Favorite Things...

OH HEY GUYS!!!
I do apologize for my absence.  I don't know if any of you even care but...too bad! I figured that for my first blog back I would feature some of my favorite things...Oprah style.  Let's be honest....I'm pretty much just as successful as Oprah anyway.  This is a list of things that I love.  And I mean....L-O-V-E.  Like if these things were a man they would be Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the 90's and all you would want is for them to look you deep in the eyes and confess their undying love for you.......ahem....anyway.  Here's the list!

1. Romantic Jewelry

Corked Necklace In Heart  via ModCloth

Corked Necklace In Diagram via ModCloth

Forever Necklace via Anthropologie 

"To Never Forget You, To Always Love You".....*swoon*

2. Yes To products
specifically these....

Yes To Blueberries facial towelettes

 Yes To Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser
makes your face feel so fresh and seriously clean...love it!

Yes To Blueberries Shampoo/Conditioner for Healthy Hair Repair
Seriously the BEST my hair has looked or felt.  I'm a huge advocate and believer in this stuff!

3. Cozy sweaters

Honeycomb Knit Crew Sweater via Old Navy

 Cat Eyeglasses Sweater via ModCloth

 Softest Crew Neck Sweater via Old Navy

Bough House Sweater via ModCloth

4. Leather journals
Celeste journal via Pottery Barn

5. Songza
The BEST APP ever.  You can also stream from your computer.  It features a music "concierge" that picks playlists for you based on your mood.  It's seriously genius.  If there is one app you download...let it be this one.

That's it! Pretty quick and simple.  I'm planning a big update filled with tons of pictures for tomorrow....a LOT has happened!
In the meantime....listen to this song and pretend I'm Timbaland singing to you "been a long time...shouldn't have left you...." and please forgive me.

• Bon Iver - Holocene
• Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments
• Madilyn Bailey - Titanium
• Needtobreathe - Let Us Love
• The Make - Color
• Ellie Goulding - Only You
• Live - Lightening Crashes
• Anberlin - Inevitable
• Taylor Swift - State Of Grace
• The Killers - The Way It Was
• Jay Z feat. Beyonce - '03 Bonnie & Clyde
• James Brown - It's a Man's Man's Man's World
• Walk The Moon - Next In Line

Just some of the music I've been listening to lately....what have YOU been listening to? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

V

anybody still there?

Hi guys!!!  Sorry for my absence....but let me explain.
I came home from work about 2 months ago and went to use my computer.
And.....smoke started coming out of it.
I thought I was hallucinating.
Then I smelled the electrical fire.
It was real.
So that being said....I haven't had a computer since then BUT thanks be to heaven I just got a new one!
So how about we do a little update?  Yes?  Yes!

I finally moved!  And kind of un packed!

 I started selling Bath and Body Works products from my bathroom

(business is going really well)

I got sick :(

but the good news.....

We got a new roommate!

He helps us with our homework!

But he has to sleep on the couch

I disowned all my friends!

I continued to live my life in the same manner as a closeted 16 year old boy

My little baby Jenna got married!

I made this face while watching "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"

I became Employee of the Month

We celebrated my Mom's birthday!

Bub partied too hard.

I sat outside and made this face

I watched Game of Thrones in a Snuggie.

(don't tell me I don't understand realness.)

While babysitting my siblings I was almost eaten by a MONSTER.

I took pictures with my dog

I got a shirt signed by MY FAVORITE HUMAN IN THE WORLD.

nbd

I watched football with my brother

I talked my cat down from what was clearly a suicide attempt

I drank Diet Coke out of a Butterbeer mug which basically makes me immortal

AND I BECAME A WIZARD

That pretty much sums it up.

What have you been up to lately?  Anything good?  Let me know!

