It's ELECTRIC!

So I saw an outfit on Pinterest the other day that totes reminded me of shoes I forgot I had!! Don't you love/hate when that happens?!?! I had these ELECTRIC pumps stored under my bed since we got back from Maui last summer, and they were packed and sealed with other wedding goodies. 

I thought to myself, "SELF! Bust them bad boys out and put em' to use!" And so I did... with my new LC Lauren Conrad Chambray, my birthday watch my Aunty bought me, and my new arm candy from my bestie LC Lauren Conrad's line! I duplicated this Pinterest outfit, and electrified in my "something blue" pumps that I walked down the aisle in!

I've been having an AMAZING birthday week, and it keeps getting better and better!! Let the shopping extravaganza continue!

Do you know what today is??...

(singing)... it's my blogiversary... blogiversary!

Source: herwhitesunrise.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

H A P P Y * B L O G I V E R S A R Y * T O * M E!!

During my first year of blogging, I shared many triumphs and sad times with you all. My journey through life in 2012 was cray cray to the MAX! As the year was unfolding, so many things were happening that I just needed to vent! So that I did... I blogged about my life as it was in the making! But with the help of your support, I....

* Finished my dissertation and earned my PhD

* Married the man of my dreams

* Was a part of my Bestie's lovely wedding

* Had a great time at our Family Reunion

* Started the LLL series (what I loved, learned, and laughed about throughout each week)

I was also introduced to new things by you lovely bloggettes!! I discovered...

* Link-Up's

* Birchbox

* Blog Awards

* Blog Designs

... and much much more! You were all there to encourage me and give some great advice... and for this... I thank you ALL!

This upcoming year, I plan to head in a different direction. Instead of blogging as a lifestyle journal, I wanna be more of a service to my peeps!! I'm gonna blog about things that can benefit others... crafting, fashion, encouragement... things I had planned to do when I first started blogging! Now is the time for me to pay it forward and help you all just as you have all helped me! So, embrace yourselves (and me!) for year 2!

Crafing Goods

Did you know that if you download the Michaels and Jo-Ann apps on your iPhone, you have immediate access to coupons that you can use at the cashier? AND... Did you know you can use both coupons at either store?!?

Since I discovered this during the wedding rush last year, I've paid many more visits to Michaels more than needed! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually think my trips to Michaels have outweighed my trips to Target!!

It doesn't help that they keep adding the most cutest things ever to their dollar bins that is BAM! in front of your face right when you walk into the store! Most of these knick knacks are stationary, mini picture frames, stamps, and everything else you can imagine... things that if you don't see yourself using right away, you can easily store it away in your craft station til the time comes.

In spirit of the new direction I'm heading with this bloggy blog next week (if you missed out, read here about Blogiversary shinnanigans), I snagged some fun cute doo-dads to play around with!

So.... you headed to Michaels?? Because I sho am later on today!

Top FIVE!

TGIF!! I'm so ecstatic it's Friday heyyyyy!!! I just wanna thank you ALL for all your support and kind words you always feed me on my bloggy blog. Each and every comment you leave makes me smile from ear to ear and eases my troubles... and I mean that from the bottom of my heart!!

Of course, I'm linking up with a fave of mine... High Five for Friday with Lauren at From My Grey Desk.

:: one ::

Spent some OH-some QT with family this weekend! And shared our victory of 6-0!!

:: two ::

Love the November issue of this magazine I got this week! Had to support my BFF, and snatch a copy of allure! GORG pictures of her in this one!!

:: three ::

My lovely cohort had an Alliant reunion dinner this week. So sad I wasn't home for that fun night, but SOOOOO happy they FaceTime'd me!!! I got to sit with them at the din din table and say hello to ALL of em!!

:: four ::

Tried a new crock pot recipe this week and enjoyed a fiesta in our mouths!

:: five ::

Hubs isn't traveling to the away game this weekend... and it's the first weekend in a long time we'll be home without family visiting for a home game. LOVE LOVE LOVE my family, but alone time with the hubs just tickles me pink!! We get to act like kids, and eat anything and everything we want!!

OH! And I have a question for you guys... how do you link a post to automatically go under a certain page on your blog?? I can't figure this out for the life of me, and it's killing me!!!

Don't forget to link up with Lauren and share the top five fave things of your week! Happy Friday!

Wedding Bells Were Ringing

Wedding bells were ring a dinging last week! My Bestayyyy got murrrrried to her prince charming, a one of a kind groom, Edgahhhh (aka Edgar). It was S T U N N I N G! They had a burlesque themed wedding which made the night fantab full of feathers and more!

LOVE that they had a photo booth set up for the guests! We went to town taking snap shots!!

I am so pleased and happy that their day went smooth and as planned. It was such an honor to witness these two say their vows and recite their words of love to each other in the house of God. Best wishes to you both my Bestie Best!

Last H54F...

... of September!! How can I ever depart from this lovely link up with Lauren?? TGIF! I'm happy because of course it's Friday, but sad that it's our last Friday of September!! Dear time... don't go by so fast!!!

