Sometimes&Always (1)

Decided to finally link of with Mackey Madness (which by the way check out her blog, I am obsessed with her and her design!). My life at the moment had a lot of sometimes and always moments today.

Sometimes I stay up until midnight because of a flash sale
Always am a few seconds too late and miss the deal I wanted

tried to win cute purple and zebra knotieties

Sometimes I am critcal of marketing/advertising ploys
Always buy the things anyways (bought two scarfs through groopdealz because I couldn't pass up a 55% savings)

bought 11 & 12, if you haven't signed up for groopdealz yet...do it!

 Sometimes I get the urge to be super athletic when I watch the Olympics
Always fail trying to run around the block (maybe in another life I'll be athletic)

Pinterest Picks: my dream home & other random findings

 Over the weekend I pinned alot of home decor things, and I browsed through my home decor sections and found a lot of similarities. I have a huge obsession with subway tiles, white kitchens, shabby chic rooms, and quirky details. I also fell in love with the idea of black doors with white molding. The house in the upper right corner is my dream home, I love the porch with the sunny yellow flowers, it seems so home-y.

Also fell in love with the bright skinny and boots look for fall, a cute DIY project, fancy map nails, and fall cupcakes. As much as I love summer all of the cute books and pumpkin recipes I keep pinning have been getting me super excited for fall.

Find links to all the pins here.

Toledo Zoo

 Last summer when Alex and I went to the zoo we saw baby Lucas when he was about one month old. He hasn't grown a ton since last year and he is such a mommy's boy. He follows his mom around and copies everything she does it was so cute. Right before I took this picture his mom was spraying her self off and baby Lucas was trying to hard but his trunk could barely reach the water. He timidly took more steps forward into the little lake until he finally got some water.

While we were watching the elephants we also witnessed a proposal!!! We saw the couple with a professional photographer through out the day and could not figure out what they were doing (I guessed engagement pictures, which Toledo Zoo would be awesome for because they have gorgeous botanical gardens). The girl looked so surprised and happy when he proposed, and now she has pictures of the moment too.


Would you want a public proposal or something intimate? And how do you feel about a photographer at a proposal? Alex says its creepy and weird and that he liked intimate proposals. I would prefer something intimate, but would love to have a "secret photographer" capture the moment.

Pretty building.

When I ignore the giant pile of shit I am totally obsessed with this picture.

getting fancy with filters

There needs to be a required class for everyone to learn how to focus a digital camera...its not that hard. My camera is a simple point and shoot camera nothing fancy, I just don't get it. But anyways thanks stranger for taking our picture anyways!

Smells the Roses: Grateful

This weeks smell the roses challenge was to think of ten things you are grateful for, and it really got me thinking. It is never really something that comes to my mind and it honestly took a bit of thinking but here is my list (in no particular order).

1. health, other than a few minor things I have never had any serious health problem.
2. job, I am so grateful that I was able to find a job that I enjoy and that pays well. 
3. education, to many people at my high school (including myself) going to college is just assumed. But I often forget that to some people an education isn't always available. I am so grateful that I am able to continue my education in college.
4. family, I have an amazingly supportive, loving, giving, and patient family.
5. boyfriend, I am so lucky to have met the love of my life so young. We have been able to experience so many milestones together (prom, high school graduation, college) and will hopefully share many more.
6. senior year, to some people my senior year of high school wouldn't seem ideal. I lost alot of people who I thought were my friends, but didn't end up being true friends in the end. I am grateful that I got out of these toxic friendships when I did.
7.creativity, I don't know how it happened but somehow I was given the gift of creativity. It has helped me form hobbies and build friendships. My love for design lead me to yearbook which is where I made great friends and had a lot of learning experiences.
8. patience, some how I was given the gift of patience as well. I think it is the main reason people think I will be a good teacher some day.
9. mom, even though I already mentioned family, my mom has helped me though a lot of tough times, and she is always there for me when I need some retail theapy.
10. coffee, on a not so serious note, thank you coffee for helping me through early morning at work and 8 am classes.

Friday Letters

Disney in 2008

dear potbelly customers: I don't appreciate the awkward "teen mom" stares I got today when I took the girls to lunch, do I really look old enough to have a six year old daughter? And Potbelly sorry a four year old spilled an entire cup of water on your table and floor, that's what you get for having judge-y customers. dear thunderstorm: please stay away tomorrow, I really don't want to have to cancel yet another zoo trip. dear TLC: thank you for having bride day Friday's, they really are amazing to come home to after a long work week. dear Disney World: see you in a week :)

This weekend I will be going to the zoo and beginning to pack for Disney World next week! I luckily have the week off since the family I watch is on vacation for two weeks. Have a great weekend lovelies!

