Weekend Reflections: Disconnected & more connected

Hi Friends!

Since I made my last post I have really committed to that transformation.  I feel so convicted to make this change that it’s been on my mind constantly.  It has been bleeding into so many areas of my life I know it’s more important than ever to really focus on being the person I was meant to be!  One of the first things I’ve been doing is really just disconnecting. #RISK.  Something about technology makes us feel so anxious, like we have to be constantly available.  So often we apologize when we didn’t answer our phones quick enough, why?  Apologizing for being in the moment?  Enough of that.  Enough being sorry for being caught up in your own life.

This past weekend Matt and I planned to have a date day!  Sometimes the weekends seem so full of chores and responsibilities that I’m desperate for some fun.   We planned a day of activities that we really enjoy to do and aside from taking photos (which should be taken on my camera, but ugh so heavy .. ) I was so disconnected from the world & sooo stress free!

Saturday morning we went to the gym & got distracted with an impromptu  photo shoot 🙂

After the gym we  got all fresh and put real clothes on (sayyy whatt?!) and headed out.

 

We went to the range first so Matt could shoot his new gun.  I have taken my concealed carry class & am usually quite comfortable with guns but Saturday was PACKED at the range all it was so overwhelming.  Literally some people shouldn’t be allowed to come 50ft near a weapon, but …that’s none of my business.  Anyways, I decided to pass and just be the photographer.

Like look at this smoke show.  This is mine…lawd.

After that we went to see Creed, finally.  Ironically the Rocky’s have been on all week so we were already in the mind frame but damn that movie was good.  It’s so rare a franchise can come out with that many movies but they just keep getting better.  It was late when we got out of there but Matt and I were both all fired up & motivated.

I ate an entire popcorn to myself as well and feel only slightly ashamed.  We popped around some stores, grabbed Matt a new pair of shoes and had dinner at Szechuan 132.   It’s really the only nice sit down Chinese restaurant and we only ever got with my grandmother.  I’m a terrible blogger (or a phony) and didn’t snag any photos but I had an amazing chicken pad thai.

Sunday we were pretty lazy.  We had all intentions of shooting our bows but it was rainy and crappy so it was just a lot of lounging.  We watched the message from church online (pc3live.org) and made another round of steaks for dinner – steaks, mashed potatoes, veggies – is there anything more to life?  This photo below is actually from NYE – I am a fraud.

Now, it’s Monday and there is no long weekend in sight and I am dying!  But good hair days call for celebrations …

Before I go, I’ll share you a little snippet of the message from church yesterday –

“When we move into heaven it will just be one more day of us living in God’s kingdom so we need to start living and preparing for that today.  Today counts!  There is only one way to God (through Jesus) but there are many ways to Jesus.  Someones way to Him may just be THROUGH YOU. Try viewing your life and purpose through this vision”

I am praying for an opportunity to come true this week so all prayers are welcome! I’m trusting in God that He will bring me where I need to be as part of His perfect plan.

XO,

Casey

All the feels & my one word

With the start of the year approaching so many people are focusing on resolutions to start the year off right.  I think it’s great that you can use the start of the year as a fresh start but for me I come to these decisions all throughout the year (many I don’t tend to stick with either).  Right now I want my goals centered on emotional & spiritual growth.

I saw this recently and it really struck a cord.  I’ve been a victim of this so many times but I’ve also been this hater.  Unable to release the pressure of not being who others think I should be but also unable to be happy for others because I was too afraid I couldn’t do that.  Both of these are so ugly but common.

I have routinely declared that I wouldn’t allow myself to be bullied anymore but always seem to find myself falling back into the same behaviors.  I let others expectations for my actions leave me feeling insufficient.  I often feel the disappointment from others on what I chose to do (or more likely not do) affect me deeply and make me reconsider my self worth.  I’ve spent a decade of my life trying to be someone I am not and instead of feeling defeated I want to celebrate the awareness of my true identity.  Enough of the excuses, the apologies, and the emptiness.   This year I vow to be more open, raw, exposed & the truest version of myself.

