new feature: a look back via Livejournal

Welcome to a new feature here at Sometimes Sweet! I thought it would be fun to take a look back via my old and dear Livejournal every now and then (maybe once a month), and share some of my old entries from so long ago. Basically I'll be looking back at the exact day in my archives, and posting entries from 2003, 2004, and 2005. I chose these three years out of the many because they cover huge changes I went through during those younger years. To give you some background, in 2003 I was a sophomore and then a junior in college at Northern Arizona University (NAU), majoring in English Literature and living in a huge 8-bedroom duplex with my best girlfriends/sorority sisters (and one lucky guy, Kenny). In 2004 I graduated college in May and after graduating I moved down to Scottsdale with Autumn and Shirley, and found myself managing the Aveda store at Scottsdale Fashion Square. We lived in an adorable pink house together, and entries from the latter part of 2004 will detail that first post-grad year, the craziness of being done with college but still not knowing what I was doing with my life, and even meeting my future husband, Hank later that summer. 2005 details our first year dating long distance, and the story of us falling in love. Some of the entries, like this first one, make me laugh because I was 20 years old, so dramatic, and the writing is almost silly in its naiveté.  Hopefully you don't make fun of me too much, at least no more than Hank and I are right now as I read it aloud to him! haha. Well, I hope you all enjoy this little peek into my past and I encourage you to do something similar on your blog if you have a livejournal or similar journal from years gone by!






 

April 7th, 2003 11:19 am
mood: peaceful
music: Azure Ray - November

You kissed my forehead, and told me I was beautiful.


so good morning to me yet again. this week i vow to take care to notice all the small beautiful things in life. i promise i will stop and notice the way the clouds move across the blue and the way spring smells while it is just around the corner. i will cherish every second and every minute and every hour i am here and at the end of the day i will take some time for quiet-me and just think and meditate and be.

i need to stop procrastinating and putting the smallest things off until they disappear seem to disappear and just get them done. i love my room and it is cluttered and messied and the floor is no longer carpet, but clothes. i have 3 papers due. i have friends to catch up with and a life to live. but yet day after day i sleep in until noon and hide under my covers until anything i don't particularly like passes.

i don't like sean in that more-than-a-friend way. there is no spark, no goosebumps. after the nervousness of new wore off, there was nothing left there but a great guy who makes me laugh. but he doesn't make me giggle. he makes me smile, but not blush. i like to feel the butterflies, and no, i can't still feel them.

so once again i sleep alone and that is okay. i like me. and i know someone out there will too. and that boy will give me the goosebumps and i will be silly in love.

remember chasing amy the movie? i do.

Holden: "I love you. And not, not in a friendly way, although I think we're great friends. And not in a misplaced affection, puppy-dog way, although I'm sure that's what you'll call it. I love you. Very, very simple, very truly. You are the epitome of everything I have ever looked for in another human being. And I know that you think of me as just a friend, and crossing that line is the furthest thing from an option you would ever consider. But I had to say it. I just, I can't take this anymore. I can't stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can't, I can't look into your eyes without feeling that, that longing you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can't talk to you without wanting to express my love for everything you are."

i love that. don't you? so now i am going to make my floor carpet again, my closet shelved, and my desk workable. then i am going to go to the gym and spend my evening composing a paper that i will somehow become excited about.

today is another day and i am here. and i love me and you and life. byebye.
 

 {the pink house we moved into summer of 2004}


April 7th, 2004 1:42 am


sometimes the biggest wake up call comes as a good night call.

sad. but i understand now.

you cannot put the circle peg in the square hole. i mean, if i worked super hard to manipulate the shape, and change the square to a circle, or vice versa, there would be a match. but no one should change to suit someone else. ever.

and funny, i feel like i can finally get some sleep.





