5 Friday Faves

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've had a great week and are ready for an even better weekend! 

Here are 5 of my current favorites....

1. The Royal Wedding and Kate's Dress

I set my alarm to wake up and watch the wedding coverage, but turned my alarm off without a thought in my deep sleep at 2 a.m.  I really enjoyed watching the coverage while getting ready this morning, and I absolutely loved Kate's dress by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.  Kate was such a beautiful bride!

2. Steve Carell's Final Episode of The Office

I fell asleep before we could watch last night's episode, but CAhusband and I have a TV date to watch it tonight.  The last few episodes have been so good, and I have no doubt that Michael Scott's farewell will be perfect!  Did you watch?  What did you think?

3. Stagecoach

I can't wait to see Carrie Underwood, Rascall Flatts, and Kenny Chesney at Stagecoach this weekend!  It should be a great time, and I can't wait finally participate in one of the huge music festivals in town!

4. Half-Day Today!

My half-day of school with no afternoon workshop will be spent floating in the pool, reading my book, and sipping Skinny Girl Margaritas!  YAY!

5. Blogger Meet Up
One of my favorite bloggers, Day Old News, will be in town this weekend and we plan to meet up at Stagecoach!  This will be one of my first real-life blogger meetings, and I'm so excited!  Our plans to meet up fell through the last time she was in town, so I think we're determined to make it work this time! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Prom Flashback

Have you guys seen all of those commercials for the new Disney movie Prom? 

First, I have major flashbacks from my high school proms everytime I see them.

Second, I would kind of like a little teeny-bopper friend who needed me to take her to this movie, so that I had an excuse to see it.  

Here are some of the thoughts that come to me everytime I see those Prom movie trailers:

• Prom was always such a disappointment.  It wasn't horrible, but definitely didn't live up to the hype.
• No one ever really danced at our prom unless it was a slow song. 
• Every student had to be breathalyzed before entering our prom.  Did all schools do this?  It seems a little extreme. 
• After prom was always a ton of fun... as long as you skipped the school sponsored one in the high school gym. 
• I still can't believe my parents (and everyone elses) let us all spend the night at CAhusband's house on the night of prom. 
• My junior year 6 of us took a big white limousine to Indianapolis for dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!  We thought we were so awesome. 
• My senior year, CAhusband got to drive his dad's nice car, and we drove ourselves to that exact same Ruth's Chris in Indianapolis for dinner. 
• It now makes NO SENSE to me that we drove an hour out of town to have dinner before prom. 
• Everyone in my high school went dress shopping at Cache.  The thought of this still cracks me up.
• My senior year there was a replica of Kate Hudson's yellow silk dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days at Cache.  I didn't get it because I thought it made my hips look big.  If I could go smack my 18 year-old self, I totally would. 

Now one more thing must be said. 

Since when did it become acceptable to wear a short prom dress?  That would have been social suicide in my prom days of '03-'04, and I'm really curious as to when this changed?  It seems as though short dresses are all the rage for current prom-goers.   

Lastly, I didn't think it was fair to share random thoughts about prom without sharing my own prom pictures, so here you go...

Junior Year, Prom 2003

CAhusband didn't button his jacket on his already too big tux for pictures...

he's not really obese.

Senior Year, Prom 2004

Pardon the glare  and adornments.  I had to take an iphone pic of a photo in my highschool scrapbook.

Our true prom photos weren't acceptable this year either... CAhusband had his eyes closed! 

Any thoughts you'd like to share on prom, I'd love to hear them! 

Also, if you're brave enough to show your prom pics in a post on your blog, leave your link in the comments, I'd love to see them!!

Odds and Ends

We had a very fun and relaxing Easter weekend.  Here's what we've been up to....

-CAhusband stayed away from the office this weekend, and we had a wonderful little Saturday together.  We went shopping, he took me around his current job-site to show me what he's been working on, and we went to a yummy lunch in Palm Springs at a restaurant we've been dying to try!  I love any excuse for a peach bellini... it was such a fun day!

-We finally got the Peugot salt and pepper grinders I have been wanting since our wedding!  I drew a 30% coupon out of an egg at the Le Creuset store, and with the discount we just couldn't resist them any longer.  I love the way they look in our kitchen! 

-We saw Tori Spelling at our Easter brunch at Rancho Las Palmas yesterday, and it about made my Easter.  I tried to play it cool, and actually resisted the urge to pull out my camera, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to pull up a chair at her table and chat it up while asking for our picture together.  I love me some Tori Spelling! 

