Monday night:
Ate a smoothie from my NutriBullet!
Watched the E! red carpet special from the SAG awards - while doing a Pilates workout from Pinterest.
Followed by a grapefruit pellegrino & a bite of cheesecake.
I'm almost back in my single gal routine!
What is going to happen to me when basketball season is over & my husband isn't working 4 nights a week??????
-- Posted From Le iPhone
Monday, January 28
Saturday, January 26
James is 28!
Happy Birthday to my sweet husband!!!!!
1) I woke up EARLY y'all to make James breakfast! If you've ever lived with me you know what an enormous present that was! :) German chocolate waffles & bacon!
2) The fire department will come change the smoke detector batteries for you. James was so excited! Oh, and this was scheduled... not a result of my breakfast :)
3) We are going out for Sushi tonight! So excited to celebrate with my best friend :)
1) I woke up EARLY y'all to make James breakfast! If you've ever lived with me you know what an enormous present that was! :) German chocolate waffles & bacon!
2) The fire department will come change the smoke detector batteries for you. James was so excited! Oh, and this was scheduled... not a result of my breakfast :)
3) We are going out for Sushi tonight! So excited to celebrate with my best friend :)
P.S. Thank you Amanda for the sweet birthday present! I love the earrings!!!!
P.P.S. Wait, this post is about James? Oh well :)
Friday, January 25
Nail Obsession
Once you go shellac, you NEVER go back!!!
I have been turning down shellac (or gel) nails every time I'm in the nail salon. I've heard they are fabulous. Can't live without fabulous. And the last thing I wanted to get addicted to was something that cost money every two weeks (hello college & acrylic fills!).
Erika & I went to get a pedicure right before closing & after they stayed late to do our pedicure they talked us into gel nails. We were feeling guilty they stayed late. Best guilt trip of my life.
Top picture ~ TWO Friday's ago right after the nail salon.
Bottom picture: TWO WEEKS AFTERWARDS!!! Basically they looked amazing. If you were all up in my nails you could see they were growing out & the chip on my thumbnail. But otherwise they held up like crazy!!! And in all fairness the thumb chip happened when I ripped my whole closet apart (not normal wear & tear).
I went today to get them cut down & a new color. This is officially my new paycheck ritual!!
Bonus ??? My local grocery store started carrying my FAVORITE sparkling juices!!
I have been turning down shellac (or gel) nails every time I'm in the nail salon. I've heard they are fabulous. Can't live without fabulous. And the last thing I wanted to get addicted to was something that cost money every two weeks (hello college & acrylic fills!).
Erika & I went to get a pedicure right before closing & after they stayed late to do our pedicure they talked us into gel nails. We were feeling guilty they stayed late. Best guilt trip of my life.
Top picture ~ TWO Friday's ago right after the nail salon.
I went today to get them cut down & a new color. This is officially my new paycheck ritual!!
Bonus ??? My local grocery store started carrying my FAVORITE sparkling juices!!
Wednesday, January 16
Hey Mr. Postman
Today was a great mail day! I love getting mail that is not trying to get me to switch mortgage companies or bills to pay the mortgage...
How fun!! What great recipe & beauty fun awaits :)
-- Posted From Le iPhone
How fun!! What great recipe & beauty fun awaits :)
-- Posted From Le iPhone
Saturday, January 12
Closet Organization
I am obsessed with organizing! Or as some people say "OCD" (James). Tómato. Tomáto.
I can always tell which DVDs James has watched because they are the ones not in alphabetical order. One of my co-workers is afraid for James, referencing the movie "Sleeping with the Enemy." But I just love having everything in it's place. I got shot down from registering at the Container Store :(
I normally keep things very organized. However after James moved in I didn't quite get my closet the way I like it, things kept piling up & finally today I was FED UP with that MESS! It was time for the closet makeover! In addition to re-organizing I wanted to improve the closet too & make it my "wife-cave." Now I love being in there. I wish it was big enough for a chair. I would seriously hang out in there. :)
In true Kristina style I started by taking Every. Last. Thing. out of my closet & cleaning it! (No halfway projects here!) Chipped my gel manicure. Worth it.
