Memorial Day Weekend + A New Self Tanner Fav

It was a really busy Memorial Day weekend! I kid... We actually did nothing of merit, which was pretty fantastic in and of itself.

Eric and I kicked off the weekend with MiCo mambos and dilemmas (Eric is holding the dilemma...I can't have more than one dilemma or I turn into hot mess).



 

I finally bought the maxi I'd been obsessing over at Dillards. Despite my serious selfie face, I really do love it.

 

Why so serious?

 

(I also found some awesome supersoft tshirt dresses at Target. Highly recommend. On sale now. There were more colors in my store than online, but here's the link. If in doubt and you want to order, order two sizes and take one back. My normal size small clinged just a bit too much to my backside and chest for my liking for a casual dress. I liked the way the medium fit better.)

 

Anyway, I digress...

 

We saw X-Men...and it was awesome! Did you know I'm an X-Men junkie? Well you do now and it was really freaking good. I heart Hugh Jackman Wolverine. 

 



 

We avoided storms and traded out cars so the older car was out and about with us in case of hail... #oklahomaweatherproblems

 

 

I'm not even complaining about the monsoons rain we've had the past couple of days b/c we needed it, but maybe Mother Nature could do some things in moderation? Eh? Just saying... 

 



Our driveway turning into a lake

We also celebrated a friend's kiddo's 5th birthday, watched the Thunder win, and had dinner with some friends. A good long weekend for sure. :)

 

And now... onto the random diatribe you can skip if you don't care about tanning. (But who doesn't care about tanning?! - says the recovered tan-a-holic with a standing annual dermatology appointment. *sigh*).

 

I found the best self tanner on earth. Okay, slightly overdramatic but this stuff is amazing. I'd read about it on The Northeast Girl's blog awhile ago but just hadn't taken the initative to order it. She has such great color and I was so glad she did a post to share her secrets earlier this year. (Side note: You should follow her. She has great style and mixes affordable pieces almost every day.)  Anyway, I finally bought it and couldn't wait to try it. I read online to use plastic gloves and I am so.glad.I.did. This stuff will dye your hands.

 

I watched a youtube video first to make sure I didn't jack up the application, but it's really pretty fool proof. Even though it will go on streaky, it doesn't stay that way once you shower the next day (I wear it overnight). I mean, I rubbed it in as well as I could, but it's okay if it's not perfect. It's paraben free and not tested on animals. I dig that. I put it on my face and it was fine. I don't have really sensitive skin though, so if you do, just maybe be careful there. It smells great...unlike so many of those other stupid tanners. It smells like Jergens cherry almond lotion scent if you're familiar with that. It does get that frito smell as it develops so you'll want to shower when you wake up or several hours after you apply...whatever your preference. But... then after the shower, the smell is pretty much gone! FREAKING AWESOME. Most tanners leave their smell with you even after you shower, but this one really doesn't.

What the bottle looks like

 

Here are the strengths in this tanner in my opinion...

* Easy to apply

* Since it's a lotion, it's much less mess than something like Fake Bake spray. I wanted to love Fake Bake, but I just couldn't get the application right and always ended up with more hassle and mess than it was worth.

* Dries really fast. I did my legs first and they were completely dry by the time I finished my stomach (the next place I applied after my legs).

* It works FAST. I noticed a difference in just one application. And I feel like I have really great color in just two applications.

* Pleasant smell for application and the developer smell mostly goes away after a shower. Not overpowering like some.

* It's not really sticky...at least not as sticky as the Jergens I've been using.

 

Stuff to consider:

* It's not cheap. I found it on Amazon, but the seller I purchased from isn't selling it right now so I didn't link it. I only paid $20, but I read a ton of reviews about the seller first to make sure I wasn't getting screwed. Amazon has it, but just make sure to read up on the seller. It's probably fine, but I just didn't want to link something I wasn't 100% certain of in the blog. Here it is on the Derm Store for quite a bit more cash, but at least you know it's authentic. I think some beauty supply places have it, but I couldn't find it in Tulsa.

