twenty-four

Happy Birthday to me!

Today I'm turning twenty-four and feeling good about it.

My mama got me these balloons and my dad took these pictures. 

Like they have anything to do with my birthday. (Just kidding!)

Later tonight I will be heading out with some friends and MJ to go to the Waterfront 

and this weekend my family will be celebrating at my brother's new house up in Corry, Pa
and we're going to see Despicable Me 2...because I am a child and that's all I want.

I think I've been pretty successful thus far, but am really excited for what this next year should bring!

Hope you all have a great day! I know I will :)

25 before 25

I've seen this on a few other blogs and I like the idea of making goals for the next year of life. Tomorrow I turn 24 so here's a list of what I want to do before I turn 25. We'll see how it goes!

1. Run in something. (I don't care if it's a 5K or a marathon, I'm doing something)

2. Start a career - for real. 

3. Save moo-luh! (Seriously)

4. Live totally solo! (As in no parents, no roommates)

5. Convince MJ to put a ring on it. (If he had his way, we'd be engaged now, so this shouldn't be too hard.)

6. Find & perform at a slam poetry event.

7. Love more deeply.

8. See the Pens play at Consol. (I haven't been to a Pens game since they built  Consol! What kind of Pittsburgher am I!?)

9. Drop some lbs.

10. Grow Chels & the City (In whatever way that goes best.)

11. Attend a zumba class. (Everyone says this is such a great workout that I have yet to try.)

12. Buy more (semi-sensible) heels. (Most of my heels are just fashionable, not work-appropriate.)

13. Learn to make awesome drinks & drink them with friends. (I have bartended a bit in the last two years and I really like it, but want to learn more and why not share with friends?)

14. Use my sewing machine to make something for me. (Since I got my sewing machine, it's been a lot of repairing other peoples clothing, I want to make something for me.)

15. Teach something to someone. (Whatever that means, I felt the need to put it down.)

16. Record some songs with my brother, Eric.

17. Get more ink! (I'm craving another tattoo like a crazy person.)

18. Network! (This is oddly hard for me. So I have to work on it to be a fabulous, young professional.)

19. Mail birthday cards to friends/family. (I did pretty good with this, this year but I'd like to send more.)

20. Speaking of cards, start the greeting card line. (I love greeting cards, but usually spend too much time in the card aisle because nothing is just right, so I want to start making all my own. Might as well sell them too!)

21. Read more. (I was good about this too, but can always improve.)

22. Throw an awesome party! (Why not?)

23. Travel! (Again, why not?)

24. Buy a decent camera. (Because really, I neeeeed one.)

25. Sponsor a blog. (This will go with #10.)

The Best Thing About Ellwood City

You can just smell the fried food, hay and excitement!

The main food area - somehow I cut off the best booth ever in this picture, our church's apple dumpling booth.

A fan favorite - Rag Trader "Vintage Reborn"

Not to worry - we're still in Steelers Country, A LOT of vendors bring their black and gold best.

The information booth for visitors - I think it's the most festive and always loved it.

I've mentioned a couple times that I am currently in a different (smaller) city - while on the job hunt, I'm living back at home in Ellwood City, not too fair from Pittsburgh, distance-wise, but far from the luxuries of a downtown living lifestyle. However, there is one thing that is amazing about Ellwood City and that, is the Fourth of July Arts, Crafts, & Food Festival.

My mom and I are pretty much obsessed about the Festival, as is just about everyone else in the Ellwood area. The year I was born, my mom said that I better not interrupt her time at the Festival, which, I didn't, because I was born on the Monday after. The Festival features great (but horrible for you) food from local churches, clubs and other community groups, a judged art show, children's arts and crafts area and craft vendors from all over the US. I know this for a fact because I always pick up every business card. And I remember one Festival while hanging out at a friend's mother's booth, we were talking to a girl sitting in the booth next to us and she told us about her family who traveled to different fairs all summer, every summer; she was from Texas. 

This past weekend, Friday through Sunday, was the 2013 Festival and did not disappoint. Although it seemed like a lot of people were scared away by the rain and a couple favorite vendors were missing, still the same great weekend with fireworks to end the weekend. I bought the most stuff I have ever got from the Festival this year too, mostly jewelry, guess I'm a grown up? How was your weekend?

Fashion Forward Fridays: eShakti Custom Dress Review

Dress: eShakti | Shoes: Brash | Jewelry: Charlotte Russe | Purse: Vintage

A while back, I was contacted by eShakti to do a review. Since I heard of them through other bloggers, I jumped at the opportunity. A custom, designer dress made just for me? Uh, yes please! After going through a ridiculous process of narrowing down my favorite dresses and then asking my friend's opinions, I found the one that I wanted. Unfortunately, when I went to order it, they were sold out.

So I picked the dress that seemed the most like that one, which was a fitted bodice light chambray dress. Obviously the dress I have on in the pictures above have similar features, but it's not quite the same and while I do like this dress, something about it just doesn't make it "me." I chose the length of the skirt, sleeve, and added the keyhole back and the pockets, to make this dress the most customized one I could order - but I think the length of the skirt is what bothers me. I'm always nervous about ordering dresses online because I think they'll be too short. Knowing that, I ordered this as "below the knee" so that my big booty would have enough room, but this skirt gives it A LOT of room, and makes it a little too long for my style. Also, something about the length of the torso just isn't right. It might be my fault for guessing my height wrong but something about the shortened torso of this dress just isn't the most flattering for me. "Next time" I will do better looking at alllll the details before ordering and making sure all my measurements are exact.

Although I love all the customization options and love a lot of the pieces eShakti has to offer, since receiving my dress, it's been hard to get back in contact with the woman who started this correspondence, so if you order something, keep that in mind. However, I love the company overall. They are making clothes for women of all sizes and making them fit the size and personality of each customer by the changes you can make to their clothes. I suggest you check them out! For custom clothing, they are very reasonably priced.

P.S. I made my brother take these photos of me, he did a good job taking a bunch and letting me pick out which ones to use, he was a good sport. Oh. And these were taken at a new "urban park" in "downtown" Ellwood City. Our little hometown is getting so pretty....but that's about all it's doing.

Never ordered from eShakti before? Go here to receive a $25 coupon.

This is a sponsored post, I received this dress for free, but all opinions are my own.

Who's That Girl?

via

Being tender and open is beautiful. 

As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. 

Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. 

Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. 

Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. 

Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. 

 Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all 

– look around you. All of this is for you. 

Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love.

— Zooey Deschanel

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Just kinda feeling these words today. Zooey is one of my all time favorite women, especially in TV world. She just seems so real and someone you'd actually be able to hold a conversation with, unlike some celebrities who seem very much about themselves and about the fame. I appreciate these words from her because I feel like women are "getting shhh'ed" a lot in today's society. Like we're not allowed to be emotional now that we're playing in "a man's world." Suck it, to that. Clearly, Zooey is putting things in better sentence structure today. Hope you all are having an inspiring day and enjoying every minute. I'm heading to the 'burgh to work my last two shows of the season at the Public, today. What's on your agenda for this Thursday?