Lucky.

I got into my car this morning to find a little present from the boy. He left me a lottery ticket which I love to do on break at work and hopefully win enough money to a pair of shoes. I smiled and went to put it in my purse for later until something caught my eye:

He left a message on the back! So looks like I am lucky in love and winnings (won $10). Boo yeah.

Fall Loves.

#1. First and foremost, my Detroit Tigers are advancing to the World Series! I celebrated with a few Miller 64 dressed up in a Tigers' jersey coozie. Now that is team spirit.

#2. My apartment is now full of fall touches. My favorite is my kitchen table centerpiece. Love it.

 

#3. Making antipasto skewers last night. Thank you Pinterest... The boys inhaled these watching us clinch playoffs. So good. Cheese tortellini that were marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, pepperoni, black and green olives, salami, and mozzarella cheese. Perfect combination.

#4. I am hosting a Halloween party! My first grown-up costume party. I made up these invitations a few days ago and finally got them printed and handled out this weekend. 4 days left to pull it together.

#5. Hockey season as started! Mike's team had their first game in brand new orange jerseys and even warm-up jackets. Guess who else got one? This girl! I have never been so happy...

#6. My Halloween Julep box arrived yesterday. I got 3 nail polishes that are so beautiful which are a golden orange, bronzing brown, and a mossy green. Nail decals that are Halloween-themed, candy corn, and nail glitter! Too cool. I am still loving this company. They can do no wrong in my book. Definitely check them out!

A lot of things to love and help me get through the fact that its getting colder outside. I am loving this fall so far and all it has to offer. What are you guys loving this season?

Friday Fancies: Halloween Prep

I am linking up with {long distance loving} to show the blogging world what costume prep I have done so far before the big day arrives.

I decided early on that my boyfriend and I would do our first couple costume together. At one point in time, my girlfriends and I were going to dress as the Disney princesses but slowly but surely, everyone bailed. So since I already had my princess in mind, I wasn't ready to let the idea go. Everyone kept repeating, "you should still be her.." and finally I just agreed. So, I am keeping my costume idea and Mike and I will be... Pocahontas and John Smith.

Mike's costume is already done. This had to happen since he would never put it together himself, which would later lead to him not doing it at all. Everything worked out flawlessy since all it took was one Halloween store online and my brother's closet to produce his costume. So easy and so cheap.

1. Spanish Conquistador Hat (Halloween store online, $2.49)

2. Ralph Lauren Polo Sweater Vest (my brother's wardrobe)

3. Long sleeve button up shirt (in Mike's closet)

4. Pirate boot covers (Halloween store online, $9.99)

My costume... haven't even started. But I do have all the supplies. I just need a night to sit down and get going on it. I already own this brown dress, so I am going to remove the ruffles and put on fringe instead. Then use turquoise beads and ribbon to recreate Pocahotas' necklace. So definitely a few DIY projects to blog about are in the near future.

Anyway, I should mention the real reason why Mike hasn't vetoed his Halloween costume is because his pug is actually apart of our cast list. Her name is Lola and for one night and one night only she will become Percy the Pug!

Mike and I were laughing so hard trying to picture how we will all look together when boom another idea came to me. Now I have a Lola too, she's a Rat Yorkshire Terrier and already looks kind of like a raccoon. So my little Lola (yes we both have dogs named Lola, weird huh?) will become... Meeko!

I think I will make her a raccoon tail and maybe a mask around her eyes to complete the look. Ohh, I cannot wait until we take pictures. I think its going to be amazing!
So as you can see there is still a lot I need to do. My costume needs construction and I even have to make a dog collar and a raccoon costume. And I thought it would be a good idea to host my first grown up costumes and cocktail party... More DIY projects to come! Yay!

What are you guys being for Halloween? Are any of you doing any Halloween prep?

Anniversary: Part 2

Mike and I are back from romantic weekend! It was way better than I had expected and everything turned out flawlessly... dinners, ferry trips, and especially the weather. We were supposed to leave town as soon as we both got out of work but the nerves set in and we decided to hit the driving range. One last practice session before hitting the golf course the following day.

After two bags of balls we drove up to Mackinaw City. I checked us into our room and he was so surprised when I opened the door... Hello big screen TV. Hello Jacuzzi tub. Hello king size bed with 7 pillows. Someone was crazy excited. We quickly got ready for dinner which was within walking distance so it was perfect to stroll downtown to the restaurant. While waiting for our table at the Dixie Saloon, we walked outside even more. We were complete tourists by poking our heads into the little shops and looking at little souvenirs.

By the time they called our table we were starving. Of course we got put all the way in the back of the restaurant by the empty kegs from the bar but honestly we couldn't have been happier. We were able to talk and plan out the rest of the night/weekend and even recap the last year we have spent together.

On the walk back to the hotel after a few drinks at different bars and shopping, Mike stopped me and said the sweetest words ever. "Your planning this has literally blown my mind. You plan things perfectly and I think I am enjoying this even more since I don't have to worry about a thing... you are the best girlfriend." I smiled...said thank you... and then started walking again saying over my shoulder, "You just wait until tomorrow, mister."