April 7th, 2005 9:06 am

i am excited for this week. last night's show was amazing. i love seven generations so much. every single time i see them i just walk on clouds for the next week or so. gather was awesome too. it was so nice to see everyone, chris and randy especially. hank did well last night too, they sounded great. he leaves wednesday for a two-week west coast tour (the as i lay dying one i mentioned in a few entries), and i am so excited for him. everyone i know keeps asking me if i will be okay with him gone, but come on, it's only two weeks. we already do the long distance thing anyway, so it is not a big thing. this summer though, when he is gone for months at a time it will be a little harder, but i'll definitely be okay. it's just hard when someone is your other half, as he is to me- knowing i can't just drive up and stay with him is sad, but at the same time he is doing one of the things that makes him happiest in life. when you truly love someone, that happiness for their happiness wins over everything. which it does. i just can't wait until two weeks is up and i get to see him.

wednesday is bane, with honor, and comeback kid. at the risk of sounding completely idiotic, i really cannot stop talking, thinking, dreaming, etc. about this show. i have been looking forward to it for so long and it's in three days. threeee days!! i have off the entire day.

now i am going to head to the gym. i have not worked out since last wednesday, which is the longest period of time i haven't been to the gym in years. i was in prescott all weekend having fun with hank so i don't feel too bad about it, but i really am excited to just run and run on that treadmill. i work all night, which i am not looking foward to, but i am determined to be positive about it.

ps. vegan bagels and tofutti cream cheese is my current favorite food.
Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

Mama Style feature at Harper's Happenings!

 


One more link for you on this fine day...hop on over to Harper's Happenings to see my "Mama Style post"! Thanks for having me, Mandy!
Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

Featured...

One more link for this lovely Friday- head on over to my sweet friend Emily's blog to check out my "Pretty Pieces" feature, where I share 5 favorite items from my closet!  I love this idea, and I adore Emily, and if you don't already have her blog in your regular reads I highly suggest it. She's a fellow AZ gal with the cutest style and her blog is a daily stop of mine! Thanks for featuring me Emily!



Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

Featured...

Head on over to my sweet friend James' site, to take a peek at my feature in her "Mama Style" series! Love James and love her blog- check it out!Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

Featured...

A couple of days ago, an adorable gal named Nikki asked if she could use some of my photos for a tattoo feature she was doing on her blog.  Today the post went up and I just love it!

Thanks Nikki for including me!  Head over to her blog to check out the feature, and see all of the other wonderful ladies she chose to include.Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

A Slice of...Wellington, New Zealand!

This week's feature is brought to you by the wonderful Alice, (http://www.niceties.co.nz/), be sure to stop by her blog and say hello!

It feels strange to be writing about how fantastic Wellington is, because having lived here for four years now, I’ve become sick of the way Wellingtonians preach to the converted, and I’ve been attempting to avoid being sucked into that! We love blowing our own trumpet about the events happening around the city and especially any developments in our growing film industry, but since we’re in such a small country we are usually just talking amongst ourselves. However, since readers of this blog are from all over the world, I’ll make an exception and write a bit of a boast-post.


Wellington really is a fantastic place to live and to visit. It is the capital city of New Zealand, but only the third largest in terms of population. We are known (though perhaps only by ourselves) as the ‘Creative Capital’, and it’s certainly a worthy title considering the variety of arts and cultural elements that are represented here.

I live and work in the Central Business District, and after deciding to write this post for Danielle, I spent a sunny, spring Saturday walking around my “neighbourhood” taking photos. Wellington’s residential suburbs branch out over hills from what I would consider the heart of the city; the waterfront.


The waterfront spans about three kilometres around the front of the city, and is packed full of activities for both tourists and locals. It’s also home to one of the must-sees for visitors to the city, our national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa [Link: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/].



To be honest, Te Papa is not somewhere that the average Wellingtonian frequents. It’s a huge museum, but once you’ve seen it you only really return to show visitors, or if there’s a special exhibition on. However, tourists love it, and it’s definitely worth spending a full day exploring. It’s an impressive (though I’m not sure whether I’d say ‘attractive’) building from outside, and inside and out the museum is full of Maori and New Zealand history and culture. It’s definitely not a ‘stuffy, old’ kind of museum, there are dozens of hands-on exhibitions, and heaps of exhibits especially for kids. I worked in one of the cafes inside the museum for several months in 2007 and it had a fantastic working atmosphere.


As an artist, I had to include a gallery on my list! My personal favourite is Solander [Link: http://solandergallery.co.nz/] on Willis Street. They only exhibit works on, or made with, paper. It’s quite a small gallery, but I’ve never been disappointed by a visit to Solander, they’re consistent about putting together beautiful collections.

