Friday Five

Happy Friday!

The candy bowl is full, our "costumes" are ready, pizza is ordered.

Bring it on, Trick or Treaters!!

one.

Our costumes this year [because Pat is a huge Seahawks fan].

two.

One of my most favorite dips ever.

Can't wait to munch on this tonight.

1 to 2 cans of black beans reduced sodium, strained

1 can of corn, strained

1/2 red onion

1 green or red bell pepper

1 jar of Olive Garden Italian dressing

Mix all together and let chill in the fridge

[I usually put the onion through the processor since some people are scared of chunks of onion]

three. 

Becuase in sales, you can't really dress up.

My work costume.

Presenting: Casual Friday

[shoutout to Blue Avenue for my awesome vest]

four.

Weekend fun.

We are heading to our neighbors after trick or treating for pumpkin carving.

Currently accepting ideas for that.

Tomorrow, one of my best friends is coming over to help me with a little somethin' somethin'

that Pat and I have planned. Stay tuned.

Sunday, wheels up to Orlando for the entire week for work.

five.

Because, it's Taylor Swift week.

And you need this album in your life.

I confess...

[-] I am still listening to 1989 like there's no tomorrow.

[-] I am unusually excited for Halloween this year. Maybe it's because we will have trick or treaters for the first time ever. And we are hanging out with the neighbors afterward.

[-] I have put my foot down. I will start running again. My back hurts regardless, so why not.

[-] In honor of that revelation, I have moved to an evening runner. I just can't do 5:15 when it's pitch black in the mornings.

[-] Also in honor, a group of friends and I (and Pat) are running the local Thanksgiving day race. We are dressing up like Pilgrims and Indians.

[-] I have a new nightly routine that may or may not involve a glass of wine.

[-] We should be getting our anniversary shoot pictures back this week, and I am freakishly excited.

[-] Last week I read The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty on the flight to Austin and back. Pretty good read.

[-] Pat got a local number when he upgraded like a month ago, and I still can't remember it.

[-] I am going through a "do I really have to cook dinner?" phase right now. Bad.

[-] I cried when I heard that Amy's [from my fave radio show-Bobby Bones show] mom passed away Monday.

[-] I really need to start thinking about Christmas shopping. Bless it.

[-] Pat and I are way too involved in our shows. Scandal and HTGAWM are seriously taking the cake.

Have a great day everyone!

#1989

 

This is the "everything you wanted to know and more and you're probably going to think I am super weird" post about Taylor Swift's new album 1989. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a huge TSwift fan. I have caught a lot of flack for enjoying her so much. There are some haters. And that is okay. I don't really care for Beyonce, so to each their own. Something about her realness, vulnerability, ability to write a seriously great jam, and out right weirdness just makes me love her. Maybe it's because I am super weird too, so I can relate. I have loved her albums since I was 16, and she sang about crying on a guitar and thinking about Tim McGraw. Somehow, she writes songs that anyone can relate to. With that being said, I was curious as to how she would bridge the pop-country gap on a solely pop album.

And on a side note, please refer to this guide as a hilarious depiction of emotions experienced leading up to this. Too funny. 

In the intro packet to her CD (yes, I read it), she says something profoundly accurate in my life today. And I loved every word of it.

The debate over whether people can change is an interesting one for me to observe because it seems all I ever do is change. All I ever do is learn from my mistakes so I don't make the same ones again. Then I make new ones. I know people can change because it happens to me little by little every day. Every day I wake up as someone slightly new. Isn't it wild and intriguing and beautiful to think that every day we are new?..... I've told you my stories for years now. Some have been about coming of age. Some have been about coming undone. This is a story about coming into your own. 

Not going to lie, that hit me. Because for the last year, I have been changing daily. I have blogged about it, talked about it with my best friends, and now someone has put into words what I have been feeling. I am coming into my own. And that is extremely freeing. So, enough of the sappiness-fan-girl sentiments. Here is my official breakdown of TSwifts bomb.com album. The rankings of my fave songs thus far:

16: Wonderland
Why: It's my least fave on the album, but it is slowly growing on me.
Fave Lyric: It's all fun and games til somebody loses their mind

15: How You Get The Girl
Why: It's better than Wonderland, but still not my fave. I don't dislike it. Honestly, it reminds me of Love Story.
Fave Lyric: Tell her how you must have lost your mind/And you left her all alone, and never told her why

14: Welcome to New York
Why: It's fun to sing along to.
Fave Lyric: Like any real love, it's ever changing/Like any true love, it drives you crazy

13. New Romantics
Why: The beat is the jam. I love the feel of the song.
Fave Lyric: Honey, life is just a classroom/Cause baby I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me
12: I Know Places
Why: Mainly because of the lyric below. And the music.
Fave Lyric: Loose lips, sink ships, all the damn time


11: Wildest Dreams
Why: Girl is getting a little risky in this song!
Fave Lyric: And when we've had our very last kiss, my last request is/ say you'll remember me in a nice dress staring at the sunset


