Lands' End Canvas Bathing Suits

Land's End Canvas isn't cheap but they make good quality clothing. I was browsing the other day and found a few bathing suits that I like (I can't believe it's that time already). I don't usually buy one pieces as they never fit my body right but I kind of want to try one of these:

I can't remember which color I saw this in, but it was so cute and feminine.

Saturday Loves

I had a super busy week at work and it really wore me out. So today I am wasting my day doing what I love to do : shop and browsing the web.

I ran into a wedding on 100 Layer Cake that I fell in love with. This is the type of wedding I would love to be invited too. You can view their wedding video here. It looks like a blast. More of a party than a wedding, which I fully support.

I am listening to the ban The Honey Tree, which I randomly just discovered today. I might have to look into getting some of their music. It is really relaxing.

Now time to go shopping with the besty. Clothes and girl time, what more could you want?

Miracles in Time of Distress

There is so much going on right now in the US and world wide. A lot of it includes violence, death, and destruction. But during this time, there are still so many miracles to be found.

This week an earthquake hit New Zealand. So much has been going on that many people still aren't aware it happened. I was extremely concerned when I found out. My sister-in-law is from New Zealand and all her family still lives there. Thankfully, they don't live in that area, and the few family members that were in that area visiting are safe.

Little did I know at the time, that a family friend was also traveling over there. And her hotel was in the area that was hit. Miraculously her itinerary had taken her elsewhere when the earth quake hit. Could she have been safe if it hadn't? Perhaps, but probably not. Her hotel was completely demolished in the earthquake. She is an amazing woman and I am so thankful the Lord saw fit to spare her.

My heart goes out to everyone, in New Zealand and around the world, who is suffering right now. I hope things begin to get better soon.

Wisconsin's Run Away Government

If you follow the news at all, you will know that Wisconsin has been making headlines for quite a few days now. Here is a descent commentary on it. It is not a perfect article, perhaps a bit biased, but I felt like it explained the situation pretty well.

I don't often talk about politics on this blog, but I might start doing it every one in a while when I see fit. Feel free to openly disagree with any of my views.

My Weekend Included:

This makes me laugh but I am going to admit, right here, right now, that I watched all the dates with the Bachelor. And I enjoyed almost every moment of it.

I sent my first postcard for postcrossing :) .

My sister wanted to practice her photography a bit. She is really good. Just take a look. I was her "model." I am a horrible model, the lighting wasn't great and it was soo horribly windy, but it was fun. Here are a few unedited pictures.

Now think of something that makes you sad. Think of the hubby playing video games :

The sun is a bit too bright in the picture but I still like it :

Some of my Favorite New York Fashion Week Pictures

I don't often post anything fashion related on my blog, especially not high fashion, but I enjoy the blog The Photodiarist and I love the picture she posted today. Check it out. The lady is so classy. I think I love her outfit because it is as if she is mixing the old with the modern into a timeless and ageless outfit (though not much in fashion lasts forever). And her hat is just adorable.

I also like this lady. I can't pin point why because her dress is a bit unusual. But that might be one of the reasons I think she looks amazing. Add that to the fact that she looks like she's about to kick trash and you've got one sexy lady. And her lipstick is just amazing!!!

A Jumble of Junk

I like this article and would like to study more about this.

This article just drives me up the wall. It is your property. Your shed. Your right to put the wire mesh up.

Who needs class reunions when you have facebook. Thanks facebook for informing me that one of my high school classmates is wanted by the police. 

If you are an Angry Birds addict, you will love this. You can even get Angry Bird hats on Etsy.

Appreciating the Hubby

I am far from perfect when it comes to showing my husband how much I care about him and love him. That is why it's one of my goals this year to get better at that.

So on that note, I really like this post by We Are That Family. I already plan on getting that book.

Photoshop Wanna Be

I don't have tons of time to blog tonight as I have other things I want to do, but I did find a few mins. to take one picture and edit it in photo shop a thousand different ways just for the heck of it.

I can't believe how cool my life is.

