Baby, I Can See Your Halo

Remember these walls I built?

Well, baby they're tumbling down

And they didn't even put up a fight...

After the sadness of yesterday's post, I wanted to give you guys a little bit of news. I'm currently "seeing" someone right now. It's still in it's very early baby stages, but I have a good feeling about this one (if I had a $1 for every time I said this, I'd have a lot of doll hairs). I don't want to tell you guys too much beforehand, but we started talking (thru match.com) a few days before Valentine's Day. When I got his first email I was pleasantly surprised that just by the email alone I could tell he was a genuine and good guy, sounds crazy I know, but here me out. So I decided why not, this guy is good looking and he sent me a thoughtful email, I emailed him back and that started the emails back and forth (even on Valentine's day where he made my day by replying in the early morning saying happy valentines day, it's the little things guys). From the emails we went to the texting phase and eventually phone convos (until 2am mind you, I don't just do that for anyone). So we have been talking everyday since that first email and so far I am liking what I'm learning. He does live in Texas so it would have to be a long distance thing, but I know they work out if both parties are willing to work on it.

So for now, him and I are just getting to know each other, but sometimes I feel like I've known him for years and am talking to an old friend, which in my opinion is a really good thing. He has even tried subtly saying we and our which I may be reading into, but I like the sound of. Just the other night we were texting back and forth until 2:30am talking weddings and babies, and he wasn't even scared about these topics, win! I'm not saying I want to get married next year and have babies, but I want to be able to talk to a guy who has that in his mindset from the beginning. If all does work out and he ends up being the one, I'll gladly move to Texas and out of this cold ass weather, no need to twist my arm!! But I won't jump too far ahead, I will try to keep you guys in the loop of the happenings of this relationship. I will also continue to have my online dating stories, because quite frankly some of them are just too funny not to share so stay tuned for a few more!!

So I'll just leave you with a song that I always find myself listening to when I'm in a lovey dovey mood (which if it isn't obvious is now). You know I love my girl Bey so of course it's a song of hers!

Linking up with Whitney for some #backthatazzup

Heavy Heart

Hey guys. Today is a very hard day in my family because of a loss we endured this time last year. My mom's youngest brother passed away a year ago today. It still breaks my heart when I think about him because he was so incredibly full of life and such a giver. I am writing this with tears rolling down my face because I still get shocked at times realizing that he is really gone.

My uncle was most definitely taken from this Earth too soon. He would have been 55 this coming April and that will be another hard day for us. Even though he lived in Florida, I've been close to him ever since I was born. He was always the fun uncle and the life of any party no matter what. Through all his health struggles he still managed to participate and enjoy my cousins engagement party in 2012. That was the very last time I ever saw my uncle alive and I regret not being able to go and visit him the months leading up to his passing. I almost didn't go to his funeral because I didn't think I would be able to handle everything emotionally, but knew I wanted to be there for my cousins who just lost their father at such a young age. I'm so grateful that I went because through all the tragedy, my family was able to pull together and become closer than ever, which is all he would have wanted. We reminisced about his short, but productive life and all the stories we all had brought happy tears.

The type of man my uncle was says a lot about him because even though he was suffering from horrible kidney failure and going through dialysis multiple times a week, he was still a very active part of his family and community. In our culture, when a bride gets married her mom's brothers walk her down the aisle and it breaks my heart to know that I won't have him there to walk me down the aisle when I do get married.

I know today is a tough day, but I'm so glad I have an amazing family who comes together no matter what to mourn the loss of a beautiful soul. Today will be a day to reflect on his short-lived, yet wonderful life.

rest in paradise angel.

2.27.2013 

Confessions

Because why not?!

So guys, I have to confess to you. I was cleaning my makeup area a few days ago and realized something...

I'm a makeup hoarder!

I seriously have so much makeup it's getting out of hand and I'm running out of space to put it all. Now this little collection I have going on is added to every month thanks to my Ipsy subscription, which I love btw. They give me full size products all the time and I feel like I have to try them all out, but in reality I have a bunch just sitting there still waiting to be opened. Also, when I see a great review on a product on a blog or being advertised, I feel like I need to go and get it asap! Sure my collection loves the new additions, but my wallet hates it!

So I guess admitting that I am a makeup hoarder to you guys is the first step or something like that right?! If you don't believe me, take a look at this craziness.

Lip products, mascaras, and eye shadows galore I tell ya this is my own personal heaven.

So yes, I know it's a bit ridiculous and no like I said, I haven't used everything I own. I don't think I will give up this habit because you never know when you'll need all these products one day, said like a true hoarder I tell ya. 

Linking up with Bella for Confessions!

Recipe: Funfetti Dip

Hey guys! So I love that Emily and now Kate are co-hosting this awesome link up every Tuesday because I want to start, as my mom says, "domesticate" myself. I am not one of those people that can just wing a recipe and have it come out looking amazing, I read the directions 5 times before getting started and make sure that everything is measured accurately. So believe me, when there is a super easy recipe for an awesome dip that only has 3 simple ingredients, I am all for it.

