thrifty

Now I am not usually one of those people with enough pacience to scour multiple racks, shelves and stacks, but I have somehow become a bit of a thrifter. Most of the stuff I find is usually more comical than anything, however last weekend I did manage to find a few things that struck my fancy!

This was the second time my friend Sarah and myself have visited the Red, White and Blue thrift store in Gladstone, and this time we were prepaired (the first time we didnt know that there are no dressing rooms at the store...whoops). So there we were wearing leggings and tank tops trying on all sorts of things in the middle of the eisle. Many of our choices were not the best once they were off of the hanger, but there were of course a few diamonds in the rough.

This is a crummy picture of an amazing Michael Kors dress I found. It has the most classic shape and it is in mint condition...I am going to get a lot of use out of this!

I also found an adorable short sleeved pink silk cardigan, a hand full of books and a retro half apron.

I'd say it was a very enjoyable and successful adventure:)

...sorry it's been so long...

Wow it is amazing how time can just slip by so fast. My resolution of blogging is in a slump right now, here is my grand effort to get the blogging back in order :)

Last week was an outstanding weather week for Portland, so needless to say I was outside as much as possible. On Friday my roommate Sarah and I took an adventure to the Columbia Gorge for a hike at Multnomah Falls. I love to take my friends who grew up out of state to fun places in Oregon, in hopes that they all will love it as much as I do. Sure enough they usually do :) Anyway, it was a lovely day and we worked our booty's off.

In the 24 1/2 years I have been alive, I have never once hiked to the top of the falls, and I must say it was beautiful! We did the hike because we are training to run a half marathon sometime this year, and we thought this would be such a fun way to squeeze in some cross training, some fresh air and some gossip time too.

On another note, I am also on the look out for some cute and functional workout gear, since some of mine is getting to large...YAY!

These are a few of the awesome things I have found that are sure to make anyone look like a workout guru ;)

A cute and lightweight jacket

The BEST leggings ever, I wear them even when I am not working out!

I wear this base-layer top over my tees

I am a tee shirt person, but this is too cute, and what a fun and cheery color!

This is an amazing raincoat...lightweight a it has vents, perfect for outside workouts

All clothes

{via}

I also had an enjoyable time on Saturday afternoon. Sarah and myself went thrifting at Red, White and Blue, a local gem that my dear friend Lauren told me about. We found some treasures, and I can't wait to share them with you...I totally don't have pictures of them yet, so tomorrow will have to be my sharing day:) Hope you all are having a great week so far.

Until next time...XOXO,

Sassy Courtney

...give a little love...

Valentine's day is not until Sunday, but I was lucky enough to celebrate yesterday with my class! The festivities reminded me of how excited I used to get when I was little. All of my students came running into the classroom with a bag of valentine cards in hand yelling, "I BRINGED VALENDAY CARDS!" They also had the biggest smiles plastered to their faces. I officially have a 3 year old Valentine too, one of my boys brought me a rose...so sweet! He also brought one for his 'girlfriend.' It was the cutest thing ever!

the goodies we decorated our cupcakes with

What I put together for my kids

valentine mailboxes

The Hearts on the top are the gifts the children made for their parents. they all turned out so adorable...I love them!

XOXO,

Sassy Courtney

spring lovelies

Since winter isn't really happening in Portland for some reason, i can't help but look at all of the amazing pieces of spring clothing that are popping up in the stores. There are a few things i am lusting after...i hope that soon, weather permitting, i will be able to rock these spring staples, or not so staples.

A view of Portland from waterfront park today

...Spring style that is too good to pass by...

grabbing a coffee with a good friend is the perfect excuse to wear this sophisticated yet girly dress. paired with a cute pair of flats and a classic bag would be the perfect finishing touches.

{via}

this is the one spring piece i actually had to break down and purchase already. I love the print, colors and the fact that it is silk in the front and a striped cotton in the back made me fall in love instantly. The contrast of the two materials makes this such a fun, flirty and unique top.

{via}

running errands, lunch dates and even a night on the town are just a few instances that this romper would come in handy for. the versatility is endless.

