What We Did on Saturday: Pony Rides and Pumpkins

You know those moments in life when you think to yourself, 'Ah-hah. Now this is what I'm talking about. This is exactly what keeps me going back to my job Monday-Friday. This is why I work so hard and do what I do - - to experience this' For me, this happened when I peered down at my right hand, seeing my boyfriend's daughter's tiny hand hold onto mine - - and then seeing her hold onto my boyfriend's left hand. Seeing us as a family. Laughing. Simply enjoying the weekend together.

So, this is what people mean when they talk about wanting to have a family - - that feeling of having your own pack...a combination of pride, love, and companionship all wrapped up into one with a classy red bow on top.

We started our Saturday off with a home-cooked breakfast kindly provided by my boyfriend: jalapeno and cheese omelete, crispy slices of bacon, and hot cups of tea and grape punch. Followed by a visit to the local Pumpkin Patch better known as the McDowell Farm. It wasn't just any old Pumpkin Patch, though. Oh, no no. Pony rides, sand art, a petting zoo, hay mazes, paired with temperatures in the upper 80s. It was a beautiful Saturday. It's moments like these I never want to forget. 

Here are some photos from the Pumpkin Patch:

Makeover Monday 21.0

Pinterest via Wisdom

One of the most important lessons I learned while traveling for long periods of time was to continue looking at the world with a new set of eyes. To always be curious and live as if each moment was an adventure waiting to happen. Of course, it's quite simple to do this when one is traveling across the country, seeing new physical places, faces --tantalizing each sense with new smells, tastes, and cultural experiences.

But, why should it be any different when one is stationary? For those that aren't traveling, it can be easy to forget the beauty, the 'oohs' and 'aahs', while the adventurous soul takes a little hiatus.

Therefore, I challenge you today to wipe your slate clean. Forget that it's the same old cubicle you are going to each and every weekday. Forget that you're taking the same old route to work - - fighting traffic to get there on time.

No one ever said you can't pretend it's an adventure, right? Take a different route to work. Say hello to some new faces. Get excited about the fact that you're alive. And that you're breathing, fully capable of making new friends, trying new foods on your lunch break, and finding something to laugh about.

Don't ever forget it's up to you to have an adventure, anytime - - anywhere. Don't be a tourist. Be a traveler in your everyday life!

20 Healthy & Instant Stress Relievers

Pinterest via Wisdom

1. Drink a cup of hot tea

2. Close your eyes, count each time you exhale up to 4, and then start over. Do this until you calm down.

3. Write down 3 things you appreciate in your life right now.

4. Talk a walk outside for 10-15 minutes. Breathe in the fresh air and try not to think about anything else while taking in your environement.

5. Rest for at least minutes. Find a comfy place somewhere, lay down, close your eyes, and simply relax.

6. Read a chapter from a book. Don't have a book? Read a few articles or posts from 2-3 of your favorite blogs or websites.

7. Play a game. If my co-workers see that I'm acting a little tense or stressed out, they just bust out the Scrabble board, and in between our tasks we play the game for a healthy distraction.

8. Drink a cup of water. Sometimes, stress can come from our bodies being dehydrated. Guzzle some water!

9. Write (or type) anything down. Even if it doesn't make sense. Free association can be a great distraction and works great for me.

10. Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Re-prioritize it by importance and cut it in half.

11. Chill out by taking a hot bath. Treat yourself and lighting some candles, bring that hot cup of tea, and simply let your body (and mind) go loose.

12. Find some funny pictures or videos to laugh the stress away. Sometimes I like to go to Pinterest, search for "funny", click on "boards" and you'll find plenty to giggle at. Also, buzzfeed is another great website for goofy articles that are sure to help you chuckle.

13. Learn to say No. If you've already got too much on your plate, it's more than okay to say no. Don't overburden yourself!

14. A warm towel! Take a towel, put some water on it, pop it into the microwave, and place it on your forehead or back of the neck. It's soo soothing!

15. Phone a friend. Sometimes when we stress, we tend to shy away from social contact but reaching out to others can help a lot. Ask for advice or some encouragement.

16. Soak up the sun. If it happens to be even a little sunny outside, just a little bit of Vitamin D can boost your mood.

17. Listen to a few of your favorite songs that you know have lifted your spirits before. I prefer upbeat music that makes me want to dance! Anything that Lykke Li sings or The Beatles!

