Pinky Promises Do Come True.

Here's a few things I am loving on this snowy, Michigan morning:

Last night was Date Night! This included finally getting to see "The Vow" with the boy. I know I am behind the times (I originally wanted to see it on Valentine's Day but he had other plans), but I couldn't agree more with all the reviews... it was amazing. I cried from beginning to end and thank goodness, the boy was there to squeeze my hand as I watched. Go see this movie! Mike and I couldn't stop obsessing with how great Rachel and Channing played their characters... Perfection.

The text message leading up to watching this movie is one of my favorites, I made him pinky promise we would see it. Hey I am not taking any chances!

Yeah, we are losers... Other than that, I also did a little shopping on Etsy yesterday for new artwork... Purchased this card which I will be framing as soon as it arrives. How cute?

If anyone has some favorite prints or know of a great Etsy shop let me know!! I need fun pieces because in a few weeks I will be getting my own place and there will be plenty of decorating needed to be done.

This weekend we are going to finish the project I have been working procrastinating on for the past 2 months. Painting and organizing my family's back porch/laundry room. Thanks to plenty of Pinterest inspiration, I will be in charge of making sure it ends up looking like this:

...while the boyfriend, who is a professional painter (thank goodness), will make sure it is painted beautifully! Cannot wait to see him work his magic.

Swoon! There will be more on this later.... it will get its own post since it's going to entail a ton of hard work and probably really good stories. I cannot wait to do a little DIY project with the boy... bonding time!

Anyone else planning on getting their hands dirty this weekend with a little DIY project? What are your weekend plans, I'd love to know!

Retro Style.

This weekend definitely kicked my butt. The boyfriend was out of town for 3 entire days, but luckily I have great friends to keep me distracted in the meantime. So while he was playing his little heart out at a hockey tournament, I was getting geared up to attend a Throwback 80's Ski Party at my favorite bar. So here's the outcome:

My best friend since kindergarden, Kathleen and me.

I keep laughing how I was basically deaf and blind all night long due to my dark neon sunglasses and purple earmuffs... but I feel like it definitely helped my dance moves.

Yeah, I rocked a high pony all night... complete with lime green bow.

The boys wore onesie snowsuits... Still don't know how they survived the HOT bar wearing those suits.

Overall, it was a complete success. Kathleen ended up winning first prize in the costume contest, while I clinched third prize, so in reality we got paid to attend the best party of the winter so far. As the boy was going theough the pictures from the night, he just shook his head and said, "I think I missed a good one!"Its true! Maybe he should stick around town more often instead of ditch me for hockey tournaments and boys nights :) Haha.

So has anybody been to a good themed party lately? I want to host one soon and I need a good idea like this one to start planning. Please let me know!! How were your weekends?

Ohh, Something Shiny!

Is it March yet? I only say this because I will be receiving lots of pretty jewelry in the mail on the first day next month. I got a little crazy this morning and ordered a monogrammed necklace as soon as my paycheck was placed in my bank account. I have always wanted one and this work week finally made it possible. {Just picture it reading sRj}

Then at my lunch break I called Tiffany and Company to talk about a ring I sent in a few months ago to be fixed... Yes, after 5 years of watching Miami hockey and having glass seats {slapping the glass 99% of every game}, my ring started to flatten until one day it broke in half. I was heartbroken. But now I have wisen up and realized I can send it in to be repaired, duh, so soon I will be getting it back in ONE piece on March 1st. Ahh, I am very excited to reunited with this beautiful ring.

It was a Christmas present from my then-boyfriend of 4 years, when I was a senior in high school. Lots of good memories tied to it as well as the ring being a timeless piece. I am kind of obsessed with sterling silver, if you haven't noticed.

In the end, I want plenty of arm candy, so if anyone has any jewelry ideas from Etsy or their favorite websites that would look good with my ring and this bracelet below let me know. I want to start bringing on the bling!

It's Okay...

Today I am linking up with A Complete Waste of Make-Up for "Its Ok Thursday" in order to tell the world that it is okay that I am a complete weirdo. So here we go:

It's Okay...

... that I lugged my flowers into the engineering office yesterday because I spend more time at work than I do at home.

... that I have been rubbing the Detriot Red Wings 21 consective home wins in all other hockey fans' faces.

... that my boyfriend goes out of town tomorrow for the weekend and I am going to party it up with my girls in the meantime.
... that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and I am extremely cranky.
... that I spend 5 days a week at the ice rink to support the boyfriend who thought it was okay to join 2 different men's league hockey teams.
... that tonight I am planning on getting crafty while uncorking a new bottle of wine.
... to have a movie addiction that makes you crave at least one movie a night. Tonight's movie:

... to be learning how to cook at the age of 23.
... that I make a "to do" list EVERYDAY and don't feel complete until everything is crossed out.
... to miss your best girlfriend after spending the weekend with her in Ohio.
... to order Thai food for lunch so that my day turns around.
... to take a week off of painting my nails because I have been too lazy to do it.

... to be completely ready for it to be Friday. I have weekend fever!

