laureality

From something old to something new.

2012-01-07T13:55:00.001-05:00

In the past two months my life has completely changed, and for whatever reason I've found myself struggling to blog here lately. My time and energy has been completely consumed with planning a wedding and trying to buy a house, and I've felt for some time that I'd like a space that can be dedicated to those things. After nearly four years at laureality I've decided that it's time for something new, which is what led me to create my new blog, Grow the Love.

The new blog will feature more wedding planning details, home decor and organization, and all of the DIY projects that I attempt for our big day and for our new house. It will also be a place to document this overwhelming and exciting time in our lives. Grow the Love seemed like an appropriate name, since that's what we're doing every day. Learning more about each other, bringing our two families together, and laying the groundwork for our life together.

It feels good to be excited about blogging again. I hope you'll all join me over at the new site! I can't wait to get caught up with all of yours.

Hoping to say yes to a dress.

2011-12-19T17:13:00.003-05:00

Today feels somewhat legen-wait for it-dary, at least in terms of planning a wedding. After work I'm heading to a bridal salon to try on what I believe is my dream wedding dress. I hope I love it as much in person as I do on Pinterest!

Ever since my friend Niki over at Ledbury Drive started planning her own wedding a few years ago, I've been in love with Watters dresses. They're all pretty, elegant, and completely unique. I wont be posting the one I have my eye on since Aaron reads my blog, but I thought I'd share a few Watters designs. If you like to look at pretty dresses, which I know most of you do, I highly recommend clicking on over to the website.

I've found an amazing deal on the exact dress that I'm head-over-heels for, and it's the perfect size too. I figured that I should at least try this particular style dress on in a store before I decide to make the purchase. I hope that it works out, because it's an incredible deal! I'll try on a few other styles as well, to make sure that it's meant to be.

My mom found her wedding dress in a magazine and it was love at first sight for her. Maybe it will be the same way for me!

Tell me how you found your dress! I'd love to hear your stories.

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts - Swap!

2011-12-14T21:31:00.001-05:00

This year I participated in a new blog swap called Cold Hands, Warm Hearts, hosted by Ilene and Sandy. We were paired up with other bloggers to share scarves and hats and mittens to help us keep warm this time of year, as well as any other fun goodies we wanted to share.

I was paired with Moriah of Moriah Makes, and she definitely spoiled me! I knew I needed some new fingerless gloves to have for outdoor photography, and I got an adorable pair in my favorite color.

I also got a brand new scarf! Anyone who knows me or reads my blog can tell that I'm a huge fan of scarves, and that it's my mission in life to build an incredibly collection of colorful, unique scarves. Thanks for helping me achieve my goal Moriah! I absolutely love what you sent me!

I have another fun swap to share with all of you, but that will have to wait for another day. I worked late tonight and there's a couch and a glass of red wine calling my name in the other room.

Volted!

2011-12-07T10:12:00.004-05:00

Last week I took my car to the Chevrolet dealership that sold it to me for an oil change and a few other basic needs. While I was waiting for the service department to finish working their magic, my salesman came out and asked if I wanted to test drive a Chevy Volt. My other option was to sit in the waiting room and watch daytime television, so I grabbed the keys and headed out on a little eco-friendly adventure.

I've been intrigued by electric cars for a long time now, so I was excited to finally be able to test drive one. The inside of the car felt a lot like my Chevy Cruze. It was comfortable and sleek, and I definitely didn't feel like I was driving something that you plug into the wall. The most bizarre part of driving the Volt is that it is almost completely silent. I kept putting my foot on the gas and expecting to hear that familiar vroom, but there was no sound whatsoever. Pretty cool.

The screen behind the steering wheel shows you exactly how many miles you have left on your charge, so you know exactly when you need to plug in.

The Volt can go approximately 35 miles on one charge before having to switch over to its gas-fueled generator. The salesman I was working with is leasing a Volt and because he has such a short drive to work and has the ability to plug the car in when he arrives, he hasn't had to buy gas in SEVEN MONTHS. Can you even imagine?

I was surprised to learn that the average cost for a lease is $350 per month, which isn't bad if you're already driving a new car and are able to avoid filling up the tank. It seems that folks are hesitant to consider an electric car because they don't understand how they work and a lot of people assume they're too expensive. Knowing what I pay for my new vehicle, I can honestly say that I'd happily own an electric car if and when I work closer to home. Hopefully the technology will continue to improve and the battery life will get even longer by the time I'm ready to purchase one!

Have you ever driven an electric car? Would you ever consider owning one?

For the record, Chevy did not ask me to write about the Volt. They have no idea who I am, I just like to blog about things that interest me and take pictures of myself with my phone while test driving their cars.

It's a holly jolly Molly Monday.

2011-12-05T10:28:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine went by way too fast, but Monday morning brought some exciting news! My best friend Lindsey had her baby girl last night.

Welcome to the world baby Molly!

Mom and baby are both doing well! I can't wait to go see them after work today. Hopefully the work day will fly by for me.

I worked on Saturday, which is why I feel like I didn't have much of a weekend, but we made up for it on Sunday. Erica and I went to my parents' house and baked holiday treats with my mom all day long. We made dozens and dozens of cookies and chocolate covered marshmallows and other sinfully delicious things, including some that look like Santa Claus.

Some of them look angry and some of them look confused, but I still think they're pretty cute.

How was your weekend?

Too many books, too little time.

2011-11-30T15:49:00.001-05:00

I go through phases with reading, depending on how excited I am about a particular book and how much time I have on my hands. I've always had a bad habit of accumulating dozens of books that I have every intention of reading, only to leave them sitting on my shelf for months. If not years. It's bad.

Don't even get me started on my magazine subscriptions. I had to force myself to sit down and actually flip through the pages of the holiday issue of Real Simple. It's not that I don't enjoy reading, I just really stink at making time for it.

The novel I'm currently reading on my Nook is called The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. I found it for a ridiculously low price in the Barnes and Noble online bookstore and the reviews were good. A writer travels to snowy Scotland and stays in a tiny cottage overlooking the sea while writing her most recent historical fiction novel, inspired by her own ancestors. There are castles, mysteries, and men with sexy Scottish accents. Need I go on?

Since my attention span has been non-existent lately, I've also started reading a book called Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman, the same author who wrote The Five Love Languages. I spotted this book while standing in line to buy my first bridal magazine at CVS. Coincidence?

Anywho. I'm only a few chapters in, but what I like so far about the book is that it encourages readers to prepare for marriage. The concept is completely logical, but unfortunately it's not something that most people even consider before tying the knot. I may not agree with every idea in the book, but I'm choosing to look at this and whatever other books on marriage I can find as homework for our impending matrimony.

If that's not romantic, I'm not sure what is.

Speaking of marriage, the next book on my digital shelf is It's All About the Dress by Randy Fenoli. In terms of my budget, it is sadly not all about the dress, but I'm still excited to read Randy's advice before I go dress shopping.

And last but not least, I've been reading great things from multiple bloggers (Ashley and Ashley!) about The Happiness Project, which focuses on taking small steps to live a happier life. I'm a firm believer in philosophy that happiness is a journey, not a destination, so I think I'll enjoy this one.

What are you reading? What else do you think I should add to my bookshelf?

The pre-holiday season.

2011-11-23T13:44:00.002-05:00

I've decided that I'm in love with the pre-holiday season. It's a real thing, I swear. Few people take the time to appreciate these weeks when Fall is transitioning to Winter, but this year I've really been doing my best to savor every minute of it.

I love that the weather has been chilly enough to wear scarves and jackets, and that we haven't had to deal with snow yet.

I love the anticipation of the holidays that are right around the corner. I try not to decorate or listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but I definitely start to feel excited for the festivities to come.

I love taking walks with Aaron through nearby neighborhoods and making plans for our future home.

I love trying new recipes, most recently homemade pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

Aaron and I first met the week before Thanksgiving and proceeded to fall for each other throughout the weeks that followed. I've always felt that were lucky to have met when we did, because we started to get to know each other during the time of year that is consumed with family, tradition, and feeling thankful.

This year we're celebrating our engagement and starting to plan a wedding during those same special weeks. It's easy to see why the pre-holiday season has become my favorite time of year. I can't wait to see where we'll be this time next year.

How have you been enjoying the pre-holiday season?

A lot can happen in two weeks.

2011-11-21T12:50:00.004-05:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your kind words and congratulations! The past two weeks have been a lot of fun for Aaron and I, and this experience wouldn't be the same without the amazing friends and family we have to share it with.

As though we didn't already have enough going on, Aaron and I actually made an offer on a house the same weekend we got engaged. We'd been keeping an eye on some short sale homes in the area and ended up falling in love with a house sooner than we'd anticipated. The house is located in the downtown area of one of our favorite cities and is the perfect starter house. Since the home is a short sale it could take several months for us to hear back from the mortgage company, which works out well because we have nothing but time. So now we wait!

In wedding planning news, we've finalized a wedding date and a venue! I discovered that if we wanted to get married next year we'd have to move quickly as there were very few Saturdays available for 2012. We got lucky and found a date next September at one of my favorite local venues, Indian Springs Metro Park. It's located in the middle of 2,215 acres of natural wildlife and the building is entirely eco-friendly. I love that it's not your average banquet hall and that we'll get to incorporate the great outdoors for our wedding. It's absolutely perfect.

image found here

My friend and fellow blogger Niki was married at this same location back in August, and she actually just posted a bunch of photos from her big day. Hop on over to her post if you'd like to see more of what the inside of our venue will look like. Niki made an absolutely stunning bride and her wedding was filled with amazing DIY details.

Oh, and did I mention that I was her wedding photographer? Hehe.

Let me know what you think!

Footsy and Forever.

2011-11-08T12:13:00.004-05:00

On Saturday night Aaron and I sat down to watch Crazy Stupid Love. If you've seen the first five minutes of that movie you know the scene where they pan across the floor of a bar and show dozens of couples playing "footsy" with each other. Cheesy, but that's not the point of this post.

It got me thinking about how relationships always reach a certain point where you feel like you've left the honeymoon phase and start to notice the little things that don't happen as much anymore. At that particular moment I could not for the life of me remember the last time Aaron and I had played footsy, or if we ever had at all.

I obviously made this comment aloud to him, and he looked at me and said, "Babe, we're doing it right now."

Sure enough, I looked down and saw that our feet were tangled together on the ottoman. I laughed at myself for being so unobservant and scatterbrained. It's a fault of mine, but it's comforting to know that my other half is there to pull me back to reality and to remind me of the things that aren't always clear to me.

And that is one of the many reasons why, just hours before the footsy incident, I agreed to marry him.

We were enjoying a cup of coffee and dessert on Saturday evening, and on a cozy little couch in that dimly lit cafe he pulled a beautiful ring out of his jacket pocket. I would have been crazy to say no. I love the ring almost as much as I love him.

I can't imagine a better man to spend the rest of my life with.

Stretch pants.

2011-11-03T14:05:00.001-04:00

On Sunday afternoon we went to a local cider mill to breathe in the crisp Fall air and indulge in some hot cider and donuts. This particular cider mill brought in a very diverse crowd, which meant that our donuts came with a side of people watching. Of all of the interesting characters that we saw that day, one in particular stood out to me the most.

I was innocently sipping my cider when a young girl walked past our table and immediately caught my attention. She couldn't have been older than fifteen, but she had the makeup of a streetwalker and she was wearing stretch pants so tight that I could see everything her momma gave her. My instinct was to run over and cover her with my jacket so that all of the filthy men of the world couldn't see her, because goodness knows they were looking too.

It was then that I noticed three other pre-pubescent girls wearing the same type of outfit. Way too much makeup, some sort of baggy sweater, and stretch pants that I would have categorized as tights.

Remember when girls used to wear tights?

It's understandable and probable that teenage girls left to their own devices will make bad decisions in an attempt to get approval from friends and boys. That part is easy to understand. What I want to know is WHY their parents are letting them out of the house wearing pants that look like they've been painted on?

Why is there such a pressure for young girls to be sexy? And why aren't we doing more to stop it? I am constantly baffled by this phenomenon.

I'm not a parent and I can only imagine how stressful it is to raise teenage girls these days (or ever, for that matter). What I do know is that my parents played a huge role in my understanding of the world around me and in the development of my self worth. The memories from my childhood do not involve skinny jeans or Bratz dolls or a desire to be seen as "sexy."

I may not have always wanted to listen to what my parents had to say, but that didn't mean they stopped talking. If I'm lucky enough to have daughters of my own in the future, I hope I'm able to give them the same gift that my parents gave me. Innocence and age-appropriate clothing.

Our Halloweekend.

2011-10-31T11:37:00.002-04:00

There are some who say that dressing up for Halloween is childish, but I have to disagree. I love coming up with an idea for a costume and piecing it together myself with things I have laying around the house, clothes from a local thrift store, and a few craft supplies.

On Friday night we had a costume party to go to, but I didn't want to wear the same costume that I had prepared for our party Saturday night. After reading Kim's blog post last week I got the idea to be Rosie the Riveter. Aaron has a lot of old camo gear from his days in the Marine Corps so we called ourselves a World War II couple. Well, I called us that anyway.

My clothes cost about $8 at Salvation Army, and I cut an old red t-shirt into a bandana and I sat at my desk at work Friday afternoon using White-Out to make the polka dots. It was fun and incredibly easy to put together. Thanks for the idea Kim!

On Saturday we threw a party here at the condo. My roommate Erica and I found lots of fun ideas for food and decorations on Pinterest and were excited to show them off. For example, the pumpkin "puking" my homemade guacamole. At first I was slightly grossed out by the idea, but it grew on me.

We also made a pumpkin cake using a bundt pan. Aaron went outside and found some twigs and leaves which I bundled together to make a stem. I was definitely pleased with the end result.

And lastly, our labor of love, candy corn jello shots. These bad boys took several days to make, but it was worth it. We layered lemon, orange and coconut cream jello in clear plastic shot glasses. Pretty cute, no?

Some of our guests included a pumpkin and her farmer...

And Ranbow Bright and her Ceiling Fan.

Get it? Ceiling Fan? Heh heh.

And the party was hosted by the Flintstones and the Rubbles. Aaron and I as Barney and Betty, and our roommates Erica and Justin as Wilma and Fred.

We made all of our costumes over the past week and they turned out exactly how we'd envisioned them. I found a blue dress at Salvation Army (what would I do without that place this time of year?) and sewed on some black straps. The rest of the costumes were all assembled from fabric we bought at Joann's.

We made Wilma's necklace out of styrafoam balls that were banged up and spray painted to look like rocks.

And I made a bow for my hair out of the fabric that we cut off the bottom of my dress. It worked out perfectly.

Erica and I worked on these costumes every night this week, and with the help of my amazing mother and her sewing machine we finished them the morning of our party.

So much fun!

Tonight our plan is to watch Hocus Pocus and the new Halloween episode of How I Met Your Mother (to find out who the Slutty Pumpkin is!). There will also be some sort of delicious Fall dinner, cider wine, and some leftover candy. I hope we get some trick-or-treaters at our condo!

How was your weekend? Did you dress up? What are your plans for Halloween?

How Pinteresting! Fall Foods.

2011-10-28T14:28:00.003-04:00

I've always loved baking and cooking, but over the course of the past few months I've really started to become passionate about food. I love finding new recipes and combining new flavors and forcing my loved ones to eat whatever I make. It works out well for everyone; I get to practice and they get tasty treats. Fall is an especially fun time to try new recipes, because it gives you an excuse to add things like pumpkin and sweet potato to otherwise boring recipes.

Pinterest has been my new BFF when it comes to finding new recipes this year, so I thought I'd share the ones that I've made so far so that you can enjoy them too!