18. Exercise! There have been many times I go into the gym stressing about something random -  - but after working out for at least 20 minutes, I feel accomplished and proud of my efforts which takes me away from what I was originally worrying about. It's also a natural energy booster!

19. Get a massage. Don't have the resources to book an appointment with a professional? No worries. If you've got a tennis ball, place it on the wall, place your back on it and roll up and down against it. Works great!

20. Drama getting you down? Re-evaluate your surroundings including the people you are around. Don't forget that you control the type of environment you are in. If need be, make new friends that provide more positivity in your life. It can make a difference!

Link Love & Good Intentions...

Just the other day at work, a friend of mine came by my desk to tell me something very exciting. Even though I was on the phone, she anxiously stood next to my desk, just about ready to burst with whatever information she had to share. Not even a second after my phone call ended, this is what she tells me:

"I know you're busy, this is only going to take a couple of minutes but I know you're going to really appreciate this!!"

My response: ...Okay?

"I did the weekly challenge at my gym. And, I mean, THE weekly challenge! I can't believe I actually did this!"

My response: What's this weekly challenge?

"100 Jumping Jacks, 25 Burpees, 25 Mountain Climbers, and 15 Frog Squat Jumps. 7 minutes!"

My response (while my jaw drops to the floor, already getting pumped to try this out): You mean, you did this all in a row - - without stopping? Straight through??!?

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Indeed, she did. She went on to tell me that this particular workout is equivalent to running 4 miles. Do I believe it? I'm not sure. Did I give it a shot? I sure did. In fact, the picture shows what I had intended to do:

Pinterest via Bod

I'll be honest with you, though. This is what I ended up looking like after doing that workout MINUS 10 Frog Squat Jumps:

Pinterest via Cute

I even had the good intentions of timing my new challenge but once I "completed" the workout and checked my phone, I forgot to push one more button to start the timer. Wha, wha, wha. I officially worked out for a good 10 minutes last night. Maybe 10 minutes.

I'm disappointed in myself because I didn't complete the full challenge. I'm proud of myself because I gave it a shot, even though I was feeling unusually fatigued yesterday. In the end, I realized I could beat myself up for failing but know it's always better than not trying, right? Tell me I'm right or I'll just continue obsessing over it! Okay? Okay, cool. Thanks for letting me vent.

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Enough about me. And let's get on to the good stuff. 

Ever wondered how many ways to truly wear a scarf? Apparently, there are 25 ways and this gal knows how to show you!

Is it just me or do the French ladies always know how to dress so well? Read on to nab some tips!

I took this personality quiz and found out I'm a striver. What are you?

If you're lacking some motivation this week - - maybe these quotes could pick you up a little.

Don't forget to enter the Blog Milk Giveaway I'm doing. 

What are you getting into this weekend? As for me and the fam, we're going to be doing a little bit of everything, some pumpkin carving, costume shopping, the State Fair, and anything else the little one wants to get into. Have a safe weekend!

My 5 Perfect Scary Movies

5. The Descent

 A group of female wanderlustin' thrill-seekers stumble upon an undeground cave. Although the underground cave is nowhere to be found in their tour books, they continue to move forward with their adventure. Filled with suspense, creepy creatures, and desperate moments - - this movie did a great job making me feel claustrophic and hesitant about exploring caves.

4. The Grudge

 A woman, Sarah Michelle Gellar, moves to a new home in Japan and finds out that the place is haunted by a very creepy female spirit. You know what creeps me out? Female ghosts with long black hair dressed in a white gown. Yup! And that creepy noise she makes with her mouth? Yikes!

3. Paranormal Activity 

Because I believe in ghosts and afraid of the dark (yes I still am), this movie did a great job affecting my ability to fall asleep alone. It's about a couple that moves into a new house and starts to hear strange noises - - which encourages the husband to leave his video camera running overnight. Oh, and the things they see on that video camera. A guaranteed creep fest!

2. The Eye 2 (Foreign Film version)

This is about a woman who has someone elses' set of eyes. And not just any set of normal eyeballs - - but crazy ones that make her see crazy ish! The way this movie was filmed and created - - will honestly creep you out the whole way through. After seeing this film, I even got scared driving alone in my truck because I kept thinking there was a ghost sitting next to me.

1. The Exorcist

 Oh, good ol' possessed Regan with her spinning head and fierce bouts of vomiting paired with her demonic voice...freaks. me. out. every time I watch this movie. I was about 8 or 9 when I crept out of my room and saw my parents watching this classic. I couldn't sleep without a night light for years. Years! No, I'm not going to tell you when I stopped needing a night light because that would be too embarrassing.

