Weekend Wrap up and Ghost Adventure

This weekend I worked about 18 hours on Saturday at a retreat for children with Autism. It was cold, rainy and exhausting. Yesterday I just relaxed. Woke up at about 11am, hit Home Depot, threw a  softball around and went for about a mile walk. I was wiped out. So I'll give you a weekend wrap up from a few weeks ago. 

<3

I must admit my soon to be husband has always wanted to be a Ghostbuster! It's ok because I am giggling too! His new obsession is Ghost Adventures on the travel channel. On the show they featured the Essex County Psychiatric Hospital, also called . Its not so far from our home so Brian felt the urge to go visit. When we looked it up on line there was very strict directions that NO ONE is allowed on the closed down campus. This is why there are no inside shots. The place was extremely eerie. I didn't like being there knowing what terrible things happened inside the walls. Especially working with people with disabilities it broke my heart. 

After that we went to a local park and found this amazing tree. Isn't is beautiful! Look how large it is?!?!

Then we visited the Idylease which is also very close to our home.  Not so much a haunted spot but Brian grew up thinking it was so we had to visit. It was actually a very nice day driving around looking for some fun, local spots.
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend too!
xoxo
K

I need Advice

Via

I have been having some difficulties with a person I am associated with. It hit a very bad point a few weeks ago.  There is a lot of he said/she said sorta stuff. Today I was invited out to coffee by this person to talk things over. I don't know what to do. I don't think its a good idea because I am still holding on to some amounts of anger and resentment. I know I should accept the offer. If I don't I'm sure it will only make things worse but if I do I'm afraid I will say things I might regret. I don't want that either. I need help. Any advice for me?

Thankful Thursday

"If we forget about our pain as easy as we forget our blessings the world would be a much better place" 

While watching AC360 a few weeks back I heard this from the father of a young man, Lanz Hare, who was killed after a tornado devastated Joplin Missouri. I can be a person who doesn't always see the blessing in life or being thankful for all the great things in my life. I'm hoping to stick with a Thankful Thursday feature. 

ONE.  Central air-conditioning! Our original AC unit died the first year in our new home. We had to pay a small fortune for a new/energy efficient model. I don't usually use it and hold out with fans and cold water for as long as I can with out dying. Can't complain today when the heat index was almost 105 in NJ. 

Via

TWO.  My gym is a millisecond from my development. It gives me no excuse to avoid a gym session. Plus I feel guilty whenever I just drive by. Only problem is I wish I liked working out... I don't. I HATE IT!!!

Via

THREE. This amazing little Cairn Terrier. His name is Bogart Beardsley. He is my fur baby. Since bringing Bogart into our lives we laugh so much more then I could have ever imagined. Owning a dog can definitely have a positive impact on anyone's life. 

FOUR. My family, Brian and friends. Is that a given that I would be thankful for it? Well just in case you didn't think so. I can't express how darn lucky I am to have them in my life. 

I hope you all have some amazing things they are thankful for. 

Happy Thursday loves!

Oh and stay cool in this heat!

xoxo

K 

Happy Anniversary So Cal Val

Hey all,
You must head over to Val's BLOG to wish her a very happy anniversary! Stay a while b/c her recipes are AMAZING! All I have to say is TOASTED MARSHMALLOW MILKSHAKES!
Oh and a chance to win $100 gift card to Target!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY VAL!!!

Wedding Wednesday....OUR VENUE

We are getting married at the incredible Lake Mohawk County Club. I fell in love with the venue immediately and we booked it before Brian even saw the place! The club has been a historical site since 1929. The entire town is reminiscent of a Swiss Village. I feel in love with the idea of getting married on either the beach or the boardwalk. Just in case the weather doesn't cooperate the inside is just as beautiful. It does not remind me of a typical hall or the usual wedding factories. The cocktail hour will take place on the boardwalk and the reception will be held indoors. I also love the idea that I can get ready in their 3 floor bridal suite!

Isn't it fantastic?

All photos Lake Mohawk Country Club

Head on over to Bright Wishes

Brooke over at Bright Wishes is having an ADORABLE giveaway courtesy of Bethani's Etsy Shop

Go take a peak!

Weight loss struggles and success

My entire adult like I have been large, busty, curvy, FAT! I can't ever remember being under in a single digit size. My weight have fluctuated like a roller coaster for years. About 5 years ago I had a terrible break up with a guy I had been dating (unhealthy) for years. Actually, it wasn't a break up as much as I caught him making out with another girl at a bar. Shortly after that he was dating her and madly in love. A knife through the heart! After all of this I ate to comfort myself and built a wall and gained weight to close myself off to heartbreak ever again. At the time it hurt so much. I refused to ever get hurt like that again. I started gaining weight and ballooned up to over 210 pounds. I was disgusting.

I began Weight Watchers in September of 2008. I began eating healthy, drinking tons of water, counting calories, kick boxing and counting everything I ate. It was a struggle. Still is a daily struggle. Almost 2 years later I dropped 60 pounds which I am super proud of but since I have gained 10 pounds. With the upcoming nuptials I really need to get back on the wagon. Here a few pictures (some very embarrassing) outlining my weight loss struggles and success.

