My Favorite Things

So I'm sure everyone has a list of things they couldn't live without. These are things I use subconsciously everyday, or they just fit into my routine.

1. Babyliss Pro Straightener...I seriously don't know what I would do without this thing! I straighten my hair pretty much everyday...unless its in a messy bun. This is such a great straightener. Its definitely comparable to a GHD and its much less expensive, $140 compared to $250. Iv had it for almost 5 years now and it works just as great as it did when I pulled it out of the box.

2. Make-up Remover is always essential and I feel a little bit better using a more natural choice. 'Yes to' is one of my favorite brands and the make-up removing wipes smell like your putting cucumbers on your eyes and they are cool and soothing.

3. Netflix...do I even need to explain why this is one of my favorite things! For $7.99 a month you can stream so much stuff. I can see why some people wouldn't want it because they don't always have the greatest movies, but wow do they have alot of TV series. They are really great about updating new seasons as well. I have spent probably too much time in front of my TV getting lost in different Series.

4. Method Cleaning products...specifically the Tomato Vine Dish Soap. I learned about the brand Method more in my Sustainable Marketing class and now I won't use anything other then it. My absolute Favorite smell is the Tomato Vine, they only make dish and hand soap in this scent but it is seriously so great. Who would have thought that tomatoes would smell so amazing?!

5. My Wallet. I don't think I have ever gotten so many compliments on something in my entire life. Every time I pull out my wallet there is a 75% chance the cashier will comment on how great it is! I got my Kate Spade wallet super on Sale during Memorial Day weekend at the outlets. It was still pretty spendy but its by far one of my favorite things, It keeps me so organized and I use the little loop in the middle to put my chapstick in instead of a pen. It pretty big so I can pull it out and use it as a clutch as well.

6. Iced Coffee, specifically an iced Grande two pump vanilla Americano with a splash of milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It could be -10 degrees outside and I would still prefer an iced coffee over a hot one. I really try to limit my Starbucks visits to the weekends but sometimes that doesn't always happen. I do think its ridiculous that people spend so much money on coffee everyday...but come on, its Seattle...its basically required!

I'm positive that I have many more favorite things but today these are things I could think of. 

14 things about Michael

How did it get to be February already!? Since Valentines Day is this Friday I thought I would write a post about my amazing boyfriend Michael. For those of you that don't really know Michael I will start with a little background update. About 4 years ago I was sophomore in college home for winter break just hanging out with my friends. Almost all of my best friends from High School went to middle school together along with Michael and all of his best friends. Over break I was hanging out with my best friend Bianca and we found ourselves at our friend John's house all the time. Michael is John's bet friend and that's were I really started to to talk to him. I wish our story was more romantic but really it started out with us texting for a few months and one drunken night later I made out with him. We went backwards a little bit from there and started dating, finally made it official in July 2010. Michael works out of town on the east coast most of the time but we managed to get through college and his crazy travel schedule for the last 4 years and I am just as in love with him now I was then. Since Valentines falls on the 14th Here is 14 random facts about Michael.

1. He is the hardest worker, even if it means he has to be away from me he gives his work 100% 

2. He is very sarcastic, this little quality used to annoy me but now I know how to respond, I usually just go along with his sarcasm even though I know he is kidding. 

3. He will always help me when I'm stressed out and I need to calm down...which is often. Whether its cleaning the house or going grocery shopping etc. he will always make sure I get done what I'm stressing about.

4. He is so giving, he always wants to help others out whether its his family, friends or even strangers.

5. If there is a car broken down in the middle of the road he will always get out and help the person push their car or hook up a tow strap, etc. I have never seen him drive by someone in need. Just the other day he saw a boy get in a crash on his motorcycle so he stopped, loaded up the boys motorcycle in the back of his truck and then drove him home. 

6. He can not stand still when he is on the phone, he will walk in circles around the house, up and down the stairs etc. If hes is on the phone while driving he will drive around in circles in a parking lot. so weird lol

7. His favorite place in the whole world is his garage. I couldn't tell you what he does out there, I swear he spends more time organizing it then he actually does on projects..but oh well its his thing I guess.

8. His dream vacation is to go back-packing through Ireland. He has a million frequent flyer miles racked up and he won't touch them because they are reserved for Ireland.

