2011

((Better late than never right?  2012 post coming up next!))

Wow - another year has come to an end.  2011 is a year that I will never forget, so much has happened and changed and I have been so blessed this year. 
The two biggest milestones are;
1. College Graduation!
I was so lucky to have attended such a great private school.  My education and life lessons learned in school will always be so valuable to me. {Even though this month I start to pay back my student loans...not so fun.} And I am beyond excited that I am a college graduate. Sometimes when I am just thinking, walking into work or buying groceries it pops into my head --I AM A COLLEGE GRADUATE!-- It is really exciting to think about.  Even though college was not the best, I didn't walk away with a million friends or a gazillion memories; I did meet Jeff there, get my degree and a fresh outlook on life.

2. Moving away and in with Jeff.
Moving out of my parents house and into college housing was one thing.  Moving into an apartment in a new city with a boy (A BOY?)....that was a whole different ball game, friends.  But it's a ballgame I am so happy to be playing in.  Living with Jeff has been so fun and wonderful.  He makes me so happy and every day he continues to impress me and make me smile.  When he washes the dishes, makes me a fire in our fire place, cooks dinner, or picks up our movie rentals for the night...living with Jeff has been incredible.
We also celebrated our one year anniversary. love

The rest of the year consisted of lots and lots of sporting events... Colts vs. Packers pre-season game, UK vs. NC bball game, Louisville Vs. Vandy bball, Big 10 Football Championship game, Colts vs. Pathers game, Butler Vs. Purdue bball, IU Vs. Notre Dame bball, Pacers Vs. Bulls  pre-season game and every Butler home football game.  And even a crazy weekend in Indy last March when the bulldogs were in the final four! Whew so many sports! But had a blast, really enjoyed every second of these awesome games!

The year also included a couple of concerts; Rascal Flatts w/ Luke Bryan - I don't care much for Rascal Flatts but you say the name Luke Bryan and I'm there! Tim McGraw with the gorgeous Luke Bryan again and The Band Perry -- where we got to meet them after the show!  This was my first time ever meeting a celebrity and boy was I pumped! We also saw Girl Talk DJ at a club in champaign.  I love Girl Talk - but I think I will stick to listening to his mixes in the bathroom while getting ready - this show so out of control.  A bunch of crazy college kids high on all sorts of stuff, it was a billion degrees in the show and packed shoulder to shoulder - I almost got into a fight with some dumb tramp!



This is what the whole GT show was like.  Crazy madnesss




At the girl talk show

 

With the band perry























I am now looking forward to all the blessings and excitement that 2012 will bring...I have a feeling it's going to be a wonderful year.

Here is to health, happiness and wealth.



Battle of the weekends

Last weekend vs. This weekend

Last weekend was a great and much needed long weekend spent with family and friends.  I am so thankful to have the greatest family and to date a guy that also has a great family.  It makes holidays that much better.  Here is look back at last weekend/thanksgiving

Wednesday was my birthday so when we arrived in Chicago Jeff's family had a delicious tort cake for me! I have never had a tort cake before and I must say this is life changing!
I am bummed though because after two days in Chicago, I didn't take another picture!  We went out for my birthday night and for the big night before celebration and that was a blast, but like usual I did't snap a single picture!  And again of course, I didn't take any pictures of my Thanksgiving feast!  Ugh!
Friday we hit the open road again and headed to my home to see my family and celebrate my birthday once again, what girl doesn't love that? The first thing we did, open presents!

EEPS!! I was so excited to open this beautiful package.  A gorgeous new purse.
 Coach = love

Then we went for drinks with my family and some friends. I of course love to be with my favorite boys,  My brother and Jeff!

And Sunday marked the last day of my golden birthday celebration...Jeff got me tickets to the Colts vs. Panthers game!!!  Being a huge Indy fan I was super pumped, but also being a North Carolina baby and a Cam Newton fan I was double pumped!  It was a great game, the Colts were so close to winning but unfortunately they continue on their Suck for Luck campaign.

Now for this weekend.....another great weekend coming our way.

We are headed to Louisville for the Louisville vs. Vanderbilt game
Then going to Lexington for the UK vs. NC game!!!
It's a shame NC had to lose a game or else we would be seeing the #1 and #2 teams in the country.
And then.....back to Indy for the Big 10 Championship game!
So go Louisville, TAR HEELS and Wisconsin!!!
It's going to be a crazy and long weekend, but also one of the best ones yet.
3 games in two different states, three different cities and tipoff/kickoff all withing 24 hours. I will be consuming a lot of coffee and maybe even more beer.
Wish us luck, oh and please pray for our bank accounts!
 This weekend is not coming cheap.