* Make sure you select the color you want. I got "Dark" because there's a "Medium" and an "Ultra Dark." I was okay falling somewhere in the middle b/c I'm really pale normally. And I didn't want to look dirty. Since I'm so pale, a super brown tan looks weird on me. The dark is a great color for my skin tone.

 

Anyway, I didn't mean to write that much about it, but wanted to be full disclosure and I'm excited about it. I have only applied it twice so I don't know how it will fade, so TBD there. I could be a blotchy mess in two days. If so, I'll report back and strike this whole thing...haha...But, I really think I'm going to stick with this self tanner. I'm not patient enough for the super gradual ones but don't have time or an endless tanning budget to always go get a spray tan. I still really love the Hawaiian Tropic one, but it's become really hard to find. So if you have a lotion you like, go with it. But if you wanna try a new one, I highly recommend this one. Safe and sunless for the win!

 

Oh and the photo of me in the maxi dress above was after one application. I really wish I would have taken before/after photos. Arg. I just didn't think about it. That said, it really does vary for everyone and your own skin tone, so before/afters are hard if you ask me...

 

Anyway, that turned into a diatribe. I hope you had a great long weekend, friends.  

If you can't trust the internet, who can you trust? ;)

 



Obviously overdramatic, but have some recent observations.

 

1. I've started to notice a few folks looking awfully flawless in photos on social media. My thoughts went from "Wow, awesome skin!" to "Wait...that looks fake and doesn't match his/her neck." So I googled it. I had NO idea there are apps out there to basically airbrush your face! You can lift cheeks, add blush, apply lashes... WHAT?! 

 

* Who has that much time? B/c seriously playing with an app took me like 10 minutes for one photo!

* It's a selfie, not a resume for America's Next Top Model.

* Doesn't it make your other normal, unedited selfies appear subpar? Then you're forced into some pattern of constant editing?

 

Obviously some deep thoughts by Jackie. So I got one of the (free) apps I read about, Perfect 365. And people, it's weird. I didn't even go drastic, but check out the below difference.



 

Left: edited, right: not. Not like you needed me to point that out.

I mean, sure it makes me look less sleepy and like my skin is that of a 16 year old...awesome. But, really...I still think it's weird. While I probably could have applied more under eye concealer the day of this pic, I still like looking more like ME. Don't get me wrong. I still love me some instagram filters. Duh. But this just seems like a lot of work for a photo.

So know that if you're reading this and using the apps and feeling offended, I am 99.9 percent sure this isn't even about you. I'm talking about people that pretty much gave themselves a tan that didn't match their neck, widened their eyes and basically just went all extreme makeover through an app...haha... Fixing a blemish or some under eye circles? You go, girl.

But did you know these apps even existed?! Bizarre.

Anyway...

2. Why are so many people on social media selling things these days? Body wraps, skin care, food products? Iamsoconfused. But I am admittedly also intrigued by the business models. I mean, I obviously trust my friends so if they say it works, I'm automatically interested even if it's something I dont need/want. Genius. Anyway, just have noticed a lot of this stuff lately.

3. I really wanted to try a certain self tanner. I found it online on Amazon for $10 cheaper than anywhere else... and that price is consistent with other sellers on Amazon, so it's not some rogue seller. So I ordered it. But then I read a review like a page and a half in that says "this isn't the real stuff and won't work." Well crap. But the other reviewers love it and say it's the real deal. And the seller is legit with good reviews. So, friends, if I was deceived, prepare for my coffee stained self to do a post about scaring small children with my "tan."

End rant.

Last weekend, I...

So I think I've mentioned, but I now work slightly longer days so I can have every other Friday off. It rocks b/c trust me...with an hour commute each way, the longer days feel.even.longer. So that little three day weekend every other week is pretty fabulous. And it enables me to get shiz done that I can't otherwise get done since I leave so early and get home after stuff closes. Last weekend was one of those longer weekends for me. :) But that means this week is a regular old long week and I travel a little this week. So I'm kicking off the week with blogging. Seemed like a Monday mood booster. :)



 

It was a pretty good weekend as far as weekends go. :)

 

 I...

