"when you slow down all the details spill out"

it's been a long time since i've heard anyone call me "OC" or outta control. i believe it was james roberts (my youth minister of long ago) that started it, along with some other names i am sure he had for me. it didn't really stick but it was definitely the truth and still is to a certain degree. i have a way of saying the things that other people don't want to say, or don't want me to say! luckily, as i have grown older i have learned (for the most part) & earned the gift of discernment. this memory was brought on by stumbling across this shirt.

Via Threadless Tees

now that to me, is some super cute tech-y humor.
thanks for the memory!


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Now Playing: The Honorary Title - "Accident Prone"

"we all, we all wear dignity"

i've seen several of the state charm necklaces out & about. i'm not much of a jewelry wearer (mostly i just wear my wedding rings) but i really like the idea of these.

image via ali loves curtis -- necklace via elsabags

not bad for 12 bucks! you can find a few more necklaces here & there. i'm alway alittle nervous about getting jewelry because i have a knack for losing it. i recently lost the pair to my earrings that pete gave me for my birthday a few years ago & i get sick to my stomach when i think about it. i keep hoping that one of the cats just pushed it under something & that i'll find it soon. *crosses fingers*

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Now Playing: Relient K - "The Last, The Lost, The Lease"

keep calm and carry on

holy smokes! i've never been a calendar person, if there is such a thing. i guess because my folks never hung up a calendar, i never got into the habit myself. but over at DesignCrush they are having a calendar swap (which i'm debating on joining) & a daily round up for some amazing calenders. today i found my favorite! i purchased mine & all i need to do is get some ink to print them & we'll be good to go.

littlebrownpen

there are two different versions, one for women & one for men. they're a pdf file so you can print as many as you like. pete liked the man one so i got it for him to put at his desk. i think i might make some extra copies for work & a few friends. if you aren't familiar with the "keep calm" logo (i guess you would call it that) check it out here.

jennysbakeshop

i would also love to get my hands on one of these bad boys. anything cupcake and i am in! hey christmas is coming up soon *hint* *hint*


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Now Playing: The Get Up Kids - "Sharin' Stone" (daytrotter session)

"there is a holiness to the hearts affections"

oooooo! i can't wait to see this. i'm never up on new movies (unless there is mad hype about them) but i just saw these amazing photos & watched the trailer for the movie Bright Star. it's about the famous poet John Keats & his love for Fanny Brawne, bring on the tissues. now it is a must see!

Via {frolic!} & Mum and Lark

i always love watching movies from different time periods and im sure this one wont let me down. oooo! can't wait to see it! (just had to say it again)


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Now Playing: Tumbledown - "Movin' On"

"where would you go with a lasso?!"

it took me a while to get to posting this, laziness is such a curse! (the truth, it's been stupid busy at work, so i've been some what preoccupied -- hello holiday retail season!)

this past tuesday we had a morning meeting for work & to gear up for the holiday season, so i made some festive apple breakfast granola crisp. it was so easy to make, and quite healthy that it just might become a morning stable for pete & i. i didn't take any pictures like planned but i assure you that these pictures are a ton better than my blackberry could ever take.

Via Smitten Kitchen

i ended up doubling the crispy topping because i had such an over flow of apples, but it was so easy i just might end up using it for all my crisps. i used a good mix of different apples & the taste was amazing. it's not super sweet like a dessert so you feel good about having it for breakfast. the best part is that i made it the night before, popped it in the fridge, and it was ready to go for the morning! this recipe will defiantly because a stable for us!

this week while grocery shopping i won a free turkey! so i've already begun planning out my thanksgiving menu! (can you believe its only a month away?!) this year we are having dinner at our apartment, which will be good for me because i wont have to transport all my stuff to my sister-in-laws house, but i'm nervous for my first true holiday at my place. i'm trying to plan early so i don't get stressed out as time moves closer! have you planned anything for the holidays?! any good family recipes to share?! even though i am nervous, i am excited to get cooking!

lastly, i have some blog love. as you know i follow a TON of blogs of all different sorts. one of my recent favorites has been Le Love. the name pretty much says it all, its all about love! the good, the bad, the heartbreaking, and breathtaking. its such a beautiful blog with some great photos that i find myself always right clicking to save.
i love the header because i think it's so cute. but also i'm so curious about washer/dryer combo on the bottom. (i need one!)

Via Le Love

so here is to a great week! be back soon!

