Princess Festival

I have always loved Disney. About 5 years ago I decided I really wanted to go try out to be a Disney Princess at Disneyland. But life got in the way in a good way and I found my own Prince Charming. After getting married I had set up a plan to go try out this summer to be a princess. Unfortunately Disneyland wasn’t/isn’t having any auditions this summer.

This was a very long introduction to this post but I thought some back-story would be good. I attended the Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point on Tuesday and I really enjoyed it. I decided to dress like a princess because what better time to dress up like a princess then to a princess festival. One of my favorite princesses is Belle and so Dane had our cousin, Sarah, make me a Bell dress for Valentine’s Day last year. It is a LEGIT dress.

I was very excited to show off my beautiful dress and hang out with my cousin Sarah, her daughter Emme, and some friends from the ward. As soon as I walked in a little girl came up to me and asked if she could take a picture with Belle. I couldn’t say no and I was a little excited that she wanted a picture with me.

After walking around with my group for a little bit I started getting more and more girls coming up to me and asking for my autograph and to take pictures with me. I couldn’t stand still for more than 5 minutes without a line forming in front of me.  Part of me was so happy this was happening because it’s exactly what I wanted to do at Disneyland but the other part felt guilty because I wasn’t one of their princesses. They had their own Disney Princesses but their costumes were altered due to copyright issues. I decided when I signed the kids books I would sign something other than Belle because I wasn’t their Belle.  It made me happy to see a smile on the kid’s faces when they saw “Belle” and I really wish I could have done this at Disneyland.

It was fun to walk around with Sarah and Emme and our other friends and do the little adventures they had for the kids. We helped Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum get along, we found pirates in a cave and we completed a princess puzzle. After all of these adventures we got to celebrate with snow cones. All of the kids were dressed up and you could tell that Emme had a lot of fun.

I had a great time at this festival and I would recommend it to any parent with kids and who wants to feel like a princess again. 

Goodbye to Dane's Parents!

Today Dane’s Parents left for the Cauayan Philippines to be Mission Presidents.  We are going to miss them so much but we know they are going to be amazing. We love them and we are so proud to be their kids! I can’t wait to get out there and visit them!

 Right after they got set apart!

 My in laws are good looking!

The whole family! Sorry the picture is kind of blurry...

Color Blocking

I love fashion! Whenever I find something new that I love I feel like I should share it with the world and I love seeing what other people get excited about buying.  

Jackets are a staple piece in a wardrobe. I saw this jacket on a T.V. show and I had to have it! I searched and searched and finally found it. It was on sale when I bought it which made me that much more excited. When it came in the mail it was one of those pieces that was more beautiful in person. I am in love with my new jacket! Too bad we are entering summer and I won't be able to wear it as much :( 

My dress is a simple black maxi dress. But it has sleeves! These are hard to find, so when I find one I like it's hard not to buy it.

The purse is one of my favorites. It is my go-to purse. The size is also perfect for when I travel I can fit almost everything I need inside it and I just love the shape.

Finally, I feel like every closet needs a pair of wedges that aren't too high that you can wear all day everyday. Wedges are my summer go-to shoe. 

Jacket: BCBG  Maxi Dress (with sleeves!): Target (on sale)  Shoes: J.Crew (on sale)  Bag: (similar style here)  Tory Burch    Bracelet: Kate Spade

The Last Hurrah

Yesterday, my Mom and Dad packed up a truck and drove away from the home they built in Cincinnati. They sold the house in order to prepare for their mission to the Philippines for the next three years then will most likely settle down in the west.

They brought the whole family together for last hurrah before they and Dallin left on their missions. For the first time since Jordan and I were married everyone was home in Cincinnati. Needless to say, we made sure to do all the things we love to do. We played, we sang, we ate, we laughed, we ate some more and then laughed even harder. But we also began slowly claiming and packing up my parents things.

My brothers and I reflected on this. How my parents had spent their whole life providing us and themselves with the comforts of life and small spoils that keep our family together. Now, Mom and Dad are seemingly leaving all their material things behind to go and serve the Lord as mission presidents in the Cauayan Philippines mission. I am most proud and excited for them and wouldn't have it any other way. But this also meant saying goodbye to Ohio as a home.

For most people, Ohio isn't really anything all that spectacular. And in all honestly, there really isn't much there. But I think that is what I love most about it. It was ours. Every space has a wisp of a memory, every corner has it's specific flavor and the most obscure things hold the upmost nostalgic sacredness. Ohio is dear to our hearts and it is a tearful goodbye.

In an effort to capture this feeling, I put together a little video. It's a bit like trying to bottle up the Milky Way in a mason jar. But I hope it does Cincinnati justice: