Merry christmas!!

So happy to be home with family for the holidays!! Hope you all had a wonderful evening and Christmas day!! :) enjoy the new year as well... Stories and pictures to come!

Missing the colors of fall

I get to head home to Cleveland today :) yay yay yay!!!

I dont know about Cleveland, but here in Columbus... zero snow! This only makes it feel less like Christmas, it makes me so sad! Today, I miss the beautiful colors of fall as I stare out my very grey window, counting down the hours till my drive home...

I wish the rain into snow and a much happier friday to all!!

Cake Ball - Attempt

Christmas is almost here! I cannot believe how December has flown by... Christmas is in 3 days and NYE is in 10 days! There is a lot of Christmas cheer around the office — decor and little gifts!

Charlie Brown kinda Christmas

Co-workers have also been spreading the Christmas cheer! I've gotten multiple little surprise that have made Christmas this year extra special!

Speaking of crafty things, I decided to bake for the office as my little gift! That is the one thing I am missing the most due to the working world... baking cookies and holiday preparations at home with my family! Every year my mom, brother, and I spend hours baking and decorating almost a hundred cookies... I hope they are doing ok with out me this year :( So I baked as if I were at home! I attempted red velvet cake pops (found here)

The balls them selves went quite nicely... as pictured here in part one

It was the whole putting them on a stick and dipping them where it all went downhill! I'm a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to these things and I was getting flustered as the balls were falling off the stick into the chocolate! I resorted to dipping them solo and adding the stick later.

 I also didn't have enough chocolate to dip them all so some of them are drizzled... should still be good, right? I hope :)

I am happy with the end result, but I need to try these out a few more times before they can be juuuust right!! Happy Holidays :)

NYC Recap

We had the perfect weather for our New York trip! As soon as we landed, my VS team and I were out and about... first to Times Square and then to a meeting with the New York design team! It was so cool to see the other office and meet everyone on the other end. We were filled in on ideas and inspiration for Holiday 2012. Yep! That's right! I've learned in the working world we plan ahead... far ahead! At Victoria's Secret we follow trends, research trends, and create them! It's amazing to see that side of it! We then set out to window shop for inspiration! 

My favorite spread of windows was the Bergdorf Goodman department store... WOW. They so incredibly detailed and unique! Not only were the windows inspirational, but so was the decor indoors! These are some of my favorite windows...

{Chandelier indoor}

I also got to stay the night and was able to see Rockefeller Plaza all lit up with Christmas decor and the Saks Fifth Avenue windows and light show... AMAZING!

I am so incredibly thankful I got to go on this spontaneous little adventure with my design team!! It was so much fun and I am truly lucky to work with some awesome people.

NYC Bound

I've been to New York City before... But never for work so this trip makes it extra special! Who wouldn't want to traipse around the city for inspiration, meet the NY design team, and feel like a city girl for a day! I'm almost more excited to stay over night and gawk at Rockefeller Plaza at night!!! Pictures to follow! Ciao!

Royal Factory Fashion Show

I had the honor to be a part of a new, local boutique fashion show a week ago as part of Gallery Hop! Felicia Jimenez, owner of the store, put together an amazing show that featured her collection of clothing, which is made up of some amazing vintage pieces mixed with her sister's fantastic work! She also featured 3 other local designers. 

One of my VS co-workers is a close friend of Felicia, which is how I got involved in the show! I've never done anything like it before and I am glad to say it was so fun and would totally do it again! Yes, I danced on a competitive dance team but it was with other people on stage with me... walking down a high stage in heels... alone—totally different story! YIKES!! Never fear, I didn't trip, stumble, or fall. PHEW!

Hair and make-up for the show was an all day affair and my hair... WAS AWESOME! It was curled and teased. Of course it was incredibly hard to comb out... but it was crazy cool while it lasted!

Check out Royal Factory's Facebook page :)

behind the scenes

co-workers came to support us!

Meghan & Maria (other VS co-workers in the show) ready to go!

putting on some very red lips

of course drinks were provided to calm everyone's nerves!

there's Felicia on the right, putting some final touches on the outfits

RUNWAY TIME!!!

YEP!!! That's Erin, rockin it!!!

All photography by a lovely VS co-worker, Joey Bumpus!! Check out more of his great work {HERE}

Color fever!

Check out this color shades video by Chanel! Creative and funky!! And naturally I want all of the colors!

