playlists

Dancing in the Driver's Seat With the Volume Turned Up playlist

A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Electric Feel by MGMT

Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi/MGMT/Ratatat

If I Ever Feel Better by Phoenix

Kissing The Lipless by The Shins

Speak Slow by Tegan and Sara

Inches and Falling by The Format

Chain Me Free by The Matches

Nature of the Experiment by Tokyo Police Club

Gold Lion by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

When You're On Top by The Wallflowers

Low by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain

Big Pimpin'/Papercut by Jay-Z featuring Linkin Park

Rainy/snowy Melancholy (but not if you're sleepy!) playlist

This Is the Thing by Fink

Help Yourself by Sad Brad Smith

Sweeter Light by Ace Enders and a Million Different People

Skinny Love by Bon Iver

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

Green Eyes by Coldplay

Good Man by Josh Ritter

Gravity by Lucy Shwartz

Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie

Avril 14th by Aphex Twin

The Moon by The Swell Season

Leave Me Here by Hem

Sway by The Perishers

Long Ride Home by Patty Griffin

Throw It All Away by Brandi Carlile 

Hard Time by EastMountainSouth

Sunset Soon Forgotten by Iron and Wine

Heartbeats by Jose Gonzales

Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Fair by Remy Zero

Motorcycle Drive-By by Third Eye Blind

No Illusions by 78 SAAB

At the Wake by The Format

I Don't Care How Ridiculous I Sound playlist

Jolly Holiday from Mary Poppins (the best part is when the animals sing)

I Love Your Eyes by Barry Louis Polisar 

Nations of the World by Animaniacs

I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys

I Need Love by NSync

This Is Your Night by Amber

All That She Wants by Ace of Base

Buddy Holly by Weezer

Intergalactic by Beastie Boys

The Final Countdown by Europe

Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang

Butterfly by Crazy Town

Sugar Sugar by Frankie J

It's Still Rock and Roll To Me by Billy Joel

La Donna E Mobile by Pavarotti

October's little pleasures

I may have missed the month of September, but my little pleasures list isn't going anywhere.
Here are my picks for October:

Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds 100 calorie pack
I keep a pack in my purse and the rest in the freezer. I love that I'm getting my chocolate fix and a dose of healthy fats at the same time.

Slatkin & Co. candles (Current favs are Leaves and Pumpkin Patch)
These candles fill up my house with amazing fall scents even when they aren't lit! For $5, these would be a great hostess gift for whoever is hosting your Thanksgiving dinner.

2011 Paper Source Mini Desk Calendar
This calendar is only the cutest thing ever and the perfect gift for a female friend or family member. With a price tag of $7.95, you might as well by yourself one too!

Nivea Lip Care products
I've already seen several manufacturers coupons this year and plan to stock up on some yummy lip balm for the winter months.

Magazine subscriptions...I love curling up with my Real Simples and Marie Claires this time of year because of the amazing recipes and cute fall fashions. I have already asked for a Good Housekeeping subscription for Christmas. This may seem like a boring thing to give to others, but it's such a fun gift to receive! You could even pair the subscription with something fun and inexpensive, like pairing fashion magazines with a fun scarf, or cooking magazines with a recipe holder or menu planner.

Kissing. A lot.

happy day

Today we went to Six Flags- the first time we've been to an amusement park together since we met five years ago! Let us give you a piece of advice: don't ever go to an amusement park during the summer. Late October is THE time to go. No lines, no crowds, no insane heat and very few children. It was a gorgeous day: clear and sunny and in the low 70's. We never had to wait longer than 2 minutes to get on a ride.

Andy has one rule about amusement parks: no buying food in the park. It's too over-priced. I was happy to oblige. A chicken sandwich was $9.99 and fries were $3.99! No thank you.

As we were leaving the park Andy asked, "Do you worry that I'm going to say 'no' to our kids too much? Like, will it bother you if our kids ask to get food at a park and I say no?"

I love my husband. I love when he asks questions like that because it lets me know that he thinks of our future children too. I love that he wants to be on the same page as me on everything, especially on parenting. I love that he wants to be a good dad.

blessings poured out

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
Malachi 3:10

God was not joking. Give to God, and He will give to you so much more.

These are the pieces of furniture that we have paid for since getting married:
Out of our three top floor rooms (master bedroom, twin bed guest room, office): a stool
Main floor (living room, kitchen, dining room): leaning shelf/desk unit, bookcase, 1 couch, tv stand, cabinet/shelf unit, end table
Basement (second office and queen bed guest room): nothing.

God has poured out so many blessings on us in the form of free furniture that we are literally running out of room for them.


I can't imagine what our savings account would look like if we had not experienced God's blessings through the generosity of our friends and family. We probably wouldn't have a savings account.

Don't turn away from the generosity of others.
Don't fail to recognize the blessings God has poured out to you.
He is worthy of our praise!

art on the cheap

!!!!
frames: all are the same dark brown frame.
free for me. bought in Korea by my brother
art: I asked for a charley harper calendar for my birthday last year
so that I could one day frame the art
I hope to use them in our future nursery
b/c not only are they amazingly colorful and graphic,
but each print shows a mother with her baby(ies).

frame: free, from grandma's old apt. is not this bright in person.
art: a hand-painted postcard from an antique mall
I think it was two or three dollars.

OK, so it's ugly. I know.
I am kicking myself for putting these stickers on
such an ugly background. I don't know what to do.
frame: cheap poster frame
art: vintage luggage stickers that I bought years ago
for under $10

my favorite sticker
but they are all amazing
sniff. now they're ruined.