Working our way clockwise from the top left, the first recipe is for Homemade Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt. I had some leftover pumpkin puree in the fridge that I didn't want to waste so I combined it with fat free vanilla yogurt, a bit of sugar and some spices and voila. My only complaint is that by the end of the night it got way too hard in the freezer. It tasted delicious while it was edible, and based on the ingredients I used it doesn't seem terribly unhealthy!

Next on the list is Sweet Potato and Honey Dinner Rolls. These? Were incredible. They were time consuming (I'm not very patient when I have to wait for dough to rise), but worth every bit of effort. I recommend that you make them immediately, and serve them warm and drizzled with honey. I'm trying to convince my mom that we should make them for Thanksgiving dinner. I don't think it will take much convincing.

Continuing clockwise we come to Pumpkin Pancakes. I've made these twice so far, once for Aaron and Erica, and a second time on our wine tasting trip. They were a hit both times. So perfect. So fluffy. It's like eating pumpkin pie for breakfast. And who wouldn't want to do that? There are lots of recipes out there for them, but this one has served me well.

The last photo is for Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. I haven't made them yet, but mark my words I will make them and they will be delicious.

What is your favorite Fall recipe? Have you tried any new ones this year? Share links if you have them!

A bunch of winers.

2011-10-26T14:37:00.001-04:00

Although I've lived here all my life, this weekend was the first time I'd ever experienced Northern Michigan in the Fall. Knowing how beautiful it is throughout the rest of the year I had a feeling it would be breathtaking. How right I was!

My mom and I drove up after work on Friday night and met the other ladies at my aunt's cottage on Old Mission Peninsula. Her place is tucked away on a dirt road, within walking distance to Old Mission Harbor and within driving distance to multiple vineyards. It is my own personal heaven.

On Saturday morning we did some shopping and had a big lunch before heading out to the local wineries. We tried dozens of different blends and we each bought a few bottles to take home. Michigan is mostly known for its white wines, which tend to be a bit too sweet for me, but I managed to find some reds that I loved. My favorite was the Cabernet Franc from 2 Lads Winery. I can't wait to open that bad boy!

On Sunday morning I made pumpkin pancakes for everyone and we spent the morning sitting around the table ~~gossiping~~ laughing and talking. After we packed our things and cleaned up we decided to go outside and enjoy the great outdoors and the 60 degree weather, which wont be with us for much longer.

We walked down the street, which was lined with gorgeous colorful trees, to the harbor. It was my goal to try to find a petoskey stone, which I always try to do when I'm at one of the Great Lakes. I failed. No surprise there, those things are hard to find!

Instead we just took some more photos to document the perfect end to a perfect trip.

Me with my beautiful mom.

And the rest of the gang. I love these women more than words can describe. I'm so glad we were able to sneak away for a girls weekend, even it was just for a short time. I definitely want to try to make this an annual tradition!

A tasting we will go...

2011-10-21T08:18:00.004-04:00

It's Friday! This has been a long, emotionally exhausting week. I am more ready for the weekend than I have been in a long time. I somehow managed to score the early shift for work today, which means I'll be in weekend mode at 3:30! But more on that later.

Last night Aaron and I met up with blogger Alyssa and her husband Chris who are in town from California visiting his family. I've been "internet friends" with Alyssa for years now, so it was great to finally meet her in person! She was just as sweet and funny as she seems on her blog, Woodland Dreams. If only she had brought some of her baked goods along, then the evening really would have been perfect!

We ate at one of my favorite local restaurants, the Union Woodshop in Clarkston, which just won 2011 Restaurant of the Year from the Detroit Free Press. In my opinion they have one of the best menus around, their prices are very reasonable, and they serve beer in mason jars. 'Nuf said, right Alyssa? If you're ever visiting Metro Detroit or are looking for a new restaurant to try in the area, you need to get yourself to the Woodshop.

I wish we had brought our cameras, but our crummy iPhone photo will have to do. It was a great evening, and I'm so glad I was able to meet those two!

After work today my mom and I are driving up north to go wine tasting with my aunts and my cousin Rachel. After this crazy week I could not be more ready for a girls weekend in beautiful northern Michigan with an unending supply of red wine.

In honor of our wine tasting weekend I thought I'd share some of the photos I found on Pinterest this morning. Oh, how I love Pinterest.

That last one is my favorite. I feel that way on a regular basis.

Have a great weekend everyone!

A little pumpkin on the way.

2011-10-18T10:36:00.003-04:00

I've written about my good friend Lindsey several times on this blog. She was my college roommate and continues to be one of my dearest friends. She's one of those people who I can't imagine not having in my life, which is why I'm incredibly excited to announce that she and her husband are expecting a baby girl at the end of this year. Her shower was last weekend and there were so many tiny pink things! The cuteness was almost unbearable.

And since her cute little belly is hidden in that slimming black dress I thought I'd show you some of the maternity photos we took this month. We had a lot of fun wandering around and enjoying the Fall scenery.

I'm so excited to meet this little peanut and to see Lindsey become a mother. Molly is one lucky baby girl!

A new outlook.

2011-10-13T15:49:00.001-04:00

Three weeks sure do fly by, don't they? When I wrote my last post it was not my intention to become MIA on my own blog. However, the occasional harrassment I received from family and friends about when they'd see an update was a helpful reminder of how long I'd been away. To be honest, I just needed a break.

I have a tendency to fill my life with more hobbies, goals, and to-do lists than I could ever dream of accomplishing. Throw in my addiction to social networking and you can understand why I occasionally forget to stop and smell the roses.

So that's what I've been doing. My life is full of roses, and I have been smelling the heck out of them. I feel happier and more balanced than I have in a long time, and I think I just needed a bit of distance to get there.

Taking a step back from the ol' blog helped me realize that I've been doing it wrong. Instead of sitting down to write out my thoughts when it feels right or when I have something that I'd like to share I've started to feel like I have to write a certain number of posts per week in order to get a certain number of followers and so on and so forth. It's no one's fault but my own, but that nonsense stops right now.

I have lots of big ideas for ways to rejuvenate this creative space of mine. My goal is to harness all of the positive things about it (the writing, the photography, the amazing friends and networking opportunities) and to let go of the pressure that I put on myself. I'm happiest when I let those creative juices start to flow, and there's no reason to get in my own way.

After three and a half years of blogging I can't imagine not having it (and all of you!) in my life.

One of the photos from my little "photo shoot" in California. I love it because I look so darn happy. It's a good representation of how I've been feeling these days. Photo credit to Boivin Photographe.

Camping Adventures: Port Sanilac, Michigan

2011-09-20T12:47:00.005-04:00

After work on Friday Aaron and I loaded his car with camping gear, food, my camera, and lots of beer and headed over to Lake Huron to experience some of the great outdoors. I've been dying to go camping for the past five years so this trip had been a long time coming.

The campground where we stayed wasn't exactly what we had in mind. There was very little nature around us, aside from the newly planted trees and the man-made lake across the street. There was a clubhouse, an arcade, a swimming pool (which was closed), and free wi-fi. While some people might enjoy those amenities while "camping," I do not. If I want free internet and a swimming pool I'll find myself a Marriott.

Despite not loving our campsite we still had a great time. We bought a new tent before the trip and were impressed by how easy it is to set up. We were only a few hundred yards from Lake Huron so we could hear the waves crashing as we fell asleep at night. We cooked over the campfire and on the propane stove we borrowed from my parents. Camping season is almost over so we practically had the place to ourselves.

We've decided that early September is the best time to go camping. The parks aren't as crowded, the tent doesn't get muggy and hot, there are no mosquitoes, and there's just enough of a chill in the air to make you want to sit by the fire and snuggle up under a sleeping bag. It's perfect.

On Saturday we drove to the nearest town and walked around some adorable shops. We also made several stops at roadside parks and enjoyed the water.

Have I mentioned how much I love Michigan? I know I wont be saying that as often when there's a foot of snow on the ground and I'm freezing my butt off, but I really do love it here.

As much as I love getting dressed up and buying fancy makeup and having indoor plumbing I really am an outdoorsy girl at heart. Give me nature trails and a Great Lake and I'm a happy camper.

Throw this guy in the mix and there's no place I'd rather be.

Snippets from a happy week.

2011-09-15T14:30:00.005-04:00

It's been a good week. I can feel Fall in the air, which means that cozy sweaters and scarves are starting to make their annual appearance. It also means that Erica and I are filling our Pinterest boards with delicious recipes and fall decor that we want to try to make at the condo.

Aaron has officially confirmed with his current employer that he will not be taking the job in Tennessee. They still hadn't made a formal offer and seemed to be perfectly content to keep him on his toes so he let them know they could find someone else to take the position. He's still keeping an eye out for other positions within and outside of his current company, so who knows what the future has in store. In the mean time I get to keep him all to myself and I'm pretty happy about that.

On Tuesday I had taken a personal day for a photography session and my client ended up cancelling days before. Nevermind the fact that I had taken the day off of work and paid money for props and backdrops. It's my own fault for not taking a deposit for portrait sessions, so I've definitely learned my lesson.

I decided to turn that disappointment into an amazing day off. I was only slightly productive (I can't not be productive on a day off), and I was able to fit in some relaxation and some episodes of How I Met Your Mother.

That evening I treated Aaron to a movie of his choice, and [surprise, surprise] he chose Warrior. It's about a Marine who comes home to all sorts of family drama and ends up fighting his own brother in a worldwide MMA championship. Right up my alley. Er, not usually.

It didn't sound like something that would appeal to me, but it was really a fantastic movie. Believe it or not there was a tear rolling down my cheek during the last ten minutes. If you don't think two tattoed men fighting each other in a cage will make you cry, I challenge you to watch this movie. Good stuff.

My week got even better on Wednesday when my Erin Condren Life Planner arrived. I'm in love!

Before the days of smart phones I used to love having a planner with me at all times to keep my schedules and To Do lists organized. While I love the calendar in my iPhone, I'm too much of a visual person to rely on it to stay organized. I prefer to be able to see all of the days of the week in order and to keep things colorful and in full view. Plus this planner is just darn adorable.

Speaking of making plans, on Friday afternoon Aaron and I are heading a little ways up north to go camping for the weekend. We have a lot of packing to do tonight, but I'm excited to have a little outdoor adventure.

What are some happy things going on with you this week?

The Greenwich Reunion

2011-09-12T09:34:00.008-04:00

Last weekend I returned from Connecticut and I spent the week catching up on all of the things that I had been falling behind on. It was a much needed break, but now it's time to share some photos!

We had a fantastic time. My flight arrived late Friday night in New York and I was met at the airport by my dad and his cousin to take me back to my aunt and uncle's house in Greenwich. Even though it was late and everyone was tired, it was nice to feel like I was on vacation and to be surrounded by my family. We sat around the bar and talked and drank and had a nice visit.

The next day the rest of the family came to the house and the fun began. Here are some snapshots...

Me and my new godson!

One of my dad's cousins decided he wanted to interview my grandmother and her two brothers about their lives and record it for everyone. I can't wait to watch the DVD and hear them tell stories about growing up in Detroit with Italian immigrant parents. It's going to be absolutely priceless!

More baby love.

My dad taking his cousin's Ferrari for a spin.

Everyone playing around out in the yard.

Taking a dip in the pool.

An amazing meal of steaks and barbecued ribs.

Toasting to my cousin Christine and her fiance.

My favorite food from the weekend. Clams soaked in butter and bacon. NOM.

Wine. Wine, wine, wine, wine, wine!

This picture didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, but I wanted to show how many of us there were. I think the final head count was 49. There wasn't a single relative that wasn't able to make it, so our reunion was complete. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend!

Greenwich Bound.

2011-09-02T07:19:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday! After work today I'll be hopping on a plane to Connecticut where I'll be joining my parents, brother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, second cousins, third cousins, and probably a few cousins that are once removed (although I never quite understood how that whole thing works) for a family reunion in Greenwich. I'm so excited to get away for the weekend and to spend some quality time with mia famiglia, including my cousin and fellow blogger Christine.

There will be wine. There will be wonderful food. There will be bocce ball. We are Italian, after all. It's going to be a blast.

Our family is spread among a few states which means that we don't get to have events like this but once a year at best. My great aunt and uncle just put their beautiful home on the market and decided to go out in style by throwing one last big family party there.

While I don't normally have anxiety when I travel, I'm feeling nervous about this trip for some reason. I think I'll feel better once I make it out of work, past holiday weekend traffic and arrive safely at the airport. I'd appreciate any positive vibes you're willing to send my way!

On a sidenote, I got my hair trimmed yesterday and I asked my stylist to straighten it for me so that I wouldn't have to tame frizzy curls when I woke up this morning. I had to be up around 5am and I'm really only good for pouring coffee at that hour. It's getting so long! I love it.

I hope you all have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend! What are your plans?

Sunday, sweet Sunday, with nothing to do...

2011-08-29T07:09:00.004-04:00

If you get the reference of this post title I'll give you a cookie!

Unlike our friends on the East Coast who were preparing for a hurricane we were able to enjoy gorgeous weather this weekend. I had a wedding on Saturday and a family photo session on Sunday morning so my goal was to do as little as possible for the rest of the weekend. Aaron and I left the house yesterday afternoon with the goal of finding something to do outside. My only requirements were sunshine and beer. I'm easy to please.

I remembered once we started driving around that the Renaissance Festival was in town. The festival comes to the town I grew up in every year and never ceases to entertain. There is no place better to go for people watching. I was even more excited when I read on the website that we could get one adult admission for free if we brought four cans to donate to their food drive. Score! If you're in the area that offer will be going on next week as well.

Of course we had to get a turkey leg. For historical accuracy and whatnot.

We watched some jousting and a glass blowing demonstration and just walked around and looked at all of the jewelry and art for sale. I made a small purchase from the glass booth, a little heart that I plan to turn into a Christmas ornament. Forgot to take a picture of that though, darn!

I love our lazy Sundays. They're always random and fun.

How was your weekend?

I'll take my latte in a bowl.

2011-08-25T12:02:00.010-04:00

I was recently asked to participate in the Starbucks Ice Cream Blog Tour, which meant that I had the opportunity to do several of my favorite things: use coupons, eat ice cream, and share my opinions with all of you! I do all of those things on a regular basis so I knew it was meant to be.

I was able to choose two flavors to sample. I decided on Caramel Macchiato, because it's been my all time favorite beverage at Starbucks, and Vanilla Bean Frappuccino since it seemed like a classic flavor. I have yet to try the five other flavors that are available in the ice cream line up, but I can definitely say that I made a good choice.

It was a typical Wednesday night at the condo for Erica and I. Red wine, yoga pants, and watching Teen Mom on the DVR. You can imagine our excitement when ice cream was thrown into the mix. In case you were wondering, it goes very well with Three Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's.

The Vanilla Bean Frappuccino was exactly what I expected it to be: a simple yet rich vanilla ice cream. I'd definitely recommend this flavor to anyone who is not looking for a strong coffee flavor. It would be great with fresh fruit as well. We just stuck with the wine ;)

Erica and I both expected the Caramel Macchiato flavor to be a sugar overload. Most desserts with caramel generally are. We were oh-so wrong!

As a fan of the original beverage I was impressed with how well they recreated the flavors of the Caramel Macchiato. Most of the ice cream was coffee flavored, with the occasional swirl of smooth caramely goodness. It was a great combination of flavors without being too sweet or too coffee-ee (yep, that's a word).

At the grocery store I cringed when I first saw that the price of this ice cream was almost $5 per carton, but then I thought about how much I'm willing to pay for a cup of coffee at Starbucks without thinking twice. I'll pay a few extra dollars for that delicious latte because I know that it will be a consistently delicious and flavorful every time. I guess the same now goes for their ice cream.

My wallet and my pants size are in trouble.

Have you ever tried Starbucks Ice Cream? What's your favorite flavor?

For the record: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Starbucks and received coupons and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Spinning.

2011-08-24T09:03:00.007-04:00

Pardon my lack of blog posts lately. My time has been consumed by work and photography and I've had a heck of a time squeezing in anything else, especially this week. August has been a great month in terms of growing my photography business. I've had three weddings and multiple portrait sessions, and while I'm incredibly grateful for every moment I spend behind my camera I'm also exhausted and am up to my ears in photos that need to be edited.

I find myself wishing more and more every day that I could throw myself into photography full time instead of trying to make time for it after I get home from my "real" full time job. I'm starting to find new ways to improve my business so that I can make that dream a reality in the next year or two. I can't wait.

On another note, last night while I was editing Aaron came up and set my Goody Spin Pin on the desk beside me. He said, "Here you go. I have no idea what this is but it was on the floor."

Being the smart ass that I am I decided to ask what he thought that spiraled piece of metal was actually used for. Coming from a man with no use for hair accessories I knew his response was bound to be entertaining.

"It's a pen thing right?"

"What do you mean a pen thing? Like a spring? It's a little big for that, don't you think?"

"No, like an accessory for your pen."

He's so cute sometimes.

U-Printing Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-19T13:51:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the handy dandy random number generator we officially have a winner! Congrats to Mandy of GingerMandy.com for winning the rolled canvas print! I'm sure you'll be able to put it to great use with all of those beautiful photos you're taking these days!

Photography as Art (and a UPrinting giveaway!)

2011-08-16T09:10:00.013-04:00

This weekend my wonderful, generous, handy boyfriend agreed to paint our bathroom. When I moved in the walls were a deep gold color which might have worked better in a dining or living room but was really strange to decorate with in a bathroom. I don't understand how some people select paint colors.

We settled on a nice subtle gray color that would go with the towels that we already have, and that green would be our accent color. I also decided that I need to start using more of my own photography as art, so I bought a big frame at Ikea and I'm heading to the store today to print out one of my favorite photos that I've taken.

I took this in the backyard of my great aunt and uncle's home in West Palm Beach a few years ago. It's fun and tropical and I just love the colors and the leading lines. Once I hang the frame I will definitely show the final results of our bathroom makeover.

Speaking of using your own photography as art, UPrinting has generously offered to give one of my readers the same opportunity. From now until Friday, August 19th you have a chance to win the following:

One (1) piece 16" x 20" rolled canvas print, for one winner with two inch border or no border. One Day Business turn-around and *Free Shipping

Restriction: Limited to *US Residents 18 years old and above only.

In order to be entered to win you simply must leave a comment on this post telling me what photo you think you'd choose to print and where you might put it. For additional entries you can also blog or tweet about the giveaway. Please leave an additional comment for each entry and be sure to include an email address. Easy as can be! I'll select a winner this Friday at 1:00pm EST.

Disclaimer: This canvas printing giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given for hosting. Check out UPrinting.com for more details about photo canvas.

Feeling at home.

2011-08-14T21:27:00.003-04:00

I've lived in this condo for two months now. These past eight weeks have been a whirlwind of work, mini summer vacations, photography, more work, and red wine. It wasn't until this weekend that my roommates and I were able to step back and decide what we really wanted to do with the place. We've been gradually bringing in different pieces that mean something to us and trying our darndest to pull it all together. I'm really loving the results.

I live with two of my best friends, Erica and Justin, both of whom I met at my previous job. They are the only couple I would consider living with based on the fact that they are as laid back as can be and are generally just terrific people to be around. After five years of dating they have a comical and adorable relationship, which is not something all couples can say after that long.

Aaron is now living with us as well. Because his company has been implying that he could possibly be moving to Tennessee at any given moment, he decided to take advantage of the fact that his landlord found a new tenant and he could break his lease early. So here he is. Waiting to figure out where he'll be living in the next few weeks. It's a barrel of monkeys, let me tell you.

I've always struggled with the idea of living with a significant other because there is so much hate around the subject. You'd think it was right up there with religion and politics with the number of opinions I've been subjected to these past few years. I always wonder if those who didn't live together until marriage are judging me for choosing to wake up next to my boyfriend every day. I definitely see the merit in choosing not to go down that path, but that's just how things have ended up for me.

And, honestly? I'm really friggin' happy with the way my life feels right now. That is the goal after all, isn't it?

I'm starting to get used to the idea that very little remains a constant in our lives. Apartments, jobs, cities, clothes, cell phones. They're all constantly changing when something bigger and better comes along. The one thing that I can always rely on is the certainty that I have people in my life who love me, who make me laugh, and who are there for me no matter what. I'm sitting back in my cozy little condo appreciating the fact that I'm surrounded by that every day.

And I feel pretty lucky.

Little Bird Creations Giveaway (Winner!)

2011-08-13T09:41:00.004-04:00

And the winner is....

Mandy! Congrats Mandy, I'll be emailing you later this weekend so that you can pick out your personalized coffee cuff.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Pinteresting! Jewelry Storage.

2011-08-12T10:08:00.010-04:00

A few weeks ago my friend Niki invited me to Pinterest and I'm becoming more addicted every day. I know I'm late jumping on the bandwagon but I was trying to avoid getting sucked into another form of social networking. Silly me, I should have just given in a long time ago. What really sealed the deal for me is that there's a Pinterest app for my iPhone! I'm becoming a snob that way, hehe.

Lately I've been struggling to find a solution for jewelry storage in my bedroom. I don't have much in terms of drawers and there currently is not an available surface on which to put the jewelry box that doesn't fit all of my jewelry in the first place.

I'm looking for a solution that is functional and cute and I've been using my Decoration Inspiration board to save different ideas that I've found.

Here are some of my favorites:

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Stephani on Pinterest

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Leslie on Pinterest

How do you store your jewelry? Any suggestions for keeping it all visible and well organized? Are you on Pinterest?

****

Don't forget to enter my coffee cuff giveaway which ends later today! Come by and learn more about the Little Bird Creations Etsy Shop!

Going going back back to Cali Cali

2011-08-10T12:24:00.006-04:00

This afternoon I booked a plane ticket to go see my dear friend Cheyenne in California later this year. It's been three years since I visited her and I've been dying to go back. I requested time off in early October for a destination wedding that didn't end up working out (bummer!), but now I have the perfect excuse for a vacation!

Since so much has changed in these past three years I thought I'd have a little throwback post to share the photos from my last trip to CA.

I was there in late October so the 2008 elections were in full force. Needless to say we had fun with Halloween costumes that year. Back then we had different jobs, different boyfriends (well, I did), different apartments, different hairstyles, and different cameras. It was during that last trip to California that I learned what the heck aperture was and really got a glimpse of what my little Nikon could do.

I am dying to have some quality friend time and to have several days to catch up with each other. October can't come soon enough!

On becoming accidentally vegetarian(ish).

2011-08-08T13:16:00.010-04:00

Aaron always jokes about how he was a T-Rex in a past life because of his undying love for meat, and last night as we were discussing our recent eating habits I got to thinking about how meat is slowly disappearing from my diet.

I've never been a huge fan of red meat. My childhood memories of meat involve it being difficult to chew and not especially flavorful. The only time I really eat red meat specifically is during the holidays or at a celebration of some sort when someone else is preparing it. I never learned how to grill a steak or burgers so I just never make them.

I do eat chicken and fish somewhat regularly but I've been trying to get my protein from other sources. I made myself tofu last week and I really enjoyed it, especially as leftovers the next day. I can't wait to find more recipes to try (suggestions are welcome!).

via

This transition has nothing to do with the politics of eating meat, although I do have a few opinions on the subject. I don't think that I'll ever completely give it up, but I'm fascinated by the way my eating has evolved. It's amazing how much you learn about yourself when you tune in and listen to what your body really wants and needs. Smaller portions, smarter choices, more natural things. It's pretty basic stuff. I feel good, and that's the most important thing, right?

Are you a vegetarian? Could you ever be? Why or why not?

Etsy Spotlight: Little Bird Creations (and a giveaway!)

2011-08-05T09:40:00.017-04:00

I've always been a firm believer in the sentiment that small gestures can go a long way. When it comes to reducing, reusing and recycling I'm definitely not perfect but I do my best to make small changes in my lifestyle in order to be less wasteful. One way that I've been trying to save the trees is to bring my own reuseable coffee sleeve with me when I get a cup of joe to go.

I received my first felt coffee cuff last year and I've started keeping it with me so that I can use it whenever I buy a cup of coffee. Since work tends to be the place where I have 90% of my coffee I decided that I needed one for my desk and one to leave in my purse. I went straight to Etsy and fell in love with the cuffs made by Little Bird Creations.

I was in love with the bright colors and the fun designs, and I fell head over heels when I saw that I could design my own coffee cuff WITH A CAMERA ON IT. I chose my favorite colors, teal and purple, and it arrived last week. I love it!

I asked the shop owner Jaime if she'd be interested in giving away one of these adorable coffee cuffs on my blog and she graciously agreed! One lucky reader will be able to choose one of the Design Your Own cuffs from her shop. My other favorite is the Ruffle Bloom design. Anyone who knows me and has seen my wardrobe wont be surprised that I'd pick the one with ruffles.

The only thing you must to do to enter is hop on over to Little Bird Creations and tell me which of her designs is your favorite. Leave a comment here and I'll be choosing a winner one week from today. You can also receive additional entries by doing any of the following:

*Add Little Bird Creations to your favorites on Etsy
*Follow laureality on Google Friend Connect
*Follow laureality on Facebook
*Tweet or blog about the giveaway
*Make a purchase from the Little Bird Creations shop

This giveway will end on Friday August 12th at approximately 7:00pm EST and is open to readers in the United States and Canada. If any other Etsy shop owners are interested in hosting a giveaway please feel free to email me and I'd love to feature your items!

Happy Friday!

Girls Weekend

2011-08-03T09:44:00.009-04:00

Lately I feel like I'm just working for the weekend. It's no wonder I should feel that way, because July was jam packed with good times and mini vacations. Take, for example, our girls trip last weekend to Oscoda, Michigan. We had all the ingredients for a perfect weekend.

A great lake. (Huron to be exact).

More nature.

A DIY wine tasting.

A canoe trip.

A tube dedicated solely to our beer and snacks.

Sassy beer coozies.

And a refreshing dip in the Au Sable River.

Girls weekend = success!

Harley and Me.

2011-08-01T09:48:00.006-04:00

Our girls weekend up north was everything we wanted it to be. We had unbelievable weather, lots of beer, and lots of laughs. I'm still sorting through all of our pictures, so there will be another post dedicated to our trip later this week.

After spending three nights sleeping on on a bunk bed with sand in my sheets and a sunburn on my back I was happy to come home to my cozy little condo. Even better, Aaron was there waiting there for me with a surprise.

Not only had he cleaned the place, done my laundry, and watered my plants, he had also borrowed his dad's motorcycle for the day and announced that we were going riding for the whole afternoon.

He handed me my very own helmet and a Harley Davidson t-shirt and we hit the road. This was my very first time riding a motorcycle so I had a death grip around Aaron's waist for the first hour or so. Once I got comfortable with the idea that I wasn't going to go flying off the back of the bike it was a lot more relaxing.

Obviously I didn't drive the bike myself or ride it without a helmet, but I had to pose for a photo as if I did. It's much more badass that way.

We stopped and had lunch, paid a visit to my aunt and uncle who lived down the street from the restaurant, and explored some nearby neighborhoods. The weather was hot, but it was a beautiful day and there was a nice breeze coming from the lakes nearby.

It was nice for Aaron and I to have a weekend apart (you know, that whole absence makes the heart grow fonder thing), but I really did miss him. We're still waiting to hear the official word in his job in Tennessee, but days like yesterday make it hard to imagine him not being here with me. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm lucky to have him in my life in the first place and that I have the chance to miss him. If that makes sense.

So first it was a tattoo, now a motorcycle. What's next for me? Any guesses?

I should have known better.

2011-07-27T07:43:00.005-04:00

Most of us have a few items in our closet that our significant other either picked out himself or has at some point expressed a like for, and even if those items aren't something we would have chosen for ourselves they still bring a smile to our face.

Yesterday I posted a photo on Instagram showing off a necklace that Aaron bought for me a few months ago. He had run up to the store for something completely unrelated and while he was there he sent me a text message saying "I got you something!"

In our world that usually means he's coming home with a bottle of wine, because the man knows the way to my heart. Obviously I was surprised when he handed me a necklace with a big silver butterfly.

I was touched that he had stopped and taken the time to picture me wearing this necklace and that he wanted me to have it. I've worn it a few times and I always think of him when I do.

Last night we were on the couch watching TV when he looked at me and said "I love it when you wear that necklace."

And I replied, "I'm glad babe. What do you like about it?"

"It looks nice," [insert goofy grin here] "and it points at your boobies."

Apparently jewelry means different things to different people.

Knee deep in the water somewhere.

2011-07-26T08:03:00.007-04:00

We managed to avoid most of the traffic heading up north and arrived at the cabin around 3:00 on Friday afternoon. Once we got settled in I threw on my bathing suit and headed down to the beach with my Nook in tow. I didn't want to waste a single moment of that sunshine. My goal was to get a bit more color and to even out my tan lines.

The lake water was the perfect temperature. Warm enough to jump into and cool enough to be refreshing. I didn't really want to get out. I don't know what possessed me to walk into the water with my iPhone but I got some funny pictures out of it.

The next morning we were up at 7am and after breakfast it was straight back down to the beach for this girl. I'm not sure why we woke up so early while on vacation, but I'm glad we did because the weather was perfect until about 2:00pm and then it started raining cats and dogs.

One of them even left their prints in the sand.

Well, it was probably a raccoon that did that, but it fit the expression.

We filled our time playing games and watching Judd Apatow movies until the rain finally stopped. Then we lit a fire and had smores, which was a perfect way to end the weekend. The bugs ended up driving everyone back indoors, but I loved every minute of sitting by the fire.

Bonfire has to be one of my favorite smells. It reminds me of my childhood like crazy.

This weekend I'm actually heading up north again, and to a town that's about thirty miles from where I just stayed. This time I'll be having a girls weekend with most of these ladies. I'm so very excited.

How was your weekend?

Oh boy.

2011-07-21T08:42:00.006-04:00

My aunt and uncle recently brought a new bundle of joy into the world. Up until now my brother was the only grandson in the family, so we were all excited to welcome this little guy. There's a pretty big age gap between my brother and I and our younger cousins, but it's been a lot of fun to have so many babies around.

I was completely blown away when the same aunt and uncle asked me to be the Godmother of my new cousin. As my uncle put it, how often does a cousin have the opportunity to also be a God parent? In this case our age difference offers a unique kind of relationship.

Both sides of my family are Catholic, and while I don't necessarily relate to everything within that faith I am honored to have been chosen for this role and will give him all the love and guidance that I can provide in the years to come.

The purpose of this post was not only to share this little cutie but to get some great ideas from my fellow bloggers. As someone's Godmother it's customary to give a gift for the baptism, but I'm stumped as to what I should get for a little boy. Girls are so easy to buy for, but coming up with something special and meaningful for a boy is proving to be quite the challenge.

And so I ask my wonderful readers: what ideas do you have for me? I'd so appreciate any and all suggestions you might have!

Keepin it smooth.

2011-07-20T08:22:00.008-04:00

Is it already Wednesday? Thank the Lord. I have a three day weekend coming up and I couldn't be more ready for the time off! Aaron and I are heading up north with Lindsey, Nicole and their husbands for some R & R at a cabin that belongs to a good friend of our family. I can't wait to lay out on the beach, read a good book, cook out, and enjoy the peace and quiet.

I'm also looking forward to this afternoon because my mom is driving out to visit me at work and after I give her a little tour of the place we'll be going out to lunch. It's a bit of a drive so I'm excited that she's making the trip and that she'll get to see my ~~office~~ cubicle.

On a random note, Aaron and I have a new obsession: making homemade smoothies. We joined a gym down the street from my condo and as soon as we get back from a workout we've been going straight to the kitchen and making one of these fruity concoctions. I've been trying to buy as much fresh produce as possible and I'm loving all of the combinations we've come up with.

Last night I made my favorite smoothie so far. It included:

* 1 banana
* the juice from 1 orange
* frozen strawberries
* 1/2 a mango
* 1/2 cup cubed pineapple
* 1 dollop of greek yogurt
* 1 cup of ice

I could have sold that thing for $4.99 a cup in any mall food court. It was perfection!

I'm looking for recommendations of different things to try in our smoothies. We're trying to keep it all natural and as healthy as possible. What are some of your favorite smoothie ingredients?

Tenne-We'll-See

2011-07-15T10:08:00.003-04:00

As much fun as I've been having with the new place and the new body art there's also been some heavier stuff happening. Aaron was offered a position through his current employer down at their new plant. The job would offer a pay raise, lots of opportunities for overtime, and a better chance at being promoted in the future.

Oh, and it's in Tennessee.The job is his if he wants it, and all that's keeping him from going is the fact that the company hasn't given him a formal offer yet. He's waiting to see what the salary and benefits will be in writing before he commits, as well as whether they're willing to pay his moving costs. This move would be happening sometime in late August and yet they're taking their sweet time coming up with an official proposal.

Apparently the company doesn't care about the fact that not knowing is DRIVING HIS GIRLFRIEND CRAZY. The nerve.

Things could still fall through at this point, but it's seeming pretty likely. I have no doubts that we'd make it through the annoying long distance thing, but it still sucks.

Cactus Crafts

2011-07-14T06:41:00.004-04:00

Last weekend I made a trip to Home Depot and Lowe's to pick up some flowers and herbs and I decided to look for a plant to bring to work for my desk. Aaron kept suggesting that I buy a cactus but I wasn't wild about the idea until I saw these little things.

They're tiny and unique and don't require a lot of attention so they seemed perfect for my cubicle. I wasn't a huge fan of the little pots they came in and I couldn't find any cute replacements so I decided to get creative.

Aaron had the brilliant idea to cover the pots with newspaper. I took that idea and ran with it. After I finished clipping coupons I dug through the Detroit Free Press to look for pages that caught my eye.

There was no exact science to this next step, I just held the newspaper up to the pots and with the use of tape and scissors I trimmed the paper to fit. There was excess paper towards the bottom so I just folded it under and secured it with more tape.

To cover the larger top of the pot I found a strip of another portion of the newspaper and just wrapped it around. It covered that ugly top edge of newspaper (keep in mind, perfection was not my goal here) and added a little funky accent.

And there you have it. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Notice the Detroit theme?

They were a hit at the condo so we ended up leaving them on the windowsill in our kitchen.

Now it's back to square one finding a plant for my cubicle!

One of those things I never thought I'd do.

2011-07-11T19:06:00.007-04:00

Let me start this post by saying how much I loved all of your feedback on my tattoo post last week. I had no idea how many of you had them, and even those who don't had wise words to share. I love having my own little sounding board on the internet!

I continued to go back and forth about whether I wanted to have something permanently printed on my body, and the more I thought about it it just felt right. I found a sticker that was about the same size as the tattoo I was thinking of getting and I tried it in different spots until I found a place that fit. I decided that I wanted my little 'too on one of my feet so that I could look down and see it, and as odd as it sounds it felt like a good balance to have it on my left foot.

On Saturday I decided to go check out a place Aaron had recommended. I read several reviews that they were very clean, professional, and did great work, and I had a feeling that if they had openings I'd be getting the tattoo done right then and there. And I was right.

Let's call it being cautiously spontaneous. Is that an oxymoron?

Anyway, I took the plunge.

Getting a tattoo didn't hurt nearly as much as I expected it to. It felt like an annoying bee sting for the most part, but it was definitely tolerable. Except when he got close to my toes.

Owe!

Thank you to Aaron for snapping this unbelievably flattering photo.

After about fifteen minutes I was done! It's amazing how quickly someone can create something so permanent! I went with the camera shutter that I originally posted about and I couldn't be happier with it.

So far I've been unnecessarily paranoid about the after-care portion, but I'm very happy with my choice. My wonderful friend Jenni told me that I'm officially branded as a photographer now, and that definitely brought a smile to my face.

After Operation No-More-Goody-Two-Shoes Aaron and I had a wonderful little date night in downtown Royal Oak thanks to a few Groupons I'd purchased.

Our first stop was dinner at Tom's Oyster Bar. I'd been there once before for sushi and was looking forward to trying it again!

Neither of us had ever had oysters before so we decided before we'd even arrived that we had to order some. We made the right choice. Our appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller included spinach, bacon and asiago cheese. So good...

I annoyed Aaron with my endless picture taking. And then it was time for dinner! I had a crab cake salad, which was amazing. The entire dinner was excellent. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

After dinner we took our time finishing up drinks and dessert and then headed to a comedy show at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. Why is it at comedy shows that the Emcee and the opening comedians are usually so awkwardly unfunny? I've found that to be the case at the last three comedy shows I've been to. Luckily the headliner, Warren B. Hall, more than made up for it.

My Saturday was perfect. How about you?

Get me to the Greek.

2011-07-07T13:54:00.006-04:00

I've always been envious of the Greek. They really seem to have the healthy living thing down pat, and check out those views. It's no wonder that my new food obsession comes from there.

How have I not heard of Greek Yogurt before now? My mom introduced me to the stuff as a low-carb, fat free alternative to regular yogurt. I was slightly skeptical at first but after I tried it for myself I was hooked.

Here's what I love about Greek yogurt:

*It's packed with protein and FAT FREE
*Most brands are all natural/organic
*There's a wide variety of sizes and flavors
*It promotes digestive health, as most yogurt does
*It's vegetarian and gluten free
*It can be used as a substitute for things like cream, ricotta cheese, and sour cream

I've been taking an individual sized yogurt to work every day for breakfast and mixing them with fresh berries, granola, or honey. I've always gotten bad stomach aches and had super fun digestive issues, and I can already notice a difference after a few weeks. Part of that might be because of the fruit and granola, but the yogurt is the vehicle that gets me to eat those things!

My favorite brands have been Fage, which comes with a little side of honey or fruit, and Oikos, which you can buy with a little bit of chocolate or caramel at the bottom. Yum! These are so easy to throw in my lunch bag and eat at my desk, and they make such a healthy snack!

I've also used the plain Greek Yogurt as a substitute for sour cream for nachos and I couldn't even tell the difference. The consistency is thick so it's very similar, but with a fraction of the calories and no fat. It's a no brainer. I'm planning to find more recipes that let me substitute yogurt for the more fatty ingredients.

After trying a few different brands I can honestly say that the actual "Greek" brands seem to be the most consistent. If you're weirded out by the thickness of the yogurt then try leaving it out on the counter for half an hour and it will soften right up.

Have you ever tried Greek Yogurt? How do you like to eat it? Do you have a brand preference?

4th of July Snapshots and a Cake

2011-07-05T18:19:00.008-04:00

Hello lovelies! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday weekend, including my Canadian friends who celebrated Canada Day! We were treated to gorgeous (and insanely hot) weather all weekend, so it was a perfect way to enjoy the 4th of July.

Sometime last week I decided to try to make an American flag cake. I like to bake, I'm patriotic, and I'm really good at taking on tasks that stress me out, so it was a perfect fit for me. I saw a photo online somewhere and sort of came up with my own version of a flag cake and obviously I'm going to share it with you.

Here's the final result of my efforts.

I did not attempt to make this cake from scratch. No judgement allowed.

My only regret with this cake is that I didn't make enough "stripe" layers. I had two boxes of cake mix and I used 1/4 of the mix to make the blue section and the rest was divided in half to be white and red. Next time I'll plan out my portions better.

I took the baked and cooled red and white cakes and carefully sliced them through the center so that I had two nearly perfect halves. Not too complicated.

Now this is where things got a bit wonky. I had to find a way to put the blue part of the flag in the rest of the layers, so after putting frosting between my red and white layers I used the lid from the frosting can to cut out a perfectly round center.

And I cut the same shape out of the center of the blue cake. I made sure that the blue cake was more thick than the other layers so that it was a somewhat realistic looking flag.

Into the center of the cake went the blue piece, and I proceeded to trim the top and sides so that all surfaces could be evenly frosted.

See? Only three stripes. Clearly I still haven't let it go that the United States of My Kitchen only had three original colonies. That's some history baking humor for you.

I then decorated the cake with festive berries and proceeded to stuff my face.

Success! What do you think?

On the 4th we hosted a small get together at our new condo. The timing was perfect because I had just purchased a new patio set and had received a fun new umbrella from my parents as a housewarming gift. Our deck is now one of my favorite places to be. We have nothing but woods behind us and our neighbors aren't too close.

I was bad and drank some Mexican beer on America's birthday. The limes were calling my name. Erica stuck to the domestic brews.

I shared my camera with the rest of the group and got some fun snapshots out of it. Aaron captured our new tiki torches brilliantly. Hehe, good work babe!

And Erica snapped my new favorite photo of Aaron and I. Perhaps I should have people use my camera more often.

It was an amazing three day weekend. Work today was brutal.

How was your weekend?

To tattoo or not to?

2011-06-30T14:16:00.010-04:00

I'm considering getting a tattoo.

It feels strange saying that out loud because I've never really considered having something permanently printed on my body before. Not because I don't like the idea, simply because I couldn't ever really think of any tattoo that made sense to get. The last four guys I've dated all have varying numbers of tattoos and over the years I've been thinking more about them for myself.

Check out the gorgeous tattoo that Mayra over at Life is Bananas just got. It's a portrait of her beautiful mama and the artwork is incredible.

How can you not love that?

I'm also feeling inspired by Colleen's tattoo. Colleen is a badass photographer who I've looked up to for several years now and I really like how she's incorporated her passion into her ink collection.

Photography has been something that's interested me for as long as I can remember and it never fails to bring me joy. If I'm going to get a tattoo it will definitely be photography related. Now the big questions... what do I get, and where?

I don't think I'm brave enough to put a tattoo out in the open, nor do I want to get a tattoo on any part of my body that is guaranteed to expand over the years. Right now I'm debating between my hip area (who am I kidding? My hips will definitely expand eventually) and my foot. Again, this idea is still in the planning phase, but I've got an idea in mind to use a shutter symbol like this one...

Simple, artsy, to the point, and it can be as big or small as I'd want it to be. I like it.

What are your thoughts? Think I should do it?

Do you have any tattoos? How are they meaningful to you?

Outdoorsy Dreaming

2011-06-30T09:08:00.006-04:00

Ever since we got back from our trip I've had outdoorsy activities on the brain. When I was little our family went camping every summer and those experiences definitely had an influence on who I am today, as cheesy as that may sound. There's a part of me that comes alive when I'm outside, surrounded by nature and breathing in that wonderful fresh air. It sort of feels like another version of home.

I may still have some girly tendencies, but that doesn't mean that I don't also love sleeping in a tent, going fishing, and hiking through the woods. Shocking, I know.

It's always been a dream in the back of my mind to camp my way across the country. I was inspired to do that as a kid when I read The Moon by Night by Madeline L'Engle. She was my favorite author growing up, and I re-read this book until the pages started to fall out. Camping across the United States just seems like such a great way to see the country. You'd probably smell pretty bad by the time the trip ended, but it would be worth it!

On a sidenote, Aaron found a great deal for one of those portable fire pits and grabbed one for us, which also means that there will be a lot of these in our near future:

I'm pretty excited about it.

I mentioned in my last post that we're considering buying a kayak (or two) here soon. I've actually never been in a kayak and I'm slightly concerned about possibly tipping over. I have this image in my head of being stuck in the kayak while it's upside down, but I'm sure they're designed to flip back over. Right?

Here in Michigan you are never more than six miles away from a lake, river or pond. Heck, the town we live in even has the word "water" in it. Clearly we'd get some use out of a kayak. And it would be great exercise too!

What are your favorite outdoor (or indoor) summer activities?

All images were found here. <3

Northern Exposure

2011-06-28T12:19:00.011-04:00

This past weekend Aaron and I made the 12 hour car ride through northern Michigan, across the Upper Peninsula and into Wisconsin for his good friend's wedding. When I realized that we would be taking this route I was instantly excited. I love going up north here in Michigan and it had been years since I'd visited the U.P. There is so much history and so much beauty to take in. If it weren't so damn cold in the Winter I'd almost be tempted to live up there.

We drove through the night on Thursday and I'm pretty sure the deer outnumbered the other vehicles we saw on those winding country roads. It's amazing to see so much wilderness that's barely been touched.

I was happy to finally meet one of Aaron's closest friends and some of their other buddies from the Marine Corps. It was a great group of people and the wedding was a ton of fun. Sadly I didn't take many pictures the night of the wedding because Aaron was in the bridal party and there was no sense in lugging around my huge camera to the reception.

I managed to make up for it later and capture some snapshots of the resort. My camera barely left my hands. It was fantastic.

We had originally planned to stay in Wisconsin and relax until Monday, but we made the decision to drive home a day early so that we could take our time and make a few stops along the way. That was definitely a good decision.

Of course we had to stop and grab some Wisconsin cheese. When in Rome!

We drove along the coast of the largest great lake, Lake Superior, which just happens to be my favorite. Do you think it's weird that I have a favorite Great Lake? Maybe these photos will explain why.

I've been a bad Michigander all these years because up until now I'd never eaten a pasty! I informed Aaron that I had to fix that on this trip and dontcha know we found the #1 Pasties in the U.P. (or so they claim).

For those who have never heard of a pasty before it's basically a homemade pot pie that you can eat with your hands, with slightly different ingredients. I got a chicken pasty.

It was good, but probably not something I'll be craving anytime soon.

Our next adventure was a sunset cruise of Pictured Rock, also on Lake Superior. I'd seen the rocks before but only a small portion of them from a hiking trail up above.

The view from the cruise was definitely worth the delayed drive home. Most people don't even know that a natural wonder like this is hidden in our wonderful little state.

See? I told you it was beautiful. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches on for approximately 15 miles along the coast of Lake Superior. The beautiful colors are the result of mineral seepage through the layers of earth, and the rocks are about 500 million years old.

It's trips like this that remind me why I love Michigan oh-so much. Aaron and I already have big plans to head north for more road trips, camping, and possibly canoeing later this summer. Can't wait!

Tidbits on a Tuesday

2011-06-21T08:41:00.007-04:00

The past few days have been a blur of moving and organizing. I swear, if I make one more trip to the grocery store I may lose my mind. It's all part of the joy of moving and remembering one more thing you forgot to pick up...

I can't wait for everything to finally be in its place at the condo so that I can take some photos and share my new home with all of you. Aaron and I are going out of town this weekend, but after we get back I'll be able to throw myself into decorating and making the place feel more like a home. I'm excited to see it all come together!

In the mean time I thought I'd share with you a few things that are bringing a smile to my face this week.

*Attempting to become an extreme couponer!

*Jon Stewart telling Chris Wallace he's insane on Fox News Sunday.

*Getting ready for our road trip to Wisconsin.

*Greek yogurt for breakfast.

*Weeds coming back to Showtime in less than a week!

*Receiving random gift cards and refund checks in the mail.

*The Girl Who Played With Fire.

*Taking photos of adorable three month old babies.

What's making you smile this week?

My weekend and a winner.

2011-06-15T08:48:00.008-04:00

This weekend was filled with good times, good friends, and plenty of food and cocktails. We started out on Friday night high-tailing it across town after work to make it to our friends' wedding. Erica, Aaron and myself were all riding together and naturally we ended up getting stuck in traffic and were running late. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect though, because we walked in just as the bridal party made their grand entrance.

We made it one piece and the rest of the evening was great. They had one of those photo booths that seem to be all the rage these days, and you can imagine what the results were when mixed with an open bar. As the night went on the photos got more ridiculous.

Lots of proud moments happening here.

Pictured above are my two new roommates Erica and Justin. We got the keys to our condo yesterday and I can already tell that the next year is going to be sitcom-worthy. We even have the nosy next door neighbor.

On Sunday Aaron and I went to one of the nicest restaurants in downtown Detroit, the Whitney, for brunch and unlimited mimosas thanks to another great Living Social deal. The Whitney was once home to David Whitney Jr, who was one of Michigan's wealthiest citizens around the turn of the last century.

The architecture is beautiful inside and out. I love exploring old buildings like this, and I can only imagine what Detroit was like when the Whitney was built.

After brunch we met up with Aaron's parents down the street for a Tigers game. The weather couldn't decide whether it wanted to be warm or cold, but the sun came out for us for a while. Sadly the Tigers lost that day, but I'm glad we finally made it out to a game.

And now the winner of my Lipton Natural Iced Tea giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Number one, which is Lindsey! Congrats Lindsey, I'll be getting in touch with you to get you your prizes!

The Girl With the Ridiculously Busy Schedule

2011-06-10T13:11:00.006-04:00

It feels like I haven't blogged in ages, when in reality it's only been three days. This past week and the one ahead are both getting busier by the minute, and I'm just swimming along trying to keep up. I've still been snapping photos for the photography challenge but I was not anticipating June madness when it began. I promise to post an update soon.

This afternoon I'm leaving work an hour early to meet up with Aaron and our friends Justin and Erica to attend our friends' wedding. We've all known the couple for years through work and school and tonight we finally get to celebrate their big day with them. It should be a blast. 3:30 cannot come soon enough for me today!

Last weekend Aaron and I went to the movies and I was excited to see a preview for the American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo which I believe will be premiering this December. I'm pages away from finishing the first book and I'm completely hooked on the series. Did anyone else see a similarity between the crimes in this book and the last few seasons of Dexter? Anyone?

The preview was intense and awesome and I can't wait to see the film.

Have you read the books? I know a lot of you have. I'm behind the times, as ususal!

Have a great weekend!

Natural Lipton Iced Tea (and a giveaway!)

2011-06-06T10:05:00.017-04:00

Summer has officially arrived and as a means to cool down I'm constantly looking for beverages that are refreshing and still somewhat healthy. I'll treat myself to an iced latte once in a while, but I get calorie guilt if I indulge too often. That's why I was excited to learn that Lipton has come out with a new line of natural iced teas. I was selected to sample all of the new flavors of the 100% Natural Lipton Iced Teas and share my experience with all of you.

The teas come in six new flavors:

Iced Tea with Blueberry Pomegranate

Green Tea with Passionfruit Mango

Iced Tea with Lemon

Green Tea with Citrus

Diet Green Tea with Watermelon

Diet Green Tea with Citrus

The great thing about this new line is that they all contain real sugar, natural flavors and no artificial colors or preservatives. The flavors are all tasty, but I especially liked the Diet Green Tea with Watermelon. I don't generally like diet beverages because the fake sweetners give me a headache, but with this drink there were no unpleasant side effects. Lipton even sent out some suggested cocktail recipes which I'm very excited to try with my favorite flavor. Here's one:

*****

Watermelon-Lime Mint Punch

2 sprigs fresh mint
2 bottles Lipton Diet Green Tea with Watermelon
1/4 cup lime juice
light or spiced rum

Thoroughly crush mint with wooden spoon on side of pitcher. Stir in tea, lime juice and rum. Let stand 30 minutes. Remove mint. Chill until ready to serve. Serve in chilled glasses and garnish with additional mint.

*****

Yum!

Lipton has also partnered with Pandora, encouraging everyone to "experience the natural side of music." Tasty beverages and great music? If that doesn't say summer, I'm not sure what does! You can check out Lipton's Facebook page for more info on that partnership.

As a thank you for participating in this product review I received a few goodies, which I've decided to pass along to my readers in the form of a fun little summer giveaway. One reader will receive a year subscription to Pandora One, two coupons to sample the great new teas, as well as a copy of all of those awesome recipes.

Please leave a separate comment for all of these possible ways to enter:

*Leave a comment telling me which flavor sounds delicious to you.
*Be a follower of laureality.
*Become a fan of Lipton Iced Tea on Facebook

I'll randomly select a winner on Tuesday, June 14th at 7:00pm EST. This contest is open to anyone and everyone! Happy summer!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Gen-Yknot on behalf of Lipton and received Lipton product samples and a subscription to Pandora One to facilitate my candid review. Gen-Yknot also sent me a promotional item to thank me for my time.

Day 3: A photo of your favorite place to be.

2011-06-04T21:26:00.002-04:00

The third day of the photo challenge asked us to take a photo of our favorite place. At first I was lacking inspiration, but when Aaron and I went out for drinks I realized that Rochester, Michigan is definitely one of my favorite places to be.

Rochester is where I went to college, lived on my own for the first time, and where I met some of my best friends. It's been the location of most of my photo shoots because of its cute downtown area and pretty parks. There's plenty of shopping, restaurants and bars, and they have a great art festival every Fall. I definitely have a lot of memories in Rochester.

I had a Groupon for Fuse Lounge and Martini Bar in downtown so we went there to have a few drinks before going to the movies. It was around 7:00pm and surprisingly we had the place to ourselves. It was happy hour too so we didn't even up spending our entire Groupon.

I went with a lemon ice martini to help cool myself down after being outside in the heat and humidity. It was crazy hot all day.

We left the bar and went to the movies to see X-Men: First Class, where we used a Living Social deal for the tickets. Aaron was giving me a hard time because our weekend plans basically all revolved around Groupon and Living Social deals that were about to expire.

I just told him he should be grateful for having such an awesome girlfriend who makes sure we always have something fun to do. And who can't stop buying Groupons. I can't help it, there are just so many good deals!

30 Day Photography Challenge

2011-06-03T12:47:00.008-04:00

Some of my favorite bloggers are participating in a photo challenge this month and I've decided to get on board! I snap a lot of photos with my phone but it will be nice to have a daily assignment to explore my creative and share snapshots of my life. I'll be doing my best to post a new photo each day. Check it out:

I missed the first two days which were to take a photo of yourself and a photo of what you wore today. I was home from work on Wednesday and Thursday and didn't really leave the house other than to run errands so I'll share with you the photo I took last night after Zumba.

Aside from being smelly and covered in sweat (hawt!) I actually tend to feel moderately pretty after a work out. I think it has to do with getting your blood flowing and the way it makes your skin glow. Also, I love the sports bra I'm wearing in this photo that I found at Old Navy for $5. Score!

I know for sure that Alyssa and Sarah are participating in this challenge so be sure to stop by their wonderful blogs to see their photos. If you decide to participate as well please leave a link to your blog!

Summer Must-Haves Swap

2011-06-02T18:44:00.004-04:00

I'm a bit late blogging about this but I wanted to share with everyone what I received from the Summer Must-Haves Swap I participated in a few weeks ago, sponsored by Krysten at After I Do. I was paired up with Bianca of Sweet Lime and Savory Snack to exchange some goodies to get us through the hot summer days to come.

Bianca hit the nail right on the head with my package. She kept it simple and to the point and I love what she sent! First and foremost I got a set of Philosophy Margarita products. There's a delicious lipgloss (which actually tastes like a margarita), a salt scrub and a shower gel, all of which smell amazing.

These are my first Philosophy products! Can you believe that? So far I'm impressed.

I also got some new shades to add to my collection. A girl can never have too many pair of sunglasses.

Bianca also included some vintage California postcards to pay tribute to her home state. Very creative! Now I just have to decide who to send them to.

While writing this post I got to thinking about my other summer must-haves, which are as follows:

Summer Shandy
Cheap, over-sized sunglasses
Books to read
Country music
Blue moon ice cream
Flip flops
Iced coffee
Friends who own boats

Just kidding on that last one. Sort of.

What are some of your favorite things this time of year?

Happy things on a Monday.

2011-05-31T12:32:00.005-04:00

via

*It finally feels like summer! This week it's going to be 80 and sunny every day and I am over the moon about it.

*I'm moving! My friends and I have been searching for the past few weeks for a home or condo that we could all rent together. After seeing several properties and being in touch with a leasing agent on a daily basis we finally found a great place that's in our price range! I'm very excited.

*Yesterday was Memorial Day and it was the first time I've gotten to experience an official three day weekend with this new job. Aaron and I spent some time outside on his parents' property where they have several acres and multiple barns that are some of the oldest in that town. I'm a sucker for nature and history so I loved walking around and seeing more of the home where he grew up. The whole time I was also thinking that it's the perfect location for a photo shoot...

*It's already June! This is going to be a busy month for me with the upcoming move and other events. We have two weddings to attend, one of which is in Wisconsin so Aaron and I will be taking our first actual vacation together. I can't wait to relax, have a few extra days off of work, and spend an obscene amount of time in the car with my boyfriend. Hopefully we still like each other by the time we get back. I kid, I kid...

What's making you happy today?

Friendship.

2011-05-26T09:01:00.006-04:00

Last night I got to thinking about the many friendships we form throughout our lives and how they change just as much as we do as time goes on. It occurred to me that at any given time we tend to feel closest to the people in our lives who are most accepting of us. I don't know about you, but there are certain friendships in which I feel less comfortable being my true self. That may not lessen the value of that particular relationship, but it still creates a limit for how close I can truly be with that person.

I'm grateful for the many wonderful friendships in my life right now but I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the one that catches me by surprise on a daily basis.

Aaron and I don't normally get to spend much time together during the week because of work and distance and him taking night classes, but yesterday was an exception. I drove to his place after work and we got to chat about the day and make dinner together and fall asleep watching Kitchen Nightmares. I loved being able to end the day together.

He is the most patient, generous, thoughtful person I know. I've never doubted for a second that he accepts me completely as I am; the good, the bad, the neurotic, the emotional, and everything in between.

How did I get so lucky?

Candy bar baby.

2011-05-23T20:53:00.006-04:00

I was not excited to get out of bed this morning. I had a wonderful weekend and I was not ready to face the work week. On Saturday we managed to escape the Rapture and got together with a few friends for our monthly game night, and this time was special because we were celebrating one of the girls finding out that she's expecting a baby at the end of the year.

We played a baby themed game that appeared to be pretty gross but was actually very entertaining. Our host melted eight different candy bars in diapers and we had to pass them around and try to guess which candy bar was which. I've never played this before, but I hear it's a popular baby shower game.

We had the boys playing along too, and after a few drinks we all thought it was pretty funny.

A bit disgusting, but still funny.

And guess who won? This girl. I'm proud to admit that I know my candy bars, no matter what their physical state. I feel that this skill should be added to my resume. Has the ability to identify desserts in any form...

We also played the game Wits & Wagers which involves guessing different numbers, such as the number of miles from earth to the moon, or the number of monologues that Johnny Carson delivered during his entire career. We had a few laughs and learned a few random facts. We also learned that we should have paid more attention in school. It would have made us so much better at board games.

Afterwards Aaron and I went back to his apartment where I forced him to take photos with me. I hate that there are never any photos taken of us unless I'm awkwardly pointing the camera at us myself.

Ah, well. Still cute.

Dolphin weather.

2011-05-19T08:59:00.006-04:00

I'm having a hard time remembering the last time the sun was shining. Tuesday? Last Friday? 1994? I'm really not sure. What I do know is that the weather has been gray and wet for most of the last month, and those are not generally desirable adjectives unless you're referring to a dolphin or a whale or some other mammal that lives in the ocean.

It wouldn't be so bad if it were that nice warm Spring rain. Instead it's the chilly, October kind. In order to bring my spirits up I thought I'd find some whimsical photos and remind myself of some happy rain memories. That should help distract me from the constant chilly feeling and the fact that the bottoms of my pants are always just a little bit wet.

Have I convinced you to move to Michigan yet? It is nice here sometimes, I swear.

One of my happiest rain memories is from when I was about ten years old. My brother and I were visiting our cousins and we went outside to play in a storm. I don't remember the specifics, but I know that there was a lot of dirt near their house, which had obviously turned into mud, and we ran and chased each other and slid until we were covered from head to toe.

I also have vivid memories of sitting in the garage or in a dark room and watching in wonder as a powerful storm came through. Ever since I was little I loved to watch the lightning streak across the sky and I'd hold my breath waiting for the massive boom of thunder.

Then there was the time in high school when my boyfriend and I were hanging out in the school parking lot after a track meet and it started to pour. Instead of seeking cover we did what any other teenager would do. We stayed outside and ran and splashed and got completely soaked. It was the closest I've ever come to dancing in the rain.

And wouldn't you know it, right as I'm about to publish this post the sun is starting to make its appearance. Let's hope it decides to stick around for a while!

What's your favorite rain memory?

Shiny and Furry and New.

2011-05-17T08:32:00.023-04:00

So much to blog about! The theme of this weekend was Cram As Many New Things Into Our Lives As Is Humanly Possible, and we were victorious.

For the last few weeks my mom has been in touch with a local animal adoption organization with hopes of finding a puppy when the right opportunity presented itself. Ever since our family dog passed away last year the house has seemed a little empty, and my parents have always known that eventually they'd like to get another dog. As luck would have it they ended up falling in love with a little girl who was a mix of yellow lab and husky and within 48 hours she was theirs.

Maddie is about nine weeks old and she's been a very good puppy so far. She has been sleeping through the night for the most part and has only been mildly mischievous so far. She runs around like crazy and then passes out for an hour, and that's basically her daily routine. More photos to come soon.

The funny part is that my parents just put brand new carpet in their basement and are having new living room furniture delivered in the next few weeks. Definitely a great time to get a puppy, right? It's a good thing she's so darn cute!

The same night they made the decision to bring that little fur baby home I decided on a whim to stop at one last Chevy dealership to look into my options for the Chevy Cruze. I hadn't been able to find a place that could get me the vehicle for under $300 but I figured I'd just see if there were any new rebates or incentives out there.

I ended up working with a salesman much longer than I'd expected. We discussed my options for purchasing, leasing, trading in my car, you name it. I even ended up test driving the Aveo aaaand I kind of hated it. It's a nice little car, but it was nothing like the Cruze I had fallen in love with.

After about two hours the sales manager came over and began the "What can I do to make this happen?" conversation. That's when the real negotiations began. He started offering me free fill ups and oil changes, but I kept telling him that the bottom line was my monthly payment. I said I'd start the paperwork right then and there if he could get my price to a certain amount.

And guess what? He did!

I picked up my new Chevy Cruze on Friday afternoon! This was my first experience shopping for and buying a vehicle completely on my own and I was pretty proud of myself for how I handled it. The finance manager at the dealership was offering me a job since I had managed to talk them down so far in pricing. Hah!

I haven't been able to have an official car photo shoot yet because of all the running around I did that day and the crummy weather we've been having since, but here's a sneak peek from the ol' iPhone camera.

I especially love the inside. It's very sexy.

I drove the new car home and met the new puppy! I thought it would be cute to snap some photos of her inside the car, but I figured we'd wait until she's got the potty training thing down a bit better.

Ignore the lack of makeup and focus on the cute puppy and the shiny car behind us. After I was able to get in a few puppy snuggles I was off to check out potential rental houses with some friends. We've decided that we'll be able to save a ton of money and get a bigger place if we look for houses together. Hopefully we'll be able to find a place soon!

On Saturday I shot a wedding, which was incredibly beautiful. This occasion was the first time I had a second shooter with me and it made such a huge difference to have him there! I can't even begin to explain how nice it was to have another photographer there with me. Hopefully he and I will be able to work together again in the future!

Last but not least, my friend Erica started working at my company yesterday! Let the lunches together and carpooling begin! She's currently at licensing school and preparing for her exam like I was a few weeks ago. Any crossed fingers or well wishes would be greatly appreciated!

Lots of new and exciting things happening around here! What's new and exciting with you?

Something Borrowed.

2011-05-10T08:21:00.004-04:00

I read Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin several years and have since shared them with anyone and everyone I could think of who might enjoy a fun, slightly scandalous little love story. I've enjoyed all of Giffin's books, but Something Borrowed will always be my favorite. She always writes stories about smart women and unbelievably sexy men in mostly realistic situations. If that's not the perfect formula for a fun read I'm not sure what is.

Whenever you see your favorite fictional characters on the big screen there's always the concern that the actors just wont get it right, or that they'll take the plot in a completely random direction. Last night Lindsey and I saw Something Borrowed and I'm pleased to report that they did a good job adapting this story to film!

Ginnifer Goodwin always does a nice job, and although her perfectly glossy hair seemed a bit unrealistic in this film (I'm sorry, no one wakes up looking like that), she was pretty believable and down-to-earth as Rachel.

Even more impressive was Kate Hudson's portrayal of Darcy. She rocked the self-centered woman who gets whatever she wants.

In the film they got rid of Rachel's female friend and chose to have her buddy Ethan live in New York City with them and fill that role. John Krasinski obviously brought a lot of comedy to the movie and his character was the one who told Rachel when she was acting like an idiot.

I think I'd watch any movie if John is in it, but he'll still always be Jim Halpert in my heart.

Did anyone else notice the author's cameo in the film? Emily Giffin herself, reading a little Something Blue in the park.

Overall there were a few moments that were so stereotypically chick flick that I had to giggle to myself, but they stayed true to the book for the most part which is exactly what I was hoping for.

I'd recommend any of Emily Giffin's books if you're looking for something fun to add to your summer reading list! My other favorites include Love the One You're With and Heart of the Matter.

Who could ask for anything more?

2011-05-08T19:02:00.007-04:00

Friday evening was the perfect way to kick off the weekend. I got together with some of the Michigan blog ladies for a sushi dinner at Ronin in Royal Oak.

This was the first time I've been able to spend good quality time chatting with Mae, Sarah, and Megan, and I'm so glad we took the time to get together.

After hearing for weeks that it would rain all day Saturday, you can imagine my excitement when I woke up to blue skies. That was honestly what I wanted the most for my birthday, because it meant that we could be out and about and really enjoy the day. My wish came true and the weather was perfect.

I was wide awake at 7:30 that morning, most likely because I was high on the sunshine streaming in through the windows, and I convinced Aaron that we should get a jump start on our day. We headed out to run some errands, but not before making one important stop. Starbucks!

This time I decided to get something extra frothy and delicious, since everyone knows that calories don't count on your birthday. I saw a sign for the mocha coconut frappuccino and the rest is history. It was every bit as delicious as it sounded.

And my sweet, sleepy boyfriend treated. What a guy.

And that's not all he treated me to for my birthday. On Friday night he presented me with this.

Oh boy.

And inside was this little beauty.

I know not everyone is a fan of Coach purses but I've always been drawn to them, especially the more subtle designs. I like the little details and the durability and the smell of the leather. Is it weird that the first thing I did was smell this when he gave it to me?

The most impressive part of this gift is that he listened to me go on and on about what I like and don't like in a purse and managed to find a perfect one for me. I love the color, the size, the handles, everything.

Good work babe!

After running errands and bumming around a few stores we made our way over to my parents' house to relax on the deck and drink mimosas. Well, I drank mimosas. We had a nice family dinner and afterwards Aaron and I headed out to a little get-together that he arranged with a few of my friends.

Erica and I got to celebrate the fact that she just accepted an offer with the company I work for and will be starting in about a week. I'm so excited that she and I will be working together again!

I got my perfect weather, time with my wonderful boyfriend and family, drinks with friends, amazing food, and some incredibly thoughtful gifts. The best part of a birthday is feeling lucky to be alive and knowing you're loved, and I can honestly say I felt that more than ever this year. Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful birthday!

Birthday Week

2011-05-06T08:27:00.006-04:00

My birthday is tomorrow and the weekend is already off to a fantastic start. Last night I visited with some old co-workers at Bar Louie where we enjoyed live music and $10 margarita pitchers. It was nice to see everyone again, but I definitely stayed up past my bedtime.

Work has been wonderful this week. I'm really happy with where I'm at in terms of adjusting to my new role. I still have moments of panic, but overall it's been smooth sailing. We had a Cinco de Mayo themed luncheon for a guy in our department who's getting married this weekend and I made Oreo Cheesecake cookies. Since so many people went crazy over the photos I posted on Twitter I just had to share the recipe.

I found this recipe last year on Tasty Kitchen and the cookies have been a huge hit every time I've made them. They're pretty simple, especially if you have a Kitchenaid or hand mixer to help you! Instructions for these delicious little things can be found here. I've had so much luck with Tasty Kitchen recipes.

I also received my first birthday present this week from my friend Cheyenne out in California! She scent me a Scentsy warmer and several different scent bars to try out with it. The only one I've used so far is called French Kiss and it smells amazing. I'd never heard of Scentsy before but I'm definitely a fan now. I have my warmer next to my bed and even when it isn't plugged in I can smell hints of the fragrance.

I can't wait to get out of work and let the birthday festivities begin! I'm having a sushi dinner tonight with Megan, Sarah and Mae (whose birthday is also tomorrow!), and tomorrow I get to spend the day with my love and then enjoy a big family dinner with parents and aunts and uncles to celebrate multiple birthdays and mothers day.

It's going to be a wonderful weekend!

How dare you be financially stable!

2011-05-02T19:15:00.006-04:00

For the first time in my life I have a Big Girl Income and I thought that those pretty little paychecks would open up doors to new opportunities. Crazy things like being able to afford to live on my own or finance a car or save up for glorious vacations. I didn't realize that with more money comes more financial restrictions and that my still modest income would actually start to limit my choices. Silly me.

Exhibit A: The apartment situation. I'm currently living with my parents temporarily, and, while I love them both dearly, I need more than anything else to be out of this house. There's no doubt that my mom and dad are two of my favorite people, but I just need to be out on my own.

I began researching apartments in the one area that is equidistant from work, friends, family, and Aaron, and sadly there isn't a whole lot to choose from. Despite the challenging location I managed to find an apartment complex that was in my price range! And clean! And spacious! And got great reviews! And had LAUNDRY IN THE UNIT. It was love at first click.

Until I called. And found out that they had an income restriction.

Seriously!? Now that I make enough money to live on my own I make too much money to live on my own at a place I can actually afford? Not funny, Universe.

Exhibit B: The selfish savings account. I've given myself the goal of putting all money I make through photography directly into savings. It's so humbling to actually be afford to save money. This is new territory for me, so it's very gratifying when I'm able to check my statements and see that dollar amount grow bigger and bigger.

Until I looked a bit more closely tonight and noticed that for the past three months I've been charged $4 out of my savings account on the same day each month. Wha?? Don't most savings accounts accrue interest? I swear I wasn't being charged any fees when I barely had anything in that account, but now my bank wants to share the wealth. I thought that savings accounts were supposed to accrue interest, not charge a fee.

The nerve.

I think it's time to look into a credit union.

Procrastination Princess.

2011-05-01T20:27:00.005-04:00

Is the weekend already over? That can't be true. They're flying by far too quickly if you ask me. Lindsey and I had a wonderful meal at the Melting Pot on Friday night. Melted cheese, delicious salads, and flaming chocolate never get old. Our secret is that we stick to those three courses instead of the Big Night Out. That way our tab is a fraction of the price and we get to enjoy the most delicious parts of the fondue experience.

On Saturday I had two back-to-back newborn photo sessions. Baby Mason who is four weeks old and baby Lily who is eight weeks old. So much fun. Here's a little preview of Lily.

After shooting for a few hours Aaron and I decided to go out for Mexican food. There's a delicious restaurant within walking distance of his apartment but they always have a two hour wait on the weekend. Instead we went to a restaurant in the next town over where the wait is shorter, the drinks are cheaper, and the food is just as good. Win, win, win.

That 20 oz margarita was only $6.99 and delicious. That's a good deal for a drink that's almost as big as your head, am I right?

On Sunday we finally watched The King's Speech. I've been meaning to see this movie since it was in theaters, and then even more so once it won multiple Academy Awards. Finally, the stars aligned and I made the effort and I watched it. It was definitely worth the hype!

In the spirit of British royalty, I also finally got around to watching the royal wedding which had been recorded on my DVR Friday morning. I was always interested in seeing the affair, but not so excited that I had to see it the day that it aired.

I'm a sucker for royalty, romance, and history, so of course I had to see Prince William and Kate tie the knot. Prince William seems like such a lovable guy and Kate is absolutely stunning. How could you not want to watch that?

After an entire evening dedicated to this monarchy I'm definitely interested in finding a book that dives deeper into the tradition and the royal family itself. It's all very interesting to me. If anyone has any recommendations I'd love to hear them!

How was your weekend? Did you watch the royal wedding? Or are you completely sick of hearing about it?

Wine and cheese and friendship.

2011-04-29T08:26:00.012-04:00

When I was a freshman in college being assigned a random roommate I feared the worst. Luckily the dorm gods were smiling at me because amidst an entire floor of crazy females I was given Lindsey.

As we started to get to know each other we realized that our lives were oddly parallel. We have a lot of the same hobbies and interests. We were both drum major of our high school marching band (insert band geek judgement here). We both started out studying English and French and ended up minoring in management. Oh how things change...

The weirdest thing of all is that we both have a younger brother, and Lindsey and her brother are both exactly one week older than my brother and I.

What are the odds?

Tomorrow is her birthday and next Saturday is mine.

Instead of buying each other gifts, for the past several years we've celebrated by going to the Melting Pot for delicious fondue and cocktails. That's where we'll be heading tonight, and I could not be more excited to end the week with so many delicious calories.

We've been through a lot together in the last six years. Girls nights, bad dates, bad jobs, better jobs, family drama, holidays, weddings, and much more. Being so similar has given us the uncanny ability to pull each other out of any type of funk and to remind one another of what's really important.

I feel incredibly lucky to have such an honest, unselfish friendship.

Happy birthday Lindsey!

Burn baby burn.

2011-04-25T18:56:00.004-04:00

This weekend I escaped to the West side of Michigan to spend the Easter holiday with my family. It was great to get away from work and responsibilities and piles of paperwork and just relax with relatives who I only get to see a few times a year.

On Friday night my cousins, my brother and I headed to comedy show at the B.O.B. (Big Old Building- creative, eh?) in downtown Grand Rapids. It's a four-story building that houses numerous restaurants and bars and a comedy club. I was seriously lacking energy that evening so there is no photographic evidence, but we had a great time laughing at comedian Derek Richards. He didn't disappoint.

On Saturday we were amazed to see the sun come out and we enjoyed out first official warm weather day. We sat outside on my aunt and uncle's deck and stared out at the lake they live on and enjoyed tasty snacks and adult beverages. I was soaking up every minute of that blissful day by reading past issues of Real Simple that have been stacking up on my desk and Chelsea Handler's My Horizontal Life. Girl's got stories!

You know it's been a good day when you've had numerous glasses of wine and have managed to read an entire book!

That glorious sunshine caught us all by surprise, to the point that we realized around 1pm that we all forgot to put on sunscreen. By the time I ran inside to correct my mistake I discovered that I was already resembling a lobster.

At least it matched my shirt!

I so rarely burn, this thought never even crossed my mind! I guess that's what happens when you don't see the sun for six months. You want to throw yourself at it and bask in its warmth and you end up getting burned. Bad.

The good news is that I now have a fantastic farmer's tan on my arms to show off at work! Speaking of work - I talked to actual customers for the first time today! It was nerve-wracking and I may have had trouble breathing after that first phone call, but I'm proud of myself for surviving and not doing any permanent damage to anyone's insurance policies! I'm very grateful for the two people who have been training me for the past two months. They've helped me tremendously.

I'm also ecstatic because one of my favorite people in the world (yes, the world), my good friend Erica, is applying to work in the same department. I'm tempted to do a happy dance already and she hasn't even submitted her application yet.

Despite my sunburn this has been a pretty fantastic Monday, mostly due to the events of my weekend. I hope yours was just as good!

Auto Guilt.

2011-04-22T10:46:00.009-04:00

There are lots of great things about my new job. I love the people, I like learning a brand new industry, and the pay isn't too shabby either. The one downside to the whole gig is that it's a much longer commute than I used to have. The drive itself isn't bad because I rarely hit any traffic, but with my not-so-fuel-efficient car and gas being over $4.00/gallon it's starting to get expensive.

I've been toying with the idea of selling my current car and replacing it with something that guzzles less gas. Plus, while I definitely have a nice vehicle now I've never really loved it. I think it's important to really like the car you drive, especially if you're in it often. I so wish that I lived in an area that allowed me to walk places or take public transportation, but sadly that is not the case.

I don't know what it's like where you live, but here in Detroit there's always an underlying pressure to buy American made. I know a few people who wont even allow people with foreign cars to park in their driveway. Extreme much? I would never judge someone based on the car they choose to drive, but I know that a lot of people do.

My family has almost always driven General Motors vehicles. We have friends and relatives who have worked for the company for years and the loyalty has been there for as long as I can remember. Given that fact, whenever it's time for me to shop for a vehicle I always automatically check out what GM has to offer.

I'm currently in love with the Chevy Cruze...

It's safe, it's fuel efficient, and it's purdy!

Being financially independent and relying on a vehicle when gas prices are higher than ever before has me questioning whether this loyalty is the best decision for me. There comes a point when you have to look out for your own wallet, and I'm just trying to figure out where that point is. I'll most likely buy another GM vehicle, and my top priority will always be to support domestic auto makers, but the current state of our country definitely has me thinking...

What kind of car do you drive? How do you feel about foreign versus domestic? Have you ever experienced Auto Guilt?

The results are in...

2011-04-19T18:01:00.004-04:00

And I passed my licensing exam!

So I get to keep my job, which is always a bonus.

And let me tell you, the company that facilitates the exam does not mess around. I had my photo and fingerprints taken, my pockets checked, and I was told to decide whether or not I wanted my hair in a ponytail before I entered the testing room. That was the weirdest instruction they gave me. Apparently the proctor doesn't like your appearance to change mid-exam.

We were given two and a half hours to complete the exam and I sort of whizzed through it. I was getting nervous towards the end because I knew that my speediness either meant I would ace the thing or that I was way off and headed toward an epic fail.

Isn't that always the worst? When you think you're doing well but unbeknownst to you you've got it all wrong?

I went with my gut for the answers I wasn't sure on and it ended up paying off. I'm so relieved that this whole process is behind me now. Thanks to everyone who has been cheering me on these past few days!

While I'm playing around with photo booth I figured I'd show you my new glasses. I decided to try a new frame style this time around and I'm pretty pleased.

Don't mind the messy bedroom behind me.

How was your day?

Here comes the sun... Please, God.

2011-04-17T19:39:00.004-04:00

So here we are more than halfway through the month of April and Winter is still holding on for dear life. Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the likelihood of me moving to somewhere with a slightly warmer climate. With every passing 40 degree day the chances get better and better.

I've always loved living in a state that experiences all four seasons and I have a lot of pride in this place, but I get to the point where I just feel depressed. I'd love to live somewhere like California, Arizona, Georgia... anywhere that can offer me higher temps and blue skies on a consistent basis. But then I remember that here in Michigan we're protected from little things like hurricanes and earthquakes and I wonder whether moving would be worth it.

Either way I need some sunshine like you wouldn't believe. Last weekend we were teased with a single, solitary day of random 80 degree weather. It came out of nowhere and left without saying goodbye and we've been back to Winter coats ever since.

via

While I wait for Spring to make its grand appearance I'm going to distract myself with all of the things I'm most looking forward to with the warm weather that will eventually come...

Falling asleep with the windows open.

Doing anything with the windows open.

Wearing sundresses.

Taking a nice evening walk.

Growing herbs, vegetables and flowers.

Sitting on the deck and enjoying a good book.

Switching to iced coffee at Starbucks.

Spending the afternoon on a boat in the middle of a lake.

Wedding season.

Getting a nice tan.

Baseball games.

Picnics and family reunions.

Going to garage sales on a Saturday afternoon.

Sitting on the lawn at an outdoor concert.

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy.

I can hardly wait.

My parking lot stalker.

2011-04-14T18:32:00.014-04:00

I've been spending the last four nights alone in a hotel, and, since my mother raised me to trust no one even when shopping alone in broad daylight in the suburbs, I've been especially aware of my surroundings.

I'm an intelligent human being with a decent sense of direction and a need for some regularly scheduled alone time so I've gotten pretty good at going about my business while checking for creepers with my periferals. I've never felt the need to be as paranoid as the woman who birthed me seems to think I should be, but I humor her with my constant readiness to beat someone senseless with my Gap shopping bag.

Since I'm staying over an hour away from basically everyone I know I've been making an effort to keep a low profile and not announce to the world, Hey! I'm 130 lbs, have very little upper body strength and am staying in this hotel BY MYSELF! Things have been fine all week, or so I thought until I pulled into the parking lot yesterday evening.

I was returning to the hotel after a brief shopping trip, Gap bags in tow, and I found my regular parking spot. The sun was shining in my eyes as I put my car in park but I could see that there was a man sitting in the car next to mine and that he was staring right at me. I couldn't see his face but I smiled awkwardly in his direction while avoiding any potential eye contact. Because apparently in my world it's totally normal to be polite to the person who is simultaneously creeping you out.

My game plan was to scoop up my purse and shopping bags and head straight for the hotel entrance while continuing not to look in his general direction. Of course as soon as I opened my car door and made my move I heard his car door open too. I heard him holler something to me, which is a common male pick-up strategy in random parking lots so I continued to ignore him, all the while thinking For the love of God man, there are probably at least a few women out there who are willing to look you in the eye. GO STALK THEM.

Then I swore I heard him say my name.

I spun around and my mind slowly started to register that the man standing twenty feet in front of me wasn't a creepy stalker at all. He was my boyfriend, who had just driven 90 minutes to come surprise me.

It was one of those moments where your brain works in overdrive to try to piece together why this person is in this place at this time, because that set of circumstances had never been on the table before. I was beyond happy to see him.

Aaron and I spent the evening relaxing in the pool and the hot tub and watching some of our favorite reality tv shows. I've been enjoying my alone time at the hotel, but there's no denying how much more relaxed and at-peace I feel when that man is in the same room as me. Unfortunately he had to leave [earlier than anyone should ever have to be awake] this morning, but it was a wonderful to have him here while it lasted.

We joked last night about how confused he was when I finally pulled into that parking space next to him. He had just driven all that way, only to have his girlfriend look right at him and show no emotion whatsoever. The setting sun and my cold-hearted creeper avoidance methods were perfectly timed for a great story.

Mom, you should be proud.

A ways away.

2011-04-12T21:17:00.007-04:00

My new job requires that I become a licensed insurance agent, or "producer," and this week I'm spending forty hours learning everything there is to know about property and casualty insurance in licensing school.

It's really not as boring as it sounds.

After cramming all of that information this week I'll be coming home for the weekend and then taking the official test on Tuesday. Almost everyone I know who has taken the test failed at least once, so to say I'm concerned would be a bit of an understatement. The information is coming pretty easily to me, especially since I've been trained on the subject matter for a while now, but I'm still not a fan of failing. And I'm even less excited about the possibility of having to suffer through the test multiply times. I will be quizzing myself and making flash cards and using every other study trick in the book to make sure that doesn't happen.

via

After over a month of training and two days of insurance "school" I feel as though my brain just might explode and spew random tidbits about liability coverage and bodily injury limits all over my hotel room. I'm staying in the city where class is taking place because the commute would have been a bit ridiculous from my house.

So far I'm enjoying getting to catch up on blogs, reading, episodes of House Hunters and whatever else Me Time consists of. I'm trying to avoid spending money as best I can, but I have a feeling I'll be heading to the outdoor mall after class tomorrow. Mama needs some new ballet flats.

Speaking of reading, I finished Black Heels to Tractor Wheels this afternoon. I enjoyed reading the more complete love story of Pioneer Woman and her Marlboro Man, especially since she's a real person who can be found right across the Internet, and because I admire her in so many ways. However, while it was a very sweet story, the book didn't wow me as much as I expected it to.

Ree did a great job describing her cowboy as the sexy specimen of a man that I'm sure he was (or is, you know, if he's not old enough to be your father), but the first half of the book sort of dragged on for me. Their courtship was very long and squeaky clean and consisted of lots of movie nights and entangled cuddle sessions and... not much else. I'm wondering if there was more meat to the story that was cut out of the book for editing purposes. At times I felt like I was reading the same paragraph I'd just read a few pages back...

I became more interested after they were married and starting their family on the ranch, but up until that point I kept waiting for something a bit more juicy to happen. Just my two cents. I still enjoyed the book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, homegrown love story.

Minty fresh.

2011-04-10T15:48:00.007-04:00

Ever since Aaron moved into his new apartment I've been looking forward to painting the place. The last tenant must have found a killer clearance sale at Hideous Paint Colors 'R Us because he chose to paint the apartment mint green and yellow.

Which is great. You know, if you're the Easter Bunny.

The yellow wasn't that bad, but putting it next to the green just ruined any sunny kitchen potential.

After borrowing supplies from both of our parents, three trips to Home Depot, some help from my good friend Erica and a bottle of Chardonnay for us ladies the apartment looked like a completely new space.

The finished product was so worth it. The apartment looks infinitely better. Now when you walk in you can focus on things like the cute bay window at the front or the cozy breakfast nook in the back. As it should be!

Next up we just have to replace that old couch with some nice new furniture and add a few touches of decor and it will be good as new.

You learn a lot about your relationship when you have to get messy and make creative decisions together. You either work well together or you don't, and this DIY project was definitely a success.

How was your weekend?

Blogger Books.

2011-04-08T06:34:00.008-04:00

I realized earlier this week that my to-read list is currently filled with books by bloggers. How cool is that? I love having the chance to explore different writing styles, stories and perspectives on the internet so it's even better when a blogger is published. Right now I'm reading Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (aka the Pioneer Woman) on my Nook. I'm a sucker for a good love story and I adore everything Pioneer Woman puts on her blog so this was a no brainer for me. I haven't had a ton of time to read it, but so far I'm loving it.

Another great blog I've always followed is Dooce. Heather Armstrong's life and writing are completely different than Pioneer Woman's, but I love her just the same. I can always find something hilarious or something thought-provoking when I stop by her site and I've been wanting to read her book It Sucked and then I Cried for a long time. I finally ordered a copy and it's next in line to be read.

The author of this next book hasn't been on the Today Show or Good Morning America like the other two have, but it's unique because I was a contributing artist. Blogger Barry told me a while back that he was given the opportunity to publish a book of his poems and that he was interested in having me take a photo for the cover.

I was incredibly flattered that he liked my photos enough to have me be a part of this very personal project. Barry lives in Canada so I couldn't actually take a photo of him for the cover, which meant I had to turn to the one male model I had at my disposal. Guess who?

Aaron was a trooper throughout the whole make-a-studio-out-of-the-guest-bedroom process, and he didn't even question me when I started draping clothing over my bedroom lamp to adjust the lighting. We had originally done a sleeveless version but I think the ink was a bit too distracting.

It was a fun experience and I'm so honored that Barry invited me to be a part of it! Head over it his blog, Life in Quotations, to see more of his work!

What are you reading right now?

Baby Annalynn.

2011-04-04T20:35:00.000-04:00

One of my former managers just recently became a daddy and I was beyond excited when he and his wife asked me to take photos of their brand new baby girl. Newborn photography is so much fun and so torturous at the same time.

I thought I'd share with you some of the sweetness that is week old baby Annalynn.

That last one kills me. Those brand new baby rolls. Honestly, I don't know why I do this to myself.

Oh yeah... because I love every minute of it.

Take me to the movies.

2011-04-04T19:28:00.003-04:00

Warm weather isn't the only part about Spring that I'm looking forward to. A few of my favorite books have been made into movies and I cannot wait to see them on the big screen.

First up is Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. This movie releases on May 6th (just in time for my birthday on May 7th). Lindsey and I have already scheduled a weekday evening viewing during our birthday week. So what if it's still over a month away? We like to plan.

I'm not sure how I feel about Ginnifer Goodwin playing Rachel and Kate Hudson playing Darcy, but John Krasinski is in the cast too and that alone makes me happy.

The same day I learned about Something Borrowed I read that The Help would be premiering in theaters later this summer as well. I loved this book in each and every way and I can't wait to see this cast bring it to life. If you haven't read The Help yet then do yourself a favor and go pick up a copy. Or better yet, borrow one from your sister/best friend/mother/neighbor. It's inevitable that one of them has it on their shelf.

And as you know I'm also very excited to see The Hunger Games in theaters. This release is still a long ways away, but I'm loving seeing the cast come together. Here's the gang that's rumored to be leading the movie.

What movies are you anxiously awaiting this year?

My weekend in iPhone photos.

2011-04-03T21:25:00.006-04:00

Thank you all for your sweet words and support on my last post. I know now that drinking red wine and looking at puppy photos is a terrible combination that results in wiping tears off of my keyboard and my writing super emotional blog entries. I've made a mental note.

This weekend was nothing compared to the one that preceded it, but I still stayed pretty busy! On Friday afternoon I met up with my mom and Aaron and we went to see my dad play in his first game at the Old Timers' hockey tournament. Teams from all over the Midwest and Canada come to Flint, Michigan to get their skate on and we were there to support him.

In the end it was a tie, but it was definitely a good game! It was nice to see my dad play for the first time in a decade.

On Saturday morning I met up with my good friend Erica and we were off to a bridal shower for a our co-worker. I enjoy showers for the most part, especially when I know other people who are going and when I have a good relationship with the guest of honor. I think it's because bridal and baby showers just remind me of Springtime and togetherness and other cheesy things like that. Plus, if you're lucky like we were, there's a cash bar and some Chardonnay involved.

After the shower I spent some quality time with the boyfriend watching good old reality television. For some strange reason on my day off there was nothing I wanted to do more than sit around and watch Pawn Stars, Auction Kings, and River Monsters. Random, but fascinating!

The final event of the day was a trip down river for a comedy show. The event was actually a fundraiser for Jenni's Relay for Life team and the evening was a huge success from what I could tell. There were hilarious comedians and amazing raffle prizes and everyone had a ball.

I was a bad photographer and didn't bring my camera, but luckily Jenni had hers!

I loved getting to see Jenni's group of friends again. You might remember them from the Brad Paisley concert and the wine party. Each and every one of them are so sweet and genuine and fun to be around that it makes me mad that we all don't live closer together. I think there may be another wine tasting in our future though...

So now it's time for you to distract me from the fact that it snowed here today by telling me about how awesome your weekend was and how warm it is wherever you are!

Ugh, I hope Spring is here soon. I can't take much more of this crap.

Once upon a time.

2011-03-31T20:35:00.008-04:00

Once upon a time I had cuddly, wrinkly little bundle of joy to call my own. He was my fur baby, I was his momma, and I looked forward to seeing his little face every time I put my key in the door.

But I made the mistake of falling in love with a puppy when I wasn't in love for good with the man who brought him into my life, and I regret it every day.

It's been a while since I've seen him or even gotten to hear how he's doing, and I can't decide if that makes things worse or more bearable. What I do know is that all I have to do is look at any of the hundreds of random photos I have of him on this computer to feel the lump in my throat and to be painfully aware of the empty space I now have in my heart.

I've officially learned the meaning of puppy love, and it's broken my heart more than any man ever could.

Juja & Stone Giveaway

2011-03-30T20:53:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Juja & Stone giveaway! I was excited to be able to feature a local business, especially one that is able to reduce, reuse and recycle with such style!

Without further adieu, the winner of the bETTI clutch and the adorable pin is...

Elizabeth of Sunny Bug! I just learned that Elizabeth is a fellow Michigander! I'm excited to have found another local blogger. Congrats to our lucky winner!

To have and to hold.

2011-03-30T06:31:00.006-04:00

As expected my weekend was a lot of fun, but this has proven to be yet another busy week already. After cramming appointments and other errands in after work I generally don't seem to have much time left to blog. I'm going to try to fix that in the next few days, but in the mean time I thought I'd give you a sneak peak of the wedding I shot last Friday. It went really well and I had a lot of fun!

I'll be posting the winner of the Juja and Stone giveaway later tonight! There's still time to enter!

Frozen on a Friday.

2011-03-25T14:23:00.003-04:00

Rumor has it that Spring started this week, but you wouldn't know it if you stepped outside. Car windows are covered with frost, the grass is coated in a thin layer of ice and snow and it is friggin' cold out there.

Winter? GET OFF MY LAWN.

Anywho. The weekend has already begun for me it's going to be the busiest one I've had in a while.

In a nutshell, I'll be:

*Photographing a wedding at a gorgeous local venue.

*Getting massages and going out to breakfast with my mom.

*Seeing Les Miserables in Detroit.

*Going out to dinner with my mom and grandma after the show.

*Seeing old friends at a play cast reunion.

*Getting my hair trimmed.

*Taking photos of a beautiful newborn baby girl.

WHEW.

If you don't hear from me on Monday I may be hiding under the covers in a coma of fun and exhaustion. It's going to be a great weekend! What are your plans?

Have you entered the Juja & Stone Giveaway yet?? Only a few days left!

Juja & Stone Giveaway!

2011-03-23T12:05:00.002-04:00

This week's giveaway comes to us from the lovely ladies at Juja & Stone. I know these gals personally and have always always admired their incredible talents.

The mission of Juja & Stone is to offer eco-friendly fashion at a reasonable price - fashion that not only looks good, but you can feel good about buying. Their unique handbags are all handmade from recycled materials, such as upholstery, leather, boat sails, t-shirt, & denim. Juja & Stone's clothing is personally hand selected vintage and second-hand garments in a variety of sizes.

I've been lucky enough to see some of Juja & Stone's bags in person and I was blown away by the quality and the detail that goes into each and every piece they make. The best part of all is that each item is completely one-of-a-kind. Plus, who doesn't love the idea of re-working different fabrics into a brand new work of art?

It's a beautiful thing people.

This week you have the chance to win the bETTI clutch from the Juja & Stone shop which normally retails at $28. bETTI is a reincarnated clutch made from donated gingham flannel, jean and a pretty silk blend fabric, and she could be yours.

And since these ladies were feeling extra fabulous and generous, they decided to throw in a cute optional pin to go with the clutch, which would normally retail at $6.

Cute, cute, cute.

That's one helluva deal, am I right?

There are so many ways to enter this giveaway, it's not even funny. Be sure to leave a comment for each entry!

Mandatory: Visit Juja & Stone's Etsy shop and leave a comment on this post telling what item you'd love to have for yourself.

One entry: Become a fan of Juja & Stone on Facebook.

One entry: Be a follower of laureality.

One entry: Be a fan of laureality on Facebook.

One entry each: Blog and/or tweet about the giveaway!

TEN entries: Make a purchase from Juja & Stone's Etsy shop. Be prepared to prove your purchase!

And to sweeten the deal? Juja & Stone is offering a 20% discount for my readers! Just enter the code "THINKSPRING20" at checkout!

This contest is open to bloggers in the U.S. and Canada and will run until Wednesday, March 30th. I will randomly choose a winner at 6:00pm EST.

A "tribute" to the Hunger Games.

2011-03-22T12:15:00.006-04:00

A few months ago I was hearing mention of The Hunger Games all over the place, especially from other bloggers. Some were my good friends and some I'd never met before, but everyone just raved about this trilogy and how they couldn't put it down. Once I started reading the books I knew exactly what they were talking about. I was hooked.

At first I had no idea what the appeal was. The books had strange titles, and, based on the descriptions I'd heard, sounded like some dreary apocalyptic tale that would most likely give me nightmares. I don't do well with the whole end-of-the-world, every-man-for-himself idea.

The books are written for youthful readers, but they still draw you in

to the fascinating world and lives of the well-developed characters. I have yet to find someone who didn't truly enjoy the series. I was shocked and horrified at some of the events that happened in the story, but never in a way that made me want to stop reading. Instead I felt more appreciation for the world we live in today and the simple freedoms that we take for granted.

The best part about these books is that there are three of them! It had been a long time since I'd been hooked on a series, but as soon as I finished one I was excitedly on to the next. Now I'm just sad that there were only three installments and that I have to wait an entire year for the movie to be released!

Oh, and be sure to stop by tomorrow when I'll be hosting another fun giveaway. This time it's cute AND eco-friendly!

Limitless and Laziness.

2011-03-21T11:58:00.006-04:00

Happy Monday! The Diet Coke I just drank is kicking in so I have energy for the first time all day. Is it odd that coffee doesn't really seem to do much for me in terms of waking up, but pop does? I gave up pop, or "soda" as most of you call it, about three years ago but just recently started drinking Diet Coke when I need a boost. Like today.

I appreciated all of the comments on my post last week about getting up early. A lot of you had good suggestions, like showering and packing a lunch the night before, and pretty much everyone confirmed that waking up early just sucks no matter how you spin it or how long you've had to do it. There's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one hitting snooze three or four times in the morning.

My weekend went by way too fast, probably because I had a work meeting on Saturday so my time off didn't actually begin until about 2:00 that afternoon. Saturday night Aaron and I went to another game night with my friends Lindsey and Nicole and their husbands. We made Mexican food and had way too many margaritas and laughed about how we clearly didn't pay enough attention in school because we all have pretty terrible trivia skills.

I wish I had taken pictures of the quesadillas I made because they were muy bueno. The ingredients were shredded chicken, chopped green onion, cilantro, monterey jack, and goat cheese. That last ingredient doesn't sound like it would belong in a Mexican dish but it totally worked and it was delicious.

On Sunday I made it a point to be as lazy as possible and I was successful. Aaron and I watched more of Dexter season five (we're almost to the finale and WHOA it's getting crazy!) and then went to the movies to see Limitless.
The visual effects in this movie were pretty cool, even thought some of them made me feel like I had just gotten off a carnival ride, and the plot was really interesting. For those of you who aren't familiar with the story line, it revolves around a drug that allows people to access their entire brain instead of the mere 20% that most people are able to utilize. Obviously with a super drug like that come horrible side effects and Eastern European mobsters who want a piece of the action, which is how the plot thickens. Definitely an entertaining flick.

And kudos to the folks who created this movie for actually managing to make Bradley Cooper unattractive, even if only for the first 20 minutes of the movie. That's not easy.

I think it's the long, greasy hair. I've never been a fan of that look.

Luckily things went back to normal after that and he was his sexy self once again.

What did you do this weekend?

An Apple a day... and a winner!

2011-03-18T12:39:00.005-04:00

Wow, 67 entries! This has definitely been the most fun giveaway yet, and I'm very excited to be sharing this cute dress with one of you awesome ladies. Thank you again to everyone who participated!

Oh, and if you're not the winner? No worries. I'll be having another giveaway next week! I'm pretty excited about it.

I thought I'd turn to Aaron and my iPhone to help me pick a winner tonight. Ignore the bit about Subway.

Congrats Lise! I'll get you in touch with the folks at Shabby Apple and that dress will be yours in no time.

Still dying to win one of those adorable Shabby Apple dresses? Don't fret! Two other awesome bloggers are having giveaways of their own right now.

Check out Ashley and Krysten's blogs for another chance to win!

Top o' the mornin' is killin' me.

2011-03-17T08:06:00.006-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day to one and all. I'm not Irish, and I've never gone out and had green beer at 7am, but I do wear green every year. I wish I could slip a little Bailey's into my coffee this morning, then I'd really be celebrating.

I'm reaching the end of my second week and so far the early mornings are kicking my butt. Up until now I had an inconsistent retail schedule so adjusting to waking up at 5:30am has been a challenge. I've been trying to get to bed around 10:00 to get myself into a good rhythm, but no matter how much sleep I get I still feel like I only got a few hours in and I have to force myself to get out of bed. I'm sure Daylight Savings Time isn't helping. After a few weeks I'm sure I'll be fine, but in the mean time I am struggling. I'm curious if the morning people out there have any tips for how to work through the grogginess and wake up with more energy.

Today temperatures are supposed to reach a high of 60 degrees, so needless to say everyone is pretty excited to see signs of Spring. I can't wait for the warmer weather to finally arrive. Maybe then I'll have more motivation to get my butt out of bed in the morning!

You still have one more day to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway! Spread the word and increase your chances of winning that adorable Azure Coast dress!

The wright stuff.

2011-03-15T08:03:00.002-04:00

My family has been in the process of helping my grandma move out of her home for quite some time now. She still lives alone in a four bedroom house and it's a bit too much for her to handle. We've been going over there in phases to help go through all of the rooms and figure out what should be kept and what should be donated.

While cleaning out closets this weekend my parents came across something that they brought home to share with me. It's a letter that I wrote to my grandma, most likely when I was about 7 years old.

How cute is that?

When I read this I was instantly transported back to a time when my biggest concerns in life were asking my grandma to be my pen pal and perfecting my new cursive writing skills (which, may I say, were pretty damn good). If only things could still be that simple, right?

I'm definitely going to treasure this little gift from the past.

And don't forget to head over to Monday's post and enter to win a dress from Shabby Apple!

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-03-13T21:33:00.006-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm dying for some warm weather. After a particularly brutal Winter I start to forget what warmer weather actually feels like. I am definitely looking forward to the flowers blooming, the long afternoon walks, and driving with my windows down and the music blaring. Most of all, though, I miss the cute outfits. Since Spring is [hopefully] right around the corner, a fun giveaway is definitely in order.

I've teamed up with the fabulous folks at Shabby Apple to host a giveaway so that one lucky reader can add a new dress to her wardrobe. Shabby Apple is an online company that offers a variety of fashionable women's dresses and other women's attire and this week you have the opportunity to win their Azure Coast dress right here at laureality.

One of the things I love most about Shabby Apple's designs is that they manage to be fashionable and appropriate at the same time. These dresses can be worn to work or on a date or to anything in between. Now that I'm actually able to wear cute clothes to work I'm definitely filling my imaginary shopping cart with several of their designs...

There are several ways to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway. Remember to leave a separate comment for EACH entry:

First and foremost you MUST leave a comment on this post. (one entry).

Be a blog follower of laureality. (one entry).

Be a follower of laureality on Facebook. (one entry)

Become a follower of Shabby Apple on Facebook so that they can tell you about special promotions and discounts. (one entry).

Tweet or blog about this giveaway: (one entry each).

The rules: This giveaway is only open to my readers in the U.S. and Canada. Unfortunately Shabby Apple is unable to ship internationally, but if one of my favorite Canadians happens to win I will arrange to have the dress shipped to me and then to the winner. The winner of this giveaway will need to disclose her name, phone number, address and dress size to Shabby Apple. The giveaway will run until Friday, March 18th when I will randomly choose a winner.

Enter away!

What a week.

2011-03-11T09:34:00.004-05:00

Well, I've almost survived my first week at the new job. It's been a rollercoaster of meeting new people, navigating around a sea of cublicles and learning insurance terminology that I never thought I'd know anything about. Endorsements and policies and premiums, oh my!

This is an industry that I never in a million years would have thought I'd have anything to do with, but it's been very interesting so far and I look forward to eventually becoming a subject matter expert. In adulthood there are so few opportunities to learn something new unless we really put ourselves out there for new experiences. I'm definitely enjoying this new challenge.

This particular company deals mostly with property and casualty insurance (home, auto, etc...) so regardless of where my career path leads me I'll definitely walk away with some valuable information.

Even though I've had a very successful week, I'm beyond ready for the weekend. I'm working one last time at my old job tomorrow afternoon then having a little going away celebration with some co-workers at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Margaritas anyone? I'm also having dinner and drinks with girlfriends tonight and spending the rest of my time with Aaron. Relaxation, here I come!

Oh, and stay tuned because on Monday there may or may not be some sort of giveaway happening here. And it may or may not involve something adorable.

What are your plans for the weekend?

$he did what?

2011-03-07T18:10:00.007-05:00

I don't usually get too into pop culture on this blog, but that's definitely not because I don't pay attention to it. There are people out there who are making significant contributions to the world of music, cinema, art, and whathaveyou and it can be a fascinating thing to watch.

And then there are the people who somehow managed to become famous and are now able to showcase their crazy circus of a life to the world. No, I'm not talking about Charlie Sheen, but he definitely fits into that category.

The subject of today's post is the hot mess known as Ke$ha.

Can someone please explain to me why she's a celebrity? We weren't really in need of someone to paint her face and wear ridiculous costumes. Lady Gaga already has that under control, and Lady Gaga actually has talent under all that crazy so she gets a free pass.

It must be because a female artist had yet to fill the role of Skanky Girl Who Represents Everything That's Wrong With Society. I'm no prude and I'm definitely all for freedom of speech, but I'm a bit disgusted that we allow our radio waves to be filled with her offensive whining.

For me, what really put the icing on the ho cake was when I heard that Lifestyle Condoms will be printing 10,000 condoms with Ke$ha's face on them for her to throw out into the crowd at her concerts. The ironic part is that, based on her lyrics, somehow I doubt that she herself takes the time to use contraceptives.

I get it. She's going for the shock factor and she doesn't give a crap what people think of her, and that's fine. After all, Ke$ha is definitely not making any serious impression on the music industry. Other than giving everyone an extra reason to sanitize.

Too strong?

Working Girl Shops.

2011-03-03T10:00:00.008-05:00

via.

I start my new job on Monday and I couldn't be more excited. Since apparently I'm a masochist who can't say no to people I agreed to work weekends at my current job for the rest of the month. They were going to be somewhat short-staffed while some other employees were off at a training and my sense of guilt kicked in and said yes. I know I'm going to regret that decision after a few weeks, but soon enough it will all be a distant memory so I'll just have to suck it up and work seven days a week until then.

Yuck.

A few of you asked for more info about my new position so I wanted to share a bit more about it. Without going into too much detail, I'll be working in the insurance industry as a sort of customer service representative and insurance specialist. I'll be taking incoming calls from current customers, answering questions and making recommendations for different kinds of coverage based on their wants and needs.

After working retail for ~~my entire life~~ so many years it will be nice to be sitting at my own desk and not deal with customers face-to-face. I'm sure I'll miss the interaction after a while, but I could definitely use a break from the rudeness and the smelliness of the general public.

The other aspect of this job I'm looking forward to the most is getting to ditch my uniform. I'm so sick of wearing tennis shoes and my button down blue shirt. It's boring and unflattering and leaves little room for creativity. Since my current wardrobe leaves something to be desired, I decided it was time to add some staple items to my closet. I was originally shopping for underwear on the Victoria's Secret website, but I made my way over to the clearance clothes section and found...

this skirt

these pants

And I splurged a bit on a few shirts that I really liked...

this one

and this one.

I have always been a firm believer in investing in a few quality items that you can wear for years, I've just rarely had any reason to buy cute clothes. Thank you new job for giving me an excuse to shop. I've also been searching thrift stores and discount stores for some good basic items and I've found several great bargains on shirts and jackets.

Now I just need to ditch the tennis shoes and find myself a pair of sensible heels and I'll be all set.

Big things.

2011-03-01T07:59:00.004-05:00

This was a pretty monumental weekend. As I mentioned a few posts back, I've been going through the interview process with a company for about three weeks now. After interviews and background checks and references and countless phone calls and emails back and forth, on Friday the company finally made me an offer. After that process hearing those words was like music to my ears. I have been searching and submitting resumes for months, and now I can finally say that all of that effort has paid off.

This position is not in the field of marketing, which is what my degree is in, but I'm okay with that. I've heard nothing but positive things from my friends and acquaintances who work there, the pay and benefits are fantastic, and there is a lot of potential for future growth. Oh, and did I mention that the hours are 9 to 5 (ish) and that I get to wear business casual? I haven't worked normal hours or gotten to pick out my own outfit for work in over three years. This will definitely be a welcome change.

I can't even begin to explain to you how excited I am about this new job. No more trying to coordinate my ridiculous retail schedule with friends and family members. No more wondering how I'll ever possibly be able to save money. It's a good feeling.

When I heard the good news I decided to take the plunge on something I'd been considering doing for a while: switching my phone service to Verizon and getting my paws on an iPhone 4. Almost everyone I talk to and text with has Verizon, so the change has always made sense. I found someone to buy my old phone, which paid for my new one, so it was pretty much a no-brainer. Plus taking this new job meant getting kicked off my old employee phone plan, so I was going to have to jump ship eventually. Au revo

ir $35 cell phone bill...

So far I'm absolutely loving the iPhone. I've had Android phones until now, which I liked for the most part, but I just generally find that Apple products are much simpler and run a lot more smoothly. So far people have been great with recommending apps, but do you have any other suggestions for what I should download? My current favorites are Instagram, Epicurious, Words with Friends, and my Nook app.

In other major news, Aaron moved into a new apartment this weekend. We arrived with a load of his stuff on Friday after work only to discover that DTE hadn't turned his power on yet, and after a few phone calls we learned that they wouldn't be able to get it turned on at all until Monday. Man did that ever put a damper on the moving process. It was already getting dark at that point and it was about 25 degrees this weekend. Not to mention it's an older, somewhat drafty apartment. We bundled up and the neighbor downstairs let him run an extension cord so that we could turn on a few lights and the TV.

We did our best to be productive despite the circumstances, but when we ran out of cleaning supplies we just snuggled up on the hideous couch that was left in the apartment, watched TV and played Words with Friends and Angry Birds on my new phone.

It was a pretty great weekend.

Defunding and Debilitating: It's the American Way

2011-02-25T07:04:00.001-05:00

For those of you who have somehow managed to miss the news headlines and the petitions being sent around the internet, last week the U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut government funding for Planned Parenthood. I promise not to stay up on my soap box for too long, but I can't not say something about this.

How is it possible that anyone in Washington with a mother, a wife, a daughter, or a vagina can possibly see this as a good decision? How will this country ever get its shit together when pro-life politicians use the health and general well-being of America's women as a weapon in the battle against abortion?

Oh, I know. They all have health insurance, that's how.

Planned Parenthood provides family planning services, cancer screenings, breast and pelvic exams, safe sex and infertility counseling, and countless other services, all of which serve to educate and empower the population. Taking away this invaluable resource will make our budgets appear to be smaller, but will ultimately cost tax payers more money with the rise in unplanned pregnancies, the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases, and the overall degradation of our society.

I wonder if there will be a day when I am not completely and utterly disgusted by the actions of our government. If there will ever be a day when one step forward doesn't mean two steps back.

I have never been more grateful to be a healthy person with a roof over her head, a supportive family, and health insurance. I am appalled that our government would even consider taking away the fundamental rights of those who may not be so lucky.

If you are interested in supporting Planned Parenthood, you can sign the petition here donations can be made here.