2015.

Without a doubt, my most exciting year yet.

WINTER // binge watching Scandal, LA adventures, seven year anniversary, Rifle Paper Co pop up, tending to my herb garden, bike riding, painful endo days, applied to the CEC for surgery, my first season with a capsule wardrobe, endo marching at home, frequent beach visits.

SPRING // got the call from the CEC that I was approved for surgery, started house hunting, taryn and matt got engaged, easter with the family, weston's first ultra marathon in san diego, saw the bird and the bee, got proposed to, tallest man show, browsed bridal magazines and got a lot of manicures. ;)

SUMMER // engagement fiesta, shopped for my third capsule wardrobe, annual palm springs trip, Hard Day's Night at cinespia, bought my wedding dress, made a 4th of july cake, beach goodbye party, traveled to atlanta, had my second endo surgery, daily walks two times a day, got the teaching job in transitional kindergarten, prepped my new classroom.

FALL // three beautiful bridal showers, turned 25, taryn's bachelorette weekend, bought our first home, my bachelorette pj party, lots of painting and home renovations, disneyland with weston, annual turkey trot on thanksgiving, got married, traveled to san francisco, napa, and yosemite on our honeymoon, wedding reception, hung christmas lights with dad and nolan, spent our first christmas at the new house.

I don't think I'll ever have a year that means as much to me as this one.
Happy New Year to all of you and as always, thank you for reading!
xo

2014 // 2013

2014.

Traveled to Palm Springs, Big Sur, Portland, Seattle, Carlsbad, and Lake Tahoe.

Got promoted from Assistant to Teacher.

Checked an item off the bucket list when I went to Paul McCartney's concert.

Raised awareness for endometriosis (and felt more supported than ever) when friends worldwide went #yellowforendo in March.

Celebrated a sixth year in love with Weston, my 24th birthday, Mom and Dad's 30th year of marriage.

Saw fireworks from an airplane on the 4th of July, my name and blog mentioned on the Huffington Post, three new doctors, snow falling, Hard Days Night in theaters, Pomplamoose stage diving, many gorgeous sunsets and a whole lotta love.

May the next one be even better.

Happy New Year!

Snapshots.

This is a hefty catch-up post. 

I didn't realize it'd been so long since I shared about the little stuff, but these pictures go all the way back to October! 

I never really mentioned anything about my birthday here, but a few days before turning 24, I got signed into Disneyland to spend a marvelous day running around the park with Weston. I was not feeling well on my actual birthday, but celebrating beforehand definitely made that less disappointing. Just gotta seize the good moments! The following weekend, my family took me out to a fancy movie theater (by accident, haha). We had driven out to Newport Beach to visit one of my favorite restaurants for a belated birthday meal and afterwards opted for a movie at a local theater which ended up being one of those places with leather reclining seats, wine service during your movie, ice cream at the concession stand and mints handed to you on your way out… I think it was the best accident ever!

please excuse the creepy lip biting going on below. teacup spinning is serious business.

On Thanksgiving, my family joined Weston's for our 3rd year at the annual 5K Turkey Trot. It is always my favorite way to kick off Thanksgiving morning before Weston and I start cross-town dinner hopping. This year, Weston's family celebrated at Mountain Lakes which was a beautiful setting for our first Thanksgiving meal of the day.

Everything was so bright and yellow! :)

The day after Thanksgiving, my family met up with Weston's again to see The Fab Four - a Beatles tribute band. I didn't have many expectations about the show but they blew me away! You can really tell how hard they've worked to master each of the Beatles' mannerisms and characteristics and they sounded great. I feel like I kept wanting to rub my eyes to be sure they weren't really up there. Loved it!

And the next morning, as you know, we left for Tahoe. I've already shared plenty of pictures from our trip but here's a few more iPhone shots just for good measure… 

loved our hotel! the decor was just too cute.

After a rough endo flare earlier this month that kept me in bed for a while after our trip, my life has been Christmas shopping, baking, wrapping, parties, teaching, diy projects, and fun traditions. Going-going-going! But enjoying (almost) every minute of it. ;) 

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

// follow along on instagram : @kelleoh //

Snapshots of Summer.

Sunrise yoga at the park. Carlsbad. Acai bowls. Hiking with the girls. Beach days. Big Sur. Sunflowers. Barbecues. Backyard movie nights. Lighter hair. Live jazz at LACMA. Portland & Seattle. The World Cup. Gluten-free fruit pies. Outdoor brunch. The Begin Again soundtrack. Bike rides at the beach. Swimming. Gelato. Slack-lining. Sangria. Bocce Ball. Disneyland...

Just a few of the things that will forever remind me of these past few months and this busy, beautiful summer.

