I Confess- Announcement time

Leslie at A Blonde Ambition is one of my all time favorite bloggers, and definitely one I've been following the longest. I just love her witty writing and sense of style. Anyhow, it's been a while since I linked up with her Confessional Friday- so here we go!

I confess that I've been hiding a secret from this blog, and lots of my friends and family, until now. I got a new job! Today will be my last day with my current company, and I start with my new company on Monday. I will be doing similar work, but for a completely different industry. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to further my career. I know it will bring new challenges, but I love a challenge and I am so so ready to kick but at a company that I know is 100 times better for me. Wish me luck!

I confess I may have used the above mentioned new job to buy a ton of new work clothes and office accessories. Better job = better wardrobe, right??

I confess that I'm super excited for Halloween this year! Normally I don't get too worked up for this holiday, but this year we get live in a neighborhood that will actually have cute little trick-or-treators. Cute little kids in costume? Sign me up. Also adding to the fun, my best friend is having a party and Will and I have the PERFECT costume. Not sure if we're going with new school or old school look, but it's going to be fantastic.

I confess that as always, the weekend didn't come soon enough. Tonight my co-workers are taking me to a last day happy hour. Then the hubs and I are heading down to UC's campus to watch his high school alma mater in a game against their cross town rivals. I love that we get down to visit UC so often. Some of the best memories of my life were made in this little neighborhood. Tomorrow and Sunday will be filled with lots of decorating, relaxing, enjoying the weather, and friend time.

image from ESPN

Happy Friday! Here's to a fun weekend and exciting new beginnings next week!

down the road

I have a really awesome drive to work in the morning. While I wish I lived 5 minutes away from my office instead of 30, I actually really enjoy the scenery and peace and quite I get before I dive in to a busy work day.One of my favorite things about the area we live in is all the trees. There are undisturbed woods everywhere.

here

You have to be a lot more cautious of deer popping out, and careful in bad weather as the roads are hilly and windy, but it's a small price to pay for 30 minutes of pure happiness in the morning. All of the mansions and gorgeous historic homes I pass don't hurt either. These are two of my favorites that I pass, depending on which way I go that day.

here

here

On today's drive "Down the Road" by Kenny Chesney came on the radio, and I got goosebumps. Even teared up a bit I think. Now that song's lyrics have zero to do with my personal story, but for some reason it really got me. Maybe because it made me think about how one day we'll hopefully have a daughter, and maybe she will fall in love with someone who lives near us (we hope to stay in our current home forever, or at least long into our children's lives) as we speak, this very minute.

Maybe it got to me because my dad has always wanted me to be with someone who can help take care of me, and mom is always happier when someone is a Christian. Honestly, I think it just got to me because it's an emotional song, and I'm a sucker for lyrics that tell a story. Either way, it made me 100 times more thankful for my peaceful, happy drive to work with time to reflect. I'll probably lose patience with the entire human race by about 11:15am, so i'll enjoy this feeling while it lasts ;)

Happy Wednesday! Modern Family premiers tonight, so all is right in the world.

lately - introspective version

Lately. Life lately for me has been a lot of things. Busy. Exciting. Memorable. Hectic. Fun. Eye opening. The list goes on. This past weekend we got together with friends on Friday evening at Rusty Bucket. Saturday we headed 2 hours north to spend the night with one of my very best friends Megan and her fiancé. We visited Easton for dinner and shopping, then went out for drinks. Sunday Megs and I celebrated her bridal shower while the boys ate pizza and watched football. Sunday evening we just hung around the house with the dogs, made dinner, and caught up on some DVR. It was yet another perfect weekend.

cupcake dress

me and meg

There’s something about being away from home overnight that makes me a million times more thankful and appreciative for my own home and the things, person, and pups I share it with. No matter how fun the visit or how nice the hotel, there really is no place like home.

Lately, I have been trying to be less selfish. As an only child for the first 10 years of my life, I’ll probably never shake some of my “me me me” tendencies. But there are a lot of things I recognize I need to change to just be a better person. Becoming a better listener. Having more patience. Being more considerate of others, friends and strangers. Being more empathetic. I think a lot of the little realizations I've come across lately that have made me want to do the above things, have to do with where I’m at in life in general. Happy. Content. Excited for the future. College was such an intense time in my life. Exciting but filled with A LOT of uncertainty and self exploration. Now? I’m so much more confident in every possible way. I think 99% of that is due to my amazingly supportive husband, who constantly lifts me up. I know life will always throw curve balls  and we are all just a few steps away from so many forms of devastation. But I have never been so “full” in my 25 years of life, and for that, I am grateful. Inspired to just be better in all possible ways. 

