wintry dreams.

the ghost of your fingertips brush softly against my skin

every piano note strikes a haunting memory

i yearn for sunlight

for these glittering snowflakes have a piercing beauty

The Land of Nod

For some odd reason, I have found it surprisingly difficult to buy a nice comforter and sheet set for my dorm room. Frustratingly enough, everything I find is either painfully colorful or just completely and sadly... hideous. Ah, what is a helpless college student to do? Luckily, I have been able to turn to Ikea for affordable and stylishly cute and quirky little designs.

But oh! If only I could decorate my dorm room with these beautiful Anthropologie bedding collections...

I wouldn't mind sleeping in all day.

Splendor in the grass

Tell me, how can one not be mesmerized by Zooey Deschanel's sparkling blue eyes paired with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's irresistable charm?

Precisely my point.

:)

À l’école

Call me strange, but I've always loved going to school. Somehow, it always made me happy, and the first day of school was so exciting-- it would keep me up at night for all of my anxiousness. And now, I'm stepping into an even bigger world that's far beyond recess and playgrounds: college. I am still as thrilled as ever; I only wish I used to be as stylishly cute as these adorable kids from J. Crew's Crewcut catalogue. Could I get that in my size, please? Thanks. :)

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And of course, an enormous thank you to Miss Danica Keeley of A Sight To Be Seen for guest blogging while I was away in Europe. She did such a fantastic job! I'm a little busy right now, what with school starting and moving into my dorms, but I will do a travel post as soon as I can! Take care, dears! -Anh

A Tid Bit From Danica

First of all thank you for your warm welcome! It truly touches my heart that you are so sweet ( it doesn't surprise me though since you are followers of this blog ). I went for a long drive yesterday after a hard day and boy does it make me feel liberated! I was blasting MGMT and rocking out on the road and got rid of the stress! Fall, although beautiful can sometimes be the start of a stressful year: New classes, back to school, back to ballet practice or whatever you do. Music is my main way of getting into a better mood...here is an article about how music is good for your health....thought it was interesting. Enjoy darlings!

• Let’s say you’re beyond stressed. Don’t reach for a drink– download some music instead. According to Dr. Michael Miller, from the University of Maryland Center for Cardiology, music triggers the body to release brain chemicals that ease stress and improve blood flow. Dr. Miller’s research found that listening to songs that make you happy relaxes blood vessels by up to 26% - the same result you’d get from 30 minutes of exercise.
• If your back is aching, music can help. Research from the Cleveland Clinic found that people suffering chronic back pain, neck pain or joint pain, who listened to an hour of music daily experienced 21% less pain than those who didn’t listen to music. It works by distracting you from the pain. Don’t forget to bring your iPod to your next dental appointment. A study published in the journal Evidenced-Based Dentistry found that music can reduce the anxiety patients feel when faced with painful procedures, like a root canal.
• Music can also help you go the extra mile when you’re exercising. According to a study done in Britain, people who listen to fast-paced rock or pop songs while on a treadmill exercised for 15% longer than those who didn’t. Why? Because you subconsciously match the pace of the music and are distracted from the effort you’re making.
• Music can also help you wind down and fall asleep. A study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that people who listened to slow-tempo, classical music for 45 minutes in the evening, were able to nod off faster and stay asleep longer than those who didn’t. It works because soft music slows your breathing and heart rate – which helps your body transition into sleep-mode. Iit may take up to threeweeks of listening to music before bed to see results. You’re basically conditioning your sleep response. Once you’re in that zone, music works as well as a sleeping pill, without the side effects.

Happy September!!

Hello! Happy first day of September to you all! I'm Danica from A Sight To Be Seen. I shall be guest posting for a couple weeks...I'm sure you will miss Anh but I will try my best to do her justice. I am so excited for September!!! I noticed the sun went down a lot sooner tonight and it just feels like Fall....such a beautiful feeling. Is there anything you guys are looking forward to this month?

Aren't these pictures lovely? I'm sure Anh would like them. :)

Suitcases, and baggage claims.

Bonjour, mes amies! In just a few short days, dear friends, I am off to explore the wonders of France and Italy! Oh, I just cannot wait to marvel in the romance of Parisien boulevards and merrily cruise along the Venice canals. Ah, but unfortunately, I shall not have the opportunity to blog as I traverse my way across Europe for three weeks; but do not fret, for I have a surprise in store for you! In my place, I have arranged for the lovely and beautiful Danica of A Sight To Be Seen to guest blog here on A Little Yellow Button! I really hope you enjoy her posts; she's witty, and simply fabulous. I really love her; she's the kindest soul. But until then, ciao!

