10 Things That Make Me Smile

Here is a list of ten things that can make me smile, even if I'm not in a good mood:

1. Suprises. I love suprises- anything from a "Hey honey we've got dinner reservations" to  "I decided to plan a picnic for this afternoon".

2. Mail. I love getting mail. Maybe because its a type of suprise. And I mean real mail like a letter, card or package. No bills or advertisements please.

3. Chocolate. Duh. Any kind. Even better if its a suprise.

4. Playing with little kids. Whenever I used to voluteer as an assitant Brownie Girl Scout leader I always left the meetings in  good mood- no matter how bad my day had been before.

5. Ice cream. Very similar to thing three.

6. Flowers. Sometimes I'll buy them for myself, but its even it better if they're a suprise. I love the way they look on the counter or table.

7. Precious Moments. I used to collect these figurines, but a few years ago the shelf holding them collapsed and most of mine broke. They still make me smile though.

8. Scrapbooking supplies. I could spend all day wondering around stores like Hobby Lobby or Scrapbook Creations trying to decide what to get.

9. A trip to the library. Especially the library in my college town. Its a nice atmosphere and they have tons of amazing books. The only down side is because I'm not a citizen I can only check out four things at a time.

10. Real Simple magazine. I love to flip through reading all of the tips and tricks, saving recipes and admiring rhe beautiful ads.

What things make you smile?

(This post was inspired by one of Mama Kat's assignments)

Thredup Review and Discount Code

This summer I placed an order on Thredup. It's a second hand clothing site. You can sell and buy from them. A giant plus for me is they have 30 days free return shipping, so if something isn't up to par or doesn't fit you can just pop it back in the mail and get a refund.

I spent $90 on 9 items. I love 6 of the items, like one and don't like or can't wear two of the items. If I was in the States I would have just returned the two items I didn't like for a refund. Now, I'm just going to try and sell them on a local flea market page.

Another thing I really liked it that everything came freshly washed and packaged well. I could literally wear everything straight out of the box. You could smell the scent of fresh washed clothes.

Now, for the goodies:

I ordered this lovely red jacket from Stile Benetton. It came new with tags.

This Forever 21 dress was around $3 and was also new with tags.

I really liked this Stile Benetton blouse, also new with tags at $10.

I thought this Daisy Fuentes top had black beading around the collar, but it turns out to be reflective pieces. I think I actually like it better.

 

 

 

I snagged this Calvin Klein top for less than $10. I wore it my office party today with a black cardigan and loved it.

I really really like this dress and it was one of my favorites when I ordered. However, it is WAY too short on the sides. The back and front are fine but for some reason the sides are cut really high. I tried it on with my jeans but it's too long for a top. I think it's okay paired with leggings though.

 

 

This next dress is NO-GO! It turned out to be statue of liberty green and hangs terribly. If I keep it it'll be for a Halloween costume.

 

 

I wore this dress already. My husband was Santa Claus for my school party and I wore this to look a little "elfish" . I'm half and half on whether or not to keep it.

I LOVED this dress. It wasn't new with tags but it looks new. Best part? It was originally $60 and I got it for less than $10.

 

 

Which item is your favorite?

 

Thredup has a great referral program. If you sign up through one of my links, then we both get $10 off when you place your first order. CLICK HERE. They've also been good about sending me coupon codes throughout the year, both through the mail and in my inbox.

New Manifesto

1. Chocolate is a choice!
2. Sweets are a treat!
3. Exercise makes you feel good!
4.  Maintainence is part of organization.
5. Cleanliness is.....well clean.
6. Speak up when you have something to say.
7. Writing brings you joy, do it daily. Maybe it will turn into a lifelong career.
8. Edit everything.
9. Sending mail is the best way to receive mail.
10. Make an effort at least once a day to brighten your husband's day. (And any one else's)
11. Pray.

I know there was a  big gasp after the first one, I made one myself as I wrote it, but its true.

These are principles, and ideas that I want to work on incorporating in my life. Yes, I love chocolate but I shouldn't feel like I need it. I should spend more time putting pen to paper then lazin' around on FB. I need to voice my opinions to others and to myself, and in doing so I hope to discover new passions.

