how to make sushi. kind of.

2011-11-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

Sushi made by roommate Ryan. I did no work whatsoever, except throw some encouraging words his way during the wrapping/rolling/cutting part..

pointes

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Photos taken of students' pointe shoes before dying black last May for recital. How pretty they look onstage or lying calmly on the floor. How ugly they feel on sore blisters, aching bones & tired legs in a long rehearsal....

Talent Tuesday.

2011-11-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

My brain for 40 seconds:

"Is this real? No way...yes! It's real. Wait. This is REAL?"

I'm fairly easy to impress, but this is pretty amazing.

Sponsor BRUNCH in December!

2011-11-21T12:52:00.001-05:00

December is (by far) one of my favorite months. I have some fun sponsoring ideas lined up and I hope you decide to join us! If you have a shop, blog or website you'd like to promote, we would love to have you.
I'm increasing rates in 2012, so take advantage of these while you can :)

Click HERE for info.

xoxo

our "halloween" weekend

2011-11-19T14:00:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I snapped a few photos of the apartment Halloween decor.

I figured with Thanksgiving in less than a week, I'd better post them soon or save them for next year.

We had our Halloween party the week after the actual day (decorations 50% off, huzzah!)

Luna adopted this teddy....& ate his eyeballs out. He was cute while he lasted.

I found some Halloween records & scary soundtracks at a thrift store, so cute!

(I thought I had more of our pumpkins and candles and cobwebs, and decorations but maybe not! Next year I guess.)

Max & I needed a few last minute touches to our costumes, so off to The Garment District we went.

I found the perfect dress & a really great sweater in the "pay by the pound" pile. I wasn't sure if I loved it but for $.50, I couldn't say no. I've worn it over 10 times since then. I rewarded myself for not buying heaps of clothes with one of my favorite fruits,

Don't worry, I checked with Congress.

The next night we hosted a Halloween party.

...Is that a ghost near the poisoned apples?

Above: May & Ashely (as a kitty and our friend Andrew), then me as a creepy doll. My teddy had a ribbon noose around it's neck with "blood" and stuffing coming out of the ripped patches. Cute, Alivia.

If that isn't creepy enough, he's another look:

Yeesh!!

{more} sponsor love

2011-11-18T12:42:00.001-05:00

I asked my sponsors to fill out a mini survey for me, gave them 6 categories in which to fill in a favorite:
smell \\ product \\ song \\ movie \\ piece of clothing \\ blog
& here they are!

Emily from If Ever I Could said....

Smell // Freshly brewed coffee, especially in the morning, but really any time of day.

Product // Anything by Apple. Currently my iPhone. (My dad is convinced I am brainwashed. He might be right...)

Song // I still really love Morning Song by Jewel.

Movie // Under the Tuscan Sun. Sure, it's a "chick-flick" but I could watch it every night.

Piece of clothing // My comfy, worn-in, gray hooded sweatshirt from high-school. (Who knew I'd still love so many things from high school a decade later?!)

Blog // Um. Hm. Do I really have to choose just one? Honestly? It's Alivia's.

- - - - -

Nicole from I Don't Claim to Know Much said....

Smell // Coffee, preferably Coffee By Design

Product // If we are talking of the beauty variety, I'd say nail polish. Other products: anything Apple related. I love me some iphone.

Song // Flower in Rain- Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers

Movie // THE GOONIES

Piece of clothing // My 7 for All Mankind jeans

Blog // I want to say yours! Is that biased? If I can't say it then the next is Across the Pond

- - - - -

Nicole from Nicole in the Making said....

Smell // My pillowcase and right before it rains

Product // My bright blue Nicole nail polish

Song // Wonderwall by Ryan Adams

Movie // Alice in Wonderland

Piece of clothing // Plum dress/skirt I bought in NYC at a second-hand store.

Blog // Sometimes Sweet

- - - - -

Erinn from It's the Journey said ....

Smell // Lavendar and lemons

Product // Anything Apple

Song // Landed by Ben Folds

Movie // An Affair to Remember

Piece of clothing // My Tom's silver glitter shoes.

Blog // The Beauty Department

- - - - -

Do you have a list of favorite things? Send 'em over & maybe we'll feature the list here! Friday Favorites sounds nice.
P.S. This is my first-ever-edited-in-Photoshop photo. How'dya like it?

Sponsor Love!

