Vodka = The Cure for Mondays

Greetings...I am coming to you from yet another vodka monday here in the new place.  I'll make this one short and sweet...I've had quite the day. 



So, as a cure for the Mondays, I soaked in the whirlpool tub (with the bubbles on) and tried relax.  Now I am laying in bed, catching up on all my blogs and enjoying these:



Vodka tonic...



My favorite show ever

  

And that's pretty much my evening....vodka and Felicity.  Call me crazy but I love the show (it's my all-time favorite), and I covet my DVD's of all 4 seasons.

Anyways, Happy Monday blog world :-)

Our Home - So far...

Sorry for the longer than normal blogging hiatus....I've been a busy 'lil girl.  Not only have we been working like dogs at our day jobs, I've been to Atlanta for a baby shower for my sister, Louisville for another baby shower for my sister, taken a trip to Keeneland, and we shot our engagement photos.  Oh, and did I mention that in the midst of all that....I moved in with the boy. 

So that's pretty much been my life.  Not only have we moved in together, but we've taken on about a million household projects as well, including painting pretty much every room, putting in new floors, and a litany of other projects that have or will take place over the next few months.  Needless to say, I've barely been able to string two thoughts together in the last couple weeks that don't involve either work, or household projects. 

Anyways, all that aside, I am pretty happy with what we have accomplished so far.  We still have some finishing touches to do on the floors and the bedrooms (I will show you those in a later post once they are done), but the kitchen and living room area of the house have come together nicely, and are basically done.  So without further ado, I figured I would share some pics with you of the before and after (some of the before pics I have posted already, but oh well...).

The Before

The furniture is pushed to the middle of the room for paint preparation...notice the before carpet.

The After

pictures hung, new floors....it's getting there!

Even the dogs are tired from watching us work!

An old iron sewing stand turned into a table with a piece of glass....displaying some of the pics I re-framed.

The Before

The fireplace was a total early-'90's eye sore.  Oh, and can we talk about the blue paint?

The After

Painted it brick red and painted the gold on the fireplace black...a big improvement!

The Before

Our kitchen table area...notice the before builder-grade light fixture...

The After

Changed the table, changed the chairs, and most importantly, we hung a great iron chandelier....it's one of my favorite improvements in the whole room.

Our makeshift bar area...

I don't like wine or anything....

The Before

Notice the before bar stools....

The After

And the after....you can't see them too well, but we painted them the same fireplace red and recovered the seat.  They look great!  Next project....countertops and new appliances!

Our coffe bar :-)

The transition into the living room.

So that's what we've been up to!  Although there is still much more to do, I am hoping that things will slow down enough and get back to normal so I can get back to blogging on a regular basis. 

Anyways, last but not least....I'll leave you with a sneak peek of some of our engagement photos.  Our photographer really is AH-MAZE-ING.  I can't wait to see how the rest turned out!

Night blog friends...have a great week!



Vodka Mondays

So, today I've decided to try out something new.  There's not really a name for it, and it's not really anything new or special, but I've decided to call it "Vodka Mondays".  While my normal go to, wind down, beverage of choice during the week is typically a glass of vino (red or white, I care not), I've come to the conclusion that wine is no longer adequate for Mondays.  For Mondays I need something a 'lil stronger.  True story.  So I've decided my new thing is Vodka Mondays.  Here is the recipe:

1 The fixins!

I had no limes, but improvised with Rose's lime juice.  Well hello vodka tonic...how I've missed you!

2 Ummm...ME!  (Duh)

3 La computadora

I threw in an apple spice candle for good measure

So those are the main ingredients for Vodka Mondays.  Although, clearly, if you were to participate yourself, you would be providing your own vodka and ingredient 2 would be you, and you would be using your computer for number 3....unless you live in Lexington, and if so then feel free to come drink vodka with me.  For serious.  So now that I have all the necessary measures in place, this is the part where I just have blog vomit on all of you and discuss all things random, big and small.  Here goes:

-In a few minutes I will be faced with the inevitable "What should I have for dinner?" question.  Earlier this evening I took stock of the contents of my fridge and am pretty sure my dinner options are:

1. Salad

2. Meatballs

3. Salad with meatballs

-What the crap are they referring to when they say "pumped up kicks" anyways ?  The only thing that comes to mind are these...