As I started to come to this realization I was terrified of how to put it into action.  How do I put aside everyone’s expectations and opinions and focus only on my own?  Will I lose people?  Will I fail?  Will I regret my choices?  As these thoughts flooded my mind I realized in the same thought I had already failed at my own attempt to change.   I have to believe in myself to be myself which started to lead me to picking my one word for the year.  I won’t get into that now but my church, PC3, believes in choosing a word of focus for the year and letting God show you his direction for your life.   The word that has caused me the most anxiety and fear is the word I knew was the right one.

Risk.  What a terrifying word for a person who lives in a bubble of security.  I like all my ducks to be in a row and back up plans for my back up plans.  I neglect to remember that priorities change not just in your teens but your 20’s, 30’s, etc.  You are not required to be the person you were yesterday and are entitled to change at any point.  I want this word to force me to get out of my comfort zone – to bet on myself.  To not think that I am not good enough for this or that.  To stop thinking that “content” is okay.  To stop thinking that I can’t go after what it is I truly want.  To not being envious of others for having things I am completely capable of attaining.  To stop needing the approval of others to let me know I’m enough.  To risk being completely 100% myself! To ignore the disappointment from others that I am not who they want me to be.  I want to truly trust God to know that he has plans for me more beautiful than this world does.

I am making this public because this is out of my comfort zone.  This is terrifying and embarrassing to be an adult who is afraid to be herself.  I know that keeping it to myself will not elicit growth.

 

I am not okay with the unknown but I am ready to learn.  I am ready to take a chance on me no matter what the consequences.

Happy New Year!  More to come this year

XO,

Casey

 

 

1st chilly day = chili recipe

Happy Hump Day!

The weather has been dropping below 90 degree’s finally so basically North Carolina has embraced fall!   Between cooler temperatures and sunday football returning I had to make chili.  I like mine to be a little more chunky and I prefer it lighter so I don’t feel guilty.   I made a terrible chili last year that was like cafeteria mush, I’m happy to say I’ve redeemed myself.

Crockpot Turkey Chili (adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod)

Ingredients:
1 lb 93% lean ground turkey – dont use anything leaner than 97 – it will get way too dry.
1 medium onion, diced
2 green peppers, chopped – you can use red/yellow but green was on sale
2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
2 (15 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained – I forgot the black beans but would have liked them.
2 (15oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Brown the turkey over medium heat in a skillet & pour it in the crockpot.  I kept it a little under brown so it didn’t dry out too much.

2. Add the onion, peppers, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, seasonings, & stir.

3. Cover and cook on low 6 hours.

I served with non fat greek yogurt for sour cream, shredded cheese, and a few tortilla chips for scooping.  Football season is upon us so there are never enough chips and dip.

It appears I didn’t take any photos! We’ve been eating it since sunday though so there will be another opportunity I’m sure.   In the spirit of fall foods & the return of carbs I did eat this delicious meatball sub this weekend from Taste of Italy.

Happy Fall ya’ll!

~Casey

Week+end Reflections; Connecticut & 26!

Hello lovies,

It has been a cahhh-razy since I last blogged.  I actually haven’t even been to work since I blogged last also – uh, fun right?  Monday was great last week because Matt was able to hang out with me even though #boringerrands.  Tuesday I was on my own, selling stuff on ebay, 8 million loads of laundry & packing for my trip.

Wednesday I caught my flight to visit my family in Connecticut.  My flight was at 730a so I packed food for the flight – regardless of whether I was in show prep or not I always pack food for the plane with me.  Traveling makes me bloat so I avoid airport food at all costs.

I got in around lunch time and immediately went for a mid day sangria with my girl!  It was literally the same temperature there that it was here – yuuuuck.  I need it to be fall like last month.

It was sooo nice to be home with family.  I typically go up every year for thanksgiving but we weren’t able to travel last year so it’s been so long.  The week was full of pasta, workouts, shopping, & never enough QT with family.

Here’s a photo dump 🙂

Early workouts with my uncle

The most scenic 2 1/2 hour bike ride but #ouch

My birthday dinner!

I’ve not been super positive about turning 26 but embracing the year with chicken piccata family style & peanut butter cup sundae’s definitely eased the blow.