{via}

As you can see i am obsessed with the bold floral patterns that have been turning up. It is funny because as i am getting older...well 24 isn't old, but you know what i mean...it is becoming easier for me to wear a pattern that is reminiscent of my girly girl childhood. I guess you could say that as time keeps passing i feel that my clothing experimenting keeps growing, its actually very exhilirating. I never know what might strike my fancy that has never before.

cheers to lovely clothes, lovely blog friends and a lovely day!

things that make me smile today...

By putting together a little list of the simple things that make life pleasureable, I have found that I really appreciate the day to day events that I would otherwise look over.

this is what i'm loving about february 8th

my new peach tunic...

it is making me hopeful that spring is coming sooner rather than later

an out of the blue gift from my mom that i absolutely adore

bachelor night with my girlfriends

deciding to participate in and train for a half-maraton

*if anyone has a good training workout, i am all ears!

la comida mexicana

It is officially Mexican night at our house! YAY! I love love love mexican food. I cannot wait for some salsa, tortilla chips and a delicious taco salad. There is just something so fun about creating a meal with friends and enjoying in their company. Needless to say, Margaritas are a great addition to Mexican night too!

You can bet that there will be plenty of Spanish music blaring while the preparations are taking place as well. Here is a little latin flavor to put you in the Mexican food night mood!

Hasta Luego!

celebrity look-a-like

So earlier this week I noticed that many of my friends on facebook had changed their profile pictures to celebrities. Little to my knowledge it is "Doppelgänger Week," which apparently means that you're supposed to change your profile to a picture of the celebrity that you have been told you resemble the most. This made me think... "WHO DO I LOOK LIKE?" I honestly had no clue. I love to hear how different the opinions of others are too! I had to ask my roommates and this is what they came up with:

Lea Michele

I cannot complain, I love her.

{Via}

Kim Kardashian

{Via}

She's gorgeous too, I think my friends are a bit too kind when picking celeb look-a-likes.

Who do you think I look like???

I'd love to hear who you are told resembles you!

love treats

Valentine's day is right around the corner, and I am always looking for sweet little ways to show those around me how much I love them. I stumbled upon a few creative and inexpensive goodies that are sure to make your loved ones feel warm and fuzzy.

This is so simple, and how fun that the candy bags are personalized.

I think my preschoolers would love to see pictures of themselves on the outside of a candy bag!

For the decorator in all of us.

I can see these hanging from wooden coat hooks in a hallway. What an easy way to spread Valentine cheer throughout your home.

For the child inside all of us.

These flower petal/heart lollipop treats are divine. They would look so cute bunched together with some fun ribbon or raffia. I like that they are not the cliche bouquet of roses too.

For the riddler.

The play on words makes truly makes these DIY crafts so charming. Anyone who gives a gift like this will have a very happy recipient.

To warm someone on the inside and outside.

Something as simple as cutting out hearts, adding a special note and placing them on someones favorite tea is just so thoughtful. I love that this is so unexpected, but so very meaningful.

I think I may dig out some of my crafting supplies and get to work now. The way this year is flying by, Valentine's day will be here tomorrow!

XOXO,

Sassy Courtney

{Pictures and Ideas via}

today I am smiling because...

I have more than 1 blog friend! Thank you all for your support, this is one more reason to stick to my goal of blogging more.

American Idol is on tonight, and I have high hopes that someone can make me laugh more than the "Pants on the Ground" guy.

The sun is still shinning in the rainy city.

I'm having a great day with all of my preschool friends.

What has made you smile today?

XOXO,

Sassy Courtney

no more brace face

So many of you know I have a sister that is 11 years my junior, and today was the day she got her braces taken off. YAY! I don't think she could have been more excited. she literally told me, "I didn't want to wait until after school, that is too long to wait!" As a 13 year old this is huge, and I had to share with all of you how adorable she looks now... Even though she was a doll with them too.

Congrats Ali!

I was lucky enough to never have to have braces, but for those of you out there who did have them...wow you have to go through a lot of pain. Thank goodness its all worth it in the end.

