happy monday

let's get the whole world to dance. LIKE A BOSS. 

an anniversary

Today marks four years together and what a journey the last four years have been. We've slowly been connecting our lives together and (after long-distance and short-distance) we now share this little home that we are making ours. There's always going to be a few ups and downs but from where we're standing right now, things are looking pretttty great. Happy Anniversary you. Thank you for your continued support, friendship, wisdom and, of course, love. XO. 

PS. our lovely friend Casey snapped a few photos for us to use in our Christmas card! 

up late

image via london dream

It hasn't happened in a long while but J + I had one of those nights where we stayed up late, laid in bed and just had a long conversation. Our intentions were to fall alseep but instead we talked about family, our friends, our goals, new pets, this new home and other things to fill the quietness of the night. The next thing we knew it was five a.m.

(almost) official

image via Pinterest 

I promised that the quietness on the blog was for good! It's (almost) official: e-mails with good news, final pieces of paperwork and a set closing date. J and I have spent a few months hunting and we've finally found a place we're looking forward to calling home. The entire process had it's ups and downs. I won't lie, there was a point where I felt like throwing in the towel -- going back to apartment living, paying rent and moving year to year. But we finally found it. Perfect location, a great size for the two of us + Wiz and an ideal place that we know will become our first home.

With ten days to go, I'll be spending much of my time reading home decor blogs, looking at paint samples and visiting furniture stores to pick out some new pieces. Oh hey home ownership... I cannot wait!

and we're off

photo credit: amanda pham 

it's a big weekend for Drake University (my alma mater). J and I headed to Des Moines last night to celebrate my best friend's birthday and to kick off this delightful weekend. I've had a long list of must-visit places and while I doubt I'll be checking many of them off, I'm looking forward to seeing many of my lovelies! best time of the year! 

happy weekend! 

looksee what i got

i have the best parents in the entire world who surprised me with this new toy. actually, two new toys! so so nice of them. i am so blessed with such a wonderful family. annnnd i am beyond excited to play!

giving thanks

im up early baking & chopping away in the kitchen all in preparation for our family's thanksgiving. it'll be nice this year only having one thanksgiving (boyfriend & his dad are attending ours) and that we can celebrate all together. Mom and I are going a little overboard but what's thanksgiving without the leftovers (smile).

today, I am especially thankful for (in no particular order)

• us + wizzy


• my wonderful family


• warm laundry & fresh bedsheets


• cameras & photographs


• couch covers


• holiday candles


• my des moines lovelies, my best friends


• late night happy hours & 2 hour phone convos


• snow


• our little apartment


• education


• a capella music, christmas music, all music


• football


• pie, cake & cupcakes


• networking & meeting so many intelligent, hard-working & forward thinking people


• cuddling, real kisses & wiz-kisses


• the beautiful city we get to live in (mpls love)


• good health, no cavities & contact lenses


• thunderstorms & pretty clouds


• tall boots & cute flats


• a clean kitchen


• Target


• hairties for wiz to play with


• crab rangoons & pho


• sprawling on the bed (starfish!)


• love, the start of my career & our future

so happy thanksgiving to you & your loved ones.

image via

breakfast in bed...kinda

I think everyone should have breakfast-in-bed. or as boyfriend likes, breakfast-in-bed but really in the living room because the TV is there and we can watch Saturday morning cartoons. Yeah, that's really how it goes.

Breakfast casseroles and I don't get along the best. Something about the soggy bread & sausage combo that never comes out of the oven the right way.  Also the fact that i have to roll out of bed an hour early to turn on the oven, get back into bed, and then roll out again after it's preheated to put the actual casserole in. Boo. But this... this potato & bacon breakfast casserole is a casserole I can get behind. Still involves the early morning roll out but at least it comes out tasty. I omitted the green onions because boyfriend doesn't like those, but I added some chopped onions in the potato mix.

Perfect breakfast-in-the-living-room start to a snowy Saturday.

But to be fair, on Sunday, he gave me a real breakfast in bed. Omelettes, hashbrowns and our little kitty in the sheets with us talking about how we should invest in one of those breakfast/bed trays.

A Quote

I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle.

But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.

Marilyn Monroe