So that’s my life lately, introspection addition. Here are a few pics of  fall touches around the house that I'm absolutely loving. And my attempt at some selfies. I swear I will never be capable of taking good pics of myself.

    

Awkward. And my paint sample. I really need to pull the plug on some colors.

  

Still on the hunt for something to put above that fireplace. Suggestions welcome!

  

  

Happy first full week of Fall! Linking up with Jenni for Blogtember.

TGIF! 5 on Friday

And just like that, time for another weekend. Here's what I'm really thankful for this week.

1. My 20's

Turning 25 this year was kind of a slap in the face. Holy crap. Mid 20's. But I'll tell you what, I don't hate it. I actually love it. Talk about some amazing freaking years. There have been a lot of highlights, but one of my most favorite thing about these years has become the celebrations. Not just mine, but my friends. All the weddings. And wedding showers. And baby showers, and engagements, and kid's birthdays. It's expensive, but it's pretty wonderful. A basically mandatory excuse to see friends, enjoy good food and drinks, and share some of the most important moment of life with people we really love. Sign. Me. Up. This weekend is a friends late birthday celebration tonight, and an overnight visit to one of my long lost bestie's home town to spend the night with her and her fiance, then celebrate at her wedding shower Sunday.

2. My dogs

They're crazy. Sometimes annoying. And one may be schizophrenic. But I am madly in love with them. I have no idea how I never loved dogs before I have my own, but I'm officially a crazy dog lady. Sadie, the way you wait for me to tell you to come downstairs to go out in the morning, or walk out the door when I open it to go for a walk. Holly, the way you circle the mattress a few times before you pick the perfect spot to snuggle up next to me every time I lay in bed. You both really melt my heart. I wish you understood English. Or could read. Or both probably.

3. My coworkers

They're just hilarious. Obviously if if was my choice, I'd be spending my entire day at home with a couple million dollars in the bank. But if I have to go to work, it's nice to be around people that can make you laugh.

This has nothing to do with my coworkers, but is 100% true and hilarious.

4. Online shopping. Specifically sales.

When I stumbled upon the Ann Taylor Loft website the other day and noticed the 40% off sale prices, I decided to get a bunch of new work clothes. I was even more delighted when I refreshed my cart an hour later and everything had changed to 60% off! Hello 2 blazers, a pair of pants, a skirt, and about 5 shirts for under $150. Don't mind if I do.

5. iOS 7

It's pretty and in my opinion functions much better than the previous system. I have to admit I was getting a little bored with my iPhone, so this was just what I needed to revamp my love for team apple.

Happy weekend people!

my best memory

This is a pretty cliched answer, but one memory I wish I could relive would be my wedding day. Future brides, what they say is 110% true. It goes by so fast, you’ll feel like you weren't even really there. I woke everyone up to get ready around 7am, our ceremony was at 2pm, and we didn't get back to the hotel until around 11pm, so we had a full day of fun, and it still went by in a flash.

We were lucky enough to have a wedding video, so I can kind of relive the day whenever I want, and I may or may not have already watched the full length thing three times since getting it… but if I could relive any day again, I’d pick that one in a heart beat. The chance to see Will’s face as I walk down the aisle again. Be together with all our friends and family.  See and experience all of the decorations and entertainment we spent a year of blood, sweat, and tears putting together. Pledge to God and everyone in attendance that I will love and dedicate my heart to the sweetest, most amazing man, in a gorgeous church. Definitely that day. Can we add the honeymoon while we’re at it?

Click here for more posts on our big day, and to see our wedding video trailer. What was (or do you think will be) the best part of your wedding day?

Lately

What a week! Despite how busy I've been all week with work, Will being out of town for a couple of days, and plans with friends, I was up at 6am this morning. I am that excited to go to start shopping the second the stores open. Free Saturday morning + unexpected work bonus + it finally feeling like fall = perfect excuse to spend hours in Home Goods and Target. And the grocery store. I think Holly is excited too because she's running around the house like a banshee on speed. Is there such a thing as dog schizophrenia?

I made the most delicious dinner of all time the other day. Specifically the mac and cheese (cue the 2 pound portion. oops) and the chicken. Except I didn't make the beans listed with the chicken recipe. I HATE beans. Ugh. The Pioneer Woman was behind this meal, as usual. I thought I'd nailed the perfect mac and cheese recipe until I tried this one. I doubt I'll ever try another again, as there is no way anything tastes better than this!

