2016 goals

even though i know it is well into 2016 at this point, i wanted to take the time to nail down the goals that i wanted to set for myself this year. i thought about breaking them up into different categories, but i think i will just put them out here in one place.

Via
(google image search)

1. health/fitness routines: i know this is something basically everyone has on their list of 'resolutions', but it is still one of mine. i started going to bootcamp at 5:30am and my goal for this year is to make that a true part of my routine - i want/need to be going everyday (ideally), but on those weeks that i need a break, 4 times/5 days. Also, in terms of food, i want to make better habits for myself. better portion control, and smarter choices overall. i'm on my way there, but i want to stick with it and not "fall off the wagon".

2a. waste less - both food and non-food items: i feel like i always end up throwing so much food away that i purchased at the grocery store. my goal for this is to not only write down my list each week so i hopefully purchase less (if goal #1 is acheived, it should be a relatively similar list each week) but also use up the items i do buy before going back to the store. i have a small condo and not a lot of storage space.

2b-as a subgoal - i also want to use up all of the random products i have accumulated - or toss them. it is just clutter taking up the previously mentioned little space that i have. use it or toss it, nikki. it's time.

3. save more: my goal is to put at least $250 from each paycheck into savings -- more on the weeks that i don't pay rent! but at least $250. after living in chicago, i did a poor job of putting money into savings, and i need to build that up!

4. embrace minimalism: i have too much stuff. it starts to pile up and literally drive me crazy. my goal is to go through my entire condo, room by room, and set aside things to throw away and things to donate. there is no need to have 9 pairs of jeans when i only wear 3, and even of those 3, i like none of them. throw them away so that i have room for new jeans that i LIKE!  (hopefully in a size or two smaller, see goal #1 :) )

5. TRAVEL!: you didn't think i would leave that out, did you? i don't know where yet, nothing really in the works, but something!  [mlc] and i have already started talking about potential spots for this year: boston (never been), san fran (for a friends milestone birthday, and we have never been together), hawaii (<3), probably florida again?  tbd...
(2017 travel has already started coming together..  looks like it will be machu picchu april 2017! :) )

That's all... 5 hopefully achievable things for me to focus on this year!

friday favorites - #1

here i am again, another friday... another post. today i am switching it up and linking up with heather at life in leggings. i've been following heather's blog, life in leggings, for a few months now, and yesterday i actually went to her workout class with a friend of mine who has been going for awhile! online world and offline worlds collide! Life in Leggings combines two of my favorite things: healthy living and detroit!

[fitness]

• as mentioned above, i went to a new 'gym' but it is honestly more like a personal training session! it was exactly what i needed and i am going to start going regularly! i have a gym membership that i am going to cancel - i think of every excuse not to go. it was my first real workout since my long hiatus due to sacrolitis and sciatica. i finally got an injection and it has been better since. i think i am going to have to work yoga into my routine as well.. i really don't want it to come back!

• also just started the 21 day fix. i'm really hoping it helps with my portions and just better food choices overall! also looking forward to incorporating these 28ish minute workouts into my routine!

[beauty/fashion]

• i'm always on the lookout for a good shampoo/hair products that don't dry out my hair and help me tame my mane with minimal effort (especially in the summer!). i recently tried and have been using hair food shampoo and conditioner.  i started with the clarifying shampoo and the moisturizing conditioner. i don't think my hair has felt so clean ever, and one of the best parts is that i have to wash it way less now!  the smell is also amazing... 

via
ps. i am not paid for this nor is it an affiliate link. i just really like this product.

• everyone and their sister has been talking about stitch fix lately. i usually have SUCH a hard time buying clothes (i am never one size... i am so across the board that whenever i want to try clothes on, i have to try on like 16 things to get one that fits). should i bite this bullet and give it a try? decisions.

[random]

• um... can we talk about this for a second? michigan's first 'glamping' resort? this is the way i would want to camp. and it's in one of the best places - northern michigan (right by Torch Lake for anyone who is familiar!). their accommodation options include tree house, vintage RV, yachts, airliners .... and they let you customize with different amenities like meals per day, what size beds you want in each room, if you want cots or beds, etc. such a fun way to camp! my body is too old for a sleeping bag on the ground! i

accommodation options - via 

i think i would choose safari tent! -- via 

• this compilation of dogs waking up to their favorite treats. how about that for a smile on a friday?

