Five on Friday

It's time for Five on Friday!!! 

1. Date night - Last Friday night consisted of dinner at a coffee shop, meal planning, and grocery shopping. It was a low key night with my honey, but I loved it so much! It was definitely one of my favorites from this past week. We have been so busy the past couple months, and it was so nice to just relax together! ♥

2. Treat yo'self Day - Every once in a while you need one of these, am I right, or am I right? We don't go as crazy as Donna and Tom, but it's always a fun time! I got a new dress for my anniversary, we went out to eat, and a movie! Love these girls!

3. MyAgenda - Martha Stewart discontinued her planner, and I didn't realize this until this week, when I went over to Staples to get it! So I spent the entire next day researching planners. . . before I had settled on Martha a few years ago I was leaning towards this MyAgenda. So far I am in love! (Did I mention I got it the day after I ordered it? No I didn't get overnight shipping, but I guess thats a perk of the warehouse being less than an hour away from your house!) I'll be doing a review on this soon! 

4. Anniversary Roses - Technically I guess they're "Just Because" Flowers, my husband and I promised we wouldn't get presents for each other this year! We would go out for a nice dinner, and exchange cards. . . well on our anniversary he conveniently decided to get me a "just because" necklace and flowers! Ladies, he's taken : ) 

 5. Anniversary Dinner - We went out to a Brazilian steakhouse for our anniversary, it was pretty good, I wasn't the biggest fan of my entree, but Aaron loved his. (I'm just a picky eater) And I was so excited to wear the necklace Aaron got me, it worked perfectly with the dress I found on Saturday!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful week! I was a little nervous about it being my first full work week in almost a month, but it flew by! Let's keep our fingers crossed that the weekend moves a little slower!!

I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth, Meet @ the Barre, Carolina Charm, and The Farmer's Wife! Check out these awesome ladies, all of their blogs will keep you entertained for hours! 

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2 Years Later the 5 Best Things I did, and you should too!

Today I have been married for 2 years. . . this seems crazy to me! How can it possibly be that I've already spent 2 years with the love of my life?! Sometimes I feel like it's been 10, and more often I feel like we just got married a couple months ago.

I made a lot of mistakes about my wedding, my photographer was awful, I should've spent more money on certain things, and less money on a lot of things, I'm sure there will eventually be a post about that, because I don't want anybody to make the mistakes I did!

Today, however, I want to think about my wedding day, and even though I would have done things differently, it was absolutely perfect! I wasn't nervous, and everything seemed to go smoothly, and even when it didn't, I could not have cared less! There are so many things that made up this perfect day, but I wanted to share some things, that I am so glad that I did, and hey maybe you should too! These are in no particular order, but I hope they will help some bride out there!

1. I just said these are in no particular order, but this is probably my favorite thing that we did! We got married January 5, just a little while after Christmas, so for our Christmas presents to each other we decided to get perfume/cologne for our special day! I cannot recommend doing this enough, every time I wear the perfume (normally just on special occasions) it brings waves of emotions, and memories! It was also very important that we picked them out together (I'm pretty picky) and that way we knew each of us liked the choice, and wouldn't hate the smell of our wedding day! In case you're curious we got Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme for me, and The One for Aaron.

2. Get a coffee with the Bride written on it - I just thought this was adorable, and loved the photo op! My husband loves Starbucks, so he has this picture hanging in his office. This is the only day you get to have that written on your coffee so go for it! 

3. Do a First Look - I cannot even imagine then inconvenience of waiting to see Aaron until the ceremony. I suppose it may be different if you have an earlier wedding, but this day is about you and your love, why wouldn't you want to spend it with them? Just my personal opinion, but everyone is different! I loved being able to spend time with Aaron, before everything got hectic, it also helped with pictures!

4. Question Guestbook -  I still look over our guestbook, because it's sweet, sentimental, and hilarious all at the same time! I took our engagement photos, and put questions on different pages for the guests to answer! It was so much fun, and there were some answers from people I would have never expected! It's much better than a list of names in a blank book I'll never look at again!

5. Have fun - I know this is completely cliche' but it's true! If anything goes wrong you are going to be the only one to notice it! Don't spend your day focusing on the bad! Remember all the fun moments that make your wedding day yours and yours alone! Like when you have a surprise visitor at your first look, or you have to switch shoes with your Maid of Honor because your heels are sinking into the mud, and how many times the recessional song was messed up in the rehearsal, but it worked out perfectly when it really counted!  

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Throw A Bow On It!