2011-11-17T13:21:00.001-05:00

Nicole in the Making is constantly changing. Just like my life. At first glance you'll see that I teach dance, have a jewelry business, enjoy random adventures with my boyfriend and have lots of love for my family. The things I share on Nicole in the Making are most likely ridiculous, full of love, sometimes irregular, but always direct reflections of my life. Enjoy!

blog || twitter || shop

Hi! My name is Erinn and I blog at It's the Journey (formerly As It Were, or Even if it Weren't). I'm a navy wife and recent college grad just trying to figure it all out and sometimes I'm actually successful! I post a lot about food, dance, job hunting, navy wife life and randomness. So, stop on by and say hello!

blog || twitter || pinterest

I'm Nicole. A 29 year old awesomely accident prone jobless wonder.

My blog is where I talk about life, which is finding a job I love, and loving the love I love.

That make sense? No? Well, welcome to my blog.

blog || twitter || pinterest

---

These ladies are amazing! Go say hello & make new friends! I'm so thankful for such great sponsors. More coming from these lovelies tomorrow.

xoxo

finally part two!

2011-11-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

[see part 1 here]

pinteresting things.

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ooof I want this.

I need to collect all of my college & high school tees and run them through the sewing machine. Love this idea!

Stacked on top of a few milk crates, (or a tree stump if I can get one) and bada bing-- front porch decor for the holidays.

Would love outfits like these e v e r y single day.

How pretty would this be on the wall for the fall and winter months? I like the idea of decorating for seasons instead of holidays.

Holy this is cute. All I need now is a bridal party! And...a fiance. And maybe a boyfriend would help, too.

You guys. I made this last weekend and it was fanFREAKINGtastic. Just pour melted white chocolate over crushed oreo cookies and stick in the fridge.

Have have have to start knitting again, this blanket has convinced me.

[ all photos from my pinterest; three outfit sources 1 2 3 ]

Energize Your Monday.

2011-11-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

Guaranteed to make you smile.

window shopping

2011-11-10T10:42:00.003-05:00

I really,

really,

love

window (internet browser windows, that is) shopping for the holidays.
These would all make PERFECT gifts. Think I'll do a weekly list of ideas...stay tuned!

[click photo for source/etsy listing]

just lovely...

2011-11-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

This is Drew Tabor.

I think her voice is lovely. It kind of reminds me a tad of my friend Stephanie's. She lives in Hawaii now and I miss. her. like. crazy.

Thank you to Phoebe for sharing her videos with me!

odds & ends

2011-11-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

just in case.

2011-11-07T09:09:00.000-05:00

In a few weeks (I hope!) my aunts will be getting the new iPhone 4s. Which means their only slightly-used iPhones will need a new home. I volunteered to take the orphan phones once the new ones come in the mail.

SCORE!

So Mama & I will be getting iPhones soon :)

And my mum needs one; she's had her razr for years and years-- she can't check her voice mail without a few tricks.

So anyhow, I found this site late last evening and can't stop browsing. Here are a few favorites.
{Lula just posted her favorites too, haha! Great minds??}

....

my absolute favorite favorite-- Totoro

**all cases found @ society 6 **

it's that time. again.

2011-11-05T09:56:00.001-04:00

is this for real??

a w k w a r d
--Learning that the world has hit 7 billion and exclaiming "There're 7 billion people, now!" Max's answer: "One of them will date you."
--How much I can't decide on this site. (thanks Mary Beth.)
--Being exceptionally poor because of studio power outages this week.
--Googling "how to make blood as a drink" before realizing it was poorly worded.
--I might actually do this sometimes.
--Thinking a woman has a painted green face, being utterly confused, realizing it's Halloween so it's fine, doing a double take to realize her face is normal. Too much coffee that day.
--Telling my roommates it's cute that kids walk around to trick-or-treat and getting the (o_O) face. They asked how I used to get around and I said, without hesitation, "We drove! The house are far apart in Maine...." I got the face again.
-- Nasty, malicious formspring-ers. I love when people put their confident pants on...anonymously.
-- Luna forgets that her back feet are HERS sometimes. She thinks it's funny to hold them in her mouth like "Now they can't get away!"
-- Trying to play a game like this after sucking down an adult beverage. In my defense, it was a vodka strawberry blueberry smoothie. Oh my gosh the laughter. Tears were streaming down my face I was laughing so hard.

a w e s o m e
+ Max as Black Swan...though this could easily go under 'awkward.'
+ Handing out candy to TONS of trick-or-treaters! Growing up, I'd either be out gathering candy myself or home to hand out the entire bucket to two kids. Living in the city is awesome!
+ Finding the p e r f e c t dress for my costume. Wait and see :)
+ Pumpkin muffin cake...things. Want the recipe? There are TWO ingredients. Crazy yummy.
+ Syd's bebe. And the first photos she shared. I can't think of any other word but beautiful.
+ PLEASE LORD can someone buy this for me? I need it. I need it!
+ My roommate, Alex's, costume. I so want to tell you what it is...but you'll have to wait for that too.
+ The $1 records I got a few weeks ago with Halloween stories and songs...perfect for our party tonight!
+ My cousin, Evan (whom I've always considered as more of a big brother) for always dropping everything to help me. Thank you, Evan!
+ May's questions. Always take me a few days to answer because I want to mull over my response and find out more about myself.
+ My mama. She seriously rocks.
+ Man, THIS GUY is hilarious.
+ 299 followers! So close, loves!
+ Living with best friends.

photo catch up.

