As you know during my last weekend’s trip to Chicago I was able to attend SAIC fashion show! It’s a show put on by sophomores, juniors and seniors of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and they do a wonderful job! I actually have something special coming up on the blog next week, SAIC related, so stay tuned, you don’t want to miss it!
And the show was amazing! We all got to sit in the front row, take pictures and videos with our new Samsung Galaxy cameras (See Disclosure) and chat about the designs in between! I think the most interesting thing for me (other than the clothes of course) was reading the names of the students, and the different scholarships they’ve received!
Now I am going to let pictures and videos do the talking!
I am wearing: Dress – Diesel (thrifted)//Jacket – The Limited (thrifted)
I hope you were able to experience some of the fashion show’s ups, because there were no downs
Xo,
Z
Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Style Voices program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.
As you know I just got back from Chicago, but not all of you know what I was doing there!
You might have also noticed this badge on my sidebar:
So here goes:
I was contacted by Verizon Wireless to participate in their Fashion and Style Blogger program a couple weeks ago, and at first it seemed too good to be true! They offered to fly me to Chicago, pay for my hotel, take me out to SAIC Fashion show and a dinner at a hip restaurant, get a chance to meet other bloggers, and have fun!
And to top it all off I was also given a new device to play with.
Needless to say I agreed to come even before I asked for that day off at work
The device turned out to be a Samsung Galaxy Camera that comes with 4G LTE, a touch screen, a 21x optical zoom and a whole bunch of other perks (which I am going to talk about in one of my later posts), plus you can upload photos and videos directly to your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), it’s packed with editing apps, which definitely saves a lot of time! The only thing that it can’t do is make calls. And the funny thing is, Sam and I were at Best Buy the weekend before looking at that exact camera! So now my camera dilemma is solved and my husband won’t have to listen to me whining. Though he will be definitely taking more pictures for sure!
But I think I am going to stop talking now, and show you what the camera can do!
Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Style Voices program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.
At Marla Mullaney Art Studio
On Lake Minnetonka
We also got some ice cream at licks unlimited…
And I spotted this ceramic sewing machine figurine at one of the other artists’ studios! Isn’t it the cutest?
I am WEARING:
//White Denim Jacket – GAP//Boots – Steve Madden//Purse – COACH//
//Dress – The Webster Miami at Target//Sunnies – Lucky Weekender//
As some of you may know, I quit my job at New Horizon Academy, there were a number of reasons why, but I am not going to go into detail now. But in spite of the fact that I wasn’t going to stay in the classroom, I helped decorate it for the next month’s theme, which is “In the Grass”
I started off with making these flowers! You will see them a lot throughout the pictures. I used green pipe cleaners for the stems and the flowers themselves came pre-made, I simply mixed and matched
The clock also required an update, if you remember, this used to be a Big Ben, now it’s a sun, shining over the flowers, a carbon monoxide alarm disguised as a giant pink chrysanthemum, and a blue bird:
I hung green ribbon from the ceiling for a cozy in the grass feel:
Remember the Love Tree I had up in February? I took some of the hearts down, replaced them with flowers, and viola – a spring time tree:
And finally an updated Family Board (I blurred out the faces, I am sure you understand why )
Today I am starting a new job at Orchard Park Childcare Centre, and I couldn’t be more excited! I will continue posting classroom ideas about once a month, so don’t forget to subscribe if that’s something relevant to you!
And don’t forget that Blue Nile earrings are still up for grabs – enter to win them HERE!
Happy Monday everyone! Tomorrow is Tuesday, that means I have OFF, so I’ll be running around doing all sorts of fun blog related things!
Get ready for another overwhelming post with photos from our Sunday trip around Minnesota!
But first of all don’t forget about the GIVEAWAY! You can enter it here. Hurry, you only have a few more days to enter!
Now about our Mother’s day – since my mom is all the way back in Russia, we only had one to pay all of our attention to! My mother in law! I actually got Sam to take a picture with her!
How can you not love them?
Our mother’s day map looked like this:
That pottery place was great! They had free food and coffee too! And of course some cool stuff to look at and take pictures with! If you know me well, you know that I don’t usually buy anything at events like this, but after I am done there I go to a thrift store and find something similar (I have a post on thrifting for home coming up soon! I promise!) So here are some shots of the place:
There were also these cute puppies, and they were so so soft, I wish I could’ve just taken them home with me!
We also got to take pictures in these awesome chairs, while the guys who were occupying them left
I also had to take a picture with a barn! These are just fun to spot here and there around the state! And I was always wondering why they were red (or very burnt out red )
Next we went to Taylors Falls! It’s a state park on the border with Wisconsin. To be honest, I wasn’t really dressed for the place, because it was so rocky, but we had fun anyways!
Look how strong Sam is!
Christmas picture 2012?
Inside a pot hole!
Outfit of the day: Urban outfitters dress and shoes, Steve Madden shades and the CVS Pharmacy reusable bag that has ORGANIC written on it
Our last stop was FRANCONIA:
It’s a sculpture garden, with some very unusual sculptures!
I hope you had fun looking through the pictures of our day with us! If you speak Russian don’t forget to check out this video! And even if you don’t speak Russian, go ahead and check it out!
This was better! And I am extremely excited that tomorrow is the first day of spring! And even though it snowed like crazy here in Russia yesterday, my hopes are up, and I know that “the Spring is a Coming”!
