Five on Fri-Yayy

Happy Fri-yay!  Now if only the sun could come out to make this day better, but for now I will enjoy my morning cup of coffee and dream about the weekend ahead and look back at all the best parts of the past week.

{one}

Spring called for a new haircut!  I chopped my hair back to shoulder length and am loving it!  Now I am spending my mornings figuring the best way to make it look just right.

{two}

The weather is heading towards that perfect sunny and 75 and I took full advantage of the gorgeous day on Wednesday. 

{three}

Grabbed some new workout gear this week and am looking forward to getting back into workout mode.

 

{four}

Crossed a pinterest to do off my list and made some homemade laundry detergent.  Three loads in and it is great!  Check out this link to the DIY, I found the ingredients below at walmart.

 

{five}

Checked out the lookbook for Targets soon to be released Lilly Pulitizer line and I am so excited.  I can’t wait to get my hands on all these great pieces!!

Link up with the lovely ladies for the 5 on Friday to share what you are loving about this week.

 

Five on Friday - 2014 Recap Edition

A lot of this year was spent wishing time would go faster, I was so focused on the bigger things ahead, I didn’t take the time to truly appreciate all the great parts of every day.  2015 is my year to slow down and truly be grateful for everything as we go as it leads to all the big things this year has in store.

So for my Five on Friday, it’s time to sit back and remember the best parts of 2014:

1.      Moved In To Our New Home: I am pretty sure I would be happy just listing this 5 times!   The feeling of being settled-in is one of the happiest in the world. 

 

2.      Celebrated our One Year Wedding Anniversary: and there is no one I would want to feel more settled with.

 

3.      Weddings: My best friend and college roommate both married the man of their dreams this year and standing by their sides as they said I do was incredible (and the parties that happened immediately after were pretty great too)!

 

4.      Work is going great.  This year has really shown me that I have found what I love to do and am so thankful that the opportunity to take on this career fell into my lap at the perfect time.

 

 

5.      Vacations, while only quick weekend getaways here and there, were the best.  Between beaches and bachelorette parties, I don’t know which ones I loved the most!

 

2014, you looked pretty good... but 2015, we are moving on and moving up!!
 

 

 

{Five on Friday}... is back!

It is Friday and the lovely ladies are back with the Five on Friday link-up!

 

 

Join Darci, Christina, April and Natasha and share your Five on Friday.

 {one}

This past weekend I had the honor of standing by my college roommates side as she became a wife!  We have loved Nick from the beginning and as our "girl's weekends" started to slowly get overtaken by the husbands and boyfriends, he has fit right in!

 

with my oh so favorite Heather!

roomie love <3

bridesmaid usies with our favorite redheaded bride front and center!

 We had such an amazing time with my college friends and I am missing the weekend so much already!

{two}

After a pinterest binge evening a few months back I came across a wedding ceremony seating sign and sent it right over to Katey.  We both loved it so I promised I would have one for her at the wedding so I got to work (well let's be honest... I put it off forever and finished it the week before the ceremony)

 

I loved how it turned out and will be sharing a how-to post soon!

 {three}

To start off fall and to celebrate our first season in our new home I made some door décor Wednesday night! 

 

{four}

And while in my full craft mode, I went into a fabric store that I discovered in town and I went into idea overload!  We are in desperate need of house décor and I plan to spend the weekend pinning some new ideas, setting up my sewing machine in the new office, and getting to work!

kind of loving the gray!

{five}

 We have a weekend with very few places to go which means I will finally get to spend two full days unpacking and organizing (and decorating)!  I can't wait to feel a little more settled in!

 

{any unpacking, decorating or housekeeping tips are much appreciated!!}

 

Five on Friday

Happy Friday loves!!  This sunshine is getting me so excited for the weekend and what better way to kick it off than with the Friday Link-up for Five on Friday!

 

{one}

First things first... you have to check out the amazing SALE at www.simplystyleboutique.com!! 60% off all apparel and

And the shop is filled with new accessories and I have been dressing fabulously all week because of it ;)

Simply Style Boutique perfect beach cover-up 60% off!
(I am so missing that long hair)

 

{two}

My parents opened their pool this past week and I am grabbing my bikini and heading over Saturday to enjoy an afternoon Corona by the pool!

my dad and brother working hard... of course my mother had to post it on facebook!

 

{three}

Celebrating Mother’s Day for my beautiful mother and sister on Saturday evening with the family!  I am in-charge of the salads and I am trying my talents at an orzo pasta salad (the plus side is no oven is involved, so I can’t burn it!)

 

{four}

Picking out a refrigerator for the new house was both the roughest part and highlight of my week.  The cabinet guy was waiting on the fridge size to finalize our kitchen layout at the new house!

