High Five For Friday!

For being a three day work week, which was actually more like two and a half days,  this week seemed extra long.  Maybe that's because it was jam packed?  Linking up with Lauren for my top 5 of the week:

1)  I have had the honor of participating in my first giveaway this week with Forgetful Momma, Life Outside The Barn & Things I Love Blog!  We're giving away $60 in gift cards and three of this season's best Essie nail polishes.  Lucky for you the giveaway is open until next week so if you haven't entered yet you can by viewing the original post here!

Photo credit to Jessica @ Things I Love Blog

2) I also have my first ad on the blog from UPcycled Works.  You can read all about them in this post.  Their products are handcrafted, so unique and overall fantastic. The ad directs you to their website where you can also access their Etsy store.  When you're done here I highly suggest you check them out and try not to fall in love with absolutely everything, I'm pretty sure that is impossible.

3)  I had my 6 month check-up with the dentist this week and guess what ma'?!  No cavities!!!!! Score for me, although to be entirely honest, with Invisalign I brush and floss at least four times a day so I was really hoping that would pay off :)  I''ve said it once and I'll probably say it many more times, I love my dentist.  I love my dentist and their entire staff.  If you happen to be in need of a new dentist and live in the San Diego area, I highly suggest either Dr. Espinoza or Dr. Gallipeau at Bankers Hill Dental.  Dr. Espinoza has done most of my work but I've had Dr. Gallipeau also and they are both equally wonderful, I promise!

4)  It happened.  I graduated from college yesterday with my parents, Aaron and my Aunt & Uncle cheering me on.  Each graduate only got five tickets to the ceremony, which was kind of a bummer but it was still special to know at least a few familiar faces were in the giant crowd for me.  Without the support of these five, and so many others, I never could have gotten to where I am in life today.

5) I received the two gifts below from Aaron for graduating.  The first is a great day mug from Emily Ley.  I just love her stuff and I'm pretty sure it will be impossible to have a less than great day when I have a cup dedicated to telling me that's just how it's going to be.  The second is a Bestowed Box subscription.  I was seriously so excited over this.  Being the food lover that I am,  this monthly box of healthy foodie geared products is perfect.  Not only was I impressed with how many things came in my first box but I was also impressed with the size of their "samples".  The products are essentially full size, so generous, then to top it off they congratulated me on my graduation via Twitter! 

I hope you all had a wonderful week as always, and I hope you have an even better weekend!

One last housekeeping detail:  This is the last post I will be linking with my personal Facebook page.  All blog related things will be going through the blog's Facebook page starting next week.  If you access the blog through my personal page you can still receive notifications of posts and access by simply liking the blog's Facebook page.  If that's not for you there is also the option of following via e-mail or Bloglovin' too!  I'm sorry if this inconveniences anyone, but for those who are friends with me on my personal page and have already "liked" the blog's Facebook page, I'm sure you'll appreciate not having the same post from both avenues clogging your news feed any longer :)

UPcycled Works!

Hi there!  If you know me personally, and are trying to get ahold of me today, I'm sorry I'm not around. I'm busy GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE!

Phew, now that I have that out of my system I have something very exciting that has happened on the blog.  I have an ad!  That's right, see it over there on the side bar?  If you aren't sure what you're looking for, the ad looks like this:

I am so excited to welcome UPcycled Works to this blog!

UPcycled Works develops unique treasures and pieces of jewelry from wonderful things like typewriter keys, bottle caps, mini harmonicas, mini binoculars, etc.  

If you live in the San Diego area, or will be visiting during the summer, UPcycled Works will have a booth at the San Diego County Fair from June 8th-July 4th and I hope to be volunteering a few of those days.  The booth will be located in the Clubhouse Village Shops area, the third right off the avenue.  

Come by and say hello, the stuff is seriously awesome and the woman behind the designs is equally awesome!  

If you can't make it to the fair, or just don't want to wait that long (I wouldn't),  you should probably click on the ad to the right to visit their website and then visit the UPcycled Works Etsy store too.  

I hope your Thursday is wonderful and I would love it if you joined me in welcoming UPcylced Works to my little space on the internet.  Thanks friends!

PS: The giveaway from yesterday's post is still going on!

Guest Post from Jessica at Things I Love Blog and a GIVEAWAY!

