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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Throwback Thursday



This picture always makes me laugh! Do you think I was a little frazzled by the dance? The next picture is the real gem. For some reason I could never quite get the moves down. Awkward Anna at her finest, going the wrong way.



But no matter how bad I was, I always had a little sister to come back to who thought I was the ultimate little ballerina.(Let's pretend I don't have 6 layers of bangs. Thanks Mom!)



Happy Thursday, loves!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Hi friends! I'm back for yet another WILW.



I'm loving that I married a boy that I've known since I was 3 years old. It's so fun to find old pictures of us together. Who would have thought? Plus, two of my best friends and my cousin made it in this one. How cool is that? And yes, our outfits were about 50 shades of awkward back then. Don't hate.



I'm loving that I'll be back in NYC in a few months. Time to visit that amazing Disney store again!



I'm loving that my Momma took care of me while i was sick this weekend. Being sick may stink, but being at my Mom's house was the perfect place for it. She brushed my hair for me, brought me water, and covered me up with blankets. She is just the sweetest person in the whole wide world.




I'm loving that I completed my very first gold dot project for the Pinterest Challenge! Look for a tutorial coming this week. 




Have a great Wednesday, loves! If you live in the North, stay safe in that nasty weather we seem to be having so much of lately! 

xoxo
A


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Throwback Thursday

Phew! It's going to be a BUSY day! I would like to welcome all the new followers. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I dance around like a crazy person each time I see a new person follow this little blog of mine! And don't even get me started on the comments... they absolutely make my day! Thank you all for being so wonderful! Tonight I am helping my hubby's school raise money for their senior trip. We are working concessions at a NHL game! I'm already completely dreading it, but trying to be as positive as I can. For the kids, right? Speaking of kids, I decided to do a little throwback thursday on the blog today. Enjoy!


Bow chica wow wow! No, but really...did you see that fanny pack? Or how about my sister's head-to-toe Barney ensemble? Little fashionistas. 


Have a fabulous Thursday, loves!




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday!




It's that time again! I am excited to share with you a few of my favorite things from this week. I'm sure you will love them as much as I do!





These gorgeous monogrammed items from Crystal Faye. Seriously... how cute are they? And here's a little tip... she's doing a flash sale on her instagram page right now for the hat. Run over and grab one!




Disney princess onesies for babies.  Oh. My. Soul. Can it get any cuter? Can I tell you a little secret? I pray every day that we will have a baby girl some day. If we ever do, she will definitely be dressed like this all the time. 


Dooney for Disney purses. This one would be just perfect to carry around the parks!



This bow from Classy Ellebows. I will actually be doing a whole post on this amazing Etsy shop soon, so keep an eye out for it. The shop owner is so sweet, and she has some incredible designs. 


Happy Wednesday! What are you loving?

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Pinterest- Taking the Challenge!



One of my favorite blogs, Merrick's Art, is hosting a fabulous link up! When I saw the post, I knew I had to join in on the fun. For the Pinterest challenge, we are picking six pins to complete in 6 weeks. This is the perfect motivation to get my domesticated-housewife on and finally complete a few of the 5000 pins I've been dying to try. So, without further ado:


1. The Gold Dotted Tray via Forchicsake. Um, can you say fabulous? It's such an easy tutorial and I'm absolutely dying to try it.

2. Disney Princess headbands. I found this fabulous tutorial and literally ran out to buy all the stuff to make them later that day. The problem is... I never actually made them. So, these pretties will be made in the next 6 weeks.

3. Gold dotted plates/ mugs/ whatever I can get my hands on. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this pin. I cannot wait to make a few unique pieces of my own!

4.Make a wreath. I'm not sure which one yet, but this one might be my first choice.

5. Make some DIY confetti art. Are you sensing a trend with the gold dots? I'm a bit obsessed.

6. This one is a bit ambitious. I want to make a Disney princess apron like one on this amazing etsy page.




Have a fabulous Tuesday! 
xoxo



Monday, February 18, 2013

Monday Ramblings and a Weekend Recap

Hello, friends!

