Vavoom Pinups- Amazing Experience!

Yes, it is expensive, but I have to say that the day of the shoot -- you find out why it's worth every penny. I  wanted to have a pin up shoot for my bachelorette outing with my girls for the following reasons: 1. I LOVE vintage stuff, especially pin up artwork 2. If I thought I could pull it off and not get fired from my corporate job, I would dress that way everyday 3. Hello! It's awesome. Duh.  And, Heather and her staff do not disappoint during the shoot. Every single one of us felt amazing during and after the shoot. I left that day on cloud nine and I left the make up on for our wedding rehearsal dinner-- it was a hit. I didn't want to take it off!

 I do truly love them, and they are a great company-- whose aim is to empower women -- and they do it. If I could work there,  I would.

Seriously- Book a shoot NOW! You WILL NOT be disappointed!

2011 One More Year until the World Ends

Since the world is scheduled to end in 2012, we decided we had better make the most of 2011. Thus, big changes are in store this year. But, let me begin with what we did and did not accomplish in 2010.



Our 2010 Goals included the addition of travel to our lives. We began the 50 state challenge and thus far have accomplished the visitation of 9 states, not including Indiana (only driven through, or stayed in separately) and Texas (only crashed one night on the way to Mexico).  We also managed a fantastic winter vacation in Mexico, beginning our international travel plans. Check out pictures and details of our travels and other items at Fauxtopgraphy.

2010 also brought us the 100 Books list-- remember that?

With an amazing amount of help from friends and (mostly) family, we are just 21 books short of our goal. The remaining list below:

Number	Author	Title
1.	Arthur Conan Doyle	The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
2.	Boris Pasternak	Dr Zhivago
3.	Dashiell Hammett	The Maltese Falcon
4.	George Bernard Shaw	Pygmalion
5.	H.G. Wells	The Time Machine
6.	Hunter S. Thompson	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
7.	Johann David Wyss	Swiss Family Robinson
8.	John Milton	Paradise Lost
9.	Malcolm Lowry	Under the Volcano
10.	Marcel Proust	Remembrance of Things Past
11.	Margaret Mitchell	Gone with the Wind
12.	Nathanael West	The Day of the Locust
13.	Nathaniel Hawthorne	The House of the Seven Gables
14.	Oscar Wilde	The Importance of Being Earnest
15.	Robert Ludlum	The Bourne Identity
16.	Stephen King	The Shining
17.	Sun Tzu	The Art of War
18.	Sylvia Plath	The Bell Jar
19.	T.S. Eliot	The Waste Land
20.	Tennessee Williams	Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; A Streetcar Named Desire

In 2010 we purchased a car suitable for our great dane, 2 iphones  and a macbook air proving once and for all that apple reigns victorious in the apple vs. pc debate, became lifelong Blackhawks fans, Dave took up golfing and we got engaged.

As I mentioned before, 2011 is going to be a year of big changes. We are trying to get more healthy, Dave has been running and Andrea is in the midst of the 30 day shred. We are getting married in July and Andrea has begun graduate school.

Our honeymoon will add to our travels, and hopefully we get enough time off this year to get a few more of the 50 states completed. We are looking forward to a great year!  Hopefully this year will provide us with some much needed new (local) friendships.

What can YOU do in 31 days?

I recently decided that I don't want to allow my adult responsibilities to suck out my soul. As it happens, I really like my soul. Thus, I have developed a life enrichment program for myself, entitled, " What can YOU do in 31 days?" I have set goals to accomplish this month in the areas of: literature, art, culture, health & fitness, travel and music. Below are my goals for this month... let's see how this goes...

Read 3 books for pleasure
Paint 2 paintings (of any size)
Re-learn the violin
Lose 5 pounds
Try 2 new recipes
Visit at least 1 attraction in Chicago
Visit 2 states other than the one I live in
Finish one of my many photography projects
Write a short story

Updates as of July 12th
Books: I began reading the "Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket, I'm on book #6
Paintings: visualizing....
Violin: I need strings and a bow... looking into a store to acquire these items
Losing 5 pounds: trying to be more active, running more, eating less... it's a process
Recipes: nothing yet
Chicago Attraction: we went to the aquarium this weekend. It was great
2 States: I went to Kansas City for work, but I dont know if this counts really. We are planning a trip to Cincinnati next weekend...so...
Photography: yeah, not started... still
Short Story: perhaps I shouldnt have included this on the list... no ideas...

So, what can YOU do in 31 days? Share your list!