Our festive weekend, a few days late!

It's totally normal to blog about your weekend by the middle of the work week, right? Okay good. Because that's absolutely what's happening here today. Caleb and I have been staying up too late tweaking our website and its so so so close to being complete, I can hardly stand it!

Last weekend was amazing. So much fun with friends and family! Friday evening was Caleb's company party.  The first half of it was a little bit of a hot mess (we're talking loud emcees annoyingly screaming over a mic for 2 and a half hours trying to be funny while simultaneously performing a "murder mystery dinner" for 500+ people...yikes!), but once dinner ended a few hours later, we had a really great time!

Saturday morning was my family holiday baking day! 3 years ago we decided to start this, and I love that the tradition has carried on! My sister in law, Erin, always comes too! My grandma looks at her like another grandchild, and my aunt looks at her like a friend. I love that I have so many awesome women in my lives! We got started in the morning and stayed in her kitchen for HOURS baking up the most delicious treats.

yay for salted caramel mocha fudge and sisters!

After I fell into a sugar coma, I got ready for MY company holiday party! Caleb and I always look forward to it every year because the food is seriously incredible and the atmosphere is pretty fancy, which isn't our "normal".

Caleb always struggles with the flash ;) but he's still cute.

Sunday was fast paced; full of church, a family photo shoot, a Bengals win and then ANOTHER HOLIDAY PARTY! The photography company Caleb and I worked for (and still do somewhat, we have some weddings through next Fall still) had us and everyone else over for a quaint get together. Their house is adorable. I took some photos, but of course, haven't uploaded them yet - but that's life! All that matters is we're so incredibly blessed to call Joe and Amanda friends and are so thankful for the opportunities we've been given through them. We love you guys!

I hope everyone has had a great week, and happy hump day!

The Next Chapter Begins {Erin's Baby Shower}

The day finally arrived! My MIL and I met up to prep all the food, decorations, and pack our cars just in time to head to our venue and set up for Erin's baby shower! We've been working together on the details of this shower for a few months now so we were very excited the day was finally here!

The small room we had rented was so beautiful. Exposed brick, wooden beams, white paint - basically Joanna Gaines dream (Erin's mom even said-so! Hehe). The room was filled with SO much love for Erin and sweet baby M! Like Erin said, the amount of gifts/love/prayers for them that day was nearly overwhelming, in such an amazing way!

Our theme (you already know if you read this post) was "Storybook". I had lots of ideas before I landed on this theme, but none of them felt just right, and this one couldn't have been more perfect. I'm more than thrilled with how everything turned out. Most of our details had to do with books! Even the food!

We kept the games simple. One multiple choice sheet (storybook themed, of course), one "pass the book" type game (where each table had a winner - they got to take home the floral centerpieces), and one where Erin simply picked a name from a mason jar. Lots of winners, but super simple so we could all have a little fun then get straight to baby gifts!!

This gift literally kept going, and kept going, and kept going! So fun!!

Over the years Erin has grown close to some of the ladies in MY family, so she wanted them invited! It was so sweet!

I can't thank Erin enough for allowing me to be such a big part of this new journey they are on - but I'm so happy about to be around for it. I just know that becoming an Aunt is going to change my life, and I can hardly wait any longer!!! Baby M, you are already so loved!

FRI-YAY!

Oh Friday, we finally made it. I'll be so thankful when that clock hits 4:30 and can head home! I've got my "annual review" at work today, and I'm so not a fan of these things. I'm just one of those people that always prepares for the worst, for no real reason, even when I've done a great job. So I'll be thankful when that's over!

Leaving work this evening also means its the beginning of our STAY-CATION. I have lots of fun planned for next week, and it will be GLORIOUS to just spend an entire week with Caleb, doing whatever our hearts desire. Although we aren't flying to some fancy beach, we're getting pretty lucky in the weather-department. Normally Ohio has freezing temps by November, but not this year We're hitting mid 60's. My body is so confused, but I don't hate it.

...okay so maybe I DO wish we were on a sandy beach ;) but we will just pretend!

Tomorrow is also one of my favorite nights of the holiday season. My companies Christmas party! They serve what I consider to be the best meal of our year (steak, lobster, bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp, family style sides, etc.!), so you could say I'm excited.

woah - throwback to dark hair.

All in all, Caleb and I had a pretty great week! I made the most simple yummy crock pot meal and had so much leftover. If you're looking for something easy and quick, click this! Creamy Ranch Chicken -- the only complaint was I couldn't really taste the ranch, so I believe next time I'll be adding more mix.

We went on quite a few long walks after dinner, marveled at all the gorgeous lights in our neighborhood, and just enjoyed our time together this week. Nothing fancy, but it was just perfect.

I hope you all have a fun weekend ahead of you! Enjoy it :)

The sweetest Sunday!