I need to work on sticking with my cleaning and organization routines. I enjoy putting them together but don't fare so well on following through with them. Everyday. But I'm determined to teach myself that skill.

I want to write more, love more, exericse more,  enjoy life more and I think that the 11 items above, in addition to a few more I  am still mulling around in my noggin' will helo me do that. One of them is that I want to present myself like I sell Mary Kay. What would I wear, how would I do my hair, make up etc?


What are "rules" or "principles" that you are trying to teach yourself? What goals do you have?

5 Question Fridays

1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself?


Yes! I am really bad about this. My flip flop bedroom slippers are totally worn out and I need more page protctors for my "to try" recipe notebook, but I probably won't buy them until next month, and then I'll probably just get the slippers.
2. How well do you know your neighbors?

I know my neighbors from my childhood home fairly well. They always treated me like their children/grandchildren. Now, if you ask me who lives on my hall in the dorm I could probaly only name three people, and two of them would be my roomates.


3. What age are you looking forward to being?
This one! People are finally starting to stop asking me what colleges I'm looking at. I wonder if its the ring... 22 should be exciting because that'll be my my first year as a married woman.


4. Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why?

Haha, yes. I love seeing if I have any little suprises- especially on campus when clubs are trying to bribe us to attend events by placing candy in our mail boxes. And as soon as I finish my copy of Real Simple, I start looking for the next one



5. What is your earliest childhood memory?

Playing in the yard with weeds I thought were lettuce and being surrounded by 8-10 cats who followed me whereever I went. We lived in the country. (When my parents first bought our house, the street was just a number and was later given a name.)

The Best Year Yet

I've set goals for 2015 but I've also been thinking about general ideas and principles that could make this year the best yet.

In the order they occurred to me:

1. Travel Korea/Asia as much as possible. I figure since we're here, we might as well take advantage of everything we can.

2. Experiment with stovetop desserts. I may not be able to perfect my baking skills in Korea but I sure can work on my frying.

3. Send more snail mail. Who doesn't love getting mail that's not a bill or advertisement?

4. Be generous. Giving makes everyone feel good!

5. Bite my tongue more. I really need to learn to think before I speak.

6. Learn to cook Korean food. Just another way to take advantage of being in Korea. I can learn to make our favorites for when we go home.

7. Learn to use the rice cooker. I think our food life will be richer if I can learn the buttons on this machine. I'm talking cakes and quiches here.

8.  Get in shape. I want to be able to play a game or go for long walks/hikes without being winded. I think this will greatly improve my quality of life.

9. Write more. Writing is one of my passions and I believe it is a gift from God. I think the more I write, the more likely I am to fulfill my purposes.

10. Finish my book. I've been working on a God-inspired book idea that I hope to complete in the coming months.

11. Complete my 7-7-7 goals. That's what goals are for, right? To be completed?

12.  Grow my blog. I enjoy blogging and would love to grow my reach,

13. Swim in the ocean. I think I was a mermaid in a past life. I love swimming in the ocean. It feels like home.

14. Spend more time outside. I think we could all use a bit more time in natural light.

15. Spend more time with God. How is this not a good thing? Spending more time with my creator sounds like the best way to make life better.

16. Use social media less. I think connecting in real life is much better!

17.  Eat better chocolate. Life is short. Don't spend it eating low grade choco!

18. Skype me friends more often. I miss our long chats.

19. Pray with my husband. I think this is a great way to strengthen my relationship with God and my husband.

20.  Complain less. I want to focus more on the good and less on the bad.

*inspired by a Mama Kat prompt

Valuable Advice

This piece of advice was first given to me, in high school, by a controlling and mentally abusive ex-boyfriend. He belittled me and tried to keep me away from my friends.

When I finally ended our relationship he  set out on a mass mail campaign in which he alternated between sending me "love" letters and hate mail. In one such note he railed against me friends and suggested they had encouraged our break-up (of course they did!) and advised me to "never let anyone control you".  I cut out that sentence and pasted it into my inspiration journal, just in case I ever needed a reminder.

