Sunday Morning/ Pre-Vacation

I'm having some early Sunday morning quiet time before church and trying to prep for vacation. Friday we are off to Beaver Creek in CO for my cousin's wedding and then Vegas before we head home.  I'm super excited as this is our only big trip for the year  but does anyone run into pre-vacation stress? It is real! The house is a small disaster in our high traffic areas, organizing pet sitters, library trips, trying to pack and make sure everything is taken care of before we go so we don't come back and are miserable...I'm hoping big lists will help! If you could tell me why I thought it would be a great idea to go through refinancing our home right now I'd be grateful.  

I'm hoping that a great sermon today at Revolution, lots of coffee and a pedicure this evening with The Housewife will smooth everything out.  Matt is off pretty early today for a weekend so I'm sure we will have some quality time tonight too.  

• In other news...I'm really enjoying a blonde moment in my life.  I really have bumped up the brightness in this mane for a much needed hair change.  I'm really feeling it. 
• I read this book but it was just okay....but have this and "Girl on the Train" coming from the library today. 
• The Housewife has me addicted to Podcasts and I seriously enjoyed some back episodes of Call Your Girlfriend while I was in the office for a bit yesterday catching up on some items. 
• The JCrew sale did not hurt my feelings the last few weeks.  I'm having a moment with basics lately.  The sale is good people - this comes from a girl that normally buys all her J. Crew on Ebay.  I have the following en route to my house: 

J.Crew Amalia High Heel Sandals

J.Crew Boy Shirt in Tidewater

Five on Friday

Ah! I'm so happy I'm squeezing in a Five on Friday post! 

1. I'm still happy to report that work is going really, really well.  I'm not an expert at anything yet.  It's all still really challenging -- but I love my office and what we do and all the wonderful people I work with.  I feel so lucky to have all these feelings.  

2.  The Housewife and I are happily training for the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon! It feels SO good to be running and I've been really devoted to my mileage.  I ran 48 miles in August and hope to run even more in September -- but we have an off week for a long run so it may even out.   My running fitness is really coming back -- hopefully one day soon we can run on some cooler days. 

3.  The stuffings/insides of our wedding invitations came today from Wedding Paper Divas. I'm really excited about them! I can't resist sharing the beautiful suite we used! "Gilded Romance". I definitely can't wait to see the actual invites in person on Tuesday! 

4.  I'm happy to report that I've actually made a real effort at not shopping.  I'm working to get at least into October without buying anything.  The wedding is getting super close (just about 90 days out) and we need all our pennies.  Especially for my London min-moon blow out.  

5.  I spend a lot of time working on my library hold/request list.  Today I got a notice that a book I've wanted to read forever was waiting for me at the hold desk! What a great day! 

Happy weekend! 

~the engaged gal~

Winter Reading

I'm trying not to be fooled by these few nice days that we have had here in Georgia so I thought I would do a little reading post.  Even though they don't seem to be our most popular.  Just go with it.  I have hunkered down and really devoted myself to some seriously consistent reading the last few years (or maybe this isn't different from any other year of my life from third grade on) and just wanted to share some of my reading list! 

//the rosie project//

I absolutely adored this book about a quirky professor who essentially has Asperger's Syndrome and is looking for a wife.  It was very funny at times and also heartbreaking at times.  It's only $1.99 on your Kindle.   

//the art of fielding//

This was a bit of a different book for me.  I usually read a bunch of YA Lit and historical fiction mostly but I really enjoyed this novel.  It takes you to a small university where a young guy goes to college to become a baseball star.  Except an accident during a game derails him.  There are 5 main characters that are all affected by this accident -- mostly dudes.  It was a very masculine read for me.  It didn't have a super quick pace but I really enjoyed straying from my normal routine.  

//fangirl//

No book list of mine would be complete without some YA Lit.  I eat it up.  The books are usually excellent prices and great reads.  The genre has really come a long way since Twilight  (still a special place in my heart).  I loved this because it was about a girl who was a twin (le duh) who goes off to college and really struggles with the transition, her changing relationship with her sister and family who loses herself writing fan fiction.  I don't know a lot about fan fiction but thought the book was well done.  Plowed through most of it during what I will now refer to as The Great Sinus Infection of February.  Also note Rainbow Rowell's other acclaimed novel Eleanor and Park is only $5.00 for your Kindle right now.  

What are you guys reading while the weather is still gross?  Will winter ever end?  I feel like it won't. 

~the single gal~

What I'm Loving Wednesday {things that are gray}

I know it's not exactly sweater weather yet, so I'm hoping that by the time it arrives I will feel like I went shopping all over again once I get to wear some of the items I invested in for fall/winter already.  Nonetheless in true shopoholic fashion I wouldn't mind adding this Zara sweater and this vest from The Gap to my closet.  The Gap puffer vest is very similar to the JCrew Factory herringbone vest that sold out in like 3 days so if you loved it and didn't grab it this is a great option!  It's also worth noting that Gap is having a Columbus Day event through today and you can get 40% off your purchase. 

Zara Square Cut Cable Knit Sweater 

Gap Tweed Puffer Vest

I've been caught up this week reading a book rec from The Housewife and I'm really enjoying this one.  Didn't think I would but I was immediately drawn into the story. 

buy here

I've been very anti-nightstand lately while looking to update the guest room.  My guest bed is high and every nightstand I see comes up to my knee.  Lame.  I did find this at Target and was thinking it would be cute for the bedside and provide storage.  The Threshold line is pretty much my jam.  I want it in the "gray wash" color. 