On Saturday we went to Foxwoods Casino.  The last time I was here we went to Mohegan Sun so we figured why not do the same for my birthday!  I have to say Foxwoods was not nearly as nice as Mohegan Sun but they did have the Tanger Outlet’s so cue the shopping!

Kate Spade was 70% off so obviously I had to get a birthday bag #happybirthdaytome!

Then my aunt made us spend another hour in the Coach outlet

I came home on Sunday which was my actual birthday.  I couldn’t get home to my man fast enough!  We grabbed some lunch (I could eat this salad every day) and then came home to relax!  I came home to beautiful birthday flowers – I am the kind of person who doesn’t think that flowers are a waste of money

We had dinner with my family on Sunday night at Cape Fear Seafood.  If you are in Wilmington & haven’t been here – you are missing out.  Everything is delicious but the fish is so fresh & delicious.  They had swordfish on special (my favorite!) so I had that with mashed potatoes & green beans with a  mimosa.  Matt had a ribeye with blue cheese crumbles.  Sorry this photo is twisted around, i’m too tired to play with it 🙂  Cardigan a la stitch fix.

We had some cookies for dessert that my grandmother sent me home with.  She never let’s me leave without a box of italian cookies – yummy!

My mom got me the fit bit charge HR for my birthday – I was so excited to use it! I’ve been wanting to track my heart rate at the gym – I’ve been focusing on high intensity workouts & it seemed like the best product on the market for that.  I had trouble using it Monday but I think i just didn’t understand it.  I’m going to use it again tomorrow and move it to a different place on my wrist – hopefully that’ll help.  Matt & I did a 100 squat challenge – me with 25lb plates him with 45lb – so I didn’t really need the monitor to tell me my heart was pumping out of my chest.  Speaking of my birthday .. I’m now 26 years old.  As i mentioned before I wasn’t too excited about turning 26.  I’m not really one of those people who panics about getting older or anything but every year I get older i find it as a challenge to see what else I can accomplish.  I’ve already been feeling oober overwhelmed so taking on a “challenge” is too much.  I have SO much to be thankful for this year that I hate being anything that excited and positive about what’s in store for 26.

Monday was routine and errand filled except for FALL DECOR! I wanted to bring it out last week but I resisted until labor day.  It makes me soooo happy – truly my favorite season and I want t enjoy as much of it as I can!

Now I am back to work and already missing my vaca time!  XOXO

Weekend Reflections: Bye Felicia (Summer)

Happy Tuesday loves!

Last week was quite possibly one of the most miserable work weeks of my life.  I cannot seem to fathom why people are so rude to each other and in my line of work it seems that I just have to take it and move on.  I didn’t do a great job of letting it roll off my back and decided to take a few mental health days.  I’m flying to Connecticut to visit my family tomorrow so the extra two days has helped me get my life in order.

I seemed to have caught the Harry Potter bug about a decade too late.  I feel like a preteen all over again.  I finally started reading the books and I am just in love.  Can I just go to Harry Potter world @ Universal now?! (Hint, Hint … Matt).  I started these last week and finished the first one & began the second already.

I had to give a big training at work on Thursday & was so nervous I had to come home on Wednesday and just chill.  Matt was having a crazy night too so we ordered food from Pizzetta’s, for the thousandth time, and went to bed at 7:45.  It was still bright outside, haa, but felt soooooo nice.  Salad>Chicken Parm, or so I tell myself.

The training went fabulously on Thursday, I made it through without skipping any important details or getting tounge twisted.  Friday felt like a huge weight had been taken off my shoulders which led to an early wake up call.  I am rushing & running late always so when I wake up early it’s quite the victory that should be celebrated with makeup, iced coffee’s & shopping trips #yearningforfall

We decided that this was the official last weekend of summer, even though it’ll be 90 degree’s here until probably October.  When I was growing up my birthday always fell really close to labor day (sep 6th) and it always seemed to get cooler around that time.  Even though we are down south now and the weather never cooperates, in my mind labor day is still the official end to summer.  Since we deemed this the last weekend of summer it seemed only fitting that we spend the day at the beach.  First of course we had to stop at Wake N Bake for donuts!  Matt got the white chocolate, strawberry cheesecake, & wake and bacon.

