Yay, Summer

Happy belated first day of summer. I had the cutest little “Summer Must Haves” post planned out, but I totally dropped the ball on that one… Whoops! Instead, you get a run of the mill weekend recap. Wah wah. Hoping to share a few of my summertime favs later this week!

As for the weekend festivities… It started off on a great note when my boss and I got free coffee from McDonalds! #regulars

Work was work, then it was time to hit the open road with Zach and head down to Oregon… Only the road wasn’t so open. Traffic was a nightmare so we decided to pause the road trip for a quick bite to eat. When I saw that there was a BJ’s nearby, it was game over! Did someone say dessert for dinner? Oh yeah, that was me! Pizzookies for the win!

When we finally rolled into town, Zach and I parted ways and it was time to watch Finding Dory in 3D with Tayla. I honestly don’t know what was better, the movie or the GIANT tub of popcorn Tay and I devoured before the movie even started. #bothgood #whatdiet

The following morning Tayla and I grabbed an early breakfast before I headed to my Dad’s place to start our early Father’s Day Celebration. My anxiety levels shot through the roof when I saw the remodel.

 

Yes, that is our kitchen. Yes, I cracked open a Mike’s Hard before 10 AM because I was mega stressed and because I couldn’t find a water cup. You do what you gotta do I guess.

We escaped the construction zone and did a little antiquing with my dad before heading to his 40^th class reunion with him. After watching my dad flit about with old classmates, I completely see where I get my social nature from. Plus, he was a total stud... I definitely won in the Dad department.

He loved showing us off, obviously, but couldn’t be bothered to entertain us… Luckily, a good friend my sister and I went to school with was there. Reunions for dayyyzzzz.

 

 

During the celebration, our friend’s mom sent us to the store to pick up a cake. Here is the thing… It’s Clatskanie, so OF COURSE the Safeway didn’t have a cake. Don’t worry, we improvised.

 

Finally, the reunion slowed down, so the three of us headed to another friend’s place to have a reunion of our own. Obviously I drank too much, and obviously I felt like shit the following morning on the train back home, but whatevs. That’s par for the course at this point.

 

Sunday was spent at my roommate’s soccer game soaking up the sun and celebrating the begining of summer.

Yay, Summer! Yay, Father’s Day! Yay, Reunions!

 Happy Second Day of Summer, All.

 

Cheers! 

 

Oh heyyyy. Happy Tuesday. I really don’t have a single solid thought going on, just lots of little things running through my head… So I am just going to empty my brain out real quick.

1. The past few weeks have been an interesting blend of “how is it only Tuesday” and “where did my week go” and it is blowing my mind.

2. McDonald’s Oatmeal is seriously on point. Also, I love that McDonald’s has made an appearance in the last TWO posts. #sorrynotsorry #macdsforlife

3. I was kicking myself this morning for not dressing warmer for my commute, but I am kind of loving this little bit of chilly weather before summer hits Seattle. Bring on the boots and scarves while I cherish the cool, crisp weather for just a few more days.

4. I’m loving how refreshed I feel today. I have really been go, go, go since moving into my new place; so I loved having last night to recharge. I got lots of cleaning, vacuuming, and laundry done (love having a washer/dryer in my unit, btw), made dinner, and spent the evening relaxing with one of my roommates. He mentioned how important it was to have nights like that, and today I am realizing how accurate he is. We spent the remainder of the night watching The Breakfast Club and it was just the coziest, most perfect end to a relaxing evening.

5.  Also, the ending of The Breakfast Club is almost TOO good. That shit is cinematic gold! I had forgotten how much I love that movie.

6. My snooze button game has been far too strong lately. I probs need to knock that off.

7. Finally, Facebook just popped up to remind me that it has been FIVE years since I graduated college. Holy Moly. It is making me feel super old, super nostalgic, and super blessed to have had so many friends and family surround me on such a special day. Also, how crazy is it that five years later I live with two of these goons!

Cheers to things and stuff, because that’s really all I’ve got for today!

Happy Monday, Loves!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Mine was dedicated to a dear friend’s graduation, and all the dinners and parties that surrounded it. So after a weekend of great food, strong drinks, crafts, and tears; it is time to get back to the grind… But first, how about a few Monday Must Haves to start the week?

 

1.       McDonald’s Coffee – MacD’s is my always my jam, but their coffee situation is totally clutch. A buck for a large coffee? Sign me up. Plus, the coffee is actually super solid. And since I prefer my coffee black, it is important to me to have a high quality coffee. No joke, my boss and I go to McDonald’s daily for coffee. The only struggle is not ordering a McGriddle every time!

