Better late than never.

Right?  2013 was a hell of a year for me.  It was a year of injury, heartache, death, sadness, hurt, frustration, worry, and so on.  I knew it would be really difficult to surpass the goodness that was 2012.    As difficult as 2013 was however; there were some definite redeeming aspects.  D continues to surprise and take care of me (and got a pretty great new job that he adores).  I'm exceeding lucky to have him to stand by me and spend my life.  I have a job which I adore and want to stay at for the indefinite future.  We took some pretty great and fun trips.  I did a ton of reading.  It's unfortunate that so often the bad overshadows the good in life.  That's why I sending away 2013 without looking back and bringing in 2014 with my positivity words of health and happiness.

First order of business: this new blog design!  Filed under my happiness category is getting back to blogging.  I've restyled and refocused this year.  I got burned out by emotional difficulties in my life but also by the "business" this space became.  I am here because I love writing, photographing, and living.  I like connecting with readers and other bloggers.  I enjoyed finding commonalities and same loves.  In an effort to love blogging again, I'm eliminated many of the blogs I follow and hope to truly be engaged with those and my own.  I plan to make this a space of happiness and honesty.  Travel and crappy iPhone pictures.  Running and delicious food.  Style and real life.  That's me.

This is where Bobbi comes in to save the day.  I'm beyond happy with this new simple, streamlined design she created for me.  She truly took my vision and made it complete!  Bear with me as we continue to make some tweeks to the home page.  I'm also taking some time to re-work some elements (like a more streamlined coffee stop/travel page) while creating and writing more to fill up this of this little space that I call mine.  Thanks for sticking around friends.

The last California post?

I think it is!  I think it is!

This was probably my favorite leg of the trip!  While we gorged ourselves on food and drinks the night before, our next day was much anticipated.  Unfortunately, we got a much later start than we had hoped for...

My friends, that is a flat tire.  After lots of waiting and D talking to a creepy guy, we finally got on the road.  First stop, In-N-Out!

Yeah, I had one.  And a chocolate milkshake.  I'm still not into burgers (you know, the meat kind), but it was all pretty delicious.  D would say it was totally worth it.  He was smitten.  We hit the road yet again to visit yet another brewery.

[Lost Abbey]

Since this was the last leg of the trip and we had been constantly binging on food and drink, I wasn't feeling the hottest.  Sadly, I didn't indulge like I would have preferred.  No worries, we stopped for some meds before heading over to Stone Brewery for the ultimate (oh and a tour).  If you are interested in craft beer in the least, you have likely heard what a beautiful place Stone has.

 [The inside dining area]

 [Outside dining area]

 [Part of the gardens outside]

We had reservations for a tour and dinner at the brewery.  There was a wait between the tour and dinner, so we settled on getting a beer and sitting in the gardens.  Honestly, the pictures can not even do this place justice.  Anna's pictures actually capture it way better than I ever could!  It's beautiful!  I won't bore you with pictures of our dinner, but I loved it!  Ceviche, beer cheddar soup, amazing salad with bleu cheese, and a kick-ass brownie sundae...all in prep for meeting up with some of my favorite SoCal bloggers!

[Excuse the poor photo...late night and a little buzzed will do it to you.  And not so strangely, I looked so scary in practically every single picture.]

Olivia (+ B) and Kelsey were so fun to hang out with!  We basically closed down the place, but I didn't want to leave!  These ladies are so awesome!  After meeting them and Claire in SF, I'm definitely a believer in blogger meet-ups!  Even D had fun!  This was seriously the perfect ending to our time in the city of SD.  I absolutely can not wait for Olivia & B to make a east coast trip so I can see them again!

The next day, we drove around SD a bit then headed over the bridge to Coronado.

Since apparently we can not eat a substantial meal outside of a brewery or brew pub, we headed over to Coronado Brewing Company.

