tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57301019629404114422024-03-21T07:15:31.540-07:00Overly-Enthusiastic AricaA lunch break blogger, just writing to hear herself talk.HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-77969103816115769072014-07-08T07:42:00.000-07:002014-07-08T07:42:47.464-07:00Currently<b>Watching:</b> World Cup soccer in the corner of my computer screen at work. I feel simultaneously guilty and VERY American when I do it. I don't know what I'll watch between soccer and football season. Baseball?! *scoff*<br />
<br />
<b>Reading:</b> The Kite Runner - so far it's a REAL downer. I also read Wild by Cheryl Strayed (wouldn't recommend it) and A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby which was pretty decent but nothing to write home about. I'm not having the best book luck lately. Any recommendations?<br />
<br />
<b>Planning:</b> *shame face* Christmas gifts. I mean, 4th of July has passed. What else is a girl supposed to do but create a secret Pinterest board of great gift ideas for the holidays?! It allows me to see Christmas decorations at Hobby Lobby and not feel panic.<br />
<br />
<b>Mad About: </b>Forgetting about this brilliant pin over the weekend. Kim made ranch dip and we had ruffles and it was the PERFECT OPPORTUNITY and everyone would have been like, "omg, you're SO CLEVER ARICA"! Curses!!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZiUNsv96BcWc6wd7AShu0iy1OrkGoSlXRPUjwXIl3piz3f4xlZRxEmiFwtJaGfbTIjk6DNnW1bgZMWFk1AyxHrSMMYRcIfOnxLo7Quz8hP76HkDVNrD6PzeVgTdJtGyGR3k8mpy9Gq4/s1600/cup+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZiUNsv96BcWc6wd7AShu0iy1OrkGoSlXRPUjwXIl3piz3f4xlZRxEmiFwtJaGfbTIjk6DNnW1bgZMWFk1AyxHrSMMYRcIfOnxLo7Quz8hP76HkDVNrD6PzeVgTdJtGyGR3k8mpy9Gq4/s1600/cup+bowl.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Happy About: </b>The new piece of art I bought. I saw it and instantly fell in love; it reminded me of my dad so much. I bought one for each of us. It's Minted by West Elm and I have NO idea where I'll hang it, but I know I'll just love seeing it in my home! And, bonus, Daryl liked it too! We don't always share the same taste in art but this one makes us both happy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelbHAc_2OcPN7iz1ofUEDAh49GoIJbYRwhAjYOYcbRTyO7vj18DuCkthMd8deqb-kv1lAFan5XoYb9e74UrlNI1EH3xgYpHzwVfEHO_pQemSt_I2JnVbXamame4Rns6I1fsvgdYoP8G0/s1600/minted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelbHAc_2OcPN7iz1ofUEDAh49GoIJbYRwhAjYOYcbRTyO7vj18DuCkthMd8deqb-kv1lAFan5XoYb9e74UrlNI1EH3xgYpHzwVfEHO_pQemSt_I2JnVbXamame4Rns6I1fsvgdYoP8G0/s1600/minted.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Craving: </b>My peach wine creation from this weekend! I put that peach sparkling water from HEB I used to drink as a kid in my wine while we were laying out this weekend and YUUUUUUM! I could go for a glass on my lunch break, ya know?<br />
<br />
<b>Creating: </b>Our living room entertainment center situation. I get it from my mama. I keep asking Daryl, "oh, don't you like our entertainment center?! I think it looks really really good. The size is perfect and just blah blah blah" and he's like "...it's tape on a wall..."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnTNne3JQfGHc9OEVEyEompTwlyHP-aykHH6l1XSybfAIlSjl9ZoxU5YDf7YCZ0T6fUIYUNI1L1tJkE6ktfWTe2xj_imqJfCpWjQFcVRktNGIJIoyAn8P_rhadpm8nvcLdcmIbb7UJFE/s1600/entertainment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnTNne3JQfGHc9OEVEyEompTwlyHP-aykHH6l1XSybfAIlSjl9ZoxU5YDf7YCZ0T6fUIYUNI1L1tJkE6ktfWTe2xj_imqJfCpWjQFcVRktNGIJIoyAn8P_rhadpm8nvcLdcmIbb7UJFE/s1600/entertainment.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
But holy Ikea shipping costs! Ouch-ee-wa-wa! Significantly higher than the product you're actually purchasing. So Daryl has offered to be my Ikea delivery man this weekend. He offered to make a trip up to Dallas to haul home an entertainment center for the living room (and also hang out with the guys). I love that man to death but the idea of an unsupervised weekend sounds kind of fun! I'm going to get wild or paint the guest bathroom a nice shade of taupe. One of the two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Celebrating:</b> Being an American! Our 4th of July was really, really lovely. We had friends in town for the weekend and we did a whole lot of floating in our above ground pool, chatting and eating. We went to a play downtown on the 4th and as we walked out of the building, we looked straight up on the firework show! It was SUCH perfect timing. One of the guys ran off and got a funnel cake from a street vendor and we all sat on the curb taking bites off of it and watching the show. Seriously, one of my favorite adult 4th of July's ever.HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-15612909924602723202014-07-02T11:05:00.000-07:002014-07-02T11:05:06.644-07:00Baby got back... problems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have direct orders from my chiropractor to not work out. :D I seriously LOVE doctor's notes. I guess I kinda beat myself up if I don't work out daily, so OMG the glory of the doctor's note, instructing you to take the weekend off, *angels singing*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have had intermittent back pain for about 7 months now. It got pretty bad a couple weeks ago so I finally decided to go to the chiropractor. I went in for my first treatment and this dude was totally out of breath by the end of my appointment and not one. single. pop. My back is so tense, it's crazy. He said "your back muscles are as hard as rocks!" and I was like, "It's because I'm VERY VERY strong and can almost do a pull up". He shot some Xrays to see what he could see... so here! Ignore the underwire of my bra.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeYCXj5DjOT0I1XMuj3j4I6aVTmfEdBe2Q5At9lATRlZHENqIURxhPmH8YJy-1-Bx1zfLdW7dMaTyKM0v4ZLbTuqliosz7-QgT-8kmQQ-_TiiC8RuiQdXEmkzijkYshDY4loSdpO_eL4/s1600/back1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeYCXj5DjOT0I1XMuj3j4I6aVTmfEdBe2Q5At9lATRlZHENqIURxhPmH8YJy-1-Bx1zfLdW7dMaTyKM0v4ZLbTuqliosz7-QgT-8kmQQ-_TiiC8RuiQdXEmkzijkYshDY4loSdpO_eL4/s1600/back1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He asked me if I could see anything wrong with this picture of my back and I said "Not at all! It looks so great! I have a really great spine, don't you think?!" (#delusional) Apparently not. That last vertebra and my tail bone aren't supposed to look like that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ6CwGcJeU1U0Ij-bbaV3txdFYk43FmWkSdI7jWW4yiFcoPSESoxokE2d9xLkJFFJ4SzzmVy2VuvNOdw6FXJILABHM5zggvx46Mr-9qGtxlCxla7YOQdGBGg7YQajxQntzeLrrgUFq-0/s1600/back2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ6CwGcJeU1U0Ij-bbaV3txdFYk43FmWkSdI7jWW4yiFcoPSESoxokE2d9xLkJFFJ4SzzmVy2VuvNOdw6FXJILABHM5zggvx46Mr-9qGtxlCxla7YOQdGBGg7YQajxQntzeLrrgUFq-0/s1600/back2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anyway, this one was my favorite! Doesn't it look like my right hip bone (the one on the right in this pictures) is much bigger than my left one?! It really is, he measured them and the one on the left is 107mm and the one on the right was 122mm. I could even point that out to him. Well, it turns out, I'm twisted! haha I mean, we've always known that, right? Little cousins I've tortured their entire lives? This isn't news, is it? :)<br />
<br />
But really, he's saying it could very well be due to a childhood of soccer or possibly something that happened from a major fall (hello horrible terrible skiing experience). With that little nugget of info, I've been instructed to not work out at all for the entire holiday weekend. My next appointment is Tuesday and he's hoping a weekend of rest will allow my muscles to relax a little and he'll be able to make some progress. What timing, right?!<br />
<br />
We have company coming in Thursday evening and I intend to do a lot of pool floating, marshmallow toasting and wine drinking! I mean, WHAT a sacrifice! :D Bonus: The wine will double as a muscle relaxer!<br />
<br />
Hope you have a great 4th of July and turn your lemons in to lemonade!HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-89076698771634494612014-07-01T10:42:00.002-07:002014-07-01T10:42:35.501-07:00Delusional<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM8ptEZyn1kmrDSde4jeKRc2L_PMCWxQux5Y8G2oBx_OM2Qu7adhd3NaOmxA7u-I0SzNHH5F-imMLiUSTLx4il56kdxd8pgdsJiV3ZE3IP0H98G15T__4xKgPKWzUU3LdreTnZ6sjUPs/s1600/i+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM8ptEZyn1kmrDSde4jeKRc2L_PMCWxQux5Y8G2oBx_OM2Qu7adhd3NaOmxA7u-I0SzNHH5F-imMLiUSTLx4il56kdxd8pgdsJiV3ZE3IP0H98G15T__4xKgPKWzUU3LdreTnZ6sjUPs/s1600/i+can.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
I blame my parents for it, but I am completely delusional. Anyone who has been around when my thoughts stream out my mouth unfiltered will know how out of touch I can be. I figured I'd share a few because, in retrospect, they're pretty hilarious.<br />
<ul>
<li>I shouldn't be embarrassed by how slow I jog at the park because maybe it'll encourage some of the folks out here walking. Like... you don't have to be FAST, just go as fast as you can. I'm an inspiration! *fist pump*</li>
<li>If you gave me 1 year to train, like training was my full time job, I could definitely qualify for the Olympics in SOMETHING. Probably something on the trampoline.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mDPnYBCoCMxYv3SCNMcbMdGFBP0LrUymH8kyC8SjMU_nFBrvnjrzvRd0-d3j5DLw91Te3zfst6_ou_WpWMXO4gzHl4Y0Ud6k9m0S_Po0gCioyX4EAcGm9zZbmiXbTqYMWBWnFlTn48M/s1600/trampoline.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mDPnYBCoCMxYv3SCNMcbMdGFBP0LrUymH8kyC8SjMU_nFBrvnjrzvRd0-d3j5DLw91Te3zfst6_ou_WpWMXO4gzHl4Y0Ud6k9m0S_Po0gCioyX4EAcGm9zZbmiXbTqYMWBWnFlTn48M/s1600/trampoline.jpeg" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTKCm7kvc2aoj6Nc-1shxwumC3b_bW7mfgZn7wP94M186-f5tOGRlmkkXyJqkEllHWmxF9xDxmSexvrl77S56QCjUTANQjlKVmIyLZ6mbBKTn_b4Eg1z-HRyys4HDXqILwUMJXeju94I/s1600/maya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTKCm7kvc2aoj6Nc-1shxwumC3b_bW7mfgZn7wP94M186-f5tOGRlmkkXyJqkEllHWmxF9xDxmSexvrl77S56QCjUTANQjlKVmIyLZ6mbBKTn_b4Eg1z-HRyys4HDXqILwUMJXeju94I/s1600/maya.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>"False. I'm great at lots of things I don't love. And I can be great at anything I want." - Literally my immediate reaction to reading this quote on Pinterest this morning.</li>
<li>"I don't think being hit in the head with a beer bottle would hurt THAT bad. The guy on this show is a wimp. Daryl, hit me in the head with this bottle, I'll prove it to you."<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBvYss7QIks5P2d7Uyu-q5qE8VmkU_04B5tD6OQY-WC5tc33mO8rv0ufjhpN2KW5nMGnDh2qV6hdGlmugWWuUD4SFodesDQ_uy7nD8FqfyDZA0q_6MTapnkzrZ60Ay7JQMYy5SbtJKHs/s1600/guitar+art.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBvYss7QIks5P2d7Uyu-q5qE8VmkU_04B5tD6OQY-WC5tc33mO8rv0ufjhpN2KW5nMGnDh2qV6hdGlmugWWuUD4SFodesDQ_uy7nD8FqfyDZA0q_6MTapnkzrZ60Ay7JQMYy5SbtJKHs/s1600/guitar+art.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>$59?! You're trippin', Bed Bath and Beyond. I could draw that guitar art on a sheet of craft paper while watching one episode of Fashion Police fo' free! It's just LINES! (I think this is a common one, assuming you could recreate art for cheaper than the price the artist is selling it for).</li>
<li>I really and truly think I could out-eat Daryl in a pizza eating contest. I told him so last night, in fact.</li>
<li>While doing sassy, viral YouTube Beyonce choreography, I'm fairly certain I'm NAILING it and look exactly like those incredibly in-shape men in 6" heels.</li>
<li>Got out of the swimming pool and wanted to go to Outback with slightly damp, ratty hair and I ran my fingers through the top part of my hair until my fingers snagged while looking in the mirror and I told Daryl, "It's like... cool California beach hair!" </li>
</ul>
And I honestly believe this stuff at the time. Obviously, I'm pretty pleased Daryl refused to hit me over the head with a beer bottle... but sometimes I have to take a step back and say, "woah, self. You are not invincible/exceedingly athletic/a supermodel/ect" because I think I forget sometimes.HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-86314761710940706572014-06-27T11:42:00.001-07:002014-06-27T11:42:06.245-07:00Favorite ThingsThe blog La Dolce Vita has a regular piece called 'Style Files' where they interview someone who has undeniably wonderful style to give you a peek inside their head. This is my second favorite regular on the blog (Jet Setter's review of the world's most unreal hotels makes me just DROOL every time) and I took the time to fill out the typical questions myself, because I thought it could be interesting. Really, all it did was prove how very 26 I am. The typical subjects of LDV's interviews are established, successful women in their 40s who have refined taste and distinct style. It'd be interesting to do this same 'interview' again in 10 years. Remind me, k?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>How would you describe your style? </b>Pretty understated. I like to play with trends but I'm not investing in anything very distinct just yet, for my home or my closet. I'm still trying to figure out my style so I only invest in classics. A sturdy leather couch, a Louis Vuitton bag, diamond stud earrings. Those sorts of things. Everything else I own comes from TJ Maxx and usually has fringe.<br />
<b>Where do you turn to for inspirations? </b>Pinterest and blogs. What can I say, I'm a girl of that generation.<br />
<b>Who are your personal style icons? </b>I'd go with Kate Hudson, Diane Kruger, Kate Bosworth - gosh, I have a thing for blondes!<br />
<b>Before I die, I'd like to... </b>be well-traveled.<br />
<b>Guilty Pleasure - </b>The Kardashians. I think they're absolute dolls and I love them. Can't stop, won't stop.<br />
<b>Greatest achievement - </b>landing Daryl! That may sound like a corny, engaged-girl answer but I mean it. I admire him so much.<br />
<b>Go-To Outfit -</b> Really tight skinny jeans, chunky footwear (think moto boots or wedge heels), and a floaty top. Or a maxi dress. 1970s couture, really. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FIIAhzfmvW1b4erdwJ6M4Z_rued9zRUgUTdtcIU140fG76vJZpeQn32Mr62XBUqQGifLHRxpWzuR9wIG1QFONRVKRHm2h9f9CZE3Bi06gbIX3S9cjg4kBsvHq4RdeQ4lri2BRt9kr-k/s1600/boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FIIAhzfmvW1b4erdwJ6M4Z_rued9zRUgUTdtcIU140fG76vJZpeQn32Mr62XBUqQGifLHRxpWzuR9wIG1QFONRVKRHm2h9f9CZE3Bi06gbIX3S9cjg4kBsvHq4RdeQ4lri2BRt9kr-k/s1600/boots.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Style Mantra -</b> Never compare yourself to others.<br />
<b>Scent -</b> Chanel Chance (the gold one, not the pink one) and I just picked up Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana for summer. I needed a change; I've worn Chanel since high school.<br />
<b>Piece of Jewelry -</b> My engagement ring.<br />
<b>Color I Never Tire Of -</b> Gold<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLzhdsYWb-zryaqsednZ4q2NK4-JpNn2IboU6rv_tNjRyU3Y8WGgPqgopwyVMNlHPKJVwg3BP2CjttBu5kgW6EJGNSiSGoz5nXxLUQC2VxCt9LIePlZ_FZeJ87Q6XWBOZ82AQjjsTV-U/s1600/golddd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLzhdsYWb-zryaqsednZ4q2NK4-JpNn2IboU6rv_tNjRyU3Y8WGgPqgopwyVMNlHPKJVwg3BP2CjttBu5kgW6EJGNSiSGoz5nXxLUQC2VxCt9LIePlZ_FZeJ87Q6XWBOZ82AQjjsTV-U/s1600/golddd.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnT5UJbIvSmjKi9XfsdTf-xfSdEf7cptE6QtmKhk12KTHZX4eWNPJcVK4yOkx2ZOtTFGtqJm0igQylLHSA5QcQowtIGy8YkBvYBYEjs_iYt31HoZiO_LMs8NHcl6tl5MPvb8OhM5gt7c/s1600/gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnT5UJbIvSmjKi9XfsdTf-xfSdEf7cptE6QtmKhk12KTHZX4eWNPJcVK4yOkx2ZOtTFGtqJm0igQylLHSA5QcQowtIGy8YkBvYBYEjs_iYt31HoZiO_LMs8NHcl6tl5MPvb8OhM5gt7c/s1600/gold.jpg" height="320" width="152" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ0ussbpKT4e4OvZqLcyrZf5DriIJnwimYFvBpwVLzJ9-x9Mn9zwFTPTTgS-wJTyg7NpNlYkoyR4iXXfHH2j-eAJg3xpUCPpn4Br-m2LNyLHE7IJl79CDBi2sSOJfzLxs7o7Lmq4yUpo/s1600/light+fixture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ0ussbpKT4e4OvZqLcyrZf5DriIJnwimYFvBpwVLzJ9-x9Mn9zwFTPTTgS-wJTyg7NpNlYkoyR4iXXfHH2j-eAJg3xpUCPpn4Br-m2LNyLHE7IJl79CDBi2sSOJfzLxs7o7Lmq4yUpo/s1600/light+fixture.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Flower -</b> Tulips; they remind me of Texas Tech's campus<br />
<b>Design Element -</b> paint<br />
<b>Era -</b> Art Deco/1920s<br />
<b>Pattern/Textile -</b> I figured I'd have grown out of my love for leopard print by now but I just haven't.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde8GE2SeY7APAcfO1F4oPymHtnz8jbRO-j3f2TjKWR5WRx_Y4dXTnRrOz0SbCH-JdH9Gxr0PnluJaWZRb2rCAYHllVTre0hdINWPz8y9D4XaMJx3ugiIaVuJS3S0mwlrLxtk0-BgRsHM/s1600/leopard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde8GE2SeY7APAcfO1F4oPymHtnz8jbRO-j3f2TjKWR5WRx_Y4dXTnRrOz0SbCH-JdH9Gxr0PnluJaWZRb2rCAYHllVTre0hdINWPz8y9D4XaMJx3ugiIaVuJS3S0mwlrLxtk0-BgRsHM/s1600/leopard.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Book -</b> Ender's Game, Chocolat, Brave New World<br />
<b>Hostess Gift -</b> Does BYOBing my own champagne and conceding others a glass or two count as a hostess gift?<br />
<b>Meal -</b> A really ooey gooey quesadilla with tons of guacamole, and OF COURSE tequila and soda with lime (because a margarita is too many calories, says the girl with cheese hanging from her chin).<br />
<b>Drink -</b> Pinot Noir for at home, watching TV, Champagne for by the pool and Don Julio tequila with soda and lime juice at restaurants. That makes sense, right? Pairing your drinks with your location rather than you meal? I think so.<br />
<b>Way to Unwind after a Long Day at Work - </b>Stretching! I would call it yoga but there's no flow to it and I move myself around so I can always see the TV.<br />
<b>Weekend Destination -</b> Houston, Texas<br />
<b>Song that Always Puts Me in a Great Mood -</b> Rumor Has It by Adele<br />