2.       Celebrity Pink Super Soft Skinny Jeans – So, as you may remember, my world came crashing down when my all-time favorite jeans were discontinued. The wounds are still healing and I am savoring every last second with them, but I did find an acceptable substitute. The Celebrity Pink skinnies are as soft as the name suggests, and totally comfy. They have good stretch, and have enough room in the stomach while fitting snuggly on my legs. They will never fully replace my old jeans #rip, but these are definitely a great option. I bought mine at Macy’s, and they come in all sizes.

3.       OPI Infinite Shine 2 Nail Polish: From Here to Eternity – I am OBSESSED with this color, this brand, this everything. From the fun names to the quirky colors, I have always loved a good OPI polish, but this stuff puts their old stuff to shame. This bright pink is perfect for summer and it seriously lasts forever.

4.       Hanky Panky Panties – You’re welcome. These are simply the BEST. I was introduced to the Hanky Panky panties when I got them as a bridesmaid gift. This bride obviously knew what she was doing because I am totally hooked. There are super soft, stretchy, lacy, and so comfortable. Plus, they are like the cutest undies EVER! They can be found online, at Nordys, and if you’re a real bargain hunter, you can usually snag a pair or two at Nordstrom Rack!

5.       Paper Source Foil Planner – I would be lost without this little gem. I’m totally rocking the gold one because… Obviously. It is totally adorable, fits comfortably in my purse, and is perfected for keeping track of all my things and stuff. Yes, I am aware that I can use the calendar on my phone; and no, I am not interested. I like my precious paper planner, thank you!

6.       Hip Hop BBQ Pandora – I love all music, but early 2000’s Hip Hop really steals my heart. From wine nights to road trips… From getting shit done to getting our dance on, Hip Hop BBQ is always the right choice.  

Cheers to a few fabulous products that I couldn't live without!

Shower Sweetness

I know, I know, I am the cheesiest, but I don’t even care. We threw the most adorable bridal shower for my cousin Kayla on Saturday, and I can’t even contain my excitement. After months of planning, crafting, and shopping; it finally came together.

I’m a sucker for a good theme, and given that my cousin is the best little baker there ever was, we decided to throw a treat themed party. Obviously, the most important part of the party was the dessert table. #treatstreatstreats

 

I was totally obsessed with the way it turned out. We filled the table with all the pink candies, some homemade cakes and cinnamon rolls, a few tasty donuts, and the cutest Starbucks treats there ever were. I have been eyeing those Ice Cream Cone cookies for a while now, and this was the perfect excuse to indulge!

 

I don’t even think I need to tell you what the second most important part was… MIMOSA BAR.

 

We kept it pretty simple with 3 types of juices, Dollar Tree champagne flutes (shhhhh!), and plenty of champagne.

As much as I wish we could have stuck with candy and cocktails, we had to have a few other refreshments… for the LAME party guests.

 

We filled the snack table with chicken fajita wraps, fruit kabobs, and some watermelon cut into hearts. So stinking cute! We also had a leaky drink container filled with watermelon lemonade which was bomb.com! Thank you, Costco.

One of my favorite parts of any party are the little details that often go unnoticed.

For the entry way, we filled an old trunk with aprons and left a sweet little chalkboard note for the bride to be.

The guestbook was an empty cookbook which we asked guests to fill with their favorite recipes. It wasn’t wildly successful, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

For the centerpieces, we filled mixers with some Costco flowers alongside a few homemade coffee filter flowers. And, of course, lollipops EVERYWHERE.

Last but not least, the games! We did a little twist on the classic “can’t say wedding” game by using candy necklace. Everyone started with a candy necklace (aka candy watch due to a little mix-up). If you were caught saying “wedding,” your watch would be stolen. Low and behold, my sister cleaned up at this game, but we made her give up her prize to the next in line. Then we played a rousing game of “Who knows the Bride Best.” Kayla was appropriately embarrassed, but it was nothing to compared to the way she felt when we busted out a few questions that we had asked her future hubby. We cried at his explanation of the reasons he loves Kayla so much, but my favorite response was when we asked him what his least favorite thing about Kayla was, and he said “she acts like my manager.” We couldn’t stop laughing at his painfully accurate answer.

The shower seriously so wonderful, but I can’t say it went off without a hitch… It was a MILLION degrees that day, which made setup difficult and exhausting. It even prevented us from playing the tinfoil dress game because it was just too damn hot. Then there was the bee community that was totally DT Party. #showercrashers Then, of course, there were all the things that were forgotten at home.... You win some, you lose some.

