Being Thankful

I am going to keep this short and sweet (like pumpkin pie, sorry sorry I'm in Thanksgiving mode), because I know all of you have family to attend to.

I am a truly blessed person. A friend once said, "You are too blessed to be stressed," and besides the obvious fact that it is catchy that statement is so true. Each year most take Thanksgiving as a day to spend with their family, eating wayyyy to much, and remember all the things that they are thankful for. Then throughout the year everyone becomes over stressed, ungrateful, and forgets all of these things (myself included). Sitting at the Thanksgiving table today I feel more blessed than ever. Living 9+ hours away from all the people I love is an eye opening experience. I am so beyond thankful to have the friends and family that I have and hope to take more time this year to be thankful for them every day-not just on days like today. As I sit down to my mothers amazing Thanksgiving dinner I will cherish this moment with them, because come Tuesday Josh and I drive off to wait and see them for another month.

I wish everyone the most beautiful day full of food, family, and friends!

Happy Birthday To A Very Special Person

I have mentioned my best friend in many, many, many posts, but I thought one more couldn't hurt. 

{all personal photos}

I was blessed to meet one of the most influential people in my life at the young age of 12. We were in the 7th grade, lockers next to each other, and shared a best friend. I will totally admit I had a burn book about her that year (girls can be so mean!) By 8th grade though we started doing absolutely EVERYTHING together, go figure right? That is was middle school. 

She has became so much more than a friend since that year, Jess is like family to me. And I know that's super cliche, but my dad often tries to set her on fire (which is his way of showing his love), my mom and her have a relationship that I am so grateful for, my brother would defend her at the drop of a hate, and I know that when I call her at 3 AM she would answer. 

Why am I writing this post? Because today Jess turns 23 and I know it is hard for her to understand how I could move 9+ hours away from her and my family. We talk almost every day, but she is quick to ask me to come home (and it kills me every time she mentions it). 

I know our friendship could last through distance, fights, and anything else that would come in our way, because we are family. 

The pictures you are about to see are some embarrassing walk down memory lane types, you've been warned, please continue!

We are guilty of taking countless tongue out/duck lips pictures in the last 10 years. 

We seen 2 graduations together. Even though we went to separate colleges. 

She has been the ying to my yang or yang to my ying (which ever means she's always so tan and I'm always so white) for our entire friendship.

We have accidentally and purposely matched our outfits countless times.

More times than not one of us is making a silly face and one of us is smiling so we can never have nice pictures, but honestly just be happy her eyes are open. 

We have laughed approximately 95% of the time we have spent together. This is a realistic number, because if I haven't mentioned it yet I have the funniest best friend on Earth.

And we have done more crazy, stupid, wonderful, and laugh worthy things that you will never understand. 

Happy Birthday Jess! 

9 hours 4 minutes and 600.8 miles

I know I always say I live 12 hours from home, but I just googled it...I don't say this often, but I was wrong, haha! Not saying that 9 hours and 4 minutes isn't a long trip still, but I guess I was over exaggerating this entire time! 

Anywayyy, today is the day we head home for Thanksgiving. Josh is the best person to take a road trip with and it's honestly so nice to have him away from all of his electronics and focused on me (and the road), how selfish sounding is that. The boy is always on some sort of social media website (and yes I have read Cosmo, he isn't cheating on me!)

I am ready for a wonderfully cooked meal from my Ma, some educational lesson on life from my dad, being able to cuddle my nieces and nephew until they yell at me, spending time with everyone else that I love so dearly, enjoying a wine/cookie party my momma is hosting (more to come on this later in the week), spend time celebrating my best friends birthday, and shop some black friday sales. 

Phew I'm exhausted just writing it all! 

Just give me a sec!

{picture via Working with ADHD}

Okay I'm good! I know everyone will be busy busy busy over the next couple of days, but I "hope," being the key word, to still blog this week! Now to hit the road, next time I blog it will be from a new zip code.

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Are you traveling? Are you taking the week off from blogging?

Sit Back and Hear the Truth About Black Friday

As someone who has worked in retail since she first got a job- I know a little somethin' somethin' about Black Friday. 

Ready for this...the deal you get on Black Friday is one that the store most likely offers throughout the year. Not only does the store you are shopping at offer their "special" black friday discount throughout the year, they also probably have better combinable coupons throughout the year. 

{picture via Know Your Meme}

With this all being said, I am going Black Friday shopping this year rather than working since I will be 12 hours away from my workplace. Cue the "You.Are.A.Hypocrite!" comments now, in which I would respond with ,"I love the excitement of Black Friday." I actually love working this crazy holiday, but since this isn't possible I will do the next best thing and shop (oh poor me, you have to shop all day rather than work, wahhh!)

