A dinner Outfit.

Last night we went out to dinner with my dads side of the family. ((A belated birthday celebration))
I chose the restaurant,a local Italian favorite called Paisans. As always, we had amazing food. I always order the 'half and half.' Its half ravioli with red sauce and half seashell noodles with a delectable creamy Alfredo. To.Die.For. They are also famous for the Porta salad. Its a blend of cheeses, garbanzo beans, and different kinds of salami. How good does that sound right?? I always top it off with the french and blue cheese dressing.

Here is what I wore: I apologize for the first picture being so fuzzy. Im not really sure how that happened.

The ring. A gift from Silpada.

The restaurant I would say was 'dress casual' so I wanted to be comfy but cute at the same time. This outfit did that for me. Plus to top off the night.......My dad gave me an iPad. Yep thats right an iPad. Im still in a little bit of shock so more on that in a future post.

Im linking up at the Pleated Poppy. Yes I know its a day late but...better late than never right??

festivities.

This weekend was full of festivities being it Memorial day and my birthday yesterday. Wow. I know, so much to take in.

After a rousing game of Headbanzz.

We spiced the kids version up. This was one of the more 'blog friendly words' that we chose.
Not quite sure if I'm ready to share the not so 'blog friendly word' pictures yet.

After a few celebratory beverages.

I enjoyed some champagne and strawberries after a long day in the sun. And when I say a long day I mean extremely sunburnt, but successful.

good weather? check. a few hangovers? check. good food? check. time spent with friends and family? check and check.

Guacamole.

Its looking like food friday here in the midwest. I thought with memorial day coming up a really simple guacamole recipe would be just perfect.

You will need:
A few ripe avocados. (I used 2 but that doesn't make a very big batch)
Crushed Garlic (to taste) I LOVE garlic.
Lemon Juice- Just a squirt. You could use a fresh lemon as well but I used what I had.
And tomatoes. Sliced very fine.


1. Slice the avocados. Ive found that the easiest and most efficient way is to slice all the way around the pit and then pull the two halves apart. It is then easy to remove the pit and the skin.

2. Chunk the avocados. I find it easy if I cut the halves into smaller chunks. This makes the mashing process a little faster and easier. This is also when I add the lemon juice and the garlic. Add a little garlic at first because you can always add more if thy tongue is not satisfied. I use a potato masher to mash my avocados. Add a little salt and pepper, and maybe a little more garlic.

Note: I've heard that adding cilantro to this recipe is delicious. I personally really really really dislike cilantro so I have omitted that part but feel free to improvise.

And there you have it. Wasn't that easy?

I think this is just a great fast recipe to take to your memorial day potluck. Im headed to our lake house tomorrow morning. Sunday is supposed to be b-e-a-utiful and I cannot wait.

What are your memorial day plans?
Enjoy!

P.s. Im linking up at a great blog I just found. Find Skinny Jeans and a Chai Latte here.

yep. that.

Im trying out a new linky party this week and its all about your current crush(s).
Heres what Im crushin' on this week.


50 Shades of Grey: Yep. its that good. Im halfway done with the second book. After the first one I wasn't all that intrigued but they leave you hanging. Of course. And I had to buy the second one. 50 Shades Darker

The peonies are in bloom right now and wow are they beautiful. I went over to my parents and arranged some for my mom to have around the house. They are so pretty they look fake but when you smell them...ahhhh, summertime.

Yep. Im in love with the maxi. See here for details :)

Sparkling teas from Caribou Coffee. Im normally a Starbucks kind of girl but Caribou is so conveniently located in the same building that I work in. How lucky (or unlucky for my pocket book) am I!

My new spectacles! You can find out where I got them here.

And this guy. Just cuz he's my fav.

Linking up here for Current Crush Thursdays.

{its all about the maxi} WIWW

Thats right another maxi post.
I found two more maxi skirts that I don't know how I was living without. They were both really good deals and nothing is more comfy than a stretchy maxi skirt.

Thrifted from our local St.Vinnies. Only $6! Woo hoo

This is my new favorite floor length maxi. It was on clearance at Target for $12!

I also got new glasses this week.
Coastal.com was doing a promotion that my roommate saw on MSNBC and your first pair of glasses is free. You never have to buy another pair if you don't want to. All you have to pay for is shipping. These were originally $100 glasses and I got them for $4. I went with something I wouldn't normally buy because I knew that even if I didn't like them I had only spent $4. Turns out I love them and I am thinking about another pair in black.
What do you think?

Head over to the Pleated Poppy to link up with What I Wore Wednesday.

Operation closet organization.

My mom made the greatest revelation the other day. They sell those nice organizational cubbies at the Dollar Tree-or as she likes to call it the "Everything is a dollar store." I suspect that is as to not confuse it with the Dollar General where everything is not a dollar. Weird, I know.

They don't have a very abundant selection of colors but hey, there only $1 so I won't be too picky.

These ones I found at Target and I used them all year in my dorm room. They do have a better selection of colors and they are a little bit more sturdy. You can find them here for $6.99.