Umm...hello!  Does anyone else remember the Reebok Pump?  Are these cool again?  Everytime I turn on the radio they're singin' about em...

-If there is anything more distracting than a shiny diamond, it is a diamond that don't shine.  I have been seriously annoyed with how unbelievably dirty my ring gets.  Several people suggested cleaning it with toothpaste, but I am not sure it is as clean as I get it with dish soap.  Any recommendations?

Not clean enough!  How can I get my Tacori to shine???

-Has anyone yet invented something that allows you to double yourself during the day and send your doppleganger to work while the real you stays home and naps and watches old episodes of SATC and Will & Grace?  It's been a while since I've had a moment to check in with what's going on in the world, so I figured I would ask whether that invention exists yet.  Y'all would let me know, right?

-Last weekend I spent Thursday-Sunday in Atlanta with all the women in my family.  We were celebrating my Grandma's 70th birthday and my sister's first baby shower.  On Friday evening I took off my scarf that I had worn all day and draped it across a chair.  My grandma put it on and wore it for a couple hours.  When I wore it to work last week, I noticed it smelled like her.  It was the best day.

All the gals...Cali girls, Texas sweeties, Georgia Peaches, and Kentucky Belles.

-Is this a cry for help?

No judgement, right??

-I am seriously missing these gals right now...

Sometimes life gets in the way of all the fun things you'd rather be doing with your best gals.  Praying things slow down soon!

-Sometimes I think this guy just spends all his free time thinking up ways to drive me bananas...literally.  Sometimes we wake up and I'm almost positive he thought up things he could do to push my buttons in his sleep.  Good thing he's super cute and I love him....it tends to work in his favor.

Why does he always look like he's up to something?!!

Anyways, I really have no more to say on this inaugural Vodka Monday.  What's your vodka drink of choice?  Do you despise Mondays as much as I do?  What random blog vomit are you wanting to share tonight???

Fall Faves ~ The non-fattening kind

Okay, so it's no secret that fall is my favorite season....mostly because I already told you that fall is my favorite season.  There's only one problem with that...fall tends to make me a bit of a whale.  Seriously though.  It's like my body gravitates toward these sweet treats that emerge in the fall and i think subconsciously tries to create a layer of extra padding to get me through the winter.  Not this year though.  This year I bought a wedding dress....and upon buying said dress, I was told "Now, you can lose all the weight you want, but you can't gain any weight."  Okay great.  No problem.  Losing weight is soooo easy for me (insert sarcasm here). 

So, with that careful reminder ringing in my ears everytime I shove another slice of pumpkin bread into my mouth, I had to start thinking about fall treats that aren't so bad for me.  For starters, I love me a 'lil Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.  But guess what...those are terrible for you.  Sad but true.  So, in place of my latte, I found this little box of deliciousness:



That's right...it's Pumpkin Spice Tea.  And it's delightful.  I've been devouring these during the workday like nobody's business.  I like mine with one equal packet, and one shot of creamer.  And that makes it about 30 calories.  I shit you not.  Try it now...thank me later.

Next up is a little treat that I wait for all year.  That's right dear readers...it's the Honeycrisp Apple...and it's back. 



Seriously friends...if you have not had one of these...I am truly saddened for you.  Please stop reading this post and run up to Kroger where they are $1.99/lb right now and buy yourself one.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.  Just go.  Again, you can thank me later.  Not only are they 100% fruity goodness...they are also huge!  Pretty sure the one I ate today was bigger than my whole stomach.  Put a little peanut butter on it and you'll be full for 6 hours.  Plus, they are only in season in the fall, which makes them extra special.

If you are looking for a savory autumn treat, look no further than the acorn squash.  It's pretty much the easiest thing to cook and and accompanies whatever protein you are having for dinner beautifully.  I typically cook mine for about 45 minutes face down in some water and then add a little brown sugar and butter at the end.  A couple teaspoons of brown sugar is only 30 calories, and I buy low-cal butter with calcium.  It is sweet and savory and awesome.  Oh, and did I mention that they are easy?  Yeah I did...but I'll say it again.  You literally cut them in half and cook them.  I usually take a shower and watch something on my DVR while they're going.  Plus they make the whole house smell Ah-MAZE-Ing!



