the 100th post: recaps and a give away!

HAPPY ONE HUNDREDTH POST!
woo! can you tell I'm excited? thank you all for your wonderful friendship & support this past year. to commemorate reaching 100 posts I am doing my very first give away!
*jumps up and down with excitement*
I wanted to make it something really special and this what I came up with...

meet lauren, the busy bee. she is a blogger/designer/photographer/artist extraordinaire. and more recently, a killer headband designer. her lovely creations truly rock my world and I'm sure your going to be equally as nuts over them. I have two headed my way as we speak, and I have a third one that will be up for grabs.
just for you!
voila.... the Chloe
lauren names all of her headbands after important ladies in her life. isn't that auh-mazing? I think its super sweet and I can't wait to share this give away with one of you!
I chose the chloe because that adorable cheetah rosette is calling to my fashionista side. you know its calling you as well. check out her creations here.

all you have to do to enter this give away is have a peak at my 2009 outfit recap below and leave a comment letting me know what YOUR favorite outfit is!
easy as that. :)

Since I only got back a few weeks ago from the big trip, I haven't really had time to do "a year in review: the outfits of 2009". I'm thinking that this type ordeal is perfect for my 100th post. So, off we go on the yearly recap.

I started the year out with a las vegas trip with some friends, and these are my top two favorite outfits. two of my LBD's that I'm quite fond of. the above photo is taken at the "parasol room" at the wynn, where we stayed.
and yes, I would like a room like that in my house.

walking around the strip. you will see these boots fairly often in the recap. I didn't realize how many times I wore them this past year!

the spring time was spent visiting my parents often up in sonoma while Logan was away at his boot camp. this gorgeous field is right behind their house and my mom and I loved to walk the three dogs out there. love my pearls and tutu in this outfit.

the spring was also spent with friends attempting to cross out things on my "san francisco list".
the list of all of my favorite things to do in the bay area and all the things I've always wanted to do, but never done. on this day, my friend jen and I waited in line over an hour so that we could drive my convertible down Lomard street. you know, "the crooked street".
it was totally worth it.

in april I traveled to Italy for most of the month with some of the women in my family
(mama, aunt, and great aunt).
we visited with our family and friends that live there and had so much fun. we traveled mostly in the north, staying in Milano, Venezia, Verona, and Lago di Garda to name a few. it was summer weather and it was super hot so I wore mostly dresses. these were my favorites.

sad face for the last gelato of the trip. when I'm there I pretty much alternate between and espresso & gelato. my life blood.

outside alessandra's house in milano. getting ready for the futbol party!
Italians take their futbol very seriously.

sitting in Attila the Hun's chair on the island of torcello.

at the doge's palace wearing my little purple frock that I bought for next to nothing at a street fair that day.

sipping proseco in the sun.

at alessandra's chateau at the lake. um, hi? can I live here year round?
please?

back in the states in may and spending time in one of my favorite cities by the bay.

in june, my friend and I took a week trip to santa fe and it was gorgeous. oh man, I was dying over the adorable-ness of this quaint town. and also I have to admit I was excited to visit the town that had been featured in two of my all-time favorite musical numbers.
newsies/christian bale/santa fe
rent/jesse l. martin/santa fe

another santa fe outfit. I was attempting to channel my "inner-south-west" girl in preparation for the arizona move and wore... a cowgirl hat.
yup. I went there.

while in new mexico, we also made it to roswell. and yes, we did meet many strange people that we suspected were aliens. it was the funniest town! EVERYTHING was alien based, even their McDonald's was shaped like a UFO. so funny.
and yes, we did tour the alien museum. why not?

many july nights at the boardwalk in santa cruz, ca.

fourth of july parade. I went maxi crazy last summer.

in the middle of the month we headed home to chicago for a visit, a cubs game, and a few nights at the drake.

love walking the beach of lake michigan.
no shoes required.

escapades at navy pier.
oh hai taller-version of megan. your legs are looking mighty long today.

taken in august. last day in california. last walk behind the house with mama.

first night out in tucson. the day we moved in it was 115 degrees and I wondered to myself...
what have we done?

wore this to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary.
august 15, 2008
we wandered around and explored our new town since it was our first few days there.

I quickly discovered that tucson has the best thrift stores.

my favorite back to school outfit. after the move, I decided to head back to school. again. :)

see?
told you that normally I look like a walking rainbow.
but in a good way.

I was auh-mazed at how long it stayed ridiculously hot in the southwest. far into october.
still in short sleeves in late september. crazy.
also, this rock star vest was definetely thrifted for under 4 dollars. love that.

bohemian chic in october.

all that glitters is my shiny sequin dress.

during october we celebrated my mama's 50th birthday in vegas. I adored this look because of the fedora. which, was sadly crushed recently in the "california trip" suitcase.

um, helllllo faux fur vest. let me count the ways I love thee.
found this vest during the vegas trip. I'm not much of a gambler. more of a shopper
obviously.

once we got back from vegas it was halloween time! my favorite time of the year.
and I was feeling the roaring 20's. gatsby style.

and at this point we are reaching the end of the year and since these are pretty recent, I will let the pictures speak for themselves. :)
also, I am fer sure running out of witty/charming commentary. and getting kind of tired. ha.

well there you have it! my favorite outfits of 2009. man that was an insane post. going to need a few days to recover from this one. :)

I hope you enjoyed it and go ahead and click the comments section to enter yourself in my first give away. I know you are all loving on the busy bee headbands as much as I am.

and if you wandered over here from the lovely lauren's blog, or amazing amy's blog (hows that for alliteration?) and you like what you see, be sure to hit that follow button up top! :) thanks!

buon weekend!

xoxo