Sorry for the long break! It's been a little hectic around here this holiday season! We spent our Thanksgiving week touring a majority of the Southeast, and are still recovering considering the fact we've had evening plans 7 out of the 9 nights we've been back! Anyway, I am so happy to be home! And honestly and am glad to be so busy, it just means that our ministry is growing, and we have so many friends and family to be thankful for!

Well we all know that this is the season of gift-giving, and I've already shared my Wish List, but there are always people you aren't sure what to get, and you don't always have a lot of time to invest in pretty and ornate packaging! Here are a list of my favorite things to give, that I can easily just throw a bow on, and they look beautiful enough on their own!

We do a Secret Santa from December 1st until our holiday break, these are the perfect small gifts to give throughout those weeks! I also like to use these for birthdays I may have forgotten until the last minute, as a thank you, and for people that just need a little something to cheer them up!

1. Hand Soap - My mother always had at least 5 extra Bath & Body Works hand soaps laying around, as a just in case gift. Now if you look in my bathroom cabinet you'll see probably 8 or 9! I probably give one out about once a month. I write a simple note and tie it on around the neck of the soap! It is definitely my go-to small gift! Someone can always use it, and they can go and exchange it if they don't like the scent, and B&BW is constantly having buy 3 get 3 free deals so you can easily stock up!

2. Framed Print - This print is from Etsy, but really you could hop on Pinterest and find hundreds of free ones! I wrote a post about it here! I love to put these in a frame (another thing people can always use) and you automatically have an inspirational, or seasonal gift!

3. Nail Polish - I always pick up Essie's at Marshalls and TJ Maxx for $4, but really any nail polish is awesome! You can never have enough!

4. Coffee Mug - I love a cute coffee mug (really, who doesn't?) You can stock up on general ones to hand out, or finding a monogrammed mug will make the gift even more thoughtful! Put a couple packs of hot chocolate in, and your gift is set!

5. Coasters - I'm sure you all have seen the tutorials for tile coasters, they really are that easy! If you know the recipients decor, you can match the tiles to it. However, if you're running short on time, pick up a packaged set, like these cardboard ones. I know that often I don't have enough nice coasters at parties and these larger 10-packs come in handy! This is also a wonderful hostess gift!



I hope your holiday shopping is going well, and that this list will help knock a few more gifts off your to-get list!

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Five on Friday!

I am so glad it's Friday! I am leaving work today at 2:00 PM and not coming back for over a week! That's what I call a happy day! Without further ado. . . here are my top 5 moments!

1. Zeke's Haircut - This poor guy. . . he couldn't even see! We had to re-schedule his haircut twice because of different things, and it was getting pretty rough, I can't believe how soft he is now. . . and those eyes! I forgot how cute he could be ! <3

2. Pinterest Party - Our teen small groups had a Pinterest Party on Wednesday, and it was a success! I think everybody loved it! We let them make 4 crafts (if they had time) They just brought a few dollars and some mason jars. We had chalkboard paint, and glitter to decorate jars, and then they could make cookie jars, and sugar scrubs. It was messy, but totally worth it!

3. Christmas Decorations - Christmas decorations go up tomorrow night!!! We always put them up before we travel for Thanksgiving so we can come back to a beautiful Christmas filled house! Cannot wait!

4. Glazed Bisque-It - Some of the ladies in our office went out last night for a night of painting pottery, it was so much fun to get to know them out of the office, and enjoy some pizza and crafting at the same time!

5. Cinderella - Hasn't happened yet, but tonight we're heading down to Durham to see Cinderella!!! My husband and I saw it in NYC this past January and it was so wonderful when I heard it was going to be so close to my parents I decided we would make the 3 hour drive to see it, and them!

I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth, Meet @ the Barre, Carolina Charm, and The Farmer's Wife! Check out these awesome ladies, all of their blogs will keep you entertained for hours! 

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My Favorite Things!

This list has been sent out to my family and hinted at numerous times, but now I get to share it with you all as part of the "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things" Link-up today! I have been wanting all these things for the past few months, and honestly plan on buying them the day after Christmas if there are any missing from my pile!

1. Calligraphy Set - I've recently started hand-lettering some of my favorite quotes, and putting them around my house and office, as personal encouragements. I feel like having an actual calligraphy set will make this even more fun! This one is a bit pricey, but you get your money's worth from the other smaller kits I was looking at, I also noticed their prices rose just within the past month, I'm assuming for the holidays, if this isn't under the tree I may wait until January to see if it drops down again! 

2. Druzy Ring - I have always loved druzy jewelry, and I have been swooning over the top ring (the platinum). I've probably hinted about this the most so here's hoping this or a similar piece is under the tree!

