Soccer.

Reminiscing the 0.2 seconds that I played soccer in 1994.

I was the goalie.

I cried when I let the other team score.

I mostly just picked dandelions... and looked adorable.

Obviously.

PS> Can you tell which is me? My sister is on the bottom far right.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.auniesauce.com" title="Aunie Sauce" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m587/ADriflot/Annelise%20Buttons/justbecause.jpg" alt="Aunie Sauce" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Link up ANY post from this week!

Family.

My brother, my mom, me, and my sister.

My dad and his girlfriend.

One of Daniel's brothers, his mom, his dad, me and Daniel .

13 things about my family:

1. I have an 18-year-old brother, and a 24-year-old sister.
2. My dad was an only child, so I have no cousins or aunts and uncles on his end, but four aunts and uncles and countless cousins on my mom's side.
3. I'm really close with my grandparents. Both sets of grandmas and grandpas live in Washington, and my favorite time of year is when I get to see them. I don't see them enough.
4. Daniel's family is pictured above because, really, they're family. I love them. He has two brothers (one not pictured), and his mom and his dad are out-of-this-world cool. When I'm having a bad day, his dad always knows just the right thing to say, and his mom will let me cry on her shoulder until it's out of my system. I appreciate my relationship with them so much. And his youngest brother? He is already like a brother to me. We are best buds.
5. My parents got divorced in 2006, during my freshman/sophomore years of college. I knew it was coming... but it was still a rough transition. My dad and I grew really close during the divorce.
6. My immediate family is all over the place. My mom lives in the suburb next to me to the east. My dad lives about a mile and a half from me, but I only see him about once a week because he likes to travel. He spends every single weekend of the year in either McCall, Idaho (2 hours from Boise) or Palm Desert, California. He and his girlfriend love to golf, relax, and avoid the office. Obviously. My brother lives with my mom and is about to attend Boise State in the fall. I'm so excited that he's not leaving town. My sister lives in Seattle, Washington with her fiance... though I really wished they lived in Boise. Her fiance? He is beyond-awesome. He's also already like a brother. I mean, he reads my blog, he calls me often, and he even notices my hairstyles (what?! awesome!). I couldn't ask for a better almost-brother-in-law.
7. My sister and I went to rival schools, me to Boise State University and her to University of Idaho, and when my brother picked Boise State, I am fairly certain it made my sister cringe with Vandal-blooded hatred. Me, on the other hand? Heck, I just hope he graduates... though seeing his closet grow with those familiar blue and orange hues won't disappoint me a bit.
8. Growing up, we had a beagle named Tally and a miniature schnauzer named Scooter. Tally is still around, though she has no teeth. We love her. Scooter? Bless her. She was a scruffy stray and I loved her to pieces.
9. Our family's last name is Norwegian. It is Driflot. It was originally Drivflaadt, but when my grandpa immigrated through Ellis Island, he came out a Driflot. My dad, my sister, my brother and I are the only Driflots. Ever. Stew-man better do us proud.
10. Daniel's last name is much more simple... and switching from a Driflot to a Rowe will be a very welcome change... eventually.
11. When we hang out with my dad and his girlfriend, we love to play cards. 10 Penny is our favorite. We also usually always play Trivial Pursuit on New Year's Eve. Sometimes, I win... actually, I think I only won once. And it was a grand victory.
12. When we hang out with my mom, we play word games. Catchphrase, Scategories, Balderdash... anything where you can include inappropriate innuendo's seem to be the favorite. You can always tell my mom's answers in Balderdash because they are usually really dirty and very funny.
13. Family is more important to me than anything. More important than my job, more important that my little blog, more important than any TV program, and more important than my own needs. I would do anything for my family.

 ♥

Come link up with me today!

PS→ I'm giving away 5 copies of Hair Care Rehab, the book, on my hair blog Bye Bye Beehive. Go get entered!

Yellow.

Sweater: Thrifted // Pants: Target // Shoes: Steve Madden // Bracelets: c/o Chloe vs. Tank and Payton Woodcraft // Earrings: Christine Marie Studio

Yellow.

Yellow top.

Yellow earrings.

Yellow sun...

I love it. 

Summery, bright, fresh. 

♥

PS> Like my earrings? Enter in this giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to Christine Marie Studio!
PPS> if you're interested in how I got my curly waves (though I added some dry shampoo)... visit this link!

Christine Marie Studio.

Today I have a treat for you.

Christine Marie Studio.

She is sweet, she is a jewelry designer, she is a blogger...

SHE IS FANTASTIC.

