The Best DAY ever

This -is- a recap of my Valentine's Day, but DON'T click away just yet!

 Big news down below. 

The day started out fine.

My Mom and dad got me a snazzy snuggie,

and a super pretty necklace. 

 I painted my nails for the holiday. 

Then, the awesome started. 

I got this text, which made me cry. 

My awesome Vday present is PERFECT. 

Then Mike surprised me with beautiful tulips. 

Then, I got a phone call from the company I interviewed for. 

I GOT THE JOB!

My parents, Mike and I skyped and cheers-ed with wine to celebrate. 

Long after the East Coast went to sleep,

THIS happened. 

vDAY by teeller featuring crew neck sweatshirts

Shiva and I curled our happy little selves up, 

 with some wine and panda express (for me), 

toys and bones (for her), 

and watched movies til late in the night. 

Ok, she slept. 

and slept some more..

But, Mike comes home tonight, and we have an AWESOME weekend planned. 

Yesterday was pretty spectacular. 

Come to think of it, my life is pretty spectacular. 

2012

2012 will forever be remembered 

as one of the best, 

and busiest, 

years of my life. 

---

January

We saw American Idiot. 

We celebrated Mike's birthday. 

We got a touch of wanderlust. 

We hung out with old friends, and celebrated new ones. 

February

We had the first special lady weekend. 

We painted & watched football.

We celebrated April's engagement, Valentine's Day, 

the science of wine, and the love of painting

March

We celebrated St. Patricks Day,

 our Anniversary, (where we won trivia)

We enjoyed our weekends and weekdays

April

We celebrated Eastover,

ate chili, drank wine, and went to DC.

Read More: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

My knee and I broke up (again.)

May

We watched some baseball,

celebrated Mother's Day, and my Birthday. 

Mike went to China

We went to Asheville. 

Read More: (1) (2) (3) 

June

We saw concerts & went painting.

We went to Durham.

We found Shiva.  

Here's our updated family :) 

July

We brewed, 

I went to New Orleans, & hardly blogged about it. 

We went to the Outer Banks, 

introduced Mama and Daddy to Shiva

and crossed a goal off my list. 

Mike interviewed in California. 

August

We went to Beer, Bourbon and BBQ,

 and celebrated Raleigh Beer Week. 

We traveled to New York and announced our move,

September

We went house hunting and succeeded.

We said our goodbyes to Raleigh. 

Mike drove to Cali and I got real.

We celebrated weddings, & packed.

October.   

We went to Europe,

and packed some more. 

I got engaged to my best friend. 

I went to Charleston for April's Bachelorette.  

I quit my job, went to Charlotte, 

and made one last trip home. 

November

We went to April's AMAZING wedding. 

We traveled 3000 miles across this AMAZING country. 

We had our first California weekend. 

We went home to NY for Thanksgiving.

December

We said goodbye to Grandpa Joe & Mike went to Brazil. 

I decorated for Hanukkah & Christmas. 

We went to Ikea. 

We traveled back to NC for Christmas. 

We were overwhelmed by the presents. 

Mike's family came to visit US the week after. 

We celebrated NYE on our couch, in pajamas. 

HELLOOOOOOO 2013.  

You're gonna have to be pretty spectacular to beat 2012. 

I have faith in you though 

Thankful

Source: Uploaded by user via Terri on Pinterest

I've talked before, at length, about how thankful I am for my wonderful parents, my fantastic fiance and his fabulous family, but since it IS Thanksgiving, I thought about how it's important to be thankful for the little things.

I don't mean food, a house, health or any of the other BIG things that I am so grateful for.

 I mean, LITTLE things, the garage door opener or the braids on my rainbow sandals. 

I'm thankful for the rosemary and pine trees that surround our yard, that ensure Shiva always smells like a happy holiday dog, no matter how muddy her paws.

I'm thankful for a man who eats kids cereal and watches QVC with me.

