One-Year Anniversary

 Happy 1-year anniversary to us!  What a fun, awesome, sweet year.  We spent the weekend on a little romantic get-a-way in Atlanta.  There were so many things I wanted to see/do there so we just made a weekend of it!

First stop Saturday - the GA Aquarium.

The otters - always my favorite!

 

Next stop - World of Coca-Cola

The highlight of the attraction was sampling the coke products from all around the world!

We had a hearty lunch at the well-known Varsity

Then it was off to the Margaret Mitchell House (really an apartment) where she wrote over 90% of Gone with the Wind.

We ended the evening with a romantic dinner at Bone's in Buckhead.  Awesome steak!

 

  

Day 2 started out with a Behind the Scenes Tour of CNN!

What a cool view!  Who knew they had the world record for the longest free-standing escalator??
 

Posing in front of the CNN building.

After we finished downtown, we moved back to Buckhead to check out the Atlanta History Center.  It was really neat to see all of the items pertaining to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Loved touring the beautiful, historic Swan House!

Swan House was recently in the Hunger Games movie!

This is actually the front of the home. 

But alas, our weekend had to come to an end.  Once we got home, we sampled our year-old wedding cake!  Neither of us could remember what flavor the top tier was!  It tasted okay - def. not as wonderful as it was a year ago!  I think I'm just excited to finally have that space back in my freezer!!  Here's to Year 2! XoXo

May Progress Toward Goals

Well, here we are, halfway through 2014!  

One week from our one year anniversary - amazing!  Bittersweet how fast it goes.  What a 

wonderful year we have been blessed with though!

As I've been doing my little personal goal "challenge" this year, a word dawned on me this weekend, BALANCE.  That's what this has really shown me!  My little goal challenge doesn't even take into account all of the other THINGS I want/need to do each day, just things I want to do. 

So, while I didn't get any scrapbooking done in May, I did go to Gatlinburg/Dolly Wood twice, celebrated my mom's 60th birthday, Adam's 30th Birthday, spent Memorial Day in Michigan, got our first floor of the house repainted, had a yard sale AND deep cleaned most of the first floor of the house ... and it looks AWESOME.  Below is a preview of the "Keeping Room" (only in the South) - OH and it was also a big moment for us in May because after 3+ years of living here, we took down Henderson's crate!!!  It really freed up some space and allowed me to move around the furniture and turn it into an office type space more or less.  Love the look of it!  Our diplomas were on that wall behind the rocker but for now, I'm enjoying the blank wall.   

 

1.  Only buy the absolute necessary toiletries/cosmetics/etc
Used up a few more items this month!  Plus, I caved and purchased some lip products from Sephora because I re-discovered ebates and HAD to try it out.  I can really tell a difference in my bathroom cabinets though; my stash is slowly starting to thin out!

2.  No more magazine subscriptions (unless they are free).  My goal is to finish reading the backlog of magazines in the living room and then start on my actual book collection!  My goal is 1-2 books per month.  

Read 2 book and a pile of magazines (still have a pile to go)!

 3.  At least one blog entry a week.  

Missed this one... only made it on here once!  Maybe if we had some rainy days :-)

 

 

4.  Use the elliptical that's literally just  accumulating spider webs in the basement -- get in 20-30 minutes a day on the elliptical and walk Henderson 1-2 times  a week.

January - 56.53 miles 

February - 64.57 miles 

March - 62.27 miles

April - 46.23 miles

May - 68.84 miles - did a ton of walking in Michigan!

 

 

5.  Less eating out at work.  My goal is to only eat out 2-3 times a week.  

Still doing well with this goal!  Haven't really seen any changes in weight but at least I'm not spending the money on fast food, etc. 

 

 6.  Since I beat my scrapbook page goal for 2013, I think I am going to go with ... 300 pages for 2014.  
Still hoping to get back track on scrapbooking sooner rather than later, especially since I have a beautiful organized room to scrapbook in!  It's all about BALANCE! 

April Progress Toward Goals

Well, here we are, mid-May!  Tomorrow is my sweet husband's 30th birthday!  We were such youngsters when we met :) (not really, but he was 25!) - time is just going so fast.  Love the life we have together.  There are so many little things everyday that just make me smile - so thankful to have him in my life!  Not to mention, he got me not one, but two, bouquets of flowers, for Mother's Day, from the dog. ;-)

 

I'm still on my "personal goal" quest-- here are my updates for April:

 

1.  Only buy the absolute necessary toiletries/cosmetics/etc

Used up quite a few products in April - anyone else notice that the Bath and Body Works hand soap seems to last forever?  This scent was the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and I LOVE it.  I also used up the Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel - was ready to see it go!  Still like the scent just ready for a change.   