10: Shake It Off
Why: Don't get me wrong, this song is the jam. I have just heard it so many times, that I have to put it in the near middle as my obsession for others grows.
Fave Lyric: And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate


9: All You Had To Do Was Stay
Why: Because yes.
Fave Lyric: People like you always want back the love they pushed aside/But people like me are gone forever when you say goodbye


8: Bad Blood
Why: Again, yes. Because she is not just saying, hey you acted shady, she is saying NOW we have problems. And don't act like someone hasn't made you this mad before.
Fave Lyric: Oh, it's so sad to, think about the good times, you and I/Cause, baby, now we got bad blood


7: This Love
Why: This song is one of the ones I play over and over. It is the first "ballad" [with a beat]. These are the songs we all know and love from her.
Fave Lyric: This love left a permanent mark/This love is glowing in the dark/ These hands had to let it go free/ And this love came back to me


6: I Wish You Would
Why: I love the feel of this song. Even though it is about an old boyfriend driving past the girl's house, I think it is telling of all relationships that are over in some ways. Whether it be a friend, or something else.
Fave Lyric:  I wish we could go back/ And remember what we were fighting for/ I wish you knew that I miss you too much to be mad anymore/ Wish you were right here, right now, it's all good, I wish you would


5: Style
Why: This whole song is just great. I love the beat. I love the music. I love it all.
Fave Lyric: You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt/ And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt


4: Out Of The Woods
Why: Because its catchy. And I love the build up of the song.
Fave Lyric: *when she belts* Are we out of the wooooooooods, yeah


3: Clean
Why: Because regarding a boy or a person or a situation, any one can relate to getting rid of a toxic thing in your life. The importance placed on not thinking the end of something is the end of you. You are enough, you are finally clean.  And also, this is the jam.
Fave Lyric: And that morning, gone was any trace of you/ I think I am finally clean


2: Blank Space
Why: I love the songs where she straight calls out where society tells who she is, or shall I say who they think you are.
Fave Lyric: All of them, seriously.... So it's gonna be forever/ Or it's gonna go down in flames/ You can tell me when it's over/ If the high was worth the pain

1:  You Are In Love
Why: Because it is the sweetest song on the entire album, and may be my favorite one of hers period. It gives you all the feels. And it immediately makes me thing of Pat. Everything about this is beautiful.
Fave Lyric: ALL OF THEM. But if I have to choose... "One night he wakes, strange look on his face/ pauses then says, you're my best friend/ And you knew what it was, he was in love"



Now that I have spent way too long analyzing this album [slightly surprised you're still reading], I am going to go jam.

Weekend Recap

The only reason I woke up this morning super happy is that it is 

Taylor Swift Album Day.

More on that tomorrow.

(I know, the anticipation will drive you guys crazy.)

Friday night we had an early night.

We were both so exhausted.

I have been so tired lately, maybe it's the weather change!

DVR was on, and we were in our comfy clothes by 5:45.

No shame in our game.

Saturday was so fun. 

We cleaned the house (that's not really the fun part- but it definitely relieves me to have a clean house).

Then, it was off to our neighbors for a bonfire and sangria.

We love those people.

Sunday was another lazy day.

We, the early birds, slept til 8!!

Lila was so worn out from playing with the neighbor's dog, Lucy, that she didn't even get up at the crack of dawn.

We finalllllly purchased blinds for our house. 

So, 5 windows now have blinds.

6 more to go!

Oh, and I also woke up to this sneak peek of our anniversary shoot a couple weeks back.

I cannot wait to see the rest!!

 

Happy Monday everyone!

 

Weekend Recap on Wednesday

 Last weekend was absolutely the best.

The weekend was full of friends, laughter, and one heck of an anniversary. 

This past year has been hard. Very hard.

And it only made my marriage and friendships stronger.

But, I don't think I would have made it through without these friends and Pat.

So this weekend was one about celebration.

Saturday was spent with sweet friends and shopping.

 

Then off to get ready for our fancy dinner.

We ate at Bob's Steakhouse at the Omni in Nashville.

I know it the name sounds sketchy, but it was SO delicious!!!

Kylah stopped by beforehand to see me!

We finally had someone to take our picture.

 

[dress from Blush Boutiques; shoes from Kohls, but I cannot find them on the site :( ]

 

Our actual anniversary was spent watching the Titans game!!

 

 

 

 

Rookie mistake, we forgot to thaw our cake in enough time, so we actually ate it on Monday.

But, they don't lie. 

It is just as yummy as it was a year ago.

 

 

 

And out of all these things I've done, I think I love you better now...

Where has this year gone?
This has been the best year in so many ways.
What an incredible journey this has been.

One year ago on Sunday, I married my BEST friend.
 My person.

My better half.

We've have experienced so much this year.
We have laughed, we have cried, we have fought, we have learned.
Thank you for pushing me when I need it.

For being a constant encourager.

For all the little things.
 For keeping me sane.
Thank you for laughing with me when I baked the fork into the actual brownies,
and for when I left the straightener on for the 70th time. 
Thank you for not getting annoyed when I go behind you after make up the bed and redo it.
I know you tried, and it is appreciated.

