Sunday Social: Valentine’s Day

Love this idea of a Sunday Social {one day late} 🙂

1. Best Valentines Day you’ve ever had: On Thursday I was actually thinking back on Valentine’s Days of the past and I’ve had some pretty fun/funny days for the past few years. In 2006 and 2007 I went out to eat with college friends then went out on the town. One year we ate at Pizza Hut Buffet, which was pretty funny. In 2008 I went to see Flogging Molly with some friends.

In 2009 I attended a fraternity formal with my then boyfriend in Nashville. 2010-2012 were spent with a long distance boyfriend, so we celebrated when we were together. This year was one of my favorite celebrations, spending time with my girlfriends.

2. Worst Valentines Day you’ve ever had: I can’t think of a horrible one…I’ve always just had fun with friends or relaxed solo.

3. What did you do for Valentines this year? This year I hosted a soiree at my house. We had appetizers, chocolate martinis and Sex and the City on the TV. My older neighbor came over, along with 12 of my single girlfriends and we had a great time. It was so nice to be surrounded by some of my favorite women, enjoying each other and laughing.

4. Best Valentines Idea if you’re single: Spend time with friends or have a relaxing day by yourself.

5. Favorite Valentines Candy? Gobstopper hearts

6. Favorite Valentines Memory from your childhood: We used to get ‘candy grams’ in gradeschool that friends could purchase for each other through student council. My dad also used to always get us Lifesaver Valentine’s ‘books’ too and would leave them on the kitchen table the morning of Valentine’s Day.

Too Busy Being Fabulous

I haven’t posted in a while – and I’m sure my six followers are pretty upset. But, I do want to be better about blogging in 2013 because I do truly love it as a creative outlet and a way to document my life. Like Don Henley once sang, I’ve been just too busy being fabulous…

Going to Keeneland with my work crew…

Practicing acts of kindness – switching shoes with Chenelle at Keeneland when she got uncomfortable and needed a rest from heels…

Watching one of my best friends tie the knot… and bringing a fabulous plus one that I literally couldn’t find at one point – turns out he was talking to the priest at the table over {gotta love a man that can hold his own}

Wedding date was my friend Bridgette’s {beautiful girl on the left} brother Kyle. His visit started a week long binge of partying after his flight was delayed for days due to the the hurricane in New York. The picture below was taken at Longworths in Mt. Adams on a Friday day bar crawl. {Why not}.

Enjoyed two house guests, one of my dearest high school friends, Andy and his girlfriend, JoAnna came in town for our friend Seth’s wedding. It was a perfect way to end the year of weddings – a great mix of high school and college friends. {That hippy with the long hair is Andy}. 🙂

Seth with Nicole {my date} and I. Seth and I actually dated in high school, and broke up our freshman year of college while I was roommates with Nicole. It was only fitting for her to be my ‘hot date’ to my ‘ex boyfriend’s’ wedding. I am really lucky we were able to stay friends and it was such a fun wedding/reunion.

Ready or not, it was holiday time and thanksgiving was a busy weekend of friends and family per usual!

My cute grandparents…and their life motto below.

I enjoyed friend time celebrating my friend Nicole’s baby shower.

After thanksgiving, Christmas season was upon us with all of its festivities, parties & unavoidable ‘party pounds’. I think I was invited to literally 5 cookie parties this year. I have five pounds to prove it.

I hosted the 4th Annual Cookie Exchange with the Schmidt side.

This year we also donated to a pet shelter that is near to our hearts, Gallatin County Shelter. It was truly awesome how much we brought to these animals who can use everything we brought!

We had our annual family Christmas date to the Pops Orchestra concert early December. Amy Grant performed this year and easily gave one of the best shows I’ve ever seen! We loved her. Download ‘if these walls could speak’ immediately, if not sooner. We walked through Washington Park and had a drink after the show. It was a nice way to kick off the Christmas season.

Mt. Adams had their annual Reindog Parade and I walked with my work crew and loved all the cuties dressed up!

Majority of that weekend was spent in a Christmas hat. Just like the holidays should be. Molly and Danny hosted an ugly sweater Christmas party and Joey won best dressed {I’m sure because of the hat I let him borrow}.

Just can’t help but throw in a random cat picture of Charli.

I learned how to tie a bowtie at the Mt. Adams bar and grill. I’m sure this will serve me greatly in life.

Road trip time in mid December with Tracy to see Dave Matthews Band in Charlottesville, Virginia – where the band was formed, so obviously we were pretty excited. I got lucky to be her guest for two free nights of hotel and tickets to both nights of the Lumineers and DMB. We met the Lumineers, partied like {and with} rockstars and had an amazing time. There are few things greater in life than to enjoy time with your friends on long drives.

