Pics

New blog!

I’ve been dying to make a picture collage header for a while, like, for a very long time. Which is why I took the time to make it happen; and somehow in the process I read all of my old blog posts. If you blog – you should do this! It’s weird reading about things that I’ve completely forgotten about. Just seeing all of the change that has taken place over the past 3 years is weird, a good weird, but weird.

Since I used our new pictures in my header I thought maybe I should share a few of my favorites shots from our photo shoot with Ali… she did a great job!

Flowers & Wreaths, Oh My!

I love FALL! It's my favorite season - probably because it's my birthday season and now our wedding anniversary season! PLUS, it's Casey's birthday season too, the leaves are changing colors, K-State football, my fave apple cider candle and the cool weather. Oh, I LOVE fall.

That being said,

I DO NOT like my fall allergies.

Ok, so I have to tell you last week was probably one of the busiest weeks of my life. It wasn't frantic busy like I've experienced so many times before when there is so much to do and I have no plan on how it's all going to get done. Last week was "I have a plan" busy, which obviously leads to productive busy and when it was all said and done I just felt accomplished and not as if I'd been hit by a truck. Maybe it's maturity? Or just keeping calm and carrying on.

During one of those productive nights I turned to my co-worker who was at my house making floral arrangements for a work event that some CRAZY person decided we should host 4 days before a deadline and said:

 "I NEED TO GET OUT MY FALL WREATH"

I proceeded to bring out my fall wreath and hang it on our front door. I made the wreath last fall but after it had been haning on our door the past week I decided it needed more bulk. So after a quick trip to hobby lobby and an evening or crafting on the living room floor I came up with this:

So Pretty!

Back to those floral arrangements.

Last week my company hosted a speaker at the country club and invited all of our women clients. There were about 150 women in attendance and I was responsible for the floral arrangements. Yes, a tax accountant by day and florist by night. :) I ordered the flowers ahead of time from a local floral shop. Then last Wednesday night a coworker and myself spent an evening putting together these little gems. It was a lot of work but I love the way it all turned out.

Here's the big arrangement for the front of the room.

I read about "inverting" roses, where you take a normal rose and turn out each of it's petals. Check out that hot pink inverted rose - they were awesome!

These are the small arrangements. We made one for each table and at the end of the event one person from each table got to take home the centerpice, so fun! 

Weekend In KC

I'm forcing myself to write this now.
Mainly so i don't forget anything,
and more importantly so that I actually do it.

This past weekend Casey and I headed up to KC. It's only a 2.5 hour drive but we NEVER do it. It's actually very sad - Casey and the doggies had not been to Kansas City since Thanksgiving! So pathetic.

Friday night we got to town around 8pm, hung out with my parents, watched the olympics and that was that.

Saturday was a totally different story - Casey and I woke up early and ran 5 miles (we're training for a 1/2 marathon in October. I can finally say that because I finally believe I might be able to do it.)

After our run, we went with my parents downtown to city market.
It was a beautiful morning and so many people were out, it was packed!

We had a lot of fun roaming around and checking everything out. My mom got some fruits and veggies, then it was time to eat! My parents love this italian sausage stand, they grill it up right there and even though it was 10 am, we all ordered some sausages and they were AMAZING. Like, I want one right now as I type. Then we went into one of the bakery's and ordered some desserts to share - again, so good. 

If you live in KC - PLEASE GO! It was such a great time and the food was really fresh and oh so tasty!

Mom & Casey @ the market.

I left my fam at city market and headed south to NORTH for lunch with my high school girlfriends. It's so weird - 3 are pregnant and one just had a baby! It's a whole new look for us:) AND I've been DYING to see baby Elle Swift since she entered this world 11 weeks ago!

Let me say the wait was worth it.. that little girl is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

She was dressed from head to toe in pink and she didn't fuss one bit.
I love her and I don't care who knows it!

After lunch we went for pedi's.
It's so bittersweet when we get together because I love those girls like my sisters and I love getting to see them - but I'm always so sad to leave them.

I quickly got over my sadness with a trip to the legends!
Picked up my mom and Casey as I looped around 435 and we spent a few hours power shopping hitting up all the stores we don't have in Wichita!
We also got to see sporting KC arena for the first time,
very cool. KC is changing so much!

