Coffee Love & Wedding Stuff

Sorry it's been almost a week since I've posted but wedding stuff has momentarily taken over. I actually wrote this post a few days ago but am just now getting around to it. I know, I know. I'll try harder I promise!

Saturday morning I had to do some cleaning up after all my furbabies. They are so good at making messes and not cleaning them up. My super awesome fiancé ran out and got me some coffee to get my energy flowing and then he headed off to breakfast without me. Nice. Okay, the only reason I wasn’t invited is because it was more like a meeting with his buds to finalize bachelor party plans. I wouldn’t have wanted to go anyway!

Sunday afternoon I went to a wedding shower for a friend who is getting married 2 weeks before me.  It was chilly in the morning running errands but by noon it felt like a beautiful Spring day. Always a themed gift giver, Kristina and I went in on the perfect present for coffee lovers.

I can’t believe that my first shower is next Sunday! When Chris and I set our date is seemed so far away, like it might not ever come. But now that we are in the home stretch it still isn’t quite sinking it how close we are.

We’ve been planning for the big day for about 10 months now and I have learned so much along the way. The biggest thing I would say to other brides to be is to have your wedding the way you see it. That might sound obvious to most people but once you get into planning you realize that everyone is going to have an opinion and it can be very easy to feel pressured or be to persuaded. Remember the wedding is about you and the person you are marrying but you also can’t forget about your guests. Keeping the details authentic to your relationship and personalities is important but you do have to keep the big picture in mind.

I was doing something at work once and I couldn’t understand why we were still using a process that was created almost 10 years ago when I could think of so many ways to improve it now. When I brought it up no one seemed to know why we had never made any changes. It was just the way it was always done so we stuck with it. Just because something worked for someone else, somewhere else or 2 years ago doesn’t mean you have to do it. Traditions often times are continued simply for the sake of saying they were done.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against tradition. But if you aren’t a traditional person, don’t go that route for your wedding just because that’s the way your family expects it. Like I said, guests need to be considered, but major decisions shouldn’t be based on their wishes, only yours.

As we get closer to our wedding I will love sharing some of our details and why we chose them. I am sure almost nothing is completely original, even though we might think so, or that it will be the best wedding anyone has ever been to. But I can absolutely say we’ve stayed true to ourselves and tried very hard to consider our guests and our wedding will showcase that. We’ve got nothing against a classic black tie affair, a modern vintage look, rustic elegance or city chic, but they just aren’t very “us”. So if you stay tuned I will talk about our Polished Casual wedding theme and how we plan to pull it off.

In the meantime, here are some always adorable (if I do say so myself) snaps of the furry munchkins.

Spring Style 2015

If you live in my area this is old news to you but if not, here’s the recap. Earlier this week the temperature warmed up to 54 degrees. And then it rained. And rained and rained and rained. And washed the snow away. But then the temperature dropped and Wednesday night we got all the snow back. This morning it was 0 degrees. So to Winter I say okay it’s been real with the snow and all but please melt away now because we are ready for Spring!

I’ve been spending my free time (actual free time that does not include dog walking, working out or cleaning) finalizing wedding details so I haven’t been up on the new warm weather duds. But last night I decided to go ahead and peek at some of my favorite sites and check out the loot. Not only would I like to add a few pieces to my Spring/Summer wardrobe, but a girl’s gotta have some honeymoon style. And of course I didn’t forget the pampered pups.

Starting tomorrow the forecast is showing temps in the 40s and 50s so we are crossing our fingers (and paws) that those predications come true. Spring might not officially start for another couple weeks but we are hoping to will it to at least feel like Spring while we patiently (or not so much) wait. These are a few items I’m loving for the Mama and the boys.