 

...watched the entirety of True Detective. As did Eric. Separately. On HBO Go on our iPads. #wearelosers. So then I should also add that I....had nightmares two out of the three weekend nights. Things you shouldn't watch on marathon? True Detective.

 

 

...saw Godzilla. Wasn't what I expected, but was still pretty good. Granted, I'm not a big Godzilla buff, so I have no idea what the hard core fans (Does Godzilla have hard core fans? I have no idea) were wanting. But I liked it. *shrugs*

 

...met up with Eric's cycling team for drinks on the patio after his Saturday morning ride. And then headed to the Blue Dome Arts Festival/Mayfest where we took a selfie waiting in line at food trucks.

 

 

...Contemplated getting a bike. I've been contemplating for over a year, but being with Eric's cycling friends made me want one more again. It's just such an expensive hobby if you're not sure you'll love it. But how does one know if they love something if they haven't tried? *le sigh* Do you have one? Do you cycle? Like with padded butt shorts and everything? Tell me about it. I want to know all the things. 

 



...Went to the eyebrow threading place in the mall where I didn't understand anything they said. Yeah, I know. But my girl is always so booked up and doesn't work weekends. And she's convinced me that threading is awesome. And I said above, I only get every other Friday off in Tulsa during normal working hours, soooo I kept forgetting to book her for those Fridays. Anyway, I went to the mall. It was fine. And then I got little bumps under my brows for two days. Granted, that could have been a result of waiting until I had caterpillars on my face to actually do something. But still. I think I'll stick with my (slightly overpriced) threading girl at her own salon.

 

...Had a lovely dinner with some of our friends at their house on Saturday night. Where I forgot to take any photos. Lame. I know. 

 

...Walked the furballs a few times. Now that I have this fitbit, it's making me walk more. The dogs are benefiting from my new found motivation. Below is an example as to why we cannot put them on one of those joint leash things.  

 

 

...ate a fatty cheeseburger and fries for dinner last night knowing my mouth will be numb tonight and I probably won't eat. Why? Oh b/c I'm getting a stupid crown. Granted, I shouldn't complain b/c I don't think I need a root canal with it. One of my old fillings from my sweet tooth kiddo days leaked into my tooth, tooth cracked....and the rest is history. I really hate shots in my mouth. *cringe* Think of me at 4pm CST, friends.



 

Happy Monday. Please resume changing the world now. :)

I am wearing a pedometer on my bra.

Seemed like a more entertaining subject line than "Friday confessions." After some recs from you guys and others, I ordered the FitBit zip and am trying it out today. It's half the cost of the Flex and accomplishes what I want. I was getting dressed this morning and was like "Well, they said you can clip it to your bra...soo...."

I'm really glad no one walked by while I snapped this photo pointing at my chest. Also, I look sleepy. TGIF.

Anyway, there's that.

And some other stuff is as follows:

* I read a blog post that said "What fresh hell is this?" and it made me laugh so hard. I want to start using that phrase. I've used it twice in the last day...on purpose. Maybe if I start saying it on purpose, it will become more natural/casually witty. No one needs to know I intentionally wove it in to the vocab. Moving on...

* Home inspections on the new casa have gone really well! (Happy dance in my head.) It's hard to work an hour from home in times like this b/c I couldn't really be there for any of it. Eric is probably tired of my "How's it going? Everything checking out?" texts. The meeting with an architect last week went well too! He noticed some things we hadn't even realized and suggested changes that would be so cool. So once we close later this month, we'll start on that process. Speaking of closing, I can't wait to get keys. I drive by our house so much, I think the neighbors are starting to get freaked out. Eh well. It just seems to be on the way to every errand I ever have to run ever. *shrugs* ;)

* Since I'm at a new job, I am desperately hoping to make some friends kinda trying to get to know more people. A nice coworker asked me to go walking with her at lunch and I eagerly agreed. She's considerably older than me so I thought maybe we'd walk fast, but still be able to talk. Um... one mile into our FOUR MILE excursion and I could barely breathe. Apparently she speedwalks. Good to know.