Oh, the Super Bowl. The famous Sunday that all football fans wait for all year (even when your team doesn't quite make it). The second I found out Katy Perry was performing...my life was pretty much made. It's no secret that I'm a bit obsessed with her. Sure, she's gotten a bit edgier than she was when I saw her live, but she's Katy Perry...she can do whatever she wants.

Anyway. My point is... her halftime show was incredible. I think my favorite part was the dancing sharks, or when she rode a tiger made of Prisms...ugh, she's amazing.

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Other than the awesomeness that is K.P., I'm sad the Seahawks didn't pull out a win, but hey, at the end of the day I'm not too worried. #whodey!! Erin and Jared hosted a super fun party. They always have the cutest decorations, and amazing food! We played Bingo (Erin made those cards herself!), won prizes, and made game score predictions. I love how my family/friends can turn something like a football game into an entire night of fun/games!

Other than a fun Sunday evening, Caleb and I did MORE DIY (and relaxing) this weekend!!! Can't wait to show you what we got ourselves into! Hope you enjoyed your weekend!!

So good for my soul.

This past weekend was so good for my soul. I can't begin to explain the amount of fun we had! Friday evening, Caleb's company threw their annual party and while it was fun, we didn't stay the entire night. We stuck around for the free dinner and won a few prizes (amc + kroger gift card)...then headed to Dave + Busters for the rest of the evening. We truly feel like little kids when we're there, between the ski-ball (I rock!), air hockey and my old school favorite - Galaga - we were in arcade heaven.

Saturday morning was something I'd been looking forward to for a while. I coordinated a little morning of baking with my favorite ladies in my family. We all were supposed to pick a recipe or two, bring the ingredients and have a field day ;) my sweet Aunt opened up her home and we hung out for hours, dancing, singing Christmas songs and just chatting about life, all while trying NOT to eat all the delicious baked goods! I'll let the photos make you drool speak for themselves...

Later that evening Caleb and I were able to get all dolled up for my company Christmas party.

These ladies are my all-time favorite co workers!

Filet mignon, lobster tail and cheesecake, plus a million and a half amazing sides. YES!!

This man is so awesome. Making me laugh all night, ordered himself a tall glass of milk and everything.

Sunday was an amazing message at church! Then we had a few friends over to watch the Bengals absolutely dominate. Finally, a game we didn't have to stress about at all!!! Johnny WHO!? ;) hope you all had a great weekend!!!!

Fun friends, good food.

My weekend started out with a little pizza and fruit... I know, kind of contradictory... but its what my church provided.

Friday night was for all the volunteers to come meet at our old building and learn the dance moves to this years sports camp songs. Sports camp is an AMAZING thing our church puts together for our community... we offer an entire week FREE to kids K-5, to come play fun sports, dance a ton, and mostly... to learn about Jesus.

Oh heeey Caleb, I see you.

After that, I literally went home and fell asleep, since Saturday I'd be doing a WHOLE lot of driving.

Why, you ask?

To watch my best friend GRADUATE COLLEGE! I was so proud of her. I still can't believe I made the nearly 3 hour drive there at 6AM, and was back home by 5PM... but let me tell you, that did me in. I took an accidental 2 hour nap when I got home... woke up to eat, and fell back asleep.

But lets back track... this university is where I spent nearly 2 years of my life... I loved it there. Isn't the chapel beautiful!?

I was so proud of her in this moment! She has been through a LOT in the past 4 years, but has been so blessed in her education and I know she will do great things in her life!

It was really fun being back and seeing a ton of old friends, too!

After this I drove down to Columbus to have lunch with Lynds and her family at a really cute diner...where I enjoyed the most delicious cinnamon bread known to man, some incredible tea, and the waiter finished our meal off by saying at "I'm not sure if you're a mother...but if you are, happy Mother's Day"..... he's lucky I'm not easily offended ;)

Caleb was busy all day Saturday with his best friends (about 12 of them) enjoying his last HOORAH being "single" ;) yes...that's right. It was his bachelor party. I wasn't concerned at all...Caleb is a fantastic guy and so are all of his friends. They went to a Red's game, then to dinner and a bowling alley... but I did get THIS text from his brother (also best friend/best man) around midnight...

It's fake, I promise.

I think Caleb just wanted to get a rise out of me... seeing as in one of his favorite comedies, the dude gets this actually TATTED on his face. Yikes.

Sunday was spent at church in the morning, and then my cousin's last soccer game of his season. Sadly, they lost...but when they are still in the single age digits, they could really care less. It was a blast.

Then we spent the afternoon with my grandparents eating taco's and eating fresh baked cookies. (What wedding diet?!)

Hope everyone had a blast this weekend and a wonderful day celebrating the special women in your lives!