SOCIAL MEDIA

25 July 2017

Wedding Dress Shopping for My Sister

This past Saturday I went with my sister, Caitlin and two of her good friends, Mallory and Nicole, to go wedding dress shopping. A few months ago Caitlin got engaged to Jeremy and I'm still a little emotional about it. I mean, my little sister will be getting married!! Anyways, we all headed to Tampa on Saturday so Caitlin could figure out the style she wanted. It was pretty crazy to see her in all those dresses. This was really just a trial run, but she's decided that she wants a skirt and a top, instead of one dress. The next time she goes to a bridal store, she's taking mom with us. So, I'm pretty excited about that. Afterwards we went to Oxford Exchange for lunch.

Later that night Caitlin & Jeremy, Nicole, Mallory & her husband, Alex & I all went out for drinks. We started out at an awesome restaurant in town, Posto 9. They had a DJ on the roof lounge and somehow we managed to get the majority of everyone up there to sing along to the songs. It was crazy! After which, Jeremy decided that we should all do karaoke at some hotel bar in town. It was weird, but we all managed to have a lot of fun. Caitlin, Jeremy, Alex and I stayed out past midnight. Needless to say, Alex and I ended up taking a two hour nap on Sunday.

Here's a screenshot of a boomerang that Nicole took that night. It's pretty hilarious.
23 July 2017

Currently.


Wow. I haven't done a currently post in forever and behold a photo of me! It's really just there to document my current hair colour, which I'll be changing real soon. Read on for more info on that...

Reading. I have a huge pile of books that I really need to get started with. And actually finish some that I've started a year ago. However, I did just finish Bringing Up Bebe. Which I loved. I'm also amazed that, after talking to my mom, she used the same parenting tactics that the French! Way to go, mom! But yes, I go through cycles of reading non-stop to just not reading at all. I'm somewhat in a lull at the moment. However I just downloaded the audiobook of The X-Files Cold Cases to tide me over until the new season starts this fall.

Doing. Getting the random things that we need for the apartment. It's weird, really. Alex & I have been in the same place for a year and a half now, but it's only been the two of us for about 6 months, when my sister moved out. We've turned our spare bedroom into an office where I can work on my content writing for my other job and we've had to rearrange things in there. I finally got a proper desk chair that moves up and down so I'm no longer hunched over.

Watching. Twin Peaks and Game of Thrones. Outside of those two shows, since it's summer, we're re-watching old shows until the new ones start up in Fall. We just finished re-watching 30 Rock for the second time and just started on Parks & Rec for like the fourth time. As always, we watch a lot of Bob's Burgers.

Making. Megan and I just recently found an awesome pattern online to make our own baby aprons. Or as they're affectionately called, "baprons". So I've been using my sewing machine a lot lately - which I'm pretty sure is the most I've used it since I got it. I mean, it's never too early to start making things for an eventual baby, right? At first Alex thought I was going a little crazy, but then I reminded him that making aprons for a baby whenever we do get pregnant sounds downright awful to me.

Looking Forward To. Changing my hair colour this Tuesday. For the wedding I lightened my hair to a medium brown so it wouldn't blend in with my wedding dress and a few weeks ago I got the most random urge to dye my hair red. I'm really looking forward to changing my hair to red again. In fact it's been over 4 years since it was red and this time around I'm going for a different tone. You can head over to my pinterest to see the colour that I'm contemplating.

Listening To. Three bands on vinyl and in heavy rotation. Ever since Alex found Talking Head's Speaking In Tongues on vinyl, I can't seem to stop listening to it. It's such a fun album and whenever I listen to it I just want to dance. So yes, I've been listening to Talking Heads, Tears for Fears and The Fixx. As for outside our vinyl collection, I just listened to the newest Nine Inch Nails' album and I'm liking it a lot.