But really.....you probably can't trump becoming a wizard.

xoxo

V

Weekend Collage

my weekend by vanessanelson featuring logo t shirts

Hello hello!  I'm a day behind this week....mostly because I spent all day yesterday MOVING.  Ugh...isn't moving the absolute worst?  Yes.  Yes it is.  I'm completely exhausted and spent the entire weekend in comfy clothes and flip flops...with the exception of one day.  One very special day...one of my best friends in the whole world got married on Saturday!  Pictures to come...it was perfect.  

While we're (kinda....) on the subject of moving, let's have a quick discussion as to why I should not be allowed to live on my own:

1. I packed more Diet Coke than anything else

2. I have 2 cosmetics bags completely full of lip gloss

3. I had a Level 5 meltdown in Target because I couldn't figure out what kind of jelly my Mom buys. 

Just to name a few..

Do any of you all watch "Big Brother"???  Let me know.  This season has gone CRAY.

Hey guess what else?  I also read some books!  I know what you're thinking...."Vanessa actually turned off Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to read???"  Yes yes my dear readers...I did.  TWO books actually (The Fault In Our Stars & The Land Of Stories) and they were fantastic!!!  Highly recommend them both!

Anyway...that does it for this update.  How was your weekend?  Anything I need to be updated on since it's been awhile? 

Let me know! 

xoxo

V

Life Update With Instagram

Some things that have been going on as of late...

• I bought this necklace.  I now hide in a cave with it whispering "my preciousssss"

• Celebrated my Dad's birthday.  Don't even get me started on how stingy they were about the sprinkles.

• I became an artist.  

(can anyone guess what the word was?)

• My Queen made her television debut

• I made this face about it.

• My brother made this face.  We are related.

• My sister and I put tater tots on our frozen pizza.  U mad?

(it was amazeballs)

• Has anyone seen my lip gloss???

• Found it.

• Bought this shirt. 

• Read this book.  

(SOBBED FOR DAYS)

(you should read it)

(seriously)

• Packed some boxes and found pieces of my childhood.

(awwwwww)

Well that's about it!  Hope everything is going good for you!  What have you been up to lately?  Let me know!

xoxo

• Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
• Conor Maynard - Vegas Girl
• Grouplove - Colours
• Nico Vega - Beast
• Sugar & The Hi Lows - Stubborn Lover
• Walk The Moon - Shiver Shiver
• Ghost Beach - Empty Streets
• Conway Twitty - Hello Darlin
• Renee Olstead - She's Got Your Name
• Fabolous - You Be Killin Em
• Passion Pit - Carried Away

Hey guys!  I've missed you!  I've been super busy packing and moving but I'm finally just about there!  Thought I'd pop in real quick and give you some music I've been listening to!  Hope you're having a good one!

xoxo

Quick Hi!

Hey guys!
Sorry I've seemingly dropped off the planet.  Life is insanely busy at the moment and I've neglected the blog because I've just had too much going on such as

• Work
• Being a manager at work now (whole different ball game)
• Packing
• Moving
• Listening to Taylor Swift's new song on repeat

SO that being said....I should be back later next week.  Thanks for sticking around! (Hopefully....I mean....you are sticking around right?  RIGHT??)

xoxo

V

Elephantiasis

So....some girls have blogs where they pose like super cute and they can be in super awkward positions and they still look FLAWLESS and they're laughing at the camera and their mermaid hair is flowing and the caption will say "just woke up!  decided to take some super unplanned pictures of me!  no make up! LOL!"
1. no one wakes up like that
2. if you want pictures like that (full of lies), this is not the blog for you

Because today I will be sharing with you the exact opposite of cute.  And by that I mean something so horrific you may have nightmares.
WARNING: THESE PHOTOS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN OR YOUR GRANDPARENTS OR ANYBODY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND CERTAINLY NOT YOU JON HAMM BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THESE YOU WILL NEVER MARRY ME.

So *deep breath* here we go.
I was at work last Wednesday just minding my own business when all of a sudden, while just walking around, I twist my ankle.  And I think "ow that was kind of uncomfortable" and continued on my way.  Well let me tell you....it continued being uncomfortable and then it continued to swell.  And by swell I mean it grew to be the size of a six year old's head.
And from there I'd like to give you a timeline of "The Foot That Wouldn't Stop Growing"

Day 1  - can barely see my ankle!  SUPER CUTE LOLZ!