<b>Actor/Actress -</b> I can't get enough Kevin Spacey, Robert Downey Jr., Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana and Jennifer Lawrence<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L3WKOcyOS0-bidzxekiHcKnkLgWr3Lj3EMEjlhMwxtBGPJHxsuXMwV9B0lbwLZoBPqo6L9ocEfCQ2-zE3Gf8yfh1lBwlui9OxrJ8FDWaycjihOhIMw2RdkZ8sItLtcsxhp3JzxP60HY/s1600/psh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L3WKOcyOS0-bidzxekiHcKnkLgWr3Lj3EMEjlhMwxtBGPJHxsuXMwV9B0lbwLZoBPqo6L9ocEfCQ2-zE3Gf8yfh1lBwlui9OxrJ8FDWaycjihOhIMw2RdkZ8sItLtcsxhp3JzxP60HY/s1600/psh.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7OlMii33djk7dE1JwJDZsp1ZNr5NnKAe-P4IZ5HW6jy4G7Yp74Coce3zqcvxRYdLbBkKpsYM04QozqfGEcXzSqivrGlMkulp_mKweNYNb6NXcBnJzl23r1L3MNOs4GxP4ViOseafeV0/s1600/rdj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7OlMii33djk7dE1JwJDZsp1ZNr5NnKAe-P4IZ5HW6jy4G7Yp74Coce3zqcvxRYdLbBkKpsYM04QozqfGEcXzSqivrGlMkulp_mKweNYNb6NXcBnJzl23r1L3MNOs4GxP4ViOseafeV0/s1600/rdj.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFL7js0HJcHBugGBSKbpXTOqq046O5WOZ7IG7N_O7BAPQe2EX0xMoFkkvb0AZ5IDCNnbvWdib0yraNGfdArc6wPBT972GN5C7hTgRWsCo-F0tTBaQKjw-Fx5y36hYd8gx8oKQnPSSh9s/s1600/spacey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFL7js0HJcHBugGBSKbpXTOqq046O5WOZ7IG7N_O7BAPQe2EX0xMoFkkvb0AZ5IDCNnbvWdib0yraNGfdArc6wPBT972GN5C7hTgRWsCo-F0tTBaQKjw-Fx5y36hYd8gx8oKQnPSSh9s/s1600/spacey.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>City -</b> Seattle, Washington<br />
<b>Museum -</b> Houston Museum of Natural Science (I'm not awfully cultured when it comes to museums... so out of the handful I've been to, the dinosaurs win).<br />
<b>Risk Worth Taking -</b> Telling people about your goals<br />
<b>Greatest Extravagance -</b> Travel<br />
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-37293648078842179472014-06-25T09:35:00.002-07:002014-06-25T09:35:51.459-07:00Guest Bath Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyqE_-agzANuDLIzwc39JPkf-9btX-3Rls_x2lkJmXls8XxEaBmLGP9W4CrMRn5wAXA_t3mesMEev9CygGPYIJT2F_-JXU-YKt0I5jfGlcB9M9aW-tSgFVXKM6mqEks2KtRAy2UAHS5I/s1600/Guest+Bath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyqE_-agzANuDLIzwc39JPkf-9btX-3Rls_x2lkJmXls8XxEaBmLGP9W4CrMRn5wAXA_t3mesMEev9CygGPYIJT2F_-JXU-YKt0I5jfGlcB9M9aW-tSgFVXKM6mqEks2KtRAy2UAHS5I/s1600/Guest+Bath.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A picture really is worth a thousand words, isn't it? I had intended to explain how excited I was to be updating our guest bathroom... but does it really need explaining?<br />
<br />
I was SO excited by my plan for this bathroom until D unceremoniously shot it down. I should have just painted the bathroom without asking him. I feel as though if I'm the one putting in the elbow grease, I can paint the bathroom any shade of pink I darn well please. That's right. I wanted a pink bathroom so bad. A french pink with just the right amount of beige to keep it classy but not so much it read peach. With dark wood cabinets and gold accents? I mean, COME ON! It would have been gorgeous!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoSGnN3eBi8pcwWkATAB_WDbstom5Aj65698VrGUGWREJLegUXUCks3wPxtMEW2qYXGVs5pP3Fqc9SjkvsxuOqo1c63iccz2sCIs1QRf4BtSU1mFefmoMewYakDFx1gUCSCMb7PU7DNI/s1600/bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoSGnN3eBi8pcwWkATAB_WDbstom5Aj65698VrGUGWREJLegUXUCks3wPxtMEW2qYXGVs5pP3Fqc9SjkvsxuOqo1c63iccz2sCIs1QRf4BtSU1mFefmoMewYakDFx1gUCSCMb7PU7DNI/s1600/bathroom.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
Yea, well, even sending him this picture of kinda-sorta my vision did not do sell him. His response: "I love you to the moon and back but I really really don't want a pink bathroom".<br />
<br />
And that was that.<br />
<br />
Such a shame, it would have been so lovely.<br />
<br />
Aaaaaaaaaaaanyway. I've got a backup plan, and it involves that wheat-ish color of the stone in my inspiration image on the walls and pink accents, instead. Not NEARLY as cool, but this is what marriage is, right?<br />
<br />
Tonight I'm going to get some paint samples on the walls and crawl up in the attic and see if there's anything to that soffit where the can lights are installed. Surely there can't be, and if there isn't, I want it gone! Make some room for some fabulous light fixtures, obviously. Light fixtures are my new thing. It's my favorite section of Lowe's these days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGh8W1KeGJy6EbyfNItcvp-qQ5GkV_AoUYFEIRVUHdVv5qEUi_pxLV3bv7p6od-kaJIxfnRFg3I5irpCLOYoJT4LEkWU-lgyHeQOTbQ7MzGLzWkEIaQQu-MfU5GekId6o00W-hEev0hQ/s1600/light+fixtures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGh8W1KeGJy6EbyfNItcvp-qQ5GkV_AoUYFEIRVUHdVv5qEUi_pxLV3bv7p6od-kaJIxfnRFg3I5irpCLOYoJT4LEkWU-lgyHeQOTbQ7MzGLzWkEIaQQu-MfU5GekId6o00W-hEev0hQ/s1600/light+fixtures.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
I've had my eye out for an affordable version of this for the dining area for a while and I'm always on the look out for a timeless show-stopper for the vaulted ceilings in the living room. I refuse to settle for anything less than perfect, so until I find perfect, we're going with 'dated brass ceiling fan'.<br />
<br />
So, yea, I've got my eye on the weekend, excited to get rid of the paisley-chic in the guest bath! Hope your weekend planning is going well on this hump day!<br />
<br />
xoHeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-70507375452383505512014-05-13T12:15:00.002-07:002014-05-13T12:15:59.519-07:005 Things1. The Collect App! I seriously got on my blogger account today so that I could write a '5 Things' blog JUST so I can share this app. Now I'm going to have to think of 4 other things... ANYWAY, yes. So the app is free and it completely plays to my love for documenting things. It's a photo-a-day journal app that is so simple and sweet. It's not a social app, shockingly, but I'm obsessed with taking the time to notice something each day that I'm grateful for or makes me happy, capturing a photo of it and then looking back at the blessings that month! You can print out the calendar at the end of the month and have a physical journal to browse through... but I probably won't. Although since you <i>don't </i>have to create an account to use the app, if your phone goes south, your journal will be lost with the phone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwpOqHmjFkAGD5fzpGC_J8joXGoHkJ-h9-1vIlRX0mm0WnC37jPnnU4rPbJmfE7NjbptN1qzt1ydiYdSxIS8w-wHxQCRBmoPeIJrEqeTJyDCV4_711bTY0_z3yn6O2um_BeN2WpKqr6s/s1600/collect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwpOqHmjFkAGD5fzpGC_J8joXGoHkJ-h9-1vIlRX0mm0WnC37jPnnU4rPbJmfE7NjbptN1qzt1ydiYdSxIS8w-wHxQCRBmoPeIJrEqeTJyDCV4_711bTY0_z3yn6O2um_BeN2WpKqr6s/s1600/collect.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. My homemade iced coffee! I made my very own batch of Pioneer Woman iced coffee Saturday night (I know, I'm such a wild child) and it turned out really stinking good! I put a splash of milk in it and since the fridge door was already open and everything, I poured some maple syrup in it, Buddy the elf style. Yummm. It was my picture for Collect on Saturday and everything. It was the most exciting thing I did Saturday. Couldn't really take a picture of me sitting on the couch watching Sister Act II, now could I? I don't think I need to even mention that D went out of town Saturday to see his mom... based on my activities, I think it's pretty clear I was unsupervised.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2dvMUGzsscTJtnUE2Xh-K7vIosCqKACz4sXx_gvP3-4A6hNmo__4oVbrlGWF4dGJ_YSfe-6mxQyY16SAXGsH_fO8uFIO5eMJyrnr5ec2QXFSr9zF5pzHycHmXfkqRdyXHg7iVotvUgk/s1600/brewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2dvMUGzsscTJtnUE2Xh-K7vIosCqKACz4sXx_gvP3-4A6hNmo__4oVbrlGWF4dGJ_YSfe-6mxQyY16SAXGsH_fO8uFIO5eMJyrnr5ec2QXFSr9zF5pzHycHmXfkqRdyXHg7iVotvUgk/s1600/brewing.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Letting it... brew? steep? Not sure what the terminology is for iced coffee.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1tr5CQvBLH8T_D6dTGrcICVapoeS-jvSobJmzf8IPJnTnpc-_JDIl57XbkrwfvtcMJw88HUZBxmPjq68Rc_6PfK4k7cDAz61smv4J_10PDbntkHRy9f3jFynFwNt5kGvU8uW5dX7oJM/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1tr5CQvBLH8T_D6dTGrcICVapoeS-jvSobJmzf8IPJnTnpc-_JDIl57XbkrwfvtcMJw88HUZBxmPjq68Rc_6PfK4k7cDAz61smv4J_10PDbntkHRy9f3jFynFwNt5kGvU8uW5dX7oJM/s1600/coffee.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This isn't a picture of myyyy coffee... it's the picture Pioneer Woman put on her recipe... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
but mine looked very similar</div>
<br />
3. Irene Suchoki. She's a Canadian photographer after my heart. D mentioned a while back that he doesn't want "any abstract art in the house" which I thought meant no Cubism-era Picaso or anything, which is fair; that stuff is trippy. But come to find out, he means he wants exclusively literal art. Photography, really. So when I happened upon <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/EyePoetryPhotography?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Irene's Etsy shop</a>, I knew it would be the ideal compromise. I see a bulk order being placed in the near future. And for the record, she does photograph colorful stuff, too. I just happened to pick a couple colorless examples.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cUw9pv_4AhPI-_Xy8q8GysJuN2aJPadSvXeFEdH8f_z84d0p4FLtS6kwPmPx5eBzZjLGHYFN-h0NZYF2M9t-o7s_uXTjXDhkl1XtyTjQgRw8itdlxR_2uqOrxrSwIAIOqjA01EXAdBc/s1600/nature+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cUw9pv_4AhPI-_Xy8q8GysJuN2aJPadSvXeFEdH8f_z84d0p4FLtS6kwPmPx5eBzZjLGHYFN-h0NZYF2M9t-o7s_uXTjXDhkl1XtyTjQgRw8itdlxR_2uqOrxrSwIAIOqjA01EXAdBc/s1600/nature+3.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Icebergs reflected off still water</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHrHV6A7n-dtY0U0YNx-_p1W0jyOJ8ET8yPOIoaDZFGPtent8zAw0Odod2_nCiOOjG6V-iDLqX14i4M12xh7EzHkIbKkNRA337fOODzmWfwY2znRHLlV0ve0YjDBsO9GMGm4pogoDT1o/s1600/nature+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHrHV6A7n-dtY0U0YNx-_p1W0jyOJ8ET8yPOIoaDZFGPtent8zAw0Odod2_nCiOOjG6V-iDLqX14i4M12xh7EzHkIbKkNRA337fOODzmWfwY2znRHLlV0ve0YjDBsO9GMGm4pogoDT1o/s1600/nature+4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The black sand beaches of Ireland</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBS8Y-zI3k9R-BFyeztzVjQlSJVHQ0JfMqZZjcY2Z_CAA2CkxE5NkLRUHR2fmoLYejrJPrSW_DPOhzNBBd6FxuUscUIz3VTh-rN-yYtIGzl_l4S7vW2mLrRpJkIvuMT3Qb0HZmYSCkMc/s1600/zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBS8Y-zI3k9R-BFyeztzVjQlSJVHQ0JfMqZZjcY2Z_CAA2CkxE5NkLRUHR2fmoLYejrJPrSW_DPOhzNBBd6FxuUscUIz3VTh-rN-yYtIGzl_l4S7vW2mLrRpJkIvuMT3Qb0HZmYSCkMc/s1600/zebra.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Zebra stripe without being all up in your face about zebra stripes.</div>
<br />
4. Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel. Yum, right? But it's not quite what you think. I saw on Pinterest that people are claiming it's the dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and it sparked my memory. I used to use it, mixed with my foundation in the summers, to keep from sweating all my makeup off. So I've brought it back in to the rotation now that the weather is heating back up and I forgot what a little miracle worker this stuff is. I got it at Target.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfdVSQv0HNOevieF916SXldsFfUmflrj03FhocoJe-fIP47AkzF1W-vjZdJz2JsfyWMWfH-pBV10BQzSMLEPbjO7Wklz9JI9xQLSX0Ub4pPp6Hvr05kkVjn8VOyC28eeiufiwTjlgwjM/s1600/monistat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfdVSQv0HNOevieF916SXldsFfUmflrj03FhocoJe-fIP47AkzF1W-vjZdJz2JsfyWMWfH-pBV10BQzSMLEPbjO7Wklz9JI9xQLSX0Ub4pPp6Hvr05kkVjn8VOyC28eeiufiwTjlgwjM/s1600/monistat.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
5. Toe touches - I get in to a rut when it comes to abs but this one is new in my rotation and it's a keeper. I thought doing V-ups WAS doing toe touches. Unbeknownst to me, those are different exercises. Gawd, Karen, you're so STUPID! These you keep your feet right where they are in the picture below, no up and down with your legs. Only your upper body moves. Burn baby burn!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARiei7F-06TXhL3KSCl_A_JJbnk-8draiTS-1QqbV-bJf01ZPHQtjieRluBTAYCvXHtQoJRBcnunEIZpm5AtBjccZiXop0dthEjcZJJUWbZs7rKibb0BCqjva-tuLwSwlKMiIg0yv4FA/s1600/toe+touches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARiei7F-06TXhL3KSCl_A_JJbnk-8draiTS-1QqbV-bJf01ZPHQtjieRluBTAYCvXHtQoJRBcnunEIZpm5AtBjccZiXop0dthEjcZJJUWbZs7rKibb0BCqjva-tuLwSwlKMiIg0yv4FA/s1600/toe+touches.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-17648742061104021722014-05-09T09:36:00.000-07:002014-05-09T09:36:17.191-07:00Wedding Planning Part IIYea... I'm not doing so good at blogging my wedding planning. In my defense, it's because I haven't done a ton of wedding planning worth blogging about?? I think when I'm in the throws of decorating, it'll make for better blogs (and pictures).<br />
<br />
But for propriety sake, here's a little peek in to what we've got nailed down so far.<br />
<br />
1. The dress!!! That was harder and then easier than I thought it would be. My first outing turned out pretty miserable, tears in the dressing room and everything. However, it turned out that I was just at the wrong store. After my first trip, I was sure I was going to be the bride that hated everything. I tried on dress after dress and my sister, mom and Ashley would oooo and ahhh but I just rolled my eyes. I hated all of them.<br />
<br />
BUT THEN! I picked out another store and did a little research. I found out what designers they carried and scoped out the selection online before heading in. I had a list of style numbers I would be interested in trying on and just handed the list to the consultant. She pulled what they had in stock, about 5 of the dresses I had picked out, and I fell in love with all of them. Don't worry, I won't be the bride with the wardrobe changes. I narrowed it down. Luckily, I'm super decisive and picked which one I wanted, bought it, and since the sample they had fit me like a glove, took it home with me. Boom. Done. Dress.<br />
<br />
So yea, my recommendation would be to look up the designers the store carries online and come in with an idea. Also, I forced myself to try on silhouettes I didn't think I'd like on my body type... and I didn't like them. So, I mean, that's still probably good advice but if you already know what you want and you try it on and it looks totally fly, don't second guess it. You're a grown up who knows what she likes. Embrace it.<br />
<br />
2. I found a photographer that isn't going to just rob us blind! She's PERFECT, too. I insisted on going to coffee with her before hiring her and she came in SO prepared. She bought my coffee (nice touch), she had a ton of samples to show me, answered ALL my questions, and laughed at my jokes! What more could a girl want?! No really, we clicked and I was so thankful. I think I'll have a lot of fun with <a href="http://madmegphotography.com/">Megan</a> on the big day!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeqwqYkV2aPnnMejZNsmWTGfpgkswOiPRVro8BSauPcyhFHEXyxLC1mDRZQLgyNxg1PwBEq7W53pDqtoGAEDItfwy_Oty9Y8xr_KeLemcrd-lQWJEFjRdxfMOHEjuJHvB3BgKm1gHB8o/s1600/Questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeqwqYkV2aPnnMejZNsmWTGfpgkswOiPRVro8BSauPcyhFHEXyxLC1mDRZQLgyNxg1PwBEq7W53pDqtoGAEDItfwy_Oty9Y8xr_KeLemcrd-lQWJEFjRdxfMOHEjuJHvB3BgKm1gHB8o/s1600/Questions.jpg" height="640" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the list I found on Pinterest of questions to ask your photographer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I printed it and carried it in with me like a total dork but no regrets. It was really helpful.</div>
<br />
3. We picked a DJ! And get this... he's the cleaning guy at my office! No. I'm not kidding. He has a couple jobs and one of them is DJ! He does our company picnics and events around Seminole and he did a party we went to the other night. I told D to scope him out and D took it very seriously. He liked the way he transitioned between songs (I would have never noticed), he liked that he rolled with the punches (one of those being that D requested the end of the party turn in to karaoke night) and he had a great selection! His set up is legit... so yea! Serious budget saver there! Also, he's really just the nicest guy.<br />
<br />
4. We picked out Save the Dates! I know, we're getting ahead of ourselves a little here. But, hey, anything to get a check mark on my to do list, I'm game. What actually happened was that HE really liked them. He hasn't really had an opinion about much yet, so when he was psyched about these engraved wood Save the Dates, I was sold. They met my two requirements: they had the date on them and they weren't very expensive. Done. And. Done. Well... we've requested some font changes (a few too many hearts for us, personally) and need to approve the proofs... but otherwise, totally Done and Done.<br />
<br />
Oh, and we don't have to stress about getting our engagement pictures done to include on the Save the Date, which is an added bonus. We have been meaning to get those done but finding a time that the photographer is free, my highlights aren't totally grown out and we don't have something we'd rather be doing... practically impossible. But we'll buckle down and get it done soon. Maybe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHa3WPkqc4t5CyvG8acLdOpmk1SzmN9nQyLHR3b0yZOOO7z7OAUBBENsSEN-WbfvUrZ0KHt5ag7wMT1G2wLyZAsli8gADnySAZaiFgg2ptcD7e2ldMWU_3NcRbv7nn_-gN7NUIJW9bxs/s1600/Save+the+date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHa3WPkqc4t5CyvG8acLdOpmk1SzmN9nQyLHR3b0yZOOO7z7OAUBBENsSEN-WbfvUrZ0KHt5ag7wMT1G2wLyZAsli8gADnySAZaiFgg2ptcD7e2ldMWU_3NcRbv7nn_-gN7NUIJW9bxs/s1600/Save+the+date.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Etsy, if you're curious.</div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1315856342"></span>
That pretty much covers our progress as of yet. Our top priorities coming up are:<br />
<br />
1. Sampling whiskey cocktails in an effort to pick a signature drink for that night (it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!) So far, our favorite is really just whiskey and soda water with a bunch of fresh lemon juice. But don't worry, we realize that's a pretty lame signature drink. We'll keep at it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy75IXXtvT7vvPQ1WWVYMELctvBWQjAnDmqIdib1R8NWPImC1_2RHAMXGGqNC50nU0sbkxHTZHCVgMFy0S04EtcCuOkw-2E2yoA_6wW4nHBeTOC95k-V_bfUP63LZu0llNpqkQdYo_i8/s1600/whiskey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy75IXXtvT7vvPQ1WWVYMELctvBWQjAnDmqIdib1R8NWPImC1_2RHAMXGGqNC50nU0sbkxHTZHCVgMFy0S04EtcCuOkw-2E2yoA_6wW4nHBeTOC95k-V_bfUP63LZu0llNpqkQdYo_i8/s1600/whiskey.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
