Be Proud!

After a hard workout yesterday I so wasn't feeling like working out today.  I just wanted to nap with Aria or read some more.  But I got up and worked harder today than I even did yesterday-- the whole time telling myself if I did it now I wouldn't have to later or worse I wouldn't regret it tomorrow.  I told myself at the beginning of the week I would push myself harder this week and so far I'm doing it.  Monday I was down on myself because I haven't lost ten lbs yet and by now I should have but I've slacked the past two weeks in both eating & working out.  This week I'm determined and yesterday and today I'm feeling better because even if Im not down 10 yet I am at least seeing a weight I haven't seen in a long time.  I'm not even close to that weight that I was when I started in January.  I am down 8.4lbs and I know I'm healthier.  I'm not where I want to be but I'm closer and I'm still working to my goals! 

Aria's First Time in the Snow!!

Tuesday into Wednesday we got a pretty decent snow storm and when we woke up Wednesday I just wanted to go outside!  I had to go out anyways to shovel off the deck, we could barely open the door, and then shovel a path and a spot in the yard so that the dog could go out to do his business.

Mike told me not to worry about doing out front, that he would do it.  Thank heavens because that snow was good packing snow with ice on top of it and it was heavy!  
I decided that while he went out to shovel I would take Aria out for a little bit.  She has never played in the snow before and I've really been wanting to let her but since we don't have snowpants for her I've never wanted to let her go out.  We still don't have snowpants for her because I have tried finding a cheap pair and can't find any!  I don't want to spend much on a pair when she won't even be able to wear them much and next year she won't fit.  Maybe I'll get a pair when they go on clearance for her to have for next year!

Anyhow, I decided she didn't need snow pants.  I could just put a few layers on her and then the heavy winter coat that has been sitting in her room (aka, our storage room for the time being).  My cousin had given it to me but it's too bulky for her to really wear because winter coats and carseats don't go together! We have mittens for her and a hat of course (Although, she won't wear her own she has to wear daddys!)

I put three layers on her bottom.. a pair of leggings, tucked into her boots.  A pair of sweatpants and then a pair of jeans over top of the other two layers.  I put a thick long sleeve shirt on her and then her big heavy winter coat and out we went to play in the snow.

I wasn't sure how she was going to like it.  At first she just stood there.  The neighbor was out with his snowblower and she was obssesed!  She kept staring, pointing and saying "wow" and "what's that?"  so cute!

Eventually she started walking around and touching the snow, even trying to eat it a few times.

SHE LOVED IT!

When her little nose started to get red I decided it was time to come in but girlfriend wasn't having it and cried.

I of course took picture to document this first time experience.

 "What's that"  & "Wow" over the snow blower.

 tasting the snow.

 playing & watching the neighbor

 watching the neighbor.

 her first snowball, haha.

look at that smile!  she loved it!

I only wish we had a sled that I could have pulled her around on but I guess that'll be an experience for next year!

Playing outside with her just made me so much more excited for spring and summer!  She is going to be an absolute blast this year!  She is at such a fun age.  She will love going to the park and just playing outside!  

Chicken Tacos

Last night we tried something new for dinner and it was delicious.  I think it's a new favorite in this house and it was SO EASY to make!

I'm not much of a cook, thats for sure.  And I'm a really picky eater.  My favorite meat is chicken so when we try new meals it usually is something to do with chicken.  I'm also in love with making crockpot meals so a lot of the new meals we try are made in the crockpot and almost always something we love.

These chicken tacos were so good that we just had them last night and I already can't wait to have them again!!


I wish I would have taken pictures to share, but I didn't.

I'm sharing this recipe for any one who may read this and has never tried these.


Ingredients:
Chicken (place in crockpot)

2c chicken broth
1 packet taco seasoning (we use oretega)
1 packet dry ranch dressing
mix these three ingredients together and pour into crockpot over chicken.

soft taco shells
whatever taco toppings you enjoy.
we used taco cheese and sour cream.

Cook on slow for about 3 hours then rip the chicken up and make your taco!


Chicken Tacos were approved by both the babe and fiance!