I enjoyed the food here more than the beer (but remember, all the alcohol might be starting to get to me at this point).  Coronado was literally the best place to end our California road trip.  After lunch, we checked in at our hotel and headed straight to the beach.  We may have gotten a little sunburnt. We may have fought off tons of gnats.  We I may have not even stepped foot in the ocean.  The views in Coronado are just stunning.  The pictures have me aching to get back.

 [Our hotel was seriously gorgeous]

 [After the beach and dinner, we walked around town.  Ending the evening with gelato and a dirty chai latte was perfection]

Then we had to get up entirely to early when staying in a fancy hotel to drive to LAX to go home.  California was honestly way better than I would have expected.  I'm so glad we decided to do this trip...but now I've got my mind set on an international locale next ;)

New blog design = first giveaway!

It's a bit of a hectic week at school: 11 (and a half) student days left and state testing is this week.  State testing and all that follows (um, five hours of "remediation" per test not passed) with my particular population of students is extremely difficult.  Please excuse my absence this week.  While I'm away, enjoy this wonderful news:

If you've clicked out of your Google Reader recently, you may have noticed my amazing new blog redesign.  I have D to thank for making this happen and our friend, Les, to thank for making it work!  I didn't give Les much to work with (because honestly I didn't have a real "vision" in mind), but the redesign is so much better than I could have ever imagined!

In honor of the redesign and my recent over 100 followers on Google Friend Connect, I'm definitely feeling the blog love!  I wanted to give you all something back in the form of a giveaway.  Some of my favorite giveaways are those that involve a blogger's favorite things!  Unfortunately, I can not give away a kick ass trip or delicious craft beer.  Don't worry, I'm making it worth your while!

NAIL POLISH!

[via]

Pretty nail polish is fitting based how nail polish saved me from nail biting on my love of pretty things.  Honestly, Revlon is my favorite nail polish.  I find it lasts just as long (and usually longer than Essie) and at a better price.  You can pick out the color of your choice or I'll surprise you :)

THE BOOK THIEF!!

[via]

A book would be fitting since I love to read.  I just read this book last week (and even at 500+ pages, I finished it in about a week) and fell in love.  It is so beautifully written and unique.  It's set during the Holocaust, and I have a strange fascination with that era anyhow.  It's now in my top five.

COFFEE MUG!!

A mug would be fitting since it wouldn't be a Skinny Jeans & Chai Latte giveaway without a coffee related item.  Remember when I featured this beaut?  I just adore this mug...and may end up ordering one for myself too :)

TARGET or iTUNES GIFTCARD!!

A gift card would be fitting since I can't buy you beer (without checking ID's) or find you super cool wine glasses and bottle openers, so I'll let you buy them (or some music) for yourself.  I definitely adore Target as a girl on a budget.  I'll be offering a $10 gift card to Target or iTunes if the bullseye just isn't your thing.

And that's that!  I hope you all enjoy the selection...I know I would ;)

Giveaway will be open for two weeks, ending on June 6!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm on a vacay!

I'm sure you missed me yesterday.  I was busy making sure my head didn't explode with the ridiculousness going on at school.  I took a little vacay over to Kelsey's blog.



I took a vacation over here to talk about one of my favorite vacations!  Go check out Kelsey (whom I just adore! we're basically soulmates...) and my travel tips!

Ps. Thanks to you all for helping me hit 100 followers!  I could not be more thrilled!  I've got a giveaway in the works to go along with my new blog design!

Let's get real :: finances.

I consider myself to be extremely lucky.  While I don't often acknowledge it, I really am.  I have an amazing husband who is employed in a job/career he adores, and he gets paid well.  I don't get paid well, but I have a job (unlike almost 9% of other Americans).  I'm lucky that I have two degrees and decent experience in fields that are typically easier to find jobs (in case we ever move again).  I'm lucky that we have a house and cars.  I'm lucky to live in the best city to live in the United States.  I'm lucky to have four healthy pets.  I'm lucky we have had amazing opportunities to travel.  I am definitely lucky.

