These people

I like these people a whole lot. A whole awful lot. 

They taught me this fun game while we were waiting in line at a certain bakery in San Francisco the last time I was there. The Man and I are going to see them this very weekend in Catalina! 

Woot for good friends!

Really going places

This is my baby brother back in December when I visited him at school. 

He just graduated from that school a quarter early.

 I am so proud of him. 

I am so proud of him for a lot of reasons.

He is really going places.

Goodbye Shellac, Hello Seafoam Green!

Shellac finally but the dust over the long weekend I spent camping. It looked great till I spent the weekend outdoors so I am definitely calling the adventure a success.

Now I'm obsessed with the minty Seafoam green.

Happy Wednesday!

P.S. I am having another movie date with my little and need some suggestions on a good PG movie. Thoughts?! :)

UPDATE: We watched Indian in the Cupboard and it was awesome. :)

Heading to DC!

Happily waiting in the airport for my flight to DC! I love that there is free wifi so I get to browse my fav blogs while I wait!

A Very Special Kid

I just stumbled upon the most amazing child.

I don't know if I am just a big cry baby or what but this short film about this 9 year old boy named Caine made my eyes well up with how very special he is.

I know it seems long, being 11 minutes an all, but it is so worth it to witness the magic of an imaginative child. I always thought that you can never be bored because only boring people get bored. Caine has taken that mantra to a whole new level.

I hope you enjoy this film as much as I have. Let me know if you cried too or if I'm just a big sap!! :)

P.S. My favorite part maybe how he uses calculators. Oh man what a smart boy. :)

Empowerment, Purpose, and Adventure

Just discovered an amazing jewelry company called 31 Bits. Have you heard of them? 31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. By giving our beneficiaries access to the international market, they are able to earn an instant income, providing homes, food, and education for their families. Our program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity.

They have a ton of really pretty unique pieces that I am crushing on and I absolutely LOVE what they say about the theme of their Spring line-

"Our Spring line, Chasing Daylight, represents living lives filled with empowerment, purpose, and adventure. It’s about taking risks, setting goals, and seizing every moment. It’s for those who dream big and refuse to give up. Over 100 women in Uganda are living with this kind of freedom. Some are setting goals for the first time in their lives, some are starting their own businesses, and all of them are rising above poverty."

I just love that. I want my life to be filled with empowerment, purpose and adventure. I am going to make a conscious effort to make that true. During my yoga classes they suggest setting an intention. Usually I set it to only think about positive thoughts or dedicating my practice to someone in particular- sometime me if I feel I need it or a friend, but for now I am going to set my intention on living an empowering life, one with purpose and adventure. 

Lately I have been so busy that when I finally get home after work and babysitting around 9:30 I just want to crash. I need to take more time throughout the day to smell the roses, notice the little things that make me smile, so that I feel more human and less of a robot. I think it will make me a better.... everything.... employee, babysitter, daughter, friend, sister, girl friend... everything.

 

There is a powerful video on the 31 Bits website but I can't figure out how to embed it. Bahh I hate when I can't figure out what should be an easy piece of technology! Anyone have any advice? It's not on youtube but a vimeo....

Also I don't know if you ever visit the fun blog whoorl but that is how I learned about 31 Bits and they are offering a discount! 20% off your online order with the code WHOORL20 from now until April 4th. Sweet! Thanks 31 Bits for being awesome and Whoorl for sharing their awesomeness.

A Hunger Games Playlist!

So excited for the premiere!! And I recently stumbled upon a Hunger Games Mix!! I don't know about you but in high school I made myself (and others) quite a few awesome mixes. One of my all time favs was one I made as a party favor for my water park sweet sixteen. It includes the Hilary Duff song "Sweet Sixteen", "High School" (sorry couldn't find the artist. It's a punk rocky one where they talk about the glories of high school.. came out around 2004 or so...), it may have even included a Hoku song, you know other classics from HS. 