I had no luck shopping! But casey bought some purple converse high tops which he can't wait to wear in Manhattan so i guess it was worth the trip.

That night my mom had the family over for a pre-run dinner. I was exhausted and asleep by 9!

The whole reason for the trip was to participate in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure on Sunday morning. My aunt Joanie lost her battle with breast cancer 10 years ago! That's crazy to me. 10 years!

This year the race fell on what would have been her 52nd birthday. Yes, do the math, that means she was only 42 when she passed. Anyway - my family used to run every year and this year we reunited to do it again.

It was awesome! Weather was good, company was good, it was a great way to end our short weekend getaway. Cheers to you Aunt Joan! Happy bday:)

Summer Time!

Why does summer always go so fast? It's just not fair.

And I can't even use busy as an excuse!

We've had a very uneventful summer and I like it.

Let's back up to June. June was very exciting!

Well it wasn't quite June, but on May 28th we got to meet this little guy...

Mr. Henry Moore

I could probably write a whole post on this event in and of itself.

I'll just say it's been pretty cool watching our friends become parents.

If I'm being completely honest, it's been educational too.

Henry is a cutie pie and he looks just like his daddy!

I wasn't sure what to think of him at first but we became fast friend-

I love holding him and watching him grow! 

I'm a total baby hog when I'm around him and I don't care.

He's just too cute:)

Also in June was the ongoing wall project...

I would not recommend this to anyone.

I knew it was a toss up when I ordered the stencil but I really wanted it to work!

The stencil was thick plastic and even though I used elmers spray glue to ahere it to the wall and get a tight fit, the paint still bled.
AND I'm super annoyed that it looks so great in pictures, but in person... you can definately see the imperfections. So for the next 3 weekends I took tape and attemplet to clean up all of the lines that weren't up to my standards... most boring job EVER!!!!!!

3 weeks after we started, this is the final product...

I really do love it and I love the way it looks,

but I worked way too hard on one silly wall.

Next time, I'll wallpaper:)
That't right I said wallpaper... so taboo.

A few other June moments...

We ran our first 10K!

As in, did.not.stop.

It sucked, and it hurt really bad, but I felt so accomplished when we crossed the finish line!!!!!

Laura and I also hosted Henry's SIP AND SEE!!!

So fun!

Laura came up with the idea of ordering a chick-fil-a nugget tray (serves 25-30) so we didn't have to grill in the 100 degree weather. We put it in a crock pot to keep warm - it was a hit!

Seriously doing this again!

In other news, I got PROMOTED!

First promotion of my career:) So it was big news for me!

I worked very hard for it and I totally deserved it. So it felt amazing to hear it was official.

My official new title is Tax Senior Associate.

Which means I will be reviewing most of my returns and projects instead of preparing them.

Obviously more responsibility which terrifies me.. but one day at a time right?   

And finally... in June (really, this happened in July) I had my first LIME-A-RITA.

 

SO GOOD! 

Tastes more like a summer beer than a margarita.

I actually don't even like Margaritas,

or tequilla

 or skinny girl margaritas for that matter

but this is nothing like any of those.

It's unique AND amazing, you should try it ASAP!

Memorial Day Weekend

There was a whole lot of summer going on around here this weekend!

We took our first trip to the Andover Y water park.

Casey floated around the lazy river,

I started reading the Hunger Games.

We spent lots of time with these two sweet faces...

Tex loves his daddy.

Kia loves Oprah.

I finished hunger games and we went to see the movie.

If you haven't read this yet - do it! 

It's so great!

I finally ordered my wall stencil 

and picked the wall...

more details to come. 

 We grilled out:)

We showed some american pride! 

(flower are coming back to life! 

I've been watering them every morning)

I broke out my new summer skirt!

I'm loving ORANGE right now,

all the way down to my toes!

While I took pictures of my feet,

Casey smoked a celebration cigar!

No complaints here.

Happy memorial day:)

Fridays Random Thoughts

I'm going to stencil a wall in my house,

maybe even a whole room and not just a wall...

I cannot decide and it's driving me crazy.

I've been wearing my crossbody purse on one shoulder lately.

Especially when I'm in work clothes.

Makes me feel more professional I guess...

I absolutely love NARS orgasm blush.

One of my high school gal pals turned me onto this last year,

she said it looks good on everyone - and I totally agree.

