My Favorite Things...in June!

Hi guys!

I just wanted to pop in today for my traditional monthly favorite things post.

1. The One
For Tim and I, June revolved around one huge all encompassing thing:

We were house hunting for about 6 weeks when we stumbled this gem nestled in the woods. Good news: the listing agent had done a terrible job marketing it (in my opinion) with lack-luster pictures that don't showcase it's best features. Bad news: it's a short sale. We put in an offer the same day we saw it and have been anxiously waiting for an answer. We're still hopeful, but the wait is beginning to take a toll.

2. Pin It!

Pinterest has pretty much taking the crafting world by storm, and I'm definitely no exception. I love that I can file all the inspiration out there into one place. But it's also been a great way for Tim and I to keep track of ideas we have for the house we hope will soon be ours.

3. Love is in the Air

Two of my high school best friends tied the knot this month, and Tim and I were so honored to be invited to share the day with them. Isn't her dress beautiful?! A beautiful wedding, a beautiful reception, and a beautiful couple!

4. Childhood Fun

As far back as I can remember, before my grandmother really got sick, we played some kind of game as a family each time we visited - which was pretty much every weekend. Since she passed away 3 years, games have felt slightly forbidden.

My grandfather turned 80 this month, and my uncle was visiting from out of town, and it seemed like the perfect time for a game of UNO. It brought back so many great memories, and I'm looking forward to playing  many more hands in the near future.

5. Country Livin'

I love hay season - seeing all the bales spread across the fields and the patterns created from where the bales are dropped. The only bad thing is that alfalfa makes me allergies flare now, but I still love the smell and driving with the windows down. This is what summer is all about.

Thanks for stopping by today!

My Favorite Things...in May!

Hi guys!!

First of all I have to apologize for being MIA. I promised to be back and have projects a couple of weeks ago...obviously, that didn't happen, but I really had the best of intentions, and we all know how that goes.

So here are my favorites from May

1. So You Think You Can Dance

This is my absolute FAVORITE summer TV show. I love it. I love that the judges don't take themselves too seriously and you can just feel the fun atmosphere.

2. House Hunting

This is a favorite and kinda not. I'm beyond thrilled that Tim and I have decided to start the house hunt, but at the same time I have all of those first time home buyer butterflies. I can't wait to find our home. 

3. Summer Vacation

I started my self-imposed summer vacation officially on Monday. Two months of class-free relaxation. Tim has students for 3 more days and only works for 5 more. I'm so excited for us to have some time for fun (and house hunting) this summer.

4. Simple Little Things

This one's really personal - but this whole post is pretty much personal, so what better time to share it.

Tim and I will have been married for two years this summer, and throughout I've struggled with feelings of not being accepted by his family on a consistent basic. The picture above was taken during the party we helped to throw for Tim's Grandma's 80th birthday. The grandchildren's picture - the first one in two years I was included in. This picture also makes me laugh. We were all asked to wear white. We don't really follow directions well...

5. Winning the Battle, Hopefully the War

In August I went to war against the minus sign, and this week I won a small battle. As an undergrad "A"s and "A-" held the same weight - the minus was actually my friend. Then I realized that as a grad student it was no longer my friend and the battle lines were drawn. Until now, the score was minus sign 3, Amy 0. But not anymore! Monday I found out that I was the victor of battle 4, with a regular "A"!!! I still have 8 more courses to go, we'll have to wait and see the outcome of those!


Thanks for stopping by today. I promise to be back Friday with a card.

My Favorite Things...in April and Miscellany

April was a MUCH better month than March - thank goodness!

1.

Oh. My. GOODNESS! These lovelies are my FAVORITE Easter candy - especially frozen (I get it from my Dad). The perfect peanut butter/chocolate proportion. I don't usually buy but a single one before Easter, but I'm like a mad-woman in the clearance aisle the day after. This year, Tim and I decided to go out Easter evening to Walmart to see what we could find. Now, just a couple days before there had been an entire skid FULL of Reese's eggs, but that night there wasn't a single egg to be found. I was crushed! Luckily, the local Rite Aid doesn't get much business, so I was able to score big Monday after work.

2.

I haven't bought myself a new pair of sneakers since 2004 - seriously, before I left for college my Freshman year. I got a SUPER steal on these thanks to coupons and some Kohls cash. I LOVE them.

3.

I was on Etsy one day killing time and stumble across Long Winter Farm lips balm. I got a pack of 5 on blind faith and don't think I'll ever use another lip balm again. I ordered Lemon, Hot Cocoa, Raspberry Lime, Chocolate Raspberry and Brown Sugar. I'm just shy of obsessed and there is almost always a tube of lip balm within reach.

4.