Can you believe it's already Monday? Why do weekends insist on flying by? I had such a lovely few days off with my sweetheart. On Friday, we sold our old car! Remember that car accident I told you about? The collision shop that was going to fix it initially quoted us a much lower price than what it ended up coming to. Instead of making us pay an extra few thousand, they offered to buy the car from us to fix up as one of their rentals. We jumped on that opportunity after crunching some numbers. I'm just glad it's out of our hair. I took my beautiful Mom and Grandmother out to dinner after the sale. I was getting hit with some major homesickness, so it was perfect that my momma decided to make the drive to see me. We live about an hour and a half away, so I don't see her nearly as often as I would like.I wore the comfiest maxi skirt to dinner. It was on sale at Target for $5.98! I couldn't pass it up.I'm well aware that I'm not a fashion blogger, but outfits like these just make me so happy. 


On Saturday, I spent the whole day in my pjs with my hubby. Those are the best days! We watched some of our favorite tv shows, worked out together, and spent lots of time laughing. I was catching up on some blog reading when I heard him in the kitchen. I peeked over and saw him lighting a bunch of candles, making dinner, and he even turned on some romantic music! Seriously!? I'm married to the cutest boy ever. He made me a fancy grilled cheese dinner by candlelight. My heart melted. I managed to snap a quick cell phone pic when he had just started setting things up. Isn't that the most precious thing? I feel so blessed.


Another fun part of our weekend? Making plans to take his students on their senior trip! We are the only two chaperones (um, how did I get wrapped up in this?) and are taking a bunch his soon-to-be graduates to NYC! Do I have any local readers on here? What are your top things to visit in the big apple? I will be completely satisfied with a trip to the Disney store, but I'm so excited to explore.


Have a fabulous start to the week! :) Only 4 more days until the weekend!

xoxo





Friday, February 15, 2013

Happy Friday!

Yesterday was such a fun day. The hubby and I typically don't buy each other gifts for holidays like Valentines, but he still finds ways to make it special. Yesterday we went out to PF Changs with some friends to celebrate. It was an absolute blast! We spent lots of time laughing and went to Starbucks after to continue the fun times.


I came to the realization that I've been with my amazing husband over 1/4 of my life. Such an odd thought! We dated for almost 4 years before we got married, and we are coming up on our second wedding anniversary pretty quickly. It's truly amazing how much has happened in the last 6 years. I am so, so thankful that I get to keep him in my life. He is everything I didn't realize I wanted.

I'll spare you a full-blown mushy post on this lovely Friday, but I'm so very thankful for that man I married. I'm feeling super blessed that God chose him to be mine.

Happy Friday, lovely readers! I hope you have a fantastic, relaxing weekend.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday!


I can't believe it's already been a week since the last WILW! I hope you all are having a fabulous Wednesday so far. We made it halfway through!


1. I'm LOVING Disney's Golden Oak neighborhood. Have you heard of this? Disney has developed neighborhoods ON property at the resort! It literally is my dream. I better start working toward it now, though, because it's uber expensive. Your home comes with complimentary VIP passes to all the parks and even has transportation from your house to the parks every day! The disney obsessed nerd in me in screaming in excitement. But really, if I ever win a few million dollars, I know exactly where I'm moving.



2. I am loving my Lilly planner and new skullcandy headphones! That Lilly planner seriously was one of my best purchases. I actually want to write in it every day since it's so cute! The skullcandy headphones were purchased yesterday at TJ Maxx to replace the standard ones that came with my phone. I am in love with the sound quality and comfort! At only $9.99, these were a complete steal. I'm looking forward to using headphones that don't hurt my ears!


3. I am loving Disney mugs. Yes, I know, I'm obsessed. My friend Alexis bought me this adorable mug for my birthday, and it seriously makes mornings so much more fun. Mickey Mouse makes everything better.


4. I'm loving the two-week free trial I got to LA Fitness! I started Monday and plan to go every single day for these two weeks. I am already so sore! I am super proud of myself for pushing my body and always doing extra than I set out to do.



5. I am loving green smoothies. Seriously. We have to buy the big size now just because I drink them so much! I still cannot believe there is spinach in there.