* I have recently decided that I don't like any of my jeans on me. They're all mostly the same skinny jeans from GAP and I don't know why I've just recently decided I don't like them. I highly doubt anything has changed about them or my body so I dunno what my deal is, but after a few hours of wear, they get stretched out in weird places and I don't love it. Any other recs for skinny jeans for someone with hips? A girl friend recommended some and I just haven't taken the initiative to go try them on yet, so if you have any recs, I'll add 'em to the options list. :)

I hope you all have great weekends and a fantastic Mothers Day! I feel like so many of my blog friends are now mothers too, and it's really fun to see your blogs and instagrams with your little ones and fun stories of motherhood. Weird to realize how long we've all been blogging, right? :) Anyhoo, Eric and I plan to spend the weekend celebrating both our fabulous moms and enjoying some hopefully awesome weather. (And I will probably also drive by our house 152 times. I'm glad my fitbit isn't counting that... It would make me seem like a stalker.)

 

 

 

I want a baby goat...and other weekend things.

Yesterday, it was 95 degrees here. Whoa. I think I remember spring. It lasted around two weeks...er...I think... I'm not complaining after the cold winter we had, though.

Anyway.. thank you so much for the kind words and congrats about the house! We're so stoked! We met with an architect on Friday and it seems like we'll be able to do everything we want in the budget we were thinking, so that's cool. We close later this month and we'll get some more formal plans started! *Cheesy happy face just typing that!*

Thought I'd share a few weekend pics... Saturday, we had a friend's Derby party. The friends actually live just around the block from our new house! Anyway, big hats, mint juleps, good times. :)

 

 

 

Sunday, we tried out Living Kitchen for dinner. They're a self-sustaining farm and do "farm table dinners" each month for around 40 people and give each dinner a theme. They'd already booked for the ENTIRE year, so when they added a Sunday dinner, I jumped on it. I didn't even care what the theme was. It ended up being Found and Forraged, which was all about local veggies and stuff that grows in the wild. It was pretty cool stuff. :) I think I'm going to get on the wait list for another dinner b/c it was just really fun and different...and healthy to boot.

 

Oh and I got to hold a baby goat. That made me happy. :) (And no, we did not eat any goats. Some people saw this photo and thought "living kitchen" meant that we ate the goat. If you know me, you know I would have totally kidnapped that baby if that's the case... Get it... "kid" napped...since baby goats are "kids.." haha...Okay, done making myself chuckle). 



 



 

If you go, know that the dinners are on the screened in porch. It's so cute, but there's no A/C, so dress accordingly. :) And you bring your own wine. Thankful Eric and I only brought one bottle or else Monday morning would have been tough with a capital T. 



 

 

So yeah...that's the weekend. Also...I was about thisclose to buying a FitBit yesterday. I think I want something to track my steps and all that jazz since my days are longer at my new job and I feel a little more sedentary in general. But, I dunno if a regular ol' pedometer is the better answer. Just thought it would be fun to track. Anyone have a FitBit flex? Love it? Hate it?

Oh and happy Cinco de Mayo! I plan on celebrating by watching The Blacklist at home in my pajamas later. #oldie We might get Mexican takeout. That counts as celebrating I think. 

Thoughts on Thursday

Lots of thoughts today...probably b/c I had a coffee so everything is moving 40mph faster in my head than normal...haha..
 