Fast-forward to the next day. We got up, dressed in our golf attire, and headed to the docks for our ferry to Mackinac Island. We didn't know that our ferry departure was the actually the extended trip which takes you under the Mackinac Bridge. It was crazy to look up at all the cars travelling above you and what's really cool is one side of the bridge is Lake Michigan and the other is Lake Huron. Loved it!

We grabbed our golf bags and headed to the Jewel Golf Course clubhouse. Little did we know it would be this beautiful and fun:

As you can see it was hands down the most gorgeous golf course I have ever played. We were trying to soak it all in but it seemed impossible. I highly recommend any golfers to put this place on their bucket list. Amazing!

Pretty sure this anniversary will be hard to top. Any ideas for next year? Any golf courses to check out? I'd love to hear some ideas!

Anniversary: Part 1

In the matter of a few hours, I will be climbing into a car with the boy to head up north Michigan to the beautiful Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island. I can barely hold in my excitement. Sorry boss man, this girl probably won't be doing too much engineering work done because I am in a constant daydream.

Last night was only part one of our anniversary extravaganza. We had an amazing dinner at my favorite bar... (yes, you read that right) at the Noggin Room then we scooted out for a movie date to see Lawless. Once we got back from the movie, we curled up and indulged in a little ice cream cake I picked up. It was delicious due to it was just cookies 'n creme ice cream rolled in cookie crumbs. Of course I topped it with a little 1 year candle. Sorry but we thoroughly enjoy the mussy lovey-dovey stuff.

 

Overall it was great laid back night... now its onto part two which is complete with:

• Golfing
• Waterpark fun
• Bar crawl in the city
• Riding a ferry over Lake Michigan
• Spa treatments
• Picnic on a horse-carriage ride

Can you see why I cannot wait to get up there? Anyone else in the need for a little vacation getaway? I want to know all of your weekend plans, loves.

It's Been a Year?

If you would have told me that 5 years after I graduated high school, that I would be dating one of my classmates I would have said you were crazy.

I even left the state to go to college at Miami University, just so I could meet new people and get away from the "norm." Well, five years later I moved back to my hometown to accept an engineering job with the company I interned for during college. Once I was back I got reconnected with old friends and one of those people was Mike.

Today, I have been dating this amazing guy for a year and it has been one hell of a ride.

We've known each other forever. But last September, during the weekend of the Michigan vs. Notre Dame football game, I was at the local Buffalo Wild Wings with my girlfriends having drinks. Mike had been texting me throughout the night about how I should meet up with him at our local club afterwards. The game ended up pretty epic so I texted him, "Order me a beer. I am on my way."

I got the girls together and we headed to the club. Sure enough, Mike was waiting by the front door and handed me my beer. That started everything... He had me at "here's your beer." Haha! We had the best night ever and I was hooked.

Shortly after that on September 27th, 2011, he asked me to be his girlfriend in the parking lot of the ice rink after his hockey game.

It has now been a year of numerous hockey games, TV series marathons, dinners at random restaurants we find, movie dates, and bottles of wine. He is hands down the greatest thing to happen to me... Sappy, yet true.

{Cheers, babe! Here's to many more years together. Happy 1 Year Anniversary!}

 

So does anyone have any advice for me? How to keep the love alive? I need all the help I can get. I don't want this boy to get away. Thanks, my lovely followers!

In the meantime, I cannot wait to celebrate the first holiday we had together again... Halloween. We will be the losers who will do a "couple costume" this year. So excited... time to start brainstorming!

To My Favorite Man...

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Well today is a day definitely worth celebrating. My father is hands down the hardest working man I know and tonight my family is dragging him out of work EARLY for his birthday party. It is about time that he clocks out with the normal people and takes some time off.

I have gotten the privilege of working at the same aerospace company for the past 5 years with him and its safe to say we are best friends. We usually eat lunch together and our desks are actually located next to each other this year. Family bonding while getting paid. Win-win.

At work, I am an engineer and he is head of maintenance. Its crazy because I will be walking across the plant to check on a fixture and there will be my father inside of the machine trying to figure out why it has malfunctioned. He's one smart dude... He has years of experience while I went to college to learn half of what he knows from real life situations. Crazy!

But anyway, cheers to my wonderful dad. I will have a shot (or two) of Jameson waiting for you at the table tonight. I love you to pieces!

Romantic Getaway Anyone?

What better way to jump back into the blogging world then to start planning my one year anniversary trip with my boyfriend? I figure its a way I can keep my plans secret (he will never check the blog) and maybe even get some input from you guys.

So I won 4 tickets back in March for the Jewel Golf Course located on Mackinaw Island. Remember this post? I have put off using the tickets all summer since life got busy. (This blog suffered from the insanity as well.) Now things are slowing down and the leaves are starting to change, which inspired me to finally dig out the tickets and start planning an anniversary-worthy trip. The only thing the boy knows is I booked a tee time on the 29nd of September and to tell the couple that is going with us that they can either meet us on the boat dock that day or come up with us. That is all he knows...

Here's my game plan:

#1. Pick him up from work that Friday and drive him to Mackinac City, which is 45 minutes away. Check us into our hotel for our hotel room complete with balcony and Jacuzzi!