So, how about you? What are you up to lately? Let me know in the comments below!
16 July 2017

August Blogging Challenge

A fellow blogger, one whom I also share a name with, recently wrote a post about her lack of blogging everyday and how she missed it. And honestly, I miss it too! As if right on cue, she decided to blog everyday next month - which she has dubbed the August Blogging Challenge. So, I've decided that come this August, I too am going to join in the challenge of blogging every weekday. Just like I used to many, many years ago (on my older blog). Hooray, right? Fingers crossed that I can actually do it. I mean life is busy enough as it is.
I'm hoping that by putting it out there, that I can actually blog every single week day. Now I do have a lot of drafts sitting and waiting, so those will definitely be used. But I also want to touch base a few days a week and just blog about my day and what has happened. Even if it's just what I had for breakfast, or a song that's stuck in my head.

Now here's where YOU the readers come in... If you have any topics that you would like for me to write about, or any questions you'd like for me to answer, please let me know in the comments below. That way I can add them to my blogging list.

So, will you be participating in the August Blogging Challenge? If you plan to, leave your blog's URL in the comments section.
12 July 2017

Our Anniversary Trip To St. Augustine

This past weekend Alex & I celebrated our "valentine's day" which is really just our Dating Anniversary. Which makes it a lot more fun than plain ole v-day. This year Alex surprised me with a two day getaway to the historic city that he proposed to me in: St. Augustine. He managed to keep hotel a secret from me too. So when we arrived in St. Augustine Sunday afternoon, and pulled up to the Casa Monica Hotel, I was completely surprised. It definitely set the tone for our two year dating anniversary trip. Especially because it was across from the hotel that he proposed in 2016.

Alex booked us a suite on the top floor of the hotel, which resulted in a stunning view of the historic downtown district of St. Augustine. We had the best sangrias ever at the hotel bar, made a quick jaunt (in the rain) over to Kookaburra Coffee Co., explored "tourists row" and had a few more drinks while we waited for our room. I can't even begin to explain how awesome our room #504 was. If you look at the photo above, the top three windows on the left side is where our suite was. Which resulted in an incredible view from inside our suite. The hotel was absolutely beautiful. Like every part of it, the concierge's desk, the bar, the suite, the view. Everything.


​A little while after we were settled in there was a knock on the door and we were given a sweet congratulations card from the hotel staff and a bottle of Prosecco champagne. ​That really was the icing on the cake for me. Especially because that was exactly what I wanted. I mean, what is an anniversary without champagne?




Afterwards we headed to Costa Brava for the most epic meat & cheese board we have ever eaten. We went to the historic Fort Mantanzas and walked around the whole thing before stopping by Ancient City Brewing to try on of their flights. It was pretty overcast even though it had just rained, but it was perfect for walking around. But not for taking photos. Then we had a late dinner at The Ice Plant where we had another cheese board and shared a burger. Afterwards we crossed over the Bridge of Lions and took in an evening view of the St. Augustine Lighthouse.







The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel, because we're the type of people who don't say no to an unexpected free buffet. Afterwards we walked around downtown a little bit more and checked out Flagler College and some other old buildings like the Memorial Presbyterian Church. The church was inspired by St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and is incredible. Then we headed back up to our room to relax for an hour before checkout. Once we checked out we went to some antique shops and then to Cousteau's Waffle Bar where I had the most delicious waffles and coconut ice cream. If you're ever in St. Augustine and go to Cousteau's I got the Life On Mars waffles. Then we headed next door to Thai House & Sushi bar so Alex could enjoy so much desired sushi.

Then we headed to Vilano Beach to enjoy the beach resort that Alex purchased for us with the room. Now Alex & I aren't beach goers. In fact we've only been to the beach once together, but nonetheless it felt almost necessary for this trip. We lounged around the pool and then made our way to the beach. Right after we decided to leave there was some thunder so we booked it back to our car and headed back downtown to checkout ToneVendor, a local record store. Where Alex found a used copy of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath on vinyl at an awesome price.




