Friday Favorites!

This week has been jam packed and last night was the first time Caleb and I really got to just "be". It felt amazing. We made a healthy dinner, we watched the latest This Is Us, and we unplugged and just talked for about an hour. It was awesome. Unplugging from the world, not even knowing what time it is, is kind of my new favorite thing.

Speaking of favorite things... lets take a look at my week so far;

Favorite Meal: (although it wasn't healthy) By far it was the Chicken Alfredo Bake I made for my family on Monday! Tonight we're making another healthy, simple sheet pan dinner but it's perfect because it can also double as our lunch for tomorrow! Leftovers rock.

Favorite Read: I'm still knee deep in Wild At Heart and it's been really great so far. Next up, finishing The Magnolia Story! I started it and then got so busy and I seem to do that a lot!

Favorite Funny: This is killing me. How true?!? "Are you dying"

Favorite victory: resisting the birthday cupcakes in the kitchen at work and sticking to my ever-exciting cheese stick instead. #smallvictories

Favorite post: (not that I found out from her blog, but...) My SIL/BIL announced their big move yesterday on her blog and we're still so stinking excited for them!! They've worked so hard and this new house is going to be incredible!

Favorite quote: DO IT SCARED. This is something that God put on my heart this week, and wouldn't you know it? This also popped up in my newsfeed this week AND was quoted at our young adult meeting by one of the girls... I hear ya loud and clear, God! ;)

Favorite person: okay so I just threw this in there so I could have a reason to put his face in my post...I'm so thankful for this stud! He's so good to me!

I hope everyone has lots of fun planned for their weekend! ENJOY!
Linking up with Amanda today!

Things I'm Loving {Volume 5}

Random posts are my favorite. Months ago I wrote a post called "Things I'm Loving", and it consists of any thing I've seen/bought/heard about that I've liked (most recent here). It's always been well received and I figured with all the holidays, its as good a time as any for an update on some recent thing I'm loving!

-The progress we've made on our portfolio/website. Caleb and I have been working tirelessly on all things business and re-editing some older photos to be more consistent with how we want our brand represented. I wrote down 6 or 7 words that I wanted people to feel/describe as they looked through our portfolio and basically everyone I asked yesterday hit the nail on the head with their descriptions - which lets me know we're doing a good job. Here's a sneak peek of our portfolio.

-This tried and true sheet pan dinner. It's on a weekly rotation in our household because it's so inexpensive, so easy, and so so tasty!

-French vanilla coffee when I get next to no sleep. Caleb and I really need a new mattress, but we're trying to put it off until we start house hunting next year! But seriously, I can't seem to get comfortable enough to fall asleep anymore!

-Our itty bitty Christmas tree. It's just a thin, 6 foot tree, but we love it so much! I asked Caleb the other day if he thinks we'll ever get a real one, and we both just weren't sure. I grew up getting real Christmas trees, and always loved the smell, but man it was a lot of work to keep clean!

-Our ornaments. We don't have a TON, but I love going to new places and collecting new ornaments. I basically get Caleb a new ornament or two every year, and last year I got him this Olaf one so we finally had that to put on our tree. This year, I gifted him one early, and it was hand made by my friend Kaitlin! It reminded us of the Bengals (despite how terrible they are doing this year, we still love them).

-Snapchat and its new filters every day. It's been like two years and I still can't get enough.

-Unblemish. No, I don't sell it and no I don't get paid to say this. This stuff has changed my life. I still break out, as a 25 year old, and it sucks. So a few months ago I re ordered this stuff I used a few years ago and now I'm wondering why I ever stopped in the first place. I've legitimately never left my house without at least a little concealer on, and guys I left the house the other day with ZERO MAKE UP ON. Because my skin feels SMOOTH and clear for once! I'm so happy. Worth every penny.

-How beautiful our world is. Sure, we live in some dark times; with attacks, wild fires, and shootings, but to see everyone come together after a tragedy is always so moving.

-Shopping small. Being a part of a local group of creatives has been so much fun! I've met a lot of new ladies and its cool to bounce ideas off of people who get it! I bought this print from a local gal, Jen, and she's the sweetest! I used to have to convince myself of this all the time when I'd be running for what seemed like forever "you can do this, Kayla!!"...so it only seemed fitting!

