It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

It's a little ridiculous how much I love this time of year. Every year I come home on Thanksgiving night and begin putting up decorations. I'm usually by myself in this endeavor as my husband is sacked out on the couch after a long day of eating. It doesn't matter though, I love it that much. Our house is already festively attired and I love sitting in our dimly lit living room with a fire in the fire place, looking at the twinkling white lights. Now, if I could just finish up the semester, it's off to my parents house to enjoy the holidays!

Decorations sitting in martini glasses

A little holiday brew kept cold in snow

Candles & Christmas lights strung in a dim lit room

what i've learned in 1 year

enjoying a wonderful little wine garden with a live band - Lindwedel Wine Garden

To say that the hubbs and I had an amazing time this past weekend might be a slight understatement. However, returning home has been less than stellar. Our kids dogs keep getting out of the backyard, we both have ridiculous amounts of work piling up, and as a result we have been slightly crabby towards one another all week. Welcome to life and marriage. If there's one thing I've learned in the past year it's that they're not kidding when they tell you it's for better or worse. But, if you work at it, the better does out weigh the worse. So while I cope with returning to reality this week I choose to focus on the better, which are some very fond memories from this weekend. This is including but not limited to: zip lining (which sadly I have no pictures of), a helicopter ride, 2 bottles of wine, a bird's eye view with a hot tub, beautiful surroundings and some great company.

flowers and fish pond outside the fish hatchery

amazing view from our private deck at Cameron's Crag B&B

even more amazing view from a helicopter with the doors taken off

Table Rock Lake from the air

delicious wine with a name that fit the moment

it's all fun and games until someone ends up with a fly in their wine

another amazing deck view

a very relaxed and happy couple

reality bites

This past weekend, the hubbie and I had the most amazing time relaxing and celebrating our first anniversary!  We spent three wonderful days enjoying a Branson, Missouri B&B with our own private deck and hot tub nestled in the trees, high above Lake Taneycomo. There was wine tasting, helicopter rides, zip lines and live bands in beautiful gardens. Needless to say, going back to reality yesterday was slightly rough...

fun with accessories!

ring, c/o Tobias Designs; nail polish, Sally Hansen "Wet Cement"

It is my fashion belief that there are two things every girl must have fun with regardless of age: jewelry and nail polish. This weekend I had a blast with both (more details later this week!), and it all started on Friday with some Silly Bandz. Yes, I know my age. I got enough crap from my husband that evening when I wore them to dinner with his family. However, my Silly Bandz wound up being a hit with everyone, when after two pitchers of margaritas we ended up playing "guess what animal this Silly Band is" before shooting them at each other! 

Then, on Saturday this beautiful little ring became the newest piece in my collection. I love how the pops of colors look like they are bursting out of the ring! It makes me think of balloons or confetti... or maybe popcorn (that was actually my BFF's interpretation). Either way, I had fun. Oh yeah, and I painted my nails grey :) 

So, tell me dear readers, what did you do for fun this weekend?

breaking up is hard to do

With the true first day of Fall quickly approaching (it's Thursday, in case you weren't aware), I thought this weekend would be a great time to start boxing up the 'ole summer favs to make room for my fall/winter clothing. However, it wasn't nearly as gratifying as I had thought it would be. Like every other fashionista right now, I've been salivating over layered sweaters and knee high boots for weeks. So, I thought clearing out my summer clothes would be fun. Instead, I kind of felt like I was breaking up with them. "Dear summer clothes, it's not you, it's me...."

So, to make them me feel a little bit better I decided to give it one last go around. I pulled out my cut off shorts, threw on these super cute espadrille-inspired flats that I snagged from Target last weekend ($8!) and the hubbs and I cooked kabobs on the grill! 

"Can we still be friends?" xo, Gracie

run away with me

Okay, so we're not really running away, per se...  but the hubby and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary exactly one month from tomorrow! So, I've been spending more time than normal searching for places to go and things to do to celebrate the occasion. Remember when we went wine tasting in Missouri about 6 months back? Well, we're thinking that another low key, bed & breakfast-staying, wine tasting, relaxing weekend might be the perfect way to celebrate. If you have any recommendations of places to stay we would love to hear them!