2011-11-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

Luna lounging // Last farmer's market visit // Thrifting with the roommates

today i just want to nap in the sun.

2011-11-02T13:59:00.001-04:00

Ain't this purrty?

I was supposed to have the day off today, but I'm heading in to cover a few classes this afternoon.

Hopefully I'll have some more energy later for an actual post.
This song is helping immensely, though.

xoxo

P.S.

Make sure you click over & visit Brunch's November sponsors! I'm so happy to have such lovely women as the first to grace that space.

> > > > > > >

source

happy little things.

2011-11-01T14:00:00.000-04:00

This is what I feel like lately. I've been waking up early early to go to the gym, then taking a nap after my shower.

And I'm all

"I'll get up in 20 minutes! And be productive!"

But my brain is all

"Nonono. Don't you listen to that mean old alarm. Sleep forever."

Then I get up and get ready for the day and I'm all behind and that kind of sucks.

So when I'm cranky, I make lists. This is not news.

Today, when I woke up late and was cold and pudgy-feeling, I sort of decided that was alright.

I moped and drank my tea and took pictures of random things.

I was irrationally mad about my shoulders hurting.

I listened to the Mumford & Sons station on Pandora, which always just encourages my pouting.

Then I quit it.

Because I decided I was wasting my time.

SO...Here's my list of little things that are making me smile. Because if I'm going to waste time, it's going to be positive.

Luna taking her toy frog for a ride around the apartment.

Sparkly nails.

Handing out candy to kiddos. Their smiling faces and "Thank you!"s are marvelous.

Sydney's baby is the cutest ever.

Talking to my cousin Evan for a few minutes this morning

Leaving flowers on Mary Beth's doorknob for her to find

Planning a productive day off.

Love Actually. I saw it for the first time yesterday-- it's a new favorite.

How gross The Thing was (watched this last night with the apartment family)

Making chocolate-covered pretzels with Max

Records.

Planning our Halloween party

Visiting with my gram over the weekend

How perfectly depression is explained here.

halloweenie.

2011-10-31T13:56:00.002-04:00

profane rambling under the influence.

2011-10-27T22:43:00.000-04:00

Maybe I'm doing it backwards. Maybe I need to get this comfortable with life after things happen. Things. You know, the shit you thought you'd have together by this age? My age? Maybe.

Maybe it's okay to swear upwards of ten times at your IKEA bureau because it's "broken" when in reality, your camera cord is just stuck in your unorganized underwear drawer. So that's where my camera is. Was.

I can't imagine my quirks being anywhere close to something resembling "enduring." Like "Oh, she's beautiful and sweet and she does silly things like only finish 1/3 of her tea, no matter how big the cup is. She likes football and knows all about art history and listens to ridiculously absurd music...but she's just great."

For a long time, I tried to be that girl. "I'll just work really hard at being pretty!" Working out, paying attention to tweezing my eyebrows, writing "Shave your legs like you aren't single as fuck! *smiley face*" on the calendar. You know, normal, insecure things.
"Maybe my quirk will be that I drink tea and hate coffee. And I don't like the Beatles. Yeah. That's original, right? And I'll pretend to like....tattoos?" Fake it til I make it.

Except now I love coffee, the Beatles, and dammit I can't help but like tea on purpose. And tattoos make me go weak in the knees.

It worked for a while. A unique, musical, artsy, weird boy I liked was interested in me for two or three minutes and that was nice. And then his ex girlfriend called me a whore from the other end of the hallway and I spent the rest of the afternoon crying in the bathroom. Somehow I still loved high school.

So that was cool.

Except I'm not in high school anymore. I'm sitting at my dining room table, with an empty beer bottle and a stale chocolate chip cookie, browsing internet sites like I'm being paid for it. "These aren't quirks," I realized while trying to restrain a crazed goldendoodle in my minuscule front yard, (after she had another accident on the carpet of course. "No, my life is not pathetic at all." she said, sarcastically). Not quirks. Just things. Things I do. Alone.

ohhhh you know.