 My FAVORITE thing from April was hitting the 1 yr mark at my current job. One of the greatest perks of my job is at one year you get a day at home. I've chosen Wednesdays as my day at home, and I love the 15 second commute and spending the day in my PJs with Netflix while I work.

Now for the miscellaneous announcements.

No one claimed the two sets of buttons from the Sweet Sixteen giveaways, so I've drawn 2 more names.

Michele (Derby) and Amy K., you're numbers are up! Please contact me by Monday, May 9 at amybeth.everson@gmail.com with your address and I'll get those out to you.

On one last, final, note is I would like tell everyone about my cousin Pam's Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Charlotte this October. Pam is leading a team to raise $14,000 for breast cancer research. This is the amount of one chemotherapy treatment. She was inspired to do this because her mother (my aunt) recently won her battle with breast cancer. You can find Pam's website here.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things...in March (a little bit late)

1.

There are just not enough words to express how much I love this! I'm not sure if it's the humor of it, or just how much my husband will love it, but I can't help but smile to look at it. I'm SO getting Tim one for Christmas. 

2. PTI get together:

There's not a picture of all of us, but a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of getting together with some of the girls from th PTI forum.  It's amazing how only having met once before, or never at all, you build such a bond and when you get together it's like your the best of friends. I can't wait to do it again! 

3. March 31 (sorry, no cool picture here either)

My favorite thing about is that it's over.  It was tough, really, emotionally and mentally tough. Without a whole lot of messy details (because, really, who wants those shared here), we made it through. A little worse for the wear, but stronger at the end. 

Let's just hope for a better April! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

My Favorite Things...in February

February came and went like a blur, filled with high winds and tons of work chaos. Through all of it there's been a couple of things I have really enjoyed. 

1. Zumba

This month I started going to Zumba with some girlfriends from work. WHEW! What a workout! Each week, as my confidence grows in the moves and I can get into the dance a little more, I can feel it working and it's a blast! I still don't know all the steps and I still occasionally feel self conscience about dancing in front of all those people (not to mention the mirrors! ACK!) but I know before too long I'm going to have to steps down and I feel comfortable. 

2. Glee

I love, Love, LOVE Glee. I didn't realize how much I had missed it until it was on after the Superbowl and it hit me that I'd really been missing it. This is probably one of my favorite numbers from any of the shows. Darrin Criss is a rockstar in my book!

3. Phineas & Ferb

So apparently TV was a big thing for me this month, which is funny because I've felt like I've had zero time - unless of course you're counting the time I'm supposed to be doing homework. That may explain where all the time came from!

I love the musical numbers, I love Candace's plotting, and the random things they do everyday. It's just all around a great show!

4. Our Best Bites

This is one of the best food websites I've come across. Simple recipes, made with stuff you already have. I have the cookie pie in the oven right now and the almond poppyseed cakes have been a HUGE hit with everyone I've made them for. If you haven't already, check them out! 

What were your favorite things in February? I'd love if you'd share some of them with me!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things...in January

The end of January already...hard to believe! One of the features I love about some of the blogs I read are the favorite things lists. If it's a feature you enjoy, stop by one the 1st of each month to see what rounds out the top 5.

1. Snow days

January brought with it snow - not too much, but enough to grant hubby and I a few days at home. I LOVE my commutes during snow - down the stairs, to the coffee pot, making my final stop wrapped in a blanket with my laptop on the couch. Here's to more snow days just like it! 

2. Hot Chocolate

I've been working for the last few years to perfect a homemade hot chocolate recipe. I've researched on the internet, used the recipe on the back of the cocoa box and I've FINALLY gotten what's the best combination for us. 

ETA: I really meant to add this in before I scheduled it - but you know how it goes - something about the best of intentions....

This is the dry mix recipe that is more important than eggs and milk a staple at our house:

3 cups dry nonfat milk
1.5 cups sugar
3/4 cup Hersheys Cocoa
1 cup powdered creamer
Salt (I don't measure this, but I pour maybe a dime sized amount on my hand twice)

When I'm feeling adventurous, or simply have the stuff on hand, I add mini chocolate chips, or M&M minis, for a added punch of chocolate. 

3. Netflix on Wii

On my snow days I realized just how FABULOUS a netflix instant queue actually is. The fact that all 11 seasons of my favorite TV show are available at any time just made me overjoyed during my period of cabin fever. 

4. Vera Bradley Spring Colors

Have you seen the new Spring colors from Vera Bradley? They just scream happiness and instantly make me smile. I picked up this ereader cover a couple of weeks ago and keep it in my purse. Just brightens my day! 

5. PTI Forum

This may be a recurring favorite thing every month. I love the friends I've made there and the overwhelming support available. These ladies (and Ted) have an unbelievable way of restoring my faith in people when things just aren't going my way. 

Thanks for stopping by!