Source: google.co.uk via Dan on Pinterest

Sometimes I have to just get real though.  I get depressed about my financial situation often enough.  As much as I adore the blogging world, it has a way of contributing to the depression.  It can be hard to see amazing fashion posts, instagram pics, and tweets of bloggers' newest, expensive (or cheap but substantially large) purchases.  Sure, I'm jealous, envious, and the like.  It makes me reminisce on those days of working my first full-time, salaried job.  I blew money on all the designer digs, shoes, frivilous items I wanted.  It was amazing.  I mostly limit myself to a teeny, tiny budget to buy one to two new fashion pieces per monthly paycheck.  Some fashions/trends can be recreated with budget pieces.  Others can't.  I just wish I did not have to be so thrifty with my (minimal) spending.  I want to be able to splurge on that $150 item that was marked down from $400.

While I took out my student loans, chose my own (low paying) career, and saved poorly, it often feels like a neverending cycle.  Will I ever pay off student loans?  Will I ever get a raise (none for teachers/public sector workers in five years I believe)?  It's frustrating when the cycle seems like it will never change (you know seeing that last loan payment date as 2025...what?!).  I joked with D the other day that if we ever had kids (no, no, no, we're not even considering it! You know how I feel about that...those opinions have not changed) we would have to sell our pets because we couldn't afford both.  I seriously could not imagine how we could ever afford a child in the next five years minimum.

Source: slumberdesigns.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Nonetheless, I am lucky (plus I have paid off my credit cards!).  When I have a little too much time on my hands, I start browsing blogs more.  I start thinking and thinking myself in circles.  All this thinking coincides with my increased student loan payments beginning next month.  The crazy thing is...I'm not so despressed about not being able to buy all the fabulous designer pieces I see everyone wearing.  I'm more depressed about the thought that I may not get to travel as much because you know that's my thing.

Source: pushthemovement.tumblr.com via Clare on Pinterest

[Except it can when that dream is traveling or college or having a career that requires college or owning a house or...]

I've been a lazy blogger.

I've still be taking lots of pictures with intentions of blogging.  I've had lots of blogging ideas.  I've actually been cooking and BAKING.  I can't believe it's been early September since I posted.  I can't believe I'm averaging 1-2 posts per month.  Honestly, the energy to blog has fallen to the wayside.  Here's what I have been up to though:

• Running!  Yep, promise I'm still training for that half marathon.
• Enjoying time with D.  He's been traveling less which keeps me busy on weekends.
• Working and enjoying (yes, enjoying) my new teaching gig.
• Drinking, eating, and enjoying life (ie. not worrying about losing weight)
• Moving our friends from Boston to RALEIGH!
• Planning our December/January vacay.
• Enjoying cable that D just purchased for us.
• Making new recipes and baking!
• Dealing with some crazy family drama going on in my life now.
• Not bringing work home on the weekends.

Seriously though, life is pretty good right now.  D is out of town through Tuesday.  I'll be scheduling posts here and on the other blog.  I'll also be guest posting for Olivia next week. Here's to hoping I get to commenting on all your wonderful blogs I've been saving for comments.

It is such an honor to be up here accepting this award...

Annelise from Box of Crayons presented me with my first blogger award!  I'm so honored :)  I mean seriously.  I feel like I'm now officially a BIG DEAL.

Since I've never officially accepted an award before, I hope I get my speech right.  I believe I am supposed to impress you with seven random things about me.  I must say this is quite difficult as I feel I am pretty open about myself and what goes on with me and my life.  Hmm...here goes nothing?

1. I've told you about my love for tattoos but not that I have any.  Well I do currently have two.  A cluster of three stars drawn by myself on my foot (not so original) that I got my sophomore year in college.  It actually represents a very transitional year for me.  My other tattoo is on the back of my neck and is a peace dove sketch by Picasso.  I adore the sketch and meaning behind peace doves but that represents my time in Athens and as a social worker.
2. I'm not the best driver.  I actually hate to say/type that out loud.
3. The previous being said, I have been through five cars now (on my sixth) and I have only wrecked two of those.  The wrecks have also only happened within the past 3 years.
4. I am about to pay off my last credit card.  I made some bad mistakes with credit cards in college and don't plan to get another one unless it is for family emergencies.
5. Even though I still feel like I know very little about teaching, I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I hope I stay a teacher forever.  (ps. I love the flexibility you have as a teacher to experiment with different ages, subjects, etc...I hope that keeps me in the field).
6. D and I actually went to the same small, rural high school together but never spoke to one another until college.  
7. Of all my talk and love of craft beer, my favorite beer, when I "met" D 5 years ago, was Rolling Rock.  We still get a laugh out of this.  I also use it as testimony that anyone can become a quality beer lover...I went from Rolling Rock to stouts :)

