The Weekend

A quick, crazy weekend. Pizza at Tommy’s with some boys. Work. A new iPhone 5! A MYO 6 pack filled with crazy yum beers. Cheesesteaks.
Crying while finishing my latest read. Coffee, bagels, omelets. The Oscars (the everlasting, forever-long Oscars).

Me with the iPhone 5! I got a white phone, I wanted that color when I originally got my 4. I didn’t need a reason to love the iPhone anymore than I already did, but this beautiful piece of technology did it for me.
A PBR in a frosty glass with my fried Sicilian pizza.
Burrito Deluxe from La Tolteca. So damn good.
My picks for the 6 pack.
Brad and I made a list of things we want to do to help make our lives better. A lot of health and money related goals.
Leopard print nails…I followed this tutorial from CutePolish, and it’s so easy and amazing.
A little bubbly for viewing the Oscars.
A Monday morning bagel, coffee, and Bon Iver. Took the day off (thank God, the Oscars were on until midnight).

I had a nice little weekend. I hope you did too! 

A slice of my life, via the iPhone.

Just some photos of little things in my life, taken with Instagram (@mikeylynn) and Afterglow.

Sleepy pup #1 (Cali).
Snowy trees on a winter morning.
My mom bought me this mirror, which showcases my favorite animal doing my favorite thing…perfect!
Lucky Brand yellow skinnies I bought for $10 and my Minnetonka mocs.
I go nuts for donuts.
Mix ginger beer with white wine, and you have yourself a “Cork Soaker”…according to Cork restaurant anyway.
Hannah: Hapless Hunter Green. Love this color, but the whole Deborah Lippmann GIRLS collection is awesome.
Sleepy pup #2 (Artie).
Several of my Amazon purchases…there are more coming too. I HAVE A PROBLEM. God, I love books.
I am obsessed with this mug I got from Dunkin’ Donuts.

A Sweet Weekend

I have been having a lovely long weekend over here. Today is the third and final day (Presidents’ Day), but it has been wonderful.
Thanks to tax refund season, I’m a bit financially stable at the moment. A BIT. I’m struggling to not want to spend money all the time, but I’m making up for lost time, treating Brad to lunch at Canteen 900, going to the movies with Dana, and buying my friend Catie a couple of tiny birthday presents. And, well, of course, treating myself. The most important thing to me, of course, is saving some and having a nice cushion for a while, so I don’t have to struggle as much paycheck to paycheck. There are still bills to be taken care of, absolutely. So I’m being smart, whilst also being a little goofy and buying books and DVDs I’ve been wanting for a while…

We kicked off Friday with a happy hour at Bar Louie in the casino. I had a couple of Blue Moons and a lot of laughs.
I got my first haircut since May on Saturday morning. I feel like a new woman! I just love shorter hair.
I treated Brad to lunch at the super delicious Canteen 900. I could eat there everyday, seriously. We both enjoyed salted caramel lattes.
Brad looked super handsome, as usual, on our anni-valentines-versary date on Saturday.
A toast to 3(ish) years. Cork Bar and Restaurant has great cocktails. He had The Bond and I had a Blushing Lady champagne cocktail.
A cutie stuffed dog as part of my gift.
Sunday fuel = Toasted Almond coffee and my everything bagel with cream cheese
WE DID IT AGAIN! This time we saw Beautiful Creatures. But we still had our Icees.

Seriously, it’s been an excellent and relaxing weekend. Our anniversary date was lovely. Amazing food at a restaurant I’ve never been to before now. Champagne cocktails. Cuddles all night. And, yes, some Netflix. That’s just how we do. I’m so happy to spend my days with Brad, with all the cool people in my life, and to just enjoy life as it comes. There are a lot of changes that need to be made, but I’m happy.
Why not?

Photos from the Weekend

This picture was taken last Sunday, but we drank this coffee on Saturday. It was my first time drinking an entire cup of black coffee…not sure if that will become a regular occurrence, but it was worth a shot. They use this coffee to make Troegs Java Head.
A cloudy morning drive.
Shiraz for the man, Chardonnay for the lady.
Sunday morning breakfast of hazelnut coffee and an everything bagel with cream cheese.
Finally went ahead to spray and protect my lovely Minnetonka moccasins, a Christmas present from my parents.
My sister’s amazing chicken wing dip for the Super Bowl.