Courtenay Place is a street which is party central by night, and basically just a bus and pedestrian thoroughfare by day. But there are a few decent daytime cafes and restaurants along it, and Sweet Mother’s Kitchen [Link: http://www.sweetmotherskitchen.co.nz/] would be top of my list. The food is a home-cooked style, with lots of New Orleans and Mexican influences. The quality of the food varies a little from visit to visit, but I find the quesadillas and curly fries consistently delicious, and the table service is always fantastic. It’s a very casual but cool atmosphere, and patronage can vary from grungy youths to older people having a snack after the theatre.


Cuba Street acts as a pathway from the more conservative part of town, full of chain stores, corporate businesses and fast food; to the most alternative area, full of independent boutiques, tattoo and piercing parlours, record stores and many cafes.



My favourite clothing store on Cuba Street is the Paper Bag Princess [link: http:// www.paperbagprincess.co.nz/] which is full of second hand clothing and accessories, and everything is priced under $20NZ.


Another shop of note, particularly for craft bloggers, is Minerva. They mainly sell textiles books rather than products, but are worth a visit for their crafty exhibitions.


Just off Cuba Street is Southern Cross, a large restaurant and bar with a huge garden bar out the back.


Their bar menu is delicious, however the portions aren’t huge. But it’s a favourite spot amongst my friends to have beers after work, all year round. The barstaff are always friendly, the tables are large and there’s always great local art for sale on the walls.


As I rediscovered while out taking photos, Wellington is a city in which you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great day out. There is so much public art to see, admission to Te Papa is by donation, and even murals and posters in the street are worth stopping to look at. It’s only an hour and a half drive from my rural hometown, so I have a country escape whenever I need it. I’ve never travelled outside of New Zealand, though international travel is definitely my number one long term goal. But I can’t imagine returning to NZ from an overseas experience to live anywhere but Wellington.Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

A slice of...downtown Phoenix, AZ!

This week I am excited to bring to you my darling friend Anita's feature on downtown Phoenix. I adore Anita and I'm so happy that she wanted to take some time out of schedule (she is a busy mama to the cutest little girl named Lola Birdie!) and snap some photos with her husband all over beautiful Phoenix. In recent years this area has really had a bit of a revival, and if you haven't been down there to check out all of the amazing shops, restaurants and gorgeous houses, definitely do so! I am loving this feature so much because I feel like I'm adding all of these must-gos, must-sees and must-dos to a running list in my head. Pretty awesome. Also- the day Anita went out to snap the photos with her hubby Sam some of the shops were closed. So check out the websites for interior photos of the shops, or better yet, take a trip there yourself! And thanks again Anita for this great feature. I love it. And be sure to check out her blog: http://anitameans.com/

Danielle, thank you so much for letting me gush about where I live- Downtown Phoenix, Arizona! Well, I call it downtown, but I think I technically live between Downtown and Uptown Phoenix in the Historic District of Willo. I have been a resident of this part of Phoenix for going on four years now and I love love love it. I truly don't see myself living in any other part of the valley. I moved to a suburb of Phoenix called Tempe (on the east side of Phoenix) in 1990 with my family. I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Yes, I went from one extreme to the next. My dad was born and raised in Alaska as well and he was sick and tired of the cold, so he wanted to move to the hottest place he could find. I went to high school and a tiny bit of college in Tempe and moved to Peoria (another suburb, but on the west side) when I got married and hated every minute of it. My husband was in a popular touring band (The Format) and he was never home, so I begged him to move closer to my family and my job, so we agreed on Downtown. We love the central location. It's close to everything, especially the airport. Before my daughter Lola was born, Sam and I did quite a bit of traveling. I've been to Japan, England and to almost every major city in the country.

I love all of the old buildings downtown.

This is the Westward Ho, where the opening scene of Alfred Hithcock's Psycho was filmed.

Sam's parents actually own this building. It is next to a big beautiful park the city built and right next to the YMCA and the new Arizona State University, Walter Kronkite School of Journalism.

So here are my 5 favorite parts of Phoenix:

1) My neighborhood: Willo Historic District (http://willohistoricdistrict.com)

It's a cute little historic neighborhood thats one square mile that is filled with homes built in the 1920s-1930s. Its' a close knit neighborhood that has home tours and block watch meetings, pancake breakfasts with our firefighters and movies in the park. It has been featured in many national magazines and we have even had movies filmed here. We actually had a movie filmed in our old house, it was a horrible 1990s movie called "The Vagrant" starring Bill Paxton.