I don’t really like donuts so I always get the fritter.  They’ve only had blueberry when we’ve been recently which is amazing but this time they had the apple! Definitely not as good as blueberry but perfect for our “summer send off weekend”

The weather was perfect until it got really overcast and started sprinkling.  We had already been there for a few hours at that point so it wasn’t a big deal.

For dinner we went to …. Pizzetta’s because I can’t get enough of their dang salads.  They also were embracing fall and had angry orchard cocktails out! I had an apple sangria & Matt had a Whiskey/Angry Orchard mix.

Sunday was so fah-reaking busy.  We went to breakfast & then to the gym.  Then the next million hours were spent running around town wrapping up a bunch of stuff.  Matt is working towards some big changes for our future so we had to get quite a few things. Meal Prepping was easy because I didn’t have to do much for me so I made Matt’s lunches.  He loves this recipe and it’s become a staple in our house – SO easy.

Pepperjack Chicken (adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients:

Chicken Breasts (5-6)

Low Sodium Stove Top Stuffing Mix (Chicken)

98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup

1/4c milk

Pepperjack cheese slices (her recipe calls for swiss and i’m sure that’s great too)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Layer chicken on the bottom of a baking dish.

3. Cover with a layer of cheese slices

4. Mix the milk with the cream of chicken soup & pour all over the cheese.

5.  Pour the box of dry stuffing mix on top (you can do 1/2 or the entire box).

6. Bake for 45-60 minutes.  This will depend on how thick your chicken breasts are.  Mine are always so thick so I go 60 minutes.

Usually I make rosemary roasted baby red potatoes to go with this or some steamed broc.  This picture doesn’t look nearly as appetizing as it is.

After all that cooking we didn’t have anything for dinner & had to run out.  We grabbed dollar taco’s from the new Island’s downtown.  It’s like a Wilmington staple and Matt had never been there.

Matt was off work on Monday as well so we could run around town yet again.  We had to go to the gym in the morning, which I hate.  I am a schedule and routine kind of girl & hate when it gets thrown off.  I’m not very flexible and that’s something that I try to work on.  I did end up having a killer glutes/hamstrings workout though (posted below).  I like to split my leg workouts up when i have time – it’s such a big body part I find it’s easier when I focus on glutes/hams one day and then quads/calves another day with plyometric work sprinkled all over.

I don’t like to write down sets/reps – sometimes I do 2 sets of 30 and sometimes I do 4 sets of 10 – just depends on what gives me the best burn.

warmup: 5 min on the elliptical + lying hamstring curls

SM reverse lunges supersetted with wide sumo squats

Cable Kickbacks – few sets with a bent knee, few with a straight leg

DB romanian DL Supersetted with a glute kickback machine

BB good mornings

BB hip thrusts (**fav booty exercise)

abductor machine 4 ways (1 set leaning all the way forward, 1 set with your hips elevated off the seat, 1 set normal, 1 set pulses really heavy)

followed this with cardio + some plyo work (jump squats, pop squats, jump lunges, 180 squat jumps, etc)

After Matt dragged me around town (Fingers crossed we hear good news though) I forced him to do some shopping with me.  Also, got my stitch fix in the mail – eek! I could keep everything in the box again but I’m trying to resist.  This top is  keeper though 🙂

That’s about it! I’m off to run some errands today including my Mazda’s 1st oil change! I can’t believe I’ve had that car for so long <3.  I can’t share too many details about what’s going on but if you are reading this please send some silent prayers & good vibes our ways.  We are making big moves towards the future and don’t want anything other than what God has planned for us.  We can only take it so far and then it’s truly in his hands.

I’ll be checking in when I get back from Connecticut & will be a year older, oy vey!

Happy Anniversary my sweet!

If you read my prior post you know Matt & I’s anniversary was this past weekend and though I mentioned it there I wanted to devote a post to pouring my heart out for this man.  If you tend to be a negative person or someone unable to be happy for another person – feel free to just skip past this post.