2. Making up a hashtag for the festivities!!! I delegated this to D; he's pretty clever. It'll probably be some engineering joke. :)<br />
<br />
3. And, oh yea, we should probably finish asking our bridal party to participate. I just have one more little lady to ask but D still has to ask ALL of his guys! We wanted to do as many face to face as possible but some plans have changed and its looking like we're just gonna have to suck it up and make some phone calls.<br />
<br />
So there's my short and sweet update on wedding planning for ya! Afterward, I'll definitely share my master wedding spreadsheet, lessons learned, maybe even budget because, honestly, that's a big part of wedding planning!<br />
<br />
Thanks for caring, bloggies! Love you!HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-9092267528773992102014-05-08T09:54:00.002-07:002014-05-08T09:54:17.560-07:00CurrentlyHow is it already May, ya'll? I think it's science that while you are engaged, time moves at warp speed. I'm loving it though because we have so much coming up this fall/winter that the anticipation is killing me! Here's what I've been up to for the last month, though.<br />
<br />
<b>Watching:</b> NBA Playoffs, obviously. It's unhealthy. D had to give me a walkie talkie last night because I didn't want to stand in the garage and hand him things while he was working in the attic on the AC because the Thunder game was on.<br />
<br />
<b>Reading:</b> Game of Thrones - Dance with Dragons (the last published book) and I'm about half way done.<br />
<br />
<b>Planning:</b> My girls weekend with Mel in Chicago!!! We're both tres bummed that the weather is going to be dreary and lame but that just means more indoor activities (my favorite). We're planning on delicious brunches (with AMERICAN BACON, per Mel's request. Apparently bacon in Belgium isn't the same), shopping, hitting up some cool jazz clubs, and just soaking up some quality time being tourists! It's been almost 9 months since I've seen her? If I did that math right. So yea, next weekend is just what the doctor ordered.<br />
<br />
<b>Mad About: </b>The Met Gala fashion. *rolls eyes* What a let down. The best dressed girls could have worn the exact dresses to the Oscars (looking at you, Blake Lively) and all the risk-takers missed the mark like woah (Lupita Nyong'o... uhm... huh?). Let's hope music festival season gives us more to talk about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdxsnv6JB3fWMNcpuSrq9Hyb6qcx3jPbFNI2Eu5IgfgmLECdb_k_ndJZcPuv7sg2w8phDvXpSWLIS128kkONVJIkaXdd7TR54id9_CjOnyu_kOGxn1iDfVlWJPnNhH42v3zB63wKYOpI/s1600/blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdxsnv6JB3fWMNcpuSrq9Hyb6qcx3jPbFNI2Eu5IgfgmLECdb_k_ndJZcPuv7sg2w8phDvXpSWLIS128kkONVJIkaXdd7TR54id9_CjOnyu_kOGxn1iDfVlWJPnNhH42v3zB63wKYOpI/s1600/blake.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*yawn*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivugift9wc_oVif2gBIcqUWuiCEeDeSsLCt3iuKphv5k6-22ggVFy63yaIJdyuZr6gEIpmkNht3NHKZxvY3bXTXKiaDRptPEkYi3tS2apFZ1URKF3xIMQrn4FlnaNaQIyw2Vej1FwSsJM/s1600/lupita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivugift9wc_oVif2gBIcqUWuiCEeDeSsLCt3iuKphv5k6-22ggVFy63yaIJdyuZr6gEIpmkNht3NHKZxvY3bXTXKiaDRptPEkYi3tS2apFZ1URKF3xIMQrn4FlnaNaQIyw2Vej1FwSsJM/s1600/lupita.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Easy, killer.</div>
<br />
<b>Happy About:</b> OMG, did you catch Kevin Durant's MVP acceptance speech?! (I know, I forget my audience isn't nearly as basketball crazed as me). So pleased with the selection this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Craving:</b> Rosa's bean and cheese burritos. Like 5 of them, covered in queso, all in one sitting. Daryl has all of a sudden sworn them off in our household; I think he attributes my Rosa's obsession with the weight I gained last year but he's too kind to say it. No, I get it. I don't blame him. But I really really really really really want <strike>one</strike> five. I'm glad I have him around to <a href="https://screen.yahoo.com/slap-chef-040000749.html">Slap Chef</a> me. (<<No seriously, click that link, it's so funny)<br />
<br />
<b>Creating: </b>A spring/summer wardrobe! I think this is the year I'm branching in to the classy crop top scene. Watch out, world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ApthgM6mwOnhFuu6Jlc-nlPf6t3ZagvE3QEJJWZsyWnYsGgFleog2cOOBjoL3RgYazw1SeQhEqQ0ho0W2KEF55njXZUFK76_paJC_S_pMGHNZuAfeJFPuXrx2kZ-LRwTWF1msrtTUPQ/s1600/black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ApthgM6mwOnhFuu6Jlc-nlPf6t3ZagvE3QEJJWZsyWnYsGgFleog2cOOBjoL3RgYazw1SeQhEqQ0ho0W2KEF55njXZUFK76_paJC_S_pMGHNZuAfeJFPuXrx2kZ-LRwTWF1msrtTUPQ/s1600/black.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwFbPtZHmpQpYo3OEG6Lmu_MMl46DBSV5DONTnJJ_I9tWp4LVoGhQuiV7W-ze82hcZeapqbfUMLHhpoDEsYEHRvkH6E7Kg-8RJ8PlcMBtnSA0m6plHYEvvOSUHGrDgBsUfbENJER9tM4/s1600/colorful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwFbPtZHmpQpYo3OEG6Lmu_MMl46DBSV5DONTnJJ_I9tWp4LVoGhQuiV7W-ze82hcZeapqbfUMLHhpoDEsYEHRvkH6E7Kg-8RJ8PlcMBtnSA0m6plHYEvvOSUHGrDgBsUfbENJER9tM4/s1600/colorful.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm5vnCKCGQZuUVtCIyaauvDwIMaY9Zj4QRaQOG38GxiETYijroinSYB3Joek9_UbKjY6UyP7hqrgs5UW6oM4HFrwavmxTGdFp6Evmeentv-n33YSddMJLTsz0U08W62rEmGhBJF1KGS4/s1600/crop+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm5vnCKCGQZuUVtCIyaauvDwIMaY9Zj4QRaQOG38GxiETYijroinSYB3Joek9_UbKjY6UyP7hqrgs5UW6oM4HFrwavmxTGdFp6Evmeentv-n33YSddMJLTsz0U08W62rEmGhBJF1KGS4/s1600/crop+white.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Celebrating:</b> Doubling my leg press weight, decreasing the assist setting by THREE notches on the pull-up assist machine, and just overall getting a ton stronger at the gym!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0PEqaGeE7j-uX7YL3rMkn8XKAgp1LUuWLmiCZOP5-IyQ3BqJMFA-S6iaFMohVypKzFQpCMX0X7_WmjK4YxtoKf6te5fAgOoJ3iIFQxWX0fAbMsYT1E3SsFkI2TewNrQGUWBQrH7Zxnk/s1600/leg+press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0PEqaGeE7j-uX7YL3rMkn8XKAgp1LUuWLmiCZOP5-IyQ3BqJMFA-S6iaFMohVypKzFQpCMX0X7_WmjK4YxtoKf6te5fAgOoJ3iIFQxWX0fAbMsYT1E3SsFkI2TewNrQGUWBQrH7Zxnk/s1600/leg+press.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
I won't lie. I'm super frustrated with what the scale is showing me these days; I feel like I'm busting my butt (literally, my butt is so sore) but no movement on the scale. I get it, muscle is heavier than fat... but c'mon! I may have to retire that jerk of a scale for a little while.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX5VldjKg1nKz9u_Lpoqv0uX9qREVUMuVSSnP24y89ihemSY0YmdkJ4bgMp_csed8YJ74IgHk9AIFCiNwpkicH406JWHbXtJ-DTFKG4TB7XTNqfehqaurfiam7sUYeweuniNtOWrA8aw/s1600/gym+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX5VldjKg1nKz9u_Lpoqv0uX9qREVUMuVSSnP24y89ihemSY0YmdkJ4bgMp_csed8YJ74IgHk9AIFCiNwpkicH406JWHbXtJ-DTFKG4TB7XTNqfehqaurfiam7sUYeweuniNtOWrA8aw/s1600/gym+selfie.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, and I completed my first 5k! I can't really chalk it up to a huge accomplishment; I walked a ton. But now I'm ready for my next one - I can only get better!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bruo1sqwX3MxOPqCG7uJDN3gBnVia2Fd7ly660IjXFkFH_cnlLEf_stkxOcH2t5ojgAFiFxtXxQeIyZeHSfJWVpVf4Clqaa9KNpCECxY2bZG2k9RL0U2w7MvXQnAJnBqID1HahvRePE/s1600/5k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bruo1sqwX3MxOPqCG7uJDN3gBnVia2Fd7ly660IjXFkFH_cnlLEf_stkxOcH2t5ojgAFiFxtXxQeIyZeHSfJWVpVf4Clqaa9KNpCECxY2bZG2k9RL0U2w7MvXQnAJnBqID1HahvRePE/s1600/5k.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-37549157582723149662014-05-02T08:11:00.001-07:002014-05-02T08:11:33.105-07:00Candy GirlI decided, like a FOOL, on Wednesday that I'm giving up sugar. Again. I've cut it before during <a href="http://overlyenthusiasticarica.blogspot.com/2013/05/whole30-success-with-pictures.html">my Whole30</a> and felt like I could take on the world... but then I had just one little Twix bar and I fell so hard off that wagon. SUGAR IN EVERYTHING! And then I gained like... 15 lbs.<br />
<br />
Honest Abe, I eat 8-10 mini candy bars a day. Every day. Not on cheat days. EVERY. DAY. And I crave them. ESPECIALLY after I eat lunch. I sometimes am STILL CHEWING my last bite of lunch as I walk to the candy bowl for my post-lunch candy. I'm like a zombie and sugar is controlling my life. I am 100% addicted to sugar. It's my little demon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkjI72jS2rVn7nUtkkkt5YspwTlYo8_JM5nt5ywxc8d6PAka9AAFuTy2zlUV-T4fB9mRQZx56-dh1-XwzO476rca8DIA3YnIYcmoeS04ug4jFumZgEB9mwiIyq6BMUwtZ010fzIM8pEc/s1600/sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkjI72jS2rVn7nUtkkkt5YspwTlYo8_JM5nt5ywxc8d6PAka9AAFuTy2zlUV-T4fB9mRQZx56-dh1-XwzO476rca8DIA3YnIYcmoeS04ug4jFumZgEB9mwiIyq6BMUwtZ010fzIM8pEc/s1600/sugar.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Totally looks like a drug up close.</div>
<br />
So I gave it up. I got stuff I want to be skinny for so out you go, sugar. I thought about quitting after my 5k tomorrow but I wasn't sure I'd have the same umph if I waited so I put my foot down and said NO MORE. This may be my biggest blunder right before my first running event, but worst case, I fail miserably at the 5k but I still haven't eaten sugar. That's something I can deal with.<br />
<br />
It's hard and it's making me grumpy and tired and I have headaches and I can't concentrate. I absentmindedly carried a 10lb dumbbell back to the locker room with me yesterday after my workout. It's affecting my life so I feel like I need to explain to people "I'm sorry for saying that mean thing, I decided to give up sugar and I'm just really upset" but at the same time, I don't want people asking me a million questions about giving up sugar so I'm just going to let them think I'm PMSing or something. I am so over explaining why I eat the way I eat.<br />
<br />
I really try not to talk about my diet. I was that girl for a while but I've mostly figured out a good enough way to eat and... well, I'm not on a diet anymore. I just know what foods I like to choose, what foods are only for special occasions and what foods make me feel miserable and I should avoid all together. It's not something I consciously think much about anymore. HOWEVER, this sugar thing is at the forefront of my mind and ALL I want to talk about so you're catching the brunt of it, bloggies.<br />
<br />
I have read articles and can speak from experience, it really does take 21 days to form a habit. During my whole30, the last week was pretty easy, actually. So I followed a Pin-tip and did this in my office:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicMOFQalBDSGp9AeD9eX6Qwl_72Q_7yOlz8xWYRrfIugzaYDRuIt5H3tuRD_iKY84RSFb91LB0XQmVKfgF-t29ilAzN_JvAK7yMOZF6-hvnNj3ZDsoiCZmIT8H4q93UBLeNLiXdx8sP0/s1600/stickies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicMOFQalBDSGp9AeD9eX6Qwl_72Q_7yOlz8xWYRrfIugzaYDRuIt5H3tuRD_iKY84RSFb91LB0XQmVKfgF-t29ilAzN_JvAK7yMOZF6-hvnNj3ZDsoiCZmIT8H4q93UBLeNLiXdx8sP0/s1600/stickies.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
21 sticky flags along the inside of my cabinet as a countdown visual</div>
<br />
I already ripped two off for Wednesday and Thursday. It felt really good. Not as good as eating a Subway chocolate chip cookie or anything... but pretty good.<br />
<br />
I asked Daryl to hide the remaining Easter candy and/or take it to work and he offered to just throw it in the garbage which I think is a great solution. I hate when people pawn their junk food off on me. So in the garbage it went.<br />
<br />
I've been drinking water like it's my job, which seems to help some. Also distractions. Big ups to my coworkers for keeping me busy and/or stopping by to chat. Staying busy is such lame advice for someone trying to quit something but it really does help me. But I have to be real busy, not fake busy (Pinteresting, watching TV, reading a book). Those things just make me want to eat MORE.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5H2t_RJtd39LFxxbJqbQjqAKCBE7zd565Y53R9vncC8AQzfjkbpWDDoRFKjUH_Pu53f8TjG77Ov4WaWYGacRYcOIf6L2dI1Fxlh1bqlSUOJQ9JaDaTyfEUnSN0AazS5KZ1ZVzRw8wgWQ/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5H2t_RJtd39LFxxbJqbQjqAKCBE7zd565Y53R9vncC8AQzfjkbpWDDoRFKjUH_Pu53f8TjG77Ov4WaWYGacRYcOIf6L2dI1Fxlh1bqlSUOJQ9JaDaTyfEUnSN0AazS5KZ1ZVzRw8wgWQ/s1600/bike.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This has helped a lot... even if my heart rate isn't high, at least I'm not tempted to snack.</div>
<br />
And as if it were meant to be, the candy bowl in the front lobby disappeared because they're repainting the lobby! I'm not sure where it is but I've vowed not to look for it. Hoping the painting takes like... 20 or so days to help me avoid the temptation.<br />
<br />
My sis is helping out by sugar detoxing with me... but who else wants in?! C'mooooon... you know you want to! (has that ever worked in the history of ever?)<br />
<br />
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-51915068019323220192014-05-01T10:08:00.000-07:002014-05-01T11:09:52.877-07:00Get RealSo I got an email today from Chase Bank saying I could get pre-sale tickets to the Beyonce/Jay-Z tour this summer, on sale TODAY! I immediately got so excited and followed the link to Ticketmaster. I typed in my code and started browsing the seating chart... thinking if I'd want to invite D or blow him off and force my friend Katie to go with me (she's already in Houston and would be way more fun to take that D). Then I remembered... Oh right. I hate concerts. And I just closed the browser window. And went back to my work.<br />
<br />
So I thought I'd share with you my list of things everyone else seems to love and I do not love.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1</b>. <b>Concerts</b> - the sound quality is poor. It's crowded and expensive. For free, I can stay home and watch Youtube music videos with much better production quality and actually see the star's face. AND I don't have to listen to songs I don't already know. AND I don't have to wear pants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QxH8xvfCcY09uDGnJKoBOArGrNDQLRqkPnGz2pQRf3q6Za4R00zMB9otysUzYpPB8O_IKDv-erg31XT8sI3bBk8CzyAonwUIUC89koR214mruMfxBFQXgWuvhxcaVYi5901LypAovPY/s1600/concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QxH8xvfCcY09uDGnJKoBOArGrNDQLRqkPnGz2pQRf3q6Za4R00zMB9otysUzYpPB8O_IKDv-erg31XT8sI3bBk8CzyAonwUIUC89koR214mruMfxBFQXgWuvhxcaVYi5901LypAovPY/s1600/concert.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just don't get the appeal...</div>
<br />
<b>2</b>. <b>Fresh air</b> - I will almost always choose temperature-controlled indoor activities to fresh air.<br />
<b>3</b>. <b>Bowling</b> - Doesn't it seem like it might give you a wrist injury? It's not very ergonomic.<br />
<b>4</b>. <b>Dodgeball</b> - I just take it too personal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6P64-7VxtfdfCse97rnNg46AAbzUy6m5_EC09Z_rOog9mu740k4EGdYlTIGdJk-aSd5MOvu3xFFnIppVnTx0sfjyZ1cXzhyphenhyphen-pEajosjXG3pl-Ff9XrAd7n8OVTUJAiG_m84ffRfwlu8/s1600/dodgeball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6P64-7VxtfdfCse97rnNg46AAbzUy6m5_EC09Z_rOog9mu740k4EGdYlTIGdJk-aSd5MOvu3xFFnIppVnTx0sfjyZ1cXzhyphenhyphen-pEajosjXG3pl-Ff9XrAd7n8OVTUJAiG_m84ffRfwlu8/s1600/dodgeball.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yea... no. I will not be purposefully signing up for this.</div>
<br />
<b>5.</b> <b>Getting spa treatments/my nails done/my hair done</b> - it takes too damn long! Even massages, where part of me is hoping it goes on forever, another part of me is wishing I weren't laying in a dark room for 90 precious minutes of my beloved Saturday.<br />
<b>6</b>.<b> Babies</b> - Children, yes. Babies, no.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7EE7_qyT4nukC9jHSoGkTX_Wj52gDzT5gspITYkHW9s4bS6FEQqMMkZPVZ41kwfZjnqB0o1iK5WbImuEifgV-rYV89lNHexh_M_nvxiVo7sfm7_Nv8ztObOu0ccL-6SF9c7wW8hiHAo/s1600/peyt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7EE7_qyT4nukC9jHSoGkTX_Wj52gDzT5gspITYkHW9s4bS6FEQqMMkZPVZ41kwfZjnqB0o1iK5WbImuEifgV-rYV89lNHexh_M_nvxiVo7sfm7_Nv8ztObOu0ccL-6SF9c7wW8hiHAo/s1600/peyt+1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The exception.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>7. When my friends call me - </b>Yes, even you. 99% of the time, I'd rather you had text. But everyone agrees with me on that, though, right?<br />
<b>8. Channing Tatum - </b>I'm sorry. This is so mean to say and it's my worst fear that someone else might say it about me because other people HAVE said it about me before but... he's a total butter face. You know, the horrific term guys use for girls with hot bodies and not hot faces... 'everything about her is hot BUT HER FACE... BUTTER FACE'. He just does NOT do it for me. And I'm such an awful person but it's partly those EARS! And also the fact that he's hairless. Weirds me out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjGHdWXBMefxZGBu9dX5b6DR4ptqJLSApt-tQPVMgkUtNqdyNn2r3ggoLnEUHDYVM1q0bK_3TPNnf7W2RCiHGHedL3-FmfLYDriaTeQWOkN4yca1Bhe6S9gH70cqRP0t8WvUifgFJBhA/s1600/channing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjGHdWXBMefxZGBu9dX5b6DR4ptqJLSApt-tQPVMgkUtNqdyNn2r3ggoLnEUHDYVM1q0bK_3TPNnf7W2RCiHGHedL3-FmfLYDriaTeQWOkN4yca1Bhe6S9gH70cqRP0t8WvUifgFJBhA/s1600/channing.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And I'm a brat, but even here, his body is meh. He could use to cut body fat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>9. Moderate temperatures - </b>If it's not 95+ degrees, it's cold and not worth leaving my house for. Stop prancing around in 75 degree weather like it's ideal. If I'm not at a pool, there is no reason for me to be outdoors (see number 2).<br />
<b>10. Pumpkin Spice Lattes </b>- WHITE GIRLS! IT IS NOT WORTH THE CALORIES! And don't act like the dairy in that latte doesn't make you fart. Get real.<br />
<br />
What about you? What awesomeness do you just not get?<br />
<br />