2011-10-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

via from andrew.

a w k w a r d
>> Sister Wives. I just...I don't....erm. Just...oy. Ugh.
>>Laughing like a maniac in the dining room, alone. My roommate was cracking up while watching TV in his room and I was laughing at him.
>>Waking up to a dog toy crime scene. Her favorite elephant must've gotten on her nerves at 4 AM, because his guts are strewn about the room like she was on a mission.
>>Watching Nightmare on Elm Street...and thinking it looked something like "well-preserved," before realizing we were watching the remake instead of the original. Dammit.
>> "Dammit, I'm mad" is "Dammit I'm mad" backwards.
>> I've got two cardboard boxes, each for a birthday package....and they are both embarrassingly late. Oh bother.
>> Me, trying to teach tap. Lord have mercy, I need to take a class.
>> Luna after getting fixed. If she wasn't a big stuffed animal before, she definitely thought she was on Friday night.
>> I honestly want one of these. No, really, I do.
>> Know what's awkward? Having real-life stories for most of my 'Awkward' column, then mostly links in the 'Awesome' list. Awesome fail.
>> Not knowing what to be for Halloween until the day after. I always get the most perfect ideas when it's too late!
>> How quickly I'd eat these.
>> Being all "We're going to Salem!" Then....not going. Drat.
>> Luna has learned that if she puts her head under my arm and shoves, I'll pat her. This makes typing difficult all of the times.

a w e s o m e
<< Lovely Ashlee is pregananto! Wee!! The announcement is the best ever.
<< Zooey singing the national anthem. I don't even have words for how lovely this is.
<< The newest issue of The Violet Online.
<< Our family cat, Lucy, wasn't doing well a few days ago. She seems to be doing alright now!!
<< Harry Potter inspired wedding? Hells to the yes.
<< Screaming at scary movies. The Shining? Yeesh.
<< Apple pie.
<< The Obama meme.
<< Going to Maine this weekend to see the family!! I am so excited! :)
<< Apple pie.
<< My November sponsors. Just you wait and see!
<< Creative, theme-y drinks.
<< Apple pie. Can't believe I forgot to mention this.
<< Have I linked to this video? I saw it via Allison's blog.

the most beautiful cover.

2011-10-26T12:47:00.001-04:00

I posted a similar video here awhile ago.

The one above has been playing over and over...and over and over...all morning.

Happy Wednesday, friends.

Some strange/sad things have happened recently to people close to me.

Give the people you love an extra big hug today.

P.S.

A few sponsor spots are still available for November. Check out the sponsor page for details & pricing!

beautiful portraits of strangers

2011-10-25T12:30:00.007-04:00

I whole-heatedly believe that the photographer responsible for these beautiful photos is a creative genius.

From his website:

"Danny Santos II is a weekend photographer who likes to shoot strangers in the streets of Singapore. He's been shooting street for about 2 years now. By trade a graphic designer, he's been working in the creatives industry for over 10 years."

The photos in this set blow my mind. Go see all of them on his website or on the flickr page here.

All photos belong to Danny Santos II & were originally found here.

to my sweet friend

2011-10-23T18:30:00.000-04:00

I wish you the best day ever-- you deserve it!

Thursday A&A

2011-10-20T14:44:00.001-04:00

this happens too often^

a w k w a r d

Working on my days off...I am already a zombie and I haven't started yet.

Not caring at. all. about cookies being expired. So many preservatives....a few months shouldn't hurt. Well, we'll find out I guess.

Teaching an advanced tap class. Um. How do I do that, again?

Never being completely sure if some things are awkward or awesome or neither or both.

The guilt I feel for having Luna fixed. I'm a responsible pet owner, but also a guilty one. Poor baby :(

When people confuse "well" and "good," however in the less-popular direction. Example: "My tea smells so well."

I picture this tea cup strutting around, smelling flowers and perfume, all "I can smell these things from a mile away, bitches."

When I want my roommates to watch a movie that dramatically changed the way I look at the world, all like "GUYS we HAVE to WATCH. THIS. NOW" And....they didn't like it. Damn. I think reading the book first would be best if you're thinking of seeing it. I still think it's amazing. Have you seen it, or better yet, read it?

I just watched a clip of a preview for the latest Twilight movie. I choked on my well-smelling tea because I couldn't hold back my laughter.

Actually getting dressed in something other than a leotard + yoga pants...and not having any way of proving it. Stupid camera battery.

Being so tired at the gym that I actually lay my head on the elliptical. Before working out.

Maybe spotting a chair in the garbage and taking it home. It's almost in perfect condition except one little (easily fixed) part is broken.

Maybe eating 4 lbs of sour patch kids and consequently shredding my tongue.

