Back to Business, Sunday Evening Lull

Hello, y'all! I hope your weekend has been fabulous thus far! I know mine has. It is Sunday evening, I'm sitting on my couch under a cozy blanket (I don't know about y'all, but I have a tendency to keep my house on the cooler side...), snuggling up with the two cutest doberman (Cholla, the Min-Pin and the mommy's girl, and Milli, the Doberman pincher, and the daddy's girl), and sipping on a "larger than the restaurants will allow" glass of wine. In my world, you can't really beat that. Oh, and of course, my fiance is sitting next to me watching Mountain Men, we can't leave him out!

On Thursday, I blogged mainly about how excited I was for the weekend, and the plans I made for myself. Now that the weekend is drawing to an end, let me just tell you the turn of events. I honestly don't know why I set myself up to believe that a weekend will go a certain way or according to plan, because it NEVER goes how I mean for it to (no complaints, I like the little unexpected twists and turns)!

Friday night actually turned out just like I planned in my head. I came home from work, relaxed for a little while, got ready, and went to 21 West End. My work colleagues and I had great conversations and a great overall night. If you don't mingle with your co-workers outside of work, I HIGHLY recommend making the effort. It gives you a chance to get to know people in a casual environment, and you might end up viewing someone in a completely different light. I had the pomegranate martini (DIVINE, I tell ya) as well as the Chicken Oscar. I should have made an effort to get pictures to show you all, however time completely got the best of me. I wore a long sleeved black Piko top to dinner, with a pair of high waisted, loose black shorts with a gold chain design to dinner, and I paired it with a pair of rust colored wedges (again, I wish I took a picture for show and tell)!

Saturday morning I woke up and went to our local Farmers Market with Katie, and I'll tell you what, I was impressed!  I ended up purchasing some great items, including cucumbers, onions, garlic, pepper jelly, habanero mustard, and blackberry jam! I also picked up some sunflowers and a bouquet of fresh flowers while I was there. The sunflowers have been placed in my kitchen to brighten things up, and Charles is a sucker for sunflowers! My first farmers market experience was a great one and I know I will be back again, and SOON, if I can keep my butt in town for a weekend! When I got home from the market, I cooked breakfast for Charles and I, and then we went and completely cleaned out our cars inside and out. I can't speak for you, but I feel a LOT better when I start my week when I have a clean car. I think cleaning my car out on Sundays should become a new routine for us. We then spent the rest of the afternoon lying around lazily at the house, until it was time to get cleaned up for the wedding. After the wedding, we rented the movie "Movie 43" (NOT recommended, it was too odd for words) and got some Tassanee's (our favorite Thai place in town) and had a lazy night in.

Farmers Market Haul! ADORE!

Breakfast I made with the delicious blackberry jam from the Farmers Market

Today, I woke up, drank a cup of coffee and tore up Pinterest! I'm so addicted to that site, it helps me pick out my clothes, plan my weekly menu, etc. After that, I spent a little bit of the morning cleaning up (laundry and dishes) and completely cleaned out and re-arranged everything in our fridge! It is so much easier and more pleasant to open up the fridge and know where to find things, and to have everything clean, and all of the old items discarded. I had mentioned how I wanted to re-arrange the furniture, but Charles surprised me on Thursday night and re-arranged the living room, which I adore! After cleaning up, I got ready for a Bridal Fair at Inscriptions, where I was given a free Vera Bradley bag, SO cute! I have a slight Vera Bradley obsession, but I'm convinced this is ok, because all women have a small Vera obsession...right? ;) Charles and I then went to might parents to relax by the pool and grill out. The musician for our wedding came over and we chose the music for our wedding ceremony. It absolutely BLOWS my mind that it is only 54 days away! I can't even stand it!

Vera Bradley bag I scored at the Inscriptions Bridal Event!

