Wedding Planning (Part 1)

So, you're thinking about getting married?

Well at least we are! I have to admit, this entire wedding planning process is WORK! Philip and I knew from the moment he proposed that we were looking at a bit of a longer engagement, due to a couple of things. For one, money. Planning a wedding cost some serious money! Even if you want to go low key, like we are trying to do, you are still dishing out a lot more than you would expect! Stress, we did not want to be rushed in making decisions and getting things done. We both work full time jobs and didn't want our wedding to be another one of those. Time, and what I mean by this, is time to enjoy this phase in our lives that we are currently in, the engaged phase. For us, this is the only time in our lives, we are ever going to have the title of "engaged" or "fiance" and I really didn't want to rush through this period like a bat out of hell. I wanted to enjoy this time with Philip, as an engaged couple! 

So, as we take this journey, as an engaged couple, I thought it might be fun to share with you guys the steps to planning our wedding, some fun DIY and crafts that we are working on, and more to publicly document our journey down the aisle! 

Hope you guys enjoy, I will be doing a post soon on our venue, why we chose the one that we did, and how to best select a venue for your wedding! This seems to be the first step, at least for us, and really helps start the planning process! 

XO

Spa Night - At Home

I don't know about you, but after a long week of work, I really need some me time to unwind. I find one of my favorite places to do that is in my tub! Our tub was one of the selling points on why we moved where we did, because they had the garden style tub. I'll never go back, haha! 

You don't need to spend a ton of money to really relax and have your own spa night at home! All you need is the right tools and you are on your way to your very own oasis! 

One key ingredient of a relaxing spa night at home is Epsom Salt! I like to get the scented bag that is infused with Lavender, because for one, I love love love the smell of Lavender! Also though, Lavender comes from an herb, and has healing properties that help treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Somehow, it has a way of creating a calming affect to our minds, which is perfect when you need some R&R. 

Also, Epsom Salt works wonders on your body! Epsom Salt is very high in Magnesium, so soaking in Epsom Salt really allows the Magnesium to soak into your muscles and joints, helping with muscle tension, joint pain, and inflammation. 

Another helpful tool for relaxation is the Dr. Teal's Foaming Bath - which works similar to a bubble bath, but I actually get hives from bubble bath so I have found this to be a great alternative and is really gentle on the skin. Again, love Lavender! 

Now let's talk about your lighting! When taking a relaxing bath, the right amount of light can either make or break your relaxation. These candles are just the perfect amount of light and actually are water activated and float in the bath with you. 

I tried to get a picture to give you an idea of how they look, haha! 

Now, I'm not sure if you are anything like me, but I actually cannot just sit in the bath and relax and do absolutely nothing... I get bored! Then want to get out within 15 minutes and it ends up being just a waste of water. I like to enjoy myself! Use this as my "ME" time! I like to bring my laptop in and watch some of my girlie shows while in the bath, currently that would be the Sex and the City TV Series! 

Last but not least, before slipping in to your bath for your soak, don't forget the most important part!! 

I love to enjoy my baths with a glass of my favorite wine. I am currently LOVING Menage a Trois - California Red Wine! 

Now, throw your hair up in a bun, lay back, relax, enjoy yourself and be in the moment! Of course don't forget to have a clean soft towel and some slippers waiting to greet you on your way out! 

XO

Young & Engaged...

I am young, and in love. 

I am young, and engaged. 

I am 22 years old, and with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, so who's to say I am too young to know this? 

What is the worst part of being young and getting married you may ask? 

Everyone on the outside's reaction. Strangers, Acquaintances, even some family members. There is always the question of, why? Don't you want to wait a little longer, make sure he is the one? Why are you rushing? 

Here's my take or my response to everyone, if you're in the same situation, if your thinking to yourself that we are to young, here's my side of the story. 

In my opinion, the ultimate goal in life, is to live it to the the fullest, experience amazing things, travel, start a family, have a career that I love, and a home that I find solace in, make amazing friendships and change people's lives for the better. Leave this Earth with a sense that I lived my life fully and wholly and true to myself. Why would I not want to spend all of those moments with Philip by my side? 

Philip is my very best friend. I can laugh with him, I can cry with him, I can go to him for advice, I can fight with him, he is my person. He is the first person I want to call when I have good news, and the first person I reach out to for help after a bad day. He pushes me to try my best and strive for the best and motivates me to try new things. He doesn't hinder me from having a life outside of him with friends and hobbies and an identity aside from a couple. 

I have not lost myself in our relationship, I have found myself, and who I want to be. 

Philip and I have had our amazing days and we have had our dark days. We fight, all couples do, but we don't let those fights define us. We have experienced life together as children and as adults and have dealt with hardships that life can throw at you. We have seem death, loss, money problems, and I am not saying we are fully equipped to handle anything from left field, but I am saying that together we are stronger. 

There is no age limit to finding your soul mate, you can be 15 or 50. 

I found it quite interesting a couple of years ago when I would hang out with single friends and go out and have fun and what not, you know, girls night! I would go out expecting an all girls night, just fun times with my girlfriends. I would leave Philip at home and go out and realize that all my single friends were searching for what I had at home waiting for me. Everyone would get glamoured up and look absolutely stunning in the hopes of meeting a nice/attractive guy that you could find a connection with. 

If I have my perfect person already, why would I want to continue testing the water, trying to see if the grass is greener. 