Our current house (which is the second house we have lived in here) was built in the 1930s and has all original wood floors, original windows and is a cozy 1100 square feet. It has a raw brick wall inside and lots of charm. The front and backyards are big (at least to our standards her in Phoenix) and as I look out of my kitchen window, I see big buildings and when I sit on my front porch, I can hear the "chime" of the light rail and hustle and bustle of the city. We occasionally see fireworks from the Arizona Diamondback stadium or hear Native American drumming coming from the Heard Museum.

2) My favorite place to shop: Frances (http://francesvintage.com)

This is the cutest store ever. I always said, if I could open up my own store, it would be EXACTLY like Frances. Frances is filled with handmade and unique jewerly, clothing, shoes, candles, stationary, accessories and more. I love to go there at least once a month and look at all of their new stuff! The people that work there are very nice and every once in awhile, I hear my husbands band come over the speakers in the store :) I have purchased many gifts from Frances. They pay attention to every detail. They have the cutest bags and they even gift wrap! If you are ever in the area check out Frances. And while you are there......check out the next place on my list because its 2 doors down...

3) My favorite place to buy candy and take photobooth pictures: Smeeks (http://www.francesvintage.com/smeeks/smeeks.html)

Owned by the same people as Frances, Smeeks is a cute little candy shop filled with lots of retro candy, toys, games and novelty items. Again, if I could open up my own candy store, it would be exactly like Smeeks. You grab a basket and fill it with the candy you want, or you can buy packs of gum, candy cigarettes, funny hats, fake moustaches, and other cute knick knacks. Oh, and they have a photobooth! My husband loves taking my daughter in there to take pictures for me on special occasions. If you have a sweet tooth like me, you should run, not walk, to Smeeks!

4) My favorite place to eat: America's Taco Shop (http://www.americastacoshop.net)


I love love love this place! We eat here at least once a week. They are known for their carne asada tacos and ceviche, but me, being 90% vegetarian (I occasionally eat a burger or bacon) get the bean and cheese burrito as well as the America's Corn. America's Corn is a roasted corn on the cob topped with mayo and white cheese. My husband and I split their guacamole and chips. We usually order it to go and bring it home to eat, but when it is cooler, we like to go there and sit outside on their patio and eat.

5) My favorite place for coffee: Copper Star Coffee (http://www.copperstarcoffee.com/)

I am a huge fan of coffee, and before I started going to this local place, I admit, I was an everyday Starbucks coffee drinker. But, after I tried Copper Star, I realized what real coffee tasted like and I haven't been to Starbucks since. Copper Star is in an old gas station just a couple miles away from my house on a curb called the "Melrose Curb." It is home to a few cute vintage shops and places to eat. They just won a 'Best of Phoenix" award for their black and white cupcake, which I keep trying to taste, but every time I go there, they don't have any! I always get the same thing, an Iced Latte. It is the best tasting latte. Its not too strong or bitter, it's just perfect. The people there are friendly and they have punchcards, so every 10th coffee is free! Yay. They have a drive-thru too, so it's super convenient for me. I don't have to unload my daughter and go in, I can just drive up through their full service area, which still has two vintage gas pumps.

Well, I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did making this. Thanks to my husband Sam for the neat photos.Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

A Slice of...Springfield, Missouri!

This week I am so very excited to feature my blogging pal Elsie and her take on her hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Elsie has been so encouraging of my blogging from the very beginning, and I've met so, so many amazing ladies from her. I'm super thankful for her "blog friendship" and all the support she's given me along the way. I'm sure almost all of you follow her blog already, but if not, hop on over so you can enjoy her daily inspirational posts and beautiful photos along with the rest of us. Her blog is truly a treat!


Hi I'm Elsie from A Beautiful Mess (http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/)!

Thank you, Danielle, for inviting me to share a little about my hometown, Springfield, Missouri. I've lived here my entire life and it's a pretty special place. I living in a state with all four seasons, amazing flea markets and tons of quirky local eateries. My fiance and I just purchased my all time favorite vintage store (click here) and we're remodeling it into my own little dream shop! I'm excited to give you a little virtual tour of my town.


My favorite local restaurant is Aunt Martha's Pancake House! They have amazing french toast and french fries too! I love to grandma decor. It's a classic!