Threshold Apothecary Cabinet 

Really I just wanted you to know about all these things since I have no money to buy them. Enjoy! Also, I'm sure none of you need to be reminded that our posts are not sponsored and all these opinions are our own and really just wanted to confirm that we do not get free stuff here.  Only things that are exchanged for dollar bills. In a retail setting.  Ok, you get it. I'm going. 

~the single gal~

What I've Been Reading

I don't think these posts get a lot of volume per se, but I do believe in reading as much as possible so for the very few people that care, here is what I've been reading lately (because oh my God I got to read so much on vacation it was just freaking unbelievable and wonderful).

The Night Circus 

I was hesitant to start this one because I gave it my mother for Christmas and she gave it back to me saying she "couldn't get into it".  Let this be a lesson as to my mother's slight tendency for being crazy.  I was hooked like 30 pages in.  Beautiful book.  Beautiful story. Beautiful imagery. 

buy here

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)

 I like The Office fine but never really fell in love with Mindy until her show came on Fox last year.  I watch very few shows but I find that I truly, truly enjoy Mindy's and thought this book would be a nice beach read.  It's short and quick.  There were some parts I didn't love but there were a good many that made me laugh out loud and I enjoyed learning more about Ms. Kaling and the journey she has been on to get to where she is today.

buy here

Firebird

Basically I read every book Susanna Kearsley puts out. She isn't for everyone, but a bit of light, time-travelish romance never hurt anyone.  

buy here

What are you reading? Send the recommendations over because I'm on a reading spree. 

~the single gal~

Summer Reading

I have had a love of reading ever since I can remember. I worked hard every summer to get summer reading points and personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut. We grew up reading R.L. Stein, The Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High. While I'm sure we watched plenty of TV when we were younger we also played outside quite often and read many books. I have books that are my favorites and ones that I will always read over and over again. July always reminds me of Harry Potter because I believe all the release dates for the new book were in July. My mom was always kind enough to pre-order copies for all three of us. I tend to re-read the 6th or 7th Harry Potter every July. In fact, I was returning home from my honeymoon and couldn't wait for my copy back home in the States, especially with such a long flight, and purchased the 5th book at the airport in London. The one published for UK has a different cover. I'm not sure I have even cracked the spine of my original 5th book since I had the UK copy. I love books that are a series, trilogy, etc. I suppose if I really love the book and the characters it's awesome that they continue in another book. So here are some summer read suggestions!

Single Gal has posted about this book before and I started it a few days ago. Love, love, LOVE! I mean, as long as you're into historical fiction and time traveling....which we are. It makes me a little sad it's on my kindle because I tend to want the books I adore on my bookshelves. Even though I do agree with Single Gal's point of such a large book being easier to tote around. It's also a series so even more points for this.

Also a series. I just finished the third book and it was wonderful. The second one was also very good but this one and the third one are my favorite. I lucked out and have been able to borrow each of these via my prime account on Amazon. I love a library I don't have to drive to or re-check out a book every two week. I have no time for that. 

Susanna Kearsley has quickly become a favorite author of mine. I read this at the beach last summer which I had thankfully ordered it as an actual book because there was The Death of the Kindle. While I love my Kindle Paper White batteries do die and electronics can meet an untimely death. If you drop a book well, it just makes a loud noise. I want to order her new book The Firebird and The Winter Sea is an all time favorite. 

Anyone reading any other good books you can send our way? Happy reading! 

The Housewife

Sunday Mornings

Happy Sunday, y'all!  How is the weekend almost over? I had a fun play date/date on Friday with Rocky where we met up at the park with our dogs {Hogan and Luna} and walked and talked and let them meet and play.  Hogan was a gentleman and very well behaved just like I expected him to be but Luna is still just a puppy so I am pretty sure it wore him out just hanging out with her for 2 hours! We let them loose in a baseball field {even though I can hardly get Hogan to come back so I can put his leash on} and it was fun for me to see him just run around and play.  Sometimes I forget how fast and athletic he is even though he is a 8 year old puppy.  It made me really happy to see him stretch his legs and run and bounce around.  I'm still not sure how I feel about Rocky.  He's been trying to play hard to get with me which just results in us hardly talking because I am not going to be texting anyone to ask for a date.  I don't get him.  

 It's a blissful morning here because I am up early getting some work done while Em and Little A are sleeping in.  I love having my girls here for a weekend!!!!  Hosting is so much fun!  We've been out and about visiting The Housewife and playing with #1 and holding new babies, drinking champagne "just because", and catching up with each other.  We had a wonderful dinner last night at Canoe {review to come} with Elise but we didn't get home until 11:30 or so {which is apparently now late if you are approaching 30}.  We had "big" plans to hit Little Alley Steak in Roswell for some after dinner drinks but there was no way that was happening.  I had coffee after dinner and once we got home we all promptly went to bed.  Funny how life changes. 

This morning I'm listening to...

I also picked up another book this past week. I needed to get my head out of that Outlander series for a bit.  I've been meaning to get the prequel to Cassandra Clare's YA series City of Glass {etc} and Em was kind enough to lend me her copy of Clockwork Angel. 

And once the girls get up we will having coffee and making pumpkin pancakes. 

Grabbed this recipe off of Pinterest and it's super easy and delicious! Great for family breakfast. 

*photo from website w/ recipe*

All this just means I am one of the happiest girls in the greater Atlanta area today! 

What do you with your girlfriends when they are in town? Traditions? Breakfast fare? I want to know. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~