The Courtship.

Some of my buddies decided to hold a huge dance party for St. Patty's Day.

I was basically their publicity girl,passing out flyers and sending out invites on Facebook and such.
Justin had added me on the Facebook maybe a week or so before that. I just sent out that invite to everyone in the Provo area,to try to boost attendance.

Justin & I had kept bumping into each other randomly on campus,and of course I would chat with him if I saw him working in the library.

The day before the dance,he asked me over Facebook if I was going to the dance.
I told him I was. He told me he was,too.

Enter March 17.

I had no idea that Justin had gotten a group of buddies to go to this dance with him,so that he could see me.
I went with three of my friends.
A little after I got to the dance,he found me. We hugged. His friends and my friends danced together the whole night. It was so much fun! They were crazy and we all had a good time together.
After 2 or 3 hours,we were all worn out. Justin gave me a hug goodbye,and headed out with his friends.
I was so happy that I had gotten to hang out with him.

I was tired,so I was on the second level of the venue just watching everyone from above.
After two minutes of this,I see Justin come back through the doors.
He looked around,then came upstairs.
I was nervous. Why was he back?

He found me again,and asked if he could talk to me. I said yes.
He asked me for my number.

we went back to that venue four months later to celebrate him manning up and asking for my number (:

Little did I know that once they got to their car,one of Justin's friends asked if Justin had gotten my number. He said no because he was nervous. Justin's awesome friend declared that he would not get in the car until he went back and got it.
So he did (:

Basically since then,we have hung out for many many hours a day,every day... with the exception of me going to Japan for two weeks...
We've done TONS of fun stuff together.

Going to a symphony.
Going to General Conference.
Eating sushi.
Starting our own "book club" (we're the only members... it's exclusive haha)

Stargazing.

Taking mini tours of buildings on BYU campus.

Attempting to light off floating lanterns.

Going to a Jazz game together.

Mini golf and go-karts.

Attending a hoedown throwdown.

Hiking and going on nature walks.

Swimming.

Making dinner together.

Attending classy parties.

Basically,we have spent a looooooot of time together.
And we're not bored of each other,at all.
He is funny and sweet and we get along super well.
I decided he's a keeper.

Sorry for the picture overload,but I just love them all (:
I'll write about the engagement later...

xoxo
Rachel Sayumi.

Woven Memories GIVEAWAY.

Happy Thursday everybody!!

I've been meaning to post more,I swear,but I have been kinda swamped with other more important things at the moment. But hey,how bout a giveaway to cure your hunger for my posts? jk jk. But seriously...

Today I have a special treat for you guys!!!(:

The ladies of WOVEN MEMORIES are giving one lucky XOXO reader TWO HANDMADE bracelets!!!
I LOVE making bracelets but honestly I don't have the talent that these girls do! Also,I always start them and never finish haha :P anyone else guilty of that?!

You can win:

The Chevron friendship bracelet and the Nautical bracelet!!

How cute are they!?

I love them both!!

To enter is soooo easy. Two ways to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog via GFC !

2. Check out the Woven Memories site. Come back and comment on which bracelet is your personal fave!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also if you're interested be sure to check out their Tumblr site!!

Giveaway ends NEXT WEDNESDAY at 11:59pm so hurry and enter enter enter!!!!

Winner will be announced next Thursday.

Thanks Woven Memories for the sweet giveaway!!

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.

How We Met.

I thought of how I should go about doing this.
I don't really post a ton of my personal life on here,at least I feel like...
But after all,I did start this blog as a little journal. Then it became a fashion blog. But heck,it's mine so I guess I can just do whatever I feel like! haha!!
I decided to start with how we met,a bit about our courtship,then of course the actual engagement.
I hope it makes sense haha it's kind of crazy/complicated. Enjoy! <3

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

Justin is a library security guard on campus at BYU.

{It sounds silly to have security guards at a library,but apparently crazy biz happens... like people steal books and stuff}.

There are always two guards at the entrance of the library,sitting at desks and making sure that the security sensors don't go off as people walk in and out of the building.

One day,I was studying at the library. I had an evening class at 5:30pm,so I headed over. Within five minutes of sitting in lecture,I realized that I had lost my cellphone. I hesitated for a second. Should I wait until class is over to go find it? I knew exactly where I had lost it. I asked a friend to watch over my backpack,and sprinted over to the library.

 

I checked the women's restroom in the library. I had set it down to wash my hands,then completely forgotten to put it back in my pocket (I've done this multiple times...)

I asked a lady at the information desk if anyone had turned in my phone. She told me to check the East desk where the security guards are.

I went to the entrance of the library,and first asked the security guard at the West desk (I'm the kind of person who has to check EVERYTHING or else I don't feel satisfied). The guard at the West desk also told me to check the other desk.

So I walked over to the East desk,and smiled inside because the security guard working there was super cute. Like seriously. Justin looks GREAT in a uniform.

I approached him. He said hi. I said... "Excuse me,I lost my phone. I was wondering if someone had turned it in to the lost and found here?"

He looked for me.

It wasn't there.

He told me to keep checking back,in case someone did turn it in later.

He was very pleasant to talk to and it made me happy.

I went back to class,frustrated that I didn't have a phone but giddy because I got to chat with a cute security guard.