Kristen and I got to go to see Tim McGraw at Great American Christmas party {compliments of my pregnant – at the time – friend Jessica – thank you, J!}

‘We’re with the claims department’

Went to celebrate Bridgette’s birthday downtown and got a quick holiday picture by the tree.

Had triplet day at work to celebrate the last day before Christmas break!

And then I {really} celebrated Christmas break!

Said farewell to two friends moving to Colorado!

Sarah had her annual holiday party! A blast as usual!

Annual Kathman/Schmidt Christmas dinner!

Sweet Cousins!

Most creative and thoughtful gift award goes to Aunt Mary…

Not a white Christmas, but the days that followed were…

Then plenty of snow at grandparents house…

2012 ended with a bang at a neon party at my friend Emily’s lake house, where I looked a tad neon, definitely nerdy.

Some of my favorites moments of 2012…UK Championship, Charleston beach weekend with the girls, Kristen’s bachelorette/wedding & parents 30th anniversary surprise party. Cheers to a new year!

XO,
L

Saturday Morning Musings

Back to the blogging world this weekend! Just wanted to say hi on a nice hangover free Saturday morning…I point out the hangover free because the past two Saturdays I’ve felt my Friday night shenanigans. So I grounded myself last night and spent quality time with two of my favorite cousins and a few drinks. Off to enjoy Saturday, update to come later on what’s been happening in my world…

Saturday Morning Musings

Oops…Its been a while since my last post. I’ll give an update on the past few weeks soon, but for now here is my Saturday morning.

Fresh Flowers

New Real Simple

Fall Candle

Off to a baby shower today for my Jessica today & then time with Rocco tonight!

XOXO,
L

What I’m Loving Wednesday: Blog Edition

Link over with Jamie to see what she is loving today.

Today I’m feeling inspired by some of my favorite blogs – both old {I’ve been tuning in for years} and new {just found & love!}. My love of blog reading started approximately three years ago. I was in an outside sales job and I worked solo all day long, calling on grocery stores and learning to love books on tape during my long drives. I would tune into blogs during breaks in the day and soon became addicted to checking certain ones {almost} daily. Here are some of my favorite reads {in no particular order}. Check them out, they are fabulous!

1. Abby @ Babbling Abby: My sweet neighbor – and sorority sister- Blogs about her cute family, thrifty clothing finds and DIY.
2. Caroline @ Simply Smithwick: Love her posts about concerts, weight loss/motivation, adoption process {my cousins are going through the same thing}.
3. Natasha @ Hello! Happiness: Love her blog design, positive attitude & all of her wedding posts from last year & now baby updates!
4. Kelly @ Fitting Back In: Like #3, Kelly was one of my first finds. Love her motivation for workouts and new recipes!
5. Jenn @ Happily Ever Faster: She is just awesome. Helped me with my blog header and recommendations when I visited Nashville for my sister’s bachelorette in August. We would so be friends IRL.
6. Nicole @ La Mia Vita: She is living abroad. And who doesn’t love that???
7. John & Sherry @ Young House Love: Obsessed with their DIY blog. I read others, but this is the one I check out most. I’ve successfully gotten a few friends and family members hooked on YHL.
8. Allison @ Confessions of a Twenty Something: Another one of my first blog loves, also a sorority sister and her blog is adorable. Love her updates on life, love and just in general!
9. Gina @ SkinnyTaste: Recipes, recipes & more recipes! AND Christy from The Girl Who Ate Everything!
10: Rhiannon @ Hey! Gorgeous: Her events blog. Her style. Obsessed.

I’ll make a separate page of all on my blog roll, but for now, Happy Reading!

XO,
L

October Birchbox

Does birchbox know I love getting my monthly treats on Mondays? Because I do.

Last night I came home to this treat and the November Real Simple. Love.

Here is what was inside BB this month:

1. Luna Bar – Lemon Zest – I love anything lemon.

2. Orofluido Elixir – hair serum that was described as a vanilla amber scent. Sold.

3. Miracle Skin Transformer – all-in-one primer, face tint, finish.

4. DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer – I have to be careful with heavy moisturizers on my skin, but I’ll try it.

5. Chantecaille Gloss – love the soft pink color!

XO,

L

Monday Confessions…

– I confess that although I went to bed at 9:30 last night, I still struggled getting up today. #strugglemondays
– I confess I wore my shirt inside out to work today – and didn’t notice until lunch.
– I confess I ate in the car with my coworkers to take a break from the office.
– I confess I took a half day on Friday, because I needed to pack for the weekend. And make my appetizers for our tailgate. And just because I love ‘secret days’.
– I confess that although it is bittersweet for the wedding season to be coming to a close, it’s a little more sweet. I need to play major catch up on finances.
– I confess it was really hard for me to complete my challenge of my small group at Crossroads this week {joined a 6 week small group with Ashley and Bridgette}. I was supposed to spend three hours of doing something unproductive. I watched TV and blogged yesterday afternoon – does that count?
– I confess that when my aunt sent me an email that said ‘threesomes-great pics’ – my first thought wasn’t that the pictures were of trios of cute animals.
– I confess that Stephanie and I ate half a pizza on Saturday night and brought our drinks from the hotel bar into the restaurant.
– I confess I took this picture after a few drinks on Saturday.

