the small things

adventureland in my own backyard...

So there I was clacking away on the keyboard working on my final project for college letting Pandora stream along in the background when Speechwriters LLC filled my room with beautiful music...

Southeast Asia

Classic cars and
outdoor bars and
movie stars

It sounds like California, hey I tried to warn you
Living any place is hard
When blood is pumped by a lonely heart

So I followed you
To Southeast Asia
The weather is grey here
They look at us strange here

It brings us close together, and things have been better
Than they've ever been before

This is love
Can't say it much different than that
Sing this song to someone you love
And you tell them
That if this is the end
You couldn't complain

and it made me happy.

i hope music makes you happy.

the great gatsby

a great adventure....

Just arrived home from Friday night date night with my best friend, Sara. We spent the evening in the courtyard area of the Biltmore in awe of the lives on the screen before us. On Friday evenings the Biltmore Fashion Park has hosted movies in their center court allowing families, couples, and friends to picnic on the lawn and enjoy a classic American film. This week in the park The Great Gatsby captured the audience and onlookers alike.

Previously, I had never seen the movie so I was delighted to see the beaded gowns, sequined headbands, and the romanticized way of life. As a matter of fact, I may just make my own Great Gatsby inspired headband and wear it the unneccarily lavish accesory to the market.

While I must report the experience was a bit chilly (I literally tried on my winter coat before leaving the house, but decided I looked silly at the last minute and went with a thinner sweater- something I started to regret around 8:45) it made the experience that much more. I was transported into winter with the store fronts decorated in red and green, trees adorned with white twinkle lights, and the crowd of movie goers bundled in scarves and blankets.

It made for an absolutely gorgeous Friday night.

i hope to see you at my table.

we're actually a visa family

another adventure just beyond the horizon....

Instate Tuition at ASU for 4.5 years: $18,258.00

Sitting for the NCTRC Exam: $425.00

Overnighting 2 transcripts to New York: $82.23

Knowing your daughter will stay in Arizona for the next three years: Priceless


Thanks Momma and Mike!!! I would never have been able to get through without you!

i hope you follow your dreams.

warm fuzzies

an adventure in my own backyard...



Last year my sister and I got these fuzzy scented socks for Christmas. At the time we thought they were totally weird and agreed that we would most likely never use them.

Fast forward eleven months....
The couple who gifted us these are genius!!! I was sitting in my house freezing thinking of ways to stay warm when the fuzzy sock popped into my head.
It took me a minute to dig them out, but it was so worth it.
My piggies will be nice and warm this winter :)

Thank you Bruce and Jamie!

Also note my favorite thing, my owl blanket from Target.
I <3 it!

i hope your socks are scented this holiday season.

coming soon: the real world

Put your cowgirl boots on and hang on for yet another adventure...

My vanilla bean candle is lit and the scent over-powers my room in the best way. Pandora is doing a wonderful job swirling the musical talents of The Format, Dave Matthews Band, Speechwriters LLC, Mason Jennings, Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin, and many others. I'm wearing my paper crown for nostalgia, hoping it will help me craft a somewhat interesting post. My window is open to Willow, but the weather isn't as cool as November should feel.

I'm feeling rather homesick. The feeling came about yesterday afternoon and has only been welling up inside, slowly consuming all I am. I know it is partly here because a big wonderful chapter in my life is concluding and will soon introduce a new slightly scary and uncertain page in my book. Graduation is literally five weeks away, I'm moving out of the Willow house in eight, and I have no clue what my future holds. On top of everything else Christmas is just round the bend and I am sad because while I know this year will bring new traditions and memories it also means moving away from and all too soon forgetting the old ones.

It is unnerving to me to crave a home that does not exist. I want to live and be in a safe place that smells good, creates a warm calm, and is full of happiness. I want to see my family healthy and joyful. I want to sleep in the same bed every night. I am tired of living out of a duffel bag, tired of worrying.

I hope I find where it is I'm supposed to be. I know who I am supposed to spend the rest of my adventure-filled existence with, but I seem to have lost the directions to the corner of "financially stable" and "organized".

Take a deep breath. Last time I was overwhelmed with adult worries about my internship the stars lined up and everything has turned out to be amazingly lovely. I'm headed for big things, I just have to have faith.

i hope my lucky star is still up there.

weekend whipping by

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Dear weekend,

Why did you go by so fast?

Please stay longer next time.

Aimee

Dear Momma,

Thank you for spending your Saturday with me trying to replace the car battery.

I love you!