I was being sarcastic by the way. But for reals I need to learn more about Photoshop. I would love to start creating things with the program.

My Valentines Day

For Valentines Day, the hubby and I had to work around a few other things we had to get done. So we decided to celebrated a bit early (or at least I thought we had decided that). On Saturday we spent most of the day together. I was thinking about making breakfast in bed for the hubby but ended up staying up way too late (in my defense I was working on his gift).  He went to bed almost 3 hours earlier than me so I knew I wouldn't be up before him. We both woke up about the same time. He then got up and told me to stay in bed because he was going to bring me breakfast in bed. I said no way because I was making breakfast. I won because I had already planned on exactly what I as making and had picked up specific ingredients for it at the store.

After breakfast we watched tv and then watched one of my favorite chick flicks, The Proposal. That is one of the few chick flicks the hubby doesn't mind watching with me (Leap Year being another). After laughing my head off at it, and watching a bit more television, we headed to one of the malls to do a bit of window shopping. We then went to CPK where we ate a Mediterranean appetizer, drank some fruit drinks, and downed the following:

Absolutely delish. And thanks to a gift card, all we paid was the tip. We then headed up and watched some more tv and some of the movie Fireproof, while eating a huge and delicious sugar cookie that the hubby's sister made us. This sister then got home from her night out, and we watched an episode of the IT Crowd and The Community. Both episodes were about Dungeons and Dragons and both were funny. My knowledge of the nerd world just keeps growing. Before these episodes, I really had no clue what Dungeons and Dragons was. This whole time I thought it was just your typical video game.

As I stated above, I thought Saturday night was our Valentines celebration. But then on Sunday night I asked the hubby if he wanted to have enchiladas the next night and he said no. Which came as a bit of a shock as this kid never says no to Enchiladas. So I asked him why and he stated, in such a way that I could tell he had been trying to keep it a secret, that he was going to cook me dinner (a big deal. He isn't a cooker).

I wasn't sure what was going on but I made sure to get off work on time. When I got home, I noticed him getting ready to cook in the kitchen. I headed down to our room and became confused when I heard romantic music on in our section of the basement. What I found was our kitchen table set up for a candle light dinner. A very nice surprise. He ended up cooking Brazilian hot dogs, a somewhat unromantic meal, but he had been wanting to cook me them for a long time. We ate, we danced, and he told me what my gift was.

The hubby's instructions for Valentines Day were to not get me flowers this year and that all I wanted was a susprise. I like being surprised. A few days after I told him this, a Groupon was released for a discounted stay at a B&B near Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house). I have never been there and we keep mentioning how we should go. While you can make a day trip out of it, I thought it would be nice to take a few days and have a mini trip with just the two of us. I left the decisions on whether to buy the Groupon or not up to him and said if he did, he couldn't spend any money on me for Valentines Day (meaning he would have to get really creative with his surprise). He bought it but didn't tell me he did. So that, along with the candle light dinner, became my surprise. I was pretty excited. And thankfully I got a bonus this month to cover the cost of the Groupon. The Groupon also covers the cost of Monticello and wine tastings. We wont be doing the wine tastings of course but it will give us the chance to check out some farms and vineyards and take pictures. I am super stoked.

I admit though that I kind of ruined his chances of surprising me. I secretly hoped the trip would be my surprise and when I opened my card and nothing about the trip was in it, I was a bit dissappointed. He told me a few mins. later that he had bought the Groupon. So while it was a surprise, it didn't work out quite the way it was supposed to. Maybe next year we can try the surprise thing again. Stupid Groupon for putting out such a great Groupon.

Below is a picture of one of the cards I made the hubby. My gift to him was a bit cheaper, but very personal. I made him a bunch of cards with different things written on them and some are redeamable for things such as a dessert of his choice.

Ignore the paystub in back, my bonus was another surprise. Haha!

It was a very nice Valentines Day. A bit odd in nature, but very nice. I love my hubby!