I've mentioned several times in this post some local treasures I visit frequently. Shopping local is something I highly encourage to you all, get out there and make the extra effort to find where your local farmers, boutiques, restaurants, etc. are and support them! They take great care of you and you usually get more bang for your buck. If you live around here, I'll share with you some of my FAVORITE local places. For all of you fashionistas and shopping addicts out there like me, go to Suite One! I shop there and follow them religiously, I rarely find myself anywhere else when I'm in search of the perfect outfit. A favorite local place to dine of ours is Ralph's Pink Flamingo barbecue! They cater events, and they have the BEST barbecue (and potato salad...=D) around. Check them out if you live around here! If you're looking for one of a kind, unique gifts for any occasion, or invitations, etc. then check out Inscriptions! They are also a supplier of Vera Bradley bags, which helps my Vera obsession!

I think this is going to be all for me tonight, folks! I start my new work schedule tomorrow (6am-3pm..oh the life of a Freight Broker) and I really need to get myself on a new sleeping schedule! I PROMISE I will be back again, sooner rather than later!

Until next time, xoxoxo

Michele

Busy in the Best Sense!

 Well it’s officially Thursday (hey, we’re almost to Friday, right?) I had anticipated blogging on Monday morning with a little weekend re-cap, however when I got into work, I was asked to train one of our new employees for three days, which set me back in the blog world. Even though I missed writing, it is extremely rewarding to be able to help somebody learn our business. For those of you who don’t know, I am a freight broker for a trucking company here in Arkansas. I absolutely ADORE my job. Seriously, I go to work happy every day.

I would say the term “whirlwind” best describes my life these past few months, but I finally get to spend a weekend at home! I won’t know what to do with myself tonight, usually Thursday is my packing night for going to the lake! What’s on the agenda for this weekend, you ask? Well, I might just have to fill you in!

 Friday night I am going out with some co-workers (to celebrate the end of this horrendous work week) to one of my absolute favorite places to dine, 21 West End. Seriously, if you are local, go check this place out! The food, the martinis (specifically the pomegranate martini, seriously divine,) and the atmosphere are just out of this world. I’ve already picked out what I am going to have: The crab cakes and the chicken Oscar with asparagus. This girl is TOO excited!

Saturday morning, I plan on doing a little shopping at our local Farmers Market! Honestly, y’all, I have been DYING to go to the Farmers Market here in town, but I have been either out of town or had prior engagements every Saturday for months. When I finally knew I was going to be in town for a weekend, I knew I had to clear my schedule for a trip to the farmers market (plus, my great friend Katie makes my mouth water with all of the great hauls she does of the market each week..if you want to check it out, visit her blog http://gloriouslyreallifexo.blogspot.com/, I read it religiously! Love you Katie!) After the farmers market, it will be time to give my car some TLC! Doggie pawprints and dirt in the BMW 328i is NOT ideal! Saturday evening, I get to go to an old friends’ wedding here in town. It will be great fun getting to see all of my old friends and play catch up, plus, it’s always fun to get dressed up! And I’ve got the world’s cutest date ;)

Sunday will be spent playing CATCH UP! In imaging my Sunday, this is exactly what I picture: Waking up and sipping on some coffee, making my grocery list and menu for the week (does anyone else plan out their weeknight meals? Would you be interested in seeing some examples of my menus?), doing a few loads of laundry and dishes (typical, they grow overnight for some reason), washing the bed sheets, tidying up the house, and hopefully rearranging some furniture! I LOVE to re-arrange things, it makes me feel like I’m in a new place with a fresh viewpoint. Hopefully Sunday afternoon we will be able to grill out some kabobs with some of the yummy veggies I intend to score at the Farmers Market! Then it will be time for a hot bubble bath with my favorite bath salts, a glass of wine, and a nice smelling candle. Oh, and some Michael Buble playing, of course ;)

Can you tell I’m already AMPED up about this weekend? Being able to sleep in my own bed will be great, and getting caught up on house work will be extremely rewarding.

