I'm still here.

If you didn't notice, I took a major hiatus from my little blog.  I've had it on my to do list for weeks but just haven't had the motivation.  I was SO happy to see 2013 go but 2014 is now off to a rough start.  I'm certain we'll catch a break soon, just say a little pray for me that it's VERY soon :)

To keep it short my sweet grandma JuJu is now in hospice care.  As of about a week ago, she was in transitional care and we were preparing for her to stay with my parents for the remainder of her chemo treatments.  Things took a turn for the worse last weekend and unfortunately, chemotherapy is no longer an option.  Grandma is able to return to the comfort of her own home which I am thankful for.

Since I've been away, we enjoyed a great December filled with lots of birthdays (mom, sister, me), Christmas, a weekend trip to Bemidji to move our things there, and a New Years Eve with our dear friends.

I've also been trying to get some wedding planning done.  The big day is just over 8 months away and I have a major feeling of urgency to get everything done.  I try to tackle a few things each month, next up is booking a photo booth, picking out invites/save the dates, and getting transportation set up.  I've been purchasing more things off of Etsy because I think it's important to support small businesses.  I ordered garters from The Wedding One and the ring bearer pillow below is from Burlap and Butter.  I received both items very quickly even with it being right over Christmas and they were very pleasant to work with, you can't find items like these in stores. Beautiful!

I need to get back to preparing for this weekend. NINE of our friends are making the trip to our new home in Bemidji, how awesome is that?  We're going to go skiing/snowboarding/tubing, eat too much good food, drink our fair share of cocktails, play card games, and check out the small town bars:)  I can't wait for them to arrive!  

Recap of our weekend to follow...

xoxo.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

If you're in need of some last minute gift ideas for the hard to buy for people in your life I have the perfect things for you. 

1.) Ipsy
  I joined Ipsy a few months ago, was on a waiting list for just a few weeks, and now have received a glam bag for the month of November and December.  Every time I receive the "your package has been delivered!" message I get all giddy and feel like it's Christmas morning as I run out to our mailbox and spot the bright pink package that is alll for me.  
To me, what makes this subscription so appealing is that it's only $10 a month and you receive $60+ worth of full size products, you can cancel at any time, it's free shipping, and your bag is personalized for you.
Head on over to the website and start a subscription for the ladies in your life (or yourself..:))!  It will be so fun for them to continue to get a gift even after the holidays are over.   I forgot to mention that your products will arrive in a nice little cosmetic bag!  

My December glam bag included the following products, if I would have purchased each product separately the total would have been right around $76!

(nail polish not pictured)

Bombshell The One Stick-$16
POP Brighten Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio- Wasn't able to find the exact one online but a larger one is going for $24
J.Cats The Big Lip Pencil-$3.99
Mirabella Eye Blender Brush-$27.00 can you believe that?!  All in a $10 glam bag.
Nicka New York Nail Color-$4.99

2.) Dollar Shave Club
I got Kyle a subscription to the Dollar Shave Club and ended up cancelling after 3 months because he was stocked up!  Another great subscription that you can cancel at any time and there are three different options: a $1, $6, and $9 a month package, shipping included.  In your first package you will receive a shaver handle and four blades (5 blades with the $1 package), every month after the first you will receive just the blades.  

3.) Spark Box
Something for the little munchkins in your life!  For $23.95 shipping included you will receive a box filled with age appropriate educational toys, after 8 weeks you send back the toys and then you receive another box.  I think this is a great idea because kids grow out of/get tired of toys so quickly.  How fun to be sent a new batch of toys every couple of months!

4.) BarkBox
You didn't really think I'd leave out the pups did you? Never! I love BarkBox not only because they send great toys, all-natural treats, hygiene products, and new gadgets but also because 10% of proceeds from each box goes towards supporting pups in need.  Price starts at $19/month but before signing up look for promo codes.  They always have them!

I hope this helps in your gift buying dilemmas!

Photo Dump and a Trader Joe's Fav

December is by far the busiest month for my family.  I'm convinced we're more than a little crazy because somehow for the second year in a row we are moving in the month of December.  I remember during our move last year I swore up and down that I would never move in December again yet here we are... told you we're crazy oh and it's -4 in Bemidji.  But as Kyle always says,  "we just overcome and adapt" and drink lots of wine along the way.  

On top of packing for our big move, we've celebrated my sister's 30th birthday with a surprise party, dinner and a concert, and dinner again on her actual birthday.  We celebrate birthdays BIG in our family:)  Now for the pictures I've snapped so far during the whirlwind that is December (and some from November)…

The Birthday Girl

Kyle's work party was LEGIT and so much fun.  This adorable bear was our centerpiece and we got to take him home with us:)  Also, I highly dislike selflies but I needed a pic with my new friend.

There were also 4 or 5 different photo booths at the party and we couldn't resist dressing up in festive gear!

Union Depot tree lighting, Rudolph, and a birthday dessert

Girls night in with Brenna and Bella

The night before Thanksgiving with some of my dearest friends.  

The night before Thanksgiving, we are SO thankful for our friends.

Hanging out with Hadleigh, love this girl to pieces.

Heaven in a cup, creme brûlée coffee with peppermint mocha creamer.  

Busted Bella sleeping ON my pillows.  You better believe I changed my pillow cases STAT.   Don't let that face fool you, she has two beds of her own and is SPOILED and guilty.

Festive wine at my parents house.
 Find these glasses here.

And as I promised, my current Trader Joe's favorite…

They are SO quick and easy to make and delicious!

I hope you are all enjoying the festiveness of the season and staying warm!

Wedding Update!