-This precious video of a bear who won't let go of the hero who saved him from the TN fire this week. Seriously, my heart is melting.

-Free square prints from Parabo Press for first time users using the code: "FIRST"! I'm excited about this, especially with Christmas right around the corner!

-How well one of my fantasy teams is doing this year. I held the #1 spot up until this week! Now if only I can win once we get to the playoffs!

I hope everyone has a great week. Go ahead and tell me below ONE THING you are loving, lately! Thanks!

Things I'm Loving {Volume 4}

See my first few here, here and here! I love the randomness that these kind of posts bring...and I always love sharing them! Whether it be an interesting article, a new snack I found, a friends blog post, or anything, really! So here we go with...things I'm loving...

-This awesome work/life balance planner Erin and Jared snagged me for my birthday. I love that it looks at the whole picture of your week (mentally/spiritually/physically). It helps me lay out our meals for the week, and has a small goal section at the bottom. I like to hang it on the fridge! You know I'm in love!

-My sweet friend Ashley's EXCITING news on expecting their 4th babe!!

-Stumble Upon. I spent way too many late nights in college gawking at random links and now I'm addicted again. Whoops!

-This weather today. Mid 70's ALL DAY LONG. Hallelujah!

-This budgeting site by Dave Ramsey's crew. This is similar to Mint.com, for those of you who have used that! I haven't looked too much into the differences between this site and Mint, but I'm basically a fan of anything Dave does!

-That in less than two months, we'll be on vacation. Seriously, can it just be late October already?! My family has been looking forward to this for what seems like years!

-Loft gift cards...that can be used on a sale...to get lots of awesome stuff.

-This article about 11 foods that can help you sleep better! Lord knows I need it! I have the hardest time falling asleep at night.

-My family. My mom is coming into town (her time in TX has come to an end) tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited to squeeze her!

-My journal. There's just something therapeutic about putting pen to paper. I love this blog of mine, especially for all that I've been able to document over the years, but really nothing beats an uninterrupted hour of writing whatever is on your heart while you're curled up under a blanket.

-Shooting weddings with my man...and finding photos like these while culling.

this was from one of our first weddings in 2013!

-Bengals games! #Whodey!! I know its still preseason (seriously NFL get with it - the pre-season should be a tad shorter, too many injuries!!!), but I get to go to the game tonight with an old friend and I'm so excited! I haven't seen her in so long so it'll be great to catch up and hopefully see some good plays!

-Disney's SALE today! Go go go!

-These running stickers my SIL designed for their etsy shop!

-Hitting the gym more often with my man. We're trying to keep it consistent by going 3x/week to get back into our old routine. I'm also ready to up my game by waking up a bit earlier to do some cardio! Wedding weight, here I come!

What about you? What are a few things you're loving lately? Have a great Thursday!

Friday Favorites || YAY

Friday is here! Although we have a long wedding day ahead of us tomorrow, it should be a fun bunch of people to work with! I'm mainly focused on Sunday though, I'm VERY ready to celebrate my favorite Erin and her sweet baby at the shower!

I love the Friday favorites link up with Amanda, and reading all about other bloggers favorite things is so fun, too! I always find some of the best recipes through this random linkup!

Favorite Song || Don't Let Me Down by Chainsmokers and Daya. I seriously cannot get enough.

Favorite Purchase || My haircut. Does that count as a purchase?! Ha! I think spending a couple hours with your hairstylist, gabbing about life and relaxing while getting pampered is totally worth the money. I told her to take about an inch off to "clean it up" and didn't realize how short that would make my already short hair, but I have to say, I'm really happy with it! It's a fun length to work with! Plus, any excuse to whip out the macbook photo booth is fine in my book.

Favorite News || Amazon Prime has extended their services to SAME DAY DELIVERY for certain zip codes here in Cincinnati!! Although our home zip code isn't included just yet, I think this is pretty cool. Hopefully one day soon ours will be?! Not sure when/what I'd need it for, but its cool the option is out there!

Favorite Quote || Lysa Terkeurst is AMAZING. I'm diving into her book "The Best Yes", and its rockin' my world. This is everything. Saying yes for YOU (and not the world) is the most important thing you can do for yourself, sometimes.

