Joy

I really would love this necklace from Nordstroms... And I've thought about purchasing it, but I feel like it would be something for someone to give as a gift if I were to move, get a new a job, etc. I think it would be much more meaningful that way!

Hence why I invested in this simple necklace from American Eagle. On the front side it says "JOY" on the back it reads "GIVE". A simple reminder that everyday we must not only create joy for ourselves but to also give it to others :)

What brings you joy?

Cooking with friends

Some friends and I have decided that once a week, work schedules permitting, we would cook a completely home-made meal for one another. I think it's much more fun cooking for friends, as opposed to a cooking for one. The first week, Erin and I cooked at our apartment. I made cilantro shrimp with onions, peppers, and tomatoes in a white-wine sauce, paired with whole grain rice and Courtney brought the wine!

The following week, Courtney cooked at her apartment. She made a us a delicious feta and spinach wrapped chicken with couscous. She also made a lovely caprese salad! This time, Erin and I brought the wine!

This week is Melyssa's turn! She said she will be making stuffed shells. I don't believe I've ever had a stuffed shell, so I look forward to trying it!

Very sexy Valentine's Day

I told you this would follow the V-Day email post... This weekend I went to Polaris mall in Columbus to check out the Valentine's day displays and signage! It looks flirty, sexy, and very Valentine-esque! It's extremely rewarding to see things I helped work on in-stores! YAY - Go check it out!!

Adventures in dog sitting

This past weekend I had the pleasure of pretending to be a pet owner! A co-worker was out of town and asked around the office if someone could dog sit her Nilla and I naturally was the first to jump at that! I really would love to invest in a dog- but I keep telling myself my lifestyle is just not conducive to taking care of something else! Hence why I am ready and willing to dog-sit for a weekend... I get to pretend for a little and at the same time, I don't have worry about the costs or other responsibilities that come with owning a pet!

Meet Nilla:

Doesn't she kind of look like my dog at home, Nikki?

How adorable is that little face!?

Snuggle time! She loved my bed :)

She was such a doll! She snuggled with me every night, we went to the dog park twice, and we went a few great walks in her short stay! Having Nilla for the weekend definitely made me want a dog even more, but it helped me to realize I could not do a puppy :( I don't have the time or energy at the end of the day to do the training required for a puppy. If I could clone Nilla, then I would for sure have a dog!

In exchange for my dog sitting services, Brittany, the co-worker whose dog it was, made me mint chocolate chip ice cream via Jeni's recipe! Jeni's is a hot spot in Columbus for what I like to call 'exotic' ice cream. They have strange flavors like cherries & goat cheese or lavender lemon, but their most famous is salty caramel! I wouldn't do Jeni justice if I tried to describe how it all works so check it out!!

PS. The ice cream Brittany made was DEVINE!!!

Work

Today is January 17th— doesn't really sound very special does it? Well for work, it means the Valentine's Day floorset goes up in Victoria's Secret Stores across the world! It's crazy that things I helped concept, build, and release in the first 3 months that I started here, are just hitting stores now! These emails I received for Valentine's Day reminded me of all the hard work put in and what fun it will be to see it in-stores! Wait for a fun heart-filled CRM piece to follow near the end of January! YAY :)

Bananas

Per this link I discovered a lot of awesome things about bananas I didn't know about. One of the many reasons it provided as to why you should eat bananas, was to cure a hang over. We've all had our fair share of them and have different tips and tricks of the trade, but there are some you just can't shake! Last weekend I tried this lovely mix of bananas, ice, milk, honey, and a dash of cinnamon! Not only is it a healthy breakfast shake (for any morning), it tastes delicious, and really did the trick for me!!

Try it out for yourself & let me know if it helps you!

Rings

I bought these fun little rings for myself on Etsy! I love them and they miraculously don't fall off my fingers!! It's just a fun little play on a very different style of ring. I originally fell in love with the Isis rings (here) but they were sold out and I ended up finding this pack of three for about the same price!