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-72856816836482230402014-04-17T09:14:00.002-07:002014-04-17T09:14:33.411-07:00Friday FiveWell, it's MY Friday anyway! Here's my Thursday Before Good Friday Five!<br />
<br />
1. Daryl's BIRTHDAY is this weekend! He hates his birthday. I love it. I think, honestly, I love it because it forces him to make all the decisions for a weekend? #selfishmuch But I got him a gift I KNOW he's going to love (because he makes an Amazon.com wishlist every year for me), I booked us THE hotel in Lubbock for Friday and Saturday night and I think we have plans to day drink at our favorite bar on Saturday, possibly golf on Sunday... and that's about it. If we find ourselves bored, I may try sneak off and do this to my ear. My favorite piercer is in Lubbock so every time we go I get so tempted to perforate myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdqBbKla2lZ3TivVr1lxHDfWUT93QIp87H5p4frDWMqOHbQwVUuDa81j-VOvIcXrc9S0y5vbEuH_DxxDN0MwVpe3eMCH3hihZ1Vp7aJ9sSivxFuABmwwzGYgAoKs-aDfhdBpyqVyeme4/s1600/ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdqBbKla2lZ3TivVr1lxHDfWUT93QIp87H5p4frDWMqOHbQwVUuDa81j-VOvIcXrc9S0y5vbEuH_DxxDN0MwVpe3eMCH3hihZ1Vp7aJ9sSivxFuABmwwzGYgAoKs-aDfhdBpyqVyeme4/s1600/ear.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. The yard is so sad (said like Gretchen from Mean Girls). We poured our blood, sweat, and skin cells (I'm referring to my blisters I got from pick-axing crab grass all day) and now we have.... a yard of dirt. We're going to get the seed down and mulch to cover the seed from the predatory birds... and then it's just watering but it definitely was a little deflating to work ourselves in to sunburns and ripped hands for a yard UGLIER than what we started with! D would argue that the yard looks better as a plot of dirt than covered in weeds but I find it mighty depressing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMspsUtxosFa9iM4u0sf1X_upthNhOkcuyiGUCB7X2-gcXfR5DQxuWEpHJWijXr-Yu9U161aT7y4ULMBLvHyjDgbcDZtj4nGQ-tjxg8SHTVD2LJizdJLG26T7Vn5EwGzkPQq_q17L0XE8/s1600/ninja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMspsUtxosFa9iM4u0sf1X_upthNhOkcuyiGUCB7X2-gcXfR5DQxuWEpHJWijXr-Yu9U161aT7y4ULMBLvHyjDgbcDZtj4nGQ-tjxg8SHTVD2LJizdJLG26T7Vn5EwGzkPQq_q17L0XE8/s1600/ninja.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Ninja Turtle muscle tee was the only bright side to our yard work weekend</div>
<br />
3. There was a hubub at work on Tuesday afternoon and by the time I got in on Wednesday, bippity boppity boom, my deadlines for a major project were moved forward by MONTHS, my two week training course I was supposed to leave for on Monday was un-approved and I was transformed in to a workaholic. I've already missed TWO lunchtime workouts. Seriously, the idea of having to workout in the AM infuriates me the most in this situation. Crunch time at work, a chance to show off and get all bossy up in here? That's kind of my jam. If only I could put a pause button on a construction project from 12-1pm so I could get my workout in. IF ONLY.<br />
<br />
4. I have not had a manicure in seven weeks. I have not had my eyebrows waxed in MONTHS. And I'm not even going to estimate the pedicure timeline. Oh, and highlights. Ombre's still cool, right? We had planned to do engagement pictures a couple weeks ago but decided to put it off. And with that delay, came my justification to look completely ratchet for a month. It's getting a point of distracting me so I figure, as a very sweet girlfriend present to D, I'll go get the wax/nails thing done tonight so I am a little more presentable this weekend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOQ7O_34FNfqli93rN8GEHi05HY5thzaOS2XHkE9HylIbPe2b4YVPvAzt2cNVqXAVLAZCIlAPyfKYdcDd16N7-3nYjwMQ1HQUxrSnfky88fTlSU-NEnk8B7Zx4UzK3GpO114HFl24934/s1600/nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOQ7O_34FNfqli93rN8GEHi05HY5thzaOS2XHkE9HylIbPe2b4YVPvAzt2cNVqXAVLAZCIlAPyfKYdcDd16N7-3nYjwMQ1HQUxrSnfky88fTlSU-NEnk8B7Zx4UzK3GpO114HFl24934/s1600/nails.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh the horror!</div>
<br />
5. And lastly, I'd like to discuss my post-workout mile. I am not a runner but since I've gotten pretty deep in to Jamie Eason program, I'm feeling strong these days. I thought I'd give running another try because Jamie promised that cardio would be easier as I built up muscle. I'm proud to report that after a grueling 40 minute leg workout Monday, I hopped on the treadmill and cranked out a mile with my last 10 minutes of my lunch break WHILE chatting with the trainer who was sitting on the spin bike next to me making small talk. I mean, that would have never happened a couple months ago. :D I know I could have run further <strike>and</strike> or faster, so I'm kind of psyched to see what I can do with a Saturday morning and no time limit! Not an awful start though!HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-31249113548837923732014-04-15T08:43:00.000-07:002014-04-15T08:43:31.669-07:00R-e-s-p-e-c-tSo I got some really sweet feedback on my serious-ish blog last week! Which is so kind, and unexpected, since my blog was a commentary blog on someone else's blog about the Bible. That's pretty 'Seven degrees of Kevin Bacon', so I'm glad it translated!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I mean, why not do it again!!! I read articles all the time that I think are GREAT and speak to me personally and help me. Instead of just sharing the link, from time to time I'll actually allow myself to write my own commentary about them here on ze blog. I get a kick out of it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I read an article that my former pastor <a href="http://sharonwichita.com/">Brother Steve</a> shared on his Facebook. I read the majority of it with that same look on my face that Kanye gets when I catch him eating his sister's food. #busted </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/02/22/your-husband-doesnt-have-to-earn-your-respect/">Here's the article</a> and I can't say it better than this guy did, so I'd highly recommend reading it. The message: <b>Your man does not have to EARN your respect.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I saw a book one time called <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/love-respect-most-desires-desperately-needs/emerson-eggerichs/9781591451877/pd/451876">Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, The Respect He Desparately Need</a>s. I have no idea if this book is good, I just read the cover and it wasn't what I thought I needed at the time, but it has always ALWAYS stuck in my head. Just the concepts behind it because it rings really true to me. And while I was reading this article, I was thinking about that relationship between thoughtfulness and respect.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I realize there are some exceptions, but stay with me on this... I'm going to speak in some serious generalities here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One thing that women crave from their man is thoughtfulness. It's not the only thing they crave, but it's something men typically aren't naturally good at so it's something they feel a deficit in. Men have to actively TRY to be thoughtful while women are naturals. I bet men wouldn't say they crave thoughtfulness because they already get it. In spades! Women notice their man's shampoo bottle is a little light, and without having to be asked, pick him up a spare. Nothing ceremonious. Nothing out of the norm. <i>Baby, we were born this way</i> (Lady Gaga style). Men... not so much. Could you imagine how excited you'd be if your man noticed that, remembered the exact brand of shampoo and picked you up a bottle! Your little head would explode on the spot. Right?<br />
<br />
....Right?<br />
<br />
Or would you think to yourself, "gah, my conditioner was running low, too. Obviously. I use both every time I'm in the shower, why didn't he think to get conditioner, too??" Thoughtfulness is something men have to be really intentional about and make a lot of effort on and <i>still</i> don't come close to how good we are at it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately, respect is the flip side of that coin but it doesn't get the news coverage that men's thoughtlessness gets. Men respect their ladies without thinking about it. It's something that comes very naturally to them and we probably take for granted. We don't sit around, chatting with our girlfriends, saying things like "man, I wish he didn't complain about my cooking so much" or "He rolls his eyes every time I tell a story". I mean... if those things are happening, you should definitely complain to your girlfriends. That's not very nice of him. With that said, yes. He's going to say things that hurt our feelings now and then... but that's generally not out of DISRESPECT, it's out of thoughtlessness. I think disrespect is a lot more intentional than thoughtlessness.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thoughtfulness begets respect. Respect begets thoughtfulness. I'm going to be honest, I don't know what begets means, but I think that's how it goes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now to put my stuff in the streets, and hopefully y'all can't relate (no, hopefully you can't! Hopefully this is not one of your struggles!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can, without meaning to at all, treat D like a child. If I feel like he's talking too loud in a restaurant, I tell him "OMG, Daryl, you're yelling! Lower your voice" and he immediately gets defensive. Obviously. Because I'm treating him like a child. If he tells a story he means to be funny or entertaining and it falls flat, I'm the first one to laugh and say "cool story bro" to tease him about the story not being a hit. I could call it teasing, but it's not teasing. It's me not being on his team. Let one of his buddies be the one to crack that joke. They will! There is absolutely NO need for me to beat them to the punch. I'm guilty of telling embarrassing stories about him because they're mildly funny. If his buddies are teasing him, I've been known to join in rather than defend him or stay out of it. And my worst offense, for sure, is criticizing. He does something and I tear it apart, tell him how it could be done better, faster, easier. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Okay, it's tougher than I thought to talk about my disrespect without mentioning things he does that provoke my disrespect. But I'm not going to put HIS business on the blog, so I'll just leave it at those vague examples and just stick with the imaginary shampoo metaphor.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm really, REALLY lucky because I do respect the heck out of Daryl. He's super motivated, he has a ton of talents, he's smart and makes great decisions... most of the time. Sometimes... not so much. Now, is he a master at being thoughtful? Not yet. (a girl can hope, okay!?) <i>But he tries</i>. His attempts don't always meet my standards. His attempts sometimes leave me thinking "if he'd just done it like <i>this</i>, if he'd thought to get conditioner, too, it would have been better." Or worse, I expect the infamous mind-read: "I had been working on killing that bottle of shampoo because I was wanting try that new brand, now I'm stuck with this bottle so I'm not appreciative that he thought to do this" or maybe I just plain not appreciative at all "I<i> told him </i>I was planning to go to Target later, it was on my list, he didn't save me any time or effort by doing this."<br />
<br />
But in those instances, I have to remember my respect most of all. If I were to criticize his efforts (and 50% of the time, I just blurt out my disappointment, without thinking of the effects of my words), what is the outcome I expect? Him to magically think like a woman? To sit at his desk all day researching the hottest brand of shampoo for my hair type? No. He doesn't eve know I HAVE a hair type. The next time he feels my empty shampoo bottle, do you know what he's going to do? Sure as hell NOT buy me another bottle.<br />
<br />
But what's a girl to do when, on a regular basis, the gesture just doesn't measure up to what it COULD have been? Uhm... I'm pretty sure the correct answer to that is 'realize you married a man'? And I don't mean that to be sexist at all. Shampoo/flowers/jewelry and, unfortunately, romance in general just aren't his strong suite (normally). But do you know what? When he took my car in, he got the right oil put in it. When he mowed the lawn, he edged and trimmed the hedges and put the tools away. And when he saw that weird pendant necklace that I wouldn't be caught dead wearing, he thought of his ladyfriend. <i>I'm on his mind.</i> He loves me and wants to make me happy. Like a dog bringing the most important person in the world to him a dead bird. The best of intentions. Instead of criticizing when he does it wrong, I need to just gush when he gets it right. Brag on him in front of him. The polar opposite of criticizing him. Positive reinforcement (which I hate to use the term, because it sounds like raising a child or training a dog) but it is what it is. To get him to narrow in on the types of thoughtfulness I love, I'm going to have to praise him when he gets it right instead of tearing him down when he misses the mark.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FjeLpnCDdxn_vpt9ketSD2XQTZu6MwrltL_JsAFzNKjrseLIGTjbqCKcONgeyIt754Sj6dsT5MrLF4_y7FhfoO6FdJpqoJ3YNRkfaV2D-pqP5F-eyJ8i8N_W9TL80MCmFUs3soYC_KY/s1600/quite+perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FjeLpnCDdxn_vpt9ketSD2XQTZu6MwrltL_JsAFzNKjrseLIGTjbqCKcONgeyIt754Sj6dsT5MrLF4_y7FhfoO6FdJpqoJ3YNRkfaV2D-pqP5F-eyJ8i8N_W9TL80MCmFUs3soYC_KY/s1600/quite+perfect.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I expect him to be thoughtful and loving when I'm PMSing. When I am stressed and being snippy and rude. When I'm criticizing him. I expect him to love me at my worst, when I need it the most. When I'm not acting in a very lovable way, when I'm being difficult to love... THAT'S when I need his love and thoughtfulness the most.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He expects me to respect him when he's wrong. When he's had two too many beers and is acting a fool (we've all been there). When he is in front of his coworkers and when it's just the two of us, at home. When he's trying something he's not good at and feels vulnerable. He needs respect the most, not when he's just fixed my car and is puffed up with pride... he needs it during those times when, let's be honest, we're thinking in our heads, "What a bonehead". Those are the times that I have to dig deep and behave respectfully, even if I'm not feeling 100% respectful at the time. I tell myself, "You suck it up, buttercup! He's your man!" Respect is my duty to him, not a benefit that depends on if he's acting a way I like that particular day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Alright... this one got a little wordy, folks. I'll try to keep it more concise next time. I hope respect comes easily to you this week. I'm PMSing so I hope it comes easily to me, too! :) XO!</div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-55954603742555355922014-04-08T08:09:00.001-07:002014-04-08T08:09:37.120-07:005 ThingsOh man, I haven't done a 5 things post in a while! This is where I write about 5 things I'm completely and utterly OBSESSED with at this moment in time. My obsessions are generally revolving, so I always have new material.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiA88xAH2IWVvS8qYDzIXsoVa0GD854mtCiWpssGiH1bGFDs9XRfEEgbSW7-cDRbLS9o_YuHYzmwvJYPn_PRV9l_EEhTsTyAD_yist3ayMGB3K4u8eWFzhWzTrSp77UqoGDATrgFQjNs/s1600/DDF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiA88xAH2IWVvS8qYDzIXsoVa0GD854mtCiWpssGiH1bGFDs9XRfEEgbSW7-cDRbLS9o_YuHYzmwvJYPn_PRV9l_EEhTsTyAD_yist3ayMGB3K4u8eWFzhWzTrSp77UqoGDATrgFQjNs/s1600/DDF.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.ddfskincare.com/anti-aging-preventative/moisturize/ddf-wrinkle-resist-plus-pore-minimizer-%28moisturizing-serum%29/PG_00060748002377,default,pd.html">DDF Wrinkle Resist plus Pore Minimizing Serum</a> - okay so it's SO expensive. And if you have good skin, maybe skip this recommendation. But as someone who has struggled with her skin since 5th grade, this stuff has changed my life (dramatic much?) I got a little .5 oz sample in my Birchbox and 3 weeks later, I'm still using it and have plenty left. It goes a LONG way. And seriously, I feel like I don't even need foundation anymore. My under eye bags, way smaller (dare I say, gone?). My pores, teensy. My skin tone is finally evening out. I swear it's even helping out with my acne scars. And my skin is SO soft. Be still, my heart. You can get the .5 oz sample for $10 (I know, EXPENSIVE) at Ulta if you want to give it a go for a month. Askderm.com has a 20% off deal on it if you do want to pull the trigger on the full size bottle with coupon code ASKDERM20. I hate recommending something that's such a budget buster but I just can't keep this one to myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtUJpUcqopzZyOGQH4p3l1kQ8hNBXjCRQzpXzJCZ0p2xyyENEtiQrMmxhRXEUCyHCDRbKcxxT3Vk4cmLxM3qFXQyrsGSafLiu5r0zL0_TuE7QmAfXecm1XalkLSwbDPcH_zXL_noJFIg/s1600/brussel+sprouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtUJpUcqopzZyOGQH4p3l1kQ8hNBXjCRQzpXzJCZ0p2xyyENEtiQrMmxhRXEUCyHCDRbKcxxT3Vk4cmLxM3qFXQyrsGSafLiu5r0zL0_TuE7QmAfXecm1XalkLSwbDPcH_zXL_noJFIg/s1600/brussel+sprouts.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.preppypaleo.com/2013/10/roasted-garlic-brussels-sprouts.html?spref=pi">The Preppy Paleo's Roasted Garlic Brussel Sprouts</a> - Holy (gluten free) macaroni, so so so good. I didn't even know if I liked Brussel sprouts but assumed I would since I can't think of a veggie I don't like (except mushrooms... are those veggies?) D doesn't like Brussel sprouts (is it proper to capitalize that? I do in honor of Mel and Andy) but admitted these were the best he'd ever had... although he still doesn't like them. Hey, pretty rave review coming from him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sVyB7wazXNJXPt-_6t5R_xssA5SqY1FWKPFaovyBpJzKjBoIvvRuEqvL9uIwjRzhb-M7Z4hkd31kQg_anLMmYDVC_t-ywtF6sVIUkwensEFLytAsGGGhsfw7OIbmU2OsGKrcTlmz56U/s1600/ficus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sVyB7wazXNJXPt-_6t5R_xssA5SqY1FWKPFaovyBpJzKjBoIvvRuEqvL9uIwjRzhb-M7Z4hkd31kQg_anLMmYDVC_t-ywtF6sVIUkwensEFLytAsGGGhsfw7OIbmU2OsGKrcTlmz56U/s1600/ficus.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3. My new Ficus plant - I've been wanting a Fiddle Leaf Fig since... well... since everyone on the blogosphere got one and I felt way left out, out here in the desert where they don't sell them. This $9.99 ficus D found way in the back of a bunch of palms will fit the bill, I think! So leafy and statement-y. Oh, and I painted the grout in the living room! It makes a world of difference, but now I have to keep going. So. Much. Tile.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxRbeFXnmf7yWmKK6TB4MkLn5EqNy_u0zGIanW9C8C5umBaiV4URYxya-QUIpQfCTsYGHk_aAm0CfACLBbjcJavnWj7piCaeK1crXNqmhw04bHm_P5e31nWXUhGthnfc-P8sQ0CB_LPw/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxRbeFXnmf7yWmKK6TB4MkLn5EqNy_u0zGIanW9C8C5umBaiV4URYxya-QUIpQfCTsYGHk_aAm0CfACLBbjcJavnWj7piCaeK1crXNqmhw04bHm_P5e31nWXUhGthnfc-P8sQ0CB_LPw/s1600/home.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Getting it home was an adventure. D said "I guess I can't turn left with that thing in the passenger seat" to which I told him I guess he's not an ambi-turner and the Zoolander quoting commenced.</div>