Aimee

Dear Clayton,

Sometimes it is hard to kiss you because loving you makes me smile.

My heart is yours.

Aimee

i hope your weekend was fantastic.

all grown up

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Despite being 22 and a half I still feel like I'm fifteen most days, and let's be honest I'm often confused for a high school student. Even though I drive, am in college, and having the most amazing internship experience I call my parents all the time and ask their advice on life issues, similar to asking for permission to stay out late. Despite my youthful mindset, every once in a while something will happen that reminds me I am a full fledged adult with big girl responsibilities and real world consequences.

For instance, after work I checked a voicemail asking me to call my Dad back when I had the chance. After hanging up from our two minute conversation I had gathered that my Dad had been experiencing chest pain and was in the hospital overnight for monitoring, but that I should not be alarmed only informed.

While I'm glad this little event can be chalked up to anxiety and stress I started thinking about the scenario had my Dad actually had a heart attack. It was a quick whip across the face for thinking I could be young forever. No more are the days of Mom and Dad taking me to the doctor, but checking in with them to make sure they are managing their blood pressure and cholesterol.

For now I am praying for health and new lives, instead saying goodbye to the ones already here.

hoping for happy things.

pumpkin king

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a Halloween adventure...

Happy Fall everyone!!!

Pumpkin carving 2010 took place in my Momma's and Mike's backyard.

Not only was it a chance for the entire family to become completely slimed in pumpkin guts, but it was also the day the Williams (Aunt Lani and Kaylee included) met Mike's family. An afternoon of chili, cutting things open, and pie it was like we had been family all along.

A few shots of us getting festive :)

Sadly enough, the pumpkins you see here didn't last very long.

Not quite sure if it was the rain we had this week or my awful carving skills (most likely a combination of both) but mold ended up covering my owl pumpkin.

We had to toss it last night.

I hope your pumpkin lives to light fright night!

let them eat cake

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Good morning! I am currently putting of writing an essay for my abnormal psychology summer school class about the types of treatment used for pedophiles and their success rates. Gross.

I hear back this week from a couple of the places I interviewed to find out where I may end up this time next month. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

Last night I had dinner with the darling Nelson family. We were celebrating a neighbor friend's birthday. The best part of dinner? When Clayton's Momma sent me home with the left over lemon cake. My Aunt Lani and I broke into the savory treat this morning with a cup of Earl Grey tea. I'm pretty sure I could make it in Europe. I mean, if I HAD to.

I would post of picture of our scrumptious breakfast, but my camera is still with the Geek Squad being worked on. I'm also crossing my fingers that those guys will call back this week with some good news.

In light of this tragedy I'm posting pictures from earlier this summer, but they're some of my favorites.

I can tell he's jealous of my sweet air guitar.

I love him

:D

Here's to a great week!!!

I hope you eat cake for breakfast.

memo to self

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Dear Blogger.com,

Please stop allowing weirdo Asian accounts to post porn links in my comments section.

Thanks.

Aimee

Dear Dad,

Please do not worry about the time you dropped my camera on the concrete driveway on the fourth of July while taking a ridiculously cute pic of Clayton and I (I would post it but....). Apparently the camera had a warranty and Best Buy is gonna fix it or something.

Love you.

Aimee

Dear Mom,

Stop being a crazy face and get back together with Mike already.

Thanks.

Aimee

Dear Self,

Please post more blogs. It's really lame when you don't.

Thanks.

Aimee

I hope your camera is under warranty.

Ken, she's over here!

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

So in case you didn't know, or just forgot, my sisters happen to look just like Barbie.

I'm so lucky to share their gene pool.

Here's to getting taller and blonder.

glitterachi fan club

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Yesterday I officially became a member of the glitterachi after having my toes done and buying a new pair of shoes! (The shoes are actually for my cousin's wedding next weekend, but I love them so much I'm going to attempt to wear them with everything.) I'm not usually one to brag or freak out over a pair of shoes, but these are fabulous.

Don't they take your breath away?

The glitter on my toes is so shiny in the light.


My shoes are so sparkly.

And my tattoo looks cute too!

Even the Willow house carpet looks good next to my shoes.

Thank you Steve Madden for making these beautifully crafted sandals you named Vegaas.

Thank you Momma and Mike and Emily and Abbey for the Nordstrom gift card for my birthday.
Without it I would not be the proud owner of a shimmery pair of sandals.

I walked around the house in them yesterday to try and break them in.

Vegaas and I are a perfect match.