I mentioned the couples shower Charles and I were thrown in the previous post, and since then, we have had invitations come in the mail for two more showers our friends and families want to give us! We are blessed beyond measure with the best friends and family! This Wednesday and the following Wednesday we will have showers, one is a formal Bridal Shower (ladies only, sorry boys!) and the other is a cocktail shower for both Charles and myself at the workplace of Charles’ mom! I better bust out the Thank You Notes again! I am crazy enjoying this time in my life, it is extremely bittersweet that the engagement is almost over! AND in three weeks, we are having our Bachelor / Bachelorette parties! Charles is off to Dallas, TX for four days with his friends, and I’ll be off to Tulsa, OK with my ladies! I can’t believe it’s happening so soon. Time flies when you’re having fun ;) More on the showers and bachelorette party as they get closer!

Here is a picture of the invitation for the Couples Shower that my fiance's brother's gf made! Like them? Check out her site, http://www.zazzle.com/nineeighteen/!



 

I know when the summer starts slowing down and I start getting my routine down  pat, I start looking for a good summer read! The one I am going to recommend to you all is Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. This book is a true, good for the soul book that I’m sure you would all LOVE.

Well, all, it’s been a blast being back, but I need to finish up a few things around here. The house won’t clean itself, and I’m pretty sure there’s a glass of wine around here with my name on it…

Until next time! Xoxo

Michele

As of late

When it’s winter and spring, I can hardly stand to wait for the summer. During the winter I just sit back and daydream about summer, thinking “The summer needs to hurry up and get here, it will be nothing but barbeques, lake time, tan skin, late nights, float trips, etc,” but when summer rolls around, it seems to be more like bed by 8:30pm, a different wedding every weekend, a baby shower every Sunday, and complete and utter exhaustion.

Nonetheless, I still get thrilled when my computer screen reads 4pm on a Friday. This weekend, it’s time for some lake fun! We have dedicated this weekend as “family weekend” at Lake Ouachita. My cousin and his new girlfriend are joining us, and will be coming in from Shreveport, LA to meet us for a weekend of fun in the sun. Also, since my sister and my mom are in Florida (white the rest of us non-teachers slave away at work this summer), my dad is coming to the lake with us for the first time. I don’t think people get how pleasant Lake Ouachita is until they actually get to experience it in all of its glory (trust me, it NEVER disappoints!)  Here below is a picture of Ouachita, so you can see why I love it so much:

Myself and our Min Pin, Cholla (such a lake dog!)

 

Since I’ve self-diagnosed myself with mild OCD and over-planning disorder (ok..so that probably isn’t a real thing, but if it was, I would have it HANDS DOWN), I like to do as much food prep as I can before we get to the lake (because honestly, who wants to spend their time at the lake chopping veggies and cleaning the kitchen, especially after a long, exhausting day in the sun?) In preparation for this weekend, I chopped up a red and a green bell pepper, as well as a white onion. We like to use these on pizzas (Friday night is typically pizza night at the lake, we like easy dishes because we are all tired from working all day) as well as some people (ahem..me) like them in their eggs or hash browns  for breakfast. I also like to make sausage balls ahead of time because they are easily freezable and easily cooked for simple breakfasts, and who doesn’t love a good sausage ball?

When thinking of snacking for a lake weekend, we usually go with a roasted red pepper hummus (the Marketfresh one from Wal-Mart is our favorite) and bagel crisps. We can’t get enough of that combination! I also really like to snack on fresh cherries! So delish on a summer day. Now I’m sitting at work, still have 3 hours to go before I get to go to the lake, and my mouth is watering. Maybe blogging about food on a slow day at work isn’t the best idea.

In other news, I got the pictures back from the Couple’s Shower. The theme for this shower, as previously mentioned in another post, was Casino Night (chosen by a highly excited Charles.) The wedding party did a SPECTACULAR job on this shower, y’all. I really do have THE best friends and family. I won’t torture you with a ton of pictures, but here are a few just so you can see a hint of what the shower was like:

The hostesses created these CUTE card decks as favors with our names on the back.

"A" cookies for my new last name (Alley)

I made this by getting an old picture frame, glittering the sides with spray adhesive and glitter, and using chalkboard paint on the glass! Totally DIY!
 

Close up of the cards

Some of the food, all with Cards that had the item description on them!

Lovin on my wabes

The wonderful Hostesses and nyself!