Favorite Meal || Bacon cheddar burger patties. SO good!!

Favorite Moment || Watching my little cousin get his black belt. I will NEVER forget his smile when they announced him and handed him that belt. So proud of this little guy!

I hope everyone has a fun weekend. Our will be a busy one, indeed, but I'm excited! Any fun plans for you?

Things I'm Loving!

One of my favorite things about blogging is getting to read all about what you guys are up to, and hear about all the random things you're loving/doing/making/seeing! So I thought I'd take time today to share some of my favorite finds/photos/links/etc.!

-If you didn't know, I'm obsessed with pineapples. Not only the actual fruit, but the color of them, when they are printed on stuff, etc.! It just so happens pineapples are kind of trendy right now, and when Jenn posted about the cutest tassel shorts in the world, I had to at least entertain the idea of purchasing them. Well, turns out they were insanely affordable with free shipping! When Caleb saw me get all googley-heart eyed over them, he talked me into buying them, which was pretty awesome because usually if its not something I can purchase on Amazon, I don't get it.

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-This article about running, seriously makes me want to leave work and lace up! Also kind of makes me wish I had something more scenic to run through than our subdivision filled with stray cats, ha!

-I am trying to find some nice prints for some of the bare walls in our home. Walt Whitman has some pretty great quotes and Etsy does a great job of providing affordable prints! I'm obsessed with this one!

-Bet you can't watch this video without smiling. Laughter is contagious, friends!

-Anyone else love dancing shows?! So You Think You Can Dance has always been my absolutely fave!!! I'm anxious to see how this season goes, since it with kids this year!

-I'm dying over this amazing French Toast Bake and am hoping I can make it really soon! Breakfast is basically my favorite meal so if you have a yummy, unique recipe, send it my way!

-Pretty sure I NEED THESE. They are silicon mats that you can use for SO MANY THINGS in the kitchen. You need a mat for your hot plate? Done. Need a better grip on that jar? Done. Need oven mits? You got 'em!

-This picture my friend shared on FB. Just made me smile. Hope it makes you smile, too! Try using a few of these today!

Puppies. Because, well, puppies.

-Do you have a "my panera" card? IF SO. They've loaded a free bagel a DAY in April!!!! Get there!

-Everyone loves printing photos, right? Well! If you click here you'll get 25 free prints from Artifact Uprising. I LOVE their square prints - they are so sturdy - and you can't beat free!

This post was insanely random, but that's usually how I like to do things. Hope you got something useful form this post, or that you at least found another reason to smile today. IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY! :)

Friday favorites + when your husband wins $76.

This week has been a little crazy at work...I'm covering for two people who are on vacation + my day-to-day responsibilities...so to say I'm ecstatic its Friday is a bit of an understatement. Excited to be linking up with this cutie today!

Favorite moments? We hadn't seen one of our favorite little girls (and their parents, of course) in MONTHS. We never go that long, and I was so afraid little Nora wouldn't treat us the same (maybe she'd forget how much she'd always loved us?!)...but the second we pulled into the driveway? Girlfriend ran outside and squeezed us harder than ever. We missed our Nora! & seeing my husband like this isn't a bad sight ;)

That spec under Caleb's eye? He accidentally got hit in the face with a rock last week.... #whoops

She "made my hair beautiful"!

Favorite recipe? Can't wait to make these, hopefully next week. Baked parmesan-zucchini! YUM!

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Favorite surprise? When Caleb called me and said he won like $76 from catching a 40.5 lb fish the week before. #ourbudgetsaysthankyou

Favorite song? As IF I had to tell you 2x just this week? This!

Favorite meal? The free ribs I got at work Monday! YUM!

Favorite blog post? This one from miss Emily. I just love her!

Favorite funnies;

Glad its not just me!

& one more, because it made me entirely too happy!

Favorite people? Funny you ask. I get to hang out with them tonight...and I couldn't be more excited!

excuse the paleness, it was probably dead of winter last time we made a music video ;)

Favorite realization. (does this count?) its my BIRTHDAY next weekend!! The 9th, you can go ahead and mark your calendar....I'll wait ;)

Happy weekending!

September FAVES!

Ahh, yet another month has come and gone. Just. Like. That.