{picture via ABC}

Doesn't this look like fun, ha!

Black Friday is a fun time of year, you kick of Christmas shopping or wrap it up, you spend time with your family laughing and having a good time, and you burn off some of the calories from the day before. Which is all good an well, but if you think you are getting this incredible deal and hate having to go out Black Friday shopping DON'T, because you can get these deal many times throughout the year you just have to watch for it. 

Now I am going to shamelessly plug Aerie (since it is my place of work). I can't release what our sales will be just yet, but I will give you a heads up that there will be some door busters from 12pm-6am (some stores are opening earlier, so if your interested check your local store!) I won't completely spill what our gifts will be, but I will say that I LOVE them BOTH! (hint, hint there are 2!) 

As for me Josh and I will be joining his family for the first time in the annual Black Friday Shopping trip to the outlets. We didn't come up with some elaborate list of things we need to get or people we must buy for. I think we are just going along for the ride and hopefully finding some deals. 

Last I want to leave you with the best sales to make sure you don't miss...

If I have my facts incorrect, PLEASE feel free to correct me!

Old Navy- 50% off Thursdays 7pm-ALL day Friday 
Bath&Body Works- Will be giving away a VIP bag (They did something similar last year)
Aeropostale- 60% off all day Friday 
Vera Bradley- Free Holiday Tote (which is so incredibly adorable) with a purchase of $100 or more. This tote retails at $42 and is in the Canterberry Magenta pattern.

And guys I know everyone in the world hates Wal-Mart, but just for fun I looked at their ad and it is insane how cheap they can sell things. I urge you to not take the the risk of heading out to Wal-Mart on Black Friday (people have died!), but look at the ad and decide for yourself. 

What big sales do you know about? What are you planning on buying?
What do you think about stores opening up on Thanksgiving?

Sunshine Award/Liebster Award

UPDATE: I was also nominated for the Liebster Award. Those Who I nominated below are receiving both awards today!

I want to start this post by saying how honored I am that someone likes my blog enough to give me the Sunshine Award and the Liebster Award! Thank you very much Amy over at Face It Amy for the nomination and IheardWWEandBeauty, you guys are the best! Check out their blogs...they are new blogger and have awesome blogs!

Rules: 

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself
2. Answer 11 facts from the nominating blogger
3. Nominate 11 lovely bloggers who you feel bring sunshine to the world of blogging, and notify them! (with less than 200 followers)
4. Write 11 questions for those you nominated

Well then let's being...

11 random facts about myself:

1. I have lived in 4 different zip codes in the last 6 months 

2. I don't know how to ride a bike

3. I make at least 3 lists a day and have a color coded planner

4. I play the drums

5. I have been planning my nonexistent wedding for about 10 years now

6. I am OBSESSED with Adam Sandler (call me ;)

7. I cry over everything. Movies, Commercials, anything Josh says. 

8. I watched Cinderella so many times it got stuck in my TV as a kid!

9. I am addicted to scarves?

10. If being a housewife paid well I so would!

11. I want a dog so badly I would trade my boyfriend for one at this point. 

11 facts from the nominating blogger (Amy):

1. Who is your favorite band/singer?

The Beatles (hence the blog name :) !)

2. What 3 things would you take with you on a desert island?

1. A hot man 2. A good book 3. Water

3. What would your dream job be?

Wedding Planner
4. If you could have one magical power, what would it be?

Super cliche answer alert: To Fly
5. What is your fondest memory?

Josh took me to a field once that was filled with lighting bugs and we sat there and just looked at them all night! It was so simple, but so sweet. 

6. You're given £1,000 to go shopping, what do you buy first?

Oh gosh, I don't know. Too much pressure!
7. Do you have any hidden talents?

I'm super double jointed!
8. What is/was your favorite subject at school?

I awkwardly loved math.

9. What is your most annoying/worst habit? 

I awkwardly nod when you are telling a story

10. What is your favorite thing to eat?

Strawberries
11. What is your favorite thing about blogging? 

Everything! I love the fact that I will have these memories written forever.

11 Questions from my nominating blogger:

1. What is your favourite Christmas film?

Frosty! I'm such a sucker for it!
2. Favourite animal?

Giraffe
3. Favourite starbucks drink?

Pumpkin Spice Latte!
4. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go & who would you take?

I would LOVE to go to Greece or Italy and Josh is my favorite traveling partner!
5. Must have skin product for winter?

I don't do skin products I probably should though!
6. Who is your celebrity crush?

Adam Sandler (go ahead and judge!)
7. When do you normally put up your Christmas tree?