So I went out to the Dollar Store and I picked up a few of the storage containers and decided to start working on our closet. Yep thats right we share a closet. A small one. But were not home all year so when we are we won't be picky. It wasn't all that unorganized but I just felt it needed a little something more.

Before: Dalton's side

Before: My side

See its not all that bad is it?

After:
I put his 'nice jeans' in a bin above the closet. They get warn much less than the 'work jeans' that are in the dresser. There is currently nothing in the other bin but give it time, we will accumulate something perfect just for that basket.

Underneath I put shoes that we don't wear that often in one and left the other open for dirty laundry.

On my side, I took the sweaters and put them downstairs. No need for those anymore. I also folded up my swimsuits and undergarments and put them in one bin. In the other I put hair products, face wipes, jewelry, etc.

I can check one more thing off my 'to organize' list. Phew!

Happy Tuesday.
xxx

Last Week.

Moved out

Dog sat for my parents and enjoyed their back patio.

Found the perfect pillows for my cousin...at my own garage sale

Painted my toe nails green.

Had a garage sale. Made 5 dollars

Hated the green so I repainted them red.

Found a new picture editing app.

Added a new member to the chaos of our lives and they named him Beans

Moving Day.

Had my last final today. Yep that means I have officially completed a year of college. Yikes! My roommate was done with her finals yesterday so she moved out yesterday afternoon. It was amazing to see how close we have become throughout the year. I mean when you spend every second with a person in a tiny dorm room...you better be gettin pretty close.

We had so much in common though I don't know how I found such a perfect match. She doesn't live to far away and we will stay in touch all summer. I just know it! So today I took my last final and moved out. Wow. Weird to say. I had been doing small trips with stuff over the last week so today I didn't have that much. Just the big boxes, some shelving and a mini fridge. My dads girlfriend Jill was nice enough to come help me today. Thank goodness or I would still be there!

Thats today! See also that I have the next two weekends off. Yee haw!

Boxes everywhere!

Room is getting emptier...

Room is empty...well except for the towels I had folded so nicely in my top drawer that I almost forgot them!


It is a bittersweet day. So happy that its over but I can't believe one year of college is in the books. Only 6 more to go! Haha. just kidding mom and dad.

Enjoy your weekend.
xxx

Week In Pictures {a taste of summer}

Happy Tuesday everyone!
Its one of those weeks that is just flying by! I have to move out of my dorm this week and not to mention take a few final exams! The weather has been in the 80's the past three days making it nearly impossible to study or pack. Oh well. Sorry its so late but here are some weekend pictures...

We have some new baby bunnies in the back yard. The are so adorable. The parents said a big fat no to keeping one as a pet. Bummer.

Here's Grandma doing a little fishing off the dock this is of course after she nearly snagged my ear with the hook on the end of the pole.

Daltons mom recently bought a house on the lake. This is it from the lake view. They are completely gutting it and remodeling. It is going to be beautiful when it is done but for now its a good place to hang out, fish, boat, and catch some sun rays.

Simplicity. The summertime in a nutshell.

My present to my mom for mothers day. A cute craft, a gerbera daisy plant (her favorite), and a card. It made her tear up a little. Awww :)

A little mothers day get together with the fam. It was such a beautiful day. I think i even got the first sun burnt shoulders of the year. I'd call that a victory, and a good end to the weekend.

Only 3 more days of school left and I am beyond ready to be done.
Hope the weather is nice in your neck of the woods.

work slump.

Its that feeling that just isn't right. Ive recently switched jobs from one flower shop to another grocery/flower shop. I was really excited about the new setting and the new people and a fresh start at a new job. Well since I am still in school (only one more week :) I have been working about 2 days a week. Like every saturday which is contributing to the slump. I feel like saturday is my one day to do nothing yet then I am scheduled to work until 8 o clock.

Don't get me wrong I think the place is pretty great and I love everything that this place stands for but I just don't feel comfortable. Im trying to tell myself its because I'm still new and getting used to it but I just feel like I'm constantly in the way or needing to be told what to do. Not to mention doing just about everything wrong. Ugh. I feel like I actually look forward to the nights that I close because then at least I am by myself. Isn't that just sad?

I told myself Im not going to give up just yet. I need to give it a while longer to judge if maybe its just not for me. I hate being a quitter and disappointing people but I also always told myself that I refuse to work in a place that Im not happy at.

I have to work tomorrow from 1-8 because we have been really busy since mothers day is on Sunday. Hopefully I will get to see lots of lovely people who just want to buy flowers for there mom. I have to say that if Im feeling sort of "slumpish" a flower shop sure is an ok place to do it. Flower are just so happy.
Im lucky I have so many supportive people in my life. What would I do without them?

What do you guys think? Let me know if you have any tips.
Enjoy your weekend! I know I will (besides work)

a little something to D.I.Y for

Isn't it cute? And super easy too!
All you need is a frame. Some super easy rosettes. You can find easy tutorials all over pinterest. Or you can buy some from etsy.And a favorite quote or picture. Maybe as school winds down I will sit down and make a rosette tutorial.

Im making a similar one for Mothers Day. Ill be sure to do a post with the finished product.
Happy Thursday.