* Sooo.... we bought a house! What?! I know... after my last post where I was so forlorn about houses...Funny. We got a house that's been on the market since late fall. We loved it then, but it was just way overpriced so I refused to even go see it and actually forgot about it. Apparently the market agreed b/c it wasn't selling. Anyway, long story short, price dropped, a friend sent it to us, we saw it, we loved it...rest is history!  We're under contract as of yesterday! Crazy! It needs some renovations inside so we're meeting with an architect tomorrow and are so jazzed! We really wanted an older home that needed SOME work (so we could make it our own) but wasn't an absolute gutted project, ya know. I can move ONE wall, but but re-configuring a whole house sounds like another issue. We kept seeing homes that had all the work done already...but not how we would have done it. So it was really frustrating. Anyway...we got a gorgeous home that literally checks all the boxes we wanted...or will check them after a little renovation. :) One of my favorite parts...It's got a gorgeous pool and backyard. The house needs some TLC inside, but we both walked outside and were like "Wow." So basically, the contractors can just deal with me sitting poolside this summer while they hammer away...haha... Cross your fingers for good inspections.

 

 

Here comes the part where you think I'm crazy...but I'm telling you anyway. When we were looking at the house, I saw a cardinal in a nearby tree in the yard. People often view cardinals as good luck and/or a sign from a loved one who has passed. Anyway...I'll save all the gushy stuff, but I told Eric I thought it was a sign...as cheesy as it was. And well...the house worked out. :) So there you go.

 

I'll post some pics after inspections when it's a done deal. :) I also told Eric I want to take a pic in front of the "sale pending" sign. #cheesyawesome

 

* Eric and I have a busy weekend ahead...which is good b/c it will probably prevent me from just going and staring at our new house. ;) We've got a Kentucky Derby party, his sister's housewaming party and then are excited to round the weekend out with a dinner at Living Kitchen. I've never been, but am so excited to go! It's a certified organic sustainable farm that also hosts dinners. Reviews are awesome, so I'm stoked!

 

I'm sure I'll post some pics on Instagram but I'll do my best to come back over here and post some stuff too! I love blogging, but sometimes the thought just seems exhausting...Just me? I think it's b/c I love to download pics and edit them and post and basically just make it harder on myself than it needs to be.  Trying to work on that.

 

Recent self observations

When I’m sleepy, allergied-out, hungover (not like that ever happens) or just plain in a bad mood, I over-accessorize. It’s my secret. I feel like if I make everything on my body super busy, then no one will notice that I have a scowl or bloodshot eyes. Just saying. It’s like “Look at the shiny things! Lookie look! Don’t look at my puffy eyes or red nose. Kthanks.” Plus, well…wearing a fun scarf + earrings + bracelets + whatever else all at once just makes you feel good. Like you’re playing dress up.  

 

I should learn how to change a tire. I had a flat. Rephrase…I had a slightly scary blowout

on the way home from work in Bartlesville (45 min from Tulsa) in the rain. And the cold.

Thank gawd for a carpool friend who knew his way around a spare and a jack. (I may not have even known I had one. It’s okay to judge. I’m judging myself.)

 

House hunting makes me a crazy person. We’ve bid on…and lost…three homes. The

last one we lost because someone had an all.cash.offer. *eye roll* Well goodie for you

and your swimming pool full of dollars. Seriously, the next one we like I’m fairly certain

I’m going to bring out my slightly ghetto public high school side. I will throw some ‘bows

for a 1920s colonial house with restored hardwoods. Just.saying.

I always have to use the restroom at work when it's being cleaned. Always. Every day. So then I have to take the elevator to another floor...and they're often cleaning that one, too. So then I get irrirated and go like 5 floors away. First world problems, but it's random and I wanted to mention it.

I'm obsessed with what happened to that Malaysian plane. Like...verge of weirdly obsessed. Every morning, it's the first news I check. If you've been reading awhile, you might know I'm a conspiracy theorist lover. (Yes, I'm one of those people, but only sometimes.) So yeah... I am obsessed with the plane. Even though we'll never know what really happened. ( <--- See, I told you I can get conspiracy theoristy).