Also, it didn't help when I moved to Washington, D.C., I found out I lived only a block and a half away from the infamous "Exorcist steps". I thought, 'Greeaaaaaaat'. 

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On a not-so-creepy note, make sure you enter the Blog Milk Giveaway, to win a free blog template!

And...

How cool is this?

Pinterest via Laugh

 

  

Makeover Monday 20.0

 

1. Life is too short to worry/stay angry/blame others/feel guilty/be powerless/let others tell you how to live. Pretend you just got news today is your last day to live. Act accordingly.

2. Anytime you start to feel stressed out, don't forget to laugh it off. Sometimes, it's crucial to not take life so damn seriously. 

3. Wake up, smell the flowers, drink some tea. And quit smoking cigarettes. I did on Friday and brought a ton of pistachios, gum, and will be doing dumbbell workouts on my 15 minute breaks. 

Happy Monday! Oh, and one more thing:

Enter my Blog Milk Giveaway before it ends.

Source for pictures: Pinterest via Cathy Trails

Blog Makeover Giveaway!

Ever come across a blog and thought, 'Whoa - if only I can have a blog design like that' and then proceed to to turn green with envy? That's what happened when I first stumbled onto Blog Milk some time ago.

Is your blog due for a makeover? If you're not savvy with web design tools and layouts (like me), check out Ana's breathtaking blog theme collection.

And, yes - - I've had to restart this giveaway due to some issues with the Rafflecopter. Unfortunately, the entries were not legitimate and I felt the dishonesty was unfair to the true contestants. Therefore, I'm reverting back to the old school method :)


Pick out your most favorite blog template from her collection and enter the giveaway below. Good luck!!!

Giveaway Rules:

Leave a comment letting me know what you did from the below list: 

1. Become a follower via GFC.

2. Follow me via Twitter.

3. Like Blog Milk Facebook page. 

4. Like Cathy Trails Facebook page.

5. Follow Blog milk via Twitter.

6. Tweet this giveaway. 

Each comment is only 1 entry so please be sure to leave a comment for each thing you do! 

The lucky winner will be randomly chosen on Sunday November 4th, 11:59PM Arizona time and will be announced here on Cathy Trails.

If you're not in the Now...

Pinterest via Wisdom

If you're not going to enjoy the adventure - - good luck finding peace in your destination, buddy. 

The Sweetest Italian Recipe.

Knock Knock, who's there?

Tira-mis.

Tiramis - who? 

Tiramisu! 

Get it? I heard this knock knock joke from the one and only, Gordon Ramsey, long long ago and have not stopped using it since. Cheesy? Absolutely. One of the best jokes ever? Yes! 

Above are my two attempts at putting a creative twist, a little cute design, on top of my completed tiramisu dishes. All I did was sketch an outline of a cute animal on a blank sheet of paper, cut it out, placed it over my tiramisu, and sprinkled cocoa powder over it. Once done, I just peeled off the outline and ta-dah! 

I'm about to share one of my favorite Tiramisu recipes of all time from the one and only allrecipes.com. It's the only one I've been consistently using for more than a few years now and always makes people smile. 

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TIRAMISU:
Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 1 - 7x11 inch dish

6 egg yolks
3/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound marscapone cheese
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee, room temp
2 tbsp rum
2 (3 ounce) packages ladyfinger cookies
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well blended. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently for 1 minute, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator 1 hour.
2. In a medium bowl, beat cream with vanilla until stiff peaks form. Whisk mascarpone into yolk mixture until smooth.
3. In a small bowl, combine coffee and rum. Split ladyfingers in half lengthwise and drizzle with coffee mixture.
4. Arrange half of soaked ladyfingers in bottom of a 7x11 inch dish. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers, then half of whipped cream over that. Repeat layers and sprinkle with cocoa. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours, until set.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tiramisu-ii/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=tiramisu&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page 

Makeover Monday 19.0: Cute

You're probably wondering why for this Makeover Monday, I posted a bunch of pictures of cute animals instead of the usual positive, inspiring messages. Although the above pictures don't contain heartfelt messages to encourage an outstanding day. You'd be surprised how looking at cute animal pictures could actually boost levels of productivity - - the study was done in Japan and can be read here.

