Tattoos!

For Mother's Day, I did something a little different this year. My mom and I both have one tattoo already and as most people will agree, once you have one, you want another! I made a little booklet of different tattoo pictures.  Here's what it looked like:

A few weeks ago, my mom made an impromptu decision to accompany my dad on a business trip and instead of going all the way to Chicago, I picked her up to spend the day and night with me. It was an awesome spur of the moment plan! While running a few errands that afternoon I jokingly suggested I could make good on my gift and we could get tattoos. After I said it, I got all chickened out and nervous. 

We stopped at a tattoo parlor and as fate would have it, the guy was booked straight for a month but just had a cancellation that Monday afternoon and had the hour open. So, we did it! 

Let me just tell you, getting a tattoo stings!  I can't imagine getting a sleeve of them or lots of big artsy ones. Thankfully, both of our tattoos took less than 5 minutes. Whew! You sure do feel like a badass afterwards, though! 

Here's my mom's:

And here's mine:

I wanted a visual reminder to keep things into perspective, with God at the center which is symbolized by the cross coming off the e. I just love it! Easily cover-up-able with long sleeves, a watch or bracelet. But still, something I'll see throughout the day reminding me to slow down, pray and be thankful for the incredible life I have, no matter how stressed I feel.

Do you have a tattoo? Did yours take longer than 5 minutes? Ouch.

Ebates: Give a little, get a little!

Though I refuse to listen to Christmas music, buy a peppermint mocha and decorate my house for the best holiday of the year, I will soon start shopping for Christmas presents. This year, I think I'll be shopping a little differently....

Have you heard of ebates? WELL, allow me!

I just found out about this site through a co-worker. This website has been around since 1999 and here's how it works:

1) Use this link to sign up: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=QkO42WY4ZoWpZfXe0KQhSg%3D%3D

2) Click on various store website URLs to shop

3) Shop. Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, house goods, clothes, Christmas cards even!?

4) ebates tracks your purchases and even gives you between 1-8% cash back for your purchases (each store varies)

5) Once a quarter, ebates literally PAYS YOU for shopping!

COOLEST. SITE. EVER. 

Use the link I put above to sign up. I'm already loving this site - you will too!! 

Fall Fam Photos

Before this beautiful season turns to a freezing cold winter with bare trees and grey skies, I wanted to get pictures taken. I love when colored leaves are everywhere and the crunchy sound made when your boots walk over them. Plus, fall weather is cozy and romantic. Anyway, a good friend agreed to follow my little family around a local park and take pictures for us. Of course, the idea was to get one great photo for Christmas cards, but I also think it's lovely to just simply get nice pictures taken each year. Hopefully it's something we can keep up each fall.

I'm so excited with how they turned out!!! Below are a few of my favorites :)

Can you feel the love?? There's a lot of it between the three of us. We sure are lucky. Thanks to my beautiful friend Stacy for taking our photos! 

The Twenties.

Today, I had lunch with a beautiful friend. I mean, she's the kind of person who truly has a beautiful soul. Every time I walk away from spending time with her, I feel refreshed and like I just spent time with one of God's angels. I can't say I have too many other friends like her and I think her kind are rare but I feel very blessed to know her. 

Among many things, we chatted today about the twenties. This time in life that's full of changes both big and small. It's also full of many questions, doubt, worrying and wondering. There is a lot of dreaming but then reality is right there, smacking us in the face. 

The two of us discussed the many changes happening right now in our lives. We have both been fully open to change, embracing it and letting it envelop us.  It's incredibly scary, but it feels exciting and adventurous too. 

I'm not even halfway through my twenties yet, and there have already been lots and lots of life changes. So here's to seeing what the rest of these years bring, and facing anything new head on with an open, willing and trusting heart. 

 

As Romans 8:28 says:

From Drab to Fab: Home Office!

Ever since I decided to pursue real estate, I knew I wanted to turn part of our basement into a home office. I'm pretty sure that's what the space was intended for but given the disgusting brown laminate flooring paired with the grey wood paneling, it didn't make for a homey, inspiring space.

I'll be working out of my home a lot- whether it's paperwork or computer work. I knew I wanted the space to feel bright, cheery and as un-basement-like as can be. 

