J+C = L.O.V.E.

My sister got engaged on October 27th last year, and I was lucky enough to be asked to take her engagement photos over Thanksgiving (I suppose it helps them save money by taking advantage of my nice camera).  Her and the fiance came home last Thanksgiving, and we chatted a lot about where they wanted to take photos and how they wanted them to look. After the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, the weather held up for a spontaneous photoshoot. We then went to my favorite shooting spot the next day, for the actual planned session. However, we only lasted about half an hour, since the temperature dropped quickly and we were pretty sure we were going to get frostbitten. I bet you can't tell they were absolutely freezing, even with those adorable afghans that Jeffrey's grandmother made. Since I took a bajillion photos, I had to narrow it down to the following. I know it's still a lot, but I couldn't cut any more out of the final picks. They literally laughed the entire time, and have so much fun with each other. They make every single thing awkward and hilarious. I can't wait until their wedding this fall. Now, if you've made it this far with reading, rather than skipping to the photos, thank you, you rock, and I'll stop blabbing now.

-- These two photos were actually taken the week before they were engaged, when we visited Jeffrey's family's cabin in Wisconsin. --

-- Yes, people, those luscious lashes are the real deal. The girl has been blessed. --

-- Seriously? Could they be any more awesome? --

-- J + C. Sittin' under a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G --

6-Month Laziness

Valentine's Day is {kind of} stupid. And luckily, my sidekick agrees with me. It's just a Hallmark day, and not even a holiday. If work was closed, well then, I would reconsider my opinions. But, it's not. Don't get me wrong.. it's great that people can show their love to each other. But why can't we do that every day? Or random days throughout the year? Why do we need one day to exaggerate and force people into expectations - guys need to give flowers, chocolate, jewelry, and surprise the lady, who should be wearing sexy lingerie under that little dress.

I was very excited to have a 3-day weekend. Even though, we did just go on a week-long vacation in January, which was filled with so much traveling and not enough time relaxing. One of those vacations where you need a vacation from a vacation. So a 3-day weekend was much needed. But the actual, most important reason I loved this weekend this year, more than any other Valentine's day weekend, is that it was officially the 6-month mark of our wedding day. 

Chase and I talked for at least two weeks, thinking about what we should do to celebrate. He did not get Monday off of work, so that put a punch in the weekend plans. We discussed pretty much every idea we could think of, including this...

 Chase: lets go visit your sister (in Chicago)? Or go for a drive up north and winter camp? or rent a bunch of movies take vicodin and veg all weekend

No, dear. That last idea was a bad one and will never happen. Thanks for the input, though.

Every time one of the really good money-spending ideas was brought up, we both felt that sting of guilt. We don't have extra money to spend. We just have too many big things we are trying to save for. You know, like a house (and snowmobiles, sewing machine, new cricut, jet skis, vacation, a personal jet...).

So, we made stay-cation plans.


I told Chase to not send me flowers on Valentine's day. It's expensive. And I would really prefers flowers to be sent every single day, not just Valentine's Day. So, rather than flowers, he sent me two heart-shaped Lucky Bamboo plants. Perfect. He gets me. I love plants more than most other things in my life (and when I say love, I really mean that I would be perfectly content living in a greenhouse).

I thanked him. And he responded..

Chase: It is way better than some stupid flowers that cant figure out how to live in a vase..you can keep it at your desk there and it will last forever.

Exactly what I was thinking. (Until I came back to work on Tuesday and they were almost dead.. apparently my gray cubicle walls don't produce enough natural light).

Chase picked up a heart-shaped Papa Murphy's pizza and I ran to Wally World and picked up a puzzle. It's a new tradition we are starting - and will hopefully remember it next year on Valentine's Day. I love traditions, but am so bad at remembering things. It took us 4.5 hours to do a 550-piece puzzle. I grew up doing big puzzles all the time at family gatherings and over holidays, but this was Chase's first time sitting down and doing a puzzle completely through. Who knew we were pros. I think next year we need more of a challenge.

Saturday and Sunday were spent sitting on the couch. I knitted, literally, from 9:30am to around midnight both days. Took a few half-hour breaks for eating, but that was it. Luckily, Chase was kind enough to understand that I had to get an order finished, and it's nice that he can be the master of laziness when he wants to be (seriously, the guy could sleep for at least 48 hours straight, if we let him). 