Funfetti Dip

Ingredients:

-3 tbsp funfetti cake mix powder

-2 tbsp yogurt (plain or vanilla)

-1 tbsp whipped cream (or cool whip works)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the cake mix and yogurt until smooth.

2. Gently fold in the whipped cream until well combined.

3. Serve with fruit, graham crackers, or my personal favorite, teddy grahams!

See, I told you this recipe is super easy!! It also tastes like those dunkaroo things I used to eat as a kid, so this hits the nostalgia note every time.

Linking up with Emily & Kate for Tuesday's Recipe Swap and Totally Posted Tuesday with Niki & Karly.

Weekend Recap

Happy It's Monday, yay, said no-one ever. Well this was definitely a doozy of a weekend, mostly because I worked through it all. I guess it sucks, but my wallet sure will appreciate it. So I wanted to do my weekend recap a little bit differently this time, just to try it out. Here are some of the things that went down this weekend.

wowsa, there's my face double time for y'all. Well on Thursday evening my friends and I had a small bridesmaids makeup & hair trial and we quickly turned that into a girl's night in. I asked the makeup girl to show me how I would look for the daytime & evening since I was going to do a change of face for each. She decided to Jekyll & Hyde me up (with my permission of course). In the top image, the right side of my face is the daytime look and the left side is the nighttime look. I am loving both sides of my face and can't wait for the day of getting my full face! With the hair, the bride-to-be wanted us to try out some romantic side updo's. Now I'm not a huge fan of updo's, but I agreed because it's her wedding. Of course we turned to Pinterest for some "pinspiration".

I think she did a pretty great job working with the inspiration that we were looking for. What do you guys think??

I got these beauties (from the Nordstrom shoe sale, thanks Niki for the heads up)! I really wanted the grey suede ones, but I chose these because I had to have these shoes and boy am I glad I went with these!!! They fit like a glove and I cannot wait to wear them out real soon!

Later that evening, my friend and I met up to watch Wolf of Wall Street.  I thought it was such a good movie and so worth the long wait I went through (my friend was traveling in Southeast Asia and wanted me to wait for him to get back before we saw it). I did think it was too long, but that just meant more Leo time!! I highly recommend you watch this if you haven't.

Saturday was spent at work pretty much half of my day, then I came home and took a much needed nap. I woke up to the surprise that my dad had ordered my favorite deep dish pizza from Georgio's!! So. much. sauce!!!

Later that evening (yes I am way more productive at night), I baked and decorated these lovely cupcakes for my coworkers baby shower for the next day. She is obviously having a girl (if all the pink didn't give it away). I made these as a part of the party favors (just put these bad boys in a Chinese take out box that I found at the Targs).

This was my OOTD for the shower. Went for a flowy top, jeans, and boots since it was a gorgeous day. (excuse the unmade bed in the back).

The glowing mama-to-be in the middle with some of our coworkers (bad blogger not pictured because I was playing photog for the day).

Opening gifts and admiring her cake (it was delicious, thanks Costco!)

Cake cake cake!

I had such a blast planning this baby shower for my coworker & friend, she is so sweet and can't wait to finally meet her little bundle of joy in just a few weeks!!

Ended my night in the best possible way with a big bowl of Lucky Charms!

Hope all of you lovers had a fantabulous weekend.

Linking up with Bella & Lisa for Weekend Recap.

And Rachel and Lisa for Weekly Wrap Up.

Taking it wayyyyy back {kinda}

I realize my title today sounds kinda creepy, but I think you guys are bored of seeing the same title pretty much every Friday, so I thought I'd change it up again. Well, this week I've been working on transferring old pictures onto my external hard drive (which only took over a year to finally get to) which meant taking a super long trip down memory lane for me. I tend to forget certain memories, which is why I love to have pictures to help remember those good times. Just because I want to have more today than just a song, I figured I would hit you guys with some nostalgia from me to you (granted some of these times weren't that long ago, but with this winter everything seems so far away).

Meeting some awesome bloggy ladies like Erin & Taylor!!!

So thrilled to have met Erin & Mariel!

Fabulous bloggers in Chicago

Just hanging at the Bean.

Practicing my "model" skills, isn't working out so well for me.

Fun times in Texas, got beer?

My cousin and I planking on the Skydeck of the Sears Tower, this was beyond terrifying!!

My cousin and I just hanging out at the Bean!

Just monkeying around with some zoo animals.

Little sissy and I at the zoo.

At a family friends' bridal shower, holy moly do I look tanned!!

Ala 2007, freshman year of college.

Celebrating my 18th birthday with a huge sombrero, I look like a wittle baby here.

Wow some of those pictures were a serious throwback and I realized I have the most fun in the warmer months so come on Chicago, let's get your shit together already!! How was your trip down my memory lane? Let me leave y'all with a song that always brings me back to a fun time last year at my best friends engagement party. This is such a great summer hit and makes you just want to dance!!!

Danzaaaaaaaaa!!