GE Profile refridgerator

 

{five}

A house update: we have outside walls, windows and doors!  And the electrician has come through and run the wiring throughout the house!  I can start to walk through and mentally decorate every room!  It is becoming so real!  

(now I just need the unlimited design budget and we are golden!)

 

Link-up with these lovely ladies and let's talk about your "Five on Friday"!

{and a very big Congratulations to Christina of Carolina Charm and her husband on the birth of their beautiful little girl... those pictures will have your baby fever in full swing!!}

 

 

 

link-up

Five on Friday... on Saturday

After getting into town later than expected (how do you big city people drive in this crap daily) I left the computer packed in my suitcase and enjoyed catch-up time with my old roommate instead of posting lasting night.  So here we go with my Five on Friday Saturday!!

 

one.

Spending Friday night with my old college roommate and finally getting to celebrate in person her engagement!!





me and roomie! (gotta love iPhone quality)



 

wine at the most amazing little shop a block from roomies apartment

 

 

two.

A weekend in DC for my BFF's Bridal Shower (wedding season has officially begun!!)

my beautiful BFF!

three.

Making it through a middle-school Career Day Presentation alive and with few no tears!  I am kind of in love with my 9 to 5'r job but as I talked about all the awesome things I get to do, they stared at me like they would rather stab their eyeballs out with the logoed pens I gave them! 

 

four.

Construction is officially fully underway at our house lot!!!  We are the proud owners of super expensive holes in the ground!

 

five.

Having some sweet girl comment on how much she liked my outfit at Starbucks.  A bit vain on my part, but what a good mood it put me in.  It makes you think about how simple it is to be kind to those around you. 

 

 

Love linking up with the lovely ladies for Five on Friday! head on over to Carolina Charm and join in the fun!

Five on Friday - on Sunday

 

Happy Friday Sunday {my internet hates me so I am just now getting it up!}!!  But I am back again this week to link up with my favorite Friday ladies for Five on Friday!

 

LINK UP

 

{one}
 

Found my Jawbone Up fitness band (in a coat pocket in the closet… I would lose my head if it wasn’t attached).  Now on to a happy, healthy New Year.

{two}

 Hooray for the state of Virginia celebrating Lee/Jackson Day the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Monday.  Just 4 work days next week before a 4 day weekend J

{three}

This adorable Christmas card that came in the mail this weekend from a sweet older couple who bought a beagle puppy from our litter in November. 

 

 

“Belle” looks like she is a much loved little puppy!

{four}

I re-discovered my love for the FX show, The League!  A group of immature fantasy football obsessed thirty-somethings is so addicting! 

{five}
 

Loving my first full work week with my Day Designer planner!  I am loving all of its features and have even color coded my life down to my pens.  2014, it’s gonna be a good year!

 

Have a great week!!

Five on Friday - the new year!

Linking up with some of my favorite lovely ladies for Five on Friday!!

link to Carolina Charm

I don't know about anyone else, but these mid-week holidays have thrown my life schedule into a tail-spin.  I don't know if I am coming or going.  But sadly the holiday season is screeching to a holt and on Monday life goes back to normal.  But luckily I was able to squeeze in one more day off today!  

 

{one}

So of course number 1 for this week is enjoying this impromptu day off with the hubs.  One perk of this crazy winter storm on the east coast is it was way to windy for a day deer hunting in the tree stand so I got Brandon all to myself.  He dropped me off at my hair appointment, ran some errands and then we had lunch and went to a movie (at cinema café... where we have found that beer is just 10 cents more than a soda, so really it makes sense to day drink, right!)

 

{two}

source

I am not sure if I have mentioned this amazingness before, but stop what you are doing and check out CND Vinylux nail polish!!  Goes on, and comes off, just like regular nail polish but some wizard magic makes this stuff stay on for a thousand times longer than regular nail polish and dries hard in about 15 minutes.  For me, this is amazing.  My at home manis usually last about 30 minutes, because at that point they still have not dried and I have zero patience when it comes to airing my nails and I smudge it all up.  I have not seen them in store, but amazon is overflowing with shops to get them from.  Check it out!

 

{three}

Still going strong with my Closet Cleanout.  I have yet to wear anything twice, but I do have to say there is a great bit of anxiety staring at that closet and wanting to make sure I wear the right outfit at the right time.  Definitely have a fear of "wasting" a good outfit (which is a ridiculous fear... so maybe this is a good way to break me out of my comfort zone)

 

{four}

For Christmas my parent's got me my very own sewing machine!  I was so excited to get it open, but first spent a few hours cleaning out a space to put it!  Now it is all prepped and ready to go (even ready the entire instruction book... I'd like to pat myself on the back for that one!).  So I thought I need a great way to break this bad boy in so I am challenging myself, 52 new patterns in 52 weeks!  By the end of 2014, I want to have crafted all sorts of amazing things.  I have been scouring the internet for ideas and patterns and after a trip to the fabric shop this weekend I am getting down to business.  I can't wait to share my creations and epic fails (I am sure there will be plenty) here on the blog!!