There's a part of me that wishes we were still in St. Augustine celebrating our two year dating anniversary. Alex made our trip so incredibly special. We were talking about how it felt like a continuation of our honeymoon. We had so much fun, ate incredible food and enjoyed taking in all the St. Augustine has to offer.

Thanks for following along with us! Have you ever been to St. Augustine? Let me know where you went in the comments below.
10 July 2017

Such A Curious Thing

The passing of time is such a curious thing. Minutes turn into hours, days turn into months, and before you know it, years pass by. More often than not I look back on the past two years and I am left in a state of wonderment. My heart full and open. Two years ago my life changed forever. It was an event that I would have never bet on. An event that, at the time, I didn't know how much I desperately needed.

I never would have guessed that fate would have dealt me such an incredible hand. When Alex came back into my life everything became so clear. All of the past hurt seemed to melt away; my fractured soul healed. I can still remember that night so clearly. All of those moments still vivid: the stolen glances, our conversations, the secrets shared. Everything was so easy then and it still is. I know that relationships take work, but it doesn't have to be hard. It shouldn't be. Love is not a battle to be endured. Love is a precious thing that should be treasured.
 
Since the night that Alex & I were reacquainted both of our lives changed in such immeasurable ways. Two years of watching one another grow and always taking time to nurture the other. Yes we have changed, but we have changed together. And isn't that the beauty of true love? The passing of time and the connecting & re-connecting of two souls that are ever-evolving...

Happy two years, my love. You are my favourite. I'm so glad that we have each other.
08 July 2017

Our Wedding is on Rock N Roll Bride!

Alex & I's wedding is now featured on Rock N Roll Bride!! All thanks to my amazing wedding photographer and friend, Laura!

06 July 2017

My Weekly Cleaning Schedule


Here’s the thing . . . deep down, I actually love cleaning. Especially vacuuming and dusting - you know the ones that have immediate results. My least favorite chore is laundry. Don’t get me wrong - tossing clothes into the washer and dryer are the easy part. It’s the folding that gets me. But as much as I enjoy cleaning it is still something that isn’t always on the top of my list. Yet as a homemaker, if I don’t make time for it, it piles up and I’m left with having to spend the whole day tackling something that I could have spent thirty minutes a day on.

With that in mind, I found that having a weekly schedule of daily cleaning tasks makes it a lot more manageable. Now there are things that I do daily to help make my life easier - and more home a lot more tidy during the in between. 

Looking for a reusable print out? Head over here.

Here's what my Weekly Cleaning Schedule looks like:

MONDAY Laundry: bed sheets and towels + clean bathrooms
TUESDAY Dust + Laundry: Olive's bedding
WEDNESDAY Vacuum all areas
THURSDAY Clean fish bowl + Mop all areas
FRIDAY Remove expired food from the fridge
SATURDAY Laundry: Delicate/Regular + Deep clean all water tumblers

Some daily tasks to keep things tidy:

  • Sweep living room, dining room and kitchen.

  • Start the dishwasher every night after dinner and unload first thing in the morning.

  • Clean the kitchen counters and the stove. Sometimes an extra vacuum session.

  • General tidiness -remove any random messes and put things where they belong. This includes laundry. If it takes less than a minute to do - do it!


Obviously, this isn't something that is new to any of you, or rocket science, but I always enjoy finding out how other people stay on top of things. Or how they implement it. Do you have a cleaning schedule that you stick to? Does it differ from mine? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
03 July 2017

Date Night: Cult Classic Film Week

Our town has an awesome historic theatre, Polk Theatre and this past week they held a Cult Classic Film Week. So Alex & I decided to join in on the fun - especially since some of our favourite films were on the list. On Tuesday we saw "This Is Spinal Tap" and on Wednesday we saw "Donnie Darko". We both had seen these movies before, but it was fun to actually see them on the big screen for a change.


All in all, they were some pretty awesome date nights back to back. And we really enjoyed the $2 Blue Moons and popcorn.