Enjoy your day, wherever you are!

sunny day in bridgetown

I keep seeing rain in the forecast for the Portland area, which is only typical for this time of year, however it is not really raining! When it is sunny like it is today, that means my class of preschoolers gets to run around at the park...YAY! There is nothing like being inside for 10 hours with rambunctious 3 year olds. Not that I am complaining about the lack of rain, but I do really enjoy curling up inside on a rainy Northwest day.

Yesterday however was an extremely wet day, so I took advantage of the crummy weather and put on my snuggly clothes. I also decided that I wanted to see what all the fuss was about Grey Gardens, the HBO movie. Here is the trailer so you can have a sneak peek!



Two of my roomies and I gathered around with blankets in tow and settled in to enjoy the show, and boy did we enjoy it. I was a bit unsure because I knew it was a remake of an old documentary. Now don't get me wrong I enjoy some documentaries, but they have to be really interesting or I get bored easily...hehe. This movie kept me captivated the entire time. I can see why Drew Barrymore is winning so many awards for her role as Edie, she was simply made to play this role.

After we watched the entire movie, we looked on our netflicks queue and began watching the original, and wow...Drew nailed the accent on the head, it was pretty much unreal. If anyone has been wanting to see this film, take the leap and do it, you won't regret it! My only regret was not having popcorn while I watched :)

.award season.

All of the fabulous dresses and red carpets can only mean one thing... that AWARD SEASON is upon us! After watching two shows already ( parts of the Golden Globes and the SAG awards) I am loving so many of the dresses, and not to mention the shows that are nominated for awards too. These are a few of the dresses I can't seem to forget...because I love love love them :)

Makes me proud to be a Courtney... however I am kinda partial to the way I spell it ;) sorry Courteney!

She can rock this dress so well. I love the elegant yet dare devil-ish side.

Another flawless moment from our friend jen.

This is too chic. I am obsessed with Glee and Lea Michele just happens to be my favorite, so of course I love this dress!

Loved the splash of color, since it seemed that black was the color of the night.

Hands down Sooki takes the best dressed...Anna looks stunning...could not have been a more divine decision! Kudos :)

Toodles for now!

Don't worry there will be SAG award photos too my loves!

make me smile...

Today these are the things that made me appreciate life...

My dog Max

Daffodils for my Grandpa

A stack of new magazines

Wearing my favorite shiny red flats to work

It truly is the simple things in life that bring me the most joy.

What made you happy today?

Resoultions...I hope to keep a few

Too many times we all make resolutions we obviously won't be keeping, however I am bound to keep a few this year. One of my goals is to blog more, which is for some reason a task for me. I have all these ideas that would make for great blogging material, yet I seem to have a hard time getting it together. So here is my official pact to all of you...I WILL BLOG MORE IN 2010 :)

So here is to a new year, a new outlook and new fabulous things! CHEERS :)

XOXO~Courtney

P.S. I am on my short lunch break so I will be sure and blog this evening...stay tuned;)

it's just how i am...

While reading the January issue of SELF magazine today, I gained a bit of knowledge that I thought I already had. As the people who know me well can tell you... I am VERY particular about somethings in my life, and when I read this quote from the interview with Carrie Underwood I instantly felt better about my quirks:)

"It drives me crazy when people put stuff in the wrong place. When I have people over and they try to help clean up, I'm like, 'No, I've got it!' I may not be able to control every aspect of my life, but I can control where my pots go and what color cups are lined up where. The red ones go here."

I like to look at it that way too, that I can't control everything, but this one thing needs to be this way. Haha. I'm sure we all have our funny habits and this one is one of my many. Feel free to share your silly quirks with me too!

Congratulations on feeling comfortable being you...who is better to be than yourself!

XOXO

nobles, douglas firs and evergreens...oh my!

I never realized how much a tree can make me happy, but when it comes to a Noble Fir Christmas tree...I can hardly contain the emotions that are sparked inside of me. I attest it to my Mom's love for everything Christmas. You have never seen a house as amazing as my parents during the holidays, it is literally a Christmas lovers dream. I also know that my pickyness for the perfect tree comes from my parents as well, because I cannot even think of a Christmas tree I had as a child that wasn't simply magical.