Right after Thanksgiving
8. What is your all time favourite nail polish?

Avon has this sparkle top coat that I am obsessed with!
9. What kind of music do you listen to?

Basically everything, but bluegrass (which is rough living in Kentucky!)
10. Have you ever met any celebrities? If so who?

The lead singer of the Beach Boys! That is about it though.
11. What are you most looking forward to in the future?

Owning a home with lots of land and puppies running around!

11 Questions For Those Nominated Bloggers:

1. Why did you pick your blog name?

2. Who is your celebrity crush?

3. What is your favorite song to sing? (this can include your shower jams)

4. What is your most embarrassing moment?

5. If you were an alcoholic beverage what would you be?

6. What is your favorite season?

7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

8. What is your guilty pleasure?

9. What is your favorite Disney movie?

10. What is your favorite accessory?

11. Do you have any hidden talent?

11 Nominated Bloggers:

***I picked all bloggers under 200 followers; so spread the love and visit their blogs! They are all wonderful and all so different. They are a variety of DIY, Food, Fashion, and Funny!

1. Darcy@ A Memory Of Us

2. Amanda@ Voyage of the MeeMee

3. Becky@ A Girl and Her Sparkles

4. Holly@ The Hobbit Kitchen

5. Kim@ Exquisitely Unremarkable

6. Mallory@ Confetti and Stripes

7. Tammy Jo@ You Wouldn't Call It A Drinking Problem If You Knew Where I Was From

8. Rachael@ Pretty in Pink

9. Ashley@ Green Beauty Life

10. Lexi@ The Girl Who Says Quack

11. Typed In Style

Yay! I am so excited to spread this award around!

Have a happy Saturday everyone!

Five on Friday: Nieces and Nephew

Living 12 hours away from home is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life. I.am.SUCH. a family person, who was gifted with a wonderful family. My nephew just turned 7 November 15th and my niece will turn 6 December 15th. And on top of them getting so big, I have a new niece that I have only met one time since her birth in June. How depressing! 

Thanksgiving you can't come soon enough! With all of that crying over with I wanted to dedicate this Five on Friday to my wonderful, amazing, adorable, and brilliant nieces and nephew.

Five reasons I love being an Aunt:

{picture via What On Earth}

{all family photos}

I am pre-warning you before you continue that a large amount of bragging with begin immediately! 

1. I get to look at these adorable faces all the time

This would be the first of my 3 wonderful kiddos. He just turned 7 this week and reminds me TOO much of my brother!

And then there is this angel faced child. Don't let her adorable face fool you though she is a sassy little princess!

How cute right? This little rugrat is only 4 months old and rocks headbands like no other little kid!

2. I never have to be the bad guy

When one of them sits on the other one, I get to sit back and laugh while my brother yells at them. Perfect! 

I will admit that I let them do bad things, well because I'm the cool aunt!

3. I can buy them cool toys and clothes, but it doesn't have to be spread all over your house. And you never have to buy them anything practical. 

Yeah when Isaac shoots daddy in the head with the marshmallow shooter Josh and I bought him, I may get a call from my brother all mad, but who cares Isaac had fun! We also get to buy them hungry hungry hippo and sit on the kitchen floor and play it with them (we acted like we didn't enjoy it!) 

4. They call you cool things. Like Auntie Ang. I feel like I'm straight out of the Wizard of Oz (Auntie Em, Auntie Em!) 

This little one will have to learn to talk before she catches on to the cool names, but the headband makes up for it!

5. They provide me with endless entertainment

The silly faces are 100% gifted from their Auntie Ang! 

Okay, Okay bragging over! 

Why do you love being an Aunt or Uncle?

Accessory Crazy

I.am.not. by any means a fashionista (I'm not even sure if that word 

made me look lame), but I do love fashion. Does that make sense? 

I follow numerous fashion bloggers and wish I was motivated enough 

and fashionable enough to be any of them. I try guys-it just doesn't 

pan out for me. 

There is one thing that looks good on every girl and can only enhance 

their outfit. I'm sure you're thinking...SHOES....nope I was thinking 

accessories. I LOVE my accessories! 

1//2//3//4//

{all personal photos}

1. Bow's: You can find countless posts with appearances from bows off 
of Etsy that I am obsessed with (including here), but I also love hair 
accessories in general...

I am OBSESSED with this headband. If my outfit can afford some extra 

accessory and I'm not already wearing my sock bun, I throw this one. 

2. Jewelry-specifically earrings are kind of my thing. I never leave the 
house without a pair on.

These are some of my favorite pieces. 