<br />
4. Iced coffee!!! Tis the season! I picked up my first one last week when the weather forecast our first 90deg day and forgot how happy they make me (and how much condensation they produce! C'mon Sbux, you haven't figured out a solution for that yet?) I was getting tired of plain black coffee and had started eyeing the lattes. I needed a change and this should tide me over for a while.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9ijcf3cZ7hppY9j6PWcXDi_xzyzoAPVyqcoi_MFD27I0tTPZFC8Y8rIs9Ce8VjRLtExEHRwZ_ZMWdtMEWvjVj0i1NSesth62vpjXq11JOHI70XfzJsfDjUWwarubTCMO-khXEFw9SVQ/s1600/squats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9ijcf3cZ7hppY9j6PWcXDi_xzyzoAPVyqcoi_MFD27I0tTPZFC8Y8rIs9Ce8VjRLtExEHRwZ_ZMWdtMEWvjVj0i1NSesth62vpjXq11JOHI70XfzJsfDjUWwarubTCMO-khXEFw9SVQ/s1600/squats.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
5. Dumbbell Plie Squats - oooo mama. They burn in all the right places AND they don't require a barbell! I much prefer finding ways to lift that don't require a barbell on my shoulders (I do my Jamie Eason barbell lunges with dumbbells, shhhhhh, don't tell her!). The ergonomics of it just don't feel right, ever, and I've had Gerald check my form. Not the point. These squats are great and really, really hard (for me, anyway). I hold a 30 lb dumbbell and struggled to get 3 sets of 10 with good form. Lemme know what your stats are if you try them!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What are your latest obsessions, folks?</div>
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-82616767353703829792014-04-07T10:54:00.000-07:002014-04-07T10:54:34.328-07:00Weekend High/Lows<div>
<b>Friday Low</b> - Hmmm... what did we do Friday night? I think I can give my Friday Low to D. He had the worst week ever at work, so Friday night we just ordered McAlister's, watched TV and chilled.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Friday High</b> - D put together the munchkins' new crate mansion! We hate having their beat up travel crates in our bedroom, so I ordered them a nice, wooden crate they are going to start sharing at bedtime.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gABdJlhy3WwesEkAh8JGvU43_HdQiMDAojzx1WqlFdZyfTTSFEa2r1fLLTM4W6JQDeNnkuQfTyv5box1LsmtqM-3cC_evxyFq87vCaOeyl0WCzIgCcsM9hSnRlG33LS2h2LeBLfRSWQ/s1600/crate+mansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gABdJlhy3WwesEkAh8JGvU43_HdQiMDAojzx1WqlFdZyfTTSFEa2r1fLLTM4W6JQDeNnkuQfTyv5box1LsmtqM-3cC_evxyFq87vCaOeyl0WCzIgCcsM9hSnRlG33LS2h2LeBLfRSWQ/s1600/crate+mansion.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They loved it and I'm not even just saying that. They love their little crates and I think they thought they hit the puppy jackpot with this giant one. Although Kanye did get in and look at me like, "Can we go to Nonna's?" It may take him a while to understand the difference been permanent bedroom furniture and travel crate.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Saturday Low</b> - Wedding dress shopping. Which is so depressing, right? I was having anxiety that I'd love every dress I tried on and never be able to make a decision but after 5 dresses, I asked my mom, sister and Ashley "Am I going to be THAT bride?! That hates everything she tries on?!?" I liked tops of dresses and bottoms of others, but none were just right and I think I tried on close to ten. I'm thinking maybe we weren't in the right store; there wasn't a ton of variety. Also, I'm sample size on the top, but not so sample size on the bottom. So I couldn't zip the dresses over my Hugh Jass and then the consultants kept saying "there are bra inserts in the dressing room if you want to put some in your bra to fill the top out" and I had to keep repeating "I already have some in!" Definitely a little depressing! I did get a little excited about a couple dresses... but mostly just because they fit! We'll have to give it another go in Lubbock later this month.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Saturday High</b> - Post dress shopping kitchen painting with Ashley. I'm not going to see her for over a month due to our training schedules so it was SO nice to throw on some yoga pants, drink wine, paint, and catch up. Also, hibachi for dinner wasn't too shabby either!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Sunday Low</b> - OMG you guys. I was channeling my inner Melissa or something on Sunday night and decided to spray paint the old brass fireplace cover while D was at a pick up basketball game. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DdTl1civ85bq2wvbztlmHxzwhTfHZiYSWar5tZHqkV4S0s7_W16RrxaEL4EFdP6oUZoHXwQmgiy52S6e02NJS7VanEWb01pjLbHxRP-IwODqmeMG7NO1LvgTUl-geCqGh8RtjmzW9v0/s1600/hearth2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DdTl1civ85bq2wvbztlmHxzwhTfHZiYSWar5tZHqkV4S0s7_W16RrxaEL4EFdP6oUZoHXwQmgiy52S6e02NJS7VanEWb01pjLbHxRP-IwODqmeMG7NO1LvgTUl-geCqGh8RtjmzW9v0/s1600/hearth2.png" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kind of blurry but you can see the shiny monster over there behind Shay Shay and Peyt.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I knew Daryl wouldn't be happy about me using spray paint in the house so after he left, I got out some craft paper and tape and taped off the hearth. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTZZrcb1XcHBLtn1nrwcGnOkQw4JCyH7StW6SQeY_IEyvLAsmQ0popj2yIJwPUkZoVNam6ReEtMFWvYkgx93_Dq5sDaaYOUUED1FXaCKnuA-bh-SA3QnGJmSfWwaOUCi6SPpMtzLMP2w/s1600/hearth+tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTZZrcb1XcHBLtn1nrwcGnOkQw4JCyH7StW6SQeY_IEyvLAsmQ0popj2yIJwPUkZoVNam6ReEtMFWvYkgx93_Dq5sDaaYOUUED1FXaCKnuA-bh-SA3QnGJmSfWwaOUCi6SPpMtzLMP2w/s1600/hearth+tape.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It took SO long just to get it taped off, but I thought it was my insurance policy to prove to Daryl it was no big deal. After one coat, I let it dry and walked back over to the fire place... at which time my feet stuck to the tile floor. I didn't realize how big the plume of paint would be! I had gotten it all over the floor, the parts of the hearth I hadn't taped off, and the back of our (old) leather sofa! I went in to full panic mode! I ran off to grab cloths to wipe everything down but on my way back, I saw I had tracked brown footprints everywhere I'd gone! I had to go scrub my feet in the bathtub, which is now pretty brown but I'm hoping I can clean with bleach. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0w-NLsxRshKD3LOhIEOboEnbPTdZ7Ikr33YWZf_SkoTtuzCNEW2kD-uPWWC7r0JVL4gSVp2Bj_9S3H1RwkxD2-8ii0Ng-4hDBCSlAlcYVfOXOsDM4bzPI9kQiheV9vqwVxgkcUOcKKg/s1600/hearth+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0w-NLsxRshKD3LOhIEOboEnbPTdZ7Ikr33YWZf_SkoTtuzCNEW2kD-uPWWC7r0JVL4gSVp2Bj_9S3H1RwkxD2-8ii0Ng-4hDBCSlAlcYVfOXOsDM4bzPI9kQiheV9vqwVxgkcUOcKKg/s1600/hearth+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Muuuuch better than the shiny brass it was before</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(and I removed the paper from the glass after I took this picture)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Luckily/Unluckily, D started feeling terribly sick while he was at basketball (we think he has the same stomach bug I was battling a couple weeks ago) so when he got home, he could not have cared any less that I'd gotten paint on the tile. Phew. Turned out to be a win, but it was a very dramatic evening.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sunday High - We finally tore down the hideous old trellis in the backyard! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP5xQRhJp6zxgXeNV_rFI8MDZh-irla0N8Sh2gISZ49Ao4BHRr1zGoRMyNfCBVRXZ6HT5uR_MyHW0BCg3PCaUhr76B9sbrYwMOCcdMA8oOJa2t99kVifzBUq8D2_x5rIPCo0-8qcGVE0/s1600/Breakfast+Area.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP5xQRhJp6zxgXeNV_rFI8MDZh-irla0N8Sh2gISZ49Ao4BHRr1zGoRMyNfCBVRXZ6HT5uR_MyHW0BCg3PCaUhr76B9sbrYwMOCcdMA8oOJa2t99kVifzBUq8D2_x5rIPCo0-8qcGVE0/s1600/Breakfast+Area.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can see it out there, through the windows of this before kitchen picture (wow, has it come a long way). I don't have a better before because we purposely never photographed it because it was fugly (pardon my french). We have a covered porch but the previous owners had added a pergola of sorts... with a trellis wall on one side. I mentioned to D that I should have taken a better before, but we were too excited to start ripping stuff down. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9-wBcO2bGo-7sKC7b5vSAHIHLmTHUaKnfyDGS7DWk2njk9zVOM-3ypZ-UEm0QmlsywPvGgpDd1YNqfWHUmaO-_Jbi_OweLkYwa4XPLAhuBwLAjS2R01HAUcvlu1NciQ2Z6CVz1qvWIk/s1600/trellising.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9-wBcO2bGo-7sKC7b5vSAHIHLmTHUaKnfyDGS7DWk2njk9zVOM-3ypZ-UEm0QmlsywPvGgpDd1YNqfWHUmaO-_Jbi_OweLkYwa4XPLAhuBwLAjS2R01HAUcvlu1NciQ2Z6CVz1qvWIk/s1600/trellising.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This wall right here was covered in decaying trellis before we got our hands on it. It was barely tack nailed to the roof so it came off pretty easily. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTb2I2n6CLVy2onwa_03Jh2AX3XactMyFPON4HrfxjLuy1lPFPuASZ3bqsc5kUAexHoGiszZ_H01_pj0PGgkr8WGmf6f2yyJoD0_aFB8KURdR5J4rPjC-jzSgAhU9ErRr80zSn2P7Xlk/s1600/Better+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTb2I2n6CLVy2onwa_03Jh2AX3XactMyFPON4HrfxjLuy1lPFPuASZ3bqsc5kUAexHoGiszZ_H01_pj0PGgkr8WGmf6f2yyJoD0_aFB8KURdR5J4rPjC-jzSgAhU9ErRr80zSn2P7Xlk/s1600/Better+view.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Ahhhhh much better! We're now eyeing those crummy old pillars that are in desperate need of an upgrade. Daryl may be converting me to loving outdoor DIY as much as I love indoor ones! Also, you wouldn't know it from those blue skies, but approximately an hour after, a little rain cloud rolled in. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NXnbCoiG_om2XGqeAmJaKECDF6nD_7kMBmf1XiKc-CayTPAds6EtfoRXi5WAQ-0aLh1gHiac1e6M6r_OIT_ocRrAYAWtk4RAb6I1801RjD6gddEN1mPkIohrvjl0RLIHhQ-frqMp7LM/s1600/pawprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NXnbCoiG_om2XGqeAmJaKECDF6nD_7kMBmf1XiKc-CayTPAds6EtfoRXi5WAQ-0aLh1gHiac1e6M6r_OIT_ocRrAYAWtk4RAb6I1801RjD6gddEN1mPkIohrvjl0RLIHhQ-frqMp7LM/s1600/pawprints.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
I didn't think it was enough to cause any real mud... but if there is mud, these fur monsters will find it... and track it in, across the leather couch and my jeans. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope your weekend was as productive but slightly less messy than mine! </div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-39169374810661071582014-04-04T13:53:00.000-07:002014-04-04T13:53:29.013-07:00What's in my Purse?Happy Friday lovers! We did it! Tomorrow brings lots of excitement for me... I'm trying on WEDDING DRESSES! I've told myself I'm just going to shop and not purchase tomorrow, taking some of the pressure off. I've been hydrating all day, passed on the free wine at Thursday Thursday at the ballpark last night & did my FULL cardio workout today. I'm serious about this.<br />
<br />
A while back I mentioned on Instagram that I keep a sports bra in my purse. Because you never know. Everyone has that thing they carry 'because you never know', right? And my friends teased me. And I was like, what?! That's not the strangest thing I've ever carried in my purse. It's probably the strangest thing in my purse these days but maybe not. You be the judge:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw02Bg0rNfL_k1Nb9oQjKT3P4d_HQgJBDB4H-X1EynY6TdbkQxHROHuenXIEy-eI9t9FQ8OZr0iNfbrUPeKgUZVvKyMAPYUEe3zTwI2mVlwFCXiVhE79_K8VBNZO1wHcerbtEWyY-88I/s1600/purse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw02Bg0rNfL_k1Nb9oQjKT3P4d_HQgJBDB4H-X1EynY6TdbkQxHROHuenXIEy-eI9t9FQ8OZr0iNfbrUPeKgUZVvKyMAPYUEe3zTwI2mVlwFCXiVhE79_K8VBNZO1wHcerbtEWyY-88I/s1600/purse2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLch2RFvJ_y2LlQw2oAbLML0XNGz9XD_IjotXRxQw5FGjvYls8rHKpY_dYkwpMl1Gh7ykLVaST7vRZMMDG8Z616tcSdBQPNwlTX-AhTQTDUcZx0bLXcuxJXI-LDy7YXmeXHejkpUjXy8/s1600/purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLch2RFvJ_y2LlQw2oAbLML0XNGz9XD_IjotXRxQw5FGjvYls8rHKpY_dYkwpMl1Gh7ykLVaST7vRZMMDG8Z616tcSdBQPNwlTX-AhTQTDUcZx0bLXcuxJXI-LDy7YXmeXHejkpUjXy8/s1600/purse.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also carry my full makeup bag with me in my purse most all the time... but 'What's In Your Makeup Bag?' sounded like a whole other post :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.ghdhair.com/us/gold-series/ghd-gold-max">GHD Flat Iron</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dasani water bottle</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tiny hairbrush</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sunnies (from Target)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Cynthia Rowley wallet that I never use anymore</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My gold business card case (empty, need to refill)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My leopard compact 'confidence mirror' - you know, for right after you blow your nose or eat something with poppy seeds... just to check things out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bath and Body Works Mentha Shimmer Tint... you know the stuff. The same stuff we used to wear in high school. It's still just as good, just as tingly... and just as sticky.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.popbeauty.co.uk/Popbeauty_Products/Lips/Aqua_Lacquer/index.html">Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer</a> (the very bright pink one) in Flowering Fushia that I got in my Birchbox. Approximately 1/10 as sticky as the B&BW stuff and not as fluorescent as it looks. My current fave.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bath and Body Works Night Balm - it's just Carmex as far as I can tell.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My wedding planning notebook my sissy got me :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My mini file folder for budgeting cash out all Dave Ramsey style... which I haven't used in a while.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My mini sewing kit (that glaring white square)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
EOS chapstick that's alllllllllmost too empty to use.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
iPhone earbuds</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seacrets nail file</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My phone wallet with my Lexus key attached</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Uber Larabar in Coconut Macaroon (which I promptly ate after photographing)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Generic Benedryl</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.gilchristsoames.com/london-body-lotion-8oz.html">Hand lotion</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My inhaler</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hand sani</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.sergenormant.com/meta-revive-dry-conditioner/">Dry Conditioner</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A pair of clip on, blinged out Kate Spade earrings</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/pure-ice-nail-colors">Clear nail polish</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A sharpie and the black pen my sis gave me with the wedding notebook</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A plastic spoon - which I had to throw away after laying on my office carpet like that :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A ton of old receipts, candy wrappers, a Rockhounds baseball ticket, multiple errant sticky notes, lady products, a Christmas ornament I got at the company Christmas party and my garage door opener (not pictured)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I first got my beloved Louis Vuitton bag, I SWORE I wouldn't carry pens, liquids, food or anything sharp. DEFINITELY not Sharpies. That did not last. Quick review of my Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM - it's everything. Holding up great, the patima is taking a while to come in (which is good with me, the longer it can look brand new, the better!) and I LOVE how wide it opens. I mean, look at that first picture. This baby GAPES open, making it the easiest bag I've ever carried to find my dang keys in. Very pleased! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Alright girls, spill! (literally, har har) What's in your purse these days? And what's your one strange thing that you just would rather not leave the house without (a full size flat iron?)?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Have a glorious weekend!HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-81780513698067770992014-04-03T08:54:00.000-07:002014-04-03T08:54:28.522-07:00God-Given GiftsI had a little mini-epiphany the other day so I figured I'd share it! Disclaimer: this blog isn't really that entertaining. Don't worry, I'll be back to my old self tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I read <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=2585655755&group=0&frame_type=b&blog=4487531&link=aHR0cDovL2pvbGVuZWVuZ2xlLmNvbS9mYWl0aC1maWxsZWQtd2lmZS1wYXJ0LTIv&frame=1&click=0&user=0">an article about "The measure of faith"</a>... discussing how, in the Bible, they talk about God giving each person a different measure of faith. And God gave some people the gift of great faith, others the gift of giving wise advice, others the gift of special knowledge. I'm paraphrasing here, it's 1 Corinthians 12:6, but the point is, he didn't give ALL of us the gift of great faith.<br />