I got a new car! While looking like a homeless person! W and I went to drop my old car to get new tires, and planned on just running an errand or two in the mean time, so we didn't really bother to get dressed. An errand turned into a test drive which turned into me getting a 2014 Ford Escape that I am madly in love with! This is all after I'd already paid for the new tires on my old car. Only me...

And a PS- why do I still look so huge next to an SUV? #6footproblems. Here's a better view.

I bought a cheap curling wand from Target, and it's love. I know I'm late to the game on this one, but I had no idea those things were that great. It's really helped me not to look like I just rolled out of bed, without spending too much time in the mirror.

That's all for now! Happy Weekend!

jung results + weekend happenings

Another weekend has come and gone, and as usual it was especially hard for me to get out of bed this Monday. I dream of days where I don't have to deal with the traditional 85, or at least have the option of working from home. I don't really mind these working hours, but something about having absolutely zero say in your weekly schedule just makes me feel like it's worse than it actually is. One day Brittany, one day.

Anyhow, we had a jam packed weekend of awesomeness. Friday after work W and I walked the dogs, then met up with his brother and our niece and nephew for dinner. After dinner we went and sat on the patio of a bar just up the road from our house before calling it a night. The perfect family/date night. We even got to sleep in a little, which someone apparently needed.

Saturday we had breakfast at Starbucks, ran a few errands, then W went home to cut the grass, and I got ready for a baby shower. It was for one of my neighbors/favorite bloggers, and it was great to spend an afternoon with these ladies. I feel so lucky to not only have a home we love, but neighbors we love.

That evening we went to a beautiful wedding with an outdoor ceremony. The groom was one of my best guy friends from college, and in the past few years I've gotten to know his fiance too. The are the perfect couple, and it was great to celebrate with old friends we rarely get to see.

Sunday we had a few friends over to watch the Bengals game, Will grilled out, and I set up a Bloody Mary bar. It was the perfect end to a crazy weekend. I neglected to take many pictures, we were too busy having fun I suppose!

On to the Blogtember prompt for today. The challange was to take this short personality test, and post your response to the results. I'd say mine were pretty spot on. We had to take this test during one of our Pre Cana classes, and I'm pretty sure I got the same results.

Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test™

Your Type

ENFJ

Extravert(22%)  iNtuitive(50%)  Feeling(62%)  Judging(56%)

• You have slight preference of Extraversion over Introversion (22%)
• You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
• You have distinctive preference of Feeling over Thinking (62%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (56%)

This link explains my profile a little further. The funniest thing about these results, are that I don't think they'd be the same if I had taken this test just a few years ago. My personality has not only made some obvious changes, I think I'm more in tune with who I am. I used to get caught up on what other people said about me, their opinions on my personality or actions. I've gotten a little wiser in my old age, and I've realized sometimes (a lot of times) what other people say about you isn't always true. In my opinion, it's rarely true. The biggest advice I would have given myself 5 years ago is this- listen to your own heart, mind, and intuition. The saying too many cooks spoil the pot is so much truer than I ever realized. Not only when seeking advise, but also when it comes to unsolicited opinions.

That's enough for a Monday. Here's to another great week!

oh the places you'll go

If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

This is so, so easy for me. TRAVEL. I would travel all over the world, and plenty of places not too far from home. I recently created a Pinterest board (where I got all the pics for this post) to make sure I don't lose track of all the places I want to go.

First, all over Ohio to visit my friends and family. This would be the first week or so. After that, it'd be straight to Chicago to meet up with my mom and sisters. I'd have them come along for the rest of the trips, but with their own hotel rooms. Teenage girls are exhausting.

FIrst we'd stay in the US (I originally typed "the UC" ... football on the brain much?). We'd go to New Orleans for the food then California wine country for the scenery, and of course the wine. To New England to see the oldest part of our country, then Hawaii to relax on the beach. I think that'd probably cover the first month or so.

Next would absolutely be off to Europe. I'm sure we could spend the entire second month there. I'd start in Germany. I've always wanted to see the country my Grandmother is from, and I love German food (and beer). I think the architecture and culture there is so unique and interesting, it's on the top of my list for real life travel. Next I'd hit all the other must-see countries. England. France. Spain. Greece. That's probably about all I could fit into the second month. I am not a "do-er" when it comes to vacation. I like to walk around, shop, eat, drink, relax, repeat.

