Happy Father's Day!

To help celebrate Father's Day I decided to make my golf loving dad some golf themed cupcakes!  I originally got the idea from pinterest.
I did cheat a little bit and used a Betty Crocker mix...banana flavor, yum! I also used Betty Crocker plain vanilla icing, my dad is not a cream cheese icing fan, so plain vanilla it was.

I had to make the flags because I could not find any at the store.  I used small flat wooden sticks from Michael's craft store. I striped them myself with a black Sharpie.  The flag part was made with yellow scrapbook paper and them I used Mod Podge to hold it together. 

I used the same white icing but added some blue food coloring to make the water hazard.  Put it in a plastic bag and piped it onto the cupcake. 

To make the sand trap I used crushed graham crackers. 

And what baking/decorating experience wouldn't be complete without a mess?  I spilled the "golf balls" all over the counter and on the floor.  

And there we have it! Golf themed cupcakes! 

So I've been home...

So I have been home for the past week. Here is my week in pictures.

PLayed with Coop, Mom, and the dogs. 

Coop had his first red pepper...and he looked like a murderer after! 

Planted some pretty flowers in Mom's garden. 

Went to Cocomero.  Cheesecake frozen yogurt with graham cracker pie crumbles, strawberries, kiwi, blackberries and a cherry. Yum! 

I went to work at the flower shop with my momma. De-thorned 275 roses for graduation this weekend.

Made a flower arrangement (daisies) and it is hard! 

Made a second one...getting the hang of it...kind of.

And made a third one.

Making flower arrangements is fun and incredibly hard! It really is an art.  

But that's what I have been up to...not a whole lot but it is also nice to be home and relaxing. 

Happy Saturday! 

Parents.

So I was talking to my boss, who is a single father to two teenagers. He is having some problems with his 18 year old daughter. He was asking for my advise on how to "connect" with her. And I suggested he take her on a father/daughter date. Just the two of them, dinner and a movie or something....well he rolled his eyes and said he didn't like that idea. That is was weird....and it got me thinking about how lucky I am to have the best parents in the whole world.

My mom is my best friend and everyday I start acting like her more and more and more and more (UGH!) ! But I am also extremely lucky to be very to close to my dad as well.

Some of my fondest memories are of my father/daughter times.

Like every Valentine's Day for many years the Army would host a father/daughter dance. I would get a pretty new dress and get my hair done all pretty. My dad would buy me a corsage, take me to dinner and then to the dance. It was always so much fun, I remember him looking so handsome in his dress blues and us having so much fun dancing the night away.

We would go out to dinners here and there.
Trips to the grocery store or to Stupid-Mart

He would randomly pull me out of school and take me to lunch.

Freshman year of college he took me to St. Louis for a few days. Just me and him. We went to the Zoo, went to the Arch, rode go karts, ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory (yumm!) and had a great time!

And next week we are road-tripping to North Carolina! Just me and my dad!

Having these relationships with my parents, especially my dad, has made me the person I am today. I hold all the lessons they taught me close to my heart. I would never want to do anything to disappoint them. Had I had a different upbringing, where I didn't spend quality time with my parents, I can't say what kind of a person I would be today.

I only hope that one day....[in like 5 years]...I can do the same for my children.

It makes me sad that my boss does not have that relationship with his daughter, that just simply taking her to dinner is "weird" for him. I hope that he can try and step out of his comfort zone and take a little interest in her, and spend some quality time with her.

A random collection of catching up...in no particular order...

1. Jeffrey met the parents.
 It went very well. I was pleased. My parent's liked him. Even though I was super embarrassing and said some naughty things. I have made a new rule for myself...no more drinking with my parents until I learn to keep secrets.