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

The VERY next day,I was in a lab for my on-campus internship when there was a two hour period where I was working alone.

Being the rebel I am,I skipped part of it to go back to the library and check to see if my phone was there.

Guess who happened to be working at that desk again?

"Security Guard Justin".

Unfortunately, my phone was still lost. But we chatted for a bit again,so that made me happy.

I also kept checking the student center lost and found,but my phone was still MIA!

It was pretty annoying.

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

I eventually found my phone at the student center lost and found a few days later.

Justin and I kept bumping into each other in the library and on campus. We would chit chat a bit each time. I seriously saw him every two days or so.

And wanna know something crazy?

That first evening when Justin and I met,he was actually covering a shift for a friend of mine who is also a security guard. It's also crazy because the security guards rotate where they are every hour.

It was because he happened to cover my friend's shift... happened to be at the East desk... and I happened to leave class when I did... that we were able to meet.

Hope that made some sense! haha!! I shall post the other half later.

xoxo
Rachel Sayumi.

Apricot Lane Boutique!!

HEYO!!
I know that I promised some juicy stories from the previous post,but I need to share this with you guys RIGHT NOW!! (:

Have you  guys heard of Apricot Lane Boutique??
 It's a super trendy and wonderful place to shop!
The SWEETEST ladies work there,and help out with whatever you need!
(PS: pics were taken before I got engaged. haha)

Apricot Lane has a store in Provo,Utah at the Riverwoods.
If you're from the area,you should definitely check it out.

If not,you're in luck!! They just recently opened their online Facebook store where you can purchase their darling products!!!

They were so kind enough to invite me to their store and choose a product to model and put together!!

I chose this dress,and named it the "Flapper's Flashback Dress".

It just has that cute shape with the fun black lace accenting on the olive green color.

EVERYthing I'm wearing is from Apricot Lane!!!!

I decided to match the black lace on the dress with a black clutch,headband.. as well as heels.

Then,for a touch of "Rachel Sayumi",I added a few turquoise accents as well.

All this is just a preview of their MANY products!!!

They range from beautiful jewelry to classic tops to designer jeans.

Would you wear this for a fun night out?!

Cuz uhmmmmmm.... I SO WOULD.

Apricot Lane is offering my readers a discount to their online store!

Enter XOXO20 for twenty percent off your entire purchase! WOOO!

So get to their online store and buy yourself something pretty. Or two,or three...

Links:
Website.
Pinterest.
Twitter: @ApricotLaneProv
Instagram: @ApricotLaneProv
Facebook
Online Facebook Store

xoxo
Rachel Sayumi.

Bliss.

On Friday,July 13 of 2012...

I became the luckiest girl in the world!!

Stories to come later...

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.



Polka Dotted Cheeeeetahh..

Right now I'm SUPER into neutralistic colors... Perhaps it was because I went to Japan for two weeks,where classy neutral outfits are everywhere? Maybe.

Another key feature I love in my outfits recently is simplicity.

Chambray + black + cheetah + polka dots.

Polka?

Where?

Yes yes right there,in my haiiir (:

isn't it cute? Haha I love it.

<3 cheetah lovin'.

With the whole simplicity deal,I went with minimal/delicate jewelry.

Bow: Japan.

Shirt: GoJane.com

Watch: Japan.

Pants: Forever21.

Shoes: Target.

Okay,everyone. Meet my man. He is super stylin and I wanted to take some pics of him.

Shirt: H&M.

Shorts: PacSun. I think? haha.

Shoes that are cut out....: Target.

hahah mmmmmmm I think he may like to model for me haha.

Yeah he's darling.

& he'll probably kill me for uploading these pics.

Sorry dear (;

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.

What I'm into Lately.

Small and subtle jewelry/watches.

Essie nail polish in Fiji! looooooove it.

Pearl stud earrrings.

Dainty and delicate necklaces.

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.

A Day Late...

Buuuuuuuuut,

I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July!

I'm so grateful for the freedoms I have been given,and for the sacrifices which people make so that I can be here and enjoy my rights.

Our matching 4th outfits;

me-

Top: c/o GoJane.com // Shorts: American Eagle //Shoes: Target.

him-

top & shorts: H&M // shoes: Vans.

I celebrated by...

+working in the morning.

+going to JC Penney's because they were putting in those glitter strands in people's hair for free! (you can kind of see it above...)

+going to a Salt Lake Bee's game (although they lost...)

+then laying out on a blanket on the field afterwards

& watching some amazing fireworks right in front of our faces!! There was ash literally raining on everyone,that's how close it was haha.

I love America!

hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday!

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.

Anchors Away! + D.E.B WINNER!

I've seen tons of anchor-prints around this summer.

It's so cute and fun,I love it!

So I guess it's a good thing I bought this anchor shirt a longgg time ago! I've hardly worn it...

Here are the ways I've styled this shirt in the past.

WAYYY Back in the day!

Left // Right

And here's today:

Random ladies told me they liked my outfit!

One even said I looked like a J. Crew employee. Haha.

LOVE Coral + Navy + White together.

Shirt: Forever21 (old!)

Belt: Forever21.

Skirt: Target.

Shoes: Ebay.

& the winner of the DownEast Basics giveaway is Angela Olsen!

I'll be emailing you shortly.

Thanks to all who entered!

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.