Mermaids & Penguins

Sparkly Mermaid Nails. Polish is (L to R) Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet, Sally Hansen Salon Manicure in Barracude, China Glaze's For Audrey, and Essie's Bikini So Teeny, not shown is Essie's Lapis of Luxury which is on my thumbs, The glitter is from Essie's luxe effects collection.

My favorite part about running in the evening is watching the sun set as I finish my run.

The little one insisted on bringing her "pen-guie" to the playground to play with her. He went down the slide and played on the teeter totter.

"High heels" at the park since we wanted to look fancy.

Color Run!

I ran in the Color Run 5k on Sunday, and it was just as amazing as I expected it to be. This was my first 5k and I trained for about 2 months, but got sick last week and didn't run for 5 days! I was really nervous I wouldn't be able to finish, but thankfully I was able run the entire 5K (I walked through a few of the color zones a few times but just because I wanted more color). Even though it was an early morning, the race was well organized and the after the finish color toss was so much fun. I would highly recommend the race to anyone, it made my first 5k experience an enjoyable one.

PS Sorry these pictures are a bit blurry, I covered my phone with saran wrap to protect it from the color and sweat. 

Pre Race/Pre Color

Color Packet for the finale throw

15,000 people!

Pre Race attire

Being silly while running! I ran with a bandana to cover my nose and mouth through the color zones as well as sunglasses to keep the color out of my eyes. The zones aren't horrible it kinda feels like you are running through chalk dust after you clap erasers together. Its bearable but I would recommend some type of nose/eye/mouth protection.

After the color toss, can you tell Alex and I had green packets?

After the color toss (I might have sorta dumped mine on him...)

Color toss! It is super cool underneath, but if the dust bothers you try to stay near the outsides. We stayed right in the center and its kinda impossible to see/breathe until the color settles. But I promise it still is fun

My Big and colorful shirt!

Us after the race, totally rocking the green.

My after-run/after car ride selfie. I was able to get most of the color off before the car ride just by brushing it off. I still have a little bit of color left on my wrists, ankles, and elbows after an ordinary shower. Oddly the hardest area to get the color off was my eyebrows! I am also rocking me new color run tank in this picture, bring money to registration, they have super cute merch for sale, lots of neon and most of its catered for girls, they have lots of neon colors, v necks, and burn out tops.

Sorry I suck

Sorry I suck at blogging lovely followers. I got sick recently (I knew the public library/public pool/dropping off at daycare situation would catch up with me). So I have kinda been dying the past few days and moping around the house. The thought of sitting up and actually typing words seemed like torture, so instead I laid on the couch and watched Dance Moms and ate Kraft Mac and Cheese (the shells kinda only, one of my weird eating habits).

So until I can come up with a legitimate post about something interesting I will leave you all with this too adorable for words picture of a baby koala.

{ps, were just going to ignore that this is a screen shot of my flipboard page from my Iphone. I really am that lazy.}

My weekend via Instagram

My lazy Saturday morning breakfast consists of English muffins with strawberry preserves and a bowl of berries. I love being able to eat out on the porch before it gets too hot. This Saturday I was extremely proud that I was able to stomach hot coffee. I love iced coffee, and I love lattes, but for some ready hot coffee just doesn't appeal to me. I have weird food texture issues and to me hot coffee (even with milk) just feels like drinking hot water and it really bothers me.

On Saturday night the boyfriend and I went to a Mexican place for dinner. I didn't take pictures because even though Mexican food tastes amazing, the tacos didn't look very pretty and neither does Mexican rice. Of course I had to torture Alex with a protoshoot before we left though, I insisted since my necklace matched his shirt.

dress: Loft, necklace: Pitaya

On Saturday morning my mom and I went to Plymouth's Art in the Park which is a craft/art show. I spent a lot more money than planned but I got lots of cute things. The shirt is hand painted and its a super soft burn out material. The necklace and earring set was from a store in Plymouth called Bella Mia Dressed Up. I have gotten my prom dress from there as well as an adorable casual printed dress. And the earrings were a steal for only 6$. I didn't realize how "minty" all of the things I bought were but I can't help that it is one of my favorite summer colors!