RuffWear Swamp Cooler Vest

Cincinnati Reds Mesh Dog Bandana

Silly Buddy Gingham Bow Tie Collar

AEO Floral Printed Legging

J. Crew Factory Triangle Bikini Top in Sailor Stripe

J. Crew Factory Triangle Bikini Bottom in Sailor Stripe

Old Navy Faux Leather Capri Sandals

Armoniia Straw Fedora Hat

Target Aviator Sunglasses - Rose Gold

The Mint Julep Boutique Free for All Maxi

I’ve heard about the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Vest before but it just seemed so counteractive to put something on the dogs when it’s hot out. So I did some research that turned up great reviews and because we already own and love Ruffwear products, it is definitely on list to try out. We are also all about cute bandanas, especially ones that support our teams, and how adorable is the bowtie collar from Silly Buddy?!
I’m totally a leggings lover and when I saw these floral print ones from American Eagle I literally squealed. I’m already dreaming up the endless outfit possibilities. Remember how I said I love navy and white stripes? Could this J. Crew bikini scream my name any louder? I think not. Flip flops are a must to show off those piggies with pretty Spring pastel polish and it’s hard to beat Old Navy for these. I’ve wanted a fedora for a while now but the problem is my teeny tiny child sized pea head. Thanks mom. Women’s hats are usually too big but even though the kid sizes often fit, I find them to look too childish. This one is exactly what I’ve been searching for. Of course sunglasses are the classic sunny Spring or Summer day accessory. Aviators seem work well with my face shape and don’t give me bug eyes and I love the rose gold color of these from Target. Maxi dresses have become a staple in many a girl’s wardrobe these days. They are cute, comfy, flattering on everybody and can easily be dressed up or worn casual so basically it’s a no brainer. The colors in this one from The Mint Julep Boutique are so fun!


What’s on your warm weather wish list?

Sleepy Sunday 3-01-15: Coffee Beans & Bean Boots

Our walking route follows a busy main road and you locals often wave or honk when you see us out while you’re driving. 95% of the time I will not wave back. And it’s not because I’m being rude, ignoring you or just a self-absorbed a-hole. It’s because I’m not paying attention. It might even appear that I’m looking right at you as you try to get my attention to no avail. But I’m not. I am usually very focused on making sure the dog or dogs I’m walking are staying where they are supposed to or completely lost in my own thoughts of what to eat for dinner, what to wear tomorrow or planning the weekend. Most recently I am far too busy trying to navigate the snow mountains and icy patches to worry about who is driving down the street. So I am sorry if you’ve waved or honked and have received no response or if you do in the future. This is completely the cliché case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. I just really felt the need to put that out there. So now that we have that covered, here’s a little recap of our always too short weekend.

 Saturday morning Chris finally sold his old Jeep but it took quite a while to do all the paperwork down at the courthouse. We stopped over at my parents’ house to go over some wedding details in the afternoon and get some honeymoon planning advice. I can’t believe it’s less than 3 months away! That evening we went out for dinner for my friend Lindsey’s birthday and I splurged on a beergarita. It took me forever to finish it but it was delicious! Good thing Chris was driving though because my goodness it was strong.

 Sunday morning there was a beautiful snowfall and my friend Kristina picked me up to go to the cutest little coffee shop. My Winterberry Mocha was delicious and so was my homemade raspberry jam and granola treat. We also picked up some goodies to gift a friend and chatted about the randomness of our lives these days.

 

L.L. Bean Boots are probably old news to a lot of you, and probably why mine have been on back order forever, but they finally came in and I was so excited to wear them. I wanted to be comfy and cozy for our snowy morning coffee date so I paired them with my chilly weather favorites: fleece leggings, a tunic sweater, my military jacket and plaid scarf. What a great way to start the day.

Women's Bean Boots / Cuddl Duds Fleece Leggings / Plaid Scarf / Tunic Top
Military Jacket (Fossil, last season)

 Chris and I did stuff around the house and some honeymoon planning in the afternoon and evening and caught up on our shows in between. I tried out a new healthy treat that turned out soooo good! Chris ate almost half of it he liked it so much. 

 Chocolate PB Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

·       3 cups old fashioned oats

·       1 ½ cups brown sugar

·       5 cups almond milk (I used chocolate but you can use any flavor)

·       1 cup peanut butter

·       3 eggs, beaten

·       1 cup raisins

·       1 tbsp chia seeds

·       1 tbsp flax seeds

·       1 cup dark chocolate chips

Add the oats, brown sugar, milk, peanut butter and eggs to a large pan and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove the thickened mixture from heat and stir in the raisins and seeds. Pour it into a 9x13 pan and add the chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes and enjoy!