Wedding Inspiration

In this day and age brides are SO LUCKY!  Why?  Because we have Pinterest, of course!

I thought it would be fun to share some of my wedding inspiration in a post, so that is exactly what I'm doing!

I'll start by saying that the colors of our wedding are going to be coral & navy blue with pearls tied into it all.


BOUQUETS

 I love how the pearls are tied into this bouquet.  I definitely want to do the same with ours.

 In this bouquet I like how there are two more little flowers in the center of the main flower.  I'm not sure if we'll do this or not but it's a possibility.  And then of course the center would be a pearl rather than a rhinestone.

I like this idea for my bouquet.  I'm thinking I could possibly add some paper flowers in with it but also may just look fine having me with a bouquet like this and my girls with the paper flower bouquets.  Pearls will somehow be added into the bouquets that my girls carry as well.

Centerpieces

 This is for sure going to be one of our centerpieces.  I love everything about it.  The vases will probably be a bit different but I love the sugar & the pearls.

A second possibility is this.  I'm not sure how much I want to incorporate flowers in the whole thing or even how many flowers we are going to want to make since the ONLY flowers will be paper flowers.  However, I think a bouquet of paper flowers in a vase filled with pearls could be really pretty.

Last thing I'm thinking is something similar to those candle jars.  

I'm thinking the flower vase will be in the center of each table with the other two alternating on each side.  However to keep costs down I may not go with all three of these.

For the doorways & maybe at each end of the wedding party table (& if there is anywhere else I can add them in) I really like these.  I'd add white lights to them, hang pearls off of the branches & also try and add pearls at the bottom because I'm not loving the moss.

ATTIRE

Bowtie & Suspenders for my little ring bearer?  I think so. 

 A tutu dress for my flower girl (my daughter, Aria).  I'm thinking the leotard part will be coral, the tutu part will be white and long since it's a March wedding.  Then we'll add a navy bow at the waist.  She will also be wearing a chunky bead necklace & bracelet that looks like pearls.

This is the look I want for the guys.  I love that it's not as formal as black tuxes.  I also really like just the vests with no jacket.

I want my girls to be in alternating colors-- navy blue, coral, navy blue, coral.  I will probably let my maid of honor decide what color she is in and then it'll go from there.

CAKE

 I love this stand and think it would be super easy to make.

 Then for the actual cake, I don't want fondant but I definitely want to incorporate pearls so I'm thinking this or edible pearls like on the one below.

Then for the topper we will get a letter "S" with pearls like this one!

EXTRAS

 A wooden "S" for our guest book so that we can hang it and see it all the time rather than store a stupid book away to never look at again.  Obvs it won't be gold.

Instead of gold glitter, I'm going to do blue.  This will be my something blue!

So there it is.  My wedding inspiration.  Obviously there is SO much more to wedding planning but these are the basic ideas I have and we will go from there!  I am so excited.  

I know this was a lengthy post but I hope it was enjoyable!  I just love talking wedding so this was so much fun!

Until next time!

Xoxo

That was a failure

Guess who said that they were going to blog a lot in January and didn't?  Yep.  Me!

Complete failure!

I shall try harder in the month of February. 

Michael and I have set a wedding date for March 14, 2015.  Our 5 year anniversary!  I've already started planning because I'm a HUGE procrastinator and need more time than most people to plan things.  Also I feel with more time we will be able to save up and afford it a lot easier.

It's not going to be a big extravagant wedding.  It's not going to cost a fortune.  Theres not going to be 200 people there.  It's going to be simple because thats the type of person I am.  Really, its the kind of couple that we are! 

I am SO excited.  I've already attended a bridal show last weekend with my mom and my best friend/maid of honor, Aly.  I'm so excited to go dress shopping although it will be a few more months before we do that.  My mom wants to wait until May because she's going to try and train for and run a 5k in April.

So theres a quick update.  I hope to post a lot more about the wedding planning and everything.  I also would love to do some videos on our wedding planning process so if you'd like to see those feel free to subscribe to my youtube channel! 

Until next time- xoxo