The first step to organizing anything is to reduce. There's a reason your space isn't working ~ there's too much stuff in there. I sorted through to find out what I could donate, what belonged with my summer storage & what could find a home somewhere else.
Next I drove to Goodwill (for a drop-off) & then to Target! Normally when I re-organize I do not buy new things I just work with what I've got, but I was making a "wife-cave" it needed some pretty things :)
I purchased some of the Michael Graves collection items: purse organizer & three self organizer. It is not online but the collection also included a hanging bar for additional storage (see photos).
Not in the collection was a two pack of black Cubeicals Fabric Drawers & I added to my flocked hangers (originally bought at Costco) with this kit Huggable Hangers that included more variety (skirt hangers). I hope to have my whole closet in these hangers, they are so awesome! And create so much more room in your closet for new friends!
One of my biggest organizing philosophies is to keep items you use the most easily accessible. In the morning you should not be "digging" for clothes. If you go skiing once a year you can "dig" for ski pants. My closet was a mess because I was not prioritizing my space correctly. Valuable space was being used for old college t-shirts, etc. If you're like me, not having things at your fingertips creates piles of clothes. I got out two shirts, decided to wear green with my brown suit today, will wear blue tomorrow with my black suit, let me leave it on top of this random t-shirt pile so I won't have to look for it tomorrow. Piles = Evil.
Following are before photos (don't judge!) and after photos with my organizing tips!
Before ~ nasty piles everywhere! Before ~ crazy shoes! dry cleaning bags?
After ~ The Purse Organizer!!!!!!!!! Probably my favorite part of my closet :) I typically have one purse & carry it everyday for a long time. I am not a frequent purse changer. But I do enjoy keeping them in the closet instead of in an old comforter bag under the bed! This is a much prettier home for them :) The top has a nice mesh pouch for wallets, clutches & phone cases. I have three big purses I am not using, each with their own cubby. The top right has small purses/large clutches. The outside has hooks used for cross-body bags & my Lilly P market bag.
I can always tell which DVDs James has watched because they are the ones not in alphabetical order. One of my co-workers is afraid for James, referencing the movie "Sleeping with the Enemy." But I just love having everything in it's place. I got shot down from registering at the Container Store :(
I normally keep things very organized. However after James moved in I didn't quite get my closet the way I like it, things kept piling up & finally today I was FED UP with that MESS! It was time for the closet makeover! In addition to re-organizing I wanted to improve the closet too & make it my "wife-cave." Now I love being in there. I wish it was big enough for a chair. I would seriously hang out in there. :)
In true Kristina style I started by taking Every. Last. Thing. out of my closet & cleaning it! (No halfway projects here!) Chipped my gel manicure. Worth it.
The first step to organizing anything is to reduce. There's a reason your space isn't working ~ there's too much stuff in there. I sorted through to find out what I could donate, what belonged with my summer storage & what could find a home somewhere else.
Next I drove to Goodwill (for a drop-off) & then to Target! Normally when I re-organize I do not buy new things I just work with what I've got, but I was making a "wife-cave" it needed some pretty things :)
I purchased some of the Michael Graves collection items: purse organizer & three self organizer. It is not online but the collection also included a hanging bar for additional storage (see photos).
Not in the collection was a two pack of black Cubeicals Fabric Drawers & I added to my flocked hangers (originally bought at Costco) with this kit Huggable Hangers that included more variety (skirt hangers). I hope to have my whole closet in these hangers, they are so awesome! And create so much more room in your closet for new friends!
One of my biggest organizing philosophies is to keep items you use the most easily accessible. In the morning you should not be "digging" for clothes. If you go skiing once a year you can "dig" for ski pants. My closet was a mess because I was not prioritizing my space correctly. Valuable space was being used for old college t-shirts, etc. If you're like me, not having things at your fingertips creates piles of clothes. I got out two shirts, decided to wear green with my brown suit today, will wear blue tomorrow with my black suit, let me leave it on top of this random t-shirt pile so I won't have to look for it tomorrow. Piles = Evil.