• this guy always hits the nail on the head! this week's episode: why clothes shopping is the worst.  why am i a size mouse at gap, and walrus at H&M? all i want is the same size potato sack to cover this monstrosity wherever i go. (see above: stitch fix debate

alright, i think that is it for me! tonight, [mlc], my parents and I are going to BrewHaHa at the Joe Louis arena, and we get to try foods from different restaurants around detroit and michigan beers, and Fowling! Fowling is basically bowling with a football, and i don't think it has made it out of the detroit area yet! you throw instead of a roll a football down at 10 bowling pins and try to knock them all down. it is apparently harder than it sounds! other than that, not a whole lot planned for the weekend - so happy about it! i love these weekends that i can just go with the flow. 

five on friday

well another week has come and gone! and another week that i didn't really blog... i'm basically a failure! in my defense, it has been a really busy week, but hopefully i can get inspired/motivated to blog more. i'm just really glad it is the weekend -- i really need some sleep!

linking up with april this week for another 'five on friday' -  here are the top five things on my mind this week:

[one]
last week i took my italy photos over to my friend's house to show her because she had just gotten back from italy as well! i had all of my photos on my external hard drive (because i took 1200...) and they are shot in raw, so the file size is HUGE. well.. her cat went crazy at one point and sped out on to the patio and hit the cord, sending my hard drive flying and crashing to the ground. we both literally stared at it.. like DID THAT JUST HAPPEN? well, it did. it wouldn't turn on... she insisted that i leave it with her to get fixed. i feel bad too! but i really really REALLY hope that it can be recovered. all of my pictures from 2001 and beyond are on that drive. what this did inspire me to do is buy a second hard drive. ha. i'm sure it will be a good investment, because i plan to take a lot more pics and i'm sure with the size of those photos, it will start to fill up!

[two]
celebrating my cousin's bachelorette party last weekend was a blast. exhausting, but a ton of fun! it was fun to meet a lot of her friends, but even more fun to hang out with my frusins all weekend (for those of you who don't know, frusin = friend + cousin).

it was a really fun weekend! roadtripping with my sister to the west side of michigan - south haven. we got there friday and set things up and got things ready for the rest of the group to arrive. saturday morning, we had mimosas and homemade breakfast sandwiches, took a quick stroll around town (it was HOT - summer has finally arrive in the mitten state!), got a fancy coffee, and headed to the beach. then the storm rolled in and we headed back for apps/drinks before we hit the town! fun night. sunday was brunch (lots of beverages - water, coffee, bloody mary - necessary.) and a little shopping before we all departed.

the awesome little beach house we stayed in | little collage of the cute decos/mimosa bar! \ me and my sister at dinner
there were 3 jessicas at this party (my sis being one of them) and they all happened to sit on the same side of the table at dinner.. with me! Jess sandwich!| brunch on sunday with lots of beverages was  necessary. |
mini beers - cheers to babs! (also my sis in the top right - really showing that mini beer who is boss!) | cousins in lake MI

[three]
i am completely overwhelmed by all of the candidates, and really just the 2016 election overall. luckilyy i came across i side with, a site that helps you find out which candidate your beliefs align with. i am going to keep my personal beliefs off this blog, but it definitely was a site that was helpful in both knowing the issues, and finding out who believes what!

[four]
lately, i have been seeing 12:34 on the clock a lot. like seriously, every single day. sometimes twice... it is starting to get a little interesting, for lack of a better word. i don't really know if i should be creeped out or what!

i did just find this info , which helps me put my mind at ease that it is not necessarily negative but could be positive :) i'm not always into horoscopes/numerology/astrology etc, but the regularity in which i see this number has made me wonder...

don't mind the pin it button... it wouldn't go away!
via

[five]

finally finished editing ALL of the sessions i did the weekend before i left! ideally i would have had them all done before i left for italy, but that was not at all realistic in this case! and then the unforeseen issue with the hard drive, i had to start over for one set. the only good part of that is that i took a lightroom webinar yesterday and learned a bunch of new tricks so i got to use some of them on those new edits! 

here are a few of my favorites!

these two kids seriously crack me up! so much love for them!

Looking forward to this weekend! hopefully being productive and relaxing!! one wedding shower, a pedicure, and other than that i am free to do anything i want! 

have a summery weekend!

five on friday

linking up with April for five on a friday this week. it's definitely been a weird week so i am going to keep it kind of light on the blog. here are a few things that are on my mind today!

[one]
This guy.  I seriously cannot even handle it. i laughed so many times. "my new weekly show where i get drunk at my desk and then complain about stuff!" -- WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THIS?!

"brunch is not a meal. brunch is a battle. and i am winning."

"when people say 'I'm going for a dip' when they are going swimming. What? what are you, a chip?"

 i just love this guy. 

[two]
i am going on a spending frost. It's not a freeze but it is going to be a frost. if i ever want to buy a house, i need to stop spending money. however, with this next few weeks its going to be a little tough [(showers, bachelorette parties, weddings, oh my.) I am standing up in wedding #22 and then I am retired. sorry, single friends. ] [also i am not bitter but i am tired.]

Wait, back to the frost. I am working on outlining my guidelines and then i will be posting about that next week!

[three]

i am starting the 21-fix next week. i am excited/nervous/scared but mostly excited. I am in major need of a reset! I have been eating like crap since returning come vacation.  wish me luck -- i will need it!!