What are you okay with this week? Anyone agree with my craziness above. Definitely let me know.

Love On Top

I am seriously one very lucky girl. I have been dating my boyfriend, Mike, since August. It was our first Valentine's Day together and I didn't know what to expect, especially since he told me "I will pick you up at 6:30, wear something nice but don't go overboard..." Umm what?

Now for weeks I have been dropping the hint that I want to see the movie, The Vow, so I half expected that he'd pick me up to see that before he had a hockey game that night. {Yeah, even his hockey team thought planning a game on this wonderful holiday was a good idea.} So when he walked into my house at 6:45 with my gorgeous flowers... See here:

All he said was, "I hate to tear you away from those flowers, but we need to get going. We are running a bit late." This is when I realized... Yes, we are seeing my movie! We are just running late for the 7 pm showing. So now I am pumped.

On the way to "the movie" I am in complete story mode and didn't realize that we were actually headed downtown instead of out of town towards the theatre. Seconds later we were parked in front of one of the nicest restaurants in town. **Cue tears...

Not only that, but we were guided to literally their best table covered in flowers with a window that looked over a cliff into Lake Michigan. {His dad told me later that night that their company painted the interior of the building and a few months ago they needed a set of chairs repainted, Mike told them he would do a rush order on them if they could fit him into a reservation for Valentine's Day.}

After a perfect dinner, we were off to the hockey rink to watch him dominate as goalie. I didn't care about the cold or the rest of the night being spent as a spectator... I had a permanent smile on my face... and I don't expect it to stop anytime soon. I even brought in cupcakes to my coworkers to spread the love a little more in the office. So now I am about to crack my morning Diet Coke {yes, I know this is a bad habit...} and just sit back and smell the roses... literally.

So I want to know how was your Valentine's Day, loves? Spend it with someone special or was it a "me-time" kind of day? Let me know below...

Valentine's Day Swap.

I have officially participated in my first swap! {Time to cross that item off the bucket list.}

I want to thank Tara from Fabulous But Evil , Celia from …justtrying to find my way, and Meg from O. is Me for hosting a Valentine’s Day swap and also for linking me up with Owls and Lace. To tell you the truth, it was fun to do the shopping for whoever you are paired up with. You get to “stalk” their blog to find out more about them – their likes…or loves, then go shopping!

The best part…It’s fun to come home from a 10 hour work day and see package from Texas on your front porch. So I quickly opened mine and saw what was inside:

1. Box of chocolates

2. "Love Will Find A Way" Notepad

3. Hearts pencils

4. Sports themed Erasers

5. Warheads candy

All in all, it was a total success. I hope my partner liked her “goods” and if anyone else is doing any swaps soon, let me know. They are too good to pass up!

To see what I go my swap partner, check it out here: Owls & Lace "My Sweet Valentine"

National Signing Day!

Who would have thought that National Signing Day would ever have anything to do with me?
Well I didn't think so, but this happened yesterday. My "little" brother signed his letter to intent with Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan to play football.

Me, my mom, Joe, and my father with ALL of Joe's coaches throughout the years.

Ahh, I couldn't be more excited for him to be a college athlete and see his dreams come true. It was a pretty emotional day as Joe thanked his football, basketball, AND baseball coaches for making him into an all around athlete. Ohh the ride my family is about to partake in... plenty of road trips downstate to see this boy dominate.

Heres what Joe had to say to the newspaper:
“I was really excited about it all day and when the time started ticking down and seeing everybody who helped me get here and to share it with them just makes me overly happy,” Joe said. “To make it official is just incredible. This has been a dream of mine my entire life.”
“I’m just excited to move onto the next step,” he said. “They (GVSU) have the opportunity to win a national championship and they win games. You can tell how serious they are about winning and having success there. I’m excited to be able to join their winning tradition.”



So here's to a new chapter. Last sibling of the family to go off to college... Joe's journey should be rememberable to say the least and I cannot wait to watch/cheer him through it!

Did any of you listen/take part in signing day? Did your colleges get any good athletes? I want to know.

Relapse on Music

Don’t you love it when all of a sudden you get out old CD’s and immediately start jamming out and singing every lyric perfectly even though you haven’t heard in years? I found my old Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin albums this past weekend and I haven’t stopped playing them. Its crazy, I have these albums blaring while at work, driving to hockey games, or cleaning around the house.  I have relapsed and now I have become addicted all over again. {Welcome back 17 year old Sarah.}

Confession: I am in love with Andrew McMahon. Not only is he a lyrical genius, but he is also an inspiration. He was diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago and fought the fight so he can still be around today to deliver amazing songs to his fan base. Definitely on my bucket list is to meet this man.

I found this video on YouTube and I can’t get enough… I love how he truly gets into his music to make sure that it’s perfect. This song is called Amy, I and its pure magic.

A few of my favorite lyrics from the man himself:

Now it’s time for me to listen to their newest CD, People and Things, on repeat. Anyone else have guilty pleasures or bands they can’t help but listen to years later?

Come on, go dig out some of your favorites today. I bet it will put a smile on your face.