 The furbabies were all about Sleepy Sunday so they took full advantage, as usual. Ares often uses Chaos as his personal pillow pet, but he doesn’t seem to mind. Ares can walk on him, stand on him or even squish his face, but he will let noting ruin his Sunday couch time. At least poor Chaos got a break when Ares went to snuggle with his daddy.

 We are looking forward to the warmer, sunny weather this weekend is supposed to bring. Right now this week is looking like it’s going to be a roller coaster of craziness with temps in the 50s and then diving back down to the 20s and rain and snow mixed in. But that’s NKY for you.

 Have a great week!

Winter Walks

I’m going to get up on my soapbox today because it’s really important. In Northern Kentucky we get all kinds of weather. And there often is no real pattern to it. It’s the winter season and within this month we’ve had sunny, 50+ degree days and then we’ve had windy, frigid cold -5 degree days and several inches of snow mixed in there too. It’s obvious for us humans to dress appropriately because we are constantly out in it running to work and the gym and to pick up the kids. But don’t forget about your furry family members.

Many breeds of dogs come naturally well equipped for cold weather. If you have a husky you know this first hand because you watch your pup light up at the sight of snow and prance around with his big fur coat while you stand there with chattering teeth waiting to get back inside. But not all dogs are made to live in a cold climate. If you have a dog with short hair and no undercoat, you need to be cognizant of the fact that she can and will get cold. Just because dogs have fur doesn’t mean they aren’t affected by dropping temperatures.

Probably a lot of people are just keeping their pups inside and only sending them out for quick potty breaks. But if you are still braving the elements to take walks like us, there are precautions to be taken with short, thin furred dogs. Make sure to have a nice warm weatherproof coat. We love our Ruffwear K-9 Overcoats because they are thick and durable but incredibly easy to get on and off and not at all restrictive of movement. They are a little pricey but you can find discounts on baxterboo.com and if your pup is full grown this coat should last a long time so it’s a wise investment. Sometimes coats just aren’t enough so you can layer a hoodie underneath. I’ve talked several times about our obsession with Zack & Zoey hoodies you can find on both Baxter Boo and Amazon for excellent prices. We also have snoods for our dogs, which are basically just dog scarves. I ordered one for each dog from Sirius Republic via Etsy and they are wonderful. They are made with double lined fleece so they are super soft and warm and water repellent. Finally, you might need boots. And that goes for dogs even with nice fluffy winter coats. It’s not so much their feet getting cold as it is them taking a beating. The snow and ice can be rough on tender paw pads and salted streets and sidewalks can quickly turn ugly if the little grains get stuck up in between paws. Can you imagine walking around with salt rubbing in between your toes? I purchased these on super sale last year and they fit very true to size. The only caveat is that they are a bit of a pain to put on and you have to wrap the Velcro super tight to get them to stay on. Oh and Ares only likes to wear them on his back paws because he’s a weirdo.

The first time I put the boots on Ares and Chaos they walked like they didn’t know how. We were just inside trying to get them familiar with wearing them and it was quite a funny sight. But what was even more interesting was as soon as we got outside they walked completely normally. And then eventually Ares managed to get his front boots off and refused to put them back on. The boots have the added bonus of keeping your dogs’ paws clean and dry so they aren’t tracking icky slush from the streets inside and they are washable. If you do a lot of walking outside in the winter like we do, these boots will probably serve you well if you can get your dog to agree to wear them. Treats also go a lot way with new gear (especially turkey dogs!).