Well on a recent blog browse I discovered a cute new blog! Have you ever visited Designeditor.typepad.com? I have become so inspired just browsing. I love that she offers not only free monthly playlists but also free fonts! Neat!


So after all my babbling here is the playlist including her justification of each song! I love it. Thank you Design Editor!! 

Listen here!

Without spoiler details, some of the lyrics that tie into the story: 

• THE CAVE by MUMFORD & SONS: Cause I need freedom now / And I need to know how / To live my life as it's meant to be
• STADIUM LOVE by METRIC: Every living thing / Pushed into the ring / Fight it out / To wow the crowd
• BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE by NEW ORDER: (The title speaks for itself!)
• AS YOU ARE by TRAVIS: And ever since I was young I had no choice / But it's OK to lead me on / I must admit it's not much fun / To be led on by such a one / As you are
• SONGBIRD by EVA CASSIDY: And the songbirds keep singing / Like they know the score 
• LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD by PAT BENATAR: We are young / Heartache to heartache / We stand
• DO THE PANIC by PHANTOM PLANET: I guess we're all in trouble, huh? / Black clouds are upon us / And it's doomsday on the other side of town
• GIRL IN THE WAR by JOSH RITTER: Pretend the dove from above is a dragon / and your feet are on fire
• POISON ARROW by ABC: Shoot that poison arrow through my heart
• I WILL SURVIVE by GLORIA GAYNOR: (This was too easy)

AHHH! So excited for the movie. Do you guys have any grand plans?? I haven't made any official ones yet but want to go all out! :)

My Very Own Camping Kitchen

Growing up we were tent campers. And we camped a lot. A lot of my best childhood memories are from camping trips with the same families, doing pretty much the same thing- running around, climbing trees, building forts, you know kid stuff. Somewhere along the way my dad created a camping kitchen for us to make it easier. And then my parents decided to get a motor home and we sold the camping kitchen and have been doing that style of camping for a while now.

But times are changing, my parents don't have kids at home anymore so they are going back to the basics. That means a new camping kitchen. And while my dad was making theirs he decide to be nice to his only daughter and make me one TOO!

So you are probably asking yourself "What is this dear girl talking about? A camping kitchen?! Who has a kitchen while they are camping? If this really is a kitchen then the poor little girl is not really camping."

Well can I tell you that it is still camping (well the kinda camping where you drive up to your camping spot and circle the so called wagons and pitch your tent- kinda camping, my kind of camping). It's a pretty awesome, relaxing, fun type of camping.

So my dad made me the most adorable camping kitchen. It's like the young adult version of my parents. I now realize that I should have taken a picture of the two side by side. But I didn't- sorry. I'll have to do that on their first camping trip together. Oh my goodness we should name them! Don't you think I should name mine!?

Here it is opened. Oh and thats my dad in the background. He's the best. See how cool it is?! The top compartment on the right is for paper towels, and the bottom one is big enough for pots and pans. Then the other side I can store silverware, foil, spices all those types of things. And the table part, which is a perfect work station, folds up to close it up when you need to move it or store it, or at night time camping in the desert so all of your stuff doesn't blow away. (My amigos that were on the most recent camping trip with me know what I am talking about when I talk about middle of the night desert winds..... serious wind people.... serious.)

Here is the top. I painted flowers on it too. One on the top, two on the front door, and a couple on the back.

See!

Here's the back. That light paint spot in the middle is where I was touching up some holidays in the paint. It will dry all one color.

Isn't it the best! I can't wait to stock it up and take it on its first voyage!! I'll keep you posted! :)

Oh and later that day (Sunday, that is) Boyfriend and I went back over there and had dinner with my parents and my great-grandmother Noni.

Here is a picture of my mom and Noni. She is 96! Isn't she awesome!

So what do you think I should name her? The camping kitchen that is :)

Boogie Time

Uh huh. 

Boyfriend and I stumbled upon this gem over the weekend and I had to share.

Enjoy!!

Don't you just love this

I hope you have all had a restful night's sleep!

