Sometimes and Always

Linking up today with Mackey Madness

Sometimes: I want to commit to a lifestyle of simplicity so I don't have to work very much and can stay home with my house and my puppies.

Always: I realize a job is necessary to continuously buy that house any stuff, those puppies treats and toys and more importantly to keep my shopping habits satisfied.

*SN* I really don't shop that much, but when I want something... I will find a way to get it... probably sooner rather than later. IE: MacBook Pro :)

Sometimes: I want to bring home puppies and kitties so I can have my own little pack.

Always: I refrain because I don't want W calling Animal Hoarders on me.

Someone please adopt these beauties before I find a way to

Sometimes: My 11 and 13 year old sisters drive me bonkers.

Always: I love them unconditionally, with my entire heart and miss them like crazy. Living 5 hours from the loves of your life is something I am still struggling on how to cope with.

You cannot tell me there were ever two little girls, I won't believe it

At Six Flags a few years ago. They love roller coasters!

How I will always remember them. Yes, this is a picture of a picture

Last summer playing in a fountain in Downtown Chicago

Sometimes: I leave my dogs outside all morning so I can get ready for work without being harassed.

Always: I feel horrible but remind myself, they are dogs. They aren't supposed to be inside with me all day.

Sometimes: I set my alarm hours early so I can spend extra time getting ready.

Always: I end up lounging the morning away and rushing off to work just like i'd slept in.

Sometimes: I get overwhelmed trying to be the perfect girlfriend.

Always: I realize that whether I am my idea of perfect or lay around all weekend in my pajamas being a big lazy slob, I am loved just the same :)

Yesterday was NOT my day. Let's pray Tuesday treats me a little better!

xoxo -B

Best. Weekend. Ever.

There were about a zillion times over the last few days I stopped and thought to myself "Could this weekend get any better?"


And it just kept going!


I only took a couple pics over the weekend but I remembered a few times! Linking up today with Story of My Life.


Reason #1

Two words. MacBook Pro.

The day has finally come. I am typing this post from my brand mew 13 inch MacBook Pro!

I am obsessed with Macs and more importantly, Apple as a whole. W and I both have iPhones and he has an iPad. His work computer (which is from the dark ages) and my college HP laptop acting as our "family computer" just wasn't cutting it.

Anyway, it's beautiful. I am still in the process of deciding what accessories to buy, but I do have one... and that leads me to...

Reason #2

After leaving the Apple Store W wanted to look around and get a few ideas of what I may want for Valentine's Day. 

I've been wanting a new bag thats suitable for work and every day. W suggested I find something that was big enough to tote around the computer and he'd get it for me as an early V-Day present. 

Enter this beauty

Can we say awesome boyfriend?

Reason #3

The Help

I read this book over the summer, from start to finish in just a few days. It was so moving.

Normally movies based on books I love let me down, so I was prepared for the worse. This time, I loved the movie! 

While it was very moving and entertaining, it was also sad. Knowing if I was born a generation or two earlier, a few states south, I wouldn't have been able to openly have the amazing relationship I do now with the love of my life is insane. It also makes me even more appreciative.

Love him!

: )

Reason #4

Books

Friday after work I went to Joseph Beth and picked up the below reads. 2 out of 3 on sale = JACKPOT.

I already started The Hunger Games.

I love to read so I can't believe it's taken me this long to get this book. I've had friends tell me for months I was missing out, but I didn't think it could be that good.

Boy was I wrong. After seeing the previews I decided to give it a chance and WOW. Nowhere near finished, but so far it's pretty gripping.

I could honestly go on and on, but right now I'd much rather eat, have a glass of wine and enjoy   House Hunters SO I will end with pictures :)

YUM!

Bought Bully Hill Red Wine on the left to drink this weekend. Only $8.99 and delicious

Best Bakery in Cincinnati. Open 24 hours = Yes Please

xoxo- B

It's OK Thursday

It's OK...

To miss your sister's birthday party to go on a vacation. Note to self: plan surprise visit to Chicago.

To stay up late drinking coffee just to make it through all your shows.

To have an empty basement just waiting to house old goods yet still pay for a month to month storage unit because you are too lazy to brave the mess.

