wish list

 

 1. mad tea party cuff
 2. sephora collection jumbo eyeliner
 3. tiny initial necklace
 4. sonia kashuk tribal cosmetic bag 
 5. conair you style
 6. bite me necklace
 7. trash earrings
 8. floral bib necklace
 9. diana f+ & flash in mint
10. the gilles necklace

Since my birthday is now under a month away I've been asked by the hubster to make my wish list. I feel like I'm 5 years old whenever I'm asked to do this but at all of the Hiller clan's request, I must. I can see why it makes shopping a wee bit easier and once I actually get started with my list I tend to get a little excited fantasizing about all the awesome things that may be coming my way.

I was truly dreading turning 26, 25 is oh so good and I'm happy here. But as the day gets closer I'm starting to embrace the big 2-6 more and more. Being "over the hill" of my 20's isn't the worst thing ever and the thought of these tentative presents are easing the pain even more :)

a gift from him

 

A few weeks back Ryan bought me a dress. For no good reason other than the fact that I loved it. It wasn’t exactly cheap either. Well, maybe it wasn’t THAT expensive but it was still out of my price range. He also bought it knowing how many dresses I’ve already acquired this season. That means quite a bit considering I know how much he hates when I have too much of 1 particular thing. He wasn’t even expecting anything in return. The only thing he wanted was to see that big giant smile that took over my face when he told me that dress was going to be mine.

I’ll always love this dress..even when the color fades or when it eventually goes out of style. It’ll always be a reminder of him and how good he is to me.

Little memories like these are so crucial in a marriage, or in a relationship in general. There will inevitably lots of ups and downs and during those down times it helps if you can remember the wonderful qualities about your other half that made you both fall in love in the first place. That usually ends up being the first step in making everything better.

Oh and p.s- I apologize for the lack of a smile in that first picture. Hubby took the picture for me (he’s not exactly known for his photography skills) and he “forgot” to tell me he was taking it. It was probably more like he was in a rush and wanted the whole picture taking ordeal to be over so he just pressed the button. I made him take a few more but unfortunately, this one was the best. Gotta work with what I’m given… The other 2 not so horrible ones we’re taken by moi, thank you very much.

weekly wednesday weigh in

All week long I had been using My Fitness Pal- a calorie counting website/app that I’m totally in love with. Everything was just fabulous. I was staying in my calorie range, eating healthier options, feeling my clothes fit a little better. The change in food tracking from points counting to using this app really helped me stay focused!

You can just imagine my confusion when I stepped on the scale this morning and gained a pound…

After looking over my profile options on MFP I realized that it had been set (probably from agessssss ago) to 3x a week under the dreaded category of exercise goals. I guess I was a lot more motivated back in the day? It would also explain the amount of calories I was allowed to take in, which I thought was kind of on the high side but I had brushed that off. I had put my faith in the app to tell me what was right..and who am I to question more calories anyway?

This past week was a rather wasted week on the weight loss front and I’m kinda bummed about it because it was nothing I (intentionally) did. I guess I’m just gonna have to be weighing a few more lbs than anticipated in Cali.

6 months

Wow..that 6th month mark of being married crept up on us (well, at least me) mighty fast. So fast that I didn't even realize what day it was until mid-day on Friday, the 4th. Hubby didn't realize either until after he got my happy anniversary text and then I didn't feel so bad that I forgot anymore.

We spent the rest of the weekend making up for each others slight lapse in memory with a few enjoyable meals out, a stop at one of our favorite places (Target), and just enjoying each others company. Being alone with each other for a 48 hour stretch is something we don't get very often so it was a welcome change of pace. Even after 8 years I feel like I maybe even got to know him a little better.

One of the funnier moments of the weekend was me seeing how well he knows me. While waiting for breakfast I saw a woman walking in and I said "oohh, I want one!"

Hubby- "Want what?"

me- "What do you think?"