Day 2 - Super sexy ace bandage wrap!

Day 3 - After unwrapping the ace bandage.  Having no ankles is like....way in this year!

p.s. it's ok if you just threw up in your mouth.  I certainly did.  

Day 4 - umm...this got super weird

Finally after an entire week of rest, ice, compression, and elevation, my ankle is back to normal!  No more Elephantiasis.
There are 2 morals to this story
1. Be careful when you walk.
2. DON'T EVER GOOGLE ELEPHANTIASIS.
And seriously Jon Hamm....I told you not to keep reading this.

• Jewel - Angel Standing By
• Amy Kuney - Blower's Daughter
• Dixie Chicks - You Were Mine
• The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
• Kate York - Begin You
• Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
• Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground
• Amos Lee - Arms Of A Woman
• Garrett Hedlund - Timing Is Everything
• The Fray - Rainy Zurich
• Mumford & Sons - I Gave You All
• Bon Iver - Skinny Love
• Rachel Yamagata - Duet

Weekend Collage

weekend collage by vanessanelson featuring chanel cosmetics

Hey gurl hey!!!

How was your weekend??  Mine was crazy!  I sprained my ankle at work (story and gruesome pictures to come) and spent most of the weekend resting up!  HERE are some things I'm obsessed with right now though!

1. Animal print - I used to avoid it at all costs because I thought it looked cheap but I have discovered in my older age that animal print can look super sexy and classy when done the right way!  And now I love it.

2. Pops of color.  LOVE pairing a bright color (pink is my fave) with your neutral tones.  Makes you feel fun and feminine

3. Clinique 3-Step skin care.  If you guys aren't using 3-Step PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to your local Clinique counter and get skin typed.  This is PROVEN to be the absolute best skin care out there.

4. La Vie Est Belle by Lancome - this new fragrance is super sexy and flirty.   Love it.

5. The Bachelorette - Don't tell anyone.

How was your weekend?  Any new favorite discoveries???  Share your happy weekend stories in the comments!  I love to hear happy weekend stories ;)

xoxo

Vanessa

• Marina and the Diamonds - Primadonna
• Beyonce - Countdown
• Oh Land - White Nights (one of the coolest music videos)
• Needtobreathe - Something Beautiful
• Electric Guest - The Head I Hold
• Mariah Carey feat. Jay Z - Shake It Off Remix
• The Lumineers - Flowers In Your Hair
• Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws
• Jay Z, Kanye West, and Otis Redding - Otis 
• Civil Twilight - Quiet In My Town
• Awolnation - Guilty, Filthy, Soul

Weekend Collage

Weekend Collage by vanessanelson featuring chanel

Helllo everyone!! What a busy weekend I had!  I hope you got to enjoy yours more than I did.  Some things I'm obsessed with right now!

1. Bows - LOVE bows

2. Naked palette by Urban Decay - literally every color is perfect.  The best $50 I ever spent. 

3. Robyn's song "Dancing On My Own" has been playing constantly.  On Spotify, on my iPod, at home, at work, in the car...everywhere.  I can't get enough.  Such a fun song to turn up loud and dance around to when you've had a long day (and I've had a few of those recently!)

4. Rainbow Sherbet - IN ALL FORMS.  Just discovered that Extra has made a Rainbow Sherbet gum!!  Yes you read that right and it is AMAZEBALLS.  Go get some immediately.  

5. Big Brother is back!!!!  And I could not be more excited...especially because one of my all time favorites - Britney- is back!  Yay!! Anyone else out there a Big Brother fan??  Let's share excitement!

Anything you're obsessed with?  How was your weekend?  I'd love to hear some great and happy stories from your weekend to brighten my day!

xoxo

Vanessa