Left to Right-

Gold Watch(current): Target

Grey Earrings(old): New York & Company

Gold and Pink Earrings(old): Charlotte Russe

Beaded Bracelet(current): Gordon's Jewelers 

Pink Stud Earrings(current): Charlotte Russe

Cream Dangle Earrings(old): Charlotte Russe

3. Scarves: I honestly don't know where to begin with my scarf obsession. Let's just cut to the picture, because I can't even handle it right now.

Left to Right:

Grey Crochet(current): AE

Black Crochet(current): Old Navy

Pink with Black Polka(old): Aerie

Blue and Red Plaid(current): Aerie 

Maroon Flowers(old): Aerie

Blue Crochet(old): Aerie

Spring Flowers(old): Aerie

Orange and Cheetah(old): Old Navy

4. Glasses: I could lie to you right now and say the only reason I want 
glasses so badly is because I am blind, but I will save you the time and 
just say I think they make everyone look cute. 

What are your favorite accessories? What can't you live without?

                              

Plastic Tablecloth Fun

I love planning. Planning my days, weeks, future plans, meals for the week, and parties. (especially parties!) I wish party planning/wedding planning was a more practical job for me-I would have done it in a heartbeat. 

I love unique party ideas. My mother is the queen of throwing one heck of a party and being an insane party planner so I'm pretty sure it is genetic, haha! I thought I would share some really fun things you can do with plastic table cloths, because just putting it over your table is just boring. 

I sadly have no personal pictures, because who would think to take a picture of your table cloth art before the days of blogging!

You could make it a table skirt!

{picture via That's My Letter}

You could make it a backdrop!

{picture via Love This Pic}

You could use it to make a candy lane!

{picture via Candy Party 5}

And you could use it to decorated an arch way!

{picture via That's My Letter}

These are all so easy and I personally think they add a ton of a party for so cheap. 

What ways do you use plastic table cloths to spice up a party?

Maps Ya'll

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. Here in Kentucky we are experiences some bad weather! So it's just a relaxing night at home with my favorite man!

It has recently been brought to my attention that I have an accent! ha! Living in Kentucky (clearly a southern state) and being from Pennsylvania (CLEARLY a northern state) it is so funny to see the differences between the two. The girls I work with love repeating all the worlds I say different from them (like ON or you all). I get back at them by talking with a strong southern accent. All in fun of course!

This week I was browsing Pinterest and found some of the funniest maps of the US and thought I would share for a good laugh...

{picture via Pinterest}

This one is according to people who live in Michigan (which if you follow my blog you know I lived there for the summer. This is dead on!)

{picture via 9GAG}

{picture via The Meta Picture}

I saved the best for last...

{picture via The Meta Picture}

Although I am from PA I have never in my life said the words "Youse guys," but I do know MANY people that do!

I hope you got a laugh out of some of these. It's funny to see how different each state is and what they're known for.

I would love to hear what is interesting about the state you live in! That's what makes blogging so fun, you can reach out to people everywhere.

Five on Friday: Etsy Finds

Christmas is just around the corner people!!!! I have been making list after list of things I could possibly get my loved ones. Of course that means hitting up Etsy. This is by no means a Christmas post (since I have an entire 7 days dedicated to Christmas in the very near future), but you could use this Five on Friday: Etsy Finds as a gift guide.

I hit up Etsy at least once a day 10 times a day. 

1. BagyBags-
I found BagyBags through a fellow blogger and have been obsessed ever since. Check out some of these amazing bags...

These are all roughly $96! 

2. The SeaSide Sparrow-
I can't even tell you how I found these bows, but I am so glad I found it.

How cute are those bows and those boxes!!! These sets are $11!

3. Crave Jewels
I found iCraveJewels through a blogger that was hosting a giveaway (I never wins those dang things!). These are homemade pieces and the Etsy seller takes the most adorable pictures of the pieces.

I will admit that these pieces are pricey. You can check them out yourself and see if you agree with the pricing. I hope to have a piece one day, but it won't be anytime soon.

4. Beatrice Lane Designs
These are adorable prints! I have spent lots of time looking at these prints since I am decorating my new rental house.

These are both only $10. They do a lot of religious pieces, but some that are just plan adorable (like these two).

5. Chicken Tattoo
The only reason I am sharing this etsy dealer is her duffel bags are so reasonable priced. I have always loved Vera Bradley's Jumbo duffel bags, but they are roughly $80 (come on now who is going to spend that!) These tote bags are only $26. They have cute patterns and can be monogramed (which we all no is my obsession). 

And we haven't even talked about the name of the etsy dealer-Chicken Tattoo? I love it!

What are your favorite Etsy Dealers? Are you as obsessed with Etsy as me?