It's quality, it's fresh, and if you are in need of a new blush I would highly recommend it.

I purchased some new silver bangles at a jewelry party last month and i've been wearing them at work. Everyone within ear shot has taken the opportunity to tell me how annoying they are. Somebody even yelled "stop moving!"  ha, it was a total joke but they are annoying. I thought everyone wore bangles? Does everyone else's bangles make as much noise as mine? What's going on!

Obsessed with this music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

Skinny cow ice cream sandwiches are back in my life!
First box (they no longer come in that plastic casing) purchased Monday. Finished it last night. Do you have that certain something you only allow yourself to buy during the summer? 

To keep it special and summery.

My parents are coming to Wichita this weekend!

They haven't been here since December... and I've only seen them once since then. So sad:( Casey and I are making dinner for them on Saturday night.  His parents are coming over too. We have NO IDEA what we're making!

The pretty flowers I planted last month are almost all dead.

And I've been watering them!
W.T.F.

I guess mom and dad will not be doting on my green thumb this weekend. I don't think I have one.

(this picture was taken on the day I planted them, best they ever looked)

Happy Weekend!!! :)

#Noshame

A few weekends ago Casey and I had visitors!

The Garcias, or as I like to call them Harjung and Gar. 

At lunch I told a story about my boss and her house cleaner. At the end of the story I tried to wrap it all up by saying
"pound sign, rich people problems!"

Lauren quickly interjected

"Pound sign? Do you mean hash tag?"

#OHMYGOSHYESIDID

It was in that moment I realized I might be losing my coolness!

I saw a glimpse of my future.

I heard my future child..."Um mom, do you mean hash tag?"

Over the past few weeks I've noticed other things I do that completely shameless and embarrassing...

  

1. While on walks I always pick up Kia and do curls with her.

I've never thought this was weird until a very rude lady in a passing car gave me a dirty look. Really Lady? She gets tired.

She is bitty and after a few miles she wears out.

I've always viewed this as a fabulous solution - A win win.

 I give her a ride AND tone my arms at the same time.

2. I obsess over people.

For example, there's a lady in Junior League and she's always perfectly put together,

fun personality,

2 kids,

stay at home mom,

and I want to be JUST LIKE HER.

For most people there is no harm in admiring somebody else's life, privately.

Not me - I made it known to all of my friends that i was obsessed and that I found out she lived in the neighborhood next to mine (because I looked up her address in the Junior League Yearbook) and while out on a walk with Casey I made us detour so we would walk by her house.

Ah... I've since moved on, to another lady in JL but she lives across town so there will be no walk-bys and a drive-by crosses the line.
I have limits.

Additionally, i'm never on that side of town.

3. Last summer I bought a black Maxi dress from the target maternity section.

Don't judge. There was nothing maternity about it. I was actually a little annoyed that it was even in the maternity section. I think it should have been in the regular section. Pregnant ladies are smart enough to know that maxi dress = maternity friendly. It may even make them feel good to know they bought a regular dress and "made it work" Instead, us not pregnant people have to feel guilty for going into the maternity section and taking back what is rightfully ours. Anyway, I told everyone who complimented me on that dress "target, maternity!"

Do you see my point? I'm bound to be an embarrassing mom.

Even worse, when we were at the movies Friday night a dad and kids walked in and the dad tripped up the steps, unintentionally, and everyone gasped. Casey laughed out loud and then said to me "I'm going to do that to our kids all the time it will be so embarassing"

#embarassingparentstobe

disclaimer: I am NOT pregnant, nor are we trying.

House Tour?

We've been in our house for18 months.

We moved in September of 2010...

yep, right about 18 months
and I don't think I've really ever blogged about the interior.

I think I blogged while we were building.

Maybe not even that.
Oh well.

Last night I went around the house and took some pictures.

A. Because it was semi clean.

B.  we have lots of pretty flowers on the counters and I love it.

C. Let's face it I've recently come into some free time
and I can't seem to sit still.
I've been busying myself and I am pretty sure one day I will crash.

(UPDATE: I crashed. I started this post Tuesday morning and ended up taking a two hour nap tuesday afternoon followed by a 6pm bedtime on Wednesday, 730pm on Thursday. WHOA!)

Ok, back to the tour.