How was your weekend? Mine was so strange. Just in general, weird and unlike the usual weekends I have. Maybe it’s because it was the first time in weeks that I’ve actually had nothing planned. Friday started weird, with my car stalling on my way to work. I was obviously late. Then we were super-swamped with people. I was planning on getting some blood work done on Saturday (and have to fast from food and water for 12 hours) but decided against it so I could enjoy a little date night with Brad. Well, we went to a nice little restaurant not far from Brad’s house and each enjoyed some pasta and a glass of wine. I was automatically stuffed and tired. So I fell asleep at 10:30 PM.
We know how to party on a Friday night.

Now he’s away for the week, and even though I don’t see him 3 of those days anyways, I’m still a bit bummed.
I am hoping to tidy up my room. I already did some laundry. But, let’s be honest…I’m lazy.

Here’s to a great week!

Lunch Break

Canteen 900 can do no wrong in my eyes. It’s truly a gem in NEPA (I’ve mentioned it a few times, most notably after my first time), and I wish I could make it a more regular stop in my life than it is. This past weekend, I spent most of my time nursing a cold. The one outing I did was head to Canteen 900 with my sister, her boyfriend, Brad, and our friends (and adorable couple) Nicole and Ed. It was their first time at Canteen 900, and I’m so glad I was there for it. We all indulged in café mochas, lattes, and teas, delicious salads and sandwiches, and great conversation. It was a lovely afternoon, and I hope to have more like that in the future.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!
And get well soon, to all the sickies out there!

December Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

Not only did this challenge signify the end of a month, it also signified the end of 2012.
I plan on continuing Fat Mum Slim’s photo challenges. At the end of a year, I’ll have 365 photos to be proud of.
It’s not always easy. But that’s why it’s a…duh…CHALLENGE.

Above was the list for the month. Below is my compilation of photos, as per usual.

1. 12/1 was a Saturday, and I worked, so that meant grabbing breakfast on the go at 8 o’ clock.
2. I was completely at peace doing some light Christmas window shopping and getting fresh air on my own.
3. I held my new 2013 planner which, cheesy enough, I’m using to record and log my blog posts (it keeps me inspired, even just for myself).
4. A black and white photo of Artie that I took with my Rebel and posted to Instagram. I love how tiny he looks!
5. Artie looking up at the house, waiting to get back into the warmth after a jaunt around the yard.
6. They released a Monopoly-inspired game based on a city in NEPA, where I live.
7. No stars in the sky, but these pretty lights at a local restaurant were shining like them.
8. If the category is someone you love, you’ll probably be seeing a photo of Brad.
9. Coffee and a car ride, out and about with Brad to attend a little Christmas party at my aunt’s.
10. Artie loves to burrow himself under blankets.
11. A sweet cotton candy colored sunset.
12. This jolly snowman wears a hat and decorates our windowsill inside the house.
13. Lights on the Christmas tree, necessary for a December photo!
14. Mossy ground was my something green.
15. Spotted this frosty grass outdoors.
16. Even though it hasn’t actually become anything yet, this crochet is something I made.
17. My bags are always on the floor at Brad’s. Hate living out of bags.
18. My sister’s homemade wreath, Christmas cookies, a cute Hello Kitty mug present, and a trimmed tree all make me feel merry.
19. Sunshine is something that begins with ‘s’ and it’s also something we haven’t been seeing much lately.
20. It was conveniently snowing all pretty-like when I went to take this picture of the weather.
21. Took a picture of the manger, sans-baby Jesus, under the tree.
22. Love these mini tree decorations my sister has.
23. Joy is food and togetherness with friends and/or family.
24. Wrapping presents and watching holiday movies are a tradition on Christmas Eve.
25. Lunchtime is actually Christmas dinner time.
26. Got to leave work early in this mess…even though it took me about 20 extra minutes to get home.
27. A book, some food, and quiet time by the pretty tree is a way I relax.
28. Ice, snow, strong winds…it was a very cold day.
29. Hot toddies on a snow day.
30. My birthday party was definitely something that made me smile this year.

And the final picture, a self-portrait for day 31, didn’t fit into the little grid so here it is…

Fresh out the shower, towel turban, no makeup.

Can’t wait to share this month with you!