To pretend you're too busy to go out on the weekend when secretly all you want to do is lay around and complete Pinterest projects.

That I have to be at work early and instead of getting ready I am on this blog.

Link up with Neely : )

-B

What I'm Loving Wednesday

This could be a long one. There is an excessive list of things I am obsessing over this week.

Most importantly, STUFF.

Stuff as in brown riding boots, blow dryers, flat irons, hair products, makeup, tunics, pea coats, leather jackets, belts and accessories. Specific items I have my eye on include

Hobo Single Frame French Wallet, Nordstrom

Kate Spade New York Dama Tote

Kate Spade New York Cambridge Stripe Karen Satchel, Nordstrom

Sonya Vachetta Riding Boot, Ralph Lauren

Did I mention they just opened a brand new Michael Kors store in my local mall? 

Did I mention I am going to Key West next month and obviously have to look amazing?

I am not one of those girls that needs the most expensive brand of everything she has. I work at a non profit, let's be real, I can't afford to be. 

Does that mean I should have to go without fabulous things? Obviously not, SO I got myself a second job. 

WOOP!

I am actually excited about it. Working part time a few nights a week will severely increase my discretionary income and I cannot wait!

Moving on.

Coffeehouse station on Sirius XM.

If you have Sirius I suggest you check it out right away. 

I've been thinking of reasons to drive W's truck just so I can listen to it!

Kids being hilarious

I don’t have any kids, but I do have sisters who are basically a generation younger than me, so I know all too well that they can be unintentional comedians to us old people.

I saw this link on a friend’s Facebook of funny test answers of school children. I literally started cracking up at my desk. You have got to check it out. Goes on for pages. Some of my personal favorites…

If I was a teacher I would definitely count this as correct.

L O L

I hope my kid is half this funny one day!

As always, Pinterest

My latest amazing finds include

I guess you can tell where my mind has been! Obsessed with decorating lately.

Final thoughts...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

As always thanks for the link up!

XOXO

-B

Weekend Wrap Up and Best of Instagram

I have such a love/hate relationship with Sundays.

Love the laziness of the day. Hate that is means the weekend it almost over. Hate that I have to take time out of my precious Sunday to clean and grocery shop.

But about my weekend. Friday I had to attend an event for work. The caterers served tortellini and it's now on my list of dishes to try and recreate. So good. After the event we went and had a few drinks with some friends. All in all a good night.

Saturday was sleeping in, another work event and Dewey's for dinner. Dewey's is a phenomenal pizza place in Cincinnati. If you are ever in town, I suggest trying it. My favorite is the Green Lantern.

These are the toppings

1/4 c. tomato sauce

2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 c. pesto
1/2 c. shredded 
mozzarella
1/2 c. goat cheese
1/2 – 1 c. mushrooms

1/4 c. artichoke hearts

YUM!

We were supposed to see Beauty and the Beast 3D, but being the Grandma that I am, I was too tired. Disney Princess fabulousness will have to wait for another weekend.

Instead we opted to stop by UDF, another deliciousity based out of Cincinnati, and get ice cream.

I passed out immediately when we got home. When you binge 5 pieces of pizza, 2 beers and 2 scoops of ice cream in a matter of 2 hours... I suppose that's what happens.

That reminds me. Friday, I split my pants. Literally was jumping around to get in my jeans (I know you know what I'm talking about) and BAM- split pants.

It was a bad 5 minutes. Guess it's time I considered joining a gym again. Bleh.

On a happier note, is anyone else obsessed with Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel? Besides today's games, it's all that's been on our TV.

It's now time for grocery shopping, but I wanted to finish with a link up!

Best of Instagram with Jenni @ Story of my Life

My little bebe sleeping on Mommas legs. I am becoming more obsessed with her by the day. 

Cutest puppies, at our local dog resort/spa, who need a home. They are the same breed as Holly and I SO wish we could take them. Unfortunately a two bedroom house in the city isnt exactly ideal for four large dogs.

Dinner in the crock pot as we speak. First time I am trying this recipe or making pork chops and I'm a little skeptical. Hopefully it turns out.

 Pumpkin Chai candle from Home Goods. Hands Down my favorite store to buy odds and ends. Smells like heaven!

