my word...dream

ever since i was little i've been certain of two things about myself...
1) that i would always be a dreamer
AND
2) that one day i would be famous

ok so i know #2 sounds a little ridiculous...i mean i think everyone at some point growing up wants to be famous, but i was certain, and still am that one day i'm going to be a part of something that will be a big deal.  i don't know when or how, but i know in my gut that that big moment will happen in my life and i've known it for as long as i can remember.

so a few days ago i was reading the lovely casey's blog and saw that every year she picks a word for the next year...fun huh?

my word for 2013 is

i actually spent a few days thinking of several words and all of them i loved and wanted to embrace for this next year, but dream seemed to be the most appropriate for where i am in my life.
like i said, i've always been a dreamer...sometimes to a fault, but to me there is no other way to live.  

via

and sometimes i think that i don't dream big enough...in fact, i know that i don't dream big enough.  sometimes i'm afraid to think of what might happen if all of my dreams did come true.  
how would i handle that?

via

via


so for 2013 i'm going to live my dream.  i'm not going to hold back what i know i can accomplish.  i'm going to think big, work hard, and make my dreams a reality.  and who knows...maybe this year i'll be famous...

via

be pretty~melis

2012

tomorrow is new years eve and i feel like this past year has just been a whirlwind of crazy things that i never thought would happen.  so here's a few of the highlights of 2012.

at the beginning of the year i had a boyfriend who spent 4 months at bootcamp...he came home and i had a fiance during fireworks on july 3rd...and then on august 24 on a beach before sunset, i had a husband.  definitely my most favorite times this year...




in mrd land, i rocked out fashion week at Henri Bendel, had one of my designs worn by Jaime King on the CW's, Hart of Dixie(which i still have to blog about), had one of my pieces featured in Southern Lady Magazine, and met some amazing new fans and friends along the way!  i'm so excited for what's in store for mrd in 2013...big things all the way!!





2012 also consisted of new scenery for everyone in my family!  my parents and austin moved to texas in the summer, shortly followed by johnny and i.  ian moved back to chicago and laura moved to a new part of connecticut.  if you would have told me at the beginning of the year that half my family would be in texas by the end of the year i would have laughed in your face, but i'm so happy we all jumped right in and started new adventures!




overall this year is going to be a tough one to beat, but i can't wait for what lies ahead!  
bring it 2013!

be pretty~melis
















xmas fun

hope everyone had an amazing xmas!  this was the first time that the whole family has been together in quite some time and i'm so happy that i got to spend time with them.  and now for fun xmas pics!

our "normal" pic...

and the real us...

there is a whole lotta love in this family...

our new signature family pic...the blue steel

 ian and his gf julia...

 laur and her bf keisan...


 and mine and johnny's first xmas as a married duo!

hope everyone has a fabulous new year!  can wait to bring the blog to a whole new level next year!!
be pretty~melis


happy december

happy december pretties!  it's time for the most glorious month of the whole year...and why is it so special??  not because it's christmas time...not because it's acceptable to eat delicious treats almost every day...not because there seem to be an abundance of things that sparkle...it's the best time of year because it's my birthday...and this year i'm turning the
big 3-0!!!  

so to start off this month of celebration i thought i would share some things that i'm loving right now...you know in case someone wants to buy me a present...or two!


ashley from the shine project is doing amazing things and i'm obsessed with these awesome personalized bangles from her new line threads which employs students to help them pay for college!  how cool is that??  and p.s. i would want mine to say be pretty;)


i have several prints already from the amazing leonora over at yellow heart art, but i'm loving the cute feathers and even cuter quote on this print available here.


um rose gold AND a bow...done and done!  you can find this pretty here from make pie not war.


eeeekkk how adorable are these handmade heart bowls from ross lab?  i must have them!  


and what's a birthday without some sweet treats like my fave caramels from nicole at the caramel jar.  if you read my blog you already know my obsession with these goodies.  i'm thinking i need the caramel club...caramels sent to me for 6 months...delish!!

soooo happy shopping...uh i mean happy december!

be pretty~melis