[four]

umm after i wrote number three, i am now majorly stressing about the next 12 weekends. i love my friends and i love my family but WHOA.  I have 14 wedding/baby related events in the next 13 weeks (counting this weekend). i'm tired and broke just thinking about this! i am definitely going to need this frost/freeze after this. 

i have a feeling this is going to be me at my desk for the next 14 weeks...

[five]

not that i am going to have any time to watch it, but any netflix/amazon prime tv binge watching recommendations? HBOgo is also an option.  i don't have cable so basically rely solely on these services. I have a few things going (currently watching: ALIAS, Entourage) but I like to switch it up now and then!  (seriously though, why haven't i watched either of these shows previously?!)

 [side note - i can't handle the Ben/Jen news, so i am choosing to ignore/pretend it isn't happening.]

That's all i got! heading out soon to drive to South Haven Michigan to celebrate my cousin- bee-boppin' BABS bachelorette! 

buongiorno!

well, it is over. my trip that i have been anticipating for so many long months has come and gone.

it sucked.



just kidding, it was so incredible and amazing! what sucks is that it is over. i got home a couple weekends ago, and i think i was procrastinating on writing this post because i didn't want it to be over!

i completely fell in love with the family members that we met while we were over there... i only wish i got to stay that third week with them at their home in vistrorio, with my mom, aunt, and cousin. the food, the wine (ohhh the wine!), the amazing views.... i could go on and on :)

i still have to go through all 1200 (800 camera, 400 phone!) of my pics but i plan to share those... (at least some of those)... a little later!  i still have a few client sessions to edit, and am forcing myself to finish those before i move on to my italy pics! for now, some highlights of my two week trip in my most favorite place on earth: italia!
(all photos below taken with my iphone 6)

just some art on the airplane - to show my love for traveling. watching that sunset from the airplane was a pretty good start to the trip. 

looking over cortona (the village we stayed in for the first week) as a storm rolls in. we spent the next few hours at the lions well pub in town! the only day it really rained was this first full day we were there. not too shabby. and of course, it was beautiful!

day trip to perugia, italy 

lorenzo and i teaching each other our native languages (<3 him) 

walking around the winery in tuscany 

best pizza!

my morning view from our villa on the second week in conca dei marini

and as we learned on day one from lorenzo (pictured above!): Saluti tutti! (cheers to all)

one of our last nights in the amalfi coast, enjoying some vino on the patio!

so until next time.... saluti tutti! 

just for fun | children photography

recently i have had the pleasure of photographing my friend michelle's two little ones. My photography class went on our weekly field trip to a local park near her house and I told her she should meet us there! They came up after dinner, and I was able to get a few nice shots before the sun went down! Olivia is a little ham, and loves to smile and pose, and Owen loves to run away from the camera, which makes it fun and interesting!

(It's amazing how fast their facial expressions change!)

I had a couple more shoots this past weekend! I will share more photos soon!

Friday, I love you!

Another work week has gone by, and this Friday is even a little sweeter, because of the long weekend! Though I truthfully don't have any major plans this weekend, I am very much looking forward to early close today and a day off on Monday! Hopefully having no plans means we can just go with the flow and do whatever we feel like doing in the moment!

Here are a few of my Friday thoughts, and favorite things from around the web this week!

• THREE WEEKS from today, I will be taking the trip of a lifetime to Italy with 20 of my closest family members. (ha!!) We are going to Italy for over two weeks - Staying in Tuscany the first week, and the Amalfi Coast the second week, in gorgeous villas. Excited is definitely an understatement -- this trip has been consuming my every thought for weeks now!  My extensive plans include: drinking wine, eating delicious Italian food, exploring little Tuscan villages off the beaten path, taking as many pictures as possible, drinking more wine, going on wine tours, learning some Italian, and visiting a bunch of the villages along the Mediterranean coast.  If anyone has any "can't miss" recommendations, please let me know! (Also in Florence/Rome, because we will be spending a day in each of those cities as well!)
  
  images: via//via//via

• On that note, I had my cortisone injection into my SI joint yesterday - the bottom of my spine essentially. I REALLY hope this helps relieve the pain I've been having for 8+ months and don't have any trouble in Italy walking around!  I was definitely the youngest person in that hospital - by like 35 years! Ha.
• Healthiest Cities in America - Love that Minneapolis (former home!) is #2 on this list! But, not shocking that there are a ton of California cities on this list...
• This list.  This made me laugh a lot, and get verrryyyy nervous for the future.
• This video is so incredibly sweet! Warms my heart.
• Spring Panzanella recipe on V for Veggies.  I LOVE all of Vanessa's recipes that she posts on this site, and this one is no different! And her pictures of her food and food prep - I love her style! Can't wait to try this recipe!
• Like I need another reason to drink coffee!! :)

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend!