Sunday, February 28, 2010

OOTD 2.28.10 & Baked Goods

Sweater: Urban Outfitters
Tank: Gap Outlet
Skirt: me!
Flats: Privo

On Friday, our plans for the weekend changed a bit and instead of going up to the in law's, we decided that a weekend at home would be best. For my husband, this meant a weekend to rest. To me, this meant a chance to try my hand at a sewing project that had caught my eye last week. So after an evening of watching TV (Go Blazers!) and following this tutorial, my first skirt was completed! It was easier than I thought it would be and I can't wait to make a few more!

I also channeled a little more of my domestic side last night by baking Ina Garten's Blueberry Crumb Cake, which turned out delicious (according to my husband).

Friday, February 26, 2010

Happiness

Lindsey tagged me to create a list of things that currently make me happy and I love these kind of light-hearted posts because they force you to remember the simple things in every day life. Without further adieu, here's mine:

*Friday lunches with my husband – This has been one of our traditions since we got married and I know it's something I look forward to each week. It’s nothing fancy, but it's time together nonetheless.

*Anthropologie – I adore this store! If I could (and I know I can't) , I might spend my entire paycheck here, therefore it has quickly climbed to the top of my favorite list. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

*Family events – Sam comes from a big family (i.e. 20+ aunts, uncles, & cousins on his mom’s side alone) and when the family gets together it can be a little loud, but it’s so fun to see everyone interact and having fun.

*Aveeno Soothing Body Wash with Pomegranate + Rice – Simply, this stuff smells amazing and it works great! I am starting to think I shower just for the body wash (I kid!) .

*Our home - There is something very rewarding about owning your own home and I am happy to come home to ours each & every night!

*Courthouse gym – We've been going to the gym several times a week for the last year and I feel like I've finally found happiness in working out and staying fit (something I hadn’t really every enjoyed) .

*My SIL’s – I come from a family where I’m the oldest & only girl, so marrying into a family where I now have two SIL's means that I've finally got the older sisters I've always dreamed of!

*Pink gerbera daisies – These have always been a favorite of mine, but whenever I see them now I immediately think of my wedding, which brings me back to one of the happiest days of my life!

*My blog – In the last year, I have really begun to find happiness in my blog and give it more attention (i.e. more posts) . I’ve also enjoyed the people I’ve met through my blog and other blogs I read daily.

And now I’d love to see the lists of these lovely people:

Sara (Sara.MB.Towner)
Stefanie (yeah honestly)
EmilyBill (…I’m Saved by the Bell)
Cindy (Sidetracked Artist)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Favorite (free) iPhone Apps

I’ve had my iPhone now for about almost 6 months and I can easily say I might be a little lost without it. I mean, it acts as my phone, my computer, and my calendar all in one. Along with the general apps that come with the iPhone, which I love, I have yet to pay for any additional apps, so here are the three (free) apps that I currently love. Mint.com - I’m late to this one, but Mint is Awesome! It keeps track of all our accounts and allows you to create a personalized budget to fit your lifestyle. It categorizes your purchases & bills throughout the month and lets you know how much you have left in each category. We’re trying to stick to our budget as best we can so we can *hopefully* pay off our last remaining credit card balance and one of three of our student loans by the end of the year.


LoseIt! - This upcoming summer is what I’m referring to as our “Summer O’ Weddings” mainly because two of the weddings we have on the calendar this summer involve either Sam or I in the wedding party. Therefore, I’ve enlisted the help of the Lose It! app to help me watch my calories and meet my goal weight. So far it's going good and I have become more consious about what I'm eating, which is a plus!
Words With Friends - My husband got me hooked to this and it's really brought out my competitive side. The concept is very similar to the game Scrabble, only you don't need a dictionary to find out if the word is correct - the game just tells you if it's real word or not. And the added benefit is that I'm learning new words every game! Currently, I'm only playing my husband, but if you'd like to start a game, my player name is littlemeaggs.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Things I Love... Around My Home


This week I'm loving my Fiesta dinnerware! They are simple, durable, and I love thinking up all of the fun color combinations when setting the table. They truly brighten up every meal for me!

Friday, February 19, 2010

OOTD 2.19.10

Glasses: Coach
Sweater: American Eagle
Tee: Target
Skirt: Anthropologie
Sandals: GoJane

The weather has been beautiful here for the last few days, so I thought it acceptable to bring out the skirt (sans tights) and sandals today. Plus, the bright colors in this outfit really make me happy!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Things I Love... Around My Home

I saw this today and thought it was a great way to take notice of and enjoy what I already have, rather than dwelling on buying something new all the time.


Today, for example, I am loving these little shelves that Sam & I picked up right after we got married. Being the kind of person who enjoys displaying pictures of friends & family, this is a perfect spot to show them off. Currently, we have a couple of my favorite wedding pictures presented, as well as a Willow Tree figurine that was given to us by Sam's parents.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Valentines 2010





For (an early) Valentines this year, Sam & I opted for a lunch out at Olive Garden to avoid the crowds around dinner time. Unfortunately, the wait was the same as always - long - but it was worth it thanks to a gift card (thank you mom!) and good food.

Later we headed to the gym to work off said lunch :)

Tomorrow we'll head to church and come home to a lazy afternoon at home. Throw in a heart-shaped pizza and I'll be a happy girl! In the end, it's more about being together than what we're doing.

Happy Valentines Day!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Field Trip: Silver Falls

Several Saturdays ago, Sam & I took advantage of the blue skies & sunshine and headed up to Silver Falls State Park, home to some of Oregon's beautiful waterfalls.


We came home tired, but excited for the warm weather ahead and more trails to explore. If you are in the area and you haven't been, definitely plan a trip up there once the weather warms up!

Friday, February 5, 2010

OOTD 2.5.10 & A Giveaway!

In an attempt to not wear jeans every day of the week, today's OOTD is as far away as I can get!

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft
Dress: DownEast Basics
Flats: Urban Outfitters


This dress was a great buy at under $10 and I love the polka dot print paired with the ruffled front. Sadly, it's been neglected at the back of my closet and I thought today should be the day to debut it, since we're heading up to Portland after work tonight for a dessert social. Hooray for dressing up & chocolate!



Also, please head over to the (lovely) Style Lush blog for a giveaway of one of my fabric iPhone sleeves!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

2010 Check-Up

It's hard to believe January is gone, but hello February! With one month down, I thought it fitting to post an update on one of my 2010 goals - to workout at least 3 times/week.

I am exstatic to say this goal was not only met, but exceeded for the month of January! A typical week looked like this:

Monday: eliptical for 45-60 minutes
Tuesday: attend Active class (20 minutes of cardio; 20 minutes of strength; 20 minutes of flexibility)
Wednesday: eliptical for 45-60 minutes
Thursday: attend Active class
Friday: sometimes a "rest day", sometimes Eliptical for 45-60 minutes
Saturday or Sunday: "rest day" or lift weights for 15 minutes; Eliptical for 60 minutes

Oh boy, that seems like a lot of working out when I type it all out! But surprisingly enough, I actually found myself wanting to go to the gym to workout, instead of dreading it, thanks in big part to my husband! He's been a wonderful workout motivater in that if he says he is going to the gym, then I begin to feel guilty and decide to tagalong as well. And it has really paid off for me!

With February on it's way, my workout schedule will change a little bit. I've started going to BSF with Kali on Monday nights, so that workout will become a rest day and I will hopefully fit in my extra workout on Fridays. Now I just hope that I can keep up the intesity I had in January for the rest of the year...

How are your goals/resolutions for 2010 going?