Jessica over at Things I Love Blog was kind enough to ask if I and some other bloggers wanted to team up for a giveaway.  My answer was an obvious YES! She's a super sweet girl who I've know for years and an awesome blogging pal with two adorable sons.  Trust me, you'll want to follow her blog just to read about their adventures, it will not let you down!

Without further adieu, I give you Jessica:

It's the beginning of summer. It's almost my birthday. It was just Memorial Day. I'm celebrating a new blog name. For all of these reasons, plus the fact that I love all of my regular readers and new friends, I decided to team up with the following ladies for a fun giveaway!

You're really going to like my friends, you guys. Let's meet 'em, shall we?

First, meet Ashley. She was one of the first people to allow me to guest post on her blog and I just love reading what she has to say. Ashley is not only a great resource as a mama for all things kid-friendly but someone I would call a friend, and isn't that the greatest thing we all get from blogging??

BLOG//PINTEREST//TWITTER//GOOGLE+

I think I'm lucky to have real-life friends turned blogger friends and Melia is seriously one of my faves. I had been telling her for years that she needed to write a book because of how 'effing funny she is and you know what? A blog is so much better because I get regular doses of her without having to wait for the release of a book. If you're looking for comedy, it's here. Real-ness (is that a word?)? She's your girl. And who doesn't love someone whose fave things are Martha Stewart and Maker's Mark?

BLOG//PINTEREST//TWITTER//GOOGLE+

Last, but never least, I want you to meet Katie. I have known Katie since high school (actually, much earlier...fun fact, I dated her brother way, WAY back in another lifetime, hah!) and when she started blogging, I thought it would be a great time for us to team up! She's sweet, cooks some yummy food that I want to eat and is in the middle of wedding planning! Check her out, I promise you won't regret it.

 BLOG//INSTAGRAM//BLOGLOVIN'//FACEBOOK

(from left to right) Rock the Boat, Mademoiselle,
and Turquoise & Caicos

Now on to the giveaway...the good stuff, right? Go ahead and enter below; it ends next Wednesday, June 5th at midnight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meal Plan.....Tuesday?

Well hello, fancy meeting you here on a Tuesday.  Ok, I totally failed at posting meal plan Monday but I've been busy with things like:

Reading this book (it is soooo good!):

{Via}

Drinking Margaritas like this one or two:

Hanging pictures in frames like this:

Hiking for views like this:

And raking and bagging more leaves on my own than I ever thought possible.

Ok, maybe I had some help from Marley, who by the way was thrilled to discover 5 tennis balls when all of the raking was done.  

So,  here's what's for dinner this week:

Monday: Chili Lime Chicken with BLT Salad and Watermelon

Tuesday: Tex Mex Tortilla Wraps with Spanish Rice

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches with Caesar Salad

Thursday:  Dinner out after Graduation with my Parent's, Aunt & Uncle, and Aaron!

Friday: Tentative- Quinoa Mac & Cheese with Broccoli and a side salad

What's for dinner in your house?

PS: Tomorrow Jessica from Things I Love Blog is hosting a giveaway with yours truly, Forgetful Momma, and Life Outside the Barn so be sure to check back here tomorrow and I'll connect you with Jessica's blog so you can enter to win some pretty great stuff.  How do I know it's great? Well A: some of it is from me and B: it's free if you win, what free stuff isn't great? Never mind, don't answer that.

You're welcome!

High Five For Friday!

Happy Friday and three day weekend!  At least I hope you get a three day weekend like I do!  Linking up with Lauren for my top 5 this week:

1)  I submitted my Capstone a week early and found out on Thursday evening that it was marked complete with honors.  I am officially done with my undergraduate work!  

2)  Our apple tree is producing this year!  I swear apples picked right off of the tree are so much better than any you can buy in the store.  They're just wee little guys right now but we'll be able to eat them soon enough.

3) Someone who visited our wedding website submitted song requests on our DJ planning page.  They were as follows:

Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra........................Beyoncé.  Several classics followed by an unexpected modern.  It made me smile, I love it.