Thank you for never judging me when I cry at TV Shows.

Thank you for picking me up when life just gets too hard.

Thank you for teaching me to be a better forgiver, a better friend, a better person.
Someone once said that I changed when I met you. And I am so grateful for that. 

Here is to many more years,
many more laughs,
many more tears,
 and many more memories.

"And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are"

Five on Friday

I am so excited for this weekend!

Sorry this post will not be full of wonderful fall finds, or random thoughts.

BUT there is a reason why...

It's our One Year Anniversary on Sunday!!!!!!!

one.

Getting my hair done today. This is the inspiration I am using:

Thoughts? 

 

two.

 Tomorrow one of my bests scored us valet tickets to our anniversary dinner as a gift!

How sweet is she?! 

We are going to Bob's Steakhouse in Nashville.

Don't let the name fool you, apparently this place is #2 in the city for steak!

three.

 A customer of mine gave us 4 tickets to the Titans game on Sunday. 

Our actual anniversary!

We will be sitting 5th row, dead center, in the endzone.

I could not contain my excitement!!

I snapped this pic while at work yesterday, it is rare to see it like this!

 

four.

Slightly irrelevant, but I cannot wait to see Gone Girl and The Best of Me.

Might have to make it a double feature.

 

five.

And last, but certainly not the least, here is to one year.

Look for my next post on that. :) 

Anniversary Week!

I can hardly believe that this time last year I was entering my final week before marriage!!

This year has literally flown by.

More on that later.

BUT, I wanted to celebrate this week in different ways.

A lot changes when you get you married, but at the same time, a lot stays the same. 

Marriage is the greatest thing I have experienced yet. 

It is fun and full of laughter. 

It is hard at times, and full of I'm sorrys. 

Everyone showers you with advice.  And you all know what I am talking about.

You learn. 

A LOT.

 

So here are just some things I have learned [and still learning] since being married:

1. Learn.

Just because you are married, doesn't mean you stop learning each other. 

I love that I still learn new things about Pat. 

It's fun, and sometimes creates great laughter.

I hope I am always learning new things about him.

2.  Communicate.

Your spouse is not a mind reader. What you think is obvious, is not obvious.

If you want something known, say it.

If you want something done, ask for it.

Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

3. Fight.

It is normal to fight. 

Repeat with me: You are not a failure if you argue.

However, you have to fight fair. 

We've learned (and are still learning) to stay away from the "you nevers" and the "you always."

Those are breeding grounds for a nasty and hurtful arguement, 

and usually, have nothing to do with why you're upset. 

 

 

4. Date.

Date nights have quickly become my favorite part of our week. 

Even if it is just making a pallet in the middle of the floor and watching Chicago PD with our phones in another room,

do something different than the normal routine. 

5. Love.

Learn their love language, and FAST. 

Learn how they give love, and learn how they receive it. 

This is still a learning process, and its something I have to be very intentional about.

[side note, learning their apology language is also pretty helpful]

We read Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Got Married, by Gary Chapman..

That book taught us in ways we never expected. 

6. Sacrifice.

Marriage isn't all roses and butterflies. 

[but mostly it is ;)]

Sometimes, it calls for sacrifice.

And sacrifice is not easy and it is not fun. 

But, it does bring the greatest reward.

7. Toilet Paper.

It doesn't matter that he puts the toilet paper on the holder the  "wrong" way.

It doesn't matter that he dried your clothes on high heat.

It doesn't matter that he tracked mud in the house right after you mopped.

It really doesn't matter that he still cannot make the bed the way you like.

But he tries.

What matters is forgiveness without a grudge, grace without borders, and love without looking back.

 

 

Here is to one year of learning, loving, laughing, and lots of moments.

 

What are some of the things you learned in your first year of marriage?!

Friday Five

Hellloooooo October.

Yes, I am SO glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

So glad the link up is back in action!

Post-vacation week has been slowly getting me back to reality.

one.

I know what I am doing this weekend.

I had mixed feelings about this book [part of me loved and part of me doesn't know how to feel], 

and I really wasn't a fan of the ending.

However... I hear that changes. 

 

two.

Double date night this weekend.

Usually, we walk over to our neighbors house and they drive.

But.... we get to drive this weekend.

And in MY NEW CAR!!!

Helllllloooo 2015 Acadia Denali.

It is a serious upgrade from my little rollerskate Versa.

 

three.

Anniversary pics are next week.

S.O.S.

Seriously, y'all... WHAT do I wear?!!!

[and we may even have a little surprise when we post these!]

four.

Fall shows are back in action. 

After watching my Wednesday and Thursday lineup... all I can say... Holy Toledo.

How To Get Away With Murder... Not sure about that one just yet.

Part of me loves it, and part of me is like "this is to typical."

But that's where Shonda gets ya. Am I right or am I right?!

Can anyone else relate to this?!! 

five

This link up, from one of my favorite bloggers Lisa begins Oct. 21st. 

Can't wait to join these ladies!!

Happy Weekending Everyone!!