Precious Moments

Happy Monday, faithful friends! I trust you’ve all had a productive and long lasting weekend and are ready to tackle this week {or at the very least, at least prepared to start the week.} My weekend was a pretty tame one. There was bowling on Friday, lots of snow {sigh}, dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant Patron, a birthday lunch for my sister {Happy 28^th, Nikki!}, and food prep, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Just like every other weekend I tell you about. I’m just an old bore, but at least I’m switching it up this weekend and going to the lake! It should be a nice change in pace for us.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a little stir crazy lately. I’m tired of being cooped up inside, freezing cold, and I’m ready for some spring weather and green grass. I want to bust out my chacos and start working on the landscaping at the new house.

In other news, the Olympics have been extremely fun to watch with Charles. We are having a blast watching and cheering on Team USA! I really enjoy the figure skating, snowboarding, and the luge.

Short but Sweet photo recap!

 

Bowling Friday night! "Alleys at the Alley" :)

Boy shoes vs. Girl shoes

Snow Angels! My dogs ran outside when we were making them so I had to catch her and let her help me make the snow angel. Yes, more snow...

What's your sister's birthday without a deliciously fruity beverage?!

Colder weather calls for yummy K-Cup inserts. Here's our latest obsession, Gloria Jena's "Mudslide!"

 

We heard the news this morning about a friend who passed away. My brother in law’s best friend lost his wife and unborn child due to a horrible case of H1N1. What words can I say except for it’s absolutely heartbreaking, but they have gone to a far better place, and comfort should be taken in that.

So often we take for granted the people in our life and we focus too much on material items. When situations like this happen, it is an ever present reminder that we need to focus on the important things in our life, our loved ones.

When you get home from a long day at work, give your loved one a hug and a kiss. Ask them how their day was. And here’s the kicker: Listen to them when they’re speaking to you. Don’t get too busy for the most important things and people in your life. You never know when they will get taken away from you, and it always seems to be too soon.

When I see my husband {ok, and the fur babies} at the end of a long day, all I can think is “what a sight for sore eyes..” I hear people talk about how they can’t wait for their significant others to go out of town because they want to spend time without them, or wanting to do separate things at night because they need their “alone time.” Well I for one have different priorities. I don’t want to go out of town and leave my husband behind. I don’t want to spend evenings away from my husband. If my husband wants to go to a sports bar and watch football with a few of his buddies, he always invited me, and I always say yes {unless I’m ill} because if he’s interested, I want to be interested as well, and even if I’m not interested in what he is {cough, watching golf on tv…how boring is that}, I’ll still do it just to spend quality time with him.

People can go at any second. I don’t know what I would do without my loved ones, especially my husband. So go the extra mile, say I love you, and say you’re sorry first.

I will make it my mission each and every day of my marriage to not waste the moments that in the future I’ll want back.

“May the Angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest”

Rest in Peace Leslie Creekmore

Spark some Controversy

You know what the silver lining is about this particularly gloomy part of late January? I just placed my Girl Scout cookie order! Hooray! I know I shouldn’t be so thrilled about this. I’m 24 years old…and I am trying to eat healthy and set a good lifestyle. But sometimes, you just have to have the cookie.

Well, the ending of this week was an interesting one, especially at work. Since I got the promotion, I have to move “offices” to a new space. I am also going to be switching shifts. I will no longer be working from 6-3 {tears} and will be going to an 8-5 shift. I loved my 6-3 shift, but I’m surprisingly happy to be going 8-5. I’ll get to sleep in a little longer and stay up a little later, I won’t have to tiptoe around in the mornings so I don’t wake up my husband, and I won’t have to get dressed in the dark! Plus, Charles and I will start car-pooling now, which means spending more time with him. It will be an adjustment, but I’m ready for it!

Photo Recap!

Ok you get three guesses on what I'm making, just to keep things fun. Give up yet? It's salsa =) My husband so kindly informed me at 2 in the afternoon the day before that he had a mexican potluck the next day and needed me to make homemade salsa. So off to the store I went, and he had homemade salsa to bring to work. "Working wife-a-holic"

After cooking for Charles' potluck, I had to start dinner. Since I had already cut up so many fresh veggies, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and whip together some meatloaf. You can't beat a meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans on a cold night

For art's sake, I had to finish a bottle of wine so that I could use the cork to add to my new monogram cork holder =) Cork Art at it's finest. And filling it up is pretty fun, too! 

5am Wife-a-Holic duties! Leaving Charles a note to make sure he takes the salsa to work for his potluck, and of course leaving him a mushy love note as well. All in a day's work.

 

 

Let's spark some controversy today and talk about gender roles. I know several of you probably won't agree with my views on the topic, but we got into this discussion at work the other day, and I thought it was a fun conversation...

Drumroll please..

 

Gender Roles. First, let me start by disclaiming that I work for a living {hence my tagline, working wife-a-holic}. That being said, I also feel like there are completely different expectations for men and women, and you know what? I'm okay with that. For example, when I get off work, I feel that it's my job to do the dishes, do the laundry, sweep, mop, vaccuum, cook, etc. Those I feel are "woman jobs". By the same token, I'm not going to want to mow the yard, rake the leaves, take out the garbage, work on the car, etc. Those I feel are the "man" jobs.