Last and probably most boring for the rest of the world, I changed the part in my hair. For some reason I decided to switch from parting on the left to the right and it honestly made a huge difference. Who knew!?

I chopped off a good amount of my hair about a year ago and have been rockin' a short pixie-esque cut ever since. I'm so over it. Ready for my locks to grow back. The past few weeks I've been on the prowl for any tips on accelerating hair growth, so if you have some they are welcomed!

SN- I don't always walk around in ugly men's sweaters but I am one of those people who is ALWAYS cold, so sometimes there's really no choice.

That's all for now :)

xoxo

-B

It's OK Thursday

As I wallow in guilt about lazing on the couch today, how perfect is it that I stumble upon a great new blog with a great link up!

IT'S OK...

That I still use AIM to talk to my best friend, which I'm doing right now!

And yes, I still have the same screen name from 2002. What was with all the x's and o's back then? 

IT'S OK...

I've been home from work for hours and instead of cleaning the house, I'm blog stalking and watching Marathons of bad TV.

IT'S OK...

That the vet told me to cut back on the pup's food (she's a few pounds over weight) and in the same weekend I went out and bought her a pound bag of fresh baked treats.

They were so cute... and smelled like human goodies... and I'm sure its just baby fat... and who doesn't spoil their puppy?!

IT'S OK...

That it appears a bomb has gone off in my closet. I had to be at work at 4am. Who wouldn't throw clothes all over the place trying to be on time at that ungodly hour?

As for my messiness prior to this horrific wake up time, I have no excuse.

I've now typed myself into complete guilt mode. I need some motivation! But hard wood floors are so cold, my blanket is so comfy and my slippers are so far away ;)

That's all I've got for now!

xoxo

-B

Reflection

This morning I woke up around 6am. For absolutely no reason. Why I do this when I have a day off but battle with the snooze button multiple times when I actually have to work, I cannot explain. Anyhow, I decided to start my day.

As I tried (unsuccessfully) to get W up early, feed the dogs, let them out back, make sure the coffee timer was set, tidy up the house, make breakfast and plan all that I needed to get done that day I was a little overwhelmed and happy I had the day off to do it all.

As I sat down to eat my breakfast, with the dogs outside and Wills off to work I began to think to myself... I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THIS MY LIFE.

Now this is something I say all the time that many people misunderstand. It doesn't mean my life is so wonderful (which it is) or horrible that I can't believe it's my reality... I mean it more in the sense of "How the heck did I get here when I was light years away just a short time ago?"

My life has changed many times in many ways. Some good some bad. Some I will share on this blog. Some I am not so sure. But stagnancy is not something I am very familiar with. In memory, if you count both of my parent's homes and my college housing, I have had 23 homes in 4 states in my 23 years of life. I attended 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, thankfully only one high school and 3 colleges (to get one BA degree). Job transfers, family tragedy and personal preference have all contributed to these moves.

Moving so much teaches you to adapt. To be outgoing, self sufficient. I have always done my own thing, been my own boss and answered to no one as much as I could help it.

This make it all the more strange that in the past, I also was very often "that girl". That girl who let guys walk all over her, tried to "fix" boyfriends, stayed too long, tried to hard. You know the one. I posted a Facebook status the other day that said

• • • 
      
  • 

    Brittany Galloway

    Sometimes I reflect on my past and want to vomit/smack myself. It may have taken 23 years, but glad to say I think I've finally developed some decision making skills.

     ·  · January 6 at 4:14pm near Clifton

    • Maddie Aurand, Krista Ann Wessendorf, Jess Ica and 5 others like this.

That status pretty much sums it up. I have made a lot of poor choices. While I love my life, would change nothing about it or the people in it and have had some priceless memories with amazing people- I have struggled and failed and some parts of this beautiful life have been straight UGLY. Most of that ugly has centered around men.

Anyway. That is why, as I sit in my beautiful home, in a wonderful neighborhood, watching my pups play out back, seeing the most amazing man in the world off to work, as he tells me not to clean the kitchen because HE wants to do it for me after a hard day at work, even though I have the day off, I cannot believe this is my life.

There are so many that have so little. We have enough food in the house to feed us for weeks, maybe more. I just sold my flat screen because we had an extra. I type this on my lap top, which is sitting next to my iPhone, which is next to the iPad... You get the point. SO much to be thankful for.