At the end of the day, it really was the sweetest of showers and I couldn't feel more honored or excited to be a part of Kayla's special day.

Here is to luke warm mimosas and melty treats! Cheers. 

Happiest of Mondays, All.

As usual, it was another whirlwind weekend over here. After an extra short work week, I jetted down to Longview on Thursday night to get a jump on the bridal shower we were throwing on Saturday. As soon as I arrived, my sister, cousin, and I headed to the happiest place on earth… Target! We did a little shopping then ran a few additional shower errands. We ended up chatting and crafting into the wee hours of the morning only to pop back up a few hours later for a Costco trip. A basketful of goodies and several hundred dollars later, we were done with shower prep for the day and on to the next activity.

Chloe and I headed to my Auntie’s place to get ready then were off to one of her dear friend’s wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and a great time to catch up with friends. We ate, celebrated, and, of course, had a few cocktails, then were off again.

Next stop… MIKE JONES. Yes, you read that right. He came to the Casino near my home town, so you better believe we were in attendance. Chloe, my cousin Lyndsey, and I met up with several old friends and partied the night away. Oh, and we met the man himself. NBD!

Despite the late night, we were up nice and early the following day because it was shower time. I’ll be sure to post all the deets later, but I will just say that it was hot, exhausting, and absolutely wonderful! So thankful to have been able to throw our cousin Kayla a lovely shower to celebrate her wedding.

Sunday, after an exhausting weekend, I headed home. It was my roommate Mark’s birthday, so it was time for one last celebration. We had a delightful little barbecue on the porch while we enjoyed champagne and sunshine. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Cheers to exhausting weekends we wouldn’t trade for anything!

 

Holiday Weekend Happenings

First of all, how the hell is it already June! It feels like I was just ringing in the New Year and all of a sudden we are knocking on summer’s door. How did this happen!?

Annyywayys, hope you all had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend. Aside from moving, I had a lovely little holiday weekend. Tayla got into town Friday afternoon, and we had a wonderful evening in while we gorged on McDonalds, brownies, and Idiot Abroad. As per the usual, we spent the night scream-laughing over anything and everything. The following day we headed to Folklife, the perfect hippie festival that takes place at the Seattle Center. It was so nice to enjoy one last event from my apartment. We shopped, listened to music, and ate the best freaking corndog there ever was. It was a delightful afternoon.

Saturday evening, we babysat my boss’s precious 3-month old baby boy and woofed down some Greek Food while watching Bridesmaids. Pretty close to heaven if you ask me.

Sunday was my last full day in my apartment, and we certainly made the most of it. We kicked the day off at Buckley’s for a tasty brunch #bitcheslovebrunch. Once we scarfed down every last bite of chicken fried steak, we headed back to my apartment to binge watch some Netflix and soak up the last few hours in my place. After ordering an early dinner, our friend Katherine headed over and we pre-funked for an evening out. We obviously found ourselves at Ozzie’s and spent the night drinking way too much and listening to ALL the karaoke. Highlights included a drunk beezy high-kicking a drink out of the bartender’s hand, someone singing “This Christmas” with a little “Baby Got Back” mixed in, and finally a guy dancing a little too hard to N*Sync and Bye Bye Byeing Tayla’s vodka soda right out of her hand. All in all, it was a pretty epic evening, and we completed the night with a trip to Dicks.

 Needless to say, we woke up Monday Morning (aka Memorial Day aka Moving Day) with WICKED hangovers. It was a rough start, but the three of us along with my boss and my new roommate’s girlfriend, Meegan, we got most of the small things cleared out and into the new apartment. The struggle bus really arrived when we finally got the uHaul and started moving big stuff. First, we moved all of the boys’ stuff to our new apartment which went off without a hitch. Then it was time to move two of our other friends’ into their new place. Holy Shit! What a nightmare. Of course they had a billion stairs and the NARROWEST doorways I have ever seen. How we ever got that couch in, I will never know.

Finally, it was time to gather the remainder of my things (an ENTIRE uHaul, btw) and make the final trip into the new place. Starving and exhausted, we grabbed a late dinner, and crashed in the middle of our new place.

Yesterday was spent organizing, cleaning, and turning in the keys to my old place. It was bittersweet to close the door to my old place, but as they say… When one door closes.

 

After a long and exhausting weekend, it was finally time to share a celebratory glass of scotch with the roomies and toast to new beginnings.  

 

Here is to long weekends, heavy boxes, and incredibly helpful friends. Cheers!