I love you, babe! The first year has been an absolute blast! But then again, I wouldn't have expected any less :) 

influenced from afar

Despite the fact that we're just now coming up on 1 year of marriage (sigh), the hubby and I are already thinking about our 2nd anniversary... because to celebrate we're going backpacking through Europe for 3 weeks! We both love to travel (if you haven't noticed), and with a booked solid year ahead of us - final year of my Masters (holla!) - we've decided that next October will be the perfect time to run away together for a while :)  With that being said, this outfit kind of makes me think of our upcoming adventure. I believe lace has gone slightly unappreciated in the US up until recently, while the French and Spanish have always managed to incorporate it quite nicely into their cultures. So, I was quite pleased to find this lace top hanging from a sale rack at Kohl's about 6 months ago. At only $12 - magnifique! 

style, fashion, & other affairs of the heart

image via The Sartorialist

I love this picture. Her skirt/slightly baggy shirt combo & wedge heels are amazing (as are her legs!). He is incredibly handsome, also. I love his oxfords without socks. The hint of ankle showing creates a crisp look. Together, their style makes for an incredible photo. However, the part I love the most is the way she is looking at him. For me, that's what life is all about. 

Fact: I am a hopeless romantic. 

Organization & Beautification

Before:

Not so organized, clean, or pretty room

I think I will echo the sentiments of most women when I say that life is not always organized nor pretty. On my way to work this morning, I was thinking about how some weeks I am completely on my A-game. As a result my house, life, and career (and blog) stay 100% caught up and I still manage to both work out and watch TV with the hubbs while also going to bed early. Then there are the weeks when it feels like life is completely out of whack. The clothes that never seem to look right in the morning lay strung all over the house, dinner is never home cooked and never happens before 10 pm, and my husband and I neither watch TV nor go to bed early.  

Let me assure you that I'm by no means a Master at it, but I have learned that attaining some sort of balance in life is as much a mental game as it is anything else. As a result, part of my weekly ritual (usually Sunday nights) is aimed at organizing and beautifying some aspect of our life - laundry, email, finances, our house in general, etc. This week's focus: our bedroom. It's amazing how much a new lamp, a clear floor (sans shoes) and some clean sheets will do for your morale and mental ability to deal with the week ahead. 

*Side Note: the beautiful lamp you see on our bedside table cost me $50 at Tuesday Morning, originally $135! 

After:

Chest & painting from my parents (sans laundry & shoes)

Clean bedding on a freshly made bed

Bedside table with newly purchased lamp

Lampshade beside bed

Culinary Bliss

Our evening Saturday night in downtown Kansas City was quite wonderful. What the rain before dinner prevented (shopping), dinner definitely made up for (hmmm... lots of chocolate!). Three fondue pots, two and half hours, 2 salads and one happy couple later made for a great date night. As promised on Friday, I did wear my single shoulder sun dress and loved every minute of it - especially the part where I ate way too much. Let me tell you that the very forgiving waistband came in handy afterwards. 


Side note: I need to find a way to wear this dress more often. I mean let's face it, we're busy and the hubby and I don't get many date nights. The single shoulder element of the dress makes it slightly hard to wear it to the office, so it has me a little stumped. Thoughts on this dress outside of date night?  How would you wear it?

Grecian Holiday

Okay, first of all let me start by saying that I know the name of the movie is Roman Holiday, but that didn't really fit my post. Second, it might be somewhat of an understatement to say that I've lived in belted sun dresses this summer (evidence here, here, here, and here). However, there is one that I feel has been sorely under appreciated: the one shoulder sun dress. I have a cutie hanging in my closet that, since our wedding and honeymoon festivities, has gone unloved.  However, that will end this weekend.  The hubbie and I are going to enjoy a date night and some needed relaxation in Kansas City, and what do you think is going with me? My belted one shoulder sun dress. 

1. Modcloth, $84.99

2. Tropical Print Playsuit, Topshop $135.00

3. One Shoulder Ruffle Dress, Metropark $59.00

4. Asymmetric Ruffle Dress by Rare, Topshop $69.00

5. Tulip One Shoulder Dress, Oasis $31

6. Live It Up Dress, Modcloth $65.00

Home Grown

{hubbie & grandfather fishing}

Each time I go home, I become just a little more proud of where I come from.  This weekend's trip was amazing.  Between getting to hold my best friend's first born child (born last Friday) and watching my husband spend quality time fishing with my grandfather, I am leaving North Carolina completely content and at peace with life. 

Happy Monday, dear readers! I hope you all had an amazing weekend also!

{the beautiful little feet of my "nephew"}

{delicious North Carolina wine}

{one of five fish that my husband caught over the weekend}

{a teary-eyed, proud auntie!}

Leavin' On a Jet Plane

image via Flickr

My oh my! Tuesday was one crazy day which has left me wondering where it went!  I'm leaving on our jet plane in just a matter of hours and not one outfit is packed! The hubbie, however, is completely packed and ready to go (c/o his wonderful wifey)!  So, indulge me while I use my blog as an extension of my ever growing to-do list!