Hubby- "I don't know, all I saw was her holding a baby"

me- "Well, she was holding a baby, wearing a Yankees sweatsuit, and holding a Louis Vuitton bag. Take a guess"

Hubby- "Oooh! I didn't see the that. It's definitely the bag."

That boy does know me :)

birdcage

For our wedding, we decided to use a birdcage in lieu of a card box for our envelopes. Since then, this birdcage has been relatively homeless in our apartment..being shifted from here to there, becoming a little bit of a nuisance.

 

I also had moss left over from the centerpieces I made from my bridal shower..

Then we happen to have this random hook on our dining room ceiling..

 

This idea had to basically hit me over the head for me to get it. I needed to use this birdcage for what it was...a birdcage, but not with a real bird. The chirping would eventually get on my nerves.

I was itching for a new crafty project to get my hands on anyway so I ran out to Michael's, got all of my ideas together, and gathered my supplies. 

 

 First I attached the little bird (I named him Jimmy) to his nest with some wire..

 

 

 ..then all that was left to do was decorate the cage.

 

 

 

 

This was a lot more simple to put together than I originally anticipated. It maybe took 30 minutes from start to finish. It was time well spent because now my birdcage has a home. A pretty cute home if I do say so myself..

 

hunger games

This horribly addictive book, and the subsequent series of Catching Fire and Mockingjay, have been solely to blame for my sporadic posting habits as of late. It’s no lie that when I say that every spare moment of everyday for the past week have been devoted to these books, I even opted out of a nap to take time to read! But really, I must not have that much spare time since I’m only half way through the 2nd book…

Suzanne Collins is brilliant. Her writing is truly engaging and intriguing. The storyline is incredibly consuming..I’m starting to confuse the book with reality. No lie, I do get an instant twinge of worry that Peacekeepers will come to get me when I do something wrong lately and then I have to remind myself that oh yea, it’s a book. Peacekeepers aren’t real.

She also tends to ends every chapter leaving you wanting more which is usually the reason why I continue reading until I just can’t read anymore. This morning I actually woke up to find my phone on the floor, kindle app still open to the page I passed out in the middle of. Now that’s dedication. Yea, I’m so dedicated that I had a presentation at work this morning that I didn’t prepare for AT ALL because of course, I was too busy reading the book. I managed to make my way through it without making a fool out of myself though (thank you 5 years of COBRA knowledge).

In conclusion, I’d like to say I’m sorry, dear sweet blog (and my non-existent readers) if I’m a little flaky for another week or so. You have to understand, these books are the scholastic version of heroine. If I can’t get my reading in I’ll go through withdrawals and then really, what kind of shape would I be in to blog anyway?

weekly wednesday weigh in

I’ve decided this morning that today is going to be a fresh new start with the diet. I’m completely going to recommit myself to the cause. This idea came about, rather unexpectedly, when I forced myself to get on the scale (of course I didn’t want to!) and saw no change. Usually I’d praise the weight loss gods for no gains but for some reason that same ugly number staring back at me stirred something up inside me and I had the revelation that no, I’m not going to stand for this anymore.

(I’m feeling quite empowered right now and not to rain on my own parade but I’ll even be shocked if this sticks)

I geared myself up with the healthiest breakfast I could think of

  (almond butter and banana on light multi-grain bread with a half of a raspberry smoothie)

and started on my merry way with this weight loss adventure. My current motivations- our San Francisco trip in 21 days, the impending doom of summer, and that bridesmaid dress I’m going to have to stand in front of a whole bunch of people in that will be happening in under a year. My current roadblocks- the “deep fried fun” day I’m planning (why not just cancel it you ask? Well, cuz I want deep fried reese’s and banana’s..that's why), and the pile of goodies that has taken up residence on my nightstand…

How could you say no to that? It just seems to make everything so bright and cheery with their colorful wrappers!

For right now I’m going to start journaling my point intake in my notebook (as per usual) but I think I may also start logging calories in the “My Fitness Pal” app that hasn’t been put to use in quite a while just for a nice change of pace.

Here’s to hoping this sticks!!