We just hit the 10 month mark, that is crazy to me.  It's true what they say, the time really does fly by and now that we're under a year I feel like I really need to get everything done, like yesterday.

We got an amazing deal on the DJ company that our venue recommended.  They've won numerous awards and I know they will keep the party going and all of our crazy guests on the dance floor:)  If you're in MN check out Midwest Sound.  Friendly tip: Join The Knot and you will receive great email offers for DJs, photographers, and much more!

We had our tasting event a couple of weeks ago and it was LEGIT.  We were allowed to bring two other people and it was set up buffet style with all options from wine to main entrées.  It was so nice to be able to make some decisions on what we will be feeding our guests at our wedding:)  We ended up choosing salmon, chicken cordon bleu, and for the vegetarian option we chose butternut squash ravioli.  It was SO good, I'm 98% sure that is what I will choose.  We will also be doing a cocktail hour with light appetizers and a late night snack of pizzas.  Our friends and family will be doing a lot of dancing and drinking so the late night snack is absolutely necessary;)

At our venue for the tasting event.

I also chose my hair and makeup team.  It's a company called Onsite Muse.  They travel to wherever you are getting ready and you just let them know how many people need hair/makeup and they bring enough stylists to accommodate your number!  The girl who used to do my hair (I haven't had my hair done in awhile:)) is one of the stylists so that's how I found out about their company.  They have also won awards so I think we're in good hands!

Next on my list is deciding what we want to do for flowers and also booking a photo booth.  This is what I'm loving for centerpieces and flowers… (side note:how did we survive before Pinterest?)

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                                                      I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and weekend!

                                                   xo

Life Update

Sorry for being MIA again folks, it has been quite the week.

First, we found a place to live in Bemidji!  We set up three more places to look at and we liked all three of them.  A welcome change from the first time we looked at houses.  It was a tough decision but we ended up choosing what would be most comfortable for us. We figured the move "up north" would be a big enough change so we didn't need to get all crazy and live in a cabin in the woods off a dirt road.  As much as I liked the idea of singing Dirt Road Anthem all the way there.  It's such a relief to have that very large piece of the puzzle complete.

Our cute little humble abode.

I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to share the next large change that happened over the last week but in the end I decided it might be therapeutic to write it all out.  It's a huge part of this year and I don't want to pretend like it just didn't happen.  So here it is...

The day after we found a place to live in Bemidji, I got laid off.

How's that for terrible timing?  I've been doing my best to stay positive but it sucks.  Plain and simple. I know there's never a "good" time to get laid off but this sure has to be one of the worst possible times.  (bring wine)
One month before Christmas. Five weeks before relocating for K's job. Ten months before our wedding. 
One of the main reasons the relocating for K's job was even possible was the fact that I worked from home.  My mind is going in a million different directions so I just need to get through the holidays and the move and then I will figure out my game plan.  I'm over 2013.  I feel like I need a new year to start fresh.  Good thing it's only 37 days away, but who's counting?:)
Looking at the bright side, I'm thankful to have had my job for as long as I did, the skills and experience I received, and now I have plenty of time to pack up for our move, rock around the Christmas tree, and get some more wedding planning done!
 
                                               

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Thanks for listening, friends.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Cartwheel by Target

First, an update on the house hunting...we found nothing. Zip. Zilch.  We looked at 5 different properties, and lets just say the pictures we received beforehand were very deceiving.  We are going up there again to look at a couple more, say a little prayer for us!

Now, onto the handy app called Cartwheel.  If you shop at Target and haven't downloaded it yet, get on that. Like now.

The app is free and saves you money, how can you beat that?  All you do is browse through their current offers and add the ones that you will use.  Then, have the cashier scan the bar code on your Cartwheel app and the savings are applied.  Plus, if you have a Target Redcard the savings just pile up!

I'm extra obsessed with it right now because the holiday offers have arrived.  Here are a few of my favorites...

1.) Chapstick Holiday Lip Balm- Perfect for little stocking stuffers and since you're getting 10% off you might as well pick one up for yourself while you're at it.
2.) Ugly Holiday Sweaters- I prefer to call them sweet ass holiday sweaters and I would rock one every day of December if I had enough. Hey, maybe I will add to my collection since they're 15% off .
3.) Holiday Flannel Sheet Sets- 20% off
4.) Mrs. Meyers Holiday Cleaning Products- 20% off
5.) Holiday Doormats- 15% off

Happy Cartwheelin' my friends!

Weekend getaway and some news...

I am SO looking forward to 2 pm when I am done with work for the day and heading on a little weekend trip with K "up north".  We're heading to Bemidji, MN which is about 3.5 hours away. 

And guess WHAT?!  If we really like it up there, we get to stay!  Actually, come January 1st we have to stay.  Oh yes my friends, we are moving. To Bemidji.  Away from our dear friends and family. But only a car ride away. 

K got a new job, a job he just couldn't pass up and I 100% agree.  I will say though, I wasn't on board with this whole moving idea at first.  Actually, I think our first conversation about it went a little like this...

K: Sooo there's this position in Bemidji...
B: Hell no.

Needless to say I needed some time to think about it.  Now, a month later I can honestly say I'm a little excited.  It's a temporary move, completely drivable, and a new little town to explore together. 

Let's be honest though, it was really the fact that it's the home of  the World's Shortest Parade OR that there's a giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statue there that sold me on it.  Try not to be jealous.

So our weekend getaway is actually more like a weekend to find somewhere to live.  I was starting to get a little worried and discouraged because there really wasn't a whole lot to choose from but somehow in the past week we've lined up 8 potentials to take a look at.  That's pretty promising!

Wish me  us luck my friends! 

HAPPY FRIDAY!