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I'm quite under the weather this weekend so I figured I could use my down time at least somewhat productively.

Here's some things I've been loving lately

 

 Kyle got this for me for Christmas and I LOVE the pink tones. I have the second one as well but I think this is my favorite so far!!

 

 I was a little weary of the bb cream trend but I have to admit that I am definitely on the bandwagon now. It's so easy and not too heavy. These two are my favorites... One for each price point ;)

 

 Apparently being late to the party is my thing these days. Everyone has been raving about this show so I finally started it on netflix. I'm almost finished with the second season and will be very sad to have to wait to get caught up.

 

 

 The Xbox One is a little creepy but does have a lot of upsides. Kyle and I have both tested out the fitness app and I really like it. I was already a Jillian Michaels video fan and now they are super convenient. There are a few free ones and/or you can buy the full programs. They have several different options such as BeachBody, Tracy Anderson, P90X, etc. I used it a few times this week when I couldn't make it in to the gym. So far so good!

 Hope you're feeling better than I am this weekend!

Post Holiday Blues?

Normally I feel a giant dose of the post-holiday blues but I have to admit I feel a little relieved to be back to regular programming. :)

We finally got the entertainment center put together and it looks fantastic! I love putting together our little space slowly but surely!

 

 Don't worry, our Christmas tree is down now! Putting away all of our Christmas things is a little bit depressing but it's nice to have all of the normal space.  My goal is to do a blog house tour eventually. Just have a little bit more to do before I share.

On Saturday we took advantage of Bank Of America card discount weekend at the Perot Museum. If you have a BOA card, the regular exhibits are free on the first weekend of every month. We still paid to see the Animals: Inside Out exhibit, but overall it was a significant discount. If you have yet to check out the animals exhibit, I really recommend it. Super cool!

  This past weekend was smashing success with getting our house back together and back on our regular post-holidays schedule. At least it was a smashing success right up until I put too much food in to the disposal and clogged up the pipes. We tried all Sunday night to get it fixed to no avail. $300 and a plumber later...We're back up and running! My first major house fail... Whoops!

I have a lighter week at work this week and I am so grateful! It's nice to get back on track and feel a little more balanced.  For me this means:

 1) meal planning ----> Having the energy to make real meals

2) Getting back to my gym routine ----> Kyle has joined me at home when I can't make it to the gym and I am so happy for the company!

3) Quality time with my handsome husband ----> We've been having at least one night where we do something at home together without the computer/phones/etc. Love it!

4) Reading---> Book reviews coming soon!

 Meal Plan This Week:

• Buffalo Chili- Buffalo is leaner than beef and tastes delicious! We make our chili from scratch.
• Baked Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
•  Skinny Taco Casserole with chicken
• "Spaghetti" with spaghetti squash instead of noodles. I LOVE spaghetti squash.
• One dig night... which almost always means breakfast for dinner for me!

Scenes From the Weekend

So this weekend was dedicated to reading and figuring out all things camera.

 Kyle started building some of our entertainment center that we got for Christmas ( Thanks Rick and Saundi!) 

He loves when the paparazzi won't leave him alone.

We have one more piece to build and then I will show you the finished product!

 We had Christmas at my mom's since they were back from Germany!

(That's my "I don't really think you are taking a picture" face)

Kyle's enjoying his new German National jersey.

We're still enjoying the Christmas decorations at our house so I think they'll last until New Years.

 

I find them like this way too often. I'm clearly the second favorite.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

May Your Days Be Merry And Bright

Merry Christmas one and all! 

We are very lucky to have a lot of family that love us very much! Our Christmas began last night with Kyle's mom and step dad Mike, as well as his brother Mikey and his wife Melissa. We enjoyed a FANTASTIC dinner, gifts and an incredible Christmas lights adventure land. Unfortunately, I didn't receive my Christmas camera yet so there are no pictures but they are all in our hearts :)

This morning we did Christmas with my dad

Mayhem is not too sure about this camera business!

Then we headed over to Kyle's dad and Saundi's. The great thing about having such large families between the two of us is that we are spoiled! I wish that we had more time to spend with everyone but we are so grateful that everyone lives close and we get to enjoy all of our families!!!

And for some fun.....

Christmas the first year we were dating...

Last year's Christmas which we unfortunately spent apart...

And our first married Christmas!

We got lots of good "stuff" but spending time with your loved ones is the best gift of all! We will get to have Christmas with my mom and Tom when they get back from Germany!

2013 Year In Review

Whew, what a year this has been! I loved being engaged this year and even though it was a bit stressful, I did really enjoy wedding planning. This year officially marked the next phase in my life and I couldn't be more happy about it.

Here are some highlights this year.



I found my love for fitness. Growing up, I was never really in to sports and not very athletic. As an adult I realize that I just didn't like team sports. Too much pressure and teenage girls are too mean. I love working out and competing against myself. I love to feel strong and able. 