2. Thanksgiving
 Instead of the usual "Nice, girl, niiiiceee" phrase it was "Fat, girl, faaaattt". As I stuffed my face with all the deliciousness that Thanksgiving has to offer. Super yummy deep fried turkey, ham, dumplings, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac.n.cheese, rolls...mmmm ssooo good! Followed by pie, pie, pie, and some no bake pb dessert :) And almost a week later I am still having to squeeze into my jeans. I am not thankful for that.

3. School
I have yet another 75 minute presentation to give today. Thanks Dr.Kasch. You really are amazing. I also have 3 very long papers to write.

4. My birthday.
Yep. I am officially old now. I'm 22 a week and a day old. Eh, I guess it's kind of cool. Kind of weird to grasp though, I'm 22. Maybe I'm the only one that thinks about these things. And I got an fabulous coach purse! I am so loved..and a little spoiled.


Love.



5. My favorite thing in the whole world.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. 2010. AMAZING. I would give anything to have Alesasndra's body. All the Angels are amazingly gorgeous, so confident and sexy. Maybe I should stop eating so much pizza and drinking so much beer and start eating celery sticks and drink more water...maybe I should also hit the gym?
The show last night was g.r.e.a.t. though.
Even though I was sad though that Heidi didn't do anything. I thought for sure she would make a guest appearance.


I.heart.her.

Happy Wednesday.
Happy Pay Day!

I'm just sittin on top of the world

Last week I colored my hair. I love it.





Can't really see the color in the pic. but it's there.





I also got my tragus pierced. It hurt like hell.

In a couple of days I get to change the hoop to a stud.

Ps...remind me to never take a pic from this angle again. Is my nose really that bumpy?

I also went to my very first Colts game! We sat in row 18!! Kind of awesome, right?

I could hear Peyton calling out plays.

BALLER

The view from my seat. My crappy phone pic. really does not do it justice.



I seriously have the best parents ever. They love me to the moon and back and I am so thankful.

I also don't have a FBF anymore...I have a BF. : ]

Great weekend. Great life.

Happy Monday.

Puerto Rico!

I had a very relaxing time in Puerto Rico with my wonderful Mother.

But it went by too quickly.

It is still hurricane season down there so it did unfortunately rain everyday.

But it was the kind of rain where you can still be outside...most of the time.

 It did pour at points.

But when it would rain we just move from our beach chairs to the hot tub or to the ocean.

The ocean water was so warm...like 80 degrees warm and crystal clear.

A gorgeous turquoise color.

But I hate being in the ocean, so I had to force myself to not have a panic attack.

The ocean is just scary. But I do love it.

When the sun was shining it was HOT.

I can't remember ever being so hot in my life.

I loved it!

The plane ride home was terrible.

I'm a big chicken anyways.

I hate every little bump and noise.

The flight from Charlotte to Chicago was terrible.

It was so  bumpy.

Like SOO bumpy!

I almost cried it was so bumpy.

I'll post pictures later.

Even though I didn't take many...

I don't think to take pictures.

I need to though.

P.S....I am at work. And it sucks.
 I have not seen Brandon since Tuesday and it kills me to know he is so close now!
Tonight we are having a date...well he is coming to help me finish up painting the office. He said it's not a date. I said if I buy beer and dinner it is...and maybe give him a few kisses.
He obliged. But he didn't have any choice.

P.P.S....I also can't wait to see Coop-dawg. I'm sure he didn't miss his mommy, but mommy missed him.

10 Days!!!!

Until PUERTO RICO!!!!!!

My momma and I are going here and I can not wait!

Also did you know that primer ruines a manicure? Well it does. I spent practically the whole weekend painting my office! It looks ssoo good, but my hands are covered in primer. 



Just a peek. I love the warm tone and the cool blue trim!
Now we need new curtains!



Happy Monday! It's going to be a busy week! 

25

Happy 25th wedding anniversary to my fantastic parents!

Hope you are having a wonderful time in Jamaica!