Following are before photos (don't judge!) and after photos with my organizing tips!
  |
The After Photos!
After ~ Looking into my closet from the bathroom! That carpet is SO vacuumed!
After ~ Looking to the left front eye level, I hung my belts on the wall, have small space for hanging jewelry & my robe. Then the new 3 shelf organizer from Target with my lululemon collection :) and other workout gear! On the top of the organizer I keep buttons & tags for items of value I may sell on eBay later.
After ~ Looking to the left bottom, I have some shoe storage. This is for boots, tennis shoes, daily flats & sandals. In the plastic bins are (left top to bottom) Spanx/slips, panty hose/dress socks, cover-ups; (right top to bottom) sports bras/ workout headbands/ etc., workout socks, swimming suits. Again keeping to the philosophy items for work are closest, then work out, swimming items on the bottom due to lack of use (sadly!!!).
After ~ Left side above eye level, is all shoes sweetie!!! Bottom two shelves are for in-season work shoes that I wear most often. Top two shelves are for out-of season work shoes. I usually keep evening/dressy shoes in their boxes on the right side. Back in the corner are boot boxes (I will move some boots into their boxes & out of the way during the summer).
After ~ Left back side eye level, after the hanging organizer of workout clothes are blouses, jeans, winter dresses, cocktail dresses, summer dresses. To make plenty of room I removed summer blouses that I can't wear under a suit jacket to work & put them in storage. As always my clothes are in color order from sleeveless to long sleeved. I strayed a little from my strict color arrangement (ROYGBIV) & went for blacks/whites/neutrals then warm colors then cool colors. I found this made it easier to find work clothes (do I need a shift under a suit? or a shirt with sleeves?). Jeans are in order of length. Dresses arranged by seasons.
After ~ Looking straight into the closet. You can see here the black fabric bins, the purse organizer & the extra rod hung below the purse organizer.
After ~ Straight eye level, hanging on the left are my dresses I wear to work. Followed by my suit jackets in color order. Right below the jackets are the skirts on the left & pants on the right.
After ~ Straight above eye level. I looked EVERYWHERE in Target for a hat rack, to no avail! My hats are now balanced in my derby hat on the left. I plan to find a hat rack & put above the door. The black bins are perfect for overhead storage! The left one has t-shirts & sweatshirts. They are now out of sight & when I want one I am not pulling at the middle of a pile hoping the whole thing doesn't fall down on me! The right one has travel bags for toiletries, makeup, jewelry, hanging garment bags, etc. On the right side is closet cleaning items, Febreeze, Downy wrinkle releaser & an air freshener.
I didn't get a good picture of it (see right side of photo above) is my "inspiration wall" where I have pinned quotes or pictures that I like. I use them for inspiration for being a better lady, ideas for outfits, positive thinking. And my infamous big-gal photos! Long story short ~ due to depression & exacerbated by happy-meds I gained 30 lbs in 2009!!! When I decided to make positive changes through counseling, prayer, and being healthy (instead of masking my problems with prescriptions) I took photos of myself in a tiny bikini. I printed that bad boy out in COLOR on a WHOLE SHEET OF PAPER with the quote "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels" along with my weight & the date. Yikes! Nothing like looking at that every day! Keeps the food out of your mouth & your booty off the couch! This was the best idea & made all those purchases of Oxygen magazine worth it!
Also not pictured are my "skinny jeans" from ACU. They are hanging on the back of my closet door (front of closet door has full length mirror, see first photo). I was not in the habit of weighing myself in college or grad school. What thin person cares about the scale? I didn't. So I am not sure what weight was my "starting weight" but I do know what my starting jeans were. It hasn't been an easy road getting back to them. Around the time of my wedding I can get them on, buttoned & zipped! I had some muffin top action & I didn't try sitting down :) But I am close!! 5-10 lbs more? I heard somewhere 10 lbs is a jean size. Maybe I can work out more now that I'm not digging in my closet for clothes so often!!!