Pot Roast Recipe

I am not the biggest fan of post roast but I do like having it every once in a while. The following recipe inspired me to try and cook my first roast. It turned out perfect and made even better leftovers. I have been avoiding blogging about this recipe because of a horrible experience I had a month ago, but because that experience had nothing to do with the taste of the roast, I have decided I should finally share.

Click Here for the original recipe.

Here are the adaptions I made:

I used:

about a 2 lb roast.

2 packages dried soup mix - I think you can get by with 1 but I just used 2 anyways. Extra flavor. But I think you would want to only go with one if you don't like a strong onion flavor.

Use chicken stock rather than water.

2 cans cream of mushroom soup -if I remember correctly, I still used both cans despite my small roast. It made for lots of gravy. Yum!
I cooked the meat for 2 hours on high and 4.20 hours on low in the slow cooker. You could just add additional time and cook it on slow the whole time.


Tips:

Before putting the beef in the slow cooker with all of the above ingredients, coat the meat with a mixture of 1/4 cup flour, 1 tbsp garlic salt, and 1 tbsp black pepper. Then sear all sides of the meat in a skillet with some olive oil. This helps lock the flavor in.

Don't cut the roast right away. Let it sit a bit to keep the juices in.

Consider cooking it the night before you serve it. This lets the flavors really saturate the meat.

You can also add garlic, rosemary, thyme, and Nature's Seasoning, red potatoes, carrots, and/or onions.

I would hold off on the vegetables until the last hour and a half or so, to prevent them from getting too soft and soggy.


Maybe I will tell you about my awful experience later on in the week. For now, I hope you enjoy!!!

Happy Valentines Day

 I hope everybody has a lovely Valentines Day. 

Atlas Shrugged Movie

Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged has been on my list of books to read for a while now. The only reason I haven't read it yet is due to its length. It is a lengthy book.

Today I found out that they will be releasing a movie version of it this year. While I expect the book will be better, this movie will hold me over until I have a chance to read it.




The preview isn't amazing.  The book is about government, business, and innovation. They are heavy subjects and perhaps a bit boring for the normal person. And the preview doesn't really hide that. But despite that, or maybe becasue of that, I am excited for its release and I feel like it has the potential to be a great movie. I just hope it gets picked up for distribution and that they get the financing to make the second and third film. Because no, you can't fit this book into one film. It would be like trying to fit the last Harry Potter book into one film.

No matter what happens though, I am ready to cut people slack on this one, because I can't imagine that it is an easy book to try and turn into a film. If it turns out to be a mediocre film, I will just be happy that they tried.

Window Shopping: Pillow Covers

I adore decorative pillows. I always ohhh and ahh at them.  But I am a bit shy about buying any because they always end up on the floor. Maybe I will invest in some when I have a house with more room and more furniture.

VIA : Etsy

VIA: Etsy



Perfect for a kids room.  
VIA: Etsy



VIA: Etsy

VIA: Etsy

VIA: Etsy

Birthday Candles for those Mature in Age

I want to buy these for someones birthday. Maybe my dad's this year? If they are back in stock by then.

VIA: The Spoon Sisters

Rainyday Gear

I want!

Book #5 of 25

I finished Super Freakonomics last night making it book 5 of the 25 I want to read this year. If you know anything about Freakonomics, this is another book written by the same authors in a similar format as the first.

If you just have no idea about what I am talking about, and have never head of either one of these books, let me explain. Both books are about the economics behind life.They try and explain all types of events and patterns using economic principles. And while it might help if you knew something about economics, its not necessary as they do not write this in a scholarly, filled with economic principles and definitions, manner. This is an easy read for anybody, no matter what educational level or how much they know about economics.


The chaper titles in Freakonomics gives you a good idea of the kinds of things they discuss:

• Chapter 1: Discovering cheating as applied to teachers and sumo wrestlers
• Chapter 2: Information control as applied to the ku klux klan and real-estate agents
• Chapter 3: The economics of drug dealing, including the surprisingly low earnings and abject working conditions of crack cockaine dealers.    
• Chapter 4: The role legalized abortion has played in reducing crime.
• Chapter 5: The negligible effects of good parenting on education
• Chapter 6: The socioeconomic patterns of naming children

Super Freakonomics includes such topics as prostitution, suicide bombers, hospital cleanliness, global warming, and child safety.