Matt and I started as distant friends.  We spent hours on the phone talking about everything under the sun and very quickly learned that we were heading to something more.   We didn’t know what was happening at the time but it was truly something special and really one of those  “it just happened” moments.

Matt came down to visit for the 1st time in August of last year.  By the end of the trip we knew we couldn’t bare to be apart any longer.  Matt left and sold his house in Massachusetts and moved to NC in November.  A lot happened in that 2 1/2 month period and it wasn’t easy.  It was a huge leap of faith but I would go back and do it 100x over.  The only change we would have made is having me move to Mass, but who is to know what the future holds.

To say the past year has been easy would be a stretch.  However I have never once doubted the decision I made to love him.  I am a hopeless romantic and can sometimes ignore the bad in a person to focus on the good.  With Matt, I don’t have any bad to focus on.  No one is perfect and we both have things to work on but the “checklist”, for lack of better words, is  complete.  We are on the same page with the big things that matter and if I’ve learned anything it’s that the little things will never amount to much.

Matt, you have given me adventures I couldn’t have imagined I would get to experience.  If we are being completely honest I didn’t even like some of these things before you, camouflage being one of them. You’ve taught me what it really means to respect someone and show them unconditional love.  You’ve shown me how important it is to build up your partner and ensure they always feel secure and loved.  We have seen how easy it is for people to cross the line and know that we respect the boundaries and stay within them.  You’ve taught me pick my battles and learn to compromise though I can’t seem to understand why I can’t leave my stuff all around the house since it’s easier to find it out in the open 🙂

Thank you for being patient with me when I’m unable to make a decision or being completely irrational.  Thank you for knowing when to give me that extra push for a killer workout and when to buy me froyo with 10 lbs of toppings.  Thank you for letting me take care of you even though you’re completely capable aside from putting outfits together.  Thank you for letting me give you 20 options for food when I will only end up being okay with one.  Thank you for helping me learn to give over control but knowing when I just need to have it.

Thank you for always giving me some level of effort.  I know that we can’t always be our best at all times but you always give me your best of the moment.  You always make me a priority even if you have more important things going on.  You consider my feelings especially when they are sensitive to just about everything.   You bite your tongue when I’m being ridiculous and know to step in and give me constructive criticism when needed.  You make me laugh just when I need it the most.

You are always willing to go with the flow.  You can be energetic and ready to go or ready to lay on the couch all day.  You never complain when I make you hop out of bed and get ready in a flash – though I still find it hard to believe you were ever  fast enough to take a power shower in the military ;). You know me well enough to tell me when I have taken on too much and given me tough love when I’m getting overwhelmed and need to power through.

You are always the first one to say sorry and heaven knows most of the time I need to.  Knowing that you’ll never turn me away makes me feel loved and secure.  You have never pushed me away even though I have often deserved it.  You know when to give me space and when to push through my rough exterior.  I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate when you cancel your plans to come be with me when I am really needing attention and love.   It is that mutual respect and understanding that makes us so strong.

I love you.  I love you so unconditionally I didn’t think it was possible.  You are teaching me to be a better woman and in turn it is making me the best, most complete version of myself.  I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be but was too worried about others opinions.  There is nothing scripted or forced with us, you are my absolute better half.  You are my partner in everything and always my first choice to spend time with.  You are everything I am not and everything I didn’t know I needed.  Time spent with you is never time wasted and the second it’s over I am craving to get it back.

 

I am unashamed of how I feel because I am so proud to call you mine.  I am proud of everything that has made you who you are today and though I wish I could change pieces of history I know that the Matt I have is the best version of you.  I know that every missed opportunity and path change was to lead me directly to you.  I have no idea what the future holds for us but I am absolutely certain that it’ll start and end with you (and 40 acres).  I will always have your back and support you 100%.  I want nothing but the best of the world for you and to share in that glory with you.  It all means nothing without you.

Thank you for this crazy ride. Thank you for this beautiful life so full of love.   I’ll never need another kind of green to know, I’m on the right side with you.   I hit the jackpot babe. Now all I need from you is a trip to disney world.