I'm thankful for blog readers who don't judge us for that...

I'm thankful for the headbutts from Olive and Oi that always seem..too strong.

I'm thankful for glitter and paint, and the creativity to make something out of them.

I'm thankful for jewelry cleaner. I didn't think my bling could be blingier, but I was wrong.

I'm thankful for turkey, wine, cheese and the promise of candy.

I'm thankful for GPS and airlines that mean I can always get home.

<3 

another day, another destiny

can you sense a theme yet?

Anyway, while I'm scurrying around working, cleaning, packing, caring for animals
and meeting some of my lovely blogger friends, content here is going to be light. ish.

I fully plan on tickling your fancy with tons of pics when I get a chance to get caught up.
 READ: next week/the week after. :)

For now. Let's discuss two quotes, shall we?

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com

This..startled me. I find myself having less and less time and yet, my life is so full. I have made so many new friends from blogging, plus IRL friends, (crazy right?). Did I mention that I LOVE my parents for all they do, and Mike's family for being so kind, and Mike for being..well...him. More later on that.. Maybe during all of this moving/packing/crazy, I need to stop and soak up everything around me more.

and:

Source: cinsaab.tumblr.com

If you would have asked me about being alone 6, or even 2, months ago, I would swear that I hated it. What I really hated, was being lonely. Once upon a time, I lived in a house with my thenboyfriend, his BFF and the BFF's girlfriend, and it was the loneliest I've ever been. I was surrounded by people, pets, and clutter, and I hated every single second. Today, Mike is 3000 miles away, yet, I'm NO WHERE near lonely. In fact, I hardly ever feel lonely. I'd rather stay at home with my dog and cats and watch a movie than go out sometimes, and that..is new for me. I still wish Mike was here, and I'd still rather be in the same room as someone, but I'm learning that the real -me- likes some quiet by-myself time.

I will, however, never admit to anything that I just wrote.
=======

Tomorrow brings you a normal "Friday Hodgepodge" and even a "Shiva Saturday"
(well, two days from now brings you that..I can't give you everything at once) 
and next week ( squared!)  is EUROPE!
I hope you like it here guys, cause I do.
The ride's bumpy, but super cool.


What about you? Am I the only one learning about myself at 26?
Wasn't I supposed to "find myself" in college?

I am blessed (Friday Mashup too!)

After Wednesday's post,

I was obviously troubled.

But, I wanted to tell you (and remind myself)

all the ways that I'm blessed.

I have -the- best parents in the history of best parents. They are always there to offer support if I need it, advice if I need it, or just a shoulder, if I need it. I can't count the times I laugh out loud while on the phone with my Dad because he's being silly, or how much better it feels to actually call mom when you need her. 

side note: Mom, is it ok if I cry when I eat your biscuits and gravy next month? Is it ok if I make you make them for me in Cali? ditto for the cornbread(andgravy) macaroni and potatoes...yeah, and treet meat. Please? Maybe peanut butter and cheese too, though, I'll just eat Dad's.

Mike is quite simply wonderful. I'm completely myself and it's great. There are no secrets, only love. I've truly learned what it's like to have someone who puts my happiness or "our" happiness over his own, and combined with my desire to do the same, it just clicks. Also, you make football bets with me and let me watch Disney movies and sing crazy songs in the car. 

Mike's parents are some of the warmest, kindest individuals I've met. They've always made me feel welcome and important and part of the conversation and it's truly made my life easier and better. Ditto on his grandparents, sisters, and extended family. The guy really hit the jackpot on the whole lot of em. 

 

Finally, do I need to tell you how lucky I am to have the friend's that I do? I'm not going to hunt for photos of all of them, mostly because that's ridiculous. But, whether it's 2am and we're chattering on ghcat, or I need help picking out a dress, or I need cupcake ideas or just to vent, they're there. I'll never stop being amazed at how easy the relationships are with these people, whether I've seen them a week ago or 5 years ago, as soon as we're back together, the conversations just flow and it's natural and wonderful. 