My sister Ali and I a few years ago infront of one of the magical Christmas trees at my parents house.

~~~~~~~~~~My Tree Hunt~~~~~~~~~~~

A few weekends ago my lovely roommates and I, plus our dear friend who owns a saw, ventured out to find the perfect Christmas Tree. Juliet, one of my roommates, has a patient at work who owns a tree farm and they are having a difficult time right now, and in the spirit of the holidays we couldn't think of a better place to find our tree. We all bundled up in our warm coats and boots and jumped in the car, needless to say the holiday music was playing loudly! As a group we scoured the entire tree farm about 4 times, until finally we chose the most perfect Noble we had ever seen, I was beyond giddy once I knew which one we would be taking home with us. This is my first official tree, outside of the ones I have had at my parents house, and I was beyond ready to decorate with all of the ornaments I have accummulated over the years. I think we all felt really great about giving to a family who could really use the extra help, plus their green thumb has lended a hand in making our home cozy and full of Christmas joy!

Sarah, Abby, Myself and Juliet

pose behind a potential canidate, yet it didn't make the cut!

YAY!

Here is our fabulous tree!

I forgot to mention that this is the first time Abby has ever had a real Christmas tree, so that made our adventure even more exciting. Oh, and don't worry I will be blogging all about the finished product too, so just sit back and enjoy the holiday buzz as you wait.

lets wear pj's at school today!

So if you didn't know by now, I am a preschool teacher and today was our Pajama Party! The kids in my class all wore their cute pajamas, as did I. We all felt so snuggly and comfortable on this rainy Portland day. As I was getting dressed this morning I began to think about all of the fantastic pajamas there are in the stores right now. So as you can imagine I went to my computer and did a bit of "online window shopping," as I like to call it. I found so many delectable things it was unreal, here are some of the sassy, classy and simply fun pajamas I oogled over during my 'shopping' excursion.

This is a Juicy Couture pj set, and I just adore the simplicy yet flirty side of the pairing.

{nordstrom}

Last Christmas I recieved a robe from Aerie just like this one, only white. I love love love this robe. If you are still searching for the perfect gift for someone, this robe is it. It washes well, is cozy and it has pockets and a hood. Not to mention that the length is just right, those long robes always make me trip when I am walking up the stairs, and this one keeps me moving ;)

I thought that these Aerie pj pants would look cute with the robe and a simple tank.

The detail of the bow on the front of this tank top makes it so chic yet girly at the same time. I love that it is a tank too, because I get so warm when I am sleeping.

{Victorias Secret}

I cannot begin to tell you how much this pajama set/outfit would appreciated by someones little sister. How fun and young...my sister would look too cute in this!

{Victorias Secret Pink}

Hope you all stay nice and cozy in your pj's this winter!

festive favorites

This is a list of my favorite things about my favorite time of year...

...The friendly faces all around...

...The smell of Christmas trees...

...Christmas Ornaments that Sparkle...

These are a few of my favorite oranaments from my very own tree

...The joy of picking up a meaningful gift for someone you love...

...The togetherness of family...

I have an amazing family. We are all reminded of how blessed we are, especially during this time of year, to have one another.

...Making memories that you will cherish for a lifetime...

...Mariah Carey and NSYNC Christmas music...

...Dressing up...

The Fabulous shoes I am going to wear for a holiday party.

...Beautifully wrapped packages...

Max, my dog, on top of the presents...he is so silly.

...My mom's Rum cake...

...Driving to see Christmas lights...

Peacock Lane is a famous Portland Christmas tradition, I am excited to see the lights on Peacock Lane with my roommates this year!

...The tree lighting in Pioneer Courthouse Square...

Never will I ever go and see the actual tree lighting again, but I love to venture to the square sometime during the holidays each year and admire the beauty in the very center of the city.

...Watching Christmas movies with a hot cocoa in hand...

...Baking cookies...

...Feeling like a kid on Christmas morning...

...Fun with friends...

...Traditions...

As you can tell there are many things that I enjoy about this warm and happy time of year, and if you have any I would love to hear them. Hope your holiday season is starting out with much magic and joy.

XOXO,

Courtney