We celebrated two years of dating in February! It feels like we've been together much longer than that. I guess because we've really known each other for so long ( with a very long gap in the middle ;) ) I admit that I knew pretty quickly after we started dating that he was the one for me!




Wedding dress shopping with my now THREE moms! My family has been in a big transition for the last couple of years and it has been really hard on me. I feel like I finally got to a good place this year with my own and I feel really lucky to be welcomed in to Kyle's loving family.





We took our engagement pictures in fabulous Fort Worth!





Kyle's love for disc golf continues. I know he's missing it right now since it's too cold and gets dark too early! 





I turned 26 this year. I really cannot believe that I am that old. I still feel like I'm 17 in my head.





Kyle bought his first brand new car! He spent a lot of time researching and thinking about what he wanted. We weren't even really planning on buying a car but then the perfect deal came up and we just couldn't pass it up. I am so proud of what a hard working, responsible guy Kyle is. He deserved this car!




I was so blessed this year by all of my fabulous friends and family who showered me with love. The people in your life are so important. I cannot stress enough how important it is to surround yourself with people who build you up and are really there for you. Thank you friends and family for all of the love this year. I love and appreciate all of you!




Then there was that time I got mugged in the grocery store parking lot. It reminded me that there are a lot of bad people in the world and you need to always be aware. It also reminded me that there are a lot of good people in the world. Look for the light and you'll always find it.




I married the love of my life! I promise to talk about other things too next year but this year I decided to lean in to it. If you would've told me even five years ago that this man would be my very best friend and the love of my life, I would have laughed at you. But I am so grateful that he came back in to my life! I feel so lucky to have such unwavering support now and forever.





We went on our first vacation and it was both of our first visits to the pacific northwest. I don't think it will be our last. 





Kyle turned 28! 







I think this was the fastest year of my whole life and definitely the most exciting.  I can't wait to see what this next fabulous year holds for us!

Christmas Wish List

It's a little crazy to me how early people start marketing/decorating for Christmas.  But since everyone is doing it, I thought I might as well share some of our list.

I decided that what I really need to take this blog to the next level is get a real camera. I'm not trying to become a professional photographer, but I do need a better way to document things besides my iphone. I'd really like to get a solid easy for beginners dslr camera.

 Kyle's big birthday/Christmas wish item will be a new gaming console....either the PS4 or the Xbox One. My money is on the Xbox but we'll see.Money donations will be contributed to the console fund. 

 After all of the awesome wedding gifts we've received..There's really only one kitchen item we still find ourselves in need of:

 I'm all about the online boutiques right now and my favorite is definitely Kiki LaRue! I loved their maxi dresses in the summer and now I'm all about the sweaters and ponchos! You can check them out here

 

 I'm also allllll about the adorable prints you can find here

Lots to be thankful for this year. Excited to give some thanks before the Christmas season officially begins this year. MY tree won't be up until after Thanksgiving.

Lovely Little Weekend

I had such a great weekend with my husband. I think I've had a little post-wedding blues and it's been hard to get back into the swing of things. A lot of people ask about how married life is. The truth is that not much has changed. We lived together before and were functioning as a married couple beforehand. There is an extra warm spot in my heart to be legal though.  We continue to grow and learn together...and continuing to date is a big part of that. This weekend felt like one big date weekend.

 

I did have to work on Saturday but Kyle always makes a point to do something fun after I get home from work. Our Saturday included some shopping and a date night at Chuy's.

 

Sunday we laid low, did some chores and met my dad for lunch at Twisted Root. It was delicious. I know that's old news around here but we forget to try new places ( Don't worry..we got in a Company Cafe breakfast today.) 

 

We are pretty lucky that some of the random holidays I have off from work are also bank holidays so we were both off of work today! We treated ourselves to breakfast at our favorite spot and then ran some errands ( read: chores). Our errands included three grocery store stops thanks to my high maintenance food needs and our addiction to Trader Joe's chicken sausage. Seriously, if you haven't tried their sweet apple chicken sausage you should get in your car right now.  

 

 We also picked up this cute little cacti.

 

 

I've had this itch lately that I just can't scratch. I think that since the wedding.. I am SO SO fu;filled in my home life and relationship life that it has made me examine the other parts of my life. You only get one and you are in control of it. I know that is pretty vague but I promise to expand a bit more later.

Going along with that, I've been contemplating the direction of this blog...knowing that it would be beneficial to narrow the focus just a bit. However, I still haven't decided exactly what my plan is so you will have to suffer through some random life ramblings for a bit longer.

And if you're reading this, you must be interested in some way so I must not be doing too badly. I'm open to blog focus ideas! What would you enjoy reading? What topics do you enjoy reading from me?