Friday Letters

Dear Mr. Rogers, 

Did you leave directions to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe before you died?  Has anyone even checked on them!?  I'm very concerned.

Vanessa

Dear Debbie Downers,

I really hate when people are a total bummer like we don't live in a world where you can listen to Prince songs ANYTIME YOU WANT.  Chill out and listen to "Purple Rain" y'all.  It's on YouTube.  FOR FREE.

Sincerely,

Vanessa

Dear Brain,

Sometimes after I've gone to bed you're all "Hey I'm awake let's party!" and I'm all "Shut up we have to get up at 6 AM" and then you whisper "Shhhh no we don't, we have to wikipedia whatever happened to the music group All-4-One" and that's exactly what we do.

Ugh.

Vanessa

Dear Camels,

I totally envy you because you can spit on ANYONE, and then shrug it off like "Don't blame me, bro.  I'm a camel.  We spit.  It's a thing."

Jealous.

Vanessa

Dear Andy Cohen,

I love you.  I want to be your best friend.  Thank you for all you've given me.  And thank you for your hilarious book which is the best thing I've ever read.  If I had a nightlight, it would be a little rotating paper lamp with cutouts of Real Housewives scenes glistening on my wall....in your honor.

Love,

Vanessa

Dear Broadway,

You should create a reality show competition to cast the Spice Girls musical called "If You Wannabe On Broadway".  Yes?  Yes!

From,

Vanessa

Dear Target,

Sorry for the Level 10 meltdown I had when I couldn't find the Advil.  I wish I could promise that it will never happen again but I'm clearly emotionally unstable.

Still love me?

Vanessa

Dear Readers,

I hope you have a great weekend!  Thanks for sticking with me!  I adore you.

xoxo,

Vanessa

Nora Ephron

Nora Ephron will be greatly missed.  She was always like a female version of John Hughes for me.  So incredibly talented.  Her movies taught me how to feel....and coming from me who has the heart of the Grinch (pre-growing 3 sizes), that is a big deal.  In her memory I thought I would share some of my favorite moments brought to us by Nora.

1. When Harry Met Sally  - Ending

"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out.  I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.  I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts.  I love that after I spend the day with you, I can smell your perfume on my clothes.  And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night...I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible"
Tears.  Every single time.

2.  You've Got Mail - Ending

"I wanted it to be you.  I wanted it to be you so badly"
Ugh.  Feelings!

3.  Sleepless In Seattle - Ending

"Shall we?"
Uggghhhhhh

4.  Mixed Nuts - this is just one part...the entire movie is just...amazing

5.  You've Got Mail - What If

"Hey...how about some coffee or...you know drinks or, dinner, or a movie...for as long as we both shall live."
I cried just watching that again.  You guys....

Such an amazing voice.  I could watch her movies over and over and never get tired of them.  

Thank you Ms. Ephron for sharing your talent and passion with us. 

"All this nothing has meant more to me than so many...somethings"

-You've Got Mail

Just a quick note...

Hey guys!  Just a quick post to let you know I'm now on Bloglovin so you can follow me there!  Yay let's follow each other everywhere!
Seriously...I'm super co-dependent.  I need you.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

One Tree Hill - The Playlist

So FINALLY here it is!  This is my ultimate OTH playlist.  Most of the music I listen to has been influenced by the music I heard on this show.  So many memories flood through my mind when I hear the bars of certain songs.  It's funny when I was making this list I was able to see what seasons or episodes of the show I connected with more and where I was at emotion-wise during certain periods in my life.  This was a very fun project for me...so here we go!

Season 1
Gavin DeGraw - I Don't Wanna Be
Dashboard Confessional - Hands Down  1.00
Gavin DeGraw - Belief 1.01
Switchfoot - Dare You To Move 1.07
Belle and Sebastian - If She Wants Me 1.14
Ben Jelen - Come On 1.14
Five For Fighting - 100 Years 1.16
Snow Patrol - Run 1.21


Season 2
Tyler Hilton - We all know how I feel about every Tyler Hilton song.  I'm putting him by himself (no specific song...I love them all) on Season 2 because that's when we first saw him
Keane - Everybody's Changing 2.02
Doctor Kosmos - Holiday 2.08 (I added this song just for nostalgia reasons...my sister and I still crack up every time we hear this song.  And I KNOW you can picture the scene this song plays in the second you hear it...)
Patty Griffin - Rowing Song 2.09
Rachael Yamagata - Be Be Your Love 2.09
Jimmy Eat World - 23 2.10
Anna Nalick- Wreck Of The Day 2.12
Citizen Cope - Son's Gonna Rise 2.19
Ray LaMontagne - Hold You In My Arms 2.20 (this show introduced me to Ray LaMontagne and I couldn't be more grateful.  No other artist's music touches me the way his does...)
Tegan and Sara - Walking With a Ghost 2.21
Audioslave- Be Yourself  2.23