♥

Anh.

Twigs & Honey.

I present to you today the lovely Twigs & Honey brand, created by the Portland-based Myra Callan. She designs the loveliest headpieces and bridal veils for weddings. Are they not just breathtaking?

Birthday wishes coming true.

I truly had the most enjoyable birthday, and I couldn't be more thrilled with all of the beautiful cards and thoughtful gifts I received this year. Would you care to see them? Then keep on reading, dear friends, and prepare yourself for a rather lengthy post! :)

I opened my mailbox a couple days ago, and I found the loveliest surprise: Anthropologie sent their kindest birthday wishes, as well as the most delightful little gift!

What you see above is a 15% discount card for the month of August, as well as a candle necklace that they so cleverly adorned atop of their adorable little cupcake. I don't think that getting mail could have been any more exciting than this! And to top it off, my father came home with some special items bought from Anthropologie (a.k.a. my favorite store on earth): a smart pair of jeans, as well as this gorgeous dress!

The very same day, I received a package in the mail from my very best friend Dorothy! She got me the loveliest little bracelet from Fleur Avenue, and she's such a dear, because she knows how much I adore Paris, let alone anything and everything French. Isn't it just the prettiest little adornment?

And Jake was such a dear for throwing me a party, and he surprised me with a beautiful pot of orchids! They are so very lovely, and they make me smile every single day. :)

And just when I think things can't get any better, my bicycle finally arrived from UPS! With the help of Jake and his professional bicyclist of a father, I now own the cutest bicycle in town. I don't know what I would have done without them; the instructions were simply impossible to follow. Of course, I did have to promise to take Jake out to ice cream.. :)

I don't think I could be any happier right now. I have beautiful friends, with beautiful hearts, and the summer sun just seems to make everything that much better. :)

PS. These pictures were all taken by me, as I'm trying to experiment with photography and whatnot. I've been so inspired by all of the amazing photography in the blogging world; I thought I would give it a shot even though I know I simply cannot compare. Of course, I'd love to hear your comments and feedback! :)

Back to the beginning.

Once upon a time, there lived a little girl named Anh. Although she was generally a joyful and happy person, she still felt slightly lost and needed some direction in her life. One day, she looked for inspiration to take her senior portraits and stumbled upon the lovely Micaela from The Drifter and the Gypsy. Never before had she seen such beauty in life. Suddenly, she felt brand new and happy beyond belief. Although new and shy to the vast community of bloggers, Anh decided that, she too, could create a blog, and inspire others to remember the beauty of the world. So thanks to a little bit of pixie dust and the ever-so-thoughtful Micaela, A Little Yellow Button was born. And of course, happy stories never have endings, right? :)

What inspired you to start your blog?

I know I promised to post pictures from my birthday celebration, but I had some unfortunate troubles with my camera, so I ended up not being able to take pictures at all! But here are some pictures of Jake and I from April when I did my senior portrait session with his mother. Enjoy!

Let's make a splash.

"If I want to be alone,

some place I can write,

I can read,

I can pray,

I can cry,

I can do whatever I want--

I go to the bathroom."

-ALICIA KEYS

Ah. Doesn't that quote make you smile? Maybe because, secretly, you'd like to admit that it's true for you as well! :) As I speak right now, my bathroom is being demolished right before my eyes. But do not despair, for a bathroom renovation is about to take place! Yes, it's very, very exciting. Oh, I cannot wait for the finished product, and the project has barely even begun!

Thank you so, so much for all of your warm birthday wishes and kind, thoughtful comments! They definitely made me feel special and added a bounce to my step. :) I had a very nice birthday celebration with my family on Sunday, and Jake is actually hosting me a birthday party at his house this afternoon since my own house is currently under-going these minor alterations.. I will be sure to post pictures of my evening of celebration!

Pray tell, what are your plans for this week?