I have been blessed with much more than I deserve, and I am eternally grateful for it. 

Friday Hodgepodge

Let's just jump right in, shall we?


Dear Mike: Wow. I know that you left and that we're moving and that it's real and stuff and junk but, something about you actually PULLING IN to our new driveway makes me new levels of nervous. That said, Thank you so much for the things you have done to make this easier on me and the animals.
For example: Hearing your voice definitely made Shiva relax a bit after she got her tail stuck in the door, and I'm so greatful that those little calls of "Please talk to the dog," are met with "Ok, HIIIII SHIIISHIII" instead of "Shut up, I'm driving" Alsooo, buying me a boyfriend pillow and leaving your cologne behind was really sweet.

As was downloading an app that will let me see where you are and if you're moving. It gives me peace of mind that you aren't stuck in a ditch. I really appreciate that you understand that something that seems silly or too much to you actually makes me breathe a little easier and is worth the time.

Dear Shiva. I'm so sorry that you're sickly. AND that you miss Dad. AND that your tail got stuck in the door. I hope the peanut butter cookies make it better and the extra snuggles were at least somewhat helpful. However, please don't eat anything else that I love. Please? There were 4 other pairs of shoesin the basement and you ate my very favorite ones in the whole world?!

Lucky for you, you're cute. 

ish. 

Moving On:

Fun, Lovely nails courtesy of Julep and Essie.

Sasha, Mint Candy Apple, Ole Caliente.

Favorite Breakfast?
Mike's going away breakfast that consisted of Mimosas.

like a boss. 

Favorite PlanningThing:

Can I just tell you how excited I am to start decorating and arranging the new place. 

Even though I took 20photos, it wasnt enough, and I can't completely remember the place, but it hasnt stopped me from trying. Or planning. 

Nothing stops me from planning. 

LEAST Favorite Night:
Thursday, I worked a 12 hour day that was -rough- to say the least.
Get home around 820, let Shiva out of her crate
(which she'd been stuck in for 12 whole hours and didnt have an accident, sweet girl). 

Look at Shiva at 9:00 and she had eaten my favoritest shoes ever. (See Above) 
Why are they my favorite?
 When Mike and I first started dating, I was having a rough time with my job. One day after a particularly rough day, Mike picked them up and said that he would buy them and then whenever I was wearing them I would know that he was on my side.

Pizza gets delivered at 9:25, and the POWER GOES OUT AT 9:27. 

It finally came back on at 1am. 

In the meantime, I ate pizza by flashlight while charging up my phone using the 3 hour battery life on my computer. Which I then used to watch Hard Knocks. 

It'll be funny in a couple days. 

Favorite Heartwarming:
Shiva's silly and goofy, but after the power came back on she was super cuddly.
This set of photos is from Mike's last night, when she got in another cuddle mood,
but the chain of events is the same.
Stare down, LICK MY FACE OFF, snuggle into my armpit.

<3

Finally: 

This weeks Friday Fancies was "Autumn Lust List"

fall lust list by teeller featuring a cape coat

I'll take one of each please ;)


Tell me something good, lovelies!
Have a great weekend

11 years?

can't find a source, tell me if you can :)

Has it really been 11 years? 

Like everyone else in my generation, 

I remember where I was when we all heard the news. 

"Terrorists are attacking New York!"

was yelled down the hallway, met with "Shut up, Travis."

Halfway through Law Studies class, 

the principal told everyone to turn on the televisions. 

My heart broke.

I think that was the first time I felt such strong pain for people I never met. 

And every year, the lump in my throat comes back.

I had no ties to the city then, but it's deep in my soul now and one of it's own has stolen my heart. 

Just a quick reminder that everything constantly changes, 

a quick reminder to take it all in, 

a quick reminder to be thankful for the everyday. 