Sometimes, I think women get too bent out of shape over realistic expectations from men. Yes, men expect that you dress nice. Yes, men expect that you do sweet "wife" things for them {like cook things for their potlucks at the last minute...}. Yes, men expect that you clean the house. But you know what? I want to do those things!

Think that's old fashioned? Go ahead and think that. Because you're exactly right! Back in the old days, women were very concerned about making sure their husband's every need was catered to. Women wanted to keep their men happy and to please them. And you know what? There wasn't a 50% divorce rate back then, either.

Don't argue for the sake of arguing. Don't "hate cooking and cleaning" just because you think it's anti-feminist. Take care of your husbands {or fiance's, or boyfriends...} and take joy in doing things for them. Be a good wife. Respect your husband's, even when you don't feel like they deserve it. Treat them well. I know they say "happy wife happy life," {and it's so true}, but as a wife, you shouldn't be happy or satisfied when your husband isn't well taken care of.

When you get home today, go get your husband a beer, let him sit in front of the tv, and go cook dinner. Spoil him! I think you'll like how you feel when you do.

"The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church. It's a choice you make -- not just on your wedding day, but over and over again -- and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife."

 

 

5 for Friday!

Happy FRIDAY, y’all!

I’ve seen this been done on an increasing amount of blogs lately, so I thought I might try it. It’s called 5 for Friday. Basically, you just talk about 5 things that are on your mind as Friday rolls around. How fun!? I feel as if I could be a regular 5 for Friday blogger, so let’s start with my first 5 for Friday post!

{One}

Coffee is something that is sometimes always on my mind, but especially today. For starters, I’ve been SO sick all week, and haven’t been sleeping at all, which means coffee has been a Life. Saver. No joke, I wouldn’t have made it through my first week back at work post wedding and honeymoon  at all, especially being sick, without coffee. My pal coffee has also helped me out this week by soothing my throat with its warm coffee goodness. Coffee will continue to help me this weekend as I sit under a blanket Saturday morning {HOORAY for cooler temps} and write a billion thank you notes! Here’s a few new fall coffee flavors you all might want to give a try…

 

{Two}

Starting Saturday, it’s officially Sweater Weather! Insert happy dance here. I have so many new and old sweaters that I can’t wait to dig out and fill my closet with. I’m fairly certain Sunday will be dedicated to laundry / switching my closets! {I have a closet for winter clothes and a closet for summer clothes. I switch the closets according to seasons to the closet in the bedroom} It makes my little heart happy when I switch my closets; it feels like I get a whole new wardrobe, which in a sense, I do. Here are some sweaters I am lusting over this fall / winter!

Oversized sweaters. I need no explanation why I am loving this for fall!

Tribal print sweaters! There are so many ways you can dress up and down a tribal print, fun sweater!

 

 

Studded sweaters are probably my favorite sweaters this fall. Rock and Republic for Kohl's has an amazing studded sweater I grabbed last season, and I'm looking forward to transition it into this fall!

 

{Three}

Kirkland’s holds a new, special place in my heart. I was looking for the perfect new monogrammed doormat {I know, I know, Bed Bath and Beyond has them, but they aren’t very cute in my opinion…a little too simple} and lo and behold, I found the most wonderful of all doormats. I give you the Kirkland’s monogrammed doormat! That’s not even the best part. The best part is its price tag. You might want to take a seat. This puppy is only $11.99 at Kirkland’s. I just can’t. TOO amazing! Not only odes Kirkland’s have these amazing and inexpensive rugs, but they have THE best {and most budget friendly} home décor and the yummiest smelling candles ever. Plus, they are always running some kind of sale or special. Blows my mind, I’ll be there most likely right after work.

The detailing on this doormat really sets it apart from others that I have seen. Thank you Kirkland's for such amazing and affordable products!

 

{Four}

A friend recommended that I start reading Erin Hilderbrand books if I wanted a good juicy beach read {I was about to head to the beach for my honeymoon, so of COURSE I wanted a nice juicy beach read!} I bought a few of her books, one of them being Barefoot, and fell in love!  I can’t wait to read ALL of her books. They are available on the Kindle also, for all of you tech savvy gals!

 

{Five}

It’s the weekend, and I’m Happy Happy Happy!  I started the weekend off right with a frozen Cinnamocha from Sacred Grounds, a local coffee shop. It is literally heaven in a cute little clear to go cup, and is making this Friday afternoon fly by!

 

My plans for this evening will start out with a going away party for my brother in law {he is joining the air force and will be shipping out for basic training later this month} at my sister’s house. I am SO looking forward to a night with family, food, and hopefully a huge glass of wine.

Tomorrow is a day of thank you cards and football! Charles’ brother and his girlfriend are coming over to watch our beloved Razorbacks play Florida, and I am going to try out a new mojito recipe {I’m on quite the mojito kick since Mexico…have a good recipe? Comment below}

I’m sure at some point this weekend we will watch Iron Man 3 {Charles is dying to see it, and I like to keep him happy} which means puppy snugs and cuddles with my husband. You can’t really beat that.

 

What’s on your mind this beautiful Friday? Big plans? I’d love to hear. Be a blessing today, and have a fabulous weekend!

Michele Alley