I don't really know how to narrate the tour!
We didn't "fix it up" and I don't have before and after shots.
This is awkward.

Well we should start in the living room.
(Andy Coen is a frequent visitor, he happened to be over the day I took these pics)

While I was in Prague I purchased a photo print of the city and I had it hanging over my bed while I lived there. When I got back I had it framed and hung it in my condo, in Denver it was in our Dining room and for the past 17 months it has been leaning against the wall over the mantel because the cable  cord was running down to the tv and we couldn't hang anything.

FINALLY we got the cable moved and I hung the picture!!

It's off-centered.

Nothing I can do about that,
the studs are where they are.

Casey made the WINCHELL banner for our wedding,

I wanted to take a picture with it and use that image for thank you's.

Unfortunately it never made it out of the bag.

Literally the only part of our big day that didn't go as planned.
It still makes me sad.

More tour later.

I can only write so much about house stuff.

Dogs are more fun!

Check out this funny video of Tex.

Casey was ordering Chili's online and Tex wanted to catch the mouse.

"Good Lord Jesus"

Bible.

I've been using that phrase atleast 5 times a day for the past few weeks.

I didn't even realize I was doing it until one of our interns told me I say it, like, ALOT.

Better question - Who says that?

I think it's because I was trying to stop cussing but I don't think there was ever a conscious decision on my part to start using Jesus as a supplement to other profanities.

The point is that I've been a bit stressed out with work.

I know that everyone is busy and reading about how somebody else is also busy isn't the best use of your free time so I won't go into the details.

let me just say I'm very happy "busy season" concluded last Tuesday April 17th.

This. year. was. rough.
A growing year.

I know blogs are supposed to be about life, and lately work has absolutely been my life.

Here are some things I've learned about myself throughout the past 4-ish months:

1. I love T-SWIFT. I listen to her songs all day long on spotify. Favorites of the moment: Long Live & The Story of Us. I feel like she sings my thoughts. Anyone else?

2. I equally love Lil Wayne. I won't share my favorite songs... you'll judge me.

3. I have anxiety. I don't think I've ever really paid attention to the signs in the past but they were hard to miss mid-February. Solution: I'm working on it. I've started on some daily vitamins, I try to get out the office once a day and I'm trying to exercise more often.  

 

4. I'm externally motivated. I had a meltdown, i'll admit that. One very emotional week in January. That's when one of our directors told me that I'm externally motivated. She is too... I like feedback, I want to know if I did good or bad and I need recognition. It all sounds a bit self serving but that's what motivates/drives me. I read about it after she "diagnosed" me and I would totally agree.

5. Less is more. I think it's an admirable trait. I always notice when others can do it well.
I also think it's difficult to do.

6. Goldfish and peanut butter is my favorite snack. I could eat peanut butter by the spoonful.
I used to do that in high school until one day my mom took the jar out of my hand and threw it in the trash. Ha.
 
7. If I stay at work long enough, Casey will cook dinner,
do the laundry, and feed the dogs:) :)

8. This career thing can be rough and nobody tells you how to do it well.
Some days I feel worn out, some days I feel stupid,
some days I wonder why it has to be so difficult.
 but I love the days when I can explain something with confidence,
the days I know I made a difference;
I especially love the days I feel myself growing and learning.

 I like to be challenged.

and I think I'm learning more about me in my late 20's than I ever could have imagined.
It's interesting and it's exciting.


When I graduated high school my mom made me a shirt that said
"It's all about me in 2003"

I think she was wrong...
It's all about me in 2012.
I know it doesn't ryme, but it's true.

 

Let's try this again...

Hi Everyone! I have decided to blog again:)

My goal: once a week.
My inspiration: feeling creepy when i see people who's blogs I read and knowing all about them (case in point I saw Brittany Carter this past weekend and I was asking her all about her soon-to-be baby boy and her bathroom remodel... then I felt super creepy when my other friends asked me how I knew all of that?! Ha!)
My Life: Well let me think about where I left off? We had just got TEX! Well, he turned one year old two weeks ago. I couldn't believe my little man is a whole year old.

here is a picture of him on his birthday - love his waggy tail:)

He has been a challenge. He is not completely potty trained and sometimes he has more energy than we can take but he is so sweet and he is always in a happy playful mood:)

Love him!