                                                                                         Source: Uploaded by user via Leah on Pinterest

Friday Favorites (and a letter or two)

I really don't know where to start this post. 

The overwhelming support from both IRL friends, blog friends and Facebook friends about our little announcement Wednesday has been fantastic. I so greatly appreciate it. Monday/Tuesday I was feeling very dark and low about the entire move and quite lonely, but it's the little high-fives that make this process SO much easier. 

Cheers to you, from NC to CA!

I'm currently hosting my first giveaway here, sponsored by Julep, and I happen to have heard that the winner might get a little extra somethin' somethin' from yours truly. Sooo, check it out, and enter. 

Favorite Activity around Raleigh

Definitely Cow Spotting. 

It's ridiculous, but so cool! 

I love that this little art installation is here during my last weeks.

Favorite Perk of Moving Away.

 

Being perfectly allowed to make plans with someone every night. 

Favorite New Productive Place

a Pint + a full set of list making and sketch drawing. 

Holy productive hour Batman!

Favorite Way to Day Dream

I'm obsessed with planning things. I love lists, plans, schedules and a concrete idea of all the little elements of life. That includes outfits, music, books, and what I might do in a random hotel in Tulsa.
This week's Friday Fancies was "road trip" -fitting, eh?-
and I'm definitely pouring over these posts to get inspiration for the road trip, and our Euro Trip

Favorite Nighttime Ritual

Cocoa Puffs + Milk.

Need I say more?

I promise to get a bit more time this weekend (ish) to get this blog back to where it was before this whole moving thing. 74 73 days and counting and I fully plan on sharing every little second with you, plus, we have a lot to catch up on. Have a great weekend loves. (and go score yourself some nail polish!)

Friday Hodgepodge

Hello Hello Hello! 

It's FRIDAY!!!!! (just say it like Oprah.)

I think..that today,

I'm going to be a bit more organized in my hodgepodge. 

Does that defeat the purpose..yes. 

Iyunno, Iduncare. 

Let's start with   Friday Letters

Dear Friday: Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. Dear G105: I don't know if you knew how much I needed to relax a bit, but being the random 15 caller for a radio station that I never listen to that I happened to have on and then decided to call (though I never do) and then win a 1 hour massage...Thank You. Dear God: See Above. Dear Shiva: I apologize ahead of time for taking you to work and kennelling you all day. I promise that it's worth it, though it makes you hate me. Dear Mike: Life is crazy and ever changing right now, and I know that it's really hard on both of us..and "us" day to day, but it's worth it. You're worth it. We're worth it. Love you. Dear Mom & Dad: I'll see y'all in less that 12 hours. HORRAY FOR MOM'S COOKING! I hope this is as relaxing as I need it to be. 

Moving on to Manicure chitchat.

From my August Julep Maven box (post forthcoming) Dakota, topped with Sephora's Only Gold for Me.  I really liked this mixture actually, it was a nice blend of rose gold and gold that made it subtle yet eyecatching. And of course, what nail post would I have if I didn't compare it to a beverage. (Or two, from the Beer, Bourbon, BBQ fest) 

On to Friday Favorites!!

Favorite Giveaway:

Molly, on top of being super sweet, stylish, funny, debt-free and all around fantastic is giving away BOOTS. Y'all. It's BOOTS. Get thee to her blog. 

Now. 

via

Favorite Dinner 

Sushi. It's never wrong. 

Favorite Shiva Destroyed Thing:

She finally has learned that it's "fun" to take apart her toys. 

Pulling out all the stuffing is a BLAST.

Favorite Break: 

Wine + BrownieCookie with a closed computer.

I definitely need to remember to turn off the computer, 

and turn on my life again. 

Favorite Purchase:

NEW TERVIS COFFEE MUG. 

Seen here over the CVM where I work :)

And finally, a plea. 
FIND THIS NECKLACE.  It USED to be on BaubleBar. It. Is. Not. Now.
I emailed them.
But, I am not patient.  Please find it!