Date Night in a Jar

I got this idea on Life in the Green House.

Start with big popsicle sticks in three different colors of your choice. I used red, pink and white. Each color will represent a different spending range of dates.

The first color have more expensive dates on them that require planning.

     Here are some ideas:

• Bed and Breakfast
• Dinner at a fancy restaurant
• Hotel stay for the night
• Steelers game
• Concert and dinner (his choice)
• Concert and dinner (my choice)
• Groupon or LivingSocial escape
• Couples Massage 
• Shopping Trip (we love shopping together)

The second color have at-home dates.

     Some ideas:

• Chopped Challenge (like the television show on FoodNetwork)
• Fondue and Almost Famous
• Takeout and board games
• 1,000 piece puzzle and pizza
• Football game and nachos
• Popcorn (or candy if you are sugar fans) and her choice movie
• Crosswords and breakfast for dinner
• Make a dessert together
• Friends marathon
• Homemade pizzas and and his choice movie

The third color has dates to do away from home but are less expensive and don't require much planning.

     Some ideas:

• Dinner and a movie (my choice dinner his choice movie or vice versa)
• Laser tag and go carts
• Mexican night
• Drive-In date
• Dessert only date
• Window shopping for the house
• Bowling
• The Melting Pot
• Coffee Date

Make a key so you know what you're reaching for.

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The Perfect Trench

The search for my perfect trench is over! Today must be my lucky day, because I am finding items that I have been seeking for what seems like forever! 

I have been looking for a fitted khaki colored trench coat that is not too long and not too short, and today I found one for $128 at Victoria's Secret. I am extremely picky about details when it comes to clothes, and pretty much everything else now that I think about it, but this one is absolutely PERFECT!


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Coffee Cake in a Cup

I found this awesome article from Prudent Baby... I must try soon!

How to Make Five Minute Microwave Coffee Cake in a Coffee Cup

Ingredients:

2 Tb Butter

2 Tb Sugar

1/2 Egg

2 Tb Sour Cream

Vanilla

1/4 c Flour (2 Tb extra for Crumb Topping)

1/9 tsp Baking Powder

1 Tb Brown Sugar

1 tsp Cinnamon

Well, first you’ll need a cup. If you want it to puff up over the top of the cup, use a small one. Or if you want to dig into the cup, use a big one. It matters not.

Add a tablespoon of butter.

Soften it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Don’t melt, just soften.

Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar until it’s fluffy and creamy, maybe 30 seconds.

Now you can add some egg. you don’t have to, but without egg it’s more crumbly and less cake-y. You can do a whole egg, but I like to break the egg into a ramekin and stir it up, then split it between two cups of coffee cake, or just use half for one coffee cake. But really, play it by ear. Try it out and see what tastes best to you.

Then stir in 2 tablespoons of sour cream and a few drops of vanilla. We’re talking droplets here, don’t add too much.

Stir in 1/4 cup of flour and 1/8 teaspoon baking powder.

If you want some crumb topping (you know you do), in a separate ramekin or bowl add 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Smoosh it together with your fingers for a few.

Now back to your cup. Your ingredients are all mixed up, so…

Add the crumb topping mixture to the cup…

Then microwave it. Start with 1 minute, then do 10 seconds more until it’s done to your liking. For my microwave, a minute 20 seconds does it perfectly.

It will be REALLY HOT when you take it out of the microwave.

Let it cool down for a few seconds, then dig in.

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I Found Oxfords!

I have been looking for cute oxfords for over a year now and I have not found ones that were particularly interesting or worth buying... until now!!

These ones from Nordstrom are only $60 and they are possibly the cutest shoes I have ever laid my eyes on! I had a hard time finding oxfords that were not too manly and that would be good for the summer. I love the color of these and I like that they were lower cut, and of course the bow is to die for!

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Top 5 Items for Summer

So, I know summer is not quite even close to being here, yet. But spring is! And the items you buy for spring, you want to be able to carry them into summer! I searched my Pinterest and came up with the top 5 items you need for your Spring/Summer closet...


1. A Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses are extremely versatile and can be thrown on so quick when you are running out the door. I found this one for about $70 at Victoria's Secret. You want to get one that is a basic color that can be worn with different colored jackets or cardigans and lots of accessories!

2. White Pants

White pants are super cute for summer and look really good with bright colored tops. This pair I found at Macy's for only $39! I personally am drawn toward skinny or legging jeans for this style because they are more flattering on me, but any style will do.

3. Something off-the-shoulder

You're gonna want to show off your newly tanned skin with an off-the-shoulder shirt or tee. This one is again from Victoria's Secret (can you tell I like that store?) for about $30.


4. Bright Shorts

Bright shorts are a great trend for this summer. These ones from Express ($60) are adorable and come in a lot of colors. 


5. Romper

Rompers are super cute for this summer. They can be dressed up or down with playful accessories or blazers. This one is from Lulu's for $74. I would go for one that is a solid color, so you can mix and match with colorful accessories.


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Valentine's Date

Hey everyone! I wanted to share my date outfit with you (and a little bit of the date!) because the whole evening was great!

This is my incredible boyfriend Nathan! Isn't he cute?

The details in this dress were really pretty and feminine! 

It's from Ann Taylor Loft.

I created this hairstyle!

Earrings to go along...

Of course some pretty pink nail polish!

He got me two roses, one for each Valentine's Day we've been together. Super sweet. He wrote in the card that he plans to someday give me 50 ♥♥♥

Here I am at the end of the night, happy as a clam and so in love! God has blessed me so much! Happy Valentine's Week everyone!

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Vanilla Olive Oil Scrub

I found this recipe for a vanilla brown sugar body scrub on Pinterest a while ago and it seemed to be one of the more popular recipes. I wanted to try it out to see if it was as good as it sounded.

The only ingredients you need are:

Brown Sugar

White Sugar

Olive Oil

Vanilla

First, find the jar you will use to store this scrub, then measure out equal parts brown sugar and white sugar so that it will fill the jar completely. While mason jars look the cutest if you are giving this mixture as a gift, they are not the most functional for reaching your hand in. I used this VersaGlass jar made by Ziploc (these are new and so functional! I love them!)

Mix the two sugars well in a large mixing bowl, and once you're done, pour the mixture back into the jar. Next, you are ready for the olive oil. You want to pour it and let it bubble down to the bottom. You can mix it with a spoon if you're impatient... You basically use enough so that the sugar is moist, but not drenched. Then, just add as much vanilla as you deem necessary for the desired scent. The smell of the olive oil will be extremely overpowering at this stage, but don't fret! When you actually use it in the shower your skin will be left smelling only like vanilla, and will feel softer than ever before!

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What to Wear: Ballet-Inspired

So, I got a request yesterday for a "ballet-inpired" What to Wear article, so I scoured my Pinterest boards and came up with my Top Six wardrobe pieces...

Of course, when you think ballet, you think pink. However, this is not always the case. Mix and match colors, but stick with neutrals or pastels. Chiffon is a definite go-to when you want your outfit to have a dancer vibe. And of course, you must have the hair to go along with it...

This is a modern twist on the ballerina bun
Just braid your ponytail and twist it up into a bun!

And throw in some accessories, too while you're at it!

This is actually my ring I found at Charming Charlie!

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