Image from Pinterest. Feel free to follow me! :)

Very Pinteresting

Happy Wednesday Sparklers!

How's your week going so far? Do you like the new header?!

This has been a busy work week this week so sorry about the light posting. But I can't resist sharing some of my newest (and some oldies but goodies) pins. 

Love the color vibe. I may try and attempt something like this for our bedroom eventually. 

Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Love this color combo. I just bought skinny jeans this exact share of pink from Old Navy and I am going to pair it with my chambray top. Yes. Thank you for the fashion inspiration Pinterest.

Oh Peeta- I loved thee. I am excited to watch you in action next month!!! So excited that March is approaching.

 I love everything about this look. 

She is cozy and adorable and sipping on what I am assuming is a caffeinated beverage. Jealous. 

 This is perfect! Genius!

 The new Toms ballet flats!! I love the grey- they would be so versatile. Too bad they are $80 bucks. Not quite in my budget at this point in time...

Thank you again Vintage Apple for dreaming up such a fun way to share Wednesdays!

Are you guys still enjoying Pinterest? I am still as obsessed as ever but I am noticing that I am not finding as much pin worthy stuff as before. Am I just burning out or is the selection not as great??

Also I was at a work meeting today and this woman was informing the group that she is looking into utilizing PInterest for publicizing the non-profit. Ummmmm.... What? Am I missing some huge component about Pinterest? How is said non-profit, and others, capitalizing on the beauty of Pinterest? I will be heart broken if it becomes something other than the place full of pretty pictures of inspiration. Sigh.


All images are from Pinterest. Feel free to follow me! :)

I am so proud

I made my very own button!!

I used Photoshop and everything! Boyfriend helped get me started but then I actually made this one all by myself!

Hopefully I will learn how to add it to my side bar soon and you can link up if you want. 

I would love it if you do! 

I would also love any helpful hints to add it to my side bar!!

Thanks Sparklers you are the best!!!

XOXO,

Elise

Genius

I don't know about you but I don't like looking at certain things. Dirty dishes, an empty gas tank, an empty glass of wine, and tampon boxes.

Until now!!

I just discovered (online of course) an actually attractive box of tampons. Sounds silly writing it- an attractive box of tampons. But come on! If we can have one more pretty thing in our life, something that we have to buy anyways- I'm in!

 In the words of the artist Heda Holschirr- "A necessity should be beautiful. In my rebranding of Always Tampons, I decided to create geometric, less whimsical packaging for a product that women always have at hand. Clean, sharp, strong, and dainty, Always are now what women have been all along. Definitely not something to be hidden under the bathroom sink!

I whole heartedly agree!

What do you think? Now if I could actually find them....

2012 Blogging Party!

One day not too long ago I ventured into an interesting opportunity.

 It's called the 2012 New Year Blogging Party! 

It's being hosted by three amazing ladies who have adorable blogs- 

Casey, Danielle &  Alycia

Here's how the party works- each blogger who wanted to participate will be randomly paired up with another blogger to do a gift exchange with! Fun right?!

So where does the party part come in? Well on January 31, 2012 we will all link up our posts onto all three of the hosts’ blogs, for one giant link up party! So stay tuned to discover new fun blogs!

I can't wait to introduce my partner!! Hopefully soon! I am already being inspired! There are sure to be exciting changes happening around Sparkle at Twenty Something soon!!

Oh How Pinteresting!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm going to start a new weekly entry on Wednesday about some of my favorite Pinterest discoveries over the week. Have you discovered Pinterest? It is basically a site devoted to pretty things where all you do is browse, admire, and gain inspiration!

Since this is my first week I am going to include some of my favorites that I have discovered over the course of my Pinterest time. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do!!

Even if I really don't want a nursery right now I can't help but be attracted to good looking ones. How sweet is this vibrant one? I'm hoping that the walls are chalkboard!

Original Source

 Chocolate bacon ice cream. Need I say more?? 