Cheers, love and NCAA ball games.

Weekend recap

Jeff and I had a great weekend, doing things we both really enjoy.
Saturday was a perfectly mild day so we headed about an hour south to a big national park.  We walked around and enjoyed nature and did a little fishing - Jeff even surprised me with my own fishing pole!
And I got to break in my new boots (an early birthday present to myself!)
After hanging out in the woods all day we ventured to Bloomington to see an IU basketball game.  It was a great time....and a great way to spend my last Saturday as a 22 year old!

So handsome!  

I was lucky enough to get the only catch of the day...a nice branch.
Is is not completely gorgeous out there?  For being mid-November we had a perfect day....but no fish were biting, not even a nibble all day!  We have already agreed to go back in the Spring when everything is coming back to life and then earlier in the fall to see the leaves changing color.

Then we watched IU kick some Savannah State butt!  Not the best seats in the house but we could see all the action we needed too!

Now I am watching some Happy Feet on TV and getting pumped up for my Birthday tomorrow! WoooHooo - If you know me at all you know that I love my birthday and I am doubly excited because tomorrow is my golden birthday; 23 on the 23rd!   So that means that today is my golden day; 22 for the last time on the 22nd!  Yeah I may be be crazy, but I like it! So Jeff and I headed to The Cracker Barrel for a delicious dinner....and the best part, no dishes to clean up after!

So Ciao for now - next time I'll be 23!!!  :)

OOTD!

Today was cold and rainy all day...so I threw on one of my favorite cozy sweaters and put my hair in a pony tail and called it a day.  Of course I wore dress pants to work, but I went to visit my Grandpa and run some errands after work, so jeans it was!

Jeans - Van Heusen
Sweater - The Gap
Shoes - Sperry

What did you wear today?  :)
Happy Tuesday friends.

Girl Crush

I know every girl has one...heck, I have a handful.  Over the summer I was infatuated with the gorgeous and talented Grace Potter.  {And let's not even talk about her perfect name; Grace is on my name list for when that time comes in a long long time} But this week I was watching Millionaire Matchmaker and there was a GP look-a-like on the show.  Thus my girl crush was reignited.

There is something so chic about her.  Yet she is so laid back and casual at the same time.  If there is one thing I want to be it's part gorgeous fashionista part rocker.  She gets to wear gorgeous dresses, shoes, faux eye lashes, has giant curls and mod make up yet get to rock every night on stage and hang out with her equally cool band members. 

Grace Potter, you are my girl crush.

Happy Saturday, Friends.  I am spending my day with my real crush.  We are doing a whole bunch of wonderful things today and I couldn't be more excited about it.

{{{Oh Ps---it's my last weekend being 22! EEPS!}}}

Last week Jeff and I celebrated our (official) one year anniversary.
I have to say the year flew by.  Jeff and I have already been through so much together; college graduation, both living with my parents, a big move to a new city, our first full time jobs, managing money and learning how to live together. I have to say though - there is no one I would rather spend my time with.

There is so much that I love about Jeff but what I love the most is his romantic side.  On the outside he may be rugged and masculine.  He tells good jokes and could talk sports all day long - but what he is best at is loving.  He is the sweetest guy I know and I am truly lucky.

Our actual anniversary was Sunday (the 13th) but Jeff was going to be out of town, so we celebrated Thursday.  I had no idea what he was planning.  I came home from work, walked through the door like any other day and what did I see?  My handsome hunny dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and a tie!  Yes, he was wearing a tie and he was holding a dozen roses.  He had a fire going in our fire place and had the table set for two, with candles <3 

Jeff is a wonderful cook, he can whip up a mean dinner and this was no exception.  He made a wonderful steak and pretty fancy potatoes.  He also bought me my favorite beer, am I lucky or what?
He did it all without me having any idea!  We were even texting earlier in the day about what to have for dinner...I thought we were going to have chicken and noodles! HA!

Our delicious dinner - check that steak. It was so good.

Our glowing fire place. 

Thursday is also our favorite day of the week because it's the day we go to our favorite custard place and get a little sweet treat and we watch our favorite show, Revenge!

Jeff went to Ritters after he got off work and picked up our custard - put it in the freezer and had it ready for us after dinner so we wouldn't have to leave the house, Thursday was cold!

