Snow day!

This is the first Saturday in a long time that it isn't hunting season, we're home, ad I'm not working. We got a few inches of snow last night, so basically today, I'm life like a little kid on a snow day. This is our grown up snow day!

Cold weather survival.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but central PA is officially an ice cube! My phone and car have been telling me it feels like single digit temperatures or the past week. Not cool. Cold? Heck yes. But not cool.

I've been surviving by cooking up some good old fashioned comfort food, bunkering down inside whenever I'm not at work, and layering out the wazoo.

Luckily snow is on it's way! Once the world is pretty and white, the chilly air isn't so unbearable. Stay warm friends and happy weekend!

$8 puffy coat I snagged at Goodwill for extra warmth

Mac and cheese, the ultimate comfort food

My all time favorite cookbook.

At these moments I wish I live in a state where self service didn't exhist

Farkle is our new favorite game

Facts.

Although I'm a day late, I love the idea of this linkup from Whitney at "I Wore Yoga Pants To Work". As a blogger and blog stalker, I would be thoroughly interested in reading random facts about people I don't actually know all day. What strange creatures we are...with that said...

1. I am unapologetically wordy when I write. Too many adjectives, too many compound sentences, I know. However, writing is my vent, so most times, there is just no taming or condensing it.

2. Symmetry of any kind makes me happy. I blame the perfectionist in me.

3. I am obsessed with the sky. Any time of day, any time of year. I have probaby taken thousands of sky, cloud, and sunset pictures in my lifetime. My friends and family give me a hard time for all the comments I make about its beauty and time I spend staring into space.

4. I have an ongoing goal to finish up all chapsticks, lotions, and cosmetics I own before buying more. Somehow I never seem to stick to that. Nevertheless, throwing an empty container of any kind away feels like a weight off my shoulders.

5. I am a thrift store junky. [and proud of it] A majority of my wardrobe was purchased secondhand for mere cents. Nothing is more satisfying than getting a compliment on an outfit, and after being asked where I got it saying "Goodwill." Its like a treasure hunt.

6. I wanted to be a nurse who took care of babies since I was a toddler. Instead of playing house I pretended my dolls were sick in the hospital. Of course I healed them all with my Fisher Price doctor kit.

7. Music and running are my therapy. No better ways to release stress, have alone time, and get in touch with thoughts and emotions in a way that makes me feel better.

8. I have been keeping a journal since 3rd grade. One of my biggest inspirations to begin blogging is my love of documenting my daily thoughts and life.

9. Smell is my favorite and strongest sense. I am a perfume addict, and love the power that scents have to bring back memories and emotion. I have a blessing/curse talent of matching tastes and scents, and remembering where certain smells were from. (ex. I can't eat chocolate mints or mint chololate chip ice cream to this day because I had a sparkly mint chololate chip flavored lotion in 5th grade)

10. I have a bunion. One of my biggest insecurites and annoyances. Hopefully I'll get it removed one day, but until then I will forever cross my feet in barefoot pictures and not buy certain shoes.

11. I am 5' 8" and love heels, but hate being over 6 feet when I wear them.

12. In first and second grade I had a bowl cut. I had glasses from third to seventh grade. I had braces from ninth to tenth grade. Thankful to finally be past all of those awkward phases.

13. I color coordinate my closets and drawers and refuse to let my husband put away laundry. "Neat freak" may be an understatement.

14. I was never out of the country (other than Canada) until my sophomore year in college when I studied abroad in Athens, Greece for a semester. Since then I've had a major travel bug. Mr. and I have big plans to see the world together!

15. As you can tell from the previous fact, I love change and adventure. I thrive in new places and love trying new things. I love the quote that says "20 years from now you will only regret the things you didn't do". I try my best to do something that stretches my comfort zone every day.

16. As much as I love to travel, I am also a big homebody and love the small town I grew up in. I grew up in a Mennonite church and had an Amish farm as my neighbor (no, I'm not Amish and no there is no such thing as an Amish Mafia)

17. I have serious dimple envy of well...anyone with dimples. Hoping our future children get my husbands genes in that area.

18. I ran a marathon my senior year of high school as a goodbye to my 5 year cross country career. Since then I enjoy 'just for fun' running and races. Most recently the Color Run in Philly!

19. My husband and my sister are my best friends. A strong case of independance and caution to trust makes it hard for me to get super close to many people.