 

OH, and speaking of challenges, I’ve decided to attempt to read 52 books in 52 weeks. I know this might sound a little nuts, but I do read a lot, I already have the next couple months in books planned out (not to mention new ones that will come out and other books I’d like to read by some of my favorite authors along the way), so I feel like I can possibly do it? I’m not going to beat myself up about it, but a book a week is reasonable for me. Besides, I don’t plan on following every rule. Actually, I’m content with reading as many books as possible within the year. There’s no pressure because I’m going to read anyway. If I make it to 52, awesome. If not, I tried. But I figured, some books take me a few days, and others can take me a couple of weeks. Why not give it a shot in my own way?
And also, I haven’t kept an actual log of the books I read in the last year.
I have a Goodreads account, but it’s easy to forget the when and where. This way, I can track my own little private library by writing what I read, when I started it and when I finished it. Sound good? I’ll keep ya posted.

This Weekend

This weekend (and I know I say this a lot but I really mean it this time) went by scary fast. Didn’t I just get out of work on Friday? And now I’m back to the grind. Oy. I haven’t had a massive case of Sunday Night Blues in a while, but it hit me hard. It was a crazy weekend. Brad spent most of Saturday working. He woke up around 7 and I didn’t see him until maybe 2 or 3. I had some nice alone time…sleeping in, coffee and cupcakes, and a walk to the library. But I was lonely. And then I fell asleep for a couple of hours and was totally out of it for the rest of the night. Sunday went just as fast. Brad caught up on sleep (and to be honest, I was still zonked…hope I’m not getting sick!), and then we headed to my aunt/Mam Mam’s for a Christmas gathering, did some Christmas shopping (I’m getting a lot more done than I realize…but there’s still some crafting to do…and by some, I mean all), and watched TV the rest of the night.

Here are some photos from my iPhone.

Can’t get enough of Artie sleeping.
Cute Christmas cookies at the grocery store.
Dorky photo of Brad and I at my aunt’s house.
Oh, Christmas tree.
My favorite snack, again.

November Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

Holy Moly! It’s December, everybody! In just a bit over 20 days, some of us will be celebrating Christmas! The holidays are upon us officially!
To top it off, when the month ends, 2012 goes with it! How crazy is that?
Anyway, it’s time to share my second to last Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day challenge of this year!

Here’s the list:

And here are my photos!
(You can totally see when I purchased and fell in love with the Afterglow app, haha)

1. My night to cook, which is something that starts to C.
2. Plenty of colors in this store-brand Lucky Charms-type cereal.
3. Breakfast of champions at work: Coffee and a string cheese.
4. TV and a snack before bed.
5. 5 o’ clock means I’m finally home from work and I can relax.
6. Hello Kitty is a favorite thing of mine.
7. My reflection x3.
8. Hitting the snooze on my phone is something I do everyday and it can be very problematic.
9. My not-so-small personal pizza at Arena Bar and Grill.
10. I won’t live without laughter, which is something Brad has me doing from the moment I wake up.
11. Night falling as I drive on the Cross Valley Expressway.
12. Coffee is my drink of choice in the morning.
13. The half of the week I spend at home, so that’s where I slept.
14. I watched this man-made building go from a hole in the ground to a beautiful new home over the last several months.
15. These are some of the things I keep in my bag (purse). The book is always changing.
16. The view from my window is a slightly creepy old shack and lots of trees.
17. Flavored coffee creamers were the last thing I bought when I took this photo. Both are tasty!
18. Seeing Breaking Dawn Pt 2 was my happened this weekend photo.
19. The sunsets that occur as winter approaches are something awesome.
20. My feet at work/play. Play on weekdays is just chilling on the computer and chatting with my sister.
21. Little Miss Matched socks are what I wore this day.
22. Very grateful for my family, the holidays, a roof over my head, and the food on the table.
23. Black detail on a sheer orange blouse.
24. When Brad bought his iPad, a sound I heard was him cursing and grunting as he set it up.
25. A pretty sky at Skytop when we went zip lining!
26. Just your basics in the cupboard. Oatmeal, sugar, flour, etc….
27. The roots and trunk of a tree in the neighborhood.
28. My trusty(ish) ‘93 Buick Century, the only vehicle I call mine.
29. My big puffy coat might not be flattering, but it’s so warm and cozy!
30. My mom and I painted these stripes on the wall back during my first winter break from college in 2005/2006.
It’s a great memory of mine and a proud moment for both of us. Still looks good!

Can’t wait to share this month’s with you…which will be in 2013! Wow.