I love you to the moon and back

Weekend Reflections: Anniversary Weekend & dramatics

I was trying to post this yesterday but was having serious monday blues!  The sweeter life gets the more depressing it becomes to start the week.

The weekend didn’t start off very good but it ended up being blissfully perfect and exactly what I needed.  I had planned to spend the weekend in Charlotte with my best of friends but the universe wasn’t working in my favor.  I tend to get worked up over even the smallest things and it can completely ruin a day for me.  I have been getting dumped on at work more than usual which combined with a few personal things + PMS put me in a full on breakdown.  I ended up coming home from work on Thursday and laying on the couch with peanut m&m’s & sad movies for the evening.  I am really thankful for a man who works so hard to understand me.  I know that it can be difficult when my emotions are irrational so I’m lucky that he is patient with me.  Journaling & reflecting on these “panic episodes” has been really helpful but unfortunately it only helps me in the aftermath, I can’t also see through the attacks as they are happening and usually shut down completely.  I have missed out on a lot by letting these emotions take over me and it’s something I’m really working on.   The worst part was I missed drinking this champagne with my bestie ….

On top of my grumpiness, it was our anniversary weekend!  Matt and I have been unsure what day we consider ourselves official since our friendship morphed into a romantic one seamlessly.  We were long distance for a while and in August of last year he booked a flight from Mass to NC to come visit me.  The second he got off the plane we both knew and that’s what we consider our anniversary. I screwed the dates up and thought it was the 21st but it’s actually the 20th which happened to be the peak of my breakdown.  Poor Matt, he was truly a trooper.   When I chose to stay home for the weekend instead of going to Charlotte we figured we should celebrate our anniversary all weekend and just spend time together and it really was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Friday I stayed home and puttered around the house still feeling kinda blah.  Matt came home from work early to run a few errands so I tagged along.  I wouldn’t call the DMV + bank a fun Friday but it was refreshing not to be at work and just be along for the ride.  Matt’s gift for me was delayed so he did the second best thing – took me to dicks & told me to pick out anything I wanted!  With some SERIOUS restraint, I snagged a pair of Nike pants & left a much happier girl.  We spent the evening at the gym & then a very fancy post work out anniversary dinner at Chick Fila.   I was still so indecisive at this point it had to be quick & easy.

Saturday turned out to be the most blissfully perfect day I could have asked for.  Neither of us could sleep so we woke up early and had breakfast outside on the patio.  We decided to head to the beach for the day.  Before we got to the beach we just had to stop at Wake N Bake Donuts.  It’s on the way to the beach after all 🙂 Matt got the Maple Bacon & Pistachio and I had to get the blueberry fritter.  The size of this deliciousness.

The weather was perfect for catching rays & reading. I started and finished Sarah’s Key this weekend and now can’t stop googling aspects of the holocaust.  I wish I payed more attention in school.

After the beach we went to a newly updated grocery store to grab something for dinner.  This grocery store has a beer den where you can sample beer and sausages and it was a lovely pit stop!  Strawberry blonde – yum!  They are switching out a bunch of kegs for the pumpkin & cider beer’s – thank goodness we have fall to look forward to!

Since we hadn’t eaten in so long and always seem to have ice cream and donuts on the same time we made a quick spin for pre dinner sundae’s.   Anniversary Weekends = Infinity macros 🙂

We spent the rest of the afternoon snuggled up on the couch with premature woodchuck’s and the PGA tour.

For dinner we threw the sausages on the grill with a couple turkey burgers for balance.  Still giggling at the sausages names – “the fiery italian” – oh, you mean me?

We exchanged gifts already because I can’t keep a secret.  I gave Matt this adorably nerdy Harry Potter card – I couldn’t resist myself and an under armour shirt.   His gift for me finally came in and it was this ridiculously thoughtful print for the house. That color blue is my absolute favor color and it’s all over the house already.  I can’t even with the fact that he created an etsy account because he knows how much I love handmade thoughtful things and we know he won’t be getting crafty anytime soon :).  I am so damn lucky to call this man mine.