Well, all, I better get back to work! Maybe if I do, the afternoon will go by faster and it will be lake time (wink wink!) Hope to see you all back here real soon for a weekend re-cap!

Until next time, xoxo
Michele

 

 

Dog Days of Summer

Well we are officially in full swing summer in the south, which means long days, muggy afternoons, no rain, frizzy hair, and busy weekends, but it can also mean sunny days, barbecues, lake weekends, and tan skin. There are many ups and downs to the summer in the south, let me tell you!

Something I like to keep in mind during the summer is the theory that less is more (unless we are talking about clothing, ladies. Keep it covered!) When doing my hair in the summer, I use less heat (air dry that hair, ladies, and cut out that straightener, I know it’s tough but you can do it!) When I am doing my makeup, I don’t like to use heavy foundations, powders, etc. It’s too much for your skin, especially in the humidity of the great state of Arkansas. For the most part, this is proving to be a very cost effective sacrifice; I don’t have to dish out $40 on my Make Up Forever HD foundation like I do in the winter.  I also have to change my skin care routine (My oily skin gets worse in the summer, I can’t seem to shake it!) This summer I have been blessed to find very inexpensive alternatives to my usual beauty routine that are perfect for beating that heat! Here are some of my latest finds (a few are splurges, but most are very inexpensive every day options.)

 

I’m not sure if any of you have hopped on the bandwagon for the BB/CC cream frenzy, but if you haven’t, you should run to your local drugstore, Ulta, Sephora, etc. and pick some up. I started my love for these creams with a BB cream that I picked up at Wal-Mart. I really liked it, it did not feel cakey on my face and I felt like my skin could breathe, although it did not provide as much coverage as I would have liked. When I heard about the new CC creams, I knew I had to try it (similar to a BB cream, only a step up in my opinion.) They have sunscreen in them as well as they moisturize and provide color correction. I picked up two CC Creams from my local Ulta. The first one I picked up was the Almay Smart Shade CC Cream complexion corrector. I really like this CC Cream; it provides good coverage and has incredible shade matching. I highly recommend using this, especially for days when you’re going to be in the sun. It runs approximately $8.99 at Ulta. The next CC Cream I am obsessing over this summer is the L’Oreal Paris Visible Lift CC Cream. It has a scent to it, but it’s a pleasant scent. It creates a flawless finish and is extremely light. It runs about $12.99 at Ulta. I have really been enjoying mixing together a little bit of the Almay and L’Oreal CC creams together on the back of my hand and then using my Real Techniques Stippling brush ($9.99, Ulta) to apply to my face.  The stippling brush has become my new favorite way to apply foundations, it creates a flawless finish with minimal effort and it does not make your face greasy!

The next summer must have for my daily routine is the Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away cleanser ($5.97 at Wal-Mart.) Y’all, let me just tell you, this cleanser is incredible and I don’t know how I went so long without using it. As previously mentioned, I have incredibly oily summer skin, and this cleanser takes away the shine in one wash! I am beyond thrilled with this product. Another benefit to this face wash is the fact that it has a pleasant scent, which is hard to come by for most face washes that are available. I use this daily and it keeps the shine at bay for a good 10 hours.

I was a little surprised that I even picked up this next product to try. I never seem to gravitate towards the Rimmel section in the stores, but I had heard good things about the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in translucent ($3.99, Wal-Mart or Ulta.) I am so glad I decided to give this powder a shot. I am not a big fan of pressed powders in color, but some of the translucent powders out there are just too ghostly white, and instead of showing up translucent, they cast a white sheen on your face. With this pressed powder, it is not the case. It mattes your face while not adding any color. Absolutely spectacular for a day of fun in the sun to keep the oil at bay, even if you get a little bit sweaty!

 

My next summer essential is one I was shocked I took to so well. Maybelline Color Tatoo in the shade Bad to the Bronze. I am typically not big on cream shadows (oily skin includes the eyelids, y’all!) This shadow is easily buildable, so it can be used to create an easy day to night look. The shade is hard to imitate, so it’s an added bonus. I’ve been using it all summer and can’t get enough.