Like I said before, Monday was our 6-month anniversary. It was special. Chase worked all day. I had a photoshoot cancel because of the snowstorm, so my parents picked me up in their truck and we walked around every level of MOA. It took us 3.5 hours to get through the first level, I paid $5.30 for a $160 jacket, we went in as far as we could to the Barbie Dreamhouse Exhibit without paying to actually go in, and took our time at the new (at least new to us) Peeps store, where we fully utilized the Mike & Ike's and Hot Tamales bar. We picked up Chase when he was off work, and went to a nearby restaurant. Then came home and I finished my knitting. Even though it wasn't a very eventful weekend, it was awesome. Chase is the best when it comes to my small little crafty business that I'm really trying to get going. He is so understanding and tries to help in any way he can. I love it. 

Happy 6 months, babetron. We have survived each other, so far. I think we will be alright.

Dear You

hi,

I love you more than any other person. So I suppose that makes you my Valentine today. You are cool. You smell really good most of the time. You put butterflies in my stomach. Your fingers fit perfectly in between my fingers. And I like that. I like that you have big muscles and know how to set up a tent.
Also, I'm kind of {really} obsessed with you.

love, 

me.

Cleaned Inside Out

Chemical Free. Clean Living. Being Green. Environmentally-Friendly. What. The. Heck. does that all mean anyways?

I've always been pretty 'healthy.' I'm not a sweets person, I don't snack unless I'm actually hungry, I like to think that I'm active (even though Sunday was my first real workout in about three months), I try to bake and cook with natural, organic, and unprocessed foods/ingredients, I've done a full-on elimination diet (which I didn't do to diet and is a story for later), I 'know' a lot about what it means to be healthy and fit and active and 'clean.' 

I also don't like scams. So I do my research. And even though I invest into some of those tiered companies, it's only companies that I am pretty positive I can trust. I need proof.

My best friend's mom introduced me to Young Living Essential Oils a couple of years ago, and I invested into the company and became labeled as a Distributor. I didn't do it to make money, I did it so I could get the benefit of paying less for the ungodly-overly-priced tiny bottles of mo-jo. Although, that little bottle does last at least a few months, typically (we diffuse around 4 drops of Peace and Calming every night and that lasts at least three months).

Naturally, as soon as I received my starter-box of potions, my body decided it was time to test those expensive "snake oils," and I became infected with a UTI. Literally. The week I got my oils. It's like God was saying, "you paid for it" ha. ha.. I knew what it was right away, since it was the fourth or fifth time I've had it. And no, you cannot get an over-the-counter chemical to cure the fire-pee infection. You HAVE to see a doctor. And, of course, drink as much natural Cranberry juice as you can. In the past, a Minute Clinic Many Hours Of Waiting Clinic was my only way out of it. So, I put those magic oils to the test:
-Lemon in my water all day long
-Purification in a glass of almond milk five times a day
-Purification and Thieves rubbed on the bottom of my feet (reflexology chart)
-Mixture of Oregano, Thieves, and Olive Oil rubbed on the belly every day
-1 tsp baking soda in 8 oz of water with 1 drop of Purification three times a day


Drinking that stuff was so disgusting (except for the lemon in my water). But Guess what? It worked. It might have taken five days instead of two. And I did consider quitting.. a few times. But I pushed through it. And it worked. And the best part...? I haven't had one since. 

In my continuous effort to live healthier and chemical-free, along with moving in with a very allergen-sensitive husband, I had to really invest time into how I was cleaning and what products I was using (yes, mom. I do actually clean my house. And I do a darn-tootin' good job at it, too). My mom has pretty much every Norwex product in her house, so, naturally, I have used that to clean and LOVE how well it works. Two weeks ago, I hosted my first Norwex party. It was online, convenient, and surprisingly a great time! Because my friends are right on board with living cleaner, they helped me get a ton of free products (actually, $400 worth of free products - and to those friends who had no clue that your dollars were going towards helping me get free things.. well.. now you know. So, thank you. And now you should go host a party of your own so you can get hooked up, too). This past weekend, I tested out all of my new Norwex products, and actually enjoyed cleaning. It was quick and easy. There were no smells that made me gag or force me to hold my breath. And our house is sparkling.

The following items are what I have from Norwex, so ask away if you're interested in learning more:
- Toothbrush - Bath Towels - Body Cloths - Baby Body Cloth (smaller for traveling) - Hair Turban - Lint Mitt - Large mop with superior dry mop pad, wet mop pad, and tile mop pad  - Rubber Brush - Enviro Cloth - Window Towel - Laundry Detergent - Enviro Wand  - Bathroom Scrub Mitt - Carpet Stain Buster - Dryer Balls - Car Cloth - Dishwashing Liquid  - Dish Cloth - Kitchen Towel - Kitchen Cloth - Spirisponge -

Now, this isn't me wanting to sell or persuade. It's me wanting to inform you of my decisions and encourage you to make your body happy. And to also let you know a little more about my hippyness ways. Do good to your body... It will thank you.