I loathe circuses. And it's making me almost say awkward things to friends on Facebook who take their kids to see circuses. Zoos are on my sh*t list a little bit, too. I already can sometimes teeter on the edge of someday becoming a bona fide blood throwing member of PETA, so Blackfish the movie has officially made me dislike holding any animals in captivity. Well, except my dogs. They love being in my captivity. Obviously. (Eric calls me a hypocrite. Whatever.)

So yeah, I haven't blogged in a zillion days (or like a couple of months...whatever) and this disjointed randomness is what I chose to blog. It is what it is. I'm actually launching some executive blogs at my new job (which is going great btw!) and it made me miss mine, so I stopped by for a little coffee date brain dump with my corner of the interwebs.

TGIF, friends!

   

Ch-Ch-Ch Changes...

Hi y'all! I've been missing again for awhile and who knows...maybe I'll go missing again...haha.. I've kinda quit making excuses and just rolling with it. 

So what have I been up to? A lot! Sara's bachelorette party in Mexico (so awesome), Eric and I put offers on two houses (and got outbid...The market is INSANE right now), and I went to a work conference in Houston. Add some fun in between, some movies, some House of Cards watching (as of this weekend), and you're basically caught up... (minus all the random rants in between). ;)

But most recently...

I accepted another job! So this is my last week in my current position at a financial institution in PR/Communications and I'm off to an energy company where I'll be doing something similar. 

I'm really excited! But it's also been so bittersweet...Everyone at my current job as been so kind and supportive as I prepare to pack up and head out... They even used our floor's large whiteboard to list things about me they'll miss... *sad face*

What a really awesome ride it's been for the past four years...and with some amazing people. 

Now I'm moving to a place with new challenges, new people, new everything...and I'm so excited but also nervous! Every time I talk about it, I get a big smile on my face though. Now if that isn't a sign... :) The new company sent me a welcome packet and I did a little excited dance in my kitchen...haha... 

Anyway, this change has been weighing on me a lot over the past several months... I knew I probably wanted to make a move, but just wasn't sure what...or when...or if it even made sense...I like to have a development plan for myself in my head and, now that I'm a more experienced professional (when did that happen?!), I'd spend a lot of time thinking about what that plan was. Needless to say I did a lot of analyzing (what I do best..haha.. It drives Eric crazy sometimes). So that's where my head's been instead of on blog world...

I'm taking the entire week off next week between positions so hopefully I'll come play over here a little more. In the meantime, some pinterest inspiration... ;)

Currently.

Saw this around the blog world, but not sure where it started so apologies for not giving appropriate credit. But, thought it was a good way to organize a post instead of just rambling..not like I ever do that. :) Currently...
Reading: I just finished the final book in the Divergent series. It took me forever to finish it b/c I just wasn't that into it. I was looking for something Hunger Games-ish and I guess it is...But I just liked HG so much more. But, I still read all three books, so I liked them. It just wasn't like "I can't WAIT to get home to read the book!" 

Doing: Right now, I'm excited to finish Christmas shopping and wrap everything. Somehow every year, I just hide all the gifts forever until I finally wrap them and put them under the tree right before Christmas. Anyone else do that? The tree is so pretty with all the gifts so I wish I'd get on it sooner. :)
Feeling thankful: that Winston's heart murmur isn't really bad! We just found out he had one and had his heart x-rayed this week. Little guy is gonna be totally fine on some meds and just keeping an eye on him. (Cavs often develop heart murmurs at varying degrees of severity.)
Working on: Really want to make a photo wall for our living room from the wedding/honeymoon/etc. We have so many great pics that are just waiting to be printed and framed. :) But I've been waiting b/c we're looking at houses off and on, etc...but really...It's not like the photo wall couldn't just be put on a wall in a NEW house...so I dunno why I've been waiting. I want it to look like the below image (from pinterest) where all the frames are same dimensions. 