Seventeen Going On Eighteen

Ah, yes. I am celebrating my birthday this Sunday, on August 1st! It's so hard to believe that I'm actually turning eighteen; it's still such a puzzling thought to me! All of my friends are going to be out of town, so I'm thinking about going bowling with my parents and then spending the evening at a nice restaurant for dinner. But, oh! If only I could have a grandiose summer party, and decorate with splendor! Now wouldn't that be exciting? Above I have enclosed a photo of something quite genius: a French macaroon croquembouche! While normally a croquembouche is made using cream puffs, I thought it was just a splendid idea to use the whimsical colors of the macaroons to play it up a bit. Isn't it just darling? If I were to have a party, I would wish to have it look something along these lines:

Wouldn't it be lovely? :)

Une Petite Ville Qui S'appelle Davis.

I visited the charming city of Davis, California over the weekend with my lovely friend Sheeva and her husband Chris. Since I'm going to school there in the fall, they gave me a tour of the campus and the downtown area. I must say: I have fallen in love with the quaint little stores and the endless rows of bicycles. Did you know that Davis is known as the bicycle capital of America? I believe that the bicycle population in Davis outnumbers that of cars! I haven't gone bicycle-shopping quite yet, but I can't wait! As I was walking along the tree-lined streets, I spotted the most adorable little boutique called Pinkadot. Isn't the name just darling? I ended up purchasing the Lollia perfume that you see above. It's such an enchanting fragrance-- flowering willow and lotus. And I just love the scripty, romantic bottle design.. Ahh, pretty fragrances, pretty boutiques, pretty trees.. All in a pretty town. Oh, I just can't wait for school to start. :)

Apologies smothered in hunny.

I sincerely apologize for my lengthy, and rather inexcusable, leave of absence of late! I have missed my friends here, and I know that I have been absent to learn of some rather exciting news from a few fellow bloggers! Rest assured, I am here to stay now, and will try but my very best to stay recent and updated. Do forgive me, please! And if you are wondering what I have been occupied with lately, I will admit that I have been frustrated with the layout of my blog.. I needed a space that would inspire me, and I was going frantic after months of searching for the "right" one. So thank you, oh-so-much, Danica Keeley, as well as Yummy Lolly, for getting me back up on my feet! You are so inspirational!

I simply adore this quote. I was reading the original story of Winnie the Pooh on my dad's iPad the other night, and I couldn't help but fall in love with that bear! I think what makes him so irrestistable is his innocent nature-- he has such a sweet and naïve disposition. Doesn't it make you smile, too?

Today I went to the state fair with my friends, and I was astonished to learn that a bumble bee only lives a mere forty days old! I've always been partial to bumble bees—they are delightfully fun to doodle along with their spontaneous flying paths; I just never realized how fleeting their lives were! While at the fair, my adventurous friends discovered a food vendor specializing in exotic meats, and we ended up chipping in to pay the astounding $8 price tag for a skewer of alligator meat. After twenty minutes of watching the vendor constantly shake seasoning and sauce onto the meat, he hands us a very tiny, very disappointing skewer wrapped in aluminum foil. Needless to say, it was a very sad and pathetic-looking little skewer. Unfortunately, we definitely did not get our money’s worth, as the meat was rubbery and tasteless, and it desperately needed a good pinch of salt; this was hard to believe, considering we watched the vendor pour seasoning like rain… But the experience was definitely one to remember; I can guarantee that none of us will ever, ever forget that hilarious moment of peering down at that awfully sad little stick of meat.

Fancy a riddle?

Dear readers,
do you think you can solve my riddle? :)

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Tall I am young,

Short I am old,

While with life I do glow,

One's breath is my foe.

1 2 3

The birthday boy.

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY,
Snow Pea!

:)

What a cutie he is...

Fine thoughts, indeed.

"Just l i v i n g is not enough,"

said the butterfly.

"One must have s u n s h i n e,

freedom,

and a little flower."

--Hans Christian Anderson

 

one;;two

Class of 2010

I did it! I graduated high school-- would you believe it?

I plan to spend this summer making lots of new memories

and sharing laughter with my friends.

It's hard to imagine that everyone is going off

in their own separate ways..

It's so interesting to think that I won't see the

same classmates everyday, roaming about in the hallways..

But here's to the next, new chapter of my life!

I am so excited to go to UC Davis;

I just can't wait to go off to college!

My parents are planning to get me a bike so I can

go to all of my classes on campus..

I'm thinking yellow, with a basket:

What do you think? :)

photo  sources unknown

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6.28pm

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The moments before we graduated;

don't we look excited?

:)