 Yesterday was kind of a crappy day. I woke up feeling really really yucky. I went to work in the grossest outfit, frizzy hair, and mascara. I looked as bad as I felt! Needless to say I did not make it the whole day. I went home at lunch and slept from 2-4:30. It was great...I woke up feeling much better and recharged!

Then I went to dinner with my lovely friends, Sara and Katy to have a 'good-bye' dinner for Katy. :(  

Katy got a job up in Chicago! YAY for her, sad for us.

The twinies came back from Vegas and brought me back some "escort" (hooker) cards and this coffee mug from the Bellagio! YAY I love coffee mugs. You know how people that travel a lot have that thing they always get when they go somewhere? Like some families get magnets or picture frames, t-shirts? Well I think my thing will be coffee mugs! I love them! Thanks Friends!

Happy Tuesday.

S.U.M.M.E.R.

Happy Happy Summer!

Today I am in a super great mood...maybe because I had a fantastic weekend and I have the greatest boyfriend in the world!

This weekend I went home for father's day to be with the BEST day in the universe! I love my dad more than I could ever explain! We went to the St.Louis Zoo and had a great day! Even though It was reallllly hot! My family loves the zoo. And I made them be dorky with me! We wore our animal hats...all day! It was incredibly ridiculous, but super fun! We got some funny looks, some complements and we even got made fun of in a foreign language! I love that my family can be dorky with me. Even my brother rocked his hat all day! A  family picture and more picture of the day will come soon!

This is me with a goat...and my elephant hat! Haha. Told you it was dorky.

I also got to have a really nice and much needed chat with my best friend Jessica! She is out in Colorado right now, on CHWC staff and I miss her sssooo much! I was glad to be able to chat with her for a while! Can't wait to see her when she gets back!

And have I mentioned how much my boyfriend rocks? Well he does. Friday and today he has brought me Dunkin' Donuts Ice Coffee and a donut to work! :) He knows how to keep his girl happy.

Love you babe!

Today officially marks the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! And this is what my week will *hopefully* look like...

-Jillian Michael's yoga...everyday. I promise!

-Going to the driving range with Brandon...we are gonna take up the sport of golf.

-Finishing up my room! I have technically lived in my new house since May 31....but just started unpacking Saturday! Need to get that done!

Happiness

10 Things That Bring Me Happiness

1. Going to Steak-N-Shake or Ihop past 11:30 pm.

2. Ice cold Pepsi's

3. Receiving care packages from my parents

4. Dunkin Donuts Cinnamon flavored ice coffee

5. Kisses from Cooper

6. Cuddling with Brandon

7. How excited Peyton and Eli (dogs) get when I come home (to my parents house) they always miss me

8. Fresh ground black pepper

9. Kings Island

10. Football season

THIS weekend!

This weekend was a blast! I was up in Lake Geneva for Sigma Chi Formal.

Lake Geneva is beautiful...we stayed at The Grand Geneva which was probably far too classy for the frat guys and all the drinking that was going on. I would totally go back though, it was wonderful. Plus they had "sheet sandwiches"  a sheet sandwich is Brandon and I's favorite thing ever...we discovered it in Charleston this summer. It's a sheet, then a down comforter then another sheet! It's so crisp, cool and cozy...AAHH i love it! So we were happy with that!

We spent most of the weekend down at the indoor pool...since we were in Wisconsin it was pretty chilly out. The pool was fun.

 I have decided I need to start working out. immediately. There is a yoga video I want to get. It's like power yoga, something. Ill try it out.

Brandon and I really  had a great time hanging out with some of our best friends and just being college kids. We had no worries and no responsibilities. It was a nice break from the hell of school winding down.

The only bad thing about being gone for a whole weekend was having to leave Cooper behind. My house mate Kristi was Coop's bunny sitter. I missed him so much and was really happy to see him when I get back. He really needs a friend. He was too bored all weekend.

[me and my gorgeous boyfriend]

[Me and my boy bff Gus!]

[Me all bundled up while we were hanging out outside...it was so cold!]