20. I am a natural blond(e) but still don't know how to spell the word.

xoxo,

Mrs. Fun Facts

Healthy Treats

Trying to eat healthy in the new year has lead me to become a little Pinterest happy in search of new healthy but tasty recipes. I just have to share two of my recent favorites!

Kale Chips
-1 bag Kale
-2T olive oil
-1T rice vinegar
-1T sesame seeds
-sea salt to taste

Toss kale with oil and vinegar, then spread onto baking sheet. Sprinkle Sesame seeds and sea salt on top. Broil on low until crispy.




No bake energy bites
-1 cup oatmeal
-1/2 cup flax seeds
-1/3 cup honey
-1/2 cup peanut butter
-1/4 cup chocolate chips
-1tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for 30 mins. Roll into balls and freeze on cookie sheet. Grab at any time to curb a sweets craving! They are so filling! I also added vanilla protein powder and crushed pecans. You can also add any extras like coconut, almonds, chia seeds or anything you have in your pantry.

Enjoy!

Morning mood.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me.
From Life's first cry, to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.

Dwelling on these words today. Control in all areas of life is a hard thing to surrender, a personal struggle of mine every day. If only the epiphany that I don't always see the bigger and much better picture would hit me this hard every day.

Best birthday ever.

I have had a lot of great birthdays in my lifetime. But this year tops them all, thanks to my Mister. I turned the big 2-3 on Friday; my first birthday married and away from my childhood home. I had off (thank goodness!) and was told to pack warm clothes for a weekend getaway! Lets be honest, a girl can't possibly pack sufficiently without knowing the destination, so I convinced Mr. to spill the beans. He planned a weekend in Baltimore Inner Harbor!

(this is also where my sister was proposed to and my Dad took my Mom on a surprise 1 year anniversary trip!)

As I was packing and relaxing I received a surprise package at the door, which turned out to be (just as beautiful as they were delicious) chocolate covered strawberries! Mr. just knows the way to my heart and happiness.

We made the trip down Friday night got snuggled into our hotel room and geared up for a day of exploring the city! Today we probably walked 10 or more miles exploring the harbor, the surrounding blocks, shopping, visiting the aquarium, climbing a lookout, and more shopping.

We had dinner at Phillip's Restaurant and happened to be there when the Ravens beat the Broncos. As classy and fancy as the place is, everyone went wild! Even the guys in the kitchen! Can't say I'm the biggest football fan, but it was neat to be in the city in the midst of all the excitement!

Basically, Mr. downright spoiled me this year and I couldn't be more thankful for him. We have always talked about wanting to travel lots and explore together. This was our first trip alone since our honeymoon and it makes me so excited for what the future holds.

I hope everyone had wonderful weekends!

xoxo,
Mrs. 23

Weekend getaway.

This weekend Mr. and I spent some time at his family's cabin with sister and her Mr. Up in the mountain it was a winter wonderland. Such beauty and fun times outdoors. Back to reality til next weekend! (Mr. is planning a birthday getaway...!)

Week 1.

So far, 2013 is off to a wonderful start. In one week we

-joined a gym. (I know, I know just like everyone else who made health related resolutions)

-bought cute new workout clothes to wear to the gym (yes this motivates me more than it should)

-got a haircut. (attached to my length so I just requested a trim to healthily my ends)

Simple accomplishments, yes, but I am more motivated for self improvement than any previous first week of January. I will be 23 (yikes!) this week and with my Mr. by my side we are ready to become our best selves this year! My tips to all of you new year optimists (advice which I will need to be following as well)

1. Find an accountability partner. Goals are a lot easier to achieve when you're not alone in the journey!
2. Take it one day at a time. It's easy to be discouraged when looking at the big picture.
3. Journal your progress. Baby steps can be discouraging along the way, but reflecting back on how far you've come can be the best motivation!
4. Be patient. Big changes that are going to last won't and shouldn't happen over night! (despite what advertisements may claim)
5. Be consistent. Whether its a note on your fridge or mirror or an alarm set on your phone, remind yourself daily of your goals.

“We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.”
― Richard G. Scott

Happy Goal Reaching!
xoxo,
Mrs. Change

Hey there 2013!

2012, were we're good to me. So very good to me. Here's to 2013 and all that is ahead! This year I made some resolutions that Im planning on sticking to...

Happy New Year Everyone! 

xoxo,

Mrs. New Me