Though these books may sound weird, I find them extremely entertaining, educational, and funny. They talk about all types of topics, from those I love (like terrorism) to those I would normally care less about (such as patterns of naming children). And they have a way of making boring topics interesting.

I personally think Freakonomics is a bit better. I found a chapter or two in Super Freakonomics to be a tiny bit boring and lengthy. But overall the book was almost as interesting as the first, and I am finding myself telling bits of it to anybody who will listen (My poor Dad. Had to tell me to stop telling him about Prostitutes. I just couldn't help it.).

As with any book on such topics, I would be cautious about believing everything they say. These topics and the conclusions they have come up with aren't necessarily believed by everybody and are sometimes debatable. Also, some people would say these books were written more for entertainment purposes than for their educational value.

But either way, I recommend picking up either one of the books and given them a whirl.

P.S. The authors have a blog if your are interested.

I Have 3 Eyes Now

If my work is what is making my skin break out, does that mean I can quite?

No?...Okay, I guess I had better start wearing more makeup.

Thank you bareMinerals for making it an easy 3 min. process to cover up that 3rd eye and all the other zits and pimples that have taken over my face.

Otherwise, I might look like I am still in Middle School going through puberty.

P.S. : Have you ever dated a guy who had such questionable skin, you could have sworn kissing him made your skin break out? It didn't last, did it?

Healthy Eating Planning

As I am pondering and planning how to start eating more healthy again, I run into this quote:

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing. ~Redd Foxx

It is almost enough to take the fight out of me. Just almost..

A Real Man....

will carry their significant other's purse. As well as hold doors open for them.

My man is a real man.*

*He might not see it that way. Hopefully he doesn't hate me for posting this picture. It is just too cute.

Just crossing my fingers that between errands and evening dinner plans, I can find time to relax on this much needed Saturday.


For now...


I am thinking about singing up for this : Postcrossing


I think these are adorable :

Feel free to get me this card for my birthday :

Need Prince Charming...Just Add Water!!!

VIA: fredflare

Cute Valentines Day Ideas #3

As good as gummy bears are, I am not sure how I feel about this...

VIA fredflare

 

 

 

But maybe there is someone in your life that could benefit from a giant gummy.
 
These are a little more normal and kind of cute, even if I am not a fan of this type of candy (sorry can't get the picture to post so I've linked it).

Blue Sunset

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.”

-G. K. Chesterton

The sky was amazing when I got out of work last night. I only had my camera phone, which doesn't take quality pictures, but I just had to get some pictures of the sky.

The view of the sky is the one great thing about my office. I have seen so many awesome sunsets while leaving work.

Cute Valentines Day Idea #2

Gift tags template.

I think these valentines are pretty rad.  You can get the template here.

These are my favorite. So cute. Template here.
 
Via: Armelle Blog

Seriously Can't Wait For This

Cute Valentines Day Idea #1

If I could sew, I would sew this:

Via : say YES! to hoboken who got it from Momtastic.

Want to make one? You can get the instructions here.

Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery. - Bill Watterson

The photos above show the result of the snow storm we got last week. The biggest one yet this season for us. Sadly, not enough to get me a day off work :(. The roads were almost perfectly cleared the next day.

While at work, I get kind of jealous of the rest of the country who are getting dumped on. Until I see pictures like this.

I shouldn't really be wishing for another snow storm. Our one snow storm hit in the middle of the day. I was lucky and got home in 40 mins. It took some people 6-10 hours. They sat in their cars all night long barely moving each hour. Having to turn off their cars to save gas and with no access to food or bathrooms. One guy I know watched 4 Netflix movies on his commute home. Crazyyyy!!!

I guess it could be worse though. We could be getting duped by a sidewalk maze.

Worst Ice Skater Ever Video

I haven't watched all of this video yet, just waiting to get to a computer that actually has sound, but it has the real potential to be hilarious.

via: Color Me Katie