Season 3
MoZella - Light Years Away 3.01
Nada Surf - Always Love 3.03
Marjorie Fair - Empty Room 3.04
Shout Out Louds - Please Please Please 3.06
Bethany Joy Lenz - Halo 3.09
Jimmy Eat World - Disintegration 3.09
Strays Don't Sleep - For Blue Skies 3.09
The Replacements - Here Comes A Regular 3.13
The Weepies - World Spins Madly On 3.13
Michelle Featherstone - God Bless The Child (I put the actual scene for this one because I don't think there is anything more powerful) 3.16
Slow Runner - Break Your Mama's Back 3.17
Devics - If We Cannot See (I put the actual scene for this one too...because it gives me chills and makes me sob) 3.17
Iron and Wine & Calexico - He Lays In the Reins 3.19
The Fray - Look After You 3.20
Michelle Featherstone - Coffee and Cigarettes 3.21
Susie Suh - Seasons Change 3.22
Augustana - Boston 3.22
Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You 3.22

Season 4
Placebo - Post Blue 4.03
The Wreckers - Lay Me Down 4.08
8MM - Forever and Ever Amen  4.10
La Rocca - Non Believer 4.10
Priscilla Ahn - Dream 4.11
The Kooks- Naive 4.12
Mother Love Bone - Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns 4.13
Vega4 - Life Is Beautiful 4.15
Paolo Nutini - Last Request 4.20
Ray LaMontagne - Within You 4.21

Season 5
Missy Higgins - Where I Stood 5.05
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You 5.06
A Fine Frenzy - Ashes and Wine 5.08
Susie Suh - Give Me Heart 5.08
Eric McCarley - Pitter Pat 5.08
Jeff Cohen feat. Bethany Joy - Leaving Town Alive 5.14

Season 6
Civil Twilight - Quiet In My Town 6.03
The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl 6.07
St. Lola In the Fields - Don't Say 6.11
Edith Backlund - Sincerely Hope It's You 6.14
Rosi Golan - Hazy 6.14
Skyler Stonestreet - My Favorite Song 6.20
Manchester Orchestra - I Can Feel a Hot One 6.20
Rosi Golan - Come Around 6.24
Marshall Tucker Band - Can't You See 6.24
Kate York - Begin You 6.24
Wakey! Wakey! - War Sweater 6.24

Season 7
Noisettes - Never Forget You 7.04
The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You 7.07
Noah and The Whale - Blue Skies 7.12
Everly - Flying Machine 7. 13
Fay Wolf - God Knows (if you ever get a chance to re-watch the scene that this song plays in...it's the one where Taylor comes back to talk to Lydia before she dies, it is the scene I most relate with in quite possibly the entire series.  I have always felt very much like Taylor and this scene breaks me to pieces.  It's beautiful) 7.18
Olin and the Moon - Not In Love 7.20
Wakey! Wakey! - Light Outside 7.22
Mumford and Sons - Timshel 7. 22
Nashville Skyline - Carry You Home 7.22


Season 8
Ry Cuming - Home 8.02
Bowerbirds - Crooked Lust 8.08
City and Colour - Northern Wind 8.15
The Civil Wars - Poison and Wine 8.18
Ok Sweetheart - Home 8.21
Christina Perri - Arms 8.21

Season 9
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - If I Had A Gun.. 9.07
Damien Rice - Cold Water 9.08
Brooke Annibale - I Believe 9.11
Michael Logen - Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye 9. 11
Cary Brothers - Free Like You Make Me 9.12
Rosi Golan - Everything Is Brilliant 9.12
Blind Pilot - Half Moon (HAD to post the actual scene for this one...it's the reason why this song also makes me cry and get a knot in my stomach) 9.13
U2 - One Tree Hill (oh my heart....) 9.13

Well there ya go!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Sorry it took forever but...can ya see why?  This show literally shaped my entire world of music.
Anything you want to add?  Let me know!
xoxo

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage by vanessanelson featuring rhinestone drop earrings

Hello hello!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I'm on my last couple of days of vacation and I'm so sad about it....going back to work after vacation is always the worst.  I did get to enjoy a fun night at a beautiful wedding reception and fun times with my friends Jack and Karyn.  We always have a blast when the 3 of us are together.

Right now a few things I'm obsessed with:

1. The neon summer nail colors by Dior....LOVING neon polish!

2. 7 Day Scrub by Clinique...the BEST exfoliator in the entire world.  Seriously amazing.  

3. Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker...an old fragrance but one of my absolute favorites!

4. Ed Sheeran....have any of you listened to his music?  I downloaded his album last week and can't stop listening.  Wonderful, beautiful, highly recommend.

I got a comment last week from a reader asking about my One Tree Hill music playlist post....it's coming tomorrow!  Sorry it's taken so long but there is a LOT of music from OTH and I've been trying to sort it all out and how I want to break it down etc...it's been a longer work in progress than I thought!