As it turns out, I would. And the person I would need it for would give me identical advice after I rejected one of their many suggestions for my personal life. An employer gave me much "advice" and suggestions for my daily (personal) life.  The employer is offended when I don't take the suggestions and sometimes demands to know why. After telling them I wasn't going to follow their marriage advice that I should control my husband, they rewarded me with the gem, "Don't let anyone control you".

Now, that's a piece of advice I can follow- starting with you!

*Inspired by a Mama Kat prompt

In A Planning Mood

As you may or may not know, I'm spending the summer in South Korea with Mr. Groom. I leave at the end of May and come back at the end of August. I'm getting married December 18th. That means I have a lot to do in the next few weeks. I need to book a photographer for the wedding and for boudoir photos, book a caterer, a DJ and a florist. I also have to order invitations- thankfully I've already picked those out. I also have to address, stamp and mail save the dates. I've looked at photographers already I just need to make and decision (and hopefully haggle down prices). My dad has made DJ and caterer suggestions and my mom has checked out florists- I just have to decide which ones best. I'm not going to have time to catch my breath over the next few weeks. (Thats just the wedding stuff, I also have to shop and pack for the summer- have to take all the tolietries I'll need with me, restock Mr. Groom's supply, buy his birthday present. My sister's graduating n from high school and a beloved mentor is retireing. This is also finals week)

So what did I so today?

Made a calendar! I filled out a lot of dates in  the calendar section of my wedding planning book. But I love love LOVE  to organize and plan, so that wasn't enough. If I could find the cord that connects my camera to my computer I'd show you what I did.

I pulled out an index card for each month and wrote the name of the month on the blank side. I combined June and July since I'll be out of the country and can only do things like look for shoes, buy postcards and keep and eye out for cool decorations and gifts, and hound the hunny to make decisions about his groomsman.

On the lined sides I wrote out everything that had to get done that month. For example, under May I wrote:
- Book a Caterer
-Book a DJ
-Book a florist
-Book the photographer
-Buy the garter I want from Etsy (I'm scared it will get gone!)
-Order Invitations
-Keep an eye on ebay for inexpensive globes (if anyone has one they don't want anymore please let me know!)
-Talk two the 2 bridesmaids I know haven't looked for bridesmaid dresses about what the other girls have picked out
-Start making my ring bearer pillows (I'm making them from the wrap that came with my prom dress!)
-Offically ask my cousins (and their parents) if the can/want to be ring bearers, flower girls and ushers
-Mail the Save the Dates
-start asking around for postcards (since we're doing a travel theme we're having guests write messages on postcards instead of simply signing a book. if you feel the need to send me some postcards just holler!)

Whew! Can you believe all of that fit on the back of one index card?

After I wrote them all out I ordered them and left a blank index card inbetween each month, in case my todo list expands and then clipped them together. Now, they fit perfectly in the pockets of my planner, in my pocketbook or in my pants pockets.

2nd 101/1001

The following is my second 101/1001 list. I completed aprox. half of my previous list. This list is not a list of must dos, but rather a list of things I'd like to do. The list serves as a way to keep me focused. I have until December 10, 2015 to complete my list.(How fitting that it ends on my birthday!) At that time I can reevaluate.

The italized items are in progress, the completed items are italized and bold.

TRAVEL (0/14)

1. Go to Vegas with Mr. Groom
2. Visit the Bedford Village
3. Take a couples trip
4.  Visit Cake Boss Bakery
5. Take a road trip
6. Lay plans for a recoccuring girls vacation/get together
7. Go to a concert
8. Go to the beach
9. Visit Boston
10. Go to Philadelphia
11. Visit Baltimore
12. See wild horses
13. Renew my passport
14. See the locks

EATING AND DRINKING (0/4)
15. Tour a winery
16. Go to a fondue restaurant
17. Make a cocktail not from a mix
18. Have a pizza making competition