Have a great day! I'll be praying for a smooth rest of the week for y'all! 




Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Free Date Nights!



Happy Valentine's week, everyone! I'm sure by now you've been overwhelmed by the mushy nonsense that has seemingly taken over the aisles of your favorite stores and the small fortune you are guaranteed to spend on this "Hallmark Holiday." In tribute to this, and my love for being a cheapskate  frugal, I have compiled a list of five of our favorite FREE date night ideas.


1. Sign up for Redbox's free text club. Along with all the other free codes online, you'll get a few texts each month with codes for free movies! Just text FREEBIES to 727272. Throw some pillows on the floor, pop some popcorn, and cuddle while watching your free flick. The hubby and I do this one a lot. In fact, we each got one of these codes last night! 

2. Go out for a free meal! This may be a silly one, but many of my favorite restaurants (PF Changs being one) offer free meals for signing up for their email clubs. I made a dedicated email address for things like this to avoid having spam in my regular inbox. Please, do not forget to tip! 

3. Have a picnic! When we were dating, this was one of our favorite activities to do together. We'd visit a local park, pack a picnic basket, and bring our bikes. After a romantic picnic, we'd go on a long bike ride. We'd often bring a camera to take goofy pictures together, and we always had a blast. 

4. Attend a movie in the park! All of the areas surrounding my hometown had "Movies in the Park" every weekend. It was free to attend, and you could bring your own snacks. It was so much fun watching movies under the stars! 

5. I know most of my date nights involve movies, so here's another way to score a free film: Visit your local library together. Ours offers free 2 day-1 week rentals on a TON of new release movies. One even allowed us to take 10 out at a time! Have a movie marathon together! 

I would love to hear more ideas for free date nights, as we are always looking for more. Please let me know if you have any! Have a fabulous week! 


Friday, February 8, 2013

Cream Cheese Monkey Bread- Tried it, LOVED it!


I saw this recipe on Pinterest and had to try it! My sister-in-law, Abi, and I went right to work that night to put together this masterpiece. The house smelled fantastic. 

This recipe below is directly from the original link, and honestly, I wouldn't change anything about it. I loved it! This is definitely one to try next time you are craving something sweet.


Ingredients:
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Two 12-ounce tubes refrigerated flaky buttermilk biscuits
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, cut into 20 cubes
¾ cup butter, melted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside. In
a medium bowl, combine the sugars and cinnamon; set aside.
2. Slice 10 discs of dough from each tube of biscuits. Set discs on a flat surface and set one
cube of cream cheese in the center of each piece of dough. Wrap edges of dough up and
around the cheese so all that is visible is the top side of cream cheese cube. Place 10
dough-wrapped cheese cubes, cheese-side-up, in bottom of prepared pan. Top with half of
the sugar mixture and half of the butter. Top with the remaining dough-wrapped cheese
cubes, cheese-side-down, the remaining sugar and remaining butter.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter and serve.




xoxo

Thursday, February 7, 2013

10 Things I Wish I Could Have Told Myself Before I Got Married


1. Stop being bossy. I'm the oldest in our family, and my hubby is second to youngest out of 6. Bossiness was and still is one of the hardest things for me to get over. I'm used to being "in charge" and making the decisions. Letting someone be the leader of our home was not easy, but I'm getting better. If I could sit down with myself before marriage, I would tell her that you don't always have to get your way. And honestly, it feels good to let my husband take the lead on things. 

2. I would stop listening to the negativity. I was pretty young when we walked down the aisle. We were engaged when I had just turned 20 and married by 21. If it's been said, I've heard it. "Are you sure? You're too young. You guys have your whole lives ahead of you! Why marriage now? Is it because of sex?? It is, isn't it! How do you expect this to work? Where are you going to live? What if you get pregnant? What if you don't get good jobs? YOU'RE JUST TOO YOUNG!" My goodness. After hearing those comments over and over, you start to believe them. You start to wonder if you are making the right decision. Marriage is a permanent decision. It's a big one. I wish that I would have had deaf ears to all that was said. I wish I would have laughed it off instead of letting it get into my head. I was ready for marriage back then, and it was the right decision for us. So, self, it's going to be okay. You're going to be happy. You're going to be alright. 

