Really, there is no better way to spend a birthday than at Disney. Especially two years in a row. This year we actually got to go to a park - Jason's parents came along and we enjoyed a day in Hollywood Studios.

We got birthday buttons - my name is misspelled, but who cares?! It's my birthday! Or rather, it was.

Dinner at the Flying Fish cafe was wonderful. We got a cheese plate, were brought some complimentary champagne, and shared a delicious pork tenderloin. People are always thrown when they see my husband I both wearing the 'birthday buttons' - but we're not joking, we are seriously born on the same day, only an hour apart. It's quite awesome.

We picked up some Vinylmation and got the chance to walk around the park to take photos and unwrap them before dinner. My in laws went home to give the pups a long walk - it's great being so close to a theme park.

dress :: anthropologie feline karma dress remixed
sweater :: j crew factory remixed

necklace :: prettypany

shoes :: keds remixed

belt :: ebay remixed (it totally fell off, actually, and i lost it. UGH!)

tote :: sass & peril via fab.com remixed

I like celebrating Christmas with my pets. I enjoy dressing them up in ridiculous reindeer costumes and t-shirts. I like wrapping gifts for them and watching as Raynor tears through the wrapping paper to her toys and Teemo confusedly plays with the still wrapped gift. This take on the grasshopper is done for a reason and requires a bit of Katherine history. My sister always made these yummy mint drinks during the holidays, and younger maybe 12 year old Katherine didn't really get that alcohol should not be fed to dogs. We always gave her dog the bottom of the ice cream and yogurt bowls, so I gave him the bottom of this drink! Oops! So remember - don't actually give this to your pups like silly younger me did. Also, Teemo is trained decently enough to know he wasn't actually allowed to lick the drink and had to wait for the treat in my hand. This is a bright and cheery cocktail to sip on Christmas eve while your pups anxiously await the arrival of Santa Paws.

I swear, these Florida posts are going to go on forever! Well, maybe not, but I kind of do wish that. Celebration has the best restaurants ever! Seito Sushi was a delicious little place - I had a twist on a mojito made with sake to drink, age dashi tofu for an appetizer (a favorite of mine and Jason's - we try it everywhere), and a bento box.

My husband will argue that wearing long sleeves with shorts defeats the purpose. And I whole heartedly disagree with that. It's fairly chilly in the shade in Florida and at night, so this was necessary. Also - I love these colors together.

Raynor was being awesome for these, and Teemo wanted nothing to do with me. Plus, why am I still shooting with a tripod with Jason around? Someone is failing at their husbandly duties.

jacket :: loft remixed

top :: forever 21 remixed

shorts :: target remixed

shoes :: seychelles keep you guessin' remixed

headband :: free people remixed

ring :: kiel mead forget me knot remixed

bag :: sass & peril remixed
necklace :: lulubug jewelry remixed

Everyone, meet Lucy. She is my mother in laws dog. Lucy hates me. Seriously, I love dogs, and 9.5 times out of 10 they love me back, but I am totally this dog's least favorite person. So that's exactly why she looks like she's got her hands up in a surrender. But we've come along way - she doesn't poop on me when I pick her up anymore, she barks at me, and she runs closer to me than ever before. One day, I hope she'll love me. She has an excuse though - she spent two years of her life in a cage in a puppy mill having babies. She was lucky to be rescued and found probably the most loving home ever. She is an amazing dog and has come such a long way from the dog I met 3 years ago who wouldn't leave the corner of the room.

Speaking of pups and pup related things, my friend Sarah of Chic Sprinkles is an amazing designer who has a fluffy white cutie named Coco Bean. Sarah graduated from college with us an is such a talented designer. She worked with Serena of Pretty Fluffy to create an adorable e-book fully of pup recipes and amazingly beautiful images. You can get it for only $12.95 here. Makes me wish I had Lucy around more often because of how photogenic white fluffy dogs seem.

Also - it was nearly impossible to take this shoe photo. She loves Jason a bit though, so he got her to pose.

dress :: anthropologie remixed

sweater :: j crew factory diy-ed remixed

heels :: seychelles clue bootie remixed

necklace & hairpin :: sugarcookie remixed

rings :: modcloth remixed

cuff :: target remixed

tote :: sass & peril via fab.com remixed

I struggled with my first topic for photography tips mostly because I was trying to write posts that dove in too quickly. You see, I have been taking photos for as long as I can remember. I started out with film point and shoot cameras and was the first kid to get a digital point and shoot in my school back in 2000. In high school, I learned my photography basics on a film SLR, and later in 2007, upgraded to my first digital SLR, a Canon Rebel XTi. At some point in time, these terms have become second nature for me to use. But, it's definitely a good place to start. Plus, it will ideally help you to be able to shoot photos with full manual mode - which is the best way to get to know and understand your camera.

This dish was a huge hit at Thanksgiving and the result of a hearty debate over the fact that au gratin potatoes and creamed corn were too similar of dishes to make for sides. Jason argued we needed something different, and alas, the idea of sweet corn risotto came about. I've seen it done before, but this one is a bit different. It's the merger of my creamed corn with a pea and bacon risotto recipe. And it's delicious. It's perfect with turkey or ham or bacon on top, and I am sure you will love it. Oh yeah, and it's vegetarian unless you choose to put that said meat on top. Vegetable stock over chicken stock any day my friends.

Jason graduated! I for sure thought I would end up having to miss his final presentation, but the timing ended up being fine and I got to be there to see his team show off the game they have been working on for the past five months (available here if you are curious). Despite the chilly weather and rain, we still got to go out for a delicious meal and drinks with a friend and celebrate a bit.

This is another dress picked from a Skype date with Jason awhile ago, and I really love how classic the style is. I didn't actually plan to wear a jacket with it, but I am fortunate the one jacket I brought went this well.

jacket :: target remixed
dress :: minuet via modcloth

sweater :: target remixed

heels :: seychelles clue bootie remixed

necklace :: via noto remixed

ring :: kiel mead forget me knot remixed
bracelet :: kate spade remixed

bag :: foley + corinna remixed