I really enjoyed the baby cakes baked blush palette.  There were 4 colors in this set from Laura Geller and it lasted a long time.  It just wasn't very easy to travel with because of the size.  The colors were Sugar Free Raspberry, Pink Grapefruit, Golden Apricot and Sunswept.  LOVED mixing the Golden Apricot and Sunswept together - would probably repurchase just those 2 colors in the future.    

Also used up a purple sephora eyeliner - probably would not repurchase and a few other misc items.  

 

2.  No more magazine subscriptions (unless they are free).  My goal is to finish reading the backlog of magazines in the living room and then start on my actual book collection!  My goal is 1-2 books per month.  

Read 2 magazines and 3 Mary Higgins Clark Books.  Seriously, love her books!  I did some across some MHC books for really cheap at a yard sale so I indulged and bought them, couldn't resist!     

 3.  At least one blog entry a week.  

I only did 2 in April :-( 

 

 

4.  Use the elliptical that's literally just  accumulating spider webs in the basement -- get in 20-30 minutes a day on the elliptical and walk Henderson 1-2 times  a week.

January - 56.53 miles 

February - 64.57 miles 

March - 62.27 miles

April - 46.23 -- TOTALLY fell off the wagon.  I'm not even sure what happened in April, esp since the weather was better!!!  At least I have no where to go but up for May.  Sigh.  

 

 

5.  Less eating out at work.  My goal is to only eat out 2-3 times a week.  

Still doing well with this goal!  Haven't really seen any changes in weight but at least I'm not spending the money on fast food, etc. 

 

 6.  Since I beat my scrapbook page goal for 2013, I think I am going to go with ... 300 pages for 2014. 
I only did 6 pages in April.  That being said, my Mom and Grandma were in town the weekend of my birthday and we worked in my Grandma's old family pictures some more.  Not sure how many pages we actually got completed.  

 

How are your New Year Resolutions/Goals going?!

Quick Clean-Out

Just dropping by to share a quick clean-out project from last night!  It seems like I have great plans to go home after work and clean-out different areas that have gotten out of hand but then when I actually make it home cleaning out is the last thing I want to do!  I'm planning to have a yard sale in two weeks so I'm trying to slowly make my way through the areas of our house!  Last night I tackled 3 areas - coat closet, cabinets in the keeping room and under my bathroom sink.  

Here's the awful/messy before:

 And the after! 

That whole top shelf on the right is hair products that have been accumulating!  Anyone else have one of those baskets?!  The space in front of the hair products holds a basket with all my "daily" items (deodorant, make up remover, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc) and I pop it back in after I get done using it each day.  The bottom drawer has clear containers that hold nail polishes, extra make-up remover products and travel size removers and in the front are all the samples I get from Sephora, etc.  I LOVE clear containers.  I'm on a mission to slowly replace all my baskets and bins with the clear ones from Bed Bath and Beyond and the Container Store. 

Hope you're all having a great week!

My little organizing buddy is always a huge help!

March Progress Toward Goals

How can it possibly be April already?!  I blinked and the first 3 months of 2014 are gone!  I do love April though, it's my favorite month.  Such a pleasant time of year - things are blooming, the smell of fresh grass and my birthday!  What's not to love?!

I'm still trekking right along on my personal goal challenge from New Years! 

    

 

 

 

1.  Only buy the absolute necessary toiletries/cosmetics/etc
Didn't use up quite as many products in March but alas, there were a few.  

1. TreSemme Conditioner - good riddance!  Bought this huge bottle at Sam's eons ago and am so glad to have this out of the shower and out of my way!
2. Bath & Body Works Brown Sugar & Fig Body Scrub - love this!  You can only get this scent at fall and this year I could only find it online - stores weren't carrying it.  I have noticed that the scent changes the longer you have the bottle, def. smells more plastic like the older it is.  
3. A new favorite lip product!  I will probably purchase lots more of the Tarte Lip Surgence products once I make a dent in the collection at my house.  This was the color "glitzy" and it was amazing!  So smooth, long lasting, not sticky, perfection!

 

2.  No more magazine subscriptions (unless they are free).  My goal is to finish reading the backlog  of magazines in the living room and then start on my actual book collection!  My goal is 1-2 books per month.  

Still loving the Mary Higgins Clark books! They have so many twists and turns.  I read "Deck the Halls" and "On the Street Where you Live" by her as well as "Summer Light" by Luanne Rice.  All 3 were good books that I would recommend.  I also caught up on 4 weeks of People.  Slowly making my way through the stack! 

 3.  At least one blog entry a week.  
Yeah.. didn't too hot on this one again for March.  We've just had so much company + my giant organization project that I still need to share!