 

We have to protect our hair too, right ladies? I don’t know about y’all, but I have put my poor hair through a LOT! Finally, three years after all of the bleaching and absolute mess I put my hair through, my hair is finally starting to grow (hallelujah!) A BIG thank you goes out to my splurge product that is well worth dishing out the dough. The Macadamia deep repair masque ($18-30 dollars, depending on the size at Ulta) has been a Godsend. Not only does it smell absolutely divine, but it has restored my hair! It protects it from damage and it has been my go to whenever my hair starts feeling dry or brittle.

 

Ok, y’all, now that you know my summer must have’s, I want to hear about all of yours! I’m always, always, always on the hunt for new products that make my life easier, especially being in my early twenties, planning a wedding, and juggling career and family life.

Until next time! Xoxo

Michele  

Something old, Something New

It seems that I have started all of my posts saying “WOW, what a long time it has been since I have last posted,” but it’s incredibly accurate. It has been too long since I have updated on my life, whereabouts, and the good old South. I had a wordpress site, where I used to post everything to, however I can never get wordpress to function properly, so I am switching over to blogspot! My other blog, The Babbling Bride, is up here as well. I have been updating that one with my perspective on the whole engagement on my blog in a bad way! If you want to follow Katie, she can be found here: http://gloriouslyreallifexo.blogspot.com/. I’m not going to delay your suspense any longer, so here is what I have been up to lately!

I’M ENGAGED! Charles proposed in November (shortly after my last blog post). I am beyond thrilled to be Mrs. Charles Alley in just 71 short days! As you can probably imagine, I have been absolutely worn out planning for the wedding. I found the perfect dress, picked out flowers and decorations, gotten our engagement photos taken (check out the website of our awesome photographers here: www.beatyphotography.com), sent out save the dates, picked out the cake, and so on and so forth.

My wedding party threw Charles and I a Couples Shower (casino night themed) at the glass pavilion here in Fort Smith. It was absolutely everything we could have imagined, complete with cards, dice, food, friends, and family (and even a little old school Frank Sinatra playing in the background!) It seems to me as if Couples Showers are becoming increasingly popular with engaged couples. This way the groom gets to participate and it is more of a celebration than just a shower. It was great to see some out of town family and friends we hadn’t seen in a while and might not get a chance to visit with much at the wedding. At the end of this month I will be having what I like to refer to as the “formal” bridal shower (and I can’t wait!) This is the shower my mom’s friends are throwing for me, girls only! Then in one month, the bachelorette party in Tulsa! This entire process has been amazing. I am sad to see it ending, but I am excited to finally get to the end result: being married to my “wabers.”

Other than wedding related activities, I have been spending my time cleaning, a never ending process; trying new recipes, which is one of my favorite things to do, so if you have any good recipes, please share; spending time with girlfriends (I have the best group of gals that gets together for girls nights where we drink wine, eat fondue, and have great conversations); and going to the lake! Going to beautiful Lake Ouachita is the perfect cure for every day stresses. Since there is no beach close by, the lake is our weekend escape. We spend the mornings sipping on coffee and reading on the patio, the days on the lake boating and baking in the sun, and our evenings resting and cooking a nice dinner, maybe watching a movie or roasting s ’mores (if we are feeling the need to indulge in a sweet treat!)

Even though I have been increasingly busy lately (the wedding planning takes more of my time than I realized it would), I have been struggling to find positive things to do to pass time by before bed. If you don’t take time in your day to spend by yourself where you are not working, cleaning, cooking, etc. then I highly recommend finding 30 minutes a day to take a breather and indulge in something good for the soul. For me, I (attempt to) spend 30 minutes a day find a positive, encouraging story or a devotional. I cannot wait until I am married and can start my new devotional, The Power of a Positive Wife. Reading a devotional or a positive story each day is a good way to restore your faith in humanity or just escape to a place of no stress or anxiety. I’m always on the hunt for a good-for-the-soul read, so if you can think of any good ones, let me know! I’m almost positive my next read will be Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, however it is always good to have backups for us fast readers!

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the proposal and our engagement photos (be sure to check out www.beatyphotography.com.)

Until next time! xoxo

Michele