<br />
My epiphany was two fold. First off: <b>None of us got <u>all</u> the gifts</b>. For a long time, I resented that <i>almost</i> every time (had to go back and add that 'almost' haha) D and I get in to an argument, I have to be the one that ends the fight. I have to apologize first. I have to crack the first joke. I have to describe why I thought we got in to this fight and how I thought we could avoid it next time. I'm the peace-maker. That is one of my gifts. And it DROVE ME NUTS (and made me angry) that he didn't share that same gift. I wanted to be the stubborn one and I wanted him to figure out a way to calm me down and make things better. And I judged him for not naturally being good at that. But do you know what? Daryl has a really great gift of being a helluva lot more easy going than me. He picks one fight to my <strike>10</strike> <strike>20</strike> 25. He lets the little things go so masterfully, with no resentment (that I can tell, anyway). If it weren't for that gift, we'd be in bad shape. So who am I to cast judgement? I should absolutely be thankful ONE of us is good at peace-making and one of us is good at letting the little things go. It's what makes us work. And, for that matter, I should be super willing to peace-make as quickly as I can. It's a gift I was given to strengthen my future marriage. I need to use that gift joyfully (and humbly, because I probably picked the fight to begin with!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK301s4Pl-jBmbMVDNvmP1Ljm5RSboIzvQxW9CTzkjPFg4Fkb1RAaSiQCr0lswzxPxCybxJ0JKIWwCBZUsTW9xss4wkHnN898WekzYjYUb5PXCUTVop5LiQ7SDkVxh8eT6KsRQS6_B-0/s1600/solution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK301s4Pl-jBmbMVDNvmP1Ljm5RSboIzvQxW9CTzkjPFg4Fkb1RAaSiQCr0lswzxPxCybxJ0JKIWwCBZUsTW9xss4wkHnN898WekzYjYUb5PXCUTVop5LiQ7SDkVxh8eT6KsRQS6_B-0/s1600/solution.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Similarly, I am super efficient. Daryl is super detail oriented and patient. Who am I to cast judgement that he does not have the same gift I have of efficiency? A couple nights ago, I watched him painstakingly shim our kitchen table so it wouldn't wobble (and making sure it was perfectly level). I sat straddling a backwards kitchen chair, watching him, having to tell myself this is a gift. The fact that he will work hard for a long time to make something perfect... that's GOOD! I, on the other hand, would have done the job in 1/2 the time and it wouldn't have been QUITE as level and wouldn't have lasted half as long before it started wobbling again. So, with the task of getting the house cleaned for the house guests we were expecting the next day, I have to realize, this is my strength. I can get 90% of the house clean (not perfect, but efficient), all while he is distracted shimming that table. This is my God-given strength and I need to work on joyfully using it. Because there will be times when perfection and patience will be required (hanging my new 5' longhorn skull comes to mind) and I will get utterly frustrated and complacent about 10 minutes in and I will need to lean on his strengths.<br />
<br />
Overall, I just started thinking about strengths... and how sometimes we have a hard time identifying them. And how sometimes I try to force people to do things that aren't a strength of their's but is a strength of mine and get so frustrated when they don't do it the same way I would. Changing people is hard (impossible?). Learning to focus on strengths and<i> humbly</i> be patient with weaknesses is possible! And something I'm going to try harder at.<br />
<br />
My second ephipony is: <b>some of us are not designed to have GREAT faith</b>. <i>The article/verse was really discussing THIS issue, not the one I was talking about before, but it's funny how the same verse can teach so many lessons depending on what you're going through at the time.</i> Anyway, I read these blogs and admire other very devoted, faith-filled couples. And I look at Daryl and I and I start to feel... a little less than? I worry what is wrong with us. Why do we seem to not have as much faith as other couples, when we believe all the same things they do? And I felt a little more contentment after reading this article and realizing, maybe NEITHER of us got this gift. We have faith... but neither of us have GREAT faith. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The blog says "</span>Perhaps you have more time [than your husband] to dig deeper into the Scriptures or listen to Bible radio programs throughout the day and as a result, your faith is stronger [than your husband's]." Neither of us have that time (I say as I write a blog... #guilty). We both strive to grow our faith, but neither of us have the personality type that is predisposed toward great faith... and for the first time, after reading this article and verse, I realized that's okay. Just keep reading the Word. And keep praying. And be content with trying to be good people who love God.<br />
<br />
So anyway, if you love God but feel like you're surrounded by people who seem to love God MORE somehow, know that I feel ya. And I'll probably pray for you to have peace in the measure of faith God gave you, but I might not mention it on Facebook. And people might not think of me when they think of Christian mentors, which honestly hurts my ego a little because I do want to be an example people think of when they think of Christ-centered people, but maybe that's not my gift. I just have to keep focused on what I need to be focused on and compare myself a little less.<br />
<br />
Okay, done with my annual serious-ish blog post! XO!HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-12848630228483212112014-04-02T07:30:00.000-07:002014-04-02T14:32:45.679-07:00March CurrentlyHappy Hump Day, yall! Hope everyone came out of April Fools unscathed. I was on high alert most of the day so I was pretty unprankable. You only forget about April Fools once at my place of employment. Here's a little #currently for March. Here's hoping April is a little more exciting. :)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Watching</b> - Big Bang Theory reruns mixed with King of Queens reruns and Parks and Recreation reruns. True works of art, those three.<br />
<br />
<b>Reading</b> - Game of Thrones (I'm as over it as you are but I have to keep going!)<br />
<br />
<b>Planning</b> - Engagement pictures! Who knew there'd be so much planning associated! I'm trying to figure out hair, makeup, costume changes, locations... poses! It's very involved (and a lot of fun, so I'm kind of obsessing about it). Like I don't know what color to paint my nails... #whitegirlproblems<br />
<br />
There were some jokester ideas on Pinterest for engagement pictures that I loved!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFwGjwlpRtEPJLa5onCLqlG1uhFcs2eyjofTwwUvTUB4mbrFC_I_GVpkbC_bP8kCuffi9aUm0iX_4qp0MNSgmD4dfFRCRPhNutZAeVaIzwQpjMtaXrRRQEutHfzdkyVpozvQS5zKa1kY/s1600/Funny+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFwGjwlpRtEPJLa5onCLqlG1uhFcs2eyjofTwwUvTUB4mbrFC_I_GVpkbC_bP8kCuffi9aUm0iX_4qp0MNSgmD4dfFRCRPhNutZAeVaIzwQpjMtaXrRRQEutHfzdkyVpozvQS5zKa1kY/s1600/Funny+1.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hnBKZEcl-QPZKCCKgRAjNC72zB4KYhNsv8fz9eyrEG9iBJvA8USlqoC8LDE8gB406VryfgjPUF2kWbJSgPZYyrwjhbCwO8g36KLka8x6eo-AQSozKSTYgIXM6LMpbMvv9hrR2vL4Z2c/s1600/funny+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hnBKZEcl-QPZKCCKgRAjNC72zB4KYhNsv8fz9eyrEG9iBJvA8USlqoC8LDE8gB406VryfgjPUF2kWbJSgPZYyrwjhbCwO8g36KLka8x6eo-AQSozKSTYgIXM6LMpbMvv9hrR2vL4Z2c/s1600/funny+2.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The role reversal pictures were hilarious</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpt6B86Sy-kjU0r92S6vVig3WXaX3Aj8bBlqR_OUVFOqNwgfaFaZFLXwoSTO38xCm2tOn0L1GA8vVk3KqjrrIng1va0lJlxhI9l2fH_tz7R2JVVFDfIgHpMlSOa_Lm1UV-Z41Do4LGII/s1600/funny+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpt6B86Sy-kjU0r92S6vVig3WXaX3Aj8bBlqR_OUVFOqNwgfaFaZFLXwoSTO38xCm2tOn0L1GA8vVk3KqjrrIng1va0lJlxhI9l2fH_tz7R2JVVFDfIgHpMlSOa_Lm1UV-Z41Do4LGII/s1600/funny+3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was taken in "the place they have the most happy memories together" hahahaha</div>
<br />
<b>Making me mad</b> - Oh. my. gosh. WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS! What in the world?! This is total, unabashed ROBBERY! And the worst part of it all is that I want someone with experience so I can't just put out a Craigslist ad for someone or hire a family member like I typically do when I want something done well and for a reasonable price! I think they have me cornered and are going to force me to pay... full price! *gag* I just threw up in my mouth a little.<br />
<br />
<b>Making me happy</b> - <a href="http://overlyenthusiasticarica.blogspot.com/2014/03/chef-shay-shay.html">My aunt's cooking.</a> Holy cow, it's the best thing that's ever happened to Daryl and I. Last night we had the most perfect zucchini lasagna AND cleaned the ENTIRE house to prepare for house guests tonight AND were lounging on the couch by 8:30.<br />
<br />
<b>Craving</b> - This is going to sound so foreign for my blog... but I've officially gotten to the point of craving <i>the gym</i>. *insert dramatic music* I'm not seeing a ton of results on the scale but I think that's because I'm not doing enough cardio... but I realized I don't really like cardio that much. So I'm going to just do the recommended 4 sessions of 30 minutes on <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-2.html?mcid=TC_Jamie_Eason_Week6&rmid=Jamie_Eason_Week_6&rrid=19823449">my plan</a> and spend the rest of the time hulking out in the weight room. Which is dramatic and silly because I do curls with 10 lb weights... and I struggle to finish my sets. And don't even get me started on what I have the pull-up assist machine set at. So weak. So so so weak. No shame. Okay, a little shame.<br />
<br />
<b>Avoiding</b> - Organizing my closet. I think instead of organizing the beautiful, huge closet I was so excited about when we bought the house... I'll just go buy new clothes and throw them on top of the heap in the middle of my closet! This is like my one thing and while trying to plan engagement picture outfits, the issue is rearing it's ugly head; I can't find anything! I've always and will always have a horrendously messy closet. I've tried to change but to no avail. And Daryl's closet is all perfect and annoying.<br />
<br />
<b>Creating</b> - AH! I'm psyched about this one! I just recently painted this feather art! My inspiration was this cool installation of canvas panels which would have been pretty cool... but I didn't foresee me doing that in the near future (it would definitely be a tough project) and thought this was a good temporary little art project! The frame needs spruced up but I think they turned out pretty stinkin' cute!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZlia3K965FoMJV5yYzVq1ND0T57SCa0fjv5tnjw1frNVHI_4uPFekecQudct0PB8b9P6Ne-zeqlkH9nIKWBeLxhqlKM6HG9tFbuIG7Y6czlrRsxJJ-gmtheXB19EtoxN6QvVmMcCMoc/s1600/feather+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZlia3K965FoMJV5yYzVq1ND0T57SCa0fjv5tnjw1frNVHI_4uPFekecQudct0PB8b9P6Ne-zeqlkH9nIKWBeLxhqlKM6HG9tFbuIG7Y6czlrRsxJJ-gmtheXB19EtoxN6QvVmMcCMoc/s1600/feather+art.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My little art project (well, it's about 4' x 4', so not SO little)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1LIrtQcJklG6UHVvCB9dV4JUGCbcmR2y0k-Q6RIL7_Mo3OazCVyhHEgq8-sewrzW2Z6-pRBpl9Go5vZsmNEu1ET5dkFJatVIuWTiwA1yz9TPTSegUkNgp27H4LXKngEW-m21XESvTk/s1600/insop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1LIrtQcJklG6UHVvCB9dV4JUGCbcmR2y0k-Q6RIL7_Mo3OazCVyhHEgq8-sewrzW2Z6-pRBpl9Go5vZsmNEu1ET5dkFJatVIuWTiwA1yz9TPTSegUkNgp27H4LXKngEW-m21XESvTk/s1600/insop.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The (very expensive) inspiration</div>
<br />
<b>Celebrating</b> - Painted crown molding in the kitchen!!! Ahhhh feels so fresh and so clean clean! Now to paint the walls and oh so carefully start decorating the kitchen without D noticing. I've got a plan up my sleeve but if I tried to explain it, D would put the kabosh on it. So I just have to do it without talking about it at all because I know he'll <strike>love it</strike> not hate it!<br />
<br />
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-49301395256927236582014-03-21T08:57:00.003-07:002014-03-21T08:57:36.765-07:00Friday Five1. I'm wearing camo pants at work today! I love these pants but hadn't worn them to work yet. I try not to wear anything weird or fashion-y to work because it just blows peoples' minds here. I saw a sweater I liked the other day and turned it around and it buttoned up the back? And I immediately stuffed it back on the rack. There's no way I'd put up with people joking that my sweater is on backwards for 10 hours. I figured in the realm of printed jeans, camo would be the easiest to get away with in my work environment. I'm typically not so concerned about what other people think of what I wear (high school/early college friends that witnessed my emo/goth phase, can I get an 'amen'? hahahaha) but it's just so dang distracting at work!<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATlzGo-7QI2p_OarJFbFrVeXv5VOQB3Fo_U8Vghzg5KYr1IJnuAUhYo5CgP8A0RsT1qn8WOIsaTQdgJFOs6mO2jLqiPvakFjFO3KehKY9Xm552-TnqNelvgm9e9dyd6FCFfpu9K7HGAI/s1600/camo+pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATlzGo-7QI2p_OarJFbFrVeXv5VOQB3Fo_U8Vghzg5KYr1IJnuAUhYo5CgP8A0RsT1qn8WOIsaTQdgJFOs6mO2jLqiPvakFjFO3KehKY9Xm552-TnqNelvgm9e9dyd6FCFfpu9K7HGAI/s1600/camo+pants.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It only took like six photos to get the wrinkles in my sweater just right for this photo ;)</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. Speaking of fashion-y! I'm so excited about my most recent purchase! I'm not sure it will make it in to my work wardrobe but I think it will be a staple this spring!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweLpRD7JRZu00nKN4q668Dz4NgNFaGc65JnC_Kcpk0mGqunvF73uAhygBNPBWJgAAKUkXju2iTcN8ENu123cPqGHnR1N5T9ELKjYY5hD96uNp_ZSKmG0l5yegpHv5uNTRDOU-A1_i-XE/s1600/kimono.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweLpRD7JRZu00nKN4q668Dz4NgNFaGc65JnC_Kcpk0mGqunvF73uAhygBNPBWJgAAKUkXju2iTcN8ENu123cPqGHnR1N5T9ELKjYY5hD96uNp_ZSKmG0l5yegpHv5uNTRDOU-A1_i-XE/s1600/kimono.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I got it at Love Culture? It's like Forever 21's cheaper, less classy little sister? But for super trendy stuff like fringed kimonos, I think it's exactly the level of investment I'm interested in. Bonus: It will cover any back thigh cellulite when I wear shorts! Hooray!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. My lovah and I have basically zero plans for this weekend. This empty weekend snuck up on us a little since we've had some major event for the last month or so! We're gonna go antique shopping tomorrow and then take the jeep out! Sunday it's supposed to rain so I'm hoping to get some work done on home projects.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. Speaking of home projects: I saw <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=2436884211&group=0&frame_type=b&blog=9804221&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVtYWtlcmlzdGEuY29tLzIwMTQvMDMvbWFraW5nLWl0LXdvcmstdXBkYXRpbmctdGhyaWZ0ZWQtYXJ0Lmh0bWw&frame=1&click=0&user=0">this tutorial</a> on The Makerista the other day and immediately got squinty-eyed with inspiration. I snagged a GIANT framed piece of art from my mom's donation pile a while back because I loved the frame and size. The painting (a faded daisy) wasn't exactly my favorite but it had been hanging in our living room anyway. I yanked that puppy of the wall Wednesday and gave it a fresh coat of white paint and now I'm eager to do something abstract or graphic with my new (literal) blank canvas! Wish me luck!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjZ-gSlfgMZNDfStvOJe3e94AqxnLIzMAjJJHfmvAdJzIG_s9ivcmn2-haZHMa2d_m4cECL1Eltt5FcKM_3XkNj6HcMoTwiVYMhXBXiNcNzGKBE0dj-XrW5UOB4gS5dqibXaz-4M2J_Q/s1600/Kourtney+Kardashian+Style+Review+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjZ-gSlfgMZNDfStvOJe3e94AqxnLIzMAjJJHfmvAdJzIG_s9ivcmn2-haZHMa2d_m4cECL1Eltt5FcKM_3XkNj6HcMoTwiVYMhXBXiNcNzGKBE0dj-XrW5UOB4gS5dqibXaz-4M2J_Q/s1600/Kourtney+Kardashian+Style+Review+3.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. I am just kicking myself for not documenting my trip to TJ Maxx last night. My mission was to grab my baby cousin a birthday gift for her party this weekend (oh yea, add that to my agenda for the weekend, I forgot). However, I saw a whole rack of Kourtney Kardashian-esque jumpsuits. Daryl saw one on HSN one time as I was flipping through channels and said "Huh, that's kind of fun!" Never in my life would I have guessed he'd think a jumpsuit was fun... but when I saw them at TJ Maxx I thought I'd give it a go. I tried on no less than eight different styles and, let's just say, all hail Kourtney. Those things are not for everyone. It's something in the butt... basically every one I tried on had a high elastic waist and they make your badonkadonk look so sad and long! I'm gonna stick to maxi dresses.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hope everyone has a magnificent first weekend of spring! XO!</div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-29827615778012804892014-03-20T14:14:00.000-07:002014-03-20T14:14:30.653-07:00Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn22Rjer4h3RaVvq-0uj0T3BrL0z5Ha9cf9M5SmMaPmrIb9qa5wjbNWmn5Kt0GKsQT-kMXls-CHwojb0MAOAQTlHfzZm_WxEHE15dFzYP-SOZ5xK1Ae0bX-c5SO3xAWc61_z37Nc91aU/s1600/Seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn22Rjer4h3RaVvq-0uj0T3BrL0z5Ha9cf9M5SmMaPmrIb9qa5wjbNWmn5Kt0GKsQT-kMXls-CHwojb0MAOAQTlHfzZm_WxEHE15dFzYP-SOZ5xK1Ae0bX-c5SO3xAWc61_z37Nc91aU/s1600/Seven.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