4.  Use the elliptical that's literally just  accumulating spider webs in the basement -- get in 20-30 minutes a day on the elliptical and walk Henderson 1-2 times  a week.

January - 56.53 miles 

February - 64.57 miles 

March - 62.27 miles

 

I can't believe I didn't beat my February goal in March!  I've even been walking several days a week at work during lunch!   

5.  Less eating out at work.  My goal is to only eat out 2-3 times a week.  

  I am doing a lot better with this - I do eat out maybe once a week but smaller portions at least.  I've been planning my lunches ahead of time too so that helps with having something ready to go in the morning.  Loving walking during lunch on days when it's not too cold/too hot! 

 

 6.  Since I beat my scrapbook page goal for 2013, I think I am going to go with ... 300 pages for 2014. 
I completed 64 pages in March!  I'm all the way to September 2010.  This weekend I'll be working on the Labor Day Cruise Adam and I took. 

How are your New Year Resolutions/Goals going?!

Recipe Share - Crock Pot Beef Tips

My obsession with our Crock Pot continues!  Where has this been all my life?!  I swear I should have kept all THREE that we received as wedding gifts!  We have been sticking with just chicken but the last few weeks we ventured out and tried ham, pork and now beef tips.  I looked at about 50 different beef tip recipes and then sent Adam to the store.  He came home with 2-3 options, per ingredient.  So, we picked out a few, threw them in the Crock Pot and 8.5 hour later, dinner was served!

We will definitely be having this again.. and again!  Here's all you do:

• 2 lbs Beef Tips (we actually used beef "chunks" because that's all Publix had)
• 1 Can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 3/4 can water (only use 1/2 can of water if you want less gravy)
• 1 packet Lipton Dry Beef Onion Soup Mix

Throw in crockpot.  Cook on low 8-10 hours.  Enjoy!

February Progress Toward Goals

So yeah, it's been a while since I've blogged!  We have had SO much going on this month.  Adam's sister, brother-in-law and baby nephew were in town, my mom visited for 9 days and his parents have all been here as well!  My free time has been spent changing sheets, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and squeezing in laundry!  While my mom was here, we did undertake completely re-organizing my scrapbook room and I can't wait to share the final results!!! I have plenty of "before" pics I will share too that are just plain scary!!  

I am trying to stay on track with my "2014 personal goals" and keep them in the forefront of my thoughts!  Here's how I did for February (I'm lame, it's time for a March update!!  )-:

1.  Only buy the absolute necessary toiletries/cosmetics/etc
Still on track for this goal!  I used up quite a few products in February!  

• Purity facewash by Philosophy - I had already re-purchased this item on Black Friday - Sephora offers it for $10!  It lasts me forever too - this bottle lasted well over a year.  
• Quiver Layers bodywash by Scentsy - def. a favorite of mine.  Well, I did fall off the wagon and re-order this product in February for 2 reasons - 1) I thought it was being discontinued and 2) I got a good deal on it since I sell these products.
• Herbal Essences Shampoo - So long shampoo!! Will NOT be repurchasing.  Ever.
• Pantene Shampoo - I really like their products and feel like for the price it's a great deal.  I rotate this brand and would repurchase in the future.  Love the scent. 
• 2 Bamboo Pink Clinique Lip Sticks - love this but the color doesn't last long so you have to reapply 100 times a day.  
• Black Eyeliner by Stila - really like their eyeliner.  Twists up vs sharpening and doesn't smudge.  I do think it could "wear" longer though.     

2.  No more magazine subscriptions (unless they are free).  My goal is to finish reading the backlog  of magazines in the living room and then start on my actual book collection!  My goal is 1-2 books per month.  

No books this month due to limited time from all the company but I did crush 7 magazines!  I think these were my last "Cosmos" and "Real Simples".  I'll continue to receive/read People.  

 3.  At least one blog entry a week.  
Totally fell off the wagon on this one

4.  Use the elliptical that's literally just  accumulating spider webs in the basement -- get in 20-30 minutes a day on the elliptical and walk Henderson 1-2 times  a week.

So, for January, I walked 56.53 miles and for February I got 64.57 miles in!  Progress! 

5.  Less eating out at work.  My goal is to only eat out 2-3 times a week.  

I think I am doing a lot better with this - I do eat out 1-2 times a week but smaller portions at least.  I've been planning my lunches ahead of time too so that helps with having something ready to go in the morning.  

 6.  Since I beat my scrapbook page goal for 2013, I think I am going to go with ... 300 pages for 2014. 
I don't have an exact page count for February but I know it was a ton because I did ALL of my wedding pictures!!! It took 1.5 12x12 albums and I LOVE the way it turned out.  I'll share pics in a later post.  See why I didn't have reading/blogging time this month??? :-)

How are your New Year Resolutions/Goals going?!