3. Phone Case - I've been on the hunt for a new phone case, I'm kind of picky, it has to cover the edges, be rubber/silicone, but still feel sturdy, I'm way too paranoid about dropping my phone! I currently have a Fossil case and love the way it feels and fits! This pattern is so much fun, I love the colors, and feel like it's right on the verge between leopard print and floral which I think is so fun! 

4. Faux Fur Blanket  - I haven't met a fur blanket that I don't like! We've been working on revamping our bedroom, and I've decided on this beauty as a throw for the end of our bed! I may break, and get this before Christmas! 

5. Cards for recipe box - I saw these cards in a boutique about a month ago, and fell in love! Since I've been married I've been collecting quite a few recipes. As much as I love Pinterest I hate having to to look for a specific recipe on there and then look at my phone or go back to the app 10 times while I'm making something, and I just love pretty paper so why waste a reason to get some? 

6. Recipe Box - Once I saw the cards above I began a hunt for the perfect box that would match them! I think this box isn't too obnoxious, but it has just the right amount of glam! Can't wait to fill it up with all of my favorite recipes! 

I'm linking up with Elise, Katie, Zelle & April! Check out all of their wishlists! 

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Five on Friday

Wow can't believe we're already back to Friday!! Hope you guys all had a wonderful week!

1. Halloween Giftcard! Our office does a Halloween scavenger hunt every year. Last year my team won. . . and I may have talked some smack to everyone about how my team would be winning again this year! But we did win!!!! $5 Kroger giftcard - I am living the high life! 

2. Saturday Shopping - A friend of a friend was selling all of her open house Christmas decorations, and we went there on Saturday, wow everything was such a great deal, and there were actually a lot of things that weren't Christmas. I got that boxwood wreath for $10, the acorns for $2, and everything was in great shape! We then went to a local gift shop, and I finally found some cotton bolls! I have been looking everywhere for them, and either they don't sell them or they were sold out. I was so excited! Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do with them! I'm thinking a wreath!

3. Birdseed wreath - Speaking of wreaths. . . my Dad's birthday was on Monday, so they are coming up this weekend to celebrate! He absolutely loves birdbaths, birdfeeders, basically anything to do with birds. I found this nifty recipe and made him a wreath and some ornaments! I'll be sharing the recipe next week!

4. Voting = Starbucks - I hope that you voted on Tuesday! As a reward for doing my duty as a citizen I picked up some Starbucks on my way back to work! 

5. Umm Pizza - I couldn't really think of a 5th item, but I am going out for pizza at lunch today, and that always helps me get through a Friday workday!! only 7 hours to go! 


I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth, Meet @ the Barre, Carolina Charm, and The Farmer's Wife! Check out these awesome ladies, all of their blogs will keep you entertained for hours! 

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Current Reading

Wow, I have not keen very good about my reading list this year! I only put 10 books on there, because I knew I hadn't been reading a lot lately and wanted to feel accomplished when I went way above and beyond my reading list. . . that plan didn't work out so well! Here is the list I made at the beginning of the year. I ended up taking off the Monuments Men. . . so really there are only 9 on my reading list. 

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff
 In the middle of this book, it's been very encouraging so far, and I definitely recommend it. 

Divergent, Allegiant, & Insurgent by Veronica Roth
These were an easy read, it only took me about 2 days for each book. They were very interesting, and the movie was a very good adaptation!

The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide by Francine Jay
Wow this book is wonderful! I finished reading it right around when we were moving so it     really helped as I was going through things to sell, donate, throw away. I did not go to the extreme that the book mentioned sometimes, but I do feel like I got rid of some useless things, and streamlined my closet more. I probably need to go through objects in my house again with this "Joy of Less" mindset!

L. O. V. E.: Putting Your Love Styles to Work for You by Les & Leslie Parrott
Hoping to get to this book in December!

The Monuments Men  by Robert Edsel and Bret Witter
The movie was amazing which made me want to read the book, but it just isn't going to happen this year!

Every Woman's Battle  by Shannon Ethridge
 Eh - that's all I have to say about this book, I found it in a pile as I was going through some things, and thought I should read this to see if I would recommend it or could ever use it in the ministry. It was an okay book but I had to force myself to read it, and I think there are better written and more interesting books that cover the same topic matter. 

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen
Hoping to get to it on Thanksgiving break or maybe December!

Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose by Candace Cameron Bure
This was a good book, she has an interesting writing style that took a while to get used to, but all in all it was very encouraging and challenging!

I still have 3 books to go; L.O.V.E. Love Does, and Water for Elephants. I also really want to re-read the Hunger Games Trilogy before I go to see the movie in November! I also still want to read The Fault in Our Stars so that I can watch the movie! Looks like I'll be pretty busy before 2015. 

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