The best kind of birth control

No this isn't what you think. I'm talking about babysitting. Everyone used to tell me babysitting is the best form of birth control and for the first few days I didn't agree. 5 weeks later I couldn't agree more! As much as I love the girls I watch I am in no way ready to have kids anytime soon. Every time I see bloggers taking pictures of their toddles dressed in tutu's and bows, and their perfectly decorated nurseries I instantly want one of those adorable babies. But what they don't show is the whining, crying, messy, and crazy side of the kids! It's not all as pretty and fun as it looks. Don't get me wrong I love kids but sometimes I just want to rip my hair out a little bit. Thankfully there are funny moments that get me through my day. The 4 year old says the funniest things, and makes the sassiest little faces. The 5 year old melts my heart when she hugs me and says she loves me. I love taking pictures of them playing and being silly. Here are some from this week.

On Wednesday we had a tea party and got free slurpees. To them having a blue tongue was the coolest thing in the world. And this morning I died laughing when the little one told me she wanted to name her dolphin padrin, like where did she hear that?

Give a girl some rhinestones and..

Give a five year old girl rhinestones and glitter glue and a "sparkle princess fish" is created.

Give me rhinestones....and I bedazzle my travel hairbrush

I think I have commitment issues...

When it comes to blog design I have MAJOR commitment issues. I really love designing blogs (maybe I should sell my design services? anyone interested) which means every few months I get inspired by a color scheme, or a design element in a magazine and I have the urge to overhaul.

This time around I stuck with all of my old design elements and just added a new color scheme. As much as I loved my old colors they really didn't fit my personality. They were too baby-ish/summery/cheerful. Not to say I am not cheerful, but it felt way to young I guess. These shades of raspberry, pale rose, greige, and sky blue are much more...Me!

Found this on pinterest and fell in love with the colors!

Old color scheme inspired by this picture I saw on pinteresst

Dear Sean,

Sean, I am so sorry that Emily sent you home. She really didn't appreciate your charm, good looks, and rock solid body. You were kinda on a whole new level of greek god perfection, and the whole perfect family/perfect house/perfect play house in the backyard really helped up your charm. You know that letter you wrote for Ricky? I kinda wanted to marry you right then and there. (Sorry Alex, it was really that cute). I'll miss seeing your face on my tv screen every Monday. And I am still a bit upset you won't be churning out any perfect blonde babies with Em any time soon :(

Even though it's a blurry google image photo, please take a moment to look at those abs...Yeah, you're welcome. And if that wasn't enough for you, here is a cute guy with a baby. (You're welcome again!)

And in other bachelorette news...I want Arie to go home (sorry if you like him). He just makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't know if it was his foreign parents, his always shiny forehead, super dominant kissing style (You're not Christian Grey sweetie), or if it's something else, but you bother me. I will admit I was #teamArie for a while, but then my love faded. Sorry!

But then there's Jef (I am really sounding like Emily now). You're really cute, and you rock skinny jeans better than any guy I know. You seem fun, and really sweet too. Even though my love for Sean overshadowed you, you were always my second pick. And now that Seans gone (tear) I am hoping you propose and make cute babies.

Candles, Shopping, and McDonalds

This weekend the boyfriend and I beat the heat by going shopping! I will admit I am a shopping addict (like I get an adrenaline rush as they swipe my card kind of addict), and even though Alex is a good shopper he tires easily. I have to entertain him with food, and yummy smells to keep him from complaining (sorry if you're reading this babe). My solution: go into Anthropologie and let him smell yummy candles, like the one pictured above. In all honestly I wish I would have bought this candle, it literally smells like heaven. It is this combination of citrus, florals, and vanilla that is a bit addicting. But I still couldn't stomach the 12$ price tag.

Grilled Chicken salad with feta, tomatoes, and tortilla strips with a champagne vinaigrette.

 My super awesome deals from the weekend. Jeggings from Express were buy one pair at 79.90 get one for 29.90. The skirt was on clearance for 19, and the shirt was 12. I had a 30$ off coupon, AND a 25$ giftcard. For all 4 items I paid about 80$ out of pocket (score!). The orange dress was on sale at LOFT for 25$ and with coupons it ended up being 12$.

New Lilly Planner! ( I am kinda obsessed). Even though I use my phone calender now, I like to write down my homework in my planner, typing all the assignments up is way too much work.

I am not afraid to admit I LOVE McDonalds. People can tell me how bad it is all day long, but I simply don't care. McDonald's fries are the bomb-dot-com, and those new spicy chicken mcbites are the shit. Add on a milkshake or a frappe and I am in food heaven. #noshame

My attempt at nail art was really just me being lazy. My pedicure still looked good but I didn't want to paint my fingers the same color twice (I like to match my mani's and pedi's). So my solution was stripes. Even though they are kinda messy the copper glitter with orange and pink is super fun to wear.