1. Never realize how boring you are until someone asks you what you do in your spare time? I really liked <a href="http://apairandasparediy.com/2014/03/do-what-you-love-what-do-you-love.html">this article on pinning down passions you don't even know you have yet</a>!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. <a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/10-Minute-Pilates-Butt-Workout-Video-30890230">THIS BOOTY WORKOUT</a> - yowza, and only took ten minutes! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. <a href="http://sarahmdorseydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/11/final-ca-home-tour.html">Sarah M. Dorsey's home tour</a> - She's my style soul mate. I'm smitten with every little detail.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. Honeymoon planning - <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-affordable-all-inclusive-resorts">Travel & Leisure's top affordable all-inclusive resorts</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. Slipped <a href="http://www.delightedmomma.com/2013/07/almond-butter-blondies-paleo.html">this recipe for Paleo blondies</a> in to the dinner recipe list I gave my aunt. Hey, a girl can dream.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6. The Trouble with Bright Girls - A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-grant-halvorson-phd/girls-confidence_b_828418.html">favorite Huffington Post article</a> from 2011.<br />
<br />
7. Showin' the Bloglove - <a href="http://mk-thriftyfabulous.blogspot.com/2014/03/amster-dayyyuuum.html">my boo thang Mel's shamelessly real and fun blog</a>!</div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-55432050810268369962014-03-19T09:45:00.000-07:002014-03-19T09:46:13.675-07:00Chef Shay ShayOk, so Daryl and I recently took <a href="http://overlyenthusiasticarica.blogspot.com/2014/02/dinking-around.html">DINKing</a> to a whole new level.<br />
<br />
Ever since <strike>the engagement</strike> <strike>the new year</strike> the holidays (let's be honest here), D and I have been just awful at grocery shopping. Every once in a while I get super motivated and hit HEB... just to let our produce go bad. We eat out for almost ever. single. meal. It's so bad/unhealthy/financially irresponsible but it's true.<br />
<br />
With engagement pictures on the horizon, I've been hitting the gym pretty hard (doing the <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html">Jamie Eason Live Fit program</a>) and I'm pretty good at eating well for breakfast (Starbucks turkey bacon sandwich or loaded oatmeal - not great but it could be worse) and then I have a pre-workout snack (Larabar) and a post workout snack (EAS Recovery Protein shake) but then I get home and my life turns in to something like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQ0N_-TjQfZjPoJ1jIiDy2-YgYCH9rHsfkFe3zPju6vUcvcy2XSCXny9NqsyDQ963fMhVgL_voli6okceR0m9OsSLiLwUm7CyxePk-B-byysCJxnxbln4-SX1eyBWgJ-icvMVCf5-tI/s1600/dinner+calories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQ0N_-TjQfZjPoJ1jIiDy2-YgYCH9rHsfkFe3zPju6vUcvcy2XSCXny9NqsyDQ963fMhVgL_voli6okceR0m9OsSLiLwUm7CyxePk-B-byysCJxnxbln4-SX1eyBWgJ-icvMVCf5-tI/s1600/dinner+calories.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Clearly if someone made an ecard for it, it's a common problem, right?! And I get it, if I'd eat more calories earlier in the day, I wouldn't feel like binge eating at night (the scientifically worst time to binge).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But man, when D says something like "Let's order gluten-free Dominos pizzas instead of cooking", that's a really tough offer to turn down after a 12 hour work day. Especially on this new lifting program because building muscles makes me huuuuuuuuuungry so I can kill just as much food as him in the evenings (a la an entire gluten-free pizza from Dominos by myself).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So anyway, I'll be honest, it wasn't the scale that finally made me see the error in our ways (I'm still losing weight even eating pizza on a regular basis... so... clearly I was eating terrible <i>and</i> not working out at all before! haha), it was the bank account! Eating out was just bleeding us! There had to be a better way that still involved little to no effort on our part.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I started researching Paleo-ish food delivery services, something like Nutrisystem. I had a coworker do that before her wedding and it seemed like the ideal solution! I found one fairly local company that would ship me Paleo foods on a weekly basis... no prep, healthier option but definitely NOT a cost savings! So I kept exploring options.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I remembered a Craigslist ad when I was looking for a maid service that offered cleaning AND meal prep. She was a Mexican girl so her menu was almost exclusively Mexican food... but I figured if she existed, there had to be someone in the west Texas area who would cook me healthy foods for some nominal fee, right??</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Light Bulb*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My aunt Sharon is one of the best cooks I know and loves to do it. She had discussed a while back that she was hoping to retire from her job soon. I wonder...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And sure enough.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're going to do it on a trial basis at first, just to make sure it's a good fit for both parties involved (I mean, God forbid she wants to REST during retirement), but starting next week, Shay Shay is going to be prepping us 5 nights worth of dinners for us to pick up on Sunday! OBVIOUSLY we're paying her for her help but it's money 100% well spent; we're SO PSYCHED to have healthy, home cooked meals that aren't frozen and shipped across the state. Not to mention, we're getting the luxury of picking the recipes. We're not picky eaters but mushrooms? Get outta here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNpnN3hKv789L-xZPeoeRntbxMr6jpbl5-GddXDxAtZ7XB76EE-TYL803ZAfrcdS4e7SnKCZp1Ptrdjlv5jrzPvWXJwILIp-MbjOFt-2bXPREh8pbH_dArdgFFQUbIGcF5OEYSLeCfQ/s1600/shay+shay+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNpnN3hKv789L-xZPeoeRntbxMr6jpbl5-GddXDxAtZ7XB76EE-TYL803ZAfrcdS4e7SnKCZp1Ptrdjlv5jrzPvWXJwILIp-MbjOFt-2bXPREh8pbH_dArdgFFQUbIGcF5OEYSLeCfQ/s1600/shay+shay+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And look, she even has a sous chef to help her out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're not sure if we talked Shay Shay in to being a personal chef in her retirement, or we've reverted back to having someone else in our family cook our dinners... regardless, it's a win for us! And what a killer business idea, right?! I mean, my aunt may not be in the market to start a small business when she's just beginning retirement but for someone who loves to cook, taking on a few clients and prepping them dinners for the week... definitely something I could see being SUPER successful in a boom town or a regular town, for that matter. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Moral of the story, I'm the least domestic future wifey ever. I have given up on cleaning and now I'm giving up on cooking. But darnit, I'm a problem solver! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But really girls. We CAN'T do it all. We CAN'T work full time, have a sparkly home, cook delicious, healthy meals, have VS Angel bodies, enjoy our hobbies, devote time to our families, DIY a Pinterest-tastic house and never let our roots grow out! OMG and I don't even have kids yet! You fakerz who are trying to make us regular people look bad need to take a hike! #RealTalk</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQImbKVLau2Vc70LZhYOpBXZel0szhh8qYJEcQ9P9Bx9YEthVSrXjzzoOlKDoFRuKQuEMnaCpKSqNwcaclnkK1s6kZW2rUzlxKCa5D25dmbcEofdsvDWTV6HeaEH0ejeaCkO_N894RB9k/s1600/choose+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQImbKVLau2Vc70LZhYOpBXZel0szhh8qYJEcQ9P9Bx9YEthVSrXjzzoOlKDoFRuKQuEMnaCpKSqNwcaclnkK1s6kZW2rUzlxKCa5D25dmbcEofdsvDWTV6HeaEH0ejeaCkO_N894RB9k/s1600/choose+two.jpg" height="320" width="125" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy Hump Day, ya hard working ladies! Cut yourself some slack today!</div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-68531259664826156622014-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:002014-03-17T14:53:02.675-07:00Hip to be SquareWell, I spent most of my day with a space heater pointed at my crotch. #BlogGold<br />
<br />
So my right hip is revolting. I have no idea if heat is good or bad for a pulled muscle (or if what's ailing me is even a pulled muscle) but it sure does feel great (the heat, not the sore muscle).<br />
<br />
I can't figure out what it is. Any time I do cardio longer than 10 minutes or so, my right hip flexor starts aching. And if I keep going past 10 minutes, it starts hurting and it spreads to where my entire hip aches, for hours after my workout. It doesn't hurt to touch it, nor stretch it, nor do a deep lunge holding heavy weights. It only starts to hurt after doing a repetitive motion for too long. Any ideas, people? I'm imagining like a jagged piece of bone rubbing against my muscle... is that a thing? And it's the outside of my hip and definitely my hip flexor, not my groin. I'm very lucky to have a physical therapist at my disposal since I work out at the hospital on my lunch break, but even HE can't figure out what's wrong with me. He did recommend I get new shoes, which I thought was a very excellent diagnosis. Always like to get a doctors note to go shopping!<br />
<br />
Anyway, so today I got up early for the first time to fit in some cardio. I typically do cardio after my weight lifting session on my lunch break but since I started<a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html"> Jamie Eason's Live Fit program</a>, weight lifting takes a lot longer and monopolizes my lunch hour. I figured I could manage 20 or so minutes of cardio first thing in the morning but right at the 10 minute mark, my hip started getting really pissed off and like a dummy, I pushed through to my 20 minute goal. I hobbled around work all morning but figured after I got back in the gym at lunch, I'd work the soreness out. Wrong-o. Mucho mucho worse.<br />
<br />
And then do you know what I came to find out reading the dang Jamie Eason program in more detail?? I wasn't even supposed to be DOING cardio during the first four weeks (I know, sounds too good to be true, huh?) Yup, I'm not supposed to do <i>any</i> cardio. Ma'am yes ma'am!<br />
<br />
So, while the hip thing isn't so great, I did get professional advice to quick doing cardio and go shopping. All in all, not a bad Monday.<br />
<br />
And because I hate posts without pictures, here's a cute picture of my dogs and a terrifying picture of myself trying out some mask that came in my Birchbox. I'd link it but I woke up with a zit so I'm not even going to bother. It's purely for entertainment purposes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9FPu0qdi_OKurx9Iq2dBaN618HpuyYJQnWFwe2Zjw_k7Ep-7MgC67Oe97FmEdNiksTBq4N0IA3CcBWAtqke3AOEhi4Ga3tjkvaWvvNAuBFfLstB8Mh-woLvNYxLmA3EnjPsuuI-ViLg/s1600/pups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9FPu0qdi_OKurx9Iq2dBaN618HpuyYJQnWFwe2Zjw_k7Ep-7MgC67Oe97FmEdNiksTBq4N0IA3CcBWAtqke3AOEhi4Ga3tjkvaWvvNAuBFfLstB8Mh-woLvNYxLmA3EnjPsuuI-ViLg/s1600/pups.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAxLas3-EPg50gcC9ReiElGsdBUMB3ahpWF8FVG5Ve6eTJZsHAhkMfPpwtGj2qifVpvWFprLynAJ4EjVI5npmh21rcvCvOAHJEsVgvfz3ZlKgTanE2vYrDjlc-JyxXLkFtzMLEQR6TCs/s1600/mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAxLas3-EPg50gcC9ReiElGsdBUMB3ahpWF8FVG5Ve6eTJZsHAhkMfPpwtGj2qifVpvWFprLynAJ4EjVI5npmh21rcvCvOAHJEsVgvfz3ZlKgTanE2vYrDjlc-JyxXLkFtzMLEQR6TCs/s1600/mask.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-57633443245068023582014-03-13T14:38:00.000-07:002014-03-13T14:38:32.934-07:00Wedding Planning Part ISo I'm a little torn on how much of my wedding planning I should blog! I think I'm going to do more blogging about the wedding after the fact, so my guests are a little surprised with the details I am pouring my heart in to (thank you baby Jesus for secret Pinterest boards!)<br />
<br />
But I wanted to give a couple updates since it's what I'm spending SOME of my free time doing instead of blogging!<br />
<br />
So I mentioned a while back that I chose colors so I figured that I'd share. I'm going with black, white and sparkly gold. Not like... yellow, but GOLD. I'm walking a delicate line of not looking too 80s (ex-nay on the polka dots) or too Great Gatsby (which wouldn't be the worst thing but it's been pretty popular lately so I'm trying to steer clear). I figure I won't regret this color palette in 10 years and it'll force me to keep my bohemian tastes in check. Don't want the wedding to look like a music festival if we can help it!<br />
<br />
The wedding is going to be rather non-traditional. Daryl and I are old enough that we don't feel too much obligation to do things just because "that's what you do at weddings" and our families are easy going enough to be cool with that. Also, we're going to do our darnedest not to break the bank. We want our guests to have a ball, so that's where our money will be spent. Luckily, D and I have been pretty aligned on must haves (booze) and meh, no thanks... like cake. Spoiler alert: we don't plan on having a cake or a cake cutting. It's never been our favorite part of the wedding, not to mention neither of us LOVE cake. So we're going to skip it and rather have dessert(s) we DO love, already portioned out so that there's isn't any hoopla around when you're allowed to eat it. More time for dancing!<br />
<br />
We haven't been aligned on <i>everything</i> and on those occasions, I try to defer to his preference. He doesn't have an opinion about everything, so the things that are important to him mean more.<br />
<br />
And lastly... we've picked a venue and a date! Those can't stay secret but since the Save the Dates won't go out until June, I figured I'd let my faithful blog followers in on the deets.<br />
<br />
We're going to be having the wedding at a local tropical greenhouse and cafe:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i2HZOHIPdsts__b2f5PckwLuKl7XMwco2i1712u9jqgVFEiTOI4ZRQrlCJ9ihn9ePUkhcRFsqE0ZW-mpNoyP4LVv1pDndxBOCJ4j5YiL6fp_S2i-o3ReV3rW1hqOHsuSNNIJ0nKcWRw/s1600/greenhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i2HZOHIPdsts__b2f5PckwLuKl7XMwco2i1712u9jqgVFEiTOI4ZRQrlCJ9ihn9ePUkhcRFsqE0ZW-mpNoyP4LVv1pDndxBOCJ4j5YiL6fp_S2i-o3ReV3rW1hqOHsuSNNIJ0nKcWRw/s1600/greenhouse.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The view from the door of the cafe. It may look cramped but I promise if I did a panorama (which I'm kicking myself for NOT thinking to do), it wouldn't look so "are you only inviting 18 people?"<br />
<br />
And we're pulled the trigger on December 6th, 2014! Our trip to Germany/Belgium/Switzerland in late September forced our hand a little... and D put his foot down about it not being during regular football season (this should fall between regular season and bowl season well enough) and I wasn't keen on putting it off until 2015. So, December 6th it is!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE4iFwgu_PiPKndS_GPxakIm1ObHLyxwEE0fCDvcqvojtU4H_kfl9cYzlweJTaAiAwFgUK-Um94PZJN6U1MA5wkktZ7Q0OxtS20sNEjKymj90VMORuTIopA2lbRpvvYFlTylUN1QKiVk/s1600/date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE4iFwgu_PiPKndS_GPxakIm1ObHLyxwEE0fCDvcqvojtU4H_kfl9cYzlweJTaAiAwFgUK-Um94PZJN6U1MA5wkktZ7Q0OxtS20sNEjKymj90VMORuTIopA2lbRpvvYFlTylUN1QKiVk/s1600/date.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And really... that's about as far as we've gotten. I have a dress shopping date set and engagement pictures scheduled. And of course the spreadsheets have begun!<br />
<br />