I was getting a cup of tea at work the other day, when I overhead the work chatter regarding cute pictures encouraging feelings of friendliness, focus, and motivation. After much consideration, I think I might start my day off looking at cute fuzzy animals each morning, and track how my days go this week.

Happy Monday! 

Source for animal pictures.

Weekend Links and more

Via Pinterest: Wisdom

During the weeks that I have to work 6 days a week rather than just 5, I push myself to absorb my weekend that much more, savor the moments that fly by too fast sometimes, and appreciate what it's right in front of me - - and most importantly, avoid letting my mind wander to things unrelated to the present moment. In fact, I'm working really hard to do that everyday but it's quite the mental challenge.

Do you find yourself drifting away from the present? If so, what do you do to stay in the moment?

Last night, it was just me, a dozen banana nut chocolate chip muffins (as a surprise dessert treat for my two loves), Walking Dead Season 2, black lipton tea - - although a little too quiet at the house, I was able to get  a lot done (blogging, cleaning, cupcakes, and reorganize), and ready for another day of relaxing on a Sunday before the work week begins.

 How's your weekend treating you so far? Below are some entertaining links I found from the past week, for your Sunday reading.

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 Perhaps you're an "over thinker" like me sometimes, worrying about making a mistake and making to-do lists in your head? This article provided great insight on over thinking and how to tackle it!

I've been in quite a workout slump these past few weeks and thus, end up feeling fat. Here are 5 different ways to turn around your "fat day"!

Ever wonder how certain people can pull off a certain fashion trend and some people can't? It comes down to confidence. A great Glam tip on appearing confident!

And, speaking of glam, I love the European elegance of her dress and fascinating how foxes can be endearing in fashion.

I can't believe all Natalie Portman ate was carrots and almonds to fit her role in Black Swan. Check out extreme body transformations and the crazy diets they did!

There seems to be a lot of buzz around Crossfit and how it can help you get in shape, using high intense workouts. A great blog post that breaks it all down for you.

Looking for a healthy snack that has Autumn flavors? This could be the one for you! I'm planning on making these very soon! How about pasta that literally has zero calories and zero carbs? I hear it's pretty magical!

Another fantastic post about managing time, and how to plan out your blog posts.

Currently

Yes, we love manatees. And manatees love us.

Loving: zenhabits.net, reading bedtime stories in funny voices and hearing the sweetest giggle from my boyfriend's daughter, feeling sore after a good workout, coming home to a home-cooked meal made by my talented boyfriend, candied apples, black nail polish, stepping outside of the office to soak up the sunshine rays while appreciating the cooler temperatures, and the anticipation of dressing up as catwoman for Halloween, and crossing off tasks from my daily to-do lists.

Working on: staying the present moment and not getting ahead of myself by focusing on the task in front of me. I have a tendency to worry about things in the future and will think about the things I need to do later, which takes me away from my life now, right now. I'm also working on doing more arm workouts while I'm at work so that I can use time in an efficient manner. It's nice to go to the gym afterwards and realize I only need to do cardio and abs, after a full day of doing bicep and tricep curls!

Thinking about: the end of the world (december 21, 2012) and how that date came to be and also reflecting on how many times people have theorized about it beforehand, with the end result of the world still spinning round and round. In my opinion, even if the world were to really end (today, tomorrow, december) - - I'd honestly still continue living my life the best way that I can because I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about something that may or may not happen. Have also been thinking about what I can do now, to encourage more fulfilling career opportunities later on. I've been toying with the idea of going back to school for either graphic design or web design, to get started in that direction...Once I make the decision for what is truly satisfying for me, I want to start my first class before the year ends. :)

Listening to: Daft Punk "Alive" while I'm working out. The beats are soo good and makes me want to get off of my butt and pretend to be a warrior princess. The first day I brought the Shuffle with me to the gym, and turned on Daft Punk, I ran so hard on the treadmill and pushed myself as much as I could.

Reading: I gave up halfway on I Was Told There'd Be Cake. I don't like to quit halfway into a book, but if I have a hard time staying engaged, I'm over it. Maybe I'll give it a shot another time but for now, it's not what I'm looking for. Ever since my boyfriend got me the Kindle Fire for my birthday, I've been snuggling up on the couch, logging into Bloglovin.com and reading my favorite blogs. Every time I read a fun blog post, it takes me to a happy place. I like that.