9. He doesn't like sweets very much....This is something I have trouble with because I crave them and he could care less about them. He will go get ice cream or frozen yogurt with me though.

10. He loves sports, he talks about them all the time with his friends I wonder how he knows so much because I never see him watching ESPN.

11. His favorite Restaurant was this little Ghetto Burger/Teriyaki place in Auburn that closed down last year. We have yet to find Spicy Teriyaki as good as it was at Chuby's!

12. He falls asleep on the couch 75% of the time he is home. I usually go to bed alot earlier then him and most mornings I wake up and Michael isn't there. I walk down the stairs and sure enough he is asleep on the couch without a pillow or blanket. I used to take offense to this but I know he doesn't do it on purpose.

13. He puts hot sauce on EVERYTHING! I should get him a little belt loop holster for hot sauce, and he would probably wear it.  

14. I'm Michael's first real girlfriend (besides those 2 weeks middle school relationships), I guess he chose right because we are coming up on 4 years together!

  

Cleaning

Does anyone really like to clean? I would like to say I do, but then I would be lying. I would much rather sit on the couch watching Netflix and drinking an iced tea, but then my house would be embarrassingly messy all the time. I think its getting started that's my issue. I will turn on music and that makes me just want to dance not clean. I will usually complete a task or two but then I sit and take a break and never start again. The goal on the weekend is to get my house completely spotless and then maintain that throughout the week, but somehow that rarely happens.

Lets also talk about living by yourself...wow I'm extra messy when I am living at the house by myself. Michael will be gone during the week and I turn into this slob who doesn't clean up after herself. He will let me know he is coming home that day and I find myself running around trying to pick up like its a secret I'm extra lazy when he is gone. I'm pretty sure that he knows that already tho.

Keeping my house cleaning for longer then a week should have been on my New Years Resolution list. Its never too late so I'm going to really try and work on this. I want kids so badly, I can't have them growing up with an extra messy mommy! I need to get the practice in now!

Snow Day

Michael has really been wanting to go snowboarding so we called up my Brother and Sister and made a day of it! We actually live pretty close to Crystal Mountain Resort so we decided to go there. I wish we would have gotten a little earlier of a start but we know for next time that they close kind of early.

 

 

Getting all our gear on in the parking lot

 

Neither of us could find our goggles that morning but luckily it didn't start snowing till the last half hour

yay! I suck haha

My brother is so good, He was trying to teach us but we still weren't that great, I definitely want to get some lessons!

Socute, Cameron and Michael on the lift together

 

 

 

It was a super fun day and I'm so glad we went. I seriously live so close to the mountain, I need to start taking more advantage of this beautiful state we live in. Up until last august I was working two jobs and never had time to do fun stuff like this. I don't really have an excuse not get out and try things. It is a goal of mine, especially when Michael Is home on weekends to start being more active and trying new things!

 

Healthy Eating

WHoohooo! the cleanse is over, in fact the whole challenge is almost over! 18 days in and going strong. I am however planning my cheat day already. Iv lost about 8 pounds which is almost what I lost last time after the whole 24 days. Unfortunately this time I was a little bigger then I wanted to be at the beginning. Anyway its going good, I'm pretty good at not cheating, I figure if I'm going to take the time and money to do the challenge there is no point in cheating. I did have some steak on Sunday during the Superbowl and I tried a stuffed Jalapeno I made but that was the worst I have cheated.

My Superbowl Spread...alot healthier then everyone else

Yay!! the Seahawks won the Superbowl!!

I got this handy new gadget called a spiralizer.

My friend at work Brandi bought it and I was a little jealous of how much fun she was having making new things so I had to order one for myself. Its so awesome, Yay for fun new healthy recipes!

So far I have made

Sweet potato fries...super yummy!

and Cajun Jambalaya over Zucchini Noodles.

I find myself to be a pretty good cook. If I like something I try at a restaurant I will usually Google the recipe and make my own healthier version. The Jambalaya I made was a recipe duplicated from the Cheesecake Factory. I love experimenting and cooking new things I however hate doing dishes, if I could install an industrial size dishwasher in my future home to wash my pots and pans I absolutely would! 

Anyway, the healthy eating is going good but I need to work on the exercising. Iv done a couple Jillian Michaels Dvds at home but I still really should join a gym!