Here is my thought process when it comes to packing:

1. I pack by days. This meaning that I think about what I will be doing on each of the different days that I am gone and then create at least one outfit for each day accordingly.  Example: Saturday night we will attend a cook-out at my aunt and uncle's house, so my outfit for Saturday will be something grilling appropriate.

2. I pack shoes first. This is probably not a suprise for anyone who knows me halfway decently or has read this blog for more than 30 seconds.  I tend to think that shoes make the outfit and I like to have options, so I try to take at least as many shoes as days that I am planning to be gone... unless of course I'm gone for a month - I'm not that shoe-crazy! Anyway, depending on the number of days I'm gone, I try to pack at least one of each of the followIng: flats, heels/wedges, short boots, and something with a peep-toe.  My Rainbow flip flops also go with me everywhere, but they don't really count.

3. I pack the night before.  This rule, of course, doesn't apply if I'm going to be gone for more than a week.  That requires more time and planning.  The reason I otherwise wait is due to 1) I like to get the most accurate picture of my what my travel destination's weather looks like and 2) the clothes wrinkle and it takes up too much space in my bedroom.  The night before generally works just fine. 

4. I pack only carry-on if at all possible when flying.  This generally works if my trip is less than a week or if I'm traveling to a warm destination where minimal clothing is needed and what I do pack takes up little room.  The reason being that I've had one too many bags lost or show up late, and I love my clothes and shoes and would prefer that that not happen. 

Alright, there you have my packing ritual.  I'm going to start a little packing for tomorrow and then hit the sack because 5:30 am is going to come much too early for this girl!

"In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina..."

Actually this time I'm not just going there in my mind, I'm physically going to be there this week!  The hubbie and I are leaving Wednesday afternoon for a much needed getaway to my parents house.  It's been almost 4 1/2 years since I moved away from the state that James Taylor sings so fondly of, but regardless of how much or little I am able to get back, whenever I do it always welcomes me with open arms.  I am not planning on taking my laptop on this trip (as the goal is to get a little R and R), but I do have a line up of goodies for your reading pleasure. Have a great week and weekend, dear readers!  I'll be back next week fully rejuvinated and with lots of details from our trip!

so ready!

image via Flickr

...for our next cruise! A couple of weeks back we booked our room for a cruise next February with our parents and a few family members and we couldn't be more excited!  Except for the fact that it is the better part of a year away.  I guess for now I'll drool over these adorable huts sitting in the water.  How amazing would it be to spend a week in one of these?

Happy Monday!

on the road again

image via Flickr

I am happy to report, dear readers, that we're hitting the open road again this weekend! The hubbie and I are going to Oklahoma City with some friends to spend Friday and Saturday night.  Our itinerary has not yet been planned, and as of right now I don't think any reservations have been made.  But, sometimes unplanned trips end up being the most fun.  I'll let you know all about our great escape next week.  

However you spend your time this weekend, enjoy every minute of it!

six months later

I spent some time this weekend organizing the photos on my computer and came across some great shots from our wedding.  6 months later and I still love to look at these...

{insert sigh}

Just thought I'd share!  Hope you are having a fan-tab-u-lo-so week, dear readers!

the note my husband sent via his brother as I was getting ready

champagne in champagne flutes

my husband lighting a birthday candle for his grandfather - we got married on his birthday

self-explanatory.  I'm obsessed with shoes... would you expect anything less?

How much fun...

shades, Ralph Lauren; dress, Target; shoes, Payless sample

...was your weekend?  Ours was pretty awesome.  I'll share more details later in the week, but for now I just wanted to share a few fun photos.  We found this vineyard about 5 miles outside of Hermann.  The weather was beautiful and at the time we took these photos I think we had sampled enough wine to constitute 3 normal size glasses! 

it's here!

 

image via Flickr

Dear Readers, what are you up to this wonderful Easter weekend? I am happy to report that the hubbie and I are going to get away tonight and tomorrow. We've made reservations at a quaint Bed & Breakfast about 4 hours from here in a small town called Hermann, located right outside of St. Louis.  Hermann is nestled along the Missouri River and is known for its great wineries and local eats.  We plan on indulging in some of the local flavor in addition to relaxing for a couple of days. As for the big day itself (Sunday, of course) we'll be attending Easter service in the morning and then having a huge brunch with our closest family and friends. It should be a great weekend, indeed.  For now though, I'll leave you with this - remember last Friday when I found this wonderful hint of spring in my yard?

Well... this week I found this magnificent explosion of spring in its place!  It's official: spring has sprung!

Happy Easter and weekend! I'll see you on the flip side!