Want a delicious fall breakfast?  How about some plain oatmeal with some brown sugar and apple slices and dare I say some pecans thrown on top?  I do dare.  I do.  Since I don't have a lot of time in the morning, I get the plain oatmeal packets and warm them in the microwave.  I get the generic brand since it's cheaper....it tastes the same as quaker oats.  Promise.  Throw a little brown sugar, apples, and pecans on top and let the sugar melt while you pour yourself some milk.  Nevermind that I would eat brown sugar by the spoonful...that's beside the point.  This is a seriously good breakfast because not only is oatmeal great for your heart, but it's a good carb to have in the morning that will keep you full until lunch. 



Okay, so don't think I haven't forgotten about all of the yummy goodness sweet treats that are EVERYWHERE during this time of year.  I have not.  Well, guess what...a little splurge here and there is totally kosher (cut to me eating no less than 50 ginger snaps covered in pumpkin dip at my sister's baby shower this weekend).  But on the whole, I do my best to avoid them on the day to day.  That doesn't mean that I can't fill my house with the scent of yummy goodness.  I use the same logic here as I do when someone brings a box of Krispy Kremes into work...I can open the box and smell them, and that will be enough.  Let's face it...nobody ever got too big for their jeans over-smelling. 

 

Okay, so last but not least...and this is a good one.  One of the best things about fall is being able to be outdoors.  Not only is it gorgeous outside, but it is that perfect time of year when it's not too hot and not too cold.  If you're not a runner, it's a great time to try it out.  If you hate to run, go for a walk.  Yesterday I took my monster (the dog) for a 4-mile walk.  It was the best part of my day.  Today me and the boy ran 4 miles.  It was exhausting, but it was 35 minutes that felt great and it was a wonderful way to de-stress after a long workday.  Plus it's great time together that we get to talk.  And seriously...is there anything better than the bright orange, yellows, reds, and browns that are everywhere right now?  Umm, I think not.  And while I find running past obnoxious kids on skateboards quite annoying, I do love to see all the fall decor on all the houses in my neighborhood.  Just lovely. 



Anyways, that's just a few of the healthy things I am currently enjoying this fall.  After all, fall is by far the most fashionable of all the seasons, and I'll be damned if my legs get too big to fit into my skinny jeans and my zip up boots just because of one too many slices of pumpkin pie :-)

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish



Steve Jobs.  An innovator?  Yes.  A visionary?  Definitely.  Someone who changed the world?  Without question.  I am incredibly saddened to hear the news of his passing and even though I didn't know him personally, I cannot help but feel an uneasy and inexplicable mourning over who without question is the outward thinker that spanned not only mine, but my parent's generation as well. 

As news of his death filtered throughout the world and throughout my family, I sat glued to my twitter page, remarking to myself the impact that his death had...and I'm not even a Mac user...or an iPhone user.  "I know it's silly, but I feel like I've lost a friend," my Dad said.  It's amazing to me think upon how the evolution of Apple has transcended my parents generation and run on into my own.  Nearly the same age as my parents, Steve Jobs and Apple followed my parents' careers with the evolution of the personal computer...and it guided my childhood as I remember sitting in the computer lab at Crestwood Elementary and Playing Oregon Trail on the computer with the colorful fruit on it. 

It wasn't just the computer lab though...it was everything.  I remember watching "Pirates of Silicon Valley" with my parents when I was 15 and thinking "yeah, Bill Gates rocks!" while quickly forgetting who paved the way for him.  Though I have never been one to jump on the technology bandwagon (I much prefer to spend my extra money on a great pair of boots than the latest phone/tablet/iPod)...I admire the impact that one man's ideas has had on my life.  It may have begun with Oregon Trail, but it evolved as my eyes lit up for the Thanksgiving showing of Toy Story when I was 11, and the Sunday nights I spent watching Carrie Bradshaw type "and then I got to thinking...." on her Mac, and the hilarity of seeing The Dunphy's scramble to find an iPad 2 for Phil's birthday on Modern Family, and the peaceful feeling I get when I step out for a run with my iPod in my ear on a perfect fall afternoon. 

As sad as I am about Steve's passing and what it may mean for Apple, I find myself more compelled to mourn the idea of a man who found what he loved to do...and changed the world doing it. 

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. - Stanford Speech, 2005

It makes me wonder...am I doing what I love?  Can I challenge myself to do better?  And the answer is yes...I can.  I've read many of Steve's articles and his mantras are words to live by.  But it's when he speaks about what he does and what he wants for his legacy that is truly inspiring.  But I think it's these words that I appreciate the most...