4) This auto correct really happened.  Aaron was gone on a fire for about six days between last week and this week, making it home Tuesday night.  The only time the dogs are even close to sleeping on our bed is when I'm home by myself.  That being said, Aaron's pretty good about checking on us when he can but I doubt he expected the following conversation on one particular evening:

I have not laughed so hard by myself, at myself, probably ever.  

5)  If you missed it, Parker's tumor is shrinking!  I'd be lying if said there weren't a few happy tears upon hearing this news.  We continue to pray for him and his family as he has a long road ahead, but progress is certainly worth a spot of the high five list!

I hope you each enjoy your weekend and have time to relax!  I'll be working around our house, going to a BBQ and doing some hiking with friends. No more homework! Woooooo Whoooooo!

Grandparents and Aging

Why hello.  For those of you who frequent the blog you may remember me writing about my grandparents and their bout of poor health.  Well thankfully, after a pacemaker, pneumonia, congestive heart failure and a stent in a convalescent home, both of my grandparents are happily back in their own home.  I got to visit with them on Tuesday evening and I swear they say the darnedest things.

To start, my grandfather was telling me about physical therapy. He said, "They took us outside, even the old women. I don't know why they were there, they are pretty old."  He is 96.  He also told me about the type of chickens we should have, you know he had 300 chickens on the farm in Iowa.

Then my Grandma starts in about "weed grass", you know grass that grows really long like weeds? Duh.  And "If we make it to June, 30th we'll be married 73 years."  If you make it?!  I kindly reminded her that October 26th (our wedding day) comes after June 20th, and since she promised they would make it to the wedding then she has no choice but to make it to June 30th.

It is strange for me to see my grandparents age essentially overnight.  Up until 4 months ago they were fully independent and 50 years old in my mind.  Now they aren't exactly independent.

While I was there arrangements were being made for my Grandma to go to the doctor while someone sat with my Grandpa.  Having all of his faculties about him still, he chimed in and said, "No one needs to sit with me.  I've been inside for two months, can't I just go along for the ride?  I'll sit in the car and watch the people.  That's all I want to do."  The expression on his face was like that of a child who had been told they can't have dessert because they didn't eat dinner.  Utter defeat.  My heart broke.  I suppose it really is the simplest things in life.  

We all agreed that his idea was a great one and the smile that came across his face was priceless.  

It was time for me to leave, but beforehand my Grandma wanted to package up some brownies to bring home to Aaron.  92 and she's in the kitchen making the best brownies in the world.  While gathered in the kitchen my Grandpa stepped away from his walker and opened his arms to me for a big hug and all he said was, "Oh Katie girl."

There are two things about this moment that I'll treasure-

The first:  I've always gotten hello and goodbye hugs but this is the first "just because" hug I can remember.

The second: Aaron has always called me "Katie girl" i might be so in trouble for sharing this oh well with no prior knowledge that my Grandpa does too.  

This week has been filled with several blessings all of which remind me to appreciate the small things even more: Parker's tumor shrinking, Aaron coming home from the fire assignment and visiting my Grandparents outside of a hospital for the first time in months.  I hope you each have a most wonderful Thursday and are able to take a minute to appreciate the small things in your life, we certainly don't do it often enough.  

{Via}

See you tomorrow!

Weekend through iPhone

My weekend was pretty busy, as I projected it would be in Friday's post. Here's a recap:

On Friday night I went to the Padres' Game with a group of friends. We got some sweet shades in honor of 80's night, had dinner and a brew from Ballast Point, visited Papa's brick and had a mini baseball helmet of soft serve ice cream because it's tradition.  Despite loosing in the 10th inning, it was a really fun evening!

Then I got up bright and early on Saturday to get my oil changed and do some shopping. I picked up a mail organizer for my desk and a frame for my nightstand from Home Goods:

 Two dresses, one from Gap, it even has pockets! (left) and the other from Macy's (right):

 New running shoes:

 And some groceries. 

I'm pretty sure I didn't pay full price for any of the things I bought.  The short dress was on sale at the Gap Outlet for $12 and the shoes were on sale from $119 to $40!  Aaron would be so proud of my thriftiness, he has taught me well.

I also tried out this deep conditioning hair mask on Saturday.  It worked really great but also tried to kill me when I stepped back into the shower on Sunday. Note to anyone using this, rinse your shower very well afterwards or you might slip and break your neck during the next shower. Thank goodness I caught myself. 