Linking with Whit for #backthatazzup Friday

Online Dating Stories {2}

Hey friends! So I'm back at it with another email from a wannabe suitor from match.com. If you want to catch up with the first installment of this, read here. Basically, I'm gonna share with you guys these pretty entertaining emails from guys on match. 

So, let's see...this one didn't spell my name wrong, in fact he didn't even address me which is totally fine. The very first thing I see while scanning this email is a TON of questions. I feel like this guy is interviewing me or something. Am I supposed to break down each question for him or something?! Sorry but ain't nobody got time for that.

A little tid bit, he should have probably just started off with his bio and then maybe asked 2-3 questions related to me. Just for fun let's break down the questions here and I'll list how I wish I could have answered this (but I'm a semi nice person and I just ignored his email).

How is my week so far? 

Fan-friggin-tastic I suppose (what's the right way to answer this?!)

Have you had any luck on here?

If I did, would I have been active in the past 24 hours?!

Are you finding many keepers or just creepers?

How many "keepers" am I allowed to find on here?! Is it creepy that you're asking if I've met creepers, I dunno you tell me?!

What are you looking for in a relationship?

Wow, you just jump right in don't ya? Well if you maybe took as much time as you did to compile this email to read my profile, I'd inform you of the type of person I am looking for...

What qualities or traits are you looking for out of a boyfriend?

Wow, again already jumping to the boyfriend wagon? Ballsy. Well, again, if you had read my profile you would know the answer to this...

I know I may sound pretty mean, but these were my serious thoughts. Nothing in this email was specifically personalized to me or my profile, meaning he probably didn't read it at all or just skimmed through that. I'm sorry, I took a lot of time to write my profile out, so instead of just looking through my pictures and jumping to email, check out the profile and my interests first. It's there for a reason. 

Some other things I wanted to point out about his email. He's a "big foodie", but didn't list any fave foods, just that he's a big fan of beer and wine. As much as I would like to believe you can count wine as a food item, that is a beverage sir, hope you have some food with all those beers and wines you're drinking.

Then there's his header Business by day, fun by night. I'm sorry, this is the impression you want going along with your picture? Ya sure, mine isn't that creative, but it's a quote that I absolutely love and I think it describes me, which is technically what the header is supposed to do. If it's not something that describes you, at least make it funny not cheesy and corny. The rest of his profile is just about that bad...if you look at the short bio up in the picture, you can see him comparing himself to a bloody mary...um OK! I didn't know being in a suit meant you were a politician, James Bond, Michael Buble...how about just a guy in a suit??

Ok I think I've bashed on this guy enough for one post...sorry dude.

What are your guys' thoughts, weigh in below!

I'm the kinda girl who...

I'm the kinda girl who...

...dances around the house (like a weirdo) when nobody is home

...hogs the blanket completely (no shame in my game)

...loves getting dressed up, but also prefer the nights in my sweats

...is always in a land of constant wanderlust, I want to always be traveling

...loves my family more than anything in this world

...wants kids one day, but am terrified of what kind of mom I'll  be

...won't admit it publicly, but loves taking selfies, esp when I'm having a good hair/makeup day

...loves to cuddle, but I also need some space when I sleep

...will always try to go above and beyond for the people in my life, even if I stretch myself too thin

...eats when I'm bored

...is not a morning person, but nowadays can't sleep past 8am when "sleeping in"

...has 5 different planners (no joke) and journals scattered everywhere with ideas

...is terrified of the unknowns, I'm a planner through and through

...eats on impulse, if I see something yummy 9 times out of 10, I'll want it (impulse candy is my weakness

Ok, I think I ran out of things to say, but after a few of these, it got me really rolling on ideas of the kind of girl I am. 

Recipe: Easy Pasta Salad

Hey guys. Now I don't usually post recipes on here because I'm not really a good cook where I make anything profound & difficult (unless mac & cheese counts). I do however, have a recipe for a quick and easy pasta salad that I make often. I love that it doesn't take a lot of ingredients and most of them are found in almost every household. I also included some awkward pictures of me cooking the pasta salad for your viewing pleasure.

Ingredients:

1 lb rotini pasta

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing & seasoning mix

1 cup mayonnaise

Directions:

1. Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil (add salt for flavoring).

2. Add in rotini pasta and cook until al dente (usually 11-13 mins).

3. Once pasta is cooked, drain any excess water in a colander and run pasta under cold water for a few minutes (make sure to get all the pasta).

4. In a small mixing bowl, add 1 cup mayo and the entire packet of the Hidden Valley Ranch mix and combine together.

5. Add the mayo mix into the medium pot with the pasta and stir together to get good coverage.

6. Either serve right away or chill in the fridge for later.

I think this is such a quick and easy thing to make and feeds a lot (or serves as leftovers for a few days). This dish always reminds me of summer because this is a nice compliment to any bbq. Hopefully you guys enjoy making this.

I'm linking up with Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis for her brand spankin' new link up, Tuesday's Recipe Swap. So if you have a cool recipe that you love, link up every Tuesday with her!!

Also linking up with Karly & Niki for Totally Posted Tuesday!