My final month would probably be split between Australia and Africa. Africa because it's such a different part of the world, and important part of the world, I could never pass it up if this were a real opportunity.  Australia because I love the accents, I think it's beautiful, and I have a weird fascination with aborigines.

I'm now realizing I forgot Russia. I'd definitely have to throw Moscow in there. I spent hours fantasizing over the movie Anastasia has a child, and I've for some reason always wanted to see it. I don't know a lot about Russia, but every time I see a pictures, it just seems like it cant be real. So far away and different that America, I can't even imagine what it'd be like to live or even visit. My first and only time out of the US was our honeymoon, so I'm a little but of a traveling virgin.

I think that about wraps it up! How I'd spend my three months of anything time. Anyone have a couple million dollars laying around so I can make this happen?

Hopefully I live another 80 years and can cross most, or all, of these things off my bucket list.

Happy Wednesday!

Where I come from

As much as I love to write, I've always been horrible without a prompt. I don't do well starting many things from scratch, but if someone gives me an idea, I can go on for days. That is why I think this month I will be doing a lot of Blogtember participation with Jenni at Story of my Life. She's got some great prompts in store for us, and the first one really interested me. Click the button at the end of this post for the complete list.

Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

"Where are you from" is always a questions I never really know how to answer. Ohio? Definitely. But Dayton? Cincinnati? I'm not sure. I've lived about 1/3 of my life in Dayton, OH, another 1/3 in Cincinnati, and the final 1/3 in St. Louis and Central Illinois. We moved around a lot when I was a kid, so in some ways I think of all of these places as my "home".

Dayton is usually my first answer because that's where I went to high school, and it is the city both of my parents are from. Unfortunately, I've honestly never felt intensely nostalgic over the city. I love my friends and family who I wouldn't have relationships had I never lived there, but all in all, the place just stinks. I hated high school, and that's what it reminds me of. I also hate that it's a dying city and so many people get stuck there, living these lives with little to no potential.

That being said, there are some positive sides. It's a true "normal", midwestern town, and I appreciate getting to grow up in a part of this country where I had an all american, traditional, childhood. We got to drive the hour to Kings Island for family vacations, and on really special occasions, make the 8 or so hour drive to the beach. There were always creeks and rivers and lakes to visit and all four seasons to experience. People's parents were teachers and factory workers and members of the military. It was just normal, and in a day and age where a lot of kids expect to be constantly entertained and get handed out participation trophies (which I think is crap), I'm glad I was forced to have an imagination. And to know what it is like to not have everything handed to you.

This is the only pic I can currently find that includes all my best friends. Ghosts of best friends past covered with smileys :)

Living in St. Louis was similar to this. In St. Louis we lived in the suburbs, and it was a kids dream. Our subdivision had dozens and dozens of kids to play with, and we were within biking distance to the pool. I spent many days outside from sun up to sun down, swimming, riding bikes to the Saint Louis Bread Company (Panera, but the Bread Co was just somehow better), and playing in the creek or having kickball tournaments with my neighbors. It was where I started middle school, where my sisters were born, and where I made my first best friends.

Some of my best friends at what I think was a going away party they threw me before I moved. The hair. It still haunts me to this day.

In Illinois, it was a little different. We lived in little farm town outside of Decatur. There were 2,000 people in the village, and it was a complete culture shock. Most of the kids had known each other since they were toddlers, so it was tough being the new kid from the "big city". It's the type of place I think I could have grown to love, but we weren't there long enough for me to really ever get used to it.

Apparently they've expanded in the past decade. Source.

We left after a little under two years, but Forsyth did teach me a few things. What soybeans smell like (disgusting). What detasseling corn is. A lot of other various farm related information. And of course, a few things about Illini football. I was in a classroom there when they told us about 9/11. It's where my sisters had a lot of their firsts as toddlers. I had my first, and really only thank God, experience with the "mean girl"mentality that can make school so horrible. Those are things I will never forget.

Last but not least, Cincinnati. Oh, Cincinnati, how I love you. In my heart, this will always be home. I never really thought after college that I'd want to stay here, but now it's hard to imagine living anywhere else. I love the food. Oh, the food. So many restaurants I love, and so many I still need to try.

I love that people from Cincinnati, love this city. I love the parks. All of the things to do and places to go outdoors. I love the variation of food and atmosphere as you move from neighborhood to neighborhood. I love all the colleges. All the rivalries.

I could go on. This is my perfect place to live, and a place I am excited to hopefully raise my family in. I love that my husband is from here and that he has so many memories associated with what seems like every building we pass, or new road we travel. I love it that he loves this city more than I do. This is where I come from.