3. People DO change. We've all heard it. "People don't change. Marriage is only going to amplify your problems." I can personally attest to the fact that that statement is false. My hubby has changed for the better. We both still have our quirks, and we both still have our downfalls. I think this statement is more accurately stated as "People don't change overnight." Marriage isn't going to change someone the day of the wedding. We slowly have been shaping into better spouses thanks to our faith. Prayer works, and I've seen God make changes in both of us that have improved our relationship. I'm so thankful for the changes. 

4. This was one of the things that I was told that scared me the most. People insisted that marriage was going to make everything different. It was going to completely change our entire relationship and would definitely bring out every weakness you have. While marriage does show us our downfalls, it's one of the most amazing things in the world. It brought us so much closer. While things like spontaneity might have gone down, and I might not get those love notes that I adored as often as I used to, marriage has brought our relationship to a level passed what we ever had before. We have gotten to know each other. I didn't realize how much I still had to learn about him while we were dating. I am constantly learning new things about him every single day, and I've known him since I was 2 years old! I never want to stop learning. 

5. Don't try to one-up each other. Oye. This is one that we struggled with (and still do sometimes!). I always want him to know how hard my day was and how much I did for the day. He would tell me about how much he had to do, and I would interrupt with another story about how tired I am and how I  do "so much" work around the house/ work at the company yada yada yada. I wanted to get my point across that I was tired, and he wanted me to know how exhausted he was from dealing with his own job all day. It was like a contest of who chipped in the most. One of the most important things you can learn is that you both are contributing in your own ways and you're both part of the equation for this marriage. There doesn't have to be a 50/50 contribution to your relationship. Sometimes He is giving 80% while I'm giving 20%. Sometimes I'm giving 70% while he gives 30%. That's the way marriage works. Together you make up for what the other lacks. You're both going to have your off days. So, instead of griping about how much harder you work and how you do so much more than the other, think about all the times they have made up for where you've fallen behind. A marriage is not a competition. It's a team. 

6. The good will ALWAYS outweigh the bad. No matter how hard things get, the love you have for each other will always triumph over the sucky times. You will have some times that downright stink. There will be times where you question things, but those times will never ever ever be worse than you can take. Disagreements and moodiness should not be a reason to give up on the other person. Things will always get better. 

7. Learn to say yes. I love the word no. I am an over-user. He wants to work out? No way, I don't feel like it. He wants  to go for a bike ride together? Um, no thanks. It's so easy to say no, but it will build your hubby up so much more if you say yes. Honestly, barring any physical condition that completely disables you from doing things he asks, it will help your marriage a ton to just go for it. Who knows? You might actually have fun! He's a good guy. And no, self, asking you to do a physical activity isn't his secret way of calling you fat. 

8. You don't need to have the last word... or no word at all. I have two problems. I either have to "win" an argument by saying something that I'm sure will be a low-blow, or I do the complete opposite. I clam up. I don't speak. I completely shut down. I wish I could have told myself to stop that nonsense at the beginning of our relationship. It would have made things a lot easier back then. I have improved a lot since then, but I wish I would have been able to talk things out from the start. Talk about things, but more importantly, listen. Listen to him tell his side. More than often you will end up (even if you don't want to admit) understanding where he is coming from and maybe even agree with him. The horror! ;) 

9. You probably won't care whatever it is you're griping about two months from now. Heck, I don't even remember what our disagreements were about last week! The conclusion? Stop dwelling on it. It's not the end of the world. And by golly, do NOT bring up the past. No one should have something from two years ago held against them. If it's been that long, it's most likely your problem, not theirs.

10. Younger self, remember not to sweat the small stuff, because honestly, that's what all of this silly stuff is. Small stuff. We have a bigger purpose in this life. Stop your whining and get out there and make a difference in this world. Be positive. Smile more. Don't let anything get you down. You have each other and that's ultimately what matters. And let me tell you a little secret- You're going to be so happy. You're going to be so in love. Your life is going to be something to look forward to. 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday!