The rest of the weekend was spent much of the same – literally glued to each other sides.  I love that man so much it makes me tear up sometimes just thinking of how much.  I am very grateful for the time we were able to spend together – I just wish there was more of it.    There are a lot of things brewing for our future and I’m optimistic towards what’s next for us.

As always, Monday blues cured with perfect weather + great round of Monday golf

xoxo, casey

Weekend Reflections: Major Catch Up & Photo Dump

Woah, sorry for being MIA!

We had so much going on recently and then a few weekends of laziness and we have both really enjoyed it.  The lazy weekends go by so much faster, I can’t seem to wrap my head around why!  So what have I been up to?  Let me fill you in on all the juicy details!

Let’s start with what I’ve been eating because I like photos of outfits & food.

This Chickfila Harvest grilled chicken salad is so delicious for a quick drive through lunch

Sometimes you need french toast every single breakfast and then again for dinner. French toast breakfasts are the greatest part of working from home.

Weekend traditions where I put every candy imaginable in my froyo and Matt has a 10 dollar cup of just hot fudge and peanut butter.

Homecooked pasta dinners 🙂

I’ve been golfing here and there.  We are still playing on Monday’s in a league and though I’m not getting a ton better, I’m certainly not getting worse so there’s that… Matt and I try to play together once during the weekend and sometimes we dress alike hah.

I got my August stitch fix box and haven’t gotten around to a review – I actually did try them all on but was in my sweaty gym clothes so it didn’t seem quite blog worthy!  I kept everything in this box! I mean check this haul out …

Some other outfits that managed to get captured in my selfie mirror.  It seems that the photo’s are never truly complete if there isn’t a sleeping dog in the corner.

There were a couple low key date nights

A purchase of new lunchboxes

And early birthday celebrations! My birthday is September 6th but I’ll be visiting family in Connecticut so one of my girlfriends invited us to her and her husbands house this past weekend.  Her & I went to the beach while the guys golfed and then we grilled out at their house.  It was such a nice day – the weather has finally been below 90 degree’s lately and it’s so much more pleasant to be outside!

  

My adorable birthday gift from her!  All of my favorite things – coke zero’s, lotion, peanut m&m’s (which I wish I had right now) peanut butter filled pretzels, peanut butter banana trail mix and the fiber one bars are inside joke  – but delicious none the less 🙂

I’m heading to visit my best friend in Charlotte this weekend so I’ll make sure to take lot’s of photos!

How much do you all love lazy weekends?

XO,

Casey

Weekend Reflections: 2000 grams of sugar

Some weekends have the beauty of utter relaxation. This weekend turned out to be one of those super exciting snuggly routine kinda weekends but I’ll bore you with the details and unfortunate lack of photos regardless. Matt had an early day on Friday so I worked from home for a little extra time together.  The best part about working from home is not having to wear pants and being able to make fun lunches like flat bread grilled chicken pizza’s – yuuuum!

After work we went to the range to hit a few balls and then went to a local italian/pizza place close by for dinner.  They had the most delicious salad with Mixed greens, goat cheese, candied walnuts, grilled local peaches, drizzled honey, grilled chicken, and a blueberry vinaigrette (not pictured/inhaled).

Saturday then became the day we consumed 2000 grams of sugar!  Matt was golfing with some buddies so I headed to the gym for an amazingly sweaty glute workout.  Then met a girlfriend to head to the Carolina Beach.  A new gourmet donut shop (Wake N Bake) opened up out there so we decided we would check it out.  Once we saw the display we knew that we needed to sample the lot!

We got a half dozen to share along with the largest and most delicious blueberry fritter I have ever tasted!

From left to right we got: chocolate peanut butter cup, white chocolate wonderful, samoa, maple bacon, creme brulee & the turtle.  I didn’t try the maple bacon (I actually do not like bacon) and the white chocolate and creme brulee ones were a little too sweet for me.  The samoa, turtle, and chocolate peanut butter were ammmmazing though!  Nothing can top the blueberry fritter though, I can’t stop thinking about it! It was perfectly cooked so it was nice and crispy and flaky on the outside but cakey on the inside – not too sweet but just right.