Between all of this I also managed to move the treadmill from the garage to the guest room, cleaned the house, did two loads of laundry, filled 19 yard bags with leaves, fed and watered the plants and took the trash to the curb. 

I think I'll go back to my real work now for a break! I kid, my real work is hard sometimes too :) I hope your weekend was wonderful!  

PS: Please, please keep praying for sweet Parker and family!

High Five For Friday!

Well HELLOOOOOOO Friday!  It is so very nice to see you.  Linking up with Lauren for my top 5 of the week:

1) THIS is what has been keeping me from writing.  I've actually been writing a ton.  Just not here.  Where I want to be.  The good news is that when I finish the last 2-3 pages I get to turn it in and 

2)  put this on to become the first in my family to graduate from college.  On Wednesday my Graduation Regalia arrived on my desk at work.  I forgot I was having it shipped there so it was quite the awesome surprise.  Graduation became real.

3) Have you ever had these mini heirloom tomatoes?  They are seriously delicious.  A little sweet and perfect for snacking on when writing what feels like a million pages that is actually only about 26 1/2  but needs to be 30.

4) Giant ear problems.  I love these giant ears but I think sunscreen is going to become a part of Marley's daily routine.  You see, when she lays out in the sun and these giant ears flop the other direction, the insides get burnt.  Poor, poor Marley.

5) Tonight I'm taking a break from my life sucking Capstone project and going to the Padre game with some co-workers and friends.  I'm really excited about this.  I love baseball, our ballpark is beautiful, I'll be in great company and I'll get to visit the brick in memory of my Papa, so I can't imagine a better place to take a break.

I hope to finish my Capstone this weekend so I can work on the presentation portion next week.  I also hope to grocery shop, get my oil changed, finish laundry, work on the yard and maybe shop for a graduation dress.  Ambitious I know. I hope you have an equally excellent weekend!

PS: Grey's Anatomy had me full on crying last night.  That show gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

A Monday in May

Oh Monday.  I'm sorry to inform you that I do not have a meal plan ready for this week yet.  Slacker. I know.  I do however have a few new favorite finds I've been wanting to share so I suppose now would be a great time to do that!  I'm not one to buy myself new things that aren't necessities very often (read practically ever) so new stuff is kind of a big deal. 

First up, this new workout tank from Target.  Lululemon had basically the same tank last season for about 4x the price.  I reeallllyyyy wanted it but wasn't willing to pay nearly $80 for the thing.  Then sweet Aaron tried to get it for my birthday but it was sold out.  He did however, get me a pair of yoga pants and running shorts instead.  The yoga pants fell apart after the first wash, literally.  I returned them to Lululemon and the kind folks there gave Aaron his money back instead of exchanging them for me.  Come to find out there was a recall on them anyway because they were see through.  Ok, sorry back to the tank I have.  It has a built in sports bra, the material isn't tight fitting and the sides are open so you get lots of airflow.  It's perfect and I love it.

 Then there is this new little teal chevron wallet that has a slot on the inside to hold my phone, also from Target.  Their electronics accessories were 20% off a few weeks ago and when it was only $12 to begin with I treated myself.

The wishbone bracelet.  I don't know why I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it but coming in under $5 at Forever21, and just enough to get my dress shipped free, I figured it was meant for my wrist.

These face care products.  I've only been using the mark. products since Friday, but so far I really like them.  I have ridiculously sensitive skin (shocking I know) and the fact that it hasn't broken out in any weird rash after the first use is a pretty good sign.  I'll let you know if that changes.  Added bonus: the face wash, moisturizer and exfoliator together were about the same price as my old exfoliator alone, score! 

Last but not least, our backyard garden.  Aaron has been working so hard to get this space ready and I'm so happy with how it turned out.  I helped put the fence in and even shoveled dirt into the garden beds from a giant pile (the gash in my back from hitting the pear tree while doing so is proof).  We then planted the vegetables together and cleaned up the space.  I'm so excited to get our baby chickens now; I think they will be very happy in the area we've created for them.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, hopefully I'll be able to write before Friday if my Capstone project doesn't suck every last word out of my brain.  It could happen.

High Five For Friday!