Whew.... time for a break! I am tired, my nails are chipped & my organizing heart is happy :)
Wednesday, January 2
New Years ~ Down to Business
As someone who loves change I am very excited about the New Year! Seriously~ it has "new" in the name, so it must be a great opportunity for some excitement :)
I've been thinking a lot about New Years & resolutions... Having spent several years as a professional coach I can't help but critique many resolutions. They aren't in the SMART format!!!! I sadly can remember the percentage chance of an unspecific goal's chances of achievement (not high). Luckily I keep those thoughts to myself so my co-workers still talk to me :)
For 2013 and what it has in store for me I am excited, hopeful, and ready to hit the ground running. I only have two resolutions (more than 3 goals at a time have a 10 times less chance of being achieved) - one couples resolution & one solo resolution.
1) James & I have decided to be consumer-debt free by November and have $5k in emergency money set aside. Not sure if that's the technical term, but we are paying off all of our credit cards, medical debt, lingering moving debt, Jackie debt, etc. We started the budget to accommodate this a few months ago (to make sure it was feasible), and although it is a stretch we are making it happen. This is extremely important to us as we try to live beneath our means, be fiscally responsible & good stewards. I won't sugar coat it. It does pinch. I went from (pre-wedding) spending whatever I wanted on make-up or clothes or pretty things at Target to being on a strict budget for non-essential items. I am becoming best friends with makeup at CVS & love their "you'll-love-it-guarantee" for beauty products!! I am also becoming better acquainted with only buying things on sale, Forever 21, etc. (Don't worry about me, we are spending what we need to on food) This is a great "building of character" as Dad is fond of saying, and I know it will benefit in the long run. It is challenging though not to covet other people. Like being on a diet & hating everyone you see eating dessert! I will need to pray about this. A LOT! Especially when I visit some blogs that I love & see girls younger than me giving "outfit" ideas and they have 8 LV bags or a giant Chanel tote or 10 David Yurman bracelets... really? Do you really want to help others with style suggestions or just brag about your closet? (see this is hungry-angry dieter coming out) I know starting a marriage on good financial ground is so much more important than having designer shoes by the hundreds. But human nature keeps pestering me!
2) On a personal note, I am deciding to practice more self-discipline. I find myself saying that I will do a lot more things than I actually do. This irritates me greatly! :) First, I am going to start by thinking about what I say I am going to do before saying "yes". Make sure that I really do have time on Saturday to go to the office & catch up on work or meet a friend for a pedicure or volunteer. I tend to think a lot of things are fun, but don't realize that working 40+ hours a week, cleaning house & taking care of a husband take a lot of work & time. I am frequently exhausted & bail on things I've said I am going to do. I need to take better care of myself nutritionally so I have the energy for important things in life. I need to stop eating James' frosted mini wheats because I forgot to buy breakfast. I need to stop telling myself "I'm going to eat a salad" then leaving the cafeteria with nachos & Dr. Pepper. In addition to being more selective & better fueling my body, I am going to ask James to keep me accountable to following through once I do commit to doing something. In our kitchen we have a calendar where we write down work schedules, trips, extracurricular activities, etc. For this year if I bail on something instead of erase it I will mark through it - a visual reminder that I did not practice enough self-discipline. Yikes! I used to be known for having lots of self-discipline, I think dealing with depression several years ago was a setback, then as I was healing I had the attitude "So I didn't work out like I said I was going to, but I took a shower & went to the grocery store in the same day, that's a BIG improvement." As I was healing that was true. But that is not me. It is time for me to stop giving my self a break & justifying that sort of behavior. Please pray for me, I will need lots of strength to continue to grow as a person this year.
I am so thankful for everyone dear to my heart. Thank you for being there for me. I wish you & your family blessings this upcoming year! Let me know if I can help you in any way!
I've been thinking a lot about New Years & resolutions... Having spent several years as a professional coach I can't help but critique many resolutions. They aren't in the SMART format!!!! I sadly can remember the percentage chance of an unspecific goal's chances of achievement (not high). Luckily I keep those thoughts to myself so my co-workers still talk to me :)
For 2013 and what it has in store for me I am excited, hopeful, and ready to hit the ground running. I only have two resolutions (more than 3 goals at a time have a 10 times less chance of being achieved) - one couples resolution & one solo resolution.