Pumpkin Patches + Farmer's Markets. Missouri has the cutest little family-run stands! It's lots of fun. I love the apple orchard too! Magical.


This photo was taken at my favorite park, which is next door to our local art museum. I love taking walks and having little picnics there. It's really pretty with tall trees and a cute little flower garden.



Roller Skating. It's so 6th grade, but it's still really fun! I'm thinking about having a skating party for my birthday this year!


The Heritage Cafeteria. This place is notoriously for senior citizens and my sister and I think it's totally great! They serve grandma & grandpa food, like corn and green beans and cherry pie. It's pretty amazing and it's our grandpa's favorite place to eat in town! ;)


Thanks so much for letting me share a slice of Springfield, Missouri! If you're ever in area, stop by my local store on Commercial Street. XO, Elsie



Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection

A slice of...Los Angeles!

It's that time again! This week the lovely Julia is showing off her favorite spots in the great city of Los Angeles. Julia is super sweet, and I've known her for quite some time via the internet. I really hope to meet one day, and with the amount of mutual friends we have I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner! And seriously, how cute is she?! I really enjoy reading her blog which is always chock full of beautiful photos of her and her darling life in LA. If you don't already follow her, you definitely should. Stop by and say hello: http://juliaxblake.blogspot.com/.


"I normally live in Los Angeles, if you can call it normal living." - Morrissey



Los Angeles has newly become my home, as I’ve only resided here for about 4 months. I’ll admit, at first I was hesitant about moving to this city due to its “Hollywood” reputation but I am so glad I made the move! As I’ve settled into my new town I’ve truly learned to appreciate everything it has to offer. There is truly something for everyone here!

1. Downtown Los Angeles

I currently call downtown my home and it is by far my favorite part of Los Angeles. Downtown has so much character from the cute coffee shops and the art walk to its historic buildings and familiar faces.





Must go to:

• Babycakes: The cutest bakery with all vegan sweet treats!
• Bottega Louie: Italian food at it’s chicest… I mean finest!
• Nickel Diner: The go-to downtown diner
• The Downtown Art Walk: a quarterly event that showcases all DTLA galleries

2. Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill is heaven for vegans/vegetarians! I discovered this amazing restaurant through a friend a little bit over a year ago and I am addicted! I literally go at LEAST twice a week to the location in West Hollywood. Everything on the menu is delicious! I recommend the chickin’ caesar wrap with sweetheart fries or the santa fe crispy chickin’ with sweetheart fries, of course. Also, it’s the perfect place for a casual date because the interior is very cute/trendy and there is an independent movie theater upstairs!

3. Dancing at The Echo

Echo Park is a part of Los Angeles with tons of character! It has a billion cute thrift shops and the cutest craftsmen homes. I try to visit this area every week and venture to a new eatery (tons of options of vegetarians/vegans), but you’re sure to find me here when The Echo hosts Smiths/ Morrissey night. Need I say more?



4. Santa Monica: 3rd Street

I’m not a beach type gal at all. To put it frankly, I lived in San Diego for two years and went the beach once… at nighttime. When I moved to LA and got hired at Betsey Johnson I was told I was going to be helping out at the Santa Monica store until my store opened and all I could think was “beach”! The new BJ store was literally a block from the pier, which turns out to be quite the cute place! The pier has fun rides, a beautiful view of the ocean, and you don’t even have to get sand in your toes! Aside from the pier, Santa Monica also has 3rd Street Promenade and the new Santa Monica Place mall. The promenade connects into the new mall and it has tons of cute boutiques as well as fun shops such as Barneys Co-op and Betsey Johnson ;). The new Santa Monica Place mall also has tons of tasty restaurants on the third floor that overlooks the ocean, I highly recommend eating at one and enjoying the wonderful California breeze.




5. The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood

This theatre in Hollywood is operated by the Walt Disney group and showcases all Disney movies, as well as their premiers. The last time I went to a movie there was when I saw Toy Story 3 and I had the best time! The theatre is incredible on the inside and all in all it’s a fun place to go see a cute movie!

So there you have it! My top five must go to’s in Los Angeles! Since I’m new to the area I would love for anyone to leave a suggestion of other fun things to do in Danielle’s comment box!

Source URL: https://sweettattooforgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/feature
Visit sweet tattoo for girls wallpaper for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection