A Cake Filled With Rainbows and Smiles

I wasn't going to say anything about this, I really wasn't, but seeing such hurtful things every time I got on social media got me upset and made me rage a little bit. I refuse to even get into the fact that the majority of people commenting about the recent Supreme Court decision (I'm not going to say the case name because I don't want people Googling it and finding my blog, I don't need all that hate) actually have no idea what legal precedence is or what the Constitution actually says, let alone would they muddle through an entire bajillion page Supreme Court opinion like us poor lawyers had to do back in law school (here's the link if you want to, though.. it's 95 pages).

But look guys, we all have our own opinions about religion, women's rights, etc. etc. etc. but I can think of absolutely no reason to disrespect other people, call them names, or belittle their opinions. We are all entitled to those opinions, and yes, we have the right to say what we want, but what is the point of bashing people? It is okay to disagree with people and have a healthy debate, but c'mon, it's hard enough to change someone's religious and political views in a regular conversation, so why the heck would you think you could convert someone over to your way of thinking by calling them names and hurling insults? I've logged into various social media platforms today and seen quotes such as "If you agree with SCOTUS (the Supreme Court of the United States, FYI), you don't deserve to be a woman/you don't get to have a vagina" and "eff everyone who is cheering about today's decision, you're all asshats." Yes, adults actually said those things. Really guys, really? We as humans, and especially as women, are supposed to be building each other up, not tearing each other down. The general sentiment from Ms. Norbury's speech at the assembly in Mean Girls rings true in this situation: "you all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it ok for guys to call you sluts and whores."

Okay, let me get down off my soapbox. I guess the point of this whole post is to remember the Golden Rule, forever and ever, amen! I will leave you with this Mean Girls gif that pretty much sums up my whole post ;-)

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House Tour, Part 1

I just realized I never really gave you guys a house tour! I put a few pictures in this post, but I figured I give you a few more since I know I'm nosy and love checking out other people's houses so I assume you do too! We pretty much were completely unpacked and settled in by the end of the 3 day weekend that we moved in. We don't mess around! Beware, I use my iPhone for all my pics because I am too chicken to use one of those fancy cameras (except that I actually kinda want to now, any suggestions on cameras for beginners?), so excuse the bad lighting/blurriness! I am dividing this in to two posts because there were way too many pictures for just one post, so stop back on Wednesday for Part 2. On the agenda today: first floor and backyard

I know I posted this picture of our family room in my other post, but I want to include all house pictures in these posts too, so sorry if you've already seen it! So anyways, this is our family room, excuse Hansel photobombing. I think the only thing missing in this picture (because I took it a few weeks ago) are a few knicknacks on the end table. To the left is the staircase, and behind me when I took this picture is the kitchen and breakfast nook, which is my next picture.

Hansel again with the photobomb. We just love how open our first floor is, it's the main reason we loved this house the minute we saw it! Obviously through the door in the middle is the laundry, and you can access the garage from the laundry room. The door to the left leads out to our covered deck, behind me is obviously the family room, and to my right is the front hallway, powder room, staircase, living room, etc. The right side of the kitchen leads into the dining room, which is also accessible from the front hallway (which is where I took the next picture from).

  

So this is our dining room. We don't have a real dining room table right now, and we probably won't for awhile because we probably won't use that room a lot for a few years, so a dining room table is low on the budget totem pole. Don't you just love that hutch though? When we lived in our apartment, the woman who owned it had it, and it was painted red, and we bought it off her and painted it a much better color, obviously. I also love that little table to the left, it's so cute!

Excuse this picture quality, it's awful I know. This is the living room/office. I first took this picture standing in the doorway, but the light coming in from the windows made it impossible. So then I tried to take the picture from the corner, but then you could see me in the mirror out in the hall and that was a no-no. So I am sitting on the couch with my arm shakily sticking out trying to take this pic, which is why my lovely shoulder is in the bottom left corner, sorry 'bout that! Anyways, I just love this room. It is so bright and cheery and I would love to one day be able to work from home in here! Out the doorway to the left is the powder room, then into the family room, kitchen, stairs... To the right is the front door and the dining room. 

I debated putting a powder room picture up, because it's kinda weird I think, but I figured since I called this a house tour you might as well see it haha. Sorry I didn't put the seat cover down first. 

I just have to say, I love our backyard. It's another main reason we loved this house. It is completely private, with trees on the sides so you can't see any neighbors, and it's nice that no one is behind us. The ceiling fan on the deck comes in very handy on really warm days, and the fire pit for chilly nights.

And that's that! This post took me wayyyyy longer than I thought it would. See you Wednesday for Part 2, which will be the basement and the second floor!

New Digs!

Today has turned out to be a pretty cool day. Aside from the fact that I had to get my car inspected at 8am and pay $200 for new brake pads, get my license renewed at PennDOT, wait a half hour at Brimmers to have my registration reflect my new address only to have the woman tell me the computers are down til Monday (she knew that for a half hour and made me wait all that time, grr!), and clean the nasty moldy stuff out of our washer (who am I kidding, Brian did that, I would puke!), something great just happened!!

Notice anything different? Kelli from Just Beachy just designed and installed my awesome new design and I love it! It's so clean and pretty and new and I can't stop looking at it! Thanks again Kelli, you are the best! I hope the rest of everyone's weekends are great; we are just hanging around and grilling out tonight, a perfect Saturday night. Oh, and P.S. I will post about how I'm asking my bridesmaids like I promised I would, but I accidentally wrapped everything up without taking pictures so now I have to wait until they open them to take pictures. Oops!

Things That Made Me Smile This Week

--The fact that Becca made a list of things to blog about, and this was one of those topics!

-- Fridays, because duh! We don't have anything planned this weekend besides car inspections tomorrow at 8am (btw, thanks PA for making us pay for this every single year) and I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend.

-- Knowing that we are going to Lake George for the long 4th of July weekend!

-- Going right along with the previous one, getting paid days off of work!

-- Souvenirs. Every time Brian goes out of town he brings me back a little something. Well this older gentleman (we're talking 80+) who does the ordering at my office went to Hilton Head with his wife last week and he knows I love souvenirs and brought me back this cute little turtle! Isn't that so sweet? Last time he brought me back a tornado shot glass from Oklahoma. Definitely made me smile!

-- Getting a bonus this quarter at work! That money is going directly into our wedding savings fund.

-- Also, when people send us cards and money for getting engaged/buying a house. Man do we have awesome family or what?!

-- I ordered MAC Fix this week, thanks for the recommendation Amanda!

-- Watching Pretty Little Liars... have I mentioned that I love that show? Yes? Well good.

-- New blog designs! Kelli is in the process of designing me a new one, it's going to be awesome!

-- Going to bed early... and since I'm writing this on Thursday night at 9pm, I'm out!

These Are My Confessions

... I only wash my hair every other day, sometimes every third day (but it's usually pretty nasty by that day). Thank goodness for baby powder/dry shampoo, except for the fact that my scalp is dry and kind of itchy right now from all the baby powder I dumped in there today.

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... I am terrified of finding ticks on my dogs. I am also terrified of finding bed bugs at hotels. I always inspect the mattress before I do anything when I first get into a hotel room (oh, and throw the comforter on the floor). Ugh, I really don't like hotels.

... I laughed wayyyyy too hard (like, to the point of tears) at these poop horror stories. Basically I'm a 5 year old. P.S. #12 is the best.

... I almost gave up watching Andi's season of the Bachelorette this week. She is the epitome of boring and the fact that she describes herself as an ADA still drives me up the wall. Sorry hon, but I don't think the government lets you take off for a year to be on the Bachelor/Bachelorette.

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... I really don't get why everyone gets so worked up about Sister Wives. It isn't illegal, he's only legally married to one of the women. The kids seem happy and healthy and well-taken care of. There are bigger things out there to worry about in my opinion. Live and let live, I say.

... I always have to read back through my blog posts to add in contractions and de-lawyer-ify my writing. Law school really made my writing too formal, blegh.

... I may have confessed that last confession already.. but I'm too lazy to check.

... I wrote up a whole confession that went here but I was too chicken to post it so I erased it. I know, I know... let me channel Alanis Morrisette (again): "I'm brave but I'm chickenshit, I'm sick but I'm pretty baby..."

... I really need to start working out and dieting. My weight has plateaued and to be honest, I need to lost A LOT of weight to get where I want to be by this time next year. Brian and I are setting a meal plan every week so we have to stick to that, but I need some non-Jillian Michaels exercise videos that are around 30 minutes.. any suggestions?!

... I really had to dig deep to come up with some confessions this week. I don't know about you, but I've been having an extremely hard time finding topics to blog about these days. I need your suggestions again!

Linking up with Kathy!

Home From the Beach

This Monday came around too fast. Mondays after a vacation always suck a little extra! I took off work Thursday and Friday and we headed to Wildwood, NJ for our family vacation. My dad's whole side of the family gets together once a year for a vacation. So we spent all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on the beach, and got home late Saturday night because my friend's bridal shower was Sunday. Anyways, here's a quick photo dump from the weekend. I didn't take any at the shower, but it was fun! I'll be back sometime this week to share how I'm asking my bridesmaids to be in the wedding :-) Looking forward to 4th of July weekend when I get another 4 day weekend and we head up to the lake!

October 17, 2015

AKA our wedding date!! It's crazy to think that the date we picked based on peak foliage dates in Pennsylvania (what, I'm not a dork) will be the day we celebrate our anniversary in the many many years to come. We visited a venue on Thursday night, and though it isn't finished yet, they have these amazing renderings online and you can really see how beautiful it is going to be. I am so excited! So unfortunately I have no pictures to show you from the venue (it was pouring rain when we visited so I couldn't even take any, unfinished or not), but I will tell you a little more about it and share some of my favorite pins that are giving me inspiration. Eventually when it is all finished I will post some pics, promise :-)

So anyways the venue is a massive farm, and they are fixing up the old barn for receptions, but retaining its character and all of the ceiling beams. It is going to be amazing, and I really won't need too many decorations, especially since I don't want to take away from its beauty. They are fixing up a really cool area outside for the ceremony, with rolling hills and tons of trees surrounding it all.. the fall colors are going to be awesome! Outside of the barn is a patio area with a big fireplace, and that's where cocktail hour will be. And the food, oh the food. We haven't had a tasting yet but imagine things on the menu with the words "maple" or "cider-glazed." The fall theme is on full blast, and I love it!

Here are the dresses I want my bridesmaids to wear (click on the color 'plum') and I've already bought their gifts. I have a problem, I know, but they were on sale last week! Also, none of them read this blog so no worries. I kind of want to ask them in a cute way, but I'm not sure how.. any ideas??

The general theme I am going with is fall, obviously, so think pumpkins, leaves, deep oranges/plums/reds/yellows, etc. If you want to see more of my pins, comment and ask for my Pinterest handle, I am happy to share!

Found on ibelieveinloveinallitsforms.tumblr.com

I even have the favors I want in mind. I saw these when we were at another venue and I fell in love. I don't have a photo of them, but just picture a glass mason jar mug with a pumpkin-shaped chalkboard label. The mugs will be at each seat, with a napkin the same purple color as the bridesmaids dresses sticking out of it, along with an orange and white striped paper straw.

And I'm saving the best part for last.... I have booked the most awesome photographers in the world: Wait for it, wait for it... Dayna and Blue Eyes from Princess Burlap. No seriously, I really did. One of the coolest blog friends I have is flying to Pennsylvania to shoot my wedding. Guys, I am so giddy about this, she is an amazing photographer (and writer too, check out her blog!) and I not only get to meet her in real life, but she is going to photograph my wedding. Be still my beating out-of-control heart! Check out Dayna's photography website here!

Wedding planning is definitely more involved than I expected it to be, but I really love it. I like being super organized and so this has really become something fun I look forward to each day. I don't know if I ever mentioned it on this blog, but when I entered my freshman year of college, my life goal was to have my own wedding planning business. Being a business major scared me off of it though, and I changed my major to psychology then went to law school on a whim, but wedding planning was apparently my first love! By the way guys, I promise this isn't going to turn into a wedding-planning-only blog, but since this is one of the biggest and most exciting things going on in my life right now, especially in light of all the crappy, it is something happy that I love to focus on and I will definitely be posting about it from time to time (okay, maybe more often than that, but I can't say for sure) #IdowhatIwant #sorrynotsorry #thanksfortuningin haha ;-)

The Good, the Bad, and the Cat Herders

I feel like my posts have no real structure lately. I've just kind of been winging it and writing whatever and whenever I want, and honestly, that's how it is probably going to be here at Pleas(e) and Carrots from here on out. No regular writing schedule, just me, writing random 'stuff,' for lack of a more descriptive word. Maybe that breaks all the blogging "rules" but I truly don't care.

Soooo all that being said, life has been pretty tough lately, to be honest, which is half of the reason I haven't been to my blog as often as I might like (the other half? I have been so busy!!). Some of the things making it tough are not my stories to share, but if you are the praying kind, or the cross your fingers and toes kind (I am both), please do a little of that for us if you have a moment to spare. Some of the things making life more difficult lately are things out of my control, like the mysterious stuff I just referenced and a medical issue, and some are in my control, yet I don't even know how to start herding these cats (watch my Dad's favorite commercial below to understand my reference.. hey, it's Father's Day after all).

As for the medical issue that is out of my control, even though I am trying to be honest and open on this blog, I also don't want to over-share. So in the spirit of semi-disclosure, basically I have to have a minor surgery soon, one that I had to have 3 years ago, and now I have to have it again. Needless to say I am not happy about it AT ALL, but I hope to be happier about it when it is all said and done and I feel at least somewhat better than I have the past few months. Feeling like crap all the time is draining, but then again, so is anxiety, and I've been fighting that demon for years. I pretty much use up all the energy I do have working all day (slash crying in the bathroom), so when I come home I have the functionality of a sloth. I lay around, watching TV and feeling nauseous. Fun fun, and great for losing weight (I hope you can sense the sarcasm here). Part of the anxiety is in my control, as no one else but me placed me into my current situation, but part of it God gave me for reasons I cannot even begin to fathom.

This post may have made no sense, or maybe it did, who knows? I try not to be a Debbie Downer though (does anyone else feel bad for people named Debbie? I mean, it's a nice name and all but I feel like they probably get called Debbie Downer a disproportionate number of times in their lives.. just sayin'). I am lucky enough to have a lot of good things in my life too, like the porch rails Brian's dad just installed for us, upcoming trips, and booking a wedding venue and amazing and talented photographers this weekend (both which I will talk about soon in a more upbeat post). So why oh why can't I solely focus on the good things in my life, instead of dwelling on the negative? That is a rhetorical question to ponder, I suppose. 

Hump Day Confessions

I'm a little late to the party but hey, I'm still here and that's what counts, right? Anyways, these are my confessions for the week and I'm linking up with Kathy!

---So Brian was out of town for work the past few days so instead of having meals I just ate chips and salsa and went to bed at like 8pm.. except last night because PLL was on.

---I am still obsessed with Pretty Little Liars, by the way. I don't care that I'm 25 and the girls are supposed to be like 17, I'm sticking it out for the long haul (the 5th season just premiered last night and it already has been renewed for a 6th and 7th.. basically I will be watching this show until I'm 30, probably).

---I have eaten two of those freezy pop things as soon as I get home from work everyday for the last 2 weeks.

---We are visiting one last venue tomorrow before we make our final decision (okay, we've only seen the one I've posted about here but there are no other ones we want to see), and it looks really gorgeous online and seems pretty amazing but I kind of am mad at it because first off, they never got back to me with a time we could come visit for days and days and we want to make a decision asap so I had to email them AGAIN. #Sorrynotsorry but when I am about to spend multiple multiple thousands of dollars on something, especially at a brand-new, not-opened yet venue, you should probably be kissing my butt a little bit more. Plus, in their packet they emailed me about wedding packages, it says it includes a food tasting for the bride and groom, and if you want someone else to attend (like my mom or something) you have to pay an extra $25.00, and they make sure to clarify "this is a tasting, not a meal." Well rawwwwr.

---I have not clipped my toenails in like.. umm wait, I think I got a pedicure in the beginning of April so yea, since then.

---I'm a little freaked out that I'm going to be 27 when we get married, especially considering I always wanted to have a kid before 30..... I'm growing up so fast! When did I become an adult?

---So umm I might have bought the paper straws for our wedding favors already. I have a problem. But they were on sale, okay?

---Brian and I made a deal that I have to take care of all the cleaning and stuff inside the house, and he has to take care of all the outside stuff. Don't give me any of that crap about gender, I'd rather have my hand in a toilet any day than mow a lawn. Plus the only reason I agreed to the deal is that I never have to pick up dog poop again!

--- Except that Brian has been away for a few days and I left the poop in the yard overnight and I could barely sleep thinking about me accidentally stepping in it or something so I ended up picking it up, man!

---I'm watching 19 Kids and Counting right now, and it is set to record on my DVR anytime a new episode comes on #notevenashamed

--- I use hashtags in my posts sometimes because I think it's funny, and you can't stop me!

---I make myself laugh wayyyy more often than I should..

Wedding Planning Weekend

So I am just starting to realize HOW MUCH WORK wedding planning is! But I actually kind of love it. My organization-freak side comes out and it is really a lot of fun!

On Friday night we had my mom, brother, and sister over for a little cookout. Mitch and Brian were practicing hitting golf balls in the backyard while my mom and I discussed all things wedding and Taylor fell asleep on the couch.

Saturday morning Brian, my mom, and I headed to a wedding venue to check it out and we absolutely loved it! It was gorgeous, and will be even more so in the fall! They have the weekend next fall that we want to get married open, so that is awesome. So I have pretty much spent the rest of the weekend emailing caterers, photographers, wedding coordinators, DJs, shuttle services, etc.

Excuse my ghostly white legs 

 Where cocktail hour will be.. they will have tables set up and to the right there is this pretty koi pond with a cobblestone footbridge!

Those flowers will be gone and this is where the ceremony will be! Look at that view! I just keep picturing it with our PA fall leaves! The reception will be right behind here in a huge tent, so we will have the view at all times!

We are checking out one more venue this week hopefully, but I really really love the above place and they have our weekend on hold! Oh, also this weekend I planted some pretty flowers in these planters that Brian spray painted for me. We took the dogs with us in the car to get some gas for the lawnmower and they thought they were so cool. I also made this awesomely yummy sandwich (hummus, pesto, feta, lettuce, and tomato) and watched a lot of Sister Wives.

Have a great week guys!

What I've Been Up To, The E and H Words!!!

I'm back again, just like I promised! If you don't know what the E word and H word mean, you obviously don't follow me on Instagram and Twitter, because obviously I'm referring to Engagement and House! Yup, Brian and I are engaged, and we are also homeowners!! Okay, I know you're all waiting for the details.

So on May 20th, a Tuesday, I got home from work around 5pm and pulled into the garage, a seemingly normal day. Brian's car wasn't there, which was totally normal because he never gets home until about an hour after me. I walk over to the stairs and there are rose petals all over them. At this point, I knew. So I walked up the steps to more rose petals, a huge bouquet of roses, candles everywhere, and the song playing that I've always told Brian I want to dance our first dance to (Forever and Ever, Amen). Brian was in the kitchen with everything, and he was so nervous. Apparently he had asked my parents for their blessing the week before, unbeknownst to me, and also had hidden his car across the neighborhood so I wouldn't be suspicious when I got home from work. He told me how much he loved me and got down on one knee, it was so sweet! I said "for real? yes!" right away, then took the ring out of his hand and put it on my own finger #oops! What can I say, I was excited!

Brian had dinner planned at our favorite restaurant, and it was such a fun night telling everyone about our engagement that I could barely even eat! We are so happy, and are hoping to get married sometime next year, so let the wedding planning begin! I am so so so excited, any tips?!

Two days after our engagement, we settled on our house! It was pretty much the best week ever. That weekend was so busy but we are so lucky to have great families who helped us move and unpack. We are completely settled in and we just love our new house so much. I won't overload you with pictures, but here are a few favorites!

Alright, whew, now you are all updated and hopefully I will be back to your regularly scheduled programming ASAP!