We ended up with a graveyard of donuts and barely finished half.  We spent the next few hours laying our beached whale bodies in the sun.  Matt called to say that he was finished around 3 so we headed back to meet him.  He didn’t have the greatest round so we went back to surprise him with the maple bacon & boston cream bacon donuts.

We ended up hanging out at her house watching harry potter for the rest of the afternoon.  Later that evening we were starving for real food so we grabbed some dinner and then ended up getting huge sundae’s at Brusters.  As if we hadn’t already had enough sugar.

The rest of the weekend was spent detoxing from sugar, lounging around watching Harry Potter, the gym, a little housework & an electrician visit (this time not due to me hanging curtains).

XO, Casey

Summer Reading Guide

Hi Loves!  I have always had a love for reading, my grandmother always tells me about how excited I was when I learned how to read.  She said it was like it opened up a new world for me and I always had a book on me.  Somewhere along my school aged years reading was ruined.  I’m sure it was being forced to read so many books for classes.  I really don’t like anything I’m forced to do, I like having my own desire and pull to something.  Anyways, over the past couple years and then intensely over the past year I can’t seem to put books down now.

I received a kindle for Christmas this past year and it intensified my love for reading.  I can browse for books and download samples right there!  I don’t have to wait in line at book stores and amazon is always suggesting books for me that I loooove!  That being said here are some book reviews for books I’ve read off my kindle that I just love.

These are in no particular order and are only the books read this year so far …

The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins

What a thriller.  If you liked Gone Girl then you will love this one.  The book was a  little dark and twisty but it keeps you at the edge of your seat.  I can also assure you that you won’t believe the end, I love a good surprise!

These Things Hidden – Heather Gudenkauf

This book was another dark and twisted & if you are easily made uncomfortable it may not be the book for you.  It is definitely worth reading though if you like a messed up plot.  It is a lot easier of a read and even though it won’t be a page turner like some others it definitely comes with quite a few “WHAT” moments!

The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah

This is my favorite read of the year so far.  I love books that cross history & fiction.  The book is not a true story but it uses a lot of real references from WW2 and what occupied France looked like.  If you have any suggestions for books similar to this one PLEASE let me know!

A Spool of Blue Thread – Anne Tyler

Ya’ll this book … I can’t even.  I read half of the book – maybe even 60% and still there was no climax – I have no idea what this book is about but it never hooked me.  It was like watching a sitcom that wasn’t quite sad or funny and had nothing to look forward to.

What She Left Behind – Ellen Marie Wiseman

This book was AMAZING.  It’s not a true story but similar to The Nightingale  it plays on historical events which I find to be my favorite style.  This book is about a woman who is in love with an immigrant but instead of supporting her father throws her in a mental institution where she spends the rest of her life pleading her innocence.  I blew through this book and found myself in tears many times.

Home Front – Kristin Hannah

This was the second book I’ve read from Kristin Hannah and it’s safe to say I’m hooked!  I love her heart warming easy to connect to writing style.  This book really tugged at my heart-strings and I found myself in tears most of the last half of the book.  I can’t say enough good things about it – easy read & highly recommended.

The Hypnotist’s Love Store – Liane Moriarty

*Favorite Author Alert – I’ve read literally almost every book she has written.  I have loved every one them and honestly, I think I’ve loved them all almost equally.  This one was a little hard to get into but I wasn’t disappointed.  My favorite Liane book was What Alice Forgot but I’ve also read and loved; The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies, & Three Wishes.  She only has one other The Last Anniversary that I plan to read next – LIANE PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER BOOK.

Firefly Lane – Kristin Hannah

This is my most recent read.  Once The Nightingale hooked me I’ve been reading Kristin Hannah’s books one after the other.  I’ve actually heard a lot about this book and am glad I finally read it.  A book about two best friends and their journey in life together.  Kristin Hannah followed this book up with a second book Fly Away that I’m looking forward to reading that follow-up.  This is a really easy read & only took me about one week to get through.

There you have it!  My 2015 book review thus far.  I’m sure I will have to do another of these in a few months.  Any & all suggestions welcomed!

Happy Reading!

XO, Casey