It's Friday, in case you didn't know.  THANK GOODNESS!  My Capstone Project (aka the very last assignment I'll ever do for my BA!!!!!) is kicking my butt.  I blame it on the fact that my professor has no communication skills and couldn't manage to make it to class this week as a result of "technical difficulties".  I suppose that is why he can't respond to my e-mails either.  Nothing like teaching yourself how to be a consultant!  T-20 Days!

Despite that, I still have a top 5 of the week......of course!

Linking up with Lauren!

Here they are:

1) I've said it once and I'll say it again, this tea is awesome!  With the weather being cloudy almost all week I drank at least a cup a day.

2) I went out in search of Chobani Flips on Monday but was only able to find the Chobani Bites.  This one is the Raspberry Dark Chocolate and it was pretty darn good!

3) ZZ Ward: Till the Casket Drops I think I have listened to this CD at least once a day for the last three days.  It is blues meets rock.  Its good, I promise.

4) We picked up some Team Parker For Life gear at a fundraiser on Wednesday night.  The turnout was incredible.  To see so many people from the community come together in support of Parker and his family is so incredibly moving.  If you've missed it you can read about what Parker is going through here and here.  

5) This is a telephone directory for the community I live in that came in the mail today.  Yes, the town I live in is so small directories are still published with the names, phone numbers and mailing addresses of the residents.  That, in combination with the fact that a Sheriff or Police Officer lives on practically every street and there's an equal amount of Fire Men/Women, makes me feel pretty safe.  I feel very fortunate because I know there are many communities where safety is a large concern.

As always, I hope your week was wonderful!  Don't forget that Sunday is Mother's Day!

Meal Plan Monday!

Good Monday Morning! This weekend I got the slightest taste of what life after graduation will be like.  I watched two movies, Life of Pi  and Silver Linings Playbook, started reading Seriously…I’m Kidding  by Ellen DeGeneres (hilarious!), visited my Grandparents, and planted flowers in our front yard.  Don’t be fooled, there was also plenty of house cleaning, grocery shopping and laundry doing as well.

                                    

{Click images to view sources}

Needless to say last weekend has made starting my 25-30 page capstone project required for graduation much more difficult.  If you see a little less of me over the next 25 days, I’m probably knee deep in research and someone should come look for me before I’m buried alive.  Despite this project being slightly intimidating, as soon as it is complete I will be done with my undergraduate program FOREVER! That is worth it.

Now onto what we’re eating this week:

Monday:  Lasagna with Salad

Tuesday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Wednesday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Coleslaw

Thursday: Tilapia over Rice with Roasted Asparagus (bump from last week)

Friday: Leftovers

What are you eating this week?

High Five For Friday!

It's Friday!!!!  This week was just as busy as last week, although I'd deem it even more productive.  Here are my top 5!

Linking up with Lauren!

1) This would be the 8 page analysis I wrote as one of my final graduating requirements.  The 8 page analysis that was assigned on Monday and is due on Saturday.  The 8 page paper that kept me away from writing to you on Wednesday.  The 8 page paper that I finished on Thursday, two days before it was due along with all of the other homework due this week.  That was a good feeling.

2) Our new bedroom furniture arrived and I can say with confidence that it has been a long time since I slept as well as I did this week.  The delivery company came and assembled the furniture and my crazy mom (I love you Mom) moved our gigantic mattress onto the new bed frame and made our bed so that when Aaron and I got home late we would have somewhere nice to sleep.  It was quite the nice surprise. (Please excuse the wires, we're still moving back into our house!)

              

3) The start of fire season means a few things:

     A) Aaron is going to be super busy with work from now until about the end of October

     B) Cereal for dinner will become common place and nail painting will happen inside the house

     (coral with gold polka dots this week :D) AND

     C) I will have the opportunity to catch up on mindless girly TV and read endless books.

4) The lavender bushes we planted last year are finally blooming! I love lavender so this made me super happy!

5) 5:47.  Who sets their second alarm for 5:47 AM?  Not 5:45, not 5:50 but 5:47.  Apparently this overly exhausted girl.  Really the time is irrelevant because we all know I'm going to press snooze at least one more time when 5:47 comes around anyway.

I hope you have a most excellent weekend.  I'm looking forward to visiting my grandparents and spending a silly amount of time outside in our garden.