Watching: Walking Dead and scary movies to get into the Halloween mood! It's been a long time since I've gotten hooked on a drama but man, oh man, Walking Dead has got me hanging off the edge of the couch every, single, time. If you haven't checked it out, do me a favor and watch just one episode and you'll see what I mean. Gripping!! Oh, and I can't wait to see Paranormal Activity 4. I get spooked really easily when it comes to ghosts and stuff like that but I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of getting creeped out from a movie. Especially when you've got a little bowl of pistachios (not a fan of popcorn so pistachios rock) to munch on while snuggling up to a handsome man :)

Stressing about: Well, trying not to stress out about anything these days but it's natural to stress about something right? The only thing that I'm honestly stressing about are my allergies and the inability to find the right face wash as well as moisturizer. It seems like I'm allergic to some chemical that's in skin products and struggle with finding the perfect one. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to getting an allergy test to pinpoint what I need to stay away from, so I am completely aware. Other than that, life is sweet, good, more than good. I've got a wonderful home to live in, a comfortable bed to sleep in, an amazing man to spend my time with, a beautiful little baby girl to giggle with, and a job that is secure. I can't complain, so I won't!

What about you? What have you been reading, watching, listening to? Stressing about anything in particular? Tried anything new? Feel free to do a similar post and link back. Thank you Danielle for providing the original inspiration for these types of posts.

Pinterest via Wisdom

A Bag of Joules worth seeing.

I found Joules when I was just going down my unread posts in Bloglovin, when I came across these lovely beagle boots from one of my fave blogs.

A British brand that deserves more recognition in the States, Joules is a site that I can trust to provide feminine, simple, and fun styles.

What are some of your favorite Fall fashions? Scarves, boots, cardigans? Personally, I love browsing colorful scarves, adding more colors to my cardigan collection, and getting all bundled up in cute layers. I just hope that Arizona gets cold enough this Winter so I can wear Fall clothes without breaking a sweat!

Oh, and just in case you didn't know:

Walking Dead.

Season 3.

October 14th.

Oops! Got a little sidetracked there! Wishing you a fun, lovely, and memorable Thursday.

P.S. How often is the date 10/11/12 going to occur in our lifetime?

Makeover Monday 18.0: Dare to Fail

Don't be afraid to fail. Because if you failed, you know you have tried. It's when you don't try at all, is when you truly fail.

Make yourself proud today. Imagine yourself in the future looking back at you now, feeling proud. Let that vision be a source of motivation for you.

Don't worry about the details or the 'what-ifs', assumptions about what could happen or couldn't happen. Let go, enjoy the moment, and don't wish for more. Love your life for what it is right at this moment.

Why fuss about it if this is the only life we have, anyway?

So, you tell me.

How are you going to live today?

Source for motivational quotes: Pinterest via Wisdom Board

Happy Anniversary!

Exactly one year ago from today, I had plans to go sing karaoke with a girlfriend from work. Meanwhile, Daniel also had plans to go out with his friends and sing karaoke as well. Three days prior, we had barely exchanged numbers via email at work and had started to briefly communicate outside of work. When Friday night came around, October 7th 2011, not only did his friends bail out but so did my girlfriend - - therefore, leaving the both of us without any solid fun Friday plans... So, what happened next? Friends or no friends, we still wanted to go out and have a good time. From that moment on, an amazing love story came to fruition.

No pictures can fully paint how in love I am with this man. Nor can words fully describe how proud I am of our relationship. I feel as if our 1 year relationship encompassed 5 different lifetimes - - and I don't mean that in a "oh man, I feel like we've been together for so long, ugh" type of tone. It's more of a "wow, I cannot believe we have done all that in just 1 year together.." Very often, I find myself looking at him and wondering if we've loved one another in past lives before. I know, sounds crazy. But it's true - - when I fell in love with him, it's as if I had come to the realization that I have loved this man for many many years before. That's the best way I can describe the feelings I have for him.

Within 1 year of being together, we have:

 Survived 5 months of long distance / Fell in love within 2 months of being together/ Did a horse & carriage ride in Rome, Italy/ Made a wish together at the Fontana di Trevi in Rome/ Placed a love lock in Paris/ I hired an opera singer to sing for us by the Eiffel tower/ For our 6 month anniversary, we experienced an opera house/dinner in Paris/ a view of the Colosseum right outside our window/ Have started living together/ Shared many laughs, hopes, dreams, fears, and support with one another/ He sang "Crazy little thing called love" to me at a karaoke bar in Paris/ Went to one of Hemingway's favorite restaurants together in Paris/ And many more..