I've decided to join the blog world in this fun little "What I'm Loving Wednesday." I'm so excited! So, here's a few of the things I'm loving this week. 

photo from walt disney world facebook page

I'm loving disney. Always. I'm full on obsessed. I miss Disney World so much! Seriously? Can I please just move to Orlando? Please? 

Basically everything on the amazing site Shop Crystal Faye. Everything is amazing. I want a monogrammed necklace so bad! I love the tortoise colored ones, and I'm absolutely dying for a gold one! 


This bike from Target. I'm in love! Someone please tell my amazing hubby that this would be a wonderful Valentines gift! ;) 


That cutie pa-tootie standing next to me. I love him. I love him a lot. 



Hope everything is well with all of you! What are you loving this week? 







Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tea Time! The London Fog

While I was away at college, I was offered a job at our school's coffee shop to help pay my tuition. Naturally, I over-enthusiastically accepted without hesitation. All seemed to be fine and dandy until I walked in on the very first day and realized that I had never even turned on a coffee pot in my 18 years of living. Suddenly my enthusiasm turned to dread as I faced my new found enemy in the form of over-priced espresso machines and entirely too many choices of flavored syrup. I vividly remember my first customer coming in with her boyfriend and ordering a fancy blended beverage that "all the other people make for her." Really? My menu choices consisted of the 5 drinks I had scribbled on a cheat sheet for the day. I asked in desperation if she knew how the "others" made this so-called beverage and tried my best to make it. I handed over her death potion drink and watched as she went to make eye babies study with her boyfriend. I was almost in the clear until she took her first sip. I will never forget the look of disgust that came across her face as she spit out the mystery drink. Of course the little weasel insisted I make it at least another 4 times until she finally gave up. Ai yi yi! Thankfully, over the course of the time I worked there my barista skills greatly improved. People were able to drink my concoctions without spewing them out! Hooray! Late in the semester, the bosses added a new drink on our menu. The London Fog, as it was called quickly became my favorite hot drink in the world. Although I don't have any fancy machines to make it here, I make a pretty simple alternative at home. It's a great pick-me-up on those extra cold afternoons, and I'm sure it will be a great addition to your next evening spent at home cuddling up with your Jane Austen novels.


What you will need: 
Vanilla Coffee Syrup- I bought mine at Target (duh!) 
Earl Gray Black Tea (you can venture into other teas with this recipe too!) 
Milk
Water
A Mug


Directions: 
Fill your mug (or pot) half way with water and half way with milk. Add around 4 tablespoons of the vanilla syrup. Heat on stove top until hot or microwave for 2 minutes. Put in tea bag and let seep. After a few minutes, bounce the tea bag in your mug to mix everything together. Voila! 

This drink is so simple, but SO yummy. It's definitely my favorite way to prepare tea. 

Happy Tuesday! 



Monday, February 4, 2013

Terrific Target Trinkets- The obsession continues

I was perusing Target today and stumbled upon some of the cutest things! By now, you probably know of my little obsession with the bullseye store, so it's only natural that I tell you that I visit at least 3 times a week. Yes, I'm pathetic. I know. However, I cannot seem to get over how cute everything is these last few seasons! 



I had to grab these earrings. Aren't they darling? For $7.99 I couldn't pass them up. Plus, there is a sale going on right now where if you buy one jewelry item, you get another 50% off! You could score some great things this way. 


I just found this today. Are you kidding me???? A seersucker blazer? As if my seersucker obsession wasn't bad enough. I plan to grab this cutie as soon as it goes on sale. 



I thought this dress was absolutely adorable. How cute would this be with some turquoise jewelry? 



This chevron wallet is a complete steal for $9.99. I LOVE that you can just stick your iPhone in there for an easy carrying case. So practical and so fun! 




In other news, I'm SO ready for spring to come to Michigan. I'm over this crummy weather. I miss wearing flowy dresses and impractical shoes. I miss not having to scrape an inch of ice off my car every morning. I miss safe drives where people aren't swerving everywhere. Basically I need to move south. ;) Happy Monday!


xoxo