Dad's 60th, size 16

Friend's wedding May 2008, barely fitting into a size 18. Had to have it taken out twice. 

So embarrassing. I cried the entire wedding. Hating how fat I was. 

Have another cupcake fatty! 

Summer 2008:(

Then I did this which made things a lot worse. 

This is 2 weeks into Weight Watchers, 10 pounds down.

About 20 pounds down

35 pounds down

First time I looked at a picture and didn't HATE what I looked like. 

60 pounds down Fall 2009

Summer 2010

2011

Not really happy with what I look like these days. I would feel much better about myself if I could drop another 15-30 pounds. I have to get back into the right mindset too. I think thats the hardest part getting my mind in the right place and getting early enough to get my chubby ass to the gym before work!

So what about you guys. Any good weight loss hints for me?

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was a success!

Saturday:
The Wedding Trail was so fun. All the vendors were lined down Main St. in Warwick. Met up with my mom, best friend, her sis and her mom. We met with the vendors and the more you meet the more prizes you could win. Unlike other Bridal Shows I've been to this one had a lovely reception in the park. I was the lucky WINNER of an Engagement photo shoot with this amazing photographer  and a one night stay in this Bed and Breakfast. We finished off Saturday with some wine at a friend's condo. My poor daddy ended up in the ER with a recurrence of kidney stones. My mom and him were stuck in the hospital for over 12 hours. He is feeling much better now. Those painkillers are working like a charm.
Here are a few from the Bridal Trail. I apologize but I was so busy and my hands were so fun I couldn't think of grabbing the camera.

 Centerpieces at the reception table. 

Jaclyn stuffed in the back of the car. She couldn't fit with all the goodies. 

Unloading once I got home. Included in the goodie bags were lotions, jewelry cleaner, tip binder, planning book and much more. 

Oh did I mention I caught the bouquet! Isn't it pretty. (This is the day after so it didn't hold up well. They are stephanotis)

Sunday:
Chore day. We cleaned everything including our laundry room. Went to visit Daddy. Home and drugged up! Got treated out to dinner by Brian's grandparents. Went to the lovely Landmark Inn in the town of Warwick. I may still be in a food coma. I ate a spinach and brie salad then I had a sea bass with caper, and olives. To top it all off Brian and I shared flour less chocolate with raspberry sauce. I finished off the weekend watching Real Housewives of Orange County. Seriously, Wtf is up with these women? Its such a guilty pleasure but this episode was outta control! For beautiful, surgically enhanced women they certainly act like backwoods trash.

We indulged in a few bottles of wine  and beer at Jaclyn's condo so we were hurting the next morning. This is what I found on the couch when I work up.

Best part of this weekend, I'm off today. Gonna paint my bathroom. Oh the fun!
xoxo
K

What do ya got in there?

End of the week, YES!!! It may only have been a 4 day work week but the massive heat in NY made the kiddies go bonkers which means extra stress for me. I'm excited for a weekend full of fun. Tomorrow is the Warwick Bridal Trail. Its an event through the streets of Warwick where local venders have a chance to meet brides to be and offer services. I plan on attending with my momma and meeting my best friend (who just got engaged in February) and her momma too. It should be a good day.

Now getting onto the my purse. While helping one of my staff change their tire tonight I dropped my bag on the hood. It made such a sound "thump" everyone laughed wondering what was in the big bag.  I actually had to look myself!

The bag is nothing special. I think I got it for $15 and NY&Co a few years back. I love the side pockets. They are perfect for my cell and camera! I really enjoy the colors too. Its my favorite summer bag!

Now onto whats inside:
1. Wallet, filled with more cards and coupons then actual money
2. Crappy Verizon cell phone
3. Car/ house keys
4. Work keys
5. Two different types of allergy pills because its been a miserable season!
6. Listerine fresh mouth strips
7. Colgate Wisps, LOVE these things
8. Johnson and Johnson Lavender Lotion, my favorite
9. Tide to Go Pen, a daily necessity for a klutz like me
10. Weight Watchers point counter
11. Jury Summons and an excuse from my job's HR office! Thank you!
12. Camera (not pictured)
13. Checkbook
14. H&M sunglasses
15. Old train ticket from Secaucus Junction to NY Penn Station
16. Nail Polish
17. Cottonelle TP, hey you never know.

By the end of the day I ended up adding 2 folders, water bottle, important paperwork for my dad and a list for our big night of food shopping.
To much? What do you think?

Wedding updates...