Now I get the honors of passing on the award to three wonderful bloggesses!  I have been finding soooooo many wonderful blogs lately that it is so hard to pick...here's my best shot!

• Kaleena at Just Add Kaleena - somehow she always makes me laugh with her posts!  And I can relate to something in every single post
• Mayra at life is BANANAS. - I know she has received this award already (is that blogger faux pas??) but I can not get enough of her posts.  Love love love this blog!
• Carrie at this free bird - I love her pictures, her fashion, and her stories, (her comments on my blog ;))

Seriously...I would love to be friends with all these ladies in "real life" (at least I hope I would).  Thank you blogging world for making me laugh, giving me fashion tips, reminding me that I'm not alone, showing me beautiful art and photography, and giving me virtual "friends."  And so completes my "First and foremost I need to thank God" award speech (because we all know I would never thank god)! 

Thanks again to Annelise and my growing blog supporters!

Blogs I'm diggin.

Since I don't have the mind span to blog about life right now, I wanted to share some blogs that I've been loving lately.  I always look forward to posts on these blogs.  When I see a post from these blogs on my reader, I immediately click on them. 

Jen Loves Kev.

Jen is so fashion savy and adorable!  She posts practically daily, which I adore reading during my lunch breaks at school.  She posts her [almost] daily style files and is renowed in the fashion and blogging world.  Jen is now pregnant and is still rocking her awesome fashion!  I love how she blogs about fashion, food, and design.  She also has a cool etsy shop.

Pribbles and Prabbles

I love Emily's witty stories of bike riding, losing weight, and generally being awesome.  I look up to her because she rides her bike to work everyday, she loves to eat, and she's super cute...case in point:

Adorable!

Ladybird

I posted this pic so you can note Sarah's AWESOME tattoo.  Adore.  Her blog is the perfect combo of fashion, decor/design, food, and all things just beautiful (see: lots of gorg pics).  Her eye for all things creative inspires me.  Oh and her love for her doggie :)

Check these ladies out :)  They're awesome.

Ginger vs. Punky Brewster.

Please go read this in your spare time.  And if you haven't check out Una's blog, it's wonderful.  I wish I was that good at finding humorous occurances to blog about.  My life is so boring and I have the worst memory ever.  Here's a preview of what you'll get from Una:

Kick ass stories and pictures of her childhood. [here]

Shopping tips...like where to find a felt bowl which is extremely useful for your am cereal [here]

Posts about family ties [here]

Seriously check out the blog.  The one I mentioned earlier is hilarious (and will also make you better understand my blog title).  I am wondering why I am advertising a blog other than my own?  You will thank me though.

Here goes nothing...

So what will this be...my third attempt at keeping up with a blog?  Well here is goes again.  I wanted to start up since I do really enjoying putting time into blogging, but at the same time, I had gotten to a low point where all I could focus on was the future.  Now I think I can start fresh!  To give a brief blurb of what I plan to blog about...I'm pretty simple and to the point.  I like the basics in life (in no particular order)...reading, eating, beer, friends, celeb gossip, tv, and travelling.  I want to just chronicle what's going on in my life:  planning my life with my fiance', career changing, moving, etc.  To note, my home computer is on the fritz and won't allow me to open any google related pages...so my blogging will have to be done on my work lunch break, my iphone, or D's computer.  You'll have to bear with me...I'm working on figuring out how to make my page look better.  I'm looking forward to attempting to focus on the positive and chronicle big life changes that are coming.