COOKING (0/9)
19. Make truffles again
20. Make Smores with homemade graham crackers and marshmallows
21. Bake 3 inventive cupcake flavors
22. Try 15 new dessert recipes (0/ 15)
23. Try 15 new non dessert recipes (0/15)
24. Make homemade icecream
25. Make deep fried cupcakes
26. Try a Cupcake Project recipe
27. Try a Brown Eyed Baker recipe

WRITING (0/6)
28. Finish Westbound Hope
29. Finish Imag
30. Submit Imag to a Publisher
31. Finish Wives book
32. Submit Wives book to Publisher
33. Attend a writing workshop or seminar

CRAFT/CREATIVE  (0/7)
34. Create postcards out of pictures I’ve taken
35. Take a card making class or a cake decorating class
36. Make a travel scrapbook
37. Finish my wedding shadowbox
38. Finish tshirt quilt
39. Learn to use my sewing machine
40. Finish my writing desk

DOMESTICNESS (0/6)
41. Host a dinner party
42. Get Mr. Groom a personal Christmas ornament
43. Buy personalized stationary
44. Wrap a gift with a Bobo scarf
45.Host a Southern Comfort Theme Party
46. Grow vegetables and fruit


SPIRITUAL (0/6)
47. Write out bible verses that inspire me and post them around the house
48. Read the entire Bible
49. Attend an Easter Service
50. Attend Christmas Eve Service
51. Strengten my prayer life
52. Share my faith with someone

BODY (0/3)
53.Get in shape (be able to run a mile, nonstop, under x minutes....be able to go up and downstairs without getting out of breath. boost upper arm strength)
54. Get new glasses
55. Have retainer removed

GIVING BACK (0/8)
56. Participate in Operation Christmas Child
57. Volunteer at the soup kitchen or food pantry
58. Volunteer with Girl Scouts
59. Be a Girl Scout Leader
60. Send a gift to Morningside
61. Adopt a soldier
62. Send Christmas Cards to St Judes every Christmas (0/3)
63. Look into being a foster parent or adoption

ORGANIZE (0/7)
 64. Load all pictures on my camera onto cds
65. Sell my prom dresses
66. Put all my books on shelves
67. Put all my printed pictures in an album
68. Clean out my room at my parents house
69. Hang artwork
70. Have my wedding dress preserved

FAMILY AND FRIENDS (0/11)
71. Go on a double date with Hotglue and her man
72. Host a holiday celebration
73. Host a holiday celebration where both sides can attend
74. Have a niece or nephew stay the night
75. Have my sister spend a weekend or so with us
76. Continue to send snail mail to my friends
77. Give family history books for grandparents and parents to complete
78. Pray for my futrure children and thier spouses
79. Get  Mike a pet. And not a rock
80. Make recipe dish towels for family
81. Plan something special for our 5 year anniversary

THINGS (0/4)
82. Buy a new laptop
83. Get my camera fixed
84. Start a charm bracelet
85. Get a Nook case

FUN (0/12)
86. Take pictures in a photo booth again
87. Get another massage
88. Play laser  tag
89. Go outlet shopping
90. Host a craft night party
91. Have a bonfire
92. Go on a picnic
93. Host a murder mystery party
94. Host a girls night in
95. Makeover
96. Attend a scrapbooking weekend
97. Have boudoir shots made
98. Learn to braid

PROFESSIONAL  (0/3)
99. Start a business
100. Send my freelance writing resume to 5 places
101. Learn Sign language

ATM Favorite Thing: Try the World

After eyeing the subscription service Try the World for quite some time, I finally decided to take the plunge on a promotional deal for a free box with purchase.

So, I paid the monthly subscription fee of $39 and anxiously waited for the mail.

A little over a week after my purchase my two Try the World boxes arrived.

(These boxes are quite sturdy and could easily be re-purposed as gift boxes or to hold craft supplies)

After opening the boxes, I was so happy to have purchased a subscription.

I received eight items in each box. Here's what came in my Brazil box:

Churraso spice rub, Churrasco bbq sauce and  Jabuticaba jam

I tend to collect jams to use in fillings. I'm also excited about cooking some meat flavored with the Churrasco spices. 