1) James & I have decided to be consumer-debt free by November and have $5k in emergency money set aside. Not sure if that's the technical term, but we are paying off all of our credit cards, medical debt, lingering moving debt, Jackie debt, etc. We started the budget to accommodate this a few months ago (to make sure it was feasible), and although it is a stretch we are making it happen. This is extremely important to us as we try to live beneath our means, be fiscally responsible & good stewards. I won't sugar coat it. It does pinch. I went from (pre-wedding) spending whatever I wanted on make-up or clothes or pretty things at Target to being on a strict budget for non-essential items. I am becoming best friends with makeup at CVS & love their "you'll-love-it-guarantee" for beauty products!! I am also becoming better acquainted with only buying things on sale, Forever 21, etc. (Don't worry about me, we are spending what we need to on food) This is a great "building of character" as Dad is fond of saying, and I know it will benefit in the long run. It is challenging though not to covet other people. Like being on a diet & hating everyone you see eating dessert! I will need to pray about this. A LOT! Especially when I visit some blogs that I love & see girls younger than me giving "outfit" ideas and they have 8 LV bags or a giant Chanel tote or 10 David Yurman bracelets... really? Do you really want to help others with style suggestions or just brag about your closet? (see this is hungry-angry dieter coming out) I know starting a marriage on good financial ground is so much more important than having designer shoes by the hundreds. But human nature keeps pestering me!
2) On a personal note, I am deciding to practice more self-discipline. I find myself saying that I will do a lot more things than I actually do. This irritates me greatly! :) First, I am going to start by thinking about what I say I am going to do before saying "yes". Make sure that I really do have time on Saturday to go to the office & catch up on work or meet a friend for a pedicure or volunteer. I tend to think a lot of things are fun, but don't realize that working 40+ hours a week, cleaning house & taking care of a husband take a lot of work & time. I am frequently exhausted & bail on things I've said I am going to do. I need to take better care of myself nutritionally so I have the energy for important things in life. I need to stop eating James' frosted mini wheats because I forgot to buy breakfast. I need to stop telling myself "I'm going to eat a salad" then leaving the cafeteria with nachos & Dr. Pepper. In addition to being more selective & better fueling my body, I am going to ask James to keep me accountable to following through once I do commit to doing something. In our kitchen we have a calendar where we write down work schedules, trips, extracurricular activities, etc. For this year if I bail on something instead of erase it I will mark through it - a visual reminder that I did not practice enough self-discipline. Yikes! I used to be known for having lots of self-discipline, I think dealing with depression several years ago was a setback, then as I was healing I had the attitude "So I didn't work out like I said I was going to, but I took a shower & went to the grocery store in the same day, that's a BIG improvement." As I was healing that was true. But that is not me. It is time for me to stop giving my self a break & justifying that sort of behavior. Please pray for me, I will need lots of strength to continue to grow as a person this year.
I am so thankful for everyone dear to my heart. Thank you for being there for me. I wish you & your family blessings this upcoming year! Let me know if I can help you in any way!
New Years ~ Fun
Champagne & gourmet fortune cookie!
Ready for the New Year with new kitchen addition!
Ready for the New Year at work! Pretty calendar to brighten up my cube!
Tuesday, January 1
Chicago Christmas
This year we had great time with James' family in Chicago for christmas! We were spoiled rotten with wonderful presents, food & family! (And my personal favorite- Christmas morning mimosas!!!!!)
I am still trying to figure out all the settings on my camera... So my pictures were partially in focus & partially blurry as everyone was ripping open presents! :)
Here are some of my favorites...
I am still trying to figure out all the settings on my camera... So my pictures were partially in focus & partially blurry as everyone was ripping open presents! :)
Here are some of my favorites...
Does Santa look familiar to you??
Wonder what my big present is?
Yay! I can't sit still enough for the picture! Yay Wellies!
James' big present... some UCF stuff :)
Christmas morning! (on my second mimosa) The best pic of us, even though it is fuzzy :)
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