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 :)