The greatest highlight of my summer (and/or life) was the fulfillment of my lifelong dream to see Paul McCartney in concert. He was fantastic - a true performer in every sense of the word and every bit as cheeky and hilarious as he was back in the Beatles days. Overcame my Beatlemania (pictured below) and enjoyed the show, singing as loud as I could during Hey Jude, while holding hands with the man who introduced me to Paul while I was still in utero via headphones on my mom's belly. Thanks for making me a fan, Pop.

follow along on instagram : @kelleoh

Snapshots.

Just some iPhone pictures from the last few months.

laguna beach for my grandma's 86th birthday // bike riding // disneyland

dripp with maya // rooftop lounge with jess

mom & dad's surprise party // view from our big sur hotel

big sur trees // dinner at nepenthe

instagram : @kelleoh

Snapshots.

A few iPhone pictures from the last few months.

I've been making an effort to go to the beach more often lately. One of my newer doctors recommended swimming in ocean water as a way to absorb extra magnesium and walking on wet sand to balance my body's electrons. She definitely offers some of the most far fetched suggestions I've ever heard, but if my doctor wants me to make weekly beach visits to feel better, then gosh darn it, get in the car! It's for my health! ;)

Got a chance to see Wes Anderson's latest film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, last week and it was just fantastic! I feel like I enjoy most of his newer movies more than his older ones, though I don't know if that's a very popular opinion. Moonrise Kingdom is my favorite from him. Which one is yours??

Yellow for Endo turned out to be wonderfully successful. So many kind people took the chance to talk with their friends, families, and social media followers about this condition... It even became an international affair, with participants in Africa, the UK, and Spain! Thank you so much to everyone who joined the conversation and informed even just one person about the affects of endometriosis. We made a change that I am so thankful for and very proud of. Later that week I got to follow along online as the Million Women March took place in DC and amidst all of this, I finally started feeling like maybe there is an end to this battle within our reach which is so uplifting and exciting.

And last week, Weston and I played tourist in LA which always has to end with a visit to the top of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Because it's just pretty and fun and tradition.

Looking Back @ 2013.

This year wasn't the easiest, but it was probably the most life changing year I've ever had.

At the beginning of 2013, I made this list of goals. They were relatively basic and some of them were silly, but I accomplished only 3/10. I didn't learn how to keep sunflowers alive in my garden. I didn't travel out of state. I didn't see Paul McCartney in concert. I'm still afraid of bees.

But I took care of some goals that I didn't even know I had. A lot of them. Big ones.

After nine years, I got an accurate diagnosis for my pain. I learned the difference between letting my endometriosis define me and letting it be part of my identity. I started working with Pre-K students at an amazing school, fell in love with that age group, and finished the Early Childhood Education classes that I needed to teach a class of my own someday.

I was tested for allergies and made a lifestyle change bigger than I ever could have imagined I'd be willing to make. Started an intense diet that eliminated gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and potatoes from my diet. I learned how to make a healthy, hearty smoothie. Fell in love with spinach. Started bike riding and furthered my yoga practice at a studio that feels like home. Started switching over to natural beauty products and even started making products of my own at home.

My brother graduated high school. Three of my friends became mamas. I had my first surgery. Saw three concerts that I'd been praying for. Wished one of my best friends well as she moved to San Francisco. Participated in another 5k. Took two little trips and had a big one fall through.

I realized how much I appreciate my family and Weston's support through my illness when they were all across the country during one of the most painful weeks of my life. It was was the lowest part of my year and a learning experience that I'll never forget. Having to call my neighbor at 5:30 am when I couldn't get out of bed and needed my pain medicine and had nobody else to help me. It was incredibly humbling and slapped me across the face with a renewed and deep appreciation for the way Weston and my family care for an support me throughout my health struggles. I couldn't do it without them.

I also had one of the happiest weekends of my life when Weston and I took a last minute trip to Palm Springs. I felt great, we ate great food, stayed at a great hotel, and I hadn't been so relaxed or happy in months. I smile just thinking about sitting next to the pool during that warm, summer, evening. The best.

This year was a huge one and I feel like it's only the beginning of the huge changes that are bound to come my way in the next few years. It's crazy to think maybe 2013 was just a warm up. :)

And I really don't want to let this year go by without thanking you immensely for reading good ol' Yellow Paper Dress. I was looking back the other day, and in 2012, there were about 40-60 hits per post. Now the average is anywhere from 100-200 and some of the endo posts have hit over 16,000 - that is INSANE. I am continuously honored to get to know you and maybe even inspire you a little bit and hope to be even more present here in the coming year. So again, thank you for reading, saying hello, sending e-mails, and for all the prayers and encouragement you've provided me this year. I hope I can return the favor to you!

Here's to 2014, my friends!

And health, happiness, and optimism all year long!

xoxo