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Now Playing: Crystal Castles - "1991"

"& keep your feet on the ground"

the pass week has been a whirlwind of craziness. my emotions couldn't be any more heighten & i guess i don't really know how to explain it. i know this is rather vague but for the time being it will have to do. (for those that know & read this little space of mine on the interwebs, thank you for all the love & prayers)

but! mixed in with all that life had to throw at me i still managed to get some cooking done! as i type this my index finger is sore because i touched the top of my breakfast apple granola crisp & it burned it slightly. i guess that's what i get for touching it right out of the oven. (i'll share the crisp tomorrow) the week before last i made some amazing chili (pete even said so!). now, i've never followed a chili recipe, partly because you can put in whatever you want, and i love that fact. chili is always a good, cheap and easy meal for me to make for my work lunches. i make a big batch & then divided it up & i'm good for the rest of the week. so i don't have a chili recipe to share, but rather a grand side dish for your own amazing chili. cornbread! since i'm from the south i can't help but love cornbread, especially when it's paired with a nice bowl of chili. but some of the down falls of cornbread is that it can be dry, bland, & flat. well i can tell you my cornbread was anything but. it was light, fluffy, moist, and anything but bland! i found this recipe for cheddar cornbread on smitten kitchen (who just had the most adorable baby, besides zane of course ;) ), and i couldn't wait to try it. the recipe includes cheddar (obviously), cream corn, chili powder, buttermilk and was a cinch to make. (i've officially said my goodbyes to jiffy) i may even alter my mama's cornbread stuffing recipe for thanksgiving because yes, it was that good!

(all packed up & ready for work)

i can't tell you how easy & delicious this cornbread was. there are so many other things you can add to make it your own & taste just the way you like it. so get cracking & make some chili & cornbread!

i'm loving that it is october & the apartment has a chill to it so i can wear my hoodies all day long. i'm hoping to make it to the pumpkin patch & maybe even pick my own apples! the air this time of year is so fresh & amazing. i can honestly say i love living in new jersey for that reason alone. it's nice to have seasons!

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Now Playing: Brand New - "The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows"

Penguin Pride

i know i have talked about this before but just in case you didnt know ... pete is a huge hockey fan, especially a pittsburgh penguins fan. over the years that we have been together i have fallen in love the with game, and now i am proud to call myself a penguins fan too! the best thing about penguins is that they are so darn cute!

here are some examples,

Sidney Crosby & Evgeni Malkin
(Malkin is cute in that dopey russian sorta way)

not that you can't read, but this is the championship ring the penguins received for winning the stanley cup this year. i think it is rather impressive, alittle much for my taste, but it has a cute quality to it. (haha i am sure thats exactly what the players would say, "cute")

showing some penguin pride at the parade back in june.

these iphone/blackberry cases are insanely adorable. I found these in this delightful Etsy shop, SydneyAngel

(i need to invest in a sewing machine so i can make my own)

i have been searching for something to carry my business cards in and i think i may have found it. i really love this card carrying case. apparently the image of the penguins is a picture taken of some artwork in subway train station in nyc. i've already begun planning a sunday afternoon that pete & i can go on this little adventure. (he doesnt know it yet)

"Penguins Over Dinner"

mari & i spotted this at a thrift store not to long ago. i wish i purchased it when i saw it. so random & cute.

these little guys we saw at the dallas world aquarium we visited while we were on vacation. you'll have to have hampton share her story about these penguins one day!

hockey starts at 3pm on thursday! you can imagine the excitement around our house. last week i ordered the hockey package & ive enjoyed watching some of the pre-season games. here is to a great season! let's go pens!

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Now Playing: Nightmare of You - "Heaven Runs On Oil"

"the truth is i'm to tired to play pretend"

i have stumbled upon a 4 day weekend! ( a weekend for a the retail employed ) although i could have used this time for a greater purpose, i will not look a gift horse in the mouth (whatever that means) & use this time wisely.

by using my time wisely, what i really mean is wandering the interwebs (which has been slow) for pretty pictures and inspiration for things i really, really want to try. so in order to justify the 2+ hours (now 3+ because of posting this!) i have logged in tonight, i am sharing with you all that i have found. (well mostly all of it)

- via DesignCrush -

how sexy is this tattoo?! i wish i was badass enough to have this tattoo and to have thought of it first!

- DIY Pumpkin Spice Lattes -

like any good american, i have fallen under that pressure of consumerism & enjoy ordering over priced lattes from starbucks from time to time. especially in the chilly fall/winter weather, ordering a pumpkin spice latte & a slice of pumpkin bread can make anyones day, mmmmmmm. but now i can bust out my little coffee maker & make my own!
btw, i am not a coffee drinker generally but i love these.

- via dustjacket attic -

i really just love the look of this photo, and the feeling it gives me. its so classic. i don't think i'll ever grow tired of over sized sunglasses & dark nail polish. this blog is filled with amazing photographs, it was largely the reason i have spent so much time on the computer tonight.

- via DMD Insight -

have you ever heard of the term "ikea hacked"? well neither did i until tonight! but since i saw this post on re-vamping a dresser purchased at ikea (oddly enough pete & i took a day trip there today, love that store), i've been inspired to do the same. then of course i had to look up "ikea hacked" and i found this delightful blog on doing just that! we are in despressed need of some quality storage, that looks nice, and is fairly inexpensive ( i'm so tired of looking at plastic bins). obviously, you can go purchase some unfinished wood furinture & do this same thing, but this post really got my wheels turning!