Original Source

 This is inspiration to my yoga habits. Last Saturday I did a headstand (slightly assisted) for the first time and it felt so empowering. I love trying something new in my yoga practice. I always try and go for things and see if I can do them. I usually surprise myself.

Original Source

 How gorgeous is her hair. Perfect wave and shine. Stunning.

Original Source

 Are these not the most adorable stairs you have ever seen? When was the last time you heard the words adorable and stairs in the same sentence? I don't know if I ever had. Someday maybe I'll have adorable stairs too. So special- "Dreams don't work unless you do." Great to always keep in mind.

Original Source

So that's all I have time for today folks! 

XOXO Sparklers!!!

What I'm Listening To...

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE!

Specifically the new album Ceremonials. And even more specifically this one:

But honestly I listen to the whole album on repeat. I also really love the last song on the album which is a remix water. I honestly rock out in my car, by myself, and it usually happen to come on after yoga, but never the less I'm rockin out. Ahh it makes me smile just thinking about the good times I've had alone in my car with that song. OK now I sound creepy but you get the idea.

Better Late than Never...

Not me...

But Happy New Year!

Isn't she cute? I couldn't resist adding her to this post. My New Year's Eve party was not that fancy so I didn't get to get all dolled up like this. It was fun though!

So I have a couple of New Year's resolutions. I know some people don't believe in them but I actually stick to them so I do! I like to believe that each new year really is a great time to think about goals and hopes and making dreams come true. This year I have two goals. Well I guess three since.

1. Journal more often. I love looking back at past journal entries and always wish I took the time to write more of my 12, 15, 18, etc year old thoughts down. Now is the time. At least I will now have my 23rd year pretty well documented. :) and that brings me to my next point. Really 1 1/2...

1 1/2. Blog my thoughts more. And just plain blog more often. I really enjoy sharing the wonderful pretty things I think of/find so I need to make more time for it. Using Boyfriend's computer should help accomplish that!

2. Boyfriend and I have a goal together. hee hee hee. We want to join a flash mob group and do a flash mob!!! Have you guys ever witnessed one?! I have never had the privilege but just sincerely enjoy watching the you tube videos like this one:

or this one:

They just look so fun!!


So Boyfriend doesn't think we are good enough for the last one but I disagree! If we practice enough we can do anything!! The last one also looks like most of the people involved were just sent the routine and told to join in but never actually practiced together. I could do that! I think it might be more fun to meet to practice but depending on what is available in San Diego. 


So I'm on a mission to write more and join a flash mob group. Help hold me accountable! 


I just googled flash mob San Diego and some interesting options came up!! eeeeee! :)

Do you guys have any New Year's Resolutions? Share! I would love to hear about them!!

What I'm Reading

Alice in Wonderland. Yes. That wasn't that exciting you say (or think in your head since you are probably not reading out loud).

But I am also currently reading this-

Credit

So why am I reading this??? Well I have a simple answer for you. Because I am becoming a BIG SISTER!!!!!

Yes, I have since the age of two and a half been a big sister. But starting in December I will be a Big Sister to a young 11 year old girl!!! I am so excited! Sooooo with that I learned that her favorite book is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Well, I never read that when I was a kid- was that book even out when I was a kid??? Anyways- so I wanted to read it to learn more about her and her sense of humor.

My boss actually lent me her son's copy (age 12. Yep I'm that cool- reading a book her 12 year old son read....) and I am actually enjoying it. It's clever and funny and I really appreciate the author's humor and reflection of 'his' middle school life. I'm only 30 or so pages in but I recommend it, if you're into that sort of thing.

I can't wait to meet my new Little and get to know her.

:)

The funniest thing I have seen in a long time-

Just needed to share on this Wednesday morning. Sharing is caring.

Enjoy!!

Sometimes you just need a little order

I've seen this artist in a couple of places lately and every time it fascinates me.

Can you imagine? I think this might stress me out a bit organizing it all! Ha
 Artist: Ursus Werhli

Have a lovely weekend Sparklers!