Just about 11 months to go. I have made the majority of our big decisions so I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Especially because I finally picked out my dress. I went to a bridal salon called RK Bridal in NYC. The only thing I can say is it was the TJ Maxx of bridal salons. I would suggest going during the week and getting there when they open at 11am. I had a wonderful experience. Prices are ridiculously inexpensive for NYC and they price match if you can find a gown cheaper. Another perk, if I get the dress shipped to NJ I don't have to pay tax! Woooohooo!
Here are just a few more updates and ideas:

This is our bridesmaid dress. Although the color is not purple, it's Celadon Four of my bridesmaids and my junior bridesmaid will be wearing this dress. I can't wait to get them jewelry for the day. I'm thinking some fun chandelier earrings and a bracelet.

Via

I want to use old window panes as a wedding reception seating chart. I have the greatest mother in law to be. She saw two old window panes on the side of the road and grabbed them right up! They are in pretty bad shape but I'm hoping they come out similar to this one. I think I would chance the ink color from white to something easier to read.

Thanks to Project Wedding and Style Unveiled I have been the lucky winner of these awesome giveaways. 

Via

oh and this one for my handsome fiance! 

Via

and this one 

Via

and this one, 

True Woodcuts

As it turns out I have had some pretty good giveaway karma. Thank goodness because our budget isn't that large. I have won a lot of my wedding essentials. 

I feel so very lucky! This weekend I am going to the Warwick Bridal Trail. Hopefully I can get lots of fun ideas and find some things to inspire me.

Oh and just to end the day on a super happy note; my fiance surprised me with roses and sushi. It put a HUGE smile on my face. 

xoxo

K

Our home...

Just about 2 years ago Brian and I purchased our home. It took us 6 months of searching until we found "it" Originally we wanted something completely different then what we got. I guess you could say you can't always get what you want but it worked in our favor.

At first we wanted a ranch style home. I didn't really want to much just a simple place to call our own. Brian was a bit more picky. He didn't want neighbors and it had to have 2+ bathrooms (Long story, I guess its a guy thing?) I didn't mind neighbors. I grew up in NYC and then spent my teen years in a town home. To be honest neighbors are a source of comfort for me. I like the social aspect of seeing your neighbors and socializing. Brian grew up off the beaten path in the woods of NJ. He was no stranger to bears, deer and wild turkeys visiting his parents home. Before we got this home we put bids on 2 other homes and they both fell through. We purchased when the market was all over the place and the original 2 homes were both short sales that didn't work. We happened about this adorable little town home our realtor suggested we check out. Mr. Ranch who didn't want neighbors fell in love immediately. I was a harder sell. I REALLY hated the kitchen, the color, ceramic tiles, cabinets and door pulls. With in a week was sold and a month later we were home owners! Here are just a few shots of our home. Its still a work in progress.

Our housewarming party.

Our backyard 

Our kitchen (we now have a pretty awesome table we got from our recycle center) Yep we are garbage pickers but we redid the chairs in new material. The blue was a puke green. It was terrible along with the grey formica backsplash and counter tops. Apparently the old owners liked the jail cell grey color. GROSS

Our deck set from our backyard

Bedroom, I wanted an apple green accent wall for years and I finally got one! Our new bed set is white, grey and beige botanical theme and we got rid of the icky head board! 

Flowers in our garden

He/She is our neighborhood visitor and harmless but we keep our distance. He enjoys to eat our leftovers out of our garbage. 

Hope you enjoyed a little sneak peak into our little home. Its a work in progress so I hope to continue to update you all the more we get accomplished. 

Happy Hump Day All. 

Shoes make everything better

Lately I have been feeling down in the dumps with a barrage of family issues. I'm feeling super fragile the last few weeks. I wish I could vent about them but no one wants to come to blog filled with sadness and negativity. In addition to all those messy things my car stalled 3 times on my way to work and I spilled coffee on my brand new white shorts today. I was really hoping for a better start to this 4 day work week. I'm just trying to keep my chin up and try to find positive in everything. These little pretties below are making me feel really good today.

(Photo courtesy of Zappos Nina Galiza)
These are the front runners for my wedding shoes. Originally I wanted green but I can help how perfect they are. Plus they are under $100!

(Photo courtesy of Zappos Bouquets)
I also really like these. The smaller heel will probably be more comfortable and also avoid the Amazon woman look. I always feel like an Amazon when I wear heels. I'm 5'7 with out heels and Brian is only 5'8. I have to admit I also love the $49 price tag.

I love Zappos for their free shipping both ways!

In addition to heels for the ceremony and early part of our wedding I'm going to purchase a pair of these BEAUTIES In addition to being extremely beautiful I highly recomend checking out the story behind the shoes on their website!

In closing I have to share another photo of some one that always makes me feel better.

(Personal photo)
This is Bogart the wonder dog. What he lacks in the brain department he gains in love. Yes, thats an apple. He plays fetch with them in the fall.

Foreverrrrrrrr

Well, I believe it has been just about forever since I posted last. I swear one day I will keep up with a daily, or maybe sorta daily blog??? I just wish there was more time in the day. I see all these beautiful, well kept blogs and I wish I were that at that level. I have to promise myself to keep up with it and keep it pretty. I hope I'm interesting enough so people will want to keep up with it as well. Fingers crossed!
xoxo
K