Here's the space before we worked our magic:

I believe the word "dingy" comes to mind? Yes, I agree. Gross. 

First thing first: paint. I chose a very bright, pale blue. Lucky for me, I timed this little painting job on a weekend that Sherwin Williams had a 30% paint sale. Woot! Here's what the sample looked like:

Now for the more obvious, the desk. I didn't want a stuffy Office Max type thing, I wanted more of a table. I like the surface space and don't care as much about shelves. Plus, the lack of shelving means no junk drawer! I found this little gem on Craigslist for $50. 

My big splurge was the desk chair. Check out this beauty I found at a local furniture shop: 

It's the tufted back that gets me! It was discounted heavily since the right corner was a bit frayed. I didn't mind that at all- gives this piece some character!

Alright enough of all the one-off pictures. Here's the after pic! 

And another angle:

Here's the before and after right next to each other:

I'm in love. Being in this room just makes me happy! It's girly, it's bright and it's not boring. 

Can't wait to work here full-time!! 

The Most Incredible Pumpkin Cookies

Warning: I will be tooting my own horn in this post. Why? Because these cookies are absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, they taste like a tiny piece of heaven and it's 100% fitting Better Homes & Gardens calls them "Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies".

Here's what mine look like:

Are you drooling?

I first made these little beauties 3 years ago with my good friend Cate. We were looking for a Fall-inspired recipe and found these on Pinterest. Well, I have made these every Fall since. I just love hearing people rave about them - there's something so rewarding about someone enjoying your baked goods. It makes my heart happy. I think the ultimate compliment is when people ask about them the next year: "It's pumpkin season. Are you making your pumpkin cookies soon?" And guess what? They're actually VERY easy to make and one batch yields over 65 cookies!!! Talk about worth your time!

A link to the recipe will be included below. I'd like to add that I do not use 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp of nutmeg spices in the cookies but instead 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice. I think it adds a little something extra! I do, however, sprinkle cinnamon on the top. Also, it says they bake for 10-12 minutes but I have found 13-14 works better in my oven. They're still the softest cookies ever, but under cooked if I follow the timing directions. Of course, this will be different for everyone depending on your oven.

Okay, okay. Here's the link: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/melt-in-your-mouth-pumpkin-cookies/

Happy baking!!

1st Anniversary!

Today marks our first wedding anniversary!! I feel like this day was just yesterday - I remember it so vividly. Spending the day with my favorite women, feeling the most beautiful I've ever felt, wrapping my arms around Brian during our "First Look" and being so incredibly nervous/anxious/excited when the doors opened and I took my first step down the aisle. Here are a few pictures from our day:

  

 

Everyone who's been married says the same thing: "Your wedding day will go by so fast!" I got to the point where I was so sick of hearing that, but it helped me truly focus on each part of the day and take in each moment. I remember telling people after "I felt like I milked that day!" It was, without a doubt, the best day of my life.

Check out the following to see more about our wedding day:
- Our Wedding Trailer via Jet Kaiser Films (you just might shed a little tear, too!)
- Rustic Wedding Chic Wedding Blog
- Mandy Leonards Photography Blog 

This first year of marriage has been fantastic. Full of all the paperwork it requires to successfully change your name, full of "so when will you guys have a baby?" questions, full of stupid made-up songs to make each other laugh, full of saying "husband" and smiling a little on the inside each time I do and full of discussions about life and what we want out of it. We expanded our little family of two by adopting Bosley - a dog we are so completely in love with that I actually almost understand how people could just have a house full of dogs with no babies - almost. He's brought so much joy to our life and has helped make our house a home. And to answer the baby question, we can't wait to someday bring a child into the world, but that day won't come for a few years. Boz is quite enough for now, thank you.

As for my husband, I'm not about to write a love letter in this blog. But I will say that I have fallen in love with him over and over and over again this year. I actually like to imagine that when God was writing my life into being, he was also writing Brian's. We are so ridiculously perfect for each other and he is completely my other half. I am thankful beyond belief for him. I get so excited thinking about all the things we'll get to experience together in this life.

Here's to a phenomenal first year, and here's to many, many more. I love you, Brian!