HELP!

Hey friends! My amazing S.I.L., Brittany, has organized a service project opportunity and would love you all to help! Here's the invitation from her:

Hello friends and family,

I'd like to invite you to participate in a service opportunity wrapping Christmas gifts to earn money for charity taking place December 9th to the 21st. Altogether we'll be wrapping gifts for 70 hours, so I'm asking for all the help you can give. The gift wrapping will take place at the Orem Barnes & Noble (330 East 1300 South), and all proceeds go to Community Action.

All you need to do is go to this link, sign up for the hours you'd like to help, then email me your name and contact information so that I can get a hold of you with the other details. The day of just show up, wrap presents, and encourage people to leave donations for Community Action. What could be better?

If you're unable to help, please forward this along to whoever might be interested, or come

in to have a gift wrapped and leave a donation yourself (check the link to verify that the Community Action group is there at that time).

Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas,

Brittany

bb.thorley@gmail.com

This is such a wonderful opportunity to step away from the busy hustle and bustle of the holiday season and practice your gift wrapping skill while giving back to the community! Check out more about Community Action here. Brittany has organized this event all on her own and I admire her so much for thinking of others {while I'm making my wish list....} I really do believe that service teaches us more about ourselves than any other action, and it's this time of year when people are in most need of help. Please, if you are able, sign up for a time, even just an hour, or bring your gifts to be wrapped and leave a donation. I'm signed up for one night so far, but I'd love to join YOU on the nights you volunteer. E-mail me with the dates you signed up for and I'll join you :)

*yarn gift wrapping image via

colors

do you ever think in colors?

last night it was a bunch of dark blues and yucky oranges, but this morning I woke up to yellows. not a lot, just glints and hints here and there.

oh, and I cut bangs again! it's been almost a year since I've had them and woke up thanksgiving morning with my mind set. and get this: brandon did the deed! He cuts his own hair and has for years, I trust him with these sorts of things. I think he did a pretty swell job.

happy tuesday

hopes it's full of yellows

x-claire

This is Maura.
She's a fellow artist.

We went to NY together.
Doesn't she look pretty on the brooklyn bridge?

I love this holiday. I love a day dedicated to expressing gratitude.

today I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. He knows me so well. He's given me blessing after blessing catered to my needs, needs I didn't even know I needed. He gave me amazing parents, who raised me to be loving and good through their constant example. He gave me two amazing siblings who have been my closest friends. And a few years ago he gave me Brandon, who is a constant calm in my life. Although I am thankful for so many "things", it's really the people in my life I rely on the most. They strengthen me and encourage me. They love me and I love them. And that love has taught me so much.

I hope you all have a lovely thanksgiving, and that you get to tell the people you love just how grateful you are for them.

*image by me

next week

{a little collection from NYC}

I often find myself saying "if I can just make it through till next week...." but life is always going to be a bunch of "next week"s. I'm ready to move on. Does that even make sense? Maybe not. how about this: I'm tired of always playing catch up. But alas there is always catching up to do: homework to be done, art to be made, photos to edit, chores (yes, I have chores) to be completed, work to be worked and thoughts to be thunked (haha thats for you mum!). In my mind next week sounds like this amazing thing. next week I'll relax. next week I'll have time. is anyone else wondering when next week is going to come?! news flash: next week is always a week away. oh reality why must you be so cruel?!

so...about all those NYC & photoshoot photos I was going to share? How does next week sound?!

happy saturday!

happy winter-ish weather!

xo-claire

p.s. your welcome to check out my instagram for photos and meaningless updates :) I'm @belleandwhistle. Do you have an instagram account? lets stalk each other!!

p.p.s. here are two instagrams from my trip! gallery in chelsea and brooklyn bridge

home & featured!

I'm home! And what a whirl-wind-wonderful trip to NY I had! I can't wait to share some of the highlights, but.... I didn't take my camera with me **cue gasps and looks of complete shock. I KNOW!? I deliberately left it home so that I wouldn't stress over getting the perfect image or capturing every tiny bit with that trigger happy finger of mine. It was refreshing to just take it all in mentally and emotionally. I did cheat a little bit and took photos on my phone, which I'll be sharing, and I also took 1 roll of film with my konico (cross your fingers some turned out!). The trip was so amazing but can I tell ya, it feels so good to be home. It felt soo good to hit the snooze button 20 times this morning, miss classes, and snuggle with my man.

In other news: Brandon and I did a shoot with Kristina Curtis Photography that was featured on Utah Bride Blog today! I can't tell you how fun this shoot was (even if we were freezing!) and how much I admire Kristina's eye! I'll be sharing more images and info from the shoot later this week but for now check out the feature on Utah Bride Blog and check out Kristina's site & blog! I promise it won't disappoint :)

I'm running around like a crazy person, trying to get ready for my big trip! Did I mention I'm going to NEW YORK!? I'm so extremely excited, I've been looking forward to this trip for weeks! And now it's just around the corner (tuesday!)

I'm making a mini bucket list for my trip there and need your help! What do I not want to miss? Where are the best places to eat? cheapest thrift stores? best kept secrets? Any travel tips!? I'd love to hear from you!

The only thing missing from making this trip absolutely perfect is my husband. :( if only he could come. We are squeezing in a fun date tonight to make up for missing each other next week. He planned the whole thing which promises to be an adventure :)

xo-kitty

p.s. thanks (in advance) for the NY tips!