Cincinnati Vacation

Last year around this time we were losing our minds & needed a change of scenery. We didn't care where we went as long as we could afford it. My husband booked us a night at a hotel in downtown Cincinnati & we planned to drive down, stay the night, & go to the Newport Aquarium the next day (baby Ara only took interest in the fish at the Zoo so might as well spend a whole day with them). 

BEST. IDEA. EVER.

So good that we participated in a Silent Auction and bid on a one night stay at one of the nicer hotels in Downtown Cincy (& won!) Wait... it gets better... they never sent us our vouchers... (ok bad at first).... then when I called they apologized & got us TWO nights at a downtown hotel. We booked mid November because we knew that after Highball we all needed to get away. A little earlier in the season (so no ice skating or scuba santa), but we still had a lovely weekend (even with a Toddler)

Here are some of the highlights:

Our Hotel Was Gorgeous! (The Downtown Cincinnati Westin)

Miss Ara Finds Her Spot

Ara Still LOVES the Aquarium

She ran around, looked at fishies, played with the Christmas lights (all part of the experience), tapped all kids within touching distance just to let them know she was there, squealed in delight, fussed (almost tantrum) for another girl's doll & was completely exhausted afterwards. #wewon

This wheel part of an educational display in the Penguin
area entertained her the better half of an hour.

Ara watches as Mr. Penguin shows off (totally just for her) by diving in over & over again

Pooper Down!

Ooo & I got to take some pretty fishy pictures:

Photo By: Me, My Iphone & Instagram

Woohoo! Caught up to Mid-November!

Highball Halloween 2014

So apparently I have fallen off of the face of the planet since Highball 2014! Well I'm about to try and play catch up during the rest of December!

So let's start with the reason I've been so derailed: Highball Halloween 2014:

This year I teamed up with Ashley Wills (Fellow Stella & Dot Stylist, Costume Designer & Blogger StyleOnHigh). She double majored at The Ohio State University while I  made it though my Master of Fine Arts. She was definitely the PERFECT teammate for me! She curbed my "more is more" philosophy with her keen editing eye & as a result of our excellent collaboration: WE WON!!!

Photo By Tony Bentivegna

Our "theme" if you will was "Dolled Up". The collection featured 3 ready wear looks: a ragdoll, ballerina & harlequin, as well as, our giant costume couture conjoined twins who had a puppet theatre for a skirt upon which played (can you guess?!) a ragdoll, ballerina & harlequin.

Ragdoll Kristin Laymon
Photo By: Jerry Jay Johnson

Ballerina Angela Darr,
Photo By: Mandy Moore

Harlequin Wendy Jobes Hartman
Photo By: Tony Bentivegna

Twins: Jessica Rose & Abby Bowman
Photo By: Robert Walker

There have been a TON of pictures on Facebook but here are a few of my favorites: 

Photo By Mandy Moore

Photo by Jerry Jay Johnson

Photo by Jerry Jay Johnson

Photo By Tony Bentivegna

As part of advertising for the event I was on the news! Which was HUGE (well to me lol) I was so nervous but am happy with how it went :)

Me on the News!

Our looks will be featured again LIVE on New Years Eve! Via this crazy event!

Proceeds from ticket sales go to support CMH Fashion Week, who has spearheaded the local fashion craze!
...Mix, mingle, enjoy a night of fashion, food, wine & musical performances!!Hurry and get your tickets now, as they have sold out quickly in the past!TICKET PRICES --> NYECircusBurlesque.eventbrite.com-Couple's Ticket ($60)-Individual Ticket ($35.28)

We might even have our costumes out again at various events throughout the year! It is kind of crazy (and exciting!) Whew! now that I've blogged about it... maybe I can move on to EVERYTHING else that has been happening since October :)

Settling In One Room at a Time: Ara's Room

I've been meaning to post this for some time now... I wanted to take a picture with the party poofs Davida helped me hang this summer... but eh... maybe later... Right now I just want to post my baby's cute room! Enjoy:

Style Me August: 31 Days of Instagramming

So my good friend & fellow blogger, Ashley of Style On High introduced me to Miss Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society and her daily style challenges for August. I signed up with my email & each Sunday I would get a week's worth of fashion inspiration.

So at first I was like, oh this will be so much fun! Don't get me wrong it definitely has been! Somewhere along the way, though I decided that I was going to do it EVERY day of the month! Not only because it was fun to see all the other ladies posting but also I felt better because I was taking the time for myself each day. That's right people! I am saying that this Mama has showered 31 days in a row! I also got to show off my Stella & Dot goodies!

Below is my Style Me August collage but feel free to follow me on Instagram (shireehouf). Beware I also post lots of pics of le babe, zoo animals & other randomness.

So I just found out/got the email starting Style Me September! Going 30/30! Wish me Luck!

Oh Davida: College Friend Visits for Summer

Many of you already know, but my dear friend Davida came into town and stayed for the summer... Below are some pics of our crazy times that surely would just NOT have been the same... or really happened without her around. I'm sure she is already enjoying her child-free young adult life again, but I already MISS her tons and most certainly have not been nearly as productive around the house without her to entertain Ara.

Fountains @ Bicentennial Park

Outdoor Concert in Grandview

Hair Did @ Paul Mitchell School 161

Miami U Reunion

Miami U Reunion

Houf Garage Sale

Zoo!

Scared of Fire @ Hibachi Steakhouse

Ready for 4th in Granville

Free Art Museum Sunday

Fixing the Arctic @ Zoo

Fun in Hebron

Benny Ben Ben & New BF

Columbus Commons Outdoor Concert

Yoga @ the Zoo

Closest to the Kangaroo

Peeling a Cucumber for Stella & Dot Trunk Show

All Styled Up in Stella & Dot

@ Edith Head Exhibit in Lancaster

I love & miss the fabulous (& loud) you. I'm already looking forward to our next time together (even though I don't know when it will be).

TopHats Or Tiaras: Gender Reveal Party!

This is Jessica & Moctar
They Love Each Other :)

Jessica & Moctar (good friends of mine) decided to throw a Gender Reveal party & my dear friend Davida & I were her hands & feet to get it done. (She pointed out pics on Pinterest & we said "Yes Ma'am!" & Thanks to me being a member at Capital City Church & Jessica's parental units' funding: I'd say we threw quite the bash :)

The Invitation :)

My Dear Friends: Moctar, Jessica, Henna & Baby (Hidden)

Pano of the Room

TopHats or Tiaras?!

Davida Knew (She had to give the note to our Baker at Crumbz Cakery)
She gets her own spotlight pic b/c I had to crop her out of the cake cutting pic.

The Gorgeous Cake from Crumbz

Cutting in as a Family :)

YAY! I WAS TEAM TIARA!

Photo Booth Fun

Besties for Life :)

Having Fun :)