Hope you all had a great weekend as well!

xoxo

Vanessa

A Jon Hamm Moment

And now we interrupt your regularly scheduled blog viewing for a Jon Hamm moment

Look at his stupid face sitting in that stupid boat with his stupid comics section and his stupid bare feet and his stupid hair and his stupid plaid pants and his STUPID PERFECT FACE.  And he's all "Hey, I'm Jon Hamm, I was just sitting in this boat reading the paper like I don't give any cares....and I'm saving a spot for you...."
ugh.

This has been a Jon Hamm moment.  As you were.

1. Sorcha Richardson - I Heart NYC
2. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Man On Fire
3. Regina Spektor - Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)
4. Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
5. Scissor Sisters - Only The Horses
6. Karmin - Brokenhearted
7. Alex Clare - Too Close
8. Grouplove - Tongue Tied
9. Cage The Elephant - Shake Me Down
10. Jon McLaughlin - Falling
11. Carrie Underwood - Two Black Cadillacs
12. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - The Lion the Beast the Beat
13. John Mayer - Fool To Love You

Yay an actual playlist!  I've been listening to some really really good music lately so I'm happy to share it with you!  

Doesn't being a grown up kinda...suck?  I'm working like CRAZY and I just signed contracts to move into an apartment!  Not the first time I've lived away from home buuuuttt...the first time I've paid for it by myself! 

Too many grown up things.

I'm exhausted.

xoxo

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage by vanessanelson featuring a lip treatment

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Been super busy at work but I did get to have a night of fun on Saturday.  My friend Karyn and I ran around all over town and then hung out with some of her friends and watched "Lady In Black"....um...did y'all see that movie???  I had to sleep on the couch it gave me such a bad case of the spooks!  I ALWAYS get peer pressured into watching scary movies and I always regret it.  We did have some good laughs though!  Now I'm getting ready for my vacation starting on Wednesday!!! I'm so excited. 

So...hopefully....look forward to a whole week of consistent blog posts! :)

Have a good one!

xoxo

P.S. Are you as obsessed with the bubble necklace in my collage as I am?  Did you know that right now you have a chance to win one in an amazing giveaway?

Check it out HERE and good luck! :)

First Birchbox!

Hey guys!  Sorry it's been awhile.  You know that saying "Mo money, mo problems!"...well it's true.  Life has been INSANE the last couple weeks with my new job so I'm gonna be honest...I probably won't be posting as much....(wahhhhhhh).  BUT I have something fun and exciting to talk about and share with you!  I got a suggestion from a follower on Instagram, Anecia, to post about Birchbox.
Birchbox is fantastic and a must have for any makeup/skin care/beauty lover.  So let me tell you all about it...
Birchbox is a monthly box of samples, goodies, and even full size products that show up right on your front door step.  It's 9.99 a month but it's well worth it!  Each month has a different theme and the goodies inside the box with go with that theme.  AND there are a variety of different products for each box, so your box may differ from a friends box each month.  You fill out a profile and they do try to tailor samples to your specific wants/needs/etc...
So I got my first Birchbox for June and let me show it to you!
It comes in a pink box (adorbs alert!)

And then inside there is a super cute box too (double adorbs!)

And then your samples!

This month I got....

Hair Rules Volumizing Shampoo

2 La Fresh Oil-Fre Face Cleanser wet wipes

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in "Beauty Queen"

it's a two-in-one lip and cheek stain!  Super cute!

tili Bag for travel...also SUPER CUTE

Set of winks by Georgie false lashes!!!  Amazing!

It also comes with a little card describing the theme

 and then on the back it tells you about the products and how much they are each worth which is great because you see the value of your 10 bucks!

I HIGHLY recommend signing up!
Just click on this link HERE and it will show that I referred you!
And from what I'm hearing about the JULY BOX you are DEFINITELY going to want to sign up before then!
Let me know if you sign up and what you think!  I would love to hear your feedback.  So far I'm incredibly happy and wouldn't share it with you if I didn't think it was worth it!
xoxo

ALSO  I know a lot of you are already following THE DIME DIARY but if you aren't, get yourselves on over there and start!  Morgan is doing a PHENOMENAL giveaway right now.  Like seriously....it's an item I've been coveting for FOREVER.  So follow!!!!  And tell your friends on Facebook and Pinterest!  She needs 100 followers to keep the blog going and keep doing awesome giveaways!
Y'all are the best!!! :)

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage by vanessanelson featuring clinique lip gloss

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I had my last day at Lancome.  Bittersweet.  Lancome is an amazing company to work for and I will miss everyone there but I"m excited to start my new adventure at Clinique!  Had a very low key Sunday, watching ER and the NBA finals (GO CELTICS!)

How did you spend your weekend?

xoxo

Vanessa

p.s. if you haven't already downloaded Regina Spektor's new album....DO IT.  So good!