Happy Monday!

XO,
L

WIR: The Color Run, Parties Galore & A Very Happy 30th Anniversary Party

I’ll use my top ten list I emailed my friends on Monday to update…

1. Spent last week getting ready for my crazy weekend. I love pre-planning. Lots of errands and got to cuddle with baby Eliza on Thursday night while Stephanie was babysitting. I miss Rocco! He’s already changing from pics I see.

2. Friday night had dinner at Chick Fil A with Chenelle and Ali before
a coworkers’ housewarming. Realized I needed more fake and real plants
in my home. And I’d love a chalkboard wall.

We also went to a friend’s Pure Romance party. And that is all the details I’ll give away there. 😉

3. Saturday ran {and walked} The Color Run 5k with a team from work. It was a blast. Essentially the point here is to wear as much white as possible and you get covered in colored corn starch. I did snow angels in the dust. It was so much fun!

4. Later that afternoon I had a wedding reception/party for my friend Katie. It was at her mom’s house in a barn that is strictly for entertaining. It was really cute.

Congrats Katie and Brandon!

5. Then we had a big surprise party for a friend that is moving to St. Louis, first meeting up downtown, then on a bus to Mt. Adams! We will miss you, Bassey!

6. Listened to a lifetime movie live that night at the Blind Lemon when I met up with Rich, Bridgette and Molly. Molly and I were enjoying it for the first twenty minutes, then I just felt sad for this girl.

7. Got up Sunday and got ready for my parents surprise 30th anniversary dinner at my house…made chili in the crockpot. Love the crockpot.

8. Sunday afternoon I attended a shower for Tracy!

9. Surprise party for the 30th went without a hitch! They thought they were coming over for a dinner with Tim, Kristen and I, then we invited eight of their best couple friends over for a surprise dinner!

https://vimeo.com/51212186 {surprise!}

Dad and Ed

We had tons of food, they fed each other wedding cake and we did a champagne toast. Enjoyed spending the night with my family and wonderful friends that are practically family. Went to bed feeling very blessed that night!

10. The Monday after the most productive thing that happened was that I made it to the gym. Towards the end of the class I looked at my mom and said, ‘I’m over this’…sums up the day.

{flowers for the desk}

XO,

L

Saturday Morning Musings: Keeneland

Channing made it to Keeneland!

Things I wish I could tell you

‘I hope there’s a million stars above you,
And everything you need, I hope it finds you.
Every breath you breathe, hope it comes easy…
I hope it’s easy.’

– Ron Pope –

I can say the door is closed, but it won’t totally be until it is. You know? Meeting new people doesn’t close it. Neither does keeping busy. It won’t be shut until it is. There is no timeframe for it.

I finally understand what you meant when you said you needed time to wake up on the way to work and didn’t want to talk on the phone the whole way there and home. I have a 30 minute commute and sometimes still feel like I am half asleep when I get to work. I love to jam to my music in the morning and I know you did too. I didn’t understand, but now I do.

On that same note, you finally don’t rule the 7:37 AM and 5:38 PM time slot anymore. I know its weird to remember numbers, but typically that is when you called in the morning and at night on the way home. In the first few months post breakup, I would get a sick feeling in my stomach when I saw those times. If I’m being honest, I sometimes still get a tightness in my chest.

I also fought hard not to take time apart. Or any space for that matter. Within two weeks, I knew I needed it too. As far as I can tell {damn you, social media!} we are both spending more time with friends, family and relaxing. And doing the things we needed to do in order to feel balanced. We needed that.

Random things make me miss you. Do you miss me? At my party on Sunday I missed you. You were always so helpful when I had people over. You thought I was a crazy person running around like I do, but you always calmed me down and jumped in to help.

I miss your friendship. I hope we can be friends someday.

Remember that thing you used to do that I always got angry about? Its really not that bad, and actually, can be fun. You know what I’m talking about.

Why are we obsessed with the word ‘well’??? The past ten times we’ve come into contact, the awkward ‘I hope things are well with you’ always creeps in. It has become our ‘go to’ phrase.

I always had dreams about you when we were dating that you were lost and I couldn’t find you. I think it was my anxiety about us and the uncertainty of our future sneaking in. Many times it would be me trying to call you and I couldn’t get a hold of you or hear you. Last night I had one of those dreams.

Aren’t breakups ridiculous? It’s crazy that the person that once was your best friend becomes a stranger.

I’m back to my old self, anxiety free. I hope you are too.

Thanks for the memories. I hope you are well.

XO,

L