We snuggled up on the couch watched Revenge and a good movie and called it a night.

Is he good or what? 

I would say I'm pretty lucky lady.

Jeff - thank you so much for the past year.  You mean the entire world to me. 

I love you.

Pins...

So Friday has just become a bad day to post my favorite pins...I can't pin at work anymore and when I get home after work on Friday I am usually getting ready to go do something or cuddling up on the couch with Jeff.
And since I can not Pin at work anymore my pinning has decreased drastically.  : ( 
Now that I have a little bit of time to catch up, here we go.
Happy Pinning my friends.
Today I have Jeff looking over my shoulder as I pin and every other second it was "Oooh that looks good!" So it's all about the foods today!

Salted Caramel Cheesecake....umm yes puhlease!! 

Baked French Toast

Cinnamon Rolls as pie crust for an apple pie....oh my my yes yes yes!

No Bake: Oreos, mini Reeses cups, chocolate pudding,
Cool Whip and PB!  YUM

And now I need to go get something sweet. Have a happy Monday! 

Birchbox!!!

I feel like I have waited and waited and waited for my Birchbox sample box to come!  Today was the day, it felt like Christmas when I opened the mail box and saw the box.  I rushed inside and opened it right away.  Here is what was inside

**Kate Spade  Twirl. I love this scent, always have, just have never wanted to splurge and lay down the $80 for a bottle.  When my Victoria's Secret Super Model body spray runs me $25.
**Thymes Eucalyptus Body Lotion.  This I am excited to try out, I need a new body lotion and this one seems devine.  Also from Thymes is the Kimono Rose body lotion, I got a sample of this a year or so ago from a wedding show I worked, and never got around to trying it out.  Guess now is the time!
**Zoya nail polish in Noel.  It is described as a shimmery denim shade and it is from Zoya's holiday 2011 collection.
Too bad I just put OPI's Warm & Fozzie from the new Muppets line on my nails yesterday.
**They also threw in Hair ties from Alex and Isabelle.

So overall I am pretty happy and I can not wait until December 10th when my next Birchbox ships :)

What I wore Tuesday (OOTD)

I had a meeting right after work, so I came home and changed real quick and headed to my meeting,  Here is what I wore :)

Purple silk tank top - NY&Co
Fly Away Cardi - NY & Co
Jeans - Van Heusen
Shoes - Sperry

My favorite shoes everrr....gold sparkle Sperrys = happieness!

Happy Tuesday!

Friday Pins

Better a little late than never right? 
I had a really long week so I ended it with a girls night shopping trip followed by dinner, drinks and great conversation with a new friend!   Looking forward to a fun Halloween weekend with some of my favorite people!  Everyone have a great Saturday and weekend, be safe!

Here are my favorite pins of the week! 

I am so in love with the rustic look lately.  I want a wedding and home and life
that is themed "Rustic/Lush"  that is sooo me






And since Jeff is my hunny bee I love this bee kozy




I love this picture Idea!  So fun

This would be so fun, shows the true joy!

I am making these for dinner tonight!  YUMMM



Is it sad to say I have been having dreams about this color?
"All hail the Queen"  by Butter London.   




This is just too funny.  I love pinterest.



























Ciao for now!

Tuesday Outfit Post

Happy Tuesday!
Jeff is finishing up dinner, so I only have a second.  Here is my outfit for today.

Blouse and Pants from Express
Vest from Forever21
Belt is Michael Kors

Glasses post coming soon too, do you wear glasses?  Do you wear big dorky nerd glasses like me?

Happy Tuesday, happy outfitting!

Foodie

One of my favorite things about having my own place is making dinner! I love grocery shopping and talking to Jeff about what to have for dinner.  We make dinner every night and eat as a "family". I am really proud that we have yet to have a cereal or sandwich night.  We don't always make something elaborate or fancy, sometimes it is a mac n cheese with hot dogs or hamburger, but we do always take time to make something and sit at the dinner table to eat together and share stories from our day.

So I wanted to share what we ate last week.
If you guys have any suggestions on what to have for dinner I would love to hear them - so please feel free to comment.

MONDAY:  Grilled Italian Sausage and homemade buffalo chips!

TUESDAY: My special baked kicken-chicken, creamy chicken rice and green beans

WEDNESDAY: Turkey Taco Chili

THURSDAY: Brat patties and beef noodles

FRIDAY: Jeff's flank steak, mashed potatoes and corn 

Happy eating!