I keep trying to "Like" tweets. When will I learn?

a w e s o m e

My boss is letting me bring Lunabelle to class tonight. Woo!

The smell of my vanilla chai tea. It smells good.

Working extra days = extra monies.

Making my own pumpkin spice latte....thing. Coffee + pumpkin cream + Vietnamese cinnamon. Add a chocolate chip cookie and you're golden. Or, if you're like me, you're green because the cookies are expired.

Mumble singing at the top of my lungs in the car to the new Kelly Clarkson song. You're welcome for the free entertainment, Mass Pike drivers.

How much light pours into our living room and dining room in the afternoons.

Unsubscribing from tons of people on my FB newsfeed. Do I sound like a big jerk? Complain about it on your status why don't you.

Suzy's blog design skillz.

As much as I complain, I really love going to the gym early to 1. get it over with and 2. have the gym be emptyish

This song.

Weekend plans! Salem! With friends! Woo!

Caramel apples.

Guest posting.

Ruche. Ruche, Ruche, Ruche.

How much my roommates make me laugh.

Lunabelle after licking a sour patch kid. Cah- razy.

inspiration. slash design envy.

2011-10-20T11:30:00.000-04:00

Courtney & Robert Novogratz have the BEST EVER style, in my humble opinion.

I love the way they blend modern with classic, funky art with simple, clean lines.

They even have a book out now-- Downtown Chic.

Love.

All photos by by Jeffrey Hirsch & were found here

guess what?

2011-10-19T08:20:00.001-04:00

Listen up, Cupcakes. I've got an announcement.
Brunch in April.

The blog you're reading right now.

Is going to start opening up spots for sponsors in November.

. . . . . . . . . .

LET'S NOT EVERYONE JUMP AT ONCE, PEOPLE.

Calm your shit.

Just kidding, go mental. I know you've all been waiting on the edge of your desk chair/mattress/Starbucks booth/floor

for this announcement.

I know I have.

Does that even make sense?

I'll be posting the details on my new sponsor page (coming soon to the right sidebar), but if you'd like a jump start on the action, email me!

I'll send you all the important information.
Perhaps even a discount.

aliviaDOTdance@gmail.com

photo is semi unrelated. but dangit, isn't it cute?

Today I'll try to

2011-10-18T08:49:00.000-04:00

{via}

...pretty please?

2011-10-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

you should visit...

2011-10-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

Because they are all new favorites. Maybe not all *newnew* but I haven't shared them in a post yet. So newish. Just go see.

>> Click each banner to go to the site<<

>>Artwork and related elements belong to respective bloggers<<

today i lay on the floor and listened to the rain.

2011-10-14T10:59:00.000-04:00

Then I wrote a guest post for this lovely.

Click here to go see it.

And then I lay on the floor some more and listened to the always ever-depressing Sleep Station on Pandora.

And now I'm going to fight my weird lonely rainy feelings with gym time, coffee, a hot shower and a bight outfit.

Maybe some Buffy episodes mixed in there.

Perhaps a bucket of coconut gelato.

Hah, a bucket, don't be silly.

Two buckets.

Etsy Love: Box o' Chocolates Photography

2011-10-12T18:18:00.000-04:00

<< Click any photo, or her banner at the top to visit the etsy site>>

p.s. her blog is here.

***I am in no way affiliated with this shop, I am only sharing information. I was not paid for this post-- I just love the items!***

a history of lyrics that aren't lyrics.

2011-10-12T13:38:00.000-04:00

Thank you to Ryan for showing this to me!

you guys.

2011-10-11T11:15:00.000-04:00

happiest of tuesdays to you.

this puts the biggest smile on my face. she was the best, wasn't she?

and that dress? i need it.

thank you to andrew for showing this to me!

music musings

2011-10-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

1 The Head & The Heart ||The Head & The Heart

2 Jarle Berhoft || Solidarity Breaks

3 Awolnation || Megalithic Symphony

4 Eminem || Recovery

5 Florence & the Machine || Lungs [The B-Sides]

The 99%

2011-10-10T22:07:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, a few of my friends and roommates went to the Boston protests tied to Occupy Wall Street (Occupy Boston). I planned on attending as well, but my schedule got shifted around that day and so I had to live vicariously through Alex's photos.

Now you can, too.

Photo credit to Alex Downes.

because it's monday and because everyone should be this happy.

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

I am a perpetual

"Eh, I love this blogger but I don't really want to bother with a video right this second."

-er.

BOTHER. This one is worth it. Promise.

Just in case.

2011-10-09T23:00:00.000-04:00

Just in case you missed it, please watch this video. I love it. I can't really put into words why.

I just...love it.