- No Bake Granola Balls -

pete & i love our chewy bars. most of our shopping adventures to the pathmark include the purchase of at least 2 boxes of chewy bars. but after seeing this post, i clearly need to start making my own. its super easy & so much healthier.

- Ikea Franklin Bar Stool -

lastly, this find comes from pete. why pete was browsing the beauty blogs this morning is beyond me, (hahahahaha) but he came across the perfect chair for my freelance makeup work! because of his find, we made a trip up to the ikea by us to check out the chair and if it would really work. its perfect & i'm excited to have a back pain free wedding.

it's amazing how far the internet has come. you have given me so much oh! lovely internet. thank you <3

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Now Playing: Motion City Soundtrack - "Last Night"

birthdays & brownies

first ...

Happy Birthday Pete!

this picture was taken when we first started dating, and we were camera whores. (thats what long distance does to you!) but we are still as goofy as ever!

so happy birthday to the one that loves me no matter what, accepts me just like i am, and never ceases to make me laugh! i love you, pete!

last night, pete & i went to go see face to face in nyc & without a doubt we had an amazing time. between singing along with the crowd, the lovely waitress at the all-night diner, & the great breeze through the city last night, we couldn't have planned it any better if we tried!





for his birthday i made some simply wonderful brownies (by recommendation of alvin) when i had attempted the black beans brownies (which turned out awful, probably more of my fault than the recipe's) pete begged me never to follow a brownie recipe ever again and just go with the box stuff. of course i didn't listen & wanted to prove him wrong! so i made this super simple, almost one bowl brownie recipe. the only thing i changed was the addition of white chocolate (his fave!)
i have redeemed myself & i am now allowed to try out more brownie recipes if i so choose! now go out and make some yummy brownies for your loved one's birthday, they'll appreciate it, promise!

lastly & again ...

Happy Birthday Pete! thank you for always being the one, xoxo

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Now Playing: Northstar - "For Member Only" (live & acoustic)

"it's not so complicated"

has it really been a month?! believe me, it's not for a lack of goings ons! it's just amazing how time has just zipped right on through to the end of september. where to begin?! ...

well, i finally did it. i convinced pete that i needed a blackberry. (like that, "i needed", b/c a new phone was not what i "needed" by any stretch, but hey, i'm only human) the truth is that his phone was on its last leg, and getting the blackberries for the both of us turned out to be a really good deal. (thank you ups!) i really love having it, and i am so happy that pete loves it too. i was alittle nervous that he wouldn't like it but he loves getting his sport updates, and playing texas holdem'. whew.

so pretty : )

since my last update we have been to texas and back again. it has been 2 years since i had been home, and man it was good to be back. everything has changed so much but at the same time it still felt just how i'd left it. we spent some quality time with old friends, and amazing family. we played alot of phase10, a little poker, and learned how to play mille bornes (grandma didn't like that game as much) i got to spend a good amount of time with my good friends tommy & crystal and their new little boy, zane. (baby fever!) we visited south oaks, got rained out at the ranger game, made some new friends at a charity cocktail party & baked! over all the trip was great, we didn't get much rest but it was a vacation well spent. here are some pictures in no particular order & i made them small so it doesn't blow up your internet connection. click to enlarge!

how sweet is he! he feel asleep on my chest & that alone made my heart melt.

he is a good baby, tommy & crystal lucked out. i hope pete & i are just as lucky!

tommy enjoying fatherhood. in the second picture zane looks like an old man or just like dr. dan (his grandfather)

the rain out ranger game, even though we didnt get to watch a game, we had a good time.

pete & my dad, and then pete & i at the ranger game.

grandma b & mama at the dallas world aquarium (which was awesome!) and then me & mama at the ranger game

some baked goods! easy cinnamon rolls & carrot cake. i also made homemade pancakes, & a lemon cake that didn't turn out so good. any baked good that calls for cake flour just never turns out well for me, so i'm over cake flour.

hampton & i in awe of the rear end of the mannequin at forever21.

i have some more pictures but i think i'll save those for a facebook album. i didn't take as many pictures as i would have liked but i say that everytime. i can't believe we have been home for a week now. sometimes going back to reality just plain stinks!

while we were in texas, pete & i celebrated our 2 year anniversary. 2 years, whoa! now i know that is no milestone but with the ups & downs we've had in those 2 years its nice to be here. even with the craziness we have gone through, i am so glad to be here with him. i don't think anyone else could ever handle either of us : ) love you, baybeh xoxo

hmm, i'm starting to lose focus on all the goings ons. but i think i nailed down the important things. i have some projects that i am working on, and also some great recipes to share! (of course once i attempt them) i'm loving the days as they get cooler & cooler. it's going to be a great end of the year. i can feel it!

tomorrow night pete & i are gonna go see face to face in the city. can't wait!
it was nice to update, we'll do this again soon!


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Now Playing: Face To Face - "Sensible"