Brazil nut cookies, Brazil nut spread and Pao de Quito mix

I can't wait to make the cheese bread for my husband's Brazilian coworker. 

Guava paste

Cupcake filling anyone?

Not pictured: A box of Brazilian coffee

All of the items were actually from Brazil, not Americanized versions. I looked up the price of the guava paste on Amazon. I couldn't find the the same brand but packages this size ranged from $8-$10. Overall, I think this subscription is a really good value and I am excited to see what I will receive next. If you'd like to try the world yourself, use THIS LINK and you'll get the same promotion I did-a free box!

Five Question Friday

1. What movie could you watch over and over again and not get tired of?


Pirates of the Carribean
2. What's your biggest pet peeve right now?

Hmmm...our mailman constantly delivering the wrong mail to our house.
3. If you had to describe your best friend in five words or less, what would you say?

1. Amazing
2. Stylish
3. Crafty
4. Smart
5. Fun

4. If you did not have to worry about money or go to school what would you do for a living?

Volunteer for nonprofits and be a girl scout leader

5. What is your one "splurge" item, that you will always buy, no matter the cost?

Hmmm...I almost said books and then I thought about chocolate so I'd say it's a tie


PS: That bestfriend I just described? We just started a baking blog together, where we challenge each other to try new recipes!

Saturday Smiles

Happy Weekend! I hope everyone had a fabulous week, full of witty, charming, delightful, exciting, joyous, and humorous things that made them smile! Write up your list of smiles and link on up!


1. Mr. Groom was on vacation for the first part of the week. We got to spend a lot of quality time together.
2. We were able to buy zucchinni this week, and at a decent price. It makes a good midday snack raw, and a nice dinner sauteed.
3.I got a letter in the mail this week from "Lyric" that included pictures of the shoes she bought for my wedding
4. We finally got a good bit of our premarital counseling book worked out.
5. We'll be back in the states in 16 days! Woo-hoo!
6. We have plans tonight with several people to go eat at the Meat Home- a meat buffet with everything from sausage to squid. And fried veggies. My body needs veggies so badly it won't even care that they are fried.
7. I discovered that on weekdays, once I'm fully awake, its oh 9pm in the states and I can watch all my favorite shows like Cupcake Wars, Chopped, Cake Boss, Good Eats, Craig Fergusson, and the Golden Girls.
8. Mr. Groom found a crossword puzzle book that he's barely touched, so now I have a new thing to keep me busy during the week.
9. I got to talk to my little sister  on her birthday!
10. I can't remember what he did, but the other day Mr. Groom had me laughing so hard I couldn't walk and I spilled my cup of water all over the couch. And then he got mad, and I had to laugh even more.
11. I won a blog giveaway!

What things made you smile this week? Don't forget to link up!

I Did Not Do Much

I didn't do much of my todo list last week. It was just too hectic of a week. In addition to classes and homework I want to:

1. Mail remaining invitations.
2. Call someone and ask them to be a usher in our wedding
3. Call the sound guy at church
4. Call the Soup Kitchen
5. Make a bowl for charity
6. Do laundry
7. Mortar Board Meeting
9. Mortar Board Fundrasing duties.
10. Do a wedding update blog.
11. Pack and go to my parents for Fall Break
12. Write a feature on the smoking issue on campus.
13. Finish writing a guest blog

Talk it Up Tuesdays: Making a 101/1001 list

I want to try something out. I want to try to start Talk it Up Tuesdays. For talk it up Tuesdays I will eitther post a topic  to blog about, ask some questions or offer up a creative challenge. Depending on the Tuesday, your responses will either be in comments or through a mclinky. I'm thinking about doing this everyother week. Sound good?

This week I want to piggyback off of yesterdays post about lists. Have you made a bucket list or a 101 things to do in 1001 days list? I finished mine this morning and will post it here. If  you've made a list share it in the McLinky. If you haven't leave a comment listing your top goals. Also, I'd love any suggestions or tips on how to complete the goals on mine.