I hope you're finding cute sandals for summer.

my five

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

A few weeks ago I agreed to participate in something my boyfriend and his lovely roommates conjured up. They decided that we all should make a list of 5 things we want to accomplish this summer. They could be outlandish or realistic, but the other three pledged to help in every way to make it come true.

Here are my five:

1. Take Abnormal Psych (so I can graduate college)

2. Volunteer at Hospice

3. Swim a mile a day

4. Take a creative writing class

5.

Well at least I have four. One of Clayton's roommates Jon wanted to hike a trail in Sedona. So last weekend I decided we would cross one of his five off the list and we picked that one. Tuesday we woke up ridiculously early (6 am folks) and made the hour and a half drive to Sedona. We hiked for about two and a half miles and took some amazing pictures.

Clayton and Jon at the beginning of our hike.

We must have crossed that little creek 8 or 9 times throughout the hike. It was fun to try and balance on the stones and trees that served as bridges.

Every time I turned around there was a view to take my breath away.

The sky was so clear and blue.

The scariest part was trying to balance on a small tree while I made my way out to the middle to take a picture.

I didn't fall in :)

During the adventure we ran into a few insects inhabiting the trail.
This is a stink bug, but I wouldn't know because Clayton took the picture.

I didn't want to be anywhere near it.

This is a picture of a bunch of caterpillars cocooning to become butterflies and moths.
I also think this is gross.

Clayton and Jon intent on their granola bars.
And then the granola bars in their mouths.


Jon, our knowledgeable tour guide.

One of the last views on our hike.

I hope you get to cross off your five this summer.

growing up too fast

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

I just realized that when I created my photo diary the other day I forgot all about my sister Emily's prom! Since Emily attends a smaller high school, freshman and sophomores are also allowed to attend prom. Since Em started high school this year she was allowed to go to the dance. Of course Bee and I jumped at the opportunity to help our baby sister get ready.

The pre-show. Em is munchin' a delicious turkey sandwich and I am curling her hair.

My Momma's boyfriend bought Emily a corsage since she didn't have a date.

Let me clarify. Emily wasn't allowed to have a date since she's only 13.

Posing by the tree outside Momma's house.

She made me do it, so I made Emily do it.

Emily was in a knee brace because a few weeks before she popped her knee out of socket (gross) so she had to wear it, especially since she was going to be boogey-ing the night away.

Haleigh looking fly.

(And probably secretly wishing she was posing for prom.)

I helped her do her make up too.

It is amazing to me that I remember the day she was born, when she hid every set of car keys in the house and we had to follow her around and watch her play for 20 minutes before we found them, her first day of Kindergarten, helping her get ready for elementary school and now here she is in high school. Whew, now I know how Mom and Dad feel.

I hope I look like her when I grow up.

Beautiful Baby Sisters.

Emmy and I.

This picture reminds me that she still has my black clutch!

I hope you live in every moment.

who do you love?

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Last Thursday Clayton, Jon (Clayton's best friend/roommate), and I met Clayton's parents for dinner. The restaurant was located near the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. After dinner we walked around and took a few photos.

I actually took this one of myself at the restaurant.

The ENTIRE bathroom was covered in mirrors. Even the stalls!

Here I am in one.

This was in the park afterward.

The Love sculpture made for some cute/cheesy pics of Clayton and I.

Gazing into each others eyes.

Jon liked the candid ones :)

Thanks Jon!

What more can I say?

I love you Clayton.

Dig my vintage dress made from an old button down?

Buy one just like it at Olive in Paris.

I hope you have someone to LOVE.

an oldie but a goodie

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

My love for deli sandwiches and salads exponentially increases in the summer time due to the Phoenix heat. The other day after running errands I made my sister accompany me to one of the best kept secrets in Phoenix. It is in this sandwich shop I cried to my Dad about boys teasing me in high school, had a serious talk with my Momma about my Dad remarrying, had a great 32nd date with Clayton, and fell in love with the Thursday special.

On the corner of 13th Avenue and Jefferson sits a white and red converted house. This is the Old Station. Their inexpensive yet hardy deli sandwiches entice customers while their broccoli cheddar soup keeps them coming back. The shabby little building decorated with old license plates and metal signs is cozy, but can be a little cramped during the lunch rush. The outdoor patio seating is made up of plastic chairs and tables, perfect seating for lovely weather. These amazing sandwiches can be purchased from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This is the roast beef with provolone, everything on it and a side of macaroni salad.

Personally, I like my mac salad with more mayonnaise and no carrots.

But if you like that sort of thing then you will love their macaroni salad.