Now with all that being said, be wary of furry little con artists. Out on a walk this week I realized that I had been duped but good by a certain Boston Terrier but I’m not surprised I fell for his trick. This is how is went down. We are out and all of a sudden Ares stops in his tracks, starts limping on his front paw and crying in front of a building at NKU. Keep in mind this dog only likes to wear his boots on his back paws. So I try to look at his paw and he yipes but I can’t see anything wrong with it. He will not walk so I start to get worried something is really wrong. I feel horrible because we’ve been walking through the snow for a week and maybe it’s all my fault and we should have stayed home. I picked him up, all 30 pounds of him, and start walking because what else am I going to do? He completely relaxes in my arms and starts snorting his happy snort which is like a snort/purr. And then the second we get over to the hill he starts squirming to be put down. I try to do it gently, since he’s all hurt and everything, but he springs out of my arms, lands on all 4 paws without so much as a blink and starts bounding through the snow. Then I smack my myself in the head because I realize my dog is a manipulative genius and I’m an idiot for falling for this. The whole sidewalk outside the bank of Kentucky center was covered in salt, all down the walkway and through the parking lot. That’s where Ares “got hurt” and where the salt stopped at the foot of the hill is where he was magically cured. Are you kidding me? This cannot be real life. I guess since we’ve been walking still everyday he figured out where the salt was so he devised a plan to get me to carry him over it. And it totally worked. He was probably snorting to himself the whole time like hahahaha she bought the whole I’m hurt bit and I don’t have to walk my precious paws on the salt. Insert evil snorts here.

Needless to say he’s either wearing all his boots or mama is not carrying his cute little butt no matter what. (okay unless he REALLY does get hurt).

Snowed In

Okay so it’s not really that dramatic. We did get a bunch more snow Friday night into Saturday but we weren’t stuck at home.

Saturday morning Chris and I drove up to meet the officiant for our wedding to go over ceremony details. Chris drove because I get super nervous driving in the snow. We live right near the OH border and it was interesting that the KY roads were much less clear and more difficult to navigate than the OH roads. The Panera we met at was having their parking lot plowed as we arrived. And the meeting went great! We found our officiant through The Knot website and are so happy we went that route. I highly recommend using the Marriage Chaplain service if you are getting married but do not have someone to officiate the ceremony.

We did stay home the rest of Saturday because it continued to snow most of the day. Sometimes it was coming down pretty hard and it looked like a winter wonderland out our back door. We mostly relaxed and watched the snow pile up from inside. I mentioned the dogs aren’t fans of playing outside while it’s actively snowing and they stuck to that principle.

Sunday morning it was sunny and the snow had stopped. It felt downright tropical when the temperature reached 32, even though that’s actually freezing. We took a walk/march and played around on the snow piles. Chaos tends to hide the fact that he’s actually very athletic because he’d rather lay around but he leaping skills were highlighted as he bounded through the drifts. Ares preferred to pose for me. Typical.

We are almost finished Spring cleaning the entire place but I had to empty out the pantry, wipe it all down and reorganize our dry goods. I know this probably doesn’t look all that neat and functional to some of you but it had gotten to be a hot mess before so this is definitely an upgrade.

 Chris and I made our weekly Kroger run in the afternoon and I got all the ingredients for homemade soup. I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking while Chris went to help a friend with some dog training. My soup turned out fantastic if I do say so myself. It’s a modified version of the 10-Spice Vegetable Soup recipe from Oh She Glows. It’s completely vegan and even Chris loves it. Here’s how I made it.

Ingredients

• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 sweet or yellow onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped sweet potato
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 (28-ounce/796-mL) can diced tomatoes, with their juices
• 1-1  1/2 tablespoons Homemade 10-Spice Blend (recipe follows), to taste
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas or other beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup of pearled barley
• 3 cups of water

Homemade Spice Blend (makes 1/2 cup):

• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Add the barley and water to a medium sized bot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
2. While the barley is cooking, in a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Season generously with sea salt.
3. Add the carrots, bell pepper, potato, celery, and diced tomatoes with their juices, the vegetable broth and 1-1.5 tablespoons of 10-spice blend. Stir well to combine . Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Season with salt and black pepper.
4. Add in the partly cooked barley and simmer the soup, uncovered, for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. Season with salt and black pepper.
5. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the drained beans.

We snuggled and watched our shows the rest of the evening. Have I mentioned how much I adore my little family? It’s probably not obvious at all.

Yay for Tuesday and a new episode of Pretty Little Liars!