I mean honestly, this has been the fastest year of my LIFE.

Now before October begins, I want to look back on what made this month so awesome!

-Sophie. Sophie. Sophie.

If you didn't read earlier in the month...my grandparents got a dog. So, that basically means I reap every benefit of having a pup but not having to do any of the hard work (hiii nanny)!! She is the sweetest thing, and just loves to play! I can't wait to see her again!!

-CHANGING MY LAST NAAAAME.

Yep, that is right ya'll! This gal took time out of her never-ending busy schedule to finally take her husband's last name. I couldn't be more excited!

-Wedding food. YUM.

-Getting my hair chopped off. It's even shorter than it looks in this shot. I'm loving it!

-Rice Krispie Chicken.

-Finally making a healthy lifestyle change, and for real this time. I may not be the fastest...that is for certain... BUT, I'm getting better and its not even been a week. I'm determined to keep my mind straight and eat foods that are good for me!

-Reading my Bible more.

-Taking the time to pack my lunches

-This past weekend. Aside from the Bengals losing...to the stinking gross Browns... it was great. I spent time with lots of awesome people, danced like crazy, and whipped out my camera. It was amazing

-Blog friendships. I am lucky to have made quite a few great friendships through this little blog of mine. A couple in particular that will text me when they need some prayer and encouragement, or just to let them know its OKAY to have that fifth slice of cake when the day just isn't going your way.

You know who you are :)

See you, August!

Ahhh sweet, sweet August. You came and went so fast. You know, you are my favorite month of the year.

It's my birthday... the month Caleb proposed, the month we celebrate our dating anniversary, and its the start of a wonderful football season... oh, and it also means FALL is right around the corner.

So, what were some of my favorite parts of August?

Oh you know...turning 22 (I have yet to blog about that!) Caleb took me to the new casino downtown for a fun night of stuffing my face (see picture below this one) and winning some cash!

Eating way more crab legs than an average human probably should. No shame.

Taking a new favorite picture of my HUSBAND and I!

Getting birthday presents!

Yellow earrings from link-up host Ashley herself!

Monogram necklace from miss Anna!

& hilarious "I shoot people" necklace, from the sweeeeet sweet Alexaaa!

Thanks also to Robin, Amanda and Ashley for the cutest birthday cards, EVA! (wow- almost all of their names started with A!)

Seriously, can I wear them all at once!?

Receiving this candle from my soulmate, Erin!

Shooting more in August, like the cutest gender reveal party on the planet.

Getting my picture taken in front of my fav place EVAAA. Seriously, the chicken has to be coated with drugs. I can't stop eating them!

& last but definitely not least... one of my favorite families I got to photograph earlier this month.

I hope you've all had the BEST August ever.

Looking forward to the last few months of this year, with lots of football...and lots more pictures.

Stay happy, friends!

Flavey faves!

I'm crazy tired, I'll just say that real quick. Caleb and I have been SO busy this week with our church's sports camp (post to come on that next week!), every night after work. It stormed pretty bad Wednesday night so it was cancelled, but I did get a chance to go to Sweet Frog (frozen yogurt!) with our youth group... and it did NOT disappoint. Sooo many yummy flavors to choose from.

Speaking of amazing things... time for June's Favorite Things!! Kbuuutseriously, how is it almost July already?!!? June had a lot to live up too...you know, seeing as May was the best month ever. Although I do have to say, LOTS of fun happened in June. Like... 1. Our honeymoon! We were there for the end of May to the beginning of June. Woo!

2. Finding this ahhh-mazing mascara.  3. Finding out this girl is moving a bazillion times closer to Cincy! Still not exactly next door, but definitely closer than the sunshine state! 4. Being a huge part of Sports Camp with my church. I had to get hoisted onto this giant trailer (like 20+ feet in the air) and take some fun pics...so while I was up there I thought, why not a shameless selfie?! 

5. This sunset from last night.

6.Winning a blog giveaway AND a mini iPad last month. Seriously, I want to buy a lotto ticket. 7. This book. I'll be talking about our debt story later next week, and also what we're doing to pay off thousands of dollars as quickly as possible.   8. Being married. That counts, right? It's amazing, I tell ya. Linking up today with my girl Ashley...cannot wait for my weekend to get started. Have a good one!!