Philip is the one for me, I have known that since I was 14 years old. There is something about love, that when it's real and it's right, you'll just know. You'll feel it from the moment you meet. There is an electricity between the two of us that just draws us towards each other and connects us on a level that only we can reach.

Being 22 does not mean I am rushing things, being together for 8+ years means I am ready to commit myself and my life to one man, until death do us part. 

I guess my point of this post, was just to spread the word, that not all people that get married or fall in love young are crazy or have a lack of reality. If anything, I think I have grasped reality, grasped what I want out of life, and someone just for me to share it with. 

XO

Holy Guacamole! Step by Step

Philip and I were really craving Guacamole one day, and he just decided to kind of improvise in the kitchen and it turned out to be the most delicious guac I have ever had! Now it's something our friends and family ask him to make all the time! If you're looking for a fairly simple yet delicious way to make your own Guacamole, here is our take.

You will need the following:

- Cilantro

- Avocados - for our recipe for just the two of us we use 2 but feel free to add more if you have a larger group

-Red Onion

-Lime

-Tomato

-Salt

First start my cutting your avocados and pitting them.

We like to use a spoon and just scoop the avocado into a large mixing bowl.

Then Mash, we use a potato masher, it is a lot quicker than using a fork.

Next, you are going to prep the rest of your ingredients. We used about 1/2 teaspoon of salt, half a tomato, half a red onion, a handful of cilantro, and half a lime. Then... Chop! 

Next, a little tip on how to store your cilantro. I love cilantro, its a staple in my house but figuring out how to store it is crucial for keeping it well. If you leave it out of the bag it will shrivel up and dry out, but if you leave it in the grocery bag it gets brown and mushy. 

The trick is to place the cilantro in a zip loc bag with a damp paper towel. 

Add your ingredients and MIX! 

Finally top it off with some fresh lime juice! 

That's it, you are done! Serve up with some fresh chips and add a little extra salt as desired. 

Bon Appétit 

Stay tuned for more of my personal Chef's creations! 

XO

January Birchbox (and a couple other things)

It's here! It finally came! My very first Birchbox! 

So for my first month, I got...

- Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm 

- Harvey Prince Sample Perfume in the scent "Sincerely"

- Sumita Eyeliner in a goldish hunter green color (excited to try!!)

- Whish Body Butter in the scent Lavender 

- Vasanti Brighten Up Face Rejuvenator - this I have to say so far is AMAZING! I tried it and my face felt so fresh like I had just had a facial, it hasn't been this soft since I was a baby! I might end up having to buy this in the full size! According to their website the full size should last you about 4-6 months so that is worth the $34.00. 

So far, I am really pleased with Birchbox and excited to see what the rest of the year holds! I have been kind of obsessed with this idea of monthly subscriptions ever since my fiancé Philip started receiving Sock Panda. Now we do Sock Panda, Birchbox, Myster TackleBox, Tackle Grab, HelloFresh, and LoveYourFood. I'll do a review or reveal on more later as they come. 

XO.

It's about time I did another DIY!

So, I have been looking for just the thing to add a little spice to my laundry room, considering, well it's a laundry room... I'm already bored. I spend a lot of time in there though, and it's right off of the kitchen and we tend to keep the door open most of the time. 

So, with that being said, I saw a couple cute signs and what not on Pinterest and Etsy, but people were selling these things for like $60-125 (no, I am not kidding). I figured I would see what I could do on my own, for just about $20. 

TaDa!

I started by venturing to Lowe's and purchasing a board that was 1x8x8 and then had them cut it into 4 - 2' pieces. That cost be about $7.00 total. 

I was also able to find the stain I was looking for at Lowe's and paid about $4.00 for the can. I went with "Driftwood" because I wanted something really natural and beautiful, of course, pick whatever color works for you and your space! 

From there, I went to Michaels and purchased Letter stencils ($4.00 - and I can reuse them again!) , White Acrylic Paint (69 cents), and Foam brushes that they call "Foam Pouncers" ($5.00 roughly). 

When I got home, I had some extra sand paper laying around and lightly sanded the edges to avoid getting splinters in this process. 

Next, go ahead and stain your board. This is probably the most tedious part of the process just because you have to let the stain sit, wipe it off, let it sit, wipe it off, you get my drift.

Once you have reached the stain color you want, make sure to give it time to dry of course and then assemble your stencils. 

I went with simple, the word Laundry, and taped the stencils to the board to avoid them shifting and making a mess! Then I got out two different foam pouncers, the big one, and the little one. The big one was perfect for the middle of the stencil and the little was perfect for around the edges and the details. 

Peel off your stencils and let it dry. (I let mine dry overnight just to be safe).

That's it, you're done! To top it all off, you still have 3 boards left to do whatever you want with, more DIY projects and home decor, I think I might use these in our living room but will do a post on those when the time comes! Simple, Cheap, and Cute DIY for your Laundry Room!

XO

#SisterTag

Hello everybody, 

So, my sister, Isabella, is such a cool kid! She is so outgoing and has such a courageous personality that I admire so. She even had the courage to put herself out there and start her own YouTube Channel! She likes to participate in trending Tag topics and when one of her friends suggested a #SisterTag she asked if I wouldn't mind joining her for one of her videos! Of course I said sure, and well... 

Here ya go! 

Check out her other video's too! She's pretty awesome <3

XO