Fashion Show

The Fashion Show viewing party was amazing! All set up with a step-and-repeat to photograph in front of... glitter and confetti on the floor... and balloons! All topped off with "bombshell" cocktails! It was for sure a night to remember!

Hope you all got to tune in because it sure was sexy!!!

The sexiest night on tv

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is finally here!! AND It's going to be amazing... aka the "sexiest night on television!"

Tonight I get to watch it with co-workers at a fancy little "pink carpet" event here in Columbus! I literally couldn't be more excited!!!!! Also my friend Catie is coming up from Cincinnati to attend the spectacular event as my lovely date! YAY!

Check out this video of Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" — the VS models lip-sing and have an awesome time dancing like Jagger! It will really pump you up to see them on the runway in t-minus 9 hours!!!! woot woot!!

Also check out VS All Access for info, updates, and the pre-show!

All Smiles

I recently became a pen pal for a third grade student in Columbus and I got my first letter today! I can't stop smiling about it — its just too cute!!

He wrote... and I quote:

dare jaiekie thank you fou holping us lern you rock fou holping us 

you are smart you are cool you are fancey

Ohhhh kids are adorable! And I love that little Ian thinks I am so smart, cool, and "fancey"!!!!

Gobble gobble gobble

Thanksgiving at home was simply divine! I love spending time with my family... especially over a delicious meal!

My baby Nikki!

THE BEST: Christmas Ale before dinner

salad, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and corn bread= perfect turkey day meal!

finish it off with peanut butter pie YUMMY

Love that I am near the lake at home... its beautiful no matter the weather!

Decorating before heading back to Columbus!

Dad, Michael, and Mom

Did you have a fulfilling Thanksgiving!? What were you thankful for?

 First, I am so incredibly thankful for my family and friends :) 

Second, I am thankful for my college experience that led me to an amazing job right after graduation!

Fall time fun

This past weekend was a whirl-wind of fun adventures... a friend from college visited me this weekend, Kelsey! Another friend from UD, Courtney, came over to hang out with us and we had wonderful conversations over lots of wine... we nearly forgot to go out! Saturday we bopped around and ended up at tail-gate that Courtney's boyfriend (also a friend from UD!) put together! It was a lot fun! Kelsey and I had to leave early in time to make it to (co-worker/friend) Krysti's thanksgiving dinner! YUM :) Nothing like a pre-thanksgiving feast with friends! 

Oh and I cannot forget to mention the addition of her lovely blog button to my page — CHECK IT OUT! She's pretty inspired ;)

Oh my... and on Sunday I almost bought a puppy... until I took a step back and decided to think on what a huge responsibility that would be for me right now... still thinking. But right now I'm thinking might have to go back for Dori's precious little face... eek!

Dresses...

Currently on the quest to find the perfect NYE dress! 

Inspiration:

Where can I find these!?

D.A.N.C.E

Pause for inspiration and pure jealousy 

(or amazement, awe, love, envy, joy.... adjectives for these wonderful pictures are endles...)

click here for more <3

Dance is truly an amazing sport and way of life! I danced from about age 3 until almost 20 — at 23 I really miss it! I miss the lifestyle, the constant movement, the passion, the pain of rehearsals but the pure joy of performing all that hard work!!! This post goes out to a special group of ladies... my dancing family — CAD GIRLS from Emjaez Dance Studio in Cleveland Ohio! Most of us are in such different places now... but they will always be family! There are a few are still dancing!! I am so proud of all of you!!!

Rock on girls :)

Monday blues...

I had such a wonderful weekend with my friends! My favorite was Saturday... we went on a beautiful walk on High Street and window shopped after breakfast at Northstar Cafe (yum!). We caught the end of the Ohio State game with some bloody marys at Bernards Tavern, then drove around for a bit so they could see the other highlights of Columbus! We went to dinner for margaritas and more mexican... and after we met up with some new friends on campus!!

Margaret, Sam, Alyssa, me, Catie, and Sarah

Lovely fall walk & drinks!

Night #2 :)

The birthday girls

Strong Margaritas @ Mad Mex!!

Reason #3824 why I love my roommates/friends!!!!

Just up to the usual shenanigans stealing inanimate objects from bars...
This is Brett... right Alyssa!?


Ohhhh yes. It was just wonderful to have them all in one spot again!!! I love you all and thanks for visiting!!
 Missing you guys already Xo