But, you don't need me to tell you that.

Why don't you let her tell you?

Oh... and make sure to read all the way to the end, you won't be disappointed!

************************************

Tell us a little about yourself. Don't be nervous, just let it spill, girl! 

I am a farm girl. My parents have property and have lived in the same house for 39 of my 40 years. I was privileged to own 3 horses growing up and we kept them on our property, which means I was up at the crack of dawn, hauling water and carrying for horses. My dad and I shared the barn. He actually had a hydraulic lift installed on one side and he could hoist cars up in the air. I remember there was about a 3 foot path through to the back of the barn, I'd squeeze past shells of old cars and parts with the horses in tow. I do think that is where I get my appreciation of chippy, rusty and good old metal vintage. I think this love is my inspiration when it comes to my jewelry.

The rest in a nutshell - I met my husband when I was 17, married at 20 (20 year anniversary this year!) and kids - a 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I've been a graphic designer for 20 years.


You are SO creative. Where did you learn to make jewelry?
I actually learned to make jewelry at a girl's weekend at the beach - about 3.5 years ago. I am a graphic designer by day - so I think jewelry is an outlet for me to work with my hands. I love paint, patina and texture. I've taken metalsmithing classes, but otherwise I am self taught.

I see you have a blog in addition to your shop, what is your favorite thing to blog about?
Blogging is actually a challenge for me. I feel like I am still finding my "voice". When I do blog, I enjoy talking about the process and where I find inspiration. I like to challenge myself by picking out an outfit and designing something for it. I also love pinterest and have several subjects that I've collected images for and I am looking forward to sharing those.

If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be and why?
Creative - because what I do (jewelry and graphic design) flows naturally from me, it is very effortless, because it is something that is an extension of my true self.  Tall - because I am. Blessed - God has given me a great family, including an extended family of 4 siblings, their spouses, 10 nieces and nephews and parents that have been married for 43 years (and they all live close - I get to see them all the time!).

Anything else you think we should know?
I'm a sucker for rescues. I have 2 rescue dogs, a happy, oblivious pug who was a stray and a sensitive (read grouchy) chihuahua who was abused. I am not allowed to go on petfinder.com, LOL.

*********

AAAnd.... now Christine is offering us something very special!

 First... a coupon code for 20% off... just enter code AUNIESAUCE!

 And...

a $50 gift certificate to her Etsy Shop!~

Enter below using Rafflecopter, and make sure to go say hello to Christine!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Banana Cake.

I just want to preface this post by saying this:

This is probably the ONLY recipe you will ever see on this blog... Maybe.

As I've stated from the beginning... I don't cook. I don't grill. I don't sauté, or stir fry, or whip up anything in the kitchen. But occasionally... I bake.

This past weekend, I made a banana cake (my family's famous recipe) for my brother's high school graduation party. It's basically the only thing I'm good at throwing together, because it's too simple NOT to get it right. So, I figured I may as well share it. Enjoy!

*********************

Aunie's Great Great Grandma's Banana Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups shortening (I use Crisco)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour (can sub gluten-free baking mix if you want!)
• a dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 or 4 very ripe bananas
• Helpful hint: When my bananas get brown, I stick 'em in the freezer. After I accumulate a few (I always use 4 for this recipe), I take them out of the freezer, let them thaw until they're nice and mushy, and then add them to the mix. If they're not mushy and disgusting-looking as your squeeze them out of the totally brown peel... they just won't be as good. Trust me, they'll be gross. I included pictures just to emphasize their icky-ness.

Directions:

1. Cream shortening and sugar
2. Stir in eggs & vanilla, set aside
3. Mix flour and salt, set aside
4. Mash banana with soda, set aside
5. Stir all mixtures together
6. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan or 2 greased loaf pans
7. Bake @ 325 for approximately 45 minutes
1. If you use the "toothpick method" (where you stick a toothpick in the middle and pull it out to see if it's done) make sure it just comes out clean.
8. Frost after it's cooled.
1. My mom prefers this with cream cheese frosting, but I prefer butter cream, vanilla or of course rainbow chip.
2. You can TOTALLY add nuts or chocolate chips if that's your thing. I think they're nasty... so no nuts for me!

This is my mom's favorite cake recipe. She always had it every year for her birthday as a kid. It's definitely MY favorite cake... maybe it's because it's the one I always grew up with... or maybe because it's the only one I know how to bake! 

Enjoy!! ♥

PS> if you're interested in how I got my curly waves... visit this link! It's the Friar Tuck done on dirty hair + dry shampoo + bobby pins... so easy!