-CAhusband and I finally watched Love and Other Drugs last night! I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped I would, but I was glad we watched it. Have you seen it, what did you think?

-I am so thankful that I had a 4-day weekend this weekend!  It has been beautiful here, and I have done nothing but relax.  We have a half-day this coming Friday too, so I'm entering a 3.5 day work week... thank you Lord!

-Speaking of a half-day on Friday, it's History Day at school and I have to dress up as a historical figure.  I don't want to have to buy anything and can't think of anything except Pocahontas which seems overdone.  Any ideas? 

 -CAhusband's parents always send us a chocolate egg full of chocolates for Easter. I've had to use all of my willpower to not devour the entire egg! YUM!

-I went to see Water for Elephants with my teacher friends today, and I loved it! It was very close to the book, and I thought Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson were perfectly cast. Did you see it this weekend?  Did you love it?

-I would love to host a brunch with a bunch of girlfriends to watch the royal wedding this Friday!  Although I don't quite understand the constant hype over the last 60 days, I can't wait to watch the wedding itself.  Kate Middleton will be a gorgeous bride, and I can't wait to see her gown!

Alright, that's all I've got!  I hope your week is off to a great start!

A Decade of Love

Yup, that's right, CAhusband and I are high-school sweethearts, and today marks 10 years since CAhusband (who was then a very cute Indiana high school freshman) and I started "going out."  We never broke up, even once for a weekend, and have now been married nearly 2 years.

Although we've been teased for our very-long relationship by some, and haven't really "dated" anyone else, I honestly can't remember a time when I didn't think I would marry my wonderful husband.  We've been together forever, and I can't imagine it any other way.  These last 10 years have been nothing short of amazing thanks to the wonderful man I am now lucky enough to call my husband.

Here's a little look at our history together...

First, I have to share a photo from my 13th birthday party!  CAhusband and I "liked" each other at the time, but were in 6th grade.  My mom hadn't told me she'd invited him to my family party at a local restaurant, and I was so embarrassed when we showed up at his house to pick him up.  I knew CAhusband was embarrassed to go too, and I think his mom might have made him go.  I still remember he got me a gift certificate to the CD store at the mall and some chocolates. 

 

This photo was taken in 1999. 

Now here is a look at us together since we became boyfriend and girlfriend

on April 24, 2001....

2001

Cedar Point with CAhusband's family.

2002

Siesta Key, FL for Spring Break

2003

Our very last game together as cheerleader and football player our senior year of high school!

(Scary dark hair phase I went through, yikes)

2004

High school graduation!

2005

Kappa Sorority Formal

2006

Party at CAhusband's fraternity

2007

HHI for Fall Break during our senior year of college.

2008

Mardi Gras themed dance for CAhusband's fraternity a few weeks before graduation.

July 18th, 2009

Our Wedding

2010

Chicago for a friend's wedding

2011

Easter

It was so much fun to look at all of our pictures through the years,

we have certainly done quite a bit of growing up together.

**Oh, and just to be clear, we don't celebrate our old dating anniversary, I just happened to do that math

when I found out Easter was on the 24th this year. 

Happy Easter!

5 Friday Faves, Easter Edition

In the spirit of the season, I'm going to fore-go my normal Friday Faves for an Easter theme... ENJOY!

1. Silk Tie Dyed Eggs from The Larson Lingo

Mel posted an amazing tutorial on how you can dye eggs using old silk ties, and I was fascinated!

This is such a cool idea, and they turned out beautifully.  I definitely bookmarked this idea to try for some Easter in the future!

2.  Pretty Easter Dress from BHLDN
I don't know if I could ever pull this dress off, but as a lover of all things with a bow, I sure would try!
I love the shade of yellow, and that it's not your predictable Easter frock. 

3. A Fresh and Modern Spring Table from Hostess with the Mostess

I love this colorful spring table for Easter. 

It's bright and modern, and could easily be re-used for Mother's Day or a bridal shower!

4. Easter Egg Topiary How-To from Woman's Day found via The Party Dress

I've been trying to find inexpensive Easter topiaries for the 2 nooks behind our kitchen table, and was thrilled to stumble across this adorable how-to recently!  Although I would take a different approach with mine, I love the hints from the how-to.  I definitely want to make my own in time for Easter next year!