Loving: Arby's. Yes. This is a weird one. I don't know why but sometimes I go on weird food kicks where I just want one thing all the time. Lately (and weirdly), that's been Arby's. Sure I could have gone with any one of the things I'm loving this season that are way more sentimental, but Arby's entered my brain b/c it's lunchtime. So there's that. To add something less strange, I'm loving some of the pretty ornaments we've gotten this year for our first Christmas as a married couple. Some say "first Christmas" and others are just ones I've picked out because they're pretty...like two from our honeymoon. :) Will definitely cherish for years to come.
Watching: After seeing people talk about it, I finally watched the movie The Holiday this year and LOVED it. Eric wasn't home so it felt like the perfect time to enjoy a nice holiday chick flick. Good stuff, people. Good stuff. Also really enjoying watching friends' kids on facebook and blogger during the holiday season. There's something so magical about the holidays through a kid's eyes. :) 

Weekend Recapping

Happy Monday, friends! Mondays have left me in quite the funk lately...I don't really know why, but my mood drastically improves as the week wears on...and then starts over again on Mondays...haha.. *sigh* 

Anyway, this weekend was mostly good. Friday night, Eric and I hit up a Mexican restaurant and were low key. He watched some movie with lots of exploding things and violence and I went in the back bedroom and watched Scandal on the computer...haha... Totally romantic, I know. (Speaking of though...holy Scandal! I can't WAIT til February!)

Saturday night, we attended a couple's shower for Sara and Jake! 

With my husband :), with the bride to be, with friends/bridesmaids :) 

We had a great time celebrating a fabulous couple. And I got to rock my new green dress from Banana! I've never bought anything green...well...a t-shirt here or there for St. Pats, but that's it. Ever have a color you just don't buy for some reason? Anyway, Lori talked me into getting this dress and I'm so glad she did! I think I'm going to wear it again to a Christmas party this week.. I mean why not?! :)

Taking kinda a sad turn, Sunday, I was headed out to Christmas shop when my mom called and said she was on her way to the animal ER b/c her dog, Beau wasn't doing well...at all. So sad...I hightailed it to meet her. He was 16 years old and was recently diagnosed with cancer. Poor guy already had arthritis and other old age issues. When we found out he had cancer, the vet told us he wasn't in pain and to just keep him comfortable and we would know when it was time. When mom woke up yesterday and saw Beau, she knew. I'll just skip ahead and say that the people at the ER were great, calming and considerate. I plan to write them a thank you note for being so kind. My mom and I stayed with Beau until he passed so he wasn't scared. I'm happy he's free from pain, but I'm going to miss that guy...and I know my mom will deeply miss him, too. We picked him out at the pound when I was a junior in high school.. or rather.. he picked us out. My mom found some adorable puppies and was trying to show me. But, I'd already wandered over to a crate with a skinny beagle mix with the saddest eyes. They opened the door and he put his head in my lap. My mom turned and put the puppy back, realizing there was no way I was going to leave that dog...haha... 16 years later, Beau is now our furry angel playing at the rainbow bridge. (If you've never read the rainbow bridge poem, grab some tissues, but it's really sweet...highly recommend).

Don't you wish animals could live longer? *sigh*

Anyway, sorry to be sad... I didn't mean to be a Monday downer...haha... I'll change the subject...How about that?

Eric and I have kinda been looking at houses off and on, so we finished the weekend driving around last night checking out a few. :) I have decided I love house hunting. The thought of packing and moving sounds totally unappealing, but house hunting=awesome. :) We finished the night with some Mexican food (duh) b/c neither of us were feeling cooking...

And that was the weekend. I can't believe the holidays are so close! I got like three gifts wrapped this weekend which made me feel SO ahead of the curve. Never mind the rest that are still hidden in the house and/or haven't been purchased...whatever.

Wedding: Getting Ready!