For now, let's focus on the happy feelings of Friday, shall we? Beginning of the weekend... a day away from our game against U of A... which means a parlayyyyy heyyyyyy!! Of course, I'm linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk today... because it's F R I D A Y!! Counting down my top five fave moments of my week, here's a High Five for Friday!

:: one ::

Treated myself to this awesome possom album No Doubt released Tuesday! I will always be a fan of their music!! Love the new songs... think my fave might be Sparkle... or One More Summer... or all!!

:: two ::

My friends (aka my doggies) and I have been enjoying some mighty fine weather lately which makes our runs quite bliss.

:: three ::

I made my first batch of stuffed bell peppers for din din, and they came out DELISH (validated by my hubs)!! 

:: four ::

Had some fun putting together and sending out a care package for my younger cousin who just moved away from home for college... if you missed that post, read up on it here!

:: five ::

We are counting down until my Bestie Best gets murrrried!!! Just DAYS away from being a Mrs., and I couldn't be more excited for her!!

Isn't this the most gorg picture you've seen of a proposal?!?! In Cabo... by total surprise!!

Don't forget to link up for a High Five for Friday with Lauren!! Happy weekend my lovies!

Bathroom Makeovers

Good Tuesday Morning!! The sun is shining, which is making my morning just splendid! We had a scare yesterday and Sunday... the sun was gone, and it even drizzled! WOMP!! But today is a new day, and it's shining brighter than ever! Hip hip HOOORAYYY!!

One of the benefits of getting married (besides sharing the rest of your life with the man of your dreams), is getting some new goodies!! And we are still getting some of those goods, thanks to our amazing family and friends!!

It's one thing to be showered with gifts, but it's another to actually be in the mood to cleaning, re-organizing, and all that fun-ness goin' on! SO, I finally was in the mood last night (you can't let the time fool you... when you're in the mood, you're IN THE MOOD!).

I wanna share my bathroom makeovers! Starting off with my FAVE restroom in the master bedroom. Why is this my fave? THE RUFFLED CURTAIN MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT! My Step-Mom got us this adorbs curtain and matching towels from Pottery Barn... the Disneyland of home goods!

This collage of snapshots are in the guest bathroom, including our new Nautica bath rugs, and my FAVE towels ever from Bed, Bath, and Beyond!!! We actually got more towels than we can display at once, but the more the merrier!!

We even had an audience last night, patiently waiting for attention on our bed. Marley was sprawled out on the entire bed (along with laundry), so Moana (choc lab below) chose to lounge on our pillows! Funny doggie!

Have you made over anything in your house lately? Any new pieces that inspired you to totally give a room a makeover? Please do share!

Top Five and a Wedding Reveal!

TGIF Baby!! I hope you all have smiles on your face as I do at this moment simply because it's FRIDAY HEYYYYY!!!

Once again, I'll be linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for a High Five for Friday! And this one is juicy!! I told you yesterday that I had some beans to spill about a special moment on our ceremony day, which I am sooo giving you the deets below (number five)! Let's begin our count down of the five most fave things of my week, shall we??

:: one ::

My family was here for the weekend and oh what a blissful one it was!! We hiked each day they were here (Fri, Sat, and Sun) and on a different trail each day!! The photos came out stunning!! Check em out on Instagram (@SnapBevSnap)! Anyhoots, they came down for a close family friend's wedding, which was stunning!! Total country wedding and gorgeous couple they make!!

:: two ::

Check out this weather forecast for this weekend... yes... that means we'll be at the river with the doggies soaking up this heat!!

:: three ::

I attempted to make cupcake meatloaf... inspired by Pinterest, of course. I saw a fellow bloggette posted her recipe, which finally inspired me to try em out! Besides my husband didn't want spaghetti and I had to use the turkey ground beef!! WARNING...Picture doesn't do justice as to how they tasted!

:: four :: 

A week from NOW, I'll be home getting hyped for our family reunion, and I - C A N T - W A I T!!!

:: five ::

The hubs and I wrote our own vows... and long story short, the Reverend almost forgot to let me say my own vows, even after repeating after his vows. Seriously, if it wasn't for me whispering as I turned away from the audience to get my ring from my MOH, "Excuse me... I NEED to say my own vows..." he wouldn't have remembered that I had my own words for this guy I was marrying!! So he announced that the floor was all mine... and I began to read from my index cards (you honestly don't think I would memorize each precious word I wanted to tell him... even after NUMEROUS amounts of rehearsals reading my vows to my gooorls!!). SO what I want to share with you all is that...

I TOTES INCORPORATED LOVE, LEARN, AND LAUGH INTO MY VOWS TO MY HUSBAND. I promised to love him (and some...), I promised to learn with him (and some...), and I promised to laugh with him... sometimes at him (true story). This blog is a part of my life, and I really came up with the title based off of some of my lowest lows, through my highest highs.. if that makes sense? Anyhoots, I thought of you all while I wrote them, and how much it really means to me literally to love, learn, and laugh in life!