And that's really about as far as we've gotten so far. This weekend my mom is throwing us an engagement party with the family and D's mom is coming down for it. I'm excited for our first real event! I plan to wear as much white as I can justify! :DHeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-33168202282366446842014-03-12T10:52:00.000-07:002014-03-12T10:52:25.072-07:0020 Random Questions<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hi Sugarplum! has other popular bloggers guest post for her and answer the following 20 random questions. I am... not a popular blogger? but I wanted to answer the questions anyway so here they are, on my own blog! I always love reading these things from other people... reminds me of old MySpace surveys! So if any of MY blogger friends want to do one, I'd eat it up! It's a really simple post if, say, you're swamped with work and wedding planning! :)</span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What is your road trip essential snack?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A small coffee, a big bottle of water and sunflower seeds... they help keep me alert.</span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You've been handed two free round-trip tickets...who are you taking and where are you going?</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Australia, no question. The East coast to surfer's paradise. And I'd take D. I know I travel well with him :)</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What was your high school jam?</span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy! It reminds me of driving to street concerts with my girlfriends in the back seat of someone's Nissan Xterra wearing denim mini-skirts and flip flops.</span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Would you rather have a perfect bum, or a flawless face?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I've always struggled with my skin and my bum has always been one of my favorite parts of my body... and it's worked out well for me so far! So I'm going to stick with the bum! </span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What shows are you ashamed to admit are on your DVR?</span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dance Moms is my only REALLY guilty pleasure. That and Fashion Police.</span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">How old were you when you had your first kiss? Was it meh or toe-curling?</span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I was in 7th grade and it was perfection! It was in the tunnel under the waterfall at Putt Putt and it was very sweet and innocent. The perfect first kiss! My SECOND kiss... slobbery and disgusting!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Do you have any siblings, and if so, where are you in the birth order?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One older seester.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What physical quirk were you born with?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Uhmmm... I was born especially hairy? I've since learned how to manage it though! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What was your first car, and did you name it?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">An old oilfield fleet truck with a steel bumper, luckily. I would have destroyed a regular bumper backing in the concrete pylon behind my best friend's driveway basically every time I left her house. It didn't have a name.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What would you request for your last supper?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">My dad's lasagna, chips and guac and salsa, cheesecake and a giant, undercooked chocolate chip cookie.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">How tall are you? Do you wish you were taller, shorter...or are you just right?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5'6" or 5'7"... I used to wish on my birthday candles to be shorter when I was a kid but now I'm happy to be a little taller than the average girl. I think it gives me extra confidence.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Do you prefer to DIY or hire it out?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I grew up DIYing everything with my mom so my natural tendency is to want to do everything myself. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What do you eat for breakfast?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Starbucks turkey bacon breakfast sandwich more often than I'd care to admit. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What would you do for a living if you didn't need money?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">I'd be a celebrity personal assistant! I think I'd be really good at it and I'd get to go to the most incredible destinations and events!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">But only if it was a nice, funny celebrity, like Ellen or Emma Stone.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Finish this sentence: Every room needs.... </span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Art you really love. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">How frequently do you wash your hair? Do you have any hair secrets or tricks?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 or 3 times a week. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">21 Benefits by Pureology is my newest obsession. It makes my very highlighted hair feel like an 8 year olds! Also, dry shampoo AND dry conditioner! I just started with the dry conditioner and it's a game changer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Will you leave the house without makeup?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Very rarely. At the very least I'm going to grab BB cream, eyeliner, mascara and cream blush to apply in the car. Life's too short.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You just unloaded your Halloween haul...what candy do you go for first?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Anything and everything with peanut butter in it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">What totally inane talent do you possess?</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I think I'm really good at diffusing tense situations. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-23325162032577625032014-02-28T12:37:00.000-08:002014-02-28T12:37:43.428-08:00Friday 51. My new form of cardio that I don't hate at all:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEN6IOs-_2l7SbUaxp99hcvwec2o0ezv32wRsp7xwQ_9kLONJVWbHiL1Ts7rN2kRo64xQz2mEOE3mPSvJ7VyLpNuPCaNL2NayDfENC7SYThcHaiMj0DwEegW-sY0vXRkaVcp3pvdO4M4/s1600/treadmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEN6IOs-_2l7SbUaxp99hcvwec2o0ezv32wRsp7xwQ_9kLONJVWbHiL1Ts7rN2kRo64xQz2mEOE3mPSvJ7VyLpNuPCaNL2NayDfENC7SYThcHaiMj0DwEegW-sY0vXRkaVcp3pvdO4M4/s1600/treadmill.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I just set the incline to as high as the treadmill will go (this one went to 15) and then I just climb. I feel like the thing is vertical but when I get off, I realize it's not that impressive of an incline. My heart rate gets up there but I can easily go 20 minutes, huffing and puffing, without hating my life or swearing off working out forever (typical reactions I have when I get on the treadmill). Also, it works the booty and legs more than just regular running, so hey!<br />
<br />
2. New hardware for the kitchen, baby! These gold balls have been the bane of my existence in the kitchen (along with our other banes of existence: wallpaper, orange-y toned cabinets, the faucet that sprays like a fire house, ect, ect). When we first bought the house, Peyton immediately walked up to one on a lower cabinet and bit it. These are not something easy to overlook. I sat cross-legged in the aisle at Lowe's surveying all the options and landed on these for the knobs. I got cup pulls for the drawers but we have to drill new holes for those so they haven't gotten installed yet. Maybe tonight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhs4lf37k31OUfi_1zsQjvCa_-n7FZwYNveU6QywZ5Wasw5KnktWQGO-UY1HTQMXzQwzpWQbGwcUCV-4Qu2VrzaZLkXS7MztZSWLITZZ97Z-4OajhSRJA_ku5T_UWOj6aES6NO8Ymzwg/s1600/balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhs4lf37k31OUfi_1zsQjvCa_-n7FZwYNveU6QywZ5Wasw5KnktWQGO-UY1HTQMXzQwzpWQbGwcUCV-4Qu2VrzaZLkXS7MztZSWLITZZ97Z-4OajhSRJA_ku5T_UWOj6aES6NO8Ymzwg/s1600/balls.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In this picture the balls don't look so horrific... but trust us, this makes a huge difference.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also, it really tones done the orange in the kitchen when ALL the gold is gone. #winning</div>
<br />
3. Next set of highlights, please. My appointment is tomorrow and I'm taking in basically my entire <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/arica_m/h-m/">hair and makeup board</a> but here are my top inspiration pics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjBb9cpRwcqEexp3OdKMCcHbSaUW5dIcJShmLkqViqfcNkG1gAIDHS9Ln2Rv6U0GAI8VsU1rnm4pRn1SAXMfSaPGu2nM_MzNPi4lFzIuSuLcEDOHpV0n7jDkejhjJYYyzUbxixopxO88/s1600/bronde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjBb9cpRwcqEexp3OdKMCcHbSaUW5dIcJShmLkqViqfcNkG1gAIDHS9Ln2Rv6U0GAI8VsU1rnm4pRn1SAXMfSaPGu2nM_MzNPi4lFzIuSuLcEDOHpV0n7jDkejhjJYYyzUbxixopxO88/s1600/bronde.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So this is where I want to get by late spring... a full out bronde. But my hairdresser kindly told me if I went from my natural dark brown to this, I'd fry my hair and it'd fall out of my head. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So.... I'm settling for incremental highlights. My first set are very natural looking but I'm hoping this set will take me to about half way to "bronde". I'm thinking something around this tone:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy7dVC6JemuYD3DhxkkjR9EfOUDX0uQ4EUolnNgiKgS18gNUDoF9hUwy0J41Cj75ZG5zEVVib4N77bKVTG34MC3PQ4bldgTVJKp0wfK-06b40YpkHCkS9FrKaC25b57iamE9dM5TzZ9Q/s1600/highlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy7dVC6JemuYD3DhxkkjR9EfOUDX0uQ4EUolnNgiKgS18gNUDoF9hUwy0J41Cj75ZG5zEVVib4N77bKVTG34MC3PQ4bldgTVJKp0wfK-06b40YpkHCkS9FrKaC25b57iamE9dM5TzZ9Q/s1600/highlights.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have no doubt every brunette has this picture pinned as a highlight option on their board!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's an oldie but a goodie!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
4. Did you know that dark roast coffee actually has LESS caffeine per bean? Some of the caffeine is lost during the roasting process (like, just a tiny bit). I was curious so I googled it the other day. I started typing "Does dark roast coffee have more caffeine" and when I got to "Does da" Google autofilled "Does Daryl die?" and I thought WHAT?!?! Spelled correctly and everything. So I clicked on it, obviously, and it turns out that's a character on The Walking Dead. Phew.<br />
<br />
5. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek the Oscars are this Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! I plan to make paleo cookie dough, crack open a bottle of Pinot Grigio and hold my breath to see <span style="font-family: inherit;">what <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lupita Nyong’o wears! Also, Ellen is hosting and I have an undying love for that woman. I failed miserably at seeing all the Best Picture nominees this year, so I just hope they spread the love. Oh, and Pharrell is performing! Love me some Pharrell. He's releasing his new album RIGHT after his performance. Yay Yay Yay OSCARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Side note: last year, Kanye was a puppy and he, apparently, was seeing a ghost in our home and BARKED through like half the Oscar's. I could not calm him down. I finally put him in the backyard, closed the doggie door and yelled "THE OSCARS ARE ONE NIGHT A YEAR, KANYE!" Not my proudest doggie mom moment. Luckily, D was in the backyard assembling a BBQ grill, so he wasn't alone out there.</span></span>HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730101962940411442.post-32974333907084688812014-02-27T15:06:00.003-08:002014-02-27T15:06:40.600-08:00Currently<b>Watching</b> - Game of Thrones<br />
<br />
<b>Reading</b> - Game of Thrones. It's a full out addiction.<br />
<br />
<b>Planning</b> - 8 months worth of construction? If you thought I was going to say 'my wedding', you couldn't be more wrong. I've been knees deep in construction prep for 2014 at work and as far as I've gotten with wedding planning is colors. Hint: I'm going to have to be careful it doesn't read 80's. No scrunchees will be involved.<br />
<br />
<b>Making me Mad</b> - Seriously. I got the dadgum fruit to the bottom... but I fail because I didn't get enough points! MALARKY!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmCiBAnAX-fMEXz7SkSN96kj7fYEOylZNvCPlZi4pbehFjCXkl0M4hdF516pC6CTaVtJJt-96S048ze6Ua8AbThQuMGoQwC7dTZezvNaYDNuH78IuNIDTsBJiOZ1m-nfPjrWkKiP57DU/s1600/you're+kiddin+me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmCiBAnAX-fMEXz7SkSN96kj7fYEOylZNvCPlZi4pbehFjCXkl0M4hdF516pC6CTaVtJJt-96S048ze6Ua8AbThQuMGoQwC7dTZezvNaYDNuH78IuNIDTsBJiOZ1m-nfPjrWkKiP57DU/s1600/you're+kiddin+me.png" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Making me Happy</b> - Our new sofa! D and I decided, with as much time as we spend planted on our sofa, we could really use... a sofa. Not the loveseat I got in college. So we created our own out of pieces typically assembled in to a sectional at Sofa Mart and now we have a <u>giant</u> reclining bed sofa that is so comfortable, we have to not sit on it until dinner is made and chores are done... or else the couch wraps its warm, comfy arms around us and we can't get back up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc458w3BANtTrJ5hLs5kYqWmkAWGNUSgNZqAA_rpwAjGOCNeB_77xmLpQOZ8dA6i3Qnl4cdSQbq61DtBaKoiTP32N9Eux417Pv44qK0UlQkS8YA-gCX43Tazbo18RtwwqmSoZ5fztUhA/s1600/new+sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc458w3BANtTrJ5hLs5kYqWmkAWGNUSgNZqAA_rpwAjGOCNeB_77xmLpQOZ8dA6i3Qnl4cdSQbq61DtBaKoiTP32N9Eux417Pv44qK0UlQkS8YA-gCX43Tazbo18RtwwqmSoZ5fztUhA/s1600/new+sofa.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQXQBy6OIFTxgVzZDRpkywDk-WZoCWiOxDBk3dAiUXlcoV4zgek7Pu59f3h_p13GjEMVWN2_NoLCXZGnSc6Kl6JxpYABRCm8jqe2PcOjcDsW6juOU60m_gWeTE-mg7xqraQvdujP-6Bc/s1600/puppy+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQXQBy6OIFTxgVzZDRpkywDk-WZoCWiOxDBk3dAiUXlcoV4zgek7Pu59f3h_p13GjEMVWN2_NoLCXZGnSc6Kl6JxpYABRCm8jqe2PcOjcDsW6juOU60m_gWeTE-mg7xqraQvdujP-6Bc/s1600/puppy+pile.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My favorite part is that the pups LOVE the recliners. They like to sleep between our legs and so they're pretty fond of the new sofa, too. Plenty of room for all!</div>
<br />
<b>Craving</b> - These chocolate and salt covered almonds. Ohhhhhhhhhh my gosh so good. I just killed this bag today but I took this picture to send to D as proof that I do have self control. Sometimes, I eat like half the bag in one sitting at home and I make myself sick. But when I take them to work, I actually just grab a handful every now and then and they last a couple weeks. Proof.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAXpxBbIS8WspFNU5m1mCxotYPiyb9r2eOcnoGA7ewrbuk7Et6MfK85wO03CJ-R_qKYHyRJBRbmaS6ci5PvZjnYaTtLlTTHD-7VZ6ocA1Kw4dhyQOz9Rcnsdu5WtmAafIQy_UpAHOkko/s1600/almonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAXpxBbIS8WspFNU5m1mCxotYPiyb9r2eOcnoGA7ewrbuk7Et6MfK85wO03CJ-R_qKYHyRJBRbmaS6ci5PvZjnYaTtLlTTHD-7VZ6ocA1Kw4dhyQOz9Rcnsdu5WtmAafIQy_UpAHOkko/s1600/almonds.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Avoiding</b> - Hanging art. I'm normally decisive person to a fault but for some reason, choosing and hanging art has been a real struggle for me! So I thought I'd try to sketch out some options... maybe my living room will look like this one day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUmD0bIjzaqu-VSIPdPhHUHX2gym8rsK4ern2wRha4TDXdIgpr2vBxne2WlM7IKuNttt48FNQwHBcYZ5ZHIQHNIX8CfZVGNIhWCpVUUiLNSG2RO1-nbOjHSvSzWLrroxRPT7khqWaxAk/s1600/sketch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUmD0bIjzaqu-VSIPdPhHUHX2gym8rsK4ern2wRha4TDXdIgpr2vBxne2WlM7IKuNttt48FNQwHBcYZ5ZHIQHNIX8CfZVGNIhWCpVUUiLNSG2RO1-nbOjHSvSzWLrroxRPT7khqWaxAk/s1600/sketch2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1CtEbDVajlDfmQ9-sIc9VemSc2KkvPBGsJIghEaamvIW9jCVZgLreHsHchujc9tBnWvqewM_KWqWlf3PSyUj7ZCp2UjmFwoWb6N5UKA-CjmnSrcwvb8ZvvVLgWwP2XBNcaAHahD_PmE/s1600/living+room+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1CtEbDVajlDfmQ9-sIc9VemSc2KkvPBGsJIghEaamvIW9jCVZgLreHsHchujc9tBnWvqewM_KWqWlf3PSyUj7ZCp2UjmFwoWb6N5UKA-CjmnSrcwvb8ZvvVLgWwP2XBNcaAHahD_PmE/s1600/living+room+sketch.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Creating </b>- Progress? Is that a thing? Okay, so Sunday I had a meltdown. I had told myself, after quite a lot of traveling and excitement lately, on Sunday D and I were going to veg. And I was going to catch up on sleep. But by 7am, I was looking around the house at everything I had been neglecting for weeks and realized I really needed to do... EVERYTHING. And I just got really overwhelmed by life and melted down a little. So D got the brilliant idea to make a giant list (literally) of everything that I felt like needed done. And I mean EVERYTHING. And he would help. But since he had no idea the fact that the coffee table needed stained to match the other wood tones in the living room was stressing me out to the point of tears, he was helpless. So I just started rattling off everything I wanted to get done and he proclaimed that he is now the project manager of the house. And every night we will get something done that needs done before we sit on our really comfortable couch. So far, so good! He's strict but fair :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOygQXybXtl-y9vDKgUGKVZcUG-UjqtD8mz6gnRN5MTud_8yKqYocvKmGClhAqHg6xiko3VFRswfh9lzEAtSf2QuEl5CYLeJ2gH4iNpZ7p4TNNzame2ZpkF8-Qe6gVGdQuOVImY48VXk/s1600/list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOygQXybXtl-y9vDKgUGKVZcUG-UjqtD8mz6gnRN5MTud_8yKqYocvKmGClhAqHg6xiko3VFRswfh9lzEAtSf2QuEl5CYLeJ2gH4iNpZ7p4TNNzame2ZpkF8-Qe6gVGdQuOVImY48VXk/s1600/list.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Celebrating</b> - Still celebrating our engagement! It's like every single day D says or does something that stops me in my tracks and has me thanking God that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0T0lMnWjZKH1pt4BmPEU5TR-ZmtA2VdXH6PwHKY8HXSc9zAN5zyV_gYLChs7tMyk4uPf93SPMkcXUnWi9pcMnfWcRVCnyrkkZrVROF4M3vDc4Yb1op6Occl-gFvB_N7mb3kl2sNQ530/s1600/calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0T0lMnWjZKH1pt4BmPEU5TR-ZmtA2VdXH6PwHKY8HXSc9zAN5zyV_gYLChs7tMyk4uPf93SPMkcXUnWi9pcMnfWcRVCnyrkkZrVROF4M3vDc4Yb1op6Occl-gFvB_N7mb3kl2sNQ530/s1600/calendar.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was so sad when I realized I was going to have to tear this sheet off my desk calendar! So I snapped a picture of the square to keep forever! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJXL-gvhZkRAERV3OJNiB0vQlroZdTqC4eP65t2hUFHeWE1TanOOV1W32cCluIEXIqdtULWW569ZxIR34SjwEVfvg8FthT6Pah4c_UX0QOsMOsV_Jsbo7yL4WjRsZlShRiCVsgV5-ues/s1600/grums+cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJXL-gvhZkRAERV3OJNiB0vQlroZdTqC4eP65t2hUFHeWE1TanOOV1W32cCluIEXIqdtULWW569ZxIR34SjwEVfvg8FthT6Pah4c_UX0QOsMOsV_Jsbo7yL4WjRsZlShRiCVsgV5-ues/s1600/grums+cake.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Like this: D sent me a picture of a partly eaten Minion birthday cake someone brought in for work. This conversation followed. I mean, c'mon! How lucky am I? He's so clever!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
HeyItsAricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10080447066571747373noreply@blogger.com0