After the wet weather on Friday night, we all awoke to a sunny and fabulous Saturday morning! :) I headed to my maid of honor, Sara's, house to meet up with the other bridesmaids to get gorgeous! Eric went to brunch with his guys and then they all met up at the wedding venue at around 2:30. Needless to say, we started several a few hours earlier than they did. 

Per usual, I had issues picking photos, so here's a ton. :)

Eric and his best man, Matt. :) Matt actually introduced us! Not sure if any of y'all knew that!

Beth's mom brought her adorable little twins by since they live in the same neighborhood :) Babies. Weddings. Mimosas. Pink robes.. I mean, I was pretty much in girly heaven...haha! 

I'm not a shoe person (I know- I'm weird), but I was kinda obsessed with my wedding shoes. :) Thank you, Amazon, for the awesome deal on these darlings. 

So handsome :) 

These pics remind me what Eric looks like sans beard. Let's just say no shave November has extended into December at our house. ;) I dig his look either way, but just funny to see him without a beard...

There are several shots of him like this one in the mirror and I love them all... 

I had such a good time getting ready with my girls. So lucky to have a stylist who is also my good friend who came over and did all our hair at Sara's so we didn't have to go anywhere...So so sweet of Candice! 

The morning started with just the girls and then and my mom and Eric's mom joined us at noon and my mom brought us all lunch. :) We did hair in one room and then Destry did makeup in the other... 

If you ever need a stylist, I highly recommend Candice at Parlour Salon on Brookside. Just saying.

Mimosas and clip in hair extensions galore (see Beth curling some in the background...haha)

And if you ever need a makeup artist, I highly recommend Destry at Glamor Artz. :) I have seriously been thinking of reasons to go get my makeup done again...haha.. I got it done so much last year for showers, events, engagement pics, etc.. and now I want it done more more more!

I was seriously SO happy all day... like genuinely so amped up and excited! Pretty sure I had the high beam mega watt smile all day long...the same one the lady at the DMV told me to tone down b/c "you're prettier when you don't smile so big..." (thanks a lot, DMV lady.. lol!)! But, I just couldn't help it!

 Makeup done. Hair done. Ready to roll! :)

Taken with my iphone right before we headed to the venue to get dressed! 

I really wanted a photo of all the girls in our robes, but honestly...we just ran out of time. We thought about it once we got to the venue, but I was like "eh whatever.. we have plenty of photos..." :) 
Anyhoo, I couldn't have imagined a better day getting ready for my wedding with my closest friends... Sara was so sweet to let us use her home and it just made the getting ready process even more fabulous and chill. It went SO FAST! I remember thinking "wow, we're starting really early.. I wonder if that's too early." No, it was definitely not too early. It was perfect. :)  Next up: pre-ceremony pics/first look :)

Baby, it's cold outside!

It's 22 degrees in Tulsa. And that's warmer than it's been in days.. Eek! So glad to have a warm house to come home to and a warm car to get there. 

Things I can't get enough of in this weather... 

Got two of these after the wedding and they have already gotten so much use.. 'Cozy' cable knit throw is a perfect name for these fleece-lined gems of awesomeness. 

Via Pottery Barn

Cozy socks! Mine are grey and wool, but these are from Pinterest and cuter. Although, I can't figure out why she's standing where all her food is on the ground. Whatever. The socks are cute.

Via Pinterest

My favorite sweatpants from Aerie. :) They didn't actually have the ones I have b/c mine don't have gathered ankles, but I'm sure the ones I linked are equally as cozy...and totally sexy, like all sweatpants... duh.

Via Aerie

Hot baths. My skin is SO dry in the winter and I make it worse by bathing nonstop to warm up... but I just love it. I light candles, sometimes pour wine, often take a magazine.. *ahhhhhhhh* :) Or on less glamorous days, I just whine about being cold until I go take a bath and just sit in the warm water for like 10 minutes until my mood changes...haha...

Via Pinterest

My favorite way to deal with cold weather is to jet off to the islands, but that's not quite as accessible as my wool socks. So there's that. What about you? How to you stay toasty during this kind of weather?