Just one of the things he did for me while I was traveling in Vietnam, for Valentine's day: 

My sweet Daniel, I look forward to loving you, supporting you, and being your best friend for many more years to come. Happy Anniversary, my darling!!

My Perfect Albums

I'm the type of person that has the tendency to skip through radio stations in my truck and cd tracks because I have to find the "right song" for any given moment of my life. If there's nothing good playing, I'd rather listen to nothing than settle for anything less. With that being said, when I tell you about my perfect albums - - it means I can listen to it from the beginning to end with a high probability I'm still not sick of it. It's rare for me to consider any album perfect.

So, why the above four for me?

1. No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom - this was one of my first two cassettes (remember those?) I have ever owned and purchased from the Wherehouse record store (remember those too?). It was 6th grade. Gwen's sassy/punky voice inspired me (for a little bit) to become a singer in a band. So, I did what any inspired 6th grader would do - - record herself singing to 'I'm Just a Girl' on a tape recorder, presented it to a boy that was supposedly in a band, and got told she sounded like a country singer...and not "punk rock" enough.

I love this album because their songs made me feel strong, empowered, and as if I was invincible as a girl. I think I'll always feel like that when I hear Gwen's voice.

2. The Ataris Blue, Skies, Broken Hearts, ...Next 12 Exits - junior and senior year of high school. Skateboarding. One of my first heartbreaks endured. Making new friends at a new school. Learning more about myself. Those are just a few memories that are attached to this album. I listened to this album at least 50 times straight through and for some reason, it's still so good to me!

3. Miike Snow Animal - The first time I heard the song "Animal" by Miike Snow...I wondered why he spelled his first name with two I's and why I hadn't heard this song earlier. Reminds me of the time I was living in my apartment alone, painted some of the walls robin egg blue, one wall lavender, and would seek solace by playing my acoustic guitar. It was a time in my life when I knew I had to do something huge - - and not wait for opportunities to come by. It was the year before I left the country to go couchsurfing in Europe and Asia. Each song is so full of emotion, so full of hopes, fears, and depth. This one definitely speaks to my soul.

4. Passion Pit Manners - The lead singer's voice can hit notes like Mariah Carey - - but it's a man! Strange as that may sound, something about the electronics combined with unusual yet complementary beats make this album a hit for me. It makes me want to do ballet around the house and if listening to this while cooking something in the dinner, it always inspires me to make the best meals, ever. It's just a magical cd and everyone should give it a chance to see what type of inspiration they can foster from it. 

So, what do you consider a perfect album? The music, memories, or combination? I want to thank Danielle for her post which inspired me to do a post like hers. To be honest, I haven't been listening to as much music as I used to so it's nice to rehash some music-related memories. Feel free to do a post like hers and link up so I can read yours!

Today is going to be tons of fun. What with clothes shopping, preparing to surprise my sweet boyfriend, working out, and finally seeing what my boyfriend's surprise is for me. This past week has been filled with way too much anticipation!! Have a lovely Saturday, everyone!

Ready to simplify life a little?

Pinterest via Wisdom

Weekend Surprises & Links

Yes...those are arms on his shirt. And yes, they are going after my face!

It's Friday! No matter how many Fridays I have experienced in my 28 years of living, while working a full-time Monday-Friday office type job - - it's as if each Friday is a new experience and gets me all giddy/excited again.

That feeling will never get old. I love my leisure time. And love not being in the office two days in a row. It's nice.

This weekend? I FINALLY get to give my boyfriend his gift for our 1 year anniversary this Sunday. I wish I can tell you guys but have to wait for him to find out first (one hint - - it's a perfect gift and I know he's going to love it)! I love surprises but it can be challenging - - especially if you're dying to spill the beans. I did good though. No hints. On the other hand, I'm not sure what we are doing because that's his secret. 

What are you doing this weekend? In need of some fun reads?

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Browsing through these pictures gave me an extreme case of wanderlust again..

I love Ana's templates. In fact, my recent design layout was created from her. Do check out her new collection!

Have you ever had a green smoothie? Don't worry, it won't bite. Especially this one.

These boots...are just something else. Cute, chic, and all around unique! And, are you not sure on how to pair pencil skirts with boots? This could help!

Haunting & Beautiful. As well as appetizing...sounds strange but that's the best way to describe her photos.

Do you get stressed out at work easily? I read this at my cubicle and it helped me a lot.

Have a beautiful weekend friends! Enjoy!