Weekend via Afterglow

How was your weekend? Mine went by so fast! Saturday shifts really shorten everything.
It was still super nice, though.
Brad and I went for pizza, wings, and beer at one of our favorite local spots, Tommy’s. It’s a common Friday night dinner for us.
We also got to celebrate the engagement and housewarming of our friends Tracy and Steve. They have an adorable home with a HUGE, gorgeous basement. I want to hang out at their little bar and chat all night long.
I’m proud to say, despite my low funds, I was able to grab a couple of Christmas presents. I’m making small strides.
Brad and I also spent all Saturday night playing video games and eating snacks. I love our weekends. We have the best sleepovers EVER.
And Sunday, I had way too much coffee and enjoyed a nice chunk of the 7th season of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.
I’m so behind and they finally put it on there!

Here are some Afterglow photos I took this weekend.

Tommy’s Pizza Corner is decked out for the holidays.
This is Tommy’s special fried Sicilian pizza. It’s to die for. Mmmm.
Plenty of food and drinks at Tracy and Steve’s. I enjoyed a delicious cup of hot cocoa spiked with bourbon.
I fell in love with these Penguin Threads editions of classic novels Little Women and Emma. So pretty. Wish I could’ve bought them!
Brad rocking a furry hat at Target.
Cali chillin’ out on the bed. I love the way she was sitting, like she was going to start surfing the web at any moment.
Me, in sweats, comfy and cozy.

Can’t wait for the next weekend already. I don’t want to wish my days away, though.
I’m notorious for doing that. One day, I won’t anymore…

Framed

I talked about the Afterglow app a couple of times in the past. My obsession has only grown stronger.
I love iPhone photography apps, but I have a bunch already (Hipstamatic, Instagram, PictureShow, Camera+, VSCO Cam..) so, if you’re gonna make me want to download your app (especially one that you have to pay for…even if it’s only .99!), you better have something special.

As a big Instagram-er, I started to notice a lot of circular photos popping up on my feed. My sister told me that the app Diptic, which allows you to combine a bunch of pictures together in a variety of frames, also had this option. (Hipstamatic’s limited freepak made for the movie Gangster Squad also has a film that does this) But I kept seeing the hashtag Afterglow, so I couldn’t resist.

It’s such a great app. You can edit all kinds of details. Contrast, brightness, exposure, color, vignettes, light leaks, filters, cropping.
You name it, it’s probably on there.
But they also have the frames. And yes, the circle is probably the most popular, but there are a variety and they keep growing.
I didn’t like it at first, or I wasn’t sure, but now I’m in deep. So I thought I’d share my life lately, seen through Afterglow frames.

1. Circle – A glass of wine, sweats, and comfy slippers, watching Ruby Sparks
2. Curved Square – I like to call this picture “Heartie” because the way Artie’s legs/paws form a heart shape. So cute.
3. Triangle (There’s also an upside down triangle, I settled on this one) – Slouchy socks and booties
4. Diamond – A snack of Pink Lady apple slices and sharp cheddar while watching Moonrise Kingdom
5. Oval – A cute, cuddly miniature poodle named Suzie.

A Weekend Adventure

You see that photo? That’s me, zip lining!
We did it yesterday at the Skytop Lodge, and it was challenging, crazy, thrilling, and one of the best experiences.

I am currently nursing some swollen hands and some achy joints. I didn’t expect to work so many different parts of my body. But it was 
a 3 hour adventure, different courses filled with crazy bridges and ropes and swinging wood planks to get across, culminating with a zip line.
We had to wear harnesses with carabiner clips, and we had to make sure one was always hooked to a line.
I really didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely turned out to be more than that.
Even though I thought I was going to die a couple of times (It wouldn’t have happened, being that I was connected to a wire at all times and would only fall a couple of feet in the air and hang there), and I’m sore, and I haven’t worked out that hard or that much in forever, and it was about 30 degrees, it was a total blast. Something that everyone should experience. I’m a mess when it comes to heights, and I screamed a lot, but it was thrilling and excellent. It’s always good to fight your fears.

Afterwards, we stopped at a cute country store on the way home and ate at Old Country Buffet, which might sound a little gross or weird, but it really hit the spot. All the comfort food you can eat after freezing and working hard? Necessary.

All photos edited with Afterglow.

Did you have a good weekend?
I couldn’t be happier that I asked for the next couple of days off.
It’s been a while since I had a nice mini-vacation, and it’ll be nice to rest my achy joints and bones.

Here’s to a great week!