I also got a 32 oz fountain Coke.

Refreshing.

The gorgeous Bee enjoying her turkey and provolone.

She's too cool for a side.

Yep, that's tap water in her 32 oz Styrofoam cup.

And she happens to be wearing on of my favorite t-shirts of all time.

ASU Go Greek Fall 2007.

Love.

I hope you try the Old Station soon.

update of my life

Hello my name is Aimee and this is a real life adventure...

Happy Sunday morning! I'm already on my second cup of Irish Breakfast Tea from Twinings listening to Joshua Radin and as my little fingers are whizzing up and down on the keyboard I've realized I desperately need to remove the chipping linen colored polish off my fingers and get a manicure. Miss Aimee is on a budget (moving into the Willow house= bills) so maybe I'll get one before the wedding...

So I realized that since I've been completely MIA for the month of May I should update you on exactly what I have been doing, besides not blogging. The following is a photo diary for the last month.

April

For our senior trip, my cohort decided to go to Las Vegas in the middle of April. We spent two nights reeking havoc on the strip.

We stayed at the Trump Hotel, right off the strip.

It was super nice. There was a TV in the bathroom mirror.

The first night we went to Lavo. Don't we look fly?

The next day at Tao Beach.

I think that girl should've gotten a medium instead of a small.

Just sayin.

This is my wrist after the first 24 hours in Vegas.

Love it.

In Devils' Advocates we have a tradition. During your last tour while at the SRC you have to jump into the pool. Of course I did it. I wasn't going to miss out on one of the greatest traditions at ASU.

Soaking wet and loving it.

May

Chi Omega always hosts their last date party of the spring semester on the first weekend of May. The party theme was High School Cliques. Clayton and I agreed that the cheapest and funniest costumes would be redneck/hicks. Of course we are members of the 4-H Club and active in the FFA.

When asked "what's under your shirt?" Clayton would respond in his thickest accent "Bout 7 months" or "Our love" depending on who was asking. Hilarious.

And yes I am wearing a baby blue scrunchy with matching blue glitter eye shadow.

I might not have been his first love, but he promised that I would be his last.

Mother's Day is the ultimate challenge to try and sneakily impress your Mom and make her cry. This year Clayton's Mom really wanted pictures of her guys. My Aunt Lani took awesome photos of them to be framed for their Mom.

Happy Mother's Day Lora!

The handsome Nelson boys.

Lani managed to get a few of Clayton and I.

How did I get so lucky?

For Mother's Day Clayton decided he was tired of looking at my Momma's yard, so he got his best friend/roommate Jon to help along with Bee's boy David to clean it up.

This is the backyard BEFORE the boys went to work.

4 1/2 hours later. Amazing.

Happy Mother's Day Momma!

The handsome men who made the backyard transformation possible.

Among other things, the month of May yields one of my most favorite days of the year. May 13 is my birthday, this year I turned 22. For those of you who are not familiar with my upbringing you will be astonished to know that this was my 6th birthday.

Happy Birthday Me!!!

The beautiful cake my lil sis Lane brought to me.

After the boys and I got into it. Yes, that is strawberry filling- yum!

My WONDERFUL boyfriend and GREAT friends went through the trouble of planning me a surprise birthday party. Unfortunately, it was a surprise party so none of the pictures from the party are on my camera. I'm still trying to track them down.

In short, it was a complete surprise. The dinner party was perfectly understated.

I'm telling you, I'm the luckiest girl on the planet.

The Williams Family was very fortunate enough to have all settled in the glorious Phoenix Metropolitan area. This means that I got to grow up with my cousins as my best friends. I can't believe how old we've gotten. One of the girls I'm closest to, Katie, got engaged last year and is getting married this June. Congratulations Katie!!! Of course we took her out and showed her the time of her life for one of the last times as a single gal!

My cousin Katie's Bachelorette Party. The bridal party minus one.

Heather, Katie, and I- ridiculous as always :)

The last two weeks I have slowly moved all my belongings from the Chi Omega house (aka Adelphi) at Arizona State to the gorgeous Willow district. Moving and unpacking has taken me awhile. Especially since every time I get to it I end up turning on music and dancing around like a crazy person instead of getting anything done.

This is me finally getting around to unpacking my room in the Willow house. Kind of.

That wraps up the last four weeks or so. Despite being busy and trying to split my life between Phoenix and Tempe, I will try to be more current with posting.

Now I have to go shower because I was supposed to that a half hour ago.

I hope you're staying busy.