#2. Dinner at the Dixie Saloon and then after dinner drinks at O'Reiley's Bar:

#3. Wake up Saturday morning and board the Arnold Ferry, which is literally docked next door to the hotel, in order to travel across Lake Huron to Mackinac Island.

 

#4. Our tee time is set for 10:44 am. So we will leave the dock and head straight to the Grand Hotel for our golf outing. The greatest thing about Mackinaw Island is the fact that motorized vehicles are prohibited. Visitors are to walk, ride bikes, or take a horse and carriage ride around the island. Its simply amazing... This is the main reason why I chose to bid on this item at the silent auction months ago because part of the package involves:

 

As part of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, The Grand Course and The Woods Course create what is known as The Jewel Golf Course, where a 20-minute horse-and-carriage ride is required to make the turn between nines.

 

“ The best thing about it is the tranquility of the island itself and the pace of play,” head professional Ryan Maibe said. “You need to take a carriage ride back and forth between nines and you can catch lunch in between. I’ve never heard of another course having that.

#5. Which brings me to my next point.. We can have a carriage ride picnic! My next door neighbors actually gave me this advice when I first told them of my weekend. They said "you must pack a lunch for the carriage ride. You'll be starving by then and plus its romantic." Sign me up!

So now I have to come up with some picnic ideas... I want food that screams fall yet light enough that we can finish the final 9 holes afterwards. Thanks to Pinterest I have been having a field day...

BUT, I want to hear from those who have had amazing anniversary trips. What should I bring? Champagne and picnic food... That seems like a brillant weekend in the making already. Please help me with some details and advice!

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...

The Wait is Over... Finally!

So last night I finally got to see Breaking Dawn! I know you guys will be thinking "Wow, about time. I saw it weeks ago." But honestly I think the world was against me seeing this movie. Everytime I made plans to see it, something would get in the way. Like it was sold out the first time, we were late getting there the second time, and plus boyfriend's hockey games ALWAYS happen on or around the showtimes. So before he had to play goalie last night, we got to see the 7 o'clock showing of it!

Obsessed! So hot.

I loved it! For the first hour I was swooning over the wedding and honeymoon, but in my head I was thinking "Ohh poor boy who I dragged along." But as soon as the story started developing and the vampire vs. werewolf feud started going, he leaned in and whispered, "Here we go... now things are starting to get intense!" YES! All it took was that sentence I started to enjoy the movie more knowing that he wasn't rolling his eyes every few seconds at those always romantic Twilight lines.

But tradition is tradition.

We saw New Moon and Eclipse together {we weren't dating at the time} so I figure we have to finish out the series now that we are together. Makes sense, right?

So did you guys love the movie as much as I did? Of course I had to avoid all blog posts which mentioned the movie since I didn't want to be spoiled at all... so if you did a little post about them please post it in the comments. I want to read up on all that I missed. Where are my Twilight fans out there!?

Three Little Words.

Best thing happened to me last night… the boy whispered probably the greatest line I have ever heard in my life. We were walking out of the ice rink, in one arm he carried his hockey bag while the other arm was around me. He leaned down and whispered…

Yeah I am a little creepy. Totally googled it this morning to see if I could make a DIY project out of this phrase, when I found that photo. I am extremely cheesy, but him saying that couldn't have been delievered at a better time. I was kind of in a weird mood all night and stressed about my classes, but he brought me back down to the present. Any ideas how to capture this moment/phrase? Get creative girls!

Lovin' the Heat.

I don't know how people can complain about this weather. I am in love and hope its like this for another month {or two}. Rockin' the Sperrys and white shorts today at work even though I should be at the beach soaking it all in. Get outside people! You know it will be winter before we know it.

Anyone else enjoying the hottness as much as I am?

In Loving Memory.

Sorry its been ages since I posted, but sometimes life decides to switch on you without notice. Sadly, one of my best friends, Greg, tragically took his own life this week. It has been hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to overcome in my lifetime so far. My grandpa passed away a few years ago from old age so that was hard yet understandable to percieve. But someone who I have known since the age of 7 and spent a year of college together dying definitely hit me hard. He was the nicest guy ever... from one look he knew if I was sad or mad & wanted to know everything {I mean everything} about my lovelife and the current "possibilities" in my life. In addition to that, we also would spend every summer together because his family had a cottage next door to where my family lives year round, so we have been close for years. It wasn't until Greg transfered to Miami University that our friendship got even stronger. Before I knew it, we shared a car together, went to every Miami hockey games together, and spent our weekends dancing at the bars.

Greg, Me, and his brother Jon

Once I heard his funeral service was going to be on Thursday of last week, I knew I had to make the trip down to Ohio. Luckily, I was surrounded by amazing friends and family who got me through the week and this weekend.

I'd give anything for just one more "hello gorgeous" text message or phone call. i miss you Gregory. I love that I can look out onto the lake and know that our "Boulder Lane Love" is forever. I will miss our high faves and yelling "short hair don't care." You made me laugh and smile everyday.

"There are some people in life that make you laugh a little louder, smile a little bigger and live just a little bit better."