DIY Jewelry Storage

My room is near complete and it feels so right with my newest addition! Over the weekend I was extremely productive and finally got myself to South Pointe Market to get a shelf. I was sad to find out it is closing in 3 weekends —bummer, I will have to go back before then! It has antiques and used furniture, jewelry, clothes, etc... a thrifty heaven, not to mention everything is 50% off since it's closing! Anywho... got my shelf and painted it on Saturday and then I hung it and decorated with the help of my lovely friend Melyssa on Sunday! But prior to this, about a month ago, I had found a dresser on the street for a cheap $60 and I have just been awaiting a shelf to really bring it all together and house my extensive necklace collection!

This is my simple dresser project:

sanding, painting, and purchasing some new drawer handles

The shelf is a helpful addition to my room and adds quite a nice touch if I do say so myself! Check out the dresser/shelf combo:

This was a simple paint job and some nails to hang necklaces on and finito!!

NYE Extravaganza

New Year's Eve this year was basically a reunion with a hundred of my closest friends from college. Haha, but really! Many of my friends met up in Chicago this year for NYE weekend. I had so SO much fun and I genuinely wish I could see everyone once a month! Oh these real world problems...

Here's a recap of our windy-city weekend :)

Kelsey & I

College Roommates (plus 2 friends)

25 Degrees

Alyssa, Chris, & I

Me, Kelsey, & Laura

Margaret & I

Amanda & Adam

Yes, my goofy roommates with their goofy glasses at the bar crawl that turned into everyone staying at one bar the entire day and well into the night! It might have been even more fun than NYE itself!!! We danced A TON!

Ran into a grade-school friend out and about in chicago!

Just a lovely weekend in general!! I got to see a ton of my wonderful friends from college in one of my very favorite cities!!!

Hope you all could spend NYE with friends or loved ones!

Part Two: Candi Cane

West Side Market involved a little more of an adventure, which included a strange stuffed animal I came across in my mom's car... why she had "Candi Cane" I will never know! And yes, these are child-ish things to do... but quite fun! Everyone needs to let their inner child out on occasion!!! Enjoyyy!

Meet Candi Cane via her adventurous West Side Market trip:

1. Meg & Candi Cane - they have similar eyes
2. Candi thoroughly enjoys candy.. duh!
3. Brother Michael decides to be-friend Candi
4. Candi says hello to her cousin Michelle!
5. Candi enjoys a clementine sample from the market
6. Can you spy Candi making a few more friends?


Happy Holidays <3 Candi Cane

Part One: Lunch

I was only in town for all of one week — but I was able to pack in as much as possible! One of my favorite days was lunch at my favorite restaurant in Cleveland, TYFUN, and walking around the West Side Market!

Christmas

My time at home was a whirl-wind of family love and fun times! I'm sad it all happened so fast... but I guess you take what you can get in the working-world! That's something I am definitely going to have a hard time adjusting to. 

I got home last Friday in time to meet up with my high-school dance team for lunch- which was delightful! It's been a long time since we have all been together and it was so wonderful to see all their lovely little faces :) 

Then I made it home in time for dinner with my family and I spent the evening wrapping my Christmas presents and creating a little something for all my aunts and cousins! It's a super east recipe for hand/body scrub! Found here, it smells eatable!

And finally it was Christmas eve!!! It's my favorite because my whole family of 30+ somehow fits into our house for dinner and a small present exchange. My dad always cooks... and let me tell you – HE IS THE BEST! Ask anyone in my family! haha. Here's a little recap of my very favorite holiday:

1. Christmas table decor      2. Fun gold shoes
3. Cousins 4. A festive red/green Meghan & I      5. Cousins with Santatize APP
6. Cousins: Sarah, KC, Meghan, Me & Claire
7. Meg and our new addition Owen      8. Sleepy baby Owen
9. CHRISTMAS MORNING :) Hot cocoa! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with loved ones! I certainly did... I am already excited for next year!