Now this spring I have decided to challenge myself to do these 10 things, and you are more than welcome to do them with me, because it’s going to be FUN!
1. Create Spring Art!
I came across this beautiful watercolor pastel of Cherry Blossom trees in Central Park, painted by a Brooklyn artist. And I was so inspired and moved by it, that I decided to create some spring art of my own!
I have noticed that lately I’ve been wearing a lot of blacks and grays, and decided to brighten up my life and my outfits this season. I found a great inspiration on www.fashionfame.com
Love the parrots!
3. Hear the birds singing!
I wake up to birds, there are two trees outside my window, that seem to attract the most annoying kinds of birds – crows and jackdaws. But I found this amazing video and you can hear the birds singing no matter where in the midst of the busy city jungle you are!
4. Eat Healthy!
Am I the only person in the world who didn’t know about all the amazing resources www.livestrong.com has to offer? I found some great homemade hair care recipes yesterday, that I have mentioned in my previous post. But there is also a giant section on healthy eating, recipes included! So let’s all eat healthier this spring!
5. Do Some Yoga!
Whether you choose to follow the lifestyle of a yogi, or simply do some exercises to become more fit, you won’t regret it. I have already mentioned Namaste Yoga by Kate Potter. My new favorite is Yoga with Rodne Yee! If you are a Mac lover like me, check out some great Yoga Apps that are out there! And remember – stay motivated!
6. Begin your day with Laughter!
I learned this from Sam, he always checks what I call “his” websites with some comics, funnies, or humor! There is a great blog here on WordPress, that makes me laugh so hard, esp. the latest post on Easter Bunnies, make sure to check it out! http://sketchybunnies.com/
And don’t forget about the many many videos on YouTube of Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook, and other great comedians out there!
7. Believe!
Believe in God, believe in yourself, believe in others! Believe that you can, that you have the strength, the ability! Believe in opportunities, chances, fate! Believe in good, love, hope!
8. Take up a New Hobby!
One of my friends and fellow bloggers has recently started making her own soap, you can check it out here!
There are millions other hobbies out there! My mom does quilling! Here is a link to her website! I know that it’s all in Russian, but you can still see the works and how they are made!
I always felt iffy towards house plants, but I love herbs, they smell great, and make food taste so much better! I am planning on planting a small herb garden and put on my kitchen windowsill! (Pictures coming soon!) I also believe that working with your hands, planting, gardening (which I don’t think I will be doing anytime soon) is good for your body, health and mind! And the smells of fresh herbs are also known to be great mood enhancers!
10. Redecorate your house, room, wall, table, shelf, ANYTHING for SPRING!
I found this amazing blog, that has some great redecorating ideas, the picture above shows a craft room, but there are other ideas there as well
I am planning on redecorating my TV stand, and maybe my desk! I am tired of the old dark brown color, and want to make it more vivid and exciting! (Pictures and DIYs to come!)
I hope you all enjoyed these ideas, and will be willing to give some of them a shot! Make sure to get back to me and tell me what changes you’ve made and whether you found this post helpful!
1. My wonderful fiance, I don’t know what I would be doing without him. I have a purpose in life and a goal because of him! Thank you for being who you are, and being a part of my life, Sam! I love you! You are one in a million and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you!
2. Family, especially my future family, really excited for all the fun times to come, all the holiday celebrations, all the book and art discussions, all the tank models and pictures!
3. My friends, esp. my best friend Kat, who is also going to be my maid of honor. You are my encouragement, my inspiration, my reality check. I trust you, I love you, thank you for being there for me! “I just want to leave already and go to Target!”
4. My job, and the opportunities it gives me – the flexible schedule, the ability to work from home, and to chose who I work with.
5. Grateful for faith, being raised at a church, and then going through some personal transformations, re-evaluating my life and what I want to put my faith in, I am grateful for what I can believe in, and that I know what I put my faith into.
6. I am grateful for the daily inspirations and affirmations that come from everywhere. I am grateful for The Daily Love devotional email. (You can all subscribe to receive a daily email too at http://www.thedailylove.com) . I am also grateful for the websites that have all the funnies and comics. XKCD (www.xkcd.com) being one of them, also bringing out my nerdy side. It’s all about becoming a new person after all anyways!
7. I am grateful for where I live. My room, everything I have surrounded myself with, the little things here and there, the designs, the DIY projects. It’s comfortable, it’s my sanctuary. I am grateful for the sunlight that comes through the windows. It’s beautiful, it’s inspiring.
8. I am grateful for health, for my physical condition, for everything I can do, for everything I am able to do. It’s so important to be healthy these days, everyone is talking about it! I am grateful I have the will power to limit myself, and to push myself.
9. I am grateful for my education, I want to thank all of my professors, who have invested into me, engaged me, and were patient with me. I am especially grateful for Natalya Belym, who was my English Teacher. I am where I am right now thanks to you.
10. I am grateful for the websites that let me keep up with all my shows! Thank you http://www.free-tv-video-online.me and http://www.fastpasstv.eu/. Keep up the good work. Now if only one of you would post Extreme Couponing! That would make me ecstatic!
PS. The pictures are of the paintings I have done in the past. I thought I’d add them to this post, because I am also grateful for my talents and the talents of all the people in the world, who are not afraid to share their art with us!