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. ... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. ... They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

It's an amazing legacy that Steve has left...and even though I have no doubt that Apple will continue to thrive, it will always feel a little less special now that one of it's founding fathers is gone. 

RIP Steve Jobs...you will be missed.

Stay hungry.  Stay foolish.





Somebody Digs my Blog!

Hey bloggy friends!  So, it's no secret that I've been a pretty awful blogger lately.  Life has been a busy mess (in all good ways) and I cannot find the time to put thoughts on my computer.  I know...for shame.  I am literally so excited to take a nap in a month or two and curl up with a good book.  Somebody remind me what that was like because I do not remember.  Okay, great thanks. 

This past weekend was another busy one...we spent Saturday night in Louisville where K and me had drinks with one of my oldest friends (yeah, friends for like 17 years...) and her man.  It was so great getting to catch up and have a couple of glasses of wine.  Saturday my mom and I dragged the boy to the St. James Art Fair in Louisville and I oggled over all kinds of art that would be perfect for our house but I couldn't afford.  Boo :-(....then I dragged the boy to the "potential caterer" that will actually be referred to as "the caterer" from now on because I am definitely going with them.  My food is going to rock.  I just know it.

Anyways, Sunday I met up with my two best gals, Whit and Miranda, and they helped me pick out a bridesmaid dress.  Yay!  I love, love, love crossing things off my wedding to-do list.  And every good bride knows you can't really move forward with your colors until you know what the bridesmaid dresses will be.  Duh.  And let's be real...my dresses are gonna be adorable, and my b-maids are gonna be hottt!

Now...down to the real meat of this particular blog, which is this little bit of news: Somebody digs my blog.  And by somebody, I mean Elizabeth at Life with Elizabeth.  A few weeks ago she gifted me with this little "I Dig Your Blog" award and I have shamefully not had a chance to properly thank her. 



So as part of the award, I have to do three things.  Number one: Thank the person who gave it to me.  Duh!  Elizabeth is just adorable, and so is her blog so check it out.  In my head, I have won many awards, but this is the first actual award, so that makes it the best one.  Thanks Elizabeth!!

Step two is to give you 3 facts about me.  Although it does not specify whether they are meant to be "interesting" facts about me....which is good because I am fairly boring.

Fact 1: I have never been out of the country.  Yeah...'tis true.  I am an international virgin.  I have never been to Mexico, I have never been to Canada...I've been pretty much nowhere.  (And you thought I was lying when I said I was boring...ha!).  The boy and I have thrown out a few honeymoon ideas that take place abroad, but in most of those scenarios I am 10 lbs thinner and much richer...so we'll see how that pans out for me between now and the wedding.

Fact 2: I love scarves.  No really, I do.  I probably have at least 15 scarves (I feel like that's a lot).  I would have more, but I have prohibited myself from buying any for the last year or so.  I wear them year round too.  They go with everything. Promise.

Fact 3: I hate it when people read my blog over my shoulder as I'm writing it (Hint hint to my fiance).  He loves to come and try to get a sneak preview before it's posted.  Umm, that's not allowed.  He told me tonight that as my future husband, he thinks he should get some inside scoop as to what I'm writing about.  So tonight I told him that I was talking about this sassy award and needed him to help me think of 3 facts about myself.  This is the convo we had:

Me: I need you to help me think of 3 facts about myself.

K: Hmmm....let me think....(long silence).  When was your first car wreck?

Me: I've never been in a car wreck (umm, is a car wreck a right of passage or something?  Wtf kind of suggestion is that).

K: You have a cute butt.  Can you right about that?

Me: Nevermind. 

So, yeah...that conversation happened and perfectly illustrates why we are going back to the old way of doing things which involves not enlisting his help and letting him read it when it has been published (not over my shoulder).

Okay so step 3 is the most important one because it's where I get to tell 5 other gals that I dig their blog too and they can pass the award on themselves.  Yay!  So here they are....

1. Rachel at Nothing Rhymes with Rachel

2. Laura at Boots and Pearls on a Texas Girl

3. Jess at The Kentucky Priss

4. Jaimie at everyday J

5. Erin at Living in Yellow

So that's that blog friends...go check out those other blogs I dig, ya'll.