5. Easter Egg Party Decor featured on Hostess with the Mostess

This kid's party from Wants and Wishes Designs in ADORABLE! 

My favorite touch is the carrot centerpiece... how clever? 

Happy Easter everyone!  Enjoy your weekend!

A Crazy Cute Caterpillar Party!

Okay, this is a little random (being a non-mom and all), but I have just found the dream theme for my future child's birthday party!

I have always been obsessed with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and all things Eric Carle! 

After seeing Hana Lynch's photos of her daughters 3rd birthday party, I am even more convinced that I must someday throw a kids party with this theme.

 

 

 

Hana sure knows how to throw one adorable party!  As a photographer by trade she had the know-how to design all of the caterpillar elements for the party, and was able to photograph it all in the end.  

I'm definitely bookmarking this party idea to use someday down the road. 

Check out all of the party details here.

Parenthood PSA

I'm feeling compelled to share a brief PSA with you all this morning.

If you aren't watching Parenthood, you definitely should be! 

Last night was the season 2 finale, and I can say with certainty that this is the best family drama on TV!  

Now, I know you may not trust me on this because I watch I lot of pretty ridiculous stuff, but honestly, this is one of only two shows that I'm not really embarrassed to say that I watch (the other is The Good Wife, if you were wondering).

In my smug 25 year-old opinion, Parenthood is an extremely accurate portrayal of family life today.  It has great moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I just can't get enough of it.  The writing and actors are terrific, and the whole family dynamic is extremely realistic. 

Plus, who doesn't love the adorable Peter Krause? 

Although this season has just wrapped, you should definitely watch the re-runs over the summer, or at least promise me you'll find a way to catch up with this show before season 3 starts in the fall.

You won't be sorry!  I promise!

Crazy with a Capital C!

It has become VERY clear to me lately, that I have a problem.... with my dogs.

As in I love them so much that I've turned into a crazy dog lady.

This is funny because I've nannied for some crazy moms of children, and laugh about how nuts they are.  Turns out I'm not so different than those overly cautious and enthusiastic mommas; only I don't have this problem a baby, but our two boxers, that I often refer to as "the girls".

Here is some of the evidence that's been piling up the past few years:

-When I'm considering possibly job options next year, I think about how the schedule would effect the dogs before I even consider the financial aspect of said career move. 

-I plan my spinning classes around the days of the week that I can leave the latest for work and get home the earliest after work, thus impacting the dogs alone time as little as possible. 

-I give both dogs a detailed explanation about where I'm going and how long I'll be gone before leaving the house.  I then give them both a kiss, tell them I love them, and promise I'll go as fast as I can.  The sad fact is that I actually truly hurry everywhere I go when the dogs are at home alone.   

-I would gladly pay $5000 to give Reilly a surgery that would make her leg normal again.  The fact that she can't play as hard as she wants to, and that's she's in pain breaks my heart.

-While running errands, I separate all trips that can be made with the dogs from those that can't.  If I can take the dogs in the car with me to pick up dry-cleaning, go to the bank, etc. I'm going to do it. 

-I've spent a small fortune on matching dog collars for Piper and Reilly.

-I really want to hire a photographer to come takes professional pictures of of them. 

-I didn't use a wedding picture on our Christmas card the year we got married because Reilly wouldn't have been able to be on it.

-When Piper got spade, I didn't leave the house for 3 days straight.  AT. ALL.

-We will pay the dog sitter almost an entire month of my salary over this summer because the thought of putting them in a kennel or having them sleep at our house alone while we're gone makes me too sad.

-I want to make sure we'll have our first child while Reilly's still alive.  She's almost 6, and yes, I realize this makes me sound extra CRAZY.  Also, I cannot justify why I feel this way, I just do.

-I let our dogs sleep with us in bed.  CAhusband hates that I do this, but I can't help it.  He often comments on the awkward sleeping positions I end up in to keep our girls comfortable while shaking his head in disbelief. 

-I make the comment, "Well, I'll have to figure it out with CAhusband first to see if he can be home, I can't leave the dogs that long" in conversation with someone on a very regular basis. 

 

 

AND, I think I'll stop there. 

Although I know I now sound certifiably bonkers to you all, the truth is I absolutely love our girls to death.  I never would have believed it was possible to love these two animals as much as I do. 

Someday when we have children, it's going to be really scary.  If I'm this bananas over my dogs, can you imagine how bad it will be with a baby?  SCARY!