As a bonus for leaving a comment or sharing your list I will post a list of bloggers that participated along with a little blurb about your blog. Now- go make that list!

1.Get Married
2. Honeymoon
3. Go to New Orleans
4.Go to Vegas with Mr. Groom
5. See the Grand Canyon
6. Graduate from College
7. Have homemade food 7 nights in a row.
8. Host a dinner party
9. Have a cheese party
10. Clean out my room at my parents house.
11. Take a cake decorating class
12.Go camping
13. Visit the Biltmore
14. Tour a winery
15. Buy a postcard album/box
16.Visit Yellowstone
17. Get a job
18. Frame my wedding pictures
19. Send someone a card I made
20. Take a couples trip
21. Go on a girls getaway
22. Make a scrapbook
23. Help Morningside raise money for their renovation project
24. Participate in Operation Christmas Child
25. Create a writing portfolio
26. Create a professional website and/or business cards
27. Take Mr. Groom to Morningside
28. Learn to make bread
29. Go to Morningsides Card Making Minstry at least once
30. Change my name
31. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
32. Send thank you notes for all of our wedding gifts
33. Have a real Christmas tree
34. Buy Mr. Groom a personal Christmas Ornament
35. Have Boudoir photos made
36. Go back to the drive in movies
37. Give out Halloween candy
38. Buy wedding shoes
39. See Prince of Persia
40. Make a 25 books to read list
41. Read all 25 books
42. Make a perpetual calendar with important dates on both sides
43. Post an engagement notice in the paper
44. Try 15 new non-dessert recipeS
45. Try 15 new dessert recipes.
46. Finish Westbound Hope
47. Create a Places to Submit Notebook
48. Load all pictures on my camera onto cds
49. Get comfortable dancing
50. Edit and perfect my vows
51. Get my makeup done for a nautual look
52. Learn to do my makeup the same way
53. Take Mr. Groom to Cherokee
54. Visit Texas
55. Voluteer with Girl Scouts
56. Make homemade icecream
57. Publish a piece of writing
58. Buy personalized stationary
59. Sell my prom dresss
60. Go to a fair
61. Go back to Bamajam/something similar
62. Send Christmas Carrds
63. Pay off 50% of my student loans
64. Send a care package
65. Stay at a bed and breakfast
66. Do a 365 photo challenge
67. Send regular snail mail to my friends once I graduate
68. Write daily
69. Parasail
70. Make postcards out of pictures I've taken
71. Create a weekly menu
72. Make truffles again
73. Get an after college job
74. Make Wedding Earrings
75. Host a blog giveaway
76. Make a home with Mr. Groom
77. Take pictures in a photo booth
78. Attend Converse College's Class of 2011 graduation ceremony
79. Do something to benefit a soldier
80. Be a Girl Scout leader
81. Lay the plans for a reoccuring Girls Weekend Vacation
82. Get another massage
83. Put all of my books on shelves
84. Get an autographed book from Terry Goodkind
85. Look into being a foster parent
86. Make Smores with Homemade Marshmallows and Graham crackers
87. Make Homemade hot chocolate
88. Make and give cake in a jar
89. Make a cocktail at home, not from a mix
90. Try a chocolate bacon bar
91. Wrap a gift in a bobo wrap scarf
92. Meet Mr. Groom's mother
93. Buy a scrapbook suppy organizer
94. Go to a card making class or tutorial
95. Eat at PF Changs
96. Eat at Scrapbook Creations again
97. Take "Lyric" to 5 Guys
98. Try the once a month cooking thing
99. Go on just for fun walks
100. Buy personalized address labels.
101. Visit Savannah and eat at Paula Deen's restaurant

Wedding Recap: Preceremony Portriats

The professional photographs are here! They came in the mail yesterday. Here are some of my favorite preceremony photos.

My parents

Roomie Shot



My family

Mike and his best man

All of the men

The children with us

My flower girl

My ring bearer

My family with Mike

Mike's family with me

Everybody!

Kissy-kissy

Bridesmaids

Me with the flower girls

 My sister with me

Me with HOTGLUE