Not to mention Happy MLK Day. Thank you Martin Luther King Jr for helping make it OK for me to be who I am and date who I choose without any less oppression and push back.

Anyway, my point is this.

I want this blog to be a reference point. For me, for all of you and for my family. Something my sisters (now 11 and 13 years old) can read in a few years and get to know me better, learn from my mistakes.

Something my future children can read and see how much me and their Dad love each other. *SN* No I am not engaged, but as far as I'm concerned I know will happen, so yes I already think about these things from time to time.

I hope to share more in the future about my past, my current relationship, my friends and family and most importantly all I have learned and all I have to be thankful for.

XOXO
-B

A Weekend in Pictures

I am working on a much more detailed post for later or tomorrow, but I cannot wait one more second to up load the pics from this baby, so I figured I'd post!

This is my new Canon Powershot A1200 HD. Not the most high tech. For a nano second I considered buying this beautiful piece of technology....

But then I came back to reality. I am by no means a skilled photographer so I usually rely on the old iPhone for pics. That usually suits my needs, but lately it's left something to be desired. 

I never thought I had any "need" to take good pictures, but with the creation of this blog, wanting to capture Holly growing up and all her antics and most importantly my vaca to Key West in 6 weeks, I thought it was about time.

So far I love it and these are a few pics I've snapped over the weekend.

Me and the goods immediately after my purchase at Target. Pretty sure the woman in the car next to me thought I was insane.

Next I stopped at Restore. If you are not familiar and you enjoy DIY projects AT ALL, I suggest you check it out. They're located all over the country.

I didn't read all the details, but from what I gather it's a Habitat for Humanity store that sells donated/extra goods for a fraction of the price. They had everything from furniture to decorations to doors, sinks, pluming. It was slightly overwhelming since I didn't have any exact project in mind when I went in, but if you knew what you were looking for it'd be a gold mine!

When I got home from running errands around 4, I'd only consumed a Slim Fast shake and a Special K Bar, which is clearly not enough so it was time for dinner. I tried to make Chicken Marsala. The chicken was amaze, the sauce- not so much.

It ended up being more like Chicken and Mushrooms in a watery wine sauce, but it still sufficed. I looked up a few other recipes to see where I went wrong with the sauce, so I will probably try another variation in a few weeks.

As soon as I got home Wills decided to experiment with every single setting OCD style play around on the new camera. I tried to use the self timer but didn't even think about setting the focus first. Nor did I center us before I set the camera on the cabinet#PhotographyFail.

Anyway, here are a few of the pics.

I also am a HUGE fan of the black and white setting. 

Holly also got a new Konk and collar while I was out running errands :)

For some horrific reason I woke up at 6:30am this morning. After falling in and out of sleep until 8 I decided to begin the day with making breakfast. On the menu were spicy cheddar sausage ball thingys and a pastry. Pastry was from Pinterest, here.

Sausage balls were inspired by a co worker brining them in Friday. I went to the grocery to get sausage in hopes to find the recipe online later and wouldn't you know, instructions were right on the package!

I don't remember the brand of sausage but it was very simple. Mix 1 lb spicy sausage and 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar in a bowl. Add 1 - 2 cups of Bisquick and mix with your hands. I used 1 1/2 cups.  Roll into 1 inch balls, throw them on a non stick baking sheet, bake at 375 for 10 - 15 minutes and VOILA. Delish.

My favorite coffee cup

I was in such a rush to eat I didn't get a pic of the complete product but here's a post-serve, pre-bite image

Last and most ridiculously, Miss America. This pic comes from my iPhone, not the Canon, but it's def share worthy.

 I won't comment on what a train wreck I though some of the contestants were and how much I loved some of the ones that got early snubs... but I will say this. I love Ohio and therefor wanted to love Miss Ohio. But when I looked up her contestant profile, I almost lost it. Please note the platform issue.

Seriously, that's the best you can do?! You have a chance to change the country and you want to promote lightning safety? I'm a little ashamed/astounded. Will and I had a few good laughs over this.

Those are all the pics I have for now. Time to catch up on my blogs and enjoy a lazy Sunday.

XOXO

-B