Does anyone have an elna sewing machine?  Any tips?

{five}

The very best part of the holidays is all my amazing friends that have moved away come back home to visit.  I was so happy to catch up with so many of my best girlfriends and gossip about married life, babies and upcoming weddings.  I can't say enough how lucky I am to have so many sweet friends! 

Happy Friday and welcome to 2014!!!

Five on Friday - the first day of the greatest month!

Five on Friday!!!

{one} Happy November!! It’s a pretty great month, I mean amazing things happen in November.  The world celebrates my birthday… tomorrow! And Thanksgiving, the greatest Holiday ever comes around!

Wipe out your favorite scarf, grab a PSL and celebrate!

{two} I successfully followed a recipe and enjoyed my yummy reward!  Check out yesterday’s post for this delicious dinner/snack

 

{three} Living in the country isn’t all to terrible when afternoons can be spent 4-wheeling around the farm!

riding backseat

{four} Our “Thank You” notes for our wedding gifts came in the mail yesterday!! Yaayy!  I am in love!  Our photographer is amazing and this picture just makes me smile!  I can not wait to do wedding recap posts and share more!

"Thank You, <3 the Uptons!"

 

the back of the card :)

{five} My birthday tomorrow will be spent cheering on my nephew at his soccer game, a convention with my sister with dinner and drinks to follow.  Brandon is working on my birthday again this year, but Sunday is reserved for celebrating with the whole family!  And this is why I love that we can live near our families!!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday!! 

I am definitely looking forward to a relaxing weekend, which are few and far between in the foreseeable future!

 

Happiness this weekend starts by catching up with the lovely ladies behind Five on Friday!
 

 

 Read along and link-up with your own.

 

{one}

Working for the City definitely has its perks when it comes to federal holidays, I am looking at you Columbus Day!  The gorgeous day was spent with my sister and littlest nephew at the Norfolk Zoo.

 

Little man made it a good hour and a half before he decided that "we go home" and then he bee-lined it for the exit and was asleep before we left Norfolk.

 

{two}

Had a little too much fun shopping on Saturday.  I picked up my wedding ring... finally (I have been wearing a temporary one from the jeweler since our wedding).  So as a treat to myself, I perused through New York and Company and made a killing with a coupon and reward dollars! Definitely stocked up on some amazing new fall pieces!

 

{three}

oh, and then I had a successful shopping trip at Target. (yea, my wallet will be welded shut by my husband in no time.) But I mean I am talking $20 king size sheets sets kind of successful.  It was a good day!

 

{four}

This was part of the target trip, but deserves it's own excitement... hello gorgeous!

 

 

Found one of these on a shelf, tucked behind some other bags!  Even had the choice between the taupe and black.  The taupe bag has a new happy home with me!

 

{five}

Looking forward to lunch plans with this pretty lady tomorrow! 

 

 

Can't wait to catch up with her and hear about her little one's Halloween costumes!

 

How was your week?!

Five on Friday

Five on Friday

 

link up with the lovely ladies and share your weeks up and downs!

 

 

{1.} This rain... not a fan! I know it is needed and all, but the road home on Thursday was flooded! :(  I am going to play a sad little song for myself over here...

 

{2.} High Five for Federal Holidays and working for the City! Woo hoo  My plans, if this rain ever stops, is to take my little nephew to the local farm for some apple pie and a petting zoo on Monday.  Thanks Chris C!

I mean, could this BE more "fall"

{3.} Loving mini bottles of wine!  These are perfect for those nights where downing the bottle by yourself just wouldn't make for a classy next day at work. I enjoyed myself a little fun-sized treat on Tuesday evening.

 



link
My set-up did not look nearly as classy... not even close!



 

{4.} Hurricane Emily was at it again (this is my brother's nick-name for me... apparently I am a bit of a disaster, I am sure he means it in the nicest way possible) on Tuesday.  Bambi took on a suicide mission and ran head first into the side of my car on my drive home from work, so not really my fault, but of course that would happen to me.  Thankfully not a signal sign of the "incident" on my car, and when I stopped to check on the little guy, he was nowhere to be found.

 

{5.} A few group messages, a dozen e-mails and 4 different proposed dates later, my girlfriends from college have a scheduled "Girls Weekend"!  Next month's DC meet-up can't come soon enough! :)

 

"The girls" (minus Jean) last December!    And why yes, my bag is the size of a small child! 

Happy Friday ladies!  Celebrate with a baby wine bottle, or two!!