Where has summer gone?

I'm not kidding.

This has been the quickest summer in my entire life.
Well, the life as far as I can remember.

And I wish someone would freaking stop it.
Somehow I went to 10 different states in 2 months.
Crazy.

July 7th.

Really? July 7th.

Seriously.

Where did June go?

Did someone fwd this shiz without telling me?

If you did...go home.

I am not ready to start my year of dressing up

daily, having to do my hair and look presentable, not being able

to "take off work" if I need to. Waaah.

It's like the real world....with zero pay.
And grad classes added to the mix.

Is this legal?

I say NOT.

I am excited to see how this whole student teaching/ internship / plus grad classes thingy

goes though. And to see if this is the path I need to continue pursuing, or lead

my dreams elsewhere. Because to be completely 100% honest, I still have

no idea what I want to be when I grow up. And to be 200% honest, I kind of like it that way.

Keeps me on my toes. Always dreaming for more. Livin' life just a day at a time.

Okay, but really...will someone at least start July over?

I kind of want to shoot off fireworks & BBQ again.

Adios.

Wedding Wednesday (Trece)

A miracle has occured upon us.

A wedding reception location...has been found.

Or picked at least.

Now we just need to reserve it.

It may not have been my first choice,

maybe even my last choice but it is the only place

we have found in my small town that will fit the

very large number of guests we are predicted to have.

What is nice about the place is that it is a blank slate really.

So much room to make it our own, and really personalize it...which is

what I look forward to most about.

Thank the Lord for pinterest because it has sparked so many fun ideas

that I cannot even stand it.

The only negative is that I'm finding too many ideas,

therefore...making my sucky decision making self a little high on anxiety.

It's mighty fun looking though.

don't know any of these people, but that you pinterest I am so obsessed with the colors.
Like...seriously. Obsessed.

So cheers to making a decision on the reception hall {sorry no pictures, not that you would get much out of seeing them anyway}.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

&hump day.

What I'm Lovin'

Happy Tuesday!

Hopefully everyone is having a great day back from

the holiday weekend, and have the tans on at full force.

Today I wrote a really long  & serious post and I'm

not feeling serious anymore so I wanted to post a few things I'm lovin'.

Exibit A.

The new Vera Bradley Fall 2011 print {Mocha Rouge}

love.

Sometimes I think Vera B can look a little

excuse my language {oldish}.

But I think this new print is adorable & I'm kind of feeling that

I need a little Mocha Rouge in my life.

I have a feeling I should have a garage sale first.

Exibit B

That a store in my town has a LILLY PULITZER section in it now.

Exciting.

I think I love it because it looks so summer-y & bright.

Makes a gal happy.

And that being said, I want the iphone4 Lilly case.

{plus, it's cheaper than the ones at the store..cuhrazy!}

Particularly the blue one that says lilly on the back.

For some reason I'm diggin the sailor look.

Exibit C

Iphone4

So how am I supposed to buy a cell phone case with no iphone4?

I have a solution!! My contract is up so hopefully iphone4 comes to momma in the near future.

I'm kind of loving the white one. But curious if it gets dirty easily?

My poor old school iphone has seen better days.

Or maybe it's the 1300 photos I have stored on it?

Hmmm...I'll go with the need for an upgrade.

Exibit D.

Something Borrowed.

I am in love with this book.

I started reading it one day at the beach and literally

could not put it down until I finished it later that night.

So addicting.

I cannot wait to read Something Blue!

Thank you to the ones who suggested I read the book.

:)

Exibit E.

Summer

Lake/Ocean. BBQ's. Family. Sun. Baseball. Camping.

Boating. Traveling. Picnics. Yard Games. Brews.

Sunflower Seeds. Pool. Summer Dresses.

Shorts. Slushes. Fun. Fun. & more Fun.

Red, White, & Blue

Happy 4th of July!

& Thank you troops for letting freedom ring.

It has been the fastest weekend in history.

{and the longest blogpost in midwestern history..whew.}

Three day weekends seem to go faster than two, how does that work out?

Maybe because I was with some pretty special people that time always flies with.

Jeff came into town Friday night after a long, not so fun month of being away.

He ended up surprising me and getting to my house a few hours earlier than he said

he was. However, I had just gotten out of the shower so I wasn't looking quite my spiffiest. Whoopsie.

So.good.to.see.him though. And that is the longest I'll ever have to be from him again.

Yahoo.

So Friday night we went to our "place" which so happens to be On the Border.

Don't ask me why, but something about it made us go there like once a

week when he lived in the same town as myself. Maybe it's the gigantic dos equis?

That could definitely be it.

So we ate and then came back home and watched a movie {I forget the name...Varsity Blues? maybe}.

Perfect, simple start to the weekend I have to say.

We both got to sleep in {well, I tried but Jeff was shaking me to get up..the usual}.

I woke up to him saying "mmmm...these are so good"...he had already eaten a cupcake.

haha. I knew they wouldn't last long.

So Saturday we spent the day wondering around the main street in town and doing a little shopping.

Shopping led to hungry stomaches so we ate at the Ingredient, which has the

most amazing flipping salads that I cannot even describe. ahhh. Yumm.

After walking outside in the crazy hott weather, we decided it was time for the

Mexican beer and limes.

After downing a couple we decided we would hop in the truck and head

to my hometown to see the fam and shoot off fireworks.

We seem to not stay in one place for long.

So Jeff grabbed his brownies and beer and we headed the two hours homestead.

That night my Dad grilled some burgers and brats and we had a mean homecooked meal.

Something about food on the grill is just the absolute best. Get.in.my.belly.

After we were full to the very brim, we headed out to get some fire works and blow some stuff UP.

After having a few turtles and tanks on fire, we went out to our old land where you can see the whole town and everyones big fireworks.

So so cool. You could almost see three towns worth of fireworks going on.

Sunday we woke up, went to church, checked out a few wedding venues, had to break into our house, and tried to keep cool in the blazing heat by dad rigging up the hose to spray {or soak} us on the front porch/patio. Little brother and I then thought we'd get everyone cooled down by buying some water balloons and having a water balloon fight, but we were the only participants so that died off all sorts of fast.

Then the rain came, the breezy weather appeared, and we sat outside enjoying not wanting to pass out from the heat exhaustion.

Dad once again cooked up a delicious grilled dinner with bacon wrapped chicken with some bell beppers and jalepenos. holy heaven. It was amazing. For sides we had chips, corn on the cob, salad, bread, cheesy potatoes, pasta salad, mac and cheese, and veggies. Ya, I think I gained 500 lbs on that one. Who cares though it was amazing!! So A+ work to Dad for the grilling, and A+ work to Mom for all the side dishes!

When the rain didn't stop we decided it was just not gonna be a firework blowing up things kind of night, dad and Jeff got an ice cream fix from Braums instead. I just enjoyed my popsicles. On the way home we stopped and grabbed a Red Box DVD of The Dilemma. Pretty funny movie. Never fails with Vince Vaughn in the house!

Today Jeff & I headed back to town around noon so we could enjoy having out with each other for awhile before he headed back. We relaxed at the house, Jeff got a Sonic Happy Hour drink {Route 44 lemme tell ya}, and we walked around downtown where they were having a little "shindig" in the park. I have no idea what to call it but they had tons and tons of vendors from local restaurants set up selling food and beer, live music, a comic artist, and I'm sure a lot more I couldn't see.

As usual... the fun has to end at some point, Jeff went on his way, and I am finishing up packing, listening to fireworks, and getting ready to start another week. {4 day one I must add..whoop whoop}. Although the weeks aren't too shabby because I get to watch the most adorable & fun loving little boy in the world. He makes my days without Jeff much easier.

Hope everyone has a HAPPY & SAFE 4th of July.

And if you are at the lake, ocean, or anywhere near water...you suck & I envy you.

:)

XOXO.



Brownie + PB Cupcakes

If I disappear it means I could not get out of bed from

eating so much pb + vanilla frosting.
Oh my goodness & I loved every licking second of it.
Sorry I'm not sorry.

So .......
fiance is coming tomorrow/today, right?

And I was trying to think of a little treat he could come home to.

Because the saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is so

true with mine. So I decided to make him something I knew he would like,

actually I think it has nicotine in it because they are so addicting! Even the smell.

Ahh. Heaven.


So I made my man a nice batch of brownie cupcakes with peanut butter frosting.
I will not be surprised if all 12 cupcakes are devoured in his time here.
They are so flipping good. Really, you need to make them. Like now. You can thank me (or betty crocker) later. P.S. Don't hate on my back deck pictures..the light in my house is totally depressing.

I also paired my cupcake making with my ultimate favorite meal right now, buffalo chicken wraps.
It is the most boring wrap in the world, and I am obsessed with it.
Grab yourself a nice whole wheat tortilla + black beans + cheese + chicken cooked into buffalo sauce and you have yourself an award winning combination.
Or maybe it's just me?
Ya. Prolly.

So if you want to make the crack cupcakes I have the receipe to share for you from Betty Crocker herself.

It is extremly easy.

But then again...most recipes I make are easy because I'm too lazy to take 5 hours to make something when I could do it just as tasty in uhhh 30 minutes.

So here it is.

And really, I'm not kidding...you need to make this.

Brownie Cupcakes w/ Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients:

Brownies-

Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix

{will need eggs + water + oil}

Frosting-

1/3 Cup of Peanut Butter

1 cup Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy vanilla frosting

3 tablespoons of milk

Let's get a cookin'-

First--Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Fill cups about 3/4 full.

Then--Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted near edge comes out almost clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

Lastly--In small bowl, mix all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Spread frosting over brownies; sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Store tightly covered.

Then you are done and have a happy tummy.

Win-Win situation.

Unless you eat as much frosting as I did,

then you will need to immediately chug 3 glasses of water.

Big Fat Funk

haha. I totally hope you read that title as something else.

So I'm in a funk.
Kind of stuck. in the mud.
Wondering what I'm supposed to do.
Where I'm supposed to go.
And how to turn it all around.

It's quite funny actually, because I really have all I ever wanted right in front of me.
Amazing family, loving fiance, a college degree, etc.
But I just don't feel like myself. At all. The me that smiles and makes ruhtarded jokes every .5 seconds.
The me that laughs uncontrollably at the most immature things.
Someone find her...better bring her back, puhlease.

I'm sure it has a little to do with fiance being gone.
Everyone leaving for the summer.
Me just being exhausted all the time. {which I have no excuse for}

Then I think of next year, and get all stressed.
My head is just trying to figure out how I'm going to juggle making 0 dollars for a whole entire year,
while still trying to live and plan a wedding. Ya, that doesn't sound fun to me. And it kind of makes my stomach churn thinking about it. But I'll worry about that one when the time comes I suppose. And I know it will work out...it always does...somehow. Someway.

I really just wish all the people I loved lived in the same spot.
So I can be surrounded by such love and positivity constantly.
They are the people who make me better. And bring me and who I am back to focus.
So sorry if I'm a little off.
Poor little Molly has run away and I need to go on a search for her.
And then we'll get through it. One step at a time.

Ok. Done complaining. :) Tomorrow is FRIDAY. Do you know what that means?! FIANCE COMES! Thank God.

Wedding Wednesday (Doce)

Happy Wednesday!

It's been 2 weeks since the last hoorah of Wedding Wednesday with the beautiful wedding shoes,

which I found out later were uhhh kind of ungodly expensive.

Whoops.

So this week is kind of a breakdown. Ya ya break it down now.

It is going to stress me out, but that's okay because

I'm thinking maybe that's what I need right now. Or at least a push or...something.

{kind of really hard to do when fiance is away}

So I wrote a list of the things I am for sure about.

Don't laugh now.

Here are the positives :

The Date

October 22, 2012

The Place

Catholic Church in my hometown

Exactly.

I have some work cut out for me.

ALTHOUGH. Let's not forget it is awhile away so slow and easy does it won't hurt anything.

I think the thing the scares me the most is the cost of everything

and the fact that I cannot make a decision to save my life.

I wish this were something you could just learn, but it sure isn't.

I always, always second guess myself which leads to no decisions being made.

The overwhelming idea of it all makes me just force myself into not thinking at all.

Or just secretly thinking about peacing out and doing it on an island with gorgeous beaches and the prettiest of blue waters. However, doubt I could ever bring myself to do that.

The one thing I do know.

Is I am beyond exciting to see my fiance this weekend after

not seeing each other for a month. Maybe then I can feel like myself again...with

my second half by myself.