west side story

i started the morning snapping bc it was west side story day!
the past few years i have become a bit of a "broadway snob" as my boyfriend likes to call me...
i am somewhat...ok...really addicted to seeing shows...they remind me of my musical days in high school...which was a really long time ago...anyways...

in the last couple of years i've seen...

cats
wicked (twice in chicago and once in nyc)
the lion king
billy elliot (twice)
next to normal
les mis (best show EVER)
and now west side story

and for almost all of those shows i've been in the front row (yay me)
there is nothing better than being up close and personal with the actors...
i mean, who doesn't love seeing spit fly everywhere?

so i hadn't seen a show in a while (it's been like 2 months, i was having withdrawals lol)
and had to twist my mom and austin's (lil bro) arm to go see west side story with me...
not bc i so much love the musical, but like i said... withdrawals.

my mom hates west side story (well the movie) 
she was worried that the musical would be similar...
bad acting
annoying songs
fake puerto ricans

well....she was right;)

we did enjoy gang dancers fighting with jump snaps and ballet kicks...
and that was about it lol...

ok it wasn't THAT bad, but the actors that played tony and maria should not have been in those roles...
they were just all wrong...
sounded all wrong
looked all wrong
acted all wrong
 and it just didn't work...poo

but we still had so much fun
mostly because there was a lot more to make fun of and talk about on our train ride home;)

and if you're wondering if i'm TEAM sharks or TEAM jets....
i'm totally TEAM SHARKS!!!
1) they were much better dancers
2) they had much better hair
3) they wore purple


lunch at corner bakery...our pre-show tradition 

jump snaps...
best.move.ever.

at the cadillac




me, cheesing it up outside:)

love the inside of theaters in chicago!

so pretty...

so countdown to the next show is on...but what will it be?

be pretty~melis


follow the yellow brick road...

i was up super early this morning....
like too early.
but, i love taking a walk at that time...
it's like a whole different world outside.
everything is quite except for chirping birds and my feet against the pavement:)
so i thought i would share a few pics from my morning stroll....

my yellow brick road...

pretty blooms...

glistening river in the sunlight...

i hate bridges...

rain, rain, go away...

i heart trees...

love all of these colors...

and my fave part...are those leaves changing colors???


hope you can take a moment to enjoy the little things that surround you:)

be pretty~melis

and then there were two...

i'm not much of a crier....
to be honest, it kind of annoys me....
the puffy eyes
the snot
the black mascara tears 
the not being able to breathe...
gross.

well...right now i have all of that.
my eyes are so puffy that it hurts to blink:(
i was literally sobbing while i was blow drying my hair this morning and then looked at myself and laughed a little because have you ever seen someone blow drying their hair and crying?
trust me, it's kinda funny...

why all of this sadness?
my little sister, laura, moved to connecticut today
(omg just typing that sentence i have tears running down my cheeks again)
she is following her heart and going to live with her boyfriend who goes to school in ct, 
and while i'm happy for her to start a new adventure,
and proud of her for being so brave, 
i feel like a part of me is missing...

so i've had my day of sadness...
and i already miss her like crazy,
but i'm not one to dwell on the sad,
so instead i'll share some of our fun crazy pics and know that she is happy...
which makes me smile:)














don't you love the many hair styles/colors of melis and laur?
that's not even half of them;)

and here she is all ready to go...

and then there were two....


we love you laur...always and forever:)
be pretty~melis




the i-l-a in mila

so for those of you that don't know, the "mila" in mila rose has a very special meaning...
it is the initials of my siblings and i...
melissa
ian
laura
austin

it's also in the order that we were born...i wonder if my mom planned that lol:)

well this weekend ian was in town (he lives in texas)
and laura is moving this week (to connecticut) :(
soooo...we spent the weekend doing a little brother/sister bonding:)

friday was breakfast and bowling!!



and sunday was fun, hang with the fam day...



 definitely an amazing weekend with the people i love the most:)
be pretty~melis

something special

i know...it's been a month...you can yell at me if you want...

but instead you can be REALLY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (yes, that many exclamation points excited)

why you ask?  i can't tell you...

a) bc it's not a definite...yet (but it will be, right universe?)
b) bc i don't want to jinx it...but it's going to happen (bc i said so)
c) bc i love leaving you in suspense:)  (i'm laughing my evil laugh now)

i know, i'm mean...BUT just because i can't tell you what's going on doesn't mean i can't SHOW you what it involves....
HOORAY!!!!

sneak peek at mila rose holiday 2011 collection
(yes i realize it's july and i'm working on holiday bands...welcome to